nted by his
favourite artist, Pallet condemned them all by the lump, because Pickle
had told him beforehand that there was not one performance of Rubens
among the number.

The next place they visited was what is called the Academy of Painting,
furnished with a number of paltry pieces, in which our painter
recognised the style of Peter Paul, with many expressions of admiration,
on the same sort of previous intelligence.

From this repository, they went to the great church; and being led
to the tomb of Rubens, the whimsical painter fell upon his knees,
and worshipped with such appearance of devotion, that the attendant,
scandalized at his superstition, pulled him up, observing, with great
warmth, that the person buried in that place was no saint, but as great
a sinner as himself; and that, if he was spiritually disposed, there was
a chapel of the Blessed Virgin, at the distance of three yards on the
right hand, to which he might retire. He thought it was incumbent upon
him to manifest some extraordinary inspiration, while he resided on the
spot where Rubens was born; and, therefore, his whole behaviour was an
affectation of rapture, expressed in distracted exclamations, convulsive
starts, and uncouth gesticulations. In the midst of this frantic
behaviour, he saw an old Capuchin, with a white beard, mount the pulpit,
and hold forth to the congregation with such violence of emphasis and
gesture, as captivated his fancy; and, bawling aloud, "Zounds! what
an excellent Paul preaching at Athens!" he pulled a pencil and a small
memorandum book from his pocket, and began to take a sketch of the
orator, with great eagerness and agitation, saying "Egad! friend
Raphael, we shall see whether you or I have got the best knack at
trumping up an apostle." This appearance of disrespect gave offence to
the audience, who began to murmur against this heretic libertine; when
one of the priests belonging to the choir, in order to prevent any ill
consequence from their displeasure, came and told him in the French
language, that such liberties were not permitted in their religion, and
advised him to lay aside his implements, lest the people should take
umbrage at his design, and be provoked to punish him as a profane
scoffer at their worship.

The painter, seeing himself addressed by a friar, who, while he spoke,
bowed with great complaisance, imagined that he was a begging brother
come to supplicate his charity; and his attention being quite