ence, would say, deserved to be wrote
in letters of gold.

But, in plain truth, he was a man unhackneyed and unpractised in the
world, and was altogether as indiscreet and foolish on every other
subject of discourse where policy is wont to impress restraint. Yorick
had no impression but one, and that was what arose from the nature of
the deed spoken of; which impression he would usually translate into
plain English without any periphrasis;--and too oft without much
distinction of either person, time, or place;--so that when mention was
made of a pitiful or an ungenerous proceeding--he never gave himself
a moment's time to reflect who was the hero of the piece,--what his
station,--or how far he had power to hurt him hereafter;--but if it was
a dirty action,--without more ado,--The man was a dirty fellow,--and
so on.--And as his comments had usually the ill fate to be terminated
either in a bon mot, or to be enlivened throughout with some drollery or
humour of expression, it gave wings to Yorick's indiscretion. In a
word, tho' he never sought, yet, at the same time, as he seldom shunned
occasions of saying what came uppermost, and without much ceremony;--he
had but too many temptations in life, of scattering his wit and his
humour,--his gibes and his jests about him.--They were not lost for want
of gathering.

What were the consequences, and what was Yorick's catastrophe thereupon,
you will read in the next chapter.

Chapter 1.XII.

The Mortgager and Mortgagee differ the one from the other, not more in
length of purse, than the Jester and Jestee do, in that of memory. But
in this the comparison between them runs, as the scholiasts call it,
upon all-four; which, by the bye, is upon one or two legs more than some
of the best of Homer's can pretend to;--namely, That the one raises a
sum, and the other a laugh at your expence, and thinks no more about
it. Interest, however, still runs on in both cases;--the periodical or
accidental payments of it, just serving to keep the memory of the affair
alive; till, at length, in some evil hour, pop comes the creditor upon
each, and by demanding principal upon the spot, together with full
interest to the very day, makes them both feel the full extent of their
obligations.

As the reader (for I hate your ifs) has a thorough knowledge of human
nature, I need not say more to satisfy him, that my Hero could not go
on at this rate without some slight experience of these incidental