ew, that out of the poet Homer, which says,--

'As in praesenti perfectum fumat in avi,'

he began to speak to me in the Roman tongue; on which I was fain to tell
him that we pronounced it in a different way in Ireland, and so got off
the conversation.

My honest friend's history was a curious one, and it may be told here in
order to show of what motley materials our levies were composed:--

'I am,' said he, 'a Saxon by birth, my father being pastor of the
village of Pfannkuchen, where I imbibed the first rudiments of
knowledge. At sixteen (I am now twenty-three), having mastered the Greek
and Latin tongues, with the French, English, Arabic, and Hebrew; and
having come into possession of a legacy of a hundred rixdalers, a sum
amply sufficient to defray my University courses, I went to the famous
academy of Gottingen, where I devoted four years to the exact sciences
and theology. Also, I learned what worldly accomplishments I could
command; taking a dancing-tutor at the expense of a groschen a lesson, a
course of fencing from a French practitioner, and attending lectures
on the great horse and the equestrian science at the hippodrome of a
celebrated cavalry professor. My opinion is, that a man should know
everything as far as in his power lies: that he should complete his
cycle of experience; and, one science being as necessary as another, it
behoves him.

'I am not of a saving turn, hence my little fortune of a hundred
rixdalers, which has served to keep many a prudent man for a score of
years, barely sufficed for five years' studies; after which my studies
were interrupted, my pupils fell off, and I was obliged to devote much
time to shoe-binding in order to save money, and, at a future
period, resume my academic course. During this period I contracted an
attachment' (here the candidate sighed a little) 'with a person,
who, though not beautiful, and forty years of age, is yet likely to
sympathise with my existence; and, a month since, my kind friend and
patron, University Prorector Doctor Nasenbrumm, having informed me that
the Pfarrer of Rumpelwitz was dead, asked whether I would like to have
my name placed upon the candidate list, and if I were minded to preach a
trial sermon? As the gaining of this living would further my union with
my Amalia, I joyously consented, and prepared a discourse.

'If you like I will recite it to you--No?--Well, I will give you
extracts from it upon our line of march. To proceed,