The style is the man. The rule was thus confined within the compass of
a brief sentence by a distinguished French naturalist, and if there be
examples which form exceptions to that rule, Charles Lamb is certainly
not one of them. Markedly individual himself he reveals that
individuality in his writings so strongly that there are not wanting
critics who consider themselves able to decide from the turn of a
phrase or the use of a word whether Lamb did or did not write any
particular piece of work which it may have been sought to father on
him. In the manner of presentation of his writings we have at once the
revelation of catholic literary taste and wide reading combined with
the deep seriousness and the almost irresponsible whimsicality of the
man himself. The man who was loved by all who knew him in the
flesh--so true is it that _le style c'est l'homme_--reveals himself as
a man to be loved by those who can only know him through the medium of
the written word. Where he has given rein to his fancy or his
imagination, he is humorous, whimsical, inventive; where he is dealing
with matters of serious fact or criticism he is simple, clear, and to
the point. Quotations already given would go to illustrate this, but
two further contrasting passages may be added. The first is from
"Table Talk," the second from a critical essay on the acting of
Shakespeare's tragedies.

It is a desideratum in works that treat _de re culinaria_,
that we have no rationale of sauces, or theory of mixed
flavours; as to show why cabbage is reprehensible with roast
beef, laudable with bacon; why the haunch of mutton seeks
the alliance of currant jelly, the shoulder civilly
declineth it; why a loin of veal (a pretty problem), being
itself unctuous, seeketh the adventitious lubricity of
melted butter; and why the same part in pork, not more
oleaginous, abhorreth it; why the French bean sympathizes
with the flesh of deer; why salt fish points to parsnip,
brawn makes a dead set at mustard; why cats prefer valerian
to heartsease, old ladies _vice versa_--though this is
rather travelling out of the road of the dietetics, and may
be thought a question more curious than relevant; why salmon
(a strong sapor _per se_) fortifieth its condition with the
mighty lobster sauce, whose embraces are fatal to the
delicater relish of the turbot; why oysters in death rise up
again