Page:Tales of humour and romance translated by Holcroft.djvu/11

 TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE.

He who has just risen from a bed of sickness and is tasting the first moments of returning health, in gene- ral possesses a peculiar skill in constructing those base- less edifices which the French call chateaux en Espagne. The reader who has ever been an invalid himself, will feel the truth of this observation. For my own part, I have long been practically familiar with the fact, and have been in the habit of enjoying the pleasure arising from this source, as a compensation provided by Nature for one of the “ worst ills that flesh is heir to.”

On a late occasion while recovering from a tedious illness, I thought one evening, I felt the approaching inspiration of Hygeia, and threw myself into my easy chair to indulge in a few architectural vagaries. But alas! the fabric I had commenced was not destined to reach the skies, for scarcely had it attained the Lillipu- tian dimensions of St. Peter’s Church, when the whole was dashed to the ground by the entrance of my old friend and college chum, Tom Stapleton, of the Inner Temple.