Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/48

 And Dr. Sloane is of opinion, that modern travels are very behoveful toward forming the mind, and enlarging the thoughts of the curious part of mankind.

Give me leave to speak a little from both these topicks.

In the Roman triumphs, which were doubtless the most august spectacles that were ever seen, it was the constant custom, that the publick executioner should be behind the conqueror, to remind him (says my author) from time to time, that these honours were transitory, and could not secure him from the severity of the laws.

Col. Morrison of the guards [he lives next door to Tart-Hall] his father was in Virginia, and being like to be starved, the company had recourse to a learned master of arts; his name was Venter, he advised them to eat one another pour passer le tems, and to begin with a fat cook-maid. She had certainly gone to pot, had not a ship arrived just in the nick with a quantity of pork, which appeased their hunger, and saved the wench's bacon.

To apply these; Did you never (when rioting in the costly dainties of my lord high admiral's table, when the polytasted wine excited jovial thoughts, and banished serious reflections) forget your frail mortal condition? Or when, at another time, you have wiped the point of a knife, or perhaps with a little spoon taken some Attick salt out of Mrs. F—'s cadenat; and, as the poet sings,

Qui sedens ad versus identidem Spectat et audit. Did