Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 9.djvu/238

228 fluency of his elocution, bestowed on him by nature, and cultivated by continual practice, added to the comeliness of his person, the harmony of his voice, the gracefulness of his manner, and the decency of his dress, are temptations too strong for such a genius to resist;, upon any publick occasion of making them appear with universal applause. And if good men are sometimes accused of loving their jest, better than their friend; surely to gain the reputation of the first orator in the kingdom, no man of spirit would scruple to lose all the friends he had in the world.

It is usual for masters to make their boys declaim on both sides of an argument; and as some kinds of assemblies are called the schools of politicks, I confess nothing can better improve political schoolboys, than the art of making plausible, or implausible harangues, against the very opinion for which they resolve to determine.

So cardinal Perron, after having spoke for an hour to the admiration of all his hearers to prove the existence of God, told some of his intimates, that he could have spoken another hour, and much better, to prove the contrary.

I have placed this reasoning in the strongest light that I think it will bear; and have nothing to answer, but that allowing it as much weight as the reader shall please, it has constantly met with ill success in the mouth of our friend; but whether for want of good luck, or good management, I suspend my judgment.

To return from this long digression; if persons in high stations have been allowed to choose wenches without regard even to difference in religion, yet never