Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/14

 King Pyrrhus was at Dinner at an Alehoue bordering on the Theatre, when he was ummoned to go on the Stage. The Heroe, being unwilling to quit his Shoulder of Mutton, and as unwilling to draw on himelf the Indignation of Mr. Wilks, (his Brother Manager) for making the Audience wait, had bribed thee his Harbingers to be out of the Way. While Mr. Wilks, therefore, was thundering out, ‘Where are the Carpenters to walk on before King Pyrrhus,’ that Monarch very quietly eat his Mutton, and the Audience, however impatient, were obliged to entertain themelves with Muic in his Abence.

To be plain, I much quetion whether the Politician, who hath generally a good Noe, hath not cented out omewhat of the Utility of this Practice. I am convinced that awful Magitrate my Lord Mayor contracts a good deal of that Reverence which attends him through the Year, by the everal Pageants which precede his Pomp. Nay, I mut confes, that even I myself, who am not remarkably liable to be captivated with Show, have yielded not a little to the Impreions of much preceding State. When I have een a Man trutting in a Proceion, after others whoe Buines hath