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work as ‘‘my” Aristcenetus. A nominal second edition appeared 
in 1773, simply a re-issue with a new title page and the last page 
re-printed. The thing was a failure, ‘monkish trash on which 
the translator had ill-spent his time.” 
At this time, too, Sheridan showed that cleverness and ingenuity 
which had served him so well at Harrow, and which served him 
constantly through life. Thoughtless of consequences he 
managed without means to appear in a style of elegance which 
astonished those who were acquainted with his finances,* and so 
he managed to associate intimately with Mathews and other gentle- 
men of fashion and extravagence, men of leisure and of pleasure, 
and to keep up the tendency of his nation to conviviality, and 
the social enjoyments of the table and wine, “too early indulged 
in and in after life too freely pursued.” 
But meanwhile the young lady, prominent from her public 
position, and as the general theme of conversation, was followed 
by all the young men of fashion at Bath, all proud to be in the list 
of her admirers.t The poor, penniless lover was consequently 
always facing the number and wealth of these possible rivals, and 
watching the temptations to which his lady-love was exposed. His 
mind was thus kept full of jealous fears and in a perpetual state of 
unrest, well calculated to develop other national characteristics, 
the hasty temper and hot quick passion unrestrained by 
judgment. Mathews, as an early friend of the Linley family, had 
also become the earlier friend and companion of Miss Linley. 
Their frequent appearance in public together presently attracted the 
notice of the censorious, who considered this indiscreet, Mathews 
being already married, and, in the fashionable set at Bath. Such 
watchful censors are easily found to-day, but here the position 
was clearly very difficult, as the young lady being a public 
character must have been known by sight to everyone, and 
generally could not move without being watched. As in all such 
* “Tmposter Unmasked,” by Patricius. + Beau Monde. 
