LIFE OF MYTTON. 67 



he had most of the requisites for a man of a noble 

 fortune that Horace granted to his friend Tibullus ; 

 but one thing was wanting — the " artcmqjie fruendil' 

 the art of e7ijoying it, to which he, Mytton, was a 

 stranger. Indeed, to a vitiated palate, always calling 

 for fresh gratifications, the wealth of Croesus might 

 fail in procuring that one thing wanting ; but there 

 was something about my friend that gave one the 

 idea that to him it was peculiarly denied. There was 

 that about him which resembled the restlessness of 

 the hyena ; and whether in the pursuit of his pas- 

 times, or the gratification of his passions, there was 

 an unsteadiness throughout, which evidently showed 

 that, beyond the excitement of the passing moment, 

 nothing afforded him sterling pleasure. All those 

 who watched his actions might perceive, that his 

 object was to have a taste of everything that was 

 alluring and delicious ; and, like the bee, to rove 

 from flower to flower, merely culling a little of the 

 sweets of each. Look, for example, at the various 

 sources of amusement Halston afforded, and the small 

 share of calm enjoyment they appeared to afford the 

 owner of them. What elegant dinners have I seen him 

 sit down to at his own table, with no more appetite 

 to partake of them than an alderman has when singing 



