TABLE-TALK AND VARIETIES. 



much dreaded, and as tremendous 

 as the personal ridicule of Voltaire. 

 Both were inexhaiistible, well-di- 

 rected, and unsparing; but even 

 when Voltaire drew blood, he did 

 not mangle the victim, and was 

 only mischievous when Swift was 

 brutal. Any one who will compare 

 the epigrams on M. Franc de Pom- 

 pignan with those on Tighe or Bet- 

 tesworth, will easily understand the 

 distinction." 



SWIFT'S PERSONAL CHARACTER. 



Of Swift's personal character, 

 his ingenious biographer has given 

 almost as partial a representation, 

 as of his political conduct a great 

 part of it indeed has been antici- 

 pated, in tracing the principles of 

 that conduct the same arrogance 

 and disdain of mankind, leading to 

 profligate ambition and scurrility 

 in public life, and to domineering 

 and selfish habits in private. His 

 character seems to have been radi- 

 cally overbearing and tyrannical; 

 for though, like other tyrants, he 

 could stoop low enough where his 

 interests required it, it was his de- 

 light to exact an implicit compli- 

 ance with his humours and fancies, 

 and to impose upon all around him 

 the task of observing and accom- 

 modating themselves to his habits, 

 without the slightest regard to their 

 convenience or comfort. Where- 

 ever he came, the ordinary forms 

 of society were to give way to his 

 pleasure; and everything, even to 

 the domestic arrangements of a 

 family, to be suspended for his ca- 

 price. If he was to be introduced 

 to a person of rank, he insisted that 

 the first advances and the first visit 

 should be made to him. If he went 

 to see a friend in the country, he 

 would order an old tree to be cut 

 down, if it obstructed the view from 

 his window and was never at his 

 ease unless he was allowed to give 

 nicknames to the lady of the house, 

 and make lampoons upon her ac- 



quaintance. On going for the first 

 time into any family, he frequently 

 prescribed beforehand the hours for 

 their meals, sleep, and exercise : and 

 insisted rigorously upon the literal 

 fulfilment of the capitulation. From 

 his intimates he uniformly exacted 

 the most implicit submission to all 

 his whims and absurdities; and 

 cai'ried his prerogative so far, that 

 he sometimes used to chase the 

 Grattans and other accommodating 

 friends, through the apartments of 

 the deanery, and up and down 

 stairs, driving them like horses, 

 with a large whip, till he thought 

 he had enough of exercise. All his 

 jests have the same character of 

 insolence and coarseness. When 

 he first came to his curate's house, 

 he announced himself as " his mas- 

 ter;" took possession of the fireside, 

 and ordered his wife to take charge 

 of his shirts and stockings. When 

 a young clergyman was introduced 

 to him, he offered him the dregs of 

 a bottle of wine, and said, he always 

 kept a poor parson about him to 

 drink up his dregs. Even in hiring 

 servants, he always chose to insult 

 them, by inquiring into their quali- 

 fications for some filthy and degrad- 

 ing office. And though it may be 

 true, that his after-conduct was not 

 exactly of a piece with those pre- 

 liminaries, it is obvious, that as no 

 man of proper feelings could sub- 

 mit to such impertinence, so no 

 man could have a right to indulge 

 in it. Even considered merely as 

 a manner assumed to try the cha- 

 racter of those with whom he lived, 

 it was a test which no one but a 

 tyrant could imagine himself en- 

 titled to apply; and Swift's practical 

 conclusion from it was just the re- 

 verse of what might be expected. 

 He attached himself to those only 

 who were mean enough to bear thia 

 usage, and broke with all who 

 resented it. While he had some- 

 thing to gain or to hope from the 

 world, he seems to have been occa- 



