Tobacco and Genius 241 



pelled through the nose, and thus excited the senses 

 of smell and taste more strongly than when exhaled 

 from the mouth. Smoking as practised now de- 

 pends for pleasure, as Casanova said, on the sight as 

 well as taste and smell. ' Paradise Lost ' was con- 

 ceived, executed, and perfected over countless pipes 

 of Trinidado. Butler and Dryden likewise sought 

 inspiration from the pipe. 



Rare old Izaak. Walton enjoyed many a quiet pipe 

 on the banks of the Dove in company with Cotton, 

 as is recorded in the ' Compleat Angler.' Smoking, 

 like fishing, is the contemplative man's recreation. 

 Izaak lauds the pleasure of a pipe in lieu of break- 

 fast, a course, however, which is not to be recom- 

 mended in the interests of health. After their light 

 supper Piscator (Cotton) calls : 



' Come, take away and bring us some pipes and a 

 bottle of ale. Are you for this diet, sir ?' he asks 

 Viator. 



' Yes, sir ; I am for one pipe of tobacco, and I per- 

 ceive yours is very good by the smell.' 



' The best I can get in London, I assure you,' re- 

 plies Piscator, with the complacency born only of the 

 first whiff of an after-supper pipe. 



Tobacco and theology blend naturally. Puritans 

 as well as Anglican divines smoked, and many a 

 three-hours' sermon was composed by the aid of 

 tobacco. 



Bishop Burnet, the most popular preacher of his 

 day, his sermons being continued frequently into the 

 third hour at the demand of his hearers, imitated 

 Boxhorne, the I-eyden professor, and cut a hole in 



16 



