my pocket, quoth I to myself, this very night- But they have wherewithal to be so, Monfieur, added he- Set down one livre more for that, quoth I-It was 'but last night, said the landlord, qu'un my Lord Anglois present oit un ecu a la fille de chambre Tant pis, pour Madlle Fanatone, faid I. Now Janatone being the landlord's daughter, and the landlord fuppofing I was young in French, took the liberty to inform me, I should not have faid tant pis -but, tant mieux. Tant mieux, tou jours, Monfieur, faid he, when there is any thing to be got-tant pis, when there is nothing. It comes to the same thing, faid I. Pardonnez moi, faid the landlord. I CANNOT take a fitter opportunity to observe once for all, that tant pis and tant mieux being two of the greatest hinges in French converfation, a stranger would do well to fet himself right in the use of them, before he gets to Paris. well A PROMPT French Marquis at our ambaffador's table demanded of Mr. H, if he was Mr. H-- the poet? No, faid H- mildly-Tant pis, replied the Marquis. It is H the historian, faid another-Tant mieux, faid the Marquis. And Mr. H--, who is a man of an excellent heart, returned thanks for both. WHEN the landlord had fet me right in this matter, he called in La Fleur, which was the name of the young man he had spoke of-faying only first, that as for his talents, he would prefume to say nothing - Monfieur was the best judge what would fuit him; but for the fidelity fidelity of La Fleur, he would stand responsible in all he was worth. THE landlord delivered this in a manner which instantly fet my mind to the business I was upon and Là Fleur, who stood waiting without, in that breathlefs expectation which every fon of nature of us have felt in our turns, came in. MONMONTRIUL. I AM apt to be taken with all kinds of people at first fight; but never more fo, than when a poor devil comes to of-, fer his service to so poor a devil as myself; and as I know this weakness, I always fuffer my judgment to draw back something on that very account--and this more or less, according to the mood I am in, and the cafe and I may add the gender too, of the person I am to go vern. WHEN La Fleur entered the room, after every discount I could make for my foul, the genuine look and air of the fellow, determined the matter at once in his favour; so I hired him first and then began to inquire what he could do: but I shall find out his talents, quoth I, as I want them-besides, a French do: man can do every thing. Now poor La Fleur could do nothing in the world but beat a drum, and play a march or two upon the fife, I was determined to make his talents do; and can't say my weakness was ever so insulted by my wisdom, as in the attempt. La Fleur had set out early in life as gallantly as most French men do, with ferving for a few years; at the end of which, having fatisfied the sentiment, and found, moreover, that the honour of beating a drum was likely to be its own reward, as it opened no further track of glory to him-he retired a fes terres and lived comme il plaissit a Dieu that is to say, upon nothing. VOL. I F -AND |