He talks madly, _dash, dash,_ without any fear at all, and never cares how he _bespatters_ others, or defiles himself; nor ceases he till he has quite run himself out of breath; when no wonder, if to fools he seems to get the start of those who wisely pick out their way, and are as fearful of abusing others as themselves: He has the _Buffoons_ priviledge, of saying or doing anything without exceptions, and he will call a jealous man _Cuckold_, a childe of doubtful birth _Bastard_, and a _Lady_ of suspected honor a _Whore_, and they but laugh at it; and all _Scholars_ are _Pedants_; and _Physicians_, _Quacks_ with him, when to be angry at it is the avowing it. Then in _Ladies_ chambers, he will tumble beds, and towse your _Ladies_ dress up unto the height, to the hazard of a _Bed-staff_ thrown at his head, or rap o're the fingers with a _Busk_, and that is all; only is this he is far worse than the _Buffoon_, since they study to _delight_, this only to _offend_; they to make _merry_, but this onely to make you _mad_, whence wo be t' ye of he discovers and _imperfection_ or _fault_ in you, for he never findes a _breach_ but he makes a _hole_ of it; nor a _hole_ but he _tugs_ at it so long till he tear it quite; giving you for reason of his _incivility_, because (forsooth) _it troubled you_, which would make any civil man cease troubling you. So he wears his _wit_ as _Bravo's_ do their swords, to mischief and offend others, not as _Gentlemen_ to defend themselves: and tis _crime_ in him, what is _ornament_ in others; he being onely a _wit_ at that, at which a good _wit_ is a _fool_. Especially he triumphs over your modest men; and when he meets with a _simple body_, passes for a _wit_, but a _wit_ indeed makes a _simplician_ of him; so goes he persecuting others till some one or other at last (as _chollerick_ as he is _abusive) cudgel_ him for his pains; when he goes _grumbling_ away in a mighty _choler_, saying, _They understand not jest_, when indeed tis rather _he_. * * * * * THE ADVENTURER. _VOLUME THE FOURTH._ _--Tentanda via est; qu‚ me quoque possim Tollere humo, victorque vir‚m volitare per ora._ VIRG. On vent'rous wing in quest of praise I go, And leave the gazing multitude below. A NEW EDITION, ILLUSTRATED WITH FRONTISPIECES. LONDON: PRINTED FOR SILVESTER DOIG, ROYAL EXCHANGE, EDINBURGH. 1793. * * * * * No. CXXVII. Tuesday, January 22. 1754. _--Veteres ita miratur, laudatque!--_ HOR. The wits of old he praises and admires.