Ah! PEER. [_With forbearance_.] You understand That certain circumstances made for Their marrying us without delay. But truth to tell, the whole affair Was, first to last, distasteful to me. I’m finical in certain ways, And like to stand on my own feet. And when my father-in-law came out With delicately veiled demands That I should change my name and station, And undergo ennoblement, With much else that was most distasteful, Not to say quite inacceptable.— Why then I gracefully withdrew, Point-blank declined his ultimatum— And so renounced my youthful bride. [_Drums on the table with a devout air._ Yes, yes; there is a ruling Fate! On that we mortals may rely; And ’tis a comfortable knowledge. MONSIEUR BALLON. And so the matter ended, eh? PEER. Oh no, far otherwise I found it; For busy-bodies mixed themselves, With furious outcries, in the business. The juniors of the clan were worst; With seven of them I fought a duel. That time I never shall forget, Though I came through it all in safety. It cost me blood; but that same blood Attests the value of my person, And points encouragingly towards The wise control of Fate aforesaid. VON EBERKOPF. Your outlook on the course of life Exalts you to the rank of thinker. Whilst the mere commonplace empiric Sees separately the scattered scenes, And to the last goes groping on, You in one glance can focus all things. One norm[72] to all things you apply. You point each random rule of life, Till one and all diverge like rays From one full-orbed philosophy.— And you have never been to college? PEER. I am, as I’ve already said, Exclusively a self-taught man. Methodically naught I’ve learned; But I have thought and speculated, And done much desultory reading. I started somewhat late in life, And then, you know, it’s rather hard To plough ahead through page on page, And take in all of everything. I’ve done my history piecemeal; I never have had time for more. And, as one needs in days of trial Some certainty to place one’s trust in, I took religion intermittently. That way it goes more smoothly down. One should not read to swallow all, But rather see what one has use for. MR. COTTON. Ay, that is practical! PEER. [_Lights a cigar._]