The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 02 (of 12)Hazlitt, William
General
The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 02 (of 12)
Hazlitt, William
English essays -- 19th century
circumstances I have described, can be staked, that instead of being
damned, it will meet with no inconsiderable applause.”—G. “I thought it
my duty to speak my thoughts plainly. The opinion I have delivered, I
delivered coolly, after due reflection, and I was desirous you should
understand perfectly what my feelings were. My language was unqualified,
but there is this distinction between my critique and yours, of which I
complained. I have used no triumphing banter, which you did.”—H. “Not in
that part of my remarks which was general; nor ever, but when I supposed
it would make you more clearly perceive the defect which I wished you to
amend, than any other method I could take.”—G. “There is another
difference between us. Though I certainly give myself credit for
intellectual powers, yet I have a failing which I have never been able
to overcome. I am so cowed and cast down by rude and unqualified
assault, that for a time I am unable to recover. You, on the contrary, I
consider as a man of iron.”—H. “It is true, I have been so hardened in
sufferance, by the difficulties I have had to overcome, that when such
attacks are made upon me, I think I may say, however egotistical it may
sound, I can, in the language of Shakspeare, shake them from me ‘as the
lion shakes the dewdrops from his mane.’ Yet if you imagine that
sensibility is destroyed in me, the mistake is strange and
unaccountable, considering how well you know me. On the present
occasion, I lay wakeful and ruminating full three hours on the injustice
and wrong nature of your remarks. At length I recollected the folly of
such uneasiness, created chiefly by the pain it gave me to think you
could act so improperly, and I then recounted to myself your great
virtues, and how very trifling such blemishes are, when placed in
comparison with them. This, as it ought, acted like a charm, and almost
immediately calmed my perturbation. But it is right I should inform you,
I had this perturbation; and that though I can overcome feeling, it is
still as quick and vigorous as ever.” We then walked, and conversed on
other subjects till dinner-time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account