But if there be readers who admire a style of such barren brevity, I must tell them in the words of Estienne Pasquier that _je fais grande conscience d'alambiquer mon esprit en telle espece d'escrite pour leur complaire_. Do they take me for a Bottle-Conjurer that I am to compress myself into a quart, wine-merchants' measure, and be corked down? I must have “ample room and verge enough,”—a large canvas such as Haydon requires, and as Rubens required before him. When I pour out nectar for my guests it must be into a bowl Large as my capacious soul. It is true I might have contented myself with merely saying there is no portrait of my venerable friend; and the benevolent reader would have been satisfied with the information, while at the same time he wished there had been one, and perhaps involuntarily sighed at thinking there was not. But I have duties to perform; first to the memory of my most dear philosopher and friend; secondly, to myself; thirdly, to posterity, which in this matter I cannot conscientiously prefer either to myself or my friend; fourthly, to the benevolent reader who delighteth in this book, and consequently loveth me therefore, and whom therefore I love, though, notwithstanding here is love for love between us, we know not each other now, and never shall! fourthly, I say to the benevolent reader, or rather readers, _utriusque generis_, and fifthly to the Public for the time being. “England expects every man to do his duty;” and England's expectation would not be disappointed if every Englishman were to perform his as faithfully and fully as I will do mine. Mark me, Reader, it is only of my duties to England, and to the parties above-mentioned that I speak; other duties I am accountable for elsewhere. God forbid that I should ever speak of them in this strain, or ever think of them otherwise than in humility and fear! CHAPTER LX. SHOWING CAUSE WHY THE QUESTION WHICH WAS NOT ASKED OUGHT TO BE ANSWERED. Nay in troth I talk but coarsely, But I hold it comfortable for the understanding. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER. “What, more buffoonery!” says the Honorable Fastidious Feeble-wit who condescends to act occasionally as Small Critic to the Court Journal:—“what, still more of this buffoonery!” “Yes, Sir,—_vous ne recevrez de moy, sur le commencement et milieu de celuy-cy mien chapitre que bouffonnerie; et toutesfois bouffonnerie qui porte quant à soy une philosophie et contemplation generale de la vanité de ce monde._”[1] [Footnote 1: PASQUIER.] “More absurdities still!” says Lord Make-motion Ganderman, “more and more absurdities!” “Aye, my Lord!” as the Gracioso says in one of Calderon's Plays, _¿sino digo lo que quiero, de que me sirve ser loco?_