The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman PotterAdams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
General
The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman Potter
Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
Political fiction
The major continued muttering several incoherent sentences,
interlarding them with words of intelligible English, which doubly
confused his auditors, another of whom declared that though he never
had read a verse of Latin in his life, he was sure it was not that,
but some strange tongue, in which the sufferer, being a profound
scholar, desired to make his "dying declaration." They all finally
came to this opinion, and agreed that a priest and a parson be
called, as they were not quite sure as to his religion, and it was
only necessary to have some one who knew Latin by heart. A druggist
was suggested by another; but an objection was interposed on the
ground that the Latin of druggists was not to be depended upon.
Again, it was said the priest and the parson would get to quarreling
over some nice point of doctrine, or as to the exact style of
sending him to heaven, which would make it extremely unpleasant for
the worldly minded lookers on. "It is just come into my head," spoke
a young man of genteel appearance and sympathizing looks, "that
there lives in the neighborhood one Orlando Tickler, an Irish
gentleman of much ancestry. He is reputed to be poor, but a profound
critic of books; it is also said of him that he can speak numerous
tongues." Orlando Tickler was a man of fashionable aspect, and had
written various learned essays, largely set with Latin sentences, on
subjects connected with high art, for which he affected a love
equaled only by his contempt for every American who "dabbled in it."
And, as he was always ready to give proof of his wisdom, he came at
the first invitation, and with so grave and solemn a bearing that no
man would have dared to dispute his wisdom.
"And now, sir," said he, in a brogue of peculiar richness,
addressing the prostrate hero, "since I see you are dying, and about
to leave this world, pray what would you say in respect to
yourself?"
The major (now General Roger Potter) fixed his eyes upon Mr. Tickler
with such intenseness that he turned pale, and repeated his
question. Whereupon the prostrate patient again muttered,
"Quantibus, moribus, canibus, ma dormebus."
"Faith, and it's as good Latin as my man could speak, which is
saying no little for him as a gentleman," said Mr. Tickler, with an
air of much wisdom.
"Please, sir, tell us what he says, for we are all impatient, lest
the poor man go out of the world with a dying request upon his
lips;" interposed one of the bystanders.
"What's that he says, now?" queried Mr. Tickler, in reply. "Well, I
have it!-he says, (and I think his mind is a little out because he
says it,) that this world is all naked vanity, and the quicker a man
makes his peace with heaven, the stronger is the proof that he is a
man of sense."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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