Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/188

1/2 BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES IX Though we cannot expect to meet such another magnificent panegyrist of our sovereign herb as the renowned and vaHant Bobadill, we shall meet many who may be looked upon as subordinates in the company commanded by that great captain. The next play, "Every Man out of His Humour," is introduced by what is called The Character of the Persons^ and in this we find smoking marked as a principal trait in three of them. First we have Fastidious Brisk, the neat, spruce, affecting courtier, who has been regarded as a Bobadill at Whitehall ; and who, among other courtly accomplishments, "speaks good remnants, notwithstanding the base viol and tobacco ; swears tersely, and with variety." One can understand how the base viol might hinder his speaking, though even its twanging or droning should sometimes leave gaps for "remnants," but surely the interwhiffs of' tobacco afford the very best opportunities for venting such ; and as to the terse swearing, there can be little doubt that its terseness was in large measure due to the pipe. Then we have Sogliardo, another edition of Stephen the country gull, who "comes up every term to learn to take tobacco, and see new motions (puppet shows)." Whereon Giffbrd finely glosses : " It may seem strange to enumerate taking tobacco among the accomplishments to be acquired in town ; but it was then a matter of serious study, and had its professors, like the rest of the liberal arts." That this great liberal art hath no longer special professors