Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/193

BEN JONSON 177 friends arc but lately deceased, and whose lands are but new come into his hands, that, to be as exactly qualified as the best of our ordinary gallants are, is affected to entertain the most gentlemanlike use of tobacco ; as first, to give it the most exquisite perfume ; then, to know all the delicate sweet forms for the assumption of it ; as also the rare corollary and practice of the Cuban ebolition, euripus, and whiff, which he shall receive, or take in here at London, and evaporate at Uxbridge, or farther, if it please him. If there be any such generous spirit, that is truly enamoured of these good faculties ; may it please him, but by a note of his hand to specify the place or ordinary where he uses to eat and lie ; and most sweet attend- ance, with tobacco and pipes of the best sort, shall be ministered. Stet, qucESO, candide Lector," Candid reader, in sooth ! Did I not well in calling our Shift admirable? Who in our degenerate days can compose such a tobacco advertisement as that ? It is not surpassed even by that stupendous feat of genius of Madame Rachel, of the wonder-working water from the Fountain of Youth, the Well of Life, brought, lest its celestial virtues should evaporate, by relays of swift dromedaries from the heart of the Libyan Desert ! It would appear by the text that the whiff was a long retention of the smoke low down somewhere, such as is practised in Spain, maybe a drawing it down into the lungs, as is cus- tomary in the East : Gifford quotes from Daniel : — " This herb in powder made, and fired, he sucks, Out of a little hollow instrument Of calcinated clay, the smoke thereof : Which either he conveys out of his nose. Or down into his stomach with a whiff. " And again from the " Gull's Hornbook " : — " Then let him shew his several tricks in taking the whiffe, the ring, &c., for these are compliments (accomplishments) that M