the impression which they are designed to make. This sleeping lady on the left hand evidently regards him with very high admiration. I think," continued he, "there are few absurdities more laughable and humourous than one person speaking nonsense, or at least frivolity, and another listening to it as sense and wisdom." "It is," replied the nymph, "I believe, extremely common, sir, and, perhaps, after all, merely shews that if one person is weak, another is weaker." Hamilton observed that he had never seen it more happily exemplified than by that great master of nature, and of life, Shakespear, in the dialogue between the grave-diggers.—He mentioned several other instances, and passed rather abruptly, though not without design, to another masterly painter of life, and quoted the celebrated instance of the attorney's clerk, who so
Page:Modern literature (1804 Volume 1).djvu/259
This page needs to be proofread.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Modern_literature_%281804_Volume_1%29.djvu/page259-1024px-Modern_literature_%281804_Volume_1%29.djvu.jpg)