 his fellow traveller
was a man of vast learning, and beyond all doubt, the greatest poet of the age.
As for himself, he was under no necessity of making his own elogium; for he soon
gave such specimens of his taste and talents, as left Pickle no room to doubt of
his capacity.
    While they stood considering the pictures in one of the first apartments,
which are by no means the most masterly compositions, the Swiss, who sets up for
a connoisseur, looking at a certain piece, pronounced the word magnifique! with
a note of admiration; upon which Mr. Pallet, who was not at all a critick in the
French language, replied with great vivacity, »Manufac, you mean, and a very
indifferent piece of manufacture it is; pray gentleman take notice, there is no
keeping in those heads upon the back ground, nor no relief in the principal
figure: then you'll observe the shadings are harsh to the last degree; and come
a little closer this way - don't you perceive that the fore-shortening of that
arm is monstrous - agad, sir! there is an absolute fracture in the limb -
doctor, you understand anatomy, don't you think that muscle evidently misplaced?
Heark ye, Mr. what d'ye call um, (turning to the attendant) what is the name of
the dauber who painted that miserable performance?« The Swiss imagining that he
was all this time expressing his satisfaction, sanctioned his supposed
commendation, by exclaiming sans prix. »Right, (cried Pallet) I could not
recollect his name, though his manner is quite familiar to me. We have a few
pieces in England, done by that same sangpree; but there they are in no
estimation; we have more taste among us, than to relish the productions of such
a miserable gout. Isn't he an ignorant coxcomb, doctor?« The physician ashamed
of his companion's blunder, thought it was necessary for the honour of his own
character, to take notice of it before the stranger, and therefore answered his
question, by repeating this line from Horace,
 
Mutato nomine, de te fabula narratur.
 
The painter, who was rather more ignorant of Latin that of French, taking it for
granted that this quotation of his friend, conveyed an assent to his opinion,
»Very true, (said he) a most sensible observation! mute aye toe numbing he,
(what is't?) Deity, fable honour hate her. It is indeed a most mute benumbing
piece; and the fable shews
