 and subordination of the
whole. The sage, who at this time possessed the chair, was a person in years,
whose countenance was a lively portraiture of that rancorous discontent which
follows repeated damnation. He had been extremely unfortunate in his theatrical
productions, and was (to use the words of a prophane wag, who assisted at the
condemnation of his last play) by this time damn'd beyond redemption.
Nevertheless, he still tarried about the skirts of Parnassus, translating some
of the classics, and writing miscellanies; and, by dint of an invincible
assurance, insolence untamed, the most undaunted virulence of tongue, and some
knowledge of life, he made shift to acquire and maintain the character of a man
of learning and wit, in the opinion of people who had neither; that is,
thirty-nine in forty of those with whom he associated himself. He was even
looked upon in this light by some few of the college; though the major part of
those who favoured his election, were such as dreaded his malice, respected his
experience and seniority, or hated his competitor, who was the epic poet.
    The chief end of this society (as I have already hinted) was to assist and
support each other in their productions, which they mutually recommended to
sale, with all their art and influence, not only in private conversation, but
also in occasional epigrams, criticisms, and advertisements inserted in the
public papers. This science, which is known by the vulgar appellation of
puffing, they carried to such a pitch of finesse, that an author very often
wrote an abusive answer to his own performance, in order to inflame the
curiosity of the town, by which it had been overlook'd. Notwithstanding this
general unanimity in the college, a private animosity had long subsisted between
the two rivals I have mentioned, on account of precedence, to which both laid
claim, though, by a majority of votes, it had been decided in favour of the
present chairman. The grudge indeed never proceeded to any degree of outrage or
defiance, but manifested itself at every meeting, in attempts to eclipse each
other in smart sayings and pregnant repartee; so that there was always a
delicate mess of this kind of wit served up in the front of the evening, for the
entertainment and example of the junior members, who never failed to divide upon
this occasion, declaring themselves for one or other of the combatants, whom
they encouraged by their looks, gestures, and applause, according to the
circumstances of the dispute.
    This honourable consistory was held in the best room of an ale
