THE OLD BENCHERS OF THE INNER TEMPLE

IWASborn,andpassedthefirstsevenyearsofmylife,intheTemple.Itschurch,itshalls,itsgardens,itsfountain,itsriver,Ihadalmostsaid——forinthoseyoungyears,whatwasthiskingofriverstomebutastreamthatwateredourpleasantplaces?——Theseareofmyoldestrecollections.Irepeat,tothisday,noversestomyselfmorefrequently,orwithkindlieremotion,thanthoseofSpenser,wherehespeaksofthisspot.

Therewhentheycame,whereasthosebrickytowers,

ThewhichonThemmesbrodeagedbackdothride,

Wherenowthestudiouslawyershavetheirbowers,

TherewhylomewonttheTemplerknightstobide,

Tilltheydecaydthroughpride.

Indeed,itisthemostelegantspotinthemetropolis.WhatatransitionforacountrymanvisitingLondonforthefirsttime——thepassingfromthecrowdedStrandorFleet-street,byunexpectedavenues,intoitsmagnificentamplesquares,itsclassicgreenrecesses!Whatacheerful,liberallookhaththatportionofit,which,fromthreesides,overlooksthegreatergarden:thatgoodlypile

Ofbuildingstrong,albeitofPaperhight,

confronting,withmassycontrast,thelighter,older,morefantasticallyshroudedone,namedofHarcourt,withthecheerfulCrown-officeRow(placeofmykindlyengendure),rightoppositethestatelystream,whichwashesthegarden-footwithheryetscarcelytrade-pollutedwaters,andseemsbutjustweanedfromherTwickenhamNaiades!amanwouldgivesomethingtohavebeenborninsuchplaces.WhatacollegiateaspecthasthatfineElizabethanhall,wherethefountainplays,whichIhavemadetoriseandfall,howmanytimes!totheastoundmentoftheyoungurchins,mycontemporaries,who,notbeingabletoguessatitsreconditemachinery,werealmosttemptedtohailthewondrousworkasmagic!Whatanantiqueairhadthenowalmosteffacedsun-dials,withtheirmoralinscriptions,seemingcoevalswiththatTimewhichtheymeasured,andtotaketheirrevelationsofitsflightimmediatelyfromheaven,holdingcorrespondencewiththefountainoflight!Howwouldthedarklinestealimperceptiblyon,watchedbytheeyeofchildhood,eagertodetectitsmovement,nevercatched,niceasanevanescentcloud——orthefirstarrestsofsleep!

Ah!yetdothbeautylikeadial-hand

Stealfromhisfigure,andnopaceperceived!

Whatadeadthingisaclock,withitsponderousembowelmentsofleadandbrass,itspertorsolemndulnessofmunication,paredwiththesimplealtar-likestructure,andsilentheart-languageoftheolddial!ItstoodasthegardengodofChristiangardens.Whyisitalmosteverywherevanished?Ifitsbusiness-usebesupersededbymoreelaborateinventions,itsmoraluses,itsbeauty,mighthavepleadedforitscontinuance.Itspokeofmoderatelabours,ofpleasuresnotprotractedaftersun-set,oftemperance,andgood-hours.Itwastheprimitiveclock,thehorologeofthefirstworld.AdamcouldscarcehavemisseditinParadise.Itwasthemeasureappropriateforsweetplantsandflowerstospringby,forthebirdstoapportiontheirsilverwarblingsby,forflockstopastureandbeledtofoldby.Theshepherd"carveditoutquaintlyinthesun;"and,turningphilosopherbytheveryoccupation,provideditwithmottosmoretouchingthantombstones.Itwasaprettydeviceofthegardener,recordedbyMarvell,who,inthedaysofartificialgardening,madeadialoutofherbsandflowers.Imustquotehisversesalittlehigherup,fortheyarefull,asallhispoetrywas,ofawittydelicacy.TheywillnoteinawkwardlyIhope,inatalkoffountainsandsun-dials.Heisspeakingofsweetgardenscenes:

WhatwondrouslifeinthisIlead!

Ripeapplesdropaboutmyhead.

Thelusciousclustersofthevine

Uponmymouthdocrushtheirwine.

Thenectarine,andcuriouspeach,

Intomyhandsthemselvesdoreach.

Stumblingonmelons,asIpass,

Insnaredwithflowers,Ifallongrass.

Meanwhilethemindfrompleasureless

Withdrawsintoitshappiness.

Themind,thatocean,whereeachkind

Doesstraightitsownresemblancefind;

Yetitcreates,transcendingthese,

Farotherworlds,andotherseas;

Annihilatingallthatsmade

Toagreenthoughtinagreenshade.

Hereatthefountainsslidingfoot,

Oratsomefruit-treesmossyroot,

Castingthebodysvestaside,

Mysoulintotheboughsdoesglide:

There,likeabird,itsitsandsings,

Thenwhetsandclapsitssilverwings;

And,tillpreparedforlongerflight,

Wavesinitsplumesthevariouslight.

Howwelltheskilfulgardnerdrew,

Offlowersandherbs,thisdialnew!

Where,fromabove,themildersun

Doesthroughafragrantzodiacrun:

And,asitworks,theindustriousbee

Computesitstimeaswellaswe.

Howcouldsuchsweetandwholesomehours

Bereckond,butwithherbsandflowers?

[Footnote]*fromacopyofversesentitled"TheGarden."

Theartificialfountainsofthemetropolisare,inlikemanner,fastvanishing.Mostofthemaredriedup,orbrickedover.Yet,whereoneisleft,asinthatlittlegreennookbehindtheSouthSeaHouse,whatafreshnessitgivestothedrearypile!Fourlittlewingedmarbleboysusedtoplaytheirvirginfancies,spoutingouteverfreshstreamsfromtheirinnocent-wantonlips,inthesquareofLincolns-inn,whenIwasnobiggerthantheywerefigured.Theyaregone,andthespringchokedup.Thefashion,theytellme,isgoneby,andthesethingsareesteemedchildish.Whynotthengratifychildren,bylettingthemstand?Lawyers,Isuppose,werechildrenonce.Theyareawakeningimagestothematleast.Whymusteverythingsmackofman,andmannish?Istheworldgrownup?Ischildhooddead?Oristherenotinthebosomsofthewisestandthebestsomeofthechildsheartleft,torespondtoitsearliestenchantments?Thefiguresweregrotesque.Arethestiff-wiggedlivingfigures,thatstillflitterandchatteraboutthatarea,lessgothicinappearance?oristhesplutteroftheirhotrhetoriconehalfsorefreshingandinnocentasthelittlecoolplayfulstreamsthoseexplodedcherubsuttered?

TheyhavelatelygothicisedtheentrancetotheInnerTemple-hall,andthelibraryfront,toassimilatethem,Isuppose,tothebodyofthehall,whichtheydonotatallresemble.Whatisbeeofthewingedhorsethatstoodovertheformer?astatelyarms!andwhohasremovedthosefrescoesoftheVirtues,whichItalianizedtheendofthePaper-buildings?——myfirsthintofallegory!Theymustaccounttomeforthesethings,whichImisssogreatly.

Theterraceis,indeed,left,whichweusedtocalltheparade;butthetracesarepassedawayofthefootstepswhichmadeitspavementawful!Itisbeemonandprofane.Theoldbenchershaditalmostsacredtothemselves,intheforepartofthedayatleast.Theymightnotbesidedorjostled.Theirairanddressassertedtheparade.Youleftwidespacesbetwixtyou,whenyoupassedthem.Wewalkoneventermswiththeirsuccessors.TheroguisheyeofJ——ll,everreadytobedeliveredofajest,almostinvitesastrangertovieareparteewithit.ButwhatinsolentfamiliardursthavematedThomasCoventry?——whosepersonwasaquadrate,hisstepmassyandelephantine,hisfacesquareasthelions,hisgaitperemptoryandpath-keeping,indivertiblefromhiswayasamovingcolumn,thescarecrowofhisinferiors,thebrow-beaterofequalsandsuperiors,whomadeasolitudeofchildrenwhereverhecame,fortheyfledhisinsufferablepresence,astheywouldhaveshunnedanElishabear.Hisgrowlwasasthunderintheirears,whetherhespaketotheminmirthorinrebuke,hisinvitatorynotesbeing,indeed,ofall,themostrepulsiveandhorrid.Cloudsofsnuffaggravatingthenaturalterrorsofhisspeech,brokefromeachmajesticnostril,darkeningtheair.Hetookit,notbypinches,butapalmfulatonce,divingforitunderthemightyflapsofhisold-fashionedwaistcoatpocket;hiswaistcoatredandangry,hiscoatdarkrappee,tincturedbydyeoriginal,andbyadjuncts,withbuttonsofaobsoletegold.Andsohepacedtheterrace.

Byhissideamilderformwassometimestobeseen;thepensivegentilityofSamuelSalt.Theywerecoevals,andhadnothingbutthatandtheirbenchershipinmon.InpoliticsSaltwasawhigandCoventryastaunchtory.Manyasarcasticgrowldidthelattercastout——forCoventryhadaroughspinoushumour——atthepoliticalconfederatesofhisassociate,whichreboundedfromthegentlebosomofthelatterlikecannon-ballsfromwool.YoucouldnotruffleSamuelSalt.

S.hadthereputationofbeingaverycleverman,andofexcellentdiscernmentinthechamberpracticeofthelaw.Isuspecthisknowledgedidnotamounttomuch.Whenacaseofdifficultdispositionofmoney,testamentaryorotherwise,camebeforehim,heordinarilyhandeditoverwithafewinstructionstohismanLovel,whowasaquicklittlefellow,andwoulddespatchitoutofhandbythelightofnaturalunderstanding,ofwhichhehadanunmonshare.ItwasincrediblewhatreputefortalentsS.enjoyedbythemeretrickofgravity.Hewasashyman;achildmightposehiminaminute——indolentandprocrastinatingtothelastdegree.Yetmenwouldgivehimcreditforvastapplicationinspiteofhimself.Hewasnottobetrustedwithhimselfwithimpunity.Heneverdressedforadinnerpartybutheforgothissword——theyworeswordsthen——orsomeothernecessarypartofhisequipage.Lovelhadhiseyeuponhimonalltheseoccasions,andordinarilygavehimhiscue.Iftherewasanythingwhichhecouldspeakunseasonably,hewassuretodoit.HewastodineatarelativesoftheunfortunateMissBlandyonthedayofherexecution;——andL.whohadawaryforesightofhisprobablehallucinations,beforehesetout,schooledhimwithgreatanxietynotinanypossiblemannertoalludetoherstorythatday.S.promisedfaithfullytoobservetheinjunction.Hehadnotbeenseatedintheparlour,wherethepanywasexpectingthedinnersummons,fourminutes,when,apauseintheconversationensuing,hegotup,lookedoutofwindow,andpullingdownhisruffles——anordinarymotionwithhim——observed,"itwasagloomyday,"andadded,"MissBlandymustbehangedbythistime,Isuppose."Instancesofthissortwereperpetual.YetS.wasthoughtbysomeofthegreatestmenofhistimeafitpersontobeconsulted,notaloneinmatterspertainingtothelaw,butintheordinarynicetiesandembarrassmentsofconduct——fromforceofmannerentirely.Heneverlaughed.Hehadthesamegoodfortuneamongthefemaleworld,——wasaknowntoastwiththeladies,andoneortwoaresaidtohavediedforloveofhim——Isuppose,becausehenevertrifledortalkedgallantrywiththem,orpaidthem,indeed,hardlymonattentions.Hehadafinefaceandperson,butwantedmethought,thespiritthatshouldhaveshownthemoffwithadvantagetothewomen.Hiseyelackedlustre——Notso,thoughtSusanP——;who,attheadvancedageofsixty,wasseen,inthecoldeveningtime,unacpanied,wettingthepavementofB——dRow,withtearsthatfellindropswhichmightbeheard,becauseherfriendhaddiedthatday——he,whomshehadpursuedwithahopelesspassionforthelastfortyyears——apassion,whichyearscouldnotextinguishorabate;northelongresolved,yetgentlyenforced,puttingsoffofunrelentingbachelorhooddissuadefromitscherishedpurpose.MildSusanP——,thouhastnowthyfriendinheaven!

ThomasCoventrywasacadetofthenoblefamilyofthatname.Hepassedhisyouthincontractedcircumstances,whichgavehimearlythoseparsimonioushabitswhichinafter-lifeneverforsookhim;sothat,withonewindfalloranother,aboutthetimeIknewhimhewasmasteroffourorfivehundredthousandpounds;nordidhelook,orwalk,worthamoidoreless.HelivedinagloomyhouseoppositethepumpinSerjeants-inn,Fleet-street.J.,thecounsel,isdoingself-imposedpenanceinit,forwhatreasonIdivinenot,atthisday.C.hadanagreeableseatatNorthCray,whereheseldomspentaboveadayortwoatatimeinthesummer;butpreferred,duringthehotmonths,standingathiswindowinthisdamp,close,well-likemansion,towatch,ashesaid,"themaidsdrawingwateralldaylong."Isuspecthehadhiswithin-doorreasonsforthepreference.Hiccursusetarmafuere.Hemightthinkhistreasuresmoresafe.Hishousehadtheaspectofastrongbox.C.wasaclosehunks——ahoarderratherthanamiser——or,ifamiser,noneofthemadElwesbreed,whohavebroughtdiscredituponacharacter,whichcannotexistwithoutcertainadmirablepointsofsteadinessandunityofpurpose.Onemayhateatruemiser,butcannot,Isuspect,soeasilydespisehim.Bytakingcareofthepence,heisoftenenabledtopartwiththepounds,uponascalethatleavesuscarelessgenerousfellowshaltingatanimmeasurabledistancebehind.C.gaveaway30,000l.atonceinhislife-timetoablindcharity.Hishouse-keepingwasseverelylookedafter,buthekeptthetableofagentleman.Hewouldknowwhocameinan$whowentoutofhishouse,buthiskitchenchimneywasneversufferedtofreeze.

Saltwashisoppositeinthis,asinall——neverknewwhathewasworthintheworld;andhavingbutapetencyforhisrank,whichhisindolenthabitswerelittlecalculatedtoimprove,mighthavesufferedseverelyifhehadnothadhonestpeopleabouthim.Loveltookcareofeverything.Hewasatoncehisclerk,hisgoodservant,hisdresser,hisfriend,his"flapper,"hisguide,stop-watch,auditor,treasurer.HedidnothingwithoutconsultingLovel,orfailedinanythingwithoutexpectingandfearinghisadmonishing.Heputhimselfalmosttoomuchinhishands,hadtheynotbeenthepurestintheworld.Heresignedhistitlealmosttorespectasamaster,ifL.couldeverhaveforgottenforamomentthathewasaservant.

IknewthisLovel.HewasamanofanincorrigibleandlosinghonestyAgoodfellowwithal,and"wouldstrike."Inthecauseoftheoppressedbeneverconsideredinequalities,orcalculatedthenumberofhisopponents.Heoncewrestedaswordoutofthehandofamanofqualitythathaddrawnuponhim;andpommelledhimseverelywiththehiltofit.Theswordsmanhadofferedinsulttoafemale——anoccasionuponwhichnooddsagainsthimcouldhavepreventedtheinterferenceofLovel.Hewouldstandnextdaybare-headedtothesameperson,modestlytoexcusehisinterference——forL.neverforgotrank,wheresomethingbetterwasnotconcerned.L.wastheliveliestlittlefellowbreathing,hadafaceasgayasGarricks,whomhewassaidgreatlytoresemble(Ihaveaportraitofhimwhichconfirmsit),possessedafineturnforhumorouspoetry——nexttoSwiftandPrior——mouldedheadsinclayorplasterofParistoadmiration,bythedintofnaturalgeniusmerely;turnedcribbageboards,andsuchsmallcabinettoys,toperfection;tookahandatquadrilleorbowlswithequalfacility;madepunchbetterthananymanofhisdegreeinEngland;hadthemerriestquipsandconceits,andwasaltogetherasbrimfulofrogueriesandinventionsasyoucoulddesire.Hewasabrotheroftheangle,moreover,andjustsuchafree,hearty,honestpanionasMr.IsaacWaltonwouldhavechosentogoafishingwith.Isawhiminhisoldageandthedecayofhisfaculties,palsy-smitten,inthelastsadstageofhumanweakness——"aremnantmostforlornofwhathewas,"yeteventhenhiseyewouldlightupuponthementionofhisfavouriteGarrick.Hewasgreatest,hewouldsay,inBayes——"wasuponthestagenearlythroughoutthewholeperformance,andasbusyasabee."Atintervals,too,hewouldspeakofhisformerlife,andhowhecameupalittleboyfromLincolntogotoservice,andhowhismothercriedatpartingwithhim,andhowhereturned,aftersomefewyearsabsence,inhissmartnewliverytoseeher,andsheblessedherselfatthechange,andcouldhardlybethoughttobelievethatitwas"herownbairn."Andthen,theexcitementsubsiding,hewouldweep,tillIhavewishedthatsadsecond-childhoodmighthaveamotherstilltolayitsheaduponherlap.Butthemonmotherofusallinnolongtimeafterreceivedhimgentlyintohers.

WithCoventry,andwithSalt,intheirwalksupontheterrace,mostmonlyPeterPiersonwouldjoin,tomakeupathird.Theydidnotwalklinkedarminarminthosedays——"asnowourstouttriumvirssweepthestreets,"——butgeneralwithbothhandsfoldedbehindthemforstate,orwithoneatleastbehind,theothercarryingacane.P.wasabenevolent,butnotaprepossessingmad.Hehadthatinhisfacewhichyoucouldnottermunhappiness;itratherimpliedanincapacityofbeinghappy.Hischeekswerecolourless,eventowhiteness.Hislookwasuninviting,resembling(butwithouthissourness)thatofourgreatphilanthropist.Iknowthathedidgoodacts,butIcouldnevermakeoutwhathewas.Contemporarywiththese,butsubordinate,wasDainesBarrington——anotheroddity——hewalkedburlyandsquare——inimitation,Ithink,ofCoventry——howbeitheattainednottothedignityofhisprototype.Nevertheless,hedidprettywell,uponthestrengthofbeingatolerableantiquarian,andhavingabrotherabishop.Whentheaccountofhisyearstreasurershipcametobeaudited,thefollowingsingularchargewasunanimouslydisallowedbythebench:"Item,disbursedMr.Allen,thegardener,twentyshillings,forstufftopoisonthesparrows,bymyorders."nexttohimwasoldBarton——ajollynegation,whotookuponhimtheorderingofthebillsoffarefortheparliamentchamber,wherethebenchersdine——answeringtothebinationroomsatcollege——muchtotheeasementofhislessepicureanbrethren.Iknownothingmoreofhim——ThenRead,andTwopenny——Read,good-humouredandpersonable——Twopenny,good-humoured,butthin,andfelicitousinjestsuponhisownfigure.IfT.wasthin,Wharrywasattenuatedandfleeting.Manymustrememberhim(forhewasratheroflaterdate)andhissingulargait,whichwasperformedbytreestepsandajumpregularlysucceeding.Thestepswerelittleefforts,likethatofachildbeginningtowalk;thejumpparativelyvigorous,asafoottoaninch.Wherehelearnedthisfigure,orwhatoccasionedit,Icouldneverdiscover.Itwasneithergracefulinitself,norseemedtoanswerthepurposeanybetterthanmonwalking.Theextremetenuityofhisframe,Isuspect,sethimuponit.Itwasatrialofpoising.Twopennywouldoftenrallyhimuponhisleanness,andhailhimasBrotherLusty;butW.hadnorelishofajoke.Hisfeatureswerespiteful.Ihaveheardthathewouldpinchhiscatsearsextremely,whenanythinghadoffendedhim.Jackson——theomniscientJacksonhewascalled——wasofthisperiod.Hehadthereputationofpossessingmoremultifariousknowledgethananymanofhistime.HewastheFriarBaconofthelessliterateportionoftheTemple.Irememberapleasantpassage,ofthecookapplyingtohim,withmuchformalityofapology,orinstructionshowtowritedownedgeboneofbeefinhisbillofmons.Hewassupposedtoknow,ifanymanintheworlddid.Hedecidedtheorthographytobe——asIhavegivenit——fortifyinghisauthoritywithsuchanatomicalreasonsasdismissedthemanciple(forthetime)learnedandhappy.Somedospellityetperversely,aitchbone,fromafancifulresemblancebetweenitsshape,andthatoftheaspiratesodenominated.IhadalmostforgottenMingaywiththeironhand——buthewassomewhatlater.Hehadlosthisrighthandbysomeaccident,andsupplieditwithagrapplinghook,whichhewieldedwithatolerableadroitness.Idetectedthesubstitute,beforeIwasoldenoughtoreasonwhetheritwereartificialornot.Iremembertheastonishmentitraisedinme.Hewasablustering,loudtalkingperson;andIreconciledthephenomenontomyideasasanemblemofpower——somewhatlikethehornsintheforeheadofMichaelAngelosMoses.BaronMaseres,whowalks(ordidtillverylately)inthecostumeofthereignofGeorgetheSecond,closesmyimperfectrecollectionsoftheoldbenchersoftheInnerTemple.Fantasticforms,whitherareyefled?Or,ifthelikeofyouexist,whyexisttheynomoreforme?Yeinexplicable,half-understoodappearances,whyesinreasontotearawaythepreternaturalmist,brightorgloomy,thatenshroudedyou?Whymakeyesosorryafigureinmyrelation,whomadeuptome——tomychildisheyes——themythologyoftheTemple?InthosedaysIsawGods,as"oldmencoveredwithamantle,"walkingupontheearth.Letthedreamsofclassicidolatryperish,——extinctbethefairiesandfairytrumperyoflegendaryfabling,intheheartofchildhood,therewill,forever,springupawellofinnocentorwholesomesuperstition——theseedsofexaggerationwillbebusythere,andvital——fromevery-dayformseducingtheunknownandtheunmon.InthatlittleGoshentherewillbelight,whenthegrownworldfloundersaboutinthedarknessofsenseandmateriality.Whilechildhood,andwhiledreams,reducingchildhood,shallbeleft,imaginationshallnothavespreadherholywingstotallytoflytheearth.

P.S.IhavedoneinjusticetothesoftshadeofSamuelSalt.Seewhatitistotrusttoimperfectmemory,andtheerringnoticesofchildhood!YetIprotestIalwaysthoughtthathehadbeenabachelor!Thisgentleman,R.N.informsme,marriedyoung,andlosinghisladyinchild-bed,withinthefirstyearoftheirunion,fellintoadeepmelancholy,fromtheeffectsofwhich,probably,heneverthoroughlyrecovered.Inwhatanewlightdoesthisplacehisrejection(Ocallitbyagentlername!)ofmildSusanP——,unravellingintobeautycertainpeculiaritiesofthisveryshyandretiringcharacter——HenceforthletnoonereceivethenarrativesofEliafortruerecords!Theyare,intruth,butshadowsoffact——verisimilitudes,notverities——orsittingbutupontheremoteedgesandoutskirtsofhistory.HeisnosuchhonestchroniclerasR.N.,andwouldhavedonebetterperhapstohaveconsultedthatgentleman,beforehesenttheseinconditereminiscencestopress.Buttheworthysub-treasurer——whorespectshisoldandhisnewmasters——wouldbuthavebeenpuzzledattheindecorouslibertiesofElia.Thegoodmanwotsnot,peradventure,ofthelicensewhichMagazineshavearrivedatinthisplain-speakingage,orhardlydreamsoftheirexistencebeyondtheGentleman`s——hisfurthestmonthlyexcursionsinthisnaturehavingbeenlongconfinedtotheholygroundofhonestUrbansobituary.Mayitbelongbeforehisownnameshallhelptoswellthosecolumnsofunenviedflattery!——Meantime,OyeNewBenchersoftheInnerTemple,cherishhimkindly,forheishimselfthekindliestofhumancreatures.Shouldinfirmitiesover-takehim——heisyetingreenandvigoroussenility——makeallowancesforthem,rememberingthat"yeyourselvesareold."SomaytheWingedHorse,ourancientbadgeandcognisance,stillflourishsomayfutureHookersandSeldensillustrateyourchurchandchambers!somaythesparrows,indefaultofmoremelodiousquiristers,unpoisonedhopaboutyourwalks!somaythefresh-colouredandcleanlynurserymaid,who,byleave,airsherplayfulchargeinyourstatelygardens,dropherprettiestblushingcurtsyasyepass,reductiveofjuvenescentemotion!somaytheyounkersofthisgenerationeyeyou,pacingyourstatelyterrace,withthesamesuperstitiousveneration,withwhichthechildEliagazedontheOldWorthiesthatsolemnizedtheparadebeforeye!

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