1804-1881
[Sidenote: Jeaffreson’s _Novels and Novelists_.]
“His ringlets of silken black hair, his flashing eyes, his effeminate
and lisping voice, his dress-coat of black velvet lined with white
satin, his white kid gloves with his wrist surrounded by a long hanging
fringe of black silk, and his ivory cane, of which the handle, inlaid
with gold, was relieved by more black silk in the shape of a tassel....
Such was the perfumed boy-exquisite who forced his way into the salons
of peeresses.”--1829.
[Sidenote: Mill’s _Beaconsfield_.]
“In the front seat on the Conservative side of the House, may be
observed a man who, if his hat be off, which it generally is, is sure
to arrest one’s attention, and we need scarcely to be told after having
once seen him that he is the leader of that great party. He is not
old, just turned fifty we may suppose, but he bears his age well,
whatever it may be. His face, which was once handsome, is now ‘sicklied
o’er with the pale cast of thought.’ The head is long, and the forehead
massive and finished. The eye is restless, but full of fire; the hair
black and curly. Nature has evidently taken some pains to finish the
exterior.”--about 1855.
[Sidenote: J. H. du Vivier, _Portraits comparés des hommes d’état_.]
“Certes, le premier aspect de Mr. Gladstone ... réponds à l’idée
qu’on peut se faire d’un chef doué d’un élan irrésistible, mieuxque
l’attitude maladive de lord Beaconsfield, ses traits mous, son regard
flétri et comme perdu dans l’abstraction ou dans une réverie hantée par
la désillusion et la lassitude.... Chez le plus faible ... on devine
bientôt que si le fourreau est usé par la lame, c’est à raison de la
dévorante activité de celle-ci.... La tête s’incline avec mélancholie,
la bouche a pris l’habitude des contractions douleureuses; mais que
de patience invincible dans cette attitude! quelle fécondité, quelle
soudaineté d’inspirations marquées sur ces lèvres que plisse le rictus
de l’ironie!”