[123] Leland, in his magnificent plan, included several curious
departments. Jealous of the literary glory of the Italians,
whom he compares to the Greeks for accounting all nations
barbarous and unlettered, he had composed four books "De Viris
Illustribus", on English Authors, to force them to acknowledge
the illustrious genius, and the great men of Britain. Three
books "De Nobilitate Britannica" were to be "as an ornament
and a right comely garland."
[124] What reason is there to suppose with Granger that his bust, so
admirably engraven by Grignion, is supposititious? Probably
struck by the premature old age of a man who died in his
fortieth year, he condemned it by its appearance; but not with
the eye of the physiognomist.
[125] Ancient Funerall Monuments, p. 692.
[126] In a letter to Joseph Warton.
[127] Burton, the author of "The Anatomy of Melancholy," offers a
striking instance. Bishop Kennett, in his curious "Register
and Chronicle," has preserved the following particulars of
this author. "In an interval of vapours _he would be extremely
pleasant, and raise laughter in any company_. Yet I have heard
that nothing at last could make him laugh but going down to
the Bridge-foot at Oxford, and hearing the bargemen scold and
storm and swear at one another; at which he would set his
hands to his sides, and laugh most profusely; yet in his
chamber so mute and mopish, that he was suspected to be _felo
de se_." With what a fine strain of poetic feeling has a
modern bard touched this subject!--
"As a beam o'er the face of the waters may glow,
While the tide runs in darkness and coldness below,
So the cheek may be tinged with a warm sunny smile,
Though the cold heart to ruin runs darkly the while."
MOORE'S "Irish Melodies."