tach yourself to a falling wall?" The dean took the hint and retired. The year following Stella died, and from that time Swift became more reserved, sullen, and He indulged himself in writing ridiculous rhimes, making wretched puns, and teazing all around him. morose. In 1736, he lost his memory, and his passions became so strong and violent that he was obliged to have an attendant constantly about him. He had a presentiment of falling into this melancholy condition many years before, for Dr. Young, says, "I remember, as I and others were taking a walk with him about a mile out of Dublin, he stopt short; we passed on; but perceiving that he did not follow us, I went back and found him fixed as a statue, and earnestly gazing towards a noble elm, which in its uppermost branches was much withered and decayed. Pointing at it, he said, "I shall be like that tree, I shall die at top." It was under the same impression, doubtless, that he left the bulk of his fortune for the erection of an hospital for ideots and lunatics, not without an allusion, perhaps, to the Irish nation. In this state of mental imbecility he remained till his death, in October, 1745. There were, however, a few lucid intervals in which the remains of his wit would occasionally sparkle. When Handel, on his arrival in Dublin, was desirous of being introduced to him, Swift 3 Swift for some time appeared quite insensible, but after a repeated explanation of the stranger's merits, he exclaimed, "What, a German, and a genius, shew him in." The dean, when he went out for the air, was always attended by a medical gentleman. One day he was brought into the Phoenix Park, and observing a new building, he asked Dr. Kingsbury what it was intended for, and on being answered that it was a new arsenal or magazine for ammunition for the defence of the city, he took out his pocket book and wrote these-his last lines: O solid proof of Irish sense, Here Irish wit is seen; When nothing's left that's worth defence, Before Swift retired to Ireland, in 1726, he became one of that constellation of wits known by the name of the Scriblerus club, the other members of which were Pope, Arbuthnot, Gay, Parnell, and Jervas. They wrote many things in conjunction, and Gay was generally the amanuensis. Pope, Arbuthnot and Swift, projected a satire "On the Abuses of Human Learning," to be written in the manner of Cervantes, but the separation of these friends, soon after put an end to the design. Warburton says, "Polite letters never lost more than in the defeat of this scheme, in which each of this illustrious trium virate would have found exercise for his own peculiar talent, besides constant employment, for that they all had in common." Dr. Arbuthnot was skilled in, every thing that related to science, Mr. Pope was a master in the fine arts, and Swift excelled in the knowledge of the world. Wit they had all in equal measure, and this so large, that no age, perhaps, ever produced three men to whom nature had more boun, tifully bestowed it, or art brought it to higher perfection. The first book only of Martinus Scriblerus appeared, and this, though it does not justify the high expressions of Warburton, is sufficiently pleasant to excite a regret that the work was not continued. It is supposed that Swift's Gulliver was part of the plan. When the members of the Scriblerus club were in town, they generally dined together, and frequently they made excursions into the country. Once they agreed to go to Lord Burlington's, which was about twelve miles from London. It was a custom with Swift, in whatever company he might travel, always to endeavour to get the best bed for himself. Accordingly on the present occasion, Swift, who was an excellent walker, proposed, as they were leaving town, that each should make the best of his way. Parnell, guessing the dean's intentions, acquiesced, but as soon as his friend was out of sight, he took horse and arrived at his lordship's by another way before Swift. Having apprized his noble host of the dean's approach and design, he begged of him to disappoint and mortify him. It was consequently resolved that Swift should be kept out of the house. He had never had the small-pox, and was, as all his acquaintance knew, very much afraid of that distemper. A servant was dispatched to meet him as he was approaching the park-gate, to tell him that the smallpox was raging in the house, and that it would be unsafe for him to enter the doors: but that there was a field bed in the summer house in the garden, at his service. Thither the dean retired in sullen mood, condemned to eat a cold supper and alone, while his friends were enjoying themselves with great glee in the house. At last, after they thought, that he had been sufficiently punished, he was permitted to enter the house upon condition that he should never afterwards attempt to get the best bed for himself. The following story is related in Pope's own words as communicated by him to Mr. Spence : : "Dr. Swift, has an odd blunt way that is mistaken by strangers for ill nature. It is so odd that there is no describing it but by facts. I'll tell you one that first comes into my head. One evening Gay and I went to see him you know how intimately we were all acquainted. On our coming in, "Hey day, gentlemen, (says the doc tor) what's the meaning of this visit? How came you to leave all the Lords that you are so fond of to come here to see a poor dean ?"-" Because we |