Some Account xc
at once the soundness of his understanding,
and the mildness and suavity of his deport-
ment, perhaps Horace’s description of the
amiable friend of the younger Scipio,- — the
mitis sapientia Læli,53 may convey to posterity
" His manners were gentle, complying, and bland ;
“ Still born to improve us in every part,
" His pencil our faces, his manners our heart :
" To coxcombs averse, yet most civilly steering,—
" When they judg’d without skill, he was still hard
of hearing ;
" When they talk’d of their Raffaelles, Correggios,
and stuff,
" He shifted his trumpet, and only took snuff."
* * * * * *
These were the last lines the author wrote. He had
written half a line more of this character, when he was
seized with the nervous fever which carried him in a few
days to the grave. He intended to have concluded with
his own character.
53 Even the classical reader may not perhaps immediately
recollect in how many points these two celebrated persons
resemble each other. Each of them certainly had some
qualifications, to which the other had no pretensions ; as
Lælius knew nothing of painting, so our author had no
claim either to the character of a military commander, or
a distinguished orator. But the qualities which they pos-
sessed in common, are so numerous, as fully to justify
the present juxta-position.