Nature and Art | Page 7

The affection Henry expressed as he said this, or the force of a bumper
of wine, which William had not seen since he left his father's house,
had such an effect in calming the displeasure he was cherishing, that,
on his brother offering him the glass, he took it; and he deigned even to
eat of his present.
Henry, to convince him that he had stinted himself to obtain for him
this collation, sat down and partook of it.
After a few glasses, he again ventured to say, "Do, brother William, let
me teach you to play on the violin."
Again his offer was refused, though with less vehemence: at length
they both agreed that the attempt could not prosper.
"Then," said Henry, "William, go down to Oxford or to Cambridge.
There, no doubt, they are as fond of learning as in this gay town they
are of music. You know you have as much talent for the one as I for the
other: do go to one of our universities, and see what dinners, what
suppers, and what friends you will find there."

CHAPTER IV.

William DID go to one of those seats of learning, and would have
starved there, but for the affectionate remittances of Henry, who shortly
became so great a proficient in the art of music, as to have it in his
power not only to live in a very reputable manner himself, but to send
such supplies to his brother, as enabled him to pursue his studies.
With some, the progress of fortune is rapid. Such is the case when,
either on merit or demerit, great patronage is bestowed. Henry's violin
had often charmed, to a welcome forgetfulness of his insignificance, an
effeminate lord; or warmed with ideas of honour the head of a duke,
whose heart could never be taught to feel its manly glow. Princes had
flown to the arms of their favourite fair ones with more rapturous
delight, softened by the masterly touches of his art: and these elevated
personages, ever grateful to those from whom they receive benefits,
were competitors in the desire of heaping favours upon him. But he, in

all his advantages, never once lost for a moment the hope of some
advantage for his brother William: and when at any time he was
pressed by a patron to demand a "token of his regard," he would
constantly reply--"I have a brother, a very learned man, if your lordship
(your grace, or your royal highness) would confer some small favour
on him!"
His lordship would reply, "He was so teased and harassed in his youth
by learned men, that he had ever since detested the whole fraternity."
His grace would inquire, "if the learned man could play upon any
instrument."
And his highness would ask "if he could sing."
Rebuffs such as these poor Henry met with in all his applications for
William, till one fortunate evening, at the conclusion of a concert, a
great man shook him by the hand, and promised a living of five
hundred a year (the incumbent of which was upon his death-bed) to his
brother, in return for the entertainment that Henry had just afforded
him.
Henry wrote in haste to William, and began his letter thus: "My dear
brother, I am not sorry you did not learn to play upon the fiddle."

CHAPTER V.

The incumbent of this living died--William underwent the customary
examinations, obtained successively the orders of deacon and priest;
then as early as possible came to town to take possession of the gift
which his brother's skill had acquired for him.
William had a steady countenance, a stern brow, and a majestic walk;
all of which this new accession, this holy calling to religious vows,
rather increased than diminished. In the early part of his life, the violin
of his brother had rather irritated than soothed the morose disposition
of his nature: and though, since their departure from their native
habitation, it had frequently calmed the violent ragings of his huger, it
had never been successful in appeasing the disturbed passions of a
proud and disdainful mind.
As the painter views with delight and wonder the finished picture,

expressive testimony of his taste and genius; as the physician beholds
with pride and gladness the recovering invalid, whom his art has
snatched from the jaws of death; as the father gazes with rapture on his
first child, the creature to whom he has given life; so did Henry survey,
with transporting glory, his brother, dressed for the first time in
canonicals, to preach at his parish church. He viewed him from head to
foot--smiled--viewed again--pulled one side of his gown a little this
way, one end of his band a little that way; then stole behind him,
pretending