Doctor see which of all these dishes on the table will do me the most good, and least harm, and let me eat my bellyful of that, without having it whisked away with his wand. For, by my hopes, and the pleasures of government, as I live, I am ready to die with hunger; and, not to allow me to eat any victuals (let Mr. Doctor say what he will) is the way to shorten my life, and not to lengthen it." Very true, my lord," replied the physician; "however, I am of opinion you ought not to eat of these rabbits, as being a hairy, furry, sort of food; nor would I have you taste that veal. Indeed, if it were neither roasted nor parboiled, something might be said; but, as it is, it must not be." "Well, then," said Sancho, "what think you of that huge dish yonder that smokes so ? so? I take it to be an olla podrida; and that being a hodge-podge of so many sorts of victuals, sure I cannot but light upon something there that will suit me, and be both wholesome and toothsome." “ Nay,” cried the doctor, "far be such an ill thought from us; no diet in the world yields worse nutriment than those wish-washes do. No, leave that luxurious compound to your rich monks, your masters of colleges, and lusty feeders at country weddings; but let them not encumber the tables of governors, where nothing but delicate unmixed viands, in their prime, ought to make their appearance. Therefore, what I should advise at present, as a fit diet for the governor, for the preservation and support of his health, is a hundred of small wafers, and a few thin slices of marmalade, to strengthen his stomach and help digestion." Sancho, hearing this, leaned back upon his chair, and, looking earnestly in the doctor's face, very seriously asked him what his name was, and where he had studied? "My lord," answered he, "I am called Doctor Pedro." "Hark you," said Sancho, in a mighty chafe, "Mr. Doctor Pedro take yourself away! Avoid the room this moment, or, by the sun's light, I'll get me a good cudgel, and, beginning with your carcase, will so belabour and rib-roast all the physicmongers in the island, that I will not leave therein one of the tribe, of those, I mean, that are ignorant quacks; for, as for learned and wise physicians, I will make much of them, and honour them like so many angels. Once more, Pedro, I say, get out of my presence. Avaunt! or I will take the chair I sit upon, and comb your head with it to some purpose, and let me be called to an account about it when I give up my office; I do not care, I will clear myself by saying I did the world good service by ridding it of a bad physician, the plague of the commonwealth. Body of me! let me eat, or let them take their government again; for an office that will not afford a man victuals is not worth two horse beans.' CERVANTES. Learn the spellings and meanings at the top of the page; and write sentences containing these words. OLIVER GOLDSMITH, 1728-1774. [O. Goldsmith was the son of a clergyman (see Otway), and was born at Pallas, in Ireland, 1728. His parents were very poor, but he was sent to the University, where his conduct was rather irregular. His uncle paid for him to enter the law and then medicine; and Goldsmith travelled on the continent, supporting himself with his flute. He was afterwards a teacher, then a chemist's assistant, and finally became an author. His principal works are, "The Deserted Village," "Vicar of Wakefield," "The Traveller," "She Stoops to Conquer," "Natural History," &c.] DESCRIPTION OF AUBURN THE VILLAGE PREACHER, THE SCHOOLMASTER, AND ALEHOUSE. Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain, Where health and plenty cheered the labouring swain; The decent church that topped the neighbouring hill; How often have I blessed the coming day, Sweet was the sound, when oft, at evening's close, Up yonder hill the village murmur rose; There as I passed, with careless steps and slow, Near yonder copse, where once the garden smiled, And still where many a garden flower grows wild, There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose, The village preacher's modest mansion rose. A man he was to all the country dear, His house was known to all the vagrant train; |