In spite of all the subsequent explanation we are forced to
look upon him as two. All is confusion, and what makes it worse, is
that Master Humphrey is painted as a lean and sober personage, while
his second self is a fat, bluff and boisterous old bachelor.
Yet the species of connexion in question, besides preserving the
unity desired, may be made, if well managed, a source of consistent
and agreeable interest. It has been so made by Thomas Moore- the
most skilful literary artist of his day- perhaps of any day- a man who
stands in the singular and really wonderful predicament of being
undervalued on account of the profusion with which he has scattered
about him his good things. The brilliancies on any one page of Lalla
Roohk would have sufficed to establish that very reputation which
has been in a great measure self-dimmed by the galazied lustre of
the entire book. It seems that the horrid laws of political economy
cannot be evaded even by the inspired, and that a perfect
versification, a vigorous style, and a never-tiring fancy, may, like
the water we drink and die without, yet despise, be so plentifully set
forth as to be absolutely of no value at all.
By far the greater portion of the volume now published, is
occupied with the tale of "The Old Curiosity Shop," narrated by Master
Humphrey himself.
Pages:
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