May the gods forbid that I should be the means of
overwhelming you with unnecessary sorrow! And, besides, I fear I am not
such a favorite of the gods as to receive such a marked favor."
"A prodigious favor to be the companions of illiterate captives!" cried
Scribbo, with a disdainful curl of his lip. "The Chaldean who calls that
a favor, is anything but an ornament to his country."
"We may have different tastes in regard to ornament," replied the
good-natured cousin, looking with an arch smile on his cousin's heavy and
useless jewelry. "As for me, I am a plain young man. I value the useful
far above the ornamental. I consider healthy ablutions and clean linens
far more desirable than the decoration of our persons with ornamental
trash. And why may it not be so in the government? So much in regard to
ornaments. 'Ignorant and illiterate captives.' Ah, cousin! Believest thou
this? Dost thou not rather hope that this is so? Hope on! The day of
trial hastens apace! Hope vigorously and diligently; for such hope is of
short duration.
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