[6.] Patimana, p. 34.
[7.] Lett. S. Evrem.
[8.] Vign. Marvill, t. ii. p. 7.
[CHAP. XXX.]
FOURTH RULE, AT CONVENIENT TIMES.
Though one must not get drunk every day, one may, notwithstanding, on certain occasions. One must sometimes unbend the mind.
Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo.[a]
And when a man puts on the air of a philosopher, it is then he turns fool in affecting to be wise.
There is a time for all things, and so there is in getting drunk, that is, getting drunk with decency and decorum; and there are some times which are not convenient to do so. As for example, (for I love to illustrate what I advance,) it does not suit with decorum for a judge to be drunk on the bench; nor a crier in the court exercising his office, [hiccup, ki—— book;] a parson in the pulpit; an experimental philosopher in shewing of his gimcracks; nor a freemason on the top of a church-steeple.
But it suits very well with strict decorum, to get drunk at a public rejoicing after a signal victory.
When the proud Gaul sustain’d an overthrow