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occupations； and among other strange places to which Francis Ardry
conducted me was a place not far from the abbey church of
Westminster。
Before we entered this place our ears were greeted by a confused
hubbub of human voices； squealing of rats； barking of dogs； and the
cries of various other animals。 Here we beheld a kind of cock…pit；
around which a great many people； seeming of all ranks； but chiefly
of the lower； were gathered； and in it we saw a dog destroy a great
many rats in a very small period； and when the dog had destroyed
the rats； we saw a fight between a dog and a bear； then a fight
between two dogs； then 。 。 。 。
After the diversions of the day were over； my friend introduced me
to the genius of the place； a small man of about five feet high；
with a very sharp countenance； and dressed in a brown jockey coat
and top boots。 'Joey；' said he； 'this is a friend of mine。' Joey
nodded to me with a patronising air。 'Glad to see you； sir！ … want
a dog？'
'No；' said I。
'You have got one； then … want to match him？'
'We have a dog at home；' said I； 'in the country； but I can't say I
should like to match him。 Indeed； I do not like dog…fighting。'
'Not like dog…fighting！' said the man； staring。
'The truth is； Joe； that he is just come to town。'
'So I should think； he looks rather green … not like dog…fighting！'
'Nothing like it； is there； Joey？'
'I should think not； what is like it？ A time will come； and that
speedily； when folks will give up everything else； and follow dog…
fighting。'
'Do you think so？' said I。
'Think so？ Let me ask what there is that a man wouldn't give up
for it？'
'Why；' said I； modestly； 'there's religion。'
'Religion！ How you talk。 Why； there's myself bred and born an
Independent； and intended to be a preacher； didn't I give up
religion for dog…fighting？ Religion； indeed！ If it were not for
the rascally law； my pit would fill better on Sundays than any
other time。 Who would go to church when they could come to my pit？
Religion！ why； the parsons themselves come to my pit； and I have
now a letter in my pocket from one of them； asking me to send him a
dog。'
'Well； then； politics；' said I。
'Politics！ Why； the gemmen in the House would leave Pitt himself；
if he were alive； to come to my pit。 There were three of the best
of them here to…night； all great horators。 … Get on with you； what
comes next？'
'Why； there's learning and letters。'
'Pretty things； truly； to keep people from dog…fighting。 Why；
there's the young gentlemen from the Abbey School comes here in
shoals； leaving books； and letters； and masters too。 To tell you
the truth； I rather wish they would mind their letters； for a more
precious set of young blackguards I never seed。 It was only the
other day I was thinking of calling in a constable for my own
protection； for I thought my pit would have been torn down by
them。'
Scarcely knowing what to say； I made an observation at random。
'You show； by your own conduct；' said I； 'that there are other
things worth following besides dog…fighting。 You practise rat…
catching and badger…baiting as well。'
The dog…fancier eyed me with supreme contempt。
'Your friend here；' said he； 'might well call you a new one。 When
I talks of dog…fighting； I of course means rat…catching； and
badger…baiting； ay； and bull…baiting too； just as when I speaks
religiously； when I says one I means not one but three。 And
talking of religion puts me in mind that I have something else to
do besides chaffing here； having a batch of dogs to send off by
this night's packet to the Pope of Rome。'
But at last I had seen enough of what London had to show； whether
strange or commonplace； so at least I thought； and I ceased to
accompany my friend in his rambles about town； and to partake of
his adventures。 Our friendship； however； still continued unabated；
though I saw； in consequence； less of him。 I reflected that time
was passing on … that the little money I had brought to town was
fast consuming； and that I had nothing to depend upon but my own
exertions for a fresh supply； and I returned with redoubled
application to my pursuits。
CHAPTER XXXVI
Occupations … Traduttore traditore … Ode to the Mist … Apple and
pear … Reviewing … Current literature … Oxford…like manner … A
plain story … Ill…regulated mind … Unsnuffed candle … Strange
dreams。
I COMPILED the Chronicles of Newgate； I reviewed books for the
Review established on an entirely new principle； and I occasionally
tried my best to translate into German portions of the publisher's
philosophy。 In this last task I experienced more than one
difficulty。 I was a tolerable German scholar； it is true； and I
had long been able to translate from German into English with
considerable facility； but to translate from a foreign language
into your own is a widely different thing from translating from
your own into a foreign language； and； in my first attempt to
render the publisher into German； I was conscious of making
miserable failures； from pure ignorance of German grammar； however；
by the assistance of grammars and dictionaries； and by extreme
perseverance； I at length overcame all the difficulties connected
with the German language。 But； alas！ another difficulty remained；
far greater than any connected with German … a difficulty connected
with the language of the publisher … the language which the great
man employed in his writings was very hard to understand； I say in
his writings … for his colloquial English was plain enough。 Though
not professing to be a scholar； he was much addicted； when writing；
to the use of Greek and Latin terms； not as other people used them；
but in a manner of his own； which set the authority of dictionaries
at defiance； the consequence was that I was sometimes utterly at a
loss to understand the meaning of the publisher。 Many a quarter of
an hour did I pass at this period； staring at periods of the
publisher； and wondering what he could mean； but in vain； till at
last； with a shake of the head； I would snatch up the pen； and
render the publisher literally into German。 Sometimes I was almost
tempted to substitute something of my own for what the publisher
had written； but my conscience interposed； the awful words；
Traduttore traditore； commenced ringing in my ears； and I asked
myself whether I should be acting honourably towards the publisher；
who had committed to me the delicate task of translating him into
German； should I be acting honourably towards him； in making him
speak in German in a manner different from that in which he
expressed himself in English？ No； I could not reconcile such
conduct with any principle of honour； by substituting something of
my own in lieu of these mysterious passages of the p