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which great men inspire into their beholders； though these are
too often unjustly attributed to other motives。 Lastly； the
admiration of the fair is most commonly to be placed to his
account。
〃I was just set up in my trade when I made three suits of fine
clothes for king Stephen's coronation。 I question whether the
person who wears the rich coat hath so much pleasure and vanity
in being admired in it； as we tailors have from that admiration；
and perhaps a philosopher would say he is not so well entitled to
it。 I bustled on the day of the ceremony through the crowd； and
it was with incredible delight I heard several say； as my clothes
walked by； 'Bless me； was ever anything so fine as the earl of
Devonshire？ Sure he and Sir Hugh Bigot are the two best dressed
men I ever saw。' Now both those suits were of my making。
〃There would indeed be infinite pleasure in working for the
courtiers； as they are generally genteel men； and show one's
clothes to the best advantage； was it not for one small
discouragement； this is； that they never pay。 I solemnly
protest； though I lost almost as much by the court in my life as
I got by the city； I never carried a suit into the latter with
half the satisfaction which I have done to the former； though
from that I was certain of ready money； and from this almost as
certain of no money at all。
〃Courtiers may； however； be divided into two sorts； very
essentially different from each other； into those who never
intend to pay for their clothes； and those who do intend to pay
for them； but never happen to be able。 Of the latter sort are
many of those young gentlemen whom we equip out for the army； and
who are； unhappily for us； cut off before they arrive at
preferment。 This is the reason that tailors； in time of war； are
mistaken for politicians by their inquisitiveness into the event
of battles； one campaign very often proving the ruin of
half…a…dozen of us。 I am sure I had frequent reason to curse
that fatal battle of Cardigan； where the Welsh defeated some of
king Stephen's best troops； and where many a good suit of mine
unpaid for； fell to the ground。
〃The gentlemen of this honorable calling have fared much better
in later ages than when I was of it； for now it seems the fashion
is； when they apprehend their customer is not in the best
circumstances； if they are not paid as soon as they carry home
the suit； they charge him in their book as much again as it is
worth； and then send a gentleman with a small scrip of parchment
to demand the money。 If this be not immediately paid the
gentleman takes the beau with him to his house； where he locks
him up till the tailor is contented： but in my time these scrips
of parchment were not in use； and if the beau disliked paying for
his clothes； as very often happened； we had no method of
compelling him。
〃In several of the characters which I have related to you； I
apprehend I have sometimes forgot myself； and considered myself
as really interested as I was when I personated them on earth。 I
have just now caught myself in the fact； for I have complained to
you as bitterly of my customers as I formerly used to do when I
was the tailor： but in reality； though there were some few
persons of very great quality； and some others； who never paid
their debts； yet those were but a few； and I had a method of
repairing this loss。 My customers I divided under three heads：
those who paid ready money； those who paid slow； and those who
never paid at all。 The first of these I considered apart by
themselves； as persons by whom I got a certain but small profit。
The two last I lumped together； making those who paid slow
contribute to repair my losses by those who did not pay at all。
Thus； upon the whole； I was a very inconsiderable loser； and
might have left a fortune to my family； had I not launched forth
into expenses which swallowed up all my gains。 I had a wife and
two children。 These indeed I kept frugally enough； for I half
starved them； but I kept a mistress in a finer way； for whom I
had a country…house； pleasantly situated on the Thames； elegantly
fitted up and neatly furnished。 This woman might very properly
be called my mistress； for she was most absolutely so； and though
her tenure was no higher than by my will； she domineered as
tyrannically as if my chains had been riveted in the strongest
manner。 To all this I submitted； not through any adoration of
her beauty； which was indeed but indifferent。 Her charms
consisted in little wantonnesses； which she knew admirably well
to use in hours of dalliance； and which； I believe； are of all
things the most delightful to a lover。
〃She was so profusely extravagant； that it seemed as if she had
an actual intent to ruin me。 This I am sure of； if such had been
her real intention； she could have taken no properer way to
accomplish it； nay； I myself might appear to have had the same
view： for； besides this extravagant mistress and my
country…house； I kept likewise a brace of hunters； rather for
that it was fashionable so to do than for any great delight I
took in the sport； which I very little attended； not for want of
leisure； for few noblemen had so much。 All the work I ever did
was taking measure； and that only of my greatest and best
customers。 I scare ever cut a piece of cloth in my life； nor was
indeed much more able to fashion a coat than any gentleman in the
kingdom。 This made a skillful servant too necessary to me。 He
knew I must submit to any terms with； or any treatment from； him。
He knew it was easier for him to find another such a tailor as me
than for me to procure such another workman as him： for this
reason he exerted the most notorious and cruel tyranny； seldom
giving me a civil word； nor could the utmost condescension on my
side； though attended with continual presents and rewards； and
raising his wages； content or please him。 In a word； he was as
absolutely my master as was ever an ambitious； industrious prime
minister over an indolent and voluptuous king。 All my other
journeymen paid more respect to him than to me； for they
considered my favor as a necessary consequence of obtaining his。
〃These were the most remarkable occurrences while I acted this
part。 Minos hesitated a few moments； and then bid me get back
again； without assigning any reason。〃
CHAPTER XXIII
The life of alderman Julian。
〃I now revisited England； and was born at London。 My father was
one of the magistrates of that city。 He had eleven children； of
whom I was the eldest。 He had great success in trade； and grew
extremely rich； but the largeness of his family rendered it
impossible for him to leave me a fortune sufficient to live well
on independent of business。 I was accordingly brought up to be a
fishmonger； in which capacity I myself afterwards acquired very
considerable wealth。
〃The same disposition of mind which in princes i