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Swift, Jonathan, 1667-1745

"A Tale of a Tub"



SECTION VI.--A TALE OF A TUB.

We left Lord Peter in open rupture with his two brethren, both for
ever discarded from his house, and resigned to the wide world with
little or nothing to trust to. Which are circumstances that render
them proper subjects for the charity of a writer's pen to work on,
scenes of misery ever affording the fairest harvest for great
adventures. And in this the world may perceive the difference
between the integrity of a generous Author and that of a common
friend. The latter is observed to adhere close in prosperity, but
on the decline of fortune to drop suddenly off; whereas the generous
author, just on the contrary, finds his hero on the dunghill, from
thence, by gradual steps, raises him to a throne, and then
immediately withdraws, expecting not so much as thanks for his
pains; in imitation of which example I have placed Lord Peter in a
noble house, given him a title to wear and money to spend. There I
shall leave him for some time, returning, where common charity
directs me, to the assistance of his two brothers at their lowest
ebb.


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