_Captain._ You are incorrigible. Are there no bounds to your audacity?
_Author._ There are the sacred and eternal boundaries of honour and
virtue. My course is like the enchanted chamber of Britomart--
"Where as she look'd about, she did behold
How over that same door was likewise writ,
_Be Bold--Be Bold,_ and everywhere _Be Bold._
Whereat she mused, and could not construe it;
At last she spied at that room's upper end
Another iron door, on which was writ--
BE NOT TOO BOLD."
_Captain._ Well, you must take the risk of proceeding on your own
principles.
_Author._ Do you act on yours, and take care you do not stay idling
here till the dinner hour is over.--I will add this work to your
patrimony, _valeat quantum._
Here our dialogue terminated; for a little sooty-faced Apollyon from
the Canongate came to demand the proof-sheet on the part of Mr.
M'Corkindale; and I heard Mr. C. rebuking Mr. F. in another
compartment of the same labyrinth I have described, for suffering any
one to penetrate so far into the _penetralia_ of their temple.
I leave it to you to form your own opinion concerning the import of
this dialogue, and I cannot but believe I shall meet the wishes of our
common parent in prefixing this letter to the work which it concerns.
I am, reverend and dear Sir,
Very sincerely and affectionately
Yours,
THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL
_Knifegrinder.
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