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Updated: September 27, 2025
It was well for him, however, that he kept his Irish risible muscles in order, and that no courtier could guess his thoughts a smile would have lost him his reputation.
His muzzle projects dog-monkey fashion, and is adorned with a regular set of sharp-pointed alligator teeth, which he presents to full view as constantly as his very ticklish risible faculties become excited. The tobacconist's "jolly nigger," stuck in the corner house of street, as it stands in mute but full grin, tempting the patronage of accidental passengers, is his perfect counterpart.
That it will immediately become popular I have not promised to myself: a few wild blunders, and risible absurdities, from which no work of such multiplicity was ever free, may for a time furnish folly with laughter, and harden ignorance into contempt; but useful diligence will at last prevail, and there never can be wanting some who distinguish desert; who will consider that no dictionary of a living tongue ever can be perfect, since, while it is hastening to publication, some words are budding, and some falling away; that a whole life cannot be spent upon syntax and etymology, and that even a whole life would not be sufficient; that he, whose design includes whatever language can express, must often speak of what he does not understand; that a writer will sometimes be hurried by eagerness to the end, and sometimes faint with weariness under a task which Scaliger compares to the labors of the anvil and the mine; that what is obvious is not always known, and what is known is not always present; that sudden fits of inadvertency will surprise vigilance, slight avocations will seduce attention, and casual eclipses of the mind will darken learning; and that the writer shall often in vain trace his memory at the moment of need, for that which yesterday he knew with intuitive readiness, and which will come uncalled into his thoughts to-morrow.
"Of a pie?" said Julian, somewhat amazed. "Yes, sir, of a pie. I hope you find nothing risible in my complaisance?" replied his companion, something jealously. "Not I, sir," said Peveril; "I have other matters than laughter in my head at present."
Those dark days were not without their humours withal; and there was a piquancy in the very imperviousness of our risible faculties to their correct appreciation. Asses and mules it was said were butchered in common with horses, and discussion was wont to be rife on the relative merits of the three animals in their new sphere of usefulness.
"Specially when the said air happens to be quiet and warm, and the night fine and the stars bright and the company pleasant," added the guide. Quashy had a habit, when his risible faculties were only gently tickled, of shutting his eyes, throwing back his head, opening his great mouth wide, and indulging in a silent laugh.
He found his attention converging more and more upon the Larkins cousins. The interest was reciprocal. They watched him with a kind of suppressed excitement and became risible with his every word and gesture. He was more and more aware of their personal quality.
But should anything excite the risible faculties of the observer, his hallucinations are likely to be quickly scattered by the scowls of the resolute-looking fellows passing by with 'hand on sword, needing but little encouragement to 'set a glory' to it, 'by giving it the worship of revenge, as they are extremely jealous of the honour of their prince, and regard the presence of foreigners on the tokaido at such times as an insult.
His risible faculties being on one occasion so violently excited by certain obscene jests, he fell from his seat, and struck his head with such violence against the ground that he died. The clergy, both regular and secular, were also subjected to his criticism.
What a formidable assemblage of sable suits, and tremendous perukes! I have often met here a most intimate acquaintance, whom I have scarce known again; a sprightly young fellow, with whom I have spent many a jolly hour; but being just dubbed a graduate in physic, he has gained such an entire conquest over the risible muscles, that he hardly vouchsafes at any time to smile.
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