circumstances; there is the law. By these he generalizes, by these he
judges,--right or wrong. But of the individual at the bar, of the world-
the tremendous world--within that individual heart, I repeat, he knows
nothing. Did he know, law and circumstances might vanish, human justice
would be paralyzed. Ho, there! place that swart-visaged, ill-looking
foreigner in the dock, and let counsel open the case; hear the witnesses
depose! Oh, horrible wretch! a murderer! unmanly murderer!--a
defenceless woman smothered by caitiff hands! Hang him up! hang him up!
'Softly,' whispers the POET, and lifts the veil from the assassin's
heart. 'Lo! it is Othello the Moor!' What jury now dare find that
criminal guilty? what judge now put on the black cap? who now says,
'Hang him up! hang him up!"

With such lifelike force did the Comedian vent this passionate outburst
that he thrilled his listener with an awe akin to that which the
convicted Moor gathers round himself at the close of the sublime drama.
Even Sir Isaac was startled; and leaving his hopeless pursuit of the
water-rat, uttered a low bark, came to his master, and looked into his
face with solemn curiosity.

WAIFE (relapsing into colloquial accents).--"Why do we sympathize with
those above us more than with those below? why with the sorrows of a king
rather than those of a beggar? why does Sir Isaac sympathize with me more
than (let that water-rat vex him ever so much) I can possibly sympathize
with him? Whatever be the cause, see at least, Mr. Morley, one reason
why a poor creature like myself finds it better employment to cultivate
the intimacy of brutes than to prosecute the study of men. Among men,
all are too high to sympathize with me; but I have known two friends who
never injured nor betrayed. Sir Isaac is one; Wamba was another. Wamba,
sir, the native of a remote district of the globe (two friends civilized