``That is very handsomely said,'' answered the Baron; ``for undoubtedly if a man be _ebrius,_ or intoxicated---an incident which, on solemn and festive occasions, may and will take place in the life of a man of honour; and if the same gentleman, being fresh and sober, recants the contumelies which he hath spoken in his liquor, it must be held _vinum locutum_ est; the words cease to be his own.Yet would I not find this exculpation relevant in the case of one who was _ebriosus,_ or an habitual drunkard; because, if such a person choose to pass the greater part of his time in the predicament of intoxication, he hath no title to be exeemed from the obligations of the code of politeness, but should learn to deport himself peaceably and courteously when under the influence of the vinous stimulus.---And now let us proceed to breakfast, and think no more of this daft business.''
I must confess, whatever inference may be drawn from the circumstance, that Edward, after so satisfactory an explanation, did much greater honour to the delicacies of Miss Bradwardine's breakfast-table than his commencement had promised.Balmawhapple, on the contrary, seemed embarrassed and dejected;and Waverley now, for the first time, observed that his arm was in a sling, which seemed to account for the awkward and embarrassed manner with which he had presented his hand.
To a question from Miss Bradwardine, he muttered, in answer, something about his horse having fallen; and, seeming desirous to escape both from the subject and the company, he arose as soon as breakfast was over, made his bow to the party, and, declining the Baron's invitation to tarry till after dinner, mounted his horse and returned to his own home.
Waverley now announced his purpose of leaving Tully-Veolan early enough after dinner to gain the stage at which he meant to sleep; but the unaffected and deep mortification with which the good-natured and affectionate old gentleman heard the proposal, quite deprived him of courage to persist in it.No sooner had he gained Waverley's consent to lengthen his visit for a few days, than he laboured to remove the grounds upon which he conceived he had meditated a more early retreat.``I would not have you opine, Captain Waverley, that I am by practice or precept an advocate of ebriety, though it may be that, in our festivity of last night, some of our friends, if not perchance altogether _ebrii,_ or drunken, were, to say the least, _ebrioli,_ by which the ancients designed those who were fuddled, or, as your English vernacular and metaphorical phrase goes, half-seas-over.
Not that I would so insinuate respecting you, Captain Waverley, who, like a prudent youth, did rather abstain from potation; nor can it be truly said of myself, who, having assisted at the tables of many great generals and marechals at their solemn carousals, have the art to carry my wine discreetly, and did not, during the whole evening, as ye must have doubtless observed, exceed the bounds of a modest hilarity.''
There was no refusing assent to a proposition so decidedly laid down by him who undoubtedly was the best judge; although, had Edward formed his opinion from his own recollections, he would have pronounced that the Baron was not only _ebriolus,_but verging to become _ebrius;_ or, in plain English, was incomparably the most drunk of the party, except perhaps his antagonist the Laird of Balmawhapple.However, having received the expected, or rather the required, compliment on his sobriety, the Baron proceeded,---``No, sir, though I am myself of a strong temperament, I abhor ebriety, and detest those who swallow wine _gul<ae> causa,_ for the oblectation of the gullet;albeit I might deprecate the law of Pittacus of Mitylene, who punished doubly a crime committed under the influence of _Liber Pater;_ nor would I utterly accede to the objurgation of the younger Plinius, in the fourteenth book of his `Historia Naturalis.' No, sir; I distinguish, I discriminate, and approve of wine so far only as it maketh glad the face, or, in the language of Flaccus, _recepto amico._''
Thus terminated the apology which the Baron of Bradwardine thought it necessary to make for the superabundance of his hospitality; and it may be easily believed that he was neither interrupted by dissent, nor any expression of incredulity.
