"Waiter! Fetch A Bible!" Called Out Mr. Clerk, And A Great Family
Bible Was Immediately Brought In, And Opened On The Table Among All
The Beer Jugs.
Mr. Clerk turned over a few leaves, and in the book of Judges, 9th
chapter, verse xiii, he read, "Should I leave my wine, which
cheereth God and man?"
Mr. Maud and Mr. Caern, who had before been most violent, now sat as
if struck dumb. A silence of some minutes prevailed, when all at
once, the spirit of revelation seemed to come on me, and I said,
"Why, gentlemen, you must be sensible that it is but an allegorical
expression;" and I added, "how often in the Bible are kings called
gods!"
"Why, yes, to be sure," said Mr. Maud and Mr. Caern, "it is an
allegorical expression; nothing can be more clear; it is a metaphor,
and therefore it is absurd to understand it in a literal sense."
And now they, in their turn, triumphed over poor Clerk, and drank
large draughts to my health in strong ale; which, as my company
seemed to like so much, I was sorry I could not like. It either
intoxicated or stupefied me; and I do think it overpowers one much
sooner than so much wine would. The conversation now turned on many
other different subjects. At last, when morning drew near, Mr. Maud
suddenly exclaimed, "D-n me, I must read prayers this morning at
All-Souls!" D-n me is an abbreviation of G-d d-n me; which, in
England, does not seem to mean more mischief or harm than any of our
or their common expletives in conversation, such as O gemini!
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