CHAPTER LXII.
The Travellers depart for Antwerp, at which place the Painter gives
a loose to his Enthusiasm.
Our adventurer, baffled in all his efforts to retrieve his lost
Amanda, yielded at length to the remonstrances of his governor
and fellow-travellers, who, out of pure complaisance to him, had
exceeded their intended stay by six days at least; and a couple of
post-chaises, with three riding-horses, being hired, they departed
from Brussels in the morning, dined at Mechlin, and arrived about
eight in the evening at the venerable city of Antwerp. During this
day's journey Pallet was elevated to an uncommon flow of spirits,
with the prospect of seeing the birthplace of Rubens, for whom he
professed an enthusiastic admiration. He swore, that the pleasure
he felt was equal to that of a Mussulman, on the last day of his
pilgrimage to Mecca; and that he already considered himself a native
of Antwerp, being so intimately acquainted with their so justly
boasted citizen, from whom, at certain junctures, he could not
help believing himself derived, because his own pencil adopted the
manner of that great man with surprising facility, and his face
wanted nothing but a pair of whiskers and a beard, to exhibit the
express image of the Fleming's countenance.
Pages:
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646