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And hushed and melted round, the while,

The wondering gossips gaze and gather. And thus, our Twins were saved to flow

Thro' Time's far stream in rhyme and glory, And inch by inch together grow,

The heroes of an English story.

END OF CHAPTER I. BOOK I.

BOOK THE FIRST.

CHAPTER II.

ARGUMENT.

The dissimilarity of disposition manifested by the Twins, as they grow up-Their mutual complaisance-A sketch of some of the inconveniences attendant upon a double life-The introduction of Mr. Hodges; the valuable truths discovered by that great traveller, as solely indigenous to Siam-The ungracious reception experienced by Mr. Hodges, in his zeal to reform the Bancok noblemen-His publicspirited resolution; his harangue, and the equivocal honours wherewith it is rewarded-The dangers of having greatness thrust upon us, exemplified by a certain fall-The influence which the consequences of that fall exercise over Chang and Ching-Simile, which concludes the chapter.

CHAPTER II.

I THINK, my own beloved Helvetius,
Your reasoning was less sound than specious,
When you averred, howe'er the frame
Varied-all minds were made the same;
That every colouring or gradation,
Was but the effect of education,

And rear'd alike, there had been no
Difference 'twixt David Hume and Joe!

I think 'tis clear, my Twins, who ne'er
A moment could be separated,
Must almost every influence* share
That e'er to either might be fated;
And little to the one or other
Could happen, nor affect the brother.
And yet they were as much dissimilar
As ever Honesty and Miller are;

*External influence.

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