An Odd Fault

: Books.

It is said that when the learned Humphrey Prideaux offered
his Life of Mahomet to the bookseller, he was desired to leave the copy

with him for a few days, for his perusal. The bookseller said to the doctor

at his return, "Well, Mr. What's your Name, I have perused your manuscript;

I don't know what to say of it; I believe I shall venture to print it; the

thing is well enough; but I could wish there were a little more _humour_ in

it." This story is otherwise told in a note in Swift's works, where the

book is said to have been Prideaux's "Connexion of the History of the Old

and New Testament," in which, it must be confessed, the difficulty of

introducing _humour_ is more striking.



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