my thoughts before I sit down: and, instead of observing privately, as the way is, whom in company I may sit above, in point of birth, age, fortune, or station; I consider only the situation of the table by the points in the compass, and the nearer I can get to the east (which is a point of honour for many reasons, for "por recta majestas ad ortum solis") I am so much the higher; and my good fortune is to sit sometimes, or for the most part, due east, sometimes N. b. E, seldom with greater variation; and then I do myself honour, and am blessed with invisible precedence, mystical to others; and the joke is, that by this means I take place (for place is but fancy) of many that sit above me; and while most people in company look upon me as a modest man, I know myself to be a very assuming fellow, and do often look down with contempt on some at the upper end of the table. By this craft I at once gratify my humour (which is pride), and preserve my character; and this I take to be the art of life. And, sticking to this rule, I generally possess a middle place in company, even in the vulgar account, and am at meat, as wise men would be in the world,
Extremi primorum, etremis usque priores.
And, to this purpose, my way is to carry a little pocket compass in my left fob, and from that I take my measures imperceptibly, as from a watch, in the usual way of comparing time before dinner; or, if I chance to forget that, I consider the situation of the parish church, and this is my never failing regulator.
I know some people take another way for this, and place themselves nearest the dish they like best; and
their
