Note 143 — Chapter III
Reading edition
A different opinion is expressed in the preface to W. Harrison Ainsworth's capital novel of Crichton. "Sir Thomas," he says, "is a joyous spirit—a right Pantagruelist; and if he occasionally
'Projicit ampullas et sesquipedalia verba,'
he has an exuberance of wit and playfulness of fancy that amply redeem his tendency to fanfaronade." Our readers have abundance of material before them for coming to a decision upon this question.