Hestopp'd,however,assoonashecameuptous,withaworldoffrankness:andhavingahornsnuffboxinhishand,hepresenteditopentome-Youshalltastemine-saidI,pullingoutmyboxwhichwasasmalltortoiseoneandputtingitintohishand-
'Tismostexcellent,saidthemonk。Thendomethefavour,I
replied,toacceptoftheboxandall,andwhenyoutakeapinchoutofit,sometimesrecollectitwasthepeaceofferingofamanwhoonceusedyouunkindly,butnotfromhisheart。
Thepoormonkblush'dasredasscarlet。MONDIEU!saidhe,pressinghishandstogether-youneverusedmeunkindly-I
shouldthink,saidthelady,heisnotlikely。Iblush'dinmyturn;butfromwhatmovements,Ileavetothefewwhofeel,toanalyze-Excuseme,Madame,repliedI,-Itreatedhimmostunkindly;andfromnoprovocations-'Tisimpossible,saidthelady-MyGod!criedthemonk,withawarmthofasseverationwhichseem'dnottobelongtohim-thefaultwasinme,andintheindiscretionofmyzeal-Theladyopposedit,andIjoinedwithherinmaintainingitwasimpossible,thataspiritsoregulatedashis,couldgiveoffencetoany。
IknewnotthatcontentioncouldberenderedsosweetandpleasurableathingtothenervesasIthenfeltit-Weremainedsilent,withoutanysensationofthatfoolishpainwhichtakesplace,when,insuchacircle,youlookfortenminutesinoneanother'sfaceswithoutsayingaword。Whilstthislasted,themonkrubbedhishornboxuponthesleeveofhistunic;andassoonasithadacquiredalittleairofbrightnessbythefriction-hemademealowbow,andsaid,'twastoolatetosaywhetheritwastheweaknessorgoodnessofourtemperswhichhadinvolvedusinthiscontest-butbeitasitwould,-hebegg'dwemightexchangeboxes-Insayingthis,hepresentedhistomewithonehand,ashetookminefrommeintheother,andhavingkissedit,-withastreamofgoodnatureinhiseyes,heputitintohisbosom,-andtookhisleave。
Iguardthisbox,asIwouldtheinstrumentalpartsofmyreligion,tohelpmymindontosomethingbetter:intruth,Iseldomgoabroadwithoutit;andoftandmanyatimehaveIcalledupbyitthecourteousspiritofitsownertoregulatemyown,inthejustlingsoftheworld:theyhadfoundfullemploymentforhis,asIlearntfromhisstory,tillabouttheforty-fifthyearofhisage,whenuponsomemilitaryservicesillrequited,andmeetingatthesametimewithadisappointmentinthetenderestofpassions,heabandonedtheswordandthesextogether,andtooksanctuarynotsomuchinhisconventasinhimself。
Ifeeladampuponmyspirits,asIamgoingtoadd,thatinmylastreturnthroughCalais,uponenquiringafterFatherLorenzo,I
heardhehadbeendeadnearthreemonths,andwasburied,notinhisconvent,but,accordingtohisdesire,inalittlecemeterybelongingtoit,abouttwoleaguesoff:Ihadastrongdesiretoseewheretheyhadlaidhim,-when,uponpullingouthislittlehornbox,asIsatbyhisgrave,andpluckingupanettleortwoattheheadofit,whichhadnobusinesstogrowthere,theyallstrucktogethersoforciblyuponmyaffections,thatIburstintoafloodoftears:-butIamasweakasawoman;andIbegtheworldnottosmile,buttopityme。
THEREMISEDOOR。CALAIS。
IHADneverquittedthelady'shandallthistime,andhadhelditsolong,thatitwouldhavebeenindecenttohaveletitgo,withoutfirstpressingittomylips:thebloodandspirits,whichhadsufferedarevulsionfromher,crowdedbacktoherasIdidit。
Nowthetwotravellers,whohadspoketomeinthecoach-yard,happeningatthatcrisistobepassingby,andobservingourcommunications,naturallytookitintotheirheadsthatwemustbeMANANDWIFEatleast;so,stoppingassoonastheycameuptothedooroftheRemise,theoneofthemwhowastheInquisitiveTraveller,ask'dus,ifwesetoutforParisthenextmorning?-I
couldonlyanswerformyself,Isaid;andtheladyadded,shewasforAmiens-Wedinedthereyesterday,saidtheSimpleTraveller-
Yougodirectlythroughthetown,addedtheother,inyourroadtoParis。Iwasgoingtoreturnathousandthanksfortheintelligence,THATAMIENSWASINTHEROADTOPARIS,but,uponpullingoutmypoormonk'slittlehornboxtotakeapinchofsnuff,Imadethemaquietbow,andwishingthemagoodpassagetoDover-Theyleftusalone——
Nowwherewouldbetheharm,saidItomyself,ifIweretobegofthisdistressedladytoacceptofhalfofmychaise?-andwhatmightymischiefcouldensue?
Everydirtypassion,andbadpropensityinmynaturetookthealarm,asIstatedtheproposition-Itwillobligeyoutohaveathirdhorse,saidAvarice,whichwillputtwentylivresoutofyourpocket;-Youknownotwhatsheis,saidCaution;-orwhatscrapestheaffairmaydrawyouinto,whisper'dCowardice-
Dependuponit,Yorick!saidDiscretion,'twillbesaidyouwentoffwithamistress,andcamebyassignationtoCalaisforthatpurpose;——
Youcanneverafter,criedHypocrisyaloud,showyourfaceintheworld;-orrise,quothMeanness,inthechurch;-orbeanythinginit,saidPride,butalousyprebendary。
But'tisacivilthing,saidI;-andasIgenerallyactfromthefirstimpulse,andthereforeseldomlistentothesecabals,whichservenopurpose,thatIknowof,buttoencompasstheheartwithadamant-Iturnedinstantlyabouttothelady——
Butshehadglidedoffunperceived,asthecausewaspleading,andhadmadetenoradozenpacesdownthestreet,bythetimeI
hadmadethedetermination;soIsetoffafterherwithalongstride,tomakehertheproposal,withthebestaddressIwasmasterof:butobservingshewalk'dwithhercheekhalfrestinguponthepalmofherhand,-withtheslowshort-measur'dstepofthoughtfulness,-andwithhereyes,asshewentstepbystep,fixedupontheground,itstruckmeshewastryingthesamecauseherself-Godhelpher!saidI,shehassomemother-in-law,ortartufishaunt,ornonsensicaloldwoman,toconsultupontheoccasion,aswellasmyself:sonotcaringtointerrupttheprocess,anddeemingitmoregallanttotakeheratdiscretionthanbysurprise,IfacedaboutandtookashortturnortwobeforethedooroftheRemise,whilstshewalk'dmusingononeside。
INTHESTREET。CALAIS。
HAVING,onthefirstsightofthelady,settledtheaffairinmyfancy"thatshewasofthebetterorderofbeings;"-andthenlaiditdownasasecondaxiom,asindisputableasthefirst,thatshewasawidow,andworeacharacterofdistress,-Iwentnofurther;
Igotgroundenoughforthesituationwhichpleasedme;-andhadsheremainedclosebesidemyelbowtillmidnight,Ishouldhaveheldtruetomysystem,andconsideredheronlyunderthatgeneralidea。
Shehadscarcegottwentypacesdistantfromme,eresomethingwithinmecalledoutforamoreparticularenquiry;-itbroughtontheideaofafurtherseparation:-Imightpossiblyneverseehermore:-Theheartisforsavingwhatitcan;andIwantedthetracesthroughwhichmywishesmightfindtheirwaytoher,incaseIshouldneverrejoinhermyself;inaword,Iwishedtoknowhername,-herfamily's-hercondition;andasIknewtheplacetowhichshewasgoing,Iwantedtoknowfromwhenceshecame:buttherewasnocomingatallthisintelligence;ahundredlittledelicaciesstoodintheway。Iform'dascoredifferentplans-
Therewasnosuchthingasaman'saskingherdirectly;-thethingwasimpossible。
AlittleFrenchDEBONNAIREcaptain,whocamedancingdownthestreet,showedmeitwastheeasiestthingintheworld:for,poppinginbetwixtus,justastheladywasreturningbacktothedooroftheRemise,heintroducedhimselftomyacquaintance,andbeforehehadwellgotannounced,begg'dIwoulddohimthehonourtopresenthimtothelady-Ihadnotbeenpresentedmyself;-soturningabouttoher,hediditjustaswell,byaskingherifshehadcomefromParis?No:shewasgoingthatroute,shesaid-
VOUSN'ETESPASDELONDRES?-Shewasnot,shereplied-ThenMadamemusthavecomethroughFlanders-APPAREMMENTVOUSETES
FLAMMANDE?saidtheFrenchcaptain-Theladyanswered,shewas-
PEUTETREDELISLE?addedhe-Shesaid,shewasnotofLisle-
NorArras?-norCambray?-norGhent?-norBrussels?-Sheanswered,shewasofBrussels。
Hehadhadthehonour,hesaid,tobeatthebombardmentofitlastwar;-thatitwasfinelysituated,POURCELA,-andfullofnoblessewhentheImperialistsweredrivenoutbytheFrenchtheladymadeaslightcourtesy-sogivingheranaccountoftheaffair,andofthesharehehadhadinit,-hebegg'dthehonourtoknowhername,-somadehisbow-
ETMADAMEASONMARI?-saidhe,lookingbackwhenhehadmadetwosteps,-and,withoutstayingforananswer-danceddownthestreet。
HadIservedsevenyearsapprenticeshiptogoodbreeding,Icouldnothavedoneasmuch。
THEREMISE。CALAIS。
ASthelittleFrenchcaptainleftus,Mons。DesseincameupwiththekeyoftheRemiseinhishand,andforthwithletusintohismagazineofchaises。
Thefirstobjectwhichcaughtmyeye,asMons。Desseinopen'dthedooroftheRemise,wasanotheroldtatter'dDESOBLIGEANT;andnotwithstandingitwastheexactpictureofthatwhichhadhitmyfancysomuchinthecoach-yardbutanhourbefore,-theverysightofitstirr'dupadisagreeablesensationwithinmenow;andIthought'twasachurlishbeastintowhosehearttheideacouldfirstenter,toconstructsuchamachine;norhadImuchmorecharityforthemanwhocouldthinkofusingit。
Iobservedtheladywasaslittletakenwithitasmyself:soMons。
Desseinledusontoacoupleofchaiseswhichstoodabreast,tellingus,asherecommendedthem,thattheyhadbeenpurchasedbymylordA。andB。togothegrandtour,buthadgonenofurtherthanParis,sowereinallrespectsasgoodasnew-Theyweretoogood;-soIpass'dontoathird,whichstoodbehind,andforthwithbeguntochafferfortheprice-But'twillscarceholdtwo,saidI,openingthedoorandgettingin-Havethegoodness,Madame,saidMons。Dessein,offeringhisarm,tostepin-Theladyhesitatedhalfasecond,andsteppedin;andthewaiterthatmomentbeckoningtospeaktoMon。Dessein,heshutthedoorofthechaiseuponus,andleftus。
THEREMISE。CALAIS。
C'ESTBIENCOMIQUE,'tisverydroll,saidthelady,smiling,fromthereflectionthatthiswasthesecondtimeweahadbeenlefttogetherbyaparcelofnonsensicalcontingencies,-C'ESTBIEN
COMIQUE,saidshe——
Therewantsnothing,saidI,tomakeitsobutthecomicusewhichthegallantryofaFrenchmanwouldputitto,-tomakelovethefirstmoment,andanofferofhispersonthesecond。
'TistheirFORT,repliedthelady。
Itissupposedsoatleast;-andhowithascometopass,continuedI,Iknownot;buttheyhavecertainlygotthecreditofunderstandingmoreoflove,andmakingitbetterthananyothernationuponearth;but,formyownpart,Ithinkthemarrantbunglers,andintruththeworstsetofmarksmenthatevertriedCupid'spatience-
TothinkofmakinglovebySENTIMENTS!
Ishouldassoonthinkofmakingagenteelsuitofclothesoutofremnants:-andtodoit-pop-atfirstsight,bydeclaration-
issubmittingtheoffer,andthemselveswithit,tobesiftedwithalltheirPOURSandCONTRES,byanunheatedmind。
TheladyattendedasifsheexpectedIshouldgoon。
Considerthen,Madame,continuedI,layingmyhanduponhers:-
Thatgravepeoplehateloveforthename'ssake;-
Thatselfishpeoplehateitfortheirown;-
Hypocritesforheaven's;-
Andthatallofus,botholdandyoung,beingtentimesworsefrightenedthanhurtbytheveryREPORT,-whatawantofknowledgeinthisbranchofcommenceamanbetrays,whoeverletsthewordcomeoutofhislips,tillanhourortwo,atleast,afterthetimethathissilenceuponitbecomestormenting。Acourseofsmall,quietattentions,notsopointedastoalarm,-norsovagueastobemisunderstood-withnowandthenalookofkindness,andlittleornothingsaiduponit,-leavesnatureforyourmistress,andshefashionsittohermind-
ThenIsolemnlydeclare,saidthelady,blushing,youhavebeenmakinglovetomeallthiswhile。
THEREMISE。CALAIS。
MONSIEURDESSEINcamebacktoletusoutofthechaise,andacquaintthelady,thecountdeL-,herbrother,wasjustarrivedatthehotel。ThoughIhadinfinitegoodwillforthelady,I
cannotsaythatIrejoicedinmyheartattheevent-andcouldnothelptellingherso;-foritisfataltoaproposal,Madame,saidI,thatIwasgoingtomaketoyou——
Youneednottellmewhattheproposalwas,saidshe,layingherhanduponbothmine,assheinterruptedme-AmanmygoodSir,hasseldomanofferofkindnesstomaketoawoman,butshehasapresentimentofitsomemomentsbefore-
Naturearmsherwithit,saidI,forimmediatepreservation-ButIthink,saidshe,lookinginmyface,Ihadnoeviltoapprehend,-and,todealfranklywithyou,haddeterminedtoacceptit-IfI
had-shestoppedamoment-Ibelieveyourgoodwillwouldhavedrawnastoryfromme,whichwouldhavemadepitytheonlydangerousthinginthejourney。
Insayingthis,shesufferedmetokissherhandtwice,andwithalookofsensibilitymixedwithconcern,shegotoutofthechaise,-andbidadieu。
INTHESTREET。CALAIS。
INEVERfinishedatwelveguineabargainsoexpeditiouslyinmylife:mytimeseemedheavy,uponthelossofthelady,andknowingeverymomentofitwouldbeastwo,tillIputmyselfintomotion,-Iorderedposthorsesdirectly,andwalkedtowardsthehotel。
Lord!saidI,hearingthetownclockstrikefour,andrecollectingthatIhadbeenlittlemorethanasinglehourinCalais,——
Whatalargevolumeofadventuresmaybegraspedwithinthislittlespanoflifebyhimwhointerestshisheartineverything,andwho,havingeyestoseewhattimeandchanceareperpetuallyholdingouttohimashejourneyethonhisway,missesnothinghecanFAIRLYlayhishandson!-
Ifthiswon'tturnoutsomething,-anotherwill;-nomatter,-
'tisanassayuponhumannature-Igetmylabourformypains,-
'tisenough;-thepleasureoftheexperimenthaskeptmysensesandthebestpartofmybloodawake,andlaidthegrosstosleep。
IpitythemanwhocantravelfromDantoBeersheba,andcry,'Tisallbarren;-andsoitis:andsoisalltheworldtohimwhowillnotcultivatethefruitsitoffers。Ideclare,saidI,clappingmyhandscheerilytogether,thatwereIinadesert,Iwouldfindoutwherewithinittocallforthmyaffections:-ifIcouldnotdobetter,Iwouldfastenthemuponsomesweetmyrtle,orseeksomemelancholycypresstoconnectmyselfto;-Iwouldcourttheirshade,andgreetthemkindlyfortheirprotection-Iwouldcutmynameuponthem,andsweartheyweretheloveliesttreesthroughoutthedesert:iftheirleaveswither'd,Iwouldteachmyselftomourn;and,whentheyrejoiced,Iwouldrejoicealongwiththem。
ThelearnedSmelfungustravelledfromBoulognetoParis,-fromParistoRome,-andsoon;-buthesetoutwiththespleenandjaundice,andeveryobjecthepass'dbywasdiscolouredordistorted-Hewroteanaccountofthem,but'twasnothingbuttheaccountofhismiserablefeelings。
ImetSmelfungusinthegrandporticoofthePantheon:-hewasjustcomingoutofit-'TISNOTHINGBUTAHUGECOCKPIT,saidhe:-
IwishyouhadsaidnothingworseoftheVenusofMedicis,repliedI;-forinpassingthroughFlorence,Ihadheardhehadfallenfouluponthegoddess,andusedherworsethanacommonstrumpet,withouttheleastprovocationinnature。
Ipopp'duponSmelfungusagainatTurin,inhisreturnhome;andasadtaleofsorrowfuladventureshadhetotell,"whereinhespokeofmovingaccidentsbyfloodandfield,andofthecannibalsthateachothereat:theAnthropophagi:"-hehadbeenflayedalive,andbedevil'd,andusedworsethanSt。Bartholomew,ateverystagehehadcomeat——
I'lltellit,criedSmelfungus,totheworld。Youhadbettertellit,saidI,toyourphysician。
Mundungus,withanimmensefortune,madethewholetour;goingonfromRometoNaples,-fromNaplestoVenice,-fromVenicetoVienna,-toDresden,toBerlin,withoutonegenerousconnectionorpleasurableanecdotetotellof;buthehadtravell'dstraighton,lookingneithertohisrighthandnorhisleft,lestLoveorPityshouldseducehimoutofhisroad。
Peacebetothem!ifitistobefound;butheavenitself,wereitpossibletogettherewithsuchtempers,wouldwantobjectstogiveit;everygentlespiritwouldcomeflyinguponthewingsofLovetohailtheirarrival-NothingwouldthesoulsofSmelfungusandMundungushearof,butfreshanthemsofjoy,freshrapturesoflove,andfreshcongratulationsoftheircommonfelicity-I
heartilypitythem;theyhavebroughtupnofacultiesforthiswork;and,werethehappiestmansioninheaventobeallottedtoSmelfungusandMundungus,theywouldbesofarfrombeinghappy,thatthesoulsofSmelfungusandMundunguswoulddopenancetheretoalleternity!
MONTREUIL。
IHADoncelostmyportmanteaufrombehindmychaise,andtwicegotoutintherain,andoneofthetimesuptothekneesindirt,tohelpthepostiliontotieiton,withoutbeingabletofindoutwhatwaswanting-NorwasittillIgottoMontreuil,uponthelandlord'saskingmeifIwantednotaservant,thatitoccurredtome,thatthatwastheverything。
Aservant!ThatIdomostsadly,quothI-Because,Monsieur,saidthelandlord,thereisacleveryoungfellow,whowouldbeveryproudofthehonourtoserveanEnglishman-ButwhyanEnglishone,morethananyother?-Theyaresogenerous,saidthelandlord-I'llbeshotifthisisnotalivreoutofmypocket,quothItomyself,thisverynight-Buttheyhavewherewithaltobeso,Monsieur,addedhe-Setdownonelivremoreforthat,quothI-Itwasbutlastnight,saidthelandlord,QU'UNMILORD
ANGLOISPRESENTOITUNECUELAFILLEDECHAMBRE-TANTPISPOUR
MADEMOISELLEJANATONE,saidI。
NowJanatone,beingthelandlord'sdaughter,andthelandlordsupposingIwasyounginFrench,tookthelibertytoinformme,I
shouldnothavesaidTANTPIS-but,TANTMIEUX。TANTMIEUX,TOUJOURS,MONSIEUR,saidhe,whenthereisanythingtobegot-
TANTPIS,whenthereisnothing。Itcomestothesamething,saidI。PARDONNEZ-MOI,saidthelandlord。
Icannottakeafitteropportunitytoobserve,onceforall,thatTANTPISandTANTMIEUX,beingtwoofthegreathingesinFrenchconversation,astrangerwoulddowelltosethimselfrightintheuseofthem,beforehegetstoParis。
ApromptFrenchmarquisatourambassador'stabledemandedofMr。
H-,ifhewasH-thepoet?No,saidMr。H-,mildly-TANTPIS,repliedthemarquis。
ItisH-thehistorian,saidanother,-TANTMIEUX,saidthemarquis。AndMr。H-,whoisamanofanexcellentheart,return'dthanksforboth。
Whenthelandlordhadsetmerightinthismatter,hecalledinLaFleur,whichwasthenameoftheyoungmanhehadspokeof,-
sayingonlyfirst,Thatasforhistalentshewouldpresumetosaynothing,-Monsieurwasthebestjudgewhatwouldsuithim;butforthefidelityofLaFleurhewouldstandresponsibleinallhewasworth。
Thelandlorddeliver'dthisinamannerwhichinstantlysetmymindtothebusinessIwasupon;-andLaFleur,whostoodwaitingwithout,inthatbreathlessexpectationwhicheverysonofnatureofushavefeltinourturns,camein。
MONTREUIL。
IAMapttobetakenwithallkindsofpeopleatfirstsight;butnevermoresothanwhenapoordevilcomestoofferhisservicetosopooradevilasmyself;andasIknowthisweakness,Ialwayssuffermyjudgmenttodrawbacksomethingonthatveryaccount,-
andthismoreorless,accordingtothemoodIamin,andthecase;-
andImayadd,thegendertoo,ofthepersonIamtogovern。
WhenLaFleurenteredtheroom,aftereverydiscountIcouldmakeformysoul,thegenuinelookandairofthefellowdeterminedthematteratonceinhisfavour;soIhiredhimfirst,-andthenbegantoenquirewhathecoulddo:ButIshallfindouthistalents,quothI,asIwantthem,-besides,aFrenchmancandoeverything。
NowpoorLaFleurcoulddonothingintheworldbutbeatadrum,andplayamarchortwouponthefife。Iwasdeterminedtomakehistalentsdo;andcan'tsaymyweaknesswaseversoinsultedbymywisdomasintheattempt。
LaFleurhadsetoutearlyinlife,asgallantlyasmostFrenchmendo,withSERVINGforafewyears;attheendofwhich,havingsatisfiedthesentiment,andfound,moreover,Thatthehonourofbeatingadrumwaslikelytobeitsownreward,asitopen'dnofurthertrackofglorytohim,-heretiredESESTERRES,andlivedCOMMEILPLAISOITEDIEU;-thatistosay,uponnothing-
Andso,quothWisdom,youhavehiredadrummertoattendyouinthistourofyoursthroughFranceandItaly!-Psha!saidI,anddonotonehalfofourgentrygowithahumdrumCOMPAGNONDUVOYAGE
thesameround,andhavethepiperandthedevilandalltopaybesides?WhenmancanextricatehimselfwithanEQUIVOQUEinsuchanunequalmatch,-heisnotilloff-Butyoucandosomethingelse,LaFleur?saidI-OQU'OUI!hecouldmakespatterdashes,andplayalittleuponthefiddle-Bravo!saidWisdom-Why,I
playabassmyself,saidI;-weshalldoverywell。Youcanshave,anddressawigalittle,LaFleur?-Hehadallthedispositionsintheworld-Itisenoughforheaven!saidI,interruptinghim,-andoughttobeenoughforme-So,suppercomingin,andhavingafriskyEnglishspanielononesideofmychair,andaFrenchvalet,withasmuchhilarityinhiscountenanceaseverNaturepaintedinone,ontheother,-Iwassatisfiedtomyheart'scontentwithmyempire;andifmonarchsknewwhattheywouldbeat,theymightbeassatisfiedasIwas。
MONTREUIL。
ASLaFleurwentthewholetourofFranceandItalywithme,andwillbeoftenuponthestage,Imustinterestthereaderalittlefurtherinhisbehalf,bysaying,thatIhadneverlessreasontorepentoftheimpulseswhichgenerallydodetermineme,thaninregardtothisfellow;-hewasafaithful,affectionate,simplesoulasevertrudgedaftertheheelsofaphilosopher;and,notwithstandinghistalentsofdrumbeatingandspatterdash-making,which,thoughverygoodinthemselves,happenedtobeofnogreatservicetome,yetwasIhourlyrecompensedbythefestivityofhistemper;-itsuppliedalldefects:-Ihadaconstantresourceinhislooksinalldifficultiesanddistressesofmyown-Iwasgoingtohaveaddedofhistoo;butLaFleurwasoutofthereachofeverything;for,whether'twashungerorthirst,orcoldornakedness,orwatchings,orwhateverstripesofillluckLaFleurmetwithinourjourneyings,therewasnoindexinhisphysiognomytopointthemoutby,-hewaseternallythesame;sothatifIamapieceofaphilosopher,whichSatannowandthenputsitintomyheadIam,-italwaysmortifiestheprideoftheconceit,byreflectinghowmuchIowetothecomplexionalphilosophyofthispoorfellow,forshamingmeintooneofabetterkind。Withallthis,LaFleurhadasmallcastofthecoxcomb,-butheseemedatfirstsighttobemoreacoxcombofnaturethanofart;and,beforeIhadbeenthreedaysinPariswithhim,-heseemedtobenocoxcombatall。
MONTREUIL。
THEnextmorning,LaFleurenteringuponhisemployment,I
deliveredtohimthekeyofmyportmanteau,withaninventoryofmyhalfadozenshirtsandsilkpairofbreeches,andbidhimfastenalluponthechaise,-getthehorsesputto,-anddesirethelandlordtocomeinwithhisbill。
C'ESTUNGARCONDEBONNEFORTUNE,saidthelandlord,pointingthroughthewindowtohalfadozenwencheswhohadgotroundaboutLaFleur,andweremostkindlytakingtheirleaveofhim,asthepostilionwasleadingoutthehorses。LaFleurkissedalltheirhandsroundandroundagain,andthricehewipedhiseyes,andthricehepromisedhewouldbringthemallpardonsfromRome-
Theyoungfellow,saidthelandlord,isbelovedbyallthetown,andthereisscarceacornerinMontreuilwherethewantofhimwillnotbefelt:hehasbutonemisfortuneintheworld,continuedhe,"heisalwaysinlove。"-Iamheartilygladofit,saidI,-
'twillsavemethetroubleeverynightofputtingmybreechesundermyhead。Insayingthis,IwasmakingnotsomuchLaFleur'selogeasmyown,havingbeeninlovewithoneprincessoranotheralmostallmylife,andIhopeIshallgoonsotillIdie,beingfirmlypersuaded,thatifeverIdoameanaction,itmustbeinsomeintervalbetwixtonepassionandanother:whilstthisinterregnumlasts,Ialwaysperceivemyheartlockedup,-IcanscarcefindinittogiveMiseryasixpence;andthereforeIalwaysgetoutofitasfastasIcan-andthemomentIamrekindled,Iamallgenerosityandgood-willagain;andwoulddoanythingintheworld,eitherfororwithanyone,iftheywillbutsatisfymethereisnosininit-
Butinsayingthis,-sureIamcommandingthepassion,-notmyself。
AFRAGMENT-
THEtownofAbdera,notwithstandingDemocrituslivedthere,tryingallthepowersofironyandlaughtertoreclaimit,wasthevilestandmostprofligatetowninallThrace。Whatforpoisons,conspiracies,andassassinations,-libels,pasquinades,andtumults,therewasnogoingtherebyday-'twasworsebynight。
Now,whenthingswereattheworst,itcametopassthattheAndromedaofEuripidesbeingrepresentedatAbdera,thewholeorchestrawasdelightedwithit:butofallthepassageswhichdelightedthem,nothingoperatedmoreupontheirimaginationsthanthetenderstrokesofnaturewhichthepoethadwroughtupinthatpatheticspeechofPerseus,OCUPID,PRINCEOFGODSANDMEN!&c。
Everymanalmostspokepureiambicsthenextday,andtalkedofnothingbutPerseushispatheticaddress,-"OCUPID!PRINCEOF
GODSANDMEN!"-ineverystreetofAbdera,ineveryhouse,"O
Cupid!Cupid!"-ineverymouth,likethenaturalnotesofsomesweetmelodywhichdropfromit,whetheritwillorno,-nothingbut"Cupid!Cupid!princeofgodsandmen!"-Thefirecaught-andthewholecity,liketheheartofoneman,open'ditselftoLove。
Nopharmacopolistcouldsellonegrainofhellebore,-notasinglearmourerhadahearttoforgeoneinstrumentofdeath;-FriendshipandVirtuemettogether,andkiss'deachotherinthestreet;thegoldenagereturned,andhungoverthetownofAbdera-everyAbderitetookhiseatenpipe,andeveryAbderitishwomanleftherpurpleweb,andchastelysatherdownandlistenedtothesong。
'Twasonlyinthepower,saystheFragment,oftheGodwhoseempireextendethfromheaventoearth,andeventothedepthsofthesea,tohavedonethis。
MONTREUIL。
WHENallisready,andeveryarticleisdisputedandpaidforintheinn,unlessyouarealittlesour'dbytheadventure,thereisalwaysamattertocompoundatthedoor,beforeyoucangetintoyourchaise;andthatiswiththesonsanddaughtersofpoverty,whosurroundyou。Letnomansay,"Letthemgotothedevil!"-
'tisacrueljourneytosendafewmiserables,andtheyhavehadsufferingsenowwithoutit:Ialwaysthinkitbettertotakeafewsousoutinmyhand;andIwouldcounseleverygentletravellertodosolikewise:heneednotbesoexactinsettingdownhismotivesforgivingthem;-Theywillberegisteredelsewhere。
Formyownpart,thereisnomangivessolittleasIdo;forfew,thatIknow,havesolittletogive;butasthiswasthefirstpublicactofmycharityinFrance,Itookthemorenoticeofit。
Awell-a-way!saidI,-Ihavebuteightsousintheworld,showingtheminmyhand,andthereareeightpoormenandeightpoorwomenfor'em。
Apoortatter'dsoul,withoutashirton,instantlywithdrewhisclaim,byretiringtwostepsoutofthecircle,andmakingadisqualifyingbowonhispart。HadthewholePARTERREcriedout,PLACEAUXDAMES,withonevoice,itwouldnothaveconveyedthesentimentofadeferenceforthesexwithhalftheeffect。
JustHeaven!forwhatwisereasonshastthouorderedit,thatbeggaryandurbanity,whichareatsuchvarianceinothercountries,shouldfindawaytobeatunityinthis?-
Iinsisteduponpresentinghimwithasinglesous,merelyforhisPOLITESSE。
Apoorlittledwarfishbriskfellow,whostoodoveragainstmeinthecircle,puttingsomethingfirstunderhisarm,whichhadoncebeenahat,tookhissnuff-boxoutofhispocket,andgenerouslyoffer'dapinchonbothsidesofhim:itwasagiftofconsequence,andmodestlydeclined-Thepoorlittlefellowpressedituponthemwithanodofwelcomeness-PRENEZEN-PRENEZ,saidhe,lookinganotherway;sotheyeachtookapinch-Pitythyboxshouldeverwantone!saidItomyself;soIputacoupleofsousintoit-takingasmallpinchoutofhisbox,toenhancetheirvalue,asIdidit。Hefelttheweightofthesecondobligationmorethanofthefirst,-'twasdoinghimanhonour,-theotherwasonlydoinghimacharity;-andhemademeabowdowntothegroundforit。