Page:A Tour Through the Batavian Republic.djvu/133

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE BATAVIAN REPUBLIC
121

we had also seen the drama which they represented. The farce, however, was new to us, and diverting from excess of ridiculous absurdity. It was the production of a Dutch author, and I shall slightly detail the story to you, not as a specimen of national wit, but of the outrageous fooleries which a Dutch audience can tolerate.

A chimney-sweeper makes his appearance on the stage from a fire-place, and perceiving a fine suit of clothes, he strips off his own sooty garments, and dresses himself in a laced coat, embroidered waistcoat, bag-wig, &c. When he is thus equipped, the servants of the house enter, and mistake him for the person whose dress he wears. Imagining him to be my lord, they bring him a variety of refreshments, which, to the great delight of the audience, he swallows with voracious gluttony, making between every mouthful a hideous grimace, and loudly expressing his satisfaction at the dainties on which he feeds. After the servants retire, the master of the house visits his guest; and also mistaking him for a nobleman, offers him his daughter in marriage