62
LAUGHTER
CHAP.
something like the fleeting image of a doll does not cross the field of your imagination:
… Plus, il doit à maints particuliers
La somme de dix mil une livre une obole,
Pour l'avoir sans relâche un an sur sa parole
Habillé, voituré, chauffé, chaussé, ganté,
Alimenté, rasé, désaltéré, porté.[1]
Is not something of the same kind found in the following sally of Figaro's (though here an attempt is perhaps made to suggest the image of an animal rather than that of a thing): "Quel homme est-ce ? — C'est un beau, gros, court, jeune vieillard, gris pommelé, rusé, rasé, blasé qui guette et furette, et gronde et geint tout a la fois."[2]
Now, between these coarse scenes and these subtle suggestions there is room for a countless
- ↑ Further, he owes to many an honest wight
Item—the sum two thousand pounds, one farthing,
For having on his simple word of honour
Sans intermission for an entire year
Clothed him, conveyed him, warmed him, shod him, gloved him,
Fed him and shaved him, quenched his thirst and borne him. - ↑ "What sort of man is here?—He is a handsome, stout, short, youthful old gentleman, iron-grey, an artful knave, clean shaved, clean 'used up,' who spies and pries and growls and groans all in the same breath."
