Previous - Next

the circle, where not three words have been said, and have brought
off twenty different dialogues with me, which I could have fairly
wrote down and sworn to.

I was going one evening to Martini's concert at Milan, and, was
just entering the door of the hall, when the Marquisina di F- was
coming out in a sort of a hurry: --she was almost upon me before I
saw her; so I gave a spring to once side to let her pass.--She had
done the same, and on the same side too; so we ran our heads
together: she instantly got to the other side to get out: I was
just as unfortunate as she had been, for I had sprung to that side,
and opposed her passage again.--We both flew together to the other
side, and then back,--and so on: --it was ridiculous: we both
blush'd intolerably: so I did at last the thing I should have done
at first;--I stood stock-still, and the Marquisina had no more
difficulty. I had no power to go into the room, till I had made
her so much reparation as to wait and follow her with my eye to the
end of the passage. She look'd back twice, and walk'd along it
rather sideways, as if she would make room for any one coming up
stairs to pass her.--No, said I--that's a vile translation: the
Marquisina has a right to the best apology I can make her, and that
opening is left for me to do it in;--so I ran and begg'd pardon for
the embarrassment I had given her, saying it was my intention to
have made her way. She answered, she was guided by the same
intention towards me;--so we reciprocally thank'd each other. She
was at the top of the stairs; and seeing no cicisbeo near her, I
begg'd to hand her to her coach;--so we went down the stairs,
stopping at every third step to talk of the concert and the
adventure.--Upon my word, Madame, said I, when I had handed her in,
I made six different efforts to let you go out.--And I made six
efforts, replied she, to let you enter.--I wish to heaven you would
make a seventh, said I.--With all my heart, said she, making room.-
-Life is too short to be long about the forms of it,--so I
instantly stepp'd in, and she carried me home with her.--And what
became of the concert, St. Cecilia, who I suppose was at it, knows
more than I.

I will only add, that the connexion which arose out of the
translation gave me more pleasure than any one I had the honour to
make in Italy.


THE DWARF. PARIS.


I had never heard the remark made by any one in my life, except by
one; and who that was will probably come out in this chapter; so
that being pretty much unprepossessed, there must have been grounds
for what struck me the moment I cast my eyes over the parterre,--
and that was, the unaccountable sport of Nature in forming such
numbers of dwarfs.--No doubt she sports at certain times in almost
every corner of the world; but in Paris there is no end to her
amusements.--The goddess seems almost as merry as she is wise.

Previous - Next