MDMD 1: "Beach'd upon these Republican shores"

[Mark Wright AIA]

Howdy

--- Thomas Eckhardt <thomas.eckhardt at uni-bonn.de> wrote:

> (...) an epic told by Tristram
> Shandy instead of Homer. The difference, of course, being (...)

Wonderful! Wonderful! Let us remember Uncle Toby's garden
fortifications.  And the Parsons' horse:

"(...) the parson we have to dowith had mad himself a country-talk by a
breach of all decorum, which he had committed against himself, his
station, his office; --and that ws in never appearing better, or
otherwise mounted, than upon a lean, sorry, jack-ass of a horse, value
about one pound fifteen shillings; who, to shorten all description of
him, was full brother to Rosinante, as far a similitude congenial could
make him; for he answered his description to a hairsbreadth in every
thing, --except that I do not remember 'tis anywhere said, that
Posinante was broken-winded; and that, moreover, Posinante, as is the
happiness of most Spanish horses, fat or lean, --was undoubtedly a
horse at all points."

and

"(...) as is my purpose to do exact justice to every creature brought
upon the stage of this dramatic work, --I could not stifle this
distinction in favor of Don Quixote's horse; --in all other points, the
parson's horse, I say, was just such another, -- for he was as lean,
and lank, and sorry a jade, as Humility herself could have bestrided."

and

"(...) he never could enter a village, but he cought the attention of
both old and young. --Labour stood still as he passed-- the bucket hung
suspended in the middle of the well, --the spinning wheel forgot its
round, --even chuck-farthing and shuffle-cap themselves stood gaping
till he had got out of sight; and as his movement was not of the
quickest, he had generally time enough upon his hands to make his
observations, --to hear the groans of the serious, --and the laughter
of the light-hearted, --all which he bore with excellent tranquillity.
--His character was, --he loved a jest in his heart --and as he saw
himself in true point of ridicule, he would say he could not be angry
with others for seeing him in a light, in which he so strongly saw
himself: So that to his friends, who knew his foible was not the love
of money, and who therefore had the less scruple in bantering the
extravagance of his humour --instead of giving the true cause, --he
chose rather to join in the laugh against himself; and as he never
carried on single ounce of flesh upon his own bones, being altogehter
as spare a figure as his beast, --he would sometimes insist upon it,
that the horse was as good as the rider deserved; --that they were,
centaur-like, --both of a piece."

:)   :)   :)

Mark

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