Ye Fear and Ye Loatheing in Olde London town ( Pt.4)
@ 2007-07-25 - 20:06:16Transcribed from Tobias Smollett's " Humphry Clinker " - a hilarious 18th C account of life in the grand metropolis.
***
With the sharp sensitivity of " a man without skin" Tobias Smollett humorously attacked the frivolity and foibles of eighteenth-century England. Humphrey Clinker is his mirthful tale of a tour by coach and four through cities and countryside. as misadventure follows misadventure, each character reveals his true self by giving his own conflicting view of the incidents, places, and people encountered along the way. The result is an entertaining and realistic picture of that wonderful age when gentlemen duelled, ladies swooned, and servants rose from rags to riches.
... continued from the previous page..
... the vermin that drops from the rags of the nasty drab that vends this precious mixture, under the respectable denomination of milk-maid.
I shall conclude this catalogue of London dainties, with that table beer, guiltless of hops and malt, vapid and nauseous; much fitter to facilitate the operation of a vomit, than to quench thirst and promote digestion; the tallowy rancid mass called butter, manufactured with candle-grease and kitchen-stuff; and their fresh eggs, imported from France and Scotland.
Now, all these enormities might be remedied with a very little attention to the article of police, or civil regulation; but the wise patriots of London have taken it into their heads, that all regulation is inconsistent with liberty; and that every man ought to live in his own way, without restraint - Nay, as there is not sense left among them, to be discomposed by the nuisance I have mentioned, they may, for aught I care, wallow in the mire of their own pollution ( here here! - ed ).
A companionable man will, undoubtedly, put up with many inconveniences for the sake of enjoying agreeable society. A facetious friend of mine used to say, the wine could not be bad where the company was agreeable; a maxim which, however, ought to be taken cum grano salis ( with a pinch of salt - ed); but what is the society of London, that I should be tempted for its sake, to mortify my senses, and to compound with such uncleanness as my soul abhors?
All the people I see, are too much engrossed by schemes of self-interest or ambition, to have any room left for sentiment or friendship ( hmm, not much changed there either then - ed ) - Even in some of my old acquaintance, those schemes and pursuits have obliterated all traces of our former connexion - Conversation is reduced to party disputes and illiberal altercation - Social commerce, to formal visits and to card-playing ( read television - ed ) - If you pick up a diverting original by accident, it may be dangerous to amuse yourself with his oddities - He is generally a tartar at bottom; a sharper, a spy, or a lunatic...... ( oh lordy, these echos! - ed).....
Final part next up so tune back soone, ye bloggers...
M St.M
Trackback address for this post:
Comments, Trackbacks: Hide subcomments
Oh I do so enjoy these, thank you. Looking forward to the next one.
 | MichaelStMark pro 2007-07-26 @ 16:32 |
Final part of Smollett's London "dainties" diary up soon, sally.
Ps. See you are back on your broomstick again !
 | sallyontour pro 2007-07-26 @ 16:51 |
Yes, recovered from the chafing now, thanks
Leave a comment :
Recent Posts
-
" Which way you going ? "
on 2008-07-02 -
" Two Good Reasons"
on 2008-02-16 -
Ten White Rats
on 2007-12-03 -
Ye Fear and Ye Loathinge in old London town (Pt5)
on 2007-07-27 -
Ye Fear & Ye Loatheing in Olde London Town (Pt 3)
on 2007-07-24 -
Ye Fear and Ye Loatheing in Olde London toon PT. 2
on 2007-07-20 -
Ye Fear & Ye Loatheing in Olde London Town Pt. 1
on 2007-07-16 -
Albany Street.
on 2007-05-25 -
Whiteleys
on 2007-03-26 -
Drilling for Gold
on 2007-02-08
2007-07-25 @ 22:39