All that
can be said against the French sublime, in this instance of it, is
this: - That the grandeur is MORE in the WORD, and LESS in the
THING. No doubt, the ocean fills the mind with vast ideas; but
Paris being so far inland, it was not likely I should run post a
hundred miles out of it, to try the experiment; - the Parisian
barber meant nothing. -
The pail of water standing beside the great deep, makes, certainly,
but a sorry figure in speech; - but, 'twill be said, - it has one
advantage - 'tis in the next room, and the truth of the buckle may
be tried in it, without more ado, in a single moment.
In honest truth, and upon a more candid revision of the matter, THE
FRENCH EXPRESSION PROFESSES MORE THAN IT PERFORMS.
I think I can see the precise and distinguishing marks of national
characters more in these nonsensical minutiae than in the most
important matters of state; where great men of all nations talk and
stalk so much alike, that I would not give ninepence to choose
amongst them.
I was so long in getting from under my barber's hands, that it was
too late to think of going with my letter to Madame R- that night:
but when a man is once dressed at all points for going out, his
reflections turn to little account; so taking down the name of the
Hotel de Modene, where I lodged, I walked forth without any
determination where to go; - I shall consider of that, said I, as I
walk along.
THE PULSE. PARIS.
Hail, ye small sweet courtesies of life, for smooth do ye make the
road of it! like grace and beauty, which beget inclinations to love
at first sight: 'tis ye who open this door and let the stranger
in.
- Pray, Madame, said I, have the goodness to tell me which way I
must turn to go to the Opera Comique? - Most willingly, Monsieur,
said she, laying aside her work. -
I had given a cast with my eye into half a dozen shops, as I came
along, in search of a face not likely to be disordered by such an
interruption: till at last, this, hitting my fancy, I had walked
in.
She was working a pair of ruffles, as she sat in a low chair, on
the far side of the shop, facing the door.
- Tres volontiers, most willingly, said she, laying her work down
upon a chair next her, and rising up from the low chair she was
sitting in, with so cheerful a movement, and so cheerful a look,
that had I been laying out fifty louis d'ors with her, I should
have said - "This woman is grateful."
You must turn, Monsieur, said she, going with me to the door of the
shop, and pointing the way down the street I was to take, - you must
turn first to your left hand, - mais prenez garde - there are two
turns; and be so good as to take the second - then go down a little
way and you'll see a church: and, when you are past it, give
yourself the trouble to turn directly to the right, and that will
lead you to the foot of the Pont Neuf, which you must cross - and
there any one will do himself the pleasure to show you. -
She repeated her instructions three times over to me, with the same
goodnatur'd patience the third time as the first; - and if TONES AND
MANNERS have a meaning, which certainly they have, unless to hearts
which shut them out, - she seemed really interested that I should
not lose myself.
I will not suppose it was the woman's beauty, notwithstanding she
was the handsomest grisette, I think, I ever saw, which had much to
do with the sense I had of her courtesy; only I remember, when I
told her how much I was obliged to her, that I looked very full in
her eyes, - and that I repeated my thanks as often as she had done
her instructions.
I had not got ten paces from the door, before I found I had forgot
every tittle of what she had said; - so looking back, and seeing her
still standing in the door of the shop, as if to look whether I
went right or not, - I returned back to ask her, whether the first
turn was to my right or left, - for that I had absolutely forgot. -
Is it possible! said she, half laughing. 'Tis very possible,
replied I, when a man is thinking more of a woman than of her good
advice.
As this was the real truth - she took it, as every woman takes a
matter of right, with a slight curtsey.
- Attendez! said she, laying her hand upon my arm to detain me,
whilst she called a lad out of the back shop to get ready a parcel
of gloves. I am just going to send him, said she, with a packet
into that quarter, and if you will have the complaisance to step
in, it will be ready in a moment, and he shall attend you to the
place. - So I walk'd in with her to the far side of the shop: and
taking up the ruffle in my hand which she laid upon the chair, as
if I had a mind to sit, she sat down herself in her low chair, and
I instantly sat myself down beside her.
- He will be ready, Monsieur, said she, in a moment. - And in that
moment, replied I, most willingly would I say something very civil
to you for all these courtesies.
