I Was Enraptured Too With The Surpassing Beauty
Of A Distressed Damsel, In Faded Pink Silk, And Dirty White Muslin,
Whom he held in cruel captivity by way of gaining her affections; and
who wept and wrung her hands and
Flourished a ragged pocket
handkerchief from the top of an impregnable tower, of the size of a
band-box.
Even after I had come out from the play, I could not tear myself from
the vicinity of the theatre; but lingered, gazing, and wondering, and
laughing at the dramatis personae, as they performed their antics, or
danced upon a stage in front of the booth, to decoy a new set of
spectators.
I was so bewildered by the scene, and so lost in the crowd of
sensations that kept swarming upon me that I was like one entranced. I
lost my companion Tom Dribble, in a tumult and scuffle that took place
near one of the shows, but I was too much occupied in mind to think
long about him. I strolled about until dark, when the fair was lighted
up, and a new scene of magic opened upon me. The illumination of the
tents and booths; the brilliant effect of the stages decorated with
lamps, with dramatic groups flaunting about them in gaudy dresses,
contrasted splendidly with the surrounding darkness; while the uproar
of drums, trumpets, fiddles, hautboys, and cymbals, mingled with the
harangues of the showmen, the squeaking of Punch, and the shouts and
laughter of the crowd, all united to complete my giddy distraction.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 161 of 433
Words from 42935 to 43191
of 115667
