A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy by Laurence Sterne
page 41 of 148 (27%)
page 41 of 148 (27%)
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Place aux dames, with one voice, it would not have conveyed the
sentiment of a deference for the sex with half the effect. Just Heaven! for what wise reasons hast thou ordered it, that beggary and urbanity, which are at such variance in other countries, should find a way to be at unity in this? - I insisted upon presenting him with a single sous, merely for his politesse. A poor little dwarfish brisk fellow, who stood over against me in the circle, putting something first under his arm, which had once been a hat, took his snuff-box out of his pocket, and generously offer'd a pinch on both sides of him: it was a gift of consequence, and modestly declined. --The poor little fellow pressed it upon them with a nod of welcomeness.--Prenez en--prenez, said he, looking another way; so they each took a pinch.--Pity thy box should ever want one! said I to myself; so I put a couple of sous into it--taking a small pinch out of his box, to enhance their value, as I did it. He felt the weight of the second obligation more than of the first,--'twas doing him an honour,--the other was only doing him a charity;--and he made me a bow down to the ground for it. - Here! said I to an old soldier with one hand, who had been campaigned and worn out to death in the service--here's a couple of sous for thee.--Vive le Roi! said the old soldier. I had then but three sous left: so I gave one, simply, pour l'amour de Dieu, which was the footing on which it was begg'd.--The |
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