night in his clothes. At cock-crow he jumps up, performs his toilette, and gallops off and knocks at the entrance gate. “Who’s there?” shouts the porter angrily; and when he explains, the porter gets still more angry and begins to abuse him, saying, “You are in a fine hurry, you are! Do you think my master sees people at this hour?” Then is the visitor shamed, but has to swallow his wrath and try to persuade the porter to let him in. And the porter, another fee to the good, gets up and lets him in; and then he waits again in the stable as before, until perhaps the great man comes out and summons him to an audience.
Now, with many an obeisance, he cringes timidly towards the foot of the dais steps: and when the great man says “Come!” he prostrates himself twice and remains long without rising. At length he goes up to offer his present, which the great man refuses. He entreats acceptance; but in vain. He implores, with many instances; whereupon the great man bids a servant take it. Then two more prostrations, long drawn out; after which he arises, and with five or six salutations he takes his leave.
On going forth, he bows to the porter, saying, “It’s all right with your master. Next time I come you need make no delay.” The porter returns the bow, well pleased with his share in the business.[1] Meanwhile, our friend springs on his horse, and when he meets an acquaintance flourishes his whip and cries out, “I have just been with His Excellency. He treated me very kindly, very kindly indeed.” And then he goes into detail, upon which his friends begin to be more respectful to him as a protegé of His Excellency. The great man himself says, “So-and-so is a good fellow, a very good fellow indeed;” upon which the bystanders of course declare that they think so too.[2]
- ↑
Juvenal, Satire III―
præstare tributa clientes
Cogimur, et cultis augere peculia servis. - ↑ Ibid.―
rides? majore cachinno
Concutitur: flet, si lachrymas aspexit amici, etc.
