History of English Humour, Vol. 2L'Estrange, A. G. K. (Alfred Guy Kingan)
History
History of English Humour, Vol. 2
L'Estrange, A. G. K. (Alfred Guy Kingan)
English wit and humor -- History and criticism; Wit and humor -- History and criticism
"Trunnion, not a little affected, turned his eye ruefully upon the
lieutenant saying in piteous tone, 'What! leave me at last, Jack,
after we have weathered so many hard gales together? Damn my limbs!
I thought you had been more of an honest heart: I looked upon you
as my foremast and Tom Pipes as my mizen; now he is carried away;
if so be as you go too, my standing rigging being decayed d'ye see,
the first squall will bring me by the board. Damn ye, if in case I
have given offence, can't you speak above board, and I shall make
you amends."
Some idea of his best comic scenes, which have a certain kind of
humorous merit, may be obtained from the following description of the
progress of Commodore Trunnion and his party to the Wedding. Wishing to
go in state, they advance on horseback, and are seen crossing the road
obliquely so as to avoid the eye of the wind. The cries of a pack of
hounds unfortunately reach the horses' ears, who being hunters,
immediately start off after them in full gallop.
"The Lieutenant, whose steed had got the heels of the others,
finding it would be great folly and presumption in him to pretend
to keep the saddle with his wooden leg, very wisely took the
opportunity of throwing himself off in his passage through a field
of rich clover, among which he lay at his ease; and seeing his
captain advancing at full gallop, hailed him with the salutation of
'What cheer? ho!' The Commodore, who was in infinite distress,
eyeing him askance, as he passed replied with a faltering voice, 'O
damn ye! you are safe at an anchor, I wish to God I were as fast
moored.' Nevertheless, conscious of his disabled heel, he would not
venture to try the experiment that had succeeded so well with
Hatchway, but resolved to stick as close as possible to his
horse's back, until Providence should interpose in his behalf. With
this view he dropped his whip, and with his right hand laid fast
hold of the pommel, contracting every muscle of his body to secure
himself in the seat, and grinning most formidably in consequence of
this exertion. In this attitude he was hurried on a considerable
way, when all of a sudden his view was comforted by a five-bar gate
that appeared before him, as he never doubted that there the career
of his hunter must necessarily end. But alas! he reckoned without
his host. Far from halting at this obstruction, the horse sprang
over with amazing agility, to the utter confusion and disorder of
his owner, who lost his hat and periwig in the leap, and now began
to think in good earnest that he was actually mounted on the back
of the devil. He recommended himself to God, his reflection forsook
him, his eyesight and all his other senses failed, he quitted the
reins, and fastening by instinct on the main, was in this condition
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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