“Paris yields to fashion, and changes its adornments; This people, given to imitation, and copyist of the court, Has begun a day since To pull down the pride of its head-dresses.” [40] “Seemed to flutter in the ladies’ hair.” [41] “A woman in ‘pretintaille’ and ‘fontange’ Thinks herself as beautiful as an angel; But this vain falbala, by its vast size, Makes her as big as a tower; And all this set-out inflates and stuffs her up, Until she resembles a fat turkey.” [42] “When a thing is new, That suffices to make it handsome, And little is thought about other things, La, la, la, &c. “No matter who invents it, So that it is extravagant, Good taste yields to it, La, la, la, &c. “But it disappears Almost as soon as it appears, For all changes and will change, La, la, la, &c.” [43] “My chiefest concern is the care of my attire; Nothing pleases me more than a new fashion.” [44] “After dinner, the indolent Glycera Goes out, just for the sake of going out, having nothing to do. Her insipidity is deposited in a chariot, Wherein her tightened body groans under the trammels Of a heavy panier which protrudes from the two windows.” [45] “Is there anything more beautiful than a corset, Which naturally defines the figure, And shows how one is made In the mould of nature?” [46] This is a Provençal expression, meaning, “What does it mean?” or “What is it all about?” [47] It will not assist the reader’s imagination much to give the translation of these extraordinary names; but here they are: “the ingenuous maiden,” “the counsellor’s wife,” “the royal bird,” “dog lying down,” “gallant pits,” “calèches with the hoods up.” [48] “Everything is to be ‘à la harpie;’ Ribbons, frock-coats, and caps; Ladies, your taste grows instructed, You are abandoning gewgaws For a costume in character.” [49] “The ‘harpy’ is ill chosen; Let us pardon this caprice; But sometimes in the fashions More justice is done to the fair sex, And worthier laws prevail. Ladies, upon your heads I have seen The attributes of our warriors, And laurels may fittingly be worn By those who are conquerors.” [50] “Spangles on the caps, On the toques, On the little bodices! Spangles On the soft hair-bands, On the large hats! Spangles On the black necklaces, On the white shoes! Spangles, Spangles on the ribbons, On the turbans. Nothing is to be seen Without spangles!” [51] “The diamond only ought to adorn Charms which are hurt by wool.” [52] “What is the price, mamma, of those ugly caps?” “Ten francs.” “The name?” “Madwoman’s caps.” “Ah, that is strange,” interrupted Nicolle, “For all our ladies wear them.”