DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53553#0238
206
The few local arrangements, thought of to gain room for
the impending diversion were just completed, when Don Ig-
nazio returned with the respectable reinforcement of three
more ladies, the mother and two daughters, tenants of the
lower part of the house, and a hump-backed little being
with a guitar nearly as big as himself. After a most pompous
introduction to these new visitors, in which our host vouch-
safed to grant me the promotion of colonello nel servizio di
sua maestd il re della Gran Bretagna, we set to work im-
mediately on a country-dance. My steps were universally
admired; indeed I am confident I never danced better in
my life. The ligature round my legs imparted to them a
wonderful degree of spring and vigour, and looked altoge-
ther pretty. As to Don Ignazio, poor man, he did wonders
likewise. His legs, w ith every symptom of dropsy, exhibited
a respectable degree of agility; but his enormous calves,
like blubber or jelly, shook from right to left at every touch
of the ground. Don Carlo w as a second Didelot, and Donna
Anna’s steps were grace and elegance itself. In a little time
we received an accession of strength in the arrival of three
or four neighbours, so that at last there were nearly a dozen
of us. Country dances, cotillions, and menuets a quatre,
succeeded each other in turn; but of all, nothing pleased me
more than the saltarella of Don Carlo and the lady of the
house. This is a national dance of the Neapolitans, more
distinguished by the gracefulness of its steps and attitudes,
than by any intricacy of figures or great quickness of motion.
I would fain have given them a hornpipe in return, but
could not for the world beat the tune into old Thersites’
head.
About midnight our host proposed to sup. The cloth
was laid in an instant, every one lending a hand. The
“ stingy” Don Ignazio treated us with a profusion of three
or four different sorts of delicious shell-fish, Bologna sausa-
ges,
The few local arrangements, thought of to gain room for
the impending diversion were just completed, when Don Ig-
nazio returned with the respectable reinforcement of three
more ladies, the mother and two daughters, tenants of the
lower part of the house, and a hump-backed little being
with a guitar nearly as big as himself. After a most pompous
introduction to these new visitors, in which our host vouch-
safed to grant me the promotion of colonello nel servizio di
sua maestd il re della Gran Bretagna, we set to work im-
mediately on a country-dance. My steps were universally
admired; indeed I am confident I never danced better in
my life. The ligature round my legs imparted to them a
wonderful degree of spring and vigour, and looked altoge-
ther pretty. As to Don Ignazio, poor man, he did wonders
likewise. His legs, w ith every symptom of dropsy, exhibited
a respectable degree of agility; but his enormous calves,
like blubber or jelly, shook from right to left at every touch
of the ground. Don Carlo w as a second Didelot, and Donna
Anna’s steps were grace and elegance itself. In a little time
we received an accession of strength in the arrival of three
or four neighbours, so that at last there were nearly a dozen
of us. Country dances, cotillions, and menuets a quatre,
succeeded each other in turn; but of all, nothing pleased me
more than the saltarella of Don Carlo and the lady of the
house. This is a national dance of the Neapolitans, more
distinguished by the gracefulness of its steps and attitudes,
than by any intricacy of figures or great quickness of motion.
I would fain have given them a hornpipe in return, but
could not for the world beat the tune into old Thersites’
head.
About midnight our host proposed to sup. The cloth
was laid in an instant, every one lending a hand. The
“ stingy” Don Ignazio treated us with a profusion of three
or four different sorts of delicious shell-fish, Bologna sausa-
ges,