DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53553#0364
328
excellent a dish on their tables. That he declined partak-
ing- of the peas, I forgave him willingly; since the first season
for that vegetable, although not begun in England, was
past at Naples : they therefore remained in undisturbed re-
pose, to exhibit the semblance of a tesselated pavement, va-
riegated by stones of green, black, brown and yellow hues.
The latter colour prevailed in this vegetable mosaic, the na-
ture of which it was proper to describe for the better under-
standing of what follows.
While we were busy with the pies, our waiting atten-
dants, the Anti-Ganimede and another Tar-Adonis of about
fourteen, were stilling their animal cravings with the re-
mains of our table in the sternmost recess of the gun-room,
by the light of two small port-holes, sufficient for their pur-
pose, but not capable of exhibiting to us the exact progress
of their operations. Whether the green peas left to their
manducation were a welcome feast to them, I cannot say ;
but so much is certain, that, while occupied in picking out
the most tender, the martial spirit implanted in British youth,
especially of the navy, suggested to these young heroes, the
practability of employing the most hardened particles of the
mosaic in the maimer of missile weapons, of bullets in mini-
ature ; and of thus practising in their obscure recess an inte-
resting sort of sham-fight. As in real combat, single shots
only were at first exchanged, till, when the growing ardour
of the parties had rendered the contest more and more spirit-
ed, broadside answered broadside. One of these, unskilfully
levelled, missed its aim, flew forward, and raked up the pow-
der of my friend’s head dress, as a cannon ball that strikes
the breach, throws up volumes of dust, sand, and mortar.
Don Michele’s gravity and temper were not discomposed by
this unexpected and unprovoked act of hostility ; on the con -
trary, he exclaimed with a witty coldness, “ Abbiamo, per
Dio, nemici in dietro da noi* !” But the first lieutenant,
* By heavens, we have foes in our rear I
who
excellent a dish on their tables. That he declined partak-
ing- of the peas, I forgave him willingly; since the first season
for that vegetable, although not begun in England, was
past at Naples : they therefore remained in undisturbed re-
pose, to exhibit the semblance of a tesselated pavement, va-
riegated by stones of green, black, brown and yellow hues.
The latter colour prevailed in this vegetable mosaic, the na-
ture of which it was proper to describe for the better under-
standing of what follows.
While we were busy with the pies, our waiting atten-
dants, the Anti-Ganimede and another Tar-Adonis of about
fourteen, were stilling their animal cravings with the re-
mains of our table in the sternmost recess of the gun-room,
by the light of two small port-holes, sufficient for their pur-
pose, but not capable of exhibiting to us the exact progress
of their operations. Whether the green peas left to their
manducation were a welcome feast to them, I cannot say ;
but so much is certain, that, while occupied in picking out
the most tender, the martial spirit implanted in British youth,
especially of the navy, suggested to these young heroes, the
practability of employing the most hardened particles of the
mosaic in the maimer of missile weapons, of bullets in mini-
ature ; and of thus practising in their obscure recess an inte-
resting sort of sham-fight. As in real combat, single shots
only were at first exchanged, till, when the growing ardour
of the parties had rendered the contest more and more spirit-
ed, broadside answered broadside. One of these, unskilfully
levelled, missed its aim, flew forward, and raked up the pow-
der of my friend’s head dress, as a cannon ball that strikes
the breach, throws up volumes of dust, sand, and mortar.
Don Michele’s gravity and temper were not discomposed by
this unexpected and unprovoked act of hostility ; on the con -
trary, he exclaimed with a witty coldness, “ Abbiamo, per
Dio, nemici in dietro da noi* !” But the first lieutenant,
* By heavens, we have foes in our rear I
who