DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36582#0409
io6
THE DO RE GALLERY.
be done. One wise old rat proposed to fasten a bell round the cat’s neck, so that the sound
should give timely notice of the enemy’s approach. The idea was very generally received
as excellent; but who was to bell the cat ? That was the difficulty. Every one declined
to make the attempt, and the whole thing ended in talk. We see the same result in
human affairs. Plenty of suggestions, but much shrinking from the test of action.
The rats here portrayed are full of character and droll caprice. They seem to have
been studied from life, but with an eye of humorous fancy.
PLATE CXLVIII.
JESUS HEALING THE SICK MAN OF THE PALSY.
It is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew that there was brought to Jesus, in Bethlehem,
a man sick of the palsy, whom he cured, so that he was enabled to rise at once, take
up his bed, and go into his house (Matthew ix. 2—7). The incident is here embodied
by M. Dore in a plate which shows the sick man just about to rise from his couch.
PLATE CXLIX.
THE MOCK SERENADE.
Don Quixote, staying at the castle of a great duke and duchess, is made the victim of
a practical joke by one of the waiting women, who, having heard him talk a good deal
about the peerless Dulcinea del Toboso, determines to put his fidelity to the test. After
he has gone to bed one night, the Don, being unable to sleep for the heat, gets up, opens
the casement, and looks out into a fine garden, where he presently hears people walking
about and talking. They prove to be two women, one of whom, named Altisidora, is
pressed by the other to sing. Altisidora replies that since the arrival of the stranger at
the castle she has been too conversant with tears and sorrow to sing or relish songs.
Besides, the Duchess might wake ; and, again, what would be the use of her singing if
this new JEneas should be asleep, and not hear the sound of her complaints ? These, of
course, are feigned excuses, the Don being heard above at the window; and ultimately
the damsel begins her serenade, which is a great outpouring of love for the knight, a
depreciation of Dulcinea, and a vaunting of the singer’s own attractions. Quixote
takes all this for true; recalls an immense number of adventures of a like character
which he has read of in his books of knight-errantry ; and is at first a little apprehensive
for his fidelity to the lady of Toboso. At the close of the serenade, however, he declares
THE DO RE GALLERY.
be done. One wise old rat proposed to fasten a bell round the cat’s neck, so that the sound
should give timely notice of the enemy’s approach. The idea was very generally received
as excellent; but who was to bell the cat ? That was the difficulty. Every one declined
to make the attempt, and the whole thing ended in talk. We see the same result in
human affairs. Plenty of suggestions, but much shrinking from the test of action.
The rats here portrayed are full of character and droll caprice. They seem to have
been studied from life, but with an eye of humorous fancy.
PLATE CXLVIII.
JESUS HEALING THE SICK MAN OF THE PALSY.
It is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew that there was brought to Jesus, in Bethlehem,
a man sick of the palsy, whom he cured, so that he was enabled to rise at once, take
up his bed, and go into his house (Matthew ix. 2—7). The incident is here embodied
by M. Dore in a plate which shows the sick man just about to rise from his couch.
PLATE CXLIX.
THE MOCK SERENADE.
Don Quixote, staying at the castle of a great duke and duchess, is made the victim of
a practical joke by one of the waiting women, who, having heard him talk a good deal
about the peerless Dulcinea del Toboso, determines to put his fidelity to the test. After
he has gone to bed one night, the Don, being unable to sleep for the heat, gets up, opens
the casement, and looks out into a fine garden, where he presently hears people walking
about and talking. They prove to be two women, one of whom, named Altisidora, is
pressed by the other to sing. Altisidora replies that since the arrival of the stranger at
the castle she has been too conversant with tears and sorrow to sing or relish songs.
Besides, the Duchess might wake ; and, again, what would be the use of her singing if
this new JEneas should be asleep, and not hear the sound of her complaints ? These, of
course, are feigned excuses, the Don being heard above at the window; and ultimately
the damsel begins her serenade, which is a great outpouring of love for the knight, a
depreciation of Dulcinea, and a vaunting of the singer’s own attractions. Quixote
takes all this for true; recalls an immense number of adventures of a like character
which he has read of in his books of knight-errantry ; and is at first a little apprehensive
for his fidelity to the lady of Toboso. At the close of the serenade, however, he declares