DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61480#0188
180
H OGARTH'S WORKS.
to suppose relate to the event that occasions this march. Behind this Frenchman is
an ale-house, in front of which is a drummer, who, by beating on his drum, endeavours
to shake off the thoughts of leaving his family, who in vain attempt to affect him by
their tender farewell. On his right is a fifer, adding his noise to that of the drum ; this
lad, by the sweetness of his figure, is a beautiful contrast to the squalidness of the
objects about him. In the group on the right of this plate, opposite to that of the
drummer, is another soldier, exceedingly drunk, to whom his comrade (who has
snatched up a hen from her brood of chickens and conveyed it into his pouch) is in
vain endeavouring to give a draught of water ; a sort of female sutler offers him a glass
of gin with more success, which the infant on her back, who seems too well accustomed
to this liquor, is trying to get at; for so general is the use of it, among the lower class
of people, become, as to be the comforting cordial of every age. On the other side,
behind, are two fellows stripped, and boxing; a circumstance we seldom miss seeing
wherever there is a crowd. In this contest more seem engaged than the two men who
are fighting. Here we see a woman, supposed to be the wife of one of them, eager to
get in, to part them, but kept back ; there, a fellow encouraging the other, who appears
to flag through the loss of an eye. But the principal figure is the cobbler above, near
the sign-post, who is finely described with double fists, ready to fly at him who seems
the victor; or, in the bruiser's phrase, to take up the conqueror. In short, to give a
particular description of every minute object in this print would be an almost endless
task, and to throw out any reflection on the various matter would be needless. Let it
suffice to say, that we have here a faithful representation of nature, which speaks for
itself, and so largely enriched with the true vis comica, or spirit of humour, that the
more we examine it, the greater pleasure we have ; and the longer we view it, the more
beauties we find.
H OGARTH'S WORKS.
to suppose relate to the event that occasions this march. Behind this Frenchman is
an ale-house, in front of which is a drummer, who, by beating on his drum, endeavours
to shake off the thoughts of leaving his family, who in vain attempt to affect him by
their tender farewell. On his right is a fifer, adding his noise to that of the drum ; this
lad, by the sweetness of his figure, is a beautiful contrast to the squalidness of the
objects about him. In the group on the right of this plate, opposite to that of the
drummer, is another soldier, exceedingly drunk, to whom his comrade (who has
snatched up a hen from her brood of chickens and conveyed it into his pouch) is in
vain endeavouring to give a draught of water ; a sort of female sutler offers him a glass
of gin with more success, which the infant on her back, who seems too well accustomed
to this liquor, is trying to get at; for so general is the use of it, among the lower class
of people, become, as to be the comforting cordial of every age. On the other side,
behind, are two fellows stripped, and boxing; a circumstance we seldom miss seeing
wherever there is a crowd. In this contest more seem engaged than the two men who
are fighting. Here we see a woman, supposed to be the wife of one of them, eager to
get in, to part them, but kept back ; there, a fellow encouraging the other, who appears
to flag through the loss of an eye. But the principal figure is the cobbler above, near
the sign-post, who is finely described with double fists, ready to fly at him who seems
the victor; or, in the bruiser's phrase, to take up the conqueror. In short, to give a
particular description of every minute object in this print would be an almost endless
task, and to throw out any reflection on the various matter would be needless. Let it
suffice to say, that we have here a faithful representation of nature, which speaks for
itself, and so largely enriched with the true vis comica, or spirit of humour, that the
more we examine it, the greater pleasure we have ; and the longer we view it, the more
beauties we find.