登陆注册
5367000000077

第77章 LITTLE POINSINET(1)

About the year 1760, there lived, at Paris, a little fellow, who was the darling of all the wags of his acquaintance.Nature seemed, in the formation of this little man, to have amused herself, by giving loose to half a hundred of her most comical caprices.He had some wit and drollery of his own, which sometimes rendered his sallies very amusing; but, where his friends laughed with him once, they laughed at him a thousand times, for he had a fund of absurdity in himself that was more pleasant than all the wit in the world.He was as proud as a peacock, as wicked as an ape, and as silly as a goose.He did not possess one single grain of common sense; but, in revenge, his pretensions were enormous, his ignorance vast, and his credulity more extensive still.From his youth upwards, he had read nothing but the new novels, and the verses in the almanacs, which helped him not a little in making, what he called, poetry of his own; for, of course, our little hero was a poet.All the common usages of life, all the ways of the world, and all the customs of society, seemed to be quite unknown to him; add to these good qualities, a magnificent conceit, a cowardice inconceivable, and a face so irresistibly comic, that every one who first beheld it was compelled to burst out a-laughing, and you will have some notion of this strange little gentleman.He was very proud of his voice, and uttered all his sentences in the richest tragic tone.He was little better than a dwarf; but he elevated his eyebrows, held up his neck, walked on the tips of his toes, and gave himself the airs of a giant.He had a little pair of bandy legs, which seemed much too short to support anything like a human body; but, by the help of these crooked supporters, he thought he could dance like a Grace; and, indeed, fancied all the graces possible were to be found in his person.

His goggle eyes were always rolling about wildly, as if in correspondence with the disorder of his little brain and his countenance thus wore an expression of perpetual wonder.With such happy natural gifts, he not only fell into all traps that were laid for him, but seemed almost to go out of his way to seek them;although, to be sure, his friends did not give him much trouble in that search, for they prepared hoaxes for him incessantly.

One day the wags introduced him to a company of ladies, who, though not countesses and princesses exactly, took, nevertheless, those titles upon themselves for the nonce; and were all, for the same reason, violently smitten with Master Poinsinet's person.One of them, the lady of the house, was especially tender; and, seating him by her side at supper, so plied him with smiles, ogles, and champagne, that our little hero grew crazed with ecstasy, and wild with love.In the midst of his happiness, a cruel knock was heard below, accompanied by quick loud talking, swearing, and shuffling of feet: you would have thought a regiment was at the door."Oh heavens!" cried the marchioness, starting up, and giving to the hand of Poinsinet one parting squeeze; "fly--fly, my Poinsinet:

'tis the colonel--my husband!" At this, each gentleman of the party rose, and, drawing his rapier, vowed to cut his way through the colonel and all his mousquetaires, or die, if need be, by the side of Poinsinet.

The little fellow was obliged to lug out his sword too, and went shuddering down stairs, heartily repenting of his passion for marchionesses.When the party arrived in the street, they found, sure enough, a dreadful company of mousquetaires, as they seemed, ready to oppose their passage.Swords crossed,--torches blazed;and, with the most dreadful shouts and imprecations, the contending parties rushed upon one another; the friends of Poinsinet surrounding and supporting that little warrior, as the French knights did King Francis at Pavia, otherwise the poor fellow certainly would have fallen down in the gutter from fright.

But the combat was suddenly interrupted; for the neighbors, who knew nothing of the trick going on, and thought the brawl was real, had been screaming with all their might for the police, who began about this time to arrive.Directly they appeared, friends and enemies of Poinsinet at once took to their heels; and, in THISpart of the transaction, at least, our hero himself showed that he was equal to the longest-legged grenadier that ever ran away.

When, at last, those little bandy legs of his had borne him safely to his lodgings, all Poinsinet's friends crowded round him, to congratulate him on his escape and his valor.

"Egad, how he pinked that great red-haired fellow!" said one.

"No; did I?" said Poinsinet.

"Did you? Psha! don't try to play the modest, and humbug US; you know you did.I suppose you will say, next, that you were not for three minutes point to point with Cartentierce himself, the most dreadful swordsman of the army.""Why, you see," says Poinsinet, quite delighted, "it was so dark that I did not know with whom I was engaged; although, corbleu, IDID FOR one or two of the fellows." And after a little more of such conversation, during which he was fully persuaded that he had done for a dozen of the enemy at least, Poinsinet went to bed, his little person trembling with fright and pleasure; and he fell asleep, and dreamed of rescuing ladies, and destroying monsters, like a second Amadis de Gaul.

When he awoke in the morning, he found a party of his friends in his room: one was examining his coat and waistcoat; another was casting many curious glances at his inexpressibles."Look here!"said this gentleman, holding up the garment to the light; "one--two--three gashes! I am hanged if the cowards did not aim at Poinsinet's legs! There are four holes in the sword arm of his coat, and seven have gone right through coat and waistcoat.Good heaven! Poinsinet, have you had a surgeon to your wounds?""Wounds!" said the little man, springing up, "I don't know--that is, I hope--that is--O Lord! O Lord! I hope I'm not wounded!" and, after a proper examination, he discovered he was not.

同类推荐
  • 诗史阁诗话

    诗史阁诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Silverado Squatters

    The Silverado Squatters

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 归有光集

    归有光集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阿育王子法益坏目因缘经

    阿育王子法益坏目因缘经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 偏安排日事迹

    偏安排日事迹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 低调少奶奶

    低调少奶奶

    此文简介有鸟家三群众人提供:简介:女主名字——简单。一个只想把弟弟妹妹养大成人的平凡女人,突然发现自己很有身价的故事。伊天南:金宇公司老总。(就是这厮偷了女主的资料,一个人偷偷摸摸的去把婚给结了。)禅让:华夏公司幕后老板。(女主前男友。身份很强大。当腹黑男遇到强大男,气场很复杂,特别是作为情敌身份。)简家人物:大女儿:简单。(小四曰:“鸟文中,我永远支持的是女主。”)二女儿:简弟。(妖妖曰:“.鸟,我喜欢这个女人.......”)三女儿:简妹。(SUZZY怒曰:“妖妖你敢外遇………..”)四儿子:简万。(梅曰:“我就喜欢这种闷骚型的男子,调戏起来很有成就感。”)五儿子:简千。(蓝夜:“这人我能不能领回家……….”)六儿子:简百。(拉链:“我怀孕了就生个这样的吧……….”)***********************************新文:《笑看妃乱》简介:她对美男免疫,唯一的爱好是挖掘他人隐私。她不喜男人太优秀,认为凑合耐用就行,不用像孔雀一样招摇。正文:白小鼠是勇定王府的最低妾室,她淡定的扮演着自己身份,慢悠悠的在通往王妃之路的旅行中无聊的攀升。只是她有个不太好的爱好,把别人的秘密和隐私当糖豆吃,吃的越多,心情越好,吓的人越多养分越充足,除了这些她是个很好相处的人,微笑淑女,行为端庄。推荐鹦鹉家的完结文:《阴毒妃嫔》《贤妻良母》《相公这是21世纪》天下归元:《凰权》(真正的斗智斗勇)好文大放送:风染白《逢场作戏》水中影《夫人七嫁》枫飘雪《驭妖》不道心《离婚》闲听冷雨《二手王妃》莫言殇《白发皇妃》后妃《狂野未婚夫》月出云《侧妃不承欢》落随心《七夫人》友情推荐:李筝《步轻尘》张小鹿《至尊弃妃》迷途亡者《重生迷惑》潇湘非倾城《狂惑》皇炎儿《婚外情》简思《孽婚——门当户对》--蝴蝶酥《名门少奶奶》落随心《丑颜倾城》漫天花雨《黑道贵妇》随风清《重生之豪门嫡女》
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 我和我创作的角色绝对没有故事

    我和我创作的角色绝对没有故事

    有一天,突然发现,屋子里出现特殊的来客。是的,美丽的,动人的,可怕的.......由此而产生的一些故事。
  • 有趣的发现和发明(谷臻小简·AI导读版)

    有趣的发现和发明(谷臻小简·AI导读版)

    本书是一本科普读物,以故事的形式,分别介绍了阿基米德与投石机、伽利略与望远镜、帕斯卡与液体压强等科学发明与发现。
  • 秘诀:度过人生的冬天

    秘诀:度过人生的冬天

    本书以小故事大道理的形式,叙述了大量中外名人的励志故事,从中总结出应对人生困难的办法,包括调整心态、如何发现身边的机遇、如何开发自己的潜能等等,故事通俗,内涵丰富,对人多有启发。尤其在当下金融危机席卷全球的背景下,“如何渡过经济的寒冬”有着深刻的现实意义。
  • 魔能国度

    魔能国度

    一个小人物的异世旅途,如果世界没有碾碎我们的坚持,就让我们用这世界的一切,打碎一切枷锁,走向生命的自由!生命洪流滚滚,或上或下,不管在哪个世界,送给最有坚持的人,都将是一份成功的希望。
  • 红马

    红马

    甫跃辉, 1984年生,云南保山施甸县人,复旦大学首届文学写作专业小说方向研究生毕业,师从作家王安忆。在《人民文学》《大家》《花城》《中国作家》《青年文学》《上海文学》《长城》等文学期刊发表中国短篇小说。获得2009年度“中环”杯《上海文学》短篇小说新人奖。
  • 万古无敌第一魔

    万古无敌第一魔

    仙界强者弑魔天帝叶尘,因身怀混沌秘宝遭众仙围攻,无路可退的他只能选择融合秘宝万道魔像并引爆残躯与敌人同归于尽!再世为魔的他有庞大家族做靠山,戏红颜,斩天骄,斗帝王,战强者,灭天道,碎轮回!无限嚣张!证得太始魔道,成就万古无敌第一魔。(万道空间,无限修炼!万道魔塔,天材地宝,数之不尽!)
  • 魔狂之人间道

    魔狂之人间道

    世间浮沉诸多事,万般不由人,天命已定局难改。从来不存在逆天改命。
  • 古墓之冷酷血王子

    古墓之冷酷血王子

    她,陈可心,平凡的考古系学生,却是大名鼎鼎的洛阳铲传人,在爷爷的培养下她渐渐成为一个身怀绝技,了解五行八卦的,遇事冷静的女人,虽然有时候会恶搞一下,但在每每遇到生死关头的危险时刻却总是能运用自己的智慧化解。一次,在西藏发现的神秘古墓引发了陈可心一连串的意外,与自己有着相似面庞的墓主。不灭的光,穿过身体的古人,甚至心底涌起的熟悉感都让可心感到莫名的恐惧,就在这么多疑问堆积下的古墓里,可心不小心走失了,莫名其妙的被人口贩子卖到了古代的美索布达米娅,成为巴比伦的侧妃,打败了亚述的勇士,征服了冷酷的亚述血王子。巴比伦王子:汉姆拉比。成功的政治家,巴比伦王位的继承人。脸上始终挂着笑,高深的让人看不清楚想法。“我,汉姆拉比在此发誓,,让安努和贝尔神授予我治理苏尔美和阿尔德之权时,巴比伦的铁骑将扫平整个幼发拉底河,到那个时候,我汉姆拉比的意志便是神的意志,我汉姆拉比的灵魂便是神的灵魂。我要做的便是天理,我爱的女人就是天命。我将像头上悬挂的太阳,永世照耀着我的国度,权利于我,神力于我,永世不修。”……亚述血王子:冷酷,霸道。杀人不眨眼,外号血王子,号称杀光,抢光,烧光的男人,拥有痛苦的过去,却在决定爱人可心的那一刻,毫不犹豫的用自己整个生命去爱她,甚至不惜跳入“天之眼”。“如果你爱我,我会给你我的全部,除了爱。如果你不爱我,我依然会给你全部。除了爱。但是,你唯一要做的就是忠诚,绝对的忠诚。忠诚的爱我,忠诚的包容我的一切,忠诚的把自己献给我。那么从此刻开始,我尼普克斯的生命便属于你”这是他对可心标志性的告白。神秘女巫预言,梦中不断出现的男女,甚至还有那相似的古墓主人,这些都让纠缠的谜底一步一步的揭开,巴亚大战拉开帷幕,可心被巴比伦王子重新带回巴比伦,亚述尼普克斯发动了政变发誓要扫平美索布达米娅,惩罚她的背叛,血流成河……渐渐的历史的轨迹在三人手里发生了偏移。而她?是带领女性解放的人民英雄??是扫平美索不达米娅的战争神话?甚至还是美索不达米娅的真神阿尔瑟弥斯????水木家族群QQ21804822(满)美美的新浪博客http://m.pgsk.com/u/1082180670(新书安排,古墓随想,生活日志。。。。)还有推荐我一个好姐妹的书,很好看的,《汉武飞仙》大家可以去看看。她最近快写完结局了。大家期待吧。地址哈哈。。