The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

Chapter LVI

246 The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle by the Roman actors, which, he said, was a machine that covered the whole head, furnished on the inside with a brazen concavity, that, by reverberating the sound as it issued from the mouth, raised the voice, so as to render it audible to such an extended audience. He explained the difference between the Saltator34 and Declamator,35 one of whom acted, while the other rehearsed the part; and from thence took occasion to mention the perfection of their pantomimes, who were so amazingly distinct in the exercise of their art, that a certain prince of Pontus being at the court of Nero, and seeing one of them represent a story, begged him of the emperor, in order to employ him as an interpreter among barbarous nations, whose language he did not understand .36 Nay, divers cynic philosophers,37 who had condemned this entertainment unseen , when they chanced to be eye-witnesses of their admirable dexterity, expressed their sorrow for having so long debarred themselves of such rational enjoyment. He dissented, however, from the opinion of Peregrine, who, as a proof of their excellence , had advanced, that some of the English actors fancied themselves the very thing they represented, and recounted a story from Lucian,38 of a certain celebrated pantomime, who in acting the part of Ajax in his frenzy, was transported into a real fit of delirium, during which he tore to-pieces the cloaths of that actor who stalked before him, beating the stage with iron shoes, in order to increase the noise, snatched an instrument from one of the musicians, and broke it over the head of him who represented Ulysses; and running to the consular bench, mistook a couple of senators for the sheep which were to be slain. The audience applauded him to the skies; but so conscious was the mimic of his own extravagance, when he recovered the use of his reason , that he actually fell sick with mortification; and being afterwards desired to re-act the piece, flatly refused to appear in any such character, saying, that the shortest follies were the best, and that it was sufficient for him to have been a madman once in his life. chapter lvi. An adventure happens to Pipes, in consequence of which he is dismissed from Peregrine’s service. The whole company set out for Ghent in the Diligence. Our hero is captivated by a lady in that carriage; interests her spiritual director in his behalf. The doctor being fairly engaged on the subject of the ancients, would have proceeded the Lord knows how far, without hesitation, had not he been interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Jolter, who in great confusion told them, that Pipes having affronted a soldier, was then surrounded in the street, and would certainly be put to death, if some person of authority did not immediately interpose in his behalf. Peregrine no sooner learn’d the danger of his trusty squire, than snatching up his Volume Two, Chapter LVI 247 sword, he ran down stairs, and was followed by the Chevalier, intreating him to leave the affair to his management. Within ten yards of the door they found Tom with his back to a wall, defending himself manfully with a mopstick against the assault of three or four soldiers, who at sight of the Maltese cross desisted from the attack, and were taken into custody by order of the knight. One of the aggressors being an Irishman, begged to be heard with great importunity, before he should be sent to the guard; and by the mediation of Pickle, was accordingly brought into the Hotel, with his companions , all three bearing upon their heads and faces evident marks of their adversary ’s prowess and dexterity. The spokesman being confronted with Pipes, informed the company, that having by accident met with Mr. Pipes, whom he considered as his countryman, though fortune had disposed of them in different services, he invited him to drink a glass of wine; and accordingly carried him to a Cabaret,1 where he introduced him to his comrades; but in the course of the conversation, which turned upon the power and greatness of the kings of France and England, Mr. Pipes had been pleased to treat his Most Christian Majesty with great disrespect; and when he (the entertainer) expostulated with him in a friendly manner about his impolite behaviour , observing, that he being in the French service, would be...