What a rate have I gone on at, curvetting and frisking it away, two up and two down for four volumes[4.8] together, without looking once behind, or even on one side of me, to see whom I trod upon! --I'll tread upon no one----quoth I to myself when I mounted ------I'll take a good rattling gallop; but I'll not hurt the poorest jackass upon the road. ----So off I set----up one lane------down another, through this turnpike----over that, as if the arch-jockey of jockeys had got behind me.
Now ride at this rate with what good intention and resolution you may----'tis a million to one you'll do some one a mischief, if not yourself ------He's flung--he's off--he's lost his hat--he's down------he'll break his neck----see! ----if he has not galloped full among the scaffolding of the undertaking criticks! ----he'll knock his brains out against some of their posts--he's bounced out! --look--he's now riding like a mad-cap full tilt through a whole crowd of painters, fiddlers, poets, biographers, physicians, lawyers, logicians, players, schoolmen, churchmen, statesmen, soldiers, casuists, connoisseurs, prelates, popes, and engineers. --Don't fear, said I --I'll not hurt the poorest jack-ass upon the king's highway. --But your horse throws dirt; see you've splash'd a bishop. ----I hope in God, 'twas only _Ernulphus_, said I. ------But you have squirted full in the faces of Mess. _Le Moyne_, _De Romigny_, and _De Marcilly_, doctors of the _Sorbonne_. ------That was last year, replied I. --But you have trod this moment upon a king. ----Kings have bad times on't, said I, to be trod upon by such people as me.
You have done it, replied my accuser.
I deny it, quoth I, and so have got off, and here am I standing with my bridle in one hand, and with my cap in the other, to tell my story. ------And what is it? You shall hear in the next chapter.
[Footnote 4.8: According to the original Editions.]
What a rate have I gone on at, frisking it away for four volumes, without looking once behind, to see whom I trod upon!
'I'll tread upon no one,' quoth I to myself when I mounted - 'I'll take a good rattling gallop; but I'll not hurt the poorest jackass upon the road.'
So off I set - up one lane - down another, through this turnpike - over that, as if the champion jockeys were behind me.
Now if you ride at this rate, however good your intention - 'tis a million to one you'll do some one a mischief, if not yourself. - He's been flung off - he's lost his hat - he'll break his neck - see! if he has not galloped full among the scaffolding of the critics! He'll knock his brains out against their posts - he's bounced out! - look - he's riding like a mad-cap full tilt through a crowd of painters, poets, physicians, lawyers, churchmen, statesmen, soldiers, prelates, popes, and engineers.
'Don't fear,' said I, 'I'll not hurt the poorest jackass upon the road.'
'But your horse throws dirt; see, you've splashed a bishop!'
'I hope to God, 'twas only Ernulphus,' said I.
'But you've squirted full in the faces of the doctors of the Sorbonne!'
'That was last year,' replied I.
'But you have just trod upon a king!'
'I deny it,' quoth I, and so have got off, and here am I standing with my bridle in one hand, and my cap in the other, to tell my story.
And what is it? You shall hear in the next chapter.
Book 4 - Chapter 20