roleplaying:munchausen:chapter_xii
no way to compare when less than two revisions
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
— | roleplaying:munchausen:chapter_xii [2005/11/22 17:54] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
+ | ====== TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN ====== | ||
+ | ===== CHAPTER XII ===== | ||
+ | //The frolic; its consequences--Windsor Castle--St. Paul' | ||
+ | of Physicians--Undertakers, | ||
+ | of the apothecaries.// | ||
+ | |||
+ | THE FROLIC. | ||
+ | |||
+ | This famous sling makes the possessor equal to any task he is desirous | ||
+ | of performing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I made a balloon of such extensive dimensions, that an account of the | ||
+ | silk it contained would exceed all credibility; | ||
+ | and weaver' | ||
+ | contributed to it: with this balloon and my sling I played many | ||
+ | tricks, such as taking one house from its station, and placing another | ||
+ | in its stead, without disturbing the inhabitants, | ||
+ | asleep, or too much employed to observe the peregrinations of their | ||
+ | habitations. When the sentinel at Windsor Castle heard St. Paul's | ||
+ | clock strike thirteen, it was through my dexterity; I brought the | ||
+ | buildings nearly together that night, by placing the castle in St. | ||
+ | George' | ||
+ | waking any of the inhabitants; | ||
+ | should have kept my balloon, and its properties a secret, if | ||
+ | Montgolfier had not made the art of flying so public. | ||
+ | |||
+ | On the 30th of September, when the College of Physicians chose their | ||
+ | annual officers, and dined sumptuously together, I filled my balloon, | ||
+ | brought it over the dome of their building, clapped the sling round | ||
+ | the golden ball at the top, fastening the other end of it to the | ||
+ | balloon, and immediately ascended with the whole college to an immense | ||
+ | height, where I kept them upwards of three months. You will naturally | ||
+ | inquire what they did for food such a length of time? To this I | ||
+ | answer, Had I kept them suspended twice the time, they would have | ||
+ | experienced no inconvenience on that account, so amply, or rather | ||
+ | extravagantly, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Though this was meant as an innocent frolic, it was productive of much | ||
+ | mischief to several respectable characters amongst the clergy, | ||
+ | undertakers, | ||
+ | acknowledged, | ||
+ | three months the college was suspended in the air, and therefore | ||
+ | incapable of attending their patients, no deaths happened, except a | ||
+ | few who fell before the scythe of Father Time, and some melancholy | ||
+ | objects who, perhaps to avoid some trifling inconvenience here, laid | ||
+ | the hands of violence upon themselves, and plunged into misery | ||
+ | infinitely greater than that which they hoped by such a rash step to | ||
+ | avoid, without a moment' | ||
+ | |||
+ | If the apothecaries had not been very active during the above time, | ||
+ | half the undertakers in all probability would have been bankrupts. | ||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | Go to [[CHAPTER XIII]] |
roleplaying/munchausen/chapter_xii.txt · Last modified: 2005/11/22 17:54 by 127.0.0.1