按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
which his comrades fled ignominiously。 This design is capital； and
the outward rush of heroes； walking； trampling； twisting； scuffling
at the door； is in the best style of the grotesque。 You see but the
back of most of these gentlemen； into which； nevertheless； the
artist has managed to throw an expression of ludicrous agony that
one could scarcely have expected to find in such a part of the human
figure。 The next plate is not less good。 It represents a couple
who； having been found one night tipsy； and lying in the same
gutter； were； by a charitable though misguided gentleman； supposed
to be man and wife； and put comfortably to bed together。 The
morning came； fancy the surprise of this interesting pair when they
awoke and discovered their situation。 Fancy the manner； too； in
which Cruikshank has depicted them； to which words cannot do
justice。 It is needless to state that this fortuitous and temporary
union was followed by one more lasting and sentimental； and that
these two worthy persons were married； and lived happily ever after。
We should like to go through every one of these prints。 There is
the jolly miller； who； returning home at night； calls upon his wife
to get him a supper； and falls to upon rashers of bacon and ale。
How he gormandizes； that jolly miller！ rasher after rasher； how they
pass away frizzling and； smoking from the gridiron down that immense
grinning gulf of a mouth。 Poor wife！ how she pines and frets； at
that untimely hour of midnight to be obliged to fry； fry； fry
perpetually； and minister to the monster's appetite。 And yonder in
the clock： what agonized face is that we see？ By heavens； it is the
squire of the parish。 What business has he there？ Let us not ask。
Suffice it to say； that he has； in the hurry of the moment； left up
stairs his br； hispsha！ a part of his dress； in short； with a
number of bank…notes in the pockets。 Look in the next page； and you
will see the ferocious； bacon…devouring ruffian of a miller is
actually causing this garment to be carried through the village and
cried by the town…crier。 And we blush to be obliged to say that the
demoralized miller never offered to return the banknotes； although
he was so mighty scrupulous in endeavoring to find an owner for the
corduroy portfolio in which he had found them。
Passing from this painful subject； we come； we regret to state； to a
series of prints representing personages not a whit more moral。
Burns's famous 〃Jolly Beggars〃 have all had their portraits drawn by
Cruikshank。 There is the lovely 〃hempen widow；〃 quite as
interesting and romantic as the famous Mrs。 Sheppard； who has at the
lamented demise of her husband adopted the very same consolation。
〃My curse upon them every one；
They've hanged my braw John Highlandman；
。 。 。 。
And now a widow I must mourn
Departed joys that ne'er return；
No comfort but a hearty can
When I think on John Highlandman。〃
Sweet 〃raucle carlin；〃 she has none of the sentimentality of the
English highwayman's lady； but being wooed by a tinker and
〃A pigmy scraper wi' his fiddle
Wha us'd to trystes and fairs to driddle；〃
prefers the practical to the merely musical man。 The tinker sings
with a noble candor； worthy of a fellow of his strength of body and
station in life
〃My bonnie lass； I work in brass；
A tinker is my station；
I've travell'd round all Christian ground
In this my occupation。
I've ta'en the gold； I've been enroll'd
In many a noble squadron；
But vain they search'd when off I march'd
To go an' clout the caudron。〃
It was his ruling passion。 What was military glory to him；
forsooth？ He had the greatest contempt for it； and loved freedom
and his copper kettle a thousand times bettera kind of hardware
Diogenes。 Of fiddling he has no better opinion。 The picture
represents the 〃sturdy caird〃 taking 〃poor gut…scraper〃 by the
beard；drawing his 〃roosty rapier；〃 and swearing to 〃speet him like
a pliver〃 unless he would relinquish the bonnie lassie for ever
〃Wi' ghastly ee； poor tweedle…dee
Upon his hunkers bended；
An' pray'd for grace wi' ruefu' face；
An' so the quarrel ended。〃
Hark how the tinker apostrophizes the violinist； stating to the
widow at the same time the advantages which she might expect from an
alliance with himself：
〃Despise that shrimp； that withered imp；
Wi' a' his noise and caperin'；
And take a share with those that bear
The budget and the apron！
〃And by that stowp； my faith an' houpe；
An' by that dear Kilbaigie！
If e'er ye want； or meet wi' scant；
May I ne'er weet my craigie。〃
Cruikshank's caird is a noble creature； his face and figure show him
to be fully capable of doing and saying all that is above written of
him。
In the second part； the old tale of 〃The Three Hunchbacked Fiddlers〃
is illustrated with equal felicity。 The famous classical dinners
and duel in 〃Peregrine Pickle〃 are also excellent in their way； and
the connoisseur of prints and etchings may see in the latter plate；
and in another in this volume； how great the artist's mechanical
skill is as an etcher。 The distant view of the city in the duel；
and of a market…place in 〃The Quack Doctor；〃 are delightful
specimens of the artist's skill in depicting buildings and
backgrounds。 They are touched with a grace； truth； and dexterity of
workmanship that leave nothing to desire。 We have before mentioned
the man with the mouth； which appears in this number emblematical of
gout and indigestion； in which the artist has shown all the fancy of
Callot。 Little demons； with long saws for noses； are making
dreadful incisions into the toes of the unhappy sufferer； some are
bringing pans of hot coals to keep the wounded member warm； a huge；
solemn nightmare sits on the invalid's chest； staring solemnly into
his eyes； a monster； with a pair of drumsticks； is banging a devil's
tattoo on his forehead； and a pair of imps are nailing great
tenpenny nails into his hands to make his happiness complete。
The late Mr。 Clark's excellent work； 〃Three Courses and a Dessert；〃
was published at a time when the rage for comic stories was not so
great as it since has been； and Messrs。 Clark and Cruikshank only
sold their hundreds where Messrs。 Dickens and Phiz dispose of their
thousands。 But if our recommendation can in any way influence the
reader； we would enjoin him to have a copy of the 〃Three Courses；〃
that contains some of the best designs of our artist； and some of
the most amusing tales in our language。 The invention of the
pictures； for which Mr。 Clark takes credit to himself； says a great
deal for his wit and fancy。 Can we； for instance； praise too highly
the man who invented that wonderful oyster？
E