Monologue

Abbé Monologue from The Englishman from Paris

From The Englishman from Paris by Arthur Murphy

male · comedic · 2:21 min

Pardie! Ver strange indeed! I have see for the times a good deal. I have dine yesterday at a caffée--I know not what you call--Monsieur D'Eschallot bring me dare. Monsieur D'Eschallot, I assure you is ver prett Gentleman, and leave two tousand livres devant, avec droit de chasse, behind him--avec droit de chasse Monsieur; but by Gar I never see such dinner in all my Life. "How do you do?--Very well tank you--What news?--Noting at all--My service to you, to you, to you, to you" all de way down, and ma foi, dey talk no more. And den, jarnie! Me was ver much surprise to see my own Countrymen as unmannerly as de English--and I scramble for de Soup and boulli--me was 'fraid to put my hand to de dish, for fear amidst all de Knife and Fork, somebody in a hurry help himself to my fingers. (Jack: O this Country is enough to ruin the manners of an Angel.) And den I was at de play last night, Otello I tink was de play--by Gar he vas in ver great Passion because he loose his Handkercher--such play! It is one of Shakespeare I tink-- (Jack: O le Barbare! Voltaire you know calls him a Drunken Savage--un Savage enyorée!) But by Gar me vas ver much please to see so many naked Shoulder in de Box, and ma foi, to see some of the Ladies paint as much by Gar as if dey be in Paris. But Monsieur de Broughton tink upon vat I say to you about des Airs, des façons, and de manières--you have already ver pretty French Manners--you have de turn of de Head, de movement of de Shoulder, de geste, de Look, de Inflexion de Voix; and pon my vor, you take snuff, you smile, you whisper, comme à la cour de France.

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