Tuesday, December 7, 2010

L'Estrange: Three Dreaming Travelers.

Three Men were Travelling through a Wilderness; the Journey it seems was longer then they thought for, and their Provisions fell short; but there was enough left for any one of 'em yet, though too little for all; and how to Dispose of the Remainder, was the Question. Come says One of the Three,) let's e'en lye Down and Sleep, and he that has the Strangest Dream, shall have That that's Left. The Motion was Agreed to, and so they dispos'd themselves to their Rest. About Midnight, Two of them Wak'd, and told one another their Dreams. Lord, says one of 'em, What a Fancy have I had! Iwas taken up methought into the Heavens, I know not how, and there set down just before Jupiter's Throne. And I says T'other, was Hurry'd away by a Whirlwind, methought to the very Pit of Hell. The Third all this while Slept Dog-Sleep, and heard every Word they said. They fell then to Lugging and Pinching their Companion, to tell him the Story. Nay, pray be Quiet, says he, What are ye? Why we are your Fellow Travellers, they Cry'd. Are ye come back again then? says he. They told him they had never stirr'd from the Place where they were. Nay then, says t'other, 'twas but a Dream, for I Fancy'd that One of ye was Carry'd away with a Whirlwind to Jupiter, and t'other to Pluto: And then thought I to my Self, I shall never see these Poor People again; so I e'n fell on, and Eat up all the Victuals.

There is a Fooling sort of Wit that has Nothing more in't then the Tricking up of some Insipid Conceit to no manner of Purpose, but to Mortify Good Compapny, and Tire out an Ingenious Conversation. The Jests of these People are only to be Order'd as we do Cucumbers; Wash them, and Beat them, and then throw them out at the Window. That is to say, they are Flat and Insipid, without either Meaning or Morality to help them out.


Source: L'Estrange 481.
Somniatores

Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the colored Steinhowel images. You can see the sly fellow eating the food while the other two are sleeping!
M0924 (not in Perry)

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