Amaryllis at the Fair · Chapter
XXXI explained
Amadis Iden, invigorated by Goliath ale, plays the flute for Amaryllis in the meadow, while Alere reflects on his own experiments with various remedies, including a humorous encounter with an American who recommended crude petroleum for his
What happens
Amadis Iden, invigorated by Goliath ale, plays the flute for Amaryllis in the meadow, while Alere reflects on his own experiments with various remedies, including a humorous encounter with an American who recommended crude petroleum for his cough.
Themes in this chapter
Art, Ambition, and Failure
Alere's discussion of drawing a starling in flight and the flute music evoke artistic endeavor and the challenge of capturing nature.
The Passage of Time and Loss
The nostalgic songs and memories of schooldays, along with Amadis's fragile health, underscore the fleeting nature of time and vitality.
Characters to notice
- Amaryllis Iden
Listens to Amadis play the flute in the meadow, observes the starling's flight, and notices the faint color returning to Amadis's cheeks.
- Amadis Iden
Plays the flute for Amaryllis, drinks Goliath ale, and shows signs of improved color and vitality.
- Old Flamma
Sings old German songs and recites Latin verses after drinking Goliath ale, reflecting on his own health experiments.
Key passages
“He saw it fall, he watched it fill, And sink deep, deep into the main; Then sorrow o’er his eyelids fell, He never drank a drop again.”
He observed the cup fall and fill with water, sinking into the sea, and then sadness overcame him, leading him to stop drinking forever.
A song about a King in Thule, reflecting themes of loss and renunciation.
“To produce an image of a starling flying, you must draw all this. The swift feathers are almost liquid; they leave a streak behind in the air like a meteor.”
To capture a starling in flight, one must depict the rapid motion of its wings, which appear as a blur or streak, like a meteor's trail.
Alere's artistic observation on the difficulty of rendering motion in drawing.
“Crude petroleum! Could anything be more nauseous? But probably it acts as a kind of cod-liver oil. Sometimes I wish I had tried it.”
The idea of taking crude petroleum is disgusting, but it might work like cod-liver oil; I sometimes regret not trying it.
Reflection on the American's unconventional remedy for cough.