English as She Is Spoke · Chapter
Anecdotes explained
A collection of humorous and moral anecdotes illustrating human folly, wit, and social misunderstandings, including tales of avarice, deception, and clever retorts.
What happens
A collection of humorous and moral anecdotes illustrating human folly, wit, and social misunderstandings, including tales of avarice, deception, and clever retorts.
Themes in this chapter
Humor in Error
The chapter is built on humorous misunderstandings and witty retorts, such as the countryman's reply about asses' heads and the blind man's light.
Folklore and Proverbs
The anecdotes function as moral tales and proverbial wisdom, e.g., 'the blind saw clearer than this that may have two eyes.'
Social Hierarchy
Stories like the English lord and the fake doctor, and the duchess accused of magic, highlight class distinctions and power dynamics.
Characters to notice
- Cuttler
An avaricious rich man who feigns illness at inns to avoid expenses, roasts a herring with straw and candle, and carries his own bread and water.
- John
Referenced in the pun exchange between Commander Forbin of Janson and Boileau, where 'John-Meal' is suggested as a preferable name.
- Plato
Philosopher who comments on Diogenes' bathing and advises on eating times based on wealth.
Key passages
“A blind did hide five hundred crowns in a corner of their garden; but a neighbour, which was perceive it, did dig up and took its.”
A blind man hid five hundred crowns in a corner of his garden, but a neighbor saw him and dug them up.
Opening of the blind man anecdote, setting up the trick to recover the money.
“The blind not finding more her money, was suspect that might be the robed, but one work for take again it?”
The blind man, not finding his money, suspected the neighbor but wondered how to get it back.
The blind man's dilemma leads to his clever scheme.
“A english lord was in their bed tormented, cruelly of the gout, when was announced him a pretended physician, which had a remedy sure against that illness.”
An English lord, suffering from gout in bed, was told about a false physician who claimed to have a sure cure.
Introduction to the anecdote about the English lord and the fake doctor.
“A countryman which came through to Paris upon the bridge to the change, not had perceived merchandises in several shops.”
A countryman visiting Paris on the Pont au Change saw no goods in many shops.
Setup for the humorous exchange about asses' heads.
“Plato walking one’s self a day to the field with some of their friends. They were to see him Diogenes who was in to water untill the chin.”
Plato was walking in the fields with friends when they saw Diogenes standing in water up to his chin.
Opening of the Plato and Diogenes anecdote.