Poetry · Chapter
LXXVIII explained
The speaker recounts a series of misadventures involving dropping a gold watch, killing a kettledrum, and attempting to curry favor with a highness by coaxing her pug-dog, only to receive a sharp rebuff.
What happens
The speaker recounts a series of misadventures involving dropping a gold watch, killing a kettledrum, and attempting to curry favor with a highness by coaxing her pug-dog, only to receive a sharp rebuff. The highness then wishes to play whist, makes three revokes, and turns from her partner in a huff, with a note that His Majesty will eventually know her temper.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker narrates personal mishaps and social interactions with a highness.
Key passages
“Dropp’d my gold watch, and kill’d a kettledrum— It went for apoplexy—foolish folks!— Left it to pay the piper—a good sum— (I’ve got a conscience, maugre people’s jokes,)”
I dropped my gold watch and broke a kettledrum, which was mistaken for apoplexy by foolish people. I left a good sum to pay the piper, despite people's jokes, because I have a conscience.
The speaker describes a series of clumsy and costly mistakes, emphasizing his moral integrity despite ridicule.
“To scrape a little favour; ’gan to coax Her Highness’ pug-dog—got a sharp rebuff— She wish’d a game at whist—made three revokes— Turn’d from myself, her partner, in a huff; His Majesty will know her temper time enough.”
To gain some favor, I began to coax Her Highness's pug-dog but received a sharp rebuff. She then wanted to play whist, made three revokes, and turned away from me, her partner, in a huff. His Majesty will eventually learn of her temper.
The speaker attempts to ingratiate himself with a high-ranking woman but is rebuffed; her behavior at whist suggests a difficult temperament that will become known to the king.