人们经常大肆称赞那些模仿者,而对那些真正的东西不屑一顾!
A rich nobleman once opened the theaters without charge to the people,and gave a public notice that he would handsomely reward any person who invented a new amusement for the occasion.
Various public performers contended for the prize. Among them came a Buffoon well known among the populace for his jokes,and said that he had a kind of entertainment which had never been brought out on any stage before. This report being spread about made a great stir,and the theater was crowded in every part. The Buffoon appeared alone upon the platform,without any apparatus or confederates,and the very sense of expectation caused an intense silence. He suddenly bent his head towards his bosom and imitated the squeaking of a little pig so admirably with his voice that the audience declared he had a porker under his cloak,and demanded that it should be shaken out. When that was done and nothing was found,they cheered the actor,and loaded him with the loudest applause.