Page:A Tour Through the Batavian Republic.djvu/133

Rh we had also seen the drama which they represented. The farce, however, was new to us, and diverting from excess of ridiculous absurdity. It was the production of a Dutch author, and I shall slightly detail the story to you, not as a specimen of national wit, but of the outrageous fooleries which a Dutch audience can tolerate.

A chimney-sweeper makes his appearance on the stage from a fire-place, and perceiving a fine suit of clothes, he strips off his own sooty garments, and dresses himself in a laced coat, embroidered waistcoat, bag-wig, &c. When he is thus equipped, the servants of the house enter, and mistake him for the person whose dress he wears. Imagining him to be my lord, they bring him a variety of refreshments, which, to the great delight of the audience, he swallows with voracious gluttony, making between every mouthful a hideous grimace, and loudly expressing his satisfaction at the dainties on which he feeds. After the servants retire, the master of the house visits his guest; and also mistaking him for a nobleman, offers him his daughter in marriage