“Je suis aujourd’hui en train de conter; plaise à Dieu que cela ne soit pas une calamité publique.”--BRILLAT SAVARIN. Among well-worn illustrations and similes, there are few that have been more hardly worked than the above line of Poquelin-Molière. It is a line which tells us pleasantly enough, that he who sits at the head of a table is among those “respectable” powers who find an alacrity of worship at the hands of man. I say, “at the hands;” for what is “adoration” but the act of putting the hand to the mouth (as expressed by its components _ad_ and _os_, _oris_)? and what worship is so common as that which takes this form, especially when the Amphitryon is amiable, and his altar well su…
Your support pays for translating these classics into more languages.
Support for $12/month DonateSubscribers read with instant translation, without waiting for the free daily limit.