Pagina 209 van 483

"These thoughts exhilarated me and led me to apply with fresh

ardour to the acquiring the art of language. My organs were

indeed harsh, but supple; and although my voice was very unlike

the soft music of their tones, yet I pronounced such words as I

understood with tolerable ease. It was as the ass and the

lap-dog; yet surely the gentle ass whose intentions were

affectionate, although his manners were rude, deserved better

treatment than blows and execration.