Белая птичка
David and Porthos Compared
“ThemannersofPorthosarethereforeprettierthanthemannersofDavid,whowhenhehassentmetohidefromhimbehindatreesometimescomesnotinsearch,andonemergingtamelyfrommyconcealmentIfindhimplayingothergamesentirelyforgetfulofmyexistence.WhereasPorthosalwayscomesinsearch.AlsoifDavidweariesofyouhescruplesnottosayso,butPorthos,inlikecircumstances,offersyouhispaw,meaning’Farewell,’andtobeardedmenhedoesthisallthetime(Ithinkbecauseofahereditarydistasteforgoats),sothattheyconceivehimtobeenamouredofthemwhenheisonlybeggingthemcourteouslytogo.ThuswhilethemannersofPorthosaremorepoliteitmaybearguedthatthoseofDavidaremoreefficacious.
“IngentlenessDavidcomparesillwithPorthos.Forwhereastheoneshovesandhasbeenknowntokickonslightprovocation,theother,whoisnoisilyhatedofallsmalldogsbyreasonofhissize,remonstratesnot,evenwhentheyclinginfrothandfurytohischest,butcarriesthemalongtolerantlyuntiltheydropofffromfatigue.Again,Davidwillnotunbendwheninthecompanyofbabies,expectingthemunreasonablytorisetohislevel,butcontrariwisePorthos,thoughterribletotramps,suffersallthingsofbabies,eventoanexplorationofhismouthinanattempttodiscoverwhathistongueislikeattheotherend.ThecomingsandgoingsofDavidareunnoticedbyperambulators,whichlieinwaitfortheadventofPorthos.
