In front of the Gothic window stood the
old citizen, wrapped in a wide gown, his gray periwig exchanged for
a night-cap, which was thrust back from his forehead, and his silk
stockings hanging about his legs. He supported himself on his polished
cane in a fit of convulsive merriment, which manifested itself on
his solemn old features like a funny inscription on a tomb-stone. Then
Robin seemed to hear the voices of the barbers, of the guests of the
inn, and of all who had made sport of him that night. The contagion
was spreading among the multitude, when, all at once, it seized upon
Robin, and he sent forth a shout of laughter that echoed through the
street- every man shook his sides, every man emptied his lungs, but
Robin's shout was the loudest there. The cloud-spirits peeped from
their silvery islands, as the congregated mirth went roaring up the
sky! The Man in the Moon heard the far bellow; "Oh," quoth he, "the
old earth is frolicksome tonight!"
When there was a momentary calm in that tempestuous sea of sound,
the leader gave the sign, the procession resumed its march. On they
went, like fiends that throng in mockery around some dead potentate,
mighty no more, but majestic still in his agony.
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