BOOK THIRD.--IN THE YEAR 1817
CHAPTER VII
THE WISDOM OF THOLOMYES
In the meantime, while some sang, the rest talked together tumultuously all at once; it was no longer anything but noise.Tholomyes intervened.
"Let us not talk at random nor too fast," he exclaimed."Let us reflect, if we wish to be brilliant.
Too much improvisation empties the mind in a stupid way.
Running beer gathers no froth.No haste, gentlemen.
Let us mingle majesty with the feast.
Let us eat with meditation; let us make haste slowly.
Let us not hurry.Consider the springtime; if it makes haste, it is done for; that is to say, it gets frozen.
Excess of zeal ruins peach-trees and apricot-trees. Excess of zeal kills the grace and the mirth of good dinners.
No zeal, gentlemen!
Grimod de la Reyniere agrees with Talleyrand."
A hollow sound of rebellion rumbled through the group.
"Leave us in peace, Tholomyes," said Blachevelle.
"Down with the tyrant!" said Fameuil.
"Bombarda, Bombance, and Bambochel!" cried Listolier.
"Sunday exists," resumed Fameuil.
"We are sober," added Listolier.