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Part 1 |
14
According to this description a Pithamarda would be a sort of professor of all the arts, and as
such received as the friend and confidant of the citizen
15
A seat in the form of the letter T.
16
The Vita is supposed to represent somewhat the character of the Parasite of the Greek
comedy. It is possible that he was retained about the person of the wealthy and dissipated as
a kind of private instructor, as well as an entertaining companion.
17
Vidushaka is evidently the buffoon and jester. Wilson says of him that he is the humble
companion, not the servant, of a prince or man of rank, and it is a curious peculiarity that he
is always a Brahman. He bears more affinity to Sancho Panza, perhaps than any other
character in western fiction, imitating him in his combination of shrewdness and simplicity,
his fondness of good living and his love of ease. In the dramas of intrigue he exhibits some
of the talents of Mercury, but with less activity and ingenuity, and occasionally suffers by
his interference. According to the technical definition of his attributes he is to excite mirth
by being ridiculous in person, age, and attire.
18
This means, it is presumed, that the citizen should be acquainted with several languages.
The middle part of this paragraph might apply to the Nihilists and Fenians of the day, or to
secret societies. It was perhaps a reference to the Thugs.
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