Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

THE CONSCRIPT. 113
He approaches, seizes him by the edge of his jacket, and, giving
it a great pull which makes him tremble, says : " Look ! look
how you have spoiled your coat by sitting on the ground like a
beggar."
The conscript begins to clean his jacket with his hand.
" Look what a state your shoes are in " and he ! gives him a
kick on the top of his toes.
The soldier draws out his handkerchief and bends to dust
his boots.
" Arrange that cravat, it is
going over your ears." And,
seizing him by the cravat, he gives him a shake that nearly
throws him to the ground.
The conscript raises his hand to his cravat.
" Put that cap on better."
And he carries his hand to his cap.
" And draw up those trowsers if you don't wish to spoil
them in a week, straighten the buttons of your coat, take out
those earrings which are ridiculous, and don't stand there
with your chin on your chest so that you look like a monk,
and don't stare at people with that idiotic face. . . ."
The poor young fellow went on touching with trembling
hands now his cravat, now his trousers, now the buttons, now
his cap and he did not succeed in ; doing any thing, for the
more he worked the less he accomplished. At that moment
the vivandiere, who was young and pretty, passed, and she
stopped, heartless woman, to look at him. To appear ridiculous
in the eyes of a beautiful woman !
Ah, it is the most
tormenting of all shames ! The
poor conscript lost his head
completely, trifled a little longer with his cravat and buttons,
and then felt his arms drop, his chin sink on his breast, and