“Bomba!” cried the sacristan, a little humpbacked man, crooked and lame, “Bomba!” (This is the exclamation which announces ordinarily in Spain at a dinner or at fête, a little excited, that a guest is about to propose a toast.)
Every one was silent at this signal.
“I drink,” said the sacristan, “to the health of the bride and groom, and to this honorable company, and to the repose of all Christian souls!”
“Bravo! let us drink! and long live La Mancha! who gives us wine in lieu of water.”
“In your turn, Ramon Perez, sing a couplet, and do not keep your voice for a better occasion.”
Ramon sang—
“A happy future—all good wishes
To the pretty wife!
And to her husband I’ve no species
Of envy or of strife.”
“Bravo! well sung!” cried all the assembly. “Now the fandango and the ball!”
After the prelude to this eminently national dance, a man and a woman rose simultaneously, and placed themselves face to face. Their graceful movements accomplished, so to speak, an elegant balancing of bodies, to the sound of their gay castinets.
In an instant the two dancers yielded their places to two others, who placed themselves in front, while the first couple retired. This divertisement, according to the usages of the country, was often repeated.