Introduction
Jean-François de Bourgoing was secretary to King Louis XVI’s legation to Spain from 1777 to 1786, and served as Ambassador in 1792-93. The French Revolutionary government mistrusted him, but his diplomatic career revived under Napoleon. In 1807, he brought out a fourth edition of his popular study of modern-day Spain, first published ten years earlier, which included this account of the fandango.
NOTHING forms a stronger contrast to the gravity of the Spaniards than their favourite dance the fandango, a truly national dance, full of expression, at which foreigners that are a little scrupulous are at first shocked, but soon become enchanted with it.
As soon as the fandango is struck up by the musicians at a ball, all faces begin to be animated, and the spectators, if even their age condemns them to a state of immobility, have great difficulty to keep from falling in. A very ingenious apologue* has been formed, to give an idea of its irresistible fascination.
It is related that the court of Rome, scandalized that a country so renowned for the purity of its faith had not long ago proscribed such a profane dance, resolved to pronounce the solemn condemnation of it. A consistory was formed;* the cause of the fandango was tried according to all the rules of law. Sentence was going to be pronounced, when one of the judges very judiciously observed, that a criminal ought not to be condemned without being seen and heard.
* An apologue is a myth, especially a brief fable created to make some moral point in a pleasantly exaggerated way. Aesop’s Fables are apologues. The word implies that the tale Bourgoing told was not true.
* A consistory is a church tribunal or governing body; in the Roman Catholic Church, it is more specifically an assembly of cardinals summoned by the Pope.
Précis
French diplomat Jean-François de Bourgoing had experienced the powerful draw of the Spanish fandango, and in his memoir of Spain, first published in 1797, retold a fable confirming the dance’s allure. The Church, it seems, resolved to ban the fandango as immoral, and was ready to pass judgment when someone remarked that even a dance could not be condemned unheard. (60 / 60 words)
French diplomat Jean-François de Bourgoing had experienced the powerful draw of the Spanish fandango, and in his memoir of Spain, first published in 1797, retold a fable confirming the dance’s allure. The Church, it seems, resolved to ban the fandango as immoral, and was ready to pass judgment when someone remarked that even a dance could not be condemned unheard.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, besides, despite, if, must, or, unless, whether.
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