Writing under the name of Diedrich Knickerbocker Washington Irving aimed his potent satire at as diverse topics as political rivals such as Thomas Jefferson to the very ideal of looking back on the past affectionately:
A fine lady, in those times, waddled under more clothes even on a fair summer's day, than would have clad the whole bevy of a modern ball room. a voluminous damsel, arrayed in a dozen of petticoats, was declared by a Low-Dutch sonnetteer of the province, to be radiant as a sunflower, and luxuriant as a full blown cabbage. in those days, the heart of a lover could not contain more than one lady at a time; whereas the heart of a modern gallant has often room enough to accommodate half a dozen
There is no question here.
The passage you provided is from Washington Irving's book "A History of New York" written under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker. In this passage, Irving employs satire to depict the fashion and romantic preferences of the past compared to the present.
To understand this passage better, let's break it down:
1. "A fine lady, in those times, waddled under more clothes even on a fair summer's day, than would have clad the whole bevy of a modern ballroom."
This statement is satirical and highlights the excessive fashion of women in the past. Irving implies that even on a hot summer day, women would wear layers of clothing that would be enough to dress a whole group of people attending a modern ballroom.
2. "A voluminous damsel, arrayed in a dozen of petticoats, was declared by a Low-Dutch sonnetteer of the province, to be radiant as a sunflower, and luxuriant as a full-blown cabbage."
Here, Irving mocks the preferences and descriptions of beauty from that era. He mentions a Low-Dutch poet praising a plump woman, dressed in many layers of petticoats, comparing her to a radiant sunflower and a full-blown cabbage. The over-the-top descriptions highlight the absurdity of the beauty standards at the time.
3. "In those days, the heart of a lover could not contain more than one lady at a time; whereas the heart of a modern gallant has often room enough to accommodate half a dozen."
This statement contrasts the romantic ideals of the past and present. Irving suggests that in the past, lovers could only focus on one lady at a time, emphasizing a more monogamous and devoted approach to relationships. On the other hand, he satirizes the modern era by saying that contemporary gallants have enough space (not literal, but metaphorical) in their hearts to accommodate multiple romantic interests simultaneously, highlighting a more promiscuous or casual attitude towards love.
Overall, this passage showcases Washington Irving's use of satire to comment on various aspects of society, including fashion, beauty standards, and romantic ideals.