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I have often wondered at the way Brueghel made what were purportedly the central dramatic events of his paintings into almost unnoticed, incidental occurrences. Thus here, the near-drowning of a late, middle-aged, crew-cutted, snorkelling German holidaymaker takes place almost invisibly in the middle-distance, hardly impinging as yet on the sunlit Greek beach scene. It all had an odd effect on me and for a few hours afterwards I deeply regretted not having taken part in his rescue, as though I had missed an opportunity to more fully join the human race. But, as my eminently sensible wife rightly pointed out, there were much younger, fitter men present (Italians), all eager to be heroes, and that my slowness to react was in fact evidence of an instinct better adjusted than my conscience. Thus we would-be action heroes grow old, believing our excuses. |
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