the story-teller , who was just putting a glass of wine to his lips , as a refreshment after his toils , paused for a moment , looked at his inquirer with an air of infinite deference , and , lowering the glass slowly to the table , observed that the story was intended most logically to prove `` that there is no situation in life but has its advantages and pleasures -- provided we will but take a joke as we find it : `` that , therefore , he that runs races with goblin troopers is likely to have rough riding of it .