In the book the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams...?

Question

Can someone tell me what is Arthur and Fords response to the Vogon Captain when he asked them to tell him what they thought of his poetry?

Answer 1

Arthur said brightly: "Actually I quite liked it."

Ford turned and gaped. Here was an approach that had quite simply not occurred to him.

The Vogon raised a surprised eyebrow that effectively obscured his nose and was therefore no bad thing.

"Oh good ..." he whirred, in considerable astonishment.

"Oh yes," said Arthur, "I thought that some of the metaphysical imagery was really particularly effective."

Ford continued to stare at him, slowly organizing his thoughts around this totally new concept. Were they really going to be able to bareface their way out of this?

"Yes, do continue ..." invited the Vogon.

"Oh ... and er ... interesting rhythmic devices too," continued Arthur, "which seemed to counterpoint the ... er ... er ..." He floundered.

Ford leaped to his rescue, hazarding "counterpoint the surrealism of the underlying metaphor of the ... er ..." He floundered too, but Arthur was ready again.

"... humanity of the ..."

"Vogonity," Ford hissed at him.

"Ah yes, Vogonity (sorry) of the poet's compassionate soul," Arthur felt he was on a home stretch now, "which contrives through the medium of the verse structure to sublimate this, transcend that, and come to terms with the fundamental dichotomies of the other," (he was reaching a triumphant crescendo ...) "and one is left with a profound and vivid insight into ... into ... er ..." (... which suddenly gave out on him.) Ford leaped in with the coup de gr@ce:

"Into whatever it was the poem was about!" he yelled. Out of the corner of his mouth: "Well done, Arthur, that was very good."

Answer 2

Arthur said brightly, "Actually I quite liked it."
Ford turned and gaped. Here was an approach that had quite simply not occurred to him. The Vogon raised a surprised eyebrow that effectively obscured his nose and was therefore no bad thing. "Oh good..." he whirred, in considerable astonishment. "Oh yes," said Arthur " I thought that some of the metaphysical imagery was really particularly effective." Ford continued to stare at him, slowly organizing his thoughts around this totally new concept. Were they really going to be able to bareface their way out of this? "Yes, do continue..." invited the Vogon. "Oh...and, er...interesting rhythmic devices too," continued Arthur, "which seemed to counterpoint the...er...er..." he floundered. Ford leaped to his rescue, hazarding "...counterpoint the surrealism of the underlying metaphor of the ...er..." He floundered too, but Arthur was ready again. "...humanity of the..." "vogonity," Ford hissed at him. "Ah yes, Vogonity-sorry-of the poet's compassionate soul"-Arthur felt he was on a homestretch now-"which contrives through the medium of the verse structure to sublimate this, transcend that, and come to terms with the fundamental dichotomies of the other"-he was reaching a triumphant crescendo-"and one is left with a profound and vivid insight into...into...er..." (which suddenly gave out on him). Ford leaped in with the coup de grace: "Into whatever it was that the poem was about!" he yelled.

Answer 3

They faked enjoying it to curry the captain's favor