lavengro- 第6部分

they　were　handsomely　bound；　and　to　them　I　first　turned　my　

attention。　　I　opened　them　successively；　and　endeavoured　to　make　out　

their　meaning；　their　contents；　however；　as　far　as　I　was　able　to　

understand　them；　were　by　no　means　interesting：　　whoever　pleases　may　

read　these　books　for　me；　and　keep　them；　too；　into　the　bargain；　said　

I　to　myself。



I　now　took　up　the　third　book：　　it　did　not　resemble　the　others；　

being　longer　and　considerably　thicker；　the　binding　was　of　dingy　

calf…skin。　　I　opened　it；　and　as　I　did　so　another　strange　thrill　of　

pleasure　shot　through　my　frame。　　The　first　object　on　which　my　eyes　

rested　was　a　picture；　it　was　exceedingly　well　executed；　at　least　

the　scene　which　it　represented　made　a　vivid　impression　upon　me；　

which　would　hardly　have　been　the　case　had　the　artist　not　been　

faithful　to　nature。　　A　wild　scene　it　was　…　a　heavy　sea　and　rocky　

shore；　with　mountains　in　the　background；　above　which　the　moon　was　

peering。　　Not　far　from　the　shore；　upon　the　water；　was　a　boat　with　

two　figures　in　it；　one　of　which　stood　at　the　bow；　pointing　with　

what　I　knew　to　be　a　gun　at　a　dreadful　shape　in　the　water；　fire　was　

flashing　from　the　muzzle　of　the　gun；　and　the　monster　appeared　to　be　

transfixed。　　I　almost　thought　I　heard　its　cry。　　I　remained　

motionless；　gazing　upon　the　picture；　scarcely　daring　to　draw　my　

breath；　lest　the　new　and　wondrous　world　should　vanish　of　which　I　

had　now　obtained　a　glimpse。　　'Who　are　those　people；　and　what　could　

have　brought　them　into　that　strange　situation？'　I　asked　of　myself；　

and　now　the　seed　of　curiosity；　which　had　so　long　lain　dormant；　

began　to　expand；　and　I　vowed　to　myself　to　become　speedily　

acquainted　with　the　whole　history　of　the　people　in　the　boat。　　After　

looking　on　the　picture　till　every　mark　and　line　in　it　were　familiar　

to　me；　I　turned　over　various　leaves　till　I　came　to　another　

engraving；　a　new　source　of　wonder　…　a　low　sandy　beach　on　which　the　

furious　sea　was　breaking　in　mountain…like　billows；　cloud　and　rack　

deformed　the　firmament；　which　wore　a　dull　and　leaden…like　hue；　

gulls　and　other　aquatic　fowls　were　toppling　upon　the　blast；　or　

skimming　over　the　tops　of　the　maddening　waves　…　'Mercy　upon　him！　he　

must　be　drowned！'　　I　exclaimed；　as　my　eyes　fell　upon　a　poor　wretch　

who　appeared　to　be　striving　to　reach　the　shore；　he　was　upon　his　

legs；　but　was　evidently　half　smothered　with　the　brine；　high　above　

his　head　curled　a　horrible　billow；　as　if　to　engulf　him　for　ever。　　

'He　must　be　drowned！　he　must　be　drowned！'　　I　almost　shrieked；　and　

dropped　the　book。　　I　soon　snatched　it　up　again；　and　now　my　eye　

lighted　on　a　third　picture：　　again　a　shore；　but　what　a　sweet　and　

lovely　one；　and　how　I　wished　to　be　treading　it；　there　were　

beautiful　shells　lying　on　the　smooth　white　sand；　some　were　empty　

like　those　I　had　occasionally　seen　on　marble　mantelpieces；　but　out　

of　others　peered　the　heads　and　bodies　of　wondrous　crayfish；　a　wood　

of　thick　green　trees　skirted　the　beach　and　partly　shaded　it　from　

the　rays　of　the　sun；　which　shone　hot　above；　while　blue　waves　

slightly　crested　with　foam　were　gently　curling　against　it；　there　

was　a　human　figure　upon　the　beach；　wild　and　uncouth；　clad　in　the　

skins　of　animals；　with　a　huge　cap　on　his　head；　a　hatchet　at　his　

girdle；　and　in　his　hand　a　gun；　his　feet　and　legs　were　bare；　he　

stood　in　an　attitude　of　horror　and　surprise；　his　body　was　bent　far　

back；　and　his　eyes；　which　seemed　starting　out　of　his　head；　were　

fixed　upon　a　mark　on　the　sand　…　a　large　distinct　mark　…　a　human　

footprint。　。　。　。



Reader；　is　it　necessary　to　name　the　book　which　now　stood　open　in　my　

hand；　and　whose　very　prints；　feeble　expounders　of　its　wondrous　

lines；　had　produced　within　me　emotions　strange　and　novel？　　Scarcely　

…　for　it　was　a　book　which　has　exerted　over　the　minds　of　Englishmen　

an　influence　certainly　greater　than　any　other　of　modern　times　…　

which　has　been　in　most　people's　hands；　and　with　the　contents　of　

which　even　those　who　cannot　read　are　to　a　certain　extent　acquainted　

…　a　book　from　which　the　most　luxuriant　and　fertile　of　our　modern　

prose　writers　have　drunk　inspiration　…　a　book；　moreover；　to　which；　

from　the　hardy　deeds　which　it　narrates；　and　the　spirit　of　strange　

and　romantic　enterprise　which　it　tends　to　awaken；　England　owes　many　

of　her　astonishing　discoveries　both　by　sea　and　land；　and　no　

inconsiderable　part　of　her　naval　glory。



Hail　to　thee；　spirit　of　De　Foe！　　What　does　not　my　own　poor　self　owe　

to　thee？　　England　has　better　bards　than　either　Greece　or　Rome；　yet　

I　could　spare　them　easier　far　than　De　Foe；　'unabashed　De　Foe；'　as　

the　hunchbacked　rhymer　styled　him。



The　true　chord　had　now　been　touched；　a　raging　curiosity　with　

respect　to　the　contents　of　the　volume；　whose　engravings　had　

fascinated　my　eye；　burned　within　me；　and　I　never　rested　until　I　had　

fully　satisfied　it；　weeks　succeeded　weeks；　months　followed　months；　

and　the　wondrous　volume　was　my　only　study　and　principal　source　of　

amusement。　　For　hours　together　I　would　sit　poring　over　a　page　till　

I　had　become　acquainted　with　the　import　of　every　line。　　My　

progress；　slow　enough　at　first；　became　by　degrees　more　rapid；　till　

at　last；　under　'a　shoulder　of　mutton　sail；'　I　found　myself　

cantering　before　a　steady　breeze　over　an　ocean　of　enchantment；　so　

well　pleased　with　my　voyage　that　I　cared　not　how　long　it　might　be　

ere　it　reached　its　termination。



And　it　was　in　this　manner　that　I　first　took　to　the　paths　of　

knowledge。



About　this　time　I　began　to　be　somewhat　impressed　with　religious　

feelings。　　My　parents　were；　to　a　certain　extent；　religious　people；　

but；　though　they　had　done　their　best　to　afford　me　instruction　on　

religious　points；　I　had　either　paid　no　attention　to　what　they　

endeavoured　to　communicate；　or　had　listened　with　an　ear　far　too　

obtuse　to　derive　any　benefit。　　But　my　mind　had　now　become　awakened　

from　the　drowsy　torpor　in　which　it　had　lain　so　long；　and　the　

reasoning　powers　which　I　possessed　were　no　longer　inactive。　　

Hitherto　I　had　entertained　no　conception　whatever　of　the　nature　and　

properties　of　God；　and　with　the　most　perfect　indifference　had　heard　

the　divine　name　proceeding　from　the　mouths　of　people　…　frequently；　

alas！　on　occasions　when　it　ought　not　to　be　employed；　but　I　now　

never　heard　it　without　a　tremor；　for　I　now　knew　that　God　was　an　

awful　and　inscrutable　Being；　the　Maker　of　all　things；　that　we　were　

His　children；　and　that　we；　by　our　sins；　had　justly　offended　Him；　

that　we　were　in　very　great　peril　from　His　anger；　not　so　much　in　

this　life　as　in　another　and　far　stranger　state　of　being　yet　to　

come；　that　we　had　a　Saviour　withal　to　whom　it　was　necessary　to　look　

for　help：　　upon　this　point；　however；　I　was　yet　very　much　in　the　

dark；　as；　indeed；　were　most　of　those　with　whom　I　was　connected。　　

The　power　and　terrors　of　God　were　uppermost　in　my　thoughts；　they　

fascinated　though　they　astounded　me。　　Twice　every　Sunday　I　was　

regularly　taken　to　the　church；　where；　from　a　corner　of　the　large　

spacious　pew；　lined　with　black　leather；　I　would　fix　my　eyes　on　the　

dignified　High…Church　rector；　and　the　dignified　High…Church　clerk；　

and　watch　the　movement　of　their　lips；　from　which；　as　they　read　

their　respective　portions　of　the　venerable　liturgy；　would　roll　many　

a　portentous　word　descriptive　of　the　wondrous　works　of　the　Most　

High。



RECTOR。　　Thou　didst　divide　the　sea；　through　thy　power：　　thou　

brakest　the　heads　of　the　dragons　in　the　waters。



PHILOH。　　Thou　smotest　the　heads　of　Leviathan　in　pieces：　　and　gavest　

him　to　be　meat　for　the　people　in　the　wilderness。



RECTOR。　　Thou　broughtest　out　fountains；　and　waters　out　of　the　hard　

rocks：　　thou　driedst　up　mighty　waters。



PHILOH。　　The　day　is　thine；　and　the　night　is　thine：　　thou　hast　

prepared　the　light　and　the　sun。



Peace　to　your　memories；　dignified　rector；　and　yet　more　dignified　

clerk！　…　by　this　time　ye　are　probably　gone　to　your　long　homes；　and　

your　voices　are　no　longer　heard　sounding　down　the　aisles　of　the　

venerable　church　…　nay；　doubtless；　this　has　already　long　since　been　

the　fate　of　him　of　the　sonorous　'Amen！'　…　the　one　of　the　two　who；　

with　all　due　respect　to　the　rector；　principally　engrossed　my　boyish　

admiration　…　he；　at　least；　is　scarcely　now　among　the　living！　

Living！　why；　I　have　heard　say　that　he　blew　a　fife　…　for　he　was　a　

musical　as　well　as　a　Christian　professor　…　a　bold　fife；　to　cheer　

the　Guards　and　the　brave　Marines；　as　they　marched　with　measured　

step；　obeying　an　insane　command；　up　Bunker's　height；　whilst　the　

rifles　of　the　sturdy　Yankees　were　sending　the　leaden　hail　sharp　and　

thick　amidst　the　red…coated　ranks；　for　Philoh　had　not　always　been　a　

man　of　peace；　nor　an　exhorter　to　turn　the　other　cheek　to　the　

smiter；　but　had　even　arrived　at　the　dignity　of　a　halberd　in　his　

country's　service　before　his　six…foot　form　required　rest；　and　the　

gray…haired　veteran　retired；　after　a　long　peregrination；　to　his　

native　town；　to　enjoy　ease　and　respectability　on　a　pension　of　

'eighteenpence　a　day'；　and　well　did　his　fellow…townsmen　act；　when；　

to　increase　that　ease　and　respectability；　and　with　a　thoughtful　

regard　for　the　dignity　of　the　good　church　service；　they　made　him　

clerk　and　precentor　…　the　man　of　the　tall　form　and　of　the　audible　

voice；　which　sounded　loud　and　clear　as　his　own　Bunker　fife。　　Well；　

peace　to　thee；　thou　fine　old　chap；　despiser　of　dissenters；　and　

hater　of　papists；　as　became　a　dignified　and　High…Church　clerk；　if　

thou　art　in　thy　grave；　the　better　for　thee；　thou　wert　fitted　to　

adorn　a　bygone　time；　when　loyalty　was　in　vogue；　and　smiling　content　

lay　like　a　sunbeam　upon　the　land；　but　thou　wouldst　be　sadly　out　of　

place　in　these　days　of　cold　philosophic　latitudinarian　doctrine；　

universal　tolerism；　and　half…concealed　rebellion　…　rare　times；　no　

doubt；　for　papists　and　dissenters；　but　which　would　assuredly　have　

broken　the　heart　of　the　loyal　soldier　of　George　the　Third；　and　the　

dignifie