the vicar of wakefield- 第23部分

CHAPTER　22

Offences　are　easily　pardoned　where　there　is　love　at　bottom


The　next　morning　I　took　my　daughter　behind　me；　and　set　out　on　my　return　home。　As　we　travelled　along；　I　strove；　by　every　persuasion；　to　calm　her　sorrows　and　fears；　and　to　arm　her　with　resolution　to　bear　the　presence　of　her　offended　mother。　I　took　every　opportunity；　from　the　prospect　of　a　fine　country；　through　which　we　passed；　to　observe　how　much　kinder　heaven　was　to　us；　than　we　to　each　other；　and　that　the　misfortunes　of　nature's　making　were　very　few。　I　assured　her；　that　she　should　never　perceive　any　change　in　my　affections；　and　that　during　my　life；　which　yet　might　be　long；　she　might　depend　upon　a　guardian　and　an　instructor。　I　armed　her　against　the　censures　of　the　world；　shewed　her　that　books　were　sweet　unreproaching　companions　to　the　miserable；　and　that　if　they　could　not　bring　us　to　enjoy　life；　they　would　at　least　teach　us　to　endure　it。

The　hired　horse　that　we　rode　was　to　be　put　up　that　night　at　an　inn　by　the　way；　within　about　five　miles　from　my　house；　and　as　I　was　willing　to　prepare　my　family　for　my　daughter's　reception；　I　determined　to　leave　her　that　night　at　the　inn；　and　to　return　for　her；　accompanied　by　my　daughter　Sophia；　early　the　next　morning。　It　was　night　before　we　reached　our　appointed　stage：　however；　after　seeing　her　provided　with　a　decent　apartment；　and　having　ordered　the　hostess　to　prepare　proper　refreshments；　I　kissed　her；　and　proceeded　towards　home。　And　now　my　heart　caught　new　sensations　of　pleasure　the　nearer　I　approached　that　peaceful　mansion。　As　a　bird　that　had　been　frighted　from　its　nest；　my　affections　out…went　my　haste；　and　hovered　round　my　little　fire…side；　with　all　the　rapture　of　expectation。　I　called　up　the　many　fond　things　I　had　to　say；　and　anticipated　the　welcome　I　was　to　receive。　I　already　felt　my　wife's　tender　embrace；　and　sniiled　at　the　joy　of　my　little　ones。　As　I　walked　but　slowly；　the　night　wained　apace。　The　labourers　of　the　day　were　all　retired　to　rest；　the　lights　were　out　in　every　cottage；　no　sounds　were　heard　but　of　the　shrilling　cock；　and　the　deep…mouthed　watch…dog；　at　hollow　distance。　I　approached　my　little　abode　of　pleasure；　and　before　I　was　within　a　furlong　of　the　place；　our　honest　mastiff　came　running　to　welcome　me。

It　was　now　near　mid…night　that　I　came　to　knock　at　my　door：　all　was　still　and　silent：　my　heart　dilated　with　unutterable　happiness；　when；　to　my　amazement；　I　saw　the　house　bursting　out　in　a　blaze　of　fire；　and　every　apperture　red　with　conflagration！　I　gave　a　loud　convulsive　outcry；　and　fell　upon　the　pavement　insensible。　This　alarmed　my　son；　who　had　till　this　been　asleep；　and　he　perceiving　the　flames；　instantly　waked　my　wife　and　daughter；　and　all　running　out；　naked；　and　wild　with　apprehension；　recalled　me　to　life　with　their　anguish。　But　it　was　only　to　objects　of　new　terror；　for　the　flames　had；　by　this　time；　caught　the　roof　of　our　dwelling；　part　after　part　continuing　to　fall　in；　while　the　family　stood；　with　silent　agony；　looking　on；　as　if　they　enjoyed　the　blaze。　I　gazed　upon　them　and　upon　it　by　turns；　and　then　looked　round　me　for　my　two　little　ones；　but　they　were　not　to　be　seen。　O　misery！　'Where；'　cried　I；　'where　are　my　little　ones？'…　…'They　are　burnt　to　death　in　the　flames；'　says　my　wife　calmly；　'and　I　will　die　with　them。'That　moment　I　heard　the　cry　of　the　babes　within；　who　were　just　awaked　by　the　fire；　and　nothing　could　have　stopped　me。　'Where；　where；　are　my　children？'　cried　I；　rushing　through　the　flames；　and　bursting　the　door　of　the　chamber　in　which　they　were　confined；　'Where　are　my　little　ones？''Here；　dear　papa；　here　we　are；'　cried　they　together；　while　the　flames　were　just　catching　the　bed　where　they　lay。　I　caught　them　both　in　my　arms；　and　snatched　them　through　the　fire　as　fast　as　possible；　while　just　as　I　was　got　out；　the　roof　sunk　in。　'Now；'　cried　I；　holding　up　my　children；　'now　let　the　flames　burn　on；　and　all　my　possessions　perish。　Here　they　are；　I　have　saved　my；　treasure。　Here；　my　dearest；　here　are　our　treasures；　and　we　shall　yet　be　happy。'　We　kissed　our　little　darlings　a　thousand　times；　they　clasped　us　round　the　neck；　and　seemed　to　share　our　transports；　while　their　mother　laughed　and　wept　by　turns。

I　now　stood　a　calm　spectator　of　the　flames；　and　after　some　time；　began　to　perceive　that　my　arm　to　the　shoulder　was　scorched　in　a　terrible　manner。　It　was　therefore　out　of　my　power　to　give　my　son　any　assistance；　either　in　attempting　to　save　our　goods；　or　preventing　the　flames　spreading　to　our　corn。　By　this　time；　the　neighbours　were　alarmed；　and　came　running　to　our　assistance；　but　all　they　could　do　was　to　stand；　like　us；　spectators　of　the　calamity。　My　goods；　among　which　were　the　notes　I　had　reserved　for　my　daughters'　fortunes；　were　entirely　consumed；　except　a　box；　with　some　papers　that　stood　in　the　kitchen；　and　two　or　three　things　more　of　little　consequence；　which　my　son　brought　away　in　the　beginning。　The　neighbours　contributed；　however；　what　they　could　to　lighten　our　distress。　They　brought　us　cloaths；　and　furnished　one　of　our　out…houses　with　kitchen　utensils；　so　that　by　day…light　we　had　another；　tho'　a　wretched；　dwelling　to　retire　to。　My　honest　next　neighbour；　and　his　children；　were　not　the　least　assiduous　in　providing　us　with　every　thing　necessary；　and　offering　what　ever　consolation　untutored　benevolence　could　suggest。

When　the　fears　of　my　family　had　subsided；　curiosity　to　know　the　cause　of　my　long　stay　began　to　take　place；　having　therefore　informed　them　of　every　particular；　I　proceeded　to　prepare　them　for　the　reception　of　our　lost　one；　and　tho'　we　had　nothing　but　wretchedness　now　to　impart；　I　was　willing　to　procure　her　a　welcome　to　what　we　had。　This　task　would　have　been　more　difficult　but　for　our　recent　calamity；　which　had　humbled　my　wife's　pride；　and　blunted　it　by　more　poignant　afflictions。　Being　unable　to　go　for　my　poor　child　myself；　as　my　arm　grew　very　painful；　I　sent　my　son　and　daughter；　who　soon　returned；　supporting　the　wretched　delinquent；　who　had　not　the　courage　to　look　up　at　her　mother；　whom　no　instructions　of　mine　could　persuade　to　a　perfect　reconciliation；　for　women　have　a　much　stronger　sense　of　female　error　than　men。　'Ah；　madam；'　cried　her　mother；　'this　is　but　a　poor　place　you　are　come　to　after　so　much　finery。　My　daughter　Sophy　and　I　can　afford　but　little　entertainment　to　persons　who　have　kept　company　only　with　people　of　distinction。　Yes；　Miss　Livy；　your　poor　father　and　I　have　suffered　very　much　of　late；　but　I　hope　heaven　will　forgive　you。'During　this　reception；　the　unhappy　victim　stood　pale　and　trembling；　unable　to　weep　or　to　reply；　but　I　could　not　continue　a　silent　spectator　of　her　distress；　wherefore　assuming　a　degree　of　severity　in　my　voice　and　manner；　which　was　ever　followed　with　instant　submission；　'I　entreat；　woman；　that　my　words　may　be　now　marked　once　for　all：　I　have　here　brought　you　back　a　poor　deluded　wanderer；　her　return　to　duty　demands　the　revival　of　our　tenderness。　The　real　hardships　of　life　are　now　coming　fast　upon　us；　let　us　not　therefore　encrease　them　by　dissention　among　each　other。　If　we　live　harmoniously　together；　we　may　yet　be　contented；　as　there　are　enough　of　us　to　shut　out　the　censuring　world；　and　keep　each　other　in　countenance。　The　kindness　of　heaven　is　promised　to　the　penitent；　and　let　ours　be　directed　by　the　example。　Heaven；　we　are　assured；　is　much　more　pleased　to　view　a　repentant　sinner；　than　ninety　nine　persons　who　have　supported　a　course　of　undeviating　rectitude。　And　this　is　right；　for　that　single　effort　by　which　we　stop　short　in　the　downhill　path　to　perdition；　is　itself　a　greater　exertion　of　virtue；　than　an　hundred　acts　of　justice。'



CHAPTER　23

None　but　the　guilty　can　be　long　and　completely　miserable


Some　assiduity　was　now　required　to　make　our　present　abode　as　convenient　as　possible；　and　we　were　soon　again　qualified　to　enjoy　our　former　serenity。　Being　disabled　myself　from　assisting　my　son　in　our　usual　occupations；　I　read　to　my　family　from　the　few　books　that　were　saved；　and　particularly　from　such；　as；　by　amusing　the　imagination；　contributed　to　ease　the　heart。　Our　good　neighbours　too　came　every　day　with　the　kindest　condolence；　and　fixed　a　time　in　which　they　were　all　to　assist　at　repairing　my　former　dwelling。　Honest　farmer　Williams　was　not　last　among　these　visitors；　but　heartily　offered　his　friendship。　He　would　even　have　renewed　his　addresses　to　my　daughter；　but　she　rejected　them　in　such　a　manner　as　totally　represt　his　future　solicitations。　Her　grief　seemed　formed　for　continuing；　and　she　was　the　only　person　of　our　little　society　that　a　week　did　not　restore　to　cheerfulness。　She　now　lost　that　unblushing　innocence　which　once　taught　her　to　respect　herself；　and　to　seek　pleasure　by　pleasing。　Anxiety　now　had　taken　strong　possession　of　her　mind；　her　beauty　began　to　be　impaired　with　her　constitution；　and　neglect　still　more　contributed　to　diminish　it。　Every　tender　epithet　bestowed　on　her　sister　brought　a　pang　to　her　heart　and　a　tear　to　her　eye；　and　as　one　vice；　tho'　cured；　ever　plants　others　where　it　has　been；　so　her　former　guilt；　tho'　driven　out　by　repentance；　left　jealousy　and　envy　behind。　I　strove　a　thousand　ways　to　lessen　her　care；　and　even　forgot　my　own　pain　in　a　concern　for　her's；　collecting　such　amusing　passages　of　history；　as　a　strong　memory　and　some　reading　could　suggest。　'Our　happiness；　my　dear；'　I　would　say；　'is　in　the　power　of　one　who　can　bring　it　about　a　thousand　unforeseen　ways；　that　mock　our　foresight。　If　example　be　necessary　to　prove　this；　I'll　give　you　a　story；　my　child；　told　us　by　a　grave；　tho'　sometimes　a　romancing；　historian。

'Matilda　was　married　very　young　to　a　Neapolitan　nobleman　of　the　first　quality；　and　found　herself　a　widow　and　a　mother　at　the　age　of　fifteen。　As　she　stood　one　day　caressing　her　infant　son　in　the　open　window　of　an　apartment；　which　hung　over　the　river　Volturna；　the　child；　with　a　sudden　spring；　leaped　from　her　arms　into　the　flood　below；　and　disappeared　in　a　moment。　The　mother；　struck　with　instant　surprize；　and　making　all　effort　to　save　him；　plunged　in　after；　but；　far　from　being　able　to　assist　the　infant；　she　herself　with　great　difficulty　escaped　to　the　opposite　shore；　just　when　some　French　soldiers　were　plundering　the　country　on　that　side；　who　immediately　made　her　their　prisoner。

'As　the　war　was　then　carried　on　between　th