the vicar of wakefield- 第25部分

'Mr　Thornhill；'　replied　I；　'hear　me　once　for　all：　as　to　your　marriage　with　any　but　my　daughter；　that　I　never　will　consent　to；　and　though　your　friendship　could　raise　me　to　a　throne；　or　your　resentment　sink　me　to　the　grave；　yet　would　I　despise　both。　Thou　hast　once　wofully；　irreparably；　deceived　me。　I　reposed　my　heart　upon　thine　honour；　and　have　found　its　baseness。　Never　more；　therefore；　expect　friendship　from　me。　Go；　and　possess　what　fortune　has　given　thee；　beauty；　riches；　health；　and　pleasure。　Go；　and　leave　me　to　want；　infamy；　disease；　and　sorrow。　Yet　humbled　as　I　am；　shall　my　heart　still　vindicate　its　dignity；　and　though　thou　hast　my　forgiveness；　thou　shalt　ever　have　my　contempt。'

'If　so；'　returned　he；　'depend　upon　it　you　shall　feel　the　effects　of　this　insolence；　and　we　shall　shortly　see　which　is　the　fittest　object　of　scorn；　you　or　me。'Upon　which　he　departed　abruptly。

My　wife　and　son；　who　were　present　at　this　interview；　seemed　terrified　with　the　apprehension。　My　daughters　also；　finding　that　he　was　gone；　came　out　to　be　informed　of　the　result　of　our　conference；　which；　when　known；　alarmed　them　not　less　than　the　rest。　But　as　to　myself；　I　disregarded　the　utmost　stretch　of　his　malevolence：　he　had　already　struck　the　blow；　and　now　I　stood　prepared　to　repel　every　new　effort。　Like　one　of　those　instruments　used　in　the　art　of　war；　which；　however　thrown；　still　presents　a　point　to　receive　the　enemy。

We　soon；　however；　found　that　he　had　not　threatened　in　vain；　for　the　very　next　morning　his　steward　came　to　demand　my　annual　rent；　which；　by　the　train　of　accidents　already　related；　I　was　unable　to　pay。　The　consequence　of　my　incapacity　was　his　driving　my　cattle　that　evening；　and　their　being　appraised　and　sold　the　next　day　for　less　than　half　their　value。　My　wife　and　children　now　therefore　entreated　me　to　comply　upon　any　terms；　rather　than　incur　certain　destruction。　They　even　begged　of　me　to　admit　his　visits　once　more；　and　used　all　their　little　eloquence　to　paint　the　calamities　I　was　going　to　endure。　The　terrors　of　a　prison；　in　so　rigorous　a　season　as　the　present；　with　the　danger；　that　threatened　my　health　from　the　late　accident　that　happened　by　the　fire。　But　I　continued　inflexible。

'Why；　my　treasures；'　cried　I；　'why　will　you　thus　attempt　to　persuade　me　to　the　thing　that　is　not　right！　My　duty　has　taught　me　to　forgive　him；　but　my　conscience　will　not　permit　me　to　approve。　Would　you　have　me　applaud　to　the　world　what　my　heart　must　internally　condemn？　Would　you　have　me　tamely　sit　down　and　flatter　our　infamous　betrayer；　and　to　avoid　a　prison　continually　suffer　the　more　galling　bonds　of　mental　confinement！　No；　never。　If　we　are　to　be　taken　from　this　abode；　only　let　us　hold　to　the　right；　and　wherever　we　are　thrown；　we　can　still　retire　to　a　charming　apartment；　when　we　can　look　round　our　own　hearts　with　intrepidity　and　with　pleasure！'

In　this　manner　we　spent　that　evening。　Early　the　next　morning；　as　the　snow　had　fallen　in　great　abundance　in　the　night；　my　son　was　employed　in　clearing　it　away；　and　opening　a　passage　before　the　door。　He　had　not　been　thus　engaged　long；　when　he　came　running　in；　with　looks　all　pale；　to　tell　us　that　two　strangers；　whom　he　knew　to　be　officers　of　justice；　were　making　towards　the　house。

Just　as　he　spoke　they　came　in；　and　approaching　the　bed　where　I　lay；　after　previously　informing　me　of　their　employment　and　business；　made　me　their　prisoner；　bidding　me　prepare　to　go　with　them　to　the　county　gaol；　which　was　eleven　miles　off。

'My　friends；'　said　I；　'this　is　severe　weather　on　which　you　have　come　to　take　me　to　a　prison；　and　it　is　particularly　unfortunate　at　this　time；　as　one　of　my　arms　has　lately　been　burnt　in　a　terrible　manner；　and　it　has　thrown　me　into　a　slight　fever；　and　I　want　cloaths　to　cover　me；　and　I　am　now　too　weak　and　old　to　walk　far　in　such　deep　snow：　but　if　it　must　be　so'

I　then　turned　to　my　wife　and　children；　and　directed　them　to　get　together　what　few　things　were　left　us；　and　to　prepare　immediately　for　leaving　this　place。　I　entreated　them　to　be　expeditious；　and　desired　my　son　to　assist　his　elder　sister；　who；　from　a　consciousness　that　she　was　the　cause　of　all　our　calamities；　was　fallen；　and　had　lost　anguish　in　insensibility。　I　encouraged　my　wife；　who；　pale　and　trembling；　clasped　our　affrighted　little　ones　in　her　arms；　that　clung　to　her　bosom　in　silence；　dreading　to　look　round　at　the　strangers。　In　the　mean　time　my　youngest　daughter　prepared　for　our　departure；　and　as　she　received　several　hints　to　use　dispatch；　in　about　an　hour　we　were　ready　to　depart。



CHAPTER　25

No　situation；　however　wretched　it　seems；　but　has　some　sort　of　comfort　attending　it


We　set　forward　from　this　peaceful　neighbourhood；　and　walked　on　slowly。　My　eldest　daughter　being　enfeebled　by　a　slow　fever；　which　had　begun　for　some　days　to　undermine　her　constitution；　one　of　the　officers；　who　had　an　horse；　kindly　took　her　behind　him；　for　even　these　men　cannot　entirely　divest　themselves　of　humanity。　My　son　led　one　of　the　little　ones　by　the　hand；　and　my　wife　the　other；　while　I　leaned　upon　my　youngest　girl；　whose　tears　fell　not　for　her　own　but　my　distresses。

We　were　now　got　from　my　late　dwelling　about　two　miles；　when　we　saw　a　crowd　running　and　shouting　behind　us；　consisting　of　about　fifty　of　my　poorest　parishioners。　These；　with　dreadful　imprecations；　soon　seized　upon　the　two　officers　of　justice；　and　swearing　they　would　never　see　their　minister　go　to　gaol　while　they　had　a　drop　of　blood　to　shed　in　his　defence；　were　going　to　use　them　with　great　severity。　The　consequence　might　have　been　fatal；　had　I　not　immediately　interposed；　and　with　some　difficulty　rescued　the　officers　from　the　hands　of　the　enraged　multitude。　My　children；　who　looked　upon　my　delivery　now　as　certain；　appeared　transported　with　joy；　and　were　incapable　of　containing　their　raptures。　But　they　were　soon　undeceived；　upon　hearing　me　address　the　poor　deluded　people；　who　came；　as　they　imagined；　to　do　me　service。

'What！　my　friends；'　cried　I；　'and　is　this　the　way　you　love　me！　Is　this　the　manner　you　obey　the　instructions　I　have　given　you　from　the　pulpit！　Thus　to　fly　in　the　face　of　justice；　and　bring　down　ruin　on　yourselves　and　me！　Which　is　your　ringleader？　Shew　me　the　man　that　has　thus　seduced　you。　As　sure　as　he　lives　he　shall　feel　my　resentment。　Alas！　my　dear　deluded　flock；　return　back　to　the　duty　you　owe　to　God；　to　your　country；　and　to　me。　I　shall　yet　perhaps　one　day　see　you　in　greater　felicity　here；　and　contribute　to　make　your　lives　more　happy。　But　let　it　at　least　be　my　comfort　when　I　pen　my　fold　for　immortality；　that　not　one　here　shall　be　wanting。'

They　now　seemed　all　repentance；　and　melting　into　tears；　came　one　after　the　other　to　bid　me　farewell。　I　shook　each　tenderly　by　the　hand；　and　leaving　them　my　blessing；　proceeded　forward　without　meeting　any　farther　interruption。　Some　hours　before　night　we　reached　the　town；　or　rather　village；　for　it　consisted　but　of　a　few　mean　houses；　having　lost　all　its　former　opulence；　and　retaining　no　marks　of　its　ancient　superiority　but　the　gaol。

Upon　entering；　we　put　up　at　an　inn；　where　we　had　such　refreshments　as　could　most　readily　be　procured；　and　I　supped　with　my　family　with　my　usual　cheerfulness。　After　seeing　them　properly　accommodated　for　that　night；　I　next　attended　the　sheriff's　officers　to　the　prison；　which　had　formerly　been　built　for　the　purposes　of　war；　and　consisted　of　one　large　apartment；　strongly　grated；　and　paved　with　stone；　common　to　both　felons　and　debtors　at　certain　hours　in　the　four　and　twenty。　Besides　this；　every　prisoner　had　a　separate　cell；　where　he　was　locked　in　for　the　night。

I　expected　upon　my　entrance　to　find　nothing　but　lamentations；　and　various　sounds　of　misery；　but　it　was　very　different。　The　prisoners　seemed　all　employed　in　one　common　design；　that　of　forgetting　thought　in　merriment　or　clamour。　I　was　apprized　of　the　usual　perquisite　required　upon　these　occasions；　and　immediately　complied　with　the　demand；　though　the　little　money　I　had　was　very　near　being　all　exhausted。　This　was　immediately　sent　away　for　liquor；　and　the　whole　prison　soon　was　filled　with　riot；　laughter；　and　prophaneness。

'How；'　cried　I　to　myself；　'shall　men　so　very　wicked　be　chearful；　and　shall　I　be　melancholy！　I　feel　only　the　same　confinement　with　them；　and　I　think　I　have　more　reason　to　be　happy。'

With　such　reflections　I　laboured　to　become　chearful；　but　chearfulness　was　never　yet　produced　by　effort；　which　is　itself　painful。　As　I　was　sitting　therefore　in　a　corner　of　the　gaol；　in　a　pensive　posture；　one　of　my　fellow　prisoners　came　up；　and　sitting　by　me；　entered　into　conversation。　It　was　my　constant　rule　in　life　never　to　avoid　the　conversation　of　any　man　who　seemed　to　desire　it：　for　if　good；　I　might　profit　by　his　instruction；　if　bad；　he　might　be　assisted　by　mine。　I　found　this　to　be　a　knowing　man；　of　strong　unlettered　sense；　but　a　thorough　knowledge　of　the　world；　as　it　is　called；　or；　more　properly　speaking；　of　human　nature　on　the　wrong　side。　He　asked　me　if　I　had　taken　care　to　provide　myself　with　a　bed；　which　was　a　circumstance　I　had　never　once　attended　to。

'That's　unfortunate；'　cried　he；　'as　you　are　allowed　here　nothing　but　straw；　and　your　apartment　is　very　large　and　cold。　However　you　seem　to　be　something　of　a　gentleman；　and　as　I　have　been　one　myself　in　my　time；　part　of　my　bed…cloaths　are　heartily　at　your　service。'

I　thanked　him；　professing　my　surprize　at　finding　such　humanity　in　a　gaol　in　misfortunes；　adding；　to　let　him　see　that　I　was　a　scholar；　'That　the　sage　ancient　seemed　to　understand　the　value　of　company　in　affliction；　when　he　said；　Ton　kosman　aire；　ei　dos　ton　etairon；　and　in　fact；'　continued　I；　'what　is　the　World　if　it　affords　only　solitude？'

'You　talk　of　the　world；　Sir；'　returned　my　fellow　prisoner；　'the　world　is　in　its　dotage；　and　yet　the　cosmogony　or　creation　of　the　world　has　puzzled　the　philosophers　of　every　age。　What　a　medly　of　opinions　have　they　not　broached　upon　the　creation　of　the　world。　Sanconiathon；　Manetho；　Berosus；　and　Ocellus　Lucanus　have　all　attempted　it　in　vain。　The　latter　has　these　words。　Anarchon　ara　kai　atelutaion　to　pan；　which　implies''I　ask　pardon；　Sir；'　cried　I；　'for　interrupting　so　much　learning；　but　I　think　I　have　heard　all　this　before。　Have　I　not　had　the　pleasure　of　once　seeing　you　at　Welbridge　fair；　and　is　not　your　name　Ephraim　Je