第2章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Sentimental Journey",免费读到尾

  Hestopp\'d,however,assoonashecameuptous,withaworldoffrankness:andhavingahornsnuffboxinhishand,hepresenteditopentome-Youshalltastemine-saidI,pullingoutmyboxwhichwasasmalltortoiseoneandputtingitintohishand-

  \'Tismostexcellent,saidthemonk。Thendomethefavour,I

  replied,toacceptoftheboxandall,andwhenyoutakeapinchoutofit,sometimesrecollectitwasthepeaceofferingofamanwhoonceusedyouunkindly,butnotfromhisheart。

  Thepoormonkblush\'dasredasscarlet。MONDIEU!saidhe,pressinghishandstogether-youneverusedmeunkindly-I

  shouldthink,saidthelady,heisnotlikely。Iblush\'dinmyturn;butfromwhatmovements,Ileavetothefewwhofeel,toanalyze-Excuseme,Madame,repliedI,-Itreatedhimmostunkindly;andfromnoprovocations-\'Tisimpossible,saidthelady-MyGod!criedthemonk,withawarmthofasseverationwhichseem\'dnottobelongtohim-thefaultwasinme,andintheindiscretionofmyzeal-Theladyopposedit,andIjoinedwithherinmaintainingitwasimpossible,thataspiritsoregulatedashis,couldgiveoffencetoany。

  IknewnotthatcontentioncouldberenderedsosweetandpleasurableathingtothenervesasIthenfeltit-Weremainedsilent,withoutanysensationofthatfoolishpainwhichtakesplace,when,insuchacircle,youlookfortenminutesinoneanother\'sfaceswithoutsayingaword。Whilstthislasted,themonkrubbedhishornboxuponthesleeveofhistunic;andassoonasithadacquiredalittleairofbrightnessbythefriction-hemademealowbow,andsaid,\'twastoolatetosaywhetheritwastheweaknessorgoodnessofourtemperswhichhadinvolvedusinthiscontest-butbeitasitwould,-hebegg\'dwemightexchangeboxes-Insayingthis,hepresentedhistomewithonehand,ashetookminefrommeintheother,andhavingkissedit,-withastreamofgoodnatureinhiseyes,heputitintohisbosom,-andtookhisleave。

  Iguardthisbox,asIwouldtheinstrumentalpartsofmyreligion,tohelpmymindontosomethingbetter:intruth,Iseldomgoabroadwithoutit;andoftandmanyatimehaveIcalledupbyitthecourteousspiritofitsownertoregulatemyown,inthejustlingsoftheworld:theyhadfoundfullemploymentforhis,asIlearntfromhisstory,tillabouttheforty-fifthyearofhisage,whenuponsomemilitaryservicesillrequited,andmeetingatthesametimewithadisappointmentinthetenderestofpassions,heabandonedtheswordandthesextogether,andtooksanctuarynotsomuchinhisconventasinhimself。

  Ifeeladampuponmyspirits,asIamgoingtoadd,thatinmylastreturnthroughCalais,uponenquiringafterFatherLorenzo,I

  heardhehadbeendeadnearthreemonths,andwasburied,notinhisconvent,but,accordingtohisdesire,inalittlecemeterybelongingtoit,abouttwoleaguesoff:Ihadastrongdesiretoseewheretheyhadlaidhim,-when,uponpullingouthislittlehornbox,asIsatbyhisgrave,andpluckingupanettleortwoattheheadofit,whichhadnobusinesstogrowthere,theyallstrucktogethersoforciblyuponmyaffections,thatIburstintoafloodoftears:-butIamasweakasawoman;andIbegtheworldnottosmile,buttopityme。

  THEREMISEDOOR。CALAIS。

  IHADneverquittedthelady\'shandallthistime,andhadhelditsolong,thatitwouldhavebeenindecenttohaveletitgo,withoutfirstpressingittomylips:thebloodandspirits,whichhadsufferedarevulsionfromher,crowdedbacktoherasIdidit。

  Nowthetwotravellers,whohadspoketomeinthecoach-yard,happeningatthatcrisistobepassingby,andobservingourcommunications,naturallytookitintotheirheadsthatwemustbeMANANDWIFEatleast;so,stoppingassoonastheycameuptothedooroftheRemise,theoneofthemwhowastheInquisitiveTraveller,ask\'dus,ifwesetoutforParisthenextmorning?-I

  couldonlyanswerformyself,Isaid;andtheladyadded,shewasforAmiens-Wedinedthereyesterday,saidtheSimpleTraveller-

  Yougodirectlythroughthetown,addedtheother,inyourroadtoParis。Iwasgoingtoreturnathousandthanksfortheintelligence,THATAMIENSWASINTHEROADTOPARIS,but,uponpullingoutmypoormonk\'slittlehornboxtotakeapinchofsnuff,Imadethemaquietbow,andwishingthemagoodpassagetoDover-Theyleftusalone——

  Nowwherewouldbetheharm,saidItomyself,ifIweretobegofthisdistressedladytoacceptofhalfofmychaise?-andwhatmightymischiefcouldensue?

  Everydirtypassion,andbadpropensityinmynaturetookthealarm,asIstatedtheproposition-Itwillobligeyoutohaveathirdhorse,saidAvarice,whichwillputtwentylivresoutofyourpocket;-Youknownotwhatsheis,saidCaution;-orwhatscrapestheaffairmaydrawyouinto,whisper\'dCowardice-

  Dependuponit,Yorick!saidDiscretion,\'twillbesaidyouwentoffwithamistress,andcamebyassignationtoCalaisforthatpurpose;——

  Youcanneverafter,criedHypocrisyaloud,showyourfaceintheworld;-orrise,quothMeanness,inthechurch;-orbeanythinginit,saidPride,butalousyprebendary。

  But\'tisacivilthing,saidI;-andasIgenerallyactfromthefirstimpulse,andthereforeseldomlistentothesecabals,whichservenopurpose,thatIknowof,buttoencompasstheheartwithadamant-Iturnedinstantlyabouttothelady——

  Butshehadglidedoffunperceived,asthecausewaspleading,andhadmadetenoradozenpacesdownthestreet,bythetimeI

  hadmadethedetermination;soIsetoffafterherwithalongstride,tomakehertheproposal,withthebestaddressIwasmasterof:butobservingshewalk\'dwithhercheekhalfrestinguponthepalmofherhand,-withtheslowshort-measur\'dstepofthoughtfulness,-andwithhereyes,asshewentstepbystep,fixedupontheground,itstruckmeshewastryingthesamecauseherself-Godhelpher!saidI,shehassomemother-in-law,ortartufishaunt,ornonsensicaloldwoman,toconsultupontheoccasion,aswellasmyself:sonotcaringtointerrupttheprocess,anddeemingitmoregallanttotakeheratdiscretionthanbysurprise,IfacedaboutandtookashortturnortwobeforethedooroftheRemise,whilstshewalk\'dmusingononeside。

  INTHESTREET。CALAIS。

  HAVING,onthefirstsightofthelady,settledtheaffairinmyfancy\"thatshewasofthebetterorderofbeings;\"-andthenlaiditdownasasecondaxiom,asindisputableasthefirst,thatshewasawidow,andworeacharacterofdistress,-Iwentnofurther;

  Igotgroundenoughforthesituationwhichpleasedme;-andhadsheremainedclosebesidemyelbowtillmidnight,Ishouldhaveheldtruetomysystem,andconsideredheronlyunderthatgeneralidea。

  Shehadscarcegottwentypacesdistantfromme,eresomethingwithinmecalledoutforamoreparticularenquiry;-itbroughtontheideaofafurtherseparation:-Imightpossiblyneverseehermore:-Theheartisforsavingwhatitcan;andIwantedthetracesthroughwhichmywishesmightfindtheirwaytoher,incaseIshouldneverrejoinhermyself;inaword,Iwishedtoknowhername,-herfamily\'s-hercondition;andasIknewtheplacetowhichshewasgoing,Iwantedtoknowfromwhenceshecame:buttherewasnocomingatallthisintelligence;ahundredlittledelicaciesstoodintheway。Iform\'dascoredifferentplans-

  Therewasnosuchthingasaman\'saskingherdirectly;-thethingwasimpossible。

  AlittleFrenchDEBONNAIREcaptain,whocamedancingdownthestreet,showedmeitwastheeasiestthingintheworld:for,poppinginbetwixtus,justastheladywasreturningbacktothedooroftheRemise,heintroducedhimselftomyacquaintance,andbeforehehadwellgotannounced,begg\'dIwoulddohimthehonourtopresenthimtothelady-Ihadnotbeenpresentedmyself;-soturningabouttoher,hediditjustaswell,byaskingherifshehadcomefromParis?No:shewasgoingthatroute,shesaid-

  VOUSN\'ETESPASDELONDRES?-Shewasnot,shereplied-ThenMadamemusthavecomethroughFlanders-APPAREMMENTVOUSETES

  FLAMMANDE?saidtheFrenchcaptain-Theladyanswered,shewas-

  PEUTETREDELISLE?addedhe-Shesaid,shewasnotofLisle-

  NorArras?-norCambray?-norGhent?-norBrussels?-Sheanswered,shewasofBrussels。

  Hehadhadthehonour,hesaid,tobeatthebombardmentofitlastwar;-thatitwasfinelysituated,POURCELA,-andfullofnoblessewhentheImperialistsweredrivenoutbytheFrenchtheladymadeaslightcourtesy-sogivingheranaccountoftheaffair,andofthesharehehadhadinit,-hebegg\'dthehonourtoknowhername,-somadehisbow-

  ETMADAMEASONMARI?-saidhe,lookingbackwhenhehadmadetwosteps,-and,withoutstayingforananswer-danceddownthestreet。

  HadIservedsevenyearsapprenticeshiptogoodbreeding,Icouldnothavedoneasmuch。

  THEREMISE。CALAIS。

  ASthelittleFrenchcaptainleftus,Mons。DesseincameupwiththekeyoftheRemiseinhishand,andforthwithletusintohismagazineofchaises。

  Thefirstobjectwhichcaughtmyeye,asMons。Desseinopen\'dthedooroftheRemise,wasanotheroldtatter\'dDESOBLIGEANT;andnotwithstandingitwastheexactpictureofthatwhichhadhitmyfancysomuchinthecoach-yardbutanhourbefore,-theverysightofitstirr\'dupadisagreeablesensationwithinmenow;andIthought\'twasachurlishbeastintowhosehearttheideacouldfirstenter,toconstructsuchamachine;norhadImuchmorecharityforthemanwhocouldthinkofusingit。

  Iobservedtheladywasaslittletakenwithitasmyself:soMons。

  Desseinledusontoacoupleofchaiseswhichstoodabreast,tellingus,asherecommendedthem,thattheyhadbeenpurchasedbymylordA。andB。togothegrandtour,buthadgonenofurtherthanParis,sowereinallrespectsasgoodasnew-Theyweretoogood;-soIpass\'dontoathird,whichstoodbehind,andforthwithbeguntochafferfortheprice-But\'twillscarceholdtwo,saidI,openingthedoorandgettingin-Havethegoodness,Madame,saidMons。Dessein,offeringhisarm,tostepin-Theladyhesitatedhalfasecond,andsteppedin;andthewaiterthatmomentbeckoningtospeaktoMon。Dessein,heshutthedoorofthechaiseuponus,andleftus。

  THEREMISE。CALAIS。

  C\'ESTBIENCOMIQUE,\'tisverydroll,saidthelady,smiling,fromthereflectionthatthiswasthesecondtimeweahadbeenlefttogetherbyaparcelofnonsensicalcontingencies,-C\'ESTBIEN

  COMIQUE,saidshe——

  Therewantsnothing,saidI,tomakeitsobutthecomicusewhichthegallantryofaFrenchmanwouldputitto,-tomakelovethefirstmoment,andanofferofhispersonthesecond。

  \'TistheirFORT,repliedthelady。

  Itissupposedsoatleast;-andhowithascometopass,continuedI,Iknownot;buttheyhavecertainlygotthecreditofunderstandingmoreoflove,andmakingitbetterthananyothernationuponearth;but,formyownpart,Ithinkthemarrantbunglers,andintruththeworstsetofmarksmenthatevertriedCupid\'spatience-

  TothinkofmakinglovebySENTIMENTS!

  Ishouldassoonthinkofmakingagenteelsuitofclothesoutofremnants:-andtodoit-pop-atfirstsight,bydeclaration-

  issubmittingtheoffer,andthemselveswithit,tobesiftedwithalltheirPOURSandCONTRES,byanunheatedmind。

  TheladyattendedasifsheexpectedIshouldgoon。

  Considerthen,Madame,continuedI,layingmyhanduponhers:-

  Thatgravepeoplehateloveforthename\'ssake;-

  Thatselfishpeoplehateitfortheirown;-

  Hypocritesforheaven\'s;-

  Andthatallofus,botholdandyoung,beingtentimesworsefrightenedthanhurtbytheveryREPORT,-whatawantofknowledgeinthisbranchofcommenceamanbetrays,whoeverletsthewordcomeoutofhislips,tillanhourortwo,atleast,afterthetimethathissilenceuponitbecomestormenting。Acourseofsmall,quietattentions,notsopointedastoalarm,-norsovagueastobemisunderstood-withnowandthenalookofkindness,andlittleornothingsaiduponit,-leavesnatureforyourmistress,andshefashionsittohermind-

  ThenIsolemnlydeclare,saidthelady,blushing,youhavebeenmakinglovetomeallthiswhile。

  THEREMISE。CALAIS。

  MONSIEURDESSEINcamebacktoletusoutofthechaise,andacquaintthelady,thecountdeL-,herbrother,wasjustarrivedatthehotel。ThoughIhadinfinitegoodwillforthelady,I

  cannotsaythatIrejoicedinmyheartattheevent-andcouldnothelptellingherso;-foritisfataltoaproposal,Madame,saidI,thatIwasgoingtomaketoyou——

  Youneednottellmewhattheproposalwas,saidshe,layingherhanduponbothmine,assheinterruptedme-AmanmygoodSir,hasseldomanofferofkindnesstomaketoawoman,butshehasapresentimentofitsomemomentsbefore-

  Naturearmsherwithit,saidI,forimmediatepreservation-ButIthink,saidshe,lookinginmyface,Ihadnoeviltoapprehend,-and,todealfranklywithyou,haddeterminedtoacceptit-IfI

  had-shestoppedamoment-Ibelieveyourgoodwillwouldhavedrawnastoryfromme,whichwouldhavemadepitytheonlydangerousthinginthejourney。

  Insayingthis,shesufferedmetokissherhandtwice,andwithalookofsensibilitymixedwithconcern,shegotoutofthechaise,-andbidadieu。

  INTHESTREET。CALAIS。

  INEVERfinishedatwelveguineabargainsoexpeditiouslyinmylife:mytimeseemedheavy,uponthelossofthelady,andknowingeverymomentofitwouldbeastwo,tillIputmyselfintomotion,-Iorderedposthorsesdirectly,andwalkedtowardsthehotel。

  Lord!saidI,hearingthetownclockstrikefour,andrecollectingthatIhadbeenlittlemorethanasinglehourinCalais,——

  Whatalargevolumeofadventuresmaybegraspedwithinthislittlespanoflifebyhimwhointerestshisheartineverything,andwho,havingeyestoseewhattimeandchanceareperpetuallyholdingouttohimashejourneyethonhisway,missesnothinghecanFAIRLYlayhishandson!-

  Ifthiswon\'tturnoutsomething,-anotherwill;-nomatter,-

  \'tisanassayuponhumannature-Igetmylabourformypains,-

  \'tisenough;-thepleasureoftheexperimenthaskeptmysensesandthebestpartofmybloodawake,andlaidthegrosstosleep。

  IpitythemanwhocantravelfromDantoBeersheba,andcry,\'Tisallbarren;-andsoitis:andsoisalltheworldtohimwhowillnotcultivatethefruitsitoffers。Ideclare,saidI,clappingmyhandscheerilytogether,thatwereIinadesert,Iwouldfindoutwherewithinittocallforthmyaffections:-ifIcouldnotdobetter,Iwouldfastenthemuponsomesweetmyrtle,orseeksomemelancholycypresstoconnectmyselfto;-Iwouldcourttheirshade,andgreetthemkindlyfortheirprotection-Iwouldcutmynameuponthem,andsweartheyweretheloveliesttreesthroughoutthedesert:iftheirleaveswither\'d,Iwouldteachmyselftomourn;and,whentheyrejoiced,Iwouldrejoicealongwiththem。

  ThelearnedSmelfungustravelledfromBoulognetoParis,-fromParistoRome,-andsoon;-buthesetoutwiththespleenandjaundice,andeveryobjecthepass\'dbywasdiscolouredordistorted-Hewroteanaccountofthem,but\'twasnothingbuttheaccountofhismiserablefeelings。

  ImetSmelfungusinthegrandporticoofthePantheon:-hewasjustcomingoutofit-\'TISNOTHINGBUTAHUGECOCKPIT,saidhe:-

  IwishyouhadsaidnothingworseoftheVenusofMedicis,repliedI;-forinpassingthroughFlorence,Ihadheardhehadfallenfouluponthegoddess,andusedherworsethanacommonstrumpet,withouttheleastprovocationinnature。

  Ipopp\'duponSmelfungusagainatTurin,inhisreturnhome;andasadtaleofsorrowfuladventureshadhetotell,\"whereinhespokeofmovingaccidentsbyfloodandfield,andofthecannibalsthateachothereat:theAnthropophagi:\"-hehadbeenflayedalive,andbedevil\'d,andusedworsethanSt。Bartholomew,ateverystagehehadcomeat——

  I\'lltellit,criedSmelfungus,totheworld。Youhadbettertellit,saidI,toyourphysician。

  Mundungus,withanimmensefortune,madethewholetour;goingonfromRometoNaples,-fromNaplestoVenice,-fromVenicetoVienna,-toDresden,toBerlin,withoutonegenerousconnectionorpleasurableanecdotetotellof;buthehadtravell\'dstraighton,lookingneithertohisrighthandnorhisleft,lestLoveorPityshouldseducehimoutofhisroad。

  Peacebetothem!ifitistobefound;butheavenitself,wereitpossibletogettherewithsuchtempers,wouldwantobjectstogiveit;everygentlespiritwouldcomeflyinguponthewingsofLovetohailtheirarrival-NothingwouldthesoulsofSmelfungusandMundungushearof,butfreshanthemsofjoy,freshrapturesoflove,andfreshcongratulationsoftheircommonfelicity-I

  heartilypitythem;theyhavebroughtupnofacultiesforthiswork;and,werethehappiestmansioninheaventobeallottedtoSmelfungusandMundungus,theywouldbesofarfrombeinghappy,thatthesoulsofSmelfungusandMundunguswoulddopenancetheretoalleternity!

  MONTREUIL。

  IHADoncelostmyportmanteaufrombehindmychaise,andtwicegotoutintherain,andoneofthetimesuptothekneesindirt,tohelpthepostiliontotieiton,withoutbeingabletofindoutwhatwaswanting-NorwasittillIgottoMontreuil,uponthelandlord\'saskingmeifIwantednotaservant,thatitoccurredtome,thatthatwastheverything。

  Aservant!ThatIdomostsadly,quothI-Because,Monsieur,saidthelandlord,thereisacleveryoungfellow,whowouldbeveryproudofthehonourtoserveanEnglishman-ButwhyanEnglishone,morethananyother?-Theyaresogenerous,saidthelandlord-I\'llbeshotifthisisnotalivreoutofmypocket,quothItomyself,thisverynight-Buttheyhavewherewithaltobeso,Monsieur,addedhe-Setdownonelivremoreforthat,quothI-Itwasbutlastnight,saidthelandlord,QU\'UNMILORD

  ANGLOISPRESENTOITUNECUELAFILLEDECHAMBRE-TANTPISPOUR

  MADEMOISELLEJANATONE,saidI。

  NowJanatone,beingthelandlord\'sdaughter,andthelandlordsupposingIwasyounginFrench,tookthelibertytoinformme,I

  shouldnothavesaidTANTPIS-but,TANTMIEUX。TANTMIEUX,TOUJOURS,MONSIEUR,saidhe,whenthereisanythingtobegot-

  TANTPIS,whenthereisnothing。Itcomestothesamething,saidI。PARDONNEZ-MOI,saidthelandlord。

  Icannottakeafitteropportunitytoobserve,onceforall,thatTANTPISandTANTMIEUX,beingtwoofthegreathingesinFrenchconversation,astrangerwoulddowelltosethimselfrightintheuseofthem,beforehegetstoParis。

  ApromptFrenchmarquisatourambassador\'stabledemandedofMr。

  H-,ifhewasH-thepoet?No,saidMr。H-,mildly-TANTPIS,repliedthemarquis。

  ItisH-thehistorian,saidanother,-TANTMIEUX,saidthemarquis。AndMr。H-,whoisamanofanexcellentheart,return\'dthanksforboth。

  Whenthelandlordhadsetmerightinthismatter,hecalledinLaFleur,whichwasthenameoftheyoungmanhehadspokeof,-

  sayingonlyfirst,Thatasforhistalentshewouldpresumetosaynothing,-Monsieurwasthebestjudgewhatwouldsuithim;butforthefidelityofLaFleurhewouldstandresponsibleinallhewasworth。

  Thelandlorddeliver\'dthisinamannerwhichinstantlysetmymindtothebusinessIwasupon;-andLaFleur,whostoodwaitingwithout,inthatbreathlessexpectationwhicheverysonofnatureofushavefeltinourturns,camein。

  MONTREUIL。

  IAMapttobetakenwithallkindsofpeopleatfirstsight;butnevermoresothanwhenapoordevilcomestoofferhisservicetosopooradevilasmyself;andasIknowthisweakness,Ialwayssuffermyjudgmenttodrawbacksomethingonthatveryaccount,-

  andthismoreorless,accordingtothemoodIamin,andthecase;-

  andImayadd,thegendertoo,ofthepersonIamtogovern。

  WhenLaFleurenteredtheroom,aftereverydiscountIcouldmakeformysoul,thegenuinelookandairofthefellowdeterminedthematteratonceinhisfavour;soIhiredhimfirst,-andthenbegantoenquirewhathecoulddo:ButIshallfindouthistalents,quothI,asIwantthem,-besides,aFrenchmancandoeverything。

  NowpoorLaFleurcoulddonothingintheworldbutbeatadrum,andplayamarchortwouponthefife。Iwasdeterminedtomakehistalentsdo;andcan\'tsaymyweaknesswaseversoinsultedbymywisdomasintheattempt。

  LaFleurhadsetoutearlyinlife,asgallantlyasmostFrenchmendo,withSERVINGforafewyears;attheendofwhich,havingsatisfiedthesentiment,andfound,moreover,Thatthehonourofbeatingadrumwaslikelytobeitsownreward,asitopen\'dnofurthertrackofglorytohim,-heretiredESESTERRES,andlivedCOMMEILPLAISOITEDIEU;-thatistosay,uponnothing-

  Andso,quothWisdom,youhavehiredadrummertoattendyouinthistourofyoursthroughFranceandItaly!-Psha!saidI,anddonotonehalfofourgentrygowithahumdrumCOMPAGNONDUVOYAGE

  thesameround,andhavethepiperandthedevilandalltopaybesides?WhenmancanextricatehimselfwithanEQUIVOQUEinsuchanunequalmatch,-heisnotilloff-Butyoucandosomethingelse,LaFleur?saidI-OQU\'OUI!hecouldmakespatterdashes,andplayalittleuponthefiddle-Bravo!saidWisdom-Why,I

  playabassmyself,saidI;-weshalldoverywell。Youcanshave,anddressawigalittle,LaFleur?-Hehadallthedispositionsintheworld-Itisenoughforheaven!saidI,interruptinghim,-andoughttobeenoughforme-So,suppercomingin,andhavingafriskyEnglishspanielononesideofmychair,andaFrenchvalet,withasmuchhilarityinhiscountenanceaseverNaturepaintedinone,ontheother,-Iwassatisfiedtomyheart\'scontentwithmyempire;andifmonarchsknewwhattheywouldbeat,theymightbeassatisfiedasIwas。

  MONTREUIL。

  ASLaFleurwentthewholetourofFranceandItalywithme,andwillbeoftenuponthestage,Imustinterestthereaderalittlefurtherinhisbehalf,bysaying,thatIhadneverlessreasontorepentoftheimpulseswhichgenerallydodetermineme,thaninregardtothisfellow;-hewasafaithful,affectionate,simplesoulasevertrudgedaftertheheelsofaphilosopher;and,notwithstandinghistalentsofdrumbeatingandspatterdash-making,which,thoughverygoodinthemselves,happenedtobeofnogreatservicetome,yetwasIhourlyrecompensedbythefestivityofhistemper;-itsuppliedalldefects:-Ihadaconstantresourceinhislooksinalldifficultiesanddistressesofmyown-Iwasgoingtohaveaddedofhistoo;butLaFleurwasoutofthereachofeverything;for,whether\'twashungerorthirst,orcoldornakedness,orwatchings,orwhateverstripesofillluckLaFleurmetwithinourjourneyings,therewasnoindexinhisphysiognomytopointthemoutby,-hewaseternallythesame;sothatifIamapieceofaphilosopher,whichSatannowandthenputsitintomyheadIam,-italwaysmortifiestheprideoftheconceit,byreflectinghowmuchIowetothecomplexionalphilosophyofthispoorfellow,forshamingmeintooneofabetterkind。Withallthis,LaFleurhadasmallcastofthecoxcomb,-butheseemedatfirstsighttobemoreacoxcombofnaturethanofart;and,beforeIhadbeenthreedaysinPariswithhim,-heseemedtobenocoxcombatall。

  MONTREUIL。

  THEnextmorning,LaFleurenteringuponhisemployment,I

  deliveredtohimthekeyofmyportmanteau,withaninventoryofmyhalfadozenshirtsandsilkpairofbreeches,andbidhimfastenalluponthechaise,-getthehorsesputto,-anddesirethelandlordtocomeinwithhisbill。

  C\'ESTUNGARCONDEBONNEFORTUNE,saidthelandlord,pointingthroughthewindowtohalfadozenwencheswhohadgotroundaboutLaFleur,andweremostkindlytakingtheirleaveofhim,asthepostilionwasleadingoutthehorses。LaFleurkissedalltheirhandsroundandroundagain,andthricehewipedhiseyes,andthricehepromisedhewouldbringthemallpardonsfromRome-

  Theyoungfellow,saidthelandlord,isbelovedbyallthetown,andthereisscarceacornerinMontreuilwherethewantofhimwillnotbefelt:hehasbutonemisfortuneintheworld,continuedhe,\"heisalwaysinlove。\"-Iamheartilygladofit,saidI,-

  \'twillsavemethetroubleeverynightofputtingmybreechesundermyhead。Insayingthis,IwasmakingnotsomuchLaFleur\'selogeasmyown,havingbeeninlovewithoneprincessoranotheralmostallmylife,andIhopeIshallgoonsotillIdie,beingfirmlypersuaded,thatifeverIdoameanaction,itmustbeinsomeintervalbetwixtonepassionandanother:whilstthisinterregnumlasts,Ialwaysperceivemyheartlockedup,-IcanscarcefindinittogiveMiseryasixpence;andthereforeIalwaysgetoutofitasfastasIcan-andthemomentIamrekindled,Iamallgenerosityandgood-willagain;andwoulddoanythingintheworld,eitherfororwithanyone,iftheywillbutsatisfymethereisnosininit-

  Butinsayingthis,-sureIamcommandingthepassion,-notmyself。

  AFRAGMENT-

  THEtownofAbdera,notwithstandingDemocrituslivedthere,tryingallthepowersofironyandlaughtertoreclaimit,wasthevilestandmostprofligatetowninallThrace。Whatforpoisons,conspiracies,andassassinations,-libels,pasquinades,andtumults,therewasnogoingtherebyday-\'twasworsebynight。

  Now,whenthingswereattheworst,itcametopassthattheAndromedaofEuripidesbeingrepresentedatAbdera,thewholeorchestrawasdelightedwithit:butofallthepassageswhichdelightedthem,nothingoperatedmoreupontheirimaginationsthanthetenderstrokesofnaturewhichthepoethadwroughtupinthatpatheticspeechofPerseus,OCUPID,PRINCEOFGODSANDMEN!&c。

  Everymanalmostspokepureiambicsthenextday,andtalkedofnothingbutPerseushispatheticaddress,-\"OCUPID!PRINCEOF

  GODSANDMEN!\"-ineverystreetofAbdera,ineveryhouse,\"O

  Cupid!Cupid!\"-ineverymouth,likethenaturalnotesofsomesweetmelodywhichdropfromit,whetheritwillorno,-nothingbut\"Cupid!Cupid!princeofgodsandmen!\"-Thefirecaught-andthewholecity,liketheheartofoneman,open\'ditselftoLove。

  Nopharmacopolistcouldsellonegrainofhellebore,-notasinglearmourerhadahearttoforgeoneinstrumentofdeath;-FriendshipandVirtuemettogether,andkiss\'deachotherinthestreet;thegoldenagereturned,andhungoverthetownofAbdera-everyAbderitetookhiseatenpipe,andeveryAbderitishwomanleftherpurpleweb,andchastelysatherdownandlistenedtothesong。

  \'Twasonlyinthepower,saystheFragment,oftheGodwhoseempireextendethfromheaventoearth,andeventothedepthsofthesea,tohavedonethis。

  MONTREUIL。

  WHENallisready,andeveryarticleisdisputedandpaidforintheinn,unlessyouarealittlesour\'dbytheadventure,thereisalwaysamattertocompoundatthedoor,beforeyoucangetintoyourchaise;andthatiswiththesonsanddaughtersofpoverty,whosurroundyou。Letnomansay,\"Letthemgotothedevil!\"-

  \'tisacrueljourneytosendafewmiserables,andtheyhavehadsufferingsenowwithoutit:Ialwaysthinkitbettertotakeafewsousoutinmyhand;andIwouldcounseleverygentletravellertodosolikewise:heneednotbesoexactinsettingdownhismotivesforgivingthem;-Theywillberegisteredelsewhere。

  Formyownpart,thereisnomangivessolittleasIdo;forfew,thatIknow,havesolittletogive;butasthiswasthefirstpublicactofmycharityinFrance,Itookthemorenoticeofit。

  Awell-a-way!saidI,-Ihavebuteightsousintheworld,showingtheminmyhand,andthereareeightpoormenandeightpoorwomenfor\'em。

  Apoortatter\'dsoul,withoutashirton,instantlywithdrewhisclaim,byretiringtwostepsoutofthecircle,andmakingadisqualifyingbowonhispart。HadthewholePARTERREcriedout,PLACEAUXDAMES,withonevoice,itwouldnothaveconveyedthesentimentofadeferenceforthesexwithhalftheeffect。

  JustHeaven!forwhatwisereasonshastthouorderedit,thatbeggaryandurbanity,whichareatsuchvarianceinothercountries,shouldfindawaytobeatunityinthis?-

  Iinsisteduponpresentinghimwithasinglesous,merelyforhisPOLITESSE。

  Apoorlittledwarfishbriskfellow,whostoodoveragainstmeinthecircle,puttingsomethingfirstunderhisarm,whichhadoncebeenahat,tookhissnuff-boxoutofhispocket,andgenerouslyoffer\'dapinchonbothsidesofhim:itwasagiftofconsequence,andmodestlydeclined-Thepoorlittlefellowpressedituponthemwithanodofwelcomeness-PRENEZEN-PRENEZ,saidhe,lookinganotherway;sotheyeachtookapinch-Pitythyboxshouldeverwantone!saidItomyself;soIputacoupleofsousintoit-takingasmallpinchoutofhisbox,toenhancetheirvalue,asIdidit。Hefelttheweightofthesecondobligationmorethanofthefirst,-\'twasdoinghimanhonour,-theotherwasonlydoinghimacharity;-andhemademeabowdowntothegroundforit。

点击下载App,搜索"A Sentimental Journey",免费读到尾