第2章

类别:其他 作者:Laurence Sterne字数:12101更新时间:18/12/14 10:36:01
Hestopp\'d,however,assoonashecameuptous,withaworldoffrankness:andhavingahornsnuffboxinhishand,hepresenteditopentome-Youshalltastemine-saidI,pullingoutmybox(whichwasasmalltortoiseone)andputtingitintohishand- \'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,-andfullofnoblessewhentheImperialistsweredrivenoutbytheFrench(theladymadeaslightcourtesy)-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。