第2章

类别:其他 作者:Washington Irving字数:10208更新时间:19/01/07 14:58:29
Itwastherecollectionofthisromantictaleofformertimes,and ofthegoldenlittlepoemwhichhaditsbirthplaceinthisTower,that mademevisittheoldpilewithmorethancommoninterest。Thesuitof armorhangingupinthehall,richlygiltandembellished,asifto figureinthetournay,broughttheimageofthegallantandromantic princevividlybeforemyimagination。Ipacedthedesertedchambers wherehehadcomposedhispoem;Ileaneduponthewindow,and endeavoredtopersuademyselfitwastheveryonewherehehadbeen visitedbyhisvision;Ilookedoutuponthespotwherehehadfirst seentheLadyJane。Itwasthesamegenialandjoyousmonth;thebirds wereagainvyingwitheachotherinstrainsofliquidmelody;every thingwasburstingintovegetation,andbuddingforththetender promiseoftheyear。Time,whichdelightstoobliteratethesterner memorialsofhumanpride,seemstohavepassedlightlyoverthis littlesceneofpoetryandlove,andtohavewithheldhisdesolating hand。Severalcenturieshavegoneby,yetthegardenstill flourishesatthefootoftheTower。Itoccupieswhatwasoncethe moatoftheKeep;andthoughsomepartshavebeenseparatedby dividingwalls,yetothershavestilltheirarborsandshadedwalks, asinthedaysofJames,andthewholeissheltered,blooming,and retired。Thereisacharmaboutaspotthathasbeenprintedbythe footstepsofdepartedbeauty,andconsecratedbytheinspirationsof thepoet,whichisheightened,ratherthanimpaired,bythelapseof ages。Itis,indeed,thegiftofpoetrytohalloweveryplaceinwhich itmoves;tobreathearoundnatureanodormoreexquisitethanthe perfumeoftherose,andtoshedoveritatintmoremagicalthan theblushofmorning。 OthersmaydwellontheillustriousdeedsofJamesasawarrior andalegislator;butIhavedelightedtoviewhimmerelyasthe companionofhisfellow—men,thebenefactorofthehumanheart, stoopingfromhishighestatetosowthesweetflowersofpoetryand songinthepathsofcommonlife。Hewasthefirsttocultivatethe vigorousandhardyplantofScottishgenius,whichhassincebecomeso prolificofthemostwholesomeandhighly—flavoredfruit。Hecarried withhimintothesternerregionsofthenorthallthefertilizing artsofsouthernrefinement。Hedideverythinginhispowertowin hiscountrymentothegay,theelegant,andgentlearts,which softenandrefinethecharacterofapeople,andwreatheagraceround theloftinessofaproudandwarlikespirit。Hewrotemanypoems, which,unfortunatelyforthefulnessofhisfame,arenowlostto theworld;one,whichisstillpreserved,called\"Christ’sKirkofthe Green,\"showshowdiligentlyhehadmadehimselfacquaintedwiththe rusticsportsandpastimes,whichconstitutesuchasourceofkindand socialfeelingamongtheScottishpeasantry;andwithwhatsimple andhappyhumorhecouldenterintotheirenjoyments。Hecontributed greatlytoimprovethenationalmusic;andtracesofhistender sentiment,andeleganttaste,aresaidtoexistinthosewitching airs,stillpipedamongthewildmountainsandlonelyglensof Scotland。Hehasthusconnectedhisimagewithwhateverismost graciousandendearinginthenationalcharacter;hehasembalmed hismemoryinsong,andfloatedhisnametoafteragesintherich streamsofScottishmelody。Therecollectionofthesethingswas kindlingatmyheartasIpacedthesilentsceneofhis imprisonment。IhavevisitedVauclusewithasmuchenthusiasmasa pilgrimwouldvisittheshrineatLoretto;butIhaveneverfelt morepoeticaldevotionthanwhencontemplatingtheoldTowerandthe littlegardenatWindsor,andmusingovertheromanticlovesofthe LadyJaneandtheRoyalPoetofScotland。 THEEND。 1819—20 THESKETCHBOOK ASUNDAYINLONDON* byWashingtonIrving *Partofasketchomittedinthepreviouseditions。 INAprecedingpaperIhavespokenofanEnglishSundayinthe country,anditstranquillizingeffectuponthelandscape;butwhere isitssacredinfluencemorestrikinglyapparentthaninthevery heartofthatgreatBabel,London?Onthissacredday,thegigantic monsterischarmedintorepose。Theintolerabledinandstruggleof theweekareatanend。Theshopsareshut。Thefiresofforgesand manufactoriesareextinguished;andthesun,nolongerobscuredby murkycloudsofsmoke,poursdownasober,yellowradianceintothe quietstreets。Thefewpedestrianswemeet,insteadofhurrying forwardwithanxiouscountenances,moveleisurelyalong;theirbrows aresmoothedfromthewrinklesofbusinessandcare;theyhaveput ontheirSundaylooks,andSundaymanners,withtheirSunday clothes,andarecleansedinmindaswellasinperson。 Andnowthemelodiousclangorofbellsfromchurchtowerssummons theirseveralflockstothefold。Forthissuesfromhismansionthe familyofthedecenttradesman,thesmallchildrenintheadvance; thenthecitizenandhiscomelyspouse,followedbythegrown—up daughters,withsmallmorocco—boundprayer—bookslaidinthefolds oftheirpocket—handkerchiefs。Thehousemaidlooksafterthemfromthe window,admiringthefineryofthefamily,andreceiving,perhaps,a nodandsmilefromheryoungmistresses,atwhosetoiletshehas assisted。 Nowrumblesalongthecarriageofsomemagnateofthecity, peradventureanaldermanorasheriff;andnowthepatterofmanyfeet announcesaprocessionofcharityscholars,inuniformsofantique cut,andeachwithaprayer—bookunderhisarm。 Theringingofbellsisatanend;therumblingofthecarriage hasceased;thepatteringoffeetisheardnomore;theflocksare foldedinancientchurches,crampedupinby—lanesandcornersof thecrowdedcity,wherethevigilantbeadlekeepswatch,likethe shepherd’sdog,roundthethresholdofthesanctuary。Foratimeevery thingishushed;butsoonisheardthedeep,pervadingsoundofthe organ,rollingandvibratingthroughtheemptylanesandcourts;and thesweetchantingofthechoirmakingthemresoundwithmelodyand praise。NeverhaveIbeenmoresensibleofthesanctifyingeffectof churchmusic,thanwhenIhavehearditthuspouredforth,likea riverofjoy,throughtheinmostrecessesofthisgreatmetropolis, elevatingit,asitwere,fromallthesordidpollutionsofthe week;andbearingthepoorworld—wornsoulonatideoftriumphant harmonytoheaven。 Themorningserviceisatanend。Thestreetsareagainalivewith thecongregationsreturningtotheirhomes,butsoonagainrelapse intosilence。NowcomesontheSundaydinner,which,tothecity tradesman,isamealofsomeimportance。Thereismoreleisurefor socialenjoymentattheboard。Membersofthefamilycannowgather together,whoareseparatedbythelaboriousoccupationsofthe week。Aschool—boymaybepermittedonthatdaytocometothe paternalhome;anoldfriendofthefamilytakeshisaccustomedSunday seatattheboard,tellsoverhiswell—knownstories,andrejoices youngandoldwithhiswell—knownjokes。 OnSundayafternoonthecitypoursforthitslegionstobreathe thefreshairandenjoythesunshineoftheparksandrural environs。Satiristsmaysaywhattheypleaseabouttherural enjoymentsofaLondoncitizenonSunday,buttomethereissomething delightfulinbeholdingthepoorprisonerofthecrowdedanddusty cityenabledthustocomeforthonceaweekandthrowhimselfuponthe greenbosomofnature。Heislikeachildrestoredtothemother’s breast;andtheywhofirstspreadoutthesenobleparksand magnificentpleasure—groundswhichsurroundthishugemetropolis,have doneatleastasmuchforitshealthandmorality,asiftheyhad expendedtheamountofcostinhospitals,prisons,andpenitentiaries。 THEEND。 1819—20 THESKETCHBOOK CHRISTMASDAY byWashingtonIrving Darkanddullnight,fliehenceaway, Andgivethehonortothisday ThatseesDecemberturn’dtoMay。******** Whydoesthechillingwinter’smorne Smilelikeafieldbesetwithcorn? Orsmellliketoameadenew—shorne, Thusonthesudden?—Comeandsee Thecausewhythingsthusfragrantbe。 HERRICK。 WHENIwokethenextmorning,itseemedasifalltheeventsof theprecedingeveninghadbeenadream,andnothingbuttheidentity oftheancientchamberconvincedmeoftheirreality。WhileIlay musingonmypillow,Iheardthesoundoflittlefeetpattering outsideofthedoor,andawhisperingconsultation。Presentlya choirofsmallvoiceschantedforthanoldChristmascarol,theburden ofwhichwas— Rejoice,ourSaviorhewasborn OnChristmasdayinthemorning。 Irosesoftly,sliptonmyclothes,openedthedoorsuddenly,and beheldoneofthemostbeautifullittlefairygroupsthatapainter couldimagine。Itconsistedofaboyandtwogirls,theeldestnot morethansix,andlovelyasseraphs。Theyweregoingtheroundsof thehouse,andsingingateverychamberdoor;butmysuddenappearance frightenedthemintomutebashfulness。Theyremainedforamoment playingontheirlipswiththeirfingers,andnowandthenstealing ashyglancefromundertheireyebrows,until,asifbyoneimpulse, theyscamperedaway,andastheyturnedanangleofthegallery,I heardthemlaughingintriumphattheirescape。 Everythingconspiredtoproducekindandhappyfeelingsinthis strongholdofold—fashionedhospitality。Thewindowofmychamber lookedoutuponwhatinsummerwouldhavebeenabeautiful landscape。Therewasaslopinglawn,afinestreamwindingatthefoot ofit,andatrackofparkbeyond,withnobleclumpsoftrees,and herdsofdeer。Atadistancewasaneathamlet,withthesmokefrom thecottagechimneyshangingoverit;andachurchwithitsdarkspire instrongreliefagainsttheclear,coldsky。Thehousewassurrounded withevergreens,accordingtotheEnglishcustom,whichwouldhave givenalmostanappearanceofsummer;butthemorningwasextremely frosty;thelightvaporoftheprecedingeveninghadbeenprecipitated bythecold,andcoveredallthetreesandeverybladeofgrasswith itsfinecrystallizations。Theraysofabrightmorningsunhada dazzlingeffectamongtheglitteringfoliage。Arobin,perchedupon thetopofamountainashthathungitsclustersofredberriesjust beforemywindow,wasbaskinghimselfinthesunshine,andpipinga fewquerulousnotes;andapeacockwasdisplayingallthegloriesof histrain,andstruttingwiththeprideandgravityofaSpanish grandee,ontheterracewalkbelow。 Ihadscarcelydressedmyself,whenaservantappearedtoinvite metofamilyprayers。Heshowedmethewaytoasmallchapelinthe oldwingofthehouse,whereIfoundtheprincipalpartofthe familyalreadyassembledinakindofgallery,furnishedwith cushions,hassocks,andlargeprayer—books;theservantswereseated onbenchesbelow。Theoldgentlemanreadprayersfromadeskin frontofthegallery,andMasterSimonactedasclerk,andmadethe responses;andImustdohimthejusticetosaythatheacquitted himselfwithgreatgravityanddecorum。 TheservicewasfollowedbyaChristmascarol,whichMr。Bracebridge himselfhadconstructedfromapoemofhisfavoriteauthor,Herrick; andithadbeenadaptedtoanoldchurchmelodybyMasterSimon。As therewereseveralgoodvoicesamongthehousehold,theeffectwas extremelypleasing;butIwasparticularlygratifiedbytheexaltation ofheart,andsuddensallyofgratefulfeeling,withwhichthe worthysquiredeliveredonestanza;hiseyeglistening,andhis voiceramblingoutofalltheboundsoftimeandtune: \"’Tisthouthatcrown’stmyglitteringhearth Withguiltlessemirth, AndgivestmeWassailebowlestodrink Spicedtothebrink: Lord,’tisthyplenty—droppinghand Thatsoilesmyland: Andgiv’stmeformybushellsowne, Twicetenforone。\" Iafterwardsunderstoodthatearlymorningservicewasreadonevery Sundayandsaints’daythroughouttheyear,eitherbyMr。 Bracebridgeorbysomememberofthefamily。Itwasoncealmost universallythecaseattheseatsofthenobilityandgentryof England,anditismuchtoberegrettedthatthecustomisfalling intoneglect;forthedullestobservermustbesensibleoftheorder andserenityprevalentinthosehouseholds,wheretheoccasional exerciseofabeautifulformofworshipinthemorninggives,asit were,thekeynotetoeverytemperfortheday,andattunesevery spirittoharmony。 Ourbreakfastconsistedofwhatthesquiredenominatedtrueold Englishfare。Heindulgedinsomebitterlamentationsovermodern breakfastsofteaandtoast,whichhecensuredasamongthecauses ofmoderneffeminacyandweaknerves,andthedeclineofoldEnglish heartiness;andthoughheadmittedthemtohistabletosuitthe palatesofhisguests,Yettherewasabravedisplayofcoldmeats, wine,andale,onthesideboard。 AfterbreakfastIwalkedaboutthegroundswithFrankBracebridge andMasterSimon,or,Mr。Simon,ashewascalledbyeverybodybutthe squire。Wewereescortedbyanumberofgentlemanlikedogs,that seemedloungersabouttheestablishment;fromthefriskingspaniel tothesteadyoldstag—hound;thelastofwhichwasofaracethathad beeninthefamilytimeoutofmind:theywereallobedienttoa dog—whistlewhichhungtoMasterSimon’sbutton—hole,andinthemidst oftheirgambolswouldglanceaneyeoccasionallyuponasmall switchhecarriedinhishand。 Theoldmansionhadastillmorevenerablelookintheyellow sunshinethanbypalemoonlight;andIcouldnotbutfeeltheforceof thesquire’sidea,thattheformalterraces,heavilymoulded balustrades,andclippedyew—trees,carriedwiththemanairof proudaristocracy。Thereappearedtobeanunusualnumberof peacocksabouttheplace,andIwasmakingsomeremarksuponwhatI termedaflockofthem,thatwerebaskingunderasunnywall,whenI wasgentlycorrectedinmyphraseologybyMasterSimon,whotoldme that,accordingtothemostancientandapprovedtreatiseon hunting,Imustsayamusterofpeacocks。\"Inthesameway,\"addedhe, withaslightairofpedantry,\"wesayaflightofdovesor swallows,abevyofquails,aherdofdeer,ofwrens,orcranes,a skulkoffoxes,orabuildingofrooks。\"Hewentontoinformmethat, accordingtoSirAnthonyFitzherbert,weoughttoascribetothisbird \"bothunderstandingandglory;for,beingpraised,hewillpresently setuphistail,chieflyagainstthesun,totheintentyoumaythe betterbeholdthebeautythereof。Butatthefalloftheleaf,when histailfalleth,hewillmournandhidehimselfincorners,till histailcomeagainasitwas。\" Icouldnothelpsmilingatthisdisplayofsmalleruditiononso whimsicalasubject;butIfoundthatthepeacockswerebirdsof someconsequenceatthehall;forFrankBracebridgeinformedmethat theyweregreatfavoriteswithhisfather,whowasextremelycareful tokeepupthebreed;partlybecausetheybelongedtochivalry,and wereingreatrequestatthestatelybanquetsoftheoldentime;and partlybecausetheyhadapompandmagnificenceaboutthem,highly becominganoldfamilymansion。Nothing,hewasaccustomedtosay,had anairofgreaterstateanddignitythanapeacockpercheduponan antiquestonebalustrade。 MasterSimonhadnowtohurryoff,havinganappointmentatthe parishchurchwiththevillagechoristers,whoweretoperformsome musicofhisselection。Therewassomethingextremelyagreeableinthe cheerfulflowofanimalspiritsofthelittleman;andIconfessIhad beensomewhatsurprisedathisaptquotationsfromauthorswho certainlywerenotintherangeofevery—dayreading。Imentionedthis lastcircumstancetoFrankBracebridge,whotoldmewithasmile thatMasterSimon’swholestockoferuditionwasconfinedtosomehalf adozenoldauthors,whichthesquirehadputintohishands,and whichhereadoverandover,wheneverhehadastudiousfit;ashe sometimeshadonarainyday,oralongwinterevening。SirAnthony Fitzherbert’sBookofHusbandry;Markham’sCountryContentments;the TretyseofHunting,bySirThomasCockayne,Knight;IzaacWalton’s Angler,andtwoorthreemoresuchancientworthiesofthepen,were hisstandardauthorities;and,likeallmenwhoknowbutafew books,helookeduptothemwithakindofidolatry,andquotedthem onalloccasions。Astohissongs,theywerechieflypickedoutofold booksinthesquire’slibrary,andadaptedtotunesthatwere popularamongthechoicespiritsofthelastcentury。Hispractical applicationofscrapsofliterature,however,hadcausedhimtobe lookeduponasaprodigyofbookknowledgebyallthegrooms, huntsmen,andsmallsportsmenoftheneighborhood。 Whileweweretalkingweheardthedistanttollingofthevillage bell,andIwastoldthatthesquirewasalittleparticularinhaving hishouseholdatchurchonaChristmasmorning;consideringitaday ofpouringoutofthanksandrejoicing;for,asoldTusserobserved, \"AtChristmasbemerry,andthankfulwithal, Andfeastthypoorneighbors,thegreatwiththesmall。\" \"Ifyouaredisposedtogotochurch,\"saidFrankBracebridge,\"I canpromiseyouaspecimenofmycousinSimon’smusical achievements。Asthechurchisdestituteofanorgan,hehasformed abandfromthevillageamateurs,andestablishedamusicalclubfor theirimprovement;hehasalsosortedachoir,ashesortedmy father’spackofhounds,accordingtothedirectionsofJervaise Markham,inhisCountryContentments;forthebasshehassoughtout allthe’deep,solemnmouths,’andforthetenorthe’loud—ringing mouths,’amongthecountrybumpkins;andfor’sweetmouths,’hehas culledwithcurioustasteamongtheprettiestlassesinthe neighborhood;thoughtheselast,heaffirms,arethemostdifficultto keepintune;yourprettyfemalesingerbeingexceedinglywayward andcapricious,andveryliabletoaccident。\" Asthemorning,thoughfrosty,wasremarkablyfineandclear,the mostofthefamilywalkedtothechurch,whichwasaveryoldbuilding ofgraystone,andstoodnearavillage,abouthalfamilefromthe parkgate。Adjoiningitwasalowsnugparsonage,whichseemed coevalwiththechurch。Thefrontofitwasperfectlymattedwitha yew—tree,thathadbeentrainedagainstitswalls,throughthedense foliageofwhichapertureshadbeenformedtoadmitlightintothe smallantiquelattices。Aswepassedthisshelterednest,theparson issuedforthandprecededus。 Ihadexpectedtoseeasleekwell—conditionedpastor,suchasis oftenfoundinasnuglivinginthevicinityofarichpatron’stable, butIwasdisappointed。Theparsonwasalittle,meagre,black—looking man,withagrizzledwigthatwastoowide,andstoodofffromeach ear;sothathisheadseemedtohaveshrunkawaywithinit,likea driedfilbertinitsshell。Heworearustycoat,withgreatskirts, andpocketsthatwouldhaveheldthechurchBibleandprayerbook:and hissmalllegsseemedstillsmaller,frombeingplantedinlarge shoes,decoratedwithenormousbuckles。 IwasinformedbyFrankBracebridge,thattheparsonhadbeenachum ofhisfather’satOxford,andhadreceivedthislivingshortly afterthelatterhadcometohisestate。Hewasacomplete black—letterhunter,andwouldscarcelyreadaworkprintedinthe Romancharacter。TheeditionsofCaxtonandWynkindeWordewerehis delight;andhewasindefatigableinhisresearchesaftersuchold Englishwritersashavefallenintooblivionfromtheirworthlessness。 Indeference,perhaps,tothenotionsofMr。Bracebridge,hehad madediligentinvestigationsintothefestiveritesandholiday customsofformertimes;andhadbeenaszealousintheinquiryas ifhehadbeenabooncompanion;butitwasmerelywiththat ploddingspiritwithwhichmenofadusttemperamentfollowupany trackofstudy,merelybecauseitisdenominatedlearning;indifferent toitsintrinsicnature,whetheritbetheillustrationofthewisdom, oroftheribaldryandobscenityofantiquity。Hehadporedoverthese oldvolumessointensely,thattheyseemedtohavebeenreflectedin hiscountenance;which,ifthefacebeindeedanindexofthemind, mightbecomparedtoatitle—pageofblackletter。 Onreachingthechurchporch,wefoundtheparsonrebukingthe gray—headedsextonforhavingusedmistletoeamongthegreenswith whichthechurchwasdecorated。Itwas,heobserved,anunholy plant,profanedbyhavingbeenusedbytheDruidsintheirmystic ceremonies;andthoughitmightbeinnocentlyemployedinthe festiveornamentingofhallsandkitchens,yetithadbeendeemedby theFathersoftheChurchasunhallowed,andtotallyunfitfor sacredpurposes。Sotenaciouswasheonthispoint,thatthepoor sextonwasobligedtostripdownagreatpartofthehumbletrophies ofhistaste,beforetheparsonwouldconsenttoenteruponthe serviceoftheday。 Theinteriorofthechurchwasvenerablebutsimple;onthewalls wereseveralmuralmonumentsoftheBracebridges,andjustbeside thealtarwasatombofancientworkmanship,onwhichlaytheeffigy ofawarriorinarmor,withhislegscrossed,asignofhishaving beenacrusader。Iwastolditwasoneofthefamilywhohad signalizedhimselfintheHolyLand,andthesamewhosepicturehung overthefireplaceinthehall。 Duringservice,MasterSimonstoodupinthepew,andrepeatedthe responsesveryaudibly;evincingthatkindofceremoniousdevotion punctuallyobservedbyagentlemanoftheoldschool,andamanofold familyconnections。Iobservedtoothatheturnedovertheleavesofa folioprayer—bookwithsomethingofaflourish;possiblytoshowoff anenormousseal—ringwhichenrichedoneofhisfingers,andwhichhad thelookofafamilyrelic。Buthewasevidentlymostsolicitousabout themusicalpartoftheservice,keepinghiseyefixedintentlyonthe choir,andbeatingtimewithmuchgesticulationandemphasis。 Theorchestrawasinasmallgallery,andpresentedamostwhimsical groupingofheads,piledoneabovetheother,amongwhichI particularlynoticedthatofthevillagetailor,apalefellowwith aretreatingforeheadandchin,whoplayedontheclarionet,and seemedtohaveblownhisfacetoapoint;andtherewasanother,a shortpursyman,stoopingandlaboringatabass—viol,soastoshow nothingbutthetopofaroundbaldhead,liketheeggofan ostrich。Thereweretwoorthreeprettyfacesamongthefemale singers,towhichthekeenairofafrostymorninghadgivena brightrosytint;butthegentlemenchoristershadevidentlybeen chosen,likeoldCremonafiddles,morefortonethanlooks;andas severalhadtosingfromthesamebook,therewereclusteringsof oddphysiognomies,notunlikethosegroupsofcherubswesometimessee oncountrytombstones。 Theusualservicesofthechoirweremanagedtolerablywell,the vocalpartsgenerallylaggingalittlebehindtheinstrumental,and someloiteringfiddlernowandthenmakingupforlosttimeby travellingoverapassagewithprodigiouscelerity,andclearing morebarsthanthekeenestfox—huntertobeinatthedeath。Butthe greattrialwasananthemthathadbeenpreparedandarrangedby MasterSimon,andonwhichhehadfoundedgreatexpectation。Unluckily therewasablunderattheveryoutset;themusiciansbecameflurried; MasterSimonwasinafever;everythingwentonlamelyand irregularlyuntiltheycametoachorusbeginning\"Nowletussing withoneaccord,\"whichseemedtobeasignalforpartingcompany:all becamediscordandconfusion;eachshiftedforhimself,andgottothe endaswell,or,rather,assoonashecould,exceptingoneold choristerinapairofhornspectacles,bestridingandpinchingalong sonorousnose;whohappenedtostandalittleapart,and,being wrappedupinhisownmelody,keptonaquaveringcourse,wriggling hishead,oglinghisbook,andwindingallupbyanasalsoloofat leastthreebars’duration。