第 4 节
作者:
青涩春天 更新:2024-04-09 19:50 字数:9322
gardens of the ancestral halls of the De Barnwells; I felt that it
was the Nemesis come to overthrow him。 'Dog;' I said to the
trembling slave; 'tell me where thy Gold is。 THOU hast no use for
it。 I can spend it in relieving the Poverty on which thou
tramplest; in aiding Science; which thou knowest not; in uplifting
Art; to which thou art blind。 Give Gold; and thou art free。' But
he spake not; and I slew him。〃
〃I would not have this doctrine vulgarly promulgated;〃 said the
admirable chaplain; 〃for its general practice might chance to do
harm。 Thou; my son; the Refined; the Gentle; the Loving and
Beloved; the Poet and Sage; urged by what I cannot but think a
grievous error; hast appeared as Avenger。 Think what would be the
world's condition; were men without any Yearning after the Ideal to
attempt to reorganize Society; to redistribute Property; to avenge
Wrong。〃
〃A rabble of pigmies scaling Heaven;〃 said the noble though
misguided young Prisoner。 〃Prometheus was a Giant; and he fell。〃
〃Yes; indeed; my brave youth!〃 the benevolent Dr。 Fuzwig exclaimed;
clasping the Prisoner's marble and manacled hand; 〃and the Tragedy
of To…morrow will teach the World that Homicide is not to be
permitted even to the most amiable Genius; and that the lover of
the Ideal and the Beautiful; as thou art; my son; must respect the
Real likewise。〃
〃Look! here is supper!〃 cried Barnwell gayly。 〃This is the Real;
Doctor; let us respect it and fall to。〃 He partook of the meal as
joyously as if it had been one of his early festals; but the worthy
chaplain could scarcely eat it for tears。
* This is a gross plagiarism: the above sentiment is expressed much
more eloquently in the ingenious romance of Eugene Aram:〃The
burning desires I have knownthe resplendent visions I have
nursedthe sublime aspirings that have lifted me so often from
sense and clay: these tell me; that whether for good or ill; I am
the thing of an immortality and the creature of a God。 。 。 。 I
have destroyed a man noxious to the world! with the wealth by which
he afflicted society; I have been the means of blessing many。〃
CODLINGSBY。
BY D。 SHREWSBERRY; ESQ。
I。
〃The whole world is bound by one chain。 In every city in the globe
there is one quarter that certain travellers know and recognize
from its likeness to its brother district in all other places where
are congregated the habitations of men。 In Tehran; or Pekin; or
Stamboul; or New York; or Timbuctoo; or London; there is a certain
district where a certain man is not a stranger。 Where the idols
are fed with incense by the streams of Ching…wang…foo; where the
minarets soar sparkling above the cypresses; their reflections
quivering in the lucid waters of the Golden Horn; where the yellow
Tiber flows under broken bridges and over imperial glories; where
the huts are squatted by the Niger; under the palm…trees; where the
Northern Babel lies; with its warehouses; and its bridges; its
graceful factory…chimneys; and its clumsy faneshidden in fog and
smoke by the dirtiest river in the worldin all the cities of
mankind there is One Home whither men of one family may resort。
Over the entire world spreads a vast brotherhood; suffering;
silent; scattered; sympathizing; WAITINGan immense Free…Masonry。
Once this world…spread band was an Arabian clana little nation
alone and outlying amongst the mighty monarchies of ancient time;
the Megatheria of history。 The sails of their rare ships might be
seen in the Egyptian waters; the camels of their caravans might
thread the sands of Baalbec; or wind through the date…groves of
Damascus; their flag was raised; not ingloriously; in many wars;
against mighty odds; but 'twas a small people; and on one dark
night the Lion of Judah went down before Vespasian's Eagles; and in
flame; and death; and struggle; Jerusalem agonized and died。 。 。 。
Yes; the Jewish city is lost to Jewish men; but have they not taken
the world in exchange?〃
Mused thus Godfrey de Bouillon; Marquis of Codlingsby; as he
debouched from Wych Street into the Strand。 He had been to take a
box for Armida at Madame Vestris's theatre。 That little Armida was
folle of Madame Vestris's theatre; and her little brougham; and her
little self; and her enormous eyes; and her prodigious opera…glass;
and her miraculous bouquet; which cost Lord Codlingsby twenty
guineas every evening at Nathan's in Covent Garden (the children of
the gardeners of Sharon have still no rival for flowers); might be
seen; three nights in the week at least; in the narrow; charming;
comfortable little theatre。 Godfrey had the box。 He was
strolling; listlessly; eastward; and the above thoughts passed
through the young noble's mind as he came in sight of Holywell
Street。
The occupants of the London Ghetto sat at their porches basking in
the evening sunshine。 Children were playing on the steps。 Fathers
were smoking at the lintel。 Smiling faces looked out from the
various and darkling draperies with which the warehouses were hung。
Ringlets glossy; and curly; and jettyeyes black as night
midsummer nightwhen it lightens; haughty noses bending like beaks
of eagleseager quivering nostrilslips curved like the bow of
Loveevery man or maiden; every babe or matron in that English
Jewry bore in his countenance one or more of these characteristics
of his peerless Arab race。
〃How beautiful they are!〃 mused Codlingsby; as he surveyed these
placid groups calmly taking their pleasure in the sunset。
〃D'you vant to look at a nishe coat?〃 a voice said; which made him
start; and then some one behind him began handling a masterpiece of
Stultz's with a familiarity which would have made the baron
tremble。
〃Rafael Mendoza!〃 exclaimed Godfrey。
〃The same; Lord Codlingsby;〃 the individual so apostrophized
replied。 〃I told you we should meet again where you would little
expect me。 Will it please you to enter? this is Friday; and we
close at sunset。 It rejoices my heart to welcome you home。〃 So
saying Rafael laid his hand on his breast; and bowed; an oriental
reverence。 All traces of the accent with which he first addressed
Lord Codlingsby had vanished: it was disguise; half the Hebrew's
life is a disguise。 He shields himself in craft; since the Norman
boors persecuted him。
They passed under an awning of old clothes; tawdry fripperies;
greasy spangles; and battered masks; into a shop as black and
hideous as the entrance was foul。 〃THIS your home; Rafael?〃 said
Lord Codlingsby。
〃Why not?〃 Rafael answered。 〃I am tired of Schloss Schinkenstein;
the Rhine bores me after a while。 It is too hot for Florence;
besides they have not completed the picture…gallery; and my place
smells of putty。 You wouldn't have a man; mon cher; bury himself
in his chateau in Normandy; out of the hunting season? The
Rugantino Palace stupefies me。 Those Titians are so gloomy; I
shall have my Hobbimas and Tenierses; I think; from my house at the
Hague hung over them。〃
〃How many castles; palaces; houses; warehouses; shops; have you;
Rafael?〃 Lord Codlingsby asked; laughing。
〃This is one;〃 Rafael answered。 〃Come in。〃
II。
The noise in the old town was terrific; Great Tom was booming
sullenly over the uproar; the bell of Saint Mary's was clanging
with alarm; St。 Giles's tocsin chimed furiously; howls; curses;
flights of brickbats; stones shivering windows; groans of wounded
men; cries of frightened females; cheers of either contending party
as it charged the enemy from Carfax to Trumpington Street;
proclaimed that the battle was at its height。
In Berlin they would have said it was a revolution; and the
cuirassiers would have been charging; sabre in hand; amidst that
infuriate mob。 In France they would have brought down artillery;
and played on it with twenty…four pounders。 In Cambridge nobody
heeded the disturbanceit was a Town and Gown row。
The row arose at a boat…race。 The Town boat (manned by eight stout
Bargees; with the redoubted Rullock for stroke) had bumped the
Brazenose light oar; usually at the head of the river。 High words
arose regarding the dispute。 After returning from Granchester;
when the boats pulled back to Christchurch meadows; the disturbance
between the Townsmen and the University youthstheir invariable
opponentsgrew louder and more violent; until it broke out in open
battle。 Sparring and skirmishing took place along the pleasant
fields that lead from the University gate down to the broad and
shining waters of the Cam; and under the walls of Balliol and
Sidney Sussex。 The Duke of Bellamont (then a dashing young sizar
at Exeter) had a couple of rounds with Billy Butt; the bow…oar of
the Bargee boat。 Vavasour of Brazenose was engaged with a powerful
butcher; a well…known champion of the Town party; when; the great
University bells ringing to dinner;