第 53 节
作者:泰达魔王      更新:2024-07-17 14:41      字数:9322
  Spanish name instead of his own; which was CARWIN; and devoted
  himself to the literature and religion of his new country。  He
  pursued no profession; but subsisted on remittances from England。
  While Pleyel remained in Valencia; Carwin betrayed no aversion to
  intercourse; and the former found no small attractions in the
  society of this new acquaintance; On general topics he was highly
  intelligent and communicative。  He had visited every corner of
  Spain; and could furnish the most accurate details respecting its
  ancient and present state。  On topics of religion and of his own
  history; previous to his TRANSFORMATION into a Spaniard; he was
  invariably silent。  You could merely gather from his discourse that
  he was English; and that he was well acquainted with the
  neighboring countries。
  His character excited considerable curiosity in the observer。  It
  was not easy to reconcile his conversion to the Romish faith with
  those proofs of knowledge and capacity that were exhibited by him
  on different occasions。  A suspicion was sometimes admitted that
  his belief was counterfeited for some political purpose。  The most
  careful observation; however; produced no discovery。  His manners
  were at all times harmless and inartificial; and his habits those
  of a lover of contemplation and seclusion。  He appeared to have
  contracted an affection for Pleyel; who was not slow to return it。
  My friend; after a month's residence in this city; returned into
  France; and; since that period; had heard nothing concerning Carwin
  till his appearance at Mettingen。
  On this occasion Carwin had received Pleyel's greeting with a
  certain distance and solemnity to which the latter had not been
  accustomed。  He had waived noticing the inquiries of Pleyel
  respecting his desertion of Spain; in which he had formerly
  declared that it was his purpose to spend his life。  He had
  assiduously diverted the attention of the latter to indifferent
  topics; but was still; on every theme; as eloquent and judicious as
  formerly。  Why he had assumed the garb of a rustic Pleyel was
  unable to conjecture。  Perhaps it might be poverty; perhaps he was
  swayed by motives which it was his interest to conceal; but which
  were connected with consequences of the utmost moment。
  Such was the sum of my friend's information。  I was not sorry to be
  left alone during the greater part of this day。  Every employment
  was irksome which did not leave me at liberty to meditate。  I had
  now a new subject on which to exercise my thoughts。  Before evening
  I should be ushered into his presence; and listen to those tones
  whose magical and thrilling power I had already experienced。  But
  with what new images would he then be accompanied?
  Carwin was an adherent to the Romish faith; yet was an Englishman
  by birth; and; perhaps; a Protestant by education。  He had adopted
  Spain for his country; and had intimated a design to spend his days
  there; yet now was an inhabitant of this district; and disguised by
  the habiliments of a clown!  What could have obliterated the
  impressions of his youth and made him abjure his religion and his
  country?  What subsequent events had introduced so total a change
  in his plans?  In withdrawing from Spain; had he reverted to the
  religion of his ancestors? or was it true that his former
  conversion was deceitful; and that his conduct had been swayed by
  motives which it was prudent to conceal?
  Hours were consumed in revolving these ideas。  My meditations were
  intense; and; when the series was broken; I began to reflect with
  astonishment on my situation。  From the death of my parents till
  the commencement of this year my life had been serene and blissful
  beyond the ordinary portion of humanity; but now my bosom was
  corroded by anxiety。  I was visited by dread of unknown dangers;
  and the future was a scene over which clouds rolled and thunders
  muttered。  I compared the cause with the effect; and they seemed
  disproportioned to each other。  All unaware; and in a manner which
  I had no power to explain; I was pushed from my immovable and lofty
  station and cast upon a sea of troubles。
  I determined to be my brother's visitant on this evening; yet my
  resolves were not unattended with wavering and reluctance。
  Pleyel's insinuations that I was in love affected in no degree my
  belief; yet the consciousness that this was the opinion of one who
  would probably be present at our introduction to each other would
  excite all that confusion which the passion itself is apt to
  produce。  This would confirm him in his error and call forth new
  railleries。  His mirth; when exerted upon this topic; was the
  source of the bitterest vexation。  Had he been aware of its
  influence upon my happiness; his temper would not have allowed him
  to persist; but this influence it was my chief endeavor to conceal。
  That the belief of my having bestowed my heart upon another
  produced in my friend none but ludicrous sensations was the true
  cause of my distress; but if this had been discovered by him my
  distress would have been unspeakably aggravated。
  III
  As soon as evening arrived; I performed my visit。  Carwin made one
  of the company into which I was ushered。  Appearances were the same
  as when I before beheld him。  His garb was equally negligent and
  rustic。  I gazed upon his countenance with new curiosity。  My
  situation was such as to enable me to bestow upon it a deliberate
  examination。  Viewed at more leisure; it lost none of its wonderful
  properties。  I could not deny my homage to the intelligence
  expressed in it; but was wholly uncertain whether he were an object
  to be dreaded or adored; and whether his powers had been exerted to
  evil or to good。
  He was sparing in discourse; but whatever he said was pregnant with
  meaning; and uttered with rectitude of articulation and force of
  emphasis of which I had entertained no conception previously to my
  knowledge of him。  Notwithstanding the uncouthness of his garb; his
  manners were not unpolished。  All topics were handled by him with
  skill; and without pedantry or affectation。  He uttered no
  sentiment calculated to produce a disadvantageous impression; on
  the contrary; his observations denoted a mind alive to every
  generous and heroic feeling。  They were introduced without parade;
  and accompanied with that degree of earnestness which indicates
  sincerity。
  He parted from us not till late; refusing an invitation to spend
  the night here; but readily consented to repeat his visit。  His
  visits were frequently repeated。  Each day introduced us to a more
  intimate acquaintance with his sentiments; but left us wholly in
  the dark concerning that about which we were most inquisitive。  He
  studiously avoided all mention of his past or present situation。
  Even the place of his abode in the city he concealed from us。
  Our sphere in this respect being somewhat limited; and the
  intellectual endowments of this man being indisputably great; his
  deportment was more diligently marked and copiously commented on by
  us than you; perhaps; will think the circumstances warranted。  Not
  a gesture; or glance; or accent; that was not; in our private
  assemblies; discussed; and inferences deduced from it。  It may well
  be thought that he modeled his behavior by an uncommon standard;
  when; with all our opportunities and accuracy of observation; we
  were able for a long time to gather no satisfactory information。
  He afforded us no ground on which to build even a plausible
  conjecture。
  There is a degree of familiarity which takes place between constant
  associates; that justifies the negligence of many rules of which;
  in an earlier period of their intercourse; politeness requires the
  exact observance。  Inquiries into our condition are allowable when
  they are prompted by a disinterested concern for our welfare; and
  this solicitude is not only pardonable; but may justly be demanded
  from those who choose us for their companions。  This state of
  things was more slow to arrive at on this occasion than on most
  others; on account of the gravity and loftiness of this man's
  behavior。
  Pleyel; however; began at length to employ regular means for this
  end。  He occasionally alluded to the circumstances in which they
  had formerly met; and remarked the incongruousness between the
  religion and habits of a Spaniard with those of a native of
  Britain。  He expressed his astonishment at meeting our guest in
  this corner of the globe; especially as; when they parted in Spain;
  he was taught to believe that Carwin should never leave that
  country。  He insinuated that a change so great must have been
  prompted by motives of a singular and momentous kind。
  No answer; or an answer wide of the purpose; was generally made to
  these insinuations。  Britons and Spaniards; he said; are votaries
  of the same Deity; and square their faith by the same precepts;
  their ideas are drawn from the same fountains o