第 13 节
作者:两块      更新:2021-02-18 22:14      字数:9321
  lay down key and crosier before the iron conqueror。
  If you consider; dear reader; what profound snobbishness
  the University System produced; you will allow that it is
  time to attack some of those feudal middle…age
  superstitions。  If you go down for five shillings to look
  at the 'College Youths;' you may see one sneaking down
  the court without a tassel to his cap; another with a
  gold or silver fringe to his velvet trencher; a third lad
  with a master's gown and hat; walking at ease over the
  sacred College grass…plats; which common men must not
  tread on。
  He may do it because he is a nobleman。  Because a lad is
  a lord; the University gives him a degree at the end of
  two years which another is seven in acquiring。  Because
  he is a lord; he has no call to go through an
  examination。   Any man who has not been to College and
  back for five shillings; would not believe in such
  distinctions in a place of education; so absurd and
  monstrous do they seem to be。
  The lads with gold and silver lace are sons of rich
  gentlemen and called Fellow Commoners; they are
  privileged to feed better than the pensioners; and to
  have wine with their victuals; which the latter can only
  get in their rooms。
  The unlucky boys who have no tassels to their caps; are
  called sizarsSERVITORS at Oxford(a very pretty and
  gentlemanlike title)。  A distinction is made in their
  clothes because they are poor; for which reason they wear
  a badge of poverty; and are not allowed to take their
  meals with their fellow…students。
  When this wicked and shameful distinction was set up; it
  was of a piece with all the resta part of the brutal;
  unchristian; blundering feudal system。  Distinctions of
  rank were then so strongly insisted upon; that it would
  have been thought blasphemy to doubt them; as blasphemous
  as it is in parts of the United States now for a nigger
  to set up as the equal of a white man。  A ruffian like
  Henry VIII。 talked as gravely about the divine powers
  vested in him; as if he had been an inspired prophet。  A
  wretch like James I。 not only believed that there was in
  himself a particular sanctity; but other people believed
  him。  Government regulated the length of a merchant's
  shoes as well as meddled with his trade; prices; exports;
  machinery。  It thought itself justified in roasting a man
  for his religion; or pulling a Jew's teeth out if he did
  not pay a contribution; or ordered him to dress in a
  yellow gabardine; and locked him in a particular quarter。
  Now a merchant may wear what boots he pleases; and has
  pretty nearly acquired the privilege of buying and
  selling without the Government laying its paws upon the
  bargain。  The stake for heretics is gone; the pillory is
  taken down; Bishops are even found lifting up their
  voices against the remains of persecution; and ready to
  do away with the last Catholic Disabilities。  Sir Robert
  Peel; though he wished it ever so much; has no power over
  Mr。 Benjamin Disraeli's grinders; or any means of
  violently handling that gentleman's jaw。  Jews are not
  called upon to wear badges: on the contrary; they may
  live in Piccadilly; or the Minories; according to fancy;
  they may dress like Christians; and do sometimes in a
  most elegant and fashionable manner。
  Why is the poor College servitor to wear that name and
  that badge still?  Because Universities are the last
  places into which Reform penetrates。  But now that she
  can go to College and back for five shillings; let her
  travel down thither。
  CHAPTER XIV
  ON UNIVERSITY SNOBS
  All the men of Saint Boniface will recognize Hugby and
  Crump in these two pictures。  They were tutors in our
  time; and Crump is since advanced to be President of the
  College。  He was formerly; and is now; a rich specimen of
  a University Snob。
  At five…and…twenty; Crump invented three new metres; and
  published an edition of an exceedingly improper Greek
  Comedy; with no less than twenty emendations upon the
  German text of Schnupfenius and Schnapsius。  These
  Services to religion instantly pointed him out for
  advancement in the Church; and he is now President of
  Saint Boniface; and very narrowly escaped the bench。
  Crump thinks Saint Boniface the centre of the world; and
  his position as President the highest in England。  He
  expects the fellows and tutors to pay him the same sort
  of service that Cardinals pay to the Pope。  I am sure
  Crawler would have no objection to carry his trencher; or
  Page to hold up the skirts of his gown as he stalks into
  chapel。  He roars out the responses there as if it were
  an honour to heaven that the President of Saint Boniface
  should take a part in the service; and in his own lodge
  and college acknowledges the Sovereign only as his
  superior。
  When the allied monarchs came down; and were made Doctors
  of the University; a breakfast was given at Saint
  Boniface; on which occasion Crump allowed the Emperor
  Alexander to walk before him; but took the PAS himself of
  the King of Prussia and Prince Blucher。  He was going to
  put the Hetman Platoff to breakfast at a side…table with
  the under college tutors; but he was induced to relent;
  and merely entertained that distinguished Cossack with a
  discourse on his own language; in which he showed that
  the Hetman knew nothing about it。
  As for us undergraduates; we scarcely knew more about
  Crump than about the Grand Llama。  A few favoured youths
  are asked occasionally to tea at the lodge; but they do
  not speak unless first addressed by the Doctor; and if
  they venture to sit down; Crump's follower; Mr。 Toady;
  whispers; 'Gentlemen; will you have the kindness to get
  up?The President is passing;' or 'Gentlemen; the
  President prefers that undergraduates should not sit
  down;' or words to a similar effect。
  To do Crump justice; he does not cringe now to great
  people。  He rather patronizes them than otherwise; and;
  in London; speaks quite affably to a Duke who has been
  brought up at his college; or holds out a finger to a
  Marquis。  He does not disguise his own origin; but brags
  of it with considerable self…gratulation:'I was a
  Charity…boy;' says he; 'see what I am now; the greatest
  Greek scholar of the greatest College of the greatest
  University of the greatest Empire in the world。'  The
  argument being; that this is a capital world; for
  beggars; because he; being a beggar; has managed to get
  on horseback。
  Hugby owes his eminence to patient merit and agreeable
  perseverance。  He is a meek; mild; inoffensive creature;
  with just enough of scholarship to fit him to hold a
  lecture; or set an examination paper。  He rose by
  kindness to the aristocracy。  It was wonderful to see the
  way in which that poor creature grovelled before a
  nobleman or a lord's nephew; or even some noisy and
  disreputable commoner; the friend of a lord。  He used to
  give the young noblemen the most painful and elaborate
  breakfasts; and adopt a jaunty genteel air; and talk with
  them (although he was decidedly serious) about the opera;
  or the last run with the hounds。  It was good to watch
  him in the midst of a circle of young tufts; with his
  mean; smiling; eager; uneasy familiarity。  He used to
  write home confidential letters to their parents; and
  made it his duty to call upon them when in town; to
  condole or rejoice with them when a death; birth; or
  marriage took place in their family; and to feast them
  whenever they came to the University。  I recollect a
  letter lying on a desk in his lecture…room for a whole
  term; beginning; 'My Lord Duke。'  It was to show us that
  he corresponded with such dignities。
  When the late lamented Lord Glenlivat; who broke his neck
  at a hurdle…race; at the premature age of twenty…four;
  was at the University; the amiable young fellow; passing
  to his rooms in the early morning; and seeing Hugby's
  boots at his door; on the same staircase; playfully
  wadded the insides of the boots with cobbler's wax; which
  caused excruciating pains to the Rev。 Mr。 Hugby; when he
  came to take them off the same evening; before dining
  with the Master of St。 Crispin's。
  Everybody gave the credit of this admirable piece of fun
  to Lord Glenlivat's friend; Bob Tizzy; who was famous for
  such feats; and who had already made away with the
  college pump…handle; filed St。 Boniface's nose smooth
  with his face; carried off four images of nigger…boys
  from the tobacconists; painted the senior proctor's horse
  pea…green; &c。 &c。; and Bob (who was of the party
  certainly; and would not peach;) was just on the point of
  incurring expulsion; and so losing the family living
  which was in store for him; when Glenlivat nobly stepped
  forward; owned himself to be the author of the delightful
  JEU…D'ESPRIT; apologized to the tutor; and accepted the
  rustication。
  Hugby cried when Glenlivat apologized; if the young
  nobleman had kicked him round the court; I believe the
  tutor