第 10 节
作者:
敏儿不觉 更新:2021-02-19 21:45 字数:9322
distaste and aversion; instead of pleasure。 With some of these
situations; such as Barnes; Mortlake; etc。; even the shore of
Essex might contend; not upon very unequal terms; but on the
Kentish borders there are many spots to be chosen by the builder
which might justly claim the preference over almost the very
finest of those in Middlesex and Surrey。
How shall we account for this depravity in taste? for surely
there are none so very mean and contemptible as to bring the
pleasure of seeing a number of little wherries; gliding along
after one another; in competition with what we enjoy in viewing a
succession of ships; with all their sails expanded to the winds;
bounding over the waves before us。
And here I cannot pass by another observation on the deplorable
want of taste in our enjoyments; which we show by almost totally
neglecting the pursuit of what seems to me the highest degree of
amusement; this is; the sailing ourselves in little vessels of
our own; contrived only for our ease and accommodation; to which
such situations of our villas as I have recommended would be so
convenient; and even necessary。
This amusement; I confess; if enjoyed in any perfection; would be
of the expensive kind; but such expense would not exceed the
reach of a moderate fortune; and would fall very short of the
prices which are daily paid for pleasures of a far inferior rate。
The truth; I believe; is; that sailing in the manner I have just
mentioned is a pleasure rather unknown; or unthought of; than
rejected by those who have experienced it; unless; perhaps; the
apprehension of danger or seasickness may be supposed; by the
timorous and delicate; to make too large deductionsinsisting
that all their enjoyments shall come to them pure and unmixed;
and being ever ready to cry out;
Nocet empta dolore voluptas。
This; however; was my present case; for the ease and lightness
which I felt from my tapping; the gayety of the morning; the
pleasant sailing with wind and tide; and the many agreeable
objects with which I was constantly entertained during the whole
way; were all suppressed and overcome by the single consideration
of my wife's pain; which continued incessantly to torment her
till we came to an anchor; when I dispatched a messenger in great
haste for the best reputed operator in Gravesend。 A surgeon of
some eminence now appeared; who did not decline tooth…drawing;
though he certainly would have been offended with the appellation
of tooth…drawer no less than his brethren; the members of that
venerable body; would be with that of barber; since the late
separation between those long…united companies; by which; if the
surgeons have gained much; the barbers are supposed to have lost
very little。 This able and careful person (for so I sincerely
believe he is) after examining the guilty tooth; declared that it
was such a rotten shell; and so placed at the very remotest end
of the upper jaw; where it was in a manner covered and secured by
a large fine firm tooth; that he despaired of his power of
drawing it。
He said; indeed; more to my wife; and used more rhetoric to
dissuade her from having it drawn; than is generally employed to
persuade young ladies to prefer a pain of three moments to one of
three months' continuance; especially if those young ladies
happen to be past forty and fifty years of age; when; by
submitting to support a racking torment; the only good
circumstance attending which is; it is so short that scarce one
in a thousand can cry out 〃I feel it;〃 they are to do a violence
to their charms; and lose one of those beautiful holders with
which alone Sir Courtly Nice declares a lady can ever lay hold of
his heart。 He said at last so much; and seemed to reason so
justly; that I came over to his side; and assisted him in
prevailing on my wife (for it was no easy matter) to resolve on
keeping her tooth a little longer; and to apply palliatives only
for relief。 These were opium applied to the tooth; and blisters
behind the ears。
Whilst we were at dinner this day in the cabin; on a sudden the
window on one side was beat into the room with a crash as if a
twenty…pounder had been discharged among us。 We were all alarmed
at the suddenness of the accident; for which; however; we were
soon able to account; for the sash; which was shivered all to
pieces; was pursued into the middle of the cabin by the bowsprit
of a little ship called a cod…smack; the master of which made us
amends for running (carelessly at best) against us; and injuring
the ship; in the sea…way; that is to say; by damning us all to
hell; and uttering several pious wishes that it had done us much
more mischief。 All which were answered in their own kind and
phrase by our men; between whom and the other crew a dialogue of
oaths and scurrility was carried on as long as they continued in
each other's hearing。
It is difficult; I think; to assign a satisfactory reason why
sailors in general should; of all others; think themselves
entirely discharged from the common bands of humanity; and should
seem to glory in the language and behavior of savages! They see
more of the world; and have; most of them; a more erudite
education than is the portion of landmen of their degree。 Nor do
I believe that in any country they visit (Holland itself not
excepted) they can ever find a parallel to what daily passes on
the river Thames。 Is it that they think true courage (for they
are the bravest fellows upon earth) inconsistent with all the
gentleness of a humane carriage; and that the contempt of civil
order springs up in minds but little cultivated; at the same time
and from the same principles with the contempt of danger and
death? Is it? in short; it is so; and how it comes to be so I
leave to form a question in the Robin Hood Society; or to he
propounded for solution among the enigmas in the Woman's Almanac
for the next year。
Monday; July 1。This day Mr。 Welch took his leave of me after
dinner; as did a young lady of her sister; who was proceeding
with my wife to Lisbon。 They both set out together in a
post…chaise for London。 Soon after their departure our cabin;
where my wife and I were sitting together; was visited by two
ruffians; whose appearance greatly corresponded with that of the
sheriffs; or rather the knight…marshal's bailiffs。 One of
these especially; who seemed to affect a more than ordinary
degree of rudeness and insolence; came in without any kind of
ceremony; with a broad gold lace on his hat; which was cocked
with much military fierceness on his head。 An inkhorn at his
buttonhole and some papers in his hand sufficiently assured me
what he was; and I asked him if he and his companion were not
custom…house officers: he answered with sufficient dignity that
they were; as an information which he seemed to conclude would
strike the hearer with awe; and suppress all further inquiry;
but; on the contrary; I proceeded to ask of what rank he was in
the custom…house; and; receiving an answer from his companion; as
I remember; that the gentleman was a riding surveyor; I replied
that he might be a riding surveyor; but could be no gentleman;
for that none who had any title to that denomination would break
into the presence of a lady without an apology or even moving his
hat。 He then took his covering from his head and laid it on the
table; saying; he asked pardon; and blamed the mate; who should;
he said; have informed him if any persons of distinction were
below。 I told him he might guess by our appearance (which;
perhaps; was rather more than could be said with the strictest
adherence to truth) that he was before a gentleman and lady;
which should teach him to be very civil in his behavior; though
we should not happen to be of that number whom the world calls
people of fashion and distinction。 However; I said; that as he
seemed sensible of his error; and had asked pardon; the lady
would permit him to put his hat on again if he chose it。 This he
refused with some degree of surliness; and failed not to convince
me that; if I should condescend to become more gentle; he would
soon grow more rude。 I now renewed a reflection; which I have
often seen occasion to make; that there is nothing so incongruous
in nature as any kind of power with lowness of mind and of
ability; and that there is nothing more deplorable than the want
of truth in the whimsical notion of Plato; who tells us that
〃Saturn; well knowing the state of human affairs; gave us kings
and rulers; not of human but divine original; for; as we make not
shepherds of sheep; nor oxherds of oxen; nor goatherds of goats;
but place some of our own kind over all as being better and
fitter to govern them; in the same manner were demons by the
divine love set over us as a race of beings of a superior order
to men; and who; with great ease to themselves; might regulate
our affairs and