第 26 节
作者:敏儿不觉      更新:2021-02-19 21:45      字数:9322
  drawing up the anchor; both were finished at the same time; we
  unfurled our sails and soon passed the Berry…head; which forms
  the mouth of the bay。
  We had not however sailed far when the wind; which; had though
  with a slow pace; kept us company about six miles; suddenly
  turned about; and offered to conduct us back again; a favor which;
  though sorely against the grain; we were obliged to accept。
  Nothing remarkable happened this day; for as to the firm
  persuasion of the captain that he was under the spell of
  witchcraft; I would not repeat it too often; though indeed he
  repeated it an hundred times every day; in truth; he talked of
  nothing else; and seemed not only to be satisfied in general of
  his being bewitched; but actually to have fixed with good
  certainty on the person of the witch; whom; had he lived in the
  days of Sir Matthew Hale; he would have infallibly indicted; and
  very possibly have hanged; for the detestable sin of witchcraft;
  but that law; and the whole doctrine that supported it; are now
  out of fashion; and witches; as a learned divine once chose to
  express himself; are put down by act of parliament。  This witch;
  in the captain's opinion; was no other than Mrs。 Francis of Ryde;
  who; as he insinuated; out of anger to me for not spending more
  money in her house than she could produce anything to exchange
  for; or ally pretense to charge for; had laid this spell on his ship。
  Though we were again got near our harbor by three in the
  afternoon; yet it seemed to require a full hour or more before we
  could come to our former place of anchoring; or berth; as the
  captain called it。  On this occasion we exemplified one of the
  few advantages which the travelers by water have over the
  travelers by land。  What would the latter often give for the
  sight of one of those hospitable mansions where he is assured
  THAT THERE IS GOOD ENTERTAINMENT FOR MAN AND HORSE; and where
  both may consequently promise themselves to assuage that hunger
  which exercise is so sure to raise in a healthy constitution。
  At their arrival at this mansion how much happier is the state of
  the horse than that of the master!  The former is immediately led
  to his repast; such as it is; and; whatever it is; he falls to it
  with appetite。  But the latter is in a much worse situation。  His
  hunger; however violent; is always in some degree delicate; and
  his food must have some kind of ornament; or; as the more usual
  phrase is; of dressing; to recommend it。  Now all dressing
  requires time; and therefore; though perhaps the sheep might be
  just killed before you came to the inn; yet in cutting him up;
  fetching the joint; which the landlord by mistake said he had in
  the house; from the butcher at two miles' distance; and
  afterwards warming it a little by the fire; two hours at least
  must be consumed; while hunger; for want of better food; preys
  all the time on the vitals of the man。
  How different was the case with us!  we carried our provision;
  our kitchen; and our cook with us; and we were at one and the
  same time traveling on our road; and sitting down to a repast of
  fish; with which the greatest table in London can scarce at any
  rate be supplied。
  Friday。As we were disappointed of our wind; and obliged to
  return back the preceding evening; we resolved to extract all the
  good we could out of our misfortune; and to add considerably to
  our fresh stores of meat and bread; with which we were very
  indifferently provided when we hurried away yesterday。  By the
  captain's advice we likewise laid in some stores of butter; which
  we salted and potted ourselves; for our use at Lisbon; and we had
  great reason afterwards to thank him for his advice。
  In the afternoon I persuaded my wife whom it was no easy matter
  for me to force from my side; to take a walk on shore; whither
  the gallant captain declared he was ready to attend her。
  Accordingly the ladies set out; and left me to enjoy a sweet and
  comfortable nap after the operation of the preceding day。
  Thus we enjoyed our separate pleasures full three hours; when we
  met again; and my wife gave the foregoing account of the
  gentleman whom I have before compared to Axylus; and of his
  habitation; to both which she had been introduced by the captain;
  in the style of an old friend and acquaintance; though this
  foundation of intimacy seemed to her to be no deeper laid than in
  an accidental dinner; eaten many years before; at this temple of
  hospitality; when the captain lay wind…bound in the same bay。
  Saturday。Early this morning the wind seemed inclined to change
  in our favor。  Our alert captain snatched its very first motion;
  and got under sail with so very gentle a breeze that; as the tide
  was against him; he recommended to a fishing boy to bring after
  him a vast salmon and some other provisions which lay ready for
  him on shore。
  Our anchor was up at six; and before nine in the morning we had
  doubled the Berry…head; and were arrived off Dartmouth; having
  gone full three miles in as many hours; in direct opposition to
  the tide; which only befriended us out of our harbor; and though
  the wind was perhaps our friend; it was so very silent; and
  exerted itself so little in our favor; that; like some cool
  partisans; it was difficult to say whether it was with us or
  against us。  The captain; however; declared the former to be the
  case during the whole three hours; but at last he perceived his
  error; or rather; perhaps; this friend; which had hitherto
  wavered in choosing his side; became now more determined。  The
  captain then suddenly tacked about; and; asserting that he was
  bewitched; submitted to return to the place from whence he came。
  Now; though I am as free from superstition as any man breathing;
  and never did believe in witches; notwithstanding all the
  excellent arguments of my lord chief…justice Hale in their favor;
  and long before they were put down by act of parliament; yet by
  what power a ship of burden should sail three miles against both
  wind and tide; I cannot conceive; unless there was some
  supernatural interposition in the case; nay; could we admit that
  the wind stood neuter; the difficulty would still remain。  So
  that we must of necessity conclude that the ship was either
  bewinded or bewitched。  The captain; perhaps; had another
  meaning。  He imagined himself; I believe; bewitched; because the
  wind; instead of persevering in its change in his favor; for
  change it certainly did that morning; should suddenly return to
  its favorite station; and blow him back towards the bay。  But; if
  this was his opinion; he soon saw cause to alter; for he had not
  measured half the way back when the wind again declared in his
  favor; and so loudly; that there was no possibility of being
  mistaken。  The orders for the second tack were given; and obeyed
  with much more alacrity than those had been for the first。  We
  were all of us indeed in high spirits on the occasion; though
  some of us a little regretted the good things we were likely to
  leave behind us by the fisherman's neglect; I might give it a
  worse name; for he faithfully promised to execute the commission;
  which he had had abundant opportunity to do; but nautica fides
  deserves as much to be proverbial as ever Punica fides could
  formerly have done。  Nay; when we consider that the Carthaginians
  came from the Phenicians who are supposed to have produced the
  first mariners; we may probably see the true reason of the adage;
  and it may open a field of very curious discoveries to the antiquarian。
  We were; however; too eager to pursue our voyage to suffer
  anything we left behind us to interrupt our happiness; which;
  indeed; many agreeable circumstances conspired to advance。  The
  weather was inexpressibly pleasant; and we were all seated on the
  deck; when our canvas began to swell with the wind。  We had
  likewise in our view above thirty other sail around us; all in
  the same situation。  Here an observation occurred to me; which;
  perhaps; though extremely obvious; did not offer itself to every
  individual in our little fleet:  when I perceived with what
  different success we proceeded under the influence of a superior
  power which; while we lay almost idle ourselves; pushed us
  forward on our intended voyage; and compared this with the slow
  progress which we had made in the morning; of ourselves; and
  without any such assistance; I could not help reflecting how
  often the greatest abilities lie wind…bound as it were in life;
  or; if they venture out and attempt to beat the seas; they
  struggle in vain against wind and tide; and; if they have not
  sufficient prudence to put back; are most probably cast away on
  the rocks and quicksands which are every day ready to devour them。
  It was now our fortune to set out melioribus avibus。  The wind
  freshened so briskly in our poop that the shore appeared to move
  from us as fast as we did from the shore。  The captain declared
  h