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