第 7 节
作者:悟来悟去      更新:2021-02-20 15:46      字数:9319
  abet him in the outrage。 As for myself; I am simply Hop…Frog; the jester
  and this is my last jest。〃
  Owing to the high combustibility of both the flax and the tar to which it
  adhered; the dwarf had scarcely made an end of his brief speech before the
  work of vengeance was complete。 The eight corpses swung in their chains; a
  fetid; blackened; hideous; and indistinguishable mass。 The cripple hurled
  his torch at them; clambered leisurely to the ceiling; and disappeared
  through the sky…light。
  It is supposed that Trippetta; stationed on the roof of the saloon; had
  been the accomplice of her friend in his fiery revenge; and that;
  together; they effected their escape to their own country: for neither was
  seen again。
  ~~~ End of Text ~~~
  THE MAN OF THE CROWD。
  Ce grand malheur; de ne pouvoir 阾re seul。
  _La Bruy鑢e_。
  IT was well said of a certain German book that 〃_er lasst sich nicht
  lesen_〃 … it does not permit itself to be read。 There are some secrets
  which do not permit themselves to be told。 Men die nightly in their beds;
  wringing the hands of ghostly confessors and looking them piteously in the
  eyes  die with despair of heart and convulsion of throat; on account of
  the hideousness of mysteries which will not suffer themselves to be
  revealed。 Now and then; alas; the conscience of man takes up a burthen so
  heavy in horror that it can be thrown down only into the grave。 And thus
  the essence of all crime is undivulged。
  Not long ago; about the closing in of an evening in autumn; I sat at
  the large bow window of the D Coffee…House in London。 For some months
  I had been ill in health; but was now convalescent; and; with returning
  strength; found myself in one of those happy moods which are so precisely
  the converse of ennui … moods of the keenest appetency; when the film from
  the mental vision departs … the 〃PL》 0 BDT ;B?L … and the intellect;
  electrified; surpasses as greatly its every…day condition; as does the
  vivid yet candid reason of Leibnitz; the mad and flimsy rhetoric of
  Gorgias。 Merely to breathe was enjoyment; and I derived positive pleasure
  even from many of the legitimate sources of pain。 I felt a calm but
  inquisitive interest in every thing。 With a cigar in my mouth and a
  newspaper in my lap; I had been amusing myself for the greater part of the
  afternoon; now in poring over advertisements; now in observing the
  promiscuous company in the room; and now in peering through the smoky
  panes into the street。
  This latter is one of the principal thoroughfares of the city; and had
  been very much crowded during the whole day。 But; as the darkness came on;
  the throng momently increased; and; by the time the lamps were well
  lighted; two dense and continuous tides of population were rushing past
  the door。 At this particular period of the evening I had never before been
  in a similar situation; and the tumultuous sea of human heads filled me;
  therefore; with a delicious novelty of emotion。 I gave up; at length; all
  care of things within the hotel; and became absorbed in contemplation of
  the scene without。
  At first my observations took an abstract and generalizing turn。 I looked
  at the passengers in masses; and thought of them in their aggregate
  relations。 Soon; however; I descended to details; and regarded with minute
  interest the innumerable varieties of figure; dress; air; gait; visage;
  and expression of countenance。
  By far the greater number of those who went by had a satisfied
  business…like demeanor; and seemed to be thinking only of making their way
  through the press。 Their brows were knit; and their eyes rolled quickly;
  when pushed against by fellow…wayfarers they evinced no symptom of
  impatience; but adjusted their clothes and hurried on。 Others; still a
  numerous class; were restless in their movements; had flushed faces; and
  talked and gesticulated to themselves; as if feeling in solitude on
  account of the very denseness of the company around。 When impeded in their
  progress; these people suddenly ceased muttering; but re…doubled their
  gesticulations; and awaited; with an absent and overdone smile upon the
  lips; the course of the persons impeding them。 If jostled; they bowed
  profusely to the jostlers; and appeared overwhelmed with confusion。 …
  There was nothing very distinctive about these two large classes beyond
  what I have noted。 Their habiliments belonged to that order which is
  pointedly termed the decent。 They were undoubtedly noblemen; merchants;
  attorneys; tradesmen; stock…jobbers … the Eupatrids and the common…places
  of society … men of leisure and men actively engaged in affairs of their
  own … conducting business upon their own responsibility。 They did not
  greatly excite my attention。
  The tribe of clerks was an obvious one and here I discerned two remarkable
  divisions。 There were the junior clerks of flash houses … young gentlemen
  with tight coats; bright boots; well…oiled hair; and supercilious lips。
  Setting aside a certain dapperness of carriage; which may be termed
  deskism for want of a better word; the manner of these persons seemed to
  me an exact fac…simile of what had been the perfection of bon ton about
  twelve or eighteen months before。 They wore the cast…off graces of the
  gentry; … and this; I believe; involves the best definition of the class。
  The division of the upper clerks of staunch firms; or of the 〃steady old
  fellows;〃 it was not possible to mistake。 These were known by their coats
  and pantaloons of black or brown; made to sit comfortably; with white
  cravats and waistcoats; broad solid…looking shoes; and thick hose or
  gaiters。 … They had all slightly bald heads; from which the right ears;
  long used to pen…holding; had an odd habit of standing off on end。 I
  observed that they always removed or settled their hats with both hands;
  and wore watches; with short gold chains of a substantial and ancient
  pattern。 Theirs was the affectation of respectability; … if indeed there
  be an affectation so honorable。
  There were many individuals of dashing appearance; whom I easily
  understood as belonging to the race of swell pick…pockets with which all
  great cities are infested。 I watched these gentry with much
  inquisitiveness; and found it difficult to imagine how they should ever be
  mistaken for gentlemen by gentlemen themselves。 Their voluminousness of
  wristband; with an air of excessive frankness; should betray them at once。
  The gamblers; of whom I descried not a few; were still more easily
  recognisable。 They wore every variety of dress; from that of the desperate
  thimble…rig bully; with velvet waistcoat; fancy neckerchief; gilt chains;
  and filagreed buttons; to that of the scrupulously inornate clergyman;
  than which nothing could be less liable to suspicion。 Still all were
  distinguished by a certain sodden swarthiness of complexion; a filmy
  dimness of eye; and pallor and compression of lip。 There were two other
  traits; moreover; by which I could always detect them; … a guarded lowness
  of tone in conversation; and a more than ordinary extension of the thumb
  in a direction at right angles with the fingers。 … Very often; in company
  with these sharpers; I observed an order of men somewhat different in
  habits; but still birds of a kindred feather。 They may be defined as the
  gentlemen who live by their wits。 They seem to prey upon the public in two
  battalions … that of the dandies and that of the military men。 Of the
  first grade the leading features are long locks and smiles; of the second
  frogged coats and frowns。
  Descending in the scale of what is termed gentility; I found darker and
  deeper themes for speculation。 I saw Jew pedlars; with hawk eyes flashing
  from countenances whose every other feature wore only an expression of
  abject humility; sturdy professional street beggars scowling upon
  mendicants of a better stamp; whom despair alone had driven forth into the
  night for charity; feeble and ghastly invalids; upon whom death had placed
  a sure hand; and who sidled and tottered through the mob; looking every
  one beseechingly in the face; as if in search of some chance consolation;
  some lost hope; modest young girls returning from long and late labor to a
  cheerless home; and shrinking more tearfully than indignantly from the
  glances of ruffians; whose direct contact; even; could not be avoided;
  women of the town of all kinds and of all ages … the unequivocal beauty in
  the prime of her womanhood; putting one in mind of the statue in Lucian;
  with the surface of Parian marble; and the interior filled with filth …
  the loathsome and utterly lost leper in rags … the wrinkled; bejewelled
  and paint…begrimed beldame; making a last effort at youth … the mere child
  of immature form; yet; from long association; an adept in the dreadful
  coquetries of her trade; and burning with a rabid ambition to be ranked
  the equal of her elders in vice; drunkards innumerable and indescribable …
  some in shreds and patches; reeling; inarticulate; with bruised visage and
  lack…lustre eyes … some in whole although filthy garments; with a slightly
  unsteady swagger; thick sensual lips; and hearty…looking rubicund faces …
  others clothed in materials which had once been good; and which even