第 42 节
作者:
恐龙王 更新:2021-02-21 15:31 字数:9322
voices of all kinds; of men; of women; and of children … of those
who could sing and of those who could not … a thousand voices all
joined; and all joined heartily; no voice of all the multitude was
silent save mine。 The crowd consisted entirely of the lower
classes; labourers and mechanics; and their wives and children …
dusty people; unwashed people; people of no account whatever; and
yet they did not look a mob。 And when that hymn was over … and
here let me observe that; strange as it sounded; I have recalled
that hymn to mind; and it has seemed to tingle in my ears on
occasions when all that pomp and art could do to enhance religious
solemnity was being done … in the Sistine Chapel; what time the
papal band was in full play; and the choicest choristers of Italy
poured forth their mellowest tones in presence of Batuschca and his
cardinals … on the ice of the Neva; what time the long train of
stately priests; with their noble beards and their flowing robes of
crimson and gold; with their ebony and ivory staves; stalked along;
chanting their Sclavonian litanies in advance of the mighty Emperor
of the North and his Priberjensky guard of giants; towards the
orifice through which the river; running below in its swiftness; is
to receive the baptismal lymph: … when the hymn was over; another
man in the wagon proceeded to address the people; he was a much
younger man than the last speaker; somewhat square built and about
the middle height; his face was rather broad; but expressive of
much intelligence; and with a peculiar calm and serious look; the
accent in which he spoke indicated that he was not of these parts;
but from some distant district。 The subject of his address was
faith; and how it could remove mountains。 It was a plain address;
without any attempt at ornament; and delivered in a tone which was
neither loud nor vehement。 The speaker was evidently not a
practised one … once or twice he hesitated as if for words to
express his meaning; but still he held on; talking of faith; and
how it could remove mountains: 'It is the only thing we want;
brethren; in this world; if we have that; we are indeed rich; as it
will enable us to do our duty under all circumstances; and to bear
our lot; however hard it may be … and the lot of all mankind is
hard … the lot of the poor is hard; brethren … and who knows more
of the poor than I? … a poor man myself; and the son of a poor man:
but are the rich better off? not so; brethren; for God is just。
The rich have their trials too: I am not rich myself; but I have
seen the rich with careworn countenances; I have also seen them in
madhouses; from which you may learn; brethren; that the lot of all
mankind is hard; that is; till we lay hold of faith; which makes us
comfortable under all circumstances; whether we ride in gilded
chariots or walk barefooted in quest of bread; whether we be
ignorant; whether we be wise … for riches and poverty; ignorance
and wisdom; brethren; each brings with it its peculiar temptations。
Well; under all these troubles; the thing which I would recommend
you to seek is one and the same … faith; faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ; who made us and allotted to each his station。 Each has
something to do; brethren。 Do it; therefore; but always in faith;
without faith we shall find ourselves sometimes at fault; but with
faith never … for faith can remove the difficulty。 It will teach
us to love life; brethren; when life is becoming bitter; and to
prize the blessings around us; for as every man has his cares;
brethren; so has each man his blessings。 It will likewise teach us
not to love life over much; seeing that we must one day part with
it。 It will teach us to face death with resignation; and will
preserve us from sinking amidst the swelling of the river Jordan。'
And when he had concluded his address; he said; 'Let us sing a
hymn; one composed by Master Charles Wesley … he was my countryman;
brethren。
'Jesus; I cast my soul on Thee;
Mighty and merciful to save;
Thou shalt to death go down with me;
And lay me gently in the grave。
This body then shall rest in hope;
This body which the worms destroy;
For Thou shalt surely raise me up
To glorious life and endless joy。'
Farewell; preacher with the plain coat and the calm serious look!
I saw thee once again; and that was lately … only the other day。
It was near a fishing hamlet; by the sea…side; that I saw the
preacher again。 He stood on the top of a steep monticle; used by
pilots as a look…out for vessels approaching that coast; a
dangerous one; abounding in rocks and quick…sands。 There he stood
on the monticle; preaching to weather…worn fishermen and mariners
gathered below upon the sand。 'Who is he?' said I to an old
fisherman who stood beside me with a book of hymns in his hand; but
the old man put his hand to his lips; and that was the only answer
I received。 Not a sound was heard but the voice of the preacher
and the roaring of the waves; but the voice was heard loud above
the roaring of the sea; for the preacher now spoke with power; and
his voice was not that of one who hesitates。 There he stood … no
longer a young man; for his black locks were become gray; even like
my own; but there was the intelligent face; and the calm serious
look which had struck me of yore。 There stood the preacher; one of
those men … and; thank God; their number is not few … who; animated
by the spirit of Christ; amidst much poverty; and; alas! much
contempt; persist in carrying the light of the Gospel amidst the
dark parishes of what; but for their instrumentality; would
scarcely be Christian England。 I would have waited till he had
concluded; in order that I might speak to him; and endeavour to
bring back the ancient scene to his recollection; but suddenly a
man came hurrying towards the monticle; mounted on a speedy horse;
and holding by the bridle one yet more speedy; and he whispered to
me; 'Why loiterest thou here? … knowest thou not all that is to be
done before midnight?' and he flung me the bridle; and I mounted on
the horse of great speed; and I followed the other; who had already
galloped off。 And as I departed; I waved my hand to him on the
monticle; and I shouted; 'Farewell; brother! the seed came up at
last; after a long period!' and then I gave the speedy horse his
way; and leaning over the shoulder of the galloping horse; I said;
'Would that my life had been like his … even like that man's!'
I now wandered along the heath; till I came to a place where;
beside a thick furze; sat a man; his eyes fixed intently on the red
ball of the setting sun。
'That's not you; Jasper?'
'Indeed; brother!'
'I've not seen you for years。'
'How should you; brother?'
'What brings you here?'
'The fight; brother。'
'Where are the tents?'
'On the old spot; brother。'
'Any news since we parted?'
'Two deaths; brother。'
'Who are dead; Jasper?'
'Father and mother; brother。'
'Where did they die?'
'Where they were sent; brother。'
'And Mrs。 Herne?'
'She's alive; brother。'
'Where is she now?'
'In Yorkshire; brother。'
'What is your opinion of death; Mr。 Petulengro?' said I; as I sat
down beside him。
'My opinion of death; brother; is much the same as that in the old
song of Pharaoh; which I have heard my grandam sing …
Cana marel o manus chivios ande puv;
Ta rovel pa leste o chavo ta romi。
When a man dies; he is cast into the earth; and his wife and child
sorrow over him。 If he has neither wife nor child; then his father
and mother; I suppose; and if he is quite alone in the world; why;
then; he is cast into the earth; and there is an end of the
matter。'
'And do you think that is the end of a man?'
'There's an end of him; brother; more's the pity。'
'Why do you say so?'
'Life is sweet; brother。'
'Do you think so?'
'Think so! … There's night and day; brother; both sweet things;
sun; moon; and stars; brother; all sweet things; there's likewise a
wind on the heath。 Life is very sweet; brother; who would wish to
die?'
'I would wish to die … '
'You talk like a gorgio … which is the same as talking like a fool
… were you a Rommany Chal you would talk wiser。 Wish to die;
indeed! … A Rommany Chal would wish to live for ever!'
'In sickness; Jasper?'
'There's the sun and stars; brother。'
'In blindness; Jasper?'
'There's the wind on the heath; brother; if I could only feel that;
I would gladly live for ever。 Dosta; we'll now go to the tents and
put on the gloves; and I'll try to make you feel what a sweet thing
it is to be alive; brother!'
CHAPTER XXVI
The flower of the grass … Days of pugilism … The rendezvous