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