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the professor at the breakfast table-第70部分
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〃slap his chops。〃 Let 'em alone; said young Maryland;it 'll soon
be over; and they won't hurt each other much。 So they went out。
The Koh…i…noor entertained the very common idea; that; when one
quarrels with another; the simple thing to do is to knock the man
down; and there is the end of it。 Now those who have watched such
encounters are aware of two things: first; that it is not so easy to
knock a man down as it is to talk about it; secondly; that; if you
do happen to knock a man down; there is a very good chance that he
will be angry; and get up and give you a thrashing。
So the Koh…i…noor thought he would begin; as soon as they got into
the yard; by knocking his man down; and with this intention swung
his arm round after the fashion of rustics and those unskilled in
the noble art; expecting the young fellow John to drop when his
fist; having completed a quarter of a circle; should come in contact
with the side of that young man's head。 Unfortunately for this
theory; it happens that a blow struck out straight is as much
shorter; and therefore as much quicker than the rustic's swinging
blow; as the radius is shorter than the quarter of a circle。 The
mathematical and mechanical corollary was; that the Koh…i…noor felt
something hard bring up suddenly against his right eye; which
something he could have sworn was a paving…stone; judging by his
sensations; and as this threw his person somewhat backwards; and the
young man John jerked his own head back a little; the swinging blow
had nothing to stop it; and as the Jewel staggered between the hit
he got and the blow he missed; he tripped and 〃went to grass;〃 so
far as the back…yard of our boardinghouse was provided with that
vegetable。 It was a signal illustration of that fatal mistake; so
frequent in young and ardent natures with inconspicuous calves and
negative pectorals; that they can settle most little quarrels on the
spot by 〃knocking the man down。〃
We are in the habit of handling our faces so carefully; that a heavy
blow; taking effect on that portion of the surface; produces a most
unpleasant surprise; which is accompanied with odd sensations; as of
seeing sparks; and a kind of electrical or ozone…like odor; half…
sulphurous in character; and which has given rise to a very vulgar
and profane threat sometimes heard from the lips of bullies。 A
person not used to pugilistic gestures does not instantly recover
from this surprise。 The Koh…i…noor exasperated by his failure; and
still a little confused by the smart hit he had received; but
furious; and confident of victory over a young fellow a good deal
lighter than himself; made a desperate rush to bear down all before
him and finish the contest at once。 That is the way all angry
greenhorns and incompetent persons attempt to settle matters。 It
does n't do; if the other fellow is only cool; moderately quick; and
has a very little science。 It didn't do this time; for; as the
assailant rushed in with his arms flying everywhere; like the vans
of a windmill; be ran a prominent feature of his face against a fist
which was travelling in the other direction; and immediately after
struck the knuckles of the young man's other fist a severe blow with
the part of his person known as the epigastrium to one branch of
science and the bread…basket to another。 This second round closed
the battle。 The Koh…i…noor had got enough; which in such cases is
more than as good as a feast。 The young fellow asked him if he was
satisfied; and held out his hand。 But the other sulked; and
muttered something about revenge。 Jest as ye like;said the young
man John。 Clap a slice o' raw beefsteak on to that mouse o' yours
'n' 't'll take down the swellin'。 (Mouse is a technical term for a
bluish; oblong; rounded elevation occasioned by running one's
forehead or eyebrow against another's knuckles。) The young fellow
was particularly pleased that he had had an opportunity of trying
his proficiency in the art of self…defence without the gloves。 The
Koh…i…noor did not favor us with his company for a day or two; being
confined to his chamber; it was said; by a slight feverish; attack。
He was chop…fallen always after this; and got negligent in his
person。 The impression must have been a deep one; for it was
observed; that; when he came down again; his moustache and whiskers
had turned visibly white about the roots。 In short; it disgraced
him; and rendered still more conspicuous a tendency to drinking; of
which he had been for some time suspected。 This; and the disgust
which a young lady naturally feels at hearing that her lover has
been 〃licked by a fellah not half his size;〃 induced the landlady's
daughter to take that decided step which produced a change in the
programme of her career I may hereafter allude to。
I never thought he would come to good; when I heard him attempting
to sneer at an unoffending city so respectable as Boston。 After a
man begins to attack the State…House; when he gets bitter about the
Frog…Pond; you may be sure there is not much left of him。 Poor
Edgar Poe died in the hospital soon after he got into this way of
talking; and so sure as you find an unfortunate fellow reduced to
this pass; you had better begin praying for him; and stop lending
him money; for he is on his last legs。 Remember poor Edgar! He is
dead and gone; but the State…House has its cupola fresh…gilded; and
the Frog…Pond has got a fountain that squirts up a hundred feet into
the air and glorifies that humble sheet with a fine display of
provincial rainbows。
I cannot fulfil my promise in this number。 I expected to gratify
your curiosity; if you have become at all interested in these
puzzles; doubts; fancies; whims; or whatever you choose to call
them; of mine。 Next month you shall hear all about it。
It was evening; and I was going to the sick…chamber。 As I paused
at the door before entering; I heard a sweet voice singing。 It was
not the wild melody I had sometimes heard at midnight:no; this was
the voice of Iris; and I could distinguish every word。 I had seen
the verses in her book; the melody was new to me。 Let me finish my
page with them。
HYMN OF TRUST。
O Love Divine; that stooped to share
Our sharpest pang; our bitterest tear;
On Thee we cast each earthborn care;
We smile at pain while Thou art near!
Though long the weary way we tread;
And sorrow crown each lingering year;
No path we shun; no darkness dread;
Our hearts still whispering; Thou art near!
When drooping pleasure turns to grief;
And trembling faith is changed to fear;
The murmuring wind; the quivering leaf
Shall softly tell us; Thou art near!
On Thee we fling our burdening woe;
O Love Divine; forever dear;
Content to suffer; while we know;
Living and dying; Thou art near!
XII
A young fellow; born of good stock; in one of the more thoroughly
civilized portions of these United States o
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