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lavengro-第1部分
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Lavengro; The Scholar; The Gypsy; The Priest
by George Borrow
PREFACE
IN the following pages I have endeavoured to describe a dream;
partly of study; partly of adventure; in which will be found
copious notices of books; and many descriptions of life and
manners; some in a very unusual form。
The scenes of action lie in the British Islands; … pray be not
displeased; gentle reader; if perchance thou hast imagined that I
was about to conduct thee to distant lands; and didst promise
thyself much instruction and entertainment from what I might tell
thee of them。 I do assure thee that thou hast no reason to be
displeased; inasmuch as there are no countries in the world less
known by the British than these selfsame British Islands; or where
more strange things are every day occurring; whether in road or
street; house or dingle。
The time embraces nearly the first quarter of the present century:
this information again may; perhaps; be anything but agreeable to
thee; it is a long time to revert to; but fret not thyself; many
matters which at present much occupy the public mind originated in
some degree towards the latter end of that period; and some of them
will be treated of。
The principal actors in this dream; or drama; are; as you will have
gathered from the title…page; a Scholar; a Gypsy; and a Priest。
Should you imagine that these three form one; permit me to assure
you that you are very much mistaken。 Should there be something of
the Gypsy manifest in the Scholar; there is certainly nothing of
the Priest。 With respect to the Gypsy … decidedly the most
entertaining character of the three … there is certainly nothing of
the Scholar or the Priest in him; and as for the Priest; though
there may be something in him both of scholarship and gypsyism;
neither the Scholar nor the Gypsy would feel at all flattered by
being confounded with him。
Many characters which may be called subordinate will be found; and
it is probable that some of these characters will afford much more
interest to the reader than those styled the principal。 The
favourites with the writer are a brave old soldier and his
helpmate; an ancient gentlewoman who sold apples; and a strange
kind of wandering man and his wife。
Amongst the many things attempted in this book is the encouragement
of charity; and free and genial manners; and the exposure of
humbug; of which there are various kinds; but of which the most
perfidious; the most debasing; and the most cruel; is the humbug of
the Priest。
Yet let no one think that irreligion is advocated in this book。
With respect to religious tenets I wish to observe that I am a
member of the Church of England; into whose communion I was
baptized; and to which my forefathers belonged。 Its being the
religion in which I was baptized; and of my forefathers; would be a
strong inducement to me to cling to it; for I do not happen to be
one of those choice spirits 'who turn from their banner when the
battle bears strongly against it; and go over to the enemy;' and
who receive at first a hug and a 'viva;' and in the sequel contempt
and spittle in the face; but my chief reason for belonging to it
is; because; of all churches calling themselves Christian ones; I
believe there is none so good; so well founded upon Scripture; or
whose ministers are; upon the whole; so exemplary in their lives
and conversation; so well read in the book from which they preach;
or so versed in general learning; so useful in their immediate
neighbourhoods; or so unwilling to persecute people of other
denominations for matters of doctrine。
In the communion of this Church; and with the religious consolation
of its ministers; I wish and hope to live and die; and in its and
their defence will at all times be ready; if required; to speak;
though humbly; and to fight; though feebly; against enemies;
whether carnal or spiritual。
And is there no priestcraft in the Church of England? There is
certainly; or rather there was; a modicum of priestcraft in the
Church of England; but I have generally found that those who are
most vehement against the Church of England are chiefly
dissatisfied with her because there is only a modicum of that
article in her … were she stuffed to the very cupola with it; like
a certain other Church; they would have much less to say against
the Church of England。
By the other Church; I mean Rome。 Its system was once prevalent in
England; and; during the period that it prevailed there; was more
prolific of debasement and crime than all other causes united。 The
people and the government at last becoming enlightened by means of
the Scripture spurned it from the island with disgust and horror;
the land instantly after its disappearance becoming a fair field;
in which arts; sciences; and all the amiable virtues flourished;
instead of being a pestilent marsh where swine…like ignorance
wallowed; and artful hypocrites; like so many Wills…o'…the…wisp;
played antic gambols about; around; and above debased humanity。
But Popery still wished to play her old part; to regain her lost
dominion; to reconvert the smiling land into the pestilential
morass; where she could play again her old antics。 From the period
of the Reformation in England up to the present time; she has kept
her emissaries here; individuals contemptible in intellect; it is
true; but cat…like and gliding; who; at her bidding; have
endeavoured; as much as in their power has lain; to damp and stifle
every genial; honest; loyal; and independent thought; and to reduce
minds to such a state of dotage as would enable their old Popish
mother to do what she pleased with them。
And in every country; however enlightened; there are always minds
inclined to grovelling superstition … minds fond of eating dust and
swallowing clay … minds never at rest; save when prostrate before
some fellow in a surplice; and these Popish emissaries found always
some weak enough to bow down before them; astounded by their
dreadful denunciations of eternal woe and damnation to any who
should refuse to believe their Romania; but they played a poor game
… the law protected the servants of Scripture; and the priest with
his beads seldom ventured to approach any but the remnant of those
of the eikonolatry … representatives of worm…eaten houses; their
debased dependants; and a few poor crazy creatures amongst the
middle classes … he played a poor game; and the labour was about to
prove almost entirely in vain; when the English legislature; in
compassion or contempt; or; yet more probably; influenced by that
spirit of toleration and kindness which is so mixed up with
Protestantism; removed almost entirely the disabilities under which
Popery laboured; and enabled it to raise its head and to speak out
almost without fear。
And i
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