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lavengro-第100部分
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walking home to the old town; stay some time with my mother and my
brother; and enjoy the pleasant walks in the neighbourhood; but;
though I wished very much to see my mother and my brother; and felt
much disposed to enjoy the said pleasant walks; the old town was
not exactly the place to which I wished to go at this present
juncture。 I was afraid that people would ask; Where are your
Northern Ballads? Where are your alliterative translations from Ab
Gwilym … of which you were always talking; and with which you
promised to astonish the world? Now; in the event of such
interrogations; what could I answer? It is true I had compiled
NEWGATE LIVES AND TRIALS; and had written the life of Joseph Sell;
but I was afraid that the people of the old town would scarcely
consider these as equivalents for the Northern Ballads and the
songs of Ab Gwilym。 I would go forth and wander in any direction
but that of the old town。
But how one's sensibility on any particular point diminishes with
time; at present I enter the old town perfectly indifferent as to
what the people may be thinking on the subject of the songs and
ballads。 With respect to the people themselves; whether; like my
sensibility; their curiosity has altogether evaporated; whether;
which is at least equally probable; they never entertained any; one
thing is certain; that never in a single instance have they
troubled me with any remarks on the subject of the songs and
ballads。
As it was my intention to travel on foot; with a bundle and a
stick; I despatched my trunk containing some few clothes and books
to the old town。 My preparations were soon made; in about three
days I was in readiness to start。
Before departing; however; I bethought me of my old friend the
apple…woman of London Bridge。 Apprehensive that she might be
labouring under the difficulties of poverty; I sent her a piece of
gold by the hands of a young maiden in the house in which I lived。
The latter punctually executed her commission; but brought me back
the piece of gold。 The old woman would not take it; she did not
want it; she said。 'Tell the poor thin lad;' she added; 'to keep
it for himself; he wants it more than I。'
Rather late one afternoon I departed from my lodging; with my stick
in one hand and a small bundle in the other; shaping my course to
the south…west: when I first arrived; somewhat more than a year
before; I had entered the city by the north…east。 As I was not
going home; I determined to take my departure in the direction the
very opposite to home。
Just as I was about to cross the street called the Haymarket; at
the lower part; a cabriolet; drawn by a magnificent animal; came
dashing along at a furious rate; it stopped close by the curb…stone
where I was; a sudden pull of the reins nearly bringing the
spirited animal upon its haunches。 The Jehu who had accomplished
this feat was Francis Ardry。 A small beautiful female; with
flashing eyes; dressed in the extremity of fashion; sat beside him。
'Holloa; friend;' said Francis Ardry; 'whither bound?'
'I do not know;' said I; 'all I can say is; that I am about to
leave London。'
'And the means?' said Francis Ardry。
'I have them;' said I; with a cheerful smile。
'Qui est celui…ci?' demanded the small female; impatiently。
'C'est … mon ami le plus intime; so you were about to leave London;
without telling me a word;' said Francis Ardry; somewhat angrily。
'I intended to have written to you;' said I: 'what a splendid mare
that is。'
'Is she not?' said Francis Ardry; who was holding in the mare with
difficulty; 'she cost a hundred guineas。'
'Qu'est ce qu'il dit?' demanded his companion。
'Il dit que le jument est bien beau。'
'Allons; mon ami; il est tard;' said the beauty; with a scornful
toss of her head; 'allons!'
'Encore un moment;' said Francis Ardry; 'and when shall I see you
again?'
'I scarcely know;' I replied: 'I never saw a more splendid turn
out。'
'Qu'est ce qu'il dit?' I said the lady again。
'Il dit que tout l'equipage est en assez bon gout。'
'Allons; c'est un ours;' said the lady; 'le cheval meme en a peur;'
added she; as the mare reared up on high。
'Can you find nothing else to admire but the mare and the
equipage?' said Francis Ardry; reproachfully; after he had with
some difficulty brought the mare to order。
Lifting my hand; in which I held my stick; I took off my hat。 'How
beautiful!' said I; looking the lady full in the face。
'Comment?' said the lady; inquiringly。
'Il dit que vous etes belle comme un ange;' said Francis Ardry;
emphatically。
'Mais; a la bonne heure! arretez; mon ami;' said the lady to
Francis Ardry; who was about to drive off; 'je voudrais bien causer
un moment avec lui; arretez; il est delicieux。 … Est…ce bien ainsi
que vous traitez vos amis?' said she passionately; as Francis Ardry
lifted up his whip。 'Bon jour; Monsieur; bon jour;' said she;
thrusting her head from the side and looking back; as Francis Ardry
drove off at the rate of thirteen miles an hour。
CHAPTER LIX
The milestone … The meditation … Want to get up? … The off…hand
leader … Sixteen shillings … The near…hand wheeler … All right。
IN about two hours I had cleared the Great City; and got beyond the
suburban villages; or rather towns; in the direction in which I was
travelling; I was in a broad and excellent road; leading I knew not
whither。 I now slackened my pace; which had hitherto been great。
Presently; coming to a milestone on which was graven nine miles; I
rested against it; and looking round towards the vast city; which
had long ceased to be visible; I fell into a train of meditation。
I thought of all my ways and doings since the day of my first
arrival in that vast city … I had worked and toiled; and; though I
had accomplished nothing at all commensurate with the hopes which I
had entertained previous to my arrival; I had achieved my own
living; preserved my independence; and become indebted to no one。
I was now quitting it; poor in purse; it is true; but not wholly
empty; rather ailing it may be; but not broken in health; and; with
hope within my bosom; had I not cause upon the whole to be
thankful? Perhaps there were some who; arriving at the same time
under not more favourable circumstances; had accomplished much
more; and whose future was far more hopeful … Good! But there
might be others who; in spite of all their efforts; had been either
trodden down in the press; never more to be heard of; or were
quitting that mighty town broken in purse; broken in health; and;
oh! with not one dear hope to cheer them。 Had I not; upon the
whole; abundant cause to be grateful? Truly; yes!
My meditation over; I left the milestone and proceeded on my way in
the same direction as before until
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