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lavengro-第116部分

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raised the pitcher to my lips。



The tinker; for such I supposed him to be; without altering his 

posture; raised his eyes; looked at me for a moment; gave a slight 

nod; and then once more fixed his eyes upon the table。  I took a 

draught of the ale; which I found excellent; 'Won't you drink?' 

said I; holding the pitcher to the tinker。



The man again lifted up his eyes; looked at me; and then at the 

pitcher; and then at me again。  I thought at one time that he was 

about to shake his head in sign of refusal; but no; he looked once 

more at the pitcher; and the temptation was too strong。  Slowly 

removing his head from his arms; he took the pitcher; sighed; 

nodded; and drank a tolerable quantity; and then set the pitcher 

down before me upon the table。



'You had better mend your draught;' said I to the tinker; 'it is a 

sad heart that never rejoices。'



'That's true;' said the tinker; and again raising the pitcher to 

his lips; he mended his draught as I had bidden him; drinking a 

larger quantity than before。



'Pass it to your wife;' said I。



The poor woman took the pitcher from the man's hand; before; 

however; raising it to her lips; she looked at the children。  True 

mother's heart; thought I to myself; and taking the half…pint mug; 

I made her fill it; and then held it to the children; causing each 

to take a draught。  The woman wiped her eyes with the corner of her 

gown; before she raised the pitcher and drank to my health。



In about five minutes none of the family looked half so 

disconsolate as before; and the tinker and I were in deep 

discourse。



Oh; genial and gladdening is the power of good ale; the true and 

proper drink of Englishmen。  He is not deserving of the name of 

Englishman who speaketh against ale; that is good ale; like that 

which has just made merry the hearts of this poor family; and yet 

there are beings; calling themselves Englishmen; who say that it is 

a sin to drink a cup of ale; and who; on coming to this passage 

will be tempted to fling down the book and exclaim; 'The man is 

evidently a bad man; for behold; by his own confession; he is not 

only fond of ale himself; but is in the habit of tempting other 

people with it。'  Alas! alas! what a number of silly individuals 

there are in this world; I wonder what they would have had me do in 

this instance … given the afflicted family a cup of cold water? go 

to!  They could have found water in the road; for there was a 

pellucid spring only a few yards distant from the house; as they 

were well aware … but they wanted not water; what should I have 

given them? meat and bread? go to!  They were not hungry; there was 

stifled sobbing in their bosoms; and the first mouthful of strong 

meat would have choked them。  What should I have given them?  

Money! what right had I to insult them by offering them money?  

Advice! words; words; words; friends; there is a time for 

everything; there is a time for a cup of cold water; there is a 

time for strong meat and bread; there is a time for advice; and 

there is a time for ale; and I have generally found that the time 

for advice is after a cup of ale。  I do not say many cups; the 

tongue then speaketh more smoothly; and the ear listeneth more 

benignantly; but why do I attempt to reason with you? do I not know 

you for conceited creatures; with one idea … and that a foolish 

one; … a crotchet; for the sake of which ye would sacrifice 

anything; religion if required … country?  There; fling down my 

book; I do not wish ye to walk any farther in my company; unless 

you cast your nonsense away; which ye will never do; for it is the 

breath of your nostrils; fling down my book; it was not written to 

support a crotchet; for know one thing; my good people; I have 

invariably been an enemy to humbug。



'Well;' said the tinker; after we had discoursed some time; 'little 

thought; when I first saw you; that you were of my own trade。'



MYSELF。  Nor am I; at least not exactly。  There is not much 

difference; 'tis true; between a tinker and a smith。



TINKER。  You are a whitesmith then?



MYSELF。  Not I; I'd scorn to be anything so mean; no; friend; 

black's the colour; I am a brother of the horse…shoe。  Success to 

the hammer and tongs。



TINKER。  Well; I shouldn't have thought you had been a blacksmith 

by your hands。



MYSELF。  I have seen them; however; as black as yours。  The truth 

is; I have not worked for many a day。



TINKER。  Where did you serve first?



MYSELF。  In Ireland。



TINKER。 That's a good way off; isn't it?



MYSELF。  Not very far; over those mountains to the left; and the 

run of salt water that lies behind them; there's Ireland。



TINKER。  It's a fine thing to be a scholar。



MYSELF。  Not half so fine as to be a tinker。



TINKER。  How you talk!



MYSELF。  Nothing but the truth; what can be better than to be one's 

own master?  Now a tinker is his own master; a scholar is not。  Let 

us suppose the best of scholars; a schoolmaster for example; for I 

suppose you will admit that no one can be higher in scholarship 

than a schoolmaster; do you call his a pleasant life?  I don't; we 

should call him a school…slave; rather than a schoolmaster。  Only 

conceive him in blessed weather like this; in his close school; 

teaching children to write in copy…books; 'Evil communication 

corrupts good manners;' or 'You cannot touch pitch without 

defilement;' or to spell out of Abedariums; or to read out of Jack 

Smith; or Sandford and Merton。  Only conceive him; I say; drudging 

in such guise from morning till night; without any rational 

enjoyment but to beat the children。  Would you compare such a dog's 

life as that with your own … the happiest under heaven … true Eden 

life; as the Germans would say; … pitching your tent under the 

pleasant hedgerows; listening to the song of the feathered tribes; 

collecting all the leaky kettles in the neighbourhood; soldering 

and joining; earning your honest bread by the wholesome sweat of 

your brow … making ten holes … hey; what's this? what's the man 

crying for?



Suddenly the tinker had covered his face with his hands; and begun 

to sob and moan like a man in the deepest distress; the breast of 

his wife was heaved with emotion; even the children were agitated; 

the youngest began to roar。



MYSELF。  What's the matter with you; what are you all crying about?



TINKER (uncovering his face)。  Lord; why to hear you talk; isn't 

that enough to make anybody cry … even the poor babes?  Yes; you 

said right; 'tis life in the garden of Eden … the tinker's; I see 

so now that I'm about to give it up。



MYSELF。  Give it up! you must not think of such a thing。



TINKER。  No; I can't bear to think of it; and yet I must; what's to 

be done?  How hard to be frightened to death; to be driven off the 

roads。



MYSELF。  Who has driven you off the roads?



TINKER。  Who! the Fl
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