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lavengro-第14部分
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snakes; and plays tricks with them! Well; it comes very nearly to
the same thing; and if you please to list with us; and bear us
pleasant company; we shall be glad of you。 I'd take my oath upon
it; that we might make a mort of money by you and that sap; and the
tricks it could do; and; as you seem fly to everything; I shouldn't
wonder if you would make a prime hand at telling fortunes。
'I shouldn't wonder;' said I。
MAN。 Of course。 And you might still be our God Almighty; or at
any rate our clergyman; so you should live in a tilted cart by
yourself; and say prayers to us night and morning … to wifelkin
here; and all our family; there's plenty of us when we are all
together: as I said before; you seem fly; I shouldn't wonder if
you could read?
'Oh yes!' said I; 'I can read'; and; eager to display my
accomplishments; I took my book out of my pocket; and; opening it
at random; proceeded to read how a certain man; whilst wandering
about a certain solitary island; entered a cave; the mouth of which
was overgrown with brushwood; and how he was nearly frightened to
death in that cave by something which he saw。
'That will do;' said the man; 'that's the kind of prayers for me
and my family; aren't they; wifelkin? I never heard more delicate
prayers in all my life! Why; they beat the rubricals hollow! … and
here comes my son Jasper。 I say; Jasper; here's a young sap…engro
that can read; and is more fly than yourself。 Shake hands with
him; I wish ye to be two brothers。'
With a swift but stealthy pace Jasper came towards us from the
farther part of the lane; on reaching the tent he stood still; and
looked fixedly upon me as I sat upon the stool; I looked fixedly
upon him。 A queer look had Jasper; he was a lad of some twelve or
thirteen years; with long arms; unlike the singular being who
called himself his father; his complexion was ruddy; but his face
was seamed; though it did not bear the peculiar scar which
disfigured the countenance of the other; nor; though roguish
enough; a certain evil expression which that of the other bore; and
which the face of the woman possessed in a yet more remarkable
degree。 For the rest; he wore drab breeches; with certain strings
at the knee; a rather gay waistcoat; and tolerably white shirt;
under his arm he bore a mighty whip of whalebone with a brass knob;
and upon his head was a hat without either top or brim。
'There; Jasper! shake hands with the sap…engro。'
'Can he box; father?' said Jasper; surveying me rather
contemptuously。 'I should think not; he looks so puny and small。'
'Hold your peace; fool!' said the man; 'he can do more than that …
I tell you he's fly: he carries a sap about; which would sting a
ninny like you to dead。'
'What; a sap…engro!' said the boy; with a singular whine; and;
stooping down; he leered curiously in my face; kindly; however; and
then patted me on the head。 'A sap…engro;' he ejaculated; 'lor!'
'Yes; and one of the right sort;' said the man; 'I am glad we have
met with him; he is going to list with us; and be our clergyman and
God Almighty; ain't you; my tawny?'
'I don't know;' said I; 'I must see what my father will say。'
'Your father; bah!' … but here he stopped; for a sound was heard
like the rapid galloping of a horse; not loud and distinct as on a
road; but dull and heavy as if upon a grass sward; nearer and
nearer it came; and the man; starting up; rushed out of the tent;
and looked around anxiously。 I arose from the stool upon which I
had been seated; and just at that moment; amidst a crashing of
boughs and sticks; a man on horseback bounded over the hedge into
the lane at a few yards' distance from where we were: from the
impetus of the leap the horse was nearly down on his knees; the
rider; however; by dint of vigorous handling of the reins;
prevented him from falling; and then rode up to the tent。 ''Tis
Nat;' said the man; 'what brings him here?' The newcomer was a
stout burly fellow; about the middle age; he had a savage
determined look; and his face was nearly covered over with
carbuncles; he wore a broad slouching hat; and was dressed in a
gray coat; cut in a fashion which I afterwards learnt to be the
genuine Newmarket cut; the skirts being exceedingly short; his
waistcoat was of red plush; and he wore broad corduroy breeches and
white top…boots。 The steed which carried him was of iron gray;
spirited and powerful; but covered with sweat and foam。 The fellow
glanced fiercely and suspiciously around; and said something to the
man of the tent in a harsh and rapid voice。 A short and hurried
conversation ensued in the strange tongue。 I could not take my
eyes off this new…comer。 Oh; that half…jockey; half…bruiser
countenance; I never forgot it! More than fifteen years afterwards
I found myself amidst a crowd before Newgate; a gallows was
erected; and beneath it stood a criminal; a notorious malefactor。
I recognised him at once; the horseman of the lane is now beneath
the fatal tree; but nothing altered; still the same man; jerking
his head to the right and left with the same fierce and under
glance; just as if the affairs of this world had the same kind of
interest to the last; gray coat of Newmarket cut; plush waistcoat;
corduroys; and boots; nothing altered; but the head; alas! is bare;
and so is the neck。 Oh; crime and virtue; virtue and crime! … it
was old John Newton; I think; who; when he saw a man going to be
hanged; said; 'There goes John Newton; but for the grace of God!'
But the lane; the lane; all was now in confusion in the lane; the
man and woman were employed in striking the tents and in making
hurried preparations for departure; the boy Jasper was putting the
harness upon the ponies and attaching them to the carts; and; to
increase the singularity of the scene; two or three wild…looking
women and girls; in red cloaks and immense black beaver bonnets;
came from I know not what direction; and; after exchanging a few
words with the others; commenced with fierce and agitated gestures
to assist them in their occupation。 The rider meanwhile sat upon
his horse; but evidently in a state of great impatience; he
muttered curses between his teeth; spurred the animal furiously;
and then reined it in; causing it to rear itself up nearly
perpendicular。 At last he said; 'Curse ye for Romans; how slow ye
are! well; it is no business of mine; stay here all day if you
like; I have given ye warning; I am off to the big north road。
However; before I go; you had better give me all you have of that。'
'Truly spoken; Nat; my pal;' said the man; 'give it him; mother。
There it is; now be off as soon as you please; and rid us of evil
company。'
The woman had handed him two bags formed of stocking; half full of
something heavy; which looked through them for all the world like
mone
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