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lavengro-第179部分
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'After we had been at Rome about six weeks our old friend the
priest of Naples arrived; but without his subordinate; for whose
services he now perhaps thought that he had no occasion。 I believe
he found matters in our family wearing almost as favourable an
aspect as he could desire: with what he had previously taught them
and shown them at Naples and elsewhere; and with what the red…
haired confederate had taught them and shown them at Rome; the poor
young ladies had become quite handmaids of superstition; so that
they; especially the youngest; were prepared to bow down to
anything; and kiss anything; however vile and ugly; provided a
priest commanded them; and as for the old governor; what with the
influence which his daughters exerted; and what with the ascendency
which the red…haired man had obtained over him; he dared not say
his purse; far less his soul; was his own。 Only think of an
Englishman not being master of his own purse! My acquaintance; the
lady's maid; assured me that; to her certain knowledge; he had
disbursed to the red…haired man; for purposes of charity; as it was
said; at least one thousand pounds during the five weeks we had
been at Rome。 She also told me that things would shortly be
brought to a conclusion … and so indeed they were; though in a
different manner from what she and I and some other people
imagined; that there was to be a grand festival; and a mass; at
which we were to be present; after which the family were to be
presented to the Holy Father; for so those two priestly sharks had
managed it; and then 。 。 。 she said she was certain that the two
ladies; and perhaps the old governor; would forsake the religion of
their native land; taking up with that of these foreign regions;
for so my fellow…servant expressed it; and that perhaps attempts
might be made to induce us poor English servants to take up with
the foreign religion; that is herself and me; for as for our
fellow…servant; the other maid; she wanted no inducing; being
disposed body and soul to go over to it。 Whereupon I swore with an
oath that nothing should induce me to take up with the foreign
religion; and the poor maid; my fellow…servant; bursting into
tears; said that for her part she would die sooner than have
anything to do with it; thereupon we shook hands and agreed to
stand by and countenance one another: and moreover; provided our
governors were fools enough to go over to the religion of these
here foreigners; we would not wait to be asked to do the like; but
leave them at once; and make the best of our way home; even if we
were forced to beg on the road。
'At last the day of the grand festival came; and we were all to go
to the big church to hear the mass。 Now it happened that for some
time past I had been much afflicted with melancholy; especially
when I got up of a morning; produced by the strange manner in which
I saw things going on in our family; and to dispel it in some
degree; I had been in the habit of taking a dram before breakfast。
On the morning in question; feeling particularly low spirited when
I thought of the foolish step our governor would probably take
before evening; I took two drams before breakfast; and after
breakfast; feeling my melancholy still continuing; I took another;
which produced a slight effect upon my head; though I am convinced
nobody observed it。
'Away we drove to the big church; it was a dark misty day; I
remember; and very cold; so that if anybody had noticed my being
slightly in liquor; I could have excused myself by saying that I
had merely taken a glass to fortify my constitution against the
weather; and of one thing I am certain; which is; that such an
excuse would have stood me in stead with our governor; who looked;
I thought; as if he had taken one too; but I may be mistaken; and
why should I notice him; seeing that he took no notice of me? so
away we drove to the big church; to which all the population of the
place appeared to be moving。
'On arriving there we dismounted; and the two priests; who were
with us; led the family in; whilst I followed at a little distance;
but quickly lost them amidst the throng of people。 I made my way;
however; though in what direction I knew not; except it was one in
which everybody seemed striving; and by dint of elbowing and
pushing I at last got to a place which looked like the aisle of a
cathedral; where the people stood in two rows; a space between
being kept open by certain strangely…dressed men who moved up and
down with rods in their hands; all were looking to the upper end of
this place or aisle; and at the upper end; separated from the
people by palings like those of an altar; sat in magnificent…
looking stalls; on the right and the left; various wonderful…
looking individuals in scarlet dresses。 At the farther end was
what appeared to be an altar; on the left hand was a pulpit; and on
the right a stall higher than any of the rest; where was a figure
whom I could scarcely see。
'I can't pretend to describe what I saw exactly; for my head; which
was at first rather flurried; had become more so from the efforts
which I had made to get through the crowd; also from certain
singing; which proceeded from I know not where; and; above all;
from the bursts of an organ; which were occasionally so loud that I
thought the roof; which was painted with wondrous colours; would
come toppling down on those below。 So there stood I … a poor
English servant … in that outlandish place; in the midst of that
foreign crowd; looking at that outlandish sight; hearing those
outlandish sounds; and occasionally glancing at our party; which;
by this time; I distinguished at the opposite side to where I
stood; but much nearer the place where the red figures sat。 Yes;
there stood our poor governor and the sweet young ladies; and I
thought they never looked so handsome before; and close by them
were the sharking priests; and not far from them was that idiotical
parson Platitude; winking and grinning; and occasionally lifting up
his hands as if in ecstasy at what he saw and heard; so that he
drew upon himself the notice of the congregation。
'And now an individual mounted the pulpit; and began to preach in a
language which I did not understand; but which I believe to be
Latin; addressing himself seemingly to the figure in the stall; and
when he had ceased; there was more singing; more organ…playing; and
then two men in robes brought forth two things which they held up;
and then the people bowed their heads; and our poor governor bowed
his head; and the sweet young ladies bowed their heads; and the
sharking priests; whilst the idiotical parson Platitude tried to
fling himself down; and then there were various evolutions
withinside the pale; and the scarlet figures got up and sat down;
and this kind of thing continued for some time。
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