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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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