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lavengro-第30部分
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the horse being a noble and generous creature; intended by the All…
Wise to be the helper and friend of man; to whom he stands next in
the order of creation。 On many occasions of my life I have been
much indebted to the horse; and have found in him a friend and
coadjutor; when human help and sympathy were not to be obtained。
It is therefore natural enough that I should love the horse; but
the love which I entertain for him has always been blended with
respect; for I soon perceived that; though disposed to be the
friend and helper of man; he is by no means inclined to be his
slave; in which respect he differs from the dog; who will crouch
when beaten; whereas the horse spurns; for he is aware of his own
worth and that he carries death within the horn of his heel。 If;
therefore; I found it easy to love the horse; I found it equally
natural to respect him。
I much question whether philology; or the passion for languages;
requires so little of an apology as the love for horses。 It has
been said; I believe; that the more languages a man speaks; the
more a man is he; which is very true; provided he acquires
languages as a medium for becoming acquainted with the thoughts and
feelings of the various sections into which the human race is
divided; but; in that case; he should rather be termed a
philosopher than a philologist … between which two the difference
is wide indeed! An individual may speak and read a dozen
languages; and yet be an exceedingly poor creature; scarcely half a
man; and the pursuit of tongues for their own sake; and the mere
satisfaction of acquiring them; surely argues an intellect of a
very low order; a mind disposed to be satisfied with mean and
grovelling things; taking more pleasure in the trumpery casket than
in the precious treasure which it contains; in the pursuit of
words; than in the acquisition of ideas。
I cannot help thinking that it was fortunate for myself; who am; to
a certain extent; a philologist; that with me the pursuit of
languages has been always modified by the love of horses; for
scarcely had I turned my mind to the former; when I also mounted
the wild cob; and hurried forth in the direction of the Devil's
Hill; scattering dust and flint…stones on every side; that ride;
amongst other things; taught me that a lad with thews and sinews
was intended by nature for something better than mere word…culling;
and if I have accomplished anything in after life worthy of
mentioning; I believe it may partly be attributed to the ideas
which that ride; by setting my blood in a glow; infused into my
brain。 I might; otherwise; have become a mere philologist; one of
those beings who toil night and day in culling useless words for
some OPUS MAGNUM which Murray will never publish; and nobody ever
read; beings without enthusiasm; who; having never mounted a
generous steed; cannot detect a good point in Pegasus himself; like
a certain philologist; who; though acquainted with the exact value
of every word in the Greek and Latin languages; could observe no
particular beauty in one of the most glorious of Homer's
rhapsodies。 What knew he of Pegasus? he had never mounted a
generous steed; the merest jockey; had the strain been interpreted
to him; would have called it a brave song! … I return to the brave
cob。
On a certain day I had been out on an excursion。 In a cross…road;
at some distance from the Satanic hill; the animal which I rode
cast a shoe。 By good luck a small village was at hand; at the
entrance of which was a large shed; from which proceeded a most
furious noise of hammering。 Leading the cob by the bridle; I
entered boldly。 'Shoe this horse; and do it quickly; a gough;'
said I to a wild grimy figure of a man; whom I found alone;
fashioning a piece of iron。
'Arrigod yuit?' said the fellow; desisting from his work; and
staring at me。
'Oh yes; I have money;' said I; 'and of the best'; and I pulled out
an English shilling。
'Tabhair chugam?' said the smith; stretching out his grimy hand。
'No; I shan't;' said I; 'some people are glad to get their money
when their work is done。'
The fellow hammered a little longer; and then proceeded to shoe the
cob; after having first surveyed it with attention。 He performed
his job rather roughly; and more than once appeared to give the
animal unnecessary pain; frequently making use of loud and
boisterous words。 By the time the work was done; the creature was
in a state of high excitement; and plunged and tore。 The smith
stood at a short distance; seeming to enjoy the irritation of the
animal; and showing; in a remarkable manner; a huge fang; which
projected from the under jaw of a very wry mouth。
'You deserve better handling;' said I; as I went up to the cob and
fondled it; whereupon it whinnied; and attempted to touch my face
with its nose。
'Are ye not afraid of that beast?' said the smith; showing his
fang。 'Arrah; it's vicious that he looks!'
'It's at you; then! … I don't fear him'; and thereupon I passed
under the horse; between its hind legs。
'And is that all you can do; agrah?' said the smith。
'No;' said I; 'I can ride him。'
'Ye can ride him; and what else; agrah?'
'I can leap him over a six…foot wall;' said I。
'Over a wall; and what more; agrah?'
'Nothing more;' said I; 'what more would you have?'
'Can you do this; agrah?' said the smith; and he uttered a word
which I had never heard before; in a sharp pungent tone。 The
effect upon myself was somewhat extraordinary; a strange thrill ran
through me; but with regard to the cob it was terrible; the animal
forthwith became like one mad; and reared and kicked with the
utmost desperation。
'Can you do that; agrah?' said the smith。
'What is it?' said I; retreating; 'I never saw the horse so
before。'
'Go between his legs; agrah;' said the smith; 'his hinder legs';
and he again showed his fang。
'I dare not;' said I; 'he would kill me。'
'He would kill ye! and how do ye know that; agrah?'
'I feel he would;' said I; 'something tells me so。'
'And it tells ye truth; agrah; but it's a fine beast; and it's a
pity to see him in such a state: Is agam an't leigeas' … and here
he uttered another word in a voice singularly modified; but sweet
and almost plaintive; the effect of it was as instantaneous as that
of the other; but how different! … the animal lost all its fury;
and became at once calm and gentle。 The smith went up to it;
coaxed and patted it; making use of various sounds of equine
endearment; then turning to me; and holding out once more the grimy
hand; he said; 'And now ye will be giving me the Sassannach
tenpence; agrah?'
CHAPTER XIV
A fine old city … Norman master…work … Lollards' Hole … Good blood
… The Spaniard's sword … Old retired officer … Writing to a duke
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