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lavengro-第31部分
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A fine old city … Norman master…work … Lollards' Hole … Good blood
… The Spaniard's sword … Old retired officer … Writing to a duke …
God help the child … Nothing like Jacob … Irish brigades … Old
Sergeant Meredith … I have been young … Idleness … Only course open
… The bookstall … A portrait … A banished priest。
FROM the wild scenes which I have attempted to describe in the
latter pages I must now transport the reader to others of a widely
different character。 He must suppose himself no longer in Ireland;
but in the eastern corner of merry England。 Bogs; ruins; and
mountains have disappeared amidst the vapours of the west: I have
nothing more to say of them; the region in which we are now is not
famous for objects of that kind: perhaps it flatters itself that
it can produce fairer and better things; of some of which let me
speak; there is a fine old city before us; and first of that let me
speak。
A fine old city; truly; is that; view it from whatever side you
will; but it shows best from the east; where the ground; bold and
elevated; overlooks the fair and fertile valley in which it stands。
Gazing from those heights; the eye beholds a scene which cannot
fail to awaken; even in the least sensitive bosom; feelings of
pleasure and admiration。 At the foot of the heights flows a narrow
and deep river; with an antique bridge communicating with a long
and narrow suburb; flanked on either side by rich meadows of the
brightest green; beyond which spreads the city; the fine old city;
perhaps the most curious specimen at present extant of the genuine
old English town。 Yes; there it spreads from north to south; with
its venerable houses; its numerous gardens; its thrice twelve
churches; its mighty mound; which; if tradition speaks true; was
raised by human hands to serve as the grave…heap of an old heathen
king; who sits deep within it; with his sword in his hand; and his
gold and silver treasures about him。 There is a gray old castle
upon the top of that mighty mound; and yonder; rising three hundred
feet above the soil; from among those noble forest trees; behold
that old Norman master…work; that cloud…encircled cathedral spire;
around which a garrulous army of rooks and choughs continually
wheel their flight。 Now; who can wonder that the children of that
fine old city are proud of her; and offer up prayers for her
prosperity? I; myself; who was not born within her walls; offer up
prayers for her prosperity; that want may never visit her cottages;
vice her palaces; and that the abomination of idolatry may never
pollute her temples。 Ha; idolatry! the reign of idolatry has been
over there for many a long year; never more; let us hope; to
return; brave hearts in that old town have borne witness against
it; and sealed their testimony with their hearts' blood … most
precious to the Lord is the blood of His saints! we are not far
from hallowed ground。 Observe ye not yon chalky precipice; to the
right of the Norman bridge? On this side of the stream; upon its
brow; is a piece of ruined wall; the last relic of what was of old
a stately pile; whilst at its foot is a place called the Lollards'
Hole; and with good reason; for many a saint of God has breathed
his last beneath that white precipice; bearing witness against
popish idolatry; midst flame and pitch; many a grisly procession
has advanced along that suburb; across the old bridge; towards the
Lollards' Hole: furious priests in front; a calm pale martyr in
the midst; a pitying multitude behind。 It has had its martyrs; the
venerable old town!
Ah! there is good blood in that old city; and in the whole
circumjacent region of which it is the capital。 The Angles
possessed the land at an early period; which; however; they were
eventually compelled to share with hordes of Danes and Northmen;
who flocked thither across the sea to found hearthsteads on its
fertile soil。 The present race; a mixture of Angles and Danes;
still preserve much which speaks strongly of their northern
ancestry; amongst them ye will find the light…brown hair of the
north; the strong and burly forms of the north; many a wild
superstition; ay; and many a wild name connected with the ancient
history of the north and its sublime mythology; the warm heart and
the strong heart of the old Danes and Saxons still beats in those
regions; and there ye will find; if anywhere; old northern
hospitality and kindness of manner; united with energy;
perseverance; and dauntless intrepidity; better soldiers or
mariners never bled in their country's battles than those nurtured
in those regions; and within those old walls。 It was yonder; to
the west; that the great naval hero of Britain first saw the light;
he who annihilated the sea pride of Spain; and dragged the humbled
banner of France in triumph at his stem。 He was born yonder;
towards the west; and of him there is a glorious relic in that old
town; in its dark flint guildhouse; the roof of which you can just
descry rising above that maze of buildings; in the upper hall of
justice; is a species of glass shrine; in which the relic is to be
seen; a sword of curious workmanship; the blade is of keen Toledan
steel; the heft of ivory and mother…of…pearl。 'Tis the sword of
Cordova; won in bloodiest fray off Saint Vincent's promontory; and
presented by Nelson to the old capital of the much…loved land of
his birth。 Yes; the proud Spaniard's sword is to be seen in yonder
guildhouse; in the glass case affixed to the wall: many other
relics has the good old town; but none prouder than the Spaniard's
sword。
Such was the place to which; when the war was over; my father
retired: it was here that the old tired soldier set himself down
with his little family。 He had passed the greater part of his life
in meritorious exertion; in the service of his country; and his
chief wish now was to spend the remainder of his days in quiet and
respectability; his means; it is true; were not very ample;
fortunate it was that his desires corresponded with them; with a
small fortune of his own; and with his half…pay as a royal soldier;
he had no fears for himself or for his faithful partner and
helpmate; but then his children! how was he to provide for them?
how launch them upon the wide ocean of the world? This was;
perhaps; the only thought which gave him uneasiness; and I believe
that many an old retired officer at that time; and under similar
circumstances; experienced similar anxiety; had the war continued;
their children would have been; of course; provided for in the
army; but peace now reigned; and the military career was closed to
all save the scions of the aristocracy; or those who were in some
degree connected with that privileged order; an advantage which few
of these old officers could boast of; they had slight influence
with the great; who gave the
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