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lavengro-第35部分

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goodly materials。  He was in the prime and vigour of manhood; his 

features handsome and noble; but full of calmness and benevolence; 

at least I thought so; though they were somewhat shaded by a hat of 

finest beaver; with broad drooping eaves。



'Surely that is a very cruel diversion in which thou indulgest; my 

young friend?' he continued。



'I am sorry for it; if it be; sir;' said I; rising; 'but I do not 

think it cruel to fish。'



'What are thy reasons for not thinking so?'



'Fishing is mentioned frequently in Scripture。  Simon Peter was a 

fisherman。'



'True; and Andrew and his brother。  But thou forgettest:  they did 

not follow fishing as a diversion; as I fear thou doest。 … Thou 

readest the Scriptures?'



'Sometimes。'



'Sometimes? … not daily? … that is to be regretted。  What 

profession dost thou make? … I mean to what religious denomination 

dost thou belong; my young friend。'



'Church?'



'It is a very good profession … there is much of Scripture 

contained in its liturgy。  Dost thou read aught besides the 

Scriptures?'



'Sometimes。'



'What dost thou read besides?'



'Greek; and Dante。'



'Indeed! then thou hast the advantage over myself; I can only read 

the former。  Well; I am rejoiced to find that thou hast other 

pursuits beside thy fishing。  Dost thou know Hebrew?'



'No。'



'Thou shouldst study it。  Why dost thou not undertake the study?'



'I have no books。'



'I will lend thee books; if thou wish to undertake the study。  I 

live yonder at the hall; as perhaps thou knowest。  I have a library 

there; in which are many curious books; both in Greek and Hebrew; 

which I will show to thee; whenever thou mayest find it convenient 

to come and see me。  Farewell!  I am glad to find that thou hast 

pursuits more satisfactory than thy cruel fishing。'



And the man of peace departed; and left me on the bank of the 

stream。  Whether from the effect of his words; or from want of 

inclination to the sport; I know not; but from that day I became 

less and less a practitioner of that 'cruel fishing。'  I rarely 

flung line and angle into the water; but I not unfrequently 

wandered by the banks of the pleasant rivulet。  It seems singular 

to me; on reflection; that I never availed myself of his kind 

invitation。  I say singular; for the extraordinary; under whatever 

form; had long had no slight interest for me; and I had discernment 

enough to perceive that yon was no common man。  Yet I went not near 

him; certainly not from bashfulness or timidity; feelings to which 

I had long been an entire stranger。  Am I to regret this? perhaps; 

for I might have learned both wisdom and righteousness from those 

calm; quiet lips; and my after…course might have been widely 

different。  As it was; I fell in with other guess companions; from 

whom I received widely different impressions than those I might 

have derived from him。  When many years had rolled on; long after I 

had attained manhood; and had seen and suffered much; and when our 

first interview had long since been effaced from the mind of the 

man of peace; I visited him in his venerable hall; and partook of 

the hospitality of his hearth。  And there I saw his gentle partner 

and his fair children; and on the morrow he showed me the books of 

which he had spoken years before by the side of the stream。  In the 

low quiet chamber; whose one window; shaded by a gigantic elm; 

looks down the slope towards the pleasant stream; he took from the 

shelf his learned books; Zohar and Mishna; Toldoth Jesu and 

Abarbenel。  'I am fond of these studies;' said he; 'which; perhaps; 

is  not to be wondered at; seeing that our people have been 

compared to the Jews。  In one respect I confess we are similar to 

them; we are fond of getting money。  I do not like this last 

author; this Abarbenel; the worse for having been a money…changer。  

I am a banker myself; as thou knowest。'



And would there were many like him; amidst the money…changers of 

princes!  The hall of many an earl lacks the bounty; the palace of 

many a prelate the piety and learning; which adorn the quiet 

quaker's home!







CHAPTER XVI







Fair of horses … Looks of respect … The fast trotter … Pair of eyes 

… Strange men … Jasper; your pal … Force of blood … Young lady with 

diamonds … Not quite so beautiful。



I WAS standing on the castle hill in the midst of a fair of horses。



I have already had occasion to mention this castle。  It is the 

remains of what was once a Norman stronghold; and is perched upon a 

round mound or monticle; in the midst of the old city。  Steep is 

this mound and scarped; evidently by the hand of man; a deep gorge 

over which is flung a bridge; separates it; on the south; from a 

broad swell of open ground called 'the hill'; of old the scene of 

many a tournament and feat of Norman chivalry; but now much used as 

a show…place for cattle; where those who buy and sell beeves and 

other beasts resort at stated periods。



So it came to pass that I stood upon this hill; observing a fair of 

horses。



The reader is already aware that I had long since conceived a 

passion for the equine race; a passion in which circumstances had 

of late not permitted me to indulge。  I had no horses to ride; but 

I took pleasure in looking at them; and I had already attended more 

than one of these fairs:  the present was lively enough; indeed 

horse fairs are seldom dull。  There was shouting and whooping; 

neighing and braying; there was galloping and trotting; fellows 

with highlows and white stockings; and with many a string dangling 

from the knees of their tight breeches; were running desperately; 

holding horses by the halter; and in some cases dragging them 

along; there were long…tailed steeds and dock…tailed steeds of 

every degree and breed; there were droves of wild ponies; and long 

rows of sober cart horses; there were donkeys; and even mules:  the 

last rare things to be seen in damp; misty England; for the mule 

pines in mud and rain; and thrives best with a hot sun above and a 

burning sand below。  There were … oh; the gallant creatures!  I 

hear their neigh upon the wind; there were … goodliest sight of all 

… certain enormous quadrupeds only seen to perfection in our native 

isle; led about by dapper grooms; their manes ribanded and their 

tails curiously clubbed and balled。  Ha! ha! … how distinctly do 

they say; ha! ha!



An old man draws nigh; he is mounted on a lean pony; and he leads 

by the bridle one of these animals; nothing very remarkable about 

that creature; unless in being smaller than the rest and gentle; 

which they are not; he is not of the sightliest look; he is almost 

dun; and over one eye a thick film has gathered。  But stay! there 

IS something remarkable about that horse; there is something in his 

action in which he differs from all the rest:  as he advances; the 

clamour 
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