lavengro-第5部分

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went；　so　that　from　my　infancy　I　was　accustomed　to　travelling　and　

wandering；　and　looked　upon　a　monthly　change　of　scene　and　residence　

as　a　matter　of　course。　　Sometimes　we　lived　in　barracks；　sometimes　

in　lodgings；　but　generally　in　the　former；　always　eschewing　the　

latter　from　motives　of　economy；　save　when　the　barracks　were　

inconvenient　and　uncomfortable；　and　they　must　have　been　highly　so　

indeed；　to　have　discouraged　us　from　entering　them；　for　though　we　

were　gentry　（pray　bear　that　in　mind；　gentle　reader）；　gentry　by　

birth；　and　incontestably　so　by　my　father's　bearing　the　commission　

of　good　old　George　the　Third；　we　were　not　FINE　GENTRY；　but　people　

who　could　put　up　with　as　much　as　any　genteel　Scotch　family　who　find　

it　convenient　to　live　on　a　third　floor　in　London；　or　on　a　sixth　at　

Edinburgh　or　Glasgow。　　It　was　not　a　little　that　could　discourage　

us：　　we　once　lived　within　the　canvas　walls　of　a　camp；　at　a　place　

called　Pett；　in　Sussex；　and　I　believe　it　was　at　this　place　that　

occurred　the　first　circumstance；　or　adventure；　call　it　which　you　

will；　that　I　can　remember　in　connection　with　myself：　　it　was　a　

strange　one；　and　I　will　relate　it。



It　happened　that　my　brother　and　myself　were　playing　one　evening　in　

a　sandy　lane；　in　the　neighbourhood　of　this　Pett　camp；　our　mother　

was　at　a　slight　distance。　　All　of　a　sudden；　a　bright　yellow；　and；　

to　my　infantine　eye；　beautiful　and　glorious；　object　made　its　

appearance　at　the　top　of　the　bank　from　between　the　thick　quickset；　

and；　gliding　down；　began　to　move　across　the　lane　to　the　other　side；　

like　a　line　of　golden　light。　　Uttering　a　cry　of　pleasure；　I　sprang　

forward；　and　seized　it　nearly　by　the　middle。　　A　strange　sensation　

of　numbing　coldness　seemed　to　pervade　my　whole　arm；　which　surprised　

me　the　more；　as　the　object　to　the　eye　appeared　so　warm　and　sunlike。　　

I　did　not　drop　it；　however；　but；　holding　it　up；　looked　at　it　

intently；　as　its　head　dangled　about　a　foot　from　my　hand。　　It　made　

no　resistance；　I　felt　not　even　the　slightest　struggle；　but　now　my　

brother　began　to　scream　and　shriek　like　one　possessed。　　'O　mother；　

mother！'　said　he；　'the　viper！　…　my　brother　has　a　viper　in　his　

hand！'　　He　then；　like　one　frantic；　made　an　effort　to　snatch　the　

creature　away　from　me。　　The　viper　now　hissed　amain；　and　raised　its　

head；　in　which　were　eyes　like　hot　coals；　menacing；　not　myself；　but　

my　brother。　　I　dropped　my　captive；　for　I　saw　my　mother　running　

towards　me；　and　the　reptile；　after　standing　for　a　moment　nearly　

erect；　and　still　hissing　furiously；　made　off；　and　disappeared。　　The　

whole　scene　is　now　before　me；　as　vividly　as　if　it　occurred　

yesterday　…　the　gorgeous　viper；　my　poor　dear　frantic　brother；　my　

agitated　parent；　and　a　frightened　hen　clucking　under　the　bushes　…　

and　yet　I　was　not　three　years　old。



It　is　my　firm　belief　that　certain　individuals　possess　an　inherent　

power；　or　fascination；　over　certain　creatures；　otherwise　I　should　

be　unable　to　account　for　many　feats　which　I　have　witnessed；　and；　

indeed；　borne　a　share　in；　connected　with　the　taming　of　brutes　and　

reptiles。　　I　have　known　a　savage　and　vicious　mare；　whose　stall　it　

was　dangerous　to　approach；　even　when　bearing　provender；　welcome；　

nevertheless；　with　every　appearance　of　pleasure；　an　uncouth；　wiry…

headed　man；　with　a　frightfully　seamed　face；　and　an　iron　hook　

supplying　the　place　of　his　right　hand；　one　whom　the　animal　had　

never　seen　before；　playfully　bite　his　hair；　and　cover　his　face　with　

gentle　and　endearing　kisses；　and　I　have　already　stated　how　a　viper　

would　permit；　without　resentment；　one　child　to　take　it　up　in　his　

hand；　whilst　it　showed　its　dislike　to　the　approach　of　another　by　

the　fiercest　hissings。　　Philosophy　can　explain　many　strange　things；　

but　there　are　some　which　are　a　far　pitch　above　her；　and　this　is　

one。



I　should　scarcely　relate　another　circumstance　which　occurred　about　

this　time　but　for　a　singular　effect　which　it　produced　upon　my　

constitution。　　Up　to　this　period　I　had　been　rather　a　delicate　

child；　whereas；　almost　immediately　after　the　occurrence　to　which　I　

allude；　I　became　both　hale　and　vigorous；　to　the　great　astonishment　

of　my　parents；　who　naturally　enough　expected　that　it　would　produce　

quite　a　contrary　effect。



It　happened　that　my　brother　and　myself　were　disporting　ourselves　in　

certain　fields　near　the　good　town　of　Canterbury。　　A　female　servant　

had　attended　us；　in　order　to　take　care　that　we　came　to　no　mischief：　　

she；　however；　it　seems；　had　matters　of　her　own　to　attend　to；　and；　

allowing　us　to　go　where　we　listed；　remained　in　one　corner　of　a　

field；　in　earnest　conversation　with　a　red…coated　dragoon。　　Now　it　

chanced　to　be　blackberry　time；　and　the　two　children　wandered　under　

the　hedges；　peering　anxiously　among　them　in　quest　of　that　trash　so　

grateful　to　urchins　of　their　degree。　　We　did　not　find　much　of　it；　

however；　and　were　soon　separated　in　the　pursuit。　　All　at　once　I　

stood　still；　and　could　scarcely　believe　my　eyes。　　I　had　come　to　a　

spot　where；　almost　covering　the　hedge；　hung　clusters　of　what　seemed　

fruit　…　deliciously…tempting　fruit　…　something　resembling　grapes　of　

various　colours；　green；　red；　and　purple。　　Dear　me；　thought　I；　how　

fortunate！　yet　have　I　a　right　to　gather　it？　is　it　mine？　for　the　

observance　of　the　law　of　MEUM　and　TUUM　had　early　been　impressed　

upon　my　mind；　and　I　entertained；　even　at　that　tender　age；　the　

utmost　horror　for　theft；　so　I　stood　staring　at　the　variegated　

clusters；　in　doubt　as　to　what　I　should　do。　　I　know　not　how　I　argued　

the　matter　in　my　mind；　the　temptation；　however；　was　at　last　too　

strong　for　me；　so　I　stretched　forth　my　hand　and　ate。　　I　remember；　

perfectly　well；　that　the　taste　of　this　strange　fruit　was　by　no　

means　so　pleasant　as　the　appearance；　but　the　idea　of　eating　fruit　

was　sufficient　for　a　child；　and；　after　all；　the　flavour　was　much　

superior　to　that　of　sour　apples；　so　I　ate　voraciously。　　How　long　I　

continued　eating　I　scarcely　know。　　One　thing　is　certain；　that　I　

never　left　the　field　as　I　entered　it；　being　carried　home　in　the　

arms　of　the　dragoon　in　strong　convulsions；　in　which　I　continued　for　

several　hours。　　About　midnight　I　awoke；　as　if　from　a　troubled　

sleep；　and　beheld　my　parents　bending　over　my　couch；　whilst　the　

regimental　surgeon；　with　a　candle　in　his　hand；　stood　nigh；　the　

light　feebly　reflected　on　the　whitewashed　walls　of　the　barrack…

room。



Another　circumstance　connected　with　my　infancy；　and　I　have　done。　　I　

need　offer　no　apology　for　relating　it；　as　it　subsequently　exercised　

considerable　influence　over　my　pursuits。　　We　were；　if　I　remember　

right；　in　the　vicinity　of　a　place　called　Hythe；　in　Kent。　　One　sweet　

evening；　in　the　latter　part　of　summer；　our　mother　took　her　two　

little　boys　by　the　hand；　for　a　wander　about　the　fields。　　In　the　

course　of　our　stroll　we　came　to　the　village　church；　an　old；　gray…

headed　sexton　stood　in　the　porch；　who；　perceiving　that　we　were　

strangers；　invited　us　to　enter。　　We　were　presently　in　the