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lavengro-第50部分
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Shakespeare and the English altogether aside; I think there is
another Gothic nation; at least; entitled to dispute with them the
palm。 Indeed; to my mind; there is more genuine poetry contained
in the old Danish book which I came so strangely by; than has been
produced in Germany from the period of the Niebelungen lay to the
present。'
'Ah; the Koempe Viser?' said the elderly individual; breathing
forth an immense volume of smoke; which he had been collecting
during the declamation of his young companion。 'There are singular
things in that book; I must confess; and I thank you for showing it
to me; or rather your attempt at translation。 I was struck with
that ballad of Orm Ungarswayne; who goes by night to the grave…hill
of his father to seek for counsel。 And then; again; that strange
melancholy Swayne Vonved; who roams about the world propounding
people riddles; slaying those who cannot answer; and rewarding
those who can with golden bracelets。 Were it not for the violence;
I should say that ballad has a philosophic tendency。 I thank you
for making me acquainted with the book; and I thank the Jew Mousha
for making me acquainted with you。'
'That Mousha was a strange customer;' said the youth; collecting
himself。
'He WAS a strange customer;' said the elder individual; breathing
forth a gentle cloud。 'I love to exercise hospitality to wandering
strangers; especially foreigners; and when he came to this place;
pretending to teach German and Hebrew; I asked him to dinner。
After the first dinner; he asked me to lend him five pounds; I DID
lend him five pounds。 After the fifth dinner; he asked me to lend
him fifty pounds; I did NOT lend him the fifty pounds。'
'He was as ignorant of German as of Hebrew;' said the youth; 'on
which account he was soon glad; I suppose; to transfer his pupil to
some one else。'
'He told me;' said the elder individual; 'that he intended to leave
a town where he did not find sufficient encouragement; and; at the
same time; expressed regret at being obliged to abandon a certain
extraordinary pupil; for whom he had a particular regard。 Now I;
who have taught many people German from the love which I bear to
it; and the desire which I feel that it should be generally
diffused; instantly said that I should be happy to take his pupil
off his hands; and afford him what instruction I could in German;
for; as to Hebrew; I have never taken much interest in it。 Such
was the origin of our acquaintance。 You have been an apt scholar。
Of late; however; I have seen little of you … what is the reason?'
The youth made no answer。
'You think; probably; that you have learned all I can teach you?
Well; perhaps you are right。'
'Not so; not so;' said the young man eagerly; 'before I knew you I
knew nothing; and am still very ignorant; but of late my father's
health has been very much broken; and he requires attention; his
spirits also have become low; which; to tell you the truth; he
attributes to my misconduct。 He says that I have imbibed all kinds
of strange notions and doctrines; which will; in all probability;
prove my ruin; both here and hereafter; which … which … '
'Ah! I understand;' said the elder; with another calm whiff。 'I
have always had a kind of respect for your father; for there is
something remarkable in his appearance; something heroic; and I
would fain have cultivated his acquaintance; the feeling; however;
has not been reciprocated。 I met him; the other day; up the road;
with his cane and dog; and saluted him; he did not return my
salutation。'
'He has certain opinions of his own;' said the youth; 'which are
widely different from those which he has heard that you profess。'
'I respect a man for entertaining an opinion of his own;' said the
elderly individual。 'I hold certain opinions; but I should not
respect an individual the more for adopting them。 All I wish for
is tolerance; which I myself endeavour to practise。 I have always
loved the truth; and sought it; if I have not found it; the greater
my misfortune。'
'Are you happy?' said the young man。
'Why; no! And; between ourselves; it is that which induces me to
doubt sometimes the truth of my opinions。 My life; upon the whole;
I consider a failure; on which account; I would not counsel you; or
any one; to follow my example too closely。 It is getting late; and
you had better be going; especially as your father; you say; is
anxious about you。 But; as we may never meet again; I think there
are three things which I may safely venture to press upon you。 The
first is; that the decencies and gentlenesses should never be lost
sight of; as the practice of the decencies and gentlenesses is at
all times compatible with independence of thought and action。 The
second thing which I would wish to impress upon you is; that there
is always some eye upon us; and that it is impossible to keep
anything we do from the world; as it will assuredly be divulged by
somebody as soon as it is his interest to do so。 The third thing
which I would wish to press upon you … '
'Yes;' said the youth; eagerly bending forward。
'Is … ' and here the elderly individual laid down his pipe upon the
table … 'that it will be as well to go on improving yourself in
German!'
CHAPTER XXIV
The alehouse…keeper … Compassion for the rich … Old English
gentleman … How is this? … Madeira … The Greek Parr … Twenty
languages … Whiter's health … About the fight … A sporting
gentleman … The flattened nose … Lend us that pightle … The surly
nod。
'HOLLOA; master! can you tell us where the fight is likely to be?'
Such were the words shouted out to me by a short thick fellow; in
brown top…boots; and bareheaded; who stood; with his hands in his
pockets; at the door of a country alehouse as I was passing by。
Now; as I knew nothing about the fight; and as the appearance of
the man did not tempt me greatly to enter into conversation with
him; I merely answered in the negative; and continued my way。
It was a fine lovely morning in May; the sun shone bright above;
and the birds were carolling in the hedgerows。 I was wont to be
cheerful at such seasons; for; from my earliest recollection;
sunshine and the song of birds have been dear to me; yet; about
that period; I was not cheerful; my mind was not at rest; I was
debating within myself; and the debate was dreary and
unsatisfactory enough。 I sighed; and turning my eyes upward; I
ejaculated; 'What is truth?'
But suddenly; by a violent effort breaking away from my
meditations; I hastened forward; one mile; two miles; three miles
were speedily left behind; and now I came to a grove of birch and
other trees; and opening a gate I passed up a kind of avenue; and
soon arriving before a large brick house; of rather antique
appearance; kn
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