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lavengro-第51部分
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soon arriving before a large brick house; of rather antique
appearance; knocked at the door。
In this house there lived a gentleman with whom I had business。 He
was said to be a genuine old English gentleman; and a man of
considerable property; at this time; however; he wanted a thousand
pounds; as gentlemen of considerable property every now and then
do。 I had brought him a thousand pounds in my pocket; for it is
astonishing how many eager helpers the rich find; and with what
compassion people look upon their distresses。 He was said to have
good wine in his cellar。
'Is your master at home?' said I; to a servant who appeared at the
door。
'His worship is at home; young man;' said the servant; as he looked
at my shoes; which bore evidence that I had come walking。 'I beg
your pardon; sir;' he added; as he looked me in the face。
'Ay; ay; servants;' thought I; as I followed the man into the
house; 'always look people in the face when you open the door; and
do so before you look at their shoes; or you may mistake the heir
of a Prime Minister for a shopkeeper's son。'
I found his worship a jolly; red…faced gentleman; of about fifty…
five; he was dressed in a green coat; white corduroy breeches; and
drab gaiters; and sat on an old…fashioned leather sofa; with two
small; thoroughbred; black English terriers; one on each side of
him。 He had all the appearance of a genuine old English gentleman
who kept good wine in his cellar。
'Sir;' said I; 'I have brought you a thousand pounds'; and I said
this after the servant had retired; and the two terriers had ceased
the barking which is natural to all such dogs at the sight of a
stranger。
And when the magistrate had received the money; and signed and
returned a certain paper which I handed to him; he rubbed his
hands; and looking very benignantly at me; exclaimed …
'And now; young gentleman; that our business is over; perhaps you
can tell me where the fight is to take place?'
'I am sorry; sir;' said I; 'that I can't inform you; but everybody
seems to be anxious about it'; and then I told him what had
occurred to me on the road with the alehouse…keeper。
'I know him;' said his worship; 'he's a tenant of mine; and a good
fellow; somewhat too much in my debt though。 But how is this;
young gentleman; you look as if you had been walking; you did not
come on foot?'
'Yes; sir; I came on foot。'
'On foot! why it is sixteen miles。'
'I shan't be tired when I have walked back。'
'You can't ride; I suppose?'
'Better than I can walk。'
'Then why do you walk?'
'I have frequently to make journeys connected with my profession;
sometimes I walk; sometimes I ride; just as the whim takes me。'
'Will you take a glass of wine?'
'Yes。'
'That's right; what shall it be?'
'Madeira!'
The magistrate gave a violent slap on his knee; 'I like your
taste;' said he; 'I am fond of a glass of Madeira myself; and can
give you such a one as you will not drink every day; sit down;
young gentleman; you shall have a glass of Madeira; and the best I
have。'
Thereupon he got up; and; followed by his two terriers; walked
slowly out of the room。
I looked round the room; and; seeing nothing which promised me much
amusement; I sat down; and fell again into my former train of
thought。 'What is truth?' said I。
'Here it is;' said the magistrate; returning at the end of a
quarter of an hour; followed by the servant with a tray; 'here's
the true thing; or I am no judge; far less a justice。 It has been
thirty years in my cellar last Christmas。 There;' said he to the
servant; 'put it down; and leave my young friend and me to
ourselves。 Now; what do you think of it?'
'It is very good;' said I。
'Did you ever taste better Madeira?'
'I never before tasted Madeira。'
'Then you ask for a wine without knowing what it is?'
'I ask for it; sir; that I may know what it is。'
'Well; there is logic in that; as Parr would say; you have heard of
Parr?'
'Old Parr?'
'Yes; old Parr; but not that Parr; you mean the English; I the
Greek Parr; as people call him。'
'I don't know him。'
'Perhaps not … rather too young for that; but were you of my age;
you might have cause to know him; coming from where you do。 He
kept school there; I was his first scholar; he flogged Greek into
me till I loved him … and he loved me: he came to see me last
year; and sat in that chair; I honour Parr … he knows much; and is
a sound man。'
'Does he know the truth?'
'Know the truth! he knows what's good; from an oyster to an ostrich
… he's not only sound; but round。'
'Suppose we drink his health?'
'Thank you; boy: here's Parr's health; and Whiter's。'
'Who is Whiter?'
'Don't you know Whiter? I thought everybody knew Reverend Whiter
the philologist; though I suppose you scarcely know what that
means。 A man fond of tongues and languages; quite out of your way
… he understands some twenty; what do you say to that?'
'Is he a sound man?'
'Why; as to that; I scarcely know what to say: he has got queer
notions in his head … wrote a book to prove that all words came
originally from the earth … who knows? Words have roots; and roots
live in the earth; but; upon the whole; I should not call him
altogether a sound man; though he can talk Greek nearly as fast as
Parr。'
'Is he a round man?'
'Ay; boy; rounder than Parr; I'll sing you a song; if you like;
which will let you into his character:…
'Give me the haunch of a buck to eat; and to drink Madeira old;
And a gentle wife to rest with; and in my arms to fold;
An Arabic book to study; a Norfolk cob to ride;
And a house to live in shaded with trees; and near to a river side;
With such good things around me; and blessed with good health
withal;
Though I should live for a hundred years; for death I would not
call。
Here's to Whiter's health … so you know nothing about the fight?'
'No; sir; the truth is; that of late I have been very much occupied
with various matters; otherwise I should; perhaps; have been able
to afford you some information … boxing is a noble art。'
'Can you box?'
'A little。'
'I tell you what; my boy; I honour you; and provided your education
had been a little less limited; I should have been glad to see you
here in company with Parr and Whiter; both can box。 Boxing is; as
you say; a noble art … a truly English art; may I never see the day
when Englishmen shall feel ashamed of it; or blacklegs and
blackguards bring it into disgrace。 I am a magistrate; and; of
course; cannot patronise the thing very openly; yet I sometimes see
a prize fight: I saw the Game Chicken beat Gulley。'
'Did you ever see Big Ben?'
'No; why do you ask?' But here we heard a noise; like that of a
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