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lavengro-第63部分
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evangelical body is becoming very strong; sir; the canting
scoundrels … '
'But; sir; surely you would not pander to a scoundrelly taste?'
'Then; sir; I must give up business altogether。 Sir; I have a
great respect for the goddess Reason … an infinite respect; sir;
indeed; in my time; I have made a great many sacrifices for her;
but; sir; I cannot altogether ruin myself for the goddess Reason。
Sir; I am a friend to Liberty; as is well known; but I must also be
a friend to my own family。 It is with the view of providing for a
son of mine that I am about to start the Review of which I was
speaking。 He has taken into his head to marry; sir; and I must do
something for him; for he can do but little for himself。 Well;
sir; I am a friend to Liberty; as I said before; and likewise a
friend to Reason; but I tell you frankly that the Review which I
intend to get up under the rose; and present him with when it is
established; will be conducted on Oxford principles。'
'Orthodox principles; I suppose you mean; sir?'
'I do; sir; I am no linguist; but I believe the words are
synonymous。'
Much more conversation passed between us; and it was agreed that I
should become a contributor to the Oxford Review。 I stipulated;
however; that; as I knew little of politics; and cared less; no
other articles should be required from me than such as were
connected with belles…lettres and philology; to this the big man
readily assented。 'Nothing will be required from you;' said he;
'but what you mention; and now and then; perhaps; a paper on
metaphysics。 You understand German; and perhaps it would be
desirable that you should review Kant; and in a review of Kant;
sir; you could introduce to advantage your peculiar notions about
EX NIHILO。' He then reverted to the subject of the DAIRYMAN'S
DAUGHTER; which I promised to take into consideration。 As I was
going away; he invited me to dine with him on the ensuing Sunday。
'That's a strange man!' said I to myself; after I had left the
house; 'he is evidently very clever; but I cannot say that I like
him much; with his Oxford Reviews and Dairyman's Daughters。 But
what can I do? I am almost without a friend in the world。 I wish
I could find some one who would publish my ballads; or my songs of
Ab Gwilym。 In spite of what the big man says; I am convinced that;
once published; they would bring me much fame and profit。 But how
is this? … what a beautiful sun! … the porter was right in saying
that the day would clear up … I will now go to my dingy lodging;
lock up my manuscripts; and then take a stroll about the big city。'
CHAPTER XXXI
The walk … London's Cheape … Street of the Lombards … Strange
bridge … Main arch … The roaring gulf … The boat … Cly…faking … A
comfort … The book … The blessed woman … No trap。
SO I set out on my walk to see the wonders of the big city; and; as
chance would have it; I directed my course to the east。 The day;
as I have already said; had become very fine; so that I saw the
great city to advantage; and the wonders thereof: and much I
admired all I saw; and; amongst other things; the huge cathedral;
standing so proudly on the most commanding ground in the big city;
and I looked up to the mighty dome; surmounted by a golden cross;
and I said within myself; 'That dome must needs be the finest in
the world'; and I gazed upon it till my eyes reeled; and my brain
became dizzy; and I thought that the dome would fall and crush me;
and I shrank within myself; and struck yet deeper into the heart of
the big city。
'O Cheapside! Cheapside!' said I; as I advanced up that mighty
thoroughfare; 'truly thou art a wonderful place for hurry; noise;
and riches! Men talk of the bazaars of the East … I have never
seen them … but I daresay that; compared with thee; they are poor
places; silent places; abounding with empty boxes; O thou pride of
London's east! … mighty mart of old renown! … for thou art not a
place of yesterday:… long before the Roses red and white battled in
fair England; thou didst exist … a place of throng and bustle …
place of gold and silver; perfumes and fine linen。 Centuries ago
thou couldst extort the praises even of the fiercest foes of
England。 Fierce bards of Wales; sworn foes of England; sang thy
praises centuries ago; and even the fiercest of them all; Red
Julius himself; wild Glendower's bard; had a word of praise for
London's 'Cheape;' for so the bards of Wales styled thee in their
flowing odes。 Then; if those who were not English; and hated
England; and all connected therewith; had yet much to say in thy
praise; when thou wast far inferior to what thou art now; why
should true…born Englishmen; or those who call themselves so; turn
up their noses at thee; and scoff thee at the present day; as I
believe they do? But; let others do as they will; I; at least; who
am not only an Englishman; but an East Englishman; will not turn up
my nose at thee; but will praise and extol thee; calling thee mart
of the world … a place of wonder and astonishment! … and; were it
right and fitting to wish that anything should endure for ever; I
would say prosperity to Cheapside; throughout all ages … may it be
the world's resort for merchandise; world without end。
And when I had passed through the Cheape I entered another street;
which led up a kind of ascent; and which proved to be the street of
the Lombards; called so from the name of its first founders; and I
walked rapidly up the street of the Lombards; neither looking to
the right nor left; for it had no interest for me; though I had a
kind of consciousness that mighty things were being transacted
behind its walls: but it wanted the throng; bustle; and outward
magnificence of the Cheape; and it had never been spoken of by
'ruddy bards'! And; when I had got to the end of the street of the
Lombards; I stood still for some time; deliberating within myself
whether I should turn to the right or the left; or go straight
forward; and at last I turned to the right; down a street of rapid
descent; and presently found myself upon a bridge which traversed
the river which runs by the big city。
A strange kind of bridge it was; huge and massive; and seemingly of
great antiquity。 It had an arched back; like that of a hog; a high
balustrade; and at either side; at intervals; were stone bowers
bulking over the river; but open on the other side; and furnished
with a semicircular bench。 Though the bridge was wide … very wide
… it was all too narrow for the concourse upon it。 Thousands of
human beings were pouring over the bridge。 But what chiefly struck
my attention was a double row of carts and wagons; the generality
drawn by horses as large as elephants; each row striving hard in a
different direction; and not unfrequently brought to a stand…still。
Oh the cracking of w
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