友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
lavengro-第66部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
claret。
And when the waiter had retired I took a second glass of the wine;
which I found excellent; and; observing a newspaper lying near me;
I took it up and began perusing it。 It has been observed somewhere
that people who are in the habit of reading newspapers every day
are not unfrequently struck with the excellence of style and
general talent which they display。 Now; if that be the case; how
must I have been surprised; who was reading a newspaper for the
first time; and that one of the best of the London journals! Yes;
strange as it may seem; it was nevertheless true that; up to the
moment of which I am speaking; I had never read a newspaper of any
description。 I of course had frequently seen journals; and even
handled them; but; as for reading them; what were they to me? I
cared not for news。 But here I was now with my claret before me;
perusing; perhaps; the best of all the London journals; it was not
the …; and I was astonished: an entirely new field of literature
appeared to be opened to my view。 It was a discovery; but I
confess rather an unpleasant one; for I said to myself; If literary
talent is so very common in London; that the journals; things
which; as their very name denotes; are ephemeral; are written in a
style like the article I have been perusing; how can I hope to
distinguish myself in this big town; when; for the life of me; I
don't think I could write anything half so clever as what I have
been reading? And then I laid down the paper; and fell into deep
musing; rousing myself from which; I took a glass of wine; and;
pouring out another; began musing again。 What I have been reading;
thought I; is certainly very clever and very talented; but talent
and cleverness I think I have heard some one say are very
commonplace things; only fitted for everyday occasions。 I question
whether the man who wrote the book I saw this day on the bridge was
a clever man; but; after all; was he not something much better? I
don't think he could have written this article; but then he wrote
the book which I saw on the bridge。 Then; if he could not have
written the article on which I now hold my forefinger … and I do
not believe he could … why should I feel discouraged at the
consciousness that I; too; could not write it? I certainly could
no more have written the article than he could; but then; like him;
though I would not compare myself to the man who wrote the book I
saw upon the bridge; I think I could … and here I emptied the glass
of claret … write something better。
Thereupon I resumed the newspaper; and; as I was before struck with
the fluency of style and the general talent which it displayed; I
was now equally so with its commonplaceness and want of originality
on every subject; and it was evident to me that; whatever advantage
these newspaper…writers might have over me in some points; they had
never studied the Welsh bards; translated Kaempe Viser; or been
under the pupilage of Mr。 Petulengro and Tawno Chikno。
And as I sat conning the newspaper three individuals entered the
room; and seated themselves in the box at the farther end of which
I was。 They were all three very well dressed; two of them elderly
gentlemen; the third a young man about my own age; or perhaps a
year or two older: they called for coffee; and; after two or three
observations; the two eldest commenced a conversation in French;
which; however; though they spoke it fluently enough; I perceived
at once was not their native language; the young man; however; took
no part in their conversation; and when they addressed a portion to
him; which indeed was but rarely; merely replied by a monosyllable。
I have never been a listener; and I paid but little heed to their
discourse; nor indeed to themselves; as I occasionally looked up;
however; I could perceive that the features of the young man; who
chanced to be seated exactly opposite to me; wore an air of
constraint and vexation。 This circumstance caused me to observe
him more particularly than I otherwise should have done: his
features were handsome and prepossessing; he had dark brown hair
and a high…arched forehead。 After the lapse of half an hour; the
two elder individuals; having finished their coffee; called for the
waiter; and then rose as if to depart; the young man; however;
still remaining seated in the box。 The others; having reached the
door; turned round; and; finding that the youth did not follow
them; one of them called to him with a tone of some authority;
whereupon the young man rose; and; pronouncing half audibly the
word 'botheration;' rose and followed them。 I now observed that he
was remarkably tall。 All three left the house。 In about ten
minutes; finding nothing more worth reading in the newspaper; I
laid it down; and though the claret was not yet exhausted; I was
thinking of betaking myself to my lodgings; and was about to call
the waiter; when I heard a step in the passage; and in another
moment the tall young man entered the room; advanced to the same
box; and; sitting down nearly opposite to me; again pronounced to
himself; but more audibly than before; the same word。
'A troublesome world this; sir;' said I; looking at him。
'Yes;' said the young man; looking fixedly at me; 'but I am afraid
we bring most of our troubles on our own heads … at least I can say
so of myself;' he added; laughing。 Then; after a pause; 'I beg
pardon;' he said; 'but am I not addressing one of my own country?'
'Of what country are you?' said I。
'Ireland。'
'I am not of your country; sir; but I have an infinite veneration
for your country; as Strap said to the French soldier。 Will you
take a glass of wine?'
'Ah; de tout mon coeur; as the parasite said to Gil Blas;' cried
the young man; laughing。 'Here's to our better acquaintance!'
And better acquainted we soon became; and I found that; in making
the acquaintance of the young man; I had indeed made a valuable
acquisition; he was accomplished; highly connected; and bore the
name of Francis Ardry。 Frank and ardent he was; and in a very
little time had told me much that related to himself; and in return
I communicated a general outline of my own history; he listened
with profound attention; but laughed heartily when I told him some
particulars of my visit in the morning to the publisher; whom he
had frequently heard of。
We left the house together。
'We shall soon see each other again;' said he; as we separated at
the door of my lodging。
CHAPTER XXXIII
Dine with the publisher … Religions … No animal food … Unprofitable
discussions … Principles of criticism … The book market … Newgate
lives … Goethe a drug … German acquirements … Moral dignity。
ON the Sunday I was punctual to my appointment to dine with the
publisher。 As I hurried along the square in which
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!