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!
恐怖书库 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

lavengro-第90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!



Abarbenel say so in his DIALOGUES OF DIVINE LOVE'?



'But;' said I; 'I always thought that Janus was a god of the 

ancient Romans; who stood in a temple open in time of war; and shut 

in time of peace; he was represented with two faces; which … which 

… '



'He … he … he!' said the Rabbi; rising from his seat; 'he had two 

faces; had he?  And what did those two faces typify?  You do not 

know; no; nor did the Romans who carved him with two faces know why 

they did so; for they were only half enlightened; like you and the 

rest of the Goyim。  Yet they were right in carving him with two 

faces looking from each other … they were right; though they knew 

not why; there was a tradition among them that the Janinoso had two 

faces; but they knew not that one was for the world which was gone 

and the other for the world before him … for the drowned world and 

for the present; as Master Leo Abarbenel says in his DIALOGUES OF 

DIVINE LOVE。  He … he … he!' continued the Rabbi; who had by this 

time advanced to the door; and; turning round; waved the two 

forefingers of his right hand in our faces; 'the Goyims and 

Epicouraiyim are clever men; they know how to make money better 

than we of Israel。  My good friend there is a clever man; I bring 

him money; he never brought me any; BUENO; I do not blame him; he 

knows much; very much; but one thing there is my friend does not 

know; nor any of the Epicureans; he does not know the sacred thing 

… he has never received the gift of interpretation which God alone 

gives to the seed … he has his gift; I have mine … he is satisfied; 

I don't blame him; BUENO。'



And; with this last word in his mouth; he departed。



'Is that man a native of Spain?' I demanded。



'Not a native of Spain;' said the Armenian; 'though he is one of 

those who call themselves Spanish Jews; and who are to be found 

scattered throughout Europe; speaking the Spanish language 

transmitted to them by their ancestors; who were expelled from 

Spain in the time of Ferdinand and Isabella。'



'The Jews are a singular people;' said I。



'A race of cowards and dastards;' said the Armenian; 'without a 

home or country; servants to servants; persecuted and despised by 

all。'



'And what are the Haiks?' I demanded。



'Very different from the Jews;' replied the Armenian; 'the Haiks 

have a home … a country; and can occasionally use a good sword; 

though it is true they are not what they might be。'



'Then it is a shame that they do not become so;' said I; 'but they 

are too fond of money。  There is yourself; with two hundred 

thousand pounds in your pocket; craving for more; whilst you might 

be turning your wealth to the service of your country。'



'In what manner?' said the Armenian。



'I have heard you say that the grand oppressor of your country is 

the Persian; why not attempt to free your country from his 

oppression … you have two hundred thousand pounds; and money is the 

sinew of war?'



'Would you; then; have me attack the Persian?'



'I scarcely know what to say; fighting is a rough trade; and I am 

by no means certain that you are calculated for the scratch。  It is 

not every one who has been brought up in the school of Mr。 

Petulengro and Tawno Chikno。  All I can say is; that if I were an 

Armenian; and had two hundred thousand pounds to back me; I would 

attack the Persian。'



'Hem!' said the Armenian。







CHAPTER LI







The one half…crown … Merit in patience … Cementer of friendship … 

Dreadful perplexity … The usual guttural … Armenian letters … Much 

indebted to you … Pure helplessness … Dumb people。



ONE morning on getting up I discovered that my whole worldly wealth 

was reduced to one half…crown … throughout that day I walked about 

in considerable distress of mind; it was now requisite that I 

should come to a speedy decision with respect to what I was to do; 

I had not many alternatives; and; before I had retired to rest on 

the night of the day in question; I had determined that I could do 

no better than accept the first proposal of the Armenian; and 

translate under his superintendence the Haik Esop into English。



I reflected; for I made a virtue of necessity; that; after all; 

such an employment would be an honest and honourable one; honest; 

inasmuch as by engaging in it I should do harm to nobody; 

honourable; inasmuch as it was a literary task; which not every one 

was capable of executing。 it was not every one of the booksellers' 

writers of London who was competent to translate the Haik Esop。  I 

determined to accept the offer of the Armenian。



Once or twice the thought of what I might have to undergo in the 

translation from certain peculiarities of the Armenian's temper 

almost unsettled me; but a mechanical diving of my hand into my 

pocket; and the feeling of the solitary half…crown; confirmed me; 

after all; this was a life of trial and tribulation; and I had read 

somewhere or other that there was much merit in patience; so I 

determined to hold fast in my resolution of accepting the offer of 

the Armenian。



But all of a sudden I remembered that the Armenian appeared to have 

altered his intentions towards me:  he appeared no longer desirous 

that I should render the Haik Esop into English for the benefit of 

the stock…jobbers on Exchange; but rather that I should acquire the 

rudiments of doing business in the Armenian fashion; and accumulate 

a fortune; which would enable me to make a figure upon 'Change with 

the best of the stock…jobbers。  'Well;' thought I; withdrawing my 

hand from my pocket; whither it had again mechanically dived; 

'after all; what would the world; what would this city; be without 

commerce?  I believe the world; and particularly this city; would 

cut a very poor figure without commerce; and then there is 

something poetical in the idea of doing business after the Armenian 

fashion; dealing with dark…faced Lascars and Rabbins of the 

Sephardim。  Yes; should the Armenian insist upon it; I will accept 

a seat at the desk; opposite the Moldavian clerk。  I do not like 

the idea of cuffs similar to those the Armenian bestowed upon the 

Moldavian clerk; whatever merit there may be in patience; I do not 

think that my estimation of the merit of patience would be 

sufficient to induce me to remain quietly sitting under the 

infliction of cuffs。  I think I should; in the event of his cuffing 

me; knock the Armenian down。  Well; I think I have heard it said 

somewhere; that a knock…down blow is a great cementer of 

friendship; I think I have heard of two people being better friends 

than ever after the one had received from the other a knock…down 

blow。'



That night I dreamed I had acquired a colossal fortune; some four 

hundred thousand pounds; by the Armenian way of doing business; but 

suddenly awoke in dreadful perplexity as to how I should dispose of 

it。



About nine o'clock next mor
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 2 2
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!