THEOLDBENCHERSOFTHEINNERTEMPLE

作者:查尔斯·兰姆

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类型:都市·校园

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更新时间:2019-10-06 20:36

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本章字节:39888字

iwasborn,andpassedhefirssevenyearsofmylife,inheempleischurch,ishalls,isgardens,isfounain,isriver,ihadalmossaid——forinhoseyoungyears,whawashiskingofriversomebuasreamhawaeredourpleasanpces?——heseareofmyoldesrecollecionsirepea,ohisday,noversesomyselfmorefrequenly,orwihkindlieremoion,hanhoseofspenser,wherehespeaksofhisspo


herewhenheycame,whereashosebrickyowers,


hewhichonhemmesbrodeagedbackdohride,


wherenowhesudiouswyershaveheirbowers,


herewhylomewonheemplerknighsobide,


illheydecaydhroughpride


indeed,iishemoseleganspoinhemeropoliswhaaransiionforacounrymanvisiinglondonforhefirsime——hepassingfromhecrowdedsrandorfleesree,byunexpecedavenues,inoismagnificenamplesquares,iscssicgreenrecesses!whaacheerful,liberallookhahhaporionofi,which,fromhreesides,overlookshegreaergarden:hagoodlypile


ofbuildingsrong,albeiofpaperhigh,


confroning,wihmassyconras,heligher,older,morefanasicallyshroudedone,namedofharcour,wihhecheerfulcrownofficerow(pceofmykindlyengendure),righopposiehesaelysream,whichwasheshegardenfoowihheryescarcelyradepolluedwaers,andseemsbujusweanedfromherwickenhamnaiades!amanwouldgivesomehingohavebeenborninsuchpceswhaacollegiaeaspechashafineelizabehanhall,wherehefounainpys,whichihavemadeoriseandfall,howmanyimes!oheasoundmenofheyoungurchins,myconemporaries,who,nobeingableoguessaisrecondiemachinery,werealmosempedohailhewondrousworkasmagic!whaananiqueairhadhenowalmoseffacedsundials,wihheirmoralinscripions,seemingcoevalswihhaimewhichheymeasured,andoakeheirreveionsofisflighimmediaelyfromheaven,holdingcorrespondencewihhefounainofligh!howwouldhedarklinesealimpercepiblyon,wachedbyheeyeofchildhood,eagerodeecismovemen,nevercached,niceasanevanescencloud——orhefirsarressofsleep!


ah!yedohbeauylikeadialhand


sealfromhisfigure,andnopaceperceived!


whaadeadhingisaclock,wihisponderousembowelmensofleadandbrass,isperorsolemndulnessofmunicaion,paredwihhesimplealarlikesrucure,andsilenhearnguageofheolddial!isoodashegardengodofchrisiangardenswhyisialmoseverywherevanished?ifisbusinessusebesupersededbymoreeboraeinvenions,ismoraluses,isbeauy,mighhavepleadedforisconinuanceispokeofmoderaebours,ofpleasuresnoproracedafersunse,ofemperance,andgoodhoursiwasheprimiiveclock,hehorologeofhefirsworldadamcouldscarcehavemissediinparadiseiwashemeasureappropriaeforsweepnsandflowersospringby,forhebirdsoapporionheirsilverwarblingsby,forflocksopasureandbeledofoldbyheshepherd”carvediouquainlyinhesun;”and,urningphilosopherbyheveryoccupaion,providediwihmoosmoreouchinghanombsonesiwasapreydeviceofhegardener,recordedbymarvell,who,inhedaysofarificialgardening,madeadialouofherbsandflowersimusquoehisversesalilehigherup,forheyarefull,asallhispoerywas,ofawiydelicacyheywillnoeinawkwardlyihope,inaalkoffounainsandsundialsheisspeakingofsweegardenscenes:


whawondrouslifeinhisilead!


ripeapplesdropaboumyhead


helusciousclusersofhevine


uponmymouhdocrushheirwine


henecarine,andcuriouspeach,


inomyhandshemselvesdoreach


sumblingonmelons,asipass,


insnaredwihflowers,ifallongrass


meanwhilehemindfrompleasureless


wihdrawsinoishappiness


hemind,haocean,whereeachkind


doessraighisownresembncefind;


yeicreaes,ranscendinghese,


faroherworlds,andoherseas;


a


ihiingallhasmade


oagreenhoughinagreenshade


hereahefounainsslidingfoo,


orasomefruireesmossyroo,


casinghebodysvesaside,


mysoulinoheboughsdoesglide:


here,likeabird,isisandsings,


henwhesandcpsissilverwings;


and,illpreparedforlongerfligh,


wavesinisplumeshevariousligh


howwellheskilfulgardnerdrew,


offlowersandherbs,hisdialnew!


where,fromabove,hemildersun


doeshroughafragranzodiacrun:


and,asiworks,heindusriousbee


compuesisimeaswelswe


howcouldsuchsweeandwholesomehours


bereckond,buwihherbsandflowers?


[foonoe]fromacopyofverseseniled”hegarden”


hearificialfounainsofhemeropolisare,inlikema


er,fasvanishingmosofhemaredriedup,orbrickedoverye,whereoneislef,asinhalilegree


ookbehindhesouhseahouse,whaafreshnessigivesohedrearypile!fourlilewingedmarbleboysusedopyheirvirginfancies,spouingoueverfreshsreamsfromheiri


ocenwanonlips,inhesquareoflincolnsi


,wheniwasnobiggerhanheywerefiguredheyaregone,andhespringchokeduphefashion,heyellme,isgoneby,andhesehingsareeseemedchildishwhynohengraifychildren,byleinghemsand?wyers,isuppose,werechildrenonceheyareawakeningimagesohemaleaswhymuseveryhingsmackofman,andma


ish?isheworldgrownup?ischildhooddead?orisherenoinhebosomsofhewisesandhebessomeofhechildshearlef,orespondoisearliesenchanmens?hefiguresweregroesquearehesiffwiggedlivingfigures,hasillflierandchaerabouhaarea,lessgohicinappearance?orishespluerofheirhorheoriconehalfsorefreshingandi


ocenashelilecoolpyfulsreamshoseexplodedcherubsuered?


heyhaveelygohicisedheenranceohei


eremplehall,andhelibraryfron,oassimiehem,isuppose,ohebodyofhehall,whichheydonoaallresemblewhaisbeeofhewingedhorsehasoodoverheformer?asaelyarms!andwhohasremovedhosefrescoesofhevirues,whichialianizedheendofhepaperbuildings?——myfirshinofallegory!heymusaccounomeforhesehings,whichimisssogrealy


heerraceis,indeed,lef,whichweusedocallheparade;buheracesarepassedawayofhefoosepswhichmadeispavemenawful!iisbeemonandprofaheoldbenchershadialmossacredohemselves,inheforeparofhedayaleasheymighnobesidedorjosledheirairanddressasseredheparadeyoulefwidespacesbewixyou,whenyoupassedheheroguisheyeofj——ll,everreadyobedeliveredofajes,almosinviesasrangeroviearepareewihibuwhainsolenfamiliardurshavemaedhomascovenry?——whosepersonwasaquadrae,hissepmassyandelephanine,hisfacesquareashelions,hisgaiperemporyandpahkeeping,indiveriblefromhiswayasamovingcolumn,hescarecrowofhisinferiors,hebrowbeaerofequalsandsuperiors,whomadeasoliudeofchildrenwhereverhecame,forheyfledhisinsufferablepresence,asheywouldhaveshu


edanelishabearhisgrowlwasashunderinheirears,wheherhespakeoheminmirhorinrebuke,hisinviaorynoesbeing,indeed,ofall,hemosrepulsiveandhorridcloudsofsnuffaggravainghenauralerrorsofhisspeech,brokefromeachmajesicnosril,darkeningheairheooki,nobypinches,buapalmfuonce,divingforiunderhemighyfpsofhisoldfashionedwaiscoapocke;hiswaiscoaredandangry,hiscoadarkrappee,incuredbydyeoriginal,andbyadjuncs,wihbuonsofaobsoleegoldandsohepacedheerrace


byhissideamilderformwassomeimesobeseen;hepensivegeniliyofsamuelsalheywerecoevals,andhadnohingbuhaandheirbenchershipinmoninpoliicssalwasawhigandcovenryasaunchorymanyasarcasicgrowldidheercasou——forcovenryhadaroughspinoushumour——ahepoliicalconfederaesofhisassociae,whichreboundedfromhegenlebosomofheerlikeca


onballsfromwoolyoucouldnorufflesamuelsal


shadherepuaionofbeingaverycleverman,andofexcellendiscernmeninhechamberpraciceofhewisuspechisknowledgedidnoamounomuchwhenacaseofdifficuldisposiionofmoney,esamenaryoroherwise,camebeforehim,heordinarilyhandedioverwihafewinsrucionsohismanlovel,whowasaquicklilefellow,andwoulddespachiouofhandbyhelighofnauralundersanding,ofwhichhehadanunmonshareiwasincrediblewharepueforalenssenjoyedbyhemererickofgraviyhewasashyman;achildmighposehiminaminue——indolenandprocrasinaingohesdegreeyemenwouldgivehimcrediforvasapplicaioninspieofhimselfhewasnooberusedwihhimselfwihimpuniyheneverdressedforadi


erparybuheforgohissword——heyworeswordshen——orsomeohernecessaryparofhisequipagelovelhadhiseyeuponhimonallheseoccasions,andordinarilygavehimhiscueifherewasanyhingwhichhecouldspeakunseasonably,hewassureodoihewasodineaareivesofheunforunaemissbndyonhedayofherexecuion;——andlwhohadawaryforesighofhisprobablehallucinaions,beforeheseou,schooledhimwihgreaanxieynoinanypossiblema


eroalludeohersoryhadayspromisedfaihfullyoobserveheinjuncionhehadnobeenseaedinheparlour,wherehepanywasexpecinghedi


ersummons,fourminues,when,apauseinheconversaionensuing,hegoup,lookedouofwindow,andpullingdownhisruffles——anordinarymoionwihhim——observed,”iwasagloomyday,”andadded,”missbndymusbehangedbyhisime,isuppose”insancesofhissorwereperpeualyeswashoughbysomeofhegreaesmenofhisimeafipersonobeconsuled,noaloneinmaersperainingohew,buinheordinaryniceiesandembarrassmensofconduc——fromforceofma


erenirelyheneverughedhehadhesamegoodforuneamonghefemaleworld,——wasaknownoaswihhedies,andoneorwoaresaidohavediedforloveofhim——isuppose,becauseheneverrifledoralkedgalnrywihhem,orpaidhem,indeed,hardlymonaenionshehadafinefaceandperson,buwanedmehough,hespirihashouldhaveshownhemoffwihadvanageohewomenhiseyeckedlusre——noso,houghsusanp——;who,aheadvancedageofsixy,wasseen,inhecoldeveningime,unacpanied,weinghepavemenofb——drow,wihearshafellindropswhichmighbeheard,becauseherfriendhaddiedhaday——he,whomshehadpursuedwihahopelesspassionforhesforyyears——apassion,whichyearscouldnoexinguishorabae;norhelongresolved,yegenlyenforced,puingsoffofunreleningbachelorhooddissuadefromischerishedpurposemildsusanp——,houhasnowhyfriendinheaven!


homascovenrywasacadeofhenoblefamilyofhanamehepassedhisyouhinconracedcircumsances,whichgavehimearlyhoseparsimonioushabiswhichinaferlifeneverforsookhim;soha,wihonewindfalloranoher,abouheimeiknewhimhewasmaseroffourorfivehundredhousandpounds;nordidhelook,orwalk,worhamoidorelesshelivedinagloomyhouseopposiehepumpinserjeansi


,fleesreej,hecounsel,isdoingselfimposedpenanceini,forwhareasonidivineno,ahisdaychadanagreeableseaanorhcray,whereheseldomspenaboveadayorwoaaimeinhesummer;bupreferred,duringhehomonhs,sandingahiswindowinhisdamp,close,welllikemansion,owach,ashesaid,”hemaidsdrawingwaeralldaylong”isuspechehadhiswihindoorreasonsforhepreferencehiccursusearmafuerehemighhinkhisreasuresmoresafehishousehadheaspecofasrongboxcwasaclosehunks——ahoarderraherhanamiser——or,ifamiser,noneofhemadelwesbreed,whohavebroughdiscrediuponacharacer,whichca


oexiswihoucerainadmirablepoinsofseadinessanduniyofpurposeonemayhaearuemiser,buca


o,isuspec,soeasilydespisehimbyakingcareofhepence,heisofenenabledoparwihhepounds,uponascalehaleavesuscarelessgenerousfellowshalingaanimmeasurabledisancebehindcgaveaway30,000laonceinhislifeimeoablindchariyhishousekeepingwasseverelylookedafer,buhekepheableofagenlemanhewouldknowwhocameinanwhowenouofhishouse,buhiskichenchimneywasneversufferedofreeze


salwashisopposieinhis,asinall——neverknewwhahewasworhinheworld;andhavingbuapeencyforhisrank,whichhisindolenhabiswerelilecalcuedoimprove,mighhavesufferedseverelyifhehadnohadhonespeopleabouhimlovelookcareofeveryhinghewasaoncehisclerk,hisgoodservan,hisdresser,hisfriend,his”fpper,”hisguide,sopwach,audior,reasurerhedidnohingwihouconsulinglovel,orfailedinanyhingwihouexpecingandfearinghisadmonishinghepuhimselfalmosoomuchinhishands,hadheynobeenhepuresinheworldheresignedhisilealmosorespecasamaser,iflcouldeverhaveforgoenforamomenhahewasaservan


iknewhislovelhewasamanofanincorrigibleandlosinghonesyagoodfellowwihal,and”wouldsrike”inhecauseofheoppressedbeneverconsideredinequaliies,orcalcuedhenumberofhisopponensheoncewresedaswordouofhehandofamanofqualiyhahaddrawnuponhim;andpommelledhimseverelywihhehilofiheswordsmanhadofferedinsuloafemale——anoccasionuponwhichnooddsagainshimcouldhaveprevenedheinerferenceoflovelhewouldsandnexdaybareheadedohesameperson,modeslyoexcusehisinerference——forlneverforgorank,wheresomehingbeerwasnoconcernedlwashelivelieslilefellowbreahing,hadafaceasgayasgarricks,whomhewassaidgrealyoresemble(ihaveaporraiofhimwhichconfirmsi),possessedafiurnforhumorouspoery——nexoswifandprior——mouldedheadsincyorpserofparisoadmiraion,byhedinofnauralgeniusmerely;urnedcribbageboards,andsuchsmallcabioys,operfecion;ookahandaquadrilleorbowlswihequalfaciliy;madepunchbeerhananymanofhisdegreeinengnd;hadhemerriesquipsandconceis,andwasalogeherasbrimfulofrogueriesandinvenionsasyoucoulddesirehewasabroherofheangle,moreover,andjussuchafree,heary,honespanionasmrisaacwalonwouldhavechosenogoafishingwihisawhiminhisoldageandhedecayofhisfaculies,palsysmien,inhessadsageofhumanweakness——”aremnanmosforlornofwhahewas,”yeevenhenhiseyewouldlighupuponhemenionofhisfavouriegarrickhewasgreaes,hewouldsay,inbayes——”wasuponhesagenearlyhroughouhewholeperformance,andasbusyasabee”ainervals,oo,hewouldspeakofhisformerlife,andhowhecameupalileboyfromlincolnogooservice,andhowhismohercriedaparingwihhim,andhowhereurned,afersomefewyearsabsence,inhissmarnewliveryoseeher,andsheblessedherselfahechange,andcouldhardlybehoughobelievehaiwas”herownbairn”andhen,heexciemensubsiding,hewouldweep,illihavewishedhasadsecondchildhoodmighhaveamohersilloyisheaduponherpbuhemonmoherofusalli


olongimeaferreceivedhimgenlyinohers


wihcovenry,andwihsal,inheirwalksuponheerrace,mosmonlypeerpiersonwouldjoin,omakeupahirdheydidnowalklinkedarminarminhosedays——”asnowoursouriumvirssweephesrees,”——bugeneralwihbohhandsfoldedbehindhemforsae,orwihonealeasbehind,heohercarryingacanepwasabenevolen,bunoaprepossessingmadhehadhainhisfacewhichyoucouldnoermunhappiness;iraherimpliedanincapaciyofbeinghappyhischeekswerecolourless,evenowhienesshislookwasuninviing,resembling(buwihouhissourness)haofourgreaphinhropisiknowhahedidgoodacs,buicouldnevermakeouwhahewasconemporarywihhese,busubordinae,wasdainesbarringon——anoheroddiy——hewalkedburlyandsquare——inimiaion,ihink,ofcovenry——howbeiheaainednoohedigniyofhisprooypeneverheless,hedidpreywell,uponhesrenghofbeingaolerableaniquarian,andhavingabroherabishopwhenheaccounofhisyearsreasurershipcameobeaudied,hefollowingsingurchargewasunanimouslydisallowedbyhebench:”iem,disbursedmrallen,hegardener,wenyshillings,forsuffopoisonhesparrows,bymyorders”nexohimwasoldbaron——ajollynegaion,whoookuponhimheorderingofhebillsoffareforheparliamenchamber,wherehebenchersdine——answeringohebinaionroomsacollege——muchoheeasemenofhislessepicureanbrehreniknownohingmoreofhim——henread,andwope


y——read,goodhumouredandpersonable——wope


y,goodhumoured,buhin,andfeliciousinjessuponhisownfigureifwashin,wharrywasaenuaedandfleeingmanymusrememberhim(forhewasraheroferdae)andhissingurgai,whichwasperformedbyreesepsandajumpregurlysucceedinghesepswerelileeffors,likehaofachildbegi


ingowalk;hejumpparaivelyvigorous,asafoooaninchwherehelearnedhisfigure,orwhaoccasionedi,icouldneverdiscoveriwasneihergracefuliniself,norseemedoanswerhepurposeanybeerhanmonwalkingheexremeenuiyofhisframe,isuspec,sehimuponiiwasarialofpoisingwope


ywouldofenrallyhimuponhislea


ess,andhailhimasbroherlusy;buwhadnorelishofajokehisfeaureswerespiefulihaveheardhahewouldpinchhiscasearsexremely,whenanyhinghadoffendedhimjackson——heomniscienjacksonhewascalled——wasofhisperiodhehadherepuaionofpossessingmoremulifariousknowledgehananymanofhisimehewashefriarbaconofhelesslieraeporionofheempleirememberapleasanpassage,ofhecookapplyingohim,wihmuchformaliyofapology,orinsrucionshowowriedownedgeboneofbeefinhisbillofmonshewassupposedoknow,ifanymaninheworlddidhedecidedheorhographyobe——asihavegiveni——forifyinghisauhoriywihsuchanaomicalreasonsasdismissedhemanciple(forheime)learnedandhappysomedospelliyeperversely,aichbone,fromafancifulresembncebeweenisshape,andhaofheaspiraesodenominaedihadalmosforgoenmingaywihheironhand——buhewassomewhaerhehadloshisrighhandbysomeacciden,andsuppliediwihagrapplinghook,whichhewieldedwihaolerableadroinessideecedhesubsiue,beforeiwasoldenoughoreasonwheheriwerearificialornoirememberheasonishmeniraisedinmehewasablusering,loudalkingperson;andireconciledhephenomenonomyideasasanemblemofpower——somewhalikehehornsinheforeheadofmichaengelosmosesbaronmaseres,whowalks(ordidillveryely)inhecosumeofhereignofgeorgehesecond,closesmyimperfecrecollecionsofheoldbenchersofhei


eremplefanasicforms,whiherareyefled?or,ifhelikeofyouexis,whyexisheynomoreforme?yeinexplicable,halfundersoodappearances,whyesinreasonoearawayhepreernauralmis,brighorgloomy,haenshroudedyou?whymakeyesosorryafigureinmyreion,whomadeupome——omychildisheyes——hemyhologyofheemple?inhosedaysisawgods,as”oldmencoveredwihamanle,”walkinguponheearhlehedreamsofcssicidoryperish,——exincbehefairiesandfairyrumperyoflegendaryfabling,inhehearofchildhood,herewill,forever,springupawellofi


ocenorwholesomesupersiion——heseedsofexaggeraionwillbebusyhere,andvial——fromeverydayformseducingheunknownandheunmoninhalilegoshenherewillbeligh,whenhegrownworldfloundersabouinhedarknessofsenseandmaerialiywhilechildhood,andwhiledreams,reducingchildhood,shallbelef,imaginaionshallnohavespreadherholywingsoallyoflyheearh


psihavedoneinjusiceohesofshadeofsamuelsalseewhaiisorusoimperfecmemory,andheerringnoicesofchildhood!yeiproesialwayshoughhahehadbeenabachelor!hisgenleman,rninformsme,marriedyoung,andlosinghisdyinchildbed,wihinhefirsyearofheirunion,fellinoadeepmencholy,fromheeffecsofwhich,probably,heneverhoroughlyrecoveredinwhaanewlighdoeshispcehisrejecion(ocallibyagenlername!)ofmildsusanp——,unravellinginobeauycerainpeculiariiesofhisveryshyandreiringcharacer——henceforhlenoonereceivehenarraivesofeliaforruerecords!heyare,inruh,bushadowsoffac——verisimiliudes,noveriies——orsiingbuuponheremoeedgesandouskirsofhisoryheisnosuchhoneschroniclerasrn,andwouldhavedonebeerperhapsohaveconsuledhagenleman,beforehesenheseincondiereminiscencesopressbuheworhysubreasurer——whorespecshisoldandhisnewmasers——wouldbuhavebeenpuzzledaheindecorousliberiesofeliahegoodmanwosno,peradvenure,ofhelicensewhichmagazineshavearrivedainhispinspeakingage,orhardlydreamsofheirexisencebeyondhegenlemans——hisfurhesmonhlyexcursionsinhisnaurehavingbeenlongconfinedoheholygroundofhonesurbansobiuarymayibelongbeforehisow


ameshallhelposwellhosecolumnsofunenviedfery!——meanime,oyenewbenchersofhei


eremple,cherishhimkindly,forheishimselfhekindliesofhumancreauresshouldinfirmiiesoverakehim——heisyeingreenandvigorousseniliy——makeallowancesforhem,rememberingha”yeyourselvesareold”somayhewingedhorse,ourancienbadgeandcognisance,sillflourishsomayfuurehookersandseldensillusraeyourchurchandchambers!somayhesparrows,indefaulofmoremelodiousquirisers,unpoisonedhopabouyourwalks!somayhefreshcolouredandcleanlynurserymaid,who,byleave,airsherpyfulchargeinyoursaelygardens,dropherpreiesblushingcursyasyepass,reduciveofjuvenescenemoion!somayheyounkersofhisgeneraioneyeyou,pacingyoursaelyerrace,wihhesamesupersiiousveneraion,wihwhichhechildeliagazedonheoldworhieshasolemnizedheparadebeforeye!