misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第21章
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
increased their hostility。
There was an honest Irishman； a great favourite among them； who
used to entertain them with raree…shows； and to exhibit a magic lantern to
the children on winter evenings。 He had gone quite mad upon this
subject。 Sometimes he would call out in the middle of the street〃Take
care of that corner； neighbours； for the love of Heaven； keep clear of that
post； there is a patent steel… trap concealed thereabouts。〃 Sometimes he
would be disturbed by frightful dreams； then he would get up at dead of
night； open his window and cry 〃fire；〃 till the parish was roused； and the
engines sent for。 The pulpit of the Parish of St George seemed likely to
fall； I believe that the only reason was that the parson had grown too fat
and heavy； but nothing would persuade this honest man but that it was a
scheme of the people at St Dennis's； and that they had sawed through the
pillars in order to break the rector's neck。 Once he went about with a
knife in his pocket； and told all the persons whom he met that it had been
81
… Page 82…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
sharpened by the knife…grinder of the next parish to cut their throats。
These extravagancies had a great effect on the people； and the more so
because they were espoused by Squire Guelf's steward； who was the most
influential person in the parish。 He was a very fair…spoken man； very
attentive to the main chance； and the idol of the old women； because he
never played at skittles or danced with the girls； and； indeed； never took
any recreation but that of drinking on Saturday nights with his friend
Harry； the Scotch pedlar。 His supporters called him Sweet William； his
enemies the Bottomless Pit。
The people of St Dennis's； however； had their advocates。 There was
Frank； the richest farmer in the parish； whose great grandfather had been
knocked on the head many years before； in a squabble between the parish
and a former landlord。 There was Dick； the merry…andrew； rather light…
fingered and riotous； but a clever droll fellow。 Above all； there was
Charley； the publican； a jolly； fat； honest lad； a great favourite with the
women； who； if he had not been rather too fond of ale and chuck…farthing；
would have been the best fellow in the neighbourhood。
〃My boys；〃 said Charley； 〃this is exceedingly well for Madam North；
not that I would speak uncivilly of her； she put up my picture in her best
room； bless her for it！ But； I say； this is very well for her； and for Lord
Caesar； and Squire Don； and Colonel Von；but what affair is it of yours or
mine？ It is not to be wondered at； that gentlemen should wish to keep
poor people out of their own。 But it is strange indeed that they should
expect the poor themselves to combine against their own interests。 If the
folks at St Dennis's should attack us we have the law and our cudgels to
protect us。 But why； in the name of wonder； are we to attack them？
When old Sir Charles； who was Lord of the Manor formerly； and the
parson； who was presented by him to the living； tried to bully the vestry；
did not we knock their heads together； and go to meeting to hear Jeremiah
Ringletub preach？ And did the Squire Don； or the great Sir Lewis； that
lived at that time； or the Germains； say a word against us for it？ Mind
your own business； my lads： law is not to be had for nothing； and we；
you may be sure； shall have to pay the whole bill。〃
Nevertheless the people of St George's were resolved on law。 They
82
… Page 83…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
cried out most lustily； 〃Squire Guelf for ever！ Sweet William for ever！
No steel traps！〃 Squire Guelf took all the rascally footmen who had
worn old Sir Lewis's livery into his service。 They were fed in the kitchen
on the very best of everything； though they had no settlement。 Many
people； and the paupers in particular； grumbled at these proceedings。 The
steward； however； devised a way to keep them quiet。
There had lived in this parish for many years an old gentleman； named
Sir Habeas Corpus。 He was said by some to be of Saxon； by some of
Norman； extraction。 Some maintain that he was not born till after the
time of Sir Charles； to whom we have before alluded。 Others are of
opinion that he was a legitimate son of old Lady Magna Charta； although
he was long concealed and kept out of his birthright。 Certain it is that he
was a very benevolent person。 Whenever any poor fellow was taken up
on grounds which he thought insufficient； he used to attend on his behalf
and bail him； and thus he had become so popular； that to take direct
measures against him was out of the question。
The steward； accordingly； brought a dozen physicians to examine Sir
Habeas。 After consultation； they reported that he was in a very bad way；
and ought not； on any account； to be allowed to stir out for several months。
Fortified with this authority； the parish officers put him to bed； closed his
windows； and barred his doors。 They paid him every attention； and from
time to time issued bulletins of his health。 The steward never spoke of
him without declaring that he was the best gentleman in the world； but
excellent care was taken that he should never stir out of doors。
When this obstacle was removed； the Squire and the steward kept the
parish in excellent order； flogged this man； sent that man to the stocks； and
pushed forward the law…suit with a noble disregard of expense。 They
were； however； wanting either in skill or in fortune。 And everything went
against them after their antagonists had begun to employ Solicitor Nap。
Who does not know the name of Solicitor Nap？ At what alehouse is
not his behaviour discussed？ In what print…shop is not his picture seen？
Yet how little truth has been said about him！ Some people hold that he
used to give laudanum by pints to his six clerks for his amusement。
Others； whose number has very much increased since he was killed by the
83
… Page 84…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
gaol distemper； conceive that he was the very model of honour and good…
nature。 I shall try to tell the truth about him。
He was assuredly an excellent solicitor。 In his way he never was
surpassed。 As soon as the parish began to employ him； their cause took a
turn。 In a very little time they were successful； and Nap became rich。
He now set up for a gentleman； took possession of the old manor…house；
got into the commission of the peace； and affected to be on a par with the
best of the county。 He governed the vestries as absolutely as the old family
had done。 Yet； to give him his due； he managed things with far more
discretion than either Sir Lewis or the rioters who had pulled the Lords of
the Manor down。 He kept his servants in tolerable order。 He removed
the steel traps from the highways and the corners of the streets。 He still
left a few indeed in the more exposed parts of his premises； and set up a
board announcing that traps and spring guns were set in his grounds。 He
brought the poor parson back to the parish； and； though he did not enable
him to keep a fine house and a coach as formerly； he settled him in a snug
little cottage； and allowed him a pleasant pad…nag。 He whitewashed the
church again； and put the stocks； which had been much wanted of late；
into good repair。
With the neighbouring gentry； however； he was no favourite。 He was
crafty and litigious。 He cared nothing for right； if he could raise a point
of law against them。 He pounded their cattle； broke their hedges； and
seduced their tenants from them。 He almost ruined Lord Caesar with
actions； in every one of which he was successful。 Von Blunderbussen
went to law with him for an alleged trespass； but was cast； and almost
ruined by the costs of suit。 He next took a fancy to the seat of Squire
Don； who was； to say the truth； little better than an idiot。 He asked the
poor dupe to dinner； and then threatened to have him tossed in a blanket
unless he would make over his estates to him。 The poor Squire signed
and sealed a deed by which the property was assigned to Joe； a brother of
Nap's； in trust for and to the use of Nap himself。 The tenants； however；
stood out。 They maintained that the estate was entailed； and refused to
pay rents to the new landlord； and in this refusal they were stoutly
supported by the people in St George's。
84
… Page 85…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
About the same time Nap took it into his head to match with quality；
and nothing would serve him but one of the Miss Germains。 Lord Caesar
swore like a trooper； but there was no help for it。 Nap had twice put
executions in his principal residence； and had refused to discharge the
latter of the two till he had extorted a bond from his Lordship which
compelled him to comply。
THE END OF THE FIRST PART。
。。。
85
… Page 86…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN
MR ABRAHAM COWLEY AND
MR JOHN MILTON； TOUCHING
THE GREAT CIVIL WAR。
SET DOWN BY A GENTLEMAN
OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE
