misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第7章
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the cage； he found protectors even among the crowd of Vanity Fair。 The
bishop of the Diocese； Dr Barlow； is said to have interceded for him。 At
length the prisoner was suffered to pass most of his time beyond the walls
of the gaol； on condition； as it should seem； that he remained within the
town of Bedford。
He owed his complete liberation to one of the worst acts of one of the
worst governments that England has ever seen。 In 1671 the Cabal was in
power。 Charles II。 had concluded the treaty by which he bound himself to
set up the Roman Catholic religion in England。 The first step which he
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
took towards that end was to annul； by an unconstitutional exercise of his
prerogative； all the penal statutes against the Roman Catholics； and； in
order to disguise his real design； he annulled at the same time the penal
statutes against Protestant nonconformists。 Bunyan was consequently set
at large。 In the first warmth of his gratitude he published a tract in which
he compared Charles to that humane and generous Persian king who；
though not himself blest with the light of the true religion； favoured the
chosen people； and permitted them after years of captivity； to rebuild their
beloved temple。 To candid men； who consider how much Bunyan had
suffered； and how little he could guess the secret designs of the court； the
unsuspicious thankfulness with which he accepted the precious boon of
freedom will not appear to require any apology。
Before he left his prison he had begun the book which has made his
name immortal。 The history of that book is remarkable。 The author was； as
he tells us； writing a treatise； in which he had occasion to speak of the
stages of the Christian progress。 He compared that progress； as many
others had compared it； to a pilgrimage。 Soon his quick wit discovered
innumerable points of similarity which had escaped his predecessors。
Images came crowding on his mind faster than he could put them into
words； quagmires and pits； steep hills； dark and horrible glens； soft vales；
sunny pastures； a gloomy castle of which the courtyard was strewn with
the skulls and bones of murdered prisoners； a town all bustle and
splendour； like London on the Lord Mayor's Day； and the narrow path；
straight as a rule could make it； running on up hill and down hill； through
city and through wilderness； to the Black River and the Shining Gate。 He
had found out； as most people would have said； by accident； as he would
doubtless have said； by the guidance of Providence； where his powers lay。
He had no suspicion； indeed； that he was producing a masterpiece。 He
could not guess what place his allegory would occupy in English literature；
for of English literature he knew nothing。 Those who suppose him to have
studied the Fairy Queen might easily be confuted； if this were the proper
place for a detailed examination of the passages in which the two
allegories have been thought to resemble each other。 The only work of
fiction； in all probability； with which he could compare his Pilgrim； was
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
his old favourite； the legend of Sir Bevis of Southampton。 He would have
thought it a sin to borrow any time from the serious business of his life；
from his expositions； his controversies； and his lace tags； for the purpose
of amusing himself with what he considered merely as a trifle。 It was only；
he assures us； at spare moments that he returned to the House Beautiful；
the Delectable Mountains； and the Enchanted Ground。 He had no
assistance。 Nobody but himself saw a line； till the whole was complete。 He
then consulted his pious friends。 Some were pleased。 Others were much
scandalised。 It was a vain story； a mere romance； about giants； and lions；
and goblins； and warriors； sometimes fighting with monsters and
sometimes regaled by fair ladies in stately palaces。 The loose atheistical
wits at Will's might write such stuff to divert the painted Jezebels of the
court： but did it become a minister of the gospel to copy the evil fashions
of the world？ There had been a time when the cant of such fools would
have made Bunyan miserable。 But that time was passed； and his mind was
now in a firm and healthy state。 He saw that； in employing fiction to make
truth clear and goodness attractive； he was only following the example
which every Christian ought to propose to himself； and he determined to
print。
The 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 stole silently into the world。 Not a single
copy of the first edition is known to be in existence。 The year of
publication has not been ascertained。 It is probable that； during some
months； the little volume circulated only among poor and obscure
sectaries。 But soon the irresistible charm of a book which gratified the
imagination of the reader with all the action and scenery of a fairy tale；
which exercised his ingenuity by setting him to discover a multitude of
curious analogies； which interested his feelings for human beings； frail
like himself； and struggling with temptations from within and from
without； which every moment drew a smile from him by some stroke of
quaint yet simple pleasantry； and nevertheless left on his mind a sentiment
of reverence for God and of sympathy for man； began to produce its effect。
In puritanical circles； from which plays and novels were strictly excluded；
that effect was such as no work of genius； though it were superior to the
Iliad； to Don Quixote； or to Othello； can ever produce on a mind
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accustomed to indulge in literary luxury。 In 1678 came forth a second
edition with additions； and then the demand became immense。 In the four
following years the book was reprinted six times。 The eighth edition；
which contains the last improvements made by the author； was published
in 1682； the ninth in 1684； the tenth in 1685。 The help of the engraver had
early been called in； and tens of thousands of children looked with terror
and delight on execrable copper plates； which represented Christian
thrusting his sword into Apollyon； or writhing in the grasp of Giant
Despair。 In Scotland； and in some of the colonies； the Pilgrim was even
more popular than in his native country。 Bunyan has told us； with very
pardonable vanity； that in New England his dream was the daily subject of
the conversation of thousands； and was thought worthy to appear in the
most superb binding。 He had numerous admirers in Holland； and among
the Huguenots of France。 With the pleasures； however； he experienced
some of the pains of eminence。 Knavish booksellers put forth volumes of
trash under his name； and envious scribblers maintained it to be
impossible that the poor ignorant tinker should really be the author of the
book which was called his。
He took the best way to confound both those who counterfeited him
and those who slandered him。 He continued to work the gold…field which
he had discovered； and to draw from it new treasures； not indeed with
quite such ease and in quite such abundance as when the precious soil was
still virgin； but yet with success which left all competition far behind。 In
1684 appeared the second part of the 〃Pilgrim's Progress。〃 It was soon
followed by the 〃Holy War；〃 which； if the 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 did not
exist； would be the best allegory that ever was written。
Bunyan's place in society was now very different from what it had
been。 There had been a time when many Dissenting ministers； who could
talk Latin and read Greek； had affected to treat him with scorn。 But his
fame and influence now far exceeded theirs。 He had so great an authority
among the Baptists that he was popularly called Bishop Bunyan。 His
episcopal visitations were annual。 From Bedford he rode every year to
London； and preached there to large and attentive congregations。 From
London he went his circuit through the country； animating the zeal of his
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brethren； collecting and distributing alms； and making up quarrels。 The
magistrates seem in general to have given him little trouble。 But there is
reason to believe that； in the year 1685； he was in some danger of again
occupying his old quarters in Bedford gaol。 In that year the rash and
wicked enterprise of Monmouth gave the Government a pretext for
persecuting the Nonconformists； and scarcely one eminent divine of the
Presbyterian； Independent； or Baptist persuasion remained unmolested。
Baxter was in prison： Howe was driven into exile： Henry was arrested。
Two eminent Baptists； with whom Bunyan had been engaged in
controversy； were in great peril and distress。 Danvers was in danger of
being hanged； and Kiffin's grandsons were actually hanged。 The tradition
is that； during those evil days； Bunyan was forced to disguise himself as a
waggoner； and that he preached to his congregation at Bedford in a smoke…
frock； with a cart…whip in his hand。 But soon a great change took place。
James the Second was at open war with the Church； and found it necessary
to court the Dissenters。 Some of the creatures of the government tried to
secure the aid of Bunyan。 They probably knew that he had written in
praise o
