barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第2章
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in the bloom of his youth； when he was discovered in a modest
retirement in London； by a friend of mine； and given to me。 He
had from the first； as Sir Hugh Evans says of Anne Page； ‘good
gifts’； which he improved by study and attention in a most
exemplary manner。 He slept in a stable—generally on horseback—
and so terrified a Newfoundland dog by his preternatural sagacity；
that he has been known； by the mere superiority of his genius； to
walk off unmolested with the dog’s dinner； from before his face。
He was rapidly rising in acquirements and virtues； when； in an
evil hour； his stable was newly painted。 He observed the workmen
closely； saw that they were careful of the paint； and immediately
burned to possess it。 On their going to dinner； he ate up all they
had left behind； consisting of a pound or two of white lead； and
this youthful indiscretion terminated in death。
While I was yet inconsolable for his loss； another friend of mine
in Yorkshire discovered an older and more gifted raven at a village
public…house； which he prevailed upon the landlord to part with
for a consideration； and sent up to me。 The first act of this Sage；
was； to administer to the effects of his predecessor； by disinterring
all the cheese and halfpence he had buried in the garden—a work
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of immense labour and research； to which he devoted all the
energies of his mind。 When he had achieved this task； he applied
himself to the acquisition of stable language； in which he soon
became such an adept； that he would perch outside my window
and drive imaginary horses with great skill； all day。 Perhaps even I
never saw him at his best； for his former master sent his duty with
him； ‘and if I wished the bird to come out very strong； would I be
so good as to show him a drunken man’—which I never did；
having （unfortunately） none but sober people at hand。
But I could hardly have respected him more； whatever the
stimulating influences of this sight might have been。 He had not
the least respect； I am sorry to say； for me in return； or for
anybody but the cook； to whom he was attached—but only； I fear；
as a Policeman might have been。 Once； I met him unexpectedly；
about half…a…mile from my house； walking down the middle of a
public street； attended by a pretty large crowd； and spontaneously
exhibiting the whole of his accomplishments。 His gravity under
those trying circumstances； I can never forget； nor the
extraordinary gallantry with which； refusing to be brought home；
he defended himself behind a pump； until overpowered by
numbers。 It may have been that he was too bright a genius to live
long； or it may have been that he took some pernicious substance
into his bill； and thence into his maw—which is not improbable；
seeing that he new…pointed the greater part of the garden…wall by
digging out the mortar； broke countless squares of glass by
scraping away the putty all round the frames； and tore up and
swallowed； in splinters； the greater part of a wooden staircase of
six steps and a landing—but after some three years he too was
taken ill； and died before the kitchen fire。 He kept his eye to the
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last upon the meat as it roasted； and suddenly。 turned over on his
back with a sepulchral cry of ‘Cuckoo！’ Since then I have been
ravenless。
No account of the Gordon Riots having been to my knowledge
introduced into any Work of Fiction； and the subject presenting
very extraordinary and remarkable features； I was led to project
this Tale。
It is unnecessary to say； that those shameful tumults； while they
reflect indelible disgrace upon the time in which they occurred；
and all who had act or part in them； teach a good lesson。 That
what we falsely call a religious cry is easily raised by men who
have no religion； and who in their daily practice set at nought the
commonest principles of right and wrong； that it is begotten of
intolerance and persecution； that it is senseless； besotted；
inveterate and unmerciful； all History teaches us。 But perhaps we
do not know it in our hearts too well； to profit by even so humble
an example as the ‘No Popery’ riots of Seventeen Hundred and
Eighty。
However imperfectly those disturbances are set forth in the
following pages； they are impartially painted by one who has no
sympathy with the Romish Church； though he acknowledges； as
most men do； some esteemed friends among the followers of its
creed。
In the description of the principal outrages； reference has been
had to the best authorities of that time； such as they are； the
account given in this Tale； of all the main features of the Riots； is
substantially correct。
Mr Dennis’s allusions to the flourishing condition of his trade in
those days； have their foundation in Truth； and not in the Author’s
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Barnaby Rudge 11
fancy。 Any file of old Newspapers； or odd volume of the Annual
Register； will prove this with terrible ease。
Even the case of Mary Jones； dwelt upon with so much pleasure
by the same character； is no effort of invention。 The facts were
stated； exactly as they are stated here； in the House of Commons。
Whether they afforded as much entertainment to the merry
gentlemen assembled there； as some other most affecting
circumstances of a similar nature mentioned by Sir Samuel
Romilly； is not recorded。
That the case of Mary Jones may speak the more emphatically
for itself； I subjoin it； as related by SIR WILLIAM MEREDITH in
a speech in Parliament； ‘on Frequent Executions’； made in 1777。
‘Under this act；’ the Shop…lifting Act； ‘one Mary Jones was
executed； whose case I shall just mention； it was at the time when
press warrants were issued； on the alarm about Falkland Islands。
The woman’s husband was pressed； their goods seized for some
debts of his； and she； with two small children； turned into the
streets a…begging。 It is a circumstance not to be forgotten； that she
was very young （under nineteen）； and most remarkably
handsome。 She went to a linen…draper’s shop； took some coarse
linen off the counter； and slipped it under her cloak； the shopman
saw her； and she laid it down： for this she was hanged。 Her
defence was （I have the trial in my pocket）； “that she had lived in
credit； and wanted for nothing； till a press…gang came and stole
her husband from her； but since then； she had no bed to lie on；
nothing to give her children to eat； and they were almost naked；
and perhaps she might have done something wrong； for she hardly
knew what she did。” The parish officers testified the truth of this
story； but it seems； there had been a good deal of shop…lifting
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about Ludgate； an example was thought necessary； and this
woman was hanged for the comfort and satisfaction of
shopkeepers in Ludgate Street。 When brought to receive sentence；
she behaved in such a frantic manner； as proved her mind to he in
a distracted and desponding state； and the child was sucking at
her breast when she set out for Tyburn。’
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Chapter 1
n the year 1775； there stood upon the borders of Epping
Forest； at a distance of about twelve miles from London—
I
measuring from the Standard in Cornhill； or rather from the
spot on or near to which the Standard used to be in days of yore—
a house of public entertainment called the Maypole； which fact
was demonstrated to all such travellers as could neither read nor
write （and at that time a vast number both of travellers and stay…
at…homes were in this condition） by the emblem reared on the
roadside over against the house； which； if not of those goodly
proportions that Maypoles were wont to present in olden times；
was a fair young ash； thirty feet in height； and straight as any
arrow that ever English yeoman drew。
The Maypole—by which term from henceforth is meant the
house； and not its sign—the Maypole was an old building； with
more gable ends than a lazy man would care to count on a sunny
day； huge zig…zag chimneys； out of which it seemed as though even
smoke could not choose but come in more than naturally fantastic
shapes； imparted to it in its tortuous progress； and vast stables；
gloomy； ruinous； and empty。 The place was said to have been built
in the days of King Henry the Eighth； and there was a legend； not
only that Queen Elizabeth had slept there one night while upon a
hunting excursion
