memoirs of carwin the biloquist(卡尔维恩)-第11章
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carriage to receive the plunder； when several voices； loud； clamorous； and
eager； were heard in the quarter whence the traveller had come。 By
trampling with quickness； it was easy to imitate the sound of many feet。
The robbers were alarmed； and one called upon another to attend。 The
sounds increased； and； at the next moment； they betook themselves to
flight； but not till a pistol was discharged。 Whether it was aimed at the
lady in the carriage； or at the coachman； I was not permitted to discover；
for the report affrighted the horses； and they set off at full speed。
I could not hope to overtake them： I knew not whither the robbers
had fled； and whether； by proceeding； I might not fall into their hands。 。 。 。 。
These considerations induced me to resume my feet； and retire from the
scene as expeditiously as possible。 I regained my own habitation without
injury。
I have said that I occupied separate apartments from those of Ludloe。
To these there were means of access without disturbing the family。 I
hasted to my chamber； but was considerably surprized to find； on entering
my apartment； Ludloe seated at a table； with a lamp before him。
My momentary confusion was greater than his。 On discovering who
it was； he assumed his accustomed looks； and explained appearances； by
saying； that he wished to converse with me on a subject of importance；
and had therefore sought me at this secret hour； in my own chamber。
Contrary to his expectation； I was absent。 Conceiving it possible that I
might shortly return； he had waited till now。 He took no further notice of
my absence； nor manifested any desire to know the cause of it； but
proceeded to mention the subject which had brought him hither。 These
were his words。
You have nothing which the laws permit you to call your own。 Justice
entitles you to the supply of your physical wants； from those who are able
to supply them； but there are few who will acknowledge your claim； or
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
spare an atom of their superfluity to appease your cravings。 That which
they will not spontaneously give； it is not right to wrest from them by
violence。 What then is to be done？
Property is necessary to your own subsistence。 It is useful； by
enabling you to supply the wants of others。 To give food； and clothing；
and shelter； is to give life； to annihilate temptation； to unshackle virtue；
and propagate felicity。 How shall property be gained？
You may set your understanding or your hands at work。 You may
weave stockings； or write poems； and exchange them for money； but these
are tardy and meagre schemes。 The means are disproportioned to the end；
and I will not suffer you to pursue them。 My justice will supply your
wants。
But dependance on the justice of others is a precarious condition。 To
be the object is a less ennobling state than to be the bestower of benefit。
Doubtless you desire to be vested with competence and riches； and to hold
them by virtue of the law； and not at the will of a benefactor。 。 。 。 。 。 He
paused as if waiting for my assent to his positions。 I readily expressed
my concurrence； and my desire to pursue any means compatible with
honesty。 He resumed。
There are various means； besides labour； violence； or fraud。 It is right
to select the easiest within your reach。 It happens that the easiest is at
hand。 A revenue of some thousands a year； a stately mansion in the city；
and another in Kildare； old and faithful domestics； and magnificent
furniture； are good things。 Will you have them？
A gift like that； replied I； will be attended by momentous conditions。
I cannot decide upon its value； until I know these conditions。
The sole condition is your consent to receive them。 Not even the airy
obligation of gratitude will be created by acceptance。 On the contrary； by
accepting them； you will confer the highest benefit upon another。
I do not comprehend you。 Something surely must be given in return。
Nothing。 It may seem strange that； in accepting the absolute controul
of so much property； you subject yourself to no conditions； that no claims
of gratitude or service will accrue； but the wonder is greater still。 The
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
law equitably enough fetters the gift with no restraints； with respect to you
that receive it； but not so with regard to the unhappy being who bestows it。
That being must part； not only with property but liberty。 In accepting the
property； you must consent to enjoy the services of the present possessor。
They cannot be disjoined。
Of the true nature and extent of the gift； you should be fully apprized。
Be aware； therefore； that； together with this property； you will receive
absolute power over the liberty and person of the being who now
possesses it。 That being must become your domestic slave； be governed；
in every particular； by your caprice。
Happily for you； though fully invested with this power； the degree and
mode in which it will be exercised will depend upon yourself。 。 。 。 。 You
may either totally forbear the exercise； or employ it only for the benefit of
your slave。 However injurious； therefore； this authority may be to the
subject of it； it will； in some sense； only enhance the value of the gift to
you。
The attachment and obedience of this being will be chiefly evident in
one thing。 Its duty will consist in conforming； in every instance； to your
will。 All the powers of this being are to be devoted to your happiness；
but there is one relation between you； which enables you to confer； while
exacting； pleasure。 。 。 。 。 This relation is ~~sexual~~。 Your slave is a
woman； and the bond； which transfers her property and person to you；
is 。 。 。 。 ~~marriage~~。
My knowledge of Ludloe； his principles； and reasonings； ought to have
precluded that surprise which I experienced at the conclusion of his
discourse。 I knew that he regarded the present institution of marriage as
a contract of servitude； and the terms of it unequal and unjust。 When my
surprise had subsided； my thoughts turned upon the nature of his scheme。
After a pause of reflection； I answered：
Both law and custom have connected obligations with marriage； which；
though heaviest on the female； are not light upon the male。 Their weight
and extent are not immutable and uniform； they are modified by various
incidents； and especially by the mental and personal qualities of the lady。
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
I am not sure that I should willingly accept the property and person of
a woman decrepid with age； and enslaved by perverse habits and evil
passions： whereas youth； beauty； and tenderness would be worth
accepting； even for their own sake； and disconnected with fortune。
As to altar vows； I believe they will not make me swerve from equity。
I shall exact neither service nor affection from my spouse。 The value of
these； and； indeed； not only the value； but the very existence； of the latter
depends upon its spontaneity。 A promise to love tends rather to loosen
than strengthen the tie。
As to myself； the age of illusion is past。 I shall not wed； till I find
one whose moral and physical constitution will make personal fidelity
easy。 I shall judge without mistiness or passion； and habit will come in
aid of an enlightened and deliberate choice。
I shall not be fastidious in my choice。 I do not expect； and scarcely
desire； much intellectual similitude between me and my wife。 Our
opinions and pursuits cannot be in common。 While women are formed
by their education； and their education continues in its present state； tender
hearts and misguided understandings are all that we can hope to meet
with。
What are the character； age； and person of the woman to whom you
allude？ and what prospect of success would attend my exertions to
obtain her favour？
I have told you she is rich。 She is a widow； and owes her riches to
the liberality of her husband； who was a trader of great opulence； and who
died while on a mercantile adventure to Spain。 He was not unknown to
you。 Your letters from Spain often spoke of him。 In short； she is the
widow of Benington； whom you met at Barcelona。 She is still in the
prime of life； is not without many feminine attractions； has an ardent and
credulent temper； and is particularly given to devotion。 This temper it
would be easy to regulate according to your pleasure and your interest；
and I now submit to you the expediency of an alliance with her。
I am a kinsman； and regarded by her with uncommon deference； and
my commendations； therefore； will be of great service to you； and shall be
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
given。
I will deal ingenuously with you。 It is proper you should be fully
acquainted with the grounds of this proposal。 The benefits of rank； and
property； and independence； which I have already mentioned as likely to
accrue to you from this marriage； are solid and valuable benefits； but these
are not the sole advantages； and to benefit you； in these respects； is not my
whole view。
No。 My treatment of you henceforth will be regulated by one
princ
