memoirs of carwin the biloquist(卡尔维恩)-第5章
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person was he did not venture to guess； and could not discover； by the
tokens which he suffered to appear； that his suspicions glanced at me。 He
expatiated with great profoundness and fertility of ideas； on the uses to
which a faculty like this might be employed。 No more powerful engine；
he said； could be conceived； by which the ignorant and credulous might be
moulded to our purposes； managed by a man of ordinary talents； it would
open for him the straightest and surest avenues to wealth and power。
His remarks excited in my mind a new strain of thoughts。 I had not
hitherto considered the subject in this light； though vague ideas of the
importance of this art could not fail to be occasionally suggested： I
ventured to inquire into his ideas of the mode； in which an art like this
could be employed； so as to effect the purposes he mentioned。
He dealt chiefly in general representations。 Men； he said； believed in
the existence and energy of invisible powers； and in the duty of
discovering and conforming to their will。 This will was supposed to be
sometimes made known to them through the medium of their senses。 A
voice coming from a quarter where no attendant form could be seen would；
in most cases； be ascribed to supernal agency； and a command imposed on
them； in this manner； would be obeyed with religious scrupulousness。
Thus men might be imperiously directed in the disposal of their industry；
their property； and even of their lives。 Men； actuated by a mistaken sense
of duty； might； under this influence； be led to the commission of the most
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
flagitious； as well as the most heroic acts： If it were his desire to
accumulate wealth； or institute a new sect； he should need no other
instrument。
I listened to this kind of discourse with great avidity； and regretted
when he thought proper to introduce new topics。 He ended by requesting
me to visit him； which I eagerly consented to do。 When left alone； my
imagination was filled with the images suggested by this conversation。
The hopelessness of better fortune； which I had lately harboured； now
gave place to cheering confidence。 Those motives of rectitude which
should deter me from this species of imposture； had never been vivid or
stable； and were still more weakened by the artifices of which I had
already been guilty。 The utility or harmlessness of the end； justified； in
my eyes； the means。
No event had been more unexpected； by me； than the bequest of my
aunt to her servant。 The will； under which the latter claimed； was dated
prior to my coming to the city。 I was not surprised； therefore； that it had
once been made； but merely that it had never been cancelled or superseded
by a later instrument。 My wishes inclined me to suspect the existence of
a later will； but I had conceived that； to ascertain its existence； was beyond
my power。
Now； however； a different opinion began to be entertained。 This
woman like those of her sex and class was unlettered and superstitious。
Her faith in spells and apparitions； was of the most lively kind。 Could
not her conscience be awakened by a voice from the grave！ Lonely and
at midnight； my aunt might be introduced； upbraiding her for her injustice；
and commanding her to attone for it by acknowledging the claim of the
rightful proprietor。
True it was； that no subsequent will might exist； but this was the fruit
of mistake； or of negligence。 She probably intended to cancel the old one；
but this act might； by her own weakness； or by the artifices of her servant；
be delayed till death had put it out of her power。 In either case a mandate
from the dead could scarcely fail of being obeyed。
I considered this woman as the usurper of my property。 Her husband
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
as well as herself； were laborious and covetous； their good fortune had
made no change in their mode of living； but they were as frugal and as
eager to accumulate as ever。 In their hands； money was inert and sterile；
or it served to foster their vices。 To take it from them would； therefore； be
a benefit both to them and to myself； not even an imaginary injury would
be inflicted。 Restitution； if legally compelled to it； would be reluctant and
painful； but if enjoined by Heaven would be voluntary； and the
performance of a seeming duty would carry with it； its own reward。
These reasonings； aided by inclination； were sufficient to determine
me。 I have no doubt but their fallacy would have been detected in the
sequel； and my scheme have been productive of nothing but confusion and
remorse。 From these consequences； however； my fate interposed； as in
the former instance； to save me。
Having formed my resolution； many preliminaries to its execution
were necessary to be settled。 These demanded deliberation and delay；
meanwhile I recollected my promise to Ludlow； and paid him a visit。 I
met a frank and affectionate reception。 It would not be easy to paint the
delight which I experienced in this man's society。 I was at first oppressed
with the sense of my own inferiority in age； knowledge and rank。 Hence
arose numberless reserves and incapacitating diffidences； but these were
speedily dissipated by the fascinations of this man's address。 His
superiority was only rendered； by time； more conspicuous； but this
superiority； by appearing never to be present to his own mind； ceased to be
uneasy to me。 My questions required to be frequently answered； and my
mistakes to be rectified； but my keenest scrutiny； could detect in his
manner； neither arrogance nor contempt。 He seemed to talk merely from
the overflow of his ideas； or a benevolent desire of imparting information。
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
Chapter IV。
My visits gradually became more frequent。 Meanwhile my wants
increased； and the necessity of some change in my condition became daily
more urgent。 This incited my reflections on the scheme which I had
formed。 The time and place suitable to my design； were not selected
without much anxious inquiry and frequent waverings of purpose。 These
being at length fixed； the interval to elapse； before the carrying of my
design into effect； was not without perturbation and suspense。 These
could not be concealed from my new friend and at length prompted him to
inquire into the cause。
It was not possible to communicate the whole truth； but the warmth of
his manner inspired me with some degree of ingenuousness。 I did not hide
from him my former hopes and my present destitute condition。 He
listened to my tale with no expressions of sympathy； and when I had
finished； abruptly inquired whether I had any objection to a voyage to
Europe？ I answered in the negative。 He then said that he was preparing
to depart in a fortnight and advised me to make up my mind to accompany
him。
This unexpected proposal gave me pleasure and surprize； but the want
of money occurred to me as an insuperable objection。 On this being
mentioned； Oho！ said he； carelessly； that objection is easily removed； I
will bear all expenses of your passage myself。
The extraordinary beneficence of this act as well as the air of
uncautiousness attending it； made me doubt the sincerity of his offer； and
when new declarations removed this doubt； I could not forbear expressing
at once my sense of his generosity and of my own unworthiness。
He replied that generosity had been expunged from his catalogue as
having no meaning or a vicious one。 It was the scope of his exertions to
be just。 This was the sum of human duty； and he that fell short； ran
beside； or outstripped justice was a criminal。 What he gave me was my
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
due or not my due。 If it were my due； I might reasonably demand it from
him and it was wicked to withhold it。 Merit on one side or gratitude on
the other； were contradictory and unintelligible。
If I were fully convinced that this benefit was not my due and yet
received it； he should hold me in contempt。 The rectitude of my
principles and conduct would be the measure of his approbation； and no
benefit should he ever bestow which the receiver was not entitled to claim；
and which it would not be criminal in him to refuse。
These principles were not new from the mouth of Ludloe； but they had；
hitherto； been regarded as the fruits of a venturous speculation in my mind。
I had never traced them into their practical consequences； and if his
conduct on this occasion had not squared with his maxims； I should not
have imputed to him inconsistency。 I did not ponder on these reasonings
at this time： objects of immediate importance engrossed my thoughts。
One obstacle to this measure was removed。 When my voyage was
performed how should I subsist in my new abode？ I concealed not my
perplexity and he commented on it in his usual manner
