the vicar of wakefield-第2章

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　profits　of　my　living；　which　amounted　to　but　thirty…five　pounds　a　year；　I　made　over　to　the　orphans　and　widows　of　the　clergy　of　our　diocese；　for　having　a　sufficient　fortune　of　my　own；　I　was　careless　of　temporalities；　and　felt　a　secret　pleasure　in　doing　my　duty　without　reward。　I　also　set　a　resolution　of　keeping　no　curate；　and　of　being　acquainted　with　every　man　in　the　parish；　exhorting　the　married　men　to　temperance　and　the　bachelors　to　matrimony；　so　that　in　a　few　years　it　was　a　common　saying；　that　there　were　three　strange　wants　at　Wakefield；　a　parson　wanting　pride；　young　men　wanting　wives；　and　ale…houses　wanting　customers。　Matrimony　was　always　one　of　my　favourite　topics；　and　I　wrote　several　sermons　to　prove　its　happiness：　but　there　was　a　peculiar　tenet　which　I　made　a　point　of　supporting；　for　I　maintained　with　Whiston；　that　it　was　unlawful　for　a　priest　of　the　church　of　England；　after　the　death　of　his　first　wife；　to　take　a　second；　or　to　express　it　in　one　word；　I　valued　myself　upon　being　a　strict　monogamist。　I　was　early　innitiated　into　this　important　dispute；　on　which　so　many　laborious　volumes　have　been　written。　I　published　some　tracts　upon　the　subject　myself；　which；　as　they　never　sold；　I　have　the　consolation　of　thinking　are　read　only　by　the　happy　Few。　Some　of　my　friends　called　this　my　weak　side；　but　alas！　they　had　not　like　me　made　it　the　subject　of　long　contemplation。　The　more　I　reflected　upon　it；　the　more　important　it　appeared。　I　even　went　a　step　beyond　Whiston　in　displaying　my　principles：　as　he　had　engraven　upon　his　wife's　tomb　that　she　was　the　only　wife　of　William　Whiston；　so　I　wrote　a　similar　epitaph　for　my　wife；　though　still　living；　in　which　I　extolled　her　prudence；　oeconomy；　and　obedience　till　death；　and　having　got　it　copied　fair；　with　an　elegant　frame；　it　was　placed　over　the　chimney…piece；　where　it　answered　several　very　useful　purposes。　It　admonished　my　wife　of　her　duty　to　me；　and　my　fidelity　to　her；　it　inspired　her　with　a　passion　for　fame；　and　constantly　put　her　in　mind　of　her　end。

It　was　thus；　perhaps；　from　hearing　marriage　so　often　recommended；　that　my　eldest　son；　just　upon　leaving　college；　fixed　his　affections　upon　the　daughter　of　a　neighbouring　clergyman；　who　was　a　dignitary　in　the　church；　and　in　circumstances　to　give　her　a　large　fortune：　but　fortune　was　her　smallest　accomplishment。　Miss　Arabella　Wilmot　was　allowed　by　all；　except　my　two　daughters；　to　be　completely　pretty。　Her　youth；　health；　and　innocence；　were　still　heightened　by　a　complexion　so　transparent；　and　such　an　happy　sensibility　of　look；　as　even　age　could　not　gaze　on　with　indifference。　As　Mr　Wilmot　knew　that　I　could　make　a　very　handsome　settlement　on　my　son；　he　was　not　averse　to　the　match；　so　both　families　lived　together　in　all　that　harmony　which　generally　precedes　an　expected　alliance。　Being　convinced　by　experience　that　the　days　of　courtship　are　the　most　happy　of　our　lives；　I　was　willing　enough　to　lengthen　the　period；　and　the　various　amusements　which　the　young　couple　every　day　shared　in　each　other's　company；　seemed　to　encrease　their　passion。　We　were　generally　awaked　in　the　morning　by　music；　and　on　fine　days　rode　a　hunting。　The　hours　between　breakfast　and　dinner　the　ladies　devoted　to　dress　and　study：　they　usually　read　a　page；　and　then　gazed　at　themselves　in　the　glass；　which　even　philosophers　might　own　often　presented　the　page　of　greatest　beauty。　At　dinner　my　wife　took　the　lead；　for　as　she　always　insisted　upon　carving　every　thing　herself；　it　being　her　mother's　way；　she　gave　us　upon　these　occasions　the　history　of　every　dish。　When　we　had　dined；　to　prevent　the　ladies　leaving　us；　I　generally　ordered　the　table　to　be　removed；　and　sometimes；　with　the　music　master's　assistance；　the　girls　would　give　us　a　very　agreeable　concert。　Walking　out；　drinking　tea；　country　dances；　and　forfeits；　shortened　the　rest　of　the　day；　without　the　assistance　of　cards；　as　I　hated　all　manner　of　gaming；　except　backgammon；　at　which　my　old　friend　and　I　sometimes　took　a　two…penny　hit。　Nor　can　I　here　pass　over　an　ominous　circumstance　that　happened　the　last　time　we　played　together：　I　only　wanted　to　fling　a　quatre；　and　yet　I　threw　deuce　ace　five　times　running。　Some　months　were　elapsed　in　this　manner；　till　at　last　it　was　thought　convenient　to　fix　a　day　for　the　nuptials　of　the　young　couple；　who　seemed　earnestly　to　desire　it。　During　the　preparations　for　the　wedding；　I　need　not　describe　the　busy　importance　of　my　wife；　nor　the　sly　looks　of　my　daughters：　in　fact；　my　attention　was　fixed　on　another　object；　the　completing　a　tract　which　I　intended　shortly　to　publish　in　defence　of　my　favourite　principle。　As　I　looked　upon　this　as　a　master…piece　both　for　argument　and　style；　I　could　not　in　the　pride　of　my　heart　avoid　shewing　it　to　my　old　friend　Mr　Wilmot；　as　I　made　no　doubt　of　receiving　his　approbation；　but　not　till　too　late　I　discovered　that　he　was　most　violently　attached　to　the　contrary　opinion；　and　with　good　reason；　for　he　was　at　that　time　actually　courting　a　fourth　wife。　This；　as　may　be　expected；　produced　a　dispute　attended　with　some　acrimony；　which　threatened　to　interrupt　our　intended　alliance：　but　on　the　day　before　that　appointed　for　the　ceremony；　we　agreed　to　discuss　the　subject　at　large。　It　was　managed　with　proper　spirit　on　both　sides：　he　asserted　that　I　was　heterodox；　I　retorted　the　charge：　he　replied；　and　I　rejoined。　In　the　mean　time；　while　the　controversy　was　hottest；　I　was　called　out　by　one　of　my　relations；　who；　with　a　face　of　concern；　advised　me　to　give　up　the　dispute；　at　least　till　my　son's　wedding　was　over。　'How；'　cried　I；　'relinquish　the　cause　of　truth；　and　let　him　be　an　husband；　already　driven　to　the　very　verge　of　absurdity。　You　might　as　well　advise　me　to　give　up　my　fortune　as　my　argument。'　'Your　fortune；'　returned　my　friend；　'I　am　now　sorry　to　inform　you；　is　almost　nothing。　The　merchant　in　town；　in　whose　hands　your　money　was　lodged；　has　gone　off；　to　avoid　a　statute　of　bankruptcy；　and　is　thought　not　to　have　left　a　shilling　in　the　pound。　I　was　unwilling　to　shock　you　or　the　family　with　the　account　till　after　the　wedding：　but　now　it　may　serve　to　moderate　your　warmth　in　the　argument；　for；　I　suppose；　your　own　prudence　will　enforce　the　necessity　of　dissembling　at　least　till　your　son　has　the　young　lady's　fortune　secure。''Well；'　returned　I；　'if　what　you　tell　me　be　true；　and　if　I　am　to　be　a　beggar；　it　shall　never　make　me　a　rascal；　or　induce　me　to　disavow　my　principles。　I'll　go　this　moment　and　inform　the　company　of　my　circumstances；　and　as　for　the　argument；　I　even　here　retract　my　former　concessions　in　the　old　gentleman's　favour；　nor　will　I　allow　him　now　to　be　an　husband　in　any　sense　of　the　expression。'

It　would　be　endless　to　describe　the　different　sensations　of　both　families　when　I　divulged　the　news　of　our　misfortune；　but　what　others　felt　was　slight　to　what　the　lovers　appeared　to　endure。　Mr　Wilmot；　who　seemed　before　sufficiently　inclined　to　break　off　the　match；　was　by　this　blow　soon　determined：　one　virtue　he　had　in　perfection；　which　was　prudence；　too　often　the　only　one　that　is　left　us　at　seventy…two。



CHAPTER　3

A　migration。　The　fortunate　circumstances　of　our　lives　are　generally　found　at　last　to　be　of　our　own　procuring


The　only　hope　of　our　family　now　was；　that　the　report　of　our　misfortunes　might　be　malicious　or　premature：　but　a　letter　from　my　agent　in　town　soon　came　with　a　confirmation　of　every　particular。　The　loss　of　fortune　to　myself　alone　would　have　been　trifling；　the　only　uneasiness　I　felt　was　for　my　family；　who　were　to　be　humble　without　an　education　to　render　them　callous　to　contempt。

Near　a　fortnight　had　passed　before　I　attempted　to　restrain　their　affliction；　for　premature　consolation　is　but　the　remembrancer　of　sorrow。　During　this　interval；　my　thoughts　were　employed　on　some　future　means　of　supporting　them；　and　at　last　a　small　Cure　of　fifteen　pounds　a　year　was　offered　me　in　a　distant　neighbourhood；　where　I　could　still　enjoy　my　principles　without　molestation。　With　this　proposal　I　joyfully　closed；　having　determined　to　encrease　my　salary　by　managing　a　little　farm。

Having　taken　this　resolution；　my　next　care　was　to　get　together　the　wrecks　of　my　fortune；　and　all　debts　collected　and　paid；　out　of　fourteen　thousand　pounds　we　had　but　four　hundred　remaining。　My　chief　attention　therefore　was　now　to　bring　down　the　pride　of　my　family　to　their　circumstances；　for　I　well　knew　that　aspiring　beggary　is　wretchedness　itself。　'You　cannot　be　ignorant；　my　children；'　cried　I；　'that　no　prudence　of　ours　could　have　prevented　our　late　misfortune；　but　prudence　may　do　much　in　disappointing　its　effects。　We　are　now　poor；　my　fondlings；　and　wisdom　bids　us　conform　to　our　humble　situation。　Let　us　then；　without　repining；　give　up　those　splendours　with　which　numbers　are　wretched；　and　seek　in　humbler　circumstances　that　peace　with　which　all　may　be　happy。　The　poor　live　pleasantly　without　our　help；　why　then　should　not　we　learn　to　live　without　theirs。　No；　my　children；　let　us　from　this　moment　give　up　all　pretensions　to　gentility；　we　have　still　enough　left　for　happiness　if　we　are　wise；　and　let　us　draw　upon　content　for　the　deficiencies　of　fortune。'　As　my　eldest　son　was　bred　a　scholar；　I　determined　to　send　him　to　town；　where　his　abilities　might　contribute　to　our　support　and　his　own。　The　separation　of　friends　and　families　is；　perhaps；　one　of　the　most　distressful　circumstances　attendant　on　penury。　The　day　soon　arrived　on　which　we　were　to　disperse　for　the　first　time。　My　son；　after　taking　leave　of　his　mother　and　the　rest；　who　mingled　their　tears　with　their　kisses；　came　to　ask　a　blessing　from　me。　This　I　gave　him　from　my　heart；　and　which；　added　to　five　guineas；　was　all　the　patrimony　I　had　now　to　bestow。　'You　are　going；　my　boy；'　cried　I；　'to　London　on　foot；　in　the　manner　Hooker；　your　great　ancestor；　travelled　there　before　you。　Take　from　me　the　same　horse　that　was　given　him　by　the　good　bishop　Jewel；　this　staff；　and　take　this　book　too；　it　will　be　your　comfort　on　the　way：　these　two　lines　in　it　are　worth　a　million；　I　have　been　young；　and　now　am　old；　yet　never　saw　I　the　righteous　man　forsaken；　or　his　seed　begging　their　bread。　Let　this　be　your　consolation　as　you　travel　on。　Go；　my　boy；　whatever　be　thy　fortune　let　me　see　thee　once　a　year；　still　keep　a　good　heart；　and　farewell。'　As　he　was　possest　of　integrity　and　honour；　I　was　under　no　apprehensions　from　throwing　him　naked　into　the　amphitheatre　of　life；　for　I　knew　he　would　act　a　good　part　whether　vanquished　or　victorious。　His　departure　only　prepared　the　way　for　our　own；　which　arrived　a　few　days　afterwards。　The　leaving　a　neighbourhood　in　which　we　had　enjoyed　so　many　hours　of　tranquility；　was　not　without　a　tear；　which　scarce　fortitude　itself　could　suppress。　Besides；　a　journey　of　seventy　miles　to　a　family　that　had　hitherto　never　been　above　ten　from　home；　filled　us　with　apprehension；　and　the　cries　of　the　poor；　who　followed　us　for　some　miles；　contributed　to　encrease　it。　The　first　day's　journey　brought　us　in　safety　within　thirty　miles　of　our　future　retreat；　and　we　put　up　for　the　night　at　an　obscure　inn　in　a　village　by　the　way。　When　we　were　shewn　a　room；　I　desired　the　landlord；　in　my　usual　way；　to　let　us　have　his　company；　with　which　he　complied；　as　what　he　drank　would　encrease　the　bill　next　morning。　He　knew；　however；　the　whole　neighbourhood　to　which　I　was　removing；　particularly　'Squire　Thornhill；　who　was　to　be　my　landl