the vicar of wakefield-第24章

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　and　fatigue　had　encreased　her　fever；　and　it　was　judged　proper　to　leave　her　behind。　My　next　care　was　to　send　my　son　to　procure　a　room　or　two　to　lodge　the　family　in；　as　near　the　prison　as　conveniently　could　be　found。　He　obeyed；　but　could　only　find　one　apartment；　which　was　hired　at　a　small　expence；　for　his　mother　and　sisters；　the　gaoler　with　humanity　consenting　to　let　him　and　his　two　little　brothers　lie　in　the　prison　with　me。　A　bed　was　therefore　prepared　for　them　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　which　I　thought　answered　very　conveniently。　I　was　willing　however　previously　to　know　whether　my　little　children　chose　to　lie　in　a　place　which　seemed　to　fright　them　upon　entrance。

'Well；'　cried　I；　'my　good　boys；　how　do　you　like　your　bed？　I　hope　you　are　not　afraid　to　lie　in　this　room；　dark　as　it　appears。'

'No；　papa；'　says　Dick；　'I　am　not　afraid　to　lie　any　where　where　you　are。'

'And　I；'　says　Bill；　who　was　yet　but　four　years　old；　'love　every　place　best　that　my　papa　is　in。'

After　this；　I　allotted　to　each　of　the　family　what　they　were　to　do。　My　daughter　was　particularly　directed　to　watch　her　declining　sister's　health；　my　wife　was　to　attend　me；　my　little　boys　were　to　read　to　me：　'And　as　for　you；　my　son；'　continued　I；　'it　is　by　the　labour　of　your　hands　we　must　all　hope　to　be　supported。　Your　wages；　as　a　day…labourer；　will　be　full　sufficient；　with　proper　frugality；　to　maintain　us　all；　and　comfortably　too。　Thou　art　now　sixteen　years　old；　and　hast　strength；　and　it　was　given　thee；　my　son；　for　very　useful　purposes；　for　it　must　save　from　famine　your　helpless　parents　and　family。　Prepare　then　this　evening　to　look　out　for　work　against　to…morrow；　and　bring　home　every　night　what　money　you　earn；　for　our　support。'

Having　thus　instructed　him；　and　settled　the　rest；　I　walked　down　to　the　common　prison；　where　I　could　enjoy　more　air　and　room。　But　I　was　not　long　there　when　the　execrations；　lewdness；　and　brutality　that　invaded　me　on　every　side；　drove　me　back　to　my　apartment　again。　Here　I　sate　for　some　time；　pondering　upon　the　strange　infatuation　of　wretches；　who　finding　all　mankind　in　open　arms　against　them；　were　labouring　to　make　themselves　a　future　and　a　tremendous　enemy。

Their　insensibility　excited　my　highest　compassion；　and　blotted　my　own　uneasiness　from　my　mind。　It　even　appeared　a　duty　incumbent　upon　me　to　attempt　to　reclaim　them。　I　resolved　therefore　once　more　to　return；　and　in　spite　of　their　contempt　to　give　them　my　advice；　and　conquer　them　by　perseverance。　Going　therefore　among　them　again；　I　informed　Mr　Jenkinson　of　my　design；　at　which　he　laughed　heartily；　but　communicated　it　to　the　rest。　The　proposal　was　received　with　the　greatest　good…humour；　as　it　promised　to　afford　a　new　fund　of　entertainment　to　persons　who　had　now　no　other　resource　for　mirth；　but　what　could　be　derived　from　ridicule　or　debauchery。

I　therefore　read　them　a　portion　of　the　service　with　a　loud　unaffected　voice；　and　found　my　audience　perfectly　merry　upon　the　occasion。　Lewd　whispers；　groans　of　contrition　burlesqued；　winking　and　coughing；　alternately　excited　laughter。　However；　I　continued　with　my　natural　solemnity　to　read　on；　sensible　that　what　I　did　might　amend　some；　but　could　itself　receive　no　contamination　from　any。

After　reading；　I　entered　upon　my　exhortation；　which　was　rather　calculated　at　first　to　amuse　them　than　to　reprove。　I　previously　observed；　that　no　other　motive　but　their　welfare　could　induce　me　to　this；　that　I　was　their　fellow　prisoner；　and　now　got　nothing　by　preaching。　I　was　sorry；　I　said；　to　hear　them　so　very　prophane；　because　they　got　nothing　by　it；　but　might　lose　a　great　deal：　'For　be　assured；　my　friends；'　cried　I；　'for　you　are　my　friends；　however　the　world　may　disclaim　your　friendship；　though　you　swore　twelve　thousand　oaths　in　a　day；　it　would　not　put　one　penny　in　your　purse。　Then　what　signifies　calling　every　moment　upon　the　devil；　and　courting　his　friendship；　since　you　find　how　scurvily　he　uses　you。　He　has　given　you　nothing　here；　you　find；　but　a　mouthful　of　oaths　and　an　empty　belly；　and　by　the　best　accounts　I　have　of　him；　he　will　give　you　nothing　that's　good　hereafter。

'If　used　ill　in　our　dealings　with　one　man；　we　naturally　go　elsewhere。　Were　it　not　worth　your　while　then；　just　to　try　how　you　may　like　the　usage　of　another　master；　who　gives　you　fair　promises　at　least　to　come　to　him。　Surely；　my　Friends；　of　all　stupidity　in　the　world；　his　must　be　greatest；　who；　after　robbing　an　house；　runs　to　the　thieftakers　for　protection。　And　yet　how　are　you　more　wise？　You　are　all　seeking　comfort　from　one　that　has　already　betrayed　you；　applying　to　a　more　malicious　being　than　any　thieftaker　of　them　all；　for　they　only　decoy；　and　then　hang　you；　but　he　decoys　and　hangs；　and　what　is　worst　of　all；　will　not　let　you　loose　after　the　hangman　has　done。'

When　I　had　concluded；　I　received　the　compliments　of　my　audience；　some　of　whom　came　and　shook　me　by　the　hand；　swearing　that　I　was　a　very　honest　fellow；　and　that　they　desired　my　further　acquaintance。　I　therefore　promised　to　repeat　my　lecture　next　day；　and　actually　conceived　some　hopes　of　making　a　reformation　here；　for　it　had　ever　been　my　opinion；　that　no　man　was　past　the　hour　of　amendment；　every　heart　lying　open　to　the　shafts　of　reproof；　if　the　archer　could　but　take　a　proper　aim。　When　I　had　thus　satisfied　my　mind；　I　went　back　to　my　apartment；　where　my　wife　had　prepared　a　frugal　meal；　while　Mr　Jenkinson　begged　leave　to　add　his　dinner　to　ours；　and　partake　of　the　pleasure；　as　he　was　kind　enough　to　express　it　of　my　conversation。　He　had　not　yet　seen　my　family；　for　as　they　came　to　my　apartment　by　a　door　in　the　narrow　passage；　already　described；　by　this　means　they　avoided　the　common　prison。　Jenkinson　at　the　first　interview　therefore　seemed　not　a　little　struck　with　the　beauty　of　my　youngest　daughter；　which　her　pensive　air　contributed　to　heighten；　and　my　little　ones　did　not　pass　unnoticed。

'Alas；　Doctor；'　cried　he；　'these　children　are　too　handsome　and　too　good　for　such　a　place　as　this！'

Why；　Mr　Jenkinson'；　replied　I；　'thank　heaven　my　children　are　pretty　tolerable　in　morals；　and　if　they　be　good；　it　matters　little　for　the　rest。'

'I　fancy；　sir；'　returned　my　fellow　prisoner；　'that　it　must　give　you　great　comfort　to　have　this　little　family　about　you。'

'A　comfort；　Mr　Jenkinson；'　replied　I；　'yes　it　is　indeed　a　comfort；　and　I　would　not　be　without　them　for　all　the　world；　for　they　can　make　a　dungeon　seem　a　palace。　There　is　but　one　way　in　this　life　of　wounding　my　happiness；　and　that　is　by　injuring　them。'

'I　am　afraid　then；　sir；'　cried　he；　'that　I　am　in　some　measure　culpable；　for　I　think　I　see　here　（looking　at　my　son　Moses）　one　that　I　have　injured；　and　by　whom　I　wish　to　be　forgiven。'

My　son　immediately　recollected　his　voice　and　features；　though　he　had　before　seen　him　in　disguise；　and　taking　him　by　the　hand；　with　a　smile　forgave　him。　'Yet；'　continued　he；　'I　can't　help　wondering　at　what　you　could　see　in　my　face；　to　think　me　a　proper　mark　for　deception。'

'My　dear　sir；'　returned　the　other；　'it　was　not　your　face；　but　your　white　stockings　and　the　black　ribband　in　your　hair；　that　allured　me。　But　no　disparagement　to　your　parts；　I　have　deceived　wiser　men　than　you　in　my　time；　and　yet；　with　all　my　tricks；　the　blockheads　have　been　too　many　for　me　at　last。'

'I　suppose；'　cried　my　son；　'that　the　narrative　of　such　a　life　as　yours　must　be　extremely　instructive　and　amusing。'

'Not　much　of　either；'　returned　Mr　Jenkinson。　'Those　relations　which　describe　the　tricks　and　vices　only　of　mankind；　by　increasing　our　suspicion　in　life；　retard　our　success。　The　traveller　that　distrusts　every　person　he　meets；　and　turns　back　upon　the　appearance　of　every　man　that　looks　like　a　robber；　seldom　arrives　in　time　at　his　journey's　end。

'Indeed　I　think　from　my　own　experience；　that　the　knowing　one　is　the　silliest　fellow　under　the　sun。　I　was　thought　cunning　from　my　very　childhood；　when　but　seven　years　old　the　ladies　would　say　that　I　was　a　perfect　little　man；　at　fourteen　I　knew　the　world；　cocked　my　hat；　and　loved　the　ladies；　at　twenty；　though　I　was　perfectly　honest；　yet　every　one　thought　me　so　cunning；　that　not　one　would　trust　me。　Thus　I　was　at　last　obliged　to　turn　sharper　in　my　own　defence；　and　have　lived　ever　since；　my　head　throbbing　with　schemes　to　deceive；　and　my　heart　palpitating　with　fears　of　detection。

'I　used　often　to　laugh　at　your　honest　simple　neighbour　Flamborough；　and　one　way　or　another　generally　cheated　him　once　a　year。　Yet　still　the　honest　man　went　forward　without　suspicion；　and　grew　rich；　while　I　still　continued　tricksy　and　cunning；　and　was　poor；　without　the　consolation　of　being　honest。

'However；'　continued　he；　'let　me　know　your　case；　and　what　has　brought　you　here；　perhaps　though　I　have　not　skill　to　avoid　a　gaol　myself；　I　may　extricate　my　friends。'

In　compliance　with　his　curiosity；　I　informed　him　of　the　whole　train　of　accidents　and　follies　that　had　plunged　me　into　my　present　troubles；　and　my　utter　inability　to　get　free。

After　hearing　my　story；　and　pausing　some　minutes；　he　slapt　his　forehead；　as　if　he　had　hit　upon　something　material；　and　took　his　leave；　saying　he　would　try　what　could　be　done。



CHAPTER　27

The　same　subject　continued


The　next　morning　I　communicated　to　my　wife　and　children　the　scheme　I　had　planned　of　reforming　the　prisoners；　which　they　received　with　universal　disapprobation；　alledging　the　impossibility　and　impropriety　of　it；　adding；　that　my　endeavours　would　no　way　contribute　to　their　amendment；　but　might　probably　disgrace　my　calling。

'Excuse　me；'　returned　I；　'these　people；　however　fallen；　are　still　men；　and　that　is　a　very　good　title　to　my　affections。　Good　council　rejected　returns　to　enrich　the　giver's　bosom；　and　though　the　instruction　I　communicate　may　not　mend　them；　yet　it　will　assuredly　mend　myself。　If　these　wretches；　my　children；　were　princes；　there　would　be　thousands　ready　to　offer　their　ministry；　but；　in　my　opinion；　the　heart　that　is　buried　in　a　dungeon　is　as　precious　as　that　seated　upon　a　throne。　Yes；　my　treasures；　if　I　can　mend　them　I　will；　perhaps　they　will　not　all　despise　me。　Perhaps　I　may　catch　up　even　one　from　the　gulph；　and；　that　will　be　great　gain；　for　is　there　upon　earth　a　gem　so　precious　as　the　human　soul？'

Thus　saying；　I　left　them；　and　descended　to　the　common　prison；　where　I　found　the　prisoners　very　merry；　expecting　my　arrival；　and　each　prepared　with　some　gaol　trick　to　play　upon　the　doctor。　Thus；　as　I　was　going　to　begin；　one　turned　my　wig　awry；　as　if　by　accident；　and　then　asked　my　pardon。　A　second；　who　stood　at　some　distance；　had　a　knack　of　spitting　through　his　teeth；　which　fell　in　showers　upon　my　book。　A　third　would　cry　amen　in　such　an　affected　tone　as　gave　the　rest　great　delight。　A　fourth　had　slily　picked　my　pocket　of　my　spectacles。　But　there　was　one　whose　trick　gave　more　universal　pleasure　than　all　the　rest；　for　observing　the　manner　in　which　I　had　disposed　my　books　on　the　table　before　me；　he　very　dextrously　displaced　one　of　them；　and　put　an　obscene　jest…book　of　his　own　in　the　place。　However　I　took　no　notice　of　all　that　this　mischievous　groupe　of　little　beings　could　do；　but　went　on；　perfectly　sensible　that　what　was　ridiculous　in　my　attempt；　would　excite　mirth　only　the　first　or　second　time；　while　what　was　serious　would　be　permanent。　My　design　succeeded；　and　in　less　than　six　days　some　were　penitent；　and　all　attentive。

It