the vicar of wakefield-第6章

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t　and　intellects　too。　No；　sir；　there　I　protest　you　are　too　hard　for　me。'　This　effectually　raised　the　laugh　against　poor　Moses；　who　sate　the　only　dismal　figure　in　a　groupe　of　merry　faces：　nor；　did　he　offer　a　single　syllable　more　during　the　whole　entertainment。

But　though　all　this　gave　me　no　pleasure；　it　had　a　very　different　effect　upon　Olivia；　who　mistook　it　for　humour；　though　but　a　mere　act　of　the　memory。　She　thought　him　therefore　a　very　fine　gentleman；　and　such　as　consider　what　powerful　ingredients　a　good　figure；　fine　cloaths；　and　fortune；　are　in　that　character；　will　easily　forgive　her。　Mr　Thornhill；　notwithstanding　his　real　ignorance；　talked　with　ease；　and　could　expatiate　upon　the　common　topics　of　conversation　with　fluency。　It　is　not　surprising　then　that　such　talents　should　win　the　affections　of　a　girl；　who　by　education　was　taught　to　value　an　appearance　in　herself；　and　consequently　to　set　a　value　upon　it　in　another。

Upon　his　departure；　we　again　entered　into　a　debate　upon　the　merits　of　our　young　landlord。　As　he　directed　his　looks　and　conversation　to　Olivia；　it　was　no　longer　doubted　but　that　she　was　the　object　that　induced　him　to　be　our　visitor。　Nor　did　she　seem　to　be　much　displeased　at　the　innocent　raillery　of　her　brother　and　sister　upon　this　occasion。　Even　Deborah　herself　seemed　to　share　the　glory　of　the　day；　and　exulted　in　her　daughter's　victory　as　if　it　were　her　own。　'And　now；　my　dear；'　cried　she　to　me；　'I'll　fairly　own；　that　it　was　I　that　instructed　my　girls　to　encourage　our　landlord's　addresses。　I　had　always　some　ambition；　and　you　now　see　that　I　was　right；　for　who　knows　how　this　may　end？'　'Ay；　who　knows　that　indeed；'　answered　I；　with　a　groan：　'for　my　part　I　don't　much　like　it；　and　I　could　have　been　better　pleased　with　one　that　was　poor　and　honest；　than　this　fine　gentleman　with　his　fortune　and　infidelity；　for　depend　on't；　if　he　be　what　I　suspect　him；　no　free…　thinker　shall　ever　have　a　child　of　mine。'　'Sure；　father；'　cried　Moses；　'you　are　too　severe　in　this；　for　heaven　will　never　arraign　him　for　what　he　thinks；　but　for　what　he　does。　Every　man　has　a　thousand　vicious　thoughts；　which　arise　without　his　power　to　suppress。　Thinking　freely　of　religion；　may　be　involuntary　with　this　gentleman：　so　that　allowing　his　sentiments　to　be　wrong；　yet　as　he　is　purely　passive　in　his　assent；　he　is　no　more　to　be　blamed　for　his　errors　than　the　governor　of　a　city　without　walls　for　the　shelter　he　is　obliged　to　afford　an　invading　enemy。'

'True；　my　son；'　cried　I；　'but　if　the　governor　invites　the　enemy；　there　he　is　justly　culpable。　And　such　is　always　the　case　with　those　who　embrace　error。　The　vice　does　not　lie　in　assenting　to　the　proofs　they　see；　but　in　being　blind　to　many　of　the　proofs　that　offer。　So　that；　though　our　erroneous　opinions　be　involuntary　when　formed；　yet　as　we　have　been　wilfully　corrupt；　or　very　negligent　in　forming　them；　we　deserve　punishment　for　our　vice；　or　contempt　for　our　folly。'　My　wife　now　kept　up　the　conversation；　though　not　the　argument：　she　observed；　that　several　very　prudent　men　of　our　acquaintance　were　free…thinkers；　and　made　very　good　husbands；　and　she　knew　some　sensible　girls　that　had　skill　enough　to　make　converts　of　their　spouses：　'And　who　knows；　my　dear；'　continued　she；　'what　Olivia　may　be　able　to　do。　The　girl　has　a　great　deal　to　say　upon　every　subject；　and　to　my　knowledge　is　very　well　skilled　in　controversy。'

'Why；　my　dear；　what　controversy　can　she　have　read？'　cried　I。　'It　does　not　occur　to　me　that　I　ever　put　such　books　into　her　hands：　you　certainly　over…rate　her　merit。'　'Indeed；　pappa；'　replied　Olivia；　'she　does　not：　I　have　read　a　great　deal　of　controversy。　I　have　read　the　disputes　between　Thwackum　and　Square；　the　controversy　between　Robinson　Crusoe　and　Friday　the　savage；　and　I　am　now　employed　in　reading　the　controversy　in　Religious　courtship'　'Very　well；'　cried　I；　'that's　a　good　girl；　I　find　you　are　perfectly　qualified　for　making　converts；　and　so　go　help　your　mother　to　make　the　gooseberry…pye。'



CHAPTER　8

An　amour；　which　promises　little　good　fortune；　yet　may　be　productive　of　much


The　next　morning　we　were　again　visited　by　Mr　Burchell；　though　I　began；　for　certain　reasons；　to　be　displeased　with　the　frequency　of　his　return；　but　I　could　not　refuse　him　my　company　and　fire…side。　It　is　true　his　labour　more　than　requited　his　entertainment；　for　he　wrought　among　us　with　vigour；　and　either　in　the　meadow　or　at　the　hay…rick　put　himself　foremost。　Besides；　he　had　always　something　amusing　to　say　that　lessened　our　toil；　and　was　at　once　so　out　of　the　way；　and　yet　so　sensible；　that　I　loved；　laughed　at；　and　pitied　him。　My　only　dislike　arose　from　an　attachment　he　discovered　to　my　daughter：　he　would；　in　a　jesting　manner；　call　her　his　little　mistress；　and　when　he　bought　each　of　the　girls　a　set　of　ribbands；　hers　was　the　finest。　I　knew　not　how；　but　he　every　day　seemed　to　become　more　amiable；　his　wit　to　improve；　and　his　simplicity　to　assume　the　superior　airs　of　wisdom。

Our　family　dined　in　the　field；　and　we　sate；　or　rather　reclined；　round　a　temperate　repast；　our　cloth　spread　upon　the　hay；　while　Mr　Burchell　gave　cheerfulness　to　the　feast。　To　heighten　our　satisfaction　two　blackbirds　answered　each　other　from　opposite　hedges；　the　familiar　redbreast　came　and　pecked　the　crumbs　from　our　hands；　and　every　sound　seemed　but　the　echo　of　tranquillity。　'I　never　sit　thus；'　says　Sophia；　'but　I　think　of　the　two　lovers；　so　sweetly　described　by　Mr　Gay；　who　were　struck　dead　in　each　other's　arms。　There　is　something　so　pathetic　in　the　description；　that　I　have　read　it　an　hundred　times　with　new　rapture。''In　my　opinion；'　cried　my　son；　'the　finest　strokes　in　that　description　are　much　below　those　in　the　Acis　and　Galatea　of　Ovid。　The　Roman　poet　understands　the　use　of　contrast　better；　and　upon　that　figure　artfully　managed　all　strength　in　the　pathetic　depends。''It　is　remarkable；'　cried　Mr　Burchell；　'that　both　the　poets　you　mention　have　equally　contributed　to　introduce　a　false　taste　into　their　respective　countries；　by　loading　all　their　lines　with　epithet。　Men　of　little　genius　found　them　most　easily　imitated　in　their　defects；　and　English　poetry；　like　that　in　the　latter　empire　of　Rome；　is　nothing　at　present　but　a　combination　of　luxuriant　images；　without　plot　or　connexion；　a　string　of　epithets　that　improve　the　sound；　without　carrying　on　the　sense。　But　perhaps；　madam；　while　I　thus　reprehend　others；　you'll　think　it　just　that　I　should　give　them　an　opportunity　to　retaliate；　and　indeed　I　have　made　this　remark　only　to　have　an　opportunity　of　introducing　to　the　company　a　ballad；　which；　whatever　be　its　other　defects；　is　I　think　at　least　free　from　those　I　have　mentioned。'


A　BALLAD。

'Turn；　gentle　hermit　of　the　dale；　And　guide　my　lonely　way；　To　where　yon　taper　cheers　the　vale；　With　hospitable　ray。

'For　here　forlorn　and　lost　I　tread；　With　fainting　steps　and　slow；　Where　wilds　immeasurably　spread；　Seem　lengthening　as　I　go。'

'Forbear；　my　son；'　the　hermit　cries；　'To　tempt　the　dangerous　gloom；　For　yonder　faithless　phantom　flies　To　lure　thee　to　thy　doom。

'Here　to　the　houseless　child　of　want；　My　door　is　open　still；　And　tho'　my　portion　is　but　scant；　I　give　it　with　good　will。

'Then　turn　to…night；　and　freely　share　Whate'er　my　cell　bestows；　My　rushy　couch；　and　frugal　fare；　My　blessing　and　repose。

'No　flocks　that　range　the　valley　free；　To　slaughter　I　condemn：　Taught　by　that　power　that　pities　me；　I　learn　to　pity　them。

'But　from　the　mountain's　grassy　side；　A　guiltless　feast　I　bring；　A　scrip　with　herbs　and　fruits　supply'd；　And　water　from　the　spring。

'Then；　pilgrim；　turn；　thy　cares　forego；　All　earth…born　cares　are　wrong：　Man　wants　but　little　here　below；　Nor　wants　that　little　long。'

Soft　as　the　dew　from　heav'n　descends；　His　gentle　accents　fell：　The　modest　stranger　lowly　bends；　And　follows　to　the　cell。

Far　in　a　wilderness　obscure　The　lonely　mansion　lay；　A　refuge　to　the　neighbouring　poor；　And　strangers　led　astray。

No　stores　beneath　its　humble　thatch　Requir'd　a　master's　care；　The　wicket　opening　with　a　latch；　Receiv'd　the　harmless　pair。

And　now　when　busy　crowds　retire　To　take　their　evening　rest；　The　hermit　trimm'd　his　little　fire；　And　cheer'd　his　pensive　guest：

And　spread　his　vegetable　store；　And　gayly　prest；　and　smil'd；　And　skill'd　in　legendary　lore；　The　lingering　hours　beguil'd。

Around　in　sympathetic　mirth　Its　tricks　the　kitten　tries；　The　cricket　chirrups　in　the　hearth；　The　crackling　faggot　flies。

But　nothing　could　a　charm　impart　To　sooth　the　stranger's　woe；　For　grief　was　heavy　at　his　heart；　And　tears　began　to　flow。

His　rising　cares　the　hermit　spy'd；　With　answering　care　opprest：　'And　whence；　unhappy　youth；'　he　cry'd；　'The　sorrows　of　thy　breast？

'From　better　habitations　spurn'd；　Reluctant　dost　thou　rove；　Or　grieve　for　friendship　unreturn'd；　Or　unregarded　love？

'Alas！　the　joys　that　fortune　brings；　Are　trifling　and　decay；　And　those　who　prize　the　paltry　things；　More　trifling　still　than　they。

'And　what　is　friendship　but　a　name；　A　charm　that　lulls　to　sleep；　A　shade　that　follows　wealth　or　fame；　But　leaves　the　wretch　to　weep？

'And　love　is　still　an　emptier　sound；　The　modern　fair　one's　jest：　On　earth　unseen；　or　only　found　To　warm　the　turtle's　nest。

'For　shame　fond　youth　thy　sorrows　hush　And　spurn　the　sex；'　he　said：　But　while　he　spoke　a　rising　blush　His　love…lorn　guest　betray'd。

Surpriz'd　he　sees　new　beauties　rise；　Swift　mantling　to　the　view；　Like　colours　o'er　the　morning　skies；　As　bright；　as　transient　too。

The　bashful　look；　the　rising　breast；　Alternate　spread　alarms：　The　lovely　stranger　stands　confest　A　maid　in　all　her　charms。

'And；　ah；'forgive　a　stranger　rude；　A　wretch　forlorn；'　she　cry'd；　'Whose　feet　unhallowed　thus　intrude　Where　heaven　and　you　reside。

'But　let　a　maid　thy　pity　share；　Whom　love　has　taught　to　stray；　Who　seeks　for　rest；　but　finds　despair　Companion　of　her　way。

'My　father　liv'd　beside　the　Tyne；　A　wealthy　Lord　was　he；　And　all　his　wealth　was　mark'd　as　mine；　He　had　but　only　me。

'To　win　me　from　his　tender　arms；　Unnumber'd　suitors　came；　Who　prais'd　me　for　imputed　charms；　And　felt　or　feign'd　a　flame。

'Each　hour　a　mercenary　crowd；　With　richest　proffers　strove：　Among　the　rest　young　Edwin　bow'd；　But　never　talk'd　of　love。

'In　humble　simplest　habit　clad；　No　wealth　nor　power　had　he；　Wisdom　and　worth　were　all　he　had；　But　these　were　all　to　me。

'The　blossom　opening　to　the　day；　The　dews　of　heaven　refin'd；　Could　nought　of　purity　display；　To　emulate　his　mind。

'The　dew；　the　blossom　on　the　tree；　With　charms　inconstant　shine；　Their　charms　were　his；　but　woe　to　me；　Their　constancy　was　mine。

'For　still　I　try'd　each　fickle　art；　Importunate　and　vain；　And　while　his　passion　touch'd　my　heart；　I　triumph'd　in　his　pain。

'Till　quite　dejected　with　my　scorn；　He　left　me　to　my　pride；　And　sought　a　solitude　forlorn；　In　secret　where　he　died。

'But　mine　the　sorrow；　mine　the　fault；　And　well　my　life　shall　pay；　I'll　seek　the　solitude　he　sought；　And　stretch　me　where　he　lay。

'And　there　forlorn　despairing　hid；　I'll　lay　me　down　and　die：　'Twas　so　for　me　that　Edwin　did；　And　so　for　him　will　I。'

'Forbid　it　heaven！'　the　hermit　cry'd；　And　clasp'd　her　to　his　breast：　The　wondering　fair　one　turn'd　to　chide；　'Twas　Edwin's　self　that　prest。

'Turn；　Angelina；　ever　dear；　My　charmer；　turn　to　see；　Thy　own；　thy　long…lost　Edwin　here；　Restor'd　to　love