the works of edgar allan poe-5-第16章

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false　idea　of　my　personal　appearance？　Eyes！　…　true。　Eyes；　Pierre　Bon…Bon；
are　very　well　in　their　proper　place　…　that；　you　would　say；　is　the　head？　…
right　…　the　head　of　a　worm。　To　you；　likewise；　these　optics　are
indispensable　…　yet　I　will　convince　you　that　my　vision　is　more　penetrating
than　your　own。　There　is　a　cat　I　see　in　the　corner　…　a　pretty　cat…　look　at
her　…　observe　her　well。　Now；　Bon…Bon；　do　you　behold　the　thoughts　…　the
thoughts；　I　say；　…　the　ideas　…　the　reflections　…　which　are　being
engendered　in　her　pericranium？　There　it　is；　now　…　you　do　not！　She　is
thinking　we　admire　the　length　of　her　tail　and　the　profundity　of　her　mind。
She　has　just　concluded　that　I　am　the　most　distinguished　of　ecclesiastics；
and　that　you　are　the　most　superficial　of　metaphysicians。　Thus　you　see　I　am
not　altogether　blind；　but　to　one　of　my　profession；　the　eyes　you　speak　of
would　be　merely　an　incumbrance；　liable　at　any　time　to　be　put　out　by　a
toasting…iron；　or　a　pitchfork。　To　you；　I　allow；　these　optical　affairs　are
indispensable。　Endeavor；　Bon…Bon；　to　use　them　well；　…　my　vision　is　the
soul。〃

　　　　Hereupon　the　guest　helped　himself　to　the　wine　upon　the　table；　and
pouring　out　a　bumper　for　Bon…Bon；　requested　him　to　drink　it　without
scruple；　and　make　himself　perfectly　at　home。

　　　　〃A　clever　book　that　of　yours；　Pierre；〃　resumed　his　Majesty；　tapping
our　friend　knowingly　upon　the　shoulder；　as　the　latter　put　down　his　glass
after　a　thorough　compliance　with　his　visiter's　injunction。　〃A　clever　book
that　of　yours；　upon　my　honor。　It's　a　work　after　my　own　heart。　Your
arrangement　of　the　matter；　I　think；　however；　might　be　improved；　and　many
of　your　notions　remind　me　of　Aristotle。　That　philosopher　was　one　of　my
most　intimate　acquaintances。　I　liked　him　as　much　for　his　terrible　ill
temper；　as　for　his　happy　knack　at　making　a　blunder。　There　is　only　one
solid　truth　in　all　that　he　has　written；　and　for　that　I　gave　him　the　hint
out　of　pure　compassion　for　his　absurdity。　I　suppose；　Pierre　Bon…Bon；　you
very　well　know　to　what　divine　moral　truth　I　am　alluding？〃

　　　　〃Cannot　say　that　I　…〃

　　　　〃Indeed！　…　why　it　was　I　who　told　Aristotle　that　by　sneezing；　men
expelled　superfluous　ideas　through　the　proboscis。〃

〃Which　is　…　hiccup！　…　undoubtedly　the　case；〃　said　the　metaphysician；　while
he　poured　out　for　himself　another　bumper　of　Mousseux；　and　offered　his
snuff…box　to　the　fingers　of　his　visiter。

　　　　〃There　was　Plato；　too；〃　continued　his　Majesty；　modestly　declining　the
snuff…box　and　the　compliment　it　implied　…　〃there　was　Plato；　too；　for　whom
I；　at　one　time；　felt　all　the　affection　of　a　friend。　You　knew　Plato；
Bon…Bon？　…　ah；　no；　I　beg　a　thousand　pardons。　He　met　me　at　Athens；　one　day；
in　the　Parthenon；　and　told　me　he　was　distressed　for　an　idea。　I　bade　him
write；　down　that　o　nous　estin　aulos。　He　said　that　he　would　do　so；　and　went
home；　while　I　stepped　over　to　the　pyramids。　But　my　conscience　smote　me　for
having　uttered　a　truth；　even　to　aid　a　friend；　and　hastening　back　to
Athens；　I　arrived　behind　the　philosopher's　chair　as　he　was　inditing　the
'aulos。'〃

　　　　〃Giving　the　lambda　a　fillip　with　my　finger；　I　turned　it　upside　down。
So　the　sentence　now　read　'o　nous　estin　augos'；　and　is；　you　perceive；　the
fundamental　doctrines　in　his　metaphysics。〃

　　　　〃Were　you　ever　at　Rome？〃　asked　the　restaurateur；　as　he　finished　his
second　bottle　of　Mousseux；　and　drew　from　the　closet　a　larger　supply　of
Chambertin。

　　　　But　once；　Monsieur　Bon…Bon；　but　once。　There　was　a　time；〃　said　the
devil；　as　if　reciting　some　passage　from　a　book　…　〃there　was　a　time　when
occurred　an　anarchy　of　five　years；　during　which　the　republic；　bereft　of
all　its　officers；　had　no　magistracy　besides　the　tribunes　of　the　people；
and　these　were　not　legally　vested　with　any　degree　of　executive　power　…　at
that　time；　Monsieur　Bon…Bon　…　at　that　time　only　I　was　in　Rome；　and　I　have
no　earthly　acquaintance；　consequently；　with　any　of　its　philosophy。〃*

｛*2｝　Ils　ecrivaient　sur　la　Philosophie　（_Cicero；　Lucretius；　Seneca_）　mais
c'etait　la　Philosophie　Grecque。　…　_Condorcet_。

　　　　〃What　do　you　think　of　…　what　do　you　think　of　…　hiccup！　…　Epicurus？〃

　　　　〃What　do　I　think　of　whom？〃　said　the　devil；　in　astonishment；　〃you
cannot　surely　mean　to　find　any　fault　with　Epicurus！　What　do　I　think　of
Epicurus！　Do　you　mean　me；　sir？　…　I　am　Epicurus！　I　am　the　same　philosopher
who　wrote　each　of　the　three　hundred　treatises　commemorated　by　Diogenes
Laertes。〃

　　　　〃That's　a　lie！〃　said　the　metaphysician；　for　the　wine　had　gotten　a
little　into　his　head。

　　　　〃Very　well！　…　very　well；　sir！　…　very　well；　indeed；　sir！〃　said　his
Majesty；　apparently　much　flattered。

　　　　〃That's　a　lie！〃　repeated　the　restaurateur；　dogmatically；　〃that's　a　…
hiccup！　…　a　lie！〃

　　　　〃Well；　well；　have　it　your　own　way！〃　said　the　devil；　pacifically；　and
Bon…Bon；　having　beaten　his　Majesty　at　argument；　thought　it　his　duty　to
conclude　a　second　bottle　of　Chambertin。

　　　　〃As　I　was　saying；〃　resumed　the　visiter　…　〃as　I　was　observing　a　little
while　ago；　there　are　some　very　outre　notions　in　that　book　of　yours
Monsieur　Bon…Bon。　What；　for　instance；　do　you　mean　by　all　that　humbug　about
the　soul？　Pray；　sir；　what　is　the　soul？〃

　　　　〃The　…　hiccup！　…　soul；〃　replied　the　metaphysician；　referring　to　his
MS。；　〃is　undoubtedly…〃

　　　　〃No；　sir！〃

　　　　〃Indubitably…〃

　　　　〃No；　sir！〃

　　　　〃Indisputably…〃

　　　　〃No；　sir！〃

　　　　〃Evidently…〃

　　　　〃No；　sir！〃

　　　　〃Incontrovertibly…〃

　　　　〃No；　sir！〃

　　　　〃Hiccup！　…〃

　　　　〃No；　sir！〃

　　　　〃And　beyond　all　question；　a…〃

　　　　〃No　sir；　the　soul　is　no　such　thing！〃　（Here　the　philosopher；　looking
daggers；　took　occasion　to　make　an　end；　upon　the　spot；　of　his　third　bottle
of　Chambertin。）

　　　　〃Then　…　hic…cup！　…　pray；　sir　…　what　…　what　is　it？〃

　　　　〃That　is　neither　here　nor　there；　Monsieur　Bon…Bon；〃　replied　his
Majesty；　musingly。　〃I　have　tasted　…　that　is　to　say；　I　have　known　some　very
bad　souls；　and　some　too　…　pretty　good　ones。〃　Here　he　smacked　his　lips；
and；　having　unconsciously　let　fall　his　hand　upon　the　volume　in　his　pocket；
was　seized　with　a　violent　fit　of　sneezing。

　　　　He　continued。

　　　　〃There　was　the　soul　of　Cratinus　…　passable：　Aristophanes　…　racy：　Plato
…　exquisite…　not　your　Plato；　but　Plato　the　comic　poet；　your　Plato　would
have　turned　the　stomach　of　Cerberus　…　faugh！　Then　let　me　see！　there　were
Naevius；　and　Andronicus；　and　Plautus；　and　Terentius。　Then　there　were
Lucilius；　and　Catullus；　and　Naso；　and　Quintus　Flaccus；　…　dear　Quinty！　as　I
called　him　when　he　sung　a　seculare　for　my　amusement；　while　I　toasted　him；
in　pure　good　humor；　on　a　fork。　But　they　want　flavor；　these　Romans。　One　fat
Greek　is　worth　a　dozen　of　them；　and　besides　will　keep；　which　cannot　be
said　of　a　Quirite。　…　Let　us　taste　your　Sauterne。〃

　　　　Bon…Bon　had　by　this　time　made　up　his　mind　to　nil　admirari　and
endeavored　to　hand　down　the　bottles　in　question。　He　was；　however；
conscious　of　a　strange　sound　in　the　room　like　the　wagging　of　a　tail。　Of
this；　although　extremely　indecent　in　his　Majesty；　the　philosopher　took　no
notice：　…　simply　kicking　the　dog；　and　requesting　him　to　be　quiet。　The
visiter　continued：

　　　　〃I　found　that　Horace　tasted　very　much　like　Aristotle；　…　you　know　I　am
fond　of　variety。　Terentius　I　could　not　have　told　from　Menander。　Naso；　to
my　astonishment；　was　Nicander　in　disguise。　Virgilius　had　a　strong　twang　of
Theocritus。　Martial　put　me　much　in　mind　of　Archilochus　…　and　Titus　Livius
was　positively　Polybius　and　none　other。〃

　　　　〃Hic…cup！〃　here　replied　Bon…Bon；　and　his　majesty　proceeded：

　　　　〃But　if　I　have　a　penchant；　Monsieur　Bon…Bon　…　if　I　have　a　penchant；　it
is　for　a　philosopher。　Yet；　let　me　tell　you；　sir；　it　is　not　every　dev　…　I
mean　it　is　not　every　gentleman　who　knows　how　to　choose　a　philosopher。　Long
ones　are　not　good；　and　the　best；　if　not　carefully　shelled；　are　apt　to　be　a
little　rancid　on　account　of　the　gall！〃

　　　　〃Shelled！〃

　　　　〃I　mean　taken　out　of　the　carcass。〃

　　　　〃What　do　you　think　of　a　…　hic…cup！　…　physician？〃

　　　　〃Don't　mention　them！　…　ugh！　ugh！　ugh！〃　（Here　his　Majesty　retched
violently。）　〃I　never　tasted　but　one　…　that　rascal　Hippocrates！　…　smelt　of
asafoetida　…　ugh！　ugh！　ugh！　…　caught　a　wretched　cold　washing　him　in　the
Styx　…　and　after　all　he　gave　me　the　cholera　morbus。〃

　　　　〃The　…　hiccup　…　wretch！〃　ejaculated　Bon…Bon；　〃the　…　hic…cup！　…
absorption　of　a　pill…box！〃　…　and　the　philosopher　dropped　a　tear。

　　　　〃After　all；〃　continued　the　visiter；　〃after　all；　if　a　dev　…　if　a
gentleman　wishes　to　live；　he　must　have　more　talents　than　one　or　two；　and
with　us　a　fat　face　is　an　evidence　of　diplomacy。〃

　　　　〃How　so？〃

　　　　〃Why；　we　are　sometimes　exceedingly　pushed　for　provisions。　You　must
know　that；　in　a　climate　so　sultry　as　mine；　it　is　frequently　impossible　to
keep　a　spirit　alive　for　more　than　two　or　three　hours；　and　after　death；
unless　pickled　immediately　（and　a　pickled　spirit　is　not　good）；　they　will　…
smell　…　you　understand；　eh？　Putrefaction　is　always　to　be　apprehended　when
the　souls　are　consigned　to　us　in　the　usual　way。〃

　　　　〃Hiccup！　…　hiccup！　…　good　God！　how　do　you　manage？〃

　　　　Here　the　iron　lamp　commenced　swinging　with　redoubled　violence；　and　the
devil　half　started　from　his　seat；　…　however；　with　a　slight　sigh；　he
recovered　his　composure；　merely　saying　to　our　hero　in　a　low　tone：　〃I　tell
you　what；　Pierre　Bon…Bon；　we　must　have　no　more　swearing。〃

　　　　The　host　swallowed　another　bumper；　by　way　of　denoting　thorough
comprehension　and　acquiescence；　and　the　visiter　continued。

　　　　〃Why；　there　are　several　ways　of　managing。　The　most　of　us　starve：　some
put　up　with　the　pickle：　for　my　part　I　purchase　my　spirits　vivente　corpore；
in　which　case　I　find　they　keep　very　well。〃

　　　　〃But　the　body！　…　hiccup！　…　the　body！〃

　　　　〃The　body；　the　body　…　well；　what　of　the　body？　…　oh！　ah！　I　perceive。
Why；　sir；　the　body　is　not　at　all　affected　by　the　transaction。　I　have　made
innumerable　purchases　of　the　kind　in　my　day；　and　the　parties　never
experienced　any　inconvenience。　There　were　Cain　and　Nimrod；　and　Nero；　and
Caligula；　and　Dionysius；　and　Pisistratus；　and　…　and　a　thousand　others；　who
never　knew　what　it　was　to　have　a　soul　during　the　latter　part　of　their
lives；　yet；　sir；　these　men　adorned　society。　Why　possession　of　his
faculties；　mental　and　corporeal？　Who　writes　a　keener　epigram？　Who　reasons
more　wittily？　Who　…　but　stay！　I　have　his　agreement　in　my　pocket…book。〃

　　　　Thus　saying；　he　produced　a　red　leather　wallet；　and　took　from　it　a
number　of　papers。　Upon　some　of　these　Bon…Bon　caught　a　glimpse　of　the
letters　Machi　…　Maza…　Robesp　…　with　the　words　Caligula；　George；　Elizabeth。
His　Majesty　selected　a　narrow　slip　of　parchment；　and　from　it　read　aloud
the　following　words：

　　　　〃In　consideration　of　certain　mental　endowments　which　it　is　unnecessary
to　specify；　and　in　further　consideration　of　one　thousand　louis　d'or；　I
being　aged　one　year　and　one　month；　do　hereby　make　over　to　the　bearer　of
this　agreement　all　my　right；　title；　and　appurtenance　in　the　shadow　called
my　soul。　（Signed）　A。。。。〃　｛*4｝　（Here　His　Majesty　repeated　a　name　which　I
did　not　feel　justified　in　indicating　more　unequivocally。）

｛*4｝　Quere…Arouet？

　　　　〃A　clever　fellow　that；〃　resumed　he；　〃but　like　you；　Monsieur　Bon…Bon；
he　was　mistaken　about　the　soul。　The　soul　a　shadow；　truly！　The　soul　a