Although perfectly2 sensible, my limbs were entirely3 benumbed; and I lay helpless for a long time. Meanwhile I ruminated4 on my singular course. The events of the past years rose one after another with clearness in my mind; particularly those of my exaltation and fame. Here was I, the late founder5 of the splendid fifth monarchy, metamorphosed to a poor and hungry bachelor-of-arts; a change so terrible and unprecedented6, that it might well have disturbed the strongest brain. I seriously examined my present circumstances — were they real? or did I dream? Alas7? the tremors8 of terror and uncertainty9 only gave place to the pangs10 of sorrow and regret.
“Almighty Father!” I exclaimed, and towards heaven
Stretched my trembling hands, “what sin provoked thy vengeance12,
That all thy thunders crash upon my head?
Where am I? whence came I? how shall I escape
Thy anger.”
Truly! should one look over the journals of all times, he will neither in ancient nor modern history find a parallel to so great a fall; with the single exception of that of Nebuchadnezzar, who from the greatest of kings was changed to a dumb beast.
I began to descend13 the mountain by the path which leads to Sandvig. When about half way down, I observed some boys, whom I beckoned14 towards me, repeating the words: Jeru pikal salim, which in the Quamitic language signify: show me the way. The lads, however, were apparently15 frightened at seeing a man in a strange dress, and with a hat on his head glittering with golden rays; for they rushed down the mountain in great haste, arriving at Sandvig an hour before me. The rumor16 of the strange appearance on the mountain was spread about and caused terror throughout the town; the notion was, that the shoemaker of Jerusalem wandered among the mountains. This impression arose thus: the boys on being questioned by the townsmen, replied that I had told them who I was. I afterwards learnt that my words, Jeru pikal salim, had been interpreted by sound, and that this clew, acted upon by fear and superstition17, had been developed into the strangest of fables18. This story was unquestioned by this simple people, inasmuch as the adventures of the travelling shoemaker were then newly reported, and it had been asserted that he had been seen a short time before in Hamburg.
When, towards evening, I entered Sandvig, I observed that the inhabitants were collected in large flocks, to gaze at me. As I approached them and spoke19, they all took to flight, except one old man: him I addressed, and begged of him to give me lodging20 at his house. He asked me, “where I was born, whence I came, &c.” I answered him, with a sigh: “When I come to your house, I will relate events that will seem incredible to you, and whose equals you will not find in any history.” The old man then took me by the hand and led me to his house. When there I demanded drink; he gave me a glass of beer. When I recovered my breath, after this draught21, I addressed the old man thus: “You see before you a human being, who has been a bolt for the changing winds of fortune; one, who has been pursued by a fatality22 more controlling and more unhappy than was ever experienced by mortal.”
“Moral and physical revolutions may be effected in a moment, without surprising men; but what has befallen me is beyond the reach of human imagination!”
“It is the traveller’s fate;” my landlord answered; “many strange events and changes might happen on a voyage of sixteen hundred years.”
I did not understand this, and requested him to tell me what he meant by sixteen hundred years. He replied: “If one may believe history, it is now sixteen hundred years since Jerusalem was destroyed, and I doubt not, venerable man, that you were already of age at its destruction. If what is said of you is true, you must have been born in the reign23 of Tiberius. I know that this matter is rather supposed than proved. The inhabitants of this place, however, believe you to be the shoemaker of Jerusalem, celebrated24 in history, who, since the time of Christ, has travelled about the world. Nevertheless, the more I look at you, the greater resemblance I find to an old friend of mine, who twelve years since perished on the top of a neighboring mountain.” At these words, I looked carefully at my host. In a moment the fog was cleared from before my eyes. I saw before me my dear friend Abelin, in whose house, at Bergen, I had spent many happy days. I ran to his embrace with outstretched arms. “Then ’tis you, my dear Abelin! I can scarcely believe my eyes. Here you see Klim again, who has just returned from the subterranean25 world. I am the same, who twelve years since plunged26 into the mountain cave.” He fell upon my neck and with tearful eyes, demanded where I had been and what had happened to me. I told him all that had occurred. At first he would not credit me; but afterwards he acknowledged that all must have been so, for I could never have invented such strange adventures.
Abelin advised me not to repeat these things to others, and to keep myself secluded27 in his house. He told the people, who rushed to his house to see the “shoemaker of Jerusalem,” that I had vanished; for he justly concluded this to be the best and most satisfactory answer he could make to an ignorant and superstitious28 peasantry. I remained in concealment29 until clothes, more suitable to the surface of the earth, than those I brought from below, were made, when Abelin reported me to be a relative of his, lately a student in Trondhjim, on a visit. He recommended me to the bishop30 of Bergen, who promised to me the first rectorship that should become vacant. This office was much to my taste, for it seemed to have a likeness31 to my former state, a school-master being a miniature of royalty32. The rod may be likened to the sceptre; the desk to the throne. After waiting for a vacancy33 in vain, I determined34, from necessity, to accept the first office I could get. At this time the sacristan of the church died; his place was offered to me by the bishop and accepted. An amusing promotion35 to one who had lately reigned36 over many great kingdoms. Nevertheless, since nothing is so ridiculous as poverty, and since it is foolish to throw away dirty water, before clean is at hand, I think it would have been still more laughable to have refused it. Fulfilling the duties of this office, I now live in philosophic37 ease.
Shortly after my induction38, a marriage with a merchant’s daughter was proposed to me. I could have liked the girl, but as it was probable that the empress of Quama was yet alive, I did not care to make myself obnoxious39 to the ban of polygamy. M. Abelin, however, into whose bosom40 I was used to pour my doubts, and all the pressures of my heart, abridged41 this fear, and advised me to marry; which I did. With this wife I have lived six years in peaceful and affectionate union. During this period she has borne me three fine sons, wholly worthy42 of their half brother, the prince of Quama.
To my wife, I never told my subterranean adventures; but I can never forget, for a moment, the splendor43 that once surrounded me. To this day, I often express myself in signs and words, which, however consistent in the mighty11 ruler and magnificent tyrant44, are little adapted to the humble45 sacristan of Bergen.
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1
monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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2
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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4
ruminated
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| v.沉思( ruminate的过去式和过去分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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5
Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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6
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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7
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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8
tremors
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| 震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动 | |
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9
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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10
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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11
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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12
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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13
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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14
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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16
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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17
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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18
fables
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| n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说 | |
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19
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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20
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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21
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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22
fatality
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| n.不幸，灾祸，天命 | |
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23
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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24
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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25
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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26
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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27
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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28
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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29
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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30
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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31
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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32
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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33
vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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34
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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35
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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36
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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37
philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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38
induction
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| n.感应，感应现象 | |
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39
obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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40
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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41
abridged
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| 削减的，删节的 | |
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42
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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43
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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44
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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45
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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