Years ago, a grave American savant, being in London, observed at an evening party there, a certain coxcombical fellow, as he thought, an absurd ribbon in his lapel, and full of smart persiflage2, whisking about to the admiration3 of as many as were disposed to admire. Great was the savan's disdain4; but, chancing ere long to find himself in a corner with the jackanapes, got into conversation with him, when he was somewhat ill-prepared for the good sense of the jackanapes, but was altogether thrown aback, upon subsequently being whispered by a friend that the jackanapes was almost as great a savan as himself, being no less a personage than Sir Humphrey Davy.
The above anecdote5 is given just here by way of an anticipative reminder6 to such readers as, from the kind of jaunty7 levity8, or what may have passed for such, hitherto for the most part appearing in the man with the traveling-cap, may have been tempted9 into a more or less hasty estimate of him; that such readers, when [96] they find the same person, as they presently will, capable of philosophic10 and humanitarian11 discourse—no mere12 casual sentence or two as heretofore at times, but solidly sustained throughout an almost entire sitting; that they may not, like the American savan, be thereupon betrayed into any surprise incompatible13 with their own good opinion of their previous penetration14.
The merchant's narration15 being ended, the other would not deny but that it did in some degree affect him. He hoped he was not without proper feeling for the unfortunate man. But he begged to know in what spirit he bore his alleged16 calamities17. Did he despond or have confidence?
The merchant did not, perhaps, take the exact import of the last member of the question; but answered, that, if whether the unfortunate man was becomingly resigned under his affliction or no, was the point, he could say for him that resigned he was, and to an exemplary degree: for not only, so far as known, did he refrain from any one-sided reflections upon human goodness and human justice, but there was observable in him an air of chastened reliance, and at times tempered cheerfulness.
Upon which the other observed, that since the unfortunate man's alleged experience could not be deemed very conciliatory towards a view of human nature better than human nature was, it largely redounded18 to his fair-mindedness, as well as piety19, that under the alleged dissuasives, apparently20 so, from philanthropy, he had not, in a moment of excitement, been warped21 over to the ranks of the misanthropes22. He doubted not, also, [97] that with such a man his experience would, in the end, act by a complete and beneficent inversion23, and so far from shaking his confidence in his kind, confirm it, and rivet25 it. Which would the more surely be the case, did he (the unfortunate man) at last become satisfied (as sooner or later he probably would be) that in the distraction26 of his mind his Goneril had not in all respects had fair play. At all events, the description of the lady, charity could not but regard as more or less exaggerated, and so far unjust. The truth probably was that she was a wife with some blemishes27 mixed with some beauties. But when the blemishes were displayed, her husband, no adept28 in the female nature, had tried to use reason with her, instead of something far more persuasive29. Hence his failure to convince and convert. The act of withdrawing from her, seemed, under the circumstances, abrupt30. In brief, there were probably small faults on both sides, more than balanced by large virtues31; and one should not be hasty in judging.
When the merchant, strange to say, opposed views so calm and impartial32, and again, with some warmth, deplored33 the case of the unfortunate man, his companion, not without seriousness, checked him, saying, that this would never do; that, though but in the most exceptional case, to admit the existence of unmerited misery34, more particularly if alleged to have been brought about by unhindered arts of the wicked, such an admission was, to say the least, not prudent35; since, with some, it might unfavorably bias36 their most important persuasions37. Not that those persuasions were legitimately39 servile to such [98] influences. Because, since the common occurrences of life could never, in the nature of things, steadily40 look one way and tell one story, as flags in the trade-wind; hence, if the conviction of a Providence41, for instance, were in any way made dependent upon such variabilities as everyday events, the degree of that conviction would, in thinking minds, be subject to fluctuations42 akin24 to those of the stock-exchange during a long and uncertain war. Here he glanced aside at his transfer-book, and after a moment's pause continued. It was of the essence of a right conviction of the divine nature, as with a right conviction of the human, that, based less on experience than intuition, it rose above the zones of weather.
When now the merchant, with all his heart, coincided with this (as being a sensible, as well as religious person, he could not but do), his companion expressed satisfaction, that, in an age of some distrust on such subjects, he could yet meet with one who shared with him, almost to the full, so sound and sublime43 a confidence.
Still, he was far from the illiberality44 of denying that philosophy duly bounded was not permissible45. Only he deemed it at least desirable that, when such a case as that alleged of the unfortunate man was made the subject of philosophic discussion, it should be so philosophized upon, as not to afford handles to those unblessed with the true light. For, but to grant that there was so much as a mystery about such a case, might by those persons be held for a tacit surrender of the question. And as for the apparent license46 temporarily permitted sometimes, to the bad over the good (as was by implication [99] alleged with regard to Goneril and the unfortunate man), it might be injudicious there to lay too much polemic47 stress upon the doctrine48 of future retribution as the vindication49 of present impunity50. For though, indeed, to the right-minded that doctrine was true, and of sufficient solace51, yet with the perverse52 the polemic mention of it might but provoke the shallow, though mischievous53 conceit54, that such a doctrine was but tantamount to the one which should affirm that Providence was not now, but was going to be. In short, with all sorts of cavilers, it was best, both for them and everybody, that whoever had the true light should stick behind the secure Malakoff of confidence, nor be tempted forth55 to hazardous56 skirmishes on the open ground of reason. Therefore, he deemed it unadvisable in the good man, even in the privacy of his own mind, or in communion with a congenial one, to indulge in too much latitude58 of philosophizing, or, indeed, of compassionating59, since this might, beget60 an indiscreet habit of thinking and feeling which might unexpectedly betray him upon unsuitable occasions. Indeed, whether in private or public, there was nothing which a good man was more bound to guard himself against than, on some topics, the emotional unreserve of his natural heart; for, that the natural heart, in certain points, was not what it might be, men had been authoritatively61 admonished62.
But he thought he might be getting dry.
The merchant, in his good-nature, thought otherwise, and said that he would be glad to refresh himself with such fruit all day. It was sitting under a ripe pulpit, [100] and better such a seat than under a ripe peach-tree.
The other was pleased to find that he had not, as he feared, been prosing; but would rather not be considered in the formal light of a preacher; he preferred being still received in that of the equal and genial57 companion. To which end, throwing still more of sociability63 into his manner, he again reverted64 to the unfortunate man. Take the very worst view of that case; admit that his Goneril was, indeed, a Goneril; how fortunate to be at last rid of this Goneril, both by nature and by law? If he were acquainted with the unfortunate man, instead of condoling65 with him, he would congratulate him. Great good fortune had this unfortunate man. Lucky dog, he dared say, after all.
To which the merchant replied, that he earnestly hoped it might be so, and at any rate he tried his best to comfort himself with the persuasion38 that, if the unfortunate man was not happy in this world, he would, at least, be so in another.
His companion made no question of the unfortunate man's happiness in both worlds; and, presently calling for some champagne66, invited the merchant to partake, upon the playful plea that, whatever notions other than felicitous67 ones he might associate with the unfortunate man, a little champagne would readily bubble away.
At intervals68 they slowly quaffed69 several glasses in silence and thoughtfulness. At last the merchant's expressive70 face flushed, his eye moistly beamed, his lips trembled with an imaginative and feminine sensibility. [101] Without sending a single fume71 to his head, the wine seemed to shoot to his heart, and begin soothsaying there. "Ah," he cried, pushing his glass from him, "Ah, wine is good, and confidence is good; but can wine or confidence percolate72 down through all the stony73 strata74 of hard considerations, and drop warmly and ruddily into the cold cave of truth? Truth will not be comforted. Led by dear charity, lured75 by sweet hope, fond fancy essays this feat76; but in vain; mere dreams and ideals, they explode in your hand, leaving naught77 but the scorching78 behind!"
"Why, why, why!" in amaze, at the burst: "bless me, if In vino veritas be a true saying, then, for all the fine confidence you professed79 with me, just now, distrust, deep distrust, underlies80 it; and ten thousand strong, like the Irish Rebellion, breaks out in you now. That wine, good wine, should do it! Upon my soul," half seriously, half humorously, securing the bottle, "you shall drink no more of it. Wine was meant to gladden the heart, not grieve it; to heighten confidence, not depress it."
Sobered, shamed, all but confounded, by this raillery, the most telling rebuke81 under such circumstances, the merchant stared about him, and then, with altered mien82, stammeringly83 confessed, that he was almost as much surprised as his companion, at what had escaped him. He did not understand it; was quite at a loss to account for such a rhapsody popping out of him unbidden. It could hardly be the champagne; he felt his brain unaffected; in fact, if anything, the wine had acted upon [102] it something like white of egg in coffee, clarifying and brightening.
"Brightening? brightening it may be, but less like the white of egg in coffee, than like stove-lustre on a stove—black, brightening seriously, I repent84 calling for the champagne. To a temperament85 like yours, champagne is not to be recommended. Pray, my dear sir, do you feel quite yourself again? Confidence restored?"
"I hope so; I think I may say it is so. But we have had a long talk, and I think I must retire now."
So saying, the merchant rose, and making his adieus, left the table with the air of one, mortified86 at having been tempted by his own honest goodness, accidentally stimulated87 into making mad disclosures—to himself as to another—of the queer, unaccountable caprices of his natural heart.
点击收听单词发音
1 optimists | |
n.乐观主义者( optimist的名词复数 ) | |
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2 persiflage | |
n.戏弄;挖苦 | |
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3 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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4 disdain | |
n.鄙视,轻视;v.轻视,鄙视,不屑 | |
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5 anecdote | |
n.轶事,趣闻,短故事 | |
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6 reminder | |
n.提醒物,纪念品;暗示,提示 | |
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7 jaunty | |
adj.愉快的,满足的;adv.心满意足地,洋洋得意地;n.心满意足;洋洋得意 | |
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8 levity | |
n.轻率,轻浮,不稳定,多变 | |
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9 tempted | |
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词) | |
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10 philosophic | |
adj.哲学的,贤明的 | |
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11 humanitarian | |
n.人道主义者,博爱者,基督凡人论者 | |
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12 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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13 incompatible | |
adj.不相容的,不协调的,不相配的 | |
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14 penetration | |
n.穿透,穿人,渗透 | |
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15 narration | |
n.讲述,叙述;故事;记叙体 | |
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16 alleged | |
a.被指控的,嫌疑的 | |
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17 calamities | |
n.灾祸,灾难( calamity的名词复数 );不幸之事 | |
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18 redounded | |
v.有助益( redound的过去式和过去分词 );及于;报偿;报应 | |
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19 piety | |
n.虔诚,虔敬 | |
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20 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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21 warped | |
adj.反常的;乖戾的;(变)弯曲的;变形的v.弄弯,变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 );使(行为等)不合情理,使乖戾, | |
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22 misanthropes | |
n.厌恶人类者( misanthrope的名词复数 ) | |
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23 inversion | |
n.反向,倒转,倒置 | |
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24 akin | |
adj.同族的,类似的 | |
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25 rivet | |
n.铆钉;vt.铆接,铆牢;集中(目光或注意力) | |
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26 distraction | |
n.精神涣散,精神不集中,消遣,娱乐 | |
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27 blemishes | |
n.(身体的)瘢点( blemish的名词复数 );伤疤;瑕疵;污点 | |
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28 adept | |
adj.老练的,精通的 | |
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29 persuasive | |
adj.有说服力的,能说得使人相信的 | |
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30 abrupt | |
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的 | |
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31 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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32 impartial | |
adj.(in,to)公正的,无偏见的 | |
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33 deplored | |
v.悲叹,痛惜,强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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35 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
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36 bias | |
n.偏见,偏心,偏袒;vt.使有偏见 | |
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37 persuasions | |
n.劝说,说服(力)( persuasion的名词复数 );信仰 | |
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38 persuasion | |
n.劝说;说服;持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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39 legitimately | |
ad.合法地;正当地,合理地 | |
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40 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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41 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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42 fluctuations | |
波动,涨落,起伏( fluctuation的名词复数 ) | |
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43 sublime | |
adj.崇高的,伟大的;极度的,不顾后果的 | |
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44 illiberality | |
n.吝啬,小气 | |
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45 permissible | |
adj.可允许的,许可的 | |
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46 license | |
n.执照,许可证,特许;v.许可,特许 | |
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47 polemic | |
n.争论,论战 | |
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48 doctrine | |
n.教义;主义;学说 | |
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49 vindication | |
n.洗冤,证实 | |
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50 impunity | |
n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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51 solace | |
n.安慰;v.使快乐;vt.安慰(物),缓和 | |
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52 perverse | |
adj.刚愎的;坚持错误的,行为反常的 | |
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53 mischievous | |
adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的 | |
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54 conceit | |
n.自负,自高自大 | |
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55 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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56 hazardous | |
adj.(有)危险的,冒险的;碰运气的 | |
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57 genial | |
adj.亲切的,和蔼的,愉快的,脾气好的 | |
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58 latitude | |
n.纬度,行动或言论的自由(范围),(pl.)地区 | |
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59 compassionating | |
v.同情(compassionate的现在分词形式) | |
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60 beget | |
v.引起;产生 | |
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61 authoritatively | |
命令式地,有权威地,可信地 | |
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62 admonished | |
v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 );训诫;(温和地)责备;轻责 | |
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63 sociability | |
n.好交际,社交性,善于交际 | |
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64 reverted | |
恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 ); 重提; 回到…上; 归还 | |
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65 condoling | |
v.表示同情,吊唁( condole的现在分词 ) | |
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66 champagne | |
n.香槟酒;微黄色 | |
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67 felicitous | |
adj.恰当的,巧妙的;n.恰当,贴切 | |
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68 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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69 quaffed | |
v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 );畅饮;大口大口将…喝干;一饮而尽 | |
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70 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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71 fume | |
n.(usu pl.)(浓烈或难闻的)烟,气,汽 | |
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72 percolate | |
v.过滤,渗透 | |
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73 stony | |
adj.石头的,多石头的,冷酷的,无情的 | |
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74 strata | |
n.地层(复数);社会阶层 | |
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75 lured | |
吸引,引诱(lure的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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76 feat | |
n.功绩;武艺,技艺;adj.灵巧的,漂亮的,合适的 | |
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77 naught | |
n.无,零 [=nought] | |
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78 scorching | |
adj. 灼热的 | |
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79 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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80 underlies | |
v.位于或存在于(某物)之下( underlie的第三人称单数 );构成…的基础(或起因),引起 | |
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81 rebuke | |
v.指责,非难,斥责 [反]praise | |
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82 mien | |
n.风采;态度 | |
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83 stammeringly | |
adv.stammering(口吃的)的变形 | |
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84 repent | |
v.悔悟,悔改,忏悔,后悔 | |
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85 temperament | |
n.气质,性格,性情 | |
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86 mortified | |
v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 );伤害(人的感情);克制;抑制(肉体、情感等) | |
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87 stimulated | |
a.刺激的 | |
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