And about a week after this there appeared the first bulletin. From that instant, though the gullish multitude studied the daily reports with grave interest; their hopes and speculations4 and arrangements changing with each phrase; for the initiated5 there was no suspense6. All knew that it was over; and Lady St Julians, giving up her quadrille, began to look about for seats in parliament for her sons.
“What a happiness it is to have a clever mother,” exclaimed Egremont, as he pondered over the returns of his election agent. Lady Marney, duly warned of the impending7 catastrophe8, was experiencing all the advantages of prior information. It delighted her to meet Lady St Julians driving distractedly about town, calling at clubs, closeted with red tapers10, making ingenious combinations that would not work, by means of which some one of her sons was to stand in coalition11 with some rich parvenu12; to pay none of the expenses and yet to come in first. And all this time, Lady Marney, serene13 and smiling, had the daily pleasure of assuring Lady St Julians what a relief it was to her that Charles had fixed14 on his place. It had been arranged indeed these weeks past; “but then, you know,” concluded Lady Marney in the sweetest voice and with a blandishing glance, “I never did believe in that hay fever.”
In the meantime the impending event changed the whole aspect of the political world. The king dying before the new registration15 was the greatest blow to pseudo-toryism since his majesty, calling for a hackney coach, went down and dissolved parliament in 1831. It was calculated by the Tadpoles17 and Tapers that a dissolution by Sir Robert, after the registration of 1837, would give him a clear majority, not too great a one, but large enough: a manageable majority; some five-and-twenty or thirty men, who with a probable peerage or two dangling18 in the distance, half-a-dozen positive baronetcies, the Customs for their constituents19, and Court balls for their wives, might be induced to save the state. 0! England, glorious and ancient realm, the fortunes of thy polity are indeed strange! The wisdom of the Saxons, Norman valour, the state-craft of the Tudors, the national sympathies of the Stuarts, the spirit of the latter Guelphs struggling against their enslaved sovereignty,—these are the high qualities, that for a thousand years have secured thy national developement. And now all thy memorial dynasties end in the huckstering rule of some thirty unknown and anonymous21 jobbers22! The Thirty at Athens were at least tyrants23. They were marked men. But the obscure majority, who under our present constitution are destined24 to govern England, are as secret as a Venetian conclave25. Yet on their dark voices all depends. Would you promote or prevent some great measure that may affect the destinies of unborn millions, and the future character of the people,—take, for example, a system of national education,—the minister must apportion26 the plunder27 to the illiterate28 clan29; the scum that floats on the surface of a party; or hold out the prospect30 of honours, which are only honourable31 when in their transmission they impart and receive lustre32; when they are the meed of public virtue33 and public services, and the distinction of worth and of genius. It is impossible that the system of the thirty can long endure in an age of inquiry34 and agitated35 spirit like the present. Such a system may suit the balanced interests and the periodical and alternate command of rival oligarchical36 connections: but it can subsist37 only by the subordination of the sovereign and the degradation38 of the multitude; and cannot accord with an age, whose genius will soon confess that Power and the People are both divine.
“He can’t last ten days,” said a whig secretary of the treasury39 with a triumphant40 glance at Mr Taper9 as they met in Pall41 Mall; “You’re out for our lives.”
“Don’t you make too sure for yourselves,” rejoined in despair the dismayed Taper. “It does not follow that because we are out, that you are in.”
“How do you mean?”
“There is such a person as Lord Durham in the world,” said Mr Taper very solemnly.
“Pish,” said the secretary.
“You may pish,” said Mr Taper, “but if we have a radical42 government, as I believe and hope, they will not be able to get up the steam as they did in —31; and what with church and corn together, and the Queen Dowager, we may go to the country with as good a cry as some other persons.”
“I will back Melbourne against the field, now,” said the secretary.
“Lord Durham dined at Kensington on Thursday,” said Taper, “and not a whig present.”
“Ay; Durham talks very fine at dinner,” said the secretary, “but he has no real go in him. When there is a Prince of Wales, Lord Melbourne means to make Durham governor to the heir apparent, and that will keep him quiet.”
“Don’t you flatter yourself,” said the secretary.
“Well, we shall hear what they say on the hustings,” said Tadpole looking boldly.
“Who’s afraid!” said the secretary. “No, no, my dear fellow, you are dead beat; the stake is worth playing for, and don’t suppose we are such flats as to lose the race for want of jockeying. Your humbugging registration will never do against a new reign20. Our great men mean to shell out, I tell you; we have got Croucher; we will denounce the Carlton and corruption43 all over the kingdom; and if that won’t do, we will swear till we are black in the face, that the King of Hanover is engaged in a plot to dethrone our young Queen:” and the triumphant secretary wished the worthy44 pair good morning.
“They certainly have a very good cry,” said Taper mournfully.
“After all, the registration might be better,” said Tadpole, “but still it is a very good one.”
The daily bulletins became more significant; the crisis was evidently at hand. A dissolution of parliament at any time must occasion great excitement; combined with a new reign, it inflames45 the passions of every class of the community. Even the poor begin to hope; the old, wholesome46 superstition47 still lingers, that the sovereign can exercise power; and the suffering multitude are fain to believe that its remedial character may be about to be revealed in their instance. As for the aristocracy in a new reign, they are all in a flutter. A bewildering vision of coronets, stars, and ribbons; smiles, and places at court; haunts their noontide speculations and their midnight dreams. Then we must not forget the numberless instances in which the coming event is deemed to supply the long-sought opportunity of distinction, or the long-dreaded cause of utter discomfiture49; the hundreds, the thousands, who mean to get into parliament, the units who dread48 getting out. What a crashing change from lounging in St James’s street to sauntering on Boulogne pier50; or, after dining at Brookes and supping at Crockford’s, to be saved from destruction by the friendly interposition that sends you in an official capacity to the marsupial51 sympathies of Sydney or Swan River!
Now is the time for the men to come forward who have claims; claims for spending their money, which nobody asked them to do, but which of course they only did for the sake of the party. They never wrote for their party, or spoke52 for their party, or gave their party any other vote than their own; but they urge their claims,—to something; a commissionership of anything, or a consulship53 anywhere; if no place to be had, they are ready to take it out in dignities. They once looked to the privy54 council, but would now be content with an hereditary55 honour; if they can have neither, they will take a clerkship in the Treasury for a younger son. Perhaps they may get that in time; at present they go away growling56 with a gaugership; or, having with desperate dexterity57 at length contrived58 to transform a tidewaiter into a landwaiter. But there is nothing like asking—except refusing.
Hark! it tolls59! All is over. The great bell of the metropolitan60 cathedral announces the death of the last son of George the Third who probably will ever reign in England. He was a good man: with feelings and sympathies; deficient61 in culture rather than ability; with a sense of duty; and with something of the conception of what should be the character of an English monarch62. Peace to his manes! We are summoned to a different scene.
In a palace in a garden—not in a haughty63 keep, proud with the fame, but dark with the violence of ages; not in a regal pile, bright with the splendour, but soiled with the intrigues64, of courts and factions—in a palace in a garden, meet scene for youth, and innocence65, and beauty—came the voice that told the maiden66 she must ascend67 her throne!
The council of England is summoned for the first time within her bowers68. There are assembled the prelates and captains and chief men of her realm; the priests of the religion that consoles, the heroes of the sword that has conquered, the votaries69 of the craft that has decided70 the fate of empires; men grey with thought, and fame, and age; who are the stewards71 of divine mysteries, who have encountered in battle the hosts of Europe, who have toiled72 in secret cabinets, who have struggled in the less merciful strife73 of aspiring74 senates; men too, some of them, lords of a thousand vassals75 and chief proprietors76 of provinces, yet not one of them whose heart does not at this moment tremble as he awaits the first presence of the maiden who must now ascend her throne.
A hum of half-suppressed conversation which would attempt to conceal77 the excitement, which some of the greatest of them have since acknowledged, fills that brilliant assemblage; that sea of plumes78, and glittering stars, and gorgeous dresses. Hush79! the portals open; She comes! The silence is as deep as that of a noontide forest. Attended for a moment by her royal mother and the ladies of her court, who bow and then retire, VICTORIA ascends80 her throne; a girl, alone, and for the first time, amid an assemblage of men.
In a sweet and thrilling voice, and with a composed mien81 which indicates rather the absorbing sense of august duty than an absence of emotion, THE QUEEN announces her accession to the throne of her ancestors, and her humble82 hope that divine providence83 will guard over the fulfilment of her lofty trust.
The prelates and captains and chief men of her realm then advance to the throne, and kneeling before her, pledge their troth, and take the sacred oaths of allegiance and supremacy84.
Allegiance to one who rules over the land that the great Macedonian could not conquer; and over a continent of which even Columbus never dreamed: to the Queen of every sea, and of nations in every zone.
It is not of these that I would speak; but of a nation nearer her foot-stool, and which at this moment looks to her with anxiety, with affection, perhaps with hope. Fair and serene, she has the blood and beauty of the Saxon. Will it be her proud destiny at length to bear relief to suffering millions, and with that soft hand which might inspire troubadours and guerdon knights, break the last links in the chain of Saxon thraldom85?
END OF THE FIRST BOOK
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1
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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taper
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| n.小蜡烛，尖细，渐弱；adj.尖细的；v.逐渐变小 | |
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tapers
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| （长形物体的）逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 )； 微弱的光； 极细的蜡烛 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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parvenu
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| n.暴发户，新贵 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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registration
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| n.登记，注册，挂号 | |
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tadpole
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| n.[动]蝌蚪 | |
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tadpoles
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| n.蝌蚪( tadpole的名词复数 ) | |
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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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constituents
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| n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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anonymous
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| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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jobbers
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| n.做零活的人( jobber的名词复数 )；营私舞弊者；股票经纪人；证券交易商 | |
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tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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conclave
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| n.秘密会议，红衣主教团 | |
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apportion
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| vt.（按比例或计划）分配 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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illiterate
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| adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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oligarchical
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| adj.寡头政治的，主张寡头政治的 | |
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subsist
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| vi.生存，存在，供养 | |
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degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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radical
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| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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45
inflames
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| v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的第三人称单数 ) | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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49
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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marsupial
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| adj.有袋的，袋状的 | |
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52
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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consulship
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| 领事的职位或任期 | |
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privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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tolls
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| （缓慢而有规律的）钟声( toll的名词复数 )； 通行费； 损耗； （战争、灾难等造成的）毁坏 | |
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metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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bowers
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| n.（女子的）卧室( bower的名词复数 )；船首锚；阴凉处；鞠躬的人 | |
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votaries
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| n.信徒( votary的名词复数 )；追随者；（天主教）修士；修女 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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vassals
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| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
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proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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ascends
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的第三人称单数 ) | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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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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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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84
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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85
thraldom
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| n.奴隶的身份，奴役，束缚 | |
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