‘One of the crew of the wrecked2 frigate3, of course? What an escape! Fortunate creature! interesting man! Probably the indefatigable4 Captain Parry; possibly the undaunted Captain Franklin; perhaps the adventurous5 Captain Lyon!’
No! sweet blue-eyed girl! my plots are not of that extremely guessable nature so admired by your adorable sex. Indeed, this book is so constructed that if you were even, according to custom, to commence its perusal6 by reading the last page, you would not gain the slightest assistance in finding out ‘how the story ends.’
The wanderer belongs to no frigate-building nation. He is a true Fantaisian; who having, in his fright, during yesterday’s storm, lost the lock of hair which, in a moment of glorious favour, he had ravished from his fair mistress’s brow, is now, after a sleepless7 night, tracing every remembered haunt of yesterday, with the fond hope of regaining8 his most precious treasure. Ye Gentlemen of England, who live at home at ease, know full well the anxiety and exertion9, the days of management, and the nights of meditation10 which the rape11 of a lock requires, and you can consequently sympathize with the agitated12 feelings of the handsome and the hapless Popanilla.
The favourite of all the women, the envy of all the men, Popanilla passed a pleasant life. No one was a better judge of wine, no one had a better taste for fruit, no one danced with more elegant vivacity13, and no one whispered compliments in a more meaning tone. His stories ever had a point, his repartees were never ill-natured. What a pity that such an amiable14 fellow should have got into such a scrape!
In spite of his grief, however, Popanilla soon found that the ardency15 of his passion evaporated under a smoking sun; and, exhausted16, he was about to return home from his fruitless search, when his attention was attracted by a singular appearance. He observed before him, on the shore, a square and hitherto unseen form. He watched it for some minutes, but it was motionless. He drew nearer, and observed it with intense attention; but, if it were a being, it certainly was fast asleep. He approached close to its side, but it neither moved nor breathed. He applied18 his nose to the mysterious body, and the elegant Fantaisian drew back immediately from a most villanous smell of pitch. Not to excite too much, in this calm age, the reader’s curiosity, let him know at once that this strange substance was a sea-chest. Upon it was marked, in large black letters, S. D. K. No. 1.
For the first time in his life Popanilla experienced a feeling of overwhelming curiosity. His fatigue19, his loss, the scorching20 hour, and the possible danger were all forgotten in an indefinite feeling that the body possessed21 contents more interesting than its unpromising exterior22, and in a resolute23 determination that the development of the mystery should be reserved only for himself.
Although he felt assured that he must be unseen, he could not refrain from throwing a rapid glance of anxiety around him. It was a moment of perfect stillness: the island slept in sunshine, and even the waves had ceased to break over the opposing rocks. A thousand strange and singular thoughts rushed into his mind, but his first purpose was ever uppermost; and at length, unfolding his girdle of skin, he tied the tough cincture round the chest, and, exerting all his powers, dragged his mysterious waif into the nearest wood.
But during this operation the top fell off, and revealed the neatest collection of little packages that ever pleased the eye of the admirer of spruce arrangement. Popanilla took up packets upon all possible subjects; smelt24 them, but they were not savory25; he was sorely puzzled. At last, he lighted on a slender volume bound in brown calf26, which, with the confined but sensual notions of a savage27, he mistook for gingerbread, at least. It was ‘The Universal Linguist28, by Mr. Hamilton; or, the Art of Dreaming in Languages.’
No sooner had Popanilla passed that well-formed nose, which had been so often admired by the lady whose lock of hair he had unfortunately lost, a few times over a few pages of the Hamiltonian System than he sank upon his bed of flowers, and, in spite of his curiosity, was instantly overcome by a profound slumber29. But his slumber, though deep, was not peaceful, and he was the actor in an agitating30 drama.
He found himself alone in a gay and glorious garden. In the centre of it grew a pomegranate tree of prodigious31 size; its top was lost in the sky, and its innumerable branches sprang out in all directions, covered with large fruit of a rich golden hue32. Beautiful birds were perched upon all parts of the tree, and chanted with perpetual melody the beauties of their bower33. Tempted34 by the delicious sight, Popanilla stretched forward his ready hand to pluck; but no sooner had he grasped the fruit than the music immediately ceased, the birds rushed away, the sky darkened, the tree fell under the wind, the garden vanished, and Popanilla found himself in the midst of a raging sea, buffeting35 the waves.
He would certainly have been drowned had he not been immediately swallowed up by the huge monster which had not only been the occasion of the storm of yesterday, but, ah! most unhappy business! been the occasion also of his losing that lock of hair.
Ere he could congratulate himself on his escape he found fresh cause for anxiety, for he perceived that he was no longer alone. No friends were near him; but, on, the contrary, he was surrounded by strangers of a far different aspect. They were men certainly; that is to say, they had legs and arms, and heads, and bodies as himself; but instead of that bloom of youth, that regularity36 of feature, that amiable joyousness37 of countenance38, which he had ever been accustomed to meet and to love in his former companions, he recoiled39 in horror from the swarthy complexions40, the sad visages, and the haggard features of his present ones. They spoke41 to him in a harsh and guttural accent. He would have fled from their advances; but then he was in the belly42 of a whale! When he had become a little used to their tones he was gratified by finding that their attentions were far from hostile; and, after having received from them a few compliments, he began to think that they were not quite so ugly. He discovered that the object of their inquires was the fatal pomegranate which still remained in his hand. They admired its beauty, and told him that they greatly esteemed43 an individual who possessed such a mass of precious ore. Popanilla begged to undeceive them, and courteously44 presented the fruit. No sooner, however, had he parted with this apple of discord45, than the countenances46 of his companions changed. Immediately discovering its real nature, they loudly accused Popanilla of having deceived them; he remonstrated47, and they recriminated; and the great fish, irritated by their clamour, lashed48 its huge tail, and with one efficacious vomit49 spouted50 the innocent Popanilla high in the air. He fell with such a dash into the waves that he was awakened51 by the sound of his own fall.
The dreamer awoke amidst real chattering52, and scuffling, and clamour. A troop of green monkeys had been aroused by his unusual occupation, and had taken the opportunity of his slumber to become acquainted with some of the first principles of science. What progress they had made it is difficult to ascertain53; because, each one throwing a tract17 at Popanilla’s head, they immediately disappeared. It is said, however, that some monkeys have been since seen skipping about the island, with their tails cut off; and that they have even succeeded in passing themselves off for human beings among those people who do not read novels, and are consequently unacquainted with mankind.
The morning’s adventure immediately rushed into Popanilla’s mind, and he proceeded forthwith to examine the contents of his chest; but with advantages which had not been yet enjoyed by those who had previously54 peeped into it. The monkeys had not been composed to sleep by the ‘Universal Linguist’ of Mr. Hamilton. As for Popanilla, he took up a treatise55 on hydrostatics, and read it straight through on the spot. For the rest of the day he was hydrostatically mad; nor could the commonest incident connected with the action or conveyance56 of water take place without his speculating on its cause and consequence.
So enraptured57 was Popanilla with his new accomplishments58 and acquirements that by degrees he avoided attendance on the usual evening assemblages, and devoted59 himself solely60 to the acquirement of useful knowledge. After a short time his absence was remarked; but the greatest and the most gifted has only to leave his coterie61, called the world, for a few days, to be fully62 convinced of what slight importance he really is. And so Popanilla, the delight of society and the especial favourite of the women, was in a very short time not even inquired after. At first, of course, they supposed that he was in love, or that he had a slight cold, or that he was writing his memoirs63; and as these suppositions, in due course, take their place in the annals of society as circumstantial histories, in about a week one knew the lady, another had beard him sneeze, and a third had seen the manuscript. At the end of another week Popanilla was forgotten.
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1
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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rape
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| n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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ardency
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| n.热心，热烈 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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linguist
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| n.语言学家；精通数种外国语言者 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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buffeting
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| 振动 | |
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regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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joyousness
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| 快乐，使人喜悦 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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complexions
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| 肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质 | |
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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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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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43
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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45
discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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47
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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48
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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49
vomit
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| v.呕吐，作呕；n.呕吐物，吐出物 | |
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spouted
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| adj.装有嘴的v.（指液体）喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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51
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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52
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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53
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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treatise
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| n.专著；(专题)论文 | |
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conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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enraptured
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| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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coterie
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| n.(有共同兴趣的)小团体，小圈子 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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memoirs
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| n.回忆录；回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数) | |
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