?Whose roof exposed to many a winter sky,
Half shelters from the wind the shivering guest,
And gaze with angry eye
On the hard lot of honest poverty,
And sickening at the monster brood
Who fill with wretchedness a world so good.
???????? ???????? ???????? Southey.
It was twilight3 when they reached the venda, a large but somewhat ruinous building, surrounded by a few scattered4 trees, on the sloping ground near the foot of the hill. The arriero led his mules5 through the archway which formed the only entrance, and the travelers following found themselves beside and almost in a large apartment, which served at once as kitchen, parlor6 and dining-room to this house of refuge, which betrayed by many signs, that if it had ever done a thriving business, that day had long gone by. Dismounting here, their horses were led on into the stable under the same roof, and imperfectly separated from the kitchen by a rude wall.
The people of the house, an old man and two women, sat staring at them without making any hospitable7 demonstrations8. So L'Isle made the first advances, and, addressing them with a studied courtesy that seemed ironical9 to the ladies, awakened10 them somewhat to a sense of their duty to the wayfarers12. Seats were got for the ladies on one side of the huge fire-place, in which some embers were smouldering, and L'Isle placed two cork13 stools to raise their feet above the damp pavement of flat stone. On the young friar's now coming forward (for with a modesty14 rare in his order he had hitherto kept in the background), L'Isle resumed his sociable15 conversation with him, and accepted the proffered16 pinch of snuff, that olive-branch of the Portuguese17. This evidently had a good effect on their hosts; while Shortridge was surprised to see the colonel, whose hauteur18 he had himself felt, demean himself by familiarity with these low people. He did not know that a proud man, if his be generous pride, is apt to keep it for those who assume superiority, or at least equality, with himself.
That was not the commissary's way. So he began to question abruptly19, in very bad Portuguese, as to the state of her larder20, the elder woman, who, ugly and blear-eyed, with ragged21, scanty22 dress, and bare feet, yet wore a necklace of beads23 and earrings24 of gold. She answered tartly25, that it being a fast-day, there was no flesh in the house. They had bacalhao and sardinhas, and garlic, and pepper, and onions, and oil; and everything that Christians26 wanted on a fast-day. She forgot to say that the house was without flesh many more days than the church commands. L'Isle, with more address, applied27 to the younger woman with better success, inquiring after accommodations for the ladies. He so moved her that she snatched up the only lamp in the room, and, leaving the rest of the party in the growing darkness, ushered28 the ladies up the ladder, like stairs, to the only two chambers29 where they could be private.
Shortridge, meanwhile, finding out the desolate31 state of the larder, let the woman know that they had not come unprovided with a stock of edibles32 of their own. He urged her to make preparations for cooking it; so rousing the old man from his chimney corner, she carried him out with her, and they soon returned with no small part of a cork-tree; and when Lady Mabel and Mrs. Shortridge came down, a cheerful blaze had brought out more fully33 the desolation of the room in dispelling34 half its gloom.
"I were a heretic to complain," she answered. "It is true the room has no window; but it has a square hole in the wall to let in the light and let out the foul35 air. The bed is hard and not over tidy. But what is wanting in cleanliness is made up in holiness; for the bedstead has an elaborate crucifix carved at its head, and I shall sleep under its immediate36 protection. On the slightest alarm, by merely throwing my arms upward, I can lay hold on the cross, and nothing will be wanting to the sense of security but faith in this material symbol of my faith. I shall have saintly company, too. On the wall to the right is a print of St. Christopher carrying the infant Christ over a river, and a bishop37, in full canonicals, waiting on the other side, with outstretched arms, to receive him; on the left, is a picture of St. Antony, of Padua, preaching to the fishes. Religion is truly part and parcel of this people's every day life; and the reality of their devotion, and the falsehood and frivolity38 of many of its objects, make a contrast truly painful to me."
Old Moodie, the muleteer, and the servants, having seen after their horses and mules, now came straggling into this hall, common to all the inmates39 of the house. Here they accommodated themselves with such seats as they could find, or contrive40 out of the baggage; and one of L'Isle's servants produced the rabbits and partridges purchased on the road, with some other provisions brought from Elvas. These he gave to the woman of the house to cook for the travelers, and no objection was started as to cooking flesh, that other people might commit the sin of eating it on a fast day. The whole party sat in a large semi-circle around the fire, conversing41 and watching the cooking of their supper; but no sooner did the savory42 fumes43 diffuse44 themselves through the building than another personage joined them. A stout45 pig, evidently a denizen46 of the house, came trotting47 and grunting48 out of the stable, and pushed his way into the interior of the social circle. Though he received some rude buffets49, he persisted in keeping within it, until, trenching on Lady Mabel's precincts, she made such an application of her riding-wand that he was glad to seek refuge again among his four-legged companions.
"It would seem," Lady Mabel remarked, "that these Vendas are caravansaries, providing only shelter for the traveler, who is expected to bring his own food."
"This is so true, that it is a blessing50 there are no game laws in the peninsula," said L'Isle. "The traveler would often starve at the inn but for the game purchased on the road. And it is well to travel prepared to shoot one's own game, as you are perpetually threatened with famine or robbers. The cookery, too, of this country is peculiar51, and if you ladies watch the process closely, you may carry home some valuable hints in what some people think the first of the arts."
They accordingly closely watched the cooking, of the rabbits particularly. Each was spitted on a little spit, which had four legs at the handle, the other end resting on a piece of the fuel. When one side was roasted, the other was turned to the fire. To know when they were done, the woman cracked the joints52; laying them by until cool, she then tore them to pieces with her fingers; and afterward53 fried the already over-roasted meat with onions, garlic, red pepper, and oil, which is always rancid in Portugal, from the custom of never pressing the olives until they are stale.
The commissary knew too much about Portuguese cookery to trust to it. He had provided himself before leaving Elvas with the commissary's cut, which is always the best steak from the best bullock. He now produced from among his baggage that implement54 so truly indicative of the march of English civilization—the gridiron; and not until the large table, at the other side of the room, had been spread, and supper was ready, did his man proceed to dress it skillfully and quickly, under the vigilant55 superintendance of the commissary himself.
They were sitting down to supper when L'Isle, seeing that the young friar remained by the fire, pointed56 out a vacant seat, and asked him to join them. But he shook his head.
"You are eating flesh. I must fast to-day."
"Because the Scriptures57 bid you?" L'Isle inquired.
"Because the Church commands me."
"You are aware, then, that there is no absolute injunction in Scripture58 to fast on particular days."
"Yet the Church may have authority—it doubtless has authority to appoint such days," the young friar answered, seeming at once to stifle59 a doubt and his appetite.
Cookery must be judged of by the palate, and not by the eye. So Lady Mabel made a strong effort to try the rabbits by the latter test—having had ocular proof that they were not cats in disguise. But, after persevering60 through two or three mouthfuls, the garlic, red pepper, and rancid oil, and the fact of having witnessed the whole process of cooking and fingering the fricassee, proved too much for her; and she was fain to be indebted to the commissary for a small piece of his steak, reeking61 hot, and dripping with its natural juices.
The woman of the house now placed on a bench before the friar, some broa, or maize62 bread, and a piece of bacalhao, fried in oil. From the size of the morsel63, the stock in the larder seemed to have run low, even in this article, which is nothing but codfish salted by British heretics for the benefit of the souls and bodies of the true sons of the Church. The friar eat alone and in silence, less intent on his meal than in watching and listening to the party at the table.
"They are, every one of them, eating flesh, and this day is a fast," said the elder woman to the friar, in a tone of affected64 horror.
"And they eat it almost raw," answered the friar, as Shortridge thrust an ounce of red beef into his mouth. "But I know not that the Church has prohibited that."
The ladies and the commissary retired65 soon, fatigued66 with their long day's ride. The friar was devoutly67 telling his beads, and L'Isle sat musing68 by the fire, while the servants, in turn, took their places at the supper table. Presently the friar, having got through his devotions, rose as if about to retire for the night; but, as he passed L'Isle, he loitered, as if wishing to converse69, perhaps for the last time, with this foreigner, whose position, character, and ideas, differed so much from his own, and who yet could make himself so well understood. As L'Isle looked up, he said:
"Men of your profession see a great deal of the world."
"Yes. A soldier is a traveler, even if he never goes out of his own country."
"But the soldiers of your country visit the remotest parts of the world, the Indies in the east and west, and now this, our country, and many a land besides."
"At one time the soldiers of Portugal did the same," said L'Isle.
"Yes; there was a time when we conquered and colonized70 many a remote land, where the banner of no other European nation had ever been seen. We still have our colonies, but, some how or other, they do not seem to do us any good."
"But men of your profession," said L'Isle, "have been as great or even greater travelers than soldiers. They are few regions, however remote or inaccessible71, which the priests of the Church of Rome, and members of your own order, have not explored."
The friar was silent and thoughtful for a moment, and then said: "What you say is true; yet it seems to me, that is no longer the case, or, at least, that our order here has been remiss72 in sending forth73 missionaries74 to foreign lands. Here most of us follow through life the same dull round. It is, however, the round of our duties. But, perhaps, to find one's self in a strange country, surrounded by new scenes, an unknown, perhaps heathen people, with difficulties to struggle with, obstacles to overcome, might awaken11 in a man powers that he did not know were slumbering75 in him, and enable him to do some good, perchance great work, he never would have accomplished76 at home." And the young friar drew himself up to his full height, while his frame seemed to expand with the struggling energies that were shut up unemployed77 within him.
Visions of travel, toil78, adventure, perhaps martyrdom, seemed to float before his eyes, and without another word, he strode off with a step more like that of a soldier than a Franciscan.
L'Isle gazed after him with interest and pity, then ordering the table to be cleared, stretched himself on it for the night, wrapped in his cloak, rather than rely on the accommodations of the large room up stairs, common to wayfarers of every grade, and populous79 with vermin.
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1
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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2
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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3
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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4
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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5
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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6
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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7
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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8
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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9
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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10
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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11
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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12
wayfarers
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| n.旅人，（尤指）徒步旅行者( wayfarer的名词复数 ) | |
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13
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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14
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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15
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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16
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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18
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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19
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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20
larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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21
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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22
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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23
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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24
earrings
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| n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子 | |
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25
tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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26
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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27
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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28
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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30
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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31
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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32
edibles
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| 可以吃的，可食用的( edible的名词复数 )； 食物 | |
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33
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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34
dispelling
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的现在分词 ) | |
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35
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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36
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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37
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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38
frivolity
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| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
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39
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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40
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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41
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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42
savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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43
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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44
diffuse
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| v.扩散；传播；adj.冗长的；四散的，弥漫的 | |
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46
denizen
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| n.居民，外籍居民 | |
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47
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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48
grunting
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| 咕哝的，呼噜的 | |
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49
buffets
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| （火车站的）饮食柜台( buffet的名词复数 )； （火车的）餐车； 自助餐 | |
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50
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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51
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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52
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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53
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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54
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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55
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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56
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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57
scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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58
scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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59
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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60
persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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61
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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62
maize
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| n.玉米 | |
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63
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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64
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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65
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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66
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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67
devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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68
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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69
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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70
colonized
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| 开拓殖民地，移民于殖民地( colonize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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72
remiss
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| adj.不小心的，马虎 | |
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73
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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74
missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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75
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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76
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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77
unemployed
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| adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的 | |
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78
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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79
populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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