[Pg 49]
golden characters of sacred friendship upon his mind, for there he first met with Mr. Crisp. And as his acquaintance with Mr. Greville had opened new roads and pursuits in life to his prospects1, that of Mr. Crisp opened new sources and new energies to his faculties2, for almost every species of improvement.
Mr. Crisp, by birth and education a gentleman, according to the ordinary acceptation of that word, was in mind, manners, and habits yet more truly so, according to the most refined definition of the appellation3, as including honour, spirit, elegance4, language, and grace.
His person and port were distinguished5; his address was even courtly; his face had the embellishment of a strikingly fine outline; bright, hazel, penetrating6, yet arch eyes; an open front; a noble Roman nose; and a smile of a thousand varied7 expressions.
But all that was external, however attractive, however full of promise, however impossible to pass over, was of utterly8 inferior worth compared with the inward man; for there he was rare indeed. Profound in wisdom; sportive in wit; sound in understanding. A scholar of the highest order; a critic of the clearest acumen9; possessing, with equal
[Pg 50]
delicacy10 of discrimination, a taste for literature and for the arts; and personally excelling, as a dilettante11, both in music and painting.
It was difficult to discuss any classical or political work, that his conversation did not impregnate with more information and more wit than, commonly speaking, their acutest authors had brought forward. And such was his knowledge of mankind, that it was something beyond difficult, it was scarcely even possible, to investigate any subject requiring worldly sagacity, in which he did not dive into the abysses of the minds and the propensities12 of the principals, through whom the business was to be transacted13, with a perspicuity14 so masterly, that while weighing all that was presented to him, it developed all that was held back; and fathomed15 at once the intentions and the resources of his opponents.
And with abilities thus grand and uncommon16 for great and important purposes, if to such he had been called, he was endowed with discursive17 powers for the social circle, the most varied in matter, the most solid in reasoning, and the most delighting in gaiety—or nearly so—that ever fell to favoured mortal’s lot.
The subject of these memoirs18 was but seventeen
[Pg 51]
years of age, when first he had the incalculable advantage of being attracted to explore this Mine of wisdom, experience, and accomplishments19. His musical talents, and a sympathy of taste in the choice of composers, quickly caught the responsive ears of Mr. Crisp; which vibrated to every passage, every sound, that the young musician embellished20 by graces intuitively his own, either of expression or execution. And whenever Mr. Crisp could contrive21 to retreat, and induce his new Orpheus to retreat, from the sports of the field, it was even with ardour that he escaped from the clang of horses and hounds, to devote whole mornings to the charms,
Softly sweet, in Lydian measures,
of harmony. And harmony indeed, in its most enlarged combinations, united here the player and the auditor22; for they soon discovered that not in music alone, but in general sentiments, their hearts were tuned23 to the same key, and expanded to the same “concord of sweet sounds.”
The love of music, in Mr. Crisp, amounted to passion; yet that passion could not have differed more from modern enthusiasm in that art, if it had been hatred24; since, far from demanding, according
[Pg 52]
to the present mode, every two or three seasons, new compositions and new composers, his musical taste and consistency25 deviated26 not from his taste and consistency in literature: and where a composer had hit his fancy, and a composition had filled him with delight, he would call for his favourite pieces of Bach of Berlin, Handel, Scarlatti, or Echard, with the same reiteration27 of eagerness that he would again and again read, hear, or recite chosen passages from the works of his favourite bards28, Shakespeare, Milton, or Pope.
Mr. Greville was sometimes diverted, and sometimes nettled29, by this double defection; for in whatever went forward, he loved to be lord of the ascendant: but Mr. Crisp, whose temper was as unruffled as his understanding was firm, only smiled at his friend’s diversion; and from his pique30 looked away. Mr. Greville then sought to combat this musical mania31 by ridicule32, and called upon his companions of the chase to halloo the recreant33 huntsman to the field; affirming that he courted the pipe and the song, only to avoid clearing a ditch, and elude34 leaping a five-barred gate.
This was sufficient to raise the cry against the delinquent35; for Man without business or employment
[Pg 53]
is always disposed to be a censor36 of his neighbour; and whenever he thinks his antagonist37 on the road to defeat, is always alert to start up for a wit. Mr. Crisp, therefore, now, was assailed38 as a renegado from the chase; as a lounger; a loiterer; scared by the horses; panic-struck by the dogs; and more fearful of the deer, than the deer could be of the hunter.
In the well-poized hope, that the less the sportsmen were answered, the sooner they would be fatigued39 and depart, Mr. Crisp now and then gave them a nod, but never once a word; even though this forbearance instigated40 a triumph, loud, merry, and exulting41; and sent them off, and brought them back, in the jovial42 persuasion43 that, in their own phrase, they had dumb-founded him.
With this self-satisfied enjoyment44, Mr. Crisp unresistingly indulged them; though with a single pointed45 sentence, he could rapidly have descended46 them from their fancied elevation47. But, above all petty pride of superiority in trifles, he never held things of small import to be worth the trouble of an argument. Still less, however, did he choose to be put out of his own way; which he always pursued with placid48 equanimity49 whenever it was opposed without irrefragable reason. Good-humouredly, however,
[Pg 54]
he granted to his adversaries50, in whose laughs and railing he sometimes heartily51 joined, the full play of their epigrams; internally conscious that, if seriously provoked, he could retort them by lampoons52. Sometimes, nevertheless, when he was hard beset53 by gibes54 and jeers55 at his loss of sport; or by a chorus of mock pitiers shouting out, “Poor Crisp! poor fellow! how consumedly thou art moped!” he would quietly say, with a smile of inexpressible archness, “Go to, my friends, go to! go you your way, and let me go mine! And pray, don’t be troubled for me; depend upon it there is nobody will take more care of Samuel Crisp than I will!”
In this manner, and in these sets, rapidly, gaily56, uncounted, and untutored, glided57 on imperceptibly the first youth of the subject of these memoirs: surrounded by temptations to luxury, expense, and dangerous pleasures, that, in weaker intellects, might have sapped for ever the foundations of religion and virtue58. But a love of right was the predominant feature of the mind of young Burney. Mr. Greville, also, himself, with whatever mockery he would have sneered59 away any expression tending either to
[Pg 55]
practice or meditation60 in piety61, instinctively62 held in esteem63 whatever was virtuous64; and what was vicious in scorn: though his esteem for virtue was never pronounced, lest it should pass for pedantry65; and his scorn for vice66 was studiously disguised, lest he should be set down himself for a Fogrum.
点击收听单词发音
1 prospects | |
n.希望,前途(恒为复数) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 faculties | |
n.能力( faculty的名词复数 );全体教职员;技巧;院 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 appellation | |
n.名称,称呼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 elegance | |
n.优雅;优美,雅致;精致,巧妙 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 penetrating | |
adj.(声音)响亮的,尖锐的adj.(气味)刺激的adj.(思想)敏锐的,有洞察力的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 varied | |
adj.多样的,多变化的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 acumen | |
n.敏锐,聪明 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 delicacy | |
n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 dilettante | |
n.半瓶醋,业余爱好者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 propensities | |
n.倾向,习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 transacted | |
v.办理(业务等)( transact的过去式和过去分词 );交易,谈判 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 perspicuity | |
n.(文体的)明晰 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 fathomed | |
理解…的真意( fathom的过去式和过去分词 ); 彻底了解; 弄清真相 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 uncommon | |
adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 discursive | |
adj.离题的,无层次的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 memoirs | |
n.回忆录;回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 accomplishments | |
n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 embellished | |
v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 );装饰;修饰;润色 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 contrive | |
vt.谋划,策划;设法做到;设计,想出 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 auditor | |
n.审计员,旁听着 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 tuned | |
adj.调谐的,已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 );调整;(给收音机、电视等)调谐;使协调 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 hatred | |
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 consistency | |
n.一贯性,前后一致,稳定性;(液体的)浓度 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 deviated | |
v.偏离,越轨( deviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 reiteration | |
n. 重覆, 反覆, 重说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 bards | |
n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 nettled | |
v.拿荨麻打,拿荨麻刺(nettle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 pique | |
v.伤害…的自尊心,使生气 n.不满,生气 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 mania | |
n.疯狂;躁狂症,狂热,癖好 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 ridicule | |
v.讥讽,挖苦;n.嘲弄 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 recreant | |
n.懦夫;adj.胆怯的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 elude | |
v.躲避,困惑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 delinquent | |
adj.犯法的,有过失的;n.违法者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 censor | |
n./vt.审查,审查员;删改 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 fatigued | |
adj. 疲乏的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 instigated | |
v.使(某事物)开始或发生,鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 exulting | |
vi. 欢欣鼓舞,狂喜 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 jovial | |
adj.快乐的,好交际的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 persuasion | |
n.劝说;说服;持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 elevation | |
n.高度;海拔;高地;上升;提高 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 placid | |
adj.安静的,平和的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 equanimity | |
n.沉着,镇定 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 adversaries | |
n.对手,敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 lampoons | |
n.讽刺文章或言辞( lampoon的名词复数 )v.冷嘲热讽,奚落( lampoon的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 beset | |
v.镶嵌;困扰,包围 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 gibes | |
vi.嘲笑,嘲弄(gibe的第三人称单数形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 jeers | |
n.操纵帆桁下部(使其上下的)索具;嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 gaily | |
adv.欢乐地,高兴地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 glided | |
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 sneered | |
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 meditation | |
n.熟虑,(尤指宗教的)默想,沉思,(pl.)冥想录 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 piety | |
n.虔诚,虔敬 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 virtuous | |
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 pedantry | |
n.迂腐,卖弄学问 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |