Sylvius Hogg was the name that the stranger inscribed1 upon the inn register, that same evening, directly underneath2 the name of Sandgoist, and there was as great a contrast between the two names as between the men that bore them. Between them there was nothing whatever in common, either mentally, morally, or physically3. One was generous to a fault, the other was miserly and parsimonious4; one was genial5 and kind-hearted, in the arid6 soul of the other every noble and humane7 sentiment seemed to have withered8 and died.
Sylvius Hogg was nearly sixty years of age, though he did not appear nearly so old. Tall, erect9, and well built, healthy alike in mind and in body, he pleased at first sight with his handsome genial face, upon which he wore no beard, but around which clustered curling locks of silvery hair; eyes which were as smiling as his lips, a broad forehead that bore the impress of noble thoughts, and a full chest in which the heart beat untrammeled. To all these charms were added an inexhaustible fund of good humor, a refined and liberal nature, and a generous and self-sacrificing disposition10.
Sylvius Hogg, of Christiania--no further recommendation was needed. That told the whole story. And he was not only known, appreciated, loved and honored in the Norwegian capital, but throughout the entire country, though the sentiments he inspired in the other half of the Scandinavian kingdom, that is to say in Sweden, were of an entirely11 different character.
This fact can easily be explained.
Sylvius Hogg was a professor of law at Christiania. In some lands to be a barrister, civil engineer, physician, or merchant, entitles one to a place on the upper rounds of the social ladder. It is different in Norway, however. To be a professor there is to be at the top of the ladder.
Though there are four distinct classes in Sweden, the nobility, the clergy12, the gentry13, and the peasantry, there are but three in Norway--the nobility being utterly14 wanting. No aristocracy is acknowledged, not even that of the office-holder, for in this favored country where privileged persons are unknown, the office-holder is only the humble15 servant of the public. In fact, perfect social equality prevails without any political distinctions whatever.
Sylvius Hogg being one of the most influential16 men in the country, the reader will not be surprised to learn that he was also a member of the Storthing; and in this august body, by the well-known probity17 of his public and private life even more than by his mighty18 intellect, he wielded19 a powerful influence even over the peasant deputies elected in such large numbers in the rural districts.
Ever since the adoption20 of the Constitution of 1814, it may be truly said that Norway is a republic with the King of Sweden for its president; for Norway, ever jealous of her rights, has carefully guarded her individuality. The Storthing will have nothing whatever to do with the Swedish parliament; hence it is only natural that the most prominent and patriotic21 members of the Storthing should be regarded with distrust on the other side of the imaginary frontier that separates Sweden from Norway.
This was the case with Sylvius Hogg. Being extremely independent in character, and utterly devoid22 of ambition, he had repeatedly declined a position in the Cabinet; and a stanch23 defender24 of all the rights of his native land, he had constantly and unflinchingly opposed any threatened encroachment25 on the part of Sweden.
Such is the moral and political gulf26 between the two countries that the King of Sweden--then Oscar XV.--after being crowned at Stockholm, was obliged to go through a similar ceremony at Drontheim, the ancient capital of Norway. Such too is the suspicious reserve of Norwegian men of business, that the Bank of Christiania is unwilling27 to accept the notes of the Bank of Stockholm! Such too is the clearly defined line of demarkation between the two nations that the Swedish flag floats neither over the public buildings of Norway, nor from the masts of Norwegian vessels28. The one has its blue bunting, bearing a yellow cross; the other a blue cross upon a crimson29 ground.
Sylvius Hogg was a thorough Norwegian in heart and in soul, and stoutly30 defended her rights upon all occasions; so, when in 1854 the Storthing was discussing the question of having neither a viceroy nor even a governor at the head of the state, he was one of the most enthusiastic champions of the measure.
Consequently, though he was by no means popular in the eastern part of Scandinavia, he was adored in the western part of it, even in the most remote hamlets. His name was a household word throughout Norway from the dunes31 of Christiansand to the bleak32 rocks of the North Cape33, and so worthy34 was he of this universal respect that no breath of calumny35 had ever sullied the reputation of either the deputy or the professor. But though he was a Norwegian to the core he was a hot-blooded man, with none of the traditional coldness and apathy36 of his compatriots; but much more prompt and resolute37 in his thoughts and acts than most Scandinavians, as was proved by the quickness of his movements, the ardor38 of his words, and the vivacity39 of his gestures. Had he been born in France, one would have unhesitatingly pronounced him a Southerner.
Sylvius Hogg's fortune had never exceeded a fair competence40, for he had not entered into politics for the purpose of making money. Naturally unselfish, he never thought of himself, but continually of others; nor was he tormented41 by a thirst for fame. To be a deputy was enough for him; he craved42 no further advancement43.
Just at this time Sylvius Hogg was taking advantage of a three months' vacation to recuperate44 after a year of severe legislative45 toil46. He had left Christiania six weeks before, with the intention of traveling through the country about Drontheim, the Hardanger, the Telemark, and the districts of Kongsberg and Drammen. He had long been anxious to visit these provinces of which he knew nothing; and his trip was consequently one of improvement and of pleasure. He had already explored a part of the region, and it was on his return from the northern districts that the idea of visiting the famous falls of the Rjukan--one of the wonders of the Telemark--first occurred to him. So, after surveying the route of the new railroad--which as yet existed only on paper--between the towns of Drontheim and Christiania, he sent for a guide to conduct him to Dal. He was to meet this guide on the left bank of the Maan; but lured47 on by the beauties of the Maristien, he ventured upon the dangerous pass without waiting for his guide. An unusual want of prudence48 in a man like him and one that nearly cost him his life, for had it not been for the timely assistance rendered by Joel and Hulda Hansen, the journey would have ended with the traveler himself in the grim depths of the Rjukanfos.
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1
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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parsimonious
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| adj.吝啬的，质量低劣的 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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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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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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probity
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| n.刚直；廉洁，正直 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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wielded
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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stanch
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| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
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defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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encroachment
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| n.侵入，蚕食 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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dunes
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| 沙丘( dune的名词复数 ) | |
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32
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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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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35
calumny
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| n.诽谤，污蔑，中伤 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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competence
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| n.能力，胜任，称职 | |
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tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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42
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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recuperate
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| v.恢复 | |
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legislative
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| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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48
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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