It was a fine moonlight night, but the road was mountainous; and in spite of all the encouragement of Vivian, and all the consequent exertions8 of the postilion, they were upwards9 of two hours and a half going these eight miles. To get on any farther to-night was quite impossible. Essper’s horse was fairly knocked up, and even Max visibly distressed10. The post-house was fortunately an inn. It was not at a village, and, as far as the travellers could learn, not near one, and its appearance did not promise very pleasing accommodation. Essper, who had scarcely tasted food for nearly eighteen hours, was not highly delighted with the prospect11 before them. His anxiety, however, was not merely selfish: he was as desirous that his young master should be refreshed by a good night’s rest as himself, and anticipating that he should have to exercise his skill in making a couch for Vivian in the carriage, he proceeded to cross-examine the postmaster on the possibility of his accommodating them. The host was a pious12-looking personage, in a black velvet13 cap, with a singularly meek14 and charitable expression of countenance15. His long black hair was exquisitely16 braided, and he wore round his neck a collar of pewter medals, all of which had been recently sprinkled with holy water and blessed under the petticoat of the saintly Virgin17; for the postmaster had only just returned from a pilgrimage to the celebrated18 shrine19 of the Black Lady of Altoting.
“Good friend!” said Essper, looking him cunningly in the face, “I fear that we must order horses on: you can hardly accommodate two?”
“Good friend!” answered the innkeeper, and he crossed himself very reverently20 at the same time, “it is not for man to fear, but to hope.”
“If your beds were as good as your adages,” said Essper George, laughing, “in good truth, as a friend of mine would say, I would sleep here to-night.”
“Prithee, friend,” continued the innkeeper, kissing a medal of his collar very devoutly21, “what accommodation dost thou lack?”
“Why” said Essper, “in the way of accommodation, little, for two excellent beds will content us; but in the way of refreshment22, by St. Hubert! as another friend of mine would swear, he would be a bold man who would engage to be as hungry before his dinner as I shall be after my supper.”
“Friend!” said the innkeeper, “Our Lady forbid that thou shouldst leave our walls to-night: for the accommodation, we have more than sufficient; and as for the refreshment, by Holy Mass! we had a priest tarry here last night, and he left his rosary behind. I will comfort my soul, by telling my beads23 over the kitchen-fire, and for every Paternoster my wife shall give thee a rasher of kid, and for every Ave a tumbler of Augsburg, which Our Lady forget me if I did not myself purchase but yesterday se’nnight from the pious fathers of the Convent of St. Florian!”
“I take thee at thy word, honest sir,” said Essper. “By the Creed24! I liked thy appearance from the first; nor wilt25 thou find me unwilling26, when my voice has taken its supper, to join thee in some pious hymn27 or holy canticle. And now for the beds!”
“There is the green room, the best bedroom in my house,” said the Innkeeper. “Holy Mary forget me if in that same bed have not stretched their legs more valorous generals, more holy prelates, and more distinguished28 councillors of our Lord the Emperor, than in any bed in all Austria.”
“That, then, for my master, and for myself — ”
“H-u-m!” said the host, looking very earnestly in Essper’s face; “I should have thought that thou wert one more anxious after dish and flagon than curtain and eider-down!”
“By my Mother! I love good cheer,” said Essper, earnestly, “and want it more at this moment than any knave29 that ever yet starved: but if thou hast not a bed to let me stretch my legs on after four-and-twenty hours’ hard riding, by holy Virgin! I will have horses on to Vienna.”
“Our Black Lady forbid!” said the innkeeper, with a quick voice, and with rather a dismayed look; “said I that thou shouldst not have a bed? St. Florian desert me if I and my wife would not sooner sleep in the chimney-corner than thou shouldst miss one wink30 of thy slumbers31!”
“In one word, have you a bed?”
“Have I a bed? Where slept, I should like to know, the Vice–Principal of the Convent of Molk on the day before the last holy Ascension? The waters were out in the morning; and when will my wife forget what his reverence32 was pleased to say when he took his leave; ‘Good woman!’ said he, ‘my duty calls me; but the weather is cold; and between ourselves, I am used to great feasts, and I should have no objection, if I were privileged, to stay and to eat again of thy red cabbage and cream!’ What say you to that? Do you think we have got beds now? You shall sleep to-night, sir, like an Aulic Councillor!”
This adroit33 introduction of the red cabbage and cream settled everything; when men are wearied and famished34 they have no inclination35 to be incredulous, and in a few moments Vivian was informed by his servant that the promised accommodation was satisfactory; and having locked up the carriage, and wheeled it into a small outhouse, he and Essper were ushered36 by their host into a room which, as is usual in small German inns in the South, served at the same time both for kitchen and saloon. The fire was lit in a platform of brick, raised in the centre of the floor: the sky was visible through the chimney, which, although of a great breadth below, gradually narrowed to the top. A family of wandering Bohemians, consisting of the father and mother and three children, were seated on the platform when Vivian entered; the man was playing on a coarse wooden harp37, without which the Bohemians seldom travel. The music ceased as the new guests came into the room, and the Bohemian courteously38 offered his place at the fire to our hero, who, however, declined disturbing the family group. A small table and a couple of chairs were placed in a corner of the room by the innkeeper’s wife, a bustling39 active dame40, who apparently41 found no difficulty in laying the cloth, dusting the furniture, and cooking the supper at the same time. At this table Vivian and his servant seated themselves; nor, indeed, did the cookery discredit42 the panegyric43 of the Reverend Vice–Principal of the Convent of Molk.
Alike wearied in mind and body, Vivian soon asked for his bed, which, though not exactly fitted for an Aulic Councillor, as the good host perpetually avowed44 it to be, nevertheless afforded decent accommodation.
The Bohemian family retired45 to the hayloft, and Essper George would have followed his master’s example, had not the kind mistress of the house tempted46 him to stay behind by the production of a new platter of rashers: indeed, he never remembered meeting with such hospitable47 people as the postmaster and his wife. They had evidently taken a fancy to him, and, though extremely wearied, the lively little Essper endeavoured, between his quick mouthfuls and long draughts48, to reward and encourage their kindness by many a good story and sharp joke. With all these both mine host and his wife were exceedingly amused, seldom containing their laughter, and frequently protesting, by the sanctity of various saints, that this was the pleasantest night and Essper the pleasantest fellow that they had ever met with.
“Eat, eat, my friend!” said his host; “by the Mass! thou hast travelled far; and fill thy glass, and pledge with me Our Black Lady of Altoting. By Holy Cross! I have hung up this week in her chapel49 a garland of silk roses, and have ordered to be burnt before her shrine three pounds of perfumed was tapers50! Fill again, fill again! and thou too, good mistress; a bard51 day’s work hast thou had; a glass of wine will do thee no harm! join me with our new friend! Pledge we together the Holy Fathers of St. Florian, my worldly patrons and my spiritual pastors52: let us pray that his reverence the Sub–Prior may not have his Christmas attack of gout in the stomach, and a better health to poor Father Felix! Fill again, fill again! this Augsburg is somewhat acid; we will have a bottle of Hungary. Mistress, fetch us the bell-glasses, and here to the Reverend Vice–Principal of Molk! our good friend: when will my wife forget what he said to her on the morning of last holy Ascension! Fill again, fill again!”
Inspired by the convivial53 spirit of the pious and jolly postmaster, Essper George soon forgot his threatened visit to his bedroom, and ate and drank, laughed and joked, as if he were again with his friend, Master Rodolph but wearied Nature at length avenged54 herself for this unnatural55 exertion7, and leaning back in his chair, he was, in the course of an hour, overcome by one of those dead and heavy slumbers the effect of the united influence of fatigue56 and intemperance57; in short, it was like the midnight sleep of a fox-hunter.
No sooner had our pious votary58 of the Black Lady of Altoting observed the effect of his Hungary wine than, making a well-understood sign to his wife, be took up the chair of Essper in his brawny59 arms, and, preceded by Mrs. Postmistress with a lantern, he left the room with his guest. Essper’s hostess led and lighted the way to an outhouse, which occasionally served as a coach-house, a stable, and a lumber-room. It had no window, and the lantern afforded the only light which exhibited its present contents. In one corner was a donkey tied up, belonging to the Bohemian. Under a hayrack was a large child’s cradle: it was of a remarkable60 size, having been made for twins. Near it was a low wooden sheep-tank, half filled with water, and which had been placed there for the refreshment of the dog and his feathered friends, who were roosting in the rack.
The pious innkeeper very gently lowered to the ground the chair on which Essper was soundly sleeping; and then, having crossed himself, he took up our friend with great tenderness and solicitude61, and dexterously62 fitted him in the huge cradle.
About an hour past midnight Essper George awoke. He was lying on his back, and very unwell; and on trying to move, found that he was rocking. His late adventure was obliterated63 from his memory; and the strange movement, united with his peculiar64 indisposition, left him no doubt that he was on board ship! As is often the case when we are tipsy or nervous, Essper had been woke by the fright of falling from some immense height; and finding that his legs had no sensation, for they were quite benumbed, he concluded that he had fallen down the hatchway, that his legs were broken, and himself jammed in between some logs of wood in the hold, and so he began to cry lustily to those above to come down to his rescue.
“O, Essper George!” thought he, “how came you to set foot on salt timber again! Had not you had enough of it in the Mediterranean66 and the Turkish seas, that you must be getting aboard this lubberly Dutch galliot! for I am sure she’s Dutch by being so low in the water. Well, they may talk of a sea-life, but for my part, I never saw the use of the Sea. Many a sad heart it has caused, and many a sick stomach has it occasioned! The boldest sailor climbs on board with a heavy soul, and leaps on land with a light spirit. O! thou indifferent ape of Earth! thy houses are of wood and thy horses of canvas; thy roads have no landmarks67 and thy highways no inns; thy hills are green without grass and wet without showers! and as for food, what art thou, O, bully68 Ocean! but the stable of horse-fishes, the stall of cow-fishes, the sty of hog-fishes, and the kennel69 of dog-fishes! Commend me to a fresh-water dish for meagre days! Sea-weeds stewed70 with chalk may be savoury stuff for a merman; but, for my part, give me red cabbage and cream: and as for drink, a man may live in the midst of thee his whole life and die for thirst at the end of it! Besides, thou blasphemous71 salt lake, where is thy religion? Where are thy churches, thou heretic?” So saying Essper made a desperate effort to crawl up the hold. His exertion set the cradle rocking with renewed violence; and at lust65 dashing against the sheep-tank, that pastoral piece of furniture was overset, and part of its contents poured upon the inmate72 of the cradle.
“Sprung a leak in the hold, by St. Nicholas!” bawled73 out Essper George. “Caulkers ahoy!”
At this moment three or four fowls74, roused by the fall of the tank and the consequent shouts of Essper, began fluttering about the rack, and at last perched upon the cradle. “The live stock got loose’” shouted Essper. “and the breeze getting stiffer every instant! Where is the captain? I will see him. I am not one of the crew: I belong to the Court! I must have cracked my skull75 when I fell like a lubber down that confounded hatchway! Egad! I feel as if I had been asleep, and been dreaming I was at Court.”
The sound of heavy footsteps was now over his head. These noises were at once an additional proof that he was in the hold, and an additional stimulus76 to his calls to those on deck. In fact, these sounds were occasioned by the Bohemians, who always rose before break of day; and consequently, in a few minutes, the door of the stable opened, and the Bohemian, with a lantern in his hand, entered.
“What do you want?” cried Essper.
“I want my donkey”
“You do?” said Essper. “You’re the Purser, I suppose, detected keeping a jackass among the poultry77! eating all the food of our live stock, and we having kid every day. Though both my legs are off, I’ll have a fling at you!” and so saying, Essper, aided by the light of the lantern, scrambled78 out of the cradle, and taking up the sheep-tank, sent it straight at the astonished Bohemian’s head. The aim was good, and the man fell; more, however, from fright than injury. Seizing his lantern, which had fallen out of his hand, Essper escaped through the stable door and rushed into the house. He found himself in the kitchen. The noise of his entrance roused the landlord and his wife, who had been sleeping by the fire; since, not having a single bed beside their own, they had given that up to Vivian. The countenance of the innkeeper effectually dispelled79 the clouds which had been fast clearing off from Essper’s intellect. Giving one wide stare, and then rubbing his eyes, the truth lighted upon him, and so he sent the Bohemian’s lantern at his landlord’s head. The postmaster seized the poker80 and the postmistress a faggot, and as the Bohemian, who had now recovered himself, had entered in the rear, Essper George stood a fair chance of receiving a thorough drubbing, had not his master, roused by the suspicious noises and angry sounds which had reached his room, entered the kitchen with his pistols.
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1
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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7
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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15
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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16
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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18
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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20
reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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22
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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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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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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26
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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28
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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33
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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36
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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38
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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39
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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41
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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42
discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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43
panegyric
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| n.颂词，颂扬 | |
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44
avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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45
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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46
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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47
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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48
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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49
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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50
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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51
bard
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| n.吟游诗人 | |
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52
pastors
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| n.（基督教的）牧师( pastor的名词复数 ) | |
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53
convivial
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| adj.狂欢的，欢乐的 | |
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54
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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55
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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56
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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57
intemperance
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| n.放纵 | |
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58
votary
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| n.崇拜者；爱好者；adj.誓约的，立誓任圣职的 | |
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59
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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60
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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61
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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62
dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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63
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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64
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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65
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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66
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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67
landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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68
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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69
kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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70
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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71
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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72
inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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73
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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74
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
参考例句： |
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75
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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76
stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
参考例句： |
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77
poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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78
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
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79
dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
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80
poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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