“There, now, master, there’s a glass o’ grog for you that would float a marline-spike. See if that don’t warm the cockles of your old heart.”
“Master Tom, with your leave, I’ll mix your grog for you myself. Hand me back that bottle, you rascal4.”
“Just as you please, father,” replied Tom, handing the bottle; “but recollect5, none of your water bewitched. Only help me as you love me.”
Old Tom mixed a pannikin of grog for Tom, and another for himself. I hardly need say which was the stiffer of the two.
“Well, father, I suppose you think the grog will run short. To be sure, one bottle aren’t too much ’mong four of us.”
“One bottle, you scamp! there’s another in the cupboard.”
“Then you must see double already, father.”
Old Tom, who was startled at this news, and who imagined that Tom must have gained possession of the other bottle, jumped up and made for the cupboard, to ascertain6 whether what Tom asserted was correct. This was what Tom wished; he immediately changed pannikins of grog with his father, and remained quiet.
“There is another bottle, Tom,” said his father, coming out and taking his seat again. “I knew there was. You young rascal, you don’t know how you frightened me!” And old Tom put the pannikin to his lips. “Drowned the miller7, by heavens!” said he, “What could I have been about?” ejaculated he, adding more spirit to his mixture.
“I suppose, upon the strength of another bottle in the locker9, you are doubling the strength of your grog. Come, father,” and Tom held out his pannikin, “do put a little drop in mine—it’s seven-water grog, and I’m not on the black-list.”
“No, no, Tom; your next shall be stronger. Well, master, how do you like your liquor?”
“Verily,” replied the Dominie, “it is a pleasant and seducing10 liquor. Lo and behold11! I am at the bottom of my utensil12.”
“Stop till I fill it up again, old gentleman. I see you are one of the right sort. You know what the song says—
“A plague on those musty old lubbers,
Who tell us to fast and to think,
And patient fall in with life’s rubbers,
With nothing but water to drink!
“Water, indeed! The only use of water I know is to mix your grog with, and float vessels13 up and down the world. Why was the sea made salt, but to prevent our drinking too much water. Water, indeed!
“A can of good grog, had they swigg’d it,
And in spite of the rules
Of the schools,
The old fools
Would have all of them swigg’d it,
And swore there was nothing like grog.”
“I’m exactly of your opinion, father,” said Tom, holding out his empty pannikin.
“Always ready for two things, Master Tom—grog and mischief15; but, however, you shall have one more dose.”
“Ay, that it has, master—more than all the quacking17 medicines in the world. It cures grief and melancholy18, and prevents spirits from getting low.”
“I doubt that, father,” cried Tom, holding up the bottle “for the more grog we drink, the more the spirits become low.”
Cluck, cluck, came from the thorax of the Dominie. “Verily, friend Tom, it appeareth, among other virtues, to sharpen the wits. Proceed, friend Dux, in the medicinal virtues of grog.”
“Well, master, it cures love when it’s not returned, and adds to it when it is. I’ve heard say it will cure jealousy19; but that I’ve my doubts of. Now I think on it, I will tell you a yarn20 about a jealous match between a couple of fools. Jacob, aren’t your pannikin empty, my boy?”
“Yes,” replied I, handing it up to be filled. It was empty, for, not being very fond of it myself, Tom, with my permission, had drunk it as well as his own.
“He isn’t troubled with low spirits, as I am, father.”
“How long has that been your complaint, Tom?” inquired I.
“Ever since I heard how to cure it. Come, father, give us the yarn.”
“Well, then, you must mind that an old shipmate o’ mine, Ben Leader, had a wife named Poll, a pretty sort of craft in her way—neat in her rigging, swelling-bows, taking sort of figure-head, and devilish well rounded in the counter; altogether, she was a very fancy girl, and all the men were after her. She’d a roguish eye, and liked to be stared at, as most pretty women do, because it flatters their vanities. Now, although she liked to be noticed so far by the other chaps, yet Ben was the only one she ever wished to be handled by; it was ‘Paws off, Pompey!’ with all the rest. Ben Leader was a good-looking, active, smart chap, and could foot it in a reel, or take a bout8 at single-stick with the very best o’ them; and she was mortal fond of him, and mortal jealous if he talked to any other woman, for the women liked Ben as much as the men liked she. Well, as they returned love for love, so did they return jealousy for jealousy; and the lads and lasses, seeing that, had a pleasure in making them come to a misunderstanding. So every day it became worse and worse between them. Now, I always says that it’s a stupid thing to be jealous, ’cause if there be cause, there be no cause for love and if there be no cause, there be no cause for jealousy.”
“You’re like a row in a rookery, father—nothing but caws,” interrupted Tom.
“Well, I suppose I am; but that’s what I call chop logic—aren’t it, master?”
“It was a syllogism,” replied the Dominie, taking the pannikin from his mouth.
“I don’t know what that is, nor do I want to know,” replied old Tom; “so I’ll just go on with my story. Well, at last they came to downright fighting. Ben licks Poll ’cause she talked and laughed with other men, and Poll cries and whines23 all day ’cause he won’t sit on her knee, instead of going on board and ’tending to his duty. Well, one night, a’ter work was over, Ben goes on shore to the house where he and Poll used to sleep; and when he sees the girl in the bar, he says, ‘Where is Poll?’ Now, the girl at the bar was a fresh-comer, and answers, ‘What girl?’ So Ben describes her, and the bar-girl answers, ‘She be just gone to bed with her husband, I suppose;’ for, you see, there was a woman like her who had gone up to her bed, sure enough. When Ben heard that, he gave his trousers one hitch24, and calls for a quartern, drinks it off with a sigh, and leaves the house, believing it all to be true. A’ter Ben was gone, Poll makes her appearance, and when she finds Ben wasn’t in the tap, says, ‘Young woman, did a man go upstairs just now?’ ‘Yes,’ replied the bar-girl, ‘with his wife, I suppose; they be turned in this quarter of an hour.’ When she almost turned mad with rage, and then as white as a sheet, and then she burst into tears, and runs out of the house, crying out, ‘Poor misfortunate creature that I am!’ knocking everything down undersized, and running into the arms of every man who came athwart her hawse.”
“I understood him, but just now, that she was running on foot; yet doth he talk about her horse. Expound25, Jacob.”
“Exactly,” rejoined Tom; “it meant her figure-head, old gentleman; but my yarn won’t cut a figure if I’m brought up all standing22 in this way. Suppose, master, you hear the story first, and understand it a’terwards?”
“I will endeavour to comprehend by the context,” replied the Dominie.
“That is, I suppose, that you’ll allow me to stick to my text. Well, then, here’s coil away again. Ben, you see, what with his jealousy and what with a whole quartern at a draught27, became somehow nohow, and he walked down to the jetty with the intention of getting rid of himself, and his wife and all his trouble by giving his soul back to his Creator, and his body to the fishes.”
“Bad philosophy,” quoth the Dominie.
“I agree with you, master,” replied old Tom.
“Pray what sort of a thing is philosophy?” inquired Tom.
“Philosophy,” replied old Tom, “is either hanging, drowning, shooting yourself, or, in short, getting out of the world without help.”
“Nay,” replied the Dominie, “that is felo de se.”
“Well, I pronounce it quicker than you, master; but it’s one and the same thing: but to go on. While Ben was standing on the jetty, thinking whether he should take one more quid of ’baccy afore he dived, who should come down but Poll, with her hair all adrift, streaming and coach-whipping astern of her, with the same intention as Ben—to commit philo-zoffy. Ben, who was standing at the edge of the jetty, his eyes fixed28 upon the water, as it eddied29 among the piles, looking as dismal30 as if he had swallowed a hearse and six, with the funeral feathers hanging out of his mouth—”
“A bold comparison,” murmured the Dominie.
“Never sees her; and she was so busy with herself, that, although close to him, she never sees he—always remembering that the night was dark. So Poll turned her eyes up, for all the world like a dying jackdaw.”
“Yes,” replied young Tom; “he always dies black, master.”
“Then doth he die as he liveth. (Cluck, cluck.) Proceed, good Dux.”
“And don’t you break the thread of my yarn any more, master, if you wish to hear the end of it. So Poll begins to bludder about Ben. ‘O Ben, Ben,’ cried she; ‘cruel, cruel man; for to come—for to go;—for to go—for to come!’
“‘Who’s there?’ shouted Ben.
“‘For to come—for to go,’ cried Poll.
“‘Ship ahoy!’ hailed Ben, again.
“‘For to go—for to come,’ blubbered Poll; and then she couldn’t bring out anything more for sobbing32. With that, Ben, who thought he knew the voice, walks up to her, and says, ‘Be that you, Poll?’
“‘Be that you, Ben?’ replied Poll, taking her hands from her face, and looking at him.
“‘I thought you were in bed with—with—oh! Poll!’ said Ben.
“‘And I thought you were in bed with—oh! Ben!’ replied Poll.
“‘But I wasn’t, Poll?’
“‘Nor more wasn’t I, Ben.’
“‘And what brought you here, Poll?’
“‘I wanted for to die, Ben. And what brought you here, Ben?’
“‘I didn’t want for to live, Poll, when I thought you false.’
“Then Polly might have answered in the words of the old song, master; but her poor heart was too full, I suppose.” And Tom sang—
“Your Polly has never been false, she declares,
Since last time we parted at Wapping Old Stairs.
“Howsomever, in the next minute they were both hugging and kissing, sobbing, shivering and shaking in each other’s arms; and as soon as they had settled themselves a little, back they went, arm-in-arm, to the house, and had a good stiff glass to prevent their taking the rheumatism33, went to bed, and were cured of their jealously ever a’terwards—which in my opinion, was a much better philo-zoffy than the one they had both been bound on. There, I’ve wound it all off at last, master, and now we’ll fill up our pannikins.”
“Before I consent, friend Dux, pr’ythee inform me how much of this pleasant liquor may be taken without inebriating34, vulgo, getting tipsy.”
“Father can drink enough to float a jolly-boat, master,” replied Tom; “so you needn’t fear. I’ll drink pan for pan with you all night long.”
“Indeed you won’t, mister Tom,” replied the father.
“But I will, master.”
I perceived that the liquor had already had some effect upon my worthy35 pedagogue36, and was not willing that he should be persuaded into excess. I therefore pulled him by the coat as a hint; but he was again deep in thought, and he did not heed37 me. Tired of sitting so long, I got up, and walked forward to look at the cable.
“Strange,” muttered the Dominie, “that Jacob should thus pull me by the garment. What could he mean?”
“Did he pull you, sir?” inquired Tom.
“Yes, many times; and then he walked away.”
“It appears that you have been pulled too much, sir,” replied Tom, appearing to pick up the tail of his coat, which had been torn off by the dog, and handing it to him.
“Eheu! Jacobe—fili dilectissime—quid fecisti?” cried the Dominie, holding up the fragment of his coat with a look of despair.
“‘A long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether,’” sang out old Tom: and then looking at Tom, “Now, ain’t you a pretty rascal, master Tom?”
“It is done,” exclaimed the Dominie, with a sigh, putting the fragment into the remaining pocket; “and it cannot be undone38.”
“Now, I think it is undone, and can be done, master,” replied Tom. “A needle and thread will soon join the pieces of your old coat again—in holy matrimony, I may safely say—”
“True. (Cluck, cluck.) My housekeeper39 will restore it; yet will she be wroth, ‘Feminae curaeque iraeque;’ but let us think no more about it,” cried the Dominie, drinking deeply from his pannikin, and each minute verging40 fast to intoxication41. “‘Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus.’ I feel as if I were lifted up, and could dance, yea, and could exalt42 my voice and sing.”
“Could you, my jolly old master? then we will both dance and sing—
“Come, let us dance and sing,
While all Barbadoes bells shall ring,
Hymen gay, trips away,
“Now for chorus—
“Come, let us dance and sing.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
sniffing
|
|
| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
carouse
|
|
| v.狂欢；痛饮；n.狂饮的宴会 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
taut
|
|
| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
rascal
|
|
| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
recollect
|
|
| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
ascertain
|
|
| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
miller
|
|
| n.磨坊主 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
bout
|
|
| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
locker
|
|
| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
seducing
|
|
| 诱奸( seduce的现在分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
utensil
|
|
| n.器皿，用具 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
vessels
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
agog
|
|
| adj.兴奋的，有强烈兴趣的； adv.渴望地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
quacking
|
|
| v.（鸭子）发出嘎嘎声( quack的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
yarn
|
|
| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
craving
|
|
| n.渴望,热望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
whines
|
|
| n.悲嗥声( whine的名词复数 )；哀鸣者v.哀号( whine的第三人称单数 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
hitch
|
|
| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
expound
|
|
| v.详述；解释；阐述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
nautical
|
|
| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
eddied
|
|
| 起漩涡，旋转( eddy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
rheumatism
|
|
| n.风湿病 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
inebriating
|
|
| vt.使酒醉，灌醉（inebriate的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
35
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
pedagogue
|
|
| n.教师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
undone
|
|
| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
housekeeper
|
|
| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
verging
|
|
| 接近，逼近（verge的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
intoxication
|
|
| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
exalt
|
|
| v.赞扬，歌颂，晋升，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
fiddle
|
|
| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
lute
|
|
| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
jocund
|
|
| adj.快乐的，高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |