Clifton, by Bristol, with its soft Southern winds and high cheerful situation, recommended too by the presence of one or more valuable acquaintances there, was found to be the eligible5 place; and thither6 in this summer of 1839, having found a tolerable lodging7, with the prospect8 by and by of an agreeable house, he and his removed. This was the end of what I call his "third peregrinity;"—or reckoning the West Indies one, his fourth. This also is, since Bayswater, the fourth time his family has had to shift on his account. Bayswater; then to Bordeaux, to Blackheath and Knightsbridge (during the Madeira time), to Hastings (Roman time); and now to Clifton, not to stay there either: a sadly nomadic9 life to be prescribed to a civilized10 man!
At Clifton his habitation was speedily enough set up; household conveniences, methods of work, daily promenades11 on foot or horseback, and before long even a circle of friends, or of kindly12 neighborhoods ripening13 into intimacy14, were established round him. In all this no man could be more expert or expeditious15, in such cases. It was with singular facility, in a loving, hoping manner, that he threw himself open to the new interests and capabilities16 of the new place; snatched out of it whatsoever17 of human or material would suit him; and in brief, in all senses had pitched his tent-habitation, and grew to look on it as a house. It was beautiful too, as well as pathetic. This man saw himself reduced to be a dweller18 in tents, his house is but a stone tent; and he can so kindly accommodate himself to that arrangement;—healthy faculty19 and diseased necessity, nature and habit, and all manner of things primary and secondary, original and incidental, conspiring20 now to make it easy for him. With the evils of nomadism21, he participated to the full in whatever benefits lie in it for a man.
He had friends enough, old and new, at Clifton, whose intercourse22 made the place human for him. Perhaps among the most valued of the former sort may be mentioned Mrs. Edward Strachey, Widow of the late Indian Judge, who now resided here; a cultivated, graceful23, most devout24 and high-minded lady; whom he had known in old years, first probably as Charles Buller's Aunt, and whose esteem25 was constant for him, and always precious to him. She was some ten or twelve years older than he; she survived him some years, but is now also gone from us. Of new friends acquired here, besides a skilful26 and ingenious Dr. Symonds, physician as well as friend, the principal was Francis Newman, then and still an ardently27 inquiring soul, of fine University and other attainments28, of sharp-cutting, restlessly advancing intellect, and the mildest pious29 enthusiasm; whose worth, since better known to all the world, Sterling highly estimated;—and indeed practically testified the same; having by will appointed him, some years hence, guardian30 to his eldest31 Son; which pious function Mr. Newman now successfully discharges.
Sterling was not long in certainty as to his abode at Clifton: alas32, where could he long be so? Hardly six months were gone when his old enemy again overtook him; again admonished33 him how frail34 his hopes of permanency were. Each winter, it turned out, he had to fly; and after the second of these, he quitted the place altogether. Here, meanwhile, in a Letter to myself, and in Excerpts35 from others, are some glimpses of his advent36 and first summer there:—
To his Mother.
"Clifton, June 11th, 1839.—As yet I am personally very uncomfortable from the general confusion of this house, which deprives me of my room to sit and read and write in; all being more or less lumbered37 by boxes, and invaded by servile domesticities aproned, handled, bristled38, and of nondescript varieties. We have very fine warm weather, with occasional showers; and the verdure of the woods and fields is very beautiful. Bristol seems as busy as need be; and the shops and all kinds of practical conveniences are excellent; but those of Clifton have the usual sentimental39, not to say meretricious40 fraudulence of commercial establishments in Watering-places.
"The bag which Hannah forgot reached us safely at Bath on Friday morning; but I cannot quite unriddle the mystery of the change of padlocks, for I left the right one in care of the Head Steam-engine at Paddington, which seemed a very decent person with a good black coat on, and a pen behind its ear. I have been meditating41 much on the story of Palarea's 'box of papers;' which does not appear to be in my possession, and I have a strong impression that I gave it to young Florez Calderon. I will write to say so to Madam Torrijos speedily." Palarea, Dr. Palarea, I understand, was "an old guerilla leader whom they called El Medico." Of him and of the vanished shadows, now gone to Paris, to Madrid, or out of the world, let us say nothing!
To Mr. Carlyle.
"June 15th, 1839.—We have a room now occupied by Robert Barton [a brother-in-law]; to which Anthony may perhaps succeed; but which after him, or in lieu of him, would expand itself to receive you. Is there no hope of your coming? I would undertake to ride with you at all possible paces, and in all existing directions.
"As yet my books are lying as ghost books, in a limbo42 on the banks of a certain Bristolian Styx, humanly speaking, a Canal; but the other apparatus43 of life is gathered about me, and performs its diurnal44 functions. The place pleases me better than I expected: a far lookout45 on all sides, over green country; a sufficient old City lying in the hollow near; and civilization, in no tumultuous state, rather indeed stagnant46, visible in the Rows of Houses and Gardens which call themselves Clifton. I hope soon to take a lease of a house, where I may arrange myself more methodically; keep myself equably boiling in my own kitchen; and spread myself over a series of book-shelves.... I have just been interrupted by a visit from Mrs. Strachey; with whom I dined yesterday. She seems a very good and thoroughly47 kind-hearted woman; and it is pleasant to have her for a neighbor.... I have read Emerson's Pamphlets. I should find it more difficult than ever to write to him."
To his Father.
"June 30th, 1839.—Of Books I shall have no lack, though no plethora48; and the Reading-room supplies all one can want in the way of Papers and Reviews. I go there three or four times a week, and inquire how the human race goes on. I suppose this Turco-Egyptian War will throw several diplomatists into a state of great excitement, and massacre49 a good many thousands of Africans and Asiatics?—For the present, it appears, the English Education Question is settled. I wish the Government had said that, in their inspection50 and superintendence, they would look only to secular51 matters, and leave religious ones to the persons who set up the schools, whoever these might be. It seems to me monstrous52 that the State should be prevented taking any efficient measures for teaching Roman Catholic children to read, write and cipher53, merely because they believe in the Pope, and the Pope is an impostor,—which I candidly54 confess he is! There is no question which I can so ill endure to see made a party one as that of Education."—The following is of the same day:—
"To Thomas Carlyle, Esq., Chelsea, London.
"MANOR HOUSE, CLIFTON PLACE, CLIFTON,
"30th June, 1839.
"MY DEAR CARLYLE,—I have heard, this morning, from my Father, that you are to set out on Tuesday for Scotland: so I have determined55 to fillip away some spurt56 of ink in your direction, which may reach you before you move towards Thule.
"Writing to you, in fact, is considerably57 easier than writing about you; which has been my employment of late, at leisure moments,—that is, moments of leisure from idleness, not work. As you partly guessed, I took in hand a Review of Teufelsdrockh—for want of a better Heuschrecke to do the work; and when I have been well enough, and alert enough, during the last fortnight, have tried to set down some notions about Tobacco, Radicalism58, Christianity, Assafoetida and so forth59. But a few abortive60 pages are all the result as yet. If my speculations61 should ever see daylight, they may chance to get you into scrapes, but will certainly get me into worse.... But one must work; sic itur ad astra,—and the astra are always there to befriend one, at least as asterisks62, filling up the gaps which yawn in vain for words.
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1 sterling | |
adj.英币的(纯粹的,货真价实的);n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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2 congruity | |
n.全等,一致 | |
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3 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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4 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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5 eligible | |
adj.有条件被选中的;(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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6 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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7 lodging | |
n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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8 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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9 nomadic | |
adj.流浪的;游牧的 | |
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10 civilized | |
a.有教养的,文雅的 | |
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11 promenades | |
n.人行道( promenade的名词复数 );散步场所;闲逛v.兜风( promenade的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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13 ripening | |
v.成熟,使熟( ripen的现在分词 );熟化;熟成 | |
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14 intimacy | |
n.熟悉,亲密,密切关系,亲昵的言行 | |
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15 expeditious | |
adj.迅速的,敏捷的 | |
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16 capabilities | |
n.能力( capability的名词复数 );可能;容量;[复数]潜在能力 | |
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17 whatsoever | |
adv.(用于否定句中以加强语气)任何;pron.无论什么 | |
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18 dweller | |
n.居住者,住客 | |
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19 faculty | |
n.才能;学院,系;(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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20 conspiring | |
密谋( conspire的现在分词 ); 搞阴谋; (事件等)巧合; 共同导致 | |
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21 nomadism | |
n.游牧生活,流浪生活 | |
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22 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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23 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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24 devout | |
adj.虔诚的,虔敬的,衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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25 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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26 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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27 ardently | |
adv.热心地,热烈地 | |
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28 attainments | |
成就,造诣; 获得( attainment的名词复数 ); 达到; 造诣; 成就 | |
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29 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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30 guardian | |
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者 | |
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31 eldest | |
adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
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32 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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33 admonished | |
v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 );训诫;(温和地)责备;轻责 | |
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34 frail | |
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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35 excerpts | |
n.摘录,摘要( excerpt的名词复数 );节选(音乐,电影)片段 | |
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36 advent | |
n.(重要事件等的)到来,来临 | |
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37 lumbered | |
砍伐(lumber的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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38 bristled | |
adj. 直立的,多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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39 sentimental | |
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的 | |
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40 meretricious | |
adj.华而不实的,俗艳的 | |
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41 meditating | |
a.沉思的,冥想的 | |
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42 limbo | |
n.地狱的边缘;监狱 | |
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43 apparatus | |
n.装置,器械;器具,设备 | |
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44 diurnal | |
adj.白天的,每日的 | |
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45 lookout | |
n.注意,前途,瞭望台 | |
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46 stagnant | |
adj.不流动的,停滞的,不景气的 | |
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47 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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48 plethora | |
n.过量,过剩 | |
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49 massacre | |
n.残杀,大屠杀;v.残杀,集体屠杀 | |
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50 inspection | |
n.检查,审查,检阅 | |
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51 secular | |
n.牧师,凡人;adj.世俗的,现世的,不朽的 | |
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52 monstrous | |
adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 | |
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53 cipher | |
n.零;无影响力的人;密码 | |
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54 candidly | |
adv.坦率地,直率而诚恳地 | |
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55 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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56 spurt | |
v.喷出;突然进发;突然兴隆 | |
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57 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
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58 radicalism | |
n. 急进主义, 根本的改革主义 | |
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59 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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60 abortive | |
adj.不成功的,发育不全的 | |
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61 speculations | |
n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 );思考;投机活动;推断 | |
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62 asterisks | |
n.星号,星状物( asterisk的名词复数 )v.加星号于( asterisk的第三人称单数 ) | |
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