He Arrives at Paris, and is Pleased with His Reception.
He was not so smitten1 with the delightful2 situation of this ancient town, but that he abandoned it as soon as he could procure3 a post-chaise, in which he arrived at Paris, without having been exposed to any other troublesome adventure upon the road. He took lodgings4 at a certain hotel in the Fauxbourg de St. Germain, which is the general rendezvous5 of all the strangers that resort to this capital; and now sincerely congratulated himself upon his happy escape from his Hungarian connexions, and from the snares6 of the banditti, as well as upon the spoils of the dead body, and his arrival at Paris, from whence there was such a short conveyance7 to England, whither he was attracted, by far other motives8 than that of filial veneration9 for his native soil.
He suppressed all his letters of recommendation, which he justly concluded would subject him to a tedious course of attendance upon the great, and lay him under the necessity of soliciting10 preferment in the army, than which nothing was farther from his inclination11; and resolved to make his appearance in the character of a private gentleman, which would supply him with opportunities of examining the different scenes of life in such a gay metropolis12, so as that he should be able to choose that sphere in which he could move the most effectually to his own advantage. He accordingly hired an occasional domestic, and under the denomination13 of Count Fathom14, which he had retained since his elopement from Renaldo, repaired to dinner at an ordinary, to which he was directed as a reputable place, frequented by fashionable strangers of all nations.
He found this piece of information perfectly15 just; for he no sooner entered the apartment, than his ears were saluted16 with a strange confusion of sounds, among which he at once distinguished17 the High and Low Dutch, barbarous French, Italian, and English languages. He was rejoiced at this occasion of displaying his own qualifications, took his place at one of the three long tables, betwixt a Westphalian count and a Bolognian marquis, insinuated18 himself into the conversation with his usual address, and in less than half an hour, found means to accost19 a native of each different country in his own mother-tongue.
Such extensive knowledge did not pass unobserved. A French abbe, in a provincial20 dialect, complimented him upon his retaining that purity in pronunciation, which is not to be found in the speech of a Parisian. The Bolognian, mistaking him for a Tuscan, “Sir,” said he, “I presume you are from Florence. I hope the illustrious house of Lorrain leaves you gentlemen of that famous city no room to regret the loss of your own princes.” The castle of Versailles becoming the subject of conversation, Monsieur le Compte appealed to him, as to a native German, whether it was not inferior in point of magnificence to the chateau21 of Grubenhagen. The Dutch officer, addressing himself to Fathom, drank to the prosperity of Faderland, and asked if he had not once served in garrison22 at Shenkenschans; and an English knight23 swore, with great assurance, that he had frequently rambled24 with him at midnight among the hundreds of Drury.
To each person he replied in a polite, though mysterious manner, which did not fail to enhance their opinion of his good breeding and importance; and, long before the dessert appeared, he was by all the company supposed to be a personage of great consequence, who for some substantial reasons, found it convenient to keep himself incognito25. This being the case, it is not to be doubted that particular civilities were poured upon him from all quarters. He perceived their sentiments, and encouraged them, by behaving with that sort of complaisance26 which seems to be the result of engaging condescension27 in a character of superior dignity and station. His affability was general but his chief attention limited to those gentlemen already mentioned, who chanced to sit nearest him at table; and he no sooner gave them to understand that he was an utter stranger in Paris, than they unanimously begged to have the honour of making him acquainted with the different curiosities peculiar28 to that metropolis.
He accepted of their hospitality, accompanied them to a coffee-house in the afternoon, from whence they repaired to the opera, and afterwards adjourned29 to a noted30 hotel, in order to spend the remaining part of the evening. It was here that our hero secured himself effectually in the footing he had gained in their good graces. He in a moment saw through all the characters of the party, and adapted himself to the humour of each individual, without descending31 from that elevation32 of behaviour which he perceived would operate among them in his behalf. With the Italian he discoursed33 on music, in the style of a connoisseur34; and indeed had a better claim to that title than the generality of those upon whom it is usually conferred; for he understood the art in theory as well as in practice, and would have made no contemptible35 figure among the best performers of the age.
He harangued36 upon taste and genius to the abbe, who was a wit and critic, ex officio, or rather ex vestitu for a young pert Frenchman, the very moment he puts on the petit collet, or little band, looks upon himself as an inspired son of Apollo; and every one of the fraternity thinks it incumbent37 upon him to assert the divinity of his mission. In a word, the abbes are a set of people that bear a strong analogy to the templars in London. Fools of each fabric38, sharpers of all sorts, and dunces of every degree, profess39 themselves of both orders. The templar is, generally speaking, a prig, so is the abbe: both are distinguished by an air of petulance40 and self-conceit, which holds a middle rank betwixt the insolence41 of a first-rate buck42 and the learned pride of a supercilious43 pedant44. The abbe is supposed to be a younger brother in quest of preferment in the church — the Temple is considered as a receptacle or seminary for younger sons intended for the bar; but a great number of each profession turn aside into other paths of life, long before they reach these proposed goals. An abbe is often metamorphosed into a foot soldier; a templar sometimes sinks into an attorney’s clerk. The galleys45 of France abound46 with abbes; and many templars may be found in our American plantations47; not to mention those who have made a public exit nearer home. Yet I would not have it thought that my description includes every individual of those societies. Some of the greatest scholars, politicians, and wits, that ever Europe produced, have worn the habit of an abbe; and many of our most noble families in England derive48 their honours from those who have studied law in the Temple. The worthy49 sons of every community shall always be sacred from my censure50 and ridicule51; and, while I laugh at the folly52 of particular members, I can still honour and revere53 the institution.
But let us return from this comparison, which some readers may think impertinent and unseasonable, and observe, that the Westphalian count, Dutch officer, and English knight, were not excepted from the particular regard and attention of our adventurer. He pledged the German in every bumper54; flattered the Hollander with compliments upon the industry, wealth, and policy of the Seven United Provinces; but he reserved his chief battery for his own countryman, on the supposition that he was, in all respects, the best adapted for the purposes of a needy55 gamester. Him, therefore, he cultivated with extraordinary care and singular observance; for he soon perceived him to be a humourist, and, from that circumstance, derived56 an happy presage57 of his own success. The baronet’s disposition58 seemed to be cast in the true English mould. He was sour, silent, and contemptuous; his very looks indicated a consciousness of superior wealth; and he never opened his mouth, except to make some dry, sarcastic59, national reflection. Nor was his behaviour free from that air of suspicion which a man puts on when he believes himself in a crowd of pick-pockets, whom his caution and vigilance set at defiance60. In a word, though his tongue was silent on the subject, his whole demeanour was continually saying, “You are all a pack of poor lousy rascals61, who have a design upon my purse. ’Tis true, I could buy your whole generation, but I won’t be bubbled, d’ye see; I am aware of your flattery, and upon my guard against all your knavish62 pranks63; and I come into your company for my own amusement only.”
Fathom having reconnoitred this peculiarity64 of temper, instead of treating him with that assiduous complaisance, which he received from the other gentlemen of the party, kept aloof65 from him in the conversation, with a remarkable66 shyness of distant civility, and seldom took notice of what he said, except with a view to contradict him, or retort some of his satirical observations. This he conceived to be the best method of acquiring his good opinion; because the Englishman would naturally conclude he was a person who could have no sinister67 views upon his fortune, else he would have chosen quite a different manner of deportment. Accordingly, the knight seemed to bite at the hook. He listened to Ferdinand with uncommon68 regard; he was even heard to commend his remarks, and at length drank to their better acquaintance.
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smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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3
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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snares
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| n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 )；圈套；诱人遭受失败（丢脸、损失等）的东西；诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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7
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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8
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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soliciting
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| v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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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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12
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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13
denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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14
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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15
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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16
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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17
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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18
insinuated
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| v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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19
accost
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| v.向人搭话，打招呼 | |
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20
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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21
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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23
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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24
rambled
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的过去式和过去分词 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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incognito
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| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
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26
complaisance
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| n.彬彬有礼，殷勤，柔顺 | |
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27
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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29
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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31
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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32
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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33
discoursed
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| 演说（discourse的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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34
connoisseur
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| n.鉴赏家，行家，内行 | |
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contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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36
harangued
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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38
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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39
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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40
petulance
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| n.发脾气，生气，易怒，暴躁，性急 | |
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41
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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pedant
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| n.迂儒；卖弄学问的人 | |
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45
galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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abound
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| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
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plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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48
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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49
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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50
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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52
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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revere
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| vt.尊崇，崇敬，敬畏 | |
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54
bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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55
needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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56
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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57
presage
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| n.预感，不祥感；v.预示 | |
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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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sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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61
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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knavish
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| adj.无赖（似）的，不正的；刁诈 | |
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pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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64
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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