He Bears His Fate Like a Philosopher; and Contracts Acquaintance with a Very Remarkable1 Personage.
This was a proper subject for our hero to moralise upon; and accordingly it did not pass without his remarks; he found himself fairly foiled at his own weapons, reduced to indigence2 in a foreign land, and, what he chiefly regretted, robbed of all those gay expectations he had indulged from his own supposed excellence3 in the wiles4 of fraud; for, upon a little recollection, he plainly perceived he had fallen a sacrifice to the confederacy he had refused to join; and did not at all doubt that the dice5 were loaded for his destruction. But, instead of beating his head against the wall, tearing his hair, imprecating vain curses upon himself, or betraying other frantic6 symptoms of despair, he resolved to accommodate himself to his fate, and profit by the lesson he had so dearly bought.
With this intention, he immediately dismissed his valet, quitted his lodgings7, retired8 to an obscure street on the other side of the river, and, covering one eye with a large patch of black silk, presented himself in quality of a musician to the director of the opera, who, upon hearing a trial of his skill, received him into the band without further question. While he continued in this situation, he not only improved his taste and execution in music, but likewise found frequent opportunities to extend his knowledge of mankind; for, besides the employment he exercised in public, he was often concerned in private concerts that were given in the hotels of noblemen; by which means he became more and more acquainted with the persons, manners, and characters of high life, which he contemplated9 with the most industrious10 attention, as a spectator, who, being altogether unconcerned in the performance, is at more liberty to observe and enjoy the particulars of the entertainment.
It was in one of those assemblies he had the pleasure of seeing his friend Sir Stentor, dressed in the most fashionable manner, and behaving with all the overstrained politesse of a native Frenchman. He was accompanied by his brother knight11 and the abbe; and this triumvirate, even in Fathom12’s hearing, gave a most ludicrous detail of the finesse13 they had practised upon the Polish Count, to their entertainer, who was ambassador from a certain court, and made himself extremely merry with the particulars of the relation. Indeed, they made shift to describe some of the circumstances in such a ridiculous light, that our adventurer himself, smarting as he was with the disgrace, could not help laughing in secret at the account. He afterwards made it his business to inquire into the characters of the two British knights14, and understood they were notorious sharpers, who had come abroad for the good of their country, and now hunted in couple among a French pack, that dispersed15 themselves through the public ordinaries, walks, and spectacles, in order to make a prey16 of incautious strangers.
The pride of Ferdinand was piqued17 at this information; and he was even animated18 with the desire of making reprisals19 upon this fraternity, from which he ardently20 longed to retrieve21 his honour and effects. But the issue of his last adventure had reinforced his caution; and, for the present, he found means to suppress the dictates22 of his avarice23 and ambition; resolving to employ his whole penetration24 in reconnoitring the ground, before he should venture to take the field again. He therefore continued to act the part of a one-eyed fiddler, under the name of Fadini, and lived with incredible frugality25, that he might save a purse for his future operations. In this manner had he proceeded for the space of ten months, during which he acquired a competent knowledge of the city of Paris, when his curiosity was attracted by certain peculiarities26 in the appearance of a man who lived in one of the upper apartments belonging to the house in which he himself had fixed27 his habitation.
This was a tall, thin, meagre figure, with a long black beard, an aquiline28 nose, a brown complexion29, and a most piercing vivacity30 in his eyes. He seemed to be about the age of fifty, wore the Persian habit, and there was a remarkable severity in his aspect and demeanour. He and our adventurer had been fellow-lodgers for some time, and, according to the laudable custom in these days, had hitherto remained as much estranged31 to one another, as if they had lived on opposite sides of the globe; but of late the Persian seemed to regard our hero with particular attention; when they chanced to meet on the staircase, or elsewhere, he bowed to Ferdinand with great solemnity, and complimented him with the pas. He even proceeded, in the course of this communication, to open his mouth, and salute32 him with a good-morrow, and sometimes made the common remarks upon the weather. Fathom, who was naturally complaisant33, did not discourage these advances. On the contrary, he behaved to him with marks of particular respect, and one day desired the favour of his company to breakfast.
This invitation the stranger declined with due acknowledgment, on pretence34 of being out of order; and, in the meantime, our adventurer bethought himself of questioning the landlord concerning his outlandish guest. His curiosity was rather inflamed35 than satisfied with the information he could obtain from this quarter; for all he learned was, that the Persian went by the name of Ali Beker, and that he had lived in the house for the space of four months, in a most solitary36 and parsimonious37 manner, without being visited by one living soul; that, for some time after his arrival, he had been often heard to groan38 dismally39 in the night, and even to exclaim in an unknown language, as if he had laboured under some grievous affliction; and though the first transports of his grief had subsided40, it was easy to perceive he still indulged a deep-rooted melancholy41; for the tears were frequently observed to trickle42 down his beard. The commissaire of the quarter had at first ordered this Oriental to be watched in his outgoings, according to the maxims43 of the French police; but his life was found so regular and inoffensive, that this precaution was soon set aside.
Any man of humane44 sentiments, from the knowledge of these particulars, would have been prompted to offer his services to the forlorn stranger; but as our hero was devoid45 of all these infirmities of human nature, it was necessary that other motives46 should produce the same effect. His curiosity, therefore, joined with the hopes of converting the confidence of Ali to his own emolument47, effectually impelled48 him towards his acquaintance; and, in a little time, they began to relish49 the conversation of each other. For, as the reader may have already observed, Fathom possessed50 all the arts of insinuation, and had discernment enough to perceive an air of dignity in the Persian, which the humility51 of his circumstances could not conceal52. He was, moreover, a man of good understanding, not without a tincture of letters, perfectly53 well bred, though in a ceremonious style, extremely moral in his discourse54, and scrupulously55 nice in his notions of honour.
Our hero conformed himself in all respects to the other’s opinions, and managed his discretion56 so as to pass upon him for a gentleman reduced by misfortunes to the exercise of an employment which was altogether unsuitable to his birth and quality. He made earnest and repeated tenders of his good offices to the stranger, and pressed him to make use of his purse with such cordial perseverance57, that, at length, Ali’s reserve was overcome, and he condescended58 to borrow of him a small sum, which in all probability, saved his life; for he had been driven to the utmost extremity59 of want before he would accept of this assistance.
Fathom, having gradually stole into his good graces, began to take notice of many piteous sighs that escaped him in the moments of their intercourse60, and seemed to denote an heart fraught61 with woe62; and, on pretence of administering consolation63 and counsel, begged leave to know the cause of his distress64, observing, that his mind would be disburdened by such communication, and, perhaps, his grief alleviated65 by some means which they might jointly66 concert and execute in his behalf.
Ali, thus solicited67, would often shake his head, with marks of extreme sorrow and despondence, and, while the tears gushed68 from his eyes, declared that his distress was beyond the power of any remedy but death, and that, by making our hero his confidant, he should only extend his unhappiness to a friend, without feeling the least remission of his own torture. Notwithstanding these repeated declarations, Ferdinand, who was well enough acquainted with the mind of man to know that such importunity69 is seldom or never disagreeable, redoubled his instances, together with his expressions of sympathy and esteem70, until the stranger was prevailed upon to gratify his curiosity and benevolence71. Having, therefore, secured the chamber72 door one night, while all the rest of the family were asleep, the unfortunate Ali disclosed himself in these words.
1 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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2 indigence | |
n.贫穷 | |
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3 excellence | |
n.优秀,杰出,(pl.)优点,美德 | |
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4 wiles | |
n.(旨在欺骗或吸引人的)诡计,花招;欺骗,欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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5 dice | |
n.骰子;vt.把(食物)切成小方块,冒险 | |
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6 frantic | |
adj.狂乱的,错乱的,激昂的 | |
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7 lodgings | |
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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8 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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9 contemplated | |
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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10 industrious | |
adj.勤劳的,刻苦的,奋发的 | |
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11 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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12 fathom | |
v.领悟,彻底了解 | |
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13 finesse | |
n.精密技巧,灵巧,手腕 | |
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14 knights | |
骑士; (中古时代的)武士( knight的名词复数 ); 骑士; 爵士; (国际象棋中)马 | |
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15 dispersed | |
adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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16 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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17 piqued | |
v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 );激起(好奇心) | |
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18 animated | |
adj.生气勃勃的,活跃的,愉快的 | |
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19 reprisals | |
n.报复(行为)( reprisal的名词复数 ) | |
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20 ardently | |
adv.热心地,热烈地 | |
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21 retrieve | |
vt.重新得到,收回;挽回,补救;检索 | |
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22 dictates | |
n.命令,规定,要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 );口授;支配;摆布 | |
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23 avarice | |
n.贪婪;贪心 | |
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24 penetration | |
n.穿透,穿人,渗透 | |
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25 frugality | |
n.节约,节俭 | |
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26 peculiarities | |
n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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27 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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28 aquiline | |
adj.钩状的,鹰的 | |
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29 complexion | |
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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30 vivacity | |
n.快活,活泼,精神充沛 | |
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31 estranged | |
adj.疏远的,分离的 | |
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32 salute | |
vi.行礼,致意,问候,放礼炮;vt.向…致意,迎接,赞扬;n.招呼,敬礼,礼炮 | |
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33 complaisant | |
adj.顺从的,讨好的 | |
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34 pretence | |
n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰 | |
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35 inflamed | |
adj.发炎的,红肿的v.(使)变红,发怒,过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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37 parsimonious | |
adj.吝啬的,质量低劣的 | |
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38 groan | |
vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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39 dismally | |
adv.阴暗地,沉闷地 | |
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40 subsided | |
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的过去式和过去分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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41 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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42 trickle | |
vi.淌,滴,流出,慢慢移动,逐渐消散 | |
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43 maxims | |
n.格言,座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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44 humane | |
adj.人道的,富有同情心的 | |
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45 devoid | |
adj.全无的,缺乏的 | |
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46 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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47 emolument | |
n.报酬,薪水 | |
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48 impelled | |
v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49 relish | |
n.滋味,享受,爱好,调味品;vt.加调味料,享受,品味;vi.有滋味 | |
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50 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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51 humility | |
n.谦逊,谦恭 | |
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52 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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53 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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54 discourse | |
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 | |
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55 scrupulously | |
adv.一丝不苟地;小心翼翼地,多顾虑地 | |
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56 discretion | |
n.谨慎;随意处理 | |
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57 perseverance | |
n.坚持不懈,不屈不挠 | |
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58 condescended | |
屈尊,俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 ); 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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59 extremity | |
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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60 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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61 fraught | |
adj.充满…的,伴有(危险等)的;忧虑的 | |
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62 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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63 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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64 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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65 alleviated | |
减轻,缓解,缓和( alleviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66 jointly | |
ad.联合地,共同地 | |
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67 solicited | |
v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 );(指娼妇)拉客;索求;征求 | |
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68 gushed | |
v.喷,涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 );滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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69 importunity | |
n.硬要,强求 | |
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70 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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71 benevolence | |
n.慈悲,捐助 | |
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72 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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