His Eclipse, and Gradual Declination.
Misfortunes seldom come single; upon the back of this hue1 and cry he unluckily prescribed phlebotomy to a gentleman of some rank, who chanced to expire during the operation, and quarrelled with his landlord the apothecary2, who charged him with having forgot the good offices he had done him in the beginning of his career, and desired he would provide himself with another lodging3.
All these mishaps4, treading upon the heels of one another, had a very mortifying6 effect upon his practice. At every tea-table his name was occasionally put to the torture, with that of the vile7 creature whom he had seduced8, though it was generally taken for granted by all those female casuists, that she must have made the first advances, for it could not be supposed that any man would take much trouble in laying schemes for the ruin of a person whose attractions were so slender, especially considering the ill state of her health, a circumstance that seldom adds to a woman’s beauty or good-humour; besides, she was always a pert minx, that affected9 singularity, and a masculine manner of speaking, and many of them had foreseen that she would, some time or other, bring herself into such a premunire. At all gossipings, where the apothecary or his wife assisted, Fathom10’s pride, ingratitude11, and malpractice were canvassed12; in all clubs of married men he was mentioned with marks of abhorrence13 and detestation, and every medical coffee-house rung with his reproach. Instances of his ignorance and presumption14 were quoted, and many particulars feigned15 for the purpose of defamation16, so that our hero was exactly in the situation of a horseman, who, in riding at full speed for the plate, is thrown from the saddle in the middle of the race, and left without sense or motion upon the plain.
His progress, though rapid, had been so short, that he could not be supposed to have laid up store against such a day of trouble, and as he still cherished hopes of surmounting17 those obstacles which had so suddenly started up in his way, he would not resign his equipage nor retrench18 his expenses, but appeared as usual in all public places with that serenity19 and confidence of feature which he had never deposited, and maintained his external pomp upon the little he had reserved in the days of his prosperity, and the credit he had acquired by the punctuality of his former payments. Both these funds, however, failed in a very little time, his lawsuit20 was a gulf21 that swallowed up all his ready money, and the gleanings of his practice were scarce sufficient to answer his pocket expenses, which now increased in proportion to the decrease of business, for, as he had more idle time, and was less admitted into private families, so he thought he had more occasion to enlarge his acquaintance among his own sex, who alone were able to support him in his disgrace with the other. He accordingly listed himself in several clubs, and endeavoured to monopolise the venereal branch of trade, though this was but an indifferent resource, for almost all his patients of this class were such as either could not, or would not, properly recompense the physician.
For some time he lingered in this situation, without going upwards22 or downwards23, floating like a wisp of straw at the turning of the tide, until he could no longer amuse the person of whom he had hired his coach-horses, or postpone24 the other demands, which multiplied upon him every day. Then was his chariot overturned with a hideous25 crash, and his face so much wounded with the shivers of the glass, which went to pieces in the fall, that he appeared in the coffee-house with half a dozen black patches upon his countenance26, gave a most circumstantial detail of the risk he had run, and declared, that he did not believe he should ever hazard himself again in any sort of wheel carriage.
Soon after this accident, he took an opportunity of telling his friends, in the same public place, that he had turned away his footman on account of his drunkenness, and was resolved, for the future, to keep none but maids in his service, because the menservants are generally impudent27, lazy, debauched, or dishonest; and after all, neither so neat, handy, or agreeable as the other sex. In the rear of this resolution, he shifted his lodgings28 into a private court, being distracted with the din5 of carriages, that disturb the inhabitants who live towards the open street; and gave his acquaintance to understand, that he had a medical work upon the anvil29, which he could not finish without being indulged in silence and tranquillity30. In effect, he gradually put on the exteriors31 of an author. His watch, with an horizontal movement by Graham, which he had often mentioned, and shown as a very curious piece of workmanship, began, about this time, to be very much out of order, and was committed to the care of a mender, who was in no hurry to restore it. His tie-wig degenerated32 into a major; he sometimes appeared without a sword, and was even observed in public with a second day’s shirt. At last, his clothes became rusty33; and when he walked about the streets, his head turned round in a surprising manner, by an involuntary motion in his neck, which he had contracted by a habit of reconnoitring the ground, that he might avoid all dangerous or disagreeable encounters.
Fathom, finding himself descending34 the hill of fortune with an acquired gravitation, strove to catch at every twig35, in order to stop or retard36 his descent. He now regretted the opportunities he had neglected, of marrying one of several women of moderate fortune, who had made advances to him in the zenith of his reputation; and endeavoured, by forcing himself into a lower path of life than any he had hitherto trod, to keep himself afloat, with the portion of some tradesman’s daughter, whom he meant to espouse37. While he exerted himself in this pursuit, he happened, in returning from a place about thirty miles from London, to become acquainted, in the stage-coach, with a young woman of a very homely38 appearance, whom, from the driver’s information, he understood to be the niece of a country justice, and daughter of a soap-boiler, who had lived and died in London, and left her, in her infancy39, sole heiress of his effects, which amounted to four thousand pounds. The uncle, who was her guardian40, had kept her sacred from the knowledge of the world, resolving to effect a match betwixt her and his own son; and it was with much difficulty he had consented to this journey, which she had undertaken as a visit to her own mother, who had married a second husband in town.
Fraught41 with these anecdotes42, Fathom began to put forth43 his gallantry and good-humour, and, in a word, was admitted by the lady to the privilege of an acquaintance, in which capacity he visited her during the term of her residence in London; and, as there was no time to be lost, declared his honourable44 intentions. He had such a manifest advantage, in point of personal accomplishments45, over the young gentleman who was destined46 for her husband, that she did not disdain47 his proposals; and, before she set out for the country, he had made such progress in her heart, that the day was actually fixed48 for their nuptials49, on which he faithfully promised to carry her off in a coach and six. How to raise money for this expedition was all the difficulty that remained; for, by this time, his finances were utterly50 dried up, and his credit altogether exhausted51. Upon a very pressing occasion, he had formerly52 applied53 himself to a certain wealthy quack54, who had relieved his necessities by lending him a small sum of money, in return for having communicated to him a secret medicine, which he affirmed to be the most admirable specific that ever was invented. The nostrum55 had been used, and, luckily for him, succeeded in the trial; so that the empiric, in the midst of his satisfaction, began to reflect, that this same Fathom, who pretended to be in possession of a great many remedies, equally efficacious, would certainly become a formidable rival to him in his business, should he ever be able to extricate56 himself from his present difficulties.
In consequence of these suggestions, he resolved to keep our adventurer’s head under water, by maintaining him in the most abject57 dependence58. Accordingly he had, from time to time, accommodated him with small trifles, which barely served to support his existence, and even for these had taken notes of hand, that he might have a scourge59 over his head, in case he should prove insolent60 or refractory61. To this benefactor62 Fathom applied for a reinforcement of twenty guineas, which he solicited63 with the more confidence, as that sum would certainly enable him to repay all other obligations. The quack would advance the money upon no other condition, than that of knowing the scheme, which being explained, he complied with Ferdinand’s request; but, at the same time, privately64 despatched an express to the young lady’s uncle, with a full account of the whole conspiracy65; so that, when the doctor arrived at the inn, according to appointment, he was received by his worship in person, who gave him to understand, that his niece had changed her mind, and gone fifty miles farther into the country to visit a relation. This was a grievous disappointment to Fathom, who really believed his mistress had forsaken66 him through mere67 levity68 and caprice, and was not undeceived till several months after her marriage with her cousin, when, at an accidental meeting in London, she explained the story of the secret intelligence, and excused her marriage, as the effect of rigorous usage and compulsion.
Had our hero been really enamoured of her person, he might have probably accomplished69 his wishes, notwithstanding the steps she had taken. But this was not the case. His passion was of a different nature, and the object of it effectually without his reach. With regard to his appetite for women, as it was an infirmity of his constitution, which he could not overcome, and as he was in no condition to gratify it at a great expense, he had of late chosen a housekeeper70 from the hundreds of Drury, and, to avoid scandal, allowed her to assume his name. As to the intimation which had been sent to the country justice, he immediately imputed71 it to the true author, whom he marked for his vengeance72 accordingly; but, in the meantime, suppressed his resentment73, because he in some measure depended upon him for subsistence. On the other hand, the quack, dreading74 the forwardness and plausibility75 of our hero, which might, one time or other, render him independent, put a stop to those supplies, on pretence76 of finding them inconvenient77; but, out of his friendship and goodwill78 to Fathom, undertook to procure79 for him such letters of recommendation as would infallibly make his fortune in the West Indies, and even to set him out in a genteel manner for the voyage. Ferdinand perceived his drift, and thanked him for his generous offer, which he would not fail to consider with all due deliberation; though he was determined80 against the proposal, but obliged to temporise, that he might not incur81 the displeasure of this man, at whose mercy he lay. Meanwhile the prosecution82 against him in Doctors’ Commons drew near a period, and the lawyers were clamorous83 for money, without which, he foresaw he should lose the advantage which his cause had lately acquired by the death of his antagonist’s chief evidence; he therefore, seeing every other channel shut up, began to doubt, whether the risk of being apprehended84 or slain85 in the character of a highwayman, was not overbalanced by the prospect86 of being acquitted87 of a charge which had ruined his reputation and fortune, and actually entertained thoughts of taking the air on Hounslow Heath, when he was diverted from this expedient88 by a very singular adventure.
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1
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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apothecary
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| n.药剂师 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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mishaps
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| n.轻微的事故，小的意外( mishap的名词复数 ) | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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seduced
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| 诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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canvassed
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| v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的过去式和过去分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查 | |
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abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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defamation
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| n.诽谤；中伤 | |
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surmounting
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| 战胜( surmount的现在分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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retrench
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| v.节省，削减 | |
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serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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lawsuit
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| n.诉讼，控诉 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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anvil
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| n.铁钻 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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exteriors
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| n.外面( exterior的名词复数 )；外貌；户外景色图 | |
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degenerated
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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espouse
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| v.支持，赞成，嫁娶 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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quack
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| n.庸医；江湖医生；冒充内行的人；骗子 | |
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nostrum
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| n.秘方；妙策 | |
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extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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solicited
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| 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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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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levity
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| n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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plausibility
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| n. 似有道理, 能言善辩 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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