Of the Rev1. Mr. Slope’s parentage I am not able to say much. I have heard it asserted that he is lineally descended2 from that eminent3 physician who assisted at the birth of Mr. T. Shandy and that in early years he added an “e” to his name, for the sake of euphony4, as other great men have done before him. If this be so, I presume he was christened Obadiah, for that is his name, in commemoration of the conflict in which his ancestor so distinguished5 himself. All my researches on the subject have, however, failed in enabling me to fix the date on which the family changed its religion.
He had been a sizar at Cambridge and had there conducted himself at any rate successfully, for in due process of time he was an M.A., having university pupils under his care. From thence he was transferred to London, and became preacher at a new district church built on the confines of Baker7 Street. He was in this position when congenial ideas on religious subjects recommended him to Mrs. Proudie, and the intercourse8 had become close and confidential9.
Having been thus familiarly thrown among the Misses Proudie, it was no more than natural that some softer feeling than friendship should be engendered10. There have been some passages of love between him and the eldest11 hope, Olivia, but they have hitherto resulted in no favourable12 arrangement. In truth, Mr. Slope, having made a declaration of affection, afterwards withdrew it on finding that the doctor had no immediate13 worldly funds with which to endow his child, and it may easily be conceived that Miss Proudie, after such an announcement on his part, was not readily disposed to receive any further show of affection. On the appointment of Dr. Proudie to the bishopric of Barchester, Mr. Slope’s views were in truth somewhat altered. Bishops15, even though they be poor, can provide for clerical children, and Mr. Slope began to regret that he had not been more disinterested16. He no sooner heard the tidings of the doctor’s elevation17 than he recommenced his siege, not violently, indeed, but respectfully and at a distance. Olivia Proudie, however, was a girl of spirit: she had the blood of two peers in her veins18, and better still she had another lover on her books, so Mr. Slope sighed in vain, and the pair soon found it convenient to establish a mutual19 bond of inveterate20 hatred21.
It may be thought singular that Mrs. Proudie’s friendship for the young clergyman should remain firm after such an affair, but, to tell the truth, she had known nothing of it. Though very fond of Mr. Slope herself, she had never conceived the idea that either of her daughters would become so, and remembering their high birth and social advantages, expected for them matches of a different sort. Neither the gentleman nor the lady found it necessary to enlighten her. Olivia’s two sisters had each known of the affair, as had all the servants, as had all the people living in the adjoining houses on either side, but Mrs. Proudie had been kept in the dark.
Mr. Slope soon comforted himself with the reflexion that, as he had been selected as chaplain to the bishop14, it would probably be in his power to get the good things in the bishop’s gift without troubling himself with the bishop’s daughter, and he found himself able to endure the pangs23 of rejected love. As he sat himself down in the railway carriage, confronting the bishop and Mrs. Proudie as they started on their first journey to Barchester, he began to form in his own mind a plan of his future life. He knew well his patron’s strong points, but he knew the weak ones as well. He understood correctly enough to what attempts the new bishop’s high spirit would soar, and he rightly guessed that public life would better suit the great man’s taste than the small details of diocesan duty.
He, therefore, he, Mr. Slope, would in effect be Bishop of Barchester. Such was his resolve, and to give Mr. Slope his due, he had both courage and spirit to bear him out in his resolution. He knew that he should have a hard battle to fight, for the power and patronage24 of the see would be equally coveted25 by another great mind — Mrs. Proudie would also choose to be Bishop of Barchester. Mr. Slope, however, flattered himself that he could outmanoeuvre the lady. She must live much in London, while he would always be on the spot. She would necessarily remain ignorant of much, while he would know everything belonging to the diocese. At first, doubtless, he must flatter and cajole, perhaps yield in some things, but he did not doubt of ultimate triumph. If all other means failed, he could join the bishop against his wife, inspire courage into the unhappy man, lay an axe26 to the root of the woman’s power, and emancipate27 the husband.
Such were his thoughts as he sat looking at the sleeping pair in the railway carriage, and Mr. Slope is not the man to trouble himself with such thoughts for nothing. He is possessed28 of more than average abilities and is of good courage. Though he can stoop to fawn29, and stoop low indeed, if need be, he has still within him the power to assume the tyrant30 — and with the power he has certainly the wish. His acquirements are not of the highest order, but such as they are, they are completely under control, and he knows the use of them. He is gifted with a certain kind of pulpit eloquence31, not likely indeed to be persuasive32 with men, but powerful with the softer sex. In his sermons he deals greatly in denunciations, excites the minds of his weaker hearers with a not unpleasant terror, and leaves an impression on their minds that all mankind are in a perilous33 state, and all womankind, too, except those who attend regularly to the evening lectures in Baker Street. His looks and tones are extremely severe, so much so that one cannot but fancy that he regards the greater part of the world as being infinitely34 too bad for his care. As he walks through the streets his very face denotes his horror of the world’s wickedness, and there is always an anathema35 lurking36 in the corner of his eye.
In doctrine37 he, like his patron, is tolerant of dissent38, if so strict a mind can be called tolerant of anything. With Wesleyan-Methodists he has something in common, but his soul trembles in agony at the iniquities39 of the Puseyites. His aversion is carried to things outward as well as inward. His gall40 rises at a new church with a high-pitched roof; a full-breasted black silk waistcoat is with him a symbol of Satan; and a profane41 jest-book would not, in his view, more foully42 desecrate43 the church seat of a Christian44 than a book of prayer printed with red letters and ornamented45 with a cross on the back. Most active clergymen have their hobby, and Sunday observances are his. Sunday, however, is a word which never pollutes his mouth — it is always “the Sabbath.” The “desecration of the Sabbath,” as he delights to call it, is to him meat and drink: he thrives upon that as policemen do on the general evil habits of the community. It is the loved subject of all his evening discourses46, the source of all his eloquence, the secret of all his power over the female heart. To him the revelation of God appears only in that one law given for Jewish observance. To him the mercies of our Saviour47 speak in vain, to him in vain has been preached that sermon which fell from divine lips on the mountain —“Blessed are the meek48, for they shall inherit the earth”—“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” To him the New Testament49 is comparatively of little moment, for from it can he draw no fresh authority for that dominion50 which he loves to exercise over at least a seventh part of man’s allotted51 time here below.
Mr. Slope is tall and not ill-made. His feet and hands are large, as has ever been the case with all his family, but he has a broad chest and wide shoulders to carry off these excrescences, and on the whole his figure is good. His countenance52, however, is not specially53 prepossessing. His hair is lank54 and of a dull pale reddish hue55. It is always formed into three straight, lumpy masses, each brushed with admirable precision and cemented with much grease; two of them adhere closely to the sides of his face, and the other lies at right angles above them. He wears no whiskers and is always punctiliously56 shaven. His face is nearly of the same colour as his hair, though perhaps a little redder: it is not unlike beef — beef, however, one would say, of a bad quality. His forehead is capacious and high, but square and heavy and unpleasantly shining. His mouth is large, though his lips are thin and bloodless, and his big, prominent, pale-brown eyes inspire anything but confidence. His nose, however, is his redeeming57 feature: it is pronounced, straight and well-formed; though I myself should have liked it better did it not possess a somewhat spongy, porous58 appearance, as though it had been cleverly formed out of a red-coloured cork59.
I never could endure to shake hands with Mr. Slope. A cold, clammy perspiration60 always exudes61 from him, the small drops are ever to be seen standing62 on his brow, and his friendly grasp is unpleasant.
Such is Mr. Slope — such is the man who has suddenly fallen into the midst of Barchester Close, and is destined63 there to assume the station which has heretofore been filled by the son of the late bishop. Think, oh, my meditative64 reader, what an associate we have here for those comfortable prebendaries, those gentlemanlike clerical doctors, those happy, well-used, well-fed minor65 canons who have grown into existence at Barchester under the kindly66 wings of Bishop Grantly!
But not as a mere67 associate for these does Mr. Slope travel down to Barchester with the bishop and his wife. He intends to be, if not their master, at least the chief among them. He intends to lead and to have followers68; he intends to hold the purse-strings of the diocese and draw round him an obedient herd69 of his poor and hungry brethren.
And here we can hardly fail to draw a comparison between the archdeacon and our new private chaplain, and despite the manifold faults of the former, one can hardly fail to make it much to his advantage.
Both men are eager, much too eager, to support and increase the power of their order. Both are anxious that the world should be priest-governed, though they have probably never confessed so much, even to themselves. Both begrudge70 any other kind of dominion held by man over man. Dr. Grantly, if he admits the Queen’s supremacy71 in things spiritual, only admits it as being due to the quasi-priesthood conveyed in the consecrating72 qualities of her coronation, and he regards things temporal as being by their nature subject to those which are spiritual. Mr. Slope’s ideas of sacerdotal rule are of quite a different class. He cares nothing, one way or the other, for the Queen’s supremacy; these to his ears are empty words, meaning nothing. Forms he regards but little, and such titular73 expressions as supremacy, consecration74, ordination75, and the like convey of themselves no significance to him. Let him be supreme76 who can. The temporal king, judge, or gaoler can work but on the body. The spiritual master, if he have the necessary gifts and can duly use them, has a wider field of empire. He works upon the soul. If he can make himself be believed, he can be all powerful over those who listen. If he be careful to meddle77 with none who are too strong in intellect, or too weak in flesh, he may indeed be supreme. And such was the ambition of Mr. Slope.
Dr. Grantly interfered78 very little with the worldly doings of those who were in any way subject to him. I do not mean to say that he omitted to notice misconduct among his clergy22, immorality79 in his parish, or omissions80 in his family, but he was not anxious to do so where the necessity could be avoided. He was not troubled with a propensity81 to be curious, and as long as those around him were tainted82 with no heretical leaning towards dissent, as long as they fully6 and freely admitted the efficacy of Mother Church, he was willing that that mother should be merciful and affectionate, prone83 to indulgence, and unwilling84 to chastise85. He himself enjoyed the good things of this world and liked to let it be known that he did so. He cordially despised any brother rector who thought harm of dinner-parties, or dreaded86 the dangers of a moderate claret-jug; consequently, dinner-parties and claret-jugs were common in the diocese. He liked to give laws and to be obeyed in them implicitly87, but he endeavoured that his ordinances88 should be within the compass of the man and not unpalatable to the gentleman. He had ruled among his clerical neighbours now for sundry89 years, and as he had maintained his power without becoming unpopular, it may be presumed that he had exercised some wisdom.
Of Mr. Slope’s conduct much cannot be said, as his grand career is yet to commence, but it may be premised that his tastes will be very different from those of the archdeacon. He conceives it to be his duty to know all the private doings and desires of the flock entrusted90 to his care. From the poorer classes he exacts an unconditional91 obedience92 to set rules of conduct, and if disobeyed he has recourse, like his great ancestor, to the fulminations of an Ernulfus: “Thou shalt be damned in thy going in and in thy coming out — in thy eating and thy drinking,” &c. &c. &c. With the rich, experience has already taught him that a different line of action is necessary. Men in the upper walks of life do not mind being cursed, and the women, presuming that it be done in delicate phrase, rather like it. But he has not, therefore, given up so important a portion of believing Christians93. With the men, indeed, he is generally at variance94; they are hardened sinners, on whom the voice of the priestly charmer too often falls in vain; but with the ladies, old and young, firm and frail95, devout96 and dissipated, he is, as he conceives, all powerful. He can reprove faults with so much flattery and utter censure97 in so caressing98 a manner that the female heart, if it glow with a spark of Low Church susceptibility, cannot withstand him. In many houses he is thus an admired guest: the husbands, for their wives’ sake, are fain to admit him; and when once admitted it is not easy to shake him off. He has, however, a pawing, greasy99 way with him, which does not endear him to those who do not value him for their souls’ sake, and he is not a man to make himself at once popular in a large circle such as is now likely to surround him at Barchester.
收听单词发音 |
1
rev
|
|
| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
eminent
|
|
| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
euphony
|
|
| n.悦耳的语音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
baker
|
|
| n.面包师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
intercourse
|
|
| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
confidential
|
|
| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
engendered
|
|
| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
eldest
|
|
| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
favourable
|
|
| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
bishop
|
|
| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
bishops
|
|
| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
disinterested
|
|
| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
elevation
|
|
| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
inveterate
|
|
| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
clergy
|
|
| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
pangs
|
|
| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
patronage
|
|
| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
coveted
|
|
| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
axe
|
|
| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
emancipate
|
|
| v.解放，解除 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
fawn
|
|
| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
tyrant
|
|
| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
eloquence
|
|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
persuasive
|
|
| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
perilous
|
|
| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
infinitely
|
|
| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
anathema
|
|
| n.诅咒；被诅咒的人(物)，十分讨厌的人(物) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
doctrine
|
|
| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
dissent
|
|
| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
iniquities
|
|
| n.邪恶( iniquity的名词复数 )；极不公正 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gall
|
|
| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
profane
|
|
| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
foully
|
|
| ad.卑鄙地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
desecrate
|
|
| v.供俗用，亵渎，污辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
ornamented
|
|
| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
discourses
|
|
| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
saviour
|
|
| n.拯救者，救星 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
testament
|
|
| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
dominion
|
|
| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
allotted
|
|
| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
specially
|
|
| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
lank
|
|
| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
hue
|
|
| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
punctiliously
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
redeeming
|
|
| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
porous
|
|
| adj.可渗透的，多孔的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
cork
|
|
| n.软木，软木塞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
perspiration
|
|
| n.汗水；出汗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
exudes
|
|
| v.缓慢流出，渗出，分泌出( exude的第三人称单数 )；流露出对（某物）的神态或感情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
meditative
|
|
| adj.沉思的，冥想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
minor
|
|
| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
herd
|
|
| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
begrudge
|
|
| vt.吝啬，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
supremacy
|
|
| n.至上；至高权力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
consecrating
|
|
| v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的现在分词 )；奉献 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
titular
|
|
| adj.名义上的，有名无实的；n.只有名义（或头衔）的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
consecration
|
|
| n.供献，奉献，献祭仪式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
ordination
|
|
| n.授任圣职 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
meddle
|
|
| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
interfered
|
|
| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
immorality
|
|
| n. 不道德, 无道义 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
omissions
|
|
| n.省略( omission的名词复数 )；删节；遗漏；略去或漏掉的事（或人） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
propensity
|
|
| n.倾向；习性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
tainted
|
|
| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
prone
|
|
| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
chastise
|
|
| vt.责骂，严惩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
implicitly
|
|
| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
ordinances
|
|
| n.条例，法令( ordinance的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
sundry
|
|
| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
entrusted
|
|
| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
unconditional
|
|
| adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
Christians
|
|
| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
variance
|
|
| n.矛盾，不同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
devout
|
|
| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
censure
|
|
| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
caressing
|
|
| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
greasy
|
|
| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |