All Barchester was in a tumult1. Dr. Grantly could hardly get himself out of the cathedral porch before he exploded in his wrath2. The old dean betook himself silently to his deanery, afraid to speak, and there sat, half-stupefied, pondering many things in vain. Mr. Harding crept forth3 solitary4 and unhappy and, slowly passing beneath the elms of the close, could scarcely bring himself to believe that the words which he had heard had proceeded from the pulpit of Barchester cathedral. Was he again to be disturbed? Was his whole life to be shown up as a useless sham5 a second time? Would he have to abdicate6 his precentorship, as he had his wardenship7, and to give up chanting, as he had given up his twelve old bedesmen? And what if he did! Some other Jupiter, some other Mr. Slope, would come and turn him out of St. Cuthbert’s. Surely he could not have been wrong all his life in chanting the litany as he had done! He began, however, to have his doubts. Doubting himself was Mr. Harding’s weakness. It is not, however, the usual fault of his order.
Yes! All Barchester was in a tumult It was not only the clergy8 who were affected9. The laity10 also had listened to Mr. Slope’s new doctrine11, all with surprise, some with indignation, and some with a mixed feeling, in which dislike of the preacher was not so strongly blended. The old bishop12 and his chaplains, the dean and his canons and minor13 canons, the old choir14, and especially Mr. Harding who was at the head of it, had all been popular in Barchester. They had spent their money and done good; the poor had not been ground down; the clergy in society had neither been overbearing nor austere15; and the whole repute of the city was due to its ecclesiastical importance. Yet there were those who had heard Mr. Slope with satisfaction.
It is so pleasant to receive a fillip of excitement when suffering from the dull routine of everyday life! The anthems16 and Te Deums were in themselves delightful18, but they had been heard so often! Mr. Slope was certainly not delightful, but he was new and, moreover, clever. They had long thought it slow, so said now many of the Barchesterians, to go on as they had done in their old humdrum19 way, giving ear to none of the religious changes which were moving the world without. People in advance of the age now had new ideas, and it was quite time that Barchester should go in advance. Mr. Slope might be right. Sunday had certainly not been strictly20 kept in Barchester, except as regarded the cathedral services. Indeed the two hours between services had long been appropriated to morning calls and hot luncheons21. Then, Sunday-schools! Really more ought to have been done as to Sunday-schools — Sabbath-day schools Mr. Slope had called them. The late bishop had really not thought of Sunday-schools as he should have done. (These people probably did not reflect that catechisms and collects are quite as hard work to the young mind as bookkeeping is to the elderly, and that quite as little feeling of worship enters into the one task as the other.) And then, as regarded that great question of musical services, there might be much to be said on Mr. Slope’s side of the question. It certainly was the fact that people went to the cathedral to hear the music, &c. &c
And so a party absolutely formed itself in Barchester on Mr. Slope’s side of the question! This consisted, among the upper classes, chiefly of ladies. No man — that is, no gentleman — could possibly be attracted by Mr. Slope, or consent to sit at the feet of so abhorrent22 a Gamaliel. Ladies are sometimes less nice in their appreciation23 of physical disqualification; provided that a man speak to them well, they will listen, though he speak from a mouth never so deformed24 and hideous25. Wilkes was most fortunate as a lover, and the damp, sandy-haired, saucer-eyed, red-fisted Mr. Slope was powerful only over the female breast.
There were, however, one or two of the neighbouring clergy who thought it not quite safe to neglect the baskets in which for the nonce were stored the loaves and fishes of the diocese of Barchester. They, and they only, came to call on Mr. Slope after his performance in the cathedral pulpit. Among these Mr. Quiverful, the rector of Puddingdale, whose wife still continued to present him from year to year with fresh pledges of her love, and so to increase his cares and, it is to be hoped, his happiness equally. Who can wonder that a gentleman with fourteen living children and a bare income of ￡400 a year should look after the loaves and fishes, even when they are under the thumb of a Mr. Slope?
Very soon after the Sunday on which the sermon was preached, the leading clergy of the neighbourhood held high debate together as to how Mr. Slope should be put down. In the first place, he should never again preach from the pulpit of Barchester cathedral. This was Dr. Grantly’s earliest dictum, and they all agreed, providing only that they had the power to exclude him. Dr. Grantly declared that the power rested with the dean and chapter, observing that no clergyman out of the chapter had a claim to preach there, saving only the bishop himself. To this the dean assented26, but alleged27 that contests on such a subject would be unseemly; to which rejoined a meagre little doctor, one of the cathedral prebendaries, that the contest must be all on the side of Mr. Slope if every prebendary were always there ready to take his own place in the pulpit. Cunning little meagre doctor, whom it suits well to live in his own cosy28 house within Barchester close, and who is well content to have his little fling at Dr. Vesey Stanhope and other absentees whose Italian villas29, or enticing30 London homes, are more tempting31 than cathedral stalls and residences!
To this answered the burly chancellor32, a man rather silent indeed, but very sensible, that absent prebendaries had their vicars, and that in such case the vicar’s right to the pulpit was the same as that of the higher order. To which the dean assented, groaning33 deeply at these truths. Thereupon, however, the meagre doctor remarked that they would be in the hands of their minor canons, one of whom might at any hour betray his trust. Whereon was heard from the burly chancellor an ejaculation sounding somewhat like “Pooh, pooh, pooh!” but it might be that the worthy34 man was but blowing out the heavy breath from his windpipe. Why silence him at all? suggested Mr. Harding. Let them not be ashamed to hear what any man might have to preach to them, unless he preached false doctrine; in which case, let the bishop silence him. So spoke35 our friend; vainly; for human ends must be attained36 by human means. But the dean saw a ray of hope out of those purblind37 old eyes of his. Yes, let them tell the bishop how distasteful to them was this Mr. Slope: a new bishop just come to his seat could not wish to insult his clergy while the gloss38 was yet fresh on his first apron39.
Then up rose Dr. Grantly and, having thus collected the scattered40 wisdom of his associates, spoke forth with words of deep authority. When I say up rose the archdeacon, I speak of the inner man, which then sprang up to more immediate41 action, for the doctor had bodily been standing42 all along with his back to the dean’s empty fire-grate, and the tails of his frock coat supported over his two arms. His hands were in his breeches pockets.
“It is quite clear that this man must not be allowed to preach again in this cathedral. We all see that, except our dear friend here, the milk of whose nature runs so softly that he would not have the heart to refuse the Pope the loan of his pulpit, if the Pope would come and ask it. We must not, however, allow the man to preach again here. It is not because his opinion on church matters may be different from ours — with that one would not quarrel. It is because he has purposely insulted us. When he went up into that pulpit last Sunday, his studied object was to give offence to men who had grown old in reverence43 of those things of which he dared to speak so slightingly. What! To come here a stranger, a young, unknown, and unfriended stranger and tell us, in the name of the bishop his master, that we are ignorant of our duties, old-fashioned, and useless! I don’t know whether most to admire his courage or his impudence44! And one thing I will tell you: that sermon originated solely45 with the man himself. The bishop was no more a party to it than was the dean here. You all know how grieved I am to see a bishop in this diocese holding the latitudinarian ideas by which Dr. Proudie has made himself conspicuous46. You all know how greatly I should distrust the opinion of such a man. But in this matter I hold him to be blameless. I believe Dr. Proudie has lived too long among gentlemen to be guilty, or to instigate47 another to be guilty, of so gross an outrage48. No! That man uttered what was untrue when he hinted that he was speaking as the mouthpiece of the bishop. It suited his ambitious views at once to throw down the gauntlet to us — at once to defy us here in the quiet of our own religious duties — here within the walls of our own loved cathedral — here where we have for so many years exercised our ministry49 without schism50 and with good repute. Such an attack upon us, coming from such a quarter, is abominable51.”
“Abominable,” groaned52 the dean. “Abominable,” muttered the meagre doctor. “Abominable,” re-echoed the chancellor, uttering the sound from the bottom of his deep chest. “I really think it was,” said Mr. Harding.
“Most abominable and most unjustifiable,” continued the archdeacon. “But, Mr. Dean, thank God, that pulpit is still our own: your own, I should say. That pulpit belongs solely to the dean and chapter of Barchester Cathedral, and as yet Mr. Slope is no part of that chapter. You, Mr. Dean, have suggested that we should appeal to the bishop to abstain53 from forcing this man on us; but what if the bishop allow himself to be ruled by his chaplain? In my opinion the matter is in our own hands. Mr. Slope cannot preach there without permission asked and obtained, and let that permission be invariably refused. Let all participation54 in the ministry of the cathedral service be refused to him. Then, if the bishop choose to interfere55, we shall know what answer to make to the bishop. My friend here has suggested that this man may again find his way into the pulpit by undertaking56 the duty of some of your minor canons, but I am sure that we may fully57 trust to these gentlemen to support us, when it is known that the dean objects to any such transfer.”
“Of course you may,” said the chancellor.
There was much more discussion among the learned conclave58, all of which, of course, ended in obedience59 to the archdeacon’s commands. They had too long been accustomed to his rule to shake it off so soon, and in this particular case they had none of them a wish to abet60 the man whom he was so anxious to put down.
Such a meeting as that we have just recorded is not held in such a city as Barchester unknown and untold61 of. Not only was the fact of the meeting talked of in every respectable house, including the palace, but the very speeches of the dean, the archdeacon, and chancellor were repeated; not without many additions and imaginary circumstances, according to the tastes and opinions of the relaters.
All, however, agreed in saying that Mr. Slope was to be debarred from opening his mouth in the cathedral of Barchester; many believed that the vergers were to be ordered to refuse him even the accommodation of a seat; and some of the most far-going advocates for strong measures declared that his sermon was looked upon as an indictable offence, and that proceedings62 were to be taken against him for brawling63.
The party who were inclined to defend him — the enthusiastically religious young ladies and the middle-aged64 spinsters desirous of a move — of course took up his defence the more warmly on account of this attack. If they could not hear Mr. Slope in the cathedral, they would hear him elsewhere; they would leave the dull dean, the dull old prebendaries, and the scarcely less dull young minor canons to preach to each other; they would work slippers65 and cushions and hem17 bands for Mr. Slope, make him a happy martyr66, and stick him up in some new Sion or Bethesda, and put the cathedral quite out of fashion.
Dr. and Mrs. Proudie at once returned to London. They thought it expedient67 not to have to encounter any personal application from the dean and chapter respecting the sermon till the violence of the storm had expended68 itself; but they left Mr. Slope behind them nothing daunted69, and he went about his work zealously70, flattering such as would listen to his flattery, whispering religious twaddle into the ears of foolish women, ingratiating himself with the few clergy who would receive him, visiting the houses of the poor, inquiring into all people, prying71 into everything, and searching with his minutest eye into all palatial72 dilapidations. He did not, however, make any immediate attempt to preach again in the cathedral.
And so all Barchester was by the ears.
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1
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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sham
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| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
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abdicate
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| v.让位，辞职，放弃 | |
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wardenship
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| n.warden之职权（或职务） | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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laity
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| n.俗人；门外汉 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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anthems
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| n.赞美诗( anthem的名词复数 )；圣歌；赞歌；颂歌 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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18
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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19
humdrum
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| adj.单调的，乏味的 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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luncheons
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| n.午餐，午宴( luncheon的名词复数 ) | |
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abhorrent
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| adj.可恶的，可恨的，讨厌的 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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24
deformed
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| adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的 | |
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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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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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villas
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| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
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enticing
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| adj.迷人的；诱人的 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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33
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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35
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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purblind
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| adj.半盲的；愚笨的 | |
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gloss
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| n.光泽，光滑；虚饰；注释；vt.加光泽于；掩饰 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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41
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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44
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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45
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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46
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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47
instigate
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| v.教唆，怂恿，煽动 | |
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48
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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49
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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50
schism
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| n.分派，派系，分裂 | |
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51
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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52
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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53
abstain
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| v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免 | |
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54
participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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conclave
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| n.秘密会议，红衣主教团 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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abet
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| v.教唆，鼓励帮助 | |
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untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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brawling
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| n.争吵，喧嚷 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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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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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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69
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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71
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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72
palatial
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| adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的 | |
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