The meeting between Nigel and Endymion was not an ordinary one, and when they were at length alone, neither of them concealed1 his feelings of pleasure and surprise at its occurrence. Nigel had been a curate in the northern town which was defended by Lord Montfort’s proud castle, and his labours and reputation had attracted the attention of Lady Montfort. Under the influence of his powerful character, the services of his church were celebrated2 with a precision and an imposing3 effect, which soon occasioned a considerable excitement in the neighbourhood, in time even in the county. The pulpit was frequently at his command, for his rector, who had imbibed4 his Church views, was not equal to the task of propagating them, and the power and fame of Nigel as a preacher began to be much rumoured5. Although the church at which he officiated was not the one which Lady Montfort usually attended, she was soon among his congregation and remained there. He became a constant guest at the castle, and Lady Montfort presented his church with a reredos of alabaster6. She did more than this. Her enthusiasm exceeded her selfishness, for though the sacrifice was great which would deprive her of the ministrations and society of Nigel in the country, she prevailed upon the prime minister to prefer him to a new church in London, which had just fallen vacant, and which, being situated7 in a wealthy and populous8 district, would afford him the opportunity of making known to the world his eloquence9 and genius. This was Nigel’s simple, yet not uneventful history; and then, in turn, he listened to Endymion’s brief but interesting narrative10 of his career, and then they agreed to adjourn11 to Endymion’s chambers12 and have a good talk over the past and the present.
“That Lady Montfort is a great woman,” said Nigel, standing13 with his back to the fire. “She has it in her to be another Empress Helena.”
“Indeed!”
“I believe she has only one thought, and that the only thought worthy14 the human mind—the Church. I was glad to meet you at her house. You have cherished, I hope, those views which in your boyhood you so fervently15 and seriously embraced.”
“I am rather surprised,” said Endymion, not caring to answer this inquiry16, “at a Whig lady entertaining such high views in these matters. The Liberal party rather depends on the Low Church.”
“I know nothing about Whigs or Tories or Liberals, or any other new names which they invent,” said Nigel. “Nor do I know, or care to know, what Low Church means. There is but one Church, and it is catholic and apostolic; and if we act on its principles, there will be no need, and there ought to be no need, for any other form of government.”
“Well, those are very distinct views,” said Endymion, “but are they as practical as they are clear?”
“Why should they not be practical? Everything is practical which we believe; and in the long run, which is most likely that we should believe, what is taught by God, or what is taught by man?”
“I confess,” said Endymion, “that in all matters, both civil and religious, I incline to what is moderate and temperate17. I always trace my dear father’s sad end, and all the terrible events in my family, to his adopting in 1829 the views of the extreme party. If he had only followed the example and the advice of his best friend, Mr. Sidney Wilton, what a different state of affairs might have occurred!”
“I know nothing about politics,” said Nigel. “By being moderate and temperate in politics I suppose you mean being adroit18, and doing that which is expedient19 and which will probably be successful. But the Church is founded on absolute truth, and teaches absolute truth, and there can be no compromise on such matters.”
“Well, I do not know,” said Endymion, “but surely there are many very religious people, who do not accept without reserve everything that is taught by the Church. I hope I am a religious person myself, and yet, for example, I cannot give an unreserved assent20 to the whole of the Athanasian Creed21.”
“The Athanasian Creed is the most splendid ecclesiastical lyric22 ever poured forth23 by the genius of man. I give to every clause of it an implicit24 assent. It does not pretend to be divine; it is human, but the Church has hallowed it, and the Church ever acts under the influence of the Divine Spirit. St. Athanasius was by far the greatest man that ever existed. If you cavil25 at his creed, you will soon cavil at other symbols. I was prepared for infidelity in London, but I confess, my dear Ferrars, you alarm me. I was in hopes that your early education would have saved you from this backsliding.”
“But let us be calm, my dear Nigel. Do you mean to say, that I am to be considered an infidel or an apostate26, because, although I fervently embrace all the vital truths of religion, and try, on the whole, to regulate my life by them, I may have scruples27 about believing, for example, in the personality of the Devil?”
“If the personality of Satan be not a vital principle of your religion, I do not know what is. There is only one dogma higher. You think it is safe, and I daresay it is fashionable, to fall into this lax and really thoughtless discrimination between what is and what is not to be believed. It is not good taste to believe in the Devil. Give me a single argument against his personality which is not applicable to the personality of the Deity28. Will you give that up; and if so, where are you? Now mark me; you and I are young men—you are a very young man. This is the year of grace 1839. If these loose thoughts, which you have heedlessly taken up, prevail in this country for a generation or so—five and twenty or thirty years—we may meet together again, and I shall have to convince you that there is a God.”
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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imbibed
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| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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alabaster
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| adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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adjourn
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| v.（使）休会，（使）休庭 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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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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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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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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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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lyric
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| n.抒情诗，歌词；adj.抒情的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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cavil
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| v.挑毛病，吹毛求疵 | |
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apostate
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| n.背叛者，变节者 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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