More and More Greatness, Unparalleled in History or Romance.
In order to accomplish this great and noble scheme, which the vast genius of Wild had contrived1, the first necessary step was to regain2 the confidence of Heartfree. But, however necessary this was, it seemed to be attended with such insurmountable difficulties, that even our hero for some time despaired of success. He was greatly superior to all mankind in the steadiness of his countenance3, but this undertaking4 seemed to require more of that noble quality than had ever been the portion of a mortal. However, at last he resolved to attempt it, and from his success I think we may fairly assert that what was said by the Latin poet of labour, that it conquers all things, is much more true when applied6 to impudence7.
When he had formed his plan he went to Newgate, and burst resolutely8 into the presence of Heartfree, whom he eagerly embraced and kissed; and then, first arraigning9 his own rashness, and afterwards lamenting10 his unfortunate want of success, he acquainted him with the particulars of what had happened; concealing11 only that single incident of his attack on the other’s wife, and his motive12 to the undertaking, which, he assured Heartfree, was a desire to preserve his effects from a statute13 of bankruptcy14.
The frank openness of this declaration, with the composure of countenance with which it was delivered; his seeming only ruffled15 by the concern for his friend’s misfortune; the probability of truth attending it, joined to the boldness and disinterested16 appearance of this visit, together with his many professions of immediate17 service at a time when he could not have the least visible motive from self-love; and above all, his offering him money, the last and surest token of friendship, rushed with such united force on the well-disposed heart, as it is vulgarly called, of this simple man, that they instantly staggered and soon subverted18 all the determination he had before made in prejudice of Wild, who, perceiving the balance to be turning in his favour, presently threw in a hundred imprecations on his own folly19 and ill-advised forwardness to serve his friend, which had thus unhappily produced his ruin; he added as many curses on the count, whom he vowed20 to pursue with revenge all over Europe; lastly, he cast in some grains of comfort, assuring Heartfree that his wife was fallen into the gentlest hands, that she would be carried no farther than Dunkirk, whence she might very easily be redeemed21.
Heartfree, to whom the lightest presumption22 of his wife’s fidelity23 would have been more delicious than the absolute restoration of all his jewels, and who, indeed, had with the utmost difficulty been brought to entertain the slightest suspicion of her inconstancy, immediately abandoned all distrust of both her and his friend, whose sincerity24 (luckily for Wild’s purpose) seemed to him to depend on the same evidence. He then embraced our hero, who had in his countenance all the symptoms of the deepest concern, and begged him to be comforted; saying that the intentions, rather than the actions of men, conferred obligations; that as to the event of human affairs, it was governed either by chance or some superior agent; that friendship was concerned only in the direction of our designs; and suppose these failed of success, or produced an event never so contrary to their aim, the merit of a good intention was not in the least lessened25, but was rather entitled to compassion27.
Heartfree however was soon curious enough to inquire how Wild had escaped the captivity28 which his wife then suffered. Here likewise he recounted the whole truth, omitting only the motive to the French captain’s cruelty, for which he assigned a very different reason, namely, his attempt to secure Heartfree’s jewels. Wild indeed always kept as much truth as was possible in everything; and this he said was turning the cannon29 of the enemy upon themselves.
Wild, having thus with admirable and truly laudable conduct achieved the first step, began to discourse30 on the badness of the world, and particularly to blame the severity of creditors31, who seldom or never attended to any unfortunate circumstances, but without mercy inflicted32 confinement33 on the debtor34, whose body the law, with very unjustifiable rigour, delivered into their power. He added, that for his part, he looked on this restraint to be as heavy a punishment as any appointed by law for the greatest offenders35. That the loss of liberty was, in his opinion, equal to, if not worse, than the loss of life; that he had always determined36, if by any accident or misfortune he had been subjected to the former, he would run the greatest risque of the latter to rescue himself from it; which he said, if men did not want resolution, was always enough; for that it was ridiculous to conceive that two or three men could confine two or three hundred, unless the prisoners were either fools or cowards, especially when they were neither chained nor fettered37. He went on in this manner till, perceiving the utmost attention in Heartfree, he ventured to propose to him an endeavour to make his escape, which he said might easily be executed; that he would himself raise a party in the prison, and that, if a murder or two should happen in the attempt, he (Heartfree) might keep free from any share either in the guilt38 or in the danger.
There is one misfortune which attends all great men and their schemes, viz. — that, in order to carry them into execution, they are obliged, in proposing their purpose to their tools, to discover themselves to be of that disposition39 in which certain little writers have advised mankind to place no confidence; an advice which hath been sometimes taken. Indeed, many inconveniences arise to the said great men from these scribblers publishing without restraint their hints or alarms to society; and many great and glorious schemes have been thus frustrated40; wherefore it were to be wished that in all well-regulated governments such liberties should be by some wholesome41 laws restrained, and all writers inhibited42 from venting43 any other instructions to the people than what should be first approved and licensed44 by the said great men, or their proper instruments or tools; by which means nothing would ever be published but what made for the advancing their most noble projects.
Heartfree, whose suspicions were again raised by this advice, viewing Wild with inconceivable disdain45, spoke46 as follows: “There is one thing the loss of which I should deplore47 infinitely48 beyond that of liberty and of life also; I mean that of a good conscience; a blessing49 which he who possesses can never be thoroughly50 unhappy; for the bitterest potion of life is by this so sweetened, that it soon becomes palatable51; whereas, without it, the most delicate enjoyments52 quickly lose all their relish53, and life itself grows insipid54, or rather nauseous, to us. Would you then lessen26 my misfortunes by robbing me of what hath been my only comfort under them, and on which I place my dependence55 of being relieved from them? I have read that Socrates refused to save his life by breaking the laws of his country, and departing from his prison when it was open. Perhaps my virtue56 would not go so far; but heaven forbid liberty should have such charms to tempt5 me to the perpetration of so horrid57 a crime as murder! As to the poor evasion58 of committing it by other hands, it might be useful indeed to those who seek only the escape from temporal punishment, but can be of no service to excuse me to that Being whom I chiefly fear offending; nay59, it would greatly aggravate60 my guilt by so impudent61 an endeavour to impose upon Him, and by so wickedly involving others in my crime. Give me, therefore, no more advice of this kind; for this is my great comfort in all my afflictions, that it is in the power of no enemy to rob me of my conscience, nor will I ever be so much my own enemy as to injure it.”
Though our hero heard all this with proper contempt, he made no direct answer, but endeavoured to evade62 his proposal as much as possible, which he did with admirable dexterity63: this method of getting tolerably well off, when you are repulsed64 in your attack on a man’s conscience, may be stiled the art of retreating, in which the politician, as well as the general, hath sometimes a wonderful opportunity of displaying his great abilities in his profession.
Wild, having made this admirable retreat, and argued away all design of involving his friend in the guilt of murder, concluded, however, that he thought him rather too scrupulous65 in not attempting his escape and then, promising66 to use all such means as the other would permit in his service, took his leave for the present. Heartfree, having indulged himself an hour with his children, repaired to rest, which he enjoyed quiet and undisturbed; whilst Wild, disdaining67 repose68, sat up all night, consulting how he might bring about the final destruction of his friend, without being beholden to any assistance from himself, which he now despaired of procuring69. With the result of these consultations70 we shall acquaint our reader in good time, but at present we have matters of much more consequence to relate to him.
1 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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2 regain | |
vt.重新获得,收复,恢复 | |
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3 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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4 undertaking | |
n.保证,许诺,事业 | |
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5 tempt | |
vt.引诱,勾引,吸引,引起…的兴趣 | |
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6 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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7 impudence | |
n.厚颜无耻;冒失;无礼 | |
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8 resolutely | |
adj.坚决地,果断地 | |
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9 arraigning | |
v.告发( arraign的现在分词 );控告;传讯;指责 | |
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10 lamenting | |
adj.悲伤的,悲哀的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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11 concealing | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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12 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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13 statute | |
n.成文法,法令,法规;章程,规则,条例 | |
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14 bankruptcy | |
n.破产;无偿付能力 | |
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15 ruffled | |
adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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16 disinterested | |
adj.不关心的,不感兴趣的 | |
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17 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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18 subverted | |
v.颠覆,破坏(政治制度、宗教信仰等)( subvert的过去式和过去分词 );使(某人)道德败坏或不忠 | |
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19 folly | |
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 | |
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20 vowed | |
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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21 redeemed | |
adj. 可赎回的,可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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22 presumption | |
n.推测,可能性,冒昧,放肆,[法律]推定 | |
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23 fidelity | |
n.忠诚,忠实;精确 | |
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24 sincerity | |
n.真诚,诚意;真实 | |
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25 lessened | |
减少的,减弱的 | |
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26 lessen | |
vt.减少,减轻;缩小 | |
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27 compassion | |
n.同情,怜悯 | |
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28 captivity | |
n.囚禁;被俘;束缚 | |
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29 cannon | |
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮 | |
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30 discourse | |
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 | |
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31 creditors | |
n.债权人,债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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32 inflicted | |
把…强加给,使承受,遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33 confinement | |
n.幽禁,拘留,监禁;分娩;限制,局限 | |
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34 debtor | |
n.借方,债务人 | |
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35 offenders | |
n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 );犯规者;罪犯;妨害…的人(或事物) | |
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36 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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37 fettered | |
v.给…上脚镣,束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38 guilt | |
n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责 | |
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39 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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40 frustrated | |
adj.挫败的,失意的,泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 );挫败;使受挫折;令人沮丧 | |
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41 wholesome | |
adj.适合;卫生的;有益健康的;显示身心健康的 | |
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42 inhibited | |
a.拘谨的,拘束的 | |
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43 venting | |
消除; 泄去; 排去; 通风 | |
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44 licensed | |
adj.得到许可的v.许可,颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
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45 disdain | |
n.鄙视,轻视;v.轻视,鄙视,不屑 | |
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46 spoke | |
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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47 deplore | |
vt.哀叹,对...深感遗憾 | |
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48 infinitely | |
adv.无限地,无穷地 | |
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49 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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50 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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51 palatable | |
adj.可口的,美味的;惬意的 | |
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52 enjoyments | |
愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 ); 令人愉快的事物; 享有; 享受 | |
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53 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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54 insipid | |
adj.无味的,枯燥乏味的,单调的 | |
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55 dependence | |
n.依靠,依赖;信任,信赖;隶属 | |
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56 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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57 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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58 evasion | |
n.逃避,偷漏(税) | |
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59 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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60 aggravate | |
vt.加重(剧),使恶化;激怒,使恼火 | |
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61 impudent | |
adj.鲁莽的,卑鄙的,厚颜无耻的 | |
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62 evade | |
vt.逃避,回避;避开,躲避 | |
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63 dexterity | |
n.(手的)灵巧,灵活 | |
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64 repulsed | |
v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 );驳斥;拒绝 | |
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65 scrupulous | |
adj.审慎的,小心翼翼的,完全的,纯粹的 | |
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66 promising | |
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
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67 disdaining | |
鄙视( disdain的现在分词 ); 不屑于做,不愿意做 | |
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68 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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69 procuring | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的现在分词 );拉皮条 | |
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70 consultations | |
n.磋商(会议)( consultation的名词复数 );商讨会;协商会;查找 | |
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