It was true that his chief companion was a priest, and that he passed a great portion of his life within the walls of a church. But the priest was his familiar friend in England, who in a foreign land had nursed him with devotion in a desperate illness; and, although in the great calamities3, physical and moral, that had overwhelmed him, he had found solace4 in the beautiful services of a religion which he respected, no one for a moment had taken advantage of this mood of his suffering and enfeebled mind to entrap5 him into controversy6, or to betray him into admissions that he might afterward7 consider precipitate8 and immature9. Indeed, nothing could be more delicate than the conduct of the Jesuit fathers throughout his communications with them. They seemed sincerely gratified that a suffering fellow creature should find even temporary consolation10 within their fair and consecrated11 structure; their voices modulated12 with sympathy; their glances gushed13 with fraternal affection; their affectionate politeness contrived14, in a thousand slight instances, the selection of a mass, the arrangement of a picture, the loan of a book, to contribute to the interesting or elegant distraction15 of his forlorn and brooding being.
And yet Lothair began to feel uneasy, and his uneasiness increased proportionately as his health improved. He sometimes thought that he should like to make an effort and get about a little in the world, but he was very weak, and without any of the resources to which he had been accustomed throughout life. He had no servants of his own, no carriages, no man of business, no banker; and when at last he tried to bring himself to write to Mr. Putney Giles—a painful task—Monsignore Catesby offered to undertake his whole correspondence for him, and announced that his medical attendants had declared that he must under no circumstances whatever attempt at present to write a letter. Hitherto he had been without money, which was lavishly16 supplied for his physicians and other wants; and he would have been without clothes if the most fashionable tailor in Rome, a German, had not been in frequent attendance on him under the direction of Monsignore Catesby, who, in fact, had organized his wardrobe as he did every thing else.
Somehow or other Lothair never seemed alone. When he woke in the morning the monsignore was frequently kneeling before an oratory17 in his room, and if by any chance Lothair was wanting at Lady St. Jerome’s reception, Father Coleman, who was now on a visit to the family, would look in and pass the evening with him, as men who keep a gaming-table find it discreet18 occasionally to change the dealer19. It is a huge and even stupendous pile—that Palazzo Agostini, and yet Lothair never tried to thread his way through its vestibules and galleries, or attempt a reconnaissance of its endless chambers20, without some monsignore or other gliding21 up quite propos and relieving him from the dulness of solitary22 existence during the rest of his promenade23.
Lothair was relieved by hearing that big former guardian24, Cardinal25 Grandison, was daily expected at Rome; and he revolved26 in his mind whether he should not speak to his eminence27 generally on the system of his life, which he felt now required some modification28. In the interval29, however, no change did occur. Lothair attended every day the services of the church, and every evening the receptions of Lady St. Jerome; and between the discharge of these two duties he took a drive with a priest—sometimes with more than one, but always most agreeable men—generally in the environs of the city, or visited a convent, or a villa30, some beautiful gardens, or a gallery of works of art.
It was at Lady St. Jerome’s that Lothair met his former guardian. The cardinal had only arrived in the morning. His manner to Lothair was affectionate. He retained Lothair’s hand and pressed it with his pale, thin fingers; his attenuated31 countenance32 blazed for a moment with a divine light.
“I have long wished to see you, sir,” said Lothair, “and much wish to talk with you.”
“I can hear nothing from you nor of you but what must be most pleasing to me,” said the cardinal.
“I wish I could believe that,” said Lothair.
The cardinal caressed33 him; put his arm round Lothair’s neck and said, “There is no time like the present. Let us walk together in this gallery,” and they withdrew naturally from the immediate34 scene.
“You know all that has happened, I dare say,” said Lothair with embarrassment35 and with a sigh, “since we parted in England, sir.”
“All,” said the cardinal. “It has been a most striking and merciful dispensation.”
“Then I need not dwell upon it,” said Lothair, “and naturally it would be most painful. What I wish particularly to speak to you about is my position under this roof. What I owe to those who dwell under it no language can describe, and no efforts on my part, and they shall be unceasing, can repay. But I think the time has come when I ought no longer to trespass36 on their affectionate devotion, though, when I allude to the topic, they seem to misinterpret the motives37 which influence me, and to be pained rather than relieved by my suggestions. I cannot bear being looked upon as ungrateful, when in fact I am devoted38 to them. I think, sir, you might help me in putting all this right.”
“If it be necessary,” said the cardinal; “but I apprehend39 you misconceive them. When I last left Rome you were very ill, but Lady St. Jerome and others have written to me almost daily about you, during my absence, so that I am familiar with all that has occurred, and quite cognizant of their feelings. Rest assured that, toward yourself, they are exactly what they ought to be and what you would desire.”
“Well, I am glad,” said Lothair, “that you are acquainted with every thing that has happened, for you can put them right if it be necessary; but I sometimes cannot help fancying that they are under some false impression both as to my conduct and my convictions.”
“Not in the slightest,” said the cardinal, “trust me, my dear friend, for that. They know everything and appreciate everything; and, great as, no doubt, have been your sufferings, feel that every thing has been ordained for the best; that the hand of the Almighty40 has been visible throughout all these strange events; that His Church was never more clearly built upon a rock than at this moment; that this great manifestation41 will revive, and even restore, the faith of Christendom; and that you yourself must be looked upon as one of the most favored of men.”
“Everybody says that,” said Lothair, rather peevishly42.
“And everybody feels it,” said the cardinal.
“Well, to revert43 to lesser44 points,” said Lothair, “I do not say I want to return to England, for I dread45 returning to England, and do not know whether I shall ever go back there; and at any rate I doubt not my health at present is unequal to the effort; but I should like some change in my mode of life. I will not say it is too much controlled, for nothing seems ever done without first consulting me; but, somehow or other, we are always in the same groove46. I wish to see more of the world; I wish to see Rome, and the people of Rome. I wish to see and do many things which, if I mention, it would seem to hurt the feelings of others, and my own are misconceived, but, if mentioned by you, all would probably be different.”
“I understand you, my dear young friend, my child, I will still say,” said the cardinal. “Nothing can be more reasonable than what you suggest. No doubt our friends may be a little too anxious about you, but they are the best people in the world. You appear to me to be quite well enough now to make more exertion47 than hitherto they have thought you capable of. They see you every day, and cannot judge so well of you as I who have been absent. I will charge myself to effect all your wishes. And we will begin by my taking you out tomorrow and your driving with me about the city. I will show you Rome and the Roman people.”
Accordingly, on the morrow, Cardinal Grandison and his late pupil visited together Rome and the Romans. And first of all Lothair was presented to the cardinal-prefect of the Propaganda, who presides over the ecclesiastical affairs of every country in which the Roman Church has a mission, and that includes every land between the Arctic and the Southern Pole. This glimpse of the organized correspondence with both the Americas, all Asia, all Africa, all Australia, and many European countries, carried on by a countless48 staff of clerks in one of the most capacious buildings in the world, was calculated to impress the visitor with a due idea of the extensive authority of the Roman Pontiff. This institution, greater, according to the cardinal, than any which existed in ancient Rome, was to propagate the faith, the purity of which the next establishment they visited was to maintain. According to Cardinal Grandison, there never was a body the character of which had been so wilfully49 and so malignantly50 misrepresented as that of the Roman Inquisition. Its true object is reformation not punishment and therefore pardon was sure to follow the admission of error. True it was there were revolting stories afloat, for which there was undoubtedly51 some foundation, though their exaggeration and malice52 were evident, of the ruthless conduct of the Inquisition; but these details were entirely53 confined to Spain, and were the consequences not of the principles of the Holy Office, but of the Spanish race, poisoned by Moorish54 and Jewish blood, or by long contact with those inhuman55 infidels. Had it not been for the Inquisition organizing and directing the mitigating56 influences of the Church, Spain would have been a land of wild beasts; and even in quite modern times it was the Holy Office at Rome which always stepped forward to protect the persecuted57, and, by the power of appeal from Madrid to Rome, saved the lives of those who were unjustly or extravagantly58 accused.
“The real business, however, of the Holy Office now,” continued the cardinal, “is in reality only doctrinal; and there is something truly sublime—essentially divine, I would say—in this idea of an old man, like the Holy Father, himself the object of ceaseless persecution59 by all the children of Satan, never for a moment relaxing his heaven-inspired efforts to maintain the purity of the faith once delivered to the saints, and at the same time to propagate it throughout the whole world, so that there should be no land on which the sun shines that should not afford means of salvation60 to suffering man. Yes, the Propaganda and the Inquisition alone are sufficient to vindicate61 the sacred claims of Rome. Compared with them, mere62 secular63 and human institutions, however exalted64, sink into insignificance65.”
These excursions with the cardinal were not only repeated, but became almost of daily occurrence. The cardinal took Lothair with him in his visits of business, and introduced him to the eminent66 characters of the city. Some of these priests were illustrious scholars or votaries67 of science, whose names were quoted with respect and as authority in the circles of cosmopolitan68 philosophy. Then there were other institutions at Rome, which the cardinal snatched occasions to visit, and which, if not so awfully69 venerable as the Propaganda and the Inquisition, nevertheless testified to the advanced civilization of Rome and the Romans, and the enlightened administration of the Holy Father. According to Cardinal Grandison, all the great modern improvements in the administration of hospitals and prisons originated in the eternal city; scientific ventilation, popular lavatories70, the cellular71 or silent system, the reformatory. And yet these were nothing compared with the achievements of the Pontifical72 Government in education. In short, complete popular education only existed at Rome. Its schools were more numerous even than its fountains. Gratuitous73 instruction originated with the ecclesiastics74; and from the night-school to the university here might be found the perfect type.
“I really believe,” said the cardinal, “that a more virtuous75, a more religious, a more happy and contented76 people than the Romans never existed. They could all be kept in order with the police of one of your counties. True it is, the Holy Father is obliged to garrison77 the city with twelve thousand men of arms, but not against the Romans, not against his own subjects. It is the secret societies of atheism78 who have established their lodges79 in this city, entirely consisting of foreigners, that render these lamentable80 precautions necessary. They will not rest until they have extirpated81 the religious principle from the soul of man, and until they have reduced him to the condition of wild beasts. But they will fail, as they failed the other day, as Sennacherib failed. These men may conquer zouaves and cuirassiers, but they cannot fight against Saint Michael and all the angels. They may do mischief82, they may aggravate83 and prolong the misery84 of man, but they are doomed85 to entire and eternal failure.”
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1
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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calamities
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| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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entrap
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| v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套 | |
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controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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immature
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| adj.未成熟的，发育未全的，未充分发展的 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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modulated
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| 已调整[制]的，被调的 | |
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gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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lavishly
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| adv.慷慨地，大方地 | |
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oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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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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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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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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promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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modification
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| n.修改，改进，缓和，减轻 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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attenuated
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| v.（使）变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变薄；（使）变小；减弱 | |
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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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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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41
manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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43
revert
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| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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46
groove
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| n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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48
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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49
wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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50
malignantly
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| 怀恶意地； 恶毒地； 有害地； 恶性地 | |
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51
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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52
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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53
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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54
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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55
inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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56
mitigating
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| v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的现在分词 ) | |
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57
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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58
extravagantly
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| adv.挥霍无度地 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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60
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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vindicate
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| v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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secular
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| n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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67
votaries
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| n.信徒( votary的名词复数 )；追随者；（天主教）修士；修女 | |
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cosmopolitan
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| adj.世界性的，全世界的，四海为家的，全球的 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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70
lavatories
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| n.厕所( lavatory的名词复数 )；抽水马桶；公共厕所（或卫生间、洗手间、盥洗室）；浴室水池 | |
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71
cellular
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| adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的 | |
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pontifical
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| adj.自以为是的，武断的 | |
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gratuitous
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| adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的 | |
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ecclesiastics
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| n.神职者，教会，牧师( ecclesiastic的名词复数 ) | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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77
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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78
atheism
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| n.无神论，不信神 | |
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lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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extirpated
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| v.消灭，灭绝( extirpate的过去式和过去分词 )；根除 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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83
aggravate
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| vt.加重(剧)，使恶化；激怒，使恼火 | |
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84
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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85
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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