Trunnion is enraged1 at the conduct of Pickle2 — Peregrine resents the Injustice3 of his Mother, to whom he explains his Sentiments in a Letter-Is entered at the University of Oxford4, where he signalizes himself as a Youth of an enterprising Genius.
Unspeakable were the transports of rage to which Trunnion was incensed5 by this absurd renunciation: he tore the letter with his gums (teeth he had none), spit with furious grimaces6, in token of the contempt he entertain the for the author, whom he not only damned as a lousy, scabby, nasty, scurvy7, skulking8 lubberly noodle, but resolved to challenge to single combat with fire and sword; but, he was dissuaded9 from this violent measure, and appeased10 by the intervention11 and advice of the lieutenant12 and Mr. Jolter, who represented the message as the effect of the poor man’s infirmity, for which he was rather an object of pity than of resentment13, and turned the stream of his indignation against the wife, whom he reviled14 accordingly. Nor did Peregrine himself bear with patience this injurious declaration, the nature of which he no sooner understood from Hatchway than, equally shocked and exasperated15, he retired16 to his apartment, and, in the first emotions of his ire, produced the following epistle, which was immediately conveyed to his mother,—
“Madam,— Had nature formed me a bugbear to the sight, and inspired me with a soul as vicious as my body was detestable, perhaps I might have enjoyed particular marks of your affection and applause; seeing you have persecuted17 me with such unnatural18 aversion, for no other visible reason than that of my differing so widely in shape as well as disposition19 from that deformed20 urchin21 who is the object of your tenderness and care. If these be the terms on which alone I can obtain your favour, I pray God you may never cease to hate,— Madam, your much-injured son,
“Peregrine Pickle.”
This letter, which nothing, but his passion and inexperience could excuse, had such an effect upon his mother as may be easily conceived. She was enraged to a degree of frenzy22 against the writer; though, at the same time, she considered the whole as the production of Mrs. Trunnion’s particular pique23, and represented it to her husband as an insult that he was bound in honour to resent, by breaking off all correspondence with the commodore and his family. This was a bitter pill to Gamaliel, who, through a long course of years, was so habituated to Trunnion’s company, that he could as easily have parted with a limb as have relinquished24 the club all at once. He therefore ventured to represent his own incapacity to follow her advice, and begged that be might, at least, be allowed to drop the connection gradually, protesting that he would do his endeavour to give her all manner of satisfaction.
Meanwhile preparations were made for Peregrine’s departure to the university, and in a few weeks he set out, in the seventeenth year of his age, accompanied by the same attendants who lived with him at Winchester. His uncle laid strong injunctions upon him to avoid the company of immodest women, to mind his learning, to let him hear of his welfare as often as he could find time to write, and settled his appointments at the rate of five hundred a year, including his governor’s salary, which was one-fifth part of the sum. The heart of our young gentleman dilated25 at the prospect26 of the figure he should make with such a handsome annuity27 the management of which was left to his own discretion28; and he amused his imagination with the most agreeable reveries during his journey to Oxford, which he performed in two days. Here, being introduced to the head of the college, to whom he had been recommended, accommodated with genteel apartments, entered as gentleman commoner in the books, and provided with a judicious29 tutor, instead of returning to the study of Greek and Latin, in which he thought himself already sufficiently30 instructed, he renewed his acquaintance with some of his old school-fellows, whom he found in the same situation, and was by them initiated31 in all the fashionable diversions of the place.
It was not long before he made himself remarkable32 for his spirit and humour, which were so acceptable to the bucks33 of the university, that he was admitted as a member of their corporation, and in a very little time became the most conspicuous34 personage of the whole fraternity. Not that he valued himself upon his ability in smoking the greatest number of pipes, and drinking the largest quantity of ale: these were qualifications of too gross a nature to captivate his refined ambition. He piqued35 himself on his talent for raillery, his genius and taste, his personal accomplishments37, and his success at intrigue38. Nor were his excursions confined to the small villages in the neighbourhood, which are commonly visited once a week. by the students for the sake of carnal recreation. He kept his own horses, traversed the whole country in parties of pleasure, attended all the races within fifty miles of Oxford, and made frequent jaunts39 to London, where he used to be incognito40 during the best part of many a term.
The rules of the university were too severe to be observed by a youth of his vivacity41; and therefore he became acquainted with the proctor betimes. But all the checks he received were insufficient42 to moderate his career; he frequented taverns43 and coffee-houses, committed midnight frolics in the streets, insulted all the sober and pacific class of his fellow-students: the tutors themselves were not sacred from his ridicule44; he laughed at the magistrate45, and neglected every particular of college discipline. In vain did they attempt to restrain his irregularities by the imposition of fines; he was liberal to profusion46, and therefore paid without reluctance47. Thrice did he scale the windows of a tradesman, with whose daughter he had an affair of gallantry; as often was he obliged to seek his safety by a precipitate48 leap; and one night would, in all probability, have fallen a sacrifice to an ambuscade that was laid by the father, had not his trusty squire49 Pipes interposed in his behalf, and manfully rescued him from the clubs of his enemies.
In the midst of these excesses, Mr. Jolter, finding his admonitions neglected and his influence utterly50 destroyed, attempted to wean his pupil from his extravagant51 courses, by engaging his attention in some more laudable pursuit. With this view he introduced him into a club of politicians, who received him with great demonstrations52 of regard, accommodated themselves more than he could have expected to his jovial53 disposition, and while they revolved54 schemes for the reformation of the state, drank with such devotion to the accomplishment36 of their plans, that, before parting, the cares of their patriotism55 were quite overwhelmed.
Peregrine, though he could not approve of their doctrine56, resolved to attach himself for some time to their company, because he perceived ample subject for his ridicule in the characters of these wrong-headed enthusiasts57. It was a constant practice with them, in their midnight consistories, to swallow such plentiful58 draughts59 of inspiration, that their mysteries commonly ended like those of the Bacchanalian60 orgia; and they were seldom capable of maintaining that solemnity of decorum which, by the nature of their functions, most of them were obliged to profess61. Now, as Peregrine’s satirical disposition was never more gratified than when he had an opportunity of exposing grave characters in ridiculous attitudes, he laid a mischievous62 snare63 for his new confederates, which took effect in this manner:— In one of their nocturnal deliberations, he promoted such a spirit of good fellowship by the agreeable sallies of his wit, which were purposely leveled against their political adversaries64, that by ten o’clock they were all ready to join in the most extravagant proposal that could be made. They broke their glasses in consequence of his suggestion, drank healths out of their shoes, caps, and the bottoms of the candlesticks that stood before them, sometimes standing65 with one foot on a chair, and the knee bent66 on the edge of the table; and when they could no longer stand in that posture67, setting their bare posteriors on the cold floor. They huzzaed, hallooed, danced, and sang, and, in short, were elevated to such a pitch of intoxication68, that when Peregrine proposed that they should burn their periwigs, the hint was immediately approved, and they executed the frolic as one man. Their shoes and caps underwent the same fate by the same instigation, and in this trim he led them forth69 into the street, where they resolved to compel everybody they should find to subscribe70 to their political creed71, and pronounce the Shibboleth72 of their party. In the achievement of this enterprise, they met with more opposition73 than they expected; they were encountered with arguments which they could not well withstand; the noses of some, and eyes of others, in a very little time bore the marks of obstinate74 disputation. Their conductor having at length engaged the whole body in a fray75 with another squadron which was pretty much in the same condition, he very fairly gave them the slip, and slyly retreated to his apartment, foreseeing that his companions would soon be favoured with the notice of their superiors: nor was he deceived in his prognostic; the proctor, going his round, chanced to fall in with this tumultuous uproar76, and, interposing his authority, found means to quiet the disturbance77. He took cognizance of their names, and dismissed the rioters to their respective chambers78, not a little scandalized at the behaviour of some among them, whose business and duty it was to set far other examples for the youth under their care and direction.
About midnight, Pipes, who had orders to attend at a distance, and keep an eye upon Jolter, brought home that unfortunate governor upon his back, Peregrine having beforehand secured his admittance into the college; and among other bruises79, he was found to have received a couple of contusions on his face, which next morning appeared in a black circle that surrounded each eye.
This was a mortifying80 circumstance to a man of his character and deportment, especially as he had received a message from the proctor, who desired to see him forthwith. With great humility81 and contrition82 he begged the advice of his pupil, who being used to amuse himself with painting, assured Mr. Jolter that he would cover those signs of disgrace with a slight coat of flesh-colour so dexterously83, that it would be almost impossible to distinguish the artificial from the natural skin. The rueful governor, rather than expose such opprobrious84 tokens to the observation and censure85 of the magistrate, submitted to the expedient86. Although his counsellor had overrated his own skill, he was persuaded to confide87 in the disguise, and actually attended the proctor, with such a staring addition to the natural ghastliness of his features, that his visage bore a very apt resemblance to some of those ferocious88 countenances89 that hang over the doors of certain taverns and ale-houses, under the denomination90 of the Saracen’s head.
Such a remarkable alteration91 of physiognomy could not escape the notice of the most undiscerning beholder92, much less the penetrating93 eye of his severe judge, already whetted94 with what he had seen over-night. He was therefore upbraided95 with this ridiculous and shallow artifice96, and, together with the companions of his debauch97, underwent such a cutting reprimand for the scandalous irregularity of his conduct, that all of them remained crest-fallen, and were ashamed, for many weeks, to appear in the public execution of their duty.
Peregrine was too vain of his finesse98, to conceal99 the part he acted in this comedy, with the particulars of which he regaled his companions, and thereby100 entailed101 upon himself the hate and resentment of the community whose maxims102 and practices he had disclosed: for he was considered as a spy, who had intruded103 himself into their society, with a view of betraying it; or, at best, as an apostate104 and renegado from the faith and principles which he had professed105.
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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scurvy
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| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
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skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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dissuaded
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| 劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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reviled
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| v.辱骂，痛斥( revile的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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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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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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deformed
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| adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的 | |
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urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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bucks
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| n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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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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piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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jaunts
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| n.游览( jaunt的名词复数 ) | |
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incognito
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| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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taverns
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| n.小旅馆，客栈，酒馆( tavern的名词复数 ) | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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48
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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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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50
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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51
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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52
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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54
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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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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enthusiasts
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| n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 ) | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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bacchanalian
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| adj.闹酒狂饮的；n.发酒疯的人 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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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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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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subscribe
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| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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shibboleth
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| n.陈规陋习；口令；暗语 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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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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bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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contrition
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| n.悔罪，痛悔 | |
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dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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opprobrious
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| adj.可耻的，辱骂的 | |
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85
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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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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87
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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92
beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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93
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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94
whetted
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| v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的过去式和过去分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等） | |
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95
upbraided
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| v.责备，申斥，谴责( upbraid的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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debauch
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| v.使堕落，放纵 | |
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finesse
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| n.精密技巧，灵巧，手腕 | |
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99
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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100
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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101
entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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102
maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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103
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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104
apostate
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| n.背叛者，变节者 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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