Peregrine moralizes upon their Behaviour, which is condemned1 by the Doctor, and defended by the Governor — They arrive in safety at Lisle, dine at an Ordinary, visit the Citadel2 — The Physician quarrels with a North Briton, who is put in Arrest.
These honourable3 adventurers being gone, Peregrine, who was present during the transaction, informed himself of the particulars from the mouth of the innkeeper himself, who took Heaven and the saints to witness, that he should have been a loser by their custom, even if the bill had been paid: because he was on his guard against their objections, and had charged every article at an under price: but such was the authority of officers in France, that he durst not dispute the least circumstance of their will; for, had the case come under the cognizance of the magistrate4, he must, in course, have suffered by the maxims5 of their government, which never fail to abet6 the oppression of the army; and, besides, run the risk of incurring7 their future resentment8, which would be sufficient to ruin him from top to bottom.
Our hero boiled with indignation at this instance of injustice9 and arbitrary power; and, turning to his governor, asked, if this too was a proof of the happiness enjoyed by the French people. Jolter replied, that every human constitution must, in some things, be imperfect and owned, that in this kingdom, gentlemen were more countenanced10 than the vulgar, because it was to be presumed that their own sentiments of honour and superior qualifications would entitle them to this pre-eminence, which had also a retrospective view to the merit of their ancestors, in consideration of which they were at first ennobled; but he affirmed, that the innkeeper had misrepresented the magistracy, which, in France, never failed to punish flagrant outrages12 and abuse, without respect of persons.
The painter approved of the wisdom of the French government, in bridling13 the insolence14 of the mob, by which, he assured them, he had often suffered in his own person; having been often bespattered by hackney-coachmen, jostled by draymen and porters, and reviled15 in the most opprobrious16 terms by the watermen of London, where he had once lost his bag and a considerable quantity of hair, which had been cut off by some rascal17 in his passage through Ludgate, during the Lord Mayor’s procession. On the other hand, the doctor with great warmth alleged18, that those officers ought to suffer death, or banishment19 at least, for having plundered20 the people in this manner, which was so impudent21 and barefaced22, as plainly to prove they were certain of escaping with impunity23, and that they were old offenders24 in the same degree of delinquency. He said, that the greatest man in Athens would have been condemned to perpetual exile, and seen his estate confiscated25 for public use, had he dared in such a licentious26 manner to violate the rights of a fellow-citizen; and as for the little affronts27 to which a man may be subject from the petulance28 of the multitude, he looked upon them as glorious indications of liberty, which ought not to be repressed, and would at any time rejoice to find himself overthrown29 in a kennel30 by the insolence of a son of freedom, even though the fall should cost him a limb; adding, by way of illustration, that the greatest pleasure he ever enjoyed was in seeing a dustman wilfully31 overturn a gentleman’s coach, in which two ladies were bruised32, even to the danger of their lives. Pallet, shocked at the extravagance of this declaration, “If that be the case,” said he, “I wish you may see every bone in your body broke by the first carman you meet in the streets of London.”
This argument being discussed, and the reckoning discharged without any deduction33, although the landlord, in stating the articles, had an eye to the loss he had sustained by his own countrymen, they departed from Arras, and arrived in safety at Lisle, about two o’clock in the afternoon.
They had scarce taken possession of their lodgings34, in a large hotel in the Grande Place, when the innkeeper gave them to understand, that he kept an ordinary below, which was frequented by several English gentlemen who resided in town, and that dinner was then set upon the table. Peregrine, who seized all opportunities of observing new characters, persuaded his company to dine in public; and they were accordingly conducted to the place, where they found a mixture of Scotch35 and Dutch officers, who had come from Holland to learn their exercises at the academy, and some gentlemen in the French service, who were upon garrison36 duty in the citadel. Among these last was a person about the age of fifty, of a remarkably37 genteel air and polite address, dignified38 with a Maltese cross, and distinguished39 by the particular veneration40 of all those who knew him. When he understood that Pickle41 and his friends were travellers, he accosted42 the youth in English, which he spoke43 tolerably well; and, as they were strangers, offered to attend them in the afternoon to all the places worth seeing in Lisle. Our hero thanked him for his excess of politeness, which, he said, was peculiar44 to the French nation; and, struck with his engaging appearance, industriously45 courted his conversation, in the course of which he learned that this chevalier was a man of good sense and great experience, that he was perfectly46 well acquainted with the greatest part of Europe, had lived some years in England, and was no stranger to the constitution and genius of that people.
Having dined, and drunk to the healths of the English and French kings, two fiacres were called, in one of which the knight47, with one of his companions, the governor, and Peregrine seated themselves, the other being occupied by the physician, Pallet, and two Scottish officers, who proposed to accompany them in their circuit. The first place they visited was the citadel, round the ramparts of which they walked, under the conduct of the knight, who explained with great accuracy the intention of every particular fortification belonging to that seemingly impregnable fortress48; and, when they had satisfied their curiosity, took coach again, in order to view the arsenal49, which stands in another quarter of the town; but, just as Pickle’s carriage had crossed the promenade50, he heard his own name bawled51 aloud by the painter; and, ordering the fiacre to stop, saw Pallet, with one half of his body thrust out at the window of the other coach, crying, with a terrified look, “Mr. Pickle, Mr. Pickle, the for the love of God halt, and prevent bloodshed, else here will be carnage and cutting of throats.” Peregrine, surprised at this exclamation52, immediately alighted, and, advancing to the other vehicle, found one of their military companions standing53 upon the ground, at the farther side of the coach, with his sword drawn54, and fury in his countenance11; and the physician, with a quivering lip, and haggard aspect, struggling with the other, who had interposed in the quarrel, and detained him in his place.
Our young gentleman, upon inquiry55, found that this animosity had sprung from a dispute that happened upon the ramparts, touching56 the strength of the fortification, which the doctor, according to custom, undervalued, because it was a modern work; saying, that by the help of the military engines used among the ancients, and a few thousands of pioneers, he would engage to take it in less than ten days after he should sit down before it. The North Briton, who was as great a pedant57 as the physician, having studied fortification, and made himself master of Caesar’s Commentaries and Polybius, with the observations of Folard, affirmed, that all the methods of besieging58 practised by the ancients would be utterly59 ineffectual against such a plan as that of the citadel of Lisle; and began to compare the vineae, aggeres, arietes, scorpiones, and catapultae of the Romans, with the trenches60, mines, batteries, and mortars61 used in the present art of war. The republican, finding himself attacked upon what he thought his strong side, summoned all his learning to his aid; and, describing the famous siege of Plateae, happened to misquote a passage of Thucydides, in which he was corrected by the other, who, having been educated for the church, was also a connoisseur62 in the Greek language. The doctor, incensed63 at being detected in such a blunder in the presence of Pallet, who, he knew, would promulgate64 his shame, told the officer, with great arrogance65, that his objection was frivolous66, and that he must not pretend to dispute on these matters with one who had considered them with the utmost accuracy and care. His antagonist67, piqued68 at this supercilious69 insinuation, replied with great heat, that for aught he knew, the doctor might be a very expert apothecary70, but that in the art of war, and knowledge of the Greek tongue, he was no other than an ignorant pretender.
This asseveration produced an answer full of virulence71, including a national reflection upon the soldier’s country; and the contention72 rose to mutual73 abuse, when it was suppressed by the admonitions of the other two, who begged they would not expose themselves in a strange place, but behave themselves like fellow-subjects and friends. They accordingly ceased reviling74 each other, and the affair was seemingly forgot; but after they had resumed their places in the coach, the painter unfortunately asked the meaning of the word tortise, which he had heard them mention among the Roman implements75 of war. This question was answered by the physician, who described the nature of this expedient76 so little to the satisfaction of the officer, that he contradicted him flatly in the midst of his explanation; a circumstance which provoked the republican to such a degree, that, in the temerity77 of his passion, he uttered the epithet78, “impertinent scoundrel;” which vas no sooner pronounced than the Caledonian made manual application to his nose, and, leaping out of the coach, stood waiting for him on the plain; while he, the physician, made feeble efforts to join him, being easily retained by the other soldier; and Pallet, dreading79 the consequence in which he himself might be involved, bellowed80 aloud for prevention.
Our hero endeavoured to quiet the commotion81 by representing to the Scot that he had already taken satisfaction for the injury he had received, and telling the doctor that he had deserved the chastisement82 which was inflicted83 upon him; but the officer, encouraged perhaps by the confusion of his antagonist, insisted upon his asking pardon for what he had said; and the doctor, believing himself under the protection of his friend Pickle, far from agreeing to such concession84, breathed nothing but defiance85 and revenge; so that the chevalier, in order to prevent mischief86, put the soldier under arrest, and sent him to his lodgings, under the care of the other French gentleman and his own companion; they being also accompanied by Mr. Jolter, who, having formerly87 seen all the curiosities of Lisle, willingly surrendered his place to the physician.
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1
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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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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maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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abet
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| v.教唆，鼓励帮助 | |
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incurring
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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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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countenanced
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| v.支持，赞同，批准( countenance的过去式 ) | |
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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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outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bridling
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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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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opprobrious
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| adj.可耻的，辱骂的 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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barefaced
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| adj.厚颜无耻的，公然的 | |
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impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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offenders
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| 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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confiscated
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| 没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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licentious
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| adj.放纵的，淫乱的 | |
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affronts
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| n.（当众）侮辱，（故意）冒犯( affront的名词复数 )v.勇敢地面对( affront的第三人称单数 )；相遇 | |
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petulance
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| n.发脾气，生气，易怒，暴躁，性急 | |
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overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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deduction
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| n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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40
veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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42
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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43
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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44
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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industriously
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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47
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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48
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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49
arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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50
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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51
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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52
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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53
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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54
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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55
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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56
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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57
pedant
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| n.迂儒；卖弄学问的人 | |
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58
besieging
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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59
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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60
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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61
mortars
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| n.迫击炮( mortar的名词复数 )；砂浆；房产；研钵 | |
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connoisseur
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| n.鉴赏家，行家，内行 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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64
promulgate
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| v.宣布；传播；颁布（法令、新法律等） | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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66
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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67
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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68
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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69
supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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70
apothecary
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| n.药剂师 | |
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71
virulence
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| n.毒力，毒性；病毒性；致病力 | |
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72
contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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74
reviling
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| v.辱骂，痛斥( revile的现在分词 ) | |
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75
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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76
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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77
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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78
epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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80
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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81
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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82
chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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83
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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84
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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85
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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86
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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87
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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