They depart from Ghent — Our Hero engages in a Political Dispute with his Mistress, whom he offends, and pacifies1 with Submission2 — He practises an Expedient3 to detain the Carriage at Alost, and confirms the Priest in his Interest.
Next day, about one o’clock, after having seen everything remarkable4 in town, and been present at the execution of two youths, who were hanged for ravishing a w —, they took their departure from Ghent in the same carriage which had brought them thither5; and the conversation turning upon the punishment they had seen inflicted6, the Flemish beauty expressed great sympathy and compassion7 for the unhappy sufferers, who, as she had been informed, had fallen victims to the malice8 of the accuser. Her sentiments were espoused9 by all the company, except the French lady of pleasure, who, thinking the credit of the sisterhood concerned in the affair, bitterly inveighed10 against the profligacy11 of the age, and particularly the base and villainous attempts of man upon the chastity of the weaker sex; saying, with a look of indignation directed to the painter, that for her own part she should never be able to manifest the acknowledgment she owed to Providence12, for having protected her last night from the wicked aims of unbridled lust13. This observation introduced a series of jokes at the expense of Pallet, who hung his ears, and sat with a silent air of dejection, fearing that, through the malevolence14 of the physician, his adventure might reach the ears of his wife. Indeed, though we have made shift to explain the whole transaction to the reader, it was an inextricable mystery to every individual in the diligence, because the part which was acted by the Capuchin was known to himself alone, and even he was utterly15 ignorant of Pickle16’s being concerned in the affair; so that the greatest share of the painter’s sufferings were supposed to be the exaggerations of his own extravagant17 imagination.
In the midst of their discourse18 on this extraordinary subject, the driver told them that they were now on the very spot where a detachment of the allied19 army had been intercepted20 and cut off by the French: and, stopping the vehicle, entertained them with a local description of the battle of Melle. Upon this occasion, the Flemish lady, who, since her marriage, had become a keen partisan21 for the French, gave a minute detail of all the circumstances, as they had been represented to her by her husband’s brother, who was in the action. This account, which sunk the number of the French to sixteen, and raised that of the allies to twenty thousand men, was so disagreeable to truth, as well as to the laudable partiality of Peregrine, that he ventured to contradict her assertions, and a fierce dispute commenced, that not only regarded the present question, but also comprehended all the battles in which the Duke of Marlborough had commanded against Louis the Fourteenth. In the course of these debates, she divested22 the great general of all the glory he had acquired, by affirming, that every victory he gained was purposely lost by the French in order to bring the schemes of Madame de Maintenon into discredit23; and, as a particular instance, alledged, that while the citadel24 of Lisle was besieged25, Louis said, in presence of the Dauphin, that if the allies should be obliged to raise the siege, he would immediately declare his marriage with that lady; upon which, the son sent private orders to Marshal Boufflers to surrender the place.
This strange allegation was supported by the asseveration of the priest and the courtesan, and admitted as truth by the governor, who pretended to have heard it from good authority; while the doctor sat neutral, as one who thought it scandalous to know the history of such modern events. The Israelite, being a true Dutchman, himself under the banners of our hero, who, in attempting to demonstrate the absurdity26 and improbability of what they had advanced, raised such a hue27 and cry against himself, and, being insensibly heated in the altercation28, irritated his Amanda to such a degree, that her charming eyes kindled29 with fury, and he saw great reason to think, that if he did not fall upon some method to deprecate her wrath30, she would, in a twinkling, sacrifice all her esteem31 for him to her own zeal32 for the glory of the French nation. Moved by this apprehension33, his ardour cooled by degrees, and he insensibly detached himself from the argument, leaving the whole care of supporting it to the Jew, who, finding himself deserted34, was fain to yield at discretion35; so that the French remained masters of the field, and their young heroine resumed her good humour.
Our hero having prudently36 submitted to the superior intelligence of his fair enslaver, began to be harassed37 with the fears of losing her for ever; and set his invention at work, to contrive38 some means of indemnifying himself for his assiduities, presents, and the disappointment he had already undergone. On pretence39 of enjoying a free air, he mounted the box, and employed his elocution and generosity40 with such success, that the driver undertook to disable the diligence from proceeding41 beyond the town of Alost for that day; and, in consequence of his promise, gently overturned it when they were but a mile short of that baiting-place. He had taken his measures so discreetly42, that this accident was attended with no other inconvenience than a fit of fear that took possession of the ladies, and the necessity to which they were reduced by the declaration of the coachman, who, upon examining the carriage, assured the company that the axle-tree had given way, and advised them to walk forward to the inn, while he would jog after them at a slow pace, and do his endeavour the damage should be immediately repaired.
Peregrine pretended to be very much concerned at what had happened, and even cursed the driver for his inadvertency, expressing infinite impatience43 to be at Brussels, and wishing that this misfortune might not detain them another night upon the road; but when his understrapper, according to his instructions, came afterwards to the inn, and gave them to understand that the workman he had employed could not possibly refit the machine in less then six hours, the crafty44 youth affected45 to lose all temper, stormed at his emissary, whom he reviled46 in the most opprobrious47 terms, and threatened to cane48 for his misconduct. The fellow protested, with great humility49, that their being overturned was owing to the failure of the axle-tree, and not to his want of care or dexterity50 in driving; though rather than be thought the cause of incommoding him, he would inquire for a post-chaise, in which he might depart for Brussels immediately. This expedient Pickle rejected, unless the whole company could be accommodated in the same manner; and he had been previously51 informed by the driver that the town could not furnish more than one vehicle of that sort. His governor, who was quite ignorant of his scheme, represented that one night would soon be passed, and exhorted52 him to bear this small disappointment with a good grace, especially as the house seemed to be well provided for their entertainment, and the company so much disposed to be sociable53.
The Capuchin, who had found his account in cultivating the acquaintance of the young stranger, was not ill-pleased at this event, which might, by protracting54 the term of their intercourse55, yield him some opportunity of profiting still farther by his liberality: he therefore joined Mr. Jolter in his admonitions, congratulating himself upon the prospect56 of enjoying his conversation a little longer than he had expected. Our young gentleman received a compliment to the same purpose from the Hebrew, who had that day exercised his gallantry upon the French coquette, and was not without hope of reaping the fruit of his attention, his rival, the painter, being quite disgraced and dejected by the adventure of last night, As for the doctor, he was too much engrossed57 in the contemplation of his own importance, to interest himself in the affair or its consequences, further than by observing, that the European powers ought to establish public games, like those that were celebrated58 of old in Greece; in which case, every state would be supplied with such dexterous59 charioteers as would drive a machine, at full speed, within a hair’s breadth of a precipice60, without any danger of its being overturned.
Peregrine could not help yielding to their remonstrances61 and united complaisance62, for which he thanked them in very polite terms; and his passion seeming to subside63, proposed that they should amuse themselves in walking round the ramparts. He hoped to enjoy some private conversation with his admired Fleming, who had the whole day behaved with remarkable reserve. The proposal being embraced, he, as usual, handed her into the street, and took all opportunities of promoting his suit; but they were attended so closely by her father-confessor, that he foresaw it would be impracticable to accomplish his aim without the connivance64 of that ecclesiastic65. This he was obliged to purchase with another purse, which he offered, and was accepted, as a charitable atonement for his criminal behaviour during the interview which the friar had procured66 for the good of his soul. The benefaction was no sooner made, than the mendicant67 edged off by little and little, till he joined the rest of the company, leaving his generous patron at full liberty to prosecute68 his purpose.
It is not to be doubted that our adventurer made a good use of this occasion: he practised a thousand flowers of rhetoric69, and actually exhausted70 his whole address, in persuading her to have compassion upon his misery71, and indulge him with another private audience, without which he should run distracted, and be guilty of extravagancies which, in the humanity of her disposition72, she would weep to see. But, instead of complying with his request, she chid73 him severely74 for his presumption75 in persecuting76 her with his vicious addresses: she assured him, that although she had secured a chamber77 for herself in this place, because she had no ambition to be better acquainted with the other lady, he would be in the wrong to disturb her with another nocturnal visit, for she was determined78 to deny him admittance. The lover was comforted by this hint, which he understood in the true acceptation; and his passion being inflamed79 by the obstacles he had met with, his heart beat high with the prospect of possession. These raptures80 of expectation produced an inquietude, which disabled him from bearing that share of the conversation for which he used to be distinguished81. His behaviour at supper was a vicissitude82 of startings and reveries. The Capuchin, imputing83 the disorder84 to a second repulse85 from his charge, began to be invaded with the apprehension of being obliged to refund86, and in a whisper forbade our hero to despair.
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pacifies
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的第三人称单数 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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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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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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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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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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espoused
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| v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inveighed
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| v.猛烈抨击，痛骂，谩骂( inveigh的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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profligacy
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| n.放荡，不检点，肆意挥霍 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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malevolence
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| n.恶意，狠毒 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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partisan
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| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
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divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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40
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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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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48
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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49
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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50
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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51
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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52
exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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54
protracting
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| v.延长，拖延（某事物）( protract的现在分词 ) | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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61
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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complaisance
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| n.彬彬有礼，殷勤，柔顺 | |
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subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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connivance
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| n.纵容；默许 | |
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ecclesiastic
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| n.教士，基督教会；adj.神职者的，牧师的，教会的 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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mendicant
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| n.乞丐；adj.行乞的 | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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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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chid
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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persecuting
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的现在分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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81
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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vicissitude
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| n.变化，变迁，荣枯，盛衰 | |
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imputing
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的现在分词 ) | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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85
repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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86
refund
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| v.退还，偿还；n.归还，偿还额，退款 | |
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