The Schoolmaster uses me barbarously — I form a Project of Revenge, in which I am assisted by my Uncle — I leave the Village — am settled at a University by his Generosity1
On our way back to the village, my uncle spoke2 not a word during the space of a whole hour, but whistled with great vehemence3 the tune4 of “Why should we quarrel for riches,” etc. his visage being contracted all the while into a most formidable frown. At length his pace increased to such a degree that I was left behind a considerable way: then he waited for me; and when I was almost up with him, called out in a surly tone, “Bear a hand, damme! must I bring to every minute for you, you lazy dog.” Then, laying hold of me by the arm, hauled me along, until his good nature (of which he had a great share) and reflection getting the better of his he said, “Come, my boy, don’t be cast down, — the old rascal5 is in hell, that’s some satisfaction; you shall go to sea with me, my lad. A light heart and a thin pair of breeches goes through the world, brave boys, as the song goes — eh!” Though this proposal did not at all suit my inclination6, I was afraid of discovering my aversion to it, lest I should disoblige the only friend I had in the world; and he was so much a seaman7 that he never dreamt I could have had any objection to his design; consequently gave himself no trouble in consulting my approbation8. But this resolution was soon dropped, by the device of our usher9, who assured Mr. Bowling10, it would be a thousand pities to balk11 my genius, which would certainly one day make my fortune on shore, provided it received due cultivation12. Upon which, this generous tar13 determined14 (though he could ill afford it) to give me university education; and accordingly settled my board and other expenses, at a town not many miles distant, famous for its colleges, whither we repaired in a short time. But, before the day of our departure, the schoolmaster, who no longer had the fear of my grandfather before his eyes, laid aside all decency15 and restraint, and not only abused me in the grossest language his rancour could suggest, as a wicked, proffigate, dull, beggarly miscreant16, whom he had taught out of charity; but also inveighed17 in the most bitter manner against the memory of the judge (who by the by had procured19 that settlement for him), hinting, in pretty plain terms, that the old gentleman’s soul was damned to all eternity20 for his injustice21 in neglecting to pay for my learning. This brutal22 behaviour, added to the sufferings I had formerly23 undergone made me think it high time to be revenged on this insolent24 pedagogue25. Having consulted my adherents26, I found them all staunch in their promises to stand by me; and our scheme was this: — In the afternoon preceding to the day of our departure for the University, I resolved to take the advantage of the usher’s going out to make water (which he regularly did at four o’clock), and shut the great door, that he might not come to the assistance of his superior. This being done, the assault was to be begun by my advancing to my master and spitting in his face. I was to be seconded by two of the strongest boys in the school, who were devoted27 to me; their business was to join me in dragging the tyrant28 to a bench, over which he was to be laid, and his bare posteriors heartily29 flogged, with his own birch, which we proposed to wrest30 from him in his struggle; but if we should find him too many for us all three, we were to demand the assistance of our competitors, who should be ready to enforce us, or oppose anything that might be undertaken for the master’s relief. One of my principal assistants was called Jeremy Gawky, son and heir of a wealthy gentleman in the neighbourhood; and the name of the other, Hugh Strap31, the cadet of a family which had given shoemakers to the village time out of mind. I had once saved Gawky’s life, by plunging32 into a river and dragging him on shore, when he was on the point of being drowned. I had often rescued him from the clutches of those whom his insufferable arrogance33 had provoked to a resentment34 he was not able to sustain; and many times saved his reputation and posteriors, by performing his exercises at school; so that it is not to be wondered at, if he had a particular regard for me and my interests. The attachment35 of Strap flowed from a voluntary, disinterested36 inclination, which had manifested itself on many occasions in my behalf, he having once rendered me the same service that I had rendered Gawky, by saving my life at the risk of his own; and often fathered offences that I had committed, for which he suffered severely37, rather than I should feel the weight of the punishment. These two champions were the more willing to engage in this enterprise, because they intended to leave the school next day, as well as I; the first being ordered by his father to return into the country, and the other being bound apprentice38 to his barber, at a market town not far off.
In the meantime, my uncle, being informed of my master’s behaviour to me, was enraged39 at his insolence40, and vowed41 revenge so heartily that I could not refrain from telling him the scheme I had concerted, while he heard with great satisfaction, at every sentence squirting out a mouthful of spittle, tinctured with tobacco, of which he constantly chewed a large quid. At last, pulling up his breeches, he cried, “No, no, z — ds! that won’t do neither; howsoever, ’tis a bold undertaking42, my lad, that I must say, i’faith; but lookee, lookee, how do you propose to get clear off — won’t the enemy give chase, my boy? — ay, ay, that he will, I warrant, and alarm the whole coast; ah! God help thee, more sail than ballast, Rory. Let me alone for that — leave the whole to me. I’ll show him the foretopsail, I will. If so be your shipmates are jolly boys, and won’t flinch43, you shall see, yon shall see; egad, I’ll play him such a salt-water trick I’ll bring him to the gangway. and anoint him with a cat-and-nine-tails; he shall have a round dozen doubled, my lad, he shall — and be left lashed44 to his meditations45.” We were very proud of our associate, who immediately went to work, and prepared the instrument of his revenge with great skill and expedition; after which, he ordered our baggage to be packed up and sent off, a day before our attempt, and got horses ready to be mounted, as soon as the affair should be over. At length the hour arrived, when our auxiliary46, seizing the opportunity of the usher’s absence, bolted in, secured the door, and immediately laid hold of the pedant47 by his collar who bawled48 out, “Murder, Thieves.” with the voice of a Stentor. Though I trembled all over like an aspen leaf, I knew there was no time to be lost, and accordingly got up, and summoned our associates to our assistance. Strap, without any hesitation49, obeyed the signal, and seeing me leap upon the master’s back, ran immediately to one of his legs, which pulling with all his force, this dreadful adversary50 was humbled51 to the ground; upon which Gawky, who had hitherto remained in his place, under the influence of a universal trepidation52, hastened to the scene of action, and insulted the fallen tyrant with a loud huzza, in which the whole school joined. The noise alarmed the usher, who, finding himself shut out, endeavoured, partly by threats and partly by entreaties53, to procure18 admission. My uncle bade him have a little patience, and he would let him in presently; but if he pretended to stir from that place, it should fare the worse with the son of a bitch his superior, on whom he intended only to bestow54 a little wholesome55 chastisement56, for his barbarous usage of Rory, “to which,” said he, “you are no stranger.” By this time we had dragged the criminal to a post, to which Bowling tied him with a rope he had provided on purpose; after having secured his hands and stripped his back. In this ludicrous posture57 he stood (to the no small entertainment of the boys, who crowded about him, and shouted with great exultation58 at the novelty of the sight), venting59 bitter imprecations against the lieutenant60, and reproaching his scholars with treachery and rebellion; when the usher was admitted, whom my uncle accosted61 in this manner: “Harkee, Mr. Syntax, I believe you are an honest man, d’ye see — and I have a respect for you — but for all that, we must, for our own security, d’ye see, belay you for a short time.” With these words, he pulled out some fathoms62 of cord, which the honest man no sooner saw than he protested with great earnestness he would allow no violence to be offered to him, at the same time accusing me of perfidy63 and ingratitude64. But Bowling representing that it was in vain to resist, and that he did not mean to use him with violence and indecency, but only to hinder him from raising the hue65 and cry against us before we should be out of their power, he allowed himself to be bound to his own desk, where he sat a spectator of the punishment inflicted66 on his principal. My uncle, having upbraided67 this arbitrary wretch68 with his inhumanity to me, told him, that he proposed to give him a little discipline for the good of his soul, which he immediately put in practice, with great vigour69 and dexterity70. This smart application to the pedant’s withered71 posteriors gave him such exquisite72 pain that he roared like a mad bull, danced, cursed, and blasphemed, like a frantic73 bedlamite. When the lieutenant thought himself sufficiently74 revenged, he took his leave of him in these words: “Now, friend, you’ll remember me the longest day you have to live; I have given you a lesson that will let you know what flogging is, and teach you to have more sympathy for the future. Shout, boys, shout!”
This ceremony was no sooner over than my uncle proposed they should quit the school, and convey their old comrade Rory to the public-house, about a mile from the village, where he would treat them all. His offer being joyfully75 embraced, he addressed himself to Mr. Syntax, and begged him to accompany us; but this invitation he refused with great disdain76, telling my benefactor77 he was not the man he took him to be. “Well, well, old surly,” replied my uncle, shaking his hand, “thou art an honest fellow notwithstanding; and if ever I have the command of a ship, thou shalt be our schoolmaster, i’faith.” So saying he dismissed the boys, and locking the door, left the two preceptors to console one another; while we moved forwards on our journey, attended by a numerous retinue78, whom he treated according to his promise.
We parted with many tears, and lay that night at an inn on the road, about ten miles short of the town where I was to remain, at which we arrived next day, and I found I had no cause to complain of the accommodations provided for me, in being boarded at the house of an apothecary79, who had married a distant relation of my mother. In a few days after, my uncle set out for his ship, having settled the necessary funds for my maintenance and education.
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1
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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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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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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balk
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| n.大方木料；v.妨碍；不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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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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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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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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eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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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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22
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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23
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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pedagogue
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| n.教师 | |
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adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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27
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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31
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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32
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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33
arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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36
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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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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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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39
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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40
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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41
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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42
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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43
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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44
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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45
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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46
auxiliary
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| adj.辅助的，备用的 | |
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47
pedant
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| n.迂儒；卖弄学问的人 | |
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48
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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49
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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50
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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51
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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52
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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53
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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54
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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55
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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56
chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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57
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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58
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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59
venting
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| 消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风 | |
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60
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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61
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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62
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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63
perfidy
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| n.背信弃义，不忠贞 | |
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ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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66
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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67
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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68
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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69
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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70
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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71
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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72
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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74
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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75
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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76
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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77
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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apothecary
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| n.药剂师 | |
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