He takes his passage in a cutter for Deal — we are accosted1 by a Priest, who proves to be a Scotchman — his profession on friendship — he is affronted2 by the Lieutenant3, who afterwards appeases4 him by submission5 — my uncle embarks6 — I am introduced by a Priest to a Capuchin, in whose company I set out for Paris — the character of my fellow traveller — on adventure on the road — I am shocked at his behaviour
When our repast was ended, we walked down to the harbour, where we found a cutter that was to sail for Deal in the evening, and Mr. Bowling7 agreed for his passage. In the meantime, we sauntered about the town to satisfy our curiosity, our conversation turning on the subject of my designs, which were not as yet fixed8: neither can it be supposed that my mind was at case, when I found myself reduced almost to extreme poverty, in the midst of foreigners, among whom I had not one acquaintance to advise or befriend me. My uncle was sensible of my forlorn condition, and pressed me to accompany him to England, where he did not doubt of finding some sort of provision for me; but besides the other reasons I had for avoiding that kingdom, I looked upon it, at this time, as the worst country in the universe for a poor honest man to live in; and therefore determined9 to remain in France, at all events.
I was confirmed in this resolution by a reverend priest, who, passing by at this time, and overhearing us speak English, accosted us in the same language, telling us he was our countryman, and wishing it might be in his power to do us any service. We thanked this grave person for his courteous10 offer, and invited him to drink a glass with us, which he did not think proper to refuse, and we went altogether into a tavern11 of his recommending. After having drunk to our healths in a bumper12 of good Burgundy, he began to inquire into our situation, particularly the place of our nativity, which we no sooner named than he started up, and, wringing13 our hands with great fervour, shed a flood of tears, crying, “I come from the same part of the country! perhaps you are my own relations.” I was on my guard against his caresses14, which I suspected very much, when I remembered the adventure of the money-dropper; but, without any appearance of diffidence, observed, that, as he was born in that part of the country, he must certainly know our families, which (howsoever mean our present appearance might be) were none of the most obscure or inconsiderable. Then I discovered our names, to which I found he was no stranger; he had known my grandfather personally; and, notwithstanding an absence of fifty years from Scotland, recounted so many particulars of the families in the neighbourhood, that my scruples15 were entirely16 removed, and I thought myself happy in his acquaintance. In the course of our conversation, I disclosed my condition without reserve, and displayed my talents to such advantage, that the old father looked upon me with admiration17, and assured me, that, if I stayed in France, and listened to reason, I could not fail of making my fortune, to which he would contribute all in his power.
My uncle began to be jealous of the Priest’s insinuation, and very abruptly18 declared, that if ever I should renounce19 my religion, he would break off all connection and correspondence with me; for it was his opinion, that no honest man would swerve20 from his principles in which he was bred, whether Turkish, Protestant, or Roman. The father, affronted at this declaration, with great vehemence21 began a long discourse22, setting forth23 the danger of obstinacy24, and shutting one’s eyes against the light. He said, that ignorance would be no plea towards justification25, when we had opportunities of being better informed; and, that, if the minds of people had not been open to conviction, the Christian26 religion could not have been propagated in the world, and we should now be in a state of Pagan darkness and barbarity: he endeavoured to prove, by some texts of Scripture27 and many quotations28 from the Fathers, that the Pope was the successor of St. Peter, and vicar of Jesus Christ; that the church of Rome was the true, holy, catholic church; and that the Protestant faith was an impious heresy29 and damnable schism30, by which many millions of souls would suffer everlasting31 perdition. When he had finished his sermon, which I thought he pronounced with more zeal32 than discretion33, he addressed himself to my uncle, desired to know his objections to what had been said. The lieutenant, whose attention had been wholly engrossed34 by his own affairs, took the pipe out of his mouth, and replied, “As for me, friend, d’ye see, I have no objection to what you say; it may be either truth or false, for what I know; I meddle35 with nobody’s affairs but my own; the gunner to his linstock, and the steersman to the helm, as the saying is. I trust to no creed36 but the compass, and do unto every man as I would be done by; so that I defy the Pope, the Devil, and the Pretender; and hope to be saved as well as another.” This association of persons gave great offence to the friar, who protested, in a mighty37 passion, that if Mr. Bowling had not been his countryman, he would have caused him to be imprisoned38 for his insolence39; I ventured to disapprove40 of my uncle’s rashness, and appeased41 the old gentleman, by assuring him there was no offence intended by my kinsman42, who, by this time sensible of his error, shook the injured party by the hand, and asked pardon for the freedom he had taken. Matters being amicably43 compromised, he invited us to come and see him in the afternoon at the convent to which he belonged, and took his leave for the present; when my uncle recommended it strongly to me to persevere44 in the religion of my forefathers45, whatever advantages might propose to myself by a change, which could not fail of disgracing myself, and dishonouring46 my family. I assured him no consideration would induce me to forfeit47 his friendship and good opinion on that score; at which assurance he discovered great satisfaction, and put me in mind of dinner, which we immediately bespoke48, and when it was ready, ate together.
I imagined my acquaintance with the Scottish priest if properly managed, might turn out to my advantage, and therefore resolved to cultivate it as much as I could. With this view we visited him at his convent, according to his invitation, where he treated us with wine and sweetmeats, and showed us everything that was remarkable49 in the monastery50. Having been thus entertained, we took our leave, though not before I had promised to see him next day, and the time fixed for my uncle’s embarking51 being come, I accompanied him to the harbour, and saw him on board. We parted not without tears, after we had embraced and wished one another all manner of prosperity: and he entreated52 me to write to him often, directing to Lieutenant Bowling, at the sign of the Union Flag, near the Hermitage, London.
I returned to the house in which we had met, where I passed the night in a very solitary53 manner, reflecting on the severity of my fate, and endeavouring to project some likely scheme of life for the future; but my invention failed me; I saw nothing but insurmountable difficulties in my way, and was ready to despair at the miserable54 prospect55! That I might not, however, neglect any probable reason, I got up in the morning, and went directly to the father, whose advice and assistance I implored56. He received me very kindly57, and gave me to understand, that there was one way of life in which a person of my talents could not fail of making a great figure. I guessed his meaning, and told him, once for all, I was fully58 determined against any alteration59 in point of religion; therefore if his proposal regarded the church, he might save himself the trouble of explaining it. He shook his head and sighed, saying, “Ah! son, son, what a glorious prospect is here spoiled by your stubborn prejudice! Suffer yourself to be persuaded by reason, and consult your temporal welfare, as well as the concerns of your eternal soul. I can, by my interest procure60 your admission as a noviciate to this convent, where I will superintend and direct you with a truly paternal61 affection.” Then he launched out into the praises of a monastic life, which no noise disturbs, no cares molest62, and no danger invades — where the heart is weaned from carnal attachments63, the grosser appetite subdued64 and chastised65, and the soul wafted66 to divine regions of philosophy and truth, on the wing of studious contemplation. But his eloquence67 was lost upon me, whom two considerations enabled to withstand his temptation; namely, my promise to my uncle, and my aversion to an ecclesiastical life; for as to the difference of religion, I looked upon it as a thing of too small moment to come in competition with a man’s fortune. Finding me immovable on this head, he told me, he was more sorry than offended at my noncompliance, and still ready to employ his good offices in my behalf. “The same erroneous maxims,” said he, ” that obstruct68 your promotion69 in the church, will infallibly prevent your advancement70 in the army; but, if you can brook71 the condition of a servant, I am acquainted with some people of rank at Versailles, to whom I can give you letters of recommendation, that you may be entertained by some one of them in quality of maitre d’hotel; and I do not doubt that your qualifications will soon entitle you to a better provision.” I embraced his offer with great eagerness, and he appointed me to come back in the afternoon, when he would not only give me letters, but likewise introduce me to a capuchin of his acquaintance, who intended to set out for Paris next morning in whose company I might travel, without being at the expense of one livre during the whole journey. This piece of good news gave me infinite pleasure; I acknowledged my obligation to the benevolent72 father in the most grateful expressions; and he performed his promise to a tittle, in delivering the letters, and making me acquainted with the capuchin, with whom I departed next morning by break of day.
It was not long before I discovered my fellow traveller to be a merry facetious73 fellow, who, notwithstanding his profession and appearance of mortification74, loved good eating and drinking better than his rosary, and paid more adoration75 to a pretty girl than to the Virgin76 Mary, or St. Genevieve. He was a thick brawny77 young man, with red eyebrows78, a hook nose, a face covered with freckles79; and his name was Frere Balthazar. His order did not permit him to wear linen80, so that, having little occasion to undress himself, he was none of the cleanliest animals in the world; and his constitution was naturally so strongly scented81 that I always thought it convenient to keep to the windward of him in our march. As he was perfectly82 well known on the road, we fared sumptuously83 without any cost, and the fatigue84 of our journey was much alleviated85 by the good humour of my companion, who sang an infinite number of catches on the subjects of love and wine. We took up our lodging86 the first night at a peasant’s house not far from Abbeville, where we were entertained with an excellent ragout, cooked by our landlord’s daughters, one of whom was very handsome. After having eaten heartily87 and drank a sufficient quantity of small wine, we were conducted to a barn, where we found a couple of carpets spread upon clean straw for our reception. We had not lain in this situation above half-an-hour, when we heard somebody knock softly at the door, upon which Balthazar got up, and let in our host’s two daughters, who wanted to have some private conversation with him in the dark. When they had whispered together some time, the capuchin came to me, and asked if I was insensible to love, and so hard-hearted as to refuse a share of my bed to a pretty maid who had a tendre for me? I must own to my shame, that I suffered myself to be overcome by my passion, and with great eagerness seized the occasion, when I understood that the amiable88 Nanette was to be my bedfellow. In vain did my reason suggest the respect that I owed to my dear mistress Narcissa; the idea of that lovely charmer rather increased than allayed89 the ferment90 of my spirits; and the young paysanne had no reason to complain of my remembrance. Early in the morning, the kind creatures left us to our repose91, which lasted till eight o’clock when we got up, and were treated at breakfast with chocolate and l’eau-de-vie by our paramours, of whom we took a tender leave, after my companion had confessed and given them absolution.
While we proceeded on our journey, the conversation turned upon the night’s adventure, being introduced by the capuchin, who asked me how I liked my lodging; I declared my satisfaction, and talked in rapture92 of the agreeable Nanette, at which he shook his head, and smiling said, she was a morceau pour la bonne bouche. “I never valued myself,” continued he, “upon anything so much as the conquest of Nanette; and, vanity apart, I have been pretty fortunate in my amours.” This information shocked me not a little, as I was well convinced of his intimacy93 with her sister; and though I did not care to tax him with downright incest, I professed94 my astonishment95 at his last night’s choice, when, I supposed, the other was at his devotion. To this hint he answered that, besides his natural complaisance96 to the sex, he had another reason to distribute his favours equally between them, namely, to preserve peace in the family, which could not otherwise be maintained; that, moreover, Nanette had conceived an affection for me, and he loved her too well to balk97 her inclination98; more especially, when he had an opportunity of obliging his friend at the same time. I thanked him for this instance of his friendship, though I was extremely disgusted at his want of delicacy99, and cursed the occasion that threw me in his way. Libertine100 as I was, I could not bear to see a man behave so wide of the character he assumed. I looked upon him as a person of very little worth or honesty, and should even have kept a wary101 eye upon my pocket, if I had thought he could have had any temptation to steal. But I could not conceive the use of money to a capuchin, who is obliged, by the rules of his order, to appear like a beggar, and enjoy all other necessaries of life gratis102; besides, my fellow traveller seemed to be of a complexion103 too careless and sanguine104 to give me any apprehension105 on that score; so that I proceeded with great confidence, in expectation of being soon at my journey’s end.
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1
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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affronted
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| adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇 | |
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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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appeases
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的第三人称单数 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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embarks
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| 乘船( embark的第三人称单数 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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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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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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quotations
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| n.引用( quotation的名词复数 )；[商业]行情（报告）；（货物或股票的）市价；时价 | |
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heresy
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| n.异端邪说；异教 | |
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schism
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| n.分派，派系，分裂 | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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disapprove
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| v.不赞成，不同意，不批准 | |
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41
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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kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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46
dishonouring
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| 使（人、家族等）丧失名誉（dishonour的现在分词形式） | |
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forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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48
bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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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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monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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51
embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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attachments
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| n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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chastised
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| v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的过去式 ) | |
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wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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obstruct
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| v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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71
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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freckles
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| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
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80
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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81
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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82
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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sumptuously
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| 奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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84
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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85
alleviated
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| 减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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87
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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88
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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90
ferment
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| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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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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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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complaisance
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| n.彬彬有礼，殷勤，柔顺 | |
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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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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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libertine
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| n.淫荡者；adj.放荡的，自由思想的 | |
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101
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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102
gratis
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| adj.免费的 | |
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103
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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104
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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