第 10 节
作者:敏儿不觉      更新:2021-02-19 21:45      字数:9322
  distaste and aversion; instead of pleasure。  With some of these
  situations; such as Barnes; Mortlake; etc。; even the shore of
  Essex might contend; not upon very unequal terms; but on the
  Kentish borders there are many spots to be chosen by the builder
  which might justly claim the preference over almost the very
  finest of those in Middlesex and Surrey。
  How shall we account for this depravity in taste? for surely
  there are none so very mean and contemptible as to bring the
  pleasure of seeing a number of little wherries; gliding along
  after one another; in competition with what we enjoy in viewing a
  succession of ships; with all their sails expanded to the winds;
  bounding over the waves before us。
  And here I cannot pass by another observation on the deplorable
  want of taste in our enjoyments; which we show by almost totally
  neglecting the pursuit of what seems to me the highest degree of
  amusement; this is; the sailing ourselves in little vessels of
  our own; contrived only for our ease and accommodation; to which
  such situations of our villas as I have recommended would be so
  convenient; and even necessary。
  This amusement; I confess; if enjoyed in any perfection; would be
  of the expensive kind; but such expense would not exceed the
  reach of a moderate fortune; and would fall very short of the
  prices which are daily paid for pleasures of a far inferior rate。
  The truth; I believe; is; that sailing in the manner I have just
  mentioned is a pleasure rather unknown; or unthought of; than
  rejected by those who have experienced it; unless; perhaps; the
  apprehension of danger or seasickness may be supposed; by the
  timorous and delicate; to make too large deductionsinsisting
  that all their enjoyments shall come to them pure and unmixed;
  and being ever ready to cry out;
  Nocet empta dolore voluptas。
  This; however; was my present case; for the ease and lightness
  which I felt from my tapping; the gayety of the morning; the
  pleasant sailing with wind and tide; and the many agreeable
  objects with which I was constantly entertained during the whole
  way; were all suppressed and overcome by the single consideration
  of my wife's pain; which continued incessantly to torment her
  till we came to an anchor; when I dispatched a messenger in great
  haste for the best reputed operator in Gravesend。  A surgeon of
  some eminence now appeared; who did not decline tooth…drawing;
  though he certainly would have been offended with the appellation
  of tooth…drawer no less than his brethren; the members of that
  venerable body; would be with that of barber; since the late
  separation between those long…united companies; by which; if the
  surgeons have gained much; the barbers are supposed to have lost
  very little。  This able and careful person (for so I sincerely
  believe he is) after examining the guilty tooth; declared that it
  was such a rotten shell; and so placed at the very remotest end
  of the upper jaw; where it was in a manner covered and secured by
  a large fine firm tooth; that he despaired of his power of
  drawing it。
  He said; indeed; more to my wife; and used more rhetoric to
  dissuade her from having it drawn; than is generally employed to
  persuade young ladies to prefer a pain of three moments to one of
  three months' continuance; especially if those young ladies
  happen to be past forty and fifty years of age; when; by
  submitting to support a racking torment; the only good
  circumstance attending which is; it is so short that scarce one
  in a thousand can cry out 〃I feel it;〃 they are to do a violence
  to their charms; and lose one of those beautiful holders with
  which alone Sir Courtly Nice declares a lady can ever lay hold of
  his heart。  He said at last so much; and seemed to reason so
  justly; that I came over to his side; and assisted him in
  prevailing on my wife (for it was no easy matter) to resolve on
  keeping her tooth a little longer; and to apply palliatives only
  for relief。  These were opium applied to the tooth; and blisters
  behind the ears。
  Whilst we were at dinner this day in the cabin; on a sudden the
  window on one side was beat into the room with a crash as if a
  twenty…pounder had been discharged among us。  We were all alarmed
  at the suddenness of the accident; for which; however; we were
  soon able to account; for the sash; which was shivered all to
  pieces; was pursued into the middle of the cabin by the bowsprit
  of a little ship called a cod…smack; the master of which made us
  amends for running (carelessly at best) against us; and injuring
  the ship; in the sea…way; that is to say; by damning us all to
  hell; and uttering several pious wishes that it had done us much
  more mischief。  All which were answered in their own kind and
  phrase by our men; between whom and the other crew a dialogue of
  oaths and scurrility was carried on as long as they continued in
  each other's hearing。
  It is difficult; I think; to assign a satisfactory reason why
  sailors in general should; of all others; think themselves
  entirely discharged from the common bands of humanity; and should
  seem to glory in the language and behavior of savages! They see
  more of the world; and have; most of them; a more erudite
  education than is the portion of landmen of their degree。  Nor do
  I believe that in any country they visit (Holland itself not
  excepted) they can ever find a parallel to what daily passes on
  the river Thames。  Is it that they think true courage (for they
  are the bravest fellows upon earth) inconsistent with all the
  gentleness of a humane carriage; and that the contempt of civil
  order springs up in minds but little cultivated; at the same time
  and from the same principles with the contempt of danger and
  death? Is it? in short; it is so; and how it comes to be so I
  leave to form a question in the Robin Hood Society; or to he
  propounded for solution among the enigmas in the Woman's Almanac
  for the next year。
  Monday; July 1。This day Mr。 Welch took his leave of me after
  dinner; as did a young lady of her sister; who was proceeding
  with my wife to Lisbon。  They both set out together in a
  post…chaise for London。  Soon after their departure our cabin;
  where my wife and I were sitting together; was visited by two
  ruffians; whose appearance greatly corresponded with that of the
  sheriffs; or rather the knight…marshal's bailiffs。  One of
  these especially; who seemed to affect a more than ordinary
  degree of rudeness and insolence; came in without any kind of
  ceremony; with a broad gold lace on his hat; which was cocked
  with much military fierceness on his head。  An inkhorn at his
  buttonhole and some papers in his hand sufficiently assured me
  what he was; and I asked him if he and his companion were not
  custom…house officers:  he answered with sufficient dignity that
  they were; as an information which he seemed to conclude would
  strike the hearer with awe; and suppress all further inquiry;
  but; on the contrary; I proceeded to ask of what rank he was in
  the custom…house; and; receiving an answer from his companion; as
  I remember; that the gentleman was a riding surveyor; I replied
  that he might be a riding surveyor; but could be no gentleman;
  for that none who had any title to that denomination would break
  into the presence of a lady without an apology or even moving his
  hat。  He then took his covering from his head and laid it on the
  table; saying; he asked pardon; and blamed the mate; who should;
  he said; have informed him if any persons of distinction were
  below。  I told him he might guess by our appearance (which;
  perhaps; was rather more than could be said with the strictest
  adherence to truth) that he was before a gentleman and lady;
  which should teach him to be very civil in his behavior; though
  we should not happen to be of that number whom the world calls
  people of fashion and distinction。  However; I said; that as he
  seemed sensible of his error; and had asked pardon; the lady
  would permit him to put his hat on again if he chose it。  This he
  refused with some degree of surliness; and failed not to convince
  me that; if I should condescend to become more gentle; he would
  soon grow more rude。  I now renewed a reflection; which I have
  often seen occasion to make; that there is nothing so incongruous
  in nature as any kind of power with lowness of mind and of
  ability; and that there is nothing more deplorable than the want
  of truth in the whimsical notion of Plato; who tells us that
  〃Saturn; well knowing the state of human affairs; gave us kings
  and rulers; not of human but divine original; for; as we make not
  shepherds of sheep; nor oxherds of oxen; nor goatherds of goats;
  but place some of our own kind over all as being better and
  fitter to govern them; in the same manner were demons by the
  divine love set over us as a race of beings of a superior order
  to men; and who; with great ease to themselves; might regulate
  our affairs and