第 24 节
作者:敏儿不觉      更新:2021-02-19 21:45      字数:9322
  any other body of men to attempt to remove so stubborn a
  nuisance。
  If it should be doubted whether we can bring this case within the
  letter of any capital law now subsisting; I am ashamed to own it
  cannot; for surely no crime better deserves such punishment; but
  the remedy may; nevertheless; be immediate; and if a law was made
  at the beginning of next session; to take place immediately; by
  which the starving thousands of poor was declared to be felony;
  without benefit of clergy; the fishmongers would be hanged before
  the end of the session。  A second method of filling the mouths of
  the poor; if not with loaves at least with fishes; is to desire
  the magistrates to carry into execution one at least out of near
  a hundred acts of parliament; for preserving the small fry of the
  river of Thames; by which means as few fish would satisfy
  thousands as may now be devoured by a small number of
  individnals。  But while a fisherman can break through the
  strongest meshes of an act of parliament; we may be assured he
  will learn so to contrive his own meshes that the smallest fry
  will not be able to swim through them。
  Other methods may; we doubt not; he suggested by those who shall
  attentively consider the evil here hinted at; but we have dwelt
  too long on it already; and shall conclude with observing that it
  is difficult to affirm whether the atrocity of the evil itself;
  the facility of curing it; or the shameful neglect of the cure;
  be the more scandalous or more astonishing。
  After having; however; gloriously regaled myself with this food;
  I was washing it down with some good claret with my wife and her
  friend; in the cabin; when the captain's valet…de…chambre; head
  cook; house and ship steward; footman in livery and out on't;
  secretary and fore…mast man; all burst into the cabin at once;
  being; indeed; all but one person; and; without saying; by your
  leave; began to pack half a hogshead of small beer in bottles;
  the necessary consequence of which must have been either a total
  stop to conversation at that cheerful season when it is most
  agreeable; or the admitting that polyonymous officer aforesaid to
  the participation of it。  I desired him therefore to delay his
  purpose a little longer; but he refused to grant my request; nor
  was he prevailed on to quit the room till he was threatened with
  having one bottle to pack more than his number; which then
  happened to stand empty within my reach。  With these menaces he
  retired at last; but not without muttering some menaces on his
  side; and which; to our great terror; he failed not to put into
  immediate execution。
  Our captain was gone to dinner this day with his Swiss brother;
  and; though he was a very sober man; was a little elevated with
  some champagne; which; as it cost the Swiss little or nothing; he
  dispensed at his table more liberally than our hospitable English
  noblemen put about those bottles; which the ingenious Peter
  Taylor teaches a led captain to avoid by distinguishing by the
  name of that generous liquor; which all humble companions are
  taught to postpone to the flavor of methuen; or honest port。
  While our two captains were thus regaling themselves; and
  celebrating their own heroic exploits with all the inspiration
  which the liquor; at least; of wit could afford them; the
  polyonymous officer arrived; and; being saluted by the name of
  Honest Tom; was ordered to sit down and take his glass before he
  delivered his message; for every sailor is by turns his captain's
  mate over a cann; except only that captain bashaw who presides in
  a man…of…war; and who upon earth has no other mate; unless it be
  another of the same bashaws。  Tom had no sooner swallowed his
  draught than he hastily began his narrative; and faithfully
  related what had happened on board our ship; we say faithfully;
  though from what happened it may be suspected that Tom chose to
  add perhaps only five or six immaterial circumstances; as is
  always I believe the case; and may possibly have been done by me
  in relating this very story; though it happened not many hours ago。
  No sooner was the captain informed of the interruption which had
  been given to his officer; and indeed to his orders; for he
  thought no time so convenient as that of his absence for causing
  any confusion in the cabin; than he leaped with such haste from
  his chair that he had like to have broke his sword; with which he
  always begirt himself when he walked out of his ship; and
  sometimes when he walked about in it; at the same time; grasping
  eagerly that other implement called a cockade; which modern
  soldiers wear on their helmets with the same view as the ancients
  did their creststo terrify the enemy he muttered something; but
  so inarticulately that the word DAMN was only intelligible; he
  then hastily took leave of the Swiss captain; who was too well
  bred to press his stay on such an occasion; and leaped first from
  the ship to his boat; and then from his boat to his own ship;
  with as much fierceness in his looks as he had ever expressed on
  boarding his defenseless prey in the honorable calling of a
  privateer。  Having regained the middle deck; he paused a moment
  while Tom and others loaded themselves with bottles; and then
  descending into the cabin exclaimed with a thundering voice;
  〃Dn me; why arn't the bottles stowed in; according to my orders?〃
  I answered him very mildly that I had prevented his man from
  doing it; as it was at an inconvenient time to me; and as in his
  absence; at least; I esteemed the cabin to be my own。  〃Your
  cabin!〃 repeated he many times; 〃no; dn me! 'tis my cabin。
  Your cabin! dn me! I have brought my hogs to a fair market。  I
  suppose indeed you think it your cabin; and your ship; by your
  commanding in it; but I will command in it; dn me! I will show
  the world I am the commander; and nobody but I! Did you think I
  sold you the command of my ship for that pitiful thirty pounds? I
  wish I had not seen you nor your thirty pounds aboard of her。〃
  He then repeated the words thirty pounds often; with great
  disdain; and with a contempt which I own the sum did not seem to
  deserve in my eye; either in itself or on the present occasion;
  being; indeed; paid for the freight of  weight of human
  flesh; which is above fifty per cent dearer than the freight of
  any other luggage; whilst in reality it takes up less room; in
  fact; no room at all。
  In truth; the sum was paid for nothing more than for a liberty to
  six persons (two of them servants) to stay on board a ship while
  she sails from one port to another; every shilling of which comes
  clear into the captain's pocket。  Ignorant people may perhaps
  imagine; especially when they are told that the captain is
  obliged to sustain them; that their diet at least is worth
  something; which may probably be now and then so far the case as
  to deduct a tenth part from the net profits on this account; but
  it was otherwise at present; for when I had contracted with the
  captain at a price which I by no means thought moderate; I had
  some content in thinking I should have no more to pay for my
  voyage; but I was whispered that it was expected the passengers
  should find themselves in several things; such as tea; wine; and
  such like; and particularly that gentlemen should stow of the
  latter a much larger quantity than they could use; in order to
  leave the remainder as a present to the captain at the end of the
  voyage; and it was expected likewise that gentlemen should put
  aboard some fresh stores; and the more of such things were put
  aboard the welcomer they would be to the captain。
  I was prevailed with by these hints to follow the advice
  proposed; and accordingly; besides tea and a large hamper of
  wine; with several hams and tongues; I caused a number of live
  chickens and sheep to be conveyed aboard; in truth; treble the
  quantity of provisions which would have supported the persons I
  took with me; had the voyage continued three weeks; as it was
  supposed; with a bare possibility; it might。
  Indeed it continued much longer; but as this was occasioned by
  our being wind…bound in our own ports; it was by no means of any
  ill consequence to the captain; as the additional stores of fish;
  fresh meat; butter; bread; &c。; which I constantly laid in;
  greatly exceeded the consumption; and went some way in
  maintaining the ship's crew。  It is true I was not obliged to do
  this; but it seemed to be expected; for the captain did not think
  himself obliged to do it; and I can truly say I soon ceased to
  expect it of him。  He had; I confess; on board a number of fowls
  and ducks sufficient for a West India voyage; all of them; as he
  often said; 〃Very fine birds; and of the largest breed。〃  This I
  believe was really the fact; and I can add that they were all
  arrived at the full perfection of their size。  Nor was there; I
  am convinced; any want of provisions of a more substantial kind;
  such as dried beef; po