第 45 节
作者:嘟嘟      更新:2021-02-20 05:57      字数:9322
  the cutter   climbing   up  one   side   of   a   wave;  and   running down   the   other;
  Madam How tells me that; though she will not tell you yet。                  Then why do
  they go out?
  Because they are accustomed to it。            They have come hither all round
  from Cowes; past the Land's End; and past Cape Clear; and they are not
  afraid    or  sick   either。   But    shall  I  tell  you   how    you   would    end    this
  evening?at least   so I  suspect。       Lying miserable in a stuffy cabin; on   a
  sofa;   and   not   quite   sure   whether   you   were   dead   or   alive;   till   you   were
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  bundled into a boat about twelve o'clock at night; when you ought to be
  safe asleep; and come home cold; and wet; and stupid; and ill; and lie in
  bed all to…morrow。
  But will they be wet and cold?
  I   cannot   be   sure;   but   from   the   look   of   the   sky   there   to   westward;   I
  think some of them will be。          So do you make up your mind to stay with
  me。    But if it is fine and smooth to…morrow; perhaps we may row down
  the bay; and see plenty of wonderful things。
  But why is it that Madam How will not tell people beforehand what
  will happen to them; as you have told me?
  Now I will tell you a great secret; which; alas! every one has not found
  out yet。    Madam How will teach you; but only by experience。 Lady Why
  will teach you; but by something very differentby something which has
  been calledand I know no better names for itgrace and inspiration; by
  putting into your heart feelings which no man; not even your father and
  mother; can put there; by making you quick to love what is right; and hate
  what is wrong; simply because they are right and wrong; though you don't
  know   why  they  are   right   and   wrong;   by   making   you   teachable;   modest;
  reverent; ready to believe those who are older   and wiser than you   when
  they tell you what you could never find out for yourself: and so you will
  be   prudent;   that   is   provident;   foreseeing;   and   know   what   will   happen   if
  you do so…and…so; and therefore what is really best and wisest for you。
  But why will she be kind enough to do that for me?
  For the very same reason that I do it。         For God's sake。       Because God
  is your Father in heaven; as I am  your father on earth; and He does not
  wish His little child to be left to the hard teaching of Nature and Law; but
  to be helped on by many; many unsought and undeserved favours; such as
  are rightly called 〃Means of Grace;〃 and above all by the Gospel and good
  news that you are God's child; and that God loves you; and has helped and
  taught you; and will help you and teach you; in a thousand ways of which
  you are not aware; if only you will be a wise child; and listen to Lady Why;
  when she cries from her Palace of Wisdom; and the feast which she has
  prepared; 〃Whoso is simple let him turn in hither;〃 and says to him who
  wants   understanding〃Come;   eat   of   my   bread;   and   drink   of   the   wine
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  which I have mingled。〃
  〃Counsel   is   mine;   and   sound   wisdom:      I   am   understanding;   I   have
  strength。     By me kings reign; and princes decree justice。             By me princes
  rule; and nobles; even all the judges of the earth。             I love them that love
  me; and those that seek me early shall find me。               Riches and honour are
  with me; yea; durable riches and righteousness。〃
  Yes; I will try and listen to Lady Why:            but what will happen if I do
  not?
  That   will   happen   to   you;   my   childbut   God   forbid   it   ever   should
  happenwhich happens to wicked kings and rulers; and all men; even the
  greatest and cleverest; if they do not choose to reign by Lady Why's laws;
  and decree justice according to her eternal ideas of what is just; but only
  do   what   seems   pleasant   and   profitable   to   themselves。      On   them   Lady
  Why turns round; and saysfor she; too; can be awful; ay dreadful; when
  she needs …
  〃Because I have called; and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand;
  and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel; and would
  have none of my reproof〃           And then come words so terrible; that I will
  not speak them here in this happy place: but what they mean is this:…
  That these foolish people are handed overas you and I shall be if we
  do wrong wilfullyto Madam How and her terrible school… house; which
  is called Nature and the Law; to be treated just as the plants and animals
  are treated; because they did not choose to behave like men and children
  of God。     And there they learn; whether they like or not; what they might
  have learnt from Lady Why all along。              They learn the great law; that as
  men sow so they will reap; as they make their bed so they will lie on it:
  and Madam How can teach that as no one else can in earth or heaven: only;
  unfortunately for her scholars; she is apt to hit so hard with her rod; which
  is   called   Experience;   that   they   never   get   over   it;   and   therefore   most   of
  those who will only be taught by Nature and Law are killed; poor creatures;
  before they have learnt their lesson; as many a savage tribe is destroyed;
  ay and great and mighty nations toothe old Roman Empire among them。
  And the poor Jews; who were carried away captive to Babylon?
  Yes;   they   would   not   listen   to   Lady  Why;   and   so   they   were   taken   in
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  hand by Madam How; and were seventy years in her terrible school… house;
  learning a lesson which; to do them justice; they never forgot again。               But
  now we will talk of something pleasanter。           We will go back to Lady Why;
  and listen to her voice。       It sounds gentle and cheerful enough just now。
  Listen。
  What? is she speaking to us now?
  Hush! open your eyes and ears once more; for you are growing sleepy
  with   my   long   sermon。    Watch   the   sleepy   shining   water;   and   the   sleepy
  green   mountains。      Listen    to   the   sleepy   lapping   of   the   ripple;   and  the
  sleepy sighing of the woods; and let Lady Why talk to you through them
  in 〃songs without words;〃 because they are deeper than all words; till you;
  too; fall asleep with your head upon my knee。
  But what does she say?
  She says〃Be still。     The fulness of joy is peace。〃        There; you are fast
  asleep; and perhaps that is the best thing for you; for sleep will (so I am
  informed; though I never saw it happen; nor any one else) put fresh gray
  matter into your brain; or save the wear and tear of the old gray matter; or
  something elsewhen they have settled what it is to do:                and if so; you
  will wake up with a fresh fiddle…string to your little fiddle of a brain; on
  which you are playing new tunes all day long。             So much the better:        but
  when I believe that your brain is you; pretty boy; then I shall believe also
  that the fiddler is his fiddle。
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  CHAPTER XII
  HOMEWARD BOUND
  Come:     I suppose you consider yourself quite a good sailor by now?
  Oh;   yes。   I   have   never   been   ill   yet;   though   it   has   been   quite   rough
  again and again。
  What you call rough; little man。          But as you are grown such a very
  good sailor; and also as the sea is all but smooth; I think we will have a
  sail in the yacht to…day; and that a tolerably long one。
  Oh; how delightful! but I thought we were going home; and the things
  are all packed up。
  And why should we not go homewards in the yacht; things and all?
  What; all the way to England?
  No; not so far as that; but these kind people; when they came into the
  harbour last night; offered to take us up the coast to a town; where we will
  sleep; and start comfortably home to…morrow  morning。 So now you will
  have a chance of seeing something of the great sea outside; and of seeing;
  perhaps; the whale himself。
  I hope we shall see the whale。         The men say he has been outside the
  harbour every day this week after the fish。
  Very good。      Now do you keep quiet; and out of the way; while we are
  getting ready to go on board; and take a last look at this pretty place; and
  all its dear ki