castle rackrent-第1章
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Castle Rackrent
by Maria Edgeworth
With an Introduction by Anne Thackeray Ritchie
INTRODUCTION
I
The story of the Edgeworth Family； if it were properly told； should be as long as the ARABIAN NIGHTS themselves； the thousand and one cheerful intelligent members of the circle； the amusing friends and relations； the charming surroundings； the cheerful hospitable home； all go to make up an almost unique history of a county family of great parts and no little character。 The Edgeworths were people of good means and position； and their rental； we are told； amounted to nearly L3000 a year。 At one time there was some talk of a peerage for Mr。 Edgeworth； but he was considered too independent for a peerage。
The family tradition seems to have been unconventional and spirited always。 There are records still extant in the present Mr。 Edgeworth's possession；papers of most wonderful vitality for parchment；where you may read passionate remonstrances and adjurations from great…grandfathers to great…great…grandfathers； and where great…great…grandmothers rush into the discussion with vehement spelling and remonstrance； and make matters no better by their interference。 I never read more passionately eloquent letters and appeals。 There are also records of a pleasanter nature； merrymakings； and festive preparations； and 12s。 6d。 for a pair of silk stockings for Miss Margaret Edgeworth to dance in； carefully entered into the family budget。 All the people whose portraits are hanging up； beruffled； dignified； calm； and periwigged； on the old walls of Edgeworthstown certainly had extraordinarily strong impressions； and gave eloquent expression to them。 I don't think people could feel quite so strongly now about their own affairs as they did then； there are so many printed emotions； so many public events； that private details cannot seem quite as important。 Edgeworths of those days were farther away from the world than they are now； dwelling in the plains of Longford； which as yet were not crossed by iron rails。 The family seems to have made little of distances； and to have ridden and posted to and fro from Dublin to Edgeworthstown in storm and sunshine。
II
When Messrs。 Macmillan asked me to write a preface to this new edition of Miss Edgeworth's stories I thought I should like to see the place where she had lived so long and where she had written so much； and so it happened that being in Ireland early this year； my daughter and I found ourselves driving up to Broadstone Station one morning in time for the early train to Edgeworthstown。 As we got out of our cab we asked the driver what the fare should be。 'Sure the fare is half a crown；' said he； 'and if you wish to give me more； I could keep it for myself！'
The train was starting and we bought our papers to beguile the road。 'Will you have a Home Rule paper or one of them others？' said the newsboy； with such a droll emphasis that we couldn't help laughing。 'Give me one of each；' said I； then he laughed； as no English newsboy would have done。 。 。 。 We went along in the car with a sad couple of people out of a hospital； compatriots of our own； who had been settled ten years in Ireland； and were longing to be away。 The poor things were past consolation； dull； despairing； ingrained English； sick and suffering and yearning for Brixton； just as other aliens long for their native hills and moors。 We travelled along together all that spring morning by the blossoming hedges； and triumphal arches of flowering May； the hills were very far away； but the lovely lights and scents were all about and made our journey charming。 Maynooth was a fragrant vision as we flew past； of vast gardens wall…enclosed； of stately buildings。 The whole line of railway was sweet with the May flowers； and with the pungent and refreshing scent of the turf… bogs。 The air was so clear and so limpid that we could see for miles； and short…sighted eyes needed no glasses to admire with。 Here and there a turf cabin； now and then a lake placidly reflecting the sky。 The country seemed given over to silence； the light sped unheeded across the delicate browns and greens of the bog…fields； or lay on the sweet wonderful green of the meadows。 One dazzling field we saw full of dancing circles of little fairy pigs with curly tails。 Everything was homelike but NOT England； there was something of France； something of Italy in the sky； in the fanciful tints upon the land and sea； in the vastness of the picture； in the happy sadness and calm content which is so difficult to describe or to account for。 Finally we reached our journey's end。 It gave one a real emotion to see EDGEWORTHSTOWN written up on the board before us； and to realise that we were following in the steps of those giants who had passed before us。 The master of Edgeworthstown kindly met us and drove us to his home through the outlying village； shaded with its sycamores； underneath which pretty cows were browsing the grass。 We passed the Roman Catholic Church； the great iron crucifix standing in the churchyard。 Then the horses turned in at the gate of the park； and there rose the old home； so exactly like what one expected it； that I felt as if I had been there before in some other phase of existence。
It is certainly a tradition in the family to welcome travellers！ I thought of the various memoirs I had read； of the travellers arriving from the North and the South and the West； of Scott and Lockhart； of Pictet； of the Ticknors； of the many visitants who had come up in turn； whether it is the year 14； or the year 94； the hospitable doors open kindly to admit them。 There were the French windows reaching to the ground； through which Maria used to pass on her way to gather her roses； there was the porch where Walter Scott had stood； there grew the quaint old…fashioned bushes with the great pink peonies in flower； by those railings which still divide the park from the meadows beyond； there spread the branches of the century…old trees。 Only last winter they told us the storms came and swept away a grove of Beeches that were known in all the country round； but how much of shade； of flower； still remain！ The noble Hawthorn of stately growth； the pine…trees （there should be NAMES for trees； as there are for rocks or ancient strongholds）。 Mr。 Edgeworth showed us the oak from Jerusalem； the grove of cypress and sycamore where the beautiful depths of ground ivy are floating upon the DEBRIS； and soften the gnarled roots； while they flood the rising banks with green。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Edgeworth brought us into the house。 The ways go upstairs and downstairs； by winding passages and side gates； a pretty domed staircase starts from the central hall； where stands that old clock…case which Maria wound up when she was over eighty years old。 To the right and to the left along the passages were rooms opening from one into another。 I could imagine Sir Walter's kind eyes looking upon the scene； and Wordsworth coming down the stairs； and their friendly entertainer making all happy； and all welcome in turn； and their hostess； the widowed Mrs。 Edgeworth； responding and sympathising with each。 We saw the corner by the fire where Maria wrote； we saw her table with its pretty curves standing in its place in the deep casements。 Miss Edgeworth's own room is a tiny little room above looking out on the back garden。 This little closet opens from a larger one； and then by a narrow flight of stairs leads to a suite of ground… floor chambers； following one from another； lined with bookcases and looking on the gardens。 What a strange fellow…feeling with the past it gave one to stand staring at the old books； with their paper backs and old…fashioned covers； at the gray boards； which were the liveries of literature in those early days； at the first editions； with their inscriptions in the author's handwriting； or in Maria's pretty caligraphy。 There was the PIRATE in its original volumes； and Mackintosh's MEMOIRS； and Mrs。 Barbauld's ESSAYS； and Descartes's ESSAYS； that Arthur Hallam liked to read； Hallam's CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY； and Rogers's POEMS； were there all inscribed and dedicated。 Not less interesting were the piles of Magazines that had been sent from Americ
