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第4章

the celeatial railroad-第4章

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And well do they deserve such honorable estimation; for the

maxims of wisdom and virtue which fall from their lips come from

as deep a spiritual source; and tend to as lofty a religious aim;

as those of the sagest philosophers of old。 In justification of

this high praise I need only mention the names of the Rev。 Mr。

Shallow…deep; the Rev。 Mr。 Stumble…at…truth; that fine old

clerical character the Rev。 Mr。 This…today; who expects shortly

to resign his pulpit to the Rev。 Mr。 That…tomorrow; together with

the Rev。 Mr。 Bewilderment; the Rev。 Mr。 Clog…the…spirit; and;

last and greatest; the Rev。 Dr。 Wind…of…doctrine。 The labors of

these eminent divines are aided by those of innumerable

lecturers; who diffuse such a various profundity; in all subjects

of human or celestial science; that any man may acquire an

omnigenous erudition without the trouble of even learning to

read。 Thus literature is etherealized by assuming for its medium

the human voice; and knowledge; depositing all its heavier

particles; except; doubtless; its gold becomes exhaled into a

sound; which forthwith steals into the ever…open ear of the

community。 These ingenious methods constitute a sort of

machinery; by which thought and study are done to every person's

hand without his putting himself to the slightest inconvenience

in the matter。 There is another species of machine for the

wholesale manufacture of individual morality。 This excellent

result is effected by societies for all manner of virtuous

purposes; with which a man has merely to connect himself;

throwing; as it were; his quota of virtue into the common stock;

and the president and directors will take care that the aggregate

amount be well applied。 All these; and other wonderful

improvements in ethics; religion; and literature; being made

plain to my comprehension by the ingenious Mr。 Smooth…it…away;

inspired me with a vast admiration of Vanity Fair。



It would fill a volume; in an age of pamphlets; were I to record

all my observations in this great capital of human business and

pleasure。 There was an unlimited range of societythe powerful;

the wise; the witty; and the famous in every walk of life;

princes; presidents; poets; generals; artists; actors; and

philanthropists;all making their own market at the fair; and

deeming no price too exorbitant for such commodities as hit their

fancy。 It was well worth one's while; even if he had no idea of

buying or selling; to loiter through the bazaars and observe the

various sorts of traffic that were going forward。



Some of the purchasers; I thought; made very foolish bargains。

For instance; a young man having inherited a splendid fortune;

laid out a considerable portion of it in the purchase of

diseases; and finally spent all the rest for a heavy lot of

repentance and a suit of rags。 A very pretty girl bartered a

heart as clear as crystal; and which seemed her most valuable

possession; for another jewel of the same kind; but so worn and

defaced as to be utterly worthless。 In one shop there were a

great many crowns of laurel and myrtle; which soldiers; authors;

statesmen; and various other people pressed eagerly to buy; some

purchased these paltry wreaths with their lives; others by a

toilsome servitude of years; and many sacrificed whatever was

most valuable; yet finally slunk away without the crown。 There

was a sort of stock or scrip; called Conscience; which seemed to

be in great demand; and would purchase almost anything。 Indeed;

few rich commodities were to be obtained without paying a heavy

sum in this particular stock; and a man's business was seldom

very lucrative unless he knew precisely when and how to throw his

hoard of conscience into the market。 Yet as this stock was the

only thing of permanent value; whoever parted with it was sure to

find himself a loser in the long run。 Several of the speculations

were of a questionable character。 Occasionally a member of

Congress recruited his pocket by the sale of his constituents;

and I was assured that public officers have often sold their

country at very moderate prices。 Thousands sold their happiness

for a whim。 Gilded chains were in great demand; and purchased

with almost any sacrifice。 In truth; those who desired; according

to the old adage; to sell anything valuable for a song; might

find customers all over the Fair; and there were innumerable

messes of pottage; piping hot; for such as chose to buy them with

their birthrights。 A few articles; however; could not be found

genuine at Vanity Fair。 If a customer wished to renew his stock

of youth the dealers offered him a set of false teeth and an

auburn wig; if he demanded peace of mind; they recommended opium

or a brandy bottle。



Tracts of land and golden mansions; situate in the Celestial

City; were often exchanged; at very disadvantageous rates; for a

few years' lease of small; dismal; inconvenient tenements in

Vanity Fair。 Prince Beelzebub himself took great interest in this

sort of traffic; and sometimes condescended to meddle with

smaller matters。 I once had the pleasure to see him bargaining

with a miser for his soul; which; after much ingenious

skirmishing on both sides; his highness succeeded in obtaining at

about the value of sixpence。 The prince remarked with a smile;

that he was a loser by the transaction。



Day after day; as I walked the streets of Vanity; my manners and

deportment became more and more like those of the inhabitants。

The place began to seem like home; the idea of pursuing my

travels to the Celestial City was almost obliterated from my

mind。 I was reminded of it; however; by the sight of the same

pair of simple pilgrims at whom we had laughed so heartily when

Apollyon puffed smoke and steam into their faces at the

commencement of our journey。 There they stood amidst the densest

bustle of Vanity; the dealers offering them their purple and fine

linen and jewels; the men of wit and humor gibing at them; a pair

of buxom ladies ogling them askance; while the benevolent Mr。

Smooth…it…away whispered some of his wisdom at their elbows; and

pointed to a newly…erected temple; but there were these worthy

simpletons; making the scene look wild and monstrous; merely by

their sturdy repudiation of all part in its business or

pleasures。



One of themhis name was Stick…to…the…rightperceived in my

face; I suppose; a species of sympathy and almost admiration;

which; to my own great surprise; I could not help feeling for

this pragmatic couple。 It prompted him to address me。



〃Sir;〃 inquired he; with a sad; yet mild and kindly voice。 〃do

you call yourself a pilgrim?〃



〃Yes;〃 I replied; 〃my right to that appellation is indubitable。 I

am merely a sojourner here in Vanity Fair; being bound to the

Celestial City by the new railroad。〃



〃Alas; friend;〃 rejoined Mr。 Stick…to…the…truth; 〃I do assure

you; and beseech you to receive the truth of my words; that that

whole concern is a bubble。 You may travel on it all your

lifetime; were you to live thousands of years; and yet never get

beyond the limits of Vanity Fair。 Yea; though you should deem

yourself entering the gates of the blessed city; it will be

nothing but a miserable delusion。〃



〃The Lord of the Celestial City;〃 began the other pilgrim; whose

name was Mr。 Foot…it…to…heaven; 〃has refused; and will ever

refuse; to grant an act of incorporation for this railroad; and

unless that be obtained; no passenger can ever hope to enter his

dominions。 Wherefore every man who buys a ticket must lay his

account with losing the purchase money; which is the value of his

own soul。〃



〃Poh; nonsense!〃 said Mr。 Smooth…it…away; taking my arm and

leading me off; 〃these fellows ought to be indicted for a libel。

If the law stood as it once did in Vanity Fair we should see them

grinning through the iron bars of the prison window。〃



This incident made a considerable impression on my mind; and

contributed with other circums

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