adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第187章
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waggoner； who loved his horses； had his grudge against Alick in
the matter of corn。 They rarely spoke to each other； and never
looked at each other； even over their dish of cold potatoes； but
then； as this was their usual mode of behaviour towards all
mankind； it would be an unsafe conclusion that they had more
than transient fits of unfriendliness。 The bucolic character at
Hayslope； you perceive； was not of that entirely genial； merry；
broad…grinning sort； apparently observed in most districts visited
by artists。 The mild radiance of a smile was a rare sight on a field…
labourer’s face； and there was seldom any gradation between
bovine gravity and a laugh。 Nor was every labourer so honest as
our friend Alick。 At this very table； among Mr。 Poyser’s men； there
is that big Ben Tholoway； a very powerful thresher； but detected
more than once in carrying away his master’s corn in his
pockets—an action which； as Ben was not a philosopher； could
hardly be ascribed to absence of mind。 However； his master had
forgiven him； and continued to employ him； for the Tholoways had
lived on the Common time out of mind； and had always worked for
the Poysers。 And on the whole； I daresay； society was not much
the worse because Ben had not six months of it at the treadmill；
for his views of depredation were narrow； and the House of
Correction might have enlarged them。 As it was； Ben ate his roast
beef to…night with a serene sense of having stolen nothing more
than a few peas and beans as seed for his garden since the last
harvest supper； and felt warranted in thinking that Alick’s
suspicious eye； for ever upon him； was an injury to his innocence。
But now the roast beef was finished and the cloth was drawn；
leaving a fair large deal table for the bright drinking…cans； and the
foaming brown jugs； and the bright brass candlesticks； pleasant to
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behold。 now； the great ceremony of the evening was to begin—the
harvest…song； in which every man must join。 He might be in tune；
if he liked to be singular； but he must not sit with closed lips。 The
movement was obliged to be in triple time； the rest was ad libitum。
As to the origin of this song—whether it came in its actual state
from the brain of a single rhapsodist； or was gradually perfected
by a school or succession of rhapsodists； I am ignorant。 There is a
stamp of unity； of individual genius upon it； which inclines me to
the former hypothesis； though I am not blind to the consideration
that this unity may rather have arisen from that consensus of
many minds which was a condition of primitive thought； foreign to
our modern consciousness。 Some will perhaps think that they
detect in the first quatrain an indication of a lost line； which later
rhapsodists； failing in imaginative vigour； have supplied by the
feeble device of iteration。 Others； however； may rather maintain
that this very iteration is an original felicity； to which none but the
most prosaic minds can be insensible。
The ceremony connected with the song was a drinking
ceremony。 （That is perhaps a painful fact； but then； you know； we
cannot reform our forefathers。） During the first and second
quatrain； sung decidedlyforte ； no can was filled。
“Here’s a health unto our master；
The founder of the feast；
Here’s a health unto our master
And to our mistress！
And may his doings prosper；
Whate’er he takes in hand；
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For we are all his servants；
And are at his command。
But now； immediately before the third quatrain or chorus； sung
fortissimo ； with emphatic raps of the table； which gave the effect of
cymbals and drum together； Alick’s can was filled； and he was
bound to empty it before the chorus ceased。
“Then drink； boys； drink！
And see ye do not spill；
For if ye do； ye shall drink two；
For ’tis our master’s will。
When Alick had gone successfully through this test of steady…
handed manliness； it was the turn of old Kester； at his right
hand—and so on； till every man had drunk his initiatory pint
under the stimulus of the chorus。 Tom Saft—the rogue—took care
to spill a little by accident； but Mrs。 Poyser （too officiously； Tom
thought） interfered to prevent the exaction of the penalty。
To any listener outside the door it would have been the reverse
of obvious why the “Drink； boys； drink！” should have such an
immediate and often…repeated encore； but once entered； he would
have seen that all faces were at present sober； and most of them
serious—it was the regular and respectable thing for those
excellent farm…labourers to do； as much as for elegant ladies and
gentlemen to smirk and bow over their wine…glasses。 Bartle
Massey； whose ears were rather sensitive； had gone out to see
what sort of evening it was at an early stage in the ceremony； and
had not finished his contemplation until a silence of five minutes
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declared that “Drink； boys； drink！” was not likely to begin again
for the next twelvemonth。 Much to the regret of the boys and
Totty： on them the stillness fell rather flat； after that glorious
thumping of the table； towards which Totty； seated on her father’s
knee； contributed with her small might and small fist。
When Bartle re…entered； however； there appeared to be a
general desire for solo music after the choral。 Nancy declared that
Tim the waggoner knew a song and was “allays singing like a lark
i’ the stable；” whereupon Mr。 Poyser said encouragingly； “Come；
Tim； lad； let’s hear it。” Tim looked sheepish； tucked down his
head； and said he couldn’t sing； but this encouraging invitation of
the master’s was echoed all round the table。 It was a
conversational opportunity： everybody could say； “Come； Tim；”
except Alick； who never relaxed into the frivolity of unnecessary
speech。 At last； Tim’s next neighbour； Ben Tholoway； began to
give emphasis to his speech by nudges； at which Tim； growing
rather savage； said； “Let me alooan； will ye？ Else I’ll ma’ ye sing a
toon ye wonna like。” A
