the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第15章
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the construction of a shed for the reception of his goats。
You labour hard； Elshie；〃 he said； willing to lead this singular being
into conversation。
〃Labour；〃 re…echoed the Dwarf； 〃is the mildest evil of a lot so
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miserable as that of mankind； better to labour like me； than sport like
you。〃
〃I cannot defend the humanity of our ordinary rural sports； Elshie； and
yet〃
〃And yet；〃 interrupted the Dwarf〃 they are better than your ordinary
business； better to exercise idle and wanton cruelty on mute fishes than on
your fellow…creatures。 Yet why should I say so？ Why should not the
whole human herd butt； gore； and gorge upon each other； till all are
extirpated but one huge and over… fed Behemoth； and he； when he had
throttled and gnawed the bones of all his fellowshe； when his prey failed
him； to be roaring whole days for lack of food； and； finally； to die； inch by
inch； of famineit were a consummation worthy of the race！〃
〃Your deeds are better； Elshie； than your words；〃 answered Earnscliff；
〃you labour to preserve the race whom your misanthropy slanders。〃
〃I do； but why？Hearken。 You are one on whom I look with the least
loathing； and I care not； if； contrary to my wont； I waste a few words in
compassion to your infatuated blindness。 If I cannot send disease into
families； and murrain among the herds； can I attain the same end so well
as by prolonging the lives of those who can serve the purpose of
destruction as effectually？ If Alice of Bower had died in winter； would
young Ruthwin have been slain for her love the last spring？Who thought
of penning their cattle beneath the tower when the Red Reiver of
Westburnflat was deemed to be on his death…bed？My draughts； my skill；
recovered him。 And； now； who dare leave his herd upon the lea without a
watch； or go to bed without unchaining the sleuth… hound？〃
〃I own；〃 answered Earnscliff； 〃you did little good to society by the last
of these cures。 But； to balance the evil； there is my friend Hobbie； honest
Hobbie of the Heugh…foot； your skill relieved him last winter in a fever
that might have cost him his life。〃
〃Thus think the children of clay in their ignorance；〃 said： the Dwarf；
smiling maliciously； 〃and thus they speak in their folly。 Have you marked
the young cub of a wild cat that has been domesticated； how sportive； how
playful； how gentle；but trust him with your game； your lambs； your
poultry； his inbred ferocity breaks forth； he gripes； tears； ravages； and
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devours。〃
〃Such is the animal's instinct；〃 answered Earnscliff； 〃but what has that
to do with Hobbie？〃
〃It is his emblemit is his picture；〃 retorted the Recluse。 〃He is at
present tame； quiet； and domesticated； for lack of opportunity to exercise
his inborn propensities； but let the trumpet of war soundlet the young
blood…hound snuff blood； he will be as ferocious as the wildest of his
Border ancestors that ever fired a helpless peasant's abode。 Can you
deny； that even at present he often urges you to take bloody revenge for an
injury received when you were a boy？〃Earnscliff started； the Recluse
appeared not to observe his surprise； and proceeded〃The trumpet WILL
blow； the young blood…hound WILL lap blood； and I will laugh and say；
For this I have preserved thee！〃 He paused； and continued；〃Such are
my cures；their object； their purpose； perpetuating the mass of misery；
and playing even in this desert my part in the general tragedy。 Were
YOU on your sick bed； I might； in compassion； send you a cup of poison。〃
〃I am much obliged to you； Elshie； and certainly shall not fail to
consult you； with so comfortable a hope from your assistance。〃
〃Do not flatter yourself too far；〃 replied the Hermit； 〃with the hope
that I will positively yield to the frailty of pity。 Why should I snatch a
dupe； so well fitted to endure the miseries of life as you are； from the
wretchedness which his own visions； and the villainy of the world； are
preparing for him？ Why should I play the compassionate Indian； and；
knocking out the brains of the captive with my tomahawk； at once spoil
the three days' amusement of my kindred tribe； at the very moment when
the brands were lighted； the pincers heated； the cauldrons boiling； the
knives sharpened； to tear； scorch； seethe； and scarify the intended victim？〃
〃A dreadful picture you present to me of life； Elshie； but I am not
daunted by it；〃 returned Earnscliff。 〃We are sent here； in one sense； to
bear and to suffer； but； in another； to do and to enjoy。 The active day has
its evening of repose； even patient sufferance has its alleviations； where
there is a consolatory sense of duty discharged。〃
〃I spurn at the slavish and bestial doctrine；〃 said the Dwarf； his eyes
kindling with insane fury；〃I spurn at it； as worthy only of the beasts that
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perish； but I will waste no more words with you。〃
He rose hastily； but； ere he withdrew into the hut； he added； with great
vehemence； 〃Yet； lest you still think my apparent benefits to mankind flow
from the stupid and servile source； called love of our fellow…creatures；
know； that were there a man who had annihilated my soul's dearest hope
who had torn my heart to mammocks； and seared mp brain till it glowed
like a volcano； and were that man's fortune and life in my power as
completely as this frail potsherd〃 （he snatched up an earthen cup which
stood beside him）； 〃I would not dash him into atoms thus〃（he flung the
vessel with fury against the wall）；〃No！〃 （he spoke more composedly；
but with the utmost bitterness）； 〃I would pamper him with wealth and
power to inflame his evil passions； and to fulfil his evil designs； he should
lack no means of vice and villainy； he should be the centre of a whirlpool
that itself should know neither rest nor peace； but boil with unceasing fury；
while it wrecked every goodly ship that approached its limits！ he should
be an earthquake capable of shaking the very land in which he dwelt； and
rendering all its inhabitants friendless； outcast； and miserableas I am！〃
The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last words；
shutting the door with furious violence； and rapidly drawing two bolts； one
after another； as if to exclude the intrusion of any one of that hated race；
who had thus lashed his soul to frenzy。 Earnscliff left the moor with
mingled sensations of pity and horror； pondering what strange and
melancholy cause could have reduced to so miserable a state of mind； a
man whose language argued him to be of rank and education much
superior to the vulgar。 He was also surprised to see how much par
