a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第16章
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was but short in this World； he improved it to the best advantage in Eating；
Drinking； Swearing； Cursing； and talking to his Visitants。' For all his
bragging； drink alone preserved his courage： ‘he was very restless in the
Condemned Hole；' though ‘he gave little or no attention to the condemned
Sermon which the purblind Ordinary preached before him；' and which was；
in Fielding's immortal phrase； ‘unto the Greeks foolishness。' But in the
moment of death his distinction returned to him。 He tried； and failed； to
kill himself； and his progress to the nubbing cheat was a triumph of
execration。 He reached Tyburn through a howling mob； and died to a
yell of universal joy。
The Ordinary has left a record so precious and so lying； that it must
needs be quoted at length。 The great Thief…Catcher's confession is a
masterpiece of comfort； and is so far removed from the truth as completely
to justify Fielding's incomparable creation。 ‘Finding there was no room
for mercy （and how could I expect mercy； who never showed any）'thus
does the devil dodger dishonour our Jonathan's memory！‘as soon as I
came into the Condemned Hole； I began to think of making a preparation
for my soul。 。 。 。 To part with my wife； my dear Molly； is so great an
Affliction to me； that it touches me to the Quick； and is like Daggers
entering into my Heart。' How tame the Ordinary's falsehood to the
brilliant invention of Fielding； who makes Jonathan kick his Tishy in the
very shadow of the Tree！ And the Reverend Gentleman gains in unction
as he goes： ‘In the Cart they all kneeled down to prayers and seemed
very penitent； the Ordinary used all the means imaginable to make them
think of another World； and after singing a penitential Psalm； they cry'd
Lord Jesus Christ receive our Souls； the cart drew away and they were all
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turned off。 This is as good an account as can be given by me。' Poor
Ordinary！ If he was modest； he was also untruthful； and you are certain
that it was not thus the hero met his death。
Even had Fielding never written his masterpiece； Jonathan Wild would
still have been surnamed ‘The Great。' For scarce a chap… book appeared
in the year of Jonathan's death that did not expose the only right and true
view of his character。 ‘His business；' says one hack of prison literature；
‘at all times was to put a false gloss upon things； and to make fools of
mankind。' Another precisely formulates the theory of greatness insisted
upon by Fielding with so lavish an irony and so masterly a wit。 While it
is certain that The History of the Late Mr。 Jonathan Wild is as noble a
piece of irony as literature can show； while for the qualities of wit and
candour it is equal to its motive； it is likewise true that therein you meet
the indubitable Jonathan Wild。 It is an entertainment to compare the
chap…books of the time with the reasoned； finished work of art： not in any
spirit of pedantrysince accuracy in these matters is of small account； but
with intent to show how doubly fortunate Fielding was in his genius and in
his material。 Of course the writer rejoiced in the aid of imagination and
eloquence； of course he embellished his picture with such inspirations as
Miss Laetitia and the Count； of course he preserves from the first page to
the last the highest level of unrivalled irony。 But the sketch was there
before him； and a lawyer's clerk had treated Jonathan in a vein of heroism
within a few weeks of his death。 And since a plain statement is never so
true as fiction； Fielding's romance is still more credible； still convinces
with an easier effort； than the serious and pedestrian records of
contemporaries。 Nor can you return to its pages without realising that； so
far from being ‘the evolution of a purely intellectual conception；' Jonathan
Wild is a magnificently idealised and ironical portrait of a great man。
III A PARALLEL
（MOLL CUTPURSE AND JONATHAN WILD）
THEY plied the same trade； each with incomparable success。 By her；
as by him； the art of the fence was carried to its ultimate perfection。 In
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their hands the high policy of theft wanted nor dignity nor assurance。
Neither harboured a single scheme which was not straightway translated
into action； and they were masters at once of Newgate and the Highway。
As none might rob without the encouragement of his emperor； so none
was hanged at Tyburn while intrigue or bribery might avail to drag a half…
doomed neck from the halter； and not even Moll herself was more bitterly
tyrannical in the control of a reckless gang than the thin…jawed； hatchet…
faced Jonathan Wild。
They were statesmen rather than warriorshappy if they might direct
the enterprises of others； and determined to punish the lightest
disobedience by death。 The mind of each was readier than his right arm；
and neither would risk an easy advantage by a misunderstood or unwonted
sleight of hand。 But when you leave the exercise of their craft to
contemplate their character with a larger eye； it is the woman who at every
point has the advantage。 Not only was she the peerless inventor of a new
cunning； she was at home （and abroad） the better fellow。 The
suppression of sex was in itself an unparalleled triumph； and the most
envious detractor could not but marvel at the domination of her
womanhood。 Moreover； she shone in a gayer； more splendid epoch。
The worthy contemporary of Shakespeare； she had small difficulty in
performing feats of prowess and resource which daunted the intrepid
ruffians of the eighteenth century。 Her period； in brief； gave her an
eternal superiority； and it were as hopeless for Otway to surpass the master
whom he disgraced； as for Wild to o'ershadow the brilliant example of
Moll Cutpurse。
Tyrants both； they exercised their sovereignty in accordance with their
varying temperament。 Hers was a fine； fat； Falstaffian humour； which；
while it inspired Middleton； might have suggested to Shakespeare an equal
companion of the drunken knight。 His was but a narrow； cynic wit； not
edged like the knife； which wellnigh cut his throat； but blunt and
scratching like a worn…toothed saw。
She laughed with a laugh that echoed from Ludgate to Charing Cross；
and her voice drowned all the City。 He grinned rarely and with malice；
he piped in a voice shrill and acid as the tricks of his mischievous
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imagination。 She knew no cruelty beyond the necessities of her life； and
none regretted more than she the inevitable death of a traitor。 He lusted
after destruction with a fiendish temper； which was a grim anticipation of
De Sade； he would even smile as he saw the noose tighten round the necks
of the poor innocents he had beguiled to Tyburn。 It was his boast that he
had contrived robberies for the mere glory of dragging his silly victims to
the gallows。 But Moll； though she stood half…way between the robber
and his prey； would have sacrificed a hundred well…earned commissions
rather than see her friends and comrades strangled。 Her temperament
compelled her to the loyal support of her own order； and she would have
shrunk in horror from her rival； who； for all his assumed friendship with
the thief； was a staunch and subtle ally of justice。
Before all things she had the genius of success。 Her public offences
were trivial and condoned。 She died in her bed； full of years and of
honours； beloved by the light…fingered gentry； reverenced by all the judges
on the bench。 He； for all the sacrifices he made to a squint…eyed law；
died execrated alike by populace and police。 Already Blueskin had done
his worst with a pen…kni
