a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第24章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was attended to Tyburn by a bevy of distinguished admirers。 Gilderoy；
on the other hand； approached women in a spirit of violence。 His Sadic
temper drove him to kill those whom he affected to love。 And his cruelty
was amply repaid。 While Ellen Roach perjured herself to save the lover；
to whose memory she professed a lifelong loyalty； it was Peg Cunningham
who wreaked her vengeance in the betrayal of Gilderoy。 He remained
true to his character； when he ripped up the belly of his betrayer。 This
was the closing act of his life。
Rann； also； was consistent； even to the gallows。 The night before his
death he entertained seven women at supper； and outlaughed them all。
The contrast is not so violent as it appears。 The one act is melodrama；
the other farce。 And what is farce； but melodrama in a happier shape？
THOMAS PURENEY
THOMAS PURENEY
THOMAS PURENEY； Archbishop among Ordinaries； lived and
preached in the heyday of Newgate。 His was the good fortune to witness
Sheppard's encounter with the topsman； and to shrive the battered soul of
Jonathan Wild。 Nor did he fall one inch below his opportunity。
Designed by Providence to administer a final consolation to the evil…doer；
he permitted no false ambition to distract his talent。 As some men are
born for the gallows； so he was born to thump the cushion of a prison
pulpit； and his peculiar aptitude was revealed to him before he had time to
spend his strength in mistaken endeavour。
For thirty years his squat； stout figure was amiably familiar to all such
as enjoyed the Liberties of the Jug。 For thirty years his mottled nose and
the rubicundity of his cheeks were the ineffaceable ensigns of his
intemperance。 Yet there was a grimy humour in his forbidding aspect。
The fusty black coat； which sat ill upon his shambling frame； was all
besmirched with spilled snuff； and the lees of a thousand quart pots。 The
bands of his profession were ever awry upon a tattered shirt。 His ancient
wig scattered dust and powder as he went； while a single buckle of some
tawdry metal gave a look of oddity to his clumsy； slipshod feet。 A
caricature of a man； he ambled and chuckled and seized the easy pleasures
77
… 78
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
within his reach。 There was never a summer's day but he caught upon his
brow the few faint gleams of sunlight that penetrated the gloomy yard。
Hour after hour he would sit； his short fingers hardly linked across his
belly； drinking his cup of ale； and puffing at a half…extinguished tobacco…
pipe。 Meanwhile he would reflect upon those triumphs of oratory which
were his supreme delight。 If it fell on a Monday that he took the air； a
smile of satisfaction lit up his fat； loose features； for still he pondered the
effect of yesterday's masterpiece。 On Saturday the glad expectancy of to…
morrow lent him a certain joyous dignity。 At other times his eye lacked
lustre； his gesture buoyancy； unless indeed he were called upon to follow
the cart to Tyburn； or to compose the Last Dying Speech of some
notorious malefactor。
Preaching was the master passion of his life。 It was the pulpit that
reconciled him to exile within a great city； and persuaded him to the
enjoyment of roguish company。 Those there were who deemed his career
unfortunate； but a sense of fitness might have checked their pity； and it
was only in his hours of maudlin confidence that the Reverend Thomas
confessed to disappointment。 Born of respectable parents in the County
of Cambridgeshire； he nurtured his youth upon the exploits of James Hind
and the Golden Farmer。 His boyish pleasure was to lie in the ditch；
which bounded his father's orchard； studying that now forgotten
masterpiece； ‘There's no Jest like a True Jest。' Then it was that he felt
‘immortal longings in his blood。' He would take to the road； so he swore；
and hold up his enemies like a gentleman。 Once； indeed； he was
surprised by the clergyman of the parish in act to escape from the rectory
with two volumes of sermons and a silver flagon。 The divine was
minded to speak seriously to him concerning the dreadful sin of robbery；
and having strengthened him with texts and good counsel； to send him
forth unpunished。 ‘Thieving and covetousness；' said the parson； ‘must
inevitably bring you to the gallows。 If you would die in your bed； repent
you of your evildoing； and rob no more。' The exhortation was not lost
upon Pureney； who； chastened in spirit； straightly prevailed upon his father
to enter him a pensioner at Corpus Christi College in the University of
Cambridge； that at the proper time he might take orders。
78
… 79
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
At Cambridge he gathered no more knowledge than was necessary for
his profession； and wasted such hours as should have been given to study
in drinking； dicing； and even less reputable pleasures。 Yet repentance
was always easy； and he accepted his first curacy； at Newmarket； with a
brave heart and a good hopefulness。 Fortunate was the choice of this
early cure。 Had he been gently guided at the outset； who knows but he
might have lived out his life in respectable obscurity？ But Newmarket
then； as now； was a town of jollity and dissipation； and Pureney yielded
without persuasion to the pleasures denied his cloth。 There was ever a
fire to extinguish at his throat； nor could he veil his wanton eye at the sight
of a pretty wench。 Again and again the lust of preaching urged him to
repent； yet he slid back upon his past gaiety； until Parson Pureney became
a byword。 Dismissed from Newmarket in disgrace； he wandered the
country up and down in search of a pulpit； but so infamous became the
habit of his life that only in prison could he find an audience fit and
responsive。
And； in the nick； the chaplaincy of Newgate fell vacant。 Here was
the occasion to temper dissipation with piety； to indulge the twofold
ambition of his life。 What mattered it； if within the prison walls he
dipped his nose more deeply into the punch…bowl than became a divine？
The rascals would but respect him the more for his prowess； and knit more
closely the bond of sympathy。 Besides； after preaching and punch he
best loved a penitent； and where in the world could he find so rich a crop
of erring souls ripe for repentance as in gaol？ Henceforth he might
threaten； bluster； and cajole。 If amiability proved fruitless he would put
cruelty to the test； and terrify his victims by a spirited reference to Hell
and to that Burning Lake they were so soon to traverse。 At last； thought
he； I shall be sure of my effect； and the prospect flattered his vanity。 In
truth； he won an immediate and assured success。 Like the common file
or cracksman； he fell into the habit of the place； intriguing with all the
cleverness of a practised diplomatist； and setting one party against the
other that he might in due season decide the trumpery dispute。 The
trusted friend of many a distinguished prig and murderer； he so intimately
mastered the slang and etiquette of the Jug； that he was appointed arbiter
79
… 80
A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
of all those nice questions of honour which agitated the more reputable
among the cross…coves。 But these were the diversions of a strenuous
mind； and it was in the pulpit or in the closet that the Reverend Thomas
Pureney revealed his true talent。
As the ruffian had a sense of drama； so he was determined that his
words should scald and bite the penitent。 When the condemned pew was
full of a Sunday his happiness was complete。 Now his deep chest would
hurl salvo on salvo of platitudes against the sounding…board； now his voice；
lowered to a whisper； would coax the hopeless priso
