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第2章

the zincali-第2章

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the work; I had not the slightest idea that it possessed any 



peculiar merit; or was calculated to make the slightest impression 



upon the reading world。  Nevertheless; as every one who writes 



feels a kind of affection; greater or less; for the productions of 



his pen; I was averse; since the book was written; to suffer it to 



perish of damp in a lumber closet; or by friction in my travelling 



wallet。  I committed it therefore to the press; with a friendly 



'Farewell; little book; I have done for you all I can; and much 



more than you deserve。'







My expectations at this time were widely different from those of my 



namesake George in the VICAR OF WAKEFIELD when he published his 



paradoxes。  I took it as a matter of course that the world; whether 



learned or unlearned; would say to my book what they said to his 



paradoxes; as the event showed; … nothing at all。  To my utter 



astonishment; however; I had no sooner returned to my humble 



retreat; where I hoped to find the repose of which I was very much 



in need; than I was followed by the voice not only of England but 



of the greater part of Europe; informing me that I had achieved a 



feat … a work in the nineteenth century with some pretensions to 



originality。  The book was speedily reprinted in America; portions 



of it were translated into French and Russian; and a fresh edition 



demanded。







In the midst of all this there sounded upon my ears a voice which I 



recognised as that of the Maecenas of British literature:  



'Borromeo; don't believe all you hear; nor think that you have 



accomplished anything so very extraordinary:  a great portion of 



your book is very sorry trash indeed … Gypsy poetry; dry laws; and 



compilations from dull Spanish authors:  it has good points; 



however; which show that you are capable of something much better:  



try your hand again … avoid your besetting sins; and when you have 



accomplished something which will really do credit to … Street; it 



will be time enough to think of another delivery of these GYPSIES。'







Mistos amande:  'I am content;' I replied; and sitting down I 



commenced the BIBLE IN SPAIN。  At first I proceeded slowly … 



sickness was in the land; and the face of nature was overcast … 



heavy rain…clouds swam in the heavens; … the blast howled amid the 



pines which nearly surround my lonely dwelling; and the waters of 



the lake which lies before it; so quiet in general and tranquil; 



were fearfully agitated。  'Bring lights hither; O Hayim Ben Attar; 



son of the miracle! ' And the Jew of Fez brought in the lights; for 



though it was midday I could scarcely see in the little room where 



I was writing。 。 。 。







A dreary summer and autumn passed by; and were succeeded by as 



gloomy a winter。  I still proceeded with the BIBLE IN SPAIN。  The 



winter passed; and spring came with cold dry winds and occasional 



sunshine; whereupon I arose; shouted; and mounting my horse; even 



Sidi Habismilk; I scoured all the surrounding district; and thought 



but little of the BIBLE IN SPAIN。







So I rode about the country; over the heaths; and through the green 



lanes of my native land; occasionally visiting friends at a 



distance; and sometimes; for variety's sake; I stayed at home and 



amused myself by catching huge pike; which lie perdue in certain 



deep ponds skirted with lofty reeds; upon my land; and to which 



there is a communication from the lagoon by a deep and narrow 



watercourse。 … I had almost forgotten the BIBLE IN SPAIN。







Then came the summer with much heat and sunshine; and then I would 



lie for hours in the sun and recall the sunny days I had spent in 



Andalusia; and my thoughts were continually reverting to Spain; and 



at last I remembered that the BIBLE IN SPAIN was still unfinished; 



whereupon I arose and said:  'This loitering profiteth nothing' … 



and I hastened to my summer…house by the side of the lake; and 



there I thought and wrote; and every day I repaired to the same 



place; and thought and wrote until I had finished the BIBLE IN 



SPAIN。







And at the proper season the BIBLE IN SPAIN was given to the world; 



and the world; both learned and unlearned; was delighted with the 



BIBLE IN SPAIN; and the highest authority (1) said; 'This is a much 



better book than the GYPSIES'; and the next great authority (2) 



said; 'something betwixt Le Sage and Bunyan。'  'A far more 



entertaining work than DON QUIXOTE;' exclaimed a literary lady。  



'Another GIL BLAS;' said the cleverest writer in Europe。 (3)  



'Yes;' exclaimed the cool sensible SPECTATOR; (4) 'a GIL BLAS in 



water…colours。'







And when I heard the last sentence; I laughed; and shouted; 'KOSKO 



PENNESE PAL!' (5)  It pleased me better than all the rest。  Is 



there not a text in a certain old book which says:  Woe unto you 



when all men shall speak well of you!  Those are awful words; 



brothers; woe is me!







'Revenons a nos Bohemiens!'  Now the BIBLE IN SPAIN is off my 



hands; I return to 'these GYPSIES'; and here you have; most kind; 



lenient; and courteous public; a fresh delivery of them。  In the 



present edition; I have attended as much as possible to the 



suggestions of certain individuals; for whose opinion I cannot but 



entertain the highest respect。  I have omitted various passages 



from Spanish authors; which the world has objected to as being 



quite out of place; and serving for no other purpose than to swell 



out the work。  In lieu thereof; I have introduced some original 



matter relative to the Gypsies; which is; perhaps; more calculated 



to fling light over their peculiar habits than anything which has 



yet appeared。  To remodel the work; however; I have neither time 



nor inclination; and must therefore again commend it; with all the 



imperfections which still cling to it; to the generosity of the 



public。







A few words in conclusion。  Since the publication of the first 



edition; I have received more than one letter; in which the writers 



complain that I; who seem to know so much of what has been written 



concerning the Gypsies; (6) should have taken no notice of a theory 



entertained by many; namely; that they are of Jewish origin; and 



that they are neither more nor less than the descendants of the two 



lost tribes of Israel。  Now I am not going to enter into a 



discussion upon this point; for I know by experience; that the 



public cares nothing for discussions; however learned and edifying; 



but will take the present opportunity to relate a little adventure 



of mine; which bears not a little upon this matter。







So it came to pass; that one day I was scampering over a heath; at 



some distance from my present home:  I was mounted upon the good 



horse Sidi Habismilk; and the Jew of Fez; swifter than the wind; 



ran by the side of the good horse Habismilk; when what should I see 



at a corner of the heath but the encampment of certain friends of 



mine; and the chief of that camp; even Mr。 Petulengro; stood before 



the encampment; and his adopted daughter; Miss Pinfold; stood 



beside him。







MYSELF。 … 'Kosko divvus (7); Mr。 Petulengro!  I am glad to see you:  



how are you getting on?'







MR。 PETULENGRO。 … 'How am I getting on? as well as I can。  What 



will you have for that nokengro (8)?'







Thereupon I dismounted; and delivering the reins of the good horse 



to Miss Pinfold; I took the Jew of Fez; even Hayim Ben Attar; by 



the hand; and went up to Mr。 Petulengro; exclaiming; 'Sure ye are 



two brothers。'  Anon the Gypsy passed his hand over the Jew's face; 



and stared him in the eyes:  then turning to me he said; 'We are 



not dui palor (9); this man is no Roman; I believe him to be a Jew; 



he has the face of one; besides; if he were a 

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