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第10章

barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第10章

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sympathy        with    the   tumult     of   nature;    and    are    roused     into 

corresponding   violence。   In   the   midst   of   thunder;   lightning;   and 

storm;   many  tremendous   deeds   have   been   committed;   men;   self… 

possessed before; have given a sudden loose to passions they could 

no longer control。 The demons of wrath and despair have striven 

to emulate those who ride the whirlwind and direct the storm; and 

man;     lashed    into   madness     with    the  roaring    winds     and   boiling 

waters;     has   become     for  the   time   as  wild   and    merciless    as   the 

elements themselves。 

    Whether the traveller was possessed by thoughts which the fury 

of the night had heated and stimulated into a quicker current; or 

was merely impelled by some strong motive to reach his journey’s 

end;   on   he   swept   more   like   a   hunted   phantom   than   a   man;   nor 

checked his pace until; arriving at some cross roads; one of which 



Charles Dickens                                                      ElecBook Classics 


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                               Barnaby Rudge                                       37 



led by a longer route to the place whence he had lately started; he 

bore down so suddenly upon a vehicle which was coming towards 

him;   that   in   the   effort   to   avoid   it   he   well…nigh   pulled   his   horse 

upon his haunches; and narrowly escaped being thrown。 

    ‘Yoho!’ cried the voice of a man。 ‘What’s that? Who goes there?’ 

    ‘A friend!’ replied the traveller。 

    ‘A   friend!’   repeated   the   voice。   ‘Who  calls   himself  a   friend   and 

rides like that; abusing  Heaven’s   gifts   in   the   shape   of  horseflesh; 

and endangering; not only his own neck (which might be no great 

matter) but the necks of other people?’ 

    ‘You have a lantern there; I see;’ said the traveller dismounting; 

‘lend   it  me  for  a   moment。   You   have   wounded   my   horse;   I   think; 

with your shaft or wheel。’ 

    ‘Wounded him!’ cried the other; ‘if I haven’t killed him; it’s no 

fault   of   yours。   What   do   you   mean   by   galloping   along   the   king’s 

highway like that; eh?’ 

    ‘Give me the light;’ returned the traveller; snatching it from his 

hand; ‘and don’t ask idle questions of a man who is in no mood for 

talking。’ 

    ‘If you had said you were in no mood for talking before; I should 

perhaps      have    been    in  no   mood     for   lighting;’   said   the  voice。 

‘Hows’ever as it’s the poor horse that’s damaged and not you; one 

of you is welcome to the light at all events—but it’s not the crusty 

one。’ 

    The   traveller   returned   no   answer   to   this   speech;   but   holding 

the light near to his panting and reeking beast; examined him   in 

limb and carcass。 Meanwhile; the other man sat very composedly 

in his vehicle; which was a kind of chaise with a depository for a 

large bag of tools; and watched his proceedings with a careful eye。 



Charles Dickens                                                      ElecBook Classics 


… Page 37…

                                Barnaby Rudge                                         38 



    The   looker…on   was   a   round;   red…faced;   sturdy   yeoman;   with   a 

double   chin;   and   a   voice   husky   with   good   living;   good   sleeping; 

good humour; and good health。 He was past the prime of life; but 

Father  Time   is not  always a   hard   parent;   and;   though   he   tarries 

for none of his children; often lays his hand lightly upon those who 

have used him well; making them old men and women inexorably 

enough;      but   leaving    their   hearts    and   spirits   young     and   in   full 

vigour。   With   such   people   the   grey   head   is   but   the   impression   of 

the    old   fellow’s    hand    in   giving   them     his   blessing;    and    every 

wrinkle but a notch in the quiet calendar of a well…spent life。 

    The   person   whom   the   traveller   had   so   abruptly   encountered 

was   of   this   kind:   bluff;   hale;   hearty;   and   in   a   green   old   age:   at 

peace   with   himself;   and   evidently   disposed   to   be   so   with   all   the 

world。   Although   muffled   up   in   divers   coats   and   handkerchiefs— 

one   of   which;   passed   over   his   crown;   and   tied   in   a   convenient 

crease of his double chin; secured his three…cornered hat and bob… 

wig from blowing off his head—there was no disguising his plump 

and     comfortable      figure;   neither     did   certain    dirty   finger…marks 

upon      his   face   give    it  any    other    than    an   odd     and    comical 

expression;   through   which   its   natural   good   humour   shone   with 

undiminished lustre。 

    ‘He is not hurt;’ said the traveller at length; raising his head and 

the lantern together。 

    ‘You   have   found   that   out   at   last;   have   you?’   rejoined   the   old 

man。   ‘My   eyes   have   seen   more   light   than   yours;   but   I   wouldn’t 

change with you。’ 

    ‘What do you mean?’ 

    ‘Mean! I could have told you he wasn’t hurt; five minutes ago。 

Give me the light; friend; ride forward at a gentler pace; and good 



Charles Dickens                                                        ElecBook Classics 


… Page 38…

                                Barnaby Rudge                                       39 



night。’ 

    In handing up the lantern; the man necessarily cast its rays full 

on the speaker’s face。 Their eyes met at the instant。 He suddenly 

dropped it and crushed it with his foot。 

    ‘Did you never see a   locksmith  before;   that  you  start  as if  you 

had   come   upon   a   ghost?’   cried   the   old   man   in   the   chaise;   ‘or   is 

this;’ he added hastily; thrusting his hand into the tool basket and 

drawing out a hammer;   ‘a scheme  for  robbing  me?  I know  these 

roads;     friend。   When     I  travel   them;    I  carry   nothing    but   a  few 

shillings;   and   not   a   crown’s   worth   of   them。   I   tell   you   plainly;   to 

save us both trouble; that there’s nothing to be got from me but a 

pretty     stout   arm    considering      my   years;    and   this   tool;  which; 

mayhap from long acquaintance with; I can use pretty briskly。 You 

shall not have it all your own way; I promise you; if you play at that 

game。 With these words he stood upon the defensive。 

    ‘I   am   not   what   you   take   me   for;   Gabriel   Varden;’   replied   the 

other。 

    ‘Then   what   and   who   are   you?’   returned   the   locksmith。   ‘You 

know my name; it seems。 Let me know yours。’ 

    ‘I  have    not   gained    the   information      from   any    confidence      of 

yours; but from the inscription on your cart which tells it to all the 

town;’ replied the traveller。 

    ‘You   have   better   eyes   for   that   than   you   had   for   your   horse; 

then;’   said   Varden;   descending   nimbly   from   his   chaise;   ‘who   are 

you? Let me see your face。’ 

    While     the  locksmith     alighted;    the  traveller    had   regained     his 

saddle; from which he now confronted the old man; who; moving 

as the horse moved in chafing under the tightened rein; kept close 

beside him。 



Charles Dickens                                                      ElecBook Classics 


… Page 39…

                                Barnaby Rudge                                       40 



    ‘Let me see your face; I say。’ 

    ‘Stand off!’ 

    ‘No  masquerading  tricks;’ said   the   locksmith;   ‘and   tales  at  the 

club   to…morrow;   how   Gabriel   Varden   was   frightened   by   a   surly 

voice and a dark night。 Stand—let me see your face。’ 

    Finding   that   further   resi

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