memoirs of carwin the biloquist(卡尔维恩)-第2章
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present to my fears when I entered this gloomy recess。
These terrors are always lessened by calling the attention away to
some indifferent object。 I now made use of this expedient； and began to
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
amuse myself by hallowing as loud as organs of unusual compass and
vigour would enable me。 I utterred the words which chanced to occur to
me； and repeated in the shrill tones of a Mohock savage 。 。 。 〃Cow！ cow！
come home！ home！〃 。 。 。 These notes were of course reverberated from
the rocks which on either side towered aloft； but the echo was confused
and indistinct。
I continued； for some time； thus to beguile the way； till I reached a
space more than commonly abrupt； and which required all my attention。
My rude ditty was suspended till I had surmounted this impediment。 In a
few minutes I was at leisure to renew it。 After finishing the strain； I paused。
In a few seconds a voice as I then imagined； uttered the same cry from the
point of a rock some hundred feet behind me； the same words； with equal
distinctness and deliberation； and in the same tone； appeared to be spoken。
I was startled by this incident； and cast a fearful glance behind； to discover
by whom it was uttered。 The spot where I stood was buried in dusk； but
the eminences were still invested with a luminous and vivid twilight。
The speaker； however； was concealed from my view。
I had scarcely begun to wonder at this occurrence； when a new
occasion for wonder； was afforded me。 A few seconds； in like manner；
elapsed； when my ditty was again rehearsed； with a no less perfect
imitation； in a different quarter。 。 。 。 。 To this quarter I eagerly turned my
eyes； but no one was visible。 。 。 。 The station； indeed； which this new
speaker seemed to occupy； was inaccessible to man or beast。
If I were surprized at this second repetition of my words； judge how
much my surprise must have been augmented； when the same calls were a
third time repeated； and coming still in a new direction。 Five times was
this ditty successively resounded； at intervals nearly equal； always from a
new quarter； and with little abatement of its original distinctness and force。
A little reflection was sufficient to shew that this was no more than an
echo of an extraordinary kind。 My terrors were quickly supplanted by
delight。 The motives to dispatch were forgotten； and I amused myself for
an hour； with talking to these cliffs： I placed myself in new positions；
and exhausted my lungs and my invention in new clamours。
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
The pleasures of this new discovery were an ample compensation for
the ill treatment which I expected on my return。 By some caprice in my
father I escaped merely with a few reproaches。 I seized the first
opportunity of again visiting this recess； and repeating my amusement；
time； and incessant repetition； could scarcely lessen its charms or exhaust
the variety produced by new tones and new positions。
The hours in which I was most free from interruption and restraint
were those of moonlight。 My brother and I occupied a small room above
the kitchen； disconnected； in some degree； with the rest of the house。 It
was the rural custom to retire early to bed and to anticipate the rising of
the sun。 When the moonlight was strong enough to permit me to read； it
was my custom to escape from bed； and hie with my book to some
neighbouring eminence； where I would remain stretched on the mossy
rock； till the sinking or beclouded moon； forbade me to continue my
employment。 I was indebted for books to a friendly person in the
neighbourhood； whose compliance with my solicitations was prompted
partly by benevolence and partly by enmity to my father； whom he could
not more egregiously offend than by gratifying my perverse and
pernicious curiosity。
In leaving my chamber I was obliged to use the utmost caution to
avoid rousing my brother； whose temper disposed him to thwart me in the
least of my gratifications。 My purpose was surely laudable； and yet on
leaving the house and returning to it； I was obliged to use the vigilance
and circumspection of a thief。
One night I left my bed with this view。 I posted first to my vocal glen；
and thence scrambling up a neighbouring steep； which overlooked a wide
extent of this romantic country； gave myself up to contemplation； and the
perusal of Milton's Comus。
My reflections were naturally suggested by the singularity of this echo。
To hear my own voice speak at a distance would have been formerly
regarded as prodigious。 To hear too； that voice； not uttered by another；
by whom it might easily be mimicked； but by myself！ I cannot now
recollect the transition which led me to the notion of sounds； similar to
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
these； but produced by other means than reverberation。 Could I not so
dispose my organs as to make my voice appear at a distance？
From speculation I proceeded to experiment。 The idea of a distant
voice； like my own； was intimately present to my fancy。 I exerted myself
with a most ardent desire； and with something like a persuasion that I
should succeed。 I started with surprise； for it seemed as if success had
crowned my attempts。 I repeated the effort； but failed。 A certain
position of the organs took place on the first attempt； altogether new；
unexampled and as it were； by accident； for I could not attain it on the
second experiment。
You will not wonder that I exerted myself with indefatigable zeal to
regain what had once； though for so short a space； been in my power。
Your own ears have witnessed the success of these efforts。 By perpetual
exertion I gained it a second time； and now was a diligent observer of the
circumstances attending it。 Gradually I subjected these finer and more
subtle motions to the command of my will。 What was at first difficult； by
exercise and habit； was rendered easy。 I learned to accommodate my
voice to all the varieties of distance and direction。
It cannot be denied that this faculty is wonderful and rare； but when
we consider the possible modifications of muscular motion； how few of
these are usually exerted； how imperfectly they are subjected to the will；
and yet that the will is capable of being rendered unlimited and absolute；
will not our wonder cease？
We have seen men who could hide their tongues so perfectly that even
an Anatomist； after the most accurate inspection that a living subject could
admit； has affirmed the organ to be wanting； but this was effected by the
exertion of muscles
