castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第14章
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property； and let the land again in small portions to the poor； as under…
tenants； at exorbitant rents。 The HEAD LANDLORD； as he was called；
seldom saw his UNDER…TENANTS； but if he could not get the
MIDDLEMAN to pay him his rent punctually； he WENT TO HIS LAND；
AND DROVE THE LAND FOR HIS RENT； that is to say； he sent his
steward； or bailiff； or driver； to the land to seize the cattle； hay； corn； flax；
oats； or potatoes； belonging to the under…tenants； and proceeded to sell
these for his rents。 It sometimes happened that these unfortunate tenants
paid their rent twice over； once to the MIDDLEMAN； and once to the
HEAD LANDLORD。
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The characteristics of a middleman were servility to his superiors and
tyranny towards his inferiors： the poor detested this race of beings。 In
speaking to them； however； they always used the most abject language；
and the most humble tone and posture'PLEASE YOUR HONOUR； AND
PLEASE YOUR HONOUR'S HONOUR；' they knew must be repeated as
a charm at the beginning and end of every equivocating； exculpatory； or
supplicatory sentence； and they were much more alert in doffing their caps
to those new men than to those of what they call GOOD OLD FAMILIES。
A witty carpenter once termed these middlemen JOURNEYMEN
GENTLEMEN。＇ But still it went。 Rents must be all paid up to the day；
and afore； no allowance for improving tenants； no consideration for those
who had built upon their farms： no sooner was a lease out； but the land
was advertised to the highest bidder； all the old tenants turned out； when
they spent their substance in the hope and trust of a renewal from the
landlord。 All was now let at the highest penny to a parcel of poor
wretches； who meant to run away； and did so； after taking two crops out of
the ground。 Then fining down the year's rent came into fashion ＇See
GLOSSARY 16＇ anything for the ready penny； and with all this and
presents to the agent and the driver ＇See GLOSSARY 17＇； there was no
such thing as standing it。 I said nothing； for I had a regard for the family；
but I walked about thinking if his honour Sir Kit knew all this； it would go
hard with him but he'd see us righted； not that I had anything for my own
share to complain of； for the agent was always very civil to me when he
came down into the country； and took a great deal of notice of my son
Jason。 Jason Quirk； though he be my son； I must say was a good scholar
from his birth； and a very 'cute lad： I thought to make him a priest ＇See
GLOSSARY 18＇； but he did better for himself； seeing how he was as good
a clerk as any in the county； the agent gave him his rent accounts to copy；
which he did first of all for the pleasure of obliging the gentleman； and
would take nothing at all for his trouble； but was always proud to serve the
family。 By and by a good farm bounding us to the east fell into his
honour's hands； and my son put in a proposal for it： why shouldn't he； as
well as another？ The proposals all went over to the master at the Bath；
who knowing no more of the land than the child unborn； only having once
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been out a…grousing on it before he went to England； and the value of
lands； as the agent informed him； falling every year in Ireland； his honour
wrote over in all haste a bit of a letter； saying he left it all to the agent； and
that he must let it as well as he couldto the best bidder； to be sureand
send him over L200 by return of post： with this the agent gave me a hint；
and I spoke a good word for my son； and gave out in the country that
nobody need bid against us。 So his proposal was just the thing； and he a
good tenant； and he got a promise of an abatement in the rent after the first
year； for advancing the half…year's rent at signing the lease； which was
wanting to complete the agent's L200 by the return of the post； with all
which my master wrote back he was well satisfied。 About this time we
learnt from the agent； as a great secret； how the money went so fast； and
the reason of the thick coming of the master's drafts： he was a little too
fond of play； and Bath； they say； was no place for no young man of his
fortune； where there were so many of his own countrymen； too； hunting
him up and down； day and night； who had nothing to lose。 At last； at
Christmas； the agent wrote over to stop the drafts； for he could raise no
more money on bond or mortgage； or from the tenants； or anyhow； nor had
he any more to lend himself； and desired at the same time to decline the
agency for the future； wishing Sir Kit his health and happiness； and the
compliments of the season； for I saw the letter before ever it was sealed；
when my son copied it。 When the answer came there was a new turn in
affairs； and the agent was turned out； and my son Jason； who had
corresponded privately with his honour occasionally on business； was
forthwith desired by his honour to take the accounts into his own hands；
and look them over； till further orders。 It was a very spirited letter to be
sure： Sir Kit sent his service； and the compliments of the season； in
return to the agent； and he would fight him with pleasure to…morrow； or
any day； for sending him such a letter； if he was born a gentleman； which
he was sorry （for both their sakes） to find （too late） he was not。 Then； in
a private postscript； he condescended to tell us that all would be speedily
settled to his satisfaction； and we should turn over a new leaf； for he was
going to be married in a fortnight to the grandest heiress in England； and
had only immediate occasion at present for L200； as he would not choose
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to touch his lady's fortune for travelling expenses home to Castle Rackrent；
where he intended to be； wind and weather permitting； early in the next
month； and desired fires； and the house to be painted； and the new
building to go on as fast as possible； for the reception of him and his lady
before that time； with several words besides in the letter； which we could
not make out because； God bless him！ he wrote in such a flurry。 My
heart warmed to my new lady when I read this： I was almost afraid it was
too good news to be true； but the girls fell to scouring； and it was well they
did； for we soon saw his marriage in the paper； to a lady with I don't know
how many tens of thousand pounds to her fortune： then I watched the
post… office for his landing； and the news came to my son of his and the
bride being in Dublin； and on the way home to Castle Rackrent。 We had
bonfires all over the country； expecting him down the next day； and we
had his coming of age still to celebrate； which he had not time to do
properly before he left the country； therefore； a gre
