a book of scoundrels-第2章
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in vain for sympathy or indulgence。 The ruffian； for instance； of whom it is grimly recorded that he added a tie…wig to his booty； neither deserved nor received the smallest consideration。 Delivered to justice； he speedily met the death his vulgarity merited； and the road was taught the salutary lesson that wigs were as sacred as trinkets hallowed by association。
With the eighteenth century the highway fell upon decline。 No doubt in its silver age； the century's beginning； many a brilliant deed was done。 Something of the old policy survived； and men of spirit still went upon the pad。 But the breadth of the ancient style was speedily forgotten； and by the time the First George climbed to the throne； robbery was already a sordid trade。 Neither side was conscious of its noble obligation。 The vulgar audacity of a bullying thief was suitably answered by the ungracious； involuntary submission of the terrified traveller。 From end to end of England you might hear the cry of ‘Stand and deliver。' Yet how changed the accent！ The beauty of gesture； the deference of carriage； the ready response to a legitimate demandall the qualities of a dignified art were lost for ever。 As its professors increased in number； the note of aristocracy； once dominant； was silenced。 The meanest rogue； who could hire a horse； might cut a contemptible figure on Bagshot Heath； and feel no shame at robbing a poor man。 Oncein that Augustan age； whose brightest ornament was Captain Hindit was something of a distinction to be decently plundered。 A century later there was none so humble but he might be asked to empty his pocket。 In brief； the blight of democracy was upon what should have remained a refined； secluded art； and nowise is the decay better illustrated than in the appreciation of bunglers； whose exploits were scarce worth a record。
James Maclaine； for instance； was the hero of his age。 In a history of cowards he would deserve the first place； and the ‘Gentleman Highwayman；' as he was pompously styled； enjoyed a triumph denied to many a victorious general。 Lord Mountford led half White's to do him honour on the day of his arrest。 On the first Sunday； which he spent in Newgate； three thousand jostled for entrance to his cell； and the poor devil fainted three times at the heat caused by the throng of his admirers。 So long as his fate hung in the balance； Walpole could not take up his pen without a compliment to the man； who claimed to have robbed him near Hyde Park。 Yet a more pitiful rascal never showed the white feather。 Not once was he known to take a purse with his own hand； the summit of his achievement being to hold the horses' heads while his accomplice spoke with the passengers。 A poltroon before his arrest； in Court he whimpered and whinnied for mercy； he was carried to the cart pallid and trembling； and not even his preposterous finery availed to hearten him at the gallows。 Taxed with his timidity； he attempted to excuse himself on the inadmissible plea of moral rectitude。 ‘I have as much personal courage in an honourable cause；' he exclaimed in a passage of false dignity； ‘as any man in Britain； but as I knew I was committing acts of injustice； so I went to them half loth and half consenting； and in that sense I own I am a coward indeed。'
The disingenuousness of this proclamation is as remarkable as its hypocrisy。 Well might he brag of his courage in an honourable cause； when he knew that he could never be put to the test。 But what palliation shall you find for a rogue with so little pride in his art； that he exercised it ‘half loth； half consenting'？ It is not in this recreant spirit that masterpieces are achieved； and Maclaine had better have stayed in the far Highland parish； which bred him； than have attempted to cut a figure in the larger world of London。 His famous encounter with Walpole should have covered him with disgrace； for it was ignoble at every point； and the art was so little understood； that it merely added a leaf to his crown of glory。 Now； though Walpole was far too well…bred to oppose the demand of an armed stranger； Maclaine； in defiance of his craft； discharged his pistol at an innocent head。 True； he wrote a letter of apology； and insisted that； had the one pistol… shot proved fatal； he had another in reserve for himself。 But not even Walpole would have believed him； had not an amiable faith given him an opportunity for the answering quip： ‘Can I do less than say I will be hanged if he is？'
As Maclaine was a coward and no thief； so also he was a snob and no gentleman。 His boasted elegance was not more respectable than his art。 Fine clothes are the embellishment of a true adventurer； they hang ill on the sloping shoulders of a poltroon。
And Maclaine； with all the ostensible weaknesses of his kind； would claim regard for the strength that he knew not。 He occupied a costly apartment in St。 James's Street； his morning dress was a crimson damask banjam； a silk shag waistcoat； trimmed with lace； black velvet breeches； white silk stockings； and yellow morocco slippers； but since his magnificence added no jot to his courage； it was rather mean than admirable。 Indeed； his whole career was marred by the provincialism of his native manse。
And he was the adored of an intelligent age； he basked a few brief weeks in the noonday sun of fashion。
If distinction was not the heritage of the Eighteenth Century； its glory is that now and again a giant raised his head above the stature of a prevailing rectitude。 The art of verse was lost in rhetoric； the noble prose； invented by the Elizabethans； and refined under the Stuarts； was whittled away to common sense by the admirers of Addison and Steele。 Swift and Johnson； Gibbon and Fielding； were apparitions of strength in an amiable； ineffective age。 They emerged sudden from the impeccable greyness； to which they afforded an heroic contrast。 So； while the highway drifteddrifted to a vulgar incompetence； the craft was illumined by many a flash of unexpected genius。 The brilliant achievements of Jonathan Wild and of Jack Sheppard might have relieved the gloom of the darkest era； and their separate masterpieces make some atonement for the environing cowardice and stupidity。 Above all； the Eighteenth Century was Newgate's golden age； now for the first time and the last were the rules and customs of the Jug perfectly understood。 If Jonathan the Great was unrivalled in the art of clapping his enemies into prison； if Jack the Slip…string was supreme in the rarer art of getting himself out； even the meanest criminal of his time knew what was expected of him； so long as he wandered within the walled yard； or listened to the ministrations of the snuff…besmirched Ordinary。 He might show a lamentable lack of cleverness in carrying off his booty； he might prove a too easy victim to the wiles of the thief…catcher； but he never fell short of courage； when asked to sustain the consequences of his crime。
Newgate； compared by one eminent author to a university； by another to a ship； was a republic； whose liberty extended only so far as its iron door。 While there was no liberty without； there was licence within； and if the culprit； who paid for the smallest indiscretion with his neck； understood the etiquette of the place； he spent his last weeks in an orgie of rollicking lawlessness。 He drank； he ate； he diced； he received his friends； or chaffed the Ordinary； he attempted； through the well… paid cunning of the Clerk； to bribe the jury； and when every artifice had failed he went to Tyburn like a man。 If he knew not how to live； at least he would show a resentful world how to die。
‘In no country；' wrote Sir T。 Smith； a distinguished lawyer of the time； ‘do malefactors go to execution more intrepidly than in England'； and assuredly； buoyed up by custom and the approval of their fellows； Wild's victims made a brave show at the gallows。 Nor was their bravery the result of a common callousness。 They understood at once the humour and the delicacy of the situation。 Though hitherto they had chaffed the Ordinary； they now listened to his exhortation with at least a semblance of respect； and though their last night upon earth might have been devoted to a joyou
