a book of scoundrels-第4章
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the novel with a purpose； is conceived by a dullard； and carried out for the gratification of the middle…class。
To whitewash the scoundrel is to put upon him the heaviest dishonour： a dishonour comparable only to the monstrously illogical treatment of the condemned。 When once a hero has forfeited his right to comfort and freedom； when he is deemed no longer fit to live upon earth； the Prison Chaplain； encouraging him to a final act of hypocrisy； gives him a free pass （so to say） into another and more exclusive world。 So； too； the moralist would test the thief by his own narrow standard； forgetting that all professions are not restrained by the same code。 The road has its ordinances as well as the lecture…room； and if the thief is commonly a bad moralist； it is certain that no moralist was ever a great thief。 Why then detract from a man's legitimate glory？ Is it not wiser to respect ‘that deep intuition of oneness；' which Coleridge says is ‘at the bottom of our faults as well as our virtues？' To recognise that a fault in an honest man is a virtue in a scoundrel？ After all； he is eminent who； in obedience to his talent； does prodigies of valour unrivalled by his fellows。 And none has so many opportunities of various eminence as the scoundrel。
The qualities which may profitably be applied to a cross life are uncommon and innumerable。 It is not given to all men to be light…brained； light…limbed； light…fingered。 A courage which shall face an enemy under the starlight； or beneath the shadow of a wall； which shall track its prey to a well…defended lair； is far rarer than a law…abiding cowardice。 The recklessness that risks all for a present advantage is called genius； if a victorious general urge it to success； nor can you deny to the intrepid Highwayman； whose sudden resolution triumphs at an instant of peril； the possession of an admirable gift。 But all heroes have not proved themselves excellent at all points。 This one has been distinguished for the courtly manner of his attack； that other for a prescience which discovers booty behind a coach… door or within the pocket of a buttoned coat。 If Cartouche was a master of strategy； Barrington was unmatched in another branch； and each may claim the credit due to a peculiar eminence。 It is only thus that you may measure conflicting talents： as it were unfair to judge a poet by a brief experiment in prose； so it would be monstrous to cheapen the accomplishments of a pickpocket； because he bungled at the concealment of his gains。
A stern test of artistry is the gallows。 Perfect behaviour at an enforced and public scrutiny may properly be esteemed an effect of talentan effect which has not too often been rehearsed。 There is no reason why the Scoundrel； fairly beaten at the last point in the game； should not go to his death without swagger and without remorse。 At least he might comfort himself with such phrases as ‘a dance without the music；' and he has not often been lacking in courage。 What he has missed is dignity： his pitfalls have been unctuosity； on the one side； bravado on the other。 It was the Prison Ordinary； who first misled him into the assumption of a piety which neither preacher nor disciple understood。 It was the Prison Ordinary； who persuaded him to sign his name to a lying confession of guilt； drawn up in accordance with a foolish and inexorable tradition； and to deliver such a last dying speech as would not disappoint the mob。
The set phrases； the vain prayer offered for other sinners； the hypocritical profession of a superior righteousness； were neither noble nor sincere。 When Tom Jones （for instance） was hanged； in 1702； after a prosperous career on Hounslow Heath； his biographer declared that he behaved with more than usual ‘modesty and decency；' because he ‘delivered a pretty deal of good advice to the young men present； exhorting them to be industrious in their several callings。' Whereas his biographer should have discovered that it is not thus that your true hero bids farewell to frolic and adventure。
As little in accordance with good taste was the last appearance of the infamous Jocelin Harwood； who was swung from the cart in 1692 for murder and robbery。 He arrived at Tyburn insolently drunk。 He blustered and ranted； until the spectators hissed their disapproval； and he died vehemently shouting that he would act the same murder again in the same case。 Unworthy； also； was the last dying repartee of Samuel Shotland； a notorious bully of the Eighteenth Century。 Taking off his shoes； he hurled them into the crowd； with a smirk of delight。 ‘My father and mother often told me；' he cried； ‘that I should die with my shoes on； but you may all see that I have made them both liars。' A great man dies not with so mean a jest； and Tyburn was untouched to mirth by Shotland's facile humour。
On the other hand； there are those who have given a splendid example of a brave and dignified death。 Brodie was a sorry bungler when at work； but a perfect artist at the gallows。 The glory of his last achievement will never fade。 The muttered prayer； unblemished by hypocrisy； the jest thrown at George Smitha metaphor from the gaming…tablethe silent adjustment of the cord which was to strangle him； these last offices were performed with an unparalleled quietude and restraint。 Though he had pattered the flash to all his wretched accomplices； there was no trace of the last dying speech in his final utterances； and he set an example of a simple greatness； worthy to be followed even to the end of time。 Such is the type； but others also have given proof of a serene temper。 Tom Austin's masterpiece was in another kind； but it was none the less a masterpiece。 At the very moment that the halter was being put about his neck； he was asked by the Chaplain what he had to say before he died。 ‘Only；' says he； ‘there's a woman yonder with some curds and whey； and I wish I could have a pennyworth of them before I am hanged； because I don't know when I shall see any again。' There is a brave irrelevance in this very human desire； which is beyond praise。
Valiant also was the conduct of Roderick Audrey； who after a brief but brilliant career paid his last debt to the law in 1714。
He was but sixteen； and； says his biographer； ‘he went very decent to the gallows； being in a white waistcoat； clean napkin； white gloves； and an orange in one hand。' So well did he play his part； that one wonders Jack Ketch did not shrink from the performance of his。 But throughout his short life； Roderick Audreythe very name is an echo of romance！displayed a contempt for whatever was common or ugly。 Not only was his appearance at Tyburn a lesson in elegance； but he thieved； as none ever thieved before or since； with no other accomplice than a singing…bird。 Thus he would play outside a house； wherein he espied a sideboard of plate； and at last； bidding his playmate flutter through an open window into the parlour； he would follow upon the excuse of recovery； and； once admitted； would carry off as much silver as he could conceal。 None other ever attempted so graceful an artifice； and yet Audrey's journey to Tyburn is even more memorable than the story of his gay accomplice。
But it is not only the truly great who have won for themselves an enduring reputation。 There are men； not a few； esteemed； like the popular novelist； not for their art but for some foolish gift； some facile trick of notoriety； whose actions have tickled the fancy； not the understanding of the world。 The coward and the impostor have been set upon a pedestal of glory either by accident or by the whim of posterity。 For more than a century Dick Turpin has appeared not so much the greatest of highwaymen； as the Highwaymen Incarnate。 His prowess has been extolled in novels and upon the stage； his ride to York is still bepraised for a feat of miraculous courage and endurance； the death of Black Bess has drawn floods of tears down the most callous cheeks。 And the truth is that Turpin was never a gentleman of the road at all！ Black Bess is as pure an invention as the famous ride to York。 The ruffian； who is said to have ridden the phantom mare from one end of England to the other； was a common butcher； who burned
