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第11章

erewhon-第11章

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not thwart them; moreover; I liked them well enough; and felt
tolerably sure that they had no intention of hurting me。

In about a quarter of an hour we got to a small Hamlet built on the
side of a hill; with a narrow street and houses huddled up
together。  The roofs were large and overhanging。  Some few windows
were glazed; but not many。  Altogether the village was exceedingly
like one of those that one comes upon in descending the less known
passes over the Alps on to Lombardy。  I will pass over the
excitement which my arrival caused。  Suffice it; that though there
was abundance of curiosity; there was no rudeness。  I was taken to
the principal house; which seemed to belong to the people who had
captured me。  There I was hospitably entertained; and a supper of
milk and goat's flesh with a kind of oatcake was set before me; of
which I ate heartily。  But all the time I was eating I could not
help turning my eyes upon the two beautiful girls whom I had first
seen; and who seemed to consider me as their lawful prizewhich
indeed I was; for I would have gone through fire and water for
either of them。

Then came the inevitable surprise at seeing me smoke; which I will
spare the reader; but I noticed that when they saw me strike a
match; there was a hubbub of excitement which; it struck me; was
not altogether unmixed with disapproval:  why; I could not guess。
Then the women retired; and I was left alone with the men; who
tried to talk to me in every conceivable way; but we could come to
no understanding; except that I was quite alone; and had come from
a long way over the mountains。  In the course of time they grew
tired; and I very sleepy。  I made signs as though I would sleep on
the floor in my blankets; but they gave me one of their bunks with
plenty of dried fern and grass; on to which I had no sooner laid
myself than I fell fast asleep; nor did I awake till well into the
following day; when I found myself in the hut with two men keeping
guard over me and an old woman cooking。  When I woke the men seemed
pleased; and spoke to me as though bidding me good morning in a
pleasant tone。

I went out of doors to wash in a creek which ran a few yards from
the house。  My hosts were as engrossed with me as ever; they never
took their eyes off me; following every action that I did; no
matter how trifling; and each looking towards the other for his
opinion at every touch and turn。  They took great interest in my
ablutions; for they seemed to have doubted whether I was in all
respects human like themselves。  They even laid hold of my arms and
overhauled them; and expressed approval when they saw that they
were strong and muscular。  They now examined my legs; and
especially my feet。  When they desisted they nodded approvingly to
each other; and when I had combed and brushed my hair; and
generally made myself as neat and well arranged as circumstances
would allow; I could see that their respect for me increased
greatly; and that they were by no means sure that they had treated
me with sufficient deferencea matter on which I am not competent
to decide。  All I know is that they were very good to me; for which
I thanked them heartily; as it might well have been otherwise。

For my own part; I liked them and admired them; for their quiet
self…possession and dignified ease impressed me pleasurably at
once。  Neither did their manner make me feel as though I were
personally distasteful to themonly that I was a thing utterly new
and unlooked for; which they could not comprehend。  Their type was
more that of the most robust Italians than any other; their manners
also were eminently Italian; in their entire unconsciousness of
self。  Having travelled a good deal in Italy; I was struck with
little gestures of the hand and shoulders; which constantly
reminded me of that country。  My feeling was that my wisest plan
would be to go on as I had begun; and be simply myself for better
or worse; such as I was; and take my chance accordingly。

I thought of these things while they were waiting for me to have
done washing; and on my way back。  Then they gave me breakfasthot
bread and milk; and fried flesh of something between mutton and
venison。  Their ways of cooking and eating were European; though
they had only a skewer for a fork; and a sort of butcher's knife to
cut with。  The more I looked at everything in the house; the more I
was struck with its quasi…European character; and had the walls
only been pasted over with extracts from the Illustrated London
News and Punch; I could have almost fancied myself in a shepherd's
hut upon my master's sheep…run。  And yet everything was slightly
different。  It was much the same with the birds and flowers on the
other side; as compared with the English ones。  On my arrival I had
been pleased at noticing that nearly all the plants and birds were
very like common English ones:  thus; there was a robin; and a
lark; and a wren; and daisies; and dandelions; not quite the same
as the English; but still very like themquite like enough to be
called by the same name; so now; here; the ways of these two men;
and the things they had in the house; were all very nearly the same
as in Europe。  It was not at all like going to China or Japan;
where everything that one sees is strange。  I was; indeed; at once
struck with the primitive character of their appliances; for they
seemed to be some five or six hundred years behind Europe in their
inventions; but this is the case in many an Italian village。

All the time that I was eating my breakfast I kept speculating as
to what family of mankind they could belong to; and shortly there
came an idea into my head; which brought the blood into my cheeks
with excitement as I thought of it。  Was it possible that they
might be the lost ten tribes of Israel; of whom I had heard both my
grandfather and my father make mention as existing in an unknown
country; and awaiting a final return to Palestine?  Was it possible
that I might have been designed by Providence as the instrument of
their conversion?  Oh; what a thought was this!  I laid down my
skewer and gave them a hasty survey。  There was nothing of a Jewish
type about them:  their noses were distinctly Grecian; and their
lips; though full; were not Jewish。

How could I settle this question?  I knew neither Greek nor Hebrew;
and even if I should get to understand the language here spoken; I
should be unable to detect the roots of either of these tongues。  I
had not been long enough among them to ascertain their habits; but
they did not give me the impression of being a religious people。
This too was natural:  the ten tribes had been always lamentably
irreligious。  But could I not make them change?  To restore the
lost ten tribes of Israel to a knowledge of the only truth:  here
would be indeed an immortal crown of glory!  My heart beat fast and
furious as I entertained the thought。  What a position would it not
ensure me in the next world; or perhaps even in this!  What folly
it would be to throw such a chance away!  I should rank next to the
Apostles; if not as high as theycertainly above the minor
prophets; and possibly above any Old Testament writer except Moses
and Isaiah。  For such a future as this I would sacrifice all that I
have without a moment's hesitation; could I be reasonably assured
of it。  I had always cordially approved of missionary efforts; and
had at times contributed my mite towards their support and
extension; but I had never hitherto felt drawn towards becoming a
missionary myself; and indeed had always admired; and envied; and
respected them; more than I had exactly liked them。  But if these
people were the lost ten tribes of Israel; the case would be widely
different:  the opening was too excellent to be lost; and I
resolved that should I see indications which appeared to confirm my
impression that I had indeed come upon the missing tribes; I would
certainly convert them。

I may here mention that this discovery is the one to which I
alluded in the opening pages of my story。  Time strengthened the
impression made upon me at first; and; though I remained in doubt
for several months; I feel now no longer u

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