misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第30章
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up for a short time to London; that he might urge a suit to his Grace of
Buckingham touching certain lands of her Majesty's; whereof he requested
a lease。 I had the honour to be familiarly acquainted with that worthy
gentleman and most excellent poet; whose death hath been deplored with
as general a consent of all Powers that delight in the woods; or in verse; or
in love; as was of old that of Daphnis or of Callus。
After some talk; which it is not material to set down at large;
concerning his suit and his vexations at the court; where indeed his
honesty did him more harm than his parts could do him good; I entreated
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him to dine with me at my lodging in the Temple; which he most
courteously promised。 And; that so eminent a guest might not lack a
better entertainment than cooks or vintners can provide; I sent to the house
of Mr John Milton; in the Artillery Walk; to beg that he would also be my
guest。 For; though he had been secretary; first to the Council of State; and;
after that; to the Protector; and Mr Cowley had held the same post under
the Lord St Albans in his banishment; I hoped; notwithstanding that they
would think themselves rather united by their common art than divided by
their different factions。 And so indeed it proved。 For; while we sat at
table; they talked freely of many men and things; as well ancient as
modern; with much civility。 Nay; Mr Milton; who seldom tasted wine;
both because of his singular temperance and because of his gout; did more
than once pledge Mr Cowley; who was indeed no hermit in diet。 At last;
being heated; Mr Milton begged that I would open the windows。 〃Nay;〃
said I; 〃if you desire fresh air and coolness; what should hinder us; as the
evening is fair; from sailing for an hour on the river?〃 To this they both
cheerfully consented; and forth we walked; Mr Cowley and I leading Mr
Milton between us; to the Temple Stairs。 There we took a boat; and
thence we were rowed up the river。
The wind was pleasant; the evening fine; the sky; the earth; and the
water beautiful to look upon。 But Mr Cowley and I held our peace; and
said nothing of the gay sights around us; lest we should too feelingly
remind Mr Milton of his calamity; whereof; however; he needed no
monitor: for soon he said; sadly; 〃Ah; Mr Cowley; you are a happy man。
What would I now give but for one more look at the sun; and the waters;
and the gardens of this fair city!〃
〃I know not;〃 said Mr Cowley; 〃whether we ought not rather to envy
you for that which makes you to envy others: and that specially in this
place; where all eyes which are not closed in blindness ought to become
fountains of tears。 What can we look upon which is not a memorial of
change and sorrow; of fair things vanished; and evil things done? When I
see the gate of Whitehall; and the stately pillars of the Banqueting House;
I cannot choose but think of what I have there seen in former days;
masques; and pageants; and dances; and smiles; and the waving of
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graceful heads; and the bounding of delicate feet。 And then I turn to
thoughts of other things; which even to remember makes me to blush and
weep;of the great black scaffold; and the axe and block; which were
placed before those very windows; and the voice seems to sound in mine
ears; the lawless and terrible voice; which cried out that the head of a king
was the head of a traitor。 There stands Westminster Hall; which who can
look upon; and not tremble to think how time; and change; and death
confound the councils of the wise; and beat down the weapons of the
mighty? How have I seen it surrounded with tens of thousands of
petitioners crying for justice and privilege! How have I heard it shake
with fierce and proud words; which made the hearts of the people burn
within them! Then it is blockaded by dragoons; and cleared by pikemen。
And they who have conquered their master go forth trembling at the word
of their servant。 And yet a little while; and the usurper comes forth from
it; in his robe of ermine; with the golden staff in one hand and the Bible in
the other; amidst the roaring of the guns and the shouting of the people。
And yet again a little while; and the doors are thronged with multitudes in
black; and the hearse and the plumes come forth; and the tyrant is borne;
in more than royal pomp; to a royal sepulchre。 A few days more; and his
head is fixed to rot on the pinnacles of that very hall where he sat on a
throne in his life; and lay in state after his death。 When I think on all
these things; to look round me makes me sad at heart。 True it is that God
hath restored to us our old laws; and the rightful line of our kings。 Yet;
how I know not; but it seems to me that something is wantingthat our
court hath not the old gravity; nor our people the old loyalty。 These evil
times; like the great deluge; have overwhelmed and confused all earthly
things。 And; even as those waters; though at last they abated; yet; as the
learned write; destroyed all trace of the garden of Eden; so that its place
hath never since been found; so hath this opening of all the flood…gates of
political evil effaced all marks of the ancient political paradise。〃
〃Sir; by your favour;〃 said Mr Milton; 〃though; from many
circumstances both of body and of fortune; I might plead fairer excuses for
despondency than yourself; I yet look not so sadly either on the past or on
the future。 That a deluge hath passed over this our nation; I deny not。
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But I hold it not to be such a deluge as that of which you speak; but rather
a blessed flood; like those of the Nile; which in its overflow doth indeed
wash away ancient landmarks; and confound boundaries; and sweep away
dwellings; yea; doth give birth to many foul and dangerous reptiles。 Yet
hence is the fulness of the granary; the beauty of the garden; the nurture of
all living things。
〃I remember well; Mr Cowley; what you have said concerning these
things in your Discourse of the Government of Oliver Cromwell; which
my friend Elwood read to me last year。 Truly; for elegance and rhetoric;
that essay is to be compared with the finest tractates of Isocrates and
Cicero。 But neither that nor any other book; nor any events; which with
most men have; more than any book; weight and authority; have altered
my opinion; that; of all assemblies that ever were in this world; the best
and the most useful was our Long Parliament。 I speak not this as wishing
to provoke debate; which neither yet do I decline。〃
Mr Cowley was; as I could see; a little nettled。 Yet; as he was a man
of a kind disposition and