the vicar of wakefield-第25章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ly and spend it while I had it； and then trust to occurrences for the rest。 As I was going along with this resolution； it happened that Mr Cripse's office seemed invitingly open to give me a welcome reception。 In this office Mr Cripse kindly offers all his majesty's subjects a generous promise of 30 pounds a year； for which promise all they give in return is their liberty for life； and permission to let him transport them to America as slaves。 I was happy at finding a place where I could lose my fears in desperation； and entered this cell； for it had the appearance of one； with the devotion of a monastic。 Here I found a number of poor creatures； all in circumstances like myself； expecting the arrival of Mr Cripse； presenting a true epitome of English impatience。 Each untractable soul at variance with fortune； wreaked her injuries on their own hearts： but Mr Cripse at last came down； and all our murmurs were hushed。 He deigned to regard me with an air of peculiar approbation； and indeed he was the first man who for a month past talked to me with smiles。 After a few questions； he found I was fit for every thing in the world。 He paused a while upon the properest means of providing for me； and slapping his forehead； as if he had found it； assured me； that there was at that time an embassy talked of from the synod of Pensylvania to the Chickasaw Indians； and that he would use his interest to get me made secretary。 I knew in my own heart that the fellow lied； and yet his promise gave me pleasure； there was something so magnificent in the sound。 I fairly； therefore； divided my half guinea； one half of which went to be added to his thirty thousand pound； and with the other half I resolved to go to the next tavern； to be there more happy than he。
'As I was going out with that resolution； I was met at the door by the captain of a ship； with whom I had formerly some little acquaintance； and he agreed to be my companion over a bowl of punch。 As I never chose to make a secret of my circumstances； he assured me that I was upon the very point of ruin； in listening to the office…keeper's promises； for that he only designed to sell me to the plantations。 But； continued he； I fancy you might； by a much shorter voyage； be very easily put into a genteel way of bread。 Take my advice。 My ship sails to…morrow for Amsterdam； What if you go in her as a passenger？ The moment you land all you have to do is to teach the Dutchmen English； and I'll warrant you'll get pupils and money enough。 I suppose you understand English； added he； by this time； or the deuce is in it。 I confidently assured him of that； but expressed a doubt whether the Dutch would be willing to learn English。 He affirmed with an oath that they were fond of it to distraction； and upon that affirmation I agreed with his proposal； and embarked the next day to teach the Dutch English in Holland。 The wind was fair； our voyage short； and after having paid my passage；with half my moveables； I found myself； fallen as from the skies； a stranger in one of the principal streets of Amsterdam。 In this situation I was unwilling to let any time pass unemployed in teaching。 I addressed myself therefore to two or three of those I met whose appearance seemed most promising； but it was impossible to make ourselves mutually understood。 It was not till this very moment I recollected； that in order to teach Dutchmen English； it was necessary that they should first teach me Dutch。 How I came to overlook so obvious an objection； is to me amazing； but certain it is I overlooked it
'This scheme thus blown up； I had some thoughts of fairly shipping back to England again； but happening into company with an Irish student； who was returning from Louvain； our conversation turning upon topics of literature； （for by the way it may be observed that I always forgot the meanness of my circumstances when I could converse upon such subjects） from him I learned that there were not two men in his whole university who understood Greek。 This amazed me。 I instantly resolved to travel to Louvain； and there live by teaching Greek； and in this design I was heartened by my brother student； who threw out some hints that a fortune might be got by it。 'I set boldly forward the next morning。 Every day lessened the burthen of my moveables； like Aesop and his basket of bread； for I paid them for my lodgings to the Dutch as I travelled on。 When I came to Louvain； I was resolved not to go sneaking to the lower professors； but openly tendered my talents to the principal himself。 I went； had admittance； and offered him my service as a master of the Greek language； which I had been told was a desideratum in his university。 The principal seemed at first to doubt of my abilities； but of these I offered to convince him； by turning a part of any Greek author he should fix upon into Latin。 Finding me perfectly earnest in my proposal； he addressed me thus： You see me； young man； continued he； I never learned Greek； and I don't find that I have ever missed it。 I have had a doctor's cap and gown without Greek： I have ten thousand florins a year without Greek； I eat heartily without Greek； and in short； continued he； as I don't know Greek； I do not believe there is any good in it。
'I was now too far from home to think of returning； so I resolved to go forward。 I had some knowledge of music； with a tolerable voice； and now turned what was once my amusement into a present means of subsistence。 I passed among the harmless peasants of Flanders； and among such of the French as were poor enough to be very merry； for I ever found them sprightly in proportion to their wants。 Whenever I approached a peasant's house towards night… fall； I played one of my most merry tunes； and that procured me not only a lodging； but subsistence for the next day。 I once or twice attempted to play for people of fashion； but they always thought my performance odious； and never rewarded me even with a trifle。 This was to me the more extraordinary； as whenever I used in better days to play for company； when playing was my amusement； my music never failed to throw them into raptures； and the ladies especially； but as it was now my only means； it was received with contempt： a proof how ready the world is to under rate those talents by which a man is supported。
'In this manner I proceeded to Paris； with no design but just to look about me； and then to go forward。 The people of Paris are much fonder of strangers that have money； than of those that have wit。 As I could not boast much of either； I was no great favourite。 After walking about the town four or five days； and seeing the outsides of the best houses； I was preparing to leave this retreat of venal hospitality； when passing through one of the principal streets； whom should I meet but our cousin； to whom you first recommended me。 This meeting was very agreeable to me； and I believe not displeasing to him。 He enquired into the nature of my journey to Paris； and informed me of his own business there； which was to collect pictures； medals； intaglios； and antiques of all kinds； for a gentleman in London； who had just stept into taste and a large fortune。 I was the more surprised at seeing our cousin pitched upon for this office； as he himself had often assured me he knew nothing of the matter。 Upon my asking how he had been taught the art of a connoscento so very suddenly； he assured me that nothing was more easy。 The whole secret consisted in a strict adherence to two rules： the one always to observe； that the picture might have been better if the painter had taken more pains； and the other； to praise the works of Pietro Perugino。 But； says he； as I once taught you how to be an author in London； I'll now undertake to instruct you in the art of picture buying at Paris。
'With this proposal I very readily closed； as it was a living； and now all my ambition was to live。 I went therefore to his lodgings； improved my dress by his assistance； and after some time； accompanied him to auctions of pictures； where the English gentry were expected to be purchasers。 I was not a little surprised at his intimacy with people of the best fashion； who referred themselves to his judgment upon every picture or medal； as to an unerring standard of
