the vicar of wakefield-第33章
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r； I continued with my natural solemnity to read on； sensible that what I did might amend some； but could itself receive no contamination from any。
After reading； I entered upon my exhortation； which was rather calculated at first to amuse them than to reprove。 I previously observed； that no other motive but their welfare could induce me to this； that I was their fellow prisoner； and now got nothing by preaching。 I was sorry； I said； to hear them so very prophane； because they got nothing by it； but might lose a great deal： 'For be assured； my friends；' cried I； 'for you are my friends； however the world may disclaim your friendship； though you swore twelve thousand oaths in a day； it would not put one penny in your purse。 Then what signifies calling every moment upon the devil； and courting his friendship； since you find how scurvily he uses you。 He has given you nothing here； you find； but a mouthful of oaths and an empty belly； and by the best accounts I have of him； he will give you nothing that's good hereafter。
'If used ill in our dealings with one man； we naturally go elsewhere。 Were it not worth your while then； just to try how you may like the usage of another master； who gives you fair promises at least to come to him。 Surely； my Friends； of all stupidity in the world； his must be greatest； who； after robbing an house； runs to the thieftakers for protection。 And yet how are you more wise？ You are all seeking comfort from one that has already betrayed you； applying to a more malicious being than any thieftaker of them all； for they only decoy； and then hang you； but he decoys and hangs； and what is worst of all； will not let you loose after the hangman has done。'
When I had concluded； I received the compliments of my audience； some of whom came and shook me by the hand； swearing that I was a very honest fellow； and that they desired my further acquaintance。 I therefore promised to repeat my lecture next day； and actually conceived some hopes of making a reformation here； for it had ever been my opinion； that no man was past the hour of amendment； every heart lying open to the shafts of reproof； if the archer could but take a proper aim。 When I had thus satisfied my mind； I went back to my apartment； where my wife had prepared a frugal meal； while Mr Jenkinson begged leave to add his dinner to ours； and partake of the pleasure； as he was kind enough to express it of my conversation。 He had not yet seen my family； for as they came to my apartment by a door in the narrow passage； already described； by this means they avoided the common prison。 Jenkinson at the first interview therefore seemed not a little struck with the beauty of my youngest daughter； which her pensive air contributed to heighten； and my little ones did not pass unnoticed。
'Alas； Doctor；' cried he； 'these children are too handsome and too good for such a place as this！'
Why； Mr Jenkinson'； replied I； 'thank heaven my children are pretty tolerable in morals； and if they be good； it matters little for the rest。'
'I fancy； sir；' returned my fellow prisoner； 'that it must give you great comfort to have this little family about you。'
'A comfort； Mr Jenkinson；' replied I； 'yes it is indeed a comfort； and I would not be without them for all the world； for they can make a dungeon seem a palace。 There is but one way in this life of wounding my happiness； and that is by injuring them。'
'I am afraid then； sir；' cried he； 'that I am in some measure culpable； for I think I see here （looking at my son Moses） one that I have injured； and by whom I wish to be forgiven。'
My son immediately recollected his voice and features； though he had before seen him in disguise； and taking him by the hand； with a smile forgave him。 'Yet；' continued he； 'I can't help wondering at what you could see in my face； to think me a proper mark for deception。'
'My dear sir；' returned the other； 'it was not your face； but your white stockings and the black ribband in your hair； that allured me。 But no disparagement to your parts； I have deceived wiser men than you in my time； and yet； with all my tricks； the blockheads have been too many for me at last。'
'I suppose；' cried my son； 'that the narrative of such a life as yours must be extremely instructive and amusing。'
'Not much of either；' returned Mr Jenkinson。 'Those relations which describe the tricks and vices only of mankind； by increasing our suspicion in life； retard our success。 The traveller that distrusts every person he meets； and turns back upon the appearance of every man that looks like a robber； seldom arrives in time at his journey's end。
'Indeed I think from my own experience； that the knowing one is the silliest fellow under the sun。 I was thought cunning from my very childhood； when but seven years old the ladies would say that I was a perfect little man； at fourteen I knew the world； cocked my hat； and loved the ladies； at twenty； though I was perfectly honest； yet every one thought me so cunning； that not one would trust me。 Thus I was at last obliged to turn sharper in my own defence； and have lived ever since； my head throbbing with schemes to deceive； and my heart palpitating with fears of detection。
'I used often to laugh at your honest simple neighbour Flamborough； and one way or another generally cheated him once a year。 Yet still the honest man went forward without suspicion； and grew rich； while I still continued tricksy and cunning； and was poor； without the consolation of being honest。
'However；' continued he； 'let me know your case； and what has brought you here； perhaps though I have not skill to avoid a gaol myself； I may extricate my friends。'
In compliance with his curiosity； I informed him of the whole train of accidents and follies that had plunged me into my present troubles； and my utter inability to get free。
After hearing my story； and pausing some minutes； he slapt his forehead； as if he had hit upon something material； and took his leave； saying he would try what could be done。
CHAPTER 27
The same subject continued
The next morning I communicated to my wife and children the scheme I had planned of reforming the prisoners； which they received with universal disapprobation； alledging the impossibility and impropriety of it； adding； that my endeavours would no way contribute to their amendment； but might probably disgrace my calling。
'Excuse me；' returned I； 'these people； however fallen； are still men； and that is a very good title to my affections。 Good council rejected returns to enrich the giver's bosom； and though the instruction I communicate may not mend them； yet it will assuredly mend myself。 If these wretches； my children； were princes； there would be thousands ready to offer their ministry； but； in my opinion； the heart that is buried in a dungeon is as precious as that seated upon a throne。 Yes； my treasures； if I can mend them I will； perhaps they will not all despise me。 Perhaps I may catch up even one from the gulph； and； that will be great gain； for is there upon earth a gem so precious as the human soul？'
Thus saying； I left them； and descended to the common prison； where I found the prisoners very merry； expecting my arrival； and each prepared with some gaol trick to play upon the doctor。 Thus； as I was going to begin； one turned my wig awry； as if by accident； and then asked my pardon。 A second； who stood at some distance； had a knack of spitting through his teeth； which fell in showers upon my book。 A third would cry amen in such an affected tone as gave the rest great delight。 A fourth had slily picked my pocket of my spectacles。 But there was one whose trick gave more universal pleasure than all the rest； for observing the manner in which I had disposed my books on the table before me； he very dextrously displaced one of them； and put an obscene jest…book of his own in the place。 However I took no notice of all that this mischievous groupe of little beings could do； but went on； perfectly sensible that what was ridiculous in my attempt； would excite mirth only the first or second time； while what was serious would be permanent。 My design succeeded； and in less than six days some were penitent； and all attentive。
It
