miscellaneous papers(各种各样的文件)-第7章
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solitary expiation would have no congeniality with his wicked thoughts；
but this throttling and strangling has。 There is always before him； an
ugly； bloody； scarecrow phantom； that champions her； as it were； and yet
shows him； in a ghastly way； the example of murder。 Is she very weak；
or very trustful in him； or infirm； or old？ It gives a hideous courage to
what would be mere slaughter otherwise； for there it is； a presence always
about her； darkly menacing him with that penalty whose murky secret has
a fascination for all secret and unwholesome thoughts。 And when he
struggles with his victim at the last； 〃though he should be hanged for it〃； it
is a merciless wrestle； not with one weak life only； but with that ever…
haunting； ever…beckoning shadow of the gallows； too； and with a fierce
defiance to it； after their long survey of each other； to come on and do its
worst。
Present this black idea of violence to a bad mind contemplating
violence； hold up before a man remotely compassing the death of another
person； the spectacle of his own ghastly and untimely death by man's
hands； and out of the depths of his own nature you shall assuredly raise up
that which lures and tempts him on。 The laws which regulate those
mysteries have not been studied or cared for； by the maintainers of this
law； but they are paramount and will always assert their power。
Out of one hundred and sixty…seven persons under sentence of Death
in England； questioned at different times； in the course of years； by an
English clergyman in the performance of his duty； there were only three
who had not been spectators of executions。
We come； now； to the consideration of those murders which are
committed； or attempted； with no other object than the attainment of an
infamous notoriety。 That this class of crimes has its origin in the
Punishment of Death； we cannot question； because （as we have already
seen； and shall presently establish by another proof） great notoriety and
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MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
interest attach； and are generally understood to attach； only to those
criminals who are in danger of being executed。 One of the most
remarkable instances of murder originating in mad self…conceit； and of the
murderer's part in the repulsive drama； in which the law appears at such
great disadvantage to itself and to society； being acted almost to the last
with a self…complacency that would be horribly ludicrous if it were not
utterly revolting； is presented in the case of Hocker。
Here is an insolent； flippant； dissolute youth： aping the man of
intrigue and levity： over…dressed； over…confident； inordinately vain of his
personal appearance： distinguished as to his hair； cane； snuff…box； and
singing…voice： and unhappily the son of a working shoemaker。 Bent on
loftier flights than such a poor house… swallow as a teacher in a Sunday…
school can take； and having no truth； industry； perseverance； or other dull
work…a…day quality； to plume his wings withal； he casts about him； in his
jaunty way； for some mode of distinguishing himselfsome means of
getting that head of hair into the print…shops； of having something like
justice done to his singing…voice and fine intellect； of making the life and
adventures of Thomas Hocker remarkable； and of getting up some
excitement in connection with that slighted piece of biography。 The
Stage？ No。 Not feasible。 There has always been a conspiracy against
the Thomas Hockers； in that kind of effort。 It has been the same with
Authorship in prose and poetry。 Is there nothing else？ A Murder； now；
would make a noise in the papers！ There is the gallows to be sure； but
without that； it would be nothing。 Short of that； it wouldn't be fame。
Well！ We must all die at one time or other； and to die game； and have it
in print； is just the thing for a man of spirit。 They always die game at the
Minor Theatres and the Saloons； and the people like it very much。
Thurtell； too； died very game； and made a capital speech when he was
tried。 There's all about it in a book at the cigar…shop now。 Come； Tom；
get your name up！ Let it be a dashing murder that shall keep the wood…
engravers at it for the next two months。 You are the boy to go through
with it； and interest the town！
The miserable wretch； inflated by this lunatic conceit； arranges his
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MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
whole plan for publication and effect。 It is quite an epitome of his
experience of the domestic melodrama or penny novel。 There is the
Victim Friend； the mysterious letter of the injured Female to the Victim
Friend； the romantic spot for the Death…Struggle by night； the unexpected
appearance of Thomas Hocker to the Policeman； the parlour of the Public
House； with Thomas Hocker reading the paper to a strange gentleman； the
Family Apartment； with a song by Thomas Hocker； the Inquest Room；
with Thomas Hocker boldly looking on； the interior of the Marylebone
Theatre； with Thomas Hocker taken into custody； the Police Office with
Thomas Hocker 〃affable〃 to the spectators； the interior of Newgate； with
Thomas Hocker preparing his defence； the Court； where Thomas Hocker；
with his dancing…master airs； is put upon his trial； and complimented by
the Judge； the Prosecution； the Defence； the Verdict； the Black Cap； the
Sentence each of them a line in any Playbill； and how bold a line in
Thomas Hocker's life！
It is worthy of remark； that the nearer he approaches to the gallows
the great last scene to which the whole of these effects have been working
upthe more the overweening conceit of the poor wretch shows itself； the
more he feels that he is the hero of the hour； the more audaciously and
recklessly he lies； in supporting the character。 In publicat the
condemned sermonhe deports himself as becomes the man whose
autographs are precious； whose portraits are innumerable； in memory of
whom； whole fences and gates have been borne away； in splinters； from
the scene of murder。 He knows that the eyes of Europe are upon him； but
he is not proudonly graceful。 He bows； like the first gentleman in Europe；
to the turnkey who brings him a glass of water； and composes his clothes
and hassock as carefully； as good Madame Blaize could do。 In private
within the walls of the condemned cellevery word and action of his
waning life； is a lie。 His whole time is divided between telling lies and
writing them。 If he ever have another thought； it is for his genteel
appearance on the scaffold； as when he begs the barber 〃not to cut his hair
too short； or they won't know him when he comes out〃。 His last
proceeding but one is to write two romant
