letters on sweden, norway, and denmark-第19节
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！
tained by the imagination； are unavoidably sooner exhausted than the sentiments of the heart。 Friendship is in general sincere at the commencement； and lasts whilst there is anything to support it； but as a mixture of novelty and vanity is the usual prop； no wonder if it fall with the slender stay。 The fop in the play paid a greater compliment than he was aware of when he said to a person； whom he meant to flatter； 〃I like you almost as well as a NEW ACQUAINTANCE。〃 Why am I talking of friendship； after which I have had such a wild…goose chase。 I thought only of telling you that the crows； as well as wild…geese； are here birds of passage。
LETTER XIII。
I left Tonsberg yesterday； the 22nd of August。 It is only twelve or thirteen English miles to Moss； through a country less wild than any tract I had hitherto passed over in Norway。 It was often beautiful； but seldom afforded those grand views which fill rather than soothe the mind。
We glided along the meadows and through the woods； with sunbeams playing around us； and； though no castles adorned the prospects； a greater number of comfortable farms met my eyes during this ride than I have ever seen； in the same space； even in the most cultivated part of England； and the very appearance of the cottages of the labourers sprinkled amidst them excluded all those gloomy ideas inspired by the contemplation of poverty。
The hay was still bringing in； for one harvest in Norway treads on the heels of the other。 The woods were more variegated； interspersed with shrubs。 We no longer passed through forests of vast pines stretching along with savage magnificence。 Forests that only exhibited the slow decay of time or the devastation produced by warring elements。 No； oaks； ashes； beech； and all the light and graceful tenants of our woods here sported luxuriantly。 I had not observed many oaks before； for the greater part of the oak…planks； I am informed； come from the westward。
In France the farmers generally live in villages； which is a great disadvantage to the country； but the Norwegian farmers； always owning their farms or being tenants for life； reside in the midst of them； allowing some labourers a dwelling rent free； who have a little land appertaining to the cottage； not only for a garden； but for crops of different kinds； such as rye； oats； buck…wheat； hemp； flax； beans； potatoes； and hay； which are sown in strips about it； reminding a stranger of the first attempts at culture； when every family was obliged to be an independent community。
These cottagers work at a certain price （tenpence per day） for the farmers on whose ground they live； and they have spare time enough to cultivate their own land and lay in a store of fish for the winter。 The wives and daughters spin and the husbands and sons weave； so that they may fairly be reckoned independent； having also a little money in hand to buy coffee； brandy and some other superfluities。
The only thing I disliked was the military service； which trammels them more than I at first imagined。 It is true that the militia is only called out once a year； yet in case of war they have no alternative but must abandon their families。 Even the manufacturers are not exempted； though the miners are； in order to encourage undertakings which require a capital at the commencement。 And； what appears more tyrannical； the inhabitants of certain districts are appointed for the land； others for the sea service。 Consequently； a peasant； born a soldier； is not permitted to follow his inclination should it lead him to go to sea； a natural desire near so many seaports。
In these regulations the arbitrary governmentthe King of Denmark being the most absolute monarch in Europeappears； which in other respects seeks to hide itself in a lenity that almost renders the laws nullities。 If any alteration of old customs is thought of； the opinion of the old country is required and maturely considered。 I have several times had occasion to observe that； fearing to appear tyrannical； laws are allowed to become obsolete which ought to be put in force or better substituted in their stead； for this mistaken moderation； which borders on timidity； favours the least respectable part of the people。
I saw on my way not only good parsonage houses； but comfortable dwellings； with glebe land for the clerk； always a consequential man in every country； a being proud of a little smattering of learning； to use the appropriate epithet； and vain of the stiff good…breeding reflected from the vicar； though the servility practised in his company gives it a peculiar cast。
The widow of the clergyman is allowed to receive the benefit of the living for a twelvemonth after the death of the incumbent。
Arriving at the ferry （the passage over to Moss is about six or eight English miles） I saw the most level shore I had yet seen in Norway。 The appearance of the circumjacent country had been preparing me for the change of scene which was to greet me when I reached the coast。 For the grand features of nature had been dwindling into prettiness as I advanced； yet the rocks； on a smaller scale； were finely wooded to the water's edge。 Little art appeared； yet sublimity everywhere gave place to elegance。 The road had often assumed the appearance of a gravelled one； made in pleasure…grounds； whilst the trees excited only an idea of embellishment。 Meadows； like lawns； in an endless variety； displayed the careless graces of nature； and the ripening corn gave a richness to the landscape analogous with the other objects。
Never was a southern sky more beautiful； nor more soft its gales。 Indeed； I am led to conclude that the sweetest summer in the world is the northern one； the vegetation being quick and luxuriant the moment the earth is loosened from its icy fetters and the bound streams regain their wonted activity。 The balance of happiness with respect to climate may be more equal than I at first imagined； for the inhabitants describe with warmth the pleasures of a winter at the thoughts of which I shudder。 Not only their parties of pleasure but of business are reserved for this season； when they travel with astonishing rapidity the most direct way； skimming over hedge and ditch。
On entering Moss I was struck by the animation which seemed to result from industry。 The richest of the inhabitants keep shops； resembling in their manners and even the arrangement of their houses the tradespeople of Yorkshire； with an air of more independence； or rather consequence； from feeling themselves the first people in the place。 I had not time to see the iron…works； belonging to Mr。 Anker； of Christiania； a man of fortune and enterprise； and I was not very anxious to see them after having viewed those at Laurvig。
Here I met with an intelligent literary man； who was anxious to gather information from me relative to the past and present situation of France。 The newspapers printed at Copenhagen； as well as those in England； give the most exaggerated accounts of their atrocities and distresses； but the former without any apparent comments or inferences。 Still the Norwegians； though more connected with the English； speaking their language and copying their manners； wish well to the Republican cause； and follow with the most lively interest the successes of the French arms。 So determined were they； in fact； to excuse everything； disgracing the struggle of freedom； by admitting the tyrant's plea； necessity； that I could hardly persuade them that Robespierre was a monster。
The discussion of this subject is not so general as in England； being confined to the few； the clergy and physicians； with a small portion of people who have a literary turn and leisure； the greater part of the inhabitants having a variety of occupations； being owners of ships； shopkeepers； and farmers； have employment enough at home。 And their ambition to become rich may tend to cultivate the common sense which characterises and narrows both their hearts and views； confirming the former to their families； taking the handmaids of it into the circle of pleasure； if not of interest； and the latter to the inspection of their workmen； including the noble science of bargain…makingthat is； getting everything at the cheapest； and selling it at the dearest rate。 I am now more than ever convinced that it is an intercourse with men of science and artists which not only diffuses taste； but gives that freedom to the understanding without which I have seldom met with much benevolence of character on a large scale。
Besides； though you do not hear of much pilfering and stealing in Norway； yet they will； with a quiet conscience； buy things at a price which must convince them they were stolen。 I had an opportunity of knowing that two or three reputable people had purchased some articles of vagrants； who were detected。 How much of the virtue which appears in the world is put on for the world？ And how little dictated by self…respect？so little； that I am ready to repeat the old question； and ask； Where is truth； or rather principle； to be found？ These are； perhaps； the vapourings of a heart ill at easethe effusions of a sensibility wounded almost to madness。 But enough of this； we will discuss the subject in another st
