journal of a voyage to lisbon-第24节
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any other body of men to attempt to remove so stubborn a
nuisance。
If it should be doubted whether we can bring this case within the
letter of any capital law now subsisting; I am ashamed to own it
cannot; for surely no crime better deserves such punishment; but
the remedy may; nevertheless; be immediate; and if a law was made
at the beginning of next session; to take place immediately; by
which the starving thousands of poor was declared to be felony;
without benefit of clergy; the fishmongers would be hanged before
the end of the session。 A second method of filling the mouths of
the poor; if not with loaves at least with fishes; is to desire
the magistrates to carry into execution one at least out of near
a hundred acts of parliament; for preserving the small fry of the
river of Thames; by which means as few fish would satisfy
thousands as may now be devoured by a small number of
individnals。 But while a fisherman can break through the
strongest meshes of an act of parliament; we may be assured he
will learn so to contrive his own meshes that the smallest fry
will not be able to swim through them。
Other methods may; we doubt not; he suggested by those who shall
attentively consider the evil here hinted at; but we have dwelt
too long on it already; and shall conclude with observing that it
is difficult to affirm whether the atrocity of the evil itself;
the facility of curing it; or the shameful neglect of the cure;
be the more scandalous or more astonishing。
After having; however; gloriously regaled myself with this food;
I was washing it down with some good claret with my wife and her
friend; in the cabin; when the captain's valet…de…chambre; head
cook; house and ship steward; footman in livery and out on't;
secretary and fore…mast man; all burst into the cabin at once;
being; indeed; all but one person; and; without saying; by your
leave; began to pack half a hogshead of small beer in bottles;
the necessary consequence of which must have been either a total
stop to conversation at that cheerful season when it is most
agreeable; or the admitting that polyonymous officer aforesaid to
the participation of it。 I desired him therefore to delay his
purpose a little longer; but he refused to grant my request; nor
was he prevailed on to quit the room till he was threatened with
having one bottle to pack more than his number; which then
happened to stand empty within my reach。 With these menaces he
retired at last; but not without muttering some menaces on his
side; and which; to our great terror; he failed not to put into
immediate execution。
Our captain was gone to dinner this day with his Swiss brother;
and; though he was a very sober man; was a little elevated with
some champagne; which; as it cost the Swiss little or nothing; he
dispensed at his table more liberally than our hospitable English
noblemen put about those bottles; which the ingenious Peter
Taylor teaches a led captain to avoid by distinguishing by the
name of that generous liquor; which all humble companions are
taught to postpone to the flavor of methuen; or honest port。
While our two captains were thus regaling themselves; and
celebrating their own heroic exploits with all the inspiration
which the liquor; at least; of wit could afford them; the
polyonymous officer arrived; and; being saluted by the name of
Honest Tom; was ordered to sit down and take his glass before he
delivered his message; for every sailor is by turns his captain's
mate over a cann; except only that captain bashaw who presides in
a man…of…war; and who upon earth has no other mate; unless it be
another of the same bashaws。 Tom had no sooner swallowed his
draught than he hastily began his narrative; and faithfully
related what had happened on board our ship; we say faithfully;
though from what happened it may be suspected that Tom chose to
add perhaps only five or six immaterial circumstances; as is
always I believe the case; and may possibly have been done by me
in relating this very story; though it happened not many hours ago。
No sooner was the captain informed of the interruption which had
been given to his officer; and indeed to his orders; for he
thought no time so convenient as that of his absence for causing
any confusion in the cabin; than he leaped with such haste from
his chair that he had like to have broke his sword; with which he
always begirt himself when he walked out of his ship; and
sometimes when he walked about in it; at the same time; grasping
eagerly that other implement called a cockade; which modern
soldiers wear on their helmets with the same view as the ancients
did their creststo terrify the enemy he muttered something; but
so inarticulately that the word DAMN was only intelligible; he
then hastily took leave of the Swiss captain; who was too well
bred to press his stay on such an occasion; and leaped first from
the ship to his boat; and then from his boat to his own ship;
with as much fierceness in his looks as he had ever expressed on
boarding his defenseless prey in the honorable calling of a
privateer。 Having regained the middle deck; he paused a moment
while Tom and others loaded themselves with bottles; and then
descending into the cabin exclaimed with a thundering voice;
〃Dn me; why arn't the bottles stowed in; according to my orders?〃
I answered him very mildly that I had prevented his man from
doing it; as it was at an inconvenient time to me; and as in his
absence; at least; I esteemed the cabin to be my own。 〃Your
cabin!〃 repeated he many times; 〃no; dn me! 'tis my cabin。
Your cabin! dn me! I have brought my hogs to a fair market。 I
suppose indeed you think it your cabin; and your ship; by your
commanding in it; but I will command in it; dn me! I will show
the world I am the commander; and nobody but I! Did you think I
sold you the command of my ship for that pitiful thirty pounds? I
wish I had not seen you nor your thirty pounds aboard of her。〃
He then repeated the words thirty pounds often; with great
disdain; and with a contempt which I own the sum did not seem to
deserve in my eye; either in itself or on the present occasion;
being; indeed; paid for the freight of weight of human
flesh; which is above fifty per cent dearer than the freight of
any other luggage; whilst in reality it takes up less room; in
fact; no room at all。
In truth; the sum was paid for nothing more than for a liberty to
six persons (two of them servants) to stay on board a ship while
she sails from one port to another; every shilling of which comes
clear into the captain's pocket。 Ignorant people may perhaps
imagine; especially when they are told that the captain is
obliged to sustain them; that their diet at least is worth
something; which may probably be now and then so far the case as
to deduct a tenth part from the net profits on this account; but
it was otherwise at present; for when I had contracted with the
captain at a price which I by no means thought moderate; I had
some content in thinking I should have no more to pay for my
voyage; but I was whispered that it was expected the passengers
should find themselves in several things; such as tea; wine; and
such like; and particularly that gentlemen should stow of the
latter a much larger quantity than they could use; in order to
leave the remainder as a present to the captain at the end of the
voyage; and it was expected likewise that gentlemen should put
aboard some fresh stores; and the more of such things were put
aboard the welcomer they would be to the captain。
I was prevailed with by these hints to follow the advice
proposed; and accordingly; besides tea and a large hamper of
wine; with several hams and tongues; I caused a number of live
chickens and sheep to be conveyed aboard; in truth; treble the
quantity of provisions which would have supported the persons I
took with me; had the voyage continued three weeks; as it was
supposed; with a bare possibility; it might。
Indeed it continued much longer; but as this was occasioned by
our being wind…bound in our own ports; it was by no means of any
ill consequence to the captain; as the additional stores of fish;
fresh meat; butter; bread; &c。; which I constantly laid in;
greatly exceeded the consumption; and went some way in
maintaining the ship's crew。 It is true I was not obliged to do
this; but it seemed to be expected; for the captain did not think
himself obliged to do it; and I can truly say I soon ceased to
expect it of him。 He had; I confess; on board a number of fowls
and ducks sufficient for a West India voyage; all of them; as he
often said; 〃Very fine birds; and of the largest breed。〃 This I
believe was really the fact; and I can add that they were all
arrived at the full perfection of their size。 Nor was there; I
am convinced; any want of provisions of a more substantial kind;
such as dried beef; po