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smells and smoke of London by its distance; which last is not the

fate of Kensington; when the wind blows from any corner of the east。



Obligations to Mr。 Ward I shall always confess; for I am

convinced that he omitted no care in endeavoring to serve me;

without any expectation or desire of fee or reward。



The powers of Mr。 Ward's remedies want indeed no unfair puffs of

mine to give them credit; and though this distemper of the dropsy

stands; I believe; first in the list of those over which he is

always certain of triumphing; yet; possibly; there might be

something particular in my case capable of eluding that radical

force which had healed so many thousands。  The same distemper; in

different constitutions; may possibly be attended with such

different symptoms; that to find an infallible nostrum for the

curing any one distemper in every patient may be almost as

difficult as to find a panacea for the cure of all。



But even such a panacea one of the greatest scholars and best of

men did lately apprehend he had discovered。  It is true; indeed;

he was no physician; that is; he had not by the forms of his

education acquired a right of applying his skill in the art of

physic to his own private advantage; and yet; perhaps; it may be

truly asserted that no other modern hath contributed so much to

make his physical skill useful to the public; at least; that none

hath undergone the pains of communicating this discovery in

writing to the world。  The reader; I think; will scarce need to

be informed that the writer I mean is the late bishop of Cloyne;

in Ireland; and the discovery that of the virtues of tar…water。



I then happened to recollect; upon a hint given me by the

inimitable and shamefully…distressed author of the Female

Quixote; that I had many years before; from curiosity only; taken

a cursory view of bishop Berkeley's treatise on the virtues of

tar…water; which I had formerly observed he strongly contends to

be that real panacea which Sydenham supposes to have an existence

in nature; though it yet remains undiscovered; and perhaps will

always remain so。



Upon the reperusal of this book I found the bishop only asserting

his opinion that tar…water might be useful in the dropsy; since

he had known it to have a surprising success in the cure of a

most stubborn anasarca; which is indeed no other than; as the

word implies; the dropsy of the flesh; and this was; at that

time; a large part of my complaint。



After a short trial; therefore; of a milk diet; which I presently

found did not suit with my case; I betook myself to the bishop's

prescription; and dosed myself every morning and evening with

half a pint of tar…water。



It was no more than three weeks since my last tapping; and my

belly and limbs were distended with water。  This did not give me

the worse opinion of tar…water; for I never supposed there could

be any such virtue in tar…water as immediately to carry off a

quantity of water already collected。  For my delivery from this I

well knew I must be again obliged to the trochar; and that if the

tar…water did me any good at all it must be only by the slowest

degrees; and that if it should ever get the better of my

distemper it must be by the tedious operation of undermining; and

not by a sudden attack and storm。



Some visible effects; however; and far beyond what my most

sanguine hopes could with any modesty expect; I very soon

experienced; the tar…water having; from the very first; lessened

my illness; increased my appetite; and added; though in a very

slow proportion; to my bodily strength。  But if my strength had

increased a little my water daily increased much more。  So that;

by the end of May; my belly became again ripe for the trochar;

and I was a third time tapped; upon which; two very favorable

symptoms appeared。  I had three quarts of water taken from me

less than had been taken the last time; and I bore the relaxation

with much less (indeed with scarce any) faintness。



Those of my physical friends on whose judgment I chiefly depended

seemed to think my only chance of life consisted in having the

whole summer before me; in which I might hope to gather

sufficient strength to encounter the inclemencies of the ensuing

winter。  But this chance began daily to lessen。  I saw the summer

mouldering away; or rather; indeed; the year passing away without

intending to bring on any summer at all。  In the whole month of

May the sun scarce appeared three times。  So that the early

fruits came to the fullness of their growth; and to some

appearance of ripeness; without acquiring any real maturity;

having wanted the heat of the sun to soften and meliorate their

juices。  I saw the dropsy gaining rather than losing ground; the

distance growing still shorter between the tappings。  I saw the

asthma likewise beginning again to become more troublesome。  I

saw the midsummer quarter drawing towards a close。  So that I

conceived; if the Michaelmas quarter should steal off in the same

manner; as it was; in my opinion; very much to be apprehended it

would; I should be delivered up to the attacks of winter before I

recruited my forces; so as to be anywise able to withstand them。



I now began to recall an intention; which from the first dawnings

of my recovery I had conceived; of removing to a warmer climate;

and; finding this to be approved of by a very eminent physician;

I resolved to put it into immediate execution。  Aix in Provence

was the place first thought on; but the difficulties of getting

thither were insuperable。  The Journey by land; beside the

expense of it; was infinitely too long and fatiguing; and I could

hear of no ship that was likely to set out from London; within

any reasonable time; for Marseilles; or any other port in that

part of the Mediterranean。



Lisbon was presently fixed on in its room。  The air here; as it

was near four degrees to the south of Aix; must be more mild and

warm; and the winter shorter and less piercing。



It was not difficult to find a ship bound to a place with which

we carry on so immense a trade。  Accordingly; my brother soon

informed me of the excellent accommodations for passengers which

were to be found on board a ship that was obliged to sail for

Lisbon in three days。  I eagerly embraced the offer;

notwithstanding the shortness of the time; and; having given my

brother full power to contract for our passage; I began to

prepare my family for the voyage with the utmost expedition。



But our great haste was needless; for the captain having twice

put off his sailing; I at length invited him to dinner with me at

Fordhook; a full week after the time on which he had declared;

and that with many asseverations; he must and would weigh anchor。



He dined with me according to his appointment; and when all

matters were settled between us; left me with positive orders to

be on board the Wednesday following; when he declared he would

fall down the river to Gravesend; and would not stay a moment for

the greatest man in the world。  He advised me to go to Gravesend

by land; and there wait the arrival of his ship; assigning many

reasons for this; every one of which was; as I well remember;

among those that had before determined me to go on board near the Tower。







THE VOYAGE





WEDNESDAY; June 26; 1754。On this day the most melancholy sun I

had ever beheld arose; and found me awake at my house at

Fordhook。  By the light of this sun I was; in my own opinion;

last to behold and take leave of some of those creatures on whom

I doted with a mother…like fondness; guided by nature and

passion; and uncured and unhardened by all the doctrine of that

philosophical school where I had learned to bear pains and to

despise death。  In this situation; as I could not conquer Nature;

I submitted entirely to her; and she made as great a fool of me

as she had ever done of any woman whatsoever; under pretense of

giving me leave to enjoy; she drew me in to suffer; the company

of my little ones during eight hours; and I doubt not whether; in

that time; I did not undergo more than in all my distemper。



At twelve precisely my coach was at the door; which was no sooner

told me than I kissed my children round; and went into it with

some little resolution。  My wife; who behaved more like a heroine

and philosopher; though at the same time the tenderest mother in

the world; and my eldest daughter; followed me; some friends went

with us; and others here took their leave; and I heard my

behavior applauded; with many murmurs and praises to which I well

knew I had no title; as all other such philosophers may; if they

have any modesty; confess on the like occasions。



In two hours we arrived in Rotherhithe; and immediately went on

board; and were to have sailed the next morning; but; as this was

the king's proclamation…day; and consequently a holiday at the

custom…house; the captain coul

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