太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > journal of a voyage to lisbon >

第8节

journal of a voyage to lisbon-第8节

小说: journal of a voyage to lisbon 字数: 每页4000字

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!




antiquarian; who; from the most ancient record in the world

(though I don't find the society are all agreed on this point);

one long preceding the date of the earliest modern collections;

either of books or butterflies; none of which pretend to go

beyond the flood; shows us that the first man was a traveler; and

that he and his family were scarce settled in Paradise before

they disliked their own home; and became passengers to another

place。  Hence it appears that the humor of traveling is as old as

the human race; and that it was their curse from the beginning。

By this discovery my plan became much shortened; and I found it

only necessary to treat of the conveyance of goods and passengers

from place to place; which; not being universally known; seemed

proper to be explained before we examined into its original。

There are indeed two different ways of tracing all things used by

the historian and the antiquary; these are upwards and downwards。



The former shows you how things are; and leaves to others to

discover when they began to be so。  The latter shows you how

things were; and leaves their present existence to be examined by

others。  Hence the former is more useful; the latter more

curious。  The former receives the thanks of mankind; the latter

of that valuable part; the virtuosi。



In explaining; therefore; this mystery of carrying goods and

passengers from one place to another; hitherto so profound a

secret to the very best of our readers; we shall pursue the

historical method; and endeavor to show by what means it is at

present performed; referring the more curious inquiry either to

some other pen or to some other opportunity。



Now there are two general ways of performing (if God permit) this

conveyance; viz。; by land and water; both of which have much

variety; that by land being performed in different vehicles; such

as coaches; caravans; wagons; etc。; and that by water in ships;

barges; and boats; of various sizes and denominations。  But; as

all these methods of conveyance are formed on the same

principles; they agree so well together; that it is fully

sufficient to comprehend them all in the general view; without

descending to such minute particulars as would distinguish one

method from another。



Common to all of these is one general principle that; as the

goods to be conveyed are usually the larger; so they are to be

chiefly considered in the conveyance; the owner being indeed

little more than an appendage to his trunk; or box; or bale; or

at best a small part of his own baggage; very little care is to

be taken in stowing or packing them up with convenience to

himself; for the conveyance is not of passengers and goods; but

of goods and passengers。



Secondly; from this conveyance arises a new kind of relation; or

rather of subjection; in the society; by which the passenger

becomes bound in allegiance to his conveyer。  This allegiance is

indeed only temporary and local; but the most absolute during its

continuance of any known in Great Britain; and; to say truth;

scarce consistent with the liberties of a free people; nor could

it be reconciled  with them; did it not move downwards; a

circumstance universally apprehended to be incompatible to all

kinds of slavery; for Aristotle in his Politics hath proved

abundantly to my satisfaction that no men are born to be slaves;

except barbarians; and these only to such as are not themselves

barbarians; and indeed Mr。 Montesquieu hath carried it very

little farther in the case of the Africans; the real truth being

that no man is born to be a slave; unless to him who is able to

make him so。



Thirdly; this subjection is absolute; and consists of a perfect

resignation both of body and soul to the disposal of another;

after which resignation; during a certain time; his subject

retains no more power over his own will than an Asiatic slave; or

an English wife; by the laws of both countries; and by the

customs of one of them。  If I should mention the instance of a

stage…coachman; many of my readers would recognize the truth of

what I have here observed; all; indeed; that ever have been under

the dominion of that tyrant; who in this free country is as

absolute as a Turkish bashaw。  In two particulars only his power

is defective; he cannot press you into his service; and if you

enter yourself at one place; on condition of being discharged at

a certain time at another; he is obliged to perform his

agreement; if God permit; but all the intermediate time you are

absolutely under his government; he carries you how he will; when

he will; and whither he will; provided it be not much out of the

road; you have nothing to eat or to drink; but what; and when;

and where he pleases。  Nay; you cannot sleep unless he pleases

you should; for he will order you sometimes out of bed at

midnight and hurry you away at a moment's warning:  indeed; if

you can sleep in his vehicle he cannot prevent it; nay; indeed;

to give him his due; this he is ordinarily disposed to encourage:

for the earlier he forces yon to rise in the morning; the more

time he will give you in the heat of the day; sometimes even six

hours at an ale…house; or at their doors; where he always gives

you the same indulgence which he allows himself; and for this he

is generally very moderate in his demands。  I have known a whole

bundle of passengers charged no more than half…a…crown for being

suffered to remain quiet at an ale…house door for above a whole

hour; and that even in the hottest day in summer。  But as this

kind of tyranny; though it hath escaped our political writers;

hath been I think touched by our dramatic; and is more trite

among the generality of readers; and as this and all other kinds

of such subjection are alike unknown to my friends; I will quit

the passengers by land; and treat of those who travel by water;

for whatever is said on this subject is applicable to both alike;

and we may bring them together as closely as they are brought in

the liturgy; when they are recommended to the prayers of all

Christian congregations; and (which I have often thought very

remarkable) where they are joined with other miserable wretches;

such as women in labor; people in sickness; infants just born;

prisoners and captives。  Goods and passengers are conveyed by

water in divers vehicles; the principal of which being a ship; it

shall suffice to mention that alone。  Here the tyrant doth not

derive his title; as the stage…coachman doth; from the vehicle

itself in which he stows his goods and passengers; but he is

called the captaina word of such various use and uncertain

signification; that it seems very difficult to fix any positive

idea to it:  if; indeed; there be any general meaning which may

comprehend all its different uses; that of the head or chief of

any body of men seems to be most capable of this comprehension;

for whether they be a company of soldiers; a crew of sailors; or

a gang of rogues; he who is at the head of them is always styled

the captain。



The particular tyrant whose fortune it was to stow us aboard laid

a farther claim to this appellation than the bare command of a

vehicle of conveyance。  He had been the captain of a privateer;

which he chose to call being in the king's service; and thence

derived a right of hoisting the military ornament of a cockade

over the button of his hat。  He likewise wore a sword of no

ordinary length by his side; with which he swaggered in his

cabin; among the wretches his passengers; whom he had stowed in

cupboards on each side。  He was a person of a very singular

character。  He had taken it into his head that he was a

gentleman; from those very reasons that proved he was not one;

and to show himself a fine gentleman; by a behavior which seemed

to insinuate he had never seen one。  He was; moreover; a man of

gallantry; at the age of seventy he had the finicalness of Sir

Courtly Nice; with the roughness of Surly; and; while he was deaf

himself; had a voice capable of deafening all others。



Now; as I saw myself in danger by the delays of the captain; who

was; in reality; waiting for more freight; and as the wind had

been long nested; as it were; in the southwest; where it

constantly blew hurricanes; I began with great reason to

apprehend that our voyage might be long; and that my belly; which

began already to be much extended; would require the water to be

let out at a time when no assistance was at hand; though; indeed;

the captain comforted me with assurances that he had a pretty

young fellow on board who acted as his surgeon; as I found he

likewise did as steward; cook; butler; sailor。  In short; he had

as many offices as Scrub in the play; and went through them all

with great dexterity; this of surgeon was; perhaps; the only one

in which his skill was somewhat deficient; at least that branch

of tapping for the dropsy; for he very ingenuously and modestly

confe

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 0

你可能喜欢的