a personal record-µÚ10½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
snow¡laden¡¡woods£»¡¡when£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sheltering¡¡hollow£»¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡had¡¡been
lit¡¡by¡¡the¡¡party£»¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡quarry¡¡was¡¡discovered¡¡to
be¡¡distinctly¡¡unsatisfactory¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡thinon¡¡the¡¡contrary£»
it¡¡seemed¡¡unhealthily¡¡obese£»¡¡its¡¡skin¡¡showed¡¡bare¡¡patches¡¡of¡¡an
unpleasant¡¡character¡£¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡killed¡¡that¡¡dog¡¡for
the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pelt¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡large¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡eaten¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
The¡¡rest¡¡is¡¡silence¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
A¡¡silence¡¡in¡¡which¡¡a¡¡small¡¡boy¡¡shudders¡¡and¡¡says¡¡firmly£º
¡¨I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡eaten¡¡that¡¡dog¡£¡¨
And¡¡his¡¡grandmother¡¡remarks¡¡with¡¡a¡¡smile£º
¡¨Perhaps¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡hungry¡£¡¨
I¡¡have¡¡learned¡¡something¡¡of¡¡it¡¡since¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been
reduced¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡dog¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡fed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡emblematical¡¡animal£»
which£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡language¡¡of¡¡the¡¡volatile¡¡Gauls£»¡¡is¡¡called¡¡la¡¡vache
enragee£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡lived¡¡on¡¡ancient¡¡salt¡¡junk£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡the¡¡taste¡¡of
shark£»¡¡of¡¡trepang£»¡¡of¡¡snake£»¡¡of¡¡nondescript¡¡dishes¡¡containing
things¡¡without¡¡a¡¡namebut¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lithuanian¡¡village¡¡dognever£¡¡¡
I¡¡wish¡¡it¡¡to¡¡be¡¡distinctly¡¡understood¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡I£»¡¡but¡¡my
granduncle¡¡Nicholas£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Polish¡¡landed¡¡gentry£»¡¡Chevalier¡¡de¡¡la
Legion¡¡d'Honneur£»¡¡etc¡££»¡¡who¡¡in¡¡his¡¡young¡¡days£»¡¡had¡¡eaten¡¡the
Lithuanian¡¡dog¡£
I¡¡wish¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡childish¡¡horror¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deed¡¡clings
absurdly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡grizzled¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡perfectly¡¡helpless¡¡against
it¡£¡¡¡¡Still£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡really¡¡had¡¡to£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡charitably¡¡remember¡¡that
he¡¡had¡¡eaten¡¡him¡¡on¡¡active¡¡service£»¡¡while¡¡bearing¡¡up¡¡bravely
against¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡military¡¡disaster¡¡of¡¡modern¡¡history£»¡¡and£»¡¡in
a¡¡manner£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡his¡¡country¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡eaten¡¡him¡¡to
appease¡¡his¡¡hunger£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡an
unappeasable¡¡and¡¡patriotic¡¡desire£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡glow¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡faith
that¡¡lives¡¡still£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡illusion¡¡kindled
like¡¡a¡¡false¡¡beacon¡¡by¡¡a¡¡great¡¡man¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡astray¡¡the¡¡effort¡¡of¡¡a
brave¡¡nation¡£
Pro¡¡patria£¡
Looked¡¡at¡¡in¡¡that¡¡light£»¡¡it¡¡appears¡¡a¡¡sweet¡¡and¡¡decorous¡¡meal¡£
And¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡light£»¡¡my¡¡own¡¡diet¡¡of¡¡la¡¡vache¡¡enragee
appears¡¡a¡¡fatuous¡¡and¡¡extravagant¡¡form¡¡of¡¡self¡indulgence£»¡¡for
why¡¡should¡¡I£»¡¡the¡¡son¡¡of¡¡a¡¡land¡¡which¡¡such¡¡men¡¡as¡¡these¡¡have
turned¡¡up¡¡with¡¡their¡¡plowshares¡¡and¡¡bedewed¡¡with¡¡their¡¡blood£»
undertake¡¡the¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡fantastic¡¡meals¡¡of¡¡salt¡¡junk¡¡and
hardtack¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡seas£¿¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡kindest¡¡view¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡an
unanswerable¡¡question¡£¡¡¡¡Alas£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡conviction¡¡that¡¡there
are¡¡men¡¡of¡¡unstained¡¡rectitude¡¡who¡¡are¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡murmur¡¡scornfully
the¡¡word¡¡desertion¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡the¡¡taste¡¡of¡¡innocent¡¡adventure¡¡may¡¡be
made¡¡bitter¡¡to¡¡the¡¡palate¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inexplicable¡¡should
be¡¡al¡¡lowed¡¡for¡¡in¡¡appraising¡¡the¡¡conduct¡¡of¡¡men¡¡in¡¡a¡¡world¡¡where
no¡¡explanation¡¡is¡¡final¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡faithlessness¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be
lightly¡¡uttered¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡appearances¡¡of¡¡this¡¡perishable¡¡life¡¡are
deceptive£»¡¡like¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡falls¡¡under¡¡the¡¡judgment¡¡of¡¡our
imperfect¡¡senses¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡inner¡¡voice¡¡may¡¡remain¡¡true¡¡enough¡¡in¡¡its
secret¡¡counsel¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fidelity¡¡to¡¡a¡¡special¡¡tradition¡¡may¡¡last
through¡¡the¡¡events¡¡of¡¡an¡¡unrelated¡¡existence£»¡¡following
faithfully£»¡¡too£»¡¡the¡¡traced¡¡way¡¡of¡¡an¡¡inexplicable¡¡impulse¡£
It¡¡would¡¡take¡¡too¡¡long¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡the¡¡intimate¡¡alliance¡¡of
contradictions¡¡in¡¡human¡¡nature¡¡which¡¡makes¡¡love¡¡itself¡¡wear¡¡at
times¡¡the¡¡desperate¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡betrayal¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡perhaps¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no
possible¡¡explanation¡£¡¡¡¡Indulgenceas¡¡somebody¡¡saidis¡¡the¡¡most
intelligent¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡virtues¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡venture¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is
one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡least¡¡common£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡the¡¡most¡¡uncommon¡¡of¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡I
would¡¡not¡¡imply¡¡by¡¡this¡¡that¡¡men¡¡are¡¡foolishor¡¡even¡¡most¡¡men¡£¡¡
Far¡¡from¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡barber¡¡and¡¡the¡¡priest£»¡¡backed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡whole
opinion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡village£»¡¡condemned¡¡justly¡¡the¡¡conduct¡¡of¡¡the
ingenious¡¡hidalgo£»¡¡who£»¡¡sallying¡¡forth¡¡from¡¡his¡¡native¡¡place£»
broke¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡muleteer£»¡¡put¡¡to¡¡death¡¡a¡¡flock¡¡of
inoffensive¡¡sheep£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡through¡¡very¡¡doleful¡¡experiences¡¡in¡¡a
certain¡¡stable¡£¡¡¡¡God¡¡forbid¡¡that¡¡an¡¡unworthy¡¡churl¡¡should¡¡escape
merited¡¡censure¡¡by¡¡hanging¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stirrup¡leather¡¡of¡¡the
sublime¡¡caballero¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡noble£»¡¡a¡¡very¡¡unselfish
fantasy£»¡¡fit¡¡for¡¡nothing¡¡except¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡envy¡¡of¡¡baser
mortals¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡there¡¡is¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one¡¡aspect¡¡to¡¡the¡¡charm¡¡of¡¡that
exalted¡¡and¡¡dangerous¡¡figure¡£¡¡¡¡He£»¡¡too£»¡¡had¡¡his¡¡frailties¡£¡¡¡¡After
reading¡¡so¡¡many¡¡romances¡¡he¡¡desired¡¡naively¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡with¡¡his
very¡¡body¡¡from¡¡the¡¡intolerable¡¡reality¡¡of¡¡things¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡wished¡¡to
meet£»¡¡eye¡¡to¡¡eye£»¡¡the¡¡valorous¡¡giant¡¡Brandabarbaran£»¡¡Lord¡¡of
Arabia£»¡¡whose¡¡armour¡¡is¡¡made¡¡of¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dragon£»¡¡and¡¡whose
shield£»¡¡strapped¡¡to¡¡his¡¡arm£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fortified¡¡city¡£¡¡
Oh£»¡¡amiable¡¡and¡¡natural¡¡weakness£¡¡¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡blessed¡¡simplicity¡¡of¡¡a
gentle¡¡heart¡¡without¡¡guile£¡¡¡¡¡Who¡¡would¡¡not¡¡succumb¡¡to¡¡such¡¡a
consoling¡¡temptation£¿¡¡¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡form¡¡of
self¡indulgence£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ingenious¡¡hidalgo¡¡of¡¡La¡¡Mancha¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a
good¡¡citizen¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡priest¡¡and¡¡the¡¡barber¡¡were¡¡not¡¡unreasonable¡¡in
their¡¡strictures¡£¡¡¡¡Without¡¡going¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡old¡¡King
Louis¡Philippe£»¡¡who¡¡used¡¡to¡¡say¡¡in¡¡his¡¡exile£»¡¡¡¨The¡¡people¡¡are
never¡¡in¡¡fault¡¨one¡¡may¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡there¡¡must¡¡be¡¡some
righteousness¡¡in¡¡the¡¡assent¡¡of¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡village¡£¡¡¡¡Mad£¡¡¡¡¡Mad£¡¡¡¡¡He
who¡¡kept¡¡in¡¡pious¡¡meditation¡¡the¡¡ritual¡¡vigil¡of¡arms¡¡by¡¡the¡¡well
of¡¡an¡¡inn¡¡and¡¡knelt¡¡reverently¡¡to¡¡be¡¡knighted¡¡at¡¡daybreak¡¡by¡¡the
fat£»¡¡sly¡¡rogue¡¡of¡¡a¡¡landlord¡¡has¡¡come¡¡very¡¡near¡¡perfection¡£¡¡¡¡He
rides¡¡forth£»¡¡his¡¡head¡¡encircled¡¡by¡¡a¡¡halothe¡¡patron¡¡saint¡¡of
all¡¡lives¡¡spoiled¡¡or¡¡saved¡¡by¡¡the¡¡irresistible¡¡grace¡¡of
imagination¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡good¡¡citizen¡£
Perhaps¡¡that¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡was¡¡meant¡¡by¡¡the¡¡well¡remembered
exclamation¡¡of¡¡my¡¡tutor¡£
It¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡jolly¡¡year¡¡1873£»¡¡the¡¡very¡¡last¡¡year¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡have
had¡¡a¡¡jolly¡¡holiday¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡have¡¡been¡¡idle¡¡years¡¡afterward£»¡¡jolly
enough¡¡in¡¡a¡¡way¡¡and¡¡not¡¡altogether¡¡without¡¡their¡¡lesson£»¡¡but¡¡this
year¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡speak¡¡was¡¡the¡¡year¡¡of¡¡my¡¡last¡¡school¡boy¡¡holiday¡£
There¡¡are¡¡other¡¡reasons¡¡why¡¡I¡¡should¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡year£»¡¡but¡¡they
are¡¡too¡¡long¡¡to¡¡state¡¡formally¡¡in¡¡this¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡Moreover£»¡¡they
have¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡that¡¡holiday¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡has¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the
holiday¡¡is¡¡that¡¡before¡¡the¡¡day¡¡on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡remark¡¡was¡¡made¡¡we
had¡¡seen¡¡Vienna£»¡¡the¡¡Upper¡¡Danube£»¡¡Munich£»¡¡the¡¡Falls¡¡of¡¡the
Rhine£»¡¡the¡¡Lake¡¡of¡¡Constance£»in¡¡fact£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡memorable
holiday¡¡of¡¡travel¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡late¡¡we¡¡had¡¡been¡¡tramping¡¡slowly¡¡up¡¡the
Valley¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Reuss¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡delightful¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡much¡¡more
like¡¡a¡¡stroll¡¡than¡¡a¡¡tramp¡£¡¡¡¡Landing¡¡from¡¡a¡¡Lake¡¡of¡¡Lucerne
steamer¡¡in¡¡Fluelen£»¡¡we¡¡found¡¡ourselves¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡second
day£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dusk¡¡overtaking¡¡our¡¡leisurely¡¡footsteps£»¡¡a¡¡little
way¡¡beyond¡¡Hospenthal¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡not¡¡the¡¡day¡¡on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡remark
was¡¡made£º¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡valley¡¡and¡¡with¡¡the
habitations¡¡of¡¡men¡¡left¡¡some¡¡way¡¡behind£»¡¡our¡¡thoughts¡¡ran¡¡not
upon¡¡the¡¡ethics¡¡of¡¡conduct£»¡¡but¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡simpler¡¡human¡¡problem¡¡of
shelter¡¡and¡¡food¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡anything¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡in
sight£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡were¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡turning¡¡back¡¡when¡¡suddenly£»¡¡at¡¡a
bend¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡we¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡building£»¡¡ghostly¡¡in¡¡the
twilight¡£
At¡¡that¡¡time¡¡the¡¡work¡¡on¡¡the¡¡St¡£¡¡Gothard¡¡Tunnel¡¡was¡¡going¡¡on£»¡¡and
that¡¡magnificent¡¡enterprise¡¡of¡¡burrowing¡¡was¡¡directly¡¡responsible
for¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡¡building£»¡¡standing¡¡all¡¡alone¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡very
roots¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountains¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡long£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡big¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡it
was¡¡low£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡built¡¡of¡¡boards£»¡¡without¡¡ornamentation£»¡¡in
barrack¡hut¡¡style£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡white¡¡window¡frames¡¡quite¡¡flush¡¡with
the¡¡yellow¡¡face¡¡of¡¡its¡¡plain¡¡front¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡hotel£»¡¡it
had¡¡even¡¡a¡¡name£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡have¡¡forgotten¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡gold
laced¡¡doorkeeper¡¡at¡¡its¡¡humble¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡plain¡¡but¡¡vigorous
servant¡girl¡¡answered¡¡our¡¡inquiries£»¡¡then¡¡a¡¡man¡¡and¡¡woman¡¡who
owned¡¡the¡¡place¡¡appeared¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡clear¡¡that¡¡no¡¡travellers¡¡were
expected£»¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡even¡¡desired£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡hostelry£»
which¡¡in¡¡its¡¡severe¡¡style¡¡resembled¡¡the¡¡house¡¡which¡¡sur¡¡mounts
the¡¡unseaworthy¡looking¡¡hulls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡toy¡¡Noah's¡¡Arks£»¡¡the
universal¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡European¡¡childhood¡£¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡its¡¡roof
was¡¡not¡¡hinged¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡full¡¡to¡¡the¡¡brim¡¡of¡¡slab¡sided¡¡and
painted¡¡animals¡¡of¡¡wood¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡live¡¡tourist¡¡animal¡¡was
nowhere¡¡in¡¡evidence¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡something¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡in¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡narrow
room¡¡at¡¡one¡¡end¡¡of¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡narrow¡¡table£»¡¡which£»¡¡to¡¡my¡¡tired
perception¡¡and¡¡to¡¡my¡¡sleepy¡¡eyes£»¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡would¡¡tilt¡¡up
like¡¡a¡¡see¡¡saw¡¡plank£»¡¡since¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡one¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other¡¡end¡¡to
balance¡¡it¡¡against¡¡our¡¡two¡¡dusty¡¡and¡¡travel¡stained¡¡figures¡£¡¡
Then¡¡we¡¡hastened¡¡up¡¡stairs¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡in