06-visitors-第1节
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Visitors
I think that I love society as much as most； and am ready enough
to fasten myself like a bloodsucker for the time to any full…blooded
man that comes in my way。 I am naturally no hermit； but might
possibly sit out the sturdiest frequenter of the bar…room； if my
business called me thither。
I had three chairs in my house； one for solitude； two for
friendship； three for society。 When visitors came in larger and
unexpected numbers there was but the third chair for them all； but
they generally economized the room by standing up。 It is surprising
how many great men and women a small house will contain。 I have had
twenty…five or thirty souls； with their bodies； at once under my
roof； and yet we often parted without being aware that we had come
very near to one another。 Many of our houses； both public and
private； with their almost innumerable apartments； their huge halls
and their cellars for the storage of wines and other munitions of
peace； appear to be extravagantly large for their inhabitants。 They
are so vast and magnificent that the latter seem to be only vermin
which infest them。 I am surprised when the herald blows his summons
before some Tremont or Astor or Middlesex House； to see come
creeping out over the piazza for all inhabitants a ridiculous mouse；
which soon again slinks into some hole in the pavement。
One inconvenience I sometimes experienced in so small a house；
the difficulty of getting to a sufficient distance from my guest
when we began to utter the big thoughts in big words。 You want room
for your thoughts to get into sailing trim and run a course or two
before they make their port。 The bullet of your thought must have
overcome its lateral and ricochet motion and fallen into its last
and steady course before it reaches the ear of the hearer； else it
may plow out again through the side of his head。 Also； our
sentences wanted room to unfold and form their columns in the
interval。 Individuals； like nations； must have suitable broad and
natural boundaries； even a considerable neutral ground； between
them。 I have found it a singular luxury to talk across the pond to
a companion on the opposite side。 In my house we were so near that
we could not begin to hear we could not speak low enough to be
heard； as when you throw two stones into calm water so near that
they break each other's undulations。 If we are merely loquacious
and loud talkers； then we can afford to stand very near together；
cheek by jowl； and feel each other's breath； but if we speak
reservedly and thoughtfully； we want to be farther apart； that all
animal heat and moisture may have a chance to evaporate。 If we
would enjoy the most intimate society with that in each of us which
is without； or above； being spoken to； we must not only be silent；
but commonly so far apart bodily that we cannot possibly hear each
other's voice in any case。 Referred to this standard； speech is for
the convenience of those who are hard of hearing； but there are many
fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout。 As the
conversation began to assume a loftier and grander tone； we
gradually shoved our chairs farther apart till they touched the wall
in opposite corners； and then commonly there was not room enough。
My 〃best〃 room； however； my withdrawing room； always ready for
company； on whose carpet the sun rarely fell； was the pine wood
behind my house。 Thither in summer days； when distinguished guests
came； I took them； and a priceless domestic swept the floor and
dusted the furniture and kept the things in order。
If one guest came he sometimes partook of my frugal meal； and it
was no interruption to conversation to be stirring a hasty…pudding；
or watching the rising and maturing of a loaf of bread in the ashes；
in the meanwhile。 But if twenty came and sat in my house there was
nothing said about dinner； though there might be bread enough for
two； more than if eating were a forsaken habit； but we naturally
practised abstinence； and this was never felt to be an offence
against hospitality； but the most proper and considerate course。
The waste and decay of physical life； which so often needs repair；
seemed miraculously retarded in such a case； and the vital vigor
stood its ground。 I could entertain thus a thousand as well as
twenty； and if any ever went away disappointed or hungry from my
house when they found me at home； they may depend upon it that I
sympathized with them at least。 So easy is it； though many
housekeepers doubt it； to establish new and better customs in the
place of the old。 You need not rest your reputation on the dinners
you give。 For my own part； I was never so effectually deterred from
frequenting a man's house； by any kind of Cerberus whatever； as by
the parade one made about dining me； which I took to be a very
polite and roundabout hint never to trouble him so again。 I think I
shall never revisit those scenes。 I should be proud to have for the
motto of my cabin those lines of Spenser which one of my visitors
inscribed on a yellow walnut leaf for a card：
〃Arrived there； the little house they fill；
Ne looke for entertainment where none was；
Rest is their feast； and all things at their will：
The noblest mind the best contentment has。〃
When Winslow； afterward governor of the Plymouth Colony； went
with a companion on a visit of ceremony to Massasoit on foot through
the woods； and arrived tired and hungry at his lodge； they were well
received by the king； but nothing was said about eating that day。
When the night arrived； to quote their own words 〃He laid us on
the bed with himself and his wife； they at the one end and we at the
other； it being only planks laid a foot from the ground and a thin
mat upon them。 Two more of his chief men； for want of room； pressed
by and upon us； so that we were worse weary of our lodging than of
our journey。〃 At one o'clock the next day Massasoit 〃brought two
fishes that he had shot；〃 about thrice as big as a bream。 〃These
being boiled； there were at least forty looked for a share in them；
the most eat of them。 This meal only we had in two nights and a
day； and had not one of us bought a partridge； we had taken our
journey fasting。〃 Fearing that they would be light…headed for want
of food and also sleep； owing to 〃the savages' barbarous singing；
（for they use to sing themselves asleep；）〃 and that they might get
home while they had strength to travel； they departed。 As for
lodging； it is true they were but poorly entertained； though what
they found an inconvenience was no doubt intended for an honor； but
as far as eating was concerned； I do not see how the Indians could
have done better。 They had nothing to eat themselves； and they were
wiser than to think that apologies could supply the place of food to
their guests； so they drew their belts tighter and said nothing
about it。 Another time when Winslow visited them； it being a season
of plenty with them； there was no deficiency in this respect。
As for men； they will hardly fail one anywhere。 I had more
visitors while I lived in the woods than at any other period in my
life； I mean that I had some。 I met several there under more
favorable circumstances than I could anywhere else。 But fewer came
to see me on trivial business。 In this respect； my company was
winnowed by my mere distance from town。 I had withdrawn so far
within the great ocean of solitude； into which the rivers of society
empty； that for the most part； so far as my needs were concerned；
only the finest sediment was deposited around me。 Beside； there
were wafted to me evidences of unexplored and uncultivated
continents on the other side。
Who should come to my lodge this morning but a true Homeric or
Paphlagonian man he had so suitable and poetic a name that I am
sorry I cannot print it here a Canadian； a woodchopper and
post…maker； who can hole fifty posts in a day； who made his last
supper on a woodchuck which his dog caught。 He； too； has heard of
Homer； and； 〃if it were not for books；〃 would 〃not know what to do
rainy days；〃 though perhaps he has not read one wholly through for
many rainy seasons。 Some priest who could pronounce the Greek
itself taught him to read his verse in the Testament in his native
parish far away； and now I must translate to him； while he holds the
book； Achilles' reproof to Patroclus for his sad countenance。
〃Why are you in tears； Patroclus； like a young girl？〃
〃Or have you alone heard some news from Phthia？
They say that Menoetius lives yet； son of Actor；
And Peleus lives； son of AEacus； among the Myrmidons；
Either of whom having died； we should greatly grieve。〃
He says； 〃That's good。〃 He has a great bundle of white oak bark
under his arm for a sick man； gathered this Sunday morning。 〃I
s
