elinor wyllys-2-第50节
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ours to follow； in my own path through lifeso long； I can have no wish to shrink from the situation in which I am placed； I can find no room for doubts or misgivings； as to the wisdom and rectitude of the course I have adopted。
〃That the position； however； in which we stand before you； on the present occasion； gentlemen； is one that requires explanation； we readily admit； it is too remarkable in its particulars to escape the searching inquiry of justice。 We appear in this court； the executors and legatee of Mr。 Stanleyhis widow； his nearest friend； and his adopted representativeto deny a claim； just in itself； advanced in the name of his only son。 Such a position must be either quite untenable； totally unjustifiable； an outrage upon the common decency of society； or it must stand on the firm foundation of truth。 You will easily believe； that such a position would never have been taken； under circumstances so extraordinary； by three individuals； possessing only a common share of honesty and good sense； unless they had held it to be one which they could maintain。 You will readily admit； that it is the very last position which a man of clear integrity； good character； and natural feeling would wish to assume； unless acting from conscientious motives； and guided by sound reason。
〃I have no wish to parade a stoical indifference to the pecuniary interests at stake to…day； they are such as must seriously affect my fortunes for years； possibly for life。 A cause involving so large a sum of money； so fine a landed estate； honourably acquired by the late proprietor； and generously bequeathed to myself； must necessarily include many interests of a varied character。 Many grateful recollections of the past； many hopes for the future； have been connected in my mind with the house at Greatwood； from early boyhood I have been taught to look forward to it； as a home and a resting…place； when the busiest years of life shall have passed。 These interests； however； although among the best enjoyments of existence； are of a nature entirely personal； forgive me； if for a moment I have glanced at them。 But； gentlemen； if I have always valued the bequest of Mr。 Stanley； from its own intrinsic importance； from the many advantages it has already procured me； from the hopes with which it is connected； and from the grateful recollection； that to the friendly affection of my benefactor I owe its possession； yet； I solemnly affirm； in the hearing of hundreds of witnesses； that there is no honest occupation； however humble； no labour； however toilsome； that I would not at this instant cheerfully exchange for it； rather than retain that inheritance one hour from its rightful owner； could I believe him to be living。
〃No human being； I trust； who knows the principles from which I have hitherto acted； can show just ground for mistrusting this declaration。
〃But； fellow…citizens of the jury； to you I am a stranger。 There is not one of your number； as I now scan the faces in your box； that I recognize as that of an acquaintance。 I cannot； therefore； expect you to believe this assertion； unsupported by evidence of its truth。 I willingly leave vain declamation to those who have no better weapon to work with； were it in my power to influence your decision； by volleys of words without meaning； sound without sense； such as only too often assail the ears of judges and juries； respect for the honourable office you now fill； would deter me from following such a course； self…respect would naturally prevent me from following so closely the example of the orator who first addressed you on behalf of the plaintiff。 I have often before heard that orator； fellow…citizens of the jury； this is not the first occasion upon which I have listened with simple wonder； to a fluency which ever flows undisturbed； undismayed； whether the obstacles in its way be those of law or justice； reason or truth。 But if I have wondered at a facility so remarkable； never； for a single instant； have I wished to rival this supple dexterity。 It is an accomplishment one can scarcely envy。 On the other hand； these wholesale supplies of bombastic declamation form so large a part of the local stock in trade of the individual to whom I refer； that it would seem almost cruel to deprive him of them； we have all heard a common expression； more easily understood than explained； but which would be quite applicable to the pitiable state of the counsel for the plaintiff； when deprived of his chief support； his favourite modes of speechhe would then be reduced； gentlemen； to LESS THAN NOTHING。〃 Hazlehurst's face was expressive enough as he uttered these words。
〃No； fellow…citizens of the jury； I shall not ask you to believe a single assertion of my own； unsustained by proof。 At the proper moment； the testimony which we possess in favour of the death of Mr。 Stanley's son； and the facts which have led us to mistrust the strange story which you have just heard advanced in behalf of the plaintiff； will be laid before you。 At present； suffer me； for a moment longer； to refer to the leading motives which have induced us to appear in this court； as defendants； under circumstances so singular。
〃The importance which； as legatee of Mr。 Stanley； I attach to his generous gift has not been denied。 But； independently of this； there are other causes sufficient in themselves to have brought me into this hall； and these motives I share with the friends associated in the same defence。 If we conceive ourselves to be justified in refusing the demand of the plaintiff； as a consequence of this conviction； we must necessarily hold it to be an imperative duty to repel； by every honest means in our power； a claim we believe false。 This is a case which allows of no medium course。 On one hand； either we； the defendants； are guilty of an act of the most cruel injustice； or； on the other； the individual before you； assuming the name of William Stanley； is an impostor。 The opinion of those most intimately connected with the late Mr。 Stanley； is clearly proclaimed； by the stand they have deliberately taken； after examining the evidence with which the plaintiff advances his extraordinary claim。 This individual who； from his own account； was content to remain for years in a state of passive indifference to the same important inheritance； now claimed so boldly； in defiance of so many obstacles； we believe to be an impostor； not a single； lingering scruple prevents my repeating the declaration； that I believe him to be a bold and daring impostor。
〃With this opinion； is it expected that I shall calmly endure that one； whose only title consists in his cunning and his audacity； should seize with impunity； property； legally and justly my own？ Is it believed that I shall stand idly by； without a struggle to defend the name of my deceased benefactor from such impudent abuse？ That I should be content to see the very hearth…stone of my friend seized； by the grossest cupidity？ That I should surrender the guardianship of his grave to one； with whom he never had a thought； a feeling； a sympathy in common？to one； who would not scruple to sell that grave for a bottle of rum？
〃Every feeling revolts at the thought of such a shameful neglect of duty！ No； I acknowledge myself bound； by every obligation； to oppose to the last extremity； such an audacious invasion of right and truth。 Every feeling of respect and gratitude to the memory of my benefactor； urges me forward； while all the attachment of the friend； and all the affection of the widow； revive； and unite in the defence。
〃But； fellow…citizens of the jury； my own personal rights； sufficient on a common occasion to rouse any man； the duties owed by each of the defendants to the memory of Mr。 Stanleyduties sacred in the eyes of every right…thinking man； these are not the only motives which call upon us to oppose the plaintiff； to repel with all the strength we can command this daring act of piracy。
〃There is another duty still more urgent； a consideration of a still higher character； involved in the course we pursue to…day。 There is one object before us； far surpassing in importance any to which I have yet alluded； it is one； fellow…citizens of the jury； in which each individual of your number is as deeply concerned as ourselves； in which the highest earthly interests of every human being in this community are included； it is the one great object for which these walls were raised； this hall opened； which has placed those honourable men as judges on the seat of justice； which has called you together； from the less important pursuit of your daily avocations； to give an impartial opinion in every case brought before you； it is the high object of maintaining justice in the community to which we all equally belong。 I am willing to believe； fellow…citizens of the jury； that you are fully aware of the importance of your own office； of the dignity of this court； of the necessity of its existence； of its activity to protect the honest and inoffensive citizen； against the designing； the unprincipled； and the violent。 Such protection we know to be absolutely binding upon every community claiming to be civilized； we know that without it no state of society； at all worthy of the dignity of human nature； at all wor
