castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第7节
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perfection of style。 。 。 。 In point of tendency；' he continues； 'I should class
her books among the most irreligious I ever read。 。 。 。 She does not attack
religion nor inveigh against it； but makes it appear unnecessary by
exhibiting perfect virtue without it。 。 。 。 No works ever produced so bad an
effect on my own mind as hers。'＇
Besides Wordsworth and Sir William Hamilton and Mr。 Marshall； we
presently come to Sir John Herschell。 'I saw your admirable friend Miss
Edgeworth lately in town；' he writes to Hamilton； 'she is a most warm
admirer of yours； and praise such as hers is what any man might be proud
of。' Later on Miss Edgeworth； corresponding with Sir W。 Hamilton； tells
him she is ill and forbidden to write； or even to think。 This is what she
thinks of THINKING： 'I am glad to see that the severe sciences do not
destroy the energy and grace of the imagination； but only chasten it and
impart their philosophical influence。'
V
Certain events are remembered and mourned for generations； so there
are others； happy and interesting in themselves； which must continue to
give satisfaction long after they are over； and long after those concerned in
them have passed away。 And certainly among things pleasant to
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remember is the story of Sir Walter Scott's visit to Ireland in July 1825；
when he received so warm a greeting from the country and spent those
happy hours with Miss Edgeworth at Edgeworthstown。 Fortunately for
us； Lockhart was one of the party。 Anne Scott； and Walter the soldier；
and Jane Scott the bride； were also travelling in Sir Walter's train。 The
reception which Ireland gave Sir Walter was a warm…hearted ovation。 'It
would be endless to enumerate the distinguished persons who； morning
after morning； crowded to his levee in St。 Stephen's Green；' says Lockhart；
and he quotes an old saying of Sir Robert Peel's； 'that Sir Walter's
reception in the High Street of Edinburgh is 1822 was the first thing that
gave him （Peel） a notion of the electric shock of a nation's gratitude。' 'I
doubt if even that scene surpassed what I myself witnessed；' continues the
biographer； 'when Sir Walter returned down Dame Street after inspecting
the Castle of Dublin。'
From ovations to friendship it was Sir Walter's inclination to turn。
On the 1st August he came to Edgeworthstown； accompanied by his
family。 'We remained there for several days； making excursions to Loch
Oel； etc。 Mr。 Lovell Edgeworth had his classical mansion filled every
evening with a succession of distinguished friends。 Here； above all； we
had the opportunity of seeing in what universal respect and comfort a
gentleman's family may live in that country； provided only they live there
habitually and do their duty。 。 。 。 Here we found neither mud hovels nor
naked peasantry； but snug cottages and smiling faces all about。 。 。 。 Here
too we pleased ourselves with recognising some of the sweetest features in
Goldsmith's picture of 〃Sweet Auburn！ loveliest village of the plain。〃'
Oliver Goldsmith received his education at this very school of
Edgeworthstown； and Pallas More； the little hamlet where the author of
THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD first saw the light； is still； as it was then；
the property of the Edgeworths。
So Scott came to visit his little friend； and the giant was cheered and
made welcome by her charming hospitality。 It was a last gleam of
sunshine in that noble life。 We instinctively feel how happy they all were
in each other's good company。 We can almost overhear some of their talk；
as they walk together under the shade of the trees of the park。 One can
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imagine him laughing in his delightful hearty way； half joking； half
caressing。 Lockhart had used some phrase （it is Lockhart who tells us the
story） which conveyed the impression that he suspects poets and novelists
of looking at life and at the world chiefly as materials for art。 'A soft and
pensive shade came over Scott's face。 〃I fear you have some very young
ideas in your head；〃 he says。 〃God help us； what a poor world this would
be if that were the true doctrine！ I have read books enough； and observed
and conversed with enough eminent minds in my time； but I assure you I
have heard higher sentiments from the lips of poor uneducated men and
women； exerting the spirit of severe yet gentle heroism； or speaking their
simple thoughts； than I ever met with out of the pages of the Bible。 We
shall never learn to feel and respect our real calling unless we have taught
ourselves to consider everything as moonshine compared with the
education of the heart；〃' said the great teacher。 'Maria did not listen to
this without some water in her eyes；her tears are always ready when a
generous string is touched；but she brushed them gaily aside； and said；
〃You see how it is： Dean Swift said he had written his books in order
that people should learn to treat him like a great lord； Sir Walter writes his
in order that he might be able to treat his people as a great lord ought to
do。〃'
Years and years afterwards Edward Fitzgerald stayed at
Edgeworthstown； and he also carries us there in one of his letters。 He
had been at college with Mr。 Frank Edgeworth； who had succeeded to the
estate； and had now in 1828 come to stay with him。 The host had been
called away； but the guest describes his many hostesses： 'Edgeworth's
mother； aged seventy…four； his sister； the great Maria； aged seventy…two；
and another cousin or something。 All these people were pleasant and
kind； the house pleasant； the grounds ditto； a good library； so here I am
quite at home； but surely must go to England soon。' One can imagine
Fitzgerald sitting in the library with his back to the window and writing
his letters and reading his thirty…two sets of novels； while the rain is
steadily pouring outside； and the Great Authoress （so he writes her down）
as busy as a bee sitting by chattering and making a catalogue of her books。
'We talk about Walter Scott； whom she adores； and are merry all day long；'
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he says。 'When I began this letter I thought I had something to say； but I
believe the truth was I had nothing to do。'
Two years later Mr。 Fitzgerald is again there and writing to Frederick
Tennyson： 'I set sail from Dublin to…morrow night； bearing the heartfelt
regrets of all the people of Ireland with me。' Then comes a flash of his
kind searching lantern： 'I had a pleasant week with Edgeworth。 He
farms and is a justice； and goes to sleep on the sofa of evenings。 At odd
moments he looks into Spinoza and Petrarch。 People respect him very
much in these parts。' Edward Fitzgerald seems to have had a great regard
for his host； the more he knows him the more he cares for him； he
describes him 'firing away about the odes of Pindar。' They fired noble
broadsides those men of the early Victorian times； and when we listen we
still seem to hear their echoes rolling into the far distance。 Mr。 Fitzgerald
ends his letter with a foreboding too soon to be realised： 'Old Miss
Edgeworth is wearing away。 She has a capital bright soul； which even
now shines quite youthfully through her faded carcase。' It was in May
1849 that Maria Edgeworth went to her rest。 She died almost suddenly；
with no long suffering； in the arms of her faithful frien
