before the curtain-第1节

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Vanity　Fair


by　William　Makepeace　Thackeray






BEFORE　THE　CURTAIN



As　the　manager　of　the　Performance　sits　before　the　curtain

on　the　boards　and　looks　into　the　Fair；　a　feeling　of　profound

melancholy　comes　over　him　in　his　survey　of　the　bustling　place。

There　is　a　great　quantity　of　eating　and　drinking；　making　love

and　jilting；　laughing　and　the　contrary；　smoking；　cheating；

fighting；　dancing　and　fiddling；　there　are　bullies　pushing　about；

bucks　ogling　the　women；　knaves　picking　pockets；　policemen

on　the　look…out；　quacks　（OTHER　quacks；　plague　take　them！）

bawling　in　front　of　their　booths；　and　yokels　looking　up　at

the　tinselled　dancers　and　poor　old　rouged　tumblers；　while　the

light…fingered　folk　are　operating　upon　their　pockets　behind。

Yes；　this　is　VANITY　FAIR；　not　a　moral　place　certainly；　nor　a

merry　one；　though　very　noisy。　　Look　at　the　faces　of　the　actors

and　buffoons　when　they　come　off　from　their　business；　and

Tom　Fool　washing　the　paint　off　his　cheeks　before　he　sits　down

to　dinner　with　his　wife　and　the　little　Jack　Puddings　behind

the　canvas。　　　The　curtain　will　be　up　presently；　and　he　will　be

turning　over　head　and　heels；　and　crying；　〃How　are　you？〃



A　man　with　a　reflective　turn　of　mind；　walking　through　an

exhibition　of　this　sort；　will　not　be　oppressed；　I　take　it；　by　his

own　or　other　people's　hilarity。　　　An　episode　of　humour　or　kindness

touches　and　amuses　him　here　and　therea　pretty　child

looking　at　a　gingerbread　stall；　a　pretty　girl　blushing　whilst　her

lover　talks　to　her　and　chooses　her　fairing；　poor　Tom　Fool；

yonder　behind　the　waggon；　mumbling　his　bone　with　the　honest

family　which　lives　by　his　tumbling；　but　the　general　impression

is　one　more　melancholy　than　mirthful。　　When　you　come　home

you　sit　down　in　a　sober；　contemplative；　not　uncharitable　frame

of　mind；　and　apply　yourself　to　your　books　or　your　business。



I　have　no　other　moral　than　this　to　tag　to　the　present　story

of　〃Vanity　Fair。〃　Some　people　consider　Fairs　immoral　altogether；

and　eschew　such；　with　their　servants　and　families：　very

likely　they　are　right。　　But　persons　who　think　otherwise；　and　are

of　a　lazy；　or　a　benevolent；　or　a　sarcastic　mood；　may　perhaps

like　to　step　in　for　half　an　hour；　and　look　at　the　performances。

There　are　scenes　of　all　sorts；　some　dreadful　combats；　some

grand　and　lofty　horse…riding；　some　scenes　of　high　life；　and

some　of　very　middling　indeed；　some　love…making　for　the

sentimental；　and　some　light　comic　business；　the　whole

accompanied　by　appropriate　scenery　and　brilliantly　illuminated

with　the　Author's　own　candles。



What　more　has　the　Manager　of　the　Performance　to　say？

To　acknowledge　the　kindness　with　which　it　has　been　received

in　all　the　principal　towns　of　England　through　which　the　Show

has　passed；　and　where　it　has　been　most　favourably　noticed　by

the　respected　conductors　of　the　public　Press；　and　by　the　Nobility

and　Gentry。　　He　is　proud　to　think　that　his　Puppets　have　given

satisfaction　to　the　very　best　company　in　this　empire。　　The

famous　little　Becky　Puppet　has　been　pronounced　to　be　uncommonly

flexible　in　the　joints；　and　lively　on　the　wire；　the　Amelia

Doll；　though　it　has　had　a　smaller　circle　of　admirers；　has　yet

been　carved　and　dressed　with　the　greatest　care　by　the　artist；　the

Dobbin　Figure；　though　apparently　clumsy；　yet　dances　in　a　very

amusing　and　natural　manner；　the　Little　Boys'　Dance　has　been

liked　by　some；　and　please　to　remark　the　richly　dressed　figure

of　the　Wicked　Nobleman；　on　which　no　expense　has　been

spared；　and　which　Old　Nick　will　fetch　away　at　the　end　of　this

singular　performance。



And　with　this；　and　a　profound　bow　to　his　patrons；　the

Manager　retires；　and　the　curtain　rises。



LONDON；　June　28；　1848