catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第1节
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Catherine： A Story
Catherine： A Story
by William Makepeace Thackeray
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Catherine： A Story
Contents
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1。 Introducing to the reader the chief personages of this narrative。
2。 In which are depicted the pleasures of a sentimental attachment。
3。 In which a narcotic is administered； and a great deal of genteel
society depicted。
4。 In which Mrs。 Catherine becomes an honest woman again。
5。 Contains Mr。 Brock's autobiography； and other matter。
6。 The adventures of the ambassador； Mr。 MacShane。
7。 Which embraces a period of seven years。
8。 Enumerates the accomplishments of Master Thomas Billings
introduces Brock as Doctor Woodand announces the execution of Ensign
MacShane。
9。 Interview between Count Galgenstein and Master Thomas Billings；
when he informs the Count of his parentage。
10。 Showing how Galgenstein and Mrs。 Cat recognise each other in
Marylebone Gardensand how the Count drives her home in his carrige。
11。 Of some domestic quarrels； and the consequence thereof。
12。 Treats of love； and prepares for death。
13。 Being a preparation for the end。
Chapter the Last。
Another Last Chapter。
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Catherine： A Story
ADVERTISEMENT
The story of 〃Catherine；〃 which appeared in Fraser's Magazine in
1839…40； was written by Mr。 Thackeray； under the name of Ikey Solomons；
Jun。； to counteract the injurious influence of some popular fictions of that
day； which made heroes of highwaymen and burglars； and created a false
sympathy for the vicious and criminal。
With this purpose； the author chose for the subject of his story a
woman named Catherine Hayes； who was burned at Tyburn； in 1726； for
the deliberate murder of her husband； under very revolting circumstances。
Mr。 Thackeray's aim obviously was to describe the career of this wretched
woman and her associates with such fidelity to truth as to exhibit the
danger and folly of investing such persons with heroic and romantic
qualities。
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Catherine： A Story
CHAPTER I。 Introducing to the
reader the chief personages of this
narrative。
At that famous period of history； when the seventeenth century （after a
deal of quarrelling； king…killing； reforming； republicanising； restoring； re…
restoring； play…writing； sermon… writing； Oliver…Cromwellising；
Stuartising； and Orangising； to be sure） had sunk into its grave； giving
place to the lusty eighteenth； when Mr。 Isaac Newton was a tutor of Trinity；
and Mr。 Joseph Addison Commissioner of Appeals； when the presiding
genius that watched over the destinies of the French nation had played out
all the best cards in his hand； and his adversaries began to pour in their
trumps； when there were two kings in Spain employed perpetually in
running away from one another； when there was a queen in England； with
such rogues for Ministers as have never been seen； no； not in our own day；
and a General； of whom it may be severely argued； whether he was the
meanest miser or the greatest hero in the world； when Mrs。 Masham had
not yet put Madam Marlborough's nose out of joint； when people had their
ears cut off for writing very meek political pamphlets； and very large full…
bottomed wigs were just beginning to be worn with powder； and the face
of Louis the Great； as his was handed in to him behind the bed…curtains；
was； when issuing thence； observed to look longer； older； and more dismal
daily。 。 。 。
About the year One thousand seven hundred and five； that is； in the
glorious reign of Queen Anne； there existed certain characters； and befell a
series of adventures； which； since they are strictly in accordance with the
present fashionable style and taste； since they have been already partly
described in the 〃Newgate Calendar；〃 since they are （as shall be seen anon）
agreeably low； delightfully disgusting； and at the same time eminently
pleasing and pathetic； may properly be set down here。
And though it may be said； with some considerable show of reason；
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Catherine： A Story
that agreeably low and delightfully disgusting characters have already
been treated； both copiously and ably； by some eminent writers of the
present （and； indeed； of future） ages； though to tread in the footsteps of the
immortal FAGIN requires a genius of inordinate stride； and to go a…
robbing after the late though deathless TURPIN； the renowned JACK
SHEPPARD； or the embryo DUVAL； may be impossible； and not an
infringement； but a wasteful indication of ill…will towards the eighth
commandment； though it may； on the one hand； be asserted that only vain
coxcombs would dare to write on subjects already described by men really
and deservedly eminent； on the other hand； that these subjects have been
described so fully； that nothing more can be said about them； on the third
hand （allowing； for the sake of argument； three hands to one figure of
speech）； that the public has heard so much of them； as to be quite tired of
rogues； thieves； cutthroats； and Newgate altogether；though all these
objections may be urged； and each is excellent； yet we intend to take a few
more pages from the 〃Old Bailey Calendar；〃 to bless the public with one
more draught from the Stone Jug：*yet awhile to listen； hurdle…mounted；
and riding down the Oxford Road； to the bland conversation of Jack Ketch；
and to hang with him round the neck of his patient； at the end of our and
his history。 We give the reader fair notice； that we shall tickle him with a
few such scenes of villainy； throat…cutting； and bodily suffering in general；
as are not to be found； no； not in； never mind comparisons； for such are
odious。
* This； as your Ladyship is aware； is the polite name for Her Majesty's
Prison of Newgate。
In the year 1705； then； whether it was that the Queen of England did
feel seriously alarmed at the notion that a French prince should occupy the
Spanish throne； or whether she was tenderly attached to the Emperor of
Germany； or whether she was obliged to fight out the quarrel of William
of Orange； who made us pay and fight for his Dutch provinces； or whether
poor old Louis Quatorze did really frighten her； or whether Sarah Jennings
and her husband wanted to make a fight； knowing how much they should
gain by it；whatever the reason was； it was evident that the war was to
continue； and there was almost as much soldiering and recruiting； parading；
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Catherine： A Story
pike and gun…exercising； flag…flying； drum…beating； powder…blazing； and
military enthusiasm； as we can all remember in the year 1801； what time
the Corsican upstart menaced our shores。 A recruiting…party and captain of
Cutts's regiment （which had been so mangled at Blenheim the year before）
were now in Warwickshire； and having their depot at Warwick； the captain
and his attendant； the corporal； were used to travel through the country；
seeking for heroes to fill up the gaps in Cutts's corps；and for adventures
to pass away the weary time of a country life。
Our Captain Plume and Sergeant Kite （it was at this time； by the way；
that those famous recruiting…officers were playing their pranks in
Shrewsbury） were occupied very much in the same manner with
Farquhar's heroes。 They roamed from Warwick to Stratford； and from
Stratford to Birmingham； persuading the swains of Warwickshire to leave
the plough for the Pike； and despatching； from time to time； small
detachments of recruits to extend Marlborough's lines； and to act as food
for the hungry cannon at Ramillies and Malplaquet。
