the surprising adventures of baron munchausen-第12节
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h's wife to pursue her journey。 She took with her； I should have informed you before； her favourite son by this connection； to whom she bequeathed the sling； and thus it has； without interruption； descended from father to son till it came into my possession。 One of its possessors； my great… great…great…grandfather； who lived about two hundred and fifty years ago； was upon a visit to England； and became intimate with a poet who was a great deer…stealer； I think his name was Shakespeare： he frequently borrowed this sling； and with it killed so much of Sir Thomas Lucy's venison； that he narrowly escaped the fate of my two friends at Gibraltar。 Poor Shakespeare was imprisoned； and my ancestor obtained his freedom in a very singular manner。 Queen Elizabeth was then on the throne； but grown so indolent； that every trifling matter was a trouble to her； dressing； undressing； eating； drinking； and some other offices which shall be nameless； made life a burden to her； all these things he enabled her to do without； or by a deputy！ and what do you think was the only return she could prevail upon him to accept for such eminent services？ setting Shakespeare at liberty！ Such was his affection for that famous writer； that he would have shortened his own days to add to the number of his friend's。
I do not hear that any of the queen's subjects； particularly the /beef…eaters/； as they are vulgarly called to this day； however they might be struck with the novelty at the time； much approved of her living totally without food。 She did not survive the practice herself above seven years and a half。
My father； who was the immediate possessor of this sling before me； told me the following anecdote：
He was walking by the sea…shore at Harwich； with this sling in his pocket； before his paces had covered a mile he was attacked by a fierce animal called a seahorse； open…mouthed； who ran at him with great fury； he hesitated a moment； then took out his sling； retreated back about a hundred yards； stooped for a couple of pebbles； of which there were plenty under his feet； and slung them both so dexterously at the animal； that each stone put out an eye； and lodged in the cavities which their removal had occasioned。 He now got upon his back； and drove him into the sea； for the moment he lost his sight he lost also ferocity； and became as tame as possible： the sling was placed as a bridle in his mouth； he was guided with the greatest facility across the ocean； and in less than three hours they both arrived on the opposite shore； which is about thirty leagues。 The master of the /Three Cups/； at Helvoetsluys； in Holland； purchased this marine horse； to make an exhibition of； for seven hundred ducats； which was upwards of three hundred pounds； and the next day my father paid his passage back in the packet to Harwich。
/My father made several curious observations in this passage； which I will relate hereafter。/
CHAPTER XII
/The frolic； its consequencesWindsor CastleSt。 Paul'sCollege of PhysiciansUndertakers； sextons； &c。； almost ruinedIndustry of the apothecaries。/
THE FROLIC。
This famous sling makes the possessor equal to any task he is desirous of performing。
I made a balloon of such extensive dimensions； that an account of the silk it contained would exceed all credibility； every mercer's shop and weaver's stock in London； Westminster； and Spitalfields contributed to it： with this balloon and my sling I played many tricks； such as taking one house from its station； and placing another in its stead； without disturbing the inhabitants； who were generally asleep； or too much employed to observe the peregrinations of their habitations。 When the sentinel at Windsor Castle heard St。 Paul's clock strike thirteen； it was through my dexterity； I brought the buildings nearly together that night； by placing the castle in St。 George's Fields； and carried it back again before daylight； without waking any of the inhabitants； notwithstanding these exploits； I should have kept my balloon； and its properties a secret； if Montgolfier had not made the art of flying so public。
On the 30th of September； when the College of Physicians chose their annual officers； and dined sumptuously together； I filled my balloon； brought it over the dome of their building； clapped the sling round the golden ball at the top； fastening the other end of it to the balloon； and immediately ascended with the whole college to an immense height； where I kept them upwards of three months。 You will naturally inquire what they did for food such a length of time？ To this I answer； Had I kept them suspended twice the time； they would have experienced no inconvenience on that account； so amply； or rather extravagantly； had they spread their table for that day's feasting。
Though this was meant as an innocent frolic； it was productive of much mischief to several respectable characters amongst the clergy； undertakers； sextons； and grave…diggers： they were； it must be acknowledged； sufferers； for it is a well…known fact； that during the three months the college was suspended in the air； and therefore incapable of attending their patients； no deaths happened； except a few who fell before the scythe of Father Time； and some melancholy objects who； perhaps to avoid some trifling inconvenience here； laid the hands of violence upon themselves； and plunged into misery infinitely greater than that which they hoped by such a rash step to avoid； without a moment's consideration。
If the apothecaries had not been very active during the above time； half the undertakers in all probability would have been bankrupts。
CHAPTER XIII
A TRIP TO THE NORTH
/The Baron sails with Captain Phipps； attacks two large bears； and has a very narrow escapeGains the confidence of these animals； and then destroys thousands of them； loads the ship with their hams and skins； makes presents of the former； and obtains a general invitation to all city feastsA dispute between the Captain and the Baron； in which； from motives of politeness； the Captain is suffered to gain his pointThe Baron declines the offer of a throne； and an empress into the bargain。/
We all remember Captain Phipps's （now Lord Mulgrave） last voyage of discovery to the north。 I accompanied the captain； not as an officer； but as a private friend。 When we arrived in a high northern latitude I was viewing the objects around me with the telescope which I introduced to your notice in my Gibraltar adventures。 I thought I saw two large white bears in violent action upon a body of ice considerably above the masts； and about half a league distance。 I immediately took my carbine； slung it across my shoulder； and ascended the ice。 When I arrived at the top； the unevenness of the surface made my approach to those animals troublesome and hazardous beyond expression： sometimes hideous cavities opposed me； which I was obliged to spring over； in other parts the surface was as smooth as a mirror； and I was continually falling： as I approached near enough to reach them； I found they were only at play。 I immediately began to calculate the value of their skins； for they were each as large as a well…fed ox： unfortunately； at the very instant I was presenting my carbine my right foot slipped； I fell upon my back； and the violence of the blow deprived me totally of my senses for nearly half an hour； however； when I recovered； judge of my surprise at finding one of those large animals I have been just describing had turned me upon my face； and was just laying hold of the waistband of my breeches； which were then new and made of leather： he was certainly going to carry me feet foremost； God knows where； when I took this knife （showing a large clasp knife） out of my side…pocket； made a chop at one of his hind feet； and cut off three of his toes； he immediately let me drop and roared most horribly。 I took up my carbine and fired at him as he ran off； he fell directly。 The noise of the piece roused several thousand of these white bears； who were asleep upon the ice within half a mile of me； they came immediately to the spot。 There was no time to be lost。 A most fortunate thought arrived in my pericranium just at that instant。 I took off the skin and head of the dead bear in half the time that some people would be in skinning a rabbit； and wrapped myself in it； placing my own head directly under Bruin's； the whole herd came round me immediately； and my apprehensions threw me into a most piteous situation to be sure： however； my scheme turned out a most admirable one for my own safety。 They all came smelling； and evidently took me for a brother Bruin； I wanted nothing but bulk to make an excellent counterfeit： however； I saw several cubs amongst them not much larger than myself。 After they had all smelt me； and the body of their deceased companion； whose skin was now become my protector； we seemed very sociable； and I found I could mimic all their actions tolerably well； but at growling； roaring； and hugging they were quite my masters。 I began now to think that I might turn the general confidence which I had created amongst these animals to my
