confessions of an english opium-eater-第10节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ointed； that this second birth of my sufferings began； and that they again threatened to besiege the citadel of life and hope。 There it was that for years I was persecuted by visions as ugly； and as ghastly phantoms as ever haunted the couch of an Orestes； and in this unhappier than he； that sleep； which comes to all as a respite and a restoration； and to him especially as a blessed ｛7｝ balm for his wounded heart and his haunted brain； visited me as my bitterest scourge。 Thus blind was I in my desires； yet if a veil interposes between the dim…sightedness of man and his future calamities； the same veil hides from him their alleviations； and a grief which had not been feared is met by consolations which had not been hoped。 I therefore； who participated； as it were； in the troubles of Orestes （excepting only in his agitated conscience）； participated no less in all his supports。 My Eumenides； like his； were at my bed…feet； and stared in upon me through the curtains； but watching by my pillow； or defrauding herself of sleep to bear me company through the heavy watches of the night； sate my Electra； for thou； beloved M。； dear companion of my later years； thou wast my Electra！ and neither in nobility of mind nor in long…suffering affection wouldst permit that a Grecian sister should excel an English wife。 For thou thoughtest not much to stoop to humble offices of kindness and to servile ｛8｝ ministrations of tenderest affectionto wipe away for years the unwholesome dews upon the forehead； or to refresh the lips when parched and baked with fever； nor even when thy own peaceful slumbers had by long sympathy become infected with the spectacle of my dread contest with phantoms and shadowy enemies that oftentimes bade me 〃sleep no more！〃not even then didst thou utter a complaint or any murmur； nor withdraw thy angelic smiles； nor shrink from thy service of love； more than Electra did of old。 For she too； though she was a Grecian woman； and the daughter of the king ｛9｝ of men； yet wept sometimes； and hid her face ｛10｝ in her robe。
But these troubles are past； and thou wilt read records of a period so dolorous to us both as the legend of some hideous dream that can return no more。 Meantime； I am again in London； and again I pace the terraces of Oxford Street by night； and oftentimes； when I am oppressed by anxieties that demand all my philosophy and the comfort of thy presence to support； and yet remember that I am separated from thee by three hundred miles and the length of three dreary months； I look up the streets that run northwards from Oxford Street； upon moon…light nights； and recollect my youthful ejaculation of anguish； and remembering that thou art sitting alone in that same valley； and mistress of that very house to which my heart turned in its blindness nineteen years ago； I think that； though blind indeed； and scattered to the winds of late； the promptings of my heart may yet have had reference to a remoter time； and may be justified if read in another meaning； and if I could allow myself to descend again to the impotent wishes of childhood； I should again say to myself； as I look to the North； 〃Oh； that I had the wings of a dove〃 and with how just a confidence in thy good and gracious nature might I add the other half of my early ejaculation〃And THAT way I would fly for comfort！〃
THE PLEASURES OF OPIUM
It is so long since I first took opium that if it had been a trifling incident in my life I might have forgotten its date； but cardinal events are not to be forgotten； and from circumstances connected with it I remember that it must be referred to the autumn of 1804。 During that season I was in London； having come thither for the first time since my entrance at college。 And my introduction to opium arose in the following way。 From an early age I had been accustomed to wash my head in cold water at least once a day： being suddenly seized with toothache； I attributed it to some relaxation caused by an accidental intermission of that practice； jumped out of bed； plunged my head into a basin of cold water； and with hair thus wetted went to sleep。 The next morning； as I need hardly say； I awoke with excruciating rheumatic pains of the head and face； from which I had hardly any respite for about twenty days。 On the twenty…first day I think it was； and on a Sunday； that I went out into the streets； rather to run away； if possible； from my torments； than with any distinct purpose。 By accident I met a college acquaintance； who recommended opium。 Opium！ dread agent of unimaginable pleasure and pain！ I had heard of it as I had of manna or of ambrosia； but no further。 How unmeaning a sound was it at that time： what solemn chords does it now strike upon my heart！ what heart…quaking vibrations of sad and happy remembrances！ Reverting for a moment to these； I feel a mystic importance attached to the minutest circumstances connected with the place and the time and the man （if man he was） that first laid open to me the Paradise of Opium…eaters。 It was a Sunday afternoon； wet and cheerless： and a duller spectacle this earth of ours has not to show than a rainy Sunday in London。 My road homewards lay through Oxford Street； and near 〃the stately Pantheon〃 （as Mr。 Wordsworth has obligingly called it） I saw a druggist's shop。 The druggistunconscious minister of celestial pleasures！as if in sympathy with the rainy Sunday； looked dull and stupid； just as any mortal druggist might be expected to look on a Sunday； and when I asked for the tincture of opium； he gave it to me as any other man might do； and furthermore； out of my shilling returned me what seemed to be real copper halfpence； taken out of a real wooden drawer。 Nevertheless； in spite of such indications of humanity； he has ever since existed in my mind as the beatific vision of an immortal druggist； sent down to earth on a special mission to myself。 And it confirms me in this way of considering him； that when I next came up to London I sought him near the stately Pantheon； and found him not； and thus to me； who knew not his name （if indeed he had one）； he seemed rather to have vanished from Oxford Street than to have removed in any bodily fashion。 The reader may choose to think of him as possibly no more than a sublunary druggist； it may be so； but my faith is betterI believe him to have evanesced； ｛11｝ or evaporated。 So unwillingly would I connect any mortal remembrances with that hour； and place； and creature； that first brought me acquainted with the celestial drug。
Arrived at my lodgings； it may be supposed that I lost not a moment in taking the quantity prescribed。 I was necessarily ignorant of the whole art and mystery of opium…taking； and what I took I took under every disadvantage。 But I took itand in an houroh； heavens！ what a revulsion！ what an upheaving； from its lowest depths； of inner spirit！ what an apocalypse of the world within me！ That my pains had vanished was now a trifle in my eyes： this negative effect wasswallowed up in the immensity of those positive effects which had opened before mein the abyss of divine enjoyment thus suddenly revealed。 Here was a panacea； a ＇Greek text＇ for all human woes； here was the secret of happiness； about which philosophers had disputed for so many ages； at once discovered： happiness might now be bought for a penny； and carried in the waistcoat pocket； portable ecstacies might be had corked up in a pint bottle； and peace of mind could be sent down in gallons by the mail…coach。 But if I talk in this way the reader will think I am laughing； and I can assure him that nobody will laugh long who deals much with opium： its pleasures even are of a grave and solemn complexion； and in his happiest state the opium…eater cannot present himself in the character of L'Allegro： even then he speaks and thinks as becomes Il Penseroso。 Nevertheless； I have a very reprehensible way of jesting at times in the midst of my own misery； and unless when I am checked by some more powerful feelings； I am afraid I shall be guilty of this indecent practice even in these annals of suffering or enjoyment。 The reader must allow a little to my infirm nature in this respect； and with a few indulgences of that sort I shall endeavour to be as grave； if not drowsy； as fits a theme like opium； so anti…mercurial as it really is； and so drowsy as it is falsely reputed。
And first； one word with respect to its bodily effects； for upon all that has been hitherto written on the subject of opium； whether by travellers in Turkey （who may plead their privilege of lying as an old immemorial right）； or by professors of medicine； writing ex cathedra； I have but one emphatic criticism to pronounceLies！ lies！ lies！ I remember once； in passing a book…stall； to have caught these words from a page of some satiric author： 〃By this time I became convinced that the London newspapers spoke truth at least twice a week； viz。； on Tuesday and Saturday； and might safely be depended upon forthe list of bankrupts。〃 In like manner； I do by no means deny that some truths have been delivered to the world in regard to opium。 Thus it has been repeatedly affirmed by the learned that opium is a dusky brown in colour； and this； take notice； I grant。 Secondly； that it is r
