the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第22节
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Marines； and from the Union Club to the embouchure of Whitehall swept
the glittering； massive curve of the 1st Life Guardsgigantic men mounted
on gigantic chargers； steel…breastplated； steel…helmeted； steel…caparisoned；
a great war…sword of steel ready to the hand of the powers that be。 And
further； throughout the crowd； were flung long lines of the Metropolitan
Constabulary； while in the rear were the reservestall； well…fed men； with
weapons to wield and muscles to wield them in ease of need。
And as it was thus at Trafalgar Square； so was it along the whole line
of marchforce； overpowering force； myriads of men； splendid men； the
pick of the people； whose sole function in life is blindly to obey； and
blindly to kill and destroy and stamp out life。 And that they should be
well fed； well clothed； and well armed； and have ships to hurl them to the
ends of the earth； the East End of London； and the 〃East End〃 of all
England； toils and rots and dies。
There is a Chinese proverb that if one man lives in laziness another
will die of hunger； and Montesquieu has said； 〃The fact that many men are
occupied in making clothes for one individual is the cause of there being
many people without clothes。〃 So one explains the other。 We cannot
understand the starved and runty ｛2｝ toiler of the East End （living with his
family in a one…room den； and letting out the floor space for lodgings to
other starved and runty toilers） till we look at the strapping Life
Guardsmen of the West End； and come to know that the one must feed and
clothe and groom the other。
And while in Westminster Abbey the people were taking unto
themselves a king； I； jammed between the Life Guards and Constabulary
of Trafalgar Square； was dwelling upon the time when the people of Israel
first took unto themselves a king。 You all know how it runs。 The elders
came to the prophet Samuel； and said： 〃Make us a king to judge us like all
the nations。〃
And the Lord said unto Samuel： Now therefore hearken unto their
voice； howbeit thou shalt show them the manner of the king that shall
reign over them。
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And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked
of him a king； and he said：
This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you； he will
take your sons； and appoint them unto him； for his chariots； and to be his
horsemen； and they shall run before his chariots。
And he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands； and
captains of fifties； and he will set some to plough his ground； and to reap
his harvest； and to make his instruments of war； and the instruments of his
chariots。
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries； and to be cooks；
and to be bakers。
And he will take your fields and your vineyards； and your oliveyards；
even the best of them； and give them to his servants。
And he will take a tenth of your seed； and of your vineyards； and give
to his officers； and to his servants。
And he will take your menservants； and your maidservants； and your
goodliest young men； and your asses； and put them to his work。
He will take a tenth of your flocks； and ye shall be his servants。
And ye shall call out in that day because of your king which ye shall
have chosen you； and the Lord will not answer you in that day。
All of which came to pass in that ancient day； and they did cry out to
Samuel； saying： 〃Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God； that we
die not； for we have added unto all our sins this evil； to ask us a king。〃
And after Saul； David； and Solomon； came Rehoboam； who 〃answered the
people roughly； saying： My father made your yoke heavy； but I will add
to your yoke； my father chastised you with whips； but I will chastise you
with scorpions。〃
And in these latter days； five hundred hereditary peers own one… fifth
of England； and they； and the officers and servants under the King； and
those who go to compose the powers that be； yearly spend in wasteful
luxury 1；850；000；000； or 370；000；000 pounds； which is thirty…two per
cent。 of the total wealth produced by all the toilers of the country。
At the Abbey； clad in wonderful golden raiment； amid fanfare of
trumpets and throbbing of music； surrounded by a brilliant throng of
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
masters； lords； and rulers； the King was being invested with the insignia of
his sovereignty。 The spurs were placed to his heels by the Lord Great
Chamberlain； and a sword of state； in purple scabbard； was presented him
by the Archbishop of Canterbury； with these words：…
Receive this kingly sword brought now from the altar of God； and
delivered to you by the hands of the bishops and servants of God； though
unworthy。
Whereupon； being girded； he gave heed to the Archbishop's
exhortation：…
With this sword do justice； stop the growth of iniquity； protect the
Holy Church of God； help and defend widows and orphans； restore the
things that are gone to decay； maintain the things that are restored； punish
and reform what is amiss； and confirm what is in good order。
But hark！ There is cheering down Whitehall； the crowd sways； the
double walls of soldiers come to attention； and into view swing the King's
watermen； in fantastic mediaeval garbs of red； for all the world like the
van of a circus parade。 Then a royal carriage； filled with ladies and
gentlemen of the household； with powdered footmen and coachmen most
gorgeously arrayed。 More carriages； lords； and chamberlains； viscounts；
mistresses of the robeslackeys all。 Then the warriors； a kingly escort；
generals； bronzed and worn； from the ends of the earth come up to London
Town； volunteer officers； officers of the militia and regular forces； Spens
and Plumer； Broadwood and Cooper who relieved Ookiep； Mathias of
Dargai； Dixon of Vlakfontein； General Gaselee and Admiral Seymour of
China； Kitchener of Khartoum； Lord Roberts of India and all the world
the fighting men of England； masters of destruction； engineers of death！
Another race of men from those of the shops and slums； a totally different
race of men。
But here they come； in all the pomp and certitude of power； and still
they come； these men of steel； these war lords and world harnessers。
Pell…mell； peers and commoners； princes and maharajahs； Equerries to the
King and Yeomen of the Guard。 And here the colonials； lithe and hardy
men； and here all the breeds of all the world…soldiers from Canada；
Australia； New Zealand； from Bermuda； Borneo； Fiji； and the Gold Coast；
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
from Rhodesia； Cape Colony； Natal； Sierra Leone and Gambia； Nigeria；
and Uganda； from Ceylon； Cyprus； Hong…Kong； Jamaica； and Wei…Hai…
Wei； from Lagos； Malta； St。 Lucia； Singapore； Trinidad。 And here the
conquered men of Ind； swarthy horsemen and sword wielders； fiercely
barbaric； blazing in crimson and scarlet； Sikhs； Rajputs； Burmese；
province by province； and caste by caste。
And now the Horse Guards； a glimpse of beautiful cream ponies； and a
golden panoply； a hurricane of cheers； the crashing of bands〃The King！
the King！ God save the King！〃 Everybody has gone mad。 The
contagion is sweeping me off my feetI； too； want to shout； 〃The King！
God save the King！〃 Ragged men about me； tears in their eyes； are
tossing up their hats and crying ecstatically； 〃Bless 'em！ Bless 'em！ Bless
'em！〃 See； there he is； in that wondrous golden coach； the great crown
flashing on his head； the woman in white beside him likewise crowned。
And I check myself with a rush； striving to convince myself that it is
all real and rational； and not some glimpse of fairyland。 This I cannot
suc
