a sunday in london-第1节

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SKETCH　BOOK

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　SUNDAY　IN　LONDON*

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Washington　Irving

　　*　Part　of　a　sketch　omitted　in　the　previous　editions。



　　IN　A　preceding　paper　I　have　spoken　of　an　English　Sunday　in　the

country；　and　its　tranquillizing　effect　upon　the　landscape；　but　where

is　its　sacred　influence　more　strikingly　apparent　than　in　the　very

heart　of　that　great　Babel；　London？　On　this　sacred　day；　the　gigantic

monster　is　charmed　into　repose。　The　intolerable　din　and　struggle　of

the　week　are　at　an　end。　The　shops　are　shut。　The　fires　of　forges　and

manufactories　are　extinguished；　and　the　sun；　no　longer　obscured　by

murky　clouds　of　smoke；　pours　down　a　sober；　yellow　radiance　into　the

quiet　streets。　The　few　pedestrians　we　meet；　instead　of　hurrying

forward　with　anxious　countenances；　move　leisurely　along；　their　brows

are　smoothed　from　the　wrinkles　of　business　and　care；　they　have　put

on　their　Sunday　looks；　and　Sunday　manners；　with　their　Sunday

clothes；　and　are　cleansed　in　mind　as　well　as　in　person。

　　And　now　the　melodious　clangor　of　bells　from　church　towers　summons

their　several　flocks　to　the　fold。　Forth　issues　from　his　mansion　the

family　of　the　decent　tradesman；　the　small　children　in　the　advance；

then　the　citizen　and　his　comely　spouse；　followed　by　the　grown…up

daughters；　with　small　morocco…bound　prayer…books　laid　in　the　folds

of　their　pocket…handkerchiefs。　The　housemaid　looks　after　them　from　the

window；　admiring　the　finery　of　the　family；　and　receiving；　perhaps；　a

nod　and　smile　from　her　young　mistresses；　at　whose　toilet　she　has

assisted。

　　Now　rumbles　along　the　carriage　of　some　magnate　of　the　city；

peradventure　an　alderman　or　a　sheriff；　and　now　the　patter　of　many　feet

announces　a　procession　of　charity　scholars；　in　uniforms　of　antique

cut；　and　each　with　a　prayer…book　under　his　arm。

　　The　ringing　of　bells　is　at　an　end；　the　rumbling　of　the　carriage

has　ceased；　the　pattering　of　feet　is　heard　no　more；　the　flocks　are

folded　in　ancient　churches；　cramped　up　in　by…lanes　and　corners　of

the　crowded　city；　where　the　vigilant　beadle　keeps　watch；　like　the

shepherd's　dog；　round　the　threshold　of　the　sanctuary。　For　a　time　every

thing　is　hushed；　but　soon　is　heard　the　deep；　pervading　sound　of　the

organ；　rolling　and　vibrating　through　the　empty　lanes　and　courts；　and

the　sweet　chanting　of　the　choir　making　them　resound　with　melody　and

praise。　Never　have　I　been　more　sensible　of　the　sanctifying　effect　of

church　music；　than　when　I　have　heard　it　thus　poured　forth；　like　a

river　of　joy；　through　the　inmost　recesses　of　this　great　metropolis；

elevating　it；　as　it　were；　from　all　the　sordid　pollutions　of　the

week；　and　bearing　the　poor　world…worn　soul　on　a　tide　of　triumphant

harmony　to　heaven。

　　The　morning　service　is　at　an　end。　The　streets　are　again　alive　with

the　congregations　returning　to　their　homes；　but　soon　again　relapse

into　silence。　Now　comes　on　the　Sunday　dinner；　which；　to　the　city

tradesman；　is　a　meal　of　some　importance。　There　is　more　leisure　for

social　enjoyment　at　the　board。　Members　of　the　family　can　now　gather

together；　who　are　separated　by　the　laborious　occupations　of　the

week。　A　school…boy　may　be　permitted　on　that　day　to　come　to　the

paternal　home；　an　old　friend　of　the　family　takes　his　accustomed　Sunday

seat　at　the　board；　tells　over　his　well…known　stories；　and　rejoices

young　and　old　with　his　well…known　jokes。

　　On　Sunday　afternoon　the　city　pours　forth　its　legions　to　breathe

the　fresh　air　and　enjoy　the　sunshine　of　the　parks　and　rural

environs。　Satirists　may　say　what　they　please　about　the　rural

enjoyments　of　a　London　citizen　on　Sunday；　but　to　me　there　is　something

delightful　in　beholding　the　poor　prisoner　of　the　crowded　and　dusty

city　enabled　thus　to　come　forth　once　a　week　and　throw　himself　upon　the

green　bosom　of　nature。　He　is　like　a　child　restored　to　the　mother's

breast；　and　they　who　first　spread　out　these　noble　parks　and

magnificent　pleasure…grounds　which　surround　this　huge　metropolis；　have

done　at　least　as　much　for　its　health　and　morality；　as　if　they　had

expended　the　amount　of　cost　in　hospitals；　prisons；　and　penitentiaries。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。