amours de voyage(出航)-第2节
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thing to be known； for our friend is one of those natures Which have their
perfect delight in the general tender…domestic； So that he trifles with
Mary's shawl； ties Susan's bonnet； Dances with all； but at home is most；
they say； with Georgina； Who is； however； TOO silly in my apprehension
for Vernon。 I； as before when I wrote； continue to see them a little； Not
that I like them much or care a bajocco for Vernon； But I am slow at
Italian； have not many English acquaintance； And I am asked； in short； and
am not good at excuses。 Middle…class people these； bankers very likely；
not wholly Pure of the taint of the shop； will at table d'hote and restaurant
Have their shilling's worth； their penny's pennyworth even： Neither man's
aristocracy this； nor God's； God knoweth！ Yet they are fairly descended；
they give you to know； well connected； Doubtless somewhere in some
neighbourhood have； and are careful to keep； some Threadbare…genteel
relations； who in their turn are enchanted Grandly among county people to
introduce at assemblies To the unpennied cadets our cousins with excellent
fortunes。 Neither man's aristocracy this； nor God's； God knoweth！
VII。 Claude to Eustace。
Ah； what a shame； indeed； to abuse these most worthy people！ Ah；
what a sin to have sneered at their innocent rustic pretensions！ Is it not
laudable really； this reverent worship of station？ Is it not fitting that wealth
should tender this homage to culture？ Is it not touching to witness these
efforts； if little availing； Painfully made； to perform the old ritual service
of manners？ Shall not devotion atone for the absence of knowledge？ and
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fervour Palliate； cover； the fault of a superstitious observance？ Dear； dear；
what do I say？ but； alas！ just now； like Iago； I can be nothing at all； if it is
not critical wholly； So in fantastic height； in coxcomb exaltation； Here in
the garden I walk； can freely concede to the Maker That the works of His
hand are all very good： His creatures； Beast of the field and fowl； He
brings them before me； I name them； That which I name them； they are；
the bird； the beast； and the cattle。 But for Adam；alas； poor critical
coxcomb Adam！ But for Adam there is not found an help…meet for him。
VIII。 Claude to Eustace。
No； great Dome of Agrippa； thou art not Christian！ canst not； Strip and
replaster and daub and do what they will with thee； be so！ Here underneath
the great porch of colossal Corinthian columns； Here as I walk； do I dream
of the Christian belfries above them？ Or； on a bench as I sit and abide for
long hours； till thy whole vast Round grows dim as in dreams to my eyes；
I repeople thy niches； Not with the Martyrs； and Saints； and Confessors；
and Virgins； and children； But with the mightier forms of an older； austerer
worship； And I recite to myself； how Eager for battle
here Stood Vulcan； here matronal Juno； And with
the bow to his shoulder faithful He who with pure dew laveth of
Castaly His flowing locks； who holdeth of Lycia The
oak forest and the wood that bore him； Delos' and Patara's
own Apollo。*
* Hic avidus stetit Vulcanus； hic
matrona Juno； et Nunquam humeris positurus arcum；
Qui rore puro Castaliae lavit Crines solutos； qui Lyciae tenet
Dumeta natalemque silvam； Delius et Patareus Apollo。
IX。 Claude to Eustace。
Yet it is pleasant； I own it； to be in their company； pleasant； Whatever
else it may be； to abide in the feminine presence。 Pleasant； but wrong； will
you say？ But this happy； serene coexistence Is to some poor soft souls； I
fear； a necessity simple； Meat and drink and life； and music； filling with
sweetness； Thrilling with melody sweet； with harmonies strange
overwhelming； All the long…silent strings of an awkward； meaningless
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fabric。 Yet as for that； I could live； I believe； with children； to have those
Pure and delicate forms encompassing； moving about you； This were
enough； I could think； and truly with glad resignation Could from the
dream of Romance； from the fever of flushed adolescence； Look to escape
and subside into peaceful avuncular functions。 Nephews and nieces！ alas；
for as yet I have none！ and； moreover； Mothers are jealous； I fear me； too
often； too rightfully； fathers Think they have title exclusive to spoiling
their own little darlings； And by the law of the land； in despite of
Malthusian doctrine； No sort of proper provision is made for that most
patriotic； Most meritorious subject； the childless and bachelor uncle。
X。 Claude to Eustace。
Ye； too； marvellous Twain； that erect on the Monte Cavallo Stand by
your rearing steeds in the grace of your motionless movement； Stand with
your upstretched arms and tranquil regardant faces； Stand as instinct with
life in the might of immutable manhood； O ye mighty and strange； ye
ancient divine ones of Hellas。 Are ye Christian too？ to convert and redeem
and renew you； Will the brief form have sufficed； that a Pope has set up on
the apex Of the Egyptian stone that o'ertops you； the Christian symbol？
And ye； silent； supreme in serene and victorious marble； Ye that encircle
the walls of the stately Vatican chambers； Juno and Ceres； Minerva；
Apollo； the Muses and Bacchus； Ye unto whom far and near come posting
the Christian pilgrims； Ye that are ranged in the halls of the mystic
Christian Pontiff； Are ye also baptized？ are ye of the kingdom of Heaven？
Utter； O some one； the word that shall reconcile Ancient and Modern！ Am
I to turn me from this unto thee； great Chapel of Sixtus？
XI。 Claude to Eustace。
These are the facts。 The uncle； the elder brother； the squire （a Little
embarrassed； I fancy）； resides in the family place in Cornwall； of course；
'Papa is in business；' Mary informs me； He's a good sensible man；
whatever his trade is。 The mother Isshall I call it fine？herself she
would tell you refined； and Greatly； I fear me； looks down on my bookish
and maladroit manners； Somewhat affecteth the blue； would talk to me
often of poets； Quotes； which I hate； Childe Harold； but also appreciates
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Wordsworth； Sometimes adventures on Schiller； and then to religion
diverges； Questions me much about Oxford； and yet； in her loftiest flights
still Grates the fastidious ear with the slightly mercantile accent。
Is it contemptible； EustaceI'm perfectly ready to think so； Is it；
the horrible pleasure of pleasing inferior people？ I am ashamed of my own
self； and yet true it is； if disgraceful； That for the first time in life I am
living and moving with freedom。 I； who never could talk to the people I
meet with my uncle； I； who have always failed；I； trust me； can suit the
Trevellyns； I； believe me；great conquest； am liked by the country
bankers。 And I am glad to be liked； and like in return very kindly。 So it
proceeds； laissez faire； laissez aller；such is the watchword。 Well； I know
there are thousands as pretty and hundreds as pleasant； Girls by the dozen
as good； and girls in abundance with polish Higher and manners more
perfect than Susan or Mary Trevellyn。 Well； I know； after all； it is only
juxtaposition； Juxtaposition； in short； and what is juxtaposition？
XII。 Claude to Eustace。
But I am in for it now；laissez faire； of a truth； laissez aller。 Yes； I am
going；I feel it； I feel and cannot recall it； Fusing with this thing and that；
entering into all sorts of relations； Tying I know not what ties； which；
whatever they are； I know one thing； Will； and must； woe is me； be one
day painfully broken； Broken with painful
