the life of charlotte bronte-1-第24节
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n it was to the family in the parsonage： their usual walks obstructed by the spongy state of the moorsthe passing and funeral bells so frequently tolling； and filling the heavy air with their mournful soundand； when they were still； the 〃chip； chip；〃 of the mason； as he cut the grave…stones in a shed close by。 In many； living； as it were； in a churchyard； and with all the sights and sounds connected with the last offices to the dead things of every…day occurrence； the very familiarity would have bred indifference。 But it was otherwise with Charlotte Bronte。 One of her friends says：… 〃I have seen her turn pale and feel faint when； in Hartshead church； some one accidentally remarked that we were walking over graves。 Charlotte was certainly afraid of death。 Not only of dead bodies； or dying people。 She dreaded it as something horrible。 She thought we did not know how long the 'moment of dissolution' might really be； or how terrible。 This was just such a terror as only hypochondriacs can provide for themselves。 She told me long ago that a misfortune was often preceded by the dream frequently repeated which she gives to 'Jane Eyre；' of carrying a little wailing child； and being unable to still it。 She described herself as having the most painful sense of pity for the little thing； lying INERT； as sick children do； while she walked about in some gloomy place with it； such as the aisle of Haworth Church。 The misfortunes she mentioned were not always to herself。 She thought such sensitiveness to omens was like the cholera； present to susceptible people；some feeling more； some less。〃
About the beginning of 1834； 〃E。〃 went to London for the first time。 The idea of her friend's visit seems to have stirred Charlotte strangely。 She appears to have formed her notions of its probable consequences from some of the papers in the 〃British Essayists；〃 〃The Rambler；〃 〃The Mirror；〃 or 〃The Lounger；〃 which may have been among the English classics on the parsonage bookshelves； for she evidently imagines that an entire change of character for the worse is the usual effect of a visit to 〃the great metropolis；〃 and is delighted to find that 〃E。〃 is 〃E。〃 still。 And； as her faith in her friend's stability is restored； her own imagination is deeply moved by the idea of what great wonders are to be seen in that vast and famous city。
〃Haworth； February 20th； 1834。
〃Your letter gave me real and heartfelt pleasure； mingled with no small share of astonishment。 Mary had previously informed me of your departure for London； and I had not ventured to calculate on any communication from you while surrounded by the splendours and novelties of that great city； which has been called the mercantile metropolis of Europe。 Judging from human nature； I thought that a little country girl； for the first time in a situation so well calculated to excite curiosity； and to distract attention； would lose all remembrance； for a time at least； of distant and familiar objects； and give herself up entirely to the fascination of those scenes which were then presented to her view。 Your kind； interesting； and most welcome epistle showed me； however； that I had been both mistaken and uncharitable in these suppositions。 I was greatly amused at the tone of nonchalance which you assumed； while treating of London and its wonders。 Did you not feel awed while gazing at St。 Paul's and Westminster Abbey？ Had you no feeling of intense and ardent interest； when in St。 James's you saw the palace where so many of England's kings have held their courts； and beheld the representations of their persons on the walls？ You should not be too much afraid of appearing COUNTRY… BRED； the magnificence of London has drawn exclamations of astonishment from travelled men； experienced in the world； its wonders and beauties。 Have you yet seen anything of the great personages whom the sitting of Parliament now detains in London the Duke of Wellington； Sir Robert Peel； Earl Grey； Mr。 Stanley； Mr。 O'Connell？ If I were you； I would not be too anxious to spend my time in reading whilst in town。 Make use of your own eyes for the purposes of observation now； and； for a time at least； lay aside the spectacles with which authors would furnish us。〃
In a postscript she adds：…
〃Will you be kind enough to inform me of the number of performers in the King's military band？〃
And in something of the same strain she writes on
〃June 19th。 〃My own Dear E。；
〃I may rightfully and truly call you so now。 You HAVE returned or ARE returning from Londonfrom the great city which is to me as apocryphal as Babylon； or Nineveh； or ancient Rome。 You are withdrawing from the world （as it is called）； and bringing with youif your letters enable me to form a correct judgmenta heart as unsophisticated； as natural； as true； as that you carried there。 I am slow； VERY slow； to believe the protestations of another； I know my own sentiments； I can read my own mind； but the minds of the rest of man and woman kind are to me sealed volumes； hieroglyphical scrolls； which I cannot easily either unseal or decipher。 Yet time； careful study； long acquaintance； overcome most difficulties； and； in your case； I think they have succeeded well in bringing to light and construing that hidden language； whose turnings； windings； inconsistencies； and obscurities； so frequently baffle the researches of the honest observer of human nature 。 。 。 I am truly grateful for your mindfulness of so obscure a person as myself； and I hope the pleasure is not altogether selfish； I trust it is partly derived from the consciousness that my friend's character is of a higher； a more steadfast order than I was once perfectly aware of。 Few girls would have done as you have donewould have beheld the glare； and glitter； and dazzling display of London with dispositions so unchanged； heart so uncontaminated。 I see no affectation in your letters； no trifling； no frivolous contempt of plain； and weak admiration of showy persons and things。〃
In these days of cheap railway trips； we may smile at the idea of a short visit to London having any great effect upon the character； whatever it may have upon the intellect。 But her Londonher great apocryphal citywas the 〃town〃 of a century before； to which giddy daughters dragged unwilling papas； or went with injudicious friends； to the detriment of all their better qualities； and sometimes to the ruin of their fortunes； it was the Vanity Fair of the 〃Pilgrim's Progress〃 to her。
But see the just and admirable sense with which she can treat a subject of which she is able to overlook all the bearings。
〃Haworth； July 4th； 1834。
〃In your last； you request me to tell you of your faults。 Now； really； how can you be so foolish！ I WON'T tell you of your faults； because I don't know them。 What a creature would that be； who； after receiving an affectionate and kind letter from a beloved friend； should sit down and write a catalogue of defects by way of answer！ Imagine me doing so； and then consider what epithets you would bestow on me。 Conceited； dogmatical； hypocritical； little humbug； I should think； would be the mildest。 Why； child！ I've neither time nor inclination to reflect on your FAULTS when you are so far from me； and when； besides； kind letters and presents； and so forth； are continually bringing forth your goodness in the most prominent light。 Then； too； there are judicious relations always round you； who can much better discharge that unpleasant office。 I have no doubt their advice is completely at your service； why then should I intrude mine？ If you will not hear them； it will be vain though one should rise from the dead to instruct you。 Let us have no more nonsense； if you love me。 Mr。is going to be married； is he？ Well； his wife elect appeared to me to be a clever and amiable lady； as far as I could judge from the little I saw of her； and from your account。 Now to that flattering sentence must I tack on a list of her faults？ You say it is in contemplation for you to leave …。 I am sorry for it。 is a pleasant spot； one of the old family halls of England； surrounded by lawn and woodland； speaking of past times； and suggesting （to me at least） happy feelings。 M。 thought you grown less； did she？ I am not grown a bit； but as short and dumpy as ever。 You ask me to recommend you some books for your perusal。 I will do so in as few words as I can。 If you like poetry； let it be first…rate； Milton； Shakspeare； Thomson； Goldsmith； Pope （if you will； though I don't admire him）； Scott； Byron； Campbell； Wordsworth； and Southey。 Now don't be startled at the names of Shakspeare and Byron。 Both these were great men； and their works are like themselves。 You will know how to choose the good； and to avoid the evil； the finest passages are always the purest； the bad are invariably revolting； you will never wish to read them over twice。 Omit the comedies of Shakspeare； and the Don Juan； perhaps the Cain； of Byron； though the latter is a magnificent poem； and read the rest fearlessly； that must indeed be a depraved mind which can gather evil from Henry VIII。； from Richard III。； from Macbeth； and Hamlet； and Julius Caesar。 Scott's sweet； wild； romantic poetry can do you no harm。 Nor can Wordswort
