a book of scoundrels-第13节
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nathan that made Blueskin a thief； and Jonathan screened his creature from justice only so long as clemency seemed profitable。 At the first hint of disobedience Blueskin was committed to Newgate。 When he had stood his trial； and was being taken to the Condemned Hole； he beckoned to Wild as though to a conference； and cut his throat with a penknife。 The assembled rogues and turnkeys thought their Jonathan dead at last； and rejoiced exceedingly therein。 Straightway the poet of Newgate's Garland leaped into verse：
Then hopeless of life； He drew his penknife； And made a sad widow of Jonathan's wife。 But forty pounds paid her； her grief shall appease； And every man round me may rob； if he please。
But Jonathan recovered； and Molly； his wife； was destined a second time to win the conspicuous honour that belongs to a hempen widow。
As his career drew to its appointed close； Fortune withheld her smiles。 ‘People got so peery；' complained the great man； ‘that ingenious men were put to dreadful shifts。' And then； highest tribute to his greatness； an Act of Parliament was passed which made it a capital offence ‘for a prig to steal with the hands of other people'； and in the increase of public vigilance his undoing became certain。 On the 2nd of January； 1725； a day not easy to forget； a creature of Wild's spoke with fifty yards of lace； worth 40； at his Captain's bidding； and Wild； having otherwise disposed of the plunder； was charged on the 10th of March that he ‘did feloniously receive of Katharine Stetham ten guineas on account and under colour of helping the said Katharine Stetham to the said lace again； and did not then； nor any time since； discover or apprehend； or cause to be apprehended and brought to Justice； the persons that committed the said felony。' Thus runs the indictment； and； to the inexpressible relief of lesser men； Jonathan Wild was condemned to the gallows。
Thereupon he had serious thoughts of ‘putting his house in order'； with an ironical smile he demanded an explanation of the text： ‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree'； but； presently reflecting that ‘his Time was but short in this World； he improved it to the best advantage in Eating； Drinking； Swearing； Cursing； and talking to his Visitants。' For all his bragging； drink alone preserved his courage： ‘he was very restless in the Condemned Hole；' though ‘he gave little or no attention to the condemned Sermon which the purblind Ordinary preached before him；' and which was； in Fielding's immortal phrase； ‘unto the Greeks foolishness。' But in the moment of death his distinction returned to him。 He tried； and failed； to kill himself； and his progress to the nubbing cheat was a triumph of execration。 He reached Tyburn through a howling mob； and died to a yell of universal joy。
The Ordinary has left a record so precious and so lying； that it must needs be quoted at length。 The great Thief…Catcher's confession is a masterpiece of comfort； and is so far removed from the truth as completely to justify Fielding's incomparable creation。 ‘Finding there was no room for mercy （and how could I expect mercy； who never showed any）'thus does the devil dodger dishonour our Jonathan's memory！‘as soon as I came into the Condemned Hole； I began to think of making a preparation for my soul。 。 。 。 To part with my wife； my dear Molly； is so great an Affliction to me； that it touches me to the Quick； and is like Daggers entering into my Heart。' How tame the Ordinary's falsehood to the brilliant invention of Fielding； who makes Jonathan kick his Tishy in the very shadow of the Tree！ And the Reverend Gentleman gains in unction as he goes： ‘In the Cart they all kneeled down to prayers and seemed very penitent； the Ordinary used all the means imaginable to make them think of another World； and after singing a penitential Psalm； they cry'd Lord Jesus Christ receive our Souls； the cart drew away and they were all turned off。 This is as good an account as can be given by me。' Poor Ordinary！ If he was modest； he was also untruthful； and you are certain that it was not thus the hero met his death。
Even had Fielding never written his masterpiece； Jonathan Wild would still have been surnamed ‘The Great。' For scarce a chap… book appeared in the year of Jonathan's death that did not expose the only right and true view of his character。 ‘His business；' says one hack of prison literature； ‘at all times was to put a false gloss upon things； and to make fools of mankind。' Another precisely formulates the theory of greatness insisted upon by Fielding with so lavish an irony and so masterly a wit。 While it is certain that The History of the Late Mr。 Jonathan Wild is as noble a piece of irony as literature can show； while for the qualities of wit and candour it is equal to its motive； it is likewise true that therein you meet the indubitable Jonathan Wild。 It is an entertainment to compare the chap…books of the time with the reasoned； finished work of art： not in any spirit of pedantrysince accuracy in these matters is of small account； but with intent to show how doubly fortunate Fielding was in his genius and in his material。 Of course the writer rejoiced in the aid of imagination and eloquence； of course he embellished his picture with such inspirations as Miss Laetitia and the Count； of course he preserves from the first page to the last the highest level of unrivalled irony。 But the sketch was there before him； and a lawyer's clerk had treated Jonathan in a vein of heroism within a few weeks of his death。 And since a plain statement is never so true as fiction； Fielding's romance is still more credible； still convinces with an easier effort； than the serious and pedestrian records of contemporaries。 Nor can you return to its pages without realising that； so far from being ‘the evolution of a purely intellectual conception；' Jonathan Wild is a magnificently idealised and ironical portrait of a great man。
III A PARALLEL
（MOLL CUTPURSE AND JONATHAN WILD）
A PARALLEL
（MOLL CUTPURSE AND JONATHAN WILD）
THEY plied the same trade； each with incomparable success。 By her； as by him； the art of the fence was carried to its ultimate perfection。 In their hands the high policy of theft wanted nor dignity nor assurance。 Neither harboured a single scheme which was not straightway translated into action； and they were masters at once of Newgate and the Highway。 As none might rob without the encouragement of his emperor； so none was hanged at Tyburn while intrigue or bribery might avail to drag a half…doomed neck from the halter； and not even Moll herself was more bitterly tyrannical in the control of a reckless gang than the thin…jawed； hatchet…faced Jonathan Wild。
They were statesmen rather than warriorshappy if they might direct the enterprises of others； and determined to punish the lightest disobedience by death。 The mind of each was readier than his right arm； and neither would risk an easy advantage by a misunderstood or unwonted sleight of hand。 But when you leave the exercise of their craft to contemplate their character with a larger eye； it is the woman who at every point has the advantage。 Not only was she the peerless inventor of a new cunning； she was at home （and abroad） the better fellow。 The suppression of sex was in itself an unparalleled triumph； and the most envious detractor could not but marvel at the domination of her womanhood。 Moreover； she shone in a gayer； more splendid epoch。 The worthy contemporary of Shakespeare； she had small difficulty in performing feats of prowess and resource which daunted the intrepid ruffians of the eighteenth century。 Her period； in brief； gave her an eternal superiority； and it were as hopeless for Otway to surpass the master whom he disgraced； as for Wild to o'ershadow the brilliant example of Moll Cutpurse。
Tyrants both； they exercised their sovereignty in accordance with their varying temperament。 Hers was a fine； fat； Falstaffian humour； which； while it inspired Middleton； might have suggested to Shakespeare an equal companion of the drunken knight。 His was but a narrow； cynic wit； not edged like the knife； which wellnigh cut his throat； but blunt and scratching like a worn…toothed saw。
She laughed with a laugh that echoed from Ludgate to Charing Cross； and her voice drowned all the City。 He grinned rarely and with malice； he piped in a voice shrill and acid as the tricks of his mischievous imagination。 She knew no cruelty beyond the necessities of her life； and none regretted more than she the inevitable death of a traitor。 He lusted after destruction with a fiendish temper； which was a grim anticipation of De Sade； he would even smile as he saw the noose tighten round the necks of the poor innocents he had beguiled to Tyburn。 It was his boast that he had contrived robberies for the mere glory of dragging his silly victims to the gallows。 But Moll； though she stood half…way between the robber and his prey； would have sacrificed a hundred well…earned commissions rather than see her friends and comrades strangled。 Her temperament compelled her to the loyal support of her own order； and she would have shrunk in horror from her rival；
