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The Romany Ryel
投诉 阅读记录

第9章

CHAPTERIII

NecessityofReligion—TheGreatIndianOne—Image—worship—Shakespeare—ThePatAnswer—Krishna—Amen。

HAVINGtoldthemaninblackthatIshouldliketoknowallthetruthwithregardtothePopeandhissystem,heassuredmeheshouldbedelightedtogivemealltheinformationinhispower;thathehadcometothedingle,notsomuchforthesakeofthegoodcheerwhichIwasinthehabitofgivinghim,asinthehopeofinducingmetoenlistunderthebannersofRome,andtofightinhercause;andthathehadnodoubtthat,byspeakingoutfranklytome,heranthebestchanceofwinningmeover。

Hethenproceededtotellmethattheexperienceofcountlessageshadprovedthenecessityofreligion;thenecessity,hewouldadmit,wasonlyforsimpletons;butasnine—tenthsofthedwellersuponthisearthweresimpletons,itwouldneverdoforsensiblepeopletoruncountertotheirfolly,but,onthecontrary,itwastheirwisestcoursetoencouragetheminit,alwaysprovidedthat,bysodoing,sensiblepeoplewouldderiveadvantage;thatthetrulysensiblepeopleofthisworldwerethepriests,who,withoutcaringastrawforreligionforitsownsake,madeuseofitasacordbywhichtodrawthesimpletonsafterthem;thatthereweremanyreligionsinthisworld,allofwhichhadbeenturnedtoexcellentaccountbythepriesthood;butthattheonethebestadaptedforthepurposesofpriestcraftwasthepopish,which,hesaid,wastheoldestintheworldandthebestcalculatedtoendure。Onmyinquiringwhathemeantbysayingthepopishreligionwastheoldestintheworld,whereastherecouldbenodoubtthattheGreekandRomanreligionhadexistedlongbeforeit,tosaynothingoftheoldIndianreligionstillinexistenceandvigour;hesaid,withanod,aftertakingasipathisglass,that,betweenmeandhim,thepopishreligion,thatofGreeceandRome,andtheoldIndiansystemwere,inreality,oneandthesame。

"Youtoldmethatyouintendedtobefrank,"saidI;"but,howeverfrankyoumaybe,Ithinkyouareratherwild。"

"WepriestsofRome,"saidthemaninblack,"eventhoseamongstuswhodonotgomuchabroad,knowagreatdealaboutchurchmatters,ofwhichyouhereticshaveverylittleidea。

ThoseofourbrethrenofthePropaganda,ontheirreturnhomefromdistantmissions,notunfrequentlytellusverystrangethingsrelatingtoourdearmother;forexample,ourfirstmissionariestotheEastwerenotslowindiscoveringandtellingtotheirbrethrenthatourreligionandthegreatIndianonewereidentical,nomoredifferencebetweenthemthanbetweenRamandRome。Priests,convents,beads,prayers,processions,fastings,penances,allthesame,notforgettinganchoritesandvermin,he!he!Thepopetheyfoundunderthetitleofthegrandlama,asuckingchildsurroundedbyanimmensenumberofpriests。Ourgoodbrethren,sometwohundredyearsago,hadaheartylaugh,whichtheirsuccessorshaveoftenre—echoed;theysaidthathelplesssucklinganditspriestsputthemsomuchinmindoftheirownoldman,surroundedbyhiscardinals,he!he!Oldageissecondchildhood。"

"DidtheyfindChrist?"saidI。

"Theyfoundhimtoo,"saidthemaninblack,"thatis,theysawhisimage;heisconsideredinIndiaasapurekindofbeing,andonthataccount,perhaps,iskeptthereratherinthebackground,evenasheishere。"

"Allthisisverymysterioustome,"saidI。

"Verylikely,"saidthemaninblack;"butofthisIamtolerablysure,andsoaremostofthoseofRome,thatmodernRomehaditsreligionfromancientRome,whichhaditsreligionfromtheEast。"

"Buthow?"Idemanded。

"Itwasbroughtabout,Ibelieve,bythewanderingsofnations,"saidthemaninblack。"AbrotherofthePropaganda,averylearnedman,oncetoldme—IdonotmeanMezzofanti,whohasnotfiveideas—thisbrotheroncetoldmethatallweoftheOldWorld,fromCalcuttatoDublin,areofthesamestock,andwereoriginallyofthesamelanguage,and—"

"Allofonereligion,"Iputin。

"Allofonereligion,"saidthemaninblack;"andnowfollowdifferentmodificationsofthesamereligion。"

"WeChristiansarenotimage—worshippers,"saidI。

"Youhereticsarenot,youmean,"saidthemaninblack;"butyouwillbeputdown,justasyouhavealwaysbeen,thoughothersmayriseupafteryou;thetruereligionisimage—

worship;peoplemaystriveagainstit,buttheywillonlyworkthemselvestoanoil;howdiditfarewiththatGreekEmperor,theIconoclast,whatwashisname,LeontheIsaurian?Didnothisimage—breakingcosthimItaly,thefairestprovinceofhisempire,anddidnottenfreshimagesstartupathomeforeveryonewhichhedemolished?Oh!youlittleknowthecravingwhichthesoulsometimesfeelsafteragoodbodilyimage。"

"Ihaveindeednoconceptionofit,"saidI;"Ihaveanabhorrenceofidolatry—theideaofbowingbeforeagravenfigure!"

"Theidea,indeed!"saidBelle,whohadnowjoinedus。

"DidyouneverbowbeforethatofShakespeare?"saidthemaninblack,addressinghimselftome,afteralowbowtoBelle。

"Idon’trememberthatIeverdid,"saidI,"butevensupposeIdid?"

"Supposeyoudid,"saidthemaninblack;"shameonyou,Mr。

HaterofIdolatry;why,theverysuppositionbringsyoutotheground;youmustmakefiguresofShakespeare,mustyou?

thenwhynotofSt。Antonio,orIgnacio,orofagreaterpersonagestill!Iknowwhatyouaregoingtosay,"hecried,interruptingme,asIwasabouttospeak。"Youdon’tmakehisimageinordertopayitdivinehonours,butonlytolookatit,andthinkofShakespeare;butthislookingatathinginordertothinkofapersonistheverybasisofidolatry。Shakespeare’sworksarenotsufficientforyou;nomorearetheBibleorthelegendofSaintAnthonyorSaintIgnacioforus,thatisforthoseofuswhobelieveinthem;

Itellyou,Zingara,thatnoreligioncanexistlongwhichrejectsagoodbodilyimage。"

"Doyouthink,"saidI,"thatShakespeare’sworkswouldnotexistwithouthisimage?"

"Ibelieve,"saidthemaninblack,"thatShakespeare’simageislookedatmorethanhisworks,andwillbelookedat,andperhapsadored,whentheyareforgotten。Iamsurprisedthattheyhavenotbeenforgottenlongago;Iamnoadmirerofthem。"

"ButIcan’timagine,"saidI,"howyouwillputasidetheauthorityofMoses。IfMosesstroveagainstimage—worship,shouldnothisdoingsobeconclusiveastotheimproprietyofthepractice:whathigherauthoritycanyouhavethanthatofMoses?"

"Thepracticeofthegreatmajorityofthehumanrace,"saidthemaninblack,"andtherecurrencetoimage—worshipwhereimage—worshiphasbeenabolished。DoyouknowthatMosesisconsideredbythechurchasnobetterthanaheretic,andthough,forparticularreasons,ithasbeenobligedtoadopthiswritings,theadoptionwasmerelyashamone,asitneverpaidtheslightestattentiontothem?No,no,thechurchwasneverledbyMoses,norbyonemightierthanhe,whosedoctrineithasequallynullified—IalludetoKrishnainhissecondavatar;thechurch,itistrue,governsinhisname,butnotunfrequentlygiveshimthelie,ifhehappenstohavesaidanythingwhichitdislikes。DidyouneverhearthereplywhichPadrePaoloSeganimadetotheFrenchProtestantJeanAnthoineGuerin,whohadaskedhimwhetheritwaseasierforChristtohavebeenmistakeninhisGospel,thanforthePopetobemistakeninhisdecrees?"

"Ineverheardtheirnamesbefore,"saidI。

"Theanswerwaspat,"saidthemaninblack,"thoughhewhomadeitwasconfessedlythemostignorantfellowoftheveryignorantordertowhichhebelonged,theAugustine。’Christmighterrasaman,’saidhe,’butthePopecannevererr,beingGod。’ThewholestoryisrelatedintheNipotismo。"

"IwonderyoushouldeverhavetroubledyourselfwithChristatall,"saidI。

"Whatwastobedone?"saidthemaninblack;"thepowerofthatnamesuddenlycameoverEurope,likethepowerofamightywind;itwassaidtohavecomefromJudea,andfromJudeaitprobablycamewhenitfirstbegantoagitatemindsintheseparts;butitseemstohavebeenknownintheremoteEast,moreorless,forthousandsofyearspreviously。Itfilledpeople’smindswithmadness;itwasfollowedbybookswhichwerenevermuchregarded,astheycontainedlittleofinsanity;butthename!whatfurythatbreathedintopeople!

thebookswereaboutpeaceandgentleness,butthenamewasthemosthorribleofwar—cries—thosewhowishedtoupholdoldnamesatfirststrovetoopposeit,buttheireffortswerefeeble,andtheyhadnogoodwar—cry;whatwasMarsasawar—crycomparedwiththenameof……?Itwassaidthattheypersecutedterribly,butwhosaidso?TheChristians。

TheChristianscouldhavegiventhemalessonintheartofpersecution,andeventuallydidso。NonebutChristianshaveeverbeengoodpersecutors;well,theoldreligionsuccumbed,Christianityprevailed,fortheferociousissuretoprevailoverthegentle。"

"Ithought,"saidI,"youstatedalittletimeagothatthePopishreligionandtheancientRomanarethesame?"

"Ineverypointbutthatname,thatKrishnaandthefuryandloveofpersecutionwhichitinspired,"saidthemaninblack。"AhotblastcamefromtheEast,soundingKrishna;itabsolutelymaddenedpeople’sminds,andthepeoplewouldcallthemselveshischildren;wewillnotbelongtoJupiteranylonger,wewillbelongtoKrishna,andtheydidbelongtoKrishna;thatisinname,butinnothingelse;forwhoevercaredforKrishnaintheChristianworld,orwhoeverregardedthewordsattributedtohim,orputtheminpractice?"

"Why,weProtestantsregardhiswords,andendeavourtopractisewhattheyenjoinasmuchaspossible。"

"Butyourejecthisimage,"sadthemaninblack;"betterrejecthiswordsthanhisimage:noreligioncanexistlongwhichrejectsagoodbodilyimage。Why,theverynegrobarbariansofHighBarbarycouldgiveyoualessononthatpoint;theyhavetheirfetishimages,towhichtheylookforhelpintheirafflictions;theyhavelikewiseahighpriest,whomtheycall—"

"MumboJumbo,"saidI;"Iknowallabouthimalready。"

"Howcameyoutoknowanythingabouthim?"saidthemaninblack,withalookofsomesurprise。

"SomeofuspoorProtestantstinkers,"saidI,"thoughweliveindingles,arealsoacquaintedwithathingortwo。"

"Ireallybelieveyouare,"saidthemaninblack,staringatme;"but,inconnectionwiththisMumboJumbo,Icouldrelatetoyouacomicalstoryaboutafellow,anEnglishservant,I

oncemetatRome。"

"Itwouldbequiteunnecessary,"saidI;"IwouldmuchsoonerhearyoutalkaboutKrishna,hiswordsandimage。"

"Spokenlikeatrueheretic,"saidthemaninblack;"oneofthefaithfulwouldhaveplacedhisimagebeforehiswords;

forwhatareallthewordsintheworldcomparedwithagoodbodilyimage!"

"Ibelieveyouoccasionallyquotehiswords?"saidI。

"He!he!"saidthemaninblack;"occasionally。"

"Forexample,"saidI,"uponthisrockIwillfoundmychurch。"

"He!he!"saidthemaninblack;"youmustreallybecomeoneofus。"

"YetyoumusthavehadsomedifficultyingettingtherocktoRome?"

"Nonewhatever,"saidthemaninblack;"faithcanremovemountains,tosaynothingofrocks—ho!ho!"

"ButIcannotimagine,"saidI,"whatadvantageyoucouldderivefrompervertingthosewordsofScriptureinwhichtheSaviourtalksabouteatinghisbody。"

"Idonotknow,indeed,whywetroubledourheadsaboutthematteratall,"saidthemaninblack;"butwhenyoutalkaboutpervertingthemeaningofthetext,youspeakignorantly,Mr。Tinker;whenhewhomyoucalltheSaviourgavehisfollowersthesop,andbadethemeatit,tellingthemitwashisbody,hedelicatelyalludedtowhatitwasincumbentuponthemtodoafterhisdeath,namely,toeathisbody。"

"Youdonotmeantosaythatheintendedtheyshouldactuallyeathisbody?"

"Thenyousupposeignorantly,"saidthemaninblack;"eatingthebodiesofthedeadwasaheathenishcustom,practisedbytheheirsandlegateesofpeoplewholeftproperty;andthiscustomisalludedtointhetext。"

"ButwhathastheNewTestamenttodowithheathencustoms,"

saidI,"excepttodestroythem?"

"Morethanyousuppose,"saidthemaninblack。"WepriestsofRome,whohavelonglivedatRome,knowmuchbetterwhattheNewTestamentismadeofthanthehereticsandtheirtheologians,notforgettingtheirTinkers;thoughIconfesssomeofthelatterhaveoccasionallysurprisedus—forexample,Bunyan。TheNewTestamentiscrowdedwithallusionstoheathencustoms,andwithwordsconnectedwithpagansorcery。Now,withrespecttowords,Iwouldfainhaveyou,whopretendtobeaphilologist,tellmethemeaningofAmen。"

Imadenoanswer。

"WeofRome,"saidthemaninblack,"knowtwoorthreethingsofwhichthehereticsarequiteignorant;forexample,therearethoseamongstus—those,too,whodonotpretendtobephilologists—whoknowwhatAmenis,and,moreover,howwegotit。Wegotitfromourancestors,thepriestsofancientRome;andtheygotthewordfromtheirancestorsoftheEast,thepriestsofBuddhandBrahma。"

"Andwhatisthemeaningoftheword?"Idemanded。

"Amen,"saidthemaninblack,"isamodificationoftheoldHindooformula,Omanibatsikhom,bythealmostceaselessrepetitionofwhichtheIndianshopetobereceivedfinallytotherestorstateofforgetfulnessofBuddhorBrahma;afoolishpracticeyouwillsay,butareyouhereticsmuchwiser,whoarecontinuallystickingAmentotheendofyourprayers,littleknowingwhenyoudoso,thatyouareconsigningyourselvestothereposeofBuddh!Oh,whatheartylaughsourmissionarieshavehadwhencomparingtheeternally—soundingEasterngibberishofOmanibatsikhom,Omanibatsikhom,andtheAveMariaandAmenJesusofourownidioticaldevotees。"

"IhavenothingtosayabouttheAveMariasandAmensofyoursuperstitiousdevotees,"saidI;"Idaresaythattheyusethemnonsensicallyenough,butinputtingAmentotheendofaprayer,wemerelyintendtoexpress,’Soletitbe。’"

"Itmeansnothingofthekind,"saidthemaninblack;"andtheHindoosmightjustaswellputyournationaloathattheendoftheirprayers,asperhapstheywillafteragreatmanythousandyears,whenEnglishisforgotten,andonlyafewwordsofitrememberedbydimtraditionwithoutbeingunderstood。Howstrangeif,afterthelapseoffourthousandyears,theHindoosshoulddamnthemselvestotheblindnesssodeartotheirpresentmasters,evenastheirmastersatpresentconsignthemselvestotheforgetfulnesssodeartotheHindoos;butmyglasshasbeenemptyforaconsiderabletime;perhaps,BellissimaBiondina,"saidhe,addressingBelle,"youwilldeigntoreplenishit?"

"Ishalldonosuchthing,"saidBelle,"youhavedrunkquiteenough,andtalkedmorethanenough,andtotellyouthetruthIwishyouwouldleaveusalone。"

"Shameonyou,Belle,"saidI;"considertheobligationsofhospitality。"

"Iamsickofthatword,"saidBelle,"youaresofrequentlymisusingit;werethisplacenotMumpers’Dingle,andconsequentlyasfreetothefellowasourselves,Iwouldleadhimoutofit。"

"Praybequiet,Belle,"saidI。"Youhadbetterhelpyourself,"saidI,addressingmyselftothemaninblack,"theladyisangrywithyou。"

"Iamsorryforit,"saidthemaninblack;"ifsheisangrywithme,Iamnotsowithher,andshallbealwaysproudtowaituponher;inthemeantime,Iwillwaituponmyself。"

CHAPTERIV

TheProposal—TheScotchNovel—Latitude—Miracles—

PestilentHeretics—OldFraser—WonderfulTexts—NoArmenian。

THEmaninblackhavinghelpedhimselftosomemoreofhisfavouritebeverage,andtastedit,Ithusaddressedhim:"Theeveningisgettingratheradvanced,andIcanseethatthislady,"pointingtoBelle,"isanxiousforhertea,whichshepreferstotakecosilyandcomfortablywithmeinthedingle:

theplace,itistrue,isasfreetoyouastoourselves,nevertheless,aswearelocatedherebynecessity,whilstyoumerelycomeasavisitor,Imusttakethelibertyoftellingyouthatweshallbegladtobealone,assoonasyouhavesaidwhatyouhavetosay,andhavefinishedtheglassofrefreshmentatpresentinyourhand。IthinkyousaidsometimeagothatoneofyourmotivesforcominghitherwastoinducemetoenlistunderthebannerofRome。Iwishtoknowwhetherthatwasreallythecase?"

"Decidedlyso,"saidthemaninblack;"Icomehereprincipallyinthehopeofenlistingyouinourregiment,inwhichIhavenodoubtyoucoulddousexcellentservice。"

"Wouldyouenlistmycompanionaswell?"Idemanded。

"Weshouldbeonlytooproudtohaveheramongus,whethershecomeswithyouoralone,"saidthemaninblack,withapolitebowtoBelle。

"Beforewegiveyouananswer,"Ireplied,"Iwouldfainknowmoreaboutyou;perhapsyouwilldeclareyourname?"

"ThatIwillneverdo,"saidthemaninblack;"nooneinEnglandknowsitbutmyself,andIwillnotdeclareit,eveninadingle;asfortherest,SONOUNPRETECATTOLICO

APPOSTOLICO—thatisallthatmanyaoneofuscansayforhimself,anditassuredlymeansagreatdeal。"

"Wewillnowproceedtobusiness,"saidI。"YoumustbeawarethatweEnglisharegenerallyconsideredaself—

interestedpeople。"

"Andwithconsiderablejustice,"saidthemaninblack,drinking。"Well,youareapersonofacuteperception,andI

willpresentlymakeitevidenttoyouthatitwouldbetoyourinteresttojoinwithus。Youareatpresent,evidently,inveryneedycircumstances,andarelost,notonlytoyourself,buttotheworld;butshouldyouenlistwithus,Icouldfindyouanoccupationnotonlyagreeable,butoneinwhichyourtalentswouldhavefreescope。IwouldintroduceyouinthevariousgrandhouseshereinEngland,towhichIhavemyselfadmission,asasurprisingyounggentlemanofinfinitelearning,whobydintofstudyhasdiscoveredthattheRomanistheonlytruefaith。Itellyouconfidentlythatourpopishfemaleswouldmakeasaint,nay,aGodofyou;theyarefoolsenoughforanything。ThereisonepersoninparticularwithwhomIwouldwishtomakeyouacquainted,inthehopethatyouwouldbeabletohelpmetoperformgoodservicetotheholysee。Heisagoutyoldfellow,ofsomelearning,residinginanoldhall,nearthegreatwesternseaport,andisoneoftheveryfewamongsttheEnglishCatholicspossessingagrainofsense。Ithinkyoucouldhelpustogovernhim,forheisnotunfrequentlydisposedtoberestive,asksusstrangequestions—

occasionallythreatensuswithhiscrutch;andbehavessothatweareoftenafraidthatweshalllosehim,or,rather,hisproperty,whichhehasbequeathedtous,andwhichisenormous。Iamsurethatyoucouldhelpustodealwithhim;

sometimeswithyourhumour,sometimeswithyourlearning,andperhapsoccasionallywithyourfists。"

"Andinwhatmannerwouldyouprovideformycompanion?"saidI。

"Wewouldplaceheratonce,"saidthemaninblack,"inthehouseoftwohighlyrespectableCatholicladiesinthisneighbourhood,whereshewouldbetreatedwitheverycareandconsiderationtillherconversionshouldbeaccomplishedinaregularmanner;wewouldthenremovehertoafemalemonasticestablishment,where,afterundergoingayear’sprobation,duringwhichtimeshewouldbeinstructedineveryelegantaccomplishment,sheshouldtaketheveil。Heradvancementwouldspeedilyfollow,for,withsuchafaceandfigure,shewouldmakeacapitalladyabbess,especiallyinItaly,towhichcountryshewouldprobablybesent;ladiesofherhairandcomplexion—tosaynothingofherheight—beingacuriosityinthesouth。Withalittlecareandmanagementshecouldsoonobtainavastreputationforsanctity;andwhoknowsbutafterherdeathshemightbecomeaglorifiedsaint—he!he!SisterMariaTheresa,forthatisthenameI

proposeyoushouldbear。HolyMotherMariaTheresa—

glorifiedandcelestialsaint,Ihavethehonourofdrinkingtoyourhealth,"andthemaninblackdrank。

"Well,Belle,"saidI,"whathaveyoutosaytothegentleman’sproposal?"

"ThatifhegoesoninthiswayIwillbreakhisglassagainsthismouth。"

"Youhaveheardthelady’sanswer,"saidI。

"Ihave,"saidthemaninblack,"andshallnotpressthematter。Ican’thelp,however,repeatingthatshewouldmakeacapitalladyabbess;shewouldkeepthenunsinorder,I

warranther;noeasymatter!Breaktheglassagainstmymouth—he!he!Howshewouldsendtheholyutensilsflyingatthenuns’headsoccasionally,andjustthepersontowringthenoseofSatan,shouldheventuretoappearonenightinhercellintheshapeofahandsomeblackman。Nooffence,madam,nooffence,prayretainyourseat,"saidhe,observingthatBellehadstartedup;"Imeannooffence。Well,ifyouwillnotconsenttobeanabbess,perhapsyouwillconsenttofollowthisyoungZingaro,andtoco—operatewithhimandus。

Iamapriest,madam,andcanjoinyoubothinaninstant,CONNUBIOSTABILI,asIsupposetheknothasnotbeentiedalready。"

"Holdyourmumpinggibberish,"saidBelle,"andleavethedinglethismoment,forthough’tisfreetoeveryone,youhavenorighttoinsultmeinit。"

"Praybepacified,"saidItoBelle,gettingup,andplacingmyselfbetweenherandthemaninblack,"hewillpresentlyleave,takemywordforit—there,sitdownagain,"saidI,asIledhertoherseat;then,resumingmyown,Isaidtothemaninblack:"Iadviseyoutoleavethedingleassoonaspossible。"

"Ishouldwishtohaveyouranswertomyproposalfirst,"

saidhe。

"Well,then,hereyoushallhaveit:Iwillnotentertainyourproposal;Idetestyourschemes:theyarebothwickedandfoolish。"

"Wicked,"saidthemaninblack,"havetheynot—he!he!—

thefurtheranceofreligioninview?"

"Areligion,"saidI,"inwhichyouyourselfdonotbelieve,andwhichyoucontemn。"

"WhetherIbelieveinitornot,"saidthemaninblack,"itisadaptedforthegeneralityofthehumanrace;soIwillforwardit,andadviseyoutodothesame。Itwasnearlyextirpatedintheseregions,butitisspringingupagain,owingtocircumstances。Radicalismisagoodfriendtous;

alltheliberalslaudupoursystemoutofhatredtotheEstablishedChurch,thoughoursystemistentimeslessliberalthantheChurchofEngland。Someofthemhavereallycomeovertous。ImyselfconfessabaronetwhopresidedoverthefirstradicalmeetingeverheldinEngland—hewasanatheistwhenhecameovertous,inthehopeofmortifyinghisownchurch—butheisnow—ho!ho!—arealCatholicdevotee—quiteafraidofmythreats;Imakehimfrequentlyscourgehimselfbeforeme。Well,Radicalismdoesusgoodservice,especiallyamongstthelowerclasses,forRadicalismchieflyflourishesamongstthem;forthoughabaronetortwomaybefoundamongsttheradicals,andperhapsasmanylords—fellowswhohavebeendiscardedbytheirownorderforclownishness,orsomethingtheyhavedone—itincontestablyflourishesbestamongthelowerorders。Thentheloveofwhatisforeignisagreatfriendtous;thisloveischieflyconfinedtothemiddleandupperclasses。SomeadmiretheFrench,andimitatethem;othersmustneedsbeSpaniards,dressthemselvesupinazamarra,stickacigarintheirmouth,andsay,’Carajo。’OtherswouldpassforGermans;he!

he!theideaofanyonewishingtopassforaGerman!butwhathasdoneusmoreservicethananythingelseintheseregions—Imeanamidstthemiddleclasses—hasbeenthenovel,theScotchnovel。Thegoodfolks,sincetheyhavereadthenovels,havebecomeJacobites;and,becausealltheJacobswerePapists,thegoodfolksmustbecomePapistsalso,or,atleast,papisticallyinclined。TheveryScotchPresbyterians,sincetheyhavereadthenovels,arebecomeallbutPapists;Ispeakadvisedly,havinglatelybeenamongstthem。There’satrumperybitofahalfpapistsect,calledtheScotchEpiscopalianChurch,whichlaydormantandnearlyforgottenforupwardsofahundredyears,whichhasoflategotwonderfullyintofashioninScotland,because,forsooth,someofthelong—hairedgentryofthenovelsweresaidtobelongtoit,suchasMontroseandDundee;andtothisthePresbyteriansaregoingoverinthrongs,traducingandvilifyingtheirownforefathers,ordenyingthemaltogether,andcallingthemselvesdescendantsof—ho!ho!

ho!—ScottishCavaliers!!!IhaveheardthemmyselfrepeatingsnatchesofJacobitedittiesabout’BonnieDundee,’

and—

"’Come,fillupmycup,andfillupmycan,Andsaddlemyhorse,andcallupmyman。’

There’sstuffforyou!NotthatIobjecttothefirstpartoftheditty。ItisnaturalenoughthataScotchmanshouldcry,’Come,fillupmycup!’moreespeciallyifhe’sdrinkingatanotherperson’sexpense—allScotchmenbeingfondofliquoratfreecost:but’Saddlehishorse!!!’—forwhatpurpose,Iwouldask?Whereistheuseofsaddlingahorse,unlessyoucanridehim?andwherewasthereeveraScotchmanwhocouldride?"

"OfcourseyouhavenotadropofScotchbloodinyourveins,"saidI,"otherwiseyouwouldneverhaveutteredthatlastsentence。"

"Don’tbetoosureofthat,"saidthemaninblack;"youknowlittleofPoperyifyouimaginethatitcannotextinguishloveofcountry,eveninaScotchman。Athorough—goingPapist—andwhomorethorough—goingthanmyself?—caresnothingforhiscountry;andwhyshouldhe?hebelongstoasystem,andnottoacountry。"

"Onething,"saidI,"connectedwithyou,Icannotunderstand;youcallyourselfathorough—goingPapist,yetarecontinuallysayingthemostpungentthingsagainstPopery,andturningtounboundedridiculethosewhoshowanyinclinationtoembraceit。"

"Romeisaverysensibleoldbody,"saidthemaninblack,"andlittlecareswhatherchildrensay,providedtheydoherbidding。Sheknowsseveralthings,andamongstothers,thatnoservantsworksohardandfaithfullyasthosewhocursetheirmastersateverystroketheydo。ShewasnotfoolenoughtobeangrywiththeMiqueletsofAlba,whorenouncedher,andcalledher’puta’allthetimetheywerecuttingthethroatsoftheNetherlanders。Now,ifsheallowedherfaithfulsoldiersthelatitudeofrenouncingher,andcallingher’puta’inthemarket—place,thinknotsheissounreasonableastoobjecttoherfaithfulpriestsoccasionallycallingher’puta’inthedingle。"

"But,"saidI,"supposesomeoneweretotelltheworldsomeofthedisorderlythingswhichherpriestssayinthedingle?"

"HewouldhavethefateofCassandra,"saidthemaninblack;

"noonewouldbelievehim—yes,thepriestswould:buttheywouldmakenosignofbelief。TheybelieveintheAlcorandesCordeliers—thatis,thosewhohavereadit;buttheymakenosign。"

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