letters-第57章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


n　of　the　five　hundred　which　　were　sent　to　me　from　Barcelona　in　sheets。　　I　have　discontinued　　selling　Testaments　in　Madrid；　as　it　appears　to　me　that　we　shall　　have　barely　sufficient；　unless　something　unforeseen　occurs；　for　　Andalusia　and　one　or　two　other　points　which　I　wish　to　visit。　　When　　I　recollect　the　difficulties　which　have　encompassed　our　path；　I　can　　sometimes　hardly　credit　all　that　the　Almighty　has　permitted　us　to　　accomplish　within　the　last　year：　　a　large　edition　of　the　New　　Testament　almost　entirely　disposed　of　in　the　very　centre　of　old；　　gloomy；　fanatic　Spain；　in　spite　of　the　opposition　and　the　furious　　cry　of　the　sanguinary　priesthood　and　the　edicts　of　a　tyrannical；　　deceitful　Government；　moreover　a　spirit　of　religious　enquiry　　excited；　which　I　have　fervent　hope　will　sooner　or　later　lead　to　　blessed　and　most　important　results。　　Till　of　late　the　name　most　　abhorred　and　dreaded　in　these　parts　of　Spain　was　that　of　Martin　　Luther；　who　was　in　general　considered　as　a　species　of　demon；　a　　cousin…german　to　Belial　and　Beelzebub；　who　under　the　disguise　of　a　　man　wrote　and　preached　blasphemy　against　the　Highest。　　Yet　now；　　strange　to　say；　this　once　abominated　personage　is　spoken　of　with　no　　slight　degree　of　respect。　　People；　with　Bibles　in　their　hands；　not　　unfrequently　visit　me；　enquiring　with　much　earnestness　and　with　no　　slight　degree　of　simplicity　for　the　writings　of　the　great　Doctor　　Martin；　whom　indeed　some　suppose　to　be　still　alive。　　It　will　be　as　　well　here　to　observe　that　of　all　the　names　connected　with　the　　Reformation；　that　of　Luther　is　the　only　one　known　in　Spain；　and　let　　me　add　that　no　controversial　writings　but　his　are　likely　to　be　　esteemed　as　possessing　the　slightest　weight　or　authority；　however　　great　their　intrinsic　merit　may　be。　　The　printing；　therefore；　of　　tracts　in　the　Spanish　language；　of　the　description　hitherto　　adopted；　appears　to　be　pregnant　with　no　good　or　benefit　whatever。　　　Of　what　might　be　the　result　of　well…executed　translations　of　　judicious　selections　from　the　works　of　Luther；　it　is　not　my　　business　to　offer　an　opinion。

Before　commencing　this　journey　to　Andalusia　I　must　take　the　liberty　　of　making　one　humble　request　to　my　friends　of　the　Bible　Society；　　which　is　to　be　patient。　　It　may　not　be　in　my　power　to　send　them　for　　a　long　time　any　flattering　accounts　of　operations　commenced　there。　　　I　shall　be　surrounded　with　enemies；　bitter；　malignant；　and　　powerful；　against　whose　efforts　it　is　very　possible　that　I　may　not　　be　able　to　stand　my　ground；　or　the　books　which　I　carry　with　me　may　　be　seized　and　sequestrated；　in　spite　of　all　the　plans　which　I　have　　devised　for　their　safety。　　The　great　failing　of　Protestants；　in　　general；　is　a　tendency　to　spring　suddenly　to　the　pinnacle　of　　exultation；　and　as　suddenly　to　fall　to　the　lowest　bathos　of　　dejection；　forgetting　that　the　brightest　day　as　well　as　the　most　　gloomy　night　must　necessarily　have　a　termination。　　How　far　more　　wise　are　the　members　of　that　object　of　my　undying　detestation；　the　　Church　of　Rome；　from　mixing　with　whom　I　have　acquired　one　principal　　point　of　wisdom；　which　may　be　termed；　EVER　TO　EXPECT　EVIL；　AND　EVER　　TO　HOPE　FOR　GOOD；　by　attending　to　which　maxim　we　find　that　Church　　ever　regaining　the　ground　which　it　has　lost。　　Yesterday　seeming　a　　lifeless　stick；　as　in　the　case　of　England；　to…day　it　is　a　　magnificent　tree；　glorious　with　leaves　and　fruit。　　Excuse　these　　observations　which；　I　assure　you；　are　well　meant。　　No　one　　acquainted　with　me　will　lay　undue　partiality　to　the　Roman　Church　to　　my　charge；　yet　there　are　some　points　about　it　which　I　highly　　admire；　and　you　know　well　enough　that　it　is　lawful　to　receive　　instruction　from　an　enemy。

I　have　been　lately　going　through　Morrison's　Chinese　Matthew。　　I　　confess　that　I　am　the　merest　tyro　in　the　language；　nevertheless　I　　am　compelled　to　state　that　upon　the　whole　I　do　not　like　the　　translation。　　It　appears　to　me　that　in　various　instances　the　　characters　are　not　grammatically　placed；　I　mean；　not　as　they　are　　placed　in　the　writings　if　the　best　Chinese　authors　to　express　the　　same　ideas。　　Moreover　he　has　translated　the　sacred　Name　by　the　　character　which　the　Chinese　are　in　the　habit　of　bestowing　on　the　　spirits　whose　idols　they　worship；　and　which　is　by　no　means　　applicable　to　the　one　great　God；　whom　the　missionaries　of　the　Greek　　and　Roman　Churches　for　want　of　an　equivalent　in　Chinese　have　always　　styled；　and　with　justice　＇three　Chinese　characters＇　（TIEN　TSZ　　HWANG）；　or　King　of　Heaven。　　The　Holy　Ghost；　he　renders　by　TCHING　　FUNG；　or　Holy　Wind；　which　is　a　Hebraism；　and　which　can　scarcely　be　　understood　by　the　Chinese。　　In　Lipoftsoff's　Mandchou　version　it　is　　happily　translated　by　the　Holy　Spirit。　　You　will　recollect　that　on　　my　second　return　to　Spain　you　requested　me　to　look　into　Morrison's　　Testament；　on　which　account　I　shall　offer　no　excuse　for　these　　trifling　remarks。

Do　me　the　favour；　my　dear　Sir；　to　inform　Mr。　Hitchin　that　within　a　　day　or　two　I　shall　send　him　another　account　of　money　received　and　　disbursed。　　I　hope　you　forwarded　the　packet　containing　the　life　of　　Ripoll　to　Mr。　Forster。　…　Having　now　said　my　say　for　the　present；　I　　have　the　honour　to　remain；　Revd。　and　dear　Sir；

Your　most　obedient　humble　servant；

GEORGE　BORROW。



LETTER：　2nd　May；　1839



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram。　（ENDORSED：　recd。　May　21；　1839）　SEVILLE；　SPAIN；　MAY　2；　1839。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　I　have　been　in　Seville　one　week。　　Perhaps　on　　learning　this　you　will　be　disposed　to　demand　the　reason　of　my　not　　having　written　previously　to　this；　knowing；　as　I　do；　the　anxiety　of　　my　friends　to　know　the　fate　of　their　adventurer　in　his　wanderings　　in　wild　Spain；　but　believe　me　that　I　had　several　reasons　for　　deferring；　the　principal　being　an　unconquerable　aversion　to　writing　　blank　letters。　　At　present　I　have　something　to　communicate　besides　　my　arrival；　indeed　one　or　two　odd　things。　　The　courier　and　myself　　came　all　the　way　without　the　slightest　accident；　my　usual　wonderful　　good　fortune　accompanying　us。　I　may　well　call　it　wonderful。　　I　was　　not　aware　when　I　resolved　to　venture　with　the　mail　that　I　was　　running　into　the　den　of　the　lion；　the　whole　of　La　Mancha　with　the　　exception　of　a　few　fortified　places　being　once　more　in　the　hands　of　　Pollillos　and　his　banditti；　who　whenever　it　pleases　them；　stop　the　　courier；　burn　the　vehicle　and　letters；　murder　the　paltry　escort　　which　attends；　and　carry　away　any　chance　passenger　to　the　　mountains；　where　an　enormous　ransom　is　demanded；　which　if　not　paid；　　brings　on　the　dilemma　of　four　shots　through　the　head；　as　the　　Spaniards　say。　　The　upper　part　of　Andalusia　is　becoming　rapidly　　nearly　as　bad　as　La　Mancha。　　The　last　time　the　courier　had　passed；　　he　was　attacked　at　the　defile　of　La　Rumblar　by　six　mounted　robbers；　　he　was　guarded　by　an　escort　of　as　many　soldiers；　but　the　former　　suddenly　galloped　from　behind　a　solitary　VENTA　and　dashed　the　　soldiers　to　the　ground；　who　were　taken　quite　by　surprise；　the　hoofs　　of　the　robbers'　horses　making　no　noise　on　account　of　the　great　　quantity　of　mud。　　The　soldiers　were　instantly　disarmed　and　bound　to　　olive…trees；　with　the　exception　of　two　who　escaped　amongst　the　　rocks；　they　were　then　mocked　and　tormented　by　the　robbers；　or　　rather　fiends；　for　nearly　half　an　hour；　when　they　were　shot；　the　　head　of　the　corporal　who　commanded　being　blown　to　fragments　with　a　　blunderbuss。　　The　robbers　then　burnt　the　coach；　which　they　　accomplished　by　igniting　the　letters　by　means　of　the　tow　with　which　　they　light　their　cigars。　　The　life　of　the　courier　was　saved　by　one　　of　them　who　had　formerly　been　his　postillion；　he　was；　however；　　robbed　and　stripped。　　As　we　passed　by　the　scene　of　the　butchery　the　　poor　fellow　burst　into　tears；　and；　though　a　Spaniard；　cursed　Spain　　and　the　Spaniards；　saying　that　he　shortly　intended　to　pass　over　to　　Morocco　to　confess　Mahomet　and　to　learn　the　Law　of　the　Moors；　for　　that　any　country　and　religion　was　better　than　his　own。　　He　pointed　　to　the　tree　where　the　corporal　had　been　tied；　though　much　rain　had　　fallen　since；　the　ground　around　was　still　saturated　with　blood；　and　　a　dog　was　gnawing　a　piece　of　the　unfortunate　wretch's　skull。　　A　　friar　travelled　with　us　the　whole　way　from　Madrid　to　Seville；　he　　was　OF　THE　MISSIONARIES；　and　was　going　to　the　Philippine　Islands　to　　conquer　（PARA　CONQUISTAR）；　for　such　was　his　word；　by　which　I　　suppose　he　meant　preaching　to　the　Indians。　　During　the　whole　　journey　he　exhibited　every　symptom　of　the　most　abject　fear；　which　　operated　upon　him　so　that　he　became　deadly　sick；　so　that　we　were　　obliged　to　stop　twice　in　the　road　and　lay　him　amongst　the　green　　corn。　　He　said　that　if　he　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　factious　he　　was　a　lost　priest；　for　that　they　would　first　make　him　say　mass　and　　then　blow　him　up　with　gunpowder。　　He　had　been　a　professor　of　　philosophy；　as　he　told　me；　in　one　of　the　convents　（I　think　it　was　　San　Tomas）　of　Madrid；　before　their　suppression；　but　appeared　to　be　　grossly　ignorant　of　the　Scripture；　which　he　confounded　with　the　　works　of　Virgil。

We　stopped　at　Manzanares　as　usual；　it　was　Sunday　morning　and　the　　market　was　crowded　with　people。　　I　was　recognised　in　a　moment；　and　　twenty　pairs　of　legs　instantly　hurried　away　in　quest　of　the　　prophetess；　who　presently　made　her　appearance　in　the　house　to　which　　we　had　retired　to　breakfast。　　After　many　greetings　on　both　sides；　　she　proceeded　in　her　admirable　Latin　to　give　me　an　account　of　all　　that　had　occurred　in　the　village　since　I　had　last　been　there；　and　　of　the　atrocities　of　the　factious　in　the　neighbourhood。　　I　asked　　her　to　breakfast　and　introduced　her　to　the　friar　whom　she　addressed　　in　this　manner；　ANNE　DOMINE　REVERENDISSIME　FACIS　ADHUC　SACRIFICIUM？　　　But　the　friar　did　not　understand　her；　and　waxing　angry　　anathematized　her　for　a　witch　and　bade　her　begone。　　She　was　however　　not　to　be　disconcerted；　and　commenced　singing　in　extemporary　　Castilian　verse　the　praises　of　friars　and　religious　houses　in　　general。　　On　departing　I　gave　her　a　PESETA；　upon　which　she　burst　　into　tears　and　entreated　that　I　would　write　to　her　if　I　reached　　Seville　in　safety。

We　did　arrive　at　Seville　in　safety；　and　I　took　leave　of　the　friar　　telling　him　that　I　hoped　to　meet　him　again　at　Philippi。　　I　must　now　　be　brief。　　In　a　few　days　Antonio　arrived　with　the　horses。　　　Difficulties　now　began　to　show　themselves。　　All　the　Testaments　were　　stopped　at　the　custom　house；　they　were　contained　in　two　large　　chests：　　but　I　now　know　Spain　and　the　Spaniards。　　For　a　few　dollars　　I　procured　a　FIADOR　or　person　who　engaged　THAT　THE　CHESTS　should　be　　carried　down　the　river　and　embarked　at　San　Lucar　for　a　foreign　　land。　　Yesterday　I　hired　a　boat　and　sent　them　down；　but　on　the　way　　I　landed　in　a　secure　place　all　the　Testaments　which　I　intend　for　　this　part　of　the　country。　　The　chests　therefore；　with　the　copies　　required　for　Tangiers　and　England；　with　the　hundred　Gospels　in　　Gitano　and　Basque　for　the　Library　of　the　Bible　Society；　are　at　　present　at　San　Lucar　in　the　custom　house；　from　which　I　expect　to　　receive　to…morrow　the　receipt　which　the　authorities　here　demand；　　and　which　will　be　necessary　for　the　security　of　my　voucher。　　Indeed　　the　whole　affair；　though　attended　with　considerable　trouble　and　　expense　to　me；　was　a　mere　formality；　as　I　was　given　to　understand。　　　I　was　myself　treated　with　the　greate