memoirs of carwin the biloquist(卡尔维恩)-第13章
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to obviate every scruple of that nature。 Though my father was no better
than a farmer； it is not absolutely certain but that my remoter ancestors had
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
princely blood in their veins： but as long as proofs of my low extraction
did not impertinently intrude themselves； my silence； or； at most；
equivocal surmises； seasonably made use of； might secure me from all
inconveniences on the score of birth。 He should represent me； and I was
such； as his friend； favourite； and equal； and my passion for antiquities
should be my principal inducement to undertake this office； though my
poverty would make no objection to a reasonable pecuniary recompense。
Having expressed my acquiescence in his measures； he thus proceeded：
My visit was made to my kinswoman； for the purpose； as I just now told
you； of paving your way into her family； but； on my arrival at her house； I
found nothing but disorder and alarm。 Mrs。 Benington； it seems； on
returning from a longer ride than customary； last Thursday evening； was
attacked by robbers。 Her attendants related an imperfect tale of
somebody advancing at the critical moment to her rescue。 It seems；
however； they did more harm than good； for the horses took to flight and
overturned the carriage； in consequence of which Mrs。 Benington was
severely bruised。 She has kept her bed ever since； and a fever was likely
to ensue； which has only left her out of danger to…day。
As the adventure before related； in which I had so much concern；
occurred at the time mentioned by Ludloe； and as all other circumstances
were alike； I could not doubt that the person whom the exertion of my
mysterious powers had relieved was Mrs。 Benington： but what an ill…
omened interference was mine！ The robbers would probably have been
satisfied with the few guineas in her purse； and； on receiving these； would
have left her to prosecute her journey in peace and security； but； by
absurdly offering a succour； which could only operate upon the fears of
her assailants； I endangered her life； first by the desperate discharge of a
pistol； and next by the fright of the horses。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 My anxiety； which
would have been less if I had not been； in some degree； myself the author
of the evil； was nearly removed by Ludloe's proceeding to assure me that
all danger was at an end； and that he left the lady in the road to perfect
health。 He had seized the earliest opportunity of acquainting her with the
purpose of his visit； and had brought back with him her cheerful
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
acceptance of my services。 The next week was appointed for my
introduction。
With such an object in view； I had little leisure to attend to any
indifferent object。 My thoughts were continually bent upon the expected
introduction； and my impatience and curiosity drew strength； not merely
from the character of Mrs。 Benington； but from the nature of my new
employment。 Ludloe had truly observed； that I was infected with
somewhat of this antiquarian mania myself； and I now remembered that
Benington had frequently alluded to this collection in possession of his
wife。 My curiosity had then been more than once excited by his
representations； and I had formed a vague resolution of making myself
acquainted with this lady and her learned treasure； should I ever return to
Ireland。 。 。 。 。 Other incidents had driven this matter from my mind。
Meanwhile； affairs between Ludloe and myself remained stationary。
Our conferences； which were regular and daily； related to general topics；
and though his instructions were adapted to promote my improvement in
the most useful branches of knowledge； they never afforded a glimpse
towards that quarter where my curiosity was most active。
The next week now arrived； but Ludloe informed me that the state of
Mrs。 Benington's health required a short excursion into the country； and
that he himself proposed to bear her company。 The journey was to last
about a fortnight； after which I might prepare myself for an introduction to
her。
This was a very unexpected and disagreeable trial to my patience。
The interval of solitude that now succeeded would have passed rapidly
and pleasantly enough； if an event of so much moment were not in
suspense。 Books； of which I was passionately fond； would have afforded
me delightful and incessant occupation； and Ludloe； by way of reconciling
me to unavoidable delays； had given me access to a little closet； in which
his rarer and more valuable books were kept。
All my amusements； both by inclination and necessity； were centered
in myself and at home。 Ludloe appeared to have no visitants； and though
frequently abroad； or at least secluded from me； had never proposed my
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
introduction to any of his friends； except Mrs。 Benington。 My
obligations to him were already too great to allow me to lay claim to new
favours and indulgences； nor； indeed； was my disposition such as to make
society needful to my happiness。 My character had been； in some degree；
modelled by the faculty which I possessed。 This deriving all its supposed
value from impenetrable secrecy； and Ludloe's admonitions tending
powerfully to impress me with the necessity of wariness and
circumspection in my general intercourse with mankind； I had gradually
fallen into sedate； reserved； mysterious； and unsociable habits。 My heart
wanted not a friend。
In this temper of mind； I set myself to examine the novelties which
Ludloe's private book…cases contained。 'Twill be strange； thought I； if his
favourite volume do not show some marks of my friend's character。 To
know a man's favourite or most constant studies cannot fail of letting in
some little light upon his secret thoughts； and though he would not have
given me the reading of these books； if he had thought them capable of
unveiling more of his concerns than he wished； yet possibly my ingenuity
may go one step farther than he dreams of。 You shall judge whether I
was right in my conjectures。
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
Chapter IX。
The books which composed this little library were chiefly the
voyages and travels of the missionaries of the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries。 Added to these were some works upon political economy and
legislation。 Those writers who have amused themselves with reducing
their ideas to practice； and drawing imaginary pictures of nations or
republics； whose manners or government came up to their standard of
excellence； were； all of whom I had ever heard； and some I had never
heard of before； to be found in this collection。 A translation of Aristotle's
republic； the political romances of sir Thomas Moore； Harrington； and
Hume； appeared to have been much read； and Ludlow had not been
sparing of his marginal comments。 In these writers he appeared to find
nothing but error and absurdity； and his notes were introduced for no other
end than to point out groundless principles and false conclusions。 。 。 。 。
The style of these remarks was already familiar to me。 I saw nothing
new in them； or different from the strain of those speculations with which
Ludlow was accustomed to indulge himself in conversation with me。
After having turned over the leaves of the printed volumes； I at length
lighted on a small book of maps； from which； of course； I could
reasonably expect no information； on that point about which I was most
curious。 It was an atlas； in which the maps had been drawn by the pen。
None of them contained any thing remarkable； so far as I； who was indeed
a smatterer in geography； was able to perceive； till I came to the end； when
I noticed a map； whose prototype I was wholly unacquainted with。 It
was drawn on a pretty large scale； representing two islands； which bore
some faint resemblance； in their relative proportions； at least； to Great
Britain and Ireland。 In shape they were widely different； but as to size
there was no scale by which to measure them。 From the great number of
subdivisions； and from signs； which apparently represented towns and
cities； I was allowed to infer； that the country was at least as extensive as
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
the British isles。 This map was apparently unfinished； for it had no
names inscribed upon it。
I have just said； my geographical knowledge was imperfect。 Though I
had not enough to draw the outlines of any country by memory； I had still
sufficient to recognize what I had before seen； and to discover that none of
the larger islands in our globe resembled the one before me。 Having such
and so strong motives to curiosity； you may easily imagine my sensations
on surveying this map。 Suspecting； as I did； that many of Ludlow's
intimations alluded to a country well known to him； though unknown to
others； I was； of course； inclined to suppose that this country was
