memoirs of carwin the biloquist(卡尔维恩)-第4章
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another's misery； but the sole or principal end of my endeavours was not
the happiness of others。
I was actuated by ambition。 I was delighted to possess superior
power； I was prone to manifest that superiority； and was satisfied if this
were done； without much solicitude concerning consequences。 I sported
frequently with the apprehensions of my associates； and threw out a bait
for their wonder； and supplied them with occasions for the structure of
theories。 It may not be amiss to enumerate one or two adventures in
which I was engaged。
Chapter III。
I had taken much pains to improve the sagacity of a favourite Spaniel。
It was my purpose； indeed； to ascertain to what degree of improvement the
principles of reasoning and imitation could be carried in a dog。 There is
no doubt that the animal affixes distinct ideas to sounds。 What are the
possible limits of his vocabulary no one can tell。 In conversing with my
dog I did not use English words； but selected simple monosyllables。
Habit likewise enabled him to comprehend my gestures。 If I crossed my
hands on my breast he understood the signal and laid down behind me。
If I joined my hands and lifted them to my breast； he returned home。 If I
grasped one arm above the elbow he ran before me。 If I lifted my hand
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to my forehead he trotted composedly behind。 By one motion I could
make him bark； by another I could reduce him to silence。 He would
howl in twenty different strains of mournfulness； at my bidding。 He
would fetch and carry with undeviating faithfulness。
His actions being thus chiefly regulated by gestures； that to a stranger
would appear indifferent or casual； it was easy to produce a belief that the
animal's knowledge was much greater than in truth； it was。
One day； in a mixed company； the discourse turned upon the unrivaled
abilities of ~~Damon~~。 Damon had； indeed； acquired in all the circles
which I frequented； an extraordinary reputation。 Numerous instances of
his sagacity were quoted and some of them exhibited on the spot。 Much
surprise was excited by the readiness with which he appeared to
comprehend sentences of considerable abstraction and complexity； though；
he in reality； attended to nothing but the movements of hand or fingers
with which I accompanied my words。 I enhanced the astonishment of
some and excited the ridicule of others； by observing that my dog not only
understood English when spoken by others； but actually spoke the
language himself； with no small degree of precision。
This assertion could not be admitted without proof； proof； therefore；
was readily produced。 At a known signal； Damon began a low
interrupted noise； in which the astonished hearers clearly distinguished
English words。 A dialogue began between the animal and his master；
which was maintained； on the part of the former； with great vivacity and
spirit。 In this dialogue the dog asserted the dignity of his species and
capacity of intellectual improvement。 The company separated lost in
wonder； but perfectly convinced by the evidence that had been produced。
On a subsequent occasion a select company was assembled at a garden；
at a small distance from the city。 Discourse glided through a variety of
topics； till it lighted at length on the subject of invisible beings。 From the
speculations of philosophers we proceeded to the creations of the poet。
Some maintained the justness of Shakspear's delineations of aerial beings；
while others denied it。 By no violent transition； Ariel and his songs were
introduced； and a lady； celebrated for her musical skill； was solicited to
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accompany her pedal harp with the song of 〃Five fathom deep thy father
lies〃 。 。 。 She was known to have set； for her favourite instrument； all the
songs of Shakspeare。
My youth made me little more than an auditor on this occasion。 I sat
apart from the rest of the company； and carefully noted every thing。 The
track which the conversation had taken； suggested a scheme which was
not thoroughly digested when the lady began her enchanting strain。
She ended and the audience were mute with rapture。 The pause
continued； when a strain was wafted to our ears from another quarter。
The spot where we sat was embowered by a vine。 The verdant arch was
lofty and the area beneath was spacious。
The sound proceeded from above。 At first it was faint and scarcely
audible； presently it reached a louder key； and every eye was cast up in
expectation of beholding a face among the pendant clusters。 The strain
was easily recognized； for it was no other than that which Ariel is made to
sing when finally absolved from the service of the wizard。
In the Cowslips bell I lie； On the Bat's back I do fly 。 。 。 After summer
merrily； &c。
Their hearts palpitated as they listened： they gazed at each other for
a solution of the mystery。 At length the strain died away at distance； and
an interval of silence was succeded by an earnest discussion of the cause
of this prodigy。 One supposition only could be adopted； which was； that
the strain was uttered by human organs。 That the songster was stationed
on the roof of the arbour； and having finished his melody had risen into the
viewless fields of air。
I had been invited to spend a week at this house： this period was
nearly expired when I received information that my aunt was suddenly
taken sick； and that her life was in imminent danger。 I immediately set
out on my return to the city； but before my arrival she was dead。
This lady was entitled to my gratitude and esteem； I had received the
most essential benefits at her hand。 I was not destitute of sensibility； and
was deeply affected by this event： I will own； however； that my grief was
lessened by reflecting on the consequences of her death； with regard to my
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own condition。 I had been ever taught to consider myself as her heir； and
her death； therefore； would free me from certain restraints。
My aunt had a female servant； who had lived with her for twenty years：
she was married； but her husband； who was an artizan； lived apart from
her： I had no reason to suspect the woman's sincerity and
disinterestedness； but my aunt was no sooner consigned to the grave than a
will was produced； in which Dorothy was named her sole and universal
heir。
It was in vain to urge my expectations and my claims 。 。 。 。 the
instrument was legibly and legally drawn up 。 。 。 。 Dorothy was
exasperated by my opposition and surmises； and vigorously enforced her
title。 In a week after the decease of my kinswoman； I was obliged to
seek a new dwelling。 As all my property consisted in my cloths and my
papers； this was easily done。
My condition was now calamitous and forlorn。 Confiding in the
acquisition of my aunt's patrimony； I had made no other provision for the
future； I hated manual labour； or any task of which the object was gain。
To be guided in my choice of occupations by any motive but the pleasure
which the occupation was qualified to produce； was intolerable to my
proud； indolent； and restive temper。
This resource was now cut off； the means of immediate subsistence
were denied me： If I had determined to acquire the knowledge of some
lucrative art； the acquisition would demand time； and； meanwhile； I was
absolutely destitute of support。 My father's house was； indeed； open to
me； but I preferred to stifle myself with the filth of the kennel； rather than
to return to it。 Some plan it was immediately necessary to adopt。 The
exigence of my affairs； and this reverse of fortune； continually occupied
my thoughts； I estranged myself from society and from books； and
devoted myself to lonely walks and mournful meditation。
One morning as I ranged along the bank of Schuylkill； I encountered a
person； by name Ludloe； of whom I had some previous knowledge。 He
was from Ireland； was a man of some rank and apparently rich： I had
met with him before； but in mixed companies； where little direct
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intercourse had taken place between us。 Our last meeting was in the
arbour where Ariel was so unexpectedly introduced。
Our acquaintance merely justified a transient salutation； but he did not
content himself with noticing me as I passed； but joined me in my walk
and entered into conversation。 It was easy to advert to the occasion on
which we had last met； and to the mysterious incident which then occurred。
I was solicitous to dive into his thoughts upon this head and put some
questions which tended to the point that I wished。
I was somewhat startled when he expressed his belief； that the
performer of this mystic strain was one of the company then present； who
exerted； for this end； a faculty not commonly possessed。 Who this
person was he did not venture to guess； and could not discover； by the
tokens
