dickory cronke(迪克雷·克龙克)-第6章
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generation； you answer your character and act like a man； whereas sleep
and idleness do but degrade you； and sink you down to a brute。
37。 A mind that has nothing of hope； or fear； or aversion； or desire； to
weaken and disturb it； is the most impregnable security。 Hither we may
with safety retire and defy our enemies； and he that sees not this advantage
must be extremely ignorant； and he that forgets it unhappy。
38。 Do not disturb yourself about the faults of other people； but let
everybody's crimes be at their own door。 Have always this great maxim
in your remembrance； that to play the knave is to rebel against religion； all
sorts of injustice being no less than high treason against Heaven itself。
39。 Do not contemn death； but meet it with a decent and religious
fortitude； and look upon it as one of those things which Providence has
ordered。 If you want a cordial to make the apprehensions of dying go
down a little the more easily； consider what sort of world and what sort of
company you will part with。 To conclude； do but look seriously into the
world； and there you will see multitudes of people preparing for funerals；
and mourning for their friends and acquaintances； and look out again a
little afterwards； and you will see others doing the very same thing for
them。
40。 In short； men are but poor transitory things。 To…day they are
busy and harassed with the affairs of human life； and to…morrow life itself
is taken from them； and they are returned to their original dust and ashes。
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PART III
Containing prophetic observations relating to the affairs of Europe and
of Great Britain； more particularly from 1720 to 1729。
1。 In the latter end of 1720； an eminent old lady shall bring forth five
sons at a birth； the youngest shall live and grow up to maturity； but the
four eldest shall either die in the nursery； or be all carried off by one
sudden and unexpected accident。
2。 About this time a man with a double head shall arrive in Britain
from the south。 One of these heads shall deliver messages of great
importance to the governing party； and the other to the party that is
opposite to them。 The first shall believe the monster； but the last shall
discover the impostor； and so happily disengage themselves from a snare
that was laid to destroy them and their posterity。 After this the two heads
shall unite； and the monster shall appear in his proper shape。
3。 In the year 1721； a philosopher from Lower Germany shall come；
first to Amsterdam in Holland； and afterwards to London。 He will bring
with him a world of curiosities； and among them a pretended secret for the
transmutation of metals。 Under the umbrage of this mighty secret he
shall pass upon the world for some time； but at length he shall be detected；
and proved to be nothing but an empiric and a cheat； and so forced to
sneak off； and leave the people he has deluded； either to bemoan their loss；
or laugh at their own folly。 N。B。… This will be the last of his sect that will
ever venture in this part of the world upon the same errand。
4。 In this year great endeavours will be used for procuring a general
peace； which shall be so near a conclusion that public rejoicings shall be
made at the courts of several great potentates upon that account； but just in
the critical juncture； a certain neighbouring prince shall come to a violent
death； which shall occasion new war and commotion all over Europe； but
these shall continue but for a short time； and at last terminate in the utter
destruction of the first aggressors。
5。 Towards the close of this year of mysteries； a person that was born
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blind shall have his sight restored； and shall see ravens perch upon the
heads of traitors； among which the head of a notorious prelate shall stand
upon the highest pole。
6。 In the year 1722； there shall be a grand congress； and new
overtures of peace offered by most of the principal parties concerned in
the war； which shall have so good effect that a cessation of arms shall be
agreed upon for six months； which shall be kept inviolable till a certain
general； either through treachery or inadvertency； shall begin hostilities
before the expiration of the term； upon which the injured prince shall draw
his sword； and throw the scabbard into the sea； vowing never to return it
till he shall obtain satisfaction for himself； and done justice to all that were
oppressed。
7。 At the close of this year； a famous bridge shall be broken down；
and the water that runs under it shall be tinctured with the blood of two
notorious malefactors； whose unexpected death shall make mighty
alterations in the present state of affairs； and put a stop to the ruin of a
nation； which must otherwise have been unavoidable。
8。 1723 begins with plots； conspiracies； and intestine commotions in
several countries； nor shall Great Britain itself be free from the calamity。
These shall continue till a certain young prince shall take the reins of
government into his own hands； and after that； a marriage shall be
proposed； and an alliance concluded between two great potentates； who
shall join their forces； and endeavour； in good earnest； to set all matters
upon a right foundation。
9。 This year several cardinals and prelates shall be publicly censured
for heretical principles； and shall narrowly escape from being torn to
pieces by the common people； who still look upon them as the grand
disturbers of public tranquillity； perfect incendiaries； and the chief
promoters of their former； present； and future calamities。
10。 In 1724…5 there will be many treaties and negociations； and Great
Britain； particularly； will be crowded with foreign ministers and
ambassadors from remote princes and states。 Trade and commerce will
begin to flourish and revive； and everything will have a comfortable
prospect； until some desperadoes； assisted by a monster with many heads；
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shall start new difficulties； and put the world again into a flame； but these
shall be but of short duration。
11。 Before the expiration of 1725； an eagle from the north shall fly
directly to the south； and perch upon the palace of a prince； and first
unravel the bloody projects and designs of a wicked set of people； and
then publicly discover the murder of a great king； and the intended
assassination of another greater than he。
12。 In 1726； three princes will be born that will grow up to be men；
and inherit the crowns of three of the greatest monarchies in Europe。
13。 About this time the pope will die； and after a great many
intrigues and struggles； a Spanish cardinal shall be elected； who shall
decline the dignity； and declare his marriage with a great lady； heiress of
one of the chief principalities in Italy； which may occasion new troubles in
Europe； if not timely prevented。
14。 In 1727； new troubles shall break out in the north； occasioned by
the sudden death of a certain prince； and the avarice and ambition of
another。 Poor Poland seems to be pointed at； but the princes of the south
shall enter into a confederacy to preserve her； and shall at length restore
her peace； and prevent the perpetual ruin of her constitution。
15。 Great endeavours will be used about this time for a
comprehension in religion； supported by crafty and designing men； and a
party of mistaken zealots； which they shall artfully draw in to join with
them； but as the project is ill…concerted； and will be worse managed； it will
come to nothing； and soon afterwards an effectual mode will be taken to
prevent the like attempt for the future。
16。 1728 will be a year of inquiry and retrospection。 Many exorbitant
grants will be reassumed； and several persons who thought themselves
secure will be called before the senate； and compelled to disgorge what
they have unjustly pillaged either from the crown or the public。
17。 About this time a new scaffold will be erected upon the confines
of a certain great city； where an old count of a new extraction； that has
been of all parties and true to none； will be doomed by his peers to make
his first appearance。 After this an old lady who has often been exposed
to danger and disgrace； and sometimes brought to the very brink of
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destruction； will be brought to bed of three daughters at once； which they
shall call Plenty； Peace； and Union； and these three shall live and grow up
together； be the glory of their mother； and the comfort of posterity for
many generations。
This is the substance of what he either writ or extracted from his
papers in the interval between the loss of his speech and the return of his
fit； which happened exactly at the time he had computed。
Upon the approach of his fit； he made signs to be put to bed； which
was no sooner done but he was seized with extreme agonies； which he
bore up under with the greatest steadfastness； and after a severe conflict；
that lasted near eight hours； he expired。
Thus lived and thus died this extraordinary person； a person； though of
mean extraction and obscure l
