burlesques-第2章

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〃Nay；　say　not　so；　fair　stranger！〃　the　youth　replied；　his　face

kindling　as　he　spoke；　and　his　eagle　eyes　flashing　fire。　　〃Figs

pall；　but　oh！　the　Beautiful　never　does。　　Figs　rot；　but　oh！　the

Truthful　is　eternal。　　I　was　born；　lady；　to　grapple　with　the　Lofty

and　the　Ideal。　　My　soul　yearns　for　the　Visionary。　　I　stand　behind

the　counter；　it　is　true；　but　I　ponder　here　upon　the　deeds　of

heroes；　and　muse　over　the　thoughts　of　sages。　　What　is　grocery　for

one　who　has　ambition？　　What　sweetness　hath　Muscovada　to　him　who

hath　tasted　of　Poesy？　　The　Ideal；　lady；　I　often　think；　is　the　true

Real；　and　the　Actual；　but　a　visionary　hallucination。　　But　pardon

me；　with　what　may　I　serve　thee？〃



〃I　came　only　for　sixpenn'orth　of　tea…dust；〃　the　girl　said；　with　a

faltering　voice；　〃but　oh；　I　should　like　to　hear　you　speak　on　for

ever！〃



Only　for　sixpenn'orth　of　tea…dust？　　Girl；　thou　camest　for　other

things！　　Thou　lovedst　his　voice？　　Siren！　what　was　the　witchery　of

thine　own？　　He　deftly　made　up　the　packet；　and　placed　it　in　the

little　hand。　　She　paid　for　her　small　purchase；　and　with　a　farewell

glance　of　her　lustrous　eyes；　she　left　him。　　She　passed　slowly

through　the　portal；　and　in　a　moment　was　lost　in　the　crowd。　　It　was

noon　in　Chepe。　　And　George　de　Barnwell　was　alone。





Vol。　II。





We　have　selected　the　following　episodical　chapter　in　preference　to

anything　relating　to　the　mere　story　of　George　Barnwell；　with　which

most　readers　are　familiar。



Up　to　this　passage　（extracted　from　the　beginning　of　Vol。　II。）　the

tale　is　briefly　thus：



The　rogue　of　a　Millwood　has　come　back　every　day　to　the　grocer's

shop　in　Chepe；　wanting　some　sugar；　or　some　nutmeg；　or　some　figs；

half　a　dozen　times　in　the　week。



She　and　George　de　Barnwell　have　vowed　to　each　other　an　eternal

attachment。



This　flame　acts　violently　upon　George。　　His　bosom　swells　with

ambition。　　His　genius　breaks　out　prodigiously。　　He　talks　about　the

Good；　the　Beautiful；　the　Ideal；　&c。；　in　and　out　of　all　season；　and

is　virtuous　and　eloquent　almost　beyond　beliefin　fact　like

Devereux；　or　P。　Clifford；　or　E。　Aram；　Esquires。



Inspired　by　Millwood　and　love；　George　robs　the　till；　and　mingles　in

the　world　which　he　is　destined　to　ornament。　　He　outdoes　all　the

dandies；　all　the　wits；　all　the　scholars；　and　all　the　voluptuaries

of　the　agean　indefinite　period　of　time　between　Queen　Anne　and

George　II。dines　with　Curll　at　St。　John's　Gate；　pinks　Colonel

Charteris　in　a　duel　behind　Montague　House；　is　initiated　into　the

intrigues　of　the　Chevalier　St。　George；　whom　he　entertains　at　his

sumptuous　pavilion　at　Hampstead；　and　likewise　in　disguise　at　the

shop　in　Cheapside。



His　uncle；　the　owner　of　the　shop；　a　surly　curmudgeon　with　very

little　taste　for　the　True　and　Beautiful；　has　retired　from　business

to　the　pastoral　village　in　Cambridgeshire　from　which　the　noble

Barnwells　came。　　George's　cousin　Annabel　is；　of　course；　consumed

with　a　secret　passion　for　him。



Some　trifling　inaccuracies　may　be　remarked　in　the　ensuing　brilliant

little　chapter；　but　it　must　be　remembered　that　the　author　wished　to

present　an　age　at　a　glance：　and　the　dialogue　is　quite　as　fine　and

correct　as　that　in　the　〃Last　of　the　Barons；〃　or　in　〃Eugene　Aram；〃

or　other　works　of　our　author；　in　which　Sentiment　and　History；　or

the　True　and　Beautiful；　are　united。





CHAPTER　XXIV。



BUTTON'S　IN　PALL　MALL。





Those　who　frequent　the　dismal　and　enormous　Mansions　of　Silence

which　society　has　raised　to　Ennui　in　that　Omphalos　of　town；　Pall

Mall；　and　which；　because　they　knock　you　down　with　their　dulness；

are　called　Clubs　no　doubt；　those　who　yawn　from　a　bay…window　in　St。

James's　Street；　at　a　half…score　of　other　dandies　gaping　from

another　bay…window　over　the　way；　those　who　consult　a　dreary　evening

paper　for　news；　or　satisfy　themselves　with　the　jokes　of　the

miserable　Punch　by　way　of　wit；　the　men　about　town　of　the　present

day；　in　a　word；　can　have　but　little　idea　of　London　some　six　or

eight　score　years　back。　　Thou　pudding…sided　old　dandy　of　St。

James's　Street；　with　thy　lacquered　boots；　thy　dyed　whiskers；　and

thy　suffocating　waistband；　what　art　thou　to　thy　brilliant

predecessor　in　the　same　quarter？　　The　Brougham　from　which　thou

descendest　at　the　portal　of　the　〃Carlton〃　or　the　〃Travellers'；〃　is

like　everybody　else's；　thy　black　coat　has　no　more　plaits；　nor

buttons；　nor　fancy　in　it　than　thy　neighbor's；　thy　hat　was　made　on

the　very　block　on　which　Lord　Addlepate's　was　cast；　who　has　just

entered　the　Club　before　thee。　　You　and　he　yawn　together　out　of　the

same　omnibus…box　every　night；　you　fancy　yourselves　men　of　pleasure；

you　fancy　yourselves　men　of　fashion；　you　fancy　yourselves　men　of

taste；　in　fancy；　in　taste；　in　opinion；　in　philosophy；　the　newspaper

legislates　for　you；　it　is　there　you　get　your　jokes　and　your

thoughts；　and　your　facts　and　your　wisdompoor　Pall　Mall　dullards。

Stupid　slaves　of　the　press；　on　that　ground　which　you　at　present

occupy；　there　were　men　of　wit　and　pleasure　and　fashion；　some　five…

and…twenty　lustres　ago。



We　are　at　Button'sthe　well…known　sign　of　the　〃Turk's　Head。〃　　The

crowd　of　periwigged　heads　at　the　windowsthe　swearing　chairmen

round　the　steps　（the　blazoned　and　coronalled　panels　of　whose

vehicles　denote　the　lofty　rank　of　their　owners）；the　throng　of

embroidered　beaux　entering　or　departing；　and　rendering　the　air

fragrant　with　the　odors　of　pulvillio　and　pomander；　proclaim　the

celebrated　resort　of　London's　Wit　and　Fashion。　　It　is　the　corner　of

Regent　Street。　　Carlton　House　has　not　yet　been　taken　down。



A　stately　gentleman　in　crimson　velvet　and　gold　is　sipping　chocolate

at　one　of　the　tables；　in　earnest　converse　with　a　friend　whose　suit

is　likewise　embroidered；　but　stained　by　time；　or　wine　mayhap；　or

wear。　　A　little　deformed　gentleman　in　iron…gray　is　reading　the

Morning　Chronicle　newspaper　by　the　fire；　while　a　divine；　with　a

broad　brogue　and　a　shovel　hat　and　cassock；　is　talking　freely　with　a

gentleman；　whose　star　and　ribbon；　as　well　as　the　unmistakable

beauty　of　his　Phidian　countenance；　proclaims　him　to　be　a　member　of

Britain's　aristocracy。



Two　ragged　youths；　the　one　tall；　gaunt；　clumsy　and　scrofulous；　the

other　with　a　wild；　careless；　beautiful　look；　evidently　indicating

Race；　are　gazing　in　at　the　window；　not　merely　at　the　crowd　in　the

celebrated　Club；　but　at　Timothy　the　waiter；　who　is　removing　a　plate

of　that　exquisite　dish；　the　muffin　（then　newly　invented）；　at　the

desire　of　some　of　the　revellers　within。



〃I　would；　Sam；〃　said　the　wild　youth　to　his　companion；　〃that　I　had

some　of　my　mother　Macclesfield's　gold；　to　enable　us　to　eat　of　those

cates　and　mingle　with　yon　springalds　and　beaux。〃



〃To　vaunt　a　knowledge　of　the　stoical　philosophy；〃　said　the　youth

addressed　as　Sam；　〃might　elicit　a　smile　of　incredulity　upon　the

cheek　of　the　parasite　of　pleasure；　but　there　are　moments　in　life

when　History　fortifies　endurance：　and　past　study　renders　present

deprivation　more　bearable。　　If　our　pecuniary　resources　be　exiguous；

let　our　resolution；　Dick；　supply　the　deficiencies　of　Fortune。　　The

muffin　we　desire　to…day　would　little　benefit　us　to…morrow。　　Poor

and　hungry　as　we　are；　are　we　less　happy；　Dick；　than　yon　listless

voluptuary　who　banquets　on　the　food　which　you　covet？〃



And　the　two　lads　turned　away　up　Waterloo　Place；　and　past　the

〃Parthenon〃　Club…house；　and　disappeared　to　take　a　meal　of　cow…heel

at　a　neighboring　cook's　shop。　　Their　names　were　Samuel　Johnson　and

Richard　Savage。



Meanwhile　the　conversation　at　Button's　was　fast　and　brilliant。　　〃By

Wood's　thirteens；　and　the　divvle　go　wid　'em；〃　cried　the　Church

dignitary　in　the　cassock；　〃is　it　in　blue　and　goold　ye　are　this

morning；　Sir　Richard；　when　you　ought　to　be　in　seebles？〃



〃Who's　dead；　Dean？〃　said　the　nobleman；　the　dean's　companion。



〃Faix；　mee　Lard　Bolingbroke；　as　sure　as　mee　name's　Jonathan　Swift

and　I'm　not　so　sure　of　that　neither；　for　who　knows　his　father's

name？there's　been　a　mighty　cruel　murther　committed　entirely。　　A

child　of　Dick　Steele's　has　been　barbarously　slain；　dthrawn；　and

quarthered；　and　it's　Joe　Addison　yondther　has　done　it。　　Ye　should

have　killed　one　of　your　own；　Joe；　ye　thief　of　the　world。〃



〃I！〃　said　the　amazed　and　Right　Honorable　Joseph　Addison；　〃I　kill

Dick's　child！　　I　was　godfather　to　the　last。〃



〃And　promised　a　cup　and　never　sent　it；〃　Dick　ejaculated。　　Joseph

looked　grave。



〃The　child　I　mean　is　Sir　Roger　de　Coverley；　Knight　and　Baronet。

What　made　ye　kill　him；　ye　savage　Mohock？　　The　whole　town　is　in

tears　about　the　good　knight；　all　the　ladies　at　Church　this

afternoon　were　in　mourning；　all　the　booksellers　are　wild；　and

Lintot　says　not　a　third　of　the　copies　of　the　Spectator　are　sold

since　the　death　of　the　brave　old　gentleman。〃　　And　the　Dean　of　St。

Patrick's　pulled　out　the　Spectator　newspaper；　containing　the　well…

known　passage　regarding　Sir　Roger's　death。　　〃I　bought　it　but　now　in

'Wellington　Street；'〃　he　said；　〃the　newsboys　were　howling　all　down

the　Strand。〃



〃What　a　miracle　is　GeniusGenius；　the　Divine　and　Beautiful；〃　said

a　gentleman　leaning　against　the　same　fireplace　with　the　deformed

cavalier　in　iron…gray；　and　addressing　that　individual；　who　was　in

fact　Mr。　Alexander　Pope。　　〃What　a　marvellous　gift　is　this；　and

royal　privilege　of　Art！　　To　make　the　Ideal　more　credible　than　the

Actual：　to　enchain　our　hearts；　to　command　our　hopes；　our　regrets；

our　tears；　for　a　mere　brain…born　Emanation：　to　invest　with　life　the

Incorporeal；　and　to　glamour　the　cloudy　into　substance；these　are

the　lofty　privileges　of　the　Poet；　if　I　have　read　poesy　aright；　and

I　am　as　familiar　with　the　sounds　that　rang　from　Homer's　lyre；　as

with　the　strains　which　celebrate　the　loss　of　Belinda's　lovely

locks〃（Mr。　Pope　blushed　and　bowed；　highly　delighted）〃these；　I

say；　sir；　are　the　privileges　of　the　Poetthe　Poietesthe　Maker

he　moves　the　world；　and　asks　no　lever；　if　he　cannot　charm　death

into　life；　as　Orpheus　feigned　to　do；　he　can　create　Beauty　out　of

Nought；　and　defy　Death　by　rendering　Thought　Eternal。　　Ho！　Jemmy；

another　flask　of　Nantz。〃



And　the　boyfor　he　who　addressed　the　most　brilliant　company　of

wits　in　Europe　was　little　moreemptied　the　contents　of　the　brandy…

flask　into　a　silver　flagon；　and　quaffed　it　gayly　to　the　health　of

the　company　assembled。　　'Twas　the　third　he　had　taken　during　the

sitting。　　Presently；　and　with　a　graceful　salute　to　the　Society；　he

quitted　the　coffee…house；　and　was　seen　cantering　on　a　magnificent

Arab　past　the　National　Gallery。



〃Who　is　yon　spark　in　blue　and　silver？　　He　beats　Joe　Addison

himself；　in　drinking；；　and　pious　Joe　is　the　greatest　toper　in　the

three　kingdoms；〃　Dick　Steele　said；　good…naturedly。



〃His　paper　in　the　Spectator　beats　thy　best；　Dick；　thou　sluggard；〃

the　Right　Honorable　Mr。　Addison　exclaimed。　　〃He　is　the　author　of

that　famous　No。　996；　for　which　you　have　all　been　giving　me　the

credit。〃



〃The　rascal　foiled　me　at　capping　ver