memoirs of carwin the biloquist-第3部分

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injured。

The　impression　that　was　made　upon　me　by　the　incidents　of　that　night　is　indelible。　　The　wind　gradually　rose　into　an　hurricane；　the　largest　branches　were　torn　from　the　trees；　and　whirled　aloft　into　the　air；　others　were　uprooted　and　laid　prostrate　on　the　ground。　The　barn　was　a　spacious　edifice；　consisting　wholly　of　wood；　and　filled　with　a　plenteous　harvest。　　Thus　supplied　with　fuel；　and　fanned　by　the　wind；　the　fire　raged　with　incredible　fury；　meanwhile　clouds　rolled　above；　whose　blackness　was　rendered　more　conspicuous　by　reflection　from　the　flames；　the　vast　volumes　of　smoke　were　dissipated　in　a　moment　by　the　storm；　while　glowing　fragments　and　cinders　were　borne　to　an　immense　hight；　and　tossed　everywhere　in　wild　confusion。　　Ever　and　anon　the　sable　canopy　that　hung　around　us　was　streaked　with　lightning；　and　the　peals；　by　which　it　was　accompanied；　were　deafning；　and　with　scarcely　any　intermission。

It　was；　doubtless；　absurd　to　imagine　any　connexion　between　this　portentous　scene　and　the　purpose　that　I　had　meditated；　yet　a　belief　of　this　connexion；　though　wavering　and　obscure；　lurked　in　my　mind；　something　more　than　a　coincidence　merely　casual；　appeared　to　have　subsisted　between　my　situation；　at　my　father's　bed　side；　and　the　flash　that　darted　through　the　window；　and　diverted　me　from　my　design。　　It　palsied　my　courage；　and　strengthened　my　conviction；　that　my　scheme　was　criminal。

After　some　time　had　elapsed；　and　tranquility　was；　in　some　degree；　restored　in　the　family；　my　father　reverted　to　the　circumstances　in　which　I　had　been　discovered　on　the　first　alarm　of　this　event。　　The　truth　was　impossible　to　be　told。　　I　felt　the　utmost　reluctance　to　be　guilty　of　a　falsehood；　but　by　falsehood　only　could　I　elude　detection。　　That　my　guilt　was　the　offspring　of　a　fatal　necessity；　that　the　injustice　of　others　gave　it　birth　and　made　it　unavoidable；　afforded　me　slight　consolation。　　Nothing　can　be　more　injurious　than　a　lie；　but　its　evil　tendency　chiefly　respects　our　future　conduct。　　Its　direct　consequences　may　be　transient　and　few；　but　it　facilitates　a　repetition；　strengthens　temptation；　and　grows　into　habit。　　I　pretended　some　necessity　had　drawn　me　from　my　bed；　and　that　discovering　the　condition　of　the　barn；　I　hastened　to　inform　my　father。

Some　time　after　this；　my　father　summoned　me　to　his　presence。　I　had　been　previously　guilty　of　disobedience　to　his　commands；　in　a　matter　about　which　he　was　usually　very　scrupulous。　　My　brother　had　been　privy　to　my　offence；　and　had　threatened　to　be　my　accuser。　　On　this　occasion　I　expected　nothing　but　arraignment　and　punishment。　　Weary　of　oppression；　and　hopeless　of　any　change　in　my　father's　temper　and　views；　I　had　formed　the　resolution　of　eloping　from　his　house；　and　of　trusting；　young　as　I　was；　to　the　caprice　of　fortune。　I　was　hesitating　whether　to　abscond　without　the　knowledge　of　the　family；　or　to　make　my　resolutions　known　to　them；　and　while　I　avowed　my　resolution；　to　adhere　to　it　in　spite　of　opposition　and　remonstrances；　when　I　received　this　summons。

I　was　employed　at　this　time　in　the　field；　night　was　approaching；　and　I　had　made　no　preparation　for　departure；　all　the　preparation　in　my　power　to　make；　was　indeed　small；　a　few　clothes；　made　into　a　bundle；　was　the　sum　of　my　possessions。　　Time　would　have　little　influence　in　improving　my　prospects；　and　I　resolved　to　execute　my　scheme　immediately。

I　left　my　work　intending　to　seek　my　chamber；　and　taking　what　was　my　own；　to　disappear　forever。　　I　turned　a　stile　that　led　out　of　the　field　into　a　bye　path；　when　my　father　appeared　before　me；　advancing　in　an　opposite　direction；　to　avoid　him　was　impossible；　and　I　summoned　my　fortitude　to　a　conflict　with　his　passion。

As　soon　as　we　met；　instead　of　anger　and　upbraiding；　he　told　me；　that　he　had　been　reflecting　on　my　aunt's　proposal；　to　take　me　under　her　protection；　and　had　concluded　that　the　plan　was　proper；　if　I　still　retained　my　wishes　on　that　head；　he　would　readily　comply　with　them；　and　that；　if　I　chose；　I　might　set　off　for　the　city　next　morning；　as　a　neighbours　waggon　was　preparing　to　go。

I　shall　not　dwell　on　the　rapture　with　which　this　proposal　was　listened　to：　　it　was　with　difficulty　that　I　persuaded　myself　that　he　was　in　earnest　in　making　it；　nor　could　divine　the　reasons；　for　so　sudden　and　unexpected　a　change　in　his　maxims。　。　。　。　　These　I　afterwards　discovered。　　Some　one　had　instilled　into　him　fears；　that　my　aunt　exasperated　at　his　opposition　to　her　request；　respecting　the　unfortunate　Frank；　would　bequeath　her　property　to　strangers；　to　obviate　this　evil；　which　his　avarice　prompted　him　to　regard　as　much　greater　than　any　mischief；　that　would　accrue　to　me；　from　the　change　of　my　abode；　he　embraced　her　proposal。

I　entered　with　exultation　and　triumph　on　this　new　scene；　my　hopes　were　by　no　means　disappointed。　　Detested　labour　was　exchanged　for　luxurious　idleness。　　I　was　master　of　my　time；　and　the　chuser　of　my　occupations。　　My　kinswoman　on　discovering　that　I　entertained　no　relish　for　the　drudgery　of　colleges；　and　was　contented　with　the　means　of　intellectual　gratification；　which　I　could　obtain　under　her　roof；　allowed　me　to　pursue　my　own　choice。

Three　tranquil　years　passed　away；　during　which；　each　day　added　to　my　happiness；　by　adding　to　my　knowledge。　　My　biloquial　faculty　was　not　neglected。　　I　improved　it　by　assiduous　exercise；　I　deeply　reflected　on　the　use　to　which　it　might　be　applied。　　I　was　not　destitute　of　pure　intentions；　I　delighted　not　in　evil；　I　was　incapable　of　knowingly　contributing　to　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　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　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　f