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cambridge pieces-第6部分

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after the revolution of a year they have great races with their
boats against those of the surrounding islanders; but the Johnians;
both owing to the carefulness of the training and a natural
disposition for rowing; are always victorious。  In this way then the
Johnians; I say; practise their tub。



THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES; WITH VARIATIONS



And in it he placed the Fitzwilliam and King's College Chapel and
the lofty towered church of the Great Saint Mary; which looketh
toward the Senate House; and King's Parade and Trumpington Road and
the Pitt Press and the divine opening of the Market Square and the
beautiful flowing fountain which formerly Hobson laboured to make
with skilful art; him did his father beget in the many…public…housed
Trumpington from a slavey mother; and taught him blameless works;
and he; on the other hand; sprang up like a young shoot; and many
beautifully matched horses did he nourish in his stable; which used
to convey his rich possessions to London and the various cities of
the world; but oftentimes did he let them out to others and
whensoever anyone was desirous of hiring one of the long…tailed
horses; he took them in order so that the labour was equal to all;
wherefore do men now speak of the choice of the renowned Hobson。
And in it he placed the close of the divine Parker; and many
beautiful undergraduates were delighting their tender minds upon it
playing cricket with one another; and a match was being played and
two umpires were quarrelling with one another; the one saying that
the batsman who was playing was out; and the other declaring with
all his might that he was not; and while they two were contending;
reviling one another with abusive language; a ball came and hit one
of them on the nose; and the blood flowed out in a stream; and
darkness was covering his eyes; but the rest were crying out on all
sides:

〃Shy it up。〃

And he could not; him then was his companion addressing with
scornful words:

〃Arnold; why dost thou strive with me since I am much wiser?  Did I
not see his leg before the wicket and rightly declare him to be out?
Thee then has Zeus now punished according to thy deserts; and I will
seek some other umpire of the game equally…participated…in…by…both…
sides。〃

And in it he placed the Cam; and many boats equally rowed on both
sides were going up and down on the bosom of the deep…rolling river;
and the coxswains were cheering on the men; for they were going to
enter the contest of the scratchean fours; and three men were rowing
together in a boat; strong and stout and determined in their hearts
that they would either first break a blood…vessel or earn for
themselves the electroplated…Birmingham…manufactured magnificence of
a pewter to stand on their hall tables in memorial of their
strength; and from time to time drink from it the exhilarating
streams of beer whensoever their dear heart should compel them; but
the fourth was weak and unequally matched with the others; and the
coxswain was encouraging him and called him by name and spake
cheering words:

〃Smith; when thou hast begun the contest; be not flurried nor strive
too hard against thy fate; look at the back of the man before thee
and row with as much strength as the Fates spun out for thee on the
day when thou fellest between the knees of thy mother; neither lose
thine oar; but hold it tight with thy hands。〃



PROSPECTUS OF THE GREAT SPLIT SOCIETY



It is the object of this society to promote parties and splits in
general; and since of late we have perceived disunion among friends
to be not nearly so ripe as in the Bible it is plainly commanded to
be; we the members of this club have investigated the means of
producing; fostering; and invigorating strife of all kinds; whereby
the society of man will be profited much。  For in a few hours we can
by the means we have discovered create so beautiful a dissension
between two who have lately been friends; that they shall never
speak of one another again; and their spirit is to be greatly
admired and praised for this。  And since it is the great goddess
Talebearer who has contributed especially to our success; inasmuch
as where she is not strife will cease as surely as the fire goeth
out when there is no wood to feed it; we will erect an altar to her
and perform monthly rites at her shrine in a manner hereafter to be
detailed。  And all men shall do homage to her; for who is there that
hath not felt her benefits?  And the rites shall be of a cheerful
character; and all the world shall be right merry; and we will write
her a hymn and Walmisley {4} shall set it to music。  And any shall
be eligible to this society by only changing his name; for this is
one of its happiest hits; to give a name to each of its members
arising from some mental peculiarity (which the gods and peacemakers
call 〃foible〃); whereby each being perpetually kept in mind of this
defect and being always willing to justify it shall raise a clamour
and cause much delight to the assembly。

And we will have suppers once a month both to do honour unto
Talebearer and to promote her interest。  And the society has laid
down a form of conversation to be used at all such meetings; which
shall engender quarrellings even in the most unfavourable
dispositions; and inflame the anger of one and all; and having
raised it shall set it going and start it on so firm a basis as that
it may be left safely to work its own way; for there shall be no
fear of its dying out。

And the great key to this admirable treasure…house is Self; who hath
two beautiful children; Self…Love and Self…Pride 。 。 。 We have also
aided our project much by the following contrivance; namely; that
ten of the society; the same who have the longest tongues and ears;
shall make a quorum to manage all affairs connected with it; and it
is difficult to comprehend the amount of quarrelling that shall go
on at these meetings。

And the monthly suppers shall be ordered in this way:  Each man must
take at least two tablespoonfuls of vinegar; which shall make the
wit sharp; or in default thereof one teaspoonful of pepper and
mustard; for the rest we leave the diet to the management of our
stewards and bursars; but after the cloth has been removed the
president shall single out some one of the company; and in a calm
and friendly manner acquaint him with his faults and advise him in
what way he may best amend the same。  The member selected is
compelled by the rules to remain silent for the space of three
minutes; and is then to retort and bring up six instances。  He is to
call the present members to witness; and all are to take one side or
the other; so that none be neutral; and the melee will doubtless
become general; and we expect that much beautiful latent abusive
talent will be developed in this way。  But let all this be done with
an air of great politeness; sincerity; and goodwill; at least at the
commencement; for this; when evidently fictitious; is a two…edged
sword of irritation。

And if any grow weak in spirit and retreat from this society; and
afterwards repent and wish again to join; he shall be permitted to
do so on condition of repeating the words; 〃Oh; ah!〃  〃Lor!〃  〃Such
is life;〃 〃That's cheerful;〃 〃He's a lively man; is Mr。 So…and…so〃
ten times over。  For these are refreshing and beautiful words and
mean much (!); they are the emblems of such talent。

And any members are at liberty to have small meetings among
themselves; especially to tea; whereat they may enjoy the ever fresh
and pleasant luxury of scandal and mischief…making; and prepare
their accusations and taunts for the next general meeting; and this
is not only permitted but enjoined and recommended strongly to all
the members。

And sentences shall be written for the training of any young hand
who wishes to become one of us; since none can hope to arrive at
once at the pitch of perfection to which the society has brought the
art。  And if that any should be heard of his own free will and
invention uttering one or more of these sentences and by these means
indicate much talent in the required direction; he shall be waited
on by a committee of the club and induced; if possible; to join us;
for he will be an acquisition; and the sentences required are such
as:  〃I think so…and…so a very jolly fellow; indeed I don't know a
man in the college I like better than so…and…so; but I don't care
twopence about him; at least it is all the same to me whether he
cuts me or not。〃

The beauty of this sentence is not at first appreciable; for though
self…deceit and self…satisfaction are both very powerfully
demonstrated in it; and though these are some of the society's most
vehement supporters; yet it is the good goddess Talebearer who
nourisheth the seed of mischief thus sown。

It is also strictly forbidden by this society's laws to form a firm
friendship grounded upon esteem and a perception of great and good
qualities in the object of one's liking; for this kind of friendship
lasts a long timenay; for life; but each member must have a
furious and passionate running after his friend for the time being;
insomuch that he could never part for an instant from him。  And when
the society sees this it feels comfortable; for it is quite certain
that its objects are being promoted; for this cannot be brought
about by any but unnatural means and is the foundation and very soul
of quarrelling。  The stroking of the hair and affectionate
embracings are much recommended; for they are so manly。

And at the suppers and the rites of Talebearer each member is to
drop an anonymous opinion of some other member's character into a
common letter box; and the president shall read them out。  Each
member is to defend himself; the formula for the commencement of
each speech being:  〃I know who wrote that about me; and it is a
very blackguardly thing of him to say 。 。 。 〃

N。B。Any number of persons are allowed to speak at the same time。
By these means it is hoped to restore strife and dissension to the
world; now alas! so fatally subjugated to a mean…spirited thing
called Charity; which during the last month has been perfectly
rampant in the college。  Yes; we will give a helping
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