twice-told tales- the celestial railroad-第3部分

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of　individual　sins；　or　evil　passions；　seemed　to　thrust　themselves

through　the　veil　of　light；　glaring　upon　us；　and　stretching　forth　a

great　dusky　hand；　as　if　to　impede　our　progress。　I　almost　thought；　that

they　were　my　own　sins　that　appalled　me　there。　These　were　freaks　of

imagination…　nothing　more；　certainly…　mere　delusions；　which　I　ought　to

be　heartily　ashamed　of…　but；　all　through　the　Dark　Valley；　I　was

tormented；　and　pestered；　and　dolefully　bewildered；　with　the　same

kind　of　waking　dreams。　The　mephitic　gases　of　that　region　intoxicate

the　brain。　As　the　light　of　natural　day；　however；　began　to　struggle

with　the　glow　of　the　lanterns；　these　vain　imaginations　lost　their

vividness；　and　finally　vanished　with　the　first　ray　of　sunshine　that

greeted　our　escape　from　the　Valley　of　the　Shadow　of　Death。　Ere　we

had　gone　a　mile　beyond　it；　I　could　well　nigh　have　taken　my　oath；

that　this　whole　gloomy　passage　was　a　dream。

　　　At　the　end　of　the　Valley；　as　John　Bunyan　mentions；　is　a　cavern；

where；　in　his　days；　dwelt　two　cruel　giants；　Pope　and　Pagan；　who　had

strewn　the　ground　about　their　residence　with　the　bones　of

slaughtered　pilgrims。　These　vile　old　troglodytes　are　no　longer

there；　but　in　their　deserted　cave　another　terrible　giant　has　thrust

himself；　and　makes　it　his　business　to　seize　upon　honest　travellers；

and　fat　them　for　his　table　with　plentiful　meals　of　smoke；　mist；

moonshine；　raw　potatoes；　and　saw…dust。　He　is　a　German　by　birth；　and　is

called　Giant　Transcendentalist；　but　as　to　his　form；　his　features；

his　substance；　and　his　nature　generally；　it　is　the　chief　peculiarity

of　this　huge　miscreant；　that　neither　he　for　himself；　nor　anybody　for

him；　has　ever　been　able　to　describe　them。　As　we　rushed　by　the　cavern's

mouth；　we　caught　a　hasty　glimpse　of　him；　looking　somewhat　like　an

ill…proportioned　figure；　but　considerably　more　like　a　heap　of　fog

and　duskiness。　He　shouted　after　us　but　in　so　strange　a　phraseology；

that　we　knew　not　what　he　meant；　nor　whether　to　be　encouraged　or

affrighted。

　　　It　was　late　in　the　day；　when　the　train　thundered　into　the　ancient

city　of　Vanity；　where　Vanity　Fair　is　still　at　the　height　of

prosperity；　and　exhibits　an　epitome　of　whatever　is　brilliant；　gay；　and

fascinating；　beneath　the　sun。　As　I　purposed　to　make　a　considerable

stay　here；　it　gratified　me　to　learn　that　there　is　no　longer　the　want

of　harmony　between　the　townspeople　and　pilgrims；　which　impelled　the

former　to　such　lamentably　mistaken　measures　as　the　persecution　of

Christian；　and　the　fiery　martyrdom　of　Faithful。　On　the　contrary；　as

the　new　railroad　brings　with　it　great　trade　and　a　constant　influx　of

strangers；　the　lord　of　Vanity　Fair　is　its　chief　patron；　and　the

capitalists　of　the　city　are　among　the　largest　stockholders。　Many

passengers　stop　to　take　their　pleasure　or　make　their　profit　in　the

Fair；　instead　of　going　onward　to　the　Celestial　City。　Indeed；　such

are　the　charms　of　the　place；　that　people　often　affirm　it　to　be　the

true　and　only　heaven；　stoutly　contending　that　there　is　no　other；

that　those　who　seek　further　are　mere　dreamers；　and　that；　if　the　fabled

brightness　of　the　Celestial　City　lay　but　a　bare　mile　beyond　the

gates　of　Vanity；　they　would　not　be　fools　enough　to　go　thither。　Without

subscribing　to　these；　perhaps；　exaggerated　encomiums；　I　can　truly　say；

that　my　abode　in　the　city　was　mainly　agreeable；　and　my　intercourse

with　the　inhabitants　productive　of　much　amusement　and　instruction。

　　　Being　naturally　of　a　serious　turn；　my　attention　was　directed　to　the

solid　advantages　derivable　from　a　residence　here；　rather　than　to　the

effervescent　pleasures；　which　are　the　grand　object　with　too　many

visitants。　The　Christian　reader；　if　he　have　no　accounts　of　the　city

later　than　Bunyan's　time；　will　be　surprised　to　hear　that　almost

every　street　has　its　church；　and　that　the　reverend　clergy　are

nowhere　held　in　higher　respect　than　at　Vanity　Fair。　And　well　do　they

deserve　such　honorable　estimation；　for　the　maxims　of　wisdom　and　virtue

which　fall　from　their　lips；　come　from　as　deep　a　spiritual　source；

and　tend　to　as　lofty　a　religious　aim；　as　those　of　the　sagest

philosophers　of　old。　In　justification　of　this　high　praise；　I　need　only

mention　the　names　of　the　Rev。　Mr。　Shallow…deep；　the　Rev。　Mr。

Stumble…at…Truth；　that　fine　old　clerical　character；　the　Rev。　Mr。

This…to…day；　who　expects　shortly　to　resign　his　pulpit　to　the　Rev。

Mr。　That…to…morrow；　together　with　the　Rev。　Mr。　Bewilderment；　the

Rev。　Mr。　Clog…the…spirit；　and；　last　and　greatest；　the　Rev。　Dr。

Wind…of…doctrine。　The　labors　of　these　eminent　divines　are　aided　by

those　of　innumerable　lecturers；　who　diffuse　such　a　various　profundity；

in　all　subjects　of　human　or　celestial　science；　that　any　man　may

acquire　an　omnigenous　erudition；　without　the　trouble　of　even

learning　to　read。　Thus　literature　is　etherealized　by　assuming　for

its　medium　the　human　voice；　and　knowledge；　depositing　all　its

heavier　particles…　except；　doubtless；　its　gold…　becomes　exhaled　into　a

sound；　which　forthwith　steals　into　the　ever…open　ear　of　the　community。

These　ingenious　methods　constitute　a　sort　of　machinery；　by　which

thought　and　study　are　done　to　every　person's　hand；　without　his　putting

himself　to　the　slightest　inconvenience　in　the　matter。　There　is　another

species　of　machine　for　the　wholesale　manufacture　of　individual

morality。　This　excellent　result　is　effected　by　societies　for　all

manner　of　virtuous　purposes；　with　which　a　man　has　merely　to　connect

himself；　throwing；　as　it　were；　his　quota　of　virtue　into　the　common

stock；　and　the　president　and　directors　will　take　care　that　the

aggregate　amount　be　well　applied。　All　these；　and　other　wonderful

improvements　in　ethics；　religion；　and　literature；　being　made　plain

to　my　comprehension；　by　the　ingenious　Mr。　Smooth…it…away；　inspired

me　with　a　vast　admiration　of　Vanity　Fair。

　　　It　would　fill　a　volume；　in　an　age　of　pamphlets；　were　I　to　record

all　my　observations　in　this　great　capital　of　human　business　and

pleasure。　There　was　an　unlimited　range　of　society…　the　powerful；　the

wise；　the　witty；　and　the　famous　in　every　walk　of　life…　princes；

presidents；　poets；　generals；　artists；　actors；　and　philanthropists；　all

making　their　own　market　at　the　Fair；　and　deeming　no　price　too

exorbitant　for　such　commodities　as　hit　their　fancy。　It　was　well

worth　one's　while；　even　if　he　had　no　idea　of　buying　or　selling；　to

loiter　through　the　bazaars；　and　observe　the　various　sorts　of　traffic

that　were　going　forward。

　　　Some　of　the　purchasers；　I　thought；　made　very　foolish　bargains。

For　instance；　a　young　man　having　inherited　a　splendid　fortune；　laid

out　a　considerable　portion　of　it　in　the　purchase　of　diseases；　and

finally　spent　all　the　rest　for　a　heavy　lot　of　repentance　and　a　suit　of

rags。　A　very　pretty　girl　bartered　a　heart　as　clear　as　crystal；　and

which　seemed　her　most　valuable　possession；　for　another　jewel　of　the

same　kind；　but　so　worn　and　defaced　as　to　be　utterly　worthless。　In

one　shop；　there　were　a　great　many　crowns　of　laurel　and　myrtle；　which

soldiers；　authors；　statesmen；　and　various　other　people；　pressed

eagerly　to　buy；　some　purchased　these　paltry　wreaths　with　their

lives；　others　by　a　toilsome　servitude　of　years；　and　many　sacrificed

whatever　was　most　valuable；　yet　finally　slunk　away　without　the

crown。　There　was　a　sort　of　stock　or　scrip；　called　Conscience；　which

seemed　to　be　in　great　demand；　and　would　purchase　almost　anything。

Indeed；　few　rich　commodities　were　to　be　obtained　without　paying　a

heavy　sum　in　this　particular　stock；　and　a　man's　business　was　seldom

very　lucrative；　unless　he　knew　precisely　when　and　how　to　throw　his

hoard　of　Conscience　into　the　market。　Yet　as　this　stock　was　the　only

thing　of　permanent　value；　whoever　parted　with　it　was　sure　to　find

himself　a　loser；　in　the　long　run。　Several　of　the　speculations　were

of　a　questionable　character。　Occasionally；　a　member　of　Congress

recruited　his　pocket　by　the　sale　of　his　constituents；　and　I　was

assured　that　public　officers　have　often　sold　their　country　at　very

moderate　prices。　Thousands　sold　their　happiness　for　a　whim。　Gilded

chains　were　in　great　demand；　and　purchased　with　almost　any

sacrifice。　In　truth；　those　who　desired；　according　to　the　old　adage；　to

sell　anything　valuable　for　a　song；　might　find　customers　all　over　the

Fair；　and　there　were　innumerable　messes　of　pottage；　piping　hot；　for

such　as　chose　to　buy　them　with　their　birthrights。　A　few　articles；

however；　could　not　be　found　genuine　at　Vanity　Fair。　If　a　customer

wished　to　renew　his　stock　of　youth；　the　dealers　offered　him　a　set　of

false　teeth　and　an　auburn　wig；　if　he　demanded　peace　of　mind；　they

recommended　opium　or　a　brandy…bottle。

　　　Tracts　of　land　and　golden　mansions；　situate　in　the　Celestial

City；　were　often　exchanged；　at　very　disadvantageous　rates；　for　a　few

years'　lease　of　small；　dismal；　inconvenient　tenements　in　Vanity

Fair。　Prince　Beelzebub　himself　took　great　interest　in　this　sort　of

traffic；　and　sometimes　condescended　to　meddle　with　smaller　matters。

I　once　had　the　pleasure　to　see　him　bargaining　with　a　miser　for　his

soul；　which；　after　much　ingenious　skirmishing　on　both　sides；　his

Highness　succeeded　in　obtaining　at　about　the　value　of　sixpence。　The

Prince　remarked；　with　a　smile；　that　he　was　a　loser　by　the　transaction。

　　　Day　after　day；　as　I　walked　the　streets　of　Vanity；　my　manners　and

deportment　became　more　and　more　like　those　of　the　inhabitants。　The

place　began　to　seem　like　home；　the　idea　of　pursuing　my　travels　to

the　Celestial　City　was　almost　obliterated　from　my　mind。　I　was　reminded

of　it；　however；　by　the　sight　of　the　same　pair　of　simple　pilgrims　at

whom　we　had　laughed　so　heartily；　when　Apollyon　puffed　smoke　and

steam　into　their　faces；　at　the　commencement　of　our　journey。　There　they

stood　amid　the　densest　bustle　of　Vanity…　the　dealers　offering　them

their　purple；　and　fine　linen；　and　jewels；　the　men　of　wit　and　humor

gibing　at　them；　a　pair　of　buxom　ladies　ogling　them　askance；　while

the　benevolent　Mr。　Smooth…it…away　whispered　some　of　his　wisdom　at

their　elbows；　and　pointed　to　a　newly…erected　temple…　but　there　were

these　worthy　simpletons；　making　the　scene　look　wild　and　monstro