四季隨筆-the private papers of henry ryecroft(英文版)

第13部分 (第1/7頁)

ty　took　me　into　their　dismal　precincts；　a　sick　buzzing　in　the　brain；　a　languor　as　of　exhausted　limbs；　es　upon　me　with　the　memory。　The　relief　with　which　I　stepped　out　into　the　street　again；　when　all　was　over！　Dear　to　me　then　was　poverty；　which　for　the　moment　seemed　to　make　me　a　free　man。　Dear　to　me　was　the　labour　at　my　desk；　which；　by　parison；　enabled　me　to　respect　myself。

Never　again　shall　I　shake　hands　with　man　or　woman　who　is　not　in　truth　my　friend。　Never　again　shall　I　go　to　see　acquaintances　with　y　brothers？　Nay；　thank　Heaven；　that　they　are　not！　I　will　do　harm；　if　I　can　help　it；　to　no　one；　I　will　wish　good　to　all；　but　I　will　make　no　pretence　of　personal　kindliness　where；　in　the　nature　of　things；　it　cannot　be　felt。　I　have　grimaced　a　smile　and　pattered　unmeaning　words　to　many　a　person　whom　I　despised　or　from　whom　in　heart　I　shrank；　I　did　so　because　I　had　not　courage　to　do　otherwise。　For　a　man　conscious　of　such　weakness；　the　best　is　to　live　apart　from　the　world。　Brave　Samuel　Johnson！　One　such　truth…teller　is　worth　all　the　moralists　and　preachers　who　ever　laboured　to　humanise　mankind。　Had　HE　withdrawn　into　solitude；　it　would　have　been　a　national　loss。　Every　one　of　his　blunt；　fearless　words　had　more　value　than　a　whole　evangel　on　the　lips　of　a　timidly　good　man。　It　is　thus　that　the　monalty；　however　well　clad；　should　be　treated。　So　seldom　does　the　fool　or　the　ruffian　in　broadcloth　hear　his　just　designation；　so　seldom　is　the　man　found　who　has　a　right　to　address　him　by　it。　By　the　bandying　of　insults　we　profit　nothing；　there　can　be　no　useful　rebuke　which　is　exposed　to　a　tu　quoque。　But；　as　the　world　is；　an　honest　and　wise　man　should　have　a　rough　tongue。　Let　him　speak　and　spare　not！

XIV

Vituperation　of　the　English　climate　is　foolish。　A　better　climate　does