THESOUTH-SEAHOUSE

作者:查尔斯·兰姆

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类型:都市·校园

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更新时间:2019-10-06 20:36

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本章字节:28396字

hesouhseahouse


reader,inhypassagefromhebankwherehouhasbeenreceivinghyhalfyearlydividends(supposinghouaraleana


uianlikemyself)oheflowerpo,osecureapcefordalson,orshacklewell,orsomeoherhysuburbanrereanorherly,——didshouneverobserveamencholylookinghandsome,brickandsoneedifice,ohelef——wherehreadneedlesreeabusuponbishopsgae?idaresayhouhasofenadmiredismagnificenporalsevergapingwide,anddisclosingoviewagravecour,wihcloisersandpilrs,wihfewornoracesofgoersinorersou——adesoionsomehinglikebalcluhashiswasonceahouseofrade,——acenreofbusyineresshehrongofmerchanswashere——hequickpulseofgain——andheresomeformsofbusinessaresillkepup,houghhesoulbelongsincefledherearesillobeseensaelyporicos;imposingsaircases;officesroomyashesaeaparmensinpacesdesered,orhinlypeopledwihafewsragglingclerks;hesillmoresacredineriorsofcourandmieerooms,wihvenerablefacesofbeadles,doorkeepers——direcorsseaedinformonsolemndays(oprocimadeaddividend,)alongwormeaenables,hahavebeenmahogany,wiharnishedgilleahercoverings,supporingmassysilverinksandslongsincedry——heoakenwainscoshungwihpicuresofdeceasedgovernorsandsubgovernors,ofqueena


e,andhewofirsmonarchsofhebrunswickdynasy;——hugechars,whichsubsequendiscoverieshaveaniquaed;——dusymapsofmexico,dimasdreams,——andsoundingsofhebayofpanama!——helongpassageshungwihbuckes,appended,inidlerow,owalls,whosesubsancemighdefyany,shorofhes,confgraion:——wihvasrangesofcelrageunderall,wheredolrsandpiecesofeighoncey,an”unsu


edheap,”formammonohavesocedhissoliaryhearwihal,——longsincedissipaed,orscaeredinoairahebsofhebreakingofhafamousbubble


[foonoe]ipassedbyhewallsofbalcluha,andheyweredesoe——ossian


suchishesouhseahousealeas,suchiwasforyyearsago,wheniknewi,——amagnificenrelic!whaaleraionsmayhavebeenmadeinisince,ihavehadnoopporuniiesofverifyingime,iakeforgraned,hasnofreshenedinowindhasresusciaedhefaceofhesleepingwaersahickercrusbyhisimesagnaesuponihemohs,hawerehenbaeninguponisobsoleeledgersanddaybooks,haveresedfromheirdepredaions,buoherlighgeneraionshavesucceeded,makingfinefreworkamongheirsingleanddoubleenriesyersofdushaveaccumued(asuperfoeaionofdir!)uponheoldyers,haseldomusedobedisurbed,savebysomecuriousfinger,nowandhen,inquisiiveoexplorehemodeofbookkeepinginqueena


esreign;or,wihlesshallowedcuriosiy,seekingounveilsomeofhemyseriesofharemendoushoax,whoseexenhepeypecuorsofourdaylookbackuponwihhesameexpressionofincredulousadmiraion,andhopelessambiionofrivalry,aswouldbeehepunyfaceofmodernconspiracyconempingheiansizeofvauxssuperhumanplo


peaceohemanesofhebubble!silenceanddesiuionareuponhywalls,proudhouse,foramemorial!


siuaedashouar,inheveryhearofsirringandlivingmerce,——amidhefreandfeverofspecuion——wihhebank,andhechange,andheindiahouseabouhee,inheheydayofpresenprosperiy,wihheirimporanfaces,asiwere,insulinghee,heirpoorneighbourouofbusiness——oheidleandmerelyconempive,osuchasme,oldhouse!hereisacharminhyquie——acessaion——acoolnessfrombusiness——anindolencealmoscloisral——whichisdelighful!wihwhareverencehaveipacedhygreabareroomsandcoursaevenide!heyspokeofhepas——heshadeofsomedeadaccounan,wihvisionarypeninear,wouldflibyme,siffasinlifelivingaccounsandaccounanspuzzlemeihavenoskillinfiguringbuhygreadeadomes,whichscarcehreedegeneraeclerksofhepresendaycouldliffromheirenshriningshelveswihheiroldfanasicflourishes,anddecoraiverubricinercingheirsumsinriplecolumniaions,sedownwihformalsuperfluiyofcypherswihpioussenencesahebegi


ing,wihouwhichourreligiousancesorsnevervenuredoopenabookofbusiness,orbillofding——hecoslyvellumcoversofsomeofhemalmospersuadingushawearegoinosomebeerlibrary,areveryagreeableandedifyingspecaclesicanlookuponhesedefuncdragonswihpcencyhyheavyoddshapedivoryhandledpenknives(ourancesorshadeveryhingonargerscalehanwehavehearsfor)areasgoodasanyhingfromhercuneumhepounceboxesofourdayshavegonererograde


heveryclerkswhichirememberinhesouhseahouseispeakofforyyearsbackhadanairverydifferenfromhoseinhepublicofficeshaihavehadodowihsinceheyparookofhegeniusofhepce!


heyweremosly(forheesablishmendidnoadmiofsuperfluoussaries)bachelorsgenerally(forheyhadnomuchodo)personsofacuriousandspecuiveurnofmindoldfashioned,forareasonmenionedbeforehumoriss,forheywereofalldescripions;and,nohavingbeenbroughogeherinearlylife(whichhasaendencyoassimiehemembersofcorporaebodiesoeachoher),bu,forhemospar,pcedinhishouseinripeormiddleage,heynecessarilycarriedinoiheirseparaehabisandoddiies,unqualified,ifimaysospeak,asinoamonsockhenceheyformedasorofnoahsarkoddfishesaymonaserydomesicreainersinagreahouse,kepmoreforshowhanuseyepleasanfellows,fullofcha——andnoafewamonghemhadarrivedaconsiderableproficiencyonhegermanflue


hecashierahaimewasoneevans,acambrobrionhehadsomehingofhecholericplexionofhiscounrymensampedonhisvisage,buwasaworhysensiblemanaboomheworehishair,ohes,powderedandfrizzedou,inhefashionwhichirememberohaveseenincaricauresofwhawereermed,inmyyoungdays,maccaronieshewashesofharaceofbeauxmencholyasagibcaoverhiscounerallheforenoon,ihinkiseehim,makinguphiscash(asheycalli)wihremulousfingers,asifhefearedeveryoneabouhimwasadefauler;inhishypochondryreadyoimaginehimselfone;hauned,aleas,wihheideaofhepossibiliyofhisbeingone:hisrisfulvisageclearingupalileoverhisroasneckofveaanderonsawo(wherehispicuresillhangs,akenalilebeforehisdeahbydesireofhemaserofhecoffeehouse,whichhehadfrequenedforhesfiveandwenyyears),bunoaaininghemeridianofisanimaionilleveningbroughonhehourofeaandvisiinghesimulaneoussoundofhiswellknownrapahedoorwihhesrokeofheclocka


ouncingsix,wasaopicofneverfailingmirhinhefamilieswhichhisdearoldbachelorgddenedwihhispresencehenwashisfore,hisglorifiedhour!howwouldhechirp,andexpand,overamuffin!howwouldhedieinosecrehisory!hiscounryman,pe


anhimselfinparicur,couldnobemoreeloquenhanheinreionooldandnewlondon——hesieofoldheares,churches,sreesgoodecay——whererosamondspondsood——hemulberrygardens——andheconduiincheap——wihmanyapleasananecdoe,derivedfrompaernalradiion,ofhosegroesquefigureswhichhogarhhasimmoralizedinhispicureofnoon,——heworhydescendansofhoseheroicconfessors,who,flyingohiscounry,fromhewrahoflouishefoureenhandhisdragoons,kepalivehefmeofpurereligioninhesheleringobscuriiesofhogne,andheviciniyofhesevendials!


depuy,underevans,washomasamehehadheairandsoopofanoblemanyouwouldhaveakenhimforone,hadyoumehiminoneofhepassagesleadingowesminserhallbysoop,imeanhagenlebendingofhebodyforwards,which,ingreamen,musbesupposedobeheeffecofanhabiualcondescendingaenionoheapplicaionsofheirinferiorswhileheheldyouinconverse,youfelsrainedoheheighinhecolloquyheconferenceover,youwerealeisureosmileaheparaiveinsignificanceofhepreensionswhichhadjusawedyouhisinellecwasofheshallowesorderididnoreachoasaworaproverbhismindwasinisoriginalsaeofwhiepaperasuckingbabemighhaveposedhimwhawasihen?washerich?as,no!homasamewasverypoorbohheandhiswifelookedouwardlygenlefolks,whenifearallwasnowelallimeswihinshehadaneameagreperson,whichiwasevidenshehadnosi


edinoverpampering;buinisveinswasnoblebloodsheracedherdescen,bysomebyrinhofreionship,whichineverhoroughlyundersood,——muchlesscanexpinwihanyheraldiccerainyahisimeofday,——oheillusrious,buunforunaehouseofderwenwaerhiswashesecreofhomasssoophiswashehough——hesenimen——hebrighsoliarysarofyourlives,——yemildandhappypair,——whichcheeredyouinhenighofinellec,andinheobscuriyofyoursaion!hiswasoyouinseadofriches,inseadofrank,inseadofglieringaainmens:andiwasworhhemallogeheryouinsulednonewihi;bu,whileyouworeiasapieceofdefensivearmouronly,noinsullikewisecouldreachyouhroughidecusesomen


ofquieanohersampwashehenaccounan,johnippheneiherpreendedohighblood,noringoodruhcaredonefigabouhemaerhe”houghanaccounanhegreaescharacerinheworld,andhimselfhegreaesaccounanini”yejohnwasnowihouhishobbyhefiddlerelievedhisvacanhourshesang,cerainly,wihohernoeshanoheorpheanlyrehedid,indeed,screamandscrapemosabominablyhisfinesuieofofficialroomsinhreadneedlesree,which,wihouanyhingverysubsaniappendedohem,wereenoughoenrgeamansnoionsofhimselfhalivedinhem,(iknownowhoisheoccupierofhemnow)resoundedfornighlyohenoesofaconcerof”sweebreass,”asourancesorswouldhavecalledhem,culledfromclubroomsandorchesras——chorussingers——firsandsecondvioloncellos——doublebasses——andcrioswhoaehiscoldmuon,anddrankhispunch,andpraisedhisearhesaelikelordmidasamonghehenceallideas,hawerepurelyornamenal,werebanishedyoucouldnospeakofanyhingromanicwihourebukepoliicswereexcludedanewspaperwashoughoorefinedandabsracedhewholeduyofmanconsisedinwriingoffdividendwarranshesrikingofhea


ualbanceinhepanysbooks(which,perhaps,differedfromhebanceofsyearinhesumof25l1s6d)occupiedhisdaysandnighsforamonhpreviousnohaippwasblindohedeadnessofhings(asheycallheminheciy)inhisbelovedhouse,ordidnosighforareurnofheoldsiflingdayswhensouhseahopeswereyoung——(hewasindeedequalohewieldingofanyhemosinricaeaccounsofhemosflourishingpanyinheseorhosedays):——buoagenuineaccounanhedifferenceofproceedsisasnohinghefracionalfarhingisasdearohishearashehousandswhichsandbeforeiheisherueacor,who,wheherhisparbeaprinceorapeasan,musaciwihlikeinensiywihippformwaseveryhinghislifewasformalhisacionsseemedruledwiharulerhispenwasnolesserringhanhishearhemadehebesexecuorinheworld:hewaspguedwihincessanexecuorshipsaccordingly,whichexciedhisspleenandsoohedhisvaniyinequalraioshewouldswear(forippswore)ahelileorphans,whoserighshewouldguardwihaenaciylikehegraspofhedyinghand,hamendedheirineressohisproecionwihallhisherewasabouhimasorofimidiy——(hisfewenemiesusedogiveiaworsename)somehingwhich,inreverenceohgdead,wewillpce,ifyouplease,alileonhissideofheheroicnaurecerainlyhadbeenpleasedoendowjohnippwihasufficienmeasureofheprincipleofselfpreservaionhereisacowardicewhichwedonodespise,becauseihasnohingbaseorreacherousiniselemens;iberaysiself,noyou:iismereemperamen;heabsenceofheromanicandheenerprising;iseesalioninheway,andwillno,wihforinbras,”grealyfindquarrelinasraw,”whensomgsupposedhonourisasakeippnevermounedheboxofasagecoachinhislife;orleanedagainsherailsofabalcony;orwalkeduponheridgeofaparape;orlookeddownaprecipice;orleoffagun;orwenuponawaerpary;orwouldwillinglyleyougoifhecouldhavehelpedi:neiherwasirecordedofhim,haforlucre,orforinimidaion,heeverforsookfriendorprinciple


whomnexshallwesummonfromhedusydead,inwhommonqualiiesbeeunmon?caniforgehee,henryman,hewi,hepolishedmanofleers,heauhor,ofhesouhseahouse?whonevereneredshyofficeinamorning,orquiedsiinmidday——(whadidshouinanoffice?)——wihousomequirkhalefasing!hygibesandhyjokesarenowexinc,orsurvivebuinwoforgoenvolumes,whichihadhegoodforuorescuefromasallinbarbican,nohreedaysago,andfoundheeerse,fresh,epigrammaic,asalivehywiisalilegonebyinhesefasidiousdays——hyopicsaresaledbyhe”newborngauds”ofheime——bugreahouusedobeinpublicledgers,andinchronicles,uponchaham,andshelburne,androckingham,andhowe,andburgoyne,andclinon,andhewarwhichendedinheearingfromgreabriainherrebelliouscolonies,——andkeppel,andwilkes,andsawbridge,andbull,anddu


ing,andpra,andrichmond,——andsuchsmallpoliics


alilelessfaceious,andagreadealmoreobsreperous,wasfineraling,raleheadedplumerhewasdescended,——noinarighline,reader,(forhislinealpreensions,likehispersonal,favouredalileofhesiniserbend)fromheplumersofherfordshiresoradiiongavehimou;andcerainfamilyfeauresnoalilesancionedheopinioncerainlyoldwalerplumer(hisrepuedauhor)hadbeenarakeinhisdays,andvisiedmuchinialy,andhadseenheworldhewasuncle,bacheloruncle,ohefineoldwhigsillliving,whohasrepresenedhecounyinsomanysuccessiveparliamens,andhasafineoldmansio


earwarewalerflourishedingeorgehesecondsdays,andwashesamewhowassummonedbeforehehouseofcommonsabouabusinessoffranks,wihheoldduchessofmarlboroughyoumayreadofiinjohnsonslifeofcavecavecameoffcleverlyinhabusinessiiscerainourplumerdidnohingodiscounenanceherumourheraherseemedpleasedwheneveriwas,wihallgenleness,insinuaedbu,besideshisfamilypreensions,plumerwasanengagingfellow,andsanggloriously


nososweelysangplumerashousanges,mild,childlike,pasoralm——;afluesbreahinglessdivinelywhisperinghanhyarcadianmelodies,when,inonesworhyofarden,houdidschanhasongsungbyamiensohebanishedduke,whichprocimshewinerwindmorelenienhanforamanobeungraefulhysirewasoldsurlym——,heunapproachablechurchwardenofbishopsgaeheknewnowhahedid,whenhebegahee,likespring,genleoffspringofbluseringwiner:——onlyunforunaeinhyending,whichshouldhavebeenmild,conciliaory,swanlike


muchremainsosingmanyfanasicshapesriseup,buheymusbemineinprivae——alreadyihavefooledhereaderoheopofhisben;——elsecouldiomihasrangecreaurewoolle,whoexisedinryinghequesion,andboughliigaions?——andsillsranger,inimiable,solemnhepworh,fromwhosegraviynewonmighhavededucedhewofgraviaionhowprofoundlywouldhenibapen——wihwhadeliberaionwouldheweawafer!——


p>buiisimeoclose——nighswheelsareralingfasoverme——iisproperohavedonewihhissolemnmockery


reader,whaifihavebeenpyingwihheeallhiswhile——peradvenureheverynames,whichihavesummonedupbeforehee,arefanasicinsubsaniallikehenrypimpernel,andoldjohnnapsofgreece:——


besaisfiedhasomehingansweringohemhashadabeingheirimporanceisfromhepas