memoirs of carwin the biloquist(卡尔维恩)-第9节
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purpose； that conformity must be dissembled。
My moral principles had hitherto been vague and unsettled。 My
circumstances had led me to the frequent practice of insincerity； but my
transgressions as they were slight and transient； did not much excite my
previous reflections； or subsequent remorse。 My deviations； however；
though rendered easy by habit； were by no means sanctioned by my
principles。 Now an imposture； more profound and deliberate； was
projected； and I could not hope to perform well my part； unless steadfastly
and thoroughly persuaded of its rectitude。
My friend was the eulogist of sincerity。 He delighted to trace its
influence on the happiness of mankind； and proved that nothing but the
universal practice of this virtue was necessary to the perfection of human
society。 His doctrine was splendid and beautiful。 To detect its
imperfections was no easy task； to lay the foundations of virtue in utility；
and to limit； by that scale； the operation of general principles； to see that
the value of sincerity； like that of every other mode of action； consisted in
its tendency to good； and that； therefore the obligation to speak truth was
not paramount or intrinsical： that my duty is modelled on a knowledge
and foresight of the conduct of others； and that； since men in their actual
state； are infirm and deceitful； a just estimate of consequences may
sometimes make dissimulation my duty were truths that did not speedily
occur。 The discovery； when made； appeared to be a joint work。 I saw
nothing in Ludlow but proofs of candour； and a judgment incapable of
bias。
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
The means which this man employed to fit me for his purpose； perhaps
owed their success to my youth and ignorance。 I may have given you
exaggerated ideas of his dexterity and address。 Of that I am unable to
judge。 Certain it is； that no time or reflection has abated my
astonishment at the profoundness of his schemes； and the perseverance
with which they were pursued by him。 To detail their progress would
expose me to the risk of being tedious； yet none but minute details would
sufficiently display his patience and subtlety。
It will suffice to relate； that after a sufficient period of preparation and
arrangements being made for maintaining a copious intercourse with
Ludlow； I embarked for Barcelona。 A restless curiosity and vigorous
application have distinguished my character in every scene。 Here was
spacious field for the exercise of all my energies。 I sought out a
preceptor in my new religion。 I entered into the hearts of priests and
confessors； the ~hidalgo~ and the peasant； the monk and the prelate； the
austere and voluptuous devotee were scrutinized in all their forms。
Man was the chief subject of my study； and the social sphere that in
which I principally moved； but I was not inattentive to inanimate nature；
nor unmindful of the past。 If the scope of virtue were to maintain the
body in health； and to furnish its highest enjoyments to every sense； to
increase the number； and accuracy； and order of our intellectual stores； no
virtue was ever more unblemished than mine。 If to act upon our
conceptions of right； and to acquit ourselves of all prejudice and
selfishness in the formation of our principles； entitle us to the testimony of
a good conscience； I might justly claim it。
I shall not pretend to ascertain my rank in the moral scale。 Your
notions of duty differ widely from mine。 If a system of deceit； pursued
merely from the love of truth； if voluptuousness； never gratified at the
expense of health； may incur censure； I am censurable。 This； indeed； was
not the limit of my deviations。 Deception was often unnecessarily
practised； and my biloquial faculty did not lie unemployed。 What has
happened to yourselves may enable you； in some degree； to judge of the
scenes in which my mystical exploits engaged me。 In none of them；
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
indeed； were the effects equally disastrous； and they were； for the most
part； the result of well digested projects。
To recount these would be an endless task。 They were designed as
mere specimens of power； to illustrate the influence of superstition： to
give sceptics the consolation of certainty： to annihilate the scruples of a
tender female； or facilitate my access to the bosoms of courtiers and
monks。
The first achievement of this kind took place in the convent of the
Escurial。 For some time the hospitality of this brotherhood allowed me a
cell in that magnificent and gloomy fabric。 I was drawn hither chiefly by
the treasures of Arabian literature； which are preserved here in the keeping
of a learned Maronite； from Lebanon。 Standing one evening on the steps
of the great altar； this devout friar expatiated on the miraculous evidences
of his religion； and； in a moment of enthusiasm； appealed to San Lorenzo；
whose martyrdom was displayed before us。 No sooner was the appeal
made than the saint； obsequious to the summons； whispered his responses
from the shrine； and commanded the heretic to tremble and believe。 This
event was reported to the convent。 With whatever reluctance； I could not
refuse my testimony to its truth； and its influence on my faith was clearly
shewn in my subsequent conduct。
A lady of rank； in Seville； who had been guilty of many unauthorized
indulgences； was； at last； awakened to remorse； by a voice from Heaven；
which she imagined had commanded her to expiate her sins by an
abstinence from all food for thirty days。 Her friends found it impossible
to outroot this persuasion； or to overcome her resolution even by force。 I
chanced to be one in a numerous company where she was present。 This
fatal illusion was mentioned； and an opportunity afforded to the lady of
defending her scheme。 At a pause in the discourse； a voice was heard
from the ceiling； which confirmed the truth of her tale； but； at the same
time revoked the command； and； in consideration of her faith； pronounced
her absolution。 Satisfied with this proof； the auditors dismissed their
unbelief； and the lady consented to eat。
In the course of a copious correspondence with Ludlow； the
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
observations I had collected were given。 A sentiment； which I can hardly
describe； induced me to be silent on all adventures connected with my
bivocal projects。 On other topics； I wrote fully； and without restraint。 I
painted； in vivid hues； the scenes with which I was daily conversant； and
pursued； fearlessly； every speculation on religion and government that
occurred。 This spirit was encouraged by Ludloe； who failed not to
comment on my narrative； and multiply deductions from my principles。
He taught me to ascribe the evils that infest society to the errors of
opinion。 The absurd and unequal distribution of power and property
gave birth to poverty and riches； and these were the sources of luxury and
crimes。 These positions were readily admitted； but the remedy for these
ills； the means of rectifying these errors were not easily discovered。 We
have been inclined to impute them to inherent defects in the moral
constitution of men：
