the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第13节
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salutation； which the inmate sometimes deigned to return by a word or a
nod。 Earnscliff often passed that way； and seldom without enquiring
after the solitary inmate； who seemed now to have arranged his
establishment for life。
It was impossible to engage him in any conversation on his own
personal affairs； nor was he communicative or accessible in talking on any
other subject whatever； although he seemed to have considerably relented
in the extreme ferocity of his misanthropy； or rather to be less frequently
visited with the fits of derangement of which this was a symptom。 No
argument could prevail upon him to accept anything beyond the simplest
necessaries； although much more was offered by Earnscliff out of charity；
and by his more superstitious neighbours from other motives。 The
benefits of these last he repaid by advice； when consulted （as at length he
slowly was） on their diseases； or those of their cattle。 He often furnished
them with medicines also； and seemed possessed； not only of such as were
the produce of the country； but of foreign drugs。 He gave these persons
to understand； that his name was Elshender the Recluse； but his popular
epithet soon came to be Canny Elshie； or the Wise Wight of Mucklestane…
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THE BLACK DWARF
Moor。 Some extended their queries beyond their bodily complaints； and
requested advice upon other matters； which he delivered with an oracular
shrewdness that greatly confirmed the opinion of his possessing
preternatural skill。 The querists usually left some offering upon a stone；
at a distance from his dwelling； if it was money； or any article which did
not suit him to accept； he either threw it away； or suffered it to remain
where it was without making use of it。 On all occasions his manners
were rude and unsocial； and his words； in number； just sufficient to
express his meaning as briefly as possible； and he shunned all
communication that went a syllable beyond the matter in hand。 When
winter had passed away； and his garden began to afford him herbs and
vegetables； he confined himself almost entirely to those articles of food。
He accepted； notwithstanding； a pair of she…goats from Earnscliff； which
fed on the moor； and supplied him with milk。
When Earnscliff found his gift had been received； he soon afterwards
paid the hermit a visit。 The old man was seated an a broad flat stone near
his garden door； which was the seat of science he usually occupied when
disposed to receive his patients or clients。 The inside of his hut； and that
of his garden； he kept as sacred from human intrusion as the natives of
Otaheite do their Morai；apparently he would have deemed it polluted by
the step of any human being。 When he shut himself up in his habitation；
no entreaty could prevail upon him to make himself visible； or to give
audience to any one whomsoever。
Earnscliff had been fishing in a small river at some distance。 He had
his rod in his hand； and his basket； filled with trout； at his shoulder。 He
sate down upon a stone nearly opposite to the Dwarf who； familiarized
with his presence； took no farther notice of him than by elevating his huge
mis…shapen head for the purpose of staring at him； and then again sinking
it upon his bosom； as if in profound meditation。 Earnscliff looked around
him； and observed that the hermit had increased his accommodations by
the construction of a shed for the reception of his goats。
You labour hard； Elshie；〃 he said； willing to lead this singular being
into conversation。
〃Labour；〃 re…echoed the Dwarf； 〃is the mildest evil of a lot so
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THE BLACK DWARF
miserable as that of mankind； better to labour like me； than sport like
you。〃
〃I cannot defend the humanity of our ordinary rural sports； Elshie； and
yet〃
〃And yet；〃 interrupted the Dwarf〃 they are better than your ordinary
business； better to exercise idle and wanton cruelty on mute fishes than on
your fellow…creatures。 Yet why should I say so？ Why should not the
whole human herd butt； gore； and gorge upon each other； till all are
extirpated but one huge and over… fed Behemoth； and he； when he had
throttled and gnawed the bones of all his fellowshe； when his prey failed
him； to be roaring whole days for lack of food； and； finally； to die； inch by
inch； of famineit were a consummation worthy of the race！〃
〃Your deeds are better； Elshie； than your words；〃 answered Earnscliff；
〃you labour to preserve the race whom your misanthropy slanders。〃
〃I do； but why？Hearken。 You are one on whom I look with the least
loathing； and I care not； if； contrary to my wont； I waste a few words in
compassion to your infatuated blindness。 If I cannot send disease into
families； and murrain among the herds； can I attain the same end so well
as by prolonging the lives of those who can serve the purpose of
destruction as effectually？ If Alice of Bower had died in winter； would
young Ruthwin have been slain for her love the last spring？Who thought
of penning their cattle beneath the tower when the Red Reiver of
Westburnflat was deemed to be on his death…bed？My draughts； my skill；
recovered him。 And； now； who dare leave his herd upon the lea without a
watch； or go to bed without unchaining the sleuth… hound？〃
〃I own；〃 answered Earnscliff； 〃you did little good to society by the last
of these cures。 But； to balance the evil； there is my friend Hobbie； honest
Hobbie of the Heugh…foot； your skill relieved him last winter in a fever
that might have cost him his life。〃
〃Thus think the children of clay in their ignorance；〃 said： the Dwarf；
smiling maliciously； 〃and thus they speak in their folly。 Have you marked
the young cub of a wild cat that has been domesticated； how sportive； how
playful； how gentle；but trust him with your game； your lambs； your
poultry； his inbred ferocity breaks forth； he gripes； tears； ravages； and
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THE BLACK DWARF
devours。〃
〃Such is the animal's instinct；〃 answered Earnscliff； 〃but what has that
to do with Hobbie？〃
〃It is his emblemit is his picture；〃 retorted the Recluse。 〃He is at
present tame； quiet； and domesticated； for lack of opportunity to exercise
his inborn propensities； but let the trumpet of war soundlet the young
blood…hound snuff blood； he will be as ferocious as the wildest of his
Border ancestors that ever fired a helpless peasant's abode。 Can you
deny； that even at present he often urges you to take bloody revenge for an
injury received when you were a boy？〃Earnscliff started； the Recluse
appeared not to observe his surprise； and proceeded〃The trumpet WILL
blow； the young blood…hound WILL lap blood； and I will laugh and say；
For this I have preserved thee！〃 He paused； and continued；〃Such are
my cures；their object； their purpose； perpetuating the mass of misery；
and playing even in this desert my part in the general tragedy。 Were
YOU on your sick bed； I might； in compassion； send you a cup of poison。〃
〃I am much obliged to you； Elshie； and certainly shall not fail to
consult you； with so comfortable a hope from your assistance。〃
〃Do not flatter yourself too far；〃 replied the Hermit； 〃with the hope
that I will positively yield to the frailty of pity。 Why should I snatch a
dupe； so well fitted to endure the miseries of life as you are； from the
wretchedness which his own visions； and the villainy of the world； are
preparing for him？ Why should I play the compassionate Indian； and；
knocking out the brains of the captive with my tomahawk； at
