the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第14节
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knocking out the brains of the captive with my tomahawk； at once spoil
the three days' amusement of my kindred tribe； at the very moment when
the brands were lighted； the pincers heated； the cauldrons boiling； the
knives sharpened； to tear； scorch； seethe； and scarify the intended victim？〃
〃A dreadful picture you present to me of life； Elshie； but I am not
daunted by it；〃 returned Earnscliff。 〃We are sent here； in one sense； to
bear and to suffer； but； in another； to do and to enjoy。 The active day has
its evening of repose； even patient sufferance has its alleviations； where
there is a consolatory sense of duty discharged。〃
〃I spurn at the slavish and bestial doctrine；〃 said the Dwarf； his eyes
kindling with insane fury；〃I spurn at it； as worthy only of the beasts that
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THE BLACK DWARF
perish； but I will waste no more words with you。〃
He rose hastily； but； ere he withdrew into the hut； he added； with great
vehemence； 〃Yet； lest you still think my apparent benefits to mankind flow
from the stupid and servile source； called love of our fellow…creatures；
know； that were there a man who had annihilated my soul's dearest hope
who had torn my heart to mammocks； and seared mp brain till it glowed
like a volcano； and were that man's fortune and life in my power as
completely as this frail potsherd〃 （he snatched up an earthen cup which
stood beside him）； 〃I would not dash him into atoms thus〃（he flung the
vessel with fury against the wall）；〃No！〃 （he spoke more composedly；
but with the utmost bitterness）； 〃I would pamper him with wealth and
power to inflame his evil passions； and to fulfil his evil designs； he should
lack no means of vice and villainy； he should be the centre of a whirlpool
that itself should know neither rest nor peace； but boil with unceasing fury；
while it wrecked every goodly ship that approached its limits！ he should
be an earthquake capable of shaking the very land in which he dwelt； and
rendering all its inhabitants friendless； outcast； and miserableas I am！〃
The wretched being rushed into his hut as he uttered these last words；
shutting the door with furious violence； and rapidly drawing two bolts； one
after another； as if to exclude the intrusion of any one of that hated race；
who had thus lashed his soul to frenzy。 Earnscliff left the moor with
mingled sensations of pity and horror； pondering what strange and
melancholy cause could have reduced to so miserable a state of mind； a
man whose language argued him to be of rank and education much
superior to the vulgar。 He was also surprised to see how much particular
information a person who had lived in that country so short a time； and in
so recluse a manner； had been able to collect respecting the dispositions
and private affairs of the inhabitants。
〃It is no wonder；〃 he said to himself； 〃that with such extent of
information； such a mode of life； so uncouth a figure； and sentiments so
virulently misanthropic； this unfortunate should be regarded by the vulgar
as in league with the Enemy of Mankind。〃
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THE BLACK DWARF
CHAPTER V。
The bleakest rock upon the loneliest heath Feels； in its barrenness；
some touch of spring； And； in the April dew； or beam of May； Its moss
and lichen freshen and revive； And thus the heart； most sear'd to human
pleasure； Melts at the tear； joys in the smile； of woman。
BEAUMONT
As the season advanced； the weather became more genial； and the
Recluse was more frequently found occupying the broad flat stone in the
front of his mansion。 As he sate there one day； about the hour of noon； a
party of gentlemen and ladies； well mounted； and numerously attended；
swept across the heath at some distance from his dwelling。 Dogs； hawks；
and led…horses swelled the retinue； and the air resounded at intervals with
the cheer of the hunters； and the sound of horns blown by the attendants。
The Recluse was about to retire into his mansion at the sight of a train so
joyous； when three young ladies； with their attendants； who had made a
circuit； and detached themselves from their party； in order to gratify their
curiosity by a sight of the Wise Wight of Mucklestane…Moor； came
suddenly up； ere he could effect his purpose。 The first shrieked； and put
her hands before her eyes； at sight of an object so unusually deformed。
The second； with a hysterical giggle； which she intended should disguise
her terrors； asked the Recluse； whether he could tell their fortune。 The
third； who was best mounted； best dressed； and incomparably the best…
looking of the three； advanced； as if to cover the incivility of her
companions。
〃We have lost the right path that leads through these morasses； and our
party have gone forward without us；〃 said the young lady。 〃Seeing you；
father； at the door of your house； we have turned this way to〃
〃Hush！〃 interrupted the Dwarf； 〃so young； and already so artful？ You
cameyou know you came； to exult in the consciousness of your own
youth； wealth； and beauty； by contrasting them with age； poverty； and
deformity。 It is a fit employment for the daughter of your father； but O
how unlike the child of your mother！〃
〃Did you； then； know my parents； and do you know me？〃
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〃Yes； this is the first time you have crossed my waking eyes； but I
have seen you in my dreams。〃
〃Your dreams？〃
〃Ay； Isabel Vere。 What hast thou； or thine； to do with my waking
thoughts？〃
〃Your waking thoughts； sir；〃 said the second of Miss Vere's
companions； with a sort of mock gravity； 〃are fixed； doubtless； upon
wisdom； folly can only intrude on your sleeping moments。〃
〃Over thine；〃 retorted the Dwarf； more splenetically than became a
philosopher or hermit； 〃folly exercises an unlimited empire； asleep or
awake。〃
〃Lord bless us！〃 said the lady； 〃he's a prophet； sure enough。〃
〃As surely；〃 continued the Recluse；〃 as thou art a woman。A woman！…
…I should have said a ladya fine lady。 You asked me to tell your
fortuneit is a simple one； an endless chase through life after follies not
worth catching； and； when caught； successively thrown awaya chase；
pursued from the days of tottering infancy to those of old age upon his
crutches。 Toys and merry…makings in childhoodlove and its absurdities
in youthspadille and basto in age； shall succeed each other as objects of
pursuitflowers and butterflies in spring butterflies and thistle…down in
summerwithered leaves in autumn and winterall pursued； all caught； all
flung aside。 Stand apart； your fortune is said。〃
〃All CAUGHT； however；〃 retorted the laughing fair one； who was a
cousin of Miss Vere's； 〃that's something； Nancy；〃 she continued； turning to
the timid damsel who had first approached the Dwarf； 〃will you ask your
fortune？〃
〃Not for worlds；〃 said she； drawing back； 〃I have heard enough of
yours。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Miss Ilderton； offering money to the Dwarf； 〃I'll pay
for mine； as if it were spoken by an oracle to a princess。〃
〃Truth；〃 said the Soothsayer； 〃can neither be bought nor sold；〃 and he
pushed back her proffered offering with morose disdain。
〃Well； then；〃 said the lady； 〃I'll keep my money； Mr。 Elshender； to
assist me in the chase I am to pursue。〃
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THE BLACK DWARF
〃You will need it；〃 replied the cynic； 〃without it； few pursue
successfully； and fewer are themselves pursued。Stop！〃 he said to Miss
Vere； as her companions moved
