登陆注册
5184700000057

第57章 TO MADEIRA(3)

"Tell Mrs.Carlyle that I have written,since I have been here,and am going to send to _Blackwood_,a humble imitation of her _Watch and Canary-Bird_,entitled _The Suit of Armor and the Skeleton_.[15]I am conscious that I am far from having reached the depth and fulness of despair and mockery which distinguish the original!But in truth there is a lightness of tone about her style,which I hold to be invaluable:where she makes hairstrokes,I make blotches.I have a vehement suspicion that my Dialogue is an entire failure;but I cannot be plagued with it any longer.Tell her I will not send her messages,but will write to her soon.--Meanwhile I am affectionately hers and yours,"JOHN STERLING."The next is to his Brother-in-law;and in a still hopefuler tone:--"_To Charles Barton,Esq._[16]

FUNCHAL,MADEIRA,3d March,1838.

"MY DEAR CHARLES,--I have often been thinking of you and your whereabouts in Germany,and wishing I knew more about you;and at last it occurred to me that you might perhaps have the same wish about me,and that therefore I should do well to write to you.

"I have been here exactly four months,having arrived on the 2d of November,--my wedding-day;and though you perhaps may not think it a compliment to Susan,I have seldom passed four months more cheerfully and agreeably.I have of course felt my absence from my family,and missed the society of my friends;for there is not a person here whom I knew before I left England.But,on the whole,I have been in good health,and actively employed.I have a good many agreeable and valuable acquaintances,one or two of whom I hope I may hereafter reckon as friends.The weather has generally been fine,and never cold;and the scenery of the Island is of a beauty which you unhappy Northern people can have little conception of.

"It consists of a great mass of volcanic mountains,covered in their lower parts with cottages,vines and patches of vegetables.When you pass through,or over the central ridge,and get towards the North,there are woods of trees,of the laurel kind,covering the wild steep slopes,and forming some of the strangest and most beautiful prospects I have ever seen.Towards the interior,the forms of the hills become more abrupt,and loftier;and give the notion of very recent volcanic disturbances,though in fact there has been nothing of the kind since the discovery of the Island by Europeans.Among these mountains,the dark deep precipices,and narrow ravines with small streams at the bottom;the basaltic knobs and ridges on the summits;and the perpetual play of mist and cloud around them,under this bright sun and clear sky,--form landscapes which you would thoroughly enjoy,and which I much wish I could give you a notion of.The Town is on the south,and of course the sheltered side of the Island;perfectly protected from the North and East;although we have seen sometimes patches of bright snow on the dark peaks in the distance.It is a neat cheerful place;all built of gray stone,but having many of the houses colored white or red.There is not a really handsome building in it,but there is a general aspect of comfort and solidity.The shops are very poor.The English do not mix at all with the Portuguese.The Bay is a very bad anchorage;but is wide,bright and cheerful;and there are some picturesque points--one a small black island--scattered about it.

"I lived till a fortnight ago in lodgings,having two rooms,one a very good one;and paying for everything fifty-six dollars a month,the dollar being four shillings and twopence.This you will see is dear;but I could make no better arrangement,for there is an unusual affluence of strangers this year.I have now come to live with a friend,a Dr.Calvert,in a small house of our own,where I am much more comfortable,and live greatly cheaper.He is a friend of Mrs.

Percival's;about my age,an Oriel man,and a very superior person.Ithink the chances are,we shall go home together....I cannot tell you of all the other people I have become familiar with;and shall only mention in addition Bingham Baring,eldest son of Lord Ashburton,who was here for some weeks on account of a dying brother,and whom Isaw a great deal of.He is a pleasant,very good-natured and rather clever man;Conservative Member for North Staffordshire.

"During the first two months I was here,I rode a great deal about the Island,having a horse regularly;and was much in agreeable company,seeing a great deal of beautiful scenery.Since then,the weather has been much more unsettled,though not cold;and I have gone about less,as I cannot risk the being wet.But I have spent my time pleasantly,reading and writing.I have written a good many things for _Blackwood_;one of which,the _Armor and the Skeleton_,I see is printed in the February Number.I have just sent them a long Tale,called the _Onyx Ring_,which cost me a good deal of trouble;and the extravagance of which,I think,would amuse you;but its length may prevent its appearance in _Blackwood_.If so,I think I should make a volume of it.I have also written some poems,and shall probably publish the _Sexton's Daughter_when I return.

同类推荐
  • 丹霞澹归禅师语录

    丹霞澹归禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 客窗闲话续集

    客窗闲话续集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清洞真天宝大洞三景宝箓

    上清洞真天宝大洞三景宝箓

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天则能禅师语录

    天则能禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 销释大乘正宗神默然宝卷

    销释大乘正宗神默然宝卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 喜欢你甚于昨日,略匮明朝

    喜欢你甚于昨日,略匮明朝

    “我突然不想养九万了,想养你。”“为什么?”“因为据说养猪能致富。”“……”这是一个由作者恋爱经历真实改编的爆笑逗比的爱情故事,也是一个女汉子倒追男神,还将高冷毒舌男最终变身忠犬男友的故事。在这段“撩与被撩”中,感受恋爱的甜美气息。有人用一辈子养一棵树。有人用一生等一场雪。也有人用一生等一个你。如果余生是你,那么晚一点爱上我,也没关系。
  • 映山红盛开的时节

    映山红盛开的时节

    小说讲述一位处于青春期的青年,决心在茫茫的人生征途上,踏出一条属于自己的人生之路的故事。谁的青春不迷茫,作品告诉人们:人生之路,总是在充满了无尽的失望和希望中蹒跚向前延伸。面对人生的无常,生活的乖戾,现实的虚幻和残酷,关键是你悟到了什么?追求什么?你如果选择一条正确的、适合自己的道路,坚持不懈地走下去。只要不怕苦、不怕累,走得足够的远,就一定能收获到一个和别人不一样的人生,会看到别人看不到的风景。
  • 养女锋芒露:宗师太子妃

    养女锋芒露:宗师太子妃

    向晚晚,国家地下特工组织“影”的第一把交椅,全球特工界的第一人,代号“焰狐”,却在打算洗手‘从良’的前一天,一不小心,出大事了。醒来后,她成了宰相府的傻小姐。换了身体,穿越古代,容貌大变,她却依旧是她,杀伐果断、镇定自若、翻手为云覆手为雨。战事平定,她本该放下满心悲凉,却不料誓死保护的太子殿下猝然遇害,震怒之下的她要践踏这个世界,她要俯瞰这个世界,她要夺回属于她的一切!狂风中,她风华绝代,水眸含煞,遗世孤绝。可当她回眸,看他死而复生,一步步向她走来,眼角竟微微湿润,便觉得心满意足,一世无求。她一直认为北澈太子温柔、善良、尊贵高雅、宛若谪仙,不善与人争强斗狠、勾心斗角,因此,从嫁给他那一天起,她便做好了永远守护他的准备,绝不容许任何人伤害到他一丝一毫。直到那一日,她被人暗算,震怒之下的他再也无法维持假象,本性毕露,屠戮天下。。
  • 森林里的怪歌

    森林里的怪歌

    倒霉蛋儿虽然他和娘生活的十分艰辛,但仍逃脱不了被人追杀厄运……他娘被施魔法变成个双目失明的瞎子。倒霉蛋听说七仙山上有一种启明草能治娘的眼睛,他一个人冒险来到处处是陷阱的神秘的七仙山上采药。一路上历经坎坷,重重磨难,在芦花仙姑、大馋鬼、鼠五爷和狼三等仙人的帮助下,战胜了花蘑菇精、天牛怪等一个又一个的妖魔鬼怪。最后,找到了那颗神奇的启明草,治好了母亲的眼睛。故事整篇贯穿着惊险刺激,耐人寻味。是青少年朋友闲暇时最好的读物。
  • 美玉

    美玉

    子期是在一个星期天的下午发现那块美玉的。本来,那个星期天的下午他是该陪妻子去逛商店的,但在午饭后突然接到岳母的电话,让明月到她那里去,陪她一块去看看姥姥。子期看着一脸不高兴的明月说:用不用我去?明月放下电话说:不用,我跟妈妈一块去。子期看出明月有点不高兴,便说:看看姥姥也是应该的。明月没有说话,只是看了他一眼,便到卫生间去梳洗了。不一会便走出家门。妻子走后,子期便有点茫然,他常常是这样,一旦定下来的事情突然取消,便会有一种无所适从的感觉,心里空落落的,仿佛有什么事情没有办好,总是不能踏实下来。
  • 漂泊的灵魂(黑塞作品06)

    漂泊的灵魂(黑塞作品06)

    《漂泊的灵魂》由《早春》、《怀念克努尔普》和《结局》三篇连续性的小说组成,是黑塞著名的“流浪汉体”小说。主人翁克努尔普是个和蔼的流浪汉,流落于城镇之间,寄居于友人的住处,吃着友人们给的食物。克努尔普一直不愿受制于任何行业、地方或是人,甚至还离弃了与自己一同徒步旅行的同伴,而与他一同徒步旅行的同伴很可能就是赫尔曼·黑塞本人。克努尔普的流亡是幸福的、专注于自我的。然而,《漂泊的灵魂》背后隐藏的是一个艺术家的良知,在这个艺术家眼里,自己的解放是毫无价值的,甚至是没有道德可言的。
  • 厉先生的替妻

    厉先生的替妻

    她亲手从废墟里刨出来的爱人,为了和别的女人在一起,竟然流掉了她的孩子。。。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck

    The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 电视编导基础教程

    电视编导基础教程

    这是本影视艺术基础课教材。全书共分六章,内容包括:电视编导的基本素养,栏目编导,剧作构成,情节铺排,影视元素,结构严谨。许多章节后面都附有学生作业,可供参考与借鉴。本书主要供与电视节目制作相关的专业师生做教材使用。
  • 靖夷纪事

    靖夷纪事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。