登陆注册
5198100000046

第46章

``Well, then,'' answered Lovel, whose motions were really undetermined at the moment, ``you shall not connect the recollection of my name with so churlish a particle.I must soon think of leaving Fairport, I am afraid--and I will, since you are good enough to wish it, take this opportunity of spending another day here.''

``And you shall be rewarded, my boy.First, you shall see John o' the Girnel's grave, and then we'll walk gently along the sands, the state of the tide being first ascertained (for we will have no more Peter Wilkins' adventures, no more Glum and Gawrie work), as far as Knockwinnock Castle, and inquire after the old knight and my fair foe--which will but be barely civil, and then''--``I beg pardon, my dear sir; but, perhaps, you had better adjourn your visit till to-morrow--I am a stranger, you know.''

``And are, therefore, the more bound to show civility, I should suppose.But I beg your pardon for mentioning a word that perhaps belongs only to a collector of antiquities--I am one of the old school, When courtiers galloped o'er four counties The ball's fair partner to behold, And humbly hope she caught no cold.''

``Why, if--if--if you thought it would be expected--but Ibelieve I had better stay.''

``Nay, nay, my good friend, I am not so old-fashioned as to press you to what is disagreeable, neither--it is sufficient that I see there is some _remora,_ some cause of delay, some mid impediment, which I have no title to inquire into.Or you are still somewhat tired, perhaps;--I warrant I find means to entertain your intellects without fatiguing your limbs--I am no friend to violent exertion myself--a walk in the garden once a-day is exercise, enough for any thinking being--none but a fool or a fox-hunter would require more.Well, what shall we set about?--my Essay on Castrametation--but I have that in _petto_ for our afternoon cordial;--or I will show you the controversy upon Ossian's Poems between Mac-Cribb and me.Ihold with the acute Orcadian--he with the defenders of the authenticity;--the controversy began in smooth, oily, lady-like terms, but is now waxing more sour and eager as we get on--it already partakes somewhat of old Scaliger's style.I fear the rogue will get some scent of that story of Ochiltree's--but at worst, I have a hard repartee for him on the affair of the abstracted Antigonus--I will show you his last epistle and the scroll of my answer--egad, it is a trimmer!''

So saying, the Antiquary opened a drawer, and began rummaging among a quantity of miscellaneous papers, ancient and modern.But it was the misfortune of this learned gentleman, as it may be that of many learned and unlearned, that he frequently experienced, on such occasions, what Harlequin calls _l'embarras des richesses;_ in other words, the abundance of his collection often prevented him from finding the article he sought for.``Curse the papers!--I believe,'' said Oldbuck, as he shuffled them to and fro--``I believe they make themselves wings like grasshoppers, and fly away bodily--but here, in the meanwhile, look at that little treasure.'' So saying, he put into his hand a case made of oak, fenced at the corner with silver roses and studs--``Pr'ythee, undo this button,'' said he, as he observed Lovel fumbling at the clasp.He did so,--the lid opened, and discovered a thin quarto, curiously bound in black shagreen--``There, Mr.Lovel--there is the work I mentioned to you last night--the rare quarto of the Augsburg Confession, the foundation at once and the bulwark of the Reformation drawn up by the learned and venerable Melancthon, defended by the Elector of Saxony, and the other valiant hearts who stood up for their faith, even against the front of a powerful and victorious emperor, and imprinted by the scarcely less venerable and praiseworthy Aldobrand Oldenbuck, my happy progenitor, during the yet more tyrannical attempts of Philip II.to suppress at once civil and religious liberty.Yes, sir--for printing this work, that eminent man was expelled from his ungrateful country, and driven to establish his household gods even here at Monkbarns, among the ruins of papal superstition and domination.--Look upon his venerable effigies, Mr.Lovel, and respect the honourable occupation in which it presents him, as labouring personally at the press for the diffusion of Christian and political knowledge.--And see here his favourite motto, expressive of his independence and self-reliance, which scorned to owe anything to patronage that was not earned by desert--expressive also of that firmness of mind and tenacity of purpose recommended by Horace.He was indeed a man who would have stood firm, had his whole printing-house, presses, fonts, forms, great and small pica, been shivered to pieces around him --Read, I say, his motto,--for each printer had his motto, or device, when that illustrious art was first practised.My ancestor's was expressed, as you see, in the Teutonic phrase, =Kunst macht Gunst=--that is, skill, or prudence, in availing ourselves of our natural talents and advantages, will compel favour and patronage, even where it is withheld from prejudice or ignorance.''

``And that,'' said Lovel, after a moment's thoughtful silence --``that, then, is the meaning of these German words?''

``Unquestionably.You perceive the appropriate application to a consciousness of inward worth, and of eminence in a useful and honourable art.--Each printer in those days, as I have already informed you, had his device, his impresa, as I may call it, in the same manner as the doughty chivalry of the age, who frequented tilt and tournament.My ancestor boasted as much in his, as if he had displayed it over a conquered field of battle, though it betokened the diffusion of knowledge, not the effusion of blood.And yet there is a family tradition which affirms him to have chosen it from a more romantic circumstance.''

``And what is that said to have been, my good sir?'' inquired his young friend.

同类推荐
  • The Rise and Progress of Palaeontology

    The Rise and Progress of Palaeontology

    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。
  • 三宝太监西洋记

    三宝太监西洋记

    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。
  • 律宗新学名句

    律宗新学名句

    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。
  • The Cavalry General

    The Cavalry General

    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。
  • 学仕遗规补编

    学仕遗规补编

    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
  • 梦微即醒

    梦微即醒

    如果爱你,我一定会毫不犹豫的奔向你。如果爱你,我一定会用力的握住你的手。如果爱你,我一定不会轻易的离开你。
  • 恋爱机率twice

    恋爱机率twice

    我是一个初到韩国的新人王,在恋爱机率2%的巧合下,我遇见了百分之百韩国产无脑花美男金日宇。当绘画天才小妮子PK学校至尊花美男,一段你追我挡,你再追我打的,妙趣横生的跨国恋情就此拉开帷幕。我们之间究竟会吹出怎样奇妙的恋爱气泡呢?一切奇妙姻缘尽在恋爱机率2%。
  • 贵族家训

    贵族家训

    成功的家族和精英人物并不是天生的,他们都有自己宝贵的教育思想和对子女教育的真知灼见,他们教育子女的方式又被子女用在教育上,如此继承和发扬,才有了优良的家族传统,最后成为贵族家训。本书从中外历史中挑选出14个经得起时间考验的、有启发意义的家族,通过他们的成长历程,总结出一些教育方法,为今天迷茫的家长们指明了教育方向,值得每一位为人父母者研学。
  • 西洋棋子

    西洋棋子

    锦城最近发生了一件趣事。有人门户网站上发了一个帖子,内容如下:标题:一千万游戏币悬赏西洋棋子,截止期1月17日早上8点赏金:一千万游戏币,游戏种类任选。任务:请帮我去偷一样东西。众所周知,国际象棋一共有三十六枚棋子,在下如今指明要锦城香積古董店老板随身带的那副国际象棋白棋中的王。不论以任何方式偷到这枚棋子并交予本人,即算完成任务,立刻交付赏金。本人诚心实意,绝非玩笑。境外担保凭证影印文件如下。望大家积极参与。如果这副西洋棋是稀世珍宝,那有人想要也在情理之中。
  • 我家娘子又出来毒人啦

    我家娘子又出来毒人啦

    现代邪医穿越成镇国将军府的废柴丑女?开玩笑,封印一除,倾国倾城,甩那第一美女几条街,灵根俱毁?逆天异能,医毒双绝,一根白针能医死人骨,碾压所有天才!姻缘被抢?笑话,渣男随便送!却不小心被某个神秘帝尊缠上了,还扬言要她负责。她明明什么都没干!!!本文男强女强,1V1双洁爽文,宠文,欢迎入坑
  • 中枢龟镜

    中枢龟镜

    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。
  • 被遗忘的一场生活

    被遗忘的一场生活

    该作品是一部现实主义长篇小说,映照了当代大学生在学校和社会这个交接点上的疑惑与烦恼,以及思想尚未成熟阶段对人生命题的思考。小说中的主人公初入社会经历曲折,但最终选择积极乐观地面对生活,充满正能量。
  • 这世界啊,随他去吧

    这世界啊,随他去吧

    十个月,十五个国家,从东南亚到南亚,从中东到中亚,这是一场穿越亚非陆地的奔走;所以,这并不是一本普通意义的旅行观光猎奇书,作者诚恳地叙述着三十岁来临前的旅途中山河过目的内心转变。等到风景看透长路走完,他逃出困顿,重获新生。这段人生中刻骨铭心的成长,是三十岁到来前最好的礼物。
  • 漫长的假期

    漫长的假期

    《韩少功作品系列:漫长的假期》是韩少功的一部散文集。《韩少功作品系列:漫长的假期》以美文传达深思,以博识传达感动,矢志“用心血和心魂,用一生中全部怦然心动的回忆和向往”,为写作招魂,为生命立言。血性扩张而又理性高扬,一个人文知识分子的独立言说,展示出中国文化界八十年代以来重要的思想轨迹。《走亲戚》获1996年福建文学奖;《笑的遗产》获1992年《中国作家》散文奖。
  • 前寄左省张起居一百

    前寄左省张起居一百

    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。