登陆注册
5220400000123

第123章

'Yes,'said the Armenian,'we are Christians in our way;we believe in God,the Holy Spirit,and Saviour,though we are not prepared to admit that the last personage is not only himself,but the other two.We believe ...'and then the Armenian told me of several things which the Haiks believed or disbelieved.'But what we find most hard of all to believe,'said he,'is that the man of the mole-hills is entitled to our allegiance,he not being a Haik,or understanding the Haik language.'

'But,by your own confession,'said I,'he has introduced a schism in your nation,and has amongst you many that believe in him.'

'It is true,'said the Armenian,I that even on the confines of Ararat there are a great number who consider that mountain to be lower than the hillocks of Rome;but the greater number of degenerate Armenians are to be found amongst those who have wandered to the west;most of the Haik churches of the west consider Rome to be higher than Ararat-most of the Armenians of this place hold that dogma;I,however,have always stood firm in the contrary opinion.

'Ha!ha!'-here the Armenian laughed in his peculiar manner-'talking of this matter puts me in mind of an adventure which lately befell me,with one of the emissaries of the Papa of Rome,for the Papa of Rome has at present many emissaries in this country,in order to seduce the people from their own quiet religion to the savage heresy of Rome;this fellow came to me partly in the hope of converting me,but principally to extort money for the purpose of furthering the designs of Rome in this country.I humoured the fellow at first,keeping him in play for nearly a month,deceiving and laughing at him.At last he discovered that he could make nothing of me,and departed with the scowl of Caiaphas,whilst I cried after him,'The roots of Ararat are DEEPER than those of Rome.'

The Armenian had occasionally reverted to the subject of the translation of the Haik Esop,which he had still a lurking desire that I should execute;but I had invariably declined the undertaking,without,however,stating my reasons.On one occasion,when we had been conversing on the subject,the Armenian,who had been observing my countenance for some time with much attention,remarked,'Perhaps,after all,you are right,and you might employ your time to better advantage.Literature is a fine thing,especially Haik literature,but neither that nor any other would be likely to serve as a foundation to a man's fortune:and to make a fortune should be the principal aim of every one's life;therefore listen to me.Accept a seat at the desk opposite to my Moldavian clerk,and receive the rudiments of a merchant's education.You shall be instructed in the Armenian way of doing business-I think you would make an excellent merchant.'

'Why do you think so?'

'Because you have something of the Armenian look.'

'I understand you,'said I;'you mean to say that I squint!'

'Not exactly,'said the Armenian,'but there is certainly a kind of irregularity in your features.One eye appears to me larger than the other-never mind,but rather rejoice;in that irregularity consists your strength.All people with regular features are fools;it is very hard for them,you'll say,but there is no help:

all we can do,who are not in such a predicament,is to pity those who are.Well!will you accept my offer?No!you are a singular individual;but I must not forget my own concerns.I must now go forth,having an appointment by which I hope to make money.'

同类推荐
  • 乾淳岁时记

    乾淳岁时记

    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。
  • 佛说人仙经

    佛说人仙经

    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。
  • 泉州府志选录

    泉州府志选录

    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。
  • 大唐东京大敬爱寺一切经论目

    大唐东京大敬爱寺一切经论目

    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。
  • A Mortal Antipathy

    A Mortal Antipathy

    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
  • 中外帝王未解之谜

    中外帝王未解之谜

    帝王们的性情、脾气、性格、才华、手腕也是形形色色、丰富多彩的,有明君、暴君、昏君、庸君……他们的兴趣、爱好更是五花八门、光怪陆离,有喜欢做和尚的君主,有喜欢当木匠的皇帝,有喜欢吟诗作赋的皇帝,有喜欢书法绘画的皇帝,当然也有以杀人、折磨人为乐的帝王……他们之中有可恨、可耻之人,也有可爱、可怜之人,当然他们也是神秘不可莫测之人。
  • 盗者为王

    盗者为王

    延续千年的龙之一脉,三皇五帝的盗帝血统,呈天聚气,陨落凡尘。过一步,尸山血海少年路。呈天道,风云涌动血海出。坐镇江湖谁为主,暗下偷盗我为王!
  • 徒然草·方丈记

    徒然草·方丈记

    《徒然草》是一部内容广博的散文随笔。作者吉田兼好将一生的丰富阅历和明达见识融入到简短随性的文字中,既有处事警语、经验感悟,又不乏奇闻逸事、四时风物。当这幅由243段短文构成的长卷缓缓展开时,日本镰仓末期的社会风貌以及吉田兼好汰尽浮华的禅悟之心跃然纸上。《方丈记》成书于1212年,被誉为日本隐士文学的巅峰之作。是作者鸭长明回忆生平际遇、叙述天地巨变、感慨人世无常的随笔集。这部作品对日本的文学、历史、思想等各方面都产生了极为深远的影响,被日本珍视为文化瑰宝。
  • 落日总是令人不安

    落日总是令人不安

    身后有个影子。这不是幻觉,它就在不远的地方,不紧不慢地跟着我,只要我转身,它就躲起来,隐藏在了一垛墙后,或是一个房子的拐角,幻觉中的影子一定脸色煞白,慌乱地喘着气。自从鄂桃花出事后,我的脑子总是出现幻觉,疑神疑鬼的,总觉得身后有个逼仄的影子形影不离。每次我转过身看时,身后空空荡荡的,除了清白的光,什么都没有。我能感觉它的存在,它等待着我的转身,只要我一转过身,它会继续跟着我。三个月前,我们小镇出了件大事,一个女税官用绳子勒死了新丰水泥厂的会计,然后弃尸在河里,当这个会计的尸体被泡成小水牛那么大后,顺流而下,卡在桥洞里,才被人发现。
  • 兽妃:鬼王的魔后

    兽妃:鬼王的魔后

    现代佣兵女王穿越成受气古家二小姐,安心!她能呼禽唤兽,使琴攻音,还有令人闻风丧胆的鬼王和她斗,穿越来的日子自是非常潇洒,她要好好享受新的生命。
  • 做个人见人爱的性格美女

    做个人见人爱的性格美女

    性格与美丽是相辅相成的。本书比较全面和具体地介绍了好性格的好处以及如何提升自己的性格修养。例如,好的性格可以给人带来好运、健康的身体、较好的人脉等以及女人如何控制自己的情绪、做个精致的女人呢等。
  • 请你破案(长篇连载一)

    请你破案(长篇连载一)

    眼下的时间刚好是上午9点钟,JR?尤因上班已经有一个多小时了。在这段时间里,他根据不同时差,分别往十多个国家打了十多个电话,仔细阅读了一个相当复杂的财务报告,将《华尔街日报》从头到尾看了一遍,并在香港的金融市场上根据英镑与日元之间的暂时差价,一出一进给自己净赚了六万二千美元。此时此刻,他心里正盘算着寻些小小的开心事放松一下。“菲利斯,”他拿起与他的秘书串联的内部电话说,“现在,你可以让乔治?厄普菲尔德进来了。”
  • 中国当代文学经典必读·2014短篇小说卷

    中国当代文学经典必读·2014短篇小说卷

    本书收录的作品包括:《传染记》、《女人和狐狸的一个上午》、《我们的塔希提》、《父亲的后视镜》、《红山羊》、《大师》等。
  • 赵太祖三下南唐

    赵太祖三下南唐

    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。
  • 陡峭(中国好小说)

    陡峭(中国好小说)

    讲述了外乡广告业务员江小藻因为儿时的一场意外在城市到处漂泊寻人的故事,这之中穿插了与马小剑的爱情故事。结构精巧,语言生动,笑中带泪。