登陆注册
5220400000091

第91章

Dine with the publisher-Religions-No animal food-Unprofitable discussions-Principles of criticism-The book market-Newgate lives-Goethe a drug-German acquirements-Moral dignity.

ON the Sunday I was punctual to my appointment to dine with the publisher.As I hurried along the square in which his house stood,my thoughts were fixed so intently on the great man,that I passed by him without seeing him.He had observed me,however,and joined me just as I was about to knock at the door.'Let us take a turn in the square,'said he,'we shall not dine for half an hour.'

'Well,'said he,as we were walking in the square,'what have you been doing since I last saw you?'

'I have been looking about London,'said I,'and I have bought the DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER;here it is.'

'Pray put it up,'said the publisher;'I don't want to look at such trash.Well,do you think you could write anything like it?'

'I do not,'said I.

'How is that?'said the publisher,looking at me.

'Because,'said I,'the man who wrote it seems to be perfectly well acquainted with his subject;and,moreover,to write from the heart.'

'By the subject you mean-'

'Religion.'

'And ain't you acquainted with religion?'

'Very little.'

'I am sorry for that,'said the publisher seriously,'for he who sets up for an author ought to be acquainted not only with religion,but religions,and indeed with all subjects,like my good friend in the country.It is well that I have changed my mind about the DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER,or I really don't know whom I could apply to on the subject at the present moment,unless to himself;and after all I question whether his style is exactly suited for an evangelical novel.'

'Then you do not wish for an imitation of the DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER?'

'I do not,sir;I have changed my mind,as I told you before;Iwish to employ you in another line,but will communicate to you my intentions after dinner.'

At dinner,beside the publisher and myself,were present his wife and son with his newly-married bride;the wife appeared a quiet respectable woman,and the young people looked very happy and good-natured;not so the publisher,who occasionally eyed both with contempt and dislike.Connected with this dinner there was one thing remarkable;the publisher took no animal food,but contented himself with feeding voraciously on rice and vegetables prepared in various ways.

'You eat no animal food,sir?'said I.

'I do not,sir,'said he;'I have forsworn it upwards of twenty years.In one respect,sir,I am a Brahmin.I abhor taking away life-the brutes have as much right to live as ourselves.'

'But,'said I,'if the brutes were not killed,there would be such a superabundance of them,that the land would be overrun with them.'

'I do not think so,sir;few are killed in India,and yet there is plenty of room.'

'But,'said I,'Nature intended that they should be destroyed,and the brutes themselves prey upon one another,and it is well for themselves and the world that they do so.What would be the state of things if every insect,bird,and worm were left to perish of old age?'

'We will change the subject,'said the publisher;'I have never been a friend of unprofitable discussions.'

I looked at the publisher with some surprise,I had not been accustomed to be spoken to so magisterially;his countenance was dressed in a portentous frown,and his eye looked more sinister than ever;at that moment he put me in mind of some of those despots of whom I had read in the history of Morocco,whose word was law.He merely wants power,thought I to myself,to be a regular Muley Mehemet;and then I sighed,for I remembered how very much I was in the power of that man.

The dinner over,the publisher nodded to his wife,who departed,followed by her daughter-in-law.The son looked as if he would willingly have attended them;he,however,remained seated;and,a small decanter of wine being placed on the table,the publisher filled two glasses,one of which he handed to myself,and the other to his son;saying,'Suppose you two drink to the success of the Review.I would join you,'said he,addressing himself to me,'but I drink no wine;if I am a Brahmin with respect to meat,I am a Mahometan with respect to wine.'

So the son and I drank success to the Review,and then the young man asked me various questions;for example-How I liked London?-Whether I did not think it a very fine place?-Whether I was at the play the night before?-and whether I was in the park that afternoon?He seemed preparing to ask me some more questions;but,receiving a furious look from his father,he became silent,filled himself a glass of wine,drank it off,looked at the table for about a minute,then got up,pushed back his chair,made me a bow,and left the room.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 因明入正理论

    因明入正理论

    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。
  • 重生小药农

    重生小药农

    "老天,有没有搞错,重活一世怎么还让咱当个孤儿?漂亮姐姐,包子弟弟,还有一家子极品?不用怕,且看我领着姐弟发家致富把钱赚,极品亲戚挨个挨个靠边站。只是,眼前这位小哥,你这是打算用两个包子就讨个媳妇回家吗?会不会太寒颤了啊……"
  • 三国大榜单:巅峰对决的历史余味

    三国大榜单:巅峰对决的历史余味

    基于《三国志》的“史料三国杀”,以榜单的形式书写三国历史!三国英雄的榜单有着值得挖掘的深意,他们的强弱盛衰之别,总蕴含着内在的逻辑与通则。任何高等级的博弈,都是一场智与力的综合角逐。一旦有人做出误判,强弱的转换总是立竿见影,由盛到衰往往转眼之间,新的博弈也势必随之重建。对历史有浓厚兴趣的人,请不要因为一部小说而轻视了正史。此份三国群英榜帮你解读三国间的博弈与均衡,解读三国史!
  • 压不垮的左宗棠

    压不垮的左宗棠

    为什么梁启超说左宗棠是“五百年来第一伟人”?为什么曾国藩说左宗棠才是“当今天下第一人”?为什么美国《时代》周刊将左宗棠与毛泽东、成吉思汗并列,称为全球最智慧的三位中国名人?左宗棠的旷世伟大到底是怎么炼成的?本书以当代鲜活的视角,入木三分地剖析左宗棠独具个性的政治韬略智慧,细致晒出“三千年未有之大变局”中晚清官场剧烈权斗的台前幕后和为官升迁之道。全景式展现左宗棠的传奇人生,更客观、更生动、更深刻。
  • 钱农部请师本末

    钱农部请师本末

    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。
  • 最强系统之万界主宰

    最强系统之万界主宰

    【火爆精品】Ps:本书内容极度舒适浩军:”异族不可踏上地球的土地!‘’美女至尊:“那我们就建个浮空岛好啦,好不好嘛?”浩军:“老妖婆,滚回你的老巢去!”美女至尊目瞪口呆,掩面而走!入侵万界,我为主宰!
  • 如若有你,一世欢喜

    如若有你,一世欢喜

    人的一生中会迎来无数次的相聚与别离,唯有深爱过,才懂失去后的痛彻心扉。五年前她费尽心思追求他,然而最终却落得狼狈离场。五年后他炫目回归,成为身家亿万的总裁,手指却多了一枚婚戒……她曾经爱恋他三年追逐他三年,如今却闭上心扉断了念想。他又是因为什么停滞了自己的回归,曾经放弃的代价,在今后的追逐中还能否换回重来一次的机会?有些人你也许并不知道她有多重要,直到你失去了她,直到你再遇见她……
  • The Belgian Twins

    The Belgian Twins

    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。
  • 大漠王妃

    大漠王妃

    失了父皇,她守孝三年;兄弟相残,她被迫和亲。离开家乡远嫁到大漠,离开青梅竹马成西域王妃。一个是倾国倾城的中原娇女,一个是潇洒不羁的边塞王爷,相识于战火纷飞,结合于乱世之初。王宫心计,他左拥右抱负她一片真心。山河破败,他一众铁骑夺取她故国家园。幼子早夭,他悔过不该却再不曾闻她清脆笑声。后来的后来,他的兄长霸了她的江山,毁了她的家乡……这乱世中的真情,是否真的就此结束了?
  • 胡雪岩发迹史

    胡雪岩发迹史

    胡雪岩到底是个什么样的人?他是如何从穷乡僻壤走入富丽堂皇的大都市的?又是怎样一步步地走近和他命运息息相关的钱庄?他生命中的两个大贵人是谁?左宗棠是个什么样的人?他和胡雪岩是怎样互相扶持的?王有龄又是何方神圣?他在胡雪岩的生命中扮演了怎样的角色?神奇的胡雪岩是怎么主导中外大商战的?最后他又为何会一败涂地?到底是谁给了他致命一击……想要知道这些问题的答案吗,那么就请打开《胡雪岩发迹史》,让我们一起回到历史的轮回中,去重新品味那段充满传奇色彩的历史乐章吧!