the expedition of humphry clinker-第16部分
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phantoms before my eyes； gave me a swimming of the head； which
was also affected by the fouled air； circulating through such a
number of rotten human bellows。 I therefore retreated towards the
door； and stood in the passage to the next room； talking to my
friend Quin； when an end being put to the minuets； the benches
were removed to make way for the country…dances； and the
multitude rising at once； the whole atmosphere was put in
commotion。 Then； all of a sudden； came rushing upon me an
Egyptian gale； so impregnated with pestilential vapours； that my
nerves were overpowered； and I dropt senseless upon the floor。
You may easily conceive what a clamour and confusion this
accident must have produced； in such an assembly I soon
recovered； however； and found myself in an easy chair； supported
by my own people Sister Tabby； in her great tenderness； had put
me to the torture； squeezing my hand under her arm； and stuffing
my nose with spirit of hartshorn； till the whole inside was
excoriated。 I no sooner got home； than I sent for Doctor Ch；
who assured me I needed not be alarmed； for my swooning was
entirely occasioned by an accidental impression of fetid effluvia
upon nerves of uncommon sensibility。 I know not how other
people's nerves are constructed； but one would imagine they must
be made of very coarse materials； to stand the shock of such a
torrid assault。 It was； indeed； a compound of villainous smells；
in which the most violent stinks； and the most powerful perfumes；
contended for the mastery。 Imagine to yourself a high exalted
essence of mingled odours； arising from putrid gums；
imposthumated lungs； sour flatulencies； rank armpits； sweating
feet； running sores and issues； plasters； ointments； and
embrocations； hungary…water； spirit of lavender； assafoetida
drops； musk； hartshorn； and sal volatile； besides a thousand
frowzy steams； which I could not analyse。 Such； O Dick！ is the
fragrant aether we breathe in the polite assemblies of Bath Such
is the atmosphere I have exchanged for the pure； elastic；
animating air of the Welsh mountains O Rus； quando te aspiciam！…
I wonder what the devil possessed me
But few words are best： I have taken my resolution You may well
suppose I don't intend to entertain the company with a second
exhibition I have promised； in an evil hour； to proceed to
London； and that promise shall be performed； but my stay in the
metropolis shall be brief。 I have； for the benefit of my health；
projected an expedition to the North； which； I hope； will afford
some agreeable pastime。 I have never travelled farther that way
than Scarborough； and； I think； it is a reproach upon me； as a
British freeholder； to have lived so long without making an
excursion to the other side of the Tweed。 Besides； I have some
relations settled in Yorkshire； to whom it may not be improper to
introduce my nephew and his sister At present； I have nothing to
add； but that Tabby is happily disentangled from the Irish
Baronet； and that I will not fail to make you acquainted； from
time to time； with the sequel of our adventures： a mark of
consideration； which； perhaps； you would willingly dispense with
in
Your humble servant；
M。 BRAMBLE
BATH； May 8。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR PHILLIPS；
A few days ago we were terribly alarmed by my uncle's fainting at
the ball He has been ever since cursing his own folly； for going
thither at the request of an impertinent woman。 He declares； he
will sooner visit a house infected with the plague； than trust
himself in such a nauseous spital for the future； for he swears
the accident was occasioned by the stench of the crowd； and that
he would never desire a stronger proof of our being made of very
gross materials； than our having withstood the annoyance； by
which he was so much discomposed。 For my part； I am very thankful
for the coarseness of my organs； being in no danger of ever
falling a sacrifice to the delicacy of my nose。 Mr Bramble is
extravagantly delicate in all his sensations； both of soul and
body。 I was informed by Dr Lewis； that he once fought a duel with
an officer of the horseguards； for turning aside to the Park…wall；
on a necessary occasion； when he was passing with a lady
under his protection。 His blood rises at every instance of
insolence and cruelty； even where he himself is no way concerned；
and ingratitude makes his teeth chatter。 On the other hand； the
recital of a generous； humane； or grateful action； never fails to
draw from him tears of approbation； which he is often greatly
distressed to conceal。
Yesterday； one Paunceford gave tea； on particular invitation
This man； after having been long buffetted by adversity； went
abroad； and Fortune； resolved to make him amends for her former
coyness； set him all at once up to the very ears in affluence。 He
has now emerged from obscurity； and blazes out in all the tinsel
of the times。 I don't find that he is charged with any practices
that the law deems dishonest； or that his wealth has made him
arrogant and inaccessible； on the contrary； he takes great pains
to appear affable and gracious。 But； they say； he is remarkable
for shrinking from his former friendships； which were generally
too plain and home…spun to appear amidst his present brilliant
connexions； and that he seems uneasy at sight of some old
benefactors； whom a man of honour would take pleasure to
acknowledge Be that as it may； he had so effectually engaged the
company at Bath； that when I went with my uncle to the
coffeehouse in the evening； there was not a soul in the room but
one person； seemingly in years； who sat by the fire； reading one
of the papers。 Mr Bramble； taking his station close by him；
'There is such a crowd and confusion of chairs in the passage to
Simpson's （said he） that we could hardly get along I wish those
minions of fortune would fall upon more laudable ways of spending
their money。 I suppose； Sir； you like this kind of entertainment
as little as I do？' 'I cannot say I have any great relish for
such entertainments；' answered the other； without taking his eyes
off the paper 'Mr Serle （resumed my uncle） I beg pardon for
interrupting you； but I can't resist the curiosity I have to know
if you received a card on this occasion？'
The man seemed surprised at this address； and made some pause； as
doubtful what answer he should make。 'I know my curiosity is
impertinent （added my uncle） but I have a particular reason for
asking the favour。' 'If that be the case （replied Mr Serle） I
shall gratify you without hesitation； by owning that I have had
no card。 But； give me leave； Sir； to ask in my turn； what reason
you think I have to expect such an invitation from the gentleman
who gives tea？' 'I have my own reasons （cried Mr Bramble； with
some emotion） and am convinced； more than ever； that this
Paunceford is a contemptible fellow。' 'Sir （said the other；
laying down the paper） I have not the honour to know you； but
your discourse is a little mysterious； and seems to require some
explanation。 The person you are pleased to treat so cavalierly；
is a gentleman of some consequence in the community； and； for
aught you know； I may also have my particular reasons for
defending his character' 'If I was not convinced of the contrary
（observed the other） I should not have gone so far' 'Let me tell
you； Sir （said the stranger； raising his voice） you have gone too
far； in hazarding such reflections'。
Here he was interrupted by my uncle； who asked peevishly if he
was Don Quixote enough； at this time of day； to throw down his
gauntlet as champion for a man who had treated him with such
ungrateful neglect。 'For my part （added he） I shall never quarrel
with you again upon this subject； and what I have said now； has
been suggested as much by my regard for you； as by my contempt of
him' Mr Serle； then pulling off his spectacles； eyed uncle very
earnestly； saying； in a mitigated tone； 'Surely I am much
obliged Ah； Mr Bramble！ I now recollect your features； though I
have not seen you these many years。' 'We might have been less
strangers to one another （answered the squire） if our
correspondence had not been interrupted； in consequence of a
misunderstanding； occasioned by this very ； but no matter Mr
Serle； I esteem your character； and my friendship； such as it is；
you may freely command。' 'The offer is too agreeable to be
declined （said he）； I embrace it very cordially； and； as the
first fruits of it； request that you will change this subject；
which； with me； is a matter of peculiar delicacy。'
My uncle owned he was in the right； and the discourse took a more
general turn。 Mr Serle passed the evening with us at our
lodgings； and appeared to be intelligent； and even entertaining；
but his disposition was rather of a melancholy hue。 My uncle says
he is a man of uncommon parts； and unquestioned probity： that his
fortune； which was originally small； has been greatly hurt by a
romantic spirit of generosity； which he has often displayed； even
at the expence of his discretion； in favour of worthless
individuals That he had rescued Paunceford from the lowest
distress； when he was bankrupt； both in means and reputation
That he had espoused his interests with a degree of enthusiasm；
broke with several friends； and even drawn his sword against my
uncle； who had particular reasons for questioning the moral
character of the said Paunceford： that； without Serle's
countenance and assistance； the other never could have embraced
the opportunity； which has raised him to this pinnacle of wealth：
that Paunceford； in the first transports of his success； had
written； from abroad； letters to different correspondents； owning
his obligations to Mr Serle； in the warmest terms of
acknowledgement； and declared he considered himself only as a
factor for the occasions of his best friend： that； without doubt；
he had made declarations of the same nature to his benefactor
himself； though this last was always silent and reserved on the
subject； but for some years； those tropes and figures of rhetoric
had been disused； that； upon his return to England； he had been
lavish in his caresses to Mr Serle； invited him to hi
