the expedition of humphry clinker-第23部分

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good　lady；　for；　whenever　my　aunt　happens　to　speak　in　her
commendation；　I　observe　that　he　makes　wry　faces；　though　he　says
nothing　　Perhaps；　indeed；　these　grimaces　may　be　the　effect　of
pain　arising　from　the　gout　and　rheumatism；　with　which　he　is　sadly
distressed　　To　me；　however；　he　is　always　good…natured　and
generous；　even　beyond　my　wish。　Since　we　came　hither；　he　has　made
me　a　present　of　a　suit　of　clothes；　with　trimmings　and　laces；
which　cost　more　money　than　I　shall　mention；　and　Jery；　at　his
desire；　has　given　me　my　mother's　diamond　crops；　which　are　ordered
to　be　set　a…new；　so　that　it　won't　be　his　fault　if　I　do　not
glitter　among　the　stars　of　the　fourth　or　fifth　magnitude。　I　wish
my　weak　head　may　not　grow　giddy　in　the　midst　of　all　this
gallantry　and　dissipation；　though；　as　yet；　I　can　safely　declare；
I　could　gladly　give　up　all　these　tumultuous　pleasures；　for
country　solitude；　and　a　happy　retreat　with　those　we　love；　among
whom；　my　dear　Willis　will　always　possess　the　first　place　in　the
breast　of　her

Ever　affectionate；
LYDIA　MELFORD
LONDON；　May　31。



To　Sir　WATKIN　PHILLIPS；　of　Jesus　college；　Oxon。

DEAR　PHILLIPS；

I　send　you　this　letter；　franked　by　our　old　friend　Barton；　who　is
as　much　altered　as　it　was　possible　for　a　man　of　his　kidney　to　be。
Instead　of　the　careless；　indolent　sloven　we　knew　at　Oxford；　I
found　him　a　busy　talkative　politician；　a　petit…maitre　in　his
dress；　and　a　ceremonious　courtier　in　his　manners。　He　has　not　gall
enough　in　his　constitution　to　be　enflamed　with　the　rancour　of
party；　so　as　to　deal　in　scurrilous　invectives；　but；　since　he
obtained　a　place；　he　is　become　a　warm　partizan　of　the　ministry；
and　sees　every　thing　through　such　an　exaggerating　medium；　as　to
me；　who　am　happily　of　no　party；　is　altogether　incomprehensible　
Without　all　doubt；　the　fumes　of　faction　not　only　disturb　the
faculty　of　reason；　but　also　pervert　the　organs　of　sense；　and　I
would　lay　a　hundred　guineas　to　ten；　that　if　Barton　on　one　side；
and　the　most　conscientious　patriot　in　the　opposition　on　the
other；　were　to　draw；　upon　honour；　the　picture　of　the　k＇ing＇　or
m＇inisters＇；　you　and　I；　who　are　still　uninfected；　and　unbiased；
would　find　both　painters　equally　distant　from　the　truth。　One
thing；　however；　must　be　allowed　for　the　honour　of　Barton；　he
never　breaks　out　into　illiberal　abuse；　far　less　endeavours；　by
infamous　calumnies；　to　blast　the　moral　character　of　any
individual　on　the　other　side。

Ever　since　we　came　hither；　he　has　been　remarkably　assiduous　in
his　attention　to　our　family；　an　attention；　which；　in　a　man　of　his
indolence　and　avocations；　I　should　have　thought　altogether　odd；
and　even　unnatural；　had　not　I　perceived　that　my　sister　Liddy　had
made　some　impression　upon　his　heart。　I　cannot　say　that　I　have　any
objection　to　his　trying　his　fortune　in　this　pursuit：　if　an
opulent　estate　and　a　great　flock　of　good…nature　are　sufficient
qualifications　in　a　husband；　to　render　the　marriage…state　happy
for　life；　she　may　be　happy　with　Barton；　but；　I　imagine；　there　is
something　else　required　to　engage　and　secure　the　affection　of　a
woman　of　sense　and　delicacy：　something　which　nature　has　denied
our　friend　　Liddy　seems　to　be　of　the　same　opinion。　When　he
addresses　himself　to　her　in　discourse；　she　seems　to　listen　with
reluctance；　and　industriously　avoids　all　particular
communication；　but　in　proportion　to　her　coyness；　our　aunt　is
coming。　Mrs　Tabitha　goes　more　than　half　way　to　meet　his　advances；
she　mistakes；　or　affects　to　mistake；　the　meaning　of　his　courtesy；
which　is　rather　formal　and　fulsome；　she　returns　his　compliments
with　hyperbolical　interest；　she　persecutes　him　with　her
civilities　at　table；　she　appeals　to　him　for　ever　in　conversation；
she　sighs；　and　flirts；　and　ogles；　and　by　her　hideous　affectation
and　impertinence；　drives　the　poor　courtier　to　the　very　extremity
of　his　complaisance；　in　short；　she　seems　to　have　undertaken　the
siege　of　Barton's　heart；　and　carries　on　her　approaches　in　such　a
desperate　manner；　that　I　don't　know　whether　he　will　not　be
obliged　to　capitulate。　In　the　mean　time；　his　aversion　to　this
inamorata　struggling　with　his　acquired　affability；　and　his
natural　fear　of　giving　offence；　throws　him　into　a　kind　of
distress　which　is　extremely　ridiculous。

Two　days　ago；　he　persuaded　my　uncle　and　me　to　accompany　him　to　St
James's；　where　he　undertook　to　make　us　acquainted　with　the
persons　of　all　the　great　men　in　the　kingdom；　and；　indeed；　there
was　a　great　assemblage　of　distinguished　characters；　for　it　was　a
high　festival　at　court。　Our　conductor　performed　his　promise　with
great　punctuality。　He　pointed　out　almost　every　individual　of　both
sexes；　and　generally　introduced　them　to　our　notice；　with　a
flourish　of　panegyrick　　Seeing　the　king　approach；　'There　comes
（said　he）　the　most　amiable　sovereign　that　ever　swayed　the　sceptre
of　England：　the　delicioe　humani　generis；　Augustus；　in　patronizing
merit；　Titus　Vespasian　in　generosity；　Trajan　in　beneficence；　and
Marcus　Aurelius　in　philosophy。'　'A　very　honest　kind　hearted
gentleman　（added　my　uncle）　he's　too　good　for　the　times。　A　king　of
England　should　have　a　spice　of　the　devil　in　his　composition。'
Barton；　then　turning　to　the　duke　of　C＇umberland＇；　proceeded；　
'You　know　the　duke；　that　illustrious　hero；　who　trode　rebellion
under　his　feet；　and　secured　us　in　possession　of　every　thing　we
ought　to　hold　dear；　as　English　men　and　Christians。　Mark　what　an
eye；　how　penetrating；　yet　pacific！　what　dignity　in　his　mien！　what
humanity　in　his　aspect　　Even　malice　must　own；　that　he　is　one　of
the　greatest　officers　in　Christendom。'　'I　think　he　is　（said　Mr
Bramble）　but　who　are　these　young　gentlemen　that　stand　beside
him？'　'Those！　（cried　our　friend）　those　are　his　royal　nephews；　the
princes　of　the　blood。　Sweet
young　princes！　the　sacred　pledges　of　the　Protestant　line；　so
spirited；　so　sensible；　so　princely'　　'Yes；　very　sensible！　very
spirited！　（said　my　uncle；　interrupting　him）　but　see　the　queen！
ha；　there's　the　queen！　　There's　the　queen！　let　me　see　　Let　me
see　　Where　are　my　glasses？　ha！　there's　meaning　in　that　eye　
There's　sentiment　　There's　expression　　Well；　Mr　Barton；　what
figure　do　you　call　next？'　The　next　person　he　pointed　out；　was　the
favourite　yearl；　who　stood　solitary　by　one　of　the　windows　
'Behold　yon　northern　star　（said　he）　shorn　of　his　beams'　　'What！
the　Caledonian　luminary；　that　lately　blazed　so　bright　in　our
hemisphere！　methinks；　at　present；　it　glimmers　through　a　fog；　like
Saturn　without　his　ring；　bleak；　and　dim；　and　distant　　Ha；　there's
the　other　great　phenomenon；　the　grand　pensionary；　that
weathercock　of　patriotism　that　veers　about　in　every　point　of　the
political　compass；　and　still　feels　the　wind　of　popularity　in　his
tail。　He　too；　like　a　portentous　comet；　has　risen　again　above　the
court…horizon；　but　how　long　he　will　continue　to　ascend；　it　is　not
easy　to　foretell；　considering　his　great　eccentricity　　Who　are
those　two　satellites　that　attend　his　motions？'　When　Barton　told
him　their　names；　'To　their　characters　（said　Mr　Bramble）　I　am　no
stranger。　One　of　them；　without　a　drop　of　red　blood　in　his　veins；
has　a　cold　intoxicating　vapour　in　his　head；　and　rancour　enough　in
his　heart　to　inoculate　and　affect　a　whole　nation。　The　other　is　（I
hear）　intended　for　a　share　in　the　ad＇ministratio＇n；　and　the
pensionary　vouches　for　his　being　duly　qualified　　The　only
instance　I　ever　heard　of　his　sagacity；　was　his　deserting　his
former　patron；　when　he　found　him　declining　in　power；　and　in
disgrace　with　the　people。　Without　principle；　talent；　or
intelligence；　he　is　ungracious　as　a　hog；　greedy　as　a　vulture；　and
thievish　as　a　jackdaw；　but；　it　must　be　owned；　he　is　no　hypocrite。
He　pretends　to　no　virtue；　and　takes　no　pains　to　disguise　his
character　　His　ministry　will　be　attended　with　one　advantage；　no
man　will　be　disappointed　by　his　breach　of　promise；　as　no　mortal
ever　trusted　to　his　word。　I　wonder　how　lord　first　discovered
this　happy　genius；　and　for　what　purpose　lord　has　now　adopted
him：　but　one　would　think；　that　as　amber　has　a　power　to　attract
dirt；　and　straws；　and　chaff；　a　minister　is　endued　with　the　same
kind　of　faculty；　to　lick　up　every　knave　and　blockhead　in　his
way'　　His　eulogium　was　interrupted　by　the　arrival　of　the　old　duke
of　N；　who；　squeezing　into　the　circle　with　a　busy　face　of
importance；　thrust　his　head　into　every　countenance；　as　if　he　had
been　in　search　of　somebody；　to　whom　he　wanted　to　impart　something
of　great　consequence　　My　uncle；　who　had　been　formerly　known　to
him；　bowed　as　he　passed；　and　the　duke　seeing　himself　saluted　so
respectfully　by　a　well…dressed　person；　was　not　slow　in　returning
the　courtesy　　He　even　came　up；　and；　taking　him　cordially　by　the
hand；　'My　dear　friend；　Mr　A　（said　he）　I　am　rejoiced　to　see　you　
How　long　have　you　been　come　from　abroad？　　How　did　you　leave　our
good　friends　the　Dutch？　The　king　of　Prussia　don't　think　of
another　war；　ah？　　He's　a　great　king！　a　great　conqueror！　a　very
great　conqueror！　Your　Alexanders　and　Hannibals　were　nothing；　at
all　to　him；　sir　　Corporals！　drummers！　dross！　mere　trash　　Damned
trash；　heh？'　　His　grace　being　by　this　time　out　of　breath；　my
uncle　took　the　opportunity　to　tell　him　he　had　not　been　out　of
England；　that　his　name　was　Bramble；　and　that　he　had　the　honour　to
sit　in　the　last　parliament　but　one　of　the　late　king；　as
representative　for　the　borough　of　Dymkymraig。　'Odso！　（cried　the
duke）　I　remember　you　perfectly　well；　my　dear　Mr　Bramble　　You　was
always　a　good　and　loyal　subject　　a　stanch　friend　to
administration　　I　made　your　brother　an　Irish　bishop'　　'Pardon　me；
my　lord　（said　the　squire）　I　once　had　a　brother；　but　he　was　a
captain　in　the　army'　　'Ha！　（said　his　grace）　he　was　so　　He　was；
indeed！　But　who　was　the　Bishop　then！　Bishop　Blackberry　　Sure　it
was　bishop　Blackberry。　Perhaps　some　relation　of　yours'　　'Very
likely；　my　lord　（replied　my　uncle）；　the　Blackberry　is　the　fruit
of　the　Bramble　　But；　I　believe；　the　bishop　is　not　a　berry　of　our
bush'　　'No　more　he　is　　No　more　he　is；　ha；　ha；　ha！　（exclaimed　the
duke）　there　you　gave　me　a　scratch；　good　Mr　Bramble；　ha；　ha；　ha！　
Well；　I　shall　be　glad　to　see　you　at　Lincoln's　inn…fields　　You
know　the　way　　Times　are　altered。　Though　I　have　lost　the　power；　I
retain　the　inclination　　Your　very　humble　servant；　good　Mr
Blackberry'　　So　s