the expedition of humphry clinker-第45部分
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tears into the eyes of all present。 The poor widow was put to bed
again； and we did not leave the village without doing something
for her benefit Even Tabitha's charity was awakened on this
occasion。 As for the tender…hearted Humphry Clinker； he hammered
the iron and wept at the same time But his ingenuity was not
confined to his own province of farrier and black…smith It was
necessary to join the leather sling； which had been broke； and
this service he likewise performed； by means of a broken awl；
which he new…pointed and ground； a little hemp； which he spun
into lingels； and a few tacks which he made for the purpose。 Upon
the whole； we were in a condition to proceed in little more than
an hour； but even this delay obliged us to pass the night at
Gisborough Next day we crossed the Tees at Stockton； which is a
neat agreeable town； and there we resolved to dine； with purpose
to lie at Durham。
Whom should we meet in the yard； when we alighted； but Martin the
adventurer？ Having handed out the ladies； and conducted them into
an apartment； where he payed his compliments to Mrs Tabby； with
his usual address； he begged leave to speak to my uncle in
another room； and there； in some confusion； he made an apology
for having taken the liberty to trouble him with a letter at
Stevenage。 He expressed his hope； that Mr Bramble had bestowed
some consideration on his unhappy case； and repeated his desire
of being taken into his service。
My uncle； calling me into the room； told him； that we were both
very well inclined to rescue him from a way of life that was
equally dangerous and dishonourable； and that he should have no
scruples in trusting to his gratitude and fidelity； if he had any
employment for him； which he thought would suit his
qualifications and his circumstances； but that all the
departments he had mentioned in his letter； were filled up by
persons of whose conduct he had no reason to complain； of
consequence he could not； without injustice； deprive any one of
them of his bread。 Nevertheless； he declared himself ready to
assist him in any feasible project； either with his purse or
credit。
Martin seemed deeply touched at this declaration The tear
started in his eye； while he said； in a faultering accent
'Worthy sir your generosity oppresses me I never dreamed of
troubling you for any pecuniary assistance indeed I have no
occasion I have been so lucky at billiards and betting in
different places； at Buxton； Harrigate； Scarborough； and
Newcastle races； that my stock in ready…money amounts to three
hundred pounds； which I would willingly employ； in prosecuting
some honest scheme of life； but my friend； justice Buzzard； has
set so many springs for my life； that I am under the necessity of
either retiring immediately to a remote part of the country；
where I can enjoy the protection of some generous patron； or of
quitting the kingdom altogether。 It is upon this alternative that
I now beg leave to ask your advice。 I have had information of all
your route； since I had the honour to see you at Stevenage； and；
supposing you would come this way from Scarborough； I came hither
last night from Darlington； to pay you my respects。'
'It would be no difficult matter to provide you with an asylum in
the country （replied my uncle）； but a life of indolence and
obscurity would not suit with your active and enterprizing
disposition I would therefore advise you to try your fortune in
the East Indies I will give you a letter to a friend in London；
who will recommend you to the direction； for a commission in the
company's service； and if that cannot be obtained； you will at
least be received as a volunteer in which case； you may pay for
your passage； and I shall undertake to procure you such
credentials； that you will not be long without a commission。'
Martin embraced the proposal with great eagerness； it was
therefore resolved； that he should sell his horse； and take a
passage by sea for London； to execute the project without delay
In the mean time he accompanied us to Durham； were we took up our
quarters for the night。 Here； being furnished with letters from my
uncle； he took his leave of us； with strong symptoms of gratitude
and attachment； and set out for Sunderland； in order to embark in
the first collier； bound for the river Thames。 He had not been
gone half an hour； when we were joined by another character；
which promised something extraordinary A tall； meagre figure；
answering； with his horse； the description of Don Quixote mounted
on Rozinante； appeared in the twilight at the inn door； while my
aunt and Liddy stood at a window in the dining…room He wore a
coat； the cloth of which had once been scarlet； trimmed with
Brandenburgs； now totally deprived of their metal； and he had
holstercaps and housing of the same stuff and same antiquity。
Perceiving ladies at the window above； he endeavoured to dismount
with the most graceful air he could assume； but the ostler
neglecting to hold the stirrup when he wheeled off his right
foot； and stood with his whole weight on the other； the girth
unfortunately gave way； the saddle turned； down came the cavalier
to the ground； and his hat and perriwig falling off； displayed a
head…piece of various colours； patched and plaistered in a woeful
condition The ladies； at the window above； shrieked with
affright； on the supposition that the stranger had received some
notable damages in his fall； but the greatest injury he had
sustained arose from the dishonour of his descent； aggravated by
the disgrace of exposing the condition of his cranium； for
certain plebeians that were about the door； laughed aloud； in the
belief that the captain had got either a scald head； or a broken
head； both equally opprobrious。
He forthwith leaped up in a fury； and snatching one of his
pistols； threatened to put the ostler to death； when another
squall from the women checked his resentment。 He then bowed to
the window； while he kissed the butt…end of his pistol； which he
replaced； adjusted his wig in great confusion； and led his horse
into the stable By this time I had come to the door； and could
not help gazing at the strange figure that presented itself to my
view。 He would have measured above six feet in height had he stood
upright； but he stooped very much； was very narrow in the
shoulders； and very thick in the calves of his legs； which were
cased in black spatterdashes As for his thighs； they were long
and slender； like those of a grasshopper； his face was； at least；
half a yard in length； brown and shrivelled； with projecting
cheek…bones； little grey eyes on the greenish hue； a large hook…nose；
a pointed chin； a mouth from ear to car； very ill furnished
with teeth； and a high； narrow fore…head； well furrowed with
wrinkles。 His horse was exactly in the stile of its rider； a
resurrection of dry bones； which （as we afterwards learned） he
valued exceedingly； as the only present he had ever received in
his life。
Having seen this favourite steed properly accommodated in the
stable； he sent up his compliments to the ladies； begging
permission to thank them in person for the marks of concern they
had shewn at his disaster in the court yard As the 'squire said
they could not decently decline his visit； he was shewn up stairs
and paid his respects in the Scotch dialect； with much formality
'Leddies （said he）； perhaps ye may be scandaleezed at the
appearance of my heed made； when it was uncovered by accident；
but I can assure you； the condition you saw it in； is neither the
effects of diseases； nor of drunkenness： but an honest scar
received in the service of my country。' He then gave us to
understand； that having been wounded at Ticonderoga； in America；
a party of Indians rifled him； scalped him； broke his scull with
the blow of a tomahawk； and left him for dead on the field of
battle； but that being afterwards found with signs of life； he
had been cured in the French hospital； though the loss of
substance could not be repaired； so that the scull was left naked
in several places； and these he covered with patches。
There is no hold by which an Englishman is sooner taken than that
of compassion We were immediately interested in behalf of this
veteran。 Even Tabby's heart was melted； but our pity was warmed
with indignation； when we learned； that in the course of two
sanguinary wars； he had been wounded； maimed； mutilated； taken；
and enslaved； without ever having attained a higher rank than
that of lieutenant My uncle's eyes gleamed； and his nether lip
quivered； while he exclaimed； 'I vow to God； sir； your case is a
reproach to the service The injustice you have met with is so
flagrant' 'I must crave your pardon； sir （cried the other；
interrupting him）； I complain of no injustice I purchased an
ensigncy thirty years ago； and； in the course of service rose to
a lieutenant； according to my seniority' 'But in such a length
of time （resumed the 'squire）； you must have seen a great many
young officers put over your head' 'Nevertheless （said he）； I
have no cause to murmur They bought their preferment with their
money I had no money to carry to market that was my misfortune；
but no body was to blame' 'What！ no friend to advance a sum of
money？' （said Mr Bramble） 'Perhaps； I might have borrowed money
for the purchase of a company （answered the other）； but that loan
must have been refunded； and I did not chuse to incumber myself
with a debt of a thousand pounds； to be payed from an income of
ten shillings a…day。' 'So you have spent the best part of your
life （cried Mr Bramble）； your youth； your blood； and your
constitution； amidst the dangers； the difficulties； the horrors
and hardships of a war； for the consideration of three or four
shillings a…day a consideration ' 'Sir （replied the Scot； with
great warmth）； you are the man that does me injustice； if you say
or think I have been actuated by any such paltry consideration I
am a gentleman； and entered the service as other gentlemen do；
with such hopes and sentiments as honourable ambition inspires
If I have not been lucky in the lottery of life； so neither do I
think myself unfortunate I owe to no man a farthing； I
