from this world to the next-第23部分
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days; that there are no worse men than bad authors。 A remark of
the same kind hath been made on ugly women; and the truth of both
stands on one and the same reason; viz。; that they are both
tainted with that cursed and detestable vice of envy; which; as
it is the greatest torment to the mind it inhabits; so is it
capable of introducing into it a total corruption; and of
inspiring it to the commission of the most horrid crimes
imaginable。
〃My life was but short; for I soon pined myself to death with the
vice I just now mentioned。 Minos told me I was infinitely too
bad for Elysium; and as for the other place; the devil had sworn
he would never entertain a poet for Orpheus's sake: so I was
forced to return again to the place from whence I came。〃
CHAPTER XXV
Julian performs the parts of a knight and a dancing…master。
〃I now mounted the stage in Sicily; and became a knight…templar;
but; as my adventures differ so little from those I have
recounted you in the character of a common soldier; I shall not
tire you with repetition。 The soldier and the captain differ in
reality so little from one another; that it requires an accurate
judgment to distinguish them; the latter wears finer clothes; and
in times of success lives somewhat more delicately; but as to
everything else; they very nearly resemble one another。
〃My next step was into France; where fortune assigned me the part
of a dancing…master。 I was so expert in my profession that I was
brought to court in my youth; and had the heels of Philip de
Valois; who afterwards succeeded Charles the Fair; committed to
my direction。
〃I do not remember that in any of the characters in which I
appeared on earth I ever assumed to myself a greater dignity; or
thought myself of more real importance; than now。 I looked on
dancing as the greatest excellence of human nature; and on myself
as the greatest proficient in it。 And; indeed; this seemed to be
the general opinion of the whole court; for I was the chief
instructor of the youth of both sexes; whose merit was almost
entirely defined by the advances they made in that science which
I had the honor to profess。 As to myself; I was so fully
persuaded of this truth; that I not only slighted and despised
those who were ignorant of dancing; but I thought the highest
character I could give any man was that he made a graceful bow:
for want of which accomplishment I had a sovereign contempt for
most persons of learning; nay; for some officers in the army; and
a few even of the courtiers themselves。
〃Though so little of my youth had been thrown away in what they
call literature that I could hardly write and read; yet I
composed a treatise on education; the first rudiments of which;
as I taught; were to instruct a child in the science of coming
handsomely into a room。 In this I corrected many faults of my
predecessors; particularly that of being too much in a hurry; and
instituting a child in the sublimer parts of dancing before they
are capable of making their honors。
〃But as I have not now the same high opinion of my profession
which I had then; I shall not entertain you with a long history
of a life which consisted of borees and coupees。 Let it suffice
that I lived to a very old age and followed my business as long
as I could crawl。 At length I revisited my old friend Minos; who
treated me with very little respect and bade me dance back again
to earth。
〃I did so; and was now once more born an Englishman; bred up to
the church; and at length arrived to the station of a bishop。
〃Nothing was so remarkable in this character as my always
voting'10'。〃
'10' Here part of the manuscript is lost; and that a very
considerable one; as appears by the number of the next book
and chapter; which contains; I find; the history of Anna Boleyn;
but as to the manner in which it was introduced; or to whom the
narrative is told; we are totally left in the dark。 I have only
to remark; that this chapter is; in the original; writ in a
woman's hand: and; though the observations in it are; I think;
as excellent as any in the whole volume; there seems to be a
difference in style between this and the preceding chapters;
and; as it is the character of a woman which is related; I am
inclined to fancy it was really written by one of that sex。
BOOK XIX
CHAPTER VII
Wherein Anna Boleyn relates the history of her life。
〃I am going now truly to recount a life which from the time of
its ceasing has been; in the other world; the continual subject
of the cavils of contending parties; the one making me as black
as hell; the other as pure and innocent as the inhabitants of
this blessed place; the mist of prejudice blinding their eyes;
and zeal for what they themselves profess; making everything
appear in that light which they think most conduces to its honor。
〃My infancy was spent in my father's house; in those childish
plays which are most suitable to that state; and I think this was
one of the happiest parts of my life; for my parents were not
among the number of those who look upon their children as so many
objects of a tyrannic power; but I was regarded as the dear
pledge of a virtuous love; and all my little pleasures were
thought from their indulgence their greatest delight。 At seven
years old I was carried into France with the king's sister; who
was married to the French king; where I lived with a person of
quality; who was an acquaintance of my father's。 I spent my time
in learning those things necessary to give young persons of
fashion a polite education; and did neither good nor evil; but
day passed after day in the same easy way till I was fourteen;
then began my anxiety; my vanity grew strong; and my heart
fluttered with joy at every compliment paid to my beauty: and as
the lady with whom I lived was of a gay; cheerful disposition;
she kept a great deal of company; and my youth and charms made me
the continual object of their admiration。 I passed some little
time in those exulting raptures which are felt by every woman
perfectly satisfied with herself and with the behavior of others
towards her: I was; when very young; promoted to be maid of
honor to her majesty。 The court was frequented by a young
nobleman whose beauty was the chief subject of conversation in
all assemblies of ladies。 The delicacy of his person; added to a
great softness in his manner; gave everything he said and did
such an air of tenderness; that every woman he spoke to flattered
herself with being the object of his love。 I was one of those
who was vain enough of my own charms to hope to make a conquest
of him whom the whole court sighed for。 I now thought every
other object below my notice; yet the only pleasure I proposed to
myself in this design was; the triumphing over that heart which I
plainly saw all the ladies of the highest quality and the
greatest beauty would have been proud of possessing。 I was yet
too young to be very artful; but nature; without any assistance;
soon discovers to a man who is used to gallantry a woman's desire
to be liked by him; whether that desire arises from any
particular choice she makes of him; or only from vanity。 He soon
perceived my thoughts; and gratified my utmost wishes by
constantly preferring me before all other women; and exerting his
utmost gallantry and address to engage my affections。 This
sudden happiness; which I then thought the greatest I could have
had; appeared visible in all my actions; I grew so gay and so
full of vivacity that it made my person appear still to a better
advantage; all my acquaintance pretending to be fonder of me than
ever: though; young as I was; I plainly saw it was but pretense;
for through all their endeavors to the contrary envy would often
break forth in sly insinuations and malicious sneers; which gave
me fresh matter of triumph; and frequent opportunities of
insulting them; which I never let slip; for now first my female
heart grew sensible of the spiteful pleasure of seeing another
languish for what I enjoyed。 Whilst I was in the height of my
happiness her majesty fell ill of a languishing distemper; which
obliged her to go into the country for the change of air: my
place made it necessary for me to attend her; and which way he
brought it about I can't imagine; but my young hero found means
to be one of that small train that waited on my royal mistress;
although she went as privately as possible。 Hitherto all the
interviews I had ever had with him were in public; and I only
looked on him as the fitter object to feed that pride which had
no other view but to show its power; but now the scene was quite
changed。 My rivals; were all at a distance: the place we went
to was as charming as the most agreeable natural situation;
assisted by the greatest art; could make it; the pleasant
solitary walks the singing of birds; the thousand pretty romantic
scenes this delightful place afforded; gave a sudden turn to my
mind; my whole soul was melted into softness; and all my vanity
was fled。 My spark was too much used to affairs of this nature
not to perceive this change; at first the profuse transports of
his joy made me believe him wholly mine; and this belief gave me
such happiness that no language affords words to express it; and
can be only known to those who have felt it。 But this was of a
very short duration; for I soon found I had to do with one of
those men whose only end in the pursuit of a woman is to make her
fall a victim to an insatiable desire to be admired。 His designs
had succeeded; and now he every day grew colder; and; as if by
infatuation; my passion every day increased; and; notwithstanding
all my resolutions and endeavors to the contrary; my rage at the
disappointment at once both of my love and pride; and at the
finding a passion fixed in my breast I kn