father damien-第4部分
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How do you know that？ Is this the nature of conversation in that
house on Beretania Street which the cabman envied； driving past？ …
racy details of the misconduct of the poor peasant priest； toiling
under the cliffs of Molokai？
Many have visited the station before me； they seem not to have
heard the rumour。 When I was there I heard many shocking tales；
for my informants were men speaking with the plainness of the
laity； and I heard plenty of complaints of Damien。 Why was this
never mentioned？ and how came it to you in the retirement of your
clerical parlour？
But I must not even seem to deceive you。 This scandal； when I read
it in your letter； was not new to me。 I had heard it once before；
and I must tell you how。 There came to Samoa a man from Honolulu；
he； in a public…house on the beach； volunteered the statement that
Damien had 〃contracted the disease from having connection with the
female lepers〃； and I find a joy in telling you how the report was
welcomed in a public…house。 A man sprang to his feet； I am not at
liberty to give his name； but from what I heard I doubt if you
would care to have him to dinner in Beretania Street。 〃You
miserable little …〃 （here is a word I dare not print； it
would so shock your ears）。 〃You miserable little ；〃 he
cried； 〃if the story were a thousand times true； can't you see you
are a million times a lower … for daring to repeat it？〃 I wish
it could be told of you that when the report reached you in your
house； perhaps after family worship； you had found in your soul
enough holy anger to receive it with the same expressions； ay； even
with that one which I dare not print； it would not need to have
been blotted away； like Uncle Toby's oath； by the tears of the
recording angel； it would have been counted to you for your
brightest righteousness。 But you have deliberately chosen the part
of the man from Honolulu； and you have played it with improvements
of your own。 The man from Honolulu … miserable； leering creature …
communicated the tale to a rude knot of beach…combing drinkers in a
public…house； where （I will so far agree with your temperance
opinions） man is not always at his noblest； and the man from
Honolulu had himself been drinking … drinking； we may charitably
fancy； to excess。 It was to your 〃Dear Brother； the Reverend H。 B。
Gage；〃 that you chose to communicate the sickening story； and the
blue ribbon which adorns your portly bosom forbids me to allow you
the extenuating plea that you were drunk when it was done。 Your
〃dear brother〃 … a brother indeed … made haste to deliver up your
letter （as a means of grace； perhaps） to the religious papers；
where； after many months； I found and read and wondered at it； and
whence I have now reproduced it for the wonder of others。 And you
and your dear brother have； by this cycle of operations； built up a
contrast very edifying to examine in detail。 The man whom you
would not care to have to dinner； on the one side； on the other；
the Reverend Dr。 Hyde and the Reverend H。 B。 Gage： the Apia bar…
room； the Honolulu manse。
But I fear you scarce appreciate how you appear to your fellow…men；
and to bring it home to you； I will suppose your story to be true。
I will suppose … and God forgive me for supposing it … that Damien
faltered and stumbled in his narrow path of duty； I will suppose
that； in the horror of his isolation； perhaps in the fever of
incipient disease； he； who was doing so much more than he had
sworn； failed in the letter of his priestly oath … he； who was so
much a better man than either you or me； who did what we have never
dreamed of daring … he too tasted of our common frailty。 〃O； Iago；
the pity of it！〃 The least tender should be moved to tears； the
most incredulous to prayer。 And all that you could do was to pen
your letter to the Reverend H。 B。 Gage！
Is it growing at all clear to you what a picture you have drawn of
your own heart？ I will try yet once again to make it clearer。 You
had a father： suppose this tale were about him； and some informant
brought it to you； proof in hand： I am not making too high an
estimate of your emotional nature when I suppose you would regret
the circumstance？ that you would feel the tale of frailty the more
keenly since it shamed the author of your days？ and that the last
thing you would do would be to publish it in the religious press？
Well； the man who tried to do what Damien did； is my father； and
the father of the man in the Apia bar； and the father of all who
love goodness； and he was your father too； if God had given you
grace to see it。
End
