the expedition of humphry clinker-第15部分
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I know the looming of the vessel； though she has been hard
strained since we parted； but I can't heave up the name' The
moment I told him who I was； he exclaimed； 'Ha！ Matt； my old
fellow cruizer； still afloat！' And； starting up； hugged me in his
arms。 His transport； however； boded me no good； for； in saluting
me； he thrust the spring of his spectacles into my eye； and； at
the same time； set his wooden stump upon my gouty toe； an attack
that made me shed tears in sad earnest After the hurry of our
recognition was over； he pointed out two of our common friends in
the room： the bust was what remained of colonel Cockril； who had
lost the use of his limbs in making an American campaign； and the
telescope proved to be my college chum； sir Reginald Bently； who；
with his new title； and unexpected inheritance； commenced fox…hunter；
without having served his apprenticeship to the mystery；
and； in consequence of following the hounds through a river； was
seized with an inflammation of his bowels； which has contracted
him into his present attitude。
Our former correspondence was forthwith renewed； with the most
hearty expressions of mutual good…will； and as we had met so
unexpectedly； we agreed to dine together that very day at the
tavern。 My friend Quin； being luckily unengaged； obliged us with
his company； and； truly； this the most happy day I have passed
these twenty years。 You and I； Lewis； having been always
together； never tasted friendship in this high gout； contracted
from long absence。 I cannot express the half of what I felt at
this casual meeting of three or four companions； who had been so
long separated； and so roughly treated by the storms of life。 It
was a renovation of youth； a kind of resuscitation of the dead；
that realized those interesting dreams； in which we sometimes
retrieve our ancient friends from the grave。 Perhaps my enjoyment
was not the less pleasing for being mixed with a strain of
melancholy； produced by the remembrance of past scenes； that
conjured up the ideas of some endearing connexions； which the
hand of Death has actually dissolved。
The spirits and good humour of the company seemed to triumph over
the wreck of their constitutions。 They had even philosophy enough
to joke upon their own calamities； such is the power of
friendship； the sovereign cordial of life I afterwards found；
however； that they were not without their moments； and even hours
of disquiet。 Each of them apart； in succeeding conferences；
expatiated upon his own particular grievances； and they were all
malcontents at bottom Over and above their personal disasters；
they thought themselves unfortunate in the lottery of life。
Balderick complained； that all the recompence he had received for
his long and hard service； was the half…pay of a rear…admiral。
The colonel was mortified to see himself over…topped by upstart
generals； some of whom he had once commanded； and； being a man of
a liberal turn； could ill put up with a moderate annuity； for
which he had sold his commission。 As for the baronet； having run
himself considerably in debt； on a contested election； he has
been obliged to relinquish his seat in parliament； and his seat
in the country at the same time； and put his estate to nurse； but
his chagrin； which is the effect of his own misconduct； does not
affect me half so much as that of the other two； who have acted
honourable and distinguished parts on the great theatre； and are
now reduced to lead a weary life in this stew…pan of idleness and
insignificance。 They have long left off using the waters； after
having experienced their inefficacy。 The diversions of the place
they are not in a condition to enjoy。 How then do they make shift
to pass their time？ In the forenoon they crawl out to the Rooms
or the coffeehouse； where they take a hand at whist； or descant
upon the General Advertiser； and their evenings they murder in
private parties； among peevish invalids； and insipid old women
This is the case with a good number of individuals； whom nature
seems to have intended for better purposes。
About a dozen years ago； many decent families； restricted to
small fortunes； besides those that came hither on the score of
health； were tempted to settle at Bath； where they could then
live comfortably； and even make a genteel appearance； at a small
expence： but the madness of the times has made the place too hot
for them； and they are now obliged to think of other migrations
Some have already fled to the mountains of Wales； and others have
retired to Exeter。 Thither； no doubt； they will be followed by
the flood of luxury and extravagance； which will drive them from
place to place to the very Land's End； and there； I suppose； they
will be obliged to ship themselves to some other country。 Bath is
become a mere sink of profligacy and extortion。 Every article of
house…keeping is raised to an enormous price； a circumstance no
longer to be wondered at； when we know that every petty retainer
of fortune piques himself upon keeping a table； and thinks it is
for the honour of his character to wink at the knavery of his
servants； who are in a confederacy with the market…people； and；
of consequence； pay whatever they demand。 Here is now a mushroom
of opulence； who pays a cook seventy guineas a week for
furnishing him with one meal a day。 This portentous frenzy is
become so contagious； that the very rabble and refuse of mankind
are infected。 I have known a negro…driver； from Jamaica； pay
over…night； to the master of one of the rooms； sixty…five guineas
for tea and coffee to the company； and leave Bath next morning；
in such obscurity； that not one of his guests had the slightest
idea of his person； or even made the least inquiry about his
name。 Incidents of this kind are frequent； and every day teems
with fresh absurdities； which are too gross to make a thinking
man merry。
But I feel the spleen creeping on me apace； and therefore will
indulge you with a cessation； that you may have no unnecessary
cause to curse your correspondence with；
Dear Dick；
Yours ever；
MAT。 BRAMBLE
BATH； May 5。
To Miss LAETITIA WILLIS； at Gloucester。
MY DEAR LETTY；
I wrote you at great length by the post； the twenty…sixth of last
month； to which I refer you for an account of our proceedings at
Bath； and I expect your answer with impatience。 But； having this
opportunity of a private hand； I send you two dozen of Bath
rings； six of the best of which I desire you will keep for
yourself； and distribute the rest among the young ladies； our
common friends； as you shall think proper I don't know how you
will approve of the mottoes； some of them are not much to my own
liking； but I was obliged to take such as I could find ready
manufactured I am vexed； that neither you nor I have received
any further information of a certain person Sure it cannot be
wilful neglect！ O my dear Willis！ I begin to be visited by
strange fancies； and to have some melancholy doubts； which；
however； it would be ungenerous to harbour without further
inquiry My uncle； who has made me a present of a very fine set
of garnets； talks of treating us with a jaunt to London； which；
you may imagine； will be highly agreeable； but I like Bath so
well； that I hope he won't think of leaving it till the season is
quite over； and yet； betwixt friends； something has happened to
my aunt； which will probably shorten our stay in this place。
Yesterday； in the forenoon； she went by herself to a breakfasting
in one of the rooms； and； in half an hour； returned in great
agitation； having Chowder along with her in the chair。 I believe
some accident must have happened to that unlucky animal； which is
the great source of all her troubles。 Dear Letty！ what a pity it
is； that a woman of her years and discretion； should place her
affection upon such an ugly； ill…conditioned cur； that snarls and
snaps at every body。 I asked John Thomas； the footman who
attended her； what was the matter？ and he did nothing but grin。 A
famous dog…doctor was sent for； and undertook to cure the
patient； provided he might carry him home to his own house； but
his mistress would not part with him out of her own sight She
ordered the cook to warm cloths； which she applied to his bowels；
with her own hand。 She gave up all thoughts of going to the ball
in the evening； and when Sir Ulic came to drink tea； refused to
be seen； so that he went away to look for another partner。 My
brother Jery whistles and dances。 My uncle sometimes shrugs up
his shoulders； and sometimes bursts out a…laughing。 My aunt sobs
and scolds by turns； and her woman； Win。 Jenkins； stares and
wonders with a foolish face of curiosity； and； for my part； I am
as curious as she； but ashamed to ask questions。
Perhaps time will discover the mystery； for if it was any thing
that happened in the Rooms； it cannot be long concealed All I
know is； that last night at supper； miss Bramble spoke very
disdainfully of Sir Ulic Mackilligut； and asked her brother if he
intended to keep us sweltering all the summer at Bath？ 'No；
sister Tabitha （said he； with an arch smile） we shall retreat
before the Dog…days begin； though I make no doubt； that with a
little
