按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
time of Sir Charles； to whom we have before alluded。 Others are of
opinion that he was a legitimate son of old Lady Magna Charta； although
he was long concealed and kept out of his birthright。 Certain it is that he
was a very benevolent person。 Whenever any poor fellow was taken up
on grounds which he thought insufficient； he used to attend on his behalf
and bail him； and thus he had become so popular； that to take direct
measures against him was out of the question。
The steward； accordingly； brought a dozen physicians to examine Sir
Habeas。 After consultation； they reported that he was in a very bad way；
and ought not； on any account； to be allowed to stir out for several months。
Fortified with this authority； the parish officers put him to bed； closed his
windows； and barred his doors。 They paid him every attention； and from
time to time issued bulletins of his health。 The steward never spoke of
him without declaring that he was the best gentleman in the world； but
excellent care was taken that he should never stir out of doors。
When this obstacle was removed； the Squire and the steward kept the
parish in excellent order； flogged this man； sent that man to the stocks； and
pushed forward the law…suit with a noble disregard of expense。 They
were； however； wanting either in skill or in fortune。 And everything went
against them after their antagonists had begun to employ Solicitor Nap。
Who does not know the name of Solicitor Nap？ At what alehouse is
not his behaviour discussed？ In what print…shop is not his picture seen？
Yet how little truth has been said about him！ Some people hold that he
used to give laudanum by pints to his six clerks for his amusement。
Others； whose number has very much increased since he was killed by the
83
… Page 84…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
gaol distemper； conceive that he was the very model of honour and good…
nature。 I shall try to tell the truth about him。
He was assuredly an excellent solicitor。 In his way he never was
surpassed。 As soon as the parish began to employ him； their cause took a
turn。 In a very little time they were successful； and Nap became rich。
He now set up for a gentleman； took possession of the old manor…house；
got into the commission of the peace； and affected to be on a par with the
best of the county。 He governed the vestries as absolutely as the old family
had done。 Yet； to give him his due； he managed things with far more
discretion than either Sir Lewis or the rioters who had pulled the Lords of
the Manor down。 He kept his servants in tolerable order。 He removed
the steel traps from the highways and the corners of the streets。 He still
left a few indeed in the more exposed parts of his premises； and set up a
board announcing that traps and spring guns were set in his grounds。 He
brought the poor parson back to the parish； and； though he did not enable
him to keep a fine house and a coach as formerly； he settled him in a snug
little cottage； and allowed him a pleasant pad…nag。 He whitewashed the
church again； and put the stocks； which had been much wanted of late；
into good repair。
With the neighbouring gentry； however； he was no favourite。 He was
crafty and litigious。 He cared nothing for right； if he could raise a point
of law against them。 He pounded their cattle； broke their hedges； and
seduced their tenants from them。 He almost ruined Lord Caesar with
actions； in every one of which he was successful。 Von Blunderbussen
went to law with him for an alleged trespass； but was cast； and almost
ruined by the costs of suit。 He next took a fancy to the seat of Squire
Don； who was； to say the truth； little better than an idiot。 He asked the
poor dupe to dinner； and then threatened to have him tossed in a blanket
unless he would make over his estates to him。 The poor Squire signed
and sealed a deed by which the property was assigned to Joe； a brother of
Nap's； in trust for and to the use of Nap himself。 The tenants； however；
stood out。 They maintained that the estate was entailed； and refused to
pay rents to the new landlord； and in this refusal they were stoutly
supported by the people in St George's。
84
… Page 85…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
About the same time Nap took it into his head to match with quality；
and nothing would serve him but one of the Miss Germains。 Lord Caesar
swore like a trooper； but there was no help for it。 Nap had twice put
executions in his principal residence； and had refused to discharge the
latter of the two till he had extorted a bond from his Lordship which
compelled him to comply。
THE END OF THE FIRST PART。
。。。
85
… Page 86…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN
MR ABRAHAM COWLEY AND
MR JOHN MILTON； TOUCHING
THE GREAT CIVIL WAR。
SET DOWN BY A GENTLEMAN
OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE
（August 1824）
〃Referre sermones Deorum et Magna modis tenuare parvis。〃Horace。
I have thought it good to set down in writing a memorable debate；
wherein I was a listener； and two men of pregnant parts and great
reputation discoursers； hoping that my friends will not be displeased to
have a record both of the strange times through which I have lived； and of
the famous men with whom I have conversed。 It chanced in the warm
and beautiful spring of the year 1665； a little before the saddest summer
that ever London saw； that I went to the Bowling Green at Piccadilly；
whither； at that time； the best gentry made continual resorts。 There I met
Mr Cowley； who had lately left Barnelms。 There was then a house
preparing for him at Chertsey； and till it should be finished； he had come
up for a short time to London； that he might urge a suit to his Grace of
Buckingham touching certain lands of her Majesty's； whereof he requested
a lease。 I had the honour to be familiarly acquainted with that worthy
gentleman and most excellent poet； whose death hath been deplored with
as general a consent of all Powers that delight in the woods； or in verse； or
in love； as was of old that of Daphnis or of Callus。
After some talk； which it is not material to set down at large；
concerning his suit and his vexations at the court； where indeed his
honesty did him more harm than his parts could do him good； I entreated
86
… Page 87…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
him to dine with me at my lodging in the Temple； which he most
courteously promised。 And； that so eminent a guest might not lack a
better entertainment than cooks or vintners can provide； I sent to the house
of Mr John Milton； in the Artillery Walk； to beg that he would also be my
guest。 For； though he had been secretary； first to the Council of State； and；
after that； to the Protector； and Mr Cowley had held the same post under
the Lord St Albans in his banishment； I hoped； notwithstanding that they
would think themselves rather united by their common art than divided by
their different factions。 And so indeed it proved。 For； while we sat at
table； they talked freely of many men and things； as well ancient as
modern； with much civility。 Nay； Mr Milton； who seldom tasted wine；
both because of his singular temperance and because of his gout； did more
than once pledge Mr Cowley； who was indeed no hermit in diet。 At last；
being heated； Mr Milton begged that I would open the windows。 〃Nay；〃
said I； 〃if you desire fresh air and coolness； what sho