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！
their only regret is that they are so soon to quit it； but oh； ye
dear deluded hearts； it is not every one who is so fortunate！
To the generality of mankind there is no period like youth。 The
generality are far from fortunate； but the period of youth； even to
the least so； offers moments of considerable happiness； for they
are not only disposed but able to enjoy most things within their
reach。 With what trifles at that period are we content； the things
from which in after…life we should turn away in disdain please us
then； for we are in the midst of a golden cloud； and everything
seems decked with a golden hue。 Never during any portion of my
life did time flow on more speedily than during the two or three
years immediately succeeding the period to which we arrived in the
preceding chapter： since then it has flagged often enough；
sometimes it has seemed to stand entirely still； and the reader may
easily judge how it fares at the present； from the circumstance of
my taking pen in hand； and endeavouring to write down the passages
of my life … a last resource with most people。 But at the period
to which I allude I was just； as I may say； entering upon life； I
had adopted a profession； and； to keep up my character；
simultaneously with that profession … the study of a new language。
I speedily became a proficient in the one； but ever remained a
novice in the other： a novice in the law； but a perfect master in
the Welsh tongue。
Yes； very pleasant times were those； when within the womb of a
lofty deal desk； behind which I sat for some eight hours every day；
transcribing （when I imagined eyes were upon me） documents of every
description in every possible hand； Blackstone kept company with Ab
Gwilym … the polished English lawyer of the last century； who wrote
long and prosy chapters on the rights of things … with a certain
wild Welshman； who some four hundred years before that time indited
immortal cowydds and odes to the wives of Cambrian chieftains …
more particularly to one Morfydd； the wife of a certain hunchbacked
dignitary called by the poet facetiously Bwa Bach … generally
terminating with the modest request of a little private parlance
beneath the greenwood bough； with no other witness than the eos； or
nightingale； a request which； if the poet himself may be believed；
rather a doubtful point； was seldom； very seldom； denied。 And by
what strange chance had Ab Gwilym and Blackstone； two personages so
exceedingly different； been thus brought together？ From what the
reader already knows of me； he may be quite prepared to find me
reading the former； but what could have induced me to take up
Blackstone； or rather the law？
I have ever loved to be as explicit as possible； on which account；
perhaps； I never attained to any proficiency in the law； the
essence of which is said to be ambiguity； most questions may be
answered in a few words； and this among the rest； though connected
with the law。 My parents deemed it necessary that I should adopt
some profession； they named the law； the law was as agreeable to me
as any other profession within my reach； so I adopted the law； and
the consequence was； that Blackstone； probably for the first time；
found himself in company with Ab Gwilym。 By adopting the law I had
not ceased to be Lavengro。
So I sat behind a desk many hours in the day； ostensibly engaged in
transcribing documents of various kinds； the scene of my labours
was a strange old house； occupying one side of a long and narrow
court； into which； however； the greater number of the windows
looked not； but into an extensive garden； filled with fruit trees；
in the rear of a large； handsome house； belonging to a highly
respectable gentleman； who； moyennant un douceur considerable； had
consented to instruct my father's youngest son in the mysteries of
glorious English law。 Ah！ would that I could describe the good
gentleman in the manner which he deserves； he has long since sunk
to his place in a respectable vault； in the aisle of a very
respectable church； whilst an exceedingly respectable marble slab
against the neighbouring wall tells on a Sunday some eye wandering
from its prayer…book that his dust lies below； to secure such
respectabilities in death； he passed a most respectable life。 Let
no one sneer； he accomplished much； his life was peaceful； so was
his death。 Are these trifles？ I wish I could describe him； for I
loved the man； and with reason； for he was ever kind to me； to whom
kindness has not always been shown； and he was； moreover； a choice
specimen of a class which no longer exists … a gentleman lawyer of
the old school。 I would fain describe him； but figures with which
he has nought to do press forward and keep him from my mind's eye；
there they pass； Spaniard and Moor； Gypsy； Turk； and livid Jew。
But who is that？ what that thick pursy man in the loose； snuff…
coloured greatcoat； with the white stockings； drab breeches； and
silver buckles on his shoes； that man with the bull neck； and
singular head； immense in the lower part； especially about the
jaws； but tapering upward like a pear； the man with the bushy
brows； small gray eyes replete with catlike expression； whose
grizzled hair is cut close； and whose ear…lobes are pierced with
small golden rings？ Oh！ that is not my dear old master； but a
widely different personage。 Bon jour； Monsieur Vidocq！ expressions
de ma part a Monsieur Le Baron Taylor。 But here he comes at last；
my veritable old master！
A more respectable…looking individual was never seen； he really
looked what he was； a gentleman of the law … there was nothing of
the pettifogger about him： somewhat under the middle size； and
somewhat rotund in person； he was always dressed in a full suit of
black； never worn long enough to become threadbare。 His face was
rubicund； and not without keenness； but the most remarkable thing
about him was the crown of his head； which was bald； and shone like
polished ivory； nothing more white； smooth； and lustrous。 Some
people have said that he wore false calves； probably because his
black silk stockings never exhibited a wrinkle； they might just as
well have said that he waddled； because his shoes creaked； for
these last； which were always without a speck； and polished as his
crown； though of a different hue； did creak； as he walked rather
slowly。 I cannot say that I ever saw him walk fast。
He had a handsome practice； and might have died a very rich man；
much richer than he did； had he not been in the habit of giving
rather expensive dinners to certain great people； who gave him
nothing in return except their company； I could never discover his
reasons for doing so； as he always appeared to me a remarkably
quiet man； by nature averse to noise and bustle； but in all
dispositions there are anomalies： I have already said that he
lived in a handsome house； and I may as well here add that he had a
very handsome wife； who both dressed and talked exceedingly well。
So I sat behind the deal desk； engaged in copying documents of
various kinds； and in the apartment in which I sat； and in the
adjoining ones； there were others； some of whom likewise copied
documents； while some were engaged in the yet more difficult task
of drawing them up； and some of these； sons of nobody； were paid
for the work they did； whilst others； like myself； sons of
somebody； paid for being permitted to work； which； as our principal
observed； was but reasonable； forasmuch as we not unfrequently
utterly spoiled the greater part of the work intrusted to our
hands。
There was one part of the day when I generally found myself quite
alone； I mean at the hour when the rest went home to their
principal meal； I； being the youngest； was left to take care of the
premises； to answer the bell； and so forth； till relieved； which
was seldom before the expiration of an hour and a half； when I
myself went home； this period； however； was anything but
disagreeable to me； for it was then that I did what best pleased
me； and； leaving off copying the documents； I sometimes indulged in
a fit of musing； my chin resting on both my hands； and my elbows
planted on the desk； or； opening the desk aforesaid； I would take
out one of the books contained within it； and the book which I took
out was almost invariably； not Blackstone； but Ab Gwilym。
Ah； that Ab Gwilym！ I am much indebted to him； and it were
ungrateful on my part not to devote a few lines to him and his
songs in this my history。 Start not； reader； I am not going to
trouble you with a poetical dissertation； no； no； I know my duty
too well to introduce anything of the kind； but I； who imagine I
know several things； and amongst others the workings of your mind
at this moment； have an idea that you are anxious to learn