The Uncommercial Traveller

第35章

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第35章

The Uncommercial Traveller Charles Dickens

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The Uncommercial Traveller
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  treasuredBottlebegantocostme,nomanknows。Itwasmypreciouschargethroughalongtour,and,forhundredsofmiles,I

  neverhaditoffmymindbydayorbynight。Overbadroads-andtheyweremany-Iclungtoitwithaffectionatedesperation。Upmountains,Ilookedinatitandsawithelplesslytiltingoveronitsback,withterror。Atinnumerableinndoorswhentheweatherwasbad,IwasobligedtobeputintomyvehiclebeforetheBottlecouldbegotin,andwasobligedtohavetheBottleliftedoutbeforehumanaidcouldcomenearme。TheImpofthesamename,exceptthathisassociationswereallevilandtheseassociationswereallgood,wouldhavebeenalesstroublesometravellingcompanion。ImighthaveservedMr。CruikshankasasubjectforanewillustrationofthemiseriesoftheBottle。TheNationalTemperanceSocietymighthavemadeapowerfulTractofme。

  ThesuspicionsthatattachedtothisinnocentBottle,greatlyaggravatedmydifficulties。Itwasliketheapple-pieinthechild’sbook。Parmapoutedatit,Modenamockedit,Tuscanytackledit,Naplesnibbledit,Romerefusedit,Austriaaccusedit,Soldierssuspectedit,Jesuitsjobbedit。IcomposedaneatOration,developingmyinoffensiveintentionsinconnexionwiththisBottle,anddelivereditinaninfinityofguard-houses,atamultitudeoftowngates,andoneverydrawbridge,angle,andrampart,ofacompletesystemoffortifications。Fiftytimesaday,IgotdowntoharangueaninfuriatedsoldieryabouttheBottle。ThroughthefilthydegradationoftheabjectandvileRomanStates,IhadasmuchdifficultyinworkingmywaywiththeBottle,asifithadbottledupacompletesystemofhereticaltheology。IntheNeapolitancountry,whereeverybodywasaspy,asoldier,apriest,oralazzarone,theshamelessbeggarsofallfourdenominationsincessantlypouncedontheBottleandmadeitapretextforextortingmoneyfromme。Quires-quiresdoIsay?

  Reams-offormsillegiblyprintedonwhity-brownpaperwerefilledupabouttheBottle,anditwasthesubjectofmorestampingandsandingthanIhadeverseenbefore。Inconsequenceofwhichhazeofsand,perhaps,itwasalwaysirregular,andalwayslatentwithdismalpenaltiesofgoingbackornotgoingforward,whichwereonlytobeabatedbythesilvercrossingofabasehand,pokedshirtlessoutofaraggeduniformsleeve。Underalldiscouragements,however,IstucktomyBottle,andheldfirmtomyresolutionthateverydropofitscontentsshouldreachtheBottle’sdestination。

  Thelatterrefinementcostmeaseparateheapoftroublesonitsownseparateaccount。WhatcorkscrewsdidIseethemilitarypowerbringoutagainstthatBottle;whatgimlets,spikes,diviningrods,gauges,andunknowntestsandinstruments!Atsomeplaces,theypersistedindeclaringthatthewinemustnotbepassed,withoutbeingopenedandtasted;I,pleadingtothecontrary,usedthentoarguethequestionseatedontheBottlelesttheyshouldopenitinspiteofme。InthesouthernpartsofItalymoreviolentshrieking,face-making,andgesticulating,greatervehemenceofspeechandcountenanceandaction,wentonaboutthatBottlethanwouldattendfiftymurdersinanorthernlatitude。Itraisedimportantfunctionariesoutoftheirbeds,inthedeadofnight。I

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