CHAPTERIII
NecessityofReligion—TheGreatIndianOne—Image—worship—Shakespeare—ThePatAnswer—Krishna—Amen。
HAVINGtoldthemaninblackthatIshouldliketoknowallthetruthwithregardtothePopeandhissystem,heassuredmeheshouldbedelightedtogivemealltheinformationinhispower;thathehadcometothedingle,notsomuchforthesakeofthegoodcheerwhichIwasinthehabitofgivinghim,asinthehopeofinducingmetoenlistunderthebannersofRome,andtofightinhercause;andthathehadnodoubtthat,byspeakingoutfranklytome,heranthebestchanceofwinningmeover。
Hethenproceededtotellmethattheexperienceofcountlessageshadprovedthenecessityofreligion;thenecessity,hewouldadmit,wasonlyforsimpletons;butasnine—tenthsofthedwellersuponthisearthweresimpletons,itwouldneverdoforsensiblepeopletoruncountertotheirfolly,but,onthecontrary,itwastheirwisestcoursetoencouragetheminit,alwaysprovidedthat,bysodoing,sensiblepeoplewouldderiveadvantage;thatthetrulysensiblepeopleofthisworldwerethepriests,who,withoutcaringastrawforreligionforitsownsake,madeuseofitasacordbywhichtodrawthesimpletonsafterthem;thatthereweremanyreligionsinthisworld,allofwhichhadbeenturnedtoexcellentaccountbythepriesthood;butthattheonethebestadaptedforthepurposesofpriestcraftwasthepopish,which,hesaid,wastheoldestintheworldandthebestcalculatedtoendure。Onmyinquiringwhathemeantbysayingthepopishreligionwastheoldestintheworld,whereastherecouldbenodoubtthattheGreekandRomanreligionhadexistedlongbeforeit,tosaynothingoftheoldIndianreligionstillinexistenceandvigour;hesaid,withanod,aftertakingasipathisglass,that,betweenmeandhim,thepopishreligion,thatofGreeceandRome,andtheoldIndiansystemwere,inreality,oneandthesame。
"Youtoldmethatyouintendedtobefrank,"saidI;"but,howeverfrankyoumaybe,Ithinkyouareratherwild。"
"WepriestsofRome,"saidthemaninblack,"eventhoseamongstuswhodonotgomuchabroad,knowagreatdealaboutchurchmatters,ofwhichyouhereticshaveverylittleidea。
ThoseofourbrethrenofthePropaganda,ontheirreturnhomefromdistantmissions,notunfrequentlytellusverystrangethingsrelatingtoourdearmother;forexample,ourfirstmissionariestotheEastwerenotslowindiscoveringandtellingtotheirbrethrenthatourreligionandthegreatIndianonewereidentical,nomoredifferencebetweenthemthanbetweenRamandRome。Priests,convents,beads,prayers,processions,fastings,penances,allthesame,notforgettinganchoritesandvermin,he!he!Thepopetheyfoundunderthetitleofthegrandlama,asuckingchildsurroundedbyanimmensenumberofpriests。Ourgoodbrethren,sometwohundredyearsago,hadaheartylaugh,whichtheirsuccessorshaveoftenre—echoed;theysaidthathelplesssucklinganditspriestsputthemsomuchinmindoftheirownoldman,surroundedbyhiscardinals,he!he!Oldageissecondchildhood。"
"DidtheyfindChrist?"saidI。
"Theyfoundhimtoo,"saidthemaninblack,"thatis,theysawhisimage;heisconsideredinIndiaasapurekindofbeing,andonthataccount,perhaps,iskeptthereratherinthebackground,evenasheishere。"
"Allthisisverymysterioustome,"saidI。
"Verylikely,"saidthemaninblack;"butofthisIamtolerablysure,andsoaremostofthoseofRome,thatmodernRomehaditsreligionfromancientRome,whichhaditsreligionfromtheEast。"
"Buthow?"Idemanded。
"Itwasbroughtabout,Ibelieve,bythewanderingsofnations,"saidthemaninblack。"AbrotherofthePropaganda,averylearnedman,oncetoldme—IdonotmeanMezzofanti,whohasnotfiveideas—thisbrotheroncetoldmethatallweoftheOldWorld,fromCalcuttatoDublin,areofthesamestock,andwereoriginallyofthesamelanguage,and—"
"Allofonereligion,"Iputin。
"Allofonereligion,"saidthemaninblack;"andnowfollowdifferentmodificationsofthesamereligion。"
"WeChristiansarenotimage—worshippers,"saidI。
"Youhereticsarenot,youmean,"saidthemaninblack;"butyouwillbeputdown,justasyouhavealwaysbeen,thoughothersmayriseupafteryou;thetruereligionisimage—
worship;peoplemaystriveagainstit,buttheywillonlyworkthemselvestoanoil;howdiditfarewiththatGreekEmperor,theIconoclast,whatwashisname,LeontheIsaurian?Didnothisimage—breakingcosthimItaly,thefairestprovinceofhisempire,anddidnottenfreshimagesstartupathomeforeveryonewhichhedemolished?Oh!youlittleknowthecravingwhichthesoulsometimesfeelsafteragoodbodilyimage。"
"Ihaveindeednoconceptionofit,"saidI;"Ihaveanabhorrenceofidolatry—theideaofbowingbeforeagravenfigure!"
"Theidea,indeed!"saidBelle,whohadnowjoinedus。
"DidyouneverbowbeforethatofShakespeare?"saidthemaninblack,addressinghimselftome,afteralowbowtoBelle。
"Idon’trememberthatIeverdid,"saidI,"butevensupposeIdid?"
"Supposeyoudid,"saidthemaninblack;"shameonyou,Mr。
HaterofIdolatry;why,theverysuppositionbringsyoutotheground;youmustmakefiguresofShakespeare,mustyou?
thenwhynotofSt。Antonio,orIgnacio,orofagreaterpersonagestill!Iknowwhatyouaregoingtosay,"hecried,interruptingme,asIwasabouttospeak。"Youdon’tmakehisimageinordertopayitdivinehonours,butonlytolookatit,andthinkofShakespeare;butthislookingatathinginordertothinkofapersonistheverybasisofidolatry。Shakespeare’sworksarenotsufficientforyou;nomorearetheBibleorthelegendofSaintAnthonyorSaintIgnacioforus,thatisforthoseofuswhobelieveinthem;
Itellyou,Zingara,thatnoreligioncanexistlongwhichrejectsagoodbodilyimage。"
"Doyouthink,"saidI,"thatShakespeare’sworkswouldnotexistwithouthisimage?"
"Ibelieve,"saidthemaninblack,"thatShakespeare’simageislookedatmorethanhisworks,andwillbelookedat,andperhapsadored,whentheyareforgotten。Iamsurprisedthattheyhavenotbeenforgottenlongago;Iamnoadmirerofthem。"
"ButIcan’timagine,"saidI,"howyouwillputasidetheauthorityofMoses。IfMosesstroveagainstimage—worship,shouldnothisdoingsobeconclusiveastotheimproprietyofthepractice:whathigherauthoritycanyouhavethanthatofMoses?"
"Thepracticeofthegreatmajorityofthehumanrace,"saidthemaninblack,"andtherecurrencetoimage—worshipwhereimage—worshiphasbeenabolished。DoyouknowthatMosesisconsideredbythechurchasnobetterthanaheretic,andthough,forparticularreasons,ithasbeenobligedtoadopthiswritings,theadoptionwasmerelyashamone,asitneverpaidtheslightestattentiontothem?No,no,thechurchwasneverledbyMoses,norbyonemightierthanhe,whosedoctrineithasequallynullified—IalludetoKrishnainhissecondavatar;thechurch,itistrue,governsinhisname,butnotunfrequentlygiveshimthelie,ifhehappenstohavesaidanythingwhichitdislikes。DidyouneverhearthereplywhichPadrePaoloSeganimadetotheFrenchProtestantJeanAnthoineGuerin,whohadaskedhimwhetheritwaseasierforChristtohavebeenmistakeninhisGospel,thanforthePopetobemistakeninhisdecrees?"
"Ineverheardtheirnamesbefore,"saidI。
"Theanswerwaspat,"saidthemaninblack,"thoughhewhomadeitwasconfessedlythemostignorantfellowoftheveryignorantordertowhichhebelonged,theAugustine。’Christmighterrasaman,’saidhe,’butthePopecannevererr,beingGod。’ThewholestoryisrelatedintheNipotismo。"
"IwonderyoushouldeverhavetroubledyourselfwithChristatall,"saidI。
"Whatwastobedone?"saidthemaninblack;"thepowerofthatnamesuddenlycameoverEurope,likethepowerofamightywind;itwassaidtohavecomefromJudea,andfromJudeaitprobablycamewhenitfirstbegantoagitatemindsintheseparts;butitseemstohavebeenknownintheremoteEast,moreorless,forthousandsofyearspreviously。Itfilledpeople’smindswithmadness;itwasfollowedbybookswhichwerenevermuchregarded,astheycontainedlittleofinsanity;butthename!whatfurythatbreathedintopeople!
thebookswereaboutpeaceandgentleness,butthenamewasthemosthorribleofwar—cries—thosewhowishedtoupholdoldnamesatfirststrovetoopposeit,buttheireffortswerefeeble,andtheyhadnogoodwar—cry;whatwasMarsasawar—crycomparedwiththenameof……?Itwassaidthattheypersecutedterribly,butwhosaidso?TheChristians。
TheChristianscouldhavegiventhemalessonintheartofpersecution,andeventuallydidso。NonebutChristianshaveeverbeengoodpersecutors;well,theoldreligionsuccumbed,Christianityprevailed,fortheferociousissuretoprevailoverthegentle。"
"Ithought,"saidI,"youstatedalittletimeagothatthePopishreligionandtheancientRomanarethesame?"
"Ineverypointbutthatname,thatKrishnaandthefuryandloveofpersecutionwhichitinspired,"saidthemaninblack。"AhotblastcamefromtheEast,soundingKrishna;itabsolutelymaddenedpeople’sminds,andthepeoplewouldcallthemselveshischildren;wewillnotbelongtoJupiteranylonger,wewillbelongtoKrishna,andtheydidbelongtoKrishna;thatisinname,butinnothingelse;forwhoevercaredforKrishnaintheChristianworld,orwhoeverregardedthewordsattributedtohim,orputtheminpractice?"
"Why,weProtestantsregardhiswords,andendeavourtopractisewhattheyenjoinasmuchaspossible。"
"Butyourejecthisimage,"sadthemaninblack;"betterrejecthiswordsthanhisimage:noreligioncanexistlongwhichrejectsagoodbodilyimage。Why,theverynegrobarbariansofHighBarbarycouldgiveyoualessononthatpoint;theyhavetheirfetishimages,towhichtheylookforhelpintheirafflictions;theyhavelikewiseahighpriest,whomtheycall—"
"MumboJumbo,"saidI;"Iknowallabouthimalready。"
"Howcameyoutoknowanythingabouthim?"saidthemaninblack,withalookofsomesurprise。
"SomeofuspoorProtestantstinkers,"saidI,"thoughweliveindingles,arealsoacquaintedwithathingortwo。"
"Ireallybelieveyouare,"saidthemaninblack,staringatme;"but,inconnectionwiththisMumboJumbo,Icouldrelatetoyouacomicalstoryaboutafellow,anEnglishservant,I
oncemetatRome。"
"Itwouldbequiteunnecessary,"saidI;"IwouldmuchsoonerhearyoutalkaboutKrishna,hiswordsandimage。"
"Spokenlikeatrueheretic,"saidthemaninblack;"oneofthefaithfulwouldhaveplacedhisimagebeforehiswords;
forwhatareallthewordsintheworldcomparedwithagoodbodilyimage!"
"Ibelieveyouoccasionallyquotehiswords?"saidI。
"He!he!"saidthemaninblack;"occasionally。"
"Forexample,"saidI,"uponthisrockIwillfoundmychurch。"
"He!he!"saidthemaninblack;"youmustreallybecomeoneofus。"
"YetyoumusthavehadsomedifficultyingettingtherocktoRome?"
"Nonewhatever,"saidthemaninblack;"faithcanremovemountains,tosaynothingofrocks—ho!ho!"
"ButIcannotimagine,"saidI,"whatadvantageyoucouldderivefrompervertingthosewordsofScriptureinwhichtheSaviourtalksabouteatinghisbody。"
"Idonotknow,indeed,whywetroubledourheadsaboutthematteratall,"saidthemaninblack;"butwhenyoutalkaboutpervertingthemeaningofthetext,youspeakignorantly,Mr。Tinker;whenhewhomyoucalltheSaviourgavehisfollowersthesop,andbadethemeatit,tellingthemitwashisbody,hedelicatelyalludedtowhatitwasincumbentuponthemtodoafterhisdeath,namely,toeathisbody。"
"Youdonotmeantosaythatheintendedtheyshouldactuallyeathisbody?"
"Thenyousupposeignorantly,"saidthemaninblack;"eatingthebodiesofthedeadwasaheathenishcustom,practisedbytheheirsandlegateesofpeoplewholeftproperty;andthiscustomisalludedtointhetext。"
"ButwhathastheNewTestamenttodowithheathencustoms,"
saidI,"excepttodestroythem?"
"Morethanyousuppose,"saidthemaninblack。"WepriestsofRome,whohavelonglivedatRome,knowmuchbetterwhattheNewTestamentismadeofthanthehereticsandtheirtheologians,notforgettingtheirTinkers;thoughIconfesssomeofthelatterhaveoccasionallysurprisedus—forexample,Bunyan。TheNewTestamentiscrowdedwithallusionstoheathencustoms,andwithwordsconnectedwithpagansorcery。Now,withrespecttowords,Iwouldfainhaveyou,whopretendtobeaphilologist,tellmethemeaningofAmen。"
Imadenoanswer。
"WeofRome,"saidthemaninblack,"knowtwoorthreethingsofwhichthehereticsarequiteignorant;forexample,therearethoseamongstus—those,too,whodonotpretendtobephilologists—whoknowwhatAmenis,and,moreover,howwegotit。Wegotitfromourancestors,thepriestsofancientRome;andtheygotthewordfromtheirancestorsoftheEast,thepriestsofBuddhandBrahma。"
"Andwhatisthemeaningoftheword?"Idemanded。
"Amen,"saidthemaninblack,"isamodificationoftheoldHindooformula,Omanibatsikhom,bythealmostceaselessrepetitionofwhichtheIndianshopetobereceivedfinallytotherestorstateofforgetfulnessofBuddhorBrahma;afoolishpracticeyouwillsay,butareyouhereticsmuchwiser,whoarecontinuallystickingAmentotheendofyourprayers,littleknowingwhenyoudoso,thatyouareconsigningyourselvestothereposeofBuddh!Oh,whatheartylaughsourmissionarieshavehadwhencomparingtheeternally—soundingEasterngibberishofOmanibatsikhom,Omanibatsikhom,andtheAveMariaandAmenJesusofourownidioticaldevotees。"
"IhavenothingtosayabouttheAveMariasandAmensofyoursuperstitiousdevotees,"saidI;"Idaresaythattheyusethemnonsensicallyenough,butinputtingAmentotheendofaprayer,wemerelyintendtoexpress,’Soletitbe。’"
"Itmeansnothingofthekind,"saidthemaninblack;"andtheHindoosmightjustaswellputyournationaloathattheendoftheirprayers,asperhapstheywillafteragreatmanythousandyears,whenEnglishisforgotten,andonlyafewwordsofitrememberedbydimtraditionwithoutbeingunderstood。Howstrangeif,afterthelapseoffourthousandyears,theHindoosshoulddamnthemselvestotheblindnesssodeartotheirpresentmasters,evenastheirmastersatpresentconsignthemselvestotheforgetfulnesssodeartotheHindoos;butmyglasshasbeenemptyforaconsiderabletime;perhaps,BellissimaBiondina,"saidhe,addressingBelle,"youwilldeigntoreplenishit?"
"Ishalldonosuchthing,"saidBelle,"youhavedrunkquiteenough,andtalkedmorethanenough,andtotellyouthetruthIwishyouwouldleaveusalone。"
"Shameonyou,Belle,"saidI;"considertheobligationsofhospitality。"
"Iamsickofthatword,"saidBelle,"youaresofrequentlymisusingit;werethisplacenotMumpers’Dingle,andconsequentlyasfreetothefellowasourselves,Iwouldleadhimoutofit。"
"Praybequiet,Belle,"saidI。"Youhadbetterhelpyourself,"saidI,addressingmyselftothemaninblack,"theladyisangrywithyou。"
"Iamsorryforit,"saidthemaninblack;"ifsheisangrywithme,Iamnotsowithher,andshallbealwaysproudtowaituponher;inthemeantime,Iwillwaituponmyself。"
CHAPTERIV
TheProposal—TheScotchNovel—Latitude—Miracles—
PestilentHeretics—OldFraser—WonderfulTexts—NoArmenian。
THEmaninblackhavinghelpedhimselftosomemoreofhisfavouritebeverage,andtastedit,Ithusaddressedhim:"Theeveningisgettingratheradvanced,andIcanseethatthislady,"pointingtoBelle,"isanxiousforhertea,whichshepreferstotakecosilyandcomfortablywithmeinthedingle:
theplace,itistrue,isasfreetoyouastoourselves,nevertheless,aswearelocatedherebynecessity,whilstyoumerelycomeasavisitor,Imusttakethelibertyoftellingyouthatweshallbegladtobealone,assoonasyouhavesaidwhatyouhavetosay,andhavefinishedtheglassofrefreshmentatpresentinyourhand。IthinkyousaidsometimeagothatoneofyourmotivesforcominghitherwastoinducemetoenlistunderthebannerofRome。Iwishtoknowwhetherthatwasreallythecase?"
"Decidedlyso,"saidthemaninblack;"Icomehereprincipallyinthehopeofenlistingyouinourregiment,inwhichIhavenodoubtyoucoulddousexcellentservice。"
"Wouldyouenlistmycompanionaswell?"Idemanded。
"Weshouldbeonlytooproudtohaveheramongus,whethershecomeswithyouoralone,"saidthemaninblack,withapolitebowtoBelle。
"Beforewegiveyouananswer,"Ireplied,"Iwouldfainknowmoreaboutyou;perhapsyouwilldeclareyourname?"
"ThatIwillneverdo,"saidthemaninblack;"nooneinEnglandknowsitbutmyself,andIwillnotdeclareit,eveninadingle;asfortherest,SONOUNPRETECATTOLICO
APPOSTOLICO—thatisallthatmanyaoneofuscansayforhimself,anditassuredlymeansagreatdeal。"
"Wewillnowproceedtobusiness,"saidI。"YoumustbeawarethatweEnglisharegenerallyconsideredaself—
interestedpeople。"
"Andwithconsiderablejustice,"saidthemaninblack,drinking。"Well,youareapersonofacuteperception,andI
willpresentlymakeitevidenttoyouthatitwouldbetoyourinteresttojoinwithus。Youareatpresent,evidently,inveryneedycircumstances,andarelost,notonlytoyourself,buttotheworld;butshouldyouenlistwithus,Icouldfindyouanoccupationnotonlyagreeable,butoneinwhichyourtalentswouldhavefreescope。IwouldintroduceyouinthevariousgrandhouseshereinEngland,towhichIhavemyselfadmission,asasurprisingyounggentlemanofinfinitelearning,whobydintofstudyhasdiscoveredthattheRomanistheonlytruefaith。Itellyouconfidentlythatourpopishfemaleswouldmakeasaint,nay,aGodofyou;theyarefoolsenoughforanything。ThereisonepersoninparticularwithwhomIwouldwishtomakeyouacquainted,inthehopethatyouwouldbeabletohelpmetoperformgoodservicetotheholysee。Heisagoutyoldfellow,ofsomelearning,residinginanoldhall,nearthegreatwesternseaport,andisoneoftheveryfewamongsttheEnglishCatholicspossessingagrainofsense。Ithinkyoucouldhelpustogovernhim,forheisnotunfrequentlydisposedtoberestive,asksusstrangequestions—
occasionallythreatensuswithhiscrutch;andbehavessothatweareoftenafraidthatweshalllosehim,or,rather,hisproperty,whichhehasbequeathedtous,andwhichisenormous。Iamsurethatyoucouldhelpustodealwithhim;
sometimeswithyourhumour,sometimeswithyourlearning,andperhapsoccasionallywithyourfists。"
"Andinwhatmannerwouldyouprovideformycompanion?"saidI。
"Wewouldplaceheratonce,"saidthemaninblack,"inthehouseoftwohighlyrespectableCatholicladiesinthisneighbourhood,whereshewouldbetreatedwitheverycareandconsiderationtillherconversionshouldbeaccomplishedinaregularmanner;wewouldthenremovehertoafemalemonasticestablishment,where,afterundergoingayear’sprobation,duringwhichtimeshewouldbeinstructedineveryelegantaccomplishment,sheshouldtaketheveil。Heradvancementwouldspeedilyfollow,for,withsuchafaceandfigure,shewouldmakeacapitalladyabbess,especiallyinItaly,towhichcountryshewouldprobablybesent;ladiesofherhairandcomplexion—tosaynothingofherheight—beingacuriosityinthesouth。Withalittlecareandmanagementshecouldsoonobtainavastreputationforsanctity;andwhoknowsbutafterherdeathshemightbecomeaglorifiedsaint—he!he!SisterMariaTheresa,forthatisthenameI
proposeyoushouldbear。HolyMotherMariaTheresa—
glorifiedandcelestialsaint,Ihavethehonourofdrinkingtoyourhealth,"andthemaninblackdrank。
"Well,Belle,"saidI,"whathaveyoutosaytothegentleman’sproposal?"
"ThatifhegoesoninthiswayIwillbreakhisglassagainsthismouth。"
"Youhaveheardthelady’sanswer,"saidI。
"Ihave,"saidthemaninblack,"andshallnotpressthematter。Ican’thelp,however,repeatingthatshewouldmakeacapitalladyabbess;shewouldkeepthenunsinorder,I
warranther;noeasymatter!Breaktheglassagainstmymouth—he!he!Howshewouldsendtheholyutensilsflyingatthenuns’headsoccasionally,andjustthepersontowringthenoseofSatan,shouldheventuretoappearonenightinhercellintheshapeofahandsomeblackman。Nooffence,madam,nooffence,prayretainyourseat,"saidhe,observingthatBellehadstartedup;"Imeannooffence。Well,ifyouwillnotconsenttobeanabbess,perhapsyouwillconsenttofollowthisyoungZingaro,andtoco—operatewithhimandus。
Iamapriest,madam,andcanjoinyoubothinaninstant,CONNUBIOSTABILI,asIsupposetheknothasnotbeentiedalready。"
"Holdyourmumpinggibberish,"saidBelle,"andleavethedinglethismoment,forthough’tisfreetoeveryone,youhavenorighttoinsultmeinit。"
"Praybepacified,"saidItoBelle,gettingup,andplacingmyselfbetweenherandthemaninblack,"hewillpresentlyleave,takemywordforit—there,sitdownagain,"saidI,asIledhertoherseat;then,resumingmyown,Isaidtothemaninblack:"Iadviseyoutoleavethedingleassoonaspossible。"
"Ishouldwishtohaveyouranswertomyproposalfirst,"
saidhe。
"Well,then,hereyoushallhaveit:Iwillnotentertainyourproposal;Idetestyourschemes:theyarebothwickedandfoolish。"
"Wicked,"saidthemaninblack,"havetheynot—he!he!—
thefurtheranceofreligioninview?"
"Areligion,"saidI,"inwhichyouyourselfdonotbelieve,andwhichyoucontemn。"
"WhetherIbelieveinitornot,"saidthemaninblack,"itisadaptedforthegeneralityofthehumanrace;soIwillforwardit,andadviseyoutodothesame。Itwasnearlyextirpatedintheseregions,butitisspringingupagain,owingtocircumstances。Radicalismisagoodfriendtous;
alltheliberalslaudupoursystemoutofhatredtotheEstablishedChurch,thoughoursystemistentimeslessliberalthantheChurchofEngland。Someofthemhavereallycomeovertous。ImyselfconfessabaronetwhopresidedoverthefirstradicalmeetingeverheldinEngland—hewasanatheistwhenhecameovertous,inthehopeofmortifyinghisownchurch—butheisnow—ho!ho!—arealCatholicdevotee—quiteafraidofmythreats;Imakehimfrequentlyscourgehimselfbeforeme。Well,Radicalismdoesusgoodservice,especiallyamongstthelowerclasses,forRadicalismchieflyflourishesamongstthem;forthoughabaronetortwomaybefoundamongsttheradicals,andperhapsasmanylords—fellowswhohavebeendiscardedbytheirownorderforclownishness,orsomethingtheyhavedone—itincontestablyflourishesbestamongthelowerorders。Thentheloveofwhatisforeignisagreatfriendtous;thisloveischieflyconfinedtothemiddleandupperclasses。SomeadmiretheFrench,andimitatethem;othersmustneedsbeSpaniards,dressthemselvesupinazamarra,stickacigarintheirmouth,andsay,’Carajo。’OtherswouldpassforGermans;he!
he!theideaofanyonewishingtopassforaGerman!butwhathasdoneusmoreservicethananythingelseintheseregions—Imeanamidstthemiddleclasses—hasbeenthenovel,theScotchnovel。Thegoodfolks,sincetheyhavereadthenovels,havebecomeJacobites;and,becausealltheJacobswerePapists,thegoodfolksmustbecomePapistsalso,or,atleast,papisticallyinclined。TheveryScotchPresbyterians,sincetheyhavereadthenovels,arebecomeallbutPapists;Ispeakadvisedly,havinglatelybeenamongstthem。There’satrumperybitofahalfpapistsect,calledtheScotchEpiscopalianChurch,whichlaydormantandnearlyforgottenforupwardsofahundredyears,whichhasoflategotwonderfullyintofashioninScotland,because,forsooth,someofthelong—hairedgentryofthenovelsweresaidtobelongtoit,suchasMontroseandDundee;andtothisthePresbyteriansaregoingoverinthrongs,traducingandvilifyingtheirownforefathers,ordenyingthemaltogether,andcallingthemselvesdescendantsof—ho!ho!
ho!—ScottishCavaliers!!!IhaveheardthemmyselfrepeatingsnatchesofJacobitedittiesabout’BonnieDundee,’
and—
"’Come,fillupmycup,andfillupmycan,Andsaddlemyhorse,andcallupmyman。’
There’sstuffforyou!NotthatIobjecttothefirstpartoftheditty。ItisnaturalenoughthataScotchmanshouldcry,’Come,fillupmycup!’moreespeciallyifhe’sdrinkingatanotherperson’sexpense—allScotchmenbeingfondofliquoratfreecost:but’Saddlehishorse!!!’—forwhatpurpose,Iwouldask?Whereistheuseofsaddlingahorse,unlessyoucanridehim?andwherewasthereeveraScotchmanwhocouldride?"
"OfcourseyouhavenotadropofScotchbloodinyourveins,"saidI,"otherwiseyouwouldneverhaveutteredthatlastsentence。"
"Don’tbetoosureofthat,"saidthemaninblack;"youknowlittleofPoperyifyouimaginethatitcannotextinguishloveofcountry,eveninaScotchman。Athorough—goingPapist—andwhomorethorough—goingthanmyself?—caresnothingforhiscountry;andwhyshouldhe?hebelongstoasystem,andnottoacountry。"
"Onething,"saidI,"connectedwithyou,Icannotunderstand;youcallyourselfathorough—goingPapist,yetarecontinuallysayingthemostpungentthingsagainstPopery,andturningtounboundedridiculethosewhoshowanyinclinationtoembraceit。"
"Romeisaverysensibleoldbody,"saidthemaninblack,"andlittlecareswhatherchildrensay,providedtheydoherbidding。Sheknowsseveralthings,andamongstothers,thatnoservantsworksohardandfaithfullyasthosewhocursetheirmastersateverystroketheydo。ShewasnotfoolenoughtobeangrywiththeMiqueletsofAlba,whorenouncedher,andcalledher’puta’allthetimetheywerecuttingthethroatsoftheNetherlanders。Now,ifsheallowedherfaithfulsoldiersthelatitudeofrenouncingher,andcallingher’puta’inthemarket—place,thinknotsheissounreasonableastoobjecttoherfaithfulpriestsoccasionallycallingher’puta’inthedingle。"
"But,"saidI,"supposesomeoneweretotelltheworldsomeofthedisorderlythingswhichherpriestssayinthedingle?"
"HewouldhavethefateofCassandra,"saidthemaninblack;
"noonewouldbelievehim—yes,thepriestswould:buttheywouldmakenosignofbelief。TheybelieveintheAlcorandesCordeliers—thatis,thosewhohavereadit;buttheymakenosign。"
第9章