登陆注册
5577200000056

第56章

KNEBWORTH, JULY 29, 1865.

[On the above date the members of the "Guild of Literature and Art"proceeded to the neighbourhood of Stevenage, near the magnificent seat of the President, Lord Lytton, to inspect three houses built in the Gothic style, on the ground given by him for the purpose.

After their survey, the party drove to Knebworth to partake of the hospitality of Lord Lytton.Mr.Dickens, who was one of the guests, proposed the health of the host in the following words:]

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, - It was said by a very sagacious person, whose authority I am sure my friend of many years will not impugn, seeing that he was named Augustus Tomlinson, the kind friend and philosopher of Paul Clifford - it was said by that remarkable man, "Life is short, and why should speeches be long?" An aphorism so sensible under all circumstances, and particularly in the circumstances in which we are placed, with this delicious weather and such charming gardens near us, I shall practically adopt on the present occasion; and the rather so because the speech of my friend was exhaustive of the subject, as his speeches always are, though not in the least exhaustive of his audience.In thanking him for the toast which he has done us the honour to propose, allow me to correct an error into which he has fallen.Allow me to state that these houses never could have been built but for his zealous and valuable co-operation, and also that the pleasant labour out of which they have arisen would have lost one of its greatest charms and strongest impulses, if it had lost his ever ready sympathy with that class in which he has risen to the foremost rank, and of which he is the brightest ornament.

Having said this much as simply due to my friend, I can only say, on behalf of my associates, that the ladies and gentlemen whom we shall invite to occupy the houses we have built will never be placed under any social disadvantage.They will be invited to occupy them as artists, receiving them as a mark of the high respect in which they are held by their fellow-workers.As artists I hope they will often exercise their calling within those walls for the general advantage; and they will always claim, on equal terms, the hospitality of their generous neighbour.

Now I am sure I shall be giving utterance to the feelings of my brothers and sisters in literature in proposing "Health, long life, and prosperity to our distinguished host." Ladies and gentlemen, you know very well that when the health, life, and beauty now overflowing these halls shall have fled, crowds of people will come to see the place where he lived and wrote.Setting aside the orator and statesman - for happily we know no party here but this agreeable party - setting aside all, this you know very well, that this is the home of a very great man whose connexion with Hertfordshire every other county in England will envy for many long years to come.You know that when this hall is dullest and emptiest you can make it when you please brightest and fullest by peopling it with the creations of his brilliant fancy.Let us all wish together that they may be many more - for the more they are the better it will be, and, as he always excels himself, the better they will be.I ask you to listen to their praises and not to mine, and to let them, not me, propose his health.

同类推荐
  • 称赞净土佛摄受经

    称赞净土佛摄受经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 碑传选集续

    碑传选集续

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 聊斋小曲

    聊斋小曲

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 最无比经

    最无比经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大唐故大德赠司空大辨正广智不空三藏行状

    大唐故大德赠司空大辨正广智不空三藏行状

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 只要儿子不要相公

    只要儿子不要相公

    穿越变成大肚子少妇!还有个英俊少年,自称是我丈夫?连番轰乍令人无法接受,受刺激过度引发腹痛,折腾半天终于顺利早产,该死的古董生完孩子就拆桥,只要孩子不要人,一脚将我踢出房当作下人使唤,还不许我见那刚出生的娃。好小子,咱走着瞧!
  • 重生之余生只为一个你

    重生之余生只为一个你

    重生前,她对他爱答不理,避之唯恐不及。然而,却遇到一个渣男男朋友,一个白莲女闺蜜,亲手被两人推下高楼摔得惨不忍睹。重生后,她要虐渣男,撕白莲,更重要的是追到青梅竹马小可爱。林晨阳:“如果我喜欢你,你也喜欢我,那更好。如果我喜欢你,你不喜欢我,那我也不要喜欢你了。”顾茗欢:“胡说。明明不管我喜不喜欢你,你都喜欢我。小傲娇,这一次,换我来追你。”
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 世事如刀,我来领教

    世事如刀,我来领教

    少年热血,爱情回圜,阴翳道行,江湖再起波澜!银教授、温酒等倾情推荐,用文字构筑属于你的江湖童话,每一秒都波翻浪滚,让你一发入魂!《世事如刀,我来领教》由知乎达人房昊所著,本书包含5个波谲云诡的江湖故事,有刀光剑影、血雨腥风的江湖,有回圜曲折的爱恨,有阴翳莫测的道行手段,有无奈的妥协,更有死亦不改的坚持与热血。这是给每个人的江湖童话,让你能在故事里发现自己,让你自省,在现实中是选择了不忘初心、执着坚持,还是选择了妥协与世俗……
  • 重生之蛇蝎世子妃

    重生之蛇蝎世子妃

    前生,她身为细作,却爱上了敌人首领助他成皇,最终,他黄袍加身,她却被拔掉指甲,剜掉膝盖骨,连同刚出世一月的幼子被活活烧死……重生归来,她化身蛇蝎,步步小心,曲意逢迎,只为终有一天将那些曾经将她做棋子的人捏在手中……她掌括嚣张跋扈的大姐姐,撕掉外表柔弱的二姐姐的面具,再将她狠狠踩在脚下,闹翻了陌府,然后顺便将两位王爷踢下马……
  • 火影之永恒写轮眼

    火影之永恒写轮眼

    吴宇乐魂穿了,火影的那种。宇智波的血脉。而且不是宇智波一族祖传杀马特,是和宇智波鼬用的同种飘柔洗发液。而且还是宇智波一族的新晋天才。木叶的传奇三忍?不,是木叶的传奇四忍。当他已经大名传响整个忍界时……“喂!大蛇丸,你想对我做什么?你就算得到我的身体,也不能得到我的心的!”
  • 在输得起的年纪,遇见不放弃的自己

    在输得起的年纪,遇见不放弃的自己

    年轻时就要胆大一些,在多变的世界面前,勇敢地打出自己的牌,展示出闪亮的自己!人生所有的完美演出,都是来自日积月累的准备;把握住当下,不怕输,执着追求梦想,你的生命会因此而精彩!年轻是最大的优势,绝不能作为浪费的资本;在“拼搏”的征途上,别让行动毁在口号上,你要做的除了行动,还是行动!
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 斑爷遇到生化

    斑爷遇到生化

    斑爷遇到生化危机,不是这装逼,就是那装逼。
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。