登陆注册
4911100000044

第44章

Up to this point, though he had seen enough to shew him the main drift of the great changes that had taken place in Erewhonian opinions, my father had not been able to glean much about the history of the transformation. He could see that it had all grown out of the supposed miracle of his balloon ascent, and he could understand that the ignorant masses had been so astounded by an event so contrary to all their experience, that their faith in experience was utterly routed and demoralised. It a man and a woman might rise from the earth and disappear into the sky, what else might not happen? If they had been wrong in thinking such a thing impossible, in how much else might they not be mistaken also?

The ground was shaken under their very feet. understand that a single incontrovertible miracle of the first magnitude should uproot the hedges of caution in the minds of the common people, but he could not understand how such men as Hanky and Panky, who evidently did not believe that there had been any miracle at all, had been led to throw themselves so energetically into a movement so subversive of all their traditions, when, as it seemed to him, if they had held out they might have pricked the balloon bubble easily enough, and maintained everything in statu quo.

How, again, had they converted the King--if they had converted him?

The Queen had had full knowledge of all the preparations for the ascent. The King had had everything explained to him. The workmen and workwomen who had made the balloon and the gas could testify that none but natural means had been made use of--means which, if again employed any number of times, would effect a like result.

How could it be that when the means of resistance were so ample and so easy, the movement should nevertheless have been irresistible?

For had it not been irresistible, was it to be believed that astute men like Hanky and Panky would have let themselves be drawn into it?

What then had been its inner history? My father had so fully determined to make his way back on the following evening, that he saw no chance of getting to know the facts--unless, indeed, he should be able to learn something from Hanky's sermon; he was therefore not sorry to find an elderly gentleman of grave but kindly aspect seated opposite to him when he sat down to supper.

The expression on this man's face was much like that of the early Christians as shewn in the S. Giovanni Laterano bas-reliefs at Rome, and again, though less aggressively self-confident, like that on the faces of those who have joined the Salvation Army. If he had been in England, my father would have set him down as a Swedenborgian; this being impossible, he could only note that the stranger bowed his head, evidently saying a short grace before he began to eat, as my father had always done when he was in Erewhon before. I will not say that my father had never omitted to say grace during the whole of the last twenty years, but he said it now, and unfortunately forgetting himself, he said it in the English language, not loud, but nevertheless audibly.

My father was alarmed at what he had done, but there was no need, for the stranger immediately said, "I hear, sir, that you have the gift of tongues. The Sunchild often mentioned it to us, as having been vouchsafed long since to certain of the people, to whom, for our learning, he saw fit to feign that he belonged. He thus foreshadowed prophetically its manifestation also among ourselves.

All which, however, you must know as well as I do. Can you interpret?"My father was much shocked, but he remembered having frequently spoken of the power of speaking in unknown tongues which was possessed by many of the early Christians, and he also remembered that in times of high religious enthusiasm this power had repeatedly been imparted, or supposed to be imparted, to devout believers in the middle ages. It grated upon him to deceive one who was so obviously sincere, but to avoid immediate discomfiture he fell in with what the stranger had said.

"Alas! sir," said he, "that rarer and more precious gift has been withheld from me; nor can I speak in an unknown tongue, unless as it is borne in upon me at the moment. I could not even repeat the words that have just fallen from me.""That," replied the stranger, "is almost invariably the case.

These illuminations of the spirit are beyond human control. You spoke in so low a tone that I cannot interpret what you have just said, but should you receive a second inspiration later, I shall doubtless be able to interpret it for you. I have been singularly gifted in this respect--more so, perhaps, than any other interpreter in Erewhon."My father mentally vowed that no second inspiration should be vouchsafed to him, but presently remembering how anxious he was for information on the points touched upon at the beginning of this chapter, and seeing that fortune had sent him the kind of man who would be able to enlighten him, he changed his mind; nothing, he reflected, would be more likely to make the stranger talk freely with him, than the affording him an opportunity for showing off his skill as an interpreter.

同类推荐
  • 欧阳修词集评

    欧阳修词集评

    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。
  • Man of Property

    Man of Property

    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。
  • 医方证治汇编歌诀

    医方证治汇编歌诀

    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。
  • End of the Tether

    End of the Tether

    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。
  • 刘氏菊谱

    刘氏菊谱

    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
  • 重生末世之清微淡远

    重生末世之清微淡远

    悲怆的末世,满是残肢断臂的战场,灰霾暗红的天空,肖媛的耳边环绕着嘶哑又刺耳的女人的尖叫:“去死吧!哈哈哈哈,只要你死了一切都会变好,一切都会是我的,哈哈哈哈......”肖媛淡然而平静的看着这个像是花朵般柔弱,此刻又扭曲到丑陋的熟悉的脸孔:“呵,那就,如你所愿吧……”再次醒来,便不再是以前那个善良单纯的肖媛。心狠手辣,冷酷绝情又怎样,此生唯愿活的问心无愧,脱去红装,一个新的肖远奔向新的战场……
  • 我的梦境怎么可能这么正常

    我的梦境怎么可能这么正常

    对不起审核对不起审核对不起审核对不起审核对不起审核对不起审核对不起审核对不起审核对不起审核对不起审核
  • 快穿之恋爱选我超甜

    快穿之恋爱选我超甜

    乔幻:“我不想恋爱。”系统:“不,你想。”乔幻兢兢业业做任务,只想早日回到自己的世界,可为什么每个任务世界都有男神爱上她?温和影帝:“既然你那么喜欢我,那我就允许你做我女朋友。”乔幻一头雾水:“我不喜欢你!”病弱太子:“没想到太子妃对孤痴心一片生死相随,你真是太傻了。”乔幻懵然:“我没殉情!”……“莫挨老子!别喜欢我!我乔幻就是饿死!死透透的!也绝不会向那个死病娇低头!”(1V1,男神为同一人)
  • 明末吾为王

    明末吾为王

    王侯将相,宁有种乎?齐杉,一介青楼小厮,手提三尺剑,来闯天下,誓要为天下百姓杀出一个朗朗乾坤!书友群:867590322
  • 怪你过分美丽(秦岚、高以翔主演)

    怪你过分美丽(秦岚、高以翔主演)

    不满30岁就坐上了“奇丽文化”经纪总监之位的莫向晚,是业界闻名的“铁血经纪人”。她容貌艳丽,却作风利落、冷口冷面、剑锋所指所向披靡。但是谁又知,镁光灯下风光无限、职场之上步步惊心。亲手培育的艺人、亲手提拔她的老板、协作多年的同事、在假意真情之间奉来迎往的合作方,这些每日工作上必须面对的人成就着莫向晚的职业人生,却也让她时时面临陷入职场陷阱的危险。当莫向晚将娱乐行业这份八面玲珑的工作努力胜任下来时,她八岁儿子莫非的父亲、一个知晓她那段努力掩盖的不为人知的年少往事的男人、和她如今不得不因为公事而争取合作的知名的律师——莫北,又不合时宜地出现了……
  • 誓要杀夫:将门夫人有点狠

    誓要杀夫:将门夫人有点狠

    一场灾难,让慕晴失去了家人,她急于报仇,却被有心之人利用,处心积虑地接近北煜,北煜不忍她被仇恨蒙蔽双眼,更不想她身陷危险,从不解释只言片语,只任其仇恨自己,善意的谎言终是被揭穿,慕晴难以接受,更为了手刃仇人,最终不告而别。两人再见时,他屡次救她于水火之中,在朝夕的相处中慕晴确定自己的心意,却因为自己的身世,始终与北煜保持距离,终于在重伤之后,接受了彼此的心意。君臣、朋友、恋人,当平静的日子再一次掀起了波澜,他们又该何去何从·······。
  • 钻石良婚

    钻石良婚

    他将婚姻看成是救赎,治好自己的天生孤独,也治好她的遍体鳞伤。有的时候,我们错过,只是为了与更合适的他相遇。所以,当向晚爱上苏豫之后,她甚至会感谢陈嘉当初头也不回的离开。
  • 穿越之两禽相悦

    穿越之两禽相悦

    无人与我立黄昏,无人陪我夜已深。无人听我诉衷肠,无人解我心中忧。他说,等我君临天下,许你十里红妆他说,等我了无牵挂,许你浪迹天涯他说,等我功成名达,许你花前月下可是她要的从来都不是这些……
  • 快穿之这只系统略怂

    快穿之这只系统略怂

    快穿界一姐盛茯又把一个系统气跑了!当盛茯看着眼前瑟瑟发抖,怂的跟什么似的被无数宿主换掉的只有一级还没人形的系统62531,表示很无语,很想再换一个系统。罢了,看你这么可怜就先合作吧。先来定个规章:1一切以宿主为第一准则;2宿主若错了,请参照第一条3宿主罩着你,你以后可以横着走!系统62531:(ó﹏ò?)盛茯最近觉得很烦,时不时会有个帅哥来找自己,说是自己男朋友或是夫君,可很快又说认错人了,转身就走。盛茯:(▼皿▼#)转身微微一笑,“62531,你看这些暗恋我的男人,觉得我太美了自惭形秽,所以都走了。”62531瑟瑟发抖:“……宿主都是对的,错的也是对的。”盛茯“……”有一天,盛茯带着自家系统逛街,突然冲出一个妖孽男抓住自家系统的手,目露深情,“娘子,我终于找到你了。”盛茯还没有反应过来,自家系统瞬间把对方揍了一顿,顺便扔出了二十米远,然后立马跑到自己的身后,身体瑟瑟发抖,声音也在颤抖,“宿主,有坏人欺负我,救我。”“……”盛茯看着那个飞出了二十米的妖孽男,眼角抽了抽。
  • 影子的范围

    影子的范围

    我们所处的时代是一个伟大的时代,人民军队英雄辈出,每一个官兵都是值得我们赞颂的人。《金像丛书》就是歌唱我们这个时代,歌唱我们广大官兵的一套丛书。在这个日新月异的新军事变革的伟大时代,广大官兵为战斗力的提升、为人民的幸福安宁、为国家建设做出了卓越的贡献,创造出了可歌可泣的辉煌业绩,涌现出了无数英雄集体、英模人物和感人事迹。我们会继续怀着一颗敬重之心,走进生活的沃土,走进基层部队,走进官兵的心田,创作和出版更多饱含爱国之情、报国之志、民族之魂、振兴之魄、奋发之为、开拓之举的精品力作,奉献给社会和人民、部队和官兵,为昂扬奋进的中华民族和部队官兵提供宝贵的精神食粮,为实现“中国梦、强军梦”提供源源不断、生生不息的力量源泉。