erewhon-第14部分
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typhus fever； which they regard as one of the worst of all crimes。
This is the only case in which they have confounded mental and
physical diseases； and they do it even here as by an avowed legal
fiction。 I became uneasy when I remembered about my watch； but
they comforted me with the assurance that transgression in this
matter was now so unheard of； that the law could afford to be
lenient towards an utter stranger； especially towards one who had
such a good character （they meant physique）； and such beautiful
light hair。 Moreover the watch was a real curiosity； and would be
a welcome addition to the metropolitan collection； so they did not
think I need let it trouble me seriously。
I will write； however； more fully upon this subject when I deal
with the Colleges of Unreason； and the Book of the Machines。
In about a month from the time of our starting I was told that our
journey was nearly over。 The bandage was now dispensed with； for
it seemed impossible that I should ever be able to find my way back
without being captured。 Then we rolled merrily along through the
streets of a handsome town； and got on to a long； broad； and level
road； with poplar trees on either side。 The road was raised
slightly above the surrounding country； and had formerly been a
railway； the fields on either side were in the highest conceivable
cultivation； but the harvest and also the vintage had been already
gathered。 The weather had got cooler more rapidly than could be
quite accounted for by the progress of the season； so I rather
thought that we must have been making away from the sun； and were
some degrees farther from the equator than when we started。 Even
here the vegetation showed that the climate was a hot one； yet
there was no lack of vigour among the people； on the contrary； they
were a very hardy race； and capable of great endurance。 For the
hundredth time I thought that； take them all round； I had never
seen their equals in respect of physique； and they looked as good…
natured as they were robust。 The flowers were for the most part
over； but their absence was in some measure compensated for by a
profusion of delicious fruit； closely resembling the figs； peaches；
and pears of Italy and France。 I saw no wild animals； but birds
were plentiful and much as in Europe； but not tame as they had been
on the other side the ranges。 They were shot at with the cross…bow
and with arrows； gunpowder being unknown； or at any rate not in
use。
We were now nearing the metropolis and I could see great towers and
fortifications； and lofty buildings that looked like palaces。 I
began to be nervous as to my reception； but I had got on very well
so far； and resolved to continue upon the same plan as hitherto
namely； to behave just as though I were in England until I saw that
I was making a blunder； and then to say nothing till I could gather
how the land lay。 We drew nearer and nearer。 The news of my
approach had got abroad； and there was a great crowd collected on
either side the road； who greeted me with marks of most respectful
curiosity； keeping me bowing constantly in acknowledgement from
side to side。
When we were about a mile off； we were met by the Mayor and several
Councillors； among whom was a venerable old man； who was introduced
to me by the Mayor （for so I suppose I should call him） as the
gentleman who had invited me to his house。 I bowed deeply and told
him how grateful I felt to him； and how gladly I would accept his
hospitality。 He forbade me to say more； and pointing to his
carriage； which was close at hand； he motioned me to a seat
therein。 I again bowed profoundly to the Mayor and Councillors；
and drove off with my entertainer； whose name was Senoj Nosnibor。
After about half a mile the carriage turned off the main road； and
we drove under the walls of the town till we reached a palazzo on a
slight eminence； and just on the outskirts of the city。 This was
Senoj Nosnibor's house； and nothing can be imagined finer。 It was
situated near the magnificent and venerable ruins of the old
railway station； which formed an imposing feature from the gardens
of the house。 The grounds； some ten or a dozen acres in extent；
were laid out in terraced gardens； one above the other； with
flights of broad steps ascending and descending the declivity of
the garden。 On these steps there were statues of most exquisite
workmanship。 Besides the statues there were vases filled with
various shrubs that were new to me； and on either side the flights
of steps there were rows of old cypresses and cedars； with grassy
alleys between them。 Then came choice vineyards and orchards of
fruit…trees in full bearing。
The house itself was approached by a court…yard； and round it was a
corridor on to which rooms opened； as at Pompeii。 In the middle of
the court there was a bath and a fountain。 Having passed the court
we came to the main body of the house； which was two stories in
height。 The rooms were large and lofty； perhaps at first they
looked rather bare of furniture； but in hot climates people
generally keep their rooms more bare than they do in colder ones。
I missed also the sight of a grand piano or some similar
instrument； there being no means of producing music in any of the
rooms save the larger drawing…room； where there were half a dozen
large bronze gongs； which the ladies used occasionally to beat
about at random。 It was not pleasant to hear them； but I have
heard quite as unpleasant music both before and since。
Mr。 Nosnibor took me through several spacious rooms till we reached
a boudoir where were his wife and daughters； of whom I had heard
from the interpreter。 Mrs。 Nosnibor was about forty years old； and
still handsome； but she had grown very stout： her daughters were
in the prime of youth and exquisitely beautiful。 I gave the
preference almost at once to the younger； whose name was Arowhena；
for the elder sister was haughty； while the younger had a very
winning manner。 Mrs。 Nosnibor received me with the perfection of
courtesy； so that I must have indeed been shy and nervous if I had
not at once felt welcome。 Scarcely was the ceremony of my
introduction well completed before a servant announced that dinner
was ready in the next room。 I was exceedingly hungry； and the
dinner was beyond all praise。 Can the reader wonder that I began
to consider myself in excellent quarters？ 〃That man embezzle
money？〃 thought I to myself； 〃impossible。〃
But I noticed that my host was uneasy during the whole meal； and
that he ate nothing but a little bread and milk； towards the end of
dinner there came a tall lean man with a black beard； to whom Mr。
Nosnibor and the whole family paid great attention： he was the
family straightener。 With this gentleman Mr。 Nosnibor retired into
another room； from which there presently proceeded a sound of
weeping and wailing。 I could hardly believe my ears； but in a few
minutes I got to know for a certainty that they came from Mr。
Nosnibor himself。
〃Poor papa；〃 said Arowhena； as she helped herself composedly to the
salt； 〃how terribly he has suffered。〃
〃Yes；〃 answered her mother； 〃but I think he is quite out of danger
now。〃
Then they went on to explain to me the circumstances of the case；
and the treatment which the straightener had prescribed； and how
successful he had beenall which I will reserve for another
chapter； and put rather in the form of a general summary of the
opinions current upon these subjects than in the exact words in
which the facts were delivered to me； the reader； however； is
earnestly requested to believe that both in this next chapter and
in those that follow it I have endeavoured to adhere most
conscientiously to the strictest accuracy； and that I have never
willingly misrepresented； though I may have sometimes failed to
understand all the bearings of an opinion or custom。
CHAPTER X： CURRENT OPINIONS
This is what I gathered。 That in that country if a man falls into
ill health； or catches any disorder； or fails bodily in any way
before he is seventy years old； he is tried before a jury of his
countrymen； and if convicted is held up to public scorn and
sentenced more or less severely as the case may be。 There are
subdivisions of illnesses into crimes and misdemeanours as with
offences amongst ourselvesa man being punished very heavily for
serious illness； while failure of eyes or hearing in one over
sixty…five； who has had good health hitherto； is dealt with by fine
only； or imprisonment in default of payment。 But if a man forges a
cheque； or sets his house on fire； or robs with violence from the
person； or does any other such things as are criminal in our own
country； he is either taken to a hospital and most carefully tended
at the public expense； or if he is in good circumstances； he lets
it be known to all his friends that he is suffering from a severe
fit of immorality； just as we do when we are ill； and they come and
visit him with great solicitude； and inquire with interest how it
all came about； what symptoms first showed themselves； and so
forth；questions which he will answer with perfect unreserve； for
bad conduct； though considered no less deplorable than illness with
ourselves； and as unquestionably indicating something seriously
wrong with the individual who misbehaves； is nevertheless held to
be the result of either pre…natal or post…natal misfortune。
The strange part of the story； however； is that though they ascribe
moral defects to the effect of misfortune either in character or
surroundings； they will not listen to the plea of misfortune in
cases that in England meet with sympathy and commiseration only。
Ill luck of any kind； or even ill treatment at the hands of others；
is considered an offence against society； inasmuch as it makes
people uncomfortable to hear of it。 Loss of fortune； therefore； or
loss of some dear friend on whom another was much dependent； is
punished hardly less severely than physical delinquency。
Foreign； indeed； as such ideas are to our own； traces of somewhat
similar opinions can be found even in nineteenth…century England。
If a person has an abscess； the medical man will say th
