letters on sweden, norway, and denmark-第3部分

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　a　female　figure；　though　I　had　not；　like　Marguerite；　been　thinking　of　robberies；　murders；　or　the　other　evil　which　instantly；　as　the　sailors　would　have　said；　runs　foul　of　a　woman's　imagination。

On　entering　I　was　still　better　pleased　to　find　a　clean　house；　with　some　degree　of　rural　elegance。　　The　beds　were　of　muslin；　coarse　it　is　true；　but　dazzlingly　white；　and　the　floor　was　strewed　over　with　little　sprigs　of　juniper　（the　custom；　as　I　afterwards　found；　of　the　country）；　which　formed　a　contrast　with　the　curtains；　and　produced　an　agreeable　sensation　of　freshness；　to　soften　the　ardour　of　noon。　Still　nothing　was　so　pleasing　as　the　alacrity　of　hospitalityall　that　the　house　afforded　was　quickly　spread　on　the　whitest　linen。　Remember；　I　had　just　left　the　vessel；　where；　without　being　fastidious；　I　had　continually　been　disgusted。　　Fish；　milk；　butter；　and　cheese；　and；　I　am　sorry　to　add；　brandy；　the　bane　of　this　country；　were　spread　on　the　board。　　After　we　had　dined　hospitality　made　them；　with　some　degree　of　mystery；　bring　us　some　excellent　coffee。　　I　did　not　then　know　that　it　was　prohibited。

The　good　man　of　the　house　apologised　for　coming　in　continually；　but　declared　that　he　was　so　glad　to　speak　English　he　could　not　stay　out。　He　need　not　have　apologised；　I　was　equally　glad　of　his　company。　With　the　wife　I　could　only　exchange　smiles；　and　she　was　employed　observing　the　make　of　our　clothes。　　My　hands；　I　found；　had　first　led　her　to　discover　that　I　was　the　lady。　　I　had；　of　course；　my　quantum　of　reverences；　for　the　politeness　of　the　north　seems　to　partake　of　the　coldness　of　the　climate　and　the　rigidity　of　its　iron…sinewed　rocks。　　Amongst　the　peasantry　there　is；　however；　so　much　of　the　simplicity　of　the　golden　age　in　this　land　of　flintso　much　overflowing　of　heart　and　fellow…feeling；　that　only　benevolence　and　the　honest　sympathy　of　nature　diffused　smiles　over　my　countenance　when　they　kept　me　standing；　regardless　of　my　fatigue；　whilst　they　dropped　courtesy　after　courtesy。

The　situation　of　this　house　was　beautiful；　though　chosen　for　convenience。　　The　master　being　the　officer　who　commanded　all　the　pilots　on　the　coast；　and　the　person　appointed　to　guard　wrecks；　it　was　necessary　for　him　to　fix　on　a　spot　that　would　overlook　the　whole　bay。　　As　he　had　seen　some　service；　he　wore；　not　without　a　pride　I　thought　becoming；　a　badge　to　prove　that　he　had　merited　well　of　his　country。　　It　was　happy；　I　thought；　that　he　had　been　paid　in　honour；　for　the　stipend　he　received　was　little　more　than　twelve　pounds　a　year。　　I　do　not　trouble　myself　or　you　with　the　calculation　of　Swedish　ducats。　　Thus；　my　friend；　you　perceive　the　necessity　of　perquisites。　　This　same　narrow　policy　runs　through　everything。　　I　shall　have　occasion　further　to　animadvert　on　it。

Though　my　host　amused　me　with　an　account　of　himself；　which　gave　me　aim　idea　of　the　manners　of　the　people　I　was　about　to　visit；　I　was　eager　to　climb　the　rocks　to　view　the　country；　and　see　whether　the　honest　tars　had　regained　their　ship。　　With　the　help　of　the　lieutenant's　telescope；　I　saw　the　vessel　under　way　with　a　fair　though　gentle　gale。　　The　sea　was　calm；　playful　even　as　the　most　shallow　stream；　and　on　the　vast　basin　I　did　not　see　a　dark　speck　to　indicate　the　boat。　　My　conductors　were　consequently　arrived。

Straying　further；　my　eye　was　attracted　by　the　sight　of　some　heartsease　that　peeped　through　the　rocks。　　I　caught　at　it　as　a　good　omen；　and　going　to　preserve　it　in　a　letter　that　had　not　conveyed　balm　to　my　heart；　a　cruel　remembrance　suffused　my　eyes；　but　it　passed　away　like　an　April　shower。　　If　you　are　deep　read　in　Shakespeare；　you　will　recollect　that　this　was　the　little　western　flower　tinged　by　love's　dart；　which　〃maidens　call　love　in　idleness。〃　The　gaiety　of　my　babe　was　unmixed；　regardless　of　omens　or　sentiments；　she　found　a　few　wild　strawberries　more　grateful　than　flowers　or　fancies。

The　lieutenant　informed　me　that　this　was　a　commodious　bay。　　Of　that　I　could　not　judge；　though　I　felt　its　picturesque　beauty。　　Rocks　were　piled　on　rocks；　forming　a　suitable　bulwark　to　the　ocean。　　〃Come　no　further；〃　they　emphatically　said；　turning　their　dark　sides　to　the　waves　to　augment　the　idle　roar。　　The　view　was　sterile；　still　little　patches　of　earth　of　the　most　exquisite　verdure；　enamelled　with　the　sweetest　wild　flowers；　seemed　to　promise　the　goats　and　a　few　straggling　cows　luxurious　herbage。　　How　silent　and　peaceful　was　the　scene！　　I　gazed　around　with　rapture；　and　felt　more　of　that　spontaneous　pleasure　which　gives　credibility　to　our　expectation　of　happiness　than　I　had　for　a　long；　long　time　before。　　I　forgot　the　horrors　I　had　witnessed　in　France；　which　had　cast　a　gloom　over　all　nature；　and　suffering　the　enthusiasm　of　my　charactertoo　often；　gracious　God！　damped　by　the　tears　of　disappointed　affectionto　be　lighted　up　afresh；　care　took　wing　while　simple　fellow…feeling　expanded　my　heart。

To　prolong　this　enjoyment；　I　readily　assented　to　the　proposal　of　our　host　to　pay　a　visit　to　a　family；　the　master　of　which　spoke　English；　who　was　the　drollest　dog　in　the　country；　he　added；　repeating　some　of　his　stories　with　a　hearty　laugh。

I　walked　on；　still　delighted　with　the　rude　beauties　of　the　scene；　for　the　sublime　often　gave　place　imperceptibly　to　the　beautiful；　dilating　the　emotions　which　were　painfully　concentrated。

When　we　entered　this　abode；　the　largest　I　had　yet　seen；　I　was　introduced　to　a　numerous　family；　but　the　father；　from　whom　I　was　led　to　expect　so　much　entertainment；　was　absent。　　The　lieutenant　consequently　was　obliged　to　be　the　interpreter　of　our　reciprocal　compliments。　　The　phrases　were　awkwardly　transmitted；　it　is　true；　but　looks　and　gestures　were　sufficient　to　make　them　intelligible　and　interesting。　　The　girls　were　all　vivacity；　and　respect　for　me　could　scarcely　keep　them　from　romping　with　my　host；　who；　asking　for　a　pinch　of　snuff；　was　presented　with　a　box；　out　of　which　an　artificial　mouse；　fastened　to　the　bottom；　sprang。　　Though　this　trick　had　doubtless　been　played　the　out　of　mind；　yet　the　laughter　it　excited　was　not　less　genuine。

They　were　overflowing　with　civility；　but；　to　prevent　their　almost　killing　my　babe　with　kindness；　I　was　obliged　to　shorten　my　visit；　and　two　or　three　of　the　girls　accompanied　us；　bringing　with　them　a　part　of　whatever　the　house　afforded　to　contribute　towards　rendering　my　supper　more　plentiful；　and　plentiful　in　fact　it　was；　though　I　with　difficulty　did　honour　to　some　of　the　dishes；　not　relishing　the　quantity　of　sugar　and　spices　put　into　everything。　　At　supper　my　host　told　me　bluntly　that　I　was　a　woman　of　observation；　for　I　asked　him　MEN'S　QUESTIONS。

The　arrangements　for　my　journey　were　quickly　made。　　I　could　only　have　a　car　with　post…horses；　as　I　did　not　choose　to　wait　till　a　carriage　could　be　sent　for　to　Gothenburg。　　The　expense　of　my　journey　（about　one　or　two　and　twenty　English　miles）　I　found　would　not　amount　to　more　than　eleven　or　twelve　shillings；　paying；　he　assured　me；　generously。　　I　gave　him　a　guinea　and　a　half。　　But　it　was　with　the　greatest　difficulty　that　I　could　make　him　take　so　muchindeed　anythingfor　my　lodging　and　fare。　　He　declared　that　it　was　next　to　robbing　me；　explaining　how　much　I　ought　to　pay　on　the　road。　However；　as　I　was　positive；　he　took　the　guinea　for　himself；　but；　as　a　condition；　insisted　on　accompanying　me；　to　prevent　my　meeting　with　any　trouble　or　imposition　on　the　way。

I　then　retired　to　my　apartment　with　regret。　　The　night　was　so　fine　that　I　would　gladly　have　rambled　about　much　longer；　yet；　recollecting　that　I　must　rise　very　early；　I　reluctantly　went　to　bed；　but　my　senses　had　been　so　awake；　and　my　imagination　still　continued　so　busy；　that　I　sought　for　rest　in　vain。　　Rising　before　six；　I　scented　the　sweet　morning　air；　I　had　long　before　heard　the　birds　twittering　to　hail　the　dawning　day；　though　it　could　scarcely　have　been　allowed　to　have　departed。

Nothing；　in　fact；　can　equal　the　beauty　of　the　northern　summer's　evening　and　night；　if　night　it　may　be　called　that　only　wants　the　glare　of　day；　the　full　light　which　frequently　seems　so　impertinent；　for　I　could　write　at　midnight　very　well　without　a　candle。　　I　contemplated　all　Nature　at　rest；　the　rocks；　even　grown　darker　in　their　appearance；　looked　as　if　they　partook　of　the　general　repose；　and　reclined　more　heavily　on　their　foundation。　　〃What；〃　I　exclaimed；　〃is　this　active　principle　which　keeps　me　still　awake？　　Why　fly　my　thoughts　abroad；　when　everything　around　me　appears　at　home？〃　　My　child　was　sleeping　with　equal　calmnessinnocent　and　sweet　as　the　closing　flowers。　　Some　recollections；　attached　to　the　idea　of　home；　mingled　with　reflections　respecting　the　state　of　society　I　had　been　contemplating　that　evening；　made　a　tear　drop　on　the　rosy　cheek　I　had　just　kissed；　and　emotions　that　trembled　on　the　brink　of　ecstasy　and　agony　gave　a　poignancy　to　my　sensations　which　made　me　feel　more　alive　than　usual。

What　are　these　imperious　sympathies？　　How　frequently　has　melancholy　and　even　misanthropy　taken　possession　of　me；　when　the　world　has　disgusted　me；　and　friends　have　proved　unkind。　　I　have　then　considered　myself　as　a　particle　broken　off　from　the　grand　mass　of　mankind；　I　was　alone；　till　some　involuntary　sympathetic　emotion；　like　the　attraction　of　adhesion；　made　me　feel　that　I　was　still　a　part　of　a　mighty　whole；　from　which　I　could　not　sever　myselfnot；　perhaps；　for　the　reflection　has　been　carried　very　far；　by　snapping　the　thread　of　an　existence；　which　loses　its　charms　in　proportion　as　the　cruel　experience　of　life　stops　or　poisons　the　current　of　the　heart。　　Futurity；　what　hast　thou　not　to　give　to　those　who　know　that　there　is　such　a　thing　as　happiness！　　I　speak　not　of　philosophical　contentment；　though　pain　has　afforded　them　the　strongest　conviction　of　it。

After　our　coffee　and　milkfor　the　mistress　of　the　house　had　been　roused　long　before　us　by　her　hospitalitymy　baggage　was　taken　forward　in　a　boat　by　my　host；　because　the　car　could　not　safely　have　been　brought　to　the　house。

The　road　at　first　was　very　rocky　and　troublesome；　but　our　driver　was　careful；　and　the　horses　accustomed　to　the　frequent　and　sudden　acclivities　and　descents；　so　that；　not　apprehending　any　danger；　I　played　with　my　girl；　whom　I　would　not　leave　to　Marguerite's　care；　on　account　of　her　timidity。

Stopping　at　a　little　inn　to　bait　the　horses；　I　saw　the　first　countenance　in　Sweden