the surprising adventures of baron munchausen-第6部分
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ch every traveller had described as uncommonly bad through the northern parts of Germany； Poland； Courland； and Livonia。 I went on horseback； as the most convenient manner of travelling； I was but lightly clothed； and of this I felt the inconvenience the more I advanced north…east。 What must not a poor old man have suffered in that severe weather and climate； whom I saw on a bleak common in Poland； lying on the road； helpless； shivering； and hardly having wherewithal to cover his nakedness？ I pitied the poor soul： though I felt the severity of the air myself； I threw my mantle over him； and immediately I heard a voice from the heavens； blessing me for that piece of charity； saying
〃You will be rewarded； my son； for this in time。〃
I went on： night and darkness overtook me。 No village was to be seen。 The country was covered with snow； and I was unacquainted with the road。
Tired； I alighted； and fastened my horse to something like a pointed stump of a tree； which appeared above the snow； for the sake of safety I placed my pistols under my arm； and laid down on the snow； where I slept so soundly that I did not open my eyes till full daylight。 It is not easy to conceive my astonishment to find myself in the midst of a village； lying in a churchyard； nor was my horse to be seen； but I heard him soon after neigh somewhere above me。 On looking upwards I beheld him hanging by his bridle to the weather…cock of the steeple。 Matters were now very plain to me： the village had been covered with snow overnight； a sudden change of weather had taken place； I had sunk down to the churchyard whilst asleep； gently； and in the same proportion as the snow had melted away； and what in the dark I had taken to be a stump of a little tree appearing above the snow； to which I had tied my horse； proved to have been the cross or weather… cock of the steeple！
Without long consideration I took one of my pistols； shot the bridle in two； brought the horse； and proceeded on my journey。 ＇Here the Baron seems to have forgot his feelings； he should certainly have ordered his horse a feed of corn； after fasting so long。＇
He carried me welladvancing into the interior parts of Russia。 I found travelling on horseback rather unfashionable in winter； therefore I submitted； as I always do； to the custom of the country； took a single horse sledge； and drove briskly towards St。 Petersburg。 I do not exactly recollect whether it was in Eastland or Jugemanland； but I remember that in the midst of a dreary forest I spied a terrible wolf making after me； with all the speed of ravenous winter hunger。 He soon overtook me。 There was no possibility of escape。 Mechanically I laid myself down flat in the sledge； and let my horse run for our safety。 What I wished； but hardly hoped or expected； happened immediately after。 The wolf did not mind me in the least； but took a leap over me； and falling furiously on the horse； began instantly to tear and devour the hind…part of the poor animal； which ran the faster for his pain and terror。 Thus unnoticed and safe myself； I lifted my head slyly up； and with horror I beheld that the wolf had ate his way into the horse's body； it was not long before he had fairly forced himself into it； when I took my advantage； and fell upon him with the butt…end of my whip。 This unexpected attack in his rear frightened him so much； that he leaped forward with all his might： the horse's carcase dropped on the ground； but in his place the wolf was in the harness； and I on my part whipping him continually： we both arrived in full career safe at St。 Petersburg； contrary to our respective expectations； and very much to the astonishment of the spectators。
I shall not tire you； gentlemen； with the politics； arts； sciences； and history of this magnificent metropolis of Russia； nor trouble you with the various intrigues and pleasant adventures I had in the politer circles of that country； where the lady of the house always receives the visitor with a dram and a salute。 I shall confine myself rather to the greater and nobler objects of your attention； horses and dogs； my favourites in the brute creation； also to foxes； wolves； and bears； with which； and game in general； Russia abounds more than any other part of the world； and to such sports； manly exercises； and feats of gallantry and activity； as show the gentleman better than musty Greek or Latin； or all the perfume； finery； and capers of French wits or /petit…ma？tres/。
CHAPTER III
/An encounter between the Baron's nose and a door…post； with its wonderful effectsFifty brace of ducks and other fowl destroyed by one shotFlogs a fox out of his skinLeads an old sow home in a new way； and vanquishes a wild boar。/
It was some time before I could obtain a commission in the army； and for several months I was perfectly at liberty to sport away my time and money in the most gentleman…like manner。 You may easily imagine that I spent much of both out of town with such gallant fellows as knew how to make the most of an open forest country。 The very recollection of those amusements gives me fresh spirits； and creates a warm wish for a repetition of them。 One morning I saw； through the windows of my bed…room； that a large pond not far off was covered with wild ducks。 In an instant I took my gun from the corner； ran down… stairs and out of the house in such a hurry； that I imprudently struck my face against the door…post。 Fire flew out of my eyes； but it did not prevent my intention； I soon came within shot； when； levelling my piece； I observed to my sorrow； that even the flint had sprung from the cock by the violence of the shock I had just received。 There was no time to be lost。 I presently remembered the effect it had on my eyes； therefore opened the pan； levelled my piece against the wild fowls； and my fist against one of my eyes。 ＇The Baron's eyes have retained fire ever since； and appear particularly illuminated when he relates this anecdote。＇ A hearty blow drew sparks again； the shot went off； and I killed fifty brace of ducks； twenty widgeons； and three couple of teals。 Presence of mind is the soul of manly exercises。 If soldiers and sailors owe to it many of their lucky escapes； hunters and sportsmen are not less beholden to it for many of their successes。 In a noble forest in Russia I met a fine black fox； whose valuable skin it would have been a pity to tear by ball or shot。 Reynard stood close to a tree。 In a twinkling I took out my ball； and placed a good spike…nail in its room； fired； and hit him so cleverly that I nailed his brush fast to the tree。 I now went up to him； took out my hanger； gave him a cross…cut over the face； laid hold of my whip； and fairly flogged him out of his fine skin。
Chance and good luck often correct our mistakes； of this I had a singular instance soon after； when； in the depth of a forest； I saw a wild pig and sow running close behind each other。 My ball had missed them； yet the foremost pig only ran away； and the sow stood motionless； as fixed to the ground。 On examining into the matter； I found the latter one to be an old sow； blind with age； which had taken hold of her pig's tail； in order to be led along by filial duty。 My ball； having passed between the two； had cut his leading…string； which the old sow continued to hold in her mouth； and as her former guide did not draw her on any longer； she had stopped of course； I therefore laid hold of the remaining end of the pig's tail； and led the old beast home without any further trouble on my part； and without any reluctance or apprehension on the part of the helpless old animal。
Terrible as these wild sows are； yet more fierce and dangerous are the boars； one of which I had once the misfortune to meet in a forest； unprepared for attack or defence。 I retired behind an oak…tree just when the furious animal levelled a side…blow at me； with such force； that his tusks pierced through the tree； by which means he could neither repeat the blow nor retire。 Ho； ho！ thought I； I shall soon have you now！ and immediately I laid hold of a stone； wherewith I hammered and bent his tusks in such a manner； that he could not retreat by any means； and must wait my return from the next village； whither I went for ropes and a cart； to secure him properly； and to carry him off safe and alive； in which I perfectly succeeded。
CHAPTER IV
/Reflections on Saint Hubert's stagShoots a stag with cherry… stones； the wonderful effects of itKills a bear by extraordinary dexterity； his danger pathetically describedAttacked by a wolf； which he turns inside outIs assailed by a mad dog； from which he escapesThe Baron's cloak seized with madness； by which his whole wardrobe is thrown into confusion。/
You have heard； I dare say； of the hunter and sportsman's saint and protector； St。 Hubert； and of the noble stag； which appeared to him in the forest； with the holy cross between his antlers。 I have paid my homage to that saint every year in good fellowship； and seen this stag a thousand times； either painted in churches； or embroidered in the stars of his knights； so that； upon the honour and conscience of a good sportsman； I hardly know whether there may not have been formerly； or whether there are not such crossed stags even at this present day。 But let me rather tell what I have seen myself。 Having one day spent all my shot； I found myself unexpectedly in presence of a stately stag； looking at me as unconcernedly as if he had known of my empty pouches。 I charged immediately with powder； and upon it a good handful of cherry…stones； for I had sucked the fruit as far as the hurry would permit。 Thus I let fly at him； and hit him just on the middle of the forehead； between his antlers； it stunned himhe staggeredyet he made off。 A year or two after； being with a party in the same forest； I beheld a noble stag with a fine full grown cherry… tree above ten feet high between his antlers。 I immediately recollected my former adventure； looked upon him as my property； and brought him to the ground by one shot； which at once gave me the haunch and cherry…sauce； for the tree was covered with the richest fruit； the like I had never tasted before。 Who knows but some passionate holy sp
