the life and perambulations of a mouse-第8部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ly　happy　and　desirable；　that　we　thought；　although　our　mother　had　charged　us　not　to　return　frequently　to　the　same　place；　yet　she　could　not　mean　that　we　should　not　take　up　our　abode　in　a　spot　so　secure　and　comfortable。　　We　therefore　determined　to　continue　where　we　were；　till　we　should　find　some　cause　for　removing。　　And　happy　had　it　been　for　us　if　we　had　kept　to　this　resolution；　and　remained　contented　when　we　had　everything　requisite　to　make　us　so。　　Instead　of　which；　after　we　had　thus；　free　from　care；　passed　our　time　about　seven　months；　like　fools　as　we　were；　we　began　to　grow　weary　of　our　retirement；　and　of　eating　nothing　but　the　same　food；　and　agreed　that　we　would　again　venture　forth　and　seek　for　some　other　lodging；　at　the　same　time　resolving；　in　case　we　could　find　no　habitation　that　suited　us；　to　return　to　the　barn　where　we　had　enjoyed　so　many　days　of　plenty　and　repose。

Accordingly；　one　fine　moonlight　Monday　night；　after　securing　our　supper　on　the　corn；　we　set　forth；　and　travelled　for　some　distance　without　any　further　molestation　than　our　own　natural　fears　created。　　At　length　we　came　to　a　brick　house；　with　about　five　or　six　windows　in　front；　and　made　our　way　into　it　through　a　small　latticed　window　which　gave　air　into　the　pantry；　but　on　our　arrival　here　we　had　no　opportunity　of　so　much　as　observing　what　it　contained；　for　on　our　slipping　down　a　cat　instantly　flew　at　us；　and　by　the　greatest　good　luck　in　the　world；　there　chanced　to　be　a　hole　in　one　of　the　boards　of　the　floor　close　to　the　spot　where　we　stood；　into　which　we　both　were　happy　enough　to　pop；　before　she　could　catch　us。　　Here　we　had　time　to　reflect；　and　severely　blame　ourselves　for　not　being　satisfied　with　our　state　in　the　barn。　　'When；'　said　I；　addressing　myself　to　my　brother；　'when　shall　we　grow　wise；　and　learn　to　know　that　certain　evil　always　attends　every　deviation　from　what　is　right。　　When　we　disobeyed　the　advice　of　our　mother；　and；　tempted　by　cakes　and　other　dainties；　frequently　returned　to　the　same　dangerous　place；　how　severely　did　we　suffer　for　it？　　And　now；　by　our　own　discontent；　and　not　being　satisfied　when　so　safely　though　more　humbly　lodged；　into　what　trouble　have　we　not　plunged　ourselves？　　How　securely　have　we　lived　in　the　barn　for　the　last　seven　months；　and　how　happily　might　we　still　have　continued　there；　had　it　not　been　for　our　restless　dispositions？　Ah！　my　brother；　we　have　acted　foolishly。　　We　ought　to　have　been　contented　when　we　were　at　peace；　and　should　have　considered　that　if　we　had　not　everything　we　could　wish　for；　we　had　every　thing　that　was　necessary；　and　the　life　of　a　mouse　was　never　designed　for　perfect　happiness。　　Such　enjoyment　was　never　intended　for　our　lot；　it　is　the　portion　only　of　beings　whose　capacities　are　far　superior　to　ours。　　We　ought　then　to　have　been　contented；　and　had　we　been　so；　we　should　have　been　as　happy　as　our　state　of　life　would　have　admitted　of。'　　'What　you　say　is　certainly　very　true；'　replied　Longtail；　'and　I　sincerely　wish　that　we　had　thought　of　these　things　before。　　But　what　must　we　now　do？　we　said　we　would　return　to　the　barn　in　case　of　difficulties；　but　that　is　now　impossible；　as；　if　we　attempt　to　retreat；　the　cat　that　drove　us　in　here；　will　certainly　destroy　us；　and　yet　in　proceeding；　what　difficulties　must　we　encounter；　what　dangers　may　we　not　run！　　Oh！　my　beloved　Nimble；'　continued　he；　'what　a　life　of　hazard　is　ours！　to　what　innumerable　accidents　are　we　hourly　exposed！　and　how　is　every　meal　that　we　eat　at　the　risk　of　our　very　existence！'

'It　undoubtedly　is；'　replied　I；　'but　with　all　its　troubles　we　still　are　very　desirous　of　preserving　it：　　let　us　not　then；　my　brother；　indulge　our　hearts　with　murmuring　and　finding　fault　with　that　life；　which；　notwithstanding　all　its　evils；　we　value　so　highly。　　Rather　let　us　endeavour　to　learn　experience；　and；　by　conducting　ourselves　better；　escape　many　of　those　troubles　which　we　now　suffer。'　　So　saving；　I　advised　him　to　follow　me：　　'for；'　added　I；　'it　is　impossible　for　us　to　exist　in　the　spot　in　which　we　are　at　present；　we　must　therefore　strive　to　work　our　way　into　some　other　house　or　apartment；　where　we　can　at　least　find　some　food。'　　To　this　Longtail　agreed；　the　rest　of　the　night；　and　all　the　next　day；　we　spent　in　nibbling　and　finding　our　way　into　a　closet　in　the　house；　which　richly　repaid　us　for　all　our　toil；　as　it　contained　sugar…plums；　rice；　millet；　various　kinds　of　sweetmeats；　and　what　we　liked　better　than　all　the　rest；　a　paper　of　nice　macaroons。　　On　these　we　feasted　most　deliciously　till　our　hunger　was　fully　satisfied；　and　then　creeping　into　a　little　hole；　just　big　enough　to　contain　us　both；　behind　one　of　the　jars　of　sweetmeats；　reposed　ourselves　with　a　nap；　after　our　various　and　great　fatigues　which　we　had　gone　through。　　I　never　was　a　remarkably　sound　sleeper；　the　least　noise　disturbs　me；　and　I　was　awakened　in　the　morning　by　the　servant…maid's　coming　into　the　room　to　sweep　it；　and　get　it　ready　for　the　reception　of　her　mistress　and　family；　who　soon　after　entered。　　As　I　wanted　to　know　from　whom　the　voices　I　heard　proceeded；　I　stepped　softly　from　behind　the　jar　and　just　peeped　under　the　door　into　the　room；　where　I　discovered　a　gentleman；　two　ladies；　and　a　little　boy　and　girl。

As　I　was　totally　unacquainted　with　all　places　of　retreat；　and　did　not　know　how　soon　any　of　them　might　have　occasion　to　open　the　closet　door；　I　instantly　returned　to　my　brother；　and；　awaking　him；　told　him　it　was　time　for　us　to　be　upon　our　guard；　as　the　family　were　all　up　and　about。

Whilst　we　were　thus　situated；　the　first　words　I　heard　distinctly　were　those　of　the　gentleman；　saying；　'No；　Frank；　I　can　never　have　a　good　opinion　of　him；　the　boy　who　could　once　deceive　may；　for　aught　I　know；　do　so　again；　he　has；　by　breaking　his　word；　forfeited　the　only　dependence　one　could　possibly　have　in　him。　　A　person　who　has　once　lost　his　honour　has　no　means　left　of　gaining　credit　to　his　assertions。　　By　honour；　Frank；　I　would　be　understood　to　speak　of　veracity；　of　virtue；　of　scorning　to　commit　a　mean　action；　and　not　that　brutish　sense　in　which　some　understand　it；　as　if　it　consisted　in　a　readiness　to　fight　and　resent　an　injury；　for　so　far　am　I　from　considering　such　behaviour　as　any　proof　of　honour；　that；　on　the　contrary；　I　look　upon　it　as　a　sure　sign　of　want　of　proper　spirit　and　true　honour。　　Fools；　bullies；　and　even　cowards；　will　fight；　whereas　none　but　men　of　sense　and　resolution　and　true　magnanimity　know　how　to　pardon　and　despise　an　insult。'　　'But；　indeed；　sir；'　replied　the　boy；　'at　school；　if　one　did　not　fight；　they　would　laugh　at　one　so；　there　would　be　no　such　thing　as　bearing　it。'　　'And　for　that　very　reason　it　is；　my　dear；　that　I　say；　to　pass　by　and　pardon　an　insult　requires　more　resolution　and　courage　than　mere　fighting　does。　　When　I　wish　you　to　avoid　quarrelling　and　fighting；　I　by　no　means　want　you　to　become　a　coward；　for　I　as　much　abhor　a　dastardly　spirit　as　any　boy　in　your　school　can　possibly　do；　but　I　would　wish　you　to　convince　them　that　you　merited　not　that　appellation；　by　showing　through　the　whole　of　your　behaviour；　a　resolution　that　despised　accidental　pain；　and　avoided　revenging　an　affront　for　no　other　reason　than　because　you　were　convinced　it　shewed　a　much　nobler　spirit　to　pardon　than　to　resent。　　And　you　may　be　assured；　my　dear；　few　are　the　days　that　pass　without　affording　us　some　opportunity　of　exerting　our　patience；　and　showing　that；　although　we　disdain　quarrelling；　still　we　are　far　from　being　cowards。

'I　remember；　when　I　was　at　school；　there　was　one　boy；　who；　from　his　first　coming；　declined　upon　all　occasions　engaging　in　any　battle；　he　even　gave　up　many　of　his　just　rights　to　avoid　quarrelling；　which　conduct；　instead　of　gaining　（as　it　justly　deserved）　the　approbation　of　his　companions；　drew　upon　him　the　insult　and　abuse　of　the　whole　school；　and　they　were　perpetually　teasing　him　with　the　opprobrious　title　of　coward。　　For　some　time　he　bore　it　with　great　good…humour；　and　endeavoured　to　laugh　it　off；　but；　finding　that　had　no　effect；　he　one　day　thus　addressed　us：〃If　you　suppose　that　I　like　to　be　called　a　coward；　you　are　all　very　much　mistaken；　or　if　you　think　me　one；　I　assure　you　that　you　are　not　less　so；　for　no　boy　in　the　school　should；　if　put　to　the　trial；　show　greater　resolution　than　myself。　　Indeed；　I　think　it　no　small　proof　of　patience　that　I　have　borne　your　repeated　insults　so　long；　when　I　could；　by　behaving　more　like　a　savage　beast；　and　less　like　a　reasonable　creature；　have　established　my　character　at　once；　but　I　abhor　quarrelling；　my　soul　detests　to　treat　my　fellow…creatures　as　if　they　were　brutes；　from　whose　fangs　I　must　defend　myself；　but　if　nothing　else　but　fighting　will　convince　you　that　I　possess　not　less　courage　than　yourselves；　I　will　now　offer；　in　cold　blood；　to　engage　with　the　biggest　boy　in　the　school。　　If　I　conquer　him；　it　will　be　a　sign　that　I　know　how　to　defend　myself；　and　if　he　conquers　me；　I　will；　by　my　behaviour；　give　a　proof　that　I　am　not　wanting　in　resolution　to　suffer　pain；　although　I　never　will　so　far　demean　the　character　of　a　reasonable　creature　and　a　Christian；　as　to　fight　upon　every　trifling　disagreement　or　insult。〃　　No　sooner　had　he　uttered　these　words；　than　every　boy　present　was　loud　either　in　his　commendation　or　condemnation。　　One　quarter　of　them；　convinced　of　the　justness　of　his　arguments；　highly　extolled　his　forbearance；　whilst　the　other　three　parts；　with　still　greater　noise；　only　called　him　a　bully　and　a　mean…spirited　coward；　who　dared　not　fight；　and　for　that　reason　made　such　a　fine　speech；　hoping　to　intimidate　them。　　〃Well　then；〃　said　he；　〃if　such　is　your　opinion；　why　will　none　of　you　accept　my　offer？　you　surely　cannot　be　afraid；　you　who　are　such　brave　fellows；　of　such　true　courage；　and　such　noble　spirits；　cannot　be　afraid　of　a　coward　and　a　bully！　　Why；　therefore；　does　not　one　of　you　step　forward；　and　put　my　fine　speech　to　the　test？　　Otherwise；　after　I　have　thus　challenged　you　all；　I　hope　none　for　the　future　will　think　they　have　any　right　to　call　me　coward；　though　I　again　declare　my　fixed　resolution　against　fighting。〃

'Just　as　he　said　this；　a　voice　calling　for　help；　was　heard　from　a　lane　adjoining　to　the　play…yard。　　Immediately　we　all　flocked　to　the　side　nearest　whence　it　proceeded；　and；　clambering　upon　benches；　watering…pots；　or　whatever　came　first　in　our　way；　peeped　over　the　wall