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！
It is only by travelling that one can rub off prejudices； I think
you will agree with me there。 I am speaking to a traveller。 I
left behind all my prejudices in Italy。 The Catholics are at least
our fellow…Christians。 I thank Heaven that I am no longer an enemy
to Catholic emancipation。'
'And yet you would not tolerate Dissenters？'
'Dissenters； my dear sir； I hope you would not class such a set as
the Dissenters with Catholics？'
'Perhaps it would be unjust；' said my host； 'though to which of the
two parties is another thing； but permit me to ask you a question：
Does it not smack somewhat of paradox to talk of Catholics； whilst
you admit there are Dissenters？ If there are Dissenters； how
should there be Catholics？'
'It is not my fault that there are Dissenters；' said the Reverend
Mr。 Platitude； 'if I had my will I would neither admit there were
any； nor permit any to be。'
'Of course you would admit there were such as long as they existed；
but how would you get rid of them？'
'I would have the Church exert its authority。'
'What do you mean by exerting its authority？'
'I would not have the Church bear the sword in vain。'
'What； the sword of St。 Peter？ You remember what the founder of
the religion which you profess said about the sword； 〃He who
striketh with it 。。。 〃 I think those who have called themselves
the Church have had enough of the sword。 Two can play with the
sword； Mr。 Platitude。 The Church of Rome tried the sword with the
Lutherans： how did it fare with the Church of Rome？ The Church of
England tried the sword； Mr。 Platitude； with the Puritans： how did
it fare with Laud and Charles？'
'Oh； as for the Church of England；' said Mr。 Platitude； 'I have
little to say。 Thank God； I left all my Church of England
prejudices in Italy。 Had the Church of England known its true
interests； it would long ago have sought a reconciliation with its
illustrious mother。 If the Church of England had not been in some
degree a schismatic church； it would not have fared so ill at the
time of which you are speaking； the rest of the Church would have
come to its assistance。 The Irish would have helped it； so would
the French； so would the Portuguese。 Disunion has always been the
bane of the Church。'
Once more I fell into a reverie。 My mind now reverted to the past；
methought I was in a small comfortable room wainscoted with oak； I
was seated on one side of a fireplace； close by a table on which
were wine and fruit； on the other side of the fire sat a man in a
plain suit of brown； with the hair combed back from his somewhat
high forehead； he had a pipe in his mouth； which for some time he
smoked gravely and placidly； without saying a word； at length；
after drawing at the pipe for some time rather vigorously； he
removed it from his mouth； and； emitting an accumulated cloud of
smoke； he exclaimed in a slow and measured tone； 'As I was telling
you just now； my good chap； I have always been an enemy to humbug。'
When I awoke from my reverie the Reverend Mr。 Platitude was
quitting the apartment。
'Who is that person？' said I to my entertainer； as the door closed
behind him。
'Who is he？' said my host； 'why； the Reverend Mr。 Platitude。'
'Does he reside in this neighbourhood？'
'He holds a living about three miles from here； his history； as far
as I am acquainted with it； is as follows。 His father was a
respectable tanner in the neighbouring town； who； wishing to make
his son a gentleman； sent him to college。 Having never been at
college myself； I cannot say whether he took the wisest course； I
believe it is more easy to unmake than to make a gentleman； I have
known many gentlemanly youths go to college； and return anything
but what they went。 Young Mr。 Platitude did not go to college a
gentleman； but neither did he return one： he went to college an
ass； and returned a prig； to his original folly was superadded a
vast quantity of conceit。 He told his father that he had adopted
high principles； and was determined to discountenance everything
low and mean； advised him to eschew trade； and to purchase him a
living。 The old man retired from business； purchased his son a
living； and shortly after died； leaving him what remained of his
fortune。 The first thing the Reverend Mr。 Platitude did； after his
father's decease； was to send his mother and sister into Wales to
live upon a small annuity； assigning as a reason that he was averse
to anything low； and that they talked ungrammatically。 Wishing to
shine in the pulpit； he now preached high sermons； as he called
them； interspersed with scraps of learning。 His sermons did not；
however； procure him much popularity； on the contrary； his church
soon became nearly deserted； the greater part of his flock going
over to certain dissenting preachers； who had shortly before made
their appearance in the neighbourhood。 Mr。 Platitude was filled
with wrath； and abused Dissenters in most unmeasured terms。 Coming
in contact with some of the preachers at a public meeting； he was
rash enough to enter into argument with them。 Poor Platitude！ he
had better have been quiet； he appeared like a child； a very
infant； in their grasp； he attempted to take shelter under his
college learning； but found； to his dismay； that his opponents knew
more Greek and Latin than himself。 These illiterate boors； as he
had supposed them； caught him at once in a false concord； and Mr。
Platitude had to slink home overwhelmed with shame。 To avenge
himself he applied to the ecclesiastical court； but was told that
the Dissenters could not be put down by the present ecclesiastical
law。 He found the Church of England； to use his own expression； a
poor； powerless； restricted Church。 He now thought to improve his
consequence by marriage； and made up to a rich and beautiful young
lady in the neighbourhood； the damsel measured him from head to
foot with a pair of very sharp eyes； dropped a curtsey； and refused
him。 Mr。 Platitude； finding England a very stupid place；
determined to travel； he went to Italy； how he passed his time
there he knows best； to other people it is a matter of little
importance。 At the end of two years he returned with a real or
assumed contempt for everything English； and especially for the
Church to which he belongs； and out of which he is supported。 He
forthwith gave out that he had left behind him all his Church of
England prejudices； and； as a proof thereof； spoke against
sacerdotal wedlock and the toleration of schismatics。 In an evil
hour for myself he was introduced to me by a clergyman of my
acquaintance； and from that time I have been pestered； as I was
this morning； at least once a week。 I seldom enter into any
discussion with him； but fix my eyes on the portrait over the
mantelpiece； and endeavour to conjure up some co