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！
his purpose by poison； and then spread abroad a ridiculous story；
of my wishing the next morsel might choke me if I had had any
hand in the death of Alfred； and； accordingly； that the next
morsel； by a divine judgment； stuck in my throat and performed
that office。
〃This of a statesman was one of my worst stages in the other
world。 It is a post subjected daily to the greatest danger and
inquietude； and attended with little pleasure and less ease。 In
a word； it is a pill which； was it not gilded over by ambition；
would appear nauseous and detestable in the eye of every one； and
perhaps that is one reason why Minos so greatly compassionates
the case of those who swallow it： for that just judge told me he
always acquitted a prime minister who could produce one single
good action in his whole life； let him have committed ever so
many crimes。 Indeed； I understood him a little too largely； and
was stepping towards the gate； but he pulled me by the sleeve；
and； telling me no prime minister ever entered there； bid me go
back again； saying； he thought I had sufficient reason to rejoice
in my escaping the bottomless pit； which half my crimes committed
in any other capacity would have entitled me to。〃
CHAPTER XXI
Julian's adventures in the post of a soldier。
〃I was born at Caen； in Normandy。 My mother's name was Matilda；
as for my father； I am not so certain； for the good woman on her
death…bed assured me she herself could bring her guess to no
greater certainty than to five of duke William's captains。 When
I was no more than thirteen （being indeed a surprising stout boy
of my age） I enlisted into the army of duke William； afterwards
known by the name of William the Conqueror； landed with him at
Pemesey or Pemsey； in Sussex； and was present at the famous
battle of Hastings。
〃At the first onset it was impossible to describe my
consternation； which was heightened by the fall of two soldiers
who stood by me； but this soon abated； and by degrees； as my
blood grew warm； I thought no more of my own safety； but fell on
the enemy with great fury； and did a good deal of execution；
till； unhappily； I received a wound in my thigh； which rendered
me unable to stand any longer； so that I now lay among the dead；
and was constantly exposed to the danger of being trampled to
death； as well by my fellow…soldiers as by the enemy。 However； I
had the fortune to escape it； and continued the remaining part of
the day and the night following on the ground。
〃The next morning； the duke sending out parties to bring off the
wounded； I was found almost expiring with loss of blood；
notwithstanding which； as immediate care was taken to dress my
wounds； youth and a robust constitution stood my friends； and I
recovered after a long and tedious indisposition； and was again
able to use my limbs and do my duty。
〃As soon as Dover was taken I was conveyed thither with all the
rest of the sick and wounded。 Here I recovered of my wound； but
fell afterwards into a violent flux； which； when it departed；
left me so weak that it was long before I could regain my
strength。 And what most afflicted me was； that during my whole
illness； when I languished under want as well as sickness； I had
daily the mortification to see and hear the riots and excess of
my fellow…soldiers； who had happily escaped safe from the battle。
〃I was no sooner well than I was ordered into garrison at Dover
Castle。 The officers here fared very indifferently； but the
private men much worse。 We had great scarcity of provisions；
and； what was yet more intolerable； were so closely confined for
want of room （four of us being obliged to lie on the same bundle
of straw）； that many died； and most sickened。
〃Here I had remained about four months； when one night we were
alarmed with the arrival of the earl of Boulogne； who had come
over privily from France； and endeavored to surprise the castle。
The design proved ineffectual； for the garrison making a brisk
sally； most of his men were tum… bled down the precipice； and he
returned with a very few back to France。 In this action；
however； I had the misfortune to come off with a broken arm； it
was so shattered； that； besides a great deal of pain and misery
which I endured in my cure； I was disabled for upwards of three
months。
〃Soon after my recovery I had contracted an amour with a young
woman whose parents lived near the garrison； and were in much
better circumstances than I had reason to expect should give
their consent to the match。 However； as she was extremely fond
of me （as I was indeed distractedly enamored of her）； they were
prevailed on to comply with her desires； and the day was fixed
for our marriage。
〃On the evening preceding； while I was exulting with the eager
expectation of the happiness I was the next day to enjoy； I
received orders to march early in the morning towards Windsor；
where a large army was to be formed； at the head of which the
king intended to march into the west。 Any person who hath ever
been in love may easily imagine what I felt in my mind on
receiving those orders； and what still heightened my torments
was； that the commanding officer would not permit any one to go
out of the garrison that evening； so that I had not even an
opportunity of taking leave of my beloved。
〃The morning came which was to have put me in the possession of
my wishes； but； alas！ the scene was now changed； and all the
hopes which I had raised were now so many ghosts to haunt； and
furies to torment me。
〃It was now the midst of winter； and very severe weather for the
season； when we were obliged to make very long and fatiguing
marches； in which we suffered all the inconveniences of cold and
hunger。 The night in which I expected to riot in the arms of my
beloved mistress I was obliged to take up with a lodging on the
ground； exposed to the inclemencies of a rigid frost； nor could I
obtain the least comfort of sleep； which shunned me as its enemy。
In short； the horrors of that night are not to be described； or
perhaps imagined。 They made such an impression on my soul； that
I was forced to be dipped three times in the river Lethe to
prevent my remembering it in the characters which I afterwards
performed in the flesh。〃
Here I interrupted Julian for the first time； and told him no
such dipping had happened to me in my voyage from one world to
the other： but he satisfied me by saying 〃that this only
happened to those spirits which returned into the flesh； in order
to prevent that reminiscence which Plato mentions； and which
would otherwise cause great confusion in the other world。〃
He then proceeded as follows： 〃We continued a very laborious
march to Exeter； which we were ordered to besiege。 The town soon
surrendered； and his majesty built a castle there； which he
garrisoned with his Normans； and unhappily I had the misfortune
to be one of the number。