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！
and furniture； all are spoilt。 It is well that the women are not very delicate； or they would only love their husbands because they were their husbands。 Perhaps； you may add； that the remark need not be confined to so small a part of the world； and； entre nous； I am of the same opinion。 You must not term this innuendo saucy； for it does not come home。
If I had not determined to write I should have found my confinement here； even for three or four days； tedious。 I have no books； and to pace up and down a small room； looking at tiles overhung by rocks； soon becomes wearisome。 I cannot mount two hundred steps to walk a hundred yards many times in the day。 Besides； the rocks； retaining the heat of the sun； are intolerably warm。 I am； nevertheless； very well； for though there is a shrewdness in the character of these people； depraved by a sordid love of money which repels me； still the comparisons they force me to make keep my heart calm by exercising my understanding。
Everywhere wealth commands too much respect； but here almost exclusively； and it is the only object pursued； not through brake and briar； but over rocks and waves； yet of what use would riches be to me； I have sometimes asked myself； were I confined to live in such in a spot？ I could only relieve a few distressed objects； perhaps render them idle； and all the rest of life would be a blank。
My present journey has given fresh force to my opinion that no place is so disagreeable and unimproving as a country town。 I should like to divide my time between the town and country； in a lone house； with the business of farming and planting； where my mind would gain strength by solitary musing； and in a metropolis to rub off the rust of thought； and polish the taste which the contemplation of nature had rendered just。 Thus do we wish as we float down the stream of life； whilst chance does more to gratify a desire of knowledge than our best laid plans。 A degree of exertion； produced by some want； more or less painful； is probably the price we must all pay for knowledge。 How few authors or artists have arrived at eminence who have not lived by their employment？
I was interrupted yesterday by business； and was prevailed upon to dine with the English vice…consul。 His house being open to the sea； I was more at large； and the hospitality of the table pleased me； though the bottle was rather too freely pushed about。 Their manner of entertaining was such as I have frequently remarked when I have been thrown in the way of people without education； who have more money than witthat is； than they know what to do with。 The women were unaffected； but had not the natural grace which was often conspicuous at Tonsberg。 There was even a striking difference in their dress； these having loaded themselves with finery in the style of the sailors' girls of Hull or Portsmouth。 Taste has not yet taught them to make any but an ostentatious display of wealth。 Yet I could perceive even here the first steps of the improvement which I am persuaded will make a very obvious progress in the course of half a century； and it ought not to be sooner； to keep pace with the cultivation of the earth。 Improving manners will introduce finer moral feelings。 They begin to read translations of some of the most useful German productions lately published； and one of our party sung a song ridiculing the powers coalesced against France； and the company drank confusion to those who had dismembered Poland。
The evening was extremely calm and beautiful。 Not being able to walk； I requested a boat as the only means of enjoying free air。
The view of the town was now extremely fine。 A huge rocky mountain stood up behind it； and a vast cliff stretched on each side； forming a semicircle。 In a recess of the rocks was a clump of pines； amongst which a steeple rose picturesquely beautiful。
The churchyard is almost the only verdant spot in the place。 Here； indeed； friendship extends beyond the grave； and to grant a sod of earth is to accord a favour。 I should rather choose； did it admit of a choice； to sleep in some of the caves of the rocks； for I am become better reconciled to them since I climbed their craggy sides last night； listening to the finest echoes I ever heard。 We had a French horn with us； and there was an enchanting wildness in the dying away of the reverberation that quickly transported me to Shakespeare's magic island。 Spirits unseen seemed to walk abroad； and flit from cliff to cliff to soothe my soul to peace。
I reluctantly returned to supper； to be shut up in a warm room； only to view the vast shadows of the rocks extending on the slumbering waves。 I stood at the window some time before a buzz filled the drawing…room； and now and then the dashing of a solitary oar rendered the scene still more solemn。
Before I came here I could scarcely have imagined that a simple object （rocks） could have admitted of so many interesting combinations； always grand and often sublime。 Good night！ God bless you！
LETTER XII。
I left East Rusoer the day before yesterday。 The weather was very fine； but so calm that we loitered on the water near fourteen hours； only to make about six and twenty miles。
It seemed to me a sort of emancipation when we landed at Helgeraac。 The confinement which everywhere struck me whilst sojourning amongst the rocks； made me hail the earth as a land of promise； and the situation shone with fresh lustre from the contrastfrom appearing to be a free abode。 Here it was possible to travel by landI never thought this a comfort beforeand my eyes； fatigued by the sparkling of the sun on the water； now contentedly reposed on the green expanse； half persuaded that such verdant meads had never till then regaled them。
I rose early to pursue my journey to Tonsberg。 The country still wore a face of joyand my soul was alive to its charms。 Leaving the most lofty and romantic of the cliffs behind us； we were almost continually descending to Tonsberg； through Elysian scenes； for not only the sea； but mountains； rivers； lakes； and groves； gave an almost endless variety to the prospect。 The cottagers were still carrying home the hay； and the cottages on this road looked very comfortable。 Peace and plentyI mean not abundanceseemed to reign aroundstill I grew sad as I drew near my old abode。 I was sorry to see the sun so high； it was broad noon。 Tonsberg was something like a homeyet I was to enter without lighting up pleasure in any eye。 I dreaded the solitariness of my apartment； and wished for night to hide the starting tears； or to shed them on my pillow； and close my eyes on a world where I was destined to wander alone。 Why has nature so many charms for mecalling forth and cherishing refined sentiments； only to wound the breast that fosters them？ How illusive； perhaps the most so； are the plans of happiness founded on virtue and principle； what inlets of misery do they not open in a half…civilised society？ The satisfaction arising from conscious rectitude； will not calm an injured heart； when tenderness is ever finding excuses； and self…applause is a cold solitary feeling； that cannot supply the place of disappointed affection； without throwing a gloom over every prospect； which； banishing pleasure； does not exclude pain。 I reasoned and reasoned； but my heart was too full to allow me to remain in the house； and I walked； till I was wearied out； to purchase restor rather forgetfulness。
Employment has beguiled this day； and to…morrow I set out for Moss； on my way to Stromstad。 At Gothenburg I shall embrace my Fannikin； probably she will not know me againand I shall be hurt if she do not。 How childish is this！ still it is a natural feeling。 I would not permit myself to indulge the 〃thick coming fears〃 of fondness； whilst I was detained by business。 Yet I never saw a calf bounding in a meadow； that did not remind me of my little frolicker。 A calf； you say。 Yes； but a capital one I own。
I cannot write composedlyI am every instant sinking into reveries… …my heart flutters； I know not why。 Fool！ It is time thou wert at rest。
Friendship and domestic happiness are continually praised； yet how little is there of either in the world； because it requires more cultivation of mind to keep awake affection； even in our own hearts； than the common run of people suppose。 Besides； few like to be seen as they really are； and a degree of simplicity； and of undisguised confidence； which； to uninterested observers； would almost border on weakness； is the charm； nay the essence of love or friendship； all the bewitching graces of childhood again appearing。 As objects merely to exercise my taste； I therefore like to see people together who have an affection for each other； every turn of their features touches me； and remains pictured on my imagination in indelible characters。 The zest of novelty is； however； necessary to rouse the languid sympathies which have been hackneyed in the world； as is the factitious behaviour； falsely termed good…breeding； to amuse those； who； defective in taste； continually rely for pleasure on their animal spirits； which not being maintained by the imagination； are unavoidably sooner exhausted than the sentiments of the heart。 Friend