a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第3章
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understood the etiquette of the place； he spent his last weeks in an orgie of
rollicking lawlessness。 He drank； he ate； he diced； he received his
friends； or chaffed the Ordinary； he attempted； through the well… paid
cunning of the Clerk； to bribe the jury； and when every artifice had failed
he went to Tyburn like a man。 If he knew not how to live； at least he
would show a resentful world how to die。
‘In no country；' wrote Sir T。 Smith； a distinguished lawyer of the time；
‘do malefactors go to execution more intrepidly than in England'； and
assuredly； buoyed up by custom and the approval of their fellows； Wild's
victims made a brave show at the gallows。 Nor was their bravery the
result of a common callousness。 They understood at once the humour
and the delicacy of the situation。 Though hitherto they had chaffed the
Ordinary； they now listened to his exhortation with at least a semblance of
respect； and though their last night upon earth might have been devoted to
a joyous company； they did not withhold their ear from the Bellman's
Chant。 As twelve o'clock approachedtheir last midnight upon earth
they would interrupt the most spirited discourse； they would check the tour
of the mellowest bottle to listen to the solemn doggerel。 ‘All you that in
the condemn'd hole do lie；' groaned the Bellman of St。 Sepulchre's in his
duskiest voice； and they who held revel in the condemned hole prayed
silence of their friends for the familiar cadences：
All you that in the condemn'd hole do lie； Prepare you； for to…morrow
you shall die； Watch all and pray； the hour is drawing near； That you
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before th' Almighty must appear。 Examine well yourselves； in time repent
That you may not t' eternal flames be sent； And when St。 Pulchre's bell to…
morrow tolls； The Lord above have mercy on your souls。
Past twelve o'clock！
Even if this warning voice struck a momentary terror into their
offending souls； they were up betimes in the morning； eager to pay their
final debt。 Their journey from Newgate to Tyburn was a triumph； and
their vanity was unabashed at the droning menaces of the Ordinary。 At
one point a chorus of maidens cast wreaths upon their way； or pinned
nosegays in their coats； that they might not face the executioner unadorned。
At the Crown Tavern they quaffed their last glass of ale； and told the
landlord with many a leer and smirk that they would pay him on their way
back。 Though gravity was asked； it was not always given； but in the
Eighteenth Century courage was seldom wanting。 To the common
citizen a violent death was （and is） the worst of horrors； to the ancient
highwayman it was the odd trick lost in the game of life。 And the
highwayman endured the rope； as the practised gambler loses his estate；
without blenching。 One there was； who felt his leg tremble in his own
despite： wherefore he stamped it upon the ground so violently； that in
other circumstances he would have roared with pain； and he left the world
without a tremor。 In this spirit Cranmer burnt his recreant right hand； and
in either case the glamour of a unique occasion was a stimulus to courage。
But not even this brilliant treatment of accessories availed to save the
highway from disrepute； indeed； it had become the profitless pursuit of
braggarts and loafers； long before the abolition of the stage…coach
destroyed its opportunity。 In the meantime； however； the pickpocket was
master of his trade。 His strategy was perfect； his sleight of hand as
delicate as long； lithe fingers and nimble brains could make it。 He had
discarded for ever those clumsy instruments whose use had barred the
progress of the Primitives。 The breast…pocket behind the tightest
buttoned coat presented no difficulty to his love of research； and he would
penetrate the stoutest frieze or the lightest satin； as easily as Jack Sheppard
made a hole through Newgate。 His trick of robbery was so simple and
yet so successful； that ever since it has remained a tradition。 The
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collision； the victim's murmured apology； the hasty scuffle； the booty
handed to the aide…de…camp； who is out of sight before the hue and cry can
be raisedsuch was the policy advocated two hundred years ago； such is
the policy pursued to day by the few artists that remain。
Throughout the eighteenth century the art of cly…faking held its own；
though its reputation paled in the glamour of the highway。 It culminated
in George Barrington； whose vivid genius persuaded him to work alone
and to carry off his own booty； it still flourished （in a silver age） when the
incomparable Haggart performed his prodigies of skill； even in our prosaic
time some flashes of the ancient glory have been seen。 Now and again
circumstances have driven it into eclipse。 When the facile sentiment of
the Early Victorian Era poised the tear of sympathy upon every trembling
eyelid； the most obdurate was forced to provide himself with a silk
handkerchief of equal size and value。
Now； a wipe is the easiest booty in the world； and the Artful Dodger
might grow rich without the exercise of the smallest skill。 But wipes
dwindled； with dwindling sensibility； and once more the pickpocket was
forced upon cleverness or extinction。
At the same time the more truculent trade of housebreaking was
winning a lesser triumph of its own。 Never； save in the hands of one or
two distinguished practitioners； has this clumsy； brutal pursuit taken on the
refinement of an art。 Essentially modern； it has generally been pursued
in the meanest spirit of gain。 Deacon Brodie clung to it as to a diversion；
but he was an amateur； without a clear understanding of his craft's
possibilities。 The sole monarch of housebreakers was Charles Peace。
At a single stride he surpassed his predecessors； nor has the greatest of his
imitators been worthy to hand on the candle which he left at the gallows。
For the rest； there is small distinction in breaking windows； wielding
crowbars； and battering the brains of defenceless old gentlemen。 And it
is to such miserable tricks as this that he who two centuries since rode
abroad in all the glory of the High…toby…splice descends in these days of
avarice and stupidity。 The legislators who decreed that henceforth the
rope should be reserved for the ultimate crime of murder were inspired
with a proper sense of humour and proportion。 It would be ignoble to
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dignify that ugly enterprise of to…day； the cracking of suburban cribs； with
the same punishment which was meted out to Claude Duval and the
immortal Switcher。 Better for the churl the disgrace of Portland than the
chance of heroism and respect given at the Tree！
And where are the heroes whose art was as glorious as their intrepidity？
One and all they have climbed the ascent of Tyburn。
One and all； they have leaped resplendent from the cart。 The world；
which was the joyous playground of highwaymen and pickpockets； is now
the Arcadia of swindlers。 The man who once went forth to meet his
equal on the road； now plunders the defenceless widow or the foolish
clergyman from the security of an office。 He has changed Black Bess for
a brougham； his pistol for a cigar； a sleek chimney…pot sits upon the head；
which once carried a jaunty hat； three…cornered； spats have replaced the
tops of ancient times； and a heavy fur coat advertises at once the wealth
and inaction of the modern brigand。 No longer does he roam the heaths
of Hounslow or Bagshot； no longer does he track the grazier to a country
fair。 Fearful of an encounter； he chooses for the fields of his enterprise
the byways of the City； and the advertisement columns of the smugly
Christian Press。 He steals without
