castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第9章
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The second edition of CASTLE RACKRENT came out with Miss
Edgeworth's name to it in 1811。 'Its success was so triumphant；' Mrs。
Edgeworth writes；'that some oneI heard his name at the time； but do not
now remember itnot only asserted that he was the author； but actually
took the trouble to copy out several chapters with corrections and erasions
as if it was his original manuscript。'
It was when Miss Edgeworth first came to Ireland；so she tells one of
her correspondents；that she met the original Thady of CASTLE
RACKRENT。 His character struck her very much； and the story came
into her mind。 She purposely added to the agent's age so as to give time
for the events to happen。
Honest Thady tells the story； you can almost hear his voice； and see
him as he stands： 'I wear a long greatcoat winter and summer； which is
very handy； as I never put my arms into the sleeves； they are as good as
new； though come Holantide next I've had it these seven years： it holds on
by a single button round my neck； cloak fashion。 To look at me； you
would hardly think 〃Poor Thady〃 was the father of Attorney Quirk； he is a
high gentleman； and never minds what poor Thady says； and having better
than fifteen hundred a year landed estate； looks down upon honest Thady；
but I wash my hands of his doings； and as I have lived； so will I die； true
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and loyal to the family。 The family of Rackrents is； I am proud to say；
one of the most ancient in the kingdom。' And then he gives the history of
the Rackrents； beginning with Sir Patrick； who could sit out the best man
in Ireland； let alone the three kingdoms itself； and who fitted up the
chicken…house to accommodate his friends when they honoured him
unexpectedly with their company。 There was 'such a fine whillaluh at Sir
Patrick's funeral； you might have heard it to the farthest end of the county；
and happy the man who could get but a sight of the hearse。' Then came
Sir Murtagh； who used to boast that he had a law…suit for every letter in
the alphabet。 'He dug up a fairy…mount against my advice；' says Thady；
'and had no luck afterwards。 。 。 。 Sir Murtagh in his passion broke a blood…
vessel； and all the law in the land could do nothing in that case。 。 。 。 My
lady had a fine jointure settled upon her； and took herself away； to the
great joy of the tenantry。 I never said anything one way or the other；'
says Thady； 'whilst she was part of the family； but got up to see her go at
three o'clock in the morning。 〃It's a fine morning； honest Thady；〃 says
she； 〃good…bye to ye；〃 and into the carriage she stepped； without a word
more； good or bad； or even half…a…crown； but I made my bow； and stood to
see her safe out of sight for the sake of the family。'
How marvellously vivid it all is！ every word tells as the generations
pass before us。 The very spirit of romantic Irish fidelity is incarnate in
Thady。 Jason Quirk represents the feline element； which also belongs to
our extraordinary Celtic race。 The little volume contains the history of a
nation。 It is a masterpiece which Miss Edgeworth has never surpassed。
It is almost provoking to have so many details of other and less interesting
stories； such as EARLY LESSONS； A KNAPSACK； THE PRUSSIAN
VASE； etc。； and to hear so little of these two books by which she will be
best remembered。
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AUTHOR'S PREFACE
The Prevailing taste of the public for anecdote has been censured and
ridiculed by critics who aspire to the character of superior wisdom； but if
we consider it in a proper point of view； this taste is an incontestable proof
of the good sense and profoundly philosophic temper of the present times。
Of the numbers who study； or at least who read history； how few derive
any advantage from their labours！ The heroes of history are so decked
out by the fine fancy of the professed historian； they talk in such measured
prose； and act from such sublime or such diabolical motives； that few have
sufficient taste； wickedness； or heroism； to sympathise in their fate。
Besides； there is much uncertainty even in the best authenticated ancient
or modern histories； and that love of truth； which in some minds is innate
and immutable； necessarily leads to a love of secret memoirs and private
anecdotes。 We cannot judge either of the feelings or of the characters of
men with perfect accuracy； from their actions or their appearance in public；
it is from their careless conversations； their half…finished sentences； that
we may hope with the greatest probability of success to discover their real
characters。 The life of a great or of a little man written by himself； the
familiar letters； the diary of any individual published by his friends or by
his enemies； after his decease； are esteemed important literary curiosities。
We are surely justified； in this eager desire； to collect the most minute
facts relative to the domestic lives； not only of the great and good； but
even of the worthless and insignificant； since it is only by a comparison of
their actual happiness or misery in the privacy of domestic life that we can
form a just estimate of the real reward of virtue； or the real punishment of
vice。 That the great are not as happy as they seem； that the external
circumstances of fortune and rank do not constitute felicity； is asserted by
every moralist： the historian can seldom； consistently with his dignity；
pause to illustrate this truth； it is therefore to the biographer we must have
recourse。 After we have beheld splendid characters playing their parts on
the great theatre of the world； with all the advantages of stage effect and
decoration； we anxiously beg to be admitted behind the scenes； that we
may take a nearer view of the actors and actresses。
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Some may perhaps imagine that the value of biography depends upon
the judgment and taste of the biographer； but on the contrary it may be
maintained； that the merits of a biographer are inversely as the extent of
his intellectual powers and of his literary talents。 A plain unvarnished
tale is preferable to the most highly ornamented narrative。 Where we see
that a man has the power； we may naturally suspect that he has the will to
deceive us； and those who are used to literary manufacture know how
much is often sacrificed to the rounding of a period； or the pointing of an
antithesis。
That the ignorant may have their prejudices as well as the learned
cannot be disputed； but we see and despise vulgar errors： we never bow to
the authority of him who has no great name to sanction his absurdities。
The partiality which blinds a biographer to the defects of his hero； in
proportion as it is gross； ceases to be dangerous； but if it be concealed by
the appearance of candour； which men of great abilities best know how to
assu
