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！
Congress recruited his pocket by the sale of his constituents；
and I was assured that public officers have often sold their
country at very moderate prices。 Thousands sold their happiness
for a whim。 Gilded chains were in great demand； and purchased
with almost any sacrifice。 In truth； those who desired； according
to the old adage； to sell anything valuable for a song； might
find customers all over the Fair； and there were innumerable
messes of pottage； piping hot； for such as chose to buy them with
their birthrights。 A few articles； however； could not be found
genuine at Vanity Fair。 If a customer wished to renew his stock
of youth the dealers offered him a set of false teeth and an
auburn wig； if he demanded peace of mind； they recommended opium
or a brandy bottle。
Tracts of land and golden mansions； situate in the Celestial
City； were often exchanged； at very disadvantageous rates； for a
few years' lease of small； dismal； inconvenient tenements in
Vanity Fair。 Prince Beelzebub himself took great interest in this
sort of traffic； and sometimes condescended to meddle with
smaller matters。 I once had the pleasure to see him bargaining
with a miser for his soul； which； after much ingenious
skirmishing on both sides； his highness succeeded in obtaining at
about the value of sixpence。 The prince remarked with a smile；
that he was a loser by the transaction。
Day after day； as I walked the streets of Vanity； my manners and
deportment became more and more like those of the inhabitants。
The place began to seem like home； the idea of pursuing my
travels to the Celestial City was almost obliterated from my
mind。 I was reminded of it； however； by the sight of the same
pair of simple pilgrims at whom we had laughed so heartily when
Apollyon puffed smoke and steam into their faces at the
commencement of our journey。 There they stood amidst the densest
bustle of Vanity； the dealers offering them their purple and fine
linen and jewels； the men of wit and humor gibing at them； a pair
of buxom ladies ogling them askance； while the benevolent Mr。
Smooth…it…away whispered some of his wisdom at their elbows； and
pointed to a newly…erected temple； but there were these worthy
simpletons； making the scene look wild and monstrous； merely by
their sturdy repudiation of all part in its business or
pleasures。
One of themhis name was Stick…to…the…rightperceived in my
face； I suppose； a species of sympathy and almost admiration；
which； to my own great surprise； I could not help feeling for
this pragmatic couple。 It prompted him to address me。
〃Sir；〃 inquired he； with a sad； yet mild and kindly voice。 〃do
you call yourself a pilgrim？〃
〃Yes；〃 I replied； 〃my right to that appellation is indubitable。 I
am merely a sojourner here in Vanity Fair； being bound to the
Celestial City by the new railroad。〃
〃Alas； friend；〃 rejoined Mr。 Stick…to…the…truth； 〃I do assure
you； and beseech you to receive the truth of my words； that that
whole concern is a bubble。 You may travel on it all your
lifetime； were you to live thousands of years； and yet never get
beyond the limits of Vanity Fair。 Yea； though you should deem
yourself entering the gates of the blessed city； it will be
nothing but a miserable delusion。〃
〃The Lord of the Celestial City；〃 began the other pilgrim； whose
name was Mr。 Foot…it…to…heaven； 〃has refused； and will ever
refuse； to grant an act of incorporation for this railroad； and
unless that be obtained； no passenger can ever hope to enter his
dominions。 Wherefore every man who buys a ticket must lay his
account with losing the purchase money； which is the value of his
own soul。〃
〃Poh； nonsense！〃 said Mr。 Smooth…it…away； taking my arm and
leading me off； 〃these fellows ought to be indicted for a libel。
If the law stood as it once did in Vanity Fair we should see them
grinning through the iron bars of the prison window。〃
This incident made a considerable impression on my mind； and
contributed with other circumstances to indispose me to a
permanent residence in the city of Vanity； although； of course； I
was not simple enough to give up my original plan of gliding
along easily and commodiously by railroad。 Still； I grew anxious
to be gone。 There was one strange thing that troubled me。 Amid
the occupations or amusements of the Fair； nothing was more
common than for a personwhether at feast； theatre； or church；
or trafficking for wealth and honors； or whatever he might be
doing； to vanish like a soap bubble； and be never more seen of
his fellows； and so accustomed were the latter to such little
accidents that they went on with their business as quietly as if
nothing had happened。 But it was otherwise with me。
Finally； after a pretty long residence at the Fair； I resumed my
journey towards the Celestial City； still with Mr。 Smooth…it…away
at my side。 At a short distance beyond the suburbs of Vanity we
passed the ancient silver mine； of which Demas was the first
discoverer； and which is now wrought to great advantage；
supplying nearly all the coined currency of the world。 A little
further onward was the spot where Lot's wife had stood forever
under the semblance of a pillar of salt。 Curious travellers have
long since carried it away piecemeal。 Had all regrets been
punished as rigorously as this poor dame's were； my yearning for
the relinquished delights of Vanity Fair might have produced a
similar change in my own corporeal substance； and left me a
warning to future pilgrims。
The next remarkable object was a large edifice； constructed of
moss…grown stone； but in a modern and airy style of architecture。
The engine came to a pause in its vicinity； with the usual
tremendous shriek。
〃This was formerly the castle of the redoubted giant Despair；〃
observed Mr。 Smooth…it…away； 〃but since his death Mr。
Flimsy…faith has repaired it； and keeps an excellent house of
entertainment here。 It is one of our stopping…places。〃
〃It seems but slightly put together；〃 remarked I； looking at the
frail yet ponderous walls。 〃I do not envy Mr。 Flimsy…faith his
habitation。 Some day it will thunder down upon the heads of the
occupants。〃
〃We shall escape at all events；〃 said Mr。 Smooth…it…away； 〃for
Apollyon is putting on the steam again。〃
The road now plunged into a gorge of the Delectable Mountains；
and traversed the field where in former ages the blind men
wandered and stumbled among the tombs。 One of these ancient
tombstones had been thrust across the track by some malicious
person； and gave the train of cars a terrible jolt。 Far up the
rugged side of a mountain I perceived a rusty iron door； half
overgrown with bushes and creeping plants； but with smoke issuing
from its crevices。
〃Is that；〃 inquired I； 〃the very door in the hill…side which the
shepherds assured Christian was a by…way to hell？〃
〃That was a joke on the part of the shepherds；〃 said Mr。
Smooth…itaway； with a smile。