章节正文
should think how he would feel were he, like me, after a magistracy
of near to fifty years, to sink into the humility of a private
station, as if he had never been any thing in the world. In sooth,
Mr Mucklewheel, I'll no deny that it's a satisfaction to me to think
that may be the piece of plate and the vote of thanks will be
forthcoming; at the same time, unless they are both brought to a
bearing in a proper manner, I would rather nothing was done at all."
"Ye may depend on't," said Mr Mucklewheel, "that it will be done
very properly, and in a manner to do credit both to you and the
council. I'll speak to Bailie Shuttlethrift, the new provost, to
propose the thing himself, and that I'll second it."
"Hooly, hooly, friend," quo' I, with a laugh of jocularity, no ill-
pleased to see to what effect I had worked upon him; "that will
never do; ye're but a greenhorn in public affairs. The provost maun
ken nothing about it, or let on that he doesna ken, which is the
same thing, for folk would say that he was ettling at something of
the kind for himself, and was only eager for a precedent. It would,
therefore, ne'er do to speak to him. But Mr Birky, who is to be
elected into the council in my stead, would be a very proper person.
For ye ken coming in as my successor, it would very naturally fall
to him to speak modestly of himself compared with me, and therefore
I think he is the fittest person to make the proposal, and you, as
the next youngest that has been taken in, might second the same."
Mr Mucklewheel agreed with me, that certainly the thing would come
with the best grace from my successor.
"But I doubt," was my answer, "if he kens aught of the matter; ye
might however enquire. In short, Mr Mucklewheel, ye see it requires
a canny hand to manage public affairs, and a sound discretion to
know who are the fittest to work in them. If the case were not my
own, and if I was speaking for another that had done for the town
what I have done, the task would be easy. For I would just rise in
my place, and say as a thing of course, and admitted on all hands,
'Gentlemen, it would be a very wrong thing of us, to let Mr
Mucklewheel, (that is, supposing you were me,) who has so long been
a fellow-labourer with us, to quit his place here without some mark
of our own esteem for him as a man, and some testimony from the
council to his merits as a magistrate. Every body knows that he has
been for near to fifty years a distinguishedcharacter, and has
thrice filled the very highest post in the burgh; that many great
improvements have been made in his time, wherein his influence and
wisdom was very evident; I would therefore propose, that a committee
should be appointed to consider of the best means of expressing our
sense of his services, in which I shall be very happy to assist,
provided the provost will consent to act as chairman.'
"That's the way I would open the business; and were I the seconder,
as you are to be to Mr Birky, I would say,
"'The worthy councillor has but anticipated what every one was
desirous to propose, and although a committee is a very fit way of
doing the thing respectfully, there is yet a far better, and that
is, for the council now sitting to come at once to a resolution on
the subject, then a committee may be appointed to carry that
resolution into effect.'
"Having said this, you might advert first to the vote of thanks, and
then to the piece of plate, to remain with the gentleman's family as
a monumentaltestimony of the opinion which was entertained by the
community of his services and character."
Having in this judicious manner primed Mr Mucklewheel as to the
procedure, I suddenly recollected that I had a letter to write to
catch the post, and having told him so, "Maybe," quo' I, "ye would
step the length of Mr Birky's and see how he is inclined, and by the
time I am done writing, ye can be back; for after all that we have
been saying, and the warm and friendly interest you have taken in
this business, I really would not wish my friends to stir in it,
unless it is to be done in a satisfactory manner."
Mr Mucklewheel accordingly went to Mr Birky, who had of course heard
nothing of the subject, but they came back together, and he was very
vogie with the notion of making a speech before the council, for he
was an upsetting young man. In short, the matter was so set
forward, that, on the Monday following, it was all over the town
that I was to get a piece of plate at my resignation, and the whole
affair proceeded so well to an issue, that the same was brought to a
head to a wish. Thus had I the great satisfaction of going to my
repose as a private citizen with a very handsome silver cup, bearing
an inscription in the Latin tongue, of the time I had been in the
council, guildry, and magistracy; and although, in the outset of my
public life, some of my dealings may have been leavened with the
leaven of antiquity, yet, upon the whole, it will not be found, I
think, that, one thing weighed with another, I have been an
unprofitable servant to the community. Magistrates and rulers must
rule according to the maxims and affections of the world; at least,
whenever I tried any other way, strange obstacles started up in the
opinions of men against me, and my purest intents were often more
criticised than some which were less disinterested; so much is it
the natural humour of mankind to jealouse and doubt the integrity of
all those who are in authority and power, especially when they see
them deviating from the practices of their predecessors. Posterity,
therefore, or I am far mistaken, will not be angered at my plain
dealing with regard to the small motives of private advantage of
which I have made mention, since it has been my endeavour to show
and to acknowledge, that there is a reforming spirit abroad among
men, and that really the world is gradually growing better--slowly I
allow; but still it is growing better, and the main profit of the
improvement will be reaped by those who are ordained to come after
us.
End
of near to fifty years, to sink into the humility of a private
station, as if he had never been any thing in the world. In sooth,
Mr Mucklewheel, I'll no deny that it's a satisfaction to me to think
that may be the piece of plate and the vote of thanks will be
forthcoming; at the same time, unless they are both brought to a
bearing in a proper manner, I would rather nothing was done at all."
"Ye may depend on't," said Mr Mucklewheel, "that it will be done
very properly, and in a manner to do credit both to you and the
council. I'll speak to Bailie Shuttlethrift, the new provost, to
propose the thing himself, and that I'll second it."
"Hooly, hooly, friend," quo' I, with a laugh of jocularity, no ill-
pleased to see to what effect I had worked upon him; "that will
never do; ye're but a greenhorn in public affairs. The provost maun
ken nothing about it, or let on that he doesna ken, which is the
same thing, for folk would say that he was ettling at something of
the kind for himself, and was only eager for a precedent. It would,
therefore, ne'er do to speak to him. But Mr Birky, who is to be
elected into the council in my stead, would be a very proper person.
For ye ken coming in as my successor, it would very naturally fall
to him to speak modestly of himself compared with me, and therefore
I think he is the fittest person to make the proposal, and you, as
the next youngest that has been taken in, might second the same."
Mr Mucklewheel agreed with me, that certainly the thing would come
with the best grace from my successor.
"But I doubt," was my answer, "if he kens aught of the matter; ye
might however enquire. In short, Mr Mucklewheel, ye see it requires
a canny hand to manage public affairs, and a sound discretion to
know who are the fittest to work in them. If the case were not my
own, and if I was speaking for another that had done for the town
what I have done, the task would be easy. For I would just rise in
my place, and say as a thing of course, and admitted on all hands,
'Gentlemen, it would be a very wrong thing of us, to let Mr
Mucklewheel, (that is, supposing you were me,) who has so long been
a fellow-labourer with us, to quit his place here without some mark
of our own esteem for him as a man, and some testimony from the
council to his merits as a magistrate. Every body knows that he has
been for near to fifty years a distinguishedcharacter, and has
thrice filled the very highest post in the burgh; that many great
improvements have been made in his time, wherein his influence and
wisdom was very evident; I would therefore propose, that a committee
should be appointed to consider of the best means of expressing our
sense of his services, in which I shall be very happy to assist,
provided the provost will consent to act as chairman.'
"That's the way I would open the business; and were I the seconder,
as you are to be to Mr Birky, I would say,
"'The worthy councillor has but anticipated what every one was
desirous to propose, and although a committee is a very fit way of
doing the thing respectfully, there is yet a far better, and that
is, for the council now sitting to come at once to a resolution on
the subject, then a committee may be appointed to carry that
resolution into effect.'
"Having said this, you might advert first to the vote of thanks, and
then to the piece of plate, to remain with the gentleman's family as
a monumentaltestimony of the opinion which was entertained by the
community of his services and character."
Having in this judicious manner primed Mr Mucklewheel as to the
procedure, I suddenly recollected that I had a letter to write to
catch the post, and having told him so, "Maybe," quo' I, "ye would
step the length of Mr Birky's and see how he is inclined, and by the
time I am done writing, ye can be back; for after all that we have
been saying, and the warm and friendly interest you have taken in
this business, I really would not wish my friends to stir in it,
unless it is to be done in a satisfactory manner."
Mr Mucklewheel accordingly went to Mr Birky, who had of course heard
nothing of the subject, but they came back together, and he was very
vogie with the notion of making a speech before the council, for he
was an upsetting young man. In short, the matter was so set
forward, that, on the Monday following, it was all over the town
that I was to get a piece of plate at my resignation, and the whole
affair proceeded so well to an issue, that the same was brought to a
head to a wish. Thus had I the great satisfaction of going to my
repose as a private citizen with a very handsome silver cup, bearing
an inscription in the Latin tongue, of the time I had been in the
council, guildry, and magistracy; and although, in the outset of my
public life, some of my dealings may have been leavened with the
leaven of antiquity, yet, upon the whole, it will not be found, I
think, that, one thing weighed with another, I have been an
unprofitable servant to the community. Magistrates and rulers must
rule according to the maxims and affections of the world; at least,
whenever I tried any other way, strange obstacles started up in the
opinions of men against me, and my purest intents were often more
criticised than some which were less disinterested; so much is it
the natural humour of mankind to jealouse and doubt the integrity of
all those who are in authority and power, especially when they see
them deviating from the practices of their predecessors. Posterity,
therefore, or I am far mistaken, will not be angered at my plain
dealing with regard to the small motives of private advantage of
which I have made mention, since it has been my endeavour to show
and to acknowledge, that there is a reforming spirit abroad among
men, and that really the world is gradually growing better--slowly I
allow; but still it is growing better, and the main profit of the
improvement will be reaped by those who are ordained to come after
us.
End
- satisfaction [,sætis´fækʃən]
n.满意；满足 (初中英语单词) - properly [´prɔpəli] ad.适当地；严格地 (初中英语单词)
- character [´kæriktə] n.特性；性质；人物；字 (初中英语单词)
- evident [´evidənt] a.明显的，明白的 (初中英语单词)
- therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)
- worthy [´wə:ði] a.有价值的；值得的 (初中英语单词)
- resolution [,rezə´lu:ʃən] n.决心；坚决；果断 (初中英语单词)
- writing [´raitiŋ] n.书写；写作；书法 (初中英语单词)
- satisfactory [,sætis´fæktəri] a.令人满意的 (初中英语单词)
- accordingly [ə´kɔ:diŋli] ad.因此；从而；依照 (初中英语单词)
- humour [´hju:mə] n.幽默，诙谐 (初中英语单词)
- advantage [əd´vɑ:ntidʒ] n.优势；利益 (初中英语单词)
- endeavour [in´devə] n.&v.努力，试图，尽力 (初中英语单词)
- acknowledge [ək´nɔlidʒ] vt.(公开)承认；感谢 (初中英语单词)
- abroad [ə´brɔ:d] ad.海外；到处；广泛 (初中英语单词)
- successor [sək´sesə] n.继承人，接班人 (高中英语单词)
- esteem [i´sti:m] n.尊重 vt.认为；感到 (高中英语单词)
- testimony [´testiməni] n.证明；证据；表明 (高中英语单词)
- distinguished [di´stiŋgwiʃt] a.卓越的，著名的 (高中英语单词)
- wherein [weər´in] ad.那里面 (高中英语单词)
- saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)
- resignation [,rezig´neiʃən] n.辞职(书)；放弃；顺从 (高中英语单词)
- inscription [in´skripʃən] n.题名；题字；碑文 (高中英语单词)
- community [kə´mju:niti] n.团体；社区；公众 (高中英语单词)
- mistaken [mis´teikən] mistake的过去分词 (高中英语单词)
- humility [hju:´militi] n.谦逊，谦让 (英语四级单词)
- precedent [´presidənt] n.先例 a.在先的 (英语四级单词)
- discretion [di´skreʃən] n.谨慎；判断(力) (英语四级单词)
- respectfully [ris´pektfuli] ad.恭敬地 (英语四级单词)
- antiquity [æn´tikwiti] n.太古；古代；古迹 (英语四级单词)
- integrity [in´tegriti] n.完整；完善；正直 (英语四级单词)
- modestly [´mɔdistli] ad.谦虚地；有节制地 (英语六级单词)
- speaking [´spi:kiŋ] n.说话 a.发言的 (英语六级单词)
- monumental [,mɔnju´mentl] a.纪念碑的；不朽的 (英语六级单词)
- judicious [dʒu:´diʃəs] a.明智的；贤明的 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
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