《九张机》歌词
《九张机》歌词
together.
In the month of May I began to make all ready to pack up; and, as Iwas doing this, it occurred to me that, seeing all these peoplewere banished by the Czar to Siberia, and yet, when they camethere, were left at liberty to go whither they would, why they didnot then go away to any part of the world, wherever they thoughtfit: and I began to examine what should hinder them from makingsuch an attempt. But my wonder was over when I entered upon thatsubject with the person I have mentioned, who answered me thus:"Consider, first, sir," said he, "the place where we are; and,secondly, the condition we are in; especially the generality of thepeople who are banished thither. We are surrounded with strongerthings than bars or bolts; on the north side, an unnavigable ocean,where ship never sailed, and boat never swam; every other way wehave above a thousand miles to pass through the Czar's owndominion, and by ways utterly impassable, except by the roads madeby the government, and through the towns garrisoned by his t
We need not doubt but that the governor and the man with him,surprised with this sight, ran back immediately and raised theirfellows, giving them an account of the imminent danger they wereall in, and they again as readily took the alarm; but it wasimpossible to persuade them to stay close within where they were,but they must all run out to see how things stood. While it wasdark, indeed, they were safe, and they had opportunity enough forsome hours to view the savages by the light of three fires they hadmade at a distance from one another; what they were doing they knewnot, neither did they know what to do themselves. For, first, theenemy were too many; and secondly, they did not keep together, butwere divided into several parties, and were on shore in severalplaces.
We were twenty-five days travelling to Pekin, through a countryexceeding populous, but I think badly cultivated; the husbandry,the economy, and the way of living miserable, though they boast somuch of the industry of the people: I say miserable, if comparedwith our own, but not so to these poor wretches, who know no other.The pride of the poor people is infinitely great, and exceeded bynothing but their poverty, in some parts, which adds to that whichI call their misery; and I must needs think the savages of Americalive much more happy than the poorer sort of these, because as theyhave nothing, so they desire nothing; whereas these are proud andinsolent and in the main are in many parts mere beggars anddrudges. Their ostentation is inexpressible; and, if they can,they love to keep multitudes of servants or slaves, which is to thelast degree ridiculous, as well as their contempt of all the worldbut themselves.
[Here he was at a great loss to make her understand that God hasrevealed Himself to us by His word, and what His word was; but atlast he told it to her thus.]
