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wreck of the golden mary(金玛丽的遗骸)-第1部分

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                 THE WRECK OF THE GOLDEN MARY 



THE WRECK OF THE 

       GOLDEN MARY 



                          Charles Dickens 



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                          THE WRECK OF THE GOLDEN MARY 



                                       THE WRECK 



     I was apprenticed to the Sea when I was twelve years old; and I have 

encountered a great deal of rough weather; both literal and metaphorical。 It 

has   always   been   my   opinion   since   I   first   possessed   such   a   thing   as   an 

opinion; that the man who knows only one subject is next tiresome to the 

man   who   knows   no   subject。   Therefore;   in   the   course   of   my   life   I   have 

taught myself whatever I could; and although I am not an educated man; I 

am able; I am thankful to say; to have an intelligent interest in most things。 

     A person might suppose; from reading the above; that I am in the habit 

of holding forth about number one。 That is not the case。 Just as if I was to 

come   into   a   room   among   strangers;   and   must   either   be   introduced   or 

introduce myself; so I have taken the liberty of passing these few remarks; 

simply and plainly that it may be known who and what I am。 I will add no 

more   of   the   sort   than   that   my   name   is William  George   Ravender;   that   I 

was born at Penrith half a year after my own father was drowned; and that 

I   am   on   the   second   day   of   this   present   blessed   Christmas   week   of   one 

thousand eight hundred and fifty…six; fifty…six years of age。 

     When the rumour first went flying up and down that there was gold in 

Californiawhich; as most people know; was before it was discovered in 

the British   colony of AustraliaI was   in the West Indies; trading   among 

the    Islands。   Being    in  command       and   likewise    part…owner      of  a  smart 

schooner; I had my work cut out for me; and I was doing it。 Consequently; 

gold in California was no business of mine。 

     But; by the time when I came home to England again; the thing was as 

clear as your hand held up before you at noon…day。 There was Californian 

gold in the museums and in the goldsmiths' shops; and the very first time I 

went upon 'Change; I met a friend of mine (a seafaring man like myself); 

with a Californian nugget hanging to his watch…chain。 I handled it。 It was 

as like a peeled walnut with bits unevenly broken off here and there; and 

then electrotyped all over; as ever I saw anything in my life。 

     I am a single man (she was too good for this world and for me; and she 

died six weeks before our marriage…day); so when I am ashore; I live in 

my  house   at   Poplar。  My  house   at   Poplar   is   taken   care of   and kept   ship… 



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                          THE WRECK OF THE GOLDEN MARY 



shape by an old lady who was my mother's maid before I was born。 She is 

as handsome and as upright as any old lady in the world。 She is as fond of 

me   as   if   she   had   ever   had   an   only   son;   and   I   was   he。   Well   do   I   know 

wherever I sail that she never lays down her head at night without having 

said;   〃Merciful   Lord!   bless   and   preserve William  George   Ravender;   and 

send him safe home; through Christ our Saviour!〃 I have thought of it in 

many a dangerous moment; when it has done me no harm; I am sure。 

     In my house at Poplar; along with this old lady; I lived quiet for best 

part of a year: having had a long spell of it among the Islands; and having 

(which was very uncommon in me) taken the fever rather badly。 At last; 

being strong and hearty; and having read every book I could lay hold of; 

right   out;  I   was   walking down   Leadenhall   Street   in the   City  of   London; 

thinking     of  turning…to    again;   when     I  met   what    I  call  Smithick    and 

Watersby of Liverpool。 I chanced to lift up my eyes from looking in at a 

ship's chronometer  in   a window;  and   I saw  him  bearing down upon  me; 

head on。 

     It is; personally; neither Smithick; nor Watersby; that I here mention; 

nor was I ever acquainted with any man of either of those names; nor do I 

think that there has been any one of either of those names in that Liverpool 

House for years back。 But; it is in reality the House itself that I refer to; 

and a wiser merchant or a truer gentleman never stepped。 

     〃My   dear   Captain   Ravender;〃   says   he。   〃Of   all   the   men   on   earth;   I 

wanted to see you most。 I was on my way to you。〃 

     〃Well!〃 says I。 〃That looks as if you WERE to see me; don't it?〃 With 

that I put my arm in his; and we walked on towards the Royal Exchange; 

and when we got there; walked up and down at the back of it where the 

Clock…Tower is。 We walked an hour and more; for he had much to say to 

me。 He had a scheme for chartering a new ship of their own to take out 

cargo   to   the   diggers   and   emigrants   in   California;   and   to   buy   and   bring 

back gold。 Into the particulars of that scheme I will not enter; and I have 

no right to enter。 All I say of it is; that it was a very original one; a very 

fine one; a very sound one; and a very lucrative one beyond doubt。 

     He imparted it to me as freely as if I had been a part of himself。 After 

doing so; he made me the handsomest sharing offer that ever was made to 



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                           THE WRECK OF THE GOLDEN MARY 



me; boy or manor I believe to any other captain in the Merchant Navy 

and he took this round turn to finish with: 

     〃Ravender; you are well aware that the lawlessness of that coast and 

country at present; is as special as the circumstances in which it is placed。 

Crews   of   vessels   outward…bound;   desert   as   soon   as   they   make   the   land; 

crews     of  vessels    homeward…bound;         ship   at  enormous      wages;    with   the 

express intention of murdering the captain and seizing the gold freight; no 

man can trust another; and the devil seems let loose。 Now;〃 says he; 〃you 

know my opinion of you; and you know I am only expressing it; and with 

no singularity; when I tell you that you are almost the only man on whose 

integrity;   discretion;   and   energy〃   &c。;   &c。   For;   I   don't   want   to   repeat 

what he said; though I was and am sensible of it。 

     Notwithstanding   my   being;   as   I   have   mentioned;   quite   ready   for   a 

voyage; still I had some doubts of this voyage。 Of course I knew; without 

being   told;   that   there   were peculiar  difficulties   and   dangers in   it;   a   long 

way     over   and   above    those    which    attend   all  voyages。     It  must   not   be 

supposed that I was afraid to face them; but; in my opinion a man has no 

manly motive or sustainment in his own breast for facing dangers; unless 

he has well considered what they are; and is able quietly to say to himself; 

〃None of these perils can now take me by surprise; I shall know what to 

do for the best in any of them; all the rest lies in the higher and greater 

hands   to   which   I   humbly   commit   myself。〃   On   this   principle   I   have   so 

attentively considered (regarding it as my duty) all the hazards I have ever 

been able to think of; in the ordinary way of storm; shipwreck; and fire at 

sea; that I hope I should be prepared to do; in any of those cases; whatever 

could be done; to save the lives intrusted to my charge。 

     As I was thoughtful; my good friend proposed that he should leave me 

to walk there as long as I liked; and that I should dine with him by…and…by 

at   his   club   in   Pall   Mall。   I   accepted   the   invitation   and   I   walked   up   and 

down there; quarter…deck fashion; a matter of a couple of hours; now and 

then looking up at the weathercock as I might have looked up aloft; and 

now   and   then   taking   a   look   into   Cornhill;   as   I   might   have   taken   a   look 

over the side。 

     All   dinner…time;   and   all   after   dinner…time;   we   talked   it   over   again。   I 



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                          THE WRECK OF THE GOLDEN MARY 



gave him my views of his plan; and he very much approved of the same。 I 

told him I had nearly decided; but not quite。 〃Well; well;〃 says he; 〃come 

down to Liverpool to…morrow with me; and see the Golden Mary。〃 I liked 

the name (her name was Mary; and she was golden; if golden stands for 

good); so I began to feel that it was almost done when I said I would go to 

Liverpool。   On   the   next   morning   but   one   we   were   on   board   the   Golden 

Mary。 I might have known; from his asking me to come down and see her; 

what she was。 I declare her to have been the completest
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