The Moon And Sixpence 1.7

Mr.Strickland has drawn the portrait of an excellent husband and father, a man ofkindly temper, industrious habits, and moral disposition. The modern clergymanhas acquired in his study of the science which I believe is called exegesis anastonishing facility for explaining things away, but the subtlety with whichthe Rev. Robert Strickland has "interpreted" all the facts in hisfather's life which a dutiful son might find it inconvenient to remember mustsurely lead him in the fullness of time to the highest dignities of the Church. I see alreadyhis muscular calves encased in the gaiters episcopal. It was a hazardous,though maybe a gallant thing to do, since it is probable that the legendcommonly received has had no small share in the growth of Strickland'sreputation; for there are many who have been attracted to his art by thedetestation in which they held his character or the compassion with which theyregarded his death; and the son's well-meaning efforts threw a singular chillupon the father's admirers.思特里克兰德牧师在传记里刻划的是一个体贴的丈夫和慈祥的父亲，一个性格善良、作风勤奋、品行端正的君子。当代的教士在研究人们称之为《圣经》诠释这门学问中都学会了遮掩粉饰的惊人本领，但罗伯特·思特里克兰德牧师用以“解释”他父亲行状（这些开行动都是一个孝顺的儿子认为值得记住的）的那种精思敏辩，在时机成熟时肯定会导致他在教会中荣获显职的。我好象已经看到他那筋骨强健的小腿套上了主教的皮裹腿了。他做的是一件危险的，但或许是很勇敢的事，因为思特里克兰德之所以名传遐迩，在很大程度上要归功于人们普遍接受了的传说。他的艺术对很多人有那么大的魅力，或者是由于人们对他性格的嫌恶，或者是对他惨死的同情；而儿子的这部旨在为父亲遮羞掩丑的传记对于父亲的崇拜者却不啻当头浇了一盆冷水。