RURAL FUNERALS.docx

RURAL FUNERALS.docx

《RURAL FUNERALS.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《RURAL FUNERALS.docx（14页珍藏版）》请在冰豆网上搜索。

RURALFUNERALS

1819-20

THESKETCHBOOK

RURALFUNERALS

byWashingtonIrving

Here'safewflowers!

butaboutmidnightmore:

Theherbsthathaveonthemcolddewo'thenight;

Arestrewingsfitt'stforgraves-

Youwereasflowersnowwither'd;evenso

Theseherbletsshall,whichweuponyoustrow.

CYMBELINE.

AMONGthebeautifulandsimple-heartedcustomsofrurallifewhich

stilllingerinsomepartsofEngland,arethoseofstrewingflowers

beforethefunerals,andplantingthematthegravesofdeparted

friends.These,itissaid,aretheremainsofsomeoftheritesof

theprimitivechurch;buttheyareofstillhigherantiquity,having

beenobservedamongtheGreeksandRomans,andfrequentlymentionedby

theirwriters,andwere,nodoubt,thespontaneoustributesof

unletteredaffection,originatinglongbeforearthadtaskeditselfto

modulatesorrowintosong,orstoryitonthemonument.Theyarenow

onlytobemetwithinthemostdistantandretiredplacesofthe

kingdom,wherefashionandinnovationhavenotbeenabletothrongin,

andtrampleoutallthecuriousandinterestingtracesoftheolden

time.

InGlamorganshire,wearetold,thebedwhereonthecorpseliesis

coveredwithflowers,acustomalludedtoinoneofthewildand

plaintivedittiesofOphelia:

Whitehisshroudasthemountainsnow

Lardedallwithsweetflowers;

Whichbe-wepttothegravedidgo,

Withtrueloveshowers.

Thereisalsoamostdelicateandbeautifulriteobservedinsomeof

theremotevillagesofthesouth,atthefuneralofafemalewhohas

diedyoungandunmarried.Achapletofwhiteflowersisbornebefore

thecorpsebyayounggirlnearestinage,size,andresemblance,

andisafterwardshungupinthechurchovertheaccustomedseatof

thedeceased.Thesechapletsaresometimesmadeofwhitepaper,in

imitationofflowers,andinsideofthemisgenerallyapairof

whitegloves.Theyareintendedasemblemsofthepurityofthe

deceased,andthecrownofglorywhichshehasreceivedinheaven.

Insomepartsofthecountry,also,thedeadarecarriedtothe

gravewiththesingingofpsalmsandhymns:

akindoftriumph,"to

show,"saysBourne,"thattheyhavefinishedtheircoursewithjoy,

andarebecomeconquerors."This,Iaminformed,isobservedinsome

ofthenortherncounties,particularlyinNorthumberland,andithasa

pleasing,thoughmelancholyeffect,tohear,ofastillevening,in

somelonelycountryscene,themournfulmelodyofafuneraldirge

swellingfromadistance,andtoseethetrainslowlymovingalongthe

landscape.

Thus,thus,andthus,wecompassround

Thyharmlesseandunhauntedground,

Andaswesingthydirge,wewill

Thedaffodill

Andotherflowerslayupon

Thealtarofourlove,thystone.

HERRICK.

Thereisalsoasolemnrespectpaidbythetravellertothepassing

funeralinthesesequesteredplaces;forsuchspectacles,occurring

amongthequietabodesofnature,sinkdeepintothesoul.Asthe

mourningtrainapproaches,hepauses,uncovered,toletitgoby;he

thenfollowssilentlyintherear;sometimesquitetothegrave,at

othertimesforafewhundredyards,and,havingpaidthistribute

ofrespecttothedeceased,turnsandresumeshisjourney.

TherichveinofmelancholywhichrunsthroughtheEnglish

character,andgivesitsomeofitsmosttouchingandennobling

graces,isfinelyevidencedinthesepatheticcustoms,andinthe

solicitudeshownbythecommonpeopleforanhonoredandapeaceful

grave.Thehumblestpeasant,whatevermaybehislowlylotwhile

living,isanxiousthatsomelittlerespectmaybepaidtohis

remains.SirThomasOverbury,describingthe"faireandhappy

milkmaid,"observes,"thuslivesshe,andallhercareis,thatshe

maydieinthespring-time,tohavestoreofflowersstuckeuponher

windingsheet."Thepoets,too,whoalwaysbreathethefeelingofa

nation,continuallyadverttothisfondsolicitudeaboutthegrave.In

"TheMaid'sTragedy,"byBeaumontandFletcher,thereisabeautiful

instanceofthekind,describingthecapriciousmelancholyofa

broken-heartedgirl:

Whensheseesabank

Stuckfullofflowers,she,withasigh,willtell

Herservants,whataprettyplaceitwere

Toburyloversin;andmakehermaids

Pluck'em,andstrewheroverlikeacorse.

Thecustomofdecoratinggraveswasonceuniversallyprevalent:

osierswerecarefullybentoverthemtokeeptheturfuninjured,and

aboutthemwereplantedevergreensandflowers."Weadorntheir

graves,"saysEvelyn,inhisSylva,"withflowersandredolentplants,

justemblemsofthelifeofman,whichhasbeencomparedinHoly

Scripturestothosefadingbeauties,whoserootsbeingburiedin

dishonor,riseagaininglory."Thisusagehasnowbecomeextremely

rareinEngland;butitmaystillbemetwithinthechurch-yardsof

retiredvillages,amongtheWelshm