Последний из Могикан
Chapter 12
"Tisopenbeforeyoureyes,"returnedthescout;"andhewhoownsitisnotaniggardofitsuse.IhavehearditsaidthattherearemenwhoreadinbookstoconvincethemselvesthereisaGod.Iknownotbutmanmaysodeformhisworksinthesettlement,astoleavethatwhichissoclearinthewildernessamatterofdoubtamongtradersandpriests.Ifanysuchtherebe,andhewillfollowmefromsuntosun,throughthewindingsoftheforest,heshallseeenoughtoteachhimthatheisafool,andthatthegreatestofhisfollyliesinstrivingtorisetothelevelofOnehecanneverequal,beitingoodness,orbeitinpower."
TheinstantDaviddiscoveredthathebattledwithadisputantwhoimbibedhisfaithfromthelightsofnature,eschewingallsubtletiesofdoctrine,hewillinglyabandonedacontroversyfromwhichhebelievedneitherprofitnorcreditwastobederived.Whilethescoutwasspeaking,hehadalsoseatedhimself,andproducingthereadylittlevolumeandtheiron-rimmedspectacles,hepreparedtodischargeaduty,whichnothingbuttheunexpectedassaulthehadreceivedinhisorthodoxycouldhavesolongsuspended.Hewas,intruth,aminstrelofthewesterncontinent—ofamuchlaterday,certainly,thanthosegiftedbards,whoformerlysangtheprofanerenownofbaronandprince,butafterthespiritofhisownageandcountry;andhewasnowpreparedtoexercisethecunningofhiscraft,incelebrationof,orratherinthanksgivingfor,therecentvictory.
