Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 14
Youarefondofthatkindofreading?”
“Tosaythetruth,Idonotmuchlikeanyother.”
“Indeed!”
“Thatis,Icanreadpoetryandplays,andthingsofthatsort,anddonotdisliketravels.Buthistory,realsolemnhistory,Icannotbeinterestedin.Canyou?”
“Yes,Iamfondofhistory.”
“IwishIweretoo.Ireaditalittleasaduty,butittellsmenothingthatdoesnoteithervexorwearyme.Thequarrelsofpopesandkings,withwarsorpestilences,ineverypage;themenallsogoodfornothing,andhardlyanywomenatall—itisverytiresome:andyetIoftenthinkitoddthatitshouldbesodull,foragreatdealofitmustbeinvention.Thespeechesthatareputintotheheroes’mouths,theirthoughtsanddesigns—thechiefofallthismustbeinvention,andinventioniswhatdelightsmeinotherbooks.”
“Historians,youthink,”saidMissTilney,“arenothappyintheirflightsoffancy.Theydisplayimaginationwithoutraisinginterest.Iamfondofhistory—andamverywellcontentedtotakethefalsewiththetrue.Intheprincipalfactstheyhavesourcesofintelligenceinformerhistoriesandrecords,whichmaybeasmuchdependedon,Iconclude,asanythingthatdoesnotactuallypassunderone’sownobservation;andasforthelittleembellishmentsyouspeakof,theyareembellishments,andIlikethemassuch.Ifaspeechbewelldrawnup,Ireaditwithpleasure,bywhomsoeveritmaybemade—andprobablywithmuchgreater,iftheproductionofMr.HumeorMr.Robertson,thanifthegenuinewordsofCaractacus,Agricola,orAlfredtheGreat.
