登陆注册
14195800000067

第67章 CHAPTER XI.(4)

All plays bear-baitings, exhibitions, and games were forbidden;as were likewise "all public feasting, and particularly by the companies of the city, and dinners at taverns, alehouses, and other places of common entertainment; and the money thereby spared, be employed for the benefit and relief of the poor visited with the infection." Pest-houses were opened at Tothill Fields, Westminster, and at Bunhill Fields, near Old Street, for reception of the sick: and indeed every possible remedy calculated to check the disease was adopted. Some of these, though considered necessary to the well-being of the community, were by many citizens regarded as hardships, more especially the rule which related to closing of infected houses.

The misery endured by those in health suffering such confinement, was scarcely less than that realized by the afflicted. And fear making way for disease, it frequently occurred a whole family, when confined with one infected member, speedily became stricken by plague, and consequently overtaken by death. It therefore happened that many attempts were made by those in health to escape incarceration. In some cases they bribed, and in others ill-treated the watchmen: one of whom was actually blown up by gunpowder in Coleman Street, that those he guarded might flee unmolested. Again, it chanced that strong men, rendered desperate when brought face to face with loathsome death, lowered themselves from windows of their houses in sight of the watch, whom they threatened with instant death if they cried out or stirred.

The apprehension of the sick, who were in most cases deserted by their friends, was increased tenfold by the practices of public nurses: for being hardened to affliction by nature of their employment, and incapable of remorse for crime by reason of their vileness, they were guilty of many barbarous usages. "These wretches," says Dr. Hodges, "out of greediness to plunder the dead, would strangle their patients, and charge it to the distemper in their throats. Others would secretly convey the pestilential taint from sores of the infected to those who were well; and nothing indeed deterred these abandoned miscreants from prosecuting their avaricious purposes by all methods their wickedness could invent; who, although they were without witnesses to accuse them, yet it is not doubted but divine vengeance will overtake such wicked barbarities with due punishment. Nay, some were remarkably struck from heaven in the perpetration of their crimes; and one particularly amongst many, as she was leaving the house of a family, all dead, loaded with her robberies, fell down lifeless under her burden in the street.

And the case of a worthy citizen was very remarkable, who, being suspected dying by his nurse, was beforehand stripped by her; but recovering again, he came a second time into the world naked."But notwithstanding all precautions and care taken by the Duke of Albemarle and the worthy lord mayor, the dreadful pestilence spread with alarming rapidity; as may be judged from the fact that the number who died in the first week of June amounted to forty-three, whilst during the last week of that month two hundred and sixty-seven persons were carried to their graves.

From the 4th of July to the 11th, seven hundred and fifty-five deaths were chronicled; the following eight days the death rate rose to one thousand and eighty-two; whilst the ensuing week this high figure was increased by over eight hundred. For the month of August, the mortality bill recorded seventeen thousand and thirty-six deaths; and during September, twenty-six thousand two hundred and thirty persons perished in the city.

The whole British nation was stricken with consternation at the fate of the capital. "In some houses," says Dr. Hodges, speaking from personal experience, "carcases lay waiting for burial, and in others were persons in their last agonies. In one room might be heard dying groans, in an other the ravings of delirium, and not far off relations and friends bewailing both their loss and the dismal prospect of their own sudden departure. Death was the sure midwife to all children, and infants passed immediately from the womb to the grave. Some of the infected run about staggering like drunken men, and fall and expire in the streets; whilst others lie half dead and comatose, but never to be waked but by the last trumpet." The plague had indeed encompassed the walls of the city, and poured in upon it without mercy. A heavy stifling atmosphere, vapours by day and blotting out all traces of stars and sky by night, hovered like a palpable shape of dire vengeance above the doomed city. During many weeks "there was a general calm and serenity, as if both wind and rain had been expelled the kingdom, so that there was not so much as to move a flame." The oppressive silence of brooding death, unbroken now even by the passing bell, weighed stupor-like upon the wretched survivors. The thoroughfares were deserted, grass sprang green upon side-paths and steps of dwellings; and the broad street in Whitechapel became like unto a field. Most houses bore upon their doors the dread sign of the red cross, with the supplication for mercy written above. Some of the streets were barricaded at both ends, the inhabitants either having fled into the country or been carried to their graves; and it was estimated in all that over seven thousand dwellings were deserted. All commerce, save that dealing with the necessaries of life, was abandoned; the parks forsaken and locked, the Inns of Court closed, and the public marts abandoned. A few of the church doors were opened, and some gathered within that they might humbly beseech pardon for the past, and ask mercy in the present.

同类推荐
  • His Own People

    His Own People

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 玄宗直指万法同归

    玄宗直指万法同归

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 莲月禅师语录

    莲月禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • AMERICAN NOTES

    AMERICAN NOTES

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 壬午功臣爵赏录

    壬午功臣爵赏录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 无限降临二次元

    无限降临二次元

    莫名其妙被选中,在无限世界试炼的杨曦一边在危险中苦苦挣扎,一边探寻隐藏在背后的秘密。毒岛冴子:“振作起来,你可是我们的领队啊!”克鲁鲁·采佩西:“作为我的宠物,千万别给我丢脸!”柊真昼:“让我们互相厮杀吧!”谏山黄泉:“端坐于霜天,冰轮丸!”等等!有什么地方搞错了吧?!好吧,据说···这是综漫小说。
  • 美女少爷追爱记

    美女少爷追爱记

    一个叫少爷的人,却是个美女;一个叫小爷的男人,外冷内热;一个从天而降的神秘阳光少年牧羊,又是何方神圣?这朝夕相对真就比不上一见钟吗?少爷对小爷说:“你是不是非得要一条人命?那好,我就给你一条命!”小爷在心里对自己说:只要是她喜欢的,我都愿意去做!牧羊来到这里是为什么?他自己也不知道,只是记得那年的他和她,并肩而坐,仰望星空,凝望月亮!少爷常常在想:我为什么没有童年?那些记忆去哪儿了?而牧羊却希望:你永远也不要记起来最好!当一切真相昭然若揭的时候,少爷脑海中紧锁的大门开启,那是何等的惨烈与伤痛?“为什么会是你?”“对不起!”尘埃何时才能落定,而自己?又该情归何处......
  • 变身之末世重来

    变身之末世重来

    谁能想到,这个十六岁的少女,四年前只是一个十二岁的少年。(大雾)末日重生,被最信任的人背叛的王者,以另一个身份重生又将掀起怎样的波澜?
  • 颤战纪

    颤战纪

    那一天,一道腥红如血般的弧线,划破那一夜的死寂,在北极中心引动全球感知的巨大地震!人们天性对未知的恐惧与好奇,导致各国领导人,多次派遣国际级别的特种战队,甚至军队前往那北极之地,不下千人,无一返回……而天灾也正是宣告爆发!他,狂傲不羁,目中无人。对敌杀伐,毫不留情!一封神秘的邮件,来自一个神秘的组织,自己的父亲似乎又与那个组织有着千丝万缕的联系…未来高科技与超级人类的结合,突破生命的桎梏,冲向星际的深处!来吧,颤战纪的超级世界,时间与空间的穿梭,无尽的神奇!
  • 进击的巨人来自地下街的中央宪兵

    进击的巨人来自地下街的中央宪兵

    这里没有穿越,因为我原本就无可奈何地生存在这高墙之中。这里没有超能力,因为我不过是个失去一切生存意义的行尸走肉。这里更不会有后宫,因为这个残酷的世界上没有太多留给爱情的空间。我是中央第一宪兵团的提尔.托德,我真实地存在于这个有悖常理却真实得可怕的世界里。如果有谁想要我的心脏,请尽管拿去好了!
  • TFBOYS之梦之情缘

    TFBOYS之梦之情缘

    梦樱从第一天上学迟到,并不小心撞到了TFBOYS,她会跟三小只发生怎样的感情呢?会不会与梦樱他们相遇呢?十年前因转学而离开的青梅竹马易烊千玺突然回到自己身边,神秘少年天宇空降卧室,缔结呼唤记忆的约定,结识背后有庞大家族的妹控少年,帮他驱散心灵的阴霾,一场爱与勇气的冒险缓缓拉开帷幕。我从不奢求你的原谅,只是局中局,害人害己。——王俊凯为了童话绮丽的结局,我千疮百孔,浑浑然活在梦里。——王源因为从未见过,才更有视如至宝的理由。你就是我的理由。——易烊千玺永远活在梦中也不错,梦里的世界是属于我的世界。——梦樱
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 老子是豌豆射手

    老子是豌豆射手

    恩,是的劳资穿越了,貌似这个世界是植物大战僵尸啊,卧槽,劳资马上要死了!尼玛!开挂中!成功获得异能,射豌豆,,,,,,老子是豌豆射手!
  • 鳄鱼泪

    鳄鱼泪

    这是一个不属于历史的国度,它有着如同现在的发达,却只属于与这个世界平行的国度。这是一只沉浸在无尽的爱恋中的狐狸,他有着妖娆美丽的外表,却沉浸在那苦苦的爱恋之中。这是一只活了上万年的鳄鱼,他有着比任何人都邪魅的外貌和强大的力量和地位,却等着一个人类。这是一个被贬于人间的神,只因为那痴痴的禁断之恋,即使百世轮回,却总是在某一天冲破心爱之人的封印……这是一本小说,作者是我。
  • 蚩尤重生之战天下

    蚩尤重生之战天下

    我,蚩尤!本不该属于这个强者为尊的大陆既然重生,我就要在这个大陆,划破天空。哈哈,什么美女?什么功法?什么武器?都是我的!看邪神蚩尤如何统治这个大陆!