按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。 But as the violence of the distemper increased； even the houses of God were forsaken； and those who ventured abroad walked in the centre of the street； avoiding contact or conversation with friend or neighbour； each man dreading and avoiding his fellow； lest he should be to him the harbinger of death。 And all carried rue and wormwood in their hands； and myrrh and zedoary in their mouths； as protection against infection。 Now were the faces of all pale with apprehension； none knowing when the fatal malady might carry them hence； and moreover sad； as became those who stand in the presence of death。
And such sights were to be witnessed day after day as made the heart sick。 〃It would be endless；〃 says the Rev。 Thomas Vincent； 〃to speak what we have seen and heard； of some； in their frenzy； rising out of their beds and leaping about their rooms； others crying and roaring at their windows； some coming forth almost naked and running into the streets； strange things have others spoken and done when the disease was upon them： but it was very sad to hear of one； who being sick alone； and it is like frantic； burnt himself in his bed。 And amongst other sad spectacles methought two were very affecting： one of a woman coming alone and weeping by the door where I lived； with a little coffin under her arm； carrying it to the new churchyard。 I did judge that it was the mother of the child； and that all the family besides was dead； and she was forced to coffin up and bury with her own hands this her last dead child。 Another was of a man at the corner of the Artillery Wall； that as I judge； through the dizziness of his head with the disease； which seized upon him there； had dashed his face against the wall； and when I came by he lay hanging with his bloody face over the rails； and bleeding upon the ground； within half an hour he died in that place。〃
And as the pestilence increased； it was found impossible to provide coffins or even separate graves for those who perished。 And therefore； in order to bury the deceased； great carts passed through the streets after sunset； attended by linkmen and preceded by a bellman crying in weird and solemn tones； 〃Bring out your dead。〃 At the intimation of the watchmen stationed before houses bearing red crosses upon their doors； the sad procession would tarry； When coffinless； and oftentimes shroudless； rigid； loathsome； and malodorous bodies were hustled into the carts with all possible speed。 Then once more the melancholy cortege took its way adown the dark； deserted street； the yellow glare of links falling on the ghastly burden they accompanied； the dirge…like call of the bellman sounding on the ears of the living like a summons from the dead。 And so； receiving additional freight upon its way； the cart proceeded to one of the great pits dug in the parish churchyards of Aldgate and Whitechapel； or in Finsbury Fields close by the Artillery Ground。 These； measuring about forty feet in length； eighteen in breadth； and twenty in depth； were destined to receive scores of bodies irrespective of creed or class。 The carts being brought to these dark and weirdsome gulphs； looking all the blacker from the flickering lights of candles and garish gleams of lanterns placed beside them； the bodies； without rite or ceremony； were shot into them； and speedily covered with clay。 For the accomplishment of this sad work night was found too brief。 And what lent additional horror to the circumstances of these burials was； that those engaged in this duty would occasionally drop lifeless during their labour。 So that it sometimes happened the dead…carts were found without driver； linkman； or bell…man。 And it was estimated that the parish of Stepney alone lost one hundred and sixteen gravediggers and sextons within that year。
During the month of September； the pestilence raged with increased fury； and it now seemed as if the merciless distemper would never cease whilst a single inhabitant remained in the city。 The lord mayor； having found all remedies to stay its progress utterly fail； by advice of the medical faculty； ordered that great fires should be kindled in certain districts； by way of purifying the air； Accordingly； two hundred chaldrons of coal； at four pounds a chaldron； were devoted to this purpose。 At first the fires were with great difficulty made to bur