16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
countries? – but the temptation is always
there, the possibility of excess, the latent tyranny,
the latent servility; and who is fit to be
continually exposed to temptation? On the
other hand it seems to me that there is no
possibility whatsoever of a tolerable industrial
slavery. It rots both sides wholly away. The
Portuguese are a kindly, amiable nation, but
in their plantations and mines...'
After a while, the road flowing past them and
the river on the right-hand side, Sam checked
abruptly and in a hesitant, faltering tone he
said, 'Dear Doctor, sir, pray forgive me. Here
am I prating away for ever and in a loud voice
to you, a man that might be my father. Sure
you know all this better than I do, and have
reflected on it since before ever I was born:
shame on my head.'
'Not at all, not at all, Sam. I have not a tenth
part of your experience. But I know enough to