to have and to hold-第1节
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To Have and To Hold
by Mary Johnston
TO
THE MEMORY OF
MY MOTHER
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I。 IN WHICH I THROW AMBS…ACE
CHAPTER II。 IN WHICH I MEET MASTER JEREMY SPARROW
CHAPTER III。 IN WHICH I MARRY IN HASTE
CHAPTER IV。 IN WHICH I AM LIKE TO REPENT AT LEISURE
CHAPTER V。 IN WHICH A WOMAN HAS HER WAY
CHAPTER VI。 IN WHICH WE GO TO JAMESTOWN
CHAPTER VII。 IN WHICH WE PREPARE TO FIGHT THE SPANIARD
CHAPTER VIII。 IN WHICH ENTERS MY LORD CARNAL
CHAPTER IX。 IN WHICH TWO DRINK OF ONE CUP
CHAPTER X。 IN WHICH MASTER PORY GAINS TIME TO SOME PURPOSE
CHAPTER XI。 IN WHICH I MEET AN ITALIAN DOCTOR
CHAPTER XII。 IN WHICH I RECEIVE A WARNING AND REPOSE A TRUST
CHAPTER XIII。 IN WHICH THE SANTA TERESA DROPS DOWN…STREAM
CHAPTER XIV。 IN WHICH WE SEEK A LOST LADY
CHAPTER XV。 IN WHICH WE FIND THE HAUNTED WOOD
CHAPTER XVI。 IN WHICH I AM RID OF AN UNPROFITABLE SERVANT
CHAPTER XVII。 IN WHICH MY LORD AND I PLAY AT BOWLS
CHAPTER XVIII。 IN WHICH WE GO OUT INTO THE NIGHT
CHAPTER XIX。 IN WHICH WE HAVE UNEXPECTED COMPANY
CHAPTER XX。 IN WHICH WE ARE IN DESPERATE CASE
CHAPTER XXI。 IN WHICH A GRAVE IS DIGGED
CHAPTER XXII。 IN WHICH I CHANGE MY NAME AND OCCUPATION
CHAPTER XXIII。 IN WHICH WE WRITE UPON THE SAND
CHAPTER XXIV。 IN WHICH WE CHOOSE THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS
CHAPTER XXV。 IN WHICH MY LORD HATH HIS DAY
CHAPTER XXVI。 IN WHICH I AM BROUGHT TO TRIAL
CHAPTER XXVII。 IN WHICH I FIND AN ADVOCATE
CHAPTER XXVIII。 IN WHICH THE SPRINGTIME IS AT HAND
CHAPTER XXIX。 IN WHICH I KEEP TRYST
CHAPTER XXX。 IN WHICH WE START UPON A JOURNEY
CHAPTER XXXI。 IN WHICH NANTAUQUAS COMES TO OUR RESCUE
CHAPTER XXXII。 IN WHICH WE ARE THE GUESTS OF AN EMPEROR
CHAPTER XXXIII。 IN WHICH MY FRIEND BECOMES MY FOE
CHAPTER XXXIV。 IN WHICH THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT
CHAPTER XXXV。 IN WHICH I COME TO THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE
CHAPTER XXXVI。 IN WHICH I HEAR ILL NEWS
CHAPTER XXXVII。 IN WHICH MY LORD AND I PART COMPANY
CHAPTER XXXVIII。 IN WHICH I GO UPON A QUEST
CHAPTER XXXIX。 IN WHICH WE LISTEN TO A SONG
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
CHAPTER I IN WHICH I THROW AMBS…ACE
THE work of the day being over； I sat down upon my doorstep； pipe in hand； to rest awhile in the cool of the evening。 Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away； and it is black beneath the trees； and the stars brighten slowly and softly； one by one。 The birds that sing all day have hushed； and the horned owls； the monster frogs； and that strange and ominous fowl （if fowl it be； and not； as some assert； a spirit damned） which we English call the whippoorwill； are yet silent。 Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream； but now there is no sound。 The winds are laid； and the restless leaves droop and are quiet。 The low lap of the water among the reeds is like the breathing of one who sleeps in his watch beside the dead。
I marked the light die from the broad bosom of the river； leaving it a dead man's hue。 Awhile ago； and for many evenings； it had been crimson； … a river of blood。 A week before； a great meteor had shot through the night； blood…red and bearded； drawing a slow…fading fiery trail across the heavens； and the moon had risen that same night blood…red； and upon its disk there was drawn in shadow a thing most marvelously like a scalping knife。 Wherefore； the following day being Sunday； good Mr。 Stockham； our minister at Weyanoke； exhorted us to be on our guard； and in his prayer besought that no sedition or rebellion might raise its head amongst the Indian subjects of the Lord's anointed。 Afterward； in the churchyard； between the services； the more timorous began to tell of divers portents which they had observed； and to recount old tales of how the savages distressed us in the Starving Time。 The bolder spirits laughed them to scorn； but the women began to weep and cower； and I； though I laughed too； thought of Smith； and how he ever held the savages； and more especially that Opechancanough who was now their emperor； in a most deep distrust； telling us that the red men watched while we slept； that they might teach wiliness to a Jesuit； and how to bide its time to a cat crouched before a mousehole。 I thought of the terms we now kept with these heathen； of how they came and went familiarly amongst us； spying out our weakness； and losing the salutary awe which that noblest captain had struck into their souls； of how many were employed as hunters to bring down deer for lazy masters； of how； breaking the law； and that not secretly； we gave them knives and arms； a soldier's bread； in exchange for pelts and pearls； of how their emperor was forever sending us smooth messages； of how their lips smiled and their eyes frowned。 That afternoon； as I rode home through the lengthening shadows； a hunter； red…brown and naked； rose from behind a fallen tree that sprawled across my path； and made offer to bring me my meat from the moon of corn to the moon of stags in exchange for a gun。 There was scant love between the savages and myself； … it was answer enough when I told him my name。 I left the dark figure standing； still as a carved stone； in the heavy shadow of the trees； and； spurring my horse （sent me from home； the year before； by my cousin Percy）； was soon at my house； … a poor and rude one； but pleasantly set upon a slope of green turf； and girt with maize and the broad leaves of the tobacco。 When I had had my supper； I called from their hut the two Paspahegh lads bought by me from their tribe the Michaelmas before； and soundly flogged them both； having in my mind a saying of my ancient captain's； namely； 〃He who strikes first oft…times strikes last。〃
Upon the afternoon of which I now speak； in the midsummer of the year of grace 1621； as I sat upon my doorstep； my long pipe between my teeth and my eyes upon the pallid stream below； my thoughts were busy with these matters； … so busy that I did not see a horse and rider emerge from the dimness of the forest into the cleared space before my palisade； nor knew； until his voice came up the bank； that my good friend； Master John Rolfe； was without and would speak to me。
I went down to the gate； and； unbarring it； gave him my hand and led the horse within the inclosure。
〃Thou careful man！〃 he said； with a laugh； as he dismounted。 〃Who else； think you； in this or any other hundred； now bars his gate when the sun goes down？〃
〃It is my sunset gun；〃 I answered briefly； fastening his horse as I spoke。
He put his arm about my shoulder； for we were old friends； and together we went up the green bank to the house； and； when I had brought him a pipe； sat down side by side upon the doorstep。
〃Of what were you dreaming？〃 he asked presently； when we had made for ourselves a great cloud of smoke。 〃I called you twice。〃
〃I was wishing for Dale's times and Dale's laws。〃
He laughed； and touched my knee with his hand； white and smooth as a woman's； and with a green jewel upon the forefinger。
〃Thou Mars incarnate！〃 he cried。 〃Thou first； last； and in the meantime soldier！ Why； what wilt thou do when thou gettest to heaven？ Make it too hot to hold thee？ Or take out letters of marque against the Enemy？〃
〃I am not there yet；〃 I said dryly。 〃In the meantime I would like a commission against … your relatives。〃
He laughed； then sighed； and； sinking his chin into his hand and softly tapping his foot against the ground； fell into a reverie。
〃I would your princess were alive；〃 I said presently。
〃So do I；〃 he answered softly。 〃So do I。〃 Locking his hands behind his head； he raised his quiet face to the evening star。 〃Brave and wise and gentle；〃 he mused。 〃If I did not think to meet her again； beyond that star； I could not smile and speak calmly； Ralph； as I do now。〃
〃 'T is a strange thing；〃 I said； as I refilled my pipe。 〃Love for your brother…in…arms； love for your commander if he be a commander worth having； love for your horse and dog； I understand。 But wedded love！ to tie a burden around one's neck because 't is pink and white； or clear bronze； and shaped with elegance！ Faugh！〃
〃Yet I came with half a mind to persuade thee to that very burden！〃 he cried； with another laugh。
〃Thanks for thy pains；〃 I said； blowing blue rings into the air。
〃I have ridden to…day from Jamestown；〃 he went on。 〃I was the only man； i' faith； that cared to leave its gates； and I met the world … the bachelor world … flocking to them。 Not a mile of the way but I encountered Tom； Dick； and Harry； dressed in their Sunday bravery and making full tilt for the city。 And the boats upon the river！ I have seen the Thames less crowded。〃
〃There was more passing than usual；〃 I said； 〃but I was busy in the fields； and did not attend。 What's the lodestar？〃
〃The star that draws us all； … some to ruin； some to bliss ineffable； … woman。〃
〃Humph！ The maids have come； then？〃
He nodded。 〃There's a goodly ship down there； with a goodly lading。〃
〃Videlicet； some fourscore waiting damsels and milkmaids； warranted honest by my Lord Warwick；〃 I muttered。
〃This business hath been of Edwyn Sandys' management； as you very well know；〃 he rejoined； with some heat。 〃His word is good： therefore I hold them chaste。 That they are fair I can testify； having seen them leave the ship。〃
〃Fair and chast
