westward ho-第22节

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〃If　you　would　come　with　me　perhaps〃

〃I'll　come；　I'll　come；　and　stand　within　call；　to　be　sure。　　Only　do　ye　mind　this；　dear　soul　alive；　not　to　goo　telling　a　crumb　about　mun；　noo；　not　for　the　world；　or　yu'll　see　naught　at　all；　indeed；　now。　　And　beside；　there's　a　noxious　business　grow'd　up　against　me　up　to　Chapel　there；　and　I　hear　tell　how　Mr。　Leigh　saith　I　shall　to　Exeter　gaol　for　a　witchdid　ye　ever　hear　the　likes？because　his　groom　Jan　saith　I　overlooked　munthe　Papist　dog！　　And　now　never　he　nor　th'　owld　Father　Francis　goo　by　me　without　a　spetting；　and　saying　of　their　Ayes　and　MalificasI　do　know　what　their　Rooman　Latin　do　mane；　zo　well　as　ever　they；　I　du！and　a　making　o'　their　charms　and　incantations　to　their　saints　and　idols！　　They　be　mortal　feared　of　witches；　they　Papists；　and　mortal　hard　on　'em；　even　on　a　pure　body　like　me；　that　doth　a　bit　in　the　white　way；　'case　why　you　see；　dear　life；〃　said　she；　with　one　of　her　humorous　twinkles；　〃tu　to　a　trade　do　never　agree。　　Do　ye　try　my　bit　of　a　charm；　now；　do　ye！〃

Rose　could　not　resist　the　temptation；　and　between　them　both　the　charm　was　agreed　on；　and　the　next　night　was　fixed　for　its　trial；　on　the　payment　of　certain　current　coins　of　the　realm　（for　Lucy；　of　course；　must　live　by　her　trade）；　and　slipping　a　tester　into　the　dame's　hand　as　earnest；　Rose　went　away　home；　and　got　there　in　safety。

But　in　the　meanwhile；　at　the　very　hour　that　Eustace　had　been　prosecuting　his　suit　in　the　lane　at　Moorwinstow；　a　very　different　scene　was　being　enacted　in　Mrs。　Leigh's　room　at　Burrough。

For　the　night　before；　Amyas；　as　he　was　going　to　bed；　heard　his　brother　Frank　in　the　next　room　tune　his　lute；　and　then　begin　to　sing。　　And　both　their　windows　being　open；　and　only　a　thin　partition　between　the　chambers；　Amyas's　admiring　ears　came　in　for　every　word　of　the　following　canzonet；　sung　in　that　delicate　and　mellow　tenor　voice　for　which　Frank　was　famed　among　all　fair　ladies：


　　　　　　〃Ah；　tyrant　Love；　Megaera's　serpents　bearing；　　　　　　Why　thus　requite　my　sighs　with　venom'd　smart？　　　　　　　　Ah；　ruthless　dove；　the　vulture's　talons　wearing；　　　　　　Why　flesh　them；　traitress；　in　this　faithful　heart？　　　　　　　　Is　this　my　meed？　　Must　dragons'　teeth　alone　　　　　　　　In　Venus'　lawns　by　lovers'　hands　be　sown？

　　　　　　〃Nay；　gentlest　Cupid；　'twas　my　pride　undid　me。　　　　　　Nay；　guiltless　dove；　by　mine　own　wound　I　fell。　　　　　　　　To　worship；　not　to　wed；　Celestials　bid　me：　　　　　　I　dreamt　to　mate　in　heaven；　and　wake　in　hell；　　　　　　　　Forever　doom'd；　Ixion…like；　to　reel　　　　　　　　On　mine　own　passions'　ever…burning　wheel。〃


At　which　the　simple　sailor　sighed；　and　longed　that　he　could　write　such　neat　verses；　and　sing　them　so　sweetly。　　How　he　would　besiege　the　ear　of　Rose　Salterne　with　amorous　ditties！　　But　still；　he　could　not　be　everything；　and　if　he　had　the　bone　and　muscle　of　the　family；　it　was　but　fair　that　Frank　should　have　the　brains　and　voice；　and；　after　all；　he　was　bone　of　his　bone　and　flesh　of　his　flesh；　and　it　was　just　the　same　as　if　he　himself　could　do　all　the　fine　things　which　Frank　could　do；　for　as　long　as　one　of　the　family　won　honor；　what　matter　which　of　them　it　was？　　Whereon　he　shouted　through　the　wall；　〃Good　night；　old　song…thrush；　I　suppose　I　need　not　pay　the　musicians。〃

〃What；　awake？〃　answered　Frank。　　〃Come　in　here；　and　lull　me　to　sleep　with　a　sea…song。〃

So　Amyas　went　in；　and　found　Frank　laid　on　the　outside　of　his　bed　not　yet　undrest。

〃I　am　a　bad　sleeper；〃　said　he；　〃I　spend　more　time；　I　fear；　in　burning　the　midnight　oil　than　prudent　men　should。　　Come　and　be　my　jongleur；　my　minnesinger；　and　tell　me　about　Andes；　and　cannibals；　and　the　ice…regions；　and　the　fire…regions；　and　the　paradises　of　the　West。〃

So　Amyas　sat　down；　and　told：　but　somehow；　every　story　which　he　tried　to　tell　came　round；　by　crooked　paths；　yet　sure；　to　none　other　point　than　Rose　Salterne；　and　how　he　thought　of　her　here　and　thought　of　her　there；　and　how　he　wondered　what　she　would　say　if　she　had　seen　him　in　this　adventure；　and　how　he　longed　to　have　had　her　with　him　to　show　her　that　glorious　sight；　till　Frank　let　him　have　his　own　way；　and　then　out　came　the　whole　story　of　the　simple　fellow's　daily　and　hourly　devotion　to　her；　through　those　three　long　years　of　world…wide　wanderings。

〃And　oh；　Frank；　I　could　hardly　think　of　anything　but　her　in　the　church　the　other　day；　God　forgive　me！　and　it　did　seem　so　hard　for　her　to　be　the　only　face　which　I　did　not　seeand　have　not　seen　her　yet；　either。〃

〃So　I　thought；　dear　lad；〃　said　Frank；　with　one　of　his　sweetest　smiles；　〃and　tried　to　get　her　father　to　let　her　impersonate　the　nymph　of　Torridge。〃

〃Did　you；　you　dear　kind　fellow？　　That　would　have　been　too　delicious。〃

〃Just　so；　too　delicious；　wherefore；　I　suppose；　it　was　ordained　not　to　be；　that　which　was　being　delicious　enough。〃

〃And　is　she　as　pretty　as　ever？〃

〃Ten　times　as　pretty；　dear　lad；　as　half　the　young　fellows　round　have　discovered。　　If　you　mean　to　win　her　and　wear　her　（and　God　grant　you　may　fare　no　worse！）　you　will　have　rivals　enough　to　get　rid　of。〃

〃Humph！〃　said　Amyas；　〃I　hope　I　shall　not　have　to　make　short　work　with　some　of　them。〃

〃I　hope　not；〃　said　Frank；　laughing。　　〃Now　go　to　bed；　and　to…morrow　morning　give　your　sword　to　mother　to　keep；　lest　you　should　be　tempted　to　draw　it　on　any　of　her　majesty's　lieges。〃

〃No　fear　of　that；　Frank；　I　am　no　swash…buckler；　thank　God；　but　if　any　one　gets　in　my　way；　I'll　serve　him　as　the　mastiff　did　the　terrier；　and　just　drop　him　over　the　quay　into　the　river；　to　cool　himself；　or　my　name's　not　Amyas。〃

And　the　giant　swung　himself　laughing　out　of　the　room；　and　slept　all　night　like　a　seal；　not　without　dreams；　of　course；　of　Rose　Salterne。

The　next　morning；　according　to　his　wont；　he　went　into　his　mother's　room；　whom　he　was　sure　to　find　up　and　at　her　prayers；　for　he　liked　to　say　his　prayers；　too；　by　her　side；　as　he　used　to　do　when　he　was　a　little　boy。　　It　seemed　so　homelike；　he　said；　after　three　years'　knocking　up　and　down　in　no…man's　land。　　But　coming　gently　to　the　door；　for　fear　of　disturbing　her；　and　entering　unperceived；　beheld　a　sight　which　stopped　him　short。

Mrs。　Leigh　was　sitting　in　her　chair；　with　her　face　bowed　fondly　down　upon　the　head　of　his　brother　Frank；　who　knelt　before　her；　his　face　buried　in　her　lap。　　Amyas　could　see　that　his　whole　form　was　quivering　with　stifled　emotion。　　Their　mother　was　just　finishing　the　last　words　of　a　well…known　text；〃for　my　sake；　and　the　Gospel's；　shall　receive　a　hundred…fold　in　this　present　life；　fathers；　and　mothers；　and　brothers；　and　sisters。〃

〃But　not　a　wife！〃　interrupted　Frank；　with　a　voice　stifled　with　sobs；　〃that　was　too　precious　a　gift　for　even　Him　to　promise　to　those　who　gave　up　a　first　love　for　His　sake！〃

〃And　yet；〃　said　he；　after　a　moment's　silence；　〃has　He　not　heaped　me　with　blessings　enough　already；　that　I　must　repine　and　rage　at　His　refusing　me　one　more；　even　though　that　one　beNo；　mother！　I　am　your　son；　and　God's；　and　you　shall　know　it；　even　though　Amyas　never　does！〃　　And　he　looked　up　with　his　clear　blue　eyes　and　white　forehead；　and　his　face　was　as　the　face　of　an　angel。

Both　of　them　saw　that　Amyas　was　present；　and　started　and　blushed。　His　mother　motioned　him　away　with　her　eyes；　and　he　went　quietly　out；　as　one　stunned。　　Why　had　his　name　been　mentioned？

Love；　cunning　love；　told　him　all　at　once。　　This　was　the　meaning　of　last　night's　canzonet！　　This　was　why　its　words　had　seemed　to　fit　his　own　heart　so　well！　　His　brother　was　his　rival。　　And　he　had　been　telling　him　all　his　love　last　night。　　What　a　stupid　brute　he　was！　How　it　must　have　made　poor　Frank　wince！　　And　then　Frank　had　listened　so　kindly；　even　bid　him　God　speed　in　his　suit。　　What　a　gentleman　old　Frank　was；　to　be　sure！　　No　wonder　the　queen　was　so　fond　of　him；　and　all　the　Court　ladies！Why；　if　it　came　to　that；　what　wonder　if　Rose　Salterne　should　be　fond　of　him　too？　　Hey…day！　〃That　would　be　a　pretty　fish　to　find　in　my　net　when　I　come　to　haul　it！〃　quoth　Amyas　to　himself；　as　he　paced　the　garden；　and　clutching　desperately　hold　of　his　locks　with　both　hands；　as　if　to　hold　his　poor　confused　head　on　its　shoulders；　he　strode　and　tramped　up　and　down　the　shell…paved　garden　walks　for　a　full　half　hour；　till　Frank's　voice　（as　cheerful　as　ever；　though　he　more　than　suspected　all）　called　him。

〃Come　in　to　breakfast；　lad；　and　stop　grinding　and　creaking　upon　those　miserable　limpets；　before　thou　hast　set　every　tooth　in　my　head　on　edge！〃

Amyas；　whether　by　dint　of　holding　his　head　straight；　or　by　higher　means；　had　got　the　thoughts　of　the　said　head　straight　enough　by　this　time；　and　in　he　came；　and　fell　to　upon　the　broiled　fish　and　strong　ale；　with　a　sort　of　fury；　as　determined　to　do　his　duty　to　the　utmost　in　all　matters　that　day；　and　therefore；　of　course；　in　that　most　important　matter　of　bodily　sustenance；　while　his　mother　and　Frank　looked　at　him；　not　without　anxiety　and　even　terror；　doubting　what　turn　his　fancy　might　have　taken　in　so　new　a　case；　at　last

〃My　dear　Amyas；　you　will　really　heat　your　blood　with　all　that　strong　ale！　　Remember；　those　who　drink　beer；　think　beer。〃

〃Then　they　think　right　good　thoughts；　mother。　　And　in　the　meanwhile；　those　who　drink　water；　think　water。　　Eh；　old　Frank？　　and　here's　your　health。〃

〃And　clouds　are　water；〃　said　his　mother；　somewhat　reassured　by　his　genuine　good　humor；　〃and　so　are