westward ho-第32节

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But　I　am　not　writing　of　that　great　new　Stow　House；　of　the　past　glories　whereof　quaint　pictures　still　hang　in　the　neighboring　houses；　nor　of　that　famed　Sir　Bevil；　most　beautiful　and　gallant　of　his　generation；　on　whom；　with　his　grandfather　Sir　Richard；　old　Prince　has　his　pompous　epigram


　　　　　〃Where　next　shall　famous　Grenvil's　ashes　stand？　　　　　　　Thy　grandsire　fills　the　sea；　and　thou　the　land。〃


I　have　to　deal　with　a　simpler　age；　and　a　sterner　generation；　and　with　the　old　house；　which　had　stood　there；　in　part　at　least；　from　gray　and　mythic　ages；　when　the　first　Sir　Richard；　son　of　Hamon　Dentatus；　Lord　of　Carboyle；　the　grandson　of　Duke　Robert；　son　of　Rou；　settled　at　Bideford；　after　slaying　the　Prince　of　South…Galis；　and　the　Lord　of　Glamorgan；　and　gave　to　the　Cistercian　monks　of　Neath　all　his　conquests　in　South　Wales。　　It　was　a　huge　rambling　building；　half　castle；　half　dwelling…house；　such　as　may　be　seen　still　（almost　an　unique　specimen）　in　Compton　Castle　near　Torquay；　the　dwelling…place　of　Humphrey　Gilbert；　Walter　Raleigh's　half…　brother；　and　Richard　Grenville's　bosom　friend；　of　whom　more　hereafter。　　On　three　sides；　to　the　north；　west；　and　south；　the　lofty　walls　of　the　old　ballium　still　stood；　with　their　machicolated　turrets；　loopholes；　and　dark　downward　crannies　for　dropping　stones　and　fire　on　the　besiegers；　the　relics　of　a　more　unsettled　age：　but　the　southern　court　of　the　ballium　had　become　a　flower…garden；　with　quaint　terraces；　statues；　knots　of　flowers；　clipped　yews　and　hollies；　and　all　the　pedantries　of　the　topiarian　art。　　And　toward　the　east；　where　the　vista　of　the　valley　opened；　the　old　walls　were　gone；　and　the　frowning　Norman　keep；　ruined　in　the　Wars　of　the　Roses；　had　been　replaced　by　the　rich　and　stately　architecture　of　the　Tudors。　　Altogether；　the；　house；　like　the　time；　was　in　a　transitionary　state；　and　represented　faithfully　enough　the　passage　of　the　old　middle　age　into　the　new　life　which　had　just　burst　into　blossom　throughout　Europe；　never；　let　us　pray；　to　see　its　autumn　or　its　winter。

From　the　house　on　three　sides；　the　hill　sloped　steeply　down；　and　the　garden　where　Sir　Richard　and　Amyas　were　walking　gave　a　truly　English　prospect。　　At　one　turn　they　could　catch；　over　the　western　walls；　a　glimpse　of　the　blue　ocean　flecked　with　passing　sails；　and　at　the　next；　spread　far　below　them；　range　on　range　of　fertile　park；　stately　avenue；　yellow　autumn　woodland；　and　purple　heather　moors；　lapping　over　and　over　each　other　up　the　valley　to　the　old　British　earthwork；　which　stood　black　and　furze…grown　on　its　conical　peak；　and　standing　out　against　the　sky　on　the　highest　bank　of　hill　which　closed　the　valley　to　the　east；　the　lofty　tower　of　Kilkhampton　church；　rich　with　the　monuments　and　offerings　of　five　centuries　of　Grenvilles。　　A　yellow　eastern　haze　hung　soft　over　park；　and　wood；　and　moor；　the　red　cattle　lowed　to　each　other　as　they　stood　brushing　away　the　flies　in　the　rivulet　far　below；　the　colts　in　the　horse…　park　close　on　their　right　whinnied　as　they　played　together；　and　their　sires　from　the　Queen's　Park；　on　the　opposite　hill；　answered　them　in　fuller　though　fainter　voices。　　A　rutting　stag　made　the　still　woodland　rattle　with　his　hoarse　thunder；　and　a　rival　far　up　the　valley　gave　back　a　trumpet　note　of　defiance；　and　was　himself　defied　from　heathery　brows　which　quivered　far　away　above；　half　seen　through　the　veil　of　eastern　mist。　　And　close　at　home；　upon　the　terrace　before　the　house；　amid　romping　spaniels　and　golden…haired　children；　sat　Lady　Grenville　herself；　the　beautiful　St。　Leger　of　Annery；　the　central　jewel　of　all　that　glorious　place；　and　looked　down　at　her　noble　children；　and　then　up　at　her　more　noble　husband；　and　round　at　that　broad　paradise　of　the　West；　till　life　seemed　too　full　of　happiness；　and　heaven　of　light。

And　all　the　while　up　and　down　paced　Amyas　and　Sir　Richard；　talking　long；　earnestly；　and　slow；　for　they　both　knew　that　the　turning　point　of　the　boy's　life　was　come。

〃Yes；〃　said　Sir　Richard；　after　Amyas；　in　his　blunt　simple　way；　had　told　him　the　whole　story　about　Rose　Salterne　and　his　brother；　〃yes；　sweet　lad；　thou　hast　chosen　the　better　part；　thou　and　thy　brother　also；　and　it　shall　not　be　taken　from　you。　　Only　be　strong；　lad；　and　trust　in　God　that　He　will　make　a　man　of　you。〃

〃I　do　trust；〃　said　Amyas。

〃Thank　God；〃　said　Sir　Richard；　〃that　you　have　yourself　taken　from　my　heart　that　which　was　my　great　anxiety　for　you；　from　the　day　that　your　good　father；　who　sleeps　in　peace；　committed　you　to　my　hands。　For　all　best　things；　Amyas；　become；　when　misused；　the　very　worst；　and　the　love　of　woman；　because　it　is　able　to　lift　man's　soul　to　the　heavens；　is　also　able　to　drag　him　down　to　hell。　　But　you　have　learnt　better；　Amyas；　and　know；　with　our　old　German　forefathers；　that；　as　Tacitus　saith；　Sera　juvenum　Venus；　ideoque　inexhausta　pubertas。　　And　not　only　that；　Amyas；　but　trust　me；　that　silly　fashion　of　the　French　and　Italians；　to　be　hanging　ever　at　some　woman's　apron　string；　so　that　no　boy　shall　count　himself　a　man　unless　he　can　vagghezziare　le　donne；　whether　maids　or　wives；　alas！　matters　little；　that　fashion；　I　say；　is　little　less　hurtful　to　the　soul　than　open　sin；　for　by　it　are　bred　vanity　and　expense；　envy　and　heart…burning；　yea；　hatred　and　murder　often；　and　even　if　that　be　escaped；　yet　the　rich　treasure　of　a　manly　worship；　which　should　be　kept　for　one　alone；　is　squandered　and　parted　upon　many；　and　the　bride　at　last　comes　in　for　nothing　but　the　very　last　leavings　and　caput　mortuum　of　her　bridegroom's　heart；　and　becomes　a　mere　ornament　for　his　table；　and　a　means　whereby　he　may　obtain　a　progeny。　　May　God；　who　has　saved　me　from　that　death　in　life；　save　you　also！〃　　And　as　he　spoke；　he　looked　down　toward　his　wife　upon　the　terrace　below；　and　she；　as　if　guessing　instinctively　that　he　was　talking　of　her；　looked　up　with　so　sweet　a　smile；　that　Sir　Richard's　stern　face　melted　into　a　very　glory　of　spiritual　sunshine。

Amyas　looked　at　them　both　and　sighed；　and　then　turning　the　conversation　suddenly

〃And　I　may　go　to　Ireland　to…morrow？〃

〃You　shall　sail　in　the　'Mary'　for　Milford　Haven；　with　these　letters　to　Winter。　　If　the　wind　serves；　you　may　bid　the　master　drop　down　the　river　tonight；　and　be　off；　for　we　must　lose　no　time。〃

〃Winter？〃　said　Amyas。　　〃He　is　no　friend　of　mine；　since　he　left　Drake　and　us　so　cowardly　at　the　Straits　of　Magellan。〃

〃Duty　must　not　wait　for　private　quarrels；　even　though　they　be　just　ones；　lad：　but　he　will　not　be　your　general。　　When　you　come　to　the　marshal；　or　the　Lord　Deputy；　give　either　of　them　this　letter；　and　they　will　set　you　work；and　hard　work　too；　I　warrant。

〃I　want　nothing　better。〃

〃Right；　lad；　the　best　reward　for　having　wrought　well　already；　is　to　have　more　to　do；　and　he　that　has　been　faithful　over　a　few　things；　must　find　his　account　in　being　made　ruler　over　many　things。　　That　is　the　true　and　heroical　rest；　which　only　is　worthy　of　gentlemen　and　sons　of　God。　　As　for　those　who；　either　in　this　world　or　the　world　to　come；　look　for　idleness；　and　hope　that　God　shall　feed　them　with　pleasant　things；　as　it　were　with　a　spoon；　Amyas；　I　count　them　cowards　and　base；　even　though　they　call　themselves　saints　and　elect。〃

〃I　wish　you　could　persuade　my　poor　cousin　of　that。〃

〃He　has　yet　to　learn　what　losing　his　life　to　save　it　means；　Amyas。　Bad　men　have　taught　him　（and　I　fear　these　Anabaptists　and　Puritans　at　home　teach　little　else）；　that　it　is　the　one　great　business　of　every　one　to　save　his　own　soul　after　he　dies；　every　one　for　himself；　and　that　that；　and　not　divine　self…sacrifice；　is　the　one　thing　needful；　and　the　better　part　which　Mary　chose。〃

〃I　think　men　are　inclined　enough　already　to　be　selfish；　without　being　taught　that。〃

〃Right；　lad。　　For　me；　if　I　could　hang　up　such　a　teacher　on　high　as　an　enemy　of　mankind；　and　a　corrupter　of　youth；　I　would　do　it　gladly。　　Is　there　not　cowardice　and　self…seeking　enough　about　the　hearts　of　us　fallen　sons　of　Adam；　that　these　false　prophets；　with　their　baits　of　heaven；　and　their　terrors　of　hell；　must　exalt　our　dirtiest　vices　into　heavenly　virtues　and　the　means　of　bliss？　Farewell　to　chivalry　and　to　desperate　valor；　farewell　to　patriotism　and　loyalty；　farewell　to　England　and　to　the　manhood　of　England；　if　once　it　shall　become　the　fashion　of　our　preachers　to　bid　every　man；　as　the　Jesuits　do；　take　care　first　of　what　they　call　the　safety　of　his　soul。　　Every　man　will　be　afraid　to　die　at　his　post；　because　he　will　be　afraid　that　he　is　not　fit　to　die。　　Amyas；　do　thou　do　thy　duty　like　a　man；　to　thy　country；　thy　queen；　and　thy　God；　and　count　thy　life　a　worthless　thing；　as　did　the　holy　men　of　old。　　Do　thy　work；　lad；　and　leave　thy　soul　to　the　care　of　Him　who　is　just　and　merciful　in　this；　that　He　rewards　every　man　according　to　his　work。　Is　there　respect　of　persons　with　God？　　Now　come　in；　and　take　the　letters；　and　to　horse。　　And　if　I　hear　of　thee　dead　there　at　Smerwick　fort；　with　all　thy　wounds　in　front；　I　shall　weep　for　thy　mother；　lad；　but　I　shall　have　never　a　sigh　for　thee。〃

If　any　one　shall　be　startled　at　hearing　a　fine　gentleman　and　a　warrior　like　Sir　Richard　quote　Scripture；　and　think　Scripture　also；　they　must　be　referred　to　the　writings　of　the　time；　which　they　may　read　not　without　profit　to　themselves；　if　they　discover　therefrom　how　it　was　possible　then　for　men　of　the