westward ho-第46节

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might　have　proof　of　their　sincerity；　and　by　the　horror　thereof　astringe　their　souls　by　adamantine　fetters；　and　Novem…Stygian　oaths；　to　that　wherefrom　hereafter　the　weakness　of　the　flesh　might　shrink。　Wherefore；　O　Jack！　we　too　have　determined；　following　that　ancient　and　classical　example；　to　fill；　as　he　did；　a　bowl　with　the　lifeblood　of　our　most　heroic　selves；　and　to　pledge　each　other　therein；　with　vows　whereat　the　stars　shall　tremble　in　their　spheres；　and　Luna；　blushing；　veil　her　silver　cheeks。　　Your　blood　alone　is　wanted　to　fill　up　the　goblet。　　Sit　down；　John　Brimblecombe；　and　bare　your　arm！〃

〃But；　Mr。　Frank！〃said　Jack；　who　was　as　superstitious　as　any　old　wife；　and；　what　with　the　darkness　and　the　discourse；　already　in　a　cold　perspiration。

〃But　me　no　buts！　or　depart　as　recreant；　not　by　the　door　like　a　man；　but　up　the　chimney　like　a　flittermouse。〃

〃But；　Mr。　Frank！〃

〃Thy　vital　juice；　or　the　chimney！　　Choose！〃　roared　Cary　in　his　ear。

〃Well；　if　I　must；〃　said　Jack；　〃but　it's　desperate　hard　that　because　you　can't　keep　faith　without　these　barbarous　oaths；　I　must　take　them　too；　that　have　kept　faith　these　three　years　without　any。〃

At　this　pathetic　appeal　Frank　nearly　melted：　but　Amyas　and　Cary　had　thrust　the　victim　into　a　chair　and　all　was　prepared　for　the　sacrifice。

〃Bind　his　eyes；　according　to　the　classic　fashion；〃　said　Will。

〃Oh　no；　dear　Mr。　Cary；　I'll　shut　them　tight　enough；　I　warrant：　but　not　with　your　dagger；　dear　Mr。　Williamsure；　not　with　your　dagger？　I　can't　afford　to　lose　blood；　though　I　do　look　lustyI　can't　indeed；　sure；　a　pin　would　doI've　got　one　here；　to　my　sleeve；　somewhereOh！〃

〃See　the　fount　of　generous　juice！　　Flow　on；　fair　stream。　　How　he　bleeds！pints；　quarts！　　Ah；　this　proves　him　to　be　in　earnest！〃

〃A　true　lover's　blood　is　always　at　his　fingers'　ends。〃

〃He　does　not　grudge　it；　of　course　not。　　Eh；　Jack？　　What　matters　an　odd　gallon　for　her　sake？〃

〃For　her　sake？　　Nothing；　nothing！　　Take　my　life；　if　you　will：　but　oh；　gentlemen；　a　surgeon；　if　you　love　me！　　I'm　going　offI　'm　fainting！〃

〃Drink；　then；　quick；　drink　and　swear！　　Pat　his　back；　Cary。　Courage；　man！　it　will　be　over　in　a　minute。　　Now；　Frank！〃

And　Frank　spoke


〃If　plighted　troth　I　fail；　or　secret　speech　reveal；　May　Cocytean　ghosts　around　my　pillow　squeal；　While　Ate's　brazen　claws　distringe　my　spleen　in　sunder；　And　drag　me　deep　to　Pluto's　keep；　'mid　brimstone；　smoke；　and　thunder！〃


〃Placetne；　domine？〃

〃Placet！〃　squeaked　Jack；　who　thought　himself　at　the　last　gasp；　and　gulped　down　full　three…quarters　of　the　goblet　which　Cary　held　to　his　lips。

〃UghAhPuh！　　Mercy　on　us！　　It　tastes　mighty　like　wine！〃

〃A　proof；　my　virtuous　brother；〃　said　Frank；　〃first；　of　thy　abstemiousness；　which　has　thus　forgotten　what　wine　tastes　like；　and　next；　of　thy　pure　and　heroical　affection；　by　which　thy　carnal　senses　being　exalted　to　a　higher　and　supra…lunar　sphere；　like　those　Platonical　daemonizomenoi　and　enthusiazomenoi　（of　whom　Jamblichus　says　that　they　were　insensible　to　wounds　and　flame；　and　much　more；　therefore；　to　evil　savors）；　doth　make　even　the　most　nauseous　draught　redolent　of　that　celestial　fragrance；　which　proceeding；　O　Jack！　from　thine　own　inward　virtue；　assimilates　by　sympathy　even　outward　accidents　unto　its　own　harmony　and　melody；　for　fragrance　is；　as　has　been　said　well；　the　song　of　flowers；　and　sweetness；　the　music　of　applesAhem！　　Go　in　peace；　thou　hast　conquered！〃

〃Put　him　out　of　the　door；　Will；〃　said　Amyas；　〃or　he　will　swoon　on　our　hands。〃

〃Give　him　some　sack；〃　said　Frank。

〃Not　a　blessed　drop　of　yours；　sir；〃　said　Jack。　　〃I　like　good　wine　as　well　as　any　man　on　earth；　and　see　as　little　of　it；　but　not　a　drop　of　yours；　sirs；　after　your　frumps　and　flouts　about　hanging…on　and　trencher…scraping。　　When　I　first　began　to　love　her；　I　bid　good…　bye　to　all　dirty　tricks；　for　I　had　some　one　then　for　whom　to　keep　myself　clean。〃

And　so　Jack　was　sent　home；　with　a　pint　of　good　red　Alicant　wine　in　him　（more；　poor　fellow；　than　he　had　tasted　at　once　in　his　life　before）；　while　the　rest；　in　high　glee　with　themselves　and　the　rest　of　the　world；　relighted　the　candles；　had　a　right　merry　evening；　and　parted　like　good　friends　and　sensible　gentlemen　of　devon；　thinking　（all　except　Frank）　Jack　Brimblecombe　and　his　vow　the　merriest　jest　they　had　heard　for　many　a　day。　　After　which　they　all　departed：　Amyas　and　Cary　to　Winter's　squadron；　Frank　（as　soon　as　he　could　travel）　to　the　Court　again；　and　with　him　young　Basset；　whose　father　Sir　Arthur；　being　in　London；　procured　for　him　a　page's　place　in　Leicester's　household。　　Fortescue　and　Chicester　went　to　their　brothers　in　Dublin；　St。　Leger　to　his　uncle　the　Marshal　of　Munster；　Coffin　joined　Champernoun　and　Norris　in　the　Netherlands；　and　so　the　Brotherhood　of　the　Rose　was　scattered　far　and　wide；　and　Mistress　Salterne　was　left　alone　with　her　looking…glass。



CHAPTER　IX

HOW　AMYAS　KEPT　HIS　CHRISTMAS　DAY


　　　　　〃Take　aim；　you　noble　musqueteers；　　　　　　　And　shoot　you　round　about；　　　　　　　Stand　to　it；　valiant　pikemen；　　　　　　　And　we　shall　keep　them　out。　　　　　　　There's　not　a　man　of　all　of　us　　　　　　　A　foot　will　backward　flee；　　　　　　　I'll　be　the　foremost　man　in　fight；　　　　　　　Says　brave　Lord　Willoughby！〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Elizabethan　Ballad。


It　was　the　blessed　Christmas　afternoon。　　The　light　was　fading　down；　the　even…song　was　done；　and　the　good　folks　of　Bideford　were　trooping　home　in　merry　groups；　the　father　with　his　children；　the　lover　with　his　sweetheart；　to　cakes　and　ale；　and　flapdragons　and　mummer's　plays；　and　all　the　happy　sports　of　Christmas　night。　　One　lady　only；　wrapped　close　in　her　black　muffler　and　followed　by　her　maid；　walked　swiftly；　yet　sadly；　toward　the　long　causeway　and　bridge　which　led　to　Northam　town。　　Sir　Richard　Grenville　and　his　wife　caught　her　up　and　stopped　her　courteously。

〃You　will　come　home　with　us；　Mrs。　Leigh；〃　said　Lady　Grenville；　〃and　spend　a　pleasant　Christmas　night？〃

Mrs。　Leigh　smiled　sweetly；　and　laying　one　hand　on　Lady　Grenville's　arm；　pointed　with　the　other　to　the　westward；　and　said：

〃I　cannot　well　spend　a　merry　Christmas　night　while　that　sound　is　in　my　ears。〃

The　whole　party　around　looked　in　the　direction　in　which　she　pointed。　　Above　their　heads　the　soft　blue　sky　was　fading　into　gray；　and　here　and　there　a　misty　star　peeped　out：　but　to　the　westward；　where　the　downs　and　woods　of　Raleigh　closed　in　with　those　of　Abbotsham；　the　blue　was　webbed　and　turfed　with　delicate　white　flakes；　iridescent　spots；　marking　the　path　by　which　the　sun　had　sunk；　showed　all　the　colors　of　the　dying　dolphin；　and　low　on　the　horizon　lay　a　long　band　of　grassy　green。　　But　what　was　the　sound　which　troubled　Mrs。　Leigh？　　None　of　them；　with　their　merry　hearts；　and　ears　dulled　with　the　din　and　bustle　of　the　town；　had　heard　it　till　that　moment：　and　yet　nowlisten！　　It　was　dead　calm。　　There　was　not　a　breath　to　stir　a　blade　of　grass。　　And　yet　the　air　was　full　of　sound；　a　low　deep　roar　which　hovered　over　down　and　wood；　salt…marsh　and　river；　like　the　roll　of　a　thousand　wheels；　the　tramp　of　endless　armies；　orwhat　it　wasthe　thunder　of　a　mighty　surge　upon　the　boulders　of　the　pebble　ridge。

〃The　ridge　is　noisy　to…night；〃　said　Sir　Richard。　　〃There　has　been　wind　somewhere。〃

〃There　is　wind　now；　where　my　boy　is；　God　help　him！〃　said　Mrs。　Leigh：　and　all　knew　that　she　spoke　truly。　　The　spirit　of　the　Atlantic　storm　had　sent　forward　the　token　of　his　coming；　in　the　smooth　ground…swell　which　was　heard　inland；　two　miles　away。　　To…　morrow　the　pebbles；　which　were　now　rattling　down　with　each　retreating　wave；　might　be　leaping　to　the　ridge　top；　and　hurled　like　round…shot　far　ashore　upon　the　marsh　by　the　force　of　the　advancing　wave；　fleeing　before　the　wrath　of　the　western　hurricane。

〃God　help　my　boy！〃　said　Mrs。　Leigh　again。

〃God　is　as　near　him　by　sea　as　by　land；〃　said　good　Sir　Richard。

〃True；　but　I　am　a　lone　mother；　and　one　that　has　no　heart　just　now　but　to　go　home　and　pray。〃

And　so　Mrs。　Leigh　went　onward　up　the　lane；　and　spent　all　that　night　in　listening　between　her　prayers　to　the　thunder　of　the　surge；　till　it　was　drowned；　long　ere　the　sun　rose；　in　the　thunder　of　the　storm。

And　where　is　Amyas　on　this　same　Christmas　afternoon？

Amyas　is　sitting　bareheaded　in　a　boat's　stern　in　Smerwick　bay；　with　the　spray　whistling　through　his　curls；　as　he　shouts　cheerfully

〃Pull；　and　with　a　will；　my　merry　men　all；　and　never　mind　shipping　a　sea。　　Cannon　balls　are　a　cargo　that　don't　spoil　by　taking　salt…　water。〃

His　mother's　presage　has　been　true　enough。　　Christmas　eve　has　been　the　last　of　the　still；　dark；　steaming　nights　of　the　early　winter；　and　the　western　gale　has　been　roaring　for　the　last　twelve　hours　upon　the　Irish　coast。

The　short　light　of　the　winter　day　is　fading　fast。　　Behind　him　is　a　leaping　line　of　billows　lashed　into　mist　by　the　tempest。　　Beside　him　green　foam…fringed　columns　are　rushing　up　the　black　rocks；　and　falling　again　in　a　thousand　cataracts　of　snow。　　Before　him　is　the　deep　and　sheltered　bay：　but　it　is　not　far　up　the　bay　that　he　and　his　can　see；　for　some　four　miles　out　at　sea　begins　a　sloping　roof　of　thick　gray　cloud；　which　stretches　over　their　heads；　and　up　and　far　away　inland；　cutting　the　cliffs　off　at　mid…height；　hiding　all　the　Kerry　mountains；　and　darkening　the　hollows　of　the　distant　firths　into　the　bla