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第79节

westward ho-第79节

小说: westward ho 字数: 每页4000字

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 say I。  Eh; Master Towerson?〃

Towerson's gray beard; which has stood many a foreign voyage; both fair and foul; wags grim assent。  But at this moment a Waiter enters; and

〃Please my lord mayor's worship; there is a tall gentleman outside; would speak with the Right Honorable Sir Walter Raleigh。〃

〃Show him in; man。  Sir Walter's friends are ours。〃

Amyas enters; and stands hesitating in the doorway。

〃Captain Leigh!〃 cry half a…dozen voices。

〃Why did you not walk in; sir?〃 says Osborne。  〃You should know your way well enough between these decks。〃

〃Well enough; my lords and gentlemen。  But; Sir Walteryou will excuse me〃and he gave Raleigh a look which was enough for his quick wit。  Turning pale as death; he rose; and followed Amyas into an adjoining cabin。  They were five minutes together; and then Amyas came out alone。

In few words he told the company the sad story which we already know。  Ere it was ended; noble tears were glistening on some of those stern faces。

〃The old Egyptians;〃 said Sir Edward Osborne; 〃when they banqueted; set a corpse among their guests; for a memorial of human vanity。 Have we forgotten God and our own weakness in this our feast; that He Himself has sent us thus a message from the dead?〃

〃Nay; my lord mayor;〃 said Sidney; 〃not from the dead; but from the realm of everlasting life。〃

〃Amen!〃 answered Osborne。  〃But; gentlemen; our feast is at an end。 There are those here who would drink on merrily; as brave men should; in spite of the private losses of which they have just had news; but none here who can drink with the loss of so great a man still ringing in his ears。〃

It was true。  Though many of the guests had suffered severely by the failure of the expedition; they had utterly forgotten that fact in the awful news of Sir Humphrey's death; and the feast broke up sadly and hurriedly; while each man asked his neighbor; 〃What will the queen say?〃

Raleigh re…entered in a few minutes; but was silent; and pressing many an honest hand as he passed; went out to call a wherry; beckoning Amyas to follow him。  Sidney; Cumberland; and Frank went with them in another boat; leaving the two to talk over the sad details。

They disembarked at Whitehall…stairs; Raleigh; Sidney; and Cumberland went to the palace; and the two brothers to their mother's lodgings。

Amyas had prepared his speech to Frank about Rose Salterne; but now that it was come to the point; he had not courage to begin; and longed that Frank would open the matter。  Frank; too; shrank from what he knew must come; and all the more because he was ignorant that Amyas had been to Bideford; or knew aught of the Rose's disappearance。

So they went upstairs; and it was a relief to both of them to find that their mother was at the Abbey; for it was for her sake that both dreaded what was coming。  So they went and stood in the bay… window which looked out upon the river; and talked of things indifferent; and looked earnestly at each other's faces by the fading light; for it was now three years since they had met。

Years and events had deepened the contrast between the two brothers; and Frank smiled with affectionate pride as he looked up in Amyas's face; and saw that he was no longer merely the rollicking handy sailor…lad; but the self…confident and stately warrior; showing in every look and gesture


     〃The reason firm; the temperate will;       Endurance; foresight; strength; and skill;〃


worthy of one whose education had been begun by such men as Drake and Grenville; and finished by such as Raleigh and Gilbert。  His long locks were now cropped close to the head; but as a set…off; the lips and chin were covered with rich golden beard; his face was browned by a thousand suns and storms; a long scar; the trophy of some Irish fight; crossed his right temple; his huge figure had gained breadth in proportion to its height; and his hand; as it lay upon the window…sill; was hard and massive as a smith's。  Frank laid his own upon it; and sighed; and Amyas looked down; and started at the contrast between the twoso slender; bloodless; all but transparent; were the delicate fingers of the courtier。  Amyas looked anxiously into his brother's face。  It was changed; indeed; since they last met。  The brilliant red was still on either cheek; but the white had become dull and opaque; the lips were pale; the features sharpened; the eyes glittered with unnatural fire: and when Frank told Amyas that he looked aged; Amyas could not help thinking that the remark was far more true of the speaker himself。

Trying to shut his eyes to the palpable truth; he went on with his chat; asking the names of one building after another。

〃And so this is old Father Thames; with his bank of palaces?〃

〃Yes。  His banks are stately enough; yet; you see; he cannot stay to look at them。  He hurries down to the sea; and the sea into the ocean; and the ocean Westward…ho; forever。  All things move Westward…ho。  Perhaps we may move that way ourselves some day; Amyas。〃

〃What do you mean by that strange talk?〃

〃Only that the ocean follows the primum mobile of the heavens; and flows forever from east to west。  Is there anything so strange in my thinking of that; when I am just come from a party where we have been drinking success to Westward…ho?〃

〃And much good has come of it!  I have lost the best friend and the noblest captain upon earth; not to mention all my little earnings; in that same confounded gulf of Westward…ho。〃

〃Yes; Sir Humphrey Gilbert's star has set in the Westwhy not? Sun; moon; and planets sink into the West: why not the meteors of this lower world? why not a will…o'…the…wisp like me; Amyas?〃

〃God forbid; Frank!〃

〃Why; then?  Is not the West the land of peace; and the land of dreams?  Do not our hearts tell us so each time we look upon the setting sun; and long to float away with him upon the golden… cushioned clouds?  They bury men with their faces to the East。  I should rather have mine turned to the West; Amyas; when I die; for I cannot but think it some divine instinct which made the ancient poets guess that Elysium lay beneath the setting sun。  It is bound up in the heart of man; that longing for the West。  I complain of no one for fleeing away thither beyond the utmost sea; as David wished to flee; and be at peace。〃

〃Complain of no one for fleeing thither?〃 asked Amyas。  〃That is more than I do。〃

Frank looked inquiringly at him; and then

〃No。  If I had complained of any one; it would have been of you just now; for seeming to be tired of going Westward…ho。〃

〃Do you wish me to go; then?〃

〃God knows;〃 said Frank; after a moment's pause。  〃But I must tell you now; I suppose; once and for all。  That has happened at Bideford which〃

〃Spare us both; Frank; I know all。  I came through Bideford on my way hither; and came hither not merely to see you and my mother; but to ask your advice and her permission。〃

〃True heart! noble heart!〃 cried Frank。  〃I knew you would be stanch!〃

〃Westward…ho it is; then?〃

〃Can we escape?〃

〃We?〃

〃Amyas; does not that which binds you bind me?〃

Amyas started back; and held Frank by the shoulders at arm's length; as he did so; he could feel through; that his brother's arms were but skin and bone。

〃You?  Dearest man; a month of it would kill you!〃

Frank smiled; and tossed his head on one side in his pretty way。

〃I belong to the school of Thales; who held that the ocean is the mother of all life; and feel no more repugnance at returning to her bosom again than Humphrey Gilbert did。〃

〃But; Frank;my mother?〃

〃My mother knows all; and would not have us unworthy of her。〃

〃Impossible!  She will never give you up!〃

〃All things are possible to them that believe in God; my brother; and she believes。  But; indeed; Doctor Dee; the wise man; gave her but this summer I know not what of prognostics and diagnostics concerning me。  I am born; it seems; under a cold and watery planet; and need; if I am to be long…lived; to go nearer to the vivifying heat of the sun; and there bask out my little life; like fly on wall。  To tell truth; he has bidden me spend no more winters here in the East; but return to our native sea…breezes; there to warm my frozen lungs; and has so filled my mother's fancy with stories of sick men; who were given up for lost in Germany and France; and yet renewed their youth; like any serpent or eagle; by going to Italy; Spain; and the Canaries; that she herself will be more ready to let me go than I to leave her all alone。  And yet I must go; Amyas。  It is not merely that my heart pants; as Sidney's does; as every gallant's ought; to make one of your noble choir of Argonauts; who are now replenishing the earth and subduing it for God and for the queen; it is not merely; Amyas; that love calls me;love tyrannous and uncontrollable; strengthened by absence; and deepened by despair; but honor; Amyasmy oath〃

And he paused for lack of breath; and bursting into a violent fit of coughing; leaned on his brother's shoulder; while Amyas cried;

〃Fools; fools that we werethat I was; I meanto take that fantastical vow!〃

〃Not so;〃 answered a gentle voice from behind: 〃you vowed for the sake of peace on earth; and good…will toward men; and 'Blessed a

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