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第4章

my kinsman-第4章

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for this place; to pay the Major a visit。 But; would you believe

it; sir! I crossed the ferry a little after dark; and have yet

found nobody that would show me the way to his dwelling; only; an

hour or two since; I was told to wait here; and Major Molineux

would pass by。〃



〃Can you describe the man who told you this?〃 inquired the

gentleman。



〃Oh; he was a very ill…favored fellow; sir;〃 replied Robin; 〃with

two great bumps on his forehead; a hook nose; fiery eyes; and;

what struck me as the strangest; his face was of two different

colors。 Do you happen to know such a man; sir?〃



〃Not intimately;〃 answered the stranger; 〃but I chanced to meet

him a little time previous to your stopping me。 I believe you may

trust his word; and that the Major will very shortly pass through

this street。 In the mean time; as I have a singular curiosity to

witness your meeting; I will sit down here upon the steps and

bear you company。〃



He seated himself accordingly; and soon engaged his companion in

animated discourse。 It was but of brief continuance; however; for

a noise of shouting; which had long been remotely audible; drew

so much nearer that Robin inquired its cause。



〃What may be the meaning of this uproar?〃 asked he。 〃Truly; if

your town be always as noisy; I shall find little sleep while I

am an inhabitant。〃



〃Why; indeed; friend Robin; there do appear to be three or four

riotous fellows abroad to…night;〃 replied the gentleman。 〃You

must not expect all the stillness of your native woods here in

our streets。 But the watch will shortly be at the heels of these

lads and〃



〃Ay; and set them in the stocks by peep of day;〃 interrupted

Robin recollecting his own encounter with the drowsy

lantern…bearer。 〃But; dear sir; if I may trust my ears; an army

of watchmen would never make head against such a multitude of

rioters。 There were at least a thousand voices went up to make

that one shout。〃



〃May not a man have several voices; Robin; as well as two

complexions?〃  said his friend。



〃Perhaps a man may; but Heaven forbid that a woman should!〃

responded the shrewd youth; thinking of the seductive tones of

the Major's housekeeper。



The sounds of a trumpet in some neighboring street now became so

evident and continual; that Robin's curiosity was strongly

excited。 In addition to the shouts; he heard frequent bursts from

many instruments of discord; and a wild and confused laughter

filled up the intervals。 Robin rose from the steps; and looked

wistfully towards a point whither people seemed to be hastening。



〃Surely some prodigious merry…making is going on;〃 exclaimed he

〃I have laughed very little since I left home; sir; and should be

sorry to lose an opportunity。 Shall we step round the corner by

that darkish house and take our share of the fun?〃



〃Sit down again; sit down; good Robin;〃 replied the gentleman;

laying his hand on the skirt of the gray coat。 〃You forget that

we must wait here for your kinsman; and there is reason to

believe that he will pass by; in the course of a very few

moments。〃



The near approach of the uproar had now disturbed the

neighborhood; windows flew open on all sides; and many heads; in

the attire of the pillow; and confused by sleep suddenly broken;

were protruded to the gaze of whoever had leisure to observe

them。 Eager voices hailed each other from house to house; all

demanding the explanation; which not a soul could give。

Half…dressed men hurried towards the unknown commotion stumbling

as they went over the stone steps that thrust themselves into the

narrow foot…walk。 The shouts; the laughter; and the tuneless bray

the antipodes of music; came onwards with increasing din; till

scattered individuals; and then denser bodies; began to appear

round a corner at the distance of a hundred yards



〃Will you recognize your kinsman; if he passes in this crowd?〃

inquired the gentleman



〃Indeed; I can't warrant it; sir; but I'll take my stand here;

and keep a bright lookout;〃 answered Robin; descending to the

outer edge of the pavement。



A mighty stream of people now emptied into the street; and came

rolling slowly towards the church。 A single horseman wheeled the

corner in the midst of them; and close behind him came a band of

fearful wind instruments; sending forth a fresher discord now

that

no intervening buildings kept it from the ear。 Then a redder

light disturbed the moonbeams; and a dense multitude of torches

shone along the street; concealing; by their glare; whatever

object they illuminated。 The single horseman; clad in a military

dress; and bearing a drawn sword; rode onward as the leader; and;

by his fierce and variegated countenance; appeared like war

personified; the red of one cheek was an emblem of fire and

sword; the blackness of the other betokened the mourning that

attends them。 In his train were wild figures in the Indian dress;

and many fantastic shapes without a model; giving the whole march

a visionary air; as if a dream had broken forth from some

feverish brain; and were sweeping visibly through the midnight

streets。 A mass of people; inactive; except as applauding

spectators; hemmed the procession in; and several women ran along

the sidewalk; piercing the confusion of heavier sounds with their

shrill voices of mirth or terror。



〃The double…faced fellow has his eye upon me;〃 muttered Robin;

with an indefinite but an uncomfortable idea that he was himself

to bear a part in the pageantry。



The leader turned himself in the saddle; and fixed his glance

full upon the country youth; as the steed went slowly by。 When

Robin had freed his eyes from those fiery ones; the musicians

were passing before him; and the torches were close at hand; but

the unsteady brightness of the latter formed a veil which he

could not penetrate。 The rattling of wheels over the stones

sometimes found its way to his ear; and confused traces of a

human form appeared at intervals; and then melted into the vivid

light。 A moment more; and the leader thundered a command to halt:

the trumpets vomited a horrid breath; and then held their peace;

the shouts and laughter of the people died away; and there

remained only a universal hum; allied to silence。 Right before

Robin's eyes was an uncovered cart。 There the torches blazed the

brightest; there the moon shone out like day; and there; in

tar…and…feathery dignity; sat his kinsman; Major Molineux!



He was an elderly man; of large and majestic person; and strong;

square features; betokening a steady soul; but steady as it was;

his enemies had found means to shake it。 His face was pale as

death; and far more ghastly; the broad forehead was contracted in

his agony; so that his eyebrows formed one grizzled line; his

eyes were red and wild; and the foam hung white upon his

quivering lip。 His whole frame was agitated by a quick and

continual tremor; which his pride strove to quell; even in those

circumstances of overwhelming humiliation。 But perhaps the

bitterest pang of all was when his eyes met those of Robin; for

he evidently knew him on the instant; as the youth stood

witnessing the foul disgrace of a head grown gray in honor。 They

stared at each other in silence; and Robin's knees shook; and his

hair bristled; with a mixture of pity and terror。 Soon; however;

a bewildering excitement began to seize upon his mind; the

preceding adventures of the night; the unexpected appearance of

the crowd; the torches; the confused din and the hush that

followed; the spectre of his kinsman reviled by that great

multitude;all this; and; more than all; a perception of

tremendous ridicule in the whole scene; affected him with a sort

of mental inebriety。 At that moment a voice of sluggish merriment

saluted Robin's ears; he turned instinctively; and just behind

the corner of the church stood the lantern…bearer; rubbing his

eyes; and drowsily enjoying the lad's amazement。 Then he heard a

peal of laughter like the ringing of silvery bells; a woman

twitched his arm; a saucy eye met his; and he saw the lady of the

scarlet petticoat。 A sharp; dry cachinnation appealed to his

memory; and; standing on tiptoe in the crowd; with his white

apron over his head; he beheld the courteous little innkeeper。

And lastly; there sailed over the heads of the multitude a great;

broad laugh; broken in the midst by two sepulchral hems; thus;

〃Haw; haw; haw;hem; hem;haw; haw; haw; haw!〃



The sound proceeded from the balcony of the opposite edifice; and

thither Robin turned his eyes。 In front of the Gothic window

stood the old citizen; wrapped in a wide gown; his gray periwig

exchanged for a nightcap; which was thrust back from his

forehead; and his silk stockings hanging about his legs。 He

supported himself on his polished cane in a fit of convulsive

merriment; which manifested itself on his solemn old features

like a funny inscription on a tombstone。 Then Robin seemed to

hear the voices of the barbers; of the guests of the inn; and of

all who had made sport of him that night。 The contagion was

spreading among the multitude; when all at once; it seized upon

Robin; and he sent forth a shout of laughter that echoed through

the street;every man shook his sides; every man emptied his

lungs; but Robin's shout was the loudest there。 The cloud…spirits

peeped from their silvery islands; as the congregated mirth went

roaring up the sky! The Man in the Moon heard the far bellow。

〃Oho;〃 quoth he; 〃the old earth is frolicsome to…night!〃



When there was a momentary calm in that tempestuous sea of sound;

the leader gave the sign; the procession resumed its march。 On

they went; like fiends that throng in mockery around some dead

potentate; mighty no more; but majestic still in his agony。 On

they went; in counterfeited pomp; in senseless uproar; in

frenzied merriment; trampling all on an old man's heart。 On swept

the tumult; and left a silent street behind。



       。    。    。    。    。    。    。    。    。    。    。



〃Well; Robin; are you dreaming?〃 inquired the gentleman; laying

his hand on the youth's shoulder。



Robin started; and withdrew his arm from the stone post to which

he had instinctively clung; as the living stream rolled by him。

His cheek was somewhat pale; and his eye not quite as lively as

in the earlier part of the evening。



〃Will you be kind enough to show me the way to the ferry?〃 said

he; after a moment's pause。



〃You have; then; adopted a new subject of inquiry?〃 observed his

companion; with a smile。



〃Why; yes; sir;〃 replied Robin; rather dryly。 〃Thanks to you; and

to my other friends; I have at last met my kinsman; and he will

scarce desire to see my face again。 I begin to grow weary of a

town life; sir。 Will you show me the way to the ferry?〃



〃No; my good friend Robin;not to…night; at least;〃 said the

gentleman。 〃Some few days hence; if you

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