to have and to hold-第14章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Hell　and　furies！〃　ejaculated　my　lord。　〃Do　you　know　who　I　am；　sir？〃

〃Ay；〃　replied　the　Governor　sturdily；　〃I　do　know。　It　is　because　of　that　knowledge；　my　Lord　Carnal；　that　I　interfere　in　this　affair。　Were　you　other　than　you　are；　you　and　this　gentleman　might　fight　until　doomsday；　and　meet　with　no　hindrance　from　me。　Being　　what　you　are；　I　will　prevent　any　renewal　of　this　duel；　by　fair　means　if　I　may；　by　foul　if　I　must。〃

He　left　my　lord；　and　came　over　to　me。　〃Since　when　have　you　been　upon　my　Lord　Warwick's　side；　Ralph　Percy？〃　he　demanded；　lowering　his　voice。

〃I　am　not　so；〃　I　said。

〃Then　appearances　are　mightily　deceitful；〃　he　retorted。

〃I　know　what　you　mean；　Sir　George；〃　I　answered。　〃I　know　that　if　the　King's　darling　should　meet　death　or　maiming　in　this　fashion；　upon　Virginian　soil；　the　Company；　already　so　out　of　favor；　might　find　some　difficulty　in　explaining　things　to　his　Majesty's　satisfaction。　But　I　think　my　Lord　Southampton　and　Sir　Edwyn　Sandys　and　Sir　George　Yeardley　equal　to　the　task；　especially　if　they　are　able　to　deliver　to　his　Majesty　the　man　whom　his　Majesty　will　doubtless　consider　the　true　and　only　rebel　and　murderer。　Let　us　fight　it　out；　sir。　You　can　all　retire　to　a　distance　and　remain　in　profound　ignorance　of　any　such　affair。　If　I　fall；　you　have　nothing　to　fear。　If　he　falls；　…　why；　I　shall　not　run　away；　and　the　Due　Return　sails　to…morrow。〃

He　eyed　me　closely　from　under　frowning　brows。

〃And　when　your　wife's　a　widow；　what　then？〃　he　asked　abruptly。

I　have　not　known　many　better　men　than　this　simple；　straightforward；　soldierly　Governor。　The　manliness　of　his　character　begot　trust；　invited　confidence。　Men　told　him　of　their　hidden　troubles　almost　against　their　will；　and　afterward　felt　neither　shame　nor　fear；　knowing　the　simplicity　of　his　thoughts　and　the　reticence　of　his　speech。　I　looked　him　in　the　eyes；　and　let　him　read　what　I　would　have　shown　to　no　other；　and　felt　no　　shame。　〃The　Lord　may　raise　her　up　a　helper；〃　I　said。　〃At　least　she　won't　have　to　marry　him。〃

He　turned　on　his　heel　and　moved　back　to　his　former　station　between　us　two。　〃My　Lord　Carnal；〃　he　said；　〃and　you；　Captain　Percy；　heed　what　I　say；　for　what　I　say　I　will　do。　You　may　take　your　choice：　either　you　will　sheathe　your　swords　here　in　my　presence；　giving　me　your　word　of　honor　that　you　will　not　draw　them　upon　each　other　before　his　Majesty　shall　have　made　known　his　will　in　this　matter　to　the　Company；　and　the　Company　shall　have　transmitted　it　to　me；　in　token　of　which　truce　between　you　you　shall　touch　each　other's　hands；　or　you　will　pass　the　time　between　this　and　the　return　of　the　ship　with　the　King's　and　the　Company's　will　in　strict　confinement；　…　you；　Captain　Percy；　in　gaol；　and　you；　my　Lord　Carnal；　in　my　own　poor　house；　where　I　will　use　my　best　endeavors　to　make　the　days　pass　as　pleasantly　as　possible　for　your　lordship。　I　have　spoken；　gentlemen。〃

There　was　no　protest。　For　my　own　part；　I　knew　Yeardley　too　well　to　attempt　any；　moreover；　had　I　been　in　his　place；　his　course　should　have　been　mine。　For　my　Lord　Carnal；　…　what　black　thoughts　visited　that　fierce　and　sullen　brain　I　know　not；　but　there　was　acquiescence　in　his　face；　haughty；　dark；　and　vengeful　though　it　was。　Slowly　and　as　with　one　motion　we　sheathed　our　swords；　and　more　slowly　still　repeated　the　few　words　after　the　Governor。　His　Honor's　countenance　shone　with　relief。　〃Take　each　other　by　the　hand；　gentlemen；　and　then　let　's　all　to　breakfast　at　my　own　house；　where　there　shall　be　no　feud　save　with　good　capon　pasty　and　jolly　good　ale。〃　In　dead　silence　my　lord　and　I　touched　each　other's　finger　tips。

The　world　was　now　a　flood　of　sunshine；　the　mist　on　　the　river　vanishing；　the　birds　singing；　the　trees　waving　in　the　pleasant　morning　air。　From　the　town　came　the　roll　of　the　drum　summoning　all　to　the　week…day　service。　The　bells　too　began　to　ring；　sounding　sweetly　through　the　clear　air。　The　Governor　took　off　his　hat。　〃Let's　all　to　church；　gentlemen；〃　he　said　gravely。　〃Our　cheeks　are　flushed　as　with　a　fever　and　our　pulses　run　high　this　morning。　There　be　some　among　us；　perhaps；　that　have　in　their　hearts　discontent；　anger；　and　hatred。　I　know　no　better　place　to　take　such　passions；　provided　we　bring　them　not　forth　again。〃

We　went　in　and　sat　down。　Jeremy　Sparrow　was　in　the　pulpit。　Singly　or　in　groups　the　town　folk　entered。　Down　the　aisle　strode　bearded　men；　old　soldiers；　adventurers；　sailors；　scarred　body　and　soul；　young　men　followed；　younger　sons　and　younger　brothers；　prodigals　whose　portion　had　been　spent；　whose　souls　now　ate　of　the　husks；　to　the　servants'　benches　came　dull　laborers；　dimly　comprehending；　groping　in　the　twilight；　women　entered　softly　and　slowly；　some　with　children　clinging　to　their　skirts。　One　came　alone　and　knelt　alone；　her　face　shadowed　by　her　mantle。　Amongst　the　servants　stood　a　slave　or　two；　blindly　staring；　and　behind　them　all　one　of　that　felon　crew　sent　us　by　the　King。

Through　the　open　windows　streamed　the　summer　sunshine；　soft　and　fragrant；　impartial　and　unquestioning；　caressing　alike　the　uplifted　face　of　the　minister；　the　head　of　the　convict；　and　all　between。　The　minister's　voice　was　grave　and　tender　when　he　read　and　prayed；　but　in　the　hymn　it　rose　above　the　people's　like　the　voice　of　some　mighty　archangel。　That　triumphant　singing　shook　the　air；　and　still　rang　in　the　heart　while　we　said　the　Creed。

When　the　service　was　over；　the　congregation　waited　for　the　Governor　to　pass　out　first。　At　the　door　he　pressed　me　to　go　with　him　and　his　party　to　his　own　house；　and　I　gave　him　thanks；　but　made　excuse　to　stay　away。　When　he　and　the　nobleman　who　was　his　guest　had　left　the　churchyard；　and　the　townspeople　too　were　gone；　I　and　my　wife　and　the　minister　walked　home　together　through　the　dewy　meadow；　with　the　splendor　of　the　morning　about　us；　and　the　birds　caroling　from　every　tree　and　thicket。



CHAPTER　XI　IN　WHICH　I　MEET　AN　ITALIAN　DOCTOR


THE　summer　slipped　away；　and　autumn　came；　with　the　purple　of　the　grape　and　the　yellowing　corn；　the　nuts　within　the　forest；　and　the　return　of　the　countless　wild　fowl　to　the　marshes　and　reedy　river　banks；　and　still　I　stayed　in　Jamestown；　and　my　wife　with　me；　and　still　the　Santa　Teresa　rode　at　anchor　in　the　river　below　the　fort。　If　the　man　whom　she　brought　knew　that　by　tarrying　in　Virginia　he　risked　his　ruin　with　the　King；　yet；　with　a　courage　worthy　of　a　better　cause；　he　tarried。

Now　and　then　ships　came　in；　but　they　were　small；　belated　craft。　The　most　had　left　England　before　the　sailing　of　the　Santa　Teresa；　the　rest；　private　ventures；　trading　for　clapboard　or　sassafras；　knew　nothing　of　court　affairs。　Only　the　Sea　Flower；　sailing　from　London　a　fortnight　after　the　Santa　Teresa；　and　much　delayed　by　adverse　winds；　brought　a　letter　from　the　deputy　treasurer　to　Yeardley　and　the　Council。　From　Rolfe　I　learned　its　contents。　It　spoke　of　the　stir　that　was　made　by　the　departure　from　the　realm　of　the　King's　favorite。　〃None　know　where　he　hath　gone。　The　King　looks　dour；　't　is　hinted　that　the　privy　council　are　as　much　at　sea　as　the　rest　of　the　world；　my　Lord　of　Buckingham　saith　nothing；　but　his　following　…　which　of　late　hath　somewhat　decayed　…　is　so　increased　that　his　antechambers　cannot　hold　the　throngs　　that　come　to　wait　upon　him。　Some　will　have　it　that　my　Lord　Carnal　hath　fled　the　kingdom　to　escape　the　Tower；　others；　that　the　King　hath　sent　him　on　a　mission　to　the　King　of　Spain　about　this　detested　Spanish　match；　others；　that　the　gadfly　hath　stung　him　and　he　is　gone　to　America；　…　to　search　for　Raleigh's　gold　mine；　maybe。　This　last　most　improbable；　but　if　't　is　so；　and　he　should　touch　at　Virginia；　receive　him　with　all　honor。　If　indeed　he　is　not　out　of　favor；　the　Company　may　find　in　him　a　powerful　friend；　of　powerful　enemies；　God　knows；　there　is　no　lack！〃

Thus　the　worthy　Master　Ferrar。　And　at　the　bottom　of　the　letter；　among　other　news　of　city　and　court；　mention　was　made　of　the　disappearance　of　a　ward　of　the　King's；　the　Lady　Jocelyn　Leigh。　Strict　search　had　been　made；　but　the　unfortunate　lady　had　not　been　found。　〃　'T　is　whispered　that　she　hath　killed　herself；　also；　that　his　Majesty　had　meant　to　give　her　in　marriage　to　my　Lord　Carnal。　But　that　all　true　love　and　virtue　and　constancy　have　gone　from　the　age；　one　might　conceive　that　the　said　lord　had　but　fled　the　court　for　a　while；　to　indulge　his　grief　in　some　solitude　of　hill　and　stream　and　shady　vale；　…　the　lost　lady　being　right　worthy　of　such　dole。〃

In　sooth　she　was；　but　my　lord　was　not　given　to　such　fashion　of　mourning。

The　summer　passed；　and　I　did　nothing。　What　was　there　I　could　do？　I　had　written　by　the　Due　Return　to　Sir　Edwyn；　and　to　my　cousin；　the　Earl　of　Northumberland。　The　King　hated　Sir　Edwyn　as　he　hated　tobacco　and　witchcraft。　〃Choose　the　devil；　but　not　Sir　Edwyn　Sandys！〃　had　been　his　passionate　words　to　the　Company　the　year　before。　A　certain　fifth　of　November　had　despoiled　my　Lord　of　Northumberland　　of　wealth；　fame；　and　influence。　Small　hope　there　was　in　those　two。　That　the　Governor　and　Council；　remembering　old　dangers　shared；　wished　me　well　I　did　not　doubt；　but　that　was　all。　Yeardley　had　done　all　he　could　do；　more　than　most　men　would　have　dared　to　do；　in　procuring　this　delay。　There　was　no　further　help　in　him；　nor　would　I　have　asked　it。　Already　out　of　favor　with　the　Warwick　faction；　he　had　risked　enough　for　me　and　mine。　I　could　not　flee　with　my　wife　to　the　Indians；　exposing　her；　perhaps；　to　a　death　by　fierce　tortures；　moreover；　Opechancanough　had　of　late　strangely　taken　to　returning　to　the　settlements　those　runaway　servants　and　fugitives　from　justice　which　before　we　had　demanded　from　him　in　vain。　If　even　it　had　been　possible　to　run　the　gauntlet　of　the　Indian　villages；　war　parties；　and　hunting　bands；　what　would　have　been　before　us　but　endless　forest　and　a　winter　which　for　us　would　have　had　no　spring？　I　could　not　see　her　die　of　hunger　and　cold；　or　by　the　teeth　of　the　wolves。　I　could　not　do　what　I　should　have　liked　to　do；　…　take；　single…handed；　that　King's　ship　with　its　sturdy　crew　and　sail　with　her　south　and　ever　southwards；　before　us　nothing　more　formidable　than　Spanish　ships；　and　beyond　them　blue　waters；　spice　winds；　new　lands；　strange　islands　of　the　blest。

There　seemed　naught　that　I　could　do；　naught　that　she　could　do。　Our　Fate　had　us　by　the　hands；　and　held　us　fast。　We　stood　still；　and　the　days　came　and　went　like　dreams。

While　the　Assembly　was　in　session　I　had　my　part　to　act　as　Burgess　from　my　hundred。　Each　day　I　sat　with　my　fellows　in　the　church；　facing　the　Governor　in　his　great　velvet　chair；　the　Council　on　either　　hand；　and　listened　to　the　droning　of　old　Twine；　the　clerk；　like　the　droning　of　the　bees　without　the　window；　to　the　chant　of　the　sergeant…at…arms；　to　long　and　windy　discourses　from　men　who　planted　better　than　they　spoke；　to　remarks　by　the　Secretary；　witty；　crammed　with　Latin　and　traveled　talk；　to　the　Governor's　slow；　weighty　words。　At　Weyanoke　we　had　had　trouble　with　the　Indians。　I　was　one　who　loved　them　not　and　had　fought　them　well；　for　which　reason　the　hundred　chose　me　its　representative。　In　the　Assembly　it　was　my　part　to　urge　a　greater　severity　toward　those　our　natural　enemies；　a　greater　watchfulness　on　our　part；　the　need　for　palisades　and　sentinels；　the　danger　that　lay　in　their　acquisition　of　firearms；　which；　in　defiance　of　the　law；　men　gave　them　in　exchange　for　worthless　Indian　c