to have and to hold-第20章

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〃You　told　her　nothing　more？〃

〃No。〃

〃May　I　ask　why？〃

He　threw　back　his　head。　〃I　did　not　believe　the　Paspaheghs　would　trouble　her；〃　he　answered；　with　　hardihood；　〃and　you　had　n't　seen　fit；　sir；　to　tell　me　of　the　other　danger。　Madam　wanted　to　go；　and　I　thought　it　a　pity　that　she　should　lose　her　pleasure　for　nothing。〃

I　had　been　hunting　the　day　before；　and　my　whip　yet　lay　upon　the　table。　〃I　have　known　you　for　a　hardy　rogue；〃　I　said；　with　my　hand　upon　it；　〃now　I　know　you　for　a　faithless　one　as　well。　If　I　gave　you　credit　for　all　the　vices　of　the　soldier；　I　gave　you　credit　also　for　his　virtues。　I　was　the　more　deceived。　The　disobedient　servant　I　might　pardon；　but　the　soldier　who　is　faithless　to　his　trust〃　…

I　raised　the　whip　and　brought　it　down　again　and　again　across　his　shoulders。　He　stood　without　a　word；　his　face　dark　red　and　his　hands　clenched　at　his　sides。　For　a　minute　or　more　there　was　no　sound　in　the　room　save　the　sound　of　the　blows；　then　my　wife　suddenly　cried　out：　〃It　is　enough！　You　have　beaten　him　enough！　Let　him　go；　sir！〃

I　threw　down　the　whip。　〃Begone；　sirrah！〃　I　ordered。　〃And　keep　out　of　my　sight　to…morrow！〃

With　his　face　still　dark　red　and　with　a　pulse　beating　fiercely　in　his　cheek；　he　moved　slowly　toward　the　door；　turned　when　he　had　reached　it　and　saluted；　then　went　out　and　closed　it　after　him。

〃Now　he　too　will　be　your　enemy；〃　said　Mistress　Percy；　〃and　all　through　me。　I　have　brought　you　many　enemies；　have　I　not？　Perhaps　you　count　me　amongst　them？　I　should　not　wonder　if　you　did。　Do　you　not　wish　me　gone　from　Virginia？〃

〃So　I　were　with　you；　madam；〃　I　said　bluntly；　and　went　to　call　the　minister　down　to　supper。



CHAPTER　XVI　　IN　WHICH　I　AM　RID　OF　AN　UNPROFITABLE　SERVANT


THE　next　day；　Governor　and　Councilors　sat　to　receive　presents　from　the　Paspaheghs　and　to　listen　to　long　and　affectionate　messages　from　Opechancanough；　who；　like　the　player　queen；　did　protest　too　much。　The　Council　met　at　Yeardley's　house；　and　I　was　called　before　it　to　make　my　report　of　the　expedition　of　the　day　before。　It　was　late　afternoon　when　the　Governor　dismissed　us；　and　I　found　myself　leaving　the　house　in　company　with　Master　Pory。

〃I　am　bound　for　my　lord's；〃　said　that　worthy　as　we　neared　the　guest　house。　〃My　lord　hath　Xeres　wine　that　is　the　very　original　nectar　of　the　gods；　and　he　drinks　it　from　goblets　worth　a　king's　ransom。　We　have　heard　a　deal　to…day　about　burying　hatchets：　bury　thine　for　the　nonce；　Ralph　Percy；　and　come　drink　with　us。〃

〃Not　I；〃　I　said。　〃I　would　sooner　drink　with　…　some　one　else。〃

He　laughed。　〃Here's　my　lord　himself　shall　persuade　you。〃

My　lord；　dressed　with　his　usual　magnificence　and　darkly　handsome　as　ever；　was　indeed　standing　within　the　guest…house　door。　Pory　drew　up　beside　him。　I　was　passing　on　with　a　slight　bow；　when　the　Secretary　caught　me　by　the　sleeve。　At　the　Governor's　house　wine　had　been　set　forth　to　revive　the　jaded　Council；　　and　he　was　already　half　seas　over。　〃Tarry　with　us；　captain！〃　he　cried。　〃Good　wine's　good　wine；　no　matter　who　pours　it！　'S　bud！　in　my　young　days　men　called　a　truce　and　forgot　they　were　foes　when　the　bottle　went　round！〃

〃If　Captain　Percy　will　stay；〃　quoth　my　lord；　〃I　will　give　him　welcome　and　good　wine。　As　Master　Pory　says；　men　cannot　be　always　fighting。　A　breathing　spell　to…day　gives　to…morrow's　struggle　new　zest。〃

He　spoke　frankly；　with　open　face　and　candid　eyes。　I　was　not　fooled。　If　yesterday　he　would　have　slain　me　only　in　fair　fight；　it　was　not　so　to…day。　Under　the　lace　that　fell　over　his　wrist　was　a　red　cirque；　the　mark　of　the　thong　with　which　I　had　bound　him。　As　if　he　had　told　me；　I　knew　that　he　had　thrown　his　scruples　to　the　winds；　and　that　he　cared　not　what　foul　play　he　used　to　sweep　me　from　his　path。　My　spirit　and　my　wit　rose　to　meet　the　danger。　Of　a　sudden　I　resolved　to　accept　his　invitation。

〃So　be　it；〃　I　said；　with　a　laugh　and　a　shrug　of　my　shoulders。　〃A　cup　of　wine　is　no　great　matter。　I'll　take　it　at　your　hands；　my　lord；　and

drink　to　our　better　acquaintance。〃

We　all　three　went　up　into　my　lord's　room。　The　King　had　fitted　out　his　minion　bravely　for　the　Virginia　voyage；　and　the　riches　that　had　decked　the　state　cabin　aboard　the　Santa　Teresa　now　served　to　transform　the　bare　room　in　the　guest　house　at　Jamestown　into　a　corner　of　Whitehall。　The　walls　were　hung　with　arras；　there　was　a　noble　carpet　beneath　as　well　as　upon　the　table；　and　against　the　wall　stood　richly　carved　trunks。　On　the　table；　beside　a　bowl　of　late　flowers　were　a　great　silver　flagon　and　a　number　of　goblets；　some　of　chased　silver　and　some　of　colored　　glass；　strangely　shaped　and　fragile　as　an　eggshell。　The　late　sun　now　shining　in　at　the　open　window　made　the　glass　to　glow　like　precious　stones。

My　lord　rang　a　little　silver　bell；　and　a　door　behind　us　was　opened。　〃Wine；　Giles！〃　cried　my　lord　in　a　raised　voice。　〃Wine　for　Master　Pory；　Captain　Percy；　and　myself！　And　Giles；　my　two　choice　goblets。〃

Giles；　whom　I　had　never　seen　before；　advanced　to　the　table；　took　the　flagon；　and　went　toward　the　door；　which　he　had　shut　behind　him。　I　negligently　turned　in　my　seat；　and　so　came　in　for　a　glimpse；　as　he　slipped　through　the　door；　of　a　figure　in　black　in　the　next　room。

The　wine　was　brought；　and　with　it　two　goblets。　My　lord　broke　off　in　the　midst　of　an　account　of　the　morning's　bear…baiting　which　the　tediousness　of　the　Indians　had　caused　us　to　miss。　〃Who　knows　if　we　three　shall　ever　drink　together　again？〃　he　said。　〃To　honor　this　bout　I　use　my　most　precious　cups。〃　Voice　and　manner　were　free　and　unconstrained。　〃This　gold　cup　〃　…　he　held　it　up　…　〃belonged　to　the　Medici。　Master　Pory；　who　is　a　man　of　taste；　will　note　the　beauty　of　the　graven　m‘nads　upon　this　side；　and　of　the　Bacchus　and　Ariadne　upon　this。　It　is　the　work　of　none　other　than　Benvenuto　Cellini。　I　pour　for　you；　sir。〃　He　filled　the　gold　cup　with　the　ruby　wine　and　set　it　before　the　Secretary；　who　eyed　it　with　all　the　passion　of　a　lover；　and　waited　not　for　us；　but　raised　it　to　his　lips　at　once。　My　lord　took　up　the　other　cup。　〃This　glass；〃　he　continued；　〃as　green　as　an　emerald；　freckled　inside　and　out　with　gold；　and　shaped　like　a　lily；　was　once　amongst　a　convent's　treasures。　My　father　brought　it　from　Italy；　years　ago。　　I　use　it　as　he　used　it；　only　on　gala　days。　I　fill　to　you；　sir。〃　He　poured　the　wine　into　the　green　and　gold　and　twisted　bauble　and　set　it　before　me；　then　filled　a　silver　goblet　for　himself。　〃Drink；　gentlemen；〃　he　said。

〃Faith；　I　have　drunken　already；〃　quoth　the　Secretary；　and　proceeded　to　fill　for　himself　a　second　time。　〃Here's　to　you；　gentlemen！〃　and　he　emptied　half　the　measure。

〃Captain　Percy　does　not　drink；〃　remarked　my　lord。

I　leaned　my　elbow　upon　the　table；　and；　holding　up　the　glass　against　the　light；　began　to　admire　its　beauty。　〃The　tint　is　wonderful；〃　I　said；　〃as　lucent　a　green　as　the　top　of　the　comber　that　is　to　break　and　overwhelm　you。　And　these　knobs　of　gold；　within　and　without；　and　the　strange　shape　the　tortured　glass　has　been　made　to　take。　I　find　it　of　a　quite　sinister　beauty；　my　lord。〃

〃It　hath　been　much　admired；〃　said　the　nobleman　addressed。

〃I　am　strangely　suited；　my　lord；〃　I　went　on；　still　dreamily　enjoying　the　beauty　of　the　green　gem　within　my　clasp。　〃I　am　a　soldier　with　an　imagination。　Sometimes；　to　give　the　rein　to　my　fancy　pleases　me　more　than　wine。　Now；　this　strange　chalice；　…　might　it　not　breed　dreams　as　strange？〃

〃When　I　had　drunken；　I　think；〃　replied　my　lord。　〃The　wine　would　be　a　potent　spur　to　my　fancy。〃

〃What　saith　honest　Jack　Falstaff？〃　broke　in　the　maudlin　Secretary。　〃Doth　he　not　bear　testimony　that　good　sherris　maketh　the　brain　apprehensive　and　quick；　filleth　it　with　nimble；　fiery；　and　delectable　shapes；　which　being　delivered　by　the　tongue　become　　excellent　wit？　Wherefore　let　us　drink；　gentlemen；　and　beget　fancies。〃　He　filled　for　himself　again；　and　buried　his　nose　in　the　cup。

〃　'T　is　such　a　cup；　methinks；〃　I　said；　〃as　Medea　may　have　filled　for　Theseus。　The　white　hand　of　Circe　may　have　closed　around　this　stem　when　she　stood　to　greet　Ulysses；　and　knew　not　that　he　had　the　saving　herb　in　his　palm。　Goneril　may　have　sent　this　green　and　gilded　shape　to　Regan。　Fair　Rosamond　may　have　drunk　from　it　while　the　Queen　watched　her。　At　some　voluptuous　feast；　C‘sar　Borgia　and　his　sister；　sitting　crowned　with　roses；　side　by　side；　may　have　pressed　it　upon　a　reluctant　guest；　who　had；　perhaps；　a　treasure　of　his　own。　I　dare　swear　Ren？；　the　Florentine；　hath　fingered　many　such　a　goblet　before　it　went　to　whom　Catherine　de'　Medici　delighted　to　honor。〃

〃She　had　the　whitest　hands；〃　maundered　the　Secretary。　〃I　kissed　them　once　before　she　died；　in　Blois；　when　I　was　young。　Ren？　was　one　of　your　slow　poisoners。　Smell　a　rose；　draw　on　a　pair　of　perfumed　gloves；　drink　from　a　certain　cup；　and　you　rang　your　own　knell；　though　your　bier　might　not　receive　you　for　many　and　many　a　day；　…　not　till　the　rose　was　dust；　the　gloves　lost；　the　cup　forgotten。〃

〃There's　a　fashion　I　have　seen　followed　abroad；　that　I　like；〃　I　said。　〃Host　and　guest　fill　to　each　other；　then　change　tankards。　You　are　my　host　to…day；　my　lord；　and　I　am　your　guest。　I　will　drink　to　you；　my　lord；　from　your　silver　goblet。〃

With　as　frank　a　manner　as　his　own　of　a　while　before；　I　pushed　the　green　and　gold　glass　over　to　him；　and　held　out　my　hand　for　the　silver　goblet。　That　a　man　may　smile　and　smile　and　be　a　villain　is　no　new　doctrine。　My　lord's　laugh　and　gesture　of　courtesy　　were　as　free　and　ready　as　if　the　poisoned　splendor　he　drew　toward　him　had　been　as　innocent　as　a　pearl　within　the　shell。　I　took　the　silver　cup　from　before　him。　〃I　drink　to　the　King；〃　I　said；　and　drained　it　to　the　bottom。　〃Your　lordship　does　not　drink。　'T　is　a　toast　no　man　refuses。〃

He　raised　the　glass　to　his　lips；　but　set　it　down　before　its　rim　had　touched　them。　〃I　have　a　headache；〃　he　declared。　〃I　will　not　drink　to…day。〃

Master　Pory　pulled　the　flagon　toward　him；　tilted　it；　and　found　it　empty。　His　rueful　face　made　me　laugh。　My　lord　laughed　too；　…　somewhat　loudly；　…　but　ordered　no　more　wine。　〃I　would　I　were　at　the　Mermaid　again；〃　lamented　the　now　drunken　Secretary。　〃There　we　did　n't　split　a　flagon　in　three　parts。　。　。　。　The　Tsar　of　Muscovy　drinks　me　down　a　quartern　of　aqua　vit‘　at　a　gulp；　…　I've　seen　him　do　it。　。　。　。I　would　I　were　the　Bacchus　on　this　cup；　with　the　purple　grapes　adangle　above　me。　。　。　。　Wine　and　women　…　wine　and　women。　。　。　good　wine　needs　no　bush。　。　。　good　sherris　sack〃　。　。　。　His　voice　died　into　unintelligible　mutterings；　and　his　gray　unreverend　head　sank　upon　the　table。

I　rose；　leaving　him　to　his　drunken　slumbers；　and；　bowing　to　my　lord；　took　my　leave。　My　lord　followed　me　down　to　the　public　room　below。　A　party　of　upriver　planters　had　been　drinking；　and　a　bit　of　chalk　lay　upon　a　settle　behind　the　door　upon　which　the　landlord　had　marked　their　score。　I　passed　it；　then　turned　back　and　picked　it　up。　〃How　long　a　line　shall　I　draw；　my　lord？〃　I　asked　with　a　smile。

〃How　does　the　length　of　the　door　strike　you？〃　he　answered。

I　drew　the　chalk　from　top　to　bottom　of　the　wood。　　〃A　heavy　Core　makes　a　heavy　reckoning；　my　lord；〃　I　said；　and；　leaving　the　mark　upon　the　door；　I　bowed　again　and　went　out　into　the　street。

The　sun　was　sinking　when　I　reached　the　minister's　house；　and　going　into　the　great　room　drew　a　stool　to　the　table　and　sat　down　to　think。　Mistress　Percy　was　in　h