westward ho- 第132部分

〃Could　we　not　borrow　powder　from　Drake　there？〃

〃Look　at　the　sea；　sir！〃

And；　indeed；　the　sea　was　far　too　rough　for　any　such　attempt。　　The　Spaniards　neared　and　neared　the　fatal　dunes；　which　fringed　the　shore　for　many　a　dreary　mile；　and　Amyas　had　to　wait　weary　hours；　growling　like　a　dog　who　has　had　the　bone　snatched　out　of　his　mouth；　till　the　day　wore　on；　when；　behold；　the　wind　began　to　fall　as　rapidly　as　it　had　risen。　　A　savage　joy　rose　in　Amyas's　heart。

〃They　are　safe！　safe　for　us！　　Who　will　go　and　beg　us　powder？　　A　cartridge　here　and　a　cartridge　there？anything　to　set　to　work　again！〃

Cary　volunteered；　and　returned　in　a　couple　of　hours　with　some　quantity：　but　he　was　on　board　again　only　just　in　time；　for　the　south…wester　had　recovered　the　mastery　of　the　skies；　and　Spaniards　and　English　were　moving　away；　but　this　time　northward。　　Whither　now？　　To　Scotland？　　Amyas　knew　not；　and　cared　not；　provided　he　was　in　the　company　of　Don　Guzman　de　Soto。

The　Armada　was　defeated；　and　England　saved。　　But　such　great　undertakings　seldom　end　in　one　grand　melodramatic　explosion　of　fireworks；　through　which　the　devil　arises　in　full　roar　to　drag　Dr。　Faustus　forever　into　the　flaming　pit。　　On　the　contrary；　the　devil　stands　by　his　servants　to　the　last；　and　tries　to　bring　off　his　shattered　forces　with　drums　beating　and　colors　flying；　and；　if　possible；　to　lull　his　enemies　into　supposing　that　the　fight　is　ended；　long　before　it　really　is　half　over。　　All　which　the　good　Lord　Howard　of　Effingham　knew　well；　and　knew；　too；　that　Medina　had　one　last　card　to　play；　and　that　was　the　filial　affection　of　that　dutiful　and　chivalrous　son；　James　of　Scotland。　　True；　he　had　promised　faith　to　Elizabeth：　but　that　was　no　reason　why　he　should　keep　it。　　He　had　been　hankering　and　dabbling　after　Spain　for　years　past；　for　its　absolution　was　dear　to　his　inmost　soul；　and　Queen　Elizabeth　had　had　to　warn　him；　scold　him；　call　him　a　liar；　for　so　doing；　so　the　Armada　might　still　find　shelter　and　provision　in　the　Firth　of　Forth。　　But　whether　Lord　Howard　knew　or　not；　Medina　did　not　know；　that　Elizabeth　had　played　her　card　cunningly；　in　the　shape　of　one　of　those　appeals　to　the　purse；　which；　to　James's　dying　day；　overweighed　all　others　save　appeals　to　his　vanity。　　〃The　title　of　a　dukedom　in　England；　a　yearly　pension　of　5000　pounds；　a　guard　at　the　queen's　charge；　and　other　matters〃　（probably　more　hounds　and　deer）；　had　steeled　the　heart　of　the　King　of　Scots；　and　sealed　the　Firth　of　Forth。　　Nevertheless；　as　I　say；　Lord　Howard；　like　the　rest　of　Elizabeth's　heroes；　trusted　James　just　as　much　as　James　trusted　others；　and　therefore　thought　good　to　escort　the　Armada　until　it　was　safely　past　the　domains　of　that　most　chivalrous　and　truthful　Solomon。　　But　on　the　4th　of　August；　his　fears；　such　as　they　were；　were　laid　to　rest。　　The　Spaniards　left　the　Scottish　coast　and　sailed　away　for　Norway；　and　the　game　was　played　out；　and　the　end　was　come；　as　the　end　of　such　matters　generally　comes；　by　gradual　decay；　petty　disaster；　and　mistake；　till　the　snow…mountain；　instead　of　being　blown　tragically　and　heroically　to　atoms；　melts　helplessly　and　pitiably　away。



CHAPTER　XXXII

HOW　AMYAS　THREW　HIS　SWORD　INTO　THE　SEA


〃Full　fathom　deep　thy　father　lies；　　　　Of　his　bones　are　corals　made；　Those　are　pearls　which　were　his　eyes；　　　　Nothing　of　him　that　doth　fade；　But　doth　suffer　a　sea…change　　　　Into　something　rich　and　strange；　Fairies　hourly　ring　his　knell；　Hark！　I　hear　them。　　Ding　dong　bell。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Tempest。


Yes；　it　is　over；　and　the　great　Armada　is　vanquished。　　It　is　lulled　for　awhile；　the　everlasting　war　which　is　in　heaven；　the　battle　of　Iran　and　Turan；　of　the　children　of　light　and　of　darkness；　of　Michael　and　his　angels　against　Satan　and　his　fiends；　the　battle　which　slowly　and　seldom；　once　in　the　course　of　many　centuries；　culminates　and　ripens　into　a　day　of　judgment；　and　becomes　palpable　and　incarnate；　no　longer　a　mere　spiritual　fight；　but　one　of　flesh　and　blood；　wherein　simple　men　may　choose　their　sides　without　mistake；　and　help　God's　cause　not　merely　with　prayer　and　pen；　but　with　sharp　shot　and　cold　steel。　　A　day　of　judgment　has　come；　which　has　divided　the　light　from　the　darkness；　and　the　sheep　from　the　goats；　and　tried　each　man's　work　by　the　fire；　and；　behold；　the　devil's　work；　like　its　maker；　is　proved　to　have　been；　as　always；　a　lie　and　a　sham；　and　a　windy　boast；　a　bladder　which　collapses　at　the　merest　pinprick。　　Byzantine　empires；　Spanish　Armadas；　triple…　crowned　papacies；　Russian　despotisms；　this　is　the　way　of　them；　and　will　be　to　the　end　of　the　world。　　One　brave　blow　at　the　big　bullying　phantom；　and　it　vanishes　in　sulphur…stench；　while　the　children　of　Israel；　as　of　old；　see　the　Egyptians　dead　on　the　sea…　shore；they　scarce　know　how；　save　that　God　has　done　it；　and　sing　the　song　of　Moses　and　of　the　Lamb。

And　now；　from　England　and　the　Netherlands；　from　Germany　and　Geneva；　and　those　poor　Vaudois　shepherd…saints；　whose　bones　for　generations　past


　　　　　〃Lie　scattered　on　the　Alpine　mountains　cold；〃


to　be；　indeed；　the　seed　of　the　Church；　and　a　germ　of　new　life；　liberty；　and　civilization；　even　in　these　very　days　returning　good　for　evil　to　that　Piedmont　which　has　hunted　them　down　like　the　partridges　on　the　mountains；from　all　of　Europe；　from　all　of　mankind；　I　had　almost　said；　in　which　lay　the　seed　of　future　virtue　and　greatness；　of　the　destinies　of　the　new…discovered　world；　and　the　triumphs　of　the　coming　age　of　science；　arose　a　shout　of　holy　joy；　such　as　the　world　had　not　heard　for　many　a　weary　and　bloody　century；　a　shout　which　was　the　prophetic　birth…paean　of　North　America；　Australia；　New　Zealand；　the　Pacific　Islands；　of　free　commerce　and　free　colonization　over　the　whole　earth。

〃There　was　in　England；　by　the　commandment　of　her　majesty；〃　says　Van　Meteran；　〃and　likewise　in　the　United　Provinces；　by　the　direction　of　the　States；　a　solemn　festival　day　publicly　appointed；　wherein　all　persons　were　solemnly　enjoined　to　resort　unto　ye　Church；　and　there　to　render　thanks　and　praises　unto　God；　and　ye　preachers　were　commanded　to　exhort　ye　people　thereunto。　　The　aforesaid　solemnity　was　observed　upon　the　29th　of　November：　which　day　was　wholly　spent　in　fasting；　prayer；　and　giving　of　thanks。

〃Likewise　the　Queen's　Majesty　herself；　imitating　ye　ancient　Romans；　rode　into　London　in　triumph；　in　regard　of　her　own　and　her　subjects'　glorious　deliverance。　　For　being　attended　upon　very　solemnly　by　all　ye　principal　Estates　and　officers　of　her　Realm；　she　was　carried　through　her　said　City　of　London　in　a　triumphant　Chariot；　and　in　robes　of　triumph；　from　her　Palace　unto　ye　said　Cathedral　Church　of　St。　Paul；　out　of　ye　which　ye　Ensigns　and　Colours　of　ye　vanquished　Spaniards　hung　displayed。　　And　all　ye　Citizens　of　London；　in　their　liveries；　stood　on　either　side　ye　street；　by　their　several　Companies；　with　their　ensigns　and　banners；　and　the　streets　were　hanged　on　both　sides　with　blue　Cloth；　which；　together　with　ye　foresaid　banners；　yielded　a　very　stately　and　gallant　prospect。　　Her　Majestie　being　entered　into　ye　Church　together　with　her　Clergy　and　Nobles；　gave　thanks　unto　God；　and　caused　a　public　Sermon　to　be　preached　before　her　at　Paul's　Cross；　wherein　none　other　argument　was　handled；　but　that　praise；　honour；　and　glory　might　be　rendered　unto　God；　and　that　God's　Name　might　be　extolled　by　thanksgiving。　And　with　her　own　princely　voice　she　most　Christianly　exhorted　ye　people　to　do　ye　same；　whereunto　ye　people；　with　a　loud　acclamation；　wished　her　a　most　long　and　happy　life　to　ye　confusion　of　her　foes。〃

Yes；　as　the　medals　struck　on　the　occasion　said；　〃It　came；　it　saw；　and　it　fled！〃　　And　whither？　　Away　and　northward；　like　a　herd　of　frightened　deer；　past　the　Orkneys　and　Shetlands；　catching　up　a　few　hapless　fishermen　as　guides；　past　the　coast　of　Norway；　there；　too；　refused　water　and　food　by　the　brave　descendants　of　the　Vikings；　and　on　northward　ever　towards　the　lonely　Faroes；　and　the　everlasting　dawn　which　heralds　round　the　Pole　the　midnight　sun。

Their　water　is　failing；　the　cattle　must　go　overboard；　and　the　wild　northern　sea　echoes　to　the　shrieks　of　drowning　horses。　　They　must　homeward　at　least；　somehow；　each　as　best　he　can。　　Let　them　meet　again　at　Cape　Finisterre；　if　indeed　they　ever　meet。　　Medina　Sidonia；　with　some　five…and　twenty　of　the　soundest　and　best　victualled　ships；　will　lead　the　way；　and　leave　the　rest　to　their　fate。　　He　is　soon　out　of　sight；　and　forty　more；　the　only　remnant　of　that　mighty　host；　come　wandering　wearily　behind；　hoping　to　make　the　south…west　coast　of　Ireland；　and　have　help；　or；　at　least；　fresh　water　there；　from　their　fellow　Romanists。　　Alas　for　them！


　　　　　〃Make　Thou　their　way　dark　and　slippery；　　　　　　　And　follow　them　up　ever　with　Thy　storm。〃


For　now　comes　up　from　the　Atlantic；　gale　on　gale；　and　few　of　that　hapless　remnant　reached　the　shores　of　Spain。

And　where　are　Amyas　and　the　Vengeance　all　this　while？

At　the　fifty…seventh　degree　of　latitude；　the　English　fleet；　finding　themselves　growing　short　of　provision；　and　having　been　long　since　out　of　powder　and　ball；　turn　southward　toward　home；　〃thinking　it　best　to　leave　the　Spaniard　to　those　uncouth　and　boisterous　northern　seas。〃　　A　few　pinnaces　are　still　sent　onward　to　watch　their　course：　and　the　English　fleet；　caught　in　the　same　storms　which　scattered　the　Spaniards；　〃with　great　danger　and　industry　reached　Harwich　port；　and　there　provide　themselves　of　victuals　and　ammunition；〃　in　case　the　Spaniards　should　return；　but　there　is　no　need　for　that　caution。　　Parma；　indeed；　who　cannot　believe　that　the　idol　at　Halle；　after　all　his　compliments　to　it；　will　play　him　so　scurvy　a　trick；　will　watch　for　weeks　on　Dunkirk　dunes；　hoping　against　hope　for　the　Armada's　return；　casting　anchors；　and　spinning　rigging　to　repair　their　losses。


　　　　　〃But　lang；　lang　may　his　ladies　sit；　　　　　　　　　With　their　fans　intill　their　hand；　　　　　　　Before　they　see　Sir　Patrick　Spens　　　　　　　　　Come　sailing　to　the　land。〃


The　Armada　is　away　on　the　other　side　of　Scotland；　and　Amyas　is　following　in　its　wake。

For　when　the　lord　high　admiral　determined　to　return；　Amyas　asked　leave　to　follow　the　Spaniard；　and　asked；　too；　of　Sir　John　Hawkins；　who　happened　to　be　at　hand；　such　ammunition　and　provision　as　could　be　afforded　him；　promising　to　repay　the　same　like　an　honest　man；　out　o