westward ho- 第41部分

〃Deus　eavesdropping；　then。　　We　shall　have　the　whole　story　over　the　town　by　to…morrow；〃　said　another；　beginning　at　that　thought　to　feel　somewhat　ashamed　of　his　late　enthusiasm。

〃Ah；　Mr。　Frank！　　You　were　always　the　only　one　that　would　stand　up　for　me！　　Deus　Venter；　quotha？　　'Twas　Deus　Cupid；　it　was！〃

A　roar　of　laughter　followed　this　announcement。

〃What？〃　asked　Frank；　〃was　it　Cupid；　then；　who　sneezed　approval　to　our　love；　Jack；　as　he　did　to　that　of　Dido　and　Aeneas？〃

But　Jack　went　on　desperately。

〃I　was　in　the　next　room；　drinking　of　my　beer。　　I　couldn't　help　that；　could　I？　　And　then　I　heard　her　name；　and　I　couldn't　help　listening　then。　　Flesh　and　blood　couldn't。〃

〃Nor　fat　either！〃

〃No；　nor　fat；　Mr。　Cary。　　Do　you　suppose　fat　men　haven't　souls　to　be　saved　as　well　as　thin　ones；　and　hearts　to　burst；　too；　as　well　as　stomachs？　　Fat！　　Fat　can　feel；　I　reckon；　as　well　as　lean。　　Do　you　suppose　there's　naught　inside　here　but　beer？〃

And　he　laid　his　hand；　as　Drayton　might　have　said；　on　that　stout　bastion；　hornwork；　ravelin；　or　demilune；　which　formed　the　outworks　to　the　citadel　of　his　purple　isle　of　man。

〃Naught　but　beer？Cheese；　I　suppose？〃

〃Bread？〃

〃Beef？〃

〃Love！〃　cried　Jack。　　〃Yes；　Love！Ay；　you　laugh；　but　my　eyes　are　not　so　grown　up　with　fat　but　what　I　can　see　what's　fair　as　well　as　you。〃

〃Oh；　Jack；　naughty　Jack；　dost　thou　heap　sin　on　sin；　and　luxury　on　gluttony？〃

〃Sin？　　If　I　sin；　you　sin：　I　tell　you；　and　I　don't　care　who　knows　it；　I've　loved　her　these　three　years　as　well　as　e'er　a　one　of　you；　I　have。　　I've　thought　o'　nothing　else；　prayed　for　nothing　else；　God　forgive　me！　　And　then　you　laugh　at　me；　because　I'm　a　poor　parson's　son；　and　you　fine　gentlemen：　God　made　us　both；　I　reckon。　　You？you　make　a　deal　of　giving　her　up　to…day。　　Why；　it's　what　I've　done　for　three　miserable　years　as　ever　poor　sinner　spent；　ay；　from　the　first　day　I　said　to　myself；　'Jack；　if　you　can't　have　that　pearl；　you'll　have　none；　and　that　you　can't　have；　for　it's　meat　for　your　masters：　so　conquer　or　die。'　　And　I　couldn't　conquer。　　I　can't　help　loving　her；　worshipping　her；　no　more　than　you；　and　I　will　die：　but　you　needn't　laugh　meanwhile　at　me　that　have　done　as　much　as　you；　and　will　do　again。〃

〃It　is　the　old　tale；〃　said　Frank　to　himself；　〃whom　will　not　love　transform　into　a　hero？〃

And　so　it　was。　　Jack's　squeaking　voice　was　firm　and　manly；　his　pig's　eyes　flashed　very　fire；　his　gestures　were　so　free　and　earnest；　that　the　ungainliness　of　his　figure　was　forgotten；　and　when　he　finished　with　a　violent　burst　of　tears；　Frank；　forgetting　his　wounds；　sprang　up　and　caught　him　by　the　hand。

〃John　Brimblecombe；　forgive　me！　　Gentlemen；　if　we　are　gentlemen；　we　ought　to　ask　his　pardon。　　Has　he　not　shown　already　more　chivalry；　more　self…denial；　and　therefore　more　true　love；　than　any　of　us？　　My　friends；　let　the　fierceness　of　affection；　which　we　have　used　as　an　excuse　for　many　a　sin　of　our　own；　excuse　his　listening　to　a　conversation　in　which　he　well　deserved　to　bear　a　part。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Jack；　〃you　make　me　one　of　your　brotherhood；　and　see　if　I　do　not　dare　to　suffer　as　much　as　any　of　you！　　You　laugh？　　Do　you　fancy　none　can　use　a　sword　unless　he　has　a　baker's　dozen　of　quarterings　in　his　arms；　or　that　Oxford　scholars　know　only　how　to　handle　a　pen？〃

〃Let　us　try　his　metal；〃　said　St。　Leger。　　〃Here's　my　sword；　Jack；　draw；　Coffin！　and　have　at　him。〃

〃Nonsense！〃　said　Coffin；　looking　somewhat　disgusted　at　the　notion　of　fighting　a　man　of　Jack's　rank；　but　Jack　caught　at　the　weapon　offered　to　him。

〃Give　me　a　buckler；　and　have　at　any　of　you！〃

〃Here's　a　chair　bottom；〃　cried　Cary；　and　Jack；　seizing　it　in　his　left；　flourished　his　sword　so　fiercely；　and　called　so　loudly　to　Coffin　to　come　on；　that　all　present　found　it　necessary；　unless　they　wished　blood　to　be　spilt；　to　turn　the　matter　off　with　a　laugh：　but　Jack　would　not　hear　of　it。

〃Nay：　if　you　will　let　me　be　of　your　brotherhood；　well　and　good：　but　if　not；　one　or　other　I　will　fight：　and　that's　flat。〃

〃You　see；　gentlemen；〃　said　Amyas；　〃we　must　admit　him　or　die　the　death；　so　we　needs　must　go　when　Sir　Urian　drives。　　Come　up；　Jack；　and　take　the　oaths。　　You　admit　him；　gentlemen？〃

〃Let　me　but　be　your　chaplain；〃　said　Jack；　〃and　pray　for　your　luck　when　you're　at　the　wars。　　If　I　do　stay　at　home　in　a　country　curacy；　'tis　not　much　that　you　need　be　jealous　of　me　with　her；　I　reckon；〃　said　Jack；　with　a　pathetical　glance　at　his　own　stomach。

〃Sia！〃　said　Cary：　〃but　if　he　be　admitted；　it　must　be　done　according　to　the　solemn　forms　and　ceremonies　in　such　cases　provided。　　Take　him　into　the　next　room；　Amyas；　and　prepare　him　for　his　initiation。〃

〃What's　that？〃　asked　Amyas；　puzzled　by　the　word。　　But　judging　from　the　corner　of　Will's　eye　that　initiation　was　Latin　for　a　practical　joke；　he　led　forth　his　victim　behind　the　arras　again；　and　waited　five　minutes　while　the　room　was　being　darkened；　till　Frank's　voice　called　to　him　to　bring　in　the　neophyte。

〃John　Brimblecombe；〃　said　Frank；　in　a　sepulchral　tone；　〃you　cannot　be　ignorant；　as　a　scholar　and　bachelor　of　Oxford；　of　that　dread　sacrament　by　which　Catiline　bound　the　soul　of　his　fellow…　conspirators；　in　order　that　both　by　the　daring　of　the　deed　he　might　have　proof　of　their　sincerity；　and　by　the　horror　thereof　astringe　their　souls　by　adamantine　fetters；　and　Novem…Stygian　oaths；　to　that　wherefrom　hereafter　the　weakness　of　the　flesh　might　shrink。　Wherefore；　O　Jack！　we　too　have　determined；　following　that　ancient　and　classical　example；　to　fill；　as　he　did；　a　bowl　with　the　lifeblood　of　our　most　heroic　selves；　and　to　pledge　each　other　therein；　with　vows　whereat　the　stars　shall　tremble　in　their　spheres；　and　Luna；　blushing；　veil　her　silver　cheeks。　　Your　blood　alone　is　wanted　to　fill　up　the　goblet。　　Sit　down；　John　Brimblecombe；　and　bare　your　arm！〃

〃But；　Mr。　Frank！〃said　Jack；　who　was　as　superstitious　as　any　old　wife；　and；　what　with　the　darkness　and　the　discourse；　already　in　a　cold　perspiration。

〃But　me　no　buts！　or　depart　as　recreant；　not　by　the　door　like　a　man；　but　up　the　chimney　like　a　flittermouse。〃

〃But；　Mr。　Frank！〃

〃Thy　vital　juice；　or　the　chimney！　　Choose！〃　roared　Cary　in　his　ear。

〃Well；　if　I　must；〃　said　Jack；　〃but　it's　desperate　hard　that　because　you　can't　keep　faith　without　these　barbarous　oaths；　I　must　take　them　too；　that　have　kept　faith　these　three　years　without　any。〃

At　this　pathetic　appeal　Frank　nearly　melted：　but　Amyas　and　Cary　had　thrust　the　victim　into　a　chair　and　all　was　prepared　for　the　sacrifice。

〃Bind　his　eyes；　according　to　the　classic　fashion；〃　said　Will。

〃Oh　no；　dear　Mr。　Cary；　I'll　shut　them　tight　enough；　I　warrant：　but　not　with　your　dagger；　dear　Mr。　Williamsure；　not　with　your　dagger？　I　can't　afford　to　lose　blood；　though　I　do　look　lustyI　can't　indeed；　sure；　a　pin　would　doI've　got　one　here；　to　my　sleeve；　somewhereOh！〃

〃See　the　fount　of　generous　juice！　　Flow　on；　fair　stream。　　How　he　bleeds！pints；　quarts！　　Ah；　this　proves　him　to　be　in　earnest！〃

〃A　true　lover's　blood　is　always　at　his　fingers'　ends。〃

〃He　does　not　grudge　it；　of　course　not。　　Eh；　Jack？　　What　matters　an　odd　gallon　for　her　sake？〃

〃For　her　sake？　　Nothing；　nothing！　　Take　my　life；　if　you　will：　but　oh；　gentlemen；　a　surgeon；　if　you　love　me！　　I'm　going　offI　'm　fainting！〃

〃Drink；　then；　quick；　drink　and　swear！　　Pat　his　back；　Cary。　Courage；　man！　it　will　be　over　in　a　minute。　　Now；　Frank！〃

And　Frank　spoke


〃If　plighted　troth　I　fail；　or　secret　speech　reveal；　May　Cocytean　ghosts　around　my　pillow　squeal；　While　Ate's　brazen　claws　distringe　my　spleen　in　sunder；　And　drag　me　deep　to　Pluto's　keep；　'mid　brimstone；　smoke；　and　thunder！〃


〃Placetne；　domine？〃

〃Placet！〃　squeaked　Jack；　who　thought　himself　at　the　last　gasp；　and　gulped　down　full　three…quarters　of　the　goblet　which　Cary　held　to　his　lips。

〃UghAhPuh！　　Mercy　on　us！　　It　tastes　mighty　like　wine！〃

〃A　proof；　my　virtuous　brother；〃　said　Frank；　〃first；　of　thy　abstemiousness；　which　has　thus　forgotten　what　wine　tastes　like；　and　next；　of　thy　pure　and　heroical　affection；　by　which　thy　carnal　senses　being　exalted　to　a　higher　and　supra…lunar　sphere；　like　those　Platonical　daemonizomenoi　and　enthusiazomenoi　（of　whom　Jamblichus　says　that　they　were　insensible　to　wounds　and　flame；　and　much　more；　therefore；　to　evil　savors）；　doth　make　even　the　most　nauseous　draught　redolent　of　that　celestial　fragrance；　which　proceeding；　O　Jack！　from　thine　own　inward　virtue；　assimilates　by　sympathy　even　outward　accidents　unto　its　own　harmony　and　melody；　for　fragrance　is；　as　has　been　said　well；　the　song　of　flowers；　and　sweetness；　the　music　of　applesAhem！　　Go　in　peace；　thou　hast　conquered！〃

〃Put　him　out　of　the　door；　Will；〃　said　Amyas；　〃or　he　will　swoon　on　our　hands。〃

〃Give　him　some　sack；〃　said　Frank。

〃Not　a　blessed　drop　of　yours；　sir；〃　said　Jack。　　〃I　like　good　wine　as　well　as　any　man　on　earth；　and　see　as　little　of　it；　but　not　a　drop　of　yours；　sirs；　after　your　frumps　and　flouts　about　hanging…on　and　trencher…scraping。　　When　I　first　began　to　love　her；　I　bid　good…　bye　to　all　dirty　tricks；　for　I　had　some　one　then　for　whom　to　keep　myself　clean。〃

And　so　Jack　was　sent　home；　with　a　pint　of　good　red　Alicant　wine　in　him　（more；　poor　fellow；　than　he　had　tasted　at　once　in　his　life　before）；　while　the　rest；　in　high　glee　with　themselves　and　the　rest　of　the　world；　relighted　the　candles；　had　a　right　merry　evening；　and　parted　like　good　friends　and　sensible　gentlemen　of　devon；　thinking　（all　except　Frank）　Jack　Brimblecombe　and　his　vow　the　merriest　jest　they　had　heard　for　many　a　day。　　After　which　they　all　departed：　Amyas　and　Cary　to　Winter's　squadron；　Frank　（as　soon　as　he　could　travel）　to　the　Court　again；　and　with　him　young　Basset；　whose　father　Sir　Arthur；　being　in　London；　procured　for　him　a　page's　place　in　Leicester's　household。　　Fortescue　and　Chicester　went　to　their　brothers　in　Dublin；　St。　Leger　to　his　uncle　the　Marshal　of　Munster；　Coffin　joined　Champernoun　and　Norris　in　the　Netherlands；　and　so　the　Brotherhood　of　the　Rose　was　scattered　far　and　wide；　and　Mistress　Salterne　was　left　alone　with　her　looking…glass。



CHAPTER　IX

HOW　AMYAS　KEPT　HIS　CHRISTMAS　DAY


　　　　　〃Take　aim；　you　noble　musqueteers；　　　　　　　And　shoot　you　round　about；　　　　　　　Stand　to　it；　valiant　pikemen；　　　　　　　And　we　shall　keep　them　out。　　　　　　　There's　not　a　man　of　all　of　us　　　　　　　A　foot　will　backwa