to have and to hold-第17节
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er 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。
W
