to have and to hold-第2节

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〃Fair　and　chaste；〃　I　said；　〃but　meanly　born。〃

〃I　grant　you　that；〃　he　answered。　〃But　after　all；　what　of　it？　Beggars　must　not　be　choosers。　The　land　is　new　and　must　be　peopled；　nor　will　those　who　come　after　us　look　too　curiously　into　the　lineage　of　those　to　whom　a　nation　owes　its　birth。　What　we　in　　these　plantations　need　is　a　loosening　of　the　bonds　which　tie　us　to　home；　to　England；　and　a　tightening　of　those　which　bind　us　to　this　land　in　which　we　have　cast　our　lot。　We　put　our　hand　to　the　plough；　but　we　turn　our　heads　and　look　to　our　Egypt　and　its　fleshpots。　'T　is　children　and　wife　…　be　that　wife　princess　or　peasant　…　that　make　home　of　a　desert；　that　bind　a　man　with　chains　of　gold　to　the　country　where　they　abide。　Wherefore；　when　at　midday　I　met　good　Master　Wickham　rowing　down　from　Henricus　to　Jamestown；　to　offer　his　aid　to　Master　Bucke　in　his　press　of　business　to…morrow；　I　gave　the　good　man　Godspeed；　and　thought　his　a　fruitful　errand　and　one　pleasing　to　the　Lord。〃

〃Amen；〃　I　yawned。　〃I　love　the　land；　and　call　it　home。　My　withers　are　unwrung。〃

He　rose　to　his　feet；　and　began　to　pace　the　greensward　before　the　door。　My　eyes　followed　his　trim　figure；　richly　though　sombrely　clad；　then　fell　with　a　sudden　dissatisfaction　upon　my　own　stained　and　frayed　apparel。

〃Ralph；〃　he　said　presently；　coming　to　a　stand　before　me；　〃have　you　ever　an　hundred　and　twenty　pounds　of　tobacco　in　hand？　If　not；　I〃　…

〃I　have　the　weed；〃　I　replied。　〃What　then？〃

〃Then　at　dawn　drop　down　with　the　tide　to　the　city；　and　secure　for　thyself　one　of　these　same　errant　damsels。〃

I　stared　at　him；　and　then　broke　into　laughter；　in　which；　after　a　space　and　unwillingly；　he　himself　joined。　When　at　length　I　wiped　the　water　from　my　eyes　it　was　quite　dark；　the　whippoorwills　had　begun　to　call；　and　Rolfe　must　needs　hasten　on。　I　went　with　him　down　to　the　gate。

〃Take　my　advice；　…　it　is　that　of　your　friend；〃　he　said；　as　he　swung　himself　into　the　saddle。　He　gathered　up　the　reins　and　struck　spurs　into　his　horse；　then　turned　to　call　back　to　me：　〃Sleep　upon　my　words；　Ralph；　and　the　next　time　I　come　I　look　to　see　a　farthingale　behind　thee！〃

〃Thou　art　as　like　to　see　one　upon　me；〃　I　answered。

Nevertheless；　when　he　had　gone；　and　I　climbed　the　bank　and　re‰ntered　the　house；　it　was　with　a　strange　pang　at　the　cheerlessness　of　my　hearth；　and　an　angry　and　unreasoning　impatience　at　the　lack　of　welcoming　face　or　voice。　In　God's　name；　who　was　there　to　welcome　me？　None　but　my　hounds；　and　the　flying　squirrel　I　had　caught　and　tamed。　Groping　my　way　to　the　corner；　I　took　from　my　store　two　torches；　lit　them；　and　stuck　them　into　the　holes　pierced　in　the　mantel　shelf；　then　stood　beneath　the　clear　flame；　and　looked　with　a　sudden　sick　distaste　upon　the　disorder　which　the　light　betrayed。　The　fire　was　dead；　and　ashes　and　embers　were　scattered　upon　the　hearth；　fragments　of　my　last　meal　littered　the　table；　and　upon　the　unwashed　floor　lay　the　bones　I　had　thrown　my　dogs。　Dirt　and　confusion　reigned；　only　upon　my　armor；　my　sword　and　gun；　my　hunting　knife　and　dagger；　there　was　no　spot　or　stain。　I　turned　to　gaze　upon　them　where　they　hung　against　the　wall；　and　in　my　soul　I　hated　the　piping　times　of　peace；　and　longed　for　the　camp　fire　and　the　call　to　arms。

With　an　impatient　sigh；　I　swept　the　litter　from　the　table；　and；　taking　from　the　shelf　that　held　my　meagre　library　a　bundle　of　Master　Shakespeare's　plays　（gathered　for　me　by　Rolfe　when　he　was　last　in　London）；　I　began　to　read；　but　my　thoughts　wandered；　and　the　tale　seemed　dull　and　oft　told。　I　tossed　it　aside；　and；　　taking　dice　from　my　pocket；　began　to　throw。　As　I　cast　the　bits　of　bone；　idly；　and　scarce　caring　to　observe　what　numbers　came　uppermost；　I　had　a　vision　of　the　forester's　hut　at　home；　where；　when　I　was　a　boy；　in　the　days　before　I　ran　away　to　the　wars　in　the　Low　Countries；　I　had　spent　many　a　happy　hour。　Again　I　saw　the　bright　light　of　the　fire　reflected　in　each　well…scrubbed　crock　and　pannikin；　again　I　heard　the　cheerful　hum　of　the　wheel；　again　the　face　of　the　forester's　daughter　smiled　upon　me。　The　old　gray　manor　house；　where　my　mother；　a　stately　dame；　sat　ever　at　her　tapestry；　and　an　imperious　elder　brother　strode　to　and　fro　among　his　hounds；　seemed　less　of　home　to　me　than　did　that　tiny；　friendly　hut。　To…morrow　would　be　my　thirty…sixth　birthday。　All　the　numbers　that　I　cast　were　high。　〃If　I　throw　ambs…ace；〃　I　said；　with　a　smile　for　my　own　caprice；　〃curse　me　if　I　do　not　take　Rolfe's　advice！〃

I　shook　the　box　and　clapped　it　down　upon　the　table；　then　lifted　it；　and　stared　with　a　lengthening　face　at　what　it　had　hidden；　which　done；　I　diced　no　more；　but　put　out　my　lights　and　went　soberly　to　bed。



CHAPTER　II　　IN　WHICH　I　MEET　MASTER　JEREMY　SPARROW


MINE　are　not　dicers'　oaths。　The　stars　were　yet　shining　when　I　left　the　house；　and；　after　a　word　with　my　man　Diccon；　at　the　servants'　huts；　strode　down　the　bank　and　through　the　gate　of　the　palisade　to　the　wharf；　where　I　loosed　my　boat；　put　up　her　sail；　and　turned　her　head　down　the　broad　stream。　The　wind　was　fresh　and　favorable；　and　we　went　swiftly　down　the　river　through　the　silver　mist　toward　the　sunrise。　The　sky　grew　pale　pink　to　the　zenith；　then　the　sun　rose　and　drank　up　the　mist。　The　river　sparkled　and　shone；　from　the　fresh　green　banks　came　the　smell　of　the　woods　and　the　song　of　birds；　above　rose　the　sky；　bright　blue；　with　a　few　fleecy　clouds　drifting　across　it。　I　thought　of　the　day；　thirteen　years　before；　when　for　the　first　time　white　men　sailed　up　this　same　river；　and　of　how　noble　its　width；　how　enchanting　its　shores；　how　gay　and　sweet　their　blooms　and　odors；　how　vast　their　trees；　how　strange　the　painted　savages；　had　seemed　to　us；　storm…tossed　adventurers；　who　thought　we　had　found　a　very　paradise；　the　Fortunate　Isles　at　least。　How　quickly　were　we　undeceived！　As　I　lay　back　in　the　stern　with　half…shut　eyes　and　tiller　idle　in　my　hand；　our　many　tribulations　and　our　few　joys　passed　in　review　before　me。　Indian　attacks；　dissension　and　strife　amongst　our　rulers；　true　men　persecuted；　false　knaves　elevated；　the　weary　search　for　　gold　and　the　South　Sea；　the　horror　of　the　pestilence　and　the　blacker　horror　of　the　Starving　Time；　the　arrival　of　the　Patience　and　Deliverance；　whereat　we　wept　like　children；　that　most　joyful　Sunday　morning　when　we　followed　my　Lord　de　la　Warre　to　church；　the　coming　of　Dale　with　that　stern　but　wholesome　martial　code　which　was　no　stranger　to　me　who　had　fought　under　Maurice　of　Nassau；　the　good　times　that　followed；　when　bowl…playing　gallants　were　put　down；　cities　founded；　forts　built；　and　the　gospel　preached；　the　marriage　of　Rolfe　and　his　dusky　princess；　Argall's　expedition；　in　which　I　played　a　part；　and　Argall's　iniquitous　rule；　the　return　of　Yeardley　as　Sir　George；　and　the　priceless　gift　he　brought　us；　…　all　this　and　much　else；　old　friends；　old　enemies；　old　toils　and　strifes　and　pleasures；　ran；　bitter…sweet；　through　my　memory；　as　the　wind　and　flood　bore　me　on。　Of　what　was　before　me　I　did　not　choose　to　think；　sufficient　unto　the　hour　being　the　evil　thereof。

The　river　seemed　deserted：　no　horsemen　spurred　Along　the　bridle　path　on　the　shore；　the　boats　were　few　and　far　between；　and　held　only　servants　or　Indians　or　very　old　men。　It　was　as　Rolfe　had　said；　and　the　free　and　able…bodied　of　the　plantations　had　put　out；　posthaste；　for　matrimony。　Chaplain's　Choice　appeared　unpeopled；　Piersey's　Hundred　slept　in　the　sunshine；　its　wharf　deserted；　and　but　few；　slow…moving　figures　in　the　tobacco　fields；　even　the　Indian　villages　looked　scant　of　all　but　squaws　and　children；　for　the　braves　were　gone　to　see　the　palefaces　buy　their　wives。　Below　Paspahegh　a　cockleshell　of　a　boat　carrying　a　great　white　sail　overtook　me；　and　I　was　hailed　by　young　Hamor。

〃The　maids　are　come！〃　he　cried。　〃Hurrah！〃　and　stood　up　to　wave　his　hat。

〃Humph！〃　I　said。　〃I　guess　thy　destination　by　thy　hose。　Are　they　not　'those　that　were　thy　peach…colored　ones'？〃

〃Oons！　yes！〃　he　answered；　looking　down　with　complacency　upon　his　tarnished　finery。　〃Wedding　garments；　Captain　Percy；　wedding　garments！〃

I　laughed。　〃Thou　art　a　tardy　bridegroom。　I　thought　that　the　bachelors　of　this　quarter　of　the　globe　slept　last　night　in　Jamestown。〃

His　face　fell。　〃I　know　it；〃　he　said　ruefully；　〃but　my　doublet　had　more　rents　than　slashes　in　it；　and　Martin　Tailor　kept　it　until　cockcrow。　That　fellow　rolls　in　tobacco；　he　hath　grown　rich　off　our　impoverished　wardrobes　since　the　ship　down　yonder　passed　the　capes。　After　all；〃　he　brightened；　〃the　bargaining　takes　not　place　until　toward　midday；　after　solemn　service　and　thanksgiving。　There's　time　enough！〃　He　waved　me　a　farewell；　as　his　great　sail　and　narrow　craft　carried　him　past　me。

I　looked　at　the　sun；　which　truly　was　not　very　high；　with　a　secret　disquietude；　for　I　had　had　a　scurvy　hope　that　after　all　I　should　be　too　late；　and　so　the　noose　which　I　felt　tightening　about　my　neck　might　unknot　itself。　Wind　and　tide　were　against　me；　and　an　hour　later　saw　me　nearing　the　peninsula　and　marveling　at　the　shipping　which　crowded　its　waters。　It　was　as　if　every　sloop；　barge；　canoe；　and　dugout　between　Point　Comfort　and　Henricus　were　anchored　off　its　shores；　while　above　them　towered　the　masts　of　the　Marmaduke　and　Furtherance；　then　in　port；　and　of　the　tall　ship　which　had　brought　in　those　doves　for　sale。　The　river　with