to have and to hold-第26节
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〃'To all whom it may concern： I； Ralph Percy； Gentleman； of the Hundred of Weyanoke； do hereby set free from all service to me and mine' 〃 …
I took from her the bits of paper； and fed the fire with them。 〃Paper is but paper；〃 I said。 〃It is easily rent。 Happily a man's will is more durable。〃
CHAPTER XVII IN WHICH MY LORD AND I PLAY AT BOWLS
THE Governor had brought with him from London the year before； a set of boxwood bowls； and had made； between his house and the fort； a noble green。 The generality must still use for the game that portion of the street that was not tobacco…planted； but the quality flocked to the Governor's green； and here； one holiday afternoon； a fortnight or more from the day in which I had drunk to the King from my lord's silver goblet； was gathered a very great company。 The Governor's match was toward； … ten men to a side； a hogshead of sweet…scented to the victorious ten； and a keg of canary to the man whose bowl should hit the jack。
The season had been one of unusual mildness； and the sunshine was still warm and bright； gilding the velvet of the green； and making the red and yellow leaves swept into the trench to glow like a ribbon of flame。 The sky was blue； the water bluer still； the leaves bright…colored； the wind blowing； only the enshrouding forest； wrapped in haze； seemed as dim； unreal； and far away as a last year's dream。
The Governor's gilt armchair had been brought from the church； and put for him upon the bank of turf at the upper end of the green。 By his side sat my Lady Temperance； while the gayly dressed dames and the men who were to play and to watch were accommodated with stools and settles or with seats on the green grass。 All were dressed in holiday clothes； all tongues spoke； all eyes laughed； you might have thought there was not a heavy heart amongst them。 Rolfe was there； gravely courteous； quiet and ready； and by his side； in otterskin mantle； beaded moccasins； and feathered headdress； the Indian chief； his brother…in…law； … the bravest； comeliest； and manliest savage with whom I have ever dealt。 There； too； was Master Pory； red and jovial； with an eye to the sack the servants were bringing from the Governor's house； and the commander； with his wife； and Master Jeremy Sparrow； fresh from a most moving sermon on the vanities of this world。 Captains； Councilors； and Burgesses aired their gold lace； and their wit or their lack of it； while a swarm of younger adventurers； youths of good blood and bad living； come from home for the weal of England and the woe of Virginia； went here and there through the crowd like gilded summer flies。
Rolfe and I were to play； he sat on the grass at the feet of Mistress Jocelyn Percy； making her now and then some courtly speech； and I stood beside her； my hand on the back of her chair。
The King's ward held court as though she were a king's daughter。 In the brightness of her beauty she sat there； as gracious for the nonce as the sunshine； and as much of another world。 All knew her story； and to the daring that is in men's hearts her own daring appealed； … and she was young and very beautiful。 Some there had not been my friends； and now rejoiced in what seemed my inevitable ruin； some whom I had thought my friends were gone over to the stronger side； many who in secret wished me well still shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders over what they were pleased to call my madness； but for her； I was glad to know； there were only good words。 The Governor had left his gilt armchair to welcome her to the green； and had caused a chair to be set for her near his own； and here men came and bowed before her as if she had been a princess indeed。
A stir amongst the crowd； a murmur； and a craning of necks heralded the approach of that other at whom the town gaped with admiration。 He came with his retinue of attendants； his pomp of dress； his arrogance of port； his splendid beauty。 Men looked from the beauty of the King's ward to the beauty of the King's minion； from her costly silk to his velvet and miniver； from the air of the court that became her well to the towering pride and insolence which to the thoughtless seemed his fortune's proper mantle； and deemed them a pair well suited； and the King's will indeed the will of Heaven。
I was never one to value a man by his outward seeming； but suddenly I saw myself as in a mirror； … a soldier； scarred and bronzed； acquainted with the camp； but not with the court； roughened by a rude life； poor in this world's goods； the first flush of youth gone forever。 For a moment my heart was bitter within me。 The pang passed； and my hand tightened its grasp upon the chair in which sat the woman I had wed。 She was my wife； and I would keep my own。
My lord had paused to speak to the Governor； who had risen to greet him。 Now he came toward us； and the crowd pressed and whispered。 He bowed low to Mistress Percy； made as if to pass on； then came to a stop before her； his hat in his hand； his handsome head bent； a smile upon his bearded lips。
〃When was it that we last sat to see men bowl； lady？〃 he said。 〃I remember a gay match when I bowled against my Lord of Buckingham； and fair ladies sat and smiled upon us。 The fairest laughed； and tied her colors around my arm。〃
The lady whom he addressed sat quietly； with hands folded in her silken lap and an untroubled face。 〃I did not know you then； my lord；〃 she answered him； quite softly and sweetly。 〃Had I done so； be sure I would have cut my hand off ere it gave color of mine to〃 …
〃To whom？〃 he demanded； as she paused。
〃To a coward； my lord；〃 she said clearly。
As if she had been a man； his hand went to his sword hilt。 As for her； she leaned back in her chair and looked at him with a smile。
He spoke at last； slowly and with deliberate emphasis。 〃I won then；〃 he said。 〃I shall win again； my lady； … my Lady Jocelyn Leigh。〃
I dropped my hand from her chair and stepped forward。 〃It is my wife to whom you speak； my Lord Carnal；〃 I said sternly。 〃I wait to hear you name her rightly。〃
Rolfe rose from the grass and stood beside me； and Jeremy Sparrow； shouldering aside with scant ceremony Burgess and Councilor； came also。 The Governor leaned forward out of his chair； and the crowd became suddenly very still。
〃I am waiting； my lord；〃 I repeated。
In an instant； from what he had been he became the frank and guileless nobleman。 〃A slip of the tongue； Captain Percy！〃 he cried； his white teeth showing and his hand raised in a gesture of deprecation。 〃A natural thing； seeing how often； how very often； I have so addressed this lady in the days when we had not the pleasure of your acquaintance。〃 He turned to her and bowed； until the feather in his hat swept the ground。 〃I won then；〃 he said。 〃I shall win again … Mistress Percy；〃 and passed on to the seat that had been reserved for him。
The game began。 I was to lead one side； and young Clement the other。 At the last moment he came over to me。 〃I am out of it； Captain Percy；〃 he announced with a rueful face。 〃My lord there asks me to give him my place。 When we were hunting yesterday； and the stag turned upon me； he came between and thrust his knife into the brute； which else might have put an end to my hunting forever and a day： so you see I can't refuse him。 Plague take it all！ and Dorothy Gookin sitting there watching！〃
My lord and I stood forward； each with a bowl in his hand。 We looked toward the Governor。 〃My lord first； as becometh his rank；〃 he said。 My lord stooped and threw； and his bowl went swiftly over the grass； turned； and rested not a hands'…breadth from the jack。 I threw。 〃One is as near as the other！〃 cried Master Macocke for the judges。 A murmur arose from the crowd； and my lord swore beneath his breath。 He and I retreated to our several sides； and Rolfe and West took our places。 While they and those that followed bowled； the crowd； attentive though it was； still talked and laughed； and laid wagers upon its favorites； but when my lord and I again stood forth； the noise was hushed； and men and women stared with all their eyes。 He delivered； and his bowl touched the jack。 He straightened himself； with a smile； and I heard Jeremy Sparrow behind me groan； but my bowl too kissed the jack。 The crowd began to laugh with sheer delight； but my lord turned red and his brows drew together。 We had but one turn more。 While we waited； I marked his black eyes studying every inch of the ground between him and that small white ball； to strike which； at that moment； I verily believe he would have given the King's favor。 All men pray； though they pray not to the same god。 As he stood there； when his time had come； weighing the bowl in his hand； I knew that he prayed to his d‘mon； fate； star； whatever thing he raised an altar to and bent before。 He threw； and I followed； while the throng held its breath。 Master Macocke rose to his feet。 〃It's a tie； my masters！〃 he exclaimed。
The excited crowd surged forward； and a babel of voices arose。 〃Silence； all！〃 cried the Governor。 〃Let them play it out！〃
My lord threw； and his bowl stopped perilously near the shining mark。 As I stepped to my place a low and supplicating 〃O Lord！〃 came to my ears from the lips and the heart of the preacher； who ha
