to have and to hold-第44节
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ortal foe； whom I will yet sweep from my path； but he is not a pirate。 Ay； take it down； an it please you； Master Secretary！ I retreat from a most choice position； to be sure； but what care I？ I see a vantage ground more to my liking。 I have lost a throw； perhaps； but I will recoup ten such losses with one such kiss。 By your leave； lady。〃
He went up to her where she stood； with hanging arms； her head a little bent； white and cold and yielding as a lady done in snow； gazed at her a moment； with his passion written in his fierce eyes and haggard； handsome face； then crushed her to him。
If I could have struck him dead； I would have done so。 When her word had been kept； she released herself with a quiet and resolute dignity。 As for him； he sank back into the great chair beside the Governor's； leaned an elbow on the table； and hid his eyes with one shaking hand。
The Governor rose to his feet； and motioned away the two seamen who held me fast。 〃We'll have no hanging this morning； gentlemen；〃 he announced。 〃Captain Percy； I beg to apologize to you for words that were never meant for a brave and gallant gentleman； but for a pirate who I find does not exist。 I pray you to forget them； quite。〃
I returned his bow； but my eyes traveled past him。
〃I will allow you no words with my Lord Carnal；〃 he said。 〃With your wife； … that is different。〃 He moved aside with a smile。
She was standing； pale； with downcast eyes； where my lord had left her。 〃Jocelyn；〃 I said。 She turned toward me； crimsoned deeply； uttered a low cry； half laughter； half a sob； then covered her face with her hands。 I took them away and spoke her name again； and this time she hid her face upon my breast。
A moment thus； then … for all eyes were upon her … I lifted her head； kissed her ； and gave her to Lady Wyatt； whom I found at my side。 〃I commend my wife to your ladyship's care；〃 I said。 〃As you are woman； deal sisterly by her！〃
〃You may trust me； sir；〃 she made answer； the tears upon her cheeks。 〃I did not know； … I did not understand。 。 。 。Dear heart； come away； … come away with Margaret Wyatt。〃
Clayborne opened the door of the cabin； and stood aside with a low bow。 The men who had sat to judge me rose； only the King's favorite kept his seat。 With Lady Wyatt's arm about her； the King's ward passed between the lines of standing gentlemen to the door； there hesitated； turned； and； facing them with I know not what of pride and shame； wistfulness of entreaty and noble challenge to belief in the face and form that were of all women's most beautiful； curtsied to them until her knee touched the floor。 She was gone； and the sunlight with her。
When I turned upon that shameless lord where he sat in his evil beauty； with his honor dead before him； men came hastily in between。 I put them aside with a laugh。 I had but wanted to look at him。 I had no sword； … already he lay beneath my challenge； … and words are weak things。
At length he rose； as arrogant as ever in his port； as evilly superb in his towering pride； and as amazingly indifferent to the thoughts of men who lied not。 〃This case hath wearied me；〃 he said。 〃I will retire for a while to rest； and in dreams to live over a past sweetness。 Give you good…day； gentles！ Sir Francis Wyatt； you will remember that this gentleman did resist arrest； and that he lieth under the King's displeasure！〃 So saying he clapped his hat upon his head and walked out of the cabin。 The Company's officers drew a long breath； as if a fresher air had come in with his departure。
〃I have no choice； Captain Percy； but to keep you still under restraint； both here and when we shall reach Jamestown；〃 said the Governor。 〃All that the Company； through me； can do； consistent with its duty to his Majesty； to lighten your confinement shall be done〃 …
〃Then send him not again into the hold； Sir Francis！〃 exclaimed the Treasurer； with a wry face。
The Governor laughed。 〃Lighter and sweeter quarters shall be found。 Your wife's a brave lady； Captain Percy〃 …
〃And a passing fair one；〃 said Claybourne under his breath。
〃I left a friend below in the hold； your Honor；〃 I said。 〃He came with me from Jamestown because he was my friend。 The King hath never heard of him。 And he's no more a pirate than I or you； your Honor。 He is a minister； … a sober； meek； and godly man〃 …
From behind the Secretary rose the singsong of my acquaintance of the hold； Dr。 John Pott。 〃He is Jeremy； your Honor； Jeremy who made the town merry at Blackfriars。 Your Honor remembers him？ He had a sickness； and forsook the life and went into the country。 He was known to the Dean of St。 Paul's。 All the town laughed when it heard that he had taken orders。〃
〃Jeremy！〃 cried out the Treasurer。 〃Nick Bottom！ Christopher Sly！ Sir Toby Belch！ Sir Francis； give me Jeremy to keep in my cabin！〃
The Governor laughed。 〃He shall be bestowed with Captain Percy where he'll not lack for company； I warrant！ Jeremy！ Ben Jonson loved him； they drank together at the Mermaid。〃
A little later the Treasurer turned to leave my new quarters； to which he had walked beside me； glanced at the men who waited for him without； … Jeremy had not yet been brought from the hold； … and returned to my side to say； in a low voice； but with emphasis： 〃Captain Percy has been a long time without news from home； … from England。 What would he most desire to hear？〃
〃Of the welfare of his Grace of Buckingham；〃 I replied。
He smiled。 〃His Grace is as well as heart could desire； and as powerful。 The Queen's dog now tuggeth the sow by the ears this way or that； as it pleaseth him。 Since we are not to hang you as a pirate； Captain Percy； I incline to think your affairs in better posture than when you left Virginia。〃
〃I think so too； sir；〃 I said； and gave him thanks for his courtesy； and wished him good…day； being anxious to sit still and thank God； with my face in my hands and summer in my heart。
CHAPTER XXVIII IN WHICH THE SPRINGTIME IS AT HAND
TIRED of dicing against myself； and of the books that Rolfe had sent me； I betook myself to the gaol window； and； leaning against the bars； looked out in search of entertainment。 The nearest if not the merriest thing the prospect had to offer was the pillory。 It was built so tall that it was but little lower than the low upper story of the gaol； and it faced my window at so short a distance that I could hear the long； whistling breath of the wretch who happened to occupy it。 It was not a pleasant sound； neither was a livid face； new branded on the cheek with a great R； and with a trickle of dark blood from the mutilated ears staining the board in which the head was immovably fixed； a pleasant sight。 A little to one side was the whipping post： a woman had been whipped that morning； and her cries had tainted the air even more effectually than had the decayed matter with which certain small devils had pelted the runaway in the pillory。 I looked away from the poor rogue below me into the clear； hard brightness of the March day； and was most heartily weary of the bars between me and it。 The wind blew keenly； the sky was blue as blue could be； and the river a great ribbon of azure sewn with diamonds。 All colors were vivid and all distances near。 There was no haze over the forest； brown and bare it struck the cloudless blue。 The marsh was emerald； the green of the pines deep and rich； the budding maples redder than coral。 The church； with the low green graves around it； appeared not a stone's throw away； and the voices of the children up and down the street sounded clearly； as though they played in the brown square below me。 When the drum beat for the nooning the roll was close in my ears。 The world looked so bright and keen that it seemed new made； and the brilliant sunshine and the cold wind stirred the blood like wine。
Now and then men and women passed through the square below。 Well…nigh all glanced up at the window； and their eyes were friendly。 It was known now that Buckingham was paramount at home； and my Lord Carnal's following in Virginia was much decayed。 Young Hamor strode by； bravely dressed and whistling cheerily； and doffed a hat with a most noble broken feather。 〃We're going to bait a bear below the fort！〃 he called。 〃Sorry you'll miss the sport！ There will be all the world … and my Lord Carnal。〃 He whistled himself away； and presently there came along Master Edward Sharpless。 He stopped and stared at the rogue in the pillory； … with no prescience； I suppose； of a day when he was to stand there himself； then looked up at me with as much malevolence as his small soul could write upon his mean features； and passed on。 He had a jaded look； moreover； his clothes were swamp…stained and his cloak had been torn by briers。 〃What did you go to the forest for？〃 I muttered。
The key grated in the door behind me； and it opened to admit the gaoler and Diccon with my dinner； … which I was not sorry to see。 〃Sir George sent the venison； sir；〃 said the gaoler； grinning； 〃and Master Piersey the wild fowl； and Madam West the pasty and the marchpane； and Master Pory the sack。 Be there anything you lack； sir？〃
〃Nothing that you can supply；〃 I answered curtly。
The fellow grinned again； straightened the things upon the table； and started for t
