to have and to hold-第6节
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ning thunder； the wild cries of bird and beast the savages； uncouth and terrible； … for a moment I saw my world as the woman at my feet must see it； strange； wild； and menacing； an evil land； the other side of the moon。 A thing that I had forgotten came to my mind： how that； after our landing at Jamestown； years before； a boy whom we had with us did each night fill with cries and lamentations the hut where he lay with my cousin Percy； Gosnold； and myself； nor would cease though we tried both crying shame and a rope's end。 It was not for homesickness； for he had no mother or kin or home； and at length Master Hunt brought him to confess that it was but pure panic terror of the land itself； … not of the Indians or of our hardships； both of which he faced bravely enough； but of the strange trees and the high and long roofs of vine； of the black sliding earth and the white mist； of the fireflies and the whippoorwills； … a sick fear of primeval Nature and her tragic mask。
This was a woman； young； alone； and friendless； unless I； who had sworn to cherish and protect her； should prove myself her friend。 Wherefore； when； a few minutes later； I bent over her； it was with all gentleness that I touched and spoke to her。
〃Our journey is over；〃 I said。 〃This is home； my dear。〃
She let me help her to her feet； and up the wet and slippery steps to the level of the wharf。 It was now quite dark； there being no moon； and thin clouds obscuring the stars。 The touch of her hand； which I perforce held since I must guide her over the long； narrow； and unrailed trestle； chilled me； and her breathing was hurried； but she moved by my side through the gross darkness unfalteringly enough。 Arrived at the gate of the palisade； I beat upon it with the hilt of my sword； and shouted to my men to open to us。 A moment； and a dozen torches came flaring down the bank。 Diccon shot back the bolts； and we entered。 The men drew up and saluted； for I held my manor a camp； my servants soldiers； and myself their captain。
I have seen worse favored companies； but doubtless the woman beside me had not。 Perhaps； too； the red light of the torches； now flaring brightly； now sunk before the wind； gave their countenances a more villainous cast than usual。 They were not all bad。 Diccon had the virtue of fidelity； if none other； there were a brace of Puritans； and a handful of honest fools； who； if they drilled badly； yet abhorred mutiny。 But the half dozen I had taken off Argall's hands； the Dutchmen who might have been own brothers to those two Judases； Adam and Francis； the thief and the highwayman I had bought from the precious crew sent us by the King the year before； the negro and the Indians … small wonder that she shrank and cowered。 It was but for a moment。 I was yet seeking for words sufficiently reassuring when she was herself again。 She did not deign to notice the men's awkward salute； and when Diccon； a handsome rogue enough； advancing to light us up the bank； brushed by her something too closely； she drew away her skirts as though he had been a lazar。 At my own door I turned and spoke to the men； who had followed us up the ascent。
〃This lady；〃 I said； taking her hand as she stood beside me； 〃is my true and lawful wife； your mistress； to be honored and obeyed as such。 Who fails in reverence to her I hold as mutinous to myself； and will deal with him accordingly。 She gives you to…morrow for holiday； with double rations； and to each a measure of rum。 Now thank her properly。〃
They cheered lustily； of course； and Diccon； stepping forward； gave us thanks in the name of them all； and wished us joy。 After which； with another cheer； they backed from out our presence； then turned and made for their quarters； while I led my wife within the house and closed the door。
Diccon was an ingenious scoundrel。 I had told him to banish the dogs； to have the house cleaned and lit； and supper upon the table； but I had not ordered the floor to be strewn with rushes； the walls draped with flowering vines； a great jar filled with sunflowers； and an illumination of a dozen torches。 Nevertheless； it looked well； and I highly approved the capon and maize cakes； the venison pasty and ale； with which the table was set。 Through the open doors of the two other rooms were to be seen more rushes； more flowers； and more lights。
To the larger of these rooms I now led the way； deposited her bundle upon the settle； and saw that Diccon had provided fair water for her face and hands； which done； I told her that supper waited upon her convenience； and went back to the great room。
She was long in coming； so long that I grew impatient and went to call her。 The door was ajar； and so I saw her； kneeling in the middle of the floor； her head thrown back； her hands raised and clasped； on her face terror and anguish of spirit written so large that I started to see it。 I stared in amazement； and； had I followed my first impulse； would have gone to her； as I would have gone to any other creature in so dire distress。 On second thoughts； I went noiselessly back to my station in the great room。 She had not seen me； I was sure。 Nor had I long to wait。 Presently she appeared； and I could have doubted the testimony of my eyes； so changed were the agonized face and figure of a few moments before。 Beautiful and disdainful； she moved to the table； and took the great chair drawn before it with the air of an empress mounting a throne。 I contented myself with the stool。
She ate nothing； and scarcely touched the canary I poured for her。 I pressed upon her wine and viands； … in vain； I strove to make conversation； … equally in vain。 Finally； tired of 〃yes〃 and 〃no〃 uttered as though she were reluctantly casting pearls before swine； I desisted； and applied myself to my supper in a silence as sullen as her own。 At last we rose from table； and I went to look to the fastenings of door and windows； and returning found her standing in the centre of the room； her head up and her hands clenched at her sides。 I saw that we were to have it out then and there； and I was glad of it。
〃You have something to say；〃 I said。 〃I am quite at your command；〃 and I went and leaned against the chimneypiece。
The low fire upon the hearth burnt lower still before she broke the silence。 When she did speak it was slowly； and with a voice which was evidently controlled only by a strong effort of a strong will。 She said： …
〃When … yesterday； to…day； ten thousand years ago you went from this horrible forest down to that wretched village yonder； to those huts that make your London； you went to buy you a wife？〃
〃Yes； madam；〃 I answered。 〃I went with that intention。〃
〃You had made your calculation？ In your mind you had pitched upon such and such an article； with such and such qualities； as desirable？ Doubtless you meant to get your money's worth？〃
〃Doubtless；〃 I said dryly。
〃Will you tell me what you were inclined to consider its equivalent？〃
I stared at her； much inclined to laugh。 The interview promised to be interesting。
〃I went to Jamestown to get me a wife；〃 I said at length； 〃because I had pledged my word that I would do so。 I was not over…anxious。 I did not run all the way。 But； as you say； I intended to do the best I could for myself； one hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco being a considerable sum； and not to be lightly thrown away。 I went to look for a mistress for my house； a companion for my idle hours； a rosy； humble； docile lass； with no aspirations beyond cleanliness and good temper； who was to order my household and make me a home。 I was to be her head and her law； but also her sword and shield。 That is what I went to look for。〃
〃And you found … me！〃 she said； and broke into strange laughter。
I bowed。
〃In God's name； why did you not go further？〃
I suppose she saw in my face why I went no further； for into her own the color came flaming。
〃I am not what I seem！〃 she cried out。 〃I was not in that company of choice！〃
I bowed again。 〃You have no need to tell me that； madam；〃 I said。 〃I have eyes。 I desire to know why you were there at all； and why you married me。〃
She turned from me； until I could see nothing but the coiled wealth of her hair and the bit of white neck between it and the ruff。 We stood so in silence； she with bent head and fingers clasping and unclasping； I leaning against the wall and staring at her； for what seemed a long time。 At least I had time to grow impatient； when she faced me again； and all my irritation vanished in a gasp of admiration。
Oh； she was beautiful； and of a sweetness most alluring and fatal！ Had Medea worn such a look； sure Jason had quite forgot the fleece； and with those eyes Circe had needed no other charm to make men what she would。 Her voice； when she spoke； was no longer imperious； it was low pleading music。 And she held out entreating hands。
〃Have pity on me；〃 she said。 〃Listen kindly； and have pity on me。 You are a strong man and wear a sword。 You can cut your way through trouble and peril。 I am a woman； weak； friendless； helpless。 I was in distress and peril； and I had no arm to save； no knight to fight my battle。 I do not love deceit。 Ah； do not think that I have not hated myself for the lie I have been。 But these forest creatures t
