letters from high latitudes-第8节
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en wintered in the new land； built houses； and prepared to colonize。 For some reason； however； the intention was abandoned； and in process of time these early voyages came to be considered as aprocryphal as the Phoenician circumnavigation of Africa in the time of Pharaoh Necho。
It is quite uncertain how low a latitude in America the Northmen ever reached； but from the description given of the scenery； products； and inhabitants；from the mildness of the weather；and from the length of the day on the 21st of December；it is conjectured they could not have descended much farther than Newfoundland； Nova Scotia； or； at most； the coast of Massachusetts。 ＇Footnote： There is a certain piece of rock on the Taunton river； in Massachusetts； called the Deighton Stone； on which are to be seen rude configurations； for a long time supposed to be a Runic inscription executed by these Scandinavian voyagers； but there can be now no longer any doubt of this inscription； such as it is； being of Indian execution。＇
But to return to more material matters。
Yesterdaynothe day beforein fact I forget the date of the dayI don't believe it had oneall I know is； I have not been in bed since；we dined at the Governor's； though dinner is too modest a term to apply to the entertainment。
The invitation was for four o'clock； and at half…past three we pulled ashore in the gig； I； innocent that I was； in a well…fitting white waistcoat。
The Government House； like all the others； is built of wood； on the top of a hillock； the only accession of dignity it can boast being a little bit of mangy kitchen…garden that hangs down in front to the road； like a soiled apron。 There was no lock； handle； bell； or knocker to the door； but immediately on our approach； a servant presented himself； and ushered us into the room where Count Trampe was waiting to welcome us。 After having been presented to his wife； we proceeded to shake hands with the other guests； most of whom I already knew； and I was glad to find that； at all events in Iceland； people do not consider it necessary to pass the ten minutes which precede the announcement of dinner； as if they had assembled to assist at the opening of their entertainer's will； instead of his oysters。 The company consisted of the chief dignitaries of the island； including the Bishop； the Chief justice； etc。 etc。； some of them in uniform； and all with holiday faces。 As soon as the door was opened； Count Trampe tucked me under his armtwo other gentlemen did the same to my two companionsand we streamed into the dining…room。 The table was very prettily arranged with flowers； plate； and a forest of glasses。 Fitzgerald and I were placed on either side of our host； the other guests； in due order； beyond。 On my left sat the Rector； and opposite； next to Fitz； the chief physician of the island。 Then began a series of transactions of which I have no distinct recollection； in fact； the events of the next five hours recur to me in as great disarray as reappear the vestiges of a country that has been disfigured by some deluge。 If I give you anything like a connected account of what passed； you must thank Sigurdr's more solid temperament； for the Doctor looked quite foolish when I asked himtried to feel my pulsecould not find itand then wrote the following prescription； which I believe to be nothing more than an invoice of the number of bottles he himself disposed of。
＇Footnote： Copy of Dr。 F。's prescription ： vin： claret： iii btls。 vin： champ： iv btls。 vin： sherr： 1/2 btl。 vin： Rheni： ii btls。 aqua vitae viii gls。 trigint： poc： aegrot： cap： quotid： C。 E。 F。 Reik： die Martis； Junii 27。＇
I gather； then； from evidenceinternal and otherwise that the dinner was excellent； and that we were helped in Benjamite proportions； but as before the soup was finished I was already hard at work hob…nobbing with my two neighbours； it is not to be expected I should remember the bill of fare。
With the peculiar manners used in Scandinavian skoal… drinking I was already well acquainted。 In the nice conduct of a wine…glass I knew that I excelled； and having an hereditary horror of heel…taps； I prepared with a firm heart to respond to the friendly provocations of my host。 I only wish you could have seen how his kind face beamed with approval when I chinked my first bumper against his； and having emptied it at a draught； turned it towards him bottom upwards； with the orthodox twist。 Soon； however； things began to look more serious even than I had expected。 I knew well that to refuse a toast； or to half empty your glass； was considered churlish。 I had come determined to accept my host's hospitality as cordially as it was offered。 I was willing； at a pinch； to payer de ma personne； should he not be content with seeing me at his table； I was ready； if need were； to remain UNDER it！ but at the rate we were then going it seemed probable this consummation would take place before the second course： so； after having exchanged a dozen rounds of sherry and champagne with my two neighbours； I pretended not to observe that my glass had been refilled； and； like the sea…captain； who； slipping from between his two opponents； left them to blaze away at each other the long night through；withdrew from the combat。 But it would not do； with untasted bumpers； and dejected faces； they politely waited until I should give the signal for a renewal of HOSTilities； as they well deserved to be called。 Then there came over me a horrid； wicked feeling。 What if I should endeavour to floor the Governor； and so literally turn the tables on him！ It is true I had lived for five…and…twenty years without touching wine；but was not I my great…grandfather's great…grandson； and an Irish peer to boot？ Were there not traditions； too； on the other side of the house； of casks of claret brought up into the dining…room； the door locked； and the key thrown out of the window？ With such antecedents to sustain me； I ought to be able to hold my own against the staunchest toper in Iceland！ So； with a devil glittering in my left eye； I winked defiance right and left； and away we went at it again for another five…and…forty minutes。 At last their fire slackened： I had partially quelled both the Governor and the Rector； and still survived。 It is true I did not feel comfortable； but it was in the neighbourhood of my waistcoat； not my head； I suffered。 〃I am not well； but I will not out；〃 I soliloquized； with Lepidus ＇footnote： Antony and Cleopatra。＇ （Greek） 〃Sos moi ro prepov；〃 I would have added； had I dared。 Still the neck of the banquet was brokenFitzgerald's chair was not yet empty；could we hold out perhaps a quarter of an hour longer； our reputation was established； guess then my horror； when the Icelandic Doctor； shouting his favourite dogma； by way of battle cry； 〃Si trigintis guttis； morbum curare velis； erras；〃 gave the signal for an unexpected onslaught； and the twenty guests poured down on me in succession。 I really thought I should have run away from the house； but the true family blood； I suppose； began to show itself； and with a calmness almost frightful； I received them one by one。
After this began the public toasts。
Although up to this time I had kept a certain portion of my wits about me； the subsequent hours of the entertainment became henceforth developed in a dreamy mystery。 I can perfectly recall the look of the sheaf of glasses that stood before me； six in number； I could draw the pattern of each remember feeling a lazy wonder they should always be full； though I did nothing but empty them；and at last solved the phenomenon by concluding I had become a kind of Danaid； whose punishment； not whose sentence； had been reversed： then suddenly I felt as if I were disembodied；a distant spectator of my own performances； and of the feast at which my person remained seated。 The voices of my host； of the 〃Rector； of the Chief Justice； became thin and low； as though they reached me through a whispering tube； and when I rose to speak； it was as to an audience in another sphere； and in a language of another state of being： yet； however unintelligible to myself； I must have been in some sort understood； for at the end of each sentence； cheers； faint as the roar of waters on a far…off strand； floated towards me； and if I am to believe a report of the proceedings subsequently shown us； I must have become polyglot in my cups。 According to that report it seems the Governor threw off （I wonder he did not do something else）； with the Queen's health in French： to which I responded in the same language。 Then the Rector； in English； proposed my health； under the circumstances a cruel mockery；but to which； ill as I was； I responded very gallantly by drinking to the beaux yeux of the Countess。 Then somebody else drank success to Great Britain； and I see it was followed by really a very learned discourse by Lord D。； in honour of the ancient Icelanders； during which he alluded to their discovery of America； and Columbus' visit。 Then came a couple of speeches in Icelandic； after which the Bishop； in a magnificent Latin oration of some twenty minutes； a second time proposes my health； to which； utterly at my wits' end； I had the audacity to reply in the same language。 As it is f
