the complete writings-3-第73节
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by her fisheries and the training of hardy sailors。 The fishery would support a colony until it had obtained a good foothold； and control of these fisheries would bring more profit to England than any other occupation。 There are other reasons than gain that should induce in England the large ambition of founding a great state； reasons of religion and humanity； erecting towns； peopling countries； informing the ignorant； reforming things unjust； teaching virtue； finding employment for the idle； and giving to the mother country a kingdom to attend her。 But he does not expect the English to indulge in such noble ambitions unless he can show a profit in them。
〃I have not ＇he says＇ been so ill bred but I have tasted of plenty and pleasure； as well as want and misery； nor doth a necessity yet； nor occasion of discontent； force me to these endeavors； nor am I ignorant that small thank I shall have for my pains； or that many would have the world imagine them to be of great judgment； that can but blemish these my designs； by their witty objections and detractions； yet （I hope） my reasons and my deeds will so prevail with some； that I shall not want employment in these affairs to make the most blind see his own senselessness and incredulity； hoping that gain will make them affect that which religion； charity and the common good cannot。。。。 For I am not so simple to think that ever any other motive than wealth will ever erect there a Commonwealth； or draw company from their ease and humours at home； to stay in New England to effect any purpose。〃
But lest the toils of the new settlement should affright his readers； our author draws an idyllic picture of the simple pleasures which nature and liberty afford here freely； but which cost so dearly in England。 Those who seek vain pleasure in England take more pains to enjoy it than they would spend in New England to gain wealth； and yet have not half such sweet content。 What pleasure can be more； he exclaims； when men are tired of planting vines and fruits and ordering gardens； orchards and building to their mind； than 〃to recreate themselves before their owne doore； in their owne boates upon the Sea； where man； woman and child； with a small hooke and line； by angling； may take divers sorts of excellent fish at their pleasures？ And is it not pretty sport； to pull up two pence； six pence； and twelve pence as fast as you can hale and veere a line？。。。 And what sport doth yield more pleasing content； and less hurt or charge than angling with a hooke； and crossing the sweet ayre from Isle to Isle； over the silent streams of a calme Sea？ wherein the most curious may finde pleasure； profit and content。〃
Smith made a most attractive picture of the fertility of the soil and the fruitfulness of the country。 Nothing was too trivial to be mentioned。 〃There are certain red berries called Alkermes which is worth ten shillings a pound； but of these hath been sold for thirty or forty shillings the pound； may yearly be gathered a good quantity。〃 John Josselyn； who was much of the time in New England from 1638 to 1671 and saw more marvels there than anybody else ever imagined； says； 〃I have sought for this berry he speaks of； as a man should for a needle in a bottle of hay； but could never light upon it； unless that kind of Solomon's seal called by the English treacle… berry should be it。〃
Towards the last of August； 1614； Smith was back at Plymouth。 He had now a project of a colony which he imparted to his friend Sir Ferdinand Gorges。 It is difficult from Smith's various accounts to say exactly what happened to him next。 It would appear that he declined to go with an expedition of four ship which the Virginia company despatched in 1615； and incurred their ill…will by refusing； but he considered himself attached to the western or Plymouth company。 Still he experienced many delays from them： they promised four ships to be ready at Plymouth； on his arrival 〃he found no such matter；〃 and at last he embarked in a private expedition； to found a colony at the expense of Gorges； Dr。 Sutliffe； Bishop o Exeter； and a few gentlemen in London。 In January 1615； he sailed from Plymouth with a ship Of 20 tons； and another of 50。 His intention was； after the fishing was over； to remain in New England with only fifteen men and begin a colony。
These hopes were frustrated。 When only one hundred and twenty leagues out all the masts of his vessels were carried away in a storm； and it was only by diligent pumping that he was able to keep his craft afloat and put back to Plymouth。 Thence on the 24th of June he made another start in a vessel of sixty tons with thirty men。 But ill…luck still attended him。 He had a queer adventure with pirates。 Lest the envious world should not believe his own story； Smith had Baker； his steward； and several of his crew examined before a magistrate at Plymouth； December 8； 1615； who support his story by their testimony up to a certain point。
It appears that he was chased two days by one Fry； an English pirate； in a greatly superior vessel； heavily armed and manned。 By reason of the foul weather the pirate could not board Smith； and his master； mate； and pilot； Chambers； Minter； and Digby； importuned him to surrender； and that he should send a boat to the pirate； as Fry had no boat。 This singular proposal Smith accepted on condition Fry would not take anything that would cripple his voyage； or send more men aboard （Smith furnishing the boat） than he allowed。 Baker confessed that the quartermaster and Chambers received gold of the pirates； for what purpose it does not appear。 They came on board； but Smith would not come out of his cabin to entertain them； 〃although a great many of them had been his sailors； and for his love would have wafted us to the Isle of Flowers。〃
Having got rid of the pirate Fry by this singular manner of receiving gold from him； Smith's vessel was next chased by two French pirates at Fayal。 Chambers； Minter； and Digby again desired Smith to yield； but he threatened to blow up his ship if they did not stand to the defense； and so they got clear of the French pirates。 But more were to come。
At 〃Flowers〃 they were chased by four French men…of…war。 Again Chambers； Minter； and Digby importuned Smith to yield； and upon the consideration that he could speak French； and that they were Protestants of Rochelle and had the King's commission to take Spaniards； Portuguese； and pirates； Smith； with some of his company； went on board one of the French ships。 The next day the French plundered Smith's vessel and distributed his crew among their ships； and for a week employed his boat in chasing all the ships that came in sight。 At the end of this bout they surrendered her again to her crew； with victuals but no weapons。 Smith exhorted his officers to proceed on their voyage for fish； either to New England or Newfoundland。 This the officers declined to do at first； but the soldiers on board compelled them； and thereupon Captain Smith busied himself in collecting from the French fleet and sending on board his bark various commodities that belonged to herpowder； match； books； instruments； his sword and dagger； bedding； aquavite； his commission； apparel； and many other things。 These articles Chambers and the others divided among themselves； leaving Smith； who was still on board the Frenchman； only his waistcoat and breeches。 The next day； the weather being foul； they ran so near the Frenchman as to endanger their yards； and Chambers called to Captain Smith to come aboard or he would leave him。 Smith ordered him to send a boat； Chambers replied that his boat was split； which was a lie； and told him to come off in the Frenchman's boat。 Smith said he could not command that； and so they parted。 The English bark returned to Plymouth； and Smith was left on board the French man…of…war。
Smith himself says that Chambers had persuaded the French admiral that if Smith was let to go on his boat he would revenge himself on the French fisheries on the Banks。
For over two months； according to his narration； Smith was kept on board the Frenchman； cruising about for prizes； 〃to manage their fight against the Spaniards； and be in a prison when they took any English。〃 One of their prizes was a sugar caraval from Brazil； another was a West Indian worth two hundred thousand crowns； which had on board fourteen coffers of wedges of silver； eight thousand royals of eight； and six coffers of the King of Spain's treasure； besides the pillage and rich coffers of many rich passengers。 The French captain； breaking his promise to put Smith ashore at Fayal； at length sent him towards France on the sugar caravel。 When near the coast； in a night of terrible storm； Smith seized a boat and escaped。 It was a tempest that wrecked all the vessels on the coast； and for twelve hours Smith was drifting about in his open boat； in momentary expectation of sinking； until he was cast upon the oozy isle of 〃Charowne；〃 where the fowlers picked him up half dead with water； cold； and hunger； and he got to Rochelle； where he made complaint to the Judge of Admiralty。 Here he learned that the rich prize had been wrecked in the storm and the captain and half the crew drowned。 But from the wreck of t
