old christmas-第6节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


lay　in　ruins　on　the　floor。

The　party　now　broke　up　for　the　night　with　the　kind…hearted　old　custom　of　shaking　hands。　　As　I　passed　through　the　hall；　on　the　way　to　my　chamber；　the　dying　embers　of　the　Yule…clog　still　sent　forth　a　dusky　glow；　and　had　it　not　been　the　season　when　〃no　spirit　dares　stir　abroad；〃　I　should　have　been　half　tempted　to　steal　from　my　room　at　midnight；　and　peep　whether　the　fairies　might　not　be　at　their　revels　about　the　hearth。

My　chamber　was　in　the　old　part　of　the　mansion；　the　ponderous　furniture　of　which　might　have　been　fabricated　in　the　days　of　the　giants。　　The　room　was　panelled　with　cornices　of　heavy　carved　work；　in　which　flowers　and　grotesque　faces　were　strangely　intermingled；　and　a　row　of　black　looking　portraits　stared　mournfully　at　me　from　the　walls。　　The　bed　was　of　rich　though　faded　damask；　with　a　lofty　tester；　and　stood　in　a　niche　opposite　a　bow　window。　　I　had　scarcely　got　into　bed　when　a　strain　of　music　seemed　to　break　forth　in　the　air　just　below　the　window。　　I　listened；　and　found　it　proceeded　from　a　band；　which　I　concluded　to　be　the　waits　from　some　neighbouring　village。　　They　went　round　the　house；　playing　under　the　windows。

I　drew　aside　the　curtains；　to　hear　them　more　distinctly。　　The　moonbeams　fell　through　the　upper　part　of　the　casement；　partially　lighting　up　the　antiquated　apartment。　　The　sounds；　as　they　receded；　became　more　soft　and　aerial；　and　seemed　to　accord　with　quiet　and　moonlight。　　I　listened　and　listenedthey　became　more　and　more　tender　and　remote；　and；　as　they　gradually　died　away；　my　head　sank　upon　the　pillow　and　I　fell　asleep。



Christmas　Day


Dark　and　dull　night；　flie　hence　away；　And　give　the　honour　to　this　day　That　Sees　December　turn'd　to　May。　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　Why　does　the　chilling　winter's　morne　Smile　like　a　field　beset　with　corn？　Or　smell　like　to　a　meade　new…shorne；　Thus　on　the　sudden？Come　and　see　The　cause　why　things　thus　fragrant　be。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HERRICK。


When　I　awoke　the　next　morning；　it　seemed　as　if　all　the　events　of　the　preceding　evening　had　been　a　dream；　and　nothing　but　the　identity　of　the　ancient　chamber　convinced　me　of　their　reality。　While　I　lay　musing　on　my　pillow；　I　heard　the　sound　of　little　feet　pattering　outside　of　the　door；　and　a　whispering　consultation。　Presently　a　choir　of　small　voices　chanted　forth　an　old　Christmas　carol；　the　burden　of　which　was：


　　　　　〃Rejoice；　our　Saviour　he　was　born　　　　　　　On　Christmas　Day　in　the　morning。〃


I　rose　softly；　slipped　on　my　clothes；　opened　the　door　suddenly；　and　beheld　one　of　the　most　beautiful　little　fairy　groups　that　a　painter　could　imagine。

It　consisted　of　a　boy　and　two　girls；　the　eldest　not　more　than　six；　and　lovely　as　seraphs。　　They　were　going　the　rounds　of　the　house；　and　singing　at　every　chamber…door；　but　my　sudden　appearance　frightened　them　into　mute　bashfulness。　　They　remained　for　a　moment　playing　on　their　lips　with　their　fingers；　and　now　and　then　stealing　a　shy　glance；　from　under　their　eyebrows；　until；　as　if　by　one　impulse；　they　scampered　away；　and　as　they　turned　an　angle　of　the　gallery；　I　heard　them　laughing　in　triumph　at　their　escape。

Everything　conspired　to　produce　kind　and　happy　feelings　in　this　stronghold　of　old…fashioned　hospitality。　　The　window　of　my　chamber　looked　out　upon　what　in　summer　would　have　been　a　beautiful　landscape。　　There　was　a　sloping　lawn；　a　fine　stream　winding　at　the　foot　of　it；　and　a　tract　of　park　beyond；　with　noble　clumps　of　trees；　and　herds　of　deer。　　At　a　distance　was　a　neat　hamlet；　with　the　smoke　from　the　cottage　chimneys　hanging　over　it；　and　a　church　with　its　dark　spire　in　strong　relief　against　the　clear；　cold　sky。　　The　house　was　surrounded　with　evergreens；　according　to　the　English　custom；　which　would　have　given　almost　an　appearance　of　summer；　but　the　morning　was　extremely　frosty；　the　light　vapour　of　the　preceding　evening　had　been　precipitated　by　the　cold；　and　covered　all　the　trees　and　every　blade　of　grass　with　its　fine　crystallisations。　　The　rays　of　a　bright　morning　sun　had　a　dazzling　effect　among　the　glittering　foliage。　　A　robin；　perched　upon　the　top　of　a　mountain…　ash　that　hung　its　clusters　of　red　berries　just　before　my　window；　was　basking　himself　in　the　sunshine；　and　piping　a　few　querulous　notes；　and　a　peacock　was　displaying　all　the　glories　of　his　train；　and　strutting　with　the　pride　and　gravity　of　a　Spanish　grandee　on　the　terrace…walk　below。

I　had　scarcely　dressed　myself；　when　a　servant　appeared　to　invite　me　to　family　prayers。　　He　showed　me　the　way　to　a　small　chapel　in　the　old　wing　of　the　house；　where　I　found　the　principal　part　of　the　family　already　assembled　in　a　kind　of　gallery；　furnished　with　cushions；　hassocks；　and　large　prayer…books；　the　servants　were　seated　on　benches　below。　　The　old　gentleman　read　prayers　from　a　desk　in　front　of　the　gallery；　and　Master　Simon　acted　as　clerk；　and　made　the　responses；　and　I　must　do　him　the　justice　to　say　that　he　acquitted　himself　with　great　gravity　and　decorum。

The　service　was　followed　by　a　Christmas　carol；　which　Mr。　Bracebridge　himself　had　constructed　from　a　poem　of　his　favourite　author；　Herrick；　and　it　had　been　adapted　to　an　old　church　melody　by　Master　Simon。　　As　there　were　several　good　voices　among　the　household；　the　effect　was　extremely　pleasing；　but　I　was　particularly　gratified　by　the　exaltation　of　heart；　and　sudden　sally　of　grateful　feeling；　with　which　the　worthy　Squire　delivered　one　stanza：　his　eyes　glistening；　and　his　voice　rambling　out　of　all　the　bounds　of　time　and　tune：


　　　〃'Tis　thou　that　crown'st　my　glittering　hearth　　　　　　　　With　guiltlesse　mirth；　　　　　　And　giv'st　me　wassaile　bowles　to　drink；　　　　　　　　Spiced　to　the　brink：　　　　　　Lord；　'tis　Thy　plenty…dropping　hand；　　　　　　　　That　soiles　my　land；　　　　　　And　giv'st　me　for　my　bushell　sowne；　　　　　　　　Twice　ten　for　one。〃


I　afterwards　understood　that　early　morning　service　was　read　on　every　Sunday　and　saint's　day　throughout　the　year；　either　by　Mr。　Bracebridge　or　by　some　member　of　the　family。　　It　was　once　almost　universally　the　case　at　the　seats　of　the　nobility　and　gentry　of　England；　and　it　is　much　to　be　regretted　that　the　custom　is　fallen　into　neglect；　for　the　dullest　observer　must　be　sensible　of　the　order　and　serenity　prevalent　in　those　households；　where　the　occasional　exercise　of　a　beautiful　form　of　worship　in　the　morning　gives；　as　it　were；　the　key…note　to　every　temper　for　the　day；　and　attunes　every　spirit　to　harmony。

Our　breakfast　consisted　of　what　the　Squire　denominated　true　old　English　fare。　　He　indulged　in　some　bitter　lamentations　over　modern　breakfasts　of　tea…and…toast；　which　he　censured　as　among　the　causes　of　modern　effeminacy　and　weak　nerves；　and　the　decline　of　old　English　heartiness；　and　though　he　admitted　them　to　his　table　to　suit　the　palates　of　his　guests；　yet　there　was　a　brave　display　of　cold　meats；　wine；　and　ale；　on　the　sideboard。

After　breakfast　I　walked　about　the　grounds　with　Frank　Bracebridge　and　Master　Simon；　or　Mr。　Simon　as　he　was　called　by　everybody　but　the　Squire。　　We　were　escorted　by　a　number　of　gentleman…like　dogs；　that　seemed　loungers　about　the　establishment；　from　the　frisking　spaniel　to　the　steady　old　staghound；　the　last　of　which　was　of　a　race　that　had　been　in　the　family　time　out　of　mind：　they　were　all　obedient　to　a　dog…whistle　which　hung　to　Master　Simon's　buttonhole；　and　in　the　midst　of　their　gambols　would　glance　an　eye　occasionally　upon　a　small　switch　he　carried　in　his　hand。

The　old　mansion　had　a　still　more　venerable　look　in　the　yellow　sunshine　than　by　pale　moonlight；　and　I　could　not　but　feel　the　force　of　the　Squire's　idea；　that　the　formal　terraces；　heavily　moulded　balustrades；　and　clipped　yew…trees；　carried　with　them　an　air　of　proud　aristocracy。　　There　appeared　to　be　an　unusual　number　of　peacocks　about　the　place；　and　I　was　making　some　remarks　upon　what　I　termed　a　flock　of　them；　that　were　basking　under　a　sunny　wall；　when　I　was　gently　corrected　in　my　phraseology　by　Master　Simon；　who　told　me　that；　according　to　the　most　ancient　and　approved　treatise　on　hunting；　I　must　say　a　MUSTER　of　peacocks。　　〃In　the　same　way；〃　added　he；　with　a　slight　air　of　pedantry；　〃we　say　a　flight　of　doves　or　swallows；　a　bevy　of　quails；　a　herd　of　deer；　of　wrens；　or　cranes；　a　skulk　of　foxes；　or　a　building　of　rooks。〃　　He　went　on　to　inform　me；　that；　according　to　Sir　Anthony　Fitzherbert；　we　ought　to　ascribe；　to　this　bird　〃both　understanding　and　glory；　for；　being　praised；　he　will　presently　set　up　his　tail　chiefly　against　the　sun；　to　the　intent　you　may　the　better　behold　the　beauty　thereof。　　But　at　the　fall　of　the　leaf；　when　his　tail　falleth；　he　will　mourn　and　hide　himself　in　corners；　till　his　tail　come　again　as　it　was。〃

I　could　not　help　smiling　at　this　display　of　small　erudition　on　so　whimsical　a　subject；　but　I　found　that　the　peacocks　were　birds　of　some　consequence　at　the　Hall；　for　Frank　Bracebridge　informed　me　that　they　were　great　favourites　with　his　father；　who　was　extremely　careful　to　keep　up　the　breed；　partly　because　they　belonged　to　chivalry；　and　were　in　great　request　at　the　stately　banquets　of　the　olden　time；　and　partly　because　they　had　a　pomp　and　magnificence　about　them；　highly　becoming　an　old　family　mansion。　　Nothing；　he　was　accustomed　to　say；　had　an　air　of　greater　state　and　dignity　than　a　peacock　perched　upon　an　antique　stone　balust