westward ho-第11节

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The　speaker　was　a　tall　and　slim　young　man；　some　five…and…twenty　years　old；　of　so　rare　and　delicate　a　beauty；　that　it　seemed　that　some　Greek　statue；　or　rather　one　of　those　pensive　and　pious　knights　whom　the　old　German　artists　took　delight　to　paint；　had　condescended　to　tread　awhile　this　work…day　earth　in　living　flesh　and　blood。　　The　forehead　was　very　lofty　and　smooth；　the　eyebrows　thin　and　greatly　arched　（the　envious　gallants　whispered　that　something　at　least　of　their　curve　was　due　to　art；　as　was　also　the　exceeding　smoothness　of　those　delicate　cheeks）。　　The　face　was　somewhat　long　and　thin；　the　nose　aquiline；　and　the　languid　mouth　showed；　perhaps；　too　much　of　the　ivory　upper　teeth；　but　the　most　striking　point　of　the　speaker's　appearance　was　the　extraordinary　brilliancy　of　his　complexion；　which　shamed　with　its　whiteness　that　of　all　fair　ladies　round；　save　where　open　on　each　cheek　a　bright　red　spot　gave　warning；　as　did　the　long　thin　neck　and　the　taper　hands；　of　sad　possibilities；　perhaps　not　far　off；　possibilities　which　all　saw　with　an　inward　sigh；　except　she　whose　doting　glances；　as　well　as　her　resemblance　to　the　fair　youth；　proclaimed　her　at　once　his　mother；　Mrs。　Leigh　herself。

Master　Frank；　for　he　it　was；　was　dressed　in　the　very　extravagance　of　the　fashion；not　so　much　from　vanity；　as　from　that　delicate　instinct　of　self…respect　which　would　keep　some　men　spruce　and　spotless　from　one　year's　end　to　another　upon　a　desert　island；　〃for；〃　as　Frank　used　to　say　in　his　sententious　way；　〃Mr。　Frank　Leigh　at　least　beholds　me；　though　none　else　be　by；　and　why　should　I　be　more　discourteous　to　him　than　I　permit　others　to　be？　　Be　sure　that　he　who　is　a　Grobian　in　his　own　company；　will；　sooner　or　later；　become　a　Grobian　in　that　of　his　friends。〃

So　Mr。　Frank　was　arrayed　spotlessly；　but　after　the　latest　fashion　of　Milan；　not　in　trunk　hose　and　slashed　sleeves；　nor　in　〃French　standing　collar；　treble　quadruple　daedalian　ruff；　or　stiff…necked　rabato；　that　had　more　arches　for　pride；　propped　up　with　wire　and　timber；　than　five　London　Bridges；〃　but　in　a　close…fitting　and　perfectly　plain　suit　of　dove…color；　which　set　off　cunningly　the　delicate　proportions　of　his　figure；　and　the　delicate　hue　of　his　complexion；　which　was　shaded　from　the　sun　by　a　broad　dove…colored　Spanish　hat；　with　feather　to　match；　looped　up　over　the　right　ear　with　a　pearl　brooch；　and　therein　a　crowned　E；　supposed　by　the　damsels　of　Bideford　to　stand　for　Elizabeth；　which　was　whispered　to　be　the　gift　of　some　most　illustrious　hand。　　This　same　looping　up　was　not　without　good　reason　and　purpose　prepense；　thereby　all　the　world　had　full　view　of　a　beautiful　little　ear；　which　looked　as　if　it　had　been　cut　of　cameo；　and　made；　as　my　Lady　Rich　once　told　him；　〃to　hearken　only　to　the　music　of　the　spheres；　or　to　the　chants　of　cherubim。〃　　Behind　the　said　ear　was　stuck　a　fresh　rose；　and　the　golden　hair　was　all　drawn　smoothly　back　and　round　to　the　left　temple；　whence；　tied　with　a　pink　ribbon　in　a　great　true　lover's　knot；　a　mighty　love…lock；　〃curled　as　it　had　been　laid　in　press；〃　rolled　down　low　upon　his　bosom。　　Oh；　Frank！　Frank！　have　you　come　out　on　purpose　to　break　the　hearts　of　all　Bideford　burghers'　daughters？　　And　if　so；　did　you　expect　to　further　that　triumph　by　dyeing　that　pretty　little　pointed　beard　（with　shame　I　report　it）　of　a　bright　vermilion？　　But　we　know　you　better；　Frank；　and　so　does　your　mother；　and　you　are　but　a　masquerading　angel　after　all；　in　spite　of　your　knots　and　your　perfumes；　and　the　gold　chain　round　your　neck　which　a　German　princess　gave　you；　and　the　emerald　ring　on　your　right　fore…finger　which　Hatton　gave　you；　and　the　pair　of　perfumed　gloves　in　your　left　which　Sidney's　sister　gave　you；　and　the　silver…hilted　Toledo　which　an　Italian　marquis　gave　you　on　a　certain　occasion　of　which　you　never　choose　to　talk；　like　a　prudent　and　modest　gentleman　as　you　are；　but　of　which　the　gossips　talk；　of　course；　all　the　more；　and　whisper　that　you　saved　his　life　from　bravoesa　dozen；　at　the　least；　and　had　that　sword　for　your　reward；　and　might　have　had　his　beautiful　sister's　hand　beside；　and　I　know　not　what　else；　but　that　you　had　so　many　lady…loves　already　that　you　were　loath　to　burden　yourself　with　a　fresh　one。　　That；　at　least；　we　know　to　be　a　lie；　fair　Frank；　for　your　heart　is　as　pure　this　day　as　when　you　knelt　in　your　little　crib　at　Burrough；　and　said


　　　　　〃Four　corners　to　my　bed　　　　　　　Four　angels　round　my　head；　　　　　　　Matthew；　Mark；　Luke；　and　John；　　　　　　　Bless　the　bed　that　I　lie　on。〃


And　who　could　doubt　it　（if　being　pure　themselves；　they　have　instinctive　sympathy　with　what　is　pure）；　who　ever　looked　into　those　great　deep　blue　eyes　of　yours；　〃the　black　fringed　curtains　of　whose　azure　lids；〃　usually　down…dropt　as　if　in　deepest　thought；　you　raise　slowly；　almost　wonderingly　each　time　you　speak；　as　if　awakening　from　some　fair　dream　whose　home　is　rather　in　your　platonical　〃eternal　world　of　supra…sensible　forms；〃　than　on　that　work…day　earth　wherein　you　nevertheless　acquit　yourself　so　well？　　ThereI　must　stop　describing　you；　or　I　shall　catch　the　infection　of　your　own　euphuism；　and　talk　of　you　as　you　would　have　talked　of　Sidney　or　of　Spenser；　or　of　that　Swan　of　Avon；　whose　song　had　just　begun　when　yoursbut　I　will　not　anticipate；　my　Lady　Bath　is　waiting　to　give　you　her　rejoinder。

〃Ah；　my　silver…tongued　scholar！　and　are　you；　then；　the　poet？　or　have　you　been　drawing　on　the　inexhaustible　bank　of　your　friend　Raleigh；　or　my　cousin　Sidney？　or　has　our　new　Cygnet　Immerito　lent　you　a　few　unpublished　leaves　from　some　fresh　Shepherd's　Calendar？〃

〃Had　either；　madam；　of　that　cynosural　triad　been　within　call　of　my　most　humble　importunities；　your　ears　had　been　delectate　with　far　nobler　melody。〃

〃But　not　our　eyes　with　fairer　faces；　eh？　　Well；　you　have　chosen　your　nymphs；　and　had　good　store　from　whence　to　pick；　I　doubt　not。　Few　young　Dulcineas　round　but　must　have　been　glad　to　take　service　under　so　renowned　a　captain？〃

〃The　only　difficulty；　gracious　countess；　has　been　to　know　where　to　fix　the　wandering　choice　of　my　bewildered　eyes；　where　all　alike　are　fair；　and　all　alike　facund。〃

〃We　understand；〃　said　she；　smiling；


　　　　　〃Dan　Cupid；　choosing　'midst　his　mother's　graces；　　　　　　　Himself　more　fair；　made　scorn　of　fairest　faces。〃


The　young　scholar　capped　her　distich　forthwith；　and　bowing　to　her　with　a　meaning　look；


　　　　〃'Then；　Goddess；　turn；'　he　cried；　'and　veil　thy　light；　　　　　　　Blinded　by　thine；　what　eyes　can　choose　aright？'〃


〃Go；　saucy　sir；〃　said　my　lady；　in　high　glee：　〃the　pageant　stays　your　supreme　pleasure。〃

And　away　went　Mr。　Frank　as　master　of　the　revels；　to　bring　up　the　'prentices'　pageant；　while；　for　his　sake；　the　nymph　of　Torridge　was　forgotten　for　awhile　by　all　young　dames；　and　most　young　gentlemen：　and　his　mother　heaved　a　deep　sigh；　which　Lady　Bath　overhearing

〃What？　in　the　dumps；　good　madam；　while　all　are　rejoicing　in　your　joy？　　Are　you　afraid　that　we　court…dames　shall　turn　your　Adonis's　brain　for　him？〃

〃I　do；　indeed；　fear　lest　your　condescension　should　make　him　forget　that　he　is　only　a　poor　squire's　orphan。〃

〃I　will　warrant　him　never　to　forget　aught　that　he　should　recollect；〃　said　my　Lady　Bath。

And　she　spoke　truly。　　But　soon　Frank's　silver　voice　was　heard　calling　out

〃Room　there；　good　people；　for　the　gallant　'prentice　lads！〃

And　on　they　came；　headed　by　a　giant　of　buckram　and　pasteboard　armor；　forth　of　whose　stomach　looked；　like　a　clock…face　in　a　steeple；　a　human　visage；　to　be　greeted；　as　was　the　fashion　then；　by　a　volley　of　quips　and　puns　from　high　and　low。

Young　Mr。　William　Cary；　of　Clovelly；　who　was　the　wit　of　those　parts；　opened　the　fire　by　asking　him　whether　he　were　Goliath；　Gogmagog；　or　Grantorto　in　the　romance；　for　giants'　names　always　began　with　a　G。　　To　which　the　giant's　stomach　answered　pretty　surlily

〃Mine　don't；　I　begin　with　an　O。〃

〃Then　thou　criest　out　before　thou　art　hurt；　O　cowardly　giant！〃

〃Let　me　out；　lads；〃　quoth　the　irascible　visage；　struggling　in　his　buckram　prison；　〃and　I　soon　show　him　whether　I　be　a　coward。〃

〃Nay；　if　thou　gettest　out　of　thyself；　thou　wouldst　be　beside　thyself；　and　so　wert　but　a　mad　giant。〃

〃And　that　were　pity；〃　said　Lady　Bath；　〃for　by　the　romances；　giants　have　never　overmuch　wit　to　spare。〃

〃Mercy；　dear　lady！〃　said　Frank；　〃and　let　the　giant　begin　with　an　O。〃

〃A　〃

〃A　false　start；　giant！　you　were　to　begin　with　an　O。〃

〃I'll　make　you　end　with　an　O；　Mr。　William　Cary！〃　roared　the　testy　tower　of　buckram。

〃And　so　I　do；　for　I　end　with　'Fico！'〃

〃Be　mollified；　sweet　giant；〃　said　Frank；　〃and　spare　the　rash　youth　of　yon　foolish　knight。　　Shall　elephants　catch　flies；　or　Hurlo…　Thrumbo　stain　his　club　with　brains　of　Dagonet　the　jester？　　Be　mollified；　leave　thy　caverned　grumblings；　like　Etna　when　its　windy　wrath　is　past；　and　discourse　eloquence　from　thy　central　omphalos；　like　Pythoness　ventriloquizing。〃

〃If　you　do　begin　laughing　at　me　too；　Mr。　Leigh　〃　said　the　giant's　clock…face；　in　a　piteous　tone。

〃I　laugh　not。　　Art　thou　not　Ordulf　the　earl；　and　I　thy　humblest　squire？　　Speak　up；　my　lord；　your　cousin；　my　Lady　Bath；　commands　you。〃

And　at　last　the　giant　began：


　　　　　〃A　giant　I；　Earl　Ordulf　men　me　call；　　　　　　　'Gainst　Paynim　foes　Devonia's　champion　tall；　　　　　　　In　single　fight　six　thousand　Turks　I　slew；　　　　　　　Pul