westward ho-第8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！


efore　now；　sent　many　a　lad　to　far　worse　places：　first；　because　of　an　old　schoolmaster；　secondly；　because　of　a　young　beauty。　　I　will　take　them　in　order　and　explain。

Vindex　Brimblecombe；　whilom　servitor　of　Exeter　College；　Oxford　（commonly　called　Sir　Vindex；　after　the　fashion　of　the　times）；　was；　in　those　days；　master　of　the　grammar…school　of　Bideford。　　He　was；　at　root；　a　godly　and　kind…hearted　pedant　enough；　but；　like　most　schoolmasters　in　the　old　flogging　days；　had　his　heart　pretty　well　hardened　by　long；　baneful　license　to　inflict　pain　at　will　on　those　weaker　than　himself；　a　power　healthful　enough　for　the　victim　（for；　doubtless；　flogging　is　the　best　of　all　punishments；　being　not　only　the　shortest；　but　also　a　mere　bodily　and　animal；　and　not；　like　most　of　our　new…fangled　〃humane〃　punishments；　a　spiritual　and　fiendish　torture）；　but　for　the　executioner　pretty　certain　to　eradicate；　from　all　but　the　noblest　spirits；　every　trace　of　chivalry　and　tenderness　for　the　weak；　as　well；　often；　as　all　self…control　and　command　of　temper。　　Be　that　as　it　may；　old　Sir　Vindex　had　heart　enough　to　feel　that　it　was　now　his　duty　to　take　especial　care　of　the　fatherless　boy　to　whom　he　tried　to　teach　his　qui；　quae；　quod：　but　the　only　outcome　of　that　new　sense　of　responsibility　was　a　rapid　increase　in　the　number　of　floggings；　which　rose　from　about　two　a　week　to　one　per　diem；　not　without　consequences　to　the　pedagogue　himself。

For　all　this　while；　Amyas　had　never　for　a　moment　lost　sight　of　his　darling　desire　for　a　sea…life；　and　when　he　could　not　wander　on　the　quay　and　stare　at　the　shipping；　or　go　down　to　the　pebble…ridge　at　Northam；　and　there　sit；　devouring；　with　hungry　eyes；　the　great　expanse　of　ocean；　which　seemed　to　woo　him　outward　into　boundless　space；　he　used　to　console　himself；　in　school…hours；　by　drawing　ships　and　imaginary　charts　upon　his　slate；　instead　of　minding　his　〃humanities。〃

Now　it　befell；　upon　an　afternoon；　that　he　was　very　busy　at　a　map；　or　bird's…eye　view　of　an　island；　whereon　was　a　great　castle；　and　at　the　gate　thereof　a　dragon；　terrible　to　see；　while　in　the　foreground　came　that　which　was　meant　for　a　gallant　ship；　with　a　great　flag　aloft；　but　which；　by　reason　of　the　forest　of　lances　with　which　it　was　crowded；　looked　much　more　like　a　porcupine　carrying　a　sign…　post；　and；　at　the　roots　of　those　lances；　many　little　round　o's；　whereby　was　signified　the　heads　of　Amyas　and　his　schoolfellows；　who　were　about　to　slay　that　dragon；　and　rescue　the　beautiful　princess　who　dwelt　in　that　enchanted　tower。　　To　behold　which　marvel　of　art；　all　the　other　boys　at　the　same　desk　must　needs　club　their　heads　together；　and　with　the　more　security；　because　Sir　Vindex；　as　was　his　custom　after　dinner；　was　lying　back　in　his　chair；　and　slept　the　sleep　of　the　just。

But　when　Amyas；　by　special　instigation　of　the　evil　spirit　who　haunts　successful　artists；　proceeded　further　to　introduce；　heedless　of　perspective；　a　rock；　on　which　stood　the　lively　portraiture　of　Sir　Vindexnose；　spectacles；　gown；　and　all；　and　in　his　hand　a　brandished　rod；　while　out　of　his　mouth　a　label　shrieked　after　the　runaways；　〃You　come　back！〃　while　a　similar　label　replied　from　the　gallant　bark；　〃Good…bye；　master！〃　the　shoving　and　tittering　rose　to　such　a　pitch　that　Cerberus　awoke；　and　demanded　sternly　what　the　noise　was　about。　　To　which；　of　course；　there　was　no　answer。

〃You；　of　course；　Leigh！　　Come　up；　sir；　and　show　me　your　exercitation。〃

Now　of　Amyas's　exercitation　not　a　word　was　written；　and；　moreover；　he　was　in　the　very　article　of　putting　the　last　touches　to　Mr。　Brimblecombe's　portrait。　　Whereon；　to　the　astonishment　of　all　hearers；　he　made　answer

〃All　in　good　time；　sir！〃　and　went　on　drawing。

In　good　time；　sir！　　Insolent；　veni　et　vapula！〃

But　Amyas　went　on　drawing。

〃Come　hither；　sirrah；　or　I'll　flay　you　alive！〃

〃Wait　a　bit！〃　answered　Amyas。

The　old　gentleman　jumped　up；　ferula　in　hand；　and　darted　across　the　school；　and　saw　himself　upon　the　fatal　slate。

〃Proh　flagitium！　what　have　we　here；　villain？〃　and　clutching　at　his　victim；　he　raised　the　cane。　　Whereupon；　with　a　serene　and　cheerful　countenance；　up　rose　the　mighty　form　of　Amyas　Leigh；　a　head　and　shoulders　above　his　tormentor；　and　that　slate　descended　on　the　bald　coxcomb　of　Sir　Vindex　Brimblecombe；　with　so　shrewd　a　blow　that　slate　and　pate　cracked　at　the　same　instant；　and　the　poor　pedagogue　dropped　to　the　floor；　and　lay　for　dead。

After　which　Amyas　arose；　and　walked　out　of　the　school；　and　so　quietly　home；　and　having　taken　counsel　with　himself；　went　to　his　mother；　and　said；　〃Please；　mother；　I've　broken　schoolmaster's　head。〃

〃Broken　his　head；　thou　wicked　boy！〃　shrieked　the　poor　widow；　〃what　didst　do　that　for？〃

〃I　can't　tell；〃　said　Amyas；　penitently；　〃I　couldn't　help　it。　　It　looked　so　smooth；　and　bald；　and　round；　andyou　know？〃

〃I　know？　　Oh；　wicked　boy！　thou　hast　given　place　to　the　devil；　and　now；　perhaps；　thou　hast　killed　him。〃

〃Killed　the　devil？〃　asked　Amyas；　hopefully　but　doubtfully。

〃No；　killed　the　schoolmaster；　sirrah！　　Is　he　dead？〃

〃I　don't　think　he's　dead；　his　coxcomb　sounded　too　hard　for　that。　But　had　not　I　better　go　and　tell　Sir　Richard？〃

The　poor　mother　could　hardly　help　laughing；　in　spite　of　her　terror；　at　Amyas's　perfect　coolness　（which　was　not　in　the　least　meant　for　insolence）；　and　being　at　her　wits'　end；　sent　him；　as　usual；　to　his　godfather。

Amyas　rehearsed　his　story　again；　with　pretty　nearly　the　same　exclamations；　to　which　he　gave　pretty　nearly　the　same　answers；　and　then〃What　was　he　going　to　do　to　you；　then；　sirrah？〃

〃Flog　me；　because　I　could　not　write　my　exercise；　and　so　drew　a　picture　of　him　instead。〃

〃What！　art　afraid　of　being　flogged？〃

〃Not　a　bit；　besides；　I'm　too　much　accustomed　to　it；　but　I　was　busy；　and　he　was　in　such　a　desperate　hurry；　and；　oh；　sir；　if　you　had　but　seen　his　bald　head；　you　would　have　broken　it　yourself！〃

Now　Sir　Richard　had；　twenty　years　ago；　in　like　place；　and　very　much　in　like　manner；　broken　the　head　of　Vindex　Brimblecombe's　father；　schoolmaster　in　his　day；　and　therefore　had　a　precedent　to　direct　him；　and　he　answered〃Amyas；　sirrah！　those　who　cannot　obey　will　never　be　fit　to　rule。　　If　thou　canst　not　keep　discipline　now；　thou　wilt　never　make　a　company　or　a　crew　keep　it　when　thou　art　grown。　Dost　mind　that；　sirrah？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Amyas。

〃Then　go　back　to　school　this　moment；　sir；　and　be　flogged。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Amyas；　considering　that　he　had　got　off　very　cheaply；　while　Sir　Richard；　as　soon　as　he　was　out　of　the　room；　lay　back　in　his　chair；　and　laughed　till　he　cried　again。

So　Amyas　went　back；　and　said　that　he　was　come　to　be　flogged；　whereon　the　old　schoolmaster；　whose　pate　had　been　plastered　meanwhile；　wept　tears　of　joy　over　the　returning　prodigal；　and　then　gave　him　such　a　switching　as　he　did　not　forget　for　eight…and…forty　hours。

But　that　evening　Sir　Richard　sent　for　old　Vindex；　who　entered；　trembling；　cap　in　hand；　and　having　primed　him　with　a　cup　of　sack；　said〃Well；　Mr。　Schoolmaster！　　My　godson　has　been　somewhat　too　much　for　you　to…day。　　There　are　a　couple　of　nobles　to　pay　the　doctor。〃

〃O　Sir　Richard；　gratias　tibi　et　Domino！　but　the　boy　hits　shrewdly　hard。　　Nevertheless　I　have　repaid　him　in　inverse　kind；　and　set　him　an　imposition；　to　learn　me　one　of　Phaedrus　his　fables；　Sir　Richard；　if　you　do　not　think　it　too　much。〃

〃Which；　then？　　The　one　about　the　man　who　brought　up　a　lion's　cub；　and　was　eaten　by　him　in　play　at　last？〃

〃Ah；　Sir　Richard！　you　have　always　a　merry　wit。　　But；　indeed；　the　boy　is　a　brave　boy；　and　a　quick　boy；　Sir　Richard；　but　more　forgetful　than　Lethe；　andsapienti　loquorit　were　well　if　he　were　away；　for　I　shall　never　see　him　again　without　my　head　aching。　Moreover；　he　put　my　son　Jack　upon　the　fire　last　Wednesday；　as　you　would　put　a　football；　though　he　is　a　year　older；　your　worship；　because；　he　said；　he　looked　so　like　a　roasting　pig；　Sir　Richard。〃

〃Alas；　poor　Jack！〃

〃And　what's　more；　your　worship；　he　is　pugnax；　bellicosus；　gladiator；　a　fire…eater　and　swash…buckler；　beyond　all　Christian　measure；　a　very　sucking　Entellus；　Sir　Richard；　and　will　do　to　death　some　of　her　majesty's　lieges　erelong；　if　he　be　not　wisely　curbed。　It　was　but　a　month　agone　that　he　bemoaned　himself；　I　hear；　as　Alexander　did；　because　there　were　no　more　worlds　to　conquer；　saying　that　it　was　a　pity　he　was　so　strong；　for；　now　he　had　thrashed　all　the　Bideford　lads；　he　had　no　sport　left；　and　so；　as　my　Jack　tells　me；　last　Tuesday　week　he　fell　upon　a　young　man　of　Barnstaple；　Sir　Richard；　a　hosier's　man；　sir；　and　plebeius　（which　I　consider　unfit　for　one　of　his　blood）；　and；　moreover；　a　man　full　grown；　and　as　big　as　either　of　us　（Vindex　stood　five　feet　four　in　his　high…heeled　shoes）；　and　smote　him　clean　over　the　quay　into　the　mud；　because　he　said　that　there　was　a　prettier　maid　in　Barnstaple　（your　worship　will　forgive　my　speaking　of　such　toys；　to　which　my　fidelity　compels　me）　than　ever　Bideford　could　show；　and　then　offered　to　do　the　same　to　any　man　who　dare　say　that　Mistress　Rose　Salterne；　his　worship　the　mayor's　daughter；　was　not　the　fairest　lass　in　all　Devon。〃

〃Eh？　　Say　that　over　again；　my　good　sir；〃　quoth　Sir　Richard；　who　had　thus　arrived；　as　we　have　seen；　at　the　second　count　of　the　indictment。　　〃I　say；　good　sir；　whence　dost　thou　hear　all　these　pretty　stories？〃

〃My