catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第2节
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for the hungry cannon at Ramillies and Malplaquet。
Of those two gentlemen who are about to act a very important part in
our history； one only was probably a native of Britain；we say probably；
because the individual in question was himself quite uncertain； and； it
must be added； entirely indifferent about his birthplace； but speaking the
English language； and having been during the course of his life pretty
generally engaged in the British service； he had a tolerably fair claim to
the majestic title of Briton。 His name was Peter Brock； otherwise Corporal
Brock； of Lord Cutts's regiment of dragoons； he was of age about fifty…
seven （even that point has never been ascertained）； in height about five
feet six inches； in weight； nearly thirteen stone； with a chest that the
celebrated Leitch himself might envy； an arm that was like an opera…
dancer's leg； a stomach so elastic that it would accommodate itself to any
given or stolen quantity of food； a great aptitude for strong liquors； a
considerable skill in singing chansons de table of not the most delicate
kind； he was a lover of jokes； of which he made many； and passably bad；
when pleased； simply coarse； boisterous； and jovial； when angry； a perfect
demon： bullying； cursing； storming； fighting； as is sometimes the wont
with gentlemen of his cloth and education。
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Mr。 Brock was strictly； what the Marquis of Rodil styled himself in a
proclamation to his soldiers after running away； a hijo de la guerraa child
of war。 Not seven cities； but one or two regiments； might contend for the
honour of giving him birth； for his mother； whose name he took； had acted
as camp…follower to a Royalist regiment； had then obeyed the
Parliamentarians； died in Scotland when Monk was commanding in that
country； and the first appearance of Mr。 Brock in a public capacity
displayed him as a fifer in the General's own regiment of Coldstreamers；
when they marched from Scotland to London； and from a republic at once
into a monarchy。 Since that period； Brock had been always with the army；
he had had； too； some promotion； for he spake of having a command at the
battle of the Boyne； though probably （as he never mentioned the fact）
upon the losing side。 The very year before this narrative commences； he
had been one of Mordaunt's forlorn hope at Schellenberg； for which
service he was promised a pair of colours； he lost them； however； and was
almost shot （but fate did not ordain that his career should close in that way）
for drunkenness and insubordination immediately after the battle； but
having in some measure reinstated himself by a display of much gallantry
at Blenheim； it was found advisable to send him to England for the
purposes of recruiting； and remove him altogether from the regiment
where his gallantry only rendered the example of his riot more dangerous。
Mr。 Brock's commander was a slim young gentleman of twenty…six；
about whom there was likewise a history； if one would take the trouble to
inquire。 He was a Bavarian by birth （his mother being an English lady）；
and enjoyed along with a dozen other brothers the title of count： eleven of
these； of course； were penniless； one or two were priests； one a monk； six
or seven in various military services； and the elder at home at Schloss
Galgenstein breeding horses； hunting wild boars； swindling tenants； living
in a great house with small means； obliged to be sordid at home all the
year； to be splendid for a month at the capital； as is the way with many
other noblemen。 Our young count； Count Gustavus Adolphus Maximilian
von Galgenstein； had been in the service of the French as page to a
nobleman； then of His Majesty's gardes du corps； then a lieutenant and
captain in the Bavarian service； and when； after the battle of Blenheim；
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two regiments of Germans came over to the winning side； Gustavus
Adolphus Maximilian found himself among them； and at the epoch when
this story commences； had enjoyed English pay for a year or more。 It is
unnecessary to say how he exchanged into his present regiment； how it
appeared that； before her marriage； handsome John Churchill had known
the young gentleman's mother； when they were both penniless hangers…on
at Charles the Second's court；it is； we say； quite useless to repeat all the
scandal of which we are perfectly masters； and to trace step by step the
events of his history。 Here； however； was Gustavus Adolphus； in a small
inn； in a small village of Warwickshire； on an autumn evening in the year
1705； and at the very moment when this history begins； he and Mr。 Brock；
his corporal and friend； were seated at a round table before the kitchen…fire
while a small groom of the establishment was leading up and down on the
village green； before the inn door； two black； glossy； long…tailed； barrel…
bellied； thick…flanked； arch…necked； Roman…nosed Flanders horses； which
were the property of the two gentlemen now taking their ease at the
〃Bugle Inn。〃 The two gentlemen were seated at their ease at the inn table；
drinking mountain…wine； and if the reader fancies from the sketch which
we have given of their lives； or from his own blindness and belief in the
perfectibility of human nature； that the sun of that autumn evening shone
upon any two men in county or city； at desk or harvest； at Court or at
Newgate； drunk or sober； who were greater rascals than Count Gustavus
Galgenstein and Corporal Peter Brock； he is egregiously mistaken； and his
knowledge of human nature is not worth a fig。 If they had not been two
prominent scoundrels； what earthly business should we have in detailing
their histories？ What would the public care for them？ Who would meddle
with dull virtue； humdrum sentiment； or stupid innocence； when vice；
agreeable vice； is the only thing which the readers of romances care to
hear？
The little horse…boy； who was leading the two black Flanders horses up
and down the green； might have put them in the stable for any good that
the horses got by the gentle exercise which they were now taking in the
cool evening air； as their owners had not ridden very far or very hard； and
there was not a hair turned of their sleek shining coats； but the lad had
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Catherine： A Story
been especially ordered so to walk the horses about until he received
further commands from the gentlemen reposing in the 〃Bugle〃 kitchen；
and the idlers of the village seemed so pleased with the beasts； and their
smart saddles and shining bridles； that it would have been a pity to deprive
them of the pleasure of contemplating such an innocent spectacle。 Over
the Count's horse was thrown a fine red cloth； richly embroidered in
yellow worsted； a very large count's coronet and a cipher at the four
corners of the covering； and under this might be seen a pair of gorgeous
silver stirrups； and above it； a couple of silver…mounted pistols reposing in
bearskin holsters； the bit was silver too； and the horse's head was
decorated with many smart ribbons。 Of the Corporal's steed； suffice it to
say； that the ornaments were in brass； as bright； though not perhaps so
valuable； as those which decorated the Captain's animal。 The boys； who
had been at play on the green； first paused and entered into conversation
with the horse…boy； then the village matrons followed； and afterwards；
sauntering by ones and twos； came the village maidens； who love soldiers
as flies love treacle； presently the males began to arrive； and lo！ the parson
of the parish； taking his evening walk with Mrs。 Dobbs； and the four
children his offspring； at length joined himself to his flock。
To this audien
