royalty restored-第68节
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er cheeke when she was asleepe； it raised a blister； but Sir Kenelm was a teller of strange things。〃＇ The master of the mint； worthy Mr。 Slingsby； a man of finer taste； delighted his guests with the performances of renowned good masters of music； one of whom； a German； played to great perfection on an instrument with five wire strings called the VOIL D'AMORE； whilst my Lord Sunderland treated his visitors to a sight of Richardson； the renowned fire eater； who was wont to devour brimstone on glowing coals； melt a beer…glass and eat it up； take a live coal on his tongue； on which he put a raw oyster； and let it remain there till it gaped and was quite broiled； take wax； pitch and sulphur； and drink them down flaming； hold a fiery hot iron between his teeth； and throw it about like a stone from hand to hand； and perform various other prodigious feats。
Other means of indoor amusement were practised in those days； which seem wholly incompatible with the gravity of the nation in these latter times。 Pepys tells us that going to the court one day he found the Duke and Duchess of York； with all the great ladies； sitting upon a carpet on the ground playing 〃I love my love with an A； because he is so…and…so； and I hate him with an A； because of this and that；〃 and some of the ladies were mighty witty； and all of them very merry。 Grown persons likewise indulged in games of blind man's buff； and amusements of a like character； whilst at one time； the king； queen； and the whole court falling into much extravagance； as Burnet says； 〃went about masked； and came into houses unknown； and danced there with a great deal of wild frolic。 In all this they were so disguised； that without being in the secret； none could distinguish them。 They were carried about in hackney chairs。 Once the queen's chairmen； not knowing who she was； went from her； so she was alone and was much disturbed； and came to Whitehall in a hackney coach； some say it was in a cart。〃
Dancing was also a favourite and common amusement amongst all classes。 Scarce a week went by that Whitehall was not lighted up for a ball； at which the king； queen； and courtiers danced bransles； corants； and French figures； ＇The bransle； or brawl； had all the characteristics of a country…dance； several persons taking part in it； and all at various times joining hands。 The corant was a swift lively dance； in which two persons only took part； and was not unlike our modern galop。＇ and no night passed but such entertainments were likewise held in the city。 Billiards and chess were also played； whilst gambling became a ruling passion。 The queen； Duchess of York； and Duchess of Cleveland had each her card…table； around which courtiers thronged to win and lose prodigious sums。 The latter being a thorough rake at heart； delighted in the excitement which hazard afforded； and the sums changing owners at her hoard were sometimes enormous。 Occasionally she played for a thousand； or fifteen hundred pounds at a cast； and in a single night lost as much as twenty…five hundred guineas。 It is related that once when playing basset she lost all her money； but； being unwilling to retire； and hopeful of regaining her losses； she asked young Churchill； on whom she had bestowed many favours； to lend her twenty pieces。 Though the wily youth had a thousand before him on the table； he coolly refused her request； on the plea that the bank which he was then keepingnever lent。 〃Not a person in the place；〃 says the narrator of this anecdote； 〃but blamed him； as to the duchess； her resentment burst out into a bleeding at her nose； and breaking of her lace； without which aid it is believed her vexation had killed her on the spot。〃
The courtly Evelyn speaks of a certain Twelfth…night； when the king opened the revels in his privy chamber by throwing dice； and losing one hundred pounds； and Pepys describes the groom…porters' rooms where gambling greatly obtained； and 〃where persons of the best quality do sit down with people of any； though meaner。〃 Cursing and swearing； grumbling and rejoicing； were heard here to an accompanying rattle of guineas； the whole causing dense confusion。 And amongst the figures crouching round the tables of this hell； that of my Lord St。 Albans was conspicuous。 So great； indeed； was his passion for gambling； that when approaching his eightieth year； and quite blind； he was unable to renounce his love for cards； but with the help of a servant who named them to him； indulged himself in this way as of yore。
As may be expected； disputes； frequently ending in duels； continually arose betwixt those who gambled。 Although the king had； on his restoration； issued a proclamation against this common practice； threatening such as engaged in it with displeasure； declaring them incapable of holding any office in his service； and forbidding them to appear at court； yet but little attention was paid his words； and duels continually took place； Though most frequently resorted to as a means of avenging outraged honour； they were occasionally the result of misunderstanding。 A pathetic story is told of a fatal encounter； caused by a trifle light as air； which took place in the year 1667 at Covent Garden； between Sir Henry Bellasis and Tom Porter the same witty soul who wrote a play called 〃The Villain；〃 which was performed at the Duke's Theatre； and described as 〃a pleasant tragedy。〃
These worthy gentlemen and loyal friends loved each other exceedingly。 One fatal day； both were bidden to dine with Sir Robert Carr； at whose table it was known all men drank freely； and having feasted； they two talked apart； when bluff Sir Henry； giving words of counsel to honest Tom； from force of earnestness spoke louder than his wont。 Marvelling at this； some of those standing apart said to each other； 〃Are they quarrelling； that they talk so high？〃 overhearing which the baronet replied in a merry tone； 〃No； I would have you know I never quarrel but I strike； and take that as a rule of mine。〃 At these words Tom Porter； being anxious； after the manner of those who have drunk deep； to apprehend offence in speech of friend or foe； cried out he would like to see the man in England that durst give him a blow。 Accepting this as a challenge； Sir Henry dealt him a stroke on the ear； which the other would have returned in anger but that they were speedily parted。
And presently Tom Porter； leaving the house full of resentment for the injury he had received； and of resolution to avenge it； met Mr。 Dryden the poet； to whom he recounted the story。 He concluded by requesting he might have his boy to bring him word which way Sir Henry Bellasis would drive； for fight he would that night； otherwise he felt sure they should be friends in the morning； and the blow would rest upon him。 Dryden complying with his request； Tom Porter； still inflamed by fury； went to a neighbouring coffee…house； when presently word arrived Sir Harry's coach was coming that way。 On this Tom Porter rushed out； stopped the horses； and bade the baronet alight。 〃Why；〃 said the man； who but an hour before had been his best friend； 〃you will not hurt me in coming out； will you？〃 〃No；〃 answered the other shortly。 Sir Henry then descended； and both drew their swords。 Tom Porter asked him if he were ready； and hearing he was； they fought desperately； till of a sudden a sharp cry was heard； Sir Henry's weapon fell upon the ground； and he placed one hand to his side； from which blood flowed freely。 Then calling his opponent to him； he looked in his face reproachfully； kissed him lovingly； and bade him seek safety。 〃For； Tom；〃 said he； struggling hard to speak； 〃thou hast hurt me； but I will make shift to stand upon my legs till thou mayest withdraw； and the world not take notice of you； for；〃 continued he； with much tenderness； 〃I would not have thee troubled for what thou hast done。〃 And the little crowd who had gathered around carried him to his coach and twenty days later they followed him to his grave。
Throughout this merry reign； many fantastic changes took place in the costumes of courtiers and their followers。 At the restoration； the dress most common to women of all ranks consisted of a gown with a laced stomacher and starched neckerchief； a sad…coloured cloak with a French hood； and a high… crowned hat。 Such habiliments； admitting of little variety and less ornament； found no favour in the eyes of those who returned from foreign courts with the king； and therefore a change was gradually effected。 The simple gown of wool and cotton gave place to loose and flowing draperies of silk and satin； the stiff neckerchief was removed to display fair shoulders and voluptuous breasts； the hat was bedecked by feathers of rare plumage and rich colour； the cloaks changed hues from sad to gay； the hoods being of 〃yellow bird's eye；〃 and other bright tints。 Indeed； the prodigal manner in which ladies of quality now exposed their bosoms； though pleasing to the court； became a matter of grave censure to worthy men。 One of these in a pamphlet； entitled 〃A Just and Seasonable Reprehension of Naked Breasts and Shoulders；〃 charges women of fashion with 〃overlacing their gown bodies； and so thrusting up their breasts in order that they might show them half…naked。〃
