a book of scoundrels-第9节
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onent of the grand manner。 The middle of the seventeenth century was； in truth； the golden age of the Road。 Not only were all the highwaymen Cavaliers； but many a Cavalier turned highwayman。 Broken at their King's defeat； a hundred captains took pistol and vizard； and revenged themselves as freebooters upon the King's enemies。 And though Hind was outlaw first and royalist afterwards； he was still the most brilliant collector of them all。 If he owed something to his master； Allen； he added from the storehouse of his own genius a host of new precepts； and was the first to establish an enduring tradition。
Before all things he insisted upon courtesy； a guinea stolen by an awkward ruffian was a sorry theft； levied by a gentleman of the highway； it was a tribute paid to courage by generosity。 Nothing would atone for an insult offered to a lady； and when it was Hind's duty to seize part of a gentlewoman's dowry on the Petersfield road； he not only pleaded his necessity in eloquent excuse； but he made many promises on behalf of knight…errantry and damsels in distress。 Never would he extort a trinket to which association had given a sentimental worth； during a long career he never left any man； save a Roundhead； penniless upon the road； nor was it his custom to strip the master without giving the man a trifle for his pains。 His courage； moreover； was equal to his understanding。 Since he was afraid of nothing； it was not his habit to bluster when he was not determined to have his way。 When once his pistol was levelled； when once the solemn order was given； the victim must either fight or surrender； and Hind was never the man to decline a combat with any weapons and in any circumstances。
Like the true artist that he was； he neglected no detail of his craft。 As he was a perfect shot； so also he was a finished horseman； and his skill not only secured him against capture； but also helped him to the theft of such horses as his necessities required； or to the exchange of a worn…out jade for a mettled prancer。 Once upon a time a credulous farmer offered twenty pounds and his own gelding for the Captain's mount。 Hind struck a bargain at once； and as they jogged along the road he persuaded the farmer to set his newly…purchased horse at the tallest hedge； the broadest ditch。 The bumpkin failed； as Hind knew he would fail； and； begging the loan for an instant of his ancient steed； Hind not only showed what horsemanship could accomplish； but straightway rode off with the better horse and twenty pounds in his pocket。 So marvellously did his reputation grow； that it became a distinction to be outwitted by him； and the brains of innocent men were racked to invent tricks which might have been put upon them by the illustrious Captain。 Thus livelier jests and madder exploits were fathered upon him than upon any of his kind； and he has remained for two centuries the prime favourite of the chap…books。
Robbing alone； he could afford to despise pedantry： did he meet a traveller who amused his fancy he would give him the pass…word （‘the fiddler's paid；' or what not）； as though the highway had not its code of morals； nor did he scruple； when it served his purpose； to rob the bunglers of his own profession。 By this means； indeed； he raised the standard of the Road and warned the incompetent to embrace an easier trade。 While he never took a shilling without sweetening his depredation with a joke； he was； like all humorists； an acute philosopher。 ‘Remember what I tell you；' he said to the foolish persons who once attempted to rob him； the master…thief of England； ‘disgrace not yourself for small sums； but aim high； and for great ones； the least will bring you to the gallows。' There； in five lines； is the whole philosophy of thieving； and many a poor devil has leapt from the cart to his last dance because he neglected the counsel of the illustrious Hind。 Among his aversions were lawyers and thief…catchers。 ‘Truly I could wish；' he exclaimed in court； ‘that full…fed fees were as little used in England among lawyers as the eating of swine's flesh was among the Jews。' When you remember the terms of friendship whereon he lived with Moll Cutpurse； his hatred of the thief…catcher； who would hang his brother for ‘the lucre of ten pounds； which is the reward；' or who would swallow a false oath ‘as easily as one would swallow buttered fish；' is a trifle mysterious。 Perhaps before his death an estrangement divided Hind and Moll。 Was it that the Roaring Girl was too anxious to take the credit of Hind's success？ Or did he harbour the unjust suspicion that when the last descent was made upon him at the barber's； Moll might have given a friendly warning？
Of this he made no confession； but the honest thief was ever a liberal hater of spies and attorneys； and Hind's prudence is unquestioned。 A miracle of intelligence； a master of style； he excelled all his contemporaries and set up for posterity an unattainable standard。 The eighteenth century flattered him by its imitation； but cowardice and swagger compelled it to limp many a dishonourable league behind。 Despite the single inspiration of dancing a corant upon the green； Claude Duval； compared to Hind； was an empty braggart。 Captain Stafford spoiled the best of his effects with a more than brutal vice。 Neither Mull…Sack nor the Golden Farmer； for all their long life and handsome plunder； are comparable for an instant to the robber of Peters and Bradshaw。 They kept their fist fiercely upon the gold of others； and cared not by what artifice it was extorted。 Hind never took a sovereign meanly； he approached no enterprise which he did not adorn。 Living in a true Augustan age； he was a classic among highwaymen； the very Virgil of the Pad。
MOLL CUTPURSE AND JONATHAN WILD
I MOLL CUTPURSE
MOLL CUTPURSE
THE most illustrious woman of an illustrious age； Moll Cutpurse has never lacked the recognition due to her genius。 She was scarce of age when the town devoured in greedy admiration the first record of her pranks and exploits。 A year later Middleton made her the heroine of a sparkling comedy。 Thereafter she became the favourite of the rufflers； the commonplace of the poets。 Newgate knew her； and Fleet Street； her manly figure was as familiar in the Bear Garden as at the Devil Tavern； courted alike by the thief and his victim； for fifty years she lived a life brilliant as sunlight； many…coloured as a rainbow。 And she is remembered； after the lapse of centuries； not only as the Queen…Regent of Misrule； the benevolent tyrant of cly…filers and heavers； of hacks and blades； but as the incomparable Roaring Girl； free of the playhouse； who perchance presided with Ben Jonson over the Parliament of Wits。
She was born in the Barbican at the heyday of England's greatness； four years after the glorious defeat of the Armada； and had to her father an honest shoemaker。 She came into the world （saith rumour） with her fist doubled； and even in the cradle gave proof of a boyish； boisterous disposition。 Her girlhood； if the word be not an affront to her mannish character； was as tempestuous as a wind…blown petticoat。 A very ‘tomrig and rump…scuttle；' she knew only the sports of boys： her war…like spirit counted no excuse too slight for a battle； and so valiant a lad was she of her hands； so well skilled in cudgel…play； that none ever wrested a victory from fighting Moll。 While other girls were content to hem a kerchief or mark a sampler； Moll would escape to the Bear Garden； and there enjoy the sport of baiting； whose loyal patron she remained unto the end。 That which most bitterly affronted her was the magpie talk of the wenches。 ‘Why；' she would ask in a fury of indignation； ‘why crouch over the fire with a pack of gossips； when the highway invites you to romance？ Why finger a distaff； when a quarterstaff comes more aptly to your hand？'
And thus she grew in age and stature； a stranger to the soft delights of her sex； her heart still deaf to the trivial voice of love。 Had not a wayward accident cumbered her with a kirtle； she would have sought death or glory in the wars； she would have gone with Colonel Downe's men upon the road； she would have sailed to the Spanish Main for pieces of eight。 But the tyranny of womanhood was as yet supreme； and the honest shoemaker； ignorant of his daughter's talent； bade her take service at a respectable saddler's； and thus suppress the frowardness of her passion。 Her rebellion was instant。 Never would she abandon the sword and the wrestling…booth for the harmless bodkin and the hearthstone of domesticity。 Being absolute in refusal； she was kidnapped by her friends and sent on board a ship； bound for Virginia and slavery。 There； in the dearth of womankind； even so sturdy a wench as Moll might have found a husband； but the enterprise was little to her taste； and； always resourceful； she escaped from shipboard before the captain had weighed his anchor。
Henceforth she resolved her life should be free and chainless as the winds。 Never more should needle and thread tempt her to a womanish inactivity。 As Hercules； whose counterpart she was； changed his club for the distaff of Omphale； so would she put off the wimple and bodice of her sex for jerki
