友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

westward ho-第54章

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!



out by the heels and laid by to sober; enter another to puff at the sacred cigarro; till he is dragged out likewise; and so on till the tobacco is finished; and the seed of wisdom has sprouted in every soul into the tree of meditation; bearing the flowers of eloquence; and in due time the fruit of valiant action。〃  With which quaint fact (for fact it is; in spite of the bombast) I end the present chapter。



CHAPTER VIII

HOW THE NOBLE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSE WAS FOUNDED


〃It is virtue; yea virtue; gentlemen; that maketh gentlemen; that maketh the poor rich; the base…born noble; the subject a sovereign; the deformed beautiful; the sick whole; the weak strong; the most miserable most happy。  There are two principal and peculiar gifts in the nature of man; knowledge and reason; the one commandeth; and the other obeyeth: these things neither the whirling wheel of fortune can change; neither the deceitful cavillings of worldlings separate; neither sickness abate; neither age abolish。〃LILLY's Euphues; 1586。


It now falls to my lot to write of the foundation of that most chivalrous brotherhood of the Rose; which after a few years made itself not only famous in its native country of Devon; but formidable; as will be related hereafter; both in Ireland and in the Netherlands; in the Spanish Main and the heart of South America。  And if this chapter shall seem to any Quixotic and fantastical; let them recollect that the generation who spoke and acted thus in matters of love and honor were; nevertheless; practised and valiant soldiers; and prudent and crafty politicians; that he who wrote the 〃Arcadia〃 was at the same time; in spite of his youth; one of the subtlest diplomatists of Europe; that the poet of the 〃Faerie Queene〃 was also the author of 〃The State of Ireland;〃 and if they shall quote against me with a sneer Lilly's 〃Euphues〃 itself; I shall only answer by askingHave they ever read it?  For if they have done so; I pity them if they have not found it; in spite of occasional tediousness and pedantry; as brave; righteous; and pious a book as man need look into: and wish for no better proof of the nobleness and virtue of the Elizabethan age; than the fact that 〃Euphues〃 and the 〃Arcadia〃 were the two popular romances of the day。  It may have suited the purposes of Sir Walter Scott; in his cleverly drawn Sir Piercie Shafton; to ridicule the Euphuists; and that affectatam comitatem of the travelled English of which Languet complains; but over and above the anachronism of the whole character (for; to give but one instance; the Euphuist knight talks of Sidney's quarrel with Lord Oxford at least ten years before it happened); we do deny that Lilly's book could; if read by any man of common sense; produce such a coxcomb; whose spiritual ancestors would rather have been Gabriel Harvey and Lord Oxford;if indeed the former has not maligned the latter; and ill…tempered Tom Nash maligned the maligner in his turn。

But; indeed; there is a double anachronism in Sir Piercie; for he does not even belong to the days of Sidney; but to those worse times which began in the latter years of Elizabeth; and after breaking her mighty heart; had full license to bear their crop of fools' heads in the profligate days of James。  Of them; perhaps; hereafter。  And in the meanwhile; let those who have not read 〃Euphues〃 believe that; if they could train a son after the fashion of his Ephoebus; to the great saving of their own money and his virtue; all fathers; even in these money…making days; would rise up and call them blessed。  Let us rather open our eyes; and see in these old Elizabeth gallants our own ancestors; showing forth with the luxuriant wildness of youth all the virtues which still go to the making of a true Englishman。  Let us not only see in their commercial and military daring; in their political astuteness; in their deep reverence for law; and in their solemn sense of the great calling of the English nation; the antitypes or rather the examples of our own: but let us confess that their chivalry is only another garb of that beautiful tenderness and mercy which is now; as it was then; the twin sister of English valor; and even in their extravagant fondness for Continental manners and literature; let us recognize that old Anglo…Norman teachableness and wide…heartedness; which has enabled us to profit by the wisdom and civilization of all ages and of all lands; without prejudice to our own distinctive national character。

And so I go to my story; which; if any one dislikes; he has but to turn the leaf till he finds pasturage which suits him better。

Amyas could not sail the next day; or the day after; for the southwester freshened; and blew three parts of a gale dead into the bay。  So having got the 〃Mary Grenville〃 down the river into Appledore pool; ready to start with the first shift of wind; he went quietly home; and when his mother started on a pillion behind the old serving…man to ride to Clovelly; where Frank lay wounded; he went in with her as far as Bideford; and there met; coming down the High Street; a procession of horsemen headed by Will Cary; who; clad cap…a…pie in a shining armor; sword on thigh; and helmet at saddle…bow; looked as gallant a young gentleman as ever Bideford dames peeped at from door and window。  Behind him; upon country ponies; came four or five stout serving…men; carrying his lances and baggage; and their own long…bows; swords; and bucklers; and behind all; in a horse…litter; to Mrs。 Leigh's great joy; Master Frank himself。  He deposed that his wounds were only flesh…wounds; the dagger having turned against his ribs; that he must see the last of his brother; and that with her good leave he would not come home to Burrough; but take up his abode with Cary in the Ship Tavern; close to the Bridge…foot。  This he did forthwith; and settling himself on a couch; held his levee there in state; mobbed by all the gossips of the town; not without white fibs as to who had brought him into that sorry plight。

But in the meanwhile he and Amyas concocted a scheme; which was put into effect the next day (being market…day); first by the innkeeper; who began under Amyas's orders a bustle of roasting; boiling; and frying; unparalleled in the annals of the Ship Tavern; and next by Amyas himself; who; going out into the market; invited as many of his old schoolfellows; one by one apart; as Frank had pointed out to him; to a merry supper and a 〃rowse〃 thereon consequent; by which crafty scheme; in came each of Rose Salterne's gentle admirers; and found himself; to his considerable disgust; seated at the same table with six rivals; to none of whom had he spoken for the last six months。  However; all were too well bred to let the Leighs discern as much; and they (though; of course; they knew all) settled their guests; Frank on his couch lying at the head of the table; and Amyas taking the bottom: and contrived; by filling all mouths with good things; to save them the pain of speaking to each other till the wine should have loosened their tongues and warmed their hearts。  In the meanwhile both Amyas and Frank; ignoring the silence of their guests with the most provoking good…humor; chatted; and joked; and told stories; and ma
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!