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！
I cannot tell whether my Lord Grey meant； by offering conditions which the Spaniards would not accept； to force them into fighting the quarrel out； and so save himself the responsibility of deciding on their fate； or whether his mere natural stubbornness； as well as his just indignation； drove him on too far to retract： but the council of war which followed was both a sad and a stormy one； and one which he had reason to regret to his dying day。 What was to be done with the enemy？ They already outnumbered the English； and some fifteen hundred of Desmond's wild Irish hovered in the forests round； ready to side with the winning party； or even to attack the English at the least sign of vacillation or fear。 They could not carry the Spaniards away with them； for they had neither shipping nor food； not even handcuffs enough for them； and as Mackworth told Winter when he proposed it； the only plan was for him to make San Josepho a present of his ships； and swim home himself as he could。 To turn loose in Ireland； as Captain Touch urged； on the other hand； seven hundred such monsters of lawlessness； cruelty； and lust； as Spanish and Italian condottieri were in those days； was as fatal to their own safety as cruel to the wretched Irish。 All the captains； without exception； followed on the same side。 〃What was to be done； then？〃 asked Lord Grey； impatiently。 〃Would they have him murder them all in cold blood？〃
And for a while every man； knowing that it must come to that； and yet not daring to say it； till Sir Warham St。 Leger； the marshal of Munster； spoke out stoutly： 〃Foreigners had been scoffing them too long and too truly with waging these Irish wars as if they meant to keep them alive； rather than end them。 Mercy and faith to every Irishman who would show mercy and faith； was his motto； but to invaders； no mercy。 Ireland was England's vulnerable point； it might be some day her ruin； a terrible example must be made of those who dare to touch the sore。 Rather pardon the Spaniards for landing in the Thames than in Ireland！〃till Lord Grey became much excited； and turning as a last hope to Raleigh； asked his opinion： but Raleigh's silver tongue was that day not on the side of indulgence。 He skilfully recapitulated the arguments of his fellow…captains； improving them as he went on； till each worthy soldier was surprised to find himself so much wiser a man than he had thought； and finished by one of his rapid and passionate perorations upon his favorite themethe West Indian cruelties of the Spaniards； 〃。 。 。 by which great tracts and fair countries are now utterly stripped of inhabitants by heavy bondage and torments unspeakable。 Oh； witless Islanders！〃 said he； apostrophizing the Irish； 〃would to Heaven that you were here to listen to me！ What other fate awaits you； if this viper； which you are so ready to take into your bosom； should be warmed to life； but to groan like the Indians； slaves to the Spaniard； but to perish like the Indians； by heavy burdens； cruel chains； plunder and ravishment； scourged； racked； roasted； stabbed； sawn in sunder； cast to feed the dogs； as simple and more righteous peoples have perished ere now by millions？ And what else； I say； had been the fate of Ireland had this invasion prospered； which God has now； by our weak hands； confounded and brought to naught？ Shall we then answer it； my lord； either to our conscience； our God； or our queen； if we shall set loose men （not one of whom； I warrant； but is stained with murder on murder） to go and fill up the cup of their iniquity among these silly sheep？ Have not their native wolves； their barbarous chieftains； shorn； peeled； and slaughtered them enough already； but we must add this pack of foreign wolves to the number of their tormentors； and fit the Desmond with a body…guard of seven； yea； seven hundred devils worse than himself？ Nay； rather let us do violence to our own human nature； and show ourselves in appearance rigorous； that we may be kind indeed； lest while we presume to be over…merciful to the guilty； we prove ourselves to be over…cruel to the innocent。〃
〃Captain Raleigh； Captain Raleigh；〃 said Lord Grey； 〃the blood of these men be on your head！〃
〃It ill befits your lordship；〃 answered Raleigh； 〃to throw on your subordinates the blame of that which your reason approves as necessary。〃
〃I should have thought； sir； that one so noted for ambition as Captain Raleigh would have been more careful of the favor of that queen for whose smiles he is said to be so longing a competitor。 If you have not yet been of her counsels； sir； I can tell you you are not likely to be。 She will be furious when she hears of this cruelty。〃
Lord Grey had lost his temper： but Raleigh kept his； and answered quietly
〃Her majesty shall at least not find me among the number of those who prefer her favor to her safety； and abuse to their own profit that over…tenderness and mercifulness of heart which is the only blemish （and yet； rather like a mole on a fair cheek； but a new beauty） in her manifold perfections。〃
At this juncture Cary returned。
〃My lord；〃 said he； in some confusion； 〃I have proposed your terms； but the captains still entreat for some mitigation； and； to tell you truth； one of them has insisted on accompanying me hither to plead his cause himself。〃
〃I will not see him； sir。 Who is he？〃
〃His name is Sebastian of Modena； my lord。〃
〃Sebastian of Modena？ What think you； gentlemen？ May we make an exception in favor of so famous a soldier？〃
〃So villainous a cut…throat；〃 said Zouch to Raleigh； under his breath。
All； however； were for speaking with so famous a man； and in came； in full armor； a short； bull…necked Italian； evidently of immense strength； of the true Caesar Borgia stamp。
〃Will you please to be seated； sir？〃 said Lord Grey； coldly。
〃I kiss your hands； most illustrious： but I do not sit in an enemy's camp。 Ha； my friend Zouch！ How has your signoria fared since we fought side by side at Lepanto？ So you too are here； sitting in council on the hanging of me。〃
〃What is your errand； sir？ Time is short；〃 said the lord deputy。
〃Corpo di Bacco！ It has been long enough all the morning； for my rascals have kept me and my friend the Colonel Hercules （whom you know； doubtless） prisoners in our tents at the pike's point。 My lord deputy； I have but a few words。 I shall thank you to take every soldier in the fortItalian； Spaniard； and Irishand hang them up as high as Haman； for a set of mutinous cowards； with the arch…traitor San Josepho at their head。〃
〃I am obliged to you for your offer； sir； and shall deliberate presently as to whether I shall not accept it。〃
〃But as for us captains； really your excellency must consider that we are gentlemen born； and give us either buena querra； as the Spaniards say； or a fair chance for life； and so to my business。〃
〃Stay； sir。 Answer this first。 Have you or yours any commission to show either from the King of Spain or any other potentate？〃
〃Never a one but the cause of Heaven and our own swords。 And with them； my lord； we are ready to meet any gentlemen of your camp； man to man； with our swords only； half…way between your leaguer and ours； and I doubt not th