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St。 Ives; The Adventures of a French Prisoner in England



by Robert Louis Stevenson








CHAPTER I … A TALE OF A LION RAMPANT





IT was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at 

last into the hands of the enemy。  My knowledge of the English 

language had marked me out for a certain employment。  Though I 

cannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk; yet to be 

hanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to be 

held a prisoner of war。  Into the Castle of Edinburgh; standing in 

the midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock; I 

was cast with several hundred fellow…sufferers; all privates like 

myself; and the more part of them; by an accident; very ignorant; 

plain fellows。  My English; which had brought me into that scrape; 

now helped me very materially to bear it。  I had a thousand 

advantages。  I was often called to play the part of an interpreter; 

whether of orders or complaints; and thus brought in relations; 

sometimes of mirth; sometimes almost of friendship; with the 

officers in charge。  A young lieutenant singled me out to be his 

adversary at chess; a game in which I was extremely proficient; and 

would reward me for my gambits with excellent cigars。  The major of 

the battalion took lessons of French from me while at breakfast; 

and was sometimes so obliging as to have me join him at the meal。  

Chevenix was his name。  He was stiff as a drum…major and selfish as 

an Englishman; but a fairly conscientious pupil and a fairly 

upright man。  Little did I suppose that his ramrod body and frozen 

face would; in the end; step in between me and all my dearest 

wishes; that upon this precise; regular; icy soldier…man my 

fortunes should so nearly shipwreck!  I never liked; but yet I 

trusted him; and though it may seem but a trifle; I found his 

snuff…box with the bean in it come very welcome。



For it is strange how grown men and seasoned soldiers can go back 

in life; so that after but a little while in prison; which is after 

all the next thing to being in the nursery; they grow absorbed in 

the most pitiful; childish interests; and a sugar biscuit or a 

pinch of snuff become things to follow after and scheme for!



We made but a poor show of prisoners。  The officers had been all 

offered their parole; and had taken it。  They lived mostly in 

suburbs of the city; lodging with modest families; and enjoyed 

their freedom and supported the almost continual evil tidings of 

the Emperor as best they might。  It chanced I was the only 

gentleman among the privates who remained。  A great part were 

ignorant Italians; of a regiment that had suffered heavily in 

Catalonia。  The rest were mere diggers of the soil; treaders of 

grapes or hewers of wood; who had been suddenly and violently 

preferred to the glorious state of soldiers。  We had but the one 

interest in common: each of us who had any skill with his fingers 

passed the hours of his captivity in the making of little toys and 

ARTICLES OF PARIS; and the prison was daily visited at certain 

hours by a concourse of people of the country; come to exult over 

our distress; or … it is more tolerant to suppose … their own 

vicarious triumph。  Some moved among us with a decency of shame or 

sympathy。  Others were the most offensive personages in the world; 

gaped at us as if we had been baboons; sought to evangelise us to 

their rustic; northern religion; as though we had been savages; or 

tortured us with intelligence of disasters to the arms of France。  

Good; bad; and indifferent; there was one alleviation to the 

annoyance of these visitors; for it was the practice of almost all 

to purchase some specimen of our rude handiwork。  This led; amongst 

the prisoners; to a strong spirit of competition。  Some were neat 

of hand; and (the genius of the French being always distinguished) 

could place upon sale little miracles of dexterity and taste。  Some 

had a more engaging appearance; fine features were found to do as 

well as fine merchandise; and an air of youth in particular (as it 

appealed to the sentiment of pity in our visitors) to be a source 

of profit。  Others again enjoyed some acquaintance with the 

language; and were able to recommend the more agreeably to 

purchasers such trifles as they had to sell。  To the first of these 

advantages I could lay no claim; for my fingers were all thumbs。  

Some at least of the others I possessed; and finding much 

entertainment in our commerce; I did not suffer my advantages to 

rust。  I have never despised the social arts; in which it is a 

national boast that every Frenchman should excel。  For the approach 

of particular sorts of visitors; I had a particular manner of 

address; and even of appearance; which I could readily assume and 

change on the occasion rising。  I never lost an opportunity to 

flatter either the person of my visitor; if it should be a lady; 

or; if it should be a man; the greatness of his country in war。  

And in case my compliments should miss their aim; I was always 

ready to cover my retreat with some agreeable pleasantry; which 

would often earn me the name of an 'oddity' or a 'droll fellow。'  

In this way; although I was so left…handed a toy…maker; I made out 

to be rather a successful merchant; and found means to procure many 

little delicacies and alleviations; such as children or prisoners 

desire。



I am scarcely drawing the portrait of a very melancholy man。  It is 

not indeed my character; and I had; in a comparison with my 

comrades; many reasons for content。  In the first place; I had no 

family: I was an orphan and a bachelor; neither wife nor child 

awaited me in France。  In the second; I had never wholly forgot the 

emotions with which I first found myself a prisoner; and although a 

military prison be not altogether a garden of delights; it is still 

preferable to a gallows。  In the third; I am almost ashamed to say 

it; but I found a certain pleasure in our place of residence: being 

an obsolete and really mediaeval fortress; high placed and 

commanding extraordinary prospects; not only over sea; mountain; 

and champaign but actually over the thoroughfares of a capital 

city; which we could see blackened by day with the moving crowd of 

the inhabitants; and at night shining with lamps。  And lastly; 

although I was not insensible to the restraints of prison or the 

scantiness of our rations; I remembered I had sometimes eaten quite 

as ill in Spain; and had to mount guard and march perhaps a dozen 

leagues into the bargain。  The first of my troubles; indeed; was 

the costume we were obliged to wear。  There is a horrible practice 

in England to trick out in ridiculous uniforms; and as it were to 

brand in mass; not only convicts but military prisoners; and even 

the children in charity schools。  I think some malignant genius had 

found his masterpiece of irony in the dress which we were condemned 

to wear: jacket; waistcoat; and trousers of a sulphur or mustard 

yellow; and a shirt or blue…and…white striped cotton。  It was 

conspicuous; it was cheap; it pointed us out to laughter … we; who 

were old soldiers; used to arms; and some of us showing noble 

scars; … like a set of lugubrious zanies at a fair。  The old name 

of that rock on which our prison stood was (I have heard since 

then) the PAINTED HILL。  Well; now it was all painted a bright 

yellow with our costumes; and the dress of the soldiers who guarded 

us being of course the essential British red rag; we made up 

together the elements of a lively picture of hell。  I have again 

and again looked round upon my fellow…prisoners; and felt my anger 

rise; and choked upon tears; to behold them thus parodied。  The 

more part; as I have said; were peasants; somewhat bettered perhaps 

by the drill…sergeant; but for all that ungainly; loutish fellows; 

with no more than a mere barrack…room smartness of address

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