the virgin of the sun-第13章
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better of it； I answered that I had spent it on a dog。 He laughed
outright and said：
〃Pray that it is not an omen and that you may not follow the gold
piece to the dogs。 Well； I like you for speaking the truth when you
are tempted to do otherwise。 Will you be pleased to shelter for a
while beneath the roof of John Grimmer； the merchant knave？〃
〃You mock me； sir；〃 I stammered。
〃Perhaps； perhaps！ But there's many a true word spoken in jest； for if
you do not know it now you will learn it afterwards that we are all
knaves； each in his own fashion； who if we do not deceive others； at
least deceive ourselves； and I perhaps more than most。 Vanity of
vanities！ All is vanity。〃
Then； waiting for no reply； he drew a silver whistle from under his
dusty robe and blew it； whereonso swiftly that I marvelled whether
he were waitinga stout…built serving man appeared to whom he said：
〃Take these horses to the stable and treat them as though they were my
own。 Unload the pack beast； and when it has been cleaned； set the mail
and the other gear upon it in the room that has been made ready for
this young master； Hubert of Hastings； my nephew。〃
Without a word the man led off the horses。
〃Be not afraid；〃 chuckled John Grimmer； 〃for though I am a knave； dog
does not eat dog and what is yours is safe with me and those who serve
me。 Now enter；〃 and he led the way into the house； opening the iron…
studded oak door with a key from his pouch。
Within was a shop where I saw precious things such as furs and gold
ornaments lying about。
〃The crumbs to catch the birds； especially the ladybirds；〃 he said
with a sweep of his hand； then took me through the shop into a passage
and thence to a room on the right。 It was not a large room but more
wonderfully furnished than any I had ever seen。 In the centre was a
table of black oak with cunningly carved legs； on which stood cups of
silver and a noble centre piece that seemed to be of gold。 From the
ceiling； too； hung silver lamps that already had been lit； for the
evening was closing in； and gave a sweet smell。 There was a hearth
also with what was rare； a chimney； upon which burned a little fire of
logs； while the walls were hung with tapestries and broidered silks。
Whilst I stared about me； my uncle took off his cloak beneath which he
was clothed in some rich but rather threadbare stuff； only retaining
the velvet skullcap that he wore。 Then he bade me do the same； and
when I had laid my outer garment aside； looked me all over in the
lamplight。
〃A proper young man；〃 he muttered to himself； 〃and I'd give all I have
to be his age and like him。 I suppose those limbs and sinews of his
came from his father； for I was ever thin and spare； as was my father
before me。 Nephew Hubert； I have heard all the tale of your dealings
with the Frenchmen； on whom be God's curse； at Hastings yonder； and I
say that I am proud of you； though whether I shall stay so is another
matter。 Come hither。〃
I obeyed； and taking me by my curling hair with his delicate hand； he
drew down my head and kissed me on the brow； muttering； 〃Neither chick
nor child for me and only this one left of the ancient blood。 May he
do it honour。〃
Then he motioned to me to be seated and rang a little silver bell that
stood upon the table。 As in the case of the man without； it was
answered instantly from which I judged that Master Grimmer was well
served。 Before the echoes of the bell died away a door opened； the
tapestry swung aside； and there appeared two most comely serving
maids； tall and well…shaped both of them； bearing food。
〃Pretty women； Nephew； no wonder that you look at them；〃 he said when
they had gone away to fetch other things； 〃such as I like to have
about me although I am old。 Women for within and men for without； that
is Nature's law； and ill will be the day when it is changed。 Yet
beware of pretty women； Nephew； and I pray you kiss not those as you
did the lady Blanche Aleys at Hastings； lest it should upset my
household and turn servants into mistresses。〃
I made no answer； being confounded by the knowledge that my uncle
showed of me and my affairs； which afterwards I discovered he had； in
part at any rate； from the old priest； my confessor； who had written
to commend me to him； telling my story and sending the letter by a
King's messenger； who left for London on the morrow of the Burning。
Nor did he wait for any； for he bade me sit down and eat； plying me
with more meats than I could swallow； all most delicately dressed；
also with rare wines such as I had never tasted； which he took from a
cupboard where they were kept in curious flasks of glass。 Yet as I
noted； himself he ate but little； only picking at the breast of a fowl
and drinking but the half of a small silver goblet filled with wine。
〃Appetite； like all other good things； for the young；〃 he said with a
sigh as he watched my hearty feasting。 〃Yet remember； Nephew； that if
you live to reach it； a day will come when yours will be as mine is。
Vanity of vanities； saith the preacher； all is vanity！〃
At length； when I could eat no more； again he rang the silver bell and
those fair waiting girls dressed alike in green appeared and cleared
away the broken meats。 After they were gone he crouched over the fire
rubbing his thin hands to warm them； and said suddenly：
〃Now tell me of my sister's death and all the rest of your tale。〃
So as well as I was able I told him everything from the hour when I
had first sighted the French fleet on board my fishing…boat to the
end。
〃You are no fool；〃 he said when I had finished； 〃who can talk like any
clerk and bring things that have happened clearly to the listener's
eye； which I have noted few are able to do。 So that's the story。 Well；
your mother had a great heart； and she made a great end； such an one
as was loved of our northern race； and that even I； the old merchant
knave； desire and shall not win； who doubtless am doomed to die a
cow's death in the straw。 Pray the All…Father Odinnay； that is
heresy for which I might burn if you or the wenches told it to the
priestspray God； I mean； that He may grant you a better； as He did
to old Thorgrimmer； if the tale be true； Thorgrimmer whose sword you
wear and have wielded shrewdly； as that French knight knows in hell
to…day。〃
〃Who was Odin？〃 I asked。
〃The great god of the North。 Did not your mother tell you of him？ Nay；
doubtless she was too good a Christian。 Yet he lives on； Nephew。 I say
that Odin lives in the blood of every fighting man； as Freya lives in
the heart of every lad and girl who loves。 The gods change their
names； but hush！ hush！ talk not of Odin and of Freya； for I say that
it is heresy； or pagan； which is worse。 What would you do now？ Why
came you to London？〃
〃Because my mother bade me and to seek my fortune。〃
〃Fortunewhat is fortune？ Youth and health are the best fortune；
though； if they know how to use it； those who have wealth as well may
go further than the rest。 Also beauteous things are pleasant to the
sight and there is joy in gathering them。 Yet at the last they mean
nothing； for naked we came out of the blackness and naked we return
there。 Vanity of vanities； all is vanity！〃
CHAPTER IV
KARI
Thus began my life in London in the house of my uncle； John Grimmer；
who was called the Goldsmith。 In truth； however； he was more than
this； since not only did he fashion and trade in costly things； he
lent out moneys to interest upon security to great people who needed
it； and even to the king Richard and his Court。 Also he owned ships
and did much commerce with Holland； France； yes； and with Spain and
Italy。 Indeed； although he appeared so humble； his wealth was very
large and always increased； like a snowball rolling down a hill；
moreover； he owned much land； especially in the neighbourhood of
London where it was likely to grow in value。
〃Money melts；〃 he would say； 〃furs corrupt with moth and time； and
thieves break in and steal。 But landif the title be goodremains。
Therefore buy land； which none can carry away； near to a market or a
growing town if may be； and h
