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第59章

the complete writings-3-第59章

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taine that there was no such matter。  Then presently they were presented with this anticke: Thirty young women came naked out of the woods; only covered behind and before with a few greene leaves; their bodies all painted; some of one color; some of another; but all differing; their leader had a fayre payre of Bucks hornes on her head; and an Otters skinne at her girdle; and another at her arme; a quiver of arrows at her backe; a bow and arrows in her hand; the next had in her hand a sword; another a club; another a pot…sticke: all horned alike; the rest every one with their several devises。  These fiends with most hellish shouts and cries; rushing from among the trees; cast themselves in a ring about the fire; singing and dancing with most excellent ill…varietie; oft falling into their infernal passions; and solemnly again to sing and dance; having spent nearly an hour in this Mascarado; as they entered;in like manner they departed。

〃Having reaccommodated themselves; they solemnly invited him to their lodgings; where he was no sooner within the house; but all these Nymphs more tormented him than ever; with crowding; pressing; and hanging about him; most tediously crying; 'Love you not me?  Love you not me?'  This salutation ended; the feast was set; consisting of all the Salvage dainties they could devise: some attending; others singing and dancing about them: which mirth being ended; with fire brands instead of torches they conducted him to his lodging。〃

The next day Powhatan arrived。  Smith delivered up the Indian Namontuck; who had just returned from a voyage to Englandwhither it was suspected the Emperor wished him to go to spy out the weakness of the English tribeand repeated Father Newport's request that Powhatan would come to Jamestown to receive the presents and join in an expedition against his enemies; the Monacans。

Powhatan's reply was worthy of his imperial highness; and has been copied ever since in the speeches of the lords of the soil to the pale faces: 〃If your king has sent me present; I also am a king; and this is my land: eight days I will stay to receive them。  Your father is to come to me; not I to him; nor yet to your fort; neither will I bite at such a bait; as for the Monacans; I can revenge my own injuries。〃

This was the lofty potentate whom Smith; by his way of management; could have tickled out of his senses with a glass bead; and who would infinitely have preferred a big shining copper kettle to the misplaced honor intended to be thrust upon him; but the offer of which puffed him up beyond the reach of negotiation。  Smith returned with his message。  Newport despatched the presents round by water a hundred miles; and the Captains; with fifty soldiers; went over land to Werowocomoco; where occurred the ridiculous ceremony of the coronation; which Smith describes with much humor。  〃The next day;〃 he says; 〃was appointed for the coronation。  Then the presents were brought him; his bason and ewer; bed and furniture set up; his scarlet cloke and apparel; with much adoe put on him; being persuaded by Namontuck they would not hurt him。  But a foule trouble there was to make him kneel to receive his Crown; he not knowing the majesty nor wearing of a Crown; nor bending of the knee; endured so many persuasions; examples and instructions as tyred them all。  At last by bearing hard on his shoulders; he a little stooped; and three having the crown in their hands put it on his head; when by the warning of a pistoll the boats were prepared with such a volley of shot that the king start up in a horrible feare; till he saw all was well。  Then remembering himself to congratulate their kindness he gave his old shoes and his mantell to Captain Newport!〃

The Monacan expedition the King discouraged; and refused to furnish for it either guides or men。  Besides his old shoes; the crowned monarch charitably gave Newport a little heap of corn; only seven or eight bushels; and with this little result the absurd expedition returned to Jamestown。

Shortly after Captain Newport with a chosen company of one hundred and twenty men (leaving eighty with President Smith in the fort) and accompanied by Captain Waldo; Lieutenant Percy; Captain Winne; Mr。 West; and Mr。 Scrivener; who was eager for adventure; set off for the discovery of Monacan。  The expedition; as Smith predicted; was fruitless: the Indians deceived them and refused to trade; and the company got back to Jamestown; half of them sick; all grumbling; and worn out with toil; famine; and discontent。

Smith at once set the whole colony to work; some to make glass; tar; pitch; and soap…ashes; and others he conducted five miles down the river to learn to fell trees and make clapboards。  In this company were a couple of gallants; lately come over; Gabriel Beadle and John Russell; proper gentlemen; but unused to hardships; whom Smith has immortalized by his novel cure of their profanity。  They took gayly to the rough life; and entered into the attack on the forest so pleasantly that in a week they were masters of chopping: 〃making it their delight to hear the trees thunder as they fell; but the axes so often blistered their tender fingers that many times every third blow had a loud othe to drown the echo; for remedie of which sinne the President devised how to have every man's othes numbered; and at night for every othe to have a Canne of water powred downe his sleeve; with which every offender was so washed (himself and all); that a man would scarce hear an othe in a weake。〃  In the clearing of our country since; this excellent plan has fallen into desuetude; for want of any pious Captain Smith in the logging camps。

These gentlemen; says Smith; did not spend their time in wood…logging like hirelings; but entered into it with such spirit that thirty of them would accomplish more than a hundred of the sort that had to be driven to work; yet; he sagaciously adds; 〃twenty good workmen had been better than them all。〃

Returning to the fort; Smith; as usual; found the time consumed and no provisions got; and Newport's ship lying idle at a great charge。 With Percy he set out on an expedition for corn to the Chickahominy; which the insolent Indians; knowing their want; would not supply。 Perceiving that it was Powhatan's policy to starve them (as if it was the business of the Indians to support all the European vagabonds and adventurers who came to dispossess them of their country); Smith gave out that he came not so much for corn as to revenge his imprisonment and the death of his men murdered by the Indians; and proceeded to make war。  This high…handed treatment made the savages sue for peace; and furnish; although they complained of want themselves; owing to a bad harvest; a hundred bushels of corn。

This supply contented the company; who feared nothing so much as starving; and yet; says Smith; so envied him that they would rather hazard starving than have him get reputation by his vigorous conduct。 There is no contemporary account of that period except this which Smith indited。  He says that Newport and Ratcliffe conspired not only to depose him but to keep him out of the fort; since being President they could not control his movements; but that their horns were much too short to effect it。

At this time in the 〃old Taverne;〃 as Smith calls the fort; everybody who had money or goods made all he could by trade; soldiers; sailors; and savages were agreed to barter; and there was more care to maintain their damnable and private trade than to provide the things necessary for the colony。  In a few weeks the whites had bartered away nearly all the axes; chisels; hoes; and picks; and what powder; shot; and pikeheads they could steal; in exchange for furs; baskets; young beasts and such like commodities。  Though the supply of furs was scanty in Virginia; one master confessed he had got in one voyage by this private trade what he sold in England for thirty pounds。 〃These are the Saint…seeming Worthies of Virginia;〃 indignantly exclaims the President; 〃that have; notwithstanding all this; meate; drinke; and wages。〃  But now they began to get weary of the country; their trade being prevented。  〃The loss; scorn; and misery was the poor officers; gentlemen and careless govern

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