a book of scoundrels-第16章
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a flat； hollow chest； shrunk shanks； modestly retreating from their snuff…coloured hosethese are the tokens which served to remind his friends of Ralph Briscoe； the Clerk of Newgate。 As he left the prison in the grey air of morning upon some errand of mercy or revenge； he appeared the least fearsome of mortals； while an awkward limp upon his left toe deepened the impression of timidity。 So abstract was his manner； so hesitant his gait； that he would hug the wall as he went； nervously stroking its grimy surface with his long； twittering fingers。 But Ralph； as justice and the Jug knew too well； was neither fool nor coward。 His character belied his outward seeming。 A large soul had crept into the case of his wizened body； and if a poltroon among his ancestors had gifted him with an alien type； he had inherited from some nameless warrior both courage and resource。
He was born in easy circumstances； and gently nurtured in the distant village of Kensington。 Though cast in a scholar's mould； and very apt for learning； he rebelled from the outset against a career of inaction。 His lack of strength was never a check upon his high stomach； he would fight with boys of twice his size； and accept the certain defeat in a cheerful spirit of dogged pugnacity。 Moreover； if his arms were weak； his cunning was as keen…edged as his tongue； and； before his stricken eye had paled； he had commonly executed an ample vengeance upon his enemy。 Nor was it industry that placed him at the top of the class。 A ready wit made him master of the knowledge he despised。
But he would always desert his primer to follow the hangman's lumbering cart up Tyburn Hill； and； still a mere imp of mischief； he would run the weary way from Kensington to Shoe Lane on the distant chance of a cock…fight。 He was present； so he would relate in after years； when Sir Thomas Jermin's man put his famous trick upon the pit。 With a hundred pounds in his pocket and under his arm a dunghill cock； neatly trimmed for the fray； the ingenious ruffian； as Briscoe would tell you； went off to Shoe Lane； persuaded an accomplice to fight the cock in Sir Thomas Jermin's name； and laid a level hundred against his own bird。 So lofty was Sir Thomas's repute that backers were easily found； but the dunghill rooster instantly showed a clean pair of heels； and the cheat was justified of his cunning。
Thus Ralph Briscoe learnt the first lessons in that art of sharping wherein he was afterwards an adept； and when he left school his head was packed with many a profitable device which no book learning could impart。 His father； however； still resolute that he should join an intelligent profession； sent him to Gray's Inn that he might study law。 Here the elegance of his handwriting gained him a rapid repute； his skill became the envy of all the lean…souled clerks in the Inn； and he might have died a respectable attorney had not the instinct of sport forced him from the inkpot and parchment of his profession。 Ill could he tolerate the monotony and restraint of this clerkly life。 In his eyes law was an instrument； not of justice； but of jugglery。 Men were born； said his philosophy； rather to risk their necks than ink their fingers； and if a bold adventure puts you in a difficulty； why； then； you hire some straw…splitting attorney to show his cunning。 Indeed； the study of law was for him； as it was for Falstaff； an excuse for many a bout and merry…making。 He loved his glass； and he loved his wench； and he loved a bull… baiting better than either。 It was his boast； and Moll Cutpurse's compliment； that he never missed a match in his life； and assuredly no man was better known in Paris Garden than the intrepid Ralph Briscoe。
The cloistered seclusion of Gray's Inn grew daily more irksome。 There he would sit； in mute despair； drumming the table with his fingers； and biting the quill； whose use he so bitterly contemned。 Of winter afternoons he would stare through the leaded window…panes at the gaunt； leafless trees； on whose summits swayed the cawing rooks； until servitude seemed intolerable； and he prayed for the voice of the bearward that summoned him to Southwark。 And when the chained bear； the familiar monkey on his back； followed the shrill bagpipe along the curious street； Briscoe felt that blood； not ink； coursed in his veins； forgot the tiresome impediment of the law； and joined the throng； hungry for this sport of kings。 Nor was he the patron of an enterprise wherein he dared take no part。 He was as bold and venturesome as the bravest ruffler that ever backed a dog at a baiting。 When the bull； cruelly secured behind； met the onslaught of his opponents； throwing them off； now this side； now that； with his horns； Briscoe； lost in excitement； would leap into the ring that not a point of the combat should escape him。
So it was that he won the friendship of his illustrious benefactress； Moll Cutpurse。 For； one day； when he had ventured too near the maddened bull； the brute made a heave at his breeches； which instantly gave way； and in another moment he would have been gored to death； had not Moll seized him by the collar and slung him out of the ring。 Thus did his courage ever contradict his appearance； and at the dangerous game of whipping the blinded bear he had no rival； either for bravery or adroitness。 He would rush in with uplifted whip until the breath of the infuriated beast was hot upon his cheek； let his angry lash curl for an instant across the bear's flank； and then； for all his halting foot； leap back into safety with a smiling pride in his own nimbleness。
His acquaintance with Moll Cutpurse； casually begun at a bull… baiting； speedily ripened； for her into friendship； for him into love。 In this； the solitary romance of his life； Ralph Briscoe overtopped even his own achievements of courage。 The Roaring Girl was no more young； and years had not refined her character unto gentleness。 It was still her habit to appear publicly in jerkin and galligaskins； to smoke tobacco in contempt of her sex； and to fight her enemies with a very fury of insolence。 In stature she exceeded the limping clerk by a head； and she could pick him up with one hand； like a kitten。 Yet he loved her； not for any grace of person； nor beauty of feature； nor even because her temperament was undaunted as his own。 He loved her for that wisest of reasons； which is no reason at all； because he loved her。 In his eyes she was the Queen； not of Misrule； but of Hearts。 Had a throne been his； she should have shared it； and he wooed her with a shy intensity； which ennobled him； even in her austere regard。 Alas！ she was unable to return his passion； and she lamented her own obduracy with characteristic humour。 She made no attempt to conceal her admiration。 ‘A notable and famous person；' she called him； confessing that； ‘he was right for her tooth； and made to her mind in every part of him。' He had been bred up in the same exercise of bull…baiting； which was her own delight； she had always praised his towardliness； and prophesied his preferment。 But when he paid her court she was obliged to decline the honour； while she esteemed the compliment。
In truth； she was completely insensible to passion； or； as she exclaimed in a phrase of brilliant independence； ‘I should have hired him to my embraces。'
The sole possibility that remained was a Platonic friendship； and Briscoe accepted the situation in excellent humour。 ‘Ever since he came to know himself；' again it is Moll that speaks； ‘he always deported himself to me with an abundance of regard； calling me his Aunt。' And his aunt she remained unto the end； bound to him in a proper and natural alliance。 Different as they were in aspect； they were strangely alike in taste and disposition。 Nor was the Paris Garden their only meeting…ground。
His sorry sojourn in Gray's Inn had thrown him on the side of the law…breaker； and he had acquired a strange cunning in the difficult art of evading justice。 Instantly Moll recognised his practical value； and； exerting all her talent for intrigue； presently secured for him the Clerkship of Newgate。 Here at last he found scope not only for his learning； but for that spirit of adventure that breathed withi
