kenilworth-第3章

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landlord；　with　the　freedom　of　old　acquaintance。

The　village　of　Cumnor；　within　three　or　four　miles　of　Oxford；
boasted；　during　the　eighteenth　of　Queen　Elizabeth；　an　excellent
inn　of　the　old　stamp；　conducted；　or　rather　ruled；　by　Giles
Gosling；　a　man　of　a　goodly　person；　and　of　somewhat　round　belly；
fifty　years　of　age　and　upwards；　moderate　in　his　reckonings；
prompt　in　his　payments；　having　a　cellar　of　sound　liquor；　a　ready
wit；　and　a　pretty　daughter。　　Since　the　days　of　old　Harry　Baillie
of　the　Tabard　in　Southwark；　no　one　had　excelled　Giles　Gosling　in
the　power　of　pleasing　his　guests　of　every　description；　and　so
great　was　his　fame；　that　to　have　been　in　Cumnor　without　wetting　a
cup　at　the　bonny　Black　Bear；　would　have　been　to　avouch　one's…self
utterly　indifferent　to　reputation　as　a　traveller。　　A　country
fellow　might　as　well　return　from　London　without　looking　in　the
face　of　majesty。　　The　men　of　Cumnor　were　proud　of　their　Host；　and
their　Host　was　proud　of　his　house；　his　liquor；　his　daughter；　and
himself。

It　was　in　the　courtyard　of　the　inn　which　called　this　honest
fellow　landlord；　that　a　traveller　alighted　in　the　close　of　the
evening；　gave　his　horse；　which　seemed　to　have　made　a　long
journey；　to　the　hostler；　and　made　some　inquiry；　which　produced
the　following　dialogue　betwixt　the　myrmidons　of　the　bonny　Black
Bear。

〃What；　ho！　　John　Tapster。〃

〃At　hand；　Will　Hostler；〃　replied　the　man　of　the　spigot；　showing
himself　in　his　costume　of　loose　jacket；　linen　breeches；　and　green
apron；　half　within　and　half　without　a　door；　which　appeared　to
descend　to　an　outer　cellar。

〃Here　is　a　gentleman　asks　if　you　draw　good　ale；〃　continued　the
hostler。

〃Beshrew　my　heart　else；〃　answered　the　tapster；　〃since　there　are
but　four　miles　betwixt　us　and　Oxford。　　Marry；　if　my　ale　did　not
convince　the　heads　of　the　scholars；　they　would　soon　convince　my
pate　with　the　pewter　flagon。〃

〃Call　you　that　Oxford　logic？〃　　said　the　stranger；　who　had　now
quitted　the　rein　of　his　horse；　and　was　advancing　towards　the　inn…
door；　when　he　was　encountered　by　the　goodly　form　of　Giles　Gosling
himself。

〃Is　it　logic　you　talk　of；　Sir　Guest？〃　　said　the　host；　〃why；　then；
have　at　you　with　a　downright　consequence

　　'The　horse　to　the　rack；
　　And　to　fire　with　the　sack。'〃

〃Amen！　　with　all　my　heart；　my　good　host；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃let
it　be　a　quart　of　your　best　Canaries；　and　give　me　your　good　help
to　drink　it。〃

〃Nay；　you　are　but　in　your　accidence　yet；　Sir　Traveller；　if　you
call　on　your　host　for　help　for　such　a　sipping　matter　as　a　quart
of　sack；　Were　it　a　gallon；　you　might　lack　some　neighbouring　aid
at　my　hand；　and　yet　call　yourself　a　toper。〃

〃Fear　me　not。〃　　said　the　guest；　〃I　will　do　my　devoir　as　becomes　a
man　who　finds　himself　within　five　miles　of　Oxford；　for　I　am　not
come　from　the　field　of　Mars　to　discredit　myself　amongst　the
followers　of　Minerva。〃

As　he　spoke　thus；　the　landlord；　with　much　semblance　of　hearty
welcome；　ushered　his　guest　into　a　large；　low　chamber；　where
several　persons　were　seated　together　in　different　partiessome
drinking；　some　playing　at　cards；　some　conversing；　and　some；　whose
business　called　them　to　be　early　risers　on　the　morrow；　concluding
their　evening　meal；　and　conferring　with　the　chamberlain　about
their　night's　quarters。

The　entrance　of　a　stranger　procured　him　that　general　and　careless
sort　of　attention　which　is　usually　paid　on　such　occasions；　from
which　the　following　results　were　deduced：The　guest　was　one　of
those　who；　with　a　well…made　person；　and　features　not　in
themselves　unpleasing；　are　nevertheless　so　far　from　handsome
that；　whether　from　the　expression　of　their　features；　or　the　tone
of　their　voice；　or　from　their　gait　and　manner；　there　arises；　on
the　whole；　a　disinclination　to　their　society。　　The　stranger's
address　was　bold；　without　being　frank；　and　seemed　eagerly　and
hastily　to　claim　for　him　a　degree　of　attention　and　deference
which　he　feared　would　be　refused；　if　not　instantly　vindicated　as
his　right。　　His　attire　was　a　riding…cloak；　which；　when　open；
displayed　a　handsome　jerkin　overlaid　with　lace；　and　belted　with　a
buff　girdle；　which　sustained　a　broadsword　and　a　pair　of　pistols。

〃You　ride　well　provided；　sir；〃　said　the　host；　looking　at　the
weapons　as　he　placed　on　the　table　the　mulled　sack　which　the
traveller　had　ordered。

〃Yes；　mine　host；　I　have　found　the　use　on't　in　dangerous　times；
and　I　do　not；　like　your　modern　grandees；　turn　off　my　followers
the　instant　they　are　useless。〃

〃Ay；　sir？〃　　said　Giles　Gosling；　〃then　you　are　from　the　Low
Countries；　the　land　of　pike　and　caliver？〃

〃I　have　been　high　and　low；　my　friend；　broad　and　wide；　far　and
near。　　But　here　is　to　thee　in　a　cup　of　thy　sack；　fill　thyself
another　to　pledge　me；　and；　if　it　is　less　than　superlative；　e'en
drink　as　you　have　brewed。〃

〃Less　than　superlative？〃　　said　Giles　Gosling；　drinking　off　the
cup；　and　smacking　his　lips　with　an　air　of　ineffable　relish；〃I
know　nothing　of　superlative；　nor　is　there　such　a　wine　at　the
Three　Cranes；　in　the　Vintry；　to　my　knowledge；　but　if　you　find
better　sack　than　that　in　the　Sheres；　or　in　the　Canaries　either；　I
would　I　may　never　touch　either　pot　or　penny　more。　　Why；　hold　it
up　betwixt　you　and　the　light；　you　shall　see　the　little　motes
dance　in　the　golden　liquor　like　dust　in　the　sunbeam。　　But　I　would
rather　draw　wine　for　ten　clowns　than　one　traveller。I　trust　your
honour　likes　the　wine？〃

〃It　is　neat　and　comfortable；　mine　host；　but　to　know　good　liquor；
you　should　drink　where　the　vine　grows。　　Trust　me；　your　Spaniard
is　too　wise　a　man　to　send　you　the　very　soul　of　the　grape。　　Why；
this　now；　which　you　account　so　choice；　were　counted　but　as　a　cup
of　bastard　at　the　Groyne；　or　at　Port　St。　Mary's。　　You　should
travel；　mine　host；　if　you　would　be　deep　in　the　mysteries　of　the
butt　and　pottle…pot。〃

〃In　troth；　Signior　Guest；〃　said　Giles　Gosling；　〃if　I　were　to
travel　only　that　I　might　be　discontented　with　that　which　I　can
get　at　home；　methinks　I　should　go　but　on　a　fool's　errand。
Besides；　I　warrant　you；　there　is　many　a　fool　can　turn　his　nose　up
at　good　drink　without　ever　having　been　out　of　the　smoke　of　Old
England；　and　so　ever　gramercy　mine　own　fireside。〃

〃This　is　but　a　mean　mind　of　yours；　mine　host；〃　said　the　stranger；
〃I　warrant　me；　all　your　town's　folk　do　not　think　so　basely。　　You
have　gallants　among　you；　I　dare　undertake；　that　have　made　the
Virginia　voyage；　or　taken　a　turn　in　the　Low　Countries　at　least。
Come；　cudgel　your　memory。　　Have　you　no　friends　in　foreign　parts
that　you　would　gladly　have　tidings　of？〃

〃Troth；　sir；　not　I；〃　answered　the　host；　〃since　ranting　Robin　of
Drysandford　was　shot　at　the　siege　of　the　Brill。　　The　devil　take
the　caliver　that　fired　the　ball；　for　a　blither　lad　never　filled　a
cup　at　midnight！　　But　he　is　dead　and　gone；　and　I　know　not　a
soldier；　or　a　traveller；　who　is　a　soldier's　mate；　that　I　would
give　a　peeled　codling　for。〃

〃By　the　Mass；　that　is　strange。　　What！　　so　many　of　our　brave
English　hearts　are　abroad；　and　you；　who　seem　to　be　a　man　of　mark；
have　no　friend；　no　kinsman　among　them？〃

〃Nay；　if　you　speak　of　kinsmen；〃　answered　Gosling；　〃I　have　one
wild　slip　of　a　kinsman；　who　left　us　in　the　last　year　of　Queen
Mary；　but　he　is　better　lost　than　found。〃

〃Do　not　say　so；　friend；　unless　you　have　heard　ill　of　him　lately。
Many　a　wild　colt　has　turned　out　a　noble　steed。His　name；　I　pray
you？〃

〃Michael　Lambourne；〃　answered　the　landlord　of　the　Black　Bear；　〃a
son　of　my　sister'sthere　is　little　pleasure　in　recollecting
either　the　name　or　the　connection。〃

〃Michael　Lambourne！〃　　said　the　stranger；　as　if　endeavouring　to
recollect　himself〃what；　no　relation　to　Michael　Lambourne；　the
gallant　cavalier　who　behaved　so　bravely　at　the　siege　of　Venlo
that　Grave　Maurice　thanked　him　at　the　head　of　the　army？　　Men　said
he　was　an　English　cavalier；　and　of　no　high　extraction。〃

〃It　could　scarcely　be　my　nephew；〃　said　Giles　Gosling；　〃for　he　had
not　the　courage　of　a　hen…partridge　for　aught　but　mischief。〃

〃Oh；　many　a　man　finds　courage　in　the　wars；〃　replied　the　stranger。

〃It　may　be；〃　said　the　landlord；　〃but　I　would　have　thought　our
Mike　more　likely　to　lose　the　little　he　had。〃

〃The　Michael　Lambourne　whom　I　knew；〃　continued　the　traveller；
〃w