kenilworth-第39章
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learned skill with unlawful magic！ I trust a man may be as
skilful； or more so； than the best chirurgeon ever meddled with
horse…flesh； and yet may be upon the matter little more than
other ordinary men； or at the worst no conjurer。〃
〃God forbid else！〃 said Tressilian。 〃But be silent just for the
present； since here comes mine host with an assistant； who seems
something of the least。〃
Everybody about the inn； Dame Crane herself included； had been
indeed so interested and agitated by the story they had heard of
Wayland Smith； and by the new； varying； and more marvellous
editions of the incident which arrived from various quarters；
that mine host； in his righteous determination to accommodate his
guests； had been able to obtain the assistance of none of his
household； saving that of a little boy； a junior tapster； of
about twelve years old； who was called Sampson。
〃I wish；〃 he said； apologizing to his guests； as he set down a
flagon of sack； and promised some food immediately〃I wish the
devil had flown away with my wife and my whole family instead of
this Wayland Smith； who； I daresay； after all said and done； was
much less worthy of the distinction which Satan has done him。〃
〃I hold opinion with you； good fellow；〃 replied Wayland Smith；
〃and I will drink to you upon that argument。〃
〃Not that I would justify any man who deals with the devil；〃 said
mine host； after having pledged Wayland in a rousing draught of
sack； 〃but thatsaw ye ever better sack； my masters？but that；
I say； a man had better deal with a dozen cheats and scoundrel
fellows； such as this Wayland Smith； than with a devil incarnate；
that takes possession of house and home； bed and board。〃
The poor fellow's detail of grievances was here interrupted by
the shrill voice of his helpmate； screaming from the kitchen； to
which he instantly hobbled； craving pardon of his guests。 He was
no sooner gone than Wayland Smith expressed； by every
contemptuous epithet in the language； his utter scorn for a
nincompoop who stuck his head under his wife's apron…string； and
intimated that； saving for the sake of the horses； which required
both rest and food； he would advise his worshipful Master
Tressilian to push on a stage farther； rather than pay a
reckoning to such a mean…spirited； crow…trodden； henpecked
coxcomb； as Gaffer Crane。
The arrival of a large dish of good cow…heel and bacon something
soothed the asperity of the artist； which wholly vanished before
a choice capon； so delicately roasted that the lard frothed on
it； said Wayland； like May…dew on a lily； and both Gaffer Crane
and his good dame became； in his eyes； very painstaking；
accommodating； obliging persons。
According to the manners of the times； the master and his
attendant sat at the same table； and the latter observed； with
regret； how little attention Tressilian paid to his meal。 He
recollected； indeed； the pain he had given by mentioning the
maiden in whose company he had first seen him； but； fearful of
touching upon a topic too tender to be tampered with； he chose to
ascribe his abstinence to another cause。
〃This fare is perhaps too coarse for your worship；〃 said Wayland；
as the limbs of the capon disappeared before his own exertions；
〃but had you dwelt as long as I have done in yonder dungeon；
which Flibbertigibbet has translated to the upper element； a
place where I dared hardly broil my food； lest the smoke should
be seen without； you would think a fair capon a more welcome
dainty。〃
〃If you are pleased； friend；〃 said Tressilian； 〃it is well。
Nevertheless； hasten thy meal if thou canst； For this place is
unfriendly to thy safety； and my concerns crave travelling。〃
Allowing； therefore； their horses no more rest than was
absolutely necessary for them； they pursued their journey by a
forced march as far as Bradford； where they reposed themselves
for the night。
The next morning found them early travellers。 And； not to
fatigue the reader with unnecessary particulars； they traversed
without adventure the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset； and
about noon of the third day after Tressilian's leaving Cumnor；
arrived at Sir Hugh Robsart's seat； called Lidcote Hall； on the
frontiers of Devonshire。
CHAPTER XII。
Ah me！ the flower and blossom of your house；
The wind hath blown away to other towers。
JOANNA BAILLIE'S FAMILY LEGEND。
The ancient seat of Lidcote Hall was situated near the village of
the same name； and adjoined the wild and extensive forest of
Exmoor； plentifully stocked with game； in which some ancient
rights belonging to the Robsart family entitled Sir Hugh to
pursue his favourite amusement of the chase。 The old mansion was
a low； venerable building； occupying a considerable space of
ground； which was surrounded by a deep moat。 The approach and
drawbridge were defended by an octagonal tower； of ancient
brickwork； but so clothed with ivy and other creepers that it was
difficult to discover of what materials it was constructed。 The
angles of this tower were each decorated with a turret；
whimsically various in form and in size； and； therefore； very
unlike the monotonous stone pepperboxes which； in modern Gothic
architecture； are employed for the same purpose。 One of these
turrets was square； and occupied as a clock…house。 But the clock
was now standing still； a circumstance peculiarly striking to
Tressilian； because the good old knight； among other harmless
peculiarities； had a fidgety anxiety about the exact measurement
of time； very common to those who have a great deal of that
commodity to dispose of； and find it lie heavy upon their hands
just as we see shopkeepers amuse themselves with taking an exact
account of their stock at the time there is least demand for it。
The entrance to the courtyard of the old mansion lay through an
archway； surmounted by the foresaid tower； but the drawbridge was
down； and one leaf of the iron…studded folding…doors stood
carelessly open。 Tressilian hastily rode over the drawbridge；
entered the court； and began to call loudly on the domestics by
their names。 For some time he was only answered by the echoes
and the howling of the hounds； whose kennel lay at no great
distance from the mansion； and was surrounded by the same moat。
At length Will Badger； the old and favourite attendant of the
knight； who acted alike as squire of his body and superintendent
of his sports； made his appearance。 The stout； weather…beaten
forester showed great signs of joy when he recognized Tressilian。
〃Lord love you；〃 he said； 〃Master Edmund； be it thou in flesh and
fell？ Then thou mayest do some good on Sir Hugh； for it passes
the wit of manthat is； of mine own； and the curate's； and
Master Mumblazen'sto do aught wi'un。〃
〃Is Sir Hugh then worse since I went away； Will？〃 demanded
Tressilian。
〃For worse in bodyno； he is much better；〃 replied the domestic；
〃but he is clean mazed as it wereeats and drinks as he was
wontbut sleeps not； or rather wakes not； for he is ever in a
sort of twilight； that is neither sleeping nor waking。 Dame
Swineford thought it was like the dead palsy。 But no； no； dame；
said I； it is the heart； it is the heart。〃
〃Can ye not stir his mind to any pastimes？〃 said Tressilian。
〃He is clean and quite off his sports；〃 said Will Badger； 〃hath
neither touched backgammon or shovel…board； nor looked on the big
book of harrowtry wi' Master Mumblazen。 I let the clock run
down； thinking the missing the bell might somewhat move himfor
you know； Master Edmund； he was particular in counting timebut
he never said a word on't； so I may e'en set the old chime a…
towling again。 I made bold to tread on Bungay's tail too； and
you know what a round rating that would ha' cost me once a…day；
but he minded the poor tyke's whine no more than a madge howlet
whooping down the chimneyso the case is beyond me。〃
〃Thou shalt tell me the rest within doors； Will。 Meanwhile； let
this person be ta'en to the buttery； and used with respect。 He
is a man of art。〃
〃White art or black art； I would；〃 said Will Badger； 〃that he had
any art which could help us。Here； Tom Butler； look to the man
of ar
