kenilworth-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Mike　more　likely　to　lose　the　little　he　had。〃

〃The　Michael　Lambourne　whom　I　knew；〃　continued　the　traveller；
〃was　a　likely　fellowwent　always　gay　and　well　attired；　and　had　a
hawk's　eye　after　a　pretty　wench。〃

〃Our　Michael；〃　replied　the　host；　〃had　the　look　of　a　dog　with　a
bottle　at　its　tail；　and　wore　a　coat；　every　rag　of　which　was
bidding　good…day　to　the　rest。〃

〃Oh；　men　pick　up　good　apparel　in　the　wars；〃　replied　the　guest。

〃Our　Mike；〃　answered　the　landlord；　〃was　more　like　to　pick　it　up
in　a　frippery　warehouse；　while　the　broker　was　looking　another
way；　and；　for　the　hawk's　eye　you　talk　of；　his　was　always　after　my
stray　spoons。　　He　was　tapster's　boy　here　in　this　blessed　house
for　a　quarter　of　a　year；　and　between　misreckonings；　miscarriages；
mistakes；　and　misdemeanours；　had　he　dwelt　with　me　for　three
months　longer；　I　might　have　pulled　down　sign；　shut　up　house；　and
given　the　devil　the　key　to　keep。〃

〃You　would　be　sorry；　after　all；〃　continued　the　traveller；　〃were　I
to　tell　you　poor　Mike　Lambourne　was　shot　at　the　head　of　his
regiment　at　the　taking　of　a　sconce　near　Maestricht？〃

〃Sorry！it　would　be　the　blithest　news　I　ever　heard　of　him；　since
it　would　ensure　me　he　was　not　hanged。　　But　let　him　passI　doubt
his　end　will　never　do　such　credit　to　his　friends。　　Were　it　so；　I
should　say〃（taking　another　cup　of　sack）〃Here's　God　rest　him；
with　all　my　heart。〃

〃Tush；　man；〃　replied　the　traveller；　〃never　fear　but　you　will　have
credit　by　your　nephew　yet；　especially　if　he　be　the　Michael
Lambourne　whom　I　knew；　and　loved　very　nearly；　or　altogether；　as
well　as　myself。　　Can　you　tell　me　no　mark　by　which　I　could　judge
whether　they　be　the　same？〃

〃Faith；　none　that　I　can　think　of；〃　answered　Giles　Gosling；
〃unless　that　our　Mike　had　the　gallows　branded　on　his　left
shoulder　for　stealing　a　silver　caudle…cup　from　Dame　Snort　of
Hogsditch。〃

〃Nay；　there　you　lie　like　a　knave；　uncle；〃　said　the　stranger；
slipping　aside　his　ruff；　and　turning　down　the　sleeve　of　his
doublet　from　his　neck　and　shoulder；　〃by　this　good　day；　my
shoulder　is　as　unscarred　as　thine　own。

〃What；　Mike；　boyMike！〃　　exclaimed　the　host；〃and　is　it　thou；
in　good　earnest？　　Nay；　I　have　judged　so　for　this　half…hour；　for　I
knew　no　other　person　would　have　ta'en　half　the　interest　in　thee。
But；　Mike；　an　thy　shoulder　be　unscathed　as　thou　sayest；　thou　must
own　that　Goodman　Thong；　the　hangman；　was　merciful　in　his　office；
and　stamped　thee　with　a　cold　iron。〃

〃Tush；　uncletruce　with　your　jests。　　Keep　them　to　season　your
sour　ale；　and　let　us　see　what　hearty　welcome　thou　wilt　give　a
kinsman　who　has　rolled　the　world　around　for　eighteen　years；　who
has　seen　the　sun　set　where　it　rises；　and　has　travelled　till　the
west　has　become　the　east。〃

〃Thou　hast　brought　back　one　traveller's　gift　with　thee；　Mike；　as
I　well　see；　and　that　was　what　thou　least　didst：　　need　to　travel
for。　　I　remember　well；　among　thine　other　qualities；　there　was　no
crediting　a　word　which　came　from　thy　mouth。〃

〃Here's　an　unbelieving　pagan　for　you；　gentlemen！〃　　said　Michael
Lambourne；　turning　to　those　who　witnessed　this　strange　interview
betwixt　uncle　and　nephew；　some　of　whom；　being　natives　of　the
village；　were　no　strangers　to　his　juvenile　wildness。　　〃This　may
be　called　slaying　a　Cumnor　fatted　calf　for　me　with　a　vengeance。
But；　uncle；　I　come　not　from　the　husks　and　the　swine…trough；　and　I
care　not　for　thy　welcome　or　no　welcome；　I　carry　that　with　me　will
make　me　welcome；　wend　where　I　will。〃

So　saying；　he　pulled　out　a　purse　of　gold　indifferently　well
filled；　the　sight　of　which　produced　a　visible　effect　upon　the
company。　　Some　shook　their　heads　and　whispered　to　each　other；
while　one　or　two　of　the　less　scrupulous　speedily　began　to
recollect　him　as　a　school…companion；　a　townsman；　or　so　forth。　　On
the　other　hand；　two　or　three　grave；　sedate…looking　persons　shook
their　heads；　and　left　the　inn；　hinting　that；　if　Giles　Gosling
wished　to　continue　to　thrive；　he　should　turn　his　thriftless；
godless　nephew　adrift　again；　as　soon　as　he　could。　　Gosling
demeaned　himself　as　if　he　were　much　of　the　same　opinion；　for　even
the　sight　of　the　gold　made　less　impression　on　the　honest
gentleman　than　it　usually　doth　upon　one　of　his　calling。

〃Kinsman　Michael；〃　he　said；　〃put　up　thy　purse。　　My　sister's　son
shall　be　called　to　no　reckoning　in　my　house　for　supper　or
lodging；　and　I　reckon　thou　wilt　hardly　wish　to　stay　longer　where
thou　art　e'en　but　too　well　known。〃

〃For　that　matter；　uncle；〃　replied　the　traveller；　〃I　shall　consult
my　own　needs　and　conveniences。　　Meantime　I　wish　to　give　the
supper　and　sleeping　cup　to　those　good　townsmen　who　are　not　too
proud　to　remember　Mike　Lambourne；　the　tapster's　boy。　　If　you　will
let　me　have　entertainment　for　my　money；　so；　if　not；　it　is　but　a
short　two　minutes'　walk　to　the　Hare　and　Tabor；　and　I　trust　our
neighbours　will　not　grudge　going　thus　far　with　me。〃

〃Nay；　Mike；〃　replied　his　uncle；　〃as　eighteen　years　have　gone　over
thy　head；　and　I　trust　thou　art　somewhat　amended　in　thy
conditions；　thou　shalt　not　leave　my　house　at　this　hour；　and　shalt
e'en　have　whatever　in　reason　you　list　to　call　for。　　But　I　would　I
knew　that　that　purse　of　thine；　which　thou　vapourest　of；　were　as
well　come　by　as　it　seems　well　filled。〃

〃Here　is　an　infidel　for　you；　my　good　neighbours！〃　　said
Lambourne；　again　appealing　to　the　audience。　　〃Here's　a　fellow
will　rip　up　his　kinsman's　follies　of　a　good　score　of　years'
standing。　　And　for　the　gold；　why；　sirs；　I　have　been　where　it
grew；　and　was　to　be　had　for　the　gathering。　　In　the　New　World　have
I　been；　manin　the　Eldorado；　where　urchins　play　at　cherry…pit
with　diamonds；　and　country　wenches　thread　rubies　for　necklaces；
instead　of　rowan…tree　berries；　where　the　pantiles　are　made　of
pure　gold；　and　the　paving…stones　of　virgin　silver。〃

〃By　my　credit；　friend　Mike；〃　said　young　Laurence　Goldthred；　the
cutting　mercer　of　Abingdon；　〃that　were　a　likely　coast　to　trade
to。　　And　what　may　lawns；　cypruses；　and　ribands　fetch；　where　gold
is　so　plenty？〃

〃Oh；　the　profit　were　unutterable；〃　replied　Lambourne；　〃especially
when　a　handsome　young　merchant　bears　the　pack　himself；　for　the
ladies　of　that　clime　are　bona…robas；　and　being　themselves　somewhat
sunburnt；　they　catch　fire　like　tinder　at　a　fresh　complexion　like
thine；　with　a　head　of　hair　inclining　to　be　red。〃

〃I　would　I　might　trade　thither；〃　said　the　mercer；　chuckling。

〃Why；　and　so　thou　mayest；〃　said　Michael〃that　is；　if　thou　art
the　same　brisk　boy　who　was　partner　with　me　at　robbing　the　Abbot's
orchard。　　'Tis　but　a　little　touch　of　alchemy　to　decoct　thy　house
and　land　into　ready　money；　and　that　ready　money　into　a　tall　ship；
with　sails；　anchors；　cordage；　and　all　things　conforming；　then
clap　thy　warehouse　of　goods　under　hatches；　put　fifty　good　fellows
on　deck；　with　myself　to　command　them；　and　so　hoist　topsails；　and
hey　for　the　New　World！〃

〃Thou　hast　taught　him　a　secret；　kinsman；〃　said　Giles　Gosling；　〃to
decoct；　an　that　be　the　word；　his　pound　into　a　penny　and　his　webs
into　a　thread。Take　a　fool's　advice；　neighbour　Goldthred。　　Tempt
not　the　sea；　for　she　is　a　devourer。　　Let　cards　and　cockatrices　do
their　worst；　thy　father's　bales　may　bide　a　banging　for　a　year　or
two　ere　thou　comest　to　the　Spital；　but　the　sea　hath　a　bottomless
appetite；she　would　swallow　the　wealth　of　Lombard　Street　in　a
morning；　as　easily　as　I　would　a　poached　egg　and　a　cup　of　clary。
And　for　my　kinsman's　Eldorado；　never　trust　me　if　I　do　not　believe
he　has　found　it　in　the　pouches　of　some　such　gulls　as　thyself。
But　take　no　snuff　in　the　nose　about　it；　fall　to　and　welcome；　for
here　comes　the　supper；　and　I　heartily　bestow　it　on　all　that　will
take　share；　in　honour　of　my　hopeful　nephew's　return；　always
trusting　that　he　has　come　home　another　man。In　faith；　kinsman；
thou　art　as　like　my　poor　sister　as　ever　was　son　to　mother。〃

〃Not　quite　so　like　old　Benedict　Lambourne；　her　husband；　though；〃
said　the　mercer；　nodding　and　winking。　　〃Dost　thou　remember；　Mike；
what　thou　saidst　when　the　schoolmaster's　ferule　was　over　thee　for
striking　up　thy　father's　crutches？it　is　a　wise　child；　saidst
thou；　that　knows　its　own　father。　　Dr。　Bircham　laughed　till　he
cried　again；　and　his　crying　saved　yours。〃

〃Well；　he　made　it　up　to　me　many　a　day　af