kenilworth-第6章
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obstreperous nature of their mirth； especially as he
involuntarily felt some respect for his unknown guest。 He
paused； therefore； at some distance from the table occupied by
these noisy revellers； and began to make a sort of apology for
their license。
〃You would think；〃 he said； 〃to hear these fellows talk； that
there was not one of them who had not been bred to live by Stand
and Deliver； and yet tomorrow you will find them a set of as
painstaking mechanics； and so forth； as ever cut an inch short of
measure； or paid a letter of change in light crowns over a
counter。 The mercer there wears his hat awry； over a shaggy head
of hair； that looks like a curly water…dog's back； goes unbraced；
wears his cloak on one side； and affects a ruffianly vapouring
humour： when in his shop at Abingdon； he is； from his flat cap
to his glistening shoes； as precise in his apparel as if he was
named for mayor。 He talks of breaking parks； and taking the
highway； in such fashion that you would think he haunted every
night betwixt Hounslow and London； when in fact he may be found
sound asleep on his feather…bed； with a candle placed beside him
on one side； and a Bible on the other； to fright away the
goblins。〃
〃And your nephew； mine host； this same Michael Lambourne； who is
lord of the feastis he； too； such a would…be ruffler as the
rest of them？〃
〃Why； there you push me hard；〃 said the host； 〃my nephew is my
nephew； and though he was a desperate Dick of yore； yet Mike may
have mended like other folks； you wot。 And I would not have you
think all I said of him； even now； was strict gospel； I knew the
wag all the while； and wished to pluck his plumes from him。 And
now； sir； by what name shall I present my worshipful guest to
these gallants？〃
〃Marry； mine host；〃 replied the stranger； 〃you may call me
Tressilian。〃
〃Tressilian？〃 answered mine host of the Bear。 〃A worthy name；
and； as I think； of Cornish lineage； for what says the south
proverb
'By Pol； Tre； and Pen；
You may know the Cornish men。'
Shall I say the worthy Master Tressilian of Cornwall？〃
〃Say no more than I have given you warrant for； mine host； and so
shall you be sure you speak no more than is true。 A man may have
one of those honourable prefixes to his name； yet be born far
from Saint Michael's Mount。〃
Mine host pushed his curiosity no further； but presented Master
Tressilian to his nephew's company； who； after exchange of
salutations； and drinking to the health of their new companion；
pursued the conversation in which he found them engaged；
seasoning it with many an intervening pledge。
CHAPTER II。
Talk you of young Master Lancelot？ MERCHANT OF VENICE。
After some brief interval； Master Goldthred； at the earnest
instigation of mine host； and the joyous concurrence of his
guest； indulged the company with； the following morsel of
melody：…
〃Of all the birds on bush or tree；
Commend me to the owl；
Since he may best ensample be
To those the cup that trowl。
For when the sun hath left the west；
He chooses the tree that he loves the best；
And he whoops out his song； and he laughs at his jest；
Then； though hours be late and weather foul；
We'll drink to the health of the bonny； bonny owl。
〃The lark is but a bumpkin fowl；
He sleeps in his nest till morn；
But my blessing upon the jolly owl；
That all night blows his horn。
Then up with your cup till you stagger in speech；
And match me this catch till you swagger and screech；
And drink till you wink； my merry men each；
For； though hours be late and weather be foul；
We'll drink to the health of the bonny； bonny owl。〃
〃There is savour in this； my hearts；〃 said Michael； when the
mercer had finished his song； 〃and some goodness seems left among
you yet； but what a bead…roll you have read me of old comrades；
and to every man's name tacked some ill…omened motto！ And so
Swashing Will of Wallingford hath bid us good…night？〃
〃He died the death of a fat buck；〃 said one of the party； 〃being
shot with a crossbow bolt； by old Thatcham； the Duke's stout
park…keeper at Donnington Castle。〃
〃Ay； ay； he always loved venison well；〃 replied Michael； 〃and a
cup of claret to bootand so here's one to his memory。 Do me
right； my masters。〃
When the memory of this departed worthy had been duly honoured；
Lambourne proceeded to inquire after Prance of Padworth。
〃Pranced offmade immortal ten years since；〃 said the mercer；
〃marry； sir； Oxford Castle and Goodman Thong； and a tenpenny…
worth of cord； best know how。〃
〃What； so they hung poor Prance high and dry？ so much for loving
to walk by moonlight。 A cup to his memory； my masters…all merry
fellows like moonlight。 What has become of Hal with the Plume
he who lived near Yattenden； and wore the long feather？I
forget his name。〃
〃What； Hal Hempseed？〃 replied the mercer。 〃Why； you may
remember he was a sort of a gentleman； and would meddle in state
matters； and so he got into the mire about the Duke of Norfolk's
affair these two or three years since； fled the country with a
pursuivant's warrant at his heels； and has never since been heard
of。〃
〃Nay； after these baulks；〃 said Michael Lambourne； 〃I need hardly
inquire after Tony Foster； for when ropes； and crossbow shafts；
and pursuivant's warrants； and such…like gear； were so rife； Tony
could hardly 'scape them。〃
〃Which Tony Foster mean you？〃 said the innkeeper。
〃Why； him they called Tony Fire…the…Fagot； because he brought a
light to kindle the pile round Latimer and Ridley； when the wind
blew out Jack Thong's torch； and no man else would give him light
for love or money。〃
〃Tony Foster lives and thrives；〃 said the host。 〃But； kinsman； I
would not have you call him Tony Fire…the…Fagot； if you would
not brook the stab。〃
〃How！ is he grown ashamed on't？〃 said Lambourne； 〃Why； he was
wont to boast of it； and say he liked as well to see a roasted
heretic as a roasted ox。〃
〃Ay； but； kinsman； that was in Mary's time；〃 replied the
landlord； 〃when Tony's father was reeve here to the Abbot of
Abingdon。 But since that； Tony married a pure precisian； and is
as good a Protestant； I warrant you； as the best。〃
〃And looks grave； and holds his head high； and scorns his old
companions；〃 said the mercer。
〃Then he hath prospered； I warrant him；〃 said Lambourne； 〃for
ever when a man hath got nobles of his own； he keeps out of the
way of those whose exchequers lie in other men's purchase。〃
〃Prospered； quotha！〃 said the mercer； 〃why； you remember Cumnor
Place； the old mansion…house beside the churchyard？〃
〃By the same token； I robbed the orchard three times what of
that？ It was the old abbot's residence when there was plague or
sickness at Abingdon。〃
〃Ay；〃 said the host； 〃but that has been long over； and Anthony
Foster hath a right in it； and lives there by some grant from a
great courtier； who had the church…lands from the crown。 And
there he dwells； and has as little to do with any poor wight in
Cumnor； as if he were himself a belted knight。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the mercer； 〃it is not altogether pride in Tony
neither； there is a fair lady in the case； and Tony will scarce
let the light of day look on her。〃
〃How！〃 said Tressilian； who now for the first time interfered in
their conversation； 〃did ye not say this Foster was married； and
to a precisian？〃
〃Married he was； and to as bitter a precisian as ever ate flesh
in Lent； and a cat…and…dog life she led with Tony； as men said。
But she is dead； rest be with her！ and Tony hath but a slip of a
daughter； so it is thought he means to wed this stranger； that
men keep such a coil about。〃
〃And why so？I mean； why do they keep a coil about her？〃 said
Tressilian。
〃Why； I wot not；〃 answered the host； 〃except that men say she is
as beautiful as an angel； and no one knows whence she comes； and
every one wishes to know why she is kept so closely mewed up。
For my part； I never saw heryou have； I think； Master
Goldthred？〃
〃That I have； old boy；〃 said the mercer。 〃Look you； I was riding
hither from Abingdon。 I passed under the east oriel window of
the old mansion； where all th
