to have and to hold-第20章
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asked it。 Already out of favor with the Warwick faction； he had risked enough for me and mine。 I could not flee with my wife to the Indians； exposing her； perhaps； to a death by fierce tortures； moreover； Opechancanough had of late strangely taken to returning to the settlements those runaway servants and fugitives from justice which before we had demanded from him in vain。 If even it had been possible to run the gauntlet of the Indian villages； war parties； and hunting bands； what would have been before us but endless forest and a winter which for us would have had no spring？ I could not see her die of hunger and cold； or by the teeth of the wolves。 I could not do what I should have liked to do； … take； single…handed； that King's ship with its sturdy crew and sail with her south and ever southwards； before us nothing more formidable than Spanish ships； and beyond them blue waters； spice winds； new lands； strange islands of the blest。
There seemed naught that I could do； naught that she could do。 Our Fate had us by the hands； and held us fast。 We stood still； and the days came and went like dreams。
While the Assembly was in session I had my part to act as Burgess from my hundred。 Each day I sat with my fellows in the church； facing the Governor in his great velvet chair； the Council on either hand； and listened to the droning of old Twine； the clerk； like the droning of the bees without the window； to the chant of the sergeant…at…arms； to long and windy discourses from men who planted better than they spoke； to remarks by the Secretary； witty； crammed with Latin and traveled talk； to the Governor's slow； weighty words。 At Weyanoke we had had trouble with the Indians。 I was one who loved them not and had fought them well； for which reason the hundred chose me its representative。 In the Assembly it was my part to urge a greater severity toward those our natural enemies； a greater watchfulness on our part； the need for palisades and sentinels； the danger that lay in their acquisition of firearms； which； in defiance of the law； men gave them in exchange for worthless Indian commodities。 This Indian business was the chief matter before the Assembly。 I spoke when I thought speech was needed； and spoke strongly； for my heart foreboded that which was to come upon us too soon and too surely。 The Governor listened gravely； nodding his head； Master Pory； too； the Cape Merchant； and West were of my mind； but the remainder were besotted by their own conceit； esteeming the very name of Englishman sentinel and palisade enough； or trusting in the smooth words and vows of brotherhood poured forth so plentifully by that red Apollyon； Opechancanough。
When the day's work was done； and we streamed out of the church； … the Governor and Council first； the rest of us in order； … it was to find as often as not a red and black figure waiting for us among the graves。 Sometimes it joined itself to the Governor； sometimes to Master Pory； sometimes the whole party； save one； went off with it to the guest house； there to eat； drink； and make merry。
If Virginia and all that it contained； save only that jewel of which it had robbed the court； were out of favor with the King's minion； he showed it not。 Perhaps he had accepted the inevitable with a good grace； perhaps it was but his mode of biding his time； but he had shifted into that soldierly frankness of speech and manner； that genial； hail…fellow…well…met air； behind which most safely hides a villain's mind。 Two days after that morning behind the church； he had removed himself； his French valets； and his Italian physician from the Governor's house to the newly finished guest house。 Here he lived； cock of the walk； taking his ease in his inn； elbowing out all guests save those of his own inviting。 If； what with his open face and his open hand； his dinners and bear…baitings and hunting parties； his tales of the court and the wars； his half hints as to the good he might do Virginia with the King； extending even to the lightening of the tax upon our tobacco and the prohibition of the Spanish import； his known riches and power； and the unknown height to which they might attain if his star at court were indeed in the ascendant； … if with these things he slowly； but surely； won to his following all save a very few of those I had thought my fast friends； it was not a thing marvelous or without precedent。 Upon his side was good that might be seen and handled； on mine was only a dubious right and a not at all dubious danger。 I do not think it plagued me much。 The going of those who had it in their heart to wish to go left me content； and for those who fawned upon him from the first； or for the rabble multitude who flung up their caps and ran at his heels； I cared not a doit。 There were still Rolfe and West and the Governor； Jeremy Sparrow and Diccon。
My lord and I met； perforce； in the street； at the Governor's house； in church； on the river； in the saddle。 If we met in the presence of others； we spoke the necessary formal words of greeting or leave…taking； and he kept his countenance； if none were by； off went the mask。 The man himself and I looked each other in the eyes and passed on。 Once we encountered on a late evening among the graves； and I was not alone。 Mistress Percy had been restless； and had gone； despite the minister's protests； to sit upon the river bank。 When I returned from the assembly and found her gone； I went to fetch her。 A storm was rolling slowly up。 Returning the long way through the churchyard； we came upon him sitting beside a sunken grave； his knees drawn up to meet his chin； his eyes gloomily regardful of the dark broad river； the unseen ocean； and the ship that could not return for weeks to come。 We passed him in silence； … I with a slight bow； she with a slighter curtsy。 An hour later； going down the street in the dusk of the storm； I ran against Dr。 Lawrence Bohun。 〃Don't stop me！〃 he panted。 〃The Italian doctor is away in the woods gathering simples； and they found my Lord Carnal in a fit among the graves； half an hour agone。〃 My lord was bled； and the next morning went hunting。
The lady whom I had married abode with me in the minister's house； held her head high； and looked the world in the face。 She seldom went from home； but when she did take the air it was with pomp and circumstance。 When that slender figure and exquisite face； set off by as rich apparel as could be bought from a store of finery brought in by the Southampton； and attended by a turbaned negress and a serving man who had been to the wars； and had escaped the wheel by the skin of his teeth； appeared in the street； small wonder if a greater commotion arose than had been since the days of the Princess Pocahontas and her train of dusky beauties。 To this fairer； more imperial dame gold lace doffed its hat and made its courtliest bow； and young planters bent to their saddlebows； while the common folk nudged and stared and had their say。 The beauty； the grace； the pride； that deigned small response to well…meant words； … all that would have been intolerable in plain Mistress Percy； once a waiting maid； then a piece of merchandise to be sold for one hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco； then the wife of a poor gentleman； was pardoned readily enough to the Lady Jocelyn Leigh； the ward of the King； the bride to be （so soon as the King's Court of High Commission should have snapped in twain an inconvenient and ill…welded fetter） of the King's minion。
So she passed like a splendid vision through the street perhaps once a week。 On Sundays she went with me to church； and the people looked at her instead of at the minister； who rebuked them not； because his eyes were upon the same errand。
The early autumn passed and the leaves began to turn； and still all things were as they had been； save that the Assembly sat no longer。 My fellow Burgesses went back to their hundreds； but my house at Weyanoke knew me no more。 In a tone that was apologetic； but firm； the Governor had told me that he wished my company at Jamestown。 I was pleased enough to stay； I assured him； … as indeed I was。 At Weyanoke； the thunderbolt would fall without warning； at Jamestown； at least I could see； coming up the river； the sails of the Du
