westward ho-第13章
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〃We understand;〃 said she; smiling;
〃Dan Cupid; choosing 'midst his mother's graces; Himself more fair; made scorn of fairest faces。〃
The young scholar capped her distich forthwith; and bowing to her with a meaning look;
〃'Then; Goddess; turn;' he cried; 'and veil thy light; Blinded by thine; what eyes can choose aright?'〃
〃Go; saucy sir;〃 said my lady; in high glee: 〃the pageant stays your supreme pleasure。〃
And away went Mr。 Frank as master of the revels; to bring up the 'prentices' pageant; while; for his sake; the nymph of Torridge was forgotten for awhile by all young dames; and most young gentlemen: and his mother heaved a deep sigh; which Lady Bath overhearing
〃What? in the dumps; good madam; while all are rejoicing in your joy? Are you afraid that we court…dames shall turn your Adonis's brain for him?〃
〃I do; indeed; fear lest your condescension should make him forget that he is only a poor squire's orphan。〃
〃I will warrant him never to forget aught that he should recollect;〃 said my Lady Bath。
And she spoke truly。 But soon Frank's silver voice was heard calling out
〃Room there; good people; for the gallant 'prentice lads!〃
And on they came; headed by a giant of buckram and pasteboard armor; forth of whose stomach looked; like a clock…face in a steeple; a human visage; to be greeted; as was the fashion then; by a volley of quips and puns from high and low。
Young Mr。 William Cary; of Clovelly; who was the wit of those parts; opened the fire by asking him whether he were Goliath; Gogmagog; or Grantorto in the romance; for giants' names always began with a G。 To which the giant's stomach answered pretty surlily
〃Mine don't; I begin with an O。〃
〃Then thou criest out before thou art hurt; O cowardly giant!〃
〃Let me out; lads;〃 quoth the irascible visage; struggling in his buckram prison; 〃and I soon show him whether I be a coward。〃
〃Nay; if thou gettest out of thyself; thou wouldst be beside thyself; and so wert but a mad giant。〃
〃And that were pity;〃 said Lady Bath; 〃for by the romances; giants have never overmuch wit to spare。〃
〃Mercy; dear lady!〃 said Frank; 〃and let the giant begin with an O。〃
〃A 〃
〃A false start; giant! you were to begin with an O。〃
〃I'll make you end with an O; Mr。 William Cary!〃 roared the testy tower of buckram。
〃And so I do; for I end with 'Fico!'〃
〃Be mollified; sweet giant;〃 said Frank; 〃and spare the rash youth of yon foolish knight。 Shall elephants catch flies; or Hurlo… Thrumbo stain his club with brains of Dagonet the jester? Be mollified; leave thy caverned grumblings; like Etna when its windy wrath is past; and discourse eloquence from thy central omphalos; like Pythoness ventriloquizing。〃
〃If you do begin laughing at me too; Mr。 Leigh 〃 said the giant's clock…face; in a piteous tone。
〃I laugh not。 Art thou not Ordulf the earl; and I thy humblest squire? Speak up; my lord; your cousin; my Lady Bath; commands you。〃
And at last the giant began:
〃A giant I; Earl Ordulf men me call; 'Gainst Paynim foes Devonia's champion tall; In single fight six thousand Turks I slew; Pull'd off a lion's head; and ate it too: With one shrewd blow; to let St。 Edward in; I smote the gates of Exeter in twain; Till aged grown; by angels warn'd in dream; I built an abbey fair by Tavy stream。 But treacherous time hath tripped my glories up; The stanch old hound must yield to stancher pup; Here's one so tall as I; and twice so bold; Where I took only cuffs; takes good red gold。 From pole to pole resound his wondrous works; Who slew more Spaniards than I e'er slew Turks; I strode across the Tavy stream: but he Strode round the world and back; and here 'a be!〃
〃Oh; bathos!〃 said Lady Bath; while the 'prentices shouted applause。 〃Is this hedge…bantling to be fathered on you; Mr。 Frank?〃
〃It is necessary; by all laws of the drama; madam;〃 said Frank; with a sly smile; 〃that the speech and the speaker shall fit each other。 Pass on; Earl Ordulf; a more learned worthy waits。〃
Whereon; up came a fresh member of the procession; namely; no less a person than Vindex Brimblecombe; the ancient schoolmaster; with five…and…forty boys at his heels; who halting; pulled out his spectacles; and thus signified his forgiveness of his whilom broken head:
〃That the world should have been circumnavigated; ladies and gentles; were matter enough of jubilation to the student of Herodotus and Plato; Plinius and ahem! much more when the circumnavigators are Britons; more; again; when Damnonians。〃
〃Don't swear; master;〃 said young Will Cary。
〃Gulielme Cary; Gulielme Cary; hast thou forgotten thy〃
〃Whippings? Never; old lad! Go on; but let not the license of the scholar overtop the modesty of the Christian。〃
〃More again; as I said; when; incolae; inhabitants of Devon; but; most of all; men of Bideford school。 Oh renowned school! Oh schoolboys ennobled by fellowship with him! Oh most happy pedagogue; to whom it has befallen to have chastised a circumnavigator; and; like another Chiron; trained another Hercules: yet more than Hercules; for he placed his pillars on the ocean shore; and then returned; but my scholar's voyage〃
〃Hark how the old fox is praising himself all along on the sly;〃 said Cary。
〃Mr。 William; Mr。 william; peace;silentium; my graceless pupil。 Urge the foaming steed; and strike terror into the rapid stag; but meddle not with matters too high for thee。〃
〃He has given you the dor now; sir;〃 said Lady Bath; 〃let the old man say his say。〃
〃I bring; therefore; as my small contribution to this day's feast; first a Latin epigram; as thus〃
〃Latin? Let us hear it forthwith;〃 cried my lady。
And the old pedant mouthed out
〃Torriguiam Tamaris ne spernat; Leighius addet Mox terras terris; inclyte Drake; tuis。〃
〃Neat; i' faith; la!〃 Whereon all the rest; as in duty bound; approved also。
〃This for the erudite: for vulgar ears the vernacular is more consonant; sympathetic; instructive; as thus:
〃Famed Argo ship; that noble chip; by doughty Jason's steering; Brought back to Greece the golden fleece; from Colchis home careering; But now her fame is put to shame; while new Devonian Argo; Round earth doth run in wake of sun; and brings wealthier cargo。〃
〃Runs with a right fa…lal…la;〃 observed Cary; 〃and would go nobly to a fiddle and a big drum。〃
〃Ye Spaniards; quake! our doughty Drake a royal swan is tested; On wing and oar; from shore to shore; the raging main who breasted: But never needs to chant his deeds; like swan that lies a…dying; So far his name; by trump of fame; around the sphere is flying。〃
〃Hillo ho! schoolmaster!〃 shouted a voice from behind; 〃move on; and make way for Father Neptune!〃 Whereon a whole storm of raillery fell upon the hapless pedagogue。
〃We waited for the parson's alligator; but we wain't for yourn。〃
〃Allegory! my children; allegory!〃 shrieked the man of letters。
〃What do ye call he an alligator for? He is but a poor little starved evat!〃
〃Out of the road; old Custis! March on; Don Palmado!〃
These allusions to the usual instrument of torture in West…country schools made the old gentleman wince; especially when they were followed home by
〃Who stole Admiral Grenville's brooms; because birch rods were dear?〃
But proudly he shook his bald head; as a bull shakes off the flies; and returned to the charge once more。
〃Great Alexander; famed commander; wept and made a pother; At conquering only half the world; but Drake had conquer'd t'other; And Hercules to brink of seas!〃
〃Oh!〃
And clapping both hands to the back of his neck; the schoolmaster began dancing frantically about; while his boys broke out tittering; 〃O! the ochidore! look to the blue ochidore! Who've put ochidore to maister's poll!〃
It was too true: neatly inserted; as he stooped forward; between his neck and his collar; was a large live shore…crab; holding on tight with both hands。
〃Gentles! good Christians! save me! I am mare…rode! Incubo; vel ab incubo; opprimor! Satanas has me by the poll! Help! he