burlesques-第4部分
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Northern Babel lies; with its warehouses; and its bridges; its
graceful factory…chimneys; and its clumsy faneshidden in fog and
smoke by the dirtiest river in the worldin all the cities of
mankind there is One Home whither men of one family may resort。
Over the entire world spreads a vast brotherhood; suffering;
silent; scattered; sympathizing; WAITINGan immense Free…Masonry。
Once this world…spread band was an Arabian clana little nation
alone and outlying amongst the mighty monarchies of ancient time;
the Megatheria of history。 The sails of their rare ships might be
seen in the Egyptian waters; the camels of their caravans might
thread the sands of Baalbec; or wind through the date…groves of
Damascus; their flag was raised; not ingloriously; in many wars;
against mighty odds; but 'twas a small people; and on one dark
night the Lion of Judah went down before Vespasian's Eagles; and in
flame; and death; and struggle; Jerusalem agonized and died。 。 。 。
Yes; the Jewish city is lost to Jewish men; but have they not taken
the world in exchange?〃
Mused thus Godfrey de Bouillon; Marquis of Codlingsby; as he
debouched from Wych Street into the Strand。 He had been to take a
box for Armida at Madame Vestris's theatre。 That little Armida was
folle of Madame Vestris's theatre; and her little brougham; and her
little self; and her enormous eyes; and her prodigious opera…glass;
and her miraculous bouquet; which cost Lord Codlingsby twenty
guineas every evening at Nathan's in Covent Garden (the children of
the gardeners of Sharon have still no rival for flowers); might be
seen; three nights in the week at least; in the narrow; charming;
comfortable little theatre。 Godfrey had the box。 He was
strolling; listlessly; eastward; and the above thoughts passed
through the young noble's mind as he came in sight of Holywell
Street。
The occupants of the London Ghetto sat at their porches basking in
the evening sunshine。 Children were playing on the steps。 Fathers
were smoking at the lintel。 Smiling faces looked out from the
various and darkling draperies with which the warehouses were hung。
Ringlets glossy; and curly; and jettyeyes black as night
midsummer nightwhen it lightens; haughty noses bending like beaks
of eagleseager quivering nostrilslips curved like the bow of
Loveevery man or maiden; every babe or matron in that English
Jewry bore in his countenance one or more of these characteristics
of his peerless Arab race。
〃How beautiful they are!〃 mused Codlingsby; as he surveyed these
placid groups calmly taking their pleasure in the sunset。
〃D'you vant to look at a nishe coat?〃 a voice said; which made him
start; and then some one behind him began handling a masterpiece of
Stultz's with a familiarity which would have made the baron
tremble。
〃Rafael Mendoza!〃 exclaimed Godfrey。
〃The same; Lord Codlingsby;〃 the individual so apostrophized
replied。 〃I told you we should meet again where you would little
expect me。 Will it please you to enter? this is Friday; and we
close at sunset。 It rejoices my heart to welcome you home。〃 So
saying Rafael laid his hand on his breast; and bowed; an oriental
reverence。 All traces of the accent with which he first addressed
Lord Codlingsby had vanished: it was disguise; half the Hebrew's
life is a disguise。 He shields himself in craft; since the Norman
boors persecuted him。
They passed under an awning of old clothes; tawdry fripperies;
greasy spangles; and battered masks; into a shop as black and
hideous as the entrance was foul。 〃THIS your home; Rafael?〃 said
Lord Codlingsby。
〃Why not?〃 Rafael answered。 〃I am tired of Schloss Schinkenstein;
the Rhine bores me after a while。 It is too hot for Florence;
besides they have not completed the picture…gallery; and my place
smells of putty。 You wouldn't have a man; mon cher; bury himself
in his chateau in Normandy; out of the hunting season? The
Rugantino Palace stupefies me。 Those Titians are so gloomy; I
shall have my Hobbimas and Tenierses; I think; from my house at the
Hague hung over them。〃
〃How many castles; palaces; houses; warehouses; shops; have you;
Rafael?〃 Lord Codlingsby asked; laughing。
〃This is one;〃 Rafael answered。 〃Come in。〃
II。
The noise in the old town was terrific; Great Tom was booming
sullenly over the uproar; the bell of Saint Mary's was clanging
with alarm; St。 Giles's tocsin chimed furiously; howls; curses;
flights of brickbats; stones shivering windows; groans of wounded
men; cries of frightened females; cheers of either contending party
as it charged the enemy from Carfax to Trumpington Street;
proclaimed that the battle was at its height。
In Berlin they would have said it was a revolution; and the
cuirassiers would have been charging; sabre in hand; amidst that
infuriate mob。 In France they would have brought down artillery;
and played on it with twenty…four pounders。 In Cambridge nobody
heeded the disturbanceit was a Town and Gown row。
The row arose at a boat…race。 The Town boat (manned by eight stout
Bargees; with the redoubted Rullock for stroke) had bumped the
Brazenose light oar; usually at the head of the river。 High words
arose regarding the dispute。 After returning from Granchester;
when the boats pulled back to Christchurch meadows; the disturbance
between the Townsmen and the University youthstheir invariable
opponentsgrew louder and more violent; until it broke out in open
battle。 Sparring and skirmishing took place along the pleasant
fields that lead from the University gate down to the broad and
shining waters of the Cam; and under the walls of Balliol and
Sidney Sussex。 The Duke of Bellamont (then a dashing young sizar
at Exeter) had a couple of rounds with Billy Butt; the bow…oar of
the Bargee boat。 Vavasour of Brazenose was engaged with a powerful
butcher; a well…known champion of the Town party; when; the great
University bells ringing to dinner; truce was called between the
combatants; and they retired to their several colleges for refection。
During the boat…race; a gentleman pulling in a canoe; and smoking a
narghilly; had attracted no ordinary attention。 He rowed about a
hundred yards ahead of the boats in the race; so that he could have
a good view of that curious pastime。 If the eight…oars neared him;
with a few rapid strokes of his flashing paddles his boat shot a
furlong ahead; then he would wait; surveying the race; and sending
up volumes of odor from his cool narghilly。
〃Who is he?〃 asked the crowds who panted along the shore;
encouraging; according to Cambridge wont; the efforts of the
oarsmen in the race。 Town and Gown alike asked who it was; who;
with an ease so provoking; in a barque so singular; with a form
seemingly so slight; but a skill so prodigious; beat their best
men。 No answer could be given to the query; save that a gentleman
in a dark travelling…chariot; preceded by six fourgons and a
courier; had arrived the day before at the 〃Hoop Inn;〃 opposite
Brazenose; and that the stranger of the canoe seemed to be the
individual in question。
No wonder the boat; that all admired so; could compete with any
that ever was wrought by Cambridge artificer or Putney workman。
That boatslim; shining; and shooting through the water like a
pike after a small fishwas a caique from Tophana; it had
distanced the Sultan's oarsmen and the best crews of the Capitan
Pasha in the Bosphorus; it was the workmanship of Togrul…Beg;
Caikjee Bashee of his Highness。 The Bashee had refused fifty
thousand tomauns from Count Boutenieff; the Russian Ambassador; for
that little marvel。 When his head was taken off; the Father of
Believers presented the boat to Rafael Mendoza。
It was Rafael Mendoza that saved the Turkish monarchy after the
battle of Nezeeb。 By sending three millions of piastres to the
Seraskier; by bribing Colonel de St。 Cornichon; the French envoy in
the camp of the victorious Ibrahim; the march of the Egyptian army
was stoppedthe menaced empire of the Ottomans was saved from
ruin; the Marchioness of Stokepogis; our ambassador's lady;
appeared in a suite of diamonds which outblazed even the Romanoff
jewels; and Rafael Mendoza obtained the little caique。 He never
travelled without it。 It was scarcely heavier than an arm…chair。
Baroni; the courier; had carried it down to the Cam that morning;
and Rafael had seen the singular sport which we have mentioned。
The dinner over; the young men rushed from their colleges; flushed;
full…fed; and eager for battle。 If the Gown was angry; the Town;
too; was on the alert。 From Iffly and Barnwell; from factory and
mill; from wharf and warehouse; the Town poured out to meet the
enemy; and their battle was soon general。 From the Addenbrook's
hospital to the Blenheim turnpike; all Cambridge was in an uproar
the college gates closedthe shops barricadedthe shop…boys away
in support of their brother townsmenthe battle raged; and the
Gown had the worst of the fight。
A luncheon of many courses had been provided for Rafael Mendoza at
his inn; but he smiled at the clumsy efforts of the university
cooks to entertain him; and a couple of dates and a glass of water
formed his meal。 In vain the discomfited landlord pressed him to
partake of the slighted banquet。 〃A breakfast! psha!〃 said he。
〃My good man; I have nineteen cooks; at salaries rising from four
hundred a year。 I can have a dinner at any hour; but a Town and
Gown row〃 (a brickbat here flying through the window crashed the
caraffe of water in Mendoza's hand)〃a Town and Gown row is a
novelty to me。 The Town has the best of it; clearly; though: the
men outnumber the lads。 Ha; a good blow! How that tall townsman
went down before yonder slim young fellow in the scarlet trencher
cap。〃
〃That is the Lord Codlingsby;〃 the landlord said。
〃A light weight; but a