kenilworth-第31部分

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Wayland　Smith；　that；　notwithstanding　the　obvious　danger　of　his
being　recognized；　he　could　not　help　winking　to　Tressilian；　and
smiling　mysteriously；　as　if　triumphing　in　the　undoubted　evidence
of　his　veterinary　skill。　　In　the　meanwhile；　the　discourse
continued。

〃E'en　let　it　be　so；〃　said　a　grave　man　in　black；　the　companion　of
Gaffer　Grimesby；　〃e'en　let　us　perish　under　the　evil　God　sends　us；
rather　than　the　devil　be　our　doctor。〃

〃Very　true；〃　said　Dame　Crane；　〃and　I　marvel　at　Jack　Hostler　that
he　would　peril　his　own　soul　to　cure　the　bowels　of　a　nag。〃

〃Very　true；　mistress；〃　said　Jack　Hostler；　〃but　the　nag　was　my
master's；　and　had　it　been　yours；　I　think　ye　would　ha'　held　me
cheap　enow　an　I　had　feared　the　devil　when　the　poor　beast　was　in
such　a　taking。　　For　the　rest；　let　the　clergy　look　to　it。　　Every
man　to　his　craft；　says　the　proverbthe　parson　to　the　prayer…
book；　and　the　groom　to　his　curry…comb。

〃I　vow；〃　said　Dame　Crane；　〃I　think　Jack　Hostler　speaks　like　a
good　Christian　and　a　faithful　servant；　who　will　spare　neither
body　nor　soul　in　his　master's　service。　　However；　the　devil　has
lifted　him　in　time；　for　a　Constable　of　the　Hundred　came　hither
this　morning　to　get　old　Gaffer　Pinniewinks；　the　trier　of　witches；
to　go　with　him　to　the　Vale　of　Whitehorse　to　comprehend　Wayland
Smith；　and　put　him　to　his　probation。　　I　helped　Pinniewinks　to
sharpen　his　pincers　and　his　poking…awl；　and　I　saw　the　warrant
from　Justice　Blindas。〃

〃Poohpoohthe　devil　would　laugh　both　at　Blindas　and　his
warrant；　constable　and　witch…finder　to　boot；〃　said　old　Dame
Crank；　the　Papist　laundress；　〃Wayland　Smith's　flesh　would　mind
Pinniewinks'　awl　no　more　than　a　cambric　ruff　minds　a　hot
piccadilloe…needle。　　But　tell　me；　gentlefolks；　if　the　devil　ever
had　such　a　hand　among　ye；　as　to　snatch　away　your　smiths　and　your
artists　from　under　your　nose；　when　the　good　Abbots　of　Abingdon
had　their　own？　　By　Our　Lady；　no！they　had　their　hallowed　tapers；
and　their　holy　water；　and　their　relics；　and　what　not；　could　send
the　foulest　fiends　a…packing。　　Go　ask　a　heretic　parson　to　do　the
like。　　But　ours　were　a　comfortable　people。〃

〃Very　true；　Dame　Crank；〃　said　the　hostler；　〃so　said　Simpkins　of
Simonburn　when　the　curate　kissed　his　wife；'They　are　a
comfortable　people；'　said　he。〃

〃Silence；　thou　foul…mouthed　vermin；〃　said　Dame　Crank；　〃is　it　fit
for　a　heretic　horse…boy　like　thee　to　handle　such　a　text　as　the
Catholic　clergy？〃

〃In　troth　no；　dame；〃　replied　the　man　of　oats；　〃and　as　you
yourself　are　now　no　text　for　their　handling；　dame；　whatever　may
have　been　the　case　in　your　day；　I　think　we　had　e'en　better　leave
un　alone。〃

At　this　last　exchange　of　sarcasm；　Dame　Crank　set　up　her　throat；
and　began　a　horrible　exclamation　against　Jack　Hostler；　under
cover　of　which　Tressilian　and　his　attendant　escaped　into　the
house。

They　had　no　sooner　entered　a　private　chamber；　to　which　Goodman
Crane　himself　had　condescended　to　usher　them；　and　dispatched
their　worthy　and　obsequious　host　on　the　errand　of　procuring　wine
and　refreshment；　than　Wayland　Smith　began　to　give　vent　to　his
self…importance。

〃You　see；　sir；〃　said　he；　addressing　Tressilian；　〃that　I　nothing
fabled　in　asserting　that　I　possessed　fully　the　mighty　mystery　of
a　farrier；　or　mareschal；　as　the　French　more　honourably　term　us。
These　dog…hostlers；　who；　after　all；　are　the　better　judges　in　such
a　case；　know　what　credit　they　should　attach　to　my　medicaments。　　I
call　you　to　witness；　worshipful　Master　Tressilian；　that　nought；
save　the　voice　of　calumny　and　the　hand　of　malicious　violence；
hath　driven　me　forth　from　a　station　in　which　I　held　a　place　alike
useful　and　honoured。〃

〃I　bear　witness；　my　friend；　but　will　reserve　my　listening；〃
answered　Tressilian；　〃for　a　safer　time；　unless；　indeed；　you　deem
it　essential　to　your　reputation　to　be　translated；　like　your　late
dwelling；　by　the　assistance　of　a　flash　of　fire。　　For　you　see　your
best　friends　reckon　you　no　better　than　a　mere　sorcerer。〃

〃Now；　Heaven　forgive　them；〃　said　the　artist；　〃who　confounded
learned　skill　with　unlawful　magic！　　I　trust　a　man　may　be　as
skilful；　or　more　so；　than　the　best　chirurgeon　ever　meddled　with
horse…flesh；　and　yet　may　be　upon　the　matter　little　more　than
other　ordinary　men；　or　at　the　worst　no　conjurer。〃

〃God　forbid　else！〃　　said　Tressilian。　　〃But　be　silent　just　for　the
present；　since　here　comes　mine　host　with　an　assistant；　who　seems
something　of　the　least。〃

Everybody　about　the　inn；　Dame　Crane　herself　included；　had　been
indeed　so　interested　and　agitated　by　the　story　they　had　heard　of
Wayland　Smith；　and　by　the　new；　varying；　and　more　marvellous
editions　of　the　incident　which　arrived　from　various　quarters；
that　mine　host；　in　his　righteous　determination　to　accommodate　his
guests；　had　been　able　to　obtain　the　assistance　of　none　of　his
household；　saving　that　of　a　little　boy；　a　junior　tapster；　of
about　twelve　years　old；　who　was　called　Sampson。

〃I　wish；〃　he　said；　apologizing　to　his　guests；　as　he　set　down　a
flagon　of　sack；　and　promised　some　food　immediately〃I　wish　the
devil　had　flown　away　with　my　wife　and　my　whole　family　instead　of
this　Wayland　Smith；　who；　I　daresay；　after　all　said　and　done；　was
much　less　worthy　of　the　distinction　which　Satan　has　done　him。〃

〃I　hold　opinion　with　you；　good　fellow；〃　replied　Wayland　Smith；
〃and　I　will　drink　to　you　upon　that　argument。〃

〃Not　that　I　would　justify　any　man　who　deals　with　the　devil；〃　said
mine　host；　after　having　pledged　Wayland　in　a　rousing　draught　of
sack；　〃but　thatsaw　ye　ever　better　sack；　my　masters？but　that；
I　say；　a　man　had　better　deal　with　a　dozen　cheats　and　scoundrel
fellows；　such　as　this　Wayland　Smith；　than　with　a　devil　incarnate；
that　takes　possession　of　house　and　home；　bed　and　board。〃

The　poor　fellow's　detail　of　grievances　was　here　interrupted　by
the　shrill　voice　of　his　helpmate；　screaming　from　the　kitchen；　to
which　he　instantly　hobbled；　craving　pardon　of　his　guests。　　He　was
no　sooner　gone　than　Wayland　Smith　expressed；　by　every
contemptuous　epithet　in　the　language；　his　utter　scorn　for　a
nincompoop　who　stuck　his　head　under　his　wife's　apron…string；　and
intimated　that；　saving　for　the　sake　of　the　horses；　which　required
both　rest　and　food；　he　would　advise　his　worshipful　Master
Tressilian　to　push　on　a　stage　farther；　rather　than　pay　a
reckoning　to　such　a　mean…spirited；　crow…trodden；　henpecked
coxcomb；　as　Gaffer　Crane。

The　arrival　of　a　large　dish　of　good　cow…heel　and　bacon　something
soothed　the　asperity　of　the　artist；　which　wholly　vanished　before
a　choice　capon；　so　delicately　roasted　that　the　lard　frothed　on
it；　said　Wayland；　like　May…dew　on　a　lily；　and　both　Gaffer　Crane
and　his　good　dame　became；　in　his　eyes；　very　painstaking；
accommodating；　obliging　persons。

According　to　the　manners　of　the　times；　the　master　and　his
attendant　sat　at　the　same　table；　and　the　latter　observed；　with
regret；　how　little　attention　Tressilian　paid　to　his　meal。　　He
recollected；　indeed；　the　pain　he　had　given　by　mentioning　the
maiden　in　whose　company　he　had　first　seen　him；　but；　fearful　of
touching　upon　a　topic　too　tender　to　be　tampered　with；　he　chose　to
ascribe　his　abstinence　to　another　cause。

〃This　fare　is　perhaps　too　coarse　for　your　worship；〃　said　Wayland；
as　the　limbs　of　the　capon　disappeared　before　his　own　exertions；
〃but　had　you　dwelt　as　long　as　I　have　done　in　yonder　dungeon；
which　Flibbertigibbet　has　translated　to　the　upper　element；　a
place　where　I　dared　hardly　broil　my　food；　lest　the　smoke　should
be　seen　without；　you　would　think　a　fair　capon　a　more　welcome
dainty。〃

〃If　you　are　pleased；　friend；〃　said　Tressilian；　〃it　is　well。
Nevertheless；　hasten　thy　meal　if　thou　canst；　For　this　place　is
unfriendly　to　thy　safety；　and　my　concerns　crave　travelling。〃

Allowing；　therefore；　their　horses　no　more　rest　than　was
absolutely　necessary　for　them；　they　pursued　their　journey　by　a
forced　march　as　far　as　Bradford；　where　they　reposed　themselves
for　the　night。

The　next　morning　found　them　early　travellers。　　And；　not　to
fatigue　the　reader　with　unnecessary　particulars；　they　traversed
without　adventure　the　counties　of　Wiltshire　and　Somerset；　and
about　noon　of　the　third　day　after　Tressilian's　leaving　Cumnor；
arrived　at　Sir　Hugh　Robsart's　seat；　called　Lidcote　Hall；　on　the
frontiers　of　Devonshire。



CHAPTER　XII。

　　Ah　me！　　the　flower　and　blossom　of　your　house；
　　The　wind　hath　blown　away　to　other　towers。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　JOANNA　BAILLIE'S　　FAMILY　LEGEND。

The　ancient　seat　of　Lidcote　Hall　was　situated　near　the　village　of
the　same　name；　and　adjoined　the　wild　and　extensive　forest　of
Exmoor；　plentifully　stocked　with　game；　in　which　some　ancient
rights　belonging　to　the　Robsart　family　entitled　Sir　Hugh　to
pursue　his　favourite　amusement　of　the　chase。　　The　old　mansion　was
a　low；　venerable　building；　occupying　a　considerable　space　of
ground；　which　was　surrounded　by　a　deep　moat。　　The　approach　and
drawbridge　were　defended　by　an　octagonal　tower；　of　ancient
brickwork；　but　so　clothed　with　ivy　and　other　creepers　that　it　was
difficult　to　discover　of　what　materials　it　was　constructed。　　The
angles　of　this　tower　were　each　decorated　with　a　turret；
whimsically　various　in　form　and　in　size；　and；　therefore；　very
unlike　the　monotonous　stone　pepperboxes　which；　in　modern　Gothic
architecture；　are　employed　for　the　same　purpose。　　One　of　these
turrets　was　square；　and　occupied　as　a　clock…house。　　But　the　clock
was　now　standing　still；　a　circumstance　peculiarly　striking　to
Tressilian；　because　the　good　old　knight；　among　other　harmless
peculiarities；　had　a　fidgety　anxiety　about　the　exact　measurement
of　time；　very　common　to　those　who　have　a　great　deal　of　that
commodity　to　dispose　of；　and　find　it　lie　heavy　upon　their　hands
just　as　we　see　shopkeepers　amuse　themselves　with　taking　an　exact
account　of　their　stock　at　the　time　there　is　least　demand　for　it。

The　entrance　to　the　courtyard　of　the　old　mansion　lay　through　an
archway；　surmounted　by　the　foresaid　tower；　but　the　drawbridge　was
down；　and　one　leaf　of　the　iron…studded　folding…doors　stood
carelessly　open。　　Tressilian　hastily　rode　over　the　drawbridge；
entered　the　court；　and　began　to　call　loudly　on　the　domestics　by
their　names。　　For　some　time　he　was　only　answered　by　the　echoes
and　the　howling　of　the　hounds；　wh