kenilworth-第75部分

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a　purse　of　broad　pieces　to　me。Hark　ye；　fellow；〃　he　continued；
addressing　Wayland；　〃thou　shalt　not　give　Puss　a　hint　to　steal
away　we　must　catch　her　in　her　form。　　So；　back　with　that　pitiful
sheep…biting　visage　of　thine；　or　I　will　fling　thee　from　the
window　of　the　tower；　and　try　if　your　juggling　skill　can　save　your
bones。〃

〃Your　worship　will　not　be　so　hardhearted；　I　trust；〃　said　Wayland；
〃poor　folk　must　live。　　I　trust　your　honour　will　allow　me　to　speak
with　my　sister？〃

〃Sister　on　Adam's　side；　I　warrant；〃　said　Lambourne；　〃or；　if
otherwise；　the　more　knave　thou。　　But　sister　or　no　sister。　　thou
diest　on　point　of　fox；　if　thou　comest　a…prying　to　this　tower　once
more。　　And　now　I　think　of　ituds　daggers　and　death！I　will　see
thee　out　of　the　Castle；　for　this　is　a　more　main　concern　than　thy
jugglery。〃

〃But；　please　your　worship；〃　said　Wayland；　〃I　am　to　enact　Arion　in
the　pageant　upon　the　lake　this　very　evening。〃

〃I　will　act　it　myself　by　Saint　Christopher！〃　　said　Lambourne。
〃Orion；　callest　thou　him？I　will　act　Orion；　his　belt　and　his
seven　stars　to　boot。　　Come　along；　for　a　rascal　knave　as　thou　art
follow　me！　　Or　stayLawrence；　do　thou　bring　him　along。〃

Lawrence　seized　by　the　collar　of　the　cloak　the　unresisting
juggler；　while　Lambourne；　with　hasty　steps；　led　the　way　to　that
same　sallyport；　or　secret　postern；　by　which　Tressilian　had
returned　to　the　Castle；　and　which　opened　in　the　western　wall　at
no　great　distance　from　Mervyn's　Tower。

While　traversing　with　a　rapid　foot　the　space　betwixt　the　tower
and　the　sallyport；　Wayland　in　vain　racked　his　brain　for　some
device　which　might　avail　the　poor　lady；　for　whom；　notwithstanding
his　own　imminent　danger；　he　felt　deep　interest。　　But　when　he　was
thrust　out　of　the　Castle；　and　informed　by　Lambourne；　with　a
tremendous　oath；　that　instant　death　would　be　the　consequence　of
his　again　approaching　it；　he　cast　up　his　hands　and　eyes　to
heaven；　as　if　to　call　God　to　witness　he　had　stood　to　the
uttermost　in　defence　of　the　oppressed；　then　turned　his　back　on
the　proud　towers　of　Kenilworth；　and　went　his　way　to　seek　a
humbler　and　safer　place　of　refuge。

Lawrence　and　Lambourne　gazed　a　little　while　after　Wayland；　and
then　turned　to　go　back　to　their　tower；　when　the　former　thus
addressed　his　companion：　　〃Never　credit　me；　Master　Lambourne；　if
I　can　guess　why　thou　hast　driven　this　poor　caitiff　from　the
Castle；　just　when　he　was　to　bear　a　part　in　the　show　that　was
beginning；　and　all　this　about　a　wench；〃

〃Ah；　Lawrence；〃　replied　Lambourne；　〃thou　art　thinking　of　Black
Joan　Jugges　of　Slingdon；　and　hast　sympathy　with　human　frailty。
But；　corragio；　most　noble　Duke　of　the　Dungeon　and　Lord　of　Limbo；
for　thou　art　as　dark　in　this　matter　as　thine　own　dominions　of
Little…ease。　　My　most　reverend　Signior　of　the　Low　Countries　of
Kenilworth；　know　that　our　most　notable　master；　Richard　Varney；
would　give　as　much　to　have　a　hole　in　this　same　Tressilian's　coat；
as　would　make　us　some　fifty　midnight　carousals；　with　the　full
leave　of　bidding　the　steward　go　snick　up；　if　he　came　to　startle
us　too　soon　from　our　goblets。〃

〃Nay；　an　that　be　the　case；　thou　hast　right；〃　said　Lawrence
Staples；　the　upper…warder；　or；　in　common　phrase；　the　first
jailer；　of　Kenilworth　Castle；　and　of　the　Liberty　and　Honour
belonging　thereto。　　〃But　how　will　you　manage　when　you　are　absent
at　the　Queen's　entrance；　Master　Lambourne；　for　methinks　thou　must
attend　thy　master　there？〃

〃Why　thou；　mine　honest　prince　of　prisons；　must　keep　ward　in　my
absence。　　Let　Tressilian　enter　if　he　will；　but　see　thou　let　no
one　come　out。　　If　the　damsel　herself　would　make　a　break；　as　'tis
not　unlike　she　may；　scare　her　back　with　rough　words；　she　is　but　a
paltry　player's　wench　after　all。〃

〃Nay　for　that　matter；〃　said　Lawrence；　〃I　might　shut　the　iron
wicket　upon　her　that　stands　without　the　double　door；　and　so　force
per　force　she　will　be　bound　to　her　answer　without　more　trouble。〃

〃Then　Tressilian　will　not　get　access　to　her；〃　said　Lambourne；
reflecting　a　moment。　　〃But　'tis　no　matter；　she　will　be　detected
in　his　chamber；　and　that　is　all　one。　　But　confess；　thou　old
bat's…eyed　dungeon…keeper；　that　you　fear　to　keep　awake　by
yourself　in　that　Mervyn's　Tower　of　thine？〃

〃Why；　as　to　fear；　Master　Lambourne；〃　said　the　fellow；　〃I　mind　it
not　the　turning　of　a　key；　but　strange　things　have　been　heard　and
seen　in　that　tower。　　You　must　have　heard；　for　as　short　time　as
you　have　been　in　Kenilworth；　that　it　is　haunted　by　the　spirit　of
Arthur　ap　Mervyn；　a　wild　chief　taken　by　fierce　Lord　Mortimer　when
he　was　one　of　the　Lords　Marchers　of　Wales；　and　murdered；　as　they
say；　in　that　same　tower　which　bears　his　name。〃

〃Oh；　I　have　heard　the　tale　five　hundred　times；〃　said　Lambourne；
〃and　how　the　ghost　is　always　most　vociferous　when　they　boil　leeks
and　stirabout；　or　fry　toasted　cheese；　in　the　culinary　regions。
Santo　Diavolo；　man；　hold　thy　tongue；　I　know　all　about　it！〃

〃Ay；　but　thou　dost　not；　though；〃　said　the　turnkey；　〃　for　as　wise
as　thou　wouldst　make　thyself。　　Ah；　it　is　an　awful　thing　to　murder
a　prisoner　in　his　ward！you　that　may　have　given　a　man　a　stab　in
a　dark　street　know　nothing　of　it。　　To　give　a　mutinous　fellow　a
knock　on　the　head　with　the　keys；　and　bid　him　be　quiet；　that's
what　I　call　keeping　order　in　the　ward；　but　to　draw　weapon　and
slay　him；　as　was　done　to　this　Welsh　lord；　THAT　raises　you　a　ghost
that　will　render　your　prison…house　untenantable　by　any　decent
captive　for　some　hundred　years。　　And　I　have　that　regard　for　my
prisoners；　poor　things；　that　I　have　put　good　squires　and　men　of
worship；　that　have　taken　a　ride　on　the　highway；　or　slandered　my
Lord　of　Leicester；　or　the　like；　fifty　feet　under　ground；　rather
than　I　would　put　them　into　that　upper　chamber　yonder　that　they
call　Mervyn's　Bower。　　Indeed；　by　good　Saint　Peter　of　the　Fetters；
I　marvel　my　noble　lord；　or　Master　Varney；　could　think　of　lodging
guests　there；　and　if　this　Master　Tressilian　could　get　any　one　to
keep　him　company；　and　in　especial　a　pretty　wench；　why；　truly；　I
think　he　was　in　the　right　on't。〃

〃I　tell　thee；〃　said　Lambourne；　leading　the　way　into　the　turnkey's
apartment；　〃thou　art　an　ass。　　Go　bolt　the　wicket　on　the　stair；
and　trouble　not　thy　noddle　about　ghosts。　　Give　me　the　wine　stoup；
man；　I　am　somewhat　heated　with　chafing　with　yonder　rascal。〃

While　Lambourne　drew　a　long　draught　from　a　pitcher　of　claret；
which　he　made　use　of　without　any　cup；　the　warder　went　on；
vindicating　his　own　belief　in　the　supernatural。

〃Thou　hast　been　few　hours　in　this　Castle；　and　hast　been　for　the
whole　space　so　drunk；　Lambourne；　that　thou　art　deaf；　dumb；　and
blind。　　But　we　should　hear　less　of　your　bragging　were　you　to　pass
a　night　with　us　at　full　moon；　for　then　the　ghost　is　busiest；　and
more　especially　when　a　rattling　wind　sets　in　from　the　north…west；
with　some　sprinkling　of　rain；　and　now　and　then　a　growl　of
thunder。　　Body　o'　me；　what　crackings　and　clashings；　what
groanings　and　what　howlings；　will　there　be　at　such　times　in
Mervyn's　Bower；　right　as　it　were　over　our　heads；　till　the　matter
of　two　quarts　of　distilled　waters　has　not　been　enough　to　keep　my
lads　and　me　in　some　heart！〃

〃Pshaw；　man！〃　　replied　Lambourne；　on　whom　his　last　draught；
joined　to　repeated　visitations　of　the　pitcher　upon　former
occasions；　began　to　make　some　innovation；　〃thou　speakest　thou
knowest　not　what　about　spirits。　　No　one　knows　justly　what　to　say
about　them；　and；　in　short；　least　said　may　in　that　matter　be
soonest　amended。　Some　men　believe　in　one　thing；　some　in　another
it　is　all　matter　of　fancy。　　I　have　known　them　of　all　sorts；　my
dear　Lawrence　Lock…the…door；　and　sensible　men　too。　　There's　a
great　lordwe'll　pass　his　name；　Lawrencehe　believes　in　the
stars　and　the　moon；　the　planets　and　their　courses；　and　so　forth；
and　that　they　twinkle　exclusively　for　his　benefit；　when　in　sober；
or　rather　in　drunken　truth；　Lawrence；　they　are　only　shining　to
keep　honest　fellows　like　me　out　of　the　kennel。　　Well；　sir；　let
his　humour　pass；　he　is　great　enough　to　indulge　it。　　Then；　look
ye；　there　is　anothera　very　learned　man；　I　promise　you；　and　can
vent　Greek　and　Hebrew　as　fast　as　I　can　Thieves'　Latin　he　has　an
humour　of　sympathies　and　antipathiesof　changing　lead　into　gold；
and　the　like；　why；　via；　let　that　pass　too；　and　let　him　pay　those
in　transmigrated　coin　who　are　fools　enough　to　let　it　be　current
with　them。　　Then　here　comest　thou　thyself；　another　great　man；
though　neither　learned　nor　noble；　yet　full　six　feet　high；　and
thou；　like　a　purblind　mole；　must　needs　believe　in　ghosts　and
goblins；　and　such　like。　　Now；　there　is；　besides；　a　great　man
that　is；　a　great　little　man；　or　a　little　great　man；　my　dear
Lawrenceand　his　name　begins　with　V；　and　what　believes　he？　　Why；
nothing；　honest　Lawrencenothing　in　earth；　heaven；　or　hell；　and
for　my　part；　if　I　believe　there　is　a　devil；　it　is　only　because　I
think　there　must　be　some　one　to　catch　our　aforesaid　friend　by　the
back　'when　soul　and　body　sever；'　as　the　ballad　says；　for　your
antecedent　will　have　a　consequentRARO　ANTECEDENTEM；　as　Doctor
Bircham　was　wont　to　say。　　But　this　is　Greek　to　you　now；　honest
Lawrence；　and　in　sooth　learning　is　dry　work。　　Hand　me　the　pitcher
once　more。〃

〃In　faith；　if　you　drink　more；　Michael；〃　said　the　warder；　〃you
will　be　in　sorry　case　either　to　play　Arion　or　to　wait　on　your
master　on　such　a　solemn　night；　and　I　expect　each　moment　to　hear
the　great　bell　toll　for　the　muster　at　Mortimer's　Tower；　to
receive　the　Queen。〃

While　Staples　remonstrated；　Lambourne　drank；　and　then　setting
down　the　pitcher；　which　was　nearly　emptied；　with　a　deep　sigh；　he
said；　in　an　undertone；　which　soon　rose　to　a　high　one　as　his
speech　proceeded；　〃Never　mind；　Lawrence；　if　I　be　drunk；　I　know
that　shall　make　Varney　uphold　me　sober。　　But；　as　I　said；　never
mind；　I　can　carry　my　drink　discreetly。　　Moreover；　I　am　to　go　on
the　water　as　Orion；　and　shall　take　cold　unless　I　take　something
comfortable　beforehand。　　Not　play　Orion？　　Let　us　see　the　best
roarer　that　ever　strained　his　lungs　for　twelve　pence　out…mouth
me！　　What　if　they　see　me　a　little　disguised？　　Wherefore　should
any　man　be　sober　to…night？　　answer　me　that。　　It　is　matter　of
loyalty　to　be　merry；　and　I　tell　thee　there　are　those　in　the
Castle　who；　if　they　are　not　merry　when　drunk；　have　little