Rolfe eagerly pointed1 out to Pocahontas the various places of interest as they came into South Wark.
“Here on our left, sweetheart, is Erber House, once the home of Sir Francis Drake. See that round tower lying to the west of it? That is Paris Garden, where the common folk resort to witness the bear-baiting. Yonder to the northeast rises the Tower of London. Long ago its walls resounded2 with mirth and feasting, now it is a gloomy prison house. Now turn your dear eyes to the northwest, here, in this direction. That pile of buildings is Whitehall, where King James holds court. Inigo Jones, the famous architect, is building a magnificent banqueting hall there for the sovereign, and—Why, what is the matter now? Our coach has come to a standstill,” he said abruptly3.
Putting his head out of the window, Rolfe saw a crowd of revelers dressed in173 fantastic garb4 surging around the six white horses drawing the coach. The oaths of the postilion were met by the jeers5 of the mob swinging upon the bridle6 reins7.
“Make way for the Lady Rebecca of Virginia, you scum of South Wark. She is the King’s guest!” shouted the angry jehu.
“Is that the commodity you carry? Up, my merry men, let’s have a look at her,” exclaimed the ringleader.
Up on the wheels scrambled8 three or four adventurous9 spirits, to peer through the coach windows at the famous Indian princess.
The sound of his voice attracted the attention of Adam, seated beside the postilion.
“By my soul, ’tis scatterbrain Jack11 Saunders. Halloa there! Jack, don’t you remember your old comrade?”
“Father Christmas! If ’tis not bottle-nose Adam Clotworthy. I would know your ill-favored visage in Africa. Say, man, how did you escape the scalping-knife, and what has become of the Falstaff paunch you carried about?”
“My own prowess kept off the savages,”174 replied Adam. “As to my paunch, I had to consume my own fat during the Starving Time, like the bears over yonder do in winter. Say, lad, I thought you had been buried long ago by your ranting12 spouse13, Meg. Her temper must have improved vastly to allow you to go junketing around like this.”
Jack scratched his shock head, and whispered with a sly wink14, “She thinks I am down at Deptford, looking after repairs on old Sir Francis Drake’s ship. Come down, Adam, and have a cup of ale for the sake of old times. We will go to the tavern15 hard by and make a roaring night of it.”
Adam shook his head and drew himself up proudly. “I cannot, Jack, I am body-servant to Master John Rolfe, husband of the Lady Rebecca. Besides, there is a little lad in there whom I love as if he were mine own. I have to keep straight for his sake.”
While this conversation was taking place, and the revelers were still tormenting16 the driver, a band of London apprentices17, with clubs in their hands and flat caps on their heads, were coming at a swinging pace across London Bridge, from the north side of the Thames. On perceiving the revelers blocking the way, they raised the cry of “Clubs, clubs!” and bore down upon the175 mummers. Swinging their cudgels right and left upon the heads of the luckless maskers, they quickly cut a wide path for the coach.
Down upon the plunging18 horses came the long curling whip of the postilion. Smarting under the stinging lash19, they plunged20 forward under the gateway21 of London Bridge, surmounted22 by a row of ghastly heads set on pikes; and sweeping23 forward across the bridge, swerved24 to the left, rattled25 down the street echoing with the postilion’s horn, and drew up with a flourish before the Mermaid26 Inn.
Out came the obsequious27 host with many bows to greet them. “Why, Master Rolfe, you are a sight to gladden the heart. And this is the Lady Rebecca, your wife? I need not tell you, honored madam, that all London welcomes you.”
“Yes,” said Rolfe, “we have just had a sample of their good will on South Wark side of the Thames.”
“The Lady De La Warre was here a week ago come Tuesday, to engage rooms for your party, Master Rolfe. They are in readiness and I will conduct you to them,” said the landlord.
Up a crooked28 stairway went Pocahontas, followed by her party, to a suite29 of rooms176 overlooking the Thames. Wreaths of holly30 and mistletoe hung from the ceiling and twined around portraits of King James and Queen Elizabeth. Through the diamond-paned window could be seen the shipping31 plying32 back and forth33 upon the river.
While our friends were seated at breakfast the next morning a servant appeared with the information that Lady De La Warre waited below to pay a visit to the Lady Rebecca.
Rolfe hastened down to conduct this lady to the presence of his wife. In came the stately dame34, rustling35 in violet silk and Flanders lace.
“Welcome to London, Lady Rebecca,” she said. “My husband has often told me of your many kindnesses to our colony in Virginia. I feel that we are already acquaint.”
Both ladies curtsied low to each other, each taking note of the other’s appearance in the meanwhile.
When they were seated Lady De La Warre said to Pocahontas, “It will give me much pleasure to present you at court. I have many skilled needlewomen waiting to provide you with a suitable robe.”
“Pocahontas thanks Lady De La Warre177 for her kind interest. She is happy to be in the land of the pale-faces.”
“You must come and be my guest until after your appearance at court. My lord seconds the invitation and sends greetings. He is away now with the King, who is hunting at Theobalds.”
“Please convey our sincere respects to your noble lord, my lady. Your kind invitation we gladly accept,” replied Rolfe, answering for his wife.
“Now I must take my departure,” said Lady De La Warre, rising. “I will send my coach for you to-morrow.”
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1
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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7
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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8
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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9
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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11
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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12
ranting
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| v.夸夸其谈( rant的现在分词 )；大叫大嚷地以…说教；气愤地)大叫大嚷；不停地大声抱怨 | |
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spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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15
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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19
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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20
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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21
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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22
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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23
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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24
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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26
mermaid
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| n.美人鱼 | |
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27
obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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28
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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29
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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31
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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32
plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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