Presently Tom found himself once more the chief figure in a wonderful floating pageant2 on the Thames; for by ancient custom the ‘recognition procession’ through London must start from the Tower, and he was bound thither3.
When he arrived there, the sides of the venerable fortress4 seemed suddenly rent in a thousand places, and from every rent leaped a red tongue of flame and a white gush5 of smoke; a deafening6 explosion followed, which drowned the shoutings of the multitude, and made the ground tremble; the flame-jets, the smoke, and the explosions, were repeated over and over again with marvellous celerity, so that in a few moments the old Tower disappeared in the vast fog of its own smoke, all but the very top of the tall pile called the White Tower; this, with its banners, stood out above the dense8 bank of vapour as a mountain-peak projects above a cloud-rack.
Tom Canty, splendidly arrayed, mounted a prancing9 war-steed, whose rich trappings almost reached to the ground; his ‘uncle,’ the Lord Protector Somerset, similarly mounted, took place in his rear; the King’s Guard formed in single ranks on either side, clad in burnished10 armour11; after the Protector followed a seemingly interminable procession of resplendent nobles attended by their vassals12; after these came the lord mayor and the aldermanic body, in crimson13 velvet14 robes, and with their gold chains across their breasts; and after these the officers and members of all the guilds15 of London, in rich raiment, and bearing the showy banners of the several corporations. Also in the procession, as a special guard of honour through the city, was the Ancient and Honourable16 Artillery17 Company—an organisation18 already three hundred years old at that time, and the only military body in England possessing the privilege (which it still possesses in our day) of holding itself independent of the commands of Parliament. It was a brilliant spectacle, and was hailed with acclamations all along the line, as it took its stately way through the packed multitudes of citizens. The chronicler says, ‘The King, as he entered the city, was received by the people with prayers, welcomings, cries, and tender words, and all signs which argue an earnest love of subjects toward their sovereign; and the King, by holding up his glad countenance19 to such as stood afar off, and most tender language to those that stood nigh his Grace, showed himself no less thankful to receive the people’s goodwill20 than they to offer it. To all that wished him well, he gave thanks. To such as bade “God save his Grace,” he said in return, “God save you all!” and added that “he thanked them with all his heart.” Wonderfully transported were the people with the loving answers and gestures of their King.’
In Fenchurch Street a ‘fair child, in costly21 apparel,’ stood on a stage to welcome his Majesty22 to the city. The last verse of his greeting was in these words—
‘Welcome, O King! as much as hearts can think;
Welcome, again, as much as tongue can tell,—
God thee preserve, we pray, and wish thee ever well.’
The people burst forth24 in a glad shout, repeating with one voice what the child had said. Tom Canty gazed abroad over the surging sea of eager faces, and his heart swelled25 with exultation26; and he felt that the one thing worth living for in this world was to be a king, and a nation’s idol27. Presently he caught sight, at a distance, of a couple of his ragged28 Offal Court comrades—one of them the lord high admiral in his late mimic29 court, the other the first lord of the bedchamber in the same pretentious30 fiction; and his pride swelled higher than ever. Oh, if they could only recognise him now! What unspeakable glory it would be, if they could recognise him, and realise that the derided31 mock king of the slums and back alleys32 was become a real King, with illustrious dukes and princes for his humble33 menials, and the English world at his feet! But he had to deny himself, and choke down his desire, for such a recognition might cost more than it would come to: so he turned away his head, and left the two soiled lads to go on with their shoutings and glad adulations, unsuspicious of whom it was they were lavishing34 them upon.
Every now and then rose the cry, “A largess! a largess!” and Tom responded by scattering35 a handful of bright new coins abroad for the multitude to scramble36 for.
The chronicler says, ‘At the upper end of Gracechurch Street, before the sign of the Eagle, the city had erected37 a gorgeous arch, beneath which was a stage, which stretched from one side of the street to the other. This was an historical pageant, representing the King’s immediate38 progenitors39. There sat Elizabeth of York in the midst of an immense white rose, whose petals40 formed elaborate furbelows around her; by her side was Henry VII., issuing out of a vast red rose, disposed in the same manner: the hands of the royal pair were locked together, and the wedding-ring ostentatiously displayed. From the red and white roses proceeded a stem, which reached up to a second stage, occupied by Henry VIII., issuing from a red and white rose, with the effigy41 of the new King’s mother, Jane Seymour, represented by his side. One branch sprang from this pair, which mounted to a third stage, where sat the effigy of Edward VI. himself, enthroned in royal majesty; and the whole pageant was framed with wreaths of roses, red and white.’
This quaint42 and gaudy43 spectacle so wrought44 upon the rejoicing people, that their acclamations utterly45 smothered46 the small voice of the child whose business it was to explain the thing in eulogistic47 rhymes. But Tom Canty was not sorry; for this loyal uproar48 was sweeter music to him than any poetry, no matter what its quality might be. Whithersoever Tom turned his happy young face, the people recognised the exactness of his effigy’s likeness49 to himself, the flesh and blood counterpart; and new whirlwinds of applause burst forth.
The great pageant moved on, and still on, under one triumphal arch after another, and past a bewildering succession of spectacular and symbolical50 tableaux51, each of which typified and exalted52 some virtue53, or talent, or merit, of the little King’s. ’Throughout the whole of Cheapside, from every penthouse and window, hung banners and streamers; and the richest carpets, stuffs, and cloth-of-gold tapestried54 the streets—specimens of the great wealth of the stores within; and the splendour of this thoroughfare was equalled in the other streets, and in some even surpassed.’
The mock King’s cheeks were flushed with excitement, his eyes were flashing, his senses swam in a delirium56 of pleasure. At this point, just as he was raising his hand to fling another rich largess, he caught sight of a pale, astounded57 face, which was strained forward out of the second rank of the crowd, its intense eyes riveted58 upon him. A sickening consternation59 struck through him; he recognised his mother! and up flew his hand, palm outward, before his eyes—that old involuntary gesture, born of a forgotten episode, and perpetuated60 by habit. In an instant more she had torn her way out of the press, and past the guards, and was at his side. She embraced his leg, she covered it with kisses, she cried, “O my child, my darling!” lifting toward him a face that was transfigured with joy and love. The same instant an officer of the King’s Guard snatched her away with a curse, and sent her reeling back whence she came with a vigorous impulse from his strong arm. The words “I do not know you, woman!” were falling from Tom Canty’s lips when this piteous thing occurred; but it smote61 him to the heart to see her treated so; and as she turned for a last glimpse of him, whilst the crowd was swallowing her from his sight, she seemed so wounded, so broken-hearted, that a shame fell upon him which consumed his pride to ashes, and withered62 his stolen royalty63. His grandeurs were stricken valueless: they seemed to fall away from him like rotten rags.
The procession moved on, and still on, through ever augmenting64 splendours and ever augmenting tempests of welcome; but to Tom Canty they were as if they had not been. He neither saw nor heard. Royalty had lost its grace and sweetness; its pomps were become a reproach. Remorse was eating his heart out. He said, “Would God I were free of my captivity65!”
He had unconsciously dropped back into the phraseology of the first days of his compulsory66 greatness.
The shining pageant still went winding67 like a radiant and interminable serpent down the crooked68 lanes of the quaint old city, and through the huzzaing hosts; but still the King rode with bowed head and vacant eyes, seeing only his mother’s face and that wounded look in it.
“Largess, largess!” The cry fell upon an unheeding ear.
“Long live Edward of England!” It seemed as if the earth shook with the explosion; but there was no response from the King. He heard it only as one hears the thunder of the surf when it is blown to the ear out of a great distance, for it was smothered under another sound which was still nearer, in his own breast, in his accusing conscience—a voice which kept repeating those shameful69 words, “I do not know you, woman!”
The words smote upon the King’s soul as the strokes of a funeral bell smite70 upon the soul of a surviving friend when they remind him of secret treacheries suffered at his hands by him that is gone.
New glories were unfolded at every turning; new wonders, new marvels, sprang into view; the pent clamours of waiting batteries were released; new raptures71 poured from the throats of the waiting multitudes: but the King gave no sign, and the accusing voice that went moaning through his comfortless breast was all the sound he heard.
By-and-by the gladness in the faces of the populace changed a little, and became touched with a something like solicitude72 or anxiety: an abatement73 in the volume of the applause was observable too. The Lord Protector was quick to notice these things: he was as quick to detect the cause. He spurred to the King’s side, bent74 low in his saddle, uncovered, and said—
“My liege, it is an ill time for dreaming. The people observe thy downcast head, thy clouded mien75, and they take it for an omen7. Be advised: unveil the sun of royalty, and let it shine upon these boding76 vapours, and disperse77 them. Lift up thy face, and smile upon the people.”
So saying, the Duke scattered78 a handful of coins to right and left, then retired79 to his place. The mock King did mechanically as he had been bidden. His smile had no heart in it, but few eyes were near enough or sharp enough to detect that. The noddings of his plumed80 head as he saluted81 his subjects were full of grace and graciousness; the largess which he delivered from his hand was royally liberal: so the people’s anxiety vanished, and the acclamations burst forth again in as mighty82 a volume as before.
Still once more, a little before the progress was ended, the Duke was obliged to ride forward, and make remonstrance83. He whispered—
“O dread84 sovereign! shake off these fatal humours; the eyes of the world are upon thee.” Then he added with sharp annoyance85, “Perdition catch that crazy pauper86! ’twas she that hath disturbed your Highness.”
The gorgeous figure turned a lustreless87 eye upon the Duke, and said in a dead voice—
“She was my mother!”
“My God!” groaned88 the Protector as he reined89 his horse backward to his post, “the omen was pregnant with prophecy. He is gone mad again!”
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收听单词发音
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1
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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6
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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7
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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8
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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9
prancing
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 ) | |
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10
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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vassals
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| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
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13
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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14
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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15
guilds
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| 行会，同业公会，协会( guild的名词复数 ) | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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17
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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18
organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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19
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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21
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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23
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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25
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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26
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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pretentious
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| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
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31
derided
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| v.取笑，嘲笑( deride的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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33
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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34
lavishing
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的现在分词 ) | |
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35
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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36
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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37
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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38
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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39
progenitors
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| n.祖先( progenitor的名词复数 )；先驱；前辈；原本 | |
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40
petals
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| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
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41
effigy
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| n.肖像 | |
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42
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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43
gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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44
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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45
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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46
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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47
eulogistic
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| adj.颂扬的，颂词的 | |
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48
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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49
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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50
symbolical
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| a.象征性的 | |
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51
tableaux
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| n.舞台造型，（由活人扮演的）静态画面、场面；人构成的画面或场景( tableau的名词复数 )；舞台造型；戏剧性的场面；绚丽的场景 | |
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52
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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53
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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54
tapestried
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| adj.饰挂绣帷的，织在绣帷上的v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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58
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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59
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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60
perpetuated
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| vt.使永存（perpetuate的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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61
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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62
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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63
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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64
augmenting
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| 使扩张 | |
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65
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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66
compulsory
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| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
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67
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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68
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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70
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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71
raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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72
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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73
abatement
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| n.减(免)税，打折扣，冲销 | |
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74
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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75
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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76
boding
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| adj.凶兆的，先兆的n.凶兆，前兆，预感v.预示，预告，预言( bode的现在分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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77
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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78
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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79
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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80
plumed
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| 饰有羽毛的 | |
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81
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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82
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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83
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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84
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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85
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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86
pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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87
lustreless
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| adj.无光泽的，无光彩的，平淡乏味的 | |
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88
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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89
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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