Put the soul’s armour1 on, alike prepared
For all a soldier’s warfare2 brings.
JOANNA BAILLIE.
The reader will recollect3, that when Rochecliffe and Joceline were made prisoners, the party which escorted them had two other captives in their train, Colonel Everard, namely, and the Rev4. Nehemiah Holdenough. When Cromwell had obtained entrance into Woodstock, and commenced his search after the fugitive5 Prince, the prisoners were placed in what had been an old guardroom, and which was by its strength well calculated to serve for a prison, and a guard was placed over them by Pearson. No light was allowed, save that of a glimmering6 fire of charcoal7. The prisoners remained separated from each other, Colonel Everard conversing8 with Nehemiah Holdenough, at a distance from Dr. Rochecliffe, Sir Henry Lee, and Joceline. The party was soon after augmented10 by Wildrake, who was brought down to the Lodge11, and thrust in with so little ceremony, that, his arms being bound, he had very nearly fallen on his nose in the middle of the prison.
“I thank you, my good friend,” he said, looking back to the door, which they who had pushed him in were securing —“Point de ceremonie — no apology for tumbling, so we light in good company. — Save ye, save ye, gentlemen all — What, á la mort, and nothing stirring to keep the spirits up, and make a night on’t? — the last we shall have, I take it; for a make 10 to a million, but we trine to the nubbing cheat [Footnote: Hang on the gallows] tomorrow. — Patron — noble patron, how goes it? This was but a scurvy12 trick of Noll so far as you were concerned: as for me, why I might have deserved something of the kind at his hand.”
“Prithee, Wildrake, sit down,” said Everard; “thou art drunk — disturb us not.”
“Drunk? I drunk?” cried Wildrake, “I have been splicing13 the mainbrace, as Jack14 says at Wapping — have been tasting Noll’s brandy in a bumper15 to the King’s health, and another to his Excellency’s confusion, and another to the d — n of Parliament — and it may be one or two more, but all to devilish good toasts. But I’m not drunk.”
“Prithee, friend, be not profane,” said Nehemiah Holdenough.
“What, my little Presbyterian Parson, my slender Mass-John? thou shalt say amen to this world instantly”— said Wildrake; “I have had a weary time in’t for one. — Ha, noble Sir Henry, I kiss your hand — I tell thee, knight16, the point of my Toledo was near Cromwell’s heart last night, as ever a button on the breast of his doublet. Rat him, he wears secret armour. — He a soldier! Had it not been for a cursed steel shirt, I would have spitted him like a lark17. — Ha, Doctor Rochecliffe! — thou knowest I can wield18 my weapon.”
“Yes,” replied the Doctor, “and you know I can use mine.”
“I prithee be quiet, Master Wildrake,” said Sir Henry.
“Nay, good knight,” answered Wildrake, “be somewhat more cordial with a comrade in distress19. This is a different scene from the Brentford storming-party. The jade20 Fortune has been a very step-mother to me. I will sing you a song I made on my own ill-luck.”
“At this moment, Captain Wildrake, we are not in a fitting mood for singing,” said Sir Henry, civilly and gravely.
“Nay, it will aid your devotions — Egad, it sounds like a penitential psalm22.
‘When I was a young lad,
My fortune was bad,
If ere I do well ’tis a wonder.
I spent all my means
Amid sharpers and queans;
Then I got a commission to plunder23.
I have stockings ’tis true,
But the devil a shoe,
I am forced to wear boots in all weather,
Be d —— d the hoot24 sole,
Curse on the spur-roll.
Confounded be the upper-leather.’” 11
The door opened as Wildrake finished this stanza25 at the top of his voice, and in rushed a sentinel, who, greeting him by the title of a “blasphemous bellowing26 bull of Bashan,” bestowed27 a severe blow, with his ramrod, on the shoulders of the songster, whose bonds permitted him no means of returning the compliment.
“Your humble28 servant again, sir,” said Wildrake, shrugging his shoulders — “sorry I have no means of showing my gratitude29. I am bound over to keep the peace, like Captain Bobadil — Ha, knight, did you hear my bones clatter30? that blow came twankingly off — the fellow might inflict31 the bastinado, were it in presence of the Grand Seignior — he has no taste for music, knight — is no way moved by the ‘concord of sweet sounds.’ I will warrant him fit for treason, stratagem32, and spoil — Eh? — all down in the mouth — well — I’ll go to sleep to-night on a bench, as I’ve done many a night, and I will be ready to be hanged decently in the morning, which never happened to me before in all my life —
When I was a young lad,
My fortune was bad —’
Pshaw! This is not the tune21 it goes to.” Here he fell fast asleep, and sooner or later all his companions in misfortune followed his example.
The benches intended for the repose33 of the soldiers of the guard, afforded the prisoners convenience enough to lie down, though their slumbers34, it may be believed, were neither sound nor undisturbed. But when daylight was but a little while broken, the explosion of gunpowder35 which took place, and the subsequent fall of the turret36 to which the mine was applied37, would have awakened38 the Seven Sleepers39, or Morpheus himself. The smoke, penetrating40 through the windows, left them at no loss for the cause of the din41.
“There went my gunpowder,” said Rochecliffe, “which has, I trust, blown up as many rebel villains42 as it might have been the means of destroying otherwise in a fair field. It must have caught fire by chance.”
“By chance? — No,” said Sir Henry; “depend on it, my bold Albert has fired the train, and that in yonder blast Cromwell was flying towards the heaven whose battlements he will never reach — Ah, my brave boy! and perhaps thou art thyself sacrificed, like a youthful Samson among the rebellious43 Philistines44. — But I will not be long behind thee, Albert.”
Everard hastened to the door, hoping to obtain from the guard, to whom his name and rank might be known, some explanation of the noise, which seemed to announce some dreadful catastrophe45.
But Nehemiah Holdenough, whose rest had been broken by the trumpet46 which gave signal for the explosion, appeared in the very acme47 of horror —“It is the trumpet of the Archangel!” he cried — “it is the crushing of this world of elements — it is the summons to the Judgment48-seat! The dead are obeying the call — they are with us — they are amongst us — they arise in their bodily frames — they come to summon us!”
As he spoke49 his eyes were riveted50 upon Dr. Rochecliffe, who stood directly opposite to him. In rising hastily, the cap which he commonly wore, according to a custom then usual both among clergymen and gownmen of a civil profession, had escaped from his head, and carried with it the large silk patch which he probably wore for the purpose of disguise; for the cheek which was disclosed was unscarred, and the eye as good as that which was usually uncovered.
Colonel Everard returning from the door, endeavoured in vain to make Master Holdenough comprehend what he learned from the guard without, that the explosion had involved only the death of one of Cromwell’s soldiers. The Presbyterian divine continued to stare wildly at him of the Episcopal persuasion51.
But Dr. Rochecliffe heard and understood the news brought by Colonel Everard, and, relieved from the instant anxiety which had kept him stationary52, he advanced towards the retiring Calvinist, extending his hand in the most friendly manner.
“Avoid thee — Avoid thee!” said Holdenough, “the living may not join hands with the dead.”
“But I,” said Rochecliffe, “am as much alive as you are.”
“Thou alive! — thou! Joseph Albany, whom my own eyes saw precipitated53 from the battlements of Clidesthrow Castle?”
“Ay,” answered the Doctor, “but you did not see me swim ashore54 on a marsh55 covered with sedges — fugit ad salices — after a manner which I will explain to you another time.”
Holdenough touched his hand with doubt and uncertainty56. “Thou art indeed warm and alive,” he said, “and yet after so many blows, and a fall so tremendous — thou canst not be my Joseph Albany.”
“I am Joseph Albany Rochecliffe,” said the Doctor, “become so in virtue57 of my mother’s little estate, which fines and confiscations have made an end of.”
“And is it so indeed?” said Holdenough, “and have I recovered mine old chum?”
“Even so,” replied Rochecliffe, “by the same token I appeared to you in the Mirror Chamber58 — Thou wert so bold, Nehemiah, that our whole scheme would have been shipwrecked, had I not appeared to thee in the shape of a departed friend. Yet, believe me, it went against my heart to do it.”
“Ah, fie on thee, fie on thee,” said Holdenough, throwing himself into his arms, and clasping him to his bosom59, “thou wert ever a naughty wag. How couldst thou play me such a trick? — Ah, Albany, dost thou remember Dr. Purefoy and Caius College?”
“Marry, do I,” said the Doctor, thrusting his arm through the Presbyterian divine’s, and guiding him to a seat apart from the other prisoners, who witnessed this scene with much surprise. “Remember Caius College?” said Rochecliffe; “ay, and the good ale we drank, and our parties to mother Huffcap’s.”
“Vanity of vanities,” said Holdenough, smiling kindly60 at the same time, and still holding his recovered friend’s arm enclosed and hand-locked in his.
“But the breaking the Principal’s orchard61, so cleanly done,” said the Doctor; “it was the first plot I ever framed, and much work I had to prevail on thee to go into it.”
“Oh, name not that iniquity,” said Nehemiah, “since I may well say, as the pious62 Master Baxter, that these boyish offences have had their punishment in later years, inasmuch as that inordinate63 appetite for fruit hath produced stomachic affections under which I yet labour.”
“True, true, dear Nehemiah,” said Rochecliffe, “but care not for them — a dram of brandy will correct it all. Mr. Baxter was,” he was about to say “an ass,” but checked himself, and only filled up the sentence with “a good man, I dare say, but over scrupulous64.”
So they sat down together the best of friends, and for half an hour talked with mutual65 delight over old college stories. By degrees they got on the politics of the day; and though then they unclasped their hands, and there occurred between them such expressions as, “Nay, my dear brother,” and, “there I must needs differ,” and, “on this point I crave66 leave to think;” yet a hue67 and cry against the Independents and other sectarists being started, they followed like brethren in full hollo, and it was hard to guess which was most forward. Unhappily, in the course of this amicable68 intercourse69, something was mentioned about the bishopric of Titus, which at once involved them in the doctrinal question of Church Government. Then, alas70! the floodgates were opened, and they showered on each other Greek and Hebrew texts, while their eyes kindled71, their cheeks glowed, their hands became clenched72, and they looked more like fierce polemics73 about to rend74 each other’s eyes out, than Christian75 divines.
Roger Wildrake, by making himself an auditor76 of the debate, contrived77 to augment9 its violence. He took, of course, a most decided78 part in a question, the merits of which were totally unknown to him. Somewhat overawed by Holdenough’s ready oratory79 and learning, the cavalier watched with a face of anxiety the countenance80 of Dr. Rochecliffe; but when he saw the proud eye and steady bearing of the Episcopal champion, and heard him answer Greek with Greek, and Hebrew with Hebrew, Wildrake backed his arguments as he closed them, with a stout81 rap upon the bench, and an exulting82 laugh in the face of the antagonist83. It was with some difficulty that Sir Henry and Colonel Everard, having at length and reluctantly interfered84, prevailed on the two alienated85 friends to adjourn86 their dispute, removing at the same time to a distance, and regarding each other with looks in which old friendship appeared to have totally given way to mutual animosity.
But while they sat lowering on each other, and longing87 to renew a contest in which each claimed the victory, Pearson entered the prison, and in a low and troubled voice, desired the persons whom it contained to prepare for instant death.
Sir Henry Lee received the doom88 with the stern composure which he had hitherto displayed. Colonel Everard attempted the interposition of a strong and resentful appeal to the Parliament, against the judgment of the court-martial and the General. But Pearson declined to receive or transmit any such remonstrance89, and with a dejected look and mien90 of melancholy91 presage92, renewed his exhortation94 to them to prepare for the hour of noon, and withdrew from the prison.
The operation of this intelligence on the two clerical disputants was more remarkable95. They gazed for a moment on each other with eyes in which repentant96 kindness and a feeling of generous shame quenched97 every lingering feeling of resentment98, and joined in the mutual exclamation99 — “My brother — my brother, I have sinned, I have sinned in offending thee!” they rushed into each other’s arms, shed tears as they demanded each other’s forgiveness, and, like two warriors100, who sacrifice a personal quarrel to discharge their duty against the common enemy, they recalled nobler ideas of their sacred character, and assuming the part which best became them on an occasion so melancholy, began to exhort93 those around them to meet the doom that had been announced, with the firmness and dignity which Christianity alone can give.
点击收听单词发音
1 armour | |
(=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 warfare | |
n.战争(状态);斗争;冲突 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 recollect | |
v.回忆,想起,记起,忆起,记得 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 rev | |
v.发动机旋转,加快速度 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 fugitive | |
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 glimmering | |
n.微光,隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光,发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 charcoal | |
n.炭,木炭,生物炭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 conversing | |
v.交谈,谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 augment | |
vt.(使)增大,增加,增长,扩张 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 Augmented | |
adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 lodge | |
v.临时住宿,寄宿,寄存,容纳;n.传达室,小旅馆 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 scurvy | |
adj.下流的,卑鄙的,无礼的;n.坏血病 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 splicing | |
n.编接(绳);插接;捻接;叠接v.绞接( splice的现在分词 );捻接(两段绳子);胶接;粘接(胶片、磁带等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 jack | |
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 bumper | |
n.(汽车上的)保险杠;adj.特大的,丰盛的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 lark | |
n.云雀,百灵鸟;n.嬉戏,玩笑;vi.嬉戏 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 wield | |
vt.行使,运用,支配;挥,使用(武器等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 jade | |
n.玉石;碧玉;翡翠 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 tune | |
n.调子;和谐,协调;v.调音,调节,调整 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 psalm | |
n.赞美诗,圣诗 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 plunder | |
vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 hoot | |
n.鸟叫声,汽车的喇叭声; v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 stanza | |
n.(诗)节,段 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 bellowing | |
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的现在分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 clatter | |
v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 inflict | |
vt.(on)把…强加给,使遭受,使承担 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 stratagem | |
n.诡计,计谋 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 slumbers | |
睡眠,安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 gunpowder | |
n.火药 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 turret | |
n.塔楼,角塔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 sleepers | |
n.卧铺(通常以复数形式出现);卧车( sleeper的名词复数 );轨枕;睡觉(呈某种状态)的人;小耳环 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 penetrating | |
adj.(声音)响亮的,尖锐的adj.(气味)刺激的adj.(思想)敏锐的,有洞察力的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 din | |
n.喧闹声,嘈杂声 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 villains | |
n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 );罪犯;(小说、戏剧等中的)反面人物;淘气鬼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 rebellious | |
adj.造反的,反抗的,难控制的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 philistines | |
n.市侩,庸人( philistine的名词复数 );庸夫俗子 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 catastrophe | |
n.大灾难,大祸 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 trumpet | |
n.喇叭,喇叭声;v.吹喇叭,吹嘘 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 acme | |
n.顶点,极点 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 riveted | |
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 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 persuasion | |
n.劝说;说服;持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 stationary | |
adj.固定的,静止不动的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 precipitated | |
v.(突如其来地)使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 );促成;猛然摔下;使沉淀 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 ashore | |
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 marsh | |
n.沼泽,湿地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 uncertainty | |
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 orchard | |
n.果园,果园里的全部果树,(美俚)棒球场 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 inordinate | |
adj.无节制的;过度的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 scrupulous | |
adj.审慎的,小心翼翼的,完全的,纯粹的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 crave | |
vt.渴望得到,迫切需要,恳求,请求 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 hue | |
n.色度;色调;样子 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 amicable | |
adj.和平的,友好的;友善的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 kindled | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 clenched | |
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 polemics | |
n.辩论术,辩论法;争论( polemic的名词复数 );辩论;辩论术;辩论法 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 rend | |
vt.把…撕开,割裂;把…揪下来,强行夺取 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76 auditor | |
n.审计员,旁听着 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
79 oratory | |
n.演讲术;词藻华丽的言辞 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
80 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
82 exulting | |
vi. 欢欣鼓舞,狂喜 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
83 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
84 interfered | |
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
85 alienated | |
adj.感到孤独的,不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 );使不友好;转让;让渡(财产等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
86 adjourn | |
v.(使)休会,(使)休庭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
87 longing | |
n.(for)渴望 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
88 doom | |
n.厄运,劫数;v.注定,命定 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
89 remonstrance | |
n抗议,抱怨 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
90 mien | |
n.风采;态度 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
91 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
92 presage | |
n.预感,不祥感;v.预示 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
93 exhort | |
v.规劝,告诫 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
94 exhortation | |
n.劝告,规劝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
95 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
96 repentant | |
adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
97 quenched | |
解(渴)( quench的过去式和过去分词 ); 终止(某事物); (用水)扑灭(火焰等); 将(热物体)放入水中急速冷却 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
98 resentment | |
n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
99 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
100 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |