友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
九色书籍 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

kenilworth-第30章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



objurgations of Master Erasmus Holiday。  But Dickie Sludge;
equally deaf to the voice of maternal tenderness and of
magisterial authority; skipped on unconsciously before
Tressilian; only observing that 〃if they cried themselves hoarse;
they might go lick the honey…pot; for he had eaten up all the
honey…comb himself on yesterday even。〃



CHAPTER X。

  There entering in; they found the goodman selfe
  Full busylie unto his work ybent;
  Who was to weet a wretched wearish elf;
  With hollow eyes and rawbone cheeks forspent;
  As if he had been long in prison pent。   THE FAERY QUEENE。

〃Are we far from the dwelling of this smith; my pretty lad?〃
said Tressilian to his young guide。

〃How is it you call me?〃  said the boy; looking askew at him with
his sharp; grey eyes。

〃I call you my pretty ladis there any offence in that; my boy?〃

〃No; but were you with my grandam and Dominie Holiday; you might
sing chorus to the old song of

  'We three
  Tom…fools be。'〃

〃And why so; my little man?〃  said Tressilian。

〃Because;〃 answered the ugly urchin; 〃you are the only three ever
called me pretty lad。  Now my grandam does it because she is
parcel blind by age; and whole blind by kindred; and my master;
the poor Dominie; does it to curry favour; and have the fullest
platter of furmity and the warmest seat by the fire。  But what
you call me pretty lad for; you know best yourself。〃

〃Thou art a sharp wag at least; if not a pretty one。  But what do
thy playfellows call thee?〃

〃Hobgoblin;〃 answered the boy readily; 〃but for all that; I would
rather have my own ugly viznomy than any of their jolter…heads;
that have no more brains in them than a brick…bat。〃

〃Then you fear not this smith whom you are going to see?〃

〃Me fear him!〃  answered the boy。  〃If he were the devil folk
think him; I would not fear him; but though there is something
queer about him; he's no more a devil than you are; and that's
what I would not tell to every one。〃

〃And why do you tell it to me; then; my boy?〃  said Tressilian。

〃Because you are another guess gentleman than those we see here
every day;〃 replied Dickie; 〃and though I am as ugly as sin; I
would not have you think me an ass; especially as I may have a
boon to ask of you one day。〃

〃And what is that; my lad; whom I must not call pretty?〃  replied
Tressilian。

〃Oh; if I were to ask it just now;〃 said the boy; 〃you would deny
it me; but I will wait till we meet at court。〃

〃At court; Richard!  are you bound for court?〃  said Tressilian。

〃Ay; ay; that's just like the rest of them;〃 replied the boy。  〃I
warrant me; you think; what should such an ill…favoured;
scrambling urchin do at court?  But let Richard Sludge alone; I
have not been cock of the roost here for nothing。  I will make
sharp wit mend foul feature。〃

〃But what will your grandam say; and your tutor; Dominie
Holiday?〃

〃E'en what they like;〃 replied Dickie; 〃the one has her chickens
to reckon; and the other has his boys to whip。  I would have
given them the candle to hold long since; and shown this trumpery
hamlet a fair pair of heels; but that Dominie promises I should
go with him to bear share in the next pageant he is to set forth;
and they say there are to be great revels shortly。〃

〃And whereabouts are they to be held; my little friend?〃  said
Tressilian。

〃Oh; at some castle far in the north;〃 answered his guide〃a
world's breadth from Berkshire。  But our old Dominie holds that
they cannot go forward without him; and it may be he is right;
for he has put in order many a fair pageant。  He is not half the
fool you would take him for; when he gets to work he understands;
and so he can spout verses like a play…actor; when; God wot; if
you set him to steal a goose's egg; he would be drubbed by the
gander。〃

〃And you are to play a part in his next show?〃  said Tressilian;
somewhat interested by the boy's boldness of conversation and
shrewd estimate of character。

〃In faith;〃 said Richard Sludge; in answer; 〃he hath so promised
me; and if he break his word; it will be the worse for him; for
let me take the bit between my teeth; and turn my head downhill;
and I will shake him off with a fall that may harm his bones。
And I should not like much to hurt him neither;〃 said he; 〃for
the tiresome old fool has painfully laboured to teach me all he
could。  But enough of thathere are we at Wayland Smith's forge…
door。〃

〃You jest; my little friend;〃 said Tressilian; 〃here is nothing
but a bare moor; and that ring of stones; with a great one in the
midst; like a Cornish barrow。〃

〃Ay; and that great flat stone in the midst; which lies across
the top of these uprights;〃 said the boy; 〃is Wayland Smith's
counter; that you must tell down your money upon。〃

〃What do you mean by such folly?〃  said the traveller; beginning
to be angry with the boy; and vexed with himself for having
trusted such a hare…brained guide。

〃Why;〃 said Dickie; with a grin; 〃you must tie your horse to that
upright stone that has the ring in't; and then you must whistle
three times; and lay me down your silver groat on that other flat
stone; walk out of the circle; sit down on the west side of that
little thicket of bushes; and take heed you look neither to right
nor to left for ten minutes; or so long as you shall hear the
hammer clink; and whenever it ceases; say your prayers for the
space you could tell a hundredor count over a hundred; which
will do as welland then come into the circle; you will find
your money gone and your horse shod。〃

〃My money gone to a certainty!〃  said Tressilian; 〃but as for the
restHark ye; my lad; I am not your school…master; but if you
play off your waggery on me; I will take a part of his task off
his hands; and punish you to purpose。〃

〃Ay; when you catch me!〃  said the boy; and presently took to his
heels across the heath; with a velocity which baffled every
attempt of Tressilian to overtake him; loaded as he was with his
heavy boots。  Nor was it the least provoking part of the urchin's
conduct; that he did not exert his utmost speed; like one who
finds himself in danger; or who is frightened; but preserved just
such a rate as to encourage Tressilian to continue the chase; and
then darted away from him with the swiftness of the wind; when
his pursuer supposed he had nearly run him down; doubling at the
same time; and winding; so as always to keep near the place from
which he started。

This lasted until Tressilian; from very weariness; stood still;
and was about to abandon the pursuit with a hearty curse on the
ill…favoured urchin; who had engaged him in an exercise so
ridiculous。  But the boy; who had; as formerly; planted himself
on the top of a hillock close in front; began to clap his long;
thin hands; point with his skinny fingers; and twist his wild and
ugly features into such an extravagant expression of laughter and
derision; that Tressilian began half to doubt whether he had not
in view an actual hobgoblin。

Provoked extremely; yet at the same time feeling an irresistible
desire to laugh; so very odd were the boy's grimaces and
gesticulations; the Cornishman returned to his horse; and mounted
him with the purpose of pursuing Dickie at more advantage。

The boy no sooner saw him mount his horse; than he holloed out to
him that; rather than he should spoil his white…footed nag; he
would come to him; on condition he would keep his fingers to
himself。

〃I will make no conditions with thee; thou ugly varlet!〃  said
Tressilian; 〃I will have thee at my mercy in a moment。〃

〃Aha; Master Traveller;〃 said the boy; 〃there is a marsh hard by
would swallow all the horses of the Queen's guard。  I will into
it; and see where you will go then。  You shall hear the bittern
bump; and the wild…drake quack; ere you get hold of me without my
consent; I promise you。〃

Tressilian looked out; and; from the appearance of the ground
behind the hillock; believed it might be as the boy said; and
accordingly determined to strike up a peace with so light…footed
and ready…witted an enemy。  〃Come down;〃 he said; 〃thou
mischievous brat!  Leave thy mopping and mowing; and; come
hither。

I will do thee no harm; as I am a gentleman。〃

The boy answered his invitation with the utmost confidence; and
danced down from his stance with a galliard sort of step; keeping
his eye at the same time fixed on Tressilian's; who; once more
dismounted; stood with his horse's bridle in his hand;
breathless; and half exhausted with his fruitless exercise;
though not one drop of moisture appeared on the freckled forehead
of the urchin; which looked like a piece of dry and discoloured
parchment; drawn tight across the brow of a fleshless skull。

〃And tell me;〃 said Tressilian; 〃why you use me thus; thou
mischievous imp?  or what your meaning is by telling me so absurd
a legend as you wished but now to put on me?  Or rather show me;
in good earnest; this smith's forge; and I will give thee what
will buy thee apples through the whole winter。〃

〃Were you to give me an orchard of apples;〃 said Dickie Sludge;
〃I can guide thee no better than I have done。  Lay down the
silver token on the flat stonewhistle three timesthen come
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!