【英文文学】The Tory Lover.docx

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1、【英文文学】The Tory LoverI THE SEA WOLFBy all you love most, war and this sweet lady.The last day of October in 1777, Colonel Jonathan Hamilton came out of his high house on the river bank with a handsome, impatient company of guests, all Berwick gentlemen. They stood on the flagstones, watching a coming

2、 boat that was just within sight under the shadow of the pines of the farther shore, and eagerly passed from hand to hand a spyglass covered with worn red morocco leather. The sun had just gone down; the quick-gathering dusk of the short day was already veiling the sky before they could see the stea

3、dy lift and dip of long oars, and make sure of the boats company. While it was still a long distance away, the gentlemen turned westward and went slowly down through the terraced garden, to wait again with much formality by the gate at the garden foot.Beside the master of the house was Judge Chadbou

4、rne, an old man of singular dignity and kindliness of look, and near them stood General Goodwin, owner of the next estate, and Major Tilly Haggens of the Indian wars, a tall, heavily made person, clumsily built, but not without a certain elegance like an old bottle of Burgundy. There was a small gro

5、up behind these foremost men,a red cloak here and a touch of dark velvet on a shoulder beyond, with plenty of well-plaited ruffles to grace the wearers. Hamiltons young associate, John Lord, merchant and gentleman, stood alone, trim-wigged and serious, with a look of discretion almost too great for

6、his natural boyish grace. Quite the most impressive figure among them was the minister, a man of high ecclesiastical lineage, very well dressed in a three-cornered beaver hat, a large single-breasted coat sweeping down with ample curves over a long waistcoat with huge pockets and lappets, and a grea

7、t white stock that held his chin high in air. This was fastened behind with a silver buckle to match the buckles on his tight knee breeches, and other buckles large and flat on his square-toed shoes; somehow he looked as like a serious book with clasps as a man could look, with an outward completene

8、ss that mated with his inner equipment of fixed Arminian opinions.As for Colonel Hamilton, the host, a strong-looking, bright-colored man in the middle thirties, the softness of a suit of brown, and his own hair well dressed and powdered, did not lessen a certain hardness in his face, a grave determ

9、ination, and maturity of appearance far beyond the due of his years. Hamilton had easily enough won the place of chief shipping merchant and prince of money-makers in that respectable group, and until these dark days of war almost every venture by land or sea had added to his fortunes. The noble hou

10、se that he had built was still new enough to be the chief show and glory of a rich provincial neighborhood. With all his power of money-making,and there were those who counted him a second Sir William Pepperrell,Hamilton was no easy friend-maker like that great citizen of the District of Maine, nor

11、even like his own beautiful younger sister, the houses mistress. Some strain of good blood, which they had inherited, seemed to have been saved through generations to nourish this one lovely existence, and make her seem like the single flower upon their family tree. They had come from but a meagre c

12、hildhood to live here in state and luxury beside the river.The broad green fields of Hamiltons estate climbed a long hill behind the house, hedged in by stately rows of elms and tufted by young orchards; at the western side a strong mountain stream came down its deep channel over noisy falls and rap

13、ids to meet the salt tide in the bay below. This broad sea inlet and inland harborage was too well filled in an anxious year with freightless vessels both small and great: heavy seagoing craft and lateen-sailed gundalows for the river traffic; idle enough now, and careened on the mud at half tide in

14、 picturesque confusion.The opposite shore was high, with farmhouses above the fields. There were many persons to be seen coming down toward the water, and when Colonel Hamilton and his guests appeared on the garden terraces, a loud cry went alongshore, and instantly the noise of mallets ceased in th

15、e shipyard beyond, where some carpenters were late at work. There was an eager, buzzing crowd growing fast about the boat landing and the wharf and warehouses which the gentlemen at the high-urned gateway looked down upon. The boat was coming up steadily, but in the middle distance it seemed to lag;

16、 the long stretch of water was greater than could be measured by the eye. Two West Indian fellows in the crowd fell to scuffling, having trodden upon each others rights, and the on-lookers, quickly diverted from their first interest, cheered them on, and wedged themselves closer together to see the

17、fun. Old C?sar, the majestic negro who had attended Hamilton at respectful distance, made it his welcome duty to approach the quarrel with loud rebukes; usually the authority of this great person in matters pertaining to the estate was only second to his masters, but in such a moment of high festiva

18、l and gladiatorial combat all commands fell upon deaf ears. Major Tilly Haggens burst into a hearty laugh, glad of a chance to break the tiresome formalities of his associates, and being a great admirer of a skillful fight. On any serious occasion the major always seemed a little uneasy, as if restl

19、ess with unspoken jokes.In the meantime the boat had taken its shoreward curve, and was now so near that even through the dusk the figures of the oarsmen, and of an officer, sitting alone at the stern in full uniform, could be plainly seen. The next moment the wrestling Tobago men sprang to their fe

20、et, forgetting their affront, and ran to the landing-place with the rest.The new flag of the Congress with its unfamiliar stripes was trailing at the boats stern; the officer bore himself with dignity, and made his salutations with much politeness. All the gentlemen on the terrace came down together

21、 to the waters edge, without haste, but with exact deference and timeliness; the officer rose quickly in the boat, and stepped ashore with ready foot and no undignified loss of balance. He wore the pleased look of a willing guest, and was gayly dressed in a bright new uniform of blue coat and breech

22、es, with red lapels and a red waistcoat trimmed with lace. There was a noisy cheering, and the spectators fell back on either hand and made way for this very elegant company to turn again and go their ways up the river shore.Captain Paul Jones of the Ranger bowed as a well-practiced sovereign might

23、as he walked along, a little stiffly at first, being often vexed by boat-cramp, as he now explained cheerfully to his host. There was an eager restless look in his clear-cut sailors face, with quick eyes that seemed not to observe things that were near by, but to look often and hopefully toward the

24、horizon. He was a small man, but already bent in the shoulders from living between decks; his sword was long for his height and touched the ground as he walked, dragging along a gathered handful of fallen poplar leaves with its scabbard tip.It was growing dark as they went up the long garden; a thin

25、 white mist was gathering on the river, and blurred the fields where there were marshy spots or springs. The two brigs at the moorings had strung up their dull oil lanterns to the rigging, where they twinkled like setting stars, and made faint reflections below in the rippling current. The huge elms

26、 that stood along the river shore were full of shadows, while above, the large house was growing bright with candlelight, and taking on a cheerful air of invitation. As the master and his friends went up to the wide south door, there stepped out to meet them the lovely figure of a girl, tall and cha

27、rming, and ready with a gay welcome to chide the captain for his delay. She spoke affectionately to each of the others, though she avoided young Mr. Lords beseeching eyes. The elder men had hardly time for a second look to reassure themselves of her bright beauty, before she had vanished along the l

28、ighted hall. By the time their cocked hats and plainer head gear were safely deposited, old C?sar with a great flourish of invitation had thrown open the door of the dining parlor.II THE PARTING FEASTA little nation, but made great by liberty.The faces gathered about the table were serious and full

29、of character. They wore the look of men who would lay down their lives for the young country whose sons they were, and though provincial enough for the most part, so looked most of the men who sat in Parliament at Westminster, and there was no more patrician head than the old judges to be seen upon

30、the English bench. They were for no self-furtherance in public matters, but conscious in their hearts of some national ideas that a Greek might have cherished in his clear brain, or any citizen of the great days of Rome. They were men of a single-hearted faith in Liberty that shone bright and unassa

31、ilable; there were men as good as they in a hundred other towns. It was a simple senate of New England, ready and able to serve her cause in small things and great.The next moment after the minister had said a proper grace, the old judge had a question to ask.Where is Miss Mary Hamilton? said he. Sh

32、all we not have the pleasure of her company?My sister looks for some young friends later, explained the host, but with a touch of coldness in his voice. She begs us to join her then in her drawing-room, knowing that we are now likely to have business together and much discussion of public affairs. I

33、 bid you all welcome to my table, gentlemen; may we be here to greet Captain Paul Jones on his glorious return, as we speed him now on so high an errand!You have made your house very pleasant to a homeless man, Colonel Hamilton, returned the captain, with great feeling. And Miss Hamilton is as good

34、a patriot as her generous brother. May Massachusetts and the Province of Maine never lack such sons and daughters! There are many of my men taking their farewell supper on either shore of your river this night. I have received my dispatches, and it is settled that we sail for France to-morrow mornin

35、g at the turn of tide.To-morrow morning! they exclaimed in chorus. The captains manner gave the best of news; there was an instant shout of approval and congratulation. His own satisfaction at being finally ordered to sea after many trying delays was understood by every one, since for many months, w

36、hile the Ranger was on the stocks at Portsmouth, Paul Jones had bitterly lamented the indecisions of a young government, and regretted the slipping away of great opportunities abroad and at home. To say that he had made himself as vexing as a wasp were to say the truth, but he had already proved him

37、self a born leader with a heart on fire with patriotism and deep desire for glory, and there were those present who eagerly recognized his power and were ready to further his best endeavors. Young men had flocked to his side, sailors born and bred on the river shores, and in Portsmouth town, who cou

38、ld serve their country well. Berwick was in the thick of the fight from the very beginning; her company of soldiers had been among the first at Bunkers Hill, and the alarm at Lexington had shaken her very hills at home. Twin sister of Portsmouth in age, and sharer of her worldly conditions, the old

39、ease and wealth of the town were sadly troubled now; there was many a new black gown in the parsons great parish, and many a mothers son lay dead, or suffered in an English prison. Yet the sea still beckoned with white hands, and Paul Jones might have shipped his crew on the river many times over. T

40、he ease of teaching England to let the colonies alone was not spoken of with such bold certainty as at first, and some late offenses were believed to be best revenged by such a voyage as the Ranger was about to make.Captain Paul Jones knew his work; he was full of righteous wrath toward England, and

41、 professed a large readiness to accept the offered friendliness of France.Colonel Jonathan Hamilton could entertain like a prince. The feast was fit for the room in which it was served, and the huge cellar beneath was well stored with casks of wine that had come from France and Spain, or from Englan

42、d while her ports were still home ports for the colonies. Being a Scotsman, the guest of honor was not unmindful of excellent claret, and now set down his fluted silver tumbler after a first deep draught, and paid his host a handsome compliment.You live like a Virginia gentleman, sir, here in your N

43、orthern home. They little know in Great Britain what stately living is among us. The noble Countess of Selkirk thought that I was come to live among the savages, instead of gratifying my wishes for that calm contemplation and poetic ease which, alas, I have ever been denied.They affect to wonder at

44、the existence of American gentlemen, returned the judge. When my father went to Court in 22, and they hinted the like, he reminded them that since they had sent over some of the best of their own gentlefolk to found the colonies, it would be strange if none but boors and clowns came back.In Virginia

45、 they consider that they breed the only gentlemen; that is the great pity, said Parson Tompson. Some of my classmates at Cambridge arrived at college with far too proud a spirit. They were pleased to be amused, at first, because so many of us at the North were destined for the ministry.You will reme

46、mber that Don Quixote speaks of the Church, the Sea, and the Court for his Spanish gentlemen, said Major Tilly Haggens, casting a glance across at the old judge. We have had the two first to choose from in New England, if we lacked the third. The world was much with the major, and he was nothing if

47、not eager spoken. People forget to look at the antecedents of our various colonists; t is the only way to understand them. In these Piscataqua neighborhoods we do not differ so much from those of Virginia; tis not the same pious stock as made Connecticut and the settlements of Massachusetts Bay. We

48、are children of the Norman blood in New England and Virginia, at any rate. T is the Saxons who try to rule England now; there is the cause of all our troubles. Norman and Saxon have never yet learned to agree.You give me a new thought, said the captain.For me, explained the major, I am of fighting a

49、nd praying Huguenot blood, and here comes in another strain to our nations making. I might have been a parson myself if there had not been a stray French gallant to my grandfather, who ran away with a saintly Huguenot maiden; his ghost still walks by night and puts the devil into me so that I forget my decent hymns. My family name is Huyghens; t was a noble house of the Low Countries. Christian Huyghens, author of the Cos