第 99 节
作者:
青涩春天 更新:2024-04-09 19:51 字数:9322
feet。 Dear Jemimarann was in white; her hair braided with pearls。
Madame de Flicflac appeared as Queen Elizabeth; and Lady Blanche
Bluenose as a Turkish princess。 An alderman of London and his
lady; two magistrates of the county; and the very pink of Croydon;
several Polish noblemen; two Italian counts (besides our Count);
one hundred and ten young officers; from Addiscombe College; in
full uniform; commanded by Major…General Sir Miles Mulligatawney;
K。C。B。; and his lady; the Misses Pimminy's Finishing Establishment;
and fourteen young ladies; all in white: the Reverend Doctor
Wapshot; and forty…nine young gentlemen; of the first families;
under his chargewere SOME only of the company。 I leave you to
fancy that; if my Jemmy did seek for fashion; she had enough of it
on this occasion。 They wanted me to have mounted again; but my
hunting…day had been sufficient; besides; I ain't big enough
for a real knight: so; as Mrs。 Coxe insisted on my opening the
Tournamentand I knew it was in vain to resistthe Baron and
Tagrag had undertaken to arrange so that I might come off with
safety; if I came off at all。 They had procured from the Strand
Theatre a famous stud of hobby…horses; which they told me had been
trained for the use of the great Lord Bateman。 I did not know
exactly what they were till they arrived; but as they had belonged
to a lord; I thought it was all right; and consented; and I found
it the best sort of riding; after all; to appear to be on horseback
and walk safely a…foot at the same time; and it was impossible to
come down as long as I kept on my own legs: besides; I could cuff
and pull my steed about as much as I liked; without fear of his
biting or kicking in return。 As Lord of the Tournament; they
placed in my hands a lance; ornamented spirally; in blue and gold:
I thought of the pole over my old shop door; and almost wished
myself there again; as I capered up to the battle in my helmet and
breastplate; with all the trumpets blowing and drums beating at the
time。 Captain Tagrag was my opponent; and preciously we poked each
other; till; prancing about; I put my foot on my horse's petticoat
behind; and down I came; getting a thrust from the Captain; at the
same time; that almost broke my shoulder…bone。 〃This was
sufficient;〃 they said; 〃for the laws of chivalry;〃 and I was glad
to get off so。
After that the gentlemen riders; of whom there were no less than
seven; in complete armor; and the professionals; now ran at the
ring; and the Baron was far; far the most skilful。
〃How sweetly the dear Baron rides;〃 said my wife; who was always
ogling at him; smirking; smiling; and waving her handkerchief to
him。 〃I say; Sam;〃 says a professional to one of his friends; as;
after their course; they came cantering up; and ranged under
Jemmy's bower; as she called it:〃I say; Sam; I'm blowed if that
chap in harmer mustn't have been one of hus。〃 And this only made
Jemmy the more pleased; for the fact is; the Baron had chosen the
best way of winning Jemimarann by courting her mother。
The Baron was declared conqueror at the ring; and Jemmy awarded him
the prize; a wreath of white roses; which she placed on his lance;
he receiving it gracefully; and bowing; until the plumes of his
helmet mingled with the mane of his charger; which backed to the
other end of the lists; then galloping back to the place where
Jemimarann was seated; he begged her to place it on his helmet。
The poor girl blushed very much; and did so。 As all the people
were applauding; Tagrag rushed up; and; laying his hand on the
Baron's shoulder; whispered something in his ear; which made the
other very angry; I suppose; for he shook him off violently。
〃Chacun pour soi;〃 says he; 〃Monsieur de Taguerague;〃which means;
I am told; 〃Every man for himself。〃 And then he rode away;
throwing his lance in the air; catching it; and making his horse
caper and prance; to the admiration of all beholders。
After this came the 〃Passage of Arms。〃 Tagrag and the Baron ran
courses against the other champions; ay; and unhorsed two apiece;
whereupon the other three refused to turn out; and preciously we
laughed at them; to be sure!
〃Now; it's OUR turn; Mr。 CHICOT;〃 says Tagrag; shaking his fist at
the Baron: 〃look to yourself; you infernal mountebank; for; by
Jupiter; I'll do my best!〃 And before Jemmy and the rest of us;
who were quite bewildered; could say a word; these two friends were
charging away; spears in hand; ready to kill each other。 In vain
Jemmy screamed; in vain I threw down my truncheon: they had broken
two poles before I could say 〃Jack Robinson;〃 and were driving at
each other with the two new ones。 The Baron had the worst of the
first course; for he had almost been carried out of his saddle。
〃Hark you; Chicot!〃 screamed out Tagrag; 〃next time look to your
head!〃 And next time; sure enough; each aimed at the head of the
other。
Tagrag's spear hit the right place; for it carried off the Baron's
helmet; plume; rose…wreath and all; but his Excellency hit truer
stillhis lance took Tagrag on the neck; and sent him to the
ground like a stone。
〃He's won! he's won!〃 says Jemmy; waving her handkerchief;
Jemimarann fainted; Lady Blanche screamed; and I felt so sick that
I thought I should drop。 All the company were in an uproar: only
the Baron looked calm; and bowed very gracefully; and kissed his
hand to Jemmy; when; all of a sudden; a Jewish…looking man
springing over the barrier; and followed by three more; rushed
towards the Baron。 〃Keep the gate; Bob!〃 he holloas out。 〃Baron;
I arrest you; at the suit of Samuel Levison; for〃
But he never said for what; shouting out; 〃Aha!〃 and 〃Sapprrrristie!〃
and I don't know what; his Excellency drew his sword; dug his spurs
into his horse; and was over the poor bailiff; and off before
another word。 He had threatened to run through one of the bailiff's
followers; Mr。 Stubbs; only that gentleman made way for him; and
when we took up the bailiff; and brought him round by the aid of a
little brandy…and…water; he told us all。 〃I had a writ againsht
him; Mishter Coxsh; but I didn't vant to shpoil shport; and;
beshidesh; I didn't know him until dey knocked off his shteel cap!〃
。 。 。 。 。 。
Here was a pretty business!
OVER…BOARDED AND UNDER…LODGED。
We had no great reason to brag of our tournament at Tuggeridgeville:
but; after all; it was better than the turn…out at Kilblazes; where
poor Lord Heydownderry went about in a black velvet dressing…gown;
and the Emperor Napoleon Bonypart appeared in a suit of armor and
silk stockings; like Mr。 Pell's friend in Pickwick; we; having
employed the gentlemen from Astley's Antitheatre; had some decent
sport for our money。
We never heard a word from the Baron; who had so distinguished
himself by his horsemanship; and had knocked down (and very justly)
Mr。 Nabb; the bailiff; and Mr。 Stubbs; his man; who came to lay
hands upon him。 My sweet Jemmy seemed to be very low in spirits
after his departure; and a sad thing it is to see her in low
spirits: on days of illness she no more minds giving Jemimarann a
box on the ear; or sending a plate of muffins across a table at
poor me; than she does taking her tea。
Jemmy; I say; was very low in spirits; but; one day (I remember it
was the day after Captain Higgins called; and said he had seen the
Baron at Boulogne); she vowed that nothing but change of air would
do her good; and declared that she should die unless she went to
the seaside in France。 I knew what this meant; and that I might as
well attempt to resist her as to resist her Gracious Majesty in
Parliament assembled; so I told the people to pack up the things;
and took four places on board the 〃Grand Turk〃 steamer for Boulogne。
The travelling…carriage; which; with Jemmy's thirty…seven boxes and
my carpet…bag; was pretty well loaded; was sent on board the night
before; and we; after breakfasting in Portland Place (little did I
think it was thebut; poh! never mind); went down to the Custom
House in the other carriage; followed by a hackney…coach and a cab;
with the servants; and fourteen bandboxes and trunks more; which
were to be wanted by my dear girl in the journey。
The road down Cheapside and Thames Street need not be described: we
saw the Monument; a memento of the wicked Popish massacre of St。
Bartholomew;why erected here I can't think; as St。 Bartholomew is
in Smithfield;we had a glimpse of Billingsgate; and of the
Mansion House; where we saw the two…and…twenty…shilling…coal smoke
coming out of the chimneys; and were landed at the Custom House in
safety。 I felt melancholy; for we were going among a people of
swindlers; as all Frenchmen are thought to be; and; besides not
being able to speak the language; leaving our own dear country and
honest countrymen。
Fourteen port