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lavengro-第27部分
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'And who is your brother; little Sas?'
'What my father is; a royal soldier。'
'Oh; ye are going then to the detachment at … ; by my shoul; I have
a good mind to be spoiling your journey。'
'You are doing that already;' said I; 'keeping me here talking
about dogs and fairies; you had better go home and get some salve
to cure that place over your eye; it's catching cold you'll be; in
so much snow。'
On one side of the man's forehead there was a raw and staring
wound; as if from a recent and terrible blow。
'Faith; then I'll be going; but it's taking you wid me I will be。'
'And where will you take me?'
'Why; then; to Ryan's Castle; little Sas。'
'You do not speak the language very correctly;' said I; 'it is not
Sas you should call me … 'tis Sassannach;' and forthwith I
accompanied the word with a speech full of flowers of Irish
rhetoric。
The man looked upon me for a moment; fixedly; then; bending his
head towards his breast; he appeared to be undergoing a kind of
convulsion; which was accompanied by a sound something resembling
laughter; presently he looked at me; and there was a broad grin on
his features。
'By my shoul; it's a thing of peace I'm thinking ye。'
But now with a whisking sound came running down the road a hare; it
was nearly upon us before it perceived us; suddenly stopping short;
however; it sprang into the bog on the right…hand side; after it
amain bounded the dog of peace; followed by the man; but not until
he had nodded to me a farewell salutation。 In a few moments I lost
sight of him amidst the snowflakes。
The weather was again clear and fine before I reached the place of
detachment。 It was a little wooden barrack; surrounded by a wall
of the same material; a sentinel stood at the gate; I passed by
him; and; entering the building; found myself in a rude kind of
guardroom; several soldiers were lying asleep on a wooden couch at
one end; others lounged on benches by the side of a turf fire。 The
tall sergeant stood before the fire; holding a cooking utensil in
his left hand; on seeing me; he made the military salutation。
'Is my brother here?' said I; rather timidly; dreading to hear that
he was out; perhaps for the day。
'The ensign is in his room; sir;' said Bagg; 'I am now preparing
his meal; which will presently be ready; you will find the ensign
above stairs;' and he pointed to a broken ladder which led to some
place above。
And there I found him … the boy soldier … in a kind of upper loft;
so low that I could touch with my hands the sooty rafters; the
floor was of rough boards; through the joints of which you could
see the gleam of the soldiers' fire; and occasionally discern their
figures as they moved about; in one corner was a camp bedstead; by
the side of which hung the child's sword; gorget; and sash; a deal
table stood in the proximity of the rusty grate; where smoked and
smouldered a pile of black turf from the bog; … a deal table
without a piece of baize to cover it; yet fraught with things not
devoid of interest: a Bible; given by a mother; the ODYSSEY; the
Greek ODYSSEY; a flute; with broad silver keys; crayons; moreover;
and water…colours; and a sketch of a wild prospect near; which;
though but half finished; afforded ample proof of the excellence
and skill of the boyish hand now occupied upon it。
Ah! he was a sweet being; that boy soldier; a plant of early
promise; bidding fair to become in after time all that is great;
good; and admirable。 I have read of a remarkable Welshman; of whom
it was said; when the grave closed over him; that he could frame a
harp; and play it; build a ship; and sail it; compose an ode; and
set it to music。 A brave fellow that son of Wales … but I had once
a brother who could do more and better than this; but the grave has
closed over him; as over the gallant Welshman of yore; there are
now but two that remember him … the one who bore him; and the being
who was nurtured at the same breast。 He was taken; and I was left!
… Truly; the ways of Providence are inscrutable。
'You seem to be very comfortable; John;' said I; looking around the
room and at the various objects which I have described above: 'you
have a good roof over your head; and have all your things about
you。'
'Yes; I am very comfortable; George; in many respects; I am;
moreover; independent; and feel myself a man for the first time in
my life … independent did I say? … that's not the word; I am
something much higher than that; here am I; not sixteen yet; a
person in authority; like the centurion in the book there; with
twenty Englishmen under me; worth a whole legion of his men; and
that fine fellow Bagg to wait upon me; and take my orders。 Oh!
these last six weeks have passed like hours of heaven。'
'But your time must frequently hang heavy on your hands; this is a
strange wild place; and you must be very solitary?'
'I am never solitary; I have; as you see; all my things about me;
and there is plenty of company below stairs。 Not that I mix with
the soldiers; if I did; good…bye to my authority; but when I am
alone I can hear all their discourse through the planks; and I
often laugh to myself at the funny things they say。'
'And have you any acquaintance here?'
'The very best; much better than the Colonel and the rest; at their
grand Templemore; I had never so many in my whole life before。 One
has just left me; a gentleman who lives at a distance across the
bog; he comes to talk with me about Greek; and the ODYSSEY; for he
is a very learned man; and understands the old Irish; and various
other strange languages。 He has had a dispute with Bagg。 On
hearing his name; he called him to him; and; after looking at him
for some time with great curiosity; said that he was sure he was a
Dane。 Bagg; however; took the compliment in dudgeon; and said that
he was no more a Dane than himself; but a true…born Englishman; and
a sergeant of six years' standing。'
'And what other acquaintance have you?'
'All kinds; the whole neighbourhood can't make enough of me。
Amongst others there's the clergyman of the parish and his family;
such a venerable old man; such fine sons and daughters! I am
treated by them like a son and a brother … I might be always with
them if I pleased; there's one drawback; however; in going to see
them; there's a horrible creature in the house; a kind of tutor;
whom they keep more from charity than anything else; he is a Papist
and; they say; a priest; you should see him scowl sometimes at my
red coat; for he hates the king; and not unfrequently; when the
king's health is drunk; curses him between his teeth。 I once got
up to strike him; but the youngest of the sisters; who is the
handsomest; caught my arm and pointed to her forehead。'
'And what does your duty consist of? Have you nothing el
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