The Knight Of The Golden Melice, John Turvill Adams [the reading list TXT] 📗

Into One Of Anxiety; "Then

Will I Remain At Home To Comfort Thee."

  

 

"No, Dame," Said Her Husband, "There Is No Cause To Detain Thee From

The Sanctuary. The Godly Mr. Cotton Holds Forth To-Day, And It Would

Be A Sinful Neglect Of Privileges. I Feel Not Well Myself, And Must,

Therefore, For Thy Sake, As Well As My Own, Deny Myself The

Refreshment Of The Good Man's Counsel. Thou Shalt Go, To Edify Me On

Thy Return With What Thou Mayest Remember Of His Discourse."

  

 

But The Kind Heart Of Dame Spikeman Was Not So Easily To Be Diverted

From Its Purpose, And She Persisted, With Some Pertinacity, In A

Determination To Remain, Until Her Husband Laid His Commands Upon Her

To Attend The Lecture.

  

 

"I Will Obey," She Then Said, "Sithence It Is Thy Wish; And Is It Not

Written, Adam Was First Made, And Then Eve; And I Will Pray For Thee,

Dear Heart, In The Congregation, That He Will Keep Thee In All Thy

Ways, Nor Let The Enemy Approach To Harm Or To Tempt Thee."

 

  

Spikeman Winced, And Perhaps His Conscience Pricked Him At The Moment,

But He Betrayed No Confusion As He Replied:

  

 

"I Thank Thee, Sweet Duck, And May The Lord Recompense Thy Love A

Thousand Fold. But Hasten, Now, For It Would Ill-Become The Wife Of My

Bosom To Lag In Attendance On The Lecture. Meanwhile, I Will Meditate

On The Holy Volume, And Comfort Myself As A Christian Man May."

  

 

Dame Spikeman's Ample Fardingale Swept The Sides Of The Doorway As She

Turned To Take A Last Look At Her Husband Over Her Shoulder--A Look

That Contained As Much Of Suspicion As Of Affection. He Must Be,

Indeed, A Paragon Of Hypocrisy Who Can Conceal Himself From His Wife,

However Dull She May Be, And The Faculties Of The Dame Were As Sharp

As Those Of Most Of Her Sex.

 

  

Presently She Was Heard Calling, "Eveline; Why, Eveline, Art Not Ready

Yet?" To Which A Sweet Voice Responded, "Here Am I, Dame," Succeeded

By The Pattering Of Quick, Light Feet, And A Young Woman, Veiled,

Glided To Her Side, And They Left The House Together, Accompanied By A

Servant. Spikeman Gazed After Them Through The Window, Which, As

Belonging To A House Of The Better Class, Was Made Of Glass Instead Of

Oiled Paper, Which Supplied Its Place In The Humbler Tenements, Till

They Were Out Of Sight. The Drum Had Some Time Before Ceased Its

Sonorous Rattle, Indicating Thereby That The Services Had Commenced,

And The Streets Were Bare Of The Last Loiterer. Spikeman Then Resumed

His Seat, Listening And Glancing Occasionally At The Door, As If He

Was Expecting Some One To Enter. At Last, As If Tired Of Waiting, He

Rose, And Going To The Door, Called Softly, "Prudence." No Answer Was

Returned, And In Tones A Little Raised He Called Again. This Time A

Voice Replied, "I Am Coming, Your Worship," And The Assistant Returned

To His Seat. Perhaps Five Minutes Longer Passed, And He Was Becoming

More Impatient, And Had Risen From His Chair, When A Young Woman In

The Dress Of An Upper Domestic, Or Lady's Maid, Entered The Room. She

Was Apparently Twenty-Three Or Twenty-Four Years Of Age, Large And

Plump, And Glowing With Health, And Altogether Of A Most Attractive

Appearance. Her Complexion Was Brilliant, Brighter On Account Of The

Contrast With The White Tunic Which Fell Over Her Peach-Blossom

Colored Fustian Skirt, And Her Eyes, Which Were Cast Down When She

Came Into The Room, Disclosed Hazel Pupils As She Raised Them, And

Looked Red, As If She Had Been Weeping.

 

  

"I Have Remained Behind, According To Thy Desire," Said The Assistant,

Advancing Toward Her, "For There Is Nothing I Would Not Do To Pleasure

Thee, Prudence."

  

 

"I Know Not That I Requested You To Tarry," Answered The Girl; "But An

I Remember Right, You Said You Had Some Tidings Of Philip Joy Which

You Did Wish To Communicate To My Private Ear."

 

  

"Something Have I To Tell Thee Of The Poor Varlet," Said Spikeman;

"But First Would I Rather Speak Of One Who Doth Interest Me More. But

Say, Why Is Thy Mind So Careworn About This Soldier?"

 

  

"He Is A Friend Of Mine," Said Prudence, Blushing; "That Is, We Were

Neighbors, And Acquainted In Dear Old England--A Cousin," She Added,

Telling Naturally A Little Fib, "And So I Am Sorry To Hear Of His

Misfortune."

  

 

"I Hope That You Do Not Long After The Flesh-Pots Of Egypt," Said

Spikeman, Attempting To Take Her Hand, Which, However, She Coyishly

Withdrew. "What Have We To Do With England Or Her Cramping Ordinances,

Which We Have Turned Our Backs Upon Forever? Was It Not Because Of The

Yoke She Sought To Put Upon Our Necks That We Abandoned Her, Here To

Enjoy A Wider Liberty? Believe Me, Beautiful Prudence, There Are

Delights Scattered All Over The World, If There Be Only Boldness And

Wisdom To Find Them; Nor Is Their Enjoyment Inconsistent With The Joys

Promised Hereafter, Whereof, Indeed, They Are The Foretaste."

  

 

"O, Sir," Exclaimed The Girl, "Can You Tell Me Anything About Philip?

Have You Entreated The Governor, As You Promised, To Let Him Out Of

That Dreadful Dungeon?"

 

  

"It Is A Horrid Place," Said Spikeman, "And Men Live Not Long Who Are

Confined Therein. If The Soldier Be Imprisoned There A Few Days

Longer, He Is No Better Than A Dead Man. Vain Has Been My

Intercession, Though I Despair Not."

  

 

He Paused To Watch The Effect Of What He Had Said Upon The Girl. She

Turned Deadly Pale, And Seemed About To Sink Upon The Floor. Spikeman

Took Her Hand, Which She No Longer Withdrew, But Yielded Passively, As

If In A State Of Stupefaction, And Pressing It Within His Own, Led Her

To A Sofa.

  

 

"Lovely Prudence," He Said, "Thou Hast Found Favor In My Eyes. Let Not

The Distance Betwixt Us Overawe Thee. These Worldly Distinctions Are

But The Inventions Of Men To Suit A Purpose, And There Are Times When

They Are More Easily Torn Away Than The Withes Of The Philistines On

The Hands Of Samson. Dost Thou Comprehend Me?"

  

 

Prudence Raised Her Eyes, And Fixed Them With A Bewildered Stare Upon

His Face. She Was So Terrified At The Thought Of The Danger To Which

The Soldier Was Exposed, And Her Mind So Confused By The Unusual

Language Of Her Master, That She Was As Much In A Dreaming As A Waking

State. Her Lips Quivered As She Attempted To Reply, But They Made No

Sound, And Tears Began To Steal Down.

 

  

"Would That I Could Stop The Current Of These Tears, More Precious

Than Orient Pearls," Sighed Spikeman. "Ask Of Me Any Other Favor, And

I Will Move Heaven And Earth But It Shall Be Granted."

  

 

"O, Sir, Said Prudence," Sliding Off From The Sofa In Spite Of His

Efforts To Prevent Her, And Kneeling At His Feet, "I Have No Other

Favor To Ask; But If You Are Truly Willing To Show Kindness To A Poor

Girl Like Me, Take Philip Out Of Prison."

  

 

"But Is It So Light A Thing To Be Done, Sweet Prudence?" Replied

Spikeman, Raising Her In His Arms, And Straining Her To His Bosom

Before He Replaced Her On The Sofa. "Nay, Kneel Not Again," He Added,

Seeing That She Was About To Resume Her Attitude Of Supplication;

"That Were A Posture As Fitting For Me As For Thee."

 

  

"O, Sir," Cried Poor Prudence, "You Are A Great Man, And Can Do

Whatever You Please. If You Speak To The Governor Again, He Will Let

Philip Out. I Am Sure He Meant Nothing Wrong. I Am Certain They Told

Wicked Lies About Him."

 

  

"Truly Will I Remonstrate Again," Said Spikeman. "So Great Is My

Regard For Thee, I Will Risk Losing His Favor For Thy Sake. But For

All The Sacrifices I Make, What Shall Be Thy Return To Me?"

 

 

 "I Will Pray Night And Day For You; I Will Be Your Slave; I Will

Worship The Ground On Which You Tread."

 

  

"Sweet Maiden," Said Spikeman, Passing His Arm Around Her Waist, "I

Ask Not So Much. I Ask Thee Only To Be Happy With Me. Thy Prayers,

Though Rising Like Morning Incense, I Need Not. I Would Rather Be Thy

Slave Than Have Thee Mine, And I Worship Thee Already. Turn Not Away

Thy Cheek, But Let Me Greet Thee With The Kiss Of Charity."

 

  

The Girl Averted Not Her Glowing Cheek, Whereon, With These Words, He

Imprinted A Passionate Kiss, Which He Attempted To Repeat, But

Prudence Drew A Little Back, And Removed His Arm. His Lips Burned Like

Fire. She Felt As If They Had Left Behind A Mark To Betray Her, And

She Shuddered With Aversion; But She Believed The Fate Of The Soldier

To Be In His Hands, And Dared Not To Offend Him. Besides, She Was No

Delicate Lady, But Strong And Full Of Confidence, And Feared No Danger

To Herself. As She Marked His Heightened Color And Kindling Eyes, And

He Made Another Attempt To Salute Her, She Said, With Half A

Disposition To Cry And Half To Laugh:

 

  

"Is Not Kissing And Toying Forbid By The Elders And Worshipful

Magistrates?" 

 

 

"They Are Forbid To Them Outside Of The Congregation, And Who Have No

Christian Liberty," Answered Spikeman--"To Them Who Make A Display Of

What Should Be Concealed, To Avoid The Scandal Of The Wicked; But Not

To The Elect And Discreet, Who Can Use Their Liberty As Not Abusing

It. Therefore, Let Me Kiss Thee With The Kisses Of My Mouth, For Thy

Love Is Better Than Wine. Behold, Thou Art Fair, My Love; Behold, Thou

Art Fair," He Continued, Pressing Upon Her; "Thou Hast Dove's Eyes

Within Thy Locks. Thy Lips Are Like A Thread Of Scarlet."

 

 

"Hark!" Cried Prudence, Pushing Him Back, "I Hear A Noise." "I Hear No

Sound," Said Spikeman, After Listening For A Moment, "Save The Voice

Of My Beloved. O, Speak, And Say Unto Me, 'Rise Up, My Love, And Come

Away, For Lo, The Winter Is Past, The Rain Is Over And Gone, The Time

Of The Singing Of Birds Is Come, And The Voice Of The Turtle Is Heard

In Our Land,'"

  

 

So Saying, He Caught Her In His Arms, And Giving License To His Fiery

Passions, Stamped Repeated Kisses Upon Her Lips And Bosom, In Spite Of

Her Struggles. But The Sounds Which The Quick Ears Of Prudence Had

Detected Became More And More Distinct, And Persons On Foot And On

Horseback Were Seen In The Street Returning From The Lecture. Without

Difficulty She Broke From The Now Yielding Arms Of Spikeman, And Had

Just Time To Compose Her Disordered Hair And Tunic, When The Voice Of

The Dame At The Door Was Heard Demanding Admission.

 

Chapter IV ("Oh, Give Me Liberty! For Were Even Paradise My Prison, Still I Should Long To Leap The Crystal Walls.")

 

 

 

 Dryden.

  

 

The Motives Which Animated Spikeman To Play The Part Which He Did In

The Court That Condemned The Soldier, Will Now Be Better Understood.

He Had Cast Eyes Of Licentious Desire Upon The Blooming Prudence, Who

Was, At The Same Time, Beloved By Philip, And Was Solicitous To Remove

Him Out Of The Way. Bold In All His Plans, Neither Honoring God Nor

Fearing Man, Unscrupulous In Regard To The Means, To Effect A Purpose,

And Esteeming The Gratification Of His Evil Wishes The Highest

Happiness, It Was Yet Necessary To The Achievement Of His Objects That

A Specious Outside At Least Should Be Preserved, And This He Had

Succeeded In Doing Up To The Present Time. In Pursuance Of His Cunning

Policy, He Was Unwilling That Even Joy Should Suspect Him Of

Unfriendliness, And For That Reason Had, In The Course Of The

Examination, Excited The Temporary Vexation Of Deputy Governor Dudley,

By An Observation Which, To The Unsuspecting Deputy, Seemed Indicative

Of A Desire To Screen Joy From Punishment, And To Joy Himself The

Interference Of A Friend; While, In Fact, It Was Intended To Entrap

The Prisoner Into Rash Speeches, Which Would Be Prejudicial To His

Cause. How Effectually He Undeceived Dudley, After Joy Had Been

Removed, We