royalty restored-第68部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

er　cheeke　when　she　was　asleepe；　it　raised　a　blister；　but　Sir　Kenelm　was　a　teller　of　strange　things。〃＇　　　The　master　of　the　mint；　worthy　Mr。　Slingsby；　a　man　of　finer　taste；　delighted　his　guests　with　the　performances　of　renowned　good　masters　of　music；　one　of　whom；　a　German；　played　to　great　perfection　on　an　instrument　with　five　wire　strings　called　the　VOIL　D'AMORE；　whilst　my　Lord　Sunderland　treated　his　visitors　to　a　sight　of　Richardson；　the　renowned　fire　eater；　who　was　wont　to　devour　brimstone　on　glowing　coals；　melt　a　beer…glass　and　eat　it　up；　take　a　live　coal　on　his　tongue；　on　which　he　put　a　raw　oyster；　and　let　it　remain　there　till　it　gaped　and　was　quite　broiled；　take　wax；　pitch　and　sulphur；　and　drink　them　down　flaming；　hold　a　fiery　hot　iron　between　his　teeth；　and　throw　it　about　like　a　stone　from　hand　to　hand；　and　perform　various　other　prodigious　feats。

Other　means　of　indoor　amusement　were　practised　in　those　days；　which　seem　wholly　incompatible　with　the　gravity　of　the　nation　in　these　latter　times。　　Pepys　tells　us　that　going　to　the　court　one　day　he　found　the　Duke　and　Duchess　of　York；　with　all　the　great　ladies；　sitting　upon　a　carpet　on　the　ground　playing　〃I　love　my　love　with　an　A；　because　he　is　so…and…so；　and　I　hate　him　with　an　A；　because　of　this　and　that；〃　and　some　of　the　ladies　were　mighty　witty；　and　all　of　them　very　merry。　　Grown　persons　likewise　indulged　in　games　of　blind　man's　buff；　and　amusements　of　a　like　character；　whilst　at　one　time；　the　king；　queen；　and　the　whole　court　falling　into　much　extravagance；　as　Burnet　says；　〃went　about　masked；　and　came　into　houses　unknown；　and　danced　there　with　a　great　deal　of　wild　frolic。　　In　all　this　they　were　so　disguised；　that　without　being　in　the　secret；　none　could　distinguish　them。　They　were　carried　about　in　hackney　chairs。　　Once　the　queen's　chairmen；　not　knowing　who　she　was；　went　from　her；　so　she　was　alone　and　was　much　disturbed；　and　came　to　Whitehall　in　a　hackney　coach；　some　say　it　was　in　a　cart。〃

Dancing　was　also　a　favourite　and　common　amusement　amongst　all　classes。　　Scarce　a　week　went　by　that　Whitehall　was　not　lighted　up　for　a　ball；　at　which　the　king；　queen；　and　courtiers　danced　bransles；　corants；　and　French　figures；　＇The　bransle；　or　brawl；　had　all　the　characteristics　of　a　country…dance；　several　persons　taking　part　in　it；　and　all　at　various　times　joining　hands。　　The　corant　was　a　swift　lively　dance；　in　which　two　persons　only　took　part；　and　was　not　unlike　our　modern　galop。＇　　and　no　night　passed　but　such　entertainments　were　likewise　held　in　the　city。　Billiards　and　chess　were　also　played；　whilst　gambling　became　a　ruling　passion。　　The　queen；　Duchess　of　York；　and　Duchess　of　Cleveland　had　each　her　card…table；　around　which　courtiers　thronged　to　win　and　lose　prodigious　sums。　　The　latter　being　a　thorough　rake　at　heart；　delighted　in　the　excitement　which　hazard　afforded；　and　the　sums　changing　owners　at　her　hoard　were　sometimes　enormous。　　Occasionally　she　played　for　a　thousand；　or　fifteen　hundred　pounds　at　a　cast；　and　in　a　single　night　lost　as　much　as　twenty…five　hundred　guineas。　　It　is　related　that　once　when　playing　basset　she　lost　all　her　money；　but；　being　unwilling　to　retire；　and　hopeful　of　regaining　her　losses；　she　asked　young　Churchill；　on　whom　she　had　bestowed　many　favours；　to　lend　her　twenty　pieces。　　Though　the　wily　youth　had　a　thousand　before　him　on　the　table；　he　coolly　refused　her　request；　on　the　plea　that　the　bank　which　he　was　then　keepingnever　lent。　　〃Not　a　person　in　the　place；〃　says　the　narrator　of　this　anecdote；　〃but　blamed　him；　as　to　the　duchess；　her　resentment　burst　out　into　a　bleeding　at　her　nose；　and　breaking　of　her　lace；　without　which　aid　it　is　believed　her　vexation　had　killed　her　on　the　spot。〃

The　courtly　Evelyn　speaks　of　a　certain　Twelfth…night；　when　the　king　opened　the　revels　in　his　privy　chamber　by　throwing　dice；　and　losing　one　hundred　pounds；　and　Pepys　describes　the　groom…porters'　rooms　where　gambling　greatly　obtained；　and　〃where　persons　of　the　best　quality　do　sit　down　with　people　of　any；　though　meaner。〃　Cursing　and　swearing；　grumbling　and　rejoicing；　were　heard　here　to　an　accompanying　rattle　of　guineas；　the　whole　causing　dense　confusion。　　And　amongst　the　figures　crouching　round　the　tables　of　this　hell；　that　of　my　Lord　St。　Albans　was　conspicuous。　　So　great；　indeed；　was　his　passion　for　gambling；　that　when　approaching　his　eightieth　year；　and　quite　blind；　he　was　unable　to　renounce　his　love　for　cards；　but　with　the　help　of　a　servant　who　named　them　to　him；　indulged　himself　in　this　way　as　of　yore。

As　may　be　expected；　disputes；　frequently　ending　in　duels；　continually　arose　betwixt　those　who　gambled。　　Although　the　king　had；　on　his　restoration；　issued　a　proclamation　against　this　common　practice；　threatening　such　as　engaged　in　it　with　displeasure；　declaring　them　incapable　of　holding　any　office　in　his　service；　and　forbidding　them　to　appear　at　court；　yet　but　little　attention　was　paid　his　words；　and　duels　continually　took　place；　Though　most　frequently　resorted　to　as　a　means　of　avenging　outraged　honour；　they　were　occasionally　the　result　of　misunderstanding。　　A　pathetic　story　is　told　of　a　fatal　encounter；　caused　by　a　trifle　light　as　air；　which　took　place　in　the　year　1667　at　Covent　Garden；　between　Sir　Henry　Bellasis　and　Tom　Porter　the　same　witty　soul　who　wrote　a　play　called　〃The　Villain；〃　which　was　performed　at　the　Duke's　Theatre；　and　described　as　〃a　pleasant　tragedy。〃

These　worthy　gentlemen　and　loyal　friends　loved　each　other　exceedingly。　　One　fatal　day；　both　were　bidden　to　dine　with　Sir　Robert　Carr；　at　whose　table　it　was　known　all　men　drank　freely；　and　having　feasted；　they　two　talked　apart；　when　bluff　Sir　Henry；　giving　words　of　counsel　to　honest　Tom；　from　force　of　earnestness　spoke　louder　than　his　wont。　　Marvelling　at　this；　some　of　those　standing　apart　said　to　each　other；　〃Are　they　quarrelling；　that　they　talk　so　high？〃　　overhearing　which　the　baronet　replied　in　a　merry　tone；　〃No；　I　would　have　you　know　I　never　quarrel　but　I　strike；　and　take　that　as　a　rule　of　mine。〃　　At　these　words　Tom　Porter；　being　anxious；　after　the　manner　of　those　who　have　drunk　deep；　to　apprehend　offence　in　speech　of　friend　or　foe；　cried　out　he　would　like　to　see　the　man　in　England　that　durst　give　him　a　blow。　　Accepting　this　as　a　challenge；　Sir　Henry　dealt　him　a　stroke　on　the　ear；　which　the　other　would　have　returned　in　anger　but　that　they　were　speedily　parted。

And　presently　Tom　Porter；　leaving　the　house　full　of　resentment　for　the　injury　he　had　received；　and　of　resolution　to　avenge　it；　met　Mr。　Dryden　the　poet；　to　whom　he　recounted　the　story。　　He　concluded　by　requesting　he　might　have　his　boy　to　bring　him　word　which　way　Sir　Henry　Bellasis　would　drive；　for　fight　he　would　that　night；　otherwise　he　felt　sure　they　should　be　friends　in　the　morning；　and　the　blow　would　rest　upon　him。　　Dryden　complying　with　his　request；　Tom　Porter；　still　inflamed　by　fury；　went　to　a　neighbouring　coffee…house；　when　presently　word　arrived　Sir　Harry's　coach　was　coming　that　way。　　On　this　Tom　Porter　rushed　out；　stopped　the　horses；　and　bade　the　baronet　alight。　　〃Why；〃　said　the　man；　who　but　an　hour　before　had　been　his　best　friend；　〃you　will　not　hurt　me　in　coming　out；　will　you？〃　　〃No；〃　answered　the　other　shortly。　　Sir　Henry　then　descended；　and　both　drew　their　swords。　　Tom　Porter　asked　him　if　he　were　ready；　and　hearing　he　was；　they　fought　desperately；　till　of　a　sudden　a　sharp　cry　was　heard；　Sir　Henry's　weapon　fell　upon　the　ground；　and　he　placed　one　hand　to　his　side；　from　which　blood　flowed　freely。　　Then　calling　his　opponent　to　him；　he　looked　in　his　face　reproachfully；　kissed　him　lovingly；　and　bade　him　seek　safety。　　〃For；　Tom；〃　said　he；　struggling　hard　to　speak；　〃thou　hast　hurt　me；　but　I　will　make　shift　to　stand　upon　my　legs　till　thou　mayest　withdraw；　and　the　world　not　take　notice　of　you；　for；〃　continued　he；　with　much　tenderness；　〃I　would　not　have　thee　troubled　for　what　thou　hast　done。〃　　And　the　little　crowd　who　had　gathered　around　carried　him　to　his　coach　and　twenty　days　later　they　followed　him　to　his　grave。

Throughout　this　merry　reign；　many　fantastic　changes　took　place　in　the　costumes　of　courtiers　and　their　followers。　　At　the　restoration；　the　dress　most　common　to　women　of　all　ranks　consisted　of　a　gown　with　a　laced　stomacher　and　starched　neckerchief；　a　sad…coloured　cloak　with　a　French　hood；　and　a　high…　crowned　hat。　　Such　habiliments；　admitting　of　little　variety　and　less　ornament；　found　no　favour　in　the　eyes　of　those　who　returned　from　foreign　courts　with　the　king；　and　therefore　a　change　was　gradually　effected。　　The　simple　gown　of　wool　and　cotton　gave　place　to　loose　and　flowing　draperies　of　silk　and　satin；　the　stiff　neckerchief　was　removed　to　display　fair　shoulders　and　voluptuous　breasts；　the　hat　was　bedecked　by　feathers　of　rare　plumage　and　rich　colour；　the　cloaks　changed　hues　from　sad　to　gay；　the　hoods　being　of　〃yellow　bird's　eye；〃　and　other　bright　tints。　　Indeed；　the　prodigal　manner　in　which　ladies　of　quality　now　exposed　their　bosoms；　though　pleasing　to　the　court；　became　a　matter　of　grave　censure　to　worthy　men。　　One　of　these　in　a　pamphlet；　entitled　〃A　Just　and　Seasonable　Reprehension　of　Naked　Breasts　and　Shoulders；〃　charges　women　of　fashion　with　〃overlacing　their　gown　bodies；　and　so　thrusting　up　their　breasts　in　order　that　they　might　show　them　half…naked。〃