saint george for england-第48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！


No　words　can　describe　the　terror　and　dismay　caused　by　this　the　most　destructive　plague　of　which　there　is　any　record　in　history。　No　remedies　were　of　the　slightest　avail　against　it；　flight　was　impossible；　for　the　loneliest　hamlets　suffered　as　severely　as　crowded　towns；　and　frequently　not　a　single　survivor　was　left。　Men　met　the　pestilence　in　various　moods：　　the　brave　with　fortitude；　the　pious　with　resignation；　the　cowardly　and　turbulent　with　outbursts　of　despair　and　fury。　　Among　the　lower　classes　the　wildest　rumours　gained　credence。　Some　assigned　the　pestilence　to　witchcraft；　others　declared　that　the　waters　of　the　wells　and　streams　had　been　poisoned。　Serious　riots　occurred　in　many　places；　and　great　numbers　of　people　fell　victims　to　the　fury　of　the　mob　under　the　suspicion　of　being　connected　in　some　way　with　the　ravages　of　the　pestilence。　The　Jews；　ever　the　objects　of　popular　hostility；　engendered　by　ignorance　and　superstition；　were　among　the　chief　sufferers。　Bands　of　marauders　wandered　through　the　country　plundering　the　houses　left　empty　by　the　death　of　all　their　occupants；　and　from　end　to　end　death　and　suffering　were　universal。

Although　all　classes　had　suffered　heavily　the　ravages　of　the　disease　were；　as　is　always　the　case；　greater　among　the　poor　than　among　the　rich；　the　insanitary　conditions　of　their　life；　and　their　coarser　and　commoner　food　rendering　them　more　liable　to　its　influence；　no　rank；　however；　was　exempted；　and　no　less　than　three　Archbishops　of　Canterbury　were　carried　off　in　succession　by　the　pestilence　within　a　year　of　its　appearance。

During　the　months　which　succeeded　his　marriage　Sir　Walter　Somers　lived　quietly　and　happily　with　his　wife　at　Westerham。　It　was　not　until　late　in　the　year　that　the　plague　approached　the　neighbourhood。　Walter　had　determined　to　await　its　approach　there。　He　had　paid　a　few　short　visits　to　the　court；　where　every　effort　was　made　by　continuous　gaiety　to　keep　up　the　spirits　of　the　people　and　prevent　them　from　brooding　over　the　approaching　pestilence；　but　when　it　was　at　hand　Walter　and　his　wife　agreed　that　they　would　rather　share　the　lot　of　their　tenants；　whom　their　presence　and　example　might　support　and　cheer　in　their　need；　than　return　to　face　it　in　London。　One　morning　when　they　were　at　breakfast　a　frightened　servant　brought　in　the　news　that　the　disease　had　appeared　in　the　village；　that　three　persons　had　been　taken　ill　on　the　previous　night；　that　two　had　already　died；　and　that　several　others　had　sickened。

〃The　time　has　come；　my　children；〃　Dame　Vernon　said　calmly；　〃the　danger　so　long　foreseen　is　at　hand；　now　let　us　face　it　as　we　agreed　to　do。　It　has　been　proved　that　flight　is　useless；　since　nowhere　is　there　escape　from　the　plague；　here；　at　least；　there　shall　be　no　repetition　of　the　terrible　scenes　we　have　heard　of　elsewhere；　where　the　living　have　fled　in　panic　and　allowed　the　stricken　to　die　unattended。　We　have　already　agreed　that　we　will　set　the　example　to　our　people　by　ourselves　going　down　and　administering　to　the　sick。〃

〃It　is　hard；〃　Walter　said；　rising　and　pacing　up　and　down　the　room；　〃to　let　Edith　go　into　it。〃

〃Edith　will　do　just　the　same　as　you　do；〃　his　wife　said　firmly。　〃Were　it　possible　that　all　in　this　house　might　escape；　there　might　be　a　motive　for　turning　coward；　but　seeing　that　no　household　is　spared；　there　is；　as　we　agreed；　greater　danger　in　flying　from　the　pestilence　than　facing　it　firmly。〃

Walter　sighed。

〃You　are　right；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　wrings　my　heart　to　see　you　place　yourself　in　danger。〃

〃Were　we　out　of　danger　here；　Walter；　it　might　be　so；〃　Edith　replied　gently；　〃but　since　there　is　no　more　safety　in　the　castle　than　in　the　cottage；　we　must　face　death　whether　it　pleases　us　or　not；　and　it　were　best　to　do　so　bravely。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　Walter　said；　〃may　the　God　of　heaven　watch　over　us　all！　Now；　mother；　do　you　and　Edith　busy　yourselves　in　preparing　broths；　strengthening　drinks；　and　medicaments。　　I　will　go　down　at　once　to　the　village　and　see　how　matters　stand　there　and　who　are　in　need。　We　have　already　urged　upon　all　our　people　to　face　the　danger　bravely；　and　if　die　they　must；　to　die　bravely　like　Christians；　and　not　like　coward　dogs。　When　you　have　prepared　your　soups　and　cordials　come　down　and　meet　me　in　the　village；　bringing　Mabel　and　Janet；　your　attendants；　to　carry　the　baskets。〃

Ralph；　who　was　now　installed　as　major…domo　in　the　castle；　at　once　set　out　with　Walter。　They　found　the　village　in　a　state　of　panic。　Women　were　sitting　crying　despairingly　at　their　doors。　Some　were　engaged　in　packing　their　belongings　in　carts　preparatory　to　flight；　some　wandered　aimlessly　about　wringing　their　hands；　while　others　went　to　the　church；　whose　bells　were　mournfully　tolling　the　dirge　of　the　departed。　　Walter's　presence　soon　restored　something　like　order　and　confidence；　his　resolute　tone　cheered　the　timid　and　gave　hope　to　the　despairing。　　Sternly　he　rebuked　those　preparing　to　fly；　and　ordered　them　instantly　to　replace　their　goods　in　their　houses。　Then　he　went　to　the　priest　and　implored　him　to　cause　the　tolling　of　the　bell　to　cease。

〃There　is　enough；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　real　danger　present　to　appall　even　the　bravest；　and　we　need　no　bell　to　tell　us　that　death　is　among　us。　The　dismal　tolling　is　enough　to　unnerve　the　stoutest　heart；　and　if　we　ring　for　all　who　die　its　sounds　will　never　cease　while　the　plague　is　among　us；　therefore；　father；　I　implore　you　to　discontinue　it。　Let　there　be　services　held　daily　in　the　church；　but　I　beseech　you　strive　in　your　discourses　to　cheer　the　people　rather　than　to　depress　them；　and　to　dwell　more　upon　the　joys　that　await　those　who　die　as　Christian　men　and　women　than　upon　the　sorrows　of　those　who　remain　behind。　My　wife　and　mother　will　anon　be　down　in　the　village　and　will　strive　to　cheer　and　comfort　the　people；　and　I　look　to　you　for　aid　in　this　matter。〃

The　priest；　who　was　naturally　a　timid　man；　nevertheless　nerved　himself　to　carry　out　Walter's　suggestions；　and　soon　the　dismal　tones　of　the　bell　ceased　to　be　heard　in　the　village。

Walter　despatched　messengers　to　all　the　outlying　farms　desiring　his　tenants　to　meet　him　that　afternoon　at　the　castle　in　order　that　measures　might　be　concerted　for　common　aid　and　assistance。　An　hour　later　Dame　Vernon　and　Edith　came　down　and　visited　all　the　houses　where　the　plague　had　made　its　appearance；　distributing　their　soups；　and　by　cheering　and　comforting　words　raising　the　spirits　of　the　relatives　of　the　sufferers。

The　names　of　all　the　women　ready　to　aid　in　the　general　work　of　nursing　were　taken　down；　and　in　the　afternoon　at　the　meeting　at　the　castle　the　full　arrangements　were　completed。　Work　was　to　be　carried　on　as　usual　in　order　to　occupy　men's　minds　and　prevent　them　from　brooding　over　the　ravages　of　the　plague。　Information　of　any　case　that　occurred　was　to　be　sent　to　the　castle；　where　soups　and　medicines　were　to　be　obtained。　Whenever　more　assistance　was　required　than　could　be　furnished　by　the　inmates　of　a　house　another　woman　was　to　be　sent　to　aid。　Boys　were　told　off　as　messengers　to　fetch　food　and　other　matters　as　required　from　the　castle。

So；　bravely　and　firmly；　they　prepared　to　meet　the　pestilence；　it　spread　with　terrible　severity。　Scarce　a　house　which　did　not　lose　some　of　its　inmates；　while　in　others　whole　families　were　swept　away。　All　day　Walter　and　his　wife　and　Dame　Vernon　went　from　house　to　house；　and　although　they　could　do　nothing　to　stem　the　progress　of　the　pestilence；　their　presence　and　example　supported　the　survivors　and　prevented　the　occurrence　of　any　of　the　panic　and　disorder　which　in　most　places　accompanied　it。

The　castle　was　not　exempt　from　the　scourge。　First　some　of　the　domestics　were　seized；　and　three　men　and　four　women　died。　Walter　himself　was　attacked；　but　he　took　it　lightly；　and　three　days　after　the　seizure　passed　into　a　state　of　convalescence。　Dame　Vernon　was　next　attacked；　and　expired　six　hours　after　the　commencement　of　the　seizure。　　Scarcely　was　Walter　upon　his　feet　than　Ralph；　who　had　not　for　a　moment　left　his　bedside；　was　seized；　but　he　too；　after　being　at　death's　door　for　some　hours；　turned　the　corner。　Lastly　Edith　sickened。

By　this　time　the　scourge　had　done　its　worst　in　the　village；　and　three…fifths　of　the　population　had　been　swept　away。　All　the　male　retainers　in　the　castle　had　died；　and　the　one　female　who　survived　was　nursing　her　dying　mother　in　the　village。

Edith's　attack　was　a　very　severe　one。　Walter；　alone　now；　for　Ralph；　although　convalescent；　had　not　yet　left　his　bed；　sat　by　his　wife's　bedside　a　prey　to　anxiety　and　grief；　for　although　she　had　resisted　the　first　attack　she　was　now；　thirty…six　hours　after　it　had　seized　her；　fast　sinking。　Gradually　her　sight　and　power　of　speech　faded；　and　she　sank　into　the　state　of　coma　which　was　the　prelude　of　death；　and　lay　quiet　and　motionless；　seeming　as　if　life　had　already　departed。　　Suddenly　Walter　was　surprised　by　the　sound　of　many　heavy　feet　ascending　the　stairs。　He　went　out　into　the　ante…room　to　learn　the　cause　of　this　strange　tumult；　when　five　armed　men；　one　of　whom　was　masked；　rushed　into　the　room。　　Walter　caught　up　his　sword　from　the　table。

〃Ruffians；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃how　dare　you　desecrate　the　abode　of　death？〃

Without　a　word　the　men　sprang　upon　him。　For　a　minute　he　defended　himself　against　their　attacks；　but　he　was　still　weak；　his　gu