魔天记小说网

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第4部分（第1页）

；　London　enjoyed　a　carnival　of　the　utmost　brilliancy。　The　Court　was　at　Greenwich；　and　the　new　King　seized　the　opportunity　that　his　coronation　gave　him　to　curry　favour　with　the　citizens。　He　directed　that　the　river；　which　was　frozen　to　a　depth　of　twenty　feet　and　more　for　six　or　seven　miles　on　either　side；　should　be　swept；　decorated　and　given　all　the　semblance　of　a　park　or　pleasure　ground；　with　arbours；　mazes；　alleys；　drinking　booths；　etc。　at　his　expense。　For　himself　and　the　courtiers；　he　reserved　a　certain　space　immediately　opposite　the　Palace　gates；　which；　railed　off　from　the　public　only　by　a　silken　rope；　became　at　once　the　centre　of　the　most　brilliant　society　in　England。　Great　statesmen；　in　their　beards　and　ruffs；　despatched　affairs　of　state　under　the　crimson　awning　of　the　Royal　Pagoda。　Soldiers　planned　the　conquest　of　the　Moor　and　the　downfall　of　the　Turk　in　striped　arbours　surmounted　by　plumes　of　ostrich　feathers。　Admirals　strode　up　and　down　the　narrow　pathways；　glass　in　hand；　sweeping　the　horizon　and　telling　stories　of　the　north–west　passage　and　the　Spanish　Armada。　Lovers　dallied　upon　divans　spread　with　sables。　Frozen　roses　fell　in　showers　when　the　Queen　and　her　ladies　walked　abroad。　Coloured　balloons　hovered　motionless　in　the　air。　Here　and　there　burnt　vast　bonfires　of　cedar　and　oak　wood；　lavishly　salted；　so　that　the　flames　were　of　green；　orange；　and　purple　fire。　But　however　fiercely　they　burnt；　the　heat　was　not　enough　to　melt　the　ice　which；　though　of　singular　transparency；　was　yet　of　the　hardness　of　steel。　So　clear　indeed　was　it　that　there　could　be　seen；　congealed　at　a　depth　of　several　feet；　here　a　porpoise；　there　a　flounder。　Shoals　of　eels　lay　motionless　in　a　trance；　but　whether　their　state　was　one　of　death　or　merely　of　suspended　animation　which　the　warmth　would　revive　puzzled　the　philosophers。　Near　London　Bridge；　where　the　river　had　frozen　to　a　depth　of　some　twenty　fathoms；　a　wrecked　wherry　boat　was　plainly　visible；　lying　on　the　bed　of　the　river　where　it　had　sunk　last　autumn；　overladen　with　apples。　The　old　bumboat　woman；　who　was　carrying　her　fruit　to　market　on　the　Surrey　side；　sat　there　in　her　plaids　and　farthingales　with　her　lap　full　of　apples；　for　all　the　world　as　if　she　were　about　to　serve　a　customer；　though　a　certain　blueness　about　the　lips　hinted　the　truth。　‘Twas　a　sight　King　James　specially　liked　to　look　upon；　and　he　would　bring　a　troupe　of　courtiers　to　gaze　with　him。　In　short；　nothing　could　exceed　the　brilliancy　and　gaiety　of　the　scene　by　day。　But　it　was　at　night　that　the　carnival　was　at　its　merriest。　For　the　frost　continued　unbroken；　the　nights　were　of　perfect　stillness；　the　moon　and　stars　blazed　with　the　hard　fixity　of　diamonds；　and　to　the　fine　music　of　flute　and　trumpet　the　courtiers　danced。

Orlando；　it　is　true；　was　none　of　those　who　tread　lightly　the　corantoe　and　lavolta；　he　was　clumsy　and　a　little　absentminded。　He　much　preferred　the　plain　dances　of　his　own　country；　which　he　danced　as　a　child　to　these　fantastic　foreign　measures。　He　had　indeed　just　brought　his　feet　together　about　six　in　the　evening　of　the　seventh　of　January　at　the　finish　of　some　such　quadrille　or　minuet　when　he　beheld；　ing　from　the　pavilion　of　the　Muscovite　Embassy；　a　figure；　which；　whether　boy’s　or　woman’s；　for　the　loose　tunic　and　trousers　of　the　Russian　fashion　served　to　disguise　the　sex；　filled　him　with　the　highest　curiosity。　The　person；　whatever　the　name　or　sex；　was　about　middle　height；　very　slenderly　fashioned；　and　dressed　entirely　in　oyster–coloured　velvet；　trimmed　with　some　unfamiliar　greenish–coloured　fur。　But　these　details　were　obscured　by　the　extraordinary　seductiveness　which　issued　from　the　whole　person。　Images；　metaphors　of　the　most　extreme　and　extravagant　twined　and　twisted　in　his　mind。　He　called　her　a　melon；　a　pineapple；　an　olive　tree；　an　emerald；　and　a　fox　in　the　snow　all　in　the　space　of　three　seconds；　he　did　not　know　whether　he　had　heard　her；　tasted　her；　seen　her；　or　all　three　together。　（For　though　we　must　pause　not　a　moment　in　the　narrative　we　may　here　hastily　note　that　all　his　images　at　this　time　were　simple　in　the　extreme　to　match　his　senses　and　were　mostly　taken　from　things　he　had　liked　the　taste　of　as　a　boy。　But　if　his　senses　were　simple　they　were　at　the　same　time　extremely　strong。　To　pause　therefore　and　seek　the　reasons　of　things　is　out　of　the　question。）。。。A　melon；　an　emerald；　a　fox　in　the　snow—so　he　raved；　so　he　stared。　When　the　boy；　for　alas；　a　boy　it　must　be—no　woman　could　skate　with　such　speed　and　vigour—swept　almost　on　tiptoe　past　him；　Orlando　was　ready　to　tear　his　hair　with　vexation　that　the　person　was　of　his　own　sex；　and　thus　all　embraces　were　out　of　the　question。　But　the　skater　came　closer。　Legs；　hands；　carriage；　were　a　boy’s；　but　no　boy　ever　had　a　mouth　like　that；　no　boy　had　those　breasts；　no　boy　had　eyes　which　looked　as　if　they　had　been　fished　from　the　bottom　of　the　sea。　Finally；　ing　to　a　stop　and　sweeping　a　curtsey　with　the　utmost　grace　to　the　King；　who　was　shuffling　past　on　the　arm　of　some　Lord–in–waiting；　the　unknown　skater　came　to　a　standstill。　She　was　not　a　handsbreadth　off。　She　was　a　woman。　Orlando　stared；　trembled；　turned　hot；　turned　cold；　longed　to　hurl　himself　through　the　summer　air；　to　crush　acorns　beneath　his　feet；　to　toss　his　arm　with　the　beech　trees　and　the　oaks。　As　it　was；　he　drew　his　lips　up　over　his　small　white　teeth；　opened　them　perhaps　half　an　inch　as　if　to　bite；　shut　them　as　if　he　had　bitten。　The　Lady　Euphrosyne　hung　upon　his　arm。

The　stranger’s　name；　he　found；　was　the　Princess　Marousha　Stanilovska　Dagmar　Natasha　Iliana　Romanovitch；　and　she　had　e　in　the　train　of　the　Muscovite　Ambassador；　who　was　her　uncle　perhaps；　or　perhaps　her　father；　to　attend　the　coronation。　Very　little　was　known　of　the　Muscovites。　In　their　great　beards　and　furred　hats　they　sat　almost　silent；　drinking　some　black　liquid　which　they　spat　out　now　and　then　upon　the　ice。　None　spoke　English；　and　French　with　which　some　at　least　were　familiar　was　then　little　spoken　at　the　English　Court。

It　was　through　this　accident　that　Orlando　and　the　Princess　became　acquainted。　They　were　seated　opposite　each　other　at　the　great　table　spread　under　a　huge　awning　for　the　entertainment　of　the　notables。　The　Princess　was　placed　between　two　young　Lords；　one　Lord　Francis　Vere　and　the　other　the　young　Earl　of　Moray。　It　was　laughable　to　see　the　predicament　she　soon　had　them　in；　for　though　both　were　fine　lads　in　their　way；　the　babe　unborn　had　as　much　knowledge　of　the　French　tongue　as　they　had。　When　at　the　beginning　of　dinner　the　Princess　turned　to　the　Earl　and　said；　with　a　grace　which　ravished　his　heart；　‘Je　crois　avoir　fait　la　connaissance　d’un　gentilhomme　qui　vous　etait　apparente　en　Pologne　l’ete　dernier；’　or　‘La　beaute　des　dames　de　la　cour　d’Angleterre　me　met　dans　le　ravissement。　On　ne　peut　voir　une　dame　plus　gracieuse　que　votre　reine；　ni　une　coiffure　plus　belle　que　la　sienne；’　both　Lord　Francis　and　the　Earl　showed　the　highest　embarrassment。　The　one　helped　her　largely　to　horse–radish　sauce；　the　other　whistled　to　his　dog　and　made　him　beg　for　a　marrow　bone。　At　this　the　Princess　could　no　longer　contain　her　laughter；　and　Orlando；　catching　her　eyes　across　the　boars’　heads　and　stuffed　peacocks；　laughed　too。　He　laughed；　but　the　laugh　on　his　lips　froze　in　wonder。　Whom　had　he　loved；　what　had　he　loved；　he　asked　himself　in　a　tumult　of　emotion；　until　now？　An　old　woman；　he　answered；　all　skin　and　bone。　Red–cheeked　trulls　too　many　to　mention。　A　puling　nun。　A　hard–bitten　cruel–mouthed　adventuress。　A　nodding　mass　of　lace　and　ceremony。　Love　had　meant　to　him　nothing　but　sawdust　and　cinders。　The　joys　he　had　had　of　it　tasted　insipid　in　the　extreme。　He　marvelled　how　he　could　have　gone　through　with　it　without　yawning。　For　as　he　looked　the　thickness　of　his　blood　melted；　the　ice　turned　to　wine　in　his　veins；　he　heard　the　waters　flowing　and　the　birds　singing；　spring　broke　over　the　hard　wintry　landscape；　his　manhood　woke；　he　grasped　a　sword　in　his　hand；　he　charged　a　more　daring　foe　than　Pole　or　Moor；　he　dived　in　deep　water；　he　saw　the　flower　of　danger　growing　in　a　crevice；　he　stretched　his　hand—in　fact　he　was　rattling　off　one　of　his　most　impassioned　sons　when　the　Princess　addressed　him；　‘Would　you　have　the　goodness　to　pass　the　salt？’

He　blushed　deeply。

‘With　all　the　pleasure　in　the　world；　Madame；’　he　replied；　speaking　French　with　a　perfect　accent。　For；　heaven　be　praised；　he　spoke　the　tongue　as　his　own；　his　mother’s　maid　had　taught　him。　Yet　perhaps　it　would　have　been　better　for　him　had　he　never　learnt　that　tongue；　never　answered　that　voice；　never　followed　the　light　of　those　eyes。。。

The　Princess　continued。　Who　were　those　bumpkins；　she　asked　him；　who　sat　beside　her　with　the　manners　of　stablemen？　What　was　the　nauseating　mixture　they　had　poured　on　her　plate？　Did　the　dogs　eat　at　the　same　table　with　the　men　in　England？　Was　that　figure　of　fun　at　the　end　of　the　table　with　her　hair　rigged　up　like　a　Maypole　（me　une　grande　perche　mal　fagotee）　really　the　Queen？　And　did　the　King　always　slobber　like　that？　And　which　of　those　popinjays　was　George　Villiers？　Though　these　questions　rather　disposed　Orlando　at　first；　they　were　put　with　such　archness　and　drollery　that　he　could　not　help　but　laugh；　and　he　saw　from　the　blank　faces　of　the　pany　that　nobody　understood　a　word；　he　answered　her　as　freely　as　she　asked　him；　speaking；　as　she　did；　in　perfect　French。

Thus　began　an　intimacy　between　the　two　which　soon　became　the　scandal　of　the　Court。

Soon　it　was　observed　Orlando　paid　the　Muscovite　far　more　attention　than　mere　civility　demanded。　He　was　seldom　far　from　her　side；　and　their　conversation；　though　unintelligible　to　the　rest；　was　carried　on　with　such　animation；　provoked　such　blushes　and　laughter；　that　the　dullest　could　guess　the　subject。　Moreover；　the　change　in　Orlando　himself　was　extraordinary。　Nobody　had　ever　seen　him　so　animated。　In　one　night　he　had　thrown　off　his　boyish　clumsiness；　he　was　changed　from　a　sulky　stripling；　who　could　not　enter　a　ladies’　room　without　sweeping　half　the　ornaments　from　the　table；　to　a　nobleman；　full　of　grace　and　manly　courtesy。　To　see　him　hand　the　Muscovite　（as　she　was　called）　to　her　sledge；　or　offer　her　his　hand　for　the　dance；　or　catch　the　spotted　kerchief　which　she　had　let　drop；　or　discharge　any　other　of　those　manifold　duties　which　the　supreme　lady　exacts　and　the　lover　hastens　to　anticipate　was　a　sight　to　kindle　the　dull　eyes　of　age；　and　to　make　the　quick　pulse　of　youth　beat　faster。　Yet　over　it　all　hung　a　cloud。　The　old　men　shrugged　their　shoulders。　The　young　tittered　between　their　fingers。　All　knew　that　a　Orlando　was　betrothed　to　another。　The　Lady　Margaret　O’Brien　O’Dare　O’Reilly　Tyrconnel　（for　that　was　the　proper　name　of　Euphrosyne　of　the　Sons）　wore　Orlando’s　splendid　sapphire　on　the　second　finger　of　her　left　hand。　It　was　she　who　had　the　supreme　right　to　his　attentions。　Yet　she　might　drop　all　the　handkerchiefs　in　her　wardrobe　（of　which　she　had　many　scores）　upon　the　ice　and　Orlando　never　stooped　to　pick　them　up。　She　might　wait　twenty　minutes　for　him　to　hand　her　to　her　sledge；　and　in　the　end　have　to　be　content　with　the　services　of　her　Blackamoor。　When　she　skated；　which　she　did　rather　clumsily；　no　one　was　at　her　elbow　to　encourage　her；　and；　if　she　fell；　which　she　did　rather　heavily；　no　one　raised　her　to　her　feet　and　dusted　the　snow　from　her　pet

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