Great Britain -- History -- Stuarts, 1603-1714 -- Fiction
The marbled Saint, so cold and pure,
Minds naught of earthly ways;
Nor can man's gauds entice or lure
That fixéd heavenly gaze.
So Celia, though thou Queen and Empress art,
To heaven, to heaven alone, belongs thy heart.
Now, while Humphrey sang this song, a hush fell upon the revellers;
they had expected nothing but a common drinking-song. After the
bawling and the noise and the ribaldry 'twas like a breath of fresh
air after the closeness of a prison; or like a drink of pure water
to one half-dead with thirst.
'Robin,' I said, 'there is one good man in the camp.' I say that
while Humphrey sang this song--which, to be sure, was neither a
drinking-song, nor a party song, nor a song of wickedness and
folly--the company looked at each other in silence, and neither
laughed nor offered to interrupt. Nay, there were signs of grace
in some of their faces, which became grave and thoughtful. When
Humphrey finished it he laid down the guitar and rose up with a bow,
saying, 'I have sung my song, gentlemen all--and so, good-night!'
and walked out of the room.
'Robin,' I said again, 'thank God there is one good man in the camp!
I had forgotten Humphrey.'
'Yes,' Robin replied; 'Humphrey is a good man, if ever there was
one. But he is glum. Something oppresses him. His eyes are troubled,
and he hangs his head; or, if he laughs at all, it is as if he
would rather cry. Yet all the way home from Holland he was joyful,
save when his head was held over the side of the ship. He sang and
laughed; he spoke of great things about to happen. I have never
known him more happy. And now his face is gloomy, and he sighs when
he thinks no one watcheth him. Perhaps, like thee, Sweet, he cannot
abide the noise and riot of the camp. He would fain see every man
Bible in hand. To-day he spent two hours with the Duke before the
Council, and was with thy father afterwards. 'Tis certain that the
Duke hath great confidence in him. Why is he so gloomy? He bitterly
reproached me for leaving Sir Christopher, as if he alone had a
conscience to obey or honour to remember!'
Humphrey came forth at this moment and stood for a moment on the
steps. Then he heaved a great sigh and walked away slowly with
hanging head, not seeing us.
'What is the matter with him?' said Robin. 'Perhaps they flout him
for being a physician. These fellows have no respect for learning or
for anyone who is not a country gentleman. Well, perhaps when we are
on the march he will again pick up his spirits. They are going to
sing again. Shall we go, Child?'
But the president called a name which made me stop a little longer.
'Barnaby!' he cried; 'jolly Captain Barnaby! Now that Doctor
Graveairs hath left us we will begin the night. Barnaby, my hero,
thy song. Pill up, gentlemen! The night is young, and to-morrow we
march. Captain Barnaby, tip us a sea-song. Silence, gentlemen, for
the Captain's song.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account