The Dynasts. Томас Харди

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ on either side

       of the town and behind appear large military camps formed of

       timber huts. Lower down are other camps of more or less

       permanent kind, the whole affording accommodation for one

       hundred and fifty thousand men.

       South of the town is an extensive basin surrounded by quays,

       the heaps of fresh soil around showing it to be a recent

       excavation from the banks of the Liane. The basin is crowded

       with the flotilla, consisting of hundreds of vessels of sundry

       kinds: flat-bottomed brigs with guns and two masts; boats of

       one mast, carrying each an artillery waggon, two guns, and a

       two-stalled horse-box; transports with three low masts; and

       long narrow pinnaces arranged for many oars.

       Timber, saw-mills, and new-cut planks spread in profusion

       around, and many of the town residences are seen to be adapted

       for warehouses and infirmaries.]

      DUMB SHOW

       Moving in this scene are countless companies of soldiery, engaged

       in a drill practice of embarking and disembarking, and of hoisting

       horses into the vessels and landing them again. Vehicles bearing

       provisions of many sorts load and unload before the temporary

       warehouses. Further off, on the open land, bodies of troops are at

       field-drill. Other bodies of soldiers, half stripped and encrusted

       with mud, are labouring as navvies in repairing the excavations.

       An English squadron of about twenty sail, comprising a ship or two of

       the line, frigates, brigs, and luggers, confronts the busy spectacle

       from the sea.

       The Show presently dims and becomes broken, till only its flashes and

       gleams are visible. Anon a curtain of cloud closes over it.

      SCENE V

       LONDON. THE HOUSE OF A LADY OF QUALITY

       [A fashionable crowd is present at an evening party, which

       includes the DUKES of BEAUFORT and RUTLAND, LORDS MALMESBURY,

       HARROWBY, ELDON, GRENVILLE, CASTLEREAGH, SIDMOUTH, and MULGRAVE,

       with their ladies; also CANNING, PERCEVAL, TOWNSHEND, LADY

       ANNE HAMILTON, MRS. DAMER, LADY CAROLINE LAMB, and many other

       notables.]

      A GENTLEMAN [offering his snuff-box]

       So, then, the Treaty anxiously concerted

       Between ourselves and frosty Muscovy

       Is duly signed?

      A CABINET MINISTER

       Was signed a few days back,

       And is in force. And we do firmly hope

       The loud pretensions and the stunning dins

       Now daily heard, these laudable exertions

       May keep in curb; that ere our greening land

       Darken its leaves beneath the Dogday suns,

       The independence of the Continent

       May be assured, and all the rumpled flags

       Of famous dynasties so foully mauled,

       Extend their honoured hues as heretofore.

      GENTLEMAN

       So be it. Yet this man is a volcano;

       And proven 'tis, by God, volcanos choked

       Have ere now turned to earthquakes!

      LADY

       What the news?—

       The chequerboard of diplomatic moves

       Is London, all the world knows: here are born

       All inspirations of the Continent—

       So tell!

       GENTLEMAN

       Ay. Inspirations now abound!

      LADY

       Nay, but your looks are grave! That measured speech

       Betokened matter that will waken us.—

       Is it some piquant cruelty of his?

       Or other tickling horror from abroad

       The packet has brought in?

      GENTLEMAN

       The treaty's signed!

      MINISTER

       Whereby the parties mutually agree

       To knit in union and in general league

       All outraged Europe.

      LADY

       So to knit sounds well;

       But how ensure its not unravelling?

      MINISTER

       Well; by the terms. There are among them these:

       Five hundred thousand active men in arms

       Shall strike [supported by the Britannic aid

       In vessels, men, and money subsidies]

       To free North Germany and Hanover

       From trampling foes; deliver Switzerland,

       Unbind the galled republic of the Dutch,

       Rethrone in Piedmont the Sardinian King,

       Make Naples sword-proof, un-French Italy

       From shore to shore; and thoroughly guarantee

       A settled order to the divers states;

       Thus rearing breachless barriers in each realm

       СКАЧАТЬ