"I charge you, oh women! for the love you bear to men, to like as
much of this play as please you; and I charge you, oh men! for the
love you bear to women, (as I perceive by your simpering, none of
you hate them,) that between you and the women the play may
please."
_As you Like It._
"There is the devil haunts thee, in the likeness of a fat old man;
a tun of man is thy companion."
_Henry IV._
The good-natured guests at the Governor's awarded all due, and more than
due merit to the masque which was prepared for their entertainment.
Alfred Bernard became at once the hero of the evening, and many a bright
eye glanced towards him, and envied the fair Virginia the exclusive
attention which he paid to her. Some young cavaliers there were, whose
envy carried them so far, that they sneered at the composition of the
young poet; declared the speeches of Liberty to be prosy and tiresome;
and that the song of Christmas was coarse, rugged, and devoid of wit;
nay, they laughed at the unnatural transformation of the grim-visaged
Puritan into the royal Charles, and referred sarcastically to the
pretentious pedantry of the young author, in introducing the threadbare
story of Ulysses and the Moly into a modern production--and at the
inconsistent jumble of ancient mythology and pure Christianity. Bernard
heard them not, and if he had, he would have scorned their strictures,
instead of resenting them. But he was too much engrossed in conversation
with Virginia to heed either the good-natured applause of his friends,
or the peevish jealousy of his young rivals. Indeed, the loyalty of the
piece amply atoned for all its imperfections, and the old colonists
smiled and nodded their heads, delighted at the wholesome tone of
sentiment which characterized the whole production.
The character of Christmas was well sustained by Richard Presley,[35] a
member of the House of Burgesses, whose jolly good humour, as broad
sometimes as his portly stomach, fitted him in an eminent degree for the
part. He was indeed one of those merry old wags, who, in an illustrated
edition of Milton, might have appeared in L'Allegro, to represent the
idea of "Laughter holding both his sides."
Seeing Sir William Berkeley and Colonel Temple engaged in earnest
conversation, in one corner of the room, the old burgess bustled, or
rather waddled up to them, and remaining quiet just long enough to hear
the nature of their conversation chimed in, with,
"Talking about Bacon, Governor? Why he is only imitating old St. Albans,
and trying to establish a _novum organum_ in Virginia. By God, it seems
to me that Sir Nicholas exhausted the whole of his _mediocria firma_
policy, and left none of it to his kinsmen. Do you not know what he
meant by that motto, Governor?"
"No;" said Sir William, smiling blandly.
"Well, I'll tell you, and add another wrinkle to your face. Mediocria
firma, when applied to Bacon, means nothing more nor less than sound
middlings. But I tell you what, this young mad-cap, Bacon, will have to
adopt the motto of another namesake of his, and ancestor, perhaps, for
friars aye regarded their tithes more favourably than their vows of
virtue--and were fathers in the church as well by the first as the
second birth."
"What ancestor do you allude to now, Dick?" asked the Governor.
"Why, old Friar Bacon, who lamented that time was, time is, and time
will be. And to my mind, when time shall cease with our young squealing
porker here, we will e'en substitute hemp in its stead."
"Thou art a mad wag, Presley," said the Governor, laughing, "and seem to
have sharpened thy wit by strapping it on the Bible containing the whole
Bacon genealogy. Come, Temple, let me introduce to your most favourable
acquaintance, Major Richard Presley, the Falstaff of Virginia, with as
big a paunch, and if not as merry a wit, at least as great a love for
sack--aye, Presley?"
"Yes, but indifferent honest, Governor, which I fear my great prototype
was not," replied the old wag, as he shook hands with Colonel Temple.
"Well, I believe you can be trusted, Dick," said the Governor, kindly,
"and I may yet give you a regiment of foot to quell this modern young
Hotspur of Virginia."
"Aye, that would be rare fun," said Presley, with a merry laugh, "but
look ye, I must take care to attack him in as favourable circumstances
as the true Falstaff did, or 'sblood he might embowell me."
"I would like to own the tobacco that would be raised over your grave
then, Dick," said the Governor, laughing, "but never fear but I will
supply you with a young Prince Hal, as merry, as wise, and as brave."
"Which is he, then? for I can't tell your true prince by instinct yet."
"There he stands talking to Miss Virginia Temple. You know him, Colonel
Temple, and I trust that you have not found that my partiality has
overrated his real merit."
"By no means," returned Temple; "I never saw a young man with whom I was
more pleased. He is at once so ingenuous and frank, and so intelligent
and just in his views and opinions on all subjects--who is he, Sir
William? One would judge, from his whole mien and appearance, that noble
blood ran in his veins."
"I believe not," replied Berkeley, "or if so, as old Presley would say,
he was hatched in the nest where some noble eagle went a birding. I am
indebted to my brother, Lord Berkeley, for both my chaplain and my
private secretary. Good Parson Hutchinson seems to have been the
guardian of Bernard in his youth, but what may be the real relation
between them I am unable to say."
"Perhaps, like Major Presley's old Friar Bacon," said Temple, "the good
parson may have been guilty of some indiscretion in his youth, for which
he would now atone by his kindness to the offspring of his early crime."
"Hardly so," replied the Governor, "or he would probably acknowledge him
openly as his son, without all this mystery. I have several times hinted
at the subject to Mr. Hutchinson, but it seems to produce so much real
sorrow, that I have never pushed my inquiries farther. All that I know
is what I tell you, that my brother, in whose parish this Mr. Hutchinson
long officiated as rector, recommended him to me--and the young man, who
has been thoroughly educated by his patron, or guardian, by the same
recommendation, has been made my private secretary."
"He is surely worthy to fill some higher post," said Temple.
"And he will not want my aid in building up his fortunes," returned
Berkeley; "but they have only been in the colony about six months as
yet--and the young man has entwined himself about my heart like a son.
My own bed, alas! is barren, as you know, and it seems that a kind
providence had sent this young man here as a substitute for the
offspring which has been denied to me. See Temple," he added, in a
whisper, "with what admiring eyes he regards your fair daughter. And if
an old man may judge of such matters, it is with maiden modesty
returned."
"I think that you are at fault," said Temple, with a sigh; "my
daughter's affections are entirely disengaged at present."
"Well, time will develope which of us is right. It would be a source of
pride and pleasure, Harry, if I could live to see a union between this,
my adopted boy, and the daughter of my early friend," said the old
Governor, as a tear glistened in his eye; "but come, Presley, the
dancing has ceased for a time," he added aloud, "favour the company with
a song."
"Oh, damn it, Governor," replied the old burgess, "my songs won't suit a
lady's ear. They are intended for the rougher sex."
"Well, never fear," said the Governor, "I will check you if I find you
are overleaping the bounds of propriety."
"Very well, here goes then--a loyal ditty that I heard in old England,
about five years agone, while I was there on a visit. Proclaim order,
and join in the chorus as many as please."
And with a loud, clear, merry voice, the old burgess gave vent to the
following, which he sung to the tune of the "Old and Young Courtier;" an
air which has survived even to our own times, though adapted to the more
modernized words, and somewhat altered measure of the "Old English
Gentleman:"--
"Young Charley is a merry prince; he's come unto his own,
And long and merrily may he fill his martyred father's throne;
With merry laughter may he drown old Nolly's whining groan,
And when he dies bequeath his crown to royal flesh and bone.
Like a merry King of England,
And England's merry King.
"With bumpers full, to royal Charles, come fill the thirsty glasses,
The pride of every loyal heart, the idol of the masses;
Yet in the path of virtue fair, old Joseph far surpasses,
The merry prince, whose sparkling eye delights in winsome lasses.
Like a merry King of England,
And England's merry King.
"For Joseph from dame Potiphar, as holy men assert,
Leaving his garment in her hand, did naked fly unhurt;
But Charley, like an honest lad, will not a friend desert,
And so he still remains behind, nor leaves his only shirt.
Like a merry King of England,
And England's merry King.
"Then here's to bonny Charley, he is a prince divine,
He hates a Puritan as much as Jews detest a swine;
But, faith, he loves a shade too much his mistresses and wine,
Which makes me fear that he will not supply the royal line,
With a merry King of England,
And England's merry King."
The singer paused, and loud and rapturous was the applause which he
received, until, putting up his hand in a deprecating manner, silence
was again restored, and with an elaborate _impromptu_, which it had
taken him about two hours that morning to spin from his old brain, he
turned to Berkeley, and burst forth again.
"Nor let this mirror of the king by us remain unsung,
To whom the hopes of Englishmen in parlous times have clung:
Let Berkeley's praises still be heard from every loyal tongue,
While Bacon and his hoggish herd be cured, and then be hung.
Like young rebels of the King,
And the King's young rebels."
Various were the comments drawn forth by the last volunteer stanza of
the old loyalist. With lowering looks, some of the guests conversed
apart in whispers, for there were a good many in the Assembly, who,
though not entirely approving the conduct of Bacon, were favourably
disposed to his cause. Sir William Berkeley himself restrained his
mirth out of respect for a venerable old man, who stood near him, and
towards whom many eyes were turned in pity. This was old Nathaniel
Bacon, the uncle of the young insurgent, and himself a member of the
council. There were dark rumours afloat, that this old man had advised
his nephew to break his parole and fly from Jamestown; but, although
suspicion had attached to him, it could never be confirmed. Even those
who credited the rumour rather respected the feelings of a near
relative, in thus taking the part of his kinsman, than censured his
conduct as savouring of rebellion.
FOOTNOTES:
[35] This jovial old colonist is referred to in the T. M. account of the
Rebellion.