第38部分(第2/7 頁)

；　draughts　of pocket…flasks；　which　they　freely　tendered　to　thegaping　crowd　around　them。　It　remarkably　characterised　the　inpletemorality　of　the　age；　rigid　as　we　call　it；　that　a　license　was　allowedthe　seafaring　class；　not　merely　for　their　freaks　on　shore；　but　for　farmore　desperate　deeds　on　their　proper　element。　The　sailor　of　that　daywould　go　near　to　be　arraigned　as　a　pirate　in　our　own。　There　could　belittle　doubt；　for　instance；　that　this　very　ship's　crew；　though　nounfavourable　specimens　of　the　nautical　brotherhood；　had　been　guilty；as　we　should　phrase　it；　of　depredations　on　the　Spanish　merce；such　as　would　have　perilled　all　their　necks　in　a　modern　court　ofjustice。 But　the　sea　in　those　old　times；　heaved；　swelled；　and　foamed；　verymuch　at　its　own　will；　or　subject　only　to　the　tempestuous　wind；　withhardly　any　attempts　at　regulation　by　human　law。　The　buccaneer　on　thewave　might　relinquish　his　calling；　and　bee　at　once；　if　he　chose；a　man　of　probity　and　piety　on　land；　nor；　even　in　the　full　career　ofhis　reckless　life；　was　he　regarded　as　a　personage　with　whom　it　wasdisreputable　to　traffic；　or　casually　associate。　Thus；　the　Puritanelders；　in　their　black　cloaks；　starched　bands；　and　steeple…crownedhats；　smiled　not　unbenignantly　at　the　clamour　and　rude　deportment　ofthese　jolly　seafaring　men；　and　it　excited　neither　surprise　noranim…adversion；　when　so　reputable　a　citizen　as　old　RogerChillingworth；　the　physician；　was　seen　to　enter　the　market…place；　inclose　and　familiar　talk　with　the　mander　of　the　questionable　vessel。 The　latter　was　by　far　the　most　showy　and　gallant　figure；　so　far　asapparel　went；　anywhere　to　be　seen　among　the　multitude。　He　wore　aprofusion　of　ribbons　on　his　garment；　and　gold　lace　on　his　hat；　whichwas　also　encircled　by　a　gold　chain；　and　surmounted　with　a　feather。There　was　a　swo