Алая буква
The Procession
Thisbodyofsoldiery—whichstillsustainsacorporateexistence,andmarchesdownfrompastageswithanancientandhonourablefame—wascomposedofnomercenarymaterials.Itsrankswerefilledwithgentlemenwhofeltthestirringsofmartialimpulse,andsoughttoestablishakindofCollegeofArms,where,asinanassociationofKnightsTemplars,theymightlearnthescience,and,sofaraspeacefulexercisewouldteachthem,thepracticesofwar.Thehighestimationthenplaceduponthemilitarycharactermightbeseenintheloftyportofeachindividualmemberofthecompany.Someofthem,indeed,bytheirservicesintheLowCountriesandonotherfieldsofEuropeanwarfare,hadfairlywontheirtitletoassumethenameandpompofsoldiership.Theentirearray,moreover,cladinburnishedsteel,andwithplumagenoddingovertheirbrightmorions,hadabrilliancyofeffectwhichnomoderndisplaycanaspiretoequal.
Andyetthemenofcivileminence,whocameimmediatelybehindthemilitaryescort,werebetterworthathoughtfulobserver’seye.Eveninoutwarddemeanourtheyshowedastampofmajestythatmadethewarrior’shaughtystridelookvulgar,ifnotabsurd.Itwasanagewhenwhatwecalltalenthadfarlessconsiderationthannow,butthemassivematerialswhichproducestabilityanddignityofcharacteragreatdealmore.
