Запретный лес

III. Guests in Calidon Tower

           "

           "Forwhat,belike?"

           "ForthepurityoftheirfaithandtheCrownhonoursofChrist."

           Theotherwhistledgentlythroughhisteeth.

           "Nodoubt.Nodoubt.There’sabrawsoughoftheGospelinLeven’sranks.Butwemustconsidertheloavesandfishes,goodsir,aswellasthepreachingoftheWord.Mancannalivebybreadalone,butheassuredlycannalivewithoutit,andtofillhisbellyhewantsmorethanpreaching.Lucre’snonesofilthyifitbehonestlyearned,andgoestokeeparoofoverthewifeandbairns.Ihaveservedinmanylandswithakennin’o’queerfolk,and,believeme,sir,thefirstthingasoldierthinksofisjusthispay."

           "Buthecannotfightunlesshehasacausetofightfor."

           "He’llmakeaverygoodshapeatitifhehasbeenlearnedhisbusinessbyaheavy-handedsergeant.IhaveseentheriddlingsofEuropestickfastasrocksbeforeWallenstein’shorse,becausetheyhadbeentaughttheirtradeandfeareddeathlessthantheirColonel’stongue.AndIhaveseentheflowerofgentrice,proudasLuciferandgallantaslions,andeveryonewithanoblewordonhislips,breaklikerottentwigsatthefirstmusketvolley.It’sdisciplinethat’sthelastwordinwar."

           "Butifthedisciplinebethere,willnotaconvictionoftherightofhiscausemakeabettersoldier?"

           "Youhavespokenatrueword,andthere’samaninEnglandthisdaythatknowsit.ThatiswhatCromwellhasdone.Hehasbuiltupabodyofhorsethatstandlikeanironwallandmovelikeariverinspate.TheyhavethedisciplineofGustavus’sSwedes,andthefiresofHellintheirhearts.

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