Запретный лес
III. Guests in Calidon Tower
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"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.
