Ностромо
Chapter 5
”
Heruminatedhisdiscontentforawhile,thenbeganafreshwithasidelongglanceatAntonia—
“No,butjustimagineourforefathersinmorionsandcorseletsdrawnupoutsidethisgate,andabandofadventurersjustlandedfromtheirshipsintheharbourthere.Thieves,ofcourse.Speculators,too.Theirexpeditions,eachone,werethespeculationsofgraveandreverendpersonsinEngland.Thatishistory,asthatabsurdsailorMitchellisalwayssaying.”
“Mitchell’sarrangementsfortheembarkationofthetroopswereexcellent!”exclaimedDonJose.
“That!—that!oh,that’sreallytheworkofthatGenoeseseaman!Buttoreturntomynoises;thereusedtobeintheolddaysthesoundoftrumpetsoutsidethatgate.Wartrumpets!I’msuretheyweretrumpets.IhavereadsomewherethatDrake,whowasthegreatestofthesemen,usedtodinealoneinhiscabinonboardshiptothesoundoftrumpets.Inthosedaysthistownwasfullofwealth.Thosemencametotakeit.Nowthewholelandislikeatreasure-house,andallthesepeoplearebreakingintoit,whilstwearecuttingeachother’sthroats.Theonlythingthatkeepsthemoutismutualjealousy.Butthey’llcometoanagreementsomeday—andbythetimewe’vesettledourquarrelsandbecomedecentandhonourable,there’llbenothingleftforus.Ithasalwaysbeenthesame.
