登陆注册
4132100000117

第117章 CHAPTER XIX.(8)

Being thus discovered, they as soon as they could got to their horses; but as many of the faire as had horses, got up with their wives, children, sweetharts, or neighbours behind them, to get as much gape as they could till they brought them to the court gate.

Thus by ill conduct was a merry frolick turned into a penance."On another occasion my Lady Castlemaine went to Bartholomew fair to see the puppets play "Patient Grissel;" and there was the street "full of people expecting her coming out," who, when she appeared, "suffered her with great respect to take the coach."Not only the king's mistress, but likewise the whole court went to St. Margaret's fair to see "an Italian wench daunce and performe all the tricks on the high rope to admiration; and monkies and apes do other feates of activity." "They," says a quaint author, "were gallantly clad A LA MODE, went upright, saluted the company, bowing and pulling off their hats, with as good a grace as if instructed by a dancing master. They turned heels over head with a basket having eggs in it, without breaking any; also with lighted candles on their heads, without extinguishing them; and with vessells of water without spilling a drop."The cruel sport of bull and bear baiting was also commonly practised. Seated round an amphitheatre, the people witnessed these unfortunate animals being torn to pieces by dogs, the owners of which frequently jumped into the arena to urge them to their sanguinary work, on the result of which great wagers depended. Indignation arising against those who witnessed such sights may be somewhat appeased by the knowledge that infuriated bulls occasionally tossed the torn and bleeding carcases of their tormentors into the faces and laps of spectators. Pepys frequently speaks of dense crowds which assembled to witness this form of cruelty, which he designates as good sport; and Evelyn speaks of a gallant steed that, under the pretence that he had killed a man, was baited by dogs, but fought so hard for his life "the fiercest of them could not fasten on him till he was run through with swords." Not only bull and bear baiting, cock and dog fighting were encouraged, but prize combats between man and man were regarded as sources of great diversion. Pepys gives a vivid picture of a furious encounter he, in common with a great and excited crowd, witnessed at the bear-garden stairs, at Bankside, between a butcher and a waterman. "The former," says he, "had the better all along, till by-and-by the latter dropped his sword out of his hand; and the butcher, whether not seeing his sword dropped I know not, but did give him a cut over the wrist, so as he was disabled to fight any longer. But Lord! to see how in a minute the whole stage was full of watermen to revenge the foul play, and the butchers to defend their fellow, though most blamed him; and then they all fell to it to knocking down and cutting many on each side. It was pleasant to see, but that I stood in the pit, and feared that in the tumult I might get some hurt."Among the more healthy sports which obtained during the reign were horse-racing, tennis, and bowling. The monarch had, at vast expense, built a house and stables at Newmarket, where he and his court regularly repaired, to witness racing. Here likewise the king and "ye jolly blades enjoyed dauncing, feasting, and revelling, more resembling a luxurious and abandoned route than a Christian court." He had likewise a tennis-court and bowling green at Whitehall, where at noonday and towards eve, blithe lords, and ladies in brave apparel, might be seen at play.

Bowling was a game to which the people were much devoted, every suburban tavern having its green, where good friends and honest neighbours challenged each other's strength and skill. And amongst other pleasant sports and customs were those practised on May-day, when maids rose betimes to bathe their faces in dew, that they might become sweet-complexioned to men's sight; and milk-maids with garlands of spring flowers upon their pails, and posies in their breasts, danced to the merry music of fiddles adown the streets.

同类推荐
  • 佛说救疾经一卷

    佛说救疾经一卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 饮水词

    饮水词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天地八阳神咒经

    天地八阳神咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Consul

    The Consul

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 澎湖纪略

    澎湖纪略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 这个主播超凶哒

    这个主播超凶哒

    鬼灭之刃中,日轮刀为何频频失窃?进击的巨人,奇行种为何暴死街头?学园默示录,女丧尸为何半夜惨叫?丧尸连环碎颅案究竟是何人所为?海绵宝宝的金铲子能变成约德尔拳套的背后又隐藏着什么?是道德的沦丧还是人性的扭曲?敬请关注今晚午夜十二点次元秀场【超凶主播的不归路】
  • 高门女仵作:忠犬小丈夫

    高门女仵作:忠犬小丈夫

    女法医甄琬一朝穿越,到了古代不说,还捆绑了个便宜夫君。别人的夫君招桃花,她的夫君招命案。去哪哪死人,官司缠一身……
  • 综漫之无限循环之旅

    综漫之无限循环之旅

    二次元的追梦,新世界的大门即将打开,那是存在于我们心中一份真实的幻想,或许,这道门,将会为你打开......
  • 法医见闻录

    法医见闻录

    从未想过自己会成为一名法医,但是机缘巧合之下,走上了法医这条路。一路走来,见到了太多人性的黑暗丑恶。
  • 风起水走

    风起水走

    春天,时序已到了阴历三月二十二啦,可是,长白山里依然沉默,死静,不见一丝风。这种天相时顺,让漫江一带的山里人发毛……漫江,是长白山腹地,松花江上源,这儿是锦江和漫江汇合地,也是老白山靠近南坡一带的重要江口,正确说是西坡的重要水道。一千多年前那次火山喷发曾经把这一带的原始森林毁灭,今天人们依然可以在那些裸露的山坡土层上看到一层层已经化成木炭的清晰的树断面,那一棵棵树的粗细“炭圈”向今人告知着久远岁月前逝去的一切。可是,千百年来重新长起的森林已郁郁葱葱地覆盖住大山了。
  • 亲情故事 (影响青少年一生的中华典故)

    亲情故事 (影响青少年一生的中华典故)

    本套书全部精选中华典故故事,并根据具体思想内涵进行相应归类,主要包括《亲情故事》、《感恩故事》、《美德故事》、《爱心故事》、《心灵故事》、《修养故事》、《勤俭故事》、《习惯故事》、《处世故事》、《交际故事》、《读书故事》、《学习故事》、《成长故事》、《哲理故事》、《励志故事》、《爱国故事》、《军事故事》、《英雄故事》、《智慧故事》、《谋略故事》,每个典故包括诠释、出处和故事等内容,简单明了,短小精炼,具有很强的启迪性、智慧性和内涵性,非常适合青少年用于话题作文的论据,也对青少年的人生成长以及知识增长具有重要的作用,是青少年阅读和收藏的良好版本。
  • 房东

    房东

    天气好的时候,拾得就骑自行车来到阳光小区。几年前阳光小区还不叫阳光小区,叫永宁村,位于古城东门外一里多地。拾得姓宁,与永宁村同一个字。小时候,在村里跑着玩的拾得抬头便可见东门和城墙。后来,东门外盖起座座高楼,长成大人的拾得走在村子里看不到城门城墙了。永宁村作为本市最早被改造的城中村,经过几年的宣传教育说服谈判,村民们无论如何不可能再坚守祖上传下来的永宁村,只好妥协。千禧年这个词在报章频频出现,永宁村变成阳光小区。
  • 普达王经

    普达王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 这是我的答案

    这是我的答案

    本书展现了一对E时代男女纯粹而彻底的情感世界。习惯于慢吞吞做事而又有着细腻感情世界的处女座大学生丁一书在台北诚品书店闲晃时巧遇了他心目中的完美女孩筱柔,一头飘逸如云的秀发、温柔得令人心动的声音……而对筱柔的坎坷情史和对爱情的伤心质疑,一书用温情和行动给了她真心答案。
  • 世界最具启迪性的名言格言(4)

    世界最具启迪性的名言格言(4)

    我的课外第一本书——震撼心灵阅读之旅经典文库,《阅读文库》编委会编。通过各种形式的故事和语言,讲述我们在成长中需要的知识。