letters from high latitudes-第17章

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it　would　seem　that　the　practice　of　showing　their　ivory　shoulders　is；　as　yet；　an　idea　as　shocking　to　the　pretty　ladies　of　this　country　as　waltzes　were　to　our　grandmothers。　Nay；　there　was　not　even　to　be　found　a　native　milliner　equal　to　the　task　of　marking　out　that　mysterious　line　which　divides　the　prudish　from　the　improper；　so　that　the　Collet…monte　faction　have　been　in　despair。　As　it　turned　out；　their　anxiety　on　this　head　was　unnecessary；　for　we　found；　on　entering　the　ball…room；　that；　with　the　natural　refinement　which　characterises　this　noble　people；　our　bright…eyed　partners；　as　if　by　inspiration；　had　hit　off　the　exact　sweep　from　shoulder　to　shoulder；　at　whichafter　those　many　oscillations；　up　and　down；　which　the　female　corsage　has　undergone　since　the　time　of　the　first　Directorgood　taste　has　finally　arrested　it。

I　happened　to　be　particularly　interested　in　the　above　important　question；　for　up　to　that　moment　I　had　always　been　haunted　by　a　horrid　paragraph　I　had　met　with　somewhere　in　an　Icelandic　book　of　travels；　to　the　effect　that　it　was　the　practice　of　Icelandic　women；　from　early　childhood；　to　flatten　down　their　bosoms　as　much　as　possible。　This　fact；　for　the　honour　of　the　island；　I　am　now　in　a　position　to　deny；　and　I　here　declare　that；　as　far　as　I　had　the　indiscretion　to　observe；　those　maligned　ladies　appeared　to　me　as　buxom　in　form　as　any　rosy　English　girl　I　have　ever　seen。


It　was　nearly　nine　o'clock　before　we　adjourned　from　the　〃Reine　Hortense；〃　to　the　ball。　Already；　for　some　time　past；　boats　full　of　gay　dresses　had　been　passing　under　the　corvette's　stern　on　their　way　to　the　〃Artemise；〃　looking　like　flower…beds　that　had　put　to　sea；though　they　certainly　could　no　longer　be　called　a　parterre；and　by　the　time　we　ourselves　mounted　her　lofty　sides；　a　mingled　stream　of　music；　light；　and　silver　laughter；　was　pouring　out　of　every　port…hole。　　The　ball…room　was　very　prettily　arranged。　The　upper　deck　had　been　closed　in　with　a　lofty　roof　of　canvas；　from　which　hung　suspended　glittering　lustres；　formed　by　bayonets　with　their　points　collected　into　an　inverted　pyramid；　and　the　butt…ends　serving　as　sockets　for　the　tapers。　Every　wall　was　gay　with　flags；the　frigate's　frowning　armament　all　hid　or　turned　to　ladies'　uses：　82　pounders　became　sofasboarding…pikes；　balustradespistols；　candlesticksthe　brass　carronades　set　on　end；　pillarwise；　their　brawling　mouths　stopped　with　nose…gays；　while　portraits　of　the　Emperor　and　the　Empress；　busts；　colours　draped　with　Parisian　cunning；　gave　to　the　scene　an　appearance　of　festivity　that　looked　quite　fairy…like　in　so　sombre　a　region。　As　for　our　gallant　host；　I　never　saw　such　spirits；　he　is　a　fine　old　grey…headed　blow…hard　of　fifty　odd；　talking　English　like　a　native；　and　combining　the　frank　open…hearted　cordiality　of　a　sailor　with　that　graceful　winning　gaiety　peculiar　to　Frenchmen。　I　never　saw　anything　more　perfect　than　the　kind；　almost　fatherly；　courtesy　with　which　he　welcomed　each　blooming　bevy　of　maidens　that　trooped　up　his　ship's　side。　About　two　o'clock　we　had　supper　on　the　main…deck。　I　had　the　honour　of　taking　down　Miss　Thora；　of　Bessestad；　and　somehowthis　time；　I　no　longer　found　myself　wandering　back　in　search　of　the　pale　face　of　the　old…world　Thora；　being；　I　suppose；　sufficiently　occupied　by　the　soft；　gentle　eyes　of　the　one　beside　me。　With　the　other　young　ladies　I　did　not　make　much　acquaintance；　as　I　experienced　a　difficulty　in　finding　befitting　remarks　on　the　occasion　of　being　presented　to　them。　Once　or　twice；　indeed；　I　hazarded；　through　their　fathers；　some　little　complimentary　observations　in　Latin；　but　I　cannot　say　that　I　found　that　language　lend　itself　readily　to　the　gallantries　of　the　ball…room。　After　supper　dancing　recommenced；　and　the　hilarity　of　the　evening　reached　its　highest　pitch　when　half　a　dozen　sailors；　dressed　in　turbans　made　of　flags　（one　of　them　a　lady　with　the　face　of　the　tragic　muse）；　came　forward　and　danced　the　cancan；　with　a　gravity　and　decorum　that　would　have　greatly　edified　what　Gavarni　calls　〃la　pudeur　municipale。〃

At　3　o'clock　A。M。　I　returned　on　board　the　schooner；　and　we　are　all　now　very　busy　in　making　final　preparations　for　departure。　Fitz　is　rearranging　his　apothecary's　shop。　Sigurdr　is　writing　letters。　The　last　strains　of　music　have　ceased　on　board　the　〃Artemise〃；　the　sun　is　already　high　in　the　heavens；　the　flower　beds　are　returning　on　shore；a　little　draggled　perhaps；　as　if　just　pelted　by　a　thunder…storm；　the　〃Reine　Hortense〃　has　got　her　steam　up　and　the　real；　serious　part　of　our　voyage　is　about　to　begin。

I　feel　that　my　description　has　not　half　done　justice　to　the　wonders　of　this　interesting　island；　but　I　can　refer　you　to　your　friend　Sir　Henry　Holland　for　further　details；　he　paid　a　visit　to　Iceland　in　1810；　with　Sir　G。　Mackenzie；　and　made　himself　thoroughly　acquainted　with　its　historical　and　scientific　associations。

CONCLUDING　ACT。

SCENE。　R。　Y。　S：　〃Foam〃：　astern　of　the　〃Reine　Hortense〃

DRAMATIS　PERSONAE。

VOICE　OF　FRENCH　CAPTAIN；　COMMANDING　〃R。H。〃　LORD　D。　DOCTOR。　WILSON。

VOICE　OF　THE　FRENCH　CAPTAIN。〃Nous　partons。〃

LORD　D。〃All　ready；　Sir！〃

WILSON　TO　DOCTOR　（sotto　voce）。〃Sir！〃

DOCTOR。〃Eh？〃

WILSON。〃Do　you　know；　Sir？〃

DOCTOR。〃What？〃

WILSON。〃Oh；　nothing；　Sir；only　we're　going　to　the　hicy　regions；　Sir；　ain't　we？　Well；　I've　just　seen　that　ere　brig　as　is　come　from　there；　Sir；　and　they　say　there's　a　precious　lot　of　ice　this　year！　（Pause。）　Do　you　know；　Sir；　the　skipper　showed　me　the　bows　of　his　vessel；　Sir？　She's　got　seven　feet　of　solid　timber　in　her　for'ard：　WE'VE　only　two　inches；　Sir！〃

（DIVES　BELOW。）

VOICE　OF　FRENCH　CAPTAIN　（WITH　A　SLIGHT　ACCENT）。〃Are　you　ready？〃

Lord　D。…〃Ay；　ay；　Sir！　Up　anchor！〃


LETTER　VIII。

START　FROM　REYKJAVIKSNAEFELLTHE　LADY　OF　FRODA…A　BERSERK　TRAGEDYTHE　CHAMPION　OF　BREIDAVIKONUNDER　FIORDTHE　LAST　NIGHTCROSSING　THE　ARCTIC　CIRCLEFETE　ON　BOARD　THE　〃REINE　HORTENSE〃LE　PERE　ARCTIQUE…WE　FALL　IN　WITH　THE　ICETHE　〃SAXON〃　DISAPPEARSMISTA　PARTING　IN　A　LONELY　SPOTJAN　MAYENMOUNT　BEERENBERGAN　UNPLEASANT　POSITIONSHIFT　OF　WIND　AND　EXTRICATION〃TO　NORROWAY　OVER　THE　FAEM〃A　NASTY　COASTHAMMERFEST。

Hammerfest；　July。

Back　in　Europe　again；within　reach　of　posts！　The　glad　sun　shining；　the　soft　winds　blowing；　and　roses　on　the　cabin　table；as　if　the　region　of　fog　and　ice　we　have　just　fled　forth　from　were　indeed　the　dream…land　these　summer　sights　would　make　it　seem。　I　cannot　tell　you　how　gay　and　joyous　it　all　appears　to　us；　fresh　from　a　climate　that　would　not　have　been　unworthy　of　Dante's　Inferno。　And　yethad　it　been　twice　as　bad；　what　we　have　seen　would　have　more　than　repaid　us；　though　it　has　been　no　child's　play　to　get　to　see　it。

But　I　must　begin　where　I　left　off　in　my　last　letter；just；　I　think；　as　we　were　getting　under　way；　to　be　towed　by　the　〃Reine　Hortense〃　out　of　Reykjavik　Harbour。　Having　been　up　all　night；as　soon　as　we　were　well　clear　of　the　land；　and　that　it　was　evident　the　towing　business　was　doing　wellI　turned　in　for　a　few　hours。　When　I　came　on　deck　again　we　had　crossed　the　Faxe　Fiord　on　our　way　north；　and　were　sweeping　round　the　base　of　Snaefellan　extinct　volcano　which　rises　from　the　sea　in　an　icy　cone　to　the　height　of　5；000　feet；　and　grimly　looks　across　to　Greenland。　The　day　was　beautiful；　the　mountain's　summit　beamed　down　upon　us　in　unclouded　splendour；　and　everything　seemed　to　promise　an　uninterrupted　view　of　the　west　coast　of　Iceland；　along　whose　rugged　cliffs　few　mariners　have　ever　sailed。　Indeed；　until　within　these　last　few　years；　the　passage；　I　believe；　was　altogether　impracticable；　in　consequence　of　the　continuous　fields　of　ice　which　used　to　drift　down　the　narrow　channel　between　the　frozen　continent　and　the　northern　extremity　of　the　island。　Lately；　some　great　change　seems　to　have　taken　place　in　the　lie　of　the　Greenland　ice；　and　during　the　summer…time　you　can　pass　through；　though　late　in　the　year　a　solid　belt　binds　the　two　shores　together。

But　in　a　historical　and　scientific　point　of　view；　the　whole　country　lying　about　the　basanite　roots　of　Snaefell　is　most　interesting。　At　the　feet　of　its　southern　slopes　are　to　be　seen　wonderful　ranges　of　columnar　basalt；　prismatic　caverns；　ancient　craters；　and　specimens　of　almost　every　formation　that　can　result　from　the　agency　of　subterranean　fires；　while　each　glen；　and　bay；　and　headland；　in　the　neighbourhood；　teems　with　traditionary　lore。　On　the　north…western　side　of　the　mountain　stretches　the　famous　Eyrbiggja　district；　the　most　classic　ground　in　Iceland；　with　the　towns；　or　rather　farmsteads；　of　Froda；　Helgafell；　and　Biarnarhaf。

This　last　place　was　the　scene　of　one　of　the　most　curious　and　characteristic　Sagas　to　be　found　in　the　whole　catalogue　of　Icelandic　chronicles。

In　the　days　when　the　same　Jarl　Hakon　I　have　already　mentioned　lorded　it　over　Norway；　an　Icelander　of　the　name　of　Vermund；　who　had　come　to　pay　his　court　to　the　lord　of　Lade；　took　a　violent　wish　to　engage　in　his　own　service　a　couple　of　gigantic　Berserks；　＇Footnote：　Berserk；　i。e。；　bare　sark。　The　berserks　seem　to　have　been　a　description　of　athletes；　who　were　in　the　habit　of　stimulating　their　nervous　energies　by　the　use　of　some　intoxicating　drug；　which　rendered　them　capable　of　feats　of　extraordinary　strength　and　daring。　The　Berserker　gang　must　have　been　something　very　like　the　Malay　custom　of　running　a　muck。　Their　moments　of　excitement　were　followed　by　periods　of　great　exhaustion。＇　named　Halli　and　Leikner；　whom　the　Jarl　had　retained　about　his　person；fancying　that　two　champions　of　such　great　strength　and　prowess　would　much　acid　to　his　consequence　on　returning　home。　In　vain。　　the　Jarl　warned　him　that　personages　of　that　description　were　wont　to　give　trouble　and　become　unruly；nothing　would　serve　but　he　must　needs　carry　them　away　with　him；　nay；　if　they　would　but　come；　they　might　ask　as　wages　any　boon　which　might　be　in　his　power　to　grant。　The　bargain　accordingly　was　made；　but；　on　arriving　in　Iceland；　the　first　thing　Halli　took　it　into　his　head　to　require　was　a　wife；　who　should　be　rich；　nobly　born；　and　beautiful。　As　such　a　request　was　difficult　to　comply　with；　Vermund；　who　was　noted　for　being　a　man　of　gentle　disposition；　determined　to　turn　his　troublesome　retainers　over　to　his　brother；　Arngrim　Styr；　i。e。；　the　Stirring　or　Tumultuous　One；as　being　a　likelier　man　than　himself　to　know　how　to　keep　them　in　order。

Arngrim　happened　to　have　a　beautiful　daughter；　named　Asdisa；　with　whom　the　inflammable　Berserk　of　course　fell　in　love。　Not　daring　openly　to　refuse　him；　Arngrim　told　his　would…be　son…in…law；　that　before　complying　with　his　suit；　he　must　consult　his　friends；　and　posted　off　to　Helgafell；　where　dwelt　the　Pagan　Pontiff　Snorre。　The　result　of　this　conference　was　an　agreement　on　the　part'　of　Styr　to　give　his　daughter　to　the　Berserk；　provided　he　and　his　brother　would　CUT　a　road　through　the　lava　rocks　of　Biarnarhaf。　Halli　and　Leikner　immediately　set　about　executing　this　prodigious　task；　while　the　scornful　Asdisa；　arrayed　in　her　most　splendid　attire；　came　sweeping　past　in　silence；　as　if　to　mock　their　toil。　　The　poetical　reproaches　addressed　to　the　young　lady　on　this　occasion　by　her　sturdy　admirer　and　his　mate　are　still　extant。　　In　the　meantime；　the　other　servants　of　the　crafty　Arngrim　had　constructed　a　subterranean　bath；　so　contrived　that　at　a　moment's　notice　it　could　be　flooded　with　boiling　water。　　Their　task　at　last　concluded；　the　two　Berserks