2.4 Lí sin-piⁿ kám ū le̍k-sú chheh?
Múi chi̍t-ê ha̍k-seng hian kòe Richard III ê chòe-āu chi̍t-ia̍h ê sî, lóng ē thò͘ chi̍t-kháu khùi, in-ūi Mûi-kùi Chiàn-cheng (Wars of teh Roses) chóng-sǹg kiat-sok ah, in í-keng ē-tàng kè-sio̍k tha̍k Tudor Ông-tiâu ah, sui-bóng bô-liâu, m̄-koh khah khin-sang tha̍k.
Tán Sè-lia̍p Chí lâi ūi i chún-pī hō͘ i thang khùn ê sî, Grant mn̄g: “Lí kám tú-hó sin-piⁿ ū le̍k-sú chheh?”
“Le̍k-sú chheh? Bô. Góa the̍h le̍k-sú chheh chhòng-siáⁿ?” Che m̄-sī chi̍t-ê būn-tê, só͘-tì Grant bô ì-sù boeh kā hôe-tap. I ê tiām-chēng soah hō͘ yi bē chū-chāi.
“Lí nā chin-chiàⁿ su-iàu le̍k-sú chheh,” yi sûi koh kóng, “lí ē-sái mn̄g Darroll Hō͘-sū, tán yi sàng lí ê àm-tǹg lâi ê sî. Yi kā ha̍k-hāu khò-pún lóng khǹg tī pâng-keng ê chheh-kè, chin khó-lêng kî-tiong ū le̍k-sú chheh.”
Grant sim-lāi án-ne siūⁿ: che chiàⁿx sī Amazon ē chò ê tāi-chì, pó-liû ha̍k-hāu ê khò-pún! Yi iáu ē su-liām ha̍k-hāu, tō ná ta̍k-pái chúi-sian khui-hoe, yi tō su-liām kò͘-hiong Gloucester Kūn kāng-khoán. Tī yi bān-pō͘ hoaiⁿh ji̍p-lâi pâng-keng, phâng i ê chhiz pudding kap kûn tāi-hông (stewed rhubarb) ê sî, i kō͘ chi̍t-chióng chiap-kīn chû-pi ê khoan-iông khòaⁿ yi. Yi taⁿ m̄-sī chhoán kah ná thiu-hong pump ê tōa-chhāi cha-bó͘, í-keng piàn-chò chi̍t-ê khó-lêng ē tòa-lâi khoài-lo̍k ê lâng.
Oh, ū, yi kóng, yi ū chi̍t-pún le̍k-sú chheh. Sū-si̍t-siōng, yi kám-kak yi ū 2-pún. Yi pó-liû só͘-ū ê khò-pún, in-ūi yi kah-ì ha̍k-hāu seng-oa̍h.
Grant hiám-á tō mn̄g yi, kám mā ū pó-liû gín-á sî ê pò͘-ang-á, m̄-koh i chek-sî kā ōe jím lo̍h-lâi.
“Lēng-gōa, tong-jiân góa mā kah-ì le̍k-sú,” yi kóng. “He sī góa kah-ì ê kho-bo̍k. ‘Sai-sim Ông Richard’ sī góa ê eng-hiông.”
“Chi̍t-ê hō͘ lâng tòng bē-tiâu ê àu kha-siàu.” Grant kóng.
“Oh, m̄-sī!” yi kóng, ká-ná siū-tio̍h siong-hāi.
“Kah-chōng-sòaⁿ khòng-chìn hit-hêng ê,” Grant kóng kah chin bô-chêng. “Tī tē-bīn chông lâi chông khì, ná chò pháiⁿ khì ê ian-hoe. Lí taⁿ boeh hā-pan ah hioh?”
“Tán góa kā phâng-pôaⁿ siu liáu.”
“E-àm lí ē-tàng pang góa chhōe hit-pún chheh lâi bô?”
“Lí tio̍h khì khùn neh, m̄-thang piàⁿ-mê tha̍k le̍k-sú.”
“Nā m̄-sī tha̍k le̍k-sú, góa mā sī khòaⁿ thian-pông – bô kî-thaⁿ ê soán-te̍k lah. Lí ē pang góa the̍h-lâi bô?”
“Góa bô jīn-ûi, góa ē ūi chi̍t-ê tùi Sai-sim Ông bô-lé ê lâng, choan-kang cháu khì Hō͘-sū Sok-sià koh tńg-lâi.”
“Hó lah,” i kóng, “Góa mā m̄-sī lia̍t-sū ê liāu lah. Chiū góa khòaⁿ, Sai-sim Ông sī khî-sū tō ê tián-hoān, sī bô kiaⁿ-hiâⁿ, bû khó chek-pī ê khî-sū, chi̍t-ê bô khiàm-tiám ê su-lēng, koh 3-pái tit-tio̍h Kiat-chhut Ho̍k-bū Hun-chiong. Taⁿ lí khéng khì the̍h chheh bô?”
“Góa khòaⁿ lí khak-si̍t tio̍h tha̍k kóa le̍k-sú,” yi kóng, ná kō͘ he tōa chhiú sūnx kā chhn̂g-toaⁿ ê oat-kak chhu pêⁿ, “só͘-í, góa keng-kòe ê sî ē kā chheh chah lâi hō͘ lí. Hoâiⁿ-ti̍t góa tán-leh boeh khì khòaⁿ tiān-iáⁿ.”
Chha-put-to 1 tiám-cheng liáu-āu, yi chiah koh chhut-hiān, chhēng chi̍t-niá lo̍k-tô mo͘ tōa gōa-thò. Pâng-keng ê teng í-keng chhiat ah, yi chhut-hiān tī tha̍k-chheh teng-kng ē-bīn, ná chi̍t-ê chhin-chhiat ê cheng-lêng.
“Góa siūⁿ-kóng lí í-keng khùn-khì ah,” yi kóng. “Góa chin-chiàⁿ jīn-ûi, lí m̄-thang e-àm tō khai-sí tha̍k chiah-ê.”
“Nā ū siáⁿ ē hō͘ góa ài-khùn,” i kóng, “he tāi-khài tō sī Eng-kok le̍k-sú chheh lah. Só͘-tì, lí ē-sái hòng-sim chhiú khan chhiú khì iok-hōe ah.”
“Góa sī kap Burrows Hō͘-sū chò-hóe khì.”
“Lín iáu sī ē-sái chhiú khan chhiú.”
“Góa bô lí ê hoat-tō͘ neh,” yi nāi-sim án-ne kóng, jiân-āu tò-thè siau-sit tī o͘-àm tiong.
Yi chah 2-pún chheh lâi.
Chi̍t-pún sī só͘-ūi “Le̍k-sú Tho̍k-pún” hit-chióng le̍k-sú chheh. Che kap le̍k-sú ê koan-hē tō ná “Sèng-keng Kò͘-sū” kap Sèng-keng ê koan-hē. Canute tī hōaⁿ-piⁿ chí-chek i ê tiâu-têng koaⁿ-oân, Alfred hāi ke-nn̄g ko tio̍h hóe-sio, Raleigh pho͘ hoan-moa hō͘ Elizabeth ta̍h, Nelson tī “Victory (Sèng-lī)” Hō chûn-chhng kap Hardy kò-pia̍t, só͘-ū lóng kō͘ tōax jī ìn kah chin chheng-chhó, chi̍t-tōaⁿ chi̍t-kù. Múi chi̍t-ê chiuⁿ-chat lóng tah-phòe chi̍t-pak choân-ia̍h chhah-tô͘.
Amazon kèng-jiân pó-sioh chit-pún gín-á chheh, che si̍t-chāi hō͘ lâng ì-gōa koh kám-tōng. I hian kàu thâu-ia̍h (fly-leaf), khòaⁿ kám ū yi ê miâ tī hia.
Hui-ia̍h téng-bīn án-ne siá:
// Ella Darroll,
Saⁿ Nî-kip
Newbridge Ko-tiong
Newbridge,
Gloucester Kūn.
England
Europa,
Sè-kài
Ú-tiū. //
Chit-tōaⁿ jī sì-bīn ûi chēx súix ê chhái-sek choán-ìn tah-chóa.
I hòⁿ-kî, kám só͘-ū gín-á lóng án-ne? Án-ne siá in ê miâ, siōng-khò ê sî sńg choán-ìn chóa? I ka-tī mā bat sńg he. Hiah-ê kng-iām goân-sek ê sì-kak hêng, kā i kú-nî m̄-bat ū ê gín-á sî kì-tî koh kiò chhéⁿ. I í-keng bē kì-tit sńg choán-ìn chóa ê chhì-kek ah. Tng lí pak-khui, khòaⁿ-tio̍h tah-chóa oân-bí choán-ìn, hit-chióng bí-miāu ê boán-chiok sî-khek. Tī tōa-lâng ê sè-kài, chin chió ū chiah-nī hō͘ lâng boán-chiok ê tāi-chì. Hoān-sè tī golf kòng chi̍t-ki súi kiû, ē-tit kap che sio-pí. A̍h sī, tī thang-si peⁿ-ân, lí chai ū hî tio̍h-tiàu ê sî.
Chit-pún sió chheh hō͘ i chin hoaⁿ-hí, i ûnx-á kā hian thàu. Chèngx kengx tha̍k múi chi̍t-phiⁿ gín-á kó͘. Pit-kèng, che sī ta̍k-ê tōa-lâng lóng ē kì-tit ê le̍k-sú. Tng tùn-sòe, pōng-sòe, chûn sòe, Laud ê Kî-tó Bûn (Laud’s Liturgy), O͘-be̍h Chhù Im-bô͘ (Rye House Plot), Saⁿ-nî Hoat-àn, í-ki̍p só͘-ū hiah-ê tn̂g-kî hūn-loān ê hun-cheng kap chhá-nāu, tiâu-iok kap pōe-poān lóng ùi in ê ì-sek lāi-bīn siau-thè í-āu, lâu-chûn tī in náu-hái ni̍h ê tō sī chiah-ê kò͘-sū.
I tha̍k kàu Richard III ê kò͘-sū ê sî, he hō-chò “Thah ni̍h ê Ông-chú,” siàu-liân Ella khòaⁿ sī jīn-ûi chit 2-ê ông-chú bô Sai-sim Ông hiah-nī bê-lâng, in-ūi yi kā kò͘-sū lāi-bīn múi chi̍t-ê sió-siá jī-bó O lóng kō͘ iân-pit kā ōe chéng-chê ê o͘-iáⁿ. Hù-tô͘ ni̍h, ji̍t-kng thàu-kòe thih-tiâu thang-á chhiō ji̍p-lâi, 2-ê kim thâu-mo͘ cha-po͘ gín-á chò-hóe teh sńg, ta̍k-ê lóng hông kòa bô ha̍h-sî ê ba̍k-kiàⁿ. Chhah-tô͘ ia̍h khàng-pe̍h ê ūi ū-lâng bat tī hia sńg 9-kiong-keh ê “Khian kap Chhe.” Tùi siàu-liân Ella lâi kóng, chit 2-ê ông-chú kin-pún bô ín-khí chù-ì.
M̄-koh, che chū-té tō sī khip-ín lâng ê sió kò͘-sū. Khióng-pò͘ kah ū-kàu hō͘ gín-á sim-koaⁿ hoaⁿ-hí. Bû-ko͘ ê gín-á; siâ-ok ê a-chek. Kó͘-tián tan-sûn kò͘-sū ê kó͘-tián goân-sò͘.
He mā ū tō-tek ì-gī. Sī chi̍t-ê oân-bí ê kéng-sè kò͘-sū.
M̄-koh, chit-ê Kok-ông mā bô ùi che siâ-ok hêng-ûi tit-tio̍h siáⁿ hó-chhù. England jîn-bîn tùi i ê léng-hoeh chân-khok kám-kak tōa-kiaⁿ, tō koat-tēng bô-ài hō͘ i chò Ông. In phài lâng khì Franse, chhiáⁿ Henry Tudor kòe-lâi chò Ông, i sī Richard ê chi̍t-ê hn̄g-pâng piáu-chhin, tòa tī Franse. Richard tī sûi-āu ê chiàn-tàu tiong eng-ióng chiàn-sí, m̄-koh i ê chhàu-miâ chá tō thoân phiàn choân-kok, chin chē lâng sīm-chì hoán-pōe i, ūi i ê tùi-chhiú chok-chiàn.
Hmh, che kán-tan bêng-pe̍k, bô phòng-hong. Kō͘ chòe kán-té ê hong-sek pò-tō.
--
2.4你身邊 kám有 歷史冊?
每一个 學生 掀過 Richard III ê 最後一頁 ê 時, lóng 會 吐一口氣, 因為 玫瑰戰爭 (Wars of the Roses) 總算結束 ah, in 已經會當 繼續讀 Tudor 王朝 ah, 雖罔無聊, 毋過 較輕鬆 讀.
等 Sè-lia̍p Chí 來 為伊 準備 hō͘ 伊 thang 睏 ê 時, Grant 問: “你 kám 拄好 身邊 有 歷史冊?”
“歷史冊? 無. 我提 歷史冊 創啥?” Che 毋是 一个問題, 所致 Grant 無意思 欲 kā 回答. 伊 ê 恬靜 煞 hō͘ 她 袂自在.
“你 若真正 需要 歷史冊,” 她 隨 koh 講, “你會使 問 Darroll 護士, 等 她送 你 ê 暗頓 來 ê 時. 她 kā 學校課本 lóng 囥 tī 房間 ê 冊架, 真可能 其中 有 歷史冊.”
Grant 心內 án-ne 想: che chiàⁿx sī Amazon 會做 ê 代誌, 保留 學校 ê 課本! 她猶會 思念學校, tō ná 逐擺 水仙開花, 她 tō 思念故鄉 Gloucester 郡 仝款. Tī 她慢步 hoaiⁿh 入來 房間, 捀 伊 ê chhiz pudding kap 𤉙大黃 (stewed rhubarb) ê 時, 伊 kō͘ 一種 接近 慈悲 ê 寬容 看她. 她 今 毋是 喘 kah ná 抽風 pump ê 大 chhāi 查某, 已經 變做 一个 可能 會帶來 快樂 ê 人.
Oh, 有, 她講, 她有 一本 歷史冊. 事實上, 她感覺 她有 2 本. 她保留 所有 ê 課本, 因為 她佮意 學校生活.
Grant 險仔 tō 問她, kám mā 有保留 囡仔時 ê 布尪仔, 毋過 伊 即時 kā 話 忍落來.
“另外, 當然 我 mā 佮意歷史,” 她講. “彼是 我 佮意 ê 科目. ‘獅心王 Richard’ 是 我 ê 英雄.”
“一个 hō͘ 人 擋袂牢 ê 漚跤數.” Grant 講.
“Oh, 毋是!” 她講, ká-ná 受著傷害.
“甲狀線 亢進 hit 型 ê,” Grant 講 kah 真無情. “Tī 地面 傱來傱去, ná 做歹去 ê 煙火. 你今 欲下班 ah hioh?”
“等我 kā 捀盤 收了.”
“下暗 你會當 幫我揣 彼本冊 來 無?”
“你著 去睏 neh, 毋通 拚暝 讀歷史.”
“若毋是 讀歷史, 我 mā 是 看天篷 - 無其他 ê 選擇 lah. 你會幫我 提來 無?”
“我無認為, 我會為 一个 對獅心王 無禮 ê 人, 專工走去 護士宿舍 koh 轉來.”
“好 lah,” 伊講, “我 mā 毋是 烈士 ê 料 lah. 就我看, 獅心王 是騎士道 ê 典範, 是無驚惶, 無可責備 ê 騎士, 一个 無欠點 ê 司令, koh 3 擺 得著 傑出 服務 勳章. 今 你肯去 提冊 無?”
“我看 你確實 著 讀寡 歷史,” 她講, ná kō͘ he 大手 sūnx kā 床單 ê 斡角 chhu 平, “所以, 我經過 ê 時 會 kā 冊扎來 hō͘ 你. 橫直 我等 leh 欲去 看電影.”
差不多 1 點鐘 了後, 她 才 koh 出現, 穿一領 駱駝毛 大外套. 房間 ê 燈 已經切 ah, 她出現 tī 讀冊 燈光下面, ná 一个 親切 ê 精靈.
“我想講 你已經 睏去 ah,” 她講. “我真正 認為, 你毋通 下暗 tō 開始讀 chiah-ê.”
“若有啥 會 hō͘ 我 愛睏,” 伊講, “he 大概 tō 是 英國 歷史冊 lah. 所致, 你會使 放心 手牽手 去約會 ah.”
“我是 kap Burrows護士 做伙去.”
“恁猶是 會使 手牽手.”
“我無 你 ê 法度 neh,” 她 耐心 án-ne 講, 然後 倒退 消失 tī 烏暗中.
她扎 2 本冊 來.
一本是 所謂 “歷史讀本” 彼種 歷史冊. Che kap 歷史 ê 關係 tō ná “聖經故事” kap 聖經 ê 關係. Canute tī 岸邊指責 伊 ê 朝廷官員, Alfred 害 雞卵糕 著火燒, Raleigh 鋪 番幔 hō͘ Elizabeth 踏, Nelson tī “Victory (勝利)” 號 船艙 kap Hardy 告別, 所有 lóng kō͘ tōax 字 印 kah 真清楚, 一段 一句. 每一个 章節 lóng 搭配 一幅 全頁插圖.
Amazon 竟然 保惜 這本 囡仔冊, che 實在 hō͘ 人 意外 koh 感動. 伊 掀到 頭頁 (fly-leaf), 看 kám 有 她 ê 名 tī hia.
飛頁 頂面 án-ne 寫:
// Ella Darroll,
三年級
Newbridge 高中
Newbridge,
Gloucester 郡.
England
Europa,
世界
宇宙. //
這段字 四面 圍 chēx súix ê 彩色 轉印貼紙.
伊好奇, kám 所有 囡仔 lóng án-ne? Án-ne 寫 in ê 名, 上課 ê 時 耍 轉印紙? 伊 ka-tī mā bat 耍 he. Hiah-ê 光艷原色 ê 四角形, kā 伊 久年 m̄-bat 有 ê 囡仔時 記持 koh 叫醒. 伊已經 袂記得 耍 轉印紙 ê 刺激 ah. Tng 你 剥開, 看著貼紙 完美轉印, 彼種 美妙 ê 滿足時刻. Tī 大人 ê 世界, 真少有 chiah-nī hō͘ 人 滿足 ê 代誌. 凡勢 tī golf 摃 一支 媠球, 會得 kap che 相比. A̍h 是, tī 蟲絲 繃絚, 你知 有魚著吊 ê 時.
這本小冊 hō͘ 伊 真歡喜, 伊 ûnx-á kā 掀透. Chèngx kengx 讀 每一篇 囡仔古. 畢竟, che 是 逐个大人 lóng 會記得 ê 歷史. Tng 頓稅, 磅稅, 船稅, Laud ê 祈禱文 (Laud’s Liturgy), 烏麥厝陰謀 (Rye House Plot), 三年法案, 以及 所有 hiah-ê 長期混亂 ê 紛爭 kap 吵鬧, 條約 kap 背叛 lóng ùi in ê 意識內面 消退以後, 留存 tī in 腦海 ni̍h ê tō 是 chiah-ê 故事.
伊讀到 Richard III ê 故事 ê 時, he 號做 “塔 ni̍h ê 王子,” 少年 Ella 看是 認為 chit 2 个王子 無 獅心王 hiah-nī 迷人, 因為 她 kā 故事內面 每一个 小寫 字母 O lóng kō͘ 鉛筆 kā 畫 整齊 ê 烏影. 附圖 ni̍h, 日光 透過 鐵條窗仔 炤入來, 2 个 金頭毛 查埔囡仔 做伙 teh 耍, 逐个 lóng hông 掛 無合時 ê 目鏡. 插圖頁 空白 ê位 有人 bat tī hia 耍 9 宮格 ê “圈 kap 叉.” 對少年 Ella 來講, chit 2 个王子 根本 無引起 注意.
毋過, che 自底 tō 是 吸引人 ê 小故事. 恐怖 kah 有夠 hō͘ 囡仔 心肝歡喜. 無辜 ê 囡仔; 邪惡 ê 阿叔. 古典 單純故事 ê 古典元素.
He mā 有 道德意義. 是 一个完美 ê 警世故事.
毋過, 這个國王 mā 無 ùi che 邪惡行為 得著 啥好處. England 人民 對 伊 ê 冷血殘酷 感覺 大驚, tō 決定 無愛 hō͘ 依做王. In 派人去 Franse, 請 Henry Tudor 過來 做王, 伊是 Richard ê 一个 遠房表親, 蹛 tī Franse. Richard tī 隨後 ê 戰鬥中 英勇戰死, 毋過 伊 ê 臭名 早 tō 傳遍全國, 真濟人 甚至反背 伊, 為 伊 ê 對手 作戰.
Hmh, che 簡單明白, 無膨風. Kō͘ 最簡短 ê 方式 報導.
--
2.4
Every schoolboy turned over the final page of Richard III with relief, because now at last the Wars of the Roses were over and they could get on to the Tudors, who were dull but easy to follow.
When The Midget came to tidy him up for the night Grant said: ‘You don’t happen to have a history book, by any chance, do you?’
‘A history book? No. What would I be doing with a history book.’ It was not a question, so Grant did not try to provide an answer. His silence seemed to fret her.
‘If you really want a history book,’ she said presently, ‘you could ask Nurse Darroll when she brings your supper. She has all her school-books on a shelf in her room and it’s quite possible she has a history among them.’
[Pg 33]How like The Amazon to keep her school books! he thought. She was still homesick for school as she was homesick for Gloucestershire every time the daffodils bloomed. When she lumbered into the room, bearing his cheese pudding and stewed rhubarb, he looked at her with a tolerance that bordered on the benevolent. She ceased to be a large female who breathed like a suction-pump and became a potential dispenser of delight.
Oh yes, she had a history book, she said. Indeed, she rather thought that she had two. She had kept all her school books because she had loved school.
It was on the tip of Grant’s tongue to ask her if she had kept her dolls, but he stopped himself in time.
‘And of course I loved history,’ she said. ‘It was my favourite subject. Richard the Lionheart was my hero.’
‘An intolerable bounder,’ Grant said.
‘Oh, no!’ she said, looking wounded.
‘A hyperthyroid type,’ Grant said pitilessly. ‘Rocketing to and fro about the earth like a badly made firework. Are you going off duty now?’
‘Whenever I’ve finished my trays.’
‘Could you find that book for me tonight?’
‘You’re supposed to be going to sleep, not staying awake over history books.’
‘I might as well read some history as look at the ceiling—which is the alternative. Will you get it for me?’
‘I don’t think I could go all the way up to the Nurses’ Block and back again tonight for someone who is rude about the Lionheart.’
‘All right,’ he said. ‘I’m not the stuff that martyrs are made of. As far as I’m concerned Coeur-de-Lion is the[Pg 34] pattern of chivalry, the chevalier sans peur et sans reproche, a faultless commander and a triple D.S.O. Now will you get the book?’
‘It seems to me you’ve sore need to read a little history,’ she said, smoothing a mitred sheet-corner with a large admiring hand, ’so I’ll bring you the book when I come past. I’m going out to the pictures anyhow.’
It was nearly an hour before she reappeared, immense in a camel-hair coat. The room lights had been put out and she materialised into the light of his reading-lamp like some kindly genie.
‘I was hoping you’d be asleep,’ she said. ‘I don’t really think you should start on these tonight.’
‘If there is anything that is likely to put me to sleep,’ he said, ‘it would be an English history book. So you can hold hands with a clear conscience.’
‘I’m going with Nurse Burrows.’
‘You can still hold hands.’
‘I’ve no patience with you,’ she said patiently and faded backwards into the gloom.
She had brought two books.
One was the kind of history book known as a Historical Reader. It bore the same relation to history as Stories from the Bible bears to Holy Writ. Canute rebuked his courtiers on the shore, Alfred burned the cakes, Raleigh spread his cloak for Elizabeth, Nelson took leave of Hardy in his cabin on the Victory, all in nice clear large print and one-sentence paragraphs. To each episode went one full-page illustration.
There was something curiously touching in the fact that The Amazon should treasure this childish literature. He turned to the fly-leaf to see if her name was there.
[Pg 35]On the fly-leaf was written:
// Ella Darroll,
Form III
Newbridge High School
Newbridge,
Gloucestershire.
England
Europe,
The World
The Universe.\\
This was surrounded by a fine selection of coloured transfers.
Did all children do that, he wondered? Write their names like that, and spend their time in class making transfers. He certainly had. And the sight of those squares of bright primitive colour brought back his childhood as nothing had for many years. He had forgotten the excitement of transfers. That wonderfully satisfying moment when you began the peeling-off and saw that it was coming perfectly. The adult world held few such gratifications. A clean smacking drive at golf, perhaps, was the nearest. Or the moment when your line tightened and you knew that the fish had struck.
The little book pleased him so much that he went through it at his leisure. Solemnly reading each childish story. This, after all, was the history that every adult remembered. This was what remained in their minds when tonnage and poundage, and ship money, and Laud’s Liturgy, and the Rye House Plot, and the Triennial Acts, and all the long muddle of schism and shindy, treaty and treason, had faded from their consciousness.
[Pg 36]The Richard III story, when he came to it, was called The Princes In The Tower, and it seemed that young Ella had found the Princes a poor substitute for Coeur-de-Lion, since she had filled every small O throughout the tale with neat pencil shading. The two golden-haired boys who played together in the sunbeam from the barred window in the accompanying picture had each been provided with a pair of anachronistic spectacles, and on the blank back of the picture-page someone had been playing Noughts and Crosses. As far as young Ella was concerned the Princes were a dead loss.
And yet it was a sufficiently arresting little story. Macabre enough to delight any child’s heart. The innocent children; the wicked uncle. The classic ingredients in a tale of classic simplicity.
It had also a moral. It was the perfect cautionary tale.
But the King won no profit from this wicked deed. The people of England were shocked by his cold-blooded cruelty and decided that they would no longer have him for King. They sent for a distant cousin of Richard’s, Henry Tudor, who was living in France, to come and be crowned King in his stead. Richard died bravely in the battle which resulted, but he had made his name hated throughout the country and many deserted him to fight for his rival.
Well, it was neat but not gaudy. Reporting at its simplest.
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