第 23 节
作者:你妹找1      更新:2021-08-21 21:26      字数:9322
  With a white face the Bishop had sprung down beside the prostrate
  body; pushing through the knot of horrified knights and squires。
  〃I fear that the last offices of the Holy Church come too late;〃
  said he in a quivering voice。  〃Most unfortunate young man!  How
  sudden an end!  In medio vitae; as the Holy Book has it … one
  moment in the pride of his youth; the next his head torn from his
  body。  Now God and his saints have mercy upon me and guard me from
  evil!〃
  The last prayer was shot out of the Bishop with an energy and
  earnestness unusual in his orisons。  It was caused by the sudden
  outcry of one of the Squires who; having lifted the helmet from
  the ground; cast it down again with a scream of horror。
  〃It is empty!〃 he cried。  〃It weighs as light as a feather。〃
  〃'Fore God; it is true!〃 cried Manny; laying his hand on it。
  〃There is no one in it。  With what have I fought; father Bishop?
  Is it of this world or of the next?〃
  The Bishop had clambered on his horse the better to consider the
  point。  〃If the foul fiend is abroad;〃 said he; 〃my place is over
  yonder by the King's side。  Certes that sulphur…colored horse hath
  a very devilish look。  I could have sworn that I saw both smoke
  and flame from its nostrils。  The beast is fit to bear a suit of
  armor which rides and fights and yet hath no man within it。〃
  〃Nay; not too fast; father Bishop;〃 said one of the knights。  〃It
  may be all that you say and yet come from a human workshop。  When
  I made a campaign in South Germany I have seen at Nuremberg a
  cunning figure; devised by an armorer; which could both ride and
  wield a sword。  If this be such a one … 〃
  〃I thank you all for your very gentle courtesy;〃 said a booming
  voice from the figure upon the ground。
  At the words even the valiant Manny sprang into his saddle。  Some
  rode madly away from the horrid trunk。  A few of the boldest
  lingered。
  〃Most of all;〃 said the voice; 〃would I thank the most noble
  knight; Sir Walter Manny; that he should deign to lay aside his
  greatness and condescend to do a deed of arms upon so humble a
  Squire。〃
  〃'Fore God!〃 said Manny; 〃 if this be the Devil; then the Devil
  hath a very courtly tongue。  I will have him out of his armor; if
  he blast me!〃
  So saying he sprang once more from his horse and plunging his hand
  down the slit in the collapsed gorget he closed it tightly upon a
  fistful of Nigel's yellow curls。  The groan that came forth was
  enough to convince him that it was indeed a man who lurked within。
  At the same time his eyes fell upon the hole in the mail corselet
  which had served the Squire as a vizor; and he burst into
  deep…chested mirth。  The King; the Prince and Chandos; who had
  watched the scene from a distance; too much amused by it to
  explain or interfere; rode up weary with laughter; now that all
  was discovered。
  〃Let him out!〃 said the King; with his hand to his side。  〃I pray
  you to unlace him and let him out!  I have shared in many a
  spear…running; but never have I been nearer falling from my horse
  than as I watched this one。  I feared the fall had struck him
  senseless; since he lay so still。〃
  Nigel had indeed lain with all the breath shaken from his body;
  and as he was unaware that his helmet had been carried off; he had
  not understood either the alarm or the amusement that he had
  caused。  Now freed from the great hauberk in which he had been
  shut like a pea in a pod; he stood blinking in the light; blushing
  deeply with shame that the shifts to which his poverty had reduced
  him should be exposed to all these laughing courtiers。  It was the
  King who brought him comfort。
  〃You have shown that you can use your father's weapons;〃 said he;
  〃 and you have proved also that you are the worthy bearer of his
  name and his arms; for you have within you that spirit for which
  he was famous。  But I wot that neither he nor you would suffer a
  train of hungry men to starve before your door; so lead on; I pray
  you; and if the meat be as good as this grace before it; then it
  will be a feast indeed。〃
  X。  HOW THE KING GREETED HIS SENESCHAL OF CALAIS
  It would have fared ill with the good name of Tilford Manor house
  and with the housekeeping of the aged Dame Ermyntrude had the
  King's whole retinue; with his outer and inner marshal; his
  justiciar; his chamberlain and his guard; all gathered under the
  one roof。  But by the foresight and the gentle management of
  Chandos this calamity was avoided; so that some were quartered at
  the great Abbey and others passed on to enjoy the hospitality of
  Sir Roger FitzAlan at Farnham Castle。  Only the King himself; the
  Prince; Manny; Chandos; Sir Hubert de Burgh; the Bishop and two or
  three more remained behind as the guests of the Lorings。
  But small as was the party and humble the surroundings; the King
  in no way relaxed that love of ceremony; of elaborate form and of
  brilliant coloring which was one of his characteristics。  The
  sumpter…mules were unpacked; squires ran hither and thither; baths
  smoked in the bed…chambers; silks and satins were unfolded; gold
  chains gleamed and clinked; so that when at last; to the long
  blast of two court trumpeters; the company took their seats at the
  board; it was the brightest; fairest scene which those old black
  rafters had ever spanned。
  The great influx of foreign knights who had come in their splendor
  from all parts of Christendom to take part in the opening of the
  Round Tower of Windsor six years before; and to try their luck and
  their skill at the tournament connected with it; had deeply
  modified the English fashions of dress。  The old tunic; over…tunic
  and cyclas were too sad and simple for the new fashions; so now
  strange and brilliant cote…hardies; pourpoints; courtepies;
  paltocks; hanselines and many other wondrous garments;
  parti…colored or diapered; with looped; embroidered or escalloped
  edges; flamed and glittered round the King。  He himself; in black
  velvet and gold; formed a dark rich center to the finery around
  him。  On his right sat the Prince; on his left the Bishop; while
  Dame Ermyntrude marshaled the forces of the household outside;
  alert and watchful; pouring in her dishes and her flagons at the
  right moment; rallying her tired servants; encouraging the van;
  hurrying the rear; hastening up her reserves; the tapping of her
  oak stick heard everywhere the pressure was the greatest。
  Behind the King; clad in his best; but looking drab and sorry amid
  the brilliant costumes round him; Nigel himself; regardless of an
  aching body and a twisted knee; waited upon his royal guests; who
  threw many a merry jest at him over their shoulders as they still
  chuckled at the adventure of the bridge。
  〃By the rood!〃 said King Edward; leaning back; with a chicken bone
  held daintily between the courtesy fingers of his left hand; 〃the
  play is too good for this country stage。  You must to Windsor with
  me; Nigel; and bring with you this great suit of harness in which
  you lurk。  There you shall hold the lists with your eyes in your
  midriff; and unless some one cleave you to the waist I see not how
  any harm can befall you。  Never have I seen so small a nut in so
  great a shell。〃
  The Prince; looking back with laughing eyes; saw by Nigel's
  flushed and embarrassed face that his poverty hung heavily upon
  him。  〃 Nay;〃 said he kindly; 〃such a workman is surely worthy of
  better tools。〃
  〃And it is for his master to see that he has them;〃 added the
  King。  〃The court armorer will look to it that the next time your
  helmet is carried away; Nigel; your head shall be inside it。〃
  Nigel; red to the roots of his flaxen hair; stammered out some
  words of thanks。
  John Chandos; however; had a fresh suggestion; and he cocked a
  roguish eye as he made it: 〃Surely; my liege; your bounty is
  little needed in this case。  It is the ancient law of arms that if
  two cavaliers start to joust; and one either by maladdress or
  misadventure fail to meet the shock; then his arms become the
  property of him who still holds the lists。  This being so;
  methinks; Sir Hubert de Burgh; that the fine hauberk of Milan and
  the helmet of Bordeaux steel in which you rode to Tilford should
  remain with our young host as some small remembrance of your
  visit。〃
  The suggestion raised a general chorus of approval and laughter;
  in which all joined; save only Sir Hubert himself; who; flushed
  with anger; fixed his baleful eyes upon Chandos' mischievous and
  smiling face。
  〃I said that I did not play that foolish game; and I know nothing
  of its laws;〃 said he; 〃but you know well; John; that if you would
  have a bout with sharpened spear or sword; where two ride to the
  ground; and only one away from it; you have not far to go to find
  it。〃
  〃Nay; nay; would you ride to the ground?  Surely you had best
  walk; Hubert;〃 said Chandos。  〃On your feet I know well that I
  should not see your back as we have seen it to…day。  Say what you
  will; your horse has played you false; and I claim your suit of
  harness for Nigel Loring。〃
  〃Your tongue is overlong; John; and I am weary of its endless
  clack!〃 said Sir Hubert; his yellow mustache bristling from a
  scarlet face。  〃If you claim my harness; do you yourself come and
  take it。  If t