maid marian-第3部分

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y　strong　points　are　venison　and　canary。〃

〃The　good　qualities　of　a　trout；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃are　firmness　and　redness：　　the　redness；　indeed；　being　the　visible　sign　of　all　other　virtues。〃

〃Whence；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃we　choose　our　abbot　by　his　nose：

　The　rose　on　the　nose　doth　all　virtues　disclose：　　For　the　outward　grace　shows　　That　the　inward　overflows；　　When　it　glows　in　the　rose　of　a　red；　red　nose。〃


〃Now；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃as　is　the　firmness　so　is　the　redness；　and　as　is　the　redness　so　is　the　shyness。〃

〃Marry　why？〃　said　brother　Michael。　　〃The　solution　is　not　physical…natural；　but　physical…historical；　or　natural…superinductive。　And　thereby　hangs　a　tale；　which　may　be　either　said　or　sung：

　The　damsel　stood　to　watch　the　fight　　　　　　By　the　banks　of　Kingslea　Mere；　　And　they　brought　to　her　feet　her　own　true　knight　　　　　　Sore…wounded　on　a　bier。

　She　knelt　by　him　his　wounds　to　bind；　　　　　　She　washed　them　with　many　a　tear：　　And　shouts　rose　fast　upon　the　wind；　　　　　　Which　told　that　the　foe　was　near。

　〃Oh！　let　not；〃　he　said；　〃while　yet　I　live；　　　　　　The　cruel　foe　me　take：　　But　with　thy　sweet　lips　a　last　kiss　give；　　　　　　And　cast　me　in　the　lake。〃

　Around　his　neck　she　wound　her　arms；　　　　　　And　she　kissed　his　lips　so　pale：　　And　evermore　the　war's　alarms　　　　　　Came　louder　up　the　vale。

　She　drew　him　to　the　lake's　steep　side；　　　　　　Where　the　red　heath　fringed　the　shore；　　She　plunged　with　him　beneath　the　tide；　　　　　　And　they　were　seen　no　more。

　Their　true　blood　mingled　in　Kingslea　Mere；　　　　　　That　to　mingle　on　earth　was　fain：　　And　the　trout　that　swims　in　that　crystal　clear　　　　　　Is　tinged　with　the　crimson　stain。


〃Thus　you　see　how　good　comes　of　evil；　and　how　a　holy　friar　may　fare　better　on　fast…day　for　the　violent　death　of　two　lovers　two　hundred　years　ago。　　The　inference　is　most　consecutive；　that　wherever　you　catch　a　red…fleshed　trout；　love　lies　bleeding　under　the　water：　an　occult　quality；　which　can　only　act　in　the　stationary　waters　of　a　lake；　being　neutralised　by　the　rapid　transition　of　those　of　a　stream。〃

〃And　why　is　the　trout　shyer　for　that？〃　asked　Sir　Ralph。

〃Do　you　not　see？〃　said　brother　Michael。　　〃The　virtues　of　both　lovers　diffuse　themselves　through　the　lake。　　The　infusion　of　masculine　valour　makes　the　fish　active　and　sanguineous：　the　infusion　of　maiden　modesty　makes　him　coy　and　hard　to　win：　and　you　shall　find　through　life；　the　fish　which　is　most　easily　hooked　is　not　the　best　worth　dishing。　　But　yonder　are　the　towers　of　Arlingford。〃

The　little　friar　stopped。　　He　seemed　suddenly　struck　with　an　awful　thought；　which　caused　a　momentary　pallescence　in　his　rosy　complexion；　and　after　a　brief　hesitation；　he　turned　his　galloway；　and　told　his　companions　he　should　give　them　good　day。

〃Why；　what　is　in　the　wind　now；　brother　Peter？〃　said　Friar　Michael。

〃The　lady　Matilda；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃can　draw　the　long…bow。　She　must　bear　no　goodwill　to　Sir　Ralph；　and　if　she　should　espy　him　from　her　tower；　she　may　testify　her　recognition　with　a　cloth…yard　shaft。　She　is　not　so　infallible　a　markswoman；　but　that　she　might　shoot　at　a　crow　and　kill　a　pigeon。　　She　might　peradventure　miss　the　knight；　and　hit　me；　who　never　did　her　any　harm。〃

〃Tut；　tut；　man；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃there　is　no　such　fear。〃

〃Mass；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃but　there　is　such　a　fear；　and　very　strong　too。　　You　who　have　it　not　may　keep　your　way；　and　I　who　have　it　shall　take　mine。　　I　am　not　just　now　in　the　vein　for　being　picked　off　at　a　long　shot。〃　　And　saying　these　words；　he　spurred　up　his　four…footed　better　half；　and　galloped　off　as　nimbly　as　if　he　had　had　an　arrow　singing　behind　him。

〃Is　this　lady　Matilda；　then；　so　very　terrible　a　damsel？〃　said　Sir　Ralph　to　brother　Michael。

〃By　no　means；〃　said　the　friar。　　〃She　has　certainly　a　high　spirit；　but　it　is　the　wing　of　the　eagle；　without　his　beak　or　his　claw。　She　is　as　gentle　as　magnanimous；　but　it　is　the　gentleness　of　the　summer　wind；　which；　however　lightly　it　wave　the　tuft　of　the　pine；　carries　with　it　the　intimation　of　a　power；　that；　if　roused　to　its　extremity；　could　make　it　bend　to　the　dust。〃

〃From　the　warmth　of　your　panegyric；　ghostly　father；〃　said　the　knight；　〃I　should　almost　suspect　you　were　in　love　with　the　damsel。〃

〃So　I　am；〃　said　the　friar；　〃and　I　care　not　who　knows　it；　but　all　in　the　way　of　honesty；　master　soldier。　　I　am；　as　it　were；　her　spiritual　lover；　and　were　she　a　damsel　errant；　I　would　be　her　ghostly　esquire；　her　friar　militant。　I　would　buckle　me　in　armour　of　proof；　and　the　devil　might　thresh　me　black　with　an　iron　flail；　before　I　would　knock　under　in　her　cause。　Though　they　be　not　yet　one　canonically；　thanks　to　your　soldiership；　the　earl　is　her　liege　lord；　and　she　is　his　liege　lady。　I　am　her　father　confessor　and　ghostly　director：　I　have　taken　on　me　to　show　her　the　way　to　the　next　world；　and　how　can　I　do　that　if　I　lose　sight　of　her　in　this？　seeing　that　this　is　but　the　road　to　the　other；　and　has　so　many　circumvolutions　and　ramifications　of　byeways　and　beaten　paths　（all　more　thickly　set　than　the　true　one　with　finger…posts　and　milestones；　not　one　of　which　tells　truth）；　that　a　traveller　has　need　of　some　one　who　knows　the　way；　or　the　odds　go　hard　against　him　that　he　will　ever　see　the　face　of　Saint　Peter。〃

〃But　there　must　surely　be　some　reason；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃for　father　Peter's　apprehension。〃

〃None；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃but　the　apprehension　itself；　fear　being　its　own　father；　and　most　prolific　in　self…propagation。　The　lady　did；　it　is　true；　once　signalize　her　displeasure　against　our　little　brother；　for　reprimanding　her　in　that　she　would　go　hunting　a…mornings　instead　of　attending　matins。　　She　cut　short　the　thread　of　his　eloquence　by　sportively　drawing　her　bow…string　and　loosing　an　arrow　over　his　head；　he　waddled　off　with　singular　speed；　and　was　in　much　awe　of　her　for　many　months。　　I　thought　he　had　forgotten　it：　　but　let　that　pass。　In　truth；　she　would　have　had　little　of　her　lover's　company；　if　she　had　liked　the　chaunt　of　the　choristers　better　than　the　cry　of　the　hounds：　yet　I　know　not；　for　they　were　companions　from　the　cradle；　and　reciprocally　fashioned　each　other　to　the　love　of　the　fern　and　the　foxglove。　Had　either　been　less　sylvan；　the　other　might　have　been　more　saintly；　but　they　will　now　never　hear　matins　but　those　of　the　lark；　nor　reverence　vaulted　aisle　but　that　of　the　greenwood　canopy。　They　are　twin　plants　of　the　forest；　and　are　identified　with　its　growth。

　For　the　slender　beech　and　the　sapling　oak；　　　　　　That　grow　by　the　shadowy　rill；　　You　may　cut　down　both　at　a　single　stroke；　　　　　　You　may　cut　down　which　you　will。

　But　this　you　must　know；　that　as　long　as　they　grow　　　　　　Whatever　change　may　be；　　You　never　can　teach　either　oak　or　beech　　　　　　To　be　aught　but　a　greenwood　tree。〃





CHAPTER　III

Inflamed　wrath　in　glowing　breast。BUTLER。


The　knight　and　the　friar　arriving　at　Arlingford　Castle；　and　leaving　their　horses　in　the　care　of　lady　Matilda's　groom；　with　whom　the　friar　was　in　great　favour；　were　ushered　into　a　stately　apartment；　where　they　found　the　baron　alone；　flourishing　an　enormous　carving…knife　over　a　brother　baronof　beef　with　as　much　vehemence　of　action　as　if　he　were　cutting　down　an　enemy。　The　baron　was　a　gentleman　of　a　fierce　and　choleric　temperament：　he　was　lineally　descended　from　the　redoubtable　Fierabras　of　Normandy；　who　came　over　to　England　with　the　Conqueror；　and　who；　in　the　battle　of　Hastings；　killed　with　his　own　hand　four…and…twenty　Saxon　cavaliers　all　on　a　row。　The　very　excess　of　the　baron's　internal　rage　on　the　preceding　day　had　smothered　its　external　manifestation：　　he　was　so　equally　angry　with　both　parties；　that　he　knew　not　on　which　to　vent　his　wrath。　He　was　enraged　with　the　earl　for　having　brought　himself　into　such　a　dilemma　without　his　privily；　and　he　was　no　less　enraged　with　the　king's　men　for　their　very　unseasonable　intrusion。　He　could　willingly　have　fallen　upon　both　parties；　but；　he　must　necessarily　have　begun　with　one；　and　he　felt　that　on　whichever　side　he　should　strike　the　first　blow；　his　retainers　would　immediately　join　battle。　　He　had　therefore　contented　himself　with　forcing　away　his　daughter　from　the　scene　of　action。　In　the　course　of　the　evening　he　had　received　intelligence　that　the　earl's　castle　was　in　possession　of　a　party　of　the　king's　men；　who　had　been　detached　by　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon　to　seize　on　it　during　the　earl's　absence。　　The　baron　inferred　from　this　that　the　earl's　case　was　desperate；　and　those　who　have　had　the　opportunity　of　seeing　a　rich　friend　fall　suddenly　into　poverty；　may　easily　judge　by　their　own　feelings　how　quickly　and　completely　the　whole　moral　being　of　the　earl　was　changed　in　the　baron's　estimation。　The　baron　immediately　proceeded　to　require　in　his　daughter's　mind　the　same　summary　revolution　that　had　taken　place　in　his　own；　and　considered　himself　exceedingly　ill…used　by　her　non…compliance。　The　lady　had　retired　to　her　chamber；　and　the　baron　had　passed　a　supperless　and　sleepless　night；　stalking　about　his　apartments　till　an　advanced　hour　of　the　morning；　when　hunger　compelled　him　to　summon　into　his　presence　the　spoils　of　the　buttery；　which；　being　the　intended　array　of　an　uneaten　wedding　feast；　were　more　than　usually　abundant；　and　on　which；　when　the　knight　and　the　friar　entered；　he　was　falling　with　desperate　valour。　He　looked　up　at　them　fiercely；　with　his　mouth　full　of　beef　and　his　eyes　full　of　flame；　and　rising；　as　ceremony　required；　made　an　awful　bow　to　the　knight；　inclining　himself　forward　over　the　table　and　presenting　his　carving…knife　en　militaire；　in　a　manner　that　seemed　to　leave　it　doubtful　whether　he　meant　to　show　respect　to　his　visitor；　or　to　defend　his　provision：　but　the　doubt　was　soon　cleared　up　by　his　politely　motioning　the　knight　to　be　seated；　on　which　the　friar　advanced　to　the　table；　saying；　〃For　what　we　are　going　to　receive；〃　and　commenced　operations　without　further　prelude　by　filling　and　drinking　a　goblet　of　wine。　The　baron　at　the　same　time　offered　one　to　Sir　Ralph；　with　the　look　of　a　man　in　whom　habitual　hospitality　and　courtesy　were　struggling　with　the　ebullitions　of　natural　anger。　They　pledged　each　other　in　silence；　and　the　baron；　having　completed　a　copious　draught；　continued　working　his　lips　and　his　throat；　as　if　trying　to　swallow　his　wrath　as　he　had　done　his　wine。　Sir　Ralph；　not　knowing　well