maid marian-第4部分

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d　his　throat；　as　if　trying　to　swallow　his　wrath　as　he　had　done　his　wine。　Sir　Ralph；　not　knowing　well　what　to　make　of　these　ambiguous　signs；　looked　for　instructions　to　the　friar；　who　by　significant　looks　and　gestures　seemed　to　advise　him　to　follow　his　example　and　partake　of　the　good　cheer　before　him；　without　speaking　till　the　baron　should　be　more　intelligible　in　his　demeanour。　The　knight　and　the　friar；　accordingly；　proceeded　to　refect　themselves　after　their　ride；　the　baron　looking　first　at　the　one　and　then　at　the　other；　scrutinising　alternately　the　serious　looks　of　the　knight　and　the　merry　face　of　the　friar；　till　at　length；　having　calmed　himself　sufficiently　to　speak；　he　said；　〃Courteous　knight　and　ghostly　father；　I　presume　you　have　some　other　business　with　me　than　to　eat　my　beef　and　drink　my　canary；　and　if　so；　I　patiently　await　your　leisure　to　enter　on　the　topic。〃

〃Lord　Fitzwater；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃in　obedience　to　my　royal　master；　King　Henry；　I　have　been　the　unwilling　instrument　of　frustrating　the　intended　nuptials　of　your　fair　daughter；　yet　will　you；　I　trust；　owe　me　no　displeasure　for　my　agency　herein；　seeing　that　the　noble　maiden　might　otherwise　by　this　time　have　been　the　bride　of　an　outlaw。〃

〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you；　sir；〃　said　the　baron；　〃very　exceedingly　obliged。　　Your　solicitude　for　my　daughter　is　truly　paternal；　and　for　a　young　man　and　a　stranger　very　singular　and　exemplary：　　and　it　is　very　kind　withal　to　come　to　the　relief　of　my　insufficiency　and　inexperience；　and　concern　yourself　so　much　in　that　which　concerns　you　not。〃

〃You　misconceive　the　knight；　noble　baron；〃　said　the　friar。　〃He　urges　not　his　reason　in　the　shape　of　a　preconceived　intent；　but　in　that　of　a　subsequent　extenuation。　　True；　he　has　done　the　lady　Matilda　great　wrong〃

〃How；　great　wrong？〃　said　the　baron。　　〃What　do　you　mean　by　great　wrong？　Would　you　have　had　her　married　to　a　wild　fly…by…night；　that　accident　made　an　earl　and　nature　a　deer…stealer？　that　has　not　wit　enough　to　eat　venison　without　picking　a　quarrel　with　monarchy？　that　flings　away　his　own　lands　into　the　clutches　of　rascally　friars；　for　the　sake　of　hunting　in　other　men's　grounds；　and　feasting　vagabonds　that　wear　Lincoln　green；　and　would　have　flung　away　mine　into　the　bargain　if　he　had　had　my　daughter？　What　do　you　mean　by　great　wrong？〃

〃True；〃　said　the　friar；　〃great　right；　I　meant。〃

〃Right！〃　exclaimed　the　baron：　　〃what　right　has　any　man　to　do　my　daughter　right　but　myself？　　What　right　has　any　man　to　drive　my　daughter's　bridegroom　out　of　the　chapel　in　the　middle　of　the　marriage　ceremony；　and　turn　all　our　merry　faces　into　green　wounds　and　bloody　coxcombs；　and　then　come　and　tell　me　he　has　done　us　great　right？〃

〃True；〃　said　the　friar：　　〃he　has　done　neither　right　nor　wrong。〃

〃But　he　has；〃　said　the　baron；　〃he　has　done　both；　and　I　will　maintain　it　with　my　glove。〃

〃It　shall　not　need；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃I　will　concede　any　thing　in　honour。〃

〃And　I；〃　said　the　baron；　〃will　concede　nothing　in　honour：　I　will　concede　nothing　in　honour　to　any　man。〃

〃Neither　will　I；　Lord　Fitzwater；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃in　that　sense：　but　hear　me。　　I　was　commissioned　by　the　king　to　apprehend　the　Earl　of　Huntingdon。　　I　brought　with　me　a　party　of　soldiers；　picked　and　tried　men；　knowing　that　he　would　not　lightly　yield。　I　sent　my　lieutenant　with　a　detachment　to　surprise　the　earl's　castle　in　his　absence；　and　laid　my　measures　for　intercepting　him　on　the　way　to　his　intended　nuptials；　but　he　seems　to　have　had　intimation　of　this　part　of　my　plan；　for　he　brought　with　him　a　large　armed　retinue；　and　took　a　circuitous　route；　which　made　him；　I　believe；　somewhat　later　than　his　appointed　hour。　When　the　lapse　of　time　showed　me　that　he　had　taken　another　track；　I　pursued　him　to　the　chapel；　and　I　would　have　awaited　the　close　of　the　ceremony；　if　I　had　thought　that　either　yourself　or　your　daughter　would　have　felt　desirous　that　she　should　have　been　the　bride　of　an　outlaw。〃

〃Who　said；　sir；〃　cried　the　baron；　〃that　we　were　desirous　of　any　such　thing？　But　truly；　sir；　if　I　had　a　mind　to　the　devil　for　a　son…in…law；　I　would　fain　see　the　man　that　should　venture　to　interfere。〃

〃That　would　I；〃　said　the　friar；　〃for　I　have　undertaken　to　make　her　renounce　the　devil。〃

〃She　shall　not　renounce　the　devil；〃　said　the　baron；　〃unless　I　please。　You　are　very　ready　with　your　undertakings。　　Will　you　undertake　to　make　her　renounce　the　earl；　who；　I　believe；　is　the　devil　incarnate？　Will　you　undertake　that？〃

〃Will　I　undertake；〃　said　the　friar；　〃to　make　Trent　run　westward；　or　to　make　flame　burn　downward；　or　to　make　a　tree　grow　with　its　head　in　the　earth　and　its　root　in　the　air？〃

〃So　then；〃　said　the　baron；　〃a　girl's　mind　is　as　hard　to　change　as　nature　and　the　elements；　and　it　is　easier　to　make　her　renounce　the　devil　than　a　lover。　Are　you　a　match　for　the　devil；　and　no　match　for　a　man？〃

〃My　warfare；〃　said　the　friar；　〃is　not　of　this　world。　I　am　militant　not　against　man；　but　the　devil；　who　goes　about　seeking　what　he　may　devour。〃

〃Oh！　does　he　so？〃　said　the　baron：　　〃then　I　take　it　that　makes　you　look　for　him　so　often　in　my　buttery。　　Will　you　cast　out　the　devil　whose　name　is　Legion；　when　you　cannot　cast　out　the　imp　whose　name　is　Love？〃

〃Marriages；〃　said　the　friar；　〃are　made　in　heaven。　　Love　is　God's　work；　and　therewith　I　meddle　not。〃

〃God's　work；　indeed！〃　said　the　baron；　〃when　the　ceremony　was　cut　short　in　the　church。　　Could　men　have　put　them　asunder；　if　God　had　joined　them　together？　　And　the　earl　is　now　no　earl；　but　plain　Robert　Fitz…Ooth：　therefore；　I'll　none　of　him。〃

〃He　may　atone；〃　said　the　friar；　〃and　the　king　may　mollify。　The　earl　is　a　worthy　peer；　and　the　king　is　a　courteous　king。〃

〃He　cannot　atone；〃　said　Sir　Ralph。　　〃He　has　killed　the　king's　men；　and　if　the　baron　should　aid　and　abet；　he　will　lose　his　castle　and　land。〃

〃Will　I？〃　said　the　baron；　〃not　while　I　have　a　drop　of　blood　in　my　veins。　He　that　comes　to　take　them　shall　first　serve　me　as　the　friar　serves　my　flasks　of　canary：　　he　shall　drain　me　dry　as　hay。　　Am　I　not　disparaged？　Am　I　not　outraged？　　Is　not　my　daughter　vilified；　and　made　a　mockery？　A　girl　half…married？　There　was　my　butler　brought　home　with　a　broken　head。　My　butler；　friar：　　there　is　that　may　move　your　sympathy。　Friar；　the　earl…no…earl　shall　come　no　more　to　my　daughter。〃

〃Very　good；〃　said　the　friar。

〃It　is　not　very　good；〃　said　the　baron；　〃for　I　cannot　get　her　to　say　so。〃

〃I　fear；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃the　young　lady　must　be　much　distressed　and　discomposed。〃

〃Not　a　whit；　sir；〃　said　the　baron。　　〃She　is；　as　usual；　in　a　most　provoking　imperturbability；　and　contradicts　me　so　smilingly　that　it　would　enrage　you　to　see　her。〃

〃I　had　hoped；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃that　I　might　have　seen　her；　to　make　my　excuse　in　person　for　the　hard　necessity　of　my　duty。〃

He　had　scarcely　spoken；　when　the　door　opened；　and　the　lady　made　her　appearance。




CHAPTER　IV


Are　you　mad；　or　what　are　you；　that　you　squeak　out　your　catches　without　mitigation　or　remorse　of　voice？　　Twelfth　Night。


Matilda；　not　dreaming　of　visitors；　tripped　into　the　apartment　in　a　dress　of　forest　green；　with　a　small　quiver　by　her　side；　and　a　bow　and　arrow　in　her　hand。　　Her　hair；　black　and　glossy　as　the　raven's　wing；　curled　like　wandering　clusters　of　dark　ripe　grapes　under　the　edge　of　her　round　bonnet；　and　a　plume　of　black　feathers　fell　back　negligently　above　it；　with　an　almost　horizontal　inclination；　that　seemed　the　habitual　effect　of　rapid　motion　against　the　wind。　Her　black　eyes　sparkled　like　sunbeams　on　a　river：　a　clear；　deep；　liquid　radiance；　the　reflection　of　ethereal　fire；　tempered；　not　subdued；　in　the　medium　of　its　living　and　gentle　mirror。　Her　lips　were　half　opened　to　speak　as　she　entered　the　apartment；　and　with　a　smile　of　recognition　to　the　friar；　and　a　courtesy　to　the　stranger　knight；　she　approached　the　baron　and　said；　〃You　are　late　at　your　breakfast；　father。〃

〃I　am　not　at　breakfast；〃　said　the　baron。　　〃I　have　been　at　supper：　my　last　night's　supper；　for　I　had　none。〃

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Matilda；　〃you　should　have　gone　to　bed　supperless。〃

〃I　did　not　go　to　bed　supperless；〃　said　the　baron：　〃I　did　not　go　to　bed　at　all：　　and　what　are　you　doing　with　that　green　dress　and　that　bow　and　arrow？〃

〃I　am　going　a…hunting；〃　said　Matilda。

〃A…hunting！〃　said　the　baron。　　〃What；　I　warrant　you；　to　meet　with　the　earl；　and　slip　your　neck　into　the　same　noose？〃

〃No；〃　said　Matilda：　　〃I　am　not　going　out　of　our　own　woods　to…day。〃

〃How　do　I　know　that？〃　said　the　baron。　　〃What　surety　have　I　of　that？〃

〃Here　is　the　friar；〃　said　Matilda。　　〃He　will　be　surety。〃

〃Not　he；〃　said　the　baron：　〃he　will　undertake　nothing　but　where　the　devil　is　a　party　concerned。〃

〃Yes；　I　will；〃　said　the　friar：　　〃I　will　undertake　any　thing　for　the　lady　Matilda。〃

〃No　matter　for　that；〃　said　the　baron：　　〃she　shall　not　go　hunting　to　day。〃

〃Why；　father；〃　said　Matilda；　〃if　you　coop　me　up　here　in　this　odious　castle；　I　shall　pine　and　die　like　a　lonely　swan　on　a　pool。

〃No；〃　said　the　baron；　〃the　lonely　swan　does　not　die　on　the　pool。　If　there　be　a　river　at　hand；　she　flies　to　the　river；　and　finds　her　a　mate；　and　so　shall　not　you。〃

〃But；〃　said　Matilda；　〃you　may　send　with　me　any；　or　as　many；　of　your　grooms　as　you　will。〃

〃My　grooms；〃　said　the　baron；　〃are　all　false　knaves。　There　is　not　a　rascal　among　them　but　loves　you　better　than　me。　Villains　that　I　feed　and　clothe。〃

〃Surely；〃　said　Matilda；　〃it　is　not　villany　to　love　me：　if　it　be；　I　should　be　sorry　my　father　were　an　honest　man。〃　The　baron　relaxed　his　muscles　into　a　smile。　　〃Or　my　lover　either；〃　added　Matilda。　　The　baron　looked　grim　again。

〃For　your　lover；〃　said　the　baron；　〃you　may　give　God　thanks　of　him。　He　is　as　arrant　a　knave　as　ever　poached。〃

〃What；　for　hunting　the　king's　deer？〃　said　Matilda。　　〃Have　I　not　heard　you　rail　at　the　forest　laws　by　the　hour？〃

〃Did　you　ever　hear　me；〃　said　the　baron；　〃rail　myself　out　of　house　and　land？　If　I　had　done　that；　then　were　I　a　knave。〃

〃My　lover；〃　said　Matilda；　〃is　a　brave　man；　and　a　true　man；　and　a　generous　man；　and　a　young　man；　and　a　handsome　man；　aye；　and　an　honest　man　too。〃

〃How　can　he　be　an　honest　man；〃　said　the　baron；　〃when　he　has　neither　house　nor　land；　which　are　the　better　part　of　a　man？〃

〃They　are　but　the　husk　of　a　man；〃　said　Matilda；　〃the　worthless　coat　of　the　chesnut：　　th