the dragon and the raven-第6部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


for　I　know　but　too　well　that　my　dear　father　has　fallen；
but　rouse　yourself；　I　pray　you；　let　me　bandage　your　wounds；
which　bleed　fast；　for　you　will　want　all　your　strength；　and　we
must　needs　pursue　our　way　well　into　the　forest；　for　with
to…morrow's　dawn　the　Danes　will　scatter　over　the　whole　country。〃

〃Yes；〃　Egbert　said；　turning　round　and　sitting　up；　〃I　must
not　in　my　grief　forget　my　mission；　and　in　truth　I　am　faint
with　loss　of　blood。　It　was　well　the　Danes　stopped　when　they
did；　for　I　felt　my　strength　failing　me；　and　could　have　held　out
but　little　further。　Yes；　Edmund；〃　he　continued；　as　the　lad；
tearing　strips　from　his　garments；　proceeded　to　bandage　his
wounds；　〃your　father　is　dead。　Nobly；　indeed；　did　he　fight；
nobly　did　he　die；　with　a　circle　of　dead　Danes　around　him。
He；　Algar；　Toley；　and　myself　were　the　last　four　to　resist。　Back
to　back　we　stood；　and　many　were　the　Danes　who　fell　before
our　blows。　Toley　fell　first　and　then　Algar。　The　Danes　closed
closer　around　us。　Still　we　fought　on；　till　your　father　was　beaten
to　his　knee；　and　then　he　cried　to　me；　'Fly；　Egbert；　to　my　son。'
Then　I　flung　myself　upon　the　Danes　like　a　wild　boar　upon
the　dogs；　and　with　the　suddenness　of　my　rush　and　the　heavy
blows　of　my　battle…axe　cut　a　way　for　myself　through　them。
It　was　well…nigh　a　miracle；　and　I　could　scarce　believe　it　when
I　was　free。　I　flung　away　my　shield　and　helmet　as　soon　as　I　had
well　begun　to　run；　for　I　felt　the　blood　gushing　out　from　a
dozen　wounds；　and　knew　that　I　should　want　all　my　strength。
I　soon　caught　sight　of　you　running　ahead　of　me。　Had　I　found
we　were　gaining　upon　you　I　should　have　turned　off　and　made
another　way　to　lead　the　Danes　aside；　but　I　soon　saw　that　you
were　holding　your　own；　and　so　followed　straight　on。　My　knees
trembled；　and　I　felt　my　strength　was　well…nigh　gone；　when；
looking　round；　I　found　the　Danes　had　desisted　from　their
pursuit。　I　grieve；　Edmund；　that　I　should　have　left　the　battle
alive　when　all　the　others　have　died　bravely；　for；　save　a　few
fleet…footed　youths；　I　believe　that　not　a　single　Saxon　has
escaped　the　fight；　but　your　father　had　laid　his　commands　upon
me；　and　I　was　forced　to　obey；　though　God　knows　I　would
rather　have　died　with　the　heroes　on　that　field。〃

〃'Tis　well　for　me　that　you　did　not；　my　good　Egbert；〃
Edmund　said；　drying　his　eyes；　〃for　what　should　I　have　done
in　this　troubled　land　without　one　protector？〃

〃It　was　the　thought　of　that；〃　Egbert　said；　〃that　seemed
to　give　me　strength　as　I　dashed　at　the　Danes。　And　now；
methinks；　I　am　strong　enough　to　walk　again。　Let　us　make
our　way　far　into　the　forest；　then　we　must　rest　for　the　night。
A　few　hours'　sleep　will　make　a　fresh　man　of　me；　and　to…morrow
morning　we　will　go　to　Croyland　and　see　what　the　good　abbot
your　uncle　proposes　to　do；　then　will　we　to　the　hut　where　we
dwelt　before　coming　hither。　We　will　dig　up　the　chest　and
take　out　such　valuables　as　we　can　carry；　and　then　make　for
Wessex。　After　this　day's　work　I　have　no　longer　any　hope　that
East　Anglia　will　successfully　oppose　the　Danes。　And　yet　the
Angles　fought　well；　and　for　every　one　of　them　who　has　fallen
in　these　two　days'　fighting　at　least　four　Danes　must　have
perished。　Have　you　food；　Edmund；　for　in　truth　after　such　a
day's　work　I　would　not　lie　down　supperless？〃

〃I　have　in　my　pouch　here；　Egbert；　some　cakes；　which　I
cooked　this　morning；　and　a　capon　which　one　of　the　monks
of　Croyland　gave　me。　I　was　tempted　to　throw　it　away
as　I　ran。〃

〃I　am　right　glad；　Edmund；　that　the　temptation　was　not
too　strong　for　you。　If　we　can　find　a　spring　we　shall　do　well。〃

It　was　now　getting　dark；　but　after　an　hour's　walk　through
the　forest　they　came　upon　a　running　stream。　They　lit　a　fire
by　its　side；　and　sitting　down　ate　the　supper；　of　which　both
were　in　much　need。　Wolf　shared　the　repast；　and　then　the
three　lay　down　to　sleep。　Egbert；　overcome　by　the　immense
exertions　he　had　made　during　the　fight；　was　soon　asleep；　but
Edmund；　who　had　done　his　best　to　keep　a　brave　face　before
his　kinsman；　wept　for　hours　over　the　loss　of　his　gallant
father。

On　the　following　morning　Egbert　and　Edmund　started
for　Croyland。　The　news　of　the　defeat　at　Kesteven　had　already
reached　the　abbey；　and　terror　and　consternation
reigned　there。　Edmund　went　at　once　to　his　uncle　and　informed
him　of　the　circumstance　of　the　death　of　his　father
and　the　annihilation　of　the　Saxon　army。

〃Your　news；　Edmund；　is　even　worse　than　the　rumours
which　had　reached　me；　and　deeply　do　I　grieve　for　the　loss　of
my　brave　brother　and　of　the　many　valiant　men　who　died
with　him。　This　evening　or　to…morrow　the　spoilers　will　be
here；　and　doubtless　will　do　to　Croyland　as　they　have　done　to
all　the　other　abbeys　and　monasteries　which　have　fallen　into
their　hands。　Before　they　come　you　and　Egbert　must　be　far
away。　Have　you　bethought　you　whither　you　will　betake
yourselves？〃

〃We　are　going　to　the　king　of　the　West　Saxons；〃　Edmund
replied。　〃Such　was　my　father's　intention；　and　I　fear　that
all　is　now　lost　in　East　Anglia。〃

〃'Tis　your　best　course；　and　may　God's　blessing　and
protection　rest　upon　you！〃

〃But　what　are　you　going　to　do；　uncle？　Surely　you　will
not　remain　here　until　the　Danes　arrive；　for　though　they　may
spare　other　men　they　have　no　mercy　on　priests　and　monks？〃

〃I　shall　assuredly　remain　here；　Edmund；　at　my　post；　and
as　my　brother　Eldred　and　Earl　Algar　and　their　brave
companions　died　at　their　posts　in　the　field　of　battle；
so　I　am　prepared　to　die　here　where　God　has　placed　me。
I　shall　retain　here　with　me　only　a　few　of　the　most　aged　and
infirm　monks；　too　old　to　fly　or　to　support　the　hardships　of
the　life　of　a　hunted　fugitive　in　the　fens；　together　with　some
of　the　children　who　have　fled　here；　and　who；　too；　could　not
support　such　a　life。　It　may　be　that　when　the　fierce　Danes
arrive　and　find　nought　but　children　and　aged　men　even　their
savage　breasts　may　be　moved　to　pity；　but　if　not；　God's　will　be
done。　The　younger　brethren　will　seek　refuge　in　the　fens；　and
will　carry　with　them　the　sacred　relics　of　the　monastery。　The
most　holy　body　of　St。　Guthlac　with　his　scourge　and　psalmistry；
together　with　the　most　valuable　jewels　and　muniments；　the
charters　of　the　foundation　of　the　abbey；　given　by　King
Ethelbald；　and　the　confirmation　thereof　by　other　kings；　with
some　of　the　most　precious　gifts　presented　to　the　abbey。〃

Edmund　and　Egbert　set　to　work　to　assist　the　weeping
monks　in　making　preparations　for　their　departure。　A　boat
was　laden　with　the　relics　of　the　saints；　the　muniments　of　the
king；　and　the　most　precious　vessels。　The　table　of　the　great
altar　covered　with　plates　of　gold；　which　King　Wichtlof　had
presented；　with　ten　gold　chalices；　and　many　other　vessels；
was　thrown　into　the　well　of　the　convent。

In　the　distance　the　smoke　of　several　villages　could　now
be　seen　rising　over　the　plain；　and　it　was　clear　that　the　Danes
were　approaching。　The　ten　priests　and　twenty　monks　who
were　to　leave　now　knelt；　and　received　the　solemn　benediction
of　the　abbot；　then；　with　Edmund　and　Egbert；　they　took
their　places　in　the　boat　and　rowed　away　to　the　wood　of
Ancarig；　which　lay　not　far　from　the　abbey。

The　abbot　Theodore　and　the　aged　monks　and　priests
now　returned　to　the　church；　and；　putting　on　their　vestments；
commenced　the　services　of　the　day；　the　abbot　himself
celebrated　high　mass；　assisted　by　brother　Elfget　the　deacon；
brother　Savin　the　sub…deacon；　and　the　brothers　Egelred　and
Wyelric；　youths　who　acted　as　taper…bearers。　When　the　mass
was　finished；　just　as　the　abbot　and　his　assistants　had
partaken　of　the　holy　communion；　the　Danes　burst　into　the
church。　The　abbot　was　slain　upon　the　holy　altar　by　the　hand
of　the　Danish　king　Oskytal；　and　the　other　priests　and　monks
were　beheaded　by　the　executioner。

The　old　men　and　children　in　the　choir　were　seized　and
tortured　to　disclose　where　the　treasures　of　the　abbey　were
concealed；　and　were　also　put　to　death　with　the　prior　and
sub…prior。　Turgar；　an　acolyte　of　ten　years　of　age；　a
remarkably　beautiful　boy；　stood　by　the　side　of　the　sub…prior
as　he　was　murdered　and　fearlessly　confronted　the　Danes；　and
bade　them　put　him　to　death　with　the　holy　father。　The　young
Earl　Sidroc；　however；　struck　with　the　bearing　of　the　child；
and　being　moved　with　compassion；　stripped　him　of　his　robe　and
cowl；　and　threw　over　him　a　long　Danish　tunic　without　sleeves；
and　ordering　him　to　keep　close　by　him；　made　his　way　out　of
the　monastery；　the　boy　being　the　only　one　who　was　saved
from　the　general　massacre。

The　Danes；　furious　at　being　able　to　find　none　of　the
treasures　of　the　monastery；　broke　open　all　the　shrines　and
levelled　the　marble　tombs；　including　those　of　St。　Guthlac；
the　holy　virgin　Ethelbritha；　and　many　others；　but　found　in
these　none　of　the　treasure　searched　for。　They　piled　the　bodies
of　the　saints　in　a　heap；　and　burned　them；　together　with
the　church　and　all　the　buildings　of　the　monastery；　then；　with
vast　herds　of　cattle　and　other　plunder；　they　moved　away　from
Croyland；　and　attacked　the　monastery　of　Medeshamsted。
Here　the　monks　made　a　brave　resistance。　The　Danes　brought
up　machines　and　attacked　the　monastery　on　all　sides；　and
effected　a　breach　in　the　walls。　Their　first　assault；　however；
was　repelled；　and　Fulba；　the　brother　of　Earl　Hulba；　was
desperately　wounded　by　a　stone。

Hulba　was　so　infuriated　at　this　that　when；　at　the　second
assault；　the　monastery　was　captured；　he　slew　with　his　own
hand　everyone　of　the　monks；　while　all　the　country　people
who　had　taken　refuge　within　the　walls　were　slaughtered　by
his　companions；　not　one　escaping。　The　altars　were　levelled
to　the　ground；　the　monuments　broken　in　pieces。　The　great
library　of　parchments　and　charters　was　burnt。　The　holy　relics
were　trodden　under　foot；　and　the　church　itself；　with　all
the　monastic　buildings；　burnt　to　the　ground。　Four　days　later；
the　Danes；　having　devastated　the　whole　country　round　and
collected　an　enormous　booty；　marched　away　against
Huntingdon。

Edmund　and　Egbert　remained　but　a　few　hours　with　the
monks　who　had　escaped　from　the　sack　of　Croyland；　for；　as
soon　as　they　saw　the　flames　mounting　up　above　the　church；
they　knew　that　the　Danes　had　accomplished　their　usual　work
of　massacre；　and　there　being　no　use　in　their　making　further
stay；　they　started　upon　their　journey。　They　trave