burlesques-第11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　news　from　him；　her　admirable　parents　had　long　spoken　with

repugnance　of　a　match　which　must　bring　inevitable　poverty　to　both

parties。　　They　had　suffered；　'tis　true；　the　engagement　to　subside；

hostile　as　they　ever　were　to　it；　but　when　on　the　death　of　the　ninth

lady　of　Barbazure；　the　noble　baron　remarked　Fatima　at　the　funeral；

and　rode　home　with　her　after　the　ceremony；　her　prudent　parents　saw

how　much　wiser；　better；　happier　for　their　child　it　would　be　to　have

for　life　a　partner　like　the　baron；　than　to　wait　the　doubtful　return

of　the　penniless　wanderer　to　whom　she　was　plighted。



Ah！　how　beautiful　and　pure　a　being！　how　regardless　of　self！　how

true　to　duty！　how　obedient　to　parental　command；　is　that　earthly

angel；　a　well…bred　woman　of　genteel　family！　　Instead　of　indulging

in　splenetic　refusals　or　vain　regrets　for　her　absent　lover；　the

exemplary　Fatima　at　once　signified　to　her　excellent　parents　her

willingness　to　obey　their　orders；　though　she　had　sorrows　（and　she

declared　them　to　be　tremendous）；　the　admirable　being　disguised　them

so　well；　that　none　knew　they　oppressed　her。　　She　said　she　would　try

to　forget　former　ties；　and　（so　strong　in　her　mind　was　DUTY　above

every　other　feeling！so　strong　may　it　be　in　every　British　maiden！）

the　lovely　girl　kept　her　promise。　　〃My　former　engagements；〃　she

said；　packing　up　Romane's　letters　and　presents；　（which；　as　the　good

knight　was　mortal　poor；　were　in　sooth　of　no　great　price）〃my

former　engagements　I　look　upon　as　childish　follies；my　affections

are　fixed　where　my　dear　parents　graft　themon　the　noble；　the

princely；　the　polite　Barbazure。　　'Tis　true　he　is　not　comely　in

feature；　but　the　chaste　and　well…bred　female　knows　how　to　despise

the　fleeting　charms　of　form。　　'Tis　true　he　is　old；　but　can　woman　be

better　employed　than　in　tending　her　aged　and　sickly　companion？

That　he　has　been　married　is　likewise　certainbut　ah；　my　mother！

who　knows　not　that　he　must　be　a　good　and　tender　husband；　who；　nine

times　wedded；　owns　that；　he　cannot　be　happy　without　another

partner？〃



It　was　with　these　admirable　sentiments　the　lovely　Fatima　proposed

obedience　to　her　parents'　will；　and　consented　to　receive　the

magnificent　marriage…gift　presented　to　her　by　her　gallant

bridegroom。





III。





The　old　Countess　of　Chacabacque　had　made　a　score　of　vain　attempts

to　see　her　hapless　daughter。　　Ever；　when　she　came；　the　porters

grinned　at　her　savagely　through　the　grating　of　the　portcullis　of

the　vast　embattled　gate　of　the　Castle　of　Barbazure；　and　rudely　bade

her　begone。　　〃The　Lady　of　Barbazure　sees　nobody　but　her　confessor；

and　keeps　her　chamber；〃　was　the　invariable　reply　of　the　dogged

functionaries　to　the　entreaties　of　the　agonized　mother。　　And　at

length；　so　furious　was　he　at　her　perpetual　calls　at　his　gate；　that

the　angry　Lord　of　Barbazure　himself；　who　chanced　to　be　at　the

postern；　armed　a　cross…bow；　and　let　fly　an　arblast　at　the　crupper

of　the　lady's　palfrey；　whereon　she　fled　finally；　screaming；　and　in

terror。　　〃I　will　aim　at　the　rider　next　time！〃　howled　the　ferocious

baron；　〃and　not　at　the　horse！〃　　And　those　who　knew　his　savage

nature　and　his　unrivalled　skill　as　a　bowman；　knew　that　he　would

neither　break　his　knightly　promise　nor　miss　his　aim。



Since　the　fatal　day　when　the　Grand　Duke　of　Burgundy　gave　his　famous

passage　of　arms　at　Nantes；　and　all　the　nobles　of　France　were

present　at　the　joustings；　it　was　remarked　that　the　Barbazure's

heart　was　changed　towards　his　gentle　and　virtuous　lady。



For　the　three　first　days　of　that　famous　festival；　the　redoubted

Baron　of　Barbazure　had　kept　the　field　against　all　the　knights　who

entered。　　His　lance　bore　everything　down　before　it。　　The　most

famous　champions　of　Europe；　assembled　at　these　joustings；　had

dropped；　one　by　one；　before　this　tremendous　warrior。　　The　prize　of

the　tourney　was　destined　to　be　his；　and　he　was　to　be　proclaimed

bravest　of　the　brave；　as　his　lady　was　the　fairest　of　the　fair。



On　the　third　day；　however；　as　the　sun　was　declining　over　the

Vosges；　and　the　shadows　were　lengthening　over　the　plain　where　the

warrior　had　obtained　such　triumphs；after　having　overcome　two

hundred　and　thirteen　knights　of　different　nations；　including　the

fiery　Dunois；　the　intrepid　Walter　Manny；　the　spotless　Bayard；　and

the　undaunted　Dugueselin；　as　the　conqueror　sat　still　erect　on　his

charger；　and　the　multitudes　doubted　whether　ever　another　champion

could　be　found　to　face　him；　three　blasts　of　a　trumpet　were　heard；

faint　at　first；　but　at　every　moment　ringing　more　clearly；　until　a

knight　in　pink　armor　rode　into　the　lists　with　his　visor　down；　and

riding　a　tremendous　dun　charger；　which　he　managed　to　the　admiration

of　all　present。



The　heralds　asked　him　his　name　and　quality。



〃Call　me；〃　said　he；　in　a　hollow　voice；　〃the　Jilted　Knight。〃　　What

was　it　made　the　Lady　of　Barbazure　tremble　at　his　accents。



The　knight　refused　to　tell　his　name　and　qualities；　but　the

companion　who　rode　with　him；　the　young　and　noble　Philibert　de

Coquelicot；　who　was　known　and　respected　universally　through　the

neighborhood；　gave　a　warranty　for　the　birth　and　noble　degree　of　the

Jilted　Knightand　Raoul　de　Barbazure；　yelling　hoarsely　for　a　two…

hundred…and…fourteenth　lance；　shook　the　huge　weapon　in　the　air　as

though　it　were　a　reed；　and　prepared　to　encounter　the　intruder。



According　to　the　wont　of　chivalry；　and　to　keep　the　point　of　the

spear　from　harm；　the　top　of　the　unknown　knight's　lance　was　shielded

with　a　bung；　which　the　warrior　removed；　and　galloping　up　to

Barbazure's　pavilion；　over　which　his　shield　hung；　touched　that

noble　cognizance　with　the　sharpened　steel。　　A　thrill　of　excitement

ran　through　the　assembly　at　this　daring　challenge　to　a　combat　a

l'outrance。　　〃Hast　thou　confessed；　Sir　Knight？〃　roared　the

Barbazure；　〃take　thy　ground；　and　look　to　thyself；　for　by　heaven

thy　last　hour　is　come！〃　　〃Poor　youth；　poor　youth！〃　sighed　the

spectators；　〃he　has　called　down　his　own　fate。〃　　The　next　minute　the

signal　was　given；　and　as　the　simoom　across　the　desert；　the　cataract

down　the　rock；　the　shell　from　the　howitzer；　each　warrior　rushed

from　his　goal。



　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。



〃Thou　wilt　not　slay　so　good　a　champion？〃　said　the　Grand　Duke；　as　at

the　end　of　that　terrific　combat　the　knight　in　rose　armor　stood　over

his　prostrate　foe；　whose　helmet　had　rolled　off　when　he　was　at

length　unhorsed；　and　whose　bloodshot　eyes　glared　unutterable　hate

and　ferocity　on　his　conqueror。



〃Take　thy　life；〃　said　he　who　had　styled　himself　the　Jilted　Knight；

〃thou　hast　taken　all　that　was　dear　to　me。〃　　And　the　sun　setting；

and　no　other　warrior　appearing　to　do　battle　against　him；　he　was

proclaimed　the　conqueror；　and　rode　up　to　the　duchess's　balcony　to

receive　the　gold　chain　which　was　the　reward　of　the　victor。　　He

raised　his　visor　as　the　smiling　princess　guerdoned　himraised　it；

and　gave　ONE　sad　look　towards　the　Lady　Fatima　at　her　side！



〃Romane　de　Clos…Vougeot！〃　shrieked　she；　and　fainted。　　The　Baron　of

Barbazure　heard　the　name　as　he　writhed　on　the　ground　with　his

wound；　and　by　his　slighted　honor；　by　his　broken　ribs；　by　his　roused

fury；　he　swore　revenge；　and　the　Lady　Fatima；　who　had　come　to　the

tourney　as　a　queen；　returned　to　her　castle　as　a　prisoner。



（As　it　is　impossible　to　give　the　whole　of　this　remarkable　novel；

let　it　suffice　to　say　briefly　here；　that　in　about　a　volume　and　a

half；　in　which　the　descriptions　of　scenery；　the　account　of　the

agonies　of　the　baroness；　kept　on　bread　and　water　in　her　dungeon；

and　the　general　tone　of　morality；　are　all　excellently　worked　out；

the　Baron　de　Barbazure　resolves　upon　putting　his　wife　to　death　by

the　hands　of　the　public　executioner。）



　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。



Two　minutes　before　the　clock　struck　noon；　the　savage　baron　was　on

the　platform　to　inspect　the　preparation　for　the　frightful　ceremony

of　mid…day。



The　block　was　laid　forththe　hideous　minister　of　vengeance；　masked

and　in　black；　with　the　flaming　glaive　in　his　hand；　was　ready。　　The

baron　tried　the　edge　of　the　blade　with　his　finger；　and　asked　the

dreadful　swordsman　if　his　hand　was　sure？　　A　nod　was　the　reply　of

the　man　of　blood。　　The　weeping　garrison　and　domestics　shuddered　and

shrank　from　him。　　There　was　not　one　there　but　loved　and　pitied　the

gentle　lady。



Pale；　pale　as　a　stone；　she　was　brought　from　her　dungeon。　　To　all

her　lord's　savage　interrogatories；　her　reply　had　been；　〃I　am

innocent。〃　　To　his　threats　of　death；　her　answer　was；　〃You　are　my

lord；　my　life　is　in　your　hands；　to　take　or　to　give。〃　　How　few　are

the　wives；　in　our　day；　who　show　such　angelic　meekness！　　It　touched

all　hearts　around　her；　save　that　of　the　implacable　Barbazure！　　Even

the　Lady　Blanche；　（Fatima's　cousin）；　whom　he　had　promised　to　marry

upon　his　faithless　wife's　demise；　besought　for　her　kinswoman's

life；　and　a　divorce；　but　Barbazure　had　vowed　her　death。



〃Is　there　no　pity；　sir？〃　asked　the　chaplain　who　had　attended　her。



〃No　pity？〃　echoed　the　weeping　serving…maid。



〃Did　I　not　aye　say　I　would　die　for　my　lord？〃　said　the　gentle　lady；

and　placed　herself　at　the　block。



Sir　Raoul　de　Barbazure　seized　up　the　long　ringlets　of　her　raven

hair。　　〃Now！〃　shouted　he　to　the　executioner；　with　a　stamp　of　his

foot〃Now　strike！〃



The　man　（who　knew　his　trade）　advanced　at　once；　and　poised　himself

to　deliver　his　blow：　and　making　his　flashing　sword　sing　in　the　air；

with　one　irresistible；　rapid　stroke；　it　sheared　clean　off　the　head

of　the　furious；　the　bloodthirsty；　the　implacable　Baron　de　Barbazure！



Thus　he　fell　a　victim　to　his　own　jealousy：　and　the　agitation　of　the

Lady　Fatima　may　be　imagined；　when　the　executioner；　flinging　off　his

mask；　knelt　gracefully　at　her　feet；　and　revealed　to　her　the　well…

known　features　of　Romane　de　Clos…Vougeot。







LORDS　AND　LIVERIES。



BY　THE　AUTHORESS　OF　〃DUKES　AND　DEJEUNERS；〃　〃HEARTS　AND　DIAMONDS；〃

〃MARCHIONESSES　AND　MILLI