kenilworth-第65部分

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just　as　they　topped　the　hill；　he　saw　the　clown　stoop　to　lift　up
the　silver　groat　which　his　benevolence　had　imparted。　　〃Now　this
is　what　I　call　a　Godsend；〃　said　Wayland；　〃this　is　a　bonny；　well…
ridden　bit　of　a　going　thing；　and　it　will　carry　us　so　far　till　we
get　you　as　well　mounted；　and　then　we　will　send　it　back　time
enough　to　satisfy　the　Hue　and　Cry。〃

But　he　was　deceived　in　his　expectations；　and　fate；　which　seemed
at　first　to　promise　so　fairly；　soon　threatened　to　turn　the
incident　which　he　thus　gloried　in　into　the　cause　of　their　utter
ruin。

They　had　not　ridden　a　short　mile　from　the　place　where　they　left
the　lad　before　they　heard　a　man's　voice　shouting　on　the　wind
behind　them；　〃Robbery！　　robbery！Stop　thief！〃　　and　similar
exclamations；　which　Wayland's　conscience　readily　assured　him　must
arise　out　of　the　transaction　to　which　he　had　been　just　accessory。

〃I　had　better　have　gone　barefoot　all　my　life；〃　he　said；　〃it　is
the　Hue　and　Cry；　and　I　am　a　lost　man。　　Ah！　　Wayland；　Wayland；
many　a　time　thy　father　said　horse…flesh　would　be　the　death　of
thee。　Were　I　once　safe　among　the　horse…coursers　in　Smithfield；　or
Turnbull　Street；　they　should　have　leave　to　hang　me　as　high　as　St。
Paul's　if　I　e'er　meddled　more　with　nobles；　knights；　or
gentlewomen。〃

Amidst　these　dismal　reflections；　he　turned　his　head　repeatedly　to
see　by　whom　he　was　chased；　and　was　much　comforted　when　he　could
only　discover　a　single　rider；　who　was；　however；　well　mounted；　and
came　after　them　at　a　speed　which　left　them　no　chance　of　escaping；
even　had　the　lady's　strength　permitted　her　to　ride　as　fast　as　her
palfrey　might　have　been　able　to　gallop。

〃There　may　be　fair　play　betwixt　us；　sure；〃　thought　Wayland；
〃where　there　is　but　one　man　on　each　side；　and　yonder　fellow　sits
on　his　horse　more　like　a　monkey　than　a　cavalier。　　Pshaw！　　if　it
come　to　the　worse；　it　will　be　easy　unhorsing　him。　　Nay；　'snails！
I　think　his　horse　will　take　the　matter　in　his　own　hand；　for　he
has　the　bridle　betwixt　his　teeth。　　Oons；　what　care　I　for　him？〃
said　he；　as　the　pursuer　drew　yet　nearer；　〃it　is　but　the　little
animal　of　a　mercer　from　Abingdon；　when　all　is　over。〃

Even　so　it　was；　as　the　experienced　eye　of　Wayland　had　descried　at
a　distance。　　For　the　valiant　mercer's　horse；　which　was　a　beast　of
mettle；　feeling　himself　put　to　his　speed；　and　discerning　a　couple
of　horses　riding　fast　at　some　hundred　yards'　distance　before　him；
betook　himself　to　the　road　with　such　alacrity　as　totally　deranged
the　seat　of　his　rider；　who　not　only　came　up　with；　but　passed　at
full　gallop；　those　whom　he　had　been　pursuing；　pulling　the　reins
with　all　his　might；　and　ejaculating；　〃Stop！　　stop！〃　　an
interjection　which　seemed　rather　to　regard　his　own　palfrey　than
what　seamen　call　〃the　chase。〃　　With　the　same　involuntary　speed；
he　shot　ahead　（to　use　another　nautical　phrase）　about　a　furlong
ere　he　was　able　to　stop　and　turn　his　horse；　and　then　rode　back
towards　our　travellers；　adjusting；　as　well　as　he　could；　his
disordered　dress；　resettling　himself　in　the　saddle；　and
endeavouring　to　substitute　a　bold　and　martial　frown　for　the
confusion　and　dismay　which　sat　upon　his　visage　during　his
involuntary　career。

Wayland　had　just　time　to　caution　the　lady　not　to　be　alarmed；
adding；　〃This　fellow　is　a　gull；　and　I　will　use　him　as　such。〃

When　the　mercer　had　recovered　breath　and　audacity　enough　to
confront　them；　he　ordered　Wayland；　in　a　menacing　tone；　to　deliver
up　his　palfrey。

〃How？〃　　said　the　smith；　in　King　Cambyses'　vein；　〃are　we　commanded
to　stand　and　deliver　on　the　king's　highway？　　Then　out；　Excalibur；
and　tell　this　knight　of　prowess　that　dire　blows　must　decide
between　us！〃

〃Haro　and　help；　and　hue　and　cry；　every　true　man！〃　　said　the
mercer。　　〃I　am　withstood　in　seeking　to　recover　mine　own。〃

〃Thou　swearest　thy　gods　in　vain；　foul　paynim；〃　said　Wayland；　〃for
I　will　through　with　mine　purpose　were　death　at　the　end　on't。
Nevertheless；　know；　thou　false　man　of　frail　cambric　and
ferrateen；　that　I　am　he；　even　the　pedlar；　whom　thou　didst　boast
to　meet　on　Maiden　Castle　moor；　and　despoil　of　his　pack；
wherefore　betake　thee　to　thy　weapons　presently。〃

〃I　spoke　but　in　jest；　man；〃　said　Goldthred；　〃I　am　an　honest
shopkeeper　and　citizen；　who　scorns　to　leap　forth　on　any　man　from
behind　a　hedge。〃

〃Then；　by　my　faith；　most　puissant　mercer；〃　answered　Wayland；　〃I
am　sorry　for　my　vow；　which　was；　that　wherever　I　met　thee　I　would
despoil　thee　of　thy　palfrey；　and　bestow　it　upon　my　leman；　unless
thou　couldst　defend　it　by　blows　of　force。　　But　the　vow　is　passed
and　registered；　and　all　I　can　do　for　thee　is　to　leave　the　horse
at　Donnington；　in　the　nearest　hostelry。〃

〃But　I　tell　thee；　friend；〃　said　the　mercer；　〃it　is　the　very　horse
on　which　I　was　this　day　to　carry　Jane　Thackham；　of　Shottesbrok；
as　far　as　the　parish　church　yonder；　to　become　Dame　Goldthred。
She　hath　jumped　out　of　the　shot…window　of　old　Gaffer　Thackham's
grange；　and　lo　ye；　yonder　she　stands　at　the　place　where　she
should　have　met　the　palfrey；　with　her　camlet　riding…cloak　and
ivory…handled　whip；　like　a　picture　of　Lot's　wife。　　I　pray　you；　in
good　terms；　let　me　have　back　the　palfrey。〃

〃Grieved　am　I；〃　said　Wayland；　〃as　much　for　the　fair　damsel　as　for
thee；　most　noble　imp　of　muslin。　　But　vows　must　have　their　course；
thou　wilt　find　the　palfrey　at　the　Angel　yonder　at　Donnington。　　It
is　all　I　may　do　for　thee　with　a　safe　conscience。〃

〃To　the　devil　with　thy　conscience！〃　　said　the　dismayed　mercer。
〃Wouldst　thou　have　a　bride　walk　to　church　on　foot？〃

〃Thou　mayest　take　her　on　thy　crupper；　Sir　Goldthred；〃　answered
Wayland；　〃it　will　take　down　thy　steed's　mettle。〃

〃And　how　if　youif　you　forget　to　leave　my　horse；　as　you
propose？〃　　said　Goldthred；　not　without　hesitation；　for　his　soul
was　afraid　within　him。

〃My　pack　shall　be　pledged　for　ityonder　it　lies　with　Giles
Gosling；　in　his　chamber　with　the　damasked　leathern　hangings；
stuffed　full　with　velvet；　single；　double；　treble…piledrash…
taffeta；　and　parapashag；　damask；　and　mocado；　plush；　and
grogram〃

〃Hold！　　hold！〃　　exclaimed　the　mercer；　〃nay；　if　there　be；　in　truth
and　sincerity；　but　the　half　of　these　waresbut　if　ever　I　trust
bumpkin　with　bonny　Bayard　again！〃

〃As　you　list　for　that；　good　Master　Goldthred；　and　so　good　morrow
to　youand　well　parted；〃　he　added；　riding　on　cheerfully　with　the
lady；　while　the　discountenanced　mercer　rode　back　much　slower　than
he　came；　pondering　what　excuse　he　should　make　to　the　disappointed
bride；　who　stood　waiting　for　her　gallant　groom　in　the　midst　of
the　king's　highway。

〃Methought；〃　said　the　lady；　as　they　rode　on；　〃yonder　fool　stared
at　me　as　if　he　had　some　remembrance　of　me；　yet　I　kept　my　muffler
as　high　as　I　might。〃

〃If　I　thought　so；〃　said　Wayland；　〃I　would　ride　back　and　cut　him
over　the　pate；　there　would　be　no　fear　of　harming　his　brains；　for
he　never　had　so　much　as　would　make　pap　to　a　sucking　gosling。　　We
must　now　push　on；　however；　and　at　Donnington　we　will　leave　the
oaf's　horse；　that　he　may　have　no　further　temptation　to　pursue　us；
and　endeavour　to　assume　such　a　change　of　shape　as　may　baffle　his
pursuit　if　he　should　persevere　in　it。〃

The　travellers　reached　Donnington　without　further　alarm；　where　it
became　matter　of　necessity　that　the　Countess　should　enjoy　two　or
three　hours'　repose；　during　which　Wayland　disposed　himself；　with
equal　address　and　alacrity；　to　carry　through　those　measures　on
which　the　safety　of　their　future　journey　seemed　to　depend。

Exchanging　his　pedlar's　gaberdine　for　a　smock…frock；　he　carried
the　palfrey　of　Goldthred　to　the　Angel　Inn；　which　was　at　the　other
end　of　the　village　from　that　where　our　travellers　had　taken　up
their　quarters。　　In　the　progress　of　the　morning；　as　he　travelled
about　his　other　business；　he　saw　the　steed　brought　forth　and
delivered　to　the　cutting　mercer　himself；　who；　at　the　head　of　a
valorous　posse　of　the　Hue　and　Cry；　came　to　rescue；　by　force　of
arms；　what　was　delivered　to　him　without　any　other　ransom　than　the
price　of　a　huge　quantity　of　ale；　drunk　out　by　his　assistants；
thirsty；　it　would　seem；　with　their　walk；　and　concerning　the　price
of　which　Master　Goldthred　had　a　fierce　dispute　with　the
headborough；　whom　he　had　summoned　to　aid　him　in　raising　the
country。

Having　made　this　act　of　prudent　as　well　as　just　restitution；
Wayland　procured　such　change　of　apparel　for　the　lady；　as　well　as
himself；　as　gave　them　both　the　appearance　of　country　people　of
the　better　class；　it　being　further　resolved；　that　in　order　to
attract　the　less　observation；　she　should　pass　upon　the　road　for
the　sister　of　her　guide。　　A　good　but　not　a　gay　horse；　fit　to　keep
pace　with　his　own；　and　gentle　enough　for　a　lady's　use；　completed
the　preparations　for　the　journey；　for　making　which；　and　for　other
expenses；　he　had　been　furnished　with　sufficient　funds　by
Tressilian。　　And　thus；　about　noon；　after　the　Countess　had　been
refreshed　by　the　sound　repose　of　several　hours；　they　resumed
their　journey；　with　the　purpose　of　making　the　best　of　their　way
to　Kenilworth；　by　Coventry　and　Warwick。　　They　were　not；　however；
destined　to　travel　far　without　meeting　some　cause　of
apprehension。

It　is　necessary　to　premise　that　the　landlord　of　the　inn　had
informed　them　that　a　jovial　party；　intended；　as　he　understood；　to
present　some　of　the　masques　or　mummeries　which　made　a　part　of　the
entertainment　with　which　the　Queen　was　usually　welcomed　on　the
royal　Progresses；　had　left　the　village　of　Donnington　an　hour　or
two　before　them　in　order　to　proceed　to　Kenilworth。　　Now　it　had
occurred　to　Wayland　that；　by　attaching　themselves　in　some　sort　to
this　group　as　soon　as　they　should　overtake　them　on　the　road；　they
would　be　less　likely　to　attract　notice　than　if　they　continued　to
travel　entirely　by　themselves。　　He　communicated　his　idea　to　the
Countess；　who；　only　anxious　to　arrive　at　Kenilworth　without
interruption；　left　him　free　to　choose　the　manner　in　which　this
was　to　be　accomplished。　　They　pressed　forward　their　horses；
therefore；　with　the　purpose　of　overtaking　the　party　of　intended
revellers；　and　making　the　journey　in　their　company；　and　had　just
seen　the　little　party；　consisting　partly　of　riders；　partly　of
people　on　foot；　crossing　the　summit　of　a　gentle　hill；　at　about
half　a　mile's　distance；　and　disappearing　on　the　ot