sir nigel-第19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！


ever　smaller　as　she　approached　that　lofty　point　where；　a　mere
speck　in　the　sky；　the　heron　sought　escape　from　its　enemies。　　Still
higher　and　higher　the　two　birds　mounted；　while　the　horsemen；　their
faces　upturned；　strained　their　eyes　in　their　efforts　to　follow
them。

〃She　rings！　　She　still　rings！〃　cried　the　Bishop。　　〃She　is　above
him！　　She　has　gained　her　pitch。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　she　is　far　below；〃　said　the　King。

〃By　my　soul；　my　Lord　Bishop　is　right！〃　cried　the　Prince。　　〃I
believe　she　is　above。　　See！　　See！　　She　swoops！〃

〃She　binds！　　She　binds！〃　cried　a　dozen　voices　as　the　two　dots
blended　suddenly　into　one。

There　could　be　no　doubt　that　they　were　falling　rapidly；　Already
they　grew　larger　to　the　eye。　　Presently　the　heron　disengaged
himself　and　flapped　heavily　away；　the　worse　for；　that　deadly
embrace；　while　the　peregrine；　shaking　her；　plumage；　ringed　once
more　so　as　to　get　high　above　the　quarry　and　deal　it　a　second　and
more　fatal　blow。　　The　Bishop　smiled；　for　nothing；　as　it　seemed；
could　hinder　his　victory。

〃Thy　gold　pieces　shall　be　well　spent；　sire；〃　said　he。　　〃What　is
lost　to　the　Church　is　gained　by　the　loser。〃

But　a　most　unlooked…for　chance　deprived　the　Bishop's　altar　cloth
of　its　costly　mending。　　The　King's　gerfalcon　having　struck　down　a
rook；　and　finding　the　sport　but　tame；　bethought　herself　suddenly
of　that　noble　heron；　which　she　still　perceived　fluttering　over
Crooksbury　Heath。　　How　could　she　have　been　so　weak　as　to　allow
these　silly；　chattering　rooks　to　entice　her　away　from　that　lordly
bird？　　Even　now　it　was　not　too　late　to　atone　for　her　mistake。　　In
a　great　spiral　she　shot　upward　until　she　was　over　the　heron。　　But
what　was　this？　　Every　fiber　of　her；　from　her　crest　to　her　deck
feathers；　quivered　with　jealousy　and　rage　at　the　sight　of　this
creature；　a　mere　peregrine；　who　had　dared　to　come　between　a　royal
gerfalcon　and　her　quarry。　　With　one　sweep　of　her　great　wings　she
shot　up　until　she　was　above　her　rival。　　The　next　instant　…

〃They　crab！　　They　crab！〃　cried　the　King；　with　a　roar　of　laughter；
following　them　with　his　eyes　as　they　bustled　down　through　the　air。
〃Mend　thy　own　altar…cloths；　Bishop。　　Not　a　groat　shall　you　have
from　me　this　journey。　　Pull　them　apart；　falconer；　lest　they　do
each　other　an　injury。　　And　now；　masters；　let　us　on；　for　the　sun
sinks　toward　the　west。〃

The　two　hawks；　which　had　come　to　the　ground　interlocked　with
clutching　talons　and　ruffled　plumes；　were　torn　apart　and　brought
back　bleeding　and　panting　to　their　perches；　while　the　heron　after
its　perilous　adventure　flapped　its　way　heavily　onward　to　settle
safely　in　the　heronry　of　Waverley。　　The　cortege；　who　had　scattered
in　the　excitement　of　the　chase；　came　together　again；　and　the
journey　was　once　more　resumed。

A　horseman　who　had　been　riding　toward　them　across　the　moor　now
quickened　his　pace　and　closed　swiftly　upon　them。　　As　he　came
nearer；　the　King　and　the　Prince　cried　out　joyously　and　waved　their
hands　in　greeting。

〃It　is　good　John　Chandos！！〃　cried　the　King。　　〃By　the　rood；　John；　I
have　missed　your　merry　songs　this　week　or　more！　　Glad　I　am　to　see
that　you　have　your　citole　slung　to　your　back。　　Whence　come　you
then？〃

〃I　come　from　Tilford；　sire；　in　the　hope　that　I　should　meet　your
majesty。〃

〃It　was　well　thought　of。　　Come；　ride　here　between　the　Prince　and
me；　and　we　will　believe　that　we　are　back　in　France　with　our　war
harness　on　our　backs　once　more。　　What　is　your　news；　Master　John？〃

Chandos'　quaint　face　quivered　with　suppressed　amusement　and　his
one　eye　twinkled　like　a　star。　　〃Have　you　had　sport；　my　liege？〃

〃Poor　sport；　John。　　We　flew　two　hawks　on　the　same　heron。　　They
crabbed；　and　the　bird　got　free。　　But　why　do　you　smile　so？〃

〃Because　I　hope　to　show　you　better　sport　ere　you　come　to　Tilford。〃

〃For　the　hawk？　　For　the　hound？〃

〃A　nobler　sport　than　either。〃

〃Is　this　a　riddle；　John？　　What　mean　you？〃

〃Nay；　to　tell　all　would　be　to　spoil　all。　　I　say　again　that　there
is　rare　sport　betwixt　here　and　Tilford；　and　I　beg　you；　dear　lord；
to　mend　your　pace　that　we　make　the　most　of　the　daylight。〃

Thus　adjured；　the　King　set　spurs　to　his　horse；　and　the　whole
cavalcade　cantered　over　the　heath　in　the　direction　which　Chandos
showed。　　Presently　as　they　came　over　a　slope　they　saw　beneath　them
a　winding　river　with　an　old　high…backed　bridge　across　it。　　On　the
farther　side　was　a　village　green　with　a　fringe　of　cottages　and　one
dark　manor　house　upon　the　side　of　the　hill。

〃This　is　Tilford；　〃　said　Chandos。　　〃Yonder　is　the　house　of　the
Lorings。〃

The　King's　expectations　had　been　aroused　and　his　face　showed　his
disappointment。

〃Is　this　the　sport　that　you　have　promised　us；　Sir　John？　　How　can
you　make　good　your　words？〃

〃I　will　make　them　good；　my　liege。〃

〃Where　then　is　the　sport？〃

〃On　the　high　crown　of　the　bridge　a　rider　in　armor　was　seated；
lance　in　hand；　upon　a　great　yellow　steed。　　Chandos　touched　the
King's　arm　and　pointed。　　〃　That　is　the　sport；〃　said　he。




IX。　　HOW　NIGEL　HELD　THE　BRIDGE　AT　TILFORD


The　King　looked　at　the　motionless　figure；　at　the　little　crowd　of
hushed　expectant　rustics　beyond　the　bridge；　and　finally　at　the
face　of　Chandos；　which　shone　with　amusement。

〃What　is　this；　John？〃　he　asked。

〃You　remember　Sir　Eustace　Loring；　sire？〃

〃Indeed　I　could　never　forget　him　nor　the　manner　of　his　death。〃

〃He　was　a　knight　errant　in　his　day。〃

〃That　indeed　he　was　…　none　better　have　I　known。〃

〃So　is　his　son　Nigel；　as　fierce　a　young　war…hawk　as　ever　yearned
to　use　beak　and　claws；　but　held　fast　in　the　mews　up　to　now。　　This
is　his　trial　fight。　　There　he　stands　at　the　bridge…head；　as　was
the　wont　in　our　fathers'　time；　ready　to　measure　himself　against
all　comers。〃

Of　all　Englishmen　there　was　no　greater　knight　errant　than　the　King
himself；　and　none　so　steeped　in　every　quaint　usage　of　chivalry；　so
that　the　situation　was　after　his　own　heart。

〃He　is　not　yet　a　knight？〃

〃No；　sire；　only　a　Squire。〃

〃Then　he　must　bear　himself　bravely　this　day　if　he　is　to　make　good
what　he　has　done。　　Is　it　fitting　that　a　young　untried　Squire
should　venture　to　couch　his　lance　against　the　best　in　England？〃

〃He　bath　given　me　his　cartel　and　challenge；〃　said　Chandos；　drawing
a　paper　from　his　tunic。　　〃Have　I　your　permission；　sire；　to　issue
it？〃

〃Surely；　John；　we　have　no　cavalier　more　versed　in　the　laws　of
chivalry　than　yourself。　　You　know　this　young　man；　and　you　are
aware　how　far　he　is　worthy　of　the　high　honor　which　he　asks。　　Let
us　hear　his　defiance；〃

The　knights　and　squires　of　the　escort；　most　of　whom　were　veterans
of　the　French　war；　had　been　gazing　with　interest　and　some　surprise
at　the　steel…clad　figure　in　front　of　them。　　Now　at　a　call　from　Sir
Walter　Manny　they　assembled　round　the　spot　where　the　King　and
Chandos　had　halted。　　Chandos　cleared　his　throat　and　read　from　his
paper

〃‘A　tous　seigneurs；　chevaliers　et　escuyers；'　so　it　is　headed；
gentlemen。　　It　is　a　message　from　the　good　Squire　Nigel　Loring　of
Tilford；　son　of　Sir　Eustace　Loring；　of　honorable　memory。　　Squire
Loring　awaits　you　in　arms；　gentlemen；　yonder　upon　the　crown　of　the
old　bridge。　　Thus　says　he：　‘For　the　great　desire　that　I；　a　most
humble　and　unworthy　Squire；　entertain；　that　I　may　come　to　the
knowledge　of　the　noble　gentlemen　who　ride　with　my　royal　master；　I
now　wait　on　the　Bridge　of　the　Way　in　the　hope　that　some　of　them
may　condescend　to　do　some　small　deed　of　arms　upon　me；　or　that　I
may　deliver　them　from　any　vow　which　they　may　have　taken。　　This　I
say　out　of　no　esteem　for　myself；　but　solely　that　I　may　witness　the
noble　bearing　of　these　famous　cavaliers　and　admire　their　skill　in
the　handling　of　arms。　　Therefore；　with　the　help　of　Saint　George；　I
will　hold　the　bridge　with　sharpened　lances　against　any　or　all　who
may　deign　to　present　themselves　while　daylight　lasts。〃

〃What　say　you　to　this；　gentlemen？〃　asked　the　King；　looking　round
with　laughing　eyes。

〃Truly　it　is　issued　in　very　good　form；〃　said　the　Prince。　　〃Neither
Claricieux　nor　Red　Dragon　nor　any　herald　that　ever　wore　tabard
could　better　it。　　Did　he　draw　it　of　his　own　hand？〃

〃He　hath　a　grim　old　grandmother　who　is　one　of　the　ancient　breed；〃
said　Chandos。　　〃I　doubt　not　that　the　Dame　Ermyntrude　hath　drawn　a
challenge　or　two　before　now。　　But　hark　ye；　sire；　I　would　have　a
word　in　your　ear　…　and　yours　too；　most　noble　Prince。〃

Leading　them　aside；　Chandos　whispered　some　explanations；　which
ended　by　them　all　three　bursting　into　a　shout　of　laughter。

〃By　the　rood！　no　honorable　gentleman　should　be　reduced　to　such
straits；〃　said　the　King。　　〃It　behooves　me　to　look　to　it。　　But　how
now；　gentlemen？　　This　worthy　cavalier　still　waits　his　answer。〃

The　soldiers　had　all　been　buzzing　together；　but　now　Walter　Manny
turned　to　the　King　with　the　result　of　their　counsel。

〃If　it　please　your　majesty；〃　said　he；　〃we　are　of　opinion　that　this
Squire　hath　exceeded　all　bounds　in　desiring　to　break　a　spear　with
a　belted　knight　ere　he　has　given　his　proofs。　　We　do　him　sufficient
honor　if　a　Squire　ride　against　him；　and　with　your　consent　I　have
chosen　my　own　body…squire；　John　Widdicombe；　to　clear　the　path　for
us　across　the　bridge。〃

〃What　you　say；　Walter；　is　right　and　fair；〃　said　the　King。　　〃Master
Chandos；　you　will　tell　our　champion　yonder　what　hath　been
arranged。　　You　will　advise　him　also　that　it　is　our　royal　will　that
this　contest　be　not　fought　upon　the　bridge；　since　it　is　very　clear
that　it　must　end　in　one　or　both　going　over　into　the　river；　but
that　he　advance　to　the　end　of　the　bridge　and　fight　upon　the　plain。
You　will　tell　him　also　that　a　blunted　lance　is　sufficient　for　such
an　encounter；　but　that　a　hand…stroke　or　two　with　sword　or　mace　may
well　be　exchanged；　if　both　riders　should　keep　their　saddles。　　A
blast　upon　Raoul's　horn　shall　be　the　signal　to　close。〃

Such　ventures　as　these　where　an　aspirant　for　fame　would　wait　for
days　at　a　cross…road；　a　ford；　or　a　bridge；　until　some　worthy
antagonist　should　ride　that　way；　were　very　common　in　the　old　days
of　adventurous　knight　erranty；　and　were　still　familiar　to　the
minds　of　all　men　because　the　stories　of　the　romancers　and　the
songs　of　the　trouveres　were　full　of　such　incidents。　　Their　actual
occurrence　however　had　become　rare。　　There　was　the　more　curiosity；
not　unmixed