sir nigel-第31部分

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passing　the　village　of　Shere　and　the　old　church　of　Gomshall；　the
whole　south　country　lay　like　a　map　at　their　feet。　　There　was　the
huge　wood　of　the　Weald；　one　unbroken　forest　of　oak…trees
stretching　away　to　the　South　Downs；　which　rose　olive…green　against
the　deep　blue　sky。　　Under　this　great　canopy　of　trees　strange　folk
lived　and　evil　deeds　were　done。　　In　its　recesses　were　wild　tribes；
little　changed　from　their　heathen　ancestors；　who　danced　round　the
altar　of　Thor；　and　well　was　it　for　the　peaceful　traveler　that　he
could　tread　the　high　open　road　of　the　chalk　land　with　no　need　to
wander　into　so　dangerous　a　tract；　where　soft　clay；　tangled　forest
and　wild　men　all　barred　his　progress。

But　apart　from　the　rolling　country　upon　the　left　and　the　great
forest…hidden　plain　upon　the　right；　there　was　much　upon　the　road
itself　to　engage　the　attention　of　the　wayfarers。　　It　was　crowded
with　people。　　As　far　as　their　eyes　could　carry　they　could　see　the
black　dots　scattered　thickly　upon　the　thin　white　band；　sometimes
single；　sometimes　several　abreast；　sometimes　in　moving　crowds；
where　a　drove　of　pilgrims　held　together　for　mutual　protection；　or
a　nobleman　showed　his　greatness　by　the　number　of　retainers　who
trailed　at　his　heels。　　At　that　time　the　main　roads　were　very
crowded；　for　there；　were　many　wandering　people　in　the　land。　　Of
all　sorts　and　kinds；　they　passed　in　an　unbroken　stream　before　the
eyes　of　Nigel　and　of　Aylward；　alike　only　in　the　fact　that　one　and
all　were　powdered　from　their　hair　to　their　shoes　with　the　gray
dust　of　the　chalk。

There　were　monks　journeying　from　one　cell　to　another；　Benedictines
with　their　black　gowns　looped　up　to　show　their　white　skirts；
Carthusians　in　white；　and　pied　Cistercians。　　Friars　also　of　the
three　wandering　orders　…　Dominicans　in　black；　Carmelites　in　white
and　Franciscans　in　gray。　　There　was　no　love　lost　between　the
cloistered　monks　and　the　free　friars；　each　looking　on　the　other　as
a　rival　who　took　from　him　the　oblations　of　the　faithful；　so　they
passed　on　the　high　road　as　cat　passes　dog；　with　eyes　askance　and
angry　faces。

Then　besides　the　men　of　the　church　there　were　the　men　of　trade；
the　merchant　in　dusty　broadcloth　and　Flanders　hat　riding　at　the
head　of　his　line　of　pack…horses。　　He　carried　Cornish　tin；
Welt…country　wool；　or　Sussex　iron　if　he　traded　eastward；　or　if　his
head　should　be　turned　westward　then　he　bore　with　him　the　velvets
of　Genoa；　the　ware　of　Venice；　the　wine　of　France；　or　the　armor　of
Italy　and　Spain。　　Pilgrims　were　everywhere；　poor　people　for　the
most　part；　plodding　wearily　along　with　trailing　feet　and　bowed
heads；　thick　staves　in　their　hands　and　bundles　over　their
shoulders。　　Here　and　there　on　a　gaily　caparisoned　palfrey；　or　in
the　greater　luxury　of　a　horse…litter；　some　West…country　lady　might
be　seen　making　her　easy　way　to　the　shrine　of　Saint　Thomas。

Besides　all　these　a　constant　stream　of　strange　vagabonds　drifted
along　the　road：　minstrels　who　wandered　from　fair　to　fair；　a　foul
and　pestilent　crew；　jugglers　and　acrobats；　quack　doctors　and
tooth…drawers；　students　and　beggars；　free　workmen　in　search　of
better　wages；　and　escaped　bondsmen　who　would　welcome　any　wages　at
all。　　Such　was　the　throng　which　set　the　old　road　smoking　in　a　haze
of　white　dust　from　Winchester　to　the　narrow　sea。

But　of　all　the　wayfarers　those　which　interested　Nigel　most　were
the　soldiers。　　Several　times　they　passed　little　knots　of　archers
or　men…at…arms；　veterans　from　France；　who　had　received　their
discharge　and　were　now　making　their　way　to　their　southland　homes。
They　were　half　drunk　all　of　them；　for　the　wayfarers　treated　them
to　beer　at　the　frequent　inns　and　ale…stakes　which　lined　the　road；
so　that　they　cheered　and　sang　lustily　as　they　passed。　　They　roared
rude　pleasantries　at　Aylward；　who　turned　in　his　saddle　and　shouted
his　opinion　of　them　until　they　were　out　of　hearing。

Once；　late　in　the　afternoon；　they　overtook　a　body　of　a　hundred
archers　all　marching　together　with　two　knights　riding　at　their
head。　　They　were　passing　from　Guildford　Castle　to　Reigate　Castle；
where　they　were　in　garrison。　　Nigel　rode　with　the　knights　for　some
distance；　and　hinted　that　if　either　was　in　search　of　honorable
advancement；　or　wished　to　do　some　small　deed；　or　to　relieve
himself　of　any　vow；　it　might　be　possible　to　find　some　means　of
achieving　it。　　They　were　both；　however；　grave　and　elderly　men；
intent　upon　their　business　and　with　no　mind　for　fond　wayside
adventures；　so　Nigel　quickened　his　pace　and　left　them　behind。

They　had　left　Boxhill　and　Headley　Heath　upon　the　left；　and　the
towers　of　Reigate　were　rising　amid　the　trees　in　front　of　them；
when　they　overtook　a　large；　cheery；　red…faced　man；　with　a　forked
beard；　riding　upon　a　good　horse　and　exchanging　a　nod　or　a　merry
word　with　all　who　passed　him。　　With　him　they　rode　nearly　as　far　as
Bletchingley；　and　Nigel　laughed　much　to　hear　him　talk；　but　always
under　the　raillery　there　was　much　earnestness　and　much　wisdom　in
all　his　words。　　He　rode　at　his　ease　about　the　country；　he　said；
having　sufficient　money　to　keep　him　from　want　and　to　furnish　him
for　the　road。　　He　could　speak　all　the　three　languages　of　England；
the　north；　the　middle　and　the　south；　so　that　he　was　at　home　with
the　people　of　every　shire　and　could　hear　their　troubles　and　their
joys。　　In　all　parts　in　town　and　in　country　there　was　unrest；　he
said；　for　the　poor　folk　were　weary　of　their　masters　both　of　the
Church　and　State；　and　soon　there　would　be　such　doings　in　England
as　had　never　been　seen　before。

But　above　all　this　man　was　earnest　against　the　Church　its　enormous
wealth；　its　possession　of　nearly　one…third　of　the　whole　land　of
the　country；　its　insatiable　greed　for　more　at　the　very　time　when
it　claimed　to　be　poor　and　lowly。　　The　monks　and　friars；　too；　he
lashed　with　his　tongue：　their　roguish　ways；　their　laziness　and
their　cunning。　　He　showed　how　their　wealth　and　that　of　the　haughty
lord　must　always　be　founded　upon　the　toil　of　poor　humble　Peter　the
Plowman；　who　worked　and　strove　in　rain　and　cold　out　in　the　fields；
the　butt　and　laughing…stock　of　everyone；　and　still　bearing　up　the
whole　world　upon　his　weary　shoulders。　　He　had　set　it　all　out　in　a
fair　parable；　so　now　as　he　rode　he　repeated　some　of　the　verses；
chanting　them　and　marking　time　with　his　forefinger；　while　Nigel
and　Aylward　on　either　side　of　him　with　their　heads　inclined　inward
listened　with　the　same　attention；　but　with　very　different　feelings
…　Nigel　shocked　at　such　an　attack　upon　authority；　and　Aylward
chuckling　as　he　heard　the　sentiments　of　his　class　so　shrewdly
expressed。　　At　last　the　stranger　halted　his　horse　outside　the
〃Five　Angels〃　at　Gatton。

〃It　is　a　good　inn；　and　I　know　the　ale　of　old；〃　said　he。　　〃When　I
had　finished　that　‘Dream　of　Piers　the　Plowman　from　which　I　have
recited　to　you；　the　last　verses　were　thus：

　　　　　〃‘Now　have　I　brought　my　little　booke　to　an　ende
　　　　　　　God's　blessing　be　on　him　who　a　drinke　will　me　sende'　…

I　pray　you　come　in　with　me　and　share　it。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Nigel；　〃we　must　on　our　way；　for　we　have　far　to　go。
But　give　me　your　name；　my　friend；　for　indeed　we　have　passed　a
merry　hour　listening　to　your　words。〃

〃Have　a　care！〃　the　stranger　answered；　shaking　his　head。　　〃You　and
your　class　will　not　spend　a　merry　hour　when　these　words　are　turned
into　deeds　and　Peter　the　Plowman　grows　weary　of　swinking　in　the
fields　and　takes　up　his　bow　and　his　staff　in　order　to　set　this
land　in　order。〃

〃By　Saint　Paul！　　I　expect　that　we　shall　bring　Peter　to　reason　and
also　those　who　have　put　such　evil　thoughts　into　his　head；〃　said
Nigel。　　〃So　once　more　I　ask　your　name；　that　I　may　know　it　if　ever
I　chance　to　hear　that　you　have　been　hanged？〃

The　stranger　laughed　good…humoredly。　　〃You　can　call　me　Thomas
Lackland；〃　said　he。　　〃I　should　be　Thomas　Lack…brain　if　I　were
indeed　to　give　my　true　name；　since　a　good　many　robbers；　some　in
black　gowns　and　some　in　steel；　would　be　glad　to　help　me　upwards　in
the　way　you　speak　of。　　So　good…day　to　you；　Squire；　and　to　you
also；　archer；　and　may　you　find　your　way　back　with　whole　bones　from
the　wars！〃

That　night　the　comrades　slept　in　Godstone　Priory；　and　early　next
morning　they　were　well　upon　their　road　down　the　Pilgrim's　Way。　　At
Titsey　it　was　said　that　a　band　of　villeins　were　out　in　Westerham
Wood　and　had　murdered　three　men　the　day　before；　so　that　Nigel　had
high　hopes　of　an　encounter；　but　the　brigands　showed　no　sign；
though　the　travelers　went　out　of　their　way　to　ride　their　horses
along　the　edges　of　the　forest。　　Farther　on　they　found　traces　of
their　work；　for　the　path　ran　along　the　hillside　at　the　base　of　a
chalk　quarry；　and　there　in　the　cutting　a　man　was　lying　dead。　　From
his　twisted　limbs　and　shattered　frame　it　was　easy　to　see　that　he
had　been　thrown　over　from　above；　while　his　pockets　turned　outward
showed　the　reason　for　his　murder。　　The　comrades　rode　past　without
too　close　a　survey；　for　dead　men　were　no　very　uncommon　objects　on
the　King's　highway；　and　if　sheriff　or　bailiff　should　chance　upon
you　near　the　body　you　might　find　yourself　caught　in　the　meshes　of
the　law。

Near　Sevenoaks　their　road　turned　out　of　the　old　Canterbury　way　and
pointed　south　toward　the　coast；　leaving　the　chalk　lands　and　coming
down　into　the　clay　of　the　Weald。　　It　was　a　wretched；　rutted
mule…track　running　through　thick　forests　with　occasional　clearings
in　which　lay　the　small　Kentish　villages；　where　rude　shock…headed
peasants　with　smocks　and　galligaskins　stared　with　bold；　greedy
eyes　at　the　travelers。　　Once　on　the　right　they　caught　a　distant
view　of　the　Towers　of　Penshurst；　and　once　they　heard　the　deep
tolling　of　the　bells　of　Bayham　Abbey；　but　for　the　rest　of　their
day's　journey　savage　peasants　and　squalid　cottages　were　all　that
met　their　eyes；　with　endless　droves　of　pigs　who　fed　upon　the
litter　of　acorns。　　The　throng　of　travelers　who　crowded　the　old
road　were　all　gone；　and　only　here　and　there　did　they　meet　or
overtake　some　occasional　merchant　or　messenger　bound　for　Battle
Abbey；　Pevensey　Castle　or　the　towns　of　the　south。

That　night　they　slept　in　a　sordid　inn；　overrun　with　rats　and　with
fleas；　one　mile　south　of　the　hamlet　of　Mayfield。　　Aylward
scratched　vigorously　and　cursed　with　fervor。　　Nigel　lay　without
movement　or　sou