sir nigel-第59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！


their　way　through　the　fields；　there　appeared　before　them　a　great
gray　oak　which　spread　its　gnarled　leafless　branches　over　the
corner　of　a　green　and　level　meadow。　　The　tree　was　black　with　the
peasants　who　had　climbed　into　it；　and　all　round　it　was　a　huge
throng；　chattering　and　calling　like　a　rookery　at　sunset。　　A　storm
of　hooting　broke　out　from　them　at　the　approach　of　the　English；　for
Bambro'　was　hated　in　the　country　where　he　raised　money　for　the
Montfort　cause　by　putting　every　parish　to　ransom　and　maltreating
those　who　refused　to　pay。　　There　was　little　amenity　in　the　warlike
ways　which　had　been　learned　upon　the　Scottish　border。　　The
champions　rode　onward　without　deigning　to　take　notice　of　the
taunts　of　the　rabble；　but　the　archers　turned　that　way　and　soon
beat　the　mob　to　silence。　　Then　they　resolved　themselves　into　the
keepers　of　the　ground；　and　pressed　the　people　back　until　they
formed　a　dense　line　along　the　edge　of　the　field；'　leaving　the
whole　space　clear　for　the　warriors。

The　Breton　champions　had　not　yet　arrived；　so　the　English　tethered
their　horses　at　one　side　of　the　ground；　and　then　gathered　round
their　leader。　　Every　man　had　his　shield　slung　round　his　neck；　and
had　cut　his　spear　to　the　length　of　five　feet　so　that　it　might　be
more　manageable　for　fighting　on　foot。　　Besides　the　spear　a　sword
or　a　battle…ax　hung　at　the　side　of　each。　　They　were　clad　from　head
to　foot　in　armor；　with　devices　upon　the　crests　and　surcoats　to
distinguish　them　from　their　antagonists。　　At　present　their　visors
were　still　up　and　they　chatted　gayly　with　each　other。

〃By　Saint　Dunstan！〃　cried　Percy；　slapping　his　gauntleted　hands
together　and　stamping　his　steel　feet。　　〃I　shall　be　right　glad　to
get　to　work；　for　my　blood　is　chilled。〃

〃I　warrant　you　will　be　warm　enough　ere　you　get　through；〃　said
Calverly。

〃Or　cold　forever。　　Candle　shall　burn　and　bell　toll　at　Alnwick
Chapel　if　I　leave　this　ground　alive；　but　come　what　may；　fair　sirs；
it　should　be　a　famous　joust　and　one　which　will　help　us　forward。
Surely　each　of　us　will　have　worshipfully　won　worship；　if　we　chance
to　come　through。〃

〃You　say　truth；　Thomas；〃　said　Knolles；　bracing　his　girdle。　　〃For
my　own　part　I　have　no　joy　in　such　encounters　when　there　is　warfare
to　be　carried　out；　for　it　standeth　not　aright　that　a　man　should
think　of　his　own　pleasure　and　advancement　rather　than　of　the
King's　cause　and　the　weal　of　the　army。　　But　in　times　of　truce　I
can　think　of　no　better　way　in　which　a　day　may　be　profitably　spent。
Why　so　silent；　Nigel？〃

〃Indeed；　fair　sir；　I　was　looking　toward　Josselin；　which　lies　as　I
understand　beyond　those　woods。　　I　see　no　sign　of　this　debonair
gentleman　and　of　his　following。　　It　would　be　indeed　grievous　pity
if　any　cause　came　to　hold　them　back。〃

Hugh　Calverly　laughed　at　the　words。　　〃You　need　have　no　fear；　young
sir；〃　said　he。　　〃Such　a　spirit　lies　in　Robert　de　Beaumanoir　that
if　he　must　come　alone　he　would　ride　against　us　none　the　less。　　I
warrant　that　if　he　were　on　a　bed　of　death　he　would　be　borne　here
and　die　on　the　green　field。〃

〃You　say　truly；　Hugh；〃　said　Bambro'。　　〃I　know　him　and　those　who
ride　behind　him。　　Thirty　stouter　men　or　more　skilled　in　arms　are
not　to　be　found　in　Christendom。　　It　is　in　my　mind　that　come　what
may　there　will　be　much　honor　for　all　of　us　this　day。　　Ever　in　my
head　I　have　a　rhyme　which　the　wife　of　a　Welsh　archer　gave　me　when
I　crossed　her　hand　with　a　golden　bracelet　after　the　intaking　of
Bergerac。　　She　was　of　the　old　blood　of　Merlin　with　the　power　of
sight。　　Thus　she　said　…

　　　　　　　　　　　　〃'Twixt　the　oak…tree　and　the　river
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Knightly　fame　aid　brave　endeavor
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Make　an　honored　name　forever。'

Methinks　I　see　the　oak…tree；　and　yonder　is　the　river。　　Surely　this
should　betide　some　good　to　us。〃


The　huge　German　Squire　betrayed　some　impatience　during　this　speech
of　his　leader。　　Though　his　rank　was　subordinate；　no　man　present
had　more　experience　of　warfare　or　was　more　famous　as　a　fighter
than　he。　　He　new　broke　brusquely　into　the　talk。　　〃We　should　be
better　employed　in　ordering　our　line　and　making　our　plans　than　in
talking　of　the　rhymes　of　Merlin　or　such　old　wives'　tales；〃　said
he。　　〃It　is　to　our　own　strong　arms　and　good　weapons　that　we　must
trust　this　day。　　And　first　I　would　ask　you；　Sir　Richard；　what　is
your　will　if　perchance　you　should　fall　in　the　midst　of　the　fight？〃

Bambro'　turned　to　the　others。　　〃If　such　should　be　the　case；　fair
sirs；　I　desire　that　my　Squire　Croquart　should　command。〃

There　was　a　pause　while　the　knights　looked　with　some　chagrin　at
each　other。　　The　silence　was　broken　by　Knolles。

〃I　will　do　what　you　say；　Richard；〃　said　he；　〃though　indeed　it　is
bitter　that　we　who　are　knights　should　serve　beneath　a　squire。　　Yet
it　is　not　for　us　to　fall　out　among　ourselves　now　at　this　last
moment；　and　I　have　ever　heard　that　Croquart　is　a　very　worthy　and
valiant　man。　　Therefore；　I　will　pledge　you　on　jeopardy　of　my　soul
that　I　will　accept　him　as　leader　if　you　fall。〃

〃So　will　I　also；　Richard；〃　said　Calverly。

〃And　I　too！〃　cried　Belford。　　〃But　surely　I　hear　music；　and　yonder
are　their　pennons　amid　the　trees。〃

They　all　turned；　leaning　upon　their　short　spears；　and　watched　the
advance　of　the　men　of　Josselin；　as　their　troop　wound　its　way　out
from　the　woodlands。　　In　front　rode　three　heralds　with　tabards　of
the　ermine　of　Brittany；　blowing　loudly　upon　silver　trumpets。
Behind　them　a　great　man　upon　a　white　horse　bore　the　banner　of
Josselin　which　carries　nine　golden　torteaus　upon　a　scarlet　field。
Then　came　the　champions　riding　two　and　two；　fifteen　knights　and
fifteen　squires；　each　with　his　pennon　displayed。　　Behind　them　on　a
litter　was　borne　an　aged　priest；　the　Bishop　of　Rennes；　carrying　in
his　hands　the　viaticum　and　the　holy　oils　that　he　might　give　the
last　aid　and　comfort　of　the　Church　to　those　who　were　dying。　　The
procession　was　terminated　by　hundreds　of　men　and　women　from
Josselin；　Guegon；　and　Helleon；　and　by　the　entire　garrison　of　the
fortress；　who　came；　as　the　English　had　done；　without　their　arms。
The　head　of　this　long　column　had　reached　the　field　before　the　rear
were　clear　of　the　wood；　but　as　they　arrived　the　champions　picketed
their　horses　on　the　farther　side；　behind　which　their　banner　was
planted　and　the　people　lined　up　until　they　had　inclosed　the　whole
lists　with　a　dense　wall　of　spectators。

With　keen　eyes　the　English　party　had　watched　the　armorial　blazonry
of　their　antagonists；　for　those　fluttering　pennons　and　brilliant
surcoats　carried　a　language　which　all　men　could　read。　　In　front
was　the　banner　of　Beaumanoir；　blue　with　silver　frets。　　His　motto
〃J'ayme　qui　m'ayme〃　was　carried　on　a　second　flag　by　a　little　page。

〃　Whose　is　the　shield　behind　him　…　silver　with　scarlet　drops？〃
asked　Knolles。

〃It　is　his　Squire；　William　of　Montaubon；〃　Calverly　answered。　　〃And
there　are　the　golden　lion　of　Rochefort　and　the　silver　cross　of　Du
Bois　the　Strong。　　I　would　not　wish　to　meet　a　better　company　than
are　before　us　this　day。　　See；　there　are　the　blue　rings　of　young
Tintiniac；　who　slew　my　Squire　Hubert　last　Lammastide。　　With　the
aid　of　Saint　George　I　will　avenge　him　ere　nightfall。〃

〃By　the　three　kings　of　Almain；〃　growled　Croquart；　〃we　will　need　to
fight　hard　this　day；　for　never　have　I　seen　so　many　good　soldiers
gathered　together。　　Yonder　is　Yves　Cheruel；　whom　they　call　the　man
of　iron；　Caro　de　Bodegat　also　with　whom　I　have　had　more　than　one
bickering　…　that　is　he　with　the　three　ermine　circles　on　the
scarlet　shield。　　There　too　is　left…handed　Alain　de　Karanais；　bear
in　mind　that　his　stroke　comes　on　the　side　where　there　is　no
shield。〃

〃Who　is　the　small　stout　man〃　…　asked　Nigel　…　〃　he　with　the　black
and　silver　shield？　　By　Saint　Paul！　　he　seems　a　very　worthy　person
and　one　from　whom　much　might　be　gained；　for　he　is　nigh　as　broad　as
he　is　long。〃

〃It　is　Sir　Robert　Raguenel；〃　said　Calverly；　whose　long　spell　of
service　in　Brittany　had　made　him　familiar　with　the　people。　　It　is
said　that　he　can　lift　a　horse　upon　his　back。　　Beware　a　full　stroke
of　that　steel　mace；　for　the　armor　is　not　made　that　can　abide　it。
But　here　is　the　good　Beaumanoir；　and　surely　it　is　time　that　we
came　to　grips。〃

The　Breton　leader　had　marshaled　his　men　in　a　line　opposite　to　the
English；　and　now　he　strode　forward　and　shook　Bambro'　by　the　hand。
〃By　Saint　Cadoc！　　this　is　a　very　joyous　meeting；　Richard；〃　said
he；　〃and　we　have　certainly　hit　upon　a　very　excellent　way　of
keeping　a　truce。〃

〃Indeed；　Robert；〃　said　Bambro'；　〃we　owe　you　much　thanks；　for　I　can
see　that　you　have　been　at　great　pains　to　bring　a　worthy　company
against　us　this　day。　　Surely　if　all　should　chance　to　perish　there
will　be　few　noble　houses　in　Brittany　who　will　not　mourn。〃

〃Nay；　we　have　none　of　the　highest　of　Brittany；〃　Beaumanoir
answered。　　〃Neither　a　Blois；　nor　a　Leon；　nor　a　Rohan；　nor　a　Conan；
fights　in　our　ranks　this　day。　　And　yet　we　are　all　men　of　blood　and
coat…armor；　who　are　ready　to　venture　our　persons　for　the　desire　of
our　ladies　and　the　love　of　the　high　order　of　knighthood。　　And　now；
Richard；　what　is　your　sweet　will　concerning　this　fight？〃

〃That　we　continue　until　one　or　other　can　endure　no　longer；　for
since　it　is　seldom　that　so　many　brave　men　draw　together　it　is
fitting　that　we　see　as　much　as　is　possible　of　each　other。〃

〃Richard；　your　words　are　fair　and　good。　　It　shall　be　even　as　you
say。　　For　the　rest；　each　shall　fight　as　pleases　him　best　from　the
time　that　the　herald　calls　the　word。　　If　any　man　from　without
shall　break　in　upon　us　he　shall　be　hanged　on　yonder　oak。〃

With　a　salute　he　drew　down　his　visor　and　returned　to　his　own　men；
who　were　kneeling　in　a　twinkling；　many　colored　group　whilst　the
old　bishop　gave　them　his　blessing。

The　heralds　rode　round　with　a　warning　to　the　spectators。　　Then
they　halted　at　the　side　of　the　two　bands　of　men　who　now　stood　in　a
long　line　facing　each　other　with　fifty　yards　of　grass　between。
The　visors　had　been　closed；　and　every　man　was　now　cased　in　metal
from　head　to　foot；　some　few　glowing　in　brass；　the　greater　number
shining　in　steel。　　Only　their　fierce　eyes　could　be　seen　smoldering
in　the　dark　shadow　of　their　helmets。　　So　for　an　instant　they　stood
glaring　and　crouching。

Then　with　a　loud　cry　of　〃Allez！〃　the　herald　drop