maid marian-第4部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

ence　of　action　as　if　he　were　cutting　down　an　enemy。　The　baron　was　a　gentleman　of　a　fierce　and　choleric　temperament：　he　was　lineally　descended　from　the　redoubtable　Fierabras　of　Normandy；　who　came　over　to　England　with　the　Conqueror；　and　who；　in　the　battle　of　Hastings；　killed　with　his　own　hand　four…and…twenty　Saxon　cavaliers　all　on　a　row。　The　very　excess　of　the　baron's　internal　rage　on　the　preceding　day　had　smothered　its　external　manifestation：　　he　was　so　equally　angry　with　both　parties；　that　he　knew　not　on　which　to　vent　his　wrath。　He　was　enraged　with　the　earl　for　having　brought　himself　into　such　a　dilemma　without　his　privily；　and　he　was　no　less　enraged　with　the　king's　men　for　their　very　unseasonable　intrusion。　He　could　willingly　have　fallen　upon　both　parties；　but；　he　must　necessarily　have　begun　with　one；　and　he　felt　that　on　whichever　side　he　should　strike　the　first　blow；　his　retainers　would　immediately　join　battle。　　He　had　therefore　contented　himself　with　forcing　away　his　daughter　from　the　scene　of　action。　In　the　course　of　the　evening　he　had　received　intelligence　that　the　earl's　castle　was　in　possession　of　a　party　of　the　king's　men；　who　had　been　detached　by　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon　to　seize　on　it　during　the　earl's　absence。　　The　baron　inferred　from　this　that　the　earl's　case　was　desperate；　and　those　who　have　had　the　opportunity　of　seeing　a　rich　friend　fall　suddenly　into　poverty；　may　easily　judge　by　their　own　feelings　how　quickly　and　completely　the　whole　moral　being　of　the　earl　was　changed　in　the　baron's　estimation。　The　baron　immediately　proceeded　to　require　in　his　daughter's　mind　the　same　summary　revolution　that　had　taken　place　in　his　own；　and　considered　himself　exceedingly　ill…used　by　her　non…compliance。　The　lady　had　retired　to　her　chamber；　and　the　baron　had　passed　a　supperless　and　sleepless　night；　stalking　about　his　apartments　till　an　advanced　hour　of　the　morning；　when　hunger　compelled　him　to　summon　into　his　presence　the　spoils　of　the　buttery；　which；　being　the　intended　array　of　an　uneaten　wedding　feast；　were　more　than　usually　abundant；　and　on　which；　when　the　knight　and　the　friar　entered；　he　was　falling　with　desperate　valour。　He　looked　up　at　them　fiercely；　with　his　mouth　full　of　beef　and　his　eyes　full　of　flame；　and　rising；　as　ceremony　required；　made　an　awful　bow　to　the　knight；　inclining　himself　forward　over　the　table　and　presenting　his　carving…knife　en　militaire；　in　a　manner　that　seemed　to　leave　it　doubtful　whether　he　meant　to　show　respect　to　his　visitor；　or　to　defend　his　provision：　but　the　doubt　was　soon　cleared　up　by　his　politely　motioning　the　knight　to　be　seated；　on　which　the　friar　advanced　to　the　table；　saying；　〃For　what　we　are　going　to　receive；〃　and　commenced　operations　without　further　prelude　by　filling　and　drinking　a　goblet　of　wine。　The　baron　at　the　same　time　offered　one　to　Sir　Ralph；　with　the　look　of　a　man　in　whom　habitual　hospitality　and　courtesy　were　struggling　with　the　ebullitions　of　natural　anger。　They　pledged　each　other　in　silence；　and　the　baron；　having　completed　a　copious　draught；　continued　working　his　lips　and　his　throat；　as　if　trying　to　swallow　his　wrath　as　he　had　done　his　wine。　Sir　Ralph；　not　knowing　well　what　to　make　of　these　ambiguous　signs；　looked　for　instructions　to　the　friar；　who　by　significant　looks　and　gestures　seemed　to　advise　him　to　follow　his　example　and　partake　of　the　good　cheer　before　him；　without　speaking　till　the　baron　should　be　more　intelligible　in　his　demeanour。　The　knight　and　the　friar；　accordingly；　proceeded　to　refect　themselves　after　their　ride；　the　baron　looking　first　at　the　one　and　then　at　the　other；　scrutinising　alternately　the　serious　looks　of　the　knight　and　the　merry　face　of　the　friar；　till　at　length；　having　calmed　himself　sufficiently　to　speak；　he　said；　〃Courteous　knight　and　ghostly　father；　I　presume　you　have　some　other　business　with　me　than　to　eat　my　beef　and　drink　my　canary；　and　if　so；　I　patiently　await　your　leisure　to　enter　on　the　topic。〃

〃Lord　Fitzwater；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃in　obedience　to　my　royal　master；　King　Henry；　I　have　been　the　unwilling　instrument　of　frustrating　the　intended　nuptials　of　your　fair　daughter；　yet　will　you；　I　trust；　owe　me　no　displeasure　for　my　agency　herein；　seeing　that　the　noble　maiden　might　otherwise　by　this　time　have　been　the　bride　of　an　outlaw。〃

〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you；　sir；〃　said　the　baron；　〃very　exceedingly　obliged。　　Your　solicitude　for　my　daughter　is　truly　paternal；　and　for　a　young　man　and　a　stranger　very　singular　and　exemplary：　　and　it　is　very　kind　withal　to　come　to　the　relief　of　my　insufficiency　and　inexperience；　and　concern　yourself　so　much　in　that　which　concerns　you　not。〃

〃You　misconceive　the　knight；　noble　baron；〃　said　the　friar。　〃He　urges　not　his　reason　in　the　shape　of　a　preconceived　intent；　but　in　that　of　a　subsequent　extenuation。　　True；　he　has　done　the　lady　Matilda　great　wrong〃

〃How；　great　wrong？〃　said　the　baron。　　〃What　do　you　mean　by　great　wrong？　Would　you　have　had　her　married　to　a　wild　fly…by…night；　that　accident　made　an　earl　and　nature　a　deer…stealer？　that　has　not　wit　enough　to　eat　venison　without　picking　a　quarrel　with　monarchy？　that　flings　away　his　own　lands　into　the　clutches　of　rascally　friars；　for　the　sake　of　hunting　in　other　men's　grounds；　and　feasting　vagabonds　that　wear　Lincoln　green；　and　would　have　flung　away　mine　into　the　bargain　if　he　had　had　my　daughter？　What　do　you　mean　by　great　wrong？〃

〃True；〃　said　the　friar；　〃great　right；　I　meant。〃

〃Right！〃　exclaimed　the　baron：　　〃what　right　has　any　man　to　do　my　daughter　right　but　myself？　　What　right　has　any　man　to　drive　my　daughter's　bridegroom　out　of　the　chapel　in　the　middle　of　the　marriage　ceremony；　and　turn　all　our　merry　faces　into　green　wounds　and　bloody　coxcombs；　and　then　come　and　tell　me　he　has　done　us　great　right？〃

〃True；〃　said　the　friar：　　〃he　has　done　neither　right　nor　wrong。〃

〃But　he　has；〃　said　the　baron；　〃he　has　done　both；　and　I　will　maintain　it　with　my　glove。〃

〃It　shall　not　need；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃I　will　concede　any　thing　in　honour。〃

〃And　I；〃　said　the　baron；　〃will　concede　nothing　in　honour：　I　will　concede　nothing　in　honour　to　any　man。〃

〃Neither　will　I；　Lord　Fitzwater；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃in　that　sense：　but　hear　me。　　I　was　commissioned　by　the　king　to　apprehend　the　Earl　of　Huntingdon。　　I　brought　with　me　a　party　of　soldiers；　picked　and　tried　men；　knowing　that　he　would　not　lightly　yield。　I　sent　my　lieutenant　with　a　detachment　to　surprise　the　earl's　castle　in　his　absence；　and　laid　my　measures　for　intercepting　him　on　the　way　to　his　intended　nuptials；　but　he　seems　to　have　had　intimation　of　this　part　of　my　plan；　for　he　brought　with　him　a　large　armed　retinue；　and　took　a　circuitous　route；　which　made　him；　I　believe；　somewhat　later　than　his　appointed　hour。　When　the　lapse　of　time　showed　me　that　he　had　taken　another　track；　I　pursued　him　to　the　chapel；　and　I　would　have　awaited　the　close　of　the　ceremony；　if　I　had　thought　that　either　yourself　or　your　daughter　would　have　felt　desirous　that　she　should　have　been　the　bride　of　an　outlaw。〃

〃Who　said；　sir；〃　cried　the　baron；　〃that　we　were　desirous　of　any　such　thing？　But　truly；　sir；　if　I　had　a　mind　to　the　devil　for　a　son…in…law；　I　would　fain　see　the　man　that　should　venture　to　interfere。〃

〃That　would　I；〃　said　the　friar；　〃for　I　have　undertaken　to　make　her　renounce　the　devil。〃

〃She　shall　not　renounce　the　devil；〃　said　the　baron；　〃unless　I　please。　You　are　very　ready　with　your　undertakings。　　Will　you　undertake　to　make　her　renounce　the　earl；　who；　I　believe；　is　the　devil　incarnate？　Will　you　undertake　that？〃

〃Will　I　undertake；〃　said　the　friar；　〃to　make　Trent　run　westward；　or　to　make　flame　burn　downward；　or　to　make　a　tree　grow　with　its　head　in　the　earth　and　its　root　in　the　air？〃

〃So　then；〃　said　the　baron；　〃a　girl's　mind　is　as　hard　to　change　as　nature　and　the　elements；　and　it　is　easier　to　make　her　renounce　the　devil　than　a　lover。　Are　you　a　match　for　the　devil；　and　no　match　for　a　man？〃

〃My　warfare；〃　said　the　friar；　〃is　not　of　this　world。　I　am　militant　not　against　man；　but　the　devil；　who　goes　about　seeking　what　he　may　devour。〃

〃Oh！　does　he　so？〃　said　the　baron：　　〃then　I　take　it　that　makes　you　look　for　him　so　often　in　my　buttery。　　Will　you　cast　out　the　devil　whose　name　is　Legion；　when　you　cannot　cast　out　the　imp　whose　name　is　Love？〃

〃Marriages；〃　said　the　friar；　〃are　made　in　heaven。　　Love　is　God's　work；　and　therewith　I　meddle　not。〃

〃God's　work；　indeed！〃　said　the　baron；　〃when　the　ceremony　was　cut　short　in　the　church。　　Could　men　have　put　them　asunder；　if　God　had　joined　them　together？　　And　the　earl　is　now　no　earl；　but　plain　Robert　Fitz…Ooth：　therefore；　I'll　none　of　him。〃

〃He　may　atone；〃　said　the　friar；　〃and　the　king　may　mollify。　The　earl　is　a　worthy　peer；　and　the　king　is　a　courteous　king。〃

〃He　cannot　atone；〃　said　Sir　Ralph。　　〃He　has　killed　the　king's　men；　and　if　the　baron　should　aid　and　abet；　he　will　lose　his　castle　and　land。〃

〃Will　I？〃　said　the　baron；　〃not　while　I　have　a　drop　of　blood　in　my　veins。　He　that　comes　to　take　them　shall　first　serve　me　as　the　friar　serves　my　flasks　of　canary：　　he　shall　drain　me　dry　as　hay。　　Am　I　not　disparaged？　Am　I　not　outraged？　　Is　not　my　daughter　vilified；　and　made　a　mockery？　A　girl　half…married？　There　was　my　butler　brought　home　with　a　broken　head。　My　butler；　friar：　　there　is　that　may　move　your　symp