saint george for england-第17部分

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surprise；　and　come　down　to　its　aid。　　I　am　curious　to　know　what　he　will　do　next。　What　thinkst　thou；　Edward？〃　he　asked　his　son；　who　was　standing　by　his　side。

〃He　will　win　the　day；〃　the　young　prince　said；　〃and　in　faith；　although　the　others　are　my　comrades；　I　should　be　glad　to　see　it。　He　will　make　a　gallant　knight；　sir；　one　of　these　days；　and　remember　he　is　engaged　to　follow　my　banner；　so　you　must　not　steal　him　from　me。　See；　my　liege；　they　are　taking　planks　and　ladders　to　the　outwork。〃

〃They　are　doing　wrongly　then；〃　the　king　said；　〃for　even　should　they　bridge　the　moat　where　the　drawbridge　is；　they　cannot　scale　the　wall　there；　since　the　tower　defends　it；　and　the　ladders　are　but　long　enough　to　reach　the　lower　wall。　No；　their　leader　has　changed　his　mind；　they　are　taking　the　planks　along　the　edge　of　the　moat　towards　the　tower　on　the　left；　and　will　aid　the　assault　by　its　bridge　by　a　passage　of　the　moat　there。

It　seemed；　indeed；　that　this　was　the　plan。　While　some　of　the　assailants　kept　up　the　arrow　fire　on　the　wall　others　mounted　the　tower；　while　a　party　prepared　to　throw　a　bridge　of　planks　across　the　moat。　The　bridge　from　the　tower　was　now　lowered；　but　a　shout　of　triumph　rose　from　the　defenders　when　it　was　seen　that　by　some　mistake　of　the　carpenters　this　was　too　short；　and　when　lowered　did　not　reach　within　six　feet　of　the　wall。

〃All　the　better；〃　the　king　said；　while　the　prince　gave　an　angry　exclamation。　　〃Accidents　of　this　kind　will　happen；　and　give　an　opportunity　to　a　leader　to　show　his　resources。　　Doubtless　he　will　carry　planks　up　to　the　tower　and　so　connect　the　bridge　and　the　wall。〃

This；　indeed；　was　what　the　assailants　tried　to　do；　while　a　party　threw　planks　across　the　moat；　and　rushing　over　placed　ladders　against　the　wall　and　strove　to　climb。　They　strove　in　vain；　however。　The　ladders　were　thrown　down　as　fast　as　they　were　placed；　while　the　defenders；　thickly　clustered　on　the　walls；　drove　back　those　who　tried　to　cross　from　the　tower。

〃I　do　not　see　the　leader　of　the　assailants；〃　the　prince　said。

〃He　has　a　white　plume；　but　it　may　have　been　shorn　off；〃　the　king　said。　〃Look；　the　young　Pembroke　is　making　a　sortie！〃

From　the　sortie　gate　behind　the　tower　the　defenders　now　poured　out；　and　running　down　to　the　edge　of　the　moat　fell　upon　the　stormers。　These；　however；　received　them　with　great　steadiness；　and　while　some　continued　the　attack　the　rest　turned　upon　the　garrison；　and；　headed　by　Ralph　the　smith；　drove　them　gradually　back。

〃They　fight　well　and　steadily；〃　the　king　said。　〃One　would　have　thought　that　they　had　reckoned　on　the　sortie；　so　steadily　did　they　receive　it。〃

As　only　a　portion　of　the　garrison　had　issued　out　they　were　unable　to　resist　long　the　pressure　of　the　apprentices；　who　drove　them　back　step　by　step　to　the　sally…　port；　and　pressing　them　hard　endeavoured　to　force　their　way　in　at　their　heels。



CHAPTER　VII：　THE　YOUNG　ESQUIRE


While　the　attention　of　the　whole　of　the　spectators　and　combatants　was　fixed　upon　the　struggle　at　the　right…hand　angle　of　the　castle；　a　party　of　twenty　'prentices　suddenly　leapt　to　their　feet　from　among　the　broken　palisades　of　the　outwork。　　Lying　prone　there　they　had　escaped　the　attention　of　the　spectators　as　well　as　of　the　defenders。　　The　reason　why　the　assailants　carried　the　planks　and　ladders　to　this　spot　was　now　apparent。　Only　a　portion　had　been　taken　on　to　the　assault　of　the　right…hand　tower；　those　who　now　rose　to　their　feet　lifted　with　them　planks　and　ladders；　and　at　a　rapid　pace　ran　towards　the　left　angle　of　the　castle；　and　reached　that　point　before　the　attention　of　the　few　defenders　who　remained　on　the　wall　there　was　attracted　to　them；　so　absorbed　were　they　in　the　struggle　at　the　other　angle。　　The　moment　that　they　saw　the　new　assailants　they　raised　a　shout　of　alarm；　but　the　din　of　the　combat；　the　shouts　of　the　leaders　and　men　were　so　loud；　that　their　cries　were　unheard。　　Two　or　three　then　hurried　away　at　full　speed　to　give　the　alarm；　while　the　others　strove　to　repel　the　assault。　　Their　efforts　were　in　vain。　The　planks　were　flung　across　the　moat；　the　ladders　placed　in　position；　and　led　by　Walter　the　assailants　sprang　up　and　gained　a　footing　on　the　wall　before　the　alarm　was　fairly　given。　A　thundering　cheer　from　the　spectators　greeted　the　success　of　the　assailants。　　Springing　along　the　wall　they　drove　before　them　the　few　who　strove　to　oppose　them；　gained　the　central　tower；　and　Walter；　springing　up　to　the　top；　pulled　down　the　banner　of　the　defenders　and　placed　that　of　the　city　in　its　place。　At　this　moment　the　defenders；　awakened　too　late　to　the　ruse　which　had　been　played　upon　them；　came　swarming　back　along　the　wall　and　strove　to　regain　the　central　tower。　In　the　confusion　the　assault　by　the　flying　tower　of　the　assailants　was　neglected；　and　at　this　point　also　they　gained　footing　on　the　wall。　The　young　nobles　of　the　court；　furious　at　being　outwitted；　fought　desperately　to　regain　their　lost　laurels。　But　the　king　rose　from　his　seat　and　held　up　his　hand。　The　trumpeter　standing　below　him　sounded　the　arrest　of　arms；　which　was　echoed　by　two　others　who　accompanied　Earl　Talbot；　who　had　taken　his　place　on　horseback　close　to　the　walls。　At　the　sound　swords　dropt　and　the　din　abruptly　ceased；　but　the　combatants　stood　glaring　at　each　other；　their　blood　too　heated　to　relinquish　the　fray　readily。

Already　much　damage　had　been　done。　In　spite　of　armour　and　mail　many　serious　wounds　had　been　inflicted；　and　some　of　the　combatants　had　already　been　carried　senseless　from　the　field。　Some　of　the　assailants　had　been　much　shaken　by　being　thrown　backward　from　the　ladders　into　the　moat；　one　or　two　were　hurt　to　death；　but　as　few　tourneys　took　place　without　the　loss　of　several　lives；　this　was　considered　but　a　small　amount　of　damage　for　so　stoutly　fought　a　melee；　and　the　knowledge　that　many　were　wounded；　and　some　perhaps　dying；　in　no　way　damped　the　enthusiasm　of　the　spectators；　who　cheered　lustily　for　some　minutes　at　the　triumph　which　the　city　had　obtained。　In　the　galleries　occupied　by　the　ladies　and　nobles　of　the　court　there　was　a　comparative　silence。　But　brave　deeds　were　appreciated　in　those　days；　and　although　the　ladies　would　far　rather　have　seen　the　victory　incline　the　other　way；　yet　they　waved　their　handkerchiefs　and　clapped　their　hands　in　token　of　their　admiration　at　the　success　of　an　assault　which；　at　the　commencement；　appeared　well…nigh　hopeless。

Lord　Talbot　rode　up　to　the　front　of　the　royal　pavilion。

〃I　was　about　to　stop　the　fight；　sire；　when　you　gave　the　signal。　Their　blood　was　up；　and　many　would　have　been　killed　had　the　combat　continued。　But　the　castle　was　fairly　won；　the　central　tower　was　taken　and　the　flag　pulled　down；　a　footing　had　been　gained　at　another　point　of　the　wall；　and　the　assailants　had　forced　their　way　through　the　sally…port。　　Further　resistance　was　therefore　hopeless；　and　the　castle　must　be　adjudged　as　fairly　and　honourably　captured。〃

A　renewed　shout　greeted　the　judge's　decision。　The　king　now　ordered　the　rival　hosts　to　be　mustered　before　him　as　before　the　battle；　and　when　this　was　done　Earl　Talbot　conducted　Walter　up　the　broad　steps　in　front　of　the　king's　pavilion。　　Geoffrey　Ward；　who　had；　after　fastening　on　Walter's　armour　in　the　tent；　before　the　sports　began；　taken　his　place　among　the　guards　at　the　foot　of　the　royal　pavilion；　stept　forward　and　removed　Walter's　helmet　at　the　foot　of　the　steps。

〃Young　sir；〃　the　king　said；　〃you　have　borne　yourself　right　gallantly　today；　and　have　shown　that　you　possess　the　qualities　which　make　a　great　captain。　I　do　my　nobles　no　wrong　when　I　say　that　not　one　of　them　could　have　better　planned　and　led　the　assault　than　you　have　done。　Am　I　not　right；　sirs？〃　and　he　looked　round。　　A　murmur　of　assent　rose　from　the　knights　and　nobles；　and　the　king　continued：　〃I　thought　you　vain　and　presumptuous　in　undertaking　the　assault　of　a　fort　held　by　an　equal　number；　many　of　whom　are　well　accustomed　to　war；　while　the　lads　who　followed　you　were　all　untrained　in　strife；　but　you　have　proved　that　your　confidence　in　yourself　was　not　misplaced。　The　Earl　of　Talbot　has　adjudged　you　victor；　and　none　can　doubt　what　the　end　of　the　strife　would　have　been。　Take　this　chain　from　your　king；　who　is　glad　to　see　that　his　citizens　of　London　are　able　to　hold　their　own　even　against　those　of　our　court；　than　whom　we　may　say　no　braver　exist　in　Europe。　Kneel　now　to　the　queen　of　the　tourney；　who　will　bestow　upon　you　the　chaplet　which　you　have　so　worthily　earned。〃

Walter　bent　his　knee　before　Edith　Vernon。　She　rose　to　her　feet；　and　with　an　air　of　pretty　dignity；　placed　a　chaplet　of　laurel　leaves；　wrought　in　gold　and　clasped　with　a　valuable　ruby；　on　his　head。

〃I　present　to　you；〃　she　said；　〃the　chaplet　of　victory；　and　am　proud　that　my　gage　should　have　been　worn　by　one　who　has　borne　himself　so　bravely　and　well。　May　a　like　success　rest　on　all　your　undertakings；　and　may　you　prove　a　good　and　valiant　knight！〃

〃Well　said；　Mistress　Edith；〃　Queen　Philippa　said　smiling。　　〃You　may　well　be　proud　of　your　young　champion。　I　too　must　have　my　gift；〃　and　drawing　a　ring　set　with　brilliants　from　her　finger　she　placed　it　in　Walter's　hand。

The　lad　now　rose　to　his　feet。　〃The　prince　my　son；〃　the　king　said；　〃has　promised　that　you　shall　ride　with　his　men…at…arms　when　he　is　old　enough　to　take　the　field。　Shou