THE COURT OF THE HOSPITAL.
“Considering that I have been little more than an hour in England, I have employed my time not unprofitably,” remarked the Prince, gaily1.
“If your Highness was in search of an adventure, you have certainly been lucky in meeting with one,” observed Osbert. “But I presume you are now content, and disposed to go on board.”
“Presently,” replied Philip. “But I must pause for a moment to think over the interview—to recall her words, and the music of her voice. She has cast a spell upon me.”
“So it would seem,” muttered Osbert. “Hah! she is here again!” he exclaimed, as Constance and her attendant suddenly re-entered the court.
“Returned so soon!” exclaimed Philip, springing joyfully2 towards the damsel. Then remarking her agitation3, he added, “But what has happened? Have you come to claim our escort?”
“I am come to warn you,” she replied, trembling. “Your life is in danger.”
“The danger is welcome, since it procures5 me the happiness of seeing you again,” said the Prince.
“Oh! trifle not thus,” she rejoined. “’Tis no imaginary peril6. Listen to me, I beseech7 you. There are some evil-minded men in the street, whose design, I am certain, is to 61set upon you as you come forth8. They have weapons in their hands, and their talk left me no doubt as to their sanguinary purpose.”
“But why should they lie in wait for me?” rejoined Philip, carelessly. “However, be that as it may, I am infinitely9 obliged to them for proving to me that you are really interested in my safety.”
“How could I fail to be, when I learnt from some words that fell from these miscreants10, what I might have conjectured11 before, that you are no less exalted12 a personage than the Prince of Spain?”
“In what way did the villains13 obtain the information?” cried Philip. “It must be mere14 guess-work on their part. But make yourself easy, sweet Constance. They will not dare to assault me; or, if they do, I shall know how to defend myself. Besides, I am not alone. This gentleman, Master Osbert Clinton, I make no doubt, is a tolerable swordsman, and will help me to give a good account of the rogues15.”
“Your Highness may depend on me,” said Osbert. “But you must not place yourself in this jeopardy16. The street is dark and lonely, and favourable17 to a murtherous attempt of this kind. Already, more than one foul18 deed has been perpetrated within it.”
“The wretches20 are lying in ambush21 ready to attack you unawares,” said Constance. “I saw them extinguish the only lamp in the street, and then retire behind a buttress22 in the wall.”
“By Holy Mary! my young mistress speaks the truth,” said old Dorcas, her teeth chattering23 with fright. “I counted the villains. There are six of them.”
“Then they will be three to two,” rejoined the Prince, lightly. “We can manage that odds24, eh, Master Clinton?”
“Your Highness must not thus expose yourself,” said Constance. “It will be impossible to escape them. I pray you to be ruled by me, and enter the hospital till a guard be procured25.”
“I am well content to do so, if you will tarry with me,” answered Philip. “But who will bring the guard?”
“Be that task mine,” cried Osbert. “As soon as your Highness is in safety, I will fly to procure4 assistance.”
62“Nay, you must not go, Sir,” said Constance. “The peril will be as great to you as to the Prince himself. You will only throw away your life in the attempt. I will summon the watch. I shall run no risk.”
“She will, at least, pity me if I fall—I will go!” mentally ejaculated Osbert.
“I will procure your Highness instant admittance to the hospital,” said Constance, “and then——”
“Nay, you must bear me company, or I will not enter,” interrupted Philip.
Osbert waited till they had nearly reached the door of the hospital, and then, drawing his sword, rushed down the passage leading to the street.
“Ah! rash young man!” exclaimed Constance, in accents of pity which might have gratified Osbert if he could have heard them. “He is rushing to certain destruction.”
Scarcely were the words uttered, when the clashing of steel was heard without, accompanied by other sounds, proving that a desperate conflict was going on.
“I must leave you, Constance, and fly to his assistance,” cried the Prince, plucking his rapier from its sheath.
“No,” she rejoined, holding him. “Your life is too precious to be thus sacrificed—too precious to the Queen.”
“I will strike down these assassins in her name,” rejoined Philip. “I am proof against their blades. The son of Charles V. is not destined26 to perish thus obscurely.”
“’Twere far better you sought an asylum27 here; but, if go you will, may Heaven and all good saints guard you!”
And as she relinquished28 her hold of him, and sought to enter the hospital, she found the door was fastened.
Perceiving this, old Dorcas knocked against it, calling out lustily, “Within! I say, within!” But there being no answer to the summons, she added despairingly, “Deaf old Absalom, the porter, must have gone to bed. What will become of us?”
Meanwhile, the Prince had quickly divested29 himself of his cloak, and, wrapping part of it round his left arm, leaving the other half hanging down, he flew to the passage, rapier in hand. On reaching it, he found it occupied by Osbert and his assailants. The young man was defending himself like a lion against his opponents, one of whom he had 63already disabled, but he was compelled to retreat; his position being such, that for the moment the Prince could render him no assistance. But the foremost of the assassin band caught sight of Philip, and shouting out to his comrades,—
“There stands the accursed Spanish Prince who would enslave us! We have him now—we have him!” Whereupon, incited30 by the words, they attacked Osbert so furiously that they drove him down the passage.
“Ah! why do I find your Highness here?” cried young Clinton, despairingly, as the Prince joined him, and helped him to keep off his assailants.
“You hear what he says, comrades,” cried the leader of the band, a formidable-looking ruffian in a buff jerkin and steel cap, who looked like a disbanded soldier. “I was not mistaken, you see. ’Tis the Prince in person. ’Tis the bloodthirsty tyrant31 who would rob us of our liberties, and place us under a foreign yoke32; who would force us by fagot and fire and other severities, conceived in hell, to return to the Romish idolatries we have abjured33. But he has been delivered into our hands ere the wicked devices of his heart can be accomplished34. It is Heaven’s will that he should die, and in putting him to death we shall earn the gratitude35 of our country.”
“Besides the hundred rose-nobles each that we are to have for the deed,” cried one of his comrades.
“I would do the deed for nothing,” shouted another of the band, “for it will redound36 to our credit. So have at him!”
“Harkye, young Sir,” cried the leader of the band, addressing Osbert. “We do not desire your life—nay, we would willingly spare you. Our sole object is to crush this spawn37 of hell. Retire, and leave him to our justice.”
“Think you I will stand tamely by and see you execute your ruthless purpose?” cried young Clinton. “No; I will defend the Prince to my last gasp38.”
“Your blood be upon your own head, then,” rejoined the ruffian. “Upon them, comrades! Strike, and spare not.”
“Thou, at least, will never be executioner,” cried the Prince.
And as the ruffian made a desperate lunge at him, he 64dexterously caught his sword in the hanging part of his cloak, and returning with a full thrust, transfixed his antagonist39 with his rapier.
“This comes of Spanish practices,” groaned40 the wretch19, as he fell to the ground. “Had he fought like an Englishman, without the cloak, I had killed him. Revenge me, comrades,” he added, with his last breath.
“I have done thee too much honour in killing41 thee, vile42 caitiff,” cried Philip, spurning43 the body with his foot.
The death of the leader caused a momentary44 pause in the assault. But determined45 to make sure of their prey46, three of the ruffians now attacked the Prince, leaving the fourth engaged with Osbert. But for his activity and address it might now have fared ill with Philip. His cloak saved him from many a deadly thrust aimed at his breast, and distracted his assailants. Strange to say, he was entirely47 untouched, though all three of his opponents had felt the point of his weapon. He tried to separate them, but without success. They were too wary48 to be caught by the stratagem49.
In this way, he was driven back towards the door of the hospital, before which stood Constance and old Dorcas, unable to gain admittance, and filling the court with cries for help. Presently at this juncture50, and as if to afford him a means of retreat, the door of the hospital was thrown open by old Absalom, the porter, who held a lamp in his hand, and was shaking with terror. While stepping nimbly backwards51 in the hope of passing through the doorway52, Philip encountered some obstacle, and fell, thus lying at the mercy of his opponents.
In another moment all had been over with him, if Constance had not heroically thrown herself before him, and the ruffians, having some touch of manhood in their breasts, forbore to strike. With terrible oaths, however, they ordered her to stand aside, but, with unshaken resolution, she maintained her place, and they were preparing to execute their fell purpose in spite of her, when a loud clatter53 in the passage leading to the street warned them that succour was at hand, and made them pause. The next moment Rodomont Bittern and his friends, shouting and flourishing their swords, and accompanied by two or three torch-bearers, rushed into the court.
Constance Tyrrell saves the life of the Prince of Spain.
P. 64.
65“A Rodomont to the rescue!” roared Bittern. “Where is Don Philip? Heaven be praised, we are not too late!” he exclaimed, perceiving the Prince, who by this time had regained54 his feet. “Down with your swords, villains!” he added to the ruffians. “Down with them instantly, or we will hack55 you to minced-meat.”
“Know you whom you aid?” cried one of the men, regarding him fiercely. “It is the Prince of Spain—the arch-foe of England. But for this foolish damsel we had already destroyed him!”
“Soh! you unblushingly confess your villany?” rejoined Rodomont. “A precious rascal56, truly!”
“Ay, and I should have exulted57 in the deed, if I had accomplished it,” retorted the man. “A day will come when you will regret this interference. Think not to detain me.”
“Stay him! kill him! suffer him not to escape!” shouted Rodomont to his companions.
But, in spite of the many weapons directed against him, the man fought his way desperately58 towards the passage, and was close upon it, when a cut on the head staggered him, and he was captured and disarmed59. He was followed by his two comrades, both of whom were more successful than himself, and effected a retreat. The ruffian who had been engaged with Osbert likewise escaped, having broken away amid the confusion caused by the arrival of Rodomont and his party. Some pursuit was made after the miscreants, but it was ineffectual.
No sooner was Philip freed from his assailants, than he turned to express his gratitude to Constance.
“I owe my life to you,” he said; “nay, more, you have risked your own life to preserve mine. How can I requite60 you?”
“By forgetting that you have ever beheld61 me,” she replied.
“That were impossible,” he rejoined. “Ask something that I can perform.”
“I desire nothing,” she returned; “and, indeed, I do not merit your gratitude. It is the hand of Heaven that has guarded your Highness, not mine—guarded you for the Queen, to whom your safety is dearer than her own life, and 66who might not have survived your loss. I must now retire for a short space, to compose myself ere I return home. Once more, I implore62 you to forget me. Farewell for ever!”
And without another word, and in spite of Philip’s appealing looks, she entered the hospital with Dorcas.
“It would be well if I could forget her,” thought Philip, as Constance disappeared; “but that is beyond my power. I could not tear her from my heart without a pang63 greater than I could endure. Yet it would be a crime to trouble the peace of one so pure and holy-minded. No matter! I should be wretched without her. Come what will, we must meet again.”
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1
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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procures
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的第三人称单数 )；拉皮条 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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miscreants
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| n.恶棍，歹徒( miscreant的名词复数 ) | |
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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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13
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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buttress
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| n.支撑物；v.支持 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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abjured
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| v.发誓放弃( abjure的过去式和过去分词 )；郑重放弃（意见）；宣布撤回（声明等）；避免 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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redound
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| v.有助于；提；报应 | |
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spawn
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| n.卵，产物，后代，结果；vt.产卵，种菌丝于，产生，造成；vi.产卵，大量生产 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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spurning
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的现在分词 ) | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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50
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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51
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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52
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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53
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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54
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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55
hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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57
exulted
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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requite
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| v.报酬，报答 | |
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61
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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62
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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63
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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