When Derrick Carver was brought before the tribunal, Bonner eyed him with a smile of malignant1 satisfaction, and observed to Sheriff Woodrooffe, who was sitting near him,—
“At last I have got this pestilent fellow, whom the Cardinal2 has so long screened from justice. He shall not escape now. I will deal roundly with him.”
On this, he caused the minutes of the prisoner’s previous examinations to be read to him by an officer in the court, which being done, Bonner said, in a bitter and derisive3 tone.
“Such were the detestable and damnable opinions professed4 by thee, Derrick Carver, when thou wert last interrogated5 in the Lollards’ Tower; but doubtless the exhortations6 and persuasions8 of the Lord Cardinal have wrought9 a beneficial change, and thou art now willing to confess thine errors and abjure10 them.”
“My opinions have undergone no change,” replied Carver. “But if any Romanist could have converted me, it would be Cardinal Pole.”
“Ah! you admit so much,” cried Bonner. “Why should Cardinal Pole prevail with you more than others? Hath he more zeal11—more devotion—more theological learning than others have?”
“I know not whether he hath more zeal and learning than your lordship, but he has more Christian12 charity,” replied 335Carver. “He understands the Gospel, and is guided by its precepts13, which you are not.”
“Belike you deem his Eminence14 less rigid15, less orthodox than I am?” said Bonner.
“My tenets are not his tenets,” replied Carver; “yet I hold him to be a good man, though, unhappily, blinded to the truth. Your lordship may be the more orthodox Catholic of the two, but you are the worse man.”
“I thank thee for the admission, thou foul-mouthed knave,” cried Bonner. “You all hear that he charges the Cardinal with unsoundness of opinion,” he added to the court.
“I charge thee with attempting to pervert16 my words,” retorted Carver. “I meant to say that Cardinal Pole is the chief living light and glory of the Church of Rome, whereas thou art its shame and reproach. In after times, when this bitter persecution17 of the faithful is spoken of, Reginald Pole will be remembered for mildness and toleration, while thou wilt18 be execrated19 as the ’bloody Bishop20 Bonner’—a name that shall cling to thee for ever!”
“I would rather have thy censure21 than thy commendation,” rejoined Bonner. “Had the Cardinal treated thee with due severity, thou wouldst never have lauded22 his virtues23. But thou hast said enough to convince us thou art obstinate24 and impenitent25. Therefore I shall not take up the time of the court by questioning thee further. Down on thy knees while sentence of excommunication is pronounced upon thee.”
“I kneel only to Heaven,” replied the prisoner, firmly.
At a sign from the bishop, two officers seized him, and, in spite of his resistance, forced him upon his knees, detaining him in this posture26 while the sentence was read to him by Bonner. This done, he was permitted to rise, and the officers left him.
“Thou art now accursed,” pursued Bonner, “and henceforward, if any man shall eat with thee, or drink with thee, or otherwise help thee or comfort thee, he will be a partaker in the curse.”
“You have put me out of the communion of a Church which I have quitted of my own accord for these ten years,” said Carver. “As to your anathemas27, they affright me not. May they recoil28 with added strength on your own head.”
336“Away, thou miserable29 blasphemer!” cried Bonner, furiously. “I have done with thee for ever.”
“No, not for ever, thou unrighteous judge,” rejoined Carver. “I summon thee to appear with me before the Judgment30 Throne of Heaven to answer for the blood thou art about to shed.”
So awful was the tone in which these words were uttered, that a profound impression was upon all the hearers, and even Bonner trembled. But he quickly shook off his trepidation31, and exclaimed,—
“The gates of Heaven will be fast closed to you, unless you repent32. You will now be delivered to the sheriffs, and by them will be taken to Newgate, where you will remain until after your trial. If you are condemned33, as I nothing doubt you will be, you will be burned at Lewes, from the neighbourhood of which place you come, and where we learn there are many tainted34 with false doctrines35, to whom your death may prove a salutary warning.”
“It will strengthen them in their faith, when they see how a believer in the Gospel can die,” rejoined Carver.
“Away with him!” cried Bonner, impatiently. “Away with him!”
On this, the prisoner was removed from the court, and conveyed with two others, who had been examined before his arrival at the consistory, to Newgate.
By command of Sheriff Woodrooffe, who accompanied him to the prison, he was placed in a noisome36 dungeon37, and only allowed bread and water. After a few days’ confinement38, he was brought up for trial, and, as had been foretold39 by Bonner, condemned to death at the stake.
Orders were then given by Sheriff Woodrooffe that he should be taken to Lewes, under a sufficient guard, for immediate40 execution, and on the following day the little cavalcade41 set out on its journey, stopping for the first night at Croydon. The inhabitants of the place flocked forth42 to see the prisoner, and many of them expressed great commiseration43 for him, but he was not permitted by the guard to speak to them, or to receive any refreshments44 offered him.
“Avoid him!” cried Father Josfrid, a Dominican friar by whom he was accompanied; “he is excommunicated, 337and if ye give him aught, ye will share in the heavy curse under which he labours.”
From the exhortations of this zealous45 monk46 Carver was never for a moment free, though they produced no other effect upon him than annoyance47. The escort was commanded by an officer named Brand, who had been selected for the business by Sheriff Woodrooffe on account of his hatred48 to the Protestant party. He was a sullen49, sour-tempered personage, and showed his ill will to the prisoner both by word and blow. Carver, however, bore this harsh usage without a murmur50.
On the second day the party reached East Grinstead, where they passed the night, a cellar with a truss of straw laid on the floor being allotted51 to Carver; and starting early on the following morning, they reached Ditchling about noon, and, after an hour’s halt, commenced the ascent52 of the downs.
On arriving at Ditchling, the prisoner earnestly besought53 Captain Brand to take him to Brightelmstone, in order that he might bid farewell to his wife and children, and aged54 mother; but the petition was refused, the officer declaring he would not go half-a-dozen miles out of his way to pleasure a heretic.
“They can come and see you burned at Lewes to-morrow, if they list,” he added, with a savage55 grin.
Hearing what passed, a young man, mounted on a strong iron-grey horse, who had entered the inn-yard almost immediately after the little cavalcade, inquired the nearest road to Brightelmstone, and immediately galloped56 off in that direction.
Having mounted the steep hill-side, and passed Ditchling Beacon57, the party proceeded along the brow of the downs, whence such magnificent views of the weald of Sussex are obtained, though these now received little attention, until they came to Mount Harry58, on whose verdant59 slopes was fought the great battle between Henry III. and the Barons60 under Simon de Montfort, when the ancient and picturesque61 town of Lewes, with its towering castle and ruined priory, its numerous churches, gates, and circling walls, burst upon their view.
“Welcome! thou city of refuge,” exclaimed Carver, stretching out his hands towards the town. “Thou art 338gladsome to mine eyes as was Ramoth Gilead to the fugitives62 from Jordan. There shall I be at rest.”
“There will be a rare bonfire in that old town to-morrow,” observed Captain Brand, in a jeering63 tone, to the prisoner—“a bonfire such as the townsfolk have seldom seen, and which they are likely long to recollect64. ’Twill be a grand spectacle to those who look on,” he added with stern significance.
“I had rather be the chief actor in the spectacle than a beholder65 of it,” replied Carver; “and I trust those who witness it will long remember it.”
On this, Brand rode on, and Father Josfrid resumed the exhortation7 which he had been obliged for the nonce to suspend.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
malignant
|
|
| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
cardinal
|
|
| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
derisive
|
|
| adj.嘲弄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
professed
|
|
| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
interrogated
|
|
| v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
exhortations
|
|
| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
exhortation
|
|
| n.劝告，规劝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
persuasions
|
|
| n.劝说，说服（力）( persuasion的名词复数 )；信仰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
abjure
|
|
| v.发誓放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
precepts
|
|
| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
eminence
|
|
| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
pervert
|
|
| n.堕落者，反常者；vt.误用，滥用；使人堕落，使入邪路 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
persecution
|
|
| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
wilt
|
|
| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
execrated
|
|
| v.憎恶( execrate的过去式和过去分词 )；厌恶；诅咒；咒骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
bishop
|
|
| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
censure
|
|
| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
lauded
|
|
| v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
obstinate
|
|
| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
impenitent
|
|
| adj.不悔悟的，顽固的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
posture
|
|
| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
anathemas
|
|
| n.（天主教的）革出教门( anathema的名词复数 )；诅咒；令人极其讨厌的事；被基督教诅咒的人或事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
28
recoil
|
|
| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
trepidation
|
|
| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
repent
|
|
| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
tainted
|
|
| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
doctrines
|
|
| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
noisome
|
|
| adj.有害的，可厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
dungeon
|
|
| n.地牢，土牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
confinement
|
|
| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
foretold
|
|
| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
cavalcade
|
|
| n.车队等的行列 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
commiseration
|
|
| n.怜悯，同情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
refreshments
|
|
| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
zealous
|
|
| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
monk
|
|
| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
allotted
|
|
| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
ascent
|
|
| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
besought
|
|
| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
aged
|
|
| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
galloped
|
|
| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
beacon
|
|
| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
verdant
|
|
| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
barons
|
|
| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
fugitives
|
|
| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
jeering
|
|
| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
recollect
|
|
| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
beholder
|
|
| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |