St. Luke's day had come and had gone, and it was in the season of Martinmas, when the oxen are driven in to the slaughter2, that the White Company was ready for its journey. Loud shrieked3 the brazen4 bugles5 from keep and from gateway6, and merry was the rattle7 of the war-drum, as the men gathered in the outer bailey, with torches to light them, for the morn had not yet broken. Alleyne, from the window of the armory8, looked down upon the strange scene—the circles of yellow flickering9 light, the lines of stern and bearded faces, the quick shimmer10 of arms, and the lean heads of the horses. In front stood the bow-men, ten deep, with a fringe of under-officers, who paced hither and thither11 marshalling the ranks with curt12 precept13 or short rebuke14. Behind were the little clump15 of steel-clad horsemen, their lances raised, with long pensils drooping16 down the oaken shafts17. So silent and still were they, that they might have been metal-sheathed statues, were it not for the occasional quick, impatient stamp of their chargers, or the rattle of chamfron against neck-plates as they tossed and strained. A spear's length in front of them sat the spare and long-limbed figure of Black Simon, the Norwich fighting man, his fierce, deep-lined face framed in steel, and the silk guidon marked with the five scarlet18 roses slanting19 over his right shoulder. All round, in the edge of the circle of the light, stood the castle servants, the soldiers who were to form the garrison20, and little knots of women, who sobbed21 in their aprons22 and called shrilly23 to their name-saints to watch over the Wat, or Will, or Peterkin who had turned his hand to the work of war.
The young squire24 was leaning forward, gazing at the stirring and martial25 scene, when he heard a short, quick gasp26 at his shoulder, and there was the Lady Maude, with her hand to her heart, leaning up against the wall, slender and fair, like a half-plucked lily. Her face was turned away from him, but he could see, by the sharp intake27 of her breath, that she was weeping bitterly.
“Alas28! alas!” he cried, all unnerved at the sight, “why is it that you are so sad, lady?”
“It is the sight of these brave men,” she answered; “and to think how many of them go and how few are like to find their way back. I have seen it before, when I was a little maid, in the year of the Prince's great battle. I remember then how they mustered30 in the bailey, even as they do now, and my lady-mother holding me in her arms at this very window that I might see the show.”
“Please God, you will see them all back ere another year be out,” said he.
She shook her head, looking round at him with flushed cheeks and eyes that sparkled in the lamp-light. “Oh, but I hate myself for being a woman!” she cried, with a stamp of her little foot. “What can I do that is good? Here I must bide31, and talk and sew and spin, and spin and sew and talk. Ever the same dull round, with nothing at the end of it. And now you are going too, who could carry my thoughts out of these gray walls, and raise my mind above tapestry32 and distaffs. What can I do? I am of no more use or value than that broken bowstave.”
“You are of such value to me,” he cried, in a whirl of hot, passionate33 words, “that all else has become nought34. You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought. Oh, Maude, I cannot live without you, I cannot leave you without a word of love. All is changed to me since I have known you. I am poor and lowly and all unworthy of you; but if great love may weigh down such defects, then mine may do it. Give me but one word of hope to take to the wars with me—but one. Ah, you shrink, you shudder35! My wild words have frightened you.”
Twice she opened her lips, and twice no sound came from them. At last she spoke36 in a hard and measured voice, as one who dare not trust herself to speak too freely.
“This is over sudden,” she said; “it is not so long since the world was nothing to you. You have changed once; perchance you may change again.”
“Cruel!” he cried, “who hath changed me?”
“And then your brother,” she continued with a little laugh, disregarding his question. “Methinks this hath become a family custom amongst the Edricsons. Nay37, I am sorry; I did not mean a jibe38. But, indeed, Alleyne, this hath come suddenly upon me, and I scarce know what to say.”
“Say some word of hope, however distant—some kind word that I may cherish in my heart.”
“Nay, Alleyne, it were a cruel kindness, and you have been too good and true a friend to me that I should use you despitefully. There cannot be a closer link between us. It is madness to think of it. Were there no other reasons, it is enough that my father and your brother would both cry out against it.”
“My brother, what has he to do with it? And your father——”
“Come, Alleyne, was it not you who would have me act fairly to all men, and, certes, to my father amongst them?”
“You say truly,” he cried, “you say truly. But you do not reject me, Maude? You give me some ray of hope? I do not ask pledge or promise. Say only that I am not hateful to you—that on some happier day I may hear kinder words from you.”
Her eyes softened39 upon him, and a kind answer was on her lips, when a hoarse40 shout, with the clatter41 of arms and stamping of steeds, rose up from the bailey below. At the sound her face set her eyes sparkled, and she stood with flushed cheek and head thrown back—a woman's body, with a soul of fire.
“My father hath gone down,” she cried. “Your place is by his side. Nay, look not at me, Alleyne. It is no time for dallying42. Win my father's love, and all may follow. It is when the brave soldier hath done his devoir that he hopes for his reward. Farewell, and may God be with you!” She held out her white, slim hand to him, but as he bent43 his lips over it she whisked away and was gone, leaving in his outstretched hand the very green veil for which poor Peter Terlake had craved45 in vain. Again the hoarse cheering burst out from below, and he heard the clang of the rising portcullis. Pressing the veil to his lips, he thrust it into the bosom46 of his tunic47, and rushed as fast as feet could bear him to arm himself and join the muster29.
The raw morning had broken ere the hot spiced ale had been served round and the last farewell spoken. A cold wind blew up from the sea and ragged48 clouds drifted swiftly across the sky.
The Christchurch townsfolk stood huddled49 about the Bridge of Avon, the women pulling tight their shawls and the men swathing themselves in their gaberdines, while down the winding50 path from the castle came the van of the little army, their feet clanging on the hard, frozen road. First came Black Simon with his banner, bestriding a lean and powerful dapple-gray charger, as hard and wiry and warwise as himself. After him, riding three abreast51, were nine men-at-arms, all picked soldiers, who had followed the French wars before, and knew the marches of Picardy as they knew the downs of their native Hampshire. They were armed to the teeth with lance, sword, and mace52, with square shields notched53 at the upper right-hand corner to serve as a spear-rest. For defence each man wore a coat of interlaced leathern thongs54, strengthened at the shoulder, elbow, and upper arm with slips of steel. Greaves and knee-pieces were also of leather backed by steel, and their gauntlets and shoes were of iron plates, craftily55 jointed56. So, with jingle57 of arms and clatter of hoofs58, they rode across the Bridge of Avon, while the burghers shouted lustily for the flag of the five roses and its gallant59 guard.
Close at the heels of the horses came two-score archers60 bearded and burly, their round targets on their backs and their long yellow bows, the most deadly weapon that the wit of man had yet devised, thrusting forth from behind their shoulders. From each man's girdle hung sword or axe61, according to his humor, and over the right hip62 there jutted63 out the leathern quiver with its bristle64 of goose, pigeon, and peacock feathers. Behind the bowmen strode two trumpeters blowing upon nakirs, and two drummers in parti-colored clothes. After them came twenty-seven sumpter horses carrying tent-poles, cloth, spare arms, spurs, wedges, cooking kettles, horse-shoes, bags of nails and the hundred other things which experience had shown to be needful in a harried65 and hostile country. A white mule66 with red trappings, led by a varlet, carried Sir Nigel's own napery and table comforts. Then came two-score more archers, ten more men-at-arms, and finally a rear guard of twenty bowmen, with big John towering in the front rank and the veteran Aylward marching by the side, his battered67 harness and faded surcoat in strange contrast with the snow-white jupons and shining brigandines of his companions. A quick cross-fire of greetings and questions and rough West Saxon jests flew from rank to rank, or were bandied about betwixt the marching archers and the gazing crowd.
“Hola, Gaffer Higginson!” cried Aylward, as he spied the portly figure of the village innkeeper. “No more of thy nut-brown, mon gar. We leave it behind us.”
“By St. Paul, no!” cried the other. “You take it with you. Devil a drop have you left in the great kilderkin. It was time for you to go.”
“If your cask is leer, I warrant your purse is full, gaffer,” shouted Hordle John. “See that you lay in good store of the best for our home-coming.”
“See that you keep your throat whole for the drinking of it archer,” cried a voice, and the crowd laughed at the rough pleasantry.
“If you will warrant the beer, I will warrant the throat,” said John composedly.
“Close up the ranks!” cried Aylward. “En avant, mes enfants! Ah, by my finger bones, there is my sweet Mary from the Priory Mill! Ma foi, but she is beautiful! Adieu, Mary ma cherie! Mon coeur est toujours a toi. Brace68 your belt, Watkins, man, and swing your shoulders as a free companion should. By my hilt! your jerkins will be as dirty as mine ere you clap eyes on Hengistbury Head again.”
The Company had marched to the turn of the road ere Sir Nigel Loring rode out from the gateway, mounted on Pommers, his great black war-horse, whose ponderous69 footfall on the wooden drawbridge echoed loudly from the gloomy arch which spanned it. Sir Nigel was still in his velvet70 dress of peace, with flat velvet cap of maintenance, and curling ostrich71 feather clasped in a golden brooch. To his three squires72 riding behind him it looked as though he bore the bird's egg as well as its feather, for the back of his bald pate73 shone like a globe of ivory. He bore no arms save the long and heavy sword which hung at his saddle-bow; but Terlake carried in front of him the high wivern-crested bassinet, Ford74 the heavy ash spear with swallow-tail pennon, while Alleyne was entrusted75 with the emblazoned shield. The Lady Loring rode her palfrey at her lord's bridle-arm, for she would see him as far as the edge of the forest, and ever and anon she turned her hard-lined face up wistfully to him and ran a questioning eye over his apparel and appointments.
“I trust that there is nothing forgot,” she said, beckoning76 to Alleyne to ride on her further side. “I trust him to you, Edricson. Hosen, shirts, cyclas, and under-jupons are in the brown basket on the left side of the mule. His wine he takes hot when the nights are cold, malvoisie or vernage, with as much spice as would cover the thumb-nail. See that he hath a change if he come back hot from the tilting77. There is goose-grease in a box, if the old scars ache at the turn of the weather. Let his blankets be dry and——”
“Nay, my heart's life,” the little knight78 interrupted, “trouble not now about such matters. Why so pale and wan79, Edricson? Is it not enow to make a man's heart dance to see this noble Company, such valiant80 men-at-arms, such lusty archers? By St. Paul! I would be ill to please if I were not blithe81 to see the red roses flying at the head of so noble a following!”
“The purse I have already given you, Edricson,” continued the lady. “There are in it twenty-three marks, one noble, three shillings and fourpence, which is a great treasure for one man to carry. And I pray you to bear in mind, Edricson, that he hath two pair of shoes, those of red leather for common use, and the others with golden toe-chains, which he may wear should he chance to drink wine with the Prince or with Chandos.”
“My sweet bird,” said Sir Nigel, “I am right loth to part from you, but we are now at the fringe of the forest, and it is not right that I should take the chatelaine too far from her trust.”
“But oh, my dear lord,” she cried with a trembling lip, “let me bide with you for one furlong further—or one and a half perhaps. You may spare me this out of the weary miles that you will journey along.”
“Come, then, my heart's comfort,” he answered. “But I must crave44 a gage82 from thee. It is my custom, dearling, and hath been since I have first known thee, to proclaim by herald83 in such camps, townships, or fortalices as I may chance to visit, that my lady-love, being beyond compare the fairest and sweetest in Christendom, I should deem it great honor and kindly84 condescension85 if any cavalier would run three courses against me with sharpened lances, should he chance to have a lady whose claim he was willing to advance. I pray you then my fair dove, that you will vouchsafe86 to me one of those doeskin gloves, that I may wear it as the badge of her whose servant I shall ever be.”
“Alack and alas for the fairest and sweetest!” she cried. “Fair and sweet I would fain be for your dear sake, my lord, but old I am and ugly, and the knights87 would laugh should you lay lance in rest in such a cause.”
“Edricson,” quoth Sir Nigel, “you have young eyes, and mine are somewhat bedimmed. Should you chance to see a knight laugh, or smile, or even, look you, arch his brows, or purse his mouth, or in any way show surprise that I should uphold the Lady Mary, you will take particular note of his name, his coat-armor, and his lodging88. Your glove, my life's desire!”
The Lady Mary Loring slipped her hand from her yellow leather gauntlet, and he, lifting it with dainty reverence89, bound it to the front of his velvet cap.
“It is with mine other guardian90 angels,” quoth he, pointing at the saints' medals which hung beside it. “And now, my dearest, you have come far enow. May the Virgin91 guard and prosper92 thee! One kiss!” He bent down from his saddle, and then, striking spurs into his horse's sides, he galloped93 at top speed after his men, with his three squires at his heels. Half a mile further, where the road topped a hill, they looked back, and the Lady Mary on her white palfrey was still where they had left her. A moment later they were on the downward slope, and she had vanished from their view.
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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armory
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| n.纹章，兵工厂，军械库 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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shimmer
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| v./n.发微光，发闪光；微光 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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precept
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| n.戒律；格言 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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aprons
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| 围裙( apron的名词复数 )； 停机坪，台口（舞台幕前的部份） | |
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shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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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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intake
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| n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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jibe
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| v.嘲笑，与...一致，使转向；n.嘲笑，嘲弄 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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42
dallying
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| v.随随便便地对待( dally的现在分词 )；不很认真地考虑；浪费时间；调情 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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48
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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49
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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50
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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51
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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52
mace
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| n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮 | |
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notched
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| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
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54
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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craftily
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| 狡猾地，狡诈地 | |
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jointed
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| 有接缝的 | |
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jingle
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| n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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archers
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| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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61
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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63
jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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bristle
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| v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发 | |
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65
harried
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| v.使苦恼( harry的过去式和过去分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
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66
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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67
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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68
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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69
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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70
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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71
ostrich
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| n.鸵鸟 | |
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72
squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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73
pate
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| n.头顶；光顶 | |
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74
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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75
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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77
tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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78
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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79
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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80
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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81
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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82
gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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83
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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84
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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85
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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86
vouchsafe
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| v.惠予，准许 | |
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87
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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88
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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89
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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90
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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91
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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92
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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93
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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