The conduct of the baron1 toward the deputy of the marshal, the Duke of Vitry, had been generally approved by the nobility of the neighbourhood.
A very small number of gentlemen had submitted to the orders of the governor.
Master Isnard, established in a hostelry of La Ciotat, had despatched a messenger to Marseilles for the purpose of informing the marshal of the lively resistance he had encountered upon the subject of the census2 of arms.
The citizens generally ranged themselves on the side of the nobility and the clergy3, who defended Proven?al rights and privileges.
The three estates—the holy clergy, the illustrious nobility, and the Proven?al republic and communities, as C?sar de Nostradamus names them in his history of Provence—sustained themselves against a common enemy, which is to say, against any governor who attacked their privileges, or, in the opinion of the Proven-?als, was unworthy of governing their country.
Nevertheless, transient divisions occurred between the nobility and the citizens when particular interests became involved.
Master Isnard had arrived in La Ciotat at a time when some feeling of resentment5 against Raimond V. was being manifested.
One of the consuls7 of the town, Master Talebard-Talebardon, sustained in the name of the citizens a lawsuit8 against the baron, upon the subject of certain fishing-nets, which he claimed the lord of Anbiez had laid without legal right in a bay outside his privilege, and thereby9 was injuring the interests of the town.
Although the inhabitants of La Ciotat had, on many occasions, found aid and support from the baron, although at the last descent of the pirates he had, at the head of his own household servants, fought valiantly10, and almost saved the city, the gratitude11 of the citizens did not extend to an absolute submission12 to the will of Raimond V.
The consul6 Talebard-Talebardon, a personal enemy of the baron, always exaggerating the faults of this nobleman, had so envenomed the question, that great disaffection was already being manifested among the citizens.
Arriving at this time, Master Isnard excited these dissensions, fanned the fire, and spoke13 at length of his cruel reception at Maison-Forte. Although he was not of the country, he succeeded in making the outrage14 done him appear as a question between the nobility and the citizens.
The recorder induced the consuls to withdraw within the limits of their dignity, and, instead of continuing the amicable15 negotiations16 already initiated17, to insist upon the baron’s appearance before the tribunal of overseers.
This malevolent18 disposition19 once gaining ground, the malcontents did not stop there. They forgot the real services that Raimond V. had rendered to the city, his generous hospitality, the good that he was doing in the neighbourhood, to remember that he was abusive, hotheaded, and always ready to lift his rod.
They exaggerated the havoc20 made by his dogs in the chase; they spoke of the brutal21 manner in which he had treated the citizens at the time of their complaint concerning the fishing-nets; in short, after the appearance of the recorder in La Ciotat, they began to speak of the Baron des Anbiez as a veritable feudal22 tyrant23.
While the storm was gathering24 on that side, the most perfect tranquillity25 reigned26 in Maison-Forte.
Raimond V. drank and hunted in the finest style, going through his domains27 almost every day, with an unequalled activity; he visited his neighbours at their country-seats, in order to preserve, as he said, the sacred fire, or, rather, the general opposition28 to the Marshal of Vitry, demanding from each one his signature, appended to a supplication29 addressed to the king.
In this manifesto30, or public declaration, the Proven?al nobility formally demanded the recall of the marshal, reminding Louis XIII. that his father, of glorious memory, the great Henri, had, under similar circumstances, recalled the Duke d’Epernon, in order to redress31 the just complaints of the country.
Finally, the nobility expressed, in this act, their respectful regrets not to be able to submit to the orders of the cardinal32, in renouncing33 their right to arm their houses, inasmuch as their own safety required that they should always be in a state of defence.
Redoubling his activity, the baron regained34, as he said, the legs and arms of twenty years, in this crusade against Marshal of Vitry.
Such was the moral aspect of Maison-Forte some days after the event of which we have spoken.
We have not forgotten the Bohemian, who, arriving in the train of the recorder, had, upon the baron’s invitation, scaled the balcony in so agile35 and surprising a manner.
To make use of a particular and modern expression, the vagabond Bohemian had become quite the fashion in the rustic36 and warlike habitation of Raimond V.
In the first place, he had mended numerous household utensils37 with remarkable38 skill.
Then Eclair, the favourite greyhound of the baron, put her paw out of joint39, whereupon the Bohemian went up on the mountain and gathered certain herbs by the light of the moon, and carefully wrapped the sick member in them, and the next day Eclair was able to stretch her legs on the rosy40 heather of the baronial plains and valleys.
That was not all. Mistraon, the favourite horse of Raimond V., was wounded in the frush of his foot by a sharp stone; by means of a thin layer of iron deftly41 inserted in the slope of the shoe, the Bohemian made a sort of Turkish horseshoe, which ever after preserved the invalid42 foot of Mistraon from all injury.
The baron doted on the Bohemian. Dame43 Dulceline herself, notwithstanding her holy horror of this unbeliever, who, never having been baptised, could not bear the name of Christian44, relented somewhat when the unbeliever gave her marvellous recipes for colouring pieces of glass, stuffing birds, and making excellent cordials.
The good Abbé Mascarolus was not less under the charm, thanks to some pharmaceutic specifics of which the Bohemian had given him the secret. The only regret of the worthy4 chaplain was to find the vagabond so obstinate46 and shy upon the subject of his conversion47.
Such was the serious side of the Bohemian’s qualifications. To that he united the most versatile48 and agreeable accomplishments49. He had in a little cage two beautiful pigeons, which showed an almost superhuman intelligence; his ass45 astonished the household of Maison-Forte by the grace with which he walked on his hind50 legs; besides, the Bohemian played with iron balls and daggers51 as well as the best juggler52 from India; he was as good a marksman as the most accomplished53 carabineer; and, finally, to conclude the enumeration54 of this vagabond’s wonderful attractions, he sang charmingly, as he accompanied himself on a sort of Moorish55 guitar with three strings56.
It was doubtless to this talent that he owed the nickname of the “Singer,” by which he was known among his comrades.
Stephanette was the first to inform her mistress of the new troubadour; in fact, although he was rather ugly than handsome, the flexible and expressive57 features of the Bohemian seemed almost charming when he sang his soft and melancholy58 songs.
One must understand the calm, monotonous59 life of the inmates60 of Maison-Forte, to comprehend the success of the Bohemian.
Reine, beset61 by the entreaties62 of Stephanette, finally consented to hear him.
Honorat de Berrol, together with his betrothed63, had made a visit to Marseilles, without the knowledge of Raimond V., to learn the results of the complaints entered by the recorder.
In case the baron had aught to fear from these complaints, Honorat was immediately to inform Reine, and employ the influence of one of her relatives, who was a friend of Marshal of Vitry, to subdue64 the resentment raised by the imprudent conduct of the baron.
Reine hoped to find some distraction65 to her sad thoughts, by listening to the songs of the Bohemian.
The image of the unknown hero haunted her more and more. The fantastical, mysterious circumstances, which had so strangely excited her memory, interested and frightened her at the same time; in the meanwhile, desiring, or, rather, thinking to put an end to this romantic adventure, she had, to the great joy of Honorat, fixed66 her marriage on the day following the festivity of Christmas, and yet, the nearer the day approached, the more she repented67 of her promise.
In the very depths of her heart she would ask herself with a vague fear if she no longer loved her betrothed as in the past. But this question remained unanswered; the young girl did not dare, so to speak, to listen to the response made by her conscience.
Reine was seated in sad meditation68 in the little turret69 which served her as a drawing-room, when Stephanette entered and said to her mistress:
“Mademoiselle, here is the Singer; he is in the passage, shall I ask him to enter?”
“For what purpose?” said Reine, with indifference70. “For what purpose, mademoiselle? Why, to distract you from these witchcrafts which torment71 you. What a pity this unbeliever is an unbeliever! Really, mademoiselle, since he has left off his leather jerkin, and monseigneur has made him a present of a scarlet72 doublet, he looks like a gendarme73, and more, too, he has a golden tongue, I answer for it. And I was obliged, if you please, to give him the flame-coloured ribbon I always wore around my head to fasten his collar, you see. Without that he would not dare, so he said, to present himself before mademoiselle.”
“I see, my dear, that you have sacrificed yourself,” said Reine, smiling in spite of herself. “I doubt if Luquin will congratulate you very much on this disinterested74 devotion. But where is this brave captain, and when will he return?”
“This evening or to-morrow morning, mademoiselle; the fishermen met him near Trefus. He was obliged to lessen75 the speed of his tartan to accommodate the large ships that he was escorting from Nice.”
“And do you think that he would like to have you give ribbons to this strolling singer?”
“By Our Lady! whether he likes it or not does not matter to me. If it is necessary to obtain some amusement for my dear mistress I would not hesitate for a cheap piece of ribbon.”
“Ah, Stephanette, Stephanette! you are a real coquette. I have seen the sharp black eyes of this vagabond looking into yours more than once.”
“That shows, mademoiselle, that he approves of Lu-quin’s taste, and my captain ought to feel flattered by it,” answered Stephanette, smiling.
“You are wrong; you will make your betrothed angry,” replied Reine, with a more serious expression.
“Ah, my dear mistress, cannot one love her betrothed faithfully and tenderly, and amuse herself with the flatteries of a vagabond foreigner, as you call him?”
Reine took this response, to which Stephanette had attached no significance, as an allusion76 to her own thoughts.
She looked at her attendant sternly, and said, with an imperious air, “Stephanette!”
The pretty, innocent face of the young girl suddenly assumed an expression of such sadness as she raised her large eyes, in which a tear glittered, full of a grieved surprise to her mistress, that Reine extended her hand to her and said:
“Come, come, you are a foolish but a good and honest girl.”
Stephanette, smiling through her tears, kissed the hand of her mistress with affectionate gratitude, and said, as she wiped her eyes with the end of her slender fingers: “Shall I tell the Singer to come in, mademoiselle?”
“Yes, go and tell him, since you wish it; let the sacrifice of your flame-coloured ribbon do some good at least.”
Stephanette smiled with an mischievous77 air, went out, and returned followed by the Bohemian.
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收听单词发音
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1
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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census
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| n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查 | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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consuls
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| 领事( consul的名词复数 )； （古罗马共和国时期）执政官 （古罗马共和国及其军队的最高首长，同时共有两位，每年选举一次） | |
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lawsuit
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| n.诉讼，控诉 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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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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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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amicable
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| adj.和平的，友好的；友善的 | |
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negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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18
malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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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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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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manifesto
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| n.宣言，声明 | |
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redress
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| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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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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agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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45
ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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46
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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48
versatile
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| adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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51
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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juggler
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| n. 变戏法者, 行骗者 | |
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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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54
enumeration
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| n.计数，列举；细目；详表；点查 | |
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55
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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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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gendarme
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| n.宪兵 | |
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disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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