"'Has this nephew of yours, of whom you were speaking to me, come yet?'
"I told him that you had been here well-nigh four months, that you had been practising in arms with my best swordsmen, who spoke2 highly of you, and that the whole of your spare time had been spent at the monastery3, where you had been studying to acquire the art of reading and writing, thinking that such knowledge must be useful to you in his service. I told him that brother Roger had reported that you had shown marvellous sharpness there, and could already read from a missal, barring only some of the long words.
"'Oh, he had the fighting monk4 for his master!' Sir Henry said, laughing. 'Truly he must have been a good pupil, if he has come out of it without having his head broken, a dozen times. The friar is a thorn in the abbot's flesh, and more than once I have had to beg him off, or he would have been sent to the monastery of Saint John, which is a place of punishment for refractory5 monks6. But in truth he is an honest fellow, though he has mistaken his vocation7. He is a valiant8 man-at-arms, and the abbot's contingent9 would be of small value, without him.
"'Well, I will see your nephew in the morning. His perseverance10 in learning, and his quickness in acquiring it, show him to be a youth of good parts, and intelligent; but until I see him, I cannot say what I will make of him.'"
Accordingly, the next morning the lad accompanied his uncle to Sir Henry's private apartment, and found the knight11 alone. Sir Henry, Lord Percy, was now about forty years old. He had received the order of knighthood at the coronation of Richard the Second, when his father was created earl; and, nine years later, he was made governor of Berwick and Warden12 of the Marches; in which office he displayed such activity in following up and punishing raiders, that the Scots gave him the name of Hotspur. He was then sent to Calais, where he showed great valour. Two years later he was made Knight of the Garter, and was then appointed to command a fleet, sent out to repel13 a threatened invasion by the French. Here he gained so great a success that he came to be regarded as one of the first captains of the age.
At Otterburn, his impetuosity cost him his freedom; for, pressing forward into the midst of the Scotch14 army, he and his brother Ralph were taken prisoners, and carried into Scotland. He had just been appointed, by King Henry, sheriff of Northumberland, and governor of Berwick and Roxburgh, and received other marks of royal favour.
Although of no remarkable15 height, his broad shoulders and long, sinewy16 arms testified to his remarkable personal strength. His face was pleasant and open, and showed but small sign of his impetuous and fiery17 disposition18.
"So this is the young springal," he said, with a smile; as, with a quick glance, he took in every detail of Oswald's figure and appearance. "By my troth, you have not overpraised him. He bears himself well, and is like to be a stout19 fighter, when he comes to his full strength. Indeed, as the son of John Forster of Yardhope, and as your nephew, good Alwyn, he could scarce be otherwise; although I have not heard that either his father, or you, ever showed any disposition for letters."
"No indeed, Sir Henry; nor have we, as far as I have ever seen, been any the worse for our lack of knowledge on that head. But with the lad here, it is different. Under your good patronage20 he may well hope to attain21, by good conduct and valour, a promotion22 where book learning may be of use to him; and therefore, when he expressed a desire to learn, I did my best to favour his design."
"And you did well, Alwyn. And since he has gained so much, in so short a time, it were a pity he should not follow it up; and he shall, if it likes him, so long as he is in this castle, have two hours every morning in which he can visit the fighting monk, until he can read and write freely.
"Now, young sir, the question is, how can we best employ you? You are too old for a lady's bower23, but not old enough, yet, for an esquire."
"Nor could I aspire25 to such a position, my lord, until I have proved myself worthy26 of it. My uncle told me that he had suggested that I might be useful as a bearer of messages, and orders; and as I know every foot of the border, from near Berwick to Cumberland, methinks that I might serve you in that way. I ride lightly, know every morass27 and swamp, and every road through the fells; and have at times, when there was peace, crossed the Cheviots by several of the passes, to pay visits to my mother's sister, who is married to one of the Armstrongs, near Jedburgh. If your lordship will deign28 to employ me in such service, I can promise to do so safely, and to justify29 my uncle's recommendation; and shall be ready, at all times, to risk my life in carrying out your orders."
"Well spoken, lad. I like the tone of your voice, and your manner of speech. They are such as will do no discredit30 to my household, and I hereby appoint you to it; further matters I will discuss with your uncle."
"A very proper lad, Alwyn. I would have done much for you, old friend, and would have taken him in some capacity, whatever he might have turned out; but, frankly32, I doubted whether John Forster, valiant moss33 trooper as he is, would have been like to have had a son whom I could enroll34 in my household, where the pages and esquires are all sons of knights36 and men of quality. It is true that his father might have been a knight, had he chosen, since the earl offered him that honour after Otterburn; for three times he charged, at the head of a handful of his own men, right into the heart of the Scottish army, to try and rescue me; but he has always kept aloof37 in his own hold, going his own way and fighting for his own hand; and never once, that I can recall, has he paid a visit to us here, or at our other seats. I feared that under such a training as he would be likely to have, the lad would have been but a rough diamond. However, from his appearance and bearing, he might well have come of a noble family."
"'Tis his mother's doing, methinks, Sir Henry. She is of gentle birth. Her father was Sir Walter Gillespie. He was killed by the Scots, when she was but a girl, or methinks he would scarcely have given her in marriage to my brother John. She went with a sister to live with an old aunt, who let the girls have their way, without murmur38; and seeing that they had no dowry, for their father was but a poor knight, there were not many claimants for their hands; and when she chose John Forster, and her sister Adam Armstrong, she did not say them nay39. She has made a good wife to him, though she must have had many an anxious hour, and doubtless it is her influence that has made the lad what he is."
"I should say, Sir Henry, as you are good enough to ask my opinion, that it were best among the esquires. It would be like putting a hunting dog among a lady's pets, to put him with the pages. Moreover, boys think more of birth than men do. The latter judge by merit, and when they see that the lad has something in him, would take to him; whereas were he with the pages there might be quarrels, and he might fall into disgrace."
"I think that you are right, Alwyn. He might get a buffet41 or two, from the esquires, but he will be none the worse for that; while with the pages it might be bickering42, and ill will. He shall take his chance with the squires35. Bring him to me at twelve o'clock, and I will myself present him to them, with such words as may gain their goodwill43, and make the way as easy as may be for him."
Accordingly, at twelve o'clock, Oswald went to Hotspur's room, and was taken by him to the hall where the esquires, six in number, had just finished a meal. They varied44 in age from eighteen to forty. They all rose, as their lord entered.
"I wish to present to you this young gentleman, my friends. He is the son of John Forster of Yardhope, whose name is familiar to you all, as one of the most valiant of the defenders45 of the border against the Scottish incursions. None distinguished46 themselves more at the battle of Otterburn, where he performed feats47 of prodigious48 valour, in his endeavours to rescue me and my brother from the hands of the Scots. The earl my father offered him knighthood, but he said bluntly that he preferred remaining, like his father, plain John Forster of Yardhope. The lad's mother is a daughter of Sir Walter Gillespie, and he is nephew of Alwyn, captain of the men-at-arms here.
"He knows every foot of the border, its morasses49, fells, and passes; and will prove a valuable messenger, when I have occasion to send orders to the border knights and yeomen. I have attached him to my household. You will find him intelligent, and active. He comes of a fighting stock; and will, I foresee, do no discredit to them in the future. I hesitated whether I should place him with the pages or with you, and have decided50 that, with your goodwill, he will be far more comfortable in your society, if you consent to receive him."
"We will do so willingly, on such recommendation," the senior of the esquires said; "as well as for the sake of his brave uncle, whom we all respect and like, and of his valiant father. The addition of young blood to our party will, indeed, not be unwelcome; and while, perchance, he may learn something from us, he will assuredly be able to tell us much that is new of the doings on the border, of which nothing but vague reports have reached our ears."
"Thanks, Allonby," Hotspur said. "I expected nothing less from you. He will, of course, practise at arms regularly, when not occupied in carrying messages; and you will be surprised to hear that he will go for two hours daily to the monastery, where he has, for the last three months, been learning reading and writing at the hands of Brother Roger, the fighting monk. It is his own desire, and a laudable one; and when I say that he has succeeded in giving Brother Roger satisfaction, you may well imagine that he must have made great progress."
A smile ran round the faces of the esquires, for Brother Roger's pugnacious51 instincts were widely known.
"Truly, Sir Henry, if brother Roger did not lose patience with him, it would be hard, indeed, if we could not get on with him; and in truth, this desire to improve himself speaks well for the lad's disposition."
When Hotspur left, Allonby said, "Take a seat, Master Oswald. But first, have you dined?"
"I took my meal an hour since, with my uncle," Oswald replied.
"Ay, I remember that your uncle sticks to the old hours. Tell us, were you with your father in that foray he headed, to carry off some cattle that had been lifted by the Bairds? We heard a report of it, last night."
"I was not with him, to my great disappointment; for he said that another year must pass, before I should be fit to hold my own in a fray52. The affair was a somewhat hot one. Three of my father's men were killed, and some ten or twelve of those under other leaders; and my father and several of the band were wounded, some very sorely. It happened thus."
And he then told the details of the affair.
"It might well have been worse," Allonby said, "for, had the Bairds had time to assemble, it would have gone hardly with your father's party; especially as there is, as I have heard, a blood feud53 between him and them."
"They have scored the last success," Oswald said, "seeing that they accompanied Sir Richard Rutherford in his raid, nigh two months ago; and, as I hear, while the rest came on harrying54 and plundering55 Croquetdale, the Bairds and their gathering56 remained at our hold, which they found deserted57, for indeed my father could not hope to defend it successfully, against so large a force; and there they employed themselves in demolishing59 the outer wall, and much of the hold itself; and would have completed their task, had it not been for the defeat inflicted61 upon the rest of the Scots by Sir Robert Umfraville, when they were forced to hasten back across the border. My father sent me a message afterwards, saying that he and my mother, with their followers62, had been forced to take to the fells; and that, on their return, they found the place well-nigh destroyed; but that he was going to set to work to rebuild it as before, and that he hoped, some time, to demolish60 the Bairds' hold in like fashion. It will be some time before the place is restored; for, my father's means being limited, he and his retainers would have to turn masons; but as the materials were there, he doubted not that, in time, they would make a good job of it."
"Truly, it is a hard life on the border," the squire24 said, "and it is wonderful that any can be found willing to live within reach of the Scotch raiders. I myself have done a fair share of fighting, under our lord's banner; but to pass my life, never knowing whether I may not awake to find the house assailed63, would be worse than the hardest service against an open foe64.
"Now, Master Oswald, we will go down to the courtyard, and see what your instructors65 have done for you, in the matter of arms. With whom have you been practising, since you came here?"
"Principally with Godfrey Harpent, Dick Bamborough, and William Anell; but I have had a turn with a great many of the other men-at-arms."
"The three men you name are all stout fellows, and good swordsmen. As a borderer, I suppose that you have practised with the lance?"
"We call it by no such knightly66 term. With us it is a spear, and nought67 else; but all borderers carry it, both for fighting and for pricking68 up cattle; and from the time that I could sit a horse I have always practised for a while, every day, with some of my father's troopers, or with himself, using blunt weapons whitened with chalk, so as to show where the hits fell. Although in a charge upon footmen, our border spearmen would couch their weapons and ride straight at their foe; in skirmishes, where each can single out an enemy, and there is a series of single combats, they do not so fight, but circle round each other, trusting to the agility69 of their horses to avoid a thrust, and to deliver one when there is an opening. Our spears are nothing like so heavy as the knightly lances, and we thrust with them as with the point of a sword."
"No, it is only in a downright charge that we try to do so. When we are fighting as I speak of, we thrust at the face, at the armpit, the joints73 of the armour, which in truth seldom fits closely, or below the breastplate. The Scotch use even less armour than do our borderers, their breast pieces being smaller, and they seldom wear back pieces. It is a question chiefly of the activity of the horses, as of the skill of their riders, and our little moor74 horses are as active as young goats; and although neither horse nor rider can stand a charge of a heavily-armed knight or squire, methinks that if one of our troopers brought him to a stand, he would get the better of him, save if the knight took to mace75 or battle-axe."
"Have you your horse with you, Oswald?"
"Yes, it is in the stable. I have gone out with it, every morning, as soon as the castle gates were opened, and have ridden for a couple of hours before I began my exercises."
"Do you take him in hand first, Marsden," Allonby said to one of the younger esquires, a young man of two or three and twenty.
Light steel caps with cheeks, gorgets, shoulder and arm pieces, and padded leathern jerkins were put on; and then, with blunted swords, they took their places facing each other. The squire took up a position of easy confidence. He was a good swordsman, and good-naturedly determined76 to treat the lad easily, and to play with him for a time before scoring his first hit.
It was with the greatest difficulty that he guarded his head
He soon, however, found that the game was not to be conducted on the lines that he had laid down. Oswald, after waiting for a minute or two, finding his opponent did not take the offensive, did so himself; and for a time Marsden had all his work to do, to defend himself. Several times, indeed, it was with the greatest difficulty that he guarded his head. The activity of his assailant almost bewildered him, as he continually shifted his position, and with cat-like springs leapt in and dealt a blow, leaping back again before his opponent's arm had time to fall.
Finding at last that, quick as he might be, Marsden's blade always met his own, Oswald relaxed his efforts, as he was growing fatigued77; and as he did so Marsden took the offensive, pressing him backwards78, foot by foot. Every time, however, that he found himself approaching a barrier, or other obstacle, that would prevent his further retreat, Oswald, with a couple of springs, managed to shift his ground. When he saw that Marsden was growing breathless from his exertions79, he again took the offensive, and at last landed a blow fairly on his opponent's helm.
"By my faith," the squire said, with a laugh that had nevertheless a little mortification80 in it, "I would as soon fight with a wildcat; and yet your breath scarce comes fast, while I have not as much left in me as would fill an eggshell."
"It was an excellent display," Allonby said.
"Truly, lad, your activity is wonderful, and you might well puzzle the oldest swordsman, by such tactics. Marsden did exceedingly well, too. Many times I thought that your sword would have gone home, but up to the last, his guard was always ready in time. As for yourself, we had scarce the opportunity of seeing how your sword would guard your head, for you trusted always to your legs, rather than your arms.
"Well, lad, you will do. Your arm is like iron, or it would have tired long before, with that sword, which is a little over heavy for you. As to your wind, you would tire out the stoutest81 swordsman in the Percys' train. I do not say that, in the press of a battle, where your activity would count for little, a good man-at-arms would not get the better of you; but in a single combat, with plenty of room, it would be a good man, indeed, who would tackle you; especially were he clad in armour, and you fighting without it. His only chance would be to get in one downright blow, that would break down your guard. As Marsden says, you fight like a wildcat, rather than as a man-at-arms; but as the time may come when you will ride in heavy armour, and so lose the advantage of your agility, you had best continue to practise regularly with us, and the men-at-arms, and learn to fight in the fashion that would be needed, were you engaged in a pitched battle when on horseback, and in armour."
"I shall be glad, indeed, to do so," Oswald said modestly. "I know that I am very ignorant of real swordsmanship, and the men-at-arms have me quite at their mercy, when they insist upon my not shifting my ground. At home, I have only practised with my father's troopers, and we always fight on foot, and with stout sticks instead of swords, and without defences save our head pieces; but fighting in knightly fashion I knew nothing of, until I came here."
"You will soon acquire that, lad. With your strength of arm, length of wind, quickness of eye, and activity, you will make a famous swordsman, in time.
"Ah! Here is Sir Henry."
"Have you been trying the lad's metal?" Hotspur asked, as he saw Oswald in the act of taking off his steel cap. Marsden had already done so.
"That have we, Sir Henry, and find it as of proof. Marsden here, who is no mean blade, has taken him in hand; and the lad has more than held his own against him, not so much by swordsmanship as by activity, and wind. It was a curious contest. Marsden compared Oswald to a wildcat, and the comparison was not an ill one; for, indeed, his springs and leaps were so rapid and sudden that it was difficult to follow him, and the fight was like one between such an animal, and a hound. Marsden defended himself well against all his attacks, until his breath failed him, and he was dealt a downright blow on his helm, on which I see it has made a shrewd dent82. As for his blows, they fell upon air, for the lad was ever out of reach before the ripostes came. In his own style of fighting, I would wager83 on him against any man-at-arms in the castle."
"I am glad to hear it," Hotspur said. "I shall feel the less scruple84, in sending him on missions which are not without danger. He will need training, to fit him for combat in the ranks. No doubt he has had no opportunity for such teaching, and would go down before a heavy-armed man, with a lance, like a blade of grass before a millstone."
"He thinks not, Sir Henry, at least not in a single combat, for by his accounts his horse is as nimble as himself; but of course, in charges he and his horse would be rolled over, as you say."
"He thinks not? Oh, well, we will try him! I have an hour to spare.
"Do you put on a suit of full armour, Sinclair, and we will ride out to the course beyond the castle.
"What will you put on, lad?"
"I will put on only breast piece and steel cap; but I only said I should have a chance against a lance, Sir Henry. I do not pretend that I could stand against any man-at-arms, armed with sword and mace; but only that I thought that, with my horse, I could evade85 the shock of a fully58-accoutred man, and then harass86 and maybe wound him with my spear."
"Well, we will try, lad. Put on what you will, and get your horse saddled. It will be rare amusement to see so unequal a course. We shall be ready in a quarter of an hour."
Oswald went up to his uncle, and told him what was proposed. Alwyn, who had witnessed his exercises with the rough riders of his father, smiled grimly.
"If you can evade his first charge, which I doubt not that you can, you will have him at your mercy, with your light spear against his lance, and your moor horse against his charger; but put on the heaviest of your two steel caps, and strong shoulder pieces. 'Tis like enough that, in his temper, he may throw away his lance and betake him to his sword. I will demand that he carries neither mace nor battle-axe, and that you should only carry sword and spear. Your horse's nimbleness may keep you out of harm, which is as much as you can expect, or hope for. Put on a light breast plate, too, for in spite of the wooden shield to his lance head, he may hurt you sorely if he does chance to strike you."
Oswald saw that his horse was carefully saddled. He procured87 from his uncle a piece of cloth; and, removing the spearhead, wrapped this round the head of the shaft88, until it formed a ball the size of his fist. This he whitened thickly with chalk.
In a few minutes Sinclair, who was the heaviest and strongest of the esquires, rode out into the courtyard in full armour. Sir Henry, with his own esquires, and several of the gentlemen of the earl's household, came down; and Hotspur laughed at the contrast presented by the two combatants: the one a mass of steel, with shield and lance, on a warhorse fully caparisoned; the other a slight, active-looking figure, with but little defensive89 armour, on a rough pony90 which had scarce an ounce of superfluous91 flesh.
"Now, gentlemen," he said, "we may be engaged in warfare92 with the Scots, before long; and you will here have an opportunity of seeing the nature of border fighting. The combat may seem to you ridiculously unequal, but I know the moss trooper, and I can tell you that, in a single combat like this, activity goes far to counterbalance weight and armour. You remember how Robert Bruce, before Bannockburn, mounted on but a pony, struck down Sir Robert Bohun, a good knight and a powerful one."
As the party went out, through the gates, to the tilting93 ground outside the walls, the men-at-arms, seeing that something unusual was going to take place, crowded up to the battlements, looking down on the ground.
"Now, gentlemen," Percy said, "you will take your places at opposite ends of the field; and when I drop my scarf, you will charge. It is understood that you need not necessarily ride straight at each other; but that it is free, to each of you, to do the best he can to overthrow94 his opponent."
As he gave the signal, the two riders dashed at full speed at each other; and, for a moment, the spectators thought that Oswald was going to be mad enough to meet his opponent in full course. When, however, the horses were within a length of each other, the rough pony swerved96 aside with a spring like that of a deer; and, wheeling round instantly, Oswald followed his opponent. The latter tried to wheel his charger, but as he did so, Oswald's spear struck him in the vizor, leaving a white mark on each side of the slit97; and then he too wheeled his horse, maintaining his position on the left hand, but somewhat in rear, of his opponent; who was, thereby98, wholly unable to use his lance, while Oswald marked the junction99 of gorget and helmet with several white circles. Furious at finding himself incapable100 of either defending himself, or of striking a blow, the squire threw away his lance, and drew his sword.
Hotspur shouted, at the top of his voice:
But his words were unheard, in the helmet. Making his horse wheel round on his hind102 legs, Sinclair rode at Oswald with uplifted sword. The latter again couched his spear under his arm and, touching103 his horse with his spur, the animal sprung forward; and before the sword could fall, the point of the spear caught the squire under the armpit, and hurled104 him sideways from his saddle.
Hotspur and those round him ran forward. Sinclair lay without moving, stunned105 by the force with which he had fallen. Oswald had already leapt from his horse, and raised Sinclair's head, and began to unlace the fastenings of his helmet. Hotspur's face was flushed with anger.
"Do not upbraid106 him, my lord, I pray you," Oswald said. "He could scarce have avoided breaking the conditions, helpless as he felt himself; and he could not have heard your voice, which would be lost in his helmet. I pray you, be not angered with him."
Hotspur's face cleared.
"At your request I will not, lad," he said; "and, indeed, he has been punished sufficiently107."
By the time that the helmet was removed, one of the soldiers from the battlements ran out from the castle, with a ewer108 of water. This was dashed into the squire's face. He presently opened his eyes. A heavy fall was thought but little of in those days; and as Sinclair was raised to his feet, and looked round in bewilderment at those who were standing109 round him, Hotspur said good temperedly:
"Well, Master Sinclair, the lad has given us all a lesson that may be useful to us. I would scarce have believed it, if I had not seen it; that a stout soldier, in full armour, should have been worsted by a lad on a rough pony; but I see now that the advantage is all on the latter's side, in a combat like this, with plenty of room to wheel his horse.
"Why, he would have slain110 you a dozen times, Sinclair. Look at your vizor. That white mark is equal on both sides of the slit, and had there been a spear head on the shaft, it would have pierced you to the brain. Every joint72 of your armour, behind, is whitened; and that thrust, that brought you from your horse, would have spitted you through and through.
"Now, let there be no ill feeling over this. It is an experiment, and a useful one; and had I, myself, been in your place, I do not know that I could have done aught more than you did."
Sinclair was hot tempered, but of a generous disposition, and he held out his hand to Oswald, frankly.
"It was a fair fight," he said, "and you worsted me, altogether. No one bears malice111 for a fair fall, in a joust112."
"The conditions were not at all even," Oswald said. "On a pony like mine, unless you had caught me in full career, it was impossible that the matter could have turned out otherwise."
"I often wondered," Hotspur said, as they walked towards the gate, "that our chivalry113 should have been so often worsted by the rough Scottish troopers; but now I understand it. The Scotch always choose broken ground, and always scatter114 before we get near them; and, circling round, fall upon our chivalry when their weight and array are of no use to them. Happily, such a misadventure has never happened to myself; but it might well do so. The Scotch, too, have no regard for the laws of chivalry; and once behind will spear the horse, as indeed happened to me, at Otterburn. 'Tis a lesson in war one may well take to heart; and when I next fight the Scots, I will order that on no account, whatever, are the mounted men to break their ranks; but, whatever happens, are to move in a solid body, in which case they could defy any attacks upon them by light-armed horse, however numerous."
At the gate of the castle, Alwyn Forster met them.
"You have given me a more useful addition to my following than I dreamt of, Alwyn," Hotspur said. "Did you see the conflict?"
"I watched it from the wall, Sir Henry. I felt sure how the matter would end. The lad is quick and sharp at border exercises. I have seen him work with his father's troopers. There were not many of them who could hold their own against him, and in fighting in their own way, I would back the moss troopers against the best horsemen in Europe. They are always accustomed to fight each man for himself, and though a score of men-at-arms would ride through a hundred of them, if they met the charge; in single combat their activity, and the nimbleness of their horses, would render them more than a match for a fully-caparisoned knight."
"So it seems," Hotspur said; "and yet, if Sinclair had but known that the lad was about to swerve95 in his course, which indeed he ought to have known--for it would have been madness to meet his charge--he too should have changed his course to his left, when a couple of lengths away; for he might be sure that the lad would turn that way, so as to get on his left hand, and in that case he would have ridden over him like a thunderbolt."
"Yes, Sir Henry, but Oswald would have had his eye on knee and bridle115; and the moment the horse changed his direction, he would have been round the other way, like an arrow from a bow; and would have planted himself, as he did, in the squire's rear."
"Perhaps so," Hotspur said thoughtfully. "At any rate, Alwyn, the boy has given us all a lesson, and you have done me good service, by presenting him to me."
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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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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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monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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contingent
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| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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11
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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12
warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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13
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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14
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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15
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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16
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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17
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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18
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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20
patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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21
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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22
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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23
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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24
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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25
aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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26
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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27
morass
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| n.沼泽，困境 | |
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28
deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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29
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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30
discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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31
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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32
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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33
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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34
enroll
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| v.招收；登记；入学；参军；成为会员（英)enrol | |
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35
squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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36
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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37
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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38
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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39
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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40
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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41
buffet
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| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
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42
bickering
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| v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁 | |
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43
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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44
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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45
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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46
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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47
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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48
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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49
morasses
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| n.缠作一团( morass的名词复数 )；困境；沼泽；陷阱 | |
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50
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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51
pugnacious
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| adj.好斗的 | |
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52
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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53
feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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54
harrying
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| v.使苦恼( harry的现在分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
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55
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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56
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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57
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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58
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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59
demolishing
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| v.摧毁( demolish的现在分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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60
demolish
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| v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等) | |
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61
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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63
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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64
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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65
instructors
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| 指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 ) | |
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66
knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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67
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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68
pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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69
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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70
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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71
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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72
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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73
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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74
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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75
mace
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| n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮 | |
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76
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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77
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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78
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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79
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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80
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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81
stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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82
dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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83
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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84
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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85
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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86
harass
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| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
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87
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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88
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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89
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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90
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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91
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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92
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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93
tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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94
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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95
swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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96
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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98
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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99
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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100
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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101
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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102
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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103
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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104
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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105
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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106
upbraid
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| v.斥责，责骂，责备 | |
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107
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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108
ewer
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| n.大口水罐 | |
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109
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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110
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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111
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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112
joust
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| v.马上长枪比武，竞争 | |
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113
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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114
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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115
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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