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It was still quiet in Brittany, and in Constance’s vicinity H?el and his men kept good watch. Longingly4 and often the Duchess gazed at the child in her arms and wished that he could soon be a man to fight with sword in hand for her and her rights. Thus they were living in apparent security at the castle in Rennes, but really in continual fear of approaching dangers. The times were troublous, and the world was full of disquiet6, but Arthur passed his days pleasantly, in an atmosphere of love. Life was all smiles for him. Under Bertha’s care and H?el’s devotion he became both gentle and courageous7, and as he grew stronger nothing delighted him more than rivalry8 with Alan in all knightly10 practices. The latter, older and stronger, was not only attached to the young Duke by friendship, but by duty and devotion, and thus became both his companion and protector. They were inseparable, and shared everything in common. They roamed the woods and fields together with all the joyous11 enthusiasm of youth, but their greatest longing5 was to perform heroic feats12. They were much more delighted to listen to H?el as he told them of his adventures and exploits at arms than to the chaplain, who was their instructor13. With rapt attention they heard the story of how H?el and Duke Geoffrey rode together to Normandy and other provinces, overcame the haughty14 barons, stormed their strong castles, and sent them to England to pay fresh homage15 to the King. Arthur longed to be such a hero, and his dearest wish was to assist his mother in the restoration of the ancient authority. Combining boldness and gentleness, he was specially16 fitted to rule, and it was his greatest pride that he was entitled to the position of ruler by birth.
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Arthur was in his tenth year when the report reached them that King Henry’s sons, incited17 by Eleanor, had conspired18 to prevent his return from Scotland. Unexpectedly, however, he suddenly appeared in England and frustrated19 their plot. The news disquieted20 Constance so greatly that she sent H?el for information. He had been absent several days, and his return was now eagerly awaited.
One evening the Duchess was looking from her window, which commanded an extended view of the city and its vicinity. Fatigued21 with riding and hunting, Arthur had sought his mother, and was resting his head upon her shoulder. She turned to him and stroked his heated brow. Bertha and Alan were also present, and the room was very quiet. Suddenly Bertha stepped to the window and exclaimed, “There comes my husband with a stranger.” The two rapidly drew near, and dismounted in the castle-yard, whence, seeing the ladies at the window, H?el came to their apartment. Bertha and the boys met him in the anteroom, at the door of which stood the Duchess. “What news do you bring?” she asked.
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“Bad news,” replied H?el. “King Henry is dead.”[8]
The Duchess silently motioned to the knight9 to enter, and seated herself. After Bertha had taken the boys away, H?el began: “The King died of a broken heart, so the people say. He could not endure the thought that the Queen had plotted his overthrow23.”
“Horrible!—and the Princes?”
“Richard threw himself at his father’s feet and begged forgiveness. Prince John, on the other hand, hypocritically sought to clear himself of guilt24. But the King knew only too well. ‘All three sons,’[9] he groaned25, and fell unconscious.”
Constance started, and H?el was silent. Yes, the third one was Geoffrey.
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“And did he die at once? Did he leave no instructions concerning the kingdom? Had he no thought for Geoffrey’s son?” asked the Duchess.
“They say he longed for his grandson and mourned because he had not been able to see him. He drew up his will and placed it in the keeping of the Lord High Chancellor26. Then he turned his thoughts to divine things, took the sacrament, and passed away.”
Constance was silent for some time, then asked, “And does any one know the contents of the will?”
“It is sealed up in the royal exchequer27 and can be opened only in case the Prince—no, King Richard—shall die childless. Only the confidential28 witnesses know its contents,” said H?el.
“King Richard!” replied Constance. “God be thanked it is Richard who has come to the throne. He is noble and high-minded, and will protect us.”
“God grant it! Would that he could soon come to France and restore order.”
“Whence came the rider who brought the news?”
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“From Rouen. English vessels29 have landed there, and brought Norman knights30 who were in the Scottish campaign. They will guard the country until he can come himself and take possession.”
“As soon as King Richard comes to Rouen, we will seek him there.”
“Meanwhile,” said H?el, “I will make ample preparations to insure your safety.”
“Is it not shameful,” said Constance indignantly, “that the Duchess of Brittany should be insecure in her own country?”
H?el was awaited in the hall by the two boys, who plied22 him with questions. The death of King Henry made a deep impression upon Arthur, who already realized that his fate had rested in his grandfather’s hands. For the first time also he realized the insecurity of human greatness, and when suddenly the bells tolled31 in the city’s church towers, and the castle chapel32 bell added its solemn peals33, he was greatly overcome, and held fast to Alan’s hand.
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1
barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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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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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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7
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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8
rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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9
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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16
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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17
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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19
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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disquieted
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| v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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23
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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24
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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26
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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exchequer
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| n.财政部；国库 | |
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28
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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29
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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30
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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31
tolled
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| 鸣钟（toll的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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32
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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33
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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