"Therefore, sweet, have I no kindred, and none that are bound to cherish me, and it is for thee to take the place of them, and be unto me both father and mother, and brother and sister, and all kindred."
She said: "My mother I never saw, and I was but little when my father died; and if I had any kindred thereafter they loved me not well enough to strike one stroke for me, nay10, or to speak a word even, when I was thrust out of my place and delivered over to the hands of pitiless people, and my captivity11 worsened on me as the years grew. Wherefore to me also art thou in the stead of all kindred and affinity12."
Now Christopher took counsel with Jack13 of the Tofts and the great men of the kingdom, and that same day, the first day of his kingship in Oakenham, was summoned a great mote14 of the whole folk; and in half a month was it holden, and thereat was Christopher taken to king with none gainsaying15.
Began now fair life for the people of Oakenrealm; for Jack of the Tofts abode16 about the King in Oakenham; and wise was his counsel, and there was no greed in him, and yet he wotted of greed and guile17 in others, and warned the King thereof when he saw it, and the tyrants18 were brought low, and no poor and simple man had need to thieve. As for Christopher, he loved better to give than to take; and the grief and sorrow of folk irked him sorely; it was to him as if he had gotten a wound when he saw so much as one unhappy face in a day; and all folk loved him, and the fame of him went abroad through the lands and the roads of travel, so that many were the wise and valiant19 folk that left their own land and came into Oakenrealm to dwell there, because of the good peace and the kindliness20 that there did abound21; so that Oakenrealm became both many-peopled and joyous22.
Though Jack of the Tofts abode with the King at Oakenham, his sons went back to the Tofts, and Gilbert was deemed the head man of them; folk gathered to them there, and the wilderness23 about them became builded in many places, and the Tofts grew into a goodly cheaping town, for those brethren looked to it that all roads in the woodland should be safe and at peace, so that no chapman need to arm him or his folk; nay, a maiden24 might go to and fro on the woodland ways, with a golden girdle about her, without so much as the crumpling25 of a lap of her gown unless by her own will.
As to David, at first Christopher bade him strongly to abide26 with him ever, for he loved him much. But David nay-said it, and would go home to the Tofts; and when the King pressed him sore, at last he said: "Friend and fellow, I must now tell thee the very sooth, and then shalt thou suffer me to depart, though the sundering27 be but sorrow to me. For this it is, that I love thy Lady and wife more than meet is, and here I find it hard to thole my desire and my grief; but down in the thicket28 yonder amongst my brethren of the woods, and man and maid, and wife and babe, nay, the very deer of the forest, I shall become a man again, and be no more a peevish29 and grudging30 fool; and as the years wear, shall sorrow wear, and then, who knows but we may come together again."
Then Christopher smiled kindly31 on him and embraced him, but they spake no more of that matter, but sat talking a while, and then bade each other farewell, and David went his ways to the Tofts. But a few months thereafter, when a son had been born to Christopher, David came to Oakenrealm, but stayed there no longer than to greet the King, and do him to wit that he was boun for over-sea to seek adventure. Many gifts the King gave him, and they sundered32 in all loving-kindness, and the King said: "Farewell, friend, I shall remember thee and thy kindness for ever." But David said: "By the roof in Littledale and by the hearth33 thereof, thou shalt be ever in my mind."
Thus they parted for that time; but five and twenty years afterwards, when Child Christopher was in his most might and majesty34, and Goldilind was yet alive and lovely, and sons and daughters sat about their board, it was the Yule feast in the King's Hall at Oakenham, and there came a man into the hall that none knew, big of stature35, grey-eyed and hollow-cheeked, with red hair grizzled, and worn with the helm; a weaponed man, chieftain-like and warrior-like. And when the serving-men asked him of his name, and whence and whither, he said: "I have come from over-seas to look upon the King, and when he seeth me he will know my name." Then he put them all aside and would not be gainsaid36, but strode up the hall to the high-seat, and stood before the King and said: "Hail, little King Christopher! Hail, stout37 babe of the woodland!"
Then the King looked on him and knew him at once, and stood up at once with a glad cry, and came round unto him, and took his arms about him and kissed him, and led him into the high-seat, and set him betwixt him and Goldilind, and she also greeted him and took him by the hand and kissed him; and Jack of the Tofts, now a very old man, but yet hale and stark38, who sat on the left hand of the King, leaned toward him and kissed him and blessed him; for lo! it was David of the Tofts.
Spake he now and said: "Christopher, this is now a happy day!"
Said the King: "David, whither away hence, and what is thine heart set upon?"
"On the renewal39 of our youth," said David, "and the abiding40 with thee. By my will no further will I go than this thine house. How sayest thou?"
"As thou dost," said Christopher, "that this is indeed a happy day; drink out of my cup now, to our abiding together, and the end of sundering till the last cometh."
So they drank together, they two, and were happy amidst the folk of the hall; and at last the King stood up and spake aloud, and did all to wit that this was his friend and fellow of the old days; and he told of his doughty41 deeds, whereof he had heard many a tale, and treasured them in his heart while they were apart, and he bade men honour him, all such as would be his friends. And all men rejoiced at the coming of this doughty man and the friend of the King.
So there abode David, holden in all honour, and in great love of Child Christopher and Goldilind; and when his father died, his earldom did the King give to David his friend, who never sundered from him again, but was with him in peace and in war, in joy and in sorrow.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
nought
|
|
| n.／adj.无，零 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
kinsman
|
|
| n.男亲属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
churl
|
|
| n.吝啬之人；粗鄙之人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
slay
|
|
| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
captivity
|
|
| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
affinity
|
|
| n.亲和力，密切关系 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
jack
|
|
| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
mote
|
|
| n.微粒；斑点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
gainsaying
|
|
| v.否认，反驳( gainsay的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
abode
|
|
| n.住处，住所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
guile
|
|
| n.诈术 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
tyrants
|
|
| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
valiant
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
kindliness
|
|
| n.厚道，亲切，友好的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
abound
|
|
| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
joyous
|
|
| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
crumpling
|
|
| 压皱，弄皱( crumple的现在分词 )； 变皱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
abide
|
|
| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
sundering
|
|
| v.隔开，分开( sunder的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
peevish
|
|
| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
grudging
|
|
| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
sundered
|
|
| v.隔开，分开( sunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
hearth
|
|
| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
stature
|
|
| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
gainsaid
|
|
| v.否认，反驳( gainsay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
stark
|
|
| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
renewal
|
|
| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
abiding
|
|
| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
doughty
|
|
| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |