Within the half hour after de Giars’ death (here one overtakes Nicolas mid-course in narrative) Dame9 Alianora thus stood alone in the corridor of a strange house. Beyond the arras the steward10 and his lord were at irritable11 converse12.
First, “If the woman be hungry,” spoke13 a high and peevish14 voice, “feed her. If she need money, give it to her. But do not annoy me.”
“This woman demands to see the master of the house,” the steward then retorted.
“O incredible Boeotian, inform her that the master of the house has no time to waste upon vagabonds who select the middle of the night as an eligible15 time to pop out of nowhere. Why did you not do so in the beginning, you dolt16?” The speaker got for answer only a deferential17 cough, and very shortly continued: “This is remarkably18 vexatious. Vox et praeterea nihil—which signifies, Yeck, that to converse with women is always delightful20. Admit her.” This was done, and Dame Alianora came into an apartment littered with papers, where a neat and shriveled gentleman of fifty-odd sat at a desk and scowled22.
He presently said, “You may go, Yeck.” He had risen, the magisterial23 attitude with which he had awaited her entrance cast aside. “Oh, God!” he said; “you, madame!” His thin hands, scholarly hands, were plucking at the air.
Dame Alianora had paused, greatly astonished, and there was an interval24 before she said, “I do not recognize you, messire.”
“And yet, madame, I recall very clearly that some thirty years ago the King-Count Raymond Bérenger, then reigning26 in Provence, had about his court four daughters, each one of whom was afterward wedded27 to a king. First, Meregrett, the eldest28, now regnant in France; then Alianora, the second and most beautiful of these daughters, whom troubadours hymned as the Unattainable Princess. She was married a long while ago, madame, to the King of England, Lord Henry, third of that name to reign25 in these islands.”
Dame Alianora’s eyes were narrowing. “There is something in your voice,” she said, “which I recall.”
He answered: “Madame and Queen, that is very likely, for it is a voice which sang a deal in Provence when both of us were younger. I concede with the Roman that I have somewhat deteriorated29 since the reign of Cynara. Yet have you quite forgotten the Englishman who made so many songs of you? They called him Osmund Heleigh.”
“He made the Sestina of Spring which won the violet crown at my betrothal,” the Queen said; and then, with eagerness: “Messire, can it be that you are Osmund Heleigh?” He shrugged30 assent31. She looked at him for a long time, rather sadly, and demanded if he were the King’s man or of the barons’ party.
The nervous hands were raised in deprecation. “I have no politics,” Messire Heleigh began, and altered it, gallantly32 enough, to, “I am the Queen’s man, madame.”
“Then aid me, Osmund,” she said.
He answered with a gravity which singularly became him, “You have reason to understand that to my fullest power I will aid you.”
“You know that at Lewes these swine overcame us.” He nodded assent. “Now they hold the King, my husband, captive at Kenilworth. I am content that he remain there, for he is of all the King’s enemies the most dangerous. But, at Wallingford, Leicester has imprisoned34 my son, Prince Edward. The Prince must be freed, my Osmund. Warren de Basingbourne commands what is left of the royal army, now entrenched35 at Bristol, and it is he who must liberate36 my son. Get me to Bristol, then. Afterward we will take Wallingford.” The Queen issued these orders in cheery, practical fashion, and did not admit opposition37 into the account, for she was a capable woman.
“I come from France, where I have been entreating—and vainly entreating—succor from yet another monkish40 king, the holy Lewis of that realm. Eh, what is God about when He enthrones these whining41 pieties42! Were I a king, were I even a man, I would drive these smug English out of their foggy isle43 in three days’ space! I would leave alive not one of these curs that dare yelp44 at me! I would—” She paused, anger veering45 into amusement. “See how I enrage46 myself when I think of what your people have made me suffer,” the Queen said, and shrugged her shoulders. “In effect, I skulked47 back in disguise to this detestable island, accompanied by Avenel de Giars and Hubert Fitz-Herveis. To-night some half-dozen fellows—robbers, thorough knaves48, like all you English,—attacked us on the common yonder and slew49 the men of our party. While they were cutting de Giars’ throat I slipped away in the dark and tumbled through many ditches till I spied your light. There you have my story. Now get me an escort to Bristol.”
It was a long while before Messire Heleigh spoke. Then, “These men,” he said—“this de Giars and this Fitz-Herveis—they gave their lives for yours, as I understand it,—pro caris amicis. And yet you do not grieve for them.”
“I shall regret de Giars,” the Queen acknowledged, “for he made excellent songs. But Fitz-Herveis?—foh! the man had a face like a horse.” Again her mood changed. “Many persons have died for me, my friend. At first I wept for them, but now I am dry of tears.”
He shook his head. “Cato very wisely says, ‘If thou hast need of help, ask it of thy friends.’ But the sweet friend that I remember was a clean eyed girl, joyous50 and exceedingly beautiful. Now you appear to me one of those ladies of remoter times—Faustina, or Jael, or Artemis, the King’s wife of Tauris,—they that slew men, laughing. I am somewhat afraid of you, madame.”
She was angry at first; then her face softened51. “You English!” she said, only half mirthful. “Eh, my God! you remember me when I was a high hearted young sorceress. Now the powers of the Apsarasas have departed from me, and time has thrust that Alianora, who was once the Unattainable Princess, chin deep in misery52. Yet even now I am your Queen, messire, and it is not yours to pass judgment53 upon me.” “I do not judge you,” he returned. “Rather I cry with him of old, Omnia incerta ratione! and I cry with Salomon that he who meddles54 with the strife55 of another man is like to him that takes a hound by the ears. Yet listen, madame and Queen. I cannot afford you an escort to Bristol. This house, of which I am in temporary charge, is Longaville, my brother’s manor56. Lord Brudenel, as you doubtless know, is of the barons’ party and—scant cause for grief!—is with Leicester at this moment. I can trust none of my brother’s people, for I believe them to be of much the same opinion as those Londoners who not long ago stoned you and would have sunk your barge57 in Thames River. Oh, let us not blink the fact that you are not overbeloved in England. So an escort is out of the question. Yet I, madame, if you so elect, will see you safe to Bristol.”
“You? Singly?” the Queen demanded.
“My plan is this: Singing folk alone travel whither they will. We will go as jongleurs, then. I can yet manage a song to the viol, I dare affirm. And you must pass as my wife.”
He said this with simplicity58. The plan seemed unreasonable59, and at first Dame Alianora waved it aside. Out of the question! But reflection suggested nothing better; it was impossible to remain at Longaville, and the man spoke sober truth when he declared any escort other than himself to be unprocurable. Besides, the lunar madness of the scheme was its strength; that the Queen would venture to cross half England unprotected—and Messire Heleigh on the face of him was a paste-board buckler—was an event which Leicester would neither anticipate nor on report credit. There you were! these English had no imagination. The Queen snapped her fingers and said: “Very willingly will I be your wife, my Osmund. But how do I know that I can trust you? Leicester would give a deal for me; he would pay any price for the pious61 joy of burning the Sorceress of Provence. And you are not wealthy, I suspect.”
“You may trust me, mon bel esper,”—his eyes here were those of a beaten child—“because my memory is better than yours.” Messire Osmund Heleigh gathered his papers into a neat pile. “This room is mine. To-night I keep guard in the corridor, madame. We will start at dawn.”
When he had gone, Dame Alianora laughed contentedly63. “Mon bel esper! my fairest hope! The man called me that in his verses—thirty years ago! Yes, I may trust you, my poor Osmund.”
So they set out at cockcrow. He had procured64 for himself a viol and a long falchion, and had somewhere got suitable clothes for the Queen; and in their aging but decent garb65 the two approached near enough to the appearance of what they desired to be thought. In the courtyard a knot of servants gaped66, nudged one another, but openly said nothing. Messire Heleigh, as they interpreted it, was brazening out an affair of gallantry before the countryside; and they esteemed67 his casual observation that they would find a couple of dead men on the common exceedingly diverting.
When the Queen asked him the same morning, “And what will you sing, my Osmund? Shall we begin the practise of our new profession with the Sestina of Spring?”—old Osmund Heleigh grunted68 out: “I have forgotten that rubbish long ago. Omnis amans, amens, saith the satirist69 of Rome town, and with reason.”
Followed silence.
One sees them thus trudging70 the brown, naked plains under a sky of steel. In a pageant71 the woman, full-veined and comely72, her russet gown girded up like a harvester’s might not inaptly have prefigured October; and for less comfortable November you could nowhere have found a symbol more precise than her lank73 companion, humorously peevish under his white thatch74 of hair, and constantly fretted75 by the sword tapping at his ankles.
They made Hurlburt prosperously and found it vacant, for the news of Falmouth’s advance had driven the villagers hillward. There was in this place a child, a naked boy of some two years, lying on a doorstep, overlooked in his elders’ gross terror. As the Queen with a sob60 lifted this boy the child died.
The Queen laid down the tiny corpse77, and, stooping, lightly caressed78 its sparse79 flaxen hair. She answered nothing, though her lips moved.
Past Vachel, scene of a recent skirmish, with many dead in the gutters80, they were overtaken by Falmouth himself, and stood at the roadside to afford his troop passage. The Marquess, as he went by, flung the Queen a coin, with a jest sufficiently81 high flavored. She knew the man her inveterate82 enemy, knew that on recognition he would have killed her as he would a wolf; she smiled at him and dropped a curtsey.
“This is remarkable,” Messire Heleigh observed. “I was hideously83 afraid, and am yet shaking. But you, madame, laughed.”
The Queen replied: “I laughed because I know that some day I shall have Lord Falmouth’s head. It will be very sweet to see it roll in the dust, my Osmund.”
Messire Heleigh somewhat dryly observed that tastes differed.
At Jessop Minor85 befell a more threatening adventure. Seeking food at the Cat and Hautbois in that village, they blundered upon the same troop at dinner in the square about the inn. Falmouth and his lieutenants86 were somewhere inside the house. The men greeted the supposed purveyors of amusement with a shout; and one of these soldiers—a swarthy rascal87 with his head tied in a napkin—demanded that the jongleurs grace their meal with a song.
Osmund tried to put him off with a tale of a broken viol.
But, “Haro!” the fellow blustered88; “by blood and by nails! you will sing more sweetly with a broken viol than with a broken head. I would have you understand, you hedge thief, that we gentlemen of the sword are not partial to wordy argument.” Messire Heleigh fluttered inefficient89 hands as the men-at-arms gathered about them, scenting90 some genial91 piece of cruelty. “Oh, you rabbit!” the trooper jeered93, and caught at Osmund’s throat, shaking him. In the act this rascal tore open Messire Heleigh’s tunic94, disclosing a thin chain about his neck and a handsome locket, which the fellow wrested95 from its fastening. “Ahoi!” he continued. “Ahoi, my comrades, what sort of minstrel is this, who goes about England all hung with gold like a Cathedral Virgin96! He and his sweetheart”—the actual word was grosser—“will be none the worse for an interview with the Marquess.”
The situation smacked97 of awkwardness, because Lord Falmouth was familiar with the Queen, and to be brought specifically to his attention meant death for two detected masqueraders. Hastily Osmund Heleigh said:
“Messire, the locket contains the portrait of a lady whom in my youth I loved very greatly. Save to me, it is valueless. I pray you, do not rob me of it.”
But the trooper shook his head with drunken solemnity. “I do not like the looks of this. Yet I will sell it to you, as the saying is, for a song.”
“It shall be the king of songs,” said Osmund,—“the song that Arnaut Daniel first made. I will sing for you a Sestina, messieurs,—a Sestina in salutation of Spring.”
The men disposed themselves about the dying grass, and presently he sang.
Sang Messire Heleigh:
“Awaken! for the servitors of Spring
Proclaim his triumph! ah, make haste to see
With what tempestuous98 pageantry they bring
The victor homeward! haste, for this is he
To Winter’s garments, and bade April be!
“And now that Spring is master, let us be
Content, and laugh, as anciently in spring
The battle-wearied Tristan laughed, when he
Was come again Tintagel-ward, to bring
Glad news of Arthur’s victory—and see
Ysoude, with parted lips, that waver and cling.
“Not yet in Brittany must Tristan cling
To this or that sad memory, and be
Alone, as she in Cornwall; for in spring
Love sows against far harvestings,—and he
Such fruitage as blind Love lacks eyes to see!”
Osmund paused here for an appreciable101 interval, staring at the Queen. You saw his flabby throat a-quiver, his eyes melting, saw his cheeks kindle102, and youth seeping103 into the lean man like water over a crumbling104 dam. His voice was now big and desirous.
Sang Messire Heleigh:
“Love sows, but lovers reap; and ye will see
The loved eyes lighten, feel the loved lips cling,
Never again when in the grave ye be
Incurious of your happiness in spring,
And get no grace of Love there, whither he
Alcestis hence; nor here may Roland see
The eyes of Aude; nor here the wakening spring
No memories that cling as cerements cling,
No force that baffles Death, more strong than he.
An hour appointed; and that hour will bring
Oblivion.—Then, laugh! Laugh, dear, and see
While yet our lips obey us, and we be
Untrammeled in our little hour of spring!
Then Osmund put the viol aside and sat quite silent. The soldiery judged, and with cordial frankness stated, that the difficulty of his rhyming scheme did not atone112 for his lack of indecency, but when the Queen of England went among them with Messire Heleigh’s faded green hat she found them liberal. Even the fellow with the broken head admitted that a bargain was proverbially a bargain, and returned the locket with the addition of a coin. So for the present these two went safe, and quitted the Cat and Hautbois fed and unmolested.
“My Osmund,” Dame Alianora said, presently, “your memory is better than I had thought.”
“I remembered a boy and a girl,” he returned. “And I grieved that they were dead.”
Afterward they plodded113 on toward Bowater, and the ensuing night rested in Chantrell Wood. They had the good fortune there to encounter dry and windless weather and a sufficiency of brushwood, with which Osmund constructed an agreeable fire. In its glow these two sat, eating bread and cheese.
But talk languished114 at the outset. The Queen had complained of an ague, and Messire Heleigh was sedately115 suggesting three spiders hung about the neck as an infallible corrective for this ailment116, when Dame Alianora rose to her feet. “Eh, my God!” she said; “I am wearied of such ungracious aid! Not an inch of the way but you have been thinking of your filthy117 books and longing118 to be back at them! No; I except the moments when you were frightened into forgetfulness—first by Falmouth, then by the trooper. O Eternal Father! afraid of a single dirty soldier!”
“Indeed, I was very much afraid,” said Messire Heleigh, with perfect simplicity; “timidus perire, madame.”
“You have not even the grace to be ashamed! Yet I am shamed, messire, that Osmund Heleigh should have become the book-muddled pedant119 you are. For I loved young Osmund Heleigh.”
He also had risen in the firelight, and now its convulsive shadows marred120 two dogged faces. “I think it best not to recall that boy and girl who are so long dead. And, frankly121, madame and Queen, the merit of the business I have in hand is questionable122. It is you who have set all England by the ears, and I am guiding you toward opportunities for further mischief123. I must serve you. Understand, madame, that ancient folly124 in Provence yonder has nothing to do with the affair. Count Manuel left you: and between his evasion125 and your marriage you were pleased to amuse yourself with me—”
“You were more civil then, my Osmund—”
“I am not uncivil, I merely point out that this old folly constitutes no overwhelming obligation, either way. I cry nihil ad Andromachen! For the rest, I must serve you because you are a woman and helpless; yet I cannot forget that he who spares the wolf is the sheep’s murderer. It would be better for all England if you were dead. Hey, your gorgeous follies126, madame! Silver peacocks set with sapphires127! Cloth of fine gold—”
“Not so,” Osmund retorted; “again I say to you with Tertullian, ‘Let women paint their eyes with the tints129 of chastity, insert into their ears the Word of God, tie the yoke130 of Christ about their necks, and adorn131 their whole person with the silk of sanctity and the damask of devotion.’ I say to you that the boy you wish to rescue from Wallingford, and make King of England, is freely rumored132 to be not verily the son of Sire Henry but the child of tall Manuel of Poictesme. I say to you that from the first you have made mischief in England. And I say to you—”
But Dame Alianora was yawning quite frankly. “You will say to me that I brought foreigners into England, that I misguided the King, that I stirred up strife between the King and his barons. Eh, my God! I am sufficiently familiar with the harangue133. Yet listen, my Osmund: They sold me like a bullock to a man I had never seen. I found him a man of wax, and I remoulded him. They asked of me an heir for England: I provided that heir. They gave me England as a toy; I played with it. I was the Queen, the source of honor, the source of wealth—the trough, in effect, about which swine gathered. Never since I came into England, Osmund, has any man or woman loved me; never in all my English life have I loved man or woman. Do you understand, my Osmund?—the Queen has many flatterers, but no friends. Not a friend in the world, my Osmund! And so the Queen made the best of it and amused herself.”
“Mon bel esper, I do not find it anywhere in Holy Writ135 that God requires it of us to amuse ourselves; but upon many occasions we have been commanded to live righteously. We are tempted136 in divers137 and insidious138 ways. And we cry with the Psalmist, ‘My strength is dried up like a potsherd.’ But God intends this, since, until we have here demonstrated our valor139 upon Satan, we are manifestly unworthy to be enregistered in God’s army. The great Captain must be served by proven soldiers. We may be tempted, but we may not yield. O daughter of the South! we must not yield!”
“Again you preach,” Dame Alianora said. “That is a venerable truism.”
“Ho, madame,” he returned, “is it on that account the less true?”
Pensively141 the Queen considered this. “You are a good man, my Osmund,” she said, at last, “though you are very droll142. Ohimé! it is a pity that I was born a princess! Had it been possible for me to be your wife, I would have been a better woman. I shall sleep now and dream of that good and stupid and contented62 woman I might have been.” So presently these two slept in Chantrell Wood.
Followed four days of journeying. As Messer Dante had not yet surveyed Malebolge, Osmund Heleigh and Dame Alianora lacked a parallel for that which they encountered; their traverse discovered England razed143, charred144, and depopulate—picked bones of an island, a vast and absolute ruin about which passion-wasted men skulked like rats. Messire Heleigh and the Queen traveled without molestation145; malice146 and death had journeyed before them on this road, and had swept it clear.
At every trace of these hideous84 precessors Osmund Heleigh would say, “By a day’s ride I might have prevented this.” Or, “By a day’s ride I might have saved this woman.” Or, “By two days’ riding I might have fed this child.”
The Queen kept Spartan147 silence, but daily you saw the fine woman age. In their slow advance every inch of misery was thrust before her for inspection148; meticulously149 she observed and evaluated her handiwork. Enthroned, she had appraised150 from a distance the righteous wars she set afoot; trudging thus among the débris of these wars, she found they had unsuspected aspects. Bastling the royal army had recently sacked. There remained of this village the skeletons of two houses, and for the rest a jumble151 of bricks, rafters half-burned, many calcined fragments of humanity, and ashes. At Bastling, Messire Heleigh turned to the Queen toiling152 behind.
“Oh, madame!” he said, in a dry whisper, “this was the home of so many men!”
“I burned it,” Dame Alianora replied. “That man we passed just now I killed. Those other men and women—my folly slew them all. And little children, my Osmund! The hair like flax, blood-dabbled!”
For she stood with eyes shut, all gray. The Queen demanded: “Why have they not slain155 me? Was there no man in England to strangle the proud wanton? Are you all cowards here?”
He said: “I detect only one coward in the affair. Your men and Leicester’s men also ride about the world, and draw sword and slay156 and die for the right as they see it. And you and Leicester contend for the right as ye see it. But I, madame! I! I, who sat snug at home spilling ink and trimming rose-bushes! God’s world, madame, and I in it afraid to speak a word for Him! God’s world, and a curmudgeon157 in it grudging158 God the life He gave!” The man flung out his soft hands and snarled159: “We are tempted in divers and insidious ways. But I, who rebuked160 you! behold161, now, with how gross a snare162 was I entrapped163!” “I do not understand, my Osmund.”
“I was afraid, madame,” he returned, dully. “Everywhere men fight, and I am afraid to die.”
So they stood silent in the ruins of Bastling.
“Of a piece with our lives,” Dame Alianora said at last. “All ruin, my Osmund.”
But Messire Heleigh threw back his head and laughed, new color in his face. “Presently men will build here, my Queen. Presently, as in legend was re-born the Arabian bird, arises from these ashes a lordlier and more spacious164 town.”
They went forward. The next day chance loosed upon them Gui Camoys, lord of Bozon, Foliot, and Thwenge, who, riding alone through Poges Copse, found there a man and a woman over their limited supper. The woman had thrown back her hood165, and Camoys drew rein166 to stare at her. Lispingly he spoke the true court dialect.
“Ma belle,” said this Camoys, in friendly condescension167, “n’estez vous pas jongleurs?”
Dame Alianora smiled up at him. “Ouais, messire; mon mary faict les chançons—” She paused, with dilatory168 caution, for Camoys had leaped from his horse, giving a great laugh.
“A prize! ho, an imperial prize!” Camoys shouted. “A peasant woman with the Queen’s face, who speaks French! And who, madame, is this? Have you by any chance brought pious Lewis from oversea? Have I bagged a brace169 of monarchs170?”
Here was imminent171 danger, for Camoys had known the Queen some fifteen years. Messire Heleigh rose, his five days’ beard glinting like hoar-frost as his mouth twitched172.
“I am Osmund Heleigh, messire, younger brother to the Earl of Brudenel.”
“I have heard of you, I believe—the fellow who spoils parchment. This is odd company, however, Messire Osmund, for Brudenel’s brother.”
“A gentleman must serve his Queen, messire. As Cicero very justly observes—”
“I am inclined to think that his political opinions are scarcely to our immediate173 purpose. This is a high matter, Messire Heleigh. To let the sorceress pass is, of course, out of the question; upon the other hand, I observe that you lack weapons of defence. Yet if you will have the kindness to assist me in unarming, your courtesy will place our commerce on more equal footing.”
Osmund had turned very white. “I am no swordsman, messire—”
“Now, this is not handsome of you,” Camoys began. “I warn you that people will speak harshly of us if we lose this opportunity of gaining honor. And besides, the woman will be burned at the stake. Plainly, you owe it to all three of us to fight.”
“—But I refer my cause to God. I am quite at your service.” “No, my Osmund!” Dame Alianora then cried. “It means your death.”
He spread out his hands. “That is God’s affair, madame.”
“Are you not afraid?” she breathed.
After that he unarmed Camoys, and presently they faced each other in their tunics175. So for the first time in the journey Osmund’s long falchion saw daylight. He had thrown away his dagger176, as Camoys had none.
The combat was sufficiently curious. Camoys raised his left hand. “So help me God and His saints, I have upon me neither bone, stone, nor witchcraft177 wherethrough the power and the word of God might be diminished or the devil’s power increased.”
Osmund made similar oath. “Judge Thou this woman’s cause!” he cried, likewise.
Then Gui Camoys shouted, as a herald178 might have done, “Laissez les aller, laissez les aller, laissez les aller, les bons combatants!” and warily179 each moved toward the other.
On a sudden Osmund attacked, desperately180 apprehensive181 of his own cowardice182. Camoys lightly eluded183 him and slashed184 at Osmund’s undefended thigh185, drawing much blood. Osmund gasped186. He flung away his sword, and in the instant catching187 Camoys under the arms, threw him to the ground. Messire Heleigh fell with his opponent, who in stumbling had lost his sword, and thus the two struggled unarmed, Osmund atop. But Camoys was the younger man, and Osmund’s strength was ebbing188 rapidly by reason of his wound. Now Camoys’ tethered horse, rearing with nervousness, tumbled his master’s flat-topped helmet into the road. Osmund caught up this helmet and with it battered189 Camoys in the face, dealing190 severe blows.
“God!” Camoys cried, his face all blood.
“What choice have I?” said Gui Camoys, very sensibly.
So Osmund rose, blind with tears and shivering. The Queen bound up their wounds as best she might, but Camoys was much dissatisfied.
“For private purposes of His own, madame,” he observed, “and doubtless for sufficient reasons, God has singularly favored your cause. I am neither a fool nor a pagan to question His decision, and you two may go your way unhampered. But I have had my head broken with my own helmet, and this I consider to be a proceeding193 very little conducive194 toward enhancing my reputation. Of your courtesy, messire, I must entreat39 another meeting.”
Osmund shrank as if from a blow. Then, with a short laugh, he conceded that this was Camoys’ right, and they fixed195 upon the following Saturday, with Poges Copse as the rendezvous196.
“I would suggest that the combat be to the death,” Gui Camoys said, “in consideration of the fact it was my own helmet. You must undoubtedly197 be aware, Messire Osmund, that such an affront198 is practically without any parallel.”
This, too, was agreed upon.
Then, after asking if they needed money, which was courteously199 declined, Gui Camoys rode away, and sang as he went. Osmund Heleigh remained motionless. He raised quivering hands to the sky.
“Thou hast judged!” he cried. “Thou hast judged, O puissant200 Emperor of Heaven! Now pardon! Pardon us twain! Pardon for unjust stewards201 of Thy gifts! Thou hast loaned this woman dominion202 over England, with all instruments to aid Thy cause, and this trust she has abused. Thou hast loaned me life and manhood, agility203 and wit and strength, all instruments to aid Thy cause. Talents in a napkin, O God! Repentant204 we cry to Thee. Pardon for unjust stewards! Pardon for the ungirt loin, for the service shirked, for all good deeds undone205! Pardon and grace, O King of kings!”
Thus he prayed, while Gui Camoys sang, riding deeper into the tattered206, yellowing forest. By an odd chance Camoys had lighted on that song made by Thibaut of Champagne207, beginning Signor, saciez, ki or ne s’en ira, which denounces all half-hearted servitors of Heaven; and this he sang with a lilt gayer than his matter countenanced208. Faintly there now came to Osmund and the Queen the sound of Camoys’ singing, and they found it, in the circumstances, ominously209 apt.
Sang Camoys:
Descendez luit en infer le parfont.”
Dame Alianora shivered. But she was a capable woman, and so she said: “I may have made mistakes. But I am sure I never meant any harm, and I am sure, too, that God will be more sensible about it than are you poets.”
They slept that night in Ousley Meadow, and the next afternoon came safely to Bristol. You may learn elsewhere with what rejoicing the royal army welcomed the Queen’s arrival, how courage quickened at sight of the generous virago210. In the ebullition Messire Heleigh was submerged, and Dame Alianora saw nothing more of him that day. Friday there were counsels, requisitions, orders signed, a memorial despatched to Pope Urban, chief of all a letter (this in the Queen’s hand throughout) privily211 conveyed to the Lady Maude de Mortemer, who shortly afterward contrived212 Prince Edward’s escape from her husband’s gaolership. There was much sowing of a seed, in fine, that eventually flowered victory. There was, however, no sign of Osmund Heleigh, though by Dame Alianora’s order he was sought.
On Saturday at seven in the morning he came to her lodging213, in complete armor. From the open helmet his wrinkled face, showing like a wizened214 nut in a shell, smiled upon her questionings.
“I go to fight Gui Camoys, madame and Queen.”
He answered: “That is true. Therefore I am come to bid you farewell.”
The Queen stared at him for a while; on a sudden she broke into a curious fit of deep but tearless sobbing216, which bordered upon laughter, too.
“Mon bel esper,” said Osmund Heleigh, gently, “what is there in all this worthy140 of your sorrow? The man will kill me; granted, for he is my junior by some fifteen years, and is in addition a skilled swordsman. I fail to see that this is lamentable217. Back to Longaville I cannot go after recent happenings; there a rope’s end awaits me. Here I must in any event shortly take to the sword, since a beleaguered218 army has very little need of ink-pots; and shortly I must be slain in some skirmish, dug under the ribs219 perhaps by a greasy220 fellow I have never seen. I prefer a clean death at a gentleman’s hands.”
“It is I who bring about your death!” she said. “You gave me gallant33 service, and I have requited221 you with death, and it is a great pity.”
“Indeed the debt is on the other side. The trivial services I rendered you were such as any gentleman must render a woman in distress222. Naught223 else have I afforded you, madame, save very anciently a Sestina. Ho, a Sestina! And in return you have given me a Sestina of fairer make,—a Sestina of days, six days of manly224 common living.” His eyes were fervent225.
She kissed him on either cheek. “Farewell, my champion!”
“Ay, your champion. In the twilight226 of life old Osmund Heleigh rides forth227 to defend the quarrel of Alianora of Provence. Reign wisely, my Queen, so that hereafter men may not say I was slain in an evil cause. Do not, I pray you, shame my maiden228 venture at a man’s work.”
“I will not shame you,” the Queen proudly said; and then, with a change of voice: “O my Osmund! My Osmund, you have a folly that is divine, and I lack it.”
He caught her by each wrist, and stood crushing both her hands to his lips, with fierce staring. “Wife of my King! wife of my King!” he babbled229; and then put her from him, crying, “I have not failed you! Praise God, I have not failed you!”
From her window she saw him ride away, a rich flush of glitter and color. In new armor with a smart emblazoned surcoat the lean pedant sat conspicuously230 erect231; and as he went he sang defiantly232, taunting233 the weakness of his flesh.
Sang Osmund Heleigh:
“Love sows, but lovers reap; and ye will see
The loved eyes lighten, feel the loved lips cling
Never again when in the grave ye be
Incurious of your happiness in spring,
And get no grace of Love, there, whither he
That bartered life for love no love may bring.”
So he rode away and thus out of our history. But in the evening Gui Camoys came into Bristol under a flag of truce234, and behind him heaved a litter wherein lay Osmund Heleigh’s body.
“For this man was frank and courteous,” Camoys said to the Queen, “and in the matter of the reparation he owed me acted very handsomely. It is fitting that he should have honorable interment.”
“That he shall not lack,” the Queen said, and gently unclasped from Osmund’s wrinkled neck the thin gold chain, now locketless. “There was a portrait here,” she said; “the portrait of a woman whom he loved in his youth, Messire Camoys. And all his life it lay above his heart.”
Camoys answered stiffly: “I imagine this same locket to have been the object which Messire Heleigh flung into the river, shortly before we began our combat. I do not rob the dead, madame.”
“Well,” the Queen said, “he always did queer things, and so, I shall always wonder what sort of lady he picked out to love, but it is none of my affair.”
Afterward she set to work on requisitions in the King’s name. But Osmund Heleigh she had interred235 at Ambresbury, commanding it to be written on his tomb that he died in the Queen’s cause.
How the same cause prospered236 (Nicolas concludes), how presently Dame Alianora reigned237 again in England and with what wisdom, and how in the end this great Queen died a nun238 at Ambresbury and all England wept therefor—this you may learn elsewhere. I have chosen to record six days of a long and eventful life; and (as Messire Heleigh might have done) I say modestly with him of old, Majores majora sonent. Nevertheless, I assert that many a forest was once a pocketful of acorns239.
THE END OF THE FIRST NOVEL
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abridge
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| v.删减，删节，节略，缩短 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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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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veracity
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| n.诚实 | |
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impute
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| v.归咎于 | |
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volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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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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peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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dolt
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| n.傻瓜 | |
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deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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magisterial
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| adj.威风的，有权威的；adv.威严地 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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deteriorated
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| 恶化，变坏( deteriorate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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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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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entrenched
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| adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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40
monkish
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| adj.僧侣的，修道士的，禁欲的 | |
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41
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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42
pieties
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| 虔诚，虔敬( piety的名词复数 ) | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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45
veering
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| n.改变的；犹豫的；顺时针方向转向；特指使船尾转向上风来改变航向v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的现在分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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enrage
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| v.触怒，激怒 | |
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skulked
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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49
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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50
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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51
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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52
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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53
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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54
meddles
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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57
barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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58
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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59
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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60
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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61
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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64
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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65
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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66
gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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67
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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68
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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satirist
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| n.讽刺诗作者，讽刺家，爱挖苦别人的人 | |
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70
trudging
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
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pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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72
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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73
lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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74
thatch
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| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
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fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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76
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sparse
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| adj.稀疏的，稀稀落落的，薄的 | |
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80
gutters
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| （路边）排水沟( gutter的名词复数 )； 阴沟； （屋顶的）天沟； 贫贱的境地 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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85
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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86
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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87
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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88
blustered
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| v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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inefficient
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| adj.效率低的，无效的 | |
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scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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92
jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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93
jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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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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smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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100
scatters
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| v.（使）散开， （使）分散，驱散( scatter的第三人称单数 )；撒 | |
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101
appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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102
kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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103
seeping
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| v.（液体）渗( seep的现在分词 )；渗透；渗出；漏出 | |
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104
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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105
bartered
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| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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braggart
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| n.吹牛者；adj.吹牛的，自夸的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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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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109
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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110
briny
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| adj.盐水的；很咸的；n.海洋 | |
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111
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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112
atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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113
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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114
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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115
sedately
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| adv.镇静地，安详地 | |
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116
ailment
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| n.疾病，小病 | |
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117
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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118
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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119
pedant
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| n.迂儒；卖弄学问的人 | |
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120
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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121
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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122
questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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123
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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124
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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125
evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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126
follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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127
sapphires
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| n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色 | |
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128
pettishly
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129
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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130
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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131
adorn
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| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
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132
rumored
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| adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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133
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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134
asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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135
writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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136
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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137
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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138
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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139
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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140
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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141
pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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142
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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143
razed
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| v.彻底摧毁，将…夷为平地( raze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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144
charred
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| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
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145
molestation
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| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
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146
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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147
spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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148
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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149
meticulously
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| adv.过细地，异常细致地；无微不至；精心 | |
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150
appraised
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| v.估价( appraise的过去式和过去分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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151
jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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152
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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153
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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154
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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155
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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156
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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157
curmudgeon
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| n. 脾气暴躁之人，守财奴，吝啬鬼 | |
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158
grudging
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| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
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159
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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160
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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161
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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162
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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163
entrapped
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| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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164
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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165
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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166
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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167
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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168
dilatory
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| adj.迟缓的，不慌不忙的 | |
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169
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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170
monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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171
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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172
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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173
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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174
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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175
tunics
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| n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍 | |
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176
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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177
witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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178
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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179
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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180
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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181
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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182
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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183
eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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184
slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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185
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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186
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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187
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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188
ebbing
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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189
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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190
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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191
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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192
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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193
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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194
conducive
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| adj.有益的，有助的 | |
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195
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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196
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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197
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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198
affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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199
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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200
puissant
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| adj.强有力的 | |
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201
stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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202
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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203
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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204
repentant
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| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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205
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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206
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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207
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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208
countenanced
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| v.支持，赞同，批准( countenance的过去式 ) | |
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209
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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210
virago
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| n.悍妇 | |
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211
privily
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| adv.暗中，秘密地 | |
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212
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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213
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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214
wizened
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| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
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215
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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216
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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217
lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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218
beleaguered
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| adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰 | |
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219
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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220
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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221
requited
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| v.报答( requite的过去式和过去分词 )；酬谢；回报；报复 | |
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222
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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223
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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224
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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225
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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226
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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227
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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228
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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229
babbled
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| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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230
conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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231
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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232
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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233
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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234
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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235
interred
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| v.埋，葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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236
prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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237
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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238
nun
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| n.修女，尼姑 | |
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239
acorns
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| n.橡子，栎实( acorn的名词复数 ) | |
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