Entierement, jusques mort me consume.
Laurier souëf qui pour mon droit combat,
Olivier franc, m’ostant toute amertume.”
THE TENTH NOVEL.—KATHARINE OF VALOIS IS LOVED BY A HUNTSMAN, AND LOVES HIM GREATLY; THEN FINDS HIM, TO HER HORROR, AN IMPOSTOR; AND FOR A SUFFICIENT REASON CONSENTS TO MARRY QUITE ANOTHER PERSON, NOT ALL UNWILLINGLY3.
The Story of the Fox-Brush
In the year of grace 1417, about Martinmas (thus Nicolas begins), Queen Isabeau fled with her daughter the Lady Katharine to Chartres. There the Queen was met by the Duke of Burgundy, and these two laid their heads together to such good effect that presently they got back into Paris, and in its public places massacred some three thousand Armagnacs. That, however, is a matter which touches history; the root of our concernment is that, when the Queen and the Duke rode off to attend to this butcher’s business, the Lady Katharine was left behind in the Convent of Saint Scholastica, which then stood upon the outskirts4 of Chartres, in the bend of the Eure just south of that city. She dwelt for a year in this well-ordered place.
There one finds her upon the day of the decollation of Saint John the Baptist, the fine August morning that starts the tale. Katharine the Fair, men called her, with considerable show of reason. She was very tall, and slim as a rush. Her eyes were large and black, having an extreme lustre5, like the gleam of undried ink,—a lustre at some times uncanny. Her abundant hair, too, was black, and to-day seemed doubly sombre by contrast with the gold netting which confined it. Her mouth was scarlet6, all curves, and her complexion7 was famous for its brilliancy; only a precisian would have objected that she possessed8 the Valois nose, long and thin and somewhat unduly9 overhanging the mouth.
To-day as she came through the orchard10, crimson11 garbed13, she paused with lifted eyebrows14. Beyond the orchard wall there was a hodgepodge of noises, among which a nice ear might distinguish the clatter16 of hoofs17, a yelping18 and scurrying19, and a contention20 of soft bodies, and above all a man’s voice commanding the turmoil21. She was seventeen, so she climbed into the crotch of an apple-tree and peered over the wall.
He was in rusty22 brown and not unshabby; but her regard swept over this to his face, and there noted23 how his eyes shone like blue winter stars under the tumbled yellow hair, and noted the flash of his big teeth as he swore between them. He held a dead fox by the brush, which he was cutting off; two hounds, lank24 and wolfish, were scaling his huge body in frantic25 attempts to get at the carrion26. A horse grazed close at hand.
So for a heart-beat she saw him. Then he flung the tailless body to the hounds, and in the act spied two black eyes peeping through the apple-leaves. He laughed, all mirth to the heels of him. “Mademoiselle, I fear we have disturbed your devotions. But I had not heard that it was a Benedictine custom to rehearse aves in tree-tops.” Then, as she leaned forward, both elbows resting more comfortably upon the wall, and thereby27 disclosing her slim body among the foliage28 like a crimson flower green-calyxed, he said, “You are not a nun—Blood of God! you are the Princess Katharine!”
The nuns29, her present guardians30, would have declared the ensuing action horrific, for Katharine smiled frankly31 at him and asked how could he thus recognise her at one glance.
He answered slowly: “I have seen your portrait. Hah, your portrait!” he jeered32, head flung back and big teeth glinting in the sunlight. “There is a painter who merits crucifixion.”
She considered this indicative of a cruel disposition33, but also of a fine taste in the liberal arts. Aloud she stated:
“You are not a Frenchman, messire. I do not understand how you can have seen my portrait.”
The man stood for a moment twiddling the fox-brush. “I am a harper, my Princess. I have visited the courts of many kings, though never that of France. I perceive I have been woefully unwise.”
This trenched upon insolence—the look of his eyes, indeed, carried it well past the frontier,—but she found the statement interesting. Straightway she touched the kernel35 of those fear-blurred36 legends whispered about Dom Manuel’s reputed descendants.
“You have, then, seen the King of England?”
“Yes, Highness.”
“Is it true that in him, the devil blood of Oriander has gone mad, and that he eats children—like Agrapard and Angoulaffre of the Broken Teeth?”
His gaze widened. “I have heard a deal of scandal concerning the man. But certainly I never heard that.”
Katharine settled back, luxuriously37, in the crotch of the apple-tree. “Tell me about him.”
Composedly he sat down upon the grass and began to acquaint her with his knowledge and opinions concerning Henry, the fifth of that name to reign38 in England, and the son of that squinting39 Harry41 of Derby about whom I have told you so much before.
Katharine punctuated42 the harper’s discourse43 with eager questionings, which are not absolutely to our purpose. In the main, this harper thought the man now buffeting45 France a just king, and he had heard, when the crown was laid aside, Sire Henry was sufficiently46 jovial47, and even prankish48. The harper educed49 anecdotes50. He considered that the King would manifestly take Rouen, which the insatiable man was now besieging51. Was the King in treaty for the hand of the Infanta of Aragon? Yes, he undoubtedly52 was.
Katharine sighed her pity for this ill-starred woman. “And now tell me about yourself.”
He was, it appeared, Alain Maquedonnieux, a harper by vocation53, and by birth a native of Ireland. Beyond the fact that it was a savage54 kingdom adjoining Cataia, Katharine knew nothing of Ireland. The harper assured her that in this she was misinformed, since the kings of England claimed Ireland as an appanage, though the Irish themselves were of two minds as to the justice of these pretensions55; all in all, he considered that Ireland belonged to Saint Patrick, and that the holy man had never accredited56 a vicar.
“Doubtless, by the advice of God,” Alain said: “for I have read in Master Roger de Wendover’s Chronicles of how at the dread57 day of judgment58 all the Irish are to muster59 before the high and pious60 Patrick, as their liege lord and father in the spirit, and by him be conducted into the presence of God; and of how, by virtue61 of Saint Patrick’s request, all the Irish will die seven years to an hour before the second coming of Christ, in order to give the blessed saint sufficient time to marshal his company, which is considerable.” Katharine admitted the convenience of this arrangement, as well as the neglect of her education. Alain gazed up at her for a long while, as if in reflection, and presently said: “Doubtless the Lady Heleine of Argos also was thus starry-eyed and found in books less diverting reading than in the faces of men.” It flooded Katharine’s cheeks with a livelier hue63, but did not vex64 her irretrievably; if she chose to read this man’s face, the meaning was plain enough.
I give you the gist65 of their talk, and that in all conscience is trivial. But it was a day when one entered love’s wardship66 with a plunge67, not in more modern fashion venturing forward bit by bit, as though love were so much cold water. So they talked for a long while, with laughter mutually provoked and shared, with divers68 eloquent69 and dangerous pauses. The harper squatted70 upon the ground, the Princess leaned over the wall; but to all intent they sat together upon the loftiest turret71 of Paradise, and it was a full two hours before Katharine hinted at departure.
Alain rose, approaching the wall. “To-morrow I ride for Milan to take service with Duke Filippo. I had broken my journey these three days past at Châteauneuf yonder, where this fox has been harrying72 my host’s chickens. To-day I went out to slay73 him, and he led me, his murderer, to the fairest lady earth may boast. Do you not think that, in returning good for evil, this fox was a true Christian74, my Princess?”
Katharine said: “I lament75 his destruction. Farewell, Messire Alain! And since chance brought you hither—”
“Destiny brought me hither,” Alain affirmed, a mastering hunger in his eyes. “Destiny has been kind; I shall make a prayer to her that she continue so.” But when Katharine demanded what this prayer would be, Alain shook his tawny76 head. “Presently you shall know, Highness, but not now. I return to Châteauneuf on certain necessary businesses; to-morrow I set out at cockcrow for Milan and the Visconti’s livery. Farewell!” He mounted and rode away in the golden August sunlight, the hounds frisking about him. The fox-brush was fastened in his hat. Thus Tristran de Léonois may have ridden a-hawking in drowned Cornwall, thus statelily and composedly, Katharine thought, gazing after him. She went to her apartments, singing an inane77 song about the amorous78 and joyful79 time of spring when everything and everybody is happy,—
“El tems amoreus plein de joie,
El tems où tote riens s’esgaie,—”
and burst into a sudden passion of tears. There were born every day, she reflected, such hosts of women-children, who were not princesses, and therefore compelled to marry detestable kings.
Dawn found her in the orchard. She was to remember that it was a cloudy morning, and that mist-tatters trailed from the more distant trees. In the slaty80 twilight81 the garden’s verdure was lustreless82, the grass and foliage were uniformly sombre save where dewdrops showed like beryls. Nowhere in the orchard was there absolute shadow, nowhere a vista83 unblurred; in the east, half-way between horizon and zenith, two belts of coppery light flared84 against the gray sky like embers swaddled by ashes. The birds were waking; there were occasional scurryings in tree-tops and outbursts of peevish85 twittering to attest86 as much; and presently came a singing, less musical than that of many a bird perhaps, but far more grateful to the girl who heard it, heart in mouth. A lute44 accompanied the song demurely87.
Sang Alain:
“O Madam Destiny, omnipotent88,
That this our transient grant of youth be spent
In laughter as befits a holiday,
From which the evening summons us away,
“O Madam Destiny, omnipotent,
Why need our elders trouble us at play?
And being old, shall be as wise as they:
But now we are not wise, and lute and fife
Plead sweetlier than axioms,—so to-day
Grudge us not life!
“O Madam Destiny, omnipotent,
You have given us youth—and must we cast away
The cup undrained and our one coin unspent
Because our elders’ beards and hearts are gray?
They have forgotten that if we delay
Death claps us on the shoulder, and with knife
‘Grudge us not life!’
“Madam, recall that in the sun we play
But for an hour, then have the worm for wife,
The tomb for habitation—and to-day
Grudge us not life!”
Candor97 in these matters is best. Katharine scrambled98 into the crotch of the apple-tree. The dew pattered sharply about her, but the Princess was not in a mood to appraise100 discomfort101.
“You came!” this harper said, transfigured; and then again, “You came!”
She breathed, “Yes.”
So for a long time they stood looking at each other. She found adoration102 in his eyes and quailed103 before it; and in the man’s mind not a grimy and mean incident of the past but marshalled to leer at his unworthiness: yet in that primitive104 garden the first man and woman, meeting, knew no sweeter terror.
It was by the minstrel that a familiar earth and the grating speech of earth were earlier regained105. “The affair is of the suddenest,” Alain observed, and he now swung the lute behind him. He indicated no intention of touching106 her, though he might easily have done so as he sat there exalted107 by the height of his horse. “A meteor arrives with more prelude108. But Love is an arbitrary lord; desiring my heart, he has seized it, and accordingly I would now brave hell to come to you, and finding you there, would esteem109 hell a pleasure-garden. I have already made my prayer to Destiny that she concede me love. Now of God, our Father and Master, I entreat110 quick death if I am not to win you. For, God willing, I shall come to you again, even if in order to do this I have to split the world like a rotten orange.”
“Madness! Oh, brave, sweet madness!” Katharine said. “You are a minstrel and I am a king’s daughter.”
“Is it madness? Why, then, I think sane111 persons are to be commiserated112. And indeed I spy in all this some design. Across half the earth I came to you, led by a fox. Hey, God’s face!” Alain swore; “the foxes which Samson, that old sinewy113 captain, loosed among the corn of heathenry kindled114 no disputation such as this fox has set afoot. That was an affair of standing115 corn and olives spoilt, a bushel or so of disaster; now poised116 kingdoms topple on the brink117 of ruin. There will be martial118 argument shortly if you bid me come again.”
“I bid you come,” said Katharine; and after they had stared at each other for a long while, he rode away in silence. It was through a dank and tear-flawed world that she stumbled conventward, while out of the east the sun came bathed in mists, a watery120 sun no brighter than a silver coin.
And for a month the world seemed no less dreary121, but about Michaelmas the Queen-Regent sent for her. At the Hôtel de Saint-Pol matters were much the same. Katharine found her mother in foul-mouthed rage over the failure of a third attempt to poison the Dauphin of Vienne, as Queen Isabeau had previously122 poisoned her two elder sons; I might here trace out a curious similitude between the Valois and that dragon-spawned race which Jason very anciently slew123 at Colchis, since the world was never at peace so long as any two of them existed. But King Charles greeted his daughter with ampler deference124, esteeming125 her to be the wife of Presbyter John, the tyrant126 of Aethiopia. However, ingenuity127 had just suggested card-playing for King Charles’ amusement, and he paid little attention nowadays to any one save his opponent at this new game.
So the French King chirped128 his senile jests over the card-table, while the King of England was besieging the French city of Rouen sedulously129 and without mercy. In late autumn an armament from Ireland joined Henry’s forces. The Irish fought naked, it was said, with long knives. Katharine heard discreditable tales of these Irish, and reflected how gross are the exaggerations of rumor130.
In the year of grace 1419, in January, the burgesses of Rouen, having consumed their horses, and finding frogs and rats unpalatable, yielded the town. It was the Queen-Regent who brought the news to Katharine.
“God is asleep,” the Queen said; “and while He nods, the Butcher of Agincourt has stolen our good city of Rouen.” She sat down and breathed heavily. “Never was any poor woman so pestered131 as I! The puddings to-day were quite uneatable, as you saw for yourself, and on Sunday the Englishman entered Rouen in great splendor132, attended by his chief nobles; but the Butcher rode alone, and before him went a page carrying a fox-brush on the point of his lance. I put it to you, is that the contrivance of a sane man? Euh! euh!” Dame Isabeau squealed133 on a sudden; “you are bruising134 me.”
Katharine had gripped her by the shoulder. “The King of England—a tall, fair man? with big teeth? a tiny wen upon his neck—here—and with his left cheek scarred? with blue eyes, very bright, bright as tapers135?” She poured out her questions in a torrent136, and awaited the answer, seeming not to breathe at all.
“I believe so,” the Queen said, “and they say, too, that he has the damned squint40 of old Manuel the Redeemer.”
“O God!” said Katharine.
“Ay, our only hope now. And may God show him no more mercy than has this misbegotten English butcher shown us!” the good lady desired, with fervor137. “The hog138, having won our Normandy, is now advancing on Paris itself. He repudiated139 the Aragonish alliance last August; and until last August he was content with Normandy, they tell us, but now he swears to win all France. The man is a madman, and Scythian Tamburlaine was more lenient140. And I do not believe that in all France there is a cook who understands his business.” She went away whimpering, and proceeded to get tipsy.
The Princess remained quite still, as Dame Isabeau had left her; you may see a hare crouch141 so at sight of the hounds. Finally the girl spoke142 aloud. “Until last August!” Katharine said. “Until last August! Poised kingdoms topple on the brink of ruin, now that you bid me come to you again. And I bade this devil’s grandson come to me, as my lover!” Presently she went into her oratory143 and began to pray.
In the midst of her invocation she wailed144: “Fool, fool! How could I have thought him less than a king!”
You are to imagine her breast thus adrum with remorse145 and hatred146 of herself, the while that town by town fell before the invader147 like card-houses. Every rumor of defeat—and the news of some fresh defeat came daily—was her arraignment148; impotently she cowered149 at God’s knees, knowing herself a murderess, whose infamy150 was still afoot, outpacing her prayers, whose victims were battalions151. Tarpeia and Pisidicé and Rahab were her sisters; she hungered in her abasement152 for Judith’s nobler guilt153.
In May he came to her. A truce154 was patched up, and French and English met amicably155 in a great plain near Meulan. A square space was staked out and on three sides boarded in, the fourth side being the river Seine. This enclosure the Queen-Regent, Jehan of Burgundy, and Katharine entered from the French side. Simultaneously156 the English King appeared, accompanied by his brothers the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester, and followed by the Earl of Warwick. Katharine raised her eyes with I know not what lingering hope; but it was he, a young Zeus now, triumphant157 and uneager. In his helmet in place of a plume158 he wore a fox-brush spangled with jewels.
These six entered the tent pitched for the conference—the hanging of blue velvet159 embroidered160 with fleurs-de-lys of gold blurred before the girl’s eyes,—and there the Earl of Warwick embarked161 upon a sea of rhetoric162. His French was indifferent, his periods were interminable, and his demands exorbitant163; in brief, the King of England wanted Katharine and most of France, with a reversion at the French King’s death of the entire kingdom. Meanwhile Sire Henry sat in silence, his eyes glowing.
“I have come,” he said, under cover of Warwick’s oratory—“I have come again, my lady.”
Katharine’s gaze flickered164 over him. “Liar!” she said, very softly. “Has God no thunders remaining in His armory166 that this vile167 thief still goes unblasted? Would you steal love as well as kingdoms?”
His ruddy face was now white. “I love you, Katharine.”
“Yes,” she answered, “for I am your pretext168. I can well believe, messire, that you love your pretext for theft and murder.”
Neither spoke after this, and presently the Earl of Warwick having come to his peroration169, the matter was adjourned170 till the next day. The party separated. It was not long before Katharine had informed her mother that, God willing, she would never again look upon the King of England’s face uncoffined. Isabeau found her a madwoman. The girl swept opposition172 before her with gusts173 of demoniacal fury, wept, shrieked175, tore at her hair, and eventually fell into a sort of epileptic seizure176; between rage and terror she became a horrid177, frenzied178 beast. I do not dwell upon this, for it is not a condition in which the comeliest179 maid shows to advantage. But, for the Valois, insanity180 always lurked181 at the next corner, and they knew it; to save the girl’s reason the Queen was forced to break off all discussion of the match. Accordingly, the Duke of Burgundy went next day to the conference alone. Jehan began with “ifs,” and over these flimsy barriers Henry, already fretted182 by Katharine’s scorn, presently vaulted183 to a towering fury.
“Fair cousin,” the King said, after a deal of vehement184 bickering185, “we wish you to know that we will have the daughter of your King, and that we will drive both him and you out of this kingdom.”
The Duke answered, not without spirit, “Sire, you are pleased to say so; but before you have succeeded in ousting186 my lord and me from this realm, I am of the opinion that you will be very heartily187 tired.”
At this the King turned on his heel; over his shoulder he flung: “I am tireless; also, I am agile188 as a fox in the pursuit of my desires. Say that to your Princess.” Then he went away in a rage.
It had seemed an approvable business to win love incognito189, according to the example of many ancient emperors, but in practice he had tripped over an ugly outgrowth from the legendary190 custom. The girl hated him, there was no doubt about it; and it was equally certain he loved her. Particularly caustic191 was the reflection that a twitch192 of his finger would get him Katharine as his wife, for before long the Queen-Regent was again attempting secret negotiations193 to bring this about. Yes, he could get the girl’s body by a couple of pen-strokes, and had he been older that might have contented194 him: as it was, what he wanted was to rouse the look her eyes had borne in Chartres orchard that tranquil195 morning, and this one could not readily secure by fiddling196 with seals and parchments. You see his position: this high-spirited young man now loved the Princess too utterly197 to take her on lip-consent, and this marriage was now his one possible excuse for ceasing from victorious198 warfare199. So he blustered200, and the fighting recommenced; and he slew in a despairing rage, knowing that by every movement of his arm he became to her so much the more detestable.
Then the Vicomte de Montbrison, as you have heard, betrayed France, and King Henry began to strip the French realm of provinces as you peel the layers from an onion. By the May of the year of grace 1420 France was, and knew herself to be, not beaten but demolished201. Only a fag-end of the French army lay entrenched202 at Troyes, where King Charles and his court awaited Henry’s decision as to the morrow’s action. If he chose to destroy them root and branch, he could; and they knew such mercy as was in the man to be quite untarnished by previous using. Sire Henry drew up a small force before the city and made no overtures203 toward either peace or throat-cutting.
This was the posture204 of affairs on the evening of the Sunday after Ascension day, when Katharine sat at cards with her father in his apartments at the Hôtel de Ville. The King was pursing his lips over an alternative play, when somebody began singing below in the courtyard.
Sang the voice:
“I can find no meaning in life,
That have weighed the world,—and it was
Like dreams through a fevered head;
And like the dripping of rain
In gardens naked and dead
Is the obdurate thin refrain
Of our youth which is presently dead.
“And she whom alone I have loved
As one she hath seen disproved
And stained with such smirches as be
And is both to remember the days
As the theme and the goal of my praise;
And I stain what I strive for and praise.
“O love, most perfect of all,
Just to have known you is well!
And it heartens me now to recall
That just to have known you is well,
Save only to do as you willed
And to love you my whole life long;—
But this heart in me is filled
With hunger cruel and strong,
And with hunger unfulfilled.
“Fond heart, though thy hunger be
As a flame that wanders unstilled,
There is none more perfect than she!”
Malise now came into the room, and, without speaking, laid a fox-brush before the Princess.
Katharine twirled it in her hand, staring at the card-littered table. “So you are in his pay, Malise? I am sorry. But you know that your employer is master here. Who am I to forbid him entrance?” The girl went away silently, abashed212, and the Princess sat quite still, tapping the brush against the table.
“They do not want me to sign another treaty, do they?” her father asked timidly. “It appears to me they are always signing treaties, and I cannot see that any good comes of it. And I would have won the last game, Katharine, if Malise had not interrupted us. You know I would have won.”
“Yes, Father, you would have won. Oh, he must not see you!” Katharine cried, a great tide of love mounting in her breast, the love that draws a mother fiercely to shield her backward boy. “Father, will you not go into your chamber213? I have a new book for you, Father—all pictures, dear. Come—” She was coaxing214 him when Sire Henry appeared in the doorway215.
“But I do not wish to look at pictures,” Charles said, peevishly216; “I wish to play cards. You are an ungrateful daughter, Katharine. You are never willing to amuse me.” He sat down with a whimper and began to pluck at his dribbling217 lips.
Katharine had moved a little toward the door. Her face was white. “Now welcome, sire!” she said. “Welcome, O great conqueror218, who in your hour of triumph can find no nobler recreation than to shame a maid with her past folly! It was valorously done, sire. See, Father; here is the King of England come to observe how low we sit that yesterday were lords of France.”
“The King of England!” echoed Charles, and he rose now to his feet. “I thought we were at war with him. But my memory is treacherous219. You perceive, brother of England, I am planning a new mouse-trap, and my mind is somewhat preëmpted. I recall now that you are in treaty for my daughter’s hand. Katharine is a good girl, a fine upstanding girl, but I suppose—” He paused, as if to regard and hear some invisible counsellor, and then briskly resumed: “Yes, I suppose policy demands that she should marry you. We trammelled kings can never go free of policy—ey, my compère of England? No; it was through policy I wedded220 her mother; and we have been very unhappy, Isabeau and I. A word in your ear, son-in-law: Madame Isabeau’s soul formerly221 inhabited a sow, as Pythagoras teaches, and when our Saviour222 cast it out at Gadara, the influence of the moon drew it hither.”
Henry did not say anything. Steadily223 his calm blue eyes appraised224 Dame Katharine. And King Charles went on, very knowingly:
“Oho, these Latinists cannot hoodwink me, you observe, though by ordinary it chimes with my humor to appear content. Policy again, son-in-law: for once roused, I am terrible. To-day in the great hall-window, under the bleeding feet of Lazarus, I slew ten flies— very black they were, the black shrivelled souls of parricides,—and afterward225 I wept for it. I often weep; the Mediterranean226 hath its sources in my eyes, for my daughter cheats at cards. Cheats, sir!—and I her father!” The incessant227 peering, the stealthy cunning with which Charles whispered this, the confidence with which he clung to his destroyer’s hand, was that of a conspiring228 child.
“Come, Father,” Katharine said. “Come away to bed, dear.”
“Hideous basilisk!” he spat229 at her; “dare you rebel against me? Am I not King of France, and is it not blasphemy230 for a King of France to be mocked? Frail231 moths232 that flutter about my splendor,” he shrieked, in an unheralded frenzy233, “beware of me, beware! for I am omnipotent! I am King of France, Heaven’s regent. At my command the winds go about the earth, and nightly the stars are kindled for my recreation. Perhaps I am mightier234 than God, but I do not remember now. The reason is written down and lies somewhere under a bench. Now I sail for England. Eia! eia! I go to ravage235 England, terrible and merciless. But I must have my mouse-traps, Goodman Devil, for in England the cats of the middle-sea wait unfed.” He went out of the room, giggling236, and in the corridor began to sing:
“A hundred thousand times good-bye!
I go to seek the Evangelist,
For here all persons cheat and lie ...”
All this while Henry remained immovable, his eyes fixed upon Katharine. Thus (she meditated) he stood among Frenchmen; he was the boulder237, and they the waters that babbled238 and fretted about him. But she turned and met his gaze squarely. She noted now for the first time how oddly his left eyebrow15 drooped239. Katharine said: “And that is the king whom you have conquered! Is it not a notable conquest to overcome so wise a king? to pilfer240 renown241 from an idiot? There are cut-throats in Troyes, rogues242 doubly damned, who would scorn the action. Now shall I fetch my mother, sire? the commander of that great army which you overcame? As the hour is late, she is by this time tipsy, but she will come. Or perhaps she is with some paid lover, but if this conqueror, this second Alexander, wills it she will come. O God!” the girl wailed, on a sudden; “O just and all-seeing God! are not we of Valois so contemptible243 that in conquering us it is the victor who is shamed?”
“Flower of the marsh62!” he said, and his voice pulsed with tender cadences—“flower of the marsh! it is not the King of England who now comes to you, but Alain the harper. Henry Plantagenet God has led hither by the hand to punish the sins of this realm, and to reign in it like a true king. Henry Plantagenet will cast out the Valois from the throne they have defiled244, as Darius cast out Belshazzar, for such is the desire and the intent of God. But to you comes Alain the harper, not as a conqueror but as a suppliant,—Alain who has loved you whole-heartedly these two years past, and who now kneels before you entreating245 grace.”
Katharine looked down into his countenance246, for to his speech he had fitted action. Suddenly and for the first time she understood that he believed France to be his by Divine favor and Heaven’s peculiar247 intervention248. He thought himself God’s factor, not His rebel. He was rather stupid, this huge, handsome, squinting boy; and as she comprehended this, her hand went to his shoulder, half maternally249.
“It is nobly done, sire. But I understand. You must marry me in order to uphold your claim to France. You sell, and I with my body purchase, peace for France. There is no need of a lover’s posture when hucksters meet.”
“So changed!” he said, and he was silent for an interval250, still kneeling. Then he began: “You force me to point out that I do not need any pretext for holding France. France lies before me prostrate251. By God’s singular grace I reign in this fair kingdom, mine by right of conquest, and an alliance with the house of Valois will neither make nor mar2 me.” She was unable to deny this, unpalatable as was the fact. “But I love you, and therefore as man wooes woman I sue to you. Do you not understand that there can be between us no question of expediency252? Katharine, in Chartres orchard there met a man and a maid we know of; now in Troyes they meet again,—not as princess and king, but as man and maid, the wooer and the wooed. Once I touched your heart, I think. And now in all the world there is one thing I covet—to gain for the poor king some portion of that love you would have squandered253 on the harper.” His hand closed upon her hand.
At his touch the girl’s composure vanished. “My lord, you woo too timidly for one who comes with many loud-voiced advocates. I am daughter to the King of France, and next to my soul’s salvation254 I esteem the welfare of France. Can I, then, fail to love the King of England, who chooses the blood of my countrymen as a judicious255 garb12 to come a-wooing in? How else, since you have ravaged256 my native land, since you have besmirched257 the name I bear, since yonder afield every wound in my dead and yet unburied Frenchmen is to me a mouth which shrieks258 your infamy?”
He rose. “And yet, for all that, you love me.”
She could not at the first effort find words with which to answer him, but presently she said, quite simply, “To see you lying in your coffin171 I would willingly give up my hope of heaven, for heaven can afford no sight more desirable.”
“You loved Alain.”
“I loved the husk of a man. You can never comprehend how utterly I loved him.”
“You are stubborn. I shall have trouble with you. But this notion of yours is plainly a mistaken notion. That you love me is indisputable, and this I propose to demonstrate. You will observe that I am quite unarmed except for this dagger259, which I now throw out of the window—” with the word it jangled in the courtyard below. “I am in Troyes alone among some thousand Frenchmen, any one of whom would willingly give his life for the privilege of taking mine. You have but to sound the gong beside you, and in a few moments I shall be a dead man. Strike, then! For with me dies the English power in France. Strike, Katharine! If you see in me but the King of England.”
“You came alone! You dared!”
He answered, with a wonderful smile, “Proud spirit! How else might I conquer you?”
“You have not conquered!” Katharine lifted the baton261 beside the gong, poising262 it. God had granted her prayer—to save France. Now the past and the ignominy of the past might be merged263 in Judith’s nobler guilt. But I must tell you that in the supreme264 hour, Destiny at her beck, her main desire was to slap the man for his childishness. Oh, he had no right thus to besot himself with adoration! This dejection at her feet of his high destiny awed119 her, and pricked265 her, too, with her inability to understand him. Angrily she flung away the baton. “Go! Ah, go!” she cried, like one strangling. “There has been enough of bloodshed, and I must spare you, loathing you as I do, for I cannot with my own hand murder you.”
But the King was a kindly266 tyrant, crushing independence from his associates as lesser267 folk squeeze water from a sponge. “I cannot go thus. Acknowledge me to be Alain, the man you love, or else strike upon the gong.”
“You are cruel!” she wailed, in her torture.
“Yes, I am cruel.”
Katharine raised straining arms above her head in a hard gesture of despair. “You have conquered. You know that I love you. Oh, if I could find words to voice my shame, to shriek174 it in your face, I could better endure it! For I love you. With all my body and heart and soul I love you. Mine is the agony, for I love you! and presently I shall stand quite still and see little Frenchmen scramble99 about you as hounds leap about a stag, and afterward kill you. And after that I shall live! I preserve France, but after I have slain268 you, Henry, I must live. Mine is the agony, the enduring agony.” She stayed motionless for an interval. “God, God! Let me not fail!” Katharine breathed; and then: “O fair sweet friend, I am about to commit a vile action, but it is for the sake of the France that I love next to God. As Judith gave her body to Holofernes, I crucify my heart for the preservation269 of France.” Very calmly she struck upon the gong.
If she could have found any reproach in his eyes during the ensuing silence, she could have borne it; but there was only love. And with all that, he smiled like one who knew the upshot of this matter.
A man-at-arms came into the room. “Germain—” said Katharine, and then again, “Germain—” She gave a swallowing motion and was silent. When she spoke it was with crisp distinctness. “Germain, fetch a harp34. Messire Alain here is about to play for me.”
At the man’s departure she said: “I am very pitiably weak. Need you have dragged my soul, too, in the dust? God heard my prayer, and you have forced me to deny His favor, as Peter denied Christ. My dear, be very kind to me, for I come to you naked of honor.” She fell at the King’s feet, embracing his knees. “My master, be very kind to me, for there remains270 only your love.”
He raised her to his breast. “Love is enough,” he said.
She was conscious, as he held her thus, of the chain mail under his jerkin. He had come armed; he had his soldiers no doubt in the corridor; he had tricked her, it might be from the first. But that did not matter now.
Next day the English entered Troyes and in the cathedral church these two were betrothed272. Henry was there magnificent in a curious suit of burnished273 armor; in place of his helmet-plume he wore a fox-brush ornamented275 with jewels, which unusual ornament274 afforded great matter of remark among the busybodies of both armies.
THE END OF THE TENTH NOVEL
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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garbed
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| v.（尤指某类人穿的特定）服装，衣服，制服( garb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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eyebrow
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| n.眉毛，眉 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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yelping
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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carrion
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| n.腐肉 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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nuns
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| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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kernel
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| n.(果实的)核，仁；(问题)的中心，核心 | |
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blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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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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squinting
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| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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punctuated
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| v.（在文字中）加标点符号，加标点( punctuate的过去式和过去分词 )；不时打断某事物 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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buffeting
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| 振动 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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prankish
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| adj.爱开玩笑的，恶作剧的；开玩笑性质的 | |
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educed
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| v.引出( educe的过去式和过去分词 )；唤起或开发出（潜能）；推断（出）；从数据中演绎（出） | |
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anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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besieging
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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accredited
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| adj.可接受的；可信任的；公认的；质量合格的v.相信( accredit的过去式和过去分词 )；委托；委任；把…归结于 | |
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57
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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59
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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64
vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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65
gist
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| n.要旨；梗概 | |
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wardship
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| 监护，保护 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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70
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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72
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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73
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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75
lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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inane
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| adj.空虚的，愚蠢的，空洞的 | |
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amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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slaty
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| 石板一样的，石板色的 | |
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81
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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lustreless
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| adj.无光泽的，无光彩的，平淡乏味的 | |
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vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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attest
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| vt.证明，证实；表明 | |
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demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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omnipotent
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| adj.全能的，万能的 | |
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obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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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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flouts
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| v.藐视，轻视( flout的第三人称单数 ) | |
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candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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appraise
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| v.估价，评价，鉴定 | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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102
adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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quailed
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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105
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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106
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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107
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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108
prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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109
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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110
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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111
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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112
commiserated
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| v.怜悯，同情( commiserate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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114
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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115
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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116
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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117
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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118
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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119
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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120
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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121
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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122
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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123
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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124
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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125
esteeming
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| v.尊敬( esteem的现在分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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126
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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127
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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128
chirped
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| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的过去式 ) | |
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129
sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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130
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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131
pestered
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| 使烦恼，纠缠( pester的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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132
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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133
squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
bruising
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| adj.殊死的；十分激烈的v.擦伤(bruise的现在分词形式) | |
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135
tapers
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| （长形物体的）逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 )； 微弱的光； 极细的蜡烛 | |
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136
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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137
fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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138
hog
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| n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占 | |
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139
repudiated
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| v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务） | |
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140
lenient
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| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
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141
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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142
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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143
oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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144
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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145
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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146
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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147
invader
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| n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者 | |
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148
arraignment
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| n.提问，传讯，责难 | |
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149
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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150
infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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151
battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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152
abasement
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| n.滥用 | |
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153
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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154
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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155
amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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156
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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157
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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158
plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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159
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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160
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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161
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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162
rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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163
exorbitant
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| adj.过分的；过度的 | |
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164
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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165
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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166
armory
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| n.纹章，兵工厂，军械库 | |
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167
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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168
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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169
peroration
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| n.（演说等之）结论 | |
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170
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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171
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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172
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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173
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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174
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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175
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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176
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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177
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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178
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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179
comeliest
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| adj.英俊的，好看的( comely的最高级 ) | |
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180
insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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181
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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182
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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183
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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184
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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185
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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186
ousting
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| 驱逐( oust的现在分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺 | |
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187
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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188
agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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189
incognito
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| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
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190
legendary
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| adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学） | |
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191
caustic
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| adj.刻薄的，腐蚀性的 | |
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192
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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193
negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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194
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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195
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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196
fiddling
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| 微小的 | |
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197
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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198
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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199
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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200
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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201
demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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202
entrenched
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| adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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203
overtures
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| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
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204
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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205
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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206
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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207
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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208
cleansed
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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209
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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210
engenders
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的第三人称单数 ) | |
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211
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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212
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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213
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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214
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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215
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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216
peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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217
dribbling
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| n.（燃料或油从系统内）漏泄v.流口水( dribble的现在分词 )；（使液体）滴下或作细流；运球，带球 | |
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218
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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219
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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220
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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221
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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222
saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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223
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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224
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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225
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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226
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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227
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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228
conspiring
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| 密谋( conspire的现在分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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229
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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230
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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231
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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232
moths
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| n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
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233
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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234
mightier
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| adj. 强有力的，强大的，巨大的 adv. 很，极其 | |
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235
ravage
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| vt.使...荒废，破坏...；n.破坏，掠夺，荒废 | |
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236
giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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237
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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238
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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239
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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240
pilfer
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| v.盗，偷，窃 | |
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241
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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242
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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243
contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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244
defiled
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| v.玷污( defile的过去式和过去分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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245
entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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246
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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247
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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248
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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249
maternally
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250
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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251
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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252
expediency
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| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
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253
squandered
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| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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254
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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255
judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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256
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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257
besmirched
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| v.弄脏( besmirch的过去式和过去分词 )；玷污；丑化；糟蹋（名誉等） | |
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258
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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259
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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260
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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261
baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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262
poising
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| 使平衡( poise的现在分词 )； 保持（某种姿势）； 抓紧； 使稳定 | |
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263
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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264
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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265
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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266
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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267
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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268
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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269
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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270
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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271
docilely
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| adv.容易教地，易驾驶地，驯服地 | |
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272
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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273
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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274
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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275
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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