Then as Dom Manuel turned from the window of Ageus, it seemed that young Horvendile had opened the door yonder, and after an instant's pensive1 staring at Dom Manuel, had gone away. This happened, if it happened at all, so furtively2 and quickly that Count Manuel could not be sure of it: but he could entertain no doubt as to the other person who was confronting him. There was not any telling how this lean stranger had come into the private apartments of the Count of Poictesme, nor was there any need for Manuel to wonder over the management of this intrusion, for the new arrival was not, after all, an entire stranger to Dom Manuel.
So Manuel said nothing, as he stood there stroking the round straw-colored head of little Melicent. The stranger waited, equally silent. There was no noise at all in the room until afar off a dog began to howl.
"Yes, certainly," Dom Manuel said, "I might have known that my life was bound up with the life of Suskind, since my desire of her is the one desire which I have put aside unsatisfied. O rider of the white horse, you are very welcome."
The other replied: "Why should you think that I know anything about this Suskind or that we of the Léshy keep any account of your doings? No matter what you may elect to think, however, it was decreed that the first person I found here should ride hence on my black horse. But you and the child stand abreast3. So you must choose again, Dom Manuel, whether it be you or another who rides on my black horse."
Then Manuel bent4 down, and he kissed little Melicent. "Go to your mother, dear, and tell her—" He paused here. He queerly moved his mouth, as though it were stiff and he were trying to make it more supple5.
Says Melicent, "But what am I to tell her, Father?"
"Oh, a very funny thing, my darling. You are to tell Mother that Father has always loved her over and above all else, and that she is always to remember that and—why, that in consequence she is to give you some ginger6 cakes," says Manuel, smiling.
So the child ran happily away, without once looking back, and Manuel closed the door behind her, and he was now quite alone with his lean visitor.
"Come," says the stranger, "so you have plucked up some heart after all! Yet it is of no avail to posture7 with me, who know you to be spurred to this by vanity rather than by devotion. Oh, very probably you are as fond of the child as is requisite8, and of your other children too, but you must admit that after you have played with any one of them for a quarter of an hour you become most heartily9 tired of the small squirming pest."
Manuel intently regarded him, and squinting10 Manuel smiled sleepily. "No; I love all my children with the customary paternal11 infatuation."
"Also you must have your gesture by sending at the last a lying message to your wife, to comfort the poor soul against to-morrow and the day after. You are—magnanimously, you like to think,—according her this parting falsehood, half in contemptuous kindness and half in relief, because at last you are now getting rid of a complacent12 and muddle-headed fool of whom, also, you are most heartily tired."
"No, no," says Manuel, still smiling; "to my partial eyes dear Niafer remains13 the most clever and beautiful of women, and my delight in her has not ever wavered. But wherever do you get these curious notions?"
"Ah, I have been with so many husbands at the last, Count Manuel."
And Manuel shrugged14. "What fearful indiscretions you suggest! No, friend, that sort of thing has an ill sound, and they should have remembered that even at the last there is the bond of silence."
"Come, come, Count Manuel, you are a queer cool fellow, and you have worn these masks and attitudes with tolerable success, as your world goes. But you are now bound for a diversely ordered world, a world in which your handsome wrappings are not to the purpose."
"Well, I do not know how that may be," replies Count Manuel, "but at all events there is a decency15 in these things and an indecency, and I shall never of my own free will expose the naked soul of Manuel to anybody. No, it would be no pleasant spectacle, I think: certainly, I have never looked at it, nor did I mean to. Perhaps, as you assert, some power which is stronger than I may some day tear all masks aside: but this will not be my fault, and I shall even then reserve the right to consider that stripping as a rather vulgar bit of tyranny. Meanwhile I must, of necessity, adhere to my own sense of decorum, and not to that of anybody else, not even to the wide experience of one"—Count Manuel bowed,—"who is, in a manner of speaking, my guest."
"Oh, as always, you posture very tolerably, and men in general will acclaim16 you as successful in your life. But do you look back! For the hour has come, Count Manuel, for you to confess, as all persons confess at my arrival, that you have faltered17 between one desire and another, not ever knowing truly what you desired, and not ever being content with any desire when it was accomplished18."
"Softly, friend! For I am forced to gather from your wild way of talking that you of the Léshy indeed do not keep any record of our human doings."
The stranger raised what he had of eyebrows19. "But how can we," he inquired, "when we have so many matters of real importance to look after?"
Candid20 blunt Dom Manuel answered without any anger, speaking even jovially21, but in all maintaining the dignity of a high prince assured of his own worth.
"That excuses, then, your nonsensical remarks. I must make bold to inform you that everybody tells me I have very positive achievements to look back upon. I do not care to boast, you understand, and to be forced into self-praise is abhorrent23 to me. Yet truthfulness24 is all important at this solemn hour, and anyone hereabouts can tell you it was I who climbed gray Vraidex, and dealt so hardily25 with the serpents and other horrific protectors of Miramon Lluagor that I destroyed most of them and put the others to flight. Thereafter men narrate26 how I made my own terms with the terrified magician, according him his forfeited27 life in exchange for a promise to live henceforward more respectfully and to serve under me in the war which I was already planning against the Northmen. Yes, and men praise me, too, because I managed to accomplish all these things while I was hampered28 by having to look out for and protect a woman."
"I know," said the lean stranger, "I know you somehow got the better of that romantic visionary half-brother of mine, and made a warrior29 out of him: and I admit this was rather remarkable30. But what does it matter now?"
"Then they will tell you it was I that wisely reasoned with King Helmas until I turned him from folly31, and I that with holy arguments converted King Ferdinand from his wickedness. I restored the magic to the robe of the Apsarasas when but for me its magic would have been lost irrevocably. I conquered Freydis, that woman of strange deeds, and single-handed I fought against her spoorns and calcars and other terrors of antiquity32, slaying33, to be accurate, seven hundred and eighty-two of them. I also conquered the Misery34 of earth, whom some called Béda, and others Kruchina, and yet others Mimir, after a very notable battle which we fought with enchanted35 swords for a whole month without ever pausing for rest. I went intrepidly36 into the paradise of the heathen, and routed all its terrific warders, and so fetched hence the woman whom I desired. Thus, friend, did I repurchase that heroic and unchanging love which exists between my wife and me."
"Yes," said the stranger, "Why, that too is very remarkable. But what does it matter now?"
"—For it is of common report among men that nothing has ever been able to withstand Dom Manuel. Thus it was natural enough, men say, that, when the lewd37 and evil god whom nowadays so many adore as Sesphra of the Dreams was for establishing his power by making an alliance with me, I should have driven him howling and terrified into the heart of a great fire. For myself, I say nothing; but when the very gods run away from a champion there is some adequate reason: and of this exploit, and of all these exploits, and of many other exploits, equally incredible and equally well vouched38 for, all person hereabouts will tell you. As to the prodigies39 of valor40 which I performed in redeeming41 Poictesme from the oppression of the Northmen, you will find documentary evidence in those three epic42 poems, just to your left there, which commemorate43 my feats44 in this campaign—"
"Nobody disputes this campaign also may have been remarkable, and certainly I do not dispute it: for I cannot see that these doings matter a button's worth in my business with you, and, besides, I never argue."
"And no more do I! because I abhor22 vainglory, and I know these affairs are now a part of established history. No, friend, you cannot destroy my credit in this world, whereas in the world for which I am bound, you tell me, they make no account of our doings. So, whether or not I did these things, I shall always retain, in this world and in the next, the credit for them, without any need to resort to distasteful boasting. And that, as I was going on to explain, is precisely45 why I do not find it necessary to tell you about these matters, or even to allude46 to them."
"Oh, doubtless, it is something to have excelled all your fellows in so many ways," the stranger conceded, with a sort of grudging47 respect: "but, I repeat, what does it matter now?"
"And, if you will pardon my habitual48 frankness, friend, that query49 with so constant repetition becomes a trifle monotonous50. No, it does not dishearten me, I am past that. No, I once opened a window, the more clearly to appraise51 the most dear rewards of my endeavors—That moment was my life, that single quiet moment summed up all my living, and"—here Manuel smiled gravely,—"still without boasting, friend, I must tell you that in this moment all doubt as to my attested52 worth went out of me, who had redeemed53 a kingdom, and begotten54 a king, and created a god. So you waste time, my friend, in trying to convince me of all human life's failure and unimportance, for I am not in sympathy with this modern morbid55 pessimistic way of talking. It has a very ill sound, and nothing whatever is to be gained by it."
The other answered shrewdly: "Yes, you speak well, and you posture handsomely, in every respect save one. For you call me 'friend.' Hah, Manuel, from behind the squinting mask a sick and satiated and disappointed being spoke56 there, howsoever resolutely57 you keep up appearances."
"There spoke mere58 courtesy, Grandfather Death," says Manuel, now openly laughing, "and for the rest, if you again will pardon frankness, it is less with the contents of my heart than with its continued motion that you have any proper concern."
"Truly it is no affair of mine, Count Manuel, nor do any of your doings matter to me. Therefore let us be going now, unless—O most unusual man, who at the last assert your life to have been a successful and important business,—unless you now desire some time wherein to bid farewell to your loved wife and worshipped children and to all your other fine works."
Dom Manuel shrugged broad shoulders. "And to what end? No, I am Manuel. I have lived in the loneliness which is common to all men, but the difference is that I have known it. Now it is necessary for me, as it is necessary for all men, to die in this same loneliness, and I know that there is no help for it."
"Once, Manuel, you feared to travel with me, and you bid Niafer mount in your stead on my black horse, saying, 'Better she than I.'"
"Yes, yes, what curious things we do when we are boys! Well, I am wiser now, for since then I have achieved all that I desired, save only to see the ends of this world and to judge them, and I would have achieved that too, perhaps, if only I had desired it a little more heartily. Yes, yes, I tell you frankly59, I have grown so used to getting my desire that I believe, even now, if I desired you to go hence alone you also would obey me."
Grandfather Death smiled thinly. "I reserve my own opinion. But take it what you say is true,—and do you desire me to go hence alone?"
"No," says Manuel, very quietly.
Thereupon Dom Manuel passed to the western window, and he stood there, looking out over broad rolling uplands. He viewed a noble country, good to live in, rich with grain and metal, embowered with tall forests, and watered by pleasant streams. Walled cities it had, and castles crowned its eminences60. Very far beneath Dom Manuel the leaded roofs of his fortresses61 glittered in the sunset, for Storisende guarded the loftiest part of all inhabited Poictesme. He overlooked, directly, the turrets62 or Ranec and of Asch; to the south was Nérac; northward63 showed Perdigon: and the prince of no country owned any finer castles than were these four, in which lived Manuel's servants.
"It is strange," says Dom Manuel, "to think that everything I am seeing was mine a moment since, and it is queer too to think of what a famous fellow was this Manuel the Redeemer, and of the fine things he did, and it is appalling64 to wonder if all the other applauded heroes of mankind are like him. Oh, certainly, Count Manuel's achievements were notable and such as were not known anywhere before, and men will talk of them for a long while. Yet, looking back,—now that this famed Count of Poictesme means less to me,—why, I seem to see only the strivings of an ape reft of his tail, and grown rusty65 at climbing, who has reeled blunderingly from mystery to mystery, with pathetic makeshifts, not understanding anything, greedy in all desires, and always honeycombed with poltroonery66. So in a secret place his youth was put away in exchange for a prize that was hardly worth the having; and the fine geas which his mother laid upon him was exchanged for the common geas of what seems expected."
"Such notions," replied Grandfather Death, "are entertained by many of you humans in the light-headed time of youth. Then common-sense arises like a light formless cloud about your goings, and you half forget these notions. Then I bring darkness."
"In that quiet dark, my friend, it may be I shall again become the Manuel whom I remember, and I may get back again my own undemonstrable ideas, in place of the ideas of other persons, to entertain me in that darkness. So let us be going thither67."
"Very willingly," said Grandfather Death; and he started toward the door.
"Now, pardon me," says Manuel, "but in Poictesme the Count of Poictesme goes first in any company. It may seem to you an affair of no importance, but nowadays I concede the strength as well as the foolishness of my accustomed habits, and all my life long I have gone first. So do you ride a little way behind me, friend, and carry this shroud68 and napkin, till I have need of them."
Then the Count armed and departed from Storisende, riding on the black horse, in jeweled armor, and carrying before him his black shield upon which was emblazoned the silver stallion of Poictesme and the motto Mundus vult decipi. Behind him was Grandfather Death on the white horse, carrying the Count's grave-clothes in a neat bundle. They rode toward the sunset, and against the yellow sunset each figure showed jet black.
And thereafter Count Manuel was seen no more in Poictesme, nor did anyone ever know certainly whither he journeyed. There was a lad called Jurgen, the son of Coth of the Rocks, who came to Storisende in a frenzy69 of terror, very early the next morning, with a horrific tale of incredible events witnessed upon Upper Morven: but the child's tale was not heeded70, because everybody knew that Count Manuel was unconquerable, and—having everything which men desire,—would never be leaving all these amenities71 of his own will, and certainly would never be taking part in any such dubious72 doings. Therefore little Jurgen was spanked73, alike for staying out all night and for his wild lying: and they of Poictesme awaited the return of their great Dom Manuel; and not for a long while did they suspect that Manuel had departed homeward, after having succeeded in everything. Nor for a long while was the whole of little Jurgen's story made public.
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1
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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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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requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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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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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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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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decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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acclaim
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| v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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jovially
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| adv.愉快地，高兴地 | |
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abhor
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| v.憎恶；痛恨 | |
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abhorrent
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| adj.可恶的，可恨的，讨厌的 | |
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truthfulness
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| n. 符合实际 | |
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hardily
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| 耐劳地，大胆地，蛮勇地 | |
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narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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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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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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intrepidly
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| adv.无畏地，勇猛地 | |
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lewd
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| adj.淫荡的 | |
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vouched
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| v.保证( vouch的过去式和过去分词 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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prodigies
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| n.奇才，天才（尤指神童）( prodigy的名词复数 ) | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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redeeming
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| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
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epic
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| n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的 | |
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commemorate
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| vt.纪念，庆祝 | |
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feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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grudging
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| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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51
appraise
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| v.估价，评价，鉴定 | |
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52
attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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53
redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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54
begotten
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| v.为…之生父( beget的过去分词 )；产生，引起 | |
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morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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56
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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57
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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eminences
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| 卓越( eminence的名词复数 )； 著名； 高地； 山丘 | |
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fortresses
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| 堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 ) | |
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turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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63
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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64
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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poltroonery
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| n.怯懦，胆小 | |
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67
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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68
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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69
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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70
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
amenities
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| n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快 | |
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72
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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73
spanked
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| v.用手掌打( spank的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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