There’s nothing more than common;
And all her wit is only chat,
Like any other woman.
SONG.
The high-born Berengaria, daughter of Sanchez, King of Navarre, and the Queen-Consort1 of the heroic Richard, was accounted one of the most beautiful women of the period. Her form was slight, though exquisitely2 moulded. She was graced with a complexion3 not common in her country, a profusion4 of fair hair, and features so extremely juvenile5 as to make her look several years younger than she really was, though in reality she was not above one-and-twenty. Perhaps it was under the consciousness of this extremely juvenile appearance that she affected6, or at least practised, a little childish petulance7 and wilfulness8 of manner, not unbefitting, she might suppose, a youthful bride, whose rank and age gave her a right to have her fantasies indulged and attended to. She was by nature perfectly9 good-humoured, and if her due share of admiration10 and homage11 (in her opinion a very large one) was duly resigned to her, no one could possess better temper or a more friendly disposition12; but then, like all despots, the more power that was voluntarily yielded to her, the more she desired to extend her sway. Sometimes, even when all her ambition was gratified, she chose to be a little out of health, and a little out of spirits; and physicians had to toil13 their wits to invent names for imaginary maladies, while her ladies racked their imagination for new games, new head-gear, and new court-scandal, to pass away those unpleasant hours, during which their own situation was scarce to be greatly envied. Their most frequent resource for diverting this malady14 was some trick or piece of mischief15 practised upon each other; and the good Queen, in the buoyancy of her reviving spirits, was, to speak truth, rather too indifferent whether the frolics thus practised were entirely16 befitting her own dignity, or whether the pain which those suffered upon whom they were inflicted17 was not beyond the proportion of pleasure which she herself derived18 from them. She was confident in her husband’s favour, in her high rank, and in her supposed power to make good whatever such pranks19 might cost others. In a word, she gambolled20 with the freedom of a young lioness, who is unconscious of the weight of her own paws when laid on those whom she sports with.
The Queen Berengaria loved her husband passionately21, but she feared the loftiness and roughness of his character; and as she felt herself not to be his match in intellect, was not much pleased to see that he would often talk with Edith Plantagenet in preference to herself, simply because he found more amusement in her conversation, a more comprehensive understanding, and a more noble cast of thoughts and sentiments, than his beautiful consort exhibited. Berengaria did not hate Edith on this account, far less meditate22 her any harm; for, allowing for some selfishness, her character was, on the whole, innocent and generous. But the ladies of her train, sharpsighted in such matters, had for some time discovered that a poignant23 jest at the expense of the Lady Edith was a specific for relieving her Grace of England’s low spirits, and the discovery saved their imagination much toil.
There was something ungenerous in this, because the Lady Edith was understood to be an orphan24; and though she was called Plantagenet, and the fair Maid of Anjou, and admitted by Richard to certain privileges only granted to the royal family, and held her place in the circle accordingly, yet few knew, and none acquainted with the Court of England ventured to ask, in what exact degree of relationship she stood to Coeur de Lion. She had come with Eleanor, the celebrated25 Queen Mother of England, and joined Richard at Messina, as one of the ladies destined26 to attend on Berengaria, whose nuptials27 then approached. Richard treated his kinswoman with much respectful observance, and the Queen made her her most constant attendant, and, even in despite of the petty jealousy28 which we have observed, treated her, generally, with suitable respect.
The ladies of the household had, for a long time, no further advantage over Edith than might be afforded by an opportunity of censuring29 a less artfully disposed head attire30 or an unbecoming robe; for the lady was judged to be inferior in these mysteries. The silent devotion of the Scottish knight31 did not, indeed, pass unnoticed; his liveries, his cognizances, his feats32 of arms, his mottoes and devices, were nearly watched, and occasionally made the subject of a passing jest. But then came the pilgrimage of the Queen and her ladies to Engaddi, a journey which the Queen had undertaken under a vow33 for the recovery of her husband’s health, and which she had been encouraged to carry into effect by the Archbishop of Tyre for a political purpose. It was then, and in the chapel34 at that holy place, connected from above with a Carmelite nunnery, from beneath with the cell of the anchorite, that one of the Queen’s attendants remarked that secret sign of intelligence which Edith had made to her lover, and failed not instantly to communicate it to her Majesty35. The Queen returned from her pilgrimage enriched with this admirable recipe against dullness or ennui36; and her train was at the same time augmented37 by a present of two wretched dwarfs38 from the dethroned Queen of Jerusalem, as deformed39 and as crazy (the excellence40 of that unhappy species) as any Queen could have desired. One of Berengaria’s idle amusements had been to try the effect of the sudden appearance of such ghastly and fantastic forms on the nerves of the Knight when left alone in the chapel; but the jest had been lost by the composure of the Scot and the interference of the anchorite. She had now tried another, of which the consequences promised to be more serious.
The ladies again met after Sir Kenneth had retired41 from the tent, and the Queen, at first little moved by Edith’s angry expostulations, only replied to her by upbraiding42 her prudery, and by indulging her wit at the expense of the garb43, nation, and, above all the poverty of the Knight of the Leopard44, in which she displayed a good deal of playful malice45, mingled46 with some humour, until Edith was compelled to carry her anxiety to her separate apartment. But when, in the morning, a female whom Edith had entrusted47 to make inquiry48 brought word that the Standard was missing, and its champion vanished, she burst into the Queen’s apartment, and implored49 her to rise and proceed to the King’s tent without delay, and use her powerful mediation50 to prevent the evil consequences of her jest.
The Queen, frightened in her turn, cast, as is usual, the blame of her own folly51 on those around her, and endeavoured to comfort Edith’s grief, and appease52 her displeasure, by a thousand inconsistent arguments. She was sure no harm had chanced — the knight was sleeping, she fancied, after his night-watch. What though, for fear of the King’s displeasure, he had deserted53 with the Standard — it was but a piece of silk, and he but a needy54 adventurer; or if he was put under warding55 for a time, she would soon get the King to pardon him — it was but waiting to let Richard’s mood pass away.
Thus she continued talking thick and fast, and heaping together all sorts of inconsistencies, with the vain expectation of persuading both Edith and herself that no harm could come of a frolic which in her heart she now bitterly repented56. But while Edith in vain strove to intercept57 this torrent58 of idle talk, she caught the eye of one of the ladies who entered the Queen’s apartment. There was death in her look of affright and horror, and Edith, at the first glance of her countenance59, had sunk at once on the earth, had not strong necessity and her own elevation60 of character enabled her to maintain at least external composure.
“Madam,” she said to the Queen, “lose not another word in speaking, but save life — if, indeed,” she added, her voice choking as she said it, “life may yet be saved.”
“It may, it may,” answered the Lady Calista. “I have just heard that he has been brought before the King. It is not yet over — but,” she added, bursting into a vehement61 flood of weeping, in which personal apprehensions62 had some share, “it will soon, unless some course be taken.”
“I will vow a golden candlestick to the Holy Sepulchre, a shrine63 of silver to our Lady of Engaddi, a pall64, worth one hundred byzants, to Saint Thomas of Orthez,” said the Queen in extremity65.
“Up, up, madam!” said Edith; “call on the saints if you list, but be your own best saint.”
“Indeed, madam,” said the terrified attendant, “the Lady Edith speaks truth. Up, madam, and let us to King Richard’s tent and beg the poor gentleman’s life.”
“I will go — I will go instantly,” said the Queen, rising and trembling excessively; while her women, in as great confusion as herself, were unable to render her those duties which were indispensable to her levee. Calm, composed, only pale as death, Edith ministered to the Queen with her own hand, and alone supplied the deficiencies of her numerous attendants.
“How you wait, wenches!” said the Queen, not able even then to forget frivolous66 distinctions. “Suffer ye the Lady Edith to do the duties of your attendance? Seest thou, Edith, they can do nothing; I shall never be attired67 in time. We will send for the Archbishop of Tyre, and employ him as a mediator68.”
“Oh, no, no!” exclaimed Edith. “Go yourself madam; you have done the evil, do you confer the remedy.”
“I will go — I will go,” said the Queen; “but if Richard be in his mood, I dare not speak to him — he will kill me!”
“Yet go, gracious madam,” said the Lady Calista, who best knew her mistress’s temper; “not a lion, in his fury, could look upon such a face and form, and retain so much as an angry thought, far less a love-true knight like the royal Richard, to whom your slightest word would be a command.”
“Dost thou think so, Calista?” said the Queen. “Ah, thou little knowest yet I will go. But see you here, what means this? You have bedizened me in green, a colour he detests69. Lo you! let me have a blue robe, and — search for the ruby70 carcanet, which was part of the King of Cyprus’s ransom71; it is either in the steel casket, or somewhere else.”
“This, and a man’s life at stake!” said Edith indignantly; “it passes human patience. Remain at your ease, madam; I will go to King Richard. I am a party interested. I will know if the honour of a poor maiden72 of his blood is to be so far tampered73 with that her name shall be abused to train a brave gentleman from his duty, bring him within the compass of death and infamy74, and make, at the same time, the glory of England a laughing-stock to the whole Christian75 army.”
At this unexpected burst of passion, Berengaria listened with an almost stupefied look of fear and wonder. But as Edith was about to leave the tent, she exclaimed, though faintly, “Stop her, stop her!”
“You must indeed stop, noble Lady Edith,” said Calista, taking her arm gently; “and you, royal madam, I am sure, will go, and without further dallying76. If the Lady Edith goes alone to the King, he will be dreadfully incensed77, nor will it be one life that will stay his fury.”
“I will go — I will go,” said the Queen, yielding to necessity; and Edith reluctantly halted to wait her movements.
They were now as speedy as she could have desired. The Queen hastily wrapped herself in a large loose mantle78, which covered all inaccuracies of the toilet. In this guise79, attended by Edith and her women, and preceded and followed by a few officers and men-at-arms, she hastened to the tent of her lionlike husband.
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1
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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2
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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3
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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4
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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5
juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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6
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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7
petulance
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| n.发脾气，生气，易怒，暴躁，性急 | |
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8
wilfulness
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| 任性；倔强 | |
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9
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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10
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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11
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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12
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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13
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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14
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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15
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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16
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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17
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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19
pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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20
gambolled
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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22
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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23
poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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24
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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25
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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26
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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27
nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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28
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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29
censuring
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的现在分词 ) | |
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30
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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31
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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32
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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33
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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34
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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35
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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36
ennui
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| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
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37
Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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38
dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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39
deformed
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| adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的 | |
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40
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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41
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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42
upbraiding
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| adj.& n.谴责（的）v.责备，申斥，谴责( upbraid的现在分词 ) | |
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43
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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44
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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45
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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46
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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47
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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49
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
mediation
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| n.调解 | |
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51
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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52
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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53
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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54
needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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55
warding
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| 监护，守护（ward的现在分词形式） | |
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56
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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58
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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59
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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60
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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61
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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62
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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63
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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64
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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65
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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66
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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67
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
mediator
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| n.调解人，中介人 | |
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69
detests
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的第三人称单数 ) | |
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70
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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71
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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72
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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73
tampered
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| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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74
infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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75
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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76
dallying
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| v.随随便便地对待( dally的现在分词 )；不很认真地考虑；浪费时间；调情 | |
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77
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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78
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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