The Tournament was to be held under the auspices4 of the Duke of Messina, the hand of whose daughter, the beautiful Princess Isabella of Sicily, was offered as the prize of victory; and it was for this reason that so many of the proudest knights in Christendom had determined5 to enter the lists, for the fair Princess was indeed a dazzling reward.
Amongst the latest arrivals was a handsome young knight2, whose rich equipment and splendid train of attendants quickly attracted the attention of the assembled cavaliers, and excited their curiosity as to who he might be; for he was unknown to them, though not a stranger in Palermo. This newcomer was in reality Robert, Duke of Normandy, who had gained for himself the ill-famed title of "Robert the Devil"—a name which, though first bestowed6 on him from the supposition that his father had been a fiend, he had afterwards fully8 earned by his own recklessly wicked conduct, which had at length resulted in his expulsion from Normandy.
During his subsequent wanderings and adventures in Europe, Robert had made the acquaintance of the lovely Princess of Sicily, for whom he had instantly conceived a true and deep passion; and Isabella, though warned by his evil reputation, had quickly returned his love, being irresistibly9 attracted by his handsome looks, and the glimpses of a noble nature which he exhibited when in her presence.
His wild and passionate10 disposition11, however, quickly led him into a violent outburst of jealous rage against his beloved one's father, who did not encourage his suit, and not content with insulting the proud ruler, he also challenged all his knights to combat. This brought disaster upon him, for the Duke of Messina's angry knights were too powerful for him to overcome, and soon compelled him to take to flight.
Robert was in despair at the result of his rash conduct, for Isabella was deeply offended, and though still secretly loving him well, seemed inclined to favour the addresses of the Duke of Granada, whose suit was constantly urged by her father. But when the Tournament and its prize for victory were shortly afterwards announced, Robert determined to seek pardon of the Princess, and enter the lists as a candidate; and to this end he now arrived in Palermo with a gorgeous retinue12, displaying every mark of extravagant13 splendour.
Now, in all his evil pleasures and wild excesses, Robert had always been aided and encouraged by a sinister14-looking knight, named Bertram, who was his constant companion, and who, though he knew it not, was in reality his fiend-father; and so, upon arriving in Palermo, this favoured friend was in close attendance upon the young Duke as usual.
Robert greeted the assembled nobles in a courtly manner; and then, observing that some Norman troubadours were also in the company, he tossed a piece of gold to one of these, and bade him sing a lay. The minstrel, whose name was Raimbaud, at once stepped forward; and little guessing that it was his royal master who stood before him, he announced to the expectant lords that he would sing to them the true story of Normandy's ill-fated young Duke known as "Robert the Devil."
He then tuned15 his harp16, and began his lay, relating how the proud Princess Bertha of Normandy, after scornfully refusing many noble suitors, at length accepted the love of a stranger prince, who was, in truth, a fiend in disguise. He went on to describe how the son of this strange marriage was young Robert, called the Devil, because, inheriting a love of evil from his demon-father, he had constantly indulged in wicked excesses of every kind; and led away by the excitement of his theme, the minstrel portrayed17 the vices19 of Normandy's banished20 Duke in the glowing colours of popular dread21.
Strange to say, Robert himself had never before heard the story of his supposed fiend-father; and as he listened to the minstrel's lay he became so full of rage that when it came to an end he could no longer restrain his feelings. Haughtily22 announcing that he himself was Robert of Normandy, he commanded his attendants to seize and hang the troubadour without delay; and instantly the wretched Raimbaud, realising what a terrible mistake he had made, fell on his knees, entreating23 for mercy. He declared that he had not recognised his royal master, for whom he had brought an important message; and he added that he and his betrothed24, a young village maiden25, had come to Palermo together for this very purpose.
On hearing this, Robert now declared that he would take the village maiden in compensation for the minstrel's life; and ordering Raimbaud's release, he sent for the girl, promising26 her as a prize to his cavaliers. The unhappy Raimbaud uttered a cry of woe27; but the gay cavaliers quickly surrounded the pretty maiden he had indicated, squabbling fiercely as to which should obtain possession of her.
The poor girl cried aloud for mercy; but as she was helplessly dragged forward, Robert himself ran to her aid, for he had instantly recognised her as his foster-sister, Alice, with whom he had played as a child, in Normandy. He quickly released her from the rough hands of her lawless captors, and as the cavaliers fell back, grumbling28 at the loss of their prey29, proclaimed that the maiden was under his protection, for the sight of her sweet, innocent face had roused within him once more the better feelings of his childish days.
He then asked her how she came to be in Palermo, and Alice replied that she and her betrothed, Raimbaud, had deferred30 the day of their union, in order to bring a message to their royal master from his sainted mother. In answer to Robert's eager questions, she told him that Princess Bertha was now dead, and that her last message to her erring31 son had been that as she prayed for him on earth, so would she also never cease to pray for him in Heaven.
Full of grief at hearing of the death of his mother, Robert told Alice that naught32 was left to him but despair, since he had also had another terrible trouble to bear; but on relating to her the story of his now hopeless love for Isabella, the village maiden comforted him greatly by declaring that she would seek out the Princess, and implore33 her to pardon him. But suddenly catching34 sight of the sinister knight, Bertram, she trembled violently, saying that his dark face reminded her of a picture she had once seen of the Evil One; and seeing that he was about to approach, she crept away to rejoin her released lover.
Bertram now persuaded Robert to indulge in a game of dice35 with their new friends; and encouraged by his evil companion to double and treble his stakes at each failure, the reckless young Duke quickly lost the whole of his fortune, even to his horses and armour36.
Meanwhile, the gentle Alice had not forgotten her promise to her royal foster-brother; and on the day of the Tournament she sought an interview with the Princess of Sicily as she sat beneath her gorgeous canopy37, and gave her a message from Robert, who implored38 pardon and humbly39 asked permission to contest for her hand in the lists that day. Isabella, who had never ceased to love Robert in spite of her displeasure at his wild conduct, was overjoyed to receive this contrite40 message, and readily granting the pardon he asked, sent back a gracious invitation to him to accept the challenge of her principal suitor, the Duke of Granada, who proudly called on all rivals to meet him in open combat.
But when at last the heralds41 blared forth42 the haughty43 Duke's challenge to Robert of Normandy, no response was made, and though the challenge was repeated again and again, still Robert did not stand forth. Nor did he appear throughout the whole of the Tournament; and when, at the end of the contests, the Duke of Granada was declared victor and winner of the fair Princess's hand, Isabella returned to her apartments overcome with grief and despair, feeling that Robert had betrayed her trust and scorned her love.
Now, Robert's absence from the Tournament had been cunningly contrived44 by the fiend-knight, Bertram, who had no desire for his victim to retrieve45 his character by gaining honour and glory in combat; so, having lured46 him away from the scene by a phantom47 in the form of his hated rival, the Duke of Granada, he led him to a desert place outside the city.
Having induced him to enter a gloomy cave, where he intended to reveal a secret to him, and also inquire of the spirits of darkness concerning him, Bertram returned for a moment to the open ground; and here, to his annoyance48, he found Raimbaud the minstrel, who announced that he awaited Alice, his betrothed, whom he had asked to meet him there, as they intended to be wedded49 that day.
Being anxious for him to depart, the knight gave Raimbaud a handsome gift of gold, bidding him think no more of Alice, but return to his wanderings once again, since being now rich, he would quickly find many other pretty girls willing to love him; and the minstrel, held for the time being under the spell of Bertram's evil influence, at once hurried back to the city, where, however, better feelings prevailing50 again, he waited at the entrance for his betrothed.
Bertram now returned to the cave and invoked51 the evil spirits he knew so well. Whilst this invocation was going on, Alice appeared at the trysting-place, and, full of disappointment that her lover had failed to keep his engagement, crept into the mouth of the cave to await him.
Here she was alarmed to see vivid flashes of lightning, and to hear, amidst dreadful rumblings, the unearthly voices of demons52 calling a greeting to Robert; and fearing that her beloved foster-brother was in woeful danger, she was just about to spring forward to the spot where a flash of lightning presently revealed him to her sight, when Bertram suddenly blocked her path. He first attempted to address her in tones of gallantry, but the girl shrank back with such a look of unutterable horror in her eyes that the fiend knew at once she had guessed the secret of his true identity. Seizing her by the arm, he passionately54 declared that if she ever betrayed his secret, or revealed aught of what she had seen and heard in the cave, she should die, and also bring death upon her lover, and all whom she held dear; and Alice, though she longed to warn Robert, was so terrified by the awful aspect of Bertram that she dared not do so, but rushed wildly from the cave.
Bertram then returned to Robert, and divulged55 to him an evil scheme, by means of which he hoped to utterly56 destroy his soul. He invited him to visit the spot where Princess Bertha had been buried, and to pluck therefrom a certain magic bough57 that would give him resistless power, and enable him to satisfy every earthly desire, no matter how evil or impossible it might be; and Robert, deprived of the good influence of Alice, readily yielded to his solicitations, and set off at once with his fiend-counsellor for the Convent of Rosalie, where his mother's remains58 had been laid.
This Convent had been founded by Princess Bertha for pure Christian59 worship; but the spot had soon been deprived of its sanctity by the nuns60 themselves, who, forgetting their vows61, had adored heathen gods, and offered impious sacrifices. Where virtue62 had once been cherished, vice18 only now dwelt, and when Bertram and Robert appeared amidst the gravestones, the evil spirits of the fallen nuns arose from all sides, and taking on the form of beautiful nymphs, assisted in the temptation of the victim.
For a short time Robert tried to resist the evil influences around him; but soon the insidious63 goading64 of Bertram prevailed, and plucking the magic bough, he rushed madly from the spot. His tempter quickly followed, bidding him to possess himself of the Princess of Sicily, whose innocence65 he might now destroy unhindered, in revenge for the scorn with which her proud father had treated him; and roused to madness by the subtle suggestion, Robert instantly returned to Palermo to carry it out.
It was the day of Princess Isabella's nuptials66 with the Duke of Granada, whom she still disliked, though forced by her father to wed7 with him; and her attendants, attired67 in wedding garments, were just waiting in the ante-room to conduct the unhappy bride to the adjoining church as Robert entered.
By the power of his magic bough, the frenzied68 young Duke instantly caused all the attendants to fall into a charmed sleep; and then, hurrying into the apartment beyond, he attempted to carry off the Princess by force. Isabella, quickly reading her ravisher's purpose in the evil passion that blazed in his eyes, fell on her knees, and implored him by the pure love he had once felt for her to show mercy upon her helplessness; and Robert, after a wild struggle with the evil desires within him, was at length overcome by her entreaties69, and full of remorse70, destroyed his talisman71.
Instantly his magic powers vanished, so that the attendants, awakening72 from their charmed sleep in drowsy73 astonishment74, suddenly beheld75 the intruder; and quickly divining his fell purpose, they rushed forward to seize him. Robert, however, taking to flight, escaped their hands, and the attendants, returning to the now grief-stricken bride, conducted her to the church in state, to await her bridegroom.
Robert found refuge in the cloisters76 of the church, and here he was soon joined by Bertram, who, at last revealing himself as his fiend-father, now produced a parchment, begging him to sign it, by which act he would be bound to him for ever.
Though amazed to learn of the true identity of Bertram, Robert did not draw back in horror, since, in his hopeless misery77, he still regarded the fiend as his best friend; and he was just about to sign the contract, when the peasant girl, Alice, suddenly appeared in the cloisters, and implored him to refrain from such a dreadful deed, since she had brought a joyful78 message for him.
She announced that Heaven watched over him and favoured his union with the woman he loved, for the proud Duke of Granada and his attendants had not been able to cross the threshold of the church; and she added that the beautiful Isabella, whose love was still his, now awaited him at the altar, hoping, by their union, to lead him to a better life.
On hearing this, Robert's despair became greater still, torn between the prospects79 of pure joys held out by Alice, and the wicked enticements of Bertram; and a mighty80 struggle betwixt good and evil at once took place.
Alice, in her holy enthusiasm, no longer afraid of the fiend, fought desperately81 for the soul she longed to save; and as her final effort, she produced a letter from the deceased Princess Bertha, in which the redeemed82 mother warned her son against the fiend who sought to destroy him, and reminded him that she still prayed for him above.
This heavenly message at last prevailed over the wavering Robert, and decided83 him to adopt the better course; and refusing to be tempted53 longer by the wicked Bertram, he joyfully84 allowed himself to be led away by Alice to join his waiting bride at the altar.
The defeated fiend, realising that his cause was now lost for ever, instantly disappeared from the earth; and at the same moment a chorus of heavenly voices was heard rejoicing over the victory of a soul reclaimed85 from evil.
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1
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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quaffed
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| v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽 | |
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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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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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retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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15
tuned
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| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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portrayed
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| v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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18
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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19
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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20
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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22
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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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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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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26
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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30
deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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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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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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contrite
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| adj.悔悟了的，后悔的，痛悔的 | |
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41
heralds
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| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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42
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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43
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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44
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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45
retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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46
lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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47
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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48
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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49
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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50
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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51
invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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52
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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53
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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54
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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55
divulged
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| v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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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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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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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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63
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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goading
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| v.刺激( goad的现在分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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66
nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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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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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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71
talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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72
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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73
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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74
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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75
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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76
cloisters
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| n.（学院、修道院、教堂等建筑的）走廊( cloister的名词复数 )；回廊；修道院的生活；隐居v.隐退，使与世隔绝( cloister的第三人称单数 ) | |
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77
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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78
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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79
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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80
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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81
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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82
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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83
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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84
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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85
reclaimed
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| adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救 | |
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