THE EARL of Mackworth, as was customary among the great lords in those days, maintained a small army of knights1, gentlemen, men-at-arms, and retainers, who were expected to serve him upon all occasions of need, and from whom were supplied his quota3 of recruits to fill such levies4 as might be made upon him by the King in time of war.
The knights and gentlemen of this little army of horse and foot soldiers were largely recruited from the company of squires5 and bachelors, as the young novitiate soldiers of the castle were called.
This company of esquires consisted of from eighty to ninety lads, ranging in age from eight to twenty years. Those under fourteen years were termed pages, and served chiefly the Countess and her waiting gentlewomen, in whose company they acquired the graces and polish of the times, such as they were. After reaching the age of fourteen the lads were entitled to the name of esquire or squire6.
In most of the great houses of the time the esquires were the especial attendants upon the Lord and Lady of the house, holding such positions as body-squires, cup-bearers, carvers, and sometimes the office of chamberlain. But Devlen, like some other of the princely castles of the greatest nobles, was more like a military post or a fortress8 than an ordinary household. Only comparatively few of the esquires could be used in personal attendance upon the Earl; the others were trained more strictly9 in arms, and served rather in the capacity of a sort of body-guard than as ordinary squires. For, as the Earl rose in power and influence, and as it so became well worth while for the lower nobility and gentry10 to enter their sons in his family, the body of squires became almost cumbersomely11 large. Accordingly, that part which comprised the squires proper, as separate from the younger pages, was divided into three classes—first, squires of the body, who were those just past pagehood, and who waited upon the Earl in personal service; second, squires of the household, who, having regular hours assigned for exercise in the manual of arms, were relieved from personal service excepting upon especial occasions; and thirdly and lastly, at the head of the whole body of lads, a class called bachelors—young men ranging from eighteen to twenty years of age. This class was supposed to exercise a sort of government over the other and younger squires—to keep them in order as much as possible, to marshal them upon occasions of importance, to see that their arms and equipments were kept in good order, to call the roll for chapel12 in the morning, and to see that those not upon duty in the house were present at the daily exercise at arms. Orders to the squires were generally transmitted through the bachelors, and the head of that body was expected to make weekly reports of affairs in their quarters to the chief captain of the body.
From this overlordship of the bachelors there had gradually risen a system of fagging, such as is or was practised in the great English public schools—enforced services exacted from the younger lads—which at the time Myles came to Devlen had, in the five or six years it had been in practice, grown to be an absolute though unwritten law of the body—a law supported by all the prestige of long-continued usage. At that time the bachelors numbered but thirteen, yet they exercised over the rest of the sixty-four squires and pages a rule of iron, and were taskmasters, hard, exacting13, and oftentimes cruel.
The whole company of squires and pages was under the supreme14 command of a certain one-eyed knight2, by name Sir James Lee; a soldier seasoned by the fire of a dozen battles, bearing a score of wounds won in fight and tourney, and withered15 by hardship and labor16 to a leather-like toughness. He had fought upon the King's side in all the late wars, and had at Shrewsbury received a wound that unfitted him for active service, so that now he was fallen to the post of Captain of Esquires at Devlen Castle—a man disappointed in life, and with a temper imbittered by that failure as well as by cankering pain.
Yet Perhaps no one could have been better fitted for the place he held than Sir James Lee. The lads under his charge were a rude, rough, unruly set, quick, like their elders, to quarrel, and to quarrel fiercely, even to the drawing of sword or dagger17. But there was a cold, iron sternness about the grim old man that quelled20 them, as the trainer with a lash21 of steel might quell19 a den22 of young wolves. The apartments in which he was lodged24, with his clerk, were next in the dormitory of the lads, and even in the midst of the most excited brawlings the distant sound of his harsh voice, “Silence, messieurs!” would bring an instant hush25 to the loudest uproar26.
It was into his grim presence that Myles was introduced by Gascoyne. Sir James was in his office, a room bare of ornament27 or adornment28 or superfluous29 comfort of any sort—without even so much as a mat of rushes upon the cold stone pavement to make it less cheerless. The old one-eyed knight sat gnawing30 his bristling31 mustaches. To anyone who knew him it would have been apparent that, as the castle phrase went, “the devil sat astride of his neck,” which meant that some one of his blind wounds was aching more sorely than usual.
His clerk sat beside him, with account-books and parchment spread upon the table, and the head squire, Walter Blunt, a lad some three or four years older than Myles, and half a head taller, black-browed, powerfully built, and with cheek and chin darkened by the soft budding of his adolescent beard, stood making his report.
Sir James listened in grim silence while Gascoyne told his errand.
“So, then, pardee, I am bid to take another one of ye, am I?” he snarled32. “As though ye caused me not trouble enow; and this one a cub33, looking a very boor34 in carriage and breeding. Mayhap the Earl thinketh I am to train boys to his dilly-dally household service as well as to use of arms.”
“Sir,” said Gascoyne, timidly, “my Lord sayeth he would have this one entered direct as a squire of the body, so that he need not serve in the household.”
“Sayest so?” cried Sir James, harshly. “Then take thou my message back again to thy Lord. Not for Mackworth—no, nor a better man than he—will I make any changes in my government. An I be set to rule a pack of boys, I will rule them as I list, and not according to any man's bidding. Tell him, sirrah, that I will enter no lad as squire of the body without first testing an he be fit at arms to hold that place.” He sat for a while glowering35 at Myles and gnawing his mustaches, and for the time no one dared to break the grim silence. “What is thy name?” said he, suddenly. And then, almost before Myles could answer, he asked the head squire whether he could find a place to lodge23 him.
“There is Gillis Whitlock's cot empty,” said Blunt. “He is in the infirmary, and belike goeth home again when he cometh thence. The fever hath gotten into his bones, and—”
“That will do,” said the knight, interrupting him impatiently. “Let him take that place, or any other that thou hast. And thou, Jerome,” said he to his clerk, “thou mayst enter him upon the roll, though whether it be as page or squire or bachelor shall be as I please, and not as Mackworth biddeth me. Now get ye gone.”
“Old Bruin's wound smarteth him sore,” Gascoyne observed, as the two lads walked across the armory36 court. He had good-naturedly offered to show the new-comer the many sights of interest around the castle, and in the hour or so of ramble37 that followed, the two grew from acquaintances to friends with a quickness that boyhood alone can bring about. They visited the armory, the chapel, the stables, the great hall, the Painted Chamber7, the guard-house, the mess-room, and even the scullery and the kitchen, with its great range of boilers38 and furnaces and ovens. Last of all Myles's new friend introduced him to the armor-smithy.
“My Lord hath sent a piece of Milan armor thither39 to be repaired,” said he. “Belike thou would like to see it.”
“Aye,” said Myles, eagerly, “that would I.”
The smith was a gruff, good-natured fellow, and showed the piece of armor to Myles readily and willingly enough. It was a beautiful bascinet of inlaid workmanship, and was edged with a rim18 of gold. Myles scarcely dared touch it; he gazed at it with an unconcealed delight that warmed the smith's honest heart.
“I have another piece of Milan here,” said he. “Did I ever show thee my dagger, Master Gascoyne?”
“Nay,” said the squire.
The smith unlocked a great oaken chest in the corner of the shop, lifted the lid, and brought thence a beautiful dagger with the handle of ebony and silver-gilt40, and a sheath of Spanish leather, embossed and gilt. The keen, well-tempered blade was beautifully engraved41 and inlaid with niello-work, representing a group of figures in a then popular subject—the dance of Death. It was a weapon at once unique and beautiful, and even Gascoyne showed an admiration42 scarcely less keen than Myles's openly-expressed delight.
“To whom doth it belong?” said he, trying the point upon his thumb nail.
“There,” said the smith, “is the jest of the whole, for it belongeth to me. Sir William Beauclerk bade me order the weapon through Master Gildersworthy, of London town, and by the time it came hither, lo! he had died, and so it fell to my hands. No one here payeth the price for the trinket, and so I must e'en keep it myself, though I be but a poor man.”
“How much dost thou hold it for?” said Gascoyne.
“Seventeen shillings buyeth it,” said the armorer, carelessly.
“Aye, aye,” said Gascoyne, with a sigh; “so it is to be poor, and not be able to have such things as one loveth and would fain possess. Seventeen shillings is nigh as much by half again as all my yearly wage.”
Then a sudden thought came to Myles, and as it came his cheeks glowed as hot as fire “Master Gascoyne,” said he, with gruff awkwardness, “thou hast been a very good, true friend to me since I have come to this place, and hast befriended me in all ways thou mightest do, and I, as well I know, but a poor rustic43 clod. Now I have forty shillings by me which I may spend as I list, and so I do beseech44 thee that thou wilt45 take yon dagger of me as a love-gift, and have and hold it for thy very own.”
Gascoyne stared open-mouthed at Myles. “Dost mean it?” said he, at last.
“Aye,” said Myles, “I do mean it. Master Smith, give him the blade.”
At first the smith grinned, thinking it all a jest; but he soon saw that Myles was serious enough, and when the seventeen shillings were produced and counted down upon the anvil46, he took off his cap and made Myles a low bow as he swept them into his pouch47. “Now, by my faith and troth,” quoth he, “that I do call a true lordly gift. Is it not so, Master Gascoyne?”
“Aye,” said Gascoyne, with a gulp48, “it is, in soothly earnest.” And thereupon, to Myles's great wonderment, he suddenly flung his arms about his neck, and, giving him a great hug, kissed him upon the cheek. “Dear Myles,” said he, “I tell thee truly and of a verity49 I did feel warm towards thee from the very first time I saw thee sitting like a poor oaf upon the bench up yonder in the anteroom, and now of a sooth I give thee assurance that I do love thee as my own brother. Yea, I will take the dagger, and will stand by thee as a true friend from this time forth50. Mayhap thou mayst need a true friend in this place ere thou livest long with us, for some of us esquires be soothly rough, and knocks are more plenty here than broad pennies, so that one new come is like to have a hard time gaining a footing.”
“I thank thee,” said Myles, “for thy offer of love and friendship, and do tell thee, upon my part, that I also of all the world would like best to have thee for my friend.”
Such was the manner In which Myles formed the first great friendship of his life, a friendship that was destined51 to last him through many years to come. As the two walked back across the great quadrangle, upon which fronted the main buildings of the castle, their arms were wound across one another's shoulders, after the manner, as a certain great writer says, of boys and lovers.
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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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3
quota
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| n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额 | |
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levies
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| （部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队 | |
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squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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7
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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8
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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9
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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10
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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11
cumbersomely
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| 笨重的； 累赘的，难以携带的； 缓慢复杂的，冗长的； 麻烦的 | |
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12
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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13
exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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15
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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16
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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17
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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18
rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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19
quell
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| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
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quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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22
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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24
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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25
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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26
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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27
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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28
adornment
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| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
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29
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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30
gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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32
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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33
cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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34
boor
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| n.举止粗野的人；乡下佬 | |
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35
glowering
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| v.怒视( glower的现在分词 ) | |
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36
armory
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| n.纹章，兵工厂，军械库 | |
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37
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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38
boilers
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| 锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 ) | |
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39
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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40
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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41
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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42
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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43
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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44
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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45
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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46
anvil
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| n.铁钻 | |
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47
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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48
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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49
verity
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| n.真实性 | |
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50
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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51
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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