And now, at last, had come the day of days for Myles Falworth; the day when he was to put to the test all that he had acquired in the three years of his training, the day that was to disclose what promise of future greatness there was in his strong young body. And it was a noble day; one of those of late September, when the air seems sweeter and fresher than at other times; the sun bright and as yellow as gold, the wind lusty and strong, before which the great white clouds go sailing majestically1 across the bright blueness of the sky above, while their dusky shadows skim across the brown face of the rusty2 earth beneath.
As was said before, the lists had been set up in the great quadrangle of the castle, than which, level and smooth as a floor, no more fitting place could be chosen. The course was of the usual size—sixty paces long—and separated along its whole length by a barrier about five feet high. Upon the west side of the course and about twenty paces distant from it, a scaffolding had been built facing towards the east so as to avoid the glare of the afternoon sun. In the centre was a raised dais, hung round with cloth of blue embroidered3 with lions rampant4. Upon the dais stood a cushioned throne for the King, and upon the steps below, ranged in the order of their dignity, were seats for the Earl, his guests, the family, the ladies, knights6, and gentlemen of the castle. In front, the scaffolding was covered with the gayest tapestries7 and brightest-colored hangings that the castle could afford. And above, parti-colored pennants8 and streamers, surmounted9 by the royal ensign of England, waved and fluttered in the brisk wind.
At either end of the lists stood the pavilions of the knights. That of Myles was at the southern extremity10 and was hung, by the Earl's desire, with cloth of the Beaumont colors (black and yellow), while a wooden shield bearing three goshawks spread (the crest11 of the house) was nailed to the roof, and a long streamer of black and yellow trailed out in the wind from the staff above. Myles, partly armed, stood at the door-way of the pavilion, watching the folk gathering12 at the scaffolding. The ladies of the house were already seated, and the ushers13 were bustling14 hither and thither15, assigning the others their places. A considerable crowd of common folk and burghers from the town had already gathered at the barriers opposite, and as he looked at the restless and growing multitude he felt his heart beat quickly and his flesh grow cold with a nervous trepidation—just such as the lad of to-day feels when he sees the auditorium16 filling with friends and strangers who are to listen by-and-by to the reading of his prize poem.
Suddenly there came a loud blast of trumpets17. A great gate at the farther extremity of the lists was thrown open, and the King appeared, riding upon a white horse, preceded by the King-at-arms and the heralds19, attended by the Earl and the Comte de Vermoise, and followed by a crowd of attendants. Just then Gascoyne, who, with Wilkes, was busied lacing some of the armor plates with new thongs21, called Myles, and he turned and entered the pavilion.
As the two squires23 were adjusting these last pieces, strapping24 them in place and tying the thongs, Lord George and Sir James Lee entered the pavilion. Lord George took the young man by the hand, and with a pleasant smile wished him success in the coming encounter.
Sir James seemed anxious and disturbed. He said nothing, and after Gascoyne had placed the open bascinet that supports the tilting25 helm in its place, he came forward and examined the armor piece by piece, carefully and critically, testing the various straps26 and leather points and thongs to make sure of their strength.
“Sir,” said Gascoyne, who stood by watching him anxiously, “I do trust that I have done all meetly and well.”
“I see nothing amiss, sirrah,” said the old knight5, half grudgingly27. “So far as I may know, he is ready to mount.”
Just then a messenger entered, saying that the King was seated, and Lord George bade Myles make haste to meet the challenger.
Gascoyne handed him the velvet29 bag, and he opened it, and took out the necklace that the Lady Alice had given him the day before.
“Tie me this around my arm,” said he. He looked down, keeping his eyes studiously fixed30 on Gascoyne's fingers, as they twined the thin golden chain around the iron plates of his right arm, knowing that Lord George's eyes were upon him, and blushing fiery31 red at the knowledge.
Sir James was at that moment examining the great tilting helm, and Lord George watched him, smiling amusedly. “And hast thou then already chosen thee a lady?” he said, presently.
“Aye, my Lord,” answered Myles, simply.
“Marry, I trust we be so honored that she is one of our castle folk,” said the Earl's brother.
For a moment Myles did not reply; then he looked up. “My Lord,” said he, “the favor was given to me by the Lady Alice.”
Lord George looked grave for the moment; then he laughed. “Marry, thou art a bold archer32 to shoot for such high game.”
Myles did not answer, and at that moment two grooms33 led his horse up to the door of the pavilion. Gascoyne and Wilkes helped him to his saddle, and then, Gascoyne holding his horse by the bridle-rein, he rode slowly across the lists to the little open space in front of the scaffolding and the King's seat just as the Sieur de la Montaigne approached from the opposite direction.
As soon as the two knights champion had reached each his appointed station in front of the scaffolding, the Marshal bade the speaker read the challenge, which, unrolling the parchment, he began to do in a loud, clear voice, so that all might hear. It was a quaint34 document, wrapped up in the tangled35 heraldic verbiage36 of the time.
The pith of the matter was that the Sieur Brian Philip Francis de la Montaigne proclaimed before all men the greater chivalry37 and skill at arms of the knights of France and of Dauphiny, and likewise the greater fairness of the ladies of France and Dauphiny, and would there defend those sayings with his body without fear or attaint as to the truth of the same. As soon as the speaker had ended, the Marshal bade him call the defendant38 of the other side.
Then Myles spoke39 his part, with a voice trembling somewhat with the excitement of the moment, but loudly and clearly enough: “I, Myles Edward Falworth, knight, so created by the hand and by the grace of his Majesty40 King Henry IV of England, do take upon me the gage41 of this battle, and will defend with my body the chivalry of the knights of England and the fairness of the ladies thereof!”
Then, after the speaker ended his proclamation and had retired42 to his place, the ceremony of claiming and redeeming43 the helmet, to which all young knights were subjected upon first entering the lists, was performed.
One of the heralds cried in a loud voice, “I, Gilles Hamerton, herald18 to the most noble Clarencieux King-at-arms, do claim the helm of Sir Myles Edward Falworth by this reason, that he hath never yet entered joust44 or tourney.”
To which Myles answered, “I do acknowledge the right of that claim, and herewith proffer45 thee in ransom46 for the same this purse of one hundred marks in gold.”
As he spoke, Gascoyne stepped forward and delivered the purse, with the money, to the Herald. It was a more than usually considerable ransom, and had been made up by the Earl and Lord George that morning.
“Right nobly hast thou redeemed47 thy helm,” said the Herald, “and hereafter be thou free to enter any jousting48 whatsoever49, and in whatever place.”
So, all being ended, both knights bowed to the King, and then, escorted each by his squire22, returned to his pavilion, saluted50 by the spectators with a loud clapping of hands.
Sir James Lee met Myles in front of his tent. Coming up to the side of the horse, the old man laid his hand upon the saddle, looking up into the young man's face.
“Nay, my dear master,” said Myles; “I will do my best.”
“I doubt it not,” said the old man; “and I believe me thou wilt come off right well. From what he did say this morning, methinks the Sieur de la Montaigne meaneth only to break three lances with thee, and will content himself therewith, without seeking to unhorse thee. Ne'theless, be thou bold and watchful52, and if thou find that he endeavor to cast thee, do thy best to unhorse him. Remember also those things which I have told thee ten thousand times before: hold thy toes well down and grip the stirrup hard, more especially at the moment of meeting; bend thy body forward, and keep thine elbow close to thy side. Bear thy lance point one foot above thine adversary's helm until within two lengths of meeting, and strike thou in the very middle of his shield. So, Myles, thou mayst hold thine own, and come off with glory.”
As he ended speaking he drew back, and Gascoyne, mounting upon a stool, covered his friend's head and bascinet with the great jousting helm, making fast the leathern points that held it to the iron collar.
As he was tying the last thong20 a messenger came from the Herald, saying that the challenger was ready, and then Myles knew the time had come, and reaching down and giving Sir James a grip of the hand, he drew on his gauntlet, took the jousting lance that Wilkes handed him, and turned his horse's head towards his end of the lists.
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1
majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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rampant
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| adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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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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7
tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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8
pennants
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| n.校旗( pennant的名词复数 )；锦标旗；长三角旗；信号旗 | |
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9
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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12
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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ushers
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| n.引座员( usher的名词复数 )；招待员；门房；助理教员v.引，领，陪同( usher的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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auditorium
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| n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂 | |
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trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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18
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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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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20
thong
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| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
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21
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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24
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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25
tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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26
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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27
grudgingly
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28
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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29
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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30
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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32
archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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35
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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36
verbiage
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| n.冗词；冗长 | |
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37
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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38
defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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39
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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40
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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41
gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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42
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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43
redeeming
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| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
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44
joust
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| v.马上长枪比武，竞争 | |
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45
proffer
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| v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议 | |
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46
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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47
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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48
jousting
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| （骑士）骑马用长矛比武( joust的现在分词 ) | |
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49
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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50
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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51
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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52
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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