Myles paid many visits to the gentle old priest during those two weeks' visit, and had many long and serious talks with him. One warm bright afternoon, as he and the old man walked together in the priory garden, after a game or two of draughts10, the young knight1 talked more freely and openly of his plans, his hopes, his ambitions, than perhaps he had ever done. He told the old man all that the Earl had disclosed to him concerning the fallen fortunes of his father's house, and of how all who knew those circumstances looked to him to set the family in its old place once more. Prior Edward added many things to those which Myles already knew—things of which the Earl either did not know, or did not choose to speak. He told the young man, among other matters, the reason of the bitter and lasting11 enmity that the King felt for the blind nobleman: that Lord Falworth had been one of King Richard's council in times past; that it was not a little owing to him that King Henry, when Earl of Derby, had been banished12 from England, and that though he was then living in the retirement13 of private life, he bitterly and steadfastly14 opposed King Richard's abdication15. He told Myles that at the time when Sir John Dale found shelter at Falworth Castle, vengeance16 was ready to fall upon his father at any moment, and it needed only such a pretext17 as that of sheltering so prominent a conspirator18 as Sir John to complete his ruin.
Myles, as he listened intently, could not but confess in his own mind that the King had many rational, perhaps just, grounds for grievance19 against such an ardent20 opponent as the blind Lord had shown himself to be. “But, sir,” said he, after a little space of silence, when Prior Edward had ended, “to hold enmity and to breed treason are very different matters. Haply my father was Bolingbroke's enemy, but, sure, thou dost not believe he is justly and rightfully tainted8 with treason?”
“Nay22,” answered the priest, “how canst thou ask me such a thing? Did I believe thy father a traitor23, thinkest thou I would thus tell his son thereof? Nay, Myles, I do know thy father well, and have known him for many years, and this of him, that few men are so honorable in heart and soul as he. But I have told thee all these things to show that the King is not without some reason to be thy father's unfriend. Neither, haply, is the Earl of Alban without cause of enmity against him. So thou, upon thy part, shouldst not feel bitter rancor24 against the King for what hath happed25 to thy house, nor even against William Brookhurst—I mean the Earl of Alban—for, I tell thee, the worst of our enemies and the worst of men believe themselves always to have right and justice upon their side, even when they most wish evil to others.”
So spoke26 the gentle old priest, who looked from his peaceful haven27 with dreamy eyes upon the sweat and tussle28 of the world's battle. Had he instead been in the thick of the fight, it might have been harder for him to believe that his enemies ever had right upon their side.
“But tell me this,” said Myles, presently, “dost thou, then, think that I do evil in seeking to do a battle of life or death with this wicked Earl of Alban, who hath so ruined my father in body and fortune?”
“Nay,” said Prior Edward, thoughtfully, “I say not that thou doest evil. War and bloodshed seem hard and cruel matters to me; but God hath given that they be in the world, and may He forbid that such a poor worm as I should say that they be all wrong and evil. Meseems even an evil thing is sometimes passing good when rightfully used.”
Myles did not fully21 understand what the old man meant, but this much he gathered, that his spiritual father did not think ill of his fighting the Earl of Alban for his temporal father's sake.
So Myles went to France in Lord George's company, a soldier of fortune, as his Captain was. He was there for only six months, but those six months wrought29 a great change in his life. In the fierce factional battles that raged around the walls of Paris; in the evil life which he saw at the Burgundian court in Paris itself after the truce—a court brilliant and wicked, witty30 and cruel—the wonderful liquor of youth had evaporated rapidly, and his character had crystallized as rapidly into the hardness of manhood. The warfare31, the blood, the evil pleasures which he had seen had been a fiery32, crucible33 test to his soul, and I love my hero that he should have come forth34 from it so well. He was no longer the innocent Sir Galahad who had walked in pure white up the Long Hall to be knighted by the King, but his soul was of that grim, sterling35, rugged36 sort that looked out calmly from his gray eyes upon the wickedness and debauchery around him, and loved it not.
Then one day a courier came, bringing a packet. It was a letter from the Earl, bidding Myles return straightway to England and to Mackworth House upon the Strand37, nigh to London, without delay, and Myles knew that his time had come.
It was a bright day in April when he and Gascoyne rode clattering38 out through Temple Bar, leaving behind them quaint39 old London town, its blank stone wall, its crooked40, dirty streets, its high-gabled wooden houses, over which rose the sharp spire41 of St. Paul's, towering high into the golden air. Before them stretched the straight, broad highway of the Strand, on one side the great houses and palaces of princely priests and powerful nobles; on the other the Covent Garden, (or the Convent Garden, as it was then called), and the rolling country, where great stone windmills swung their slow-moving arms in the damp, soft April breeze, and away in the distance the Scottish Palace, the White Hall, and Westminster.
It was the first time that Myles had seen famous London town. In that dim and distant time of his boyhood, six months before, he would have been wild with delight and enthusiasm. Now he jogged along with Gascoyne, gazing about him with calm interest at open shops and booths and tall, gabled houses; at the busy throng42 of merchants and craftsmen43, jostling and elbowing one another; at townsfolk—men and dames—picking their way along the muddy kennel44 of a sidewalk. He had seen so much of the world that he had lost somewhat of interest in new things. So he did not care to tarry, but rode, with a mind heavy with graver matters, through the streets and out through the Temple Bar direct for Mackworth House, near the Savoy Palace.
It was with a great deal of interest that Myles and his patron regarded one another when they met for the first time after that half-year which the young soldier had spent in France. To Myles it seemed somehow very strange that his Lordship's familiar face and figure should look so exactly the same. To Lord Mackworth, perhaps, it seemed even more strange that six short months should have wrought so great a change in the young man. The rugged exposure in camp and field during the hard winter that had passed had roughened the smooth bloom of his boyish complexion45 and bronzed his fair skin almost as much as a midsummer's sun could have done. His beard and mustache had grown again, (now heavier and more mannish from having been shaved), and the white seam of a scar over the right temple gave, if not a stern, at least a determined46 look to the strong, square-jawed young face. So the two stood for a while regarding one another. Myles was the first to break the silence.
“When didst thou land, Sir Myles?” said the Earl.
The Earl of Mackworth stroked his beard softly. “Thou art marvellous changed,” said he. “I would not have thought it possible.”
Myles smiled somewhat grimly. “I have seen such things, my Lord, in France and in Paris,” said he, quietly, “as, mayhap, may make a lad a man before his time.”
“From which I gather,” said the Earl, “that many adventures have befallen thee. Methought thou wouldst find troublesome times in the Dauphin's camp, else I would not have sent thee to France.”
A little space of silence followed, during which the Earl sat musingly49, half absently, regarding the tall, erect50, powerful young figure standing51 before him, awaiting his pleasure in motionless, patient, almost dogged silence. The strong, sinewy52 hands were clasped and rested upon the long heavy sword, around the scabbard of which the belt was loosely wrapped, and the plates of mail caught and reflected in flashing, broken pieces, the bright sunlight from the window behind.
“Sir Myles,” said the Earl, suddenly, breaking the silence at last, “dost thou know why I sent for thee hither?”
“Aye,” said Myles, calmly, “how can I else? Thou wouldst not have called me from Paris but for one thing. Methinks thou hast sent for me to fight the Earl of Alban, and lo! I am here.”
“Thou speakest very boldly,” said the Earl. “I do hope that thy deeds be as bold as thy words.”
“That,” said Myles, “thou must ask other men. Methinks no one may justly call me coward.”
“By my troth!” said the Earl, smiling, “looking upon thee—limbs and girth, bone and sinew—I would not like to be the he that would dare accuse thee of such a thing. As for thy surmise53, I may tell thee plain that thou art right, and that it was to fight the Earl of Alban I sent for thee hither. The time is now nearly ripe, and I will straightway send for thy father to come to London. Meantime it would not be safe either for thee or for me to keep thee in my service. I have spoken to his Highness the Prince of Wales, who, with other of the Princes, is upon our side in this quarrel. He hath promised to take thee into his service until the fitting time comes to bring thee and thine enemy together, and to-morrow I shall take thee to Scotland Yard, where his Highness is now lodging54.”
As the Earl ended his speech, Myles bowed, but did not speak. The Earl waited for a little while, as though to give him the opportunity to answer.
“Well, sirrah,” said he at last, with a shade of impatience55, “hast thou naught56 to say? Meseems thou takest all this with marvellous coolness.”
“Have I then my Lord's permission to speak my mind?”
“Aye,” said the Earl, “say thy say.”
“Sir,” said Myles, “I have thought and pondered this matter much while abroad, and would now ask thee a plain question in all honest an I ha' thy leave.”
The Earl nodded his head.
“Sir, am I not right in believing that thou hast certain weighty purposes and aims of thine own to gain an I win this battle against the Earl of Alban?”
“Has my brother George been telling thee aught to such a purpose?” said the Earl, after a moment or two of silence.
Myles did not answer.
“No matter,” added Lord Mackworth. “I will not ask thee who told thee such a thing. As for thy question—well, sin thou ask it frankly57, I will be frank with thee. Yea, I have certain ends to gain in having the Earl of Alban overthrown58.”
Myles bowed. “Sir,” said he, “haply thine ends are as much beyond aught that I can comprehend as though I were a little child; only this I know, that they must be very great. Thou knowest well that in any case I would fight me this battle for my father's sake and for the honor of my house; nevertheless, in return for all that it will so greatly advantage thee, wilt59 thou not grant me a boon60 in return should I overcome mine enemy?”
“What is thy boon, Sir Myles?”
“That thou wilt grant me thy favor to seek the Lady Alice de Mowbray for my wife.”
The Earl of Mackworth started up from his seat. “Sir Myles Falworth”—he began, violently, and then stopped short, drawing his bushy eyebrows61 together into a frown stern, if not sinister62.
Myles withstood his look calmly and impassively, and presently the Earl turned on his heel, and strode to the open window. A long time passed in silence while he stood there, gazing out of the window into the garden beyond with his back to the young man.
Suddenly he swung around again. “Sir Myles,” said he, “the family of Falworth is as good as any in Derbyshire. Just now it is poor and fallen in estate, but if it is again placed in credit and honor, thou, who art the son of the house, shalt have thy suit weighed with as much respect and consideration as though thou wert my peer in all things, Such is my answer. Art thou satisfied?”
“I could ask no more,” answered Myles.
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1
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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archers
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| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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perilled
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| 置…于危险中（peril的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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8
tainted
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| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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10
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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abdication
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| n.辞职；退位 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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conspirator
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| n.阴谋者，谋叛者 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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20
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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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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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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rancor
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| n.深仇，积怨 | |
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happed
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| v.偶然发生( hap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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tussle
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| n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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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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crucible
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| n.坩锅，严酷的考验 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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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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40
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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41
spire
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| n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点 | |
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42
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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43
craftsmen
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| n. 技工 | |
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44
kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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45
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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46
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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47
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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48
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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49
musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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50
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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51
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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52
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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53
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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54
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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55
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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56
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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57
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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58
overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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59
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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60
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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61
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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