“Lie down and sleep, my dear,” she said, “and take care of your feet, for you will want them on the morrow. The black cat can see in the dark, she will come to no harm, will Isoult.”
Marpasse might as well have told Denise to love Gaillard as to sleep. Her brain was full of a listening wakefulness that started uneasily when a stick cracked on the fire. So she and Marpasse kept vigil together, while a gradual silence spread over the valley with its armed host and its sombre town. Nor were Marpasse and Denise disturbed that night, for the men of the rear-guard had been marched and counter-marched that day owing to some mad rumour3, and they were dead tired, and glad to snore under any hedge.
The dawn came listlessly, and without colour. The birds were awake and singing, and with their song, bizarre and discordant4 came the blowing of trumpets5 and the stupid curses of the stirring men. The dawn seemed heavy, and full of a dull discontent. Yet the birds sang, and the men cursed perfunctorily, sulkily, the creatures of a habit. So with the voices of the morning thrilling from the throats of the choir6 invisible, the camp of the King was one great oath.
Denise was ready, and shivering to be gone. The fire was out, her body stiff and cold, the dew heavy upon the grass. The dawn had shown Denise how hemmed7 in she and Marpasse were. Horses stood tethered everywhere, gaunt, clumsy waggons8 waited like patient mammoths, not a hundred yards away a red pavilion had been pitched, its coloured canvas swelling9 and falling lazily with the morning breeze. The babel of coarse, rough voices that rose out of the green earth made Denise shudder10 and yearn11 to be gone.
But Marpasse held her ground.
“Food and drink first,” she said.
Denise’s restless eyes betrayed her desire.
“Rest easy,” Marpasse assured her, “men are meek12 in the morning, though they curse all heaven and earth. Eat and drink, and see that your shoes sit comfortably.”
Denise ate with such hurry and such artificial greed that Marpasse could not help but laugh.
“My teeth are not so good as yours,” she said; “if your legs are as sound we shall not do amiss.”
Denise’s eyes were on the red pavilion. The flap thereof was open, and in the black slit13 that clove14 like a wedge into the colour, Denise thought that she saw a man standing15 and looking towards where she and Marpasse sat. Marpasse was still at her meal, when two men-at-arms came out of the red pavilion, carrying their shields as servers carry dishes to a table. They came over the grass towards the women, while a man in a blue surcoat appeared at the door of the pavilion, and stood as though to watch.
Denise half rose, but Marpasse caught her, and pulled her back.
“Sit still. You are far too simple.”
“It is Gaillard, yonder!”
“Yes, yes. Fool him first, my dear, and then run away when he is not looking. That is what we women have to do when men are the stronger.”
The two soldiers came up, and stood before Denise. One carried food and a flask16 of wine in the hollow of his shield; the other, a red scarf and a silver girdle.
“Messire Gaillard, our lord, yonder, begs for the Lady Denise’s good-will.”
“It is the grey, not the blue,” said one.
“I take no gifts from Messire Gaillard,” she said.
Marpasse made an impatient clucking with her tongue. How prejudiced people did bungle21 matters, to be sure!
“Think twice, my dear,” she said meaningly.
Denise repeated the same words. The men grinned, looked at one another, and did not stir.
“Messire Gaillard,” said they, “has set us at your service. It is proper that you should be guarded when all men are not as honourable22 as our lord.”
Denise saw herself trapped, and went red, and then white. She looked at Marpasse, but Marpasse stared obtusely23 into the distance, knowing that they were in the Gascon’s hands, and that the men had been sent to see that they did not flit. Marpasse remembered the promise of the knife, but the morning was cold and grey, and Marpasse too practical and hopeful to indulge in such heroics. Therefore she put the best face she could upon it for Denise’s sake, and Marpasse knew how to deal with men.
“Sit down, gentlemen,” said she, “I am sorry the fire is out, but we shall be moving before long. You, there, with the beard, since my sister is in the sulks, I will take some of that baked meat and wine you have brought us. Now, good health to the King, and all soldiers.”
Marpasse ate and drank with relish24, a second breakfast not coming at all amiss to her, and she talked and laughed with the men, and soon had them at her service. Denise would touch nothing, though Marpasse smiled, nodded and whispered in her ear. “Courage, girl,” she said, “leave it to me, a laugh and a flash of the eyes work marvels25, even with pigs. We will spread our fingers at them before the day is old.” But Denise sat like one stunned26, and would not believe that Marpasse meant what she said. The red tent had a fascination27 for Denise, and she saw Gaillard and two other knights28 come out, sit down on cloaks their servants spread for them, and make a meal. Then they were washed, barbered, and armed in full view of the two women, while a boy stood near, and sang to the sound of a lute29. The whole camp was full of stir and movement. Already, black columns were pouring out of Guildford town. In an hour the whole host would be on the march.
So it befell that Denise found herself walking beside Marpasse that morning at the tail of Gaillard’s company of spears. The two men-at-arms who had been set to guard them, walked their horses one on either side. Marpasse trudged30 along, merry and insolent31; Denise, with her thoughts humbled32 into the dust. Gaillard had ridden up and spoken to her, not mockingly, but with the arrogance33 of a man in power. “Sanctissima,” he had said, “before long I will find you a palfrey, and you shall ride at my side. Hold up your head, my dear, and be sensible; I have something on my conscience, and by my sword, I am not unready to right a wrong.” Denise had answered him nothing, for she was bitter with the humiliation34 of it, and that Gaillard of all men should look at her as on one whom he might graciously lift up out of the mire35. Chance had joined her to these two women, and she guessed that Isoult’s red gown had coloured Gaillard’s vision.
When they had gone a mile or more Denise asked Marpasse in an undertone for her knife. But Marpasse shut her mouth firmly, and shook her head.
“Have patience, my dear,” she said in a whisper, “I have my trick to play. Be ready when I give the word.”
And Marpasse trudged on cheerfully, mocking at herself in her heart.
“Fool,” she said to herself, “what is the girl to you? Why burn your fingers pulling cinders36 out of the fire? You may get kicks for it, and no money. And you may lose your chance, too, of getting a lover. Fool! You have had a heart of pap ever since you were born.”
Yet though Marpasse talked to herself thus, her mind was set on cheating Gaillard of Denise.
The King’s host went winding37 through the green valleys that spring morning, marching Kentwards, where Earl Simon had taken the town of Rochester by assault, and pressed hard upon John de Warenne who held out in the castle. Horse and foot, archers38 and camp-followers, baggage-waggons, sumpter mules39, and loose women, made up the stream of steel and colour. It was a rough, careless, confident march, for had not the first triumphs fallen to the King? Northampton had been taken, and Simon the Younger made prisoner, with Madame Etoile, his lady. Leicester and Nottingham had fallen, and Gifford’s seizure40 and destruction of Warwick was all that the Barons41 could claim on their side. The Mise had gilded42 Henry’s cause. Even the King of the Scots had sent aid to his Brother of England; a Balliol, a Bruce, and a Comyn were among his captains. John de Warenne should keep Earl Simon under Rochester’s walls, until the King should come and crush him, or drive him headlong over the sea.
Henry, weak, persuadable, false, yet brilliant gentleman, might count himself strong that spring, with his Poitevins and his adventurers, and the rougher lords who preferred the licence of a weak King to the justice of Earl Simon. But the old lion was not driven to bay yet, much less cowed or beaten. De Montfort and his men were not asleep, nor over confident like the King’s party. Rochester might be many miles away, but Earl Simon had sent some of his most trusted men to watch the march of the King’s army, to judge its strength, and keep him warned as to all that passed.
Waleran de Monceaux and Sir Aymery, woodlanders both of them, and wise in woodland law, lay that morning in a coppice close to the road and watched the King’s host go by. These Sussex men were men whom De Montfort trusted to the death. And they lay on their bellies43 in the thick of the dead bracken and the brambles, two wise dogs that saw and were not seen.
Aymery was stretched at full length, his chin upon his two fists, his grey eyes at gaze, while Waleran, more restless and impetuous, carried on a mumbling44 monologue45, and chewed grass with hungry jaws47. They were counting the banners and the pennons, and marking as best they could the lords and knights who were with the King. Aymery lay still enough till Gaillard’s company came up, the Gascon riding bareheaded, his blue surcoat ablaze48 with its golden suns. Gaillard had found favour with the King, despite the happenings at Pevensey, and the anger of Peter of Savoy. Aymery knew Gaillard at the first glance, and set his teeth hard so that the muscles stood out about his jaw46.
Yet the tail of Gaillard’s company brought a far fiercer inspiration, for Denise walked there beside Marpasse, Denise with her hair of red gold shining like a torch against the green. She walked as one going to the ordeal49 of fire, white-faced, mute, looking neither to the right hand nor left. Her grey cloak went like a cloud beside Marpasse’s azure50 blue. The two men-at-arms rode stolidly51 behind, while the men in the rear rank of Gaillard’s troop were laughing and joking with Marpasse.
Aymery stiffened52 as he lay, and his hand went to the sword in the dead bracken beside him. He scrambled53 suddenly to his knees, with a fierce, inarticulate cry deep down in his throat. Waleran seized him, and dragged him back to cover, for they were so near the road that the slightest movement might betray them.
“God, man, are you mad!”
Aymery lay there a moment with his face on his arms. He said nothing to Waleran, but when he raised his head again his face was grim and full of thought. He kept watch there in silence, but the road was empty now save for a few camp-followers, women and beggars. Aymery rose on one elbow, and looked towards the drifting dust that hung on the heels of the King’s host.
He turned suddenly to Waleran.
“Brother, you and I must part company for a while. Go back to our men. I must follow the march farther.”
“I know the man you are. Simon trusts us both.”
They scrambled up out of their “forms,” and went back through the wood till they came to a dell where they had left their horses. Aymery laid his hands on Waleran’s shoulders.
“Brother-in-arms,” he said, “trust me. I have a book to read, and a debt to pay. There is nothing of the traitor55 in my heart.”
Waleran hugged him like a bear.
“Blood of my father, I know that! I can carry the news.”
They parted there, two men who loved and trusted one another. Aymery took spear, shield, and helmet, and mounted his horse to follow the march of the King’s host, that splendid stream that seemed to gather and to carry with it all the pomp and music, the violence and passion, and the suffering sinfulness that the land held.
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1
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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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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6
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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8
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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9
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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11
yearn
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| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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13
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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14
clove
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| n.丁香味 | |
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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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16
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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17
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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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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20
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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21
bungle
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| v.搞糟；n.拙劣的工作 | |
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22
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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obtusely
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| adv.钝地，圆头地 | |
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24
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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25
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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27
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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28
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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29
lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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30
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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32
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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cinders
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| n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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38
archers
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| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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39
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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40
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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41
barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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42
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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43
bellies
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| n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的 | |
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44
mumbling
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
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45
monologue
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| n.长篇大论，（戏剧等中的）独白 | |
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46
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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47
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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48
ablaze
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| adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的 | |
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49
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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50
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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51
stolidly
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| adv.迟钝地，神经麻木地 | |
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52
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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53
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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54
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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55
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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