A spiritual conception born in a woman's brain is as a savour of rich spices sweetening all the world. How great a power of obstinacy2 stirs in one small body! A pillar of fire, a shining grail. She will bring forth3 the finest gems4 that hang upon her bosom5, the ruby6 of heroism7, the sapphire8 of pity. She will cast all her store of gold into the lap of Fate. Give to her some radiant dream of hope, and she may prove the most splendid idealist, even if she do not prove a wise one. Remember the women who watched about the Cross of Christ.
There had been trickery in the miracle, a tinge9 of flesh in the vision. The Virgin10, in the ruck of religion, had suffered herself to be personated by a clever little "player" from Gilderoy, aided and idealised by a certain notorious charlatan11 who dealt in magic, was not above aiding ecclesiastical mummeries on occasions, and conspiring12 for the solemn production of miracles. A priest's juggling13 box, a secret door at the back of the altar used in bygone days for the manipulation of a wonder-working image, musicians, incense14, and Greek fire. These had made the portent15 possible. As for Fulviac, rugged16 plotter, he was as grave as an abbot over the business; his words were wondrous17 beatific18; he spoke19 of the interventions20 of Heaven with bated breath.
It was a superstitious21 age, touched with phantasy and gemmed22 with magic. Relics23 were casketed in gold and silver; holy blood amazed with yearly liquefactions the souls of the devout24; dreamers gazed into mirrors, crystals, finger-nails, for visions of heaven. Jewels were poured in scintillant25 streams at the white feet of the Madonna. It was all done with rare mysticism, colour, and rich music. The moon ruled marriage, corn, and kine. The saints, like a concourse of angels, walked with melancholy26 splendour through the wilds.
As for the girl Yeoland, she had the heart of a woman in the noblest measure, a red heart, pure yet passionate27. The world waxed prophetic that shrill28 season. She was as full of dreams and phantasies as an astrologer's missal. Nothing amazed her, and yet all earth was mysterious. The wind spoke in magic syllables29; the trees were oracular; the stars, white hands tracing symbols in the sky. She was borne above herself on the pinions30 of ecstasy31, heard seraph32 wings sweep the air, saw the glimmer33 of their robes passing the portals of the night. Mysticism moved through the world like the sound of lutes over a moonlit sea.
One March morning, Fulviac came to her in the northern chamber35 of the cliff. Yeoland had masses of scarlet36 cloth and threads of gold upon her knees, for she was broidering a banner, the banner of the Maid of Gilderoy. Her eyes were full of violet shadow. She wore a cross over her bosom, emeralds set in silver; a rosary, dangling37 on her wrist, told how her prayers kept alternate rhythm with her fingers. Fulviac crooked38 the knee to the crucifix upon the wall, sat down near her on a rich bench of carved cedar39 wood.
The man was in a beneficent mood, and beamed on her like a lusty summer. He had tidings on his tongue, tidings that he hoarded40 with the craft of an epicure41. It was easy to mark when the world trundled well with his humour. He put forth smiles like a great oak whose boughs42 glisten43 in the sun.
"You will tire yourself, little sister."
She looked at him with one of her solemn glances, a glance that spoke of vigils, soul-searchings, and prayer.
"My fingers tire before my heart," she said to him.
"Rest, rest."
"Do I seem weary to you?"
"I have news from the west."
"Ah!"
"We gather and spread like fire in a forest. The mountain men are with us, ready to roll down from the hills with hauberk and sword. In two months Malgo will have sent the bloody47 cross through all the west."
The golden thread ran through the girl's white fingers; the beads48 of her rosary rattled49; she seemed to be weaving the destiny of a kingdom into the device upon her banner.
"How is it with us here?" she asked him.
"I have a thousand stout50 men and true camped upon the cliff. Levies51 are coming in fast, like steel to a magnet. In a month we shall outbulk a Roman legion."
"And Gilderoy?"
"Gilderoy and Geraint will give us a score thousand pikemen."
"The stars fight for us."
"Spears crash, and swords clang,
Fame maddens the world.
Come battle and love.
Iseult--
Ah, Iseult."
"Bear with me," he said.
Her dark eyes questioned him over her banner.
"I offer you the first victim."
"Ah!"
"Flavian of Gambrevault."
An indefinite shadow descended53 upon the girl's face. The inspired radiance seemed dimmed for the moment; the crude realism of her thoughts rang in discord54 to her dreams. She lost the glimmering55 thread from her needle. Her hands trembled a little as she played with the scarlet folds of the banner.
"Well?"
"A lad of mine bears news--a black-eyed rogue56 from the hills of Carlyath, sharp as a sword's point, quaint57 as an elf. I sent him gleaning58, and he has done bravely. You would hear his tale from his own lips?"
She nodded and seemed distraught.
"Yes. Bring him in to me," she said.
Fulviac left her, to return with a slim youth sidling in behind him like a shadow. The lad had a nut-brown skin and ruddy cheeks, a pair of twinkling eyes, a thatch59 of black hair over his forehead. Bred amid the hills of Carlyath, where the women were scarlet Eves, and the land a paradise, he had served in Gilderoy as apprentice60 to an armourer. Carlyath's wilds and the city's roguery had mingled61 in him fantastic strains of extravagant62 sentiment and cunning. Half urchin63, half elf, he stood with bent64 knees and slouched shoulders, his black eyes alert on Fulviac, his lord.
"The whole tale. Try your wit."
"This, madame, is an infatuated world."
Thus, sententiously delivered, he plunged68 into a declamation69 with a picturesque70 and fanciful extravagance that he had imbibed71 from the strolling romancers of his own land.
"In the city of Gilderoy," he said, speaking very volubly and with many gestures, "there lives a lady of surpassing comeliness72. Her eyes are as the sky, her cheeks as June roses, her hair a web of gold. She is a right fair lady, and daily she sits at her broad casement73, singing, and plaiting her hair into shackles74 of gold. She has bound the Lord Flavian of Gambrevault in a net starred with poppies, scarlet poppies of the field, so that he ever dreams dreams of scarlet, and sees visions of lips warm as wine. Daily the Lord Flavian scours75 the country between Avalon and the fair city of Gilderoy, till the very dust complains of his fury, and the green grass curses his horse's heels. But the lady with the hair of gold compasses him like the sunset; she has stolen the eyes of heaven, and the stars are blind."
Fulviac smiled over the extreme subtlety76 of the rendering77. It was a delicate matter, delicately handled. The Carlyath lad had wit, and a most seraphic tongue.
"What more?"
"There is yet another lady at Avalon."
"Well?"
"A lady whose name is Duessa, a lady with black hair and a blacker temper. Lord Flavian has a huge horror of her tongue. Therefore he rides like a thief, without trumpets78, to Gilderoy."
"Yet more."
"The Lady Duessa is the Lord Flavian's wife," he said.
"Surely."
"Therefore, sire, he is a coward."
The lad drew back with a bow and a scrape of the foot, keeping his eyes on the floor with the discretion80 of a veteran lackey81. At a sign from Fulviac, he slipped away, and left Yeoland and the man alone.
The girl's hands were idle in her lap; the great scarlet banner trailed in rich folds about her feet. There was a white mask of thought upon her face, and her eyes searched the distance with an oblivious82 stare. All the strong discords83 of the past rushed clamorous84 to her brain; her consecrated85 dreams were as so many angels startled by the assaults of hell.
She rose from her chair, cast the casement wide, and stood gazing over the forest. Youth seemed in the breeze, and the clear voice of the Spring. The green woods surged with liberty; the strong zest86 of life breathed in their bosoms87. In the distance the pines seemed to beckon88 to her, to wave their caps in windy exultation89.
Fulviac had stood watching her with the calm scrutiny90 of one wise in the passionate workings of the soul. He suffered her to possess her thoughts in silence for a season, to come by a steady comprehension of the past. Presently he gathered the red banner, and hung it on the frame, went softly to her and touched her sleeve.
"Shall they kill him on the road?" he asked.
She pondered a moment, and did not answer him.
"It is easy," he said, "and a matter of sheer justice."
The words seemed to steel her decision.
"No," she said, "let them bring him here--to me."
"So be it," he answered her.
Fulviac found her cold and taciturn, desirous of solitude91. He humoured the mood, and she was still staring from the window when he left her. The woodland had melted before her into an oblivious mist. In its stead she saw a tower flaming amid naked trees, a white face staring heavenwards with the marble tranquillity92 of death.
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1
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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2
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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3
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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sapphire
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| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
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9
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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10
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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11
charlatan
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| n.骗子；江湖医生；假内行 | |
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12
conspiring
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| 密谋( conspire的现在分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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13
juggling
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| n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词 | |
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14
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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15
portent
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| n.预兆；恶兆；怪事 | |
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16
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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17
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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18
beatific
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| adj.快乐的，有福的 | |
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19
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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20
interventions
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| n.介入，干涉，干预( intervention的名词复数 ) | |
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21
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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22
gemmed
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| 点缀（gem的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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23
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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24
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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25
scintillant
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| adj.产生火花的，闪烁（耀）的 | |
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26
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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27
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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28
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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29
syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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30
pinions
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的第三人称单数 ) | |
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31
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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32
seraph
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| n.六翼天使 | |
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33
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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34
lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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35
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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36
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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37
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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38
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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39
cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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40
hoarded
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| v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
epicure
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| n.行家，美食家 | |
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42
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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43
glisten
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| vi.（光洁或湿润表面等）闪闪发光，闪闪发亮 | |
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44
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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45
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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46
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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47
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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48
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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49
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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51
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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52
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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53
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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54
discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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55
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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56
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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57
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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58
gleaning
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| n.拾落穗，拾遗，落穗v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的现在分词 )；（收割后）拾穗 | |
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59
thatch
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| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
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60
apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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61
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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62
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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63
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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64
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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65
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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66
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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67
smirk
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| n.得意地笑；v.傻笑；假笑着说 | |
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68
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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69
declamation
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| n. 雄辩，高调 | |
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70
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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71
imbibed
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| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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72
comeliness
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| n. 清秀, 美丽, 合宜 | |
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73
casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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74
shackles
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| 手铐( shackle的名词复数 )； 脚镣； 束缚； 羁绊 | |
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75
scours
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的第三人称单数 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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76
subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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77
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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78
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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79
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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80
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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81
lackey
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| n.侍从；跟班 | |
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82
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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83
discords
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| 不和（discord的复数形式） | |
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84
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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85
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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86
zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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87
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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88
beckon
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| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
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89
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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90
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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91
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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92
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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