Whatever tidings may have muttered on the breeze, riders came in hotly to the royal pavilion towards the noon of the fourteenth day. There was soon much stir on the hills hard by Geraint. Knights4 and nobles thronged5 the royal tent, captains clanged shoulders, gallopers rode south and west with fiery6 despatches to Morolt and Sir Simon of Imbrecour. Battle breathed in the wind. Before night came, the King's pavilion had vanished from the hills; his columns were winding7 round the northern hem8 of the forest, to strike the road that ran from Geraint to Gilderoy.
The royal scouts9 and rangers10 had not played their master false. A river of steel was curling through the black depths of the wild, threading the valleys towards the east. The King's scouts had caught the glimmer12 of armour13 sifting14 through the trees. They had slunk about the rebel host for days while they lay camped in their thousands about the cliff. Colgran and his small company had passed through unheeded, but they were up like hawks15 when the whole host moved.
That midnight Fulviac's columns rolled from the outstanding thickets17 of the wild, and held in serried18 masses for the road to Gilderoy. The King's procrastination19 had launched them on this last desperate venture. They would have starved in the forest as Fulviac had foreseen; their hopes lay in reaching Gilderoy, which was well victualled, throwing themselves therein, making what terms they could, or die fighting behind its walls. Thus under cover of night they slipped from the forest, trusting to leave the King's men guarding an empty lair20.
The brisk forethought of Richard of Lauretia had out-gamed the rebels, however, in the hazardous21 moves of war. They were answering to his opening like wild duck paddling towards a decoy. Ten miles west of Gilderoy there stretched a valley, walled southwards by tall heights, banded through the centre by the river Tamar. At its eastern extremity22 a line of hills rolled down to touch the river. The road from Geraint ran through the valley, hugging the southern bank of the river after crossing it westwards by a fortified23 bridge. Fulviac and his host would follow that road, marching betwixt the river and the hills. It was in this valley that Richard of Lauretia had conceived the hurtling climax24 of the war.
Forewarned in season, Sir Simon of Imbrecour and his bristling25 squadrons were riding through the night on Gilderoy, shaping a crescent course towards the east. Morolt and the giants of the north were striding in his track, skirting the southern spires26 of the forest, to press level with the rebel march, screened by the hills. The King and his Lauretians came down from Geraint. They were to seize the bridge across the Tamar, pour over, and close the rebels on the rear.
It was near dawn when Fulviac's columns struck the highroad from Geraint, and entered the valley where the Tamar shimmered27 towards Gilderoy. Mist covered the world, shot through with the gold threads of the dawn. The river gleamed and murmured fitfully in the meadows; the southern heights glittered in the growing day; the purple slopes of the Black Wild had melted dimly into the west.
The mist stood dense28 in the flats where the Geraint road bridged the river. The northern slopes seemed steeped in vapoury desolation, the road winding into a waste of green. Fulviac and his men marched on, chuckling29 as they thought of the royal troops watching the empty alleys11 of the forest. Fulviac took no care to secure the bridge across the Tamar. With the line of hills before them breasted, they would see the spires of Gilderoy, glittering athwart the dawn.
The columns were well in the lap of the valley before two light horsemen came galloping30 in from the far van, calling on Fulviac, who rode under the red banner, that the road to Gilderoy had been seized. Fulviac and Sforza rode forward with a squadron of horse to reconnoitre. As they advanced at a canter, the mists cleared from the skirts of the encircling hills. Far to the east, on the green slopes that rolled towards the Tamar, they saw the sun smite31 upon a thousand points of steel. Pennons danced in the shimmering32 atmosphere, shields flickered33, armour shone. A torrent34 of gems35 seemed poured from the dawn's lap upon the emerald bosoms36 of the hills. They were the glittering horsemen of Sir Simon of Imbrecour, who had ridden out of the night and seized on the road to Gilderoy.
Fulviac halted his company, and standing16 in the stirrups, scanned the hillside under his hand. He frowned, thrust forth37 his chin, turned on Sforza who rode at his side.
"Trapped," he said with a twist of the lip; "Dick of the Iron Hand has fooled us. 'Twas done cunningly, though it brings us to a parlous38 passage. They hold the road."
The Gonfaloniere tugged39 at his ragged40 beard, and looked white under the arch of his open salade.
"Better advance on them," he said; "I would give good gold to be safe in the streets of Gilderoy."
"There are ten thousand spears on yonder slopes, the lustiest blood in the land. Count their banners and their pennons, the stuff tells an honest tale. Pah, they would drive our rapscallions into the river. Send back and bid our banners halt."
They wheeled and cantered towards the long black columns plodding42 through the meadows. Far to the west over the green plain they saw spears flash against the sun, a glimmering43 tide spreading from the river. The Lauretians had crossed the bridge and were hurrying on the rebels' heels. Fulviac's trumpets44 sounded the halt. He thundered his orders to his captains, bade them mass their men in the meadows, and hedge their pikes for the crash of battle.
A shout reached him from his squadrons of horse who had marched on the southern wing. They were pointing to the heights with sword and spear. Fulviac reined45 round, rode forward to some rising ground, and looked southwards under his hand. The heights bounding the valley shone with steel. A myriad46 glistening47 stars shimmered under the sun. Morolt's northerners had shown their shields; the hills bristled48 with their bills and spears.
Fulviac shrugged49 his shoulders, lowered his beaver50, and rode back towards his men. He saw Yeoland the Saint's red banner waving above the dusky squares. He remembered the girl's pale face and the hands that had toyed with the gilded51 silks in the dark chamber52 upon the cliff. Though the sun shone and the earth glistened53, he knew in his heart that he should see that face no more.
Richard of Lauretia had forged his crescent of steel. South, east, and west the royal trumpets sounded; northwards ran the Tamar, closing the meadows. Fulviac and his men were trapped in the green valley. A golden girdle of chivalry54 hemmed55 the mob in the lap of the emerald meadows. All about them blazed the panoply56 of war.
Fulviac, pessimist57 that he was, took to his heart that hour the lofty tranquillity58 of a Scandinavian hero. His courage was of that stout59, sea-buffeting fibre that stiffened60 its beams against the tide of defeat. He set forth his shield, tossed up his sword, rode through the ranks with the spirit of a Roland. Life leapt the stronger in him at the challenge of the Black Raven61 of death. His captains could have sworn that he looked for victory in the moil, so bluff62 and strenuous63 was his mood that day.
Sforza came cringing64 to him, glib-lipped and haggard, to speak of a parley65. Fulviac shook his shield in the man's white face, set his ruffians to dig trenches66 in the meadows, and to range the waggons67 as a barricade68.
"Parley, forsooth," quoth he; "talk no more to me of parleys69 when I have twoscore thousand smiters at my back. Let Dick of the Iron Hand come down to us with the sword. Ha, sirs, are we stuffed with hay! We will rattle70 the royal bones and make them dance a fandango to the devil."
His spirit diffused71 itself through the ranks of the rough soldiery. They cheered wheresoever he went, kindling72 their courage like a torch, and tossed their pikes to him with strenuous insolence73.
"My children," he would roar to them as he passed, "the day has come, we have drawn74 these skulkers to a tussle75. See to it, sirs, let us maul these velvet76 gentlemen, these squires77 of the cushion. By the Lord, we will feast anon in Gilderoy, and rifle the King's baggage."
As for Richard of the Iron Hand, he was content to claim the arduous78 blessings79 of the day. He held his men in leash80 upon the hills, resting them and their horses after the marchings of the night. Wine was served out; clarions and sackbuts sounded through the ranks; the King made his nobles a rich feast in his pavilion pitched by Sir Morolt's banner. As the day drew on, he thrust strong outposts towards the meadows, ordered his troops to sleep through the long night under arms. Their watch-fires gemmed81 a lurid82 bow under the sky, with Tamar stringing it, a chord of silver. In the meadows the rebel masses lay a black pool of gloom under the stars.
Fulviac sat alone in his tent at midnight, his drawn sword across his knees. His captains had left him, some to watch, others to sleep on the grass in their armour, Sforza the Gonfaloniere to sneak83 in the dark to the King's lines. Silence covered the valley, save for the voices of the sentinels and the sound of the royal trumpets blowing the changes on the hills. Their watch-fires hung athwart the sky like a chain of flashing rubies84.
Fulviac sat motionless as a statue, staring out into the night. Death, like a grey wraith85, stood beside his chair; the unknown, a black and unsailed sea, stretched calm and imageless beneath his feet. Life and the ambition thereof tottered86 and crumbled87 like a quaking ruin. Love quenched88 her torch of gold. The man saw the stars above him, heard in the silence of thought a thousand worlds surging through the infinitudes of the heavens. What then was this mortal pillar of clay, that it should grudge89 its dust to the womb of the world?
And ambition? He thought of Yeoland and her wounded heart; of Gambrevault and Avalon; of La Belle90 Forêt smoking amid its ruins. He had torched fame through the land, and painted his prowess in symbols of fire. Now that death challenged him on the strand91 of the unknown, should he, Fulviac, fear the unsailed sea!
His heart glowed in him with a transcendent insolence. Lifting his sword, he pressed the cold steel to his lips, brandished92 it in the faces of the stars. Then, with a laugh, he lay down upon a pile of straw and slept.
该作者其它作品
《The Red Saint》
该作者其它作品
《The Red Saint》
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1
pinions
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的第三人称单数 ) | |
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2
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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3
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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4
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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5
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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9
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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10
rangers
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| 护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员 | |
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11
alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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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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13
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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14
sifting
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| n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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15
hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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16
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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17
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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18
serried
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| adj.拥挤的；密集的 | |
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procrastination
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| n.拖延，耽搁 | |
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20
lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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21
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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22
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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24
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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26
spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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27
shimmered
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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29
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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30
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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31
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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32
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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33
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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35
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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36
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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37
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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38
parlous
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| adj.危险的，不确定的，难对付的 | |
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39
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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41
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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43
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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44
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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45
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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46
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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47
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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48
bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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49
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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50
beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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51
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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52
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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53
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
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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55
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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56
panoply
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| n.全副甲胄，礼服 | |
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57
pessimist
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| n.悲观者；悲观主义者；厌世 | |
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58
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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60
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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61
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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62
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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63
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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64
cringing
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| adj.谄媚，奉承 | |
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65
parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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66
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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67
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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68
barricade
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| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
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69
parleys
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| n.和谈，谈判( parley的名词复数 ) | |
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70
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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71
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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72
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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73
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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75
tussle
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| n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩 | |
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76
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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77
squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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80
leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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81
gemmed
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| 点缀（gem的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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83
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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84
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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85
wraith
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| n.幽灵；骨瘦如柴的人 | |
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86
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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87
crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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88
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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89
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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90
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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91
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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92
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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