The landscape shimmered7 in the broadening light, green tapestries8 arabesqued with gold. To the east, Sir Simon's multitudinous squadrons ran like rare terraces of flowers, dusted with the scintillant10 dew of steel. Westwards dwindled11 the long ranks of the Lauretians. On the heights, Morolt's shields flickered12 in the sun. About a hillock in the valley, the rebel host stood massed in a great circle, a whorl of helmets, bills, and pikes; Fulviac's red pavilion starred the centre like the red roof of a church rising above a town.
On the southern heights, Richard of Lauretia had watched the dawn rise behind the towers of Gilderoy. He was on horseback, in full panoply13 of war, his gorgeous harness and trappings dazzling the sun. Knights15, nobles, trumpeters were round him, a splendid pool of chivalry16, while east and west stretched the ranks of the grim and gigantic soldiery of the north.
Hard by the royal standard with its Sun of Gold, a corpse17 dangled18 from the branch of a great fir. It swayed slightly in the wind, black and sinister19 against the gilded20 curtain of the dawn. It was the body of Sforza the adventurer from the south, Gonfaloniere of Gilderoy, whom the King had hanged to grace his double treachery.
As the light increased, sweeping21 along the glittering frieze22 of war, Morolt of Gorm and Regis stood forward before the King. He was a lean man, tall and vigorous as a bow of steel, his black eyes darting23 fire under his thatch24 of close-cropped hair. The nobles had put him forward that morning as a man born to claim a boon25 upon the brink26 of battle. Fierce and virile27, he bared his sword to the sun, and pointed28 with mailed hand to the rebel host in the valley.
"Sire, a boon for your loyal servants."
The King's face was as a mask of steel heated to white heat, ardent29 and pitiless. He had the spoilers of his kingdom under his heel, and was not the man to flinch30 at vengeance31.
"Say on, Morolt, what would ye?"
"We are men, sire, and these wolves have slaughtered33 our kinsfolk."
"Am I held to be a lamb, sirs!"
The iron men cheered him. Richard the King lifted up his baton36; his strong voice swept far in the hush37 of the dawn.
"Sirs," he said to them, "take the Black Leopard38 of Imbrecour for your pattern, rend39 and slay40, let none escape you. Every man of my host wears a white cross on his sword arm. Let that badge only stay your vengeance. As for these whelps of treason, they have butchered our children, shamed our women, clawed and torn at their King's throne. To-day who thinks of mercy! Go down, sirs, to the slaughter32."
A roar of joy rose from those rough warriors41; they tossed their swords, gripped hands and embraced, called on the saints to serve them. Strong passions were loose, steaming like the incense42 of sacked cities into heaven. There was much to avenge43, much to expurgate. That day their swords were to drink blood; that day they were to crush and kill.
In the valley, Fulviac's huge coil of humanity lay sullen44 and silent, watching the spears upon the hills. Their russets and sables45 contrasted with the gorgeous colouring of the feudalists. The one shone like a garden; the other resembled a field lying fallow. The romance and pomp of war gathered to pour down upon the squalid realism of mob tyranny. Beauty and the beast, knight14 and scullion faced each other on the stage that morning.
Gallopers were riding east and west bearing the King's commands to Sire Julian, Duke of Layonne, who headed the Lauretians, and to Simon of Imbrecour upon the hills. The King would not tempt46 the moil that day, but left the sweat and thunder of it to his captains, content to play the Cæsar on the southern heights. His commands had gone forth47 to the host. The first assault was to be made by twenty thousand northmen under Morolt, and a like force under Julian of Layonne. The whole crescent of steel was to contract upon the meadows, and consolidate48 its iron wall about Fulviac and his rebels. Simon of Imbrecour was to leash49 his chivalry from the first rush of the fight. His knights should ride in when the rebel ranks were broken.
An hour before noon, the royal trumpets50 blew the advance, and a great shout surged through the shimmering51 ranks.
"Advance, Black Leopard of Imbrecour."
"Advance, Golden Sun of Lauretia."
"Advance, Grey Wolf of the North."
With clarions and fifes playing, drums beating, banners blowing, the whole host closed its semilune of steel upon the dusky mass in the meadows. The northerners were chanting an old Norse ballad52, a grim, ice-bound song of the sea and the shriek53 of the sword. Sir Simon's spears were rolling over the green slopes, their trumpets and bugles54 blowing merrily. From the west, the Lauretians were coming up with their pikes dancing in the sun. The thunder of the advance seemed to shake the hills.
Fulviac watched the feudalists from beneath his banner in the meadows. His captains were round him, grim men and silent, girding their spirits for the prick55 of battle.
"By St. Peter," said the man under the red flag, "these fireflies come on passably. A fair host and a splendid. If their courage suits their panoply, we shall have hot work to-day."
"Faith," quoth Colgran, who had returned from Gilderoy, "I would rather sweep a flower-garden than a muck-heap. We are good for twice their number, massed as we are like rocks upon a sea-shore."
"To your posts, sirs," were Fulviac's last words to them; "whether we fall or conquer, what matters it if we die like men!"
Billows of red, green, and blue, dusted with silver, Morolt and his Berserkers rolled to the charge. They had cast aside their pikes, and taken to shield and axe56, such axes as had warred in the far past for the faith of Odin. Fulviac's rebels had massed their spears into a hedge of steel, and though Morolt's men came down at a run, the spear points stemmed the onrush like a wall.
Despite this avalanche57 of iron, the rebel ring stove off the tide of war. They were stout58 churls and hardy59, these peasant plunderers; death admonished60 them; despair tightened61 their sinews and propped62 up their shields. The shimmering flood swirled63 on their spear points like tawny65 billows tossing round a rock. It lapped and eddied, rushed up in spray, seeking an inlet, yet finding none. The Lauretian feudatories had swarmed66 to the charge. Fulviac withstood them, and held their panoply at bay.
Richard the King watched the battle from the southern heights. He saw Morolt's men roll down, saw the fight seethe67 and glitter, swirl64 in a wild vortex round the rebel spears. The war wolves gathered, the tempest waxed, and still the black ring held. Like steel upon a granite68 rock the onslaughts sparked on it, but clove69 no breach70. Under the late noon sun the valley reeked71 with dust and din9. The royal host was as a dragon of gold, gnashing and writhing72 about an iron tower.
It was then that the King smote73 his thigh74, plucked off his signet, sent it by Bertrand his herald75 to Sir Simon and his knights.
"Go down at the gallop," ran the royal bidding, "cleave76 me this rock, and splinter it to dust. Spare neither man nor horse. Cleave in or perish."
The black banner of Imbrecour flapped forth; the trumpets clamoured. Sir Simon's knights might well have graced Boiardo's page, and girded Albracca with their stalwart spears. They tightened girths, set shields for the charge, and rode down nobly to avenge or fall.
As a great ship sails to break a harbour boom, so did the squadrons of the King crash down with fewtred spears on Fulviac's host. They rode with the wind, leaping and thundering like an iron flood. No slackening was there, no wavering of this ponderous77 bolt. It rushed like a huge rock down a mountain's flank, smoking and hurtling on the wall of spears.
The corn was scythed78 and trodden under foot. Ranks rocked and broke like earth before a storm-scourged sea. The spears of Imbrecour flashed on, smote and sucked vengeance, cleaving79 a breach into the core of war. The knights slew80, took scarlet81 for their colour, and made the moment murderous with steel. Into the breach the King's wolves followed them; Morolt's grim axemen stumbled in, rending82 and hurling83 the black mass to shreds84. Battle became butchery. The day was won.
What boots it to chronicle the scene that travelled as a forest fire in the track of Sir Simon's chivalry? The iron hand of the King closed upon the wrecked85 victims in the valley. Knight and noble trampled86 the peasantry; rapine and lust87 were put to the sword. The Blatant88 Beast was slain89 by the spear of Romance. The boor90 and the demagogue were trodden as straw before the threshing-floor of vengeance. The fields were a shroud91 of scarlet; Tamar ran like wine; thorn and bramble were fruited red with blood. On the heights the tall pines waved over the splendid masque of death.
It was late in the day when Morolt and his hillsmen, with certain of Sir Simon's knights, forced their way through the wreckage92 of the fight, to the hillock where stood the banner of the Saint. South, east, and west the rout93 bubbled into the twilight94, a riot of slaughter seething95 to the distant woods. About Yeoland's banner had gathered the last of the Forest brotherhood96, grey wolves red to the throat with battle. Sullen and indomitable, they had gathered in a dusky knot of steel as the day sped into the kindling97 west. Even Morolt's fierce followers98 stood still, like hounds that had brought the boar to bay. Simon of Imbrecour spurred out before the spears, lifted a shattered sword, and called on Fulviac by name.
A burly figure in harness of a reddish hue100 towered up beneath the fringe of the banner of the Saint. He carried an axe slanted101 over his shoulder, as he stood half a head above the tallest of his men. As Sir Simon challenged him, he lifted his salade, and bared his face to the war dogs who hemmed102 him in.
"Black Leopard of the West, we meet again."
The Lord of Imbrecour peered at him keenly from under his vizor.
"Come, sirs, and end it," quoth the man in red, "buffet103 for buffet, and sword to sword. I fling ye a gauge104 to death and the devil. Come, sirs, let us end it; I bide105 my time."
Morolt sprang forward with sword aloft.
"Traitor and rebel, I have seen your face before."
Fulviac laughed, a brave burst of scorn. He tossed his axe to them, and spread his arms.
"Ha, Morolt, I have foined with ye of old. Saints and martyrs106, have I avenged107 myself upon the lap-dogs of the court! Here will we fight our last battle. Bury me, sirs, as Fulk of Argentin, the King's brother, whom men thought dead these seven years."
A sudden silence hovered108 above that remnant of a beaten host. The red banner drooped109, hung down about its staff. Morolt, uttering a strange cry, smote his bosom110 with his iron hand. Old Simon crossed himself, turned back and rode thence slowly from the field.
Morolt's voice, gruff and husky, sounded the charge. When he and his war dogs had made an end, they took Fulviac's head and bore it wrapped in Yeoland's banner to the King.
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收听单词发音
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1
riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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2
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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3
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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5
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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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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8
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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9
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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scintillant
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| adj.产生火花的，闪烁（耀）的 | |
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dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
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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13
panoply
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| n.全副甲胄，礼服 | |
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14
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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16
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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17
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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18
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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19
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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21
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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22
frieze
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| n.(墙上的)横饰带，雕带 | |
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23
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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24
thatch
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| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
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25
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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26
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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27
virile
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| adj.男性的；有男性生殖力的；有男子气概的；强有力的 | |
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28
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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29
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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30
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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31
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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32
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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33
slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
eddied
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| 起漩涡，旋转( eddy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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36
baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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37
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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38
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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39
rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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40
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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41
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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42
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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43
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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44
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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45
sables
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| n.紫貂( sable的名词复数 )；紫貂皮；阴暗的；暗夜 | |
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46
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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47
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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48
consolidate
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| v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并 | |
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49
leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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50
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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51
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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52
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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53
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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54
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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55
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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56
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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57
avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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59
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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60
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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61
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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62
propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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65
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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66
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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67
seethe
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| vi.拥挤，云集；发怒，激动，骚动 | |
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68
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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69
clove
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| n.丁香味 | |
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70
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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71
reeked
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的过去式和过去分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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72
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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73
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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74
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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75
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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76
cleave
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| v．(clave；cleaved)粘着，粘住；坚持；依恋 | |
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77
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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78
scythed
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| v.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
cleaving
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| v.劈开，剁开，割开( cleave的现在分词 ) | |
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80
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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81
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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82
rending
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| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
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83
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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84
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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85
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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86
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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87
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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88
blatant
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| adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的 | |
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89
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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90
boor
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| n.举止粗野的人；乡下佬 | |
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91
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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92
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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93
rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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94
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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95
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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96
brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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97
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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98
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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99
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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100
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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101
slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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102
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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103
buffet
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| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
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104
gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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105
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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106
martyrs
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| n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情） | |
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107
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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108
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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109
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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110
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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