The monk in him, being the elder, stood shocked to the heart, and most tragically5 dismayed. Such a bloody deed as this seemed the end of everything, even though it had been done in generous wrath6. Martin’s monastic soul shrank away, horrified7, covering its face with its hands. He had spilled blood, he was a murderer, he had sinned against the God Who had given him life.
For a while the monk in him possessed8 his whole consciousness, but there was a man stronger and fiercer than the monk waiting to be heard. The soul of old Valliant lived more nobly in his son, old Valliant who had looked on dead men with the pity of a soldier, but who would have had no pity for such a fellow as Noble Vance.
“Martin—Martin Valliant!”
He heard her voice, at first very soft and faint, like a voice from a distance. He had not looked at her since he had struck Vance down.
Slowly he seemed to drag himself from staring at his own handiwork. He turned his head, and her eyes met his.
Once more the soul of that tragic4 day astonished him, for there was a strange, shining light in Mellis’s eyes. Her lips seemed to tremble; her throat showed proud and triumphant9. Here was no shame, no horror, but a something that gloried, an exultation10 that was near to tears.
He stared at her as though he had been dead and she had called him back to life.
Mellis stretched out her hands as though to crown him.
“Martin Valliant—Martin Valliant.”
“God forgive me.”
He dropped on his knees, and covered his face with his right arm.
The woman in her rushed instantly to comfort him.
“Martin—Martin Valliant, take it not to heart. God slays12 men sometimes; it is right and good that they should be slain13.”
“How can I lift this burden from you, you who have striven to love men?”
He dropped his arm and stared at the grass.
“What has happened to me? I do not understand. Yet that man there was an evil beast, and I struck him in clean wrath. What does God wish? I have lost the light in my soul.”
He got up and began to walk to and fro with great strides, his forehead all knotted, his mouth awry16. And Mellis watched him, keeping silent, but with a great pity in her eyes. He was like a blind man, groping his way, lost in the confusion of his own soul.
“Martin——”
“God will not speak to me. I hear no voice but yours. I will go and surrender myself.”
“To whom?”
“What does it matter? There is blood on my hands. Let them do with me as they please.”
A new light flashed in her eyes. She seemed to feel the struggle that was coming, the fight for the soul of this strong man. Either he would dash himself to ruin, or she would save him as he had saved her.
“Is there no other voice but mine?”
“None.”
“Perhaps God is in my voice, speaking to you, Martin Valliant.”
He looked at her strangely.
“Those men died by my hand.”
“Good—very good—I grant it. There’s death, lying at our feet. Let us look at it boldly, without shrinking, without shame. What were those men? One was an evil beast, you say, and I know it to be true. He was one of those who slew18 my father; I would charge him, too, with my brother’s death, and by your hand I am avenged19. There were three, and you were alone. There was God’s good wrath in your heart. And I call you proudly Martin Valliant. Yes, the song of the sword is yours.”
The blood rose to his face.
“Is my sin the less?”
He avoided her eyes.
“To save me. Because your heart told you that these men brought me death—perhaps things that are worse than death. You killed them, but I live and am free.”
She smiled bravely.
“Free—to be grateful—free to swear to you from my heart that the deed was done nobly. And now—what of the morrow?”
He could not rise to her rebel mood as yet; the old life still hung to him, though he realized that it was a thing of rags and tatters.
“To-morrow? I cannot think of a to-morrow. Life seems to end for me in a great cliff.”
“You know whom you have killed?”
“Roger Bland23’s watchdog. And you will hang for it, Martin Valliant, in spite of twenty St. Benedicts. The Lord of Troy is not gentle with those who flout24 him.”
“And I, Martin Valliant, I shall hang on the same gibbet.”
He threw his head back, with a tightening27 of the mouth and a hardening of the eyes.
“God forbid!”
“Roger Bland of Troy will not forbid it. We shall hang, Martin Valliant, unless——”
He opened and shut his hands as though blindly striving to grip the truth.
“I am a broken man—but you——”
“Broken, say you? And before God—why? What are we but rebels, outlaws28, so long as Crookback rules and such hounds as Bland hunt at his bidding? My troth is pledged to another king. Broken?—never! What, shall I not fight for my life against my enemies—aye, and with a good heart? And you, Martin Valliant?”
“I—fight—to save myself?”
“Would you let them lead you off like an ox to be pole-axed?”
“I have vowed——”
“God have pity on you, Martin Valliant. Where are your vows30 now? Blown to the winds. No, I’ll not suffer you to go with meek31 madness to your death. Answer me—will you not fight for your own life?”
He thought awhile, and then answered stubbornly, “No.”
Mellis drew a deep breath.
“Before God, then, will you fight for mine?”
“For you? To save you?”
He bowed his head.
“Yes—to the death, so that you may live.”
She held out her hands to him, her eyes shining.
“Martin Valliant, let us be comrades, let us swear troth to each other.”
But he looked at her hands as though he dared not touch them.
“I am a priest no more,” he said, “but an outlaw29. So be it, though God has dealt strangely with me.”
He turned his head and looked at the great cross.
“The shape of a sword!”
“There is a noble spirit in it, Martin Valliant.”
“It shall be a cross—and a sword,” he answered her.
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收听单词发音
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1
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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2
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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3
monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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4
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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5
tragically
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| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
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6
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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7
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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8
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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9
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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10
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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11
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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12
slays
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的第三人称单数 ) | |
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13
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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14
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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15
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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16
awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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17
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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18
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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19
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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20
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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21
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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22
warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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23
bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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24
flout
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| v./n.嘲弄，愚弄，轻视 | |
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25
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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26
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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27
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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28
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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29
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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30
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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31
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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32
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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