The men of Sussex were on the march, and Father Merlin rode on a white mule1, with Fulk on a forest pony2 beside him, and the Sussex men wondered who the priest’s prisoner might be, for Fulk was lashed3 to the beast he rode, and his head was swathed up in white linen4. Father Merlin rode softly, smiling upon these children who were to lay all the lords and gentlemen of England in the dust. When the chance served he talked to Fulk, using a scathing5, ironical6, and tempting8 tongue, and hinting at adventures that tended towards both heaven and hell.
Isoult of the Rose also went with this great company of the poor, mounted upon a black horse that had been stolen out of somebody’s stable. She had put off her gay colours and rode in russet, though the red leather shoes remained. They had given her a pony to carry her lute9 and her baggage, and Guy the Stallion marched at no great distance like a sergeant-at-arms, with fat Blanche trailing sulkily after him.
Isoult was a silent woman that morning, but her eyes were very watchful10 and missed little that was to be seen. June had come; the woods were like great green clouds against the blue; the bracken was frothing round the oak stems, and lush grass stood knee-deep in the meadows. Not only was it thundery weather, but a blight12 seemed on the land, an oppressive stillness, an invisible terror that waited in the hot and stagnant13 woodland. Other companies of the poor had been on the march before them, and had left the slime of their track behind—a burnt barn here and there, an empty manor-house with the gate broken and the house door hanging askew14 on its hinges, and once, the body of a man with a black face dangling15 from a tree. The country-side seemed very empty, save at some tavern16 or intake17 where a knot of noisy oafs with bills and cudgels in their hands waited to join the great company of the poor.
Very often Isoult was in the thick of these marching boors18, and her nostrils19 showed the subtle shadow of an incipient20 scorn. The day was steamy, and the mob smelt21 and sweated, shouted and swore, spat22, jostled, cracked coarse jokes, and drank out of bottles. Its breath was not pleasant. The hairy faces were leering and cruel, and their exultation23 belched24 in the face of the morning. All along the track she heard them bawling25:
Where was then the gentleman?”
“Hinds!” she thought. “Where was all your insolent27, sweating dust! I could half wish you at the mercy of a hundred galloping28 spears!”
Moreover, some of them crowded about her, and hot faces were smeary29 with a gloating thought of her comeliness30. She saw the dull lust31 in their eyes, and her pride became ice. They were like cattle jostling, leaping, bellowing32. Now and again the shrill33 and screaming laughter of a woman eddied34 up. There was one huge fellow with a purple birth-mark covering half his face, who strode along carrying a small cask as a drum, and beating it with a hammer. He shouted perpetually with the voice of a cow that has been separated from its calf35, “Death to all the lords and gentles!” and when he shouted his mouth looked like a red sore.
Late in the day they were crossing a lonely valley, where a stream ran between willows36 and aspens. A mill-house, built of timber and white plaster and thatched with straw, stood in the thick of an orchard37 about a hundred paces above the ford38, and Isoult saw a dozen men break away and make for the mill-house. The fore-hoofs of her horse were, in the water when she heard a woman’s scream, a scream that was smothered39 instantly as though a big hand had been clapped over the screamer’s mouth.
The men near Isoult laughed.
She turned her horse sharply, scattered41 the men, and rode through the grassland42 along the edge of the stream, and leaving her horse at the gate by the footbridge, crossed over by the planking that passed close to the mill-wheel. There was a little garden of flowers and herbs in front of the house, and from within came the cries of a woman.
Isoult’s voice was merciless.
“Back, you dogs!”
Her right hand was armed, but the men fell away sheepishly from before the steel of her scorn. A woman lay cowering43 in a corner, and the big fellow with the purple face who had been beating the barrel like a drum was standing44 over her with a torn piece of cloth in one hand.
“Come.”
She twisted past the big man, and, half crawling, fled to Isoult’s knees. And the men let her go, standing mute and balked46, avoiding each other’s eyes.
“Go; take to the woods. Hide while the wild swine are abroad.”
She kissed Isoult’s hand and fled.
Isoult waited on the footbridge, but the men hung back in the mill-house, for her scorn had sobered them.
Turning to cross the bridge, she found Merlin riding up on his white mule between the willows and aspens. His cowl fell back as he dismounted, and he was showing his teeth like a horse minded to bite.
Isoult called to him.
“Merlin, are your swine to root as they please?”
He made light of it, sneeringly48.
“Keep away from the sty, Isoult; your nose is too delicate. Things must happen. I will speak to the fools.”
As he passed her on the bridge their eyes crossed like swords.
She gave Merlin no answer, but, remounting her horse, rode back slowly towards the ford.
A halt was called under the edge of a crimson52 sunset that overtopped the black plumes53 of a forest of firs. Isoult left her horse with Guy the Stallion, and walked towards the spot where Merlin’s white mule was tethered, and where men were pitching a rough hide tent.
Merlin came out to her and his eyes were enigmatical.
“The lute and the voice and the eyes may serve,” he said; “and yet, Isoult, why should I trust you?”
“Because my wrongs were great, and because I should be a worse enemy than friend.”
“The falcon is hidden away over yonder. He shall have wine and meat, and a fair woman to sing to him.”
“No spying upon us, Merlin. Let me play with him as I please.”
She found Fulk in a green dell on the edge of the wood, nearly a furlong from the place where the men of Sussex were camped for the night. He was sitting amid the bracken under a fir tree, ankles and wrists lashed together, his face masked by the linen swathings. Two men with bows over their knees were squatting54 on the edge of the dell, their faces half hidden by scarlet55 hoods56. Isoult guessed that Merlin had followed her, and, glancing back, she caught sight of his grey figure moving amid the trunks of the firs. He called to the two men on the edge of the dell, and they arose and left Fulk and Isoult alone together.
“Good comrade, I am to sing to the King’s brother at Merlin’s desire, but not to a man muffled57 up like a leper.”
She put her lute on the ground, and, kneeling behind him, unfastened the linen band that covered his face.
“Wrists and ankles might also be free!”
He answered her without turning his head.
She smiled from her vantage point, and, throwing the linen aside, sat down close to him among the bracken. A stone bottle of wine and a clean cloth full of bread and meat had been sent to Fulk by Father Merlin.
“Let us eat and drink, comrade; and then I will sing to you.”
He glanced at her as though he took her to be mocking him, and she remembered his helpless hands.
“I must not untie59 you, or Merlin would be suspicious. The wood is full of eyes. But my hands can serve for both of us.”
She fed him and gave him the wine to drink, and though she laughed over it a little, to Fulk it was a fool’s business, and he was shy of her eyes and hands. His grim face sought to hold her at arm’s length, though the redness of her mouth tormented60 him.
Dusk was falling, and the fir wood behind them began to grow very black against the sky. The Sussex men were lighting61 fires in the valley, and making a great uproar62 like the noise of beasts at feeding time. Isoult’s eyes grew restless, and kept watching the darkening wood.
“Fulk, shall I sing?”
“You were sent to sing.”
She reached for her lute, which lay between them.
“Merlin is a grey ghost, ready to haunt us. I must sing, for he may be listening.”
Her eyes had strangeness, mystery; they were eyes that whispered, and drew him aside into the intimate shadow of her plotting.
“Listen, and live.”
Honour is my desire.
When a kingdom is on fire.”
Her fingers leapt suddenly to a crackling and jaunty68 tune69, and she began to sing some ditty that went like a drunken horseman galloping a young horse. It was for Merlin that she sang—Merlin, whose presence she felt away yonder in the near shadows of the fir wood.
From the valley came a roaring of voices shouting the old refrain, and Isoult dashed her own empty ditty aside like a cup of bad wine:
“When Adam delved and Eve span,
Where was then the gentleman?”
“Listen,” and her chin went up scornfully. “Listen to the dogs howling! I have heard it all day.”
Fulk watched the little black figures jerking round the fires.
“Some day they shall discover the why and the wherefore,” he said.
“As for me, has my pride turned against them already? I tell you that one day has been sufficient, with the sweat and the smell of these cattle.”
“So fickle—and so soon!”
“Sometimes one sees the truth very suddenly; these unclean beasts were made for the yoke70 and the goad71.”
His eyes were ironical.
“It is true. And I was ready to tell you the truth. I—in my turn—have been tempted.”
“By Merlin?”
“Yes, and no. I’ll not tell you my story. No man yet has earned a right to that. But this much I will breathe to you. I was driven like a bird over the sea, and the hate and wrath72 in my heart were bitter against all those who called themselves of gentle blood, and whose pride was a mere ruffian’s castle. Who succoured and saved me in those evil days? A burner of charcoal73, a cook’s boy, and a harlot! They were chivalrous74 when the great ones were lustful75 and treacherous76. So I swore a feud77 against all men who carried a device upon their shields, all those who wore gilded78 spurs. Hence, many adventures and a voice that has sung to the poor.”
In the dusk under the trees her eyes held his, and from her red mouth the words came with the vehemence79 of a rhapsody. Fulk felt like the strings80 of her lute swept by the fingers of that dim hand that now rested among the bracken. The pale vehemence of her beauty called to the man in him with the clashing of cymbals81 and the wailing82 of flutes83.
He thrust his face nearer to hers, almost fiercely.
“Isoult, have a care; I am no mere boy.”
She drew in a deep breath.
“A boy? You, with that fierce mouth and eyes like a hawk’s! The naked soul of a woman calls only to the naked soul of a man. I’m not one to plead and wheedle84. What did Merlin desire? That I should debauch85 you into playing the King.”
“I guessed it.”
“And I, at first, thought of it as a great adventure, as of two falcons88 soaring together into the blue. But now I see the shine of your pride, and my pride is bright as yours.”
He felt a strange stirring of his blood.
“Well—what then?”
She thrust out her hands.
“No one will persuade you, not even Isoult of the Rose, nor will she stoop to’t. Therefore, Merlin will grow savage89, and Fulk of the Forest will lose his head.”
He smiled at her with a grim and challenging approval.
“You reason well.”
“I may reason better. The hands that helped to spread the net may unfasten it again. Look not like that. I make no bargain; my pride is as good as yours.”
“And I ask nothing—nothing of you, Isoult. But if you play this game on Merlin, you’ll suffer—where I——”
She moved closer to him, her eyes shining.
“What a stiffnecked boy it is, with a wit as stiff as a sword-blade. Why, the woman in me is three times as wise as the man in you. Merlin—ssst!—I can fool any Merlin!”
His grey face threatened her in the dusk.
“And fool me—also!”
“Easily in some ways, if I would. And yet—I could not.”
They stared at each other a moment, breathless, irreconcilable91, wondering—two proud birds hovering92 breast to breast. Desire played like summer lightning. Each saw the other’s pale face flash out of the darkness of dreams wreathed with a wreath of flame.
Fulk opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. In the wood they heard a sharp crackling of dead twigs93, and the harsh voice of a man muttering out prayers.
“Merlin!”
She sprang up, snatched her lute, and slipped away among the trees.
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收听单词发音
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1
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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2
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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3
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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4
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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5
scathing
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| adj.（言词、文章）严厉的，尖刻的；不留情的adv.严厉地，尖刻地v.伤害，损害（尤指使之枯萎）( scathe的现在分词) | |
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6
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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7
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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9
lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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10
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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11
mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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12
blight
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| n.枯萎病；造成破坏的因素；vt.破坏，摧残 | |
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13
stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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14
askew
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| adv.斜地；adj.歪斜的 | |
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15
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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16
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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17
intake
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| n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口 | |
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18
boors
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| n.农民( boor的名词复数 )；乡下佬；没礼貌的人；粗野的人 | |
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19
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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20
incipient
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| adj.起初的，发端的，初期的 | |
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21
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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22
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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23
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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24
belched
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| v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 )；喷出，吐出；打（嗝）；嗳（气） | |
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25
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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26
delved
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| v.深入探究，钻研( delve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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28
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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29
smeary
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| 弄脏的 | |
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30
comeliness
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| n. 清秀, 美丽, 合宜 | |
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31
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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32
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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33
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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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
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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36
willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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39
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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40
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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41
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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42
grassland
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| n.牧场，草地，草原 | |
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43
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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44
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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45
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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46
balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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47
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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48
sneeringly
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| 嘲笑地，轻蔑地 | |
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49
hooded
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| adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
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50
falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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51
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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52
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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53
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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54
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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55
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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56
hoods
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| n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩 | |
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57
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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59
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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60
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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61
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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62
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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63
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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64
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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65
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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66
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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patchwork
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| n.混杂物；拼缝物 | |
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68
jaunty
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| adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意 | |
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69
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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70
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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71
goad
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| n.刺棒，刺痛物；激励；vt.激励，刺激 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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charcoal
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| n.炭，木炭，生物炭 | |
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chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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lustful
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| a.贪婪的；渴望的 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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80
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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cymbals
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| pl.铙钹 | |
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82
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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83
flutes
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| 长笛( flute的名词复数 )； 细长香槟杯（形似长笛） | |
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wheedle
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| v.劝诱，哄骗 | |
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debauch
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| v.使堕落，放纵 | |
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86
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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thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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falcons
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| n.猎鹰( falcon的名词复数 ) | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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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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irreconcilable
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| adj.（指人）难和解的，势不两立的 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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