And now the well-known bow the master bore,
Turn’d on all sides, and view’d it o’er and o’er
Whilst some deriding1, “How he turns the bow!
Some other like it sure the man must know:
Or else would copy — or in bows he deals;
Perhaps he makes them, or perhaps he steals.”
The fair maiden3 approached with the half-bashful, half-important look which sits so well on a young housekeeper4, when she is at once proud and ashamed of the matronly duties she is called upon to discharge, and whispered something in her uncle’s ear.
“And could not the idle — pated boys have brought their own errand — what is it they want that they cannot ask themselves, but must send thee to beg it for them? Had it been anything reasonable, I should have heard it dinned5 into my ears by forty voices, so modest are our Swiss youths become now-a-days.” She stooped forward, and again whispered in his ear, as he fondly stroked her curling tresses with his ample hand, and replied, “The bow of Buttisholz, my dear? why the youths surely are not grown stronger since last year, when none of them could bend it? But yonder it hangs with its three arrows. Who is the wise champion that is challenger at a game where he is sure to be foiled?”
“It is this gentleman’s son, sir,” said the maiden, “who, not being able to contend with my cousins in running, leaping, hurling6 the bar, or pitching the stone, has challenged them to ride, or to shoot with the English long-bow.”
“To ride,” said the venerable Swiss, were difficult, where there are no horses, and no level ground to career upon if there were. But an English bow he shall have, since we happen to possess one. Take it to the young men, my niece, with the three arrows, and say to them from me, that he who bends it will do more than William Tell, or the renowned7 Stauffacher, could have done.”
As the maiden went to take the weapon from the place where it hung amid the group of arms which Philipson had formerly8 remarked, the English merchant observed, “that were the minstrels of his land to assign her occupation, so fair a maiden should be bow-bearer to none but the little blind god Cupid.”
“I will have nothing of the blind god Cupid,” said Arnold, hastily, yet half laughing at the same time; “we have been deafened9 with the foolery of minstrels and strolling minnesingers, ever since the wandering knaves10 have found there were pence to be gathered among us. A Swiss maiden should only sing Albert Ischudi’s ballads11, or the merry lay of the going out and return of the cows to and from the mountain pastures.”
While he spoke12, the damsel had selected from the arms a bow of extraordinary strength, considerably13 above six feet in length, with three shafts14 of a cloth-yard long. Philipson asked to look at the weapons, and examined them closely. “It is a tough piece of yew,” he said. “I should know it, since I have dealt in such commodities in my time; but when I was of Arthur’s age I could have bent15 it as easily as a boy bends a willow16.”
“We are too old to boast like boys,” said Arnold Biederman, with something of a reproving glance at his companion. “Carry the bow to thy kinsmen17, Anne, and let him who can bend it say he beat Arnold Biederman.” As he spoke, he turned his eyes on the spare, yet muscular figure of the Englishman, then again glanced down on his own stately person.
“You must remember, good my host,” said Philipson, “that Weapons are wielded18 not by strength, but by art and sleight19 of hand. What most I wonder at, is to see in this place a bow made by Matthew of Doncaster, a bowyer who lived at least a hundred years ago, remarkable20 for the great toughness and strength of the weapons which he made, and which are now become somewhat unmanageable, even by an English yeoman.”
“How are you assured of the maker’s name, worthy21 guest?” replied the Swiss.
“By old Matthew’s mark,” answered the Englishman, “and his initials cut upon the bow. I wonder not a little to find such a weapon here, and in such good preservation22.”
“It has been regularly waxed, oiled, and kept in good order,” said the Landamman, “being preserved as a trophy23 of a memorable24 day. It would but grieve you to recount its early history, since it was taken in a day fatal to your country.”
“My country,” said the Englishman composedly, “has gained so many victories, that her children may well afford to hear of a single defeat. But I knew not that the English ever warred in Switzerland.”
“Not precisely26 as a nation,” answered Biederman; “but it was in my grandsire’s days, that a large body of roving soldiers, composed of men from almost all countries, but especially Englishmen, Normans, and Gascons, poured down on the Argau, and the districts adjacent. They were headed by a great warrior27 called Ingelram de Couci, who pretended some claims upon the Duke of Austria; to satisfy which he ravaged28 indifferently the Austrian territory and that of our confederacy. His soldiers were hired warriors29 — Free Companions they called themselves — that seemed to belong to no country, and were as brave in the fight as they were cruel in their depredations30. Some pause in the constant wars betwixt France and England had deprived many of those bands of their ordinary employment, and battle being their element, they came to seek it among our valleys. The air seemed on fire with the blaze of their armor, and the very sun was darkened at the flight of their arrows. They did us much evil, and we sustained the loss of more than one battle. But we met them at Buttisholz, and mingled31 the blood of many a rider (noble as they were called and esteemed) with that of their horses. The huge mound33 that covers the bones of man and steed is still called the English Barrow.”
Philipson was silent for a minute or two, and then replied, “Then let them sleep in peace. If they did wrong, they paid for it with their lives; and that is all the ransom34 that mortal man can render for his transgressions35. — Heaven pardon their souls!”
“Amen,” replied the Landamman, “and those of all brave men! — My grandsire was at the battle, and was held to have demeaned himself like a good soldier; and this bow has been ever since carefully preserved in our family. There is a prophecy about it, but I hold it not worthy of remark.”
Philipson was about to inquire farther, but was interrupted by a loud cry of surprise and astonishment36 from without.
“I must out,” said Biederman, “and see what these wild lads are doing. It is not now as formerly in thk land, when the young dared not judge for themselves, till the old man’s voice had been heard.”
He went forth37 from the lodge38, followed by his guest. The company who had witnessed the games were all talking, shouting, and disputing in the same breath; while Arthur Philipson stood a little apart from the rest, leaning on the unbent bow with apparent indifference39. At the sight of the Landamman all were silent.
“What means this unwonted clamor?” he said, raising a voice to which all were accustomed to listen with reverence40. — “Rudiger,” addressing the eldest41 of his sons, “has the young stranger bent the bow?”
“He has, father,” said Rudiger “and he has hit the mark. Three such shots were never shot by William Tell.”
“It was chance — pure chance,” said the young Swiss from Berne. No human skill could have done it, much less a puny42 lad, baffled in all besides that he attempted among us.”
“But what has been done?” said the Landamman. — “Nay43, speak not all at once! — Anne of Geierstein, thou hast more sense and breeding than these boys — tell me how the game has gone.” The maiden seemed a little confused at this appeal, but answered with a composed and downcast look — “The mark was, as usual, a pigeon to a pole. All the young men, except the stranger, had practised at it with the cross-bow and long-bow without hitting it. When I brought out the bow of Buttisholz, I offered it first to my kinsmen. None would accept of it, saying, respected uncle, that a task too great for you, must be far too difficult for them.”
“They said well,” answered Arnold Biederman; “and the stranger, did he string the bow?”
“He did, my uncle; but first he wrote something on a piece of paper, and placed it in my hands.”
“And did he shoot and hit the mark?” continued the surprised Switzer.
“He first,” said the maiden, “removed the pole a hundred yards farther than the post where it stood.”
“Singular!” said the Landamman, “that is double the usual distance.”
“He then drew the bow,” continued the maiden, “and shot off, one after another, with incredible rapidity, the three arrows which he had stuck into his belt. The first cleft44 the pole, the second cut the string, the third killed the poor bird as it rose into the air.”
“By Saint Mary of Einsiedlen,” said the old man, looking up in amaze, “if your eyes really saw this, they saw such archery as was never before witnessed in the Forest States!”
“I say nay to that, my revered46 kinsman,” replied Rudolph Donnerhugel, whose vexation was apparent; “it was mere47 chance, if not illusion or witchery.”
“What say’st thou of it thyself, Arthur?” said his father, half smiling; “was thy success by chance or skill?”
“My father,” said the young man, “I need not tell you that I have done but an ordinary feat25 for an English bowman. Nor do I speak to gratify that misproud and ignorant young man. But to our worthy host and his family I make answer. This youth charges me with having deluded48 men’s eyes, or hit the mark by chance. For illusion, yonder is the pierced pole, the severed49 string, and the slain50 bird, they will endure sight and handling; and, besides, if that fair maiden will open the note which I put into her hand, she will find evidence to assure you that even before I drew the bow I had fixed51 upon the three marks which I designed to aim at.”
“Produce the scroll52, good niece,” said her uncle, “and end the controversy53.”
“Nay, under your favor, my worthy host,” said Arthur, “it is but some foolish rhymes addressed to the maiden’s own eye.”
“And under your favor, sir,” said the Landamman, “whatsoever is fit for my niece’s eyes may greet my ears.”
He took the scroll from the maiden, who blushed deeply when she resigned it. The character in which it was written was so fine, that the Landamman in surprise exclaimed, “No clerk of Saint Gall54 could have written more fairly. Strange,” he again repeated, “that a band which could draw so true a bow, should have the cunning to form characters so fair.” He then exclaimed anew, “Ha! verses, by Our Lady! What, have we minstrels disguised as traders?” He then opened the scroll, and read the following lines : —
If I hit mast, and line, and bird,
An English archer45 keeps his word.
Ah maiden, didst thou aim at me,
A single glance were worth the three.
“Here is rare rhyming, my worthy guest,” said the Landamman shaking his head; “fine words to make foolish maidens55 fain. But do not excuse it; it is your country fashion, and we know how to treat it as such.” And without farther allusion56 to the concluding couplet, the reading of which threw the poet, as well as the object of the verses, into some discomposure, he added gravely, “You must now allow Rudolph Donnerhugel, that the stranger has fairly attained57 the three marks which he proposed to himself.”
“That he has attained them is plain,” answered the party to whom the appeal was made; “but that he has done this fairly may be doubted, if there are such things as witchery and magic in this world. ”
Shame, shame, Rudolph!” said the Landamman, “can spleen and envy have weight with so brave a man as you, from whom my sons ought to learn temperance, forbearance, and candor58, as well as manly59 courage and dexterity60?”
The Bernese colored hige under this rebuke61 to which he ventured not to attempt a reply.
“ To your sports till sunset, my children,” continued Arnold; “while I and my worthy friend occupy our time with a walk for which the evening is now favorable.”
Methinks,” said the English merchant, “I should like to visit the ruins of yonder castle, situated62 by the waterfall. There is something of melancholy63 dignity in such a scene which reconciles us to the misfortunes of our own time, by showing that our ancestors, who were perhaps more intelligent or more powerful, have nevertheless, in their days, encountered cares and distresses64 similar to those which we now groan65 under.”
“Have with you, my worthy sir,” replied his host; “there will be time also upon the road to talk of things that you should know.”
The slow step of the two elderly men carried them by degrees from the limits of the lawn, where shout, and laugh, aud halloo, were again revived. Young Philipson, whose success as an archer had obliterated66 all recollection of former failure, made other attempts to mingle32 in the manly pastimes of the country, and gained a considerable portion of applause. The young men who had but lately been so ready to join in ridiculing67 him, now began to consider him as a person to be looked up and appealed to; while Rudolph Donnerhugel saw with resentment68 that he was no longer without a rival in the opinion of his male cousins, perhaps of his kinswoman also. The proud young Swiss reflected with bitterness that he had fallen under the Landamman’s displeasure, declined in reputation with his companions, of whom he had been hitherto the leader, and even hazarded a more mortifying69 disappointment, all, as his swelling70 heart expressed it, through the means of a stranger stripling, of neither blood nor fame, who could not step from one rock to another without the encouragement of a girl.
In this irritated mood, he drew near the young Englishman, and while he seemed to address him on the chances of the sports which were still proceeding71, he conveyed, in a whisper, matter of a far different tendency. Striking Arthur’s shoulder with the frank bluntness of a mountaineer, he said aloud:
“Yonder bolt of Ernest whistled through the air like a falcon72 when she stoops down the wind!” And then proceeded in a deep low voice, “You merchants sell gloves — do you ever deal in single gauntlets, or only in pairs?”
“I sell no single glove,” said Arthur, instantly apprehending73 him, and sufficiently74 disposed to resent the scornful looks of the Bernese champion during the time of their meal, and his having but lately imputed75 his successful shooting to chance or sorcery, — “I sell no single glove, sir, but never refuse to exchange one.”
“You are apt, I see,” said Rudolph; “look at the players while I speak, or our purpose will be suspected — You are quicker, I say, of apprehension76 than I expected. If we exchange our gloves, how shall each redeem77 his own?”
With our good swords,” said Arthur Philipson.
“In armor, or as we stand?”
“Even as we stand,” said Arthur. “I have no better garment of proof than this doublet — no other weapon than my sword; and these, Sir Switzer, I hold enough for the purpose. — “Name time and place.”
“The old castle-court at Geierstein,” replied Rudolph; “the time sunrise; — but we are watched. I have lost my wager78, stranger,” he added, speaking aloud, and in an indifferent tone of voice, “since Ulrick has made a cast beyond Ernest. — There is my glove, in token I shall not forget the flask79 of wine.”
“And there is mine,” said Arthur, “in token I will drink it with you merrily.”
Thus, amid the peaceful though rough sports of their companions, did these two hot-headed youths contrive80 to indulge their hostile inclinations81 towards each other, by settling a meeting of deadly purpose.
收听单词发音 |
1
deriding
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| v.取笑，嘲笑( deride的现在分词 ) | |
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2
odyssey
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| n.长途冒险旅行；一连串的冒险 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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5
dinned
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| vt.喧闹（din的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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6
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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7
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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8
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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9
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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ballads
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| 民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴 | |
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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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13
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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14
shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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15
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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kinsmen
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| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
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wielded
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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sleight
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| n.技巧，花招 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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21
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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24
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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25
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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26
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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depredations
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| n.劫掠，毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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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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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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transgressions
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| n.违反，违法，罪过( transgression的名词复数 ) | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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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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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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gall
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| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
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55
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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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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distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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67
ridiculing
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的现在分词 ) | |
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68
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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69
mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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70
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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71
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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72
falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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73
apprehending
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的现在分词 )； 理解 | |
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74
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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75
imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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77
redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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78
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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79
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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80
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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81
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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