Author's Introduction The scene of this romance is laid in the fifteenth century, when the feudal system, which had been the sinews and nerves of national defence, and the spirit of chivalry, by which, as by a vivifying soul, that system was animated, began to be innovated upon and abandoned by those grosser characters who centred their sum of happiness in procuring the personal objects on which they had fixed their own exclusive attachment. The same egotism had indeed displayed itself even in more primitive ages; but it was now for the first time openly avowed as a professed principle of action. The spirit of chivalry had in it this point of excellence, that, however overstrained and fantastic many of its doctrines may appear to us, they were all founded on generosity and self denial, of which, if the earth were deprived, it would be difficult to conceive the existence of virtue among the human race. Among those who were the first to ridicule and abandon the self denying principles in which the young knight was instructed and to which he was so carefully trained up, Louis XI of France was the chief. That sovereign was of a character so purely selfish -- so guiltless of entertaining any purpose unconnected with his ambition, covetousness, and desire of selfish enjoyment -- that he almost seems an incarnation of the devil himself, permitted to do his utmost to corrupt our ideas of honour in its very source. Nor is it to be forgotten that Louis possessed to a great extent that caustic wit which can turn into ridicule all that a man does for any other person's advantage but his own, and was, therefore, peculiarly qualified to play the part of a cold hearted and sneering fiend. The cruelties, the perjuries, the suspicions of this prince, were rendered more detestable, rather than amended, by the gross and debasing superstition which he constantly practised. The devotion to the heavenly saints, of which he made such a parade, was upon the miserable principle of some petty deputy in office, who endeavours to hide or atone for the malversations of which he is conscious by liberal gifts to those whose duty it is to observe his conduct, and endeavours to support a system of fraud by an attempt to corrupt the incorruptible. In no other light can we regard his creating the Virgin Mary a countess and colonel of his guards, or the cunning that admitted to one or two peculiar forms of oath the force of a binding obligation which he denied to all other, strictly preserving the secret, which mode of swearing he really accounted obligatory, as one of the most valuable of state mysteries. To a total want of scruple, or, it would appear, of any sense whatever of moral obligation, Louis XI added great natural firmness and sagacity of character, with a system of policy so highly refined, considering the times he lived in, that he sometimes overreached himself by giving way to its dictates. Probably there is no portrait so dark as to be without its softer shades. He understood the interests of France, and faithfully pursued them so long as he could identify them with his own. He carried the country safe through the dangerous crisis of the war termed "for the public good;" in thus disuniting and dispersing this grand and dangerous alliance of the great crown vassals of France against the Sovereign, a king of a less cautious and temporizing character, and of a more bold and less crafty disposition than Louis XI, would, in all probability, have failed. Louis had also some personal accomplishments not inconsistent with his public character. He was cheerful and witty in society; and none was better able to sustain and extol the superiority of the coarse and selfish reasons by which he endeavoured to supply those nobler motives for exertion which his predecessors had derived from the high spirit of chivalry. In fact, that system was now becoming ancient, and had, even while in its perfection, something so overstrained and fantastic in its principles, as rendered it peculiarly the object of ridicule, whenever, like other old fashions, it began to fall out of repute; and the weapons of raillery could be employed against it, without exciting the disgust and horror with which they would have been rejected at an early period, as a species of blasphemy. The principles of chivalry were cast aside, and their aid supplied by baser stimulants. Instead of the high spirit which pressed every man forward in the defence of his country, Louis XI substituted the exertions of the ever ready mercenary soldier, and persuaded his subjects, among whom the mercantile class began to make a figure, that it was better to leave to mercenaries the risks and labours of war, and to supply the Crown with the means of paying them, than to peril themselves in defence of their own substance. The merchants were easily persuaded by this reasoning. The hour did not arrive in the days of Louis XI when the landed gentry and nobles could be in like manner excluded from the ranks of war; but the wily monarch commenced that system, which, acted upon by his successors, at length threw the whole military defence of the state into the hands of the Crown. He was equally forward in altering the principles which were wont to regulate the intercourse of the sexes. The doctrines of chivalry had established, in theory at least, a system in which Beauty was the governing and remunerating divinity -- Valour, her slave, who caught his courage from her eye and gave his life for her slightest service. It is true, the system here, as in other branches, was stretched to fantastic extravagance, and cases of scandal not unfrequently arose. Still, they were generally such as those mentioned by Burke, where frailty was deprived of half its guilt, by being purified from all its grossness. In Louis XI's practice, it was far otherwise. He was a low voluptuary, seeking pleasure without sentiment, and despising the sex from whom he desired to obtain it. ... By selecting his favourites and ministers from among the dregs of the people, Louis showed the slight regard which he paid to eminent station and high birth; and although this might be not only excusable but meritorious, where the monarch's fiat promoted obscure talent, or called forth modest worth, it was very different when the King made his favourite associates of such men as the chief of his police, Tristan l'Hermite. . Nor were Louis's sayings and actions in private or public of a kind which could redeem such gross offences against the character of a man of honour. His word, generally accounted the most sacred test of a man's character, and the least impeachment of which is a capital offence by the code of honour, was forfeited without scruple on the slightest occasion, and often accompanied by the perpetration of the most enormous crimes ... It is more than probable that, in thus renouncing almost openly the ties of religion, honour, and morality, by which mankind at large feel themselves influenced, Louis sought to obtain great advantages in his negotiations with parties who might esteem themselves bound, while he himself enjoyed liberty. He started from the goal, he might suppose, like the racer who has got rid of the weights with which his competitors are still encumbered, and expects to succeed of course. But Providence seems always to unite the existence of peculiar danger with some circumstance which may put those exposed to the peril upon their guard. The constant suspicion attached to any public person who becomes badly eminent for breach of faith is to him what the rattle is to the poisonous serpent: and men come at last to calculate not so much on what their antagonist says as upon that which he is likely to do; a degree of mistrust which tends to counteract the intrigues of such a character, more than his freedom from the scruples of conscientious men can afford him advantage. . Indeed, although the reign of Louis had been as successful in a political point of view as he himself could have desired, the spectacle of his deathbed might of itself be a warning piece against the seduction of his example. Jealous of every one, but chiefly of his own son, he immured himself in his Castle of Plessis, intrusting his person exclusively to the doubtful faith of his Scottish mercenaries. He never stirred from his chamber; he admitted no one into it, and wearied heaven and every saint with prayers, not for forgiveness of his sins, but for the prolongation of his life. With a poverty of spirit totally inconsistent with his shrewd worldly sagacity, he importuned his physicians until they insulted as well as plundered him. . It was not the least singular circumstance of this course, that bodily health and terrestrial felicity seemed to be his only object. Making any mention of his sins when talking on the state of his health, was strictly prohibited; and when at his command a priest recited a prayer to Saint Eutropius in which he recommended the King's welfare both in body and soul, Louis caused the two last words to be omitted, saying it was not prudent to importune the blessed saint by too many requests at once. Perhaps he thought by being silent on his crimes he might suffer them to pass out of the recollection of the celestial patrons, whose aid he invoked for his body. So great were the well merited tortures of this tyrant's deathbed, that Philip de Comines enters into a regular comparison between them and the numerous cruelties inflicted on others by his order; and considering both, comes to express an opinion that the worldly pangs and agony suffered by Louis were such as might compensate the crimes he had committed, and that, after a reasonable quarantine in purgatory, he might in mercy he found duly qualified for the superior regions ... The instructive but appalling scene of this tyrant's sufferings was at length closed by death, 30th August, 1483. The selection of this remarkable person as the principal character in the romance -- for it will be easily comprehended that the little love intrigue of Quentin is only employed as the means of bringing out the story -- afforded considerable facilities to the author. In Louis XI's time, extraordinary commotions existed throughout all Europe. England's Civil Wars were ended, rather in appearance than reality, by the short lived ascendancy of the House of York. Switzerland was asserting that freedom which was afterwards so bravely defended. In the Empire and in France, the great vassals of the crown were endeavouring to emancipate themselves from its control, while Charles of Burgundy by main force, and Louis more artfully by indirect means, laboured to subject them to subservience to their respective sovereignties. Louis, while with one hand he circumvented and subdued his own rebellious vassals, laboured secretly with the other to aid and encourage the large trading towns of Flanders to rebel against the Duke of Burgundy, to which their wealth and irritability naturally disposed them. In the more woodland districts of Flanders, the Duke of Gueldres, and William de la Marck, called from his ferocity the Wild Boar of Ardennes, were throwing off the habits of knights and gentlemen to practise the violences and brutalities of common bandits. (Chapter I gives a further account of the conditions of the period which Quentin Durward portrays.) A hundred secret combinations existed in the different provinces of France and Flanders; numerous private emissaries of the restless Louis, Bohemians, pilgrims, beggars, or agents disguised as such, were everywhere spreading the discontent which it was his policy to maintain in the dominions of Burgundy. Amidst so great an abundance of materials, it was difficult to select such as should be most intelligible and interesting to the reader: and the author had to regret, that though he made liberal use of the power of departing from the reality of history, he felt by no means confident of having brought his story into a pleasing, compact, and sufficiently intelligible form. The mainspring of the plot is that which all who know the least of the feudal system can easily understand, though the facts are absolutely fictitious. The right of a feudal superior was in nothing more universally acknowledged than in his power to interfere in the marriage of a female vassal. This may appear to exist as a contradiction both of the civil and canon laws, which declare that marriage shall be free, while the feudal or municipal jurisprudence, in case of a fief passing to a female, acknowledges an interest in the superior of the fief to dictate the choice of her companion in marriage. This is accounted for on the principle that the superior was, by his bounty, the original granter of the fief, and is still interested that the marriage of the vassal shall place no one there who may be inimical to his liege lord. On the other hand, it might be reasonably pleaded that this right of dictating to the vassal to a certain extent in the choice of a husband, is only competent to the superior from whom the fief is originally derived. There is therefore no violent improbability in a vassal of Burgundy flying to the protection of the King of France, to whom the Duke of Burgundy himself was vassal; not is it a great stretch of probability to affirm that Louis, unscrupulous as he was, should have formed the design of betraying the fugitive into some alliance which might prove inconvenient, if not dangerous, to his formidable kinsman and vassal of Burgundy. (Some of these departures from historical accuracy, as when the death of the Bishop of Liege is antedated, are duly set forth in the notes. It should be mentioned that Mr. J. F. Kirk, in his elaborate History of Charles the Bold, claims that in some points injustice has been done to the Duke in this romance. He says: "The faults of Charles were sufficiently glaring, and scarcely admitted of exaggeration; but his breeding had been that of a prince, his education had been better than that of other princes of his time, his tastes and habits were more, not less, refined than theirs, and the restraint he imposed upon his sensual appetites was as conspicuous a trait as his sternness and violence.") Abbotsford, 1830. Quentin Durward was published in June, 1823, and was Scott's first venture on foreign ground. While well received at home, the sensation it created in Paris was comparable to that caused by the appearance of Waverley in Edinburgh and Ivanhoe in London. In Germany also, where the author was already popular, the new novel had a specially enthusiastic welcome. The scene of the romance was partly suggested by a journal kept by Sir Walter's dear friend, Mr. James Skene of Rubislaw, during a French tour, the diary being illustrated by a vast number of clever drawings. The author, in telling this tale laid in unfamiliar scenes, encountered difficulties of a kind quite new to him, as it necessitated much study of maps, gazetteers, and books of travel. For the history, he naturally found above all else the Memoirs of Philip de Comines "the very key of the period," though it need not be said that the lesser chroniclers received due attention. It is interesting to note that in writing to his friend, Daniel Terry, the actor and manager, Scott says, "I have no idea my present labours will be dramatic in situation; as to character, that of Louis XI, the sagacious, perfidious, superstitious, jocular, politic tyrant, would be, for a historical chronicle containing his life and death, one of the most powerful ever brought on the stage." So thought the poet, Casimir Delavigne -- writing when Scott's influence was marked upon French literature -- whose powerful drama, Louis XI, was a great Parisian success. Later Charles Kean and Henry Irving made an English version of it well known in England and America. Chapter 1 The Contrast Look here upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. HAMLET The latter part of the fifteenth century prepared a train of future events that ended by raising France to that state of formidable power which has ever since been from time to time the principal object of jealousy to the other European nations. Before that period she had to struggle for her very existence with the English already possessed of her fairest provinces while the utmost exertions of her King, and the gallantry of her people, could scarcely protect the remainder from a foreign yoke. Nor was this her sole danger. The princes who possessed the grand fiefs of the crown, and, in particular, the Dukes of Burgundy and Bretagne, had come to wear their feudal bonds so lightly that they had no scruple in lifting the standard against their liege and sovereign lord, the King of France, on the slightest pretence. When at peace, they reigned as absolute princes in their own provinces; and the House of Burgundy, possessed of the district so called, together with the fairest and richest part of Flanders, was itself so wealthy, and so powerful, as to yield nothing to the crown, either in splendour or in strength. In imitation of the grand feudatories, each inferior vassal of the crown assumed as much independence as his distance from the sovereign power, the extent of his fief, or the strength of his chateau enabled him to maintain; and these petty tyrants, no longer amenable to the exercise of the law, perpetrated with impunity the wildest excesses of fantastic oppression and cruelty. In Auvergne alone, a report was made of more than three hundred of these independent nobles, to whom incest, murder, and rapine were the most ordinary and familiar actions. Besides these evils, another, springing out of the long continued wars betwixt the French and English, added no small misery to this distracted kingdom. Numerous bodies of soldiers, collected into bands, under officers chosen by themselves, from among the bravest and most successful adventurers, had been formed in various parts of France out of the refuse of all other countries. These hireling combatants sold their swords for a time to the best bidder; and, when such service was not to be had, they made war on their own account, seizing castles and towers, which they used as the places of their retreat, making prisoners, and ransoming them, exacting tribute from the open villages and the country around them -- and acquiring, by every species of rapine, the appropriate epithets of Tondeurs and Ecorcheurs, that is, Clippers and Flayers. In the midst of the horrors and miseries arising from so distracted a state of public affairs, reckless and profuse expense distinguished the courts of the lesser nobles, as well as of the superior princes; and their dependents, in imitation, expended in rude but magnificent display the wealth which they extorted from the people. A tone of romantic and chivalrous gallantry (which, however, was often disgraced by unbounded license) characterized the intercourse between the sexes; and the language of knight errantry was yet used, and its observances followed, though the pure spirit of honourable love and benevolent enterprise which it inculcates had ceased to qualify and atone for its extravagances. The jousts and tournaments, the entertainments and revels, which each petty court displayed, invited to France every wandering adventurer; and it was seldom that, when arrived there, he failed to employ his rash courage, and headlong spirit of enterprise, in actions for which his happier native country afforded no free stage. At this period, and as if to save this fair realm from the various woes with which it was menaced, the tottering throne was ascended by Louis XI, whose character, evil as it was in itself, met, combated, and in a great degree neutralized the mischiefs of the time -- as poisons of opposing qualities are said, in ancient books of medicine, to have the power of counteracting each other. Brave enough for every useful and political purpose, Louis had not a spark of that romantic valour, or of the pride generally associated with it, which fought on for the point of honour, when the point of utility had been long gained. Calm, crafty, and profoundly attentive to his own interest, he made every sacrifice, both of pride and passion, which could interfere with it. He was careful in disguising his real sentiments and purposes from all who approached him, and frequently used the expressions, "that the king knew not how to reign, who knew not how to dissemble; and that, for himself, if he thought his very cap knew his secrets, he would throw it into the fire." No man of his own, or of any other time, better understood how to avail himself of the frailties of others, and when to avoid giving any advantage by the untimely indulgence of his own. He was by nature vindictive and cruel, even to the extent of finding pleasure in the frequent executions which he commanded. But, as no touch of mercy ever induced him to spare, when he could with safety condemn, so no sentiment of vengeance ever stimulated him to a premature violence. He seldom sprang on his prey till it was fairly within his grasp, and till all hope of rescue was vain; and his movements were so studiously disguised, that his success was generally what first announced to the world the object he had been manoeuvring to attain. In like manner, the avarice of Louis gave way to apparent profusion, when it was necessary to bribe the favourite or minister of a rival prince for averting any impending attack, or to break up any alliance confederated against him. He was fond of license and pleasure; but neither beauty nor the chase, though both were ruling passions, ever withdrew him from the most regular attendance to public business and the affairs of his kingdom. His knowledge of mankind was profound, and he had sought it in the private walks of life, in which he often personally mingled; and, though naturally proud and haughty, he hesitated not, with an inattention to the arbitrary divisions of society which was then thought something portentously unnatural, to raise from the lowest rank men whom he employed on the most important duties, and knew so well how to choose them, that he was rarely disappointed in their qualities. Yet there were contradictions in the character of this artful and able monarch; for human nature is rarely uniform. Himself the most false and insincere of mankind, some of the greatest errors of his life arose from too rash a confidence in the honour and integrity of others. When these errors took place, they seem to have arisen from an over refined system of policy, which induced Louis to assume the appearance of undoubting confidence in those whom it was his object to overreach; for, in his general conduct, he was as jealous and suspicious as any tyrant who ever breathed. Two other points may be noticed to complete the sketch of this formidable character, by which he rose among the rude, chivalrous sovereigns of the period to the rank of a keeper among wild beasts, who, by superior wisdom and policy, by distribution of food, and some discipline by blows, comes finally to predominate over those who, if unsubjected by his arts, would by main strength have torn him to pieces. The first of these attributes was Louis's excessive superstition, a plague with which Heaven often afflicts those who refuse to listen to the dictates of religion. The remorse arising from his evil actions Louis never endeavoured to appease by any relaxation in his Machiavellian stratagems (on account of the alleged political immorality of Machiavelli, an illustrious Italian of the sixteenth century, this expression has come to mean "destitute of political morality; habitually using duplicity and bad faith." Cent. Dict.), but laboured in vain to soothe and silence that painful feeling by superstitious observances, severe penance, and profuse gifts to the ecclesiastics. The second property, with which the first is sometimes found strangely united, was a disposition to low pleasures and obscure debauchery. The wisest, or at least the most crafty sovereign of his time, he was fond of low life, and, being himself a man of wit, enjoyed the jests and repartees of social conversation more than could have been expected from other points of his character. He even mingled in the comic adventures of obscure intrigue, with a freedom little consistent with the habitual and guarded jealousy of his character, and he was so fond of this species of humble gallantry, that he caused a number of its gay and licentious anecdotes to be enrolled in a collection well known to book collectors, in whose eyes (and the work is unfit for any other) the right edition is very precious. (This editio princeps, which, when in good preservation, is much sought after by connoisseurs, is entitled Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles, contenant Cent Histoires Nouveaux, qui sont moult plaisans a raconter en toutes bonnes compagnies par maniere de joyeuxete. Paris, Antoine Verard. Sans date d'annee d'impression; en folio gotique. See De Bure. S) By means of this monarch's powerful and prudent, though most unamiable character, it pleased Heaven, who works by the tempest as well as by the soft, small rain, to restore to the great French nation the benefits of civil government, which, at the time of his accession, they had nearly lost. Ere he succeeded to the crown, Louis had given evidence of his vices rather than of his talents. His first wife, Margaret of Scotland, was "done to death by slanderous tongues" in her husband's court, where, but for the encouragement of Louis himself, not a word would have been breathed against that amiable and injured princess. He had been an ungrateful and a rebellious son, at one time conspiring to seize his father's person, and at another levying open war against him. For the first offence, he was banished to his appanage of Dauphine, which he governed with much sagacity; for the second he was driven into absolute exile, and forced to throw himself on the mercy, and almost on the charity, of the Duke of Burgundy and his son; where he enjoyed hospitality, afterwards indifferently requited, until the death of his father in 1461. In the very outset of his reign, Louis was almost overpowered by a league formed against him by the great vassals of France, with the Duke of Burgundy, or rather his son, the Count de Charalois, at its head. They levied a powerful army, blockaded Paris, fought a battle of doubtful issue under its very walls, and placed the French monarchy on the brink of actual destruction. It usually happens in such cases, that the more sagacious general of the two gains the real fruit, though perhaps not the martial fame, of the disputed field. Louis, who had shown great personal bravery during the battle of Montl'hery, was able, by his prudence, to avail himself of its undecided character, as if it had been a victory on his side. He temporized until the enemy had broken up their leaguer, and showed so much dexterity in sowing jealousies among those great powers, that their alliance "for the public weal," as they termed it, but in reality for the overthrow of all but the external appearance of the French monarchy, dissolved itself, and was never again renewed in a manner so formidable. From this period, Louis, relieved of all danger from England by the Civil Wars of York and Lancaster, was engaged for several years, like an unfeeling but able physician, in curing the wounds of the body politic, or rather in stopping, now by gentle remedies, now by the use of fire and steel, the progress of those mortal gangrenes with which it was then infected. The brigandage of the Free Companies (troops that acknowledged no authority except that of their leaders, and who hired themselves out at will), and the unpunished oppression of the nobility, he laboured to lessen, since he could not actually stop them; and, by dint of unrelaxed attention, he gradually gained some addition to his own regal authority, or effected some diminution of those by whom it was counterbalanced. Still the King of France was surrounded by doubt and danger. The members of the league "for the public weal," though not in unison, were in existence, and, like a scotched snake (see Macbeth. III, ii, 13, "We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it."), might reunite and become dangerous again. But a worse danger was the increasing power of the Duke of Burgundy, then one of the greatest princes of Europe, and little diminished in rank by the very slight dependence of his duchy upon the crown of France. Charles, surnamed the Bold, or rather, the Audacious, for his courage was allied to rashness and frenzy, then wore the ducal coronet of Burgundy, which he burned to convert into a royal and independent regal crown. The character of this Duke was in every respect the direct contrast to that of Louis XI. The latter was calm, deliberate, and crafty, never prosecuting a desperate enterprise, and never abandoning one likely to be successful, however distant the prospect. The genius of the Duke was entirely different. He rushed on danger because he loved it, and on difficulties because he despised them. As Louis never sacrificed his interest to his passion, so Charles, on the other hand, never sacrificed his passion, or even his humour, to any other consideration. Notwithstanding the near relationship that existed between them, and the support which the Duke and his father had afforded to Louis in his exile when Dauphin, there was mutual contempt and hatred betwixt them. The Duke of Burgundy despised the cautious policy of the King, and imputed to the faintness of his courage that he sought by leagues, purchases, and other indirect means those advantages which, in his place, the Duke would have snatched with an armed hand. He likewise hated the King, not only for the ingratitude he had manifested for former kindnesses, and for personal injuries and imputations which the ambassadors of Louis had cast upon him, when his father was yet alive, but also, and especially, because of the support which he afforded in secret to the discontented citizens of Ghent, Liege, and other great towns in Flanders. These turbulent cities, jealous of their privileges, and proud of their wealth, were frequently in a state of insurrection against their liege lords, the Dukes of Burgundy, and never failed to find underhand countenance at the court of Louis, who embraced every opportunity of fomenting disturbance within the dominions of his overgrown vassal. The contempt and hatred of the Duke were retaliated by Louis with equal energy, though he used a thicker veil to conceal his sentiments. It was impossible for a man of his profound sagacity not to despise the stubborn obstinacy which never resigned its purpose, however fatal perseverance might prove, and the headlong impetuosity which commenced its career without allowing a moment's consideration for the obstacles to be encountered. Yet the King hated Charles even more than he contemned him, and his scorn and hatred were the more intense, that they were mingled with fear; for he know that the onset of the mad bull, to whom he likened the Duke of Burgundy, must ever be formidable, though the animal makes it with shut eyes. It was not alone the wealth of the Burgundian provinces, the discipline of the warlike inhabitants, and the mass of their crowded population, which the King dreaded, for the personal qualities of their leader had also much in them that was dangerous. The very soul of bravery, which he pushed to the verge of rashness, and beyond it -- profuse in expenditure -- splendid in his court, his person, and his retinue, in all which he displayed the hereditary magnificence of the house of Burgundy, Charles the Bold drew into his service almost all the fiery spirits of the age whose tempers were congenial; and Louis saw too clearly what might be attempted and executed by such a train of resolute adventurers, following a leader of a character as ungovernable as their own. There was yet another circumstance which increased the animosity of Louis towards his overgrown vassal; he owed him favours which he never meant to repay, and was under the frequent necessity of temporizing with him, and even of enduring bursts of petulant insolence, injurious to the regal dignity, without being able to treat him otherwise than as his "fair cousin of Burgundy." It was about the year 1468, when their feuds were at the highest, though a dubious and hollow truce, as frequently happened, existed for the time betwixt them, that the present narrative opens. The person first introduced on the stage will be found indeed to be of a rank and condition, the illustration of whose character scarcely called for a dissertation on the relative position of two great princes; but the passions of the great, their quarrels, and their reconciliations involve the fortunes of all who approach them; and it will be found, on proceeding farther in our story, that this preliminary chapter is necessary for comprehending the history of the individual whose adventures we are about to relate. 请看这幅画像吧,再请看这幅, 这是两个兄弟的逼真写照。 《哈姆雷特》 十五世纪后半叶酝酿了一系列对未来有影响的事件,结果使法国上升到一种实力可畏的地位。自那以后这地位往往是欧洲国家的主要嫉妒对象。但在这之前,法国不得不为其自身的生存与占领了它最美好的省份的英国人进行斗争。但是,尽管国王尽了最大努力,人民进行了英勇抵抗,也难以使剩下的国土免遭异族的蹂躏。何况这还不是它惟一的危难!占有大片王室领土的各个亲王——特别是勃艮第公爵和布列坦尼公爵——如此随便地对待其封建臣属关系,以致他们常以最小的借口毫无顾忌地打起旗号来反对君主——法国国王。在和平时期,他们各自为政,称霸一方。勃艮第家族除占有名为勃艮第的地区以外,还占有弗兰德最美丽、最富饶的部分。它是如此的富贵和豪强,以致无论是讲排场还是讲实力都丝毫不逊于法国国王。 国王底下的一些小的藩属也效仿大的封建领主,按其距君主权力的远近、领地的大小或城堡实力的强弱,尽量闹独立。这些小暴君不再受法律制约,尽可以犯下最疯狂的、难以想象的残酷暴行而逍遥法外。仅欧维尔尼一地据说就有三百多个这种独立贵族。对他们来说,乱伦、谋杀、劫掠都是极普通的、司空见惯的行径。 除了这些罪孽以外,那渊源于法国和英国之间的旷日持久的战争也给这个忧患深重的王国添加了不少苦难。为数众多的兵痞从最勇敢、最成功的冒险家当中自选首领,聚结成帮,在法国的各个地区形成了由其他各国的社会渣滓拼凑而成的兵痞集团。这些可资雇佣的武士能在一个时期内把他们的武力卖给出价最高的买主。而当这种劳役没有市场时,他们就自行发动战争,夺取城堡作为掩护的据点。他们抓俘虏,索赎金,从不设防的村寨及其周围的乡间勒取贡物,由于这种种掳掠的行径而获得了刮毛家和剥皮家的恰如其分的称号。 尽管多忧的国事给人们带来了种种恐惧和不幸,但小贵族仍与高一等的王公一样以挥霍无度来光耀门庭。他们的部属也上行下效,挥霍民脂民膏,极尽拙劣炫耀之能事。男女之间的交往充满了一种浪漫的骑士风情,但经常由于过度放纵而变得不甚体面;游侠的语言仍被使用,其礼规也仍被遵守,但它所提倡的高贵纯洁的爱情和仁爱的行为已不再能弥补和抵偿其过火的表现。在每个小宫廷举行的竞技比武和欢娱宴乐,把所有游荡的冒险家都吸引到了法国。而一旦来到法国,他们就很少不把他们轻率的勇气和养撞的冒险精神付诸行动,而他们自己更为幸运的祖国并不为之提供自由的舞台。 正是在这个时期,仿佛是为了在危机四伏中拯救他们美好的王国,路易十一登上了摇摇欲坠的皇位,而路易十一的性格,尽管其本身邪恶,却像古代医书所说,性质相反的毒素具有以毒攻毒的效力那样,足以对付和克服,并在很大程度上抵消时弊。 虽然路易工具有足够的勇气来实现任何一个有用的政治目的,但他却丝毫没有罗曼蒂克的骁勇或通常与此相联的傲气,而这种傲气能使得一个人即使早已获得实惠,但为了赢得某种荣誉感仍然继续战斗。他沉着,狡黠,深切地关注自身的利益。一旦他的自尊心和感情妨碍了他的利益,作出任何牺牲,他都在所不惜。他很注意对所有接近他的人掩饰自己的真实感情和意图。他经常引用一句话:“一个国王不知道如何装警作哑,他就不知道如何治理国家。对他来说,一旦他认为自己戴的帽子知晓他的秘密,他就会毫不犹豫地把它扔进火里。”无论是当时还是别的时代,都没有人能更好地懂得如何利用别人的弱点,懂得什么时候该避免由于不合时宜地放纵自己的弱点而让别人占了上风。 就其天性来说,他喜欢报复,残酷无情,甚至经常从下令执行死刑当中寻找乐趣。在他若无其事地判处死刑时,固然不会动恻隐之心去宽恕死回,但另一方面,也没有任何复仇之心会刺激他采取为时过早的暴力行动。在他的猎获物还没有完全置于捕捉范围内,在一切逃跑希望都必然落空以前,他很少扑向他们。他的行动都是那样着意地加以掩饰,以致他的成功一般都是他首次昭告世人,但其实在暗中一直苦心营求的目标。 同样,在有必要去贿赂一个敌对亲王的宠信或大臣以避免任何迫在眉睫的进犯或打破任何针对他结成的联盟时,路易王的贪婪和吝悭便让位于表面的慷慨大方。他喜欢纵情欢乐,但无论是美女还是狩猎——尽管二者都是他的头等爱好——都绝不会使他怠忽日常公务和朝政。他对人的洞察是深刻的。他曾经通过他亲身在其中厮混过的各阶层人物的私生活来寻求这种了解。同时,尽管他生性傲慢,但他却能以一种当时被认为是极为反常的、对武断划分的社会阶层的忽视,毫不犹豫地从最底层提拔有用之材,并委以重任。他知人善任,因而很少对他们的素质感到过失望。 然而,这个奸狡而能干的君主也是个矛盾的混和体,因为人性很少是划一的。虽然他本人是人类当中最虚伪、最不诚恳的一个,但他一生当中某些最大的错误却恰好是由于过分轻信别人的荣誉感和诚实。产生这些错误似乎是归因于一种过于精细的策略体系,促使路易王对他意欲征服的人表面装出毫不怀疑的信任姿态;因为就他总的表现来看,他和历代暴君一样狐疑和猜忌。 路易王正是依靠他那令人生畏的性格,从当代鲁莽的骑士般的君主当中脱颖而出,上升到一个驯兽师的地位。驯兽师凭借高超的智能和策略,通过分发食物和棍棒惩戒,终于能驾驭那些野兽。要不是多亏驯兽师的权术制服它们,它们本会依靠单纯的体力把他撕碎。在完成这一令人生畏的人物性格的刻画以前,还有另外两个特点值得一提。 第一个特点就是路易王的过分迷信,这也可以说是上苍用来惩罚那些拒不听从宗教指引的人们的一种通病。路易王从不打算放松玩弄权术来平息他的那些邪恶勾当所引起的悔恨,而是通过迷信的礼拜、严厉的自我罚罪,以及对圣职人员的慷慨馈赠,近乎徒劳地舒解这种苦痛感。与上面特点有时离奇地联系在一起的第二个特点是爱好低级趣味和卑微的逸乐,尽管他是他那个时代最有头脑的,至少是最狡黠的君主。既然他自己就是一个富于机智的人,自然很欣赏社交谈话中的笑话和俏皮话,其程度超过人们仅根据其性格的其他特点所能揣摩的地步。他甚至卷人一些喜剧性的。暧昧的桃色事件,其洒脱的程度与他性格中那种惯常的戒备和妒忌很不协调。他如此喜爱这一类低贱的风流韵事,以致他的许多放荡淫逸的轶闻被收入书籍收藏家熟知的一个集子里,而在收藏家眼里(这书可不适于任何别的人看),那个完整的版本是很珍贵的。 通过这位君主那极不宽厚,却坚强有力而又十分审慎的性格,上苍终于乐意以急风暴雨或和风细雨来恩威并用的方式,让伟大的法兰西民族重新享受到一个有法度的政府的好处,而在他登基时法国人几乎已经把这种好处丧失殆尽。 在他继承王位以前,路易王已经显露出他的某些邪恶,而不是他的才干。他的原配妻子,苏格兰的玛格丽特,是在她丈夫的宫廷中“被谗言恶语中伤而死的”。如果不是路易王的鼓励,本不会有闲言碎语私下传播来伤害那位和善而受委屈的公主。他是个忘恩负义、叛逆不孝的儿子,一度企图阴谋劫持他的父亲,甚至还公开向他宣过战。由于他所犯的第一个罪过,他被放逐到后来被他治理得井井有条的皇太子领地;而由于所犯的第二个罪过,他被完全流放,被迫投奔勃艮第公爵和他的儿子,依靠他们的怜悯,几乎是他们的仁慈来度日。在一四六一年他父亲驾崩以前,他一直在勃艮第公爵父子那儿享受着周到的礼遇,但这种礼遇日后并没有得到善报。 在他的王朝刚开始的时候,路易王几乎被法国的大藩属因反对他而组成的一个同盟所压倒,为首的是勃艮第公爵,更恰当地说,是他的儿子夏荷洛伊伯爵。他们征召了一支强大的军队,封锁了巴黎,在巴黎城下打了一场胜负未定的仗,使得法国国君濒于垮台的边缘。在这种将会两败俱伤的情形下,通常是较为明智的统帅获得战场上的实惠,但不一定是军事上的荣耀。在蒙特勒里战斗中显示出超人胆略的路易王审慎地利用战争胜负未定的特点,使得胜利看来像是属于他的。他善于看风使舵,直到搞垮敌人的同盟为止。在强大的藩属之间进行挑拨离间方面,他表现出了非凡的才干,致使那旨在推翻法国君主的“促进公众福利同盟”最终自行解体,并且再也不会东山再起,令人胆战心惊。从这个时期起,路易王借助于约克和兰开斯特之间的内战,摆脱了来自英国的危险之后,便开始像一个冷酷而能干的医生那样,花了好几年功夫来疗治政治机体的创伤,更确切地说,就是时而通过缓和疗法,时而通过烈火与钢刀,来阻遏致命的坏疽病的蔓延。兵痞集团为所欲为,贵族们不受惩罚的压迫,虽然他无法有效地制止,但他尽力设法减轻。通过不懈的努力,他逐渐取得了更多的主权;或者说削弱了能与之抗衡者的权力。 然而法国国王仍然疑虑重重,忧心如焚。“促进公众福利同盟”的成员尽管内部不和,但只要存在着,就会像一条受伤的蛇一样,有重新联合再度变得危险起来的可能。不过,更大的威胁在于当时欧洲最大的亲王之一勃艮第公爵与日俱增的权势。由于他的公国与法国的王位之间只有极淡的臣属关系,所以地位与它不相上下。 查尔斯公爵绰号叫“大胆的查尔斯”,或雅称“勇猛的查尔斯”,这是因为他的勇敢总是和鲁莽、狂热联系在一起。他继承了勃艮第公爵的冠冕,但把它熔化了,改成一顶御用的皇冠。这位公爵的性格在各方面都和路易十一形成鲜明的对比。 后者沉着、有头脑、狡诈,从来没有过激行为,也从不放弃任何一件可能成功的事,不管它的前景如何渺茫。公爵的天赋则完全不同。他铤而走险,因为他酷爱冒险;他临危不惧,因为他藐视困难。路易王从不为了感情而牺牲自己的利益,查尔斯则相反,从不为了其他的考虑而牺牲感情,甚至他的一时兴致。尽管他们亲戚关系很近,尽管公爵和他父亲在路易王作为太子流亡到他们那儿时给过他支持,但彼此之间存有戒心和仇视。勃艮第公爵看不起国王谨慎的策略,把他力求通过结盟、收买和其他间接方式谋取利益的做法归因于他的怯懦;假若他是国王的话,他就会用武力来攫取。他同样仇视国王,这不仅是因为国王对他以前得到的恩惠忘恩负义,还因为他父亲在世时,国王的大使对他本人也有过感情上的伤害和责难,而最重要的一点,是路易王对根特、列日及弗兰德的另一些大城市里的不满居民暗中给予支持。这些骚动的城市害怕失去他们的权益,同时也为他们的财富感到骄傲,于是经常发动叛乱来反对君主勃艮第公爵,而且从不会在路易王的宫廷得不到暗中鼓励,因为路易王总是抓住一切机会兴风作浪,在他那过分强大的藩属的领土上制造混乱。 对公爵的轻蔑和仇视,路易王予以同样有力的回敬。不过他用更厚的面纱来掩饰真实感情。像他这样一个有深谋远虑的人不可能不蔑视那种从不放弃一个目标、不管坚持下去多么危险的冥顽的固执,以及那种着手某件事而不考虑将遇到的障碍的莽撞和急躁。不过路易王仇视查尔斯甚至超过他轻视查尔斯,而他的轻视和仇视,由于都混杂着畏惧,便显得更为强烈。他把勃艮第公爵比作一条发疯的公牛。他知道疯牛的进犯,即使闭着眼睛,也是可怕的。路易王畏惧的不单是勃艮第诸省份的财富,也不单是其好战的、训练有素的居民,以及众多的人口。其元首的个人气质也有许多危险堪虞之处。他本人就是勇敢的化身,而他把这种勇敢发展到了近乎轻率冒失的边缘。此外,他挥金如土。他的宫廷,他本人和他的扈从都显得富丽堂皇。所有这些都表现出勃艮第家族的传统的豪华。因此,“大胆的查尔斯”几乎把当代性情相投的火暴汉子都吸引了过来为他服务。像这样一伙坚定的冒险家跟随着一个和他们性格同样莽撞不羁的首领会企图干什么样的事情,路易工看得十分清楚。 还有另外一个情况也增加了路易工对这一势力过大的藩属的敌意。他对他的恩惠是欠有债的,但他并不想偿还、报答,只是经常需要和他周旋,甚至忍受有损于他帝王尊严的不时发作的坏脾气。除了把他作为“亲爱的勃艮第堂弟”对待以外,别无他途。 我们这个故事始于一四六八年,是他们积怨最深的时候,尽管一如往常,他们之间暂时处于一种貌似平静的休战状态。我们将发现,首先列人舞台的这个人物是属于这样一种等级和社会地位:为了阐明其性质本来是毋需长篇论述两个伟大王侯的相对情况的。但大人物的感情以及他们的争端与和解都牵涉到所有接近他们的人。当我们继续讲这个故事时,我们将会发现这个开场白对于理解我们准备讲述其冒险经历的这个人物的历史是很有必要的。 Chapter 2 The Wanderer Why then the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open. ANCIENT PISTOL It was upon a delicious summer morning, before the sun had assumed its scorching power, and while the dews yet cooled and perfumed the air, that a youth, coming from the northeastward approached the ford of a small river, or rather a large brook, tributary to the Cher, near to the royal Castle of Plessis les Tours, whose dark and multiplied battlements rose in the background over the extensive forest with which they were surrounded. These woodlands comprised a noble chase, or royal park, fenced by an enclosure, termed, in the Latin of the middle ages, Plexitium, which gives the name of Plessis to so many villages in France. The castle and village of which we particularly speak, was called Plessis les Tours, to distinguish it from others, and was built about two miles to the southward of the fair town of that name, the capital of ancient Touraine, whose rich plain has been termed the Garden of France. On the bank of the above mentioned brook, opposite to that which the traveller was approaching, two men, who appeared in deep conversation, seemed, from time to time, to watch his motions; for, as their station was much more elevated, they could remark him at considerable distance. The age of the young traveller might be about nineteen, or betwixt that and twenty; and his face and person, which were very prepossessing, did not, however, belong to the country in which he was now a sojourner. His short gray cloak and hose were rather of Flemish than of French fashion, while the smart blue bonnet, with a single sprig of holly and an eagle's feather, was already recognized as the Scottish head gear. His dress was very neat, and arranged with the precision of a youth conscious of possessing a fine person. He had at his back a satchel, which seemed to contain a few necessaries, a hawking gauntlet on his left hand, though he carried no bird, and in his right a stout hunter's pole. Over his left shoulder hung an embroidered scarf which sustained a small pouch of scarlet velvet, such as was then used by fowlers of distinction to carry their hawks' food, and other matters belonging to that much admired sport. This was crossed by another shoulder belt, to which was hung a hunting knife, or couteau de chasse. Instead of the boots of the period, he wore buskins of half dressed deer's skin. Although his form had not yet attained its full strength, he was tall and active, and the lightness of the step with which he advanced, showed that his pedestrian mode of travelling was pleasure rather than pain to him. His complexion was fair, in spite of a general shade of darker hue, with which the foreign sun, or perhaps constant exposure to the atmosphere in his own country, had, in some degree, embrowned it. His features, without being quite regular, were frank, open, and pleasing. A half smile, which seemed to arise from a happy exuberance of animal spirits, showed now and then that his teeth were well set, and as pure as ivory; whilst his bright blue eye, with a corresponding gaiety, had an appropriate glance for every object which it encountered, expressing good humour, lightness of heart, and determined resolution. He received and returned the salutation of the few travellers who frequented the road in those dangerous times with the action which suited each. The strolling spearman, half soldier, half brigand, measured the youth with his eye, as if balancing the prospect of booty with the chance of desperate resistance; and read such indications of the latter in the fearless glance of the passenger, that he changed his ruffian purpose for a surly "Good morrow, comrade," which the young Scot answered with as martial, though a less sullen tone. The wandering pilgrim, or the begging friar, answered his reverent greeting with a paternal benedicite (equivalent to the English expression, "Bless you."); and the dark eyed peasant girl looked after him for many a step after they had passed each other, and interchanged a laughing good morrow. In short, there was an attraction about his whole appearance not easily escaping attention, and which was derived from the combination of fearless frankness and good humour, with sprightly looks and a handsome face and person. It seemed, too, as if his whole demeanour bespoke one who was entering on life with no apprehension of the evils with which it is beset, and small means for struggling with its hardships, except a lively spirit and a courageous disposition; and it is with such tempers that youth most readily sympathizes, and for whom chiefly age and experience feel affectionate and pitying interest. The youth whom we have described had been long visible to the two persons who loitered on the opposite side of the small river which divided him from the park and the castle; but as he descended the rugged bank to the water's edge, with the light step of a roe which visits the fountain, the younger of the two said to the other, "It is our man -- it is the Bohemian! If he attempts to cross the ford, he is a lost man -- the water is up, and the ford impassable." "Let him make that discovery himself, gossip (an intimate friend or companion (obsolete))," said the elder personage; "it may, perchance, save a rope and break a proverb (refers to the old saw, 'Who is born to be hanged will never be drowned.')." "I judge him by the blue cap," said the other, "for I cannot see his face. Hark, sir; he hallooes to know whether the water be deep." "Nothing like experience in this world," answered the other, "let him try." The young man, in the meanwhile, receiving no hint to the contrary, and taking the silence of those to whom he applied as an encouragement to proceed, entered the stream without farther hesitation than the delay necessary to take off his buskins. The elder person, at the same moment, hallooed to him to beware, adding, in a lower tone, to his companion, "Mortdieu -- gossip -- you have made another mistake -- this is not the Bohemian chatterer." But the intimation to the youth came too late. He either did not hear or could not profit by it, being already in the deep stream. To one less alert and practised in the exercise of swimming, death had been certain, for the brook was both deep and strong. "By Saint Anne! but he is a proper youth," said the elder man. "Run, gossip, and help your blunder, by giving him aid, if thou canst. He belongs to thine own troop -- if old saws speak truth, water will not drown him." Indeed, the young traveller swam so strongly, and buffeted the waves so well, that, notwithstanding the strength of the current, he was carried but a little way down from the ordinary landing place. By this time the younger of the two strangers was hurrying down to the shore to render assistance, while the other followed him at a graver pace, saying to himself as he approached, "I knew water would never drown that young fellow. -- By my halidome (originally something regarded as sacred, as a relic; formerly much used in solemn oaths), he is ashore, and grasps his pole! -- If I make not the more haste, he will beat my gossip for the only charitable action which I ever saw him perform, or attempt to perform, in the whole course of his life." There was some reason to augur such a conclusion of the adventure, for the bonny Scot had already accosted the younger Samaritan, who was hastening to his assistance, with these ireful words: "Discourteous dog! why did you not answer when I called to know if the passage was fit to be attempted? May the foul fiend catch me, but I will teach you the respect due to strangers on the next occasion." This was accompanied with that significant flourish with his pole which is called le moulinet, because the artist, holding it in the middle, brandishes the two ends in every direction like the sails of a windmill in motion. His opponent, seeing himself thus menaced, laid hand upon his sword, for he was one of those who on all occasions are more ready for action than for speech; but his more considerate comrade, who came up, commanded him to forbear, and, turning to the young man, accused him in turn of precipitation in plunging into the swollen ford, and of intemperate violence in quarrelling with a man who was hastening to his assistance. The young man, on hearing himself thus reproved by a man of advanced age and respectable appearance, immediately lowered his weapon, and said he would be sorry if he had done them injustice; but, in reality, it appeared to him as if they had suffered him to put his life in peril for want of a word of timely warning, which could be the part neither of honest men nor of good Christians, far less of respectable burgesses, such as they seemed to be. "Fair son," said the elder person, "you seem, from your accent and complexion, a stranger; and you should recollect your dialect is not so easily comprehended by us; as perhaps it may be uttered by you." "Well, father," answered the youth, "I do not care much about the ducking I have had, and I will readily forgive your being partly the cause, provided you will direct me to some place where I can have my clothes dried; for it is my only suit, and I must keep it somewhat decent." "For whom do you take us, fair son?" said the elder stranger, in answer to this question. "For substantial burgesses, unquestionably," said the youth; "or -- hold; you, master, may be a money broker, or a corn merchant; and this man a butcher, or grazier." "You have hit our capacities rarely," said the elder, smiling. "My business is indeed to trade in as much money as I can and my gossip's dealings are somewhat of kin to the butcher's. As to your accommodation we will try to serve you; but I must first know who you are, and whither you are going, for, in these times, the roads are filled with travellers on foot and horseback, who have anything in their head but honesty and the fear of God." The young man cast another keen and penetrating glance on him who spoke, and on his silent companion, as if doubtful whether they, on their part, merited the confidence they demanded; and the result of his observation was as follows. The eldest and most remarkable of these men in dress and appearance, resembled the merchant or shopkeeper of the period. His jerkin, hose, and cloak were of a dark uniform colour, but worn so threadbare that the acute young Scot conceived that the wearer must be either very rich or very poor, probably the former. The fashion of the dress was close and short, a kind of garment which was not then held decorous among gentry, or even the superior class of citizens, who generally wore loose gowns which descended below the middle of the leg. The expression of this man's countenance was partly attractive and partly forbidding. His strong features, sunk cheeks, and hollow eyes had, nevertheless, an expression of shrewdness and humour congenial to the character of the young adventurer. But then, those same sunken eyes, from under the shroud of thick black eyebrows, had something in them that was at once commanding and sinister. Perhaps this effect was increased by the low fur cap, much depressed on the forehead, and adding to the shade from under which those eyes peered out; but it is certain that the young stranger had some difficulty to reconcile his looks with the meanness of his appearance in other respects. His cap, in particular, in which all men of any quality displayed either a brooch of gold or of silver, was ornamented with a paltry image of the Virgin, in lead, such as the poorer sort of pilgrims bring from Loretto (a city in Italy, containing the sanctuary of the Virgin Mary called the Santa Casa, reputed to have been brought there by angels.). His comrade was a stout formed, middle sized man, more than ten years younger than his companion, with a down looking visage and a very ominous smile, when by chance he gave way to that impulse, which was never, except in reply to certain secret signs that seemed to pass between him and the elder stranger. This man was armed with a sword and dagger; and underneath his plain habit the Scotsman observed that he concealed a jazeran, or flexible shirt of linked mail, which, as being often worn by those, even of peaceful professions, who were called upon at that perilous period to be frequently abroad, confirmed the young man in his conjecture that the wearer was by profession a butcher, grazier, or something of that description, called upon to be much abroad. The young stranger, comprehending in one glance the result of the observation which has taken us some time to express, answered, after a moment's pause, "I am ignorant whom I may have the honour to address," making a slight reverence at the same time, "but I am indifferent who knows that I am a cadet of Scotland; and that I come to seek my fortune in France, or elsewhere, after the custom of my countrymen." "Pasques dieu! and a gallant custom it is," said the elder stranger. "You seem a fine young springald, and at the right age to prosper, whether among men or women. What say you? I am a merchant, and want a lad to assist in my traffic; I suppose you are too much a gentleman to assist in such mechanical drudgery ?" "Fair sir," said the youth, "if your offer be seriously made -- of which I have my doubts -- I am bound to thank you for it, and I thank you accordingly; but I fear I should be altogether unfit for your service." "What!" said the senior, "I warrant thou knowest better how to draw the bow, than how to draw a bill of charges -- canst handle a broadsword better than a pen -- ha!" "I am, master," answered the young Scot, "a braeman, and therefore, as we say, a bowman. But besides that, I have been in a convent, where the good fathers taught me to read and write, and even to cipher." "Pasques dieu! that is too magnificent," said the merchant. "By our Lady of Embrun (a town in France containing a cathedral in which was a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, said to have been sculptured by St. Luke), thou art a prodigy, man!" "Rest you merry, fair master," said the youth, who was not much pleased with his new acquaintance's jocularity, "I must go dry myself, instead of standing dripping here, answering questions." The merchant only laughed louder as he spoke, and answered, "Pasques dieu! the proverb never fails -- fier comme un Ecossois (proud or haughty as a Scotchman) -- but come, youngster, you are of a country I have a regard for, having traded in Scotland in my time -- an honest poor set of folks they are; and, if you will come with us to the village, I will bestow on you a cup of burnt sack and a warm breakfast, to atone for your drenching. -- But tete bleau! what do you with a hunting glove on your hand? Know you not there is no hawking permitted in a royal chase?" "I was taught that lesson," answered the youth, "by a rascally forester of the Duke of Burgundy. I did but fly the falcon I had brought with me from Scotland, and that I reckoned on for bringing me into some note, at a heron near Peronne, and the rascally schelm (rogue, rascal (obsolete or Scotch)) shot my bird with an arrow." "What did you do?" said the merchant. "Beat him," said the youngster, brandishing his staff, "as near to death as one Christian man should belabour another -- I wanted not to have his blood to answer for." "Know you," said the burgess, "that had you fallen into the Duke of Burgundy's hands, he would have hung you up like a chestnut?" "Ay, I am told he is as prompt as the King of France for that sort of work. But, as this happened near Peronne, I made a leap over the frontiers, and laughed at him. If he had not been so hasty, I might, perhaps, have taken service with him." "He will have a heavy miss of such a paladin as you are, if the truce should break off," said the merchant, and threw a look at his own companion, who answered him with one of the downcast lowering smiles which gleamed along his countenance, enlivening it as a passing meteor enlivens a winter sky. The young Scot suddenly stopped, pulled his bonnet over his right eyebrow, as one that would not be ridiculed, and said firmly, "My masters, and especially you, sir, the elder, and who should be the wiser, you will find, I presume, no sound or safe jesting at my expense. I do not altogether like the tone of your conversation. I can take a jest with any man, and a rebuke, too, from my elder, and say thank you, sir, if I know it to be deserved; but I do not like being borne in hand as if I were a child, when, God wot, I find myself man enough to belabour you both, if you provoke me too far." The eldest man seemed like to choke with laughter at the lad's demeanour -- his companion's hand stole to his sword hilt, which the youth observing, dealt him a blow across the wrist, which made him incapable of grasping it, while his companion's mirth was only increased by the incident. "Hold, hold," he cried, "most doughty Scot, even for thine own dear country's sake, and you, gossip, forbear your menacing look. Pasques-dieu! let us be just traders, and set off the wetting against the knock on the wrist, which was given with so much grace and alacrity. -- And hark ye, my young friend," he said to the young man, with a grave sternness which, in spite of all the youth could do, damped and overawed him, "no more violence. I am no fit object for it, and my gossip, as you may see, has had enough of it. Let me know your name." "I can answer a civil question civilly," said the youth; "and will pay fitting respect to your age, if you do not urge my patience with mockery. Since I have been here in France and Flanders, men have called me, in their fantasy, the Varlet with the Velvet Pouch, because of this hawk purse which I carry by my side; but my true name, when at home, is Quentin Durward." "Durward!" said the querist; "is it a gentleman's name?" "By fifteen descents in our family," said the young man; "and that makes me reluctant to follow any other trade than arms." "A true Scot! Plenty of blood, plenty of pride, and right great scarcity of ducats, I warrant thee. -- Well, gossip," he said to his companion, "go before us, and tell them to have some breakfast ready yonder at the Mulberry grove; for this youth will do as much honour to it as a starved mouse to a housewife's cheese. And for the Bohemian -- hark in thy ear." His comrade answered by a gloomy but intelligent smile, and set forward at a round pace, while the elder man continued, addressing young Durward, "You and I will walk leisurely forward together, and we may take a mass at Saint Hubert's Chapel in our way through the forest; for it is not good to think of our fleshly before our spiritual wants." (This silvan saint . . . was passionately fond of the chase, and used to neglect attendance on divine worship for this amusement. While he was once engaged in this pastime, a stag appeared before him, having a crucifix bound betwixt his horns, and he heard a voice which menaced him with eternal punishment if he did not repent of his sins. He retired from the world and took orders. . . Hubert afterwards became Bishop of Maestrecht and Liege. S.) Durward, as a good Catholic, had nothing to object against this proposal, although he might probably have been desirous, in the first place; to have dried his clothes and refreshed himself. Meanwhile, they soon lost sight of their downward looking companion, but continued to follow the same path which he had taken, until it led them into a wood of tall trees, mixed with thickets and brushwood, traversed by long avenues, through which were seen, as through a vista, the deer trotting in little herds with a degree of security which argued their consciousness of being completely protected. "You asked me if I were a good bowman," said the young Scot. "Give me a bow and a brace of shafts, and you shall have a piece of venison in a moment." "Pasques dieu! my young friend," said his companion, "take care of that; my gossip yonder hath a special eye to the deer; they are under his charge, and he is a strict keeper." "He hath more the air of a butcher than of a gay forester," answered Durward. "I cannot think yon hang dog look of his belongs to any one who knows the gentle rules of woodcraft." "Ah, my young friend," answered his companion, "my gossip hath somewhat an ugly favour to look upon at the first; but those who become acquainted with him never are known to complain of him." Quentin Durward found something singularly and disagreeably significant in the tone with which this was spoken; and, looking suddenly at the speaker, thought he saw in his countenance, in the slight smile that curled his upper lip, and the accompanying twinkle of his keen dark eye, something to justify his unpleasing surprise. "I have heard of robbers," he thought to himself, "and of wily cheats and cutthroats -- what if yonder fellow be a murderer, and this old rascal his decoy duck! I will be on my guard -- they will get little by me but good Scottish knocks." While he was thus reflecting, they came to a glade, where the large forest trees were more widely separated from each other, and where the ground beneath, cleared of underwood and bushes, was clothed with a carpet of the softest and most lovely verdure, which, screened from the scorching heat of the sun, was here more beautifully tender than it is usually to be seen in France. The trees in this secluded spot were chiefly beeches and elms of huge magnitude, which rose like great hills of leaves into the air. Amidst these magnificent sons of the earth there peeped out, in the most open spot of the glade, a lowly chapel, near which trickled a small rivulet. Its architecture was of the rudest and most simple kind; and there was a very small lodge beside it, for the accommodation of a hermit or solitary priest, who remained there for regularly discharging the duty of the altar. In a small niche over the arched doorway stood a stone image of Saint Hubert, with the bugle horn around his neck, and a leash of greyhounds at his feet. The situation of the chapel in the midst of a park or chase, so richly stocked with game, made the dedication to the Sainted Huntsman peculiarly appropriate. Towards this little devotional structure the old man directed his steps, followed by young Durward; and, as they approached, the priest, dressed in his sacerdotal garments, made his appearance in the act of proceeding from his cell to the chapel, for the discharge, doubtless, of his holy office. Durward bowed his body reverently to the priest, as the respect due to his sacred office demanded; whilst his companion, with an appearance of still more deep devotion, kneeled on one knee to receive the holy man's blessing, and then followed him into church, with a step and manner expressive of the most heartfelt contrition and humility. The inside of the chapel was adorned in a manner adapted to the occupation of the patron saint while on earth. The richest furs of such animals as are made the objects of the chase in different countries supplied the place of tapestry and hangings around the altar and elsewhere, and the characteristic emblazonments of bugles, bows, quivers, and other emblems of hunting, surrounded the walls, and were mingled with the heads of deer, wolves, and other animals considered beasts of sport. The whole adornments took an appropriate and silvan character; and the mass itself, being considerably shortened, proved to be of that sort which is called a hunting mass, because in use before the noble and powerful, who, while assisting at the solemnity, are usually impatient to commence their favourite sport. Yet, during this brief ceremony, Durward's companion seemed to pay the most rigid and scrupulous attention; while Durward, not quite so much occupied with religious thoughts, could not forbear blaming himself in his own mind for having entertained suspicions derogatory to the character of so good and so humble a man. Far from now holding him as a companion and accomplice of robbers, he had much to do to forbear regarding him as a saint-like personage. When mass was ended, they retired together from the chapel, and the elder said to his young comrade, "It is but a short walk from hence to the village -- you may now break your fast with an unprejudiced conscience -- follow me." Turning to the right, and proceeding along a path which seemed gradually to ascend, he recommended to his companion by no means to quit the track, but, on the contrary, to keep the middle of it as nearly as he could. Durward could not help asking the cause of this precaution. "You are now near the Court, young man," answered his guide; "and, Pasques-dieu! there is some difference betwixt walking in this region and on your own heathy hills. Every yard of this ground, excepting the path which we now occupy, is rendered dangerous, and well nigh impracticable, by snares and traps, armed with scythe blades, which shred off the unwary passenger's limb as sheerly as a hedge bill lops a hawthorn sprig -- and calthrops that would pierce your foot through, and pitfalls deep enough to bury you in them for ever; for you are now within the precincts of the royal demesne, and we shall presently see the front of the Chateau." "Were I the King of France," said the young man, "I would not take so much trouble with traps and gins, but would try instead to govern so well that no man should dare to come near my dwelling with a bad intent; and for those who came there in peace and goodwill, why, the more of them the merrier we should be." His companion looked round affecting an alarmed gaze, and said, "Hush, hush, Sir Varlet with the Velvet Pouch! for I forgot to tell you, that one great danger of these precincts is, that the very leaves of the trees are like so many ears, which carry all which is spoken to the King's own cabinet." "I care little for that," answered Quentin Durward; "I bear a Scottish tongue in my head, bold enough to speak my mind to King Louis's face, God bless him -- and for the ears you talk of, if I could see them growing on a human head, I would crop them out of it with my wood knife." 世界像是我将用剑劈开的牡蛎。 皮斯托乐旗官 这是一个怡人的夏日清晨,太阳还没有发出灼热的光芒,露水使空气仍保持着凉爽和清香。一个从东北方向来的青年人正向普莱西•勒•图尔皇宫附近的一条小河的渡口走去。这条小河,或更恰当地说是大溪,是注入谢尔河的一条支流。皇宫阴森绵延的城谍背景似地耸立着,它们周围围绕着大片的森林。森林里有一个高雅的狩猎场或御花园,用中世纪的拉丁文称之为普莱克西蒂阿姆的围墙隔开。法国的许多村庄名叫普莱西,盖源于此。我们特别提到的这个城堡和村庄,为了便于区分开,就叫做普莱西•勒•图尔。它修筑在与之同名的美丽城市——古老的都兰的首府西南约两英里的地方,都兰富饶的平原一直被称之为法兰西的花园。 旅客正朝溪流的岸边走去。在对岸有两个人,看去正在深谈,似乎不时地注视着他的行动,因为他们所在的地势要高得多,可以老远就看见他。 年轻的旅客大约十九岁,或者介乎十九岁和二十岁之间。他的面孔和身材都很惹人喜欢,不过并不属于他目前正逗留的这个国家。他那短的灰色披风和裤子都更像弗兰德式,不是法国式的,而那漂亮的蓝色无边帽,插有一支冬青和一根老鹰的羽毛,可以认出是苏格兰的头饰。他的衣着整洁,穿戴得体,表现出一个意识到自己外貌出众的年轻人的精心考究。 他背着一个行囊,里面似乎装着一些生活必需品;左手戴着一只放鹰手套,但没有携带老鹰,右手则握着一根坚实的猎人棒。他的左肩上披挂着一条绣花肩巾,上面系着一个红色天鹅绒做的小包,这是有身份的打鸟者用来装老鹰食物和这一受人羡慕的游戏的其他用品的。与之相交的是另一条肩带,上面挂着一把猎刀。他脚上穿的是半成品的鹿皮半统靴,而不是当时人们穿的普通皮靴。 虽然他的身体还没有完全发育成熟,但已显得高大、活跃。他走路时轻捷的步履说明徒步旅行对他说来是一种乐趣而不是痛苦。他的面色白皙,虽然经受着异国阳光的灼晒。只不过由于经常暴露在苏格兰的野外空气中,使它略带点较深的色调,呈现出几分棕褐色而已。 他的五官虽不十分端正,却显得坦诚、开朗和讨人喜欢。也许是充沛的精力使他流露出半点微笑,这使他常露出那整齐的、象牙般洁净的牙齿。他那淡蓝色的眼睛相应地带有一种快活的表情,对碰到的每一样东西都投以恰当的目光,表现出良好的兴致、轻松的心情和坚定的决心。 他的举止投合众人,包括在那不太平的世道经常过往的少数旅客。半兵半匪的流动长矛手打量着这位年轻人,仿佛在权衡获得劫掠物的前景以及碰到拼死反抗的可能性,而在这旅客的无畏目光中看到后一种可能性更大时,便改变他的险恶意图,而不高兴地说一句:“伙计,你好。”年轻的苏格兰人便以同样充满尚武精神,但不那么愠怒的口吻回答他一句。飘泊的香客或乞讨的托钵僧似慈父般的祝福回答他那充满敬意的问候。黑眼睛的农家姑娘从他身旁走过之后,隔了好多步还回过头来望望他,并笑着互相问好。总之,他整个的外表具有一种很难避开别人注视的吸引力,而这种吸引力是来自无所畏惧的坦率和好脾气,以及奕奕的神采、英俊的面貌和健美的身段。他整个的举止也似乎说明他是一个刚走上人生舞台,而对困扰人生的邪恶无所畏惧的人,同时也是一个除了活泼的精神和勇敢的性格以外,没有多少金钱手段来与人生的艰难困苦进行搏斗的人。这样的性格很容易使年轻人产生同情和好感,而使年老有经验的人感到疼爱和怜惜。 我们刚描绘过的这个年轻人,虽然与花园和城堡之间隔着一条小河,但在河的对岸闲荡着的那两个人早就看见他走来了。当他以一只走向泉边饮水的麋鹿般的轻捷步伐走下崎岖的河岸,来到水边的时候,较年轻的对年长的说道:“他就是我们等的那个人——波希米亚人!如果他打算涉过渡口,他就完蛋了——水已经上涨,渡口没法过!” “让他自己发现这个吧,伙计,”年长的说道,“也许这样倒可以节省一条绳子,并戳穿一个预言。” “我是根据那顶蓝帽子来判断的,”另一个说道,“因为我看不清他的脸——你听,大人,他喊着在打招呼,问水深不深。” “在这个世界上,没有什么能与经验相比。”另一个回答道,“让他试试吧。” 这时那年轻人由于没有得到不能过河的暗示,便把对方的沉默认为是默许,在稍事停留后,便脱去他的半统靴,毫不犹豫地走进小河。此刻那年纪大的喊他注意,同时放低声音对他的同伴说:“我的天——伙计,你又犯了一个错误,这不是那个波希米亚饶舌鬼。” 但给年轻人的警告为时已晚。他要么是没听见,要么是已经来到深水处,来不及领受忠告。溪水既深又急,人们要不是像他那样灵敏和习于水性,肯定必死无疑了。 “圣安尼呀!他可是个不错的小伙子。”年长的说道,“快跑,伙计,可能的话就帮他一把,弥补一下你的过错吧。他是属于你这号人的——如果古老的格言说得不错的话,水是淹不死他的。” 说实在的,那年轻的旅客游得那么起劲,和波浪搏斗得那么高明,尽管水流湍急,他也只是被带到离通常的上岸处稍远的地方。 这时年轻的那个赶到河边去帮他一把,而年长的则以稳重徐缓的采伐跟在他后面,一边走一边自言自语:“我知道水是绝对淹不死那年轻人的——哎呀,他已经上岸,抓起他的棒子了!要是我不走快一些,他会接我的伙计的,而对我的伙计来说,这是他一生当中我见他干过的或打算要干的惟一一件好事了。” 如此来预卜这事的结果是不无道理的,因为那健美的苏格兰人已经怒气冲冲地斥责那匆忙赶去帮他一把的年轻人:“无礼的狗东西!当我喊着打听是否能试着过河的时候,你干吗不回答?就让恶魔缠住我也行,不过,下一次我可要教你对陌生人表现出应有的尊敬!” 说话的同时,他耀武扬威地挥动他那样子。这棒子被称为“风磨桨”,因为武术家握住棒子的中央,朝四面八方挥动棒的两端,就像风磨的桨片在转动。他的对手看到自己受到这般威胁,便用手握紧他的剑柄,因为他是一个在任何场合都乐于诉诸行动甚于诉诸言词的人。但他那考虑问题更周密的同伴走了上来,命令他克制,然后转过身来对着年轻人,责备他不该莽撞地一头栽进涨了水的渡口,同时也不该肆无忌惮地和跑来帮他一把的人乱吵一顿。 那年轻人听到自己被一个外表可敬的老人这么一训,便放下武器,并说如果他对他们不公道的话,他将感到很抱歉。而事实上他觉得他们没有及时警告他,似乎是在故意让他去冒生命危险;诚实的人和善良的基督徒都不可能做出这种事;既然他们看来都是体面的市民,那就更不应当如此。 “好小子,”年长的说道,“从你的口音和肤色来看,你像个异乡人。你应当想到,方言你说起来容易,我们理解起来可费事了。” “好吧,老爷爷,”年轻人回答道,“我倒不很在乎我所遭受的这顿鸭子闷水。尽管你们要对这负一部分责任,只要你们能把我带到一个可以晾干我的衣服的地方,我还是乐于原谅你们。这是我惟一的一套衣服,我多少得使它保持点体面。” “好小子,你把我们当作什么人呢?”年长的陌生人回答道。 “不用说,我把你们当作富裕的市民。”年轻人说,“慢来——你这老爷可能是个贷款经纪人或谷物商,而这人可能是个屠夫或畜牧业者。” “你算是很难得地猜中了。”年长的微笑道,“我的生意的确是尽可能地经手更多的钱,而我这伙计的生意则有点近似屠夫的。至于说给你找个地方晾干衣服,我们将为你效劳。不过我得先知道你是谁,往何处去,因为在这世道,道路上满是些徒步的和骑马的旅客,他们脑袋里什么都有,就是没有诚实和对上帝的敬畏。” 年轻人对说话的人和他那沉默的伙伴又投以敏锐而犀利的目光,似乎在怀疑,就他们而言,配不配获得他们所要求的信任。观察的结果是这样的。 两人当中年长、突出的那位,就服装和外表来说,像是个当代的商人或店主。他的紧身上衣、裤子、斗篷都是深色的,但穿得如此陈旧,以至那敏锐的苏格兰人认为,穿衣的人要么很富,要么很穷,很可能是前者。这种紧身短衣的式样,在当时的绅士阶层,甚至高阶层市民中,都还不认为是合宜的。当时高阶层市民一般都穿长及膝下的宽松长袍。 这人的面部表情既有吸引人的地方,也有令人生畏之处。他那强健的五官、下陷的颧骨、四下的眼眶、精明而幽默的神态,与那年轻冒险家的性格倒十分投合。但在那浓黑眉毛下面凹陷的眼睛却具有某种既威严又阴险的东西。也许是那低低地压在前额上的皮帽子,在眼睛上部添上些阴影,加强了这一效果。如何将他在其他方面表现出的外表的卑微和他做岸的容貌相协调,陌生的年轻人肯定感到很为难。特别是他的帽子。任何有身份的人都会在帽子上配上一个金的或银的饰针,但他的帽子装饰着的却是较贫穷的一类香客从洛雷托带来的那种不值钱的铅制圣母像。 他的同伴是一个身体粗胖、中等个子的人,比他小十多岁,具有一张习惯于朝下望的面孔和偶尔屈从于某种笑意时才露出来的一种非常阴沉的冷笑;而除非他是在回答与年长的陌生人之间的隐语,否则他根本没有笑容,也看不见他产生任何笑意。这人备有一把剑和一把匕首;在他那朴素的外衣下面,那苏格兰人看到他还隐匿着一副具有伸缩性的连锁铠甲衣。既然那些属于平民出身,但在那不太平的乱世同样频繁地被召去打仗的人们也穿这种铠甲衣,这就证实了年轻人的揣测,即此人是屠夫、畜牧业者或是经常被叫去打点仗的那号人物。 年轻的异乡人一眼就得出我们要费些时间才能得出的结论。停顿片刻之后他便回答道:“我不知道我很荣幸地与之交谈的人姓甚名谁,”说着稍微欠身,行了个礼,“不过我并不在乎有谁知道我是苏格兰的一个青年军官,按照我们的习俗,到法国或别的地方去寻求幸福。” “哎呀,这可是一个勇敢的习俗。”年长的陌生人说道,“你是个很帅的小伙子,正处在该在男人或女人当中发迹的时候。你看怎么样?我是个商人,需要有个小伙子帮我做买卖。我想你身份太高,不屑于帮忙干这种机械的苦活吧?” “尊敬的先生,”年轻人说道,“如果您的建议是认真作出的——对此我还有怀疑——那么我应当感谢您,也就此向您表示感谢。不过我担心我完全不适合为您效劳。” “嘿!”年长的说道,“我敢担保,你一定是更善于拉大弓,而不是开账单;更善于操大刀,而不是耍笔杆——哈哈!” “老爷,”年轻的苏格兰人回答道,“我是一个山地人,因而正像我们所说的,是一个弓箭手。但除此以外,我还在寺院里呆过,善良的神父教过我读和写,甚至翻译。” “哎呀,那可太美了,”商人说道,“昂布伦的圣母在上,小伙子,你可真是个神童!” “好老爷,您高兴着吧,”年轻人对这刚认识的陌生人的诙谐感到不快,“我得去晾干衣服,不能老站在这儿让它往下滴水,却来回答问题。” 听他这么一说,那年长的更是放声大笑。“哎呀!俗话说得好——像苏格兰人一般的骄傲——得了,小伙子。你是从我很敬重的一个国家来的人。我敬重苏格兰,因为我早先在那儿做过生意——苏格兰人都是些可怜的老实人。如果你愿意和我们一道进村里去,我将给你一杯萨克烧酒和一顿温暖的早餐来补偿你全身湿透的损失。不过,天哪!你干吗手上戴只猎人手套?难道你不知道在皇家猎场是不准放鹰的吗?” “勃艮第公爵的一个混账护林宫已经给了我一个教训。”年轻人回答道,“我只不过是把我从苏格兰带来的,曾指望能使我引人注目的老鹰,朝落在佩隆附近的一只苍鸳放去,结果那混账流氓竟用箭射死了我的鹰。” “那你怎么办呢?”商人问道。 “揍了他一顿,”小伙子挥动着棒子说道,“像一个基督徒揍另一个基督徒所能容许的那样,尽量把他揍到半死不活的地步——我并不想要他的命,以免偿命。” “你不晓得,”那市民说道,“要是你落到公爵手上,他会把你像颗板栗吊起来吗?” “不错,我听说干起这种事来他和法国国王一样迅速果决。不过,幸好这事发生在佩隆附近,我一跃而越过了边界,并嘲笑了他一顿。要是他不那么莽撞,我也许会在他那儿找点差事干。” “万一停战被破坏了的话,他会十分后悔失掉你这样一个骑士的。”商人说道,一边递给他同伴一个眼色。这阴沉的一笑闪过那人的面孔,就像瞬间消逝的流星使冬天的夜空增加了一线生气一样,使这面孔也增加了一点生机。 年轻的苏格兰人忽然停下来,把他的无边帽拉到右边的眉毛上,像一个不愿受人嘲弄的人那样坚定地说道:“二位大人请注意,尤其是您,您年纪更大,更应该放聪明一些。怨我冒昧,你们会发现,拿我来开心是不那么保险的。我并不十分喜欢你们谈话的腔调。我可以和任何人开开玩笑,也可以接受长辈的训斥。如果我知道我值得受训斥的话,我还会说声:先生,谢谢您。但我不喜欢像个小孩那样让人耍弄。上帝知道,要是你们惹我发火的话,我想我一个人就足够把你们这两个家伙都接扁。” 年长的那人看到小伙子的这一表态像要笑得喘不过气来。他那同伴的手却悄悄挪到了剑柄上。年轻人眼疾手快,往他手腕上猛地一击,使他无法握住剑柄。而这一举动只是使得他的同伴更乐不可支。“住手,住手,”他叫道,“最最勇敢的苏格兰人,哪怕是看在你亲爱的祖国的分上,请你住手。伙计,你也收起你这吓唬人的样子。哎呀!让我们做个公平的交易吧,你被河水浸湿和你对他如此漂亮利索的一击就算是两相抵消吧。你听着,年轻的朋友,”他以一种威严的口吻说道。不管年轻人有多大的能耐,这语气也不能不使他冷静下来,肃然起敬。“你别再动武了。我不是你的合适对手,而我的伙计,你可以看出,也感到够呛了。你还是给我们通通你的姓名吧。” “我可以客气地回答一个有礼貌的问题。”年轻人说道,“如果您不用嘲弄来逼我失去耐心的话,我会对您的高龄给予恰如其分的尊敬。自从我来到法国和弗兰德以后,就因为我腰上挂着的这个饲鹰袋,人们竟莫名其妙地叫我带天鹅绒袋的浪子。但我在家时的真名是昆丁•达威特。” “达威特!”问话的人说,“这是个绅士的名字吗?” “我们家族的这个英名已经传了十五代了,”年轻人说道,“这使我除了当军人以外很不愿从事其他职业。” “一个真正的苏格兰人!血气方刚,矜持自负,此外,我敢担保,一定很缺钱用。好吧,伙计,”他对同伴说道,“你先走一步,叫他们在桑树林旅店准备些早点。这年轻人将会像只饿老鼠不辜负家庭主妇的奶酪那样不辜负这顿早点的。至于说那个波希米亚人——你伸过耳朵来听着——” 他的同伴报以一个阴沉而会意的冷笑,然后便以快速的步伐动身前去。那年长的继续和达威特攀谈:“你和我一道慢悠悠地走吧,在我们穿过森林的时候可以在圣胡伯特的教堂做个弥撒,因为在想到我们的精神需求以前就想到肉体的需要是不好的。” 作为一个善良的天主教徒,达威特对这个建议没有什么可反对的,不过也许他宁可先晾干他的衣服,填饱他的肚子。这时那惯于低头俯视的同伴已经消失在他们的视线以外。他们继续沿着他走过的那条路走去,一直走到了一个夹杂有茂密的灌木丛的古木参天的森林。森林里长长的林阴道纵横交错,通过林阴道,就像透过一幅远景画似的,可以看见小群的麋鹿以一种自我充分意识到受到保护的安全感在那儿悠然奔驰。 “你先前问我是不是一个好的弓箭手,”年轻的苏格兰人说道,“你只消给我一张弓、两只箭,你就会马上得到一块鹿肉。” “哎呀!我的年轻朋友,”他的同伴说道,“当心点,我那伙计特别关照鹿群。它们都在他的保护之下,他可是个严格的看守人。” “他的神情更像个屠夫,而不是个快活的护林人。”达威特答道,“我不能想象他那副阴险狡猾的样子会属于一个谙于高雅的园林之道的人物。” “唉,我年轻的朋友,”他的同伴回答说,“我那伙计初看起来其貌不扬,不过熟识他的人从没有对他抱有不满的。” 昆丁•达威特感到这话的语气中有某种奇特的含意和令人不快的东西。猛然望望说话的人,从他那嘴唇翘起的微笑,以及敏锐的黑眼睛同时一眨当中,看到某种表情,足以说明自己的不快深有道理。“我听人说到过强盗,”他寻思道,“还有狡猾的骗子和刺客——要是那家伙是个谋杀犯,而这老流氓是给他拉线的,该怎么办呢?我得提防着——除了苏格兰式的痛打一顿,他们将从我手上得不到什么东西。” 当他正这样寻思的时候,他们来到一块林间空地。在这里,高大的树木之间的间距更宽,地面上去掉了矮小的树丛,铺上了一层最柔软可爱的绿茵。由于灼热的阳光被树叶遮住,绿茵要比通常在法国看到的更美丽而柔和。在这个隐蔽的地方,树木主要是些庞大的捕树和榆树,丛丛簇簇,像树叶搭成了山峦。在这些壮丽的大地之子当中,人们可以在林间空地的一个最开阔的地方隐约看见一个低矮的小教堂,附近一条小溪涓涓流淌。教堂的建筑式样属最原始而简单的一种类型。旁边有一个很小的木屋,供一个呆在那儿定期给祭坛尽些义务的隐士或孤单的牧师居住。在拱门上的一个小神龛里立着圣胡伯特的一尊石像。石像的颈部绕着一只号角,脚边是一根拴猎犬的皮带。小教堂设在如此富于猎物的花园或猎场当中,就使得对这位圣徒化了的猎人所作的这一奉献显得特别得体。 老人在年轻的达威特的跟随下向着这祷告用的小建筑物走去。当他们走近的时候,身穿僧侣服的牧师出现在他们眼前。他正从他的小居室出来走到小教堂去,无疑是为了履行他的圣职。达威特向牧师恭敬地鞠了一躬,因为对圣职的尊敬要求如此。而他的同伴则带着更深的虔诚的表情一只脚跪了下来,接受这神圣的僧人的祝福,然后以显示其最衷心的忏悔和谦卑的步履和仪态跟着他走进教堂。 小教堂的内部是按照与保护神在世时的职业相适应的方式装饰起来的。在各个不同的国家作为狩猎对象的动物的最珍贵的毛皮代替了祭坛周围以及其他地方挂的壁毯和悬垂饰物。号角、弓弩、箭筒和其他象征狩猎的有代表性的东西围绕着四壁,并与鹿头、狼头及被视为狩猎野兽的其他一些动物的头颅混杂在一起。整个装饰带有一种很得体的森林意趣。而经过大大缩短的弥撒本身也表明是属于称之为狩猎弥撒的一类仪式。之所以采用这种简短的弥撒是因为那些高贵而有权势的人在出席这庄严的仪式时,通常都急不可待地想立刻开始他们心爱的娱乐。 不过,在这简短的仪式当中,达威特的同伴似乎表现出最严格的一丝不苟的态度。达威特并不那么专心于宗教思想,这时忍不住内心责怪自己竟对如此善良、谦恭的一个人曾抱有有损于其人格的怀疑。现在他不但不把他看作是强盗的同伴和同谋,相反,他费了好大的劲才克制住没有把他看作是一个圣徒般的人物。 弥撒结束以后,他们一道从小教堂里退了出来,那年长的对同伴说:“从这儿到村子里只有很短的一截路——现在你可以心安理得地用你的早点了——跟我来。” 当他们转向右边,并沿着一条似乎逐渐向上的小路走去时,他劝告他的同伴切莫走出道路以外,相反要尽可能地挨近路的中央。达威特忍不住要问一问为什么需要这般小心。 “年轻人,你现在已经离皇宫很近了。”领路的回答道,“哎呀!在这个地方行走和在你们自己那石南多的小山上行走是有所不同的。这里的每一码土地,除了我们所走的这条小路以外,都布满了危险,几乎无法通行,因为到处都是陷阱、机关,还配置着铡刀,其利刃割人的手足,就像一把篱刀砍掉一根山楂枝那么干净利落——此外,铁蒺藜会刺穿你的脚,陷坑深得可以把你永远埋在地里。你现在已经来到皇宫辖区以内,我们很快就可以看见城堡的正面。” “要是我是法国国王,”年轻人说道,“我就不会伤这么多脑筋来搞什么陷阱、机关,而是励精图治,以便没人敢于怀着恶意接近我的住所。至于那些怀着善意的吉祥的来客,则是多多益善。” 他的同伴环顾四周,装出惊恐的神情说道:“小声点,小声点,带天鹅绒袋的浪子先生!我忘了告诉你,这个地区的一个巨大危险是这些树的每一片叶子都像一只耳朵,它可以把人们说的每个字都传进国王的密室。” “我倒不在乎这个。”昆丁•达威特回答道,“我嘴里长着一个苏格兰人的舌头,我有足够的胆量敢于当着路易王的面说我想说的话,愿上帝保佑他——至于你谈到的耳朵,如果我看见它们是长在人头上的,我会用我的削木刀把它们割掉。” Chapter 3 The Castle Full in the midst a mighty pile arose, Where iron grated gates their strength oppose To each invading step -- and strong and steep, The battled walls arose, the fosse sunk deep. Slow round the fortress roll'd the sluggish stream, And high in middle air the warder's turrets gleam. ANONYMOUS While Durward and his acquaintance thus spoke, they came in sight of the whole front of the Castle of Plessis les Tours, which, even in those dangerous times, when the great found themselves obliged to reside within places of fortified strength, was distinguished for the extreme and jealous care with which it was watched and defended. From the verge of the wood where young Durward halted with his companion, in order to take a view of this royal residence, extended, or rather arose, though by a very gentle elevation, an open esplanade, devoid of trees and bushes of every description, excepting one gigantic and half withered old oak. This space was left open, according to the rules of fortification in all ages, in order that an enemy might not approach the walls under cover, or unobserved from the battlements, and beyond it arose the Castle itself. There were three external walls, battlemented and turreted from space to space and at each angle, the second enclosure rising higher than the first, and being built so as to command the exterior defence in case it was won by the enemy; and being again, in the same manner, itself commanded by the third and innermost barrier. Around the external wall, as the Frenchman informed his young companion (for as they stood lower than the foundation of the wall, he could not see it), was sunk a ditch of about twenty feet in depth, supplied with water by a dam head on the river Cher; or rather on one of its tributary branches. In front of the second enclosure, he said, there ran another fosse, and a third, both of the same unusual dimensions, was led between the second and the innermost inclosure. The verge, both of the outer and inner circuit of this triple moat was strongly fenced with palisades of iron, serving the purpose of what are called chevaux de frise in modern fortification, the top of each pale being divided into a cluster of sharp spikes, which seemed to render any attempt to climb over an act of self destruction. From within the innermost enclosure arose the Castle itself, containing buildings of all periods, crowded around, and united with the ancient and grim looking donjon keep, which was older than any of them, and which rose, like a black Ethiopian giant, high into the air, while the absence of any windows larger than shot holes, irregularly disposed for defence, gave the spectator the same unpleasant feeling which we experience on looking at a blind man. The other buildings seemed scarcely better adapted for the purposes of comfort, for the windows opened to an inner and enclosed courtyard; so that the whole external front looked much more like that of a prison than a palace. The reigning King had even increased this effect; for, desirous that the additions which he himself had made to the fortifications should be of a character not easily distinguished from the original building (for, like many jealous persons, he loved not that his suspicions should be observed), the darkest coloured brick and freestone were employed, and soot mingled with the lime, so as to give the whole Castle the same uniform tinge of extreme and rude antiquity. This formidable place had but one entrance -- at least Durward saw none along the spacious front, except where, in the centre of the first and outward boundary, arose two strong towers, the usual defences of a gateway; and he could observe their ordinary accompaniments, portcullis and drawbridge -- of which the first was lowered, and the last raised. Similar entrance towers were visible on the second and third bounding wall, but not in the same line with those on the outward circuit; because the passage did not cut right through the whole three enclosures at the same point, but, on the contrary, those who entered had to proceed nearly thirty yards betwixt the first and second wall, exposed, if their purpose were hostile, to missiles from both; and again, when the second boundary was passed, they must make a similar digression from the straight line, in order to attain the portal of the third and innermost enclosure; so that before gaining the outer court, which ran along the front of the building, two narrow and dangerous defiles were to be traversed under a flanking discharge of artillery, and three gates, defended in the strongest manner known to the age, were to be successively forced. Coming from a country alike desolated by foreign war and internal feuds -- a country, too, whose unequal and mountainous surface, abounding in precipices and torrents, affords so many situations of strength, young Durward was sufficiently acquainted with all the various contrivances by which men, in that stern age, endeavoured to secure their dwellings; but he frankly owned to his companion, that he did not think it had been in the power of art to do so much for defence, where nature had done so little; for the situation, as we have hinted, was merely the summit of a gentle elevation ascending upwards from the place where they were standing. To enhance his surprise, his companion told him that the environs of the Castle, except the single winding path by which the portal might be safely approached, were, like the thickets through which they had passed, surrounded with every species of hidden pitfall, snare, and gin, to entrap the wretch who should venture thither without a guide; that upon the walls were constructed certain cradles of iron, called swallows' nests, from which the sentinels, who were regularly posted there, could without being exposed to any risk, take deliberate aim at any who should attempt to enter without the proper signal or password of the day; and that the Archers of the Royal Guard performed that duty day and night, for which they received high pay, rich clothing, and much honour and profit at the hands of King Louis. "And now tell me, young man," he continued, "did you ever see so strong a fortress, and do you think there are men bold enough to storm it?" The young man looked long and fixedly on the place, the sight of which interested him so much that he had forgotten, in the eagerness of youthful curiosity, the wetness of his dress. His eye glanced, and his colour mounted to his cheek like that of a daring man who meditates an honourable action, as he replied, "It is a strong castle, and strongly guarded; but there is no impossibility to brave men." "Are there any in your country who could do such a feat?" said the elder, rather scornfully. "I will not affirm that," answered the youth; "but there are thousands that, in a good cause, would attempt as bold a deed." "Umph!" said the senior, "perhaps you are yourself such a gallant!" "I should sin if I were to boast where there is no danger," answered young Durward; "but my father has done as bold an act, and I trust I am no bastard." "Well," said his companion, smiling, "you might meet your match, and your kindred withal in the attempt; for the Scottish Archers of King Louis's Life Guards stand sentinels on yonder walls -- three hundred gentlemen of the best blood in your country." "And were I King Louis," said the youth, in reply, "I would trust my safety to the faith of the three hundred Scottish gentlemen, throw down my bounding walls to fill up the moat; call in my noble peers and paladins, and live as became me, amid breaking of lances in gallant tournaments, and feasting of days with nobles, and dancing of nights with ladies, and have no more fear of a foe than I have of a fly." His companion again smiled, and turning his back on the Castle, which, he observed, they had approached a little too nearly, he led the way again into the wood by a more broad and beaten path than they had yet trodden. "This," he said, "leads us to the village of Plessis, as it is called, where you, as a stranger, will find reasonable and honest accommodation. About two miles onward lies the fine city of Tours, which gives name to this rich and beautiful earldom. But the village of Plessis, or Plessis of the Park as it is sometimes called, from its vicinity to the royal residence, and the chase with which it is encircled, will yield you nearer and as convenient hospitality." "I thank you, kind master, for your information," said the Scot; "but my stay will be so short here, that, if I fail not in a morsel of meat, and a drink of something better than water, my necessities in Plessis, be it of the park or the pool, will be amply satisfied." "Nay," answered his companion, "I thought you had some friend to see in this quarter." "And so I have -- my mother's own brother," answered Durward; "and as pretty a man, before he left the braes of Angus (hills and moors of Angus in Forfarshire, Scotland.), as ever planted brogue on heather." "What is his name?" said the senior. "We will inquire him out for you; for it is not safe for you to go up to the Castle, where you might be taken for a spy." "Now, by my father's hand!" said the youth, "I taken for a spy! -- By Heaven, he shall brook cold iron that brands me with such a charge! -- But for my uncle's name, I care not who knows it -- it is Lesly. Lesly -- an honest and noble name." "And so it is, I doubt not," said the old man; "but there are three of the name in the Scottish Guard." "My uncle's name is Ludovic Lesly," said the young man. "Of the three Leslys," answered the merchant, "two are called Ludovic." "They call my kinsman Ludovic with the Scar," said Quentin. "Our family names are so common in a Scottish house, that, where there is no land in the case, we always give a to-name (surname)." "A nom de guerre (the war name; formerly taken by French soldiers on entering the service. Hence a fictitious name assumed for other purposes.), I suppose you to mean," answered his companion; "and the man you speak of, we, I think, call Le Balafre, from that scar on his face -- a proper man, and a good soldier. I wish I may be able to help you to an interview with him, for he belongs to a set of gentlemen whose duty is strict, and who do not often come out of garrison, unless in the immediate attendance on the King's person. -- And now, young man, answer me one question. I will wager you are desirous to take service with your uncle in the Scottish Guard. It is a great thing, if you propose so; especially as you are very young, and some years' experience is necessary for the high office which you aim at." "Perhaps I may have thought on some such thing," said Durward, carelessly; "but if I did, the fancy is off." "How so, young man?" said the Frenchman, something sternly, "Do you speak thus of a charge which the most noble of your countrymen feel themselves emulous to be admitted to?" "I wish them joy of it," said Quentin, composedly. "To speak plain, I should have liked the service of the French King full well; only, dress me as fine and feed me as high as you will, I love the open air better than being shut up in a cage or a swallow's nest yonder, as you call these same grated pepper boxes. Besides," he added, in a lower voice, "to speak truth, I love not the Castle when the covin tree bears such acorns as I see yonder." (The large tree in front of a Scottish castle was sometimes called so. It is difficult to trace the derivation; but at that distance from the castle the laird received guests of rank, and thither he conveyed them on their departure. S.) "I guess what you mean," said the Frenchman; "but speak yet more plainly." "To speak more plainly, then," said the youth, "there grows a fair oak some flight shot or so from yonder Castle -- and on that oak hangs a man in a gray jerkin, such as this which I wear." "Ay and indeed!" said the man of France -- "Pasques dieu! see what it is to have youthful eyes! Why, I did see something, but only took it for a raven among the branches. But the sight is no ways strange, young man; when the summer fades into autumn, and moonlight nights are long, and roads become unsafe, you will see a cluster of ten, ay of twenty such acorns, hanging on that old doddered oak. -- But what then? -- they are so many banners displayed to scare knaves; and for each rogue that hangs there, an honest man may reckon that there is a thief, a traitor, a robber on the highway, a pilleur and oppressor of the people the fewer in France. These, young man, are signs of our Sovereign's justice." "I would have hung them farther from my palace, though, were I King Louis," said the youth. "In my country, we hang up dead corbies where living corbies haunt, but not in our gardens or pigeon houses. The very scent of the carrion -- faugh -- reached my nostrils at the distance where we stood." "If you live to be an honest and loyal servant of your Prince, my good youth," answered the Frenchman, "you will know there is no perfume to match the scent of a dead traitor." "I shall never wish to live till I lose the scent of my nostrils or the sight of my eyes," said the Scot. "Show me a living traitor, and here are my hand and my weapon; but when life is out, hatred should not live longer. -- But here, I fancy, we come upon the village, where I hope to show you that neither ducking nor disgust have spoiled mine appetite for my breakfast. So my good friend, to the hostelrie, with all the speed you may. -- Yet, ere I accept of your hospitality, let me know by what name to call you." "Men call me Maitre Pierre," answered his companion. "I deal in no titles. A plain man, that can live on mine own good -- that is my designation." "So be it, Maitre Pierre," said Quentin, "and I am happy my good chance has thrown us together; for I want a word of seasonable advice, and can be thankful for it." While they spoke thus, the tower of the church and a tall wooden crucifix, rising above the trees, showed that they were at the entrance of the village. But Maitre Pierre, deflecting a little from the road, which had now joined an open and public causeway, said to his companion that the inn to which he intended to introduce him stood somewhat secluded, and received only the better sort of travellers. "If you mean those who travel with the better filled purses," answered the Scot, "I am none of the number, and will rather stand my chance of your flayers on the highway, than of your flayers in the hostelrie." "Pasques dieu!" said his guide, "how cautious your countrymen of Scotland are! An Englishman, now, throws himself headlong into a tavern, eats and drinks of the best, and never thinks of the reckoning till his belly is full. But you forget, Master Quentin, since Quentin is your name, you forget I owe you a breakfast for the wetting which my mistake pro- cured you. -- It is the penance of my offence towards you." "In truth," said the light hearted young man, "I had forgot wetting, offence, and penance, and all. I have walked my clothes dry, or nearly so, but I will not refuse your offer in kindness; for my dinner yesterday was a light one, and supper I had none. You seem an old and respectable burgess, and I see no reason why I should not accept your courtesy." The Frenchman smiled aside, for he saw plainly that the youth, while he was probably half famished, had yet some difficulty to reconcile himself to the thoughts of feeding at a stranger's cost, and was endeavouring to subdue his inward pride by the reflection, that, in such slight obligations, the acceptor performed as complaisant a part as he by whom the courtesy was offered. In the meanwhile, they descended a narrow lane, overshadowed by tall elms, at the bottom of which a gateway admitted them into the courtyard of an inn of unusual magnitude, calculated for the accommodation of the nobles and suitors who had business at the neighbouring Castle, where very seldom, and only when such hospitality was altogether unavoidable, did Louis XI permit any of his court to have apartments. A scutcheon, bearing the fleur de lys, hung over the principal door of the large irregular building; but there was about the yard and the offices little or none of the bustle which in those days, when attendants were maintained both in public and in private houses, marked that business was alive, and custom plenty. It seemed as if the stern and unsocial character of the royal mansion in the neighbourhood had communicated a portion of its solemn and terrific gloom even to a place designed according to universal custom elsewhere, for the temple of social indulgence, merry society, and good cheer. Maitre Pierre, without calling any one, and even without approaching the principal entrance, lifted the latch of a side door, and led the way into a large room, where a faggot was blazing on the hearth, and arrangements made for a substantial breakfast. "My gossip has been careful," said the Frenchman to the Scot. "You must be cold, and I have commanded a fire; you must be hungry, and you shall have breakfast presently." He whistled and the landlord entered -- answered Maitre Pierre's bon jour with a reverence -- but in no respect showed any part of the prating humour properly belonging to a French publican of all ages. "I expected a gentleman," said Maitre Pierre, "to order breakfast -- hath he done so?" In answer the landlord only bowed; and while he continued to bring, and arrange upon the table, the various articles of a comfortable meal, omitted to extol their merits by a single word. And yet the breakfast merited such eulogiums as French hosts are wont to confer upon their regales, as the reader will be informed in the next chapter. 正中央矗立着巍峨的宫殿, 铁栅门有力地抵挡着外来的侵袭。 城雉高耸,坚牢而陡峻, 底下是深深的壕堑。 城堡周围小溪潺潺地流着, 卫兵的塔楼在半空中隐现。 无名氏 达威特和他的新相识这样谈着的时候,已来到一个地方,从这里可以看见整个普莱西•勒•图尔城堡的正面。即使是在贵族们不得不使自己的住处禁卫森严的那个时代,这个城堡也显得十分突出,因为防范的严密已到了无以复加的地步。 年轻的达威特和他的伙伴在树林的边上停了下来,想欣赏一下帝王的宫殿。他们看见一片开阔的草地从树林的边缘伸延开来,或者说以十分徐缓的坡度舒展开来。草地上没有任何树木和灌木丛,而只有一棵庞大的、半枯萎的老橡树。人们是根据各个时代防卫的规则有意使草地保持空旷的,目的在于使敌人无法在掩护下,或不被城堞上的卫兵发现的情况下接近城墙。一过草地便是城堡的所在地。 城堡一共有三道外壁,每隔一段距离都在不同的角度配置着城雉和塔楼。第二道围墙要比第一道围墙耸立得更高,这是为了在万一被敌人占领时,有可能控制外围工事。同样,第二道围墙也受到第三道围墙以及最里层的障壁居高临下的控制。那法国人告诉他的年轻伙伴(因为他们这时站的位置要比墙脚更低,年轻人看不见他要讲的东西),在外墙的周围挖有一条约二十英尺深的壕堑,壕里的水是由谢尔河,更恰当地说,是由谢尔河一条支流上的堤坝截流引来的。他说,在第二道围墙的前面也有一条壕堑,而在第二道和最里层的围墙之间还挖有第三条壕堑。两者的宽度和深度都不同一般。在这“三重壕堑”的外圈和里圈的边缘都有坚固的铁栅保护。其用途相当于现代工事中的所谓马障。每根铁栅的顶部是一束尖钉,这势必使得想跨越它的任何企图都成为一种自我毁灭的行径。 在最后的那道围墙里面耸立着城堡。构成这城堡的是属于不同时期的几个楼房。它们挤在一起,由一个显得严峻可怕的古老的主塔楼起勾通作用。这主塔楼要比这里的任何一座楼房的年代都更为久远,看起来就像一个埃塞俄比亚巨人那样,高耸入云,而由于所有的窗口都和那些凌乱地散布在墙上的防御射击孔大小相似,从外面看来,不免使人产生一种目睹盲人的不愉快感觉。别的建筑物也不见得能满足居住舒适的要求,因为所有的窗子都开向里面一个有围墙的院子。因此,整个城堡从正面看来更像监狱而不像皇宫。当朝国王更为这外观增辉添色。为了使他自己修建的补充防御工事不致和原来的轻易区别开来(和许多戒心很重的人们一样,他很不喜欢让别人注意到他有戒心),他使用的都是颜色最深的砖石,并且石灰里掺上烟灰,使整个城堡带上一种统一、均匀的原始古朴的色调。 这森严可怕的地方只有一个人口。至少达威特沿着城堡那宽阔的前部看去时,就只看见一个人口。那人口是在第一道外墙的中央,两旁耸立着坚固的塔楼,作为大门的常规防御工事。他还观察到常见的一些附属工事,铁门和吊桥——此刻铁门已放下来,而吊桥则被提了上去。第二和第三道围墙的人口处也可以看到类似的塔楼,但与外墙人口处的塔楼不在一条线上。作为人口的通道并不是在同一点上穿过三道围墙,而恰好相反。穿过第一道围墙的人得在第一道和第二道墙之间行进三十码左右的距离。如果怀着敌意进来,他们就会受到两边箭石的夹击。同样,当他们穿过了第二道墙之后,也得偏离直线照样绕一下路才能抵达最里层的第三道围墙的大门。因此,要想进入城堡大楼前的外院,敌人就必须在两边受到箭石袭击的情况下穿过两个危险的狭道,还必须成功地突破以当代最坚固的方式进行防守的三道大门。 达威特来自一个充满内忧外患的国家。它具有险峻多山的地势,到处都是悬崖峭壁和湍急的水流,地形极易防守。所以这年轻人相当熟悉在那严酷的时代人们力图保护自己的住所而发明的各种巧妙办法;但他向同伴坦率地承认,他从没料到,在大自然没提供防御条件的地方,却能设计出这么多的办法,匠心独运地来弥补天工之不足。因为,正如我们提到过的,城堡只不过是建立在从他们所站的地点缓缓上升的那个斜坡的坡顶。 使他更为吃惊的是,他的同伴告诉他,城堡的周围,除开一条可以安全抵达大门的曲折小径以外,其余地方也都像他们刚穿过的丛林那样,布满了各种隐蔽的陷阱、机关,以捕捉没有向导带领而敢于闯进的不速之客。他还说墙上都造了一些称之为燕窝的铁笼子。布置在那儿的哨兵不冒任何风险就能瞄准那些不知道他们的暗号和当天口令而擅自进来的生人。皇家卫队的射手们不分昼夜地执行这一勤务,为此路易工给他们极高的报酬、华丽的服装,还有很多的荣誉和好处。“你说说吧,年轻人,”他继续讲道,“你可曾见到过这样坚固的堡垒,你是否以为有人胆大包天,竟敢进攻这样一个堡垒?” 年轻人久久地凝望着这个地方,越看越感兴趣,以至在年轻人好奇心的影响下,竟忘了他还穿着湿衣服。 他像正在考虑采取果敢而光荣的行动的人那样,一边闪着眼睛,面颊绊红,一边回答道:“这是个坚固的城堡,防守严密。但对于勇敢的人说来,并没有什么办不到的事。” “在你们国家有谁能干这种了不起的事吗?”老年人相当轻蔑地说道。 “我不愿打保票,”年轻人回答道,“不过我们那儿有成千上万的人会为了正义事业尝试干这种冒险事。” “哼!”长者说道,“也许你自己就是这样一个勇士?” “如果我在没有危险的形势下吹牛皮,那我就是罪过。”年轻的达威特回答道,“不过,我父亲就干过这种勇敢的事,而我自信我并不是一个胆小的杂种。” “行!”他的伙伴微笑着说道,“不过,干这种冒险事你就会碰到你的对手,而且是你的同胞,因为在那边墙上站岗的正是路易王卫队的苏格兰射手——是你们国家三百个出身最好的贵族。” “要是我是路易王,”年轻人回答道,“我就把我的人身安全托付给这三百个苏格兰贵族,充分相信他们的忠诚,而把围墙拆下来填平护城河,并把我的贵族和骑士们邀集在身边,过与国王地位相称的生活。我要在威武壮观的比武会上观看长矛手决斗,我要白天和贵族们欢宴,晚上和什女们跳舞;我要像毫不惧怕苍蝇那样毫不惧怕我的敌人。” 他的同伴又微笑起来。这时他转过身去背对着城堡,因为他发觉他们已离它太近。接着他带领年轻人通过一条他们没走过,但常有人来往的更宽的小径回到原来那个树林。“这条小路会把我们带到一个叫做普莱西的村庄。”他说道,“作为一个异乡人,你将在那儿得到诚实无欺的款待。再往上大约两英里就是美丽的图尔城。这个美丽而富饶的伯爵领地正是由它而得名。不过我们要去的普莱西村,因为它离皇宫很近,有时也叫做御花园的普莱西村,而它周围有很多猎物,将会为你提供更殷勤的招待。” “善良的老爷,我很感谢您给我介绍这个情况,”那苏格兰人说道,“不过我在这儿呆的时间很短,因此,只要我能得到一点肉吃吃,一点比白开水稍好的东西喝喝,那么管它叫花园的普莱西也罢,池塘的普莱西也罢,我有求于这个村庄的就将大大得到满足。” “不,”他的同伴答道,“我想,你在这儿有个什么朋友要拜访。” “我的确有个朋友要拜访——那是我妈的亲兄弟,”达威特回答说,“而且,在他离开安古斯山以前,还是脚踏结实的厚底皮鞋。在石南地里呆过的最漂亮的小伙子。” “他叫什么名字?”年长者问道,“我可以代你打听他。你一个人上城堡很不安全。人们会把你当作奸细。” “嘿,我的天!”年轻人说道,“把我当作奸细!——上帝在上,谁捏造我这个罪状,就清谁试试我宝剑的厉害。至于我舅舅的名字,我倒不在乎别人知道——他叫莱斯利。莱斯利是个忠厚而高贵的名字。” “这我不怀疑,’老人说道,“不过,在苏格兰卫队里有三个人叫这个名字。” “我舅舅的名字是卢德维克•莱斯利。”年轻人说道。 “三个莱斯利当中,”那商人对答道,“就有两个叫卢德维克。” “人们把我舅舅叫做带伤疤的卢德维克。”昆丁说道,“我们的姓在苏格兰氏族中是非常普通的,因此,在不牵涉土地的情况下,我们总是要加上一个小名。” “我想你指的是化名,”他的同伴回答道,“你提到的这个人,我想是由于他脸上的伤疤才叫他做勒巴拉弗雷。他是个挺不错的人,一个好武士。我希望我能帮助你和他见面,因为他是负有严格保卫责任的显要人物。除非直接陪伴国王外出,这些人是不会经常离开他们的卫戍岗位的——好了,年轻人,你回答我一个问题吧。我敢打赌,你是想和你的舅父一道在苏格兰卫队里服役。要是你有这个打算,那可是一件大事,特别是因为你还非常年轻,而要获得你所追求的那个高贵职位是需要好些年经验的。” “也许我曾想过这种事,”达威特漫不经心地说道,“不过一旦真想,吸引力也就消失了。” “怎么会呢,年轻人?”那法国人有点严峻地说道,“难道你就这样来评论你那些最高贵的同胞们急于获得的差事?” “我祝他们幸福。”昆丁不动声色地讲,“坦白地说,本来我也许很想为法国国王服役。不过,不管你让我穿得多么华丽,吃得多么高级,我还是更热爱自由的空气,而不愿关在那种笼子里,或你们称之为燕窝的那种铁格子胡椒罐里。此外,”他低声补充说道,“说真的,假如某个城堡前的科温大树上结着像那边树上的这类椽子,我就不会喜欢这个城堡。” “我猜出你是什么意思了,”那法国人说道,“不过请你说得更清楚些。” “好,我就把话说得更清楚些。离城堡一箭之遥的地方长着一株漂亮的橡树——在那株橡树上吊着一个穿我这种灰色紧身上衣的男人。” “一点不错!”那法国人说道,“天哪!看来就应该有年轻人的锐利眼光!嘿,我可的确看见点什么,不过只把它当作树枝中间藏着的一只乌鸦。年轻人,其实这也没有什么可奇怪的,在夏日过去,秋天来临,月夜很长,道路变得不安全的时候,你会看到十个,甚至二十个一束的这类椽子挂在那株老朽的橡树上——不过,那有什么呢?——它们都是为了吓退歹人,发出警告的讯号旗。每有一个恶棍挂在那儿,老实人就可以指望法国少一个小偷、逆贼和在官道上公开抢劫的盗匪,或剥削压迫百姓的恶棍。年轻人,这些都是我们的君主执法如山的明证。” “要是我是路易王,我就会把他们吊在离我的皇宫更远的地方。”年轻人说道,“在苏格兰,我们是把死乌鸦吊在活乌鸦常去的地方,而不是吊在我们的花园里或鸽房里。呸,尽管我们站得这么远,那腐尸的臭气还会飘人我的鼻孔里。” “我的年轻人,如果你想成为你们君主的一个忠诚的仆人,”那法国人回答道,“那你就会发现没有哪种香味能比得上一个被处死的逆贼的尸臭气。” “要是这样,我就宁肯不活,除非我失去嗅觉和视觉。”苏格兰人说道,“您还不如指给我一个活的逆贼。我的手和我的武器将知道如何对付他。不过,人一死,仇恨就该了结。——我想,我们快进村了。我希望我能向您表明,不管是在河里吃了口水,还是感到恶心,都没有败坏我吃早点的胃口。好朋友,请您尽快领我去客店吧——不过在我接受您好客的招待之前,请告诉我该怎样称呼您。” “就叫我皮埃尔老爷好了,”他的同伴回答道,“我不在乎头衔和称号。做一个依靠自己的本事谋生的平凡人——这就是我的志向。” “那好吧,皮埃尔老爷,”昆丁说道,“我很高兴有这么好的机会使我们碰在一起。我正需要有人给我及时出出主意。我懂得该如何向他表示感激。” 他们这样说着的时候,看到教堂尖塔和高高的木十字架突出于树枝之上,这说明他们已来到了那个村庄。 他们走的这条路已经和一条开阔的公共堤道相联结,但皮埃尔老爷却领着他离开这条路向一旁走去,并对他的同伴说,他打算领他去的那家客店要稍微幽静一些,只接待比较高级的旅客。 “如果您指的是那些钱袋装得更满满的旅客,”那苏格兰人回答道,“那我可不敢当,我宁愿碰碰运气和你们官道上的强盗打交道,也不肯和你们客店里的强盗打交道!” “老天爷呀!”领路的人说道,“瞧你们苏格兰人做事多么谨慎呀!要是一个英国人,他就会一头钻进一家酒店,要上最好的酒菜一醉方休,未填饱肚子以前决不考虑算账的事。不过,昆丁少爷(既然你名叫昆丁),你忘了,由于我的过错使你在河里打湿了衣服,我还欠你一顿早餐哩。这是我冒犯了你,向你表示一点道歉的意思。” “说实在的,”心情愉快的年轻人说道,“您害得我打湿了衣服,冒犯了我,要表示歉意等等,我全都忘了。走了这么多路,我的衣服也已经晾干,或差不多快晾干。不过,我也不会拒绝您盛情的邀请。我昨天吃的那顿午餐不怎么丰盛,晚饭我也没吃。看来您是个年老而体面的市民,我想没什么理由不接受您的邀请。” 那法国人把头转向一边微笑起来,因为他清楚地了解这年轻人尽管可能饿得够呛,但又不甘心承认自己白吃陌生人的东西,因此正力图求助于一种想法来克服自己的自尊心。其找到的论据是在这类小恩小惠的问题上,接受和发出邀请都能使对方偷快。 这时他们已走下一棵高大的榆树荫蔽着的小径,在小径的尽头处通过一道门走进一家大旅店的庭院。这家旅店专门接待来邻近的城堡办差事的贵族或求见国王的要人,因为只有在很少的情况下,在按照礼节实在无法回避时,路易十一才许可在他的皇宫里布置客房接待客人。在这不整齐的大楼房的门上挂着一个饰有百合花皇家标志的盾牌。但在庭院及其附属房舍的周围都几乎没有当时那个时代公私客店雇有许多招待,生意兴隆、顾客盈门的忙碌气氛。似乎近旁那个严峻而孤高的皇宫,也把它一部分严肃可怖的阴森气氛传染给了这个殿堂般的建筑物,而按照外地的习惯,它本应成为人们纵情地进行社交娱乐的场所。 皮埃尔老爷没有叫谁一声,甚至也没有走近大门的人口,就打开一道旁门的门闩,带头走进了一间大房子。这时一大块木柴正在壁炉里熊熊燃烧,人们正在安排一顿丰盛的早餐。 “我的老伙计办事很细心,”那法国人对苏格兰人讲,“你一定很冷,我已叫人事先生好了火。你肯定也很饿了,早餐马上给你端来。” 他吹吹口哨。店主走了进来,并尊敬地回答了皮埃尔老爷向他道的“早安”,但丝毫没表现出任何时代一个法国的酒店老板那种爱唠叨的幽默风趣。 “我请一位绅士来订早餐,”皮埃尔老爷说道,“他订好了吗?” 店主只以鞠躬行礼作为回答。接着他就把各种点心菜肴一一端来摆在桌上。他没说一句话来赞扬它们的美味。固然法国的东道主们往往喜欢夸耀他们的菜肴,但就这顿早餐来说,任何溢美之词它都当之无愧。我将在下一章向读者作些介绍。 Chapter 4 The Dejeuner Sacred heaven! what masticators! what bread! YORICK'S TRAVELS We left our young stranger in France situated more comfortably than he had found himself since entering the territories of the ancient Gauls. The breakfast, as we hinted in the conclusion of the last chapter, was admirable. There was a pate de Perigord, over which a gastronome would have wished to live and die, like Homer's lotus eaters (see the Odyssey, chap. ix, where Odysseus arrives at the land of the Lotus eaters: "whosoever of them ate the lotus's honeyed fruit resolved to bring tidings back no more and never to leave the place, but with the Lotus eaters there desired to stay, to feed on lotus and forget his going home." Palmer's Translation.), forgetful of kin, native country, and all social obligations whatever. Its vast walls of magnificent crust seemed raised like the bulwarks of some rich metropolitan city, an emblem of the wealth which they are designed to protect. There was a delicate ragout, with just that petit point de l'ail (a little flavor of garlic. The French is ungrammatical.) which Gascons love, and Scottishmen do not hate. There was, besides, a delicate ham, which had once supported a noble wild boar in the neighbouring wood of Mountrichart. There was the most exquisite white bread, made into little round loaves called boules (whence the bakers took their French name of boulangers), of which the crust was so inviting, that, even with water alone, it would have been a delicacy. But the water was not alone, for there was a flask of leather called bottrine, which contained about a quart of exquisite Vin de Beaulne. So many good things might have created appetite under the ribs of death. What effect, then, must they have produced upon a youngster of scarce twenty, who (for the truth must be told) had eaten little for the two last days, save the scarcely ripe fruit which chance afforded him an opportunity of plucking, and a very moderate portion of barley bread? He threw himself upon the ragout, and the plate was presently vacant -- he attacked the mighty pasty, marched deep into the bowels of the land, and seasoning his enormous meal with an occasional cup of wine, returned to the charge again and again, to the astonishment of mine host, and the amusement of Maitre Pierre. The latter indeed, probably because he found himself the author of a kinder action than he had thought of, seemed delighted with the appetite of the young Scot; and when, at length, he observed that his exertions began to languish, endeavoured to stimulate him to new efforts by ordering confections, darioles (cream cakes), and any other light dainties he could think of, to entice the youth to continue his meal. While thus engaged, Maitre Pierre's countenance expressed a kind of good humour almost amounting to benevolence, which appeared remote from its ordinary sharp, caustic, and severe character. The aged almost always sympathize with the enjoyments of youth and with its exertions of every kind, when the mind of the spectator rests on its natural poise and is not disturbed by inward envy or idle emulation. Quentin Durward also, while thus agreeably employed, could do no otherwise than discover that the countenance of his entertainer, which he had at first found so unprepossessing, mended when it was seen under the influence of the Vin de Beaulne, and there was kindness in the tone with which he reproached Maitre Pierre, that he amused himself with laughing at his appetite, without eating anything himself. "I am doing penance," said Maitre Pierre, "and may not eat anything before noon, save some comfiture and a cup of water. -- Bid yonder lady," he added, turning to the innkeeper, "bring them hither to me." The innkeeper left the room, and Maitre Pierre proceeded, "Well, have I kept faith with you concerning the breakfast I promised you?" "The best meal I have eaten," said the youth, "since I left Glen Houlakin." "Glen -- what?" demanded Maitre Pierre. "Are you going to raise the devil, that you use such long tailed words?" "Glen Houlakin," answered Quentin good humouredly, "which is to say the Glen of the Midges, is the name of our ancient patrimony, my good sir. You have bought the right to laugh at the sound, if you please." "I have not the least intention to offend," said the old man; "but I was about to say, since you like your present meal so well, that the Scottish Archers of the guard eat as good a one, or a better, every day." "No wonder," said Durward; "for if they be shut up in the swallows' nests all night, they must needs have a curious appetite in the morning." "And plenty to gratify it upon," said Maitre Pierre. "They need not, like the Burgundians, choose a bare back, that they may have a full belly -- they dress like counts, and feast like abbots." "It is well for them," said Durward. "And wherefore will you not take service here, young man? Your uncle might, I dare say, have you placed on the file when there should a vacancy occur. And, hark in your ear, I myself have some little interest, and might be of some use to you. You can ride, I presume, as well as draw the bow?" "Our race are as good horsemen as ever put a plated shoe into a steel stirrup; and I know not but I might accept of your kind offer. Yet, look you, food and raiment are needful things, but, in my case, men think of honour, and advancement, and brave deeds of arms. Your King Louis -- God bless him, for he is a friend and ally of Scotland -- but he lies here in this castle, or only rides about from one fortified town to another; and gains cities and provinces by politic embassies, and not in fair fighting. Now, for me, I am of the Douglases' mind, who always kept the fields, because they loved better to hear the lark sing than the mouse squeak." "Young man," said Maitre Pierre, "do not judge too rashly of the actions of sovereigns. Louis seeks to spare the blood of his subjects, and cares not for his own. He showed himself a man of courage at Montl'hery." "Ay, but that was some dozen years ago or more," answered the youth -- "I should like to follow a master that would keep his honour as bright as his shield, and always venture foremost in the very throng of the battle." "Why did you not tarry at Brussels, then, with the Duke of Burgundy? He would put you in the way to have your bones broken every day; and, rather than fail, would do the job for you himself -- especially if he heard that you had beaten his forester." "Very true," said Quentin; "my unhappy chance has shut that door against me." "Nay, there are plenty of daredevils abroad, with whom mad youngsters may find service," said his adviser. "What think you, for example, of William de la Marck?" "What!" exclaimed Durward, "serve Him with the Beard -- serve the Wild Boar of Ardennes -- a captain of pillagers and murderers, who would take a man's life for the value of his gaberdine, and who slays priests and pilgrims as if they were so many lance knights and men at arms? It would be a blot on my father's scutcheon for ever." "Well, my young hot blood," replied Maitre Pierre, "if you hold the Sanglier (Wild Boar) too unscrupulous, wherefore not follow the young Duke of Gueldres?" (Adolphus, son of Arnold and of Catherine de Bourbon. . . . He made war against his father; in which unnatural strife he made the old man prisoner, and used him with the most brutal violence, proceeding, it is said, even to the length of striking him with his hand. Arnold, in resentment of this usage, disinherited the unprincipled wretch, and sold to Charles of Burgundy whatever rights he had over the duchy of Gueldres and earldom of Zutphen. . . . S.) "Follow the foul fiend as soon," said Quentin. "Hark in your ear -- he is a burden too heavy for earth to carry -- hell gapes for him! Men say that he keeps his own father imprisoned, and that he has even struck him -- can you believe it?" Maitre Pierre seemed somewhat disconcerted with the naive horror with which the young Scotsman spoke of filial ingratitude, and he answered, "You know not, young man, how short a while the relations of blood subsist amongst those of elevated rank;" then changed the tone of feeling in which he had begun to speak, and added, gaily, "besides, if the Duke has beaten his father, I warrant you his father hath beaten him of old, so it is but a clearing of scores." "I marvel to hear you speak thus," said the Scot, colouring with indignation; "gray hairs such as yours ought to have fitter subjects for jesting. If the old Duke did beat his son in childhood, he beat him not enough; for better he had died under the rod, than have lived to make the Christian world ashamed that such a monster had ever been baptized." "At this rate," said Maitre Pierre, "as you weigh the characters of each prince and leader, I think you had better become a captain yourself; for where will one so wise find a chieftain fit to command him?" "You laugh at me, Maitre Pierre," said the youth, good humouredly, "and perhaps you are right; but you have not named a man who is a gallant leader, and keeps a brave party up here, under whom a man might seek service well enough." "I cannot guess whom you mean." "Why, he that hangs like Mahomet's coffin (there is a tradition that Mahomet's coffin is suspended in mid air Without any support, the most generally accepted explanation being that the coffin is of iron and is placed between two magnets) (a curse be upon Mahomet!) between the two loadstones -- he that no man can call either French or Burgundian, but who knows to hold the balance between them both, and makes both of them fear and serve him, for as great princes as they be." "I cannot guess whom you mean," said Maitre Pierre, thoughtfully. "Why, whom should I mean but the noble Louis de Luxembourg, Count of Saint Paul, the High Constable of France? Yonder he makes his place good with his gallant little army, holding his head as high as either King Louis or Duke Charles, and balancing between them like the boy who stands on the midst of a plank, while two others are swinging on the opposite ends." (This part of Louis XI's reign was much embarrassed by the intrigues of the Constable Saint Paul, who affected independence, and carried on intrigues with England, France, and Burgundy at the same time. According to the usual fate of such variable politicians, the Constable ended by drawing upon himself the animosity of all the powerful neighbours whom he had in their turn amused and deceived. He was delivered up by the Duke of Burgundy to the King of France, tried, and hastily executed for treason, A. D. 1475. S.) "He is in danger of the worst fall of the three," said Maitre Pierre. "And hark ye, my young friend, you who hold pillaging such a crime, do you know that your politic Count of Saint Paul was the first who set the example of burning the country during the time of war? and that before the shameful devastation which he committed, open towns and villages, which made no resistance, were spared on all sides?" "Nay, faith," said Durward, "if that be the case, I shall begin to think no one of these great men is much better than another, and that a choice among them is but like choosing a tree to be hung upon. But this Count de Saint Paul, this Constable, hath possessed himself by clean conveyance of the town which takes its name from my honoured saint and patron, Saint Quentin" (it was by his possession of this town of Saint Quentin that the Constable was able to carry on those political intrigues which finally cost him so dear. S.) (here he crossed himself), "and methinks were I dwelling there, my holy patron would keep some look out for me -- he has not so many named after him as your more popular saints -- and yet he must have forgotten me, poor Quentin Durward, his spiritual godson, since he lets me go one day without food, and leaves me the next morning to the harbourage of Saint Julian, and the chance courtesy of a stranger, purchased by a ducking in the renowned river Cher, or one of its tributaries." "Blaspheme not the saints, my young friend," said Maitre Pierre. "Saint Julian is the faithful patron of travellers; and, peradventure, the blessed Saint Quentin hath done more and better for thee than thou art aware of." As he spoke, the door opened, and a girl rather above than under fifteen years old, entered with a platter, covered with damask, on which was placed a small saucer of the dried plums which have always added to the reputation of Tours, and a cup of the curiously chased plate which the goldsmiths of that city were anciently famous for executing with a delicacy of workmanship that distinguished them from the other cities of France, and even excelled the skill of the metropolis. The form of the goblet was so elegant that Durward thought not of observing closely whether the material was of silver, or like what had been placed before himself, of a baser metal, but so well burnished as to resemble the richer ore. But the sight of the young person by whom this service was executed attracted Durward's attention far more than the petty minutiae of the duty which she performed. He speedily made the discovery that a quantity of long black tresses, which, in the maiden fashion of his own country, were unadorned by any ornament, except a single chaplet lightly woven out of ivy leaves, formed a veil around a countenance which, in its regular features, dark eyes, and pensive expression, resembled that of Melpomene (the Muse of tragedy), though there was a faint glow on the cheek, and an intelligence on the lips and in the eye, which made it seem that gaiety was not foreign to a countenance so expressive, although it might not be its most habitual expression. Quentin even thought he could discern that depressing circumstances were the cause why a countenance so young and so lovely was graver than belongs to early beauty; and as the romantic imagination of youth is rapid in drawing conclusions from slight premises, he was pleased to infer, from what follows, that the fate of this beautiful vision was wrapped in silence and mystery. "How now, Jacqueline?" said Maitre Pierre, when she entered the apartment. "Wherefore this? Did I not desire that Dame Perette should bring what I wanted? -- Pasques dieu! -- Is she, or does she think herself, too good to serve me?" "My kinswoman is ill at ease," answered Jacqueline, in a hurried yet a humble tone, -- "ill at ease, and keeps her chamber." "She keeps it alone, I hope!" replied Maitre Pierre, with some emphasis; "I am vieux routier (one who is experienced in the ways of the world), and none of those upon whom feigned disorders pass for apologies." Jacqueline turned pale, and even tottered at the answer of Maitre Pierre; for it must be owned that his voice and looks, at all times harsh, caustic, and unpleasing, had, when he expressed anger or suspicion, an effect both sinister and alarming. The mountain chivalry of Quentin Durward was instantly awakened, and he hastened to approach Jacqueline and relieve her of the burden she bore, and which she passively resigned to him, while, with a timid and anxious look, she watched the countenance of the angry burgess. It was not in nature to resist the piercing and pity craving expression of her looks, and Maitre Pierre proceeded, not merely with an air of diminished displeasure, but with as much gentleness as he could assume in countenance and manner, "I blame not thee, Jacqueline, and thou art too young to be, what it is pity to think thou must be one day -- a false and treacherous thing, like the rest of thy giddy sex. No man ever lived to man's estate, but he had the opportunity to know you all (he (Louis) entertained great contempt for the understanding, and not less for the character, of the fair sex. S.). Here is a Scottish cavalier will tell you the same." Jacqueline looked for an instant on the young stranger, as if to obey Maitre Pierre, but the glance, momentary as it was, appeared to Durward a pathetic appeal to him for support and sympathy; and with the promptitude dictated by the feelings of youth, and the romantic veneration for the female sex inspired by his education, he answered hastily that he would throw down his gage to any antagonist, of equal rank and equal age, who should presume to say such a countenance as that which he now looked upon, could be animated by other than the purest and the truest mind. The young woman grew deadly pale, and cast an apprehensive glance upon Maitre Pierre, in whom the bravado of the young gallant seemed only to excite laughter, more scornful than applausive. Quentin, whose second thoughts generally corrected the first, though sometimes after they had found utterance, blushed deeply at having uttered what might be construed into an empty boast in presence of an old man of a peaceful profession; and as a sort of just and appropriate penance, resolved patiently to submit to the ridicule which he had incurred. He offered the cup and trencher to Maitre Pierre with a blush in his cheek, and a humiliation of countenance which endeavoured to disguise itself under an embarrassed smile. "You are a foolish young man," said Maitre Pierre, "and know as little of women as of princes, -- whose hearts," he said, crossing himself devoutly, "God keeps in his right hand." "And who keeps those of the women, then?" said Quentin, resolved, if he could help it, not to be borne down by the assumed superiority of this extraordinary old man, whose lofty and careless manner possessed an influence over him of which he felt ashamed. "I am afraid you must ask of them in another quarter," said Maitre Pierre, composedly. Quentin was again rebuffed, but not utterly disconcerted. "Surely," he said to himself, "I do not pay this same burgess of Tours all the deference which I yield him, on account of the miserable obligation of a breakfast, though it was a right good and substantial meal. Dogs and hawks are attached by feeding only -- man must have kindness, if you would bind him with the cords of affection and obligation. But he is an extraordinary person; and that beautiful emanation that is even now vanishing -- surely a thing so fair belongs not to this mean place, belongs not even to the money gathering merchant himself, though he seems to exert authority over her, as doubtless he does over all whom chance brings within his little circle. It is wonderful what ideas of consequence these Flemings and Frenchmen attach to wealth -- so much more than wealth deserves, that I suppose this old merchant thinks the civility I pay to his age is given to his money. I a Scottish gentleman of blood and coat armour, and he a mechanic of Tours!" Such were the thoughts which hastily traversed the mind of young Durward; while Maitre Pierre said with a smile, and at the same time patting Jacqueline's heed, from which hung down her long tresses, "This young man will serve me, Jacqueline, thou mayst withdraw. I will tell thy negligent kinswoman she does ill to expose thee to be gazed on unnecessarily." "It was only to wait on you," said the maiden. "I trust you will not be displeased with my kinswoman, since" -- "Pasques dieu!" said the merchant, interrupting her, but not harshly, "do you bandy words with me, you brat, or stay you to gaze upon the youngster here? -- Begone -- he is noble, and his services will suffice me." Jacqueline vanished; and so much was Quentin Durward interested in her sudden disappearance that it broke his previous thread of reflection, and he complied mechanically when Maitre Pierre said, in the tone of one accustomed to be obeyed, as he threw himself carelessly upon a large easy chair, "Place that tray beside me." The merchant then let his dark eyebrows sink over his keen eyes so that the last became scarce visible, or but shot forth occasionally a quick and vivid ray, like those of the sun setting behind a dark cloud, through which its beams are occasionally darted, but singly and for an instant. "That is a beautiful creature," said the old man at last, raising his head, and looking steadily and firmly at Quentin, when he put the question, -- "a lovely girl to be the servant of an auberge (an inn)? She might grace the board of an honest burgess; but 'tis a vile education, a base origin." It sometimes happens that a chance shot will demolish a noble castle in the air, and the architect on such occasions entertains little goodwill towards him who fires it, although the damage on the offender's part may be wholly unintentional. Quentin was disconcerted, and was disposed to be angry -- he himself knew not why -- with this old man, for acquainting him that this beautiful creature was neither more nor less than what her occupation announced; the servant of the auberge -- an upper servant, indeed, and probably a niece of the landlord, or such like; but still a domestic, and obliged to comply with the humour of the customers, and particularly of Maitre Pierre, who probably had sufficiency of whims, and was rich enough to ensure their being attended to. The thought, the lingering thought, again returned on him, that he ought to make the old gentleman understand the difference betwixt their conditions, and call on him to mark, that, how rich soever he might be, his wealth put him on no level with a Durward of Glen Houlakin. Yet, whenever he looked on Maitre Pierre's countenance with such a purpose, there was, notwithstanding the downcast look, pinched features, and mean and miserly dress, something which prevented the young man from asserting the superiority over the merchant which he conceived himself to possess. On the contrary, the oftener and more fixedly Quentin looked at him, the stronger became his curiosity to know who or what this man actually was; and he set him down internally for at least a Syndic or high magistrate of Tours, or one who was, in some way or other, in the full habit of exacting and receiving deference. Meantime, the merchant seemed again sunk into a reverie, from which he raised himself only to make the sign of the cross devoutly, and to eat some of the dried fruit, with a morsel of biscuit. He then signed to Quentin to give him the cup, adding, however, by way of question, as he presented it, "You are noble, you say?" "I surely am," replied the Scot, "if fifteen descents can make me so -- so I told you before. But do not constrain yourself on that account, Maitre Pierre -- I have always been taught it is the duty of the young to assist the more aged." "An excellent maxim," said the merchant, availing himself of the youth's assistance in handing the cup, and filling it from a ewer which seemed of the same materials with the goblet, without any of those scruples in point of propriety which, perhaps, Quentin had expected to excite. "The devil take the ease and familiarity of this old mechanical burgher!" said Durward once more to himself. "He uses the attendance of a noble Scottish gentleman with as little ceremony as I would that of a gillie from Glen Isla." The merchant, in the meanwhile, having finished his cup of water, said to his companion, "From the zeal with which you seem to relish the Vin de Beaulne, I fancy you would not care much to pledge me in this elemental liquor. But I have an elixir about me which can convert even the rock water into the richest wines of France." As he spoke, he took a large purse from his bosom, made of the fur of the sea otter, and streamed a shower of small silver pieces into the goblet, until the cup, which was but a small one, was more than half full. "You have reason to be more thankful, young man," said Maitre Pierre, "both to your patron Saint Quentin and to Saint Julian, than you seemed to be but now. I would advise you to bestow alms in their name. Remain in this hostelry until you see your kinsman, Le Balafre, who will be relieved from guard in the afternoon. I will cause him to be acquainted that he may find you here, for I have business in the Castle." Quentin Durward would have said something to have excused himself from accepting the profuse liberality of his new friend; but Maitre Pierre, bending his dark brows, and erecting his stooping figure into an attitude of more dignity than he had yet seen him assume, said in a tone of authority, "No reply, young man, but do what you are commanded." With these words he left the apartment, making a sign, as he departed, that Quentin must not follow him. The young Scotsman stood astounded, and knew not what to think of the matter. His first most natural, though perhaps not most dignified impulse, drove him to peer into the silver goblet, which assuredly was more than half full of silver pieces to the number of several scores, of which perhaps Quentin had never called twenty his own at one time during the course of his whole life. But could he reconcile it to his dignity as a gentleman, to accept the money of this wealthy plebeian? -- This was a trying question; for, though he had secured a good breakfast, it was no great reserve upon which to travel either back to Dijon, in case he chose to hazard the wrath and enter the service of the Duke of Burgundy, or to Saint Quentin, if he fixed on that of the Constable Saint Paul; for to one of those powers, if not to the king of France, he was determined to offer his services. He perhaps took the wisest resolution in the circumstances, in resolving to be guided by the advice of his uncle; and, in the meantime, he put the money into his velvet hawking pouch, and called for the landlord of the house, in order to restore the silver cup -- resolving, at the same time, to ask him some questions about this liberal and authoritative merchant. The man of the house appeared presently; and, if not more communicative, was at least more loquacious, than he had been formerly. He positively declined to take back the silver cup. It was none of his, he said, but Maitre Pierre's, who had bestowed it on his guest. He had, indeed, four silver hanaps of his own, which had been left him by his grandmother, of happy memory, but no more like the beautiful carving of that in his guest's hand, than a peach was like a turnip -- that was one of the famous cups of Tours, wrought by Martin Dominique, an artist who might brag all Paris. "And, pray, who is this Maitre Pierre," said Durward, interrupting him, "who confers such valuable gifts on strangers?" "Who is Maitre Pierre?" said the host, dropping the words as slowly from his mouth as if he had been distilling them. "Ay," said Durward, hastily and peremptorily, "who is this Maitre Pierre, and why does he throw about his bounties in this fashion? And who is the butcherly looking fellow whom he sent forward to order breakfast?" "Why, fair sir, as to who Maitre Pierre is, you should have asked the question of himself; and for the gentleman who ordered breakfast to be made ready, may God keep us from his closer acquaintance!" "There is something mysterious in all this," said the young Scot. "This Maitre Pierre tells me he is a merchant." "And if he told you so," said the innkeeper, "surely he is a merchant." "What commodities does he deal in?" "Oh, many a fair matter of traffic," said the host; "and especially he has set up silk manufactories here which match those rich bales that the Venetians bring from India and Cathay. You might see the rows of mulberry trees as you came hither, all planted by Maitre Pierre's command, to feed the silk worms." "And that young person who brought in the confections, who is she, my good friend?" said the guest. "My lodger, sir, with her guardian, some sort of aunt or kinswoman, as I think," replied the innkeeper. "And do you usually employ your guests in waiting on each other?" said Durward; "for I observed that Maitre Pierre would take nothing from your hand, or that of your attendant." "Rich men may have their fancies, for they can pay for them," said the landlord; "this is not the first time Maitre Pierre has found the true way to make gentlefolks serve at his beck." The young Scotsman felt somewhat offended at the insinuation; but, disguising his resentment, he asked whether he could be accommodated with an apartment at this place for a day, and perhaps longer. "Certainly," the innkeeper replied; "for whatever time he was pleased to command it." "Could he be permitted," he asked, "to pay his respects to the ladies, whose fellow lodger he was about to become?" The innkeeper was uncertain. "They went not abroad," he said, "and received no one at home." "With the exception, I presume, of Maitre Pierre?" said Durward. "I am not at liberty to name any exceptions," answered the man, firmly but respectfully. Quentin, who carried the notions of his own importance pretty high, considering how destitute he was of means to support them, being somewhat mortified by the innkeeper's reply, did not hesitate to avail himself of a practice common enough in that age. "Carry to the ladies," he said, "a flask of vernat, with my humble duty; and say that Quentin Durward, of the house of Glen Houlakin, a Scottish cavalier of honour, and now their fellow lodger, desires the permission to dedicate his homage to them in a personal interview." The messenger departed, and returned, almost instantly, with the thanks of the ladies, who declined the proffered refreshment, and, with their acknowledgments to the Scottish cavalier, regretted that, residing there in privacy, they could not receive his visit. Quentin bit his lip, took a cup of the rejected vernat, which the host had placed on the table. "By the mass, but this is a strange country," said he to himself, "where merchants and mechanics exercise the manners and munificence of nobles, and little travelling damsels, who hold their court in a cabaret (a public house), keep their state like disguised princesses! I will see that black browed maiden again, or it will go hard, however;" and having formed this prudent resolution, he demanded to be conducted to the apartment which he was to call his own. The landlord presently ushered him up a turret staircase, and from thence along a gallery, with many doors opening from it, like those of cells in a convent; a resemblance which our young hero, who recollected, with much ennui, an early specimen of a monastic life, was far from admiring. The host paused at the very end of the gallery, selected a key from the large bunch which he carried at his girdle, opened the door, and showed his guest the interior of a turret chamber; small, indeed, but which, being clean and solitary, and having the pallet bed and the few articles of furniture, in unusually good order, seemed, on the whole, a little palace. "I hope you will find your dwelling agreeable here, fair sir," said the landlord. "I am bound to pleasure every friend of Maitre Pierre." "Oh, happy ducking!" exclaimed Quentin Durward, cutting a caper on the floor, so soon as his host had retired: "Never came good luck in a better or a wetter form. I have been fairly deluged by my good fortune." As he spoke thus, he stepped towards the little window, which, as the turret projected considerably from the principal line of the building, not only commanded a very pretty garden of some extent, belonging to the inn, but overlooked, beyond its boundary, a pleasant grove of those very mulberry trees which Maitre Pierre was said to have planted for the support of the silk worm. Besides, turning the eye from these more remote objects, and looking straight along the wall, the turret of Quentin was opposite to another turret, and the little window at which he stood commanded a similar little window in a corresponding projection of the building. Now, it would be difficult for a man twenty years older than Quentin to say why this locality interested him more than either the pleasant garden or the grove of mulberry trees; for, alas! eyes which have been used for forty years and upwards, look with indifference on little turret windows, though the lattice be half open to admit the air, while the shutter is half closed to exclude the sun, or perhaps a too curious eye -- nay, even though there hang on the one side of the casement a lute, partly mantled by a light veil of sea green silk. But, at Durward's happy age, such accidents, as a painter would call them, form sufficient foundation for a hundred airy visions and mysterious conjectures, at recollection of which the full grown man smiles while he sighs, and sighs while he smiles. As it may be supposed that our friend Quentin wished to learn a little more of his fair neighbour, the owner of the lute and veil -- as it may be supposed he was at least interested to know whether she might not prove the same whom he had seen in humble attendance on Maitre Pierre, it must of course be understood that he did not produce a broad staring visage and person in full front of his own casement. Durward knew better the art of bird catching; and it was to his keeping his person skilfully withdrawn on one side of his window; while he peeped through the lattice, that he owed the pleasure of seeing a white, round, beautiful arm take down the instrument, and that his ears had presently after their share in the reward of his dexterous management. The maid of the little turret, of the veil, and of the lute sang exactly such an air as we are accustomed to suppose flowed from the lips of the high born dames of chivalry, when knights and troubadours listened and languished. The words had neither so much sense, wit, or fancy as to withdraw the attention from the music, nor the music so much of art as to drown all feeling of the words. The one seemed fitted to the other; and if the song had been recited without the notes, or the air played without the words, neither would have been worth noting. It is; therefore, scarcely fair to put upon record lines intended not to be said or read, but only to be sung. But such scraps of old poetry have always had a sort of fascination for us; and as the tune is lost for ever unless Bishop (Sir Henry Rowley, an English composer and professor of music at Oxford in 1848. Among his most popular operas are Guy Mannering and The Kniqht of Snowdon) happens to find the notes, or some lark teaches Stephens (Catherine (1794-1882): a vocalist and actress who created Susanna in the Marriage of Figaro, and various parts in adaptation of Scott.) to warble the air -- we will risk our credit, and the taste of the Lady of the Lute, by preserving the verses, simple and even rude as they are: Ah! County Guy, the hour is nigh, The sun has left the lea, The orange flower perfumes the bower, The breeze is on the sea. The lark, his lay who thrill'd all day, Sits hush'd his partner nigh; Breeze, bird, and flower confess the hour, But where is County Guy? The village maid steals through the shade, Her shepherd's suit to hear; To beauty shy, by lattice high, Sings high born Cavalier. The star of Love, all stars above, Now reigns o'er earth and sky; And high and low the influence know -- But where is County Guy? Whatever the reader may think of this simple ditty, it had a powerful effect on Quentin, when married to heavenly airs, and sung by a sweet and melting voice, the notes mingling with the gentle breezes which wafted perfumes from the garden, and the figure of the songstress being so partially and obscurely visible as threw a veil of mysterious fascination over the whole. At the close of the air, the listener could not help showing himself more boldly than he had yet done, in a rash attempt to see more than he had yet been able to discover. The music instantly ceased -- the casement was closed, and a dark curtain, dropped on the inside, put a stop to all farther observation on the part of the neighbour in the next turret. Durward was mortified and surprised at the consequence of his precipitance, but comforted himself with the hope that the Lady of the Lute could neither easily forego the practice of an instrument which seemed so familiar to her, nor cruelly resolve to renounce the pleasures of fresh air and an open window for the churlish purpose of preserving for her own exclusive ear the sweet sounds which she created. There came, perhaps, a little feeling of personal vanity to mingle with these consolatory reflections. If, as he shrewdly suspected, there was a beautiful dark tressed damsel inhabitant of the one turret, he could not but be conscious that a handsome, young, roving, bright locked gallant, a cavalier of fortune, was the tenant of the other; and romances, those prudent instructors, had taught his youth that if damsels were shy, they were yet neither void of interest nor of curiosity in their neighbours' affairs. Whilst Quentin was engaged in these sage reflections, a sort of attendant or chamberlain of the inn informed him that a cavalier desired to speak with him below. 神圣的上帝啊!人们咀嚼得多么津津有味! 面包多么香甜可口! 《约里克游记》 在上一章结尾时,这位来到法国的年轻异乡人真算得上是他进入古高卢国的国土以后最享福的时刻。正如在上一章结尾时提到的,早餐是值得羡慕的。有一种“贝里戈尔德馅饼”,可说是任何美食嗜好者都会像荷马史诗中的食莲忘忧者一样忘掉亲人、祖国和一切社会义务而不惜吃着生,吃着死的上等食品。它那精美的酥皮的硕大外壁就像一个富裕城市的壁垒,象征着它所要保护的财富。还有一道精美的肉菜,这正好是加斯科尼人喜欢吃,而苏格兰人也不厌弃的鸡翅嫩尖。此外,还有一道美味的火腿。想当初这只大腿也曾支撑过邻近的蒙特里夏尔森林里某只贵重的野猪。吃的面包则是做工考究的小园点式的白面包,俗称boules(面包师的法语名称boulanger就是来源于此)。面包的酥皮如此诱人,我看只消一杯水伴食,就已经是一道佳肴了。何况桌上并不光有一杯水,还摆着名叫波特林的皮酒囊,装有大约一夸特香郁的波尔尼葡萄酒。即使在死神的威胁下,这么多的美食也会激起食欲的。既然这个还不到二十岁的年轻小伙子,前两天除了极少一点大麦面包和偶有机会摘到的还不大熟的果子以外,吃得实在少得可怜,那么这些美食会对他产生什么效果呢?他简直是把身子扑在那道菜饨鸡肉上,把它一扫而光;接着又长驱直入地进攻那块硕大的馅饼。他偶尔用一杯酒来调剂调剂这丰盛的食物,又马上回过头来对准它一次又一次地冲锋,使得店主大为吃惊,也使皮埃尔老爷觉得很有趣。 皮埃尔老爷也许发觉自己干了一桩比他原先料想的更为仁慈的好事,似乎对这年轻的苏格兰人的好胃口感到很高兴,因此,当他看到他的努力开始松劲时,便点些名叫“达里阿勒”的甜食以及他想得起的别的一些精美点心作新的努力,来刺激这年轻人,诱使他继续加餐。当皮埃尔这样做的时候,他脸上表现出一种近乎仁慈的好兴致,显得和他平常那种刻薄严厉的性格迥然不同。当老人在一边旁观,心情舒坦,不为内心的羡慕或无谓的炉忌所扰时,他们对年轻人的享乐和各种活动自然能报以同情。 昆丁•达威特在高兴地吃着早点的同时,不能不发现,尽管东道主的容貌先前很令人不快,但在波尔尼酒的作用下,此刻也有了改善。他以善意的语气责备皮埃尔老爷,说他只是取笑他的好胃口来寻开心,而自己却一口不吃。 “我是在悔罪,”皮埃尔老爷说,“除了一点糖果和一杯开水,我早上什么也不能吃——请你叫叫那位小姐,”他转过身对店主补充说道,“把那两样给我拿来。” 店主走出去以后,皮埃尔老爷继续说道:“我许诺过请你吃顿早餐。怎么样,我守信用吧?” “这是我离开格兰一呼拉金以后吃过的一顿最好的饭食。”年轻人说道。 “格兰——什么?”皮埃尔老爷问道,“你用这么长的字眼,是打算捣什么鬼吗?” “格兰一呼拉金,”昆丁兴致勃勃地回答道,“是蚊蚋之谷的意思。我的好老爷,这是我们古代的祖先留下的庄园的名字。假如您愿意,您倒是拿钱买了取笑这名字的权利。” “我丝毫不想冒犯你。”老人说道,“既然我看到你那么喜欢你刚吃过的早点,我想告诉你,皇家卫队的苏格兰射手们每天都吃得这么好,甚至比这更好。” “这不稀奇。”达威特说道,“既然他们整晚都被关在那些燕窝里,他们早上一定有非常好的胃口。” “满足他们胃口的东西真是应有尽有。”皮埃尔老爷说道,“他们不必像勃艮第人那样,为了填饱肚子,不得不选择光着背的办法——他们穿得像伯爵那样华丽,也吃得像寺院的方丈那样高级。” “他们算有福气。”达威特说道。 “年轻人,你干吗不在这儿服役呢?要是卫队出现一个空缺,我敢说你舅舅会把你安插进去。让我悄悄对你说吧,我个人也有点用场,也许能帮你一点忙。我想,你会射箭和骑马吧?” “我们苏格兰人是能把铠靴放进钢马镫里的好骑手。很难说,也许我会接受您好心的建议。不过您要知道,吃穿固然要紧,但像我这种情况,人们还要考虑荣誉、提升和勇士的英雄业绩。你们的路易王——上帝祝福他,因为他是苏格兰的盟友——只住在这个城堡里,或骑马从一个设防的城市走到另一个设防的城市。他不是通过公平的战斗而是通过有谋略的使节来赢得城市和地盘的。不过,就我来说,我属于道格拉斯的战士们那种思想性格;像他们一样,我喜欢在田野和战场上讨生活,更喜欢听百灵鸟歌唱,而不爱听老鼠尖叫。” “年轻人,”皮埃尔老爷说道,“你可别轻率地判断君王们的行动。路易王谋求的是如何避免臣民们流血,而他自己倒不在乎。在蒙勒里他已表明自己是个勇敢的人。” “您说得对。不过,那是十二年前的事了。”年轻人回答道,“我希望我跟的主人愿把自己的荣誉保持得像盾甲一样锃亮,在战斗最激烈的地方冲锋陷阵。” “那你为什么不留在布鲁塞尔,和勃艮第公爵在一起鬼混呢?他会使你每天都有机会打断你的骨头。而且,为了避免你失误,他还会亲自替你打断你的骨头——特别是如果他听说你打了他的护林宫的话。” “您说得很对,”昆丁说道,“我运气不好,自己把这道门关上了。” “不要紧。国外有许多敢冲敢闯的人,你们狂热的年轻人满可以到那儿去找出路。”年长者给他充当起参谋来,“比如说吧,你认为威廉•德拉马克如何?” “什么!”达威特惊叫道,“投奔大胡子的德拉马克——投奔‘阿登内斯野猪’?您知道,这家伙是杀人越货者的首领。在他眼里,一条人命只抵得上他穿的长袍。他可以把牧师和香客像对待骑士和武士那样无情地杀戮!如果我去投奔他,那将使我祖先的光荣历史永远蒙上污点。” “好吧,你这血气方刚的年轻人,”皮埃尔老爷回答道,“如果你认为德拉马克这野猪为非作歹,你干吗不去跟年轻的格尔德雷斯公爵呢?” “我宁可跟罪恶的魔鬼。”昆丁说道,“让我悄悄对您说吧——他简直是个连地球也承受不起的负担——愿地狱张开口把他吞没了吧!人们说他监禁他亲生父亲,而且还打了他——你能相信竟有人干出了这种事吗?” 看到这年轻人谈到儿子不孝父亲时表现出天真的恐怖,皮埃尔似乎有点不安。他回答道:“年轻人,你不知道贵族当中血缘关系存在的时间多么短暂,”接着他又改变他开始时的腔调,开心地补充道,“再说嘛,如果公爵打了他的父亲,我敢说,他父亲以前也打过他,所以这只是还还债。” “听您这么说,我真感到吃惊。”那苏格兰人脸气得通红。“像您这样的白发老人本应选择更恰当的话题来开玩笑。如果说老公爵的确在儿子小的时候打了他,应该说他还打得不够,因为宁可让他死在棍棒底下,也不能因为教会曾为这样一个残忍的怪物施洗而使整个基督世界蒙羞。” “像你这样衡量每个王公贵族和君主的品德,”皮埃尔老爷说道,“那么,我想你最好是自己当一个首领,因为,像你这样聪明的人,你能在哪儿找到一个配得上指挥你的首领呢?” “皮埃尔老爷,您是在笑话我。”年轻人和气地说道,“也许您说得对,但您没有提到一个人的名字。他不愧是一个豪侠的首领,在这一带统率着一批勇敢的弟兄。在他手下人们可以很好地为他效劳。” “我猜不出你指的是谁。” “嘿,我指的是那像穆罕默德的棺材一样(该诅咒的穆罕默德!)悬在两块磁石当中的一个好人——这人既算不上属于法兰西,也算不上属于勃艮第,但他知道怎样在他们两者之间保持平衡,使他们都害怕他,为他效劳,尽管他们本身都是势力强大的君主。” “我猜不出你指的是哪个。”皮埃尔老爷沉思般地说道。 “嘿,难道您不知道我指的正是圣保罗伯爵,法兰西总督卢森堡•路易么?他在那儿依靠一支勇敢的小部队,把他的地盘经营得很好,头抬得和路易工和查尔斯公爵一般高,并与之抗衡。他们两人在跷跷板的两头摆动,而他就像个小男孩那样踩在跷跷板的中央。” “他在他们当中可能跌得最惨。”皮埃尔老爷说道,“你听着吧,年轻的朋友,既然你把劫掠看作是莫大的罪恶,那么你知不知道,你那讲究策略的圣保罗伯爵是第一个在战争时期带头放火烧房子的人?而在他犯下这无耻的暴行以前,不进行抵抗和不设防的城市和乡村本不遭受任何人侵犯!” “说实在的,我并不知道。”达威特说,“如果真是这样,那么我不得不认为,这些大人物都是半斤八两。在他们当中进行选择无异于挑选一根便于上吊的大树。不过,这位圣保罗伯爵总督大人已通过充分的转让占有一座城市,它的名字就是取自我尊敬的圣徒和保护神圣昆丁,”(说着他划了一个十字)“我想,要是我住在那儿,我圣洁的保护神会保佑我——因为他不像那些大受欢迎的圣徒,有那么多人取他的名字。不过,他一定是忘了他精神上的教子——我这可怜的昆丁•达威特。瞧他让我饿着肚子赶了一天,第二天早晨又把我丢给圣朱利安照顾。由于我在有名的谢尔河或其支流成了落汤鸡,才有机会受到一位陌生人的礼遇得以裹腹充饥。” “年轻的朋友,可别亵渎圣徒了,”皮埃尔老爷说道,“圣朱利安是旅客们忠实的保护神。再说,也许得福的圣昆丁为你干了许多好事,而你根本没感觉到。” 在他正说着的时候,房门打开,一个看来年过十五(而非不满十五)的少女端着一个盖有大马士革绸子的大盘子进来。盘子上摆着一小碟使图尔城增添光彩的梅子,以及一个精工细镂的镀金杯。这杯子是该城的金匠自古闻名的杰作,因为他们精雕细刻的本领与法国其他城市相比更为突出,甚至比巴黎的技术都更胜一筹。酒杯的形状如此雅致,以致达威特根本没想到要仔细观察一下究竟它是银的,还是像先前摆在他面前的那只,是用较贱的金属制成的。这酒杯被擦拭得晶莹透亮,看起来就像银的一样。 端东西进来的这个姑娘的模样远比她干这差事的详细情形更引起达威特的注意。 他很快发现,她那一堆长而黑的鬈发,也像他们苏格兰少女时兴的那样,除了一个用常春藤叶子编织成的花冠以外,别无他饰。这些鬈发似乎成了她脸部周围的黑面纱,加上她那端正的五官、黑色的眼睛和沉思的表情,看起来很像美尔波马尼的面孔。不过,她面颊上微微有红晕;而嘴唇和眼角带有的神色也使人觉得,对于这样一张富于表情的面孔来说,尽管快乐不是最惯常的表情,但也并非完全陌生。昆丁甚至觉得他可以看出,正是不幸的境遇使得这么一张年轻可爱的面孔显示出少女不应有的过分严肃。年轻人都喜欢以其浪漫的幻想通过轻率的假设很快得出结论,所以他很容易就凭自己看到的以上事实,推断这美人的命运一定是笼罩在沉默和神秘之中。 “是怎么回事,杰奎琳?”她一进屋皮埃尔老爷便说道,“这是干什么?我不是讲过,要贝雷特太太给我端我所点的东西吗?——老天爷,难道她真是,或自以为是太高贵,不屑于侍候我吗?” “我姑妈身体不舒服,”杰奎琳赶忙谦恭地说道,“她在房里休息。” “我想她是一个人在房里吧?”皮埃尔老爷略微加重语气说道,“我是个老手,不是用装病就可以被蒙骗的。” 听到皮埃尔老爷的回答,杰奎琳脸色刷白,甚至摇晃了两下。必须承认,这人的声音和容貌虽然随时都显得粗鲁、尖刻和不愉快,但当他发怒或猜疑的时候,其效果就显得既阴森又可怕。 昆丁•达威特那种山地人特有的骑士性格马上表现了出来。他赶忙跑过去和杰奎琳打招呼,把她手上端的东西接过来。她一边被动地接受他的好意,一边带着胆怯而焦急的目光注视那市民生气的面孔。然而她目光中那种令人钻心、动人哀怜的表情是天性无法抗拒的。皮埃尔老爷不仅将不悦的表情收敛了一些,而且面色和态度都尽量显得温和地说道:“我并不责怪你,杰奎琳。你十分年轻,还不至于是——但我很遗憾地说,总有一天你必然会是一个和别的轻浮女子一样阴险虚伪的坏人。任何成年男子都会有机会彻底了解你们这些女人。我想这位苏格兰骑士也会对你说同样的话。” 杰奎琳似乎为了服从皮埃尔老爷的吩咐,望了那年轻的陌生人一眼。尽管这只是短暂的一瞥,但在达威特看来却像在哀求他给她同情和支持。年轻人的感情以及教育灌输给他的对女性罗曼蒂克般的尊敬促使他迅速作出反应。他赶忙回答说,像他现在所看到的这位小姐的面孔所流露出的表情,充分说明她思想十分真纯;要是有人胆敢不这样认为,他就要向他挑战。 年轻少女脸色刷地变白。她恐惧地向皮埃尔老爷望了一眼。但年轻人的胆量在这位老爷身上似乎只激起了一阵表示轻蔑而非夸奖的大笑。昆丁经常是稍一考虑就会改正出于一时冲动而产生的想法,尽管有时这种想法已经脱口而出。这时他脸色通红,因为在一个赤手空拳的老人面前刚讲过的话很可能被理解为空洞的大话。作为一种公平而适当的歉意表示,他决定耐心地忍受他自己招来的这一讥笑。他双颊绊红,带着一种以不好意思的微笑极力掩盖的谦卑表情,把杯子和盘子递给皮埃尔老爷。 “你真是一个傻气的年轻人,”皮埃尔老爷说道,“你对王公贵族缺乏了解,也同样对女人缺乏了解。但愿上帝——”他一边虔诚地画十字一边说道,“好好照管他们的心灵。” “那么谁又来照管女人的心灵呢?”昆丁说道。他决心尽可能不让这气度不凡的老人摆出的一副高人一等的姿态把自己压倒,因为他觉得他那高傲而毫不在乎的样子对他具有某种令他自己也感到羞愧的慑服力。 “我看,你得向别人请教这个问题。”皮埃尔老爷安详地说道。 昆丁又碰了一鼻子灰。但他并不觉得十分难堪。“说实在的,”他暗自想道,“我并没有向这位图尔人表示应有的尊敬以报答他对我的款待。这顿早餐的确很丰盛。狗和老鹰只要人来喂养它们就会互相产生感情。如果你想用感情和感恩的纽带来束住人的话,你还得使他感到你的善意和仁慈。话说回来,他的确是个不寻常的人。而刚才那个昙花一现似的美丽精灵——像这样一位美丽的少女肯定不属于这个鄙陋的客店,甚至也不属于这个以赚钱为业的商人;但他似乎能对她施展权威。看来他对任何偶然进入他这个小圈子的人都能施展权威。这些弗兰德人和法国人对财富的重视真是惊人——它远远超过财富真正的价值。我猜这位年老的商人定以为我对他表现的礼貌不是由于他年高而是由于他有钱——但我是一个出身名门、有高贵血统的苏格兰绅士,而他只是个图尔的工匠而已!” 这就是匆匆掠过年轻的达威特心头的一些想法。这时皮埃尔老爷含着微笑,轻轻地拍拍杰奎琳垂挂着长发的头说:“杰奎琳,这年轻人会侍候我——你可以走了。我将告诉你那粗心大意的姑妈,让你受到别人的注视是不必要的。” “这只是因为要侍候您。”那姑娘说道,“我想您不会对我的姑妈不高兴,既然——” “天啦!”那商人粗鲁地打断了她的话,“你这小家伙,你在这儿是为了和我拌嘴,还是为了盯着这年轻小伙子呢?你走吧——他很高贵,他侍候我就行了。” 杰奎琳走了。她的突然离去使得昆丁•达威特怅然若失。他对皮埃尔老爷的吩咐也只表示出机械的服从。皮埃尔老爷懒洋洋地往一张大安乐椅上一躺,以一种习惯于使唤他人的声调说道:“把那个盘子给我端过来。” 这时那商人双眉低垂,掩住了他那敏锐的眼睛,使得它们被这得几乎看不见,只像消失在乌云后面的落日偶尔一瞬间放射出一丝阳光一样,间或从浓眉底下射出一道锋利的目光。 “这是个美人。”老人抬起头来说道,接着一边目不转睛地盯着昆丁•达威特,一边问道,“这样一位可爱的姑娘竟在旅店当个传女?她满可以侍候一位贵人,给他的餐桌增添光彩。只是受的教育糟糕,且出身卑微。” 有时偶然射出的一发炮弹会打垮一座高贵的空中楼阁。在这种情况下,楼阁的建筑师对发射炮弹的人是不会有好感的,尽管肇事者可能完全是无意的。昆丁感到十分难堪,很想对这商人发火——连他自己也不知道为什么——因为他告诉自己,这美人正是她的活计所表明的那样一种身份——旅店恃女——尽管是个高级侍女,也许还是店主的侄女一类的人物,但毕竟是个仆役,不得不迎合顾客的脾气,特别是皮埃尔老爷的脾气;看来这老爷有许多怪癖,也有足够的金钱来驱使别人满足他这些怪癖。 一些断断续续的思想又回到他脑海中;他想他应当叫这年老的绅士懂得,他们的身份不同,他得注意,不管他多么有钱,他的财富也不能使他和一个格兰一呼拉金地方的达威特子弟平起平坐。但是,每当他带着这个目的注视皮埃尔老爷的面孔时,尽管皮埃尔老爷其貌不扬,低垂着眼睛,衣服也很不讲究,却总有某种东西使他无法表现出他自以为对这商人具有的优越感。相反,昆丁越是注视他,就越是好奇地想知道这人究竟是谁,是干什么的。他暗自猜想,他至少是图尔城的市政官或高级知事,一个或多或少习惯于要求别人尊敬自己和接受别人尊敬的要人。 这时那商人似乎又陷入沉思,只是为了虔诚地划划十字,吃点干果和饼干才抬起头来。他向昆丁打了个手势叫他把酒杯递给他。当昆丁把酒杯递给他时,他又问了一句:“你说你是贵族,是吗?” “这不用说,”苏格兰人回答道,“如果一个第十五代的贵族后裔仍能算得上贵族的话——我先前就是这样告诉你的。不过,皮埃尔老爷,您用不着为此感到拘谨——我受的教育教导我,帮助年长者是年轻人应尽的义务。” “妙不可言。”那商人说道,一边心安理得地让这年轻人替自己递杯子,用酒壶(酒壶似乎和酒杯一样的材料)斟满酒,丝毫不觉得礼节方面有何不妥,而昆丁原以为这会使他不安。 “让这蛮不讲礼自得其乐的老家伙见鬼去吧,”达威特又一次暗自思忖道,“他使唤一个苏格兰贵族绅士时的那种毫不客气的派头简直就像我使唤一个格兰一依斯拉的游猎随从。” 这时那商人已喝完了一杯水,便对他的同伴说:“从你欣赏波尔内葡萄酒的兴致看来,我想你不会愿意用它来为我祝酒。不过我有个灵丹妙药能使岩石中的水也变成法国最好的美酒。” 他说着从怀中掏出一个海獭皮做的钱袋,把小银币哗啦哗啦地倒在酒杯里,直到把半个小酒杯都装得满满的。 “年轻人,对你的保护神圣昆丁和圣朱利安你应当表现出比先前更深的感激。我建议你以他们的名义对穷人施舍。你就呆在这客店里,等你舅舅勒巴拉弗雷吧。他下午交岗休息。我将告诉他你在这儿等他,因为我正好要去城堡办点事。” 昆丁•达威特本想说点什么来谢绝这位新朋友的慷慨赠与。但皮埃尔老爷低下他的浓眉,直起他弯曲的身子,摆出一副还没见他有过的更为庄严的气派,用一种权威的口气说道:“不要回答了,年轻人,照我吩咐你的去做吧。” 说着他离开了屋子。走出去的时候他做了个手势,叫昆丁别跟在后面。 年轻的苏格兰人吃惊地站着,对这事不知该如何理解。他首先感到的一个合乎自然的,但也许不是最高贵的冲动便是急于看一看那个银酒杯。酒杯肯定有一半以上装满了银币。多达几十个,而昆丁也许一生还不曾一次有过二十个。接受这位富有的平民的钱和他绅士的尊严是否相容呢?这是个恼人的问题,因为说实在的,要是他决定冒着勃艮第公爵会对他发怒的危险,返回第戎去参加他的军队,或者,要是他看中了圣保罗总督决定去圣昆丁,那么,尽管他吃了一顿丰盛的早餐,但肚子里的这点储备究竟很有限。他原来的打算就是若不投奔法国国王,就投奔这两个权贵当中的某一个,为其服役。他也许是作出了当时情况下最明智的决定:准备接他舅父的意见行事。他暂时把钱放进他那天鹅绒的饲鹰袋里,叫来店主,把银酒杯还给他——同时决心就这位慷慨而威严的商人问他几个问题。 店主很快走了出来;他虽然不见得比先前更乐于交谈,但至少显得更爱唠叨一些。他断然拒绝收回那个银杯。他说这不是他的,而是皮埃尔老爷送给客人的。固然他自己有四个银酒杯,是他值得怀念的外祖母留给他的,但就像萝卜不能和桃子相比一样,它们根本不能和客人手上拿着的这个镶着美丽雕花的酒杯相比——因为这是图尔最有名的酒杯之一,是一位技艺精湛足以使全巴黎为之叹服的艺人马丁•多米尼克制作的。 “请问,皮埃尔老爷是谁,”达威特打断他的话问道,“竟把这样珍贵的礼物赠给陌生人?” “皮埃尔老爷是谁呢?”店主说道,就像蒸馏水滴似的,把字一个个从嘴里慢慢吐了出来。 “是的,”达威特匆忙而果断地说道,“皮埃尔老爷是谁?为什么他这么随便这么慷慨地送礼物给人?而那个被他派来订早餐的屠夫模样的人又是谁?” “嘿,亲爱的先生,皮埃尔老爷究竟是谁,这个问题你本该问你自己。至于跑来订早餐的那位先生,但愿上帝使我们不会和他再打交道!” “这一切都有一种神秘的意味。”年轻的苏格兰人说道,“皮埃尔老爷对我说他是个商人。” “既然他是这么对你说的,”店主讲道,“那么他肯定是个商人。” “他经营什么商品?” “啊,多种精美的商品,”店主说道,“特别是他在这儿修建了一些丝绸厂,产品足以和威尼斯人从印度和中国输人的成捆丝绸相媲美。您来这儿的途中可以看到一排排的桑树,这都是按皮埃尔老爷的吩咐栽来养蚕的。” “我的好朋友,送茶点来的那个少女又是谁呢?”客人问道。 “先生,是我的房客,和她的保护人住在一起。我猜是她的姑母或别的什么亲戚。” “你经常叫你的客人来侍候顾客吗?”达威特说道,“据我观察,皮埃尔老爷不愿你或你的仆人递给他东西。” “有钱人都有他们的怪癖,反正他们也付得起钱来满足自己的怪癖。”店主说道,“皮埃尔老爷自有办法使唤贵族,这已经不是第一次了。” 年轻的苏格兰人对这一暗讽感到有点生气。不过,他掩盖住内心的不满,问他是否可以在这儿租间 Chapter 5 The Man At Arms Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. AS YOU LIKE IT The cavalier who awaited Quentin Durward's descent into the apartment where he had breakfasted, was one of those of whom Louis XI had long since said that they held in their hands the fortune of France, as to them were intrusted the direct custody and protection of the royal person. Charles the Sixth had instituted this celebrated body, the Archers, as they were called, of the Scottish Bodyguard, with better reason than can generally be alleged for establishing round the throne a guard of foreign and mercenary troops. The divisions which tore from his side more than half of France, together with the wavering and uncertain faith of the nobility who yet acknowledged his cause, rendered it impolitic and unsafe to commit his personal safety to their keeping. The Scottish nation was the hereditary enemy of the English, and the ancient, and, as it seemed, the natural allies of France. They were poor, courageous, faithful; their ranks were sure to be supplied from the superabundant population of their own country, than which none in Europe sent forth more or bolder adventurers. Their high claims of descent, too, gave them a good title to approach the person of a monarch more closely than other troops, while the comparative smallness of their numbers prevented the possibility of their mutinying, and becoming masters where they ought to be servants. On the other hand, the French monarchs made it their policy to conciliate the affections of this select band of foreigners, by allowing them honorary privileges and ample pay, which last most of them disposed of with military profusion in supporting their supposed rank. Each of them ranked as a gentleman in place and honour; and their near approach to the King's person gave them dignity in their own eyes, as well as importance in those of the nation of France. They were sumptuously armed, equipped, and mounted; and each was entitled to allowance for a squire, a valet, a page; and two yeomen, one of whom was termed coutelier, from the large knife which he wore to dispatch those whom in the melee his master had thrown to the ground. With these followers, and a corresponding equipage, an Archer of the Scottish Guard was a person of quality and importance; and vacancies being generally filled up by those who had been trained in the service as pages or valets, the cadets of the best Scottish families were often sent to serve under some friend and relation in those capacities, until a chance of preferment should occur. The coutelier and his companion, not being noble or capable of this promotion, were recruited from persons of inferior quality; but as their pay and appointments were excellent, their masters were easily able to select from among their wandering countrymen the strongest and most courageous to wait upon them in these capacities. Ludovic Lesly, or as we shall more frequently call him, Le Balafre, by which name he was generally known in France, was upwards of six feet high, robust, strongly compacted in person, and hard favoured in countenance, which latter attribute was much increased by a large and ghastly scar, which, beginning on his forehead, and narrowly missing his right eye, had laid bare the cheek bone, and descended from thence almost to the tip of his ear, exhibiting a deep seam, which was sometimes scarlet, sometimes purple, sometimes blue, and sometimes approaching to black; but always hideous, because at variance with the complexion of the face in whatever state it chanced to be, whether agitated or still, flushed with unusual passion, or in its ordinary state of weather-beaten and sunburnt swarthiness. His dress and arms were splendid. He wore his national bonnet, crested with a tuft of feathers, and with a Virgin Mary of massive silver for a brooch. These brooches had been presented to the Scottish Guard, in consequence of the King, in one of his fits of superstitions piety, having devoted the swords of his guard to the service of the Holy Virgin, and, as some say, carried the matter so far as to draw out a commission to Our Lady as their Captain General. The Archer's gorget, arm pieces, and gauntlets, were of the finest steel, curiously inlaid with silver, and his hauberk, or shirt of mail, was as clear and bright as the frostwork of a winter morning upon fern or brier. He wore a loose surcoat or cassock of rich blue velvet, open at the sides like that of a herald, with a large white St. Andrew's cross of embroidered silver bisecting it both before and behind; his knees and legs were protected by hose of mail and shoes of steel; a broad, strong poniard (called the Mercy of God), hung by his right side; the baldric for his two handed sword, richly embroidered, hung upon his left shoulder; but for convenience he at present carried in his hand that unwieldy weapon which the rules of his service forbade him to lay aside. (St. Andrew was the first called to apostleship. He made many converts to Christianity and was finally crucified on a cross of peculiar form, which has since been called the St. Andrew's cross. Certain of his relics were brought to Scotland in the fourth century, and he has since that time been honoured as the patron saint of that country. He is also the patron saint of the Burgundian Order, the Golden Fleece.) Quentin Durward -- though, like the Scottish youth of the period, he had been early taught to look upon arms and war -- thought he had never seen a more martial looking, or more completely equipped and accomplished man at arms than now saluted him in the person of his mother's brother, called Ludovic with the Scar, or Le Balafre; yet he could not but shrink a little from the grim expression of his countenance, while, with its rough moustaches, he brushed first the one and then the other cheek of his kinsman, welcomed his nephew to France, and, in the same breath, asked what news from Scotland. "Little good tidings, dear uncle," replied young Durward; "but I am glad that you know me so readily." "I would have known thee, boy, in the landes of Bourdeaux, had I met thee marching there like a crane on a pair of stilts (the crutches or stilts which in Scotland are used to pass rivers. They are employed by the peasantry of the country near Bordeaux to traverse those deserts of loose sand called Landes. S). But sit thee down -- sit thee down -- if there is sorrow to hear of, we will have wine to make us bear it. -- Ho! old Pinch Measure, our good host, bring us of thy best, and that in an instant." The well known sound of the Scottish French was as familiar in the taverns near Plessis as that of the Swiss French in the modern guinguettes (common inns) of Paris; and promptly -- ay, with the promptitude of fear and precipitation, was it heard and obeyed. A flagon of champagne stood before them, of which the elder took a draught, while the nephew helped himself only to a moderate sip to acknowledge his uncle's courtesy, saying, in excuse, that he had already drunk wine that morning. "That had been a rare good apology in the mouth of thy sister, fair nephew," said Le Balafre; "you must fear the wine pot less, if you would wear beard on your face, and write yourself soldier. But, come -- come -- unbuckle your Scottish mail bag -- give us the news of Glen Houlakin -- How doth my sister?" "Dead, fair uncle," answered Quentin, sorrowfully. "Dead!" echoed his uncle, with a tone rather marked by wonder than sympathy, -- "why, she was five years younger than I, and I was never better in my life. Dead! the thing is impossible. I have never had so much as a headache, unless after revelling out of my two or three days' furlough with the brethren of the joyous science -- and my poor sister is dead -- And your father, fair nephew, hath he married again?" And, ere the youth could reply, he read the answer in his surprise at the question, and said, "What! no -- I would have sworn that Allan Durward was no man to live without a wife. He loved to have his house in order -- loved to look on a pretty woman too; and was somewhat strict in life withal -- matrimony did all this for him. Now, I care little about these comforts, and I can look on a pretty woman without thinking on the sacrament of wedlock -- I am scarce holy enough for that." "Alas! dear uncle, my mother was left a widow a year since, when Glen Houlakin was harried by the Ogilvies. My father, and my two uncles, and my two elder brothers, and seven of my kinsmen, and the harper, and the tasker, and some six more of our people, were killed in defending the castle, and there is not a burning hearth or a standing stone in all Glen Houlakin." "Cross of Saint Andrew!" said Le Balafre; "that is what I call an onslaught! Ay, these Ogilvies were ever but sorry neighbours to Glen Houlakin -- an evil chance it was; but fate of war -- fate of war. -- When did this mishap befall, fair nephew?" With that he took a deep draught of wine, and shook his head with much solemnity, when his kinsman replied that his family had been destroyed upon the festival of Saint Jude (October 28) last bypast. "Look ye there," said the soldier; "I said it was all chance -- on that very day I and twenty of my comrades carried the Castle of Roche Noir by storm, from Amaury Bras de fer, a captain of free lances, whom you must have heard of. I killed him on his own threshold, and gained as much gold as made this fair chain, which was once twice as long as it now is -- and that minds me to send part of it on an holy errand. -- Here, Andrew -- Andrew!" Andrew, his yeoman, entered, dressed like the Archer himself in the general equipment, but without the armour for the limbs -- that of the body more coarsely manufactured -- his cap without a plume, and his cassock made of serge, or ordinary cloth, instead of rich velvet. Untwining his gold chain from his neck, Balafre twisted off, with his firm and strong set teeth, about four inches from the one end of it, and said to his attendant, "Here, Andrew, carry this to my gossip, jolly Father Boniface, the monk of St. Martin's; greet him well from me, by the same token that he could not say God save ye when we last parted at midnight. -- Tell my gossip that my brother and sister, and some others of my house, are all dead and gone, and I pray him to say masses for their souls as far as the value of these links will carry him, and to do on trust what else may be necessary to free them from Purgatory. And hark ye, as they were just living people, and free from all heresy, it may be that they are well nigh out of limbo already, so that a little matter may have them free of the fetlocks; and in that case, look ye, ye will say I desire to take out the balance of the gold in curses upon a generation called the Ogilvies of Angus Shire, in what way soever the church may best come at them. You understand all this, Andrew?" The coutelier nodded. "Then look that none of the links find their way to the wine house ere the monk touches them; for if it so chance, thou shalt taste of saddle girth and stirrup leather till thou art as raw as Saint Bartholomew (he was flayed alive. In Michael Angelo's Last Judgment he is represented as holding his skin in his hand) -- Yet hold, I see thy eye has fixed on the wine measure, and thou shalt not go without tasting." So saying, he filled him a brimful cup, which the coutelier drank off, and retired to do his patron's commission. "And now, fair nephew, let us hear what was your own fortune in this unhappy matter." "I fought it out among those who were older and stouter than I was, till we were all brought down," said Durward, "and I received a cruel wound." "Not a worse slash than I received ten years since myself," said Le Balafre. "Look at this, now, my fair nephew," tracing the dark crimson gash which was imprinted on his face. -- "An Ogilvy's sword never ploughed so deep a furrow." "They ploughed deep enough," answered Quentin, sadly, "but they were tired at last, and my mother's entreaties procured mercy for me, when I was found to retain some spark of life; but although a learned monk of Aberbrothik, who chanced to be our guest at the fatal time, and narrowly escaped being killed in the fray, was permitted to bind my wounds, and finally to remove me to a place of safety, it was only on promise, given both by my mother and him, that I should become a monk." "A monk!" exclaimed the uncle. "Holy Saint Andrew! that is what never befell me. No one, from my childhood upwards, ever so much as dreamed of making me a monk. And yet I wonder when I think of it; for you will allow that, bating the reading and writing, which I could never learn, and the psalmody, which I could never endure, and the dress, which is that of a mad beggar -- Our Lady forgive me! (here he crossed himself) and their fasts, which do not suit my appetite, I would have made every whit as good a monk as my little gossip at St. Martin's yonder. But I know not why, none ever proposed the station to me. -- Oh, so, fair nephew, you were to be a monk, then -- and wherefore, I pray you?" "That my father's house might be ended, either in the cloister or in the tomb," answered Quentin, with deep feeling. "I see," answered his uncle -- "I comprehend. Cunning rogues -- very cunning! They might have been cheated, though; for, look ye, fair nephew, I myself remember the canon Robersart who had taken the vows and afterwards broke out of cloister, and became a captain of Free Companions. He had a mistress, the prettiest wench I ever saw, and three as beautiful children. -- There is no trusting monks, fair nephew -- no trusting them -- they may become soldiers and fathers when you least expect it -- but on with your tale." "I have little more to tell," said Durward, "except that, considering my poor mother to be in some degree a pledge for me, I was induced to take upon me the dress of a novice, and conformed to the cloister rules, and even learned to read and write." "To read and write!" exclaimed Le Balafre, who was one of that sort of people who think all knowledge is miraculous which chances to exceed their own. "To write, say'st thou, and to read! I cannot believe it -- never Durward could write his name that ever I heard of, nor Lesly either. I can answer for one of them -- I can no more write than I can fly. Now, in Saint Louis's name, how did they teach it you?" "It was troublesome at first," said Durward, "but became more easy by use; and I was weak with my wounds, and loss of blood, and desirous to gratify my preserver, Father Peter, and so I was the more easily kept to my task. But after several months' languishing, my good, kind mother died, and as my health was now fully restored, I communicated to my benefactor, who was also Sub Prior of the convent, my reluctance to take the vows; and it was agreed between us, since my vocation lay not to the cloister, that I should be sent out into the world to seek my fortune, and that to save the Sub Prior from the anger of the Ogilvies, my departure should have the appearance of flight; and to colour it I brought off the Abbot's hawk with me. But I was regularly dismissed, as will appear from the hand and seal of the Abbot himself." "That is right, that is well," said his uncle. "Our King cares little what other theft thou mayst have made, but hath a horror at anything like a breach of the cloister. And I warrant thee, thou hadst no great treasure to bear thy charges?" "Only a few pieces of silver," said the youth; "for to you, fair uncle, I must make a free confession." "Alas!" replied Le Balafre, "that is hard. Now, though I am never a hoarder of my pay, because it doth ill to bear a charge about one in these perilous times, yet I always have (and I would advise you to follow my example) some odd gold chain, or bracelet, or carcanet, that serves for the ornament of my person, and can at need spare a superfluous link or two, or it may be a superfluous stone for sale, that can answer any immediate purpose. But you may ask, fair kinsman, how you are to come by such toys as this." (He shook his chain with complacent triumph.) "They hang not on every bush -- they grow not in the fields like the daffodils, with whose stalks children make knights' collars. What then? -- you may get such where I got this, in the service of the good King of France, where there is always wealth to be found, if a man has but the heart to seek it at the risk of a little life or so." "I understood," said Quentin, evading a decision to which he felt himself as yet scarcely competent, "that the Duke of Burgundy keeps a more noble state than the King of France, and that there is more honour to be won under his banners -- that good blows are struck there, and deeds of arms done; while the most Christian King, they say, gains his victories by his ambassadors' tongues." "You speak like a foolish boy, fair nephew," answered he with the scar; "and yet, I bethink me, when I came hither I was nearly as simple: I could never think of a King but what I supposed him either sitting under the high deas, and feasting amid his high vassals and Paladins, eating blanc mange, with a great gold crown upon his head, or else charging at the head of his troops like Charlemagne in the romaunts, or like Robert Bruce or William Wallace in our own true histories, such as Barbour and the Minstrel. Hark in thine ear, man -- it is all moonshine in the water. Policy -- policy does it all. But what is policy, you will say? It is an art this French King of ours has found out, to fight with other men's swords, and to wage his soldiers out of other men's purses. Ah! it is the wisest prince that ever put purple on his back -- and yet he weareth not much of that neither -- I see him often go plainer than I would think befitted me to do." (Charlemagne (742?-814): King of the Franks and crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 800. His kingdom included Germany and France, the greater part of Italy, and Spain as far as the Ebro. As Emperor of the West he bore the title Caesar Augustus. He established churches and monasteries, and encouraged arts and learning. He figures largely in mediaeval minstrelsy, where the achievements of his knights, or paladins, rival those of Arthur's court.) (Robert Bruce: the grandson of Robert Bruce, the competitor with John Baliol for the Scottish throne. He defeated the English forces at Bannockburn in 1314, and thus secured the independence of Scotland, an independence which lasted until the two kingdoms were united under one crown in 1707.) (William Wallace: another brave Scottish leader in the war for independence against Edward I of England. Wallace was betrayed in 1305 and carried to London, where he was cruelly executed as a traitor.) (Barbour: an eminent Scottish poet contemporary with Chaucer. His principal work, The Bruce, records the life and deeds of Robert Bruce.) (Harry the Minstrel or "Blind Harry" was the author of a poem on the life and deeds of Wallace which was held in peculiar reverence by the Scotch people.) "But you meet not my exception, fair uncle," answered young Durward; "I would serve, since serve I must in a foreign land, somewhere where a brave deed, were it my hap to do one, might work me a name." "I understand you, my fair nephew," said the royal man at arms, "I understand you passing well; but you are unripe in these matters. The Duke of Burgundy is a hot brained, impetuous, pudding headed, iron ribbed dare all. He charges at the head of his nobles and native knights, his liegemen of Artois and Hainault; think you, if you were there, or if I were there myself, that we could be much farther forward than the Duke and all his brave nobles of his own land? If we were not up with them, we had a chance to be turned on the Provost Marshal's hands for being slow in making to; if we were abreast of them, all would be called well and we might be thought to have deserved our pay; and grant that I was a spear's length or so in the front, which is both difficult and dangerous in such a melee where all do their best, why, my lord Duke says in his Flemish tongue, when he sees a good blow struck, 'Ha! gut getroffen (well struck)! a good lance -- a brave Scot -- give him a florin to drink our health;' but neither rank, nor lands, nor treasures come to the stranger in such a service -- all goes to the children of the soil." "And where should it go, in Heaven's name, fair uncle?" demanded young Durward. "To him that protects the children of the soil," said Balafre, drawing up his gigantic height. "Thus says King Louis 'My good French peasant -- mine honest Jacques Bonhomme, get you to your tools, your plough and your harrow, your pruning knife and your hoe -- here is my gallant Scot that will fight for you, and you shall only have the trouble to pay him. And you, my most serene duke, my illustrious count, and my most mighty marquis, e'en rein up your fiery courage till it is wanted, for it is apt to start out of the course, and to hurt its master; here are my companies of ordnance -- here are my French Guards -- here are, above all, my Scottish Archers, and mine honest Ludovic with the Scar, who will fight, as well or better than you, will fight with all that undisciplined valour which, in your father's time, lost Cressy and Azincour (two famous victories in the Hundred Years' War gained over the French by the English, near the towns of Crecy and Agincourt, in 1346 and 1415. See Shakespeare's Henry V for a description of the latter.). Now, see you not in which of these states a cavalier of fortune holds the highest rank, and must come to the highest honour?" "I think I understand you, fair uncle," answered the nephew; "but, in my mind, honour cannot be won where there is no risk. Sure, this is -- I pray pardon me -- an easy and almost slothful life, to mount guard round an elderly man whom no one thinks of harming, to spend summer day and winter night up in yonder battlements, and shut up all the while in iron cages, for fear you should desert your posts -- uncle, uncle, it is but a hawk upon his perch, who is never carried out to the fields!" "Now, by Saint Martin of Tours, the boy has some spirit! a right touch of the Lesly in him; much like myself, though always with a little more folly in it. Hark ye, youth -- Long live the King of France! -- scarce a day but there is some commission in hand, by which some of his followers may win both coin and credit. Think not that the bravest and most dangerous deeds are done by daylight. I could tell you of some, as scaling castles, making prisoners, and the like, where one who shall be nameless hath run higher risk and gained greater favour than any desperado in the train of desperate Charles of Burgundy. And if it please his Majesty to remain behind, and in the background, while such things are doing, he hath the more leisure of spirit to admire, and the more liberality of hand to reward the adventurers, whose dangers, perhaps, and whose feats of arms, he can better judge of than if he had personally shared them. Oh, 't is a sagacious and most politic monarch!" His nephew paused, and then said, in a low but impressive tone of voice, "the good Father Peter used often to teach me there might be much danger in deeds by which little glory was acquired. I need not say to you, fair uncle, that I do in course suppose that these secret commissions must needs be honourable." "For whom or for what take you me, fair nephew," said Balafre, somewhat sternly; "I have not been trained, indeed, in the cloister, neither can I write or read. But I am your mother's brother; I am a loyal Lesly. Think you that I am like to recommend to you anything unworthy? The best knight in France, Du Guesclin himself, if he were alive again, might be proud to number my deeds among his achievements." "I cannot doubt your warranty, fair uncle," said the youth; "you are the only adviser my mishap has left me. But is it true, as fame says, that this King keeps a meagre Court here at his Castle of Plessis? No repair of nobles or courtiers, none of his grand feudatories in attendance, none of the high officers of the crown; half solitary sports, shared only with the menials of his household; secret councils, to which only low and obscure men are invited; rank and nobility depressed, and men raised from the lowest origin to the kingly favour -- all this seems unregulated, resembles not the manners of his father, the noble Charles, who tore from the fangs of the English lion this more than half conquered kingdom of France." "You speak like a giddy child," said Le Balafre, "and even as a child, you harp over the same notes on a new string. Look you: if the King employs Oliver Dain, his barber, to do what Oliver can do better than any peer of them all, is not the kingdom the gainer? If he bids his stout Provost Marshal, Tristan, arrest such or such a seditious burgher, take off such or such a turbulent noble, the deed is done, and no more of it; when, were the commission given to a duke or peer of France, he might perchance send the King back a defiance in exchange. If, again, the King pleases to give to plain Ludovic le Balafre a commission which he will execute, instead of employing the High Constable, who would perhaps betray it, doth it not show wisdom? Above all, doth not a monarch of such conditions best suit cavaliers of fortune, who must go where their services are most highly prized, and most frequently in demand? -- No, no, child, I tell thee Louis knows how to choose his confidants, and what to charge them with; suiting, as they say, the burden to each man's back. He is not like the King of Castile, who choked with thirst, because the great butler was not beside to hand his cup. -- But hark to the bell of St. Martin's! I must hasten, back to the Castle -- Farewell -- make much of yourself, and at eight tomorrow morning present yourself before the drawbridge, and ask the sentinel for me. Take heed you step not off the straight and beaten path in approaching the portal! There are such traps and snap haunches as may cost you a limb, which you will sorely miss. You shall see the King, and learn to judge him for yourself -- farewell." So saying, Balafre hastily departed, forgetting, in his hurry, to pay for the wine he had called for, a shortness of memory incidental to persons of his description, and which his host, overawed perhaps by the nodding bonnet and ponderous two handed sword, did not presume to use any efforts for correcting. It might have been expected that, when left alone, Durward would have again betaken himself to his turret, in order to watch for the repetition of those delicious sounds which had soothed his morning reverie. But that was a chapter of romance, and his uncle's conversation had opened to him a page of the real history of life. It was no pleasing one, and for the present the recollections and reflections which it excited were qualified to overpower other thoughts, and especially all of a light and soothing nature. Quentin resorted to a solitary walk along the banks of the rapid Cher, having previously inquired of his landlord for one which he might traverse without fear of disagreeable interruption from snares and pitfalls, and there endeavoured to compose his turmoiled and scattered thoughts, and consider his future motions, upon which his meeting with his uncle had thrown some dubiety. 满嘴奇怪的咒语,长着豹子般的胡须, 甚至在大炮口里, 去寻求肥皂泡似的名声。 《如愿》 昆丁•达威特走下楼梯,来到他用过早餐的那间屋于。等待他的骑士正是(按路易十一的说法)受命直接保卫国王安全,从而掌握着法国命运的国王近卫军的一位成员。 查尔斯第六曾经建立了人称苏格兰射手团的部队,其目的超过了人们为成立外籍雇佣近卫军通常所持的理由。国家四分五裂,属于他的一半以上的法国领土给夺走了,再加上承认他的贵族们对他的忠诚也一直动摇不定,因此要把他的个人安全托付给这些贵族将是种失策,是种很不保险的做法。苏格兰民族是英国的传统敌人,因而亦是法国历史悠久的天然盟友。他们贫穷、勇敢而忠诚——由于人口过剩,他们国家也肯定不缺乏人丁的补充。因此,欧洲没有哪个国家比苏格兰输出过更多、更勇敢的冒险家。他们自认出身高贵,这使他们比别的军人更有资格接近君主。而他们总数较少,又使得他们无法犯上作乱。 另一方面,法国许多国王也把赢得这一精锐的外籍军队的好感作为他们的一种策略。办法是踢与他们光荣的特权和丰厚的军饷。他们之中的大部分人都以军人的气派把军饷花光,以维系人们认为他们地位高贵的看法。在地位和荣誉方面他们每个人都算得上是个绅士。他们侍奉国王左右并自视高贵,使得全法国也都认为他们是举足轻重的。他们的武器、装备,和乘骑都很华丽,而且每人都有资格配备扈从、仆役、侍重各一名,马弁两名,其中一名称之为“刀兵”,因为他佩带一把大刀,以干掉跟主人在格斗中被摔倒在地的敌人。由于有这么几个随从,又有一套相应的车马,苏格兰卫队的射手便成了显要人物。既然卫队的缺额一般都由在进行传童或仆役训练的人来补充,一些最有名望的苏格兰家族的子弟都经常被送到亲友这儿来,以待童或仆役的身份服役,以等待晋升的机会。 “刀兵”及其同伴不算贵族,也不能提升为贵族,全是在出身卑微的人中招募的。但由于他们军切丰厚,装备精良,所以主人也不难在流浪的苏格兰人当中挑选出坚强、勇敢的汉子充当这个角色。 卢德维克•莱斯利又名勒巴拉弗雷;这名字在法国家喻户晓,在下文我们会经常提及。此人身高六英尺有余,身体健壮,但其貌不扬。一条从额头开始的可怕的大伤疤险些碰着右眼,却裸露出颧骨;伤痕几乎一直落到耳尖上,露出一条深深的裂口。这裂口时而呈深红色或紫色,时而呈蓝色,时而近乎黑色,但不管是激动还是平静,也不管是兴高采烈得发红,还是平常风吹日晒而显黝黑,伤疤的颜色和脸色总不谐调,总显得可怕、狰狞,结果就使得他的面孔更难看。他的衣服和武器都很考究。他戴着一顶苏格兰民族的无边帽,帽顶有一束羽毛,一个银制的圣母像当作饰针。这些饰针是国王把卫队的刀剑奉献给圣母之后,在一阵迷信般的虔诚中决定赠送给苏格兰卫队的。正如某些人说的那样,他还走得更远,甚至给圣母颁发了委任状,委任她当卫队统领。射手的护喉甲胄、铠甲、手套都是用最好的钢做的,并精巧地镶嵌着银子作为装饰。他的锁于甲或甲片衬衣则光亮得像冬天早上的羊齿草或欧石南上面的白霜。他身上披着一件像纹章官的宽袍那样两边敞开的蓝色天鹅绒制的宽松外袍,外袍前后两幅正中间都有一个用银丝绣成的圣安德鲁大十字。他脚上穿着铠甲袜和钢靴保护膝部和腿部,右边挂着一把大刀(称为上帝的宽恕),左肩挂着一条华丽的系剑用的缎带。但为了方便起见,此刻他手握着这一笨重的武器,因为卫队的规则不许将它搁在一边。 尽管昆丁•达威特像当时的苏格兰青年那样很早就被教会如何观察兵器和装备,但他仍感到来看他的这个人是他见过的最英武、装备最为完善的武士。这人正向他打招呼。原来他正是他母亲的兄弟,人称带伤疤的卢德维克或勒巴拉弗雷。看到他面孔凶狠的表情,昆丁不禁颤栗了一下。武士走上前来以他粗糙的胡须先擦擦他外甥的左颊,又擦擦他的右颊,欢迎他来法国,并问他从苏格兰带来了什么消息。 “没有什么好消息,亲爱的舅舅。”年轻的达威特说道,“不过,我高兴你这么快就认出了我。” “孩子,即使我在波多的兰第斯沙地上碰到你像个踩着高跷行走的白鹤,我也会认出你的。坐下吧,坐下吧——如果有什么不幸的消息要听的话,我们倒有酒来帮助我们化解悲哀。嘿!老克扣我的好店主,把你最好的酒给我们拿来吧。” 正如在巴黎的现代酒家里人们十分熟悉瑞士语夹杂着法语的口音那样,在普莱西附近的客店里人们也很熟悉著名的苏格兰语夹法语的口音。店主迅速地——伴随着畏惧引起的慌忙——听清了吩咐,马上顺从地行动起来。他把一瓶香槟酒摆在他们面前。年长者喝了一大口,而外甥却只啜饮了一点,以感谢舅父的盛情,同时抱歉地说,他早上已喝过酒,不能多喝了。 “我的好外甥,这话若出自你妹妹之口,才是最好的借口。”勒巴拉弗雷说道,“要是你想脸上留胡子,当军人,那你就得少忌讳酒罐。行了——行了,打开你从苏格兰带来的邮袋——说一说格兰一呼拉金的消息吧——我妹妹怎么样了?” “亲爱的舅舅,她死了。”昆丁悲伤地说道。 “死了!”舅舅大声说道,声音里流露出的惊奇多于惋惜,“要知道,她比我还小五岁。而我现在却正年富力强。死了!简直不可能。我除了和快活的弟兄们饮酒作乐,欢度两三天假期的时候有过头疼以外,还从来没有不舒服过——而我可怜的妹妹却已经死了!好外甥,你爹再娶了吗?” 还来不及等到年轻人回答,他已从其惊愕的表情中探知了答案:“怎么!没有?我本来还想诅咒说阿兰•达威特是个没有老婆不能过活的男人哩。他喜欢把屋子弄得整整齐齐——也喜欢瞅一瞅漂亮的女人。在生活上还比较严格——这些都是结婚给他带来的好处。现在我对这些安逸不怎么感兴趣了。我可以端详一个漂亮的女人而不想到神圣的婚姻问题——再说,我也不够圣洁地来考虑这个问题。” “唉呀,亲爱的舅舅,在格兰一呼拉金遭到奥吉维人的骚扰之后,我妈就当了寡妇。我父亲。两个叔叔,还有我两个哥哥和七个亲戚,以及坚琴师、短工和另外六个人在捍卫城堡时惨遭杀害。如今在整个格兰一呼拉金已经没有一个冒烟的炉子和完整的砌墙石了。” “圣安德鲁的十字呀!”巴拉弗雷说道,“这可真是不折不扣的骚扰和侵犯!不错,这些奥吉维人一直是格兰一呼拉金的倒霉邻居——不过,这真是个不幸的巧合,也是战争的命运——战争的命运——好外甥,这不幸是什么时候发生的?”说着他喝了一大口酒,十分严肃地摇摇头。外甥回答说,他家是在前年圣裘德节遭难的。 “你瞧,”那武士说道,“我就说这是个巧合吧——正是那天我和二十个同志发起猛攻,从阿莫里、布拉德费尔的手上夺取了罗歇•卢瓦尔城堡。布拉德费尔是自由长矛手的首领,你一定听说过这个人。我把他杀死在他家的门坎上,拿走了够打一条美丽金链的黄金。你知道,这条金链以前要比现在长一倍——这倒提醒我得把金锭取下一节,进行一次神圣的使命。安德鲁,你来一下——安德鲁!” 他的马弁安德鲁走了进来。总的说来他穿得和射手们一样,只是手脚没有护甲,而身上的护甲则做得很粗糙,帽子也没有羽饰,而外袍则是哗叽或普通布做的,而不是富丽的天鹅绒。巴拉弗雷将金项链从脖子上解下来,用他那坚固有力的牙齿从一端咬下了四英寸长的一段,然后对仆人说道:“听我说,安德鲁,你把这东西拿去交给圣马丁教堂的修道士——我的朋友波尼法斯神父——代我好好祝福他,特别是因为我们上次半夜分手时,他连‘上帝保佑你’都不会说了——你告诉我的老伙计,说我兄弟和妹妹还有我家别的几个人都死了,我求他就这点金项链的价值为他们的灵魂做个弥撒,并按赊欠的办法进行其他一些能使他们避免炼狱之苦的必要仪式。你听着,既然他们都是不沾邪教的正直人,现在很可能已经脱离了地狱的边境,因此只需少量的钱就能使他们平安无事。如果真是这样,那么你要特别提醒他,我希望把多余的金子用教会力所能及的方式对称之为安古斯郡的奥吉维人氏族进行诅咒。你明白了吗,安德鲁?” 那马奔点点头。 “你要注意,别叫这节金项链在落到修道士手里之前就进了酒店。万一如此,那你将饱尝马鞍肚带和脚楼皮带的滋味,直到叫你像圣巴托罗缪那样皮开肉绽——你先等等,我看你眼盯着酒壶,我得让你走之前先喝几口。” 说罢他给他斟满一杯酒。马弁一口喝光之后,便出去执行主人的命令。 “好外甥,现在你说说在那不幸的事件里你个人的遭遇吧。” “我在比我年纪大、身体壮的人当中猛打猛冲,直到我们全部被他们打倒为止。”达威特说道,“结果我受了重伤。” “你这伤并不比我十年前受的那次伤更严重。”巴拉弗雷说道,“你瞧这个,外甥,’他边说边用手指摸他脸上那条深红色的伤痕,“奥吉维人的刀决不会留下这么深的伤口。” “他们砍杀得也够狠了,”昆丁伤心地说道,“但最后他们太累了,当发现我还有一口气的时候,我娘苦苦哀求,他们才饶了我一条命。一位有学问的阿伯布罗迪克修道士碰巧在我家作客,战斗中侥幸没被杀死。他被允许给我包扎伤口,最后把我转移到安全地点。但这也是因为我娘向他许了愿,保证我将来当个修道士。” “当修道士!”舅父惊叫道——“圣安德鲁呀!我可从没遇到过这种事。从我小时候起,还没有人想到过叫我当修道士——不过,想起来也觉有趣。你得承认,要不是我永远学不会读和写,永远忍受不了唱赞美诗和穿他们那像疯癫的叫花子穿的衣服——圣母宽恕我(说着他划了个十字)!同时他们的斋戒也不适合我的胃口,否则我可以成为一个和我那圣马丁教堂的小伙计不相上下的顶刮刮的修道士哩。不过,我也不知道为什么,谁也不曾向我推荐过这个差事——这么说,好外甥,你原是要当修道士——请问,这是因为什么?” “因为我父亲的这个家族要么被埋葬在寺院,要么被埋葬在坟墓。”昆丁深有感触地说道。 “我明白了,”当舅舅的说道——“我懂了。这些狡猾的坏蛋——真狡猾!不过他们也会上当受骗。你瞧,好外甥,我记得罗伯萨尔特神父就曾发誓当修道士。以后他逃出了寺院,成了自由同志会的首领。他有个情妇,是我见到过的最漂亮的女人,还有三个同样漂亮的孩子——好外甥,修道士是不可信的——简直不可以相信他们——他们可以完全出乎意料地改行当兵,或当上父亲——你继续讲你的吧。” “我没有什么可讲的了,”达威特说道,“只是想补充一点:考虑到我可怜的娘多少也算得上我的一个保人,所以我也就被说服穿上了见习修道士的衣服,服从寺院规则,甚至学会了读和写。” “读和写片巴拉弗雷惊奇地叫道,因为他是一个把超过他自己知识范围的任何知识都一律视为神奇的人,“你说你会写,还会读!我简直不能相信——我从没听说过达威特家的人,或莱斯利家的人会写自己的名字。我可以为他们当中的一员负责说这句话——我就不能写,就像我不能飞。看在圣路易的分上,你说他们是怎么教你的?” “开始的时候是很困难的,”达威特说道,“但习惯之后也就容易了。由于受伤和大量出血,我身体很弱,同时我很想叫我的救命恩人——彼得神父感到满意,因此我也就容易循规就范。这样郁郁不乐地搞了几个月之后,我好心的娘死了,同时我已完全恢复了健康,所以我对我的恩人,也就是寺院的副院长说,我不愿发誓当修道士。我们之间达成了谅解:既然我天生不适合当修道士,就应当把我送到尘世去奔我的前程。为了使奥吉维人不致迁怒于副院长,我离开时得假装外逃,而为了增添声色,我甚至还带走了神父的一只兀鹰。不过我的确是办了正式手续离开的,神父本人的签字盖章可以作证。” “这就对了——这就好了。”舅舅说道,“我们国王很不在乎你偷了什么别的东西,但害怕任何破坏寺院教规的事。我敢说,你身上没有很多钱来支付你的费用吧?” “我只有几枚银币,”年轻人说道,“好舅舅,我对你只能说实话。”。 “唉呀!”巴拉弗雷对答道,“这可困难啦。如今世道危险,身藏金钱很不安全。我也从来不储存我的薪饷,但我总戴有(我建议你也仿效我的样子)金项链、金手镯或金项因作为装饰,必要时便可以抽出一两扣金链或一颗多余的宝石拿去变卖,以应急需——好外甥,你可能要问:我是怎么得到这样一些玩意儿的?”——(他得意地摆摆他的项链)——“这些项链并不是长在每个树丛上,也不是像孩子们用其花茎来作骑士领章的水仙花那样生在田野里。不过,那有什么呢?你也可以通过侍候善良的法国国王,像我一样搞到这些东西。只要有心发财,又肯冒点生命危险,在国王那儿总是可以大发横财的。” “据我所知,”昆丁说道,他想回避他认为目前还不能作出的一个决定,“勃艮第公爵比法国国王的排场更大。在他的麾下可以获得更大的荣誉——人们可以痛快地打仗,可以建立卓著的战功。但据说这位最信奉基督的国王却是凭大使们的三寸不烂之舌来赢得胜利的。” “好外甥,你说话简直像个傻孩子,”带伤疤的舅父说道,“不过,我记得我初到这里时,也像你一样愣头愣脑的。我一想到国王,就以为他要么是头戴金冠,位坐高台,与大蕃臣和武士一道吃着白色凉粉,饮酒作乐,要么像传奇小说中的查里曼大帝,或者(巴尔布尔与游吟诗人)这类苏格兰史书中的罗伯特•布鲁斯和威廉•华莱士那样,总是一马当先,冲锋在前。你听着,年轻人——这全是虚假的空想。策略——只有策略才是万能的。你也许要问,策略是啥呢?哼,策略是我们法国国王创造的一门艺术,是利用别人的刀枪作战,叫别人掏腰包给自己的士兵发饷。唉!他可真是世界上穿过紫袍的最聪明的帝王——不过,他也不经常穿华贵的紫袍——我看他通常都穿得十分朴素,其朴素的程度甚至叫我这种身份的人穿也会显得寒怆。” “好舅舅,你并没有说服我。”年轻的达威特回答道,“既然我必须在外国服役,那么,要是命中注定我得干一番大事业的话,我打算在一个能使我扬名的地方服役。” “好外甥,我明白你的意思,”忠诚的武士说道,“我十分明白你的意思。不过,在这些事情上你还没有成熟。勃艮第公爵是一个鲁莽、急躁、愚顽的冒失鬼。打起仗来他冲在贵族骑士们和阿图瓦与埃洛臣民们的前面。你以为,要是你我在场,我们就能比公爵和他本国那些勇敢的贵族们冲得更前吗?如果我们跟不上他们,我们就有可能因为行动迟缓而受到军法总监的惩处。如果我们冲得和他们一样快,那就算不错,他们会认为我们得薪饷是受之无愧的。即便在众人都尽力拼杀的混战当中,我冒着困难和危险,冲在领先他们一矛之远的地方,公爵大人也会用他看到别人打得漂亮时惯用的弗兰德话说一声:“哈!打得好!好长矛手——勇敢的苏格兰人——赏他一个弗洛林的酒钱好为我们的健康干杯。”但是,一个服役的异乡人既得不到地位,也得不到土地和财产——这一切都会落到土地之子的农民手里。” “那么,好舅舅,看在上帝的分上,这些该归谁所有呢?”年轻的达威特问道。 “应该归农民的保护者所有。”巴拉弗雷直起他那高大的身躯讲道,“路易王说:‘我善良的法国农民——我诚实而和蔼的杰克——拿起你们的农具,拿起你们的犁、耙、修校刀和你们的锄头吧——我英勇的苏格兰卫士将为你们战斗,你们只消开支他们的军晌——而你,我安详的公爵、显赫的伯爵和最强大的侯爵,你应好好按捺住你的勇气,待需要时再驱使它吧,否则它会越轨,伤害它的主人。这儿是我的御林军——我的法国卫队——特别是有我的苏格兰射手团,有我带伤疤的卢德维克,他们打起仗来和你不相上下,甚至可以胜过你。他们也具有促使你们父亲生前丧失了克雷西和阿金库尔的那种不羁的匹夫之勇。’够了,难道你还看不出在这些王国当中哪个才能使一个来碰运气的骑士获得最高的地位和荣誉吗?” “好舅舅,我想我明白你的意思,”外甥回答道,“不过,在我看来,不冒险是争取不到荣誉的。恕我直说——替一个谁也不想伤害的老年人站岗放哨,夏日和冬夜都消磨在那些城谍上,成天关在铁笼子里,惟恐他们会离开自己的岗位——舅舅,这只不过是栖息在窠里的老鹰,永远也不可能到原野上去飞翔!” “照图尔的圣马丁说,这孩子可真有点精神!有我们莱斯利家族的高贵血统,多像我啊!不过要比我痴一些。年轻人,你听我说——国王万岁!——国王差不多每天都有差事叫他的追随者获得金钱和荣誉。你别以为最勇敢。最危险的事情都是白天干出来的。我可以告诉你,像爬城堡、抓俘虏这类事,尽管干的人都是无名英雄,但要比勃艮第查尔斯的那帮冒险家冒更大的危险,也会获得更大的恩泽。如果国王陛下乐于运筹帷幄之中,他就更可以优哉游哉地旁观欣赏,慷慨地奖赏冒险家,因为他比亲身参加更能理解他们的危险和战绩。啊,他真是个贤明而又富于策略的君王!” 外甥思索了一会,然后以一种低沉而富有威慑力的声调说道:“善良的彼得神父过去经常教导我说,不光荣的事是很危险的。好舅父,我用不着对你说,我自然揣测这些秘密使命肯定都是很体面的。” “好外甥,你把我当成什么人了?”巴拉弗雷有点严峻地说道,“我的确没有在寺院受过训练,也不会读和写,但我是你娘的哥哥,是个忠实的莱斯利人。你以为我会建议你干不光彩的事吗?法国最优秀的骑士杜古斯克兰要是还活着的话,也不耻于把我的业绩看作他的业绩。” “好舅舅,我怎能怀疑你的忠实可靠?”年轻人说道,“你是那场灾难后惟一留存下来给我指点迷津的亲人。不过,是否真像传说的那样,国王在他普莱西城堡的宫廷冷落不堪呢?听说贵族和朝臣都不来朝觐他,没有哪个大领主或皇室的大人物来陪伴他。只有家里的奴仆和他玩一些稍能排遣寂寞的游戏,被邀请参加一些秘密会议也都只是些卑微低贱的人。出身高贵和有地位的人受到排挤,而出身最贫寒的人则被提拔为国王的宠臣——这一切都显得很不正常,与他父亲——那从英国狮子的牙缝里夺回了快被征服的法国的高贵的查尔斯的作风迥然不同。” “你说话就像个不懂事的娃娃,”勒巴拉弗雷说道,“不过即使像个娃娃,你也是在新弦上弹老调。你听我说:如果国王派他的剃头匠奥利弗•丹去干他比贵族更胜任的事,这岂不对法国更有好处?如果他吩咐他忠实的军法总监特里斯顿逮捕某个反叛的市民,除掉某个策动骚乱的贵族,事情会一办就灵,而把它交给法国某个公爵或贵族,那么国王得到的回答可能是拒不执行。再说,假如国王高兴给平凡的卢德维克•勒巴拉弗雷一个任务,那他肯定会执行,而要是委托给最高法官,他却有可能泄露机密,难道这不足以表明他的聪明才智?而最重要的是,对于企求好运的骑士来说,像处于这样一种处境中的国王不是最适合么?要知道,他们的目的就是找到最能赏识,也最迫切需要他们为之效忠的主人。孩子,我告诉你,路易王懂得怎样选择他的亲信,也懂得该委与他们什么任务。正如常言所说,按各人能背的重量来定他的负荷。他不像卡斯蒂耶国王那样,因为御食大臣没在旁边递给他杯子,就差点渴死。你听,圣马丁教堂的钟声响了!我得赶回城堡去——再见了——你要好自为之。明早八点你到吊桥前,叫哨兵找我。切记在走近大门时别走出规定的直路!那儿的陷阱很厉害,搞不好会断掉你一只腿或胳膊,那你就后悔莫及了。你将见到国王,你可以自己对他作个判断——再见。” 说罢,巴拉弗雷便匆忙离去,仓促之中竟忘了付酒钱,这是他这种人常有的健忘症。店主看到他那头带大军帽频频点首的样子和他那沉重的大刀,可能感到了些畏惧,没敢来提醒他。 人们也许会猜想,当他舅父走开以后,达威特就会回到他的塔楼,等待再次聆听那曾抚慰过他早梦的动人歌声。但那毕竟是一段浪漫的际遇,而他和舅父的谈话却向他揭开了现实生活中的一个篇章。这是个令人不快的篇章。它引起的回忆和思索淹没了其他的想法,特别是那些轻松愉快的遐想。 昆丁向店主打听到一条不必提防陷阱而可以穿行的道路,沿着它来到了湍急的谢尔河边一条幽静的小径。他努力集中他那纷繁而散漫的思绪,考虑着将来的行动,因为他和舅父的谈话使他对原来的计划产生了一些疑虑。 Chapter 6 The Bohemians Sae rantingly, sae wantingly, Sae dantingly gaed he, He play'd a spring and danced a round Beneath the gallows tree! OLD SONG (The Bohemians: In . . . Guy Mannering the reader will find some remarks on the gipsies as they are found in Scotland. Their first appearance in Europe took place in the beginning of the fifteenth century. The account given by these singular people was, that it was appointed to them, as a penance, to travel for a certain number of years. Their appearance, however, and manners, strongly contradicted the allegation that they travelled from any religious motive. Their dress and accoutrements were at once showy and squalid; those who acted as captains and leaders of any horde, . . . were arrayed in dresses of the most showy colours, such as scarlet or light green; were well mounted; assumed the title of dukes and counts, and affected considerable consequence. The rest of the tribe were most miserable in their diet and apparel, fed without hesitation on animals which had died of disease, and were clad in filthy and scanty rags. . . . Their complexion was positively Eastern, approaching to that of the Hindoos. Their manners were as depraved as their appearance was poor and beggarly. The men were in general thieves, and the women of the most abandoned character. The few arts which they studied with success were of a slight and idle, though ingenious description. They practised working in iron, but never upon any great scale. Many were good sportsmen, good musicians. . . . But their ingenuity never ascended into industry. . . . Their pretensions to read fortunes, by palmistry and by astrology, acquired them sometimes respect, but oftener drew them under suspicion as sorcerers; the universal accusation that they augmented their horde by stealing children, subjected them to doubt and execration. . . . The pretension set up by these wanderers, of being pilgrims in the act of penance, although it . . . in many instances obtained them protection from the governments of the countries through which they travelled, was afterwards totally disbelieved, and they were considered as incorrigible rogues and vagrants. . . . A curious and accurate account of their arrival in France is quoted by Pasquier "On August 27th, 1427, came to Paris twelve penitents, . . . viz. a duke, an earl, and ten men, all on horseback, and calling themselves good Christians. They were of Lower Egypt, and gave out that, not long before, the Christians had subdued their country, and obliged them to embrace Christianity on pain of being put to death. Those who were baptized were great lords in their own country, and had a king and queen there. Soon after their conversion, the Saracens overran the country, and obliged them to renounce Christianity. When the Emperor of Germany, the King of Poland, and other Christian princes heard of this, they fell upon them, and obliged the whole of them, both great and small, to quit the country, and go to the Pope at Rome, who enjoined them seven years' penance to wander over the world, without lying in a bed. They had been wandering five years when they came to Paris first. . . . Nearly all of them had their ears bored, and wore two silver rings in each. . . . The men were black, their hair curled; the women remarkably black, their only clothes a large old duffle garment, tied over the shoulders with a cloth or cord, and under it a miserable rocket; . . . notwithstanding their poverty, there were among them women who, by looking into people's hands, told their fortunes, and what was worse, they picked people's pockets of their money, and got it into their own, by telling these things through airy magic, et cetera." Pasquier remarks upon this singular journal that however the story of a penance savours of a trick, these people wandered up and down France, under the eye, and with the knowledge, of the magistrates, for more than a hundred years; and it was not till 1561, that a sentence of banishment was passed against them in that kingdom. The arrival of the Egyptians (as these singular people were called) in various parts of Europe, corresponds with the period in which Timur or Tamerlane invaded Hindostan, affording its natives the choice between the Koran and death. There can be little doubt that these wanderers consisted originally of the Hindostanee tribes, who, displaced, and flying from the sabres of the Mohammedans, undertook this species of wandering life, without well knowing whither they were going. When they are in closest contact with the ordinary peasants around them, they still keep their language a mystery. There is little doubt, however, that it is a dialect of the Hindostanee, from the specimens produced by Grellman, Hoyland, and others, who have written on the subject. S.) The manner in which Quentin Durward had been educated was not of a kind to soften the heart, or perhaps to improve the moral feeling. He, with the rest of his family, had been trained to the chase as an amusement, and taught to consider war as their only serious occupation, and that it was the great duty of their lives stubbornly to endure, and fiercely to retaliate, the attacks of their feudal enemies, by whom their race had been at last almost annihilated. And yet there mixed with these feuds a spirit of rude chivalry, and even courtesy, which softened their rigour; so that revenge, their only justice, was still prosecuted with some regard to humanity and generosity. The lessons of the worthy old monk, better attended to, perhaps, during a long illness and adversity, than they might have been in health and success, had given young Durward still farther insight into the duties of humanity towards others; and considering the ignorance of the period, the general prejudices entertained in favour of a military life, and the manner in which he himself had been bred, the youth was disposed to feel more accurately the moral duties incumbent on his station than was usual at the time. He reflected on his interview with his uncle with a sense of embarrassment and disappointment. His hopes had been high; for although intercourse by letters was out of the question, yet a pilgrim, or an adventurous trafficker, or a crippled soldier sometimes brought Lesly's name to Glen Houlakin, and all united in praising his undaunted courage, and his success in many petty enterprises which his master had intrusted to him. Quentin's imagination had filled up the sketch in his own way, and assimilated his successful and adventurous uncle (whose exploits probably lost nothing in the telling) to some of the champions and knights errant of whom minstrels sung and who won crowns and kings' daughters by dint of sword and lance. He was now compelled to rank his kinsman greatly lower in the scale of chivalry; but, blinded by the high respect paid to parents and those who approach that character -- moved by every early prejudice in his favour -- inexperienced besides, and passionately attached to his mother's memory, he saw not, in the only brother of that dear relation, the character he truly held, which was that of an ordinary mercenary soldier, neither much worse nor greatly better than many of the same profession whose presence added to the distracted state of France. Without being wantonly cruel, Le Balafre was, from habit, indifferent to human life and human suffering; he was profoundly ignorant, greedy of booty, unscrupulous how he acquired it, and profuse in expending it on the gratification of his passions. The habit of attending exclusively to his own wants and interests had converted him into one of the most selfish animals in the world; so that he was seldom able, as the reader may have remarked, to proceed far in any subject without considering how it applied to himself, or, as it is called, making the case his own, though not upon feelings connected with the golden rule, but such as were very different. To this must be added that the narrow round of his duties and his pleasures had gradually circumscribed his thoughts, hopes, and wishes, and quenched in a great measure the wild spirit of honour, and desire of distinction in arms, by which his youth had been once animated. Balafre was, in short, a keen soldier, hardened, selfish, and narrow minded; active and bold in the discharge of his duty, but acknowledging few objects beyond it, except the formal observance of a careless devotion, relieved by an occasional debauch with brother Boniface, his comrade and confessor. Had his genius been of a more extended character, he would probably have been promoted to some important command, for the King, who knew every soldier of his bodyguard personally, reposed much confidence in Balafre's courage and fidelity; and besides, the Scot had either wisdom or cunning enough perfectly to understand, and ably to humour, the peculiarities of that sovereign. Still, however, his capacity was too much limited to admit of his rising to higher rank, and though smiled on and favoured by Louis on many occasions, Balafre continued a mere Life Guardsman, or Scottish Archer. Without seeing the full scope of his uncle's character, Quentin felt shocked at his indifference to the disastrous extirpation of his brother in law's whole family, and could not help being surprised, moreover, that so near a relative had not offered him the assistance of his purse, which, but for the generosity of Maitre Pierre, he would have been under the necessity of directly craving from him. He wronged his uncle, however, in supposing that this want of attention to his probable necessities was owing to avarice. Not precisely needing money himself at that moment, it had not occurred to Balafre that his nephew might be in exigencies; otherwise, he held a near kinsman so much a part of himself, that he would have provided for the weal of the living nephew, as he endeavoured to do for that of his deceased sister and her husband. But whatever was the motive, the neglect was very unsatisfactory to young Durward, and he wished more than once he had taken service with the Duke of Burgundy before he quarrelled with his forester. "Whatever had then become of me," he thought to himself, "I should always have been able to keep up my spirits with the reflection that I had, in case of the worst, a stout back friend in this uncle of mine. But now I have seen him, and, woe worth him, there has been more help in a mere mechanical stranger, than I have found in my own mother's brother, my countryman and a cavalier! One would think the slash, that has carved all comeliness out of his face, had let at the same time every drop of gentle blood out of his body." Durward now regretted he had not had an opportunity to mention Maitre Pierre to Le Balafre, in the hope of obtaining some farther account of that personage; but his uncle's questions had followed fast on each other, and the summons of the great bell of Saint Martin of Tours had broken off their conference rather suddenly. That old man, he thought to himself, was crabbed and dogged in appearance, sharp and scornful in language, but generous and liberal in his actions; and such a stranger is worth a cold kinsman. "What says our old Scottish proverb? -- 'Better kind fremit, than fremit kindred.' ('Better kind strangers than estranged kindred.' The motto is engraved on a dirk, belonging to a person who had but too much reason to choose such a device. It was left by him to my father. The weapon is now in my possession. S.) I will find out that man, which, methinks, should be no difficult task, since he is so wealthy as mine host bespeaks him. He will give me good advice for my governance, at least; and if he goes to strange countries, as many such do, I know not but his may be as adventurous a service as that of those Guards of Louis." As Quentin framed this thought, a whisper from those recesses of the heart in which lies much that the owner does not know of, or will not acknowledge willingly, suggested that, perchance, the lady of the turret, she of the veil and lute, might share that adventurous journey. As the Scottish youth made these reflections, he met two grave looking men, apparently citizens of Tours, whom, doffing his cap with the reverence due from youth to age, he respectfully asked to direct him to the house of Maitre Pierre. "The house of whom, my fair son?" said one of the passengers. "Of Maitre Pierre, the great silk merchant, who planted all the mulberry trees in the park yonder," said Durward. "Young man," said one of them who was nearest to him, "you have taken up an idle trade a little too early." "And have chosen wrong subjects to practise your fooleries upon," said the farther one, still more gruffly. "The Syndic of Tours is not accustomed to be thus talked to by strolling jesters from foreign parts." Quentin was so much surprised at the causeless offence which these two decent looking persons had taken at a very simple and civil question, that he forgot to be angry at the rudeness of their reply, and stood staring after them as they walked on with amended pace, often looking back at him, as if they were desirous to get as soon as possible out of his reach. He next met a party of vine dressers, and addressed to them the same question; and in reply, they demanded to know whether he wanted Maitre Pierre, the schoolmaster? or Maitre Pierre, the carpenter? or Maitre Pierre, the beadle? or half a dozen of Maitre Pierres besides. When none of these corresponded with the description of the person after whom he inquired, the peasants accused him of jesting with them impertinently, and threatened to fall upon him and beat him, in guerdon of his raillery. The oldest amongst them, who had some influence over the rest, prevailed on them to desist from violence. "You see by his speech and his fool's cap," said he, "that he is one of the foreign mountebanks who are come into the country, and whom some call magicians and soothsayers, and some jugglers, and the like, and there is no knowing what tricks they have amongst them. I have heard of such a one's paying a liard (a small copper coin worth a quarter of a cent, current in France in the fifteenth century.) to eat his bellyfull of grapes in a poor man's vineyard; and he ate as many as would have loaded a wain, and never undid a button of his jerkin -- and so let him pass quietly, and keep his way, as we will keep ours. -- And you, friend, if you would shun worse, walk quietly on, in the name of God, our Lady of Marmoutier, and Saint Martin of Tours, and trouble us no more about your Maitre Pierre, which may be another name for the devil, for aught we know." The Scot finding himself much the weaker party, judged it his Wisest course to walk on without reply; but the peasants, who at first shrunk from him in horror, at his supposed talents for sorcery and grape devouring, took heart of grace as he got to a distance, and having uttered a few cries and curses, finally gave them emphasis with a shower of stones, although at such a distance as to do little or no harm to the object of their displeasure. Quentin, as he pursued his walk, began to think, in his turn, either that he himself lay under a spell, or that the people of Touraine were the most stupid, brutal, and inhospitable of the French peasants. The next incident which came under his observation did not tend to diminish this opinion. On a slight eminence, rising above the rapid and beautiful Cher, in the direct line of his path, two or three large chestnut trees were so happily placed as to form a distinguished and remarkable group; and beside them stood three or four peasants, motionless, with their eyes turned upwards, and fixed, apparently, upon some object amongst the branches of the tree next to them. The meditations of youth are seldom so profound as not to yield to the slightest, impulse of curiosity, as easily as the lightest pebble, dropped casually from the hand, breaks the surface of a limpid pool. Quentin hastened his pace, and ran lightly up the rising ground, in time enough to witness the ghastly spectacle which attracted the notice of these gazers -- which was nothing less than the body of a man, convulsed by the last agony, suspended on one of the branches. "Why do you not cut him down?" said the young Scot, whose hand was as ready to assist affliction, as to maintain his own honour when he deemed it assailed. One of the peasants, turning on him an eye from which fear had banished all expression but its own, and a face as pale as clay, pointed to a mark cut upon the bark of the tree, having the same rude resemblance to a fleur de lys which certain talismanic scratches, well known to our revenue officers, bear to a broad arrow. Neither understanding nor heeding the import of this symbol, young Durward sprung lightly as the ounce up into the tree, drew from his pouch that most necessary implement of a Highlander or woodsman, the trusty skene dhu (black knife; a species of knife without clasp or hinge formerly much used by the Highlanders, who seldom travelled without such an ugly weapon, though it is now rarely used. S.), and, calling to those below to receive the body on their hands, cut the rope asunder in less than a minute after he had perceived the exigency. But his humanity was ill seconded by the bystanders. So far from rendering Durward any assistance, they seemed terrified at the audacity of his action, and took to flight with one consent, as if they feared their merely looking on might have been construed into accession to his daring deed. The body, unsupported from beneath, fell heavily to earth in such a manner that Quentin, who presently afterwards jumped down, had the mortification to see that the last sparks of life were extinguished. He gave not up his charitable purpose, however, without farther efforts. He freed the wretched man's neck from the fatal noose, undid the doublet, threw water on the face, and practised the other ordinary remedies resorted to for recalling suspended animation. While he was thus humanely engaged, a wild clamour of tongues, speaking a language which he knew not, arose around him; and he had scarcely time to observe that he was surrounded by several men and women of a singular and foreign appearance, when he found himself roughly seized by both arms, while a naked knife, at the same moment, was offered to his throat. "Pale slave of Eblis!" (in Mohammedan religion the name of the chief of the fallen angels) said a man, in imperfect French, "are you robbing him you have murdered? -- But we have you -- and you shall abuy it." There were knives drawn on every side of him, as these words were spoken, and the grim and distorted countenances which glared on him were like those of wolves rushing on their prey. Still the young Scot's courage and presence of mind bore him out. "What mean ye, my masters?" he said; "if that be your friend's body, I have just now cut him down, in pure charity, and you will do better to try to recover his life, than to misuse an innocent stranger to whom he owes his chance of escape." The women had by this time taken possession of the dead body, and continued the attempts to recover animation which Durward had been making use of, though with the like bad success; so that, desisting from their fruitless efforts, they seemed to abandon themselves to all the Oriental expressions of grief; the women making a piteous wailing, and tearing their long black hair, while the men seemed to rend their garments, and to sprinkle dust upon their heads. They gradually became so much engaged in their mourning rites, that they bestowed no longer any attention on Durward, of whose innocence they were probably satisfied from circumstances. It would certainly have been his wisest plan to have left these wild people to their own courses, but he had been bred in almost reckless contempt of danger, and felt all the eagerness of youthful curiosity. The singular assemblage, both male and female, wore turbans and caps, more similar in general appearance to his own bonnet than to the hats commonly worn in France. Several of the men had curled black beards, and the complexion of all was nearly as dark as that of Africans. One or two who seemed their chiefs, had some tawdry ornaments of silver about their necks and in their ears, and wore showy scarfs of yellow, or scarlet, or light green; but their legs and arms were bare, and the whole troop seemed wretched and squalid in appearance. There were no weapons among them that Durward saw, except the long knives with which they had lately menaced him, and one short, crooked sabre, or Moorish sword, which was worn by an active looking young man, who often laid his hand upon the hill, while he surpassed the rest of the party in his extravagant expressions of grief, and seemed to mingle with them threats of vengeance. The disordered and yelling group were so different in appearance from any beings whom Quentin had yet seen, that he was on the point of concluding them to be a party of Saracens, of those "heathen hounds," who were the opponents of gentle knights and Christian monarchs in all the romances which he had heard or read, and was about to withdraw himself from a neighbourhood so perilous, when a galloping of horse was heard, and the supposed Saracens, who had raised by this time the body of their comrade upon their shoulders, were at once charged by a party of French soldiers. This sudden apparition changed the measured wailing of the mourners into irregular shrieks of terror. The body was thrown to the ground in an instant, and those who were around it showed the utmost and most dexterous activity in escaping under the bellies as it were of the horses, from the point of the lances which were levelled at them, with exclamations of "Down with the accursed heathen thieves -- take and kill -- bind them like beasts -- spear them like wolves!" These cries were accompanied with corresponding acts of violence; but such was the alertness of the fugitives, the ground being rendered unfavourable to the horsemen by thickets and bushes, that only two were struck down and made prisoners, one of whom was the young fellow with the sword, who had previously offered some resistance. Quentin, whom fortune seemed at this period to have chosen for the butt of her shafts, was at the same time seized by the soldiers, and his arms, in spite of his remonstrances, bound down with a cord; those who apprehended him showing a readiness and dispatch in the operation, which proved them to be no novices in matters of police. Looking anxiously to the leader of the horsemen, from whom he hoped to obtain liberty, Quentin knew not exactly whether to be pleased or alarmed upon recognising in him the down looking and silent companion of Maitre Pierre. True, whatever crime these strangers might be accused of, this officer might know, from the history of the morning, that he, Durward, had no connection with them whatever; but it was a more difficult question, whether this sullen man would be either a favourable judge or a willing witness in his behalf, and he felt doubtful whether he would mend his condition by making any direct application to him. But there was little leisure for hesitation. "Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre," said the down looking officer to two of his band, "These same trees stand here quite convenient. I will teach these misbelieving, thieving sorcerers to interfere with the King's justice, when it has visited any of their accursed race. Dismount, my children, and do your office briskly." Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre were in an instant on foot, and Quentin observed that they had each, at the crupper and pommel of his saddle, a coil or two of ropes, which they hastily undid, and showed that, in fact, each coil formed a halter, with the fatal noose adjusted, ready for execution. The blood ran cold in Quentin's veins, when he saw three cords selected, and perceived that it was proposed to put one around his own neck. He called on the officer loudly, reminded him of their meeting that morning, claimed the right of a free born Scotsman in a friendly and allied country, and denied any knowledge of the persons along with whom he was seized, or of their misdeed. The officer whom Durward thus addressed, scarce deigned to look at him while he was speaking, and took no notice whatever of the claim he preferred to prior acquaintance. He barely turned to one or two of the peasants who were now come forward, either to volunteer their evidence against the prisoners, or out of curiosity, and said gruffly, "Was yonder young fellow with the vagabonds?" "That he was, sir, and it please your noble Provostship," answered one of the clowns; "he was the very first blasphemously to cut down the rascal whom his Majesty's justice most deservedly hung up, as we told your worship." "I'll swear by God, and Saint Martin of Tours, to have seen him with their gang," said another, "when they pillaged our metairie (a small farm)." "Nay, but," said a boy, "yonder heathen was black, and this youth is fair; yonder one had short curled hair, and this hath long fair locks." "Ay, child," said the peasant, "and perhaps you will say yonder one had a green coat and this a gray jerkin. But his worship, the Provost, knows that they can change their complexions as easily as their jerkins, so that I am still minded he was the same." "It is enough that you have seen him intermeddle with the course of the King's justice, by attempting to recover an executed traitor," said the officer. -- "Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre, dispatch." "Stay, signior officer!" exclaimed the youth in mortal agony; "hear me speak -- let me not die guiltlessly -- my blood will be required of you by my countrymen in this world, and by Heaven's justice in that which is to follow." "I will answer for my actions in both," said the Provost, coldly, and made a sign with his left hand to the executioners; then, with a smile of triumphant malice, touched with his forefinger his right arm, which hung suspended in a scarf, disabled probably by the blow which Durward had dealt him that morning. "Miserable, vindictive wretch!" answered Quentin, persuaded by that action that private revenge was the sole motive of this man's rigour, and that no mercy whatever was to be expected from him. "The poor youth raves," said the functionary: "speak a word of comfort to him ere he make his transit, Trois Eschelles; thou art a comfortable man in such cases when a confessor is not to be had. Give him one minute of ghostly advice, and dispatch matters in the next. I must proceed on the rounds. -- Soldiers, follow me!" The Provost rode on, followed by his guard, excepting two or three, who were left to assist in the execution. The unhappy youth cast after him an eye almost darkened by despair, and thought he heard in every tramp of his horse's retreating hoofs the last slight chance of his safety vanish. He looked around him in agony, and was surprised, even in that moment, to see the stoical indifference of his fellow prisoners. They had previously testified every sign of fear, and made every effort of escape; but now, when secured and destined apparently to inevitable death, they awaited its arrival with the utmost composure. The scene of fate before them gave, perhaps, a more yellow tinge to their swarthy cheeks; but it neither agitated their features, nor quenched the stubborn haughtiness of their eye. They seemed like foxes, which, after all their wiles and artful attempts at escape are exhausted, die with a silent and sullen fortitude which wolves and bears, the fiercer objects of the chase, do not exhibit. They were undaunted by the conduct of the fatal executioners, who went about their work with more deliberation than their master had recommended, and which probably arose from their having acquired by habit a sort of pleasure in the discharge of their horrid office. We pause an instant to describe them, because, under a tyranny, whether despotic or popular, the character of the hangman becomes a subject of grave importance. These functionaries were essentially different in their appearance and manners. Louis used to call them Democritus and Heraclitus, and their master, the Provost, termed them Jean qui pleure and Jean qui rit. (Democritus and Heraclitus: two Greek philosophers of the fifth century; the former because of his propensity to laugh at the follies of men was called the "laughing philosopher;" the latter, according to a current notion, probably unfounded, habitually wept over the follies of mankind) (Jean qui pleure, and Jean qui rit: John who weeps and John who laughs. One of these two persons, . . might with more accuracy have been called Petit Jean, than Petit Andre. This was actually the name of the son of Henry de Cousin, master executioner of the High Court of Justice. S.) Trois Eschelles was a tall, thin, ghastly man, with a peculiar gravity of visage, and a large rosary round his neck, the use of which he was accustomed piously to offer to those sufferers on whom he did his duty. He had one or two Latin texts continually in his mouth on the nothingness and vanity of human life; and, had it been regular to have enjoyed such a plurality, he might have held the office of confessor to the jail in commendam with that of executioner. Petit Andre, on the contrary, was a joyous looking, round, active, little fellow, who rolled about in execution of his duty as if it were the most diverting occupation in the world. He seemed to have a sort of fond affection for his victims, and always spoke of them in kindly and affectionate terms. They were his poor honest fellows, his pretty dears, his gossips, his good old fathers, as their age or sex might be; and as Trois Eschelles endeavoured to inspire them with a philosophical or religious regard to futurity, Petit Andre seldom failed to refresh them with a jest or two, as if to induce them to pass from life as something that was ludicrous, contemptible, and not worthy of serious consideration. I cannot tell why or wherefore it was, but these two excellent persons, notwithstanding the variety of their talents, and the rare occurrence of such among persons of their profession, were both more utterly detested than perhaps any creatures of their kind, whether before or since; and the only doubt of those who knew aught of them was, whether the grave and pathetic Trois Eschelles or the frisky, comic, alert Petit Andre was the object of the greatest fear, or of the deepest execration. It is certain they bore the palm in both particulars over every hangman in France, unless it were perhaps their master Tristan l'Hermite, the renowned Provost Marshal, or his master, Louis XI. It must not be supposed that these reflections were of Quentin Durward's making. Life, death, time, and eternity were swimming before his eyes -- a stunning and overwhelming prospect, from which human nature recoiled in its weakness, though human pride would fain have borne up. He addressed himself to the God of his fathers; and when he did so, the little rude and unroofed chapel, which now held almost all his race but himself, rushed on his recollection. "Our feudal enemies gave my kindred graves in our own land," he thought, "but I must feed the ravens and kites of a foreign land, like an excommunicated felon!" The tears gushed involuntarily from his eyes. Trois Eschelles, touching one shoulder, gravely congratulated him on his heavenly disposition for death, and pathetically exclaiming, Beati qui in Domino moriuntur (blessed are they who die in the Lord), remarked, the soul was happy that left the body while the tear was in the eye. Petit Andre, slapping the other shoulder, called out, "Courage, my fair son! since you must begin the dance, let the ball open gaily, for all the rebecs are in tune," twitching the halter at the same time, to give point to his joke. As the youth turned his dismayed looks, first on one and then on the other, they made their meaning plainer by gently urging him forward to the fatal tree, and bidding him be of good courage, for it would be over in a moment. In this fatal predicament, the youth cast a distracted look around him. "Is there any good Christian who hears me," he said, "that will tell Ludovic Lesly of the Scottish Guard, called in this country Le Balafre, that his nephew is here basely murdered?" The words were spoken in good time, for an Archer of the Scottish Guard, attracted by the preparations for the execution, was standing by, with one or two other chance passengers, to witness what was passing. "Take heed what you do," he said to the executioners, "if this young man be of Scottish birth, I will not permit him to have foul play." "Heaven forbid, Sir Cavalier," said Trois Eschelles; "but we must obey our orders," drawing Durward forward by one arm. "The shortest play is ever the fairest," said Petit Andre, pulling him onward by the other. But Quentin had heard words of comfort, and, exerting his strength, he suddenly shook off both the finishers of the law, and, with his arms still bound, ran to the Scottish Archer. "Stand by me, countryman," he said, in his own language, "for the love of Scotland and Saint Andrew! I am innocent -- I am your own native landsman. Stand by me, as you shall answer at the last day." "By Saint Andrew! they shall make at you through me!" said the Archer, and unsheathed his sword. "Cut my bonds, countryman," said Quentin, "and I will do something for myself." This was done with a touch of the Archer's weapon, and the liberated captive, springing suddenly on one of the Provost's guard, wrested from him a halbert with which he was armed. "And now" he said, "come on, if you dare." The two officers whispered together. "Ride thou after the Provost Marshal," said Trois Eschelles, "and I will detain them here, if I can. Soldiers of the Provost's guard, stand to your arms." Petit Andre mounted his horse, and left the field, and the other Marshals men in attendance drew together so hastily at the command of Trois Eschelles, that they suffered the other two prisoners to make their escape during the confusion. Perhaps they were not very anxious to detain them; for they had of late been sated with the blood of such wretches, and, like other ferocious animals, were, through long slaughter, become tired of carnage. But the pretext was, that they thought themselves immediately called upon to attend to the safety of Trois Eschelles; for there was a jealousy, which occasionally led to open quarrels, betwixt the Scottish Archers and the Marshal guards, who executed the orders of their Provost. "We are strong enough to beat the proud Scots twice over, if it be your pleasure," said one of these soldiers to Trois Eschelles. But that cautious official made a sign to him to remain quiet, and addressed the Scottish Archer with great civility. "Surely, sir, this is a great insult to the Provost Marshal, that you should presume to interfere with the course of the King's justice, duly and lawfully committed to his charge; and it is no act of justice to me, who am in lawful possession of my criminal. Neither is it a well meant kindness to the youth himself, seeing that fifty opportunities of hanging him may occur, without his being found in so happy a state of preparation as he was before your ill advised interference." "If my young countryman," said the Scot, smiling, "be of opinion I have done him an injury, I will return him to your charge without a word more dispute." "No, no! -- for the love of Heaven, no!" exclaimed Quentin. "I would rather you swept my head off with your long sword -- it would better become my birth, than to die by the hands of such a foul churl." "Hear how he revileth," said the finisher of the law. "Alas! how soon our best resolutions pass away! -- he was in a blessed frame for departure but now, and in two minutes he has become a contemner of authorities." "Tell me at once," said the Archer, "what has this young man done." "Interfered," answered Trois Eschelles, with some earnestness, "to take down the dead body of a criminal, when the fleur de lys was marked on the tree where he was hung with my own proper hand." "How is this, young man?" said the Archer; "how came you to have committed such an offence?" "As I desire your protection," answered Durward, "I will tell you the truth as if I were at confession. I saw a man struggling on the tree, and I went to cut him down out of mere humanity. I thought neither of fleur de lys nor of clove gilliflower, and had no more idea of offending the King of France than our Father the Pope." "What a murrain had you to do with the dead body, then?" said the Archer. "You 'll see them hanging, in the rear of this gentleman, like grapes on every tree, and you will have enough to do in this country if you go a-gleaning after the hangman. However, I will not quit a countryman's cause if I can help it. -- Hark ye, Master Marshals man, you see this is entirely a mistake. You should have some compassion on so young a traveller. In our country at home he has not been accustomed to see such active proceedings as yours and your master's." "Not for want of need of them, Signior Archer," said Petit Andre, who returned at this moment. "Stand fast, Trois Eschelles, for here comes the Provost Marshal; we shall presently see how he will relish having his work taken out of his hand before it is finished." "And in good time," said the Archer, "here come some of my comrades." Accordingly, as the Provost Tristan rode up with his patrol on one side of the little bill which was the scene of the altercation, four or five Scottish Archers came as hastily up on the other, and at their head the Balafre himself. Upon this urgency, Lesly showed none of that indifference towards his nephew of which Quentin had in his heart accused him; for he no sooner saw his comrade and Durward standing upon their defence, than he exclaimed, "Cunningham, I thank thee. -- Gentlemen -- comrades, lend me your aid. -- It is a young Scottish gentleman -- my nephew -- Lindesay -- Guthrie -- Tyrie, draw, and strike in!" There was now every prospect of a desperate scuffle between the parties, who were not so disproportioned in numbers but that the better arms of the Scottish cavaliers gave them an equal chance of victory. But the Provost Marshal, either doubting the issue of the conflict, or aware that it would be disagreeable to the King, made a sign to his followers to forbear from violence, while he demanded of Balafre, who now put himself forward as the head of the other party, what he, a cavalier of the King's Bodyguard, purposed by opposing the execution of a criminal. "I deny that I do so," answered the Balafre. "Saint Martin! (patron saint of Tours, Lucca, and of penitent drunkards. He was greatly honoured in the Middle Ages.) there is, I think, some difference between the execution of a criminal and a slaughter of my own nephew!" "Your nephew may be a criminal as well as another," said the Provost Marshal; "and every stranger in France is amenable to the laws of France." "Yes, but we have privileges, we Scottish Archers," said Balafre, "have we not, comrades?" "Yes, yes," they all exclaimed together. "Privileges -- privileges! Long live King Louis -- long live the bold Balafre -- long live the Scottish Guard -- and death to all who would infringe our privileges!" "Take reason with you, gentlemen cavaliers," said the Provost Marshal; "consider my commission." "We will have no reason at your hand," said Cunningham; "our own officers shall do us reason. We will be judged by the King's grace, or by our own Captain, now that the Lord High Constable is not in presence." "And we will be hanged by none," said Lindesay, "but Sandie Wilson, the auld Marshals man of our ain body." "It would be a positive cheating of Sandie, who is as honest a man as ever tied noose upon hemp, did we give way to any other proceeding," said the Balafre. "Were I to be hanged myself, no other should tie tippet about my craig." "But hear ye," said the Provost Marshal, "this young fellow belongs not to you, and cannot share what you call your privileges." "What we call our privileges, all shall admit to be such," said Cunningham. "We will not hear them questioned!" was the universal cry of the Archers. "Ye are mad, my masters," said Tristan l'Hermite. "No one disputes your privileges; but this youth is not one of you." "He is my nephew," said the Balafre, with a triumphant air. "But no Archer of the Guard, I think," retorted Tristan l'Hermite. The Archers looked on each other in some uncertainty. "Stand to it yet, comrade," whispered Cunningham to Balafre. "Say he is engaged with us." "Saint Martin! you say well, fair countryman," answered Lesly; and raising his voice, swore that he had that day enrolled his kinsman as one of his own retinue. This declaration was a decisive argument. "It is well, gentlemen," said the Provost Tristan, who was aware of the King's nervous apprehension of disaffection creeping in among his Guards. "You know, as you say, your privileges, and it is not my duty to have brawls with the King's Guards, if it is to be avoided. But I will report this matter for the King's own decision; and I would have you to be aware, that, in doing so, I act more mildly than perhaps my duty warrants." So saying, he put his troop into motion, while the Archers, remaining on the spot, held a hasty consultation what was next to be done. "We must report the matter to Lord Crawford, our Captain, in the first place, and have the young fellow's name put on the roll." "But, gentlemen, and my worthy friends and preservers," said Quentin, with some hesitation, "I have not yet determined whether to take service with you or no." "Then settle in your own mind," said his uncle, "whether you choose to do so, or be hanged -- for I promise you, that, nephew of mine as you are, I see no other chance of your 'scaping the gallows." This was an unanswerable argument, and reduced Quentin at once to acquiesce in what he might have otherwise considered as no very agreeable proposal; but the recent escape from the halter, which had been actually around his neck, would probably have reconciled him to a worse alternative than was proposed. "He must go home with us to our caserne," said Cunningham; "there is no safety for him out of our bounds, whilst these man hunters are prowling." "May I not then abide for this night at the hostelry where I breakfasted, fair uncle?" said the youth -- thinking, perhaps, like many a new recruit, that even a single night of freedom was something gained. "Yes, fair nephew," answered his uncle, ironically, "that we may have the pleasure of fishing you out of some canal or moat, or perhaps out of a loop of the Loire, knit up in a sack for the greater convenience of swimming -- for that is like to be the end on't. The Provost Marshal smiled on us when we parted," continued he, addressing Cunningham, "and that is a sign his thoughts were dangerous." "I care not for his danger," said Cunningham; "such game as we are beyond his bird bolts. But I would have thee tell the whole to the Devil's Oliver (Oliver Dain: Oliver's name, or nickname, was Le Diable, which was bestowed on him by public hatred, in exchange for Le Daim, or Le Dain. He was originally the King's barber, but afterwards a favourite counsellor. S.), who is always a good friend to the Scottish Guard, and will see Father Louis before the Provost can, for he is to shave him tomorrow." "But hark you," said Balafre, "it is ill going to Oliver empty handed, and I am as bare as the birch in December." "So are we all," said Cunningham. "Oliver must not scruple to take our Scottish words for once. We will make up something handsome among us against the next payday; and if he expects to share, let me tell you, the payday will come about all the sooner." "And now for the Chateau," said Balafre; "and my nephew shall tell us by the way how he brought the Provost Marshal on his shoulders, that we may know how to frame our report both to Crawford and Oliver." 他去时,气势喧嚣,神态威武, 来到绞架下,将身一跃,跳了一圈舞! 《古老的民谣》 昆丁•达威特所受的并不是一种可以改善道德情操,使人心地善良的教育。由于培养和训练,他和他家庭的其他成员已习惯于把狩猎看作是种娱乐,把战争看作他们惟一的正业,而他们生活的意义便是顽强地忍受,然后狠狠地报复那使他们家族濒于灭亡的世仇。然而在报仇雪耻当中也混杂着一种原始的骑士精神,甚至于以礼待人,从而软化了他们内心的残忍。因此,他们在进行正义的复仇行动的同时,也依然适当地考虑人道和宽厚的原则。那位可敬的老修道士对达威特的教导,或许由于在长期患病的逆境中要比在健康和顺利时更易于接受,自然使他更深切地意识到自己应宽厚为怀。考虑到人们当时的愚昧和对军人生涯普遍怀有的偏爱以及他自己所受的教育,这年轻人确实要比其他人更清醒地意识到军人的职责。 回想起和舅父的会面,他既感到为难又深党失望。他本来抱着很大的希望,因为,通信在当时虽然不可能,但有时一位香客。一个冒险商人或伤残的士兵会把莱斯利的英名带到格兰一呼拉金。所有这些人都赞扬莱斯利在法国国王托付给他的平凡任务中表现出的无畏的勇气与成就。昆丁的想像力也曾按自己的方式描绘出他舅父的形象,把他过着冒险生涯的成功的舅父(人们转述时也许完整无缺地表现了他的赫赫战功)看作是靠刀剑赢得皇冠,当上驸马,为游吟诗人所歌颂的游侠勇士。但现在他却不得不承认他只是个低等骑士。然而,由于他为尊敬父母及其亲属的感情所蔽,又受到他早年对舅父的好感的影响,再加缺乏经验,而且深情地怀念着过世的母亲,他自然看不见他母亲这惟一的兄弟所扮演的真实角色——一个普通的雇佣兵,与助长着法国动荡形势的许多雇佣兵并没多少差别。 勒巴拉弗雷虽然不是一味残忍成性,但他对人的生命和痛苦却漠不关心。他十分无知,不择手段地贪图胜利品,挥霍无度以满足他的私欲。只顾自己利益和需要的习性已使他变成了世界上最自私的动物之一。正如读者所注意到的,他不可能深入地思考任何问题而不考虑这对自己有无好处,或者,像人们所说的那样,不把自我摆进去。不过,他并不是本着以黄金律为准则的思想感情,而是十分不同的。此外,他的职责和乐趣的狭窄范围已逐渐限制了他的思想和愿望,并在很大程度上熄灭了曾激励过自己青春的荣誉感和建功立业的欲望。总而言之,巴拉弗雷是个厉害的兵痞,无情、自私、心地狭隘;他积极而大胆地执行自己的任务,除了对国王忠贞不贰,并偶尔和他的朋友兼忏悔师波尼法斯师兄厮混以外,就不承认有更多的人生目的。要是他有更多的才能,也许他本会被提拔担任一个重要的指挥官,因为熟悉每个卫士的国王很信任巴拉弗雷的勇气和忠诚,何况这苏格兰人既有足够的聪明,也有足够的狡黠,充分懂得国王的特殊嗜好,并能够迎合他。然而他的才能毕竟有限,无法高升,尽管在许多场合下他都受到路易王的垂青和宠幸,巴拉弗雷仍然只是一个保镖,或如人们所说的苏格兰射手。 昆丁没有看出舅父为人的全貌,自不免对他听到妹夫全家罹难后表现出的冷漠而感到吃惊。此外也使他感到诧异的是,像他这样一个近亲竟没给他一点金钱帮助。要不是皮埃尔老爷的慷慨,他本会迫不得已直接向他请求接济。不过,把疏忽了外甥的燃眉之急归咎于舅父的贪婪也是对他的冤枉。巴拉弗雷自己既然不缺钱,也就没想到他外甥会急需钱。否则像他那样看重自己的亲戚的人,定会像为他死去的妹妹和妹夫的幸福竭尽心力那样,也会为活着的外甥尽力而为。不过,不管原因和动机如何,年轻的达威特对这一疏忽很不满意。他不止一次地后悔,他没有在他和护林官吵架以前留在勃艮第为公爵服役。“那时,不管我处境如何,”他思量道,“我一想到万不得已我还有舅舅这么一个为我撑腰的亲属,我就能打起精神。如今我算是见到了他。去他的,连我亲娘的胞兄,一个同乡、骑士给我的帮助还不及一个陌生的工匠。人们有理由认为,那一刀固然砍掉了他全部的美貌,同时也使他血液中的一切高贵品质丧失殆尽!” 达威特后悔他没有机会向勒巴拉弗雷提到皮埃尔老爷,以便获得对他的进一步了解。当时他舅舅接二连三地向他提问,而图尔城圣马丁教堂大钟的报时声突兀地打断了他们的相遇。他回想道,那老头固然外表固执乖戾,言语尖酸刻薄,但举动却慷慨大方。像这样一个陌生人的确抵得上一个冷冰冰的亲戚——“我们苏格兰的格言是怎么说来着?”——“宁要善良的陌生人,不要疏远的亲戚。”我将去找他。既然他如店主所说是个有钱人,我想要找到他也并不费事。他至少会出些好主意来指点我。如果他也像许多有钱人那样经常出国,我想做他的保镖也会像为路易王一样富于冒险性。 昆丁这样想着时,在潜意识里,或在藏匿着自己也不愿承认的秘密的内心深处,有个声音悄然响起:也许那塔楼里的少女,那纱巾和诗琴的女主人会和他一道参加那冒险的旅行。 这苏格兰青年人正这样思索着,只见迎面走来了两个神情庄重的人,一望便知是图尔城的市民。他以年轻人对长辈应有的尊敬脱下帽子毕恭毕敬地请求他们带他到皮埃尔老爷家里去。 “好小子,带你到谁家里去?”其中一个老人说道。 “到皮埃尔老爷家去,他是一个大丝绸商,那边公园里的桑树都是他种的。”达威特说道。 “年轻人,”挨他稍近的那位对他说道,“你未免过早地从事一种无聊的行业。” “而你也选错了人作为你欺诈的对象。”离他较远的那个更为粗鲁地说道,“图尔的市政官是不习惯让外来的流浪小丑这么对他讲话的。” 看到一个简单而有礼貌的问题竟然无缘无故地冒犯了两个体面的绅士,昆丁十分吃惊,对他们粗鲁的回答也忘了表示愤慨,只是呆望着他们的背影,眼见他们加快步子离去,不时还回过头来看看他,似乎想尽快摆脱他可能带来的危害。 接着他又碰到一群修整葡萄藤的人,他又向他们打听这事。他们反问他究竟是要找当校长的皮埃尔老爷,还是当木匠师傅的皮埃尔老爷,抑或是当法警的皮埃尔老爷?当然还有半打别的皮埃尔老爷。但所有这些人都和他要找的对不上号。于是这伙农民便指责他是在无理取闹,并扬言要把他打翻在地,以作为椰榆他们的报复。年长的那个农民在他们当中或许有些威望,总算功住他们不要动手。 “瞧他讲的话和他那小丑帽子,”他说,“你们就知道他是个外来的江湖骗子。有些人说他们是魔术师,算命的,另一些人叫他们变戏法的,等等。谁也不知道他们肚于里有些什么鬼名堂。我就听说有个人和骗子打赌,赌他在一个穷人的葡萄园里吃葡萄直至胀破肚皮。结果他吃了足以装一车的葡萄,却连一个扣子也不用解来松松衣服。我们最好悄悄放开他。他走他的,我们走我们的。朋友,要是你想避免更不愉快的事,那么看在上帝分上,也看在马尔穆梯埃圣女和图尔圣马丁分上,悄悄走开,别再为你的皮埃尔老爷劳神了。谁知道呢?它很可能是个魔鬼的别名。” 苏格兰人发现自己远不是他们的对手,不吭声地走掉才是上策。那几个农民以为他有耍弄巫术和吞噬葡萄的本领,起先还畏惧地想躲开他,等他走了一段距离之后,勇气倍增,先是对他吼叫和咒骂,后来竟用石头助威,尽管相距很远,对他们厌恶的对象已不能造成危害。昆丁一边继续往前走,一边寻思,要么是他自己着了魔,要么都兰城的人是最愚蠢、野蛮。最不友好的法国农民。他观察到的另一起事件也不见得有助于消除他的这一看法。 在那湍急而美丽的谢尔河上游一个小山坡上,正好在他走着的这条小径的前方,有两三株栗子树构成了一个美妙的小树林。旁边呆立着三四个农民,眼睛朝上,显然是在凝望近旁的树枝间悬挂着的某个东西。即使是最微小的好奇的冲动也往往会打破年轻人的沉思,正像手上随意掷出的一块卵石也会打破一潭清水的宁静。昆丁加快步伐,轻捷地踏上那个小山坡,正好赶上那引人注目的可怕镜头——原来那是一个挂在树枝上,进行着垂死挣扎的男人身体。 “你们干吗不割断绳索救他下来?”那随时准备像保护自己遭受侵害的荣誉那样挺身而出减轻别人痛苦的年轻人说道。其中有个农民面孔粘土般苍白,充满恐惧地向他指指树上刻着的一个记号。正像税务官所熟悉的某些符咒般的刻痕看来颇像一只“宽箭”,这个记号则像一朵“百合花”。年轻的达威特既不懂得也不在意这符号的含义,便将身一纵,轻轻跳到树上,从袋子里取出高原居民或森林里的人少不了的工具——那信得过的“黑刀”。他觉察出了情况的紧迫,便叫底下的人接住那人的躯体,同时一刀割断了绞索。 然而旁观者并没有支持他这个人道的举动。他们根本没给达威特任何帮助,而像为他卤莽的行动感到惊恐,不约而同地四处逃散,仿佛害怕仅仅当个旁观者也会被说成无法无天的帮凶。那人的躯体既然没有被在底下的人抱住,便沉沉地跌落在地上。昆丁立刻跳下树来,但他气恼地发现那人已经断了气。他还不想就此放弃希望。他松开套在那可怜人脖子上的绞索,解开上衣,把水洒在他脸上,并采取了另一些常用的急救办法。 正在这时,周围忽然响起一阵喧哗声,人们用他听不懂的语言七嘴八舌地在讲话。他还来不及顾盼一下,就已经被几个着奇装异服的男人和女人围住。有两只胳膊粗暴地一把将他抱住,同时一把出鞘的尖刀对准了他的喉咙。 “你这埃布利斯的白人奴才!”一个男人以不地道的法语说道,“你谋杀了他,还要抢劫他吗?好在我们把你抓住了。得让你受到惩罚。” 顿时周围的人都拔出了刀。那凶狠狰狞的面孔,朝他怒目而视,带着一副狼要扑羊的表情。 年轻的苏格兰人的勇气和镇静使他摆脱了危险。“我的老爷们,你们是什么意思?”他说道,“如果这人是你们的朋友,那你们要知道,我刚才纯粹是以慈悲为怀把他救下来的,你们最好是想法救活他,而不要错待一个救了他性命的陌生人。” 这时,几个妇女已接过那硬邦邦的躯体,把达威特一直在进行的急救继续做下去。不过,同样没有什么效果。她们只好放弃了徒劳的抢救,用她们东方人的表情尽情地抒发悲痛。妇女们一边呼天喊地,一边扯着她们长长的黑发。男人们则像在撕他们的衣服,往自己头上撒灰。最后他们已完全沉浸于悼念仪式中,而不再注意达威特的存在。根据情况来判断,他们也已相信他是无辜的。本来他最聪明的做法肯定是从这些野蛮人身边走开,让他们自行其是。但他是在临危不惧的教育下长大的,同时也难免感到年轻人那种急切的好奇心的诱惑。 这个男男女女混在一起的奇异的人群,戴着头巾和帽子;这些帽子,总的看来,更像他自己戴的无边帽,而不像普通法国人带的那种法国帽。有几个男人有着鬈曲的黑胡须。他们的脸孔也都差不多黑得像非洲人。一两个像是他们首领的人脖子上耳朵上都带着俗丽的银首饰,披着黄色、红色或淡绿色的肩巾,而腿和胳膊却是裸露着的。这伙人总的说来外表都显得肮脏可怜。达威特看到他们带的武器只有他们刚才用来威胁过他的长刀。但一个样于灵活的年轻人则佩带着一把短弯刀或称摩尔刀。这个年轻人经常把手放在刀柄上,比其余的人更纵情地表达自己的悲拗,在悲恸中还似乎夹杂着复仇的恫吓。 这个哭叫着的乱糟糟的人群与昆丁过去见到过的在外表上迥然不同,他几乎想断言,他们是一伙阿拉伯人,是他听说过或读过的小说中描写过的,专与高贵的骑士和基督教君主作对的“异教鹰犬”。他正想离开这个危险的人群,忽然听见马队奔跑的声音。这伙假想的阿拉伯人刚把同伴的躯体抬在肩上,立刻受到了一队法国骑兵的袭击。 这一突如其来的幽灵般的袭击使得哀悼者的恸哭变成了恐惧的尖叫。他们顿时把尸体扔在地上。周围的人则表现出动作的高度灵巧,有的想往马肚子底下钻,以躲避对准着他们的长矛。长矛手一个个大声喊道:“打倒这些可恶的异教蠢贼——抓住只管杀——把他们都像畜生一样捆起来——像戳狼一样戳死他们!” 喊声自然伴随着相应的暴行。然而逃跑者如此敏捷,而树丛和灌木林又使得地形对骑士不利,结果只有两人被擒。有一个进行了一番抵抗,就是那佩刀的年轻人。昆丁也似乎被命运之神选来作为箭靶子。几个兵一齐动手把他抓住。他们不顾他的抗议,用绳子把他捆绑起来。抓他的人的动作十分熟练和敏捷,说明他们在捕人方面早已不是新手。 昆丁焦急地望着马队的首领,想从他手上获释。当他认出他就是皮埃尔老爷那个两眼朝下的沉默的伴侣时,他真不知该感到高兴还是惊恐。的确,不管那些异乡人犯有什么罪,这位军官都会根据早上的情况,知道他达威特和他们没有任何瓜葛。但更难判断的是,究竟这位阴森可怕的人物是否愿意作出有利于他的裁判,或主动为他作证。同时他也怀疑,是否他应向他直接申诉以改善他的处境。 但容许他犹豫的时间并不多。“特罗瓦—艾歇尔和小安德烈,”那眼朝下望的军官对他两个手下人说道,“这儿几株树正合适。我将教训这些不信上帝,偷鸡摸狗的巫师巫婆:他们竟敢在国王的法律惩罚他们可恶的同伙时破坏国王的法律。孩子们快下马执行任务。” 特罗瓦—艾歇尔和小安德烈立刻从马上跳下来。昆丁看见他们各自在鞍头和鞍尾备有一两卷绳子。他们赶忙把绳子解开。原来每束绳子实际上是一个绞索,套因已调整好,随时可以使用。昆丁看到已经挑选出三根绞索,并意识到他们打算把其中一根套在自己脖子上,顿时感到血液在血管里凉了半截。他向那位军官大声呼吁说,今天早晨他们还见过面,他理应在一个友好的盟国享有自由的苏格兰人应享的权利。他断然否认他认识和他一道被捕的外乡人,也否认原先知道他们干的坏事。 听到达威特呼吁的这位军官在他说话时根本不屑望他一眼,对他攀相识的那些话也不予理睬。有几个农民,也许是想主动作证,也许是由于好奇心的驱使,这时已走了过来。那军官略微转过身来对着其中一两个粗暴地问道:“这年轻人也和流浪汉是一伙吗?” “先生,是一伙,”一个乡巴伦回答道,“高贵的军法总监,正如我们告诉过阁下的,是他狗胆包大,最先割断索子,把按国王陛下的法律理应处死的这个流氓放下来的。” “我凭上帝和图尔的圣马丁发誓,在那帮人抢我们田里的庄稼时,他就和他们在一起。”另一个乡巴伦说道。 “爹,你说的不对,”一个小孩说道,“原来的那个异教徒是黑皮肤,而这年轻人是白皮肤。原来那个头上是短的鬈发,而这年轻人是长的金色鬈发。” “孩子,你说得不错,”那农民说道,“也许你还会说原来那个穿的是绿外套,而这个穿的是灰上衣。但军法总监阁下知道,他们能像换衣服那样更换他们的面貌。所以我还是认为他就是那个人。” “你们看见他企图救一个被处死的叛徒,于扰国王的司法,这就够了。”那军官说道,“特罗瓦—艾歇尔和小安德烈,快动手。” “军官老爷,你住手!”那年轻人带着临死前的痛苦叫道,“听我说——你别叫我无辜地死去——我今世的同胞以及来世上帝的正义都将向你讨还杀我的血债。” “我今世和来世都将为自己的行为负责。”那军官冷冷地说道,一边用左手向行刑者做了个手势。然后他带着邪恶的胜利的微笑用食指指指他那也许是今早被达威特打得受了伤,而用块肩巾吊起来的右臂。 “卑鄙的小人!”昆丁说道,因为那动作使他相信此人之所以如此严厉,完全是出于报私仇的动机,根本不能指望他发善心。 “这可怜的年轻人在说胡话。”那军官说道,“特罗瓦—艾歇尔,在他归西天以前对他说句安慰的话吧。在没有忏悔师在场的时候,你能在这种场合给临刑者带来安慰。你花一分钟时间给他一点心灵上的劝慰,然后马上把他打发掉吧。我得继续去巡视。士兵们,跟我来!” 军法总监在卫队的跟随下骑着马往前走去,只有两三个人留下来帮助行刑。不幸的年轻人向他投去一个绝望的黯淡的目光,仿佛在那远去的马蹄声中听到他得救的最后希望已经消失。他痛 Chapter 7 The Enrolment Justice of Peace. -- Here, hand me down the statute -- read the articles -- Swear, kiss the book -- subscribe, and be a hero; Drawing a portion from the public stock For deeds of valour to be done hereafter -- Sixpence per day, subsistence and arrears. THE RECRUITING OFFICER An attendant upon the Archers having been dismounted, Quentin Durward was accommodated with his horse, and, in company of his martial countrymen, rode at a round pace towards the Castle of Plessis, about to become, although on his own part involuntarily, an inhabitant of that gloomy fortress, the outside of which had, that morning, struck him with so much surprise. In the meanwhile, in answer to his uncle's repeated interrogations, he gave him an exact account of the accident which had that morning brought him into so much danger. Although he himself saw nothing in his narrative save what was affecting, he found it was received with much laughter by his escort. "And yet it is no good jest either," said his uncle, "for what, in the devil's name, could lead the senseless boy to meddle with the body of a cursed misbelieving Jewish Moorish pagan?" "Had he quarrelled with the Marshals men about a pretty wench, as Michael of Moffat did, there had been more sense in it," said Cunningham. "But I think it touches our honour that Tristan and his people pretend to confound our Scottish bonnets with these pilfering vagabonds -- torques and turbands, as they call them," said Lindesay. "If they have not eyes to see the difference they must be taught by rule of hand. But it 's my belief, Tristan but pretends to mistake, that he may snap up the kindly Scots that come over to see their kinsfolks." "May I ask, kinsman," said Quentin, "what sort of people these are of whom you speak?" "In troth you may ask," said his uncle, "but I know not, fair nephew, who is able to answer you. Not I, I am sure, although I know, it may be, as much as other people; but they appeared in this land within a year or two, just as a flight of locusts might do." "Ay," said Lindesay, "and Jacques Bonhomme (that is our name for the peasant, young man -- you will learn our way of talk in time) -- honest Jacques, I say, cares little what wind either brings them or the locusts, so he but knows any gale that would carry them away again." "Do they do so much evil?" asked the young man. "Evil? why, boy, they are heathens, or Jews, or Mahommedans at the least, and neither worship Our Lady, nor the Saints" (crossing himself) "and steal what they can lay hands on, and sing, and tell fortunes," added Cunningham. "And they say there are some goodly wenches amongst these," said Guthrie; "but Cunningham knows that best." "How, brother!" said Cunningham. "I trust ye mean me no reproach?" "I am sure I said ye none," answered Guthrie. "I will be judged by the company," said Cunningham. "Ye said as much as that I, a Scottish gentleman, and living within pale of holy church, had a fair friend among these off scourings of Heathenesse." "Nay, nay," said Balafre, "he did but jest. We will have no quarrels among comrades." "We must have no such jesting then," said Cunningham, murmuring, as if he had been speaking to his own beard. "Be there such vagabonds in other lands than France?" said Lindesay. "Ay, in good sooth, are there -- tribes of them have appeared in Germany, and in Spain, and in England," answered Balafre. "By the blessing of good Saint Andrew, Scotland is free of them yet." "Scotland," said Cunningham, "is too cold, a country for locusts, and too poor a country for thieves." "Or perhaps John Highlander will suffer no thieves to thrive there but his own," said Guthrie. "I let you all know," said Balafre, "that I come from the Braes of Angus, and have gentle Highland kin in Glen Isla and I will not have the Highlanders slandered." "You will not deny that they are cattle lifters?" said Guthrie. "To drive a spreagh (to plunder) or so, is no thievery," said Balafre, "and that I will maintain when and how you dare." "For shame, comrade!" said Cunningham, "who quarrels now? The young man should not see such mad misconstruction -- Come, here we are at the Chateau. I will bestow a runlet of wine to have a rouse in friendship, and drink to Scotland, Highland and Lowland both, if you will meet me at dinner at my quarters." "Agreed -- agreed," said Balafre; "and I will bestow another to wash away unkindness, and to drink a health to my nephew on his first entrance to our corps." At their approach, the wicket was opened, and the drawbridge fell. One by one they entered; but when Quentin appeared, the sentinels crossed their pikes, and commanded him to stand, while bows were bent, and harquebusses aimed at him from the walls, a rigour of vigilance used, notwithstanding that the young stranger came in company of a party of the garrison, nay, of the very body which furnished the sentinels who were then upon duty. Le Balafre, who had remained by his nephew's side on purpose, gave the necessary explanations, and, after some considerable hesitation and delay, the youth was conveyed under a strong guard to the Lord Crawford's apartment. This Scottish nobleman was one of the last relics of the gallant band of Scottish lords and knights who had so long and so truly served Charles VI in those bloody wars which decided the independence of the French crown, and the expulsion of the English. He had fought, when a boy, abreast with Douglas and with Buchan, had ridden beneath the banner of the Maid of Arc, and was perhaps one of the last of those associates of Scottish chivalry who had so willingly drawn their swords for the fleur de lys, against their "auld enemies of England." Changes which had taken place in the Scottish kingdom, and perhaps his having become habituated to French climate and manners, had induced the old Baron to resign all thoughts of returning to his native country, the rather that the high office which he held in the household of Louis and his own frank and loyal character had gained a considerable ascendancy over the King, who, though in general no ready believer in human virtue or honour, trusted and confided in those of the Lord Crawford, and allowed him the greater influence, because he was never known to interfere excepting in matters which concerned his charge. (Douglas: fourth earl of Douglas. He was created Duke of Touraine in 1423 by Charles VII of France.) (Buchan: Regent of Scotland and grandson of Robert II. He entered the service of Charles VII in 1420, and was appointed Constable of France.) (Maid of Arc (1412-1431): Joan of Arc. She believed that God had called her to liberate France from the curse of the English who were besieging Orleans. In person she led the French troops from victory to victory until she saw the Dauphin crowned as Charles VII at Rheims. She was then betrayed by her people into the hands of the English, who, in 1431, sentenced her to the flames.) Balafre and Cunningham followed Durward and the guard to the apartment of their officer, by whose dignified appearance, as well as with the respect paid to him by these proud soldiers, who seemed to respect no one else, the young man was much and strongly impressed. Lord Crawford was tall, and through advanced age had become gaunt and thin; yet retaining in his sinews the strength, at least, if not the elasticity, of youth, he was able to endure the weight of his armour during a march as well as the youngest man who rode in his band. He was hard favoured, with a scarred and weather-beaten countenance, and an eye that had looked upon death as his playfellow in thirty pitched battles, but which nevertheless expressed a calm contempt of danger, rather than the ferocious courage of a mercenary soldier. His tall, erect figure was at present wrapped in a loose chamber gown, secured around him by his buff belt, in which was suspended his richly hilted poniard. He had round his neck the collar and badge of the order of Saint Michael (a patron saint of France. In 1469, a military order was instituted in his honour by Louis XI). He sat upon a couch covered with deer's hide, and with spectacles on his nose (then a recent invention) was labouring to read a huge manuscript called the Rosier de la Guerre, a code of military and civil policy which Louis had compiled for the benefit of his son the Dauphin, and upon which he was desirous to have the opinion of the experienced Scottish warrior. Lord Crawford laid his book somewhat peevishly aside upon the entrance of these unexpected visitors, and demanded, in his broad national dialect, what, in the foul fiend's name, they lacked now. Le Balafre, with more respect than perhaps he would have shown to Louis himself, stated at full length the circumstances in which his nephew was placed, and humbly requested his Lordship's protection. Lord Crawford listened very attentively. He could not but smile at the simplicity with which the youth had interfered in behalf of the hanged criminal, but he shook his head at the account which he received of the ruffle betwixt the Scottish Archers and the Provost Marshal's guard. (Such disputes between the Scots Guards and the other constituted authorities of the ordinary military corps often occurred. In 1474, two Scotsmen had been concerned in robbing . . . a fishmonger of a large sum of money. They were accordingly apprehended by Philip du Four, Provost, with some of his followers. But ere they could lodge one of them, . . in the prison of the Chastellet, they were attacked by two Archers of the King's Scottish Guard, who rescued the prisoner. . . . S.) "How often," he said, "will you bring me such ill winded pirns to ravel out? How often must I tell you, and especially both you, Ludovic Lesly, and you, Archie Cunningham, that the foreign soldier should bear himself modestly and decorously towards the people of the country if you would not have the whole dogs of the town at your heels? However, if you must have a bargain (a quarrel, videlicet. S.), I would rather it were with that loon of a Provost than any one else; and I blame you less for this onslaught than for other frays that you have made, Ludovic, for it was but natural and kind-like to help your young kinsman. This simple bairn must come to no skaith (same as scathe) neither; so give me the roll of the company yonder down from the shelf, and we will even add his name to the troop, that he may enjoy the privileges." "May it please your Lordship" said Durward. "Is the lad crazed?" exclaimed his uncle. "Would you speak to his Lordship without a question asked?" "Patience, Ludovic," said Lord Crawford, "and let us hear what the bairn has to say." "Only this, if it may please your Lordship," replied Quentin, "that I told my uncle formerly I had some doubts about entering this service. I have now to say that they are entirely removed, since I have seen the noble and experienced commander under whom I am to serve; for there is authority in your look." "Weel said, my bairn," said the old Lord, not insensible to the compliment; "we have had some experience, had God sent us grace to improve by it, both in service and in command. There you stand, Quentin, in our honourable corps of Scottish Bodyguards, as esquire to your uncle, and serving under his lance. I trust you will do well, for you should be a right man at arms, if all be good that is upcome (that is, if your courage corresponds with your personal appearance. S.), and you are come of a gentle kindred. -- Ludovic, you will see that your kinsman follow his exercise diligently, for we will have spears breaking one of these days." "By my hilts, and I am glad of it, my Lord -- this peace makes cowards of us all. I myself feel a sort of decay of spirit, closed up in this cursed dungeon of a Castle." "Well, a bird whistled in my ear," continued Lord Crawford, "that the old banner will be soon dancing in the field again." "I will drink a cup the deeper this evening to that very tune," said Balafre. "Thou wilt drink to any tune," said Lord Crawford; "and I fear me, Ludovic, you will drink a bitter browst (as much liquor as is brewed at one time) of your own brewing one day." Lesly, a little abashed, replied that it had not been his wont for many a day; but that his Lordship knew the use of the company, to have a carouse to the health of a new comrade. "True," said the old leader, "I had forgot the occasion. I will send a few stoups of wine to assist your carouse; but let it be over by sunset. And, hark ye -- let the soldiers for duty he carefully pricked off; and see that none of them be more or less partakers of your debauch." "Your Lordship shall be lawfully obeyed," said Ludovic, "and your health duly remembered." "Perhaps," said Lord Crawford, "I may look in myself upon your mirth -- just to see that all is carried decently." "Your Lordship shall be most dearly welcome;" said Ludovic; and the whole party retreated in high spirits to prepare for their military banquet, to which Lesly invited about a score of his comrades, who were pretty much in the habit of making their mess together. A soldier's festival is generally a very extempore affair, providing there is enough of meat and drink to be had; but on the present occasion, Ludovic bustled about to procure some better wine than ordinary; observing that the old Lord was the surest gear in their aught, and that, while he preached sobriety to them, he himself, after drinking at the royal table as much wine as he could honestly come by, never omitted any creditable opportunity to fill up the evening over the wine pot. "So you must prepare, comrades," he said, "to hear the old histories of the battles of Vernoil and Beauge (in both these battles the Scottish auxiliaries of France, under Stewart, Earl of Buchan, were distinguished. . . . S.)." The Gothic apartment in which they generally met was, therefore, hastily put into the best order; their grooms were dispatched to collect green rushes to spread upon the floor; and banners, under which the Scottish Guard had marched to battle, or which they had taken from the enemies' ranks, were displayed, by way of tapestry, over the table and around the walls of the chamber. The next point was, to invest the young recruit as hastily as possible with the dress and appropriate arms of the Guard, that he might appear in every respect the sharer of its important privileges, in virtue of which, and by the support of his countrymen, he might freely brave the power and the displeasure of the Provost Marshal -- although the one was known to be as formidable as the other was unrelenting. The banquet was joyous in the highest degree; and the guests gave vent to the whole current of their national partiality on receiving into their ranks a recruit from their beloved fatherland. Old Scottish songs were sung, old tales of Scottish heroes told -- the achievements of their fathers, and the scenes in which they were wrought, were recalled to mind; and, for a time, the rich plains of Touraine seemed converted into the mountainous and sterile regions of Caledonia. When their enthusiasm was at high flood, and each was endeavouring to say something to enhance the dear remembrance of Scotland, it received a new impulse from the arrival of Lord Crawford, who, as Le Balafre had well prophesied, sat as it were on thorns at the royal board, until an opportunity occurred of making his escape to the revelry of his own countrymen. A chair of state had been reserved for him at the upper end of the table; for, according to the manners of the age and the constitution of that body, although their leader and commander under the King and High Constable, the members of the corps (as we should now say, the privates) being all ranked as noble by birth, their captain sat with them at the same table without impropriety, and might mingle when he chose in their festivity, without derogation from his dignity as commander. At present, however, Lord Crawford declined occupying the seat prepared for him, and bidding them "hold themselves merry," stood looking on the revel with a countenance which seemed greatly to enjoy it. "Let him alone," whispered Cunningham to Lindesay, as the latter offered the wine to their noble captain, "let him alone -- hurry no man's cattle -- let him take it of his own accord." In fact, the old Lord, who at first smiled, shook his head, and placed the untasted winecup before him, began presently, as if it were in absence of mind, to sip a little of the contents, and in doing so, fortunately recollected that it would be ill luck did he not drink a draught to the health of the gallant lad who had joined them this day. The pledge was filled, and answered, as may well be supposed, with many a joyous shout, when the old leader proceeded to acquaint them that he had possessed Master Oliver with an account of what had passed that day. "And as," he said, "the scraper of chins hath no great love for the stretcher of throats, he has joined me in obtaining from the King an order, commanding the Provost to suspend all proceedings, under whatever pretence, against Quentin Durward; and to respect, on all occasions, the privileges of the Scottish guard." Another shout broke forth, the cups were again filled till the wine sparkled on the brim, and there was an acclaim to the health of the noble Lord Crawford, the brave conservator of the privileges and rights of his countrymen. The good old Lord could not but in courtesy do reason to this pledge also, and gliding into the ready chair; as it were, without reflecting what he was doing, he caused Quentin to come up beside him, and assailed him with many more questions concerning the state of Scotland, and the great families there, than he was well able to answer, while ever and anon, in the course of his queries, the good Lord kissed the wine cup by way of parenthesis, remarking that sociality became Scottish gentlemen, but that young men, like Quentin, ought to practise it cautiously, lest it might degenerate into excess; upon which occasion he uttered many excellent things, until his own tongue, although employed in the praises of temperance, began to articulate something thicker than usual. It was now that, while the military ardour of the company augmented with each flagon which they emptied, Cunningham called on them to drink the speedy hoisting of the Oriflamme, the royal banner of France. "And a breeze of Burgundy to fan it!" echoed Lindesay. "With all the soul that is left in this worn body do I accept the pledge, bairns," echoed Lord Crawford; "and as old as I am, I trust I may see it flutter yet. Hark ye, my mates," (for wine had made him something communicative), "ye are all true servants to the French crown, and wherefore should ye not know there is an envoy come from Duke Charles of Burgundy, with a message of an angry favour?" "I saw the Count of Crevecoeur's equipage, horses, and retinue," said another of the guests, "down at the inn yonder at the Mulberry Grove. They say the King will not admit him into the Castle." "Now, Heaven send him an ungracious answer!" said Guthrie; "but what is it he complains of?" "A world of grievances upon the frontier," said Lord Crawford; "and latterly, that the King hath received under his protection a lady of his land, a young Countess, who hath fled from Dijon, because, being a ward of the Duke, he would have her marry his favourite, Campobasso." "And hath she actually come hither alone, my lord?" said Lindesay. "Nay, not altogether alone, but with the old Countess, her kinswoman, who hath yielded to her cousin's wishes in this matter." "And will the King," said Cunningham, "he being the Duke's feudal sovereign, interfere between the Duke and his ward, over whom Charles hath the same right, which, were he himself dead, the King would have over the heiress of Burgundy?" "The King will be ruled as he is wont, by rules of policy, and you know," continued Crawford, "that he hath not publicly received these ladies, nor placed them under the protection of his daughters, the Lady of Beaujeu, or the Princess Joan, so, doubtless, he will be guided by circumstances. He is our Master -- but it is no treason to say, he will chase with the hounds, and run with the hare, with any prince in Christendom." "But the Duke of Burgundy understands no such doubling;" said Cunningham. "No," answered the old Lord; "and, therefore, it is likely to make work between them." "Well -- Saint Andrew further the fray!" said Le Balafre. "I had it foretold me ten, ay, twenty years since, that I was to make the fortune of my house by marriage. Who knows what may happen, if once we come to fight for honour and ladies' love, as they do in the old romaunts." "Thou name ladies' love, with such a trench in thy visage!" said Guthrie. "As well not love at all, as love a Bohemian woman of Heathenesse," retorted Le Balafre. "Hold there, comrades," said Lord Crawford; "no tilting with sharp weapons, no jesting with keen scoffs -- friends all. And for the lady, she is too wealthy to fall to a poor Scottish lord, or I would put in my own claim, fourscore years and all, or not very far from it. But here is her health, nevertheless, for they say she is a lamp of beauty." "I think I saw her," said another soldier, "when I was upon guard this morning at the inner barrier; but she was more like a dark lantern than a lamp, for she and another were brought into the Chateau in close litters." "Shame! shame! Arnot!" said Lord Crawford; "a soldier on duty should say naught of what he sees. Besides," he added after a pause, his own curiosity prevailing over the show of discipline which he had thought it necessary to exert, "why should these litters contain this very same Countess Isabelle de Croye?" "Nay, my Lord," replied Arnot, "I know nothing of it save this, that my coutelier was airing my horses in the road to the village, and fell in with Doguin the muleteer, who brought back the litters to the inn, for they belong to the fellow of the Mulberry Grove yonder -- he of the Fleur de Lys, I mean -- and so Doguin asked Saunders Steed to take a cup of wine, as they were acquainted, which he was no doubt willing enough to do." "No doubt -- no doubt," said the old Lord; "it is a thing I wish were corrected among you, gentlemen; but all your grooms, and couteliers, and jackmen as we should call them in Scotland, are but too ready to take a cup of wine with any one. -- It is a thing perilous in war, and must be amended. But, Andrew Arnot, this is a long tale of yours, and we will cut it with a drink; as the Highlander says, Skeoch doch nan skial ('Cut a tale with a drink;' an expression used when a man preaches over his liquor, as bons vivants say in England. S.); and that 's good Gaelic. -- Here is to the Countess Isabelle of Croye, and a better husband to her than Campobasso, who is a base Italian cullion! -- And now, Andrew Arnot, what said the muleteer to this yeoman of thine?" "Why, he told him in secrecy, if it please your Lordship," continued Arnot, "that these two ladies whom he had presently before convoyed up to the Castle in the close litters, were great ladies, who had been living in secret at his house for some days, and that the King had visited them more than once very privately, and had done them great honour; and that they had fled up to the Castle, as he believed, for fear of the Count de Crevecoeur, the Duke of Burgundy's ambassador, whose approach was just announced by an advanced courier." "Ay, Andrew, come you there to me?" said Guthrie. "Then I will be sworn it was the Countess whose voice I heard singing to the lute, as I came even now through the inner court -- the sound came from the bay windows of the Dauphin's Tower; and such melody was there as no one ever heard before in the Castle of Plessis of the Park. By my faith, I thought it was the music of the Fairy Melusina's making. There I stood -- though I knew your board was covered, and that you were all impatient -- there I stood like --" (The Fairy Melusina: a water fay who married a mortal on condition that she should be allowed to spend her Saturdays in deep seclusion. This promise, after many years, was broken, and Melusina, half serpent, half woman, was discovered swimming in a bath. For this breach of faith on the part of her husband, Melusina was compelled to leave her home. She regularly returned, however, before the death of any of the lords of her family, and by her wailings foretold that event. Her history is closely interwoven with the legends of the Banshee and Mermaid.) "-- Like an ass, Johnny Guthrie," said his commander; "thy long nose smelling the dinner, thy long ears hearing the music, and thy short discretion not enabling thee to decide which of them thou didst prefer. -- Hark! is that not the Cathedral bell tolling to vespers? -- Sure it cannot be that time yet? The mad old sexton has toll'd evensong an hour too soon." "In faith, the bell rings but too justly the hour," said Cunningham; "yonder the sun is sinking on the west side of the fair plain." "Ay," said the Lord Crawford, "is it even so? -- Well, lads, we must live within compass. -- Fair and soft goes far -- slow fire makes sweet malt -- to be merry and wise is a sound proverb. -- One other rouse to the weal of old Scotland, and then each man to his duty." The parting cup was emptied, and the guests dismissed -- the stately old Baron taking the Balafre's arm, under pretence of giving him some instructions concerning his nephew, but, perhaps, in reality, lest his own lofty pace should seem in the public eye less steady than became his rank and high command. A serious countenance did he bear as he passed through the two courts which separated his lodging from the festal chamber, and solemn as the gravity of a hogshead was the farewell caution with which he prayed Ludovic to attend his nephew's motions, especially in the matters of wenches and wine cups. Meanwhile, not a word that was spoken concerning the beautiful Countess Isabelle had escaped the young Durward, who, conducted into a small cabin, which he was to share with his uncle's page, made his new and lowly abode the scene of much high musing. The reader will easily imagine that the young soldier should build a fine romance on such a foundation as the supposed, or rather the assumed, identification of the Maiden of the Turret, to whose lay he had listened with so much interest, and the fair cup bearer of Maitre Pierre, with a fugitive Countess of rank and wealth, flying from the pursuit of a hated lover, the favourite of an oppressive guardian, who abused his feudal power. There was an interlude in Quentin's vision concerning Maitre Pierre, who seemed to exercise such authority even over the formidable officer from whose hands he had that day, with much difficulty, made his escape. At length the youth's reveries, which had been respected by little Will Harper, the companion of his cell, were broken in upon by the return of his uncle, who commanded Quentin to bed, that he might arise betimes in the morning, and attend him to his Majesty's antechamber, to which he was called by his hour of duty, along with five of his comrades. 地方官:请把法典给我拿下来——念这些条文——宣誓,吻吻 圣经——签下你的名字,去当一个英勇的士兵。 为你今后将于出的英勇业绩, 从国库中取出你应得的一份—— 每天六便士再加给养和补助金。 《募兵官》 射手们叫一个扈从步行,腾出一匹马来让昆丁•达威特骑上。他那些威武的同胞们便陪同他朝普莱西城堡的方向快速地骑去。尽管他并非心甘情愿,但事实上他将住进那今早还使他感到惊奇的阴暗城堡,成为它的一个居民。 途中他舅父反复询问使他遭受重大危险的这一事件的经过。他向他作了一番详尽的介绍。虽然他觉得自己这个叙述应该十分感人,毫无可笑之处,却不料在保护他的同行者当中引起一阵哄笑。 “不过,这的确也不是什么好笑的事。”他舅父说道,“究竟撞了什么鬼。使得这不懂事的娃娃硬要去干预一个不信基督的半犹太半摩尔的异教徒尸体呢?” “要是他像莫法特•米歇尔那样,为了一个漂亮姑娘和军法总监的人吵架,那犹可说。”坎宁安讲道。 “不过,我认为特里斯顿和他的手下人竟装作分不清我们苏格兰人的无边帽和偷鸡摸狗的流浪汉戴的所谓的包头巾,也真是故意在损害我们的尊严。”林赛说,“如果他们对这差别视而不见,那就得用拳头教他们明白。不过,我倒认为特里斯顿是假装误会,以便在善良的苏格兰人来这里探亲时把他们吃掉。” “舅舅,我可以问问你们谈的是些什么人吗?”昆丁问道。 “当然可以,”他舅父回答道,“不过,好外甥,我不知道谁能回答你这个问题。我肯定不能回答你。不过,别人知道的也不见得比我更多。听说他们是像群蝗虫那样在最近一两年来到法国的。” “是的,”林赛说道,“老实的杰克(小伙子,老实的杰克是这儿农民的绰号——到时候你就会学会我们谈话的方式)——老实的杰克并不在乎是什么风把他们刮来或把蝗虫刮来,他们只关心什么风会把这些再刮走。” “他们干了很多坏事吗?”年轻人问道。 “坏事?嘿,孩子,他们是些异教徒,或者说犹太人,至少也是穆罕默德的门徒,既不崇拜圣母也不崇拜圣徒”——(他划了个十字)——“摸得着什么就偷什么,而且能唱歌,会算命。”坎宁安补充说道。 “有人说他们的女人当中有些很漂亮的货色,”古特里说道,“不过,这点坎宁安知道得最清楚。” “兄弟,你是怎么了!”坎宁安说道,“我想,你不是想说我的坏话吧?” “我相信我并没有说你什么坏话。”古特里对答道。 “我希望卫队给我断断这个事,”坎宁安说道,“你这等于说我,一个苏格兰绅士,生活在神圣教会的管辖下,却在这些社会渣滓般的女异教徒当中有个相好的。” “别这么说,别这么说,”巴拉弗雷调解道,“他只不过是开开玩笑——伙伴们之间不要吵架。” “那我们也不应该开这种玩笑。”坎宁安喃喃说道,仿佛是在跟自己的胡子讲话。 “除了法国以外,别的国家也有这种流浪人吗?”林赛问道。 “是的,别的国家也有——他们在德国、西班牙、英国都已成群地出现。”巴拉弗雷回答道,“托圣安德鲁的福,苏格兰还没有受到他们的打扰。” “苏格兰这国家太冷,蝗虫受不了,”坎宁安接着说道,“也太穷,小偷在那儿呆不下去。” “也许苏格兰高原人只许自己的小偷而不许别的小偷有发展余地。”古特里说道。 “我想提醒你们大伙,”巴拉弗雷说,“我是安古斯山的人,在格兰一依斯拉有我一些高贵的亲戚,我不容许别人污蔑苏格兰高原人。” “你不否认他们偷牲口吧?”古特里说道。 “抢几头牛什么的算不上偷。”巴拉弗雷说道,“要是你敢偷牲口,不管你什么时候偷,以什么方式,我也还是会坚持说这不算偷。” “伙计,你真不害臊,”坎宁安说,“谁在找碴?你不应当让这年轻人听到这种毫无道理的曲解。好了,我们已经来到城堡了。只要你愿意在敝舍共进午餐,我愿献上一瓮好酒,为友谊痛饮,为苏格兰的高原和低地干杯。” “同意——同意,”巴拉弗雷说道,“我也将献上好酒一坛,用酒来洗掉人间的不仁,并庆祝我外甥参加我们卫队。” 当他们走近时,小门打开,吊桥放了下来。他们一个挨一个走了进去。当昆丁正要跨进门的时候,哨兵架起两根长矛挡他的驾,命令他站住,同时弓箭手张好了弓,墙上的火统枪也瞄准他——真算得上是一种高度严密的警戒,尽管陪同这年轻人来到城堡的是国王卫队的一伙人,其中还有布置过这些岗哨的军官。 勒巴拉弗雷特意留在外甥旁边,作了一些必要的解释。经过一番犹豫和迟疑之后,哨兵才决定让这年轻人由一个强健的卫兵护送到克劳福德大公的住所。 这位苏格兰贵族是在那最终驱逐了英国人从而赢得法国王权独立的血腥战争中,长期为查尔斯第六忠诚服务的一代苏格兰贵族中最后遗留下来的几位风云人物之一。早在少年时代他就曾和道格拉斯与布堪并肩战斗,英勇驰骋在圣女贞德的麾下,也许是曾为百合花的王徽挥戈上阵,抵抗其英国敌人的苏格兰骑士团的遗老之一。由于苏格兰国内发生的变化,也由于他已习惯法国的气候和风俗,这位年老的男爵已完全放弃了返回祖国的念头,而在路易王的宫廷中身居要职。国王很欣赏他那坦率真诚的性格。虽然一般说来,他并不轻易相信别人的美德或荣誉感,但他却很信赖克劳福德的这些品质,并让他拥有较大的权威。再说,也从没听说过他越权干预不该他管的事。 巴拉弗雷和坎宁安跟在达威特和警卫人员后面来到长官的住所。看到这位军官有副威严的仪表,连那些瞧不起别人的高傲武士也都对他表示尊敬,这就很快给年轻的达威特留下了深刻的印象。 克劳福德身材高大,但由于年迈而显得瘦削。他的肌肉固然已失去年轻时的弹性,但至少筋骨还强健,还能够像年轻的士兵那样忍受铠甲的重荷,骑马行军。他样子很难看。风吹日晒过的脸上长着伤疤。眼睛里流露出一种历经三十次鏖战视死如归的表情。但这里所表现出的是对危险泰然处之的态度,而不是雇佣军那种凶狠的匹夫之勇。他那高大挺直的身躯裹着一件宽松的长袍。腰间则系着一条黄牛皮制的皮带,挂着一把装有华丽手柄的大刀。脖子上围着圣米歇尔僧派的领饰和徽章。这时他鼻梁上架着一副眼镜(当时还刚发明不久),正坐在铺有鹿皮的坐榻上专心地读一本称之为(战争纪事)的大卷手稿。这是路易王为了皇太子编纂的一本论述军事策略和国内政策的典籍。他很想就这本书征求这位经验丰富的苏格兰武士的高见。 看到这几个不速之客走了进来,克劳福德有点生气地把书往旁边一搁,以很重的苏格兰土腔说道:“鬼晓得他们要找我干什么?” 勒巴拉弗雷以对路易王都可能不会表示出的尊敬向他详细介绍他外甥目前的处境,谦恭地请求他给予保护。克劳福德大公仔细地听他讲。对于年轻的达威特过问被处绞刑的罪犯所表现的天真他不能不感到好笑,但在听完他们介绍苏格兰射手和军法总监之间的冲突之后却只顾摇头。 “你们干吗老拿这种倒霉事叫我处理?我跟你们讲了多少次了,特别是你卢德维克•莱斯利还有你阿尔琪•坎宁安,要是你们不想惹得全城人都来反对你们,你们外籍士兵对待本国人就得谦虚有礼。不过,如果你们硬要闹矛盾嘛,跟那个草包总监闹,总比跟别人闹更好。卢德维克,对于你这次惹的乱于,我也不能按你以往惹的祸那样来责怪你,因为救助自己年幼的亲人是人之常情,也是很仁慈的举动。再说,这个天真的娃娃也不应遭到不幸。你就把书架上那个卫队名册拿下来,让我们把他的名字添上,好让他享受特权吧。” “大人请听我说——”达威特开了口。 “这孩子疯了!”他舅父吃惊地嚷道,“也不先问问,就对大人讲话。” “耐心点,卢德维克,”克劳福德说道,“让我们听听这娃娃有什么话要讲吧。” “如果大人愿意听的话,我有一点想说明。”昆丁说道,“我曾向舅父说过,参加这个卫队我有点犹豫,但我看到将领导我的是您这位高贵而有经验的长官,我的犹豫已完全消除,因为您有一种威严的目光。” “你说得对,我的娃娃,”对这恭维并非无动于衷的老年人说道,“我在服役和指挥方面都有些经验。但愿蒙上帝的恩宠,我能因此得到某些好处。昆丁,你在我们光荣的苏格兰近卫军团中将充当你舅舅的扈从,在他手下服役。我相信你会干得很出色。如果你的勇气和外表一致的话,你会成为一个好的武士。再说,你也出身于名门望族。卢德维克,你得督促你外甥勤奋操练,因为总有一天我们会打仗的。” “大人,凭我的刀把子说,我真高兴有机会打仗——和平会把我们都变成懦夫。成天关在这可恨的地牢般的城堡里,我自己也感到有点萎靡不振了。” “好吧,我告诉你们我听到的一点消息,”克劳福德大公继续说道,“我们古老的战旗又会重新在战场上飘扬了。” “今晚我将多喝些酒来祝贺这个好消息。”巴拉弗雷说道。 “我看,任何消息都能使你干上几杯。”克劳福德说道,“卢德维克,我担心总有一天你会喝你自己酿的苦酒的。” 莱斯利有点难为情地回答道:“我好些天没喝酒了。不过,大人知道,我们卫队按照惯例得为新参加的伙伴的健康畅饮一杯。” “你说得很对,”年老的卫队长说道,“我把这事给忘了。我愿送几壶酒给你们助兴。不过天黑以前你们得收场。要注意别把站岗的哨兵和你们算在一起。他们谁也不得或多或少参与你们的纵情畅饮。” “我们将遵守规定,服从大人的命令,”卢德维克说道,“我们也不会忘记为您的健康干杯。” “在你们欢宴的时候也许我会亲自去看看——只是瞧瞧是否一切合乎规矩。” “大人将受到热烈欢迎。”卢德维克说道。这时大伙都兴高采烈地告辞出来,以准备他们的军人宴会。莱斯利邀请了常一道进餐的二十来个伙伴。 军人宴会一般是临时草草举办起来的。反正只要能弄到足够的酒肉就行。但为了当前的情况,卢德维克却忙着想搞点比往常更好的美酒。他说年老的克劳福德大公肯定是他们当中最能喝的一个,尽管他告诫他们别喝醉,即使他在御桌上老老实实喝够了他能得到手的美酒之后,也决不会放弃在酒罐上消夜的好机会。“所以,伙计们,”他说,“你们得准备好听他讲维尔努瓦尔和博热战役的故事。” 他们很快将平常聚会用的一间哥德式房屋布置得整整齐齐,然后打发马弁去采集铺地板的绿灯芯草,并将苏格兰卫队的战旗和从敌人手中缴获的旗帜铺在桌上、挂在墙上作为装饰。 下一步就是用卫队的衣服和武器将年轻的新兵尽快装备起来,好使他在各方面都显得有资格分享卫队的重要特权;仰仗这一特权,加上同胞们的支持,他便可以泰然对付军法总监的权力和不满——尽管他的不满令人生畏,而他使用权力时也从不手软。 宴会的气氛极为欢快。看到一个来自可爱的祖国的新兵被接纳进他们的行列,客人们都尽情地表露出他们的民族自豪感。他们唱着古老的苏格兰民歌,讲着赞美苏格兰英雄的古老传说——回想起他们祖先的业绩,以及创造这些业绩的情景。那富饶的都兰平原一时似乎变成了苏格兰贫瘠的山区。 当他们正热情高涨,每个人都争着想说点什么来使大家更好地回忆故乡时,克劳福德大人的光临给这股热情带来了新的活力。正如巴拉弗雷预言的那样,克劳福德在御桌上如坐针毡,一有机会便溜了出来参加同胞们的宴会。人们早为他留了一个荣誉的上座。根据当代的习俗和卫队的制度,既然卫队成员(或我们现在所说的列兵)都因其出身而被视为贵族,那么尽管队长属于国王和总督管辖下的司令官,他也可以不违礼仪地和他们同桌吃饭;只要他愿意,也可以参加他们的欢宴,而无损其司令官的尊严。 不过克劳福德大人这次谢绝了给他留的上座,叫他们“只管乐你们的”,自己则站着看他们饮酒作乐,脸上露出似乎非常愉快的表情。 “让他去吧,”林赛向高贵的队长献酒之后,坎宁安悄悄对他说道,“让他去吧——你别赶牛喝水——让他自己唱好了。” 年老的贵族先微笑了一下,然后摇摇头,把尚未喝过的酒杯摆在自己面前。但他心不在焉地呷了一小口,突然幸运地想起,要是他不为今天参加他们队伍的好小伙子的健康干一杯,那将是很不吉利的。他提出向他祝酒。正如可以猜想到的,他的祝酒得到了一片欢呼作为对他的热烈响应。年老的队长接着告诉大家,他已向奥利弗老爷报告了当天发生的情况,得到了他的庇护。“既然括下巴胡子的人对勒脖子的人并没有多大好感,他便和我一道设法从国王那里搞到了一道赦令,命令军法总监不得以任何借口对昆丁•达威特采取行动,并在任何情况下都必须尊重苏格兰卫队的特权。” 又爆发出一阵欢呼声。大伙再次斟满酒,只见酒杯的边缘上都闪着酒的泡沫。人们为勇敢维护同胞权利的高贵的克劳福德大人的健康齐声祝酒。年老的大公也只好按礼节答谢,并不假思索似地滑进了为他准备好的椅子。这时他把昆丁叫来,站在自己身边,向他问了一连串有关苏格兰及其望族现状的问题,使得这年轻人不知如何回答是好。在询问当中,慈祥的大公不时附带亲亲酒杯,并发表意见说,苏格兰的绅士固然应当爱好交际,但像昆丁这样的年轻人则应慎重行事,以免失之过度。就此他又说了许多动听的话,但他那正在赞扬节制的舌头却不觉开始发出某种比平常更混浊的声音。随着他们喝下的每瓶酒,军人豪爽的气概也在不断高涨。这时坎宁安邀请他们为火焰旗(法国的皇家旌旗)的顺利升起祝酒。 “再加勃艮第的微风为它吹拂!”林赛应和道。 “孩子们,我虽然身体衰疲,但我愿以我全部的心灵同意这个祝酒。”克劳福德大公也应和道,“别看我年事已高,我相信我还能见它猎猎飘扬。朋友们,听我说吧,”(这时酒已使他变得更爱说话)“你们都是法国国王的忠实仆人,我应当告诉你们,勃艮第的查尔斯公爵派来了特使,带来了抗议信。” “我见到了克雷维格伯爵的车马和随从,”另一个来客说到,“他们下榻在桑树林那边的旅店里。人们说,国王不会请他进城堡住。” “愿上帝给他一个难堪的回答!”古特里说道,“不过,他到底要抗议什么?” “边界上本来就有许许多多争端,”克劳福德大公说道,“而最近又加上国王对勃艮第来的一位贵妇人提供庇护。这是从第戎逃出来的一位伯爵小姐。公爵是她的监护人。他硬要她嫁给他的宠臣康波•巴索。” “大人,她果真是一个人逃到这儿来的吗?”林赛问道。 “不,并不完全是一个人。她是和姑母——一位老伯爵夫人一道来的。姑母在这件事情上顺从了她的意愿。” “既然国王是临驾于公爵之上的君主,”坎宁安说道,“他会在公爵和他的被保护人之间进行干预吗?要知道,查尔斯对他的被保护人拥有的权利,也正是查尔斯万一死了,国王将对勃艮第的王位女继承人拥有的权利。” “国王会像他一贯的那样按策略原则行事;而你知道,”克劳福德继续说道,“他并没有公开接待这两位仕女,也没有把她们置于他女儿博若小姐或让娜公主的保护下。他肯定会根据情况来处理这件事。国王是我们的主人——不过,我可以不畏叛逆之嫌地说,他能和基督世界中的任何帝王耍耍两面讨好的游戏。” “勃艮第公爵可不懂得耍两面派。”坎宁安说道。 “你说得不错,”年老的贵族回答道,“所以说在他们之间很可能会闹点名堂。” “好吧,但愿圣安德鲁为这场争执推波助澜!”巴拉弗雷说道,“一二十年前人们就预言,我将通过婚姻使我们家族发迹。我们一旦像古老的爱情诗中所说的那样,为荣誉和仕女的爱情而战斗,谁知道会出现什么美事呢?” “像你脸上这么大一条沟,配谈什么仕女的爱情!”古特里说道。 “和波希米亚的异教女人谈恋爱,还不如不谈恋爱。”巴拉弗雷反唇相讥地说道。 “住嘴,伙计们,”克劳福德大公说道,“打架别动刀枪,开玩笑别说刺人的挖苦话——大家都是朋友。至于说那位小姐嘛,她太有钱了,不会爱上一个苏格兰穷贵族,要不我也会拿我八十(或差点儿)的年纪作为本钱放上去争一争。不过,让我们还是为她干杯吧,因为据说她是一盏美丽的明灯。” “我想我见过她,”另一个士兵说道,“今早我在内墙站岗的时候见过她。不过她更像个黑色的灯笼,而不大像盏明灯,因为她和另一个女人是用关着的轿子抬进城堡的。” “我真替你难为情!阿诺特!”克劳福德大公说道,“你知道,哨兵是不许把他们看见的东西随便讲出来的。再说,”他停了片刻又补充说道,这时他自己的好奇心已胜过了他认为有必要强调的纪律观念,“这轿子怎么会抬的是这位伊莎贝尔•德•克罗伊埃伯爵小姐呢?” “大人,我不知道,”阿诺特回答道,“我只知道这么回事:我的马弁拉着我的马在去村庄的路上蹓跶,碰见了轿夫多甘正把轿子送回旅店,因为轿子是向桑树林一个伙计——我指的是百合花旅店的老板——借的。多甘和那个桑德尔•斯蒂德是老相识,所以他请他去喝酒,这人当然乐于遵命——” “这不用说,这不用说,”年老的克劳福德说道,“绅士们,这可是我希望在你们当中得到纠正的事。你们的马夫、马弁和我们在苏格兰称之为走卒的听差都乐于和别人喝上一杯——这种事在战争中很危险,必须纠正。安德鲁•阿诺特,你话说得够多了,让我们用杯酒结束它吧;正如高原人说的那样,要‘少说多喝’。这可是一句精妙的克尔特话——为克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐干杯,愿她能得到一个比康波•巴索更好的丈夫,因为他是一个卑鄙的意大利无赖!安德鲁•阿诺特,那个轿夫对你的听差讲了些什么?” “如大人乐意听的话,他是透露了一个秘密,”阿诺特继续说道,“他说他不久前用关得严严的轿子送进城堡去的那两个妇人都是地位很高的仕女。她们在他主人家已秘密地住了好几天了。国王不止一次私下看望过她们,给了她们很大的荣誉。据他看,她们躲进城堡里来,是害怕见到勃艮第公爵的特使克雷维格伯爵。一位先遣使刚已宣布他即将到来。” “嘿,安德鲁,你是在讲给我听吗?”古特里说,“如果是这样,那我要发誓说,我刚才走过内院时,听见和着琴声唱歌的准是那位伯爵小姐——声音来自‘皇太子塔楼’上的一个凸窗。这么美妙的歌声是御花园的普莱西城堡从没听见过的。说实在的,我还以为是仙女美卢赛纳在弹琴唱歌哩。我站着听——尽管我知道你们已摆好了酒席,已等得不耐烦——我还是站着听,就像——” “就像一头蠢驴,琼尼•古特里。”队长说道,“你的长鼻子闻着酒席的香味,你的长耳朵听着音乐,而你短缺的判断力却无法使你决定到底更喜欢哪一个。听!大教堂不是在敲晚祷钟了吗?肯定还不到时间吧?那发了疯的教堂执事把晚祷钟提前了一个小时。” “事实是钟敲得完全准确!”坎宁安说道,“你看在平原的那边太阳正在西沉。” “嘿,”克劳福德大公说道,“可不真是这样?好吧,孩子们,我们得按规矩生活——一张一弛,圣人之道——文火才熬得出甜的麦芽糖——既要会享乐又要保持明智是我们信奉的健全格言——让我们为苏格兰的幸福再干一杯就各回各的岗位吧。” 喝完了分手前的最后一杯酒,伙伴们便回各自的岗位。威严的老男爵拉着巴拉弗雷的胳膊,假装是在吩咐他如何接待他外甥,实际上也许是担心自己那矜持的步伐在众人的眼里会显得不那么稳健,因而不适合他的身份和权位。当他走过他的住房和宴会厅之间的两个庭院时,脸上带着肃穆的表情。分手时他极其严肃地嘱咐卢德维克,要他特别是在女人和美酒的问题上多管管他外甥。 话说回来,他们讲过的有关美丽的伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐的每一句话都没有被年轻的达威特忽略过去。他一被领进他将和舅父的侍童共住的小屋以后,便在这简陋的新居中沉思起来。读者不难猜想,这年轻的武士正在建造一个罗曼蒂克的美妙楼阁,而其根据则是设想那歌声使他陶醉的塔楼女郎以及为皮埃尔老爷端酒的美丽侍女正是那有钱有地位的伯爵小姐,那为了逃脱可憎的未婚夫(这人是滥用封建权威压迫她的监护人豢养的一个宠臣)而流亡到法国的伊莎贝尔。在昆丁的梦幻中插进了有关皮埃尔老爷的回忆。他想起他好不容易才从他手上脱了身的那位军官,而皮埃尔老爷似乎对他也拥有很大的权威。年轻人的沉思一直受到他的室友威尔哈尔帕的尊重,直到最后他舅父进来才打断了他的思路。舅父命令他上床睡觉,以便明早按时起床,陪他去国王住处的前室,和五个伙伴一道值勤。 Chapter 8 The Envoy Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France; For ere thou canst report I will be there. The thunder of my cannon shall be heard -- So, hence! be thou the trumpet of our wrath. KING JOHN Had sloth been a temptation by which Durward was easily beset, the noise with which the caserne of the guards resounded after the first toll of primes, had certainly banished the siren from his couch; but the discipline of his father's tower, and of the convent of Aberbrothick, had taught him to start with the dawn; and he did on his clothes gaily, amid the sounding of bugles and the clash of armour, which announced the change of the vigilant guards -- some of whom were returning to barracks after their nightly duty, whilst some were marching out to that of the morning -- and others, again, amongst whom was his uncle, were arming for immediate attendance upon the person of Louis. Quentin Durward soon put on, with the feelings of so young a man on such an occasion, the splendid dress and arms appertaining to his new situation; and his uncle, who looked with great accuracy and interest to see that he was completely fitted out in every respect, did not conceal his satisfaction at the improvement which had been thus made in his nephew's appearance. "If thou dost prove as faithful and bold as thou art well favoured, I shall have in thee one of the handsomest and best esquires in the Guard, which cannot but be an honour to thy mother's family. Follow me to the presence chamber; and see thou keep close at my shoulder." So saying, he took up a partisan, large, weighty, and beautifully inlaid and ornamented, and directing his nephew to assume a lighter weapon of a similar description, they proceeded to the inner court of the palace, where their comrades, who were to form the guard of the interior apartments, were already drawn up and under arms -- the squires each standing behind their masters, to whom they thus formed a second rank. Here were also in attendance many yeomen prickers, with gallant horses and noble dogs, on which Quentin looked with such inquisitive delight that his uncle was obliged more than once to remind him that the animals were not there for his private amusement, but for the King's, who had a strong passion for the chase, one of the few inclinations which he indulged even when coming in competition with his course of policy; being so strict a protector of the game in the royal forests that it was currently said you might kill a man with greater impunity than a stag. On a signal given, the Guards were put into motion by the command of Le Balafre, who acted as officer upon the occasion; and, after some minutiae of word and signal, which all served to show the extreme and punctilious jealousy with which their duty was performed, they marched into the hall of audience where the King was immediately expected. New as Quentin was to scenes of splendour, the effect of that which was now before him rather disappointed the expectations which he had formed of the brilliancy of a court. There were household officers, indeed, richly attired; there were guards gallantly armed, and there were domestics of various degrees. But he saw none of the ancient counsellors of the kingdom, none of the high officers of the crown, heard none of the names which in those days sounded an alarum to chivalry; saw none either of those generals or leaders, who, possessed of the full prime of manhood, were the strength of France, or of the more youthful and fiery nobles, those early aspirants after honour, who were her pride. The jealous habits, the reserved manners, the deep and artful policy of the King, had estranged this splendid circle from the throne, and they were only called around it upon certain stated and formal occasions, when they went reluctantly, and returned joyfully, as the animals in the fable are supposed to have approached and left the den of the lion. The very few persons who seemed to be there in the character of counsellors were mean looking men, whose countenances sometimes expressed sagacity, but whose manners showed they were called into a sphere for which their previous education and habits had qualified them but indifferently. One or two persons, however, did appear to Durward to possess a more noble mien, and the strictness of the present duty was not such as to prevent his uncle's communicating the names of those whom he thus distinguished. With the Lord Crawford, who was in attendance, dressed in the rich habit of his office, and holding a leading staff of silver in his hand, Quentin, as well as the reader, was already acquainted. Among others, who seemed of quality, the most remarkable was the Count de Dunois, the son of that celebrated Dunois, known by the name of the Bastard of Orleans, who, fighting under the banner of Jeanne d'Arc, acted such a distinguished part in liberating France from the English yoke. His son well supported the high renown which had descended to him from such an honoured source; and, notwithstanding his connexion with the royal family, and his hereditary popularity both with the nobles and the people, Dunois had, upon all occasions, manifested such an open, frank loyalty of character that he seemed to have escaped all suspicion, even on the part of the jealous Louis, who loved to see him near his person, and sometimes even called him to his councils. Although accounted complete in all the exercises of chivalry, and possessed of much of the character of what was then termed a perfect knight, the person of the Count was far from being a model of romantic beauty. He was under the common size, though very strongly built, and his legs rather curved outwards, into that make which is more convenient for horseback, than elegant in a pedestrian. His shoulders were broad, his hair black, his complexion swarthy, his arms remarkably long and nervous. The features of his countenance were irregular, even to ugliness; yet, after all, there was an air of conscious worth and nobility about the Count de Dunois, which stamped, at the first glance, the character of the high born nobleman and the undaunted soldier. His mien was bold and upright, his step free and manly, and the harshness of his countenance was dignified by a glance like an eagle, and a frown like a lion. His dress was a hunting suit, rather sumptuous than gay, and he acted on most occasions as Grand Huntsman, though we are not inclined to believe that he actually held the office. Upon the arm of his relation Dunois, walking with a step so slow and melancholy that he seemed to rest on his kinsman and supporter, came Louis Duke of Orleans, the first prince of the Blood Royal (afterwards King, by the name of Louis XII), and to whom the guards and attendants rendered their homage as such. The jealously watched object of Louis's suspicions, this Prince, who, failing the King's offspring, was heir to the kingdom, was not suffered to absent himself from Court, and, while residing there, was alike denied employment and countenance. The dejection which his degraded and almost captive state naturally impressed on the deportment of this unfortunate Prince, was at this moment greatly increased by his consciousness that the King meditated, with respect to him, one of the most cruel and unjust actions which a tyrant could commit, by compelling him to give his hand to the Princess Joan of France, the younger daughter of Louis, to whom he had been contracted in infancy, but whose deformed person rendered the insisting upon such an agreement an act of abominable rigour. The exterior of this unhappy Prince was in no respect distinguished by personal advantages; and in mind, he was of a gentle, mild and beneficent disposition, qualities which were visible even through the veil of extreme dejection with which his natural character was at present obscured. Quentin observed that the Duke studiously avoided even looking at the Royal Guards, and when he returned their salute, that he kept his eyes bent on the ground, as if he feared the King's jealousy might have construed the gesture of ordinary courtesy as arising from the purpose of establishing a separate and personal interest among them. Very different was the conduct of the proud Cardinal and Prelate, John of Balue, the favourite minister of Louis for the time, whose rise and character bore as close a resemblance to that of Wolsey, as the difference betwixt the crafty and politic Louis and the headlong and rash Henry VIII of England would permit. The former had raised his minister from the lowest rank, to the dignity, or at least to the emoluments, of Grand Almoner of France, loaded him with benefices, and obtained for him the hat of a cardinal; and although he was too cautious to repose in the ambitious Balue the unbounded power and trust which Henry placed in Wolsey, yet he was more influenced by him than by any other of his avowed counsellors. The Cardinal, accordingly, had not escaped the error incidental to those who are suddenly raised to power from an obscure situation, for he entertained a strong persuasion, dazzled doubtlessly by the suddenness of his elevation, that his capacity was equal to intermeddling with affairs of every kind, even those most foreign to his profession and studies. Tall and ungainly in his person, he affected gallantry and admiration of the fair sex, although his manners rendered his pretensions absurd, and his profession marked them as indecorous. Some male or female flatterer had, in evil hour, possessed him with the idea that there was much beauty of contour in a pair of huge, substantial legs, which he had derived from his father, a car man of Limoges -- or, according to other authorities, a miller of Verdun, and with this idea he had become so infatuated that he always had his cardinal's robes a little looped up on one side, that the sturdy proportion of his limbs might not escape observation. As he swept through the stately apartment in his crimson dress and rich cope, he stopped repeatedly to look at the arms and appointments of the cavaliers on guard, asked them several questions in an authoritative tone, and took upon him to censure some of them for what he termed irregularities of discipline, in language to which these experienced soldiers dared no reply, although it was plain they listened to it with impatience and with contempt. (Wolsey (1471-1530): at one time the chief favourite of Henry VIII. He was raised from obscurity by that sovereign to be Archbishop of York, Lord Chancellor of England, and Cardinal. As legate of the Pope, he gained the ill will of Henry by his failure to secure that king's divorce. He was deprived of his offices, his property was confiscated to the crown, and in 1530 he was arrested for high treason, but died on his way to trial.) "Is the King aware," said Dunois to the Cardinal, "that the Burgundian Envoy is peremptory in demanding an audience?" "He is," answered the Cardinal; "and here, as I think, comes the all sufficient Oliver Dain, to let us know the royal pleasure." As he spoke, a remarkable person, who then divided the favour of Louis with the proud Cardinal himself, entered from the inner apartment, but without any of that important and consequential demeanour which marked the full blown dignity of the churchman. On the contrary, this was a little, pale, meagre man, whose black silk jerkin and hose, without either coat, cloak, or cassock, formed a dress ill qualified to set off to advantage a very ordinary person. He carried a silver basin in his hand, and a napkin flung over his arm indicated his menial capacity. His visage was penetrating and quick, although he endeavoured to banish such expression from his features by keeping his eyes fixed on the ground, while, with the stealthy and quiet pace of a cat, he seemed modestly rather to glide than to walk through the apartment. But though modesty may easily obscure worth, it cannot hide court favour; and all attempts to steal unperceived through the presence chamber were vain, on the part of one known to have such possession of the King's ear as had been attained by his celebrated barber and groom of the chamber, Oliver le Dain, called sometimes Oliver le Mauvais, and sometimes Oliver le Diable, epithets derived from the unscrupulous cunning with which he assisted in the execution of the schemes of his master's tortuous policy. At present he spoke earnestly for a few moments with the Count de Dunois, who instantly left the chamber, while the tonsor glided quietly back towards the royal apartment whence he had issued, every one giving place to him; which civility he only acknowledged by the most humble inclination of the body, excepting in a very few instances, where he made one or two persons the subject of envy to all the other courtiers, by whispering a single word in their ear; and at the same time muttering something of the duties of his place, he escaped from their replies as well as from the eager solicitations of those who wished to attract his notice. Ludovic Lesly had the good fortune to be one of the individuals who, on the present occasion, was favoured by Oliver with a single word, to assure him that his matter was fortunately terminated. Presently afterwards he had another proof of the same agreeable tidings; for Quentin's old acquaintance, Tristan l'Hermite, the Provost Marshal of the royal household, entered the apartment, and came straight to the place where Balafre was posted. This formidable officer's uniform, which was very rich, had only the effect of making his sinister countenance and bad mien more strikingly remarkable, and the tone, which he meant for conciliatory, was like nothing so much as the growling of a bear. The import of his words, however, was more amicable than the voice in which they were pronounced. He regretted the mistake which had fallen between them on the preceding day, and observed it was owing to the Sieur Le Balafre's nephew's not wearing the uniform of his corps, or announcing himself as belonging to it, which had led him into the error for which he now asked forgiveness. Ludovic Lesly made the necessary reply, and as soon as Tristan had turned away, observed to his nephew that they had now the distinction of having a mortal enemy from henceforward in the person of this dreaded officer. "But we are above his volee (brood, rank, class) -- a soldier," said he, "who does his duty, may laugh at the Provost Marshal." Quentin could not help being of his uncle's opinion, for, as Tristan parted from them, it was with the look of angry defiance which the bear casts upon the hunter whose spear has wounded him. Indeed, even when less strongly moved, the sullen eye of this official expressed a malevolence of purpose which made men shudder to meet his glance; and the thrill of the young Scot was the deeper and more abhorrent, that he seemed to himself still to feel on his shoulders the grasp of the two death doing functionaries of this fatal officer. Meanwhile, Oliver, after he had prowled around the room in the stealthy manner which we have endeavoured to describe -- all, even the highest officers making way for him, and loading him with their ceremonious attentions, which his modesty seemed desirous to avoid -- again entered the inner apartment, the doors of which were presently thrown open, and King Louis entered the presence chamber. Quentin, like all others, turned his eyes upon him; and started so suddenly that he almost dropped his weapon, when he recognised in the King of France that silk merchant, Maitre Pierre, who had been the companion of his morning walk. Singular suspicions respecting the real rank of this person had at different times crossed his thoughts; but this, the proved reality, was wilder than his wildest conjecture. The stern look of his uncle, offended at this breach of the decorum of his office, recalled him to himself; but not a little was he astonished when the King, whose quick eye had at once discovered him, walked straight to the place where he was posted, without taking notice of any one else. "So;" he said, "young man, I am told you have been brawling on your first arrival in Touraine; but I pardon you, as it was chiefly the fault of a foolish old merchant, who thought your Caledonian blood required to be heated in the morning with Vin de Beaulne. If I can find him, I will make him an example to those who debauch my Guards. -- Balafre," he added, speaking to Lesly, "your kinsman is a fair youth, though a fiery. We love to cherish such spirits, and mean to make more than ever we did of the brave men who are around us. Let the year, day, hour, and minute of your nephew's birth be written down and given to Oliver Dain." Le Balafre bowed to the ground, and re-assumed his erect military position, as one who would show by his demeanour his promptitude to act in the King's quarrel or defence. Quentin, in the meantime, recovered from his first surprise, studied the King's appearance more attentively, and was surprised to find how differently he now construed his deportment and features than he had done at their first interview. These were not much changed in exterior, for Louis, always a scorner of outward show, wore, on the present occasion, an old dark blue hunting dress, not much better than the plain burgher suit of the preceding day, and garnished with a huge rosary of ebony which had been sent to him by no less a personage than the Grand Seignior, with an attestation that it had been used by a Coptic hermit on Mount Lebanon, a personage of profound sanctity. And instead of his cap with a single image, he now wore a hat, the band of which was garnished with at least a dozen of little paltry figures of saints stamped in lead. But those eyes, which, according to Quentin's former impression, only twinkled with the love of gain, had, now that they were known to be the property of an able and powerful monarch, a piercing and majestic glance; and those wrinkles on the brow, which he had supposed were formed during a long series of petty schemes of commerce, seemed now the furrows which sagacity had worn while toiling in meditation upon the fate of nations. Presently after the King's appearance, the Princesses of France, with the ladies of their suite, entered the apartment. With the eldest, afterwards married to Peter of Bourbon, and known in French history by the name of the Lady of Beaujeu, our story has but little to do. She was tall, and rather handsome, possessed eloquence, talent, and much of her father's sagacity, who reposed great confidence in her, and loved her as well perhaps as he loved any one. The younger sister, the unfortunate Joan, the destined bride of the Duke of Orleans, advanced timidly by the side of her sister, conscious of a total want of those external qualities which women are most desirous of possessing, or being thought to possess. She was pale, thin, and sickly in her complexion; her shape visibly bent to one side, and her gait was so unequal that she might be called lame. A fine set of teeth, and eyes which were expressive of melancholy, softness, and resignation, with a quantity of light brown locks, were the only redeeming points which flattery itself could have dared to number, to counteract the general homeliness of her face and figure. To complete the picture, it was easy to remark, from the Princess's negligence in dress and the timidity of her manner, that she had an unusual and distressing consciousness of her own plainness of appearance, and did not dare to make any of those attempts to mend by manners or by art what nature had left amiss, or in any other way to exert a power of pleasing. The King (who loved her not) stepped hastily to her as she entered. "How now," he said, "our world contemning daughter -- Are you robed for a hunting party, or for the convent, this morning? Speak -- answer." "For which your highness pleases, sire," said the Princess, scarce raising her voice above her breath. "Ay, doubtless, you would persuade me it is your desire to quit the Court, Joan, and renounce the world and its vanities. -- Ha! maiden, wouldst thou have it thought that we, the first born of Holy Church, would refuse our daughter to Heaven? -- Our Lady and Saint Martin forbid we should refuse the offering, were it worthy of the altar, or were thy vocation in truth thitherward!" So saying, the King crossed himself devoutly, looking in the meantime, as appeared to Quentin, very like a cunning vassal, who was depreciating the merit of something which he was desirous to keep to himself, in order that he might stand excused for not offering it to his chief or superior. "Dares he thus play the hypocrite with Heaven," thought Durward, "and sport with God and the Saints, as he may safely do with men, who dare not search his nature too closely?" Louis meantime resumed, after a moment's mental devotion, "No, fair daughter, I and another know your real mind better. Ha! fair cousin of Orleans, do we not? Approach, fair sir, and lead this devoted vestal of ours to her horse." Orleans started when the King spoke and hastened to obey him; but with such precipitation of step, and confusion, that Louis called out, "Nay, cousin, rein your gallantry, and look before you. Why, what a headlong matter a gallant's haste is on some occasions! You had well nigh taken Anne's hand instead of her sister's. -- Sir, must I give Joan's to you myself?" The unhappy Prince looked up, and shuddered like a child, when forced to touch something at which it has instinctive horror -- then making an effort, took the hand which the Princess neither gave nor yet withheld. As they stood, her cold, damp fingers enclosed in his trembling hand, with their eyes looking on the ground, it would have been difficult to say which of these two youthful beings was rendered more utterly miserable -- the Duke, who felt himself fettered to the object of his aversion by bonds which he durst not tear asunder, or the unfortunate young woman, who too plainly saw that she was an object of abhorrence to him, to gain whose kindness she would willingly have died. "And now to horse, gentlemen and ladies -- we will ourselves lead forth our daughter of Beaujeu," said the King; "and God's blessing and Saint Hubert's be on our morning's sport!" "I am, I fear, doomed to interrupt it, Sire," said the Comte de Dunois; "the Burgundian Envoy is before the gates of the Castle and demands an audience." "Demands an audience, Dunois?" replied the King. "Did you not answer him, as we sent you word by Oliver, that we were not at leisure to see him today, -- and that tomorrow was the festival of Saint Martin, which, please Heaven, we would disturb by no earthly thoughts -- and that on the succeeding day we were designed for Amboise -- but that we would not fail to appoint him as early an audience, when we returned, as our pressing affairs would permit." "All this I said," answered Dunois, "but yet, Sire --" "Pasques dieu! man, what is it that thus sticks in thy throat?" said the King. "This Burgundian's terms must have been hard of digestion." "Had not my duty, your Grace's commands, and his character as an envoy, restrained me," said Dunois, "he should have tried to digest them himself; for, by our Lady of Orleans, I had more mind to have made him eat his own words, than to have brought them to your Majesty." "Body of me," said the King, "it is strange that thou, one of the most impatient fellows alive, should have so little sympathy with the like infirmity in our blunt and fiery cousin, Charles of Burgundy. Why, man, I mind his blustering messages no more than the towers of this Castle regard the whistling of the northeast wind, which comes from Flanders, as well as this brawling Envoy." "Know then, Sire," replied Dunois, "that the Count of Crevecoeur tarries below, with his retinue of pursuivants and trumpets, and says, that since your Majesty refuses him the audience which his master has instructed him to demand, upon matters of most pressing concern, he will remain there till midnight, and accost your Majesty at whatever hour you are pleased to issue from your Castle, whether for business, exercise, or devotion; and that no consideration, except the use of absolute force, shall compel him to desist from this." "He is a fool," said the King, with much composure. "Does the hot headed Hainaulter think it any penance for a man of sense to remain for twenty-four hours quiet within the walls of his Castle, when he hath the affairs of a kingdom to occupy him? These impatient coxcombs think that all men, like themselves, are miserable, save when in saddle and stirrup. Let the dogs be put up, and well looked to, gentle Dunois. -- We will hold council today, instead of hunting." "My Liege," answered Dunois, "you will not thus rid yourself of Crevecoeur; for his master's instructions are, that if he hath not this audience which he demands, he shall nail his gauntlet to the palisade before the Castle in token of mortal defiance on the part of his master, shall renounce the Duke's fealty to France, and declare instant war." "Ay," said Louis without any perceptible alteration of voice, but frowning until his piercing dark eyes became almost invisible under his shaggy eyebrows, "is it even so? will our ancient vassal prove so masterful -- our dear cousin treat us thus unkindly? -- Nay, then, Dunois, we must unfold the Oriflamme, and cry Dennis Montjoye!" (Montjoie St. Denis, a former war cry of the French soldiers. Saint Denis was a patron saint of France who suffered martyrdom in the third century. Montjoie (mont and joie) may be the name of the hill where the saint met his death; or it may signify that any such place is a "hill of joy.") "Marry and amen, and in a most happy hour!" said the martial Dunois; and the guards in the hall, unable to resist the same impulse, stirred each upon his post, so as to produce a low but distinct sound of clashing arms. The King cast his eye proudly round, and, for a moment, thought and looked like his heroic father. But the excitement of the moment presently gave way to the host of political considerations, which, at that conjuncture, rendered an open breach with Burgundy so peculiarly perilous. Edward IV, a brave and victorious king, who had in his own person fought thirty battles, was now established on the throne of England, was brother to the Duchess of Burgundy, and, it might well be supposed, waited but a rupture between his near connexion and Louis, to carry into France, through the ever open gate of Calais, those arms which had been triumphant in the English civil wars, and to obliterate the recollection of internal dissensions by that most popular of all occupations amongst the English, an invasion of France. To this consideration was added the uncertain faith of the Duke of Bretagne, and other weighty subjects of reflection. So that, after a deep pause, when Louis again spoke, although in the same tone, it was with an altered spirit. "But God forbid," he said, "that aught less than necessity should make us, the Most Christian' King, give cause to the effusion of Christian blood, if anything short of dishonour may avert such a calamity. We tender our subjects' safety dearer than the ruffle which our own dignity may receive from the rude breath of a malapert ambassador, who hath perhaps exceeded the errand with which he was charged. -- Admit the Envoy of Burgundy to our presence." "Beati pacifici, (blessed are the peace makers)" said the Cardinal Balue. "True; and your Eminence knoweth that they who humble themselves shall be exalted," added the King. The Cardinal spoke an Amen, to which few assented, for even the pale cheek of Orleans kindled with shame, and Balafre suppressed his feelings so little, as to let the butt end of his partisan fall heavily on the floor -- a movement of impatience for which he underwent a bitter reproof from the Cardinal, with a lecture on the mode of handling his arms when in presence of the Sovereign. The King himself seemed unusually embarrassed at the silence around him. "You are pensive, Dunois," he said. "You disapprove of our giving way to this hot headed Envoy." "By no means,"' said Dunois; "I meddle not with matters beyond my sphere. I was thinking of asking a boon of your Majesty." "A boon, Dunois -- what is it? You are an unfrequent suitor, and may count on our favour." "I would, then, your Majesty would send me to Evreux to regulate the clergy," said Dunois, with military frankness. "That were indeed beyond thy sphere," replied the King, smiling. "I might order priests as well," replied the Count, "as my Lord Bishop of Evreux, or my Lord Cardinal, if he likes the title better, can exercise the soldiers of your Majesty's guard." The King smiled again, and more mysteriously, while he whispered Dunois, "The time may come when you and I will regulate the priests together. -- But this is for the present a good conceited animal of a Bishop. Ah, Dunois! Rome, Rome puts him and other burdens upon us. -- But patience, cousin, and shuffle the cards, till our hand is a stronger one." (Dr. Dryasdust here remarks that cards, said to have been invented in a preceding reign, for the amusement of Charles V during the intervals of his mental disorder, seem speedily to have become common among the courtiers. . . . The alleged origin of the invention of cards produced one of the shrewdest replies I have ever heard given in evidence. It was made by the late Dr. Gregory of Edinburgh to a counsel of great eminence at the Scottish bar. The Doctor's testimony went to prove the insanity of the party whose mental capacity was the point at issue. On a cross interrogation, he admitted that the person in question played admirably at whist. "And do you seriously say, doctor," said the learned counsel, "that a person having a superior capacity for a game so difficult, and which requires in a preeminent degree, memory, judgment, and combination, can be at the same time deranged in his understanding?" -- "I am no card player," said the doctor, with great address, "but I have read in history that cards were invented for the amusement of an insane king." The consequences of this reply were decisive. S.) The flourish of trumpets in the courtyard now announced the arrival of the Burgundian nobleman. All in the presence chamber made haste to arrange themselves according to their proper places of precedence, the King and his daughters remaining in the centre of the assembly. The Count of Crevecoeur, a renowned and undaunted warrior, entered the apartment; and, contrary to the usage among the envoys of friendly powers, he appeared all armed, excepting his head, in a gorgeous suit of the most superb Milan armour, made of steel, inlaid and embossed with gold, which was wrought into the fantastic taste called the Arabesque. Around his neck and over his polished cuirass, hung his master's order of the Golden Fleece, one of the most honoured associations of chivalry then known in Christendom. A handsome page bore his helmet behind him, a herald preceded him, bearing his letters of credence which he offered on his knee to the King; while the ambassador himself paused in the midst of the hall, as if to give all present time to admire his lofty look, commanding stature, and undaunted composure of countenance and manner. The rest of his attendants waited in the antechamber, or courtyard. (The military order of the Golden Fleece was instituted by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the year 1429, the King of Spain being grand master of the order, as Duke of Burgundy.) "Approach, Seignior Count de Crevecoeur," said Louis, after a moment's glance at his commission; "we need not our cousin's letters of credence, either to introduce to us a warrior so well known, or to assure us of your highly deserved credit with your master. We trust that your fair partner, who shares some of our ancestral blood, is in good health. Had you brought her in your hand, Seignior Count, we might have thought you wore your armour, on this unwonted occasion, to maintain the superiority of her charms against the amorous chivalry of France. As it is, we cannot guess the reason of this complete panoply." "Sire," replied the ambassador, "the Count of Crevecoeur must lament his misfortune, and entreat your forgiveness, that he cannot, on this occasion, reply with such humble deference as is due to the royal courtesy with which your Majesty has honoured him. But, although it is only the voice of Philip Crevecoeur de Cordes which speaks, the words which he utters must be those of his gracious Lord and Sovereign, the Duke of Burgundy." "And what has Crevecoeur to say in the words of Burgundy?" said Louis, with an assumption of sufficient dignity. "Yet hold -- remember, that in this presence, Philip Crevecoeur de Cordes speaks to him who is his Sovereign's Sovereign." Crevecoeur bowed, and then spoke aloud: "King of France, the mighty Duke of Burgundy once more sends you a written schedule of the wrongs and oppressions committed on his frontiers by your Majesty's garrisons and officers; and the first point of inquiry is, whether it is your Majesty's purpose to make him amends for these injuries?" The King, looking slightly at the memorial which the herald delivered to him upon his knee, said, "These matters have been already long before our Council. Of the injuries complained of, some are in requital of those sustained by my subjects, some are affirmed without any proof, some have been retaliated by the Duke's garrisons and soldiers; and if there remain any which fall under none of those predicaments, we are not, as a Christian prince, averse to make satisfaction for wrongs actually sustained by our neighbour, though committed not only without our countenance, but against our express order."' "I will convey your Majesty's answer," said the ambassador, "to my most gracious master; yet, let me say, that, as it is in no degree different from the evasive replies which have already been returned to his just complaints, I cannot hope that it will afford the means of re-establishing peace and friendship betwixt France and Burgundy." "Be that at God's pleasure," said the King. "It is not for dread of thy master's arms, but for the sake of peace only, that I return so temperate an answer to his injurious reproaches. Proceed with thine errand." "My master's next demand," said the ambassador, "is that your Majesty will cease your secret and underhand dealings with his towns of Ghent, Liege, and Malines. He requests that your Majesty will recall the secret agents by whose means the discontents of his good citizens of Flanders are inflamed; and dismiss from your Majesty's dominions, or rather deliver up to the condign punishment of their liege lord, those traitorous fugitives, who, having fled from the scene of their machinations, have found too ready a refuge in Paris, Orleans, Tours, and other French cities." "Say to the Duke of Burgundy," replied the King, "that I know of no such indirect practices as those with which he injuriously charges me; that many subjects of France have frequent intercourse with the good cities of Flanders, for the purpose of mutual benefit by free traffic, which it would be as much contrary to the Duke's interest as mine to interrupt; and that many Flemings have residence in my kingdom, and enjoy the protection of my laws, for the same purpose; but none, to our knowledge, for those of treason or mutiny against the Duke. Proceed with your message -- you have heard my answer." "As formerly, Sire, with pain," replied the Count of Crevecoeur; "it not being of that direct or explicit nature which the Duke, my master, will accept, in atonement for a long train of secret machinations, not the less certain, though now disavowed by your Majesty. But I proceed with my message. The Duke of Burgundy farther requires the King of France to send back to his dominions without delay, and under a secure safeguard, the persons of Isabelle Countess of Croye, and of her relation and guardian the Countess Hameline, of the same family, in respect the said Countess Isabelle, being, by the law of the country and the feudal tenure of her estates, the ward of the said Duke of Burgundy, hath fled from his dominions, and from the charge which he, as a careful guardian, was willing to extend over her, and is here maintained in secret by the King of France and by him fortified in her contumacy to the Duke, her natural lord and guardian, contrary to the laws of God and man, as they ever have been acknowledged in civilized Europe. -- Once more I pause for your Majesty's reply." "You did well, Count de Crevecoeur," said Louis, scornfully, "to begin your embassy at an early hour; for if it be your purpose to call on me to account for the flight of every vassal whom your master's heady passion may have driven from his dominions, the head roll may last till sunset. Who can affirm that these ladies are in my dominions? who can presume to say, if it be so, that I have either countenanced their flight hither, or have received them with offers of protection? Nay, who is it will assert, that, if they are in France, their place of retirement is within my knowledge?" "Sire," said Crevecoeur, "may it please your Majesty, I was provided with a witness on this subject -- one who beheld these fugitive ladies in the inn called the Fleur de Lys, not far from this Castle -- one who saw your Majesty in their company, though under the unworthy disguise of a burgess of Tours -- one who received from them, in your royal presence, messages and letters to their friends in Flanders -- all which he conveyed to the hand and ear of the Duke of Burgundy." "Bring them forward," said the King; "place the man before my face who dares maintain these palpable falsehoods." "You speak in triumph, my lord, for you are well aware that this witness no longer exists. When he lived, he was called Zamet Magraubin, by birth one of those Bohemian wanderers. He was yesterday -- as I have learned -- executed by a party of your Majesty's Provost Marshal, to prevent, doubtless, his standing here to verify what he said of this matter to the Duke of Burgundy, in presence of his Council, and of me, Philip Crevecoeur de Cordes." "Now, by Our Lady of Embrun," said the King, "so gross are these accusations, and so free of consciousness am I of aught that approaches them, that, by the honour of a King, I laugh, rather than am wroth at them. My Provost guard daily put to death, as is their duty, thieves and vagabonds; and is my crown to be slandered with whatever these thieves and vagabonds may have said to our hot cousin of Burgundy and his wise counsellors? I pray you, tell my kind cousin, if he loves such companions, he had best keep them in his own estates; for here they are like to meet short shrift and a tight cord." "My master needs no such subjects, Sir King," answered the Count, in a tone more disrespectful than he had yet permitted himself to make use of; "for the noble Duke uses not to inquire of witches, wandering Egyptians, or others, upon the destiny and fate of his neighbours and allies." "We have had patience enough, and to spare," said the King, interrupting him; "and since thy sole errand here seems to be for the purpose of insult, we will send some one in our name to the Duke of Burgundy -- convinced, in thus demeaning thyself towards us, thou hast exceeded thy commission, whatever that may have been." "On the contrary," said Crevecoeur, "I have not yet acquitted myself of it -- Hearken, Louis of Valois, King of France -- Hearken, nobles and gentlemen, who may be present. -- Hearken, all good and true men. -- And thou, Toison d'Or," addressing the herald, "make proclamation after me. -- I, Philip Crevecoeur of Cordes, Count of the Empire, and Knight of the honourable and princely Order of the Golden Fleece, in the name of the most puissant Lord and Prince, Charles, by the grace of God, Duke of Burgundy and Lotharingia, of Brabant and Limbourg, of Luxembourg and of Gueldres; Earl of Flanders and of Artois; Count Palatine of Hainault, of Holland, Zealand, Namur, and Zutphen; Marquis of the Holy Empire; Lord of Friezeland, Salines, and Malines, do give you, Louis, King of France, openly to know, that you, having refused to remedy the various griefs, wrongs, and offences, done and wrought by you, or by and through your aid, suggestion, and instigation, against the said Duke and his loving subjects, he, by my mouth, renounces all allegiance and fealty towards your crown and dignity -- pronounces you false and faithless; and defies you as a Prince, and as a man. There lies my gage, in evidence of what I have said." So saying, he plucked the gauntlet off his right hand, and flung it down on the floor of the hall. Until this last climax of audacity, there had been a deep silence in the royal apartment during the extraordinary scene; but no sooner had the clash of the gauntlet, when cast down, been echoed by the deep voice of Toison d'Or, the Burgundian herald, with the ejaculation, "Vive Bourgogne!" than there was a general tumult. While Dunois, Orleans, old Lord Crawford, and one or two others, whose rank authorized their interference, contended which should lift up the gauntlet, the others in the hall exclaimed, "Strike him down! Cut him to pieces! Comes he here to insult the King of France in his own palace?" But the King appeased the tumult by exclaiming, in a voice like thunder, which overawed and silenced every other sound, "Silence, my lieges, lay not a hand on the man, not a finger on the gage! -- And you, Sir Count, of what is your life composed, or how is it warranted, that you thus place it on the cast of a die so perilous? or is your Duke made of a different metal from other princes, since he thus asserts his pretended quarrel in a manner so unusual?" "He is indeed framed of a different and more noble metal than the other princes of Europe," said the undaunted Count of Crevecoeur; "for, when not one of them dared to give shelter to you -- to you, I say, King Louis -- when you were yet only Dauphin, an exile from France, and pursued by the whole bitterness of your father's revenge, and all the power of his kingdom, you were received and protected like a brother by my noble master, whose generosity of disposition you have so grossly misused. Farewell, Sire, my mission is discharged." So saying, the Count de Crevecoeur left the apartment abruptly, and without farther leave taking. "After him -- after him -- take up the gauntlet and after him!" said the King. "I mean not you, Dunois, nor you, my Lord of Crawford, who, methinks, may be too old for such hot frays; nor you, cousin of Orleans, who are too young for them. -- My Lord Cardinal -- my Lord Bishop of Auxerre -- it is your holy office to make peace among princes; do you lift the gauntlet, and remonstrate with Count Crevecoeur on the sin he has committed, in thus insulting a great monarch in his own Court, and forcing us to bring the miseries of war upon his kingdom, and that of his neighbour." Upon this direct personal appeal, the Cardinal Balue proceeded to lift the gauntlet, with such precaution as one would touch an adder -- so great was apparently his aversion to this symbol of war -- and presently left the royal apartment to hasten after the challenger. Louis paused and looked round the circle of his courtiers, most of whom, except such as we have already distinguished, being men of low birth, and raised to their rank in the King's household for other gifts than courage or feats of arms, looked pale on each other, and had obviously received an unpleasant impression from the scene which had been just acted. Louis gazed on them with contempt, and then said aloud, "Although the Count of Crevecoeur be presumptuous and overweening, it must be confessed that in him the Duke of Burgundy hath as bold a servant as ever bore message for a prince. I would I knew where to find as faithful an Envoy to carry back my answer." "You do your French nobles injustice, Sire," said Dunois; "not one of them but would carry a defiance to Burgundy on the point of his sword." "And, Sire," said old Crawford, "you wrong also the Scottish gentlemen who serve you. I, or any of my followers, being of meet rank, would not hesitate a moment to call yonder proud Count to a reckoning; my own arm is yet strong enough for the purpose, if I have but your Majesty's permission." "But your Majesty," continued Dunois, "will employ us in no service through which we may win honour to ourselves, to your Majesty, or to France." "Say rather," said the King, "that I will not give way, Dunois, to the headlong impetuosity, which, on some punctilio of chivalry, would wreck yourselves, the throne, France, and all. There is not one of you who knows not how precious every hour of peace is at this moment, when so necessary to heal the wounds of a distracted country; yet there is not one of you who would not rush into war on account of the tale of a wandering gipsy, or of some errant damosel, whose reputation, perhaps, is scarce higher. -- Here comes the Cardinal, and we trust with more pacific tidings. -- How now, my Lord, -- have you brought the Count to reason and to temper?" "Sire," said Balue, "my task hath been difficult. I put it to yonder proud Count, how he dared to use towards your Majesty the presumptuous reproach with which his audience had broken up, and which must be understood as proceeding, not from his master, but from his own insolence, and as placing him therefore in your Majesty's discretion for what penalty you might think proper." "You said right," replied the King; "and what was his answer?" "The Count," continued the Cardinal, "had at that moment his foot in the stirrup, ready to mount; and, on hearing my expostulation, he turned his head without altering his position. 'Had I,' said he, 'been fifty leagues distant, and had heard by report that a question vituperative of my Prince had been asked by the King of France, I had, even at that distance, instantly mounted, and returned to disburden my mind of the answer which I gave him but now.'" "I said, sirs," said the King, turning around, without any show of angry emotion, "that in the Count Philip of Crevecoeur, our cousin the Duke possesses as worthy a servant as ever rode at a prince's right hand. -- But you prevailed with him to stay?" "To stay for twenty-four hours; and in the meanwhile to receive again his gage of defiance," said the Cardinal; "he has dismounted at the Fleur de Lys." "See that he be nobly attended and cared for, at our charges," said the King; "such a servant is a jewel in a prince's crown. Twenty-four hours?" he added, muttering to himself, and looking as if he were stretching his eyes to see into futurity; "twenty-four hours? It is of the shortest. Yet twenty-four hours, ably and skilfully employed, may be worth a year in the hand of indolent or incapable agents. -- Well -- to the forest -- to the forest, my gallant lords! -- Orleans, my fair kinsman, lay aside that modesty, though it becomes you; mind not my Joan's coyness. The Loire may as soon avoid mingling with the Cher, as she from favouring your suit, or you from preferring it," he added, as the unhappy prince moved slowly on after his betrothed bride. "And now for your boar spears, gentlemen -- for Allegre, my pricker, hath harboured one that will try both dog and man. -- Dunois, lend me your spear -- take mine, it is too weighty for me; but when did you complain of such a fault in your lance? -- To horse -- to horse, gentlemen." And all the chase rode on. 愿你在法国人眼中快如闪电, 因为,当你还来不及宣告我的到来, 我大炮的轰鸣将已被人听见—— 去吧,愿你充当我们愤怒的号角。 《约翰王》 即使懒惰是达威特很易犯的过错,那么在第一次晨钟敲过之后,卫队营房的喧闹声也肯定会驱走睡梦的妖魔。然而,在老家的塔楼里受过的父亲的管教和阿伯布罗迪克修道院里的纪律训练已使他习惯于清晨早起。他愉快地穿上衣服;周围是一片号角声和兵器的碰撞声,说明警卫战士正在换岗——有的站完夜岗后正在返回营地,有的正列队前去站早岗——而另一些人,包括他舅父,则正在整理军容以便直接为路易王担任警卫。昆丁•达威特怀着年轻人在这种场合都会产生的一种心情,穿戴上适合他新的身份的华贵的衣服和装备。他舅父十分严格而关切地打量着他,力求他的穿戴各方面都完美无缺。看到他外甥的仪表焕然一新,他掩饰不住满意的表情。“要是你既漂亮,又勇敢忠诚,那么我将会看到你成为卫队最英俊最优秀的扈从之一,而这不能不说是在为你母亲的家族增光。跟我到觐见厅去吧。要注意紧靠在我的身边。” 接着他拿起一把装饰得很美丽的沉重大戟,并吩咐他外甥也拿一把较轻的,然后和他一道走进宫殿的内院。有几个将去担任内室警卫的卫士已全副武装地排在那里——屈从都站在主人的后面,组成第二个行列。侍候国王的还有牵着骏马和名狗的若干名助猎兵。昆丁愉快而好奇地望着他们。他舅舅不得不一再提醒他,这些动物不是供他消遣的,而是供国王消遣的。国王非常爱好打猎,即使在冥思苦想策谋划略的时候,这也是他从不放弃的少数爱好之一。他如此严格地保护皇家森林中的猎物,以致流行一种说法,即杀死一头公鹿要比杀死一个人受的惩罚更重。 作为值勤官的勒•巴拉弗雷一声令下,卫队便立即行动起来。从交代了的繁琐的信号和口令中,足见其执行职责的高度准确性和警觉性。他们列队进入觐见厅,在那儿人们正恭候国王随时驾到。 尽管昆丁对富丽堂皇的场面很陌生,但他眼见的一切却远远赶不上他原来的想象,使他颇为失望。不错,在场的有装束华丽的王室官员,有雄赳赳的武装卫士,有各级仆役。然而他没看见提供国事咨询的老人和高级皇家官员,没听见任何曾使得当代骑士闻之胆寒的英雄们的名字,也没看见任何年富力强,不愧为法国中坚人物的将军和领袖,以及追求荣誉,不愧为法国之骄傲的年轻而热情的贵族。国王猜忌的秉性,含蓄的态度以及深沉而狡黠的谋略使得这一优秀的阶层与王室关系疏远。他们只是在某些指定的正式场合才被国王召见。他们去时很勉强,回来时却很高兴,和寓言里的动物走进虎穴和离开虎穴时的心情十分相似。 呆在那里像是作咨询的少数几个人也都相貌平平。他们脸上偶尔也带有某种聪明的表情,但其仪态却表明他们是走进了一个与他们过去受的教养很不相称的社会圈子。其中有一两个在达威特看来倒是仪表堂堂,而眼前的守卫也没有严格到妨碍他舅父把他认为突出的几位人物的大名一一告诉他。 对于穿着华丽的制服,手持银杖,也在场的克劳福德大公,昆丁也和读者一样已很熟悉。在另一些看来很有身份的人物当中最突出的是杜诺瓦伯爵。他是人们称之为“私生的奥尔良”的名将杜诺瓦的儿子。杜诺瓦曾在圣女贞德麾下作战,在使法国摆脱英国奴役的过程中起过杰出的作用。他的儿子没有辜负如此高贵的父辈留给他的英名。虽然杜诺瓦和王室有亲缘关系,在贵族和平民中都享有世袭的声誉,但他在各种场合都表现出一种坦率而忠诚的性格,因而任何人甚至连猜忌心很强的路易,都不会对他有所顾忌。路易很喜欢让他接近自己,有时也把他叫来当当参谋。虽然在骑士操行的各个方面他都算得上完美无缺,并具有当时人们称为模范骑士的许多品德,但这伯爵的面貌却远不是什么浪漫的美男子典型。虽然体格健壮,但他个子比一般人还矮,两腿有些向外弯曲,这对骑马来说更为方便,可走起路来却不那么美观。他有着宽肩、黑发、黝黑的脸色、修长而爱摆动的双臂,五官很不端正,近乎丑陋。然而,不管怎么说,杜诺瓦伯爵却具有一种意识到自己价值的高贵气派,使人一眼就看出他那种贵族后裔和英勇武士的品质。他的表情大胆而刚直,步履矫健而自然,鹰一般的目光和狮子般的皱纹使得他严峻的面孔更显威严。他穿着一套打猎服,华美而不俗丽。在大多数场合下他都扮演狩猎大臣的角色,不过我们并不相信这是他真正的职务。 倚着亲属杜诺瓦的胳膊站着的是被封为奥尔良公爵的路易。他是皇族第一亲王(以后成为法王路易十二)。警卫和侍从都向他行礼致敬。他迈着如此缓慢而沉郁的步子,以致他像是靠在扶着他的那位亲属身上。在国王别无后嗣的情况下亲王就将继承王位,所以他一直受到路易王小心翼翼的守护。路易不许他离开宫廷一步。他成天幽居深宫,既不让他有所作为,也不给他任何鼓励。这卑贱而近乎囚徒的处境自然使这位不幸的亲王举止之间流露出沮丧的表情。由于他意识到国王正在考虑对他采取一个暴君可能采取的最残忍最不公正的行动,他这种沮丧的表情此刻更是表露无遗。所说的这个行动指的是胁迫他娶路易的小女儿,法国的让娜公主为妻。固然在孩提时他已和她订了婚约,但公主的畸形外表却使得坚持这一婚约成为一种可憎的强制行径。 这位不幸的亲王外貌并不出众,但内心却温顺而善良。这些素质是透过那掩盖着他天性的异常沮丧的外表中看出的。昆丁注意到这位公爵有意不向国王的卫队张望一眼,并且在他还礼时也两眼朝下,仿佛他害怕国王的猜忌会把一个平常的还礼姿态曲解成有意在卫队中树立个人威望。 高傲的红衣主教高级教士巴卢•约翰却表现得大不相同。他当时是路易王的宠臣。如果说奸诈多谋的法王路易和卤莽急躁的英王亨利第八之间的差异容许我们作一个比较的话,那么此人发迹的历史及其性格的确和沃尔塞的历史非常相似。路易王把这位宠臣从一个卑贱的人提升到法国赈济大臣的显赫地位(至少让他享有其俸禄),还给了他许许多多优厚待遇,甚至给他戴上了红衣主教的冠冕。虽然他十分审慎,并不像亨利第八对待沃尔塞那样,把无限的权力和信任给予这个野心勃勃的巴卢,但此人却比别的自封的谋臣对他具有更大的影响力。因此这位红衣主教未能避免卑贱者突然升为权贵时很容易犯的一个错误。他无疑被突然的飞黄腾达冲昏了头脑,竟自信有资格干预一切事务,甚至与自己职业和学识毫不相干的事务。他个子高高,样子笨拙,却喜欢对女性表示爱慕,并大献殷勤,尽管他的态度使得他的借口显得荒谬,而他的职业也让这些借口显得不成体统。有几个讨好他的男人或女人曾不幸使他鬼迷心窍地自以为继承了他父亲(原在里莫日赶马车,或另据别的一种说法,曾在凡尔登开磨坊)一双轮廓优美的大腿。这念头搞得他神魂颠倒,以致他总是要把红衣主教的僧袍稍稍拉向一边,好让人看见他那双粗壮的大腿。当他穿着红衣和华丽的罩袍神气地走过大厅的时候,他一再停下来欣赏站岗的骑士们的武器和装备,以权威的口吻问他们几个问题,并擅自以所谓的不合年纪为理由责备几个卫士。这些有经验的武士固然不敢口头回答他的指责,但他们显然对他很鄙视,很不耐烦。 “国王清不清楚,”杜诺瓦对红衣主教说道,“勃艮第的特使要求他无条件接见?” “他已经知道了,”红衣主教回答说,“我想万能的奥利弗•丹进来就是要告诉我们国王的意向。” 他正说着的时候,一位与红衣主教分享路易王恩宠的大人物从内室走了出来,但他没有那位教会人士借以显示威风和尊严的要人气派。相反,他是个苍白瘦弱的小个子,在黑绸紧身衣裤外面没穿外套、披风和罩袍。普通的衣着自然很难改善他那平庸的外表。他手上拿着一个银盆,胳膊上挂着一条理发的围巾,表明他是个卑微的剃头匠。他的面孔具有锐利和善变的表情,但他总是眼睛盯在地上,竭力想把它从脸上抹掉,不让人看见。他的步子像猫的一样悄然无声,因此他像是谦卑地溜过大厅而不是走过大厅。然而,尽管谦卑容易使人忽视一个人的价值,却不能掩盖一个人在宫廷所受的恩宠。奥利弗•丹有时也被人叫做坏蛋奥利弗,或魔鬼奥利弗。这些都是由于他帮助国王执行其鬼蜮伎俩所表现出的奸诈而赢得的绰号。既然他是国王闻名的理发师和仆役,并已成为国王的亲信,他想悄悄溜过觐见厅的尝试自然是徒劳的。他和杜诺瓦伯爵严肃地谈了片刻。只见那位伯爵顿时离开了大厅,而这位剃头匠则朝他刚走出来的国王起居室溜了回去。在场的都赶忙给他让路。他只是以谦恭的鞠躬作为还礼。惟一的例外是他对一两个人耳语了一句,从而使得他们成为其他朝臣们的羡慕对象;但他一边嘀咕着说,他职责在身,有事要办,以避开他们的答话,以及想引他的注意、急切向他求情的企图。卢德维克•莱斯利也是有幸听到奥利弗对自己耳语的人之一。这句耳语是叫他放心;他的事情已幸运地得到解决。 不久又再次证实了这个好消息。昆丁的老相识,皇家军法总监特里斯顿•勒尔米特走进大厅后径直来到勒巴拉弗雷所站的地方。这位可畏的军官的华丽制服只是使得他那阴森的脸色和凶恶的面部表情显得更为突出。他那本想表示和解的声调也颇像熊的嗥叫。不过他讲话的内容倒要比他说话的声音友好一些。他对他们之间前一天发生的误会表示遗憾。他说这是因为勒巴拉弗雷先生的外甥没有穿卫队的制服,也没有说明他已参加卫队,从而使他犯了这个错误,为此他请求原谅。 卢德维克•莱斯利作了一个必不可少的回答。一当特里斯顿转身走掉,他便对外甥说,他们很荣幸,从此有了这样一个可畏的军官作他们的死对头。“不过他的打击够不着我们,”他说道,“一个,洛尽职守的士兵尽可以嘲笑军法总监。” 昆丁也禁不住抱有和他舅父同样的看法,因为当特里斯顿离开他们的时候,此人的眼睛里放射出仿佛是被长矛戳伤的熊投射在猎人身上那种愤怒而凶恶的目光。要知道,即使在不那么激动的情况下,这位军官阴沉的眼神也表现出一种恶意,足以使人接触他的目光时害怕得发抖。年轻的苏格兰人这时产生的毛骨悚然的感觉就更强烈更可怕,因为他似乎仍然感到这位和他有仇的军官的两名绞刑吏还在牢牢地抓着他的肩膀。 奥利弗像我们刚才描绘过的那样鬼鬼祟祟地在房里转了一圈——在场的人,即使地位最高的大臣,都纷纷为他让道,以表示无限的敬意,而他却谦逊地竭力躲开这些亲昵的表示——然后又走回内室。隔不多久内室的门便豁然敞开,觐见厅里的人们看见路易工走了进来。 昆丁也像别人那样把眼睛转过去望着他。他猛然一惊,差点把长戟掉在地上。他一眼就认出,原来法国国王就是昨天早上和他在一起的那位丝绸商皮埃尔老爷。对于这人的真正身份他脑子里不止一次产生过奇怪的猜疑,然而已见分晓的真实情况却比他最离奇的猜测更为离奇。 他舅父对他这一失礼的表现很生气,狠狠地瞪了他一眼,从而使他镇定过来。然而目光敏捷的国王立刻认出他,不理睬别人而径直向他走来,他更是大为吃惊。“喂,年轻人,”他说道,“我听说你一到都兰就闹事。不过,我原谅你,因为这主要是一个愚蠢的老商人的过错。他以为有必要在早晨用波尔尼酒暖暖你那苏格兰人的热血。要是我能找到他,我将惩罚他,作为对那些敢于腐蚀我的卫队的人们的一种告诫。巴拉弗雷,”他对莱斯利补充说道,“你外甥是个漂亮的小伙子,不过火气很大。我很愿意培养这种精神,也打算比以往更看重我周围的勇士。你把你外甥的生辰年月写下来交给奥利弗•丹。” 勒巴拉弗雷深深地鞠了一躬,然后重新摆好军人的立正姿势,像是要以此表示他随时准备为国王效忠。昆丁也已经从原先的惊奇中镇定下来,开始更仔细地打量国王的外表。当他发现他现在对国王的举止和仪容的看法与他们初次见面时多么不同,不禁又感到十分惊讶。 表面看来这一切并没有很大的变化,因为路易王经常嘲笑人们炫耀外表。眼下这个场合他也只是穿着比前一天那件普通平民服好不了多少的深蓝色猎人装,佩戴着一大串马木念珠。这串念珠是“太君”这样一个了不起的人物赠送给他的礼品,据说是黎巴嫩山上一个十分圣洁的埃及基督教隐士使用过的遗物。他头上戴的是顶帽边上至少饰有一打铅制小圣徒像的礼帽,而不是那顶只饰有一个圣母像的便帽。然而,昆丁原先觉得只是闪烁着贪欲的那双眼睛,一旦他知道是属于一位能干而强有力的君主,便觉得更加犀利与威严。他额上的那些皱纹,原以为是长期琐屑地盘算生意经留下的印迹,现在却成了为国运操劳而留下的智慧的印痕。 国王刚上朝不久,“法国公主”也在她们侍女的伴随下来到大厅。就后来嫁给了波旁•彼得而在法国历史上称之为“博若小姐”的长公主来说,我们这本小说与她关系不大。她个子高大,相当漂亮,具有口才和文才以及得自父亲的那种明智,是她父亲十分信赖、也可能最喜爱的女儿。 她那不幸的妹妹让娜公主是奥尔良公爵的未婚妻。她羞怯地走在姐姐身边,意识到自己丝毫没有女人们最希望具备,或被认为具备的美貌。她脸色苍白,面孔瘦削而憔悴;身体明显地倾向一边,步履很不均匀,接近跛足的地步。有意阿谀她的人敢于列举出来,略微弥补其丑陋的面貌和体态的,也不过是 Chapter 9 The Boar Hunt I will converse with unrespective boys And iron witted fools. None are for me that look into me with suspicious eyes. KING RICHARD All the experience which the Cardinal had been able to collect of his master's disposition, did not, upon the present occasion, prevent his falling into a great error of policy. His vanity induced him to think that he had been more successful in prevailing upon the Count of Crevecoeur to remain at Tours, than any other moderator whom the King might have employed, would, in all probability, have been. And as he was well aware of the importance which Louis attached to the postponement of a war with the Duke of Burgundy, he could not help showing that he conceived himself to have rendered the King great and acceptable service. He pressed nearer to the King's person than he was wont to do, and endeavoured to engage him in conversation on the events of the morning. This was injudicious in more respects than one, for princes love not to see their subjects approach them with an air conscious of deserving, and thereby seeming desirous to extort, acknowledgment and recompense for their services; and Louis, the most jealous monarch that ever lived, was peculiarly averse and inaccessible to any one who seemed either to presume upon service rendered or to pry into his secrets. Yet, hurried away, as the most cautious sometimes are, by the self satisfied humour of the moment, the Cardinal continued to ride on the King's right hand, turning the discourse, whenever it was possible, upon Crevecoeur and his embassy which, although it might be the matter at that moment most in the King's thoughts, was nevertheless precisely that which he was least willing to converse on. At length Louis, who had listened to him with attention, yet without having returned any answer which could tend to prolong the conversation, signed to Dunois, who rode at no great distance, to come up on the other side of his horse. "We came hither for sport and exercise," said he, "but the reverend Father here would have us hold a council of state." "I hope your Highness will excuse my assistance," said Dunois; "I am born to fight the battles of France, and have heart and hand for that, but I have no head for her councils." "My Lord Cardinal hath a head turned for nothing else, Dunois," answered Louis; "he hath confessed Crevecoeur at the Castle gate, and he hath communicated to us his whole shrift. -- Said you not the whole?" he continued, with an emphasis on the word, and a glance at the Cardinal, which shot from betwixt his long dark eyelashes as a dagger gleams when it leaves the scabbard. The Cardinal trembled, as, endeavouring to reply to the King's jest, he said that though his order were obliged to conceal the secrets of their penitents in general, there was no sigillum confessionis (seal of confession) which could not be melted at his Majesty's breath. "And as his Eminence," said the King, "is ready to communicate the secrets of others to us, he naturally expects that we should be equally communicative to him; and, in order to get upon this reciprocal footing, he is very reasonably desirous to know if these two ladies of Croye be actually in our territories. We are sorry we cannot indulge his curiosity, not ourselves knowing in what precise place errant damsels, disguised princesses, distressed countesses, may lie leaguer within our dominions, which are, we thank God and our Lady of Embrun, rather too extensive for us to answer easily his Eminence's most reasonable inquiries. But supposing they were with us, what say you, Dunois, to our cousin's peremptory demand?" "I will answer you, my Liege, if you will tell me in sincerity, whether you want war or peace," replied Dunois, with a frankness which, while it arose out of his own native openness and intrepidity of character, made him from time to time a considerable favourite with Louis, who, like all astucious persons, was as desirous of looking into the hearts of others as of concealing his own. "By my halidome," said he, "I should be as well contented as thyself, Dunois, to tell thee my purpose, did I myself but know it exactly. But say I declared for war, what should I do with this beautiful and wealthy young heiress, supposing her to be in my dominions?" "Bestow her in marriage on one of your own gallant followers, who has a heart to love, and an arm to protect her," said Dunois. "Upon thyself, ha!" said the King. "Pasques dieu! thou art more politic than I took thee for, with all thy bluntness." "Nay," answered Dunois, "I am aught except politic. By our Lady of Orleans, I come to the point at once, as I ride my horse at the ring. Your Majesty owes the house of Orleans at least one happy marriage." "And I will pay it, Count. Pasques dieu, I will pay it! -- See you not yonder fair couple?" The King pointed to the unhappy Duke of Orleans and the Princess, who, neither daring to remain at a greater distance from the King, nor in his sight appear separate from each other, were riding side by side, yet with an interval of two or three yards betwixt them, a space which timidity on the one side, and aversion on the other, prevented them from diminishing, while neither dared to increase it. Dunois looked in the direction of the King's signal, and as the situation of his unfortunate relative and the destined bride reminded him of nothing so much as of two dogs, which, forcibly linked together, remain nevertheless as widely separated as the length of their collars will permit, he could not help shaking his head, though he ventured not on any other reply to the hypocritical tyrant. Louis seemed to guess his thoughts. "It will be a peaceful and quiet household they will keep -- not much disturbed with children, I should augur. But these are not always a blessing." (Here the King touches on the very purpose for which he pressed on the match with such tyrannic severity, which was that as the Princess's personal deformity admitted little chance of its being fruitful, the branch of Orleans, which was next in succession to the crown, might be, by the want of heirs, weakened or extinguished) It was, perhaps, the recollection of his own filial ingratitude that made the King pause as he uttered the last reflection, and which converted the sneer that trembled on his lip into something resembling an expression of contrition. But he instantly proceeded in another tone. "Frankly, my Dunois, much as I revere the holy sacrament of matrimony" (here he crossed himself), "I would rather the house of Orleans raised for me such gallant soldiers as thy father and thyself, who share the blood royal of France without claiming its rights, than that the country should be torn to pieces, like to England, by wars arising from the rivalry of legitimate candidates for the crown. The lion should never have more than one cub." Dunois sighed and was silent, conscious that contradicting his arbitrary Sovereign might well hurt his kinsman's interests but could do him no service; yet he could not forbear adding, in the next moment, "Since your Majesty has alluded to the birth of my father, I must needs own that, setting the frailty of his parents on one side, he might be termed happier, and more fortunate, as the son of lawless love than of conjugal hatred." "Thou art a scandalous fellow, Dunois, to speak thus of holy wedlock," answered Louis jestingly. "But to the devil with the discourse, for the boar is unharboured. -- Lay on the dogs, in the name of the holy Saint Hubert! -- Ha! ha! tra-la-la-lira-la" -- And the King's horn rang merrily through the woods as he pushed forward on the chase, followed by two or three of his guards, amongst whom was our friend Quentin Durward. And here it was remarkable that, even in the keen prosecution of his favourite sport, the King in indulgence of his caustic disposition, found leisure to amuse himself by tormenting Cardinal Balue. It was one of that able statesman's weaknesses, as we have elsewhere hinted, to suppose himself, though of low rank and limited education, qualified to play the courtier and the man of gallantry. He did not, indeed, actually enter the lists of chivalrous combat, like Becket, or levy soldiers, like Wolsey. But gallantry, in which they also were proficients, was his professed pursuit; and he likewise affected great fondness for the martial amusement of the chase. Yet, however well he might succeed with certain ladies, to whom his power, his wealth, and his influence as a statesman might atone for deficiencies in appearance and manners, the gallant horses, which he purchased at almost any price, were totally insensible to the dignity of carrying a Cardinal, and paid no more respect to him than they would have done to his father, the carter, miller, or tailor, whom he rivalled in horsemanship. The King knew this, and, by alternately exciting and checking his own horse, he brought that of the Cardinal, whom he kept close by his side, into such a state of mutiny against his rider, that it became apparent they must soon part company; and then, in the midst of its starting, bolting, rearing, and lashing out, alternately, the royal tormentor rendered the rider miserable, by questioning him upon many affairs of importance, and hinting his purpose to take that opportunity of communicating to him some of those secrets of state which the Cardinal had but a little while before seemed so anxious to learn. (In imputing to the Cardinal a want of skill in horsemanship, I recollected his adventure in Paris when attacked by assassins, on which occasion his mule, being scared by the crowd, ran away with the rider, and taking its course to a monastery, to the abbot of which he formerly belonged; was the means of saving his master's life. . . . S.) A more awkward situation could hardly be imagined than that of a privy councillor forced to listen to and reply to his sovereign, while each fresh gambade of his unmanageable horse placed him in a new and more precarious attitude -- his violet robe flying loose in every direction, and nothing securing him from an instant and perilous fall save the depth of the saddle, and its height before and behind. Dunois laughed without restraint; while the King, who had a private mode of enjoying his jest inwardly, without laughing aloud, mildly rebuked his minister on his eager passion for the chase, which would not permit him to dedicate a few moments to business. "I will no longer be your hindrance to a course," continued he, addressing the terrified Cardinal, and giving his own horse the rein at the same time. Before Balue could utter a word by way of answer or apology, his horse, seizing the bit with his teeth, went forth at an uncontrollable gallop, soon leaving behind the King and Dunois, who followed at a more regulated pace, enjoying the statesman's distressed predicament. If any of our readers has chanced to be run away with in his time (as we ourselves have in ours), he will have a full sense at once of the pain, peril, and absurdity of the situation. Those four limbs of the quadruped, which, noway under the rider's control, nor sometimes under that of the creature they more properly belong to, fly at such a rate as if the hindermost meant to overtake the foremost; those clinging legs of the biped which we so often wish safely planted on the greensward, but which now only augment our distress by pressing the animal's sides -- the hands which have forsaken the bridle for the mane -- the body, which, instead of sitting upright on the centre of gravity, as old Angelo (a celebrated riding and fencing master at the beginning of the nineteenth century) used to recommend, or stooping forward like a jockey's at Newmarket (the scene of the annual horse races has been at Newmarket Heath since the time of James I), lies, rather than hangs, crouched upon the back of the animal, with no better chance of saving itself than a sack of corn -- combine to make a picture more than sufficiently ludicrous to spectators, however uncomfortable to the exhibiter. But add to this some singularity of dress or appearance on the part of the unhappy cavalier -- a robe of office, a splendid uniform, or any other peculiarity of costume -- and let the scene of action be a race course, a review, a procession, or any other place of concourse and public display, and if the poor wight would escape being the object of a shout of inextinguishable laughter, he must contrive to break a limb or two, or, which will be more effectual, to be killed on the spot; for on no slighter condition will his fall excite anything like serious sympathy. On the present occasion, the short violet coloured gown of the Cardinal, which he used as riding dress (having changed his long robes before he left the Castle), his scarlet stockings, and scarlet hat, with the long strings hanging down, together with his utter helplessness, gave infinite zest to his exhibition of horsemanship. The horse, having taken matters entirely into his own hand, flew rather than galloped up a long green avenue; overtook the pack in hard pursuit of the boar, and then, having overturned one or two yeomen prickers, who little expected to be charged in the rear -- having ridden down several dogs, and greatly confused the chase -- animated by the clamorous expostulations and threats of the huntsman, carried the terrified Cardinal past the formidable animal itself, which was rushing on at a speedy trot, furious and embossed with the foam which he churned around his tusks. Balue, on beholding himself so near the boar, set up a dreadful cry for help, which, or perhaps the sight of the boar, produced such an effect on his horse, that the animal interrupted its headlong career by suddenly springing to one side; so that the Cardinal, who had long kept his seat only because the motion was straight forward, now fell heavily to the ground. The conclusion of Balue's chase took place so near the boar that, had not the animal been at that moment too much engaged about his own affairs, the vicinity might have proved as fatal to the Cardinal, as it is said to have done to Favila, King of the Visigoths of Spain (he was killed by a bear while hunting). The powerful churchman got off, however, for the fright, and, crawling as hastily as he could out of the way of hounds and huntsmen, saw the whole chase sweep by him without affording him assistance, for hunters in those days were as little moved by sympathy for such misfortunes as they are in our own. The King, as he passed, said to Dunois, "Yonder lies his Eminence low enough -- he is no great huntsman, though for a fisher (when a secret is to be caught) he may match Saint Peter himself. He has, however, for once, I think, met with his match." The Cardinal did not hear the words, but the scornful look with which they were spoken led him to suspect their general import. The devil is said to seize such opportunities of temptation as were now afforded by the passions of Balue, bitterly moved as they had been by the scorn of the King. The momentary fright was over so soon as he had assured himself that his fall was harmless; but mortified vanity, and resentment against his Sovereign, had a much longer influence on his feelings. After all the chase had passed him, a single cavalier, who seemed rather to be a spectator than a partaker of the sport, rode up with one or two attendants, and expressed no small surprise to find the Cardinal upon the ground, without a horse or attendants, and in such a plight as plainly showed the nature of the accident which had placed him there. To dismount, and offer his assistance in this predicament -- to cause one of his attendants to resign a staid and quiet palfrey for the Cardinal's use -- to express his surprise at the customs of the French Court, which thus permitted them to abandon to the dangers of the chase, and forsake in his need, their wisest statesman, were the natural modes of assistance and consolation which so strange a rencontre supplied to Crevecoeur, for it was the Burgundian ambassador who came to the assistance of the fallen Cardinal. He found the minister in a lucky time and humour for essaying some of those practices on his fidelity, to which it is well known that Balue had the criminal weakness to listen. Already in the morning, as the jealous temper of Louis had suggested, more had passed betwixt them than the Cardinal durst have reported to his master. But although he had listened with gratified ears to the high value, which, he was assured by Crevecoeur, the Duke of Burgundy placed upon his person and talents, and not without a feeling of temptation, when the Count hinted at the munificence of his master's disposition, and the rich benefices of Flanders, it was not until the accident, as we have related, had highly irritated him that, stung with wounded vanity, he resolved, in a fatal hour, to show Louis XI that no enemy can be so dangerous as an offended friend and confidant. On the present occasions he hastily requested Crevecoeur to separate from him lest they should be observed, but appointed him a meeting for the evening in the Abbey of Saint Martin's at Tours, after vesper service; and that in a tone which assured the Burgundian that his master had obtained an advantage hardly to have been hoped for except in such a moment of exasperation. In the meanwhile, Louis, who, though the most politic Prince of his time, upon this, as on other occasions, had suffered his passions to interfere with his prudence, followed contentedly the chase of the wild boar, which was now come to an interesting point. It had so happened that a sounder (i.e., in the language of the period, a boar of only two years old), had crossed the track of the proper object of the chase, and withdrawn in pursuit of him all the dogs (except two or three couples of old stanch hounds) and the greater part of the huntsmen. The King saw, with internal glee, Dunois, as well as others, follow upon this false scent, and enjoyed in secret the thought of triumphing over that accomplished knight in the art of venerie, which was then thought almost as glorious as war. Louis was well mounted, and followed, close on the hounds; so that, when the original boar turned to bay in a marshy piece of ground, there was no one near him but the King himself. Louis showed all the bravery and expertness of an experienced huntsman; for, unheeding the danger, he rode up to the tremendous animal, which was defending itself with fury against the dogs, and struck him with his boar spear; yet, as the horse shied from the boar, the blow was not so effectual as either to kill or disable him. No effort could prevail on the horse to charge a second time; so that the King, dismounting, advanced on foot against the furious animal, holding naked in his hand one of those short, sharp, straight, and pointed swords, which huntsmen used for such encounters. The boar instantly quitted the dogs to rush on his human enemy, while the King, taking his station, and posting himself firmly, presented the sword, with the purpose of aiming it at the boar's throat, or rather chest, within the collarbone; in which case, the weight of the beast, and the impetuosity of its career, would have served to accelerate its own destruction. But, owing to the wetness of the ground, the King's foot slipped, just as this delicate and perilous manoeuvre ought to have been accomplished, so that the point of the sword encountering the cuirass of bristles on the outside of the creature's shoulder, glanced off without making any impression, and Louis fell flat on the ground. This was so far fortunate for the Monarch, because the animal, owing to the King's fall, missed his blow in his turn, and in passing only rent with his tusk the King's short hunting cloak, instead of ripping up his thigh. But when, after running a little ahead in the fury of his course, the boar turned to repeat his attack on the King at the moment when he was rising, the life of Louis was in imminent danger. At this critical moment, Quentin Durward, who had been thrown out in the chase by the slowness of his horse, but who, nevertheless, had luckily distinguished and followed the blast of the King's horn, rode up, and transfixed the animal with his spear. The King, who had by this time recovered his feet, came in turn to Durward's assistance, and cut the animal's throat with his sword. Before speaking a word to Quentin, he measured the huge creature not only by paces, but even by feet -- then wiped the sweat from his brow, and the blood from his hands -- then took off his hunting cap, hung it on a bush, and devoutly made his orisons to the little leaden images which it contained -- and at length, looking upon Durward, said to him, "Is it thou, my young Scot? -- Thou hast begun thy woodcraft well, and Maitre Pierre owes thee as good entertainment as he gave thee at the Fleur de Lys yonder. -- Why dost thou not speak? Thou hast lost thy forwardness and fire, methinks, at the Court, where others find both." Quentin, as shrewd a youth as ever Scottish breeze breathed caution into, had imbibed more awe than confidence towards his dangerous master, and was far too wise to embrace the perilous permission of familiarity which he seemed thus invited to use. He answered in very few and well chosen words, that if he ventured to address his Majesty at all, it could be but to crave pardon for the rustic boldness with which he had conducted himself when ignorant of his high rank. "Tush! man," said the King; "I forgive thy sauciness for thy spirit and shrewdness. I admired how near thou didst hit upon my gossip Tristan's occupation. You have nearly tasted of his handiwork since, as I am given to understand. I bid thee beware of him; he is a merchant who deals in rough bracelets and tight necklaces. Help me to my horse; -- I like thee, and will do thee good. Build on no man's favour but mine -- not even on thine uncle's or Lord Crawford's -- and say nothing of thy timely aid in this matter of the boar; for if a man makes boast that he has served a King in such pinch, he must take the braggart humour for its own recompense." The King then winded his horn, which brought up Dunois and several attendants, whose compliments he received on the slaughter of such a noble animal, without scrupling to appropriate a much greater share of merit than actually belonged to him; for he mentioned Durward's assistance as slightly as a sportsman of rank, who, in boasting of the number of birds which he has bagged, does not always dilate upon the presence and assistance of the gamekeeper. He then ordered Dunois to see that the boar's carcass was sent to the brotherhood of Saint Martin, at Tours, to mend their fare on holydays, and that they might remember the King in their private devotions. "And," said Louis, "who hath seen his Eminence my Lord Cardinal? Methinks it were but poor courtesy, and cold regard to Holy Church to leave him afoot here in the forest." "May it please you," said Quentin, when he saw that all were silent, "I saw his Lordship the Cardinal accommodated with a horse, on which he left the forest." "Heaven cares for its own," replied the King. "Set forward to the Castle, my lords; we'll hunt no more this morning. -- You, Sir Squire," addressing Quentin, "reach me my wood knife -- it has dropt from the sheath beside the quarry there. Ride on, Dunois -- I follow instantly." Louis, whose lightest motions were often conducted like stratagems, thus gained an opportunity to ask Quentin privately, "My bonny Scot, thou hast an eye, I see. Canst thou tell me who helped the Cardinal to a palfrey? -- Some stranger, I should suppose; for, as I passed without stopping, the courtiers would likely be in no hurry to do him such a timely good turn." "I saw those who aided his Eminence but an instant, Sire," said Quentin; "it was only a hasty glance, for I had been unluckily thrown out, and was riding fast to be in my place; but I think it was the Ambassador of Burgundy and his people." "Ha," said Louis. "Well, be it so. France will match them yet." There was nothing more remarkable happened, and the King, with his retinue, returned to the Castle. 我愿和不专心的孩童与 愚钝的傻汉聊天。我不喜欢 别人用猜疑的眼光窥视我的内心。 《理查德王》 红衣主教在有关其主子的性格方面所积累的经验这一次可没能使他避免犯一个重大的策略错误。在虚荣心的诱使下他自以为在说服克雷维格伯爵留在图尔城这件事情上远比国王所能找到的其他调解者都做得更为成功。他清楚地知道路易王十分重视延缓与勃艮第公爵之间的战争,因此情不自禁地以功臣自居,比往常更挨近国王,竭力想就今早发生的事与他交谈。 这种做法在许多方面都不明智,因为君王们都不喜欢自己的臣属在接近他们时表现出自以为有功的神气,似乎有意为他们的功劳捞取感激和报酬。路易王是世界上猜忌心最强的君主,对于居功自傲或妄图窥探其内心秘密的人自然特别厌恶,不愿理睬。 然而,正像最审慎的人有时也会自满得忘乎所以那样,红衣主教硬是厚着脸继续骑在国王的右侧,尽可能把话题转向克雷维格,谈论他和他的使命,哪怕这正是索回在国王脑际,却又是他最不愿谈的话题。路易一直注意地听他讲,但并没有给他足够的鼓励让他继续讲下去。最后他抬手叫跟在后面的杜诺瓦上来,在他的另一侧骑着走。 “我们是来游玩打猎的,”他说道,“但尊敬的神父却硬要我们开个国务会。” “请陛下原谅我的无能,”杜诺瓦说道,“我生来为法国而战,也有足够的精神和力量来为她打仗,但我可没有这个头脑来为她出谋献计。” “杜诺瓦,红衣主教大人可一心一意老想这个。”路易说道,“他在城堡大门口,让克雷维格忏悔了他的罪过,并把它的全部忏悔词转告了我——你不是说全部吗?”他继续说道,着重强调“全部”两个字,同时从他那长长的黑睫毛间向红衣主教射出一道严厉的目光,颇像出鞘的匕首射出的寒光。 红衣主教颤抖起来。为了回答国王对他的取笑,他勉强说道:“尽管圣职人员必须保守忏悔者的秘密,但只要国王陛下吹口气,说句话,封存忏悔词的蜡没有不被熔化的。” “既然主教阁下愿意把别人的秘密告诉我,”国王说道,“他自然指望我们也同样对他不保守秘密。为了实现这种相互平等的关系,他有理由想知道那两位克罗伊埃仕女是否真在我们国土上。我很抱歉不能满足他的好奇心,因为我自己也不知道漂泊的少女。微服出游的公主、失意的伯爵小姐究竟藏在我们国土的哪个部分。感谢上帝和昂布伦的圣母,我们的国土太辽阔,我实在无法轻易回答主教阁下完全合理的询问。不过,杜诺瓦,假使她们真在我们这儿,你如何来回答我堂弟的专横要求呢?” “我的国王,假如您诚恳地告诉我您究竟要战争还是和平,那我就会回答您。”杜诺瓦直率地回答道。由于他这种坦率出自他天生的坦然无畏的性格,所以他时常很得路易的欢心,因为路易也和所有狡黠的人一样,一方面喜欢隐藏自己的思想,另一方面又喜欢探索别人的思想。 “说实在的,杜诺瓦,”他讲道,“要是我自己准确知道我到底要什么,我就会满意地告诉你。你说,假如这位既有钱又有继承权的美丽姑娘真在我的领土上,那么,要是我向公爵宣战,我该怎么对待她?” “要是您一位勇敢的部下有心爱她,也有力量保护她,您就把她嫁给他好了。”杜诺瓦说道。 “哈哈,就嫁给你吧!”国王说道,“上帝呀!虽然你是个粗人,可你比我所想象的杜诺瓦要高明得多。” “陛下,不是这样,”杜诺瓦说道,“我这人丝毫不会讲策略。凭奥尔良的圣母说,我向来说话开门见山。陛下,您至少还该给奥尔良家族撮合一件美满的婚事哩!” “我会的,伯爵。上帝呀,我会的!你没瞧见那美满的一对吗?” 国王指着那不幸的奥尔良公爵和公主小姐。这两个人既不敢走远,也不敢让国王觉得他们没走在一起。这时他们正并排地骑马走着,中间隔有两三码的距离;一方的胆怯和另一方的厌恶使得他们不想去缩小这个距离,但谁也不敢去增大这个距离。 杜诺瓦朝国王手指的方向望去。他那不幸的亲戚和他的未婚妻的处境使他联想起硬被拴在一起的两只狗的处境。尽管两只狗硬被拴在一起,但在颈套容许的范围内,仍然尽可能离得远一些。看到这一情景,他不禁摇摇头,但也不敢对这虚伪的暴君再说更多的话。路易似乎猜中了他的心思。 “他们将会组成一个和谐而宁静的家庭——我想,他们不会受孩子李累。孩子多并不见得总有福气。” 也许是因为他回想起自己对父亲的不孝,他说出这个看法时停顿了一下,同时无意中使得嘴边浮现出的嘲笑变成了某种类似忏悔的表情。但他马上改变口气继续说了下去。 “坦白地说吧,我的杜诺瓦,尽管我很尊重婚姻的神圣性质,”(这时他划了个十字),“我还是宁肯让奥尔良家族养育像你和你父亲这样既有法国皇家血统,而又不要求继承权的英勇武士,而不愿看到法国像英国那样,因合法王位继承人争夺王位的战争而弄得四分五裂。狮子最多只能有一个崽子。” 杜诺瓦叹了口气,默不作声。他意识到要和专横的君主抬杠会损害他亲戚的利益,而他又无能为力。然而他还是忍不住接着说道: “既然陛下提到我父亲的出生,那我就不能不承认,撇开他父母失足坠人情网这点不说,他作为不合法爱情的私生子总要比作为不美满婚姻留下的仇恨的产儿更为幸福。” “杜诺瓦,像你这样谈论神圣的婚姻,简直犯有诽谤罪。”路易开玩笑地说道,“就让这个话题见鬼去吧。野猪出笼了。看在圣胡伯特的分上把狗放出来!哈!哈!特拉拉——里拉拉!”国王的号角在树林里愉快地响了起来。他在包括我们的朋友昆丁•达威特在内的两三名卫兵跟随下向猎物冲去。这里值得指出的是,即使路易王在激烈地进行他所喜爱的运动,但为了满足他那喜欢嘲弄人的天性,他还是有功夫捉弄一下红衣主教巴卢作为消遣。 这位有才能的政治家的弱点之一,正如我们先前暗示过的,就是尽管自己身份卑微,所受教育有限,却总是自以为有资格摆出一副宫廷大臣和风流人物的气派。虽然他实际上并没像贝克特那样参加过骑士比武,也没像沃尔塞那样征集兵员,但他们那老练的风流派头却是他公开承认的研究对象。因此,他也装出很喜好狩猎这种表现尚武精神的娱乐。对于某些仕女说来,他的金钱、势力,以及他作为政客所具有的影响,能弥补他仪表和态度方面的缺陷。然而,不管他在仕女们身上能获得多大成功,他那不惜高价买来的骏马却对负载红衣主教的光荣无动于衷。 正像有可能对他那当过马车夫、磨坊主或裁缝而骑术不及他高明的令尊大人毫不客气一样,那马儿对他也丝毫不讲客气。国王知道这点。他时而刺激时而勒住自己骑的马,以此来使得他旁边的红衣主教的坐骑拼命地反抗马上的主人。看来他们有立刻散伙的危险。然而在马进行着惊跳、奔跑、站立和踢腿的轮番动作时,捉弄他的国王却硬要问他许多重要问题,并暗示他想利用这个机会把红衣主教不久前还急于知道的一些国家机密讲给他听。 看到一位枢密大臣被迫倾听和回答君主的讲话,而那无法驾驭的骏马的每个狂乱动作都在使他面临比先前更大的被摔倒的危险,人们很难想象出世界上有比这更狼狈、更难堪的局面。只见他紫袍四处乱飘,要不是马鞍很深,前后都有高的鞍头挡住,他肯定会立刻从马上摔下来。 杜诺瓦放声大笑,而国王则在暗自欣赏自己恶作剧的隐秘方式。他并不放声大笑,而是温和地责备他这位大臣太热衷于打猎,竟使他不能抽出几分钟来商谈国事。“我不想再妨碍你打猎了。”他对那恐惧万分的红衣主教继续说道,同时放松缰绳,让马飞奔而去。 巴卢还来不及说一句话作为回答或辩解,他骑的马已衔着马勒以无法控制的速度奔驰而去,很快把国王和杜诺瓦抛在后面。他们二人则以正常速度跟在后面,欣赏这位政治家痛苦的窘境。如果有哪位读者一生当中曾不幸被脱缰之马带着狂奔(我们自己一生当中也曾碰到过这种情况),那么他将能充分意识到这种处境的痛苦、危险和荒谬。想想看吧,马的四只脚既不受骑者的控制,有时也不受马本身的控制,飞快地移动着,仿佛后腿要赶过前腿,而原本指望安全地踩在绿色草地上的两只人腿这时紧夹着马的两侧,也增加了骑者的痛苦——只见他两只手丢掉缰绳,抓住马的鬃毛,身体则无法像昂杰罗建议的那样保持重心坐直,或像纽马克的赛马师那样倾朝前方,而是伏在马背上,就像一麻袋谷子那样难以获得解救——这一切固然使得表演者极感不适,但在旁观者眼里却构成了一副十分荒诞可笑的图画。如果给这位不幸的骑士加上某种奇特的服装和外貌——一套长袍、一件华丽的制服,或者别的奇装异服,并让表演的现场改成赛马场或检阅游行的广场,或任何别的表演和聚会的公共场所,那么这可怜人要想避免成为经久不息的哗然大笑的对象,惟一的办法就是设法摔断一两只腿或胳膊,而更有效的则是设法就地摔死。任何较轻微的后果都不足以引起人们认真的同情。此刻的红衣主教身穿紫色短袍作为骑马服(离开城堡前他已换掉了他的长袍),脚穿红袜,头戴红帽,帽上还坠着一根长缨,再加上他那完全无望的表情,所有这些都使他的骑术表演增辉添色。 那匹脱缰之马飞上(而不是跑上)一条长长的绿色林阴道,赶上了一群正紧追野猪的猎狗。在踏翻了一两个没料到遭到背后袭击的助狩者,踩倒了几条猎狗,使猎人乱作一团之后,那马受到猎人们喧嚣的咒骂和恐吓的刺激,带着惊恐万状的红衣主教从那暴牙上冒着白泡、急忙往前冲的狂怒的野猪身旁跑过去。看到自己竟撞到了野猪身边,巴卢大呼救命。这一声喊叫(也可能是那野猪的出现)对马产生了意想不到的作用。只见它突然跳向一边,从而中断了弃撞的奔跑。仅因为马的向前运动而保持在鞍座上的红衣主教,这时便被沉沉地摔在地上。主教在如此靠近野猪的地方结束了他的打猎活动;要不是因为这畜牲此刻连自己的事还忙不过来,那么红衣主教肯定将遭到像西班牙的西哥特国王法维拉据说曾遭到过的致命危险。由于野猪自身的恐惧,这位教会人士才总算脱了险。他尽可能快地爬到猎人和猎狗碰不着的地方,眼见整个打猎队伍从他旁边跑过去而没给他任何帮助,因为那时的猎人也和现在的一样,对于这类不幸往往无动于衷。国王从他身边经过时,对杜诺瓦说:“主教阁下十分可怜地躲在那儿——看来他不是个好猎手。但作为捕鱼的人(在看见秘密可以当作鱼儿捕捉的时候)他可不亚于圣彼得。我想他算是有生以来第一次碰到了自己的对手。” 红衣主教没听见他讲的话,但国王讲话时的轻蔑表情使他猜出这些话的大致含意。据说魔鬼正是善于利用像遭到国王的轻蔑而恼羞成怒的巴卢主教所产生的这类激烈情绪对人进行诱惑。一当他确信摔倒并没有造成什么伤害,一时的恐惧便很快消失。但受伤的自尊心以及对国王的恼怒却在他感情上留下了难以磨灭的影响。 在打猎的全部人马都从他身边走过去以后,一位孤单的骑士带着一两名随从骑马走了过来,他就像是个狩猎的旁观者,而不是直接参加者。看到红衣主教既无乘骑又无随从,他一眼就看出是什么事故使得他陷于当前的困境,自然表现出很大的惊奇。他赶忙下马帮他摆脱困境。他叫一个随从让出一匹驯顺的小马请红衣主教骑上,并对法国宫廷不管这位最精明的政治家打猎时可能遭受巨大危险、弃之不顾的做法表示惊奇。这自然是在这场奇遇中克雷维格能向主教提供的最好的帮助和安慰。原来前来帮助摔倒的红衣主教的正是勃艮第的这位特使。 他发现当前正是尝试挑拨这位心情不佳的大臣,动摇他对路易王的忠诚的大好时机。人所共知,巴卢主教也具有某种罪恶的弱点,容易倾听这种挑拨。正如习于猜忌的路易所猜想到的,今早在他们之间发生过的一些接触已经超过了红衣主教敢向主人汇报的范围。固然他当时也乐滋滋地倾听克雷维格对他说,勃艮第伯爵如何高度重视他本人及其才能,而当伯爵暗示地提到他主人如何豪爽慷慨、弗兰德的俸禄如何优厚时,他也曾动心。然而正是在我们刚介绍过的这件事大大激怒了这位主教,刺伤了他的自尊心之后,他才决心要在这紧要时刻向路易十一表明,一个被冒犯的朋友和亲信有可能成为他最危险的敌人。 此刻他急忙要克雷维格走开,以免引起别人注意,但要他今晚晚祷以后去图尔的圣马丁修道院和他会面。通过他说话的口气,这位勃艮第人深信,他主人获得了一个若非碰到这种恼羞成怒的情况很难获得的好处。 虽然路易是当代最讲策略的君主,但在当前这个场合以及别的一些场合,都让感情影响了他的审慎。这时对野猪的追逐已达到一个紧张而有趣的关头,他正得意洋洋地跟踪而来。碰巧有个“桑得尔”(按当时的语言,指的是只有两岁大的野猪)在被追逐的那头大野猪奔逃的路上走过去,从而把所有的猎犬(只有两三对坚定的老猎犬例外)以及大部分猎人都吸引了过去。国王看到杜诺瓦也和别的人都去追赶那头被人误会的小野猪,心中窃喜,暗自庆幸自己将胜过这位造诣很高的骑士,而那时狩猪艺术几乎被视为与战争同样光荣。路易骑的马很好。他紧紧跟在猎犬后面,以致当原来要打的那头大野猪在一块沼泽地里转身作困兽斗时,旁边只剩下他独自一人。 路易充分表现出一个富有经验的猎人所具备的勇敢和技巧。他不顾危险,骑马逼到那为了自卫而和猎犬拼命厮打着的巨兽跟前,用猎野猪的长矛向它刺去。然而,马被野猪吓得朝旁边一闪,这一刺不仅没能戳死它,也没能使它失去搏斗能力。国王怎么努力也无法驱使马再次向野猪冲去,只得跳下马来,握着一把猎人在这种场合常用的笔直锋利的短刀,徒步向这狂怒的猛兽逼了过去。那野猪顿时放开猎犬,向敌人扑将过来。国王摆好架势,站稳脚跟,握着短刀,对准野猪的喉咙,或者说锁骨间的胸腔。按理说,野猪的重量及其猛烈的冲力本会加速它的灭亡。但由于地面潮湿,正当这巧妙而致命的一招本该奏效时,国王脚一滑,刀尖只从野猪肩胛外面铠甲般的鬃毛上擦了过去,并未伤它分毫。路易本人则猛地摔倒在地。国王还算幸运;因为他这一摔,也使野猪扑了个空,只是在冲过去时用獠牙扯破了他打猎穿的斗篷,而保全了他的大腿。野猪由于扑得过猛,冲到了前面几步。当它转过身来,想趁他正爬起来再向他扑去时,路易的生命真是危在旦夕。在这千钧一发之际,由于追赶时马走得慢而掉在后面的昆丁•达威特幸好听出了国王的号角声,循声赶来,一矛戳翻了野猪。 国王马上站起来,回过头帮达威特。他一刀刺穿了野猪的喉咙。他没对昆丁讲一句话,只是先用脚步,又用脚量量这动物庞大的身躯。然后他擦掉额上的汗和手上的血,再脱掉他的猎人帽,把它挂在树权上,开始对帽子上铅制的小圣母像作虔诚的祷告。最后他才望望达威特,对他说:“是你啊?我年轻的苏格兰人。你头一回打猎,就马到成功。皮埃尔老爷得像他在百合花旅店招待你那样再好好招待你。你干吗不说话呢?我想你是在宫廷里失掉了你的冲劲和火气。而别人却和你相反。” 昆丁是苏格兰的凉风曾告诫过要清醒谨慎的最精明的年轻人。他对这危险的主人的畏惧胜过对他的信任,所以他十分聪明地拒不接受国王似乎诱使他利用的、以平辈相待的许诺。他以经过精心选择的很少几句话回答说,如果他敢于向国王有所请求,那只是恳求国王原谅他在不知道他高贵的身份时所表现出的鲁莽的乡巴佬气。 “别这么说!年轻人,”国王讲道,“为了你的勇敢和精明,我原谅你的鲁莽和调皮。我真佩服你把我那老伙计特里斯顿的职业猜得那么准。据我所知,你差点尝到了他的拿手好戏。我得嘱咐你小心他这个人。他是个做粗手镯和紧项链生意的商人。扶我上马吧。我很喜欢你,将会给你带来好处。你必须只信赖我给你的恩宠,别信赖别人的恩宠——包括你舅舅和克劳福德的在内。千万别对人说在杀野猪这件事情上你给了我及时的援助。要是一个人吹嘘说他在这种紧急关头救了国王,那么他就只能以吹嘘的乐趣作为惟一的报偿了。” 这时国王吹起了号角,召来了杜诺瓦和几个随从。他欣然接受了为杀死这一贵重动物对他说的赞扬话,毫无愧疚地把实际不属于他的大部分功劳归于自己。他只是轻描淡写地提到达威特的援助,就像有身份的猎人吹嘘他捕获了许多鸟儿时,并不屑提到猎物看守人的存在和帮助一样。他嘱咐杜诺瓦派人把杀死的野猪送给图尔的圣马丁修道院的修士们,好让他们在节日改善一下伙食,使他们在祷告时也为国王祈祷几句。 “嘿,”路易说道,“你们有谁看见红衣主教大人吗?要是我们把他留在森林里,又无马可骑,那将是对神圣教会不礼貌的冷漠表现。” “陛下,要是您不介意的话,”看到大家都不做声,昆丁开口说道,“我倒看见有人给了红衣主教一匹马。他已经骑着它离开了森林。” “老天爷会照管他自己的人。”国王说道,“我的大臣们,回城堡去吧。今早我们不再打猎了。请你,扈从先生,”他对昆丁说道,“把我的猎刀递给我——这脱鞘的刀掉在野猪身边。杜诺瓦,你骑着走吧,我马上跟上来。” 路易最微不足道的行动也往往表现出极具策略。他就这样获得了一个私下询问昆丁的机会:“我健美的苏格兰人,我看你眼光很敏锐。你能告诉我,谁帮助红衣主教找到马骑的吗?我想是某个陌生人吧,因为,只要我走过去时没停下来理睬他,我的朝臣们是不会急忙给他这个及时帮助的。” “陛下,我只不过很快瞅了一眼,看见有人在帮助红衣主教,”昆丁说道,“但那只是匆匆的一瞥,因为我不巧掉了队,正迅速地骑马赶回我原来的位置上去。不过,我想帮助主教的是勃艮第的特使和他的随从。” “哈!”路易说道,“好吧,就这样吧——法国总有一天会对付他们的。” 没有再发生别的重要事情;国王和随从们回到了城堡。 Chapter 10 The Sentinel Where should this music be? i' the air or the earth? THE TEMPEST I was all ear, And took in strains that might create a soul Under the ribs of death. COMUS Quentin had hardly reached his little cabin, in order to make some necessary changes in his dress, when his worthy relation required to know the full particulars of all that had befallen him at the hunt. The youth, who could not help thinking that his uncle's hand was probably more powerful than his understanding, took care, in his reply, to leave the King in full possession of the victory which he had seemed desirous to appropriate. Le Balafre's reply was a boast of how much better he himself would have behaved in the like circumstances, and it was mixed with a gentle censure of his nephew's slackness in not making in to the King's assistance, when he might be in imminent peril. The youth had prudence, in answer, to abstain from all farther indication of his own conduct, except that, according to the rules of woodcraft, he held it ungentle to interfere with the game attacked by another hunter, unless he was specially called upon for his assistance. The discussion was scarcely ended, when occasion was afforded Quentin to congratulate himself for observing some reserve towards his kinsman. A low tap at the door announced a visitor -- it was presently opened, and Oliver Dain, or Mauvais, or Diable, for by all these names he was known, entered the apartment. This able but most unprincipled man has been already described in so far as his exterior is concerned. The aptest resemblance of his motions and manners might perhaps be to those of a domestic cat, which, while couching in seeming slumber, or gliding through the apartment with slow, stealthy, and timid steps, is now engaged in watching the hole of some unfortunate mouse, now in rubbing herself with apparent confidence and fondness against those by whom she desires to be caressed, and, presently after, is flying upon her prey, or scratching, perhaps, the very object of her former cajolements. He entered with stooping shoulders, a humble and modest look, and threw such a degree of civility into his address to the Seignior Balafre, that no one who saw the interview could have avoided concluding that he came to ask a boon of the Scottish Archer. He congratulated Lesly on the excellent conduct of his young kinsman in the chase that day, which, he observed, had attracted the King's particular attention. He here paused for a reply; and, with his eyes fixed on the ground, save just when once or twice they stole upwards to take a side glance at Quentin, he heard Balafre observe that his Majesty had been unlucky in not having himself by his side instead of his nephew, as he would questionless have made in, and speared the brute, a matter which he understood Quentin had left upon his Majesty's royal hands, so far as he could learn the story. "But it will be a lesson to his Majesty," he said, "while he lives, to mount a man of my inches on a better horse; for how could my great hill of a Flemish dray horse keep up with his Majesty's Norman runner? I am sure I spurred till his sides were furrowed. It is ill considered, Master Oliver, and you must represent it to his Majesty." Master Oliver only replied to this observation by turning towards the bold, bluff speaker one of those slow, dubious glances which, accompanied by a slight motion of the hand, and a gentle depression of the head to one side, may be either interpreted as a mute assent to what is said, or as a cautious deprecation of farther prosecution of the subject. It was a keener, more scrutinizing glance, which he bent on the youth, as he said, with an ambiguous smile, "So, young man, is it the wont of Scotland to suffer your Princes to be endangered for the lack of aid in such emergencies as this of today?" "It is our custom," answered Quentin, determined to throw no farther light on the subject, "not to encumber them with assistance in honourable pastimes, when they can aid themselves without it. We hold that a Prince in a hunting field must take his chance with others, and that he comes there for the very purpose. What were woodcraft without fatigue and without danger?" "You hear the silly boy," said his uncle; "that is always the way with him; he hath an answer or a reason ready to be rendered to every one. I wonder whence he hath caught the gift; I never could give a reason for anything I have ever done in my life, except for eating when I was a-hungry, calling the muster roll, and such points of duty as the like." "And pray, worthy Seignior," said the royal tonsor, looking at him from under his eyelids, "what might your reason be for calling the muster roll on such occasions?" "Because the Captain commanded me," said Le Balafre. "By Saint Giles (patron saint of lepers, beggars, and cripples. He has been especially venerated in England and Scotland), I know no other reason! If he had commanded Tyrie or Cunningham, they must have done the same." "A most military final cause!" said Oliver. "But, Seignior Le Balafre, you will be glad, doubtless, to learn that his Majesty is so far from being displeased with your nephew's conduct, that he hath selected him to execute a piece of duty this afternoon." "Selected him?" said Balafre in great surprise -- "selected me, I suppose you mean?" "I mean precisely as I speak," replied the barber, in a mild but decided tone; "the King hath a commission with which to intrust your nephew." "Why, wherefore, and for what reason?" said Balafre. "Why doth he choose the boy, and not me?" "I can go no farther back than your own ultimate cause, Seignior Le Balafre, such are his Majesty's commands. But," said he, "if I might use the presumption to form a conjecture, it may be his Majesty hath work to do, fitter for a youth like your nephew, than for an experienced warrior like yourself, Seignior Balafre. -- Wherefore, young gentleman, get your weapons and follow me. Bring with you a harquebuss, for you are to mount sentinel." "Sentinel!" said the uncle. "Are you sure you are right, Master Oliver? The inner guards of the Castle have ever been mounted by those only who have (like me) served twelve years in our honourable body." "I am quite certain of his Majesty's pleasure," said Oliver, "and must no longer delay executing it." "But," said Le Balafre, "my nephew is not even a free Archer, being only an Esquire, serving under my lance." "Pardon me," answered Oliver; "the King sent for the register not half an hour since, and enrolled him among the Guard. Have the goodness to assist to put your nephew in order for the service." Balafre, who had no ill nature, or even much jealousy in his disposition, hastily set about adjusting his nephew's dress, and giving him directions for his conduct under arms, but was unable to refrain from larding them with interjections of surprise at such luck's chancing to fall upon the young man so early. It had never taken place before in the Scottish Guard, he said, not even in his own instance. But doubtless his service must be to mount guard over the popinjays and Indian peacocks, which the Venetian ambassador had lately presented to the King -- it could be nothing else; and such duty being only fit for a beardless boy (here he twirled his own grim mustaches), he was glad the lot had fallen on his fair nephew. Quick and sharp of wit, as well as ardent in fancy, Quentin saw visions of higher importance in this early summons to the royal presence, and his heart beat high at the anticipation of rising into speedy distinction. He determined carefully to watch the manners and language of his conductor, which he suspected must, in some cases at least, be interpreted by contraries, as soothsayers are said to discover the interpretation of dreams. He could not but hug himself on having observed strict secrecy on the events of the chase, and then formed a resolution, which, for so young a person, had much prudence in it, that while he breathed the air of this secluded and mysterious Court, he would keep his thoughts locked in his bosom, and his tongue under the most careful regulation. His equipment was soon complete, and, with his harquebuss on his shoulder (for though they retained the name of Archers, the Scottish Guard very early substituted firearms for the long bow, in the use of which their nation never excelled), he followed Master Oliver out of the barrack. His uncle looked long after him, with a countenance in which wonder was blended with curiosity; and though neither envy nor the malignant feelings which it engenders entered into his honest meditations, there was yet a sense of wounded or diminished self importance, which mingled with the pleasure excited by his nephew's favourable commencement of service. He shook his head gravely, opened a privy cupboard, took out a large bottrine of stout old wine, shook it to examine how low the contents had ebbed, filled and drank a hearty cup; then took his seat, half reclining, on the great oaken settle; and having once again slowly shaken his head, received so much apparent benefit from the oscillation, that, like the toy called a mandarin, he continued the motion until he dropped into a slumber, from which he was first roused by the signal to dinner. When Quentin Durward left his uncle to these sublime meditations, he followed his conductor, Master Oliver, who, without crossing any of the principal courts, led him, partly through private passages exposed to the open air, but chiefly through a maze of stairs, vaults, and galleries, communicating with each other by secret doors and at unexpected points, into a large and spacious latticed gallery, which, from its breadth, might have been almost termed a hall, hung with tapestry more ancient than beautiful, and with a very few of the hard, cold, ghastly looking pictures, belonging to the first dawn of the arts which preceded their splendid sunrise. These were designed to represent the Paladins of Charlemagne, who made such a distinguished figure in the romantic history of France; and as this gigantic form of the celebrated Orlando constituted the most prominent figure, the apartment acquired from him the title of Rolando's Hall, or Roland's Gallery. (Charlemagne . . . was accounted a saint during the dark ages: and Louis XI, as one of his successors, honoured his shrine with peculiar observance. S.) (Orlando: also called Roland. His history may be read in the Chanson de Roland.) "You will keep watch here," said Oliver, in a low whisper, as if the hard delineations of monarchs and warriors around could have been offended at the elevation of his voice, or as if he had feared to awaken the echoes that lurked among the groined vaults and Gothic drop work on the ceiling of this huge and dreary apartment. "What are the orders and signs of my watch?" answered Quentin, in the same suppressed tone. "Is your harquebuss loaded?" replied Oliver, without answering his query. "That," answered Quentin, "is soon done;" and proceeded to charge his weapon, and to light the slow match (by which when necessary it was discharged) at the embers of a wood fire, which was expiring in the huge hall chimney -- a chimney itself so large that it might have been called a Gothic closet or chapel appertaining to the hall. When this was performed, Oliver told him that he was ignorant of one of the high privileges of his own corps, which only received orders from the King in person, or the High Constable of France, in lieu of their own officers. "You are placed here by his Majesty's command, young man," added Oliver, "and you will not be long here without knowing wherefore you are summoned. Meantime your walk extends along this gallery. You are permitted to stand still while you list, but on no account to sit down, or quit your weapon. You are not to sing aloud, or whistle, upon any account; but you may, if you list, mutter some of the church's prayers, or what else you list that has no offence in it, in a low voice. Farewell, and keep good watch." "Good watch!" thought the youthful soldier as his guide stole away from him with that noiseless gliding step which was peculiar to him, and vanished through a side door behind the arras. "Good watch! but upon whom and against whom? -- for what, save bats or rats, are there here to contend with, unless these grim old representatives of humanity should start into life for the disturbance of my guard? Well, it is my duty, I suppose, and I must perform it." With the vigorous purpose of discharging his duty, even to the very rigour, he tried to while away the time with some of the pious hymns which he had learned in the convent in which he had found shelter after the death of his father -- allowing in his own mind, that, but for the change of a novice's frock for the rich military dress which he now wore, his soldierly walk in the royal gallery of France resembled greatly those of which he had tired excessively in the cloistered seclusion of Aberbrothick. Presently, as if to convince himself he now belonged not to the cell but to the world, he chanted to himself, but in such tone as not to exceed the license given to him, some of the ancient rude ballads which the old family harper had taught him, of the defeat of the Danes at Aberlemno and Forres, the murder of King Duffus at Forfar, and other pithy sonnets and lays which appertained to the history of his distant native country, and particularly of the district to which he belonged. This wore away a considerable space of time, and it was now more than two hours past noon when Quentin was reminded by his appetite that the good fathers of Aberbrothick, however strict in demanding his attendance upon the hours of devotion, were no less punctual in summoning him to those of refection; whereas here, in the interior of a royal palace, after a morning spent in exercise, and a noon exhausted in duty, no man seemed to consider it as a natural consequence that he must be impatient for his dinner. There are, however, charms in sweet sounds which can lull to rest even the natural feelings of impatience by which Quentin was now visited. At the opposite extremities of the long hall or gallery were two large doors, ornamented with heavy architraves, probably opening into different suites of apartments, to which the gallery served as a medium of mutual communication. As the sentinel directed his solitary walk betwixt these two entrances, which formed the boundary of his duty, he was startled by a strain of music which was suddenly waked near one of those doors, and which, at least in his imagination, was a combination of the same lute and voice by which he had been enchanted on the preceding day. All the dreams of yesterday morning, so much weakened by the agitating circumstances which he had since undergone, again arose more vivid from their slumber, and, planted on the spot where his ear could most conveniently, drink in the sounds, Quentin remained, with his harquebuss shouldered, his mouth half open, ear, eye, and soul directed to the spot, rather the picture of a sentinel than a living form, -- without any other idea than that of catching, if possible, each passing sound of the dulcet melody. These delightful sounds were but partially heard -- they languished, lingered, ceased entirely, and were from time to time renewed after uncertain intervals. But, besides that music, like beauty, is often most delightful, or at least most interesting, to the imagination when its charms are but partially displayed and the imagination is left to fill up what is from distance but imperfectly detailed, Quentin had matter enough to fill up his reverie during the intervals of fascination. He could not doubt, from the report of his uncle's comrades and the scene which had passed in the presence chamber that morning, that the siren who thus delighted his ears, was not, as he had profanely supposed, the daughter or kinswoman of a base Cabaretier (inn keeper), but the same disguised and distressed Countess for whose cause kings and princes were now about to buckle on armour, and put lance in rest. A hundred wild dreams, such as romantic and adventurous youth readily nourished in a romantic and adventurous age, chased from his eyes the bodily presentiment of the actual scene, and substituted their own bewildering delusions, when at once, and rudely, they were banished by a rough grasp laid upon his weapon, and a harsh voice which exclaimed, close to his ear, "Ha! Pasques dieu, Sir Squire, methinks you keep sleepy ward." The voice was the tuneless, yet impressive and ironical tone of Maitre Pierre, and Quentin, suddenly recalled to himself, saw, with shame and fear, that he had, in his reverie, permitted Louis himself -- entering probably by some secret door, and gliding along by the wall, or behind the tapestry -- to approach him so nearly as almost to master his weapon. The first impulse of his surprise was to free his harquebuss by a violent exertion, which made the King stagger backward into the hall. His next apprehension was that, in obeying the animal instinct, as it may be termed, which prompts a brave man to resist an attempt to disarm him, he had aggravated, by a personal struggle with the King, the displeasure produced by the negligence with which he had performed his duty upon guard; and, under this impression, he recovered his harquebuss without almost knowing what he did, and, having again shouldered it, stood motionless before the Monarch, whom he had reason to conclude he had mortally offended. Louis, whose tyrannical disposition was less founded on natural ferocity or cruelty of temper, than on cold blooded policy and jealous suspicion, had, nevertheless, a share of that caustic severity which would have made him a despot in private conversation, and he always seemed to enjoy the pain which he inflicted on occasions like the present. But he did not push his triumph far, and contented himself with saying, "Thy service of the morning hath already overpaid some negligence in so young a soldier. -- Hast thou dined?" Quentin, who rather looked to be sent to the Provost Marshal than greeted with such a compliment, answered humbly in the negative. "Poor lad," said Louis, in a softer tone than he usually spoke in, "hunger hath made him drowsy. -- I know thine appetite is a wolf," he continued; "and I will save thee from one wild beast as thou didst me from another; thou hast been prudent too in that matter, and I thank thee for it. -- Canst thou yet hold out an hour without food?" "Four-and-twenty, Sire," replied Durward, "or I were no true Scot." "I would not for another kingdom be the pasty which should encounter thee after such a vigil," said the King; "but the question now is, not of thy dinner, but of my own. I admit to my table this day, and in strict privacy, the Cardinal Balue and this Burgundian -- this Count de Crevecoeur -- and something may chance; the devil is most busy when foes meet on terms of truce." He stopped, and remained silent, with a deep and gloomy look. As the King was in no haste to proceed, Quentin at length ventured to ask what his duty was to be in these circumstances. "To keep watch at the beauffet, with thy loaded weapon," said Louis; "and if there is treason, to shoot the traitor." "Treason, Sire! and in this guarded castle!" exclaimed Durward. "You think it impossible," said the King, not offended, it would seem, by his frankness; "but our history has shown that treason can creep into an auger hole. -- Treason excluded by guards! Oh, thou silly boy! -- quis custodiat ipsos custodes -- who shall exclude the treason of those very warders?" "Their Scottish honour," answered Durward, boldly. "True: most right: -- thou pleasest me," said the King, cheerfully; "the Scottish honour was ever true, and I trust it accordingly. But treason!" -- here he relapsed into his former gloomy mood, and traversed the apartment with unequal steps -- "she sits at our feasts, she sparkles in our bowls, she wears the beard of our counsellors, the smiles of our courtiers, the crazy laugh of our jesters -- above all, she lies hid under the friendly air of a reconciled enemy. Louis of Orleans trusted John of Burgundy -- he was murdered in the Rue Barbette. John of Burgundy trusted the faction of Orleans -- he was murdered on the bridge of Montereau. -- I will trust no one -- no one. Hark ye; I will keep my eye on that insolent Count; ay, and on the churchman too, whom I hold not too faithful. When I say, Ecosse, en avant (Forward, Scotland), shoot Crevecoeur dead on the spot." "It is my duty," said Quentin, "your Majesty's life being endangered." "Certainly -- I mean it no otherwise," said the King. "What should I get by slaying this insolent soldier? -- Were it the Constable Saint Paul indeed" -- here he paused, as if he thought he had said a word too much, but resumed, laughing, "our brother-in-law, James of Scotland -- your own James, Quentin -- poniarded the Douglas when on a hospitable visit, within his own royal castle of Skirling." (Douglas: the allusion in the text is to the fate of James, Earl of Douglas, who, upon the faith of a safe conduct, after several acts of rebellion, visited James the Second in the Castle of Stirling. The king stabbed Douglas, who received his mortal wound from Sir Patrick Grey, one of the king's attendants.) "Of Stirling," said Quentin, "and so please your Highness. -- It was a deed of which came little good." "Stirling call you the castle?" said the King, overlooking the latter part of Quentin's speech. "Well, let it be Stirling -- the name is nothing to the purpose. But I meditate no injury to these men -- none. -- It would serve me nothing. They may not purpose equally fair by me -- I rely on thy harquebuss." "I shall be prompt at the signal," said Quentin; "but yet" "You hesitate," said the King. "Speak out -- I give thee full leave. From such as thou art, hints may be caught that are right valuable." "I would only presume to say," replied Quentin, "that your Majesty having occasion to distrust this Burgundian, I marvel that you suffer him to approach so near your person, and that in privacy." "Oh, content you, Sir Squire," said the King. "There are some dangers which when they are braved, disappear, and which yet, when there is an obvious and apparent dread of them displayed, become certain and inevitable. When I walk boldly up to a surly mastiff, and caress him, it is ten to one I soothe him to good temper; if I show fear of him, he flies on me and rends me. I will be thus far frank with thee. -- It concerns me nearly that this man returns not to his headlong master in a resentful humour. I run my risk, therefore. I have never shunned to expose my life for the weal of my kingdom. Follow me." Louis led his young Life Guardsman, for whom he seemed to have taken a special favour, through the side door by which he had himself entered, saying, as he showed it him, "He who would thrive at Court must know the private wickets and concealed staircases -- ay, and the traps and pitfalls of the palace, as well as the principal entrances, folding doors, and portals." After several turns and passages, the King entered a small vaulted room, where a table was prepared for dinner with three covers. The whole furniture and arrangements of the room were plain almost to meanness. A beauffet, or folding and movable cupboard, held a few pieces of gold and silver plate, and was the only article in the chamber which had in the slightest degree the appearance of royalty. Behind this cupboard, and completely hidden by it, was the post which Louis assigned to Quentin Durward; and after having ascertained, by going to different parts of the room, that he was invisible from all quarters, he gave him his last charge: "Remember the word, Posse, en avant; and so soon as ever I utter these sounds, throw down the screen -- spare not for cup or goblet, and be sure thou take good aim at Crevecoeur -- if thy piece fail, cling to him, and use thy knife -- Oliver and I can deal with the Cardinal." Having thus spoken, he whistled aloud, and summoned into the apartment Oliver, who was premier valet of the chamber as well as barber, and who, in fact, performed all offices immediately connected with the King's person, and who now appeared, attended by two old men, who were the only assistants or waiters at the royal table. So soon as the King had taken his place, the visitors were admitted; and Quentin, though himself unseen, was so situated as to remark all the particulars of the interview. The King welcomed his visitors with a degree of cordiality which Quentin had the utmost difficulty to reconcile with the directions which he had previously received, and the purpose for which he stood behind the beauffet with his deadly weapon in readiness. Not only did Louis appear totally free from apprehension of any kind, but one would have supposed that those visitors whom he had done the high honour to admit to his table were the very persons in whom he could most unreservedly confide, and whom he was, most willing to honour. Nothing could be more dignified, and, at the same time, more courteous than his demeanour. While all around him, including even his own dress, was far beneath the splendour which the petty princes of the kingdom displayed in their festivities, his own language and manners were those of a mighty Sovereign in his most condescending mood. Quentin was tempted to suppose, either that the whole of his previous conversation with Louis had been a dream, or that the dutiful demeanour of the Cardinal, and the frank, open, and gallant bearing of the Burgundian noble had entirely erased the King's suspicion. But whilst the guests, in obedience to the King, were in the act of placing themselves at the table, his Majesty darted one keen glance on them, and then instantly directed his look to Quentin's post. This was done in an instant; but the glance conveyed so much doubt and hatred towards his guests, such a peremptory injunction on Quentin to be watchful in attendance, and prompt in execution, that no room was left for doubting that the sentiments of Louis continued unaltered, and his apprehensions unabated. He was, therefore, more than ever astonished at the deep veil under which that Monarch was able to conceal the movements of his jealous disposition. Appearing to have entirely forgotten the language which Crevecoeur had held towards him in the face of his Court, the King conversed with him of old times, of events which had occurred during his own exile in the territories of Burgundy, and inquired respecting all the nobles with whom he had been then familiar, as if that period had indeed been the happiest of his life, and as if he retained towards all who had contributed to soften the term of his exile, the kindest and most grateful sentiments. "To an ambassador of another nation," he said, "I would have thrown something of state into our reception; but to an old friend, who often shared my board at the Castle of Genappes (during his residence in Burgundy, in his father's lifetime, Genappes was the usual abode of Louis. . . . S.), I wished to show myself, as I love best to live, old Louis of Valois, as simple and plain as any of his Parisian badauds (idlers). But I directed them to make some better cheer than ordinary for you, Sir Count, for I know your Burgundian proverb, 'Mieux vault bon repas que bel habit' (a good meal is better than a beautiful coat. (Present spelling is vaut.)); and therefore I bid them have some care of our table. For our wine, you know well it is the subject of an old emulation betwixt France and Burgundy, which we will presently reconcile; for I will drink to you in Burgundy, and you, Sir Count, shall pledge me in Champagne. -- Here, Oliver, let me have a cup of Vin d'Auxerre;" and he hummed gaily a song then well known, "Auxerre est le boisson des Rois." (Auxerre wine is the beverage of kings) "Here, Sir Count, I drink to the health of the noble Duke of Burgundy, our kind and loving cousin. -- Oliver, replenish yon golden cup with Vin de Rheims, and give it to the Count on your knee -- he represents our loving brother. -- My Lord Cardinal, we will ourself fill your cup." "You have already, Sire, even to overflowing," said the Cardinal, with the lowly mien of a favourite towards an indulgent master. "Because we know that your Eminence can carry it with a steady hand," said Louis. "But which side do you espouse in the great controversy, Sillery or Auxerre -- France or Burgundy?" "I will stand neutral, Sire," said the Cardinal, "and replenish my cup with Auvernat." "A neutral has a perilous part to sustain," said the King; but as he observed the Cardinal colour somewhat, he glided from the subject and added, "But you prefer the Auvernat, because it is so noble a wine it endures not water. -- You, Sir Count, hesitate to empty your cup. I trust you have found no national bitterness at the bottom." "I would, Sire," said the Count de Crevecoeur, "that all national quarrels could be as pleasantly ended as the rivalry betwixt our vineyards." "With time, Sir Count," answered the King, "with time -- such time as you have taken to your draught of Champagne. -- And now that it is finished, favour me by putting the goblet in your bosom, and keeping it as a pledge of our regard. It is not to every one that we would part with it. It belonged of yore to that terror of France, Henry V of England, and was taken when Rouen was reduced, and those islanders expelled from Normandy by the joint arms of France and Burgundy. It cannot be better bestowed than on a noble and valiant Burgundian, who well knows that on the union of these two nations depends the continuance of the freedom of the continent from the English yoke." The Count made a suitable answer, and Louis gave unrestrained way to the satirical gaiety of disposition which sometimes enlivened the darker shades of his character. Leading, of course, the conversation, his remarks, always shrewd and caustic, and often actually witty, were seldom good natured, and the anecdotes with which he illustrated them were often more humorous than delicate; but in no one word, syllable, or letter did he betray the state of mind of one who, apprehensive of assassination, hath in his apartment an armed soldier with his piece loaded, in order to prevent or anticipate an attack on his person. The Count de Crevecoeur gave frankly in to the King's humour (the nature of Louis XI's coarse humour may be guessed at by those who have perused the Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles, which are grosser than most similar collections of the age. S.); while the smooth churchman laughed at every jest and enhanced every ludicrous idea, without exhibiting any shame at expressions which made the rustic young Scot blush even in his place of concealment. In about an hour and a half the tables were drawn; and the King, taking courteous leave of his guests, gave the signal that it was his desire to be alone. So soon as all, even Oliver, had retired, he called Quentin from his place of concealment; but with a voice so faint, that the youth could scarcely believe it to be the same which had so lately given animation to the jest, and zest to the tale. As he approached, he saw an equal change in his countenance. The light of assumed vivacity had left the King's eyes, the smile had deserted his face, and he exhibited all the fatigue of a celebrated actor, when he has finished the exhausting representation of some favourite character, in which, while upon the stage, he had displayed the utmost vivacity. "Thy watch is not yet over," said he to Quentin; "refresh thyself for an instant -- yonder table affords the means; I will then instruct thee in thy farther duty. Meanwhile it is ill talking between a full man and a fasting." He threw himself back on his seat, covered his brow with his hand, and was silent. 这音乐在哪儿呢?在空中,还是在地上? 《暴风雨》 我竖起耳朵聆听, 听那能在死神的肋骨下创造出灵魂的美妙的旋律。 《科莫斯》 昆丁刚走进他的小屋更换衣服,他那可敬的舅父便走来打听他打野猪时发生的详细情况。 这年轻人十分肯定他舅父的手要比他的头脑更胜一筹,所以他在回答时,注意让国王占有他想要据为己有的胜利。巴拉弗雷的回答则是吹嘘他在类似情况下会表现得多么出色,从而含有对外甥行动怠慢的温和责备:责怪他在国王临危时没有及时给他援助。年轻人在回答时小心地回避为自己的表现作进一步辩解:只是说根据狩猎规则,除非有人特意请求帮助,就不宜干预别的猎手打猎,否则会被认为很不高尚。这一讨论还没结束,昆丁便有充分理由对自己在和舅父谈话时的含蓄和保留而感到庆幸。他听到一个轻轻的敲门声,说明有客人到来。门一开,就看见奥利弗•丹(或称坏蛋奥利弗,魔鬼奥利弗,反正这些都是他的别名)走了进来。 对这位能干而最无原则的人,我们已就其外貌进行过一番描述。但就其动作和态度来说,也许最恰当的比喻莫过于一只假寐的或胆怯地悄悄溜过房间的家猫:它时而注视着老鼠洞,时而像是在亲热和喜悦地擦着它希望给它抚摸的某个人的身体,然而转眼之间,突然向它要逮的老鼠扑过去,或用爪子抓它原先讨好卖乖的对象。 他垂着双肩,带着一副卑躬的神情走了进来。他向巴拉弗雷讲话时表现得如此谦恭有礼,看见这一会见的人都难免会推测,他是特意来向这位苏格兰卫士求情的。他首先给莱斯利道喜,说他年轻的外甥今天打猎时表现得非常出色。据他看,已获得了国王的青睐。说到这里他停了一下,等待对方的回答。他把眼睛盯在地上,只是有一两次抬起眼皮望望,想从侧面偷看昆丁一眼。巴拉弗雷说道:“国王陛下真不走运,当时留在他身边的可惜不是我而是我外甥。要是我在他身边,我肯定会及时把野猪戳死掉。但据我所知的事情经过,我认为,昆丁是把这事让陛下承当了。不过,这对陛下也是个教训,”他说道,“请他永远记住,以后得给我这种个子的人一匹好马骑。否则,像我骑的那种弗兰德棕色马如何跟得上陛下骑的诺曼底产的快马呢?我敢说,我用脚楼不停地赶马,把马的两侧都刺伤了。奥利弗老爷,这可是考虑欠周的。你得把这事向陛下说说。” 奥利弗老爷对这番话的回答只是朝这粗率大胆的武士半信半疑地慢慢望了一眼,用手略微摆动了一下,并把头稍稍偏向一边。这一姿势既可以解释为他默然同意他讲的话,又可以解释为小心地示意他不宜把这话题继续下去。他投向年轻人身上的目光则显得更精明,更犀利。他带着暧昧的微笑说道:“年轻人,难道在今天这种紧急情况下让你的君主得不到援助而遭受危险,是你们苏格兰人的习惯做法?” “我们的习惯是,”昆丁回答说,决心对这事不再多啰嗦,“在人们进行高尚娱乐时,只要他们自己能对付,我们就不必用我们的帮助来麻烦他们。我们认为,在打猎场上君主也得和别人一样碰碰他们的运气,而他们去的目的也正是为了这个。不劳累无危险的打猎算什么打猎?” “你听这傻小子说的,”他舅父讲道,“他就是这么个脾气。对谁他都有一个现成的回答,或现成的理由。我真奇怪他是从哪儿得来的这个才能。除开饿了吃饭、上操点名和诸如此类的职责规定以外,我就找不出什么理由来为我一生干过的任何事情进行辩解。” “尊敬的先生,”国王这位理发师从眼皮底下望着他说道,“在这种场合下,您点名能有什么理由呢?” “因为队长命令我这样做,”巴拉弗雷说道,“圣贾尔斯在上,我不知道有别的理由!如果他命令蒂里和坎宁安,他们也会照办。” “这真是一个最有军人气派的、压倒一切的理由!”奥利弗说道,“不过,巴拉弗雷先生,当您知道,国王对您外甥的表现并非不满,您肯定会很高兴。他已选定他今天下午去执行一项任务。” “选定他?”巴拉弗雷十分惊奇地说道,“我想您的意思是选定我吧?” “我说的正是我要表达的意思,”理发师以一种温和而坚定的语气回答道,“国王有件事要委托您外甥办。” “为了什么?”巴拉弗雷说道,“他干吗挑选这个娃娃而不挑选我?” “我也无法比您自己提出的压倒一切的理由走得更远。巴拉弗雷先生,这是陛下的命令。不过,”他又说道,“如果我可以妄自揣测的话,可能是陛下有项工作更适合您外甥这样的年轻人,而不适合您这样一个老练的武士。年轻的绅士,拿好你的武器跟我走吧。记住带支火绳枪,因为你得站岗放哨。” “放哨!”当舅父的说道,一奥利弗老爷,您能肯定您没说错吗?要知道,只有在我们荣誉的卫队服役过十二年的(像我这样的)人才有资格去城堡站内岗。” “陛下的意愿我十分清楚,”奥利弗说道,“不得再有延误。” “不过,”巴拉弗雷说道,一我外甥还只是我门下的一个扈从,连一名自由射手都算不上。” “对不起,”奥利弗回答道,“国王在不到半小时以前已派人要走了名册,把他正式编人了卫队。请帮忙给您外甥收拾收拾,好让他去执行勤务。” 巴拉弗雷天性善良,也没有多少嫉妒心。他赶忙着手整理外甥的衣服,给他讲些执勤应注意的事项;与此同时,他对这年轻人这么早就碰到好运,不由得发出一声声惊叹。 “在苏格兰卫队里这种事可是破天荒头一遭,’他说道,“从没有过这种先例。他的任务肯定是去看守威尼斯大使最近献给国王的鹦鹉和印度孔雀——不可能是别的。既然这种任务只适于没胡子的小孩,”(这时他捻捻他那浓密的胡须)“我自然很高兴看到这事落在我的好外甥头上。” 机智敏锐、富于幻想的昆丁由于这么快便应召去国王跟前服役,因而看到了自己迅速得到晋升的前景。想到将很快出人头地,他不禁高兴得心跳起来。他决心仔细观察带领他的这个人的态度和谈吐,因为他觉得,至少在某些情况下,必须像算命的据说通过反面来解释睡梦一样,也通过反面来解释这人的表现。不过,他不能不庆幸自己在猎野猪的事情上严守了秘密。他下了一个决心,这对年轻人来说颇为审慎:只要他还继续呆在这个神秘的幽宫,他一定丝毫不暴露自己内心的思想,严严地封住自己的口舌。 很快他便装备齐全,肩上扛着火统枪(尽管苏格兰卫队还保留着射手的名称,但他们很早就用火枪来代替他们民族从不擅长使用的长弓),跟随奥利弗师傅离开了营房。 他舅父的脸上流露出一种又惊异又好奇的神情,久久地望着他远去的背影。虽然在他这老实人的思想当中既无忌妒的成分,也未混杂忌妒所产生的恶念,然而他还是产生了一种自尊心受到伤害或贬抑的感觉,而这种感觉又和眼见外甥旗开得胜所引起的愉快心情掺和在一起。 他严肃地摇摇头,打开一个私厨取出一大瓶陈年老酒,摇摇瓶子,看里面装的酒还剩多少,然后斟满酒杯一饮而尽。这时他半靠着地坐在一张长橡木椅上,再一次缓缓地摇着头。他从这摇头晃脑的动作中领受了许多显而易见的妙处,就像人们称之为“达官贵人”的玩具那样,继续摇晃着,最后沉沉入睡,直到开饭的号音把他吵醒。 昆丁•达威特留下他舅父独自进行他的思索,跟随他的引路人奥利弗师傅径自往皇宫走去。奥利弗领着他走的不是主要的庭院,而是穿过迷宫般的楼梯、穹形地下室,以及在意想不到的地方以暗门相通的长廊,最后来到一个大而宽敞的带格子富的长廊。从宽度看来,这长廊几乎称得上一个大厅。壁上垂着的挂毯古色古香,但并不见得十分美丽。此外还挂着在光辉的文艺复兴时代之前的启蒙时期创作的几幅生硬、冷漠而可怕的肖像。这些像画的都是在法国富于浪漫色彩的历史上曾经显赫一时的查理曼大帝的骑士。由于著名的奥尔兰多以其庞大的身躯成为骑士中最突出的人物,因此这间房子便以他命名,称为“罗兰厅”或“罗兰廊”。 “你将在这里站岗。”奥利弗低声说道,仿佛担心一提高嗓门就会冒犯周围的君王和武士们的威严,或唤起在这可怕的大房间的穹拱和天花板的哥德式垂饰之间潜伏着的回声。 “我守卫要记住什么口令?”昆丁同样压低了嗓门问道。 “你的火统枪上膛了吗?”奥利弗反问道,而没有回答他的询问。 “要上膛很快。”昆丁回答道,说着便着手给枪装火药,并在一个大烟囱里行将熄灭的柴火余烬上点燃慢速引线(必要时就靠这引线来开火)。顺便说说,这室内的烟囱真是大得出奇,可以称它为“哥德式暗室”或附属于大厅的小教堂。 这事办完以后,奥利弗便对他说,他对苏格兰卫队至高无上的特权真是毫无所知。事实上,卫队人员只由国王本人或由法国总督直接下达命令。“年轻人,是国王陛下亲自下命令派你在这儿站岗的,”奥利弗补充说道,“你很快就会知道召你来是什么原因。你巡逻的范围就是这个大厅的两侧。如果你高兴,你可以站着,但决不许你坐着或离开你的武器。你绝不可以大声唱,或吹口哨。但假如你高兴,你可以轻声地哼点教堂的祷告或别的无伤大雅的东西。再见,祝你站好这班岗。” “站好这班岗!”年轻人想到。这时那引路人已通过他特有的悄然无声的滑行般的动作从他身旁溜走,消失在那挂毡后面的边门里。“站好这班岗!警戒的对象是谁?除了蝙蝠和老鼠外,还有什么可值得注意的?难道这些古老而严峻的人类代表还会还魂来打扰我站岗吗?得了,这是我的职责,我必须履行我的职责。” 他决心最严格地履行他的职责,但也想哼哼在他父亲死后他躲藏在寺院里时学会的几首圣歌来消磨消磨时光。他在内心深处不得不承认,除了他那时穿的新僧袍换成了他现在穿的这身华丽的军装以外,此刻他在法国皇宫穿廊里作为哨兵的来回走动与他在孤独的阿伯布罗迪克寺院中极为厌倦的来回散步十分相似。 仿佛为了证明自己已经不是寺院僧人而是个凡夫俗子,他用不超过许可范围的声调哼起了年老的家庭坚琴师教给他的古老而粗算的民谣;这些民谣讲的是丹麦人在阿伯列姆诺和福雷斯遭到的失败,以及杜弗斯国王在福法尔遇难的传说。此外他还哼了另外几首歌颂他遥远的祖国的历史,特别是他家乡的诗歌。这样哼着,不觉已消磨了好长一段时间。眼下已是下午两点多,昆丁感到肚子很饿。想起过去在阿伯布罗迪克寺院,神父们尽管严格要求他参加祷告,但也准时地召呼他去进餐;然而在这个皇宫里却谁也没有想到,在操练了一早晨,站岗了一下午之后,裹腹充饥对他来说自然是当务之急。 然而,甜美的声音往往具有一种魅力,甚至能平息昆丁此刻感到的不耐烦情绪。在这长廊的两端各有一个装有厚而重的门框的大门,也许是通向以长廊相通的两套房间。当放哨的昆丁在他岗哨范围以内的两道门之间来回走动时,从一道门里突然传出一阵乐声,使他为之一怔,因为至少就他的想象来说,它和那前一天使他如痴如醉的音乐完全是出自同一个诗琴和同一个歌喉。虽然经历过的一系列惊心动魄的事情已大大冲淡了昨天早晨的梦幻,但此刻它却带着更强的生命力从沉睡中苏醒过来。昆丁像生了根似的站在耳朵最容易倾听这乐声的地方,肩上扛着火统枪,半张着嘴,眼耳和心灵都全神贯注地指向奏乐的地方,看来更像一尊哨兵的塑像,而不像一个活的哨兵,因为他惟一的想法就是尽可能抓住那美妙旋律的每个音符! 然而他也不过是部分地听到这悦耳的音乐——乐声低吟回旋,以至完全中止,但经过不确定的间歇之后又蓦然响起。音乐也像美貌一样,正是在“若隐若现”间显示其魅力,而让想象填补距离造成的不足时,才显得最为动人,至少更能激起人们的想像力。此外,陶醉于音乐间歇中的昆丁也还有足够的内容来充实自己的梦幻。根据他舅父同僚的谈话和当天早晨觐见厅所发生的情况来判断,他可以毫不怀疑地肯定,此刻以悦耳的音乐来打动他的仙女,并不像他以俗人之心揣度的那样,是一个下等酒店老板的女儿或亲属,而是君王们将要为之大动干戈的那位乔装打扮的不幸的伯爵小姐。年轻人在一个富于冒险精神的浪漫主义时代很容易想人非非,使得具体而现实的情景从他眼里消失,而代之以令人眼花缭乱的幻觉。但这时忽然有人粗鲁地握住他的武器,顿时无情地赶走了这些幻觉。只听见一个严厉的声音贴着他耳朵喊道:“哈,我的老天爷!扈从先生,我看你是在这儿边站岗边打盹啊!” 这正是皮埃尔老爷那干巴巴、威严而又带些讥刺的声音。昆丁猛地清醒过来,他羞惧地看到,由于自己沉浸在梦幻当中,竟让路易王本人——也许他是从某个暗门进来,然后沿着墙壁或藏在挂毯后面溜过来的——来到自己跟前,几乎牢牢地抓住了他的武器。惊奇带来的第一个冲动的反应是通过一个强有力的动作夺回火统枪,从而使国王踉跄地向后倒回大厅。但他接着又感到害怕,担心自己由于听从了那驱使勇士们对解除其武装的企图进行抵抗的所谓动物本能,已通过和国王这一面对面的交锋,加剧了国王对他疏忽职守产生的愤怒。在这个印象的影响下,他几乎不知不觉地把收回了的火统枪重新扛在肩上,然后呆呆地站在他有理由认为被他严重冒犯了的国王面前。 路易王的专横性格与其说是建立在天生的凶狠和残酷上面,不如说是建立在冷静的策略和猜忌上面。然而,他的性情中也有一种讥刺和严酷的成分,使他在私人谈话中显得令人生畏,使人总感觉他喜欢在类似目前的情况下给别人施加些痛苦以获得愉快。不过,他并没有过分利用当前这个胜利给他带来的喜悦,而只是说了这么一句: “算你今早为我效的力抵消了这样一个年轻人常犯的疏忽。你吃过饭了吗?” 昆丁原以为会被送到军法总监那儿去受审,没料到却受到这样一种客气的对待,便谦卑地回答说他还没有吃饭。 “可怜的小伙子,”路易王以比往常更温和的语气说道,“饥饿使他困了。我知道你具有狼一般的大胃口,”他继续说道,“我将像你从野猪嘴里救我一样,把你从饿狼嘴里救出来——在猎野猪那件事情上你也表现得很审慎,我很感谢你——你能不能饿着肚子再坚持一个小时呢?” “陛下,二十四小时也可以,”达威特回答道,“要不我就算不上一个真正的苏格兰人。” “在你饿了这么长的时间之后,要是一块馅饼碰到你,那它可倒霉了;即使再给我一个王国,我也不愿充当馅饼这样一个角色,”国王说道,“不过,现在的问题不在于你的午餐,而在于我自己的午餐。今天我极其秘密地邀请了巴卢红衣主教和那位勃艮第人——克雷维格伯爵。有可能发生点什么情况——因为仇人在休战的条件下聚会正是魔鬼最活跃的时刻。” 他没再说下去,而是带着阴沉的面容默不作声地呆立着。看到国王并不急于讲下去,昆丁最后贸然问道,在这种情况下他该如何行事。 “拿着上好膛的枪在食橱旁边守卫,”路易王说道,“如有背叛,将背叛者就地枪杀。” “陛下,您说会发生背叛!况且是在这样一个警卫森严的城堡!”达威特惊奇地说道。 “你认为不可能,”国王说道,看来对他的坦率并不见怪,“但我们的历史表明,背叛是无孔不人的。有警卫就能排除背叛!啊,你真是个傻孩子!——quis custodiat ipso custodes——那么谁又来制止警卫人员本身的背叛呢?” “凭他们苏格兰人的荣誉感。”达威特大胆地回答道。 “对,非常正确——我很喜欢你。”国王高兴地说道,“苏格兰人的荣誉感一直是可靠的,我也信赖它。不过背叛这玩意呀!”这时他又陷入他先前那种阴郁的情绪中,步履不匀地走过大厅——“它可是坐在我们的筵席桌上,在我们酒碗里闪闪发光。它蓄着谋士的胡须,含着朝臣们的微笑,发出弄臣们的大笑——它尤其会潜藏在和解的敌人的友好表情底下。奥尔良•路易相信勃艮第•约翰——结果在巴尔贝特大街遇害。勃艮第•约翰相信奥尔良这个宗派——结果也在蒙特罗桥遇害。我谁也不相信——一个也不相信。你听着,我会留心那个无礼的伯爵,也会当心那位主教,因为我并不认为他十分忠诚。当我一说Ecosse,en avant,你就把克雷维格就地打死。” “这是我的责任,”昆丁说道,“因为陛下遇到生命危险。” “当然——我指的正是这种情况,”国王说道,“要不,杀死这个无礼的武夫对我有什么好处?要真是圣保罗总督的话,”这里他停顿了一下,仿佛感到自己吐露了一句不该说的话,但接着又大声笑道,“还有我的堂弟、苏格兰的詹姆斯——昆丁,你们的詹姆斯——在他自己的斯克尔林皇宫里杀死了来友好访问的道格拉斯。” “如果陛下不见怪的话,应该说是斯特尔林皇宫。”昆丁说道,“这是次毫无益处的行动。” “你们叫作斯特尔林城堡吗?”国王说道,不大在意昆丁后半句话的内容,“好吧,就让它是斯特尔林城堡吧——名字无关紧要。不过我并不想加害这两个人——这对我没有什么好处。但他们对我不见得怀有同样的好意——我信赖你的火统枪。” “一听到信号我就立刻行动,”昆丁说道,“不过——” “你犹豫了,”国王说道,“你讲完吧。我给你充分的许可。从你这样一个人的嘴里,我们可以得到一些确实宝贵的启示。” “我只想不揣冒昧地说,”昆丁回答道,“既然陛下有理由怀疑这位勃艮第人,我很奇怪,您竟然容许他这样接近御体,而且在十分神秘的情况下。” “啊,扈从先生,我可以给你个满意的回答,”国王说道,“有些危险的事要是你挺身而出,就会化险为夷,假如你明显地表现出惧怕,它们反会变得肯定而不可避免。要是我大胆地走到一匹凶恶的猛犬跟前,抚摸它,十有八九我会使它乖乖地服帖下来。要是我显得害怕,它就会扑到我身上来,把我撕碎。我想坦白地把这情况交待给你——对我说来很要紧的一点是,不能让这个人带着愤怒去见他鲁莽的主人。因此我才冒这个危险。为了法国的利益我从来没回避过生命危险。跟我走吧。” 路易领着他似乎特别宠爱的这位年轻卫士穿过他进来时走过的那道边门,一边指给他看,一边说道:“谁想在宫廷得势,谁就得熟悉这些暗门和暗梯——是的,还有宫里的各种陷阱,以及主门。摺门和门廊。” 在转了几个弯、穿过几个走廊之后,国王走进一个拱形小室,里面已摆好一个餐桌,上面放着三套餐具。室内的整个陈设简单得几乎到了简陋的地步。一个餐橱,或称折叠式移动餐柜,装着几个金银盘碟,算是室内稍具有点皇家气派的惟一家具。橱柜就是路易指给昆丁所要站的地方,完全被挡住看不见。路易又走到房子各个旮旯去检查,肯定从任何角度都看不见有人站岗之后,便向昆丁最后一次交代任务:“记住口令Ecosse,en avant;一旦我说出这几个字,你就把屏风推倒——别可惜柜里装的大杯小盏。你得保证对克雷维格瞄好准——假如枪失灵,你就搂住他用刀干——奥利弗和我对付得了红衣主教。” 交代完毕之后,国王便大声吹了个口哨,把奥利弗召了进来。这人是皇宫首席侍臣兼御前理发师,实际上掌管与御体直接有关的一切事务。此刻他在两位老人——御桌旁仅有的两位侍者的伴随下登场。国王一就座,客人立即被请了进来。虽然昆丁自己隐匿在一边,但他的位置却使他看得见国王召见的全部细节。 国王颇为热情地迎接宾客。昆丁感到这种热情的表现和先前给他的吩咐以及让他手持致命武器站在食橱后面待命的意图极难调和。不但路易看来毫无戒心可言,而且人们自然会设想,给以至高的荣誉邀请赴宴的两位宾客,他可以毫无保留地信赖,并乐意给予这种荣誉。他的仪态真是再庄严再客气不过。周围的一切,包括他自己的衣着在内,虽远不及小王公们在宴会上的豪华,但语言和态度却表现出一位强有势力的君主的优越感。昆丁禁不住推想,要么他和路易先前的谈话全是一场幻梦,要么就是主教恭顺的态度和那位勃艮第贵族坦率豪爽的举止已完全消除了国王的猜疑。 然而,当客人遵命就座的时候,国王陛下向他们投以锐利的目光,接着又把它移向昆丁所站的位置。虽然时间只有一刹那,但那目光却表达出对客人莫大的猜疑和仇恨,对昆丁则传达了果断而严厉的命令:守卫要警觉,执行要敏捷。毋庸置疑,这都说明路易的意图丝毫未变,戒心丝毫未减。因此,昆丁对国王用来掩饰自己多疑性格表现的那层厚厚的帷幕比先前更为吃惊。 国王看起来仿佛完全忘记了克雷维格当着满朝文武的面曾对他使用过的挑衅语言,而和他大谈往昔:回忆他在勃艮第流亡期间发生过的一些事情,打听他当时熟悉的一些贵族;仿佛那段流亡生活真是他一生中最愉快的时期,好像他对那些帮助过他改善生活条件的人们都保留着最亲切的感激之情。 “要是别国的大使,”他说,“我也许会在接见中增添点郑重其事的味道,但对待曾在热纳佩城堡经常和我进过餐的老朋友,我倒想按我平常最喜欢的方式办事,不改过去瓦卢瓦•路易的本色,仍然像一般巴黎市民那样简朴。不过,我还是叫人为你伯爵先生准备了点比平常更好的食品,因为我知道你们勃艮第人的格言‘华服不如美食’,因此我吩咐他们把饭菜搞好些。你知道,我们的酒是法兰西和勃艮第之间的传统竞争项目。此刻我们将把这个竞争调和一下。我将用勃艮第葡萄酒为你干杯,而你伯爵先生将用香槟酒为我干杯——喂,奥利弗,给我来一杯奥克塞尔酒。”接着他兴致勃勃地哼起一首当时有名的歌—— 《奥克塞尔酒是国王的饮料》“伯爵先生,我为高贵的勃艮第公爵,我亲爱的堂弟的健康干杯。奥利弗,你把那个金杯斟满雷姆酒,跪着奉给伯爵——他代表我亲爱的堂弟——我的主教大人,我将自己给你斟酒。” “陛下,您已经给我斟满了,甚至快溢出来了。”主教带着受宠的奴才那种卑下的表情说道。 “那是因为我知道主教阁下喝酒的海量,”路易说道,“不过,在这伟大的竞争中你是支持哪一方呢——是西勒里还是奥克塞尔——是法兰西还是勃艮第呢?” “陛下,我将保持中立,”红衣主教说道,“用奥维纳酒来斟满我的酒杯吧。” “中立者可得扮演一个危险的角色。”国王说道。但当他看到红衣主教脸红了一下,便悄悄避开这个话题,补充说道:“不过,你宁肯喝奥维纳酒,是因为这酒十分高贵,容不得掺水——你伯爵先生对喝干这杯酒颇感犹豫,我想你在这酒杯底下并没有发现什么味苦的民族之仇吧。” “陛下,”克雷维格伯爵说道,“但愿所有国家的争端都能像我们葡萄园之间的竞争那样得到和睦解决。” “只要有时间,伯爵先生,”国王回答道,“只要有时间——像你喝香槟酒这样从容而充裕的时间——酒喝完了,就请你赏光把这酒杯揣在怀里,保留它作为纪念,表示我对你的一点心意吧。并不是对任何人我都舍得给这个酒杯的。这是法国可畏的强敌,英国的亨利第五从前使用过的酒杯,是在鲁昂被收复,法国和勃艮第联军把岛国人赶出诺曼底时缴获的。把它赠送给一位高贵而勇敢的勃艮第人真是再好不过,因为他十分懂得,要使欧洲大陆继续摆脱英国人的枷锁,就必须依靠这两个国家的联盟。” 伯爵作了一个适当的回答。路易王开始毫无拘束地表现出一种带讽刺的诙谐,这种诙谐有时能使人性格中阴暗的一面显得活跃开朗一点。谈话自然是随他来引导的。他的谈吐固然很锋利,富于讥刺,往往也很聪明俏皮,但很少谈得上厚道,他用于解释和说明的一些轶事趣闻也是幽默胜于优雅。然而,他说的每个词、每个音节、每个字母都丝毫没暴露出在室内布有荷枪实弹的士兵,以防被对方暗杀的戒备心理。 克雷维格伯爵对国王的幽默感坦然地表现出真诚的高兴。圆滑的主教则对国王讲的每个笑话都放声大笑,并对一些滑稽之处添油加醋,有些言词甚至使那藏在一边的乡巴佬似的年轻苏格兰人也为之脸红。但他自己却毫不害羞。大约过了一个半小时,宴会才告结束。国王向宾客客气地告辞之后,示意说他想独自呆一会儿。 一当所有的人,甚至包括奥利弗都离开之后,他把昆丁从他藏匿的地方叫了出来。但声音太微弱了,那年轻人很难相信这声音的主人刚才说起笑话还那么有声有色,讲起故事还那么津津有味。当他走近时,他看见国王的脸部表情也发生了同样的变化。强颜欢笑时的炯炯目光已从眼里消失,脸上的微笑也不见了。他表现出一个名演员在台上十分活跃地、淋漓尽致地扮演完了自己喜爱的角色之后充分感到的疲劳。 “你的岗还没站完,”他对昆丁说道,“吃点东西,休息一下——那边桌子上有些吃的——等下我还要向你交代下一步的任务。不过,饱汉和饿汉交谈是不公道的。” 他倒在椅子里,用手掩着额头,默不作声。 Chapter 11 The Hall Of Roland Painters show cupid blind -- Hath Hymen eyes? Or is his sight warp'd by those spectacles which parents, guardians, and advisers, lent him, That he may look through them on lands and mansions, On jewels, gold, and all such rich dotations, And see their value ten times magnified? -- Methinks 't will brook a question. THE MISERIES OF ENFORCED MARRIAGE Louis XI of France, though the sovereign in Europe who was fondest and most jealous of power, desired only its substantial enjoyment; and though he knew well enough, and at times exacted strictly, the observances due to his rank, he was in general singularly careless of show. In a prince of sounder moral qualities, the familiarity with which he invited subjects to his board -- nay, occasionally sat at theirs -- must have been highly popular; and even such as he was, the King's homeliness of manners atoned for many of his vices with that class of his subjects who were not particularly exposed to the consequences of his suspicion and jealousy. The tiers etat, or commons of France, who rose to more opulence and consequence under the reign of this sagacious Prince, respected his person, though they loved him not; and it was resting on their support that he was enabled to make his party good against the hatred of the nobles, who conceived that he diminished the honour of the French crown, and obscured their own splendid privileges by that very neglect of form which gratified the citizens and commons. With patience which most other princes would have considered as degrading, and not without a sense of amusement, the Monarch of France waited till his Life Guardsman had satisfied the keenness of a youthful appetite. It may be supposed, however, that Quentin had too much sense and prudence to put the royal patience to a long or tedious proof; and indeed he was repeatedly desirous to break off his repast ere Louis would permit him. "I see it in thine eye," he said good naturedly, "that thy courage is not half abated. Go on -- God and Saint Denis! -- charge again. I tell thee that meat and mass" (crossing himself) "never hindered the work of a good Christian man. Take a cup of wine; but mind thou be cautious of the wine pot -- it is the vice of thy countrymen as well as of the English, who, lacking that folly, are the choicest soldiers ever wore armour. And now wash speedily -- forget not thy benedicite, and follow me." Quentin obeyed, and, conducted by a different but as maze-like an approach as he had formerly passed, he followed Louis into the Hall of Roland. "Take notice," said the King, imperatively, "thou hast never left this post -- let that be thine answer to thy kinsman and comrades -- and, hark thee, to bind the recollection on thy memory, I give thee this gold chain" (flinging on his arm one of considerable value). "If I go not brave myself, those whom I trust have ever the means to ruffle it with the best. But when such chains as these bind not the tongue from wagging too freely, my gossip, L'Hermite, hath an amulet for the throat, which never fails to work a certain cure. And now attend. -- No man, save Oliver or I myself, enters here this evening; but ladies will come hither, perhaps from the one extremity of the hall, perhaps from the other, perhaps one from each. You may answer if they address you, but, being on duty, your answer must be brief; and you must neither address them in your turn, nor engage in any prolonged discourse. But hearken to what they say. Thine ears as well as thy hands are mine -- I have bought thee, body and soul. Therefore, if thou hearest aught of their conversation, thou must retain it in memory until it is communicated to me, and then forget it. And, now I think better on it, it will be best that thou pass for a Scottish recruit, who hath come straight down from his mountains, and hath not yet acquired our most Christian language. -- Right. -- So, if they speak to thee, thou wilt not answer -- this will free you from embarrassment, and lead them to converse without regard to your presence. You understand me. -- Farewell. Be wary, and thou hast a friend." The King had scarce spoken these words ere he disappeared behind the arras, leaving Quentin to meditate on what he had seen and heard. The youth was in one of those situations from which it is pleasanter to look forward than to look back; for the reflection that he had been planted like a marksman in a thicket who watches for a stag, to take the life of the noble Count of Crevecoeur, had in it nothing ennobling. It was very true that the King's measures seemed on this occasion merely cautionary and defensive; but how did the youth know but he might be soon commanded on some offensive operation of the same kind? This would be an unpleasant crisis, since it was plain, from the character of his master, that there would be destruction in refusing, while his honour told him that there would be disgrace in complying. He turned his thoughts from this subject of reflection with the sage consolation so often adopted by youth when prospective dangers intrude themselves on their mind, that it was time enough to think what was to be done when the emergence actually arrived, and that sufficient for the day was the evil thereof. Quentin made use of this sedative reflection the more easily that the last commands of the King had given him something more agreeable to think of than his own condition. The Lady of the Lute was certainly one of those to whom his attention was to be dedicated; and well in his mind did he promise to obey one part of the King's mandate, and listen with diligence to every word that might drop from her lips that he might know if the magic of her conversation equalled that of her music. But with as much sincerity did he swear to himself, that no part of her discourse should be reported by him to the King which might affect the fair speaker otherwise than favourably. Meantime, there was no fear of his again slumbering on his post. Each passing breath of wind, which, finding its way through the open lattice, waved the old arras, sounded like the approach of the fair object of his expectation. He felt, in short, all that mysterious anxiety and eagerness of expectation which is always the companion of love, and sometimes hath a considerable share in creating it. At length, a door actually creaked and jingled (for the doors even of palaces did not in the fifteenth century turn on their hinges so noiseless as ours); but, alas! it was not at that end of the hall from which the lute had been heard. It opened, however, and a female figure entered, followed by two others, whom she directed by a sign to remain without, while she herself came forward into the hall. By her imperfect and unequal gait, which showed to peculiar disadvantage as she traversed this long gallery, Quentin at once recognised the Princess Joan, and with the respect which became his situation, drew himself up in an attitude of silent vigilance, and lowered his weapon to her as she passed. She acknowledged the courtesy by a gracious inclination of her head, and he had an opportunity of seeing her countenance more distinctly than he had in the morning. There was little in the features of this ill fated Princess to atone for the misfortune of her shape and gait. Her face was, indeed, by no means disagreeable in itself, though destitute of beauty; and there was a meek impression of suffering patience in her large blue eyes, which were commonly fixed upon the ground. But besides that she was extremely pallid in complexion, her skin had the yellowish discoloured tinge which accompanies habitual bad health; and though her teeth were white and regular, her lips were thin and pale. The Princess had a profusion of flaxen hair, but it was so light coloured as to be almost of a bluish tinge; and her tire woman, who doubtless considered the luxuriance of her mistress's tresses as a beauty, had not greatly improved matters by arranging them in curls around her pale countenance, to which they added an expression almost corpse-like and unearthly. To make matters still worse, she had chosen a vest or cymar of a pale green silk, which gave her, on the whole, a ghastly and even spectral appearance. While Quentin followed this singular apparition with eyes in which curiosity was blended with compassion, for every look and motion of the Princess seemed to call for the latter feeling, two ladies entered from the upper end of the apartment. One of these was the young person who upon Louis's summons had served him with fruit, while Quentin made his memorable breakfast at the Fleur de Lys. Invested now with all the mysterious dignity belonging to the nymph of the veil and lute, and proved, besides (at least in Quentin's estimation), to be the high born heiress of a rich earldom, her beauty made ten times the impression upon him which it had done when he beheld in her one whom he deemed the daughter of a paltry innkeeper, in attendance upon a rich and humorous old burgher. He now wondered what fascination could ever have concealed from him her real character. Yet her dress was nearly as simple as before, being a suit of deep mourning, without any ornaments. Her headdress was but a veil of crape, which was entirely thrown back, so as to leave her face uncovered; and it was only Quentin's knowledge of her actual rank, which gave in his estimation new elegance to her beautiful shape, a dignity to her step which had before remained unnoticed, and to her regular features, brilliant complexion, and dazzling eyes, an air of conscious nobleness that enhanced their beauty. Had death been the penalty, Durward must needs have rendered to this beauty and her companion the same homage which he had just paid to the royalty of the Princess. They received it as those who were accustomed to the deference of inferiors, and returned it with courtesy; but he thought -- perhaps it was but a youthful vision -- that the young lady coloured slightly, kept her eyes on the ground, and seemed embarrassed though in a trifling degree, as she returned his military salutation. This must have been owing to her recollection of the audacious stranger in the neighbouring turret at the Fleur de Lys; but did that discomposure express displeasure? This question he had no means to determine. The companion of the youthful Countess, dressed like herself simply and in deep mourning, was at the age when women are apt to cling most closely to that reputation for beauty which has for years been diminishing. She had still remains enough to show what the power of her charms must once have been, and, remembering past triumphs, it was evident from her manner that she had not relinquished the pretensions to future conquests. She was tall and graceful, though somewhat haughty in her deportment, and returned the salute of Quentin with a smile of gracious condescension, whispering the next instant something into her companion's ear, who turned towards the soldier as if to comply with some hint from the elder lady, but answered, nevertheless, without raising her eyes. Quentin could not help suspecting that the observation called on the young lady to notice his own good mien; and he was (I do not know why) pleased with the idea that the party referred to did not choose to look at him, in order to verify with her own eyes the truth of the observation. Probably he thought there was already a sort of mysterious connexion beginning to exist between them, which gave importance to the slightest trifle. This reflection was momentary, for he was instantly wrapped up in attention to the meeting of the Princess Joan with these stranger ladies. She had stood still upon their entrance, in order to receive them, conscious, perhaps, that motion did not become her well; and as she was somewhat embarrassed in receiving and repaying their compliments, the elder stranger, ignorant of the rank of the party whom she addressed, was led to pay her salutation in a manner rather as if she conferred than received an honour through the interview. "I rejoice," she said, with a smile which was meant to express condescension at once and encouragement, "that we are at length permitted the society of such a respectable person of our own sex as you appear to be. I must say that my niece and I have had but little for which to thank the hospitality of King Louis. -- Nay, niece, never pluck my sleeve -- I am sure I read in the looks of this young lady sympathy for out situation. -- Since we came hither, fair madam, we have been used little better than mere prisoners; and after a thousand invitations to throw our cause and our persons under the protection of France, the Most Christian King has afforded us at first but a base inn for our residence, and now a corner of this moth eaten palace, out of which we are only permitted to creep towards sunset, as if we were bats or owls, whose appearance in the sunshine is to be held matter of ill omen." "I am sorry," said the Princess, faltering with the awkward embarrassment of the interview, "that we have been unable, hitherto, to receive you according to your deserts. -- Your niece, I trust, is better satisfied?" "Much -- much better than I can express," answered the youthful Countess. "I sought but safety and I have found solitude and secrecy besides. The seclusion of our former residence, and the still greater solitude of that now assigned to us, augment, in my eye, the favour which the King vouchsafed to us unfortunate fugitives." "Silence, my silly cousin," said the elder lady, "and let us speak according to our conscience, since at last we are alone with one of our own sex -- I say alone, for that handsome young soldier is a mere statue, since he seems not to have the use of his limbs, and I am given to understand he wants that of his tongue, at least in civilized language -- I say, since no one but this lady can understand us, I must own there is nothing I have regretted equal to taking this French journey. I looked for a splendid reception, tournaments, carousals, pageants, and festivals; instead of which, all has been seclusion and obscurity! and the best society whom the King introduced to us, was a Bohemian vagabond, by whose agency he directed us to correspond with our friends in Flanders. -- Perhaps," said the lady, "it is his politic intention to mew us up here until our lives' end, that he may seize on our estates, after the extinction of the ancient house of Croye. The Duke of Burgundy was not so cruel; he offered my niece a husband, though he was a bad one." "I should have thought the veil preferable to an evil husband," said the Princess, with difficulty finding opportunity to interpose a word. "One would at least wish to have the choice, madam," replied the voluble dame. "It is, Heaven knows, on account of my niece that I speak; for myself, I have long laid aside thoughts of changing my condition. I see you smile, but by my halidome, it is true -- yet that is no excuse for the King, whose conduct, like his person, hath more resemblance to that of old Michaud, the moneychanger of Ghent, than to the successor of Charlemagne." "Hold!" said the Princess, with some asperity in her tone; "remember you speak of my father." "Of your father!" replied the Burgundian lady, in surprise. "Of my father," repeated the Princess, with dignity, "I am Joan of France. -- But fear not, madam," she continued, in the gentle accent which was natural to her, "you designed no offence, and I have taken none. Command my influence to render your exile and that of this interesting young person more supportable. Alas! it is but little I have in my power, but it is willingly offered." Deep and submissive was the reverence with which the Countess Hameline de Croye, so was the elder lady called, received the obliging offer of the Princess's protection. She had been long the inhabitant of courts, was mistress of the manners which are there acquired, and held firmly the established rule of courtiers of all ages, who, although their usual private conversation turns upon the vices and follies of their patrons, and on the injuries and neglect which they themselves have sustained, never suffer such hints to drop from them in the presence of the Sovereign or those of his family. The lady was, therefore, scandalised to the last degree at the mistake which had induced her to speak so indecorously in presence of the daughter of Louis. She would have exhausted herself in expressing regret and making apologies, had she not been put to silence and restored to equanimity by the Princess, who requested, in the most gentle manner, yet which, from a Daughter of France, had the weight of a command, that no more might be said in the way either of excuse or of explanation. The Princess Joan then took her own chair with a dignity which became her, and compelled the two strangers to sit, one on either hand, to which the younger consented with unfeigned and respectful diffidence, and the elder with an affectation of deep humility and deference which was intended for such. They spoke together, but in such a low tone that the sentinel could not overhear their discourse, and only remarked that the Princess seemed to bestow much of her regard on the younger and more interesting lady; and that the Countess Hameline, though speaking a great deal more, attracted less of the Princess's attention by her full flow of conversation and compliment, than did her kinswoman by her brief and modest replies to what was addressed to her. The conversation of the ladies had not lasted a quarter of an hour, when the door at the lower end of the hall opened, and a man entered shrouded in a riding cloak. Mindful of the King's injunction, and determined not to be a second time caught slumbering, Quentin instantly moved towards the intruder, and, interposing between him and the ladies, requested him to retire instantly. "By whose command?" said the stranger, in a tone of contemptuous surprise. "By that of the King," said Quentin, firmly, "which I am placed here to enforce." "Not against Louis of Orleans," said the Duke, dropping his cloak. The young man hesitated a moment; but how enforce his orders against the first Prince of the Blood, about to be allied, as the report now generally went, with the King's own family? "Your Highness," he said, "is too great that your pleasure should be withstood by me. I trust your Highness will bear me witness that I have done the duty of my post so far as your will permitted." "Go to -- you shall have no blame, young soldier," said Orleans; and passing forward, paid his compliments to the Princess, with that air of constraint which always marked his courtesy when addressing her. He had been dining, he said, with Dunois, and understanding there was society in Roland's Gallery, he had ventured on the freedom of adding one to the number. The colour which mounted into the pale cheek of the unfortunate Joan, and which for the moment spread something of beauty over her features, evinced that this addition to the company was anything but indifferent to her. She hastened to present the Prince to the two Ladies of Croye, who received him with the respect due to his eminent rank; and the Princess, pointing to a chair, requested him to join their conversation party. The Duke declined the freedom of assuming a seat in such society; but taking a cushion from one of the settles, he laid it at the feet of the beautiful young Countess of Croye, and so seated himself, that, without appearing to neglect the Princess, he was enabled to bestow the greater share of his attention on her lovely neighbour. At first, it seemed as if this arrangement rather pleased than offended his destined bride. She encouraged the Duke in his gallantries towards the fair stranger, and seemed to regard them as complimentary to herself. But the Duke of Orleans, though accustomed to subject his mind to the stern yoke of his uncle when in the King's presence, had enough of princely nature to induce him to follow his own inclinations whenever that restraint was withdrawn; and his high rank giving him a right to overstep the ordinary ceremonies, and advance at once to familiarity, his praises of the Countess Isabelle's beauty became so energetic, and flowed with such unrestrained freedom, owing perhaps to his having drunk a little more wine than usual -- for Dunois was no enemy to the worship of Bacchus -- that at length he seemed almost impassioned, and the presence of the Princess appeared well nigh forgotten. The tone of compliment which he indulged was grateful only to one individual in the circle; for the Countess Hameline already anticipated the dignity of an alliance with the first Prince of the Blood, by means of her whose birth, beauty, and large possessions rendered such an ambitious consummation by no means impossible, even in the eyes of a less sanguine projector, could the views of Louis XI have been left out of the calculation of chances. The younger Countess listened to the Duke's gallantries with anxiety and embarrassment, and ever and anon turned an entreating look towards the Princess, as if requesting her to come to her relief. But the wounded feelings and the timidity of Joan of France rendered her incapable of an effort to make the conversation more general; and at length, excepting a few interjectional civilities of the Lady Hameline, it was maintained almost exclusively by the Duke himself, though at the expense of the younger Countess of Croye, whose beauty formed the theme of his high flown eloquence. Nor must I forget that there was a third person, the unregarded sentinel, who saw his fair visions melt away like wax before the sun, as the Duke persevered in the warm tenor of his passionate discourse. At length the Countess Isabelle de Croye made a determined effort to cut short what was becoming intolerably disagreeable to her, especially from the pain to which the conduct of the Duke was apparently subjecting the Princess. Addressing the latter, she said, modestly, but with some firmness, that the first boon she had to claim from her promised protection was, "that her Highness would undertake to convince the Duke of Orleans that the ladies of Burgundy, though inferior in wit and manners to those of France, were not such absolute fools as to be pleased with no other conversation than that of extravagant compliment." "I grieve, lady," said the Duke, preventing the Princess's answer, "that you will satirize, in the same sentence, the beauty of the dames of Burgundy and the sincerity of the Knights of France. If we are hasty and extravagant in the expression of our admiration, it is because we love as we fight, Without letting cold deliberation come into our bosoms, and surrender to the fair with the same rapidity with which we defeat the valiant." "The beauty of our countrywomen," said the young Countess, with more of reproof than she had yet ventured to use towards the high born suitor, "is as unfit to claim such triumphs, as the valour of the men of Burgundy is incapable of yielding them." "I respect your patriotism, Countess," said the Duke; "and the last branch of your theme shall not be impugned by me, till a Burgundian knight shall offer to sustain it with lance in rest. But for the injustice which you have done to the charms which your land produces, I appeal from yourself to yourself. -- Look there," he said, pointing to a large mirror, the gift of the Venetian republic, and then of the highest rarity and value, "and tell me, as you look, what is the heart that can resist the charms there represented?" The Princess, unable to sustain any longer the neglect of her lover, here sunk backwards on her chair with a sigh, which at once recalled the Duke from the land of romance, and induced the Lady Hameline to ask whether her Highness found herself ill. "A sudden pain shot through my forehead," said the Princess, attempting to smile; "but I shall be presently better." Her increasing paleness contradicted her words, and induced the Lady Hameline to call for assistance, as the Princess was about to faint. The Duke, biting his lip, and cursing the folly which could not keep guard over his tongue, ran to summon the Princess's attendants, who were in the next chamber, and when they came hastily, with the usual remedies, he could not but, as a cavalier and gentleman, give his assistance to support and to recover her. His voice, rendered almost tender by pity and self reproach, was the most powerful means of recalling her to herself, and just as the swoon was passing away, the King himself entered the apartment. 画家们把丘比特画成盲目的——许门是否有眼睛呢? 要不就是他的视力被歪曲, 被父母、监护人和顾问们借给他的眼镜所歪曲? 因为他们希望他通过这些眼镜来看田地和房产, 来看珠宝、黄金和荣华富贵, 看到它们的价值被十倍地夸大。 我想这是个问题。 《不幸的强迫婚姻》 法国的路易十一虽然是一个权力欲望强烈且擅长耍弄权术的欧洲君主,但他希望得到的只是权力带来的具有实质的快乐。虽然他十分懂得人们对他的地位应给予何种尊敬的表现,而且有时也严格要求人们照此去做,但一般说来十分不注重形式。 对于一个道德素质更为健全的君主来说,亲切地邀请部下来吃顿饭,甚至偶尔到他们家里去吃顿饭,那一定会大得人心。但即使像他这样一位国王,就并不特别受到他猜忌的那一级臣民来说,态度的亲切随便也能弥补他许多缺点。第三等级,或称法国的平民阶级,在这位贤明的君主的统治下已变得更富裕更重要。他们很尊敬他这个人,但并不是爱戴他。正是依靠这些平民的支持,路易才有可能有效地对付贵族们对他的仇恨。贵族们都认为他那讨好市民和平民的不拘形式的作风降低了法国王室的尊严,同时也使得他们自己显赫的特权黯然失色。 这位法国国王颇觉有趣地等待着他的卫士满足年轻人挨饿后的食欲,其耐心程度会使大多数别的君王认为有失身份。不过可以设想,昆丁这人十分明理,十分审慎,自然不会让国王的耐心经受冗长而乏味的考验。事实上他也是一再想赶在路易干预之前就结束这顿饭。“通过你的眼睛我可以看出你的勇气并未减弱,”他脾气蛮好地说道,“继续干吧——上帝和圣丹尼斯!——再次发起冲锋吧!我告诉你,吃饭和做弥撒,”(说着他划了个十字)“决不会妨害一个善良的基督徒的功德。来,喝杯酒。不过,你得注意提防酒罐——这可是你的同胞们,也是英国人的一个缺点。要是去掉这个愚蠢的习惯,他们真算得上世界上最优秀的士兵。好了,你赶快用酒涮涮你的喉咙吧——别忘记念你的祝福祷告。行了,跟我来。” 昆丁听从吩咐,跟随路易王穿过和他先前走过的同样复杂的一个通道来到了罗兰厅。 “注意,”国王以命令的口气说道,“你得说你从来没离开这个岗位——这就是你对你舅舅和同伴应作的回答——你听着,为了把这事拴在你的脑子里,我给你这条金链子。”(接着把一条很值钱的金链子挂在他胳膊上)“虽然我不喜欢炫耀外表,但我的亲信们总会得到好东西来和贵人们比比阔气的。不过,要是像这样的金链子也不能把你的舌头拴住,那么,为了免得你随意饶舌,我那个伙计勒尔米特可有个治喉咙的万灵秘方。你注意,今晚除开奥利弗或我本人以外,谁也不会到这儿来。不过有两个贵妇人要来这儿,也许从大厅这一端进来,也许从大厅那一端进来,也可能各从一端进来。如果她们和你讲话,你可以回答,不过既然你在站岗,你的回答必须简短。但你不得反过来和她们讲话,更不得和她们作长时间的交谈。但你得听她们讲些什么。你的耳朵也像你的手一样,都是属于我的——我已经把你的肉体连灵魂全买下来了。因此,要是你听见她们讲什么,你就把它记下来,好讲给我听,然后把它忘掉。啊,我改变了主意。你最好装作一个刚从深山里下来的苏格兰新兵,还没学会我们最基督化的语言——对,要是她们对你讲话,你就别回答。这可以免得你为难,并诱使她们不顾你在场而任意讲话。你懂得我的意思吧!再见。放聪明一些,你就能获得一个朋友。” 国王刚说完这几句话就隐遁到壁毯后面,只留下昆丁独自思忖他看见和听到的种种情况。这年轻人此刻的处境是,向前看要比向后看更为愉快,因为回想自己曾像潜伏在丛林中猎公鹿的射手似的被安插在餐室里准备刺杀高贵的克雷维格伯爵,自然并无高贵可言。诚然,国王在这一场合采取的措施似乎仅属于戒备和保卫的性质。但这年轻人怎会知道,也许很快就会命令他去进行某种类似的进攻性的行动呢?这真是一个很不愉快的难题,因为根据主人的性格来看,很明显,拒绝定会带来灾难,但他的荣誉却告诉他,答应就会带来耻辱。他决心先不想这个问题,而是使用年轻人考虑可能发生的危险时常用的自我安慰的聪明办法:危险真到来时再考虑应付的办法也还不迟,再说,一天的难处一天当就够了。 昆丁比较容易地接受了这种自我安慰的想法,是因为国王的最后一道命令使他想到自己处境以外的某种更令人高兴的东西。那位诗琴女郎肯定是要求他加以注意的两位贵妇人之一。在他心里他自然乐于答应服从国王的那一部分指示,即专心地倾听她嘴里可能说出的每一句话。这样他就能判断她的谈吐的魅力是否比得上她的音乐的魅力。但他也同样真诚地从内心里发誓说,他决不把她谈话中可能会对这位美人产生不利影响的部分汇报给国王。 不过,现在已不用担心他在站岗时再打盹了。穿过大格子窗吹来的微风吹动墙上的挂毯,听起来也像是他所期待的丽人走来的脚步声。总之,此刻他感觉到了那总是伴随爱情而产生,有时又有助于培养爱情的那种翘首企望的神秘和焦急的心情。 最后,有道门终于吱嘎、铿锵地响了起来(因为在十五世纪时,就是皇宫的门也不像我们现在的门这样在铰链上无声地旋转)。天哪!门开的那一端并不是他曾听到诗琴弹奏的那个方向。门开了,一个妇人在另外两个妇人的跟随下走了进来。但她做了个手势叫她们呆在外面,而她则独自往大厅里走去。通过她穿过这长廊时显得特别难看的不均匀的步履,昆丁马上认出这是让娜公主。他向她表示合乎他身份的应有的礼貌。当她走过时,他把枪口低下来,挺直身子默默致敬。她很得体地低下了头作为答礼,因此他乘机比早晨更清楚地看到她的面容。 这位不幸的公主的容貌没有什么可取之处足以弥补身材和步履的缺陷。当然,她的面孔虽不美丽,但本身并不难看。她那总是注视着地面的大大的蓝眼睛具有一种忍受痛苦的温顺表情。除了脸色极其苍白以外,她的皮肤也因为经常有病而略微发黄。虽然她牙齿整齐洁白,但嘴唇很薄,没有血色。公主小姐有一头浓密的亚麻色头发,颜色淡淡的,几乎有点发蓝。她的梳妆侍女一定是认为女主人浓密的长发很美,因此把它弄成一圈圈的鬈发,围着她苍白的面孔。但这无济于事,反倒给她的面孔增添了一种死尸般不自然的感觉。更糟糕的是,她挑了一件淡绿绸的坎肩穿在身上,从总体上来看这就给人一种可怕的,甚至类似幽灵的印象。 昆丁用好奇掺杂着怜悯的目光看着这位奇异的鬼魂般的人物,因为公主小姐的每一个表情和动作都会引起这后一种感觉。正在这时,两位贵妇人从大厅的上面一端走了进来。 其中一位正是那位年轻的少女。当昆丁在百合花旅店吃那顿难忘的早餐时,她曾应路易之命给他上过水果。现在她既具有面纱诗琴仙女那种神秘的尊严气度,又表明是(至少在昆丁看来)一位富有的、出身高贵的伯爵领地继承人。此刻她在昆丁身上产生的这种印象自然要比他认为她只是一个小店主的女儿,正在侍候一位幽默而有钱的老市民时所产生的印象更深刻十倍。他奇怪,究竟是什么样的魅力使他看不出她的真面目。她的服装仍然和过去一样简朴,只穿着一套深色的丧服,没有任何装饰。她的头上只是披着一块皱纱,完全覆在脑后,露出整个面孔。正因为昆丁知道了她真正的身份,在他眼里那美丽的身材才具有一种新的典雅的风采,那以前没被他注意到的步履才具有一种尊严的感觉,而她那端正的面容、漂亮的肤色、闪耀的眼睛也才具有一种自己意识到的高贵气度,从而增添了它们的姿色。 即使要犯死罪,达威特也会像他刚才对待国王的公主小姐那样对这位美人和她的伴侣致以崇高的敬礼。她们就像习惯于接受下人谦恭行礼的贵人那样接受了他的敬礼,并还了他一个礼。但他想——也许这只是一个年轻人的幻觉吧——那年轻的小姐脸微微红了一下,眼睛望着地上,还礼时似乎稍稍有点发窘。这一定是由于她回想起百合花旅店旁边那个塔楼里住过的胆大的陌生人。但那窘态是否是不悦的表示呢?他无法回答。 年轻的伯爵小姐的伴侣衣着也同样简朴,穿着深色的丧服。某些妇女虽然已人老珠黄,但往往还留恋着昔日美女的名声。这位贵妇人也正是这样一种情况。她残余的风韵足以表明她当初曾有过何等的魅力。她通过自己的仪态明显地暗示出,她还回忆着往日的荣耀,并没有放弃获取未来胜利的权利。她长得又高又窈窕,但举止有些高傲。她带着贵人屈尊的微笑给昆丁还了个礼,马上对她的同伴耳语了一句。那少女像是听从年长妇人的指点似的朝那卫兵望了一眼,但头也不抬地作了个回答。昆丁禁不住猜想,那句话的意思是想叫少女看看他那英俊的面容。而(我也不知为什么)他也乐意接受这样一种想法:少女并不想看他一眼来亲眼证实那年长的仕女说的话是否真实。也许他感到在他们之间已开始存在某种神秘的关系,使得微不足道的小事也具有重要的含义。 这思想只延续了短短一瞬。很快他便全神贯注地观察让娜公主与这两位陌生仕女的会见。她们进来时她已停住脚步准备迎接她们,也许是意识到走动对她很不相宜吧。她颇感发窘地和她们寒暄应酬,而那年长的仕女不知道她谈话对象的身份,对她表现出的礼貌不兔使人感觉她不是蒙受会见的荣幸,而是赐与对方会见的荣幸。 “女士,我很高兴,”她微笑地说道,但这微笑旨在表达贵人的优越感和给对方的鼓励,“我们终于有幸和您这样一位可尊敬的女性在一起。我不能不说,路易王对我和我侄女的招待,我们只能感到遗憾——让我说,侄女,别扯我的袖子——我相信这位年轻女士的表情充满了对我们处境的同情——美丽的小姐,自从我们来到这儿,我们的待遇就比囚犯好不了多少。尽管他千百次地邀请我们把我们的身体和命运托付给法国保护,但这位最讲基督之道的国王先是租一家低级旅店供我们住宿,然后又叫我们住进这个虫蛀的皇宫,拨给我们一个僻静的角落,要等到黄昏才许我们爬出来散散心,仿佛我们是蝙蝠或猫头鹰,在大白天出来会被认为是不祥的征兆。” “我很遗憾,”公主带着狼狈和为难的表情支吾道,“我们没能按你们应享有的待遇接待你们——我想您的侄女要比您更满意一点吧?” “满意得多——超过我言词所能表达的程度。”年轻的伯爵小姐回答道,“我本来就只求平安无事,但除此之外,我还找到了与世隔绝的幽静。我们原先的住处已很僻静,而现在拨给我们的住处就更好了。在我看来,这更增添了他赐予给我们这两个不幸的流亡者的恩惠。” “得了,我痴傻的侄女,”年长的妇人说道,“既然我们总算和一位像我们一样的女性单独在一起,就让我们凭良心说话吧。我之所以说单独在一起,是因为那漂亮的年轻卫兵只像一尊塑像,仿佛不懂得如何使用他的四肢,而他也同样暗示我,至少在文明语言方面他不懂得如何使用他的舌头。既然只有这位小姐能听懂我们的话,我得说,我不能不承认,这次来法国是我一生中最遗憾的事。我本来指望受到热烈欢迎,能经常看比武,看社戏,三日一小宴,五日一大宴。但恰恰相反,与世隔绝,默默无闻!国王让我们接触到的最好的陪伴只是一个波希米亚流浪汉。他嘱咐我们通过他来和我们在弗兰德的朋友取得联系。也许,”那贵妇人说道,“他是处心积虑地想把我们关到死的那天,好让他在古老的克罗伊埃家族消亡之后攫取我们的家产。勃艮第公爵也没有这么残酷。虽然他给我侄女挑了一个不称心的女婿,他终归还是赏给了她一个女婿。” “我想,宁可当女修道士也不能嫁给一个坏丈夫。”公主说道,好容易才找到一个机会插话。 “小姐,人们至少希望能有个选择余地。”那口若悬河的妇女说道,“上帝知道,我这是替我侄女说的。至于我自己,我早就放弃了结婚的念头。我看你在笑,但是,老天爷在上,这是真话——不过这可不是给国王一个借口,因为他的行为也像他的人品一样,更像根特的钱币兑换商——老年的米肖德,而不那么像查里曼大帝的后裔。” “住嘴!”公主以颇为严峻的声调说道,“要晓得你是讲我的父亲!” “讲你的父亲!”那勃艮第贵妇人吃惊地说道。 “讲我的父亲,”公主严肃地重说了一遍,“我是法国的让娜公主。不过,女士,你不用害怕,”她用一种天生的柔和声调继续说道,“你没有冒犯我的意思,我并不见怪。你可以利用我的影响使你和那位可爱的少女的流亡生活过得更好受一些。可惜的是我的权力也很有限。不过我很乐意为你们效劳。” 哈梅琳•德•克洛伊埃伯爵夫人(这就是那位年长的妇人的大名)以最谦恭的敬意,接受公主的善意表示。她曾长期在宫廷生活,深谙宫廷礼节,而且坚守各个时代朝臣们规定的准则,即尽管他们平时私下谈话的话题往往是君主的一些恶习和傻事,以及他们自己受到的委屈和疏忽,但从不容许在国王或其家属面前流露出来。因此这位贵妇人对于她在路易王的女儿面前讲话如此放肆的错误真是羞愧得无地自容。要不是公主以最温和的态度(既然她是法国公主,这态度本身也等于是一种命令)要求她别再说什么来进行辩说和解释,从而使她住了嘴,恢复了平静,否则她肯定会没完没了地赔礼道歉下去。 让娜公主带着一种合乎其身份的尊严坐在自己的椅子上,并要那两位陌生的仕女坐在她的两边。年轻的少女带着真诚的恭敬表情,年长的妇人则故意装出一付谦卑的样子遵命坐下。她们在一起谈话,声音很低,那哨兵根本听不见她们谈些什么,只是观察到,公主似乎是对那年轻可爱的少女更感兴趣。哈梅琳女士虽然讲了一大堆,但她那滔滔不绝的恭维话还不如她侄女对提问所作的简短适度的回答更能引起公主的注意。 三位贵妇人的谈话只延续了一刻钟。正对着大厅下首的大门突然打开,一个披着斗篷的男人走了进来。昆丁牢记着国王的严命,决心不再让人发觉自己站岗时打盹,便马上朝那擅自进入的男人走过去,插在他和贵妇人中间,要求他马上离开。 “你这是根据谁的命令?”那陌生人轻蔑而又惊奇地问道。 “根据国王的命令,”昆丁坚定地说道,“我在这儿站岗就是为了执行这个命令。” “总不能对奥尔良•路易也执行这个命令吧!”公爵把披风一甩,厉声喝道。 年轻人犹豫了片刻:怎么好对这个属于皇族血统的第一亲王——而且像人们传说的那样,是即将和国王家庭联姻的一位亲王——执行国王的命令呢? “殿下的崇高地位使我无法阻挡您的意愿,”昆丁说道,“我相信殿下将为我作证,在您可以容忍的范围内我已尽了我执勤的责任。” “去吧——年轻的卫兵。不会向你问罪的。”奥尔良说道,接着走向前去,用和公主谈话时常见的拘谨有礼的态度向公主请安。 “我本来和杜诺瓦在一起吃饭,”他说,“听说在罗兰大厅有个聚会,便冒昧地跑来参加。” 不幸的让娜公主苍白的脸颊上泛起的红晕使得她的面容暂时出现了某种美丽的姿色,说明亲王驾到对她说来绝非无关痛痒。她赶紧把亲王介绍给两位克罗伊埃仕女。她们都向他致以适合他崇高地位的敬意。公主指着一张椅子要他坐下来参加她们的谈话。 公爵不愿在这样一种场合贸然就座,而从一张长靠背椅上取下一个垫子摆在年轻美丽的克罗伊埃伯爵小姐的脚下,席地而坐,坐的姿势使他既显得没有疏忽公主,又有可能把他大部分的注意力给与他那可爱的邻座。 他的未婚妻对这一安排起先似乎还感到高兴,并不见怪。她鼓励公爵向那美丽的客人献殷勤,并认为这对她自己也很光彩。然而奥尔良公爵虽然已习惯于在国王在场时让自己的思想感情受他这位叔父的严格约束,但一当这束缚暂时解除,他还是有足够的贵人气质促使他自行其是。由于他崇高的地位,他有权逾越通常的礼节,而立刻和别人表现亲昵。也许是因为他比平常多喝了些酒吧(杜诺瓦这人也是个酒神的崇拜者),他对美丽的伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐的恭维已失去分寸,变得十分热烈,最后已接近狂热的地步,几乎忘记了公主的存在。 他所恣意使用的这一恭维口吻只是叫在场的一个人听来高兴,那就是哈梅琳女士。她在指望通过她和皇族血统的第一亲王联姻带来的光荣,因为,假如路易十一的观点可以不加考虑的话,那么即使一个不如她乐观的谋划者也会觉得,以她侄女的出身、美丽和巨大的产业来说,这桩雄心勃勃的婚事也并非绝不可能。然而年轻的伯爵小姐却带着不安和为难的心情听着公爵向她大献殷勤。她不时向公主投以恳求般的目光,仿佛求她帮忙解围。然而法兰西让娜公主那受伤害的感情和胆怯的心理都使她无法使话题更广泛一些。最后,除开哈梅琳女士插进几句客套话以外,谈话几乎全被公爵一人垄断。自然这是以年轻的克罗伊埃伯爵小姐的不快为代价的。事实上,小姐的美丽成了他夸张的口才的惟一话题。 我也不应当忘记还有一个第三者——那个不受人注意的卫兵。他看到一方面是公爵坚持在用亲热的语调继续他那热情洋溢的谈话,而另一方面那精灵般的美人却像蜡一样在被阳光慢慢地融化。最后伊莎贝尔•德•克罗伊埃伯爵小姐断然打断了公爵的恭维话,特别是因为公爵的表现显然已给公主造成痛苦,从而使得这些难听的话变得无法容忍。 她转过身来对公主谦和而坚定地说道,既然她答应过给她保护,那么她要求于她的第一个恩惠就是:“盼公主殿下负责说服奥尔良公爵:勃艮第仕女虽在聪明和礼貌方面不及法国仕女,但还不至愚蠢到只能赏识天花乱坠的恭维。” “小姐,我很伤心,”没等公主回答,公爵抢先说道,“您竟然在同一句话里既贬损了勃艮第仕女们的美丽,也贬损了法国骑士们的真诚。如果说我们在表达赞赏方面有鲁莽放肆之处,那是因为我们爱慕女性也和我们对敌作战一样,不让冷静的思考来妨碍我们的心灵。我们既能迅速击败勇士,也能同样迅速地向美丽的姑娘表示我们的折服。” “勃艮第的仕女们不配享有这种胜利,但勃艮第英勇的男子汉也不可能让自己的对手赢得胜利。”年轻的伯爵小姐以比先前对待这位高贵的追求者敢于使用过的更带责备意味的口吻说道。 “伯爵小姐,我佩服您的爱国精神,”公爵说道,“对于您说的后半句话我暂时不提出异议,直到一位勃艮第的骑士愿用长矛比武来证明其正确性。至于您对贵国仕女的美丽的不公正评价,我只想诉诸您本人来作出裁判——您望望这儿,”他指着威尼斯共和国赠送的,当时十分珍贵而稀有的一面大镜子说道,“请您瞧瞧这面镜子,说句公道话吧,看到这镜子里映出来的美貌,谁能不动心呢?” 这时公主已无法再忍受她所爱的男人对她的冷落。她叹口气,往后倒在椅背上。这才使公爵立刻从罗曼蒂克的心境中清醒过来。见此情景,哈梅琳女士赶紧问公主是否身体不适。 “我脑门上突然感到一阵剧痛,”公主勉强微笑地说道,“不过我会马上恢复的。” 但她那越发苍白的脸色否定了她自己讲的话,也促使哈梅琳女士赶紧去叫人来帮忙急救,因为公主眼看就会昏倒过去。 公爵咬咬嘴唇,诅咒自己愚蠢,没有管好舌头,连忙跑到隔壁房间去召唤公主的侍女。她们带着一些常用药物匆忙赶来。作为一个骑士和贵族,他只得帮忙托住她,使她恢复过来。他那由于怜悯和自责而变得近乎温柔的声音自然是使公主苏醒的灵丹妙药。正当她从昏迷中醒来时,国王已亲自驾到。 Chapter 12 The Politician This is a lecturer, so skill'd in policy, That (no disparagement to Satan's cunning) He well might read a lesson to the devil, And teach the old seducer new temptations. OLD PLAY As Louis entered the gallery, he bent his brows in the manner we have formerly described as peculiar to him, and sent, from under his gathered and gloomy eyebrows, a keen look on all around; in darting which, as Quentin afterwards declared, his eyes seemed to turn so small, so fierce, and so piercing, as to resemble those of an aroused adder looking through the bush of heath in which he lies coiled. When, by this momentary and sharpened glance, the King had reconnoitered the cause of the bustle which was in the apartment, his first address was to the Duke of Orleans. "You here, my fair cousin?" he said; -- and turning to Quentin, added sternly, "Had you not charge?" "Forgive the young man, Sire," said the Duke; "he did not neglect his duty; but I was informed that the Princess was in this gallery." "And I warrant you would not be withstood when you came hither to pay your court," said the King, whose detestable hypocrisy persisted in representing the Duke as participating in a passion which was felt only on the side of his unhappy daughter; "and it is thus you debauch the sentinels of my guard, young man? -- But what cannot be pardoned to a gallant who only lives par amours (by his love affairs)?" The Duke of Orleans raised his head, as if about to reply in some manner which might correct the opinion conveyed in the King's observation; but the instinctive reverence, not to say fear, of Louis, in which he had been bred from childhood, chained up his voice. "And Joan hath been ill?" said the King; "but do not be grieved, Louis; it will soon pass away; lend her your arm to her apartment, while I will conduct these strange ladies to theirs." The order was given in a tone which amounted to a command, and Orleans accordingly made his exit with the Princess at one extremity of the gallery, while the King, ungloving his right hand, courteously handed the Countess Isabelle and her kinswoman to their apartment, which opened from the other. He bowed profoundly as they entered, and remained standing on the threshold for a minute after they had disappeared; then, with great composure, shut the door by which they had retired and turning the huge key, took it from the lock, and put it into his girdle -- an appendage which gave him still more perfectly the air of some old miser, who cannot journey in comfort unless he bear with him the key of his treasure closet. With slow and pensive step, and eyes fixed on the ground, Louis now paced towards Quentin Durward, who, expecting his share of the royal displeasure, viewed his approach with no little anxiety. "Thou hast done wrong," said the King, raising his eyes, and fixing them firmly on him when he had come within a yard of him, -- "thou hast done foul wrong, and deservest to die. -- Speak not a word in defence! -- What hadst thou to do with Dukes or Princesses? -- what with any thing but my order?" "So please your Majesty," said the young soldier, "what could I do?" "What couldst thou do when thy post was forcibly passed?" answered the King, scornfully, -- "what is the use of that weapon on thy shoulder? Thou shouldst have levelled thy piece, and if the presumptuous rebel did not retire on the instant, he should have died within this very hall! Go -- pass into these farther apartments. In the first thou wilt find a large staircase, which leads to the inner Bailley; there thou wilt find Oliver Dain (the inner bailey contained the stables and often the chapel. It communicated directly with the keep). Send him to me -- do thou begone to thy quarters. -- As thou dost value thy life, be not so loose of thy tongue as thou hast been this day slack of thy hand." Well pleased to escape so easily, yet with a soul which revolted at the cold blooded cruelty which the King seemed to require from him in the execution of his duty, Durward took the road indicated; hastened down stairs, and communicated the royal pleasure to Oliver, who was waiting in the court beneath. The wily tonsor bowed, sighed, and smiled, as, with a voice even softer than ordinary, he wished the youth a good evening; and they parted, Quentin to his quarters, and Oliver to attend the King. In this place, the Memoirs which we have chiefly followed in compiling this true history were unhappily defective; for, founded chiefly on information supplied by Quentin, they do not convey the purport of the dialogue which, in his absence, took place between the King and his secret counsellor. Fortunately the Library of Hautlieu contains a manuscript copy of the Chronique Scandaleuse of Jean de Troyes (the Marquis de Hautlieu is the name of an imaginary character in whose library Scott declares himself to have found the memorials which form the basis of the novel of Quentin Durward), much more full than that which has been printed; to which are added several curious memoranda, which we incline to think must have been written down by Oliver himself after the death of his master, and before he had the happiness to be rewarded with the halter which he had so long merited. From this we have been able to extract a very full account of the obscure favourite's conversation with Louis upon the present occasion, which throws a light upon the policy of that Prince, which we might otherwise have sought for in vain. When the favourite attendant entered the Gallery of Roland, he found the King pensively seated upon the chair which his daughter had left some minutes before. Well acquainted with his temper, he glided on with his noiseless step until he had just crossed the line of the King's sight, so as to make him aware of his presence, then shrank modestly backward and out of sight, until he should be summoned to speak or to listen. The Monarch's first address was an unpleasant one: "So, Oliver, your fine schemes are melting like snow before the south wind! -- I pray to Our Lady of Embrun that they resemble not the ice heaps of which the Switzer churls tell such stories, and come rushing down upon our heads." "I have heard with concern that all is not well, Sire," answered Oliver. "Not well!" exclaimed the King, rising and hastily marching up and down the gallery. "All is ill, man -- and as ill nearly as possible; so much for thy fond romantic advice, that I, of all men, should become a protector of distressed damsels! I tell thee Burgundy is arming, and on the eve of closing an alliance with England. And Edward, who hath his hands idle at home, will pour his thousands upon us through that unhappy gate of Calais. Singly, I might cajole or defy them; but united, united -- and with the discontent and treachery of that villain Saint Paul! -- All thy fault, Oliver, who counselled me to receive the women, and to use the services of that damned Bohemian to carry messages to their vassals." "My lord," said Oliver, "you know my reasons. The Countess's domains lie between the frontiers of Burgundy and Flanders -- her castle is almost impregnable -- her rights over neighbouring estates are such as, if well supported, cannot but give much annoyance to Burgundy, were the lady but wedded to one who should be friendly to France." "It is, it is a tempting bait," said the King; "and could we have concealed her being here, we might have arranged such a marriage for this rich heiress as would have highly profited -- France. But that cursed Bohemian, how couldst thou recommend such a heathen hound for a commission which required trust?" "Please you," said Oliver, "to remember it was your Grace's self who trusted him too far -- much farther than I recommended. He would have borne a letter trustily enough to the Countess's kinsman, telling him to hold out her castle, and promising speedy relief; but your Highness must needs put his prophetic powers to the test; and thus he became possessed of secrets which were worth betraying to Duke Charles." "I am ashamed, I am ashamed," said Louis. "And yet, Oliver, they say that these heathen people are descended from the sage Chaldeans, who did read the mysteries of the stars in the plains of Shinar (they lie between the Tigris and Euphrates)." Well aware that his master, with all his acuteness and sagacity, was but the more prone to be deceived by soothsayers, astrologers, diviners, and all that race of pretenders to occult science, and that he even conceived himself to have some skill in these arts. Oliver dared to press this point no farther; and only observed that the Bohemian had been a bad prophet on his own account, else he would have avoided returning to Tours, and saved himself from the gallows he had merited. "It often happens that those who are gifted with prophetic knowledge," answered Louis, with much gravity, "have not the power of foreseeing those events in which they themselves are personally interested." "Under your Majesty's favour," replied the confidant, "that seems as if a man could not see his own hand by means of the candle which he holds, and which shows him every other object in the apartment." "He cannot see his own features by the light which shows the faces of others," replied Louis; "and that is the more faithful illustration of the case. -- But this is foreign to my purpose at present. The Bohemian hath had his reward, and peace be with him. -- But these ladies! -- Not only does Burgundy threaten us with war for harbouring them, but their presence is like to interfere with my projects in my own family. My simple cousin of Orleans hath barely seen this damsel, and I venture to prophesy that the sight of her is like to make him less pliable in the matter of his alliance with Joan." "Your Majesty," answered the counsellor, "may send these ladies of Croye back to Burgundy, and so make your peace with the Duke. Many might murmur at this as dishonourable; but if necessity demands the sacrifice --" "If profit demanded the sacrifice, Oliver, the sacrifice should be made without hesitation," answered the King. "I am an old, experienced salmon, and use not to gulp the angler's hook because it is busked up with a feather called honour. But what is worse than a lack of honour, there were, in returning those ladies to Burgundy, a forfeiture of those views of advantage which moved us to give them an asylum. It were heart breaking to renounce the opportunity of planting a friend to ourselves, and an enemy to Burgundy, in the very centre of his dominions, and so near to the discontented cities of Flanders. Oliver, I cannot relinquish the advantages which our scheme of marrying the maiden to a friend of our own house seems to hold out to us." "Your Majesty," said Oliver, after a moment's thought, "might confer her hand on some right trusty friend, who would take all blame on himself, and serve your Majesty secretly, while in public you might disown him." "And where am I to find such a friend?" said Louis. "Were I to bestow her upon any one of our mutinous and ill ruled nobles, would it not be rendering him independent? and hath it not been my policy for years to prevent them from becoming so? -- Dunois indeed -- him, and him only, I might perchance trust. -- He would fight for the crown of France, whatever were his condition. But honours and wealth change men's natures. -- Even Dunois I will not trust." "Your Majesty may find others," said Oliver, in his smoothest manner, and in a tone more insinuating than that which he usually employed in conversing with the King, who permitted him considerable freedom; "men dependent entirely on your own grace and favour, and who could no more exist without your countenance than without sun or air -- men rather of head than of action -- men who" "Men who resemble thyself, ha!" said King Louis. "No, Oliver, by my faith that arrow was too rashly shot! -- What! because I indulge thee with my confidence, and let thee, in reward, poll my lieges a little now and then, dost thou think it makes thee fit to be the husband of that beautiful vision, and a Count of the highest class to boot? -- thee -- thee, I say, low born, and lower bred, whose wisdom is at best a sort of dinning, and whose courage is more than doubtful." "Your Majesty imputes to me a presumption of which I am not guilty, in supposing me to aspire so highly," said Oliver. "I am glad to hear it, man," said the King; "and truly, I hold your judgment the healthier that you disown such a reverie. But methinks thy speech sounded strangely in that key. -- Well, to return. -- I dare not wed this beauty to one of my subjects -- I dare not return her to Burgundy -- I dare not transmit her to England or to Germany, where she is likely to become the prize of some one more apt to unite with Burgundy than with France, and who would be more ready to discourage the honest malcontents in Ghent and Liege, than to yield them that wholesome countenance which might always find Charles the Hardy enough to exercise his valour on, without stirring from his domains -- and they were in so ripe a humour for insurrection, the men of Liege in especial, that they alone, well heated and supported, would find my fair cousin work for more than a twelvemonth; and backed by a warlike Count of Croye -- O, Oliver! the plan is too hopeful to be resigned without a struggle. -- Cannot thy fertile brain devise some scheme?" Oliver paused for a long time -- then at last replied, "What if a bridal could be accomplished betwixt Isabelle of Croye and young Adolphus, the Duke of Gueldres?" "What!" said the King, in astonishment "sacrifice her, and she, too, so lovely a creature, to the furious wretch who deposed, imprisoned, and has often threatened to murder his own father! -- No, Oliver, no that were too unutterably cruel even for you and me, who look so steadfastly to our excellent end, the peace and the welfare of France, and respect so little the means by which it is attained. Besides, he lies distant from us and is detested by the people of Ghent and Liege. -- No, no -- I will none of Adolphus of Gueldres -- think on some one else." "My invention is exhausted, Sire," said the counsellor; "I can remember no one who, as husband to the Countess of Croye, would be likely to answer your Majesty's views. He must unite such various qualities -- a friend to your Majesty -- an enemy to Burgundy -- of policy enough to conciliate the Ghentois and Liegeois, and of valour sufficient to defend his little dominions against the power of Duke Charles -- of noble birth besides -- that your Highness insists upon; and of excellent and virtuous character to the boot of all." "Nay, Oliver," said the King, "I leaned not so much -- that is so very much, on character; but methinks Isabelle's bridegroom should be something less publicly and generally abhorred than Adolphus of Gueldres. For example, since I myself must suggest some one -- why not William de la Marck?" "On my halidome, Sire," said Oliver, "I cannot complain of your demanding too high a standard of moral excellence in the happy man, if the Wild Boar of Ardennes can serve your turn. De la Marck! -- why, he is the most notorious robber and murderer on all the frontiers -- excommunicated by the Pope for a thousand crimes." "We will have him released from the sentence, friend Oliver -- Holy Church is merciful." "Almost an outlaw," continued Oliver, "and under the ban of the Empire, by an ordinance of the Chamber at Ratisbon." (Ratisbon was the seat of the German Reichstag from 1663 to 1806.) "We will have the ban taken off, friend Oliver," continued the King, in the same tone; "the Imperial Chamber will hear reason." (A supreme court of appeals established in 1495 by Maximilian I: the first law court established in Germany.) "And admitting him to be of noble birth," said Oliver, "he hath the manners, the face, and the outward form, as well as the heart, of a Flemish butcher -- she will never accept of him." "His mode of wooing, if I mistake him not," said Louis, "will render it difficult for her to make a choice." "I was far wrong indeed, when I taxed your Majesty with being over scrupulous," said the counsellor. "On my life, the crimes of Adolphus are but virtues to those of De la Marck! -- And then how is he to meet with his bride? Your Majesty knows he dare not stir far from his own forest of Ardennes." "That must be cared for," said the King; "and, in the first place, the two ladies must be acquainted privately that they can be no longer maintained at this Court, except at the expense of a war between France and Burgundy, and that, unwilling to deliver them up to my fair cousin of Burgundy, I am desirous they should secretly depart from my dominions." "They will demand to be conveyed to England," said Oliver "and we shall have her return to Flanders with an island lord, having a round, fair face, long brown hair, and three thousand archers at his back." "No -- no," replied the king; "we dare not (you understand me) so far offend our fair cousin of Burgundy as to let her pass to England. It would bring his displeasure as certainly as our maintaining her here. No, no -- to the safety of the Church alone we will venture to commit her; and the utmost we can do is to connive at the Ladies Hameline and Isabelle de Croye departing in disguise, and with a small retinue, to take refuge with the Bishop of Liege, who will place the fair Isabelle for the time under the safeguard of a convent." "And if that convent protect her from William de la Marck, when he knows of your Majesty's favourable intentions, I have mistaken the man." "Why, yes," answered the King, "thanks to our secret supplies of money, De la Marck hath together a handsome handful of as unscrupulous soldiery as ever were outlawed; with which he contrives to maintain himself among the woods, in such a condition as makes him formidable both to the Duke of Burgundy and the Bishop of Liege. He lacks nothing but some territory which he may call his own; and this being so fair an opportunity to establish himself by marriage, I think that, Pasques dieu! he will find means to win and wed, without more than a hint on our part. The Duke of Burgundy will then have such a thorn in his side as no lancet of our time will easily cut out from his flesh. The Boar of Ardennes, whom he has already outlawed, strengthened by the possession of that fair lady's lands, castles, and seigniory, with the discontented Liegeois to boot, who, by may faith, will not be in that case unwilling to choose him for their captain and leader -- let Charles then think of wars with France when he will, or rather let him bless his stars if she war not with him. -- How dost thou like the scheme, Oliver, ha?" "Rarely," said Oliver, "save and except the doom which confers that lady on the Wild Boar of Ardennes. -- By my halidome, saving in a little outward show of gallantry, Tristan, the Provost Marshal, were the more proper bridegroom of the two." "Anon thou didst propose Master Oliver the barber," said Louis; "but friend Oliver and gossip Tristan, though excellent men in the way of counsel and execution, are not the stuff that men make counts of. - Know you not that the burghers of Flanders value birth in other men precisely because they have it not themselves? -- A plebeian mob ever desire an aristocratic leader. Yonder Ked, or Cade, or -- how called they him? -- in England, was fain to lure his rascal rout after him by pretending to the blood of the Mortimers (Jack Cade was the leader of Cade's Rebellion. Calling himself Mortimer, and claiming to be a cousin of Richard, Duke of York, in 1450, at the head of twenty thousand men, he took formal possession of London. His alleged object was to procure representation for the people, and so reduce excessive taxation.). William de la Marck comes of the blood of the Princes of Sedan, as noble as mine own. -- And now to business. I must determine the ladies of Croye to a speedy and secret flight, under sure guidance. This will be easily done -- we have but to hint the alternative of surrendering them to Burgundy. Thou must find means to let William de la Marck know of their motions, and let him choose his own time and place to push his suit. I know a fit person to travel with them." "May I ask to whom your Majesty commits such an important charge?" asked the tonsor. "To a foreigner, be sure," replied the King, "one who has neither kin nor interest in France, to interfere with the execution of my pleasure; and who knows too little of the country and its factions, to suspect more of my purpose than I choose to tell him -- in a word, I design to employ the young Scot who sent you hither but now." Oliver paused in a manner which seemed to imply a doubt of the prudence of the choice, and then added, "Your Majesty has reposed confidence in that stranger boy earlier than is your wont." "I have my reasons," answered the King. "Thou knowest" (and he crossed himself) "my devotion for the blessed Saint Julian. I had been saying my orisons to that holy Saint late in the night before last, wherein (as he is known to be the guardian of travellers) I made it my humble petition that he would augment my household with such wandering foreigners as might best establish throughout our kingdom unlimited devotion to our will; and I vowed to the good Saint in guerdon, that I would, in his name, receive, and relieve; and maintain them." "And did Saint Julian," said Oliver, "send your Majesty this long legged importation from Scotland in answer to your prayers?" Although the barber, who well knew that his master had superstition in a large proportion to his want of religion, and that on such topics nothing was more easy than to offend him -- although, I say, he knew the royal weakness, and therefore carefully put the preceding question in the softest and most simple tone of voice, Louis felt the innuendo which it contained, and regarded the speaker with high displeasure. "Sirrah," he said, "thou art well called Oliver the Devil, who darest thus to sport at once with thy master and with the blessed Saints. I tell thee, wert thou one grain less necessary to me, I would have thee hung up on yonder oak before the Castle, as an example to all who scoff at things holy -- Know, thou infidel slave, that mine eyes were no sooner closed; than the blessed Saint Julian was visible to me, leading a young man whom he presented to me, saying that his fortune should be to escape the sword, the cord, the river, and to bring good fortune to the side which he should espouse, and to the adventures in which he should be engaged. I walked out on the succeeding morning and I met with this youth, whose image I had seen in my dream. In his own country he hath escaped the sword, amid the massacre of his whole family, and here within the brief compass of two days, he hath been strangely rescued from drowning and from the gallows, and hath already, on a particular occasion, as I but lately hinted to thee, been of the most material service to me. I receive him as sent hither by Saint Julian to serve me in the most difficult, the most dangerous, and even the most desperate services." The King, as he thus expressed himself, doffed his hat, and selecting from the numerous little leaden figures with which the hat band was garnished that which represented Saint Julian, he placed it on the table, as was often his wont when some peculiar feeling of hope, or perhaps of remorse, happened to thrill across his mind, and, kneeling down before it, muttered, with an appearance of profound devotion, "Sancte Juliane, adsis precibus nostris! Ora, ora, pro nobis! (St. Julian, give heed to our prayers. Plead, plead for us!)" This was one of those ague fits of superstitious devotion which often seized on Louis in such extraordinary times and places, that they gave one of the most sagacious monarchs who ever reigned the appearance of a madman, or at least of one whose mind was shaken by some deep consciousness of guilt. While he was thus employed, his favourite looked at him with an expression of sarcastic contempt which he scarce attempted to disguise. Indeed, it was one of this man's peculiarities, that in his whole intercourse with his master, he laid aside that fondling, purring affectation of officiousness and humility which distinguished his conduct to others; and if he still bore some resemblance to a cat, it was when the animal is on its guard, -- watchful, animated, and alert for sudden exertion. The cause of this change was probably Oliver's consciousness that his Master was himself too profound a hypocrite not to see through the hypocrisy of others. "The features of this youth, then, if I may presume to speak," said Oliver, "resemble those of him whom your dream exhibited?" "Closely and intimately," said the King, whose imagination, like that of superstitious people in general, readily imposed upon itself. "I have had his horoscope cast, besides, by Galeotti Martivalle, and I have plainly learned, through his art and mine own observation, that, in many respects, this unfriended youth has his destiny under the same constellation with mine." Whatever Oliver might think of the causes thus boldly assigned for the preference of an inexperienced stripling, he dared make no farther objections, well knowing that Louis, who, while residing in exile, had bestowed much of his attention on the supposed science of judicial astrology, would listen to no raillery of any kind which impeached his skill. He therefore only replied that he trusted the youth would prove faithful in the discharge of a task so delicate. "We will take care he hath no opportunity to be otherwise," said Louis; "for he shall be privy to nothing, save that he is sent to escort the Ladies of Croye to the residence of the Bishop of Liege. Of the probable interference of William de la Marck he shall know as little as they themselves. None shall know that secret but the guide; and Tristan or thou must find one fit for our purpose." "But in that case," said Oliver, "judging of him from his country and his appearance, the young man is like to stand to his arms as soon as the Wild Boar comes on them, and may not come off so easily from the tusks as he did this morning." "If they rend his heart strings," said Louis, composedly, "Saint Julian, blessed be his name! can send me another in his stead. It skills as little that the messenger is slain after his duty is executed, as that the flask is broken when the wine is drunk out. -- Meanwhile, we must expedite the ladies' departure, and then persuade the Count de Crevecoeur that it has taken place without our connivance; we having been desirous to restore them to the custody of our fair cousin, which their sudden departure has unhappily prevented." "The Count is perhaps too wise, and his master too prejudiced, to believe it." "Holy Mother!" said Louis, "what unbelief would that be in Christian men! But, Oliver, they shall believe us. We will throw into our whole conduct towards our fair cousin, Duke Charles, such thorough and unlimited confidence, that, not to believe we have been sincere with him in every respect, he must be worse than an infidel. I tell thee, so convinced am I that I could make Charles of Burgundy think of me in every respect as I would have him, that, were it necessary for silencing his doubts, I would ride unarmed, and on a palfrey, to visit him in his tent, with no better guard about me than thine own simple person, friend Oliver." "And I," said Oliver, "though I pique not myself upon managing steel in any other shape than that of a razor, would rather charge a Swiss battalion of pikes, than I would accompany your Highness upon such a visit of friendship to Charles of Burgundy, when he hath so many grounds to be well assured that there is enmity in your Majesty's bosom against him." "Thou art a fool, Oliver," said the King, "with all thy pretensions to wisdom -- and art not aware that deep policy must often assume the appearance of the most extreme simplicity, as courage occasionally shrouds itself under the show of modest timidity. Were it needful, full surely would I do what I have said -- the Saints always blessing our purpose, and the heavenly constellations bringing round in their course a proper conjuncture for such an exploit." In these words did King Louis XI give the first hint of the extraordinary resolution which he afterwards adopted in order to dupe his great rival, the subsequent execution of which had very nearly proved his own ruin. He parted with his counsellor, and presently afterwards went to the apartment of the Ladies of Croye. Few persuasions beyond his mere license would have been necessary to determine their retreat from the Court of France, upon the first hint that they might not be eventually protected against the Duke of Burgundy; but it was not so easy to induce them to choose Liege for the place of their retreat. They entreated and requested to be transferred to Bretagne or Calais, where, under protection of the Duke of Bretagne or King of England, they might remain in a state of safety, until the sovereign of Burgundy should relent in his rigorous purpose towards them. But neither of these places of safety at all suited the plans of Louis, and he was at last successful in inducing them to adopt that which did coincide with them. The power of the Bishop of Liege for their defence was not to be questioned, since his ecclesiastical dignity gave him the means of protecting the fugitives against all Christian Princes; while, on the other hand, his secular forces, if not numerous, seemed at least sufficient to defend his person, and all under his protection, from any sudden violence. The difficulty was to reach the little Court of the Bishop in safety; but for this Louis promised to provide, by spreading a report that the Ladies of Croye had escaped from Tours by night, under fear of being delivered up to the Burgundian Envoy, and had taken their flight towards Bretagne. He also promised them the attendance of a small but faithful retinue, and letters to the commanders of such towns and fortresses as they might pass, with instructions to use every means for protecting and assisting them in their journey. The Ladies of Croye, although internally resenting the ungenerous and discourteous manner in which Louis thus deprived them of the promised asylum in his Court, were so far from objecting to the hasty departure which he proposed, that they even anticipated his project, by entreating to be permitted to set forward that same night. The Lady Hameline was already tired of a place where there were neither admiring courtiers, nor festivities to be witnessed; and the Lady Isabelle thought she had seen enough to conclude that, were the temptation to become a little stronger, Louis XI, not satisfied with expelling them from his Court, would not hesitate to deliver her up to her irritated Suzerain, the Duke of Burgundy. Lastly, Louis himself readily acquiesced in their hasty departure, anxious to preserve peace with Duke Charles, and alarmed lest the beauty of Isabelle should interfere with and impede the favourite plan which he had formed for bestowing the hand of his daughter Joan upon his cousin of Orleans. 这是一位十分精通权术的教师爷, 以致(我并不想贬低撒旦的狡黠) 他完全有资格给魔鬼上堂课, 把一些新花招教给这个老骗子。 《古老的戏剧》 路易走进大厅时,以我们先前描述过的独特方式低下两道浓眉,从他那紧皱着的阴森眉毛底下向周围的人投射出锋利的目光。正如昆丁以后所说的那样,这时他的眼睛显得如此之小,如此凶狠,如此敏锐,真像一条蜷伏在石南丛中窥望的被激怒的螟蛇。 仅通过这短暂而敏锐的一瞥,就发现大厅里这阵忙乱的原因的国王首先质问的是奥尔良公爵。 “是你在这儿吗,好侄儿?”他说道,接着便转过身来对昆丁严厉地质问说,“你不是有我的命令吗?” “陛下,您原谅这年轻人吧,”公爵说道,“他并没有玩忽职守。是我听说公主在这里才擅自进来的。” “我相信你到这儿来向公主献殷勤是谁也挡不住的,”国王说道;他那可憎的虚伪真是十分顽强,硬是把公爵说成是爱恋他那不幸的单相思的女儿,“你就为此败坏了我的卫兵。是吗,年轻人?不过,一个靠爱情生活的男人,有什么不能原谅的呢?” 奥尔良公爵抬起头来,仿佛想作出某种回答,来纠正国王话里包含的错误看法。但从小就养成的对路易王的尊敬,更不用说惧怕,使他无法开口。 “让娜不舒服吗?”国王说道,“不过,路易,你也不要难过。很快就会过去的。你扶着她去卧室吧。我领这两位作客的仕女去她们的房间。” 这一吩咐是以实际上等于命令的口吻说出的。奥尔良遵命扶着公主从大厅一端走了出去。国王则脱下右手的手套,客气地领着伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐和她姑母走向与大厅另一端相通的房间。她们进去时,他向她们深深鞠了一躬,等她们进去之后仍然在门槛上站了片刻,然后才不慌不忙地把那道门关上,将锁上的那把大钥匙一扭,再从锁上取了下来,装进腰袋——这腰袋是他一个随身必带的宝贝。这样就使得他更像一个不带着钱库钥匙就连走路也感觉不舒服的守财奴。 路易迈着缓慢而沉思的步子,眼睛盯着地上,向昆丁•达威特走去。昆丁预料到国王会发泄对他的不满,以十分不安的心情看着他走过来。 “你做错了,”国王在离他一码远的地方抬起头把眼睛狠狠地盯着他说道,“你真是大错特错,该当死罪。往口,别为自己辩护!公爵们和公主们与你有何相干?除了执行我的命令,别的你管它干吗?” “请陛下原谅,”年轻的卫士说道,“我有什么办法呢?” “有人强行越过你的岗哨,你该怎么办?”国王用鄙夷的口气回答道,“你肩上扛的武器是干吗用的?你本应当拿枪对准他,而如果那个胆大妄为的家伙不马上离开,他就得死在这个大厅里!你走吧——你到里边那排房间里去。在第一间房里你将看到一个大的楼梯通往内院。你会在那儿找到奥利弗•丹。你叫他到我这儿来。然后你回你的营房去。假如你爱惜你的生命,你就别像今天让你的手失职那样,再让舌头也失职。” 看到自己能轻易脱身,达威特自然很高兴,但对国王要求他严格执行命令所表现的冷酷无情也产生出由衷的反感。他按国王指给他的路走去,急忙下了那个楼梯,把国王的意旨传达给等在下面院子里的奥利弗。那奸狡的理发师又是点头哈腰,又是叹息微笑,并用比平常更柔和的声音祝他晚安。他们分手以后,昆丁返回营房,奥利弗则去参见国王。 写到这里,我发现我在创作这本真实的历史小说时作为主要依据的回忆录,不巧材料很不完全。这本回忆录主要根据的是昆丁所提供的材料,里面并没有谈到他离开以后国王和他秘密的谋臣进行谈话的内容。幸好欧特利尔图书馆藏有一本让•德•特罗伊埃写的(宫廷稗史)的手抄本,要比以往印行过的详尽得多。这个珍本多收集了几篇有趣的见闻。我倾向于认为,这一定是奥利弗在主子死了之后,和他荣幸地被赐以早已受之无愧的绞索之前这段时间写出来的。从这当中我们有可能收集到这位默默无闻的宠臣在此场合与路易谈话的详尽记载。它有助于我们了解这位君主的权术和谋略,而这是我们通过别的方式无法了解到的。 当这个宠臣进入罗兰大厅时,他看到国王若有所思地坐在她女儿几分钟前坐过的那张椅子上。由于他很熟悉他的脾气,他便悄然无声地溜到国王眼睛正好看得见的地方,好让他知道他已经应命前来。然后他又谦恭地退到他的视线以外,静候国王命令他讲话,或听国王讲话。国王的第一句话很叫人不愉快:“奥利弗,你的妙计可像竹篮打水成了一场空啊!我得祷告我们昂布伦的圣母,但愿你这些妙计不致像斯威泽尔的乡巴佬讲的故事里谈到过的冰雪块,会猛地往我们头上冲下来。” “陛下,我已很不安地听说情况不太妙。”奥利弗回答道。 “不妙!”国王叫道,一边站起来在大厅里来回走着,“我的好人,糟透了——不能更糟了。都是你那愚蠢的罗曼蒂克的建议干的好事。偏偏让我来作这两个遭罪的娘们的保护人!我告诉你,勃艮第正在进行武装,很快就要和英国订立同盟。在家里闲着的爱德华将会通过加来这扇倒霉的大门把他的千军万马朝我们这边赶来。要是他们孤立地干,我也许还能哄哄或意惹他们,但他们联合起来干——再加上那无耻的圣保罗的背叛和不满!——奥利弗,这可都是你的过错。是你出主意要我收留这两个女人,并利用那该死的波希米亚人带信给她们的臣属的。” “我的君主,”奥利弗说道,“您知道我有我的理由。伯爵小姐的领地位于勃艮第和弗兰德边境之间。她的城堡几乎是坚不可摧的。假如小姐嫁给一个和法国友好的人,那么她对邻近地区享有的权利,只要得到有力的支持,就不能不给勃艮第造成许多麻烦。” “这也的确是一个诱饵。”国王说道,“要是我们能不让人知道她在这儿,我们本可以为这位富有的封地继承人安排一个大大有利于法国的婚姻。但那该死的波希米亚人——你怎么会推荐这样一个异教的狗杂种来干一件要求他绝对可信的差事呢?” “您不见怪的话,”奥利弗说道,“请您不要忘记,正是陛下本人过于相信他了——远远超过我主张的地步。本来他可以相当可靠地带封信给伯爵小姐的亲戚,叫他坚守她的城堡,答应迅速给他援助,但陛下硬要考验考验他预言的能力,结果让他掌握了值得出卖给查尔斯公爵的一些秘密。” “我很惭愧,我很惭愧,”路易说道,“不过,奥利弗,人们说这些异教徒都是智慧的卡尔提安人的后裔,而他的确说得出西纳尔平原上星辰的奥秘。” 奥利弗深知其主子十分聪明机敏,但正因为如此就更容易受到算命者、占卜者、风水先生以及自命懂得玄学奥秘的这类骗子的欺骗,甚至以为自己也多少掌握了这些方术。所以他不敢再往下多讲,只是说那波希米亚人在涉及他自身命运的问题上就不是什么好预言家,要不他就不会回图尔来,从而逃脱他罪有应得的绞刑。 “具有预言能力的人,”路易十分严肃地对答说,“无法预言涉及他们个人的事情,这是常有的现象。” “蒙陛下指教,”那宠臣应答道,“这似乎是说一个手持蜡烛的人无法通过烛光看见自己的手,但看得见房里一切别的东西。” “光能使他看见别人的面孔,但无法使他看见自己的面孔,”路易对答说,“这才更确切地说明问题。不过,这与我当前的意图无关。那波希米亚人已经得到了他的报应。愿上帝给他平安。但这两个妇人——不但勃艮第在责怪我们窝藏她们,拿战争威胁我们,而且她们呆在这里也有可能干扰我实行我的某些家庭计划。我那单纯的侄儿奥尔良刚看见这个姑娘,我就敢预言这一眼非同小可,会使他在和让娜结合的问题上不那么听话。” “陛下,”那谋臣说道,“您不妨把这两位克罗伊埃仕女送回勃艮第,而和公爵取得和解。也许有些人会私下说,这样做不光彩,不过要是不得已非作出牺牲不可——” “如果切身利害要求作出牺牲,那就应当毫不犹豫地作出牺牲。”国王对答道,“我是一个有经验的老鲑鱼,还不至于跑去吞一个钓钩,仅因为钩子上挂着称之为荣誉的一小片羽毛。但比不体面更糟糕的是,假如把两个妇人归还给勃艮第,那么原先促使我们给她们提供庇护而获有的那些好处全都失去了。在勃艮第领土的中心,在如此靠近不满的弗兰德城市的地方,安插我们的盟友和勃艮第敌人的大好机会一旦放弃,可真叫人伤心。奥利弗,我不能放弃设法把这姑娘嫁给我们皇族一位朋友可能给我们带来的好处。” “陛下,”奥利弗考虑片刻后说道,“您不妨把她嫁给某个委实可靠的朋友;他可以把一切归罪于自己,而暗中为陛下效劳。您却可以公开否认和他的关系。” “我到哪儿去找这么个朋友呢?”路易说道,“要是我把她赠送给我某个不忠心的、又不服管的贵族,这岂不是助长他闹独立吗?多少年来我的策略不正是要防止他们这样做吗?杜诺瓦,嗯,只有他我也许还能信任。不管情况如何,他都会为法国国王而战。但荣誉和财产会改变一个人的性格——连杜诺瓦我也不能信任。” “陛下可以另外找个人,”奥利弗极尽其阿谀之能事,“找那些完全依靠您的恩宠,没有您的厚爱,就像没有阳光和空气,无法生存的人——善于思索而不是急于行动的人,还有——” “哈,哈,像你自己这样的人!”路易王说道,“不行的,奥利弗。老实说吧,你这一箭可射得太轻率了!怎么!就因为我宠你,给你信任,让你有时刮刮我的臣民作为对你的奖赏,你以为你就有资格娶那个美女吗?何况她是属于最高阶层的伯爵小姐?瞧你,瞧你出身卑微,又无教养,你的聪明充其量不过是一种狡黠,而你的勇气就更成问题。难道把她嫁给你吗?” “陛下猜想我有意高攀,那是误把我根本不敢有的一种狂妄加之于我。” “伙计,我很高兴听你讲这个话。”国王对答道,“说实话,你不承认有此奢望,我倒认为你的头脑还更为健全。不过,我觉得你先前讲话的口气听来有点怪。行了,言归正传吧。我不敢把这个美人嫁给我一个巨属。我也不敢把她归还给勃艮第。但我也不敢把她送往英国和德国,因为她也许会落到一个更有可能和勃艮第而不是和法国结盟的贵族手上。这人会倾向于给根特和列日那些诚实而不满的市民泼冷水,而不是给他们有效的鼓励,从而给‘大胆的查尔斯’造成足够的麻烦,好叫他不离开自己的国土也大有机会表现他的勇猛。这些不满的市民打算进行的叛乱已酝酿成熟。特别是列日市民更是跃跃欲试。只消好好煽动一下,给一些支持,光是他们就足够我亲爱的堂弟对付一年多了。要是再有一个好斗的克罗伊埃伯爵助兴——啊,奥利弗,这计划太有奔头了。我实在不甘心轻易放弃。你丰富的想像力就不能想个办法吗?” 奥利弗停了很久,最后回答说:“叫克罗伊埃的伊莎贝尔与年轻的格尔德雷斯•阿道弗斯公爵成婚,您看如何?” “什么!”国王惊奇地说道,“牺牲这样一个可爱的美人,把她嫁给那废黜和监禁亲生父亲,并经常恫吓要杀死他的狂暴家伙!奥利弗,这可不行——即使对于你我说来这样做也未免太残忍了,哪怕我们是在坚定不移地着眼于自己的良好目标——法国的和平和幸福,很少顾及实现这一目标的手段和方法。再说,他的领地距我们很远,而且,根特和列日市民也很恨他。不行,不行,我不要这个格尔德雷斯•阿道弗斯。另外想个对象吧。” “陛下,我的想像力已穷尽了,”那谋臣说道,“我想不出谁来娶克罗伊埃伯爵小姐才能符合陛下的心意。他得一身兼有这样一些不同的优点:既是陛下的朋友又是勃艮第的敌人,既有足够的谋略讨好根特人和列日人,又有足够的勇气保卫他小小的领地,反抗强大的查尔斯公爵。此外,他还必须出身高贵——而这是陛下坚持的一个条件——外加品德优异。” “奥利弗,你说得不对,”国王讲道,“我并不着重——我是说,我并不十分着重品行。不过,我想伊莎贝尔的新郎不应当像格尔德雷斯•阿道弗斯那样遭到人们普遍的憎恶。既然我不得不亲自点一个名,那么,比方说吧,为什么不能是威廉•德拉马克呢?” “陛下呀,”奥利弗说道,“要是‘阿登内斯野猪’能满足您的需要,那我就不能抱怨您对幸运的新郎要求过高的品德了。您点德•拉马克吗?嘿,他可是好几国的边境上最声名狼藉的强盗和杀人犯,由于触犯千种刑律而遭到教皇逐出教会的惩罚。” “奥利弗伙计,我将让他赦免惩罚——神圣教会是仁慈的。” “他几乎成了一个化外之民,”奥利弗继续说道,“并根据雷根斯堡议会的命令,受到了帝国的声讨。” “我的奥利弗好伙计,我将取消这道声讨令,”国王以同样的口气继续说道,“帝国议会是通情达理的。” “就算他出身高贵吧,”奥利弗说道,“但他的面孔、外貌、举止和内心都像一个弗拉芒的屠夫——她是绝对不会要他的。” “要是我没有认错人的话,”路易说道,“我想他的求婚方式将使她难以作出她自己的选择。” “我真是大错特错,竟责怪陛下考虑太多了。”那谋臣说道,“我敢说,与德拉马克的罪恶比起来,阿道弗斯的真算得上美德了。不过,他如何和他的新娘碰头呢?陛下知道,他不敢远离他的阿登内斯森林。” “这倒必须考虑考虑,”国王说道,“首先必须私下告诉这两位仕女,除非挑起法国和勃艮第的战争,否则就无法让她们继续在我的宫廷呆下去。再说,我又不愿意把她们交给勃艮第公爵,所以我希望她们能秘密地离开我的领土。” “她们会要求把她们送往英国,”奥利弗说道,“要是这样,您就会看到她与一个长有漂亮的圆脸、褐色的长发,并有三千射手作后盾的岛国王公双双回到弗兰德。” “不,不,”国王说道,“我不敢(你懂我的意思)让她去英国,从而过分得罪我勃艮第的堂弟——这会像让她呆在我这儿一样激起他的不满。这样做不行。我只敢把她交给教会,让教会保护她的安全。我充其量只能做到默许哈梅琳女士和伊莎贝尔•德•克罗伊埃小姐带着少数随从化装出走,去列日主教那儿避难。他会把美丽的伊莎贝尔暂时藏在一个女修道院里加以保护。” “要是德拉马克明知陛下对他的好意,那么除非我看错了人,否则就难以想象修道院还有本事保住她,不让他抢走。” “那不用说,”国王讲道,“由于我们暗中提供金钱,德拉马克已经有了一支为数可观的、为所欲为的军队。依靠这支军队他已设法在森林里站住脚,有能力使勃艮第公爵和列日主教都感到畏惧。他缺的只是一块地盘。既然这是一个可以使他通过婚姻占山为王的大好机会,上帝呀,我想无需我们暗示,他也会设法战胜困难取得这门亲的。这样一来,勃艮第公爵就会在腰上长一根刺,而这是当今任何手术针也无法从他肌肉里挑出来的。要是这位被他宣布为强盗的‘阿登内斯野猪’能通过那位美女的封地、城堡和贵族地位加强其实力,再加上有不满的列日市民支持——我敢说,在这种条件下,列日市民就会乐意推举他为首领——要是这样的话,查尔斯就是想和法国打仗,那也随他的便了。更恰当地说是,法国要是不和他打仗,他就算是福星高照了。嘿,奥利弗,你觉得这个计划如何?” “太妙了,”奥利弗说道,“只是那位小姐赐与‘阿登内斯野猪’的好运未免太不值得了。我的老天爷,除了在外表英武方面稍差一点而外,军法总监特里斯顿可要比德拉马克更适合当她的未婚夫。” “你先还推荐过理发匠奥利弗师傅哩,’潞易说道,“不过,我的奥利弗和特里斯顿好伙计呀,尽管你们在出谋划策和处决犯人方面很了不起,但却不是选作伯爵的材料。难道你们不明白弗兰德市民之所以看重别人的出身,正是因为他们自己出身不好么?平民大众都希望有个贵族首领。英国的那个克德或凯德——是怎么叫他来着?——冒充属于摩尔提麦的血统,以此来诱骗一群流氓跟随他。威廉•德拉马克出身于色当的贵族世家,和我的血统一样高贵。行了,让我们谈正事吧。我决定让这两位克罗伊埃仕女在可靠的向导护送下赶快秘密逃走。这事很容易办到——我们只消暗示她们,除此而外惟一的办法就是把她们交给勃艮第。你得设法让威廉•德拉马克知道她们的行踪。让他自己确定时间和地点来向姑娘求婚。我知道有个人适合随她们同行。” “请问,陛下打算把这个重要的任务交给谁?”那理发师问道。 “当然是交给一个外国人,”国王回答道,“交给一个在法国既无亲友也无别的牵挂,能放手执行我的意旨的人。还有,有关法国及其宗派活动他也应知之甚少。除了我想告诉他的以外,不会对我的意图有更多的怀疑。总之,我打算利用刚去把你请来的那个年轻的苏格兰人。” 奥利弗犹豫了片刻,似乎对这一选择是否审慎表示怀疑,然后开口说道:“陛下这么快就对那个陌生小伙子给以信赖,实在是超过了您往常的做法。” “我有我的道理,”国王回答道,“你知道(这时他划了个十字)我对赐福的圣朱利安十分虔诚。前天晚上我向这位圣者一直祷告到深夜。在祷告当中(由于他是以旅客的保护神闻名)我向他提出我谦卑的请求,求他给我送来一些最能帮助我在全国树立对我的无限忠诚的外国流浪汉,以充实皇家的实力。我对那善良的圣者许愿,并发誓要以他的名义收留、帮助和供养这些流浪汉。” “这么说,”奥利弗讲道,“是圣朱利安应了您的祷告,给您送来了这个长腿的苏格兰人?” 尽管这理发师十分了解,其主子是以迷信来填补他在宗教信仰方面的欠缺,同时在这样一些话题上最容易使他生气——尽管他知道国王的这个弱点,并以最温和、最质朴的语气小心地提出了上面那个问题,然而路易还是感觉出它所包含的暗讽意味,因而极为不满地看待他所讲的话。 “好家伙,”他说,“叫你魔鬼奥利弗可真是一针见血。你竟敢嘲弄你的主人和赐福的圣者。我告诉你,要不是我百分之百地需要你这样一个人,我本会把你吊死在城堡前面那棵橡树上,作为嘲弄神圣事物的警戒!告诉你吧,你这不信基督的奴才,事情是这样的:我一闭上眼睛,就看见赐福的圣朱利安领着一个年轻人走来见我,他说这年轻人命中注定会免遭杀戳,也会逃脱被绞死溺死的危险。他将对他所支持的一方和他所从事的冒险事业带来好运。第二天一早我就碰到了我梦中见过的这个年轻人。在他的祖国,他全家惨遭屠杀,他却免遭杀戳,而来到这里以后,在短短的两天之内,他就神奇地逃脱了溺死和绞死的厄运,并像我最近暗示过你的那样,曾在一个特殊的场合给我帮了一个大忙。我把他看作是圣朱利安为了帮我办一件最艰危、最冒险的事而特意派到我这里来的。” 国王一边说,一边脱下帽子,从帽带上饰着的许多铅制小偶像中挑出圣朱利安的偶像,并像平常碰巧遇到某种特殊的希望或忏悔的心情掠过脑际时所做的那样,把它放在桌上,面对它跪了下来,带着深沉的虔诚表情喃喃念道:“Sancte Juliane,adsis precibus nostris!Ora,ora,pro nobis!” 这正是路易王在这种特殊的时间和场合下经常发作的一种迷信和虔诚的狂热。这种狂热使得世界上一位最聪明的君主也变得像个疯子,至少像个深感有罪而心灵惴惴不安的庸人。 看到他在搞这些名堂,他的宠臣带着一种不加掩饰的讥笑和轻蔑的表情望着他。这个人的特点之一的确在于,在他和他的主子接触的整个过程当中,他都把讨好卖乖、卑躬屈膝这一套装模作样的东西搁在一边。但这些正是他对待别人与众不同的地方。如果他在国王面前仍像只猫的话,那么这是一只高度警觉的猫——它兴奋地注视着,随时准备采取突然的行动。之所以出现这种变化,也许是因为奥利弗意识到,他的主子本人就是一个莫大的伪君子,不可能不看穿别人的虚伪。 “恕我冒昧地指出,”奥利弗说道,“这年轻人的面貌是否就真像您梦中看见的那个小伙子呢?” “非常非常像。”国王说道。这时他也像一般迷信的人们那样,很容易成为自己想像力的俘虏。“再说,我还叫伽利奥提•马蒂瓦尔给他算了八字。通过占卜和我自己的观察,我已清楚地了解到,这个无依无靠的年轻人的生辰八字和我的生辰八字相同,属于同一个星宿。” 对于路易王为了偏袒这个黄毛小子而大胆设想出来的理由,奥利弗尽管有什么想法,也不敢再表示异议,因为他很清楚,路易王在流亡期间曾潜心钻研过所谓的占星学,不会接受对这种方术表示责难的任何讥讽。因此他只是回答说,他相信这年轻人会忠实地执行如此微妙的一个任务。 “我将保证他没有机会干出越轨的事,”路易说道,“除了告诉他是去护送两位克罗伊埃仕女前往列日主教的住地以外,别的细节都要对他保密。至于威廉•德拉马克可能进行的拦劫,他将和她们一样一无所知。我们只让向导知道这个秘密。特里斯顿或你得给我找到一个适合我意图的人来当向导。” “如果真是这样安排,”奥利弗说道,“那么根据这年轻人的国籍和外表来判断,当他一看见那‘野猪’向他袭来,他便有可能进行抵抗,而不会像他今早那样轻松地避开野猪的獠牙。” “如果野猪的獠牙撕裂了他的心,”路易安详地说道,“那么圣朱利安——愿他的英名得福!——会派另一个外国人来代替他。任务完成,信使被杀,就像酒喝光酒瓶被砸一样无关紧要。话说回来,我们得赶快让这两位妇人逃跑,然后说服克雷维格伯爵,她们逃跑并未受到我的纵容;我本来很希望把她们归还给我的好堂弟来对她们进行监护,但她们的突然出走已使得原计划不幸落空。” “但这伯爵也许十分精明,不会相信这个说法。他的主人也成见太深,不致信以为真。” “圣母呀!”路易说道,“一个基督徒这也不信,那也不信,像什么话呀!不过,奥利弗,他们会相信我们的。我将对我的好堂弟查尔斯公爵表现出彻底的、无限的信赖,要是他不相信我对他完全坦诚相见,那他简直连个不信基督的异教徒都不如!告诉你吧,就勃艮第•查尔斯来说,我有把握想叫他对我有什么看法就有什么看法。只要有必要消除他的怀疑,我可以不带武器,骑一匹小马,只带你奥利弗伙计一个人作我的马弁,亲自去他的营帐拜访他。” “而我,”奥利弗说,“尽管除了剃刀以外不敢夸口说还会使用别的什么刀剑,但我还是宁肯攻打一营瑞士梭标手,也不愿陪伴陛下到勃艮第•查尔斯那儿去进行友好访问,因为他有种种理由相信,陛下在内心深处对他抱有敌意。” “奥利弗,你真是个傻瓜,”国王说道,“尽管你自认聪明,你却不明白深谋远略经常得戴上单纯质朴的面具,正像勇敢偶尔也得披上胆怯的外衣。只要有必要,我肯定会照我所说的去做。看来圣人们总是在保佑我实现我的目的,而天上星宿的运行也呈现出有利于这一行动的吉祥征兆。” 路易十一正是通过这几句话第一次暗示出他为了愚弄自己的劲敌后来果然作出了一个决定。这个决定付诸实行后险些断送了他的一切。 国王和他的谋臣分手之后,马上来到两位克罗伊埃仕女的住室。他暗示说,他无法永远给她们提供庇护以躲避勃艮第公爵的追逼,本来只消他准许,无需他怎么劝说她们也会决定离开法国宫廷的。但要劝说她们选择列日作为她们的避难所却不那么容易。她们恳求把她们送往布列塔尼或加来,以便在布列塔尼公爵或英国国王的保护下能获得安全,直到勃艮第君主态度变软,放弃对她们的苛刻意图。但这两个避难地都与路易的计划相左,最后他终于诱使她们接受了符合他心意的列日城。 列日主教保护她们的能力是不容置疑的,因为他那尊严的圣职使他有权保护逃亡者不受基督世界任何君主的侵犯。此外他所掌握的世俗武装力量人数虽不多,但至少足够护卫他自己以及受他庇护的人免遭突然的暴力袭击。困难在于如何平安地到达主教的小教廷。路易答应设法散布一个谣言,说是两位克罗伊埃仕女害怕被交给勃艮第特使,已在夜间逃离图尔,前往布列塔尼。同时他还应允为她们配备两个忠实的随从,并给她们所经过的城市和堡垒的司令官写好介绍信,吩咐他们尽一切可能为她们在旅途中提供保护和帮助。 两位克罗伊埃仕女对路易王取消他答应给她们的庇护所表现出的自私和无礼虽然内心十分不满,但她们毫不反对要她们马上离开的意见,甚至比他的计划还赶前一步,要求当晚就放她们走。哈梅琳女士对这个既看不到朝臣们对她的赞美,也看不到欢乐宴会的鬼地方已感厌烦,而伊莎贝尔小姐则认为,从她已看到的许多事实足以断定,要是有更强的诱惑,路易王将不满足于仅仅把她们赶出宫廷,甚至会毫不犹豫地把她交给她愤怒的监护人——勃艮第公爵。最后路易欣然默许她们赶快动身,因为他急于想和查尔斯公爵取得和解,而且惟恐美丽的伊莎贝尔会干扰他把女儿让娜嫁给侄儿奥尔良的如意算盘。 Chapter 13 The Journey Talk not of kings -- I scorn the poor comparison; I am a sage and can command the elements -- At least men think I can; and on that thought I found unbounded empire. ALBUMAZAR Occupation and adventure might be said to crowd upon the young Scottishman with the force of a spring tide; for he was speedily summoned to the apartment of his Captain, the Lord Crawford, where, to his astonishment, he again beheld the King. After a few words respecting the honour and trust which were about to be reposed in him, which made Quentin internally afraid that they were again about to propose to him such a watch as he had kept upon the Count of Crevecoeur, or perhaps some duty still more repugnant to his feelings, he was not relieved merely, but delighted, with hearing that he was selected, with the assistance of four others under his command, one of whom was a guide, to escort the Ladies of Croye to the little Court of their relative, the Bishop of Liege, in the safest and most commodious, and, at the same time, in the most secret manner possible. A scroll was given him, in which were set down directions for his guidance, for the places of halt (generally chosen in obscure villages, solitary monasteries, and situations remote from towns), and for the general precautions which he was to attend to, especially on approaching the frontier of Burgundy. He was sufficiently supplied with instructions what he ought to say and do to sustain the personage of the Maitre d'Hotel of two English ladies of rank, who had been on a pilgrimage to Saint Martin of Tours, and were about to visit the holy city of Cologne, and worship the relics of the sage Eastern Monarchs, who came to adore the nativity of Bethlehem (the relics of the three kings, or Magi, were placed in the Cathedral of Cologne in 1162); for under that character the Ladies of Croye were to journey. Without having any defined notions of the cause of his delight, Quentin Durward's heart leapt for joy at the idea of approaching thus nearly to the person of the Beauty of the Turret, and in a situation which entitled him to her confidence, since her protection was in so great a degree intrusted to his conduct and courage. He felt no doubt in his own mind that he should be her successful guide through the hazards of her pilgrimage. Youth seldom thinks of dangers, and bred up free, and fearless, and self confiding, Quentin, in particular, only thought of them to defy them. He longed to be exempted from the restraint of the Royal presence, that he might indulge the secret glee with which such unexpected tidings filled him, and which prompted him to bursts of delight which would have been totally unfitting for that society. But Louis had not yet done with him. That cautious monarch had to consult a counsellor of a different stamp from Oliver le Diable, who was supposed to derive his skill from the superior and astral intelligences, as men, judging from their fruits, were apt to think the counsels of Oliver sprang from the Devil himself. Louis therefore led the way, followed by the impatient Quentin, to a separate tower of the castle of Plessis, in which was installed, in no small ease and splendour; the celebrated astrologer, poet, and philosopher, Galeotti Marti, or Martius, or Martivalle, a native of Narni, in Italy, the author of the famous Treatise De Vulgo Incognitis (concerning things unknown to the generality of mankind. S.), and the subject of his age's admiration, and of the panegyrics of Paulus Jovius (an Italian historian of the sixteenth century who lived at the Pope's court). He had long flourished at the court of the celebrated Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, from whom he was in some measure decoyed by Louis, who grudged the Hungarian monarch the society and the counsels of a sage accounted so skilful in reading the decrees of Heaven. (Martius Galeotti . . . was secretary to Matthias Carvinus, King of Hungary. He left Hungary in 1477, and was made prisoner at Venice on a charge of having propagated heterodox opinions. . . . He might have suffered seriously but for the protection of Sixtus IV, then Pope, who had been one of his scholars. . . . He attached himself to Louis XI, and died in his service. S.) Martivalle was none of those ascetic, withered, pale professors of mystic learning of those days, who bleared their eyes over the midnight furnace, and macerated their bodies by out watching the Polar Bear. He indulged in all courtly pleasures, and until he grew corpulent, had excelled in all martial sports and gymnastic exercises, as well as in the use of arms; insomuch, that Janus Pannonius (a Hungarian poet of the fifteenth century) has left a Latin epigram upon a wrestling match betwixt Galeotti and a renowned champion of that art, in the presence of the Hungarian King and Court, in which the Astrologer was completely victorious. The apartments of this courtly and martial sage were far more splendidly furnished than any which Quentin had yet seen in the royal palace; and the carving and ornamented woodwork of his library, as well as the magnificence displayed in the tapestries, showed the elegant taste of the learned Italian. Out of his study one door opened to his sleeping apartment, another led to the turret which served as his observatory. A large open table, in the midst of the chamber, was covered with a rich Turkey carpet, the spoils of the tent of a Pacha, after the great battle of Jaiza, where the Astrologer had fought abreast with the valiant champion of Christendom, Matthias Corvinus. On the table lay a variety of mathematical and astrological instruments, all of the most rich materials and curious workmanship. His astrolabe of silver was the gift of the Emperor of Germany, and his Jacob's staff of ebony (a divining rod made of a hazel fork), jointed with gold and curiously inlaid, was a mark of esteem from the reigning Pope. There were various other miscellaneous articles disposed on the table, or hanging around the walls; amongst others, two complete suits of armour, one of mail, the other of plate, both of which, from their great size, seemed to call the gigantic Astrologer their owner; a Spanish toledo, a Scottish broadsword, a Turkish scymetar, with bows, quivers, and other warlike weapons; musical instruments of several different kinds; a silver crucifix, a sepulchral antique vase, and several of the little brazen Penates of the ancient heathens, with other curious nondescript articles, some of which, in the superstitious opinions of that period, seemed to be designed for magical purposes. The library of this singular character was of the same miscellaneous description with its other effects. Curious manuscripts of classical antiquity lay mingled with the voluminous labours of Christian divines, and of those painstaking sages who professed the chemical science, and proffered to guide their students into the most secret recesses of nature, by means of the Hermetical Philosophy (a system of philosophy ascribed to the Egyptian Hermes (Thoth) who was reputed to have written certain sacred books treating of religion and the natural sciences). Some were written in the Eastern character, and others concealed their sense or nonsense under the veil of hieroglyphics and cabalistic characters. The whole apartment and its furniture of every kind, formed a scene very impressive on the fancy, considering the general belief then indisputably entertained concerning the truth of the occult sciences; and that effect was increased by the manners and appearance of the individual himself, who, seated in a huge chair, was employed in curiously examining a specimen, just issued from the Frankfort press, of the newly invented art of printing. Galeotti Martivalle was a tall, bulky, yet stately man, considerably past his prime, and whose youthful habits of exercise, though still occasionally resumed, had not been able to contend with his natural tendency to corpulence, increased by sedentary study, and indulgence in the pleasures of the table. His features, though rather overgrown, were dignified and noble, and a Santon might have envied the dark and downward sweep of his long descending beard. His dress was a chamber robe of the richest Genoa velvet, with ample sleeves, clasped with frogs of gold, and lined with sables. It was fastened round his middle by a broad belt of virgin parchment, round which were represented, in crimson characters, the signs of the Zodiac. He rose and bowed to the King, yet with the air of one to whom such exalted society was familiar, and who was not at all likely, even in the royal presence, to compromise the dignity then especially affected by the pursuers of science. "You are engaged, father," said the King, "and, as I think, with this new fashioned art of multiplying manuscripts by the intervention of machinery. Can things of such mechanical and terrestrial import interest the thoughts of one before whom Heaven has unrolled her own celestial volumes?" "My brother," replied Martivalle. "for so the tenant of this cell must term even the King of France, when he deigns to visit him as a disciple -- believe me that in considering the consequences of this invention, I read with as certain augury as by any combination of the heavenly bodies, the most awful and portentous changes. When I reflect with what slow and limited supplies the stream of science hath hitherto descended to us, how difficult to be obtained by those most ardent in its search, how certain to be neglected by all who regard their ease; how liable to be diverted, altogether dried up, by the invasions of barbarism; can I look forward without wonder and astonishment to the lot of a succeeding generation on whom knowledge will descend like the first and second rain, uninterrupted, unabated, unbounded; fertilizing some grounds, and overflowing others; changing the whole form of social life; establishing and overthrowing religions; erecting and destroying kingdoms" "Hold, Galeotti," said Louis, "shall these changes come in our time?" "No, my royal brother," replied Martivalle; "this invention may be likened to a young tree, which is now newly planted, but shall, in succeeding generations, bear fruit as fatal, yet as precious, as that of the Garden of Eden; the knowledge, namely, of good and evil." Louis answered, after a moment's pause, "Let futurity look to what concerns them -- we are men of this age, and to this age we will confine our care. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. "Tell me, hast thou proceeded farther in the horoscope Which I sent to thee, and of which you made me some report? I have brought the party hither, that you may use palmistry, or chiromancy if such is your pleasure. The matter is pressing." The bulky sage arose from his seat, and, approaching the young soldier, fixed on him his keen large dark eyes as if he were in the act of internally spelling and dissecting every lineament and feature. Blushing and borne down by this close examination on the part of one whose expression was so reverend at once and commanding, Quentin bent his eyes on the ground, and did not again raise them, till in the act of obeying the sonorous command of the Astrologer, "Look up and be not afraid, but hold forth thy hand." When Martivalle had inspected his palm, according to the form of the mystic arts which he practised, he led the King some steps aside. "My royal brother," he said, "the physiognomy of this youth, together with the lines impressed on his hand, confirm, in a wonderful degree, the report which I founded on his horoscope, as well as that judgment which your own proficiency in our sublime arts induced you at once to form of him. All promises that this youth will be brave and fortunate." "And faithful?" said the King; "for valour and fortune square not always with fidelity." "And faithful also," said the Astrologer; "for there is manly firmness in look and eye, and his linea vitae (the line of life, a term used in palmistry) is deeply marked and clear, which indicates a true and upright adherence to those who do benefit or lodge trust in him. But yet --" "But what?" said the King; "Father Galeotti, wherefore do you now pause?" "The ears of Kings," said the sage, "are like the palates of those dainty patients which are unable to endure the bitterness of the drugs necessary for their recovery." "My ears and my palate have no such niceness," said Louis; "let me hear what is useful counsel, and swallow what is wholesome medicine. I quarrel not with the rudeness of the one, or the harsh taste of the other. I have not been cockered in wantonness or indulgence; my youth was one of exile and suffering. My ears are used to harsh counsel, and take no offence at it." "Then plainly, Sire," replied Galeotti, "if you have aught in your purposed commission which -- which, in short, may startle a scrupulous conscience -- intrust it not to this youth, at least, not till a few years' exercise in your service has made him as unscrupulous as others." "And is this what you hesitated to speak, my good Galeotti? and didst thou think thy speaking it would offend me?" said the King. "Alack, I know that thou art well sensible that the path of royal policy cannot be always squared (as that of private life ought invariably to be) by the abstract maxims of religion and of morality. Wherefore do we, the Princes of the earth, found churches and monasteries, make pilgrimages, undergo penances, and perform devotions with which others may dispense, unless it be because the benefit of the public, and the welfare of our kingdoms, force us upon measures which grieve our consciences as Christians? But Heaven has mercy, the Church, an unbounded stock of merits and the intercession of Our Lady of Embrun and the blessed saints, is urgent, everlasting, and omnipotent." He laid his hat on the table, and devoutly kneeling before the images stuck into the hat band, repeated in an earnest tone, "Sancte Huberte, Sancte Juliane, Sancte Martine, Sancta Rosalia, Sancti quotquot adestis, orate pro me peccatore!" (St. Hubert, St. Julian, St. Martin, St. Rosalia, all ye saints who hear me, pray for me, a sinner.) He then smote his breast, arose, reassumed his hat, and continued: "Be assured, good father, that whatever there may be in our commission of the nature at which you have hinted, the execution shall not be intrusted to this youth, nor shall he be privy to such part of our purpose." "In this," said the Astrologer, "you, my royal brother, will walk wisely. -- Something may be apprehended likewise from the rashness of this your young commissioner, a failing inherent in those of sanguine complexion. But I hold that, by the rules of art, this chance is not to be weighed against the other properties discovered from his horoscope and otherwise." "Will this next midnight be a propitious hour in which to commence a perilous journey?" said the King. "See, here is your Ephemerides -- you see the position of the moon in regard to Saturn, and the ascendence of Jupiter. -- That should argue, methinks, in submission to your better art, success to him who sends forth the expedition at such an hour." "To him who sends forth the expedition," said the Astrologer, after a pause, "this conjunction doth indeed promise success; but, methinks, that Saturn, being combust, threatens danger and infortune to the party sent; whence I infer that the errand may be perilous, or even fatal to those who are to journey. Violence and captivity, methinks, are intimated in that adverse conjunction." "Violence and captivity to those who are sent," answered the King, "but success to the wishes of the sender. -- Runs it not thus, my learned father?" "Even so," replied the Astrologer. The King paused, without giving any farther indication how far this presaging speech (probably hazarded by the Astrologer from his conjecture that the commission related to some dangerous purpose) squared with his real object, which, as the reader is aware, was to betray the Countess Isabelle of Croye into the hands of William de la Marck, a nobleman indeed of high birth, but degraded by his crimes into a leader of banditti, distinguished for his turbulent disposition and ferocious bravery. The King then pulled forth a paper from his pocket, and, ere he gave it to Martivalle, said, in a tone which resembled that of an apology, "Learned Galeotti, be not surprised that, possessing in you an oracular treasure, superior to that lodged in the breast of any now alive, not excepting the great Nostradamus himself (a French astrologer of the sixteenth century, author of a book of prophecies, which was condemned by the papal court in 1781), I am desirous frequently to avail myself of your skill in those doubts and difficulties which beset every Prince who hath to contend with rebellion within his land, and with external enemies, both powerful and inveterate." "When I was honoured with your request, Sire," said the philosopher, "and abandoned the Court of Buda for that of Plessis, it was with the resolution to place at the command of my royal patron whatever my art had, that might be of service to him." "Enough, good Martivalle -- I pray thee attend to the import of this question." He proceeded to read from the paper in his hand: "A person having on hand a weighty controversy, which is like to draw to debate either by law or by force of arms, is desirous, for the present, to seek accommodation by a personal interview with his antagonist. He desires to know what day will be propitious for the execution of such a purpose; also what is likely to be the success of such a negotiation, and whether his adversary will be moved to answer the confidence thus reposed in him, with gratitude and kindness, or may rather be likely to abuse the opportunity and advantage which such meeting may afford him." "It is an important question," said Martivalle, when the King had done reading, "and requires that I should set a planetary figure (to prepare a diagram which would represent the heavens at that particular moment), and give it instant and deep consideration." "Let it be so, my good father in the sciences, and thou shalt know what it is to oblige a King of France. We are determined, if the constellations forbid not -- and our own humble art leads us to think that they approve our purpose -- to hazard something, even in our own person, to stop these anti-Christian wars." "May the Saints forward your Majesty's pious intent," said the Astrologer, "and guard your sacred person." "Thanks, learned father. Here is something, the while, to enlarge your curious library." He placed under one of the volumes a small purse of gold; for, economical even in his superstitions, Louis conceived the Astrologer sufficiently bound to his service by the pensions he had assigned him, and thought himself entitled to the use of his skill at a moderate rate, even upon great exigencies. Louis, having thus, in legal phrase, added a refreshing fee to his general retainer, turned from him to address Durward. "Follow me," he said, "my bonny Scot, as one chosen by Destiny and a Monarch to accomplish a bold adventure. All must be got ready, that thou mayest put foot in stirrup the very instant the bell of Saint Martin's tolls twelve. One minute sooner, one minute later, were to forfeit the favourable aspect of the constellations which smile on your adventure." Thus saying, the King left the apartment, followed by his young guardsman; and no sooner were they gone than the Astrologer gave way to very different feelings from those which seemed to animate him during the royal presence. "The niggardly slave!" he said, weighing the purse in his hand -- for, being a man of unbounded expense, he had almost constant occasion for money -- "The base, sordid scullion! A coxswain's wife would give more to know that her husband had crossed the narrow seas in safety. He acquire any tincture of humane letters! -- yes, when prowling foxes and yelling wolves become musicians. He read the glorious blazoning of the firmament! -- ay, when sordid moles shall become lynxes. Post tot promissa -- after so many promises made, to entice me from the Court of the magnificent Matthias, where Hun and Turk, Christian and Infidel, the Czar of Muscovia and the Cham of Tartary themselves, contended to load me with gifts -- doth he think I am to abide in this old castle like a bullfinch in a cage, fain to sing as oft as he chooses to whistle, and all for seed and water? Not so -- aut inveniam viam, aut faciam -- I will discover or contrive a remedy. The Cardinal Balue is politic and liberal -- this query shall to him, and it shall be his Eminence's own fault if the stars speak not as he would have them." He again took the despised guerdon, and weighed it in his hand. "It may be," he said, "there is some jewel, or pearl of price, concealed in this paltry case -- I have heard he can be liberal even to lavishness, when it suits his caprice or interest." He emptied the purse, which contained neither more nor less than ten gold pieces. The indignation of the Astrologer was extreme. "Thinks he that for such paltry rate of hire I will practise that celestial science which I have studied with the Armenian Abbot of Istrahoff, who had not seen the sun for forty years -- with the Greek Dubravius, who is said to have raised the dead -- and have even visited the Sheik Ebn Hali in his cave in the deserts of Thebais? No, by Heaven! -- he that contemns art shall perish through his own ignorance. Ten pieces! -- a pittance which I am half ashamed to offer to Toinette, to buy her new breast laces." So saying, the indignant Sage nevertheless plunged the contemned pieces of gold into a large pouch which he wore at his girdle, which Toinette, and other abettors of lavish expense, generally contrived to empty fully faster than the philosopher, with all his art, could find the means of filling. 别谈什么帝王——我不屑和他们 相比; 我是一个贤哲,我有控制大自然的 威力, 至少人们认为我有这种能力。 基于这种思想, 我感到我有无限的权力。 《阿尔布马扎》 繁忙的事务和危险的经历真可说是春潮般地向这年轻的苏格兰人涌了过来。不多时他又被召到队长克劳福德大公的住室。使他惊奇的是,在那里他竟再度和国王相遇。他们简短地告诉他,他将被荣幸地委以重任,昆丁暗自担心他们又要他担负类似针对克雷维格伯爵的那种警戒或某种他更讨厌的任务。但当他听到他被挑选率领四名随从(其中包括一名向导),尽可能安全舒适、也尽可能秘密地护送两位克罗伊埃仕女前往列日主教(她们的一位亲戚)的小教廷时,他不禁舒了口气,而且十分高兴。国王交给他一个卷轴,里面写有他该遵守的一些指示,如吩咐他在哪些地方停留(一般都选在不引人注意的村庄、僻静的寺院和远离城市的地方),以及一般应注意什么防范事项,特别是在接近勃艮第边境时应采取哪些警戒措施。国王还详细指示他如何很好地扮演两位英国仕女的旅行侍从的角色,该说些什么,做些什么。两位克罗伊埃仕女佯称她们是贵妇人,前去朝拜图尔的圣马丁教堂,还准备朝拜科隆的圣城,瞻仰曾去伯利恒祝贺耶稣诞生的东方三贤的遗体。 昆丁也不明白他为什么感到高兴。但一想起他将如此接近那“塔楼美女”,而且,她的安全在很大程度上要靠他的行动和勇气来得到保证,因此他的地位将使他有权得到她的信任——一想起这些他的心便快活得跳了起来。他满有把握,相信他一定能成功地带领她通过旅途中的艰难险阻。年轻人是很少想到危险的。特别是昆丁的教养更使他显得洒脱、勇敢而自信。他脑子里想到危险,也只是为了蔑视危险。他急于摆脱在国王面前感到的拘束,以便尽情地领受这意外的好消息给他带来的喜悦。事实上,这消息促使他感到的一阵阵欣喜已完全不适合当前这个场合。 然而路易还不肯放他走。这位处事慎重的君主还得去咨询一位完全不同于魔鬼奥利弗式的谋士。人们说他的方术来自其他星球上的更高的智慧;这和人们通过结果来判断,往往把奥利弗的主意看作是魔鬼的杰作全是一个道理。 心里感到很不耐烦的昆丁跟随路易来到普莱西城堡内一个单独的塔楼。在这个塔楼一间舒适而讲究的房间里住着著名的星相占卜家、诗人兼哲学家伽利奥提•马蒂——又名马蒂阿斯或马蒂瓦尔。他是意大利纳尔尼人,是著名论文《De Vulgo Incognitis》的作者;是当代人钦佩的对象,也是保鲁斯•乔维阿斯颂扬的对象。早在著名的匈牙利国王马提亚斯•科维纳斯的宫廷里他就已经红得发紫。在某种意义上说,他是被路易王引诱到法国来的,因为路易嫉妒这位匈牙利国王拥有一位被认为十分擅长观天象。识天命的贤哲。 马蒂瓦尔既不是当时那种被半夜的炼丹炉搞得两眼迷糊的方士,也没有由于过久地观察北极星而变成身体消瘦、面容苍白而干瘪的苦行僧式的玄学教师。他尽情地享受宫廷的各种娱乐。在他发福以前,他一直娴于武术和体操,善于耍各种武器。杰纳斯•潘诺尼阿斯曾留下一首拉丁文短诗,描述伽利奥提和一位著名的武术选手在匈牙利国王及其满朝文武面前比赛摔跤的情况,这位占卜家获得全胜。 这位宫廷化和军事化了的贤哲的住房,是昆丁在宫廷里见到过的最为富丽堂皇的一间。书房的雕塑品和装饰性木雕以及精美的挂毯都表现出这位博学的意大利人有高雅的鉴赏力。他的书房里有道门通向卧室,另一道门则通向那充当天象观察台的塔楼。房中央的大橡木桌上,铺着一块华丽的土耳其桌毯。那是这位占星术家与基督世界的英勇卫士马提亚斯•科维纳斯在贾扎战役并肩战斗之后,从一位巴夏的营帐中俘获的战利品。桌上摆着用极贵重的材料精工制作的各种数学仪器和占星用具。他那银制的星盘是德国皇帝赠的礼物,而他那黄金衔结、精心镶嵌的乌木制独角罗盘支杆则是现任教皇为表敬意赠给他的纪念品。 桌上摆的、墙上挂的还有各式各样杂物,其中包括两套铠甲:一套锁子甲,一套片甲,由于尺寸很大,似乎都属于这位身材高大的占星家。此外还有一把西班牙的托菜多宝剑、一把苏格兰大刀。一把土耳其短弯刀,以及弓和箭筒等别的作战武器;外加几种不同的乐器和一个银十字架、一个从坟墓内掘出来的古瓶、若干古代异教徒传下来的家神小铜像。最后还有许多珍奇古怪的东西,其中一些,照当时迷信的人看来,似乎是专为巫术的需要设计出来的。这位怪杰的书房也和他的其他财产一样,内容十分庞杂。与古希腊罗马的珍奇手稿混杂在一起的,除了基督教的神学巨著以外,还有教授化学、声言能通过炼金学引导学生探究大自然最神奇奥秘的苦学之士的长篇大作;有些是用东方文字写的,另一些则是用象形文字和神秘文字写的,这一切都令人莫测高深。考虑到人们当时对玄学的真实价值所持的普遍看法,这整个房间及其各种陈设的确提供了一种能使人的想像力产生深刻印象的景象。而主人自己的仪态和外表也增强了这个印象。这时他正坐在一张大椅子上,好奇地审视着法兰克福刚送来的一份介绍新发明的印刷术的印刷样品。 伽利奥提•马蒂瓦尔身材魁梧雄健,早已人过壮年。虽然有时还继续保持着年轻时候的锻炼习惯,但已无法阻挡身体发福的自然趋势;又由于每天久坐书斋,且过分喜爱肉食,就更助长了这种趋势。他的五官都长得相当大,但显得高贵而威严。一位伊斯兰托钵僧也会羡慕他那把冉冉的黑胡须。他穿的是一件用华丽的热那亚天鹅绒做的带有黑貂皮衬里的宽袖金扣便袍。腰身上还扎有一宽条纯白羊皮纸,周围用红字标着黄道十二宫。他站起来,向国王鞠了一躬,但他的表情说明他是一个惯于和贵人交往的人;即使在国王面前,也丝毫不会放下搞科学的人当时特别喜欢摆出的尊严架势。 “神父,您忙着啦,”国王说道,“我想您是在忙着研究借助机器复印手稿的新技术吧。难道这种机械的世俗性的东西也能使上帝已向其展示天书的人们感到兴趣吗?” “我的好兄弟,”马蒂瓦尔回答道,“我之所以这样称呼法王陛下,是因为您既然以弟子的身份屈尊前来,我这小小斗室的主人也只好这样做。请相信我,通过考虑这一发明的后果,我已经像观察星宿会合的预兆那样,十分明确地看到了将要发生的最严重、最惊人的变化。我想,迄今为止科学还只是缓慢而有限地向我们输送它的涓涓细流;热心追求科学的人们要想获得科学还十分困难;贪图安逸的人们肯定会忽视其研究,而野蛮人的入侵又很容易使其遭受挫折,甚至完全枯竭,因此我不能不惊异地展望未来,展望下一代人的命运,看到知识将像初雨那样,不可阻挡、持久不断地降临在他们心中,使得一些土壤肥沃,另一些浸润在知识的海洋中。它将改变整个社会生活的面貌,树立新宗教,推翻旧宗教,建立新王国,摧毁旧王国——” “停停,伽利奥提,”路易说道,“这些变化会在我们这个时代出现吗?” “不,我的国王兄弟,”马蒂瓦尔说道,“这个发明可以比作一株幼树,还刚刚种下,但在未来的时代中将结出类似伊甸乐园里的善与恶的智慧果那种能决定人类命运的宝贵果实。” 路易寻思了片刻回答道:“让未来的人为他们的事操心吧——我们是这个时代的人,我们将只为这个时代操心。要想今天凡事都考虑充分,反有不少害处。请您告诉我,我送给您的那个八卦图,您已经给我介绍过一些情况了,您有何新的进展?我把那个人带来了,您可以随您的便给他看看手相或足相。事情很急。” 那身材魁梧的贤哲从椅子上站起来,走到年轻卫士面前,用自己那双又大又黑的敏锐眼睛凝视着他,仿佛在脑子里分析解剖他的每个面貌特征。由于受到表情如此可敬、如此威严的老人这般仔细的审视,昆丁感到羞怯和慑服,低下头望着地面。那占星术家用他洪亮的声音命令道:“抬起头,别害怕,把手伸出来。”这时他才遵命抬起头来。 马蒂瓦尔按照他所干的这门玄秘方术的格式看完他的手相之后,把国王引到一边说道:“我的国王兄弟,这个年轻人的面相,也和印在他手上的纹理一样惊人地证实了我根据他的生辰八字提出的报告,以及由于您深谙我们这门崇高的艺术而促使您立刻对他作出的判断。一切都表明这年轻人将表现得很勇敢,又很走运。” “会不会忠心耿耿?”国王说道,“因为勇敢和幸运的人往往不忠诚。” “也很忠诚。”那占星术家说道,“容貌和眼神都表现出男子汉的坚定,生命线明显清晰,这说明将对他的恩人和信任他的人忠贞不贰。不过——” “不过什么?”国王问道,“伽利奥提神父,您干吗不说下去呢?” “国王们的耳朵,”那贤哲说道,“就像那些养尊处优的病人的舌头一样,容不得苦口去病的良药。” “我的耳朵和我的舌头都没有那么娇,”路易说道,“我听得进有益的忠言,也吞得下健身的良药。我既不责怪前者刺耳,也不责怪后者味苦。我没有被娇生惯养,使我任性、放纵。我的年轻时代是在流亡和不幸中度过的。我的耳朵已经习惯于听逆耳的忠言,而不会感到冒犯了尊严。” “那么,我想坦率地告诉陛下,”伽利奥提说道,“假如您要办的事里面有任何——简言之,有任何使忠厚的良知过意不去的东西——那就不要交给这个年轻人。至少要等他为您服役若干年,使他变得和别人一样无所顾忌时再说。” “我的好伽利奥提,难道这就是您感到难以启齿的话吗?您以为您说这个话会使我生气吗?”国王说道,“嘿,我想您一定很明白,国王的策略并不像个人私生活理所应当的那样,总是按抽象的宗教和道德准则走一条直路的。要不是因为公众利益和国家的幸福往往迫使我们做一些违背基督良心的事,我们这些尘世的帝王们何必要建立教堂和寺院,何必要朝圣、悔罪、做祷告呢?但上帝是仁慈的——教会是个容纳无限美德的宝库。再说,昂布伦圣母和得福的圣徒们为我们向上帝的求情也是恳切持久而万能的。”说罢他把帽子搁在桌上,对着帽带上插着的一些偶像跪了下来,用诚恳的语调反复念道:“Sancte Huberte,Sancte Juliane,Sancte Martine,Sancta Rosalia,Sancti quotquot adestis,orate pro me peccatore!”然后他捶捶胸,站了起来,重新戴上帽子继续说下去:“放心吧,好神父,不管我要办的这件事当中有什么东西是属于您暗示过的那种性质,我肯定不会交给这个年轻人去办,也不会让他知道我这方面的意图。” “要是这样的话,”占星术家说道,“我的国王兄弟,您算走对了路子。您这位年轻的使者的莽撞劲也同样值得担心,而这是血气方刚的年轻人内在的弱点。不过,根据我们这门方术的规律来判断,他在这方面可能存在的缺点无法掩盖通过他的生辰八字和其他途径显现出来的优良品质。” “今天半夜是不是出发去进行危险旅行的吉祥时辰?”国王问道,“瞧,这儿是您的星历表。人们可以看到月亮相对于土星的位置,也可以看到木星正在上升——不怕在您面前班门弄斧的话,我想这说明,谁想在这个时辰派遣队伍出发,谁就会成功。” “就派遣者来说,”那占星术家停了片刻讲道,“这个时辰的确是个成功的吉兆。不过我认为,土星既然主火,那么就被派遣者来说,这可是一个危险的凶兆。因此我推测,作这次旅行的人所面临的任务可能是危险的,甚至是生死攸关的。在我看来,那不吉祥的星宿际会暗示他们会碰到暴力和劫持。” “被派遣者会碰到暴力和劫持,”国王说道,“而派遣者的目的却会获得成功——是这个意思吗,我博学的神父?” “正是这样。”那占星术家说道。 国王沉默不语,没有进一步说明这一席预言(也许是这位占星术家猜想这事一定与某种危险企图有关而瞎说出来的)究竟在多大程度上与其真实意图相符。正如读者已经知道的,路易的真实意图在于把克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐出卖给那出身诚然高贵,但罪恶累累已沦为匪首,并以其性格狂暴勇猛而闻名的威廉•德拉马克。 国王从口袋里掏出一张纸,在没有把它递给马蒂瓦尔之前,先用抱歉的口吻说道:“博学的伽利奥提,既然您胸中藏有比世界上任何人(甚至包括伟大的诺斯特拉达穆斯在内)更优异的预言宝库,您不必奇怪,作为一个不得不和内忧外患顽强斗争的国王,我自然希望在经常碰到的疑难问题上多多利用您的专长。” “陛下,”那哲学家说道,“当我荣幸地接受您的要求,离开布达佩斯宫廷来到普莱西宫廷时,我已下定决心要把我的方术中能为栽培我的国王效劳的东西全拿出来,供陛下支配和使用。” “行了,我的好马蒂瓦尔——我请您注意下面这个具有重大意义的问题。”接着他便念他手里拿着的那张纸:“有人碰到一个重大的争端。双方可以诉诸法律,也可以诉诸武力。此人目前想通过和对手亲自会谈来寻求和平解决。他想知道选定哪天来办这件事最为吉利。此外,谈判成功的可能性如何?他的对手究竟会因为寄与他这种信赖而深受感动,对他报以感激和善意呢,还是反而会滥用这一会见给他带来的机会和好处呢?” “这是一个重要的问题,”国王念完之后,马蒂瓦尔说道,“需要我摆一个星图,立刻认真思考一下。” “就这样办吧。博学的好神父,您会知道,为法国国王效劳将能得到什么样的好处。要是星像不忌讳的话,我已决心这样做。我自己掌握的一小点方术也使我相信,当前星像是一种吉兆,有利于实现我的意图——不惜亲自冒点危险来阻止违反基督教义的战争。” “愿圣徒们赞助陛下这种虔诚的意图,”那占星术士说道,“保护陛下神圣的御体!” “谢谢,博学的神父——这点东西供您充实您珍贵的书库。” 他在一册书底下放了一小袋金币。即使在涉及迷信的方面路易也是很节省的。他认为他已经给了这位占星术士养老金,足以使他有义务为他效劳;即使在十分迫切的情况下,他也有权以较小的费用来使用他的专长。 借用一个法律用语吧,路易在给了他的门客这笔追加费之后,便转过身来对达威特说:“我的苏格兰小伙子,跟我来吧。命运已通过一位君主选定你去完成一项大胆的冒险事业。你得把一切都准备好。一听到圣马丁教堂的大钟敲十二响,你就得踏上马镫准备出发。早一分钟迟一分钟都会错过吉祥的星相,失去对你的冒险获得成功的祝福。” 说罢,国王便在年轻卫士的跟随下走了出去。他们刚一离开,那占星术士在国王面前摆出的一付兴高采烈的情绪便顿时消失,而让位于完全不同的感觉。 “真是个吝啬鬼!”他用手掂掂钱袋说道。由于他这人开销大得无边,他几乎随时都得花钱。“这卑鄙龌龊的小人!即使一个舵手的老婆想卜知她男人是否平安过了海峡,也会给得更多。他懂得什么学问!呸!除非出没无常的狐狸和嚎叫的野狼都成了音乐家!他配看懂天空中星光灿烂的纹章!呸!除非见不得太阳的瞎眼的鼹鼠都变成了目光锐利的山猫!在慷慨大方的马提亚斯的宫廷里,匈奴人、突厥人、基督徒和异教徒、莫斯科的沙皇和鞑靼人的可汗都争着送我大量礼物,而他却给我开了一大堆空头支票,把我诱骗出来——难道他以为我住在古老的城堡里,只不过像一只关在笼子里的红腹灰雀,为了感谢他给了我一点鸟食和饮水,每当他想吹吹口哨来开开心,我就得唱歌给他听?才不哩——ant inven Jam viam,ant facium——我得找到一个或设计出一个补救办法。巴卢红衣主教很懂谋略,且慷慨大方——这笔占卜费得叫他出。假如星相的预卜不是他所希望的那样,那就只能怪他主教大人自己了。” 他又把遭到他蔑视的酬金拿在手里掂掂分量。“也许,”他说道,“有点宝石或值钱的珍珠藏在这不值钱的袋子里吧——我曾听说,要是碰巧他情绪好或感到兴趣的时候,他也会慷慨得挥金如上。” 他把钱袋倒空,里面不多不少正好是十块金币。这位占星术士怒发冲冠。“他以为,给我这么一点微薄的佣金,我就会运用我观察星相的科学来为他服务?要知道,这门学问是我向那四十年没见过太阳的亚美尼亚人——伊斯特拉霍夫方丈学来的,是向那据说能招魂,并曾在底比斯沙漠的洞穴里拜访过埃本•哈利教长的希腊人杜布拉维阿斯学来的。老天爷在上,没有这么便宜!藐视方术的人就是得让他用自己的愚昧埋葬他自己。十块金币!——我都不大好意思拿给特娃内特买一对乳罩。” 话虽如此,那愤怒的贤哲还是把那遭到鄙视的金币塞进了他系在腰带上的大钱袋。特娃内特和唆使他挥金如土的别的一些女人总有办法让这钱袋顷刻间空空如也,而这位哲学家用尽他的方术来补充,也休想赶得上她们花钱的速度。 Chapter 14 The Journey I see thee yet, fair France -- thou favour'd land Of art and nature -- thou art still before me, Thy sons, to whom their labour is a sport, So well thy grateful soil returns its tribute, Thy sunburnt daughters, with their laughing eyes And glossy raven locks. But, favour'd France, Thou hast had many a tale of woe to tell In ancient times as now. ANONYMOUS Avoiding all conversation with any one (for such was his charge), Quentin Durward proceeded hastily to array himself in a strong but plain cuirass, with thigh and arm pieces, and placed on his head a good steel cap without any visor. To these was added a handsome cassock of chamois leather, finely dressed, and laced down the seams with some embroidery, such as might become a superior officer in a noble household. These were brought to his apartment by Oliver, who, with his quiet, insinuating smile and manner, acquainted him that his uncle had been summoned to mount guard purposely that he might make no inquiries concerning these mysterious movements. "Your excuse will be made to your kinsman," said Oliver, smiling again, "and, my dearest son, when you return safe from the execution of this pleasing trust, I doubt not you will be found worthy of such promotion as will dispense with your accounting for your motions to any one, while it will place you at the head of those who must render an account of theirs to you." So spoke Oliver le Diable, calculating, probably, in his own mind, the great chance there was that the poor youth whose hand he squeezed affectionately as he spoke, must necessarily encounter death or captivity in the commission intrusted to his charge. He added to his fair words a small purse of gold, to defray necessary expenses on the road, as a gratuity on the King's part. At a few minutes before twelve at midnight, Quentin, according to his directions, proceeded to the second courtyard, and paused under the Dauphin's Tower, which, as the reader knows, was assigned for the temporary residence of the Countesses of Croye. He found, at this place of rendezvous, the men and horses appointed to compose the retinue, leading two sumpter mules already loaded with baggage, and holding three palfreys for the two Countesses and a faithful waiting woman, with a stately war horse for himself, whose steel plated saddle glanced in the pale moonlight. Not a word of recognition was spoken on either side. The men sat still in their saddles as if they were motionless, and by the same imperfect light Quentin saw with pleasure that they were all armed, and held long lances in their hands. They were only three in number, but one of them whispered to Quentin, in a strong Gascon accent, that their guide was to join them beyond Tours. Meantime, lights glanced to and fro at the lattices of the tower, as if there was bustle and preparation among its inhabitants. At length a small door, which led from the bottom of the tower to the court, was unclosed, and three females came forth attended by a man wrapped in a cloak. They mounted in silence the palfreys which stood prepared for them, while their attendant on foot led the way, and gave the passwords and signals to the watchful guards, whose posts they passed in succession. Thus they at length reached the exterior of these formidable barriers. Here the man on foot, who had hitherto acted as their guide, paused, and spoke low and earnestly to the two foremost females. "May heaven bless you, Sire," said a voice which thrilled upon Quentin Durward's ear, "and forgive you, even if your purposes be more interested than your words express! To be placed in safety under the protection of the good Bishop of Liege, is the utmost extent of my desire." The person whom she thus addressed muttered an inaudible answer, and retreated back through the barrier gate, while Quentin thought that, by the moon glimpse, he recognized in him the King himself, whose anxiety for the departure of his guests had probably induced him to give his presence, in case scruples should arise on their part, or difficulties on that of the guards of the Castle. When the riders were beyond the Castle, it was necessary for some time to ride with great precaution, in order to avoid the pitfalls, snares, and similar contrivances which were placed for the annoyance of strangers. The Gascon was, however, completely possessed of the clew to this labyrinth, and in a quarter of an hour's riding they found themselves beyond the limits of Plessis le Parc, and not far distant from the city of Tours. The moon, which had now extricated herself from the clouds through which she was formerly wading, shed a full sea of glorious light upon a landscape equally glorious. They saw the princely Loire rolling his majestic tide through the richest plain in France, and sweeping along between banks ornamented with towers and terraces, and with olives and vineyards. They saw the walls of the city of Tours, the ancient capital of Touraine, raising their portal towers and embattlements white in the moonlight, while from within their circle rose the immense Gothic mass, which the devotion of the sainted Bishop Perpetuus erected as early as the fifth century, and which the zeal of Charlemagne and his successors had enlarged with such architectural splendour as rendered it the most magnificent church in France. The towers of the church of Saint Gatien (the cathedral of Tours) were also visible, and the gloomy strength of the Castle, which was said to have been, in ancient times, the residence of the Emperor Valentinian (a Roman emperor who strengthened the northern frontiers against the barbarians). Even the circumstances in which he was placed, though of a nature so engrossing, did not prevent the wonder and delight with which the young Scottishman, accustomed to the waste though impressive landscape of his own mountains, and the poverty even of his country's most stately scenery, looked on a scene which art and nature seemed to have vied in adorning with their richest splendour. But he was recalled to the business of the moment by the voice of the elder lady (pitched at least an octave higher than those soft tones which bade adieu to King Louis), demanding to speak with the leader of the band. Spurring his horse forward, Quentin respectfully presented himself to the ladies in that capacity, and thus underwent the interrogatories of the Lady Hameline. "What was his name, and what his degree?" He told both. "Was he perfectly acquainted with the road?" "He could not," he replied, "pretend to much knowledge of the route, but he was furnished with full instructions, and he was, at their first resting place, to be provided with a guide, in all respects competent to the task of directing their farther journey, meanwhile, a horseman, who had just joined them and made the number of their guard four, was to be their guide for the first stage." "And wherefore were you selected for such a duty, young gentleman?" said the lady. "I am told you are the same youth who was lately upon guard in the gallery in which we met the Princess of France. You seem young and inexperienced for such a charge -- a stranger, too, in France, and speaking the language as a foreigner." "I am bound to obey the commands of the King, madam, but am not qualified to reason on them," answered the young soldier. "Are you of noble birth?" demanded the same querist. "I may safely affirm so, madam," replied Quentin. "And are you not," said the younger lady, addressing him in her turn, but with a timorous accent, "the same whom I saw when I was called to wait upon the King at yonder inn?" Lowering his voice, perhaps from similar feelings of timidity, Quentin answered in the affirmative. "Then methinks, my cousin," said the Lady Isabelle, addressing the Lady Hameline, "we must be safe under this young gentleman's safeguard, he looks not, at least, like one to whom the execution of a plan of treacherous cruelty upon two helpless women could be with safety intrusted." "On my honour," said Durward, "by the fame of my house, by the bones of my ancestry, I could not, for France and Scotland laid into one, be guilty of treachery or cruelty towards you!" "You speak well, young man," said the Lady Hameline, "but we are accustomed to hear fair speeches from the King of France and his agents. It was by these that we were induced, when the protection of the Bishop of Liege might have been attained with less risk than now, or when we might have thrown ourselves on that of Winceslaus of Germany, or of Edward of England, to seek refuge in France. And in what did the promises of the King result? In an obscure and shameful concealing of us, under plebeian names, as a sort of prohibited wares in yonder paltry hostelry, when we -- who, as thou knowest, Marthon" (addressing her domestic), "never put on our head tire save under a canopy, and upon a dais of three degrees -- were compelled to attire ourselves, standing on the simple floor, as if we had been two milkmaids." Marthon admitted that her lady spoke a most melancholy truth. "I would that had been the sorest evil, dear kinswoman," said the Lady Isabelle, "I could gladly have dispensed with state." "But not with society," said the elder Countess, "that, my sweet cousin, was impossible." "I would have dispensed with all, my dearest kinswoman," answered Isabelle, in a voice which penetrated to the very heart of her young conductor and guard, "with all, for a safe and honourable retirement. I wish not -- God knows, I never wished -- to occasion war betwixt France and my native Burgundy, or that lives should be lost for such as I am. I only implored permission to retire to the Convent of Marmoutier, or to any other holy sanctuary." "You spoke then like a fool, my cousin," answered the elder lady, "and not like a daughter of my noble brother. It is well there is still one alive who hath some of the spirit of the noble House of Croye. How should a high born lady be known from a sunburnt milkmaid, save that spears are broken for the one, and only hazel poles shattered for the other? I tell you, maiden, that while I was in the very earliest bloom, scarcely older than yourself, the famous Passage of Arms at Haflinghem was held in my honour, the challengers were four, the assailants so many as twelve. It lasted three days, and cost the lives of two adventurous knights, the fracture of one backbone, one collarbone, three legs, and two arms, besides flesh wounds and bruises beyond the heralds' counting, and thus have the ladies of our House ever been honoured. Ah! had you but half the heart of your noble ancestry, you would find means at some court where ladies' love and fame in arms are still prized, to maintain a tournament at which your hand should be the prize, as was that of your great grandmother of blessed memory, at the spear running of Strasbourg, and thus should you gain the best lance in Europe, to maintain the rights of the House of Croye, both against the oppression of Burgundy and the policy of France." "But, fair kinswoman," answered the younger Countess, "I have been told by my old nurse, that although the Rhinegrave (formerly a Rhenish prince) was the best lance at the great tournament at Strasbourg, and so won the hand of my respected ancestor, yet the match was no happy one, as he used often to scold, and sometimes even to beat, my great grandmother of blessed memory." "And wherefore not?" said the elder Countess, in her romantic enthusiasm for the profession of chivalry, "why should those victorious arms, accustomed to deal blows when abroad, be bound to restrain their energies at home? A thousand times rather would I be beaten twice a day by a husband whose arm was as much feared by others as by me, than be the wife of a coward, who dared neither to lift hand to his wife, nor to any one else!" "I should wish you joy of such an active mate, fair aunt," replied Isabelle, "without envying you, for if broken bones be lovely in tourneys, there is nothing less amiable in ladies' bower." "Nay, but the beating is no necessary consequence of wedding with a knight of fame in arms," said the Lady Hameline, "though it is true that your ancestor of blessed memory, the Rhinegrave Gottfried, was something rough tempered, and addicted to the use of Rheinwein. "The very perfect knight is a lamb among ladies, and a lion among lances. There was Thibault of Montigni -- God be with him! -- he was the kindest soul alive, and not only was he never so discourteous as to lift hand against his lady, but, by our good dame, he who beat all enemies without doors, found a fair foe who could belabour him within. -- Well, 't was his own fault -- he was one of the challengers at the Passage of Haflinghem, and so well bestirred himself, that, if it had pleased Heaven, and your grandfather, there might have been a lady of Montigni who had used his gentle nature more gently." The Countess Isabelle, who had some reason to dread this Passage of Haflinghem, it being a topic upon which her aunt was at all times very diffuse, suffered the conversation to drop, and Quentin, with the natural politeness of one who had been gently nurtured dreading lest his presence might be a restraint on their conversation, rode forward to join the guide, as if to ask him some questions concerning their route. Meanwhile the ladies continued their journey in silence, or in such conversation as is not worth narrating, until day began to break, and as they had then been on horseback for several hours, Quentin, anxious lest they should be fatigued, became impatient to know their distance from the nearest resting place. "I will show it you," answered the guide, "in half an hour." "And then you leave us to other guidance?" continued Quentin. "Even so, Seignior Archer," replied the man, "my journeys are always short and straight. When you and others, Seignior Archer, go by the bow, I always go by the cord." The moon had by this time long been down, and the lights of dawn were beginning to spread bright and strong in the east, and to gleam on the bosom of a small lake, on the verge of which they had been riding for a short space of time. This lake lay in the midst of a wide plain, scattered over with single trees, groves and thickets, but which might be yet termed open, so that objects began to be discerned with sufficient accuracy. Quentin cast his eye on the person whom he rode beside, and under the shadow of a slouched overspreading hat, which resembled the sombrero of a Spanish peasant, he recognised the facetious features of the same Petit Andre whose fingers, not long since, had, in concert with those of his lugubrious brother, Trois Eschelles, been so unpleasantly active about his throat. -- Impelled by aversion, not altogether unmixed with fear (for in his own country the executioner is regarded with almost superstitious horror), which his late narrow escape had not diminished, Durward instinctively moved his horse's head to the right, and pressing him at the same time with the spur, made a demi-volte, which separated him eight feet from his hateful companion. "Ho, ho, ho, ho!" exclaimed Petit Andre, "by Our Lady of the Grave, our young soldier remembers us of old. What! comrade, you bear no malice, I trust? -- every one wins his bread in this country. No man need be ashamed of having come through my hands, for I will do my work with any that ever tied a living weight to a dead tree. -- And God hath given me grace to be such a merry fellow withal. -- Ha! ha! ha! -- I could tell you such jests I have cracked between the foot of a ladder and the top of the gallows, that, by my halidome, I have been obliged to do my job rather hastily, for fear the fellows should die with laughing, and so shame my mystery!" As he thus spoke he edged his horse sideways to regain the interval which the Scot had left between them, saying, at the same time, "Come, Seignior Archer, let there be no unkindness betwixt us! -- For my part, I always do my duty without malice, and with a light heart, and I never love a man better than when I have put my scant of wind collar about his neck, to dub him Knight of the order of Saint Patibularius (patibulum, a gibbet), as the Provost's Chaplain, the worthy Father Vaconeldiablo (possibly Baco (Bacchus) el Diablo (the Devil)), is wont to call the Patron Saint of the Provostry." "Keep back, thou wretched object!" exclaimed Quentin, as the finisher of the law again sought to approach him closer, "or I shall be tempted to teach you the distance that should be betwixt men of honour and such an outcast." "La you there, how hot you are!" said the fellow, "had you said men of honesty, there had been some savour of truth in it, but for men of honour, good lack, I have to deal with them every day, as nearly and closely as I was about to do business with you. -- But peace be with you, and keep your company to yourself. I would have bestowed a flagon of Auvernat upon you to wash away every unkindness -- -- but 't is like you scorn my courtesy. -- Well. Be as churlish as you list -- I never quarrel with my customers -- my jerry come tumbles, my merry dancers, my little playfellows, as Jacques Butcher says to his lambs -- those in fine, who, like your seigniorship, have H. E. M. P. written on their foreheads. -- No, no, let them use me as they list, they shall have my good service at last -- and yourself shall see, when you next come under Petit Andre's hands, that he knows how to forgive an injury." So saying, and summing up the whole with a provoking wink, and such an interjectional tchick as men quicken a dull horse with, Petit Andre drew off to the other side of the path, and left the youth to digest the taunts he had treated him with, as his proud Scottish stomach best might. A strong desire had Quentin to have belaboured him while the staff of his lance could hold together, but he put a restraint on his passion, recollecting that a brawl with such a character could be creditable at no time or place, and that a quarrel of any kind, on the present occasion, would be a breach of duty, and might involve the most perilous consequences. He therefore swallowed his wrath at the ill timed and professional jokes of Mons. Petit Andre, and contented himself with devoutly hoping that they had not reached the ears of his fair charge, on which they could not be supposed to make an impression in favour of himself, as one obnoxious to such sarcasms. But he was speedily roused from such thoughts by the cry of both the ladies at once, to "Look back -- look back! -- For the love of Heaven look yourself, and us -- we are pursued!" Quentin hastily looked back, and saw that two armed men were in fact following them, and riding at such a pace as must soon bring them up with their party. "It can," he said, "be only some of the Provostry making their rounds in the forest. -- Do thou look," he said to Petit Andre, "and see what they may be." Petit Andre obeyed, and rolling himself jocosely in the saddle after he had made his observations, replied, "These, fair sir, are neither your comrades nor mine -- neither Archers nor Marshals men -- for I think they wear helmets, with visors lowered, and gorgets of the same. -- A plague upon these gorgets of all other pieces of armour! -- I have fumbled with them an hour before I could undo the rivets." "Do you, gracious ladies," said Durward, without attending to Petit Andre, "ride forward -- not so fast as to raise an opinion of your being in flight, and yet fast enough to avail yourself of the impediment which I shall presently place between you and these men who follow us." The Countess Isabelle looked to their guide, and then whispered to her aunt, who spoke to Quentin thus: "We have confidence in your care, fair Archer, and will rather abide the risk of whatever may chance in your company, than we will go onward with that man, whose mien is, we think, of no good augury." "Be it as you will, ladies," said the youth. "There are but two who come after us, and though they be knights, as their arms seem to show, they shall, if they have any evil purpose, learn how a Scottish gentleman can do his devour in the presence and for the defence of such as you. "Which of you," he continued, addressing the guards whom he commanded, "is willing to be my comrade, and to break a lance with these gallants?" Two of the men obviously faltered in resolution, but the third, Bertrand Guyot, swore that cap de diou, were they Knights of King Arthur's Round Table, he would try their mettle, for the honour of Gascony. While he spoke, the two knights -- for they seemed of no less rank -- came up with the rear of the party, in which Quentin, with his sturdy adherent, had by this time stationed himself. They were fully accoutred in excellent armour of polished steel, without any device by which they could be distinguished. One of them, as they approached, called out to Quentin, "Sir Squire, give place -- we come to relieve you of a charge which is above your rank and condition. You will do well to leave these ladies in our care, who are fitter to wait upon them, especially as we know that in yours they are little better than captives." "In return to your demand, sirs," replied Durward, "know, in the first place, that I am discharging the duty imposed upon me by my present sovereign, and next, that however unworthy I may be, the ladies desire to abide under my protection." "Out, sirrah!" exclaimed one of the champions, "will you, a wandering beggar, put yourself on terms of resistance against belted knights?" "They are indeed terms of resistance," said Quentin, "since they oppose your insolent and unlawful aggression, and if there be difference of rank between us, which as yet I know not, your discourtesy has done it away. Draw your sword, or if you will use the lance, take ground for your career." While the knights turned their horses, and rode back to the distance of about a hundred and fifty yards, Quentin, looking to the ladies, bent low on his saddlebow, as if desiring their favourable regard, and as they streamed towards him their kerchiefs, in token of encouragement, the two assailants had gained the distance necessary for their charge. Calling to the Gascon to bear himself like a man, Durward put his steed into motion, and the four horsemen met in full career in the midst of the ground which at first separated them. The shock was fatal to the poor Gascon, for his adversary, aiming at his face, which was undefended by a visor, ran him through the eye into the brain, so that he fell dead from his horse. On the other hand, Quentin, though labouring under the same disadvantage, swayed himself in the saddle so dexterously, that the hostile lance, slightly scratching his cheek, passed over his right shoulder, while his own spear, striking his antagonist fair upon the breast, hurled him to the ground. Quentin jumped off, to unhelm his fallen opponent, but the other knight (who had never yet spoken), seeing the fortune of his companion, dismounted still more speedily than Durward, and bestriding his friend, who lay senseless, exclaimed, "In the name of God and Saint Martin, mount, good fellow, and get thee gone with thy woman's ware -- Ventre Saint Gris, they have caused mischief enough this morning." "By your leave, Sir Knight," said Quentin, who could not brook the menacing tone in which this advice was given, "I will first see whom I have had to do with, and learn who is to answer for the death of my comrade." "That shalt thou never live to know or to tell," answered the knight. "Get thee back in peace, good fellow. If we were fools for interrupting your passage, we have had the worst, for thou hast done more evil than the lives of thee and thy whole hand could repay. -- Nay, if thou wilt have it" (for Quentin now drew his sword, and advanced on him), "take it with a vengeance!" So saying, he dealt the Scot such a blow on the helmet, as, till that moment (though bred where good blows were plenty), he had only read of in romance. It descended like a thunderbolt, beating down the guard which the young soldier had raised to protect his head, and, reaching his helmet of proof, cut it through so far as to touch his hair, but without farther injury while Durward, dizzy, stunned, and beaten down on one knee, was for an instant at the mercy of the knight, had it pleased him to second his blow. But compassion for Quentin's youth, or admiration of his courage, or a generous love of fair play, made him withhold from taking such advantage: while Durward, collecting himself, sprang up and attacked his antagonist with the energy of one determined to conquer or die, and at the same time with the presence of mind necessary for fighting the quarrel out to the best advantage. Resolved not again to expose himself to such dreadful blows as he had just obtained, he employed the advantage of superior agility, increased by the comparative lightness of his armour, to harass his antagonist by traversing on all sides, with a suddenness of motion and rapidity of attack against which the knight -- in his heavy panoply -- found it difficult to defend himself without much fatigue. It was in vain that this generous antagonist called aloud to Quentin that there now remained no cause of fight betwixt them, and that he was loath to be constrained to do him injury. Listening only to the suggestions of a passionate wish to redeem the shame of his temporary defeat, Durward continued to assail him with the rapidity of lightning -- now menacing him with the edge, now with the point of his sword, and ever keeping such an eye on the motions of his opponent, of whose superior strength he had had terrible proof, that he was ready to spring backward, or aside, from under the blows of his tremendous weapon. "Now the devil be with thee for an obstinate and presumptuous fool," muttered the knight, "that cannot be quiet till thou art knocked on the head!" So saying, he changed his mode of fighting, collected himself, as if to stand on the defensive, and seemed contented with parrying, instead of returning, the blows which Quentin unceasingly aimed at him, with the internal resolution that the instant when either loss of breath or any false or careless pass of the young soldier should give an opening, he would put an end to the fight by a single blow. It is likely he might have succeeded in this artful policy, but Fate had ordered it otherwise. The duel was still at the hottest, when a large party of horse rode up, crying, "Hold, in the King's name!" Both champions stepped back -- and Quentin saw, with surprise, that his Captain, Lord Crawford, was at the head of the party who had thus interrupted their combat. There was also Tristan l'Hermite, with two or three of his followers, making, in all, perhaps twenty horse. 我还能看见你哩,美丽的法兰西—— 融天然与人工之美于一体。 你还呈现在我的眼前—— 我看见你那以劳动为乐趣的儿郎, 土壤给他们的劳动带来了巨大的报偿。 我看见你那皮肤黝黑的女儿, 眼里含着笑容,长着光泽而乌黑的鬈发。 但可爱的法兰西, 无论在古代和现代, 你都有许多哀怨的往事可以诉说。 无名氏 昆丁•达威特避免跟任何人谈话(因为国王作了这样的吩咐),赶紧穿上一件带有腿部和臂部护甲的坚牢而朴素的铠甲,戴上一顶无面甲的优质钢盔;铠甲外面还披上一件精制的鲨皮革做的漂亮罩衫,衣缝都是由绣花边系拢起来的。只有名门望族的高官才配得上穿戴这种装饰。 这些衣装都是奥利弗拿到他房里来的。这位理发师带着宁静而阿谀的微笑和态度告诉他说,他舅父已被叫去站岗,故意不让他打听这些保密行动。 “将来会替你向你舅父作解释的,”奥利弗又微笑着说,“但当你,我亲爱的孩子,执行了这个愉快的任务平安回来之后,我相信,你将够资格获得破格的提升,那时你也就毋需向任何人汇报你的行动,而你的手下人倒必须向你汇报他们的行动了。” 魔鬼奥利弗说着这些话时,也许正在心中算计,此刻被他热情地握着手的这个可怜的年轻人在执行托负给他的任务当中十之八九会死于非命,或遭到劫持。为了给他这一席好话增添一点内容,他代表国王送给他一小袋金币,作为旅途中的必要开销。 离午夜十二时只差几分钟的时候,昆丁按照指示来到第二个庭院,在“皇太子塔楼”底下停了下来。正如读者所知道的,这正是特意拨给克罗伊埃伯爵小姐临时居住的那个塔楼。这是约定的碰头地点。他发现组成随行队伍的几个人正牵着两匹驮有行李的骡子,以及那两位仕女和她们的忠实侍女骑的三匹小马,再就是为他自己备的一匹高大战马。马的钢甲鞍座在朦胧的月色下隐隐发光。双方都没有打招呼。那几个男人静静地坐在马上,像是不动的雕像。透过朦胧的月光,昆丁高兴地看到,他们全副武装,手持长矛。虽然人数只有三个,但其中一个带有浓重的加斯科尼口音的人低声告诉他,离开图尔城以后还有个向导将加入他们的行列。 这时塔楼格子窗里的灯光闪闪烁烁,房客好像正忙着在准备。最后,塔楼底部通向庭院的小门打开,三个妇女在一个披着斗篷的男人伴随下走了出来。她们悄悄地骑上为她们准备好的三匹小马,这些徒步的旅伴领着她们动身出发,并向他们所经过的站岗的哨兵报口令和暗号。最后他们终于走出了这个森严的城堡。那一直充当向导的徒步男人这才停了下来,向那两个走在前面的妇女低声而严肃地讲着话。 “陛下、愿上帝为您祝福,”昆丁•达威特听到一个使他为之一怔的声音这样说道,“并将宽恕您——即使您的意图并不像您的言语所表现的那样毫无私心!要是我能使自己置身于列日主教的保护之下,那真是求之不得,再好不过。” 听到她讲这番话的男人喃喃地说了一句听不见的答话,然后通过一道门退了回去。在月色底下,昆丁认出那人正是国王。也许因为他急于让他的客人离开,所以他不惜亲自出马,一方面是想避免她们产生疑虑,一方面是想避免哨兵制造困难。 当这小小的马队走出城堡之后,他们还得十分小心地骑一段时间,以躲避专门给陌生人制造麻烦的陷阱、陷坑和类似的机关。然而那加斯科尼人却完全掌握了这类迷魂阵的脉胳。一刻钟之后,他们已走出了普莱西皇家花园,来到离图尔城不很远的地方。 月亮从云层后面钻了出来,把一片美丽的光华投向同样美丽的原野。他们看到那庄严肃穆的卢瓦尔河波涛滚滚,流经法国最富饶的平原,在缀饰着塔楼、台地、橄榄树和葡萄园的河岸之间奔腾而过。在白蒙蒙的月色中他们看到那都兰的古都图尔城的城墙上耸立着高大的塔楼和城谍,而在城墙内则呈现着一大片哥特式建筑。这是由虔诚的圣徒柏尔贝图阿斯主教早在公元五世纪建立,而热情的查里曼大帝及其继承者以非凡的建筑艺术扩建而成的法国最雄伟的教堂。圣加丁教堂的塔楼也历历在目。人们还可以看见那阴森雄壮的古堡,据说它曾是古代范兰廷尼安皇帝的皇宫。 尽管那年轻的苏格兰人眼下处于这种环境,然而面对着独具魅力的大自然,怎能不产生赞叹与喜悦之情呢!他看惯了家乡的山山水水,但即使其最壮观的景色也不免掺杂着贫乏的色彩。所以他饱餐着这人工、天然竞相点缀的旖旎风光。但这时他听到那年长的仕女正在叫唤自己,这声音与她和国王道别时的柔和声音相比至少要高八度,使他从沉思中醒过来面对眼前的职责。原来是那仕女要求和领队谈话。昆丁策马前去,以领队的身份尊敬地向贵妇人作了自我介绍,然后接受哈梅琳女士的一系列提问。 “你叫什么?什么级别?” 他针对这两点作了回答。 “你完全熟悉这条路吗?” “我不能妄称对这条路很熟悉,”他回答道,“但我得到了详尽的指示,而且在第一个歇脚处就会给我配备一个完全有能力领我们继续前进的向导。其间有位骑士刚加入我们的行列,使我们的卫队已增加到四人。他将充当第一阶段的向导。” “年轻的绅士,干吗要选你来担负这任务呢?”那贵妇人问道,“我听说你就是在我们最近会见法兰西公主时,在那个大厅里站岗放哨的年轻人。你担负这样一个任务似乎嫩了点。何况你刚来法国,说起法语来就像个外国人。” “女士,我得服从国王的命令,而没资格空发议论。”年轻的卫士说道。 “你出身高贵吗?”贵妇人继续问道。 “女士,我可以满有把握地作出肯定的回答。”昆丁回答道。 “你不就是在那个旅店里国王叫我上菜时,我见到的那个人吗?”那小姐转过身来以一种怯生生的语调也对他说道。 也许是由于同样的胆怯心情吧,昆丁低声地作了肯定的回答。 “好了,姑妈,我想我们在这位年轻绅士的保护下一定会很安全。”伊莎贝尔小姐对哈梅琳女士说道,“他一点不像个坏人——一个会执行残酷迫害两个弱女子的邪恶命令的那种坏人。” “小姐,我以我的荣誉担保,”达威特说道,“我以我们家族的名声和我们祖先的遗骨担保,即使把法国和苏格兰加在一起赠送给我,我也不可能背叛您,加害于您!” “年轻人,你说得很好,”哈梅琳女士说道,“不过我们已听惯了法国国王和他手下人讲的好话,正是因为相信了这些好话,我们才会被诱骗,使我们在本来可以比现在少冒危险获得列日主教保护的时候,在本来可以投奔德国的温塞斯劳斯或英国的爱德华请求保护的时候,竟会跑到法国来避难。国王的许诺结果如何呢?结果是把我们改名换姓,当作某种违禁品偷偷地藏在那个寒伧的旅店里。你是知道的,玛尔松,”她对她的女仆人说,“我们这种人从来都是用华盖遮着,只有坐在具有三度坡度的坛台上才戴上我的头饰。但我们却被迫像两个挤奶的女人那样,只站在地板上穿衣戴帽。” 玛尔松承认她的女主人讲了一个极为可悲的事实。 “亲爱的姑妈,可惜这并不是最糟糕的事,”伊莎贝尔小姐说道,“不讲排场我倒是很乐意的。” “可不能没有社交,”年老的仕女说道,“我亲爱的侄女,没有交际应酬可无法忍受。” “我亲爱的姑妈,我什么都可以不要,”伊莎贝尔用一种深深打动那年轻的向导和卫士的声音说道,“只要我能得到一个安全面体面的隐遁之所,我什么都可以不要。我不希望——上帝知道,我决不希望——在法国和我的故乡勃艮第之间引起战争,或为我这样的人牺牲他人的生命。我只央求准许我去马穆蒂女修道院或别的教堂庇护所去隐居。” “我的侄女,你说起话来简直像个傻瓜,”那年长的仕女说道,“真不像我那高贵的兄弟的女儿。幸亏有我这个保留着克罗伊埃家族的贵族精神的人还活着。人们为追求一位出身高贵的小姐折断长矛,而为了追求一个皮肤黝黑的挤奶姑娘只会折断根榛木棒。要不,二者有何区别呢?让我告诉你吧,姑娘,当我和你年纪差不多,正在含苞欲放的时候,人们就为争夺我举行了著名的哈弗林汉姆比武大会。有四人挑战,而应战的则有十二人之多。一共连续了三天。结果有两个不怕死的骑士丧了命,一个折断了脊梁,一个打断了锁骨,三个断腿,两个断臂,还有连纹章官点都点不过来的无数皮肉损伤和跌打损伤。我们家族的仕女们一直是这样受人敬佩的。唉!假如你能有你高贵的祖先一半的志气,你就会找到一个仍然珍惜仕女爱情和武士荣誉的宫廷,也像人们为你已故的曾祖母在斯特拉斯堡举行过长矛比武大会那样,争取为你举行一次以向你求婚为名的比武大会。这样你便可以赢得欧洲最优秀的武士来维护我们克罗伊埃家族的权利,使我们既不受勃艮第的压迫,也不受法国人阴谋权术的危害。” “不过,亲爱的姑妈,”那年轻的伯爵小姐对答道,“我年老的奶妈对我说过,虽然那位莱茵伯爵是比武大会上最优秀的武士,因而赢得了我可敬的曾祖母,但婚姻并不幸福,因为他经常责骂,甚至殴打我已故的曾祖母。” “干吗不行呢?”对骑士职业充满了罗曼蒂克热情的年长仕女辩护说,“那些惯于在外面你争我斗的得胜的武士们为什么就该在家里束手束脚呢?我宁肯让一个武艺超群、使别人和我一样感到可畏的丈夫每天揍我两次,也不宁嫁给一个既不敢动手打老婆也不敢揍别人的胆小鬼!” “好姑母,我但愿你有幸得到这样一个好动武的丈夫,”伊莎贝尔回答道,“我也不会忌妒你,因为断筋折骨的人在比武会上固然可爱,在闺房中可最不可爱。” “你说得不对。挨打并不是和武艺超群的骑士结婚的必然后果,”哈梅琳女士说道,“固然我们已故的祖先莱茵伯爵哥特弗里德是有些性格粗暴,嗜好莱茵白酒,但一个真正完美的骑士应该既是仕女群中的羔羊,又是武士群中的雄狮。以前有个蒙蒂尼•蒂博尔特——愿上帝保佑他——他可是世界上最厚道的人。他不但决不会无礼地动手打他的夫人,圣母在上,这个在外面能打败任何敌人的男子汉在家里却碰到了敢于揍他的一员女将。他也是哈弗林汉姆比武会上的一个挑战者。他表现得很起劲,要是老天爷高兴,你祖父也高兴的话,我们家本会有一位更温和地对待这性格温良的蒙蒂尼骑士的蒙蒂尼夫人哩。” 看到哈弗林汉姆比武会是她姑母随时想滔滔不绝地谈的话题,伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐有理由对它感到头疼,便让谈话中止下来。昆丁基于受过良好教养的人自然会有的一种礼貌上的考虑,惟恐他在近旁会使她们谈话感到拘束,便骑向前去,和向导走在一起,像是想问他某些有关路线的问题。 两位仕女继续默默地往前走着,有时进行一些不值一提的谈话,这样一直走到天将拂晓。由于她们已经骑了好几个小时,昆丁担心她们已经疲乏,急于想了解离最近的歇脚处还有多远。 “我将在半小时内告诉你。”那向导回答道。 “那时你就会把我们交给另一个向导吗?”昆丁继续问道。 “正是这样,射手先生,”那人回答道,“我的行程总是既短又直的。你和别的射手靠的是弓,而我总是靠我的绞索。” 这时月亮早已西沉,东方的曙光已越来越强,越来越明亮,他们已绕着走了一阵的小湖的湖心微微发光。这个湖位于一个大平原上,举目望去到处是些稀稀落落的树木、树丛和丛林,但地势还谈得上开阔,远处的物体已逐渐清晰可辨。昆丁望望在他旁边骑着的那个人。他戴着一顶颇像西班牙农民戴的那种阔边帽。在那软塌而宽大的帽子阴影下,他认出了小安德烈的滑稽面孔。不久以前,这家伙还曾用他的手指头配合他那阴森可怕的兄弟特洛瓦•艾歇尔的手指头十分可憎地忙着勒他的脖子。虽然几天前他侥幸脱险,但他对这家伙的厌恶并未消减。在掺杂着几分恐惧(因为在苏格兰,人们都以近乎迷信的恐惧看待刽子手)的厌恶心情的驱使下,达威特本能地把马首勒向右边,用马刺一踢,使马回转了半个圈子,把他和这可憎的同伴隔开了八英尺距离。 “嗬,嗬,嗬,嗬!”小安德烈叫道,“格雷弗圣母在上,这年轻的卫士还记得我们。喂!伙计,我想你不会记仇吧?在这个国家人人都得挣自己的面包。谁也不必因为在我手上挨过两下勒脖子就感到害羞,因为我敢和世界上任何一个曾经把活东西吊在死树上的人比比高低。况且上帝还仁慈地让我成为这样一个快活的伙计!——哈!哈!哈!——我还可以给你讲我从梯子底下爬到绞架顶部时讲过的一些笑话。这些笑话真是笑死人,天老爷,我不得不匆匆忙忙干完活计,惟恐那该被绞死的家伙会大笑而死。” 他边说边把马朝横的方向一勒,靠拢那苏格兰人,从而又夺回了在他们之间造成的那段距离,同时对他讨好地说:“得了,射手先生,别让我们之间再留有宿怨吧!就我来说,我执行任务从来不怀恶意,而总是心情愉快。况且我最喜欢的人就是我曾把那‘叫人喘不过气的领圈’套在他的脖子上,被我封为‘圣巴蒂布拉里阿斯骑士’的人。顺便说说,巴蒂布拉里阿斯乃是军法总监的随军牧师——尊敬的瓦斯内尔第阿波罗神父经常用来称呼‘军法执行保护神’的一个名字。” “站远点,你这卑鄙的家伙!”看到那绞刑吏企图靠他更近时昆丁愤怒地吼道,“我恨不得教训你一顿,好让你懂得在你这种贱人和贵人之间要保持距离。” “瞧你脾气多暴!”那家伙说道,“要是你说的是‘老实人’,那么还有几分道理,至于说贵人么,老天爷在上,我每天都得像我打算对付你那样,十分亲近地和他们打交道。不过,愿上帝保佑你,就让你独自和自己做伴吧。我本来想送你一瓶阿维纳酒,让酒来洗掉宿怨。但蔑视我的客气正是你这种人的脾气。得了。你喜欢怎么闹别扭,就怎么闹别扭吧。正如屠夫贾克针对他的羊羔说的那样,我从来不和我的顾客、我的伙计、我快活的舞蹈家、我的小朋友——总之,我从来不和像您这位贵人那样曾在额头上写过H.E.M.P.字样的人闹别扭。行,行,让他们爱怎么对待我就怎么对待我得了。他们最后还是会让我为他们好好效劳的。你将会看到,你下次再落到小安德烈手上时,他懂得如何宽恕罪恶。” 说罢,小安德烈又用一个挑逗性的鬼眨眼以及人们吆喝弩马的“契克”声作为他的压轴戏,然后撤到路的另一边,让那年轻人以他那骄傲的苏格兰人的胃口好好消化给他的这些挖苦和讽刺。昆丁本想用他的长矛杆狠狠接他一顿,但他抑制住自己的愤怒,因为他和这种人打架在任何时间或地点都不光彩,而在当前这种场合,不管什么形式的斗殴都将是一种读职行为,并有可能引起极其危险的后果。所以他只得吞下小安德烈先生那不合时宜的职业性玩笑慧起的愤怒,并虔诚地希望这些胡言乱语没有让他所护送的美丽姑娘听见。否则,尽管他憎恶这种挖苦人的俏皮话,他也无法指望这会给姑娘产生有利于他的印象。但这时两位仕女同时叫了起来:“你看后面,你看后面!看在上帝的分上当心你自己,也保护保护我们——后面有人追!”昆丁这才从他的思索当中迅速惊醒过来。 他赶紧回头看,只见有两个全副武装的人的确正在追赶他们。马跑得很快,立刻会追上他们这行人。“这只可能是军法总监的人在巡逻森林地带。你去看看,”他对安德烈说,“看他们是干什么的。” 小安德烈遵命前去。一当他看清之后便在马鞍上摇头晃脑地乐呵呵跑回来,向昆丁报告说:“亲爱的先生,这两个人既不是和您一伙的,也不是和我一伙的——既不是射手也不是军法官——但见他们头戴钢盔,脸罩面甲,还戴着护喉甲——在所有铠甲当中就数护喉甲最讨厌!磨蹭它一小时才解得开它们上面的铆钉。” “尊敬的女士们,”达威特没有理睬小安德烈的唠叨,“请你们骑到前面去。别骑得太快以造成你们在逃跑的印象,但要快得足以使你们能利用我堵住两个追赶者所赢得的时间。” 伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐望望她们的领队,又对姑母耳语了一阵。那贵妇人便对昆丁说道:“好射手,我们相信你的保护,宁愿冒和你在一起可能碰到的危险,也不愿和那个相貌不善的人到前面去。” “女士们,那就听你们的便吧,”那年轻人说道,“追赶我们的只有两个人。尽管他们的装备似乎表明他们都是骑士,但只要他们有任何罪恶企图,我会让他们领教一位苏格兰绅士为了保护你们而怎样尽自己的职责的。喂,”接着他对受他指挥的护送士兵说,“你们有谁愿意和我一道同这两个纨绔子弟拚一个回合吗?” 有两个人明显地不敢下这个决心,但另一个叫贝尔特兰•几阿特的赌咒说:“妈的,就算他是亚瑟王的圆桌骑士,我也得为了加斯科尼的荣誉尝尝他们的味道。” 他话还没说完,那两个骑士——看来他们正是属于这种陛阶——已经追上了昆丁及其坚定的随从组成的后卫。他们戴着全副亮锃锃的优质钢甲,没有任何识别的标志。 其中一人走了过来对昆丁喊道:“扈从先生,请让位吧——我们来的目的是替你免除一个超出你的官阶和地位的任务。你最好是把这两位仕女交给我们保护。我们会更适合侍候她们,因为我们看到她们在你的照顾下并不比囚徒好多少。” “先生们,”昆丁说道,“我对你们要求的回答是:首先请你们放明白,我是在执行我当今的君主委派给我的任务;其次你们要知道,不管我地位多么卑微,这两位仕女都希望得到我的保护。” “好哇,你出来吧!”一位骑士吼道,“你这流浪的叫花子,你胆敢抗拒被授过勋带的骑士?” “这的确是抗拒,”昆丁说道,“因为它抗拒的是你们无礼的非法侵犯。如果说我们之间地位有所不同(目前我还不清楚是否果真如此),那么,你们的无礼已使它毫无价值。拔出你们的刀吧!如果你们想使用长矛,那你们就各就各位吧!” 趁这两个骑士掉转马头,往回倒退一百五十码的时候,昆丁伏在马鞍上,望着两位仕女,像是想邀得她们赞许的目光。她们向他挥动头巾表示鼓励。这时两个进犯者已退足了进行交锋所需要的距离。 达威特一边叫那加斯科尼人鼓起大丈夫的勇气,一边策马迎战。四位骑士顿时迅猛地跑到腾出的场地一半的地方交起锋来。这下可要了那加斯科尼人的命。只见他的对手举着矛朝他那没戴面甲的脸上一戳,从眼睛一直戳到后脑勺,杀得他从马上滚翻下来。 昆丁固然处于同样的不利地位,但他十分灵巧地稳住在马鞍上的架势。尽管对方的长矛稍稍擦伤了他的面颊,但它从右肩上滑了过去;而他自己的长矛却正好击中了对方的胸部,把他打下马来。昆丁也跟着跳下马,替躺在地上的敌人解开钢盔。剩下的那个骑士(他还从没讲过一句话)看到他同伴遭到不幸,便抢在昆丁之先从马上跳下来,用两腿跨在他朋友身上喊道:“看在上帝和圣马丁的分上,好伙计,你快骑上马带着你的烂女人滚吧!圣格里斯呀,今天早晨她们闯的祸已经够大的了。” “请原谅,骑士先生,”昆丁无法忍受说出这忠告时带的威胁口吻,毅然说道,“我得先搞清我刚才是和谁打交道,并查明谁得为我伙伴的死亡负责。” “这你可永远没法知道,也没法去打报告。”那骑士回答道,“你乖乖地回去吧,好伙计。如果我们阻挡你是干了蠢事,我们也已经够倒霉了,因为你所犯的罪过是你和你全部人马的生命也抵偿不了的。好吧,假如你硬要打(因为昆丁已拔出剑向他冲来),那你就吃我这一梭标吧!” 说着他就朝这苏格兰人钢盔上猛地一击,其猛烈的程度昆丁以前也只在传奇小说上读到过(尽管他生长在一个以武打出名的国家)。它像霹雳般降临在这年轻人头上,使他简直无法招架。长矛不但戳穿了他那相当保险的钢盔,而且一直碰到他的头发,幸好没有造成进一步的伤害。达威特被打得头晕目眩,单膝跪倒在地,性命之忧真是千钧一发,全看这骑士是否有意再补上一击。但这骑士或许是对年轻的昆丁忽生怜惜之心,或许是对他的勇敢感到钦佩,或许是受到喜爱公平竞赛的侠义性格的支配,总之,他并没有进一步利用这一优势。昆丁一清醒过来,便以决心拼个你死我活的猛劲和最有效地夺取胜利所必需的镇定向对方冲杀过去。他决心不再让自己遭受刚才那种可怕的打击,遂利用其灵活机敏,再加装备轻捷的有利条件,东跑西跳,以突然的动作、快速的进攻来和对手周旋。那身穿笨重铠甲的骑士实在难以招架,颇感疲于奔命。这位讲义气的骑士对昆丁劝说:他们没有理由再打下去;他不愿被迫加害于他。但这根本无济于事。达威特只是听从他那洗雪失败之耻的强烈欲望的驱使,继续以闪电般的速度向他进攻。他时而以刀刃,时而以刀尖威胁他,并时刻提防着对方的动作,因为他已尝到过他那可怕的超人力量的滋味。他随时准备好向后跳,向旁边跳,来躲避他那沉重武器的打击。 “你这顽固而狂妄的傻瓜见鬼去吧!”那骑士喃喃说道,“不敲破你的脑袋你是不会善罢干休的!”说着他立即改变作战方式:先稳住阵脚,表面上像是采取守势,只求挡住昆丁不断的袭击,而不作还击,但内心却暗自下定决心,一旦那年轻人需要换口气,或动作失误,使他有机可乘时便一下子结束这场战斗。他这个狡黠的策略本来可望成功,但命运之神却作了另外的安排。 决斗正酣之际,一大队人马走了上来,大声喊道:“以国王的名义命令你们住手!”两位斗士顿时各自退到一边。昆丁惊愕地看到,阻止了他们继续战斗的这队人马为首的正是他的队长克劳福德大公。来人当中还包括特里斯顿•勒尔米特和他的两三个随从,共约二十人之众。 Chapter 15 The Guide He was a son of Egypt, as he told me, And one descended from those dread magicians, Who waged rash war, when Israel dwelt in Goshen, With Israel and her Prophet -- matching rod With his, the son's of Levi's -- and encountering Jehovah's miracles with incantations, Till upon Egypt came the avenging Angel, And those proud sages wept for their first born, As wept the unletter'd peasant. ANONYMOUS The arrival of Lord Crawford and his guard put an immediate end to the engagement which we endeavoured to describe in the last chapter, and the knight, throwing off his helmet, hastily gave the old Lord his sword, saying, "Crawford, I render myself. -- But hither -- and lend me your ear -- a word for God's sake -- save the Duke of Orleans!" "How! -- what? -- the Duke of Orleans!" exclaimed the Scottish commander. "How came this, in the name of the foul fiend? It will ruin the gallant with the King, for ever and a day." "Ask no questions," said Dunois -- for it was no other than he -- "it was all my fault. See, he stirs. I came forth but to have a snatch at yonder damsel, and make myself a landed and a married man -- and see what is come on 't. Keep back your canaille -- let no man look upon him." So saying, he opened the visor of Orleans, and threw water on his face, which was afforded by the neighbouring lake. Quentin Durward, meanwhile, stood like one planet struck (affected by the supposed influence of the planets), so fast did new adventures pour in upon him. He had now, as the pale features of his first antagonist assured him, borne to the earth the first Prince of the Blood in France, and had measured swords with her best champion, the celebrated Dunois, -- both of them achievements honourable in themselves: but whether they might be called good service to the King, or so esteemed by him, was a very different question. The Duke had now recovered his breath, and was able to sit up and give attention to what passed betwixt Dunois and Crawford, while the former pleaded eagerly that there was no occasion to mention in the matter the name of the most noble Orleans, while he was ready to take the whole blame on his own shoulders, and to avouch that the Duke had only come thither in friendship to him. Lord Crawford continued listening with his eves fixed on the ground, and from time to time he sighed and shook his head. At length he said, looking up, "Thou knowest, Dunois, that, for thy father's sake, as well as thine own, I would full fain do thee a service." "It is not for myself I demand anything," answered Dunois. "Thou hast my sword, and I am your prisoner -- what needs more? But it is for this noble Prince, the only hope of France, if God should call the Dauphin. He only came hither to do me a favour -- in an effort to make my fortune -- in a matter which the King had partly encouraged." "Dunois," replied Crawford, "if another had told me thou hadst brought the noble Prince into this jeopardy to serve any purpose of thine own, I had told him it was false. And now that thou dost pretend so thyself, I can hardly believe it is for the sake of speaking the truth." "Noble Crawford," said Orleans, who had now entirely recovered from his swoon, "you are too like in character to your friend Dunois, not to do him justice. It was indeed I that dragged him hither, most unwillingly, upon an enterprise of harebrained passion, suddenly and rashly undertaken. -- Look on me all who will," he added, rising up and turning to the soldiery, "I am Louis of Orleans, willing to pay the penalty of my own folly. I trust the King will limit his displeasure to me, as is but just. -- Meanwhile, as a Child of France must not give up his sword to any one -- not even to you, brave Crawford -- fare thee well, good steel." So saying, he drew his sword from its scabbard, and flung it into the lake. It went through the air like a stream of lightning, and sank in the flashing waters, which speedily closed over it. All remained standing in irresolution and astonishment, so high was the rank, and so much esteemed was the character, of the culprit, while, at the same time, all were conscious that the consequences of his rash enterprise, considering the views which the King had upon him, were likely to end in his utter ruin. Dunois was the first who spoke, and it was in the chiding tone of an offended and distrusted friend: "So! your Highness hath judged it fit to cast away your best sword, in the same morning when it was your pleasure to fling away the King's favour, and to slight the friendship of Dunois?" "My dearest kinsman," said the Duke, "when or how was it in my purpose to slight your friendship by telling the truth, when it was due to your safety and my honour?" "What had you to do with my safety, my most princely cousin, I would pray to know?" answered Dunois, gruffly. "What, in God's name, was it to you, if I had a mind to be hanged, or strangled, or flung into the Loire, or poniarded, or broke on the wheel, or hung up alive in an iron cage, or buried alive in a castle fosse, or disposed of in any other way in which it might please King Louis to get rid of his faithful subject? -- (You need 'not wink and frown, and point to Tristan l'Hermite -- I see the scoundrel as well as you do.) But it would not have stood so hard with me. -- And so much for my safety. And then for your own honour -- by the blush of Saint Magdalene, I think the honour would have been to have missed this morning's work, or kept it out of sight. Here has your Highness got yourself unhorsed by a wild Scottish boy." "Tut, tut!" said Lord Crawford, "never shame his Highness for that. It is not the first time a Scottish boy hath broke a good lance -- I am glad the youth hath borne him well." "I will say nothing to the contrary," said Dunois, "yet, had your Lordship come something later than you did, there might have been a vacancy in your band of Archers." "Ay, ay," answered Lord Crawford, "I can read your handwriting in that cleft morion. Some one take it from the lad and give him a bonnet, which, with its steel lining, will keep his head better than that broken loom -- And let me tell your Lordship, that your own armour of proof is not without some marks of good Scottish handwriting. But, Dunois, I must now request the Duke of Orleans and you to take horse and accompany me, as I have power and commission to convey you to a place different from that which my goodwill might assign you." "May I not speak one word, my Lord of Crawford, to yonder fair ladies?" said the Duke of Orleans. "Not one syllable," answered Lord Crawford, "I am too much a friend of your Highness to permit such an act of folly." Then addressing Quentin, he added, "You, young man, have done your duty. Go on to obey the charge with which you are intrusted." "Under favour, my Lord," said Tristan, with his usual brutality of manner, "the youth must find another guide. I cannot do without Petit Andre, when there is so like to be business on hand for him." "The young man," said Petit Andre, now coming forward, "has only to keep the path which lies straight before him, and it will conduct him to a place where he will find the man who is to act as his guide. "I would not for a thousand ducats be absent from my Chief this day I have hanged knights and esquires many a one, and wealthy Echevins (during the Middle Ages royal officers possessing a large measure of power in local administration), and burgomasters to boot -- even counts and marquises have tasted of my handiwork but, a-humph" -- he looked at the Duke, as if to intimate that he would have filled up the blank with "a Prince of the Blood!" "Ho, ho, ho! Petit Andre, thou wilt be read of in Chronicle!" "Do you permit your ruffians to hold such language in such a presence?" said Crawford, looking sternly to Tristan. "Why do you not correct him yourself, my Lord?" said Tristan, sullenly. "Because thy hand is the only one in this company that can beat him without being degraded by such an action." "Then rule your own men, my Lord, and I will be answerable for mine," said the Provost Marshal. Lord Crawford seemed about to give a passionate reply, but as if he had thought better of it, turned his back short upon Tristan, and, requesting the Duke of Orleans and Dunois to ride one on either hand of him, he made a signal of adieu to the ladies, and said to Quentin, "God bless thee, my child, thou hast begun thy service valiantly, though in an unhappy cause." He was about to go off when Quentin could hear Dunois whisper to Crawford, "Do you carry us to Plessis?" "No, my unhappy and rash friend," answered Crawford, with a sigh, "to Loches." "To Loches!" The name of a castle, or rather prison, yet more dreaded than Plessis itself, fell like a death toll upon the ear of the young Scotchman. He had heard it described as a place destined to the workings of those secret acts of cruelty with which even Louis shamed to pollute the interior of his own residence. There were in this place of terror dungeons under dungeons, some of them unknown even to the keepers themselves, living graves, to which men were consigned with little hope of farther employment during the rest of their life than to breathe impure air, and feed on bread and water. At this formidable castle were also those dreadful places of confinement called cages, in which the wretched prisoner could neither stand upright nor stretch himself at length, an invention, it is said, of the Cardinal Balue (who himself tenanted one of these dens for more than eleven years. S. De Comines, who also suffered this punishment, describes the cage as eight feet wide, and a foot higher than a man.). It is no wonder that the name of this place of horrors, and the consciousness that he had been partly the means of dispatching thither two such illustrious victims, struck so much sadness into the heart of the young Scot that he rode for some time with his head dejected, his eyes fixed on the ground, and his heart filled with the most painful reflections. As he was now again at the head of the little troop, and pursuing the road which had been pointed out to him, the Lady Hameline had an opportunity to say to him, "Methinks, fair sir, you regret the victory which your gallantry has attained in our behalf?" There was something in the question which sounded like irony, but Quentin had tact enough to answer simply and with sincerity. "I can regret nothing that is done in the service of such ladies as you are, but, methinks, had it consisted with your safety, I had rather have fallen by the sword of so good a soldier as Dunois, than have been the means of consigning that renowned knight and his unhappy chief, the Duke of Orleans, to yonder fearful dungeons." "It was, then, the Duke of Orleans," said the elder lady, turning to her niece. "I thought so, even at the distance from which we beheld the fray. -- You see, kinswoman, what we might have been, had this sly and avaricious monarch permitted us to be seen at his Court. The first Prince of the Blood of France, and the valiant Dunois, whose name is known as wide as that of his heroic father. -- This young gentleman did his devoir bravely and well, but methinks 't is pity that he did not succumb with honour, since his ill advised gallantry has stood betwixt us and these princely rescuers" The Countess Isabelle replied in a firm and almost a displeased tone, with an energy, in short, which Quentin had not yet observed her use. She said, "but that I know you jest, I would say your speech is ungrateful to our brave defender, to whom we owe more, perhaps, than you are aware of. Had these gentlemen succeeded so far in their rash enterprise as to have defeated our escort, is it not still evident, that, on the arrival of the Royal Guard, we must have shared their captivity? For my own part, I give tears, and will soon bestow masses, on the brave man who has fallen, and I trust" (she continued, more timidly) "that he who lives will accept my grateful thanks." As Quentin turned his face towards her, to return the fitting acknowledgments, she saw the blood which streamed down on one side of his face, and exclaimed, in a tone of deep feeling, "Holy Virgin, he is wounded! he bleeds! -- Dismount, sir, and let your wound be bound!" In spite of all that Durward could say of the slightness of his hurt he was compelled to dismount, and to seat himself on a bank, and unhelmet himself, while the Ladies of Croye, who, according to a fashion not as yet antiquated, pretended some knowledge of leech craft, washed the wound, stanched the blood, and bound it with the kerchief of the younger Countess in order to exclude the air, for so their practice prescribed. In modern times, gallants seldom or never take wounds for ladies' sake, and damsels on their side never meddle with the cure of wounds. Each has a danger the less. That which the men escape will be generally acknowledged, but the peril of dressing such a slight wound as that of Quentin's, which involved nothing formidable or dangerous, was perhaps as real in its way as the risk of encountering it. We have already said the patient was eminently handsome, and the removal of his helmet, or more properly, of his morion, had suffered his fair locks to escape in profusion, around a countenance in which the hilarity of youth was qualified by a blush of modesty at once and pleasure. And then the feelings of the younger Countess, when compelled to hold the kerchief to the wound, while her aunt sought in their baggage for some vulnerary remedy, were mingled at once with a sense of delicacy and embarrassment, a thrill of pity for the patient, and of gratitude for his services, which exaggerated, in her eyes, his good mien and handsome features. In short, this incident seemed intended by Fate to complete the mysterious communication which she had, by many petty and apparently accidental circumstances, established betwixt two persons, who, though far different in rank and fortune, strongly resembled each other in youth, beauty, and the romantic tenderness of an affectionate disposition. It was no wonder, therefore, that from this moment the thoughts of the Countess Isabelle, already so familiar to his imagination, should become paramount in Quentin's bosom, nor that if the maiden's feelings were of a less decided character, at least so far as known to herself, she should think of her young defender, to whom she had just rendered a service so interesting, with more emotion than of any of the whole band of high born nobles who had for two years past besieged her with their adoration. Above all, when the thought of Campobasso, the unworthy favourite of Duke Charles, with his hypocritical mien, his base, treacherous spirit, his wry neck and his squint, occurred to her, his portrait was more disgustingly hideous than ever, and deeply did she resolve no tyranny should make her enter into so hateful a union. In the meantime, whether the good Lady Hameline of Croye understood and admired masculine beauty as much as when she was fifteen years younger (for the good Countess was at least thirty-five, if the records of that noble house speak the truth), or whether she thought she had done their young protector less justice than she ought, in the first view which she had taken of his services, it is certain that he began to find favour in her eyes. "My niece," she said, "has bestowed on you a kerchief for the binding of your wound, I will give you one to grace your gallantry, and to encourage you in your farther progress in chivalry." So saying, she gave him a richly embroidered kerchief of blue and silver, and pointing to the housing of her palfrey, and the plumes in her riding cap, desired him to observe that the colours were the same. The fashion of the time prescribed one absolute mode of receiving such a favour, which Quentin followed accordingly by tying the napkin around his arm, yet his manner of acknowledgment had more of awkwardness, and loss of gallantry in it, than perhaps it might have had at another time, and in another presence, for though the wearing of a lady's favour, given in such a manner, was merely matter of general compliment, he would much rather have preferred the right of displaying on his arm that which bound the wound inflicted by the sword of Dunois. Meantime they continued their pilgrimage, Quentin now riding abreast of the ladies, into whose society he seemed to be tacitly adopted. He did not speak much, however, being filled by the silent consciousness of happiness, which is afraid of giving too strong vent to its feelings. The Countess Isabelle spoke still less, so that the conversation was chiefly carried on by the Lady Hameline, who showed no inclination to let it drop, for, to initiate the young Archer, as she said, into the principles and practice of chivalry, she detailed to him at full length the Passage of Arms at Haflinghem, where she had distributed the prizes among the victors. Not much interested, I am sorry to say, in the description of this splendid scene, or in the heraldic bearings of the different Flemish and German knights, which the lady blazoned with pitiless accuracy, Quentin began to entertain some alarm lest he should have passed the place where his guide was to join him -- a most serious disaster, from which, should it really have taken place, the very worst consequences were to be apprehended. While he hesitated whether it would be better to send back one of his followers to see whether this might not be the case, he heard the blast of a horn, and looking in the direction from which the sound came, beheld a horseman riding very fast towards them. The low size, and wild, shaggy, untrained state of the animal, reminded Quentin of the mountain breed of horses in his own country, but this was much more finely limbed, and, with the same appearance of hardiness, was more rapid in its movements. The head particularly, which, in the Scottish pony, is often lumpish and heavy, was small and well placed in the neck of this animal, with thin jaws, full sparkling eyes, and expanded nostrils. The rider was even more singular in his appearance than the horse which he rode, though that was extremely unlike the horses of France. Although he managed his palfrey with great dexterity, he sat with his feet in broad stirrups, something resembling shovels, so short in the leathers that his knees were well nigh as high as the pommel of his saddle. His dress was a red turban of small size, in which he wore a sullied plume, secured by a clasp of silver, his tunic, which was shaped like those of the Estradiots (a sort of troops whom the Venetians at that time levied in the provinces on the eastern side of their gulf), was green in colour, and tawdrily laced with gold, he wore very wide drawers or trowsers of white, though none of the cleanest, which gathered beneath the knee, and his swarthy legs were quite bare, unless for the complicated laces which bound a pair of sandals on his feet, he had no spurs, the edge of his large stirrups being so sharp as to serve to goad the horse in a very severe manner. In a crimson sash this singular horseman wore a dagger on the right side, and on the left a short crooked Moorish sword, and by a tarnished baldric over the shoulder hung the horn which announced his approach. He had a swarthy and sunburnt visage, with a thin beard, and piercing dark eyes, a well formed mouth and nose, and other features which might have been pronounced handsome, but for the black elf locks which hung around his face, and the air of wildness and emaciation, which rather seemed to indicate a savage than a civilized man. "He also is a Bohemian!" said the ladies to each other. "Holy Mary, will the King again place confidence in these outcasts?" "I will question the man, if it be your pleasure," said Quentin, "and assure myself of his fidelity as I best may." Durward, as well as the Ladies of Croye, had recognised in this man's dress and appearance the habit and the manners of those vagrants with whom he had nearly been confounded by the hasty proceedings of Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre, and he, too, entertained very natural apprehensions concerning the risk of reposing trust in one of that vagrant race. "Art thou come hither to seek us?" was his first question. The stranger nodded. "And for what purpose?" "To guide you to the Palace of Him of Liege." "Of the Bishop?" The Bohemian again nodded. "What token canst thou give me that we should yield credence to thee?" "Even the old rhyme, and no other," answered the Bohemian, "The page slew the boar, The peer had the gloire." "A true token," said Quentin, "lead on, good fellow -- I will speak farther with thee presently." Then falling back to the ladies, he said, "I am convinced this man is the guide we are to expect, for he hath brought me a password, known, I think, but to the King and me. But I will discourse with him farther, and endeavour to ascertain how far he is to be trusted." 他告诉我,他是一个埃及人的儿子, 是那些可怕的巫术家的后裔。 他们曾在以色列人住在戈申时, 和以色列及其先知们进行严酷的战争—— 和利未人的儿郎们格斗, 以诅咒回敬耶和华的神迹, 直到那复仇的天使来到埃及, 骄傲的圣人们,就像不识字的农民那样, 为他们的孩儿们哭泣。 无名氏 克劳福德大公及其卫队的到来即刻制止了我们在上一章描述过的那场决斗。那骑士取下钢盔赶忙把剑递给年老的大公说:“克劳福德,我向你缴械。不过——看在上帝的分上——让我向你讲句话——救救奥尔良公爵!” “为什么?怎么回事?奥尔良公爵!”那苏格兰卫队长叫道,“你们是搞的什么鬼名堂?这会叫这年轻人被国王永远抛弃的。” “别问了。”杜诺瓦说道。原来,他正是那位骑士。“这都是我的过错,瞧,他快醒过来了。我是来抢亲的。我打算抢走那个姑娘成个亲。结果搞成这个样于。请你把你那帮人叫过去,不要让人看见他。”说罢他打开奥尔良的面甲,用近旁一个湖里打来的水洒在他脸上。 这时昆丁•达威特像着了魔似的痴呆地站着,因为意外的事纷至沓来,使他真是摸不着头脑。和他交锋的头一个对手显露出来的苍白面孔使他明白,被他打翻在地的正是法国皇族血统的第一亲王,而刚才和他交过锋的是法国最优秀的武士,闻名的杜诺瓦。这两个成就固然都很光荣,但这是否算得上为国王效劳,国王本人又怎样看待,则是完全不同的问题。 公爵的呼吸趋于正常,能够坐起来,听清杜诺瓦和克劳福德之间的谈话。这时杜诺瓦正在急切地申辩说,在这件事情上没有必要提到最高贵的奥尔良的名字,他准备承担全部过错,并发誓说公爵只是到这儿来助他一臂之力。 克劳福德大公低头望着地上,继续倾听他的申辩,不时叹口气,摇摇头。最后他抬起头来说:“你知道,杜诺瓦,看在你父亲的分上,也为了你自己的缘故,我倒是很愿意给你帮个忙。” “我并不为我自己要求什么,”杜诺瓦说,“我已经向你缴械,成了你的囚徒——还不够么?——我这是为了这位高贵的亲王。假如上帝有意立他为皇太子,他将是法兰西惟一的希望。他到这儿来只是为了帮我个忙——成全我的幸福——办一件国王给了我某种鼓励的事。” “杜诺瓦,”克劳福德对答道,“要是别人对我说,你不惜让高贵的亲王遭受危险来帮你实现某种目的,我会告诉他这是说谎。而现在你竟然自己这样装腔作势,我的确很难相信这是为了陈述事实。” “高贵的克劳福德,”奥尔良说道,这时他已从昏迷中完全清醒过来,“您和您的朋友杜诺瓦性格十分相似,肯定会为他主持公道。的确是我硬把他拉到这儿来,轻率唐突地干这种情欲冲动的鬼事的。大伙愿意,都望着我好了,”他站了起来面对士兵们说道,“我是奥尔良•路易,愿意为我干的蠢事接受惩罚。我相信国王会有限度地对我进行责难,而这是完全公正的。但作为法兰西的亲王我不得把剑交给任何人——甚至是你这勇敢的克劳福德——再见吧,我的好宝剑。” 说罢,他把剑抽出来向湖里扔去。只见它像道白光似的飞去,落进闪光的湖里,霎时就被湖水吞没。这触犯刑律者的地位如此之高,品格如此受尊敬,人们都不知所措地、惊奇地站着。想到国王对他所抱的希望,谁都意识到这一轻率行径所造成的后果有可能使他完全身败名裂。 第一个打破沉默的是杜诺瓦;他就像一个因自己的忠诚受到怀疑而感到十分气愤的朋友那样,以责备的口吻说道:“好呀!殿下竟在同一个早晨有意抛弃国王对你的恩惠,藐视杜诺瓦对你的友谊,又不惜扔掉你最好的宝剑?” “我亲爱的堂兄,”公爵说道,“在关系到你的安全和我的荣誉的时刻,我说出真情,怎么会是有意藐视你的友谊呢?” “请问我身为亲王的堂弟,这和我的安全有什么关系呢?”杜诺瓦气呼呼地回答道,“看在上帝的分上,如果我有心被绞死,被勒死,或被扔进卢瓦尔河,被刀砍,被车裂,被活活吊在铁笼里,被活埋在城堡的壕堑里,或让路易王以任何他乐意处置他忠臣的方式把我处置掉,这对你又有什么关系呢?(你不用挤眉弄眼,指着特里斯顿•勒尔米特——我和你一样看到了这个恶棍。)要知道,所有这些惩罚都不会使我感到有现在这么难受——这是讲到我个人的安全。至于说你自己的荣誉——凭圣马格德琳的赧颜说,我认为荣誉在于根本不干今早这种事,要干也别让人看见。瞧你殿下竟被一个野蛮的苏格兰娃娃打下马来。” “别这么说,别这么说!”克劳福德大公说道,“你可别拿这个事来为难殿下。苏格兰娃娃也不是第一次耍长矛大显身手。看到这年轻人表现得很英勇我真高兴。” “我倒不想表示异议,”杜诺瓦说道,“不过要是大人稍来晚一点的话,您的卫队可能会出现一名缺额。” “不错,不错,”克劳福德大公对答说,“我看那被打裂的钢盔正是你的杰作。谁给那小伙子把钢盔取下来,给他一顶有钢村里的帽子吧。我想他戴上总要比那破家伙强一些。话说回来,我也想提醒大人,您自己这身保险铠甲也还是留下了好些苏格兰人杰作的迹印。不过,杜诺瓦,我得请奥尔良公爵和你本人上马,跟我一道走。我有权也有责任把你们带到我个人的友善本不希望把你们带去的地方。” “克劳福德大公,我能对那两位美丽的仕女说句话吗?”奥尔良公爵问道。 “一个字也不行,”克劳福德公爵回答说,“我和殿下深厚的友谊使我不能容许您干这种傻事。”这时他转过身来对昆丁说:“年轻人,你尽了你的职责。继续遵照给你的命令去做吧。” “大人赏光,”特里斯顿以他一贯的蛮横态度说道,“这年轻人得另找个向导。我没有小安德烈可不行。眼看他又有活计要干。” “这个年轻人,”小安德烈走上前来说道,“只消沿着前面这条笔直的路走下去,就会走到一个地方,找到该给他带路的向导。今天就是给我一千个金币,我也不肯离开我的头头了!我吊死过许多骑士和扈从,外加有钱的市政官员和市长——甚至连伯爵和侯爵也尝过我的拿手好戏——不过么——”他望望奥尔良公爵,仿佛暗示那停顿处该说的是“一个皇家血统的亲王”!——“嗬,嗬,嗬!小安德烈,人们将来会在‘大事纪’里读到您的大名啊!” “你竟让你手下这个无赖在这样一些人面前口出狂言吗?”克劳福德望着特里斯顿严厉地说道。 “我的大人,您干吗不亲自惩戒他呢?”特里斯顿愠怒地说道。 “因为你是这里站着的人当中惟一可以打他而不致降低身份的人。” “那么我的大人,您管管您自己的人,我管我自己的人好了。”军法总监说道。 克劳福德似乎想给他一个愤怒的回答,但又像转了几个念头,忍住没说,只是不客气地转过身来不理睬他。他要求奥尔良公爵和杜诺瓦骑在他两边和他同行,然后做了个手势向两位仕女告别,并对昆丁说:“上帝祝福你,我的孩子。你一开始服役就表现得很英勇,尽管事情本身很不愉快。”他正要出发,昆丁忽然听见社诺瓦向克劳福德低声说道:“你想把我们带往普莱西宫吗?” “不,我卤莽不幸的朋友,”克劳福德叹口气说,“我带你们到罗歇去。” “到罗歇去!”这个比起普莱西宫更为可怕的城堡——更恰当地说应该是监狱——的名字在那年轻的苏格兰人听来就像丧钟似的恐怖。他曾听人说这是个用来秘密施行酷刑的地方;因为刑罚十分残酷,甚至路易都耻于利用他自己的内宫为其提供场地,玷污他宫殿的名声。在这个恐怖的城堡里地牢下面还有地牢,其中有些连狱吏也不知道。那儿都是些活的坟墓,人被投进这种坟墓,除开呼吸污浊的空气,以面包和水为生之外,一辈子就别想再干别的事。在这森严的城堡里还有称之为“罐笼”的可怕牢笼。不幸的囚徒在里面既不能站直,也不能伸伸腰。据说这是巴卢红衣主教的一大发明。听到这恐怖的监狱的名字,同时意识到他自己正是促使如此显赫的两位贵人被送往这个监狱的部分契因,这年轻的苏格兰人自然感到十分忧伤。他垂头丧气地走了一段路,眼睛望着地上,心里充满了痛苦的思虑。 当他重新走在这一小队人的前面,沿着指给他的道路往前走去时,哈梅琳女士抓住这个机会对他说道: “好先生,我想你因为以你的勇敢为我们赢得了胜利而感到遗憾吧?” 这问题听起来有点讽刺味道,但昆丁很策略地作了个简单而诚恳的回答: “为你们这样的仕女做任何事情我都不会感到遗憾。不过,要是不违背你们的安全利益,我宁肯死于杜诺瓦这样一位战士的刀下,也不愿看到自己促使这位著名的骑士及其不幸的上司奥尔良公爵被送往那可怕的地牢。” “原来那人就是奥尔良公爵,”年长的仕女转过身来对她侄女说道,“本来我就猜想是这个人,尽管我们是隔着一段距离观看他们的交锋。你瞧,我的好侄女,要是那个狡猾而贪婪的国王让我们在宫廷露面的话,我们的处境会怎样地不同。这个法兰西皇族血统的第一亲王,这个和他勇敢的父亲同样闻名的英勇的杜诺瓦——唉,这年轻的绅士固然勇敢地尽了他的责任,不过,他没有体面地屈服也真是令人遗憾,因为他那不明智的勇敢阻碍了这么两位王公贵人对我们的拯救。” 伊莎贝尔小姐用坚定而近乎不悦的,也是昆丁从没听见她使用过的激昂有力的语调作了回答。 “夫人,”她说道,“要不是我知道您是在开玩笑,我会说您讲的话对我们勇敢的保护者真是忘恩负义。我们应当给予他的感激也许超过了我们所能想象的程度。要是那两位绅士轻率的行动获得成功,以致击败了我们的护卫者,那么当皇家卫队赶来的时候,我们岂不也和他们一样沦为囚徒?就我来说,我为那英勇的牺牲者表示哀悼,不久我会为他作个弥撒;而我相信(她继续说道,但显得更为胆怯)生者会得到我衷心的感激。” 昆丁转过脸去向她表示应有的谢意。这时她看见鲜血正顺着他脸部的一侧淌了下来,便满怀深情地叫道:“圣母呀!他受伤了,在淌血!先生,你快下马,让我给你扎扎伤口吧。” 尽管达威特一再说他的伤微不足道,他还是不得不从马上下来,解下钢盔,坐在一个土墩上,而按照当时还很时髦的习俗自认颇懂医道的两位克罗伊埃仕女则开始给他洗伤口,止血,并用年轻的伯爵小姐的头巾把伤口扎起来,照她们一惯的做法,使它避免接触空气。 在我们这个时代,勇士们为仕女们受伤流血是绝无仅有的事,仕女们也从来不给男人治治伤口。彼此都不会使对方有什么大的危险。男人避免遭到的危险是人所共认的。但给昆丁所受的这种毫不可怕、毫无危险的小伤口进行包扎,这给年轻人带来的危险却和他受伤时所冒的危险同样实在。 我们已经说过,这个负伤的年轻人长得十分英俊,脱掉钢盔(更恰当地说是脱掉头盔)之后,他那美丽的鬈发便一束束地落在他那抹上了一层羞怯和喜悦的红晕,充满了青春和欢乐的脸庞周围。那年轻的伯爵小姐,因她姑母在行囊里找寻治伤药品,所以不得不独自用头巾按着伤口,心情既掺揉着微妙的羞怯,又混杂着对负伤者的同情和对他的侠义行为的感激。这两种感情使他的容貌和面孔在她眼里更显得十倍的美好和英俊。总之,命运之神似乎在利用这桩小事来完成她通过许多貌似偶然的细小情节业已在他们两人之间建立起的心灵默契。这两个人的地位和命运固然迥然不同,但在年轻貌美和罗曼蒂克的温情性格方面却十分相似。因此,自那以后,那本来就经常出现在昆丁幻想世界里的伊莎贝尔小姐自然就更在他的心灵中处于至高无上的地位。而那姑娘的感情,虽然就她个人来说也还不甚明确,但与在过去两年当中一直向她表示爱慕的那些贵族子弟相比,她自然要对这位自己刚才耐人寻味地为其包扎过小小伤口的年轻卫士怀有更大的好感。特别是当她一想起查尔斯公爵那卑劣的宠臣康波•巴索;想起那伪善的面孔、卑鄙奸恶的灵魂,那歪脖子、斜眼睛,其尊容比以往就更显得丑恶可憎。她决心不屈从任何专横与暴虐而和这个可恨的家伙结A 那好心的哈梅琳女士,也不知是因为她能像十五年前那样来理解和欣赏男性美(顺便说说,假如克罗伊埃家族的档案没错的话,她当时至少已有三十五岁),还是因为在最初看待这位年轻卫士的功劳时,她没有对他给以应有的公正评价,反正肯定无疑的是,她现在已开始向他大献殷勤。 “我的侄女,”她说,“已经把她一条头巾赠送给你包扎伤口。我也想送给你一条来报答你的勇敢,并鼓励你继续发扬你的骑士精神。” 说罢她送他一条绣有许多蓝色和银色花朵的头巾,并指着她骑的小马的披挂和她戴的骑马帽的羽饰,叫他注意,它们都属于同一种颜色。 当时的习俗规定了接受这类赠礼必须遵守的形式,那就是把头巾系在胳膊上。昆丁只好照此行事。但他表示谢意的态度要比在别的时间和别人在场时显得更尴尬,表现得不那么洒脱。虽然戴上一位仕女这样赠送的绢巾只是一般的礼貌问题,但他更希望的是能有权在胳膊上戴上给他包扎住刀伤的那条绢巾。 他们继续往前行进。昆丁与两位仕女骑着马并排走着。他似乎通过她们的默许进入了她们的小圈子。不过他难得开口,因为他内心充满了一种幸福感,惟恐自己过分地外露感情。伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐仍很少讲话。因此谈话便主要被哈梅琳女士一人垄断。况且她也无意让谈话中止下来。正如她所说的,为了让这位年轻的射手熟悉骑士阶级的原则和实践,她不厌其烦地在向他详细介绍她曾给优胜者发过奖的哈弗林汉姆比武会的盛况。 我很遗憾地说,昆丁对于这个壮观的盛会以及这位女士给弗拉芒和德国的骑士们佩戴的纹章所作的精确描绘都不很感兴趣。这时他担心的是他已经过了他该和向导碰头的地方。要是果真如此,那就十分糟糕,因为其后果不堪设想。 他正在考虑是否应该派一个随从回去看看情况究竟如何,不料忽然听见一声号角。顺着号角声的方向望去,只见一个人骑着马向他们飞奔而来。那马个头矮小,鬃毛粗糙,未经训练,颇不驯服。昆丁觉得很像苏格兰山地的小种马。只是这匹马腿更细更匀;虽然外表同样结实,但其动作更为迅速。特别是马头,与苏格兰小马那大笨的头相比显得很小,但与马脖子倒很相称。马的嘴皮薄薄的,眼睛亮晶晶的,鼻孔也胀得很大,样子十分精神。 尽管这匹马完全不像法国马的样子,外表极其奇特,但骑马的人却比这匹马的外表更奇特。虽然他骑术高明,两只脚却踩在铲形般的马镫里;而皮带委实太短,两膝几乎伸得和马鞍头一般高。头上包着小小的红头巾,插着一片弄脏了的羽毛,用银扣别在头巾上。他的上衣像是艾斯特拉底阿特人(当时威尼斯人在海峡东部的外省地区招募的军队)穿的那种带有俗丽的金花边的绿色外袍。他那宽大的白裤子极为肮脏,在膝部以下扎成灯笼裤的样子,两只黝黑的腿完全裸露在外面,只是脚背上缠绕着系凉鞋的带子。他脚上没带马刺,但那大的马镫具有十分锐利的边缘,能用来刺马飞奔。这位怪异的骑手还扎着红色的腰带,右边插着把匕首,左边插着把摩尔人用的短弯刀,肩上斜披着一条褪色的缎带,挂着那宣告他驾临的号角。他的脸被太阳晒得很黑,上面长着稀稀的胡须、锐利的黑眼睛端正的嘴鼻。别的地方也还谈得上英俊,只是那脸旁垂着的黑色鬈发、那狂野的神态和瘦削的身材似乎表明他不是一个文明人,而是个未开化的野人。 “他也是个波希米亚人!”两位仕女同声说道,“圣母马利亚呀!难道国王还信赖这些化外之民吗?” “如果你们愿意,我可以盘问一下这个人,”昆丁说道,“尽可能搞清他是否忠实可靠。” 达威特也和两位克罗伊埃仕女一样,通过他的衣着和外貌意识到他身上具有流浪汉的习惯和表现。由于特洛瓦—艾歇尔和小安德烈的莽撞做法,他自己还差点被搞得和这些流浪汉混淆不清哩。对于信赖这样一个流浪汉所冒的危险,他自然也感到担心。 “你是来找我们的吗?”这是他问的第一个问题。 那陌生人点点头。 “有何贵干?” “领你们去列日那人的宫廷。” “是列日主教的宫廷吗?” 那波希米亚人又点点头。 “你能给我点什么证据,使我们能信任你呢?” “别的没有;只有个古老的民谣,”波希米亚人说道—— “童仆杀了野猪, 贵人得了荣誉。” “这是个可靠的证据,”昆丁说道,“好伙计,你领路吧——很快我会和你继续交谈的。”然后他退到两位仕女跟前说:“我深信这人正是我们所等待的向导,因为他向我说出了我认为只有国王和我才知道的一个隐语。不过我将继续和他谈谈,尽量搞清能给他多大的信赖。” Chapter 16 The Vagrant I am as free as Nature first made man, Ere the base laws of servitude began When wild in woods the noble savage ran. THE CONQUEST OF GRENADA While Quentin held the brief communication with the ladies necessary to assure them that this extraordinary addition to their party was the guide whom they were to expect on the King's part, he noticed (for he was as alert in observing the motions of the stranger, as the Bohemian could be on his part) that the man not only turned his head as far back as he could to peer at them, but that, with a singular sort of agility, more resembling that of a monkey than of a man, he had screwed his whole person around on the saddle so as to sit almost sidelong upon the horse, for the convenience, as it seemed, of watching them more attentively. Not greatly pleased with this manoeuvre, Quentin rode up to the Bohemian and said to him, as he suddenly assumed his proper position on the horse, "Methinks, friend, you will prove but a blind guide, if you look at the tail of your horse rather than his ears." "And if I were actually blind," answered the Bohemian, "I could not the less guide you through any county in this realm of France, or in those adjoining to it." "Yet you are no Frenchman," said the Scot. "I am not," answered the guide. "What countryman, then, are you," demanded Quentin. "I am of no country," answered the guide. "How! of no country?" repeated the Scot. "No," answered the Bohemian, "of none. I am a Zingaro, a Bohemian, an Egyptian, or whatever the Europeans, in their different languages, may choose to call our people, but I have no country." "Are you a Christian?" asked the Scotchman. The Bohemian shook his head. "Dog," said Quentin (for there was little toleration in the spirit of Catholicism in those days), "dost thou worship Mahoun?" (Mahoun: Mohammed. It was a remarkable feature of the character of these wanderers that they did not, like the Jews whom they otherwise resembled in some particulars, possess or profess any particular religion, whether in form or principle. They readily conformed, as far as might be required, with the religion of any country in which they happened to sojourn, but they did not practise it more than was demanded of them. . . . S.) "No," was the indifferent and concise answer of the guide, who neither seemed offended nor surprised at the young man's violence of manner. "Are you a Pagan, then, or what are you?" "I have no religion," answered the Bohemian. Durward started back, for though he had heard of Saracens and Idolaters, it had never entered into his ideas or belief that any body of men could exist who practised no mode of worship whatever. He recovered from his astonishment to ask his guide where he usually dwelt. "Wherever I chance to be for the time," replied the Bohemian. "I have no home." "How do you guard your property?" "Excepting the clothes which I wear, and the horse I ride on, I have no property." "Yet you dress gaily, and ride gallantly," said Durward. "What are your means of subsistence?" "I eat when I am hungry, drink when I am thirsty, and have no other means of subsistence than chance throws in my Way," replied the vagabond. "Under whose laws do you live?" "I acknowledge obedience to none, but an it suits my pleasure or my necessities," said the Bohemian. "Who is your leader, and commands you?" "The father of our tribe -- if I choose to obey him," said the guide, "otherwise I have no commander." "You are, then," said the wondering querist, "destitute of all that other men are combined by -- you have no law, no leader, no settled means of subsistence, no house or home. You have, may Heaven compassionate you, no country -- and, may Heaven enlighten and forgive you, you have no God! What is it that remains to you, deprived of government, domestic happiness, and religion?" "I have liberty," said the Bohemian "I crouch to no one, obey no one -- respect no one -- I go where I will -- live as I can -- and die when my day comes." "But you are subject to instant execution, at the pleasure of the Judge?" "Be it so," returned the Bohemian, "I can but die so much the sooner." "And to imprisonment also," said the Scot, "and where, then, is your boasted freedom?" "In my thoughts," said the Bohemian, "which no chains can bind, while yours, even when your limbs are free, remain fettered by your laws and your superstitions, your dreams of local attachment, and your fantastic visions of civil policy. Such as I are free in spirit when our limbs are chained. -- You are imprisoned in mind even when your limbs are most at freedom." "Yet the freedom of your thoughts," said the Scot, "relieves not the pressure of the gyves on your limbs." "For a brief time that may be endured," answered the vagrant, "and if within that period I cannot extricate myself, and fail of relief from my comrades, I can always die, and death is the most perfect freedom of all." There was a deep pause of some duration, which Quentin at length broke by resuming his queries. "Yours is a wandering race, unknown to the nations of Europe. -- Whence do they derive their origin?" "I may not tell you," answered the Bohemian. "When will they relieve this kingdom from their presence, and return to the land from whence they came?" said the Scot. "When the day of their pilgrimage shall be accomplished," replied his vagrant guide. "Are you not sprung from those tribes of Israel which were carried into captivity beyond the great river Euphrates?" said Quentin, who had not forgotten the lore which had been taught him at Aberbrothick. "Had we been so," answered the Bohemian, "we had followed their faith and practised their rites." "What is thine own name?" said Durward. "My proper name is only known to my brethren. The men beyond our tents call me Hayraddin Maugrabin -- that is, Hayraddin the African Moor." "Thou speakest too well for one who hath lived always in thy filthy horde," said the Scot. "I have learned some of the knowledge of this land," said Hayraddin. "When I was a little boy, our tribe was chased by the hunters after human flesh. An arrow went through my mother's head, and she died. I was entangled in the blanket on her shoulders, and was taken by the pursuers. A priest begged me from the Provost's archers, and trained me up in Frankish learning for two or three years." "How came you to part with him?" demanded Durward. "I stole money from him -- even the God which he worshipped," answered Hayraddin, with perfect composure, "he detected me, and beat me -- I stabbed him with my knife, fled to the woods, and was again united to my people." "Wretch!" said Durward, "did you murder your benefactor?" "What had he to do to burden me with his benefits? -- The Zingaro boy was no house bred cur, to dog the heels of his master, and crouch beneath his blows, for scraps of food: -- He was the imprisoned wolf whelp, which at the first opportunity broke his chain, rended his master, and returned to his wilderness." There was another pause, when the young Scot, with a view of still farther investigating the character and purpose of this suspicious guide, asked Hayraddin whether it was not true that his people, amid their ignorance, pretended to a knowledge of futurity which was not given to the sages, philosophers, and divines of more polished society. "We pretend to it," said Hayraddin, "and it is with justice." "How can it be that so high a gift is bestowed on so abject a race?" said Quentin. "Can I tell you?" answered Hayraddin. -- "Yes, I may indeed, but it is when you shall explain to me why the dog can trace the footsteps of a man, while man, the nobler animal, hath not power to trace those of the dog. These powers, which seem to you so wonderful, are instinctive in our race. From the lines on the face and on the hand, we can tell the future fate of those who consult us, even as surely as you know from the blossom of the tree in spring what fruit it will bear in the harvest." "I doubt of your knowledge, and defy you to the proof." "Defy me not, Sir Squire," said Hayraddin Maugrabin. "I can tell you that, say what you will of your religion, the Goddess whom you worship rides in this company." "Peace!" said Quentin, in astonishment, "on thy life, not a word farther, but in answer to what I ask thee. -- Canst thou be faithful?" "I can -- all men can," said the Bohemian. "But wilt thou be faithful?" "Wouldst thou believe me the more should I swear it?" answered Maugrabin, with a sneer. "Thy life is in my hand," said the young Scot. "Strike, and see whether I fear to die," answered the Bohemian. "Will money render thee a trusty guide?" demanded Durward. "If I be not such without it, no," replied the heathen. "Then what will bind thee?" asked the Scot. "Kindness," replied the Bohemian. "Shall I swear to show thee such, if thou art true guide to us on this pilgrimage?" "No," replied Hayraddin, "it were extravagant waste of a commodity so rare. To thee I am bound already." "How?" exclaimed Durward, more surprised than ever. "Remember the chestnut trees on the banks of the Cher! The victim whose body thou didst cut down was my brother, Zamet the Maugrabin." "And yet," said Quentin, "I find you in correspondence with those very officers by whom your brother was done to death, for it was one of them who directed me where to meet with you -- the same, doubtless, who procured yonder ladies your services as a guide." "What can we do?" answered Hayraddin, gloomily. "These men deal with us as the sheepdogs do with the flock, they protect us for a while, drive us hither and thither at their pleasure, and always end by guiding us to the shambles." Quentin had afterwards occasion to learn that the Bohemian spoke truth in this particular, and that the Provost guard, employed to suppress the vagabond bands by which the kingdom was infested, entertained correspondence among them, and forbore, for a certain time, the exercise of their duty, which always at last ended in conducting their allies to the gallows. This is a sort of political relation between thief and officer, for the profitable exercise of their mutual professions, which has subsisted in all countries, and is by no means unknown to our own. Durward, parting from the guide, fell back to the rest of the retinue, very little satisfied with the character of Hayraddin, and entertaining little confidence in the professions of gratitude which he had personally made to him. He proceeded to sound the other two men who had been assigned him for attendants, and he was concerned to find them stupid and as unfit to assist him with counsel, as in the rencounter they had shown themselves reluctant to use their weapons. "It is all the better," said Quentin to himself, his spirit rising with the apprehended difficulties of his situation, "that lovely young lady shall owe all to me. What one hand -- ay, and one head can do -- methinks I can boldly count upon. I have seen my father's house on fire, and he and my brothers lying dead amongst the flames -- I gave not an inch back, but fought it out to the last. Now I am two years older, and have the best and fairest cause to bear me well that ever kindled mettle within a brave man's bosom." Acting upon this resolution, the attention and activity which Quentin bestowed during the journey had in it something that gave him the appearance of ubiquity. His principal and most favourite post was of course by the side of the ladies, who, sensible of his extreme attention to their safety, began to converse with him in almost the tone of familiar friendship, and appeared to take great pleasure in the naivete, yet shrewdness, of his conversation. Yet Quentin did not suffer the fascination of this intercourse to interfere with the vigilant discharge of his duty. If he was often by the side of the Countesses, labouring to describe to the natives of a level country the Grampian mountains, and, above all, the beauties of Glen Houlakin, he was as often riding with Hayraddin in the front of the cavalcade, questioning him about the road and the resting places, and recording his answers in his mind, to ascertain whether upon cross examination he could discover anything like meditated treachery. As often again he was in the rear, endeavouring to secure the attachment of the two horsemen by kind words, gifts, and promises of additional recompense, when their task should be accomplished. In this way they travelled for more than a week, through bypaths and unfrequented districts, and by circuitous routes, in order to avoid large towns. Nothing remarkable occurred, though they now and then met strolling gangs of Bohemians, who respected them, as under the conduct of one of their tribe -- straggling soldiers, or perhaps banditti, Who deemed their party too strong to be attacked -- or parties of the Marechaussee (mounted police), as they would now be termed, whom Louis, who searched the wounds of the land with steel and cautery, employed to suppress the disorderly bands which infested the interior. These last suffered them to pursue, their way unmolested by virtue of a password with which Quentin had been furnished for that purpose by the King himself. Their resting places were chiefly the monasteries, most of which were obliged by the rules of their foundation to receive pilgrims, under which character the ladies travelled, with hospitality and without any troublesome inquiries into their rank and character, which most persons of distinction were desirous of concealing while in the discharge of their vows. The pretence of weariness was usually employed by the Countesses of Croye as an excuse for instantly retiring to rest, and Quentin, as their majordomo, arranged all that was necessary betwixt them and their entertainers, with a shrewdness which saved them all trouble, and an alacrity that failed not to excite a corresponding degree of good will on the part of those who were thus sedulously attended to. One circumstance gave Quentin peculiar trouble, which was the character and nation of his guide, who, as a heathen and an infidel vagabond, addicted besides to occult arts (the badge of all his tribe), was often looked upon as a very improper guest for the holy resting places at which the company usually halted, and was not in consequence admitted within even the outer circuit of their walls, save with extreme reluctance. This was very embarrassing, for, on the one hand, it was necessary to keep in good humour a man who was possessed of the secret of their expedition, and, on the other, Quentin deemed it indispensable to maintain a vigilant though secret watch on Hayraddin's conduct, in order that, as far as might be, he should hold no communication with any one without being observed. This of course was impossible, if the Bohemian was lodged without the precincts of the convent at which they stopped, and Durward could not help thinking that Hayraddin was desirous of bringing about this latter arrangement for, instead of keeping himself still and quiet in the quarters allotted to him, his conversation, tricks, and songs were at the same time so entertaining to the novices and younger brethren, and so unedifying in the opinion of the seniors of the fraternity, that, in more cases than one, it required all the authority, supported by threats, which Quentin could exert over him, to restrain his irreverent and untimeous jocularity, and all the interest he could make with the Superiors, to prevent the heathen hound from being thrust out of the doors. He succeeded, however, by the adroit manner in which he apologized for the acts of indecorum committed by their attendant, and the skill with which he hinted the hope of his being brought to a better sense of principles and behaviour, by the neighbourhood of holy relics, consecrated buildings, and, above all, of men dedicated to religion. But upon the tenth or twelfth day of their journey, after they had entered Flanders, and were approaching the town of Namur, all the efforts of Quentin became inadequate to suppress the consequences of the scandal given by his heathen guide. The scene was a Franciscan convent, and of a strict and reformed order, and the Prior a man who afterwards died in the odour of sanctity. After rather more than the usual scruples (which were indeed in such a case to be expected) had been surmounted, the obnoxious Bohemian at length obtained quarters in an out house inhabited by a lay brother, who acted as gardener. The ladies retired to their apartment, as usual, and the Prior, who chanced to have some distant alliances and friends in Scotland, and who was fond of hearing foreigners tell of their native countries, invited Quentin, with whose mien and conduct he seemed much pleased, to a slight monastic refection in his own cell. Finding the Father a man of intelligence, Quentin did not neglect the opportunity of making himself acquainted with the state of affairs in the country of Liege, of which, during the last two days of their journey, he had heard such reports as made him very apprehensive for the security of his charge during the remainder of their route, nay, even of the Bishop's power to protect them, when they should be safely conducted to his residence. The replies of the Prior were not very consolatory. He said that the people of Liege were wealthy burghers, who, like Jeshurun (a designation for Israel) of old, had waxed fat and kicked -- that they were uplifted in heart because of their wealth and their privileges -- that they had divers disputes with the Duke of Burgundy, their liege lord, upon the subject of imports and immunities and that they had repeatedly broken out into open mutiny, whereat the Duke was so much incensed, as being a man of a hot and fiery nature, that he had sworn, by Saint George, on the next provocation, he would make the city of Liege like to the desolation of Babylon and the downfall of Tyre, a hissing and a reproach to the whole territory of Flanders. (Babylon: taken by Cyrus in 538 B. C. See Revelation xviii, 21: "A mighty angel took up a stone . . . and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more.") (Tyre: conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 B. C. "I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more . . . yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord God." Ezekiel xxvi, 21.) "And he is a prince by all report likely to keep such a vow," said Quentin, "so the men of Liege will probably beware how they give him occasion." "It were to be so hoped," said the Prior, "and such are the prayers of the godly in the land, who would not that the blood of the citizens were poured forth like water, and that they should perish, even as utter castaways, ere they make their peace with Heaven. Also the good Bishop labours night and day to preserve peace, as well becometh a servant of the altar, for it is written in Holy Scripture, Beati pacifici. But" -- Here the good Prior stopped, with a deep sigh. Quentin modestly urged the great importance of which it was to the ladies whom he attended, to have some assured information respecting the internal state of the country, and what an act of Christian charity it would be, if the worthy and reverend Father would enlighten them upon that subject. "It is one," said the Prior, "on which no man speaks with willingness, for those who speak evil of the powerful, etiam in cubiculo (even in the bed chamber), may find that a winged thing shall carry the matter to his ears. Nevertheless, to render you, who seem an ingenuous youth, and your ladies, who are devout votaresses accomplishing a holy pilgrimage, the little service that is in my power, I will be plain with you." He then looked cautiously round and lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard. "The people of Liege," he said, "are privily instigated to their frequent mutinies by men of Belial (in the Bible this term is used as an appellative of Satan), who pretend, but, as I hope, falsely, to have commission to that effect from our most Christian King, whom, however, I hold to deserve that term better than were consistent with his thus disturbing the peace of a neighbouring state. Yet so it is, that his name is freely used by those who uphold and inflame the discontents at Liege. There is, moreover, in the land, a nobleman of good descent, and fame in warlike affairs, but otherwise, so to speak, Lapis offensionis et petra scandali -- and a stumbling block of offence to the countries of Burgundy and Flanders. His name is William de la Marck." "Called William with the Beard," said the young Scot, "or the Wild Boar of Ardennes?" "And rightly so called, my son," said the Prior, "because he is as the wild boar of the forest, which treadeth down with his hoofs and rendeth with his tusks. And he hath formed to himself a band of more than a thousand men, all, like himself, contemners of civil and ecclesiastical authority, and holds himself independent of the Duke of Burgundy, and maintains himself and his followers by rapine and wrong, wrought without distinction upon churchmen and laymen. Imposuit manus in Christos Domini -- he hath stretched forth his hand upon the anointed of the Lord, regardless of what is written, 'Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no wrong.' -- Even to our poor house did he send for sums of gold and sums of silver, as a ransom for our lives, and those of our brethren, to which we returned a Latin supplication, stating our inability to answer his demand, and exhorting him in the words of the preacher, Ne moliaris amico tuo malum, cum habet in te fiduciam (devise not evil against thy neighbour who dwelleth by thee in security). Nevertheless, this Guilielmus Barbatus, this William de la Marck, as completely ignorant of humane letters as of humanity itself, replied, in his ridiculous jargon, Si non payatis, brulabo monasterium vestrum (if you do not pay, I will burn your monastery. A similar story is told of the Duke of Vendome, who answered in this sort of macaronic Latin the classical expostulations of a German convent against the imposition of a contribution. S.)." "Of which rude Latin, however, you, my good father," said the youth, "were at no loss to conceive the meaning?" "Alas! my son," said the Prior, "Fear and Necessity are shrewd interpreters, and we were obliged to melt down the silver vessels of our altar to satisfy the rapacity of this cruel chief. May Heaven requite it to him seven fold! Pereat improbus -- Amen, amen, anathema esto! (let the wicked perish. Let him be anathema! 'In pronouncing an anathema against a person, the church excludes him from her communion; and he must, if he continue obstinate, perish eternally.' Cent. Dict.)" "I marvel," said Quentin, "that the Duke of Burgundy, who is so strong and powerful, doth not bait this boar to purpose, of whose ravages I have already heard so much." "Alas! my son," said the Prior, "the Duke Charles is now at Peronne, assembling his captains of hundreds and his captains of thousands, to make war against France, and thus, while Heaven hath set discord between the hearts of those great princes, the country is misused by such subordinate oppressors. But it is in evil time that the Duke neglects the cure of these internal gangrenes, for this William de la Marck hath of late entertained open communication with Rouslaer and Pavillon, the chiefs of the discontented at Liege, and it is to be feared he will soon stir them up to some desperate enterprise." "But the Bishop of Liege," said Quentin, "he hath still power enough to subdue this disquieted and turbulent spirit -- hath he not, good father? Your answer to this question concerns me much." "The Bishop, my child," replied the Prior, "hath the sword of Saint Peter, as well as the keys. He hath power as a secular prince, and he hath the protection of the mighty House of Burgundy, he hath also spiritual authority as a prelate, and he supports both with a reasonable force -- of good soldiers and men at arms. This William de la Marck was bred in his household, and bound to him by many benefits. But he gave vent, even in the court of the Bishop, to his fierce and bloodthirsty temper, and was expelled thence for a homicide committed on one of the Bishop's chief domestics. From thenceforward, being banished from the good Prelate's presence, he hath been his constant and unrelenting foe, and now, I grieve to say, he hath girded his loins, and strengthened his horn against him." "You consider, then, the situation of the worthy Prelate as being dangerous?" said Quentin, very, anxiously. "Alas! my son," said the good Franciscan, "what or who is there in this weary wilderness, whom we may not hold as in danger? But Heaven forefend I should speak of the reverend Prelate as one whose peril is imminent. He has much treasure, true counsellors, and brave soldiers, and, moreover, a messenger who passed hither to the eastward yesterday saith that the Duke of Burgundy hath dispatched, upon the Bishop's request, an hundred men at arms to his assistance. This reinforcement, with the retinue belonging to each lance, are enough to deal with William de la Marck, on whose name be sorrow! -- Amen." At this crisis their conversation was interrupted by the Sacristan, who, in a voice almost inarticulate with anger, accused the Bohemian of having practised the most abominable arts of delusion among the younger brethren. He had added to their nightly meal cups of a heady and intoxicating cordial, of ten times the strength of the most powerful wine, under which several of the fraternity had succumbed, and indeed, although the Sacristan had been strong to resist its influence, they might yet see, from his inflamed countenance and thick speech, that even he, the accuser himself, was in some degree affected by this unhallowed potation. Moreover, the Bohemian had sung songs of worldly vanity and impure pleasures, he had derided the cord of Saint Francis, made jest of his miracles, and termed his votaries fools and lazy knaves. Lastly, he had practised palmistry, and foretold to the young Father Cherubin that he was helped by a beautiful lady, who should make him father to a thriving boy. The Father Prior listened to these complaints for some time in silence, as struck with mute horror by their enormous atrocity. When the Sacristan had concluded, he rose up, descended to the court of the convent, and ordered the lay brethren, on pain of the worst consequences of spiritual disobedience, to beat Hayraddin out of the sacred precincts with their broom staves and cart whips. This sentence was executed accordingly, in the presence of Quentin Durward, who, however vexed at the occurrence, easily saw that his interference would be of no avail. The discipline inflicted upon the delinquent, notwithstanding the exhortations of the Superior, was more ludicrous than formidable. The Bohemian ran hither and thither through the court, amongst the clamour of voices, and noise of blows, some of which reached him not because purposely misaimed, others, sincerely designed for his person, were eluded by his activity, and the few that fell upon his back and shoulders he took without either complaint or reply. The noise and riot was the greater, that the inexperienced cudgel players, among whom Hayraddin ran the gauntlet, hit each other more frequently than they did him, till at length, desirous of ending a scene which was more scandalous than edifying, the Prior commanded the wicket to be flung open, and the Bohemian, darting through it with the speed of lightning, fled forth into the moonlight. During this scene, a suspicion which Durward had formerly entertained, recurred with additional strength. Hayraddin had, that very morning, promised to him more modest and discreet behaviour than he was wont to exhibit, when they rested in a convent on their journey, yet he had broken his engagement, and had been even more offensively obstreperous than usual. Something probably lurked under this, for whatever were the Bohemian's deficiencies, he lacked neither sense, nor, when he pleased, self command, and might it not be probable that he wished to hold some communication, either with, his own horde or some one else, from which he was debarred in the course of the day by the vigilance with which he was watched by Quentin, and had recourse to this stratagem in order to get himself turned out of the convent? No sooner did this suspicion dart once more through Quentin's mind, than, alert as he always was in his motions, he resolved to follow his cudgelled guide, and observe (secretly if possible) how he disposed of himself. Accordingly, when the Bohemian fled, as already mentioned, out at the gate of the convent, Quentin, hastily explaining to the Prior the necessity of keeping sight of his guide, followed in pursuit of him. 我像自然之神初创人类时那样自由, 那时,卑劣的奴役制度尚未露头, 高贵的野人在森林里飞奔, 该是多么的无拘无束。 《格林纳达的征服》 昆丁与两位仕女进行简短的谈话,使她们相信刚参加他们行列的这位不寻常的人物正是国王给他们派来的向导。与此同时,他注意到(正像那波希米亚人非常注意他的行动一样,他对这陌生人的行动也十分警觉),那人不但尽量回过头来看他们,而且以人所没有的猴子般的敏捷在马鞍上将整个身子扭了过来,几乎横着骑在马上,似乎是为了能方便自如地注意观察他们的动态。 昆丁对他这一手颇感不悦,便骑到这波希米亚人跟前,趁他突然坐正的时候对他说:“朋友,假如你盯着马尾巴而不是马耳朵,我想你会变成一个盲目的向导。” “要是我真是个瞎子,”波希米亚人回答说,“我也照样能带领你们穿过法国这个地区及其邻近的地区。” “你不是一个土生土长的法国人。”苏格兰人说。 “我不是。”向导回答道。 “那么你是哪国人呢?”昆丁问道。 “哪国也不是。”向导回答说。 “怎么!哪国也不是?”苏格兰人又追问道。 “是的,”波希米亚人回答说,“我是吉卜赛人、波希米亚人、埃及人,或者按欧洲人用他们不同的语言对我们的民族称呼的那样,一个别的什么人。不过我没有祖国。” “你是个基督徒吗?”苏格兰人问道。 波希米亚人摇摇头。 “狗东西!”昆丁喊道(因为当时天主教很缺乏宽容精神),“你崇拜穆罕默德吗?” “不。”向导冷漠而干脆地回答说。对这年轻人的粗暴态度他好像既不见怪也不惊奇。 “那么你是个异教徒?你究竟是个什么?” “我不信宗教。”波希米亚人回答说。 达威特惊奇得倒退了一步,因为尽管他听说过撒拉森人和偶像崇拜者,但他从没想到过,也没相信过,竟有人不崇拜任何神灵而能生存下去。待他从惊奇中恢复平静之后,他问那向导,通常他住在什么地方。 “住在我碰巧停留的地方,”波希米亚人说,“我没有家。” “那你如何保护你的财产?” “除开穿的衣裳、骑的马儿以外别无财产。” “但你穿得很漂亮,马也骑得很潇洒。”达威特说,“你是靠什么来维持生活呢?” “我饿了就吃,渴了就喝,除了命运给我提供的生计以外别无谋生之道。’哪流浪汉回答说。 “你服从谁家的法律?” “除开适合我口味或需要的以外,谁家的法律我也不服从。”波希米亚人说道。 “指挥你的头头是谁?” “我们部族的酋长——假如我高兴服从他的话,”向导说,“否则我就没有头头可言。” “这么说,把人们维系起来的一切对你都不存在,”那好奇的询问者又说,“你既不要法律,也不要领导;既无固定生计,也无家室可言。老天爷可怜你,你也没有祖国——愿老大爷开导你,饶恕你,你竟不要上帝!要是你一无政府领导,二无家庭幸福,三无宗教信仰,那你还剩有什么呢?” “我有自由,”波希米亚人说,“我对谁也不卑躬屈膝;我谁也不服从,谁也不放在眼里——我喜欢到哪儿就到哪儿,能怎样谋生就怎样谋生,该死的时候就死。” “但只要法官高兴,他不是可以马上处死你吗?” “就让他处死我好了,”波希米亚人回答说,“我大不了早点进坟墓。” “他也可以把你关进监狱,”苏格兰人又说,“那么,哪里谈得上你所吹嘘的自由呢?” “我的自由是在我的思想里,”波希米亚人说,“而这是脚镣手铐拴不住的。尽管你的身体是自由的,但你的思想却受到你的法律、迷信、你所幻想的乡土感情、你所妄想的文明政治的束缚。像我这种人精神是自由的,而肉体被束缚,而你们是心灵被监禁,肉体很自由。” “然而,你们的思想自由减轻不了脚镣手铐的沉重压力。”苏格兰人回答说。 “我们可以短时期忍受其桎梏。”那流浪汉回答说,“如果在短时期无法脱身,我的伙伴们也无法救我,我总可以一死了之,而死是一切当中最完美的自由。” 一时两人都无话可说,最后还是昆丁又开始提问才打破了沉默。 “你们的部族是所有欧洲国家都不了解的一个流浪民族——你们的祖先是谁?” “我不能告诉你。”波希米亚人说。 “什么时候你们才能回到你们原来的国土,而使这个国家不必再留你们居住?” “要等我们完成了我们的命运历程的那一天。”那充当向导的流浪汉说道。 “你们是不是起源于被俘虏到幼发拉底河彼岸去当奴隶的以色列人部落?”昆丁问道;这说明他还没有忘记人们在阿伯布罗迪克寺院教给他的历史知识。 “要真是这样的话,”波希米亚人回答道,“我们就会信仰他们的宗教,奉行他们的礼规了。” “你的名字叫什么?”达威特问道。 “只有我的弟兄们才知道我的真名——住在我们帐篷以外的人管我叫海拉丁•毛格拉宾,是非洲摩尔人海拉丁的意思。” “你话讲得很好,不像一个经常生活在你们那种龌龊部落里的野人。” “我已了解有关这个国家的一些知识,”海拉丁说道,“我小的时候我们部落遭到捕人的猎手们的追击。我母亲头部中箭死于非命。我被裹在她肩上扛着的毯子里,被这些猎手们掳去。有位牧师把我从军法监督的射手队那儿要去抚养,教了我两三年的法国话。” “你是怎么离开他的呢?”达威特问道。 “我偷了他的钱——甚至偷了他所崇拜的上帝的钱,”海拉丁满不在乎地说,“他发现了,打了我——我捅了他一刀,逃进了森林,又和我们自己人团聚在一起。” “你这恶棍!”达威特说,“竟然杀害你的恩人!” “他干吗要拿他的小思小惠来麻烦我呢?吉卜赛儿郎又不是家里养的狗,为了点残羹剩饭跟在主人屁股后面转,畏缩着怕挨他的揍。他是一条被锁住的狼崽子,一有机会就要挣脱锁链,撕死主人,重返荒野的。” 又是一阵沉默。接着那年轻的苏格兰人为了继续弄清这位可疑的向导的性格和意图,又开始对他提问:“你们的人既然愚昧无知,难道真自以为具有连文明社会的贤哲和圣人都没有的预卜未来的知识?” “我们自认具有这种知识,”海拉丁说道,“而且有充分的理由。” “这样高的一种天赋怎么会被授予如此卑下的种族呢?” “我能够向你说清楚这个道理吗?”海拉丁对答道,“是的,我能够。不过你得给我解释为什么狗能跟踪人的足迹,而人这更高贵的动物却无法跟踪狗的足迹。这些能力在你们看来十分神奇,对我们的种族来说却是一种本能。凡是找我们看相的人,我们都能根据他们脸上和手上的纹路预卜他们的未来,正像你们能根据春天树上开的花知道秋天会结什么果一样准确无误。” “我怀疑你们这种知识。我倒要看看你能不能证明给我看。” “扈从先生,你别激我了,”海拉丁•毛格拉宾说,”我可以告诉你,不管你怎么谈论你的宗教,你崇拜的女神可正骑着马,走在这伙人当中。” “住嘴!”昆丁惊奇地说道,“当心你的狗命。不许你再多说,只许你回答我的问话。你能做一个忠实可靠的人吗?” “我能够——谁都能够。”波希米亚人说。 “不过,你愿做一个忠实可靠的人吗?” “难道我一发誓,你就会更相信我不成?”毛格拉宾带着嘲弄的表情回答说。 “要晓得,你的命掌握在我手里。”年轻的苏格兰人说。 “那就请你要打就打,要杀就杀,看我怕不怕死吧!”那波希米亚人回答说。 “能用金钱使你成为可靠的向导吗?”达威特问道。 “如果我没钱时不可靠,那么给我钱也不能使我可靠。”那异教徒回答说。 “那么什么能约束你呢?”苏格兰人问道。 “只有仁义。”波希米亚人回答说。 “需不需要我发誓说,只要你充当我们这次旅行的忠实向导,我就向你表示我的仁义呢?” “不需要,”海拉丁回答道,“这将是浪费一种极为稀有的商品。事实上我已经对你很感恩了。” “怎么?!”达威特比往常更表惊奇地说道。 “记得谢尔河边的栗子树吧?是你割断绞索把受害者的尸体从树上放下来的。他是我兄弟扎迈特•毛格拉宾。” “不过,”昆丁说道,“我看你和那些处死你兄弟的军官有来往,因为正是其中一名军官告诉我,该在什么地方和你碰头——肯定是他安排你给两位仕女作向导的。” “我们有什么办法呢?”海拉丁阴郁地说道,“这些人对待我们正像牧羊狗对待羊群一个样。他们可以暂时给我们提供一些保护,随心所欲地赶着我们四处奔跑,但最后总是把我们赶进屠宰场。” 直到以后昆丁才有机会了解到,在这一点上这波希米亚人的确言之不虚。以镇压国内成群结队的流浪汉为职业的警官有意和他们保持来往,暂时放纵他们一下,但最后总是把他们的盟友推上断头台以完成其任务。这是警察与小偷之间为了更有利地从事各自的行业而建立的某种政治关系。所有国家都存在着这种关系。这对我们英国来说也并不陌生。 达威特离开了向导,来到其余的随从人员中间。他对海拉丁其人很不放心,对他亲自向他作的一番感恩的表白也不大相信。他想探听指派给他当随从的那两个人有何看法。但他不安地发现这两个人都傻乎乎的。先前他和别人交锋时他们不愿拔刀相助,此刻他们也无法替他当当参谋。 “这样也好,”昆丁寻思道,由于感到处境艰难不觉精神更为振奋,“那可爱的小姐这下就全靠我了。一只手——嗯,一个头脑所能干的——我是可以大胆信赖的。我曾亲眼看见我家被放火焚烧,父亲和兄弟们被活活烧死。但我并没有丝毫退缩,而是战斗到底。现在我已经大了两岁,担负着的是最能使勇士胸中燃起斗志的最美好的使命,可以促使自己作出卓越的表现。” 下定这个决心后,昆丁便通过他在旅途中所关注的一切和所做的一切使人随处都能感觉到他的存在。他最喜欢呆的地方自然主要是在两位仕女旁边。她们意识到他十分关心她们的安全,便逐渐用一种近乎亲切友好的声音和他谈话,对他纯朴而聪明的谈吐也显得很高兴。但昆丁并没有让这引人人胜的谈话来妨碍他警惕地执行任务。 他虽然经常走在两位仕女身旁,竭力想向这两位平原上长大的人描绘家乡的格兰姆平山,特别是格兰•呼拉金山的美丽,但他也经常和海拉丁走在马队前面,就路该怎么走、哪儿该歇脚问他一些问题,把他的回答记在心里,然后通过再次盘问,看能否查出有意说谎的地方。他还经常走在马队后面,尽量通过说些好话,给些礼物,以及在完成任务之后将给他们更多报酬的许诺,来赢得两位骑兵的好感。 他们像这样走了一个多星期。走的都是小路和人烟稀少的地区,而且绕着圈子,避兔穿过大城市。一路上没有发生什么特殊情况,只是有时碰见一伙伙流浪的波希米亚人。看到马队是由他们自己部族的人带路,这些波希米亚人对他们都很尊敬。再就是碰到一些散兵游勇,也许还有些强盗土匪,但他们也感觉对方人高马壮,不敢进行骚扰。最后他们还碰到一些现在称之为骑警队的队伍。这是路易王为了以钢刀和烙铁治疗国家的创伤,专门用来镇压内地流窜的土匪的。由于国王亲自教给了昆丁一道口令,这些队伍也都让他们顺利地往前赶路。 他们主要是在寺院歇脚,因为大多数寺院基于建院章程都有义务盛情接待朝圣的香客——而两位仕女正是以这种身份进行这次旅行的。寺院不得啰嗦地打听香客的地位和身份,因为在履行朝圣的誓言时大多数贵人都希望对此保密。两位克罗伊埃仕女经常以旅途疲惫为借口,立即进屋休息。昆丁作为她们的总管则负责在宾主之间作出一切必要的安排。其处事的精明给她们省了许多麻烦,而其办事的敏捷也不能不使受到他殷勤照料的两位仕女对他产生相应的好感。 有个情况给昆丁造成了特殊的困难。那就是向导的身份和国籍。由于他是一个异教徒,一个不信基督的流浪汉,同时还热衷于玄术(而这是他们整个部落的特征),所以他经常被视为不宜在他们歇脚的那些圣洁的寺院作客。只是在十分勉强的情况下才允许他进入寺院的外部庭院。这事很棘手,因为昆丁感到既有必要使掌有他们旅行秘密的这个浪人不闹情绪,又有必要对他的行动暗中进行严密监视,以便尽可能不让他和外人偷偷接触。如果让这波希米亚人在他们歇脚的寺院以外的地方住宿,要做到上述两点当然不行。达威特也不免猜想,海拉丁正是有心想造成上面所说的那种安排,因为他发现他并不是在分给他住的地方安分守己,而是又说又唱,又开玩笑,来逗乐那些新僧和年轻的师弟,以其鄙俗和不雅的表现来惹怒年老的僧人。昆丁不得不多次使用权威外加恫吓,来抑制他那不问场合的、亵渎神明的快活情绪;并运用他对院长的影响避免寺院将这异教徒赶出门去。他总算达到了这个目的。这是因为他对这个仆从的无礼表现作了很得体的道歉;同时他也巧妙地暗示说,寺院里的圣徒遗骨和圣殿,特别是献身于宗教的僧人们的直接影响,有希望对这个浪人灌输一点有关做人的原则和态度的应有的常识。 然而,当他们走了十天或十二天,进入了弗兰德,快到纳慕尔城的时候,昆丁虽然尽了最大的努力,也无法消除他那异教向导的恶劣表现所造成的后果。事情发生的地方是属于一个道规严格的宗教改革派的方济各寺院。寺院的院长以后也死得十分圣洁。为了接纳这个波希米亚人,寺院不得不比平常克服更多的顾虑(在这种情况下顾虑多也的确难免),最后才让这个可惜的家伙在一个充当园丁的俗人住的外屋获得一个住处。两位仕女像往常一样到她们的卧室去休息。寺院的院长碰巧有几个苏格兰的远亲和朋友,又喜欢听外国人介绍介绍他们的祖国,再加上他很喜欢昆丁的容貌和举止,便邀请他到自己的居室招待他吃顿寺院的茶点。昆丁觉得这位神父是个聪明人,便抓住机会向他了解一下列日城的情况,因为最近两天他听到有关该城的一些谣传,使他为两位仕女是否能安全地走完剩下的路程感到担忧。他甚至怀疑即使把她们安全地送到主教的住地,主教又是否真有能力保护她们。院长对他的回答并不使他感到欣慰。 他说:“列日人都是些富有的市民,就像古代的耶舒闰一样,如今养肥了,就爱踢人了。他们为他们的财富和特权感到洋洋得意。在有关纳税和免税的问题上,和他们的君主勃艮第公爵经常发生许多争执,并一再爆发为公开的反叛。对此公爵感到非常愤怒。由于他性格暴躁,他已凭着圣乔治发誓,要是再遇到任何挑衅事件,他就要像夷平巴比伦和泰尔那样,摧毁列日城,使它成为整个弗兰德的耻辱。” “人们都说这位亲王是很可能实践他的誓言的,”昆丁说道,“列日市民也许会注意别给他一个把柄。” “但愿如此。”院长说道,“全国所有笃信上帝的人都在祷告和平,因为他们不愿看到列日市民血流成河,在没有获得上苍的宽恕以前就像雏狗般死去。善良的主教也在尽他这上帝仆人的本分,为维护和平日夜操劳,因为圣经上写着,Beati pacifici,不过——”这时院长深深地叹了口气,没继续讲下去。 昆丁很客气地向他讲明,他所保护的两位仕女很有必要获得有关该地区目前状况的可靠情报,如果尊敬的神父能就这个问题给她们一些指点,这将是基督慈爱精神的高度表现。 “这是一个人们都不愿意谈论的问题,”院长说道,“因为说当权者坏话的人,etiam in cubiculo,往往也发现话会插翅传到他耳朵里。不过,为了给你这看来很纯真的年轻人以及那两位虔诚地朝圣的热诚仕女帮点力所能及的小忙,我将尽力而为。” 这时他谨慎地环顾四周,像是怕有人偷听似的压低嗓门讲了起来。 “列日市民,”他说道,“受到魔鬼的门徒们的唆使,经常反叛他们的君主。这些人自称是(但愿这是说谎)得到我们最讲基督之道的法国国王的授意。我倒认为法国国王配得上我刚才说的那个称号,不至于去破坏邻国的和平。然而事实是,那些支持和煽动心怀不满的列日市民的人们都肆意利用他的名誉。再说,法国还有一个出身名门的耀武扬威的贵族,这人在别的方面真可以说是Lapis offnsionis et petra scandali——一个专门给勃艮第和弗兰德制造麻烦的绊脚石。他名叫威廉•德拉马克。 “绰号是叫长胡子威廉,或‘阿登内斯野猪’吗?”年轻的苏格兰人问道。 “我的孩子,这绰号取得很好,”院长说道,“因为他就像林中的野猪那样,獠牙不停地乱撕,蹄子不停地乱踩。他纠集了一支一千多人的队伍。匪徒们都和他一样蔑视君权和神权。他不服勃艮第公爵的管辖,也不管是僧人还是俗人,反正见东西就抢,见人就伤,以此来维持他这帮人马。Imposuit manus in christos Domini——他甚至把手伸到了上帝圣洁的使徒身上,全然不顾圣经所写的话:‘不得触犯我圣洁的使徒,不得欺负我的先知。’他竟然派人到我们可怜的寺院索取大量金银,作为我和我的师兄弟性命的抵押。对此我们用拉丁文回了封请求信,说明我们无法满足他的要求,并用传教士的话规劝他:Ne moliairis amiico tuo malum,cum habet in te fiduciam,然而,这个大胡子的古利埃尔摩斯,这个威廉•德拉马克,既不懂人情,又不通晓文言古语,竟用他那可笑的黑话回答说:‘Si non payatis,brulabo monasterium vestruw.’” “我的好神父,您对这粗鄙的拉丁文总不至于不知所云吧?”年轻人说道。 “哎呀,我的孩子,”院长说道,“人一受逼、一害怕就什么都懂得了。我们不得不把圣坛上的银器熔化掉,来满足这残酷的匪首的贪欲。愿上帝给他七倍的报应和惩罚!Pereat improbus—Amen,amen,anathema esto!” “我真奇怪,”昆丁说道,“勃艮第公爵势力如此强大,竟不能使这头野猪就范。说实在的,关于他造成的破坏和蹂躏我已经听得很多了。” “哎呀,我的孩子,”院长说道,“查尔斯公爵此刻在佩隆召集他的将领们谋划和法国交战的事。只要上苍让伟大的君王们彼此不和,国家就会遭受这些小霸王的压迫。但公爵忽视了对国内这种痛疽的医治可也真不是时候。听说威廉•德拉马克最近已经和列日城的叛乱头目卢斯拉尔和巴维翁公开勾结。人们担心他很快就会鼓动他们铤而走险。” “不过,列日主教总还有能力来抑制这种激昂的反叛情绪吧?”昆丁说道,“您说哩,好神父?您对这个问题的回答和我有切身关系。” “我的孩子,”院长回答道,“主教既掌有打开心灵的钥匙,也掌有圣彼得的宝剑。他具有世俗君王的权力,也享有强大的勃艮第家族的保护。同时他也具有作为主教的神权,并拥有一支不大不小的、训练有素的军队来加强二者的威力。这个威廉•德拉马克是在主教家里扶养大的,主教对他有养育之恩。但即使在主教的教廷,他也放肆地发泄他那残暴嗜杀的本性,由于杀害了主教的一个仆役头而被逐出教廷。他遭到善良主教的驱逐,从此便对他怀恨在心,成了他势不两立的仇人。我很伤心地说,现在他已下定决心,加强实力来和他作对。” “那么您认为,尊敬的主教处境很危险吗?”昆丁十分焦急地问道。 “哎呀,我的孩子,”这善良的方济各僧说道,“在这个荒野之地,还有什么东西、什么人谈得上没有危险呢?不过,上帝在上,我不能说这位可敬的主教已经危在旦夕。他有众多的金银财宝、忠实的谋士、勇敢的卫士。再说,昨天经过这儿往东去的一名使节还说勃艮第公爵应主教的请求已派遣一百名武士前去支援。这一支增援部队,再加上每个长矛手所带的扈从,足以对付威廉•德拉马克。愿他的名字遭到诅咒!——阿们。” 正在说得很起劲时,一个教堂执事走进来,打断了他们的谈话。他气急败坏地控诉那波希米亚人在年轻的师弟当中施展他那可恨的麻醉术。他在晚餐时给他们灌了许多杯比最厉害的烈酒劲头还大十倍的蒙汗洒,使得好几个师兄弟醉得不省人事。尽管这个教堂司事神经坚强,总算抵制住了酒的作用力,但就凭他那通红的面孔和含糊不清的口舌他们也可以看出,甚至这位控诉人本身在某种程度上也还是受到了这不吉利的烈酒的影响。更有甚者,那波希米亚人还唱了些庸俗淫秽的小曲,嘲讽圣方济各的圣节,讥笑他的圣迹,把他的信徒说成是傻瓜和懒鬼。最后他还为他们看手相,对年轻的切鲁宾神父说,有个美丽的仕女爱上了他,将给他生个健壮的娃娃。 院长费了些时间默默地倾听这些控诉,像是被这弥天大罪惊得哑口无言,精神恍惚。当教堂司事讲完之后,他站了起来,走进寺庙的庭院,命令凡俗师兄弟用扫帚柄和赶马鞭,把海拉丁逐出这神圣的寺院,否则要承担违抗神权的严重后果。 人们当着昆丁•达威特的面执行了这个判决。昆丁对此尽管十分气恼,但也不难看出他的干预根本无济于事。 尽管院长一再告诫,对犯人的这一惩罚还是被搞得滑稽可笑,而毫无可怕的感觉。那波希米亚人在打声和喊打声的喧闹中满院子跑来跑去。打的人,有的故意打不中,扑了个空,有的认真对准他打,却被他灵巧地躲开。只有少数几个打中了他的肩和背,他却若无其事地挨下来,不抱怨,也不还击。由于排成行列玩弄棍棒以惩罚海拉丁的僧人们毫无打人的经验,打着对面的人的机会要比打着这浪人的机会还多,闹声笑声就变得更加厉害。最后,院长急于想结束这个有伤大雅、不成体统的场面,便命令打开小门,让那波希米亚人以闪电般的速度从小门冲出去,逃到月光底下。 这场闹剧更加重了达威特早就产生了的一个疑窦。今天早晨海拉丁还保证在寺院歇脚时要打破他的习惯,更注意行为的检点。但他破坏了他的诺言,甚至变得比往常更狂妄、更嚣张。也许这底下潜藏着某种东西,因为他知道,不管这个波希米亚人有何缺点,至少他不缺乏理智,而且,只要他愿意,他也不会缺乏控制自己的能力。这会不会是他想和他们部落的人或别的什么人碰头,而由于昆丁看得太紧,白天没这个可能,因此他想出这个计策,好叫别人把他赶出寺院呢? 昆丁脑子里一旦出现了这个怀疑,像他这样一个行动机警的人自然马上决定要对这挨了打的向导进行跟踪,以便(尽可能秘密地)观察他究竟去干什么。因此,一当那波希米亚人像前面讲到的,逃出寺院大门之后,昆丁便立刻向院长说明他有必要看住他的向导,随即跟在他后面跑了出去。 Chapter 17 The Espied Spy What, the rude ranger? and spied spy? -- hands off -- You are for no such rustics. BEN JONSON'S TALE OF ROBIN HOOD When Quentin sallied from the convent, he could mark the precipitate retreat of the Bohemian, whose dark figure was seen in the far moonlight flying with the speed of a flogged hound quite through the street of the little village, and across the level meadow that lay beyond. "My friend runs fast," said Quentin to himself, "but he must run faster yet, to escape the fleetest foot that ever pressed the heather of Glen Houlakin!" Being fortunately without his cloak and armour, the Scottish mountaineer was at liberty to put forth a speed which was unrivalled in his own glens, and which, notwithstanding the rate at which the Bohemian ran, was likely soon to bring his pursuer up with him. This was not, however, Quentin's object, for he considered it more essential to watch Hayraddin's motions, than to interrupt them. He was the rather led to this by the steadiness with which the Bohemian directed his course, and which, continuing even after the impulse of the violent expulsion had subsided, seemed to indicate that his career had some more certain goal for its object than could have suggested itself to a person unexpectedly turned out of good quarters when midnight was approaching, to seek a new place of repose. He never even looked behind him, and consequently Durward was enabled to follow him unobserved. At length, the Bohemian having traversed the meadow and attained the side of a little stream, the banks of which were clothed with alders and willows, Quentin observed that he stood still, and blew a low note on his horn, which was answered by a whistle at some little distance. "This is a rendezvous," thought Quentin, "but how shall I come near enough to overhear the import of what passes? The sound of my steps, and the rustling of the boughs through which I must force my passage, will betray me, unless I am cautious -- I will stalk them, by Saint Andrew, as if they were Glen Isla deer -- they shall learn that I have not conned woodcraft for naught. Yonder they meet, the two shadows -- and two of them there are -- odds against me if I am discovered, and if their purpose be unfriendly, as is much to be doubted. And then the Countess Isabelle loses her poor friend -- Well, and he were not worthy to be called such, if he were not ready to meet a dozen in her behalf. Have I not crossed swords with Dunois, the best knight in France, and shall I fear a tribe of yonder vagabonds? Pshaw! -- God and Saint Andrew to friend, they will find me both stout and wary." Thus resolving, and with a degree of caution taught him by his silvan habits, our friend descended into the channel of the little stream, which varied in depth, sometimes scarce covering his shoes, sometimes coming up to his knees, and so crept along, his form concealed by the boughs overhanging the bank, and his steps unheard amid the ripple of the water. (We have ourselves, in the days of yore, thus approached the nest of the wakeful raven.) In this manner the Scot drew near unperceived, until he distinctly heard the voices of those who were the subject of his observation, though he could not distinguish the words. Being at this time under the drooping branches of a magnificent weeping willow, which almost swept the surface of the water, he caught hold of one of its boughs, by the assistance of which, exerting at once much agility, dexterity, and strength, he raised himself up into the body of the tree, and sat, secure from discovery, among the central branches. From this situation he could discover that the person with whom Hayraddin was now conversing was one of his own tribe, and at the same time he perceived, to his great disappointment, that no approximation could enable him to comprehend their language, which was totally unknown to him. They laughed much, and as Hayraddin made a sign of skipping about, and ended by rubbing his shoulder with his hand, Durward had no doubt that he was relating the story of the bastinading which he had sustained previous to his escape from the convent. On a sudden, a whistle was again heard in the distance, which was once more answered by a low tone or two of Hayraddin's horn. Presently afterwards, a tall, stout, soldierly looking man, a strong contrast in point of thews and sinews to the small and slender limbed Bohemians, made his appearance. He had a broad baldric over his shoulder, which sustained a sword that hung almost across his person, his hose were much slashed, through which slashes was drawn silk, or tiffany, of various colours, they were tied by at least five hundred points or strings, made of ribbon, to the tight buff jacket which he wore, the right sleeve of which displayed a silver boar's head, the crest of his Captain. A very small hat sat jauntily on one side of his head, from which descended a quantity of curled hair, which fell on each side of a broad face, and mingled with as broad a beard, about four inches long. He held a long lance in his hand, and his whole equipment was that of one of the German adventurers, who were known by the name of lanzknechts, in English, spearmen, who constituted a formidable part of the infantry of the period. These mercenaries were, of course, a fierce and rapacious soldiery, and having an idle tale current among themselves, that a lanzknecht was refused admittance into heaven on account of his vices, and into hell on the score of his tumultuous, mutinous, and insubordinate disposition, they manfully acted as if they neither sought the one nor eschewed the other. "Donner and blitz! (thunder and lightning!)" was his first salutation, in a sort of German French, which we can only imperfectly imitate, "Why have you kept me dancing in attendance dis dree nights?" "I could not see you sooner, Meinherr," said Hayraddin, very submissively, "there is a young Scot, with as quick an eye as the wildcat, who watches my least motions. He suspects me already, and, should he find his suspicion confirmed, I were a dead man on the spot, and he would carry back the women into France again." "Was henker! (what the deuce!)" said the lanzknecht, "we are three -- we will attack them tomorrow, and carry the women off without going farther. You said the two valets were cowards -- you and your comrade may manage them, and the Teufel (the devil) shall hold me, but I match your Scots wildcat." "You will find that foolhardy," said Hayraddin, "for besides that we ourselves count not much in fighting, this spark hath matched himself with the best knight in France, and come off with honour -- I have seen those who saw him press Dunois hard enough." "Hagel and sturmwetter! (hail and stormy weather!) It is but your cowardice that speaks," said the German soldier. "I am no more a coward than yourself," said Hayraddin "but my trade is not fighting. -- If you keep the appointment where it was laid, it is well -- if not, I guide them safely to the Bishop's Palace, and William de la Marck may easily possess himself of them there, provided he is half as strong as he pretended a week since." "Poz tausend! (Zounds!)" said the soldier, "we are as strong and stronger, but we hear of a hundreds of the lances of Burgund, -- das ist, see you, -- five men to a lance do make five hundreds, and then hold me the devil, they will be fainer to seek for us, than we to seek for them, for der Bischoff hath a goot force on footing -- ay, indeed!" "You must then hold to the ambuscade at the Cross of the Three Kings, or give up the adventure," said the Bohemian. "Geb up -- geb up the adventure of the rich bride for our noble hauptman (leader or captain) -- Teufel! I will charge through hell first. -- Mein soul, we will be all princes and hertzogs, whom they call dukes, and we will hab a snab at the wein kellar (wine cellar), and at the mouldy French crowns, and it may be at the pretty garces too (meaning the countesses), when He with de beard is weary on them." "The ambuscade at the Cross of the Three Kings then still holds? " said the Bohemian. "Mein Gob ay, -- you will swear to bring them there, and when they are on their knees before the cross, and down from off their horses, which all men do, except such black heathens as thou, we will make in on them and they are ours." "Ay, but I promised this piece of necessary villainy only on one condition," said Hayraddin. -- "I will not have a hair of the young man's head touched. If you swear this to me, by your Three Dead Men of Cologne, I will swear to you, by the Seven Night Walkers, that I will serve you truly as to the rest. And if you break your oath, the Night Walkers shall wake you seven nights from your sleep, between night and morning, and, on the eighth, they shall strangle and devour you." "But donner and bagel, what need you be so curious about the life of this boy, who is neither your bloot nor kin?" said the German. "No matter for that, honest Heinrick, some men have pleasure in cutting throats, some in keeping them whole. -- So swear to me, that you will spare him life and limb, or by the bright star Aldebaran, this matter shall go no farther. -- Swear, and by the Three Kings, as you call them, of Cologne -- I know you care for no other oath." "Du bist ein comische man (thou art a droll fellow)," said the lanzknecht, "I swear." "Not yet," said the Bohemian. "Face about, brave lanzknecht, and look to the east, else the Kings may not hear you." The soldier took the oath in the manner prescribed, and then declared that he would be in readiness, observing the place was quite convenient, being scarce five miles from their present leaguer. "But were it not making sure work to have a fahnlein (a regiment or company) of riders on the other road, by the left side of the inn, which might trap them if they go that way?" The Bohemian considered a moment, and then answered. "No -- the appearance of their troops in that direction might alarm the garrison of Namur, and then they would have a doubtful fight, instead of assured success. Besides, they shall travel on the right bank of the Maes, for I can guide them which way I will, for sharp as this same Scottish mountaineer is, he hath never asked any one's advice, save mine, upon the direction of their route. Undoubtedly, I was assigned to him by an assured friend, whose word no man mistrusts till they come to know him a little." "Hark ye, friend Hayraddin," said the soldier, "I would ask you somewhat. You and your bruder were, as you say yourself, gross sternen deuter, that is, star lookers and geister seers (seers of ghosts). Now, what henker was it made you not foresee him, your bruder Zamet, to be hanged?" "I will tell you, Heinrick," said Hayraddin, "if I could have known my brother was such a fool as to tell the counsel of King Louis to Duke Charles of Burgundy, I could have foretold his death as sure as I can foretell fair weather in July. Louis hath both ears and hands at the Court of Burgundy, and Charles's counsellors love the chink of French gold as well as thou dost the clatter of a wine pot. -- But fare thee well, and keep appointment -- I must await my early Scot a bow shot without the gate of the den of the lazy swine yonder, else will he think me about some excursion which bodes no good to the success of his journey." "Take a draught of comfort first," said the lanzknecht, tendering him a flask -- "but I forget, thou art beast enough to drink nothing but water, like a vile vassal of Mahound and Termagund (the name of the god of the Saracens in medieaval romances where he is linked with Mahound)." "Thou art thyself a vassal of the wine measure and the flagon," said the Bohemian. "I marvel not that thou art only trusted with the bloodthirsty and violent part of executing what better heads have devised. -- He must drink no wine who would know the thoughts of others, or hide his own. But why preach to thee, who hast a thirst as eternal as a sand bank in Arabia? "Fare thee well. Take my comrade Tuisco with thee -- his appearance about the monastery may breed suspicion." The two worthies parted, after each had again pledged himself to keep the rendezvous at the Cross of the Three Kings. Quentin Durward watched until they were out of sight, and then descended from his place of concealment, his heart throbbing at the narrow escape which he and his fair charge had made -- if, indeed, it could yet be achieved -- from a deep laid plan of villainy. Afraid, on his return to the monastery, of stumbling upon Hayraddin, he made a long detour, at the expense of traversing some very rough ground, and was thus enabled to return to his asylum on a different point from that by which he left it. On the route, he communed earnestly with himself concerning the safest plan to be pursued. He had formed the resolution, when he first heard Hayraddin avow his treachery, to put him to death so soon as the conference broke up, and his companions were at a sufficient distance, but when he heard the Bohemian express so much interest in saving his own life, he felt it would be ungrateful to execute upon him, in its rigour, the punishment his treachery had deserved. He therefore resolved to spare his life, and even, if possible, still to use his services as a guide, under such precautions as should ensure the security of the precious charge, to the preservation of which his own life was internally devoted. But whither were they to turn? -- The Countesses of Croye could neither obtain shelter in Burgundy, from which they had fled, nor in France, from which they had been in a manner expelled. The violence of Duke Charles, in the one country, was scarcely more to be feared than the cold and tyrannical policy of King Louis in the other. After deep thought, Durward could form no better or safer plan for their security, than that, evading the ambuscade, they should take the road to Liege by the left hand of the Maes, and throw themselves, as the ladies originally designed, upon the protection of the excellent Bishop. That Prelate's will to protect them could not be doubted, and, if reinforced by this Burgundian party of men at arms, he might be considered as having the power. At any rate, if the dangers to which he was exposed from the hostility of William de la Marck, and from the troubles in the city of Liege, appeared imminent, he would still be able to protect the unfortunate ladies until they could be dispatched to Germany with a suitable escort. To sum up this reasoning -- for when is a mental argument conducted without some reference to selfish consideration? -- Quentin imagined that the death or captivity to which King Louis had, in cold blood, consigned him, set him at liberty from his engagements to the crown of France: which, therefore, it was his determined purpose to renounce, The Bishop of Liege was likely, he concluded, to need soldiers, and he thought that, by the interposition of his fair friends, who now, especially the elder Countess, treated him with much familiarity, he might get some command, and perhaps might have the charge of conducting the Ladies of Croye to some place more safe than the neighbourhood of Liege. And, to conclude, the ladies had talked, although almost in a sort of jest, of raising the Countess's own vassals, and, as others did in those stormy times, fortifying her strong castle against all assailants whatever, they had jestingly asked Quentin whether he would accept the perilous office of their Seneschal, and, on his embracing the office with ready glee and devotion, they had, in the same spirit, permitted him to kiss both their hands on that confidential and honourable appointment. Nay, he thought that the hand of the Countess Isabelle, one of the best formed and most beautiful to which true vassal ever did such homage, trembled when his lips rested on it a moment longer than ceremony required, and that some confusion appeared on her cheek and in her eye as she withdrew it. Something might come of all this, and what brave man, at Quentin Durward's age, but would gladly have taken the thoughts which it awakened, into the considerations which were to determine his conduct? This point settled, he had next to consider in what degree he was to use the farther guidance of the faithless Bohemian. He had renounced his first thought of killing him in the wood, and, if he took another guide, and dismissed him alive, it would be sending the traitor to the camp of William de la Marck, with intelligence of their motions. He thought of taking the Prior into his counsels, and requesting him to detain the Bohemian by force, until they should have time to reach the Bishop's castle, but, on reflection, he dared not hazard such a proposition to one who was timid both as an old man and a friar, who held the safety of his convent the most important object of his duty, and who trembled at the mention of the Wild Boar of Ardennes. At length Durward settled a plan of operation on which he could the better reckon, as the execution rested entirely upon himself, and, in the cause in which he was engaged, he felt himself capable of everything. With a firm and bold heart, though conscious of the dangers of his situation, Quentin might be compared to one walking under a load, of the weight of which he is conscious, but which yet is not beyond his strength and power of endurance. Just as his plan was determined, he reached the convent. Upon knocking gently at the gate, a brother, considerately stationed for that purpose by the Prior, opened it, and acquainted him that the brethren were to be engaged in the choir till daybreak, praying Heaven to forgive to the community the various scandals which had that evening taken place among them. The worthy friar offered Quentin permission to attend their devotions, but his clothes were in such a wet condition that the young Scot was obliged to decline the opportunity, and request permission, instead, to sit by the kitchen fire, in order to his attire being dried before morning, as he was particularly desirous that the Bohemian, when they should next meet, should observe no traces of his having been abroad during the night. The friar not only granted his request, but afforded him his own company, which fell in very happily with the desire which Durward had to obtain information concerning the two routes which he had heard mentioned by the Bohemian in his conversation with the lanzknecht. The friar, entrusted upon many occasions with the business of the convent abroad, was the person in the fraternity best qualified to afford him the information he requested, but observed that, as true pilgrims, it became the duty of the ladies whom Quentin escorted, to take the road on the right side of the Maes, by the Cross of the Kings, where the blessed relics of Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar (as the Catholic Church has named the eastern Magi who came to Bethlehem with their offerings) had rested as they were transported to Cologne, and on which spot they had wrought many miracles. Quentin replied that the ladies were determined to observe all the holy stations with the utmost punctuality, and would certainly visit that of the Cross, either in going to or from Cologne, but they had heard reports that the road by the right side of the river was at present rendered unsafe by the soldiers of the ferocious William de la Marck. "Now may Heaven forbid," said Father Francis, "that the Wild Boar of Ardennes should again make his lair so near us! -- Nevertheless, the broad Maes will be a good barrier betwixt us, even should it so chance." "But it will be no barrier between my ladies and the marauder, should we cross the river, and travel on the right," answered the Scot. "Heaven will protect its own, young man," said the friar, "for it were hard to think that the Kings of yonder blessed city of Cologne, who will not endure that a Jew or infidel should even enter within the walls of their town, could be oblivious enough to permit their worshippers, coming to their shrine as true pilgrims, to be plundered and misused by such a miscreant dog as this Boar of Ardennes, who is worse than a whole desert of Saracen heathens, and all the ten tribes of Israel to boot." Whatever reliance Quentin, as a sincere Catholic, was bound to rest upon the special protection of Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar, he could not but recollect that the pilgrim habits of the ladies being assumed out of mere earthly policy, he and his charge could scarcely expect their countenance on the present occasion, and therefore resolved, as far as possible, to avoid placing the ladies in any predicament where miraculous interposition might be necessary, whilst, in the simplicity of his good faith, he himself vowed a pilgrimage to the Three Kings of Cologne in his own proper person, provided the simulate design of those over whose safety he was now watching, should be permitted by those reasonable and royal, as well as sainted personages, to attain the desired effect. That he might enter into this obligation with all solemnity, he requested the friar to show him into one of the various chapels which opened from the main body of the church of the convent, where, upon his knees, and with sincere devotion, he ratified the vow which he had made internally. The distant sound of the choir, the solemnity of the deep and dead hour which he had chosen for this act of devotion, the effect of the glimmering lamp with which the little Gothic building was illuminated -- all contributed to throw Quentin's mind into the state when it most readily acknowledges its human frailty, and seeks that supernatural aid and protection which, in every worship, must be connected with repentance for past sins and resolutions of future amendment. That the object of his devotion was misplaced, was not the fault of Quentin, and, its purpose being sincere, we can scarce suppose it unacceptable to the only true Deity, who regards the motives, and not the forms of prayer, and in whose eyes the sincere devotion of a heathen is more estimable than the specious hypocrisy of a Pharisee. Having commended himself and his helpless companions to the Saints, and to the keeping of Providence, Quentin at length retired to rest, leaving the friar much edified by the depth and sincerity of his devotion. 你是说那粗鲁的护林兵?那被识破了的奸细? 你可别去碰他, 你斗不过这样一些乡下佬。 本•约翰《罗宾汉的故事》 昆丁冲出寺院时,发现那波希米亚人正在飞快地向远处跑去,还可以在月色底下老远看见他那黑色的人影以挨了抽打的野狗般的奔跑速度迅猛地穿过村庄的街道,又越过更远处的一片平坦的草地。 “我这伙计跑得很快,”昆丁寻思道,“不过他还得跑得更快些,才能躲过在格兰一呼拉金的石南地上奔跑过的最快的飞毛腿。” 这位苏格兰山地人幸好没披斗篷,没戴铠甲,所以他能以在家乡的山谷里堪称冠军的速度向前奔去。尽管那波希米亚人也跑得很快,但昆丁仍能很快赶上他。然而,赶上他并不是他的目的。他认为更重要的是监视海拉丁的行动,而不是阻止他的行动。看到那波希米亚人正按他预定的路线坚持不停地跑下去,他就感到更有这个必要,因为在被强行驱逐出寺院的激动消失以后,他还继续向前跑,似乎说明他这种快跑别有目的,而不像是半夜时分被别人从一个好的住处突然赶出来,只得另觅住处的样子。他甚至不回头望望。正因为如此,达威特才有可能悄悄跟在他后面不被觉察。最后,那波希米亚人越过草地,来到一条两旁栽有梢木树和柳树的小溪边。昆丁看见他停了下来,轻轻吹了一声号角,接着便听见不远处有人吹口哨向他回应。 “这是约好的,”昆丁想到,“我要不要走近些,听听他们讲些什么呢?我得小心,否则脚步声和穿过树枝时的瑟瑟声就会暴露我自己。圣安德鲁在上,我得把他们当作格兰一依斯拉的糜鹿那样来靠近他们——要让他们知道,我并没有白白掌握森林知识。那是两个人影碰在一起。这么说,他们有两个人——要是我被发现,而他们很可能意图不良的话,那我就倒霉了,伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐就将失去她可怜的朋友了!得,要是我不能为了她而准备好对付一打子敌人,那我也配不上称作她的朋友。我不是已经和法国最优秀的骑士杜诺瓦交过锋了吗?难道我还怕一两个流浪汉不成?呸!上帝和圣安德鲁助我的话,他们会发现我这个人既勇敢又机警。” 下定决心之后,我们的朋友便带着惯于在森林中生活而获得的某种警觉踏进小溪。小溪水深不一,有时刚没过脚背,有时深及双膝。他偷偷地向前走去,身子藏在岸边的垂柳中,脚步声则被那潺潺的水声掩盖住。(过去我们自己也以这种方式接近醒着的老鸦,去掏它的窝。)年轻的苏格兰人就这样悄悄向他们走去,直到他清晰地听见他要监视的对象的说话声。但他还听不清他们所讲的话。他正好是站在一株大的柳树几乎拂着水面的树枝底下。于是他抓住一根粗枝,运用他的敏捷、灵巧和气力,借助树枝一下子爬上了大树,坐在树枝中央,毫无被发现之虞。 从他坐着的这个位置,他发现和海拉丁谈话的是他自己部落的人。但他也失望地发现,他简直没法听懂使他一窍不通的语言。他们一阵阵地大笑。当海拉丁做了一个跳跳蹦蹦的姿势,最后又用手揉揉肩头时,达威特猜想,他准是在讲述他逃出寺院前挨打的故事。 这时,远处又忽然传来一声口哨。海拉丁仍用号角轻轻地回应了他一两声。不久就看见一个身材魁梧强壮,样子颇像武士的人走了过来。他那发达的肌键和波希米亚人细小的四肢形成了强烈的对比。他肩上斜披着一条宽大的缎带,上面挂着一把剑,几乎横在他身子前面。他的裤子饰有许多长缝。长缝底下是各色的丝绸或丝纱罗。裤子至少是用五百条缎带做的系绳与他穿的黄牛皮紧身衣系在一起。右袖上画有他们首领的徽记——一头银色的野猪。头上则神气地歪戴着一顶小帽。帽子罩着的一束束鬈发在他那宽大的面孔两侧与约有四英寸长的宽大胡须混为一体。他手上握着一根长矛。根据他的全副装备可以看出,他是一名英文称之为长矛手、德文称之为“lanzknecht”的德国冒险家。这些雇佣军构成了当时一支可畏的步兵力量;不用说,都是一些残暴贪婪的兵痞。他们当中流行着一种无聊的说法:德国长矛手因为罪恶大不能升天堂,也因其桀骛不驯的反叛性格无法进地狱。所以他们一点不怕死,仿佛他们既不向往天堂,也不在乎地狱。 “雷鸣电闪!”这是他用勉强模仿的某种夹杂法语的德语说出的第一句打招呼的话。 接着他说:“你为什么害我苦等了三个晚上呢?” “我的先生,我没法提前和您见面,”海拉丁谦恭地说,“有个年轻的苏格兰人,眼睛敏锐得像只野猫,对我的任何行动都严密监视。他已经在怀疑我了。要是他证实了他的怀疑,他就会当场杀死我,并把那两个女人送回法国。” “那还行!”那长矛手说道,“瞧,我们有三个人。明天我们就攻打他们,把两个女人带走。你说那两个随从都是胆小鬼。那么你和你的同伴该可以对付他们两个,我就不怕魔鬼找上我,偏要对付你那个苏格兰的野猫。” “你将发现这是蛮干,”海拉丁说道,“你要知道,讲打仗我们三个是算不了什么的。这家伙曾经和法国最优秀的骑士交过锋,而且打得很出色。我就晓得有人亲眼看见他打得杜诺瓦难以招架。” “冰雹和雷雨!你是个胆小鬼,才会讲这种话。”那德国兵说道。 “我并不比你更胆小,”海拉丁说道,”不过,打仗并不是我的本行。如果你在原地按约定的计划办,那也很好。如果不行,我就把她们平安地带到主教的教廷。要是威廉•德拉马克真像他一个星期前夸耀的那么强大,他就可以轻而易举地把她们抢走。” “那还用说,”德国长矛手说道,“我们不但和过去一样强大,而且还变得更为强大。不过我们听说勃艮第派去一百名长矛手,你瞧,一名长矛手配四名扈从,那就等于五百人。我敢担保他们更愿意找我们的麻烦,而不是我们更愿意找他们的麻烦。事实上,那主教已经有一支正规编制的军队——我说的一点不假!” “这么说,你们必须在‘三王十字’打伏击,否则就得放弃这个冒险计划。”波希米亚人说道。 “放弃——放弃能给我们高贵的首领找个有钱的新娘的计划?见鬼哟!我宁可去地狱打冲锋,也决不放弃这个计划。老天爷!将来我们都会成为亲王和人们称之为公爵的贵族,我们将在发霉的法国王宫喝酒,或等那长胡子首领对她们厌倦以后去和美丽的姑娘喝酒。” “那么‘三王十字’的伏击计划仍然有效吗?”波希米亚人问道。 “我的上帝,当然还有效——你得保证把他们带到那儿。他们要在那十字架前下跪,会跳下马来——除开你这种异教徒以外,所有的人都会跳下马来的。这时我们就向他们发起进攻,而那两个女人也就会落到我们手上。” “好,我同意你要点必要的阴谋诡计。但得有个条件,”海拉丁说道,“我不许你们损伤那年轻人一根毫毛。如果你凭你们的‘科隆三古人’发誓,向我保证这一点,那么我可以凭‘七个夜游神’向你发誓,其余各点我决不食言。如果你破坏你的誓言,‘七个夜游神’就会接连七个晚上把你从午夜和早晨之间的睡梦中吵醒,而第八个晚上就会掐死你,把你吃掉。” “不过,雷电和冰雹呀,你干吗要那么稀罕和你非亲非故的这个小伙子的性命呢?” “你别问这个了,诚实的汉里克。有些人对割别人脖子感兴趣,另一些人则对保全别人的脖子感兴趣——好了,你就向我赌咒,决不伤他一根毫毛吧。否则,凭明亮的阿多波兰星座说,这事就算拉倒——就凭你们所说的‘科隆三王’发誓吧。我晓得别的赌咒你们都是不在乎的。” “你这人真有点滑稽。”长矛手说,“好吧,我发誓——” “不行,”波希米亚人说,“勇敢的长矛手,你得转过脸来面向东方,否则那三个国王听不见你说的话。” 那丘人按规定的方式赌了咒。然后他说他可以很快作好准备,因为那个地方离他们现在的营地还不到五英里,采取行动十分方便。 “要是把一小队骑兵布置在靠客店左边的大路上,那么,万一他们走那条路,也可以叫他们落网,这样岂不更保险?” 那波希米亚人考虑了一会回答道:“不好——你们的队伍在那边出现会惊动纳慕尔的守军。你们的伏击战就会大成问题,而不会有必胜的把握。再说,他们将会沿马埃斯河的右岸走,因为我可以想走哪条路就带他们走哪条路。这个苏格兰山地人固然很机灵,但在路线问题上除了征求我的意见以外,还从没征求过别人的意见。这不用说,因为我是被一位可靠的朋友指派给他的,除非对这人有所了解,否则谁也不会对他的话有任何怀疑。” “你听我说,海拉丁朋友,”那大兵说道,“我想问你个问题:你自己说,你和你的兄弟都是了不起的占星术家和算命先生,那么,你为什么没预见到你兄弟扎迈特被绞死呢?” “我告诉你吧,汉里克,”海拉丁说道,“要是我早知道我兄弟会愚蠢到把路易王的打算告诉勃艮第查尔斯公爵,那我就能够像预言七月会有好天气那样,预言他一定会死于非命。路易在勃艮第宫廷里既有耳目,也有帮手。查尔斯的谋臣们爱听法国金币的丁当声,就像你爱听酒罐子的震响声。再见吧,请你遵守约定的安排。那苏格兰人起得很早。我得在那懒猪窝的大门外一箭之远的地方等他,否则他会疑心我暗中去了某个地方,要给他的旅途安全带来不利。” “你先喝口酒定定心吧!”长矛手递给他一瓶酒说道,“啊,我忘了,你就像个畜牲,除了白水以外什么都不喝。真是穆罕默德和‘特马昆德’的坏奴仆。” “你自己才是酒瓶酒罐的奴仆哩,”波希米亚人说道,“难怪聪明人只把他们计划的残暴部分交给你执行。一个人要想了解别人的思想而隐藏自己的思想,他就不能喝酒。不过,对你这样一种永远像阿拉伯沙漠上的河岸一般干渴的人讲这个道理又有什么用呢?再见吧,我想叫我的同伴图伊斯科和你一道走。让人在寺院附近看见他,会叫人产生怀疑的。” 在各人再次保证在“三王十字”附近碰头之后,两位大人才分手。 昆丁•达威特一直等到他们完全看不见了才从隐藏处跳了下来。当他想起他和受他保护的少女只是由于侥幸才逃脱(如果真能逃脱的话)一个蓄谋已久的罪恶计划时,他的心不禁激动得跳个不停。他担心回寺院的路上会碰到海拉丁。所以他不惜走过一片崎岖不平的地方,绕了一个大圈子,使他有可能通过另一道门回到寺院。 一路上他都认真地思考,看能否找到一个万全之计。当他刚一听到海拉丁暴露出的奸诈,他就下定决心,等他们散了伙,他的同伴离得相当远时,便立即把他干掉。但后来他听到这波希米亚人的确真心想保全他个人的性命,他感到要给他的奸诈应得的严厉惩罚又未免有些过意不去。最后他决定饶他一命,而且有可能的话,还继续利用他充当向导;但他得采取一些预防措施,以保证那被他视为珍宝的少女能平安无恙。事实上,他已暗自准备为保护她的安全献出自己的生命。 但是他们究竟该往何处去却是个问题——两位克罗伊埃仕女既然逃出了勃艮第,自然不能再到那儿去。而她们也不能再呆在法国,因为法国等于给她们下了逐客令。查尔斯公爵在勃艮第的强暴行径与路易王在法国执行的冷酷而专横的策略同样可怕。经过一番深思,达威特认为保护她们安全的比较稳妥的好办法就只能是绕过敌人的埋伏,沿着马埃斯河的左岸去列日,按二位仕女原来的打算,投奔善良的主教请求保护。主教肯定愿意保护她们。这一点是不用怀疑的。在那支勃艮第部队的支援下,也可以认为主教具有保护她们的能力。万一主教受到威廉•德拉马克的威胁,同时列日骚动的危险迫在眉睫,那么他自己也还有能力保护这两位不幸的仕女,最后在适当的人马护送下前往德国。 现在归纳一下这一思索得出的结论——附带说说,在进行一种思索时,哪能不涉及一些个人的考虑呢?——总之,昆丁认为,既然路易王冷酷地给他安排了当死回或当俘虏的命运,这就解除了他对法国国王承担的义务。他也决心不再承认这些义务。他推测列日主教可能需要补充兵丁。这两位仕女,特别是年长的那位,已经待他十分亲切。他估计通过她们两位的说项,他有可能获得某种具有指挥权的官职,也有可能受托把两位克罗伊埃仕女带到某个比列日更为安全的地方。最后还可以补充一点,那就是两位仕女曾经近乎开玩笑地谈到过要招募伯爵小姐自己的臣仆,以便像在这动荡的年代里别的贵族所做的那样,设法巩固她们自己的坚强城堡,以抵御可能的进犯。她们已半开玩笑地问过昆丁,是否愿意接受总管这个危险的职务。看到他以高兴而忠诚的心情接受这个职务时,她们也曾怀着同样的心情让他在这个光荣的授职场合吻了她们的手。伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐的手真是一个表达敬意的忠实臣仆有幸吻过的世界上最美丽最标致的手。他甚至觉得,由于他的嘴唇停留的时间比礼节的要求略微长了一点,她的手已在开始颤抖。她把手缩回去时,她的面颊和眼睛也现出了慌乱的神情。这一切也许会导致某种结果。在昆丁•达威特这种年龄,有哪个勇士在决定未来行动的过程中不把这些翩翩遐想也考虑进去呢? 这一点决定下来之后,下一步他就得考虑,在多大的程度上他可以利用那个不忠实的波希米亚人来继续给他们当向导。他还在森林里时便已放弃了打算杀死他的最初想法。假如他另找一个向导,把他活着打发走,那无异是让这奸细带着有关他们行动的情报去到威廉•德拉马克的营部。他考虑是否请寺院的院长当当他的参谋,并请求他在他们到达主教的城堡之前暂时扣押这个波希米亚人。但经过一番考虑,他觉得他没有勇气向这样一位年老而胆小的僧侣提出这种请求。须知他是把维护寺院的安全看作他最重要的职责,一听到别人提到“阿登内斯野猪”的名字都会浑身发抖。 最后达威特总算确定了一个行动计划。由于这个计划全靠他一个人来执行,他反而觉得更为稳妥。而为了他当前所从事的这一使命,他也感觉他能胜任一切。昆丁意识到处境艰危,但他怀有坚定而沉着的信念,就好比一个负重行走的人:一方面知道自己担子有多重,但另一方面也知道这担子并没有超过自己的力量和能耐。正当他把这计划定下来的时候,他已来到了寺院的大门口。 他轻轻敲了一下那扇大门,院长特意叫去守门的僧人马上把门打开,告诉他寺院的师兄弟们正在唱诗,将一直唱到天明,祈求上帝宽恕在他们当中那晚所发生的种种丑事。 这可敬的僧侣想让昆丁也参加他们的祈祷。但年轻的苏格兰人衣服湿透,不得不谢绝这个机会,而请求让他在厨房里烤烤火,趁天亮之前把衣服烘干。那僧侣不但答应了他的请求,而且主动与他做伴。这正好符合达威特的愿望,因为他很想就他从那波希米亚人与德国长矛手的谈话中偷听到的两条路线了解一些情况。那位僧侣曾多次受寺院委托去外面出差,因此在所有的师兄弟当中最有资格向他介绍他要求了解的情况。不过他说,作为真诚的朝圣者,昆丁护送的两位仕女应沿着马埃斯河的右岸走,经过“三王十字”,因为卡斯巴、美尔基俄尔和巴尔泰乍(这是天主教会对前往伯利恒向耶稣致敬的东方三贤的称呼)得福的遗骨在送往科隆之前曾在那儿显示过一些神迹。 昆丁回答说,两位仕女决心十分严格地按照规矩在所有该停的圣地停留,而且无论在去科隆的途中或返回的途中都将参观“三王十字”。不过她们听说,那凶恶的威廉•德拉马克的匪兵已使得河右岸的大路目前很不安全。 “皇天不容,”弗朗西斯神父说道,“没想到‘阿登内斯野猪’又把它的窝搞到离我们这么近的地方!好在那宽阔的马埃斯河在万不得已时能给我们充当一个好的屏障。” “要是我们过了河在右岸走,那么这条河可没法阻挡强盗们袭击我保护的两位仕女。”昆丁说道。 “年轻人,老天爷会保佑他的臣民的。”那僧人说道,“得福的科隆三工既然不能容忍一个犹太人或异教徒进入城内,很难想象他们竟会冥昧得容许‘阿登内斯野猪’这样一条恶犬抢劫和虐待作为真诚的香客前往他们殿堂的朝圣者!要知道,这野猪比整个沙漠的撒拉森异教徒,加上十个部族的以色列人还更恶劣。” 不管昆丁作为一个虔诚的天主教徒该对美尔基俄尔、卡斯巴和巴尔泰乍的特殊保护寄以何种信赖,他都得想到,既然两位仕女的朝圣之说只是根据世俗的策略需要而编造出来的,他和他的被保护人当前就很难指望这东方三贤会给他们任何庇护。因此他决定尽可能避免让两位仕女陷入需要神灵干预的困境。与此同时,他以他单纯的信仰之诚许愿说,只要这三位通情达理的圣王能让他的被保护人这一伪装朝圣的计划达到预期的目的,他将亲往科隆向他们朝拜。 为了能使他庄严地履行许愿的仪式,他要求那僧人带他走进一个与寺院相通的小教堂,然后跪了下来,通过虔诚的祷告,表达他在内心里许过的愿。远处传来的唱诗声以及他为这许愿选择的子夜时辰带来的肃穆气氛,再加上照亮着这小小的哥特式建筑物的摇曳的灯光给人的印象——所有这些都使昆丁的心灵处于一种虔诚的状态,愿意承认人性的弱点,寻求神灵的帮助和保佑,而这在任何祷告中都肯定要联系到忏悔以往的罪过,并决心将来弥补和改正这些罪过。至于昆丁选错了祷告的对象,这倒并非他的过错。既然他的意图是诚恳的,我们难以设想那惟一的真神会认为他的祷告无法接受,因为上帝重视的是祈祷的动机而不是祈祷的形式。在上帝的眼里,异教徒的诚恳祷告要比法利赛人虚伪的虔诚更有价值。 在把他自己和那两位柔弱的旅伴托付给圣徒和上苍保佑之后,昆丁才进屋休息,只剩下那僧人独自坐着,深感他那诚恳而深刻的祷告使自己得到很大的启迪。 Chapter 18 Palmistry When many a many tale and many a song Cheer'd the rough road, we wish'd the rough road long. The rough road, then, returning in a round, Mock'd our enchanted steps, for all was fairy ground. SAMUEL JOHNSON By peep of day Quentin Durward had forsaken his little cell, had roused the sleepy grooms, and, with more than his wonted care, seen that everything was prepared for the day's journey. Girths and bridles, the horse furniture, and the shoes of the horses themselves, were carefully inspected with his own eyes, that there might be as little chance as possible of the occurrence of any of those casualties, which, petty as they seem, often interrupt or disconcert travelling. The horses were also, under his own inspection, carefully fed, so as to render them fit for a long day's journey, or, if that should be necessary, for a hasty flight. Quentin then betook himself to his own chamber, armed himself with unusual care, and belted on his sword with the feeling at once of approaching danger, and of stern determination to dare it to the uttermost. These generous feelings gave him a loftiness of step, and a dignity of manner, which the Ladies of Croye had not yet observed in him, though they had been highly pleased and interested by the grace, yet naivete, of his general behaviour and conversation, and the mixture of shrewd intelligence which naturally belonged to him, with the simplicity arising from his secluded education and distant country. He let them understand that it would be necessary that they should prepare for their journey this morning rather earlier than usual, and, accordingly, they left the convent immediately after a morning repast, for which, as well as the other hospitalities of the House, the ladies made acknowledgment by a donation to the altar, befitting rather their rank than their appearance. But this excited no suspicion, as they were supposed to be Englishwomen, and the attribute of superior wealth attached at that time to the insular character as strongly as in our own day. The Prior blessed them as they mounted to depart, and congratulated Quentin on the absence of his heathen guide. "For," said the venerable man, "better stumble in the path than be upheld by the arm of a thief or robber." Quentin was not quite of his opinion, for, dangerous as he knew the Bohemian to be, he thought he could use his services, and, at the same time, baffle his treasonable purpose, now that he saw clearly to what it tended. But his anxiety upon this subject was soon at an end, for the little cavalcade was not an hundred yards from the monastery and the village before Maugrabin joined it, riding as usual on his little active and wild looking jennet. Their road led them along the side of the same brook where Quentin had overheard the mysterious conference the preceding evening, and Hayraddin had not long rejoined them, ere they passed under the very willow tree which had afforded Durward the means of concealment, when he became an unsuspected hearer of what then passed betwixt that false guide and the lanzknecht. The recollections which the spot brought back stirred Quentin to enter abruptly into conversation with his guide, whom hitherto he had scarce spoken to. "Where hast thou found night quarter, thou profane knave?" said the Scot. "Your wisdom may guess, by looking on my gaberdine," answered the Bohemian, pointing to his dress, which was covered with seeds of hay. "A good haystack," said Quentin, "is a convenient bed for an astrologer, and a much better than a heathen scoffer at our blessed religion and its ministers, ever deserves." "It suited my Klepper better than me, though," said Hayraddin, patting his horse on the neck, "for he had food and shelter at the same time. The old bald fools turned him loose, as if a wise man's horse could have infected with wit or sagacity a whole convent of asses. Lucky that Klepper knows my whistle, and follows me as truly as a hound, or we had never met again, and you in your turn might have whistled for a guide." "I have told thee more than once," said Durward, sternly, "to restrain thy ribaldry when thou chancest to be in worthy men's company, a thing, which, I believe, hath rarely happened to thee in thy life before now, and I promise thee, that did I hold thee as faithless a guide as I esteem thee a blasphemous and worthless caitiff, my Scottish dirk and thy heathenish heart had ere now been acquainted, although the doing such a deed were as ignoble as the sticking of swine." "A wild boar is near akin to a sow," said the Bohemian, without flinching from the sharp look with which Quentin regarded him, or altering, in the slightest degree, the caustic indifference which he affected in his language, "and many men," he subjoined, "find both pride, pleasure, and profit, in sticking them." Astonished at the man's ready confidence, and uncertain whether he did not know more of his own history and feelings than was pleasant for him to converse upon, Quentin broke off a conversation in which he had gained no advantage over Maugrabin, and fell back to his accustomed post beside the ladies. We have already observed that a considerable degree of familiarity had begun to establish itself between them. The elder Countess treated him (being once well assured of the nobility of his birth) like a favoured equal, and though her niece showed her regard to their protector less freely, yet, under every disadvantage of bashfulness and timidity, Quentin thought he could plainly perceive that his company and conversation were not by any means indifferent to her. Nothing gives such life and soul to youthful gaiety as the consciousness that it is successfully received, and Quentin had accordingly, during the former period of their journey, amused his fair charge with the liveliness of his conversation and the songs and tales of his country, the former of which he sang in his native language, while his efforts to render the latter into his foreign and imperfect French, gave rise to a hundred little mistakes and errors of speech, as diverting as the narratives themselves. But on this anxious morning, he rode beside the Ladies of Croye without any of his usual attempts to amuse them, and they could not help observing his silence as something remarkable. "Our young companion has seen a wolf," said the Lady Hameline, alluding to an ancient superstition, "and he has lost his tongue in consequence." (Vox quoque Moerim Jam fugit ipsa; lupi Moerim videre priores. Virgilii ix. Ecloga. The commentators add, in explanation of this passage, the opinion of Pliny: "The being beheld by a wolf in Italy is accounted noxious, and is supposed to take away the speech of a man, if these animals behold him ere he sees them." S.) "To say I had tracked a fox were nearer the mark," thought Quentin, but gave the reply no utterance. "Are you well, Seignior Quentin?" said the Countess Isabelle, in a tone of interest at which she herself blushed, while she felt that it was something more than the distance between them warranted. "He hath sat up carousing with the jolly friars," said the Lady Hameline, "the Scots are like the Germans, who spend all their mirth over the Rheinwein, and bring only their staggering steps to the dance in the evening, and their aching heads to the ladies' bower in the morning." "Nay, gentle ladies," said Quentin, "I deserve not your reproach. The good friars were at their devotions almost all night, and for myself, my drink was barely a cup of their thinnest and most ordinary wine." "It is the badness of his fare that has put him out of humour," said the Countess Isabelle. "Cheer up, Seignior Quentin, and should we ever visit my ancient Castle of Bracquemont together, if I myself should stand your cup bearer, and hand it to you, you shall have a generous cup of wine, that the like never grew upon the vines of Hochheim or Johannisberg." "A glass of water, noble lady, from your hand," -- Thus far did Quentin begin, but his voice trembled, and Isabelle continued, as if she had been insensible of the tenderness of the accentuation upon the personal pronoun. "The wine was stocked in the deep vaults of Bracquemont, by my great grandfather the Rhinegrave Godfrey," said the Countess Isabelle. "Who won the hand of her great grandmother," interjected the Lady Hameline, interrupting her niece, "by proving himself the best son of chivalry, at the great tournament of Strasbourg -- ten knights were slain in the lists. But those days are now over, and no one now thinks of encountering peril for the sake of honour, or to relieve distressed beauty." To this speech, which was made in the tone in which a modern beauty, whose charms are rather on the wane, may be heard to condemn the rudeness of the present age, Quentin took upon him to reply that there was no lack of that chivalry which the Lady Hameline seemed to consider as extinct, and that, were it eclipsed everywhere else, it would still glow in the bosoms of the Scottish gentlemen. "Hear him!" said the Lady Hameline, "he would have us believe that in his cold and bleak country still lives the noble fire which has decayed in France and Germany! The poor youth is like a Swiss mountaineer, mad with partiality to his native land -- he will next tell us of the vines and olives of Scotland." "No, madam," said Durward, "of the wine and the oil of our mountains I can say little more than that our swords can compel these rich productions as tribute from our wealthier neighbours. But for the unblemished faith and unfaded honour of Scotland, I must now put to the proof how far you can repose trust in them, however mean the individual who can offer nothing more as a pledge of your safety." "You speak mysteriously -- you know of some pressing and present danger," said the Lady Hameline. "I have read it in his eye for this hour past!" exclaimed the Lady Isabelle, clasping her hands. "Sacred Virgin, what will become of us?" "Nothing, I hope, but what you would desire," answered Durward. "And now I am compelled to ask -- gentle ladies, can you trust me?" "Trust you?" answered the Countess Hameline. "Certainly. But why the question? Or how far do you ask our confidence?" "I, on my part," said the Countess Isabelle, "trust you implicitly, and without condition. If you can deceive us, Quentin, I will no more look for truth, save in Heaven!" "Gentle lady," replied Durward, highly gratified, "you do me but justice. My object is to alter our route, by proceeding directly by the left bank of the Maes to Liege, instead of crossing at Namur. This differs from the order assigned by King Louis and the instructions given to the guide. But I heard news in the monastery of marauders on the right bank of the Maes, and of the march of Burgundian soldiers to suppress them. Both circumstances alarm me for your safety. Have I your permission so far to deviate from the route of your journey?" "My ample and full permission," answered the younger lady. "Cousin," said the Lady Hameline, "I believe with you that the youth means us well -- but bethink you -- we transgress the instructions of King Louis, so positively iterated." "And why should we regard his instructions?" said the Lady Isabelle. "I am, I thank Heaven for it, no subject of his, and, as a suppliant, he has abused the confidence he induced me to repose in him. I would not dishonour this young gentleman by weighing his word for an instant against the injunctions of yonder crafty and selfish despot." "Now, may God bless you for that very word, lady," said Quentin, joyously, "and if I deserve not the trust it expresses, tearing with wild horses in this life and eternal tortures in the next were e'en too good for my deserts." So saying, he spurred his horse, and rejoined the Bohemian. This worthy seemed of a remarkably passive, if not a forgiving temper. Injury or threat never dwelt, or at least seemed not to dwell in his recollection, and he entered into the conversation which Durward presently commenced, just as if there had been no unkindly word betwixt them in the course of the morning. The dog, thought the Scot, snarls not now, because he intends to clear scores with me at once and for ever, when he can snatch me by the very throat, but we will try for once whether we cannot foil a traitor at his own weapons. "Honest Hayraddin," he said, "thou hast travelled with us for ten days, yet hast never shown us a specimen of your skill in fortune telling, which you are, nevertheless, so fond of practising that you must needs display your gifts in every convent at which we stop, at the risk of being repaid by a night's lodging under a haystack." "You have never asked me for a specimen of my skill," said the gipsy. "You are, like the rest of the world, contented to ridicule those mysteries which they do not understand." "Give me then a present proof of your skill," said Quentin and, ungloving his hand, he held it out to the gipsy. Hayraddin carefully regarded all the lines which crossed each other on the Scotchman's palm, and noted, with equally Scrupulous attention, the little risings or swellings at the roots of the fingers, which were then believed as intimately connected with the disposition, habits, and fortunes of the individual, as the organs of the brain are pretended to be in our own time. "Here is a hand," said Hayraddin, "which speaks of toils endured, and dangers encountered. I read in it an early acquaintance with the hilt of the sword, and yet some acquaintance also with the clasps of the mass book." "This of my past life you may have learned elsewhere," said Quentin, "tell me something of the future." "This line from the hill of Venus," said the Bohemian, "not broken off abruptly, but attending and accompanying the line of life, argues a certain and large fortune by marriage, whereby the party shall be raised among the wealthy and the noble by the influence of successful love." "Such promises you make to all who ask your advice," said Quentin, "they are part of your art." "What I tell you is as certain," said Hayraddin, "as that you shall in brief space be menaced with mighty danger, which I infer from this bright blood red line cutting the table line transversely, and intimating stroke of sword, or other violence, from which you shall only be saved by the attachment of a faithful friend." "Thyself, ha?" said Quentin, somewhat indignant that the chiromantist should thus practise on his credulity, and endeavour to found a reputation by predicting the consequences of his own treachery. "My art," replied the Zingaro, "tells me naught that concerns myself." "In this, then, the seers of my land," said Quentin, "excel your boasted knowledge, for their skill teaches them the dangers by which they are themselves beset. I left not my hills without having felt a portion of the double vision with which their inhabitants are gifted, and I will give thee a proof of it, in exchange for thy specimen of palmistry. Hayraddin, the danger which threatens me lies on the right bank of the river -- I will avoid it by travelling to Liege on the left bank." The guide listened with an apathy, which, knowing the circumstances in which Maugrabin stood, Quentin could not by any means comprehend. "If you accomplish your purpose," was the Bohemian's reply, "the dangerous crisis will be transferred from your lot to mine." "I thought," said Quentin, "that you said but now, that you could not presage your own fortune?" "Not in the manner in which I have but now told you yours," answered Hayraddin, "but it requires little knowledge of Louis of Valois, to presage that he will hang your guide, because your pleasure was to deviate from the road which he recommended." "The attaining with safety the purpose of the journey, and ensuring its happy termination," said Quentin, "must atone for a deviation from the exact line of the prescribed route." "Ay," replied the Bohemian, "if you are sure that the King had in his own eye the same termination of the pilgrimage which he insinuated to you." "And of what other termination is it possible that he could have been meditating? or why should you suppose he had any purpose in his thought, other than was avowed in his direction?" inquired Quentin. "Simply," replied the Zingaro, "that those who know aught of the Most Christian King, are aware that the purpose about which he is most anxious, is always that which he is least willing to declare. Let our gracious Louis send twelve embassies, and I will forfeit my neck to the gallows a year before it is due, if in eleven of them there is not something at the bottom of the ink horn more than the pen has written in the letters of credence." "I regard not your foul suspicions," answered Quentin, "my duty is plain and peremptory -- to convey these ladies in safety to Liege, and I take it on me to think that I best discharge that duty in changing our prescribed route, and keeping the left side of the river Maes. It is likewise the direct road to Liege. By crossing the river, we should lose time and incur fatigue to no purpose -- wherefore should we do so?" "Only because pilgrims, as they call themselves, destined for Cologne," said Hayraddin, "do not usually descend the Maes so low as Liege, and that the route of the ladies will be accounted contradictory of their professed destination." "If we are challenged on that account," said Quentin, "we will say that alarms of the wicked Duke of Gueldres, or of William de la Marck, or of the Ecorcheurs (flayers; a name given to bands of wandering troops on account of their cruelty) and lanzknechts, on the right side of the river, justify our holding by the left, instead of our intended route." "As you will, my good seignior," replied the Bohemian. "I am, for my part, equally ready to guide you down the left as down the right side of the Maes. Your excuse to your master you must make out for yourself." Quentin, although rather surprised, was at the same time pleased with the ready, or at least the unrepugnant acquiescence of Hayraddin in their change of route, for he needed his assistance as a guide, and yet had feared that the disconcerting of his intended act of treachery would have driven him to extremity. Besides, to expel the Bohemian from their society would have been the ready mode to bring down William de la Marck, with whom he was in correspondence, upon their intended route, whereas, if Hayraddin remained with them Quentin thought he could manage to prevent the Moor from having any communication with strangers unless he was himself aware of it. Abandoning, therefore, all thoughts of their original route, the little party followed that by the left bank of the broad Maes, so speedily and successfully that the next day early brought them to the proposed end of their journey. They found that the Bishop of Liege, for the sake of his health, as he himself alleged, but rather, perhaps, to avoid being surprised by the numerous and mutinous population of the city, had established his residence in his beautiful Castle of Schonwaldt, about a mile without Liege. Just as they approached the Castle, they saw the Prelate returning in long procession from the neighbouring city, in which he had been officiating at the performance of High Mass. He was at the head of a splendid train of religious, civil and military men, mingled together, or, as the old ballad maker expresses it, "With many a cross bearer before, And many a spear behind." The procession made a noble appearance, as winding along the verdant banks of the broad Maes, it wheeled into, and was as it were devoured by, the huge Gothic portal of the Episcopal residence. But when the party came more near, they found that circumstances around the Castle argued a doubt and sense of insecurity, which contradicted that display of pomp and power which they had just witnessed. Strong guards of the Bishop's soldiers were heedfully maintained all around the mansion and its immediate vicinity, and the prevailing appearances in an ecclesiastical residence seemed to argue a sense of danger in the reverend Prelate, who found it necessary thus to surround himself with all the defensive precautions of war. The Ladies of Croye, when announced by Quentin, were reverently ushered into the great Hall, where they met with the most cordial reception from the Bishop, who met them there at the head of his little Court. He would not permit them to kiss his hand, but welcomed them with a salute, which had something in it of gallantry on the part of a prince to fine women, and something also of the holy affection of a pastor to the sisters of his flock. Louis of Bourbon, the reigning Bishop of Liege, was in truth a generous and kind hearted prince, whose life had not indeed been always confined, with precise strictness, within the bounds of his clerical profession, but who, notwithstanding, had uniformly maintained the frank and honourable character of the House of Bourbon, from which he was descended. In latter times, as age advanced, the Prelate had adopted habits more beseeming a member of the hierarchy than his early reign had exhibited, and was loved among the neighbouring princes, as a noble ecclesiastic, generous and magnificent in his ordinary mode of life, though preserving no very ascetic severity of character, and governing with an easy indifference, which, amid his wealthy and mutinous subjects, rather encouraged than subdued rebellious purposes. The Bishop was so fast an ally of the Duke of Burgundy that the latter claimed almost a joint sovereignty in his bishopric, and repaid the good natured ease with which the Prelate admitted claims which he might easily have disputed, by taking his part on all occasions with the determined and furious zeal which was a part of his character. He used to say he considered Liege as his own, the Bishop as his brother (indeed, they might be accounted such, in consequence of the Duke's having married for his first wife, the Bishop's sister), and that he who annoyed Louis of Bourbon, had to do with Charles of Burgundy, a threat which, considering the character and the power of the prince who used it, would have been powerful with any but the rich and discontented city of Liege, where much wealth had, according to the ancient proverb, made wit waver. The Prelate, as we have said, assured the Ladies of Croye of such intercession as his interest at the Court of Burgundy, used to the uttermost, might gain for them, and which, he hoped, might be the more effectual, as Campobasso, from some late discoveries, stood rather lower than formerly in the Duke's personal favour. He promised them also such protection as it was in his power to afford, but the sigh with which he gave the warrant seemed to allow that his power was more precarious than in words he was willing to admit. "At every event, my dearest daughters," said the Bishop, with an air in which, as in his previous salute, a mixture of spiritual unction qualified the hereditary gallantry of the House of Bourbon, "Heaven forbid I should abandon the lamb to the wicked wolf, or noble ladies to the oppression of faitours. I am a man of peace, though my abode now rings with arms, but be assured I will care for your safety as for my own, and should matters become yet more distracted here, which, with Our Lady's grace, we trust will be rather pacified than inflamed, we will provide for your safe conduct to Germany, for not even the will of our brother and protector, Charles of Burgundy, shall prevail with us to dispose of you in any respect contrary to your own inclinations. We cannot comply with your request of sending you to a convent, for, alas! such is the influence of the sons of Belial among the inhabitants of Liege, that we know no retreat to which our authority extends, beyond the bounds of our own castle, and the protection of our soldiery. But here you are most welcome, and your train shall have all honourable entertainment, especially this youth whom you recommend so particularly to our countenance, and on whom in especial we bestow our blessing." Quentin kneeled, as in duty bound, to receive the Episcopal benediction. "For yourselves," proceeded the good Prelate, "you shall reside here with my sister Isabelle, a Canoness of Triers, with whom you may dwell in all honour, even under the roof of so gay a bachelor as the Bishop of Liege." He gallantly conducted the ladies to his sister's apartment, as he concluded the harangue of welcome, and his Master of the Household, an officer who, having taken Deacon's orders, held something between a secular and ecclesiastical character, entertained Quentin with the hospitality which his master enjoined, while the other personages of the retinue of the Ladies of Croye were committed to the inferior departments. In this arrangement Quentin could not help remarking that the presence of the Bohemian, so much objected to in the country convents, seemed, in the household of this wealthy, and perhaps we might say worldly prelate, to attract neither objection nor remark. 一个个愉快的故事和愉快的歌声 伴随着我们愉快地走着崎岖的路程, 我们惟愿这崎岖的路越走越长—— 但见它转个圈又回到原来的地方, 笑我们不识仙乡。 塞缪尔•约翰逊 天刚一亮昆丁•达威特便离开了他小小的住室,唤醒睡眼惺忪的马夫,比以往更仔细地查看马的肚带、勒具、披挂以及马的蹄铁,以便尽可能避免发生那些看来虽小,但经常会妨碍和打乱行程的偶然事故。在他亲自督促之下,马也被喂得饱饱的,好让它们适应当天的长途跋涉,而且在必要时能迅速奔跑。 昆丁回到自己的房间,比平常更仔细地穿上铠甲,并以临危不惧、决心奋斗到底的严肃心情把刀系在腰带上。 这种豪侠的心情使他步履矫健,态度庄严。尽管两位克罗伊埃仕女对他平常那种优雅而质朴的举止谈吐与他那天生的精明机智以及在偏僻环境中长大所具有的憨厚混合而成的独特气质十分欣赏,但像他此刻的这种表现她们还从未见过。他告诉她们今早有必要提前出发。吃完早点之后他们便立即离开寺院。动身之前,两位仕女给圣坛作了一个符合她们身份而不大符合她们外表的慷慨捐赠,以感谢寺院对她们的盛情款待。这并没有引起什么疑心,因为她们都伪称是英国人,而当时也和现在一样,人们普遍认为岛国人非常富有。 在他们上马出发的时候,院长向他们行祝福礼,并为昆丁失去他那不信教的向导向他表示庆贺。“因为,”那可敬的僧人说道,“宁可在路上摔跤,也不宁受强盗或小偷的阻拦。” 昆丁倒不是他这种看法。虽然他知道那波希米亚人十分危险,但他认为一旦他清楚地看出了他的意向,他就能利用他为自己服务,而且能挫败他的奸诈预谋。不过很快他就不必再为此操心,因为这小小的马队还没有走出寺院和村庄一百码就看见毛格拉宾像往常一样骑着他那匹活泼好看的小马来加入他们的行列。这条路正是顺着昨晚昆丁偷听他们神秘聚会的那条小溪走的。海拉丁插进他们的行列不久,他们就从那株曾给达威特提供隐蔽,从而使他偷听到那不忠的向导与长矛手谈话的柳树下面穿过。 这地方引起了昆丁对昨晚的回忆,促使他突然和他先前没怎么理睬的向导谈起话来。 “你这亵渎神明的混蛋,你到哪儿过夜去了?”苏格兰人问道。 “你瞧瞧我的宽袍,就可以凭你的聪明猜出来了。”那波希米亚人指着他那沾满了碎干草的衣服说道。 “好一个干草堆,”昆丁说道,“对于占星家说来可真是一个舒适而方便的床铺。一个蔑视我们神圣的宗教及其僧侣的异教徒不配享用。” “不过,我的小马要比我对它更感到满意,”海拉丁拍拍马脖子说道:“因为它既得到了睡处,又得到了饲料。那些秃头的老傻瓜连它也赶跑了,仿佛聪明人的马也会给一庙子的蠢驴感染上聪明和智慧。幸好这马懂得我的哨声,能像只猎犬一样忠实地跟随我。要不我们就永远见不了面,而你也休想得到一个向导了。” “我不止一次警告过你,”达威特严厉地说,“叫你碰到和高尚的人在一起时不要开玩笑。当然,我看你过去一生很少有机会遇到这种幸运。老实告诉你吧,要是我认为你既是一个亵渎神明的贱痞,又是一个不忠实的向导,那么我这苏格兰的匕首早就碰上你这异教徒的心脏了——尽管干这种事就像戳死一头猪那样龌龊。” “猪和野猪很相像,”波希米亚人说道。他在昆丁锐利目光的注视下毫不畏缩,也毫不改变他说话时装出的满不在乎的挖苦腔调。“许多人,”他补充说,“戳起野猪来既高兴,又得意,还得到好处。” 昆丁对这人随口说出别人的秘密感到吃惊。他无法肯定这人对他的往事和心情是否知道得很多,谈下去是否对自己不利,便打断了这个无法使他占上风的谈话,而退到两位仕女旁边,走在他已习惯的位置上。 我在前面已经说到过,他们之间的关系如今已相当亲密。年长的仕女把他当作一个受宠的平辈人看待(因为她们已完全相信他出身高贵)。她的侄女虽然对待她们的保护人不那么随便,但在她那羞怯的窘态下面,昆丁清楚地意识到,他的陪伴和谈话对她说来决非可有可无。 看到自己的快活和豪爽受到赏识,年轻人更是感到如虎添翼。在他们以前的旅程中,昆丁总是用他那活跃的谈话以及苏格兰的民歌和故事来愉悦那美丽的少女。他用当地方言唱这些民歌,但把苏格兰民间故事翻译成生硬的法语却往往错误百出。这个事实本身也和故事同样有趣。然而在这个使他焦虑的早晨,他却默默地骑在两位克罗伊埃仕女身边,不像往常那样想方设法使她们高兴。她们不能不感到他这种沉默很不寻常。 “我们年轻的旅伴一定是看见狼了,”哈梅琳女士说道,她心目中指的是一个古老的迷信,“所以舌头也不在了。” “如果说我跟踪上了一头狐狸,那才讲到点子上了。”昆丁想道,但他并没有把这话说出声来。 “您身体好吗,昆丁先生?”伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐问道,那关心的语气使她自己也不觉脸红起来,因为她感到这超过了他们之间的距离所能允许的程度。 “他一夜没睡觉,和那些快活的僧侣饮酒作乐。”哈梅琳女士说,“苏格兰人也和德国人一样,畅饮莱茵美酒来欢度良辰,晚上又摇摇晃晃地跑去参加舞会,早晨却带着疼痛的脑袋走进情人们的闺房。” “尊敬的女士们,事情不是这样,”昆丁说道,“这种指责与我无缘。善良的僧侣们几乎整夜都在祷告。至于我自己,我只喝了普普通通的一杯淡酒。” “是饮食糟糕使得他情绪不好。”伊莎贝尔小姐说道,“昆丁先生,请您别丧气。要是我们能再回到我那古老的布拉克蒙特城堡,而我有幸为您敬酒,您将喝到满满一杯葡萄美酒,一杯霍克海姆或约翰尼斯堡的葡萄园酿造不出的葡萄美酒。” “只需要您亲手递给我一杯水,高贵的小姐。”昆丁一开头就把话说到这种程度,这时声音不免有些颤抖。伊莎贝尔小姐继续讲下去,仿佛她并没有注意到昆丁强调“您”这个人称代词时所表现的无限柔情。 “这种酒是我曾祖父,莱茵伯爵戈德弗雷藏在布拉克蒙特的地窖里的。”伊莎贝尔小姐说道。 “就是赢得她曾祖母作妻子的那位骑士,”哈梅琳女士打断了她侄女,“因为他在斯特拉斯堡比武会上证明自己是骑士阶级最优秀的代表——当场丧命的有十人之多。不过那种时代已经过去了。现在可没有人再想为荣誉,为拯救受难的美女而甘冒生命危险了。” 这话是个姿色已非往昔的近代美人用一种听来像是责怪当代男人的鄙俗口气说出来的。对此昆丁义不容辞地作了如下的回答:“哈梅琳女士似乎认为已经消亡了的这种骑士精神,其实并不罕见。如果说在别的地方有所减弱的话,至少它还在苏格兰绅士们的胸中燃烧。” “说得真好!”哈梅琳女士议论道,“他竟然想让我们相信,在他那既寒冷又荒凉的苏格兰仍然燃烧着在法国和德国都已经熄灭了的高贵火焰!这可怜的年轻人就像个瑞士的山地人,充满了对故乡的偏爱——往下他就该给我们大谈其苏格兰的葡萄和橄榄树了。” “不会的,女士,”达威特说,“谈到我们山地人喝的酒,吃的油,我只能说,我们能用刀剑迫使我们富庶的邻居向我们贡奉这些美好的产物。至于苏格兰人纯洁无瑕的忠诚和永不衰败的荣誉,那么我不得不现在就请你们考验,你们究竟可以对它给予多大的信赖。自然,我个人很卑微,不能提供更多的东西作为你们安全的保证。” “你说得真令人费解——你一定知道有什么迫在眉睫的危险。”哈梅琳女士说道。 “在过去的一小时里我通过他的眼神看出是出了什么事!”伊莎贝尔小姐合拢双手说道,“圣母呀,我们该怎么办呢?” “我想,一切都会顺心的。”达威特回答道,“现在我不得不问一个问题——高贵的女士们,你们信得过我吗?” “信得过你?”哈梅琳女士回答道,“当然嘛。不过,你干吗要问呢?你要求我们信赖到什么程度?” “就我来说,”伊莎贝尔小姐说道,“我无条件地绝对信赖你。假如你昆丁骗了我们的话,那么除了上帝以外我就谁的话也不相信了。” “高贵的小姐,”达威特十分满意地回答说,“你给我说了句公道话。我想讲明的是我打算改变我们的路线,直接沿马埃斯河左岸去列日,而不在纳慕尔渡河。这与路易王的命令和向导得到的指示有出人。问题是我在寺院听人说,马埃斯河右岸常有匪徒出没,勃艮第士兵已奉命前去镇压。这两个情况都使我为你们的安全担忧。你们是否允许我改变你们的旅行路线呢?” “我完全同意。”年轻的小姐回答说。 “侄女,”哈梅琳女士说,“我跟你一样,相信这年轻人是一番好意。不过你得考虑,我们是违反路易王十分强调的指示。” “我们干吗要重视他的指示呢?”伊莎贝尔小姐说道,“谢天谢地,我并不是他的臣民。而且,作为一个请求他保护的人来说,他已辜负了他曾经诱使我给过他的信赖。我不想委屈这位年轻的绅士,把那狡猾自私的暴君的命令和他讲的话放在一起来权衡——哪怕是一分钟。” “小姐,上帝保信你,你讲得太好了。”昆丁高兴地说道,假如我辜负了你话中所表达的信任,即使今世被五马分尸、来世永受酷刑也未免太便宜了我。” 说罢他策马奔到前面去找那个波希米亚人。这位贵人即使谈不上性格宽宏大量,至少也显得非常随和。他从不会记住(至少表面如此)别人对他的冒犯或恐吓。达威特一开始和他讲话,他便谈笑自若,仿佛今早他们根本不曾顶过嘴。 “这狗东西现在不咬人,”苏格兰人想道,“因为他打算一当他能够掐住我的脖子时便和我算总账。不过我倒要看看我能否以其人之道还治其人之身,挫败一个奸人——诚实的海拉丁,”他说道,“你和我们一道走了五天了,但你从来还没给我们表演过你算命的本事。我知道你是很喜欢算命的。在我们停歇的每个寺院你都硬要表演一下你这种天赋,还不惜受到在草堆里睡一夜的惩罚。” “你从来没要求过我表演我的本事,”那吉卜赛人说道,“你也和别人一样,满足于对自己所不懂的玄妙事物讥笑了事。” “那你现在就把你的本事证明给我看吧。”昆丁说道,一边脱掉一只手套,把手递给那吉卜赛男子。 海拉丁仔细地察看那苏格兰人手上纵横交错的纹路,也同样严格认真地注意手指根部那些小的鼓胀部分。这些东西,也像人们今天看待大脑一样,当时被认为与人的性格、习惯和命运具有密切关系。 “这只手,”海拉丁说道,“说明你干过苦活,碰到过危险。我看得出你很早就操刀把子,精通武艺。不过你也曾和弥撒书打过交道。” “你可能在别的什么地方了解到我这些往事。”昆丁说道,“你给我讲讲未来吧。” “从维纳斯山引出的这条线,”那波希米亚人说道,“没有突然中断,而是一直伴随着生命线,说明你肯定会通过婚姻交好运,通过美满的爱情上升为富有的贵族。” “凡是找你看相,你都会说这种好话的。”昆丁说,“这是你们方术的一个组成部分。” “我所告诉你的是肯定无疑的,”海拉丁说道,“同样肯定无疑的是,我们很快会碰到巨大的危险。这是我从这条鲜明的血红线横切合线推出来的。它说明会有兵戎之险,杀身之祸。只有靠一个忠实朋友对你的感情你才得以消灾免祸。” “哈,这是指你自己吧?”昆丁有点愤激地说道,因为这位手相家视他如此可欺,竟妄想通过预卜他自己背信弃义的结果以树立自己的名声。 “我的相术无法预卜我自己的事情。”那吉普卜人说道。 “在这方面,我们苏格兰的算命先生要比你们所吹嘘的本事高明,”昆丁说道,“因为他们的相术可以说出他们自己会遭到哪些危险。我是个山地人,尽管我离开了山地,但我也具有一些山地居民遥看未来的天赋。我将把它证实给你看,作为你表演手相术的一种交换。海拉丁,威胁我的危险是在河的右岸——我将沿河的左岸去列日以摆脱这个危险。” 那向导听他讲这话时无动于衷的表情使得明知其底细的昆丁感到实在无法理解。“如果你达到你的目的,”那波希米亚人回答道,“那么危险就会从你身上转移到我身上。” “你瞧,”昆丁说,“你不是刚才还说你无法预言自己的未来么?” “当然不是以我刚才给你算命的方式预知这点的。”海拉丁回答道,“任何稍微了解瓦卢瓦•路易的人都能预言,假如你有意不走他提出的路线,他就会绞死你的向导。” “能平安到达目的地,保证旅行顺利结束,”昆丁说道,“就应该可以弥补不走指定路线的过错。” “不错,”波希米亚人回答说,“要是你能肯定国王向你讲的目的地和他心目中的目的地是一回事的话。” “那么,他心目中能有什么别的目的地呢?你干吗要设想,除了他命令中讲明的意图以外,心中还另有打算呢?”昆丁盘问道。 “很简单,”那吉卜赛人回答说,“凡是了解这位最讲基督之道的国王的人都很清楚,他最想实现的意图往往是他最不肯讲明的意图。假设我们贤明的路易王派遣十二位使臣,我敢用脖子担保,十二个人当中准有十一个人的墨水瓶底写的藏有比国书写的更多的名堂。” “我不管你这些胡猜乱想,”昆丁说,“我的责任是明确无误的——把两位仕女平安地送到列日。我自认为改变规定的路线,沿马埃斯河左岸走,最能有效地履行我的职责。再说这也是去列日的直路。要是渡河,我们就会白白浪费时间,增加旅途的劳累——我们干吗要这样做呢?” “因为打算去科隆的所谓香客一般都不会沿马埃斯河走到列日那么远的地方,两位仕女走的路线会被认为与她们声称的目的不符。” “要是有人就这点质问我们,”昆丁说,“我们就说这是因为那邪恶的格尔德雷斯公爵,或威廉•德拉马克,或剥皮专家和德国长矛手在河右岸进行骚扰。这样我们就不得不改变原定路线,继续走左岸。” “悉听尊便,我的好人。”那波希米亚人回答道,“就我来说,我既乐意领你们沿马埃斯河右岸走,也乐意带你们沿左岸走。不过,你得自己找出理由,向你主人辩解。” 海拉丁对于改变路线的做法轻易地、至少并非勉强地表示默许,不能不使昆丁感到诧异,同时也感到高兴,因为他还需要他给他们领路。但昆丁又担心,打破他原来想出卖他们的计划会驱使他铤而走险。然而,要把这波希米亚人赶出他们的队伍却等于是使和他有勾结的威廉•德拉马克知道他们的新路线,跑来袭击他们。假如让海拉丁留下来,昆丁倒可以设法防止他独自和外人悄悄来往。 由于完全放弃了按原定路线走的计划,这一小队人马顺利地沿着那宽阔的马埃斯河左岸迅速行进,第二天一早他们便到达了他们预定的目的地。他们发现列日主教已称病住进了索恩瓦尔德城堡,其实,也许是为了避免遭到人数众多、蓄谋反叛的列日市民的突然袭击。 当他们走近城堡时,他们看见在邻近一个城市主持完大弥撒的主教正在一长队人马的跟随下返回教廷。 他走在一长列衣着华丽的僧人和文武官员的前面。正像那古老的民间诗人说的那样: “众僧人高擎十字架开道, 众武士手持长矛殿后。” 长长的行列沿着宽阔的马埃斯河绿茵茵的河岸蜿蜒走去,最后来到主教官邸巨大的哥特式门廊前,慢慢旋了进去,也仿佛是被吞没了进去。 当这一小队人马走得更近时,城堡周围的情况表明,这里存在着疑虑和不安全感,与他们刚看到的富贵荣华和威风凛凛的场面很不协调。在官邸的周围和附近都小心地布满了主教的岗哨。教廷总的气氛似乎说明,可敬的主教感到安全无保障,因而有必要在自己周围采取这些军事防御措施。经过昆丁通报之后,二位克罗伊埃仕女被尊敬地引进大厅。主教率领他的小教廷对她们表示最热诚的欢迎。他免了她们的吻手礼,而是向她们行了一个表示欢迎的敬礼。这既有点王子向贵妇人献殷勤的味道,也有点牧师对女教民表现圣洁感情的味道。 波旁•路易这位列日主教的确是一个慷慨善良的王室贵族。固然他一生并不是严格地只限于从事圣职,但他却给终一贯地保持着他所出身的波旁家族那种坦率而高尚的品格。 随着年事日高,主教晚年的习惯要比早年更显得符合其圣职人员的身份。他在邻近的王公贵族中受到普遍的爱戴,公认是一位高贵的教士。他在日常生活中表现得慷慨大方,不讲什么严厉的禁欲主义。在施政方面他实行的是无为而治。这对他那些桀骛不驯和富有的臣民的反叛企图起了鼓励而不是抑制的作用。 主教是勃艮第公爵牢靠的同盟者。公爵大人几乎要求在主教辖区和主教享有共同的统治权。主教满不在乎地好心接受了他本可以轻易驳斥的这一要求,而公爵则以他性格所特有的坚定而偏激的热忱在一切场合袒护主教,作为对他的报答。他经常说,他把列日看作是他自己的领土,而把主教看作是他自己的兄弟(既然公爵曾娶主教的妹妹作原配夫人,倒也不妨这样看待),谁要是冒犯了波旁•路易,勃艮第•查尔斯就得找他算账。考虑到这位君王的性格和权势,这种话对任何人来说都算得上一种有力的威胁。但那富裕而不满的列日市民却属例外。按照一个古老格言的说法,想必是它拥有的大量财富使得人们利欲熏心。 主教向两位克罗伊埃仕女保证说,他将尽量利用他在勃艮第宫廷的影响为她们求情,而根据最近一些情况来看,康波•巴索已不像从前那样得宠,这样他的求情就会更加有效。他也保证给她们提供力所能及的保护。不过他作出这保证时叹了口气,似乎不得不承认他的能力颇成问题,而他不愿用言语表示出来。 “我亲爱的孩子们,不管怎么说吧,”主教带着先前敬礼时那种既给人精神安慰又伴有波旁家族豪侠气概的态度说道,“皇天有眼,我不能让羔羊任恶狼摆布,让高贵的仕女任人欺凌。尽管现在我的住所颇有战火味儿,但我确实是个热爱和平的人。你们放心,我就像关心我自己的安全一样关心你们的安全。万一这里事态变得更难以收拾——愿圣母保佑,我相信事情会平息,而不会加剧——我会设法把你们安全地送往德国。勃艮第•查尔斯虽然是我的兄弟和保护者,但他个人的意志决不能促使我在任何方面违反你们的意愿作出有关你们命运的安排。你们要求把你们送到修道院,这我不能照办,因为,遗憾的是,在列日的居民当中,魔鬼的门徒具有很大的影响力。除了我自己这个警卫森严的城堡以外,我的权力还达不到任何别的场所。我欢迎你们住在这里。你们的随从将得到礼貌的款待。尤其是你们特别介绍给我认识的这位年轻人,我要特意为他祝福。” 昆丁理所当然地跪了下来接受主教的祝福。 “至于你们自己,”善良的主教继续说道,“我请你们和我姐姐伊莎贝尔,一位特里埃尔的修女住在一起。虽然这是在列日主教这个快活的单身汉家里,但有她一道,你们满可以体面地住下去。” 在讲完这一席表示欢迎的话之后,他便领着两位仕女去她姐姐的卧室。他的管家是个具有执事级别,介乎僧俗两种身份之间的教廷官员。他按主教的嘱咐盛情款待昆丁。 在进行这一安排的过程中,昆丁注意到,那在乡村寺院里屡遭拒绝的波希米亚人,如今来到这位富有的、近乎凡俗人的主教家中却似乎没引起注意,也没引起反感。 Chapter 19 The City Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up To any sudden act of mutiny. JULIUS CAESAR Separated from the Lady Isabelle, whose looks had been for so many days his loadstar, Quentin felt a strange vacancy and chillness of the heart, which he had not yet experienced in any of the vicissitudes to which his life had subjected him. No doubt the cessation of the close and unavoidable intercourse and intimacy betwixt them was the necessary consequence of the Countess's having obtained a place of settled residence, for under what pretext could she, had she meditated such an impropriety, have had a gallant young squire such as Quentin in constant attendance upon her? But the shock of the separation was not the more welcome that it seemed unavoidable, and the proud heart of Quentin swelled at finding he was parted with like an ordinary postilion, or an escort whose duty is discharged, while his eyes sympathised so far as to drop a secret tear or two over the ruins of all those airy castles, so many of which he had employed himself in constructing during their too interesting journey. He made a manly, but, at first, a vain effort to throw off this mental dejection, and so, yielding to the feelings he could not suppress, he sat him down in one of the deep recesses formed by a window which lighted the great Gothic hall of Schonwaldt, and there mused upon his hard fortune, which had not assigned him rank or wealth sufficient to prosecute his daring suit. Quentin tried to dispel the sadness which overhung him by dispatching Charlet, one of the valets, with letters to the court of Louis, announcing the arrival of the Ladies of Croye at Liege. At length his natural buoyancy of temper returned, much excited by the title of an old romaunt (a poetical romance) which had been just printed at Strasbourg, and which lay beside him in the window, the title of which set forth -- How the Squire of lowe degree Loved the King's daughter of Hungarie. (An old English poem reprinted in Hazlitt's Remains of Early Popular Poetry of England.) While he was tracing the "letters blake" of the ditty so congenial to his own situation, Quentin was interrupted by a touch on the shoulder, and, looking up, beheld the Bohemian standing by him. Hayraddin, never a welcome sight, was odious from his late treachery, and Quentin sternly asked him why he dared take the freedom to touch a Christian and a gentleman? "Simply," answered the Bohemian, "because I wished to know if the Christian gentleman had lost his feeling as well as his eyes and ears. I have stood speaking to you these five minutes, and you have stared on that scrap of yellow paper, as if it were a spell to turn you into a statue, and had already wrought half its purpose." "Well, what dost thou want? Speak, and begone!" "I want what all men want, though few are satisfied with it," said Hayraddin, "I want my due, ten crowns of gold for guiding the, ladies hither." "With what face darest thou ask any guerdon beyond my sparing thy worthless life?" said Durward, fiercely, "thou knowest that it was thy purpose to have betrayed them on the road." "But I did not betray them," said Hayraddin, "if I had, I would have asked no guerdon from you or from them, but from him whom their keeping on the right hand side of the river might have benefited. The party that I have served is the party who must pay me." "Thy guerdon perish with thee, then, traitor," said Quentin, telling out the money. "Get thee to the Boar of Ardennes, or to the devil! but keep hereafter out of my sight, lest I send thee thither before thy time." "The Boar of Ardennes!" repeated the Bohemian, with a stronger emotion of surprise than his features usually expressed -- "it was then no vague guess -- no general suspicion -- which made you insist on changing the road? -- Can it be -- are there really in other lands arts of prophecy more sure than those of our wandering tribes? The willow tree under which we spoke could tell no tales. But no -- no -- no -- dolt that I was! -- I have it -- I have it! -- the willow by the brook near yonder convent -- I saw you look towards it as you passed it, about half a mile from yon hive of drones -- that could not indeed speak, but it might hide one who could hear! I will hold my councils in an open plain henceforth, not a bunch of thistles shall be near me for a Scot to shroud amongst. -- Ha! ha! the Scot hath beat the Zingaro at his own subtle weapons. But know, Quentin Durward, that you have foiled me to the marring of thine own fortune. -- Yes! the fortune I have told thee of, from the lines on thy hand, had been richly accomplished but for thine own obstinacy." "By Saint. Andrew," said Quentin, "thy impudence makes me laugh in spite of myself. -- How, or in what, should thy successful villainy have been of service to me? I heard, indeed, that you did stipulate to save my life, which condition your worthy allies would speedily have forgotten, had we once come to blows -- but in what thy betrayal of these ladies could have served me, but by exposing me to death or captivity, is a matter beyond human brains to conjecture." "No matter thinking of it, then," said Hayraddin, "for I mean still to surprise you with my gratitude. Had you kept back my hire, I should have held that we were quit, and had left you to your own foolish guidance. As it is, I remain your debtor for yonder matter on the banks of the Cher." "Methinks I have already taken out the payment in cursing and abusing thee," said Quentin. "Hard words, or kind ones," said the Zingaro, "are but wind, which make no weight in the balance. Had you struck me, indeed, instead of threatening --" "I am likely enough to take out payment in that way, if you provoke me longer." "I would not advise it," said the Zingaro, "such payment, made by a rash hand, might exceed the debt, and unhappily leave a balance on your side, which I am not one to forget or forgive. And now farewell, but not for a long space -- I go to bid adieu to the Ladies of Croye." "Thou?" said Quentin, in astonishment -- "thou be admitted to the presence of the ladies, and here, where they are in a manner recluses under the protection of the Bishop's sister, a noble canoness? It is impossible." "Marthon, however, waits to conduct me to their presence," said the Zingaro, with a sneer, "and I must pray your forgiveness if I leave you something abruptly." He turned as if to depart, but instantly coming back, said, with a tone of deep and serious emphasis, "I know your hopes -- they are daring, yet not vain if I aid them. I know your fears, they should teach prudence, not timidity. Every woman may be won. A count is but a nickname, which will befit Quentin as well as the other nickname of duke befits Charles, or that of king befits Louis." Ere Durward could reply, the Bohemian had left the hall. Quentin instantly followed, but, better acquainted than the Scot with the passages of the house, Hayraddin kept the advantage which he had gotten, and the pursuer lost sight of him as he descended a small back staircase. Still Durward followed, though without exact consciousness of his own purpose in doing so. The staircase terminated by a door opening into the alley of a garden, in which he again beheld the Zingaro hastening down a pleached walk. On two sides, the garden was surrounded by the buildings of the castle -- a huge old pile, partly castellated, and partly resembling an ecclesiastical building, on the other two sides, the enclosure was a high embattled wall. Crossing the alleys of the garden to another part of the building, where a postern door opened behind a large massive buttress, overgrown with ivy, Hayraddin looked back, and waved his hand in a signal of an exulting farewell to his follower, who saw that in effect the postern door was opened by Marthon, and that the vile Bohemian was admitted into the precincts, as he naturally concluded, of the apartment of the Countesses of Croye. Quentin bit his lips with indignation, and blamed himself severely that he had not made the ladies sensible of the full infamy of Hayraddin's character, and acquainted with his machinations against their safety. The arrogating manner in which the Bohemian had promised to back his suit added to his anger and his disgust, and he felt as if even the hand of the Countess Isabelle would be profaned, were it possible to attain it by such patronage. "But it is all a deception," he said, "a turn of his base, juggling artifice. He has procured access to those ladies upon some false pretence, and with some mischievous intention. It is well I have learned where they lodge. I will watch Marthon, and solicit an interview with them, were it but to place them on their guard. It is hard that I must use artifice and brook delay, when such as he have admittance openly and without scruple. They shall find, however, that though I am excluded from their presence, Isabelle's safety is the chief subject of my vigilance." While the young lover was thus meditating, an aged gentleman of the Bishop's household approached him from the same door by which he had himself entered the garden, and made him aware, though with the greatest civility of manner, that the garden was private, and reserved only for the use of the Bishop and guests of the very highest distinction. Quentin heard him repeat this information twice ere he put the proper construction upon it, and then starting as from a reverie, he bowed and hurried out of the garden, the official person following him all the way, and overwhelming him with formal apologies for the necessary discharge of his duty. Nay, so pertinacious was he in his attempts to remove the offence which he conceived Durward to have taken, that he offered to bestow his own company upon him, to contribute to his entertainment until Quentin, internally cursing his formal foppery, found no better way of escape, then pretending a desire of visiting the neighbouring city, and setting off thither at such a round pace as speedily subdued all desire in the gentleman usher to accompany him farther than the drawbridge. In a few minutes, Quentin was within the walls of the city of Liege, then one of the richest in Flanders, and of course in the world. Melancholy, even love melancholy, is not so deeply seated, at least in minds of a manly and elastic character, as the soft enthusiasts who suffer under it are fond of believing. It yields to unexpected and striking impressions upon the senses, to change of place, to such scenes as create new trains of association, and to the influence of the busy hum of mankind. In a few minutes, Quentin's attention was as much engrossed by the variety of objects presented in rapid succession by the busy streets of Liege, as if there had been neither a Countess Isabelle nor a Bohemian in the world. The lofty houses -- the stately, though narrow and gloomy streets -- the splendid display of the richest goods and most gorgeous armour in the warehouses and shops around -- the walks crowded by busy citizens of every description, passing and repassing with faces of careful importance or eager bustle -- the huge wains, which transported to and fro the subjects of export and import, the former consisting of broadcloths and serge, arms of all kinds, nails and iron work, while the latter comprehended every article of use or luxury, intended either for the consumption of an opulent city, or received in barter, and destined to be transported elsewhere -- all these objects combined to form an engrossing picture of wealth, bustle, and splendour, to which Quentin had been hitherto a stranger. He admired also the various streams and canals, drawn from and communicating with the Maes, which, traversing the city in various directions, offered to every quarter the commercial facilities of water carriage, and he failed not to hear a mass in the venerable old Church of Saint Lambert, said to have been founded in the eighth century. It was upon leaving this place of worship that Quentin began to observe that he, who had been hitherto gazing on all around him with the eagerness of unrestrained curiosity, was himself the object of attention to several groups of substantial looking burghers, who seemed assembled to look upon him as he left the church, and amongst whom arose a buzz and whisper, which spread from one party to another, while the number of gazers continued to augment rapidly, and the eyes of each who added to it were eagerly directed to Quentin with a stare which expressed much interest and curiosity, mingled with a certain degree of respect. At length he now formed the centre of a considerable crowd, which yet yielded before him while he continued to move forward, while those who followed or kept pace with him studiously avoided pressing on him, or impeding his motions. Yet his situation was too embarrassing to be long endured, without making some attempt to extricate himself and to obtain some explanation. Quentin looked around him, and fixing upon a jolly, stout made, respectable man, whom, by his velvet cloak and gold chain, he concluded to be a burgher of eminence, and perhaps a magistrate, he asked him whether he saw anything particular in his appearance, to attract public attention in a degree so unusual? or whether it was the ordinary custom of the people of Liege thus to throng around strangers who chanced to visit their city? "Surely not, good seignior," answered the burgher, "the Liegeois are neither so idly curious as to practise such a custom, nor is there anything in your dress or appearance saving that which is most welcome to this city, and which our townsmen are both delighted to see and desirous to honour." "This sounds very polite, worthy sir," said Quentin, "but, by the Cross of Saint Andrew, I cannot even guess at your meaning." "Your oath," answered the merchant of Liege, "as well as your accent, convinces me that we are right in our conjecture." "By my patron Saint Quentin!" said Durward, "I am farther off from your meaning than ever." "There again now," rejoined the Liegeois, looking, as he spoke, most provokingly, yet most civilly, politic and intelligent. "It is surely not for us to see that which you, worthy seignior, deem it proper to conceal: But why swear by Saint Quentin, if you would not have me construe your meaning? -- We know the good Count of Saint Paul, who lies there at present, wishes well to our cause." "On my life," said Quentin, "you are under some delusion. -- I know nothing of Saint Paul." "Nay, we question you not," said the burgher, "although, hark ye -- I say, hark in your ear -- my name is Pavillon." "And what is my business with that, Seignior Pavillon?" said Quentin. "Nay, nothing -- only methinks it might satisfy you that I am trustworthy. -- Here is my colleague Rouslaer, too." Rouslaer advanced, a corpulent dignitary, whose fair round belly, like a battering ram, "did shake the press before him," and who, whispering caution to his neighbour, said in a tone of rebuke, "You forget, good colleague, the place is too open -- the seignior will retire to your house or mine, and drink a glass of Rhenish and sugar, and then we shall hear more of our good friend and ally, whom we love with all our honest Flemish hearts." "I have no news for any of you," said Quentin, impatiently, "I will drink no Rhenish, and I only desire of you, as men of account and respectability, to disperse this idle crowd, and allow a stranger to leave your town as quietly as he came into it." "Nay, then, sir," said Rouslaer, "since you stand so much on your incognito, and with us, too, who are men of confidence, let me ask you roundly, wherefore wear you the badge of your company if you would remain unknown in Liege." "What badge, and what order?" said Quentin, "you look like reverend men and grave citizens, yet, on my soul you are either mad yourselves, or desire to drive me so." "Sapperment!" said the other burgher, "this youth would make Saint Lambert swear! Why, who wear bonnets with the Saint Andrew's cross and fleur de lys, save the Scottish Archers of King Louis's Guards?" "And supposing I am an Archer of the Scottish Guard, why should you make a wonder of my wearing the badge of my company?" said Quentin impatiently. "He has avowed it, he has avowed it!" said Rouslaer and Pavillon, turning to the assembled burghers in attitudes of congratulation, with waving arms, extended palms, and large round faces radiating with glee. "He hath avowed himself an Archer of Louis's Guard -- of Louis, the guardian of the liberties of Liege!" A general shout and cry now arose from the multitude, in which were mingled the various sounds of "Long live Louis of France! Long live the Scottish Guard! Long live the valiant Archer! Our liberties, our privileges, or death! No imposts! Long live the valiant Boar of Ardennes! Down with Charles of Burgundy! and confusion to Bourbon and his bishopric!" Half stunned by the noise, which began anew in one quarter so soon as it ceased in another, rising and falling like the billows of the sea, and augmented by thousands of voices which roared in chorus from distant streets and market places, Quentin had yet time to form a conjecture concerning the meaning of the tumult, and a plan for regulating his own conduct: He had forgotten that, after his skirmish with Orleans and Dunois, one of his comrades had, at Lord Crawford's command, replaced the morion, cloven by the sword of the latter, with one of the steel lined bonnets which formed a part of the proper and well known equipment of the Scottish Guards. That an individual of this body, which was always kept very close to Louis's person, should have appeared in the streets of a city whose civil discontents had been aggravated by the agents of that King, was naturally enough interpreted by the burghers of Liege into a determination on the part of Louis openly to assist their cause, and the apparition of an individual archer was magnified into a pledge of immediate and active support from Louis -- nay, into an assurance that his auxiliary forces were actually entering the town at one or other, though no one could distinctly tell which, of the city gates. To remove a conviction so generally adopted, Quentin easily saw was impossible -- nay, that any attempt to undeceive men so obstinately prepossessed in their belief, would be attended with personal risk, which, in this case, he saw little use of incurring. He therefore hastily resolved to temporize, and to get free the best way he could, and this resolution he formed while they were in the act of conducting him to the Stadthouse (town house), where the notables of the town were fast assembling, in order to hear the tidings which he was presumed to have brought, and to regale him with a splendid banquet. In spite of all his opposition, which was set down to modesty, he was on every side surrounded by the donors of popularity, the unsavoury tide of which now floated around him. His two burgomaster friends, who were Schoppen, or Syndics of the city, had made fast both his arms. Before him, Nikkel Blok, the chief of the butchers' incorporation, hastily summoned from his office in the shambles, brandished his death doing axe, yet smeared with blood and brains, with a courage and grace which brantwein (spirits) alone could inspire. Behind him came the tall, lean, rawboned, very drunk, and very patriotic figure of Claus Hammerlein, president of the mystery of the workers in iron, and followed by at least a thousand unwashed artificers of his class. Weavers, nailers, ropemakers, artisans of every degree and calling, thronged forward to join the procession from every gloomy and narrow street. Escape seemed a desperate and impossible adventure. In this dilemma, Quentin appealed to Rouslaer, who held one arm, and to Pavillon, who had secured the other, and who were conducting him forward at the head of the ovation, of which he had so unexpectedly become the principal object. He hastily acquainted them with his having thoughtlessly adopted the bonnet of the Scottish Guard, on an accident having occurred to the headpiece in which he had proposed to travel, he regretted that, owing to this circumstance, and the sharp wit with which the Liegeois drew the natural inference of his quality, and the purpose of his visit, these things had been publicly discovered, and he intimated that, if just now conducted to the Stadthouse, he might unhappily feel himself under the necessity of communicating to the assembled notables certain matters which he was directed by the King to reserve for the private ears of his excellent gossips, Meinheers Rouslaer and Pavillon of Liege. This last hint operated like magic on the two citizens, who were the most distinguished leaders of the insurgent burghers, and were, like all demagogues of their kind, desirous to keep everything within their own management, so far as possible. They therefore hastily agreed that Quentin should leave the town for the time, and return by night to Liege, and converse with them privately in the house of Rouslaer, near the gate opposite to Schonwaldt. Quentin hesitated not to tell them that he was at present residing in the Bishop's palace, under pretence of bearing despatches from the French Court, although his real errand was, as they had well conjectured, designed to the citizens of Liege, and this tortuous mode of conducting a communication as well as the character and rank of the person to whom it was supposed to be intrusted, was so consonant to the character of Louis, as neither to excite doubt nor surprise. Almost immediately after this eclaircissernent (explanation) was completed, the progress of the multitude brought them opposite to the door of Pavillon's house, in one of the principal streets, but which communicated from behind with the Maes by means of a garden, as well as an extensive manufactory of tan pits, and other conveniences for dressing hides, for the patriotic burgher was a felt dresser or currier. It was natural that Pavillon should desire to do the honours of his dwelling to the supposed envoy of Louis, and a halt before his house excited no surprise on the part of the multitude, who, on the contrary, greeted Meinheer Pavillon with a loud vivat (long live), as he ushered in his distinguished guest. Quentin speedily laid aside his remarkable bonnet for the cap of a felt maker, and flung a cloak over his other apparel. Pavillon then furnished him with a passport to pass the gates of the city, and to return by night or day as should suit his convenience, and lastly, committed him to the charge of his daughter, a fair and smiling Flemish lass, with instructions how he was to be disposed of, while he himself hastened back to his colleague to amuse their friends at the Stadthouse with the best excuses which they could invent for the disappearance of King Louis's envoy. We cannot, as the footman says in the play, recollect the exact nature of the lie which the bell wethers told the flock, but no task is so easy as that of imposing upon a multitude whose eager prejudices have more than half done the business ere the impostor has spoken a word. The worthy burgess was no sooner gone than his plump daughter, Trudchen, with many a blush, and many a wreathed smile, which suited very prettily with lips like cherries, laughing blue eyes, and a skin transparently pure -- escorted the handsome stranger through the pleached alleys of the Sieur Pavillon's garden, down to the water side, and there saw him fairly embarked in a boat, which two stout Flemings, in their trunk hose, fur caps, and many buttoned jerkins, had got in readiness with as much haste as their low country nature would permit. As the pretty Trudchen spoke nothing but German, Quentin -- no disparagement to his loyal affection to the Countess of Croye -- could only express his thanks by a kiss on those same cherry lips, which was very gallantly bestowed, and accepted with all modest gratitude, for gallants with a form and face like our Scottish Archer were not of everyday occurrence among the bourgeoisie of Liege (the French middle class. The term has come to mean the middle class of any country, especially those engaged in trade). (The adventure of Quentin at Liege may be thought overstrained, yet it is extraordinary what slight circumstances will influence the public mind in a moment of doubt and uncertainty. Most readers must remember that, when the Dutch were on the point of rising against the French yoke, their zeal for liberation received a strong impulse from the landing of a person in a British volunteer uniform, whose presence, though that of a private individual, was received as a guarantee of succours from England. S.) While the boat was rowed up the sluggish waters of the Maes, and passed the defences of the town, Quentin had time enough to reflect what account he ought to give of his adventure in Liege, when he returned to the Bishop's palace of Schonwaldt, and disdaining alike to betray any person who had reposed confidence in him, although by misapprehension, or to conceal from the hospitable Prelate the mutinous state of his capital, he resolved to confine himself to so general an account as might put the Bishop upon his guard, while it should point out no individual to his vengeance. He was landed from the boat, within half a mile of the castle, and rewarded his rowers with a guilder, to their great satisfaction. Yet, short as was the space which divided him from Schonwaldt, the castle bell had tolled for dinner, and Quentin found, moreover, that he had approached the castle on a different side from that of the principal entrance, and that to go round would throw his arrival considerably later. He therefore made straight towards the side that was nearest to him, as he discerned that it presented an embattled wall, probably that of the little garden already noticed, with a postern opening upon the moat, and a skiff moored by the postern, which might serve, he thought, upon summons, to pass him over. As he approached, in hopes to make his entrance this way, the postern opened, a man came out, and, jumping into the boat, made his way to the farther side of the moat, and then, with a long pole, pushed the skiff back towards the place where he had embarked. As he came near, Quentin discerned that this person was the Bohemian, who, avoiding him, as was not difficult, held a different path towards Liege, and was presently out of his ken. Here was a new subject for meditation. Had this vagabond heathen been all this while with the Ladies of Croye, and for what purpose should they so far have graced him with their presence? Tormented with this thought, Durward became doubly determined to seek an explanation with them, for the purpose at once of laying bare the treachery of Hayraddin, and announcing to them the perilous state in which their protector, the Bishop, was placed, by the mutinous state of his town of Liege. As Quentin thus resolved, he entered the castle by the principal gate, and found that part of the family who assembled for dinner in the great hall, including the Bishop's attendant clergy, officers of the household, and strangers below the rank of the very first nobility, were already placed at their meal. A seat at the upper end of the board had, however, been reserved beside the Bishop's domestic chaplain, who welcomed the stranger with the old college jest of Sero venientibus ossa (the bones for those who come late), while he took care so to load his plate with dainties, as to take away all appearance of that tendency to reality, which, in Quentin's country, is said to render a joke either no joke, or at best an unpalatable one ("A sooth boord (true joke) is no boord," says the Scot. S.). In vindicating himself from the suspicion of ill breeding, Quentin briefly described the tumult which had been occasioned in the city by his being discovered to belong to the Scottish Archer Guard of Louis, and endeavoured to give a ludicrous turn to the narrative by saying that he had been with difficulty extricated by a fat burgher of Liege and his pretty daughter. But the company were too much interested in the story to taste the jest. All operations of the table were suspended while Quentin told his tale, and when he had ceased, there was a solemn pause, which was only broken by the Majordomo's saying in a low and melancholy tone, "I would to God that we saw those hundred lances of Burgundy!" "Why should you think so deeply on it?" said Quentin. "You have many soldiers here, whose trade is arms, and your antagonists are only the rabble of a disorderly city, who will fly before the first flutter of a banner with men at arms arrayed beneath it." "You do not know the men of Liege," said the Chaplain, "of whom it may be said, that, not even excepting those of Ghent, they are at once the fiercest and the most untameable in Europe. Twice has the Duke of Burgundy chastised them for their repeated revolts against their Bishop, and twice hath he suppressed them with much severity, abridged their privileges, taken away their banners, and established rights and claims to himself which were not before competent over a free city of the Empire. -- Nay, the last time he defeated them with much slaughter near Saint Tron, where Liege lost nearly six thousand men, what with the sword, what with those drowned in the flight, and thereafter, to disable them from farther mutiny, Duke Charles refused to enter at any of the gates which they had surrendered, but, beating to the ground forty cubits' breadth of their city wall, marched into Liege as a conqueror with visor closed, and lance in rest, at the head of his chivalry, by the breach which he had made. Nay, well were the Liegeois then assured, that, but for the intercession of his father, Duke Philip the Good, this Charles, then called Count of Charalois, would have given their town up to spoil. And yet, with all these fresh recollections, with their breaches unrepaired, and their arsenals scarcely supplied, the sight of an archer's bonnet is sufficient again to stir them to uproar. May God amend all! but I fear there will be bloody work between so fierce a population and so fiery a Sovereign, and I would my excellent and kind master had a see of lesser dignity and more safety, for his mitre is lined with thorns instead of ermine. This much I say to you, Seignior Stranger, to make you aware that, if your affairs detain you not at Schonwaldt, it is a place from which each man of sense should depart as speedily as possible. I apprehend that your ladies are of the same opinion, for one of the grooms who attended them on the route has been sent back by them to the Court of France with letters, which doubtless are intended to announce their going in search of a safer asylum." 善良的朋友,亲爱的朋友! 我不想煽动你们突然起来叛乱! 《儒略•凯撒》 昆丁离开了许多天当中像北斗星那样以其音容笑貌吸引着他的伊莎贝尔小姐,心中感到莫名的空虚与寒冷,这是在他一生经历过的许多变故当中从未体验过的一种感觉。在伯爵小姐获得了固定的栖身之所以后,他们之间原先那种不可避免的亲密接触自然告一段落。即使她考虑过要让昆丁这样一个年轻英俊的扈从来经常侍候她,她又能为这种难以启齿的事寻找什么借口呢? 然而,分离的痛苦并不因为它不可避免而好受一些。昆丁看到自己就像一个普通的马车夫,或完成了任务的护送人员被打发走时,他那高傲的自尊心不免受到伤害。与此同时,他的眼睛却为他在旅途中苦心建造的许多个空中楼阁的破灭而悄悄落下了一两滴怜惜的眼泪。他作出了一个勇敢的,但一开始就显得徒劳的尝试,来摆脱这种内心的沮丧情绪。在无法抑制的感情支配下,他在索恩瓦尔德的哥特式大厅里,躲在一个窗子的隐蔽处独自思忖,抱怨自己不幸的命运未能给他足够的地位和财富使他有勇气向小姐提出求婚。 昆丁打算写一封信派一个叫查尔勒特的随从送往路易的宫廷,好让国王知道两位克罗伊埃仕女已到达列日,借此驱散笼罩在心头的忧愁。这时他忽然看见他旁边的窗子上摆着一首刚在斯特拉斯堡印好的古老爱情诗,标题很吸引人,使他那天生的活泼性格不觉又回复过来。那标题写的是: 地位卑下的扈从 热恋匈牙利的公主 昆丁正仔细地读着这首小诗,感到它所写的内容很能与自己的处境产生共鸣。这时忽然有人用手触触他的肩头,打断了他的阅读。他抬起头一看,原来是那个波希米亚人站在他的身边。 海拉丁的样子从不讨人喜欢,想起他最近的奸诈,昆丁更觉得这人可恶,便厉声责问他,何以如此放肆,竟敢随意用手触摸一个信奉基督的绅士? “简单地说吧,’哪波希米亚人回答道,“我想看看这位信奉基督的绅士是否跟失去了眼睛和耳朵一样失去了感觉,我站在这儿和你讲了五分钟的话,而你却呆呆地望着那张黄纸片,仿佛它是一张能把你变成雕像的桃符。事实上它已经产生了一半的魔力。” “你说你想干什么?说完就给我滚蛋!” “我要世人都要的东西,尽管很少人会对此感到满足。”海拉丁说,“我要我的酬金,要我给两位仕女带路的那十个金币。” “我饶了你的狗命,你还有脸再要报酬?”昆丁狠狠说道,“你心里明白,你原先是打算在路上出卖她们的。” “但我并没有出卖她们,”海拉丁说,“要是我出卖了她们,我就不会向你,或向她们要报酬,而是向那坚持要她们走河右岸,能使其得到好处的人要报酬了。付给我报酬的应该是我效过劳的人。” “你这个奸人,愿你拿着你的酬金得不到好死!”昆丁一边给钱一边说道,“见你的‘阿登内斯野猪’,见你的魔鬼去吧!从今以后你可别让我再见到你,否则我会让你提前进地狱的。” “‘阿登内斯野猪!’”那波希米亚人以比他往常的面部表情所表现出的更为激动的心情说道,“这么说,并不是模糊的猜测,或一般的怀疑使得你坚持要改变路线的?难道真是——难道你们苏格兰人的占卜术真比我们这流浪部落的占卜术更可靠?我们说话时所在的那棵柳树又不能告密。不——不——嘿,我真是个傻瓜!我猜到了——我猜到了!离寺院不远的溪边的那颗柳树!距那雄蜂窝大约半英里。你走过时我见你望了它一眼——固然它不能告密,但它能掩藏别人偷听!以后我得在一个开阔的平地上开秘密会,决不让附近哪怕有个蓟树丛,好让一个苏格兰人藏在那里偷听。哈!哈!苏格兰人竟用吉卜赛人自己的法宝击败了吉卜赛人。不过,昆丁•达威特,你要知道,你挫败了我,结果也断送了你自己的好运——一点不错!要不是你自己顽固,我按你的手相给你算的命本会完全兑现。” “圣安德鲁在上,”昆丁说道,“你的厚颜无耻可真叫我忍不住想哈哈大笑。假如你的罪恶得逞,怎么能对我有好处?又能有什么样的好处?我的确听到你提出要以免我一死作为条件,但只要我们一打起来,你那些尊敬的盟友很快就会把它忘得精光。天晓得,你出卖两位仕女的结果,除开使我被杀被俘以外,实在让我无法想象还能给我什么好处。” “那就别想这个了吧!”海拉丁说道,“反正我还打算以你意想不到的方式向你报思。要是你不给我酬金,那我就会认为我们各不亏欠,让你去磨撞了。既然你给了我酬金,那么因为你在谢尔河岸上做的那件好事,我仍然欠你的债。” “我想既然咒骂了你,侮辱了你,你的债也就算抵消了。”昆丁说道。 “好话和坏话都不过是空气,在天平上不占分量。”那吉卜赛人说道,“要是你真打了我,而不光是吓唬我——” “要是你继续烦我、惹我,我很可能以这种方式来抵消你的欠债。” “那我奉劝你别这样,”那吉卜赛人说道,“你那鲁莽的手这么一打,也许就超过了我欠的债,而不幸使你反倒负了债。再说,我这人是不会忘记或宽恕这种事的。得了,再见吧,不过为时不长——我是去向两位克罗伊埃仕女告别。” “你?”昆丁吃惊地说道,“会让你去见那两位贵妇人?你要知道,在主教姐姐这位高贵的修女保护下,她们已颇像隐士了。这根本是不可能的事。” “你瞧,玛尔松正等着领我去见她们哩。”那吉卜赛人带着嘲弄的表情说道,“请你原谅,我走得有点唐突。” 他转过身来像是要走的样子,但马上又转回来用一种深沉而严肃的口吻强调说:“我知道你向往的是什么——这种向往固然很大胆,但只要我帮忙,还不至于落空。我也知道你害怕的是什么——但害怕只应使你谨慎,而不应使你胆怯。任何女人都是可以得到手的。既然公爵这个绰号能使查尔斯受益,国王这个绰号能使路易受益,那么伯爵这个绰号又何尝不能使昆丁受益呢?” 达威特还来不及作出反应,那波希米亚人已经走出了大厅。昆丁马上追了上去。但海拉丁要比这苏格兰人更熟悉庭院的走道,所以继续保持他所获得的领先优势。当他走下后面一道楼梯时,追赶的人便看不见他的去向了。但达威特继续追了下去,也不大清楚自己这样做的目的。楼梯尽头是一道通往园中幽径的小门。那吉卜赛人沿着一条编织植物形成的小径匆忙走了下去。 花园两旁都是城堡大楼。这是一个巨大的古老建筑群,一部分修有城谍,一部分又像是教堂,另外两边则高耸着碉堡式的墙壁。海拉丁穿过花园的幽径来到大楼的另一边,在一堵长满常春藤的大斜墙后面掩蔽着的旁门口转过头来,对追逐者得意洋洋地挥手告别。昆丁看到这旁门实际上是玛尔松打开的。他自然认为那奸狡的波希米亚人被引进了两位克罗伊埃仕女的卧室。昆丁气得咬咬嘴唇,严厉地责怪自己没有让两位仕女了解海拉丁的可耻品质,并让她们知道他原想危害她们安全的阴谋。那波希米亚人答应成全他的爱情所表现出的狂妄态度更使他感到愤怒和厌恶。他认为要是真通过这样一个“思人”与伊莎贝尔小姐成婚,那简直是对这位小姐的污辱。“这肯定是个骗局,”他说道,“是他玩的鬼把戏。他一定是制造了某种借口,怀着不良的动机设法去见两位仕女的。幸好我知道了她们的住处。我将监视玛尔松,谋求和她们见一次面,哪怕能使她们提高警惕也好。要做到这点,我就不得不使用策略,而且要等待好些时候。然而,像他这种人却可以毫无顾忌地公开进去,想起来也真叫人难受。不过,她们将看到,尽管我不能接近她们,伊莎贝尔的安全仍然是我心上主要惦念的事。” 当这年轻的恋人正这么思量着的时候,主教的一位管家从他刚走进花园的那道门向他走了过来,十分有礼地告诉他,这是个专用花园,只供主教及其贵宾使用。 昆丁听他把这话重复了两次,才弄清了他的意思。他像从梦幻中清醒过来似的向他鞠了一躬,赶忙从花园里走了出去。那管家一路上跟着他,为他不得已执行命令一再表示正式道歉。他想达威特一定很生气,便执意要消除他的怨忿,自告奋勇与他做伴,帮他解闷。最后昆丁暗自咒骂起他那无聊的纠缠,但想不出更好的摆脱办法,只好借口要参观邻近的城市,加快步子往前走,致使那贵族管家走到吊桥便无心再作奉陪。过了几分钟昆丁便来到了列日城——当时弗兰德(自然也是整个世界)最富庶的一个城市。 忧伤,甚至失恋的忧伤,至少在富于弹性、具有大丈夫气概的男人心中,并不像遭受失恋之苦的多情种所想象的那样难以消解。感官所接受的强烈而新鲜的印象、环境的改变、激发新的意识之流的各种景象,以及人群的熙熙攘攘,都能使忧伤却步。过了几分钟,列日城繁华的街道上目不暇接的种种事物已完全吸引了昆丁的注意。他仿佛觉得,这世界根本就不曾有过伊莎贝尔小姐,也不曾有过那波希米亚人。 那高大的屋宇、雄伟狭窄而阴暗的街道,那在仓库和商店里陈列着的琳琅满目的商品、华丽的铠甲;那人行道上拥挤着的各行各业的忙碌的市民,带着小心、庄重或匆匆赶路的神情来来往往,川流不息;那运送出口商品和进口商品的大车;前者载的是宽幅布。斜纹布、各式兵器、钉子和铁器,后者装的是供这富裕的城市消费,或运往别处做生意的各种日用品和奢侈品——所有这些构成了昆丁从没见过的一种富裕繁华而又吸引人的场面。他同样赞赏从马埃斯河引来,只与其相通的数不清的溪流和运河;它们纵横交错地穿过城市,给各个地区提供水运之便。他还利用机会在那据说在公元八世纪就已建成的圣•兰伯特古教堂听了一次弥撒。 当昆丁离开教堂时他才开始注意到,他这个一直在以不加掩饰的好奇心急切地瞻望周围情景的人,本身也成了一群群富商模样的市民瞩目的对象。他们似乎是特意为了在他离开教堂时争睹他一眼而聚拢来的。他们当中响起一阵嗡嗡的低语声,并很快传播开去。与此同时,观望者的人数在迅速地不断增加。新来的人都把眼睛盯在昆丁身上,那凝望的眼神表现出很大的兴趣与好奇,还掺杂着某些敬意。 最后他竟成了一个巨大的人群的中心。但当他继续往前走时,人们都赶忙给他让路。那些跟在他后面或紧追着他走的人也都小心避免挤着他或妨碍他的行动。但这种处境实在太难受,必须设法摆脱,设法获得某种解释。 昆丁向四周扫了一眼,把目光停在一个快活健壮、样子很体面的男人身上。从他穿的天鹅绒披风和戴的金链看来,他断定这人准是个显要的市民,也许还是个知事。他问他:“你看我身上是不是有什么特别之处,引起了公众的注目?要么,是不是因为把偶然前来参观的陌生人围个水泄不通,正是列日市民通常的习俗?” “大人,当然不是,”那市民回答说,“除了市民们十分欢迎和高兴见到、乐意尊敬的东西以外,列日人不会无聊好奇到染上这种习俗的地步,而您的服装和外表,也没有什么特别之处。” “尊敬的先生,这话听来十分有礼,”昆丁说道,“不过凭圣安德鲁的十字说,我实在猜不出您是什么意思。” “先生,您的咒语和您的口音使我深信我们没有猜错。”那商人说道。 “凭我的保护神圣昆丁赌咒!”达威特说道,“您的话弄得我更莫名其妙。” “您瞧,又叫我们猜中了。”那列日人再次说道,表情之聪明和策略既惹人哭笑不得,又十分彬彬有礼,“当然我们不应当打听尊敬的大人认为适宜隐藏的东西。不过,您既然不愿我们捉摸您的来意,干吗要凭圣昆丁赌咒呢?我们知道,现在驻在此地的善良的圣保罗伯爵赞助我们的事业。” “我以生命赌咒,”昆丁说道,“你们是搞错人了。我根本不知道什么圣保罗。” “不错,我们相信您说的,”那市民说道,“不过,您听着——我说,您耳朵好好听着——我的大名是巴维翁” “巴维翁大人,这与我有何相干?”昆丁说道。 “没有什么。不过我想这能使您相信我是可靠的——何况还有我这位同事鲁斯拉尔。” 鲁斯拉尔走上前来。他是一位老态龙钟的贵人。他那圆圆的大肚皮像个攻城锤似的“在人群中劈开一条道路”。他对着他旁边那位贵人的耳朵讲了点什么提醒他的话,然后以一种责备的口吻说道:“我的好同事,你忘了这地方是个公开场所——最好让这位大人到你家或我家歇歇,喝杯加糖的莱茵酒,然后请他更多地给我们讲讲我们诚实的弗兰德人全心爱戴的好盟友的情况吧。” “我没有什么消息可告诉你们二位的,”昆丁不耐烦地说道,“我也不想喝什么莱茵酒。我只想求你们两位体面而尊敬的大人驱散这群无聊的围观者,好让一个外乡人既能悄悄地进入你们的城市,也能悄悄地离开你们的城市。” “那好吧,”鲁斯拉尔说道,“先生既然对我们这种可靠的人也要隐瞒身份,那么恕我直言,既然您不想惊动列日市民,您干吗要佩戴你们卫队的徽章?” “什么徽章勋章的?”昆丁说道,“您看起来像个体面尊贵的市民,但凭良心说,是你自己神经失常,还是你想把我搞得神经失常?” “老天爷!”另外那位市民说道,“这年轻人简直想气得圣兰伯特也咒骂人!要知道,除了路易王卫队的苏格兰射手,谁的帽子上还别个圣安德鲁十字和百合花徽章呢?” “就算我是个苏格兰卫队的射手吧,我佩戴我们卫队的徽章又有什么值得大惊小怪的呢?”昆丁不耐烦地说道。 “他承认了!他承认了!”鲁斯拉尔和巴维翁同声说道。他们转过身来,面对着聚集在那儿的人群,又挥胳膊又伸手地向他们表示庆贺,两张大大的圆脸放射着喜悦的光芒。“他已经承认他是路易王卫队的射手——列日自由的保护者路易王的射手!” 这时爆发出一阵席卷人群的欢呼,其中夹杂着各种不同的口号:“法王路易万岁!”“苏格兰卫队万岁!”“勇敢的射手万岁!”“还我自由,给我权利,宁死不屈!”“不要捐税!”“勇敢的‘阿登内斯野猪’万岁!”“打倒勃艮第•查尔斯!”“波旁主教及其教廷见鬼去吧!” 这喧闹声海涛般地此伏彼起,再加上远处的街道和市场传来的千万人的齐声吼叫,使得这声音更有沸腾、增长之势。昆丁被这搞得莫名其妙,过了好一会儿才猜想出这骚动的含义,并计划该如何调整自己的行动。 原来他忘记了他与奥尔良和杜诺瓦交锋之后,他的一位伙伴按克劳福德大公的吩咐,取下他那被刀砍裂的头盔,给他戴上了一顶钢衬帽,而这种帽子正是苏格兰卫队有名的专用装备的一个组成部分。路易王身边的近卫军竟有一名成员出现在大街上,而此城已通过路易王奸细的煽动而人心鼎沸,这自然会被市民们理解为路易王已决心公开支持他们的事业。而个别射手的出现也被夸大为路易王保证要立即给他们积极支援的一种姿态,甚至被夸大为法国先头部队已从某个城门(但谁也说不清是哪个城门)进驻市内的明证。 昆丁不难看出,要消除人们普遍相信的这样一个看法简直是不可能的事。非但如此,企图使固执己见的人们认识错误还会遭致个人危险。而眼下,他觉得惹这个祸毫无好处。因此他赶快决定先应付他们,再找出一个最好的脱身之计。这个决定是在他们簇拥着他去市政厅的路上作出的。列日城的显贵们已迅速聚集在那儿,准备聆听他理应带来的好消息,并设盛宴招待,表示对他的欢迎。 他周围挤满了捧场的人,使他深深感到一种不愉快的滋味。尽管他一再反对,他们却把它说成是他的谦逊。那两位担任商会会长(相当于市长)的朋友紧握着他的一双胳膊。他前面站着的是刚从屠宰场办公室召来的屠宰公会主席尼克尔•布洛克,正以白兰地才能激发出的勇气和优美姿势挥舞着他那还沾有猪血和猪脑的屠刀。后面站着的是那高大瘦削的铁匠公会主席克劳斯•汉默莱恩——一位烂醉如泥的爱国志士。他后面至少跟着一千个面孔乌黑的铁匠兄弟。纺织工、制钉工、制绳工以及各行各业的匠人从所有阴暗狭窄的街道涌了出来,参加欢迎的行列。要想逃跑简直是毫无希望。 在这进退维谷的处境中,昆丁只好求助于各拖着他一只胳膊的鲁斯拉尔和巴维翁。他们正拉着他走在想不到竟以他为主要欢呼对象的人群前面。他急忙告诉他们,他是因为他出发时带的那顶头盔出了毛病,才无意戴上了一顶苏格兰卫队的军帽的。他很遗憾,由于这一情况,再加上机灵的列日市民推断出他的身份和此行的目的,公众已发现了这两方面的真实情况。他还暗示说,要是现在把他拉到市政厅去,他很可能被迫向聚集在那儿的权贵们说出某些国王交待他只能向他最好的朋友——列日的鲁斯拉尔和巴维翁阁下私下面谈的要事。 后面这个暗示在这两位市民身上真是发挥了魔术般的作用,因为他们都是反叛的市民们最杰出的领袖,所以也像其他蛊惑人心的政客一样,总希望尽可能把一切都纳入他们的轨道。因此,他们马上同意昆丁暂时出城,晚上再回来。他们约他在靠近索思瓦尔德城堡对面那道城门的鲁斯拉尔家秘密会见。昆丁毫不犹豫地告诉他们,他目前住在主教的官邸,借口是法国宫廷派他来送公文,但他真正的使命,正如他们猜想的那样,是和列日市民接头。这种拐弯抹角的接头方式,再加上接头对象的地位和身份看来和路易王的性格表现十分一致,因此既没引起怀疑也没引起惊奇。 当他作出了这个解释之后,蜂拥的人群已拥着他们来到了巴维翁家的对面。他家的屋子坐落在一条大街上,后面就是马埃斯河,中间隔着一个花园和一大片鞣革工场及其他制革设施,因为我们这位具有爱国主义精神的市民本是个制革师或鞣皮匠。 既然来到他家,巴维翁自然要对这位假想的路易工特使尽东道主之谊,所以昆丁在他家门前停留并没有使群众感到惊奇。相反,当他们看到巴维翁阁下把贵客请进家时,他们都向他发出响亮的“万岁”声。昆丁马上把他那惹人注意的军帽搁在一边,而带上鞣皮匠的帽子,身上再披上一件斗篷。巴维翁给他找来了一张护照,使他既可以出城,也可以在他认为方便时,在夜晚或白天回城找他们。最后他把昆丁托付给他女儿,一个面带微笑的金发的弗兰德姑娘,交待她如何护送昆丁出城。他自己则急忙跑回去找他的同事,然后赶到市政厅,就路易王特使没有同来的原因向朋友们进行他所能想出的最好的解释。我们无法像话剧中的走卒说的那样,回忆起带头羊给自己的羊群进行解说的确切内容。要欺骗愚昧的群众是再容易不过的事,因为还没等欺骗者说话,他们自己强烈的偏见已解决了一半的问题。 那可敬的市民刚一走,他那丰满的女儿特鲁德珍便着手进行托付给她的任务。她脸上带着与她的樱桃小嘴十分相称的红晕和微笑;她有着含笑的蓝眼睛,以及白皙柔嫩的皮肤。她护送这位英俊的陌生人穿过巴维翁家花园中的幽径来到河边,亲自安排他平安地登上了一只小船。船夫是两个健壮的弗兰德人,戴着皮帽,穿着紧身裤和多钮扣的紧身衣。他们已经在他们低地人的性格所能容许的范围内尽快把船准备停当。 既然漂亮的特鲁德珍只会讲德语,昆丁——并非贬低他对克罗伊埃伯爵小姐的忠诚——只好吻吻她那樱桃小嘴来表示感谢。给予亲吻的人做得很潇洒,接受亲吻的人也充满了谦卑的感激,因为具有我们这位苏格兰射手的身材和相貌的英俊男子在列日市民中并不多见。 小船行驶在滞缓的马埃斯河上,最后穿过了城门。直到这时昆丁才有可能从容地思考,他回到索恩瓦尔德主教宫廷时,该如何汇报他在列日的经历。他既不愿出卖一个哪怕出于误解而信赖过他的人,也不想向殷勤好客的主教隐瞒他自己的首都所存在的反叛动向。所以他决定只作个一般的汇报,好使主教提高警惕,但又不谈及任何个人,以免他进行报复。 他在距城堡半英里的地方下了船,给了船夫一个盾的赏钱,使他们感到心满意足。虽然他离开索思瓦尔德时间不长,但城堡已敲钟准备开饭。昆丁发现他是朝着与正门相反的一面走向城堡的。要绕到正面会大大推迟他到达的时间。因此他直接朝靠近他的这一边走去,因为他发现这边有一道带有雉堞的墙壁,也许正是他见过的那堵小花园围墙。墙的旁侧有道门通向护城河,旁门边停着一只小船。他想,要是他打个招呼,也许这船能把他引渡过去。正当他走近护城河,打算通过这种方式进入城堡时,那旁门突然打开,有个男人走出来,跳进小船朝护城河这边划过来,然后用杆子一推把那小船推回原来的地方。当他走近时,昆丁才发现这正是那个波希米亚人。他很容易地避开了他,从另一条小道向列日走去,很快就看不见了。 现在他又碰到了一个新的思考题。如果说这个流浪的异教徒一直是呆在克罗伊埃仕女那儿,那么她们留他这么久是什么缘故呢?达威特为这个问题感到苦恼,决心找机会向她们作番解释;一方面是为了立即揭穿海拉丁的奸诈,同时也想告诉她们,由于列日城叛乱气氛很浓,给她们提供保护的主教已自身难保。 决定这样做以后,昆丁便从正门走进城堡。他看到在大厅里吃饭的一部分家臣,包括主教的侍从牧师、管家和略低于贵族等级的客人都已就座。但在主教家庭牧师旁边留有一个上座席位。那家庭牧师用一句古老的开玩笑的话Sero venientibus ossa来欢迎新来的客人。与此同时他着急地给他的碟子堆满了佳肴美食,以致把玩笑完全当了真,而在昆丁的祖国人们认为这会使得玩笑不成其为玩笑,或至多不过是个不高明的玩笑。 为了不使别人怀疑自己真是缺乏教养,昆丁简短地介绍了城里人发现他是路易王苏格兰卫队的射手之后爆发出的一场骚动。他为了竭力使自己的叙述带上一点滑稽可笑的味道,还补充说,多亏一个肥胖的列日市民及其漂亮的女儿的帮助,他才好不容易脱了身。 但在座的人对这故事都极为关心,无法领略他的玩笑。昆丁讲话时,人们都屏息静听,连饭也忘了吃。他讲完时出现了一阵沉寂。而打破这沉寂的是总管用他那低哑而伤感的声调说道:“上帝保佑,让那一百名勃艮第长矛手快些赶来吧!” “您干吗把这事看得这么严重?”昆丁说道,“你们这儿卫士不少。他们的任务就是打仗。你们的对手只不过是一个骚动的城市里聚集的乌合之众;看见雄纠纠的武士们打着飘扬的旗幡走来,准会吓得一哄而散。” “你不了解列日的市民,”那牧师说道,“甚至把根特的市民算在一起,他们也数得上是欧洲最凶狠、最不服管的一种人。由于他们一再反叛主教,公爵已给过他们两次惩罚。他曾两次对他们进行严酷的镇压;剥夺了他们的特权,没收了他们的旗幡,并为自己确定了以往不适用于帝国自由城市的权利和要求。上次又在圣特隆附近打败了他们,杀了他们许多人。被刀砍死的,逃跑时被淹死的列日市民将近六千之多。以后,为了使他们无法继续叛乱,查尔斯公爵又拒绝从他们交出来的任何一个城门进入市内,而是在削平一段四十腕尺长的城墙之后,脸罩面甲,手持长矛,在骑兵护卫下,摆出耀武扬威的征服者的架式通过他打开的城墙缺口进入市内。当时列日人都深信,要不是他父亲——善良的菲利普公爵说情,这位查尔斯公爵(当时称为夏荷洛伊丝伯爵)本会把他们的列日城抢个精光。然而,尽管记忆犹新,城墙缺口尚未修复,武库也尚未充实,一顶苏格兰射手的军帽已足够使他们重新骚动起来。上帝保佑啊!我担心这些凶狠的市民和那位暴躁的君主还会兵戎相见。但愿我善良而慈祥的主人能有个不像这么显要,却更为安全的教区。要知道,他戴的冠冕是以荆棘而不是以貂皮作衬垫的啊!我想奉劝这位作客的先生,要是您的差事不需要您在索恩瓦尔德久留的话,您应当意识到,这城堡可是每个头脑清醒的人都应当尽快离开的不祥之地。我担心您那两位仕女也是同样的看法,因为她们已经打发陪她们同来的一个马夫带信回法国宫廷,肯定是想告诉路易王,她们打算另觅一个较为安全的避难所。” Chapter 20 The Billet Go to -- thou art made, if thou desirest to be so. -- If not, let me see thee still the fellow of servants, and not fit to touch Fortune's fingers. -- TWELFTH NIGHT When the tables were drawn, the Chaplain, who seemed to have taken a sort of attachment to Quentin Durward's society, or who perhaps desired to extract from him farther information concerning the meeting of the morning, led him into a withdrawing apartment, the windows of which, on one side, projected into the garden, and as he saw his companion's eye gaze rather eagerly upon the spot, he proposed to Quentin to go down and take a view of the curious foreign shrubs with which the Bishop had enriched its parterres. Quentin excused himself as unwilling to intrude, and therewithal communicated the check which he had received in the morning. The Chaplain smiled, and said that there was indeed some ancient prohibition respecting the Bishop's private garden. "But this," he added, with a smile, "was when our reverend father was a princely young prelate of not more than thirty years of age, and when many fair ladies frequented the Castle for ghostly consolation. Need there was," he said with a downcast look, and a smile, half simple and half intelligent, "that these ladies, pained in conscience, who were ever lodged in the apartments now occupied by the noble Canoness, should have some space for taking the air, secure from the intrusion of the profane. But of late years," he added, "this prohibition, although not formally removed, has fallen entirely out of observance, and remains but as the superstition which lingers in the brain of a superannuated gentleman usher. If you please," he added, "we will presently descend, and try whether the place be haunted or no." Nothing could have been more agreeable to Quentin than the prospect of a free entrance into the garden, through means of which, according to a chance which had hitherto attended his passion, he hoped to communicate with, or at least obtain sight of, the object of his affections, from some such turret or balcony window, or similar "coign of vantage," as at the hostelry of the Fleur de Lys, near Plessis, or the Dauphin's Tower, within that Castle itself. Isabelle seemed still destined, wherever she made her abode, to be the Lady of the Turret. (Coign of vantage: an advantageous position for observation or action. Cf. 'no jutty, frieze, buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle.' Macbeth, I, vi, 6.) When Durward descended with his new friend into the garden, the latter seemed a terrestrial philosopher, entirely busied with the things of the earth, while the eyes of Quentin, if they did not seek the heavens, like those of an astrologer, ranged, at least, all around the windows, balconies, and especially the turrets, which projected on every part from the inner front of the old building, in order to discover that which was to be his cynosure. While thus employed, the young lover heard with total neglect, if indeed he heard at all, the enumeration of plants, herbs, and shrubs which his reverend conductor pointed out to him, of which this was choice, because of prime use in medicine, and that more choice for yielding a rare flavour to pottage, and a third, choicest of all, because possessed of no merit but its extreme scarcity. Still it was necessary to preserve some semblance at least of attention, which the youth found so difficult, that he fairly wished at the devil the officious naturalist and the whole vegetable kingdom. He was relieved at length by the striking of a clock, which summoned the Chaplain to some official duty. The reverend man made many unnecessary apologies for leaving his new friend, and concluded by giving him the agreeable assurance that he might walk in the garden till supper, without much risk of being disturbed. "It is," said he, "the place where I always study my own homilies, as being most sequestered from the resort of strangers. I am now about to deliver one of them in the chapel, if you please to favour me with your audience. I have been thought to have some gift. -- But the glory be where it is due!" Quentin excused himself for this evening, under pretence of a severe headache, which the open air was likely to prove the best cure for, and at length the well meaning, priest left him to himself. It may be well imagined, that in the curious inspection which he now made, at more leisure, of every window or aperture which looked into the garden, those did not escape which were in the immediate neighbourhood of the small door by which he had seen Marthon admit Hayraddin, as he pretended, to the apartment of the Countesses. But nothing stirred or showed itself, which could either confute or confirm the tale which the Bohemian had told, until it was becoming dusky, and Quentin began to be sensible, he scarce knew why, that his sauntering so long in the garden might be subject of displeasure or suspicion. Just as he had resolved to depart, and was taking what he had destined for his last turn under the windows which had such attraction for him, he heard above him a slight and cautious sound, like that of a cough, as intended to call his attention, and to avoid the observation of others. As he looked up in joyful surprise, a casement opened, a female hand was seen to drop a billet, which fell into a rosemary bush that grew at the foot of the wall. The precaution used in dropping this letter prescribed equal prudence and secrecy in reading it. The garden, surrounded, as we have said, upon two sides, by the buildings of the palace, was commanded, of course, by the windows of many apartments, but there was a sort of grotto of rock work, which the Chaplain had shown Durward with much complacency. To snatch up the billet, thrust it into his bosom, and hie to this place of secrecy, was the work of a single minute. He there opened the precious scroll, and blessed, at the same time, the memory of the Monks of Aberbrothick, whose nurture had rendered him capable of deciphering its contents. The first line contained the injunction, "Read this in secret," -- and the contents were as follows: "What your eyes have too boldly said, mine have perhaps too rashly understood. But unjust persecution makes its victims bold, and it were better to throw myself on the gratitude of one, than to remain the object of pursuit to many. Fortune has her throne upon a rock but brave men fear not to climb. If you dare do aught for one that hazards much, you need but pass into this garden at prime tomorrow, wearing in your cap a blue and white feather, but expect no farther communication. Your stars have, they say, destined you for greatness, and disposed you to gratitude. -- Farewell -- be faithful, prompt, and resolute, and doubt not thy fortune." Within this letter was enclosed a ring with a table diamond, on which were cut, in form of a lozenge, the ancient arms of the House of Croye. The first feeling of Quentin upon this occasion was unmingled ecstasy -- a pride and joy which seemed to raise him to the stars -- a determination to do or die, influenced by which he treated with scorn the thousand obstacles that placed themselves betwixt him and the goal of his wishes. In this mood of rapture, and unable to endure any interruption which might withdraw his mind, were it but for a moment, from so ecstatic a subject of contemplation, Durward, retiring to the interior of the castle, hastily assigned his former pretext of a headache for not joining the household of the Bishop at the supper meal, and, lighting his lamp, betook himself to the chamber which had been assigned him, to read, and to read again and again, the precious billet, and to kiss a thousand times the no less precious ring. But such high wrought feelings could not remain long in the same ecstatic tone. A thought pressed upon him, though he repelled it as ungrateful -- as even blasphemous -- that the frankness of the confession implied less delicacy on the part of her who made it, than was consistent with the high romantic feeling of adoration with which he had hitherto worshipped the Lady Isabelle. No sooner did this ungracious thought intrude itself, than he hastened to stifle it, as he would have stifled a hissing and hateful adder that had intruded itself into his couch. Was it for him -- him the Favoured -- on whose account she had stooped from her sphere, to ascribe blame to her for the very act of condescension, Without which he dared not have raised his eyes towards her? Did not her very dignity of birth and of condition reverse, in her case, the usual rules which impose silence on the lady until her lover shall have first spoken? To these arguments, which he boldly formed into syllogisms and avowed to himself, his vanity might possibly suggest one which he cared not to embody even mentally with the same frankness -- that the merit of the party beloved might perhaps warrant, on the part of the lady, some little departure from common rules, and, after all, as in the case of Malvolio (Olivia's steward in Twelfth Night), there was example for it in chronicle. The Squire of low degree, of whom he had just been reading, was, like himself, a gentleman void of land and living, and yet the generous Princess of Hungary bestowed on him, without scruple, more substantial marks of her affection than the billet he had just received: "'Welcome,' she said, 'my swete Squyre, My heart's roots, my soul's desire, I will give thee kisses three, And als five hundrid poundis in fee.'" And again the same faithful history made the King of Hongrie himself avouch -- "I have yknown many a page, Come to be Prince by marriage." So that, upon the whole, Quentin generously and magnanimously reconciled himself to a line of conduct on the Countess's part by which he was likely to be so highly benefited. But this scruple was succeeded by another doubt, harder of digestion. The traitor Hayraddin had been in the apartments of the ladies, for aught Quentin knew, for the space of four hours, and, considering the hints which he had thrown out of possessing an influence of the most interesting kind over the fortunes of Quentin Durward, what should assure him that this train was not of his laying? And if so, was it not probable that such a dissembling villain had set it on foot to conceal some new plan of treachery -- perhaps to seduce Isabelle out of the protection of the worthy Bishop? This was a matter to be closely looked into, for Quentin felt a repugnance to this individual proportioned to the unabashed impudence with which he had avowed his profligacy, and could not bring himself to hope that anything in which he was concerned could ever come to an honourable or happy conclusion. These various thoughts rolled over Quentin's mind like misty clouds, to dash and obscure the fair landscape which his fancy had at first drawn, and his couch was that night a sleepless one. At the hour of prime -- ay, and an hour before it, was he in the castle garden, where no one now opposed either his entrance or his abode, with a feather of the assigned colour, as distinguished as he could by any means procure in such haste. No notice was taken of his appearance for nearly two hours, at length he heard a few notes of the lute, and presently the lattice opened right above the little postern door at which Marthon had admitted Hayraddin, and Isabelle, in maidenly beauty, appeared at the opening, greeted him half kindly, half shyly, coloured extremely at the deep and significant reverence with which he returned her courtesy -- shut the casement, and disappeared. Daylight and champaign could discover no more! The authenticity of the billet was ascertained -- it only remained what was to follow, and of this the fair writer had given him no hint. But no immediate danger impended -- the Countess was in a strong castle, under the protection of a Prince, at once respectable for his secular and venerable for his ecclesiastical authority. There was neither immediate room nor occasion for the exulting Squire interfering in the adventure, and it was sufficient if he kept himself prompt to execute her commands whensoever they should be communicated to him. But Fate purposed to call him into action sooner than he was aware of. It was the fourth night after his arrival at Schonwaldt, when Quentin had taken measures for sending back on the morrow, to the Court of Louis, the remaining groom who had accompanied him on his journey, with letters from himself to his uncle and Lord Crawford, renouncing the service of France, for which the treachery to which he had been exposed by the private instructions of Hayraddin gave him an excuse, both in honour and prudence, and he betook himself to his bed with all the rosy coloured ideas around him which flutter about the couch of a youth when he loves dearly, and thinks his love is as sincerely repaid. But Quentin's dreams, which at first partook of the nature of those happy influences under which he had fallen asleep, began by degrees to assume a more terrific character. He walked with the Countess Isabelle beside a smooth and inland lake, such as formed the principal characteristic of his native glen, and he spoke to her of his love, without any consciousness of the impediments which lay between them. She blushed and smiled when she listened -- even as he might have expected from the tenor of the letter, which, sleeping or waking, lay nearest to his heart. But the scene suddenly changed from summer to winter -- from calm to tempest, the winds and the waves rose with such a contest of surge and whirlwind as if the demons of the water and of the air had been contending for their roaring empires in rival strife. The rising waters seemed to cut off their advance and their retreat -- the increasing tempest, which dashed them against each other, seemed to render their remaining on the spot impossible, and the tumultuous sensations produced by the apparent danger awoke the dreamer. He awoke, but although the circumstances of the vision had disappeared, and given place to reality, the noise, which had probably suggested them, still continued to sound in his ears. Quentin's first impulse was to sit erect in bed and listen with astonishment to sounds, which, if they had announced a tempest, might have shamed the wildest that ever burst down from the Grampians, and again in a minute he became sensible that the tumult was not excited by the fury of the elements, but by the wrath of men. He sprang from bed, and looked from the window of his apartment, but it opened into the garden, and on that side all was quiet, though the opening of the casement made him still more sensible from the shouts which reached his ears that the outside of the castle was beleaguered and assaulted, and that by a numerous and determined enemy. Hastily collecting his dress and arms, and putting them on with such celerity as darkness and surprise permitted, his attention was solicited by a knocking at the door of his chamber. As Quentin did not immediately answer, the door, which was a slight one, was forced open from without, and the intruder, announced by his peculiar dialect to be the Bohemian, Hayraddin Maugrabin, entered the apartment. A phial which he held in his hand, touched by a match, produced a dark flash of ruddy fire, by means of which he kindled a lamp, which he took from his bosom. "The horoscope of your destinies," he said energetically to Durward, without any farther greeting, "now turns upon the determination of a minute." "Caitiff!" said Quentin, in reply, "there is treachery around us, and where there is treachery thou must have a share in it." "You are mad," answered Maugrabin. "I never betrayed any one but to gain by it -- and wherefore should I betray you, by whose safety I can take more advantage than by your destruction? Hearken for a moment, if it be possible for you, to one note of reason, ere it is sounded into your ear by the death shut of ruin. The Liegeois are up -- William de la Marck with his band leads them. -- Were there means of resistance, their numbers and his fury would overcome them, but there are next to none. If you would save the Countess and your own hopes, follow me, in the name of her who sent you a table diamond, with three leopards engraved on it." "Lead the way," said Quentin, hastily. "In that name I dare every danger." "As I shall manage it," said the Bohemian, "there is no danger, if you can but withhold your hand from strife which does not concern you, for, after all, what is it to you whether the Bishop, as they call him, slaughters his flock, or the flock slaughters the shepherd? -- Ha! ha! ha! Follow me, but with caution and patience, subdue your own courage, and confide in my prudence and my debt of thankfulness is paid, and you have a Countess for your spouse. -- Follow me." "I follow," said Quentin, drawing his sword, "but the moment in which I detect the least sign of treachery, thy head and body are three yards separate!" Without more conversation the Bohemian, seeing that Quentin was now fully armed and ready, ran down the stairs before him, and winded hastily through various side passages, until they gained the little garden. Scarce a light was to be seen on that side, scarce any bustle was to be heard, but no sooner had Quentin entered the open space, than the noise on the opposite side of the castle became ten times more stunningly audible, and he could hear the various war cries of "Liege! Liege! Sanglier! Sanglier! (the Wild Boar: a name given to William de la Marck)" shouted by the assailants, while the feebler cry of "Our Lady for the Prince Bishop!" was raised in a faint and faltering tone by those of the prelate's soldiers who had hastened, though surprised and at disadvantage, to the defence of the walls. But the interest of the fight, notwithstanding the martial character of Quentin Durward, was indifferent to him, in comparison with the fate of Isabelle of Croye, which, he had reason to fear, would be a dreadful one, unless rescued from the power of the dissolute and cruel freebooter who was now, as it seemed, bursting the gates of the castle. He reconciled himself to the aid of the Bohemian, as men in a desperate illness refuse not the remedy prescribed by quacks and mountebanks, and followed across the garden, with the intention of being guided by him until he should discover symptoms of treachery, and then piercing him through the heart, or striking his head from his body. Hayraddin seemed himself conscious that his safety turned on a feather weight, for he forbore, from the moment they entered the open air, all his wonted gibes and quirks, and seemed to have made a vow to act at once with modesty, courage, and activity. At the opposite door, which led to the ladies' apartments, upon a low signal made by Hayraddin, appeared two women, muffled in the black silk veils which were then, as now, worn by the women in the Netherlands. Quentin offered his arm to one of them, who clung to it with trembling eagerness, and indeed hung upon him so much, that had her weight been greater, she must have much impeded their retreat. The Bohemian, who conducted the other female, took the road straight for the postern which opened upon the moat, through the garden wall, close to which the little skiff Was drawn up, by means of which Quentin had formerly observed Hayraddin himself retreating from the castle. As they crossed, the shouts of storm and successful violence seemed to announce that the castle was in the act of being taken, and so dismal was the sound in Quentin's ears, that he could not help swearing aloud, "But that my blood is irretrievably devoted to the fulfilment of my present duty, I would back to the wall, take faithful part with the hospitable Bishop, and silence some of those knaves whose throats are full of mutiny and robbery!" The lady, whose arm was still folded in his, pressed it lightly as he spoke, as if to make him understand that there was a nearer claim on his chivalry than the defence of Schonwaldt, while the Bohemian exclaimed, loud enough to be heard, "Now, that I call right Christian frenzy, which would turn back to fight when love and fortune both demand that we should fly. "On, on -- with all the haste you can make. -- Horses wait us in yonder thicket of willows." "There are but two horses," said Quentin, who saw them in the moonlight. "All that I could procure without exciting suspicion -- and enough," replied the Bohemian. "You two must ride for Tongres ere the way becomes unsafe -- Marthon will abide with the women of our horde, with whom she is an old acquaintance. Know she is a daughter of our tribe, and only dwelt among you to serve our purpose as occasion should fall." "Marthon!" exclaimed the Countess, looking at the veiled female with a shriek of surprise, "is not this my kinswoman?" "Only Marthon," said Hayraddin. "Excuse me that little piece of deceit. I dared not carry off both the Ladies of Croye from the Wild Boar of Ardennes." "Wretch!" said Quentin, emphatically -- "but it is not -- shall not be too late -- I will back to rescue the Lady Hameline." "Hameline," whispered the lady, in a disturbed voice, "hangs on thy arm, to thank thee for her rescue." "Ha! what! -- How is this?" said Quentin, extricating himself from her hold, and with less gentleness than he would at any other time have used towards a female of any rank. "Is the Lady Isabelle then left behind! -- Farewell -- farewell." As he turned to hasten back to the castle, Hayraddin laid hold of him. -- "Nay, hear you -- hear you -- you run upon your death! What the foul fiend did you wear the colours of the old one for? -- I will never trust blue and white silk again. But she has almost as large a dower -- has jewels and gold -- hath pretensions, too, upon the earldom." While he spoke thus, panting on in broken sentences, the Bohemian struggled to detain Quentin, who at length laid his hand on his dagger, in order to extricate himself. "Nay, if that be the case," said Hayraddin, unloosing his hold, "go -- and the devil, if there be one, go along with you!" And, soon as freed from his hold, the Scot shot back to the castle with the speed of the wind. Hayraddin then turned round to the Countess Hameline, who had sunk down on the ground, between shame, fear, and disappointment. "Here has been a mistake," he said, "up, lady, and come with me -- I will provide you, ere morning comes, a gallanter husband than this smock faced boy, and if one will not serve, you shall have twenty." The Lady Hameline was as violent in her passions, as she was vain and weak in her understanding. Like many other persons, she went tolerably well through the ordinary duties of life, but in a crisis like the present, she was entirely incapable of doing aught, save pouring forth unavailing lamentations, and accusing Hayraddin of being a thief, a base slave, an impostor, a murderer. "Call me Zingaro," returned he, composedly, "and you have said all at once." "Monster! you said the stars had decreed our union, and caused me to write -- Oh, wretch that I was!" exclaimed the unhappy lady. "And so they had decreed your union," said Hayraddin, "had both parties been willing -- but think you the blessed constellations can make any one wed against his will? -- I was led into error with your accursed Christian gallantries, and fopperies of ribbons and favours -- and the youth prefers veal to beef, I think -- that 's all. -- Up and follow me, and take notice, I endure neither weeping nor swooning." "I will not stir a foot," said the Countess, obstinately. "By the bright welkin, but you shall, though!" exclaimed Hayraddin. "I swear to you, by all that ever fools believed in, that you have to do with one, who would care little to strip you naked, bind you to a tree, and leave you to your fortune!" "Nay," said Marthon, interfering, "by your favour she shall not be misused. I wear a knife as well as you, and can use it. -- She is a kind woman, though a fool. -- And you, madam, rise up and follow us. -- Here has been a mistake, but it is something to have saved life and limb. There are many in yonder castle would give all the wealth in the world to stand where we do." As Marthon spoke, a clamour, in which the shouts of victory were mingled with screams of terror and despair, was wafted to them from the Castle of Schonwaldt. "Hear that, lady!" said Hayraddin, "and be thankful you are not adding your treble pipe to yonder concert. Believe me, I will care for you honestly, and the stars shall keep their words, and find you a good husband." Like some wild animal, exhausted and subdued by terror amid fatigue, the Countess Hameline yielded herself up to the conduct of her guides, and suffered herself to be passively led whichever way they would. Nay, such was the confusion of her spirits and the exhaustion of her strength, that the worthy couple, who half bore, half led her, carried on their discourse in her presence without her even understanding it." "I ever thought your plan was folly," said Marthon. "Could you have brought the young people together, indeed, we might have had a hold on their gratitude, and a footing in their castle. But what chance of so handsome a youth wedding this old fool?" "Rizpah," said Hayraddin, "you have borne the name of a Christian, and dwelt in the tents of those besotted people, till thou hast become a partaker in their follies. How could I dream that he would have made scruples about a few years' youth or age, when the advantages of the match were so evident? And thou knowest, there would have been no moving yonder coy wench to be so frank as this coming Countess here, who hangs on our arms as dead a weight as a wool pack. I loved the lad too, and would have done him a kindness: to wed him to this old woman was to make his fortune, to unite him to Isabelle were to have brought on him De la Marck, Burgundy, France -- every one that challenges an interest in disposing of her hand. And this silly woman's wealth being chiefly in gold and jewels, we should have had our share. But the bow string has burst, and the arrow failed. Away with her -- we will bring her to William with the Beard. By the time he has gorged himself with wassail, as is his wont, he will not know an old Countess from a young one. Away, Rizpah -- bear a gallant heart. The bright Aldebaran still influences the destinies of the Children of the Desert!" 好,只要你自己愿意,你就可以出头了, 否则我要你一生一世与众仆为伍, 不值得抬举。 《第十二夜》 吃完饭之后,那位对昆丁•达威特似乎产生了某种好感的牧师,也许是想了解有关今早事态的更多情况,领着他走进了一间休息室。这房间有一排窗子是朝花园开的。他看到昆丁的眼睛凝望着花园,便建议他下去走一走,欣赏一下主教为了装饰花坛特意请人栽培的奇花异草。 昆丁推辞说他不便贸然撞人,并把今早他碰钉子的事讲给牧师听。那牧师微笑着说道:“很久以来的确一直不许外人擅自进入主教的私人花园。不过,”他又微笑着补充说,“那是我们尊敬的主教还不满三十岁,还是个王子身份的年轻教士时的事。当时有许多美丽的仕女经常到城堡里来寻求宗教的安慰。自然有必要,”他低垂着眼睛,含着有意无意的微笑继续说道,“让这些良心痛苦的仕女们(她们当时就寄居在那高贵的大教堂女牧师现在所住的房间里)有个不许俗人撞人的散步场所。不过近年来,”他又补充说道,“这道禁令虽未正式废除,但已完全失效,只是在那一个守旧的管家先生头脑里仍残存着迷信。假如您高兴的话,”最后他又补充说道,“我们马上可以下去,看看这花园是否有人去过。” 最使昆丁感到喜悦的,莫过于看到有希望进入花园,能获得他那炽热的爱情为他勾绘出的某种巧遇,像在普莱西的百合花旅店或普莱西城堡的“太子塔楼”里那样,使他可以从某个塔楼或阳台的窗口,或类似的“制高点”,和他所爱的人儿隔着花园相会,或至少看上她一眼。不管伊莎贝尔住在什么地方,她似乎仍然注定是他过去的那个“塔楼小姐”。 昆丁和他新交的朋友走进花园。这位牧师倒像是个人间的哲学家,关心的完全是人间的事。而昆丁虽然不是两眼朝天,但他至少像占星术家那样,眼睛仔细地巡视着所有的窗子、阳台,特别是从那古老的楼房内侧向各个方向突出的塔楼,以便发现他所钟情的少女。 在他这样做的时候,那可敬的牧师却在一边指给他看那些奇花异草。年轻的恋人即使听着,也是完全心不在焉。牧师如数家珍地介绍说,这种草之所以名贵是由于医药上具有重要用途,那一种更为名贵则是由于放在粥里滋味特别鲜美,而另一种最为名贵则是因为它虽无实用价值,却极为稀罕。为了礼貌起见,昆丁还是有必要至少装出是在注意听的样子。但年轻人感到这样做很困难,所以恨不得这位过分热心的博物学家以及这整个植物王国都立即见鬼去。最后他听到大钟敲响,召唤牧师去履行他的职务,他才舒了口气。 尊敬的神父为不得不离开他新交的朋友而不必要地一再道歉,最后还给了他一个可喜的保证:他可以在花园里散步到吃晚饭,不会受到更多的打扰。 “这花园是我通常研究布道内容的地方,”他说道,“因为它很僻静,外人不得进入。好了,现在我得去小教堂讲道。假如您愿意赏光听我讲的话,我很欢迎。人们都认为我有些讲道的天才——但光荣归于吾主!” 昆丁借口说他头疼得厉害,呼吸一下新鲜空气可能是最好的药方,所以今晚他不能去听他讲道,深感遗憾。最后那好心的牧师才让他独自留了下来。 可以想象,在昆丁从容而好奇似地向花园的每个窗口或孔洞侦探时,有个窗口自然没有逃过他的侦察。这个窗口紧靠着他曾见玛尔松放海拉丁进去——按海拉丁自己的说法是为了去看望两位仕女——的那道小门。但直到天黑他也没看出任何动静来肯定或否定那波希米亚人告诉过他的话。他自己也不知道为什么,他已意识到他在花园里徘徊过久会引起别人的猜疑和不满。 正当他决心离开,并准备好在他所瞩目的窗子底下走上最后一圈的时候,他忽然听见一个小心发出的轻微声音——像是有意引起他注意而不让别人听见的咳嗽声。他惊喜地抬头一看,只见有扇窗子打开,一个女人用只手丢了一封信下来。信就落在墙脚长着的迷送香灌木丛中。丢信者小心翼翼,也就要求读信者同样谨慎保密。我们曾指出过,花园两边都是宫殿式的建筑物,自然有许多房间的窗子俯瞰着花园。好在那牧师曾十分得意地领着他看过一个石洞般的园景。捡起那封信揣在怀里,躲进那个隐秘的地方,只需要一眨眼的功夫。一躲藏起来,他便马上把这宝贵的纸团打开来看。他禁不住要感谢阿伯布罗迪克寺院的僧侣,因为他们的教育和培养使他看得懂这封信的内容。 他看见一开头就写着这样一句告诫的话:“请暗中读信。”里面写的内容如下:“你通过眼睛大胆流露出来的东西也许我通过眼睛给了它过分轻率的解释。然而,不公正的虐待已使得受害者勇敢起来。与其仍然遭受许多人的追逐,不如把自己寄托给一个人的感激。命运之神在岩石上筑起了她的宝座,惟有勇者不畏攀缘。要是你敢于替一个危难重重的人有所作为,请在帽上插一根蓝白色羽毛,明天一早走进这个花园,但别指望我再给你更多的信息。据说,你命中注定必有伟大前程,而且秉性善良,不忘恩情。再见。祝你忠实、果敢,坚信自己未来的幸福。”信里包着一颗镶有大钻石的戒指,钻石上刻着一个棱形的克罗伊埃家族的古老纹章。 昆丁这时的第一感觉是仿佛登上了一个纯净的极乐世界,他感到一种自豪和喜悦的心情把他举向那遥远的星空,也感到一种敢于行动、敢于献身的决心;在它的影响下,他把实现理想的目标所能遇到的障碍都看得不在话下。 处于这种狂喜心情中的达威特自然不能容忍别人打断他这最令人神往的思绪——哪怕一分钟。所以他躲进城堡的深处,赶忙以先前使用过的头疼为借口,没与主教的家臣一道吃晚饭,而是点燃一盏灯,去到指定给他的房间,把那宝贵的情书一读再读,同时也把那同样宝贵的戒指一吻再吻。 然而,这种欣喜若狂的感情不可能持续很久。有种想法忽然闯进他的脑海——不过他马上把它看作是一种不识好歹、带有亵渎意味的思想而驱赶出去。说穿了就是他感觉这种坦率的表露真情似乎说明,作出这种表露的人不如在他沉浸于对她的罗曼蒂克的爱情时所想象的那么高雅。当这丑恶的思想刚一露头,他就像扼死一条钻进被褥的可憎的毒蛇那样,急忙把它扼死在摇篮里。要知道,她是在为了他的缘故而从她所处的高度向他屈尊就驾。否则,他连抬头望她一眼的勇气都没有。作为一个受宠者,他有权利责怪她这种屈尊的表现吗?按照常规,除非恋人首先开口,贵族小姐是必须保持缄默的。以她那高贵的出身和地位而论,在这种情况下她岂不是颠倒了常规吗?他大胆地把这些想法整理成合乎逻辑的论据,自己也不得不承认其说服力。要是他具有虚荣心,除此之外,也许他还可以提出另一个论据——一个他不愿以同样的坦率暗自承认的论据——那就是获得爱情的男方的种种优点使得一位小姐有权稍稍不按常规办事。而且,以马伏里奥的情况为例,历史上也有先例可循。他刚读到的一位地位卑微的扈从也是像他一样既无土地也无钱财的绅士。但那慷慨的匈牙利公主却毫不犹豫地给了他更具体的爱情表示,甚至超过了他刚才接到的这封情书—— “欢迎你,”她说道,“我亲爱的扈从, 你在我心中生了根,你是我灵魂的归宿。 我要你吻我三吻, 以五百磅作为你吻的报酬。”根据这一真实的历史故事,匈牙利国王自己也承认: “我曾见过许多书童, 因婚姻而成了驸马和贵族。”所以,总的说来,昆丁还是促使自己以一种高尚的态度来接受伯爵小姐的这一表现,而这很可能会给他带来莫大的好处。 但继这个顾虑而来的是另一个更加令人头疼的问题。据昆丁所知,那奸诈的海拉丁曾在两位仕女房里呆了四小时之久。考虑到他曾暗示他对昆丁•达威特的命运具有极其重要的影响能力,如何能保证这事不是他安的圈套呢?如果真是这样,难道这不会是那虚情假意的坏家伙为了掩盖一个新的奸险阴谋搞的鬼——也许是为了把伊莎贝尔从可敬的主教保护下拐骗出去?这是个必须密切注意的问题。那人曾不知羞耻地大胆承认他的放荡。昆丁早就为此而对他感到十分厌恶,自然不能指望有他插手的事会有什么光荣、可喜的结果。 这种种思绪像迷雾般漂过昆丁的心头,冲散并模糊了他的幻想勾画出的美丽图景,使他彻夜难眠。天一亮——确切地说,是天亮前一个小时——他已来到他可以自由进入和逗留的城堡花园,按指定在头上插着一片匆忙中所能找到的色泽最鲜明的蓝白色羽毛。他呆了将近两个小时都不见有人注意到他的到来。最后他听见几声琴音,并看到在玛尔松曾让海拉丁进去的那道旁门的正上方有扇格子窗打开,洋溢着少女之美的伊莎贝尔出现在窗前,以半亲切半羞赧的表情向他打招呼。看到他带着意味深长的敬意向她还礼,姑娘不禁满脸排红,顿时关上窗子,消失在窗扉后面。 事情真是再明显不过!情书的可靠性已弄清楚,剩下的问题是以后如何行动。但在这一点上,写信的少女没有给他任何暗示。好在当前无燃眉之急——伯爵小姐住在一个坚固的城堡里,受到一位既有世俗权威又有宗教权威的可敬的亲王的保护。这喜气洋洋的扈从目前可没有插手的余地和机会,所要求于他的只是随时准备执行她的指令。然而,命运之神却有意帮他提前采取行动。 在他们来到索恩瓦尔德的第四天晚上,昆丁作好安排,准备第二天派遣和他同来的最后一个随从带几封信返回路易的宫廷。他写给他舅父和克劳福德大公的信在于告诉他们,既然海拉丁私下得到的指示对他是一种叛卖行径,无论从对荣誉的考虑还是从处事慎重的考虑,他都有理由不再为法国效忠。随后他便上床睡觉,在这自认爱情已得到真诚报偿的年轻恋人的梦乡里充满了翩翩起舞的玫瑰色幻梦。 昆丁的梦境起先还受到他入侵时快乐心情的影响,称得上是甜蜜的美梦,但以后便逐渐带上了恐怖的色彩。 他梦见他和伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐漫步在故乡山谷所特有的一个平静的内陆湖边,他向她诉说他的爱情,丝毫没意识到他们之间存有障碍。她一边听着,一边羞怯地微笑——正像他根据那不管是睡着还是醒来都紧贴在他心上的情书所想象的那样。但景色霎时由夏天变为冬天,从宁馨变为风暴。狂风卷着巨浪,仿佛水与空气中的魔鬼和精灵竞相争夺供它们奔腾咆哮的势力范围。那汹涌的湖水使他们进退维谷,那越刮越猛的风暴使他们彼此撞来捷去,像要叫他们再也无法立足下去。眼前的危险所产生的惊心动魄的感觉惊醒了梦中的昆丁。 他醒了过来。尽管恶梦消失,让位于现实,但那可能是引起了这场恶梦的喧嚣声却续续在他耳际响个不停。 昆丁的第一个反应就是坐起来,惊奇地倾听这喧哗声。假如这声音只是暴风雨的前奏,那么也许它能使那格兰扁山脉爆发出的最狂野的呼啸声也黯然失色。但很快他就意识到,这喧嚣声并不是出于大自然的愤怒,而是出于人群的愤怒。 他跳下床来,从窗口向外望了一眼。那窗子是朝花园开的,而那一边毫无动静。但打开窗子后传到他耳朵里来的吼叫声,使他进一步意识到城堡已受到袭击和包围,而且敌人为数众多,意志坚决。在摸黑和吃惊的情况下他尽快穿好衣服,戴上盔甲。这时一个敲门的声音吸引了他的注意。昆丁并没有立即开门。来人见那房门很小,便破门而入。一听他那特殊的土腔土调就知道来者是那波希米亚人海拉丁•毛格拉宾。他用火柴点燃了他手上握着的一个小瓶子,燃起一小团幽暗的红色火焰,再用它点燃他从怀里取出的一盏油灯。 “你命运的星宿如何转动,”他没另打招呼便狠狠说道,“就看你是否能马上下定决心。” “你这恶棍!”昆丁回答道,“我们周围充满了阴谋奸诈。而哪儿有阴谋奸诈,都会有你一份。” “你疯了!”毛格拉宾对答道,“要我出卖别人,除非有利可图。既然你的安全能比你的毁灭使我更有利,我干吗要出卖你呢?要是可能,就请你别等毁灭和死亡硬把它灌进你的耳朵,主动地听听理智的呼声吧!列日人都起来了——是威廉•德拉马克和他那帮人马在领导他们。即使有进行抵抗的手段,也抵不过他们众多的人数和德拉马克的残暴。何况这种手段几等于零。假如你真想拯救伯爵小姐和你自己未来的希望,那就看在送给了你刻有三只豹子的大钻石的少女分上,快跟我来!” “赶快带路,”昆丁急忙说,“为了她我敢冒任何危险!” “按照我的安排,”那波希米亚人说,“只要你不插手与你无关的争斗,就不会有什么危险。话说回来,究竟是所谓的主教大人杀他的教民,还是教民杀他们的主教,这与你有何相干呢?哈!哈!哈!跟我来吧。但你得小心,忍着点。压一压你的勇气,相信我的谨慎。这样我就能还掉我欠你的感恩债,你也可以娶伯爵小姐为妻。快跟我来。” “我会跟着你的,”昆丁拔出刀说,“但一当我发现你稍有一点叛卖的迹象,你的脑袋就会和你的身子分家!” 那波希米亚人看见昆丁全副武装,准备停当,二话没说便带着他跑下楼梯,匆匆穿过一些曲折的回廊,来到那个小花园。那边几乎看不见一点灯光,听不到一点动静。但一当昆丁来到空地上,城堡对面就传来震耳欲聋的吼叫声。他听到了进犯者一声声的呐喊:“列日!列日!”“Sanglier!Sanglier!”以及遭到偷袭匆匆跑去捍卫城墙的卫士们在劣势下发出的不坚定和软弱无力的喊声:“圣母保佑主教大人!” 虽然昆丁•达威特具有尚武精神,但在伊莎贝尔生死攸关的情况下,他已无暇顾及战斗的胜败得失,因为除非能将她从那可能正在攻打城门的放荡、残忍的强盗手中解救出来,他担心她将遭到可怕的命运。正像垂死的病人不拒绝走江湖的庸医开的药方一样,他也无可奈何,只好依靠这个波希米亚人的帮助。他跟他走过花园,打算一方面遵照他的指引,一方面准备一旦发现他有捣鬼的迹象,便戳穿他的胸膛,或砍掉他的脑袋。海拉丁似乎自己也意识到他的安全发发可危,所以一走到露天底下,他便不再卖弄他习惯的那套俏皮话,似乎发誓要表现得谦卑、勇敢而又积极。 海拉丁低声发出一个信号,便有两个妇女蒙着荷兰女子至今还使用的黑面纱从通向两位仕女的卧室的那道门里走了出来。昆丁向其中一位妇女伸出胳膊,她便颤抖着急忙搂住它,把整个身子靠在它上面;要是她再重一点,这肯定会大大妨碍他们的撤退。那波希米亚人则扶着另外那个妇女,直接向穿过花园围墙朝护城河开的那道旁门走去。那儿原吊有一只小船,昆丁以前曾看见海拉丁用这船从城堡渡到河的对岸。 渡河的时候,他们已听到显示出进攻者正在节节胜利的喊杀声,说明城堡即将失守。昆丁感到这声音如此恐怖,竟忍不住大声咒骂起来:“要不是我必须为履行我现在的责任而献出我的鲜血,我真想返回城墙去忠实地捍卫那殷勤好客的主教,干掉几个狂呼叛逆口号的歹徒!” 正当他说话的当儿,手挽着他胳膊的仕女轻轻按了他一下,仿佛想要他懂得,比起捍卫索恩瓦尔德城堡来,亲人更有权得到他骑士般的保护。那波希米亚人也有意让人听见似地大声叫了起来:“这可真叫基督徒的狂热——爱情和幸福要求我们逃跑,而它却要求人们掉转头去打仗。快走,赶紧走,那边柳树丛里有几匹马在等着我们哩。” “只有两匹马。”昆丁说道,他已看见它们站在月光下。 “我也只能搞到这么两匹,否则就得打草惊蛇。再说,两匹也够了。”那波希米亚人说道,“你们两个得趁道路还安全的时候骑到腾格雷斯去。玛尔松将去和我们自己部落的妇女住在一起。反正她已经是她们的老相识了。你还不知道,她是我们部族的人,只是为了必要时帮助我们自己人才混在你们当中的。” “玛尔松!”那仕女望着蒙面的女人吃惊地叫道,“不是我的……?” “是玛尔松。”海拉丁说道,“请原谅我这个小小的骗局。我不敢把两位克罗伊埃仕女都从‘阿登内斯野猪’口里夺走。” “混蛋!”昆丁厉声说道,“不过还——还来得及。我马上回去拯救哈梅琳女士。” “哈梅琳,”那贵妇人以激动的声调说道,“哈梅琳正靠着你的胳膊感谢你的拯救哩。” “什么!这是怎么回事?”昆丁摆脱她的手说道,很不像他平常对待贵妇人那样客气,“伊莎贝尔小姐独自留下了吗?再见——再见。” 他转过身想赶回城堡,海拉丁却抓住他不放。“听我说——听我说——你这是去找死。活见鬼,你干吗要戴那鬼颜色的羽毛呢?以后我再也不相信蓝色和白色绸子的意义了。不过,她也拿得出同样多的嫁妆和金银财宝,也有权获得伯爵领地。” 他喘着气,上句不接下句地说着,一边拚命拖住昆丁。最后这年轻人只得握紧匕首,准备摆脱他的纠缠。 “既然如此,”海拉丁放开手说道,“要是有魔鬼的话,你就见魔鬼去吧,滚你的!”那苏格兰人一脱身便像阵风似的向城堡奔去。 海拉丁转过身来看着哈梅琳女士,只见她在羞愧、害怕和失望情绪的支配下已瘫软地跪了下来。 “发生了一个误会,”他说道,“起来吧,女士,跟我走吧。天亮以前我就会给你找一个比这黄毛小子更漂亮的丈夫。一个不够,我还可以给你找二十个。” 哈梅琳女士情欲旺盛,却头脑空虚;像许多别的人一样,应付日常生活的需要还可以,但碰到当前这个危机时,她却束手无策,只得徒然痛哭流涕,骂海拉丁是个贼,是个下贱的奴才,是个骗子和杀人犯。 “你叫我吉卜赛得了,”他镇静地回答道,“这就把一切都包括进去了。” “畜牲!你说星宿注定我们该结合,要我给他写情书——啊!我真该死!”那不幸的仕女叫道。 “星宿的确注定你们命该结合,”海拉丁说,“问题是要双方都愿意。你以为伟大的星象能使人违反他的意愿和别人结婚吗?我是被你们基督徒那些献殷勤、互赠绸绢信物等倒霉的无聊玩意给搞糊涂了。那年轻人喜欢吃小牛肉而不爱吃母牛肉,我想这就是症结所在。起来,跟我走。你小心,我是容不得哭哭啼啼和佯装作死的。” “我一步也不走。”那仕女倔强地说道。 “明亮的天空在上,你就是得走!”海拉丁叫道,“我凭着傻瓜所信奉的一切向你赌咒说,你面对的人可以毫不在乎地把你剥得精光,捆在树上,让你听凭命运摆布!” “那可不行,”玛尔松干预道,“你别虐待她。我和你一样身上带有刀,也知道如何动刀。她人虽傻,但心肠不错。女士,你起来,跟我们一道走吧。发生了一个误会,不过救人一命还是值得的。此刻在那城堡里,许多人都不惜以全部财产来换取我们现在的安全哩。” 玛尔松这么说着的时候,从索恩瓦尔德城堡传来了一片胜利的欢呼,当然里面夹杂着恐怖与失望的尖叫。 “听吧,我的女士!”海拉丁说道,“你得感谢,你没有把自己那尖细的嗓门加到那合奏里去。你放心,我会老实照看你,星宿也会遵守诺言,给你找个好丈夫的。” 哈梅琳女士就像一只被恐怖和疲劳征服了的野兽,只好听从两个带路人的摆布,让他们随意把自己带到什么地方去。由于她精疲力竭,神志恍惚,两个吉卜赛人不得不半牵着她,半抬着她。尽管他们在她面前继续着他们的谈话,她却不知所云。 “我就一直觉得你那个计划太蠢,”玛尔松说,“要是你能把年轻的一对结合在一起,真的,我们倒有把握得到他们的感激,在他们的城堡里得到个立足之地。你怎么能指望这么一个漂亮的年轻人娶这么一个老傻瓜呢?” “里茨巴,”海拉丁说,“你取了个基督徒的名字,一直住在那些蠢家伙的营垒里,使你也染上了他们的愚蠢。我怎么想得到,他硬要考虑年纪轻,年纪大,那么几岁的区别,而不顾这个婚姻带来的明显好处呢?你知道,要叫那个羞答答的少女和这位像个羊毛垫似的重重压在我们胳膊上的女士一样坦率,那是办不到的。再说,我也喜欢这个小伙子,想帮他个忙。让他娶这年纪大的女人是想叫他发财,而让他和伊莎贝尔结合,那等于是把德拉马克、勃艮第和法兰西都招惹到自己头上——三方都在为支配她的婚姻争夺权利。这个傻女人的财产既然主要是金银财宝,我们本来也会搞到我们的一份。但弓弦断了,箭已射不出去。去她的,我们干脆把她带去见大胡子威廉。等他像往常那样喝得酩酊大醉时,他就分不清谁是年纪大的伯爵女士,谁是年纪轻的伯爵小姐了。走吧,里茨巴,放勇敢些。那明亮的阿多波兰星座仍在护佑着沙漠之子的命运哩!” Chapter 21 The Sack The gates of mercy shall be all shut up, And the flesh'd soldier, rough and hard of heart, In liberty of bloody hand shall range, With conscience wide as hell. HENRY V The surprised and affrighted garrison of the Castle of Schonwaldt had, nevertheless, for some time made good the defence of the place against the assailants, but the immense crowds which, issuing from the city of Liege, thronged to the assault like bees, distracted their attention, and abated their courage. There was also disaffection at least, if not treachery, among the defenders, for some called out to surrender, and others, deserting their posts, tried to escape from the castle. Many threw themselves from the walls into the moat, and such as escaped drowning, flung aside their distinguishing badges, and saved themselves by mingling among the motley crowd of assailants. Some few, indeed, from attachment to the Bishop's person, drew around him, and continued to defend the great keep, to which he had fled, and others, doubtful of receiving quarter, or from an impulse of desperate courage, held out other detached bulwarks and towers of the extensive building. But the assailants had got possession of the courts and lower parts of the edifice, and were busy pursuing the vanquished, and searching for spoil, while one individual, as if he sought for that death from which all others were flying, endeavoured to force his way into the scene of tumult and horror, under apprehensions still more horrible to his imagination than the realities around were to his sight and senses. Whoever had seen Quentin Durward that fatal night, not knowing the meaning of his conduct, had accounted him a raging madman, whoever had appreciated his motives, had ranked him nothing beneath a hero of romance. Approaching Schonwaldt on the same side from which he had left it, the youth met several fugitives making for the wood, who naturally avoided him as an enemy, because he came in an opposite direction from that which they had adopted. When he came nearer, he could hear, and partly see, men dropping from the garden wall into the castle fosse, and others who seemed precipitated from the battlements by the assailants. His courage was not staggered, even for an instant. There was not time to look for the boat, even had it been practicable to use it, and it was in vain to approach the postern of the garden, which was crowded with fugitives, who ever and anon, as they were thrust through it by the pressure behind, fell into the moat which they had no means of crossing. Avoiding that point, Quentin threw himself into the moat, near what was called the little gate of the castle, and where there was a drawbridge, which was still elevated. He avoided with difficulty the fatal grasp of more than one sinking wretch, and, swimming to the drawbridge, caught hold of one of the chains which was hanging down, and, by a great exertion of strength and activity, swayed himself out of the water, and attained the platform from which the bridge was suspended. As with hands and knees he struggled to make good his footing, a lanzknecht, with his bloody sword in his hand, made towards him, and raised his weapon for a blow which must have been fatal. "How now, fellow," said Quentin, in a tone of authority. "Is that the way in which you assist a comrade? -- Give me your hand." The soldier in silence, and not without hesitation, reached him his arm, and helped him upon the platform, when, without allowing him time for reflection, the Scot continued in the same tone of command, "To the western tower, if you would be rich -- the Priest's treasury is in the western tower." The words were echoed on every hand: "To the western tower -- the treasure is in the western tower!" And the stragglers who were within, hearing of the cry, took, like a herd of raging wolves, the direction opposite to that which Quentin, come life, come death, was determined to pursue. Bearing himself as if he were one, not of the conquered, but of the victors, he made a way into the garden, and pushed across it with less interruption than he could have expected, for the cry of "To the western tower!" had carried off one body of the assailants, and another was summoned together, by war cry and trumpet sound, to assist in repelling a desperate sally, attempted by the defenders of the keep, who had hoped to cut their way out of the castle, bearing the Bishop along with them. Quentin, therefore, crossed the garden with an eager step and throbbing heart, commending himself to those heavenly powers which had protected him through the numberless perils of his life, and bold in his determination to succeed, or leave his life in this desperate undertaking. Ere he reached the garden, three men rushed on him with levelled lances, crying, "Liege, Liege!" Putting himself in defence, but without striking, he replied, "France, France, friend to Liege." "Vivat France!" cried the burghers of Liege, and passed on. The same signal proved a talisman to avert the weapons of four or five of La Marck's followers, whom he found straggling in the garden, and who set upon him crying, "Sanglier!" In a word, Quentin began to hope that his character as an emissary of King Louis, the private instigator of the insurgents of Liege, and the secret supporter of William de la Marck, might possibly bear him through the horrors of the night. On reaching the turret, he shuddered when he found that the little side door, through which Marthon and the Countess Hameline had shortly before joined him, was now blockaded with more than one dead body. Two of them he dragged hastily aside, and was stepping over the third body, in order to enter the portal, when the supposed dead man laid hand on his cloak, and entreated him to stay and assist him to rise. Quentin was about to use rougher methods than struggling to rid himself of this untimely obstruction, when the fallen man continued to exclaim, "I am stifled here, in mine own armour! -- I am the Syndic Pavillon of Liege! If you are for us, I will enrich you -- if you are for the other side, I will protect you, but do not -- do not leave me to die the death of a smothered pig!" In the midst of this scene of blood and confusion, the presence of mind of Quentin suggested to him that this dignitary might have the means of protecting their retreat. He raised him on his feet, and asked him if he was wounded. "Not wounded, at least I think not," answered the burgher, "but much out of wind." "Sit down, then, on this stone, and recover your breath," said Quentin, "I will return instantly." "For whom are you?" said the burgher, still detaining him. "For France -- for France," answered Quentin, studying to get away. "What! my lively young Archer?" said the worthy Syndic. "Nay, if it has been my fate to find a friend in this fearful night, I will not quit him, I promise you. Go where you will, I follow, and could I get some of the tight lads of our guildry together, I might be able to help you in turn, but they are all squandered abroad like so many pease. -- Oh, it is a fearful night!" During this time, he was dragging himself on after Quentin, who, aware of the importance of securing the countenance of a person of such influence, slackened his pace to assist him, although cursing in his heart the encumbrance that retarded his pace. At the top of the stair was an anteroom, with boxes and trunks, which bore marks of having been rifled, as some of the contents lay on the floor. A lamp, dying in the chimney, shed a feeble beam on a dead or senseless man who lay across the hearth. Bounding from Pavillon like a greyhound from his keeper's leash, and with an effort which almost overthrew him, Quentin sprang through a second and a third room, the last of which seemed to be the bedroom of the Ladies of Croye. No living mortal was to be seen in either of them. He called upon the Lady Isabelle's name, at first gently, then more loudly, and then with an accent of despairing emphasis, but no answer was returned. He wrung his hands, tore his hair, and stamped on the earth with desperation. At length a feeble glimmer of light, which shone through a crevice in the wainscoting of a dark nook in the bedroom, announced some recess or concealment behind the arras. Quentin hasted to examine it. He found there was indeed a concealed room, but it resisted his hurried efforts to open it. Heedless of the personal injury he might sustain, he rushed at the door with the whole force and weight of his body, and such was the impetus of an effort made betwixt hope and despair, that it would have burst much stronger fastenings. He thus forced his way, almost headlong, into a small oratory, where a female figure, which had been kneeling in agonizing supplication before the holy image, now sank at length on the floor, under the new terrors implied in this approaching tumult. He hastily raised her from the ground, and, joy of joys it was she whom he sought to save -- the Countess Isabelle. He pressed her to his bosom -- he conjured her to awake -- entreated her to be of good cheer -- for that she was now under time protection of one who had heart and hand enough to defend her against armies. "Durward!" she said, as she at length collected herself, "is it indeed you? -- then there is some hope left. I thought all living and mortal friends had left me to my fate. -- Do not again abandon me." "Never -- never!" said Durward. "Whatever shall happen, whatever danger shall approach, may I forfeit the benefits purchased by yonder blessed sign, if I be not the sharer of your fate until it is again a happy one!" "Very pathetic and touching, truly," said a rough, broken, asthmatic voice behind. "A love affair, I see, and, from my soul, I pity the tender creature as if she were my own Trudchen." "You must do more than pity," said Quentin, turning towards the speaker, "you must assist in protecting us, Meinheer Pavillon. Be assured this lady was put under my especial charge by your ally the King of France, and, if you aid me not to shelter her from every species of offence and violence, your city will lose the favour of Louis of Valois. Above all, she must be guarded from the hands of William de la Marck." "That will be difficult," said Pavillon, "for these schelms of lanzknechts are very devils at rummaging out the wenches. But I'll do my best. -- We will to the other apartment, and there I will consider. -- It is but a narrow stair, and you can keep the door with a pike, while I look from the window, and get together some of my brisk boys of the curriers' guildry of Liege, that are as true as the knives they wear in their girdles. -- But first undo me these clasps -- for I have not worn this corselet since the battle of Saint Tron (fought by the insurgents of Liege against the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, when Count of Charalois, in which the people of Liege were defeated with great slaughter. S.) and I am three stone heavier since that time, if there be truth in Dutch beam and scale." The undoing of the iron enclosure gave great relief to the honest man, who, in putting it on, had more considered his zeal to the cause of Liege, than his capacity of bearing arms. It afterwards turned out that being, as it were, borne forward involuntarily, and hoisted over the walls by his company as they thronged to the assault, the magistrate had been carried here and there, as the tide of attack and defence flowed or ebbed, without the power, latterly, of even uttering a word until, as the sea casts a log of driftwood ashore in the first creek, he had been ultimately thrown in the entrance to the Ladies of Croye's apartments, where the encumbrance of his own armour, with the superincumbent weight of two men slain in the entrance, and who fell above him, might have fixed him down long enough, had he not been relieved by Durward. The same warmth of temper which rendered Hermann Pavillon a hot headed and intemperate zealot in politics, had the more desirable consequence of making him, in private, a good tempered, kind hearted man, who, if sometimes a little misled by vanity, was always well meaning and benevolent. He told Quentin to have an especial care of the poor pretty yung frau (young woman), and, after this unnecessary exhortation, began to halloo from the window, "Liege, Liege, for the gallant skinners' guild of curriers!" One or two of his immediate followers collected at the summons and at the peculiar whistle with which it was accompanied (each of the crafts having such a signal among themselves), and, more joining them, established a guard under the window from which their leader was bawling, and before the postern door. Matters seemed now settling into some sort of tranquillity. All opposition had ceased, and the leaders of the different classes of assailants were taking measures to prevent indiscriminate plunder. The great bell was tolled, a summons to a military counsel, and its iron tongue communicating to Liege the triumphant possession of Schonwaldt by the insurgents, was answered by all the bells in that city, whose distant and clamorous voices seemed to cry, Hail to the victors! It would have been natural that Meinheer Pavillon should now have sallied from his fastness, but either in reverent care of those whom he had taken under his protection, or perhaps for the better assurance of his own safety, he contented himself with dispatching messenger on messenger, to command his lieutenant, Peterkin Geislaer, to attend him directly. Peterkin came, at length, to his great relief, as being the person upon whom, on all pressing occasions, whether of war, politics, or commerce, Pavillon was most accustomed to repose confidence. He was a stout, squat figure, with a square face and broad black eyebrows, that announced him to be opinionative and disputatious, -- an advice giving countenance, so to speak. He was endued with a buff jerkin, wore a broad belt and cutlass by his side, and carried a halberd in his hand. "Peterkin, my dear lieutenant," said the commander, "this has been a glorious day -- night I should say -- I trust thou art pleased for once." "I am well enough pleased that you are so," said the doughty lieutenant, "though I should not have thought of your celebrating the victory, if you call it one, up in this garret by yourself, when you are wanted in council." "But am I wanted there?" said the Syndic. "Ay, marry are you, to stand up for the rights of Liege, that are in more danger than ever," answered the lieutenant. "Pshaw, Peterkin," answered his principal, "thou art ever such a frampold grumbler --" "Grumbler? not I," said Peterkin, "what pleases other people will always please me. Only I wish we have not got King Stork, instead of King Log, like the fabliau (fable) that the Clerk of Saint Lambert's used to read us out of Meister Aesop's book." (Refers to Aesop's fable. The commonwealth of frogs, having conceived an aversion for their amiable king Log, asked Jupiter to send them another sovereign. He accordingly bestowed upon them a stork who gradually devoured all his subjects.) "I cannot guess your meaning," said the Syndic. "Why then, I tell you, Master Pavillon, that this Boar or Bear is like to make his own den of Schonwaldt, and is probable to turn out as bad a neighbour to our town as ever was the old Bishop, and worse. Here has he taken the whole conquest in his own hand, and is only doubting whether he should be called Prince or Bishop -- and it is a shame to see how they have mishandled the old man among them." "I will not permit it, Peterkin," said Pavillon, hustling up, "I disliked the mitre, but not the head that wore it. We are ten to one in the field, Peterkin, and will not permit these courses." "Ay, ten to one in the field, but only man to man in the castle, besides that Nikkel Blok the butcher, and all the rabble of the suburbs, take part with William de la Marck, partly for saus and braus (means here carousing) (for he has broached all the ale tubs and wine casks), and partly for old envy towards us, who are the craftsmen, and have privileges." "Peter," said Pavillon, "we will go presently to the city. I will stay no longer in Schonwaldt." "But the bridges of this castle are up, master," said Geislaer -- "the gates locked, and guarded by these lanzknechts, and, if we were to try to force our way, these fellows, whose everyday business is war, might make wild work of us that only fight of a holyday." "But why has he secured the gates?" said the alarmed burgher, "or what business hath he to make honest men prisoners?" "I cannot tell -- not I," said Peter. "Some noise there is about the Ladies of Croye, who have escaped during the storm of the castle. That first put the Man with the Beard beside himself with anger, and now he 's beside himself with drink also." The Burgomaster cast a disconsolate look towards Quentin, and seemed at a loss what to resolve upon. Durward, who had not lost a word of the conversation, which alarmed him very much, saw nevertheless that their only safety depended on his preserving his own presence of mind, and sustaining the courage of Pavillon. He struck boldly into the conversation, as one who had a right to have a voice in the deliberation. "I am ashamed," he said, "Meinheer Pavillon, to observe you hesitate what to do on this occasion. Go boldly to William de la Marck, and demand free leave to quit the castle, you, your lieutenant, your squire, and your daughter. He can have no pretence for keeping you prisoner." "For me and my lieutenant -- that is myself and Peter? -- Good -- but who is my squire?" "I am for the present," replied the undaunted Scot. "You!" said the embarrassed burgess, "but are you not the envoy of King Louis of France?" "True, but my message is to the magistrates of Liege -- and only in Liege will I deliver it. -- Were I to acknowledge my quality before William de la Marck, must I not enter into negotiations with him? Ay, and, it is like, be detained by him. You must get me secretly out of the castle in the capacity of your squire." "Good -- my squire -- but you spoke of my daughter -- my daughter is, I trust, safe in my house in Liege -- where I wish her father was, with all my heart and soul." "This lady," said Durward, "will call you father while we are in this place." "And for my whole life afterwards," said the Countess, throwing herself at the citizen's feet, and clasping his knees. "Never shall the day pass in which I will not honour you, love you, and pray for you as a daughter for a father, if you will but aid me in this fearful strait. -- Oh, be not hard hearted! Think, your own daughter may kneel to a stranger, to ask him for life and honour -- think of this, and give me the protection you would wish her to receive!" "In troth," said the good citizen, much moved with her pathetic appeal, "I think, Peter, that this pretty maiden hath a touch of our Trudchen's sweet look -- I thought so from the first, and that this brisk youth here, who is so ready with his advice, is somewhat like Trudchen's bachelor -- I wager a groat, Peter, that this is a true love matter, and it is a sin not to further it." "It were shame and sin both," said Peter, a good natured Fleming, notwithstanding all his self conceit, and as he spoke he wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jerkin. "She shall be my daughter, then," said Pavillon, "well wrapped up in her black silk veil and if there are not enough of true hearted skinners to protect her, being the daughter of their Syndic, it were pity they should ever tug leather more. -- But hark ye -- questions must be answered -- How if I am asked what should my daughter make here at such an onslaught?" "What should half the women in Liege make here when they followed us to the castle?" said Peter. "They had no other reason, sure, but that it was just the place in the world that they should not have come to. Our yung frau Trudchen has come a little farther than the rest -- that is all." "Admirably spoken," said Quentin, "only be bold, and take this gentleman's good counsel, noble Meinheer Pavillon, and, at no trouble to yourself, you will do the most worthy action since the days of Charlemagne. -- Here, sweet lady, wrap yourself close in this veil" (for many articles of female apparel lay scattered about the apartment) -- "be but confident, and a few minutes will place you in freedom and safety. Noble Sir," he added, addressing Pavillon, "set forward." "Hold -- hold -- hold a minute," said Pavillon, "my mind misgives me! -- This De la Marck is a fury, a perfect boar in his nature as in his name, what if the young lady be one of those of Croye? -- and what if he discover her, and be addicted to wrath?" "And if I were one of those unfortunate women," said Isabelle, again attempting to throw herself at his feet, "could you for that reject me in this moment of despair? Oh, that I had been indeed your daughter, or the daughter of the poorest burgher!" "Not so poor -- not so poor neither, young lady -- we pay as we go," said the citizen. "Forgive me, noble sir," again began the unfortunate maiden. "Not noble, nor sir, neither," said the Syndic, "a plain burgher of Liege, that pays bills of exchange in ready guilders. -- But that is nothing to the purpose. -- Well, say you be a countess, I will protect you nevertheless." "You are bound to protect her, were she a duchess," said Peter, "having once passed your word." "Right, Peter, very right," said the Syndic "it is our old Low Dutch fashion, ein wort, ein man (a man of his word), and now let us to this gear. We must take leave of this William de la Marck, and yet I know not, my mind misgives me when I think of him, and were it a ceremony which could be waived, I have no stomach to go through it." "Were you not better, since you have a force together, to make for the gate and force the guard?" said Quentin. But with united voice, Pavillon and his adviser exclaimed against the propriety of such an attack upon their ally's soldiers, with some hints concerning its rashness, which satisfied Quentin that it was not a risk to be hazarded with such associates. They resolved, therefore, to repair boldly to the great hall of the castle, where, as they understood, the Wild Boar of Ardennes held his feast, and demand free egress for the Syndic of Liege and his company, a request too reasonable, as it seemed, to be denied. Still the good burgomaster groaned when he looked on his companions, and exclaimed to his faithful Peter, "See what it is to have too bold and too tender a heart! Alas! Peterkin, how much have courage and humanity cost me! and how much may I yet have to pay for my virtues, before Heaven makes us free of this damned Castle of Schonwaldt!" As they crossed the courts, still strewed with the dying and dead, Quentin, while he supported Isabelle through the scene of horrors, whispered to her courage and comfort, and reminded her that her safety depended entirely on her firmness and presence of mind. "Not on mine -- not on mine," she said, "but on yours -- on yours only. Oh, if I but escape this fearful night, never shall I forget him who saved me! One favour more only, let me implore at your hand, and I conjure you to grant it, by your mother's fame and your father's honour!" "What is it you can ask that I could refuse?" said Quentin, in a whisper. "Plunge your dagger in my heart," said she, "rather than leave me captive in the hands of these monsters." Quentin's only answer was a pressure of the young Countess's hand, which seemed as if, but for terror, it would have returned the caress. And, leaning on her youthful protector, she entered the fearful hall, preceded by Pavillon and his lieutenant, and followed by a dozen of the Kurschenschaft, or skinner's trade, who attended as a guard of honour on the Syndic. As they approached the hall, the yells of acclamation and bursts of wild laughter which proceeded from it, seemed rather to announce the revel of festive demons, rejoicing after some accomplished triumph over the human race, than of mortal beings who had succeeded in a bold design. An emphatic tone of mind, which despair alone could have inspired, supported the assumed courage of the Countess Isabelle, undaunted spirits, which rose with the extremity, maintained that of Durward, while Pavillon and his lieutenant made a virtue of necessity, and faced their fate like bears bound to a stake, which must necessarily stand the dangers of the course. 怜悯的大门将被完全关闭, 铁石心肠的粗暴士兵将挥舞血腥的手, 像在地狱一般疯狂肆虐。 《亨利五世》 索恩瓦尔德城堡的卫队虽因遭到偷袭而惊恐万状,还是成功地对入侵者进行了一段时间的抵抗。但从列日城蜂拥而至的攻城人群使他们寡不敌众,士气一落千丈。 在守军当中即使没出现叛变,但也出现了不忠之徒。有些人喊投降,有些人从墙上跳进护城河企图逃出城堡。许多未被淹死者则扔掉徽章和标记,混在杂乱的攻城人群中以图保全性命。只有忠于主教的少数人员聚集在他的周围,继续保卫他赖以避难的主楼。另一些人由于担心敌人不会饶他们,正凭着垂死挣扎的勇气,固守着这宽阔的城堡内一些孤立的堡垒和塔楼。但攻城者已占领了庭院和主楼的底层,正忙于追击败退的敌人,搜寻战利品。这时却有一人似乎在追求他人都在逃避的死亡,竭力闯出一条路向那骚乱和恐怖的现场冲过去,因为他头脑中所想象的恐怖要远远胜过他所看到的、所感到的真实恐怖。凡是在那恐怖之夜见到昆丁•达威特而不知其用意的人定会把他当作一个发狂的疯子,但凡是能赞赏其动机的人则会认为他不亚于浪漫诗里的传奇英雄。 这年轻人顺着原路回到索恩瓦尔德的途中碰到几个人正朝树林里逃去。他们自然想躲开他,因为他走的方向与他们走的正好相反。当他走近时,他听得见也模糊地看得见有人从花园围墙上跳进护城河,另一些人则像是被追兵所逼而从城谍上跳下来的。但他的勇气丝毫未减。至于那条小船,即使这时还有可能使用,他也来不及寻找;而那花园的旁门则已堵满了逃跑的人;他们在过门时屡屡遭到后面的推挤,掉进了他们无法渡过的护城河。 昆丁避开这个地点,来到城堡小门的附近,那里有个还没放下来的吊桥。他从这儿纵身跳下了护城河。他好不容易摆脱了几个行将没顶的可怜人死命的揪抓,游到那吊桥跟前,抓住一根吊下来的铁链,使尽全身力气,挣出水面,够着了悬吊桥的平台。正当他用手和膝部拚命往上爬的时候,一个德国长矛手手握沾满鲜血的长刀向他跑来,举起刀就要劈头砍下,打发他回老家。 “怎么了,伙计!”昆丁带着威严的口气说,“你就这样帮助一个伙伴吗?拉我一把吧。” 那长矛手颇为犹豫地默默把手伸给他,帮他爬上平台。那苏格兰人不让他有思索余地,继续以命令式的语调说:“想发财去西边那个塔楼——主教的财宝都藏在西边那个塔楼!” 顿时到处都传遍了这两句话:“去西边的塔楼——财宝都藏在西边的塔楼!”听见这呼喊的散兵游勇就像一群发疯的野狼似的朝着那个方向奔去,而昆丁则不顾生死坚决朝着与其相反的方向走去。 他装出一副征服者(而不是被征服者)的神气闯出一条道路走进花园,比原来估计的更顺利地匆匆走了过去。因为那“去西边的塔楼”的呼声引走了一批进攻者,而另一股则被喊杀声和号声召唤,去帮助挫败主楼的保卫者打算带着主教拚死突围、杀出城堡的尝试。因此昆丁怀着忐忑不安的心情急忙走过花园。他把自己托给曾保护他战胜了无数生命危险的神力,并因为已下定不成功便成仁的决心而感到浑身是胆。他还没来得及到达目的地,便有三个人横持长矛狂呼“列日!列日!”向他冲了过来。 他先摆出防御的样子,并不主动进攻,然后回答说:“法兰西!法兰西!列日的朋友!” “法兰西万岁!”列日市民喊道,接着走了过去。这同一句话也像法宝似的使他避开了原在花园里窜动,见他来便喊着“Sanglier!”向他扑过来的四五个德拉马克匪徒的袭击。 总之,昆丁已感到有希望以路易王这个列日叛乱的暗中怂恿者和威廉•德拉马克的暗中支持者的堂堂特使的身份,侥幸度过这个恐怖之夜。 赶到塔楼时,他惊恐地发现已经有好几具尸体堵住了玛尔松和哈梅琳女士不久前和他相会的那道小旁门。 他急忙把两具尸体拖到一边,正想跨过第三具尸体进门去,不料他原以为死了的这个人却抓住他的斗篷,哀求他站住,帮他站起来。昆丁打算使用粗暴的办法挣脱这个不合时宜的阻挠,但那躺在地上的人继续喊道:“我是被我自己的铠甲窒息得快死了!我是列日的行会主席巴维翁!如果你是我们这边的,我可以使你发财,如果你是那边的,我可以给你保护。但千万别——千万别让我像头猪一样被憋死在这儿!” 昆丁在这混乱的厮杀中还保持着冷静的头脑。他马上想起这位重要人物也许有能力保护他们撤退,于是他扶他起来,并问他是否受了伤。 “没受伤——至少我以为没受伤,”那市民回答道,“就是气喘不过来。” “那么你坐在这块石头上松口气吧,”昆丁说道,“我马上回来。” “你是那一边的?”那市民仍拦住他问道。 “我是法国这边的——法国这边的。”昆丁回答道,一边考虑如何把他摆脱掉。 “什么!你就是我碰到过的那位年轻射手?”尊敬的行会主席说道,“假如我命该在这个恐怖的夜晚碰到一位朋友,我向你担保,我是不会离开你的。不管你去哪儿我都会跟着你。要是我能把我们行会的几个棒小伙子叫拢来,我也许还能反过来帮帮你哩。但他们都像豌豆那样撒了出去。啊,这真是个可怕的夜晚!” 这时他紧紧地跟在昆丁后面吃力地走着。由于意识到取得这样一个有影响的人物的保护所具有的重要性,昆丁放慢了脚步来帮助他,虽然内心里暗自咒骂这个累赘。 楼梯的顶部是个前室。里面的一些箱子和盒子像是被搜查过,因为地板上零乱地放着从箱子里倒出来的东西。烟囱里的一盏行将熄灭的油灯发出一丝微光,照着一个横卧在壁炉上的死人或失去知觉的人。 昆丁像一头摆脱了猎人套索的猎犬,猛然从巴维翁身边跳开,险些把他撞翻在地。他穿过第二间房来到第三间房——克罗伊埃仕女可能住过的卧室。这两间房都看不见一个活人。他呼叫着伊莎贝尔小姐的名字,先是轻轻喊,继而大声叫,再就是拚命喊都没有回答。他搓着手,撕扯着头发,痛心得捶胸顿足。最后他看见这卧室一个阴暗角落里的墙裙上面有条裂缝,从缝里射出一线微弱的灯光。这说明在挂毯后面还有个暗室。昆丁急忙跑去探察。他发现那儿的确有道暗门,但在匆忙中使劲推也推不开。他不顾身体可能受到的损害,用尽全身力气,拼上全身重量来撞门。碰到这种介乎希望和绝望的拼死努力带来的凶猛气势,即使比这坚固得多的堡垒也未尝不能冲破。 拼命冲撞的结果使他一头闯进了一间小祈祷室。原来跪在圣像前痛苦祈祷的妇女,由于逼近的骚动给她带来了新的恐惧,终于昏倒在地板上。他急忙把她扶起来。啊,太幸福了!这正是他要救的少女——伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐。他把她搂在怀里,唤她醒来,求她振作起精神——因为一个既有心灵也有力量来为她抵挡千军万马的男人在保护着她。 “达威特!”她终于神态清醒地说道,“真是你吗?那么还有点希望。我原以为所有活着和死去的朋友都离开了我,任命运摆布我哩。可别再抛弃我了!” “决不会——决不会!”达威特说道,“不管发生什么情况,碰到什么危险,我都和你共命运,直至看到你得到幸福。否则愿上苍剥夺我一切幸福。” “多悲怆动人啊,真的,”后面一个粗声粗气的哮喘般的声音说道,“我看这是个男女恋爱的事。我从心底可怜这柔弱的姑娘,仿佛她就是我自己的女儿特鲁德珍。” “您应当不只是可怜我们,”昆丁转过身来对他说道,“巴维翁阁下,您应当设法保护我们。您可以相信,这位小姐是你们的盟友法王路易特意交给我照顾的。如果你们不帮我保护她不受暴力侵害,你们的列日城就会失去路易王的恩宠。首先您必须使她别落在威廉•德拉马克手上。” “这可困难,”巴维翁说道,“因为这些长矛手都是些搜索和掳掠少女的魔鬼。不过我会尽力而为。我们到那间房里去,让我考虑考虑该怎么办吧。这楼梯很窄,你可以拿着梭镖守住门。我将从窗口向外看,设法把几个列日制革行会的勇敢小伙子纠集拢来。你知道,他们就像他们系的腰刀一样忠实可靠。不过,得请你先给我解开这些铁扣——自从圣特隆战役以后我就没穿过这身铠甲。如果荷兰制的秤准的话,我的确比当时重了三英石。” 解开铁扣之后,那老实人大大松了口气。想必他穿上铠甲时考虑得更多的是他对列日事业的忠诚,而没有怎么考虑他打仗的本事。后来人们才知道,这位首领仿佛是不由自主地被攻城的人流冲着走。在被这人流抬过城墙之后,便随着攻守两方潮水涨落四处飘落,进而失去了开口讲话的能力。最后,就像海水顺着最先碰到的一个河沟把浮木抛上海岸一样,这股人流终于把我们的巴维翁大人扔到了克罗伊埃仕女卧房的人口处。他自己那身铠甲已很笨重,再加上人口处有两人被杀,倒在他身上,给他增加了压力;要不是遇到达威特及时解救,他可能就会久久地呆在那里了。 赫尔曼•巴维前热情的性格固然使得他成为一个莽撞而激进的政治狂热分于,但更可喜的是,这也使得他在私生活中成为一个性格和蔼、心地善良的好人。除了有时受到虚荣心的蒙蔽以外,他始终善意而仁慈地对待别人。他嘱咐昆丁要特别关照这可怜的娇美少女。说了这番多余的话之后,他便从窗口向外面喊:“列日,列日,英勇的制革行会会员们!” 一听到这声召唤,他手下的一两个直接追随者便聚集拢来,而随着这召唤发出的特殊口哨声(每个行业都有他们自己的暗号),很快便有更多的人应召而来,在他们首领喊叫着的窗子底下形成了一支卫队。 战事似乎在逐渐平息。抵抗已全部结束。各参战派别的首领们正在采取措施防止乱兵洗劫,并通过敲钟召集一次军事会议。那大钟向列日市民宣告叛乱者已胜利占领了索恩瓦尔德堡,市内钟声齐鸣作为呼应。那遥远而响亮的钟声像在呼喊胜利万岁!要是巴维翁阁下此刻从他的堡垒中冲将下来,那也不足为怪。但为了照顾在他保护下的两个人,或为了更好地保证他自己的安全,他只限于派去一个又一个的传令兵,吩咐他的副官彼得金•盖斯勒尔立即前来和他共商要事。 看到彼得金终于应命赶来,他感到松了一大口气,因为不管是在军事、政治或商业的紧要场合,这人都是巴维翁最信赖的心腹。他个子矮墩墩的,方方正正的面孔,粗黑的眉毛,说明他这人喜欢争论,固执已见——颇像个参谋的样子。他穿着黄牛皮上衣,腰间系着宽皮带和弯刀,手里握着一根长朝。 “彼得金,我亲爱的副官,”司令说道,“今天真了不起——嗯,应该说今晚真了不起。我想这回你总算满意了吧?” “看到你满意我自然也很满意,”那勇敢的副官说道,“不过,如果你称其为胜利,我可没想到你会躲在这个阁楼上欢庆这个胜利。他们正通知你去开会哩。” “要我去开会?”那行会主席说道。 “是的。你有可能去维护我们列日人比以往遭到更大危险的权利。”那副官回答道。 “得了吧,彼得金,”头头对他说,“你这个家伙老是有满腹牢骚。” “满腹牢骚?我才不哩,”彼得金说,“别人满意的我也满意。不过我只希望我们没像圣兰伯特教堂的牧师经常读给我们听的伊索寓言里面说的那样,赶走了圆木王来了个鹳王。” “彼得金,我真不懂你是什么意思。”行会主席说道。 “那我就告诉你吧,巴维翁师傅。这个叫野猪或狗熊的家伙有意把索思瓦尔德变成他的窝。像他这样一个列日城的邻居,很可能和老主教一样糟糕,甚至比他更糟糕。他已经抢走了全部胜利果实,只是在犹豫,应该自封为王子哩,还是自封为主教?再说,他们那么虐待那个老人也真造孽。” “彼得金,我绝不能允许这样做。”巴维翁说道,一边准备立即采取行动,“我不喜欢主教戴的冠冕,但并不是不喜欢那戴冠冕的脑袋。彼得金,我们和他们的人数是十比一。我们得制止这种事。” “不错,总的讲是十比一,但在城堡里却是一比一。再说,屠宰业的尼克尔•布洛克和郊区的游民也都和威廉•德拉马克站在一起,一方面是因为有酒喝(因为那家伙已命令打开全部酒桶),一方面是因为嫉妒我们这些享有权利的匠人。” “彼得,”巴维翁说,“让我们马上回城里去。我不想在索恩瓦尔德再呆下去了。” “老爷,城堡的桥都吊了起来,过不去,”盖斯勒尔说道,“城门都上了锁,由那些德国长矛手把守。如果我们硬要冲出去,那些以打仗为职业的家伙就会把我们这些以打仗为副业的人打得落花流水。” “他们干吗要把守城门呢?”巴维翁不安地说道,“他们要把老实人抓来当俘虏干什么呢?” “我也不知道为什么,”彼得说道,“传说两位克罗伊埃仕女趁攻城的机会逃跑了。这使得那大胡子先是气得要命,现在又醉得要死。” 那市长不安地望望昆丁,似乎不知如何决定才好。达威特一直在仔细倾听他们的谈话,感到十分惊惶。但他也看到他自己保持镇定并使巴维翁鼓起勇气乃是他们的安全所系。他感到他有必要在这个问题上发表他的意见,便大胆地参与他们的谈话。“巴维翁阁下,”他说,“看到你碰到这样一个场合竟然犹豫不决,束手无策,我真为你感到惭愧。你尽管大胆地去找威廉•德拉马克,要求他让你与你的副官、你的扈从和你的女儿自由离开城堡。他没有任何理由把你扣留下来当俘虏。” “我和我的副官——那就是指我本人和彼得?好——但谁是我的扈从呢?” “我就是。我暂时当你的扈从。”那无畏的苏格兰人回答道。 “你!”巴维翁为难地说,“你不是法王路易的特使吗?” “不错。不过我的密信是写给列日的知事们的——也只有在列日我才会交出来。要是我在威廉•德拉马克面前承认了我的身份,我岂不会被迫和他打交道?是的,还有可能被他扣押。所以你必须把我当作你的扈从秘密送出城堡。” “行——我的扈从。不过你还谈到我的女儿。我想我女儿平安地呆在我列日的家里——我真是衷心希望她的父亲也和她一样,此刻呆在家里。” “这位小姐,”达威特说道,“在此地逗留期间可以称你作父亲。” “今后我一辈子也会称您作父亲,”伯爵小姐跪倒在这位市民的脚下,搂着他的膝头说道,“只要您帮助我渡过这个无望的绝境,我将像女儿对待父亲那样每天每日都敬您,爱您,为您祷告——啊,千万别那么狠心!想想看吧,您自己的女儿也有可能跪在一个陌生人面前,求他保护她的生命和尊严——请想想这个,给予我您希望她也能获得的那种保护吧!” “说实在的,彼得,”那深为少女悲怆的恳求所感动的善良市民说道,“我觉得这俊俏的少女是有点像我那长得可爱的特鲁德珍。一开头我就有这种感觉。而这个好出主意的活跃的年轻人也有点像特鲁德珍的未婚夫。彼得,我敢打赌,这是真诚的恋爱,不助它一臂之力简直是一种罪过。” “既是耻辱又是罪过。”彼得用皮上衣的衣袖擦着眼泪说道。凭心而论,这弗兰德人虽然有些自以为是,但心地善良。 “权且把她当作我的女儿吧,”巴维翁说,“她得好好蒙上黑面纱。既然她是行会主席的女儿,要是没有足够多的忠实制革匠来保护她,那他们就没脸再扯牛皮了。不过得注意,我必须回答他们的问题——要是他们问我,在攻城这种时候,我女儿跑来干什么,我怎么回答好呢?” “请问,列日一半的妇女跟随我们进城堡来,又为了什么呢?”彼得说道,“除开说这正是这世界上她们本不应该来的地方,别的还能说什么呢?我们的特鲁德珍小姐比别人走得稍远一点——如此而已。” “答得真妙。”昆丁说道,“尊贵的巴维翁阁下,您就鼓足勇气,照这位绅士的好主意去干吧。这将是查理曼大帝以来最有价值的一个功德,而您又不致给自己带来麻烦。亲爱的小姐,用这条面纱把你的脸紧紧蒙起来(房间里零乱地摆着许多妇女服装用品)。只要有信心,几分钟之内你就可以获得自由和安全。尊贵的先生,”他对着巴维翁说道,“您领头走吧。” “等——等——等一下,”巴维翁说,“我还是放心不下!这个德拉马克是个狂人,一个名符其实的野猪。要是这个少女就是克罗伊埃小姐那怎么得了?要是让他发现了,大发雷霆那怎么得了?” “假如我真是这个不幸的少女,”伊莎贝尔说道,看去又想向他下跪,“您能够在这绝望的时刻抛弃我吗?啊,但愿我真是您的女儿,一位最贫穷的市民的女儿!” “小姐,我们不算穷——也不算很穷——我们还过得去。”那市民说道。 “请原谅我,高贵的先生。”不幸的少女又说道。 “不算高贵,也不是什么先生,”那行会主席说道,“只是个能用现款偿付票据的普通列日市民。不过这有点文不对题。好吧,你就说你是伯爵小姐,我也照样会保护你。” “即使她是伯爵小姐,你也有义务保护她,”彼得说,“因为你已经作了许诺。” “说得对,彼得,说得很对,”那行会主席又说道,“这是我们低地荷兰人的作风:一言既出,驷马难追。现在让我们谈正事吧——我们得向这个威廉•德拉马克打个招呼才能走。不知怎么回事,我一想起他就心绪不宁。但愿这是个可以摆脱的礼节,我实在没有心思去走过场。” “既然你有支队伍,冲到城门跟前强迫卫兵开门不是更好吗?”昆丁说道。 巴维翁和他的参谋异口同声地表示不赞成对自己的盟军进行这种袭击,并暗示这样做未免轻率。昆丁晓得让这样的同伙冒这种危险是办不到的。他们了解到“阿登内斯野猪”正在举行祝捷盛宴,便决定进入城堡大厅,为列日的行会主席及其一行人要求获得出城的权利——看来这要求十分合理,很难予以拒绝。但那好心的市长还是望着他的伙伴们唉声叹气,并对忠实的彼得说:“你瞧,胆子太大、心肠太软会带来什么样的好处!唉呀,彼得金,你知道仁慈和勇敢让我吃了多少亏!在老天爷让我们离开这倒霉的索恩瓦尔德堡以前,我还不知要为我的善良品德付出多大的代价哩!” 当他们走过仍然躺满了垂死的伤者和死者的庭院时,昆丁扶着伊莎贝尔走过这恐怖的屠场,轻声安慰她,给她鼓气,并提醒她:她的安危完全取决于她的坚定和镇静。 “不是取决于我,”她说,“而是取决于你——取决于你一个人的坚定和镇静。啊,要是我能熬过这个恐怖的夜晚而脱险,我决不会忘了救我的人!我想哀求你再给我一个恩惠,求你看在你父母亲的荣誉和尊严的分上,一定答应我!” “你的要求我怎能拒绝呢?”昆丁轻声说道。 “宁可用匕首捅开我的胸膛,”她说,“也不要让我落在这些禽兽手上当囚徒。” 昆丁惟一的回答是握住伯爵小姐的手。要不是因为这恐怖的情景,看来她本会回答这一爱抚的表示。在巴维翁及其副官打先锋,十多个制革匠组成的行会主席的仪仗队跟随下,伊莎贝尔依偎着她年轻的保镖走进了那杀气腾腾的大厅。 当他们走近大厅时,里面传出来的鼓掌欢呼声、一阵阵粗野的狂笑声似乎说明这是群魔在欢庆对人类取得的胜利而开怀畅饮,并不是凡人在为他们的冒险计划获得成功而干杯。这时,促使伊莎贝尔小姐鼓起勇气的是一种惟有绝望才能激发出来的倔强心理,而促使达威特鼓起勇气的则是在山穷水尽时更为昂扬的大无畏精神。至于巴维翁和他的副官则像被捆在柱子上不得不面对危险的大熊,只好硬着头皮来面对自己的命运。 Chapter 22 The Revellers Cade. -- Where's Dick, the butcher of Ashford? Dick. -- Here, sir. Cade. -- They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and thou behavedst thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own slaughter house. SECOND PART OF KING HENRY V. There could hardly exist a more strange and horrible change than had taken place in the castle hall of Schonwaldt since Quentin had partaken of the noontide meal there, and it was indeed one which painted, in the extremity of their dreadful features, the miseries of war -- more especially when waged by those most relentless of all agents, the mercenary soldiers of a barbarous age -- men who, by habit and profession, had become familiarized with all that was cruel and bloody in the art of war, while they were devoid alike of patriotism and of the romantic spirit of chivalry. Instead of the orderly, decent, and somewhat formal meal, at which civil and ecclesiastical officers had, a few hours before, sat mingled in the same apartment, where a light jest could only be uttered in a whisper, and where, even amid superfluity of feasting and of wine, there reigned a decorum which almost amounted to hypocrisy, there was now such a scene of wild and roaring debauchery as Satan himself, had he taken the chair as founder of the feast, could scarcely have improved. At the head of the table sat, in the Bishop's throne and state, which had been hastily brought thither from his great council chamber, the redoubted Boar of Ardennes himself, well deserving that dreaded name in which he affected to delight, and which he did as much as he could think of to deserve. His head was unhelmeted, but he wore the rest of his ponderous and bright armour, which indeed he rarely laid aside. Over his shoulders hung a strong surcoat, made of the dressed skin of a huge wild boar, the hoofs being of solid silver and the tusks of the same. The skin of the head was so arranged, that, drawn over the casque, when the Baron was armed, or over his bare head in the fashion of a hood, as he often affected when the helmet was laid aside, and as he now wore it, the effect was that of a grinning, ghastly monster, and yet the countenance which it overshadowed scarce required such horrors to improve those which were natural to its ordinary expression. The upper part of De la Marck's face, as Nature had formed it, almost gave the lie to his character, for though his hair, when uncovered, resembled the rude and wild bristles of the hood he had drawn over it, yet an open, high, and manly forehead, broad ruddy cheeks, large, sparkling, light coloured eyes, and a nose which looked like the beak of the eagle, promised something valiant and generous. But the effect of these more favourable traits was entirely overpowered by his habits of violence and insolence, which, joined to debauchery and intemperance, had stamped upon the features a character inconsistent with the rough gallantry which they would otherwise have exhibited. The former had, from habitual indulgence, swollen the muscles of the cheeks and those around the eyes, in particular the latter; evil practices and habits had dimmed the eyes themselves, reddened the part of them that should have been white, and given the whole face a hideous likeness of the monster which it was the terrible Baron's pleasure to resemble. But from an odd sort of contradiction, De la March, while he assumed in other respects the appearance of the Wild Boar, and even seemed pleased with the name, yet endeavoured, by the length and growth of his beard, to conceal the circumstance that had originally procured him that denomination. This was an unusual thickness and projection of the mouth and upper jaw, which, with the huge projecting side teeth, gave that resemblance to the bestial creation, which, joined to the delight that De la Marck had in hunting the forest so called, originally procured for him the name of the Boar of Ardennes. The beard, broad, grisly, and uncombed, neither concealed the natural horrors of the countenance, nor dignified its brutal expression. The soldiers and officers sat around the table, intermixed with the men of Liege, some of them of the very lowest description, among whom Nikkel Blok the butcher, placed near De la Marck himself, was distinguished by his tucked up sleeves, which displayed arms smeared to the elbows with blood, as was the cleaver which lay on the table before him. The soldiers wore, most of them, their beards long and grisly, in imitation of their leader, had their hair plaited and turned upwards, in the manner that ought best improve the natural ferocity of their appearance, and intoxicated, as many of them seemed to be, partly with the sense of triumph, and partly with the long libations of wine which they had been quaffing, presented a spectacle at once hideous and disgusting. The language which they held, and the songs which they sang, without even pretending to pay each other the compliment of listening, were so full of license and blasphemy, that Quentin blessed God that the extremity of the noise prevented them from being intelligible to his companion. It only remains to say of the better class of burghers who were associated with William de la Marck's soldiers in this fearful revel that the wan faces and anxious mien of the greater part showed that they either disliked their entertainment, or feared their companions, while some of lower education, or a nature more brutal, saw only in the excesses of the soldier a gallant bearing, which they would willingly imitate, and the tone of which they endeavoured to catch so far as was possible, and stimulated themselves to the task, by swallowing immense draughts of wine and schwarzbier (black beer) -- indulging a vice 'which at all times was too common in the Low Countries. The preparations for the feast had been as disorderly as the quality of the company. The whole of the Bishop's plate -- nay, even that belonging to the service of the Church -- for the Boar of Ardennes regarded not the imputation of sacrilege -- was mingled with black jacks, or huge tankards made of leather, and drinking horns of the most ordinary description. One circumstance of horror remains to be added and accounted for, and we willingly leave the rest of the scene to the imagination of the reader. Amidst the wild license assumed by the soldiers of De la Marck, one who was excluded from the table (a lanzknecht, remarkable for his courage and for his daring behaviour during the storm of the evening), had impudently snatched up a large silver goblet, and carried it off declaring it should atone for his loss of the share of the feast. The leader laughed till his sides shook at a jest so congenial to the character of the company, but when another, less renowned, it would seem, for audacity in battle, ventured on using the same freedom, De la Marck instantly put a check to a jocular practice, which would soon have cleared his table of all the more valuable decorations. "Ho! by the spirit of the thunder!" he exclaimed, "those who dare not be men when they face the enemy, must not pretend to be thieves among their friends. What! thou frontless dastard, thou -- thou who didst wait for opened gate and lowered bridge, when Conrade Horst forced his way over moat and wall, must thou be malapert? -- Knit him up to the stanchions of the hall window! -- He shall beat time with his feet, while we drink a cup to his safe passage to the devil." The doom was scarce sooner pronounced than accomplished, and in a moment the wretch wrestled out his last agonies, suspended from the iron bars. His body still hung there when Quentin and the others entered the hall, and, intercepting the pale moonbeam, threw on the castle floor an uncertain shadow, which dubiously, yet fearfully, intimated the nature of the substance that produced it. When the Syndic Pavillon was announced from mouth to mouth in this tumultuous meeting, he endeavoured to assume, in right of his authority and influence, an air of importance and equality, which a glance at the fearful object at the window, and at the wild scene around him, rendered it very difficult for him to sustain, notwithstanding the exhortations of Peter, who whispered in his ear with some perturbation, "Up heart, master, or we are but gone men!" The Syndic maintained his dignity, however, as well as he could, in a short address, in which he complimented the company upon the great victory gained by the soldiers of De la Marck and the good citizens of Liege. "Ay," answered De la Marck, sarcastically, "we have brought down the game at last, quoth my lady's brach to the wolf hound. But ho! Sir Burgomaster, you come like Mars, with Beauty by your side. Who is this fair one? -- Unveil, unveil -- no woman calls her beauty her own tonight." "It is my daughter, noble leader," answered Pavillon, "and I am to pray your forgiveness for her wearing a veil. She has a vow for that effect to the Three Blessed Kings." "I will absolve her of it presently," said De la Marck, "for here, with one stroke of a cleaver, will I consecrate myself Bishop of Liege, and I trust one living bishop is worth three dead kings." There was a shuddering and murmur among the guests, for the community of Liege, and even some of the rude soldiers, reverenced the Kings of Cologne, as they were commonly called, though they respected nothing else. "Nay, I mean no treason against their defunct majesties," said De la Marck, "only Bishop I am determined to be. A prince both secular and ecclesiastical, having power to bind and loose, will best suit a band of reprobates such as you, to whom no one else would give absolution. -- But come hither, noble Burgomaster -- sit beside me, when you shall see me make a vacancy for my own preferment. -- Bring in our predecessor in the holy seat." A bustle took place in the hall, while Pavillon, excusing himself from the proffered seat of honour, placed himself near the bottom of the table, his followers keeping close behind him, not unlike a flock of sheep which, when a stranger dog is in presence, may be sometimes seen to assemble in the rear of an old bell wether, who is, from office and authority, judged by them to have rather more courage than themselves. Near the spot sat a very handsome lad, a natural son, as was said, of the ferocious De la Marck, and towards whom he sometimes showed affection, and even tenderness. The mother of the boy, a beautiful concubine, had perished by a blow dealt her by the ferocious leader in a fit of drunkenness or jealousy, and her fate had caused her tyrant as much remorse as he was capable of feeling. His attachment to the surviving orphan might be partly owing to these circumstances. Quentin, who had learned this point of the leader's character from the old priest, planted himself as close as he could to the youth in question, determined to make him, in some way or other, either a hostage or a protector, should other means of safety fail them. While all stood in a kind of suspense, waiting the event of the orders which the tyrant had issued, one of Pavillon's followers whispered Peter, "Did not our master call that wench his daughter? -- Why, it cannot be our Trudchen. This strapping lass is taller by two inches, and there is a black lock of hair peeps forth yonder from under her veil. By Saint Michael of the Marketplace, you might as well call a black bullock's hide a white heifer's! "Hush! hush!" said Peter, with some presence of mind. "What if our 'master hath a mind to steal a piece of doe venison out of the Bishop's parks here, without our good dame's knowledge? And is it for thee or me to be a spy on him?" "That will not I," answered the other, "though I would not have thought of his turning deer stealer at his years. Sapperment -- what a shy fairy it is! See how she crouches down on yonder seat, behind folks' backs, to escape the gaze of the Marckers. -- But hold, hold, what are they about to do with the poor old Bishop?" As he spoke, the Bishop of Liege, Louis of Bourbon, was dragged into the hall of his own palace by the brutal soldiery. The dishevelled state of his hair, beard, and attire bore witness to the ill treatment he had already received, and some of his sacerdotal robes, hastily flung over him, appeared to have been put on in scorn and ridicule of his quality and character. By good fortune, as Quentin was compelled to think it, the Countess Isabelle, whose feelings at seeing her protector in such an extremity might have betrayed her own secret and compromised her safety, was so situated as neither to hear nor see what was about to take place, and Durward sedulously interposed his own person before her, so as to keep her from observing alike and from observation. The scene which followed was short and fearful. When the unhappy Prelate was brought before the footstool of the savage leader, although in former life only remarkable for his easy and good natured temper, he showed in this extremity a sense of his dignity and noble blood, well becoming the high race from which he was descended. His look was composed and undismayed, his gesture, when the rude hands which dragged him forward were unloosed, was noble, and at the same time resigned, somewhat between the bearing of a feudal noble and of a Christian martyr and so much was even De la Marck himself staggered by the firm demeanour of his prisoner and recollection of the early benefits he had received from him, that he seemed irresolute, cast down his eyes, and it was not until he had emptied a large goblet of wine, that, resuming his haughty insolence of look and manner, he thus addressed his unfortunate captive. "Louis of Bourbon," said the truculent soldier, drawing hard his breath, clenching 'his hands, setting his teeth, and using the other mechanical actions to rouse up and sustain his native ferocity of temper, "I sought your friendship, and you rejected mine. What would you now give that it had been otherwise? -- Nikkel, be ready." The butcher rose, seized his weapon, and stealing round behind De la Marck's chair, stood with it uplifted in his bare and sinewy hands. "Look at that man, Louis of Bourbon," said De la Marck again, -- "What terms wilt thou now offer, to escape this dangerous hour?" The Bishop cast a melancholy but unshaken look upon the grisly satellite, who seemed prepared to execute the will of the tyrant, and then he said with firmness, "Hear me, William de la Marck, and good men all, if there be any here who deserve that name, hear the only terms I can offer to this ruffian. "William de la Marck, thou hast stirred up to sedition an imperial city -- hast assaulted and taken the palace of a Prince of the Holy German Empire -- slain his people -- plundered his goods -- maltreated his person, for this thou art liable to the Ban of the Empire (to put a prince under the ban of the empire was to divest him of his dignities, and to interdict all intercourse and all offices of humanity with the offender) -- hast deserved to be declared outlawed and fugitive, landless and rightless. Thou hast done more than all this. More than mere human laws hast thou broken, more than mere human vengeance hast thou deserved. Thou hast broken into the sanctuary of the Lord -- laid violent hands upon a Father of the Church -- defiled the house of God with blood and rapine, like a sacrilegious robber --" "Hast thou yet done?" said De la Marck, fiercely interrupting him, and stamping with his foot. "No," answered the Prelate, "for I have not yet told thee the terms which you demanded to hear from me." "Go on," said De la Marck, "and let the terms please me better than the preface, or woe to thy gray head!" And flinging himself back in his seat, he grinded his teeth till the foam flew from his lips, as from the tusks of the savage animal whose name and spoils he wore. "Such are thy crimes," resumed the Bishop, with calm determination, "now hear the terms, which, as a merciful Prince and a Christian Prelate, setting aside all personal offence, forgiving each peculiar injury, I condescend to offer. Fling down thy heading staff -- renounce thy command -- unbind thy prisoners -- restore thy spoil -- distribute what else thou hast of goods, to relieve those whom thou hast made orphans and widows -- array thyself in sackcloth and ashes -- take a palmer's staff in thy hand, and go barefooted on pilgrimage to Rome, and we will ourselves be intercessors for thee with the Imperial Chamber at Ratisbon for thy life, With our Holy Father the Pope for thy miserable soul." While Louis of Bourbon proposed these terms, in a tone as decided as if he still occupied his episcopal throne, and as if the usurper kneeled a suppliant at his feet, the tyrant slowly raised himself in his chair, the amazement with which he was at first filled giving way gradually to rage, until, as the Bishop ceased, he looked to Nikkel Blok, and raised his finger, without speaking a word. The ruffian struck as if he had been doing his office in the common shambles, and the murdered Bishop sunk, without a groan, at the foot of his own episcopal throne. The Liegeois, who were not prepared for so horrible a catastrophe, and who had expected to hear the conference end in some terms of accommodation, started up unanimously, with cries of execration, mingled with shouts of vengeance. (In assigning the present date to the murder of the Bishop of Liege, Louis de Bourbon, history has been violated. It is true that the Bishop was made prisoner by the insurgents of that city. It is also true that the report of the insurrection came to Charles with a rumour that the Bishop was slain, which excited his indignation against Louis, who was then in his power. But these things happened in 1468, and the Bishop's murder did not take place till 1482. In the months of August and September of that year, William de la Marck, called the Wild Boar of Ardennes, entered into a conspiracy with the discontented citizens of Liege against their Bishop, Louis of Bourbon, being aided with considerable sums of money by the King of France. By this means, and the assistance of many murderers and banditti, who thronged to him as to a leader befitting them, De la Marck assembled a body of troops, whom he dressed in scarlet as a uniform, with a boar's head on the left sleeve. With this little army he approached the city of Liege. Upon this the citizens, who were engaged in the conspiracy, came to their Bishop, and, offering to stand by him to the death, exhorted him to march out against these robbers. The Bishop, therefore, put himself at the head of a few troops of his own, trusting to the assistance of the people of Liege. But so soon as they came in sight of the enemy, the citizens, as before agreed, fled from the Bishop's banner, and he was left with his own handful of adherents. At this moment De la Marck charged at the head of his banditti with the expected success. The Bishop was brought before the profligate Knight, who first cut him over the face, then murdered him with his own hand, and caused his body to be exposed naked in the great square of Liege before Saint Lambert's Cathedral. S.) But William de la Marck, raising his tremendous voice above the tumult, and shaking his clenched hand and extended arm, shouted aloud, "How now, ye porkers of Liege! ye wallowers in the mud of the Maes! -- do ye dare to mate yourselves with the Wild Boar of Ardennes? -- Up, ye Boar's brood!" (an expression by which he himself, and others, often designated his soldiers) "let these Flemish hogs see your tusks!" Every one of his followers started up at the command, and mingled as they were among their late allies, prepared too for such a surprisal, each had, in an instant, his next neighbour by the collar, while his right hand brandished a broad dagger that glimmered against lamplight and moonshine. Every arm was uplifted, but no one struck, for the victims were too much surprised for resistance, 'and it was probably the object of De la Marck only to impose terror on his civic confederates. But the courage of Quentin Durward, prompt and alert in resolution beyond his years, and stimulated at the moment by all that could add energy to his natural shrewdness and resolution, gave a new turn to the scene. Imitating the action of the followers of De la Marck, he sprang on Carl Eberson, the son of their leader, and mastering him with ease, held his dirk at the boy's throat, while he exclaimed, "Is that your game? then here I play my part." "Hold! hold!" exclaimed De la Marck, "it is a jest -- a jest. -- Think you I would injure my good friends and allies of the city of Liege! -- Soldiers, unloose your holds, sit down, take away the carrion" (giving the Bishop's corpse a thrust with his foot) "which hath caused this strife among friends, and let us drown unkindness in a fresh carouse." All unloosened their holds, and the citizens and the soldiers stood gazing on each other, as if they scarce knew whether they were friends or foes. Quentin Durward took advantage of the moment. "Hear me," he said, "William de la Marck, and you, burghers and citizens of Liege -- and do you, young sir, stand still" (for the boy Carl was attempting to escape from his grip) - "no harm shall befall you unless another of these sharp jests shall pass around." "Who art thou, in the fiend's name," said the astonished De la Marck, "who art come to hold terms and take hostages from us in our own lair -- from us, who exact pledges from others, but yield them to no one?" "I am a servant of King Louis of France," said Quentin, boldly, "an Archer of his Scottish Guard, as my language and dress may partly tell you. I am here to behold and to report your proceedings, and I see with wonder that they are those of heathens, rather than Christians -- of madmen, rather than men possessed of reason. The hosts of Charles of Burgundy will be instantly in motion against you all, and if you wish assistance from France, you must conduct yourself in a different manner. "For you, men of Liege, I advise your instant return to your own city, and if there is any obstruction offered to your departure, I denounce those by whom it is so offered, foes to my master, his Most Gracious Majesty of France." "France and Liege! France and Liege!" cried the followers of Pavillon, and several other citizens whose courage began to rise at the bold language held by Quentin. "France and Liege, and long live the gallant Archer! We will live and die with him!" William de la Marck's eyes sparkled, and he grasped his dagger as if about to launch it at the heart of the audacious speaker, but glancing his eye around, he read something in the looks of his soldiers which even he was obliged to respect. Many of them were Frenchmen, and all of them knew the private support which William had received, both in men and in money, from that kingdom, nay, some of them were rather startled at the violent and sacrilegious action which had been just committed. The name of Charles of Burgundy, a person likely to resent to the utmost the deeds of that night, had an alarming sound, and the extreme impolicy of at once quarrelling with the Liegeois and provoking the Monarch of France, made an appalling impression on their minds, confused as their intellects were. De la Marck, in short, saw he would not be supported, even by his own band, in any farther act of immediate violence, and relaxing the terrors of his brow and eye, declared that he had not the least design against his good friends of Liege, all of whom were at liberty to depart from Schonwaldt at their pleasure, although he had hoped they would revel one night with him, at least, in honour of their victory. He added, with more calmness than he commonly used, that he would be ready to enter into negotiation concerning the partition of spoil, and the arrangement of measures for their mutual defence, either the next day, or as soon after as they would. Meantime he trusted that the Scottish gentleman would honour his feast by remaining all night at Schonwaldt. The young Scot returned his thanks, but said his motions must be determined by those of Pavillon, to whom he was directed particularly to attach himself, but that, unquestionably, he would attend him on his next return to the quarters of the valiant William de la Marck. "If you depend on my motions," said Pavillon, hastily and aloud, "you are likely to quit Schonwaldt without an instant's delay -- and, if you do not come back to Schonwaldt, save in my company, you are not likely to see it again in a hurry." This last part of the sentence the honest citizen muttered to himself, afraid of the consequences of giving audible vent 'to feelings which, nevertheless, he was unable altogether to suppress. "Keep close about me, my brisk Kurschner (a worker in fur) lads." he said to his bodyguard, "and we will get as fast as we can out of this den of thieves." Most of the better classes of the Liegeois seemed to entertain similar opinions with the Syndic, and there had been scarce so much joy amongst them at the obtaining possession of Schonwaldt as now seemed to arise from the prospect of getting safe out of it. They were suffered to leave the castle without opposition of any kind, and glad was Quentin when he turned his back on those formidable walls. For the first time since they had entered that dreadful hall, Quentin ventured to ask the young Countess how she did. "Well, well," she answered, in feverish haste, "excellently well -- do not stop to ask a question, let us not lose an instant in words. -- Let us fly -- let us fly!" She endeavoured to mend her pace as she spoke, but with so little success that she must have fallen from exhaustion had not Durward supported her. With the tenderness of a mother, when she conveys her infant out of danger, the young Scot raised his precious charge in his arms, and while she encircled his neck with one arm, lost to every other thought save the desire of escaping, he would not have wished one of the risks of the night unencountered, since such had been the conclusion. The honest Burgomaster was, in his turn, supported and dragged forward by his faithful counsellor Peter, and another of his clerks, and thus, in breathless haste, they reached the banks of the river, encountering many strolling bands of citizens, who were eager to know the event of the siege, and the truth of certain rumours already afloat that the conquerors had quarrelled among themselves. Evading their curiosity as they best could, the exertions of Peter and some of his companions at length procured a boat for the use of the company, and with it an opportunity of enjoying some repose, equally welcome to Isabelle, who continued to lie almost motionless in the arms of her deliverer, and to the worthy Burgomaster, who, after delivering a broken string of thanks to Durward, whose mind was at the time too much occupied to answer him, began a long harangue, which he addressed to Peter, upon his own courage and benevolence, and the dangers to which these virtues had exposed him, on this and other occasions. "Peter, Peter," he said, resuming the complaint of the preceding evening, "if I had not had a bold heart, I would never have stood out against paying the burghers twentieths, when every other living soul was willing to pay the same. -- Ay, and then a less stout heart had not seduced me into that other battle of Saint Tron, where a Hainault man at arms thrust me into a muddy ditch with his lance, which neither heart nor hand that I had could help me out of till the battle was over. -- Ay, and then, Peter, this very night my courage seduced me, moreover, into too strait a corselet, which would have been the death of me, but for the aid of this gallant young gentleman, whose trade is fighting, whereof I wish him heartily joy. And then for my tenderness of heart, Peter, it has made a poor man of me, that is, it would have made a poor man of me, if I had not been tolerably well to pass in this wicked world -- and Heaven knows what trouble it is likely to bring on me yet, with ladies, countesses, and keeping of secrets, which, for aught I know, may cost me half my fortune, and my neck into the bargain!" Quentin could remain no longer silent, but assured him that whatever danger or damage he should incur on the part of the young lady now under his protection should be thankfully acknowledged, and, as far as was possible, repaid. "I thank you, young Master Squire Archer, I thank you," answered the citizen of Liege "but who was it told you that I desired any repayment at your hand for doing the duty of an honest man? I only regretted that it might cost me so and so, and I hope I may have leave to say so much to my lieutenant, without either grudging my loss or my peril." Quentin accordingly concluded that his present friend was one of the numerous class of benefactors to others, who take out their reward in grumbling, without meaning more than, by showing their grievances, to exalt a little the idea of the valuable service by which they have incurred them, and therefore prudently remained silent, and suffered the Syndic to maunder on to his lieutenant concerning the risk and the loss he had encountered by his zeal for the public good, and his disinterested services to individuals, until they reached his own habitation. The truth was, that the honest citizen felt that he had lost a little consequence, by suffering the young stranger to take the lead at the crisis which had occurred at the castle hall of Schonwaldt, and, however delighted with the effect of Durward's interference at the moment, it seemed to him, on reflection, that he had sustained a diminution of importance, for which he endeavoured to obtain compensation by exaggerating the claims which he had upon the gratitude of his country in general, his friends in particular, and more especially still, on the Countess of Croye, and her youthful protector. But when the boat stopped at the bottom of his garden, and he had got himself assisted on shore by Peter, it seemed as if the touch of his own threshold had at once dissipated those feelings of wounded self opinion and jealousy, and converted the discontented and obscured demagogue into the honest, kind, hospitable, and friendly host. He called loudly for Trudchen, who presently appeared, for fear and anxiety would permit few within the walls of Liege to sleep during that eventful night. She was charged to pay the utmost attention to the care of the beautiful and half fainting stranger, and, admiring her personal charms, while she pitied her distress, Gertrude discharged the hospitable duty with the zeal and affection of a sister. Late as it now was, and fatigued as the Syndic appeared, Quentin, on his side, had difficulty to escape a flask of choice and costly wine, as old as the battle of Azincour, and must have submitted to take his share, however unwilling, but for the appearance of the mother of the family, whom Pavillon's loud summons for the keys of the cellar brought forth from her bedroom. She was a jolly little roundabout, woman, who had been pretty in her time, but whose principal characteristics for several years had been a red and sharp nose, a shrill voice, and a determination that the Syndic, in consideration of the authority which he exercised when abroad, should remain under the rule of due discipline at home. So soon as she understood the nature of the debate between her husband and his guest, she declared roundly that the former, instead of having occasion for more wine, had got too much already, and, far from using, in furtherance of his request, any of the huge bunch of keys which hung by a silver chain at her waist, she turned her back on him without ceremony, and ushered Quentin to the neat and pleasant apartment in which he was to spend the night, amid such appliances to rest and comfort as probably he had till that moment been entirely a stranger to, so much did the wealthy Flemings excel, not merely the poor and rude Scots, but the French themselves in all the conveniences of domestic life. 凯德:阿希福德的屠夫狄克在哪儿? 狄克:主帅,我在这儿。 凯德:他们就像牛羊似的在你面前倒了下去,你干得就像在你 自己的屠宰场里一样出色。 《亨利六世》第二部分 自从昆丁在索恩瓦尔德堡的大厅里吃过那顿午餐以后,这里所发生的变化也许是最为离奇和恐怖的。这种变化的确以最可怕的色彩描绘出了战争的灾难——特别是因为这次战斗是由野蛮时代的雇佣军这样一些最残酷无情的家伙来进行的。他们的职业和习性已使他们对战争中一切残暴、血腥的东西习以为常,而他们既没有爱国爱民之心,也没有骑士的罗曼蒂克精神。 在这同一个大厅里,几小时以前文职和圣职官员还曾坐在一起规矩而体面地,甚至有点拘泥地吃着饭,只容许轻声谈笑;即使酒肴异常丰富,也存在着一种近乎虚伪的客气和礼貌。但眼下却是一种狂野、嚣张的放荡迹象。即便撒旦亲自来主持这个欢宴,也未必能更胜一筹。 在餐桌的上席坐着那可畏的“阿登内斯野猪”。他坐的是人们为他匆忙从会议厅抬来的主教专用宝座。“野猪”这个名字他真受之无愧,而且他也深表欣赏,并尽他所能想到的一切来使自己名实相符。他解掉了头盔,但仍然穿着他那很少脱掉的沉重而明亮的铠甲;肩上披着一张大野猪皮做的结实的披风;野猪蹄和獠牙都是纯银做的。野猪的头皮在“爵爷”全副武装时被拉在他的头盔上,而在他经常脱掉头盔或像它现在这样系在脑后时,则像个兜帽罩在他的光头上,给人的印象真像个狰狞可怕的怪兽。但这野猪皮罩着的面孔也毋须此种恐怖的装饰来增加其天生就具有的恐怖表情。 大自然创造出来的德拉马克的上半部面孔几乎使人看不出他的真实性格。他的头发在没戴帽子时固然很像罩在上面的野猪皮那粗糙的鬃毛,但他那颇有大丈夫气概的高而开阔的前额、宽大而红润的面颊、大而明亮的淡色眼睛和鹰钩鼻子却给人一种勇敢而豪侠的感觉。不过这些有利的特征早已被他横蛮残暴的习性所抵消。这些习性加上放荡和纵欲,已使得他的面貌打上了与它本有可能表现出的勃勃英气毫不相容的性格烙印。由于经常沉溺于酒色之中,面部肌肉,特别是眼睛周围的肌肉已显浮肿,罪恶的习性也使得眼睛黯淡无光,白的部分过早地变红,令人感觉他面目可惜,很像可怕的“爵爷’嘻欢模拟的那个猛兽。然而,矛盾得有点出奇的是,尽管德拉马克在其他方面都装出野猪的模样,甚至对野猪这个绰号似乎还感到满意,但另一方面他却利用他那一大把长胡子来掩盖那原来为他赢得了这一绰号的面部特征。这指的是他那异常肥厚和突出的嘴唇和上颚,以及他那突出的大獠牙。这一切配在一起使他很像一头野猪;加上德拉马克常出没于“野猪林”,并以此为家,这就为他博得了“阿登内斯野猪”的鼎鼎大名。他那不常梳理的吓人的大胡子既不能掩盖他面孔上天然的阴森恐怖表情,也不能使这一野蛮的表情增加点威严的色彩。 强盗官兵和一些地位卑下的列日市民围着桌子并肩坐在一起。屠夫尼克尔•布洛克坐在德拉马克旁边。他把袖子卷得高高的,露出两只齐肘部全沾满了鲜血的胳膊,可以和他面前摆着的血污的屠刀媲美。当兵的大多数都模仿他们的头头蓄着长得吓人的胡子,并将他们编成辫子的头发朝上竖着,以增强其面貌给人的凶恶印象。也许是由于陶醉于胜利的骄傲和长时间灌酒的缘故吧,许多人都已显得酩酊大醉了。所有这一切都叫人看起来既丑恶又可憎。他们使用的语言和唱的歌(连他们自己都无心装出听别人唱的客气样子)全都极其淫荡和狠押。昆丁不禁要感谢上帝,幸亏声音十分嘈杂,使他的女伴听不清他们的说说唱唱。 至于在这个可怕的欢宴上和威廉•德拉马克的士兵同席而坐的出身较好的市民们,我们只需指出,他们大多数人的脸上呈现出的失魂落魄的神情说明,他们要么是不喜欢这种款待,要么是害怕他们的伙伴。然而那些教养较差、天性更为野蛮的市民则把丘八们的放肆看作是一种他们很愿意模仿的洒脱表现,竭力想领略其特有的情趣,并喝下大口大口的黑啤酒——一种低地人民当中十分普遍的恶习——给自己增加所需的刺激。 宴会的筹备也是杂乱无章的,和赴宴者的性格如出一辙。“阿登内斯野猪”不顾亵渎圣器的罪名,竟叫人把主教家的餐具,甚至教堂用于圣餐的用具全都拿来使用,与黑酒罐、皮制大酒杯以及最常见的一些角制酒壶优劣不分地混在一起。 我们还想补充一个恐怖的情节并进行一番解说,而把其余的部分留给读者自己去想象。在德拉马克士兵们疯狂地饮酒作乐之际,一个被逐出酒席的长矛手(在今晚的攻城当中表现得很勇敢)公然拿起一个大银酒杯就跑,说这是为了补偿他未能参加宴会的损失。看到与宴会的性质和气氛如此协调的这一玩笑,那首领不禁捧腹大笑起来。但当另一个在作战勇敢方面默默无闻的家伙也妄图采取这一行动时,德拉马克马上沉下脸来进行干涉,因为这种开心事要是不及时刹车,桌上的宝贵餐具很快就会被一扫而光。“嗬!雷神爷在上!”他大声吼道,“那些在敌人面前不敢当英雄的人休想在自己人中间当小偷!怎么!你这胆小鬼,当康拉德过河翻墙,冲锋陷阵时,你在等着开城门,放吊桥,你也胆敢乱来吗?把他吊在窗子上!让他两只脚打拍子,我们将在一边为他干杯,祝他一帆风顺进地狱。” 死刑刚一宣判,便马上兑现了。转瞬之间那可怜的家伙便被吊在铁棒上断了气。当昆丁一行进入大厅时,他的尸体还吊在那儿,由于挡住了苍白的月光,在地板上投下一团模糊的阴影,使人疑惑而恐惧地猜想到产生这阴影的是个什么性质的东西。 当行会主席巴维翁的大名在这狂嚣的聚会上被通报上去时,他竭力装出一副权威和影响都使他有权和他们平起平坐的要人气派。但一看到窗子上吊着的那吓人的东西,以及他周围那放荡不羁的情景,他就感到很难把这个角色坚持下去——虽然彼得在他耳边不安地连连告诫他:“老爷,鼓起勇气,要不我们就完蛋了。” 这位行会主席在他庆祝德拉马克的士兵和列日市民取得巨大胜利的简短贺词中还是尽其所能地维护了他应有的尊严。 “不错,”德拉马克挖苦地说道,“我女人的母狼犬对狼犬说:我们终归还是把那猎物杀死了。嗬,市长先生,您真像战神驾到,还有美女陪伴!这美人是谁?取下面纱,取下面纱——今晚任何女人也不得把自己的美丽作为私有。” “高贵的首领,这可是我的女儿,”巴维翁说道,“我求您原谅她戴面纱,因为她曾对得福的三王许过愿。” “我可以替她马上解除许下的愿,”德拉马克说道,“因为我只消屠刀一劈,就可以把自己奉为列日主教。我想一个活着的主教总配得上死去的三王吧。” 一听这话,在座的来宾不禁微微颤栗,窃窃私语起来,因为列日的市民,甚至包括粗鲁的士兵,尽管别的概不尊敬,却十分尊崇所谓的“科隆三王”。 “别误会。我并不是想背叛已故的三位国王陛下,”德拉马克说,“不过,我已决心当这个主教。能有一个既有俗权又有神权并有聚散人马能力的王子,再配上你们这样一帮浪荡子,应当是最适合不过,因为别人谁也不会给你们赦罪的好处——高贵的市长,请你过来,坐在我旁边。为了我的荣升,你会看到我亲手创造一个缺额。带那坐过这个神圣席位的前任主教进来。” 大厅里呈现出一阵忙乱活跃的气氛。巴维翁退出了给他的上席,坐在餐桌的下首。他的随从们则紧紧站在他后面,此刻就像一群羊见到一只陌生的狗,赶忙聚在带头羊的后面,因为带头羊的职务和权威使得别的羊都认为它要比它们自己更为勇敢。他们附近坐着一个英俊的小伙子,据说是凶恶的德拉马克的私生子。有时他显得很喜欢这个儿子,甚至表现出某种疼爱,因为这孩子的母亲原是德拉马克的一个美丽的情妇,由于这凶狠的首领大发酒疯或大发醋意而被他活活打死。她的悲惨命运使得这残暴的丈夫感到了他所能感到的某些悔恨。他对这个活着的孤儿怀有的感情可能有一部分正是出于这种原因。昆丁曾从年老的牧师那儿了解到这个情况。此刻他尽力挨近这小伙子,决心在别的防卫措施不解决问题时,通过某种方式抓住他当人质或给自己当盾牌。 正当人们全都急切地等着,看这暴君发出的命令如何执行时,一个巴维翁的随从对彼得耳语道:“我们老爷不是把那姑娘称作他女儿么?嘿,她不可能是我们的特鲁德珍。这高个子的姑娘要比她高两英寸。面纱底下还露出一束黑头发。市场的圣米林在上,这等于是把一张黑公牛皮叫作白母牛皮!” “住嘴!住嘴!”彼得镇静地说道,“万一是老爷想瞒住太太,从主教的花园里偷走一头小母鹿呢?难道你我该告他的密吗?” “老兄,我才不会哩,”那人说道,“但我可没想到在他这把年纪还会偷小母鹿。好家伙——瞧她是个多害羞的美人!她蹲下来坐在那张椅子上,躲在别人背后,想逃避德拉马克这帮人射向她的目光。瞧,瞧他们打算怎样对付那可怜的老主教!” 正当他这么说着的时候,列日主教——波旁•路易被一伙野蛮的匪兵拽进了他自己宫廷的大厅。乱七八糟的头发、胡须和长袍,说明他遭受了虐待。那匆忙给他披上的僧袍似乎是为了故意嘲弄他的身份而硬套在他身上的。昆丁不能不想到,幸好伊莎贝尔小姐所在的位置听不见,也看不见将要发生的情况,否则,看到她那善良的保护人遭到不幸而流露出的感情可能会暴露她的秘密,危及她的安全。达威特体贴地挡在她前面,好让她看不见别的人,也让别人看不见她。 紧接着出现了一个短暂而恐怖的情景。不幸的主教被带到那野蛮的首领的脚凳跟前。从前人们只知道他平易近人,和蔼可亲,但在这个危急关头他还表现出与其高贵的血统十分相称的尊严感和优越感。他从容不迫。在把他拽向前去的粗暴匪徒松开手时,他的态度既高贵,又显得泰然自若,看起来既有些像封建贵族,又有些像基督教殉道者。这位阶下国的仪态如此坚定,甚至使德拉马克也大吃一惊。这时他又回想起他早年给他的一些恩惠,于是显得有些犹豫不决,把头低了下来。他把一大杯酒一饮而尽,最后才恢复他那傲慢无礼的态度和表情,面对那不幸的囚徒讲了起来:“波旁•路易!”凶恶的匪首例抽口气,握紧拳头,咬紧牙关,并通过他所能使用的别的机械动作来刺激和保持他那天生的残暴性格。他往下继续说道:“过去我争取过你的友谊,而你拒绝了我的友谊。现在情况不同了,你该怎么办?尼克尔,准备好。” 那屠夫站起来,拿起屠刀,悄悄走到德拉马克的椅子后面,卷起袖子,露出他那肌腱发达的胳膊,然后高举屠刀站着待命。 “波旁•路易,你瞧这个人,”德拉马克继续说道,“你想提出什么条件以避免这危险的时刻到来呢?” 主教向那准备好随时执行暴君命令的凶恶奴才忧伤而坚定地看了一眼,然后毫不动摇地说道:“威廉•德拉马克,你听我说。所有善良的人们(如果在场的人有谁不愧这个称呼的话),也请听我讲讲我能给这个暴徒什么样的条件。威廉•德拉马克,你煽动一个君主管辖的城市起来叛乱,攻占了神圣德意志帝国一个王子的宫廷,杀了他的人,抢了他的财产,对他进行了人身侮辱——仅此你就罪该受到帝国的通缉,被宣布为不受法律保护的化外之民,被剥夺田产和权利。当然,你所干的远远不止这些。你所破坏的不仅是人类的法律——你该受到的也不仅是人类的报复和惩罚。你闯进了上帝的圣坛,以暴力对待教会的神父,以杀戮和抢劫来玷污上帝的神殿,与一个亵渎神明的强盗毫无区别——” “你还没个完吗?’德拉马克狠狠打断他,顿足说道。 “还没说完,”主教说,“我还没说出你要求我告诉你的条件。” “继续讲吧,’德拉马克说道,“你得把你的条件讲得比你在开场白里讲的更叫我满意一些,否则当心你的花白的脑袋!”他咬牙切齿地说完了,往椅背上一倒,唇间渗着白沫——颇像他取其名。披其毛皮的野猪从獠牙里吐出的白沫。 “既然你的罪行如此,”主教宁静而果决地说道,“那你就听我的条件吧。我是作为一个慈善的王子、基督教会的主教,不计个人恩怨,不计一切具体损失,宽宏大量地提出的条件:扔掉你的‘王笏’,放弃你的指挥权,释放你的俘虏,交回你的赃物。把你抢来的其他财物用来救济你一手制造出来的孤儿寡妇;披着表示忏悔的麻布衣,拿着香客的根杖,赤着脚去罗马朝圣,这样,我将向雷根斯堡的帝国法庭为你的生命求情,向神圣的教皇为你可悲的灵魂求情。” 波旁•路易以一种坚决的口吻提出这些条件,俨然他自己仍然占据着主教的宝座,而篡位者正跪在他脚下求饶。但这时暴君已从椅子上慢慢站了起来,原先所感到的惊异已逐渐代之以愤怒。当主教话一停,他便转身对着尼克尔•布洛克,默默地举起一个指头。那暴徒就像在普通屠宰场干活计似的砍了一刀,被杀害的主教便无声无息地倒在他自己的宝座跟前。列日市民对这恐怖的灾祸事前毫无心理准备,原先还指望最后达成某种妥协,这时都不约而同地跳了起来,大声咒骂,并发出要为主教复仇的怒吼声。 威廉•德拉马克提起他的大嗓门压过这一片喧哗声,伸开手,挥着拳头大声吼道:“列日城的猪崽子们,在马埃斯河的淤泥里打滚的家伙!你们竟敢和‘阿登内斯野猪’争个高低?站起来,我的野猪秽!”(这是他自己和别的人称他部下的一种叫法)“让这些弗兰德阉猪看看你们的獠牙!” 一听见这声命令,每个匪兵都刷地站了起来。他们既然和先前的盟友错开坐着,自然早已为这种突然行动作好了准备。顷刻之间各人都抓住旁边一个列日人的衣领,右手则挥动着一把被月光映照得明晃晃的匕首。他们都高抬着手臂,但没有人真动手,因为受威胁的对方都惊恐得不敢稍有反抗。而德拉马克的目的,也可能只是想对他的市民盟友进行一番恫吓而已。 然而,迅速果断远远超过其年龄的昆丁•达威特,在足以激励他固有的聪明和魄力的各种因素影响下,此刻勇气倍增,突然扭转了整个局面。他仿效德拉马克手下人的做法,跳起来抓住了匪首的儿子卡尔•艾伯森,轻易地制服了他。他把匕首对准这小伙子的喉咙,一边吼道:“你要玩这套把戏,那我也不客气。” “住手!住手!”德拉马克喊道,“这是开的玩笑——开的玩笑。你以为我真会伤害我列日城的好盟友吗?士兵们,快松手,坐下来。把这尸首(说着用脚踢踢主教的尸体)——把这在朋友之间制造不和的尸首抬出去。让我们再痛快地喝吧,用酒来洗刷这场争吵。” 所有的野猪秒都松了手。市民和匪兵面面相觑地站着,他们似乎给搞糊涂了,不明白究竟是敌是友。昆丁•达威特抓住了这个时机。 “听我说,”他讲道,“威廉•德拉马克和各位列日市民,你们都听我说说——你这年轻的先生,也请你乖乖站住,”什尔正企图摆脱他的控制)“除非再开那么个厉害的玩笑,否则你用不着害怕。” “看在魔鬼的分上,你说说你究竟是谁,”德拉马克惊奇地说道,“竟敢跑到太岁头上动土,跑到我们窝里来抓我们的人质,和我们谈判?要知道,我们是只抓别人的人质而从来没有让别人抓我们的人质。” “我是法国路易王的臣仆,”昆丁大胆地说道,“正如我的口音和服装能部分说明的那样是个苏格兰近卫军射手。我是来观察并了解你们的所作所为的。我惊奇地看到,你们表演的是异教徒的行径,而不是基督徒的行径——是疯子的行径而不是有理性的人的行径。勃艮第•查尔斯的大军马上就会开来对付你们。如果你们指望得到法国的援助,你们就必须改弦易辙。列日市民们,我建议你们马上回城里去。有谁胆敢阻挠你们离开,我就指控进行阻挠的人是我的主人——最仁慈的法王陛下的敌人。” “法兰西——列日!法兰西——列日!”巴维翁的部下及其他几个市民齐声喊道,因为他们听到昆丁的大胆陈词已逐渐鼓起勇气。 “法兰西——列日!英勇的射手万岁!我们愿与他同生死共患难!” 威廉•德拉马克的眼睛炯炯发光,他握紧匕首,像要朝那不畏强暴的年轻人的胸口投掷过去。但他用眼睛向周围一扫,看出在他自己部下的表情当中也有某种甚至连他也不得不考虑的东西。他们当中有许多法国人,他们也全都知道威廉在人力和财力方面得到了法国的暗中支持。再说,某些部下对刚犯下的亵渎神明的暴行也颇感吃惊。勃艮第•查尔斯的大名具有使他们惊惶不安的威力,而这位公爵对今晚的事件可能极为愤怒。在同一时间内既和列日市民闹翻,又惹怒法国国王这种极不策略的做法,尽管这帮人思想糊涂,也不能不在他们心中产生可怕的印象。总之,德拉马克已看出,要是他想立刻再采取任何暴力行动,连他自己的部下也不会给他支持。于是他一展他那阴森恐怖的眉毛说:“我丝毫没有意思加害我列日城的好朋友。你们全都可以自由自在地离开索恩瓦尔德堡。不过,我原指望你们至少和我畅饮一个通宵来庆祝我们的胜利。”他还比往常更心平气和地补充说:“我准备在明天,或你们所希望的尽快的一个时间,就分享战利品和组织共同防御的问题马上进行磋商。不过,我希望这位苏格兰绅士能在城堡里过夜,给我的宴会赏个光。” 年轻的苏格兰人推辞说,他必须按照巴维翁的行动来决定自己的行动,因为路易王指示他要特别和他保持接触,不过他肯定下次会光临骁勇的威廉•德拉马克的营部,去看望他。 “如果你按我的行动来决定你的行动,”巴维翁赶忙大声说道,“那你得毫不迟延地马上离开索恩瓦尔德,而如果你要在我的陪伴下才肯回到这里来,那你就休想在短期内再回来。” 这诚实的市民说后半句话时压低了嗓门,因为他害怕大声会流露自己的感情而带来严重后果,但他又无法完全抑制住自己的愤怒。 “制革业的健儿们,紧紧跟着我,”他对他的保镖们说道,“我们将尽快离开这个土匪窝。” 出身高贵的大多数列日人似乎和这行会主席抱有相同的看法。他们在攻占索恩瓦尔德时感到的快乐未必能超过此刻看到有可能安全离开的前景时所产生的快乐。最后匪徒们终于让他们顺利地离开了城堡。当那阴森可怕的城墙被远远抛在身后时,昆丁由衷地感到喜悦。 从他们进入那恐怖的大厅的那一刻起,昆丁第一次有了机会问伯爵小姐感觉如何。 “好,好,”她急忙回答道,“非常好。别停下来问我了。别浪费时间讲话——让我们快逃——快逃!” 她边说边加快步伐。但这一努力收效甚微。要不是达威特扶住她,她肯定会精疲力竭地倒在地上。年轻的苏格兰人怀着一种使婴儿渡过了危险期的慈母所感到的柔情把这受他保护的、无限珍爱的少女抱在怀里。她用一只手搂着他的脖子,脑子里只有一个逃跑的念头。既然事情以这样一个结局告终,想必这年轻人并不后悔今晚所冒的种种危险。 诚实的市长本人则由他忠诚的参谋彼得及另外一个僚属半搀半扶半拽着往前走,一口气赶到了河岸。他们碰到一群群游荡的市民急切地向他们打听围城的经过以及他们听说到的征服者发生内让的真实情况。 他们尽量回避人们好奇的询问。彼得和几个同伴费了一番功夫终于找到了一条船供大伙使用。有了船也有了休息的机会。这对那仍然静静地躺在救命恩人怀里的伊莎贝尔和那可敬的市长真是再美不过。市长对达威特说了一连串感激的话,但年轻人此刻思绪万千,顾不上回答。他便转过身来对彼得发表长篇议论,评述他自己的勇敢和仁慈以及在很多场合下这些美德给他带来的危险。 “彼得,彼得,”他又重弹起前晚自我抱怨的老调说了起来,“要不是我这人胆子太大,我肯定不会在别人都愿交二十文市政税时,还硬顶住拒绝交纳。另外,要是我这人意志不那么坚强,我也不至于参加那场圣特隆战役,结果被一个埃洛武士用长矛把我捅进了一条稀泥沟,直到战事结束以前,无论是我的意志还是我的手劲都无法使我从沟里爬出来。还有,彼得,今晚又是我的勇气诱使我穿上了一件过分紧身的铠甲,差点把我活活憋死,多亏这位勇敢的年轻绅士救了我。他是来吃打仗这碗饭的,我衷心祝他走运。至于说我的好心肠,那么,它已经——应该说它本有可能——把我搞成一个穷光蛋。好在在这个罪恶的世界上我日子也还温得过去。不过,假如老要对付一些仕女、伯爵小姐和一些保守秘密的鬼事,天知道还会给我带来多少麻烦;我敢担保,准会报销掉我一半的财产,外加我的脑袋!” 昆丁无法再沉默下去,只好安慰他说,不管他为了保护这位年轻少女承担何种损失和风险,他将来都会得到感激,并会得到不少的报酬。 “谢谢你,年轻的射手扈从先生,谢谢你,”那列日市民回答说,“不过,谁告诉你,就因为我尽了一个老实人的义务指望得到你的报酬呢?我只是遗憾地说,我可能失去这失去那。我想我有权对我的副官这么说说,而并不意味着抱怨我受到的损失或危险。” 昆丁只好断定,他现在这位朋友也是一个喜欢通过发发牢骚来取得行善报酬的好人。这些好人为数众多。他们无非是想抱怨几句来稍稍抬高使得他们蒙受损失的功德所具有的价值。所以他决定审慎地保持缄默,让这位行会主席继续对他的副官唠叨,诉说他热心为公众谋福利,无私为别人效劳使他蒙受到的危险和损失;他这样说着来到了他家的门口。 事情原来是这样的:这诚实的市民看到自己不得不让一个年轻的外乡人在索恩瓦尔德城堡的大厅里扮演处理危机的主角,感到有失身份。尽管他对达威特当时的干预十分满意,但想想还是觉得这贬损了他的重要地位,所以他竭力想获得一些补偿;办法就是吹嘘吹嘘他对整个国家,特别是对他的朋友,尤其是对克罗伊埃伯爵小姐及其年轻的保护人给予的好处,夸大一下人们对他感恩图报的必要性。 然而,当小船停在他家的花园后面,彼得把他扶上岸,他一碰到他家门槛的时候,他那因自尊心受到伤害而嫉妒别人的情绪便仿佛顿时烟消云散,并使一个心怀忿懑的失意政客一下子变成了诚实、和善、好客、友好的主人。他大声呼唤特鲁德珍。那姑娘马上走了过来,因为那天晚上列日城里的人都很焦急害怕,很少有人睡得着觉。他爹嘱咐她好好照料那半昏迷的美丽的女客人。特鲁德珍姑娘既赞赏客人的美丽,又同情她的不幸,所以她怀着姊妹般的热情和爱心来尽地主之谊。 尽管时间已经很晚,行会主席也显得很疲乏,昆丁仍很难回避主人敬上的一瓶历史有阿津古尔战役那么悠久的名贵陈年老酒。要不是巴维翁大声要酒窖钥匙把女主人从卧室里叫了出来,昆丁本会感到盛情难却,不得不喝上几口。女主人是个圆滚滚的开心的小妇人,年轻时也曾长得很漂亮,但近几年来构成她主要特点的却是尖尖的红鼻子、尖尖的声音,以及要好好管住这位行会主席的决心——尽管他在外面掌有权力,但必须乖乖地服从必要的家规。 当她一明白是她丈夫争着要客人喝酒时,便毫不客气地告诉她丈夫,他不是酒喝得不够而是已经喝得太多。她不但不拿出那用银链子挂在腰上的一大串钥匙打开酒窖来进一步满足他的要求,而且不客气地转过身来,对他不予理睬。她立即把昆丁引到留他过夜的那间整洁舒适的卧室。室内那些供人休憩的陈设也许昆丁从没见过,因为论讲究家庭生活的舒适,那些富有的弗兰德人不但远远超过了贫穷原始的苏格兰人,就连法国人也望尘莫及。 Chapter 23 The Flight Now bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible; Yea, get the better of them. Set on your foot; And, with a heart new fired, I follow you, To do I know not what. JULIUS CAESAR In spite of a mixture of joy and fear, doubt, anxiety, and other agitating passions, the exhausting fatigues of the preceding day were powerful enough to throw the young Scot into a deep and profound repose, which lasted until late on the day following, when his worthy host entered the apartment with looks of care on his brow. He seated himself by his guest's bedside, and began a long and complicated discourse upon the domestic duties of a married life, and especially upon the awful power and right supremacy which it became married men to sustain in all differences of opinion with their wives. Quentin listened with some anxiety. He knew that husbands, like other belligerent powers, were sometimes disposed to sing Te Deum (Te Deum laudamus: We praise Thee, O God; the first words of an ancient hymn, sung in the morning service of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches), rather to conceal a defeat than to celebrate a victory, and he hastened to probe the matter more closely, by hoping their arrival had been attended with no inconvenience to the good lady of the household. "Inconvenience! -- no," answered the Burgomaster. -- "No woman can be less taken unawares than Mother Mabel -- always happy to see her friends -- always a clean lodging and a handsome meal ready for them, with God's blessing on bed and board. -- No woman on earth so hospitable -- only 'tis pity her temper is something particular." "Our residence here is disagreeable to her, in short?" said the Scot, starting out of bed, and beginning to dress himself hastily. "Were I but sure the Lady Isabelle were fit for travel after the horrors of the last night, we would not increase the offence by remaining here an instant longer." "Nay," said Pavillon, "that is just what the young lady herself said to Mother Mabel, and truly I wish you saw the colour that came to her face as she said it -- a milkmaid that has skated five miles to market against the frost wind is a lily compared to it -- I do not wonder Mother Mabel may be a little jealous, poor dear soul." "Has the Lady Isabelle then left her apartment?" said the youth, continuing his toilette operations with more dispatch than before. "Yes," replied Pavillon, "and she expects your approach with much impatience, to determine which way you shall go since you are both determined on going. But I trust you will tarry breakfast?" "Why did you not tell me this sooner?" said Durward, impatiently. "Softly -- softly," said the Syndic, "I have told it you too soon, I think, if it puts you into such a hasty fluster. Now I have some more matter for your ear, if I saw you had some patience to listen to me." "Speak it, worthy sir, as soon and as fast as you can -- I listen devoutly." "Well," resumed the Burgomaster, "I have but one word to say, and that is that Trudchen, who is as sorry to part with yonder pretty lady as if she had been some sister of hers, wants you to take some other disguise, for there is word in the town that the Ladies of Croye travel the country in pilgrim's dresses, attended by a French life guardsman of the Scottish Archers, and it is said one of them was brought into Schonwaldt last night by a Bohemian after we had left it, and it was said still farther, that this same Bohemian had assured William de la Marck that you were charged with no message either to him or to the good people of Liege, and that you had stolen away the young Countess, and travelled with her as her paramour. And all this news hath come from Schonwaldt this morning, and it has been told to us and the other councillors, who know not well what to advise, for though our own opinion is that William de la Marck has been a thought too rough both with the Bishop and with ourselves, yet there is a great belief that he is a good natured soul at bottom -- that is, when he is sober -- and that he is the only leader in the world to command us against the Duke of Burgundy, and, in truth, as matters stand, it is partly my own mind that we must keep fair with him, for we have gone too far to draw back." "Your daughter advises well," said Quentin Durward, abstaining from reproaches or exhortations, which he saw would be alike unavailing to sway a resolution which had been adopted by the worthy magistrate in compliance at once with the prejudices of his party and the inclination of his wife. "Your daughter counsels well. -- We must part in disguise, and that instantly. We may, I trust, rely upon you for the necessary secrecy, and for the means of escape?" "With all my heart -- with all my heart," said the honest citizen, who, not much satisfied with the dignity of his own conduct, was eager to find some mode of atonement. "I cannot but remember that I owed you my life last night, both for unclasping that accursed steel doublet, and helping me through the other scrape, which was worse, for yonder Boar and his brood look more like devils than men. So I will be true to you as blade to haft, as our cutlers say, who are the best in the whole world. Nay, now you are ready, come this way -- you shall see how far I can trust you." The Syndic led him from the chamber in which he had slept to his own counting room, in which he transacted his affairs of business, and after bolting the door, and casting a piercing and careful eye around him, he opened a concealed and vaulted closet behind the tapestry, in which stood more than one iron chest. He proceeded to open one which was full of guilders, and placed it at Quentin's discretion to take whatever sum he might think necessary for his companion's expenses and his own. As the money with which Quentin was furnished on leaving Plessis was now nearly expended, he hesitated not to accept the sum of two hundred guilders, and by doing so took a great weight from the mind of Pavillon, who considered the desperate transaction in which he thus voluntarily became the creditor as an atonement for the breach of hospitality which various considerations in a great measure compelled him to commit. Having carefully locked his treasure chamber, the wealthy Fleming next conveyed his guest to the parlour, where, in full possession of her activity of mind and body, though pale from the scenes of the preceding night, he found the Countess attired in the fashion of a Flemish maiden of the middling class. No other was present excepting Trudchen, who was sedulously employed in completing the Countess's dress, and instructing her how to bear herself. She extended her hand to him, which, when he had reverently kissed, she said to him, "Seignior Quentin, we must leave our friends here unless I would bring on them a part of the misery which has pursued me ever since my father's death. You must change your dress and go with me, unless you also are tired of befriending a being so unfortunate." "I! -- I tired of being your attendant! -- To the end of the earth will I guard you! But you -- you yourself -- are you equal to the task you undertake! -- Can you, after the terrors of last night" "Do not recall them to my memory," answered the Countess, "I remember but the confusion of a horrid dream. -- Has the excellent Bishop escaped?" "I trust he is in freedom," said Quentin, making a sign to Pavillon, who seemed about to enter on the dreadful narrative, to be silent. "Is it possible for us to rejoin him? -- Hath he gathered any power?" said the lady. "His only hopes are in Heaven," said the Scot, "but wherever you wish to go, I stand by your side, a determined guide and guard." "We will consider," said Isabelle, and after a moment's pause, she added, "A convent would be my choice, but that I fear it would prove a weak defence against those who pursue me." "Hem! hem!" said the Syndic, "I could not well recommend a convent within the district of Liege, because the Boar of Ardennes, though in the main a brave leader, a trusty confederate, and a well wisher to our city, has, nevertheless, rough humours, and payeth, on the whole, little regard to cloisters, convents, nunneries, and the like. Men say that there are a score of nuns -- that is, such as were nuns -- who march always with his company." "Get yourself in readiness hastily, Seignior Durward," said Isabelle, interrupting this detail, "since to your faith I must needs commit myself." No sooner had the Syndic and Quentin left the room than Isabelle began to ask of Gertrude various questions concerning the roads, and so forth, with such clearness of spirit and pertinence, that the latter could not help exclaiming, "Lady, I wonder at you! -- I have heard of masculine firmness, but yours appears to me more than belongs to humanity." "Necessity," answered the Countess, -- "necessity, my friend, is the mother of courage, as of invention. No long time since, I might have fainted when I saw a drop of blood shed from a trifling cut -- I have since seen life blood flow around me, I may say, in waves, yet I have retained my senses and my self possession. -- Do not think it was an easy task," she added, laying on Gertrude's arm a trembling hand, although she still spoke with a firm voice, "the little world within me is like a garrison besieged by a thousand foes, whom nothing but the most determined resolution can keep from storming it on every hand, and at every moment. Were my situation one whit less perilous than it is -- were I not sensible that my only chance to escape a fate more horrible than death is to retain my recollection and self possession -- Gertrude, I would at this moment throw myself into your arms, and relieve my bursting bosom by such a transport of tears and agony of terror as never rushed from a breaking heart." "Do not do so, lady!" said the sympathizing Fleming, "take courage, tell your beads, throw yourself on the care of Heaven, and surely, if ever Heaven sent a deliverer to one ready to perish, that bold and adventurous young gentleman must be designed for yours. There is one, too," she added, blushing deeply, "in whom I have some interest. Say nothing to my father, but I have ordered my bachelor, Hans Glover, to wait for you at the eastern gate, and never to see my face more, unless he brings word that he has guided you safe from the territory." To kiss her tenderly was the only way in which the young Countess could express her thanks to the frank and kind hearted city maiden, who returned the embrace affectionately, and added, with a smile, "Nay, if two maidens and their devoted bachelors cannot succeed in a disguise and an escape, the world is changed from what I am told it wont to be." A part of this speech again called the colour into the Countess's pale cheeks, which was not lessened by Quentin's sudden appearance. He entered completely attired as a Flemish boor of the better class, in the holyday suit of Peter, who expressed his interest in the young Scot by the readiness with which he parted with it for his use, and swore, at the same time, that, were he to be curried and tugged worse than ever was bullock's hide, they should make nothing out of him, to the betraying of the young folks. Two stout horses had been provided by the activity of Mother Mabel, who really desired the Countess and her attendant no harm, so that she could make her own house and family clear of the dangers which might attend upon harbouring them. She beheld them mount and go off with great satisfaction, after telling them that they would find their way to the east gate by keeping their eye on Peter, who was to walk in that direction as their guide, but without holding any visible communication with them. The instant her guests had departed, Mother Mabel took the opportunity to read a long practical lecture to Trudchen upon the folly of reading romances, whereby the flaunting ladies of the Court were grown so bold and venturous, that, instead of applying to learn some honest housewifery, they must ride, forsooth, a-damsel erranting through the country, with no better attendant than some idle squire, debauched page, or rake belly archer from foreign parts, to the great danger of their health, the impoverishing of their substance, and the irreparable prejudice of their reputation. All this Gertrude heard in silence, and without reply, but, considering her character, it might be doubted whether she derived from it the practical inference which it was her mother's purpose to enforce. Meantime, the travellers had gained the eastern gate of the city, traversing crowds of people, who were fortunately too much busied in the political events and rumours of the hour to give any attention to a couple who had so little to render their appearance remarkable. They passed the guards in virtue of a permission obtained for them by Pavillon, but in the name of his colleague Rouslaer, and they took leave of Peter Geislaer with a friendly though brief exchange of good wishes on either side. Immediately afterwards, they were joined by a stout young man, riding a good gray horse, who presently made himself known as Hans Glover, the bachelor of Trudchen Pavillon. He was a young fellow with a good Flemish countenance -- not, indeed, of the most intellectual cast, but arguing more hilarity and good humour than wit, and, as the Countess could not help thinking, scarce worthy to be bachelor to the generous Trudchen. He seemed, however, fully desirous to second the views which she had formed in their favour, for, saluting them respectfully, he asked of the Countess, in Flemish, on which road she desired to be conducted. "Guide me," said she, "towards the nearest town on the frontiers of Brabant." "You have then settled the end and object of your journey," said Quentin, approaching his horse to that of Isabelle, and speaking French, which their guide did not understand. "Surely," replied the young lady, "for, situated as I now am, it must be of no small detriment to me if I were to prolong a journey in my present circumstances, even though the termination should be a rigorous prison." "A prison," said Quentin. "Yes, my friend, a prison, but I will take care that you shall not share it." "Do not talk -- do not think of me," said Quentin. "Saw I you but safe, my own concerns are little worth minding." "Do not speak so loud," said the Lady Isabelle, "you will surprise our guide -- you see he has already rode on before us," -- for, in truth, the good natured Fleming, doing as he desired to be done by, had removed from them the constraint of a third person, upon Quentin's first motion towards the lady. "Yes," she continued, when she noticed they were free from observation, "to you, my friend, my protector -- why should I be ashamed to call you what Heaven has made you to me? -- to you it is my duty to say that my resolution is taken to return to my native country, and to throw myself on the mercy of the Duke of Burgundy. It was mistaken, though well meant advice, which induced me ever to withdraw from his protection, and place myself under that of the crafty and false Louis of France." "And you resolve to become the bride, then, of the Count of Campobasso, the unworthy favourite of Charles?" Thus spoke Quentin, with a voice in which internal agony struggled with his desire to assume an indifferent tone, like that of the poor condemned criminal, when, affecting a firmness which he is far from feeling, he asks if the death warrant be arrived. "No, Durward, no," said the Lady Isabelle, sitting up erect in her saddle, "to that hated condition all Burgundy's power shall not sink a daughter of the House of Croye. Burgundy may seize on my lands and fiefs, he may imprison my person in a convent, but that is the worst I have to expect, and worse than that I will endure ere I give my hand to Campobasso." "The worst?" said Quentin, "and what worse can there be than plunder and imprisonment? -- Oh, think, while you have God's free air around you, and one by your side who will hazard life to conduct you to England, to Germany, even to Scotland, in all of which you shall find generous protectors. -- - Oh, while this is the case, do not resolve so rashly to abandon the means of liberty, the best gift that Heaven gives! -- Oh, well sang a poet of my own land -- "Ah, freedom is a noble thing -- Freedom makes men to have liking -- Freedom the zest to pleasure gives -- He lives at ease who freely lives. Grief, sickness, poortith (poverty), want, are all Summ'd up within the name of thrall." (from Barbour's Bruce) She listened with a melancholy smile to her guide's tirade in praise of liberty, and then answered, after a moment's pause. "Freedom is for man alone -- woman must ever seek a protector, since nature made her incapable to defend herself. And where am I to find one? -- In that voluptuary Edward of England -- in the inebriated Wenceslaus of Germany -- in Scotland? -- Ah, Durward, were I your sister, and could you promise me shelter in some of those mountain glens which you love to describe where, for charity, or for the few jewels I have preserved, I might lead an unharrassed life, and forget the lot I was born to -- could you promise me the protection of some honoured matron of the land -- of some baron whose heart was as true as his sword -- that were indeed a prospect, for which it were worth the risk of farther censure to wander farther and wider." There was a faltering tenderness of voice with which the Countess Isabelle made this admission that at once filled Quentin with a sensation of joy, and cut him to the very heart. He hesitated a moment ere he made an answer, hastily reviewing in his mind the possibility there might be that he could procure her shelter in Scotland, but the melancholy truth rushed on him that it would be alike base and cruel to point out to her a course which he had not the most distant power or means to render safe. "Lady," he said at last, "I should act foully against my honour and oath of chivalry, did I suffer you to ground any plan upon the thoughts that I have the power in Scotland to afford you other protection than that of the poor arm which is now by your side. I scarce know that my blood flows in the veins of an individual who now lives in my native land. The Knight of Innerquharity stormed our Castle at midnight, and cut off all that belonged to my name. Were I again in Scotland, our feudal enemies are numerous and powerful, I single and weak, and even had the King a desire to do me justice, he dared not, for the sake of redressing the wrongs of a poor individual, provoke a chief who rides with five hundred horse." "Alas!" said the Countess, "there is then no corner of the world safe from oppression, since it rages as unrestrained amongst those wild hills which afford so few objects to covet as in our rich and abundant lowlands!" "It is a sad truth, and I dare not deny it," said the Scot, "that for little more than the pleasure of revenge, and the lust of bloodshed, our hostile clans do the work of executioners on each other, and Ogilvies and the like act the same scenes in Scotland as De la Marck and his robbers do in this country." "No more of Scotland, then," said Isabelle, with a tone of indifference, either real or affected -- "no more of Scotland, -- which indeed I mentioned but in jest, to see if you really dared to recommend to me, as a place of rest, the most distracted kingdom in Europe. It was but a trial of your sincerity, which I rejoice to see may be relied on, even when your partialities are most strongly excited. So, once more, I will think of no other protection than can be afforded by the first honourable baron holding of Duke Charles, to whom I am determined to render myself." "And why not rather betake yourself to your own estates, and to your own strong castle, as you designed when at Tours?" said Quentin. "Why not call around you the vassals of your father, and make treaty with Burgundy, rather than surrender yourself to him? Surely there must be many a bold heart that would fight in your cause, and I know at least of one who would willingly lay down his life to give example." "Alas," said the Countess, "that scheme, the suggestion of the crafty Louis, and, like all which he ever suggested, designed more for his advantage than for mine, has become practicable, since it was betrayed to Burgundy by the double traitor Zamet Hayraddin. My kinsman was then imprisoned, and my houses garrisoned. Any attempt of mine would but expose my dependents to the vengeance of Duke Charles, and why should I occasion more bloodshed than has already taken place on so worthless an account? No. I will submit myself to my Sovereign as a dutiful vassal, in all which shall leave my personal freedom of choice uninfringed, the rather that I trust my kinswoman, the Countess Hameline, who first counselled, and indeed urged my flight, has already taken this wise and honourable step." "Your kinswoman!" repeated Quentin, awakened to recollections to which the young Countess was a stranger, and which the rapid succession of perilous and stirring events had, as matters of nearer concern, in fact banished from his memory. "Ay -- my aunt -- the Countess Hameline of Croye -- know you aught of her?" said the Countess Isabelle. "I trust she is now under the protection of the Burgundian banner. You are silent. Know you aught of her?" The last question, urged in a tone of the most anxious inquiry, obliged Quentin to give some account of what he knew of the Countess's fate. He mentioned that he had been summoned to attend her in a flight from Liege, which he had no doubt the Lady Isabelle would be partaker in -- he mentioned the discovery that had been made after they had gained the forest -- and finally, he told his own return to the castle, and the circumstances in which he found it. But he said nothing of the views with which it was plain the Lady Hameline had left the Castle of Schonwaldt, and as little about the floating report of her having fallen into the hands of William de la Marck. Delicacy prevented his even hinting at the one, and regard for the feelings of his companion at a moment when strength and exertion were most demanded of her, prevented him from alluding to the latter, which had, besides, only reached him as a mere rumour. This tale, though abridged of those important particulars, made a strong impression on the Countess Isabelle, who, after riding some time in silence, said at last, with a tone of cold displeasure, "And so you abandoned my unfortunate relative in a wild forest, at the mercy of a vile Bohemian and a traitorous waiting woman? -- Poor kinswoman, thou wert wont to praise this youth's good faith!" "Had I not done so, madam." said Quentin, not unreasonably offended at the turn thus given to his gallantry, "what had been the fate of one to whose service I was far more devotedly bound? Had I not left the Countess Hameline of Croye to the charge of those whom she had herself selected as counsellors and advisers, the Countess Isabelle had been ere now the bride of William de la Marck, the Wild Boar of Ardennes." "You are right," said the Countess Isabelle, in her usual manner, "and I, who have the advantage of your unhesitating devotion, have done you foul and ungrateful wrong. But oh, my unhappy kinswoman! and the wretch Marthon, who enjoyed so much of her confidence, and deserved it so little -- it was she that introduced to my kinswoman the wretched Zamet and Hayraddin Maugrabin, who, by their pretended knowledge of soothsaying and astrology, obtained a great ascendancy over her mind, it was she who, strengthening their predictions, encouraged her in -- I know not what to call them -- delusions concerning matches and lovers, which my kinswoman's age rendered ungraceful and improbable. I doubt not that, from the beginning, we had been surrounded by these snares by Louis of France, in order to determine us to take refuge at his Court, or rather to put ourselves into his power, after which rash act on our part, how unkingly, unknightly, ignobly, ungentlemanlike, he hath conducted himself towards us, you, Quentin Durward, can bear witness. But, alas! my kinswoman -- what think you will be her fate?" Endeavouring to inspire hopes which he scarce felt, Durward answered that the avarice of these people was stronger than any other passion, that Marthon, even when he left them, seemed to act rather as the Lady Hameline's protectress, and in fine, that it was difficult to conceive any object these wretches could accomplish by the ill usage or murder of the Countess, whereas they might be gainers by treating her well, and putting her to ransom. To lead the Countess Isabelle's thoughts from this melancholy subject, Quentin frankly told her the treachery of the Maugrabin, which he had discovered in the night quarter near Namur, and which appeared the result of an agreement betwixt the King and William de la Marck. Isabelle shuddered with horror, and then recovering herself said, "I am ashamed, and I have sinned in permitting myself so far to doubt of the saints' protection, as for an instant to have deemed possible the accomplishment of a scheme so utterly cruel, base, and dishonourable, while there are pitying eyes in Heaven to look down on human miseries. It is not a thing to be thought of with fear or abhorrence, but to be rejected as such a piece of incredible treachery and villainy, as it were atheism to believe could ever be successful. But I now see plainly why that hypocritical Marthon often seemed to foster every seed of petty jealousy or discontent betwixt my poor kinswoman and myself, whilst she always mixed with flattery, addressed to the individual who was present, whatever could prejudice her against her absent kinswoman. Yet never did I dream she could have proceeded so far as to have caused my once affectionate kinswoman to have left me behind in the perils of Schonwaldt, while she made her own escape." "Did the Lady Hameline not mention to you, then," said Quentin, "her intended flight?" "No," replied the Countess, "but she alluded to some communication which Marthon was to make to me. To say truth, my poor kinswoman's head was so turned by the mysterious jargon of the miserable Hayraddin, whom that day she had admitted to a long and secret conference, and she threw out so many strange hints that -- that -- in short, I cared not to press on her, when in that humour, for any explanation. Yet it was cruel to leave me behind her." "I will excuse the Lady Hameline from intending such unkindness," said Quentin, "for such was the agitation of the moment, and the darkness of the hour, that I believe the Lady Hameline as certainly conceived herself accompanied by her niece, as I at the same time, deceived by Marthon's dress and demeanour, supposed I was in the company of both the Ladies of Croye: and of her especially," he added, with a low but determined voice, "without whom the wealth of worlds would not have tempted me to leave." Isabelle stooped her head forward, and seemed scarce to hear the emphasis with which Quentin had spoken. But she turned her face to him again when he began to speak of the policy of Louis, and, it was not difficult for them, by mutual communication, to ascertain that the Bohemian brothers, with their accomplice Marthon, had been the agents of that crafty monarch, although Zamet, the elder of them, with a perfidy peculiar to his race, had attempted to play a double game, and had been punished accordingly. In the same humour of mutual confidence, and forgetting the singularity of their own situation, as well as the perils of the road, the travellers pursued their journey for several hours, only stopping to refresh their horses at a retired dorff, or hamlet, to which they were conducted by Hans Glover, who, in all other respects, as well as in leaving them much to their own freedom in conversation, conducted himself like a person of reflection and discretion. Meantime, the artificial distinction which divided the two lovers (for such we may now term them) seemed dissolved, or removed, by the circumstances in which they were placed, for if the Countess boasted the higher rank, and was by birth entitled to a fortune incalculably larger than that of the youth, whose revenue lay in his sword, it was to be considered that, for the present, she was as poor as he, and for her safety, honour, and life, exclusively indebted to his presence of mind, valour, and devotion. They spoke not indeed of love, for though the young lady, her heart full of gratitude and confidence, might have pardoned such a declaration, yet Quentin, on whose tongue there was laid a check, both by natural timidity and by the sentiments of chivalry, would have held it an unworthy abuse of her situation had he said anything which could have the appearance of taking undue advantage of the opportunities which it afforded them. They spoke not then of love, but the thoughts of it were on both sides unavoidable, and thus they were placed in that relation to each other, in which sentiments of mutual regard are rather understood than announced, and which, with the freedoms which it permits, and the uncertainties that attend it, often forms the most delightful hours of human existence, and as frequently leads to those which are darkened by disappointment, fickleness, and all the pains of blighted hope and unrequited attachment. It was two hours after noon, when the travellers were alarmed by the report of the guide, who, with paleness and horror in his countenance, said that they were pursued by a party of De la Marck's Schwarzreiters. These soldiers, or rather banditti, were bands levied in the Lower Circles of Germany, and resembled the lanzknechts in every particular, except that the former acted as light cavalry. To maintain the name of Black Troopers, and to strike additional terror into their enemies, they usually rode on black chargers, and smeared with black ointment their arms and accoutrements, in which operation their hands and faces often had their share. In morals and in ferocity these Schwarzreiters emulated their pedestrian brethren the Lanzknechts. ("To make their horses and boots shine, they make themselves as black as colliers. These horsemen wear black clothes, and poor though they be, spend no small time in brushing them. The most of them have black horses, . . . and delight to have their boots and shoes shine with blacking stuff, their hands and faces become black, and thereof they have their foresaid name." . . . Fynes Morrison's Itinerary. -- S.) On looking back, and discovering along the long level road which they had traversed a cloud of dust advancing, with one or two of the headmost troopers riding furiously in front of it, Quentin addressed his companion: "Dearest Isabelle, I have no weapon left save my sword, but since I cannot fight for you, I will fly with you. Could we gain yonder wood that is before us ere they come up, we may easily find means to escape." "So be it, my only friend," said Isabelle, pressing her horse to the gallop, "and thou, good fellow," she added, addressing Hans Glover, "get thee off to another road, and do not stay to partake our misfortune and danger." The honest Fleming shook his head, and answered her generous exhortation, with Nein, nein! das geht nicht (no, no! that must not be), and continued to attend them, all three riding toward the shelter of the wood as fast as their jaded horses could go, pursued, at the same time, by the Schwarzreiters, who increased their pace when they saw them fly. But notwithstanding the fatigue of the horses, still the fugitives being unarmed, and riding lighter in consequence, had considerably the advantage of the pursuers, and were within about a quarter of a mile of the wood, when a body of men at arms, under a knight's pennon, was discovered advancing from the cover, so as to intercept their flight. "They have bright armour," said Isabelle, "they must be Burgundians. Be they who they will, we must yield to them, rather than to the lawless miscreants who pursue us." A moment after, she exclaimed, looking on the pennon, "I know the cloven heart which it displays! It is the banner of the Count of Crevecoeur, a noble Burgundian -- to him I will surrender myself." Quentin Durward sighed, but what other alternative remained, and how happy would he have been but an instant before, to have been certain of the escape of Isabelle, even under worse terms? They soon joined the band of Crevecoeur, and the Countess demanded to speak to the leader, who had halted his party till he should reconnoitre the Black Troopers, and as he gazed on her with doubt and uncertainty, she said, "Noble Count -- Isabelle of Croye, the daughter of your old companion in arms, Count Reinold of Croye, renders herself, and asks protection from your valour for her and hers." "Thou shalt have it, fair kinswoman, were it against a host -- always excepting my liege lord, of Burgundy. But there is little time to talk of it. These filthy looking fiends have made a halt, as if they intended to dispute the matter. -- By Saint George of Burgundy, they have the insolence to advance against the banner of Crevecoeur! What! will not the knaves be ruled? Damian, my lance! -- Advance banner! -- Lay your spears in the rest! -- Crevecoeur to the Rescue!" Crying his war cry, and followed by his men at arms, he galloped rapidly forward to charge the Schwarzreiters. 你现在叫我跑, 我就会竭力去做不可能做到的事。 并且定能做到。 只要你一动身, 我就会怀着一颗炽热的心跟你走, 做我自己也不明白要做的事。 《儒略•凯撒》 虽然快乐、惧怕、疑虑、焦急以及其他种种激情混杂在一起使得那年轻人内心百感交集,但前夜实在是精疲力竭,以至他酣睡不醒,直到第二天很迟的时候才睁开眼睛。这时,他那可敬的主人走了进来,眉目间显示出不安的样子。 他坐在客人床边,就已婚的人处理家务的责任,特别是已婚男子在和妻子意见分歧时有必要保持的夫权和优势进行了一番长时间的复杂的议论。昆丁有些焦虑地听他讲着,因为他明白,做丈夫的也像别的一些好战分子一样,有时喜欢唱唱“荣归吾主”的祝捷歌,来掩饰自己的失败,而不是庆祝自己的胜利。他赶忙决定更仔细地摸摸底,看是怎么回事,便说了一句:“希望我们的到来没有给善良的女主人带来麻烦。” “带来麻烦!不,不,”那市长口答说,“没有哪个女人会像‘梅布尔妈妈’那样好客,那样随时作好接待客人的准备。她总是乐意看到朋友们的到来,为他们安排好清洁的卧室,做好丰盛的饭食,而且吃饭和睡觉时都忘不了给他们带来上帝的祝福。世界上没有哪个女人像她那么殷勤好客。美中不足的是她脾气有点特别。” “总而言之,是我们住在这儿使她不愉快?”那苏格兰人说道,接着便从床上跳下来,赶忙穿上衣服,“只要我敢肯定伊莎贝尔小姐已经从昨夜的恐怖中恢复过来,可以动身出发的话,我们就不会多停留片刻来增加你们的麻烦。” “别这样说,”巴维翁讲道,“这话正是那小姐自己对‘梅布尔妈妈’说的。我真希望你看到她说话时脸上泛出的红晕——迎着寒风溜冰去市场卖牛奶的姑娘也远比不上她脸色那么红润。我想,我亲爱的老伴‘梅布尔妈妈’可能有点忌妒哩。” “伊莎贝尔小姐离开卧室了吗?”那年轻人问道,一边更快地继续他的盥洗。 “是的,”巴维翁回答道,“她正急不可待地等你去见她,好决定你们走哪条路——既然你们两人都坚决要走。不过,我想你们总会吃完早饭再走吧?” “你怎么不早点对我说呢?”达威特不高兴地说道。 “别急,别急,”那行会主席说,“你看你这么慌张。我真不该这么早就告诉你。假如你有耐心听我讲的话,我还有点事想悄悄对你说哩。” “尊贵的先生,尽快地说吧。我洗耳恭听。” “那好吧,”市长继续讲道,“我只想告诉你这么一点,那就是我的特鲁德珍把那美丽的小姐看得像自己的姊妹一样,很舍不得和她分手。她要求你们化化装,因为城里谣传说有两位克罗伊埃仕女穿着朝圣的服装旅行,还有一名法国苏格兰近卫军的卫士陪伴她们。据说其中一位仕女在昨晚我们离开后被一个波希米亚人带进了索恩瓦尔德堡。这个波希米亚人对威廉•德拉马克告发说,你并没有给他,也没给列日市民带什么讯,而是你拐走了年轻的伯爵小姐,做你的情妇,带她私奔。这些话都是今早从索思瓦尔德堡传出来的。我和我的一些同事都听说了。他们也不知道该给我出个什么主意。虽然我们都认为威廉•德拉马克无论对主教还是对我们都做得有点过分,但大家都深信他骨子里还是个好人——当然是指他清醒的时候——而他也是这个世界上能领导我们反抗勃艮第公爵的惟一领袖。说实在的,照目前情况来看,我自己也认为我们得和他搞好关系,因为我们已经走得太远,无法后退了。” “你女儿的建议很好。”昆丁说道。他不想对他进行任何指责或劝告,因为他知道这些都无法动摇这位可敬的市长根据他同伴们的偏见以及他妻子的意愿作出的决定。“你女儿的忠告不错——我们得化装,而且得马上走。我想我们能信赖你为我们保守必要的秘密,并给我们提供逃跑的手段吧?” “不成问题,不成问题。”那诚实的市民说道。由于他对自己这种有失体面的表现不很满意,所以他也很想找到某种途径来表示歉意。“我忘不了你昨晚救了我的命。一是给我解开了那该死的铠甲,二是帮我渡过了那更为糟糕的困境。当时那野猪和他的猪秽简直像魔鬼,不像人。所以我将对你绝对忠实,就像我们世界上第一流的刀匠说的那样,犹如刀柄对刀刃那样忠实。你准备好了,就跟我来一下。你将看到我能为你作的安排。” 那行会主席领着他从卧室走到他处理商务的账房。他闩上门,小心敏锐地望望四周,然后打开挂毯后面一个穹形的暗室。里面藏有好几个铁柜。他打开了其中一个装满了钱币的柜子,任随昆丁取出他和他女伴一路上必须花的钱。 昆丁离开普莱西时领的钱已快花光,所以他毫不犹豫地拿了两百盾钱币。这样才大大减轻了巴维翁的内疚。他把这主动接济客人的事情看作是对自己违背主人留客这一原则的补偿,而根据种种考虑,他在很大程度上是不得不如此的。 小心翼翼地锁好他的宝库之后,这位可敬的弗兰德人便把客人带进客厅。在客厅里昆丁看见伯爵小姐已打扮成一个中产阶级家庭的弗兰德少女模样。虽然昨夜的遭遇留下的影响还使她有些苍白,但她的身体和精神都显得十分活跃。只有特鲁德珍一个人在客厅里,细心周到地帮助伯爵小姐完成每个细节,并教给她与服装打扮相适应的姿态。伯爵小姐把手伸给昆丁。当他恭敬地吻了她的手之后,她对他说道:“昆丁先生,我们得离开我们这儿的朋友,否则我就会把我父亲死后一直跟踪着我的一部分灾难转嫁给他们。要是你没有对救助一个不幸的人感到厌倦的话,请你也换上装束跟我走。” “我!我会讨厌当你的随从?!不,你就是走到天涯海角,我也要跟着你,保护你!不过,你——你这样做身体吃得消吗?经过昨晚的恐怖,你还能够——” “别叫我再想起那些事,’伯爵小妞说道,“我只记得一些恶梦般的模糊不清的东西。那善良的主教逃出来了吗?” “我想他应该自由了。”昆丁说道。他看到巴维翁像要讲述那个恐怖事件,便赶忙使了个眼色叫他别开口。 “我们能去找他吗?他有没有聚集一些人马?”那少女问道。 “他只寄希望于天堂,”那苏格兰人回答说,“不过,不管你去哪儿,我都会站在你身边做你忠实的向导和保镖的。” “让我们考虑考虑吧!”伊莎贝尔说道。停了片刻她又补充了一句:“我最好是进修道院。不过我担心修道院挡不住想要迫害我的人。” “哼!哼!”那行会主席说道,“我可不赞成你去列日地区的任何一个修道院,因为那‘阿登内斯野猪’一般说来是个勇敢的魁首。可靠的盟友,对列日城也抱有善意,但他脾气粗暴,把寺院、修道院、女修道院等等很不放在眼里。人们说经常有一二十个修女——我是说,修女这一类的人——跟随他的部队行军。” “达威特先生,你马上准备动身吧。”伊莎贝尔打断他说,“我能依靠的只有你的忠诚了。” 昆丁和行会主席一走出房门,伊莎贝尔便立刻向格特鲁德详细打听有关道路等等情况;他头脑非常清醒,而且问得十分恰当,以至那行会主席的女儿不禁叫了起来:“小姐,我真佩服你!我听人谈到过男子的坚定。但在我看来,你的坚定却超过了几人。” “是逼出来的,’伊莎贝尔回答道,“我的朋友,环境逼迫人去发明,也逼迫人产生勇气。不久以前,我看到一个小伤口淌血还会晕倒过去。但如今我已见过我周围可说是血流成河,但我还是保持了我的镇定和清醒的头脑。别以为这是件容易的事。”她把一只颤抖的手搁在格特鲁德胳膊上,仍然以一种坚定的声音继续说道,“我的内心世界就像遭到千万个敌人包围的城堡,只有最坚强的决心才能每时每刻抵挡住各方面敌人的袭击。要是我的处境稍好一点——要不是我意识到我逃脱一种比死亡更可怕的命运的惟一机会就在于保持清醒和镇定——格特鲁德哟,我会马上投入你的怀抱,让我破碎的心灵用泪雨尽情倾泻出悲痛和恐惧,来舒解我这快要爆裂的心胸!” “小姐,可别这样,”那深表同情的弗兰德姑娘说道,“鼓起勇气,多作祷告,把自己托付给上帝保佑吧!说真的,如果上帝派遣使者来拯救垂危的人们,那么那位勇敢大胆的年轻绅士一定是上帝派来拯救你的。我也有个意中人,”她羞得满脸通红,“你可别告诉我父亲,我已经吩咐我的汉斯•格洛弗在东门口等你们,并告诉他,除非他带信来说,已经平安地带领你们离开了这个地方,否则就休想再来见我。” 年轻的伯爵小姐只能通过亲吻来表达她对这坦率善良的城市姑娘的感激。那姑娘也深情地拥抱了她,并微笑着补充说:“哼,要是两个少女加上她们忠实的骑士都不能使一次化装出逃得以成功的话,那这个世界真和往常大不一样了。” 这句话有一部分内容使得伯爵小姐苍白的面孔又染上了红晕,而由于昆丁的突然出现,这害羞的脸色更是有增无减。他打扮得完全像个纨绔子弟,穿着一套弗兰德讲究的礼服。这是彼得为了表示他对年轻的苏格兰人的好感十分乐意地分给他穿的。他还保证说,要是人们把他比牛皮更厉害地鞣来鞣去,他们也发现不出足以暴露两个年轻人身份的破绽。“梅布尔妈妈”忙着找来了两匹强壮的马。其实她对伯爵小姐及其随从并无恶意。她不过想使自己的家避免窝藏他们而带来的危险。她十分满意地看到他们上马出发。在这之前,她已告诉他们,彼得将领他们朝东门的方向走,但不会明显地和他们打招呼,所以他们得留心看着他。 客人一走,“梅布尔妈妈”便利用这个机会对特鲁德珍就阅读恋爱小说的愚蠢进行了一次长时间的、具有现实意义的说教。她说阅读这些小说的结果,使得宫廷爱好虚荣的仕女们不去老实地学习家务活,而是在一个无聊的扈从、放荡的仆役,或某个浪荡的外国射手的陪伴下骑马周游列国,这样既大大地危害了她们的健康,消耗了她们的资财,也无可挽回地损害了她们的名誉。 格特鲁德静静地听着,没作回答。不过,考虑到她的性格,她究竟能不能由此得出她母亲指望她作出的有现实意义的结论,则很值得怀疑。 让我们回过头来看看那两个出门的旅客吧。他们穿过人群来到了东城门。幸好人们都在忙于谈论时事和谣传,没注意这对外表颇为寻常的年轻人。他们依靠巴维翁以他同事卢斯拉尔的名义为他们搞到的通行证通过了守城的岗哨,然后与彼得•盖斯勒尔简短而友好地交换了良好的祝愿,表示惜别。他们没走多远便看到有个健壮的年轻人骑着一匹灰马向他们赶来。他马上自我介绍说他就是特鲁德珍•巴维翁的骑士汉斯•格洛弗。这年轻人长有一副漂亮的弗兰德人的面孔;固然不是绝顶聪明的样子,但给人一种快活爽朗、又并不机灵过头的印象。不过,就伯爵小姐难免产生的一种看法来说,似乎他给那慷慨大方的特鲁德珍作骑士稍稍逊色了点。看来他很希望表示出他非常赞同他的女友对他们怀抱的好感。他客气地向他们敬了个礼,然后用弗兰德语问伯爵小姐,她想叫他领着走哪一条路。 “你领我去最靠近布拉邦特边境的某个城市吧。”她说道。 “这么说,你已经决定了你的目的地?”昆丁骑到前面和伊莎贝尔并排走着,用向导所不懂的法语问道。 “是的,”年轻的小姐回答说,“因为,我目前的处境既然如此,那么即使最后的归宿是可怕的监狱,我也不能照我现在这个样子继续走下去,因为这对我十分不利。” “监狱!”昆丁叫道。 “是的,我的朋友,是监狱。不过我会留意不让你也落进监狱的。” “别讲我——别考虑我,”昆丁说道,“我只想看到你平安无事,我自己的事是不值得操心的。” “别说这么响,”伊莎贝尔小姐说,“你会叫向导莫名其妙的——你瞧他已经骑到我们前面去了。”的确,那好心的弗兰德人,按照“己所不欲,勿施于人”之道,一看见昆丁向小姐走来,便让他们独自在一起,以免感受到第三者在场的拘束。“是的,”看到向导不注意他们,她又继续说,“对你,我的朋友和保护者——既然上帝要你做我的朋友和保护者,我为什么要不好意思这么称呼你呢?我有责任坦白地说,我决心已下,返回故乡,求勃艮第公爵宽恕。我是受到一个善意的错误劝告的影响才摆脱了他的保护,而跑去接受那奸滑的路易王的保护的。” “那么你是决定要嫁给查尔斯那个鄙劣的宠臣康波•巴索啰?” 昆丁就像一个被判死刑的人装出一副坚定表情讯问是否已下达行刑令那样,用一种想掩饰内心痛苦而强装无所谓的声调这样问道。 “不是这样,达威特,不是这样,”伊莎贝尔小姐在马鞍上挺直身子说道,“勃艮第动用其全部力量也休想叫克罗依埃的女儿接受这样一种可惜的状况。勃艮第可以没收我的田产和封地,也可以把我监禁在修道院里。不过,我想他充其量也只能如此。但我宁可忍受比这更恶劣的遭遇也不愿嫁给康波•巴索。” “充其量只能如此!”昆丁说道,“请问,还有什么能比掠夺和监禁更糟糕的呢?唉,趁你还吸着上帝的自由空气,趁你身边还有个保护你的人,你再考虑考虑吧。我可以不惜冒生命危险护送你去英国、德国,甚至去苏格兰。在这些国家你都可以找到愿意给予你慷慨保护的人。情况既然如此,你就不要轻率地决定放弃上帝赋与人们的最美好的东西——自由。我们苏格兰有位诗人唱得好: “自由是个美好的东西, 自由使人对生活产生感情, 自由使快乐增添风趣, 自由生活的人生活得最安逸。 悲哀、疾病、贫困和贪婪, 都可以概括为不自由的奴役。” 她带着忧伤的微笑倾听他的向导这番赞美自由的议论。过了一会她才回答说:“自由只给男人享受。可女人总是得寻求保护者,因为她们天生无法保护自己。我能在哪儿找到一个保护者呢?在英国那骄侈淫逸的爱德华的宫廷?在德国那醉鬼般的温塞劳斯的宫殿?在苏格兰?唉,达威特,但愿我是你的妹妹,你能答应在你很喜欢向我介绍的某个苏格兰山谷里给我找到一个栖身之所,我可以依靠别人的施舍或我保存的一点珠宝,过一过宁静的生活,忘掉我生来注定的命运。但愿你能保证给我找到当地某个尊敬的主妇,或某个为人忠实、势力强大的男爵做我的保护人——这个前景倒是值得冒冒继续让人非议的风险,再往远处流浪!” 伊莎贝尔小姐在倾吐这个想法时声音很亲切,有些颤抖,这使得昆丁既高兴,又很伤心。回答之前他先迟疑了一阵,匆忙估量了一下在苏格兰给她找个地方避难的可能性。然而,可悲的事实迫使他承认,指引她走一条他自己毫无能力保证其安全的道路是既卑鄙又残忍的。“小姐,”他终于说道,“要是我让你根据我在苏格兰有能力为你提供保护的设想来拟定你的计划,那我就卑鄙地践踏了我的荣誉,违反了我的骑士誓言。事实上,除开正走在你身旁的我能给你不足挂齿的帮助以外,我没法在苏格兰为你提供别的保护。我无法肯定在苏格兰还有我的亲人活了下来。因纳居哈里特族的骑士在半夜袭击了我们的城堡,杀死了我们家族的全部成员。要是我回到苏格兰,我家的世仇人数众多,实力雄厚,而我却单枪匹马,力量微薄。即使国王有心给我撑腰,他也不敢为了替一个可怜的年轻人主持公道而得罪一个有五百人马的酋长。” “哎呀,”伯爵小姐说道,“既然没有多少财富值得贪图的穷山沟也像我们富饶的低地平原一样,欺压者横行霸道,这世界上真找不出一个不受压迫的角落了。” “我无法否认的一个不幸的事实就在于,我们敌对的部族互相残杀,只不过是为了得到一点复仇的乐趣,满足一下嗜杀的欲望。”那苏格兰人说道,“德拉马克及其匪徒在这个国家的强盗行径和奥吉维之流在苏格兰的所作所为如出一辙。” “那就别再提苏格兰了,”伊莎贝尔用一种真假难辨的不在乎的口吻说道,“别再提苏格兰了。我只不过是出于好奇,看你是否真会把那欧洲最混乱的国家推荐给我作栖身之地。这只是考验考验你的真诚,而我高兴地看到你的忠诚完全可以信赖——即使在最能激起你对苏格兰的偏爱时,也可以信赖。得了,别的保护我一概不考虑了。我决心投靠我们最先碰到的一位查尔斯公爵属下的体面贵族,请求他的保护。” “那你为什么不像你在图尔打算的那样,去你自己的庄园,住进你自己坚固的城堡呢?”昆丁说道,“为什么不把你父亲的臣属聚集拢来,和勃艮第订个条约,而要去归顺他呢?肯定有许多勇士愿为你而战斗。我知道至少有一个人乐意献出自己的生命来作出一个榜样。” “哎呀,”伯爵小姐说道,“这本是狡猾的路易王提出的一个计划。但也像他提出过的别的建议一样,主要是着眼于他自己的利益,而不是考虑我的利益。由于那奸人扎迈特•毛格拉宾把它泄露给了勃艮第,现在已行不通了。我的亲戚被他监禁,我的住宅也被看管起来。任何别的尝试也只会使我的亲属遭到查尔斯公爵的报复。为了这件倒霉的事已经死了好些人,我干吗还要为此引起更多的流血呢?不能这样。我得作为一个忠心的臣属归顺我的君主。只要不侵犯我个人选择的自由,什么都可以服从。特别是因为我相信我的姑母——那位最先建议,甚至催促我逃跑的哈梅琳女士,想必早已采取了这个明智而体面的步骤!” “你的姑妈!”昆丁若有所思地说道。这时他已回想起伯爵小姐所不知道的一些情况。由于接二连三地发生了一系列惊险而紧急的事件,他早已把这些忘在九霄云外了。 “是的——我姑妈——克罗伊埃•哈梅琳女士——你听到她什么情况吗?”伊莎贝尔小姐说道,“我想她现在已经在勃艮第君权的保护下了。你不说话!你知道什么吗?” 这后一个问题是用十分焦急的询问语气说出来的。这迫使昆丁不得不就这位女士现在的下落讲讲他所知道的情况。他提到他应她的召唤保护她逃出列日——他原以为伊莎贝尔小姐也和她一起出逃。他也谈到他们到达森林以后他的那个偶然发现。最后他还讲到他自己如何返回城堡,以及当时城堡所处的险恶状况。但他没有谈到哈梅琳女士离开索恩瓦尔德城堡时显然要达到的目的,也没谈到她已落到威廉•德拉马克手上的谣传。由于事情难以出口,他甚至没对哈梅琳女士曾对他有过的意图稍加暗示,而在当前正需要他的女伴表现勇气和力量的这个时候,为了照顾她的感情,他也没提到有关哈梅琳女士的上述谣传。再说,他听到的也只是一种谣传。 这一番情况介绍,尽管省略掉了一些重要情节,但仍然对伊莎贝尔产生了强烈印象。她骑着马默默走了一会,最后才以冷冷的不满的口吻说道:“你把我不幸的姑母就这样扔在一个荒林里面,任凭那邪恶的波希米亚人和一个奸狡的特女的摆布?可怜的姑母,你对这年轻人的忠诚还经常赞不绝口哩!” “要是我不这么做,”昆丁看到自己的殷勤受到如此回报,不免生气地说道,“那么我更有虔诚的义务为之效劳的小姐将命该如何呢?要不是我把克罗伊埃•哈梅琳女士交给她亲自挑选给她当参谋的那两个人照顾,伊莎贝尔小姐想必早已成了‘阿登内斯野猪’——威廉•德拉马克的新娘了。” “你说得对,”伊莎贝尔小姐平静地说道,“我享有你绝对忠诚的好处,却如此忘恩负义地使你受到委屈。不过,我不幸的姑妈怎么办呢?要知道,这一切都是因为那可恶的玛尔松。我姑妈那么相信她,而她却一点不值得信任!正是她把那该死的扎迈特和海拉丁•毛格拉宾介绍给我姑妈的。这两个家伙吹嘘他们懂得算命和占星术,蒙蔽了她的心灵。也是她为了证实他们的预言,使得我姑妈有了——我真不知如何说好——有关婚姻和爱情的错觉,而这是与她的年龄很不相称,也是很不现实的。我相信,从一开始路易王就给我们设下了这些陷阱,以便诱使我们在他的宫廷里避难,实际上是使我们接受他的控制。在我们采取了这个轻率行动之后,他对我们的态度多么卑鄙,多么有失国王的身份,与骑士和绅士的标准又多么不相称!这些你昆丁•达威特是亲眼看见的。话说回来,我姑妈——你想她会碰到什么不幸呢?” 尽管他对她的前途不抱什么希望,他还是尽量使她不要丧失信心,便回答说,这伙人最强烈的欲望就是贪财;他离开他们时,玛尔松还装出哈梅琳女士保护人的样子;很难想象,这两个坏蛋通过虐待或谋杀那位仕女能达到任何目的;相反,他们对她好,以她为名来勒索一笔赎金,倒能捞到一些好处。 为了使伊莎贝尔小姐的思绪摆脱忧伤,昆丁把那天夜里他在纳穆尔附近发现的毛格拉宾的奸诈计划告诉了她,并说这计划看来是法王和威廉•德拉马克共谋的结果。伊莎贝尔恐惧得颤栗起来。恢复平静之后她说道:“我很愧疚。我竟然怀疑过圣徒给人的保护,偶尔也认为实现这样一种残忍、卑鄙无耻的计划不无可能。但实际上,上苍怜悯的眼睛始终在关注着人世间的不幸。这种事不应使人感到恐惧和憎恨,而应视作一种荒谬的、卑鄙奸诈的行径一笑置之,因为相信它能成功,就简直是不相信上帝的存在。不过,现在我看得很清楚,为什么玛尔松经常在我和可怜的姑妈之间散布无聊的忌妒与不和的种子,并在讨好一个的同时,说另一个的坏话,来达到离间的目的。不过我从没想到她竟然会使得我一度很要好的姑妈在攻打索思瓦尔德最危急的时刻抛下我,独自逃跑。” “难道哈梅琳女士没跟你说起她打算逃跑吗?” “没有,”伯爵小姐回答道,“不过她说过,有件事她会让玛尔松转告我。老实告诉你吧,那天姑妈把可恶的海拉丁叫进来进行了长时间的秘密谈话,而那家伙用他神秘的黑话把她搞得头脑发昏。所以——所以——总之,我也不愿在她那种精神状态下缠住她作什么解释。不过,把我扔下不管也未免太狠心了。” “我倒认为哈梅琳女士并非有意这么狠心,”昆丁说道,“因为当时慌慌乱乱,又加上天很黑,我想哈梅琳女士一定是以为她侄女和她一道跑了出来。说真的,当时我看到玛尔松穿的衣服和姿态,也误以为两位克罗伊埃仕女都和我一道跑了出来——特别是她,”他以一种坚决的口吻低声补充说道,“要没有她,世界上的全部财富也不可能诱使我离开索恩瓦尔德城堡。” 伊莎贝尔低着头,似乎没有听到昆丁讲话中强调的部分。但当他开始谈到路易的策划时,她又把脸转过来对着他。通过互相讨论,他们不难看出,那两个波希米亚兄弟连同他们一伙的玛尔松,一直在充当那个奸诈的国王的奸细。不过哥哥扎迈特受到他们种族所特有的背信弃义习惯的影响,企图耍两面派,结果咎由自取,受到了惩罚。他们彼此吐露知心话,忘掉了他们的特殊处境,也忘掉了旅途的危险,就这样一连走了好几个小时,只是在汉斯•格洛弗领他们来到了某个偏僻的村庄之后才歇下来喂喂马。那年轻人不但避免打扰他们的谈话,而且在别的方面也表现出考虑周到,善于体贴别人。 那隔开了两个情侣(我想,现在我们可以这样称呼他们了)的人为界限也由于他们目前的处境似乎已经消失。伯爵小姐固然拥有更高的地位,并因其高贵的出身有权继承一笔巨大的财产使那身无长物的年轻人相形见细,但值得一提的是,目前他们一样贫穷,并且她的安全、荣誉和生命也完全得依赖于他的镇静、勇敢和忠诚。他们的确没谈到彼此之间的爱慕。尽管伊莎贝尔小姐内心充满了感激和信赖,很可能会原谅对方所作的爱情表白,但受到天生的羞怯和骑士思想影响的昆丁总感觉难以启齿。要是他说了什么话,显得是不正当地利用了给他们提供的这个好机会,那他会责备自己是在利用她目前的处境进行可耻的讹诈。所以他们回避表白爱情,但双方都不可避免地想到爱情。因此他们已处于一种心心相印、心照不宣的关系,这既使得他们摆脱了拘束,但也伴随着捉摸不定的感觉,真说得上是人生最幸福的时刻。然而这种时刻也往往只是一种前奏,继之而来的便是失望、变心、失恋以及希望破灭的种种痛苦。 下午两点钟的时候,两个流亡者吃惊地听到脸色吓得发白的向导说,有一队德拉马克的黑骑兵正在追赶他们。这些士兵,毋宁说是匪徒,原是从下层德国人当中招募来的,在各个方面都与德国长矛手相似,只是他们起着轻骑兵的作用。为了保持黑骑兵的名声,使敌人胆寒,他们通常都骑着黑马;武器装备,连同面孔和双手也都抹上黑色油膏。在道德败坏和凶狠残暴方面这些黑骑兵都和他们的步兵兄弟——长矛手不相上下。 昆丁回过头来,看见一团尘土正沿着他们走过的漫长而平坦的大道飞扬过来。一两个为首的骑兵迅猛地奔在前面。他转过身来对女伴说:“最亲爱的伊莎贝尔,我只剩下一把刀了。既然我无法为你战斗,我愿和你一道逃跑。只要我们能在他们追上来以前赶到那个森林,我们就很容易想法逃掉。” “就这样吧,我惟一的朋友。”伊莎贝尔说道,一边刺着马奔跑起来:“而你,好伙计,”她又转过头对汉斯•格洛弗说道,“你走那条路吧,别留下来分担我们的不幸和危险了。” 那诚实的弗兰德人摇摇头,连声说“Nein,nein!das geht nichts”来回答她慷慨的劝告,并继续和他们走在一起。三个人骑着疲惫不堪的马尽快朝树林奔去。后面追赶的黑骑兵看见他们奔跑也加快了自己的速度。虽然马已疲乏,但逃亡者无武器装备之累,自然可以轻装前进。所以他们很快就把追赶者大大甩在后 Chapter 24 The Surrender Rescue or none, Sir Knight, I am your captive: Deal with me what your nobleness suggests -- Thinking the chance of war may one day place you Where I must now be reckon'd -- I' the roll Of melancholy prisoners. ANONYMOUS The skirmish betwixt the Schwarzreiters and the Burgundian men at arms lasted scarcely five minutes, so soon were the former put to the rout by the superiority of the latter in armour, weight of horse, and military spirit. In less than the space we have mentioned, the Count of Crevecoeur, wiping his bloody sword upon his horse's mane ere he sheathed it, came back to the verge of the forest, where Isabelle had remained a spectator of the combat. One part of his people followed him, while the other continued to pursue the flying enemy for a little space along the causeway. "It is shame," said the Count, "that the weapons of knights and gentlemen should be soiled by the blood of those brutal swine." So saying, he returned his weapon to the sheath and added, "This is a rough welcome to your home, my pretty cousin, but wandering princesses must expect such adventures. And well I came up in time, for, let me assure you, the Black Troopers respect a countess's coronet as little as a country wench's coif, and I think your retinue is not qualified for much resistance." "My Lord Count," said the Lady Isabelle, "without farther preface, let me know if I am a prisoner, and where you are to conduct me." "You know, you silly child," answered the Count, "how I would answer that question, did it rest on my own will. But you, and your foolish match making, marriage hunting aunt, have made such wild use of your wings of late, that I fear you must be contented to fold them up in a cage for a little while. For my part, my duty, and it is a sad one, will be ended when I have conducted you to the Court of the Duke, at Peronne for which purpose I hold it necessary to deliver the command of this reconnoitring party to my nephew, Count Stephen, while I return with you thither, as I think you may need an intercessor. -- And I hope the young giddy pate will discharge his duty wisely." "So please you, fair uncle," said Count Stephen, "if you doubt my capacity to conduct the men at arms, even remain with them yourself, and I will be the servant and guard of the Countess Isabelle of Croye." "No doubt, fair nephew," answered his uncle, "this were a goodly improvement on my scheme, but methinks I like it as well in the way I planned it. Please you, therefore, to take notice, that your business here is not to hunt after and stick these black hogs, for which you seemed but now to have felt an especial vocation, but to collect and bring to me true tidings of what is going forward in the country of Liege, concerning which we hear such wild rumours. Let some half score of lances follow me and the rest remain with my banner under your guidance." "Yet one moment, cousin of Crevecoeur," said the Countess Isabelle, "and let me, in yielding myself prisoner, stipulate at least for the safety of those who have befriended me in my misfortunes. Permit this good fellow, my trusty guide, to go back unharmed to his native town of Liege." "My nephew," said Crevecoeur, after looking sharply at Glover's honest breadth of countenance, "shall guard this good fellow, who seems, indeed, to have little harm in him, as far into the territory as he himself advances, and then leave him at liberty." "Fail not to remember me to the kind Gertrude," said the Countess to her guide, and added, taking a string of pearls from under her veil, "Pray her to wear this in remembrance of her unhappy friend." Honest Glover took the string of pearls, and kissed with clownish gesture, but with sincere kindness, the fair hand which had found such a delicate mode of remunerating his own labours and peril. "Umph! signs and tokens," said the Count, "any farther bequests to make, my fair cousin? -- It is time we were on our way." "Only," said the Countess, making an effort to speak, "that you will be pleased to be favourable to this -- this young gentleman." "Umph!" said Crevecoeur, casting the same penetrating glance on Quentin which he had bestowed on Glover, but apparently with a much less satisfactory result, and mimicking, though not offensively, the embarrassment of the Countess. "Umph! -- Ay -- this is a blade of another temper. -- And pray, my cousin, what has this -- this very young gentleman done, to deserve such intercession at your hands?" "He has saved my life and honour," said the Countess, reddening with shame and resentment. Quentin also blushed with indignation, but wisely concluded that to give vent to it might only make matters worse. "Life and honour? -- Umph!" said again the Count Crevecoeur, "methinks it would have been as well, my cousin, if you had not put yourself in the way of lying under such obligations to this very young gentleman. -- But let it pass. The young gentleman may wait on us, if his quality permit, and I will see he has no injury -- only I will myself take in future the office of protecting your life and honour, and may perhaps find for him some fitter duty than that of being a squire of the body to damosels errant." "My Lord Count," said Durward, unable to keep silence any longer, "lest you should talk of a stranger in slighter terms than you might afterwards think becoming, I take leave to tell you, that I am Quentin Durward, an Archer of the Scottish Bodyguard, in which, as you well know, none but gentlemen and men of honour are enrolled." "I thank you for your information, and I kiss your hands, Seignior Archer," said Crevecoeur, in the same tone of raillery. "Have the goodness to ride with me to the front of the party." As Quentin moved onward at the command of the Count, who had now the power, if not the right, to dictate his motions, he observed that the Lady Isabelle followed his motions with a look of anxious and timid interest, which amounted almost to tenderness, and the sight of which brought water into his eyes. But he remembered that he had a man's part to sustain before Crevecoeur, who, perhaps of all the chivalry in France or Burgundy, was the least likely to be moved to anything but laughter by a tale of true love sorrow. He determined, therefore, not to wait his addressing him, but to open the conversation in a tone which should assert his claim to fair treatment, and to more respect than the Count, offended perhaps at finding a person of such inferior note placed so near the confidence of his high born and wealthy cousin, seemed disposed to entertain for him. "My Lord Count of Crevecoeur," he said, in a temperate but firm tone of voice, "may I request of you, before our interview goes farther, to tell me if I am at liberty, or am to account myself your prisoner?" "A shrewd question," replied the Count, "which at present I can only answer by another. -- Are France and Burgundy, think you, at peace or war with each other?" "That," replied the Scot, "you, my lord, should certainly know better than I. I have been absent from the Court of France, and have heard no news for some time." "Look you there," said the Count, "you see how easy it is to ask questions, but how difficult to answer them. Why, I myself, who have been at Peronne with the Duke for this week and better, cannot resolve this riddle any more than you, and yet, Sir Squire, upon the solution of that question depends the said point, whether you are prisoner or free man, and, for the present, I must hold you as the former. -- Only, if you have really and honestly been of service to my kinswoman, and for you are candid in your answers to the questions I shall ask, affairs shall stand the better with you." "The Countess of Croye," said Quentin, "is best judge if I have rendered any service, and to her I refer you on that matter. My answers you will yourself judge of when you ask me your questions." "Umph! -- haughty enough," muttered the Count of Crevecoeur, "and very like one that wears a lady's favour in his hat, and thinks he must carry things with a high tone, to honour the precious remnant of silk and tinsel. Well, sir, I trust it will be no abatement of your dignity, if you answer me, how long you have been about the person of the Lady Isabelle of Croye?" "Count of Crevecoeur," said Quentin Durward, "if I answer questions which are asked in a tone approaching towards insult, it is only lest injurious inferences should be drawn from my silence respecting one to whom we are both obliged to render justice. I have acted as escort to the Lady Isabelle since she left France to retire into Flanders." "Ho! ho!" said the Count, "and that is to say, since she fled from Plessis les Tours? -- You, an Archer of the Scottish Guard, accompanied her, of course, by the express orders of King Louis?" However little Quentin thought himself indebted to the King of France, who, in contriving the surprisal of the Countess Isabelle by William de la Marck, had probably calculated on the young Scotchman's being slain in her defence, he did not yet conceive himself at liberty to betray any trust which Louis had reposed, or had seemed to repose, in him, and therefore replied to Count Crevecoeur's inference that it was sufficient for him to have the authority of his superior officer for what he had done, and he inquired no farther. "It is quite sufficient," said the Count. "We know the King does not permit his officers to send the Archers of his Guard to prance like paladins by the bridle rein of wandering ladies, unless he hath some politic purpose to serve. It will be difficult for King Louis to continue to aver so boldly that he knew' not of the Ladies of Croye's having escaped from France, since they were escorted by one of his own Life guard. -- And whither, Sir Archer, was your retreat directed?" "To Liege, my lord," answered the Scot, "where the ladies desired to be placed under the protection of the late Bishop." "The late Bishop!" exclaimed the Count of Crevecoeur, "is Louis of Bourbon dead? -- Not a word of his illness had reached the Duke. -- Of what did he die?" "He sleeps in a bloody grave, my lord -- that is, if his murderers have conferred one on his remains." "Murdered!" exclaimed Crevecoeur again. -- "Holy Mother of Heaven! -- young man, it is impossible!" "I saw the deed done with my own eyes, and many an act of horror besides." "Saw it! and made not in to help the good Prelate!" exclaimed the Count, "or to raise the castle against his murderers? -- Know'st thou not that even to look on such a deed, without resisting it, is profane sacrilege?" "To be brief, my lord," said Durward, "ere this act was done, the castle was stormed by the bloodthirsty William de la Marck, with help of the insurgent Liegeois." "I am struck with thunder," said Crevecoeur. "Liege in insurrection! -- Schonwaldt taken! -- the Bishop murdered -- Messenger of sorrow, never did one man unfold such a packet of woes! -- Speak -- knew you of this assault -- of this insurrection -- of this murder? -- Speak -- thou art one of Louis's trusted Archers, and it is he that has aimed this painful arrow. -- Speak, or I will have thee torn with wild horses!" "And if I am so torn, my lord, there can be nothing rent out of me, that may not become a true Scottish gentleman: I know no more of these villainies than you -- was so far from being partaker in them, that I would have withstood them to the uttermost, had my means in a twentieth degree equalled my inclination. But what could I do? -- they were hundreds, and I but one. My only care was to rescue the Countess Isabelle, and in that I was happily successful. Yet, had I been near enough when the ruffian deed was so cruelly done on the old man, I had saved his gray hairs, or I had avenged them, and as it was, my abhorrence was spoken loud enough to prevent other horrors." "I believe thee, youth," said the Count, "thou art neither of an age nor nature to be trusted with such bloody work, however well fitted to be the squire of dames. But alas! for the kind and generous Prelate, to be murdered on the hearth where he so often entertained the stranger with Christian charity and princely bounty -- and that by a wretch, a monster! a portentous growth of blood and cruelty! -- bred up in the very hall where he has imbrued his hands in his benefactor's blood! But I know not Charles of Burgundy -- nay, I should doubt of the justice of Heaven, if vengeance be not as sharp, and sudden, and severe, as this villainy has been unexampled in atrocity. And, if no other shall pursue the murderer" -- here he paused, grasped his sword, then quitting his bridle, struck both gauntleted hands upon his breast, until his corselet clattered, and finally held them up to heaven, as he solemnly continued, -- "I -- I, Philip Crevecoeur of Cordes, make a vow to God, Saint Lambert, and the Three Kings of Cologne, that small shall be my thought of other earthly concerns, till I take full revenge on the murderers of the good Louis of Bourbon, whether I find them in forest or field, in city or in country, in hill or in plain, in King's Court or in God's Church! and thereto I pledge hands and living, friends and followers, life and honour. So help me God, and Saint Lambert of Liege, and the Three Kings of Cologne!" When the Count of Crevecoeur had made his vow, his mind seemed in some sort relieved from the overwhelming grief and astonishment with which he had heard the fatal tragedy that had been acted at Schonwaldt, and he proceeded to question Durward more minutely concerning the particulars of that disastrous affair, which the Scot, nowise desirous to abate the spirit of revenge which the Count entertained against William de la Marck, gave him at full length. "But those blind, unsteady, faithless, fickle beasts, the Liegeois," said the Count, "that they should have combined themselves with this inexorable robber and murderer, to put to death their lawful Prince!" Durward here informed the enraged Burgundian that the Liegeois, or at least the better class of them, however rashly they had run into the rebellion against their Bishop, had no design, so far as appeared to him, to aid in the execrable deed of De la Marck but, on the contrary, would have prevented it if they had had the means, and were struck with horror when they beheld it. "Speak not of the faithless, inconstant plebeian rabble!" said Crevecoeur. "When they took arms against a Prince who had no fault, save that he was too kind and too good a master for such a set of ungrateful slaves -- when they armed against him, and broke into his peaceful house, what could there be in their intention but murder? -- when they banded themselves with the Wild Boar of Ardennes, the greatest homicide in the marches of Flanders, what else could there be in their purpose but murder, which is the very trade he lives by? And again, was it not one of their own vile rabble who did the very deed, by thine own account? I hope to see their canals running blood by the flight of their burning houses. Oh, the kind, noble, generous lord, whom they have slaughtered! -- Other vassals have rebelled under the pressure of imposts and penury but the men of Liege in the fullness of insolence and plenty." He again abandoned the reins of his war horse, and wrung bitterly the hands, which his mail gloves rendered untractable. Quentin easily saw that the grief which he manifested was augmented by the bitter recollection of past intercourse and friendship with the sufferer, and was silent accordingly, respecting feelings which he was unwilling to aggravate, and at the same time felt it impossible to soothe. But the Count of Crevecoeur returned again and again to the subject -- questioned him on every particular of the surprise of Schonwaldt, and the death of the Bishop, and then suddenly, as if he had recollected something which had escaped his memory, demanded what had become of the Lady Hameline, and why she was not with her kinswoman? "Not," he added contemptuously, "that I consider her absence as at all a loss to the Countess Isabelle, for, although she was her kinswoman, and upon the whole a well meaning woman, yet the Court of Cocagne never produced such a fantastic fool, and I hold it for certain that her niece, whom I have always observed to be a modest and orderly young lady, was led into the absurd frolic of flying from Burgundy to France, by that blundering, romantic old match making and match seeking idiot!" (Court of Cocagne: a fabled land intended to ridicule the stories of Avalon, the apple green island, the home of King Arthur. "Its houses were built of good things to eat: roast geese went slowly down the street, turning themselves, and inviting the passersby to eat them; buttered larks fell in profusion; the shingles of the houses were of cake." Cent. Dict. Cocagne has also been called Lubberland.) What a speech for a romantic lover to hear! and to hear, too, when it would have been ridiculous in him to attempt what it was impossible for him to achieve -- namely, to convince the Count, by force of arms, that he did foul wrong to the Countess -- the peerless in sense as in beauty -- in terming her a modest and orderly young woman, qualities which might have been predicated with propriety of the daughter of a sunburnt peasant, who lived by goading the oxen, while her father held the plough. And then, to suppose her under the domination and supreme guidance of a silly and romantic aunt! -- The slander should have been repelled down the slanderer's throat. But the open, though severe, physiognomy of the Count of Crevecoeur, the total contempt which he seemed to entertain for those feelings which were uppermost in Quentin's bosom, overawed him, not for fear of the Count's fame in arms, that was a risk which would have increased his desire of making out a challenge -- but in dread of ridicule, the weapon of all others most feared by enthusiasts of every description, and which, from its predominance over such minds, often checks what is absurd, and fully as often smothers that which is noble. Under the influence of this fear of becoming an object of scorn rather than resentment, Durward, though with some pain, confined his reply to a confused account of the Lady Hameline's having made her escape from Schonwaldt before the attack took place. He could not, indeed, have made his story very distinct, without throwing ridicule on the near relation of Isabelle and perhaps incurring some himself, as having been the object of her preposterous expectations. He added to his embarrassed detail, that he had heard a report, though a vague one, of the Lady Hameline's having again fallen into the hands of William de la Marck. "I trust in Saint Lambert that he will marry her," said Crevecoeur, "as indeed, he is likely enough to do, for the sake of her moneybags, and equally likely to knock her on the head, so soon as these are either secured in his own grasp, or, at farthest, emptied." The Count then proceeded to ask so many questions concerning the mode in which both ladies had conducted themselves on the journey, the degree of intimacy to which they admitted Quentin himself, and other trying particulars, that, vexed, and ashamed, and angry, the youth was scarce able to conceal his embarrassment from the keen sighted soldier and courtier, who seemed suddenly disposed to take leave of him, saying, at the same time, "Umph -- I see it is as I conjectured, on one side at least, I trust the other party has kept her senses better. -- Come, Sir Squire, spur on, and keep the van, while I fall back to discourse with the Lady Isabelle. I think I have learned now so much from you, that I can talk to her of these sad passages without hurting her nicety, though I have fretted yours a little. -- Yet stay, young gallant -- one word ere you go. You have had, I imagine, a happy journey through Fairyland -- all full of heroic adventure, and high hope, and wild minstrel-like delusion, like the gardens of Morgaine la Fee (half-sister of Arthur. Her gardens abounded in all good things; music filled the air, and the inhabitants enjoyed perpetual youth). Forget it all, young soldier," he added, tapping him on the shoulder, "remember yonder lady only as the honoured Countess of Croye -- forget her as a wandering and adventurous damsel. And her friends -- one of them I can answer for -- will remember, on their part, only the services you have done her, and forget the unreasonable reward which you have had the boldness to propose to yourself." Enraged that he had been unable to conceal from the sharp sighted Crevecoeur feelings which the Count seemed to consider as the object of ridicule, Quentin replied indignantly, "My Lord Count, when I require advice of you, I will ask it, when I demand assistance of you, it will be time enough to grant or refuse it, when I set peculiar value on your opinion of me, it will not be too late to express it." "Heyday!" said the Count, "I have come between Amadis and Oriana, and must expect a challenge to the lists!" (Amadis is the hero of a famous mediaeval romance originally written in Portuguese, but translated into French and much enlarged by subsequent romancers. Amadis is represented as a model of chivalry. His lady was Oriana.) "You speak as if that were an impossibility," said Quentin. "When I broke a lance with the Duke of Orleans, it was against a head in which flowed better blood than that of Crevecoeur. -- When I measured swords with Dunois, I engaged a better warrior." "Now Heaven nourish thy judgment, gentle youth," said Crevecoeur, still laughing at the chivalrous inamorato. "If thou speak'st truth, thou hast had singular luck in this world, and, truly, if it be the pleasure of Providence exposes thee to such trials, without a beard on thy lip, thou wilt be mad with vanity ere thou writest thyself man. Thou canst not move me to anger, though thou mayst to mirth. Believe me, though thou mayst have fought with Princes, and played the champion for Countesses, by some of those freaks which Fortune will sometimes exhibit, thou art by no means the equal of those of whom thou hast been either the casual opponent, or more casual companion. I can allow thee like a youth, who hath listened to romances till he fancied himself a Paladin, to form pretty dreams for some time, but thou must not be angry at a well meaning friend, though he shake thee something roughly by the shoulders to awake thee." "My Lord of Crevecoeur," said Quentin, "my family --" "Nay, it was not utterly of family that I spoke," said the Count, "but of rank, fortune, high station, and so forth, which place a distance between various degrees and classes of persons. As for birth, all men are descended from Adam and Eve." "My Lord Count," repeated Quentin, "my ancestors, the Durwards of Glen Houlakin --" "Nay," said the Count, "if you claim a farther descent for them than from Adam, I have done! Good even to you." He reined back his horse, and paused to join the Countess, to whom, if possible, his insinuations and advices, however well meant, were still more disagreeable than to Quentin, who, as he rode on, muttered to himself, "Cold blooded, insolent, overweening coxcomb! -- Would that the next Scottish Archer who has his harquebuss pointed at thee, may not let thee off so easily as I did!" In the evening they reached the town of Charleroi, on the Sambre, where the Count of Crevecoeur had determined to leave the Countess Isabelle, whom the terror and fatigue of yesterday, joined to a flight of fifty miles since morning, and the various distressing sensations by which it was accompanied, had made incapable of travelling farther with safety to her health. The Count consigned her, in a state of great exhaustion, to the care of the Abbess of the Cistercian convent in Charleroi, a noble lady, to whom both the families of Crevecoeur and Croye were related, and in whose prudence and kindness he could repose confidence. Crevecoeur himself only stopped to recommend the utmost caution to the governor of a small Burgundian garrison who occupied the place, and required him also to mount a guard of honour upon the convent during the residence of the Countess Isabelle of Croye -- ostensibly to secure her safety, but perhaps secretly to prevent her attempting to escape. The Count only assigned as a cause for the garrison's being vigilant, some vague rumours which he had heard of disturbances in the Bishopric of Liege. But he was determined himself to be the first who should carry the formidable news of the insurrection and the murder of the Bishop, in all their horrible reality, to Duke Charles, and for that purpose, having procured fresh horses for himself and suite, he mounted with the resolution of continuing his journey to Peronne without stopping for repose, and, informing Quentin Durward that he must attend him, he made, at the same time, a mock apology for parting fair company, but hoped that to so devoted a squire of dames a night's journey by moonshine would be more agreeable than supinely to yield himself to slumber like an ordinary mortal. Quentin, already sufficiently afflicted by finding that he was to be parted from Isabelle, longed to answer this taunt with an indignant defiance, but aware that the Count would only laugh at his anger, and despise his challenge, he resolved to wait some future time, when he might have an opportunity of obtaining some amends from this proud lord, who, though for very different reasons, had become nearly as odious to him as the Wild Boar of Ardennes himself. He therefore assented to Crevecoeur's proposal, as to what he had no choice of declining, and they pursued in company, and with all the despatch they could exert, the road between Charleroi and Peronne. 有救抑或无救,骑士先生, 我都是您的俘虏; 按您高贵心灵的启示发落我吧—— 想想战争的机遇也可能有一天 使您陷入我此刻的处境—— 置身于不幸的俘虏的行列。 无名氏 黑骑兵和勃艮第武士的交锋只延续了约莫五分钟,因为后者的甲胄、战马和士气均占优势,很快就打得前者溃不成军。还没等到我们提到的那一瞬间过去,克雷维格伯爵已在用马的鬃毛擦拭他那沾满鲜血的钢刀。接着,他回到森林的边缘看见伊莎贝尔一直站在那儿观看他们的战斗。一部分人马跟着他,另一部分人马则花了点时间继续追击溃逃的敌人。 “骑士和贵族的刀剑被这些野猪血所玷污也真是种耻辱。”伯爵说道。 说罢他把刀插回刀鞘,并补充说:“我的好侄女,这可是对你回来的一种粗鲁的欢迎。不过,流浪的贵族小姐们也只能把这种风险看作家常便饭。幸好我及时赶到,否则,我可以肯定地告诉你,黑骑兵可把伯爵小姐的冠冕看得和乡下姑娘的帽子一样无足轻重。我看你的扈从没啥本事可进行多少抵抗。” “伯爵大人,”伊莎贝尔小姐说,“直说吧,我是否是个囚徒,您将把我带到哪儿去?” “傻孩子,你知道嘛,”伯爵回答说,“要是事情取决于我的意愿,我会回答这个问题。不过,你和你那喜欢说媒求婿的傻姑母近来一直在插翅乱飞,你们该满意地收拢翅膀在笼子里呆一会了。就我来说,当我把你带到佩隆的公爵宫廷,我的职责——一个不愉快的职责——也就结束。为此,我看我有必要把这支侦察部队的指挥权交给我侄儿斯蒂芬伯爵。我将和你一道回佩隆去。我想你很需要一个替你说情的人——我希望这个年轻的冒失鬼会明智地履行他的职责。” “好叔叔,”斯蒂芬伯爵说道,“假如您怀疑我指挥部队的能力,那您就留下来带领部队,我来为克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐充当仆役和保镖好了。” “好侄儿,”叔叔回答道,“你这个建议肯定比我的主意更好。不过我还是喜欢按我原来的计划去做。我要请你注意,你的责任不是猎杀这些黑猪——看来你对此特别感到义不容辞——而是给我收集有关列日的真实情报,以澄清我们听到的种种荒唐的谣传。我带十来个长矛手,其余的留在我的旗下,听从你的指挥。” “等一等,克雷维格叔叔,”伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐说道,“在我投诚自首之际,请让我至少要求您保护在危难中救助过我的这两个人的安全。请让这年轻人——我的忠实向导——平安地返回他的故乡列日。” “我将叫我侄儿护送这年轻人,”克雷维格敏锐地观察了格洛弗诚实的面貌之后说道,“看来他的确不会坏事。我们将把他一直送到目的地,然后放他回去。” “请你一定要代我向善良的格特鲁德问好,”伯爵小姐对向导说道,然后她从面纱底下取出一串珍珠补充了一句,“求她把这串珍珠戴上,以纪念一个不幸的朋友。” 诚实的格洛弗接过这串珍珠,以笨拙的姿势,诚恳而有礼地吻了小姐的纤手。他真没想到她会想出这样一个微妙的办法来报答他的辛劳和所冒的危险。 “哼!真是名堂多!”伯爵说道,回好侄女,还有别的赠礼吗?我们得上路了。” “还有一点,”伯爵小姐作了一番努力才说出口来,“请您优待这位——这位年轻的绅士。” “哼!”克雷维格说道,也像刚才对待格洛弗那样向昆丁投射了一个锐利的目光,但观察的结果显然不那么满意。同时他还没有恶意地模仿了一下伯爵小姐的窘态。“哼!这可是另一种性格的伙计。我的侄女,请问这位——这位年轻的绅士有什么功劳值得你为他这么说情呢?” “他拯救了我的生命和荣誉。”伯爵小姐又羞又恼地红着脸说道。 昆丁也气得脸通红,但他明智地考虑到,表露自己的愤怒只能更加坏事。 “生命和荣誉?哼!”克雷维格伯爵又说道,“我的侄女,我倒希望你最好不必因为这种事情对这位年轻绅士感恩图报。好吧,要是这位年轻绅士身份许可,我可以让他陪伴我们。我保证他不会受到伤害——不过,今后我将亲自负责保护你的生命和荣誉,也许给他找一个比充当流浪少女随身扈从更适当的差事。” “伯爵大人,”达威特说道,他感到无法再保持沉默,“为了避免您以轻蔑的口气谈论一个陌生人,而以后感到有失体面,我想冒昧地告诉您,我是昆丁•达威特,苏格兰近卫军的射手。正如您所知道的,只有绅士和贵族才有资格参加这个卫队。” “射手先生,谢谢您这个介绍,我也想吻吻您的手才好。”克雷维格仍然用嘲讽的口气说道,“劳驾和我一道骑到前面去吧!” 昆丁只好听从伯爵的命令,因为他知道伯爵目前有这个力量对他颐指气使——始不论是否有这个权利。他看到伊莎贝尔小姐正以一种近乎温柔的不安和畏怯的表情目送他走向前去。见到这个情景,不禁使他暗自落泪。但他并没忘记自己得在克雷维格面前扮演大丈夫角色。而这人在法国或勃艮第骑士当中,对真诚爱情的忧伤除了嘲笑以外,最无同情可言。因此,他决定不等他开口,自己先和他对话,并通过一种坚决的口吻强调他有权获得公正的待遇,受到更大的尊敬。而伯爵在看到一个身份卑微的人受到他那出身高贵的富有的侄女如此的青睐,一气之下,就没有给他应有的尊敬。 “克雷维格伯爵,”他用一种温和而坚定的口吻说道,“在继续我们的谈话之前,请您告诉我,我享有自由呢,还是得把自己看作一个俘虏?” “这是个尖锐的问题,”伯爵回答说,“目前我只能用另一个问题来作为对答——你认为法国与勃艮第现在是彼此和好呢,还是处于交战状态?” “这个么,”那苏格兰人回答道,“大人肯定比我知道得更清楚,我近来一直不在法国宫廷,好些时候没听见什么消息。” “你瞧,”伯爵说道,“问问题倒很容易,回答起来可真困难。你知道,过去一个多星期我一直和公爵呆在佩隆,我也无法比你更好地回答这个难题。扈从先生,你上面那个问题——即你究竟是俘虏还是享有自由——却又取决于对这个问题的回答。目前,我只好把你看作俘虏——不过,要是你真为我侄女忠实地效劳过,要是你对我的问题都作出坦率的回答,这对你会有好处。” “克罗伊埃伯爵小姐最能评断我是否给她效劳过,”昆丁说道,“我请您去问问她。您问我问题时,您也可以对我的回答作出自己的判断。” “哼!好高傲的口气,”克雷维格伯爵喃喃说道,“很像个帽子上戴有仕女的徽记的骑士!仿佛说起话来总得带点高傲的口吻才能使那些宝贵的绸结增加点光彩似的。好吧,先生,就请你回答我,你在克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔小姐身边呆了多久吧。我想这总不至于有损你的尊严吧?” “克雷维格伯爵,”昆丁•达威特说道,“如果说您以近乎侮辱的口吻提出问题能得到我的回答的话,那只是因为我担心,要是我沉默,就有可能对我们两人都有义务公正对待的人得出不利的结论。我是从伊莎贝尔小姐离开法国去弗兰德那天起就一直充当她的保护人的。” “嗬!嗬!”伯爵说道,“这就是说,从她逃离普莱西•勒•图尔的那天起?你是一个苏格兰近卫军的射手,你当然是根据路易王的手令护送她的啰?” 昆丁自然并不认为路易王对他有恩情可言,因为他在策划让德拉马克半途抢劫伊莎贝尔小姐时,也许就已指望年轻的苏格兰人在保护她的战斗当中遭到杀害。但他认为他也没有权利背弃路易王对他的信任,或仅停留于表面上的信任。所以针对克雷维格伯爵的推论他只是回答说:“上级命令我该怎么做就够了,我并没有进一步打听。” “完全够了。”伯爵说道,“我们知道,除了想达到某种政治目的,路易王是不会让他的军官派他的近卫军射手在流亡仕女骑的马旁边像个献殷勤的骑士那样蹦蹦跳跳的。既然护送两位克罗伊埃仕女的是路易王自己的卫士,那么他要想继续大胆地申明,他事先不知道她们逃离法国,就不那么容易了。射手先生,你得到的命令是叫你去什么地方?” “去列日,我的大人,”苏格兰人回答道,“因为两位仕女希望得到已故的列日主教的保护。” “已故的主教?”克雷维格伯爵惊叫道,“路易•波旁死了吗?公爵一点没得到他害病的消息——他是怎么死的?” “他是躺在一个血淋淋的坟墓里——而这是假定杀害他的人不怕麻烦,舍得把他的遗体葬在一个坟墓里。” “杀害他!”克雷维格又惊叫道,“天上的圣母呀!年轻人,这是不可能的事!” “我是亲眼看见他们杀害他的。此外,他们还干了许许多多可怕的事。” “亲眼看见的!竟然没有跑去救救那善良的主教!”伯爵又惊叫道,“也不去动员城堡里的人去攻打杀害他的人?你知道,即使不加抵抗地听任这种行为发生,也是一种亵渎神明的行为!” “大人,我用几句话告诉您吧,”达威特说,“在杀害主教之前,嗜血的威廉•德拉马克已经在反叛的列日市民帮助下攻占了城堡。” “真是晴天霹雳!”克雷维格说道,“列日城叛乱!索恩瓦尔德被攻占!主教遭杀害!你这报忧的使者哟,从来没有人像你这样一下带来了这么多的噩耗!你说——你知道这次进攻、这次叛乱。这个谋杀事件吗?你说——你是路易信赖的一个苏格兰射手,要晓得,正是他射出的这致命的一箭。你说,不然我得把你五马分尸!” “大人,即使您真把我分尸,您也无法从我身上分出一点与一个真正的苏格兰绅士不相容的东西。我和您一样,对这个万恶的行径事前毫无所知。非但我不是一个参与者,而且,假如我不是那么力不从心的话,我肯定会和他们战斗到底。然而,我有什么办法呢?他们成百上千,而我单枪匹马。我只顾得上救出伊莎贝尔小姐。所幸这点我算是做到了。不过,要是他们残酷杀害老人时,我离他们很近的话,我要么救了这白发老人,要么我为他报了仇。事实是我大声地表示了我的抗议,才避免了另外一些恐怖事件的发生。” “年轻人,我相信你,”伯爵说道,“论你的年龄或性格,你只适合当仕女的扈从,而不适合干这种血腥事。可悲哟,一位仁慈宽厚的主教竟在他经常以基督的博爱和王子的慷慨款待外乡人的大厅里惨遭杀害——遭到一个恶棍、一个恶魔的杀害。这个凶残嗜血的毒瘤正是在他的双手沾满了恩人鲜血的大厅里被培养大的。我不知道勃艮第•查尔斯如何反应——不过,这种空前未有的骇人听闻的残暴肯定会招来迅猛、严厉、锐不可当的报应,否则就是皇天无眼。假如别人不追缉杀人犯,”这时他沉默片刻,捏紧刀把,丢开缰绳,用两只带着钢手套的手捶打胸脯,把胸甲打得铿然作响,最后举起双手,庄严地说道,“我——我,科尔德的菲利普•克雷维格向上帝发誓,向圣兰伯特和科隆三王发誓,我要排除一切杂念,一心为善良的波旁•路易报仇,不管凶手在森林或田野,在城市或乡村,在山区或平原,在宫廷或教堂,我都要穷追到底!对此我以我的田地和房产、朋友的交情和部下的忠诚以及生命和荣誉作保。愿上帝助我,愿圣兰伯特和科隆三王助我!” 克雷维格伯爵发完誓以后,似乎稍许减轻了他听到索恩瓦尔德惨剧时的极其悲痛和惊奇的心情,开始更仔细地向达威特打听惨剧的详情。那苏格兰人无意消减伯爵对威廉•德拉马克所抱的复仇决心,便详尽地向他作了介绍。 “列日市民都是些不忠不义、动摇盲从的畜牲,”伯爵说道,“竟和这估恶不俊的强盗和凶手勾结起来,杀害他们合法的亲王!” 达威特告诉这愤怒的勃艮第人说,列日市民——至少是出身较好的那部分市民——虽然莽撞地参与了反对主教的叛乱,但在他看来,他们在德拉马克的滔天罪行中并没有助纣为虐的意图。相反,要是力所能及,他们本会阻止其发生,因为当他们看到惨剧发生时也都大惊失色。 “别谈这些动摇变节的乌合之众了。”克雷维格说道,“既然他们武装反叛一位亲王——而他惟一的缺点就是对待这群忘恩负义的奴才太仁慈太善良——既然他们武装反叛他,冲进他和平的城堡,除了杀害他还能有什么别的目的呢?既然他们和‘阿登内斯野猪’这弗兰德沼泽中最大的杀人犯狼狈为奸,除了‘以杀人为业’之外,还能有什么别的目的呢?而且,照你自己的说法,刽子手不正是这群凶恶的暴民中的一个屠夫吗?我真希望看到他们房屋都烧光,火光照耀他们那些被鲜血染红的运河。啊,他们杀害的是多么仁慈、高贵、慷慨无私的主教!在其他地方,臣民叛乱往往是因为捐税的压力和贫困,但列日市民叛乱是因为太富大无礼。”他又丢开缰绳,痛苦地搓搓被钢甲手套弄得很不灵便的两只手。昆丁不难看出,主教与他过去的交往和友谊所带来的痛苦回忆更加深了他的悲恸。所以他默不作声,表示他尊敬自己既不想加剧也无法安慰的这样一种感情。 然而克雷维格伯爵却一再重复这个话题,一再询问攻打索恩瓦尔德和杀害主教的详情。他忽然像想起忘掉的某件事似的问起哈梅琳女士的下落,以及没和她侄女一道来的原因。“倒不是我认为她没来是对伊莎贝尔小姐的一种损失。”他轻蔑地补充说道,“虽然她是她的姑母,而且总的来说也是个心眼不坏的女人,但连科开因国的宫廷和王室也从来不曾产生过这样一个荒诞可笑的傻瓜。我向来认为她侄女是个守本分的姑娘。我敢肯定,一定是这个喜欢说媒、找对象、爱闹笑话的罗曼蒂克老白痴使她干出了从勃艮第逃奔法国这种荒谬事!” 在一个富于罗曼蒂克感情的恋人听来,这段话多不人耳!但听了之后,要想作出不切实际的干预又会显得多么可笑。这里指的是用武力迫使伯爵认识到他把那思想和外貌都举世无双的伯爵小姐称作一个守本分的姑娘,是对她的一种莫大的委屈,因为这种品质也可以恰当地形容一个黝黑的农夫女儿——帮父亲赶牛犁田的农家姑娘。而且他还认为她受到一个愚蠢而罗曼蒂克的姑母的管治和指引——这种诽谤真应叫诽谤者自己吞下去才好。然而,克雷维格伯爵严峻而开朗的面孔,以及他对支配着昆丁的内心感情表现出的十足的轻蔑使他望而生畏。他害怕的倒不是伯爵英勇善战的名声(这反倒能刺激他挑战的欲望),而是各种热心人最害怕的一种武器——讥笑。它对这些人的心灵起着一种驾驭作用,往往能避免他们做出荒谬的事,但也能妨碍他们做出高贵的事。 既然达威特害怕的是遭到对方的轻视而不是不满,所以他克制了一下,只是含糊地回答说,哈梅琳女士早在攻城开始以前就已逃出索恩瓦尔德堡。要想把事情说清楚难免要使伊莎贝尔这位姑母,以及作为她荒谬的追逐对象的他本人蒙受一点讥笑。对这难以出口的情节他还作了一点补充,说他曾听见一个传闻,说哈梅琳女士已落到威廉•德拉马克手里,不过还有待进一步明确。 “凭圣兰伯特说,我相信他会要她做妻子。”克雷维格说,“为了得到她的钱袋,他很可能这样做,但一当钱袋到手,顶多等钱都花光,他也同样有可能给她当头一棒,把她活活打死。” 伯爵接着又问了许多别的问题,诸如两位仕女在旅途上表现如何,她们和昆丁本人亲密程度如何,以及其他烦人的细节,使得这年轻人羞恼交迫,感觉简直无法对这目光锐利的武士和朝臣掩饰自己的窘态。但幸好伯爵忽然想离开他身边,他说:“哼!我看事情就像我猜的那样——至少一方如此。也许另一方头脑要健全一些。扈从先生,你骑到前面去吧。我将到后面去和伊莎贝尔小姐谈谈。我想我已从你身上了解到很多情况,可以使我和她谈到这些不幸的经历时避免伤她的面子——虽然难免伤你一点面子。喂,年轻的美男子,你等一等,我想先跟你讲句话。我想你是在仙乡和梦境里作了一次愉快的旅行——一切都充满了英雄般的冒险、伟大的希冀以及行吟诗人般的幻觉,仿佛置身于摩甘娜仙女的花园吧!忘掉这一切,年轻的卫士。”他拍拍他的肩膀补充说,“要记住那位女士是克罗伊埃伯爵小姐,别再以为她还是一个富于冒险性的流浪女郎了。她的朋友们——至少我可以代其中一位担保——也将只把你为她效的劳记在心里,而不理睬你妄自索要的非分报酬。” 昆丁十分气恼,因为他没能对这目光锐利的克雷维格隐藏住自己可供他嘲弄的内心感情。所以他气愤地回答说:“伯爵大人,要是我需要您的忠告,我会向您求教。要是我需要您给我帮助,您也可以从容地考虑同意或拒绝。要是我特别重视您对我的看法,过些时候说出来也还不迟。” “嘿!”伯爵说道,“我真是夹在阿马迪斯和奥里安纳两人当中,得等待你决斗的挑战了。” “您似乎说这是不可能的事,”昆丁说道,“但您要知道,我和奥尔良公爵决斗时,被我的长矛对准的胸膛里,流着的是比您克雷维格更为高贵的血液。当我和杜诺瓦交锋时,我那位对手的武艺也要胜你一筹。” “年轻人,愿上帝好好培养你的判断能力,”克雷维格说道,一边忍不住对这骑士风度的恋人放声大笑,“如果你说的是实话,那么你算是在这个人世间大大地走运。说实在的,要是在你嘴上无毛时老天爷就乐意使你受到这种考验,那么在你称得上大人以前你准会骄傲得不可一世。你无法叫我生气,只能叫我开心。相信我的话吧,尽管命运之神有时会出现怪念头,使你有幸和王公贵族交锋、为伯爵小姐充当卫士,但你决不能和偶然成为你的对手,或偶然成为你的旅伴的人平起平坐。我可以把你当作一个听多了浪漫故事,幻想自己是个骑士的年轻人来看待,容许你胡思乱想一段时间,但你一定不要对一个好心的朋友生气,尽管他有点粗鲁地摇撼你的肩头使你清醒清醒。” “克雷维格大人,”昆丁说道,“我的家庭——” “不,我指的不完全是家庭,”伯爵说道,“而是指的官阶、财产。崇高的地位等等。这些都在不同等级的人们中间造成了不可逾越的障碍。至于说出身,那么所有的人都是亚当夏娃的子孙。” “我的伯爵大人,”昆丁再次说道,“我的祖先,格兰一呼拉金的达威特——” “得了,”伯爵说道,“要是你能为他们找到一个比亚当更早的祖先,那我算服你了!再见。” 他回过马来和伯爵小姐走在一起。听到他那些尽管是善意的暗示和劝告,小姐感到的厌恶甚至要比昆丁更为强烈。昆丁在向前走去时,喃喃自语地说道:“无礼、傲慢、冷酷、自以为了不起的蠢家伙!但愿你有朝一日碰到别的苏格兰射手,用火枪对准你,不像我这样轻易饶了你!” 晚上他们到达了桑布尔河上的沙勒罗瓦城。克雷维格伯爵决定把伊莎贝尔小姐留在这个地方。因为昨天经历的恐怖和疲劳,加上一早出发已走了五十英里的路程,一路上又遇到种种不愉快的感受,要她继续往前走势必影响她的健康。伯爵把极度疲乏的伊莎贝尔交给沙勒罗瓦的西斯特兴女修道院院长照顾。她是和克雷维格家族和克罗伊埃家族都有亲戚关系的一位高贵的妇女,因此他可以充分信赖她的审慎和善良。 在城里停留时,克雷维格指示驻扎该地的勃艮第守军司令官提高警惕。他还要求在克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐逗留期间给女修道院派一个仪仗队担任守护——表面上是为了保证她的安全,暗地里也许是想防止她逃跑。伯爵交待该地守军要提高警惕时,只是含糊地说他听到了列日主教辖区出现骚动的谣传,不过还有待明确。至于列日叛乱和主教遇难的噩耗及其可怕的详细情况他已决定亲自向查尔斯公爵汇报,首先让他知道。因此他在给自己和随行人员换了马之后,便命令立即动身,决心马不停蹄地一直赶到佩隆。他通知昆丁•达威特和他同行,同时他还讥讽地道歉说,他不得不拆散一对佳偶,但希望像他这样一位仕女们的忠实扈从会感到在月光下走一夜总比像常人那样酣睡一夜要愉快得多。 昆丁想到他得和伊莎贝尔分手已经够痛苦了,听到他这个讥讽真恨不得向他提出愤怒的挑战。但他知道伯爵只会嘲笑他的愤怒,蔑视他的挑战,所以他决心等待将来某个时候,再找机会向这个骄傲的贵族进行报复。虽然原因很不相同,他的确感到他和“阿登内斯野猪”几乎同样可憎。最后,他只得无可奈何地同意克雷维格的吩咐,和他一道尽快地赶完沙勒罗瓦和佩隆之间的路程。 Chapter 25 The Unbidden Guest No human quality is so well wove In warp and woof, but there 's some flaw in it: I've known a brave man fly a shepherd's cur, A wise man so demean him, drivelling idiocy Had wellnigh been ashamed on't. For your crafty, Your worldly wise man, he, above the rest, Weaves his own snares so fine, he 's often caught in them. OLD PLAY Quentin, during the earlier part of the night journey, had to combat with that bitter heartache which is felt when youth parts, and probably forever, with her he loves. As, pressed by the urgency of the moment, and the impatience of Crevecoeur, they hasted on through the rich lowlands of Hainault, under the benign guidance of a rich and lustrous harvest moon, she shed her yellow influence over rich and deep pastures, woodland, and cornfields, from which the husbandmen were using her light to withdraw the grain, such was the industry of the Flemings, even at that period, she shone on broad, level, and fructifying rivers, where glided the white sail in the service of commerce, uninterrupted by rock and torrent, beside lively quiet villages, whose external decency and cleanliness expressed the ease and comfort of the inhabitants, -- she gleamed upon the feudal castle of many a Baron and Knight, with its deep moat, battlemented court, and high belfry -- for the chivalry of Hainault was renowned among the nobles of Europe -- and her light displayed at a distance, in its broad beam, the gigantic towers of more than one lofty minster. Yet all this fair variety, however, differing from the waste and wilderness of his own land, interrupted not the course of Quentin's regrets and sorrows. He had left his heart behind him when he departed from Charleroi, and the only reflection which the farther journey inspired was that every step was carrying him farther from Isabelle. His imagination was taxed to recall every word she had spoken, every look she had directed towards him, and, as happens frequently in such cases, the impression made upon his imagination by the recollection of these particulars, was even stronger than the realities themselves had excited. At length, after the cold hour of midnight was past, in spite alike of love and of sorrow, the extreme fatigue which Quentin had undergone the two preceding days began to have an effect on him, which his habits of exercise of every kind, and his singular alertness and activity of character, as well as the painful nature of the reflections which occupied his thoughts, had hitherto prevented his experiencing. The ideas of his mind began to be so little corrected by the exertions of his senses, worn out and deadened as the latter now were by extremity of fatigue, that the visions which the former drew superseded or perverted the information conveyed by the blunted organs of seeing and hearing, and Durward was only sensible that he was awake, by the exertions which, sensible of the peril of his situation, he occasionally made to resist falling into a deep and dead sleep. Every now and then, strong consciousness of the risk of falling from or with his horse roused him to exertion and animation, but ere long his eyes again were dimmed by confused shades of all sorts of mingled colours, the moonlight landscape swam before them, and he was so much overcome with fatigue, that the Count of Crevecoeur, observing his condition, was at length compelled to order two of his attendants, one to each rein of Durward's bridle, in order to prevent the risk of his falling from his horse. When at length they reached the town of Landrecy, the Count, in compassion to the youth, who had now been in a great measure without sleep for three nights, allowed himself and his retinue a halt of four hours, for rest and refreshment. Deep and sound were Quentin's slumbers, until they were broken by the sound of the Count's trumpet, and the cry of his Fouriers (subordinate officers who secure quarters for the army while manoeuvring) and harbingers, "Debout! debout! Ha! Messires, en route, en route! (arise, let us set out!)" Yet, unwelcomely early as the tones came, they awaked him a different being in strength and spirits from what he had fallen asleep. Confidence in himself and his fortunes returned with his reviving spirits, and with the rising sun. He thought of his love no longer as a desperate and fantastic dream, but as a high and invigorating principle, to be cherished in his bosom, although he might never purpose to himself, under all the difficulties by which he was beset, to bring it to any prosperous issue. "The pilot," he reflected, "steers his bark by the polar star, although he never expects to become possessor of it, and the thoughts of Isabelle of Croye shall make me a worthy man at arms, though I may never see her more. When she hears that a Scottish soldier named Quentin Durward distinguished himself in a well fought field, or left his body on the breach of a disputed fortress, she will remember the companion of her journey, as one who did all in his power to avert the snares and misfortunes which beset it, and perhaps will honour his memory with a tear, his coffin with a garland." In this manly mood of bearing his misfortune, Quentin felt himself more able to receive and reply to the jests of the Count of Crevecoeur, who passed several on his alleged effeminacy and incapacity of undergoing fatigue. The young Scot accommodated himself so good humouredly to the Count's raillery, and replied at once so happily and so respectfully, that the change of his tone and manner made obviously a more favourable impression on the Count than he had entertained from his prisoner's conduct during the preceding evening, when, rendered irritable by the feelings of his situation, he was alternately moodily silent or fiercely argumentative. The veteran soldier began at length to take notice of his young companion as a pretty fellow, of whom something might be made, and more than hinted to him that would he but resign his situation in the Archer Guard of France, he would undertake to have him enrolled in the household of the Duke of Burgundy in an honourable condition, and would himself take care of his advancement. And although Quentin, with suitable expressions of gratitude, declined this favour at present, until he should find out how far he had to complain of his original patron, King Louis, he, nevertheless, continued to remain on good terms with the Count of Crevecoeur, and, while his enthusiastic mode of thinking, and his foreign and idiomatical manner of expressing himself, often excited a smile on the grave cheek of the Count, that smile had lost all that it had of sarcastic and bitter, and did not exceed the limits of good humour and good manners. Thus travelling on with much more harmony than on the preceding day, the little party came at last within two miles of the famous and strong town of Peronne, near which the Duke of Burgundy's army lay encamped, ready, as was supposed, to invade France, and, in opposition to which, Louis XI had himself assembled a strong force near Saint Maxence, for the purpose of bringing to reason his over powerful vassal. Perrone, situated upon a deep river, in a flat country, and surrounded by strong bulwarks and profound moats, was accounted in ancient as in modern times, one of the strongest fortresses in France. (Indeed, though lying on an exposed and warlike frontier, it was never taken by an enemy, but preserved the proud name of Peronne la Pucelle, until the Duke of Wellington, a great destroyer of that sort of reputation, took the place in the memorable advance upon Paris in 1815. S.) The Count of Crevecoeur, his retinue, and his prisoner, were approaching the fortress about the third hour after noon, when riding through the pleasant glades of a large forest, which then covered the approach to the town on the east side, they were met by two men of rank, as appeared from the number of their attendants, dressed in the habits worn in time of peace, and who, to judge from the falcons which they carried on their wrists, and the number of spaniels and greyhounds led by their followers, were engaged in the amusement of hawking. But on perceiving Crevecoeur, with whose appearance and liveries they were sufficiently intimate, they quitted the search which they were making for a heron along the banks of a long canal, and came galloping towards him. "News, news, Count of Crevecoeur," they cried both together, "will you give news, or take news? or will you barter fairly?" "I would barter fairly, Messires," said Crevecoeur, after saluting them courteously, "did I conceive you had any news of importance sufficient to make an equivalent for mine." The two sportsmen smiled on each other, and the elder of the two, a fine baronial figure, with a dark countenance, marked with that sort of sadness which some physiognomists ascribe to a melancholy temperament, and some, as the Italian statuary augured of the visage of Charles I, consider as predicting an unhappy death, turning to his companion, said, "Crevecoeur has been in Brabant, the country of commerce, and he has learned all its artifices -- he will be too hard for us if we drive a bargain." "Messires," said Crevecoeur, "the Duke ought in justice to have the first of my wares, as the Seigneur takes his toll before open market begins. But tell me, are your news of a sad or a pleasant complexion?" The person whom he particularly addressed was a lively looking man, with an eye of great vivacity, which was corrected by an expression of reflection and gravity about the mouth and upper lip -- the whole physiognomy marking a man who saw and judged rapidly, but was sage and slow in forming resolutions or in expressing opinions. This was the famous Knight of Hainault, son of Collara, or Nicolas de l'Elite, known in history, and amongst historians, by the venerable name of Philip de Comines, at this time close to the person of Duke Charles the Bold, and one of his most esteemed counsellors. He answered Crevecoeur's question concerning the complexion of the news of which he and his companion, the Baron D'Hymbercourt, were the depositaries. (Philip de Comines was described in the former editions of this work as a little man, fitted rather for counsel than action. This was a description made at a venture, to vary the military portraits with which the age and work abound. Sleidan the historian, upon the authority of Matthieu d'Arves, who knew Philip de Comines, and had served in his household, says he was a man of tall stature, and a noble presence. The learned Monsieur Petitot . . . intimates that Philip de Comines made a figure at the games of chivalry and pageants exhibited on the wedding of Charles of Burgundy with Margaret of England in 1468. . . . He is the first named, however, of a gallant band of assailants, knights and noblemen, to the number of twenty, who, with the Prince of Orange as their leader, encountered, in a general tourney, with a party of the same number under the profligate Adolf of Cleves, who acted as challenger, by the romantic title of Arbre d'or. The encounter, though with arms of courtesy, was very fierce, and separated by main force, not without difficulty. Philip de Comines has, therefore, a title to be accounted tam Martre quam Mercurio. . . S.) (D'Hymbercourt, or Imbercourt, was put to death by the inhabitants of Ghent, with the Chancellor of Burgundy, in the year 1477. Mary of Burgundy, daughter of Charles the Bold, appeared in mourning in the marketplace, and with tears besought the life of her servants from her insurgent subjects, but in vain. S.) "They were," he said, "like the colours of the rainbow, various in hue, as they might be viewed from different points, and placed against the black cloud or the fair sky. -- Such a rainbow was never seen in France or Flanders, since that of Noah's ark." "My tidings," replied Crevecoeur, "are altogether like the comet, gloomy, wild, and terrible in themselves, yet to be accounted the forerunners of still greater and more dreadful evils which are to ensue." "We must open our bales," said Comines to his companion, "or our market will be forestalled by some newcomers, for ours are public news. -- In one word, Crevecoeur -- listen and wonder -- King Louis is at Peronne." "What!" said the Count in astonishment, "has the Duke retreated without a battle? and do you remain here in your dress of peace, after the town is besieged by the French? -- for I cannot suppose it taken." "No, surely," said D'Hymbercourt, "the banners of Burgundy have not gone back a foot, and still King Louis is here." "Then Edward of England must have come over the seas with his bowmen," said Crevecoeur, "and, like his ancestors, gained a second field of Poictiers?" "Not so," said Comines. "Not a French banner has been borne down, not a sail spread from England -- where Edward is too much amused among the wives of the citizens of London to think of playing the Black Prince. Hear the extraordinary truth. You know, when you left us, that the conference between the commissioners on the parts of France and Burgundy was broken up, without apparent chance of reconciliation." "True, and we dreamt of nothing but war." "What has followed has been indeed so like a dream," said Comines, "that I almost expect to awake, and find it so. Only one day since, the Duke had in council protested so furiously against farther delay that it was resolved to send a defiance to the King, and march forward instantly into France. Toison d'Or, commissioned for the purpose, had put on his official dress, and had his foot in the stirrup to mount his horse, when lo! the French herald Montjoie rode into our camp. "We thought of nothing else than that Louis had been beforehand with our defiance, and began to consider how much the Duke would resent the advice which had prevented him from being the first to declare war. But a council being speedily assembled, what was our wonder when the herald informed us, that Louis, King of France, was scarce an hour's riding behind, intending to visit Charles, Duke of Burgundy, with a small retinue, in order that their differences might be settled at a personal interview!" "You surprise me, Messires," said Crevecoeur, "yet you surprise me less than you might have expected, for, when I was last at Plessis les Tours, the all trusted Cardinal Balue, offended with his master, and Burgundian at heart, did hint to me that he could so work upon Louis's peculiar foibles as to lead him to place himself in such a position with regard to Burgundy that the Duke might have the terms of peace of his own making. But I never suspected that so old a fox as Louis could have been induced to come into the trap of his own accord. What said the Burgundian counsellors?" "As you may guess," answered D'Hymbercourt, "talked much of faith to be observed, and little of advantage to be obtained by such a visit, while it was manifest they thought almost entirely of the last, and were only anxious to find some way to reconcile it with the necessary preservation of appearances." "And what said the Duke?" continued the Count of Crevecoeur. "Spoke brief and bold as usual," replied Comines. "'Which of you was it,' he asked, 'who witnessed the meeting of my cousin Louis and me after the battle of Montl'hery, when I was so thoughtless as to accompany him back within the intrenchments of Paris with half a score of attendants, and so put my person at the King's mercy?' I replied, that most of us had been present, and none could ever forget the alarm which it had been his pleasure to give us. 'Well,' said the Duke, 'you blamed me for my folly, and I confessed to you that I had acted like a giddy pated boy, and I am aware, too, that my father of happy memory being then alive, my kinsman, Louis, would have had less advantage by seizing on my person than I might now have by securing his. But, nevertheless, if my royal kinsman comes hither on the present occasion, in the same singleness of heart under which I then acted, he shall be royally welcome. -- If it is meant by this appearance of confidence to circumvent and to blind me, till he execute some of his politic schemes, by Saint George of Burgundy, let him to look to it!' And so, having turned up his mustaches and stamped on the ground, he ordered us all to get on our horses, and receive so extraordinary a guest." (After the battle of Montl'hery, in 1465, Charles . . . had an interview with Louis under the walls of Paris, each at the head of a small party. The two Princes dismounted, and walked together so deeply engaged in discussing the business of their meeting, that Charles forgot the peculiarity of his situation; and when Louis turned back towards the town of Paris, from which he came, the Count of Charalois kept him company so far as to pass the line of outworks with which Paris was surrounded, and enter a field work which communicated with the town by a trench. . . . His escort and his principal followers rode forward from where he had left them. . . . To their great joy the Count returned uninjured, accompanied with a guard belonging to Louis. The Burgundians taxed him with rashness in no measured terms. "Say no more of it," said Charles; "I acknowledge the extent of my folly, but I was not aware what I was doing till I entered the redoubt." Memoires de Philippe de Comines. -- S.) "And you met the King accordingly?" replied the Count of Crevecoeur. "Miracles have not ceased -- How was he accompanied?" "As slightly as might be," answered D'Hymbercourt, "only a score or two of the Scottish Guard, and a few knights and gentlemen of his household among whom his astrologer, Galeotti, made the gayest figure." "That fellow," said Crevecoeur, "holds some dependence on the Cardinal Balue -- I should not be surprised that he has had his share in determining the King to this step of doubtful policy. Any nobility of higher rank?" "There are Monsieur of Orleans, and Dunois," replied Comines. "I will have a rouse with Dunois," said Crevecoeur, "wag the world as it will. But we heard that both he and the Duke had fallen into disgrace, and were in prison." "They were both under arrest in the Castle of Loches, that delightful place of retirement for the French nobility," said D'Hymbercourt, "but Louis has released them, in order to bring them with him -- perhaps because he cared not to leave Orleans behind. For his other attendants, faith, I think his gossip, the Hangman Marshal, with two or three of his retinue, and Oliver, his barber, may be the most considerable -- and the whole bevy so poorly arrayed, that, by my honour, the King resembles most an old usurer, going to collect desperate debts, attended by a body of catchpolls." "And where is he lodged?" said Crevecoeur. "Nay, that," replied the Comines, "is the most marvellous of all. Our Duke offered to let the King's Archer Guard have a gate of the town, and a bridge of boats over the Somme, and to have assigned to Louis himself the adjoining house, belonging to a wealthy burgess, Giles Orthen, but, in going thither, the King espied the banners of De Lau and Pencil de Riviere, whom he had banished from France, and scared, as it would seem, with the thought of lodging so near refugees and malcontents of his own making, he craved to be quartered in the castle of Peronne, and there he hath his abode accordingly." "Why, God ha' mercy!" exclaimed Crevecoeur, "this is not only not being content with venturing into the lion's den, but thrusting his head into his very jaws. -- Nothing less than the very bottom of the rat trap would serve the crafty old politician!" "Nay," said Comines, "D'Hymbercourt hath not told you the speech of Le Glorieux (the jester of Charles of Burgundy of whom more hereafter. S.) -- which, in my mind, was the shrewdest opinion that was given." "And what said his most illustrious wisdom?" asked the Count. "As the Duke," replied Comines, "was hastily ordering some vessels and ornaments of plate and the like, to be prepared as presents for the King and his retinue, by way of welcome on his arrival: "'Trouble not thy small brain about it, my friend Charles,' said Le Glorieux, 'I will give thy cousin Louis a nobler and a fitter gift than thou canst, and that is my cap and bells, and my bauble to boot, for, by the mass, he is a greater fool than I am, for putting himself in thy power.' "'But if I give him no reason to repent it, sirrah, how thou?' said the Duke. "'Then, truly, Charles, thou shalt have cap and bauble thyself, as the greatest fool of the three of us.' "I promise you this knavish quip touched the Duke closely -- I saw him change colour and bite his lip. And now, our news are told, noble Crevecoeur, and what think you they resemble?" "A mine full charged with gunpowder," answered Crevecoeur, "to which, I fear, it is my fate to bring the kindled linstock. Your news and mine are like flax and fire, which cannot meet without bursting into flame, or like certain chemical substances which cannot be mingled without an explosion. Friends -- gentlemen -- ride close by my rein, and when I tell you what has chanced in the bishopric of Liege, I think you will be of opinion that King Louis might as safely have undertaken a pilgrimage to the infernal regions as this ill timed visit to Peronne." The two nobles drew up close on either hand of the Count, and listened, with half suppressed exclamations, and gestures of the deepest wonder and interest, to his account of the transactions at Liege and Schonwaldt. Quentin was then called forward, and examined and re-examined on the particulars of the Bishop's death, until at length he refused to answer any farther interrogatories, not knowing wherefore they were asked, or what use might be made of his replies. They now reached the rich and level banks of the Somme, and the ancient walls of the little town of Peronne la Pucelle, and the deep green meadows adjoining, now whitened with the numerous tents of the Duke of Burgundy's army, amounting to about fifteen thousand men. 无论人之才智如何高超, 总不能编织得天衣无缝, 我曾见勇士躲避牧羊犬的追逐, 聪明人说着无聊的蠢话自贬身价。 狡猾精明之徒把机关算尽, 却往往害了自家性命。 《古老的戏剧》 在头半段夜行军中昆丁不得不压制年轻人也许在和自己的恋人分离时所感到的心灵的剧痛。由于时间紧迫,他们在伯爵不耐烦的催促下匆忙地穿过埃诺富饶的低洼平原。一轮丰满而灿烂的秋月柔和地倾洒着光辉为他们照亮前程。她那黄色的朦胧的光芒笼罩着一片片的草场、森林和田野。农夫们正利用她的光辉来收割庄稼,即使在夜深之际,弗兰德人也还在辛勤劳动。她照耀着沿岸果树成林的宽阔舒坦的河流。河上的白帆不畏岩石和险滩,满载货物,在充满生气的宁静村庄旁边飘过。村庄外部的整洁说明里面的居民过着安乐的生活。她映照着许多豪侠的贵族和骑士的封建城堡,以及那一条条护城河、一个个城墙围着的庭院和高高的钟楼——足见埃诺的骑士阶级的确在欧洲贵族中久负盛名。她那无限广阔的光辉也照射出远处许多教堂的高大塔影。 然而,这富于变化的美丽景色尽管与他家乡那种荒漠而粗犷的景色很不一样,但仍阻挡不了昆丁的绵绵离恨。当他离开沙勒罗瓦时,他已把他的心留在那里。而继续往前走更只能使他感伤地想到,每走一步便离伊莎贝尔更远一步。他沉浸在回忆和想象中,搜寻她讲过的每句话、她望他时的每个表情。而在这种情况下,人们常常发现,对细节的回忆在头脑中产生的印象甚至比现实的情节产生的印象更为强烈。 在寒冷的半夜过去以后,前两天所经受的极度疲劳终于不顾爱的忧伤开始在昆丁身上产生强烈作用——他那爱动的习惯、异常机敏活跃的性格以及占据着他整个心灵的痛苦回忆以前一直没使他感受到的强烈作用。由于极度的疲劳已使得感官衰疲迟钝,而感官的作用也对心灵的意识活动起不了校正的作用,以至心灵产生的幻象代替或歪曲了迟钝的视觉听觉器官传递的信息。达威特只是偶尔伸伸身体以避免在马上酣睡可能造成的危险,也正是通过这一挣扎的动作他才意识到自己是醒着的。害怕从马上摔下来或连人带马滚下来的强烈意识迫使他经常在马上活动活动,但很快又睡眼矇眬,脑子里呈现出五颜六色的模糊幻象,眼前这片月色也若隐若现地浮动起来。他实在是疲乏过度。克雷维格伯爵注意到他的情况,只好命令两个随从走在达威特拉的缰绳两旁,以防他从马上跌落下来。 最后他们来到了兰德列西城。伯爵为了对这几乎三夜未曾合眼的年轻人表示同情,决定停歇四个小时,好让他自己和随从也有个休息和吃吃东西的机会。 昆丁睡得很熟,要不是伯爵下令吹的军号声以及信使和传令官发出的“起来!先生们,准备出发!”的催促声,他还会酣睡下去。虽然这些声音过早地把他吵醒,他还是感觉精神焕发、精力充沛,和睡前相比判若两人。此刻朝阳冉冉升起,随着精力的恢复,对自己和自己未来的信心也恢复过来。他想到的爱情已不是没有希望实现的奇妙的梦幻,而是应珍藏在心里激励人向上的崇高目标,尽管他所处条件困难,也许永无实现的可能。“舵手照着北极星的指引驾驶他的小舟,但他永远不能指望占有北极星。我也许再见不到克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔,但对她的思念将使我成为一名卓越的武士。当有一天她听说一个名叫昆丁•达威特的苏格兰武士在战场上获胜而声名显赫时,或听到他在争夺堡垒当中光荣战死时,她将回想起曾尽力为她消除旅途上的危险和灾祸的旅伴,也许会流一滴眼泪作为对他的怀念,或在他的棺木前献上一个花圈。” 昆丁一旦转而采取这种勇敢承受不幸的态度,他感觉他已能更好地接受和回答克雷维格伯爵开的玩笑,其中有几个是挖苦他具有所谓的女人气,经不住疲劳的考验。年轻的苏格兰人快活地应付着伯爵的打趣,回答得既令人愉快又彬彬有礼。语气和态度的这一转变显然在伯爵心中产生了好的印象。而前晚昆丁对自己的处境感到气恼,时而闷闷不乐、沉默不语,时而气势汹汹、喜争好斗,伯爵对他这些表现印象自然不好。 这位饱经风霜的武士终于注意起他年轻的旅伴,觉得他是个很有出息的好伙计。他相当明显地暗示他说,要是他愿意辞掉法王近卫军射手的职务,他愿负责在勃艮第王室中给他谋一个受人尊敬的职位,并亲自关照他的提升。昆丁向他表示了应有的感谢。他说,他需要摸清他原来的主人路易王在多大程度上有负于他,而在此以前他只得暂时谢绝他的美意。尽管如此,他还是和克雷维格伯爵继续保持良好关系。这年轻人热诚的思想方式以及他那表达思想的异国语言习惯经常使伯爵严肃的面孔上绽开一丝微笑,但这微笑已经没有讥刺的成分,也不超过诙谐幽默和礼貌的范围。 这一小队人马在比前一天更和谐的气氛中继续行进,最后来到了离坚固的名城佩隆两英里的地方。勃艮第公爵的军队已在佩隆附近扎营,准备按原定计划进攻法国。路易十一也在圣马克森斯附近集结大军作为对抗,希望他那过分强大的藩属能幡然醒悟。 佩隆城坐落在一条河流的河岸边,周围地势平坦,布满了堡垒,还有护城河蜿蜒其间,无论在古代和当代都被认为是法国最难攻破的重镇之一。克雷维格伯爵及其随从,带着他们的“俘虏”在下午三点左右来到城郊。城的东郊是一大片森林。当他们正穿过那令人偷快的林间空地时,他们碰见(按随从人数之多来看)地位很高的两位贵人,穿着和平时期的服装。他们手腕上立着老鹰,随行人员领着猎狗和灵提,这说明他们正以打猎作为消遣。一看见外貌和服装都十分熟悉的克雷维格,他们便停止沿一条长长的运河追逐苍鹭的游戏,骑马奔来。 “消息,消息,克雷维格伯爵!”他们两人同声喊道,“你是要讲消息还是听消息?还是打算来个公平交易?” “先生们,我愿意做个公平交易,”克雷维格客气地行礼之后说道,“要是我认为你们有很重要的消息配和我进行交换的话。” 两位猎手彼此会心地笑了。年长的那位具有男爵般的漂亮身材,黝黑的面孔上笼罩着忧伤的神色。某些相术家把它归因于忧郁的性格,而另一些相术家则像一位意大利人给查里第一看相时那样,认为它是一种无疾而终的征兆。这时他转过身来对他的同伴说:“克雷维格在布拉邦特这个商业之邦呆了好些时候,已经学会了经商之道,论做生意我们可不是他的对手。” “先生们,”克雷维格说道,“既然这位大人市场没开张就已经开始进货,我的第一批货理应兜售给公爵。不过,请告诉我,你们的是坏消息还是好消息?” 他提问的对象是一个眼睛有神,只是嘴角呈现出一点严肃和深沉表情,样子活跃的人物。他整个面孔都说明他观察和判断都很敏捷,但作出决定和表达意见时却缓慢而审慎。这就是埃诺男爵科拉特(或称尼古拉斯•德勒利特)的儿子。在历史上以及史学家当中人称菲利普•德贡明,目前是大胆的查尔斯公爵身边的红人,也是他最受尊重的谋臣之一。听到克雷维格询问他和丹伯古男爵掌握的消息究竟性质如何,他回答说:“它就像彩虹的颜色,根据不同的观察角度以及不同的背景——是乌云还是晴空,而具有不同的色调。打从诺亚方舟的时代算起,无论在法国或是弗兰德,人们还是第一次见到这样的彩虹。” “我的消息完全像颗彗星,”克雷维格对答说,“本身固然阴暗、险恶,但它还预兆着将发生更大更可怕的灾祸。” “我们得开始营业了,”贡明对他的同伴说道,“否则新来的人就会抢我们的生意了。要知道,我们的只不过是公开的消息。一句话,克雷维格,你听到一定大吃一惊——路易王已来到了佩隆!” “什么!”伯爵吃惊地说道,“难道公爵不打就退?法军已经围城,你们干吗还身穿便服?我说围城,因为我不能设想佩隆已被攻占。” “当然没有,”丹伯古说道,“勃艮第的旗帜未后撤一步。不过,路易王的确已来我们这儿。” “那么,一定是英国的爱德华率领他的弓箭手渡海东征,”克雷维格说道,“并像他祖先那样,又把普瓦克蒂埃变成了战场。” “事情并非如此,”贡明说道,“没有一面法国军旗被人夺走,也没有一艘帆船从英国开过来。要知道,爱德华在伦敦市民的妻妾当中温得很愉快,不想再扮演‘黑王子”的角色了。你听听事实是多么奇特吧!想必你离开的时候已经知道,法国和勃艮第专使的会谈已告破裂,看来已毫无和解的可能?” “是呀,我们只想到要打仗。” “以后发生的事的确很像是做梦,”贡明说道,“我随时都准备清醒过来,发现它果然是一场梦。只是前一天,公爵还在会议上激烈反对任何拖延,说已决心向路易王发出挑战书,马上进军法国。特瓦松•多尔受命去递战表。他都已经穿上纹章官的礼服,脚也已经踏上马镫准备上马,但法国的纹章官蒙•日瓦忽然骑马来到我们的营帐。我们还以为是路易王抢在我们之先向我们宣战,担心公爵该如何抱怨我们的建议使他没能首先宣战哩。公爵很快召集起满朝文武。谁知那纹章官却向我们说,法国的路易王一小时之内就会随后到达,打算轻装简从地拜访勃艮第•查尔斯亲王,想通过亲自会谈解决他们的分歧。” “先生们,你们的消息真叫我吃惊,”克雷维格说道,“但并不像你们预料的那样使我吃惊。因为我上次在普莱西•勒•图尔的时候,那位对主子颇有怨气,内心同情勃艮第的十分可信的巴卢主教就曾暗示我,他可以利用路易的特殊弱点使他在对待勃艮第的问题上陷入困境,不得不接受公爵提出的和平条件。但我绝没想到像路易这样一个老狐狸竟然会被诱使自投罗网。勃艮第的谋臣们意见如何?” “你可以猜想到,”丹伯古回答道,“他们谈的多半是应当遵守信义,而很少谈到通过这次访问可能得到的好处。不过,他们考虑的显然只是后一个问题,并且急于找到某种既能获得好处,又能顾全面子的办法。” “公爵怎么说?”克雷维格伯爵继续问道。 “和往常一样,说得简单扼要、开门见山。”贡明回答道,“‘你们有谁见过我堂兄路易和我在蒙勒里战役之后的那次约会?’公爵说道,‘当时我十分疏忽大意,竟只带领十来个随从陪路易工走到巴黎的防区以内,从而使我的人身安全完全受他的支配。’我回答说,当时我们大多数人都在场。谁也不会忘记当时给我们带来的惊恐。‘你们责备我昏庸,’公爵说道,‘我也承认我的行为简直像个莽撞的小伙子。不过,我也意识到,既然我已故的父亲当时还活着,路易堂兄要想扣留我就不如我现在扣留他这么有利。尽管如此,只要这位国王现在到这儿来的目的和我那时一样的单纯,那么他将得到国王的礼遇。如果他想佯装信赖来欺骗和蒙蔽我,以便实现他的某种策略,那么,勃艮第的圣乔治在上,叫他小心点!’说罢他捻捻胡须,顿顿脚,命令我们立刻上马去迎接这个不寻常的来客。” “这么说,你们都见到路易王了?”克雷维格说道,“奇迹真是层出不穷!他的随从多吗?” “少得不能再少,”丹伯古回答道,“只有二十一二个苏格兰卫士以及王室的几名骑士和贵族。在这些人当中,他的占星术家伽利奥提算是个最有趣的人物。” “那家伙有点仰承红衣主教巴卢的鼻息,”克雷维格说,“我毫不怀疑,在促使国王采取这个吉凶未卜的策略当中他也插了一手。还有别的地位高贵的贵族吗?” “还有奥尔良和杜诺瓦。”贡明说道。 “这下我可不管天垮下来也得和杜诺瓦畅饮一回,”克雷维格说道,“不过,我们听说他和奥尔良公爵都已失宠,蹲过监狱。” “他们两个都曾在法国贵族那愉快的隐居地罗歇堡呆过,”丹伯古说,“路易释放了他们,好让他们和他一道来这里——也许是不愿奥尔良独自留下吧。在其他随行人员当中,最重要的人物就是他的好伙伴——军法总监及其两三个随从,再加上御前理发师奥利弗。这帮人都穿得十分寒伧。说实在的,路易工简直像个年老的高利贷者,在一群狗腿子的跟随下,去讨久欠不还的债。” “他住在哪儿?”克雷维格问道。 “嘿,这可是最妙之处!”贡明回答说,“公爵提出让路易王的卫队把守一个城门,以及横越索姆河的一个浮桥,并拨给路易本人属于富商贾尔斯•奥尔松的一所邻近的住宅。但路易王走去一看,发现了曾被他逐出法国的德洛和庞塞•德里维埃的战旗。也许是因为想到他一手制造出来的难民和叛乱分子就住在自己身旁而感到害怕吧,他竟要求让他在佩隆城堡里面住宿。所以眼下他就下榻在城堡里面。” “嘿,我的上帝呀!”克雷维格惊叫道,“这可不仅是深入虎穴,而且是把头伸进虎口呀!只有捕鼠机的最底部才捉得住这狡猾的老政客!” “且慢,”贡明说道,“丹伯古还没把勒格洛里尔讲的话告诉你哩——在我看来,那才是发表过的最精明的高见。” “那位仁兄有何高见?”伯爵问道。贡明作了如下的回答: “公爵赶紧吩咐下面准备一些金银器饰和装饰品等作为欢迎国王到来赠送给国王及其随行人员的礼物。对此,勒格洛里尔说道:‘查尔斯,我的好朋友,用不着麻烦你的小脑袋了。我会给你的堂兄路易一个比你所能给的更高贵更合适的礼物。这就是我的弄臣帽和铃铛,加上我的小玩意,因为,说实话,他竟然自投罗网,受你的摆布,真是一个比我更大的傻瓜。’公爵说道:‘要是我不给他制造值得他懊悔的理由呢?’弄臣说道:‘那么,查尔斯,你就得接受这顶帽子,这副铃铛,因为你不愧是我们三个当中最大的傻瓜。’我敢担保,这个恶作剧的俏皮话深深打动了公爵——我看见他变了脸色,咬着嘴唇。我们的消息讲完了。高贵的克雷维格,你认为这消息像个什么?” “像个一触即发的地雷,”克雷维格回答道,“我担心我是被注定给它带来导火线哩。你们的消息和我的消息就像亚麻和火焰,碰在一起不可能不起火,也像某些化学药品混在一起不可能不爆炸。朋友们,绅士们,请靠拢些听我讲吧!当我告诉你们,列日主教区发生了什么事情,我想你们会认为,路易王来佩隆的这次拜访真不是时候,也许去地狱朝拜还会更安全些。” 两位贵族都向伯爵身边靠拢过来。他们仔细听他介绍列日和索恩瓦尔德发生的事件,一边发出半压抑的惊叹,作出流露惊奇和关心的姿态;又把昆丁叫了过来,一再询问主教被害的详细经过。由于昆丁既不清楚他们干吗要问,也不明白他的回答有何用处,最后竟拒绝继续回答他们的询问。 这时他们终于看到了富饶而平坦的索姆河,看到它的两岸风光以及“处女般的佩隆”,它的古老城墙和毗邻的一片片绿色草地。草地上点缀着勃艮第公爵一万五千人的军队搭的白色帐篷。 Chapter 26 The Interview When Princes meet, Astrologers may mark it An ominous conjunction, full of boding, Like that of Mars with Saturn. OLD PLAY One hardly knows whether to term it a privilege or a penalty annexed to the quality of princes, that, in their intercourse with each other, they are required by the respect which is due to their own rank and dignity, to regulate their feelings and expressions by a severe etiquette, which precludes all violent and avowed display of passion, and which, but that the whole world are aware that this assumed complaisance is a matter of ceremony, might justly pass for profound dissimulation. It is no less certain, however, that the overstepping of these bounds of ceremonial, for the purpose of giving more direct vent to their angry passions, has the effect of compromising their dignity with the world in general; as was particularly noted when those distinguished rivals, Francis the First and the Emperor Charles, gave each other the lie direct, and were desirous of deciding their differences hand to hand, in single combat. Charles of Burgundy, the most hasty and impatient, nay, the most imprudent prince of his time, found himself, nevertheless, fettered within the magic circle which prescribed the most profound deference to Louis, as his Suzerain and liege Lord, who had deigned to confer upon him, a vassal of the crown, the distinguished honour of a personal visit. Dressed in his ducal mantle, and attended by his great officers and principal knights and nobles, he went in gallant cavalcade to receive Louis XI. His retinue absolutely blazed with gold and silver; for the wealth of the Court of England being exhausted by the wars of York and Lancaster, and the expenditure of France limited by the economy of the Sovereign, that of Burgundy was for the time the most magnificent in Europe. The cortege of Louis, on the contrary, was few in number, and comparatively mean in appearance, and the exterior of the King himself, in a threadbare cloak, with his wonted old high crowned hat stuck full of images, rendered the contrast yet more striking; and as the Duke, richly attired with the coronet and mantle of state, threw himself from his noble charger, and, kneeling on one knee, offered to hold the stirrup while Louis dismounted from his little ambling palfrey, the effect was almost grotesque. The greeting between the two potentates was, of course, as full of affected kindness and compliment as it was totally devoid of sincerity. But the temper of the Duke rendered it much more difficult for him to preserve the necessary appearances, in voice, speech, and demeanour; while in the King, every species of simulation and dissimulation seemed so much a part of his nature that those best acquainted with him could not have distinguished what was feigned from what was real. Perhaps the most accurate illustration, were it not unworthy two such high potentates, would be to suppose the King in the situation of a stranger, perfectly acquainted with the habits and dispositions of the canine race, who, for some, purpose of his own, is desirous to make friends with a large and surly mastiff that holds him in suspicion and is disposed to worry him on the first symptoms either of diffidence or of umbrage. The mastiff growls internally, erects his bristles, shows his teeth, yet is ashamed to fly upon the intruder, who seems at the same time so kind and so confiding, and therefore the animal endures advances which are far from pacifying him, watching at the same time the slightest opportunity which may justify him in his own eyes for seizing his friend by the throat. The King was no doubt sensible, from the altered voice, constrained manner, and abrupt gestures of the Duke, that the game he had to play was delicate, and perhaps he more than once repented having ever taken it in hand. But repentance was too late, and all that remained for him was that inimitable dexterity of management, which the King understood equally at least with any man that ever lived. The demeanour which Louis used towards the Duke was such as to resemble the kind overflowing of the heart in a moment of sincere reconciliation with an honoured and tried friend, from whom he had been estranged by temporary circumstances now passed away, and forgotten as soon as removed. The King blamed himself for not having sooner taken the decisive step, of convincing his kind and good kinsman by such a mark of confidence as he was now bestowing, that the angry passages which had occurred betwixt them were nothing in his remembrance, when weighed against the kindness which received him when an exile from France, and under the displeasure of the King his father. He spoke of the good Duke of Burgundy, as Philip the father of Duke Charles was currently called, and remembered a thousand instances of his paternal kindness. "I think, cousin," he said, "your father made little difference in his affection betwixt you and me; for I remember when by an accident I had bewildered myself in a hunting party, I found the good Duke upbraiding you with leaving me in the forest, as if you had been careless of the safety of an elder brother." The Duke of Burgundy's features were naturally harsh and severe; and when he attempted to smile, in polite acquiescence to the truth of what the King told him, the grimace which he made was truly diabolical. "Prince of dissemblers," he said, in his secret soul, "would that it stood with my honour to remind you how you have requited all the benefits of our House!" "And then," continued the King, "if the ties of consanguinity and gratitude are not sufficient to bind us together, my fair cousin, we have those of spiritual relationship; for I am godfather to your fair daughter Mary, who is as dear to me as one of my own maidens; and when the Saints (their holy name be blessed!) sent me a little blossom which withered in the course of three months, it was your princely father who held it at the font, and celebrated the ceremony of baptism with richer and prouder magnificence than Paris itself could have afforded. Never shall I forget the deep, the indelible impression which the generosity of Duke Philip, and yours, my dearest cousin, made upon the half broken heart of the poor exile!" "Your Majesty," said the Duke, compelling himself to make some reply, "acknowledged that slight obligation in terms which overpaid all the display which Burgundy could make, to show a due sense of the honour you had done its Sovereign." "I remember the words you mean, fair cousin," said the King, smiling; "I think they were, that in guerdon of the benefit of that day, I, poor wanderer, had nothing to offer, save the persons of myself, of my wife, and of my child. -- Well, and I think I have indifferently well redeemed my pledge." "I mean not to dispute what your Majesty is pleased to aver," said the Duke; "but --" "But you ask," said the King, interrupting him, "how my actions have accorded with my words. -- Marry thus: the body of my infant child Joachim rests in Burgundian earth -- my own person I have this morning placed unreservedly in your power -- and, for that of my wife, -- truly, cousin, I think, considering the period of time which has passed, you will scarce insist on my keeping my word in that particular. She was born on the Day of the Blessed Annunciation" (he crossed himself, and muttered an Ora pro nobis (intercede for us)), "some fifty years since; but she is no farther distant than Rheims, and if you insist on my promise being fulfilled to the letter, she shall presently wait your pleasure." Angry as the Duke of Burgundy was at the barefaced attempt of the King to assume towards him a tone of friendship and intimacy, he could not help laughing at the whimsical reply of that singular monarch, and his laugh was as discordant as the abrupt tones of passion in which he often spoke. Having laughed longer and louder than was at that period, or would now be, thought fitting the time and occasion, he answered in the same tone, bluntly declining the honour of the Queen's company, but stating his willingness to accept that of the King's eldest daughter, whose beauty was celebrated. "I am happy, fair cousin," said the King, with one of those dubious smiles of which he frequently made use, "that your gracious pleasure has not fixed on my younger daughter, Joan. I should otherwise have had spear breaking between you and my cousin of Orleans; and, had harm come of it, I must on either side have lost a kind friend and affectionate cousin." "Nay, nay, my royal sovereign," said Duke Charles, "the Duke of Orleans shall have no interruption from me in the path which he has chosen par amours. The cause in which I couch my lance against Orleans must be fair and straight." Louis was far from taking amiss this brutal allusion to the personal deformity of the Princess Joan. On the contrary, he was rather pleased to find that the Duke was content to be amused with broad jests, in which he was himself a proficient, and which (according to the modern phrase) spared much sentimental hypocrisy. Accordingly, he speedily placed their intercourse on such a footing that Charles, though he felt it impossible to play the part of an affectionate and reconciled friend to a monarch whose ill offices he had so often encountered, and whose sincerity on the present occasion he so strongly doubted, yet had no difficulty in acting the hearty landlord towards a facetious guest; and so the want of reciprocity in kinder feelings between them was supplied by the tone of good fellowship which exists between two boon companions -- a tone natural to the Duke from the frankness, and, it might be added, the grossness of his character, and to Louis, because, though capable of assuming any mood of social intercourse, that which really suited him best was mingled with grossness of ideas and of caustic humour and expression. Both Princes were happily able to preserve, during the period of a banquet at the town house of Peronne, the same kind of conversation, on which they met as on a neutral ground, and which, as Louis easily perceived, was more available than any other to keep the Duke of Burgundy in that state of composure which seemed necessary to his own safety. Yet he was alarmed to observe that the Duke had around him several of those French nobles, and those of the highest rank, and in situations of great trust and power, whom his own severity or injustice had driven into exile; and it was to secure himself from the possible effects of their resentment and revenge, that (as already mentioned) he requested to be lodged in the Castle or Citadel of Peronne, rather than in the town itself. This was readily granted by Duke Charles, with one of those grim smiles of which it was impossible to say whether it meant good or harm to the party whom it concerned. (Scott quotes from the Memoires of De Comines as follows: "these nobles . . . inspired Louis with so much suspicion that he . . . demanded to be lodged in the old Castle of Peronne, and thus rendered himself an absolute captive.") But when the King, expressing himself with as much delicacy as he could, and in the manner he thought best qualified to lull suspicion asleep, asked whether the Scottish Archers of his Guard might not maintain the custody of the Castle of Peronne during his residence there, in lieu of the gate of the town which the Duke had offered to their care, Charles replied, with his wonted sternness of voice and abruptness of manner, rendered more alarming by his habit, when he spoke, of either turning up his mustaches, or handling his sword or dagger, the last of which he used frequently to draw a little way, and then return to the sheath (this gesture, very indicative of a fierce character, is also by stage tradition a distinction of Shakespeare's Richard III. S.), "Saint Martin! No, my Liege. You are in your vassal's camp and city -- so men call me in respect to your Majesty -- my castle and town are yours, and my men are yours; so it is indifferent whether my men at arms or the Scottish Archers guard either the outer gate or defences of the Castle. -- No, by Saint George! Peronne is a virgin fortress -- she shall not lose her reputation by any neglect of mine. Maidens must be carefully watched, my royal cousin, if we would have them continue to live in good fame." "Surely, fair cousin, and I altogether agree with you," said the King, "I being in fact more interested in the reputation of the good little town than you are -- Peronne being, as you know, fair cousin, one of those upon the same river Somme, which, pledged to your father of happy memory for redemption of money, are liable to be redeemed upon repayment. And, to speak truth; coming, like an honest debtor, disposed to clear off my obligations of every kind, I have brought here a few sumpter mules loaded with silver for the redemption -- enough to maintain even your princely and royal establishment, fair cousin, for the space of three years." "I will not receive a penny of it," said the Duke, twirling his mustaches -- "the day of redemption is past, my royal cousin; nor were there ever serious purpose that the right should be exercised, the cession of these towns being the sole recompense my father ever received from France, when, in a happy hour for your family, he consented to forget the murder of my grandfather, and to exchange the alliance of England for that of your father. Saint George! if he had not so acted, your royal self, far from having towns in the Somme, could scarce have kept those beyond the Loire. No -- I will not render a stone of them, were I to receive for every stone so rendered its weight in gold. I thank God, and the wisdom and valour of my ancestors, that the revenues of Burgundy, though it be a duchy, will maintain my state, even when a King is my guest, without obliging me to barter my heritage." "Well, fair cousin," answered the King, with the same mild and placid manner as before, and unperturbed by the loud tone and violent gestures of the Duke, "I see that you are so good a friend to France that you are unwilling to part with aught that belongs to her. But we shall need some moderator in those affairs when we come to treat of them in council. -- What say you to Saint Paul?" "Neither Saint Paul, nor Saint Peter, nor e'er a Saint in the Calendar," said the Duke of Burgundy, "shall preach me out of the possession of Peronne." "Nay, but you mistake me," said King Louis, smiling; "I mean Louis de Luxembourg, our trusty constable, the Count of Saint Paul. -- Ah! Saint Mary of Embrun! we lack but his head at our conference! the best head in France, and the most useful to the restoration of perfect harmony betwixt us." "By Saint George of Burgundy!" said the Duke, "I marvel to hear your Majesty talk thus of a man, false and perjured, both to France and Burgundy -- one who hath ever endeavoured to fan into a flame our frequent differences, and that with the purpose of giving himself the airs of a mediator. I swear by the Order I wear that his marshes shall not be long a resource for him!" "Be not so warm, cousin," said the King, smiling, and speaking under his breath; "when I wished for the head constable, as a means of ending the settlement of our trifling differences, I had no desire for his body, which might remain at Saint Quentin's with much convenience." "Ho! ho! I take your meaning, my royal cousin," said Charles, with the same dissonant laugh which some other of the King's coarse pleasantries had extorted; and added, stamping his heel on the ground, "I allow, in that sense, the head of the Constable might be useful at Peronne." These, and other discourses, by which the King mixed hints at serious affairs amid matters of mirth and amusement, did not follow each other consecutively; but were adroitly introduced during the time of the banquet at the Hotel de Ville, during a subsequent interview in the Duke's own apartments, and, in short, as occasion seemed to render the introduction of such delicate subjects easy and natural. Indeed, however rashly Louis had placed himself in a risk which the Duke's fiery temper and the mutual subjects of exasperated enmity which subsisted betwixt them rendered of doubtful and perilous issue, never pilot on an unknown coast conducted himself with more firmness and prudence. He seemed to sound with the utmost address and precision the depths and shallows of his rival's mind and temper, and manifested neither doubt nor fear when the result of his experiments discovered much more of sunken rocks and of dangerous shoals than of safe anchorage. At length a day closed which must have been a wearisome one to Louis, from the constant exertion, vigilance, precaution, and attention which his situation required, as it was a day of constraint to the Duke, from the necessity of suppressing the violent feelings to which he was in the general habit of giving uncontrolled vent. No sooner had the latter retired into his own apartment, after he had taken a formal leave of the King for the night, than he gave way to the explosion of passion which he had so long suppressed; and many an oath and abusive epithet, as his jester, Le Glorieux said, "fell that night upon heads which they were never coined for," his domestics reaping the benefit of that hoard of injurious language which he could not in decency bestow on his royal guest, even in his absence, and which was yet become too great to be altogether suppressed. The jests of the clown had some effect in tranquillizing the Duke's angry mood -- he laughed loudly, threw the jester a piece of gold, caused himself to be disrobed in tranquillity, swallowed a deep cup of wine and spices, went to bed, and slept soundly. The couchee of King Louis is more worthy of notice than that of Charles; for the violent expression of exasperated and headlong passion, as indeed it belongs more to the brutal than the intelligent part of our nature, has little to interest us, in comparison to the deep workings of a vigorous and powerful mind. Louis was escorted to the lodgings he had chosen in the Castle, or Citadel of Peronne, by the Chamberlains and harbingers of the Duke of Burgundy, and received at the entrance by a strong guard of archers and men at arms. As he descended from his horse to cross the drawbridge, over a moat of unusual width and depth, he looked on the sentinels, and observed to Comines, who accompanied him, with other Burgundian nobles, "They wear Saint Andrew's crosses -- but not those of my Scottish Archers." "You will find them as ready to die in your defence, Sire," said the Burgundian, whose sagacious ear had detected in the King's tone of speech a feeling which doubtless Louis would have concealed if he could. "They wear the Saint Andrew's Cross as the appendage of the collar of the Golden Fleece, my master the Duke of Burgundy's Order." "Do I not know it?" said Louis, showing the collar which he himself wore in compliment to his host. "It is one of the dear bonds of fraternity which exist between my kind brother and myself. We are brothers in chivalry, as in spiritual relationship; cousins by birth, and friends by every tie of kind feeling and good neighbourhood. -- No farther than the base court, my noble lords and gentlemen! I can permit your attendance no farther -- you have done me enough of grace." "We were charged by the Duke," said D'Hymbercourt, "to bring your Majesty to your lodging. -- We trust your Majesty will permit us to obey our master's command." "In this small matter," said the King, "I trust you will allow my command to outweigh his, even with you his liege subjects. -- I am something indisposed, my lords -- something fatigued. Great pleasure hath its toils, as well as great pain. I trust to enjoy your society better tomorrow. -- And yours, too, Seignior Philip of Comines -- I am told you are the annalist of the time -- we that desire to have a name in history must speak you fair, for men say your pen hath a sharp point, when you will. -- Goodnight, my lords and gentles, to all and each of you." The Lords of Burgundy retired, much pleased with the grace of Louis's manner, and the artful distribution of his attentions; and the King was left with only one or two of his own personal followers, under the archway of the base court of the Castle of Peronne, looking on the huge tower which occupied one of the angles, being in fact the Donjon, or principal Keep, of the palace. This tall, dark, massive building was seen clearly by the same moon which was lighting Quentin Durward betwixt Charleroi and Peronne, which, as the reader is aware, shone with peculiar lustre. The great Keep was in form nearly resembling the White Tower in the Citadel of London, but still more ancient in its architecture, deriving its date, as was affirmed, from the days of Charlemagne. The walls were of a tremendous thickness, the windows very small, and grated with bars of iron, and the huge clumsy bulk of the building cast a dark and portentous shadow over the whole of the courtyard. "I am not to be lodged there," the King said, with a shudder that had something in it ominous. "No," replied the gray headed seneschal, who attended upon him unbonneted. "God forbid! -- Your Majesty's apartments are prepared in these lower buildings which are hard by, and in which King John slept two nights before the battle of Poitiers." "Hum -- that is no lucky omen neither," muttered the King; "but what of the Tower, my old friend? and why should you desire of Heaven that I may not be there lodged?" "Nay, my gracious Liege," said the seneschal, "I know no evil of the Tower at all, only that the sentinels say lights are seen, and strange noises heard in it at night; and there are reasons why that may be the case, for anciently it was used as a state prison, and there are many tales of deeds which have been done in it." Louis asked no further questions; for no man was more bound than he to respect the secrets of a prison house. At the door of the apartments destined for his use, which, though of later date than the Tower, were still both ancient and gloomy, stood a small party of the Scottish Guard, which the Duke, although he declined to concede the point to Louis, had ordered to be introduced, so as to be near the person of their master. The faithful Lord Crawford was at their head. "Crawford -- my honest and faithful Crawford," said the King, "where hast thou been today? -- Are the Lords of Burgundy so inhospitable as to neglect one of the bravest and most noble gentlemen that ever trode a court? -- I saw you not at the banquet." "I declined it, my Liege," said Crawford, "times are changed with me. The day has been that I could have ventured a carouse with the best man in Burgundy and that in the juice of his own grape; but a matter of four pints now flusters me, and I think it concerns your Majesty's service to set in this an example to my gallants." "Thou art ever prudent," said the King, "but surely your toil is the less when you have so few men to command? -- and a time of festivity requires not so severe self denial on your part as a time of danger." "If I have few men to command," said Crawford, "I have the more need to keep the knaves in fitting condition; and whether this business be like to end in feasting or fighting, God and your Majesty know better than old John of Crawford." "You surely do not apprehend any danger?" said the King hastily, yet in a whisper. "Not I," answered Crawford; "I wish I did; for, as old Earl Tineman (an Earl of Douglas, so called. S.) used to say, apprehended dangers may be always defended dangers. -- The word for the night, if your Majesty pleases?" "Let it be Burgundy, in honour of our host and of a liquor that you love, Crawford." "I will quarrel with neither Duke nor drink, so called," said Crawford, "provided always that both be sound. A good night to your Majesty!" "A good night, my trusty Scot," said the King, and passed on to his apartments. At the door of his bedroom Le Balafre was placed sentinel. "Follow me hither," said the King, as he passed him; and the Archer accordingly, like a piece of machinery put into motion by an artist, strode after him into the apartment, and remained there fixed, silent, and motionless, attending the royal command. "Have you heard from that wandering Paladin, your nephew?" said the King; "for he hath been lost to us, since, like a young knight who had set out upon his first adventures, he sent us home two prisoners as the first fruits of his chivalry." "My Lord, I heard something of that," said Balafre, "and I hope your Majesty will believe that if he acted wrongfully, it was in no shape by any precept or example, since I never was so bold as to unhorse any of your Majesty's most illustrious house, better knowing my own condition, and --" "Be silent on that point," said the King; "your nephew did his duty in the matter." "There indeed," continued Balafre, "he had the cue from me. -- 'Quentin,' said I to him, 'whatever comes of it, remember you belong to the Scottish Archer Guard, and do your duty whatever comes on't.'" "I guess he had some such exquisite instructor," said Louis; "but it concerns me that you answer me my first question. -- Have you heard of your nephew of late? -- Stand aback, my masters," he added, addressing the gentlemen of his chamber, "for this concerneth no ears but mine." "Surely, please your Majesty," said Balafre, "I have seen this very evening the groom Charlot, whom my kinsman dispatched from Liege, or some castle of the Bishop's which is near it, and where he hath lodged the Ladies of Croye in safety." "Now Our Lady of Heaven be praised for it!" said the King. "Art thou sure of it? -- sure of the good news?" "As sure as I can be of aught," said Le Balafre, "the fellow, I think, hath letters for your Majesty from the Ladies of Croye." "Haste to get them," said the King. "Give the harquebuss to one of these knaves -- to Oliver -- to any one. Now Our Lady of Embrun be praised! and silver shall be the screen that surrounds her high altar!" Louis, in this fit of gratitude and devotion, doffed, as usual, his hat, selected from the figures with which it was garnished that which represented his favourite image of the Virgin, placed it on a table, and, kneeling down, repeated reverently the vow he had made. The groom, being the first messenger whom Durward had despatched from Schonwaldt, was now introduced with his letters. They were addressed to the King by the Ladies of Croye, and barely thanked him in very cold terms for his courtesy while at his Court, and something more warmly for having permitted them to retire and sent them in safety from his dominions; expressions at which Louis laughed very heartily, instead of resenting them. He then demanded of Charlot, with obvious interest, whether they had not sustained some alarm or attack upon the road? Charlot, a stupid fellow, and selected for that quality, gave a very confused account of the affray in which his companion, the Gascon, had been killed, but knew of no other. Again Louis demanded of him, minutely and particularly, the route which the party had taken to Liege; and seemed much interested when he was informed, in reply, that they had, upon approaching Namur, kept the more direct road to Liege, upon the right bank of the Maes, instead of the left bank, as recommended in their route. The King then ordered the man a small present, and dismissed him, disguising the anxiety he had expressed as if it only concerned the safety of the Ladies of Croye. Yet the news, though they implied the failure of one of his own favourite plans, seemed to imply more internal satisfaction on the King's part than he would have probably indicated in a case of brilliant success. He sighed like one whose breast has been relieved from a heavy burden, muttered his devotional acknowledgments with an air of deep sanctity, raised up his eyes, and hastened to adjust newer and surer schemes of ambition. With such purpose, Louis ordered the attendance of his astrologer, Martius Galeotti, who appeared with his usual air of assumed dignity, yet not without a shade of uncertainty on his brow, as if he had doubted the King's kind reception. It was, however, favourable, even beyond the warmest which he had ever met with at any former interview. Louis termed him his friend, his father in the sciences -- the glass by which a king should look into distant futurity -- and concluded by thrusting on his finger a ring of very considerable value. Galeotti, not aware of the circumstances which had thus suddenly raised his character in the estimation of Louis, yet understood his own profession too well to let that ignorance be seen. He received with grave modesty the praises of Louis, which he contended were only due to the nobleness of the science which he practised, a science the rather the more deserving of admiration on account of its working miracles through means of so feeble an agent as himself; and he and the King took leave, for once much satisfied with each other. On the Astrologer's departure, Louis threw himself into a chair, and appearing much exhausted, dismissed the rest of his attendants, excepting Oliver alone, who, creeping around with gentle assiduity and noiseless step, assisted him in the task of preparing for repose. While he received this assistance, the King, unlike to his wont, was so silent and passive, that his attendant was struck by the unusual change in his deportment. The worst minds have often something of good principle in them -- banditti show fidelity to their captain, and sometimes a protected and promoted favourite has felt a gleam of sincere interest in the monarch to whom he owed his greatness. Oliver le Diable, le Mauvais (or by whatever other name he was called expressive of his evil propensities), was, nevertheless, scarcely so completely identified with Satan as not to feel some touch of grateful feeling for his master in this singular condition, when, as it seemed, his fate was deeply interested and his strength seemed to be exhausted. After for a short time rendering to the King in silence the usual services paid by a servant to his master at the toilette, the attendant was at length tempted to say, with the freedom which his Sovereign's indulgence had permitted him in such circumstances, "Tete dieu, Sire, you seem as if you had lost a battle; and yet I, who was near your Majesty during this whole day, never knew you fight a field so gallantly." "A field!" said King Louis, looking up, and assuming his wonted causticity of tone and manner. "Pasques dieu, my friend Oliver, say I have kept the arena in a bullfight; for a blinder, and more stubborn, untameable, uncontrollable brute than our cousin of Burgundy never existed, save in the shape of a Murcian bull, trained for the bull feasts. -- Well, let it pass -- I dodged him bravely. But, Oliver, rejoice with me that my plans in Flanders have not taken effect, whether as concerning those two rambling Princesses of Croye, or in Liege -- you understand me?" "In faith, I do not, Sire," replied Oliver; "it is impossible for me to congratulate your Majesty on the failure of your favourite schemes, unless you tell me some reason for the change in your own wishes and views." "Nay," answered the King, "there is no change in either, in a general view. But, Pasques dieu, my friend, I have this day learned more of Duke Charles than I before knew. When he was Count de Charalois, in the time of the old Duke Philip and the banished Dauphin of France, we drank, and hunted, and rambled together -- and many a wild adventure we have had. And in those days I had a decided advantage over him -- like that which a strong spirit naturally assumes over a weak one. But he has since changed -- has become a dogged, daring, assuming, disputatious dogmatist, who nourishes an obvious wish to drive matters to extremities, while he thinks he has the game in his own hands. I was compelled to glide as gently away from each offensive topic, as if I touched red hot iron. I did but hint at the possibility of those erratic Countesses of Croye, ere they attained Liege (for thither I frankly confessed that, to the best of my belief, they were gone), falling into the hands of some wild snapper upon the frontiers, and, Pasques dieu! you would have thought I had spoken of sacrilege. It is needless to tell you what he said, and quite enough to say that I would have held my head's safety very insecure, if, in that moment, accounts had been brought of the success of thy friend, William with the Beard, in his and thy honest scheme of bettering himself by marriage." "No friend of mine, if it please your Majesty," said Oliver, "neither friend nor plan of mine." "True, Oliver," answered the King; "thy plan had not been to wed, but to shave such a bridegroom. Well, thou didst wish her as bad a one, when thou didst modestly hint at thyself. However, Oliver, lucky the man who has her not; for hang, draw, and quarter were the most gentle words which my gentle cousin spoke of him who should wed the young Countess, his vassal, without his most ducal permission." "And he is, doubtless, as jealous of any disturbances in the good town of Liege?" asked the favourite. "As much, or much more," replied the King, "as your understanding may easily anticipate; but, ever since I resolved on coming hither, my messengers have been in Liege to repress, for the present, every movement to insurrection; and my very busy and bustling friends, Rousalaer and Pavillon, have orders to be quiet as a mouse until this happy meeting between my cousin and me is over." "Judging, then, from your Majesty's account," said Oliver dryly, "the utmost to be hoped from this meeting is that it should not make your condition worse -- Surely this is like the crane that thrust her head into the fox's mouth, and was glad to thank her good fortune that it was not bitten off. Yet your Majesty seemed deeply obliged even now to the sage philosopher who encouraged you to play so hopeful a game." "No game," said the King sharply, "is to be despaired of until it is lost, and that I have no reason to expect it will be in my own case. On the contrary, if nothing occurs to stir the rage of this vindictive madman, I am sure of victory; and surely, I am not a little obliged to the skill which selected for my agent, as the conductor of the Ladies of Croye, a youth whose horoscope so far corresponded with mine that he hath saved me from danger, even by the disobedience of my own commands, and taking the route which avoided De la Marck's ambuscade." "Your Majesty," said Oliver, "may find many agents who will serve you on the terms of acting rather after their own pleasure than your instructions." "Nay, nay, Oliver," said Louis impatiently, "the heathen poet speaks of Vota diis exaudita malignis, -- wishes, that is, which the saints grant to us in their wrath; and such, in the circumstances, would have been the success of William de la Marck's exploit, had it taken place about this time, and while I am in the power of this Duke of Burgundy. -- And this my own art foresaw -- fortified by that of Galeotti -- that is, I foresaw not the miscarriage of De la Marck's undertaking, but I foresaw that the expedition of yonder Scottish Archer should end happily for me -- and such has been the issue, though in a manner different from what I expected; for the stars, though they foretell general results, are yet silent on the means by which such are accomplished, being often the very reverse of what we expect, or even desire. -- But why talk I of these mysteries to thee, Oliver, who art in so far worse than the very devil, who is thy namesake, since he believes and trembles; whereas thou art an infidel both to religion and to science, and wilt remain so till thine own destiny is accomplished, which as thy horoscope and physiognomy alike assure me, will be by the intervention of the gallows!" "And if it indeed shall be so," said Oliver, in a resigned tone of voice, "it will be so ordered, because I was too grateful a servant to hesitate at executing the commands of my royal master." Louis burst into his usual sardonic laugh. -- "Thou hast broke thy lance on me fairly, Oliver; and by Our Lady thou art right, for I defied thee to it. But, prithee, tell me in sadness, dost thou discover anything in these measures towards us which may argue any suspicion of ill usage?" "My Liege," replied Oliver, "your Majesty and yonder learned philosopher look for augury to the stars and heavenly host -- I am an earthly reptile, and consider but the things connected with my vocation. But methinks there is a lack of that earnest and precise attention on your Majesty which men show to a welcome guest of a degree so far above them. The Duke tonight pleaded weariness, and saw your Majesty not farther than to the street, leaving to the officers of his household the task of conveying you to your lodgings. The rooms here are hastily and carelessly fitted up -- the tapestry is hung up awry -- and, in one of the pieces, as you may observe, the figures are reversed and stand on their heads, while the trees grow with their roots uppermost." "Pshaw! accident, and the effect of hurry," said the King. "When did you ever know me concerned about such trifles as these?" "Not on their own account are they worth notice," said Oliver; "but as intimating the degree of esteem in which the officers of the Duke's household observe your Grace to be held by him. Believe me, that, had his desire seemed sincere that your reception should be in all points marked by scrupulous attention, the zeal of his people would have made minutes do the work of days. -- And when," he added, pointing to the basin and ewer, "was the furniture of your Majesty's toilette of other substance than silver?" "Nay," said the King, with a constrained smile, "that last remark upon the shaving utensils, Oliver, is too much in the style of thine own peculiar occupation to be combated by any one. -- True it is, that when I was only a refugee, and an exile, I was served upon gold plate by order of the same Charles, who accounted silver too mean for the Dauphin, though he seems to hold that metal too rich for the King of France. Well, Oliver, we will to bed. -- Our resolution has been made and executed; there is nothing to be done, but to play manfully the game on which we have entered. I know that my cousin of Burgundy, like other wild bulls, shuts his eyes when he begins his career. I have but to watch that moment, like one of the tauridors (Spanish bull fighters) whom we saw at Burgos, and his impetuosity places him at my mercy." 占星术家满可以把君王的会见 比作土星与火星相遇—— 是个充满了凶兆和不吉祥的缘会。 《古老的戏剧》 人们很难判断,究竟这是君王地位的一种权利,还是一种惩罚:在他们的交往中,要求他们考虑自己的地位和尊严,按照严格的礼节来克制自己的感情和表现。这种礼节不容许激烈和公开地表露感情。要不是大家都知道这种外表的客气不过是礼貌的要求,那简直可以认为它是最大的虚伪。但同样肯定的是,逾越了礼貌的范围来直接发泄愤怒,就会在全世界面前有损他们的尊严。这一点在两位地位显赫的对手——法兰西斯第一和查尔斯皇帝的交锋当中表现得尤为突出,因为当时他们都彼此揭露对方,并要求通过单枪匹马的搏斗来解决他们的分歧。 勃艮第•查尔斯,这位当代最急躁、最莽撞、最粗心的君王,面对着作为其宗主要求给与他尊敬的路易王,也觉得有一种魔术般的力量使他感到拘束;何况路易通过他的登门拜访又给了他这个国王的藩属一种莫大的荣誉。他穿着公爵的礼服,在大臣们和显要的骑士贵族们的簇拥下,以雄壮的马队开道,前去迎接路易十一。他的随行人员简直满身都是耀眼的金银装饰。这说明在当时英国宫廷由于玫瑰战争被弄得财源枯竭,法国宫廷也由于国王的俭省而励行节约的情况下,勃艮第的宫廷的确是最富有、最阔气的一个。路易的随从则正好相反,人数极少,外表也颇为寒伧。国王本人穿着破旧的披风,戴着他那顶插满了偶像的高顶旧帽,对比更加鲜明。当头戴冠冕、身穿富丽礼服的公爵跃下高头大马,一只脚跪着握住马镫,好让路易王从他那匹走路慢悠悠的小马身上爬下来时,这一对比简直使人感到滑稽。 两位元首的彼此问候表面上当然显得非常亲切有礼,但骨子里却完全缺乏诚意。不过,公爵的性格使得他在声调、语言和举止方面保持必要的体面就困难得多。而作为虚伪典型的路易工则看来十分得心应手,使得最熟悉他的人也感到他这些表现真假难辨。 如果不必担心有损于两位崇高元首的形象的话,那么最确切的比喻莫过于把路易王看作一个完全熟悉犬类习性的陌生人,由于某种原因很想和一只对他抱有怀疑、并一当他显示出胆怯或怨恨便会扑上去咬他的猛犬交交朋友。这猛犬暗自发怒,正张牙咧嘴,竖起硬毛,但又不好意思向那显得和蔼可亲、十分信赖他的不速之客扑将过去。因此猛犬只好忍受一下这丝毫不能使他息怒的友好表示,随时等待着一出现他自认为有理可凭的机会,便跳过去咬住这位朋友的喉咙。 路易工看到公爵态度拘束,手势唐突,声调也不自然,肯定意识到他所表演的这出戏很棘手,也许他已不止一次后悔,不该这么弄巧成拙。但后悔已无济于事,剩下的法宝就是路易王对待任何人都善于玩弄的那一套耍手腕的独特本领。 路易王对待公爵的态度简直就如同向一位受尊敬的、久经考验的朋友寻求真诚的谅解那样推心置腹;仿佛只是暂时的因素使得他们疏远,但这些因素已成为过去,而一旦消失,也就很快被遗忘。路易王责怪自己没有更早地采取这一决定性的步骤,以便通过他目前表现的这种信赖来说服他善良可亲的堂弟:每当他想起在他冒犯父王、逃离法国的期间,他在勃艮第所受到的礼遇,他就觉得他们之间出现过的争执与不和简直不足挂齿。他还谈到善良的勃艮第公爵(这是当时人们对查尔斯公爵的父亲菲利普的称呼),并回忆起他那慈父般体贴的种种表现。 “堂弟,”他说道,“在我看来,你父亲对待你和我完全没有两样。我还记得,有一次打猎我偶然迷了路,后来我碰巧看到善良的公爵正在责备你,不该把我一个人留在森林里,仿佛是你忽视了当哥哥的人身安全。” 勃艮第公爵的面容生来就显得严酷,当他为了表示他同意国王说的是实话而客气地微笑时,看起来就更像是一副可怕的鬼脸。 “这天字第一号的伪君子,”他内心里暗自说道,“但愿不损我的荣誉我能提醒你,你是怎样报答我们家族给你的好处的!” “再说,”国王继续讲道,“要是血缘和感激的纽带还不足以把我们系在一起的话,我们还有精神形成的纽带。我是你女儿玛丽的教父。我把她视如己出。当圣徒们(愿他们神圣的名字得福吧!)送给我一个花朵般的小女娃——但不幸在三个月之内就夭折了——正是你父亲抱着她在圣水盆前进行的施洗礼。其富贵荣华的场面真是使巴黎也望洋兴叹。我永远也忘不了菲利普公爵以及你个人的慷慨。在我这可怜的流亡者破碎的心灵上这些都留下了不可磨灭的印象!” “陛下,”公爵勉强应付地说道,“您当时用来感谢这件小事所用的言辞真是大大超过了勃艮第为了报答您对其君主给予的荣幸所提供的喜庆安排。” “亲爱的堂弟,我还记得你所指的那句话,”国王微笑地说道,“我想这句话说的是:我这可怜的流浪人,惟有我与我妻子和我孩子的人身可以奉献,来报答这天给予我的恩惠。好吧,我想我现在已经相当忠实地兑现了我说的这句话。” “我并不是想对陛下乐意讲到的东西表示怀疑,”公爵说道,“不过——” “不过,你是想问,”国王打断他说,“我的言行是否相符。好,你听我说吧:我的婴儿若阿香是安葬在勃艮第土地上。我自己的人身安全我今早已无保留地置于你的支配之下。至于说我妻子的人身——老弟呀,既然过了这么多年了,我想你未必坚持要我在那个细节上履行我的诺言了。她是在大约五十年前的一个圣母报喜日出生的。”(接着他划了个十字,喃喃地念了一通“为我祈祷”)“不过,她人也就在兰斯,如果你硬要我一字不差地兑现我的诺言,那她可以马上来这儿听你支配。” 看到路易王对他赤裸裸地采用一种友好亲热的腔调,勃艮第公爵固然感到很生气,但对这个不拘一格的君主这种离奇古怪的回答也不禁哈哈大笑。这笑声也和他平常那种激动而唐突的说话声音一样地刺耳,而且时间之长、声音之大,也超过了当时,甚至现在,人们认为时间和场合所能容许的限度。最后他才以同样的腔调率直地表示,他谢绝皇后做伴的美意,但愿意接受姿色出众的路易王的长女做伴。 “老弟呀,我真高兴,”国王带着他经常使用的一种暧昧的微笑说道,“你幸好没有看中我的幼女让娜公主。否则我就得在你和我侄儿奥尔良之间安排一次决斗。要是结果不妙,无论在哪一方我都会失去一个至亲好友。” “国王陛下,您可别这么说,”查尔斯公爵讲道,“我不会妨碍奥尔良公爵所选定的这条爱情的道路。我要和奥尔良决斗总得有个漂亮而正直的理由。” 对让娜公主生理缺陷的这一粗鲁无礼的暗示,路易王丝毫不见怪。相反,他颇为高兴地看到,公爵乐意开开他本人也很擅长的那种粗俗的玩笑。这样就可以(按照现代人的话来说)免掉许多感情上的虚伪。因此他很快改变他们谈话的气氛,从而使得查尔斯虽不能对他的这位君主扮演一个忘却宿怨的好朋友角色——因为他经常吃到国王的苦头,而且目前也十分怀疑他的诚意——但不难扮演一个开心地接待滑稽来客的东道主角色。这样一来,彼此缺乏善意的这一情况就通过两个酒肉朋友之间那种嬉笑取乐的气氛得到了弥补。这种气氛对于公爵固然相宜,而对于路易王也很合适,因为前者性格坦率,甚至粗犷,而后者虽然善于逢场作戏,应付各种社交场合,但对于思想粗俗、言词幽默和讥消的场合则最能得心应手。 两位君王在佩隆市政厅的宴会上幸好都能维持这种性质的谈话。这样,双方都无须针锋相对。路易王自然也看出,这种谈话最能使勃艮第公爵保持一种对他个人安全颇有必要的心平气和状态。 但他不安地注意到,公爵周围有几个地位很高、很受信任和握有实权的法国贵族都是由于他自己的苛刻和不义而被迫流亡的。正是为了免遭他们的忿懑和报复,他才(正如上面提到的)要求住在佩隆的城堡里,而不愿住在城里。查尔斯公爵带着苦笑——一种说不出是凶是吉的苦笑,立刻同意了他的要求。 路易王用他认为最能避免怀疑的方式尽可能巧妙地询问道,他在佩隆逗留期间可否让他的苏格兰卫士守卫城堡,而不是像公爵提出的守卫城门。话刚说完,查尔斯便按他说话时的习惯,捻捻胡须,摸摸刀(还把刀抽出一截,再往鞘里一推),从而使他回答这问题时的严厉声调和唐突态度更显得令人惊惶不安。他说道:“圣马丁在上!陛下,这可不行。您现在是置身于您的藩属——人们都称我是您的藩属——的营垒和城镇里。我的城堡和城镇都是您的,我的人马也是您的。所以,究竟是由我的武士还是由您的苏格兰卫士来守卫城门或城堡,我看都是一样。不行,圣乔治在上!佩隆这个堡垒就像个处女,不能由于我的任何疏忽而使她失去贞洁的名声。我的国王陛下,要是我们想让处女继续享有好的名声,我们就得小心地守护她。” “那当然。好堂弟,我完全同意你的看法,”国王说道,“因为事实上我比你更关心这个小城镇的名声——好堂弟,正如你所知道的,佩隆是索姆河的一个沿江城镇,本是典押给你已故的父亲的。因此,只要偿还债务就可以把它赎回。说实话,我作为一个诚实的欠债者到这儿来,正是想还清各种积债。我已经带来几匹骡子驮载的金银作为索回这个城镇的赎金——好堂弟,足够你开销三年的王室费用哩。” “我分文不收,”公爵捻捻胡子说道,“我的陛下,赎期早就过了。再说,行使这个权利也没有多大的道理,因为,你们割让这几个城镇是我父亲(你们全家应感谢这个幸运)同意忘却杀害我祖父的宿怨,不与英国结盟,而与你父亲结盟,从法国获得的惟一报酬。圣乔治在上!要是他没这样做,别说陛下得不到索姆河上的这几个城镇,就连卢瓦尔河那边的也休想保住。不——即使你拿等重的黄金来交换石头,我也绝不交出一块石头。感谢上帝,感谢我祖先的智慧和勇敢,尽管勃艮第只不过是个小小的公国,但其收入也够满足我的国务需要。即使是一个国王来做客,我也不必出卖祖宗的遗产来维持我这东道主的体面。” “得了,好堂弟,”国王丝毫不为公爵的疾言厉色所动,和先前一样心平气和地对答道,“我看你对法国太友好,对属于她的任何东西都爱不释手了。不过,在我们正式谈判它们的归属时得有个仲裁人,你看‘圣保罗’如何?” “不管是圣保罗、圣彼得,还是日历上的任何一个圣徒,都不可能劝说我让出佩隆。”勃艮第公爵说道。 “唉,你没听懂我的意思,”路易王微笑着说道,“我指的是卢森堡的路易,我忠实的总督——圣保罗伯爵。嘿,昂布伦的圣马利亚呀!我们谈判时差的就是他的头脑!法国最好的头脑,也是最有助于恢复我们之间和睦的头脑。” “勃艮第的圣乔治在上!”公爵说道,“听到陛下如此夸奖对法国和勃艮第都不忠不义的这个人物,真令我吃惊。要知道,这人一直在企图利用我们常有的分歧煽风点火,好让自己能以一个仲裁人的姿态出现。我凭着我佩戴的徽章发誓,他不可能长期凭借他的沼泽地作威作福!” “堂弟,别生气嘛!”国王微笑地低声说道,“我说的是我希望得到这位总督的脑袋来解决我们之间的微小分歧,而不是希望得到他的躯体。至于他的躯体么,就不如让他留在圣昆丁教堂更合适。” “嗬!嗬!陛下,我算懂得你的意思了。”查尔斯大声笑道,也和听到路易王先前的俏皮话时的反应一样,笑声十分刺耳。接着他又顿着脚补充说:“就这个意义上讲,我倒承认这位总督的脑袋可能对佩隆有好处。” 路易王通过嬉笑打趣来暗示他心目中的重要问题的这类谈话并不是连续进行的,而是在佩隆宾馆举行的宴会上,以及后来去公爵宅邸拜会他时,巧妙地安排好的。总之,他是根据情况和时机来提出这些棘手的问题,以便做起来显得既平易又自然。 虽然公爵的暴躁性格和他们之间存在着的互抱敌意的问题使得路易这次轻率的冒险可能造成的结局危机四伏,颇堪虞虑,但从来还没有哪个舵手来到了情况不明的海岸之后,表现得像他那样坚定沉着。他似乎极其灵巧而准确地探察着他对手的思想和性格中的深水和浅滩。当他探察出更多的暗礁和险滩,发现无法安全停泊时,他也不表露出疑虑和恐惧。 最后,这一天总算结束了。这肯定是使路易感到困倦的一天,因为客观情况要求他无时不在活动,无时不在保持警惕、严加防范和提高注意。对于公爵来说,这同样是使他感到很大约束的一天,因为他不得不压抑他一贯喜欢发泄的强烈感情。 公爵和国王按礼节互道晚安之后,一回到自己的卧室便让他那压抑了很久的愤怒暴发出来。正如他的弄臣勒格洛里尔所说的那样,许多咒语和不雅的称呼都“落到了无辜者的头上”。压在心头的那一大堆咒语——即使国王不在场也碍于体面无法奉送,但又多得难以忍受——只好端出来让仆人消受。弄臣的打趣稍稍平息了公爵的愤怒心情。他大声笑了起来,并扔给弄臣一枚金币作为赏钱,然后静静地脱掉衣服,喝了一大杯加香料的葡萄酒,一触枕头便立刻酣然入侵。 路易王的睡眠情况要比查尔斯的更值得玩味,因为激烈而莽撞的感情不是人的智能表现,而更接近于人的动物本能,远不如一个有能量的活跃心灵的深思熟虑那样有趣。 路易在勃艮第公爵的宫廷总管和礼宾官的护送下来到自己选定的佩隆城堡内的住地,在大门口受到一大队射手和武士的迎接。 当他从马上下来,走过那架在既深且宽的护城河上的吊桥时,他望望哨兵,然后对陪同他的勃艮第贵族贡明说:“他们都戴着圣安德鲁十字——但不是我的苏格兰射手带的那种。” “陛下,您将发现他们同样勇于为保卫您而牺牲,”那勃艮第人说道,他那聪敏的耳朵听出国王的声调中有一种他无疑想尽量掩饰的感情,“他们佩戴圣安德鲁十字作为我主人勃艮第公爵的徽记——金羊毛领章的附属装饰。” “难道我还不知道?”路易说道,一边露出他自己为了向东道主表示敬意亲自佩戴的领章,“这是我的好堂弟和我之间联系兄弟情谊的一个纽带。论骑士派别和精神关系我们是兄弟。就家庭出生我们是堂兄弟,而就各种友好感情和睦邻关系的纽带来讲,我们也都是朋友。高贵的绅士们,送到这个院子为止吧!我不许你们再往前送了——你们对我已经够客气了。” “公爵嘱咐我们,”丹伯古说,“要把陛下一直送到住地。我们相信陛下会准许我们忠实地执行主人的命令。” “在这样一件小事情上,”国王说道,“我想你们这些臣仆总会把国王的命令摆在公爵的命令之上吧。我有点不舒服——有点疲倦。巨大的喜悦也像巨大的痛苦一样需要付出代价。我想你们最好明天再来陪我——你也一样,菲利普•贡明先生——听说你是当代的史臣。我们想青史留名就得在你面前说说好话。人们说,只要你愿意,你可以把文章写得很尖刻。再见吧,绅士们、贵族们,我向你们大家问晚安。” 勃艮第贵族们便就此告辞。大家对路易王的优雅态度和给每个人表示应有的礼貌的巧妙方式都很满意。这时只有国王和一两个随从留下来,站在佩隆城堡内院的拱门下面,仰望着那占据了一个角落的巨塔——实际上是城堡的主楼。这正是昆丁•达威特从沙勒罗瓦到佩隆的那个月色特别明亮的夜晚(也许读者还记得)在远处清楚看到的黑影憧憧的高大建筑物。这个庞大的主楼外形很像伦敦城堡内的“白塔”,但建筑式样更为古老,据说其修建的年代可以远溯到查里曼时代。这主楼墙壁极厚,窗子很小,上面安有铁栅。塔楼那庞大而笨拙的塔身投下的阴森可怕的黑影笼罩着整个庭院。 “我才不住那儿。”国王似感不吉,颤栗着说道。 “当然不能住那儿,”那个陪伴国王、没带帽子的白发』总管对答说,“上帝不容!陛下的卧室竟坐落在这些低矮的陋室里。约翰王在普瓦克蒂埃战役以前还在那儿睡过两晚哩。” “哼!这也不是什么吉兆,”国王喃喃说道,“不过,老伙计,那个高塔有什么问题?为什么你求老天爷不要让我住在那儿?” “嘿,我的好国王,”总管说道,“我倒不知道那高塔有什么问题——只是哨兵说晚上看见里面有光,还听见有奇怪的响声。这样说也有它的道理,因为古时候这个塔本是个国家监狱,而且里面发生过的事也有许多传说。” 路易不再问下去,因为他比任何人都更有义务保守监狱的秘密。他的住房年代虽没有高塔那么久远,但仍然显得古老而阴暗。门口站着一小队苏格兰卫士。公爵虽然拒绝答应路易王先前那个要求,但还是把这一小队卫士召进来,以便他们能在主人身旁进行警卫。他们的头儿就是忠诚的克劳福德大公。 “克劳福德——我忠实的克劳福德,”国王说道,“今天一整天你都到哪儿去了?难道勃艮第的贵族们这么不好客,甚至把你这个出人宫廷的最勇敢、最高贵的绅士也给忽略了么?在宴会上我没见到你。” “是我自己谢绝参加的,我的国王,”克劳福德说道,“我已经不像过去了。以前我敢和勃艮第最有海量的人对饮,而且是喝勃艮第葡萄做的酒。但如今只消四品脱就可以使我醉醺醺的了。同时,在这方面给我的部下树个榜样也关系到为陛下尽忠的问题。” “你总是很谨慎,”国王说道,“不过,你现在要指挥的人不多,你总没有以前那么忙了吧?再说,宴会的时候也不像危险的时刻那样要求严格克制自己。” “既然我能指挥的人已经很少,我就更有必要叫这些家伙安分守已,”克劳福德说道,“况且,究竟这事将以喜庆结束还是以战斗结束,上帝和陛下肯定要比克劳福德老伙计知道得更清楚。” “想必你没觉察出什么危险吧?”国王赶紧低声问道。 “没有,”克劳福德回答说,“但愿我能有所觉察,因为,正如泰门老伯爵经常说的,觉察到的危险往往是可以防备的危险。请问陛下,今晚的口令是什么?” “为了对我们的东道主和你所喜爱的一种名酒表示敬意,就拿‘勃艮第’作今晚的口令吧!” “我既不想和名叫勃艮第的公爵,也不想和名叫勃艮第的葡萄酒过不去,”克劳福德说道,“只要这两者都有益无害。陛下,再见!” “再见,我忠实的苏格兰卫队长。”国王说道,接着走进了自己的卧室。 巴拉弗雷在卧室门口站岗。“跟我来。”国王从他身旁经过时对他说道。这位卫士便像工匠开动的机器似的迈着大步跟在后面走进卧室,然后默默地站着不动,听候国王吩咐。 “你那个当上了流浪骑士的外甥有没有消息?”国王说道,“自从这个年轻人首战告捷,把两个俘虏作为他的第一个骑士功勋给我们送回来以后,至今杳无音讯。” “陛下,那个事我倒是听人说起过,”巴拉弗雷说道,“我希望陛下相信,假如他做错了,这可绝不是按照我的教导和榜样,因为我有自知之明,还从来不敢把最显赫的皇室贵族打下马来。” “别提那个事了,”国王说道,“你外甥是尽其职责。” “这下好了,”巴勒弗雷又改口说,“您知道,这是我教他的。‘昆丁,’我对他说,‘不管出了什么事,你得记住你是苏格兰卫队的人,你只管尽你的职责。’” “我猜想,他准是有你这样一个卓越的老师,”路易说道,“不过,我关心的是你好好回答我的第一个问题——你最近听到你侄儿的消息了吗?先生们,请站过去,”他冲着房间里的其他几位也想听消息的绅士补充说道,“这事只需要我听听就行了。” “陛下放心,我当然听到了,”巴拉弗雷说道,“今天晚上我还看见那个叫夏洛特的马夫,是我外甥从列日或附近某个城堡派回来的。他说我外甥已把两位克罗伊埃女士平安地送到了目的地。” “赞美天上的圣母!”国王说道,“你敢肯定吗?肯定这好消息是真的吗?” “当然敢肯定,”巴拉弗雷说道,“这家伙还带来了两位克罗伊埃仕女给您的信哩。” “赶快把信取来,”国王说道,“把你的火统枪交给别的伙计吧——交给奥利弗——交给谁都行。感激昂布伦的圣母!我将用银子做个屏风围住她那高高的圣坛!” 在这一阵感激和虔敬心情的驱使下,路易像往常一样脱下他的帽子,从装饰帽子的偶像当中挑出他最喜爱的圣母像,放在桌上,朝它跪了下来,一再虔诚地重复着他许过的愿。 这时,达威特从索恩瓦尔德最先派回来送信的那个马夫拿着信走了进来。信是两位克罗伊埃仕女写给国王的。她们以冷淡的词句感谢他在法国宫廷给与她们的礼遇,但更为热诚地感谢他允许她们离开并安全地把她们护送出境。路易王对这话并不感到生气,而是开心地大笑。然后他显然很关切地问夏洛特,他 Chapter 27 The Explosion 'T is listening fear, and dumb amazement all, When to the startled eye, the sudden glance Appears far south, eruptive through the cloud. THOMSON'S SUMMER The preceding chapter, agreeably to its title, was designed as a retrospect which might enable the render fully to understand the terms upon which the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy stood together, when the former, moved partly perhaps by his belief in astrology, which was represented as favourable to the issue of such a measure, and in a great measure doubtless by the conscious superiority of his own powers of mind over those of Charles, had adopted the extraordinary, and upon any other ground altogether inexplicable, resolution of committing his person to the faith of a fierce and exasperated enemy -- a resolution also the more rash and unaccountable, as there were various examples in that stormy time to show that safe conducts, however solemnly plighted, had proved no assurance for those in whose favour they were conceived; and indeed the murder of the Duke's grandfather at the Bridge of Montereau, in presence of the father of Louis, and at an interview solemnly agreed upon for the establishment of peace and amnesty, was a horrible precedent, should the Duke be disposed to resort to it. But the temper of Charles, though rough, fierce, headlong, and unyielding, was not, unless in the full tide of passion, faithless or ungenerous, faults which usually belong to colder dispositions. He was at no pains to show the King more courtesy than the laws of hospitality positively demanded; but, on the other hand, he evinced no purpose of overleaping their sacred barriers. On the following morning after the King's arrival, there was a general muster of the troops of the Duke of Burgundy, which were so numerous and so excellently appointed, that, perhaps, he was not sorry to have an opportunity of displaying them before his great rival. Indeed, while he paid the necessary compliment of a vassal to his Suzerain, in declaring that these troops were the King's and not his own, the curl of his upper lip and the proud glance of his eye intimated his consciousness that the words he used were but empty compliment, and that his fine army at his own unlimited disposal, was as ready to march against Paris as in any other direction. It must have added to Louis's mortification that he recognised, as forming part of this host, many banners of French nobility, not only of Normandy and Bretagne, but of provinces more immediately subjected to his own authority, who, from various causes of discontent, had joined and made common cause with the Duke of Burgundy. True to his character, however, Louis seemed to take little notice of these malcontents, while, in fact, he was revolving in his mind the various means by which it might be possible to detach them from the banners of Burgundy and bring them back to his own, and resolved for that purpose that he would cause those to whom he attached the greatest importance to be secretly sounded by Oliver and other agents. He himself laboured diligently, but at the same time cautiously, to make interest with the Duke's chief officers and advisers, employing for that purpose the usual means of familiar and frequent notice, adroit flattery, and liberal presents; not, as he represented, to alienate their faithful services from their noble master, but that they might lend their aid in preserving peace betwixt France and Burgundy -- an end so excellent in itself, and so obviously tending to the welfare of both countries and of the reigning Princes of either. The notice of so great and so wise a King was in itself a mighty bribe; promises did much, and direct gifts, which the customs of the time permitted the Burgundian courtiers to accept without scruple, did still more. During a boar hunt in the forest, while the Duke, eager always upon the immediate object, whether business or pleasure, gave himself entirely up to the ardour of the chase, Louis, unrestrained by his presence, sought and found the means of speaking secretly and separately to many of those who were reported to have most interest with Charles, among whom D'Hymbercourt and Comines were not forgotten; nor did he fail to mix up the advances which he made towards those two distinguished persons with praises of the valour and military skill of the first, and of the profound sagacity and literary talents of the future historian of the period. Such an opportunity of personally conciliating, or, if the reader pleases, corrupting the ministers of Charles, was perhaps what the King had proposed to himself as a principal object of his visit, even if his art should fail to cajole the Duke himself. The connection betwixt France and Burgundy was so close that most of the nobles belonging to the latter country had hopes or actual interests connected with the former, which the favour of Louis could advance, or his personal displeasure destroy. Formed for this and every other species of intrigue, liberal to profusion when it was necessary to advance his plans, and skilful in putting the most plausible colour upon his proposals and presents, the King contrived to reconcile the spirit of the proud to their profit, and to hold out to the real or pretended patriot the good of both France and Burgundy as the ostensible motive; whilst the party's own private interest, like the concealed wheel of some machine, worked not the less powerfully that its operations' were kept out of sight. For each man he had a suitable bait, and a proper mode of presenting it; he poured the guerdon into the sleeve of those who were too proud to extend their hand, and trusted that his bounty, thought it descended like the dew, without noise and imperceptibly, would not fail to produce, in due season, a plentiful crop of goodwill at least, perhaps of good offices, to the donor. In fine, although he had been long paving the way by his ministers for an establishment of such an interest in the Court of Burgundy as should be advantageous to the interests of France, Louis's own personal exertions, directed doubtless by the information of which he was previously possessed, did more to accomplish that object in a few hours than his agents had effected in years of negotiation. One man alone the King missed, whom he had been particularly desirous of conciliating, and that was the Count de Crevecoeur, whose firmness, during his conduct as Envoy at Plessis, far from exciting Louis's resentment, had been viewed as a reason for making him his own if possible. He was not particularly gratified when he learnt that the Count, at the head of an hundred lances, was gone towards the frontiers of Brabant, to assist the Bishop, in case of necessity, against William de la Marck and his discontented subjects; but he consoled himself that the appearance of this force, joined with the directions which he had sent by faithful messengers, would serve to prevent any premature disturbances in that country, the breaking out of which might, he foresaw, render his present situation very precarious. The Court upon this occasion dined in the forest when the hour of noon arrived, as was common in those great hunting parties; an arrangement at this time particularly agreeable to the Duke, desirous as he was to abridge that ceremonious and deferential solemnity with which he was otherwise under the necessity of receiving King Louis. In fact, the King's knowledge of human nature had in one particular misled him on this remarkable occasion. He thought that the Duke would have been inexpressibly flattered to have received such a mark of condescension and confidence from his liege lord; but he forgot that the dependence of this dukedom upon the Crown of France was privately the subject of galling mortification to a Prince so powerful, so wealthy, and so proud as Charles, whose aim it certainly was to establish an independent kingdom. The presence of the King at the Court of the Duke of Burgundy imposed on that prince the necessity of exhibiting himself in the subordinate character of a vassal, and of discharging many rites of feudal observance and deference, which, to one of his haughty disposition, resembled derogation from the character of a Sovereign Prince, which on all occasions he affected as far as possible to sustain. But although it was possible to avoid much ceremony by having the dinner upon the green turf, with sound of bugles, broaching of barrels, and all the freedom of a sylvan meal, it was necessary that the evening repast should, even for that very reason, be held with more than usual solemnity. Previous orders for this purpose had been given, and, upon returning to Peronne, King Louis found a banquet prepared with such a profusion of splendour and magnificence, as became the wealth of his formidable vassal, possessed as he was of almost all the Low Countries, then the richest portion of Europe. At the head of the long board, which groaned under plate of gold and silver, filled to profusion with the most exquisite dainties, sat the Duke, and on his right hand, upon a seat more elevated than his own, was placed his royal guest. Behind him stood on one side the son of the Duke of Gueldres, who officiated as his grand carver -- on the other, Le Glorieux, his jester, without whom he seldom stirred for, like most men of his hasty and coarse character, Charles carried to extremity the general taste of that age for court fools and jesters -- experiencing that pleasure in their display of eccentricity and mental infirmity which his more acute but not more benevolent rival loved better to extract from marking the imperfections of humanity in its nobler specimens, and finding subject for mirth in the "fears of the brave and follies of the wise." And indeed, if the anecdote related by Brantome be true, that a court fool, having overheard Louis, in one of his agonies of repentant devotion, confess his accession to the poisoning of his brother, Henry, Count of Guyenne, divulged it next day at dinner before the assembled court, that monarch might be supposed rather more than satisfied with the pleasantries of professed jesters for the rest of his life. But, on the present occasion, Louis neglected not to take notice of the favourite buffoon of the Duke, and to applaud his repartees, which he did the rather that he thought he saw that the folly of Le Glorieux, however grossly it was sometimes displayed, covered more than the usual quantity of shrewd and caustic observation proper to his class. In fact, Tiel Wetzweiler, called Le Glorieux, was by no means a jester of the common stamp. He was a tall, fine looking man, excellent at many exercises, which seemed scarce reconcilable with mental imbecility, because it must have required patience and attention to attain them. He usually followed the Duke to the chase and to the fight; and at Montl'hery, when Charles was in considerable personal danger, wounded in the throat, and likely to be made prisoner by a French knight who had hold of his horse's rein, Tiel Wetzweiler charged the assailant so forcibly as to overthrow him and disengage his master. Perhaps he was afraid of this being thought too serious a service for a person of his condition, and that it might excite him enemies among those knights and nobles who had left the care of their master's person to the court fool. At any rate, he chose rather to be laughed at than praised for his achievement; and made such gasconading boasts of his exploits in the battle, that most men thought the rescue of Charles was as ideal as the rest of his tale; and it was on this occasion he acquired the title of Le Glorieux (or the boastful), by which he was ever afterwards distinguished. Le Glorieux was dressed very richly, but with little of the usual distinction of his profession; and that little rather of a symbolical than a very literal character. His head was not shorn; on the contrary, he wore a profusion of long curled hair, which descended from under his cap, and joining with a well arranged and handsomely trimmed beard, set off features, which, but for a wild lightness of eye, might have been termed handsome. A ridge of scarlet velvet carried across the top of his cap indicated, rather than positively represented, the professional cock's comb, which distinguished the head gear of a fool in right of office. His bauble, made of ebony, was crested as usual with a fool's head, with ass's ears formed of silver; but so small, and so minutely carved, that, till very closely examined, it might have passed for an official baton of a more solemn character. These were the only badges of his office which his dress exhibited. In other respects, it was such as to match with that of the most courtly nobles. His bonnet displayed a medal of gold, he wore a chain of the same metal around his neck, and the fashion of his rich garments was not much more fantastic than those of young gallants who have their clothes made in the extremity of the existing fashion. To this personage Charles, and Louis, in imitation of his host, often addressed themselves during the entertainment; and both seemed to manifest, by hearty laughter, their amusement at the answers of Le Glorieux. "Whose seats be those that are vacant?" said Charles to the jester. "One of those at least should be mine by right of succession, Charles," replied Le Glorieux. "Why so, knave?" said Charles. "Because they belong to the Sieur D'Hymbercourt and De Comines, who are gone so far to fly their falcons, that they have forgot their supper. They who would rather look at a kite on the wing than a pheasant on the board, are of kin to the fool, and he should succeed to the stools, as a part of their movable estate." "That is but a stale jest, my friend Tiel," said the Duke; "but, fools or wise men, here come the defaulters." As he spoke, Comines and D'Hymbercourt entered the room, and, after having made their reverence to the two Princes, assumed in silence the seats which were left vacant for them. "What ho! sirs," exclaimed the Duke, addressing them, "your sport has been either very good or very bad, to lead you so far and so late. Sir Philip de Comines, you are dejected -- hath D'Hymbercourt won so heavy a wager on you? -- You are a philosopher, and should not grieve at bad fortune. -- By Saint George D'Hymbercourt looks as sad as thou dost. -- How now, sirs? Have you found no game? or have you lost your falcons? or has a witch crossed your way? or has the Wild Huntsman (the famous apparition, sometimes called le Grand Veneur. Sully gives some account of this hunting spectre. S.) met you in the forest? By my honour, you seem as if you were come to a funeral, not a festival." While the Duke spoke, the eyes of the company were all directed towards D'Hymbercourt and De Comines; and the embarrassment and dejection of their countenances, neither being of that class of persons to whom such expression of anxious melancholy was natural, became so remarkable, that the mirth and laughter of the company, which the rapid circulation of goblets of excellent wine had raised to a considerable height, was gradually hushed; and, without being able to assign any reason for such a change in their spirits, men spoke in whispers to each other, as on the eve of expecting some strange and important tidings. "What means this silence, Messires?" said the Duke, elevating his voice, which was naturally harsh. "If you bring these strange looks, and this stranger silence, into festivity, we shall wish you had abode in the marshes seeking for herons, or rather for woodcocks and howlets." "My gracious lord," said De Comines, "as we were about to return hither from the forest, we met the Count of Crevecoeur --" "How!" said the Duke, "already returned from Brabant? -- but he found all well there, doubtless?" "The Count himself will presently give your Grace an account of his news," said D'Hymbercourt, "which we have heard but imperfectly." "Body of me, where is the Count?" said the Duke. "He changes his dress, to wait upon your Highness," answered D'Hymbercourt. "His dress? Saint Bleu!" exclaimed the impatient Prince, "what care I for his dress! I think you have conspired with him to drive me mad." "Or rather, to be plain," said De Comines, "he wishes to communicate these news at a private audience." "Teste dieu! my Lord King," said Charles, "this is ever the way our counsellors serve us. -- If they have got hold of aught which they consider as important for our ear, they look as grave upon the matter and are as proud of their burden as an ass of a new pack saddle. -- Some one bid Crevecoeur come to us directly! -- He comes from the frontiers of Liege, and we, at least" (he laid some emphasis on the pronoun), "have no secrets in that quarter which we would shun to have proclaimed before the assembled world." All perceived that the Duke had drunk so much wine as to increase the native obstinacy of his disposition; and though many would willingly have suggested that the present was neither a time for hearing news nor for taking counsel, yet all knew the impetuosity of his temper too well to venture on farther interference, and sat in anxious expectation of the tidings which the Count might have to communicate. A brief interval intervened, during which the Duke remained looking eagerly to the door, as if in a transport of impatience; whilst the guests sat with their eyes bent on the table, as if to conceal their curiosity and anxiety. Louis, alone maintaining perfect composure, continued his conversation alternately with the grand carver and with the jester. At length Crevecoeur entered, and was presently saluted by the hurried question of his master, "What news from Liege and Brabant, Sir Count? -- the report of your arrival has chased mirth from our table -- we hope your actual presence will bring it back to us." "My Liege and master," answered the Count in a firm but melancholy tone, "the news which I bring you are fitter for the council board than the feasting table." "Out with them, man, if they were tidings from Antichrist!" said the Duke; "but I can guess them -- the Liegeois are again in mutiny." "They are, my lord," said Crevecoeur very gravely. "Look there," said the Duke, "I have hit at once on what you had been so much afraid to mention to me: the hare brained burghers are again in arms. It could not be in better time, for we may at present have the advice of our own Suzerain," bowing to King Louis, with eyes which spoke the most bitter though suppressed resentment, "to teach us how such mutineers should be dealt with. -- Hast thou more news in thy packet? Out with them, and then answer for yourself why you went not forward to assist the Bishop." "My lord, the farther tidings are heavy for me to tell, and will be afflicting to you to hear. -- No aid of mine, or of living chivalry, could have availed the excellent Prelate. William de la Marck, united with the insurgent Liegeois, has taken his Castle of Schonwaldt, and murdered him in his own hall." "Murdered him!" repeated the Duke in a deep and low tone, which nevertheless was heard from the one end of the hall in which they were assembled to the other, "thou hast been imposed upon, Crevecoeur, by some wild report -- it is impossible!" "Alas! my lord!" said the Count, "I have it from an eyewitness, an archer of the King of France's Scottish Guard, who was in the hall when the murder was committed by William de la Marck's order." "And who was doubtless aiding and abetting in the horrible sacrilege," said the Duke, starting up and stamping with his foot with such fury that he dashed in pieces the footstool which was placed before him. "Bar the doors of this hall, gentlemen -- secure the windows -- let no stranger stir from his seat, upon pain of instant death! -- Gentlemen of my chamber, draw your swords." And turning upon Louis, he advanced his own hand slowly and deliberately to the hilt of his weapon, while the King, without either showing fear or assuming a defensive posture, only said -- "These news, fair cousin, have staggered your reason." "No!" replied the Duke, in a terrible tone, "but they have awakened a just resentment, which I have too long suffered to be stifled by trivial considerations of circumstance and place. Murderer of thy brother! -- rebel against thy parent -- tyrant over thy subjects! -- treacherous ally! -- perjured King! -- dishonoured gentleman! -- thou art in my power, and I thank God for it." "Rather thank my folly," said the King; "for when we met on equal terms at Montl'hery, methinks you wished yourself farther from me than we are now." The Duke still held his hand on the hilt of his sword, but refrained to draw his weapon or to strike a foe who offered no sort of resistance which could in any wise provoke violence. Meanwhile, wild and general confusion spread itself through the hall. The doors were now fastened and guarded by order of the Duke; but several of the French nobles, few as they were in number, started from their seats, and prepared for the defence of their Sovereign. Louis had spoken not a word either to Orleans or Dunois since they were liberated from restraint at the Castle of Loches, if it could be termed liberation, to be dragged in King Louis's train, objects of suspicion evidently, rather than of respect and regard; but, nevertheless, the voice of Dunois was first heard above the tumult, addressing himself to the Duke of Burgundy. "Sir Duke, you have forgotten that you are a vassal of France, and that we, your guests, are Frenchmen. If you lift a hand against our Monarch, prepare to sustain the utmost effects of our despair; for, credit me, we shall feast as high with the blood of Burgundy as we have done with its wine. -- Courage, my Lord of Orleans -- and you, gentlemen of France, form yourselves round Dunois, and do as he does." It was in that moment when a King might see upon what tempers he could certainly rely. The few independent nobles and knights who attended Louis, most of whom had only received from him frowns or discountenance, unappalled by the display of infinitely superior force, and the certainty of destruction in case they came to blows, hastened to array themselves around Dunois, and, led by him, to press towards the head of the table where the contending Princes were seated. On the contrary, the tools and agents whom Louis had dragged forward out of their fitting and natural places into importance which was not due to them, showed cowardice and cold heart, and, remaining still in their seats, seemed resolved not to provoke their fate by intermeddling, whatever might become of their benefactor. The first of the more generous party was the venerable Lord Crawford, who, with an agility which no one would have expected at his years, forced his way through all opposition (which was the less violent, as many of the Burgundians, either from a point of honour, or a secret inclination to prevent Louis's impending fate, gave way to him), and threw himself boldly between the King and the Duke. He then placed his bonnet, from which his white hair escaped in dishevelled tresses, upon one side of his head -- his pale cheek and withered brow coloured, and his aged eye lightened with all the fire of a gallant who is about to dare some desperate action. His cloak was flung over one shoulder, and his action intimated his readiness to wrap it about his left arm, while he unsheathed his sword with his right. "I have fought for his father and his grandsire," that was all he said, "and by Saint Andrew, end the matter as it will, I will not fail him at this pinch." What has taken some time to narrate, happened, in fact, with the speed of light; for so soon as the Duke assumed his threatening posture, Crawford had thrown himself betwixt him and the object of his vengeance; and the French gentlemen, drawing together as fast as they could, were crowding to the same point. The Duke of Burgundy still remained with his hand on his sword, and seemed in the act of giving the signal for a general onset, which must necessarily have ended in the massacre of the weaker party, when Crevecoeur rushed forward, and exclaimed in a voice like a trumpet, "My liege Lord of Burgundy, beware what you do! This is your hall -- you are the King's vassal -- do not spill the blood of your guest on your hearth, the blood of your Sovereign on the throne you have erected for him, and to which he came under your safeguard. For the sake of your house's honour, do not attempt to revenge one horrid murder by another yet worse!" "Out of my road, Crevecoeur," answered the Duke, "and let my vengeance pass! -- Out of my path! The wrath of kings is to be dreaded like that of Heaven." "Only when, like that of Heaven, it is just," answered Crevecoeur firmly. "Let me pray of you, my lord, to rein the violence of your temper, however justly offended. -- And for you, my Lords of France, where resistance is unavailing, let me recommend you to forbear whatever may lead towards bloodshed." "He is right," said Louis, whose coolness forsook him not in that dreadful moment, and who easily foresaw that if a brawl should commence, more violence would be dared and done in the heat of blood than was likely to be attempted if peace were preserved. "My cousin Orleans -- kind Dunois -- and you, my trusty Crawford -- bring not on ruin and bloodshed by taking offence too hastily. Our cousin the Duke is chafed at the tidings of the death of a near and loving friend, the venerable Bishop of Liege, whose slaughter we lament as he does. Ancient, and, unhappily, recent subjects of jealousy lead him to suspect us of having abetted a crime which our bosom abhors. Should our host murder us on this spot -- us, his King and his kinsman, under a false impression of our being accessory to this unhappy accident, our fate will be little lightened, but, on the contrary, greatly aggravated, by your stirring. -- Therefore stand back, Crawford. -- Were it my last word, I speak as a King to his officer, and demand obedience. -- Stand back, and, if it is required, yield up your sword. I command you to do so, and your oath obliges you to obey." "True, true, my lord," said Crawford, stepping back, and returning to the sheath the blade he had half drawn. -- "It may be all very true; but, by my honour, if I were at the head of threescore and ten of my brave fellows, instead of being loaded with more than the like number of years, I would try whether I could have some reason out of these fine gallants, with their golden chains and looped up bonnets, with braw warld dyes (gaudy colors) and devices on them." The Duke stood with his eyes fixed on the ground for a considerable space, and then said, with bitter irony, "Crevecoeur, you say well; and it concerns our honour that our obligations to this great King, our honoured and loving guest, be not so hastily adjusted, as in our hasty anger we had at first proposed. We will so act that all Europe shall acknowledge the justice of our proceedings. -- Gentlemen of France, you must render up your arms to my officers! Your master has broken the truce, and has no title to take farther benefit of it. In compassion, however, to your sentiments of honour, and in respect to the rank which he hath disgraced, and the race from which he hath degenerated, we ask not our cousin Louis's sword." "Not one of us," said Dunois, "will resign our weapon, or quit this hall, unless we are assured of at least our King's safety, in life and limb." "Nor will a man of the Scottish Guard," exclaimed Crawford, "lay down his arms, save at the command of the King of France, or his High Constable." "Brave Dunois," said Louis, "and you, my trusty Crawford, your zeal will do me injury instead of benefit. -- I trust," he added with dignity, "in my rightful cause, more than in a vain resistance, which would but cost the lives of my best and bravest. Give up your swords. -- The noble Burgundians, who accept such honourable pledges, will be more able than you are to protect both you and me. -- Give up your swords. -- It is I who command you." It was thus that, in this dreadful emergency, Louis showed the promptitude of decision and clearness of judgment which alone could have saved his life. He was aware that, until actual blows were exchanged, he should have the assistance of most of the nobles present to moderate the fury of their Prince; but that, were a melee once commenced, he himself and his few adherents must be instantly murdered. At the same time, his worst enemies confessed that his demeanour had in it nothing either of meanness or cowardice. He shunned to aggravate into frenzy the wrath of the Duke; but he neither deprecated nor seemed to fear it, and continued to look on him with the calm and fixed attention with which a brave man eyes the menacing gestures of a lunatic, whilst conscious that his own steadiness and composure operate as an insensible and powerful check on the rage even of insanity. Crawford, at the King's command, threw his sword to Crevecoeur, saying, "Take it! and the devil give you joy of it. -- It is no dishonour to the rightful owner who yields it, for we have had no fair play." "Hold, gentlemen," said the Duke in a broken voice, as one whom passion had almost deprived of utterance, "retain your swords; it is sufficient you promise not to use them. And you, Louis of Valois, must regard yourself as my prisoner, until you are cleared of having abetted sacrilege and murder. Have him to the Castle. -- Have him to Earl Herbert's Tower. Let him have six gentlemen of his train to attend him, such as he shall choose. -- My Lord of Crawford, your guard must leave the Castle, and shall be honourably quartered elsewhere. Up with every drawbridge, and down with every portcullis. -- Let the gates of the town be trebly guarded. -- Draw the floating bridge to the right hand side of the river. -- Bring round the Castle my band of Black Walloons (regiments of Dutch troops, wearing black armour), and treble the sentinels on every post! -- You, D'Hymbercourt, look that patrols of horse and foot make the round of the town every half hour during the night and every hour during the next day -- if indeed such ward shall be necessary after daybreak, for it is like we may be sudden in this matter. -- Look to the person of Louis, as you love your life." He started from the table in fierce and moody haste, darted a glance of mortal enmity at the King, and rushed out of the apartment. "Sirs," said the King, looking with dignity around him, "grief for the death of his ally hath made your Prince frantic. I trust you know better your duty, as knights and noblemen, than to abet him in his treasonable violence against the person of his liege Lord." At this moment was heard in the streets the sound of drums beating, and horns blowing, to call out the soldiery in every direction. "We are," said Crevecoeur, who acted as the Marshal of the Duke's household, "subjects of Burgundy, and must do our duty as such. Our hopes and prayers, and our efforts, will not be wanting to bring about peace and union between your Majesty and our liege Lord. Meantime, we must obey his commands. These other lords and knights will be proud to contribute to the convenience of the illustrious Duke of Orleans, of the brave Dunois, and the stout Lord Crawford. I myself must be your Majesty's chamberlain, and bring you to your apartments in other guise than would be my desire, remembering the hospitality of Plessis. You have only to choose your attendants, whom the Duke's commands limit to six." "Then," said the King, looking around him, and thinking for a moment -- "I desire the attendance of Oliver le Dain, of a private of my Life Guard called Balafre, who may be unarmed if you will -- of Tristan l'Hermite, with two of his people -- and my right royal and trusty philosopher, Martius Galeotti." "Your Majesty's will shall be complied with in all points," said the Count de Crevecoeur. "Galeotti," he added, after a moment's inquiry, "is, I understand, at present supping in some buxom company, but he shall instantly be sent for; the others will obey your Majesty's command upon the instant." "Forward, then, to the new abode, which the hospitality of our cousin provides for us," said the King. "We know it is strong, and have only to hope it may be in a corresponding degree safe." "Heard you the choice which King Louis has made of his attendants?" said Le Glorieux to Count Crevecoeur apart, as they followed Louis from the hall. "Surely, my merry gossip," replied the Count. "What hast thou to object to them?" "Nothing, nothing -- only they are a rare election! -- A panderly barber -- a Scottish hired cutthroat -- a chief hangman and his two assistants, and a thieving charlatan. -- I will along with you, Crevecoeur, and take a lesson in the degrees of roguery, from observing your skill in marshalling them. The devil himself could scarce have summoned such a synod, or have been a better president amongst them." Accordingly, the all licensed jester, seizing the Count's arm familiarly, began to march along with him, while, under a strong guard, yet forgetting no semblance of respect, he conducted the King towards his new apartment. (The historical facts attending this celebrated interview are expounded and enlarged upon in this chapter. Agents sent by Louis had tempted the people of Liege to rebel against their superior, Duke Charles, and persecute and murder their Bishop. But Louis was not prepared for their acting with such promptitude. They flew to arms with the temerity of a fickle rabble, took the Bishop prisoner, menaced and insulted him, and tore to pieces one or two of his canons. This news was sent to the Duke of Burgundy at the moment when Louis had so unguardedly placed himself in his power; and the consequence was that Charles placed guards on the Castle of Peronne, and, deeply resenting the treachery of the king of France in exciting sedition in his dominions, while he pretended the most intimate friendship, he deliberated whether he should not put Louis to death. Three days Louis was detained in this very precarious situation, and it was only his profuse liberality amongst Charles's favourites and courtiers which finally ensured him from death or deposition. Comines, who was the Duke of Burgundy's chamberlain at the time, and slept in his apartment, says Charles neither undressed nor slept, but flung himself from time to time on the bed, and, at other times, wildly traversed the apartment. It was long before his violent temper became in any degree tractable. At length he only agreed to give Louis his liberty, on condition of his accompanying him in person against, and employing his troops in subduing, the mutineers whom his intrigues had instigated to arms. This was a bitter and degrading alternative. But Louis, seeing no other mode of compounding for the effects of his rashness, not only submitted to this discreditable condition, but swore to it upon a crucifix said to have belonged to Charlemagne. These particulars are from Comines. There is a succinct epitome of them in Sir Nathaniel Wraxall's History of France, vol. i. -- S.) 人们惊奇地看到在远远的南方, 透过云层突然爆发出闪光, 一个个都被那响声吓得无比惊慌。 汤姆逊《夏日》 按标题来看,前一章旨在作为一种回顾,使读者能充分了解路易工来到勃艮第后和公爵的相互关系。也许是因为路易王所迷信的占星术,据说对他此行的结果作出了有利的预示,再加上他自认在心智方面明显地胜过查尔斯,更使他对这一预示深信不疑,所以他作出了一个异乎寻常的,无论哪方面来看都是完全不可思议的决定——寄希望于一个凶顽的敌人的信用,不惜以自己的人身安全孤注一掷。由于在当时那个动荡不安的时代已有许多事例表明,庄严保证安全的诺言并不能保证当事人的安全,这一决定就更显得轻率、不可理解。事实上公爵的祖父为了建立和平,颁发赦令,前往参加庄严约定的会谈时,就曾在路易父亲面前惨遭杀害。只要公爵想对路易下手,这个历史也无疑给公爵提供了一个可怕的先例。 查尔斯性格固然粗暴、莽撞而倔强,但除非在盛怒之下,也并非不仁不义。不仁不义通常属于性格冷峻的人。他固然不打算给国王一种超出待客之道的礼遇,但另一方面他也不想越过待客之道的神圣界限。 国王到来的第二天早晨,勃艮第公爵的军队进行了一次总检阅。看到能有机会在他的劲敌面前显示他那人数众多的军队及其精良的装备,公爵颇感自豪。他为了表示藩属对宗主应有的客气,声称这些军队属于国王,而不属于他自己时,他撅起上嘴唇,眼里闪着骄傲的光芒,这说明他自己也意识到这些话全是空洞的客套话,而他的精兵是完全置于他的支配下,随时可以东征西代,也随时可以进军巴黎。路易看到有许多法国贵族——不仅来自诺曼底和布列塔尼,甚至来自直接受他控制的省份——由于各种使他们不满的原因参加了勃艮第公爵的阵营,打着旗号,也成了这只大军的一部分,自然倍感羞辱。 然而,路易还是脸不变色,装出对叛变分子不屑一顾的样子,实际上却在脑子里盘算使他们脱离勃艮第、回归法国的各种花招,并决定让奥利弗及其他谋士对他认为最重要的一些人物进行摸底。 他煞费苦心、小心谨慎地争取公爵几个主要的大臣和谋士,使用的不外乎是常见的一些手段,例如经常给以亲切的关心。巧妙的奉承和慷慨的赠礼。当然,正像他所说的,目的不在于使这些忠实的仆人疏远他们高贵的主人,而是希望他们能帮助维护法国和勃艮第之间的和平。这一目的自然十分良好;无论对两国,还是两国君主都显然有利。这样一位伟大而英明的国王对他们表示关心,其本身就是一种有效的贿赂。诺言固然很起作用,而按照当时的习俗许可勃艮第的朝臣们毫无顾忌地直接收纳的直接馈赠就会更起作用。有一天他们在森林里猎野猪。当那无论做事或娱乐总是全神贯注于眼前目标的公爵完全热衷于打猎时,路易看到他不在身边,便充分寻找机会和一些据说最能影响查尔斯的大臣私下个别交谈,其中包括丹伯古和贡明。在他对这两个显要人物表示友好时,也没忘记大肆赞扬前者的勇敢和武艺,以及后者作为当代史臣的睿智和文学天才。 争取机会个别拉拢,甚至——假如读者不嫌过分的话——腐蚀查尔斯的大臣,也许正是路易在万一自己的权术不能哄骗公爵本人时,给他此行提出的一个主要目标。法国和勃艮第的关系如此密切,以致勃艮第的一些贵族有的想在法国取得立足的机会,有的则已经取得既得利益。这种利益会得到增进还是遭到破坏,则取决于路易王个人的恩怨。既然路易王生来就擅长玩弄权术,在施展计划的必要时刻也能不惜重金贿赂,同时又善于把许愿和馈赠涂上冠冕堂皇的色彩,所以他终于设法使清高之士也接受了他的好处。针对那些真假爱国之士,他则使出“以法国和勃艮第的利益为重”的花招。这些人的个人利益,也和机器的隐避齿轮一样,尽管没人看见,但作用同样不小。他给每个不同的人都投下一个适当的诱饵,和一个恰当的奉送方式。对那些自命清高、不愿伸手的人,他的办法是把赏钱塞进他们的衣袖。他相信,虽然这些赏钱像露水般无声无息地降在他们头上,但到一定的时候,即使不能为赏赐者出力,至少也能得到他们的友谊作为收获。总之,虽然路易王一直在通过他的朝臣设法在勃艮第宫廷建立一个有利于法国的势力,但路易本人的努力——显然是根据他以前掌握的情报——在几小时当中收到的成效却比他的代理人在几年的谈判中收到的成效还更显著。 国王只漏掉了一个人,那就是他一直都想拉拢的克雷维格伯爵。他出使普莱西宫时所表现出的坚定不但没有引起路易的不满,反而成了路易想争取他成为自己人的一个理由。当他听说伯爵已率领一百名长矛手去布拉邦特边境,必要时协助主教抵御威廉•德拉马克及反叛的市民时,他感到有点失望,不过他安慰自己说,伯爵的这支部队加上他通过可靠的信使送去的指示,会防止列日过早的骚乱,而据他估计,这时爆发骚乱将使他的处境十分危险。 宫廷按照大型狩猎会的习惯,这次也在森林里举行午宴。这样一种安排使公爵特别满意,因为他很想减免他在别的场合接待路易王时不得不遵守的隆重礼节。在这次不寻常的会见中,国王发现,他对人性的理解不够充分,已使他在一个具体问题上产生了误解。他原以为公爵得到自己的宗主这一屈尊就驾的信赖表现会感到受宠若惊,而忘了勃艮第公国必须从属于法国国王这一点,正是使得查尔斯这样一个一心想建立独立公国的强大、富有而骄傲的亲王感到十分气恼的问题。路易王来到公爵的宫廷,公爵不得不以藩臣的从属地位出现,并遵守表示尊敬和顺从的种种封建礼节。对于他那种性格高傲的人说来这无异是贬低了他在各种场合都要竭力保持的主权君主的身份。 不过,草地上的午宴虽能避免许多礼节,而代之以号角声、开酒桶声,以及林中野餐那种无拘束的乐趣,但正因为如此,晚宴就需要搞得比平常更为隆重。 公爵事先就下了准备晚宴的命令。回到佩隆时,等待着路易王的已是一席琳琅满目的华筵——其丰盈考究的程度自然和这雄据欧洲最富饶的低地平原的强大藩属所拥有的财富完全相称。在摆着盛满了各种珍肴的金银碗碟的长桌的上席坐着公爵,在他右边一个更高的座椅上坐着路易王。而在他后面则一边站着格尔德雷斯公爵的儿子,主持食物的侍奉,另一边站着弄臣勒格洛里尔。没有这个弄臣在场,他是不舒服的,因为查尔斯也和大多数性格急躁粗暴的人一样,把人们当时对宫廷弄臣的普遍爱好引到了极端的地步——从他们表现出的怪癖和心智的缺陷中感受乐趣。他那为人机敏而不宽厚的对手却更喜欢通过观察贵人们身上的人性缺点,在“勇者的胆怯,智者的愚昧”中寻找取笑的题材。布朗托姆曾讲过一则轶事,说一个宫廷小丑偷听到路易王在忏悔祷告中痛苦地坦白他曾参与毒害他的兄弟居耶纳亨利伯爵的事,第二天午餐时小丑便当着满朝文武泄露了这个秘密。假如这个故事是真实的,那么可以设想这位君主对职业弄臣开的玩笑一辈子都会感到头疼。 但在当前这个场合,路易却没有忽视对公爵宠爱的弄臣倍加关注,并对他精彩的俏皮话表示赞赏,特别是由于他看到勒格洛里尔的“傻话”虽然有时显得很不雅,但它所蕴含的锐利而辛辣的内容超过了他这类人通常所能达到的分量。 事实上,蒂尔•魏茨威勒(又名勒格洛里尔)并不是一个普通的弄臣。他个子高大,长得很英俊,擅长许多种运动。运动技巧需要耐心和注意力,这和所谓的心智缺陷自然很矛盾。他时常跟随公爵去打猎、作战。有一次公爵在蒙勒里打仗,脖子被戳伤,他骑的马已被一个法国骑士抓住缰绳,眼看就要被俘。正在这十分危险的关头,蒂尔•魏茨威勒勇猛地向进犯者冲了过来,把他撞翻在地,救了他的主人。也许他担心别人认为他这种卑贱的人给主人帮的忙未免过头,会在惯于丢弃主人,而让弄臣保护其安全的骑士和贵族们当中引起猜忌——不管怎么说吧,他宁肯为他这一功勋受到嘲弄,而不愿为它受到赞扬。因此他故意把他在战斗中的表现吹得天花乱坠,以致大多数人都认为,他的援救查尔斯云云也和他别的大话一样荒诞无稽。正因为这样他才得到了勒格洛里尔(牛皮大王)的大名,以后他也以此出了名。 勒格洛里尔穿得很阔气,但显示其弄臣职业的服饰并不多,而且那很少的一点也主要是为了象征性地做做样子,并不是真为了表现他的身份。他没剃头,相反是蓄着又长又密的鬈发。那修剪得漂亮而整齐的胡须和从帽子底下垂落下来的鬈发衬托着一张要不是眼珠颜色太淡,也还算得上英俊的面孔。他戴的帽子顶部饰有一横条深红色的天鹅绒,用来象征——而不是严格地模拟——弄臣职业的鸡冠状头饰。他那乌木手杖顶部也按惯例饰有一个带有银制的驴耳朵的弄臣头像,但做得如此之小,雕刻得如此之精细,以致就像一根带有神圣特点的权杖。这些就是他的装束中所能表现出来的惟一的职业标志。在其他方面,他的穿着可以与任何一个显赫的宫廷贵族相媲美。他的帽子上还戴着一个金质奖章,脖子上也围着一根金项链。比起那些穿着时髦的花花公子,他穿的这身华丽衣服还不如他们穿的那样稀奇古怪。 在宴会上,查尔斯以及仿效他这东道主的路易都经常和这个人物攀谈。听到他的回答,他们放声大笑,表示他们十分开心。 “那些空着的座位是谁的?’喳尔斯问弄臣说。 “查尔斯,至少有一个按理得由我来坐。”勒格洛里尔说道。 “奴才,这是为什么?”查尔斯问道。 “因为这两个座位是丹伯古和德•贡明大人的。他们跑得老远地去放他们的鹰了,忘记了宴会。谁眼睛盯着天上飞的老鹰而不盯着餐桌上摆的野鸡,谁就和傻瓜没有两样。聪明人有理由把他们的座椅作为他们的一部分不动产接过来。” “蒂尔朋友,这可是个陈腐的玩笑,”公爵说道,“不过,傻瓜也罢,聪明人也罢,缺席者已经来了。” 正当他说着的时候,贡明和丹伯古已经走进大厅;向两位君主鞠躬致敬之后,便来到为他们空着的席位上默默就座。 “嘿,先生们,”公爵冲着他们大声说道,“你们走得那么远,这么晚才回来,你们的打猎一定很顺利,或者很糟糕。菲利普•德•贡明先生,瞧你垂头丧气的——是不是丹伯古在你身上赢了很大一笔赌注?——你是个哲学家。运气不好,也不应该伤心。圣乔治在上!丹伯古看起来和你一样发愁。先生们,怎么回事?没找到猎物?丢掉了老鹰?还是女巫拦住了你们的路?或在林中碰见了‘野蛮的猎人’?说真的,你们就像来参加葬礼而不是来参加宴会似的。” 公爵这么说着时,在场的人眼睛都注视着丹伯古和德•贡明。他们面部显现出的窘急和沮丧的表情,既然不属于习惯于面带焦虑的愁容的人们常见的表情,自然显得十分突出。此时,伴随着迅速传送美酒的满堂欢笑已在逐渐消失。由于人们不能对这两个人情绪上的变化找出任何理由,便彼此交头接耳地议论起来,仿佛是在等待什么特殊的重要消息。 “先生们,你们干吗不说话?”公爵抬高嗓门,用生来就粗厉的声音说道,“如果你们带着这副奇怪的面容和更难理解的沉默来参加宴会,那我倒希望你们呆在沼泽地里捉苍鹭,或山鹬和小猫头鹰。” “陛下,”德•贡明说道,“我们正从森林回来的时候,碰见了克雷维格伯爵。” “怎么!”公爵说道,“已经从布拉邦特回来了?他肯定是看到那儿一切正常吧?” “伯爵马上会亲自向您报告他带来的消息,”丹伯古说,“我们听得不够完全。” “真见鬼。伯爵在哪儿?”公爵问道。 “他在换衣,好晋见大人。”丹伯古回答道。 “在换衣?我的老天爷!”那不耐烦的公爵说道,“我要他换衣干什么?我想你们是和他联合起来,阴谋把我逼疯!” “实说吧,”德•贡明讲道,“他希望私下把消息讲给您听。” “您瞧,国王陛下,”查尔斯说道,“我的谋士们就是这样为我效劳的。一听到他们自认为对我要紧的消息,他们就像驴子看到自己有了一副新鞍子那样,摆出一副严肃的面孔,为他们脑子里装的消息而感到神气十足。把克雷维格赶快给我叫来!他是从列日边境来的,至少我”(他把“我”这个代词说得很重)“在那个地区没有什么不可向在座的诸位公开的秘密。” 在座的人都知道公爵喝了很多酒,他那天生的执拗性格已变得更为突出。尽管有许多人想提醒他,现在不是听消息的时候,也不是商量事情的时候,但大家也都了解他性格暴躁,不敢多加干预,只是焦急地等待着伯爵将宣布的消息。 接着是片刻的寂静。公爵仍然急切地望着门口,似乎等得很不耐烦。客人们都低头望着桌子,仿佛想掩盖他们的好奇和不安。只有路易仍保持绝对镇定,时而和侍奉大臣,时而和弄臣继续谈着话。 最后,克雷维格终于走进了大厅。公爵看见他劈头就问:“伯爵先生,列日和布拉邦特有何消息?听说你提前赶回,宴会的欢乐气氛都被驱散了。但愿你的驾到把欢乐的气氛带了回来。” “殿下,”伯爵用坚定而优伤的声调说道,“我给您带来的消息更适合在会议桌上听,而不适合在宴会桌上听。” “即使是反基督的消息,你也只管讲!”公爵说道,“不过我猜得出是什么——列日市民又在叛乱。” “大人,正是这样。”克雷维格非常严肃地说道。 “你瞧,伙计,”公爵说道,“我一下就请中了你这么害怕告诉我的这个消息。果然是这些莽撞的市民又在大动干戈了。这事来得正好。我现在可以请教我的宗主,”接着便向路易三鞠了一躬,眼睛流露出压抑着的巨大愤怒,“如何来对付这些叛民——你锦囊里还有什么消息?全给我端出来。然后再交待你为什么没有前去援助主教。” “大人,下面要讲的消息说起来真叫我痛心,您听起来也会感到伤心。无论是我的援助,还是骑士们的援助对善良的主教都已无济于事。威廉•德拉马克联合反叛的列日市民已攻占了索恩瓦尔德堡,并在主教自己的大厅里杀害了主教。” “杀害了主教?”公爵用一种深沉的声音轻声说道,但话还是从宴会厅的这头传到了另一头,“克雷维格,你一定是受到毫无根据的谣传的蒙蔽吧?这是不可能的!” “哎呀,我的大人!”伯爵说道,“这是一个目击者——法王苏格兰卫队的一名射手亲自告诉我的。威廉•德拉马克杀害主教时他就坐在大厅里。” “那么他肯定是这个亵渎神明的恐怖罪行的教唆者!”公爵大声说道,一边站起身来,狂怒地把脚往地上一跺,踩破了摆在他面前的一个踏脚凳,“绅士们,把门关起来——把窗子也关起来——任何来客不得离开座位,否则立即处死!王室的绅士们,把刀拔出来。”说罢他转过身来对着路易,缓慢沉着地把手移到刀柄上。路易既不表示畏缩,也不采取自卫的姿态,只是说道: “好堂弟,你让这消息冲昏了你的头脑。” “不对!”公爵用一种可怕的声音说道,“它只不过激起了一种正义的愤怒——由于不必要地考虑到地点和场合而长时间压抑着的愤怒。你这杀害兄弟的凶手!背叛父亲的叛逆!统治臣民的暴君!背信弃义的盟友!奸伪的国王!无耻的绅士!你落进了我的手心,我得好好感谢上帝。” “你最好感谢我的愚蠢,”国王说道,“我想,上次我们在蒙勒里会面时,你多么希望自己比现在离我更远一些。” 公爵仍然手握刀柄,但他并没有把刀拔出来对这仇人下手——仇人既然不抵抗,他也下不了这个手。 这时大厅里一片混乱。所有的门都按公爵的命令上了锁,把守得严严的。为数很少的几名法国贵族,从座位上跳了起来,准备保卫他们的君主。奥尔良和杜诺瓦从罗歇堡被释放(如果谈得上释放的话)以来,路易还从没和他们当中哪个讲过一句话。显然他们只是人们怀疑的对象,而不是尊敬的对象。然而在这骚乱当中最先听到的还是杜诺瓦的声音。他对勃艮第公爵说道:“公爵先生,你忘记了你是法国的藩臣,而我们这些客人也都是法国人。只要你胆敢对我们的君主动手,你就得承担我们殊死搏斗的全部后果。你可以相信,我们会像畅饮勃艮第葡萄酒那样痛饮勃艮第人的鲜血——鼓起勇气,奥尔良公爵——法国的绅士们,快站在杜诺瓦周围,和他一致行动!” 正是在这样一个关头,国王看出,究竟是怎样一些人能成为他忠实的依靠。保护路易的是几个独立的贵族和骑士,过去大多数都只得到他皱眉头的待遇,这时却不畏强敌、奋不顾身地赶紧聚集在杜诺瓦周围,在他的率领下朝两位争持不下的君主所坐的上席冲了过去。 相反,那些从原来只适合他们的社会地位,而被路易硬提拔到不适合他们的重要地位的工具和爪牙这时却表现出懦弱和冷漠,一个个仍然坐着不动,似乎已下定决心,不管恩人命运如何,都不想介入,以免惹来杀身之祸。 在比较讲义气的人们当中第一个挺身而出的就是克劳福德大公。他以和他年龄不相称的敏捷克服阻挡(由于许多勃艮第人考虑到事关荣誉,想暗中防止路易遭到杀害,都赶紧放他过去,从而减少了阻力)冲向前去,把身体插在国王和公爵之间。他那覆盖着一串串凌乱的白发的帽子歪朝一边戴着。他那苍白的面颊和皱额涨得通红,一双老成持重的眼里闪烁着准备蜒而走险的勇士所特有的怒火。他把斗篷披在他肩膀上,打算左手裹在斗篷里,用右手抽刀。 “我曾经为他父亲和他祖父战斗过,”他说道,“圣安德鲁在上,不管结局如何,我决不会在这个节骨眼上抛弃他。” 所发生的一切,说来话长,实际上只是一刹那间的事。换言之,一当公爵作出了那个威胁的姿态,克劳福德便已经插到了他和他想进行报复的对象的中间;而那几个法国贵族也已尽快地聚拢来,向告急的地方冲过去。 勃艮第公爵仍然手握着刀柄,仿佛想立即发出总攻击的信号,从而不可避免地导致对力量弱的一方的大屠杀。这时克雷维格冲向前来,以号角般的声音大声喊道:“我的勃艮第公爵大人呀!做事当心点吧!这是你的大厅——你是国王的藩臣——别把你客人的鲜血溅在你自己的家里,把你君主的鲜血溅在你为他树立的宝座上。他有权得到你的保护。为了你们家族的荣誉,切莫用更可憎的凶杀来报复恐怖的凶杀!” “走开,克雷维格,”公爵回答道,“让我复仇!走开!告诉你,君主的愤怒会像天神的愤怒那样叫你害怕。” “除非它和天神的愤怒同样合乎情理。”克雷维格坚定地回答道,“我的大人,不管你的愤怒多么有理,我也求你遏制一下你那狂暴的性格。我也同样奉劝法国的王公大人们,在这抵抗无益的地方避免作出导致流血的任何举动。” “他说得很对。”路易说道。在这可怕的时刻他仍然保持着头脑的镇静,并预见到,一旦开始械斗,打红了眼,人们就会比在心情平静时干得更为残暴。“奥尔良——杜诺瓦——还有你,忠实的克劳福德——别这么快就发火,从而招来流血和灾难。我当公爵的堂弟是因为听到一位亲近而慈爱的朋友——列日主教的噩耗而感到激愤。对于主教不幸遇害,我和他其实一样感到悲拗。是过去的猜忌再加上最近不幸产生的隔阂促使他怀疑我唆使别人干了一件我本人也同样无比憎恨的罪行。假如我的东道主仅根据我参与了这不幸的事件的虚假印象就将我这既是他的国王又是他的亲属的人当场杀害,那么你们动武也不会减轻我的不幸,而只能加剧我的不幸。所以,克劳福德,我要你退下——即使这是我讲的最后一句话,它也是国王对一位大臣讲的话,要求你好好服从。退下吧。假如他们要求,你也不妨把刀交出来。我命令你这样做,按你的誓言你也有义务这样做。” “是,是,我的陛下,”克劳福德说道,接着把半抽出的刀送回刀鞘,退了下来,“您说得很对。不过,老实说,要是我率领七十名勇敢的卫士,而不是迈入了七十以上的高龄,我就要试试是否能叫这些系金链、戴冠冕、满身华丽装饰的风流阔少头脑清醒清醒。” 公爵低头沉吟了好一会儿,然后带着尖刻的讥讽口吻说道:“克雷维格,你说得很对。我不能像我在一气之下所想的那样,过于莽撞地改变我对这位伟大的国王兼尊敬而可爱的来宾承担的义务,因为这事关我的荣誉。我将采取另一种做法,好让整个欧洲都承认我的行动合乎正义。法国的绅士们,你们必须向我的军官交出你们的武器!你们的主人破坏了休战,已无权再享受休战的好处。然而,为了照顾你们的荣誉感,考虑到他的崇高地位和高贵血统——尽管前者被他糟蹋,后者被他玷污——我将不要求我堂兄路易交出他的武器。” “除非我们能得到国王生命安全和人身安全的保证,”杜诺瓦说道,“否则我们不会交出武器或退出这个大厅。” “除非法国国王或他的总督下命令,”克劳福德大声说道,“否则,任何一个苏格兰卫士也不会交出武器。” “勇敢的杜诺瓦,”路易说道,“还有你,我忠实的克劳福德,你们这满腔热血只能给我造成危害,而不能带来好处。我更信赖的是自己的清白无辜,”他庄严地补充说道,“而不信赖那只能使我最优秀最勇敢的部下断送性命的无益抵抗。交出你们的武器吧。得到这种荣誉保证以后,高贵的勃艮第人将能更有效地保护我和你们的安全。交出你们的武器吧。我命令你们这样做。” 在这场可怕的危机当中路易表现出椎一能挽救其性命的迅速决断能力和清晰判断能力。他意识到,只要双方都不动武,他会得到在场的大多数贵族的帮助,来缓和公爵的怒气。但一旦开始厮杀,他和他少数几个追随者就会马上送命。与此同时,连他的头号敌手也得承认,他的态度既不卑下也不怯弱。他只是避免使公爵的愤怒白热化。他既不谴责它,也似乎并不惧怕它,而是继续以勇士对待张牙舞爪的疯子那种平静而镇定的神情看着他的对手。同时,他相信自己的坚定和镇静对于失去理智的狂怒也能起到不知不觉的强有力的抑制作用。 克劳福德听从国王的命令,把剑扔给克雷维格说:“拿去吧!愿魔鬼给你带来快乐。对于理当掌有宝剑的人说来,交出宝剑并不是什么耻辱,因为我们得到的是不公正的待遇。” “等等,绅士们,”公爵激动得几乎说不出话来,只得用嗫嚅的声音说道,“你们还是留下你们的宝剑。只消答应不用就行。至于你,瓦诺瓦•路易,你必须接受对你的监护,直到你能洗清你亵渎神明和谋杀主教的教唆罪为止。我命令:立刻将他押往城堡——押往‘赫伯特伯爵塔楼’。让他挑六名绅士充当他的随从。克劳福德大公,你的卫队必须离开城堡。我将另给你们找个体面的住处。把所有的吊桥都提起来,把所有的铁门都放下去——要派比现在多两倍的卫兵看守城门——把浮桥都拖到河的右岸。叫黑瓦龙部队把城堡包围起来,将每个岗哨的哨兵增加两倍!丹伯古,你得安排步骑兵今晚每隔半小时在城里巡逻一次。事情可能会有突然的发展。如果天亮以后还有必要,明天再每隔一小时巡逻一次。要像爱惜你们的生命那样,把路易好好看住!” 他气势汹汹地从餐桌上蓦地站了起来,向国王身上投射了一个充满不共戴天之仇的目光,然后冲出了大厅。 “先生们,”国王庄严地环顾四周说道,“盟友的惨死使得你们的公爵悲伤得近乎发狂。我相信诸位知道自己作为骑士和贵族的义务,不会唆使他采取叛逆的暴力行径来危害君主的人身安全。” 这时街上传来了召集各处士兵的鼓声和号角声。 “我们都是勃艮第的臣属,”作为公爵王室总管的克雷维格说道,“我们也只好履行我们臣属的责任。不过,我们衷心祝愿,并将努力促成陛下和我们君主之间的和解与团结。在这以前我们还得服从命令。另外几个骑士和贵族将荣幸地为显赫的奥尔良公爵、勇敢的杜诺瓦和忠实的克劳福德大公的方便服务。而我将充当陛下的临时宫廷总管。我很遗憾,回想您在普莱西宫给了我那么殷勤的款待,而我现在却不得不以这副装束带您前往住所。您可以在公爵限定的六个名额内选择您的随从。” “那么,”国王环顾四周,思考了 Chapter 28 Uncertainty Then happy low, lie down; Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. SECOND PART OF KING HENRY IV. Forty men at arms, carrying alternately naked swords and blazing torches, served as the escort, or rather the guard, of King Louis, from the town hall of Peronne to the Castle; and as he entered within its darksome and gloomy strength, it seemed as if a voice screamed in his ear that warning which the Florentine has inscribed over the portal of the infernal regions, "Leave all hope behind." (The Florentine (1265-1321): Dante Alighieri, the greatest of Italian poets. The Divine Comedy, his chief work, describes his passage through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven; the inscription here referred to Dante places at the entrance of Hell.) At that moment, perhaps, some feeling of remorse might have crossed the King's mind, had he thought on the hundreds, nay, thousands whom, without cause, or on light suspicion, he had committed to the abysses of his dungeons, deprived of all hope of liberty, and loathing even the life to which they clung by animal instinct. The broad glare of the torches outfacing the pale moon, which was more obscured on this than on the former night, and the red smoky light which they dispersed around the ancient buildings, gave a darker shade to that huge donjon, called the Earl Herbert's Tower. It was the same that Louis had viewed with misgiving presentiment on the preceding evening, and of which he was now doomed to become an inhabitant, under the terror of what violence soever the wrathful temper of his overgrown vassal might tempt him to exercise in those secret recesses of despotism. To aggravate the King's painful feelings, he saw, as he crossed the courtyard, one or two bodies, over each of which had been hastily flung a military cloak. He was not long in discerning that they were corpses of slain Archers of the Scottish Guard, who having disputed, as the Count Crevecoeur informed him, the command given them to quit the post near the King's apartments, a brawl had ensued between them and the Duke's Walloon bodyguards, and before it could be composed by the officers on either side, several lives had been lost. "My trusty Scots!" said the King as he looked upon this melancholy spectacle; "had they brought only man to man, all Flanders, ay, and Burgundy to boot, had not furnished champions to mate you." "Yes, an it please your Majesty," said Balafre, who attended close behind the King, "Maistery mows the meadow (maist, a Scotch form of most. That is, there is strength in numbers) -- few men can fight more than two at once. -- I myself never care to meet three, unless it be in the way of special duty, when one must not stand to count heads." "Art thou there, old acquaintance," said the King, looking behind him; "then I have one true subject with me yet." "And a faithful minister, whether in your councils, or in his offices about your royal person," whispered Oliver le Dain. "We are all faithful," said Tristan l'Hermite gruffly; "for should they put to death your Majesty, there is not one of us whom they would suffer to survive you, even if we would." "Now, that is what I call good corporal bail for fidelity," said Le Glorieux, who, as already mentioned, with the restlessness proper to an infirm brain, had thrust himself into their company. Meanwhile the Seneschal, hastily summoned, was turning with laborious effort the ponderous key which opened the reluctant gate of the huge Gothic Keep, and was at last fain to call for the assistance of one of Crevecoeur's attendants. When they had succeeded, six men entered with torches, and showed the way through a narrow and winding passage, commanded at different points by shot holes from vaults and casements constructed behind, and in the thickness of the massive walls. At the end of this passage arose a stair of corresponding rudeness, consisting of huge blocks of stone, roughly dressed with the hammer, and of unequal height. Having mounted this ascent, a strong iron clenched door admitted them to what had been the great hall of the donjon, lighted but very faintly even during the daytime (for the apertures, diminished, in appearance by the excessive thickness of the walls, resembled slits rather than windows), and now but for the blaze of the torches, almost perfectly dark. Two or three bats, and other birds of evil presage, roused by the unusual glare, flew against the lights, and threatened to extinguish them; while the Seneschal formally apologized to the King that the State Hall had not been put in order, such was the hurry of the notice sent to him, adding that, in truth, the apartment had not been in use for twenty years, and rarely before that time, so far as ever he had heard, since the time of King Charles the Simple. "King Charles the Simple!" echoed Louis; "I know the history of the Tower now. -- He was here murdered by his treacherous vassal, Herbert, Earl of Vermandois. -- So say our annals. I knew there was something concerning the Castle of Peronne which dwelt on my mind, though I could not recall the circumstance. -- Here, then, my predecessor was slain!" "Not here, not exactly here, and please your Majesty," said the old Seneschal, stepping with the eager haste of a cicerone who shows the curiosities of such a place. "Not here, but in the side chamber a little onward, which opens from your Majesty's bedchamber." He hastily opened a wicket at the upper end of the hall, which led into a bedchamber, small, as is usual in those old buildings; but, even for that reason, rather more comfortable than the waste hall through which they had passed. Some hasty preparations had been here made for the King's accommodation. Arras had been tacked up, a fire lighted in the rusty grate, which had been long unused, and a pallet laid down for those gentlemen who were to pass the night in his chamber, as was then usual. "We will get beds in the hall for the rest of your attendants," said the garrulous old man; "but we have had such brief notice, if it please your Majesty. -- And if it please your Majesty to look upon this little wicket behind the arras, it opens into the little old cabinet in the thickness of the wall where Charles was slain; and there is a secret passage from below, which admitted the men who were to deal with him. And your Majesty, whose eyesight I hope is better than mine, may see the blood still on the oak floor, though the thing was done five hundred years ago." While he thus spoke, he kept fumbling to open the postern of which he spoke, until the King said, "Forbear, old man -- forbear but a little while, when thou mayst have a newer tale to tell, and fresher blood to show. -- My Lord of Crevecoeur, what say you?" "I can but answer, Sire, that these two interior apartments are as much at your Majesty's disposal as those in your own Castle at Plessis, and that Crevecoeur, a name never blackened by treachery or assassination, has the guard of the exterior defences of it." "But the private passage into that closet, of which the old man speaks?" This King Louis said in a low and anxious tone, holding Crevecoeur's arm fast with one hand, and pointing to the wicket door with the other. "It must be some dream of Mornay's," said Crevecoeur, "or some old and absurd tradition of the place; but we will examine." He was about to open the closet door, when Louis answered, "No, Crevecoeur, no. -- Your honour is sufficient warrant. -- But what will your Duke do with me, Crevecoeur? He cannot hope to keep me long a prisoner; and -- in short, give me your opinion, Crevecoeur." "My Lord, and Sire," said the Count, "how the Duke of Burgundy must resent this horrible cruelty on the person of his near relative and ally, is for your Majesty to judge; and what right he may have to consider it as instigated by your Majesty's emissaries, you only can know. But my master is noble in his disposition, and made incapable, even by the very strength of his passions, of any underhand practices. Whatever he does, will be done in the face of day, and of the two nations. And I can but add, that it will be the wish of every counsellor around him -- excepting perhaps one -- that he should behave in this matter with mildness and generosity, as well as justice." "Ah! Crevecoeur," said Louis, taking his hand as if affected by some painful recollections, "how happy is the Prince who has counsellors near him, who can guard him against the effects of his own angry passions! Their names will be read in golden letters, when the history of his reign is perused. -- Noble Crevecoeur, had it been my lot to have such as thou art about my person!" "It had in that case been your Majesty's study to have got rid of them as fast as you could," said Le Glorieux. "Aha! Sir Wisdom, art thou there?" said Louis, turning round, and instantly changing the pathetic tone in which he had addressed Crevecoeur, and adopting with facility one which had a turn of gaiety in it. -- "Hast thou followed us hither?" "Ay, Sir," answered Le Glorieux, "Wisdom must follow, in motley, where Folly leads the way in purple." "How shall I construe that, Sir Solomon?" answered Louis. "Wouldst thou change conditions with me?" "Not I, by my halidome," quoth Le Glorieux, "if you would give me fifty crowns to boot." "Why, wherefore so? -- Methinks I could be well enough contented, as princes go, to have thee for my king." "Ay, Sire," replied Le Glorieux, "but the question is, whether, judging of your Majesty's wit from its having lodged you here, I should not have cause to be ashamed of having so dull a fool." "Peace, sirrah!" said the Count of Crevecoeur, "your tongue runs too fast." "Let it take its course," said the King, "I know of no such fair subject of raillery as the follies of those who should know better. -- Here, my sagacious friend, take this purse of gold, and with it the advice never to be so great a fool as to deem yourself wiser than other people. Prithee, do me so much favour as to inquire after my astrologer, Martius Galeotti, and send him hither to me presently." "I will, without fail, my Liege," answered the jester; "and I wot well I shall find him at Jan Dopplethur's, for philosophers, as well as fools, know where the best wine is sold." "Let me pray for free entrance for this learned person through your guards, Seignior de Crevecoeur," said Louis. "For his entrance, unquestionably," answered the Count; "but it grieves me to add that my instructions do not authorize me to permit any one to quit your Majesty's apartments. -- I wish your Majesty a goodnight," he subjoined, "and will presently make such arrangements in the outer hall, as may put the gentlemen who are to inhabit it more at their ease." "Give yourself no trouble for them, Sir Count," replied the King, "they are men accustomed to set hardships at defiance; and, to speak truth, excepting that I wish to see Galeotti, I would desire as little farther communication from without this night as may be consistent with your instructions." "These are, to leave your Majesty," replied Crevecoeur, "undisputed possession of your own apartments. Such are my master's orders." "Your Master, Count," answered Louis, "whom I may also term mine, is a right gracious master. -- My dominions," he added, "are somewhat shrunk in compass, now that they have dwindled to an old hall and a bedchamber, but they are still wide enough for all the subjects which I can at present boast of." The Count of Crevecoeur took his leave, and shortly after, they could hear the noise of the sentinels moving to their posts, accompanied with the word of command from the officers, and the hasty tread of the guards who were relieved. At length all became still, and the only sound which filled the air was the sluggish murmur of the river Somme, as it glided, deep and muddy, under the walls of the castle. "Go into the hall, my mates," said Louis to his train; "but do not lie down to sleep. Hold yourselves in readiness, for there is still something to be done tonight, and that of moment." Oliver and Tristan retired to the hall, accordingly, in which Le Balafre and the two officers had remained, when the others entered the bedchamber. They found that those without had thrown fagots enough upon the fire to serve the purpose of light and heat at the same time, and, wrapping themselves in their cloaks, had sat down on the floor, in postures which variously expressed the discomposure and dejection of their minds. Oliver and Tristan saw nothing better to be done than to follow their example and, never very good friends in the days of their court prosperity, they were both equally reluctant to repose confidence in each other upon this strange and sudden reverse of fortune. So the whole party sat in silent dejection. Meanwhile their master underwent, in the retirement of his secret chamber, agonies that might have atoned for some of those which had been imposed by his command. He paced the room with short and unequal steps, often stood still and clasped his hands together, and gave loose, in short, to agitation, which in public he had found himself able to suppress so successfully. At length, pausing and wringing his hands, he planted himself opposite to the wicket door, which had been pointed out by old Mornay as leading to the scene of the murder of one of his predecessors, and gradually gave voice to his feelings in a broken soliloquy. "Charles the Simple -- Charles the Simple! -- what will posterity call the Eleventh Louis, whose blood will probably soon refresh the stains of thine! Louis the Fool -- Louis the Driveller -- Louis the Infatuated -- are all terms too slight to mark the extremity of my idiocy! To think these hot headed Liegeois, to whom rebellion is as natural as their food, would remain quiet -- to dream that the Wild Beast of Ardennes would for a moment be interrupted in his career of force and bloodthirsty brutality -- to suppose that I could use reason and arguments to any good purpose with Charles of Burgundy, until I had tried the force of such exhortations with success upon a wild bull. Fool, and double idiot that I was! But the villain Martius shall not escape. -- He has been at the bottom of this, he and the vile priest, the detestable Balue. If I ever get out of this danger, I will tear from his head the Cardinal's cap, though I pull the scalp along with it! But the other traitor is in my hands -- I am yet King enough -- have yet an empire roomy enough -- for the punishment of the quack salving, word mongering, star gazing, lie coining impostor, who has at once made a prisoner and a dupe of me! -- The conjunction of the constellations -- ay, the conjunction. -- He must talk nonsense which would scarce gull a thrice sodden sheep's head, and I must be idiot enough to think I understand him! But we shall see presently what the conjunction hath really boded. But first let me to my devotions." (Louis kept his promise of vengeance against Cardinal La Balue, whom he always blamed as having betrayed him to Burgundy. After he had returned to his own kingdom, he caused his late favourite to be immured in one of the iron cages at Loches. These were constructed with horrible ingenuity, so that a person of ordinary size could neither stand up at his full height, nor lie lengthwise in them. Some ascribe this horrid device to Balue himself. At any rate, he was confined in one of these dens for eleven years, nor did Louis permit him to be liberated till his last illness. S.) Above the little door, in memory perhaps of the deed which had been done within, was a rude niche, containing a crucifix cut in stone. Upon this emblem the King fixed his eyes, as if about to kneel, but stopped short, as if he applied to the blessed image the principles of worldly policy, and deemed it rash to approach its presence without having secured the private intercession of some supposed favourite. He therefore turned from the crucifix as unworthy to look upon it, and selecting from the images with which, as often mentioned, his hat was completely garnished, a representation of the Lady of Clery, knelt down before it, and made the following extraordinary prayer; in which, it is to be observed, the grossness of his superstition induced him, in some degree, to consider the Virgin of Clery as a different person from the Madonna of Embrun, a favourite idol, to whom he often paid his vows. "Sweet Lady of Clery," he exclaimed, clasping his hands and beating his breast while he spoke, "blessed Mother of Mercy! thou who art omnipotent with Omnipotence, have compassion with me, a sinner! It is true, that I have something neglected thee for thy blessed sister of Embrun; but I am a King, my power is great, my wealth boundless; and, were it otherwise, I would double the gabelle on my subjects, rather than not pay my debts to you both. Undo these iron doors -- fill up these tremendous moats -- lead me, as a mother leads a child, out of this present and pressing danger! If I have given thy sister the county of Boulogne, to be held of her for ever, have I no means of showing devotion to thee also? Thou shalt have the broad and rich province of Champagne, and its vineyards shall pour their abundance into thy convent. I had promised the province to my brother Charles; but he, thou knowest, is dead -- poisoned by that wicked Abbe of Saint John d'Angely, whom, if I live, I will punish! -- I promised this once before, but this time I will keep my word. -- If I had any knowledge of the crime, believe, dearest patroness, it was because I knew no better method of quieting the discontents of my kingdom. Oh, do not reckon that old debt to my account today; but be, as thou hast ever been, kind, benignant, and easy to be entreated! Sweetest Lady, work with thy child, that he will pardon all past sins, and one -- one little deed which I must do this night -- nay, it is no sin, dearest Lady of Clery -- no sin, but an act of justice privately administered, for the villain is the greatest impostor that ever poured falsehood into a Prince's ear, and leans besides to the filthy heresy of the Greeks. He is not deserving of thy protection, leave him to my care; and hold it as good service that I rid the world of him, for the man is a necromancer and wizard, that is not worth thy thought and care -- a dog, the extinction of whose life ought to be of as little consequence in thine eyes as the treading out a spark that drops from a lamp, or springs from a fire. Think not of this little matter, gentlest, kindest Lady, but only consider how thou canst best aid me in my troubles! and I here, bind my royal signet to thy effigy, in token that I will keep word concerning the county of Champagne, and that this shall be the last time I will trouble thee in affairs of blood, knowing thou art so kind, so gentle, and so tender hearted." (As overheard and reported by the court jester this historic prayer reads as follows: "Ah, my good Lady, my gentle mistress, my only friend, in whom alone I have resource, I pray you to supplicate God in my behalf, and to be my advocate with him that he may pardon me the death of my brother whom I caused to be poisoned by that wicked Abbot of Saint John. I confess my guilt to thee as to my good patroness and mistress. But then what could I do? he was perpetually causing disorder in my kingdom. Cause me then to be pardoned, my good Lady, and I know what a reward I will give thee.") After this extraordinary contract with the object of his adoration, Louis recited, apparently with deep devotion, the seven penitential psalms (the 6th, 32d, 38th, 51st, 102d, 130th, and 143d, so called from their penitential character) in Latin, and several aves and prayers especially belonging to the service of the Virgin. He then arose, satisfied that he had secured the intercession of the Saint to whom he had prayed, the rather, as he craftily reflected, that most of the sins for which he had requested her mediation on former occasions had been of a different character, and that, therefore, the Lady of Clery was less likely to consider him as a hardened and habitual shedder of blood than the other saints whom he had more frequently made confidants of his crimes in that respect. When he had thus cleared his conscience, or rather whited it over like a sepulchre, the King thrust his head out at the door of the hall, and summoned Le Balafre into his apartment. "My good soldier," he said, "thou hast served me long, and hast had little promotion. We are here in a case where I may either live or die; but I would not willingly die an ungrateful man, or leave, so far as the Saints may place it in my power, either a friend or an enemy unrecompensed. Now I have a friend to be rewarded, that is thyself -- an enemy to be punished according to his deserts, and that is the base, treacherous villain; Martius Galeotti, who, by his impostures and specious falsehoods, has trained me hither into the power of my mortal enemy, with as firm a purpose of my destruction as ever butcher had of slaying the beast which he drove to the shambles." "I will challenge him on that quarrel, since they say he is a fighting blade, though he looks somewhat unwieldy," said Le Balafre. "I doubt not but the Duke of Burgundy is so much a friend to men of the sword that he will allow us a fair field within some reasonable space, and if your Majesty live so long, and enjoy so much freedom, you shall behold me do battle in your right, and take as proper a vengeance on this philosopher as your heart could desire." "I commend your bravery and your devotion to my service," said the King. "But this treacherous villain is a stout man at arms, and I would not willingly risk thy life, my brave soldier." "I were no brave soldier, if it please your Majesty," said Balafre, "if I dared not face a better man than he. A fine thing it would be for me, who can neither read nor write, to be afraid of a fat lurdane, who has done little else all his Life!" "Nevertheless," said the King, "it is not our pleasure so to put thee in venture, Balafre. This traitor comes hither, summoned by our command. We would have thee, so soon as thou canst find occasion, close up with him, and smite him under the fifth rib. -- Dost thou understand me?" "Truly I do," answered Le Balafre, "but, if it please your Majesty, this is a matter entirely out of my course of practice. I could not kill you a dog unless it were in hot assault, or pursuit, or upon defiance given, or such like." "Why, sure, thou dost not pretend to tenderness of heart," said the King; "thou who hast been first in storm and siege, and most eager, as men tell me, on the pleasures and advantages which are gained on such occasions by the rough heart and the bloody hand?" "My lord," answered Le Balafre, "I have neither feared nor spared your enemies, sword in hand. And an assault is a desperate matter, under risks which raise a man's blood so that, by Saint Andrew, it will not settle for an hour or two -- which I call a fair license for plundering after a storm. And God pity us poor soldiers, who are first driven mad with danger, and then madder with victory. I have heard of a legion consisting entirely of saints; and methinks it would take them all to pray and intercede for the rest of the army, and for all who wear plumes and corselets, buff coats and broadswords. But what your Majesty purposes is out of my course of practice, though I will never deny that it has been wide enough. As for the Astrologer, if he be a traitor, let him e'en die a traitor's death -- I will neither meddle nor make with it. Your Majesty has your Provost and two of his Marshals men without, who are more fit for dealing with him than a Scottish gentleman of my family and standing in the service." "You say well," said the King; "but, at least, it belongs to thy duty to prevent interruption, and to guard the execution of my most just sentence." "I will do so against all Peronne," said Le Balafre. "Your Majesty need not doubt my fealty in that which I can reconcile to my conscience, which, for mine own convenience and the service of your royal Majesty, I can vouch to be a pretty large one -- at least, I know I have done some deeds for your Majesty, which I would rather have eaten a handful of my own dagger than I would have done for any one else." "Let that rest," said the King, "and hear you -- when Galeotti is admitted, and the door shut on him, do you stand to your weapon, and guard the entrance on the inside of the apartment. Let no one intrude -- that is all I require of you. Go hence, and send the Provost Marshal to me." Balafre left the apartment accordingly, and in a minute afterwards Tristan l'Hermite entered from the hall. "Welcome, gossip," said the King; "what thinkest thou of our situation?" "As of men sentenced to death," said the Provost Marshal, "unless there come a reprieve from the Duke."' "Reprieved or not, he that decoyed us into this snare shalt go our fourrier to the next world, to take up lodgings for us," said the King, with a grisly and ferocious smile. "Tristan, thou hast done many an act of brave justice -- finis -- I should have said funis coronat opus (the end -- I should have said the rope -- crowns the work) -- thou must stand by me to the end." "I will, my Liege," said Tristan, "I am but a plain fellow, but I am grateful. I will do my duty within these walls, or elsewhere; and while I live, your Majesty's breath shall pour as potential a note of condemnation, and your sentence be as literally executed, as when you sat on your own throne. They may deal with me the next hour for it if they will -- I care not." "It is even what I expected of thee, my loving gossip," said Louis; "but hast thou good assistance? -- The traitor is strong and able bodied, and will doubtless be clamorous for aid. The Scot will do naught but keep the door, and well that he can be brought to that by flattery and humouring. Then Oliver is good for nothing but lying, flattering, and suggesting dangerous counsels; and, Ventre Saint Dieu! I think is more like one day to deserve the halter himself than to use it to another. Have you men, think you, and means, to make sharp and sure work?" "I have Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre with me," said he, "men so expert in their office that, out of three men, they would hang up one ere his two companions were aware. And we have all resolved to live or die with your Majesty, knowing we shall have as short breath to draw when you are gone, as ever fell to the lot of any of our patients. -- But what is to be our present subject, an it please your Majesty? I love to be sure of my man; for, as your Majesty is pleased sometimes to remind me, I have now and then mistaken the criminal, and strung up in his place an honest labourer, who had given your Majesty no offence." "Most true," said the other. "Know then, Tristan, that the condemned person is Martius Galeotti. -- You start, but it is even as I say. The villain hath trained us all hither by false and treacherous representations, that he might put us into the hands of the Duke of Burgundy without defence." "But not without vengeance!" said Tristan, "were it the last act of my life, I would sting him home like an expiring wasp, should I be crushed to pieces on the next instant!" "I know thy trusty spirit," said the King, "and the pleasure which, like other good men, thou dost find in the discharge of thy duty, since virtue, as the schoolmen say, is its own reward. But away and prepare the priests, for the victim approaches." "Would you have it done in your own presence, my gracious Liege?" said Tristan. Louis declined this offer; but charged the Provost Marshal to have everything ready for the punctual execution of his commands the moment the Astrologer left his apartment. "For," said the King, "I will see the villain once more, just to observe how he bears himself towards the master whom he has led into the toils. I shall love to see the sense of approaching death strike the colour from that ruddy cheek, and dim that eye which laughed as it lied. -- Oh, that there were but another with him, whose counsels aided his prognostications! But if I survive this -- look to your scarlet, my Lord Cardinal! for Rome shall scarce protect you -- be it spoken under favour of Saint Peter and the blessed Lady of Clery, who is all over mercy. -- Why do you tarry? Go get your rooms ready. I expect the villain instantly. I pray to Heaven he take not fear and come not! -- that were indeed a balk. -- Begone, Tristan -- thou wert not wont to be so slow when business was to be done." "On the contrary, an it like your Majesty, you were ever wont to say that I was too fast, and mistook your purpose, and did the job on the wrong subject. Now, please your Majesty to give me a sign, just when you part with Galeotti for the night, whether the business goes on or no. I have known your Majesty once or twice change your mind, and blame me for over dispatch." (The Provost Marshal was often so precipitate in execution as to slay another person instead of him whom the King had indicated. This always occasioned a double execution, for the wrath or revenge of Louis was never satisfied with a vicarious punishment. S.) "Thou suspicious creature," answered King Louis, "I tell thee I will not change my mind -- but to silence thy remonstrances, observe, if I say to the knave at parting, 'There is a Heaven above us!' then let the business go on; but if I say 'Go in peace,' you will understand that my purpose is altered." "My head is somewhat of the dullest out of my own department," said Tristan l'Hermite. "Stay, let me rehearse. -- If you bid him depart in peace, I am to have him dealt upon?" "No, no -- idiot, no," said the King, "in that case, you let him pass free. But if I say, 'There is a heaven above us,' up with him a yard or two nearer the planets he is so conversant with." "I wish we may have the means here," said the Provost. "Then up with him, or down with him, it matters not which," answered the King, grimly smiling. "And the body," said the Provost, "how shall we dispose of it?" "Let me see an instant," said the King -- "the windows of the hall are too narrow; but that projecting oriel is wide enough. We will over with him into the Somme, and put a paper on his breast, with the legend, 'Let the justice of the King pass toll free.' The Duke's officers may seize it for duties if they dare." The Provost Marshal left the apartment of Louis, and summoned his two assistants to council in an embrasure in the great hall, where Trois Eschelles stuck a torch against the wall to give them light. They discoursed in whispers, little noticed by Oliver le Dain, who seemed sunk in dejection, and Le Balafre, who was fast asleep. "Comrades," said the Provost to his executioners, "perhaps you have thought that our vocation was over, or that, at least, we were more likely to be the subjects of the duty of others than to have any more to discharge on our own parts. But courage, my mates! Our gracious master has reserved for us one noble cast of our office, and it must be gallantly executed, as by men who would live in history." "Ay, I guess how it is," said Trois Eschelles; "our patron is like the old Kaisers of Rome, who, when things came to an extremity, or, as we would say, to the ladder foot with them, were wont to select from their own ministers of justice some experienced person, who might spare their sacred persons from the awkward attempts of a novice, or blunderer in our mystery. It was a pretty custom for Ethnics; but, as a good Catholic, I should make some scruple at laying hands on the Most Christian King." "Nay, but, brother, you are ever too scrupulous," said Petit Andre. "If he issues word and warrant for his own execution, I see not how we can in duty dispute it. He that dwells at Rome must obey the Pope -- the Marshalsmen, must do their master's bidding, and he the King's." "Hush, you knaves!" said the Provost Marshal, "there is here no purpose concerning the King's person, but only that of the Greek heretic pagan and Mahomedan wizard, Martius Galeotti." "Galeotti!" answered Petit-Andre, "that comes quite natural. I never knew one of these legerdemain fellows, who pass their lives, as one may say, in dancing upon a tight rope, but what they came at length to caper at the end of one -- tchick." "My only concern is," said Trois Eschelles, looking upwards, "that the poor creature must die without confession." "Tush! tush!" said the Provost Marshal, in reply, "he is a rank heretic and necromancer -- a whole college of priests could not absolve him from the doom he has deserved. Besides, if he hath a fancy that way, thou hast a gift, Trois Eschelles, to serve him for ghostly father thyself. But, what is more material, I fear you most use your poniards, my mates; for you have not here the fitting conveniences for the exercise of your profession." "Now our Lady of the Isle of Paris forbid," said Trois Eschelles, "that the King's command should find me destitute of my tools! I always wear around my body Saint Francis's cord, doubled four times, with a handsome loop at the farther end of it; for I am of the company of Saint Francis, and may wear his cowl when I am in extremis (at the point of death) -- I thank God and the good fathers of Saumur." "And for me," said Petit Andre, "I have always in my budget a handy block and sheaf, or a pulley as they call it, with a strong screw for securing it where I list, in case we should travel where trees are scarce, or high branched from the ground. I have found it a great convenience." "That will suit us well," said the Provost Marshal. "You have but to screw your pulley into yonder beam above the door, and pass the rope over it. I will keep the fellow in some conversation near the spot until you adjust the noose under his chin, and then --" "And then we run up the rope," said Petit Andre, "and, tchick, our Astrologer is so far in Heaven that he hath not a foot on earth." "But these gentlemen," said Trois Eschelles, looking towards the chimney, "do not these help, and so take a handsel of our vocation?" "Hem! no," answered the Provost, "the barber only contrives mischief, which he leaves other men to execute; and for the Scot, he keeps the door when the deed is a-doing, which he hath not spirit or quickness sufficient to partake in more actively -- every one to his trade." (The author has endeavoured to give to the odious Tristan l'Hermite a species of dogged and brutal fidelity to Louis, similar to the attachment of a bulldog to his master. With all the atrocity of his execrable character, he was certainly a man of courage, and was in his youth made knight in the breach of Fronsac, with a great number of other young nobles, by the honour giving hand of the elder Dunois, the celebrated hero of Charles the Fifth's reign. S.) With infinite dexterity, and even a sort of professional delight which sweetened the sense of their own precarious situation, the worthy executioners of the Provost's mandates adapted their rope and pulley for putting in force the sentence which had been uttered against Galeotti by the captive Monarch -- seeming to rejoice that that last action was to be one so consistent with their past lives. Tristan l'Hermite sat eyeing their proceedings with a species of satisfaction; while Oliver paid no attention to them whatever; and Ludovic Lesly, if, awaked by the bustle, he looked upon them at all, considered them as engaged in matters entirely unconnected with his own duty, and for which he was not to be regarded as responsible in one way or other. 国王静静地躺着,忧心如焚。 《亨利四世》第二部分 四十名武士分别手执刀剑和熊熊的火炬护送着或更恰当地说是押送着路易王从佩隆市政厅来到城堡。当他一走进城堡阴暗的氛围中,耳朵里就仿佛听见一下尖细的声音,传来了弗洛伦廷在地狱的大门上写过的一句话:“扔下你的一切希望!” 假若路易王此刻想到,曾有成千上万的人仅因为轻微的嫌疑(有的甚至完全无辜),不幸被他投入深渊般的地牢,失去恢复自由的希望,甚至憎恶仅由于动物本能才不肯舍弃的生命,也许他心头会掠过某种内疚的感觉。 火炬耀眼的光辉使得那苍白的月亮不敢露面,所以今晚月色比昨夜的显得更为朦胧。火炬在古老的建筑物周围散布的烟雾和弥漫的红光使得那称之为“赫伯特伯爵高塔”的巨大主楼比其余的建筑笼罩着更浓的阴影。这正是前晚路易带着不安的预感注视过的那个塔楼。而如今他已注定要成为这个塔楼的居民,任随他那性格暴戾、势力强大的藩属在这专横统治的秘密巢穴中对他施加一切可能的暴力威胁。 仿佛是为了加深路易王的这种痛苦感觉,当他走过庭院时,看见几具尸首,上面草草地盖着军大衣。很快他就认出这是被杀害的苏格兰卫士的尸体。克雷维格伯爵告诉他,由于卫士们对撤掉国王卧室附近岗哨的命令表示不服,他们和公爵的瓦龙卫队发生了争执,而双方官员还没有来得及调解,已经有好几个人丧命。 “我忠实的苏格兰卫士!”国王望着这令人痛心的场面忧伤地说道,“要是你们能单个地拼打,整个弗兰德加上勃艮第也找不出人做你们的对手。” “说得对,”紧跟着国王的巴拉弗雷说道,“我还想告诉陛下,刈草靠技术,杀人凭功夫——很少有人能同时对付两三个人。除非我在执行特殊任务,顾不得站在一边点好人数再打,否则我也不介意同时对付三个。” “是你在后面吗,老相识?”国王口过头来说道,“这么说,我还有一个忠实的部下跟着我。” “还有一个给您出主意,照顾您御体的忠实的臣子。”奥利弗•丹轻声说道。 “我们大家都很忠实,”特里斯顿•勒尔米特粗声粗气地说道,“因为,要是他们杀害了陛下,即使我们有谁想活,他们也不会让我们活下来。” “嘿,这正是我所说的为保证效忠君王进行人身连环保的好办法。”勒格洛里尔说道。正如上面提到过的,由于他那不坚定的头脑所特有的好动性格,他早已跨身于他们的行列。 这时,在匆忙之中,叫来的城堡管事正在使劲地扭动着一把沉重的钥匙,想打开那巨大的哥特式主塔里那扇难开的大门。最后他只得求助于克雷维格的一名随从。他们两人终于把大门打开,六个人擎着火炬走了进去,带着他们穿过一个窄狭而曲折的通道。这一通道受到后面的地下室和窗扉内以及厚厚的墙壁内设立的射击孔的严密控制。通道的末端是一个粗糙的石阶,它是由粗劈出来的巨大石块堆砌而成的。登上石阶之后,通过一道坚实的铁锁大门,进入了城堡的主塔大厅。这里,即使白天光线也很暗淡,因为墙壁太厚,窗孔看来很小——与其说是窗子,不如说更像缝隙。而此刻,要不是火炬的照耀,几乎一片漆黑。一两只蝙蝠和另外的不祥之鸟被这异常的亮光惊醒之后,都扑了过来,大有扑灭火炬之势。城堡总管拘谨地向国王道歉说,由于通知他过于匆忙,他还没来得及整理好国务大厅。他又补充说,那个大厅实际上已经有二十年没用过了。据他所知,打从“单纯的查尔斯”死后也很少用过。 “单纯的查尔斯!”路易应和着说道,“现在我知道这个塔楼的历史了。根据编年史的记载,他就是在这儿遭到奸臣维尔曼伯爵赫伯特谋害的。我原先就明白这佩隆城堡有点什么东西老在我心里嘀咕,但我总想不起这个情况——这么说来,我的老前辈就是在这儿被杀害的?” “不是这儿,不完全是这儿。我可以告诉陛下,”年老的总管带着领客人参观名胜古迹的导游者常见的急切心情慌忙说道,“不是这儿,而是稍往上去的一间侧室。陛下的卧室正好与它相通。” 他赶紧打开大厅上端那道通向卧室的边门,这间卧室也和古老建筑物里的其他房间一样,面积很小,但正因为如此,要比他们刚走过的空荡荡的大厅舒适得多。为了准备给国王居住,房间已经过一番匆忙的布置。墙上挂着挂毯,在久已不用的生锈的壁炉里生好了一炉火。地上铺着草席,好让按当时的惯例得在国王卧室里过夜的绅士们有个睡处。 “我们会给您其他的随从在大厅里铺设床位,”那爱唠叨的老年人说道,“请陛下原谅,我们刚接到通知不久——假如陛下高兴的话,请看这挂毯后面有道边门,通向墙壁里面开出的一个年代久远的密室。这就是查尔斯遇害的地方。底下有个秘密的通道,杀害他的凶手就是沿着通道走进去的。陛下目光想必比我的敏锐,您可以看到橡木地板上的血迹,尽管这已经是五百年前的事了。” 他边说边摸索着去打开他提到的那道后门。国王阻止他说:“老年人,等一等——等不多久你就可以找到新的谈话材料,也会发现墙上有新溅的鲜血,可以指点给别人看了。克雷维格伯爵,你有什么要说的?” “陛下,我只能回答说,您满可以像在自己的普莱西宫一样自由使用里面的两个房间,而我将守护在外面。您放心,我克雷维格还从没有让阴谋暗害这种罪行玷污过自己的名声。” “不过,那老人刚提到过的通往密室的暗道呢?”路易王一只手紧握着克雷维格的胳膊,另一只手指着旁门,焦急地低声问道。 “这一定是摩尔纳说的梦话,”克雷维格说道,“要不就是这个地方的一个古老而荒诞的传说——就让我们去亲眼瞧瞧吧。” 看到他要打开密室的门,路易阻止他说:“不用了,克雷维格,以你的荣誉作保证就够了。不过,克雷维格,公爵究竟打算怎样对待我呢?他总不能指望长时期地囚禁我吧?况且——总之,我想请你谈谈你的看法。” “我的陛下,”伯爵说道,“勃艮第公爵对他的近亲和盟友惨遭杀害所感到的愤怒,陛下自己完全可以判断。至于他能根据什么理由认为这事是您的特使煽动的结果,那也只有您自己知道。不过,我主人品格高尚,而且,正因为他感情强烈,所以根本不可能干出任何见不得人的勾当。不管他怎么做,总是会当着两国人民的面做得光明正大。我只能补充说,他周围的每个谋臣——也许只有一个例外——都希望他在这个事件上表现得宽宏大量,有节制,合乎正义。” “唉!克雷维格,”路易握着他的手说道,似乎有某种痛苦的回忆使他深受感动,“一个君王能得到他周围的谋士们帮助,避免愤怒带来的后果,这该有多么的幸福!后人读到他这个朝代的历史时,肯定会用金字把这些谋士们的名字大书特书。高贵的克雷维格,但愿我有幸能有你这样的人在我周围做我的幕僚!” “要是果真如此,陛下又会想方设法尽快把他们除掉。”勒格洛里尔说道。 “唉!智慧先生,是你在这儿吗?”路易转过身来对他说道。他马上改变了他刚才对克雷维格讲话时的感伤语调,而很自然地转换成带有欣喜味道的腔调。“你也跟我们到这儿来了吗?” “是的,先生,”勒格洛里尔回答道,“穿紫袍的愚人前面引路,穿杂色衣的智者后面跟随。” “所罗门先生,我该如何理解你的话呢?”路易回答道,“你愿意和我交换地位吗?” “即使你倒贴给我五十克朗,我也决不愿意。”勒格洛里尔说道。 “那是什么道理呢?我知道一般的君王是个什么样子,所以,要是能有你这样一个人做我的国王,我已经十分满意。” “陛下,您说得真好,”勒格洛里尔说道,“不过,问题是陛下竟聪明到了使自己陷入囹圄的地步,那么我得考虑,要是我真有您这么一个愚蠢的弄臣,我是否该为此感到害羞。” “奴才闭嘴!”克雷维格伯爵说道,“你的舌头太放肆了。” “让他去吧,”国王说道,“我知道,不该干出蠢事的人干出了蠢事,是最叫人嘲笑的。喂,聪明的朋友,我给你一袋子金币,同时还给你这么一个劝告:永远不要自认为比别人更聪明,这样会使自己成为一个可悲的大傻瓜。求你帮我个忙打听一下我的占星术家马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提在什么地方,叫他马上到我这儿来。” “陛下,我一定照办。”那弄臣回答道,“我有把握在简•多波特尔那里找到他,因为哲学家也和傻瓜一样知道什么地方出售名酒。” “克雷维格伯爵,我求你关照你的看守人员,准许这位学者到我这里来。”路易说道。 “这没问题,”伯爵回答说,“不过,我不得不遗憾地作一个补充:我接到的命令不准许我让任何人离开陛下的卧室——我祝陛下晚安,”他接着又说,“我将在外面的大厅里作出安排,好让该在那里住宿的绅士们睡得更舒服一点。” “伯爵先生,别为他们费神了,”国王回答说,“他们都是惯于藐视艰苦生活的男子汉。而且说实话,除开想见见伽利奥提以外,我也想按你接到的指示办,今晚尽可能不再和外面接触。” “我接到的指示是,”克雷维格回答说,“陛下在卧室内享有完全的自由。这是我主人指示的原话。” “克雷维格,你的主人——可能也称得上我的主人——是个贤明的君主。如今我的领域只剩下一个古老的大厅和一个卧室,范围是缩小了一点。不过,对于我目前还拥有的臣民来说,我的版图仍然是很大的。” 克雷维格伯爵告辞离去。不久,里面的人就听到前来站岗的哨兵传来的嘈杂声,以及长官发出的口令声和下岗的卫兵匆匆离去的脚步声。最后,一切归于沉寂。夜空中剩下来的惟一声音就是那深沉浑浊的索姆河在城堡下面缓缓流过时发出的潺潺水声。 “你们去大厅休息吧,好伙计,”路易对随从说道,“不过,你们别躺下睡觉,得随时准备行动。今晚还有事要干,而且非常紧急。” 奥利弗和特里斯顿遵命回到大厅。他们看到巴拉弗雷和军法总监手下的两名军官在大厅里守卫。这三个人是在别人都进入国王卧室时留下来的。奥利弗和特里斯顿发现外面的三个人已经在火炉里添满了烧柴,以便能达到取暖和照明的双重目的。他们三人正裹着披风坐在地板上,以不同的姿势表现出他们内心的沮丧和不安。奥利弗和特里斯顿感到百无聊赖,也只得效法他们的榜样。他们在宫廷走运时并不十分友好,碰到命运这一奇异的突然转折,他们也同样不愿互相信赖,因此全都怀着沮丧的心情默默坐着。 他们的主人这时正在他那僻静的卧室里经历着一场痛苦的折磨。这也许能抵偿由于他的发号施令给别人造成的某些痛苦。他以急促不匀的步履在房里踱来踱去,经常停下来,把两只手握在一起。总之,他是在尽情流露他在公开场合曾经有效地抑制住的激动感情。最后他又停住,握握手,终于在那道旁门——也就是年老的摩尔纳说是通向他的前辈遇难现场的那道旁门——对面站了下来,用断断续续的独白尽情发泄他的感情。 “‘单纯的查尔斯!’——‘单纯的查尔斯!’——后人又将如何来称呼也许很快就会以鲜血来刷新你的血迹的路易十一呢?愚不可及的路易?胡说八道的路易?昏庸不堪的路易?我看这些称号都不足以形容我的极端痴愚!想想看,竟以为那些规叛乱为家常便饭的、头脑发热的列旧人会按兵不动!竟幻想‘阿登内斯野猪’会停歇他那血腥野蛮的暴行!竟以为我对勃艮第查尔斯施展说理和辩论的手段能取得成效!我真是个傻瓜,双料的傻瓜!不过,马蒂阿斯那坏东西也休想逃脱——是他搞鬼,是他和那可恶的巴卢主教一起搞的鬼。要是这次我能脱险,我将把他那红衣主教的帽子扯下来,哪怕是连他的头发一起扯下来!好在另外这个奸贼还没逃出我的手掌心。我还有足够的君权、足够的地盘来惩罚这个既把我变成了囚徒,又把我变成了傻瓜的骗子——这贩卖狗皮膏药,望星星,编造谎话的江湖骗子!星宿的际遇——好一个际遇——他尽说些连三岁小孩也骗不了的胡话,而我却硬要愚蠢地自以为懂得他的胡话!我们很快就会明白这个‘际遇’究竟是预兆个什么结局。不过,先还是让我做做祷告。” 也许是为了纪念秘室里发生的那件弑君案,小门上设有一个粗糙的神龛,里面装有一个石砌的十字。国王眼睛凝视着这个十字架,正要下跪,但忽然又停住,仿佛他打算把世俗政治的原则应用于圣像,将未经受宠爱的圣徒私下说情而直接向圣像求情看作是一种轻率的行为。因此他把目光从十字架上移开,仿佛自己没有注视它的资格。然后他从我们经常提到的那顶帽子周围装饰着的圣像当中挑出克列里圣母像,跪在它面前,作了一次不同寻常的祷告。从这祷告当中我们可以看出,他那粗鄙的迷信使得他在某种程度上把克列里圣母和他所宠爱的、经常许愿的昂布伦圣母看作是两个人。 “亲爱的克列里圣母,”他紧握双手,捶胸顿足地大声说道,“得福的仁慈圣母,万能的上帝使得你万能。请你可怜可怜我这罪人吧!我承认我因为偏爱你的妹妹昂布伦,而有点疏忽了你。不过,我是国王,我有很大的权力、无穷的财富。即便不是这样,我就是对我的臣民多征收一倍的盐税,也决不致赖掉对二位的欠债。求你打开铁门,填平可怕的护城河,像母亲领着幼儿一样领着我逃脱这迫在眉睫的危险吧!假如我把布洛涅县永远划归你的妹妹,难道我就不能对你也表表忠心?我要把那宽阔而富饶的香槟省划给你。香槟的葡萄园将把它们丰盛的葡萄奉献给你的寺院。我曾把这个省份许给我的兄弟查尔斯。但你知道,他已经不在人世了——他已被圣约翰•当热利寺院的歹毒住持毒死了。假如我能活着,我将惩罚他!——在此之前我已许过这个愿,但这回我会叫它兑现的。如果说在这个罪行上我曾与闻其事,亲爱的圣母呀,请相信,这是因为我没有别的好办法来平息国内的不满。啊,今天请你别和我算这笔旧账吧!请你像过去一贯表现的那样,对我仁慈宽厚,易于接受我的恳求吧!最亲爱的圣母呀,请你说服你的儿子,饶恕我过去的罪过以及——我今晚得干的一件小事吧!——最亲爱的克列里圣母,这不是什么罪过——不是罪过,而是私下干的一种正义行动,因为这个坏蛋是曾经向君主耳朵里灌过谎言的最大的骗子。此外他还热衷于丑恶的希腊异端邪说。他不值得你保护。把他交给我吧。请把我除掉他看作是给这世界办了一件好事,因为这家伙是个巫师,是个关亡术者,值不得你关心照顾——他这条狗,在你眼睛里,打死它应该像踩灭油灯掉下的火花或炉里冒出的火星那样无足轻重。最温柔、最仁慈的圣母呀,请别为这件小事介意,而只考虑如何最有效地帮助我摆脱困境吧!我谨把我的御印束在你的偶像上,以表示我将兑现我就香槟郡许的愿,并保证,鉴于你十分仁慈、温柔、善良,今后不再在带有血腥气味的事情上麻烦你了。” 在和他敬爱的神灵签订了这一特殊合同之后,路易貌似虔诚地念了七段忏悔用的拉丁文赞美诗,以及七段专用于圣母祷告的颂歌和祷文,然后站起来,对他获得了他所祈祷的这位圣母为他说情的许诺深感满意。特别是因为这位狡黠的老人自以为他过去求她说情的罪过大多数都属于不同的性质,因此克列里的圣母不致像他经常对之坦白凶杀罪行的其他圣徒那样,认为他是个估恶不俊、嗜血成性的杀人魔王。 路易工消除了良心的不安——或者更恰当地说,把良心当作坟墓粉刷之后——便把头伸出门去,把坐在大厅里的巴拉弗雷召进他的卧室。“我的好卫士,’他说道,“你长期为我服役,但没得到过提升。我目前的处境是生死未卜。但我不愿作为一个忘恩负义的人死去。只要圣徒降福,使我有这个权力,我也不愿在临死之际不给朋友报答,不给敌人惩罚。我有个朋友需要报答,这正是你自己。我也有个敌人需要给以罪有应得的惩罚,这就是那卑鄙、阴险的恶棍马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提。他通过他的欺骗和动听的谎言使我陷进了我的死敌的牢笼。其坚定不移的目的就是要像屠夫宰割他那赶往屠场的畜牲一样把我干掉。” “他胆敢如此,我非向他挑战不可。人们说他很会武艺,尽管看起来很笨拙。”巴拉弗雷说道,一我相信,勃艮第公爵既然十分赞赏尚武精神,他一定会给我们提供一个面积合适的空间作为公平比武的场地。只要陛下这次能长命百岁,重享自由,您会看到我为您挥戈上阵,对这个哲学家进行您所希望的报复。” “我很赞赏你的勇敢和你对我的忠诚,”国王说道,“但这个阴险的恶棍武艺高强。我不愿故意拿我一个勇敢的卫士的生命去进行冒险。” “陛下请原谅,”巴拉弗雷说道,“要是我不敢对付一个甚至比他还厉害的人,那我就算不上一个勇敢的卫士。像我这样一个既不能读也不能写的粗人竟惧怕一个一辈子只读读写写的懒鬼,那我就太不像话了。” “巴拉弗雷,”国王说道,“我不愿让你如此冒险。我已下令把这奸贼叫来。我想叫你一有机会便马上跃到他跟前,在第五根肋骨下面给他一个猛击——你懂得我的意思吗?” “当然,当然,”巴拉弗雷说道,“不过,陛下请原谅,这种事可完全超出了我平常的行动范围。我要给您杀条狗,也得看它是否在袭击或追赶陛下,或不听警告等等。” “想必你不是在假装慈悲吧!”国王说道,“要知道,你攻城掠地向来是一马当先的。并且,人们告诉我,你最热衷于依靠自己心狠手狠,趁这种机会多捞到一些快乐和好处哩!” “陛下,”巴拉弗雷对答说,“我从没惧怕过您那些手持武器的敌人,也没有饶过他们的命。进攻是一种拼命的玩意,所冒的危险能使人热血沸腾——圣安德鲁在上,简直一两个小时都还平静不下来。由于这个缘故,我认为攻陷城池之后抢劫一番倒也公平合理,未尝不可。求上帝怜悯我们这些可怜的丘八:我们先是被危险刺激得发狂、以后又被胜利刺激得更为发狂。我曾听说有个军团完全由圣徒组成。我想,那是因为得麻烦他们全都为戴羽毛、披甲胄、手持大刀的军人进行祷告,向上帝说情才能解决问题。陛下提出的事的确超出了我平常的行动范围,尽管我决不否认这个范围是十分宽阔的。至于那位占星术家,要是他真是个奸贼,那就把他作为一个奸贼处死好了——我既不干涉也不插手。陛下的军法总监和他两名部下就坐在外面,他们和我这种出身和地位的苏格兰绅士比起来,更适合和他打交道。” “你说得很好,”国王讲道,“不过,至少你有责任防止他人阻挠,并保护我执行这个最合乎正义的判决。” “即使全佩隆的人倾巢出动,我也照办。”巴拉弗雷说道,“只要事情使我良心过得去,陛下不必怀疑我的忠诚。老实说,为了我自己的方便,也为了向陛下效忠,我这个良心容得下的东西是很多的。至少,我知道我为陛下干了许多我决不会为别人干的事——我宁可吞下自己的匕首也决不干的事。” “别多说了,”国王讲道,“你听着——你看见伽利奥提进来,门一关上,你就得进行戒备,守住通往内室的人口。别让任何人撞进来——我要求你的就这些。现在你去把军法总监给我叫来。” 巴拉弗雷遵命离开了国王的卧室。很快特里斯顿•勒尔米特就从大厅走了进来。 “欢迎你,老伙计,”国王说,“你认为我们现在是个什么处境?” “像是被判了死刑,”军法总监说道,“除非公爵下令赦免。” “赦免不赦免,反正那诱骗我们陷入这个圈套的人得充当我们的先行官,先去阴间给我们安排好住处。”国王带着狰狞可怕的微笑说道,“特里斯顿,你已经干了许多勇敢的执法行动——finis——我应当说funis—coronat opus。你可得和我同生共死,直到最后一刻。” “陛下,我会的,”特里斯顿说道,“我不过是一个平凡的人,但我是知道感恩的。无论在这个卧室之内或在别的地方我都将尽我的职责。只要我还活着,陛下就可以像过去坐在国王宝座上那样,一声喊斩,便叫人头落地。就让他们马上来和我算账好了——我不在乎。” “我的好伙计,这正是我希望于你的,”路易说道,“不过你有好的帮手吗?——那奸贼身体强壮,肯定会喊救命的。那苏格兰人只答应守门,我用了一番花言巧语才幸好使他答应了下来。奥利弗是个饭桶,只知道撒谎,拍马屁,出一些危险的主意。该死的畜生!我看终归有一天他会自己上绞架,而不是把绞索套在别人头上。你看,你有足够的人手和手段能既快又猛地干掉他吗?” “特罗瓦—艾歇尔和小安德烈在我身边,”他说道,“他们干这行可是能手,可以把三个人当中某一个悄悄吊死,而另外两个还毫无察觉。我们一定和陛下同生死,因为我们都知道,您一死我们也只能像我们的犯人那样落得个绞索套着喘不过气来的下场——请问陛下,我们目前的对象是谁?我想先认准是哪个人。正如陛下有时好意提醒我的,我有时会把罪犯搞错,使一个没冒犯陛下的老实人成了替死鬼。” “你说得很对,”国王说,“我告诉你吧,特里斯顿,要处死的正是马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提——你吃了一惊。但我说的是真话。这个坏蛋用花言巧语把我们大伙都套到了这儿,好使我们一个个束手无策地落到勃艮第公爵手上。” “他不得好死!”特里斯顿说道,“即使这是我一生干的最后一件事,我也要像一只快死的黄蜂那样把他一直叮进地狱——哪怕我自己转眼就会被踩得粉碎!” “我知道你忠心耿耿,”国王说道,“而且也和我的其他好部下一样,你的确是以履行职责为乐事——因为正如学者们说的那样,良好的品德本身就是报酬。你去叫牧师作好准备吧。那该死的家伙就要来了。” “陛下,我想让您亲眼看见这个人在您面前处死,好吗?”特里斯顿问道。 路易谢绝了这个建议,但他吩咐军法总监说,一当那位占星术家离开了他的卧室,他就得准备严格执行命令。“我想再见见这个恶棍,”国王说道,“看他如何对待被他引进圈套的主人。我很想看看死亡临近的恐怖如何使他那红润的面颊顿然失色,并使他那一边撒谎一边含笑的眼睛黯淡无光。啊,是主教的鬼点子唆使他作出了那个不幸的预言。但愿他和这占卜家一道来我这里!不过,要是我能活下来的话,主教大人,你可得当心你的红袍!罗马教廷也休想保护你——愿圣彼得和得福的大慈大悲的克列里的圣母保佑我这么说。你还在磨蹭什么?去叫你的手下人准备好。这坏蛋马上就会到来。我祷告上帝,千万别让他因为害怕而不敢来!否则就糟糕了。去吧,特里斯顿,我从没见你到了该办事的时候还这么慢腾腾的。” “要是陛下不见怪的话,您可是经常说我办事太性急,往往误解您的意图,杀错了人。请陛下在和伽利奥提分手的时候,给我一个暗号,说明是否按原计划办,因为就我所知,陛下曾有一两次改变主意,反而埋怨我动手太快。” “你这爱多心的家伙,”国王对答道,“告诉你,我不会改 Chapter 29 Recrimination Thy time is not yet out -- the devil thou servest Has not as yet deserted thee. He aids The friends who drudge for him, as the blind man Was aided by the guide, who lent his shoulder O'er rough and smooth, until he reached the brink Of the fell precipice -- then hurl'd him downward. OLD PLAY When obeying the command, or rather the request of Louis -- for he was in circumstances in which, though a monarch, he could only request Le Glorieux to go in search of Martius Galeotti -- the jester had no trouble in executing his commission, betaking himself at once to the best tavern in Peronne, of which he himself was rather more than an occasional frequenter, being a great admirer of that species of liquor which reduced all other men's brains to a level with his own. He found, or rather observed, the Astrologer in the corner of the public drinking room -- stove, as it is called in German and Flemish, from its principal furniture -- sitting in close colloquy with a female in a singular and something like a Moorish or Asiatic garb, who, as Le Glorieux approached Martius, rose as in the act to depart. "These," said the stranger, "are news upon which you may rely with absolute certainty," and with that disappeared among the crowd of guests who sat grouped at different tables in the apartment. "Cousin Philosopher," said the jester, presenting himself, "Heaven no sooner relieves one sentinel than it sends another to supply the place. One fool being gone, here I come another, to guide you to the apartments of Louis of France." "And art thou the messenger?" said Martius, gazing on him with prompt apprehension, and discovering at once the jester's quality, though less intimated, as we have before noticed, than was usual, by his external appearance. "Ay, sir, and like your learning," answered Le Glorieux. "When Power sends Folly to entreat the approach of Wisdom, 't is a sure sign what foot the patient halts upon." "How if I refuse to come, when summoned at so late an hour by such a messenger?" said Galeotti. "In that case, we will consult your ease, and carry you," said Le Glorieux. "Here are half a score of stout Burgundian yeomen at the door, with whom He of Crevecoeur has furnished me to that effect. For know that my friend Charles of Burgundy and I have not taken away our kinsman Louis's crown, which he was ass enough to put into our power, but have only filed and clipt it a little, and, though reduced to the size of a spangle, it is still pure gold. In plain terms, he is still paramount over his own people, yourself included, and Most Christian King of the old dining hall in the Castle of Peronne, to which you, as his liege subject, are presently obliged to repair." "I attend you, sir," said Martius Galeotti, and accompanied Le Glorieux accordingly -- seeing, perhaps, that no evasion was possible. "Ay, sir," said the Fool, as they went towards the Castle, "you do well; for we treat our kinsman as men use an old famished lion in his cage, and thrust him now and then a calf to mumble, to keep his old jaws in exercise." "Do you mean," said Martius, "that the King intends me bodily injury?" "Nay, that you can guess better than I," said the jester; "for though the night be cloudy, I warrant you can see the stars through the mist. I know nothing of the matter, not I -- only my mother always told me to go warily near an old rat in a trap, for he was never so much disposed to bite." The Astrologer asked no more questions, and Le Glorieux, according to the custom of those of his class, continued to run on in a wild and disordered strain of sarcasm and folly mingled together, until he delivered the philosopher to the guard at the Castle gate of Peronne, where he was passed from warder to warder, and at length admitted within Herbert's Tower. The hints of the jester had not been lost on Martius Galeotti, and he saw something which seemed to confirm them in the look and manner of Tristan, whose mode of addressing him, as he marshalled him to the King's bedchamber, was lowering, sullen, and ominous. A close observer of what passed on earth, as well as among the heavenly bodies, the pulley and the rope also caught the Astrologer's eye; and as the latter was in a state of vibration he concluded that some one who had been busy adjusting it had been interrupted in the work by his sudden arrival. All this he saw, and summoned together his subtilty to evade the impending danger, resolved, should he find that impossible, to defend himself to the last against whomsoever should assail him. Thus resolved, and with a step and look corresponding to the determination he had taken, Martius presented himself before Louis, alike unabashed at the miscarriage of his predictions, and undismayed at the Monarch's anger, and its probable consequences. "Every good planet be gracious to your Majesty!" said Galeotti, with an inclination almost Oriental in manner. "Every evil constellation withhold its influence from my royal master!" "Methinks," replied the King, "that when you look around this apartment, when you think where it is situated, and how guarded, your wisdom might consider that my propitious stars had proved faithless and that each evil conjunction had already done its worst. Art thou not ashamed, Martius Galeotti, to see me here and a prisoner, when you recollect by what assurances I was lured hither?" "And art thou not ashamed, my royal Sire?" replied the philosopher, "thou, whose step in science was so forward, thy apprehension so quick, thy perseverance so unceasing -- art thou not ashamed to turn from the first frown of fortune, like a craven from the first clash of arms? Didst thou propose to become participant of those mysteries which raise men above the passions, the mischances, the pains, the sorrows of life, a state only to be attained by rivalling the firmness of the ancient Stoic, and dost thou shrink from the first pressure of adversity, and forfeit the glorious prize for which thou didst start as a competitor, frightened out of the course, like a scared racer, by shadowy and unreal evils?" "Shadowy and unreal! frontless as thou art!" exclaimed the King. "Is this dungeon unreal? -- the weapons of the guards of my detested enemy Burgundy, which you may hear clash at the gate, are those shadows? What, traitor, are real evils, if imprisonment, dethronement, and danger of life are not so?" "Ignorance -- ignorance, my brother, and prejudice," answered the sage, with great firmness, "are the only real evils. Believe me that Kings in the plenitude of power, if immersed in ignorance and prejudice, are less free than sages in a dungeon, and loaded with material chains. Towards this true happiness it is mine to guide you -- be it yours to attend to my instructions." "And it is to such philosophical freedom that your lessons would have guided me?" said the King very bitterly. "I would you had told me at Plessis that the dominion promised me so liberally was an empire over my own passions; that the success of which I was assured, related to my progress in philosophy, and that I might become as wise and as learned as a strolling mountebank of Italy! I might surely have attained this mental ascendency at a more moderate price than that of forfeiting the fairest crown in Christendom, and becoming tenant of a dungeon in Peronne! Go, sir, and think not to escape condign punishment. -- There is a Heaven above us!" "I leave you not to your fate," replied Martius, "until I have vindicated, even in your eyes, darkened as they are, that reputation, a brighter gem than the brightest in thy crown, and at which the world shall wonder, ages after all the race of Capet (the surname of the kings of France, beginning with Hugh Capet, 987) are mouldered into oblivion in the charnels of Saint Denis." "Speak on," said Louis. "Thine impudence cannot make me change my purposes or my opinion. -- Yet as I may never again pass judgment as a King, I will not censure thee unheard. Speak, then -- though the best thou canst say will be to speak the truth. Confess that I am a dupe, thou an impostor, thy pretended science a dream, and the planets which shine above us as little influential of our destiny as their shadows, when reflected in the river, are capable of altering its course." "And how know'st thou," answered the Astrologer boldly, "the secret influence of yonder blessed lights? Speak'st thou of their inability to influence waters, when yet thou know'st that ever the weakest, the moon herself -- weakest because nearest to this wretched earth of ours -- holds under her domination not such poor streams as the Somme, but the tides of the mighty ocean itself, which ebb and increase as her disc waxes and wanes, and watch her influence as a slave waits the nod of a Sultana? And now, Louis of Valois, answer my parable in turn. -- Confess, art thou not like the foolish passenger, who becomes wroth with his pilot because he cannot bring the vessel into harbour without experiencing occasionally the adverse force of winds and currents? I could indeed point to thee the probable issue of thine enterprise as prosperous, but it was in the power of Heaven alone to conduct thee thither; and if the path be rough and dangerous, was it in my power to smooth or render it more safe? Where is thy wisdom of yesterday, which taught thee so truly to discern that the ways of destiny are often ruled to our advantage, though in opposition to our wishes?" "You remind me -- you remind me," said the King hastily, "of one specific falsehood. You foretold yonder Scot should accomplish his enterprise fortunately for my interest and honour; and thou knowest it has so terminated that no more mortal injury could I have received than from the impression which the issue of that affair is like to make on the excited brain of the Mad Bull of Burgundy. This is a direct falsehood. -- Thou canst plead no evasion here -- canst refer to no remote favourable turn of the tide, for which, like an idiot sitting on the bank until the river shall pass away, thou wouldst have me wait contentedly. -- Here thy craft deceived thee. -- Thou wert weak enough to make a specific prediction, which has proved directly false." "Which will prove most firm and true," answered the Astrologer boldly. "I would desire no greater triumph of art over ignorance, than that prediction and its accomplishment will afford. - I told thee he would be faithful in any honourable commission. -- Hath he not been so? -- I told thee he would be scrupulous in aiding any evil enterprise. -- Hath he not proved so? -- If you doubt it, go ask the Bohemian, Hayraddin Maugrabin." The King here coloured deeply with shame and anger. "I told thee," continued the Astrologer, "that the conjunction of planets under which he set forth augured danger to the person -- and hath not his path been beset by danger? -- I told thee that it augured an advantage to the sender -- and of that thou wilt soon have the benefit." "Soon have the benefit!" exclaimed the King. "Have I not the result already, in disgrace and imprisonment?" "No," answered the Astrologer, "the End is not as yet -- thine own tongue shall ere long confess the benefit which thou hast received, from the manner in which the messenger bore himself in discharging thy commission." "This is too -- too insolent," said the King, "at once to deceive and to insult. -- But hence! -- think not my wrongs shall be unavenged. -- There is a Heaven above us!" Galeotti turned to depart. "Yet stop," said Louis; "thou bearest thine imposture bravely out. -- Let me hear your answer to one question and think ere you speak. -- Can thy pretended skill ascertain the hour of thine own death?" "Only by referring to the fate of another," said Galeotti. "I understand not thine answer," said Louis. "Know then, O King," said Martius, "that this only I can tell with certainty concerning mine own death, that it shall take place exactly twenty-four hours before that of your Majesty." (This story appropriated by Scott was told of Tiberius, whose soothsayer made the prediction that his own death would take place three days before that of the Emperor. Louis received a similar reply from a soothsayer, who had foretold the death of one of his favourites. Greatly incensed, he arranged for the death of the soothsayer when he should leave the royal presence after an interview. When Louis questioned him as to the day of his death, the astrologer answere that "it would be exactly three days before that of his Majesty. There was, of course, care taken that he should escape his destined fate, and he was ever after much protected by the King, as a man of real science, and intimately connected with the royal destinies." S. . . . Louis was the slave of his physicians also. Cottier, one of these, was paid a retaining fee of ten thousand crowns, besides great sums in lands and money. "He maintained over Louis unbounded influence, by using to him the most disrespectful harshness and insolence. 'I know,' he said to the suffering King, 'that one morning you will turn me adrift like so many others. But, by Heaven, you had better beware, for you will not live eight days after you have done so!' S.) "Ha! sayest thou?" said Louis, his countenance again altering. "Hold -- hold -- go not -- wait one moment. -- Saidst thou, my death should follow thine so closely?" "Within the space of twenty-four hours," repeated Galeotti firmly, "if there be one sparkle of true divination in those bright and mysterious intelligences, which speak, each on their courses, though without a tongue. I wish your Majesty good rest." "Hold -- hold -- go not," said the King, taking him by the arm, and leading him from the door. "Martius Galeotti, I have been a kind master to thee -- enriched thee -- made thee my friend -- my companion -- the instructor of my studies. -- Be open with me, I entreat you. -- Is there aught in this art of yours in very deed? -- Shall this Scot's mission be, in fact, propitious to me? -- And is the measure of our lives so very -- very nearly matched? Confess, my good Martius, you speak after the trick of your trade. -- Confess, I pray you, and you shall have no displeasure at my hand. I am in years -- a prisoner -- likely to be deprived of a kingdom -- to one in my condition truth is worth kingdoms, and it is from thee, dearest Martius, that I must look for this inestimable jewel." "And I have laid it before your Majesty," said Galeotti, "at the risk that, in brutal passion, you might turn upon me and rend me." "Who, I, Galeotti?" replied Louis mildly. "Alas! thou mistakest me! -- Am I not captive -- and should not I be patient, especially since my anger can only show my impotence? -- Tell me then in sincerity. -- Have you fooled me? -- Or is your science true, and do you truly report it?" "Your Majesty will forgive me if I reply to you," said Martius Galeotti, "that time only -- time and the event, will convince incredulity. It suits ill the place of confidence which I have held at the council table of the renowned conqueror, Matthias Corvinus of Hungary -- nay, in the cabinet of the Emperor himself -- to reiterate assurances of that which I have advanced as true. If you will not believe me, I can but refer to the course of events. A day or two days' patience will prove or disprove what I have averred concerning the young Scot, and I will be contented to die on the wheel, and have my limbs broken joint by joint, if your Majesty have not advantage, and that in a most important degree, from the dauntless conduct of that Quentin Durward. But if I were to die under such tortures, it would be well your Majesty should seek a ghostly father, for, from the moment my last groan is drawn, only twenty-four hours will remain to you for confession and penitence." Louis continued to keep hold of Galeotti's robe as he led him towards the door, and pronounced, as he opened it, in a loud voice, "Tomorrow we 'll talk more of this. Go in peace, my learned father. -- Go in peace. -- Go in peace!" He repeated these words three times; and, still afraid that the Provost Marshal might mistake his purpose, he led the Astrologer into the hall, holding fast his robe, as if afraid that he should be torn from him, and put to death before his eyes. He did not unloose his grasp until he had not only repeated again and again the gracious phrase, "Go in peace," but even made a private signal to the Provost Marshal to enjoin a suspension of all proceedings against the person of the Astrologer. Thus did the possession of some secret information, joined to audacious courage and readiness of wit, save Galeotti from the most imminent danger; and thus was Louis, the most sagacious, as well as the most vindictive, amongst the monarchs of the period, cheated of his revenge by the influence of superstition upon a selfish temper and a mind to which, from the consciousness of many crimes, the fear of death was peculiarly terrible. He felt, however, considerable mortification at being obliged to relinquish his purposed vengeance, and the disappointment seemed to be shared by his satellites, to whom the execution was to have been committed. Le Balafre alone, perfectly indifferent on the subject, so soon as the countermanding signal was given, left the door at which he had posted himself, and in a few minutes was fast asleep. The Provost Marshal, as the group reclined themselves to repose in the hall after the King retired to his bedchamber, continued to eye the goodly form of the Astrologer with the look of a mastiff watching a joint of meat which the cook had retrieved from his jaws, while his attendants communicated to each other in brief sentences, their characteristic sentiments. "The poor blinded necromancer," whispered Trois Eschelles, with an air of spiritual unction and commiseration, to his comrade, Petit Andre, "hath lost the fairest chance of expiating some of his vile sorceries, by dying through means of the cord of the blessed Saint Francis, and I had purpose, indeed, to leave the comfortable noose around his neck, to scare the foul fiend from his unhappy carcass." "And I," said Petit Andre, "have missed the rarest opportunity of knowing how far a weight of seventeen stone will stretch a three plied cord! -- It would have been a glorious experiment in our line -- and the jolly old boy would have died so easily!" While this whispered dialogue was going forward, Martius, who had taken the opposite side of the huge stone fireplace, round which the whole group was assembled, regarded them askance, and with a look of suspicion. He first put his hand into his vest, and satisfied himself that the handle of a very sharp double edged poniard, which he always carried about him, was disposed conveniently for his grasp; for, as we have already noticed, he was, though now somewhat unwieldy, a powerful, athletic man, and prompt and active at the use of his weapon. Satisfied that this trusty instrument was in readiness, he next took from his bosom a scroll of parchment, inscribed with Greek characters, and marked with cabalistic signs, drew together the wood in the fireplace, and made a blaze by which he could distinguish the features and attitude of all who sat or lay around -- the heavy and deep slumbers of the Scottish soldier, who lay motionless, with rough countenance as immovable as if it were cast in bronze -- the pale and anxious face of Oliver, who at one time assumed the appearance of slumber, and again opened his eyes and raised his head hastily, as if stung by some internal throe, or awakened by some distant sound -- the discontented, savage, bulldog aspect of the Provost, who looked -- "frustrate of his will, not half sufficed, and greedy yet to kill" -- while the background was filled up by the ghastly, hypocritical countenance of Trois Eschelles -- whose eyes were cast up towards Heaven, as if he was internally saying his devotions -- and the grim drollery of Petit Andre, who amused himself with mimicking the gestures and wry faces of his comrade before he betook himself to sleep. Amidst these vulgar and ignoble countenances nothing could show to greater advantage than the stately form, handsome mien, and commanding features of the Astrologer, who might have passed for one of the ancient magi, imprisoned in a den of robbers, and about to invoke a spirit to accomplish his liberation. And, indeed, had he been distinguished by nothing else than the beauty of the graceful and flowing beard which descended over the mysterious roll which he held in his hand, one might have been pardoned for regretting that so noble an appendage had been bestowed on one who put both talents, learning, and the advantages of eloquence, and a majestic person, to the mean purposes of a cheat and an imposter. Thus passed the night in Count Herbert's Tower, in the Castle of Peronne. When the first light of dawn penetrated the ancient Gothic chamber, the King summoned Oliver to his presence, who found the Monarch sitting in his nightgown, and was astonished at the alteration which one night of mortal anxiety had made in his looks. He would have expressed some anxiety on the subject, but the King silenced him by entering into a statement of the various modes by which he had previously endeavoured to form friends at the Court of Burgundy, and which Oliver was charged to prosecute so soon as he should be permitted to stir abroad. And never was that wily minister more struck with the clearness of the King's intellect, and his intimate knowledge of all the springs which influence human actions, than he was during that memorable consultation. About two hours afterwards, Oliver accordingly obtained permission from the Count of Crevecoeur to go out and execute the commissions which his master had intrusted him with, and Louis, sending for the Astrologer, in whom he seemed to have renewed his faith, held with him, in like manner, a long consultation, the issue of which appeared to give him more spirits and confidence than he had at first exhibited; so that he dressed himself, and received the morning compliments of Crevecoeur with a calmness at which the Burgundian Lord could not help Wondering, the rather that he had already heard that the Duke had passed several hours in a state of mind which seemed to render the King's safety very precarious. 你的末日尚未来临——你所侍奉的魔鬼尚未把你抛 弃。对于为他效劳的朋友他还会给以支援,正如一个恶 人让瞎子扶着他的肩头走路,要领着他走到悬岩的边 沿——才把他推下深渊。 《古老的戏剧》 那弄臣按照路易王的命令,更恰当地说是请求(因为尽管路易是国王,但在当前的处境下他也只能请求勒格洛里尔去寻找伽利奥提)前去办事,倒也不觉困难。他立刻来到佩隆城最好的一家酒店。由于他自己很欣赏那能使所有人的心智都变得和他同样痴恩的饮料,所以他也是这个酒店的常客。 他在酒店——在根据里面的主要陈设,其德语和弗兰德语的别称应为“火炉”的一个角落里看到,或者说观察到,这位占星术家正在和一个女人进行亲密的谈话。那女人装束奇特,既像个摩尔人又像个亚洲人。当勒格洛里尔走到马蒂阿斯跟前时,她站起来像要走开。 “这些消息完全可靠,可以确信无疑。”那陌生女人说道,接着便消失在散坐在桌边的满堂宾客之中。 “我的哲学家哥哥也,”那弄臣对他说道,“老天爷刚拆走一个站岗的,又派另一个来顶替。一个傻瓜刚走,我这个傻瓜又来了,为的是领你去法国路易王的卧室。” “是派你来传口讯的吗?”马蒂阿斯赶忙恐慌地用眼睛盯着他问道,他立刻看出这个人是个弄臣,尽管我们先前提到过的,其外表并不像一般弄臣那样表明他具有这种身份。 “是的,先生。”勒格洛里尔回答道,“当一位权力大的君主竟派遣愚人求智者去见他,这肯定表明他处境不妙。” “这么晚的时候派这么一个使者来叫我,我不去又怎么样呢?”伽利奥提问道。 “要是不去,我们就得照顾您的方便,把您抬去,”勒格洛里尔说道,“现在门口站着十来个精壮的勃艮第步兵,是克雷维格伯爵派给我,准备抬着您去见路易王的。您要知道,虽然我们的亲戚路易王愚蠢地把王冠交给我们支配,但我的朋友勃艮第•查尔斯和我并没有把它拿掉,而只是把它搞脏,弄坏了一点。尽管这皇冠已经缩得很小,但毕竟还是纯金做的,简而言之,他仍然统治着他的人民(包括你在内),仍然在当着佩隆城堡古老的大厅里最守基督之道的国王。而你作为他的臣属,有义务马上去见他。” “先生,我跟你去好了。”马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提说道,接着便跟随勒格洛里尔前去城堡——也许是看到无法逃避吧。 “好的,先生,”那弄臣在途中对他说,“您正合适。说实话,我们对待这位亲戚,也正像人们对待关在笼子里挨饿的老狮子一样,不时往笼子里塞进一头小牛犊,好让他的老牙巴有东西可嚼。” “你是说,”马蒂阿斯讲道,“国王有意伤害我吗?” “这你可比我更有本事猜测,”那弄臣说,“因为今晚虽然有云,我相信你还是可以透过云翳看到星星。我对此事毫无所知——不过,我妈过去经常告诉我,在走近一只被逮住的大老鼠时要十分小心,因为这老鼠最喜欢咬人。” 占星术家不再问他问题。勒格洛里尔便按照他们这类人的习惯继续胡乱地说着一些混杂着嘲讽的傻话。一来到佩隆城堡的大门跟前,他便把哲学家交给了卫兵。在一个个卫兵的护送下,哲学家终于被带到了赫伯特塔楼。 这弄臣的暗示在马蒂阿斯身上还是产生了作用。他通过特里斯顿的表情和态度看出了问题,因为它们在某种程度上肯定了这些暗示的正确性。特里斯顿领他去国王卧室时和他讲话的态度显得愠怒、阴沉和凶狠。作为一个细察人间现象和天体现象的大师,那滑轮和绳索自然没有逃脱这位占星术家的眼睛。他看到绳子还在摆动,便推想一定是有人原先正忙着调整绳子,看见他突然出现便马上停了下来。他把这一切都看在眼里,立刻加强了警觉,以防备即将到来的危险。他下定决心,万一无法回避,便和任何来犯之敌决一死战。 下定决心之后,马蒂阿斯便迈着坚定的步伐,带着坚定而从容的表情来到路易王跟前,对自己预言失误既不感觉羞愧,对国王的愤怒及其可能的后果也不感觉畏惧。 “愿天上的星宿都保佑陛下吉祥如意!”伽利奥提以近乎东方人的方式向国王鞠躬说道,“愿国王陛下免遭不祥星象的邪恶影响!” “我想,”国王对答说,“只要看看这间卧室,只要想想这里是什么地方、守护的情况如何,你这聪明人就能看出,我的‘吉星’已经对我不忠不义,而每种不祥的星象也都在对我竭尽其作恶的能事。马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提,你想想,正是你的保证引诱我到这儿来的。我已身陷囹圄,成了囚徒,难道你一点都不觉得害臊吗?” “陛下,难道您自己不害臊吗?”哲学家对答说,“您在科学上取得了长足进步,您有敏捷的头脑和持久的毅力——而您却像胆小鬼一听到刀剑碰击声便吓得四处躲藏,一看到命运之神皱皱眉头便想打退堂鼓。难道您不害羞吗?您过去一心想占有玄秘知识,好使自己超脱人世的感情以及人世的不幸和忧虑——而这是谁有表现出类似古代斯多葛派哲人的坚韧才能达到的境界。您为什么一遇到边境的压力便想退缩,从而失去您原来想要获取的光荣的奖赏,就像一匹受惊的赛马那样,一看见虚幻的凶兆便被惊得逃离了跑道呢?” “虚幻的凶兆!你真是恬不知耻!”国王大声说道,“难道这个地牢是虚幻的吗?我的仇敌勃艮第的卫队在大门口磨刀霍霍,难道这也是虚幻的吗?我倒想问问你这个奸贼,要是囚禁、废黜和丧命的危险还算不上真正的不幸,那么,什么才算得上真正的不幸?” “无知,我的兄弟,”那贤哲坚定地回答说,“无知加偏见才算得上惟一的真正不幸。请相信我,强大无比的国王要是浸透着无知的偏见,就会比身处地牢、手戴镣铐的哲人更不自由。我将十分荣幸地引您进入哲人的真正幸福境界——但您也应当以听从我的指导为荣。” “难道你的教导就是为了指引我去尝尝这种哲学家的自由?”国王极其痛心地说道,“你干吗在普莱西宫时不早对我说,你一再保证我会享有的主权只是控制自己感情的主权,你一再保证我会取得的成就只是哲学方面的进步,好让我变得像意大利的江湖骗子那样聪明,那样有学问?要是你早说,我就满可以用低得多的代价来达到这种精神境界,而不必失去基督世界最美好的王冠,并成为佩隆地牢里的囚徒!你走吧,别妄想你能逃脱应有的惩罚——皇天在上!” “我不会离开你,让你去自生自灭,”马蒂阿斯对答说,“尽管你的眼睛被无知所蔽,我也要为我的荣誉进行辩护。要知道,我的荣誉要比你王冠上最明亮的宝石更为灿烂,即使整个卡普特家族都在圣•丹尼斯教堂的墓穴中化为骨灰,千秋万代还将赞美它的光辉。” “你就说吧,”路易讲道,“反正你这厚颜无耻的话改变不了我的主意或看法——不过,也许我以后再也不能作为国王作出我的判决,所以,在给你定罪之后我倒想听听你的申诉。你就说吧——不过你最好讲真话。你就坦白说,我是个受骗上当的傻子,你是个骗子,你那所谓的科学只不过是痴人说梦,我们头上的星星无法影响我们的命运,就像星光映在河里无法改变河水的进程。” “你怎么能了解那些圣洁的星光具有的神秘影响力呢?”那占星术家斗胆说道,“你说它们不能影响河水,然而你明明知道,哪怕是其中最微弱的月亮——它之所以微弱,正因为它距离我们这倒霉的地球最近——所能支配的不仅限于像索姆河这种区区小河,而是视其盈亏而涨落的潮汐。大海随时都在注视月亮的影响,犹如奴才战战兢兢地听命于女皇的颔首示意。好了,瓦卢瓦•路易,现在该轮到你来回答我一个比喻了。你坦白地说吧,你像不像一个愚蠢的旅客怒斥海船的舵手,责怪他把大船驶进港口的途中碰到了逆流和逆风呢?我当初指出你的冒险有可能获得圆满的结果,的确是有根据的,但只有上帝才有这个能力引领你来到这里。如果说天意要叫你的路途崎岖危险,我有什么能力使它平坦、安全呢?你不是昨天还很聪明,说你的智慧使你认识到,命运的安排虽然与我们的本意相违,却往往给我们带来有利的结局吗?” “你这话使我想起——”国王匆忙说道,“想起你说过的一个谎话。你曾预言说,那苏格兰人完成任务的情况幸好会符合我的利益,维护我的荣誉。但你知道,正是这事情的结局对那头被激怒的‘勃艮第狂牛’产生的印象将给我带来莫大的伤害。这彻头彻尾都是谎言——这回你再也找不出任何适辞——找不出什么潮水涨落的虚无飘渺的吉兆叫我像个白痴坐在河边老等河水过完似的安心等下去了。这下你可叫你自己的奸黠揭了你的老底——你愚蠢地作出了一个已证明完全虚假的预言。” “它将证明完全真实可靠,”占星术家大着胆子回答道,“我能指望以学术战胜愚昧来获得的最大的喜悦莫过于这个预言的实现。我对你说过,他将忠实地执行任何体面的任务。他不是这样做了吗?我对你说过,他不愿助纣为虐——他不是证明自己正是这样的吗?如果你怀疑这个,你去问那个波希米亚人海拉丁•毛格拉宾好了。” 路易王这时又羞又怒,脸红到了耳根。 “我对你说过,”那占星术家继续说道,“他出发时的星象预兆他将有生命危险——他一路上不正是布满了危险么?我对你说过,根据星象的预兆,派遣他的人将因他而得到好处——我想这个好处很快就会使你受益匪浅。” “很快就会受益匪浅!”国王大声说道,“我受的益不明摆着就是耻辱和监禁吗?” “不,”那占星术家回答道,“事情还没完哩——你很快就得亲口承认,这位使者执行你的任务的方式已经使你得到了好处。” “这简直太——太无礼了,”国王说道,“你是既想欺骗我,又想侮辱我——滚吧!别以为我会轻易受屈,不加报复——皇天在上!” 伽利奥提转过身来想走。“你等等,”路易说道,“你胆敢不承认你耍骗术——那你回答我一个问题。你先好好考虑考虑——你敢说你的骗术能预报你自己的死期吗?” “我只能根据别人的死期来定我的死期。”伽利奥提说道。 “我不懂你是什么意思。”路易说道。 “那我就对你说吧,国王陛下,”马蒂阿斯讲道,“关于我的死期,我只能肯定地说这么一句:它将正好在陛下死期之前二十四小时。” “哼!你敢这么讲吗?”路易脸色突变地说道,“等一等——等一等——你先别走——你说我的死期和你的死期会隔得这么近?” “只隔二十四小时,”伽利奥提坚定地重复说道,“如果明亮而神秘的智慧之星在其各自的轨道上无须语言真能道出一点真实预言的话。祝陛下晚安!” “等一等——等一等——你别走,”国王说道,一边抓住他的手臂把他从门口拖了回来,“马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提,我一直奉你为上宾——给过你许多钱财——把你视作我的朋友、伴侣和老师——我求你坦白地告诉我——你的方术真有点道理吗?这苏格兰人的使命真会使我吉祥如意吗?我们两人的天数真十分——十分接近吗?好马蒂阿斯,你坦白说吧,你是按你们的行道那哄人的一套来讲的——我求你坦白告诉我,只要你坦白地说,我不会跟你过不去的。我年纪大了——又遭到软禁——很有可能会失去我的江山——对我这种处境的人来说,讲真话真是价值连城。最亲爱的马蒂阿斯,我还是指望从你身上获得这个无价之宝。” “我已经把这个无价之宝奉献给陛下了,”伽利奥提说道,“甚至冒着陛下狂怒之下向我扑来将我撕裂的危险。” “伽利奥提,我会这样吗?”路易王温和地问道,“唉呀,你真冤枉我了!难道我不是一个囚徒?难道我眼见自己的愤怒只能表明自己无能,还不该表示出特别的耐心?请你实说吧——你在骗我,还是你真有学识,作了真实的预言?” “陛下请原谅,”马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提说道,“我想回答的是,只有时间——只有时间和事实能使怀疑者确信自己的错误。我曾在那举世闻名的征服者——匈牙利的马提埃斯•科维纳斯的议事桌上——甚至在皇帝本人的密室中,参与枢密大事的咨议,但要把我曾提出过的、证明是正确的一些预言和保证再讲出来,就辜负了皇帝对我的信任。要是您不相信我,我只能让事实的进程来说话。您只消耐心等待一两天,就能证明或否定我针对那个年轻的苏格兰人作出的论断。要是陛下不能从昆丁•达威特英勇的表现中受益,而且受益匪浅,那么我甘愿被处以车刑。陛下最好尽快找一个神父,因为从我发出最后的呻吟那一刻算起,就只剩下二十四小时的光阴能供您进行忏悔。” 路易仍然拉着伽利奥提的长袍,带他到门口,一边开门一边大声说道:“明天我们再谈。有学问的老爹,请您慢走——慢走——慢走!” 他把“慢走”这两个字重复说了三遍,但仍然担心那军法总监会误解他的意图。于是他亲自领着这位占星术家走进大厅,同时紧紧拉着他的长袍不放,仿佛害怕刽子手会从他手里把他夺走,当他的面把这人处死。他不但紧拉着他,而且一再重复着“慢走”。“慢走”这个化险为夷的符咒,甚至向军法总监暗暗打了个手势,严令他停止对这占星术家将采取的任何行动。 这样,伽利奥提就因为掌握了一点秘密情报,加上临危不惧,应付自如,使自己摆脱了迫在眉睫的生命危险。可是路易这位当代最聪明、报复心最强的君主却由于迷信的习惯对意识到自己作恶多端而特别害怕死亡的自私心灵具有强烈的影响,终于受骗而失去了复仇的机会。 他虽然被迫放弃复仇的企图,但还是感到十分懊恼。受命行刑的几个帮凶也似乎和他一样失望。只有巴拉弗雷对这事完全漠然处之。一当他听到国王收回成命的暗号,就离开了他站岗放哨的大门,几分种之内便酣然睡去。 看到国王已回到卧室,大伙都在大厅里躺下来就寝。军法总监仍然紧盯着轻松愉快的占星术家的背影,样子很像眼见一大块肉即将到口,却硬被厨师夺走而显出悻悻然表情的猛大。他的两个手下人则用简单的几句话表达他们彼此的特殊心情。 “这可怜而盲目的关亡术者,”特罗瓦—艾歇尔像神父似的用虚假的怜悯口气对小安德烈说道,“他失去了通过得福的圣方济绞索去见上帝,从而赎掉他一些邪恶的巫术罪的大好机会!我本想把那舒适的绞索套在他脖子上,好通过恐吓把恶魔从他那倒霉的躯体里赶出来。” “而我哩,”小安德烈说道,“我也失去了一个少有的机会,好了解一根三股的绳子要承受一个重达十七英石的人,究竟会经得住多久!本来这是我们这个行业一个了不起的实验——而那开心的老家伙也本会轻轻松松地去进地狱!” 这几个人都围着壁炉躺着,马蒂阿斯则睡在壁炉的对面。在他们耳语正在进行的当中,他斜着眼,带着怀疑的表情望着他们。他首先把手伸进他的背心,使他放心的是,他发现随身携带的一把锐利的双刃刀的刀柄摆的位置很便于随时拿出来使用。正如我们指出过的,尽管他现在身体有点不灵便,但他原是个强壮的大力士,耍起刀来生龙活虎。在他确信这可靠的武器已放稳妥,随时可用之后,便从胸口掏出一张写有希腊文,标着许多神秘符号的羊皮纸卷,并把壁炉里的烧柴拨拢来,燃起一团较大的火焰,这样便能看清周围坐着或躺着的人的面貌和姿态:那酣睡着的苏格兰人静静地躺着,其粗犷的面部表情就像青铜铸造的一样毫无变化;奥利弗面孔苍白,露出焦虑不安的神色,他好像是睡着了,但不时会急忙睁开眼睛,抬起头,仿佛有一种内心的痛楚把他猛然刺醒,或远处某个声音把他从梦中突然惊醒——再就是那军法总监悻悻然的猛犬般的凶狠面孔,看上去就像——“欲望受阻,企图未逞,仍想杀人”。在他背后则是两眼朝天像在作祷告的特罗瓦—艾歇尔那可怕的虚伪面孔,以及临睡前还在模仿他同伴的姿态和歪脸以自娱的小安德烈那张滑稽得怕人的面孔。 与这几张卑贱而鄙俗的面孔相对照而显得更为突出的是占星术家那魁梧的身材、英俊的面孔以及严峻而高傲的面部表情。他的样子颇像是“东方三贤”误陷匪穴,正在祈求精灵将他救出牢笼。的确,要是使得他容貌突出的仅仅是那飘落在玄秘的羊皮纸卷上的美丽长须,那么看到这样一个高贵的装饰品竟赠给了一个以其天才和学识,以及威武的身躯和善辩的口才进行卑鄙欺诈的骗子,人们也完全有理由对此感到遗憾。 住宿在佩隆城堡“赫伯特伯爵塔楼”里的客人们就这样度过了一夜。第二天一清早,当晨曦刚一透进那古老的哥特式的卧室,国王便把奥利弗召了进来。他看见国王穿着睡衣坐着。使他惊奇的是,一夜的忧心如焚,使得国王面容十分憔悴。他本想对此表示一点不安,但国王一上来便讲个滔滔不绝,使他无法开口。国王向他介绍他从前在勃艮第宫廷寻求盟友时采用过的种种方式,并要他一有可能外出时便立即照此相机行事。在这次难忘的商谈中,国王表现出思维清晰,对支配人类行为的种种动机了如指掌。这位狡黠的臣仆对此产生的印象远比以往来得深刻。 大约两小时以后,奥利弗便从克雷维格伯爵那里获得了外出的许可,以办理国王托付给他的重任。路易王似乎又恢复了对占星术家的信赖,把他召来,同样和他进行了长时间的商量。其结果似乎使得他比先前精神更好了一些,信心更足了一些。因此,当他穿好衣服,克雷维格走来向他问候早安时,他显得十分镇静,不能不使这位勃艮第贵族大为惊奇,特别是因为他听说公爵近几个小时的心情极不平静,国王的安全已发发可危。 Chapter 30 Uncertainty Our counsels waver like the unsteady bark, That reels amid the strife of meeting currents. OLD PLAY If the night passed by Louis was carefully anxious and agitated, that spent by the Duke of Burgundy, who had at no time the same mastery over his passions, and, indeed, who permitted them almost a free and uncontrolled dominion over his actions, was still more disturbed. According to the custom of the period, two of his principal and most favoured counsellors, D'Hymbercourt and De Comines, shared his bedchamber, couches being prepared for them near the bed of the prince. Their attendance was never more necessary than upon this night, when, distracted by sorrow, by passion, by the desire of revenge, and by the sense of honour, which forbade him to exercise it upon Louis in his present condition, the Duke's mind resembled a volcano in eruption, which throws forth all the different contents of the mountain, mingled and molten into one burning mass. He refused to throw off his clothes, or to make any preparation for sleep; but spent the night in a succession of the most violent bursts of passion. In some paroxysms he talked incessantly to his attendants so thick and so rapidly, that they were really afraid his senses would give way, choosing for his theme the merits and the kindness of heart of the murdered Bishop of Liege, and recalling all the instances of mutual kindness, affection, and confidence which had passed between them, until he had worked himself into such a transport of grief, that he threw himself upon his face in the bed, and seemed ready to choke with the sobs and tears which he endeavoured to stifle. Then starting from the couch, he gave vent at once to another and more furious mood, and traversed the room hastily, uttering incoherent threats, and still more incoherent oaths of vengeance, while stamping with his foot, according to his customary action, he invoked Saint George, Saint Andrew, and whomsoever else he held most holy, to bear witness that he would take bloody vengeance on De la Marck, on the people of Liege, and on him who was the author of the whole. -- These last threats, uttered more obscurely than the others, obviously concerned the person of the King, and at one time the Duke expressed his determination to send for the Duke of Normandy, the brother of the King, and with whom Louis was on the worst terms, in order to compel the captive monarch to surrender either the Crown itself, or some of its most valuable rights and appanages. Another day and night passed in the same stormy and fitful deliberations, or rather rapid transitions of passion, for the Duke scarcely ate or drank, never changed his dress, and, altogether, demeaned himself like one in whom rage might terminate in utter insanity. By degrees he became more composed, and began to hold, from time to time, consultations with his ministers, in which much was proposed, but nothing resolved on. Comines assures us that at one time a courier was mounted in readiness to depart for the purpose of summoning the Duke of Normandy, and in that event, the prison of the French Monarch would probably have been found, as in similar cases, a brief road to his grave. At other times, when Charles had exhausted his fury, he sat with his features fixed in stern and rigid immobility, like one who broods over some desperate deed, to which he is as yet unable to work up his resolution. And unquestionably it would have needed little more than an insidious hint from any of the counsellors who attended his person to have pushed the Duke to some very desperate action. But the nobles of Burgundy, from the sacred character attached to the person of a King, and a Lord Paramount, and from a regard to the public faith, as well as that of their Duke, which had been pledged when Louis threw himself into their power, were almost unanimously inclined to recommend moderate measures; and the arguments which D'Hymbercourt and De Comines had now and then ventured to insinuate during the night, were, in the cooler hours of the next morning, advanced and urged by Crevecoeur and others. Possibly their zeal in behalf of the King might not be entirely disinterested. Many, as we have mentioned, had already experienced the bounty of the King; others had either estates or pretensions in France, which placed them a little under his influence; and it is certain that the treasure which had loaded four mules when the King entered Peronne, became much lighter in the course of these negotiations. In the course of the third day, the Count of Campobasso brought his Italian wit to assist the counsels of Charles; and well was it for Louis that he had not arrived when the Duke was in his first fury. Immediately on his arrival, a regular meeting of the Duke's counsellors was convened for considering the measures to be adopted in this singular crisis. On this occasion, Campobasso gave his opinion, couched in the apologue of the Traveller, the Adder, and the Fox; and reminded the Duke of the advice which Reynard gave to the man, that he should crush his mortal enemy, now that chance had placed his fate at his disposal. (The fox advised the man who had found a snake by the roadside to kill it. He, however, placed it in his bosom, and was afterwards bitten.) De Comines, who saw the Duke's eyes sparkle at a proposal which his own violence of temper had already repeatedly suggested, hastened to state the possibility that Louis might not be, in fact, so directly accessory to the sanguinary action which had been committed at Schonwaldt; that he might be able to clear himself of the imputation laid to his charge, and perhaps to make other atonement for the distractions which his intrigues had occasioned in the Duke's dominions, and those of his allies; and that an act of violence perpetrated on the King was sure to bring both on France and Burgundy a train of the most unhappy consequences, among which not the least to be feared was that the English might avail themselves of the commotions and civil discord which must needs ensue, to repossess themselves of Normandy and Guyenne, and renew those dreadful wars which had only, and with difficulty, been terminated by the union of both France and Burgundy against the common enemy. Finally, he confessed that he did not mean to urge the absolute and free dismissal of Louis; but only that the Duke should avail himself no farther of his present condition than merely to establish a fair and equitable treaty between the countries, with such security on the King's part as should make it difficult for him to break his faith, or disturb the internal peace of Burgundy in the future. D'Hymbercourt, Crevecoeur, and others signified their reprobation of the violent measures proposed by Campobasso, and their opinion, that in the way of treaty more permanent advantages could be obtained, and in a manner more honourable for Burgundy, than by an action which would stain her with a breach of faith and hospitality. The Duke listened to these arguments with his looks fixed on the ground, and his brow so knitted together as to bring his bushy eyebrows into one mass. But when Crevecoeur proceeded to say that he did not believe Louis either knew of, or was accessory to, the atrocious act of violence committed at Schonwaldt, Charles raised his head, and darting a fierce look at his counsellor, exclaimed, "Have you too, Crevecoeur, heard the gold of France clink? -- Methinks it rings in my council as merrily as ever the bells of Saint Denis. -- Dare any one say that Louis is not the fomenter of these feuds in Flanders?" "My gracious lord," said Crevecoeur, "my hand has ever been more conversant with steel than with gold, and so far am I from holding that Louis is free from the charge of having caused the disturbances in Flanders, that it is not long since, in the face of his whole Court, I charged him with that breach of faith, and offered him defiance in your name. But although his intrigues have been doubtless the original cause of these commotions, I am so far from believing that he authorized the death of the Archbishop, that I believe one of his emissaries publicly protested against it; and I could produce the man, were it your Grace's pleasure to see him." "It is our pleasure," said the Duke. "Saint George, can you doubt that we desire to act justly? Even in the highest flight of our passion, we are known for an upright and a just judge. We will see France ourself -- we will ourself charge him with our wrongs, and ourself state to him the reparation which we expect and demand. If he shall be found guiltless of this murder, the atonement for other crimes may be more easy. -- If he hath been guilty, who shall say that a life of penitence in some retired monastery were not a most deserved and a most merciful doom? -- Who," he added, kindling as be spoke, "who shall dare to blame a revenge yet more direct and more speedy? -- Let your witness attend. -- We will to the Castle at the hour before noon. Some articles we will minute down with which he shall comply, or woe on his head! Others shall depend upon the proof. Break up the council, and dismiss yourselves. I will but change my dress, as this is scarce a fitting trim in which to wait on my most gracious Sovereign." With a deep and bitter emphasis on the last expression, the Duke arose and strode out of the room. "Louis's safety, and, what is worse, the honour of Burgundy, depend on a cast of the dice," said D'Hymbercourt to Crevecoeur and to De Comines. "Haste thee to the Castle, De Comines, thou hast a better filed tongue than either Crevecoeur or I. Explain to Louis what storm is approaching -- he will best know how to pilot himself. I trust this Life Guardsman will say nothing which can aggravate; for who knows what may have been the secret commission with which he was charged?" "The young man," said Crevecoeur, "seems bold, yet prudent and wary far beyond his years. In all which he said to me he was tender of the King's character, as of that of the Prince whom he serves. I trust he will be equally so in the Duke's presence. I must go seek him, and also the young Countess of Croye." "The Countess -- you told us you had left her at Saint Bridget's" "Ay, but I was obliged," said the Count, "to send for her express, by the Duke's orders; and she has been brought hither on a litter, as being unable to travel otherwise. She was in a state of the deepest distress, both on account of the uncertainty of the fate of her kinswoman, the Lady Hameline, and the gloom which overhangs her own, guilty as she has been of a feudal delinquency, in withdrawing herself from the protection of her liege lord, Duke Charles, who is not the person in the world most likely to view with indifference what trenches on his seignorial rights." The information that the young Countess was in the hands of Charles, added fresh and more pointed thorns to Louis's reflections. He was conscious that, by explaining the intrigues by which he had induced the Lady Hameline and her to resort to Peronne, she might supply that evidence which he had removed by the execution of Zamet Maugrabin, and he knew well how much such proof of his having interfered with the rights of the Duke of Burgundy would furnish both motive and pretext for Charles's availing himself to the uttermost of his present predicament. Louis discoursed on these matters with great anxiety to the Sieur de Comines, whose acute and political talents better suited the King's temper than the blunt martial character of Crevecoeur, or the feudal haughtiness of D'Hymbercourt. "These iron handed soldiers, my good friend Comines," he said to his future historian, "should never enter a King's cabinet, but be left with the halberds and partisans in the antechamber. Their hands are indeed made for our use, but the monarch who puts their heads to any better occupation than that of anvils for his enemies' swords and maces, ranks with the fool who presented his mistress with a dog leash for a carcanet. It is with such as thou, Philip, whose eyes are gifted with the quick and keen sense that sees beyond the exterior surface of affairs, that Princes should share their council table, their cabinet -- what do I say? -- the most secret recesses of their soul." De Comines, himself so keen a spirit, was naturally gratified with the approbation of the most sagacious Prince in Europe, and he could not so far disguise his internal satisfaction, but that Louis was aware he had made some impression on him. "I would," continued he, "that I had such a servant, or rather that I were worthy to have such a one! I had not then been in this unfortunate situation, which, nevertheless, I should hardly regret, could I but discover any means of securing the services of so experienced a statist." De Comines said that all his faculties, such as they were, were at the service of his Most Christian Majesty, saving always his allegiance to his rightful lord, Duke Charles of Burgundy. "And am I one who would seduce you from that allegiance?" said Louis pathetically. "Alas! am I not now endangered by having reposed too much confidence in my vassal? and can the cause of feudal good faith be more sacred with any than with me, whose safety depends on an appeal to it? -- No, Philip de Comines -- continue to serve Charles of Burgundy, and you will best serve him, by bringing round a fair accommodation with Louis of France. In doing thus you will serve us both, and one, at least, will be grateful. I am told your appointments in this Court hardly match those of the Grand Falconer and thus the services of the wisest counsellor in Europe are put on a level, or rather ranked below, those of a fellow who feeds and physics kites! France has wide lands -- her King has much gold. Allow me, my friend, to rectify this scandalous inequality. The means are not distant. -- Permit me to use them." The King produced a weighty bag of money; but De Comines, more delicate in his sentiments than most courtiers of that time, declined the proffer, declaring himself perfectly satisfied with the liberality of his native Prince, and assuring Louis that his desire to serve him could not be increased by the acceptance of any such gratuity as he had proposed. "Singular man!" exclaimed the King; "let me embrace the only courtier of his time, at once capable and incorruptible. Wisdom is to be desired more than fine gold; and believe me, I trust in thy kindness, Philip, at this pinch, more than I do in the purchased assistance of many who have received my gifts. I know you will not counsel your master to abuse such an opportunity as fortune, and, to speak plain, De Comines, as my own folly, has afforded him." "To abuse it, by no means," answered the historian, "but most certainly to use it." "How, and in what degree?" said Louis. "I am not ass enough to expect that I shall escape without some ransom -- but let it be a reasonable one -- reason I am ever Willing to listen to at Paris or at Plessis, equally as at Peronne." "Ah, but if it like your Majesty," replied De Comines, "Reason at Paris or Plessis was used to speak in so low and soft a tone of voice, that she could not always gain an audience of your Majesty -- at Peronne she borrows the speaking trumpet of Necessity, and her voice becomes lordly and imperative." "You are figurative," said Louis, unable to restrain an emotion of peevishness; "I am a dull, blunt man, Sir of Comines. I pray you leave your tropes, and come to plain ground. What does your Duke expect of me?" "I am the bearer of no propositions, my lord," said De Comines; "the Duke will soon explain his own pleasure; but some things occur to me as proposals, for which your Majesty- ought to hold yourself prepared. As, for example, the final cession of these towns here upon the Somme." "I expected so much," said Louis. "That you should disown the Liegeois, and William de la Marck." "As willingly as I disclaim Hell and Satan," said Louis. "Ample security will be required, by hostages, or occupation of fortresses, or otherwise, that France shall in future abstain from stirring up rebellion among the Flemings." "It is something new," answered the King, "that a vassal should demand pledges from his Sovereign; but let that pass too." "A suitable and independent appanage for your illustrious brother, the ally and friend of my master -- Normandy or Champagne. The Duke loves your father's house, my Liege." "So well," answered Louis, "that, mort Dieu! he's about to make them all kings. -- Is your budget of hints yet emptied?" "Not entirely," answered the counsellor: "it will certainly be required that your Majesty will forbear molesting, as you have done of late, the Duke de Bretagne, and that you will no longer contest the right which he and other grand feudatories have, to strike money, to term themselves dukes and princes by the grace of God --" "In a word, to make so many kings of my vassals. Sir Philip, would you make a fratricide of me? -- You remember well my brother Charles -- he was no sooner Duke of Guyenne, than he died. -- And what will be left to the descendant and representative of Charlemagne, after giving away these rich provinces, save to be smeared with oil (a king, priest, or prophet was consecrated by means of oil) at Rheims, and to eat their dinner under a high canopy?" "We will diminish your Majesty's concern on that score, by giving you a companion in that solitary exaltation," said Philip de Comines. "The Duke of Burgundy, though he claims not at present the title of an independent king, desires nevertheless to be freed in future from the abject marks of subjection required of him to the crown of France -- it is his purpose to close his ducal coronet with an imperial arch, and surmount it with a globe, in emblem that his dominions are independent." "And how dares the Duke of Burgundy, the sworn vassal of France," exclaimed Louis, starting up, and showing an unwonted degree of emotion, "how dares he propose such terms to his Sovereign, as, by every law of Europe, should infer a forfeiture of his fief?" "The doom of forfeiture it would in this case be difficult to enforce," answered De Comines calmly. "Your Majesty is aware that the strict interpretation of the feudal law is becoming obsolete even in the Empire, and that superior and vassal endeavour to mend their situation in regard to each other, as they have power and. opportunity. "Your Majesty's interferences with the Duke's vassals in Flanders will prove an exculpation of my master's conduct, supposing him to insist that, by enlarging his independence, France should in future be debarred from any pretext of doing so." "Comines, Comines!" said Louis, arising again, and pacing the room in a pensive manner, "this is a dreadful lesson on the text Vae victis! (woe to the vanquished!) -- You cannot mean that the Duke will insist on all these hard conditions?" "At least I would have your Majesty be in a condition to discuss them all." "Yet moderation, De Comines, moderation in success, is -- no one knows better than you -- necessary to its ultimate advantage." "So please your Majesty, the merit of moderation is, I have observed, most apt to be extolled by the losing party. The winner holds in more esteem the prudence which calls on him not to leave an opportunity unimproved." "Well, we will consider," replied the King; "but at least thou hast reached the extremity of your Duke's unreasonable exaction? there can remain nothing -- or if there does, for so thy brow intimates -- what is it -- what indeed can it be -- unless it be my crown? which these previous demands, if granted, will deprive of all its lustre?" "My lord," said De Comines, "what remains to be mentioned, is a thing partly -- indeed in a great measure within the Duke's own power, though he means to invite your Majesty's accession to it, for in truth it touches you nearly." "Pasques Dieu!" exclaimed the King impatiently, "what is it? -- Speak out, Sir Philip -- am I to send him my daughter for a concubine, or what other dishonour is he to put on me?" "No dishonour, my Liege; but your Majesty's cousin, the illustrious Duke of Orleans --" "Ha!" exclaimed the King; but De Comines proceeded without heeding the interruption. "-- having conferred his affections on the young Countess Isabelle de Croye, the Duke expects your Majesty will, on your part, as he on his, yield your assent to the marriage, and unite with him in endowing the right noble couple with such an appanage, as, joined to the Countess's estates, may form a fit establishment for a Child of France." "Never, never!" said the King, bursting out into that emotion which he had of late suppressed with much difficulty, and striding about in a disordered haste, which formed the strongest contrast to the self command which he usually exhibited. "Never, never! -- let them bring scissors, and shear my hair like that of the parish fool, whom I have so richly resembled -- let them bid the monastery or the grave yawn for me, let them bring red hot basins to sear my eyes -- axe or aconite -- whatever they will, but Orleans shall not break his plighted faith to my daughter, or marry another while she lives!" "Your Majesty," said De Comines, "ere you set your mind so keenly against what is proposed, will consider your own want of power to prevent it. Every wise man, when he sees a rock giving way, withdraws from the bootless attempt of preventing the fall." "But a brave man," said Louis, "will at least find his grave beneath it. De Comines, consider the great loss, the utter destruction, such a marriage will bring upon my kingdom. Recollect, I have but one feeble boy, and this Orleans is the next heir -- consider that the Church hath consented to his union with Joan, which unites so happily the interests of both branches of my family, think on all this, and think too that this union has been the favourite scheme of my whole life -- that I have schemed for it, fought for it, watched for it, prayed for it -- and sinned for it. Philip de Comines, I will not forego it! Think man, think! -- pity me in this extremity, thy quick brain can speedily find some substitute for this sacrifice -- some ram to be offered up instead of that project which is dear to me as the Patriarch's only son was to him. (Isaac, whose father Abraham, in obedience to the command of God, was about to sacrifice him upon the altar when a ram appeared, which Abraham offered in his stead.) Philip, pity me! -- you at least should know that, to men of judgment and foresight, the destruction of the scheme on which they have long dwelt, and for which they have long toiled, is more inexpressibly bitter than the transient grief of ordinary men, whose pursuits are but the gratification of some temporary passion -- you, who know how to sympathize with the deeper, the more genuine distress of baffled prudence and disappointed sagacity -- will you not feel for me?" "My Lord and King," replied De Comines, "I do sympathize with your distress in so far as duty to my master --" "Do not mention him!" said Louis, acting, or at least appearing to act, under an irresistible and headlong impulse, which withdrew the usual guard which he maintained over his language. "Charles of Burgundy is unworthy of your attachment. He who can insult and strike his councillors -- he who can distinguish the wisest and most faithful among them by the opprobrious name of Booted Head!" The wisdom of Philip de Comines did not prevent his having a high sense of personal consequence; and he was so much struck with the words which the King uttered, as it were, in the career of a passion which overleaped ceremony, that he could only reply by repetition of the words "Booted Head! It is impossible that my master the Duke could have so termed the servant who has been at his side since he could mount a palfrey -- and that too before a foreign monarch! -- it is impossible!" Louis instantly saw the impression he had made, and avoiding alike a tone of condolence, which might have seemed insulting, and one of sympathy, which might have savoured of affectation; he said, with simplicity, and at the same time with dignity, "My misfortunes make me forget my courtesy, else I had not spoken to you of what it must be unpleasant for you to hear. But you have in reply taxed me with having uttered impossibilities -- this touches my honour; yet I must submit to the charge, if I tell you not the circumstances which the Duke, laughing until his eyes ran over, assigned for the origin of that opprobrious name, which I will not offend your ears by repeating. Thus, then, it chanced. You, Sir Philip de Comines, were at a hunting match with the Duke of Burgundy, your master; and when he alighted after the chase, he required your services in drawing off his boots. Reading in your looks, perhaps, some natural resentment of this disparaging treatment, he ordered you to sit down in turn, and rendered you the same office he had just received from you. But offended at your understanding him literally, he no sooner plucked one of your boots off than he brutally beat it about your head till the blood flowed, exclaiming against the insolence of a subject who had the presumption to accept of such a service at the hand of his Sovereign; and hence he, or his privileged fool, Le Glorieux, is in the current habit of distinguishing you by the absurd and ridiculous name of Tete botte, which makes one of the Duke's most ordinary subjects of pleasantry." (The story is told more bluntly, and less probably, in the French memoirs of the period, which affirm that Comines, out of a presumption inconsistent with his excellent good sense, had asked of Charles of Burgundy to draw off his boots, without having been treated with any previous familiarity to lead to such a freedom. I have endeavoured to give the anecdote a turn more consistent with the sense and prudence of the great author concerned. S.) While Louis thus spoke, he had the double pleasure of galling to the quick the person whom he addressed -- an exercise which it was in his nature to enjoy, even where he had not, as in the present case, the apology that he did so in pure retaliation -- and that of observing that he had at length been able to find a point in De Comines's character which might lead him gradually from the interests of Burgundy to those of France. But although the deep resentment which the offended courtier entertained against his master induced him at a future period to exchange the service of Charles for that of Louis, yet, at the present moment, he was contented to throw out only some general hints of his friendly inclination towards France, which he well knew the King would understand how to interpret. And indeed it would be unjust to stigmatize the memory of the excellent historian with the desertion of his master on this occasion, although he was certainly now possessed with sentiments much more favourable to Louis than when he entered the apartment. He constrained himself to laugh at the anecdote which Louis had detailed, and then added, "I did not think so trifling a frolic would have dwelt on the mind of the Duke so long as to make it worth telling again. Some such passage there was of drawing off boots and the like, as your Majesty knows that the Duke is fond of rude play; but it has been much exaggerated in his recollection. Let it pass on." "Ay, let it pass on," said the King; "it is indeed shame it should have detained us a minute. -- And now, Sir Philip, I hope you are French so far as to afford me your best counsel in these difficult affairs. You have, I am well aware, the clew to the labyrinth, if you would but impart it." "Your Majesty may command my best advice and service," replied De Comines, "under reservation always of my duty to my own master." This was nearly what the courtier had before stated; but he now repeated it in a tone so different that, whereas Louis understood from the former declaration that the reserved duty to Burgundy was the prime thing to be considered, so he now saw clearly that the emphasis was reversed, and that more weight was now given by the speaker to his promise of counsel than to a restriction which seemed interposed for the sake of form and consistency. The King resumed his own seat, and compelled De Comines to sit by him, listening at the same time to that statesman as if the words of an oracle sounded in his ears. De Comines spoke in that low and impressive tone which implies at once great sincerity and some caution, and at the same time so slowly as if he was desirous that the King should weigh and consider each individual word as having its own peculiar and determined meaning. "The things," he said, "which I have suggested for your Majesty's consideration, harsh as they sound in your ear, are but substitutes for still more violent proposals brought forward in the Duke's counsels, by such as are more hostile to your Majesty. And I need scarce remind your Majesty, that the more direct and more violent suggestions find readiest acceptance with our master, who loves brief and dangerous measures better than those that are safe, but at the same time circuitous." "I remember," said the King. "I have seen him swim a river at the risk of drowning, though there was a bridge to be found for riding two hundred yards." "True, Sire; and he that weighs not his life against the gratification of a moment of impetuous passion will, on the same impulse, prefer the gratification of his will to the increase of his substantial power." "Most true," replied the King; "a fool will ever grasp rather at the appearance than the reality of authority. And this I know to be true of Charles of Burgundy. But, my dear friend De Comines, what do you infer from these premises?" "Simply this, my lord," answered the Burgundian, "that as your Majesty has seen a skilful angler control a large and heavy fish, and finally draw him to land by a single hair, which fish had broke through a tackle tenfold stronger, had the fisher presumed to strain the line on him, instead of giving him head enough for all his wild flourishes; even so your Majesty, by gratifying the Duke in these particulars on which he has pitched his ideas of honour, and the gratification of his revenge, may evade many of the other unpalatable propositions at which I have hinted; and which -- including, I must state openly to your Majesty, some of those through which France would be most especially weakened -- will slide out of his remembrance and attention, and, being referred to subsequent conferences and future discussion, may be altogether eluded." "I understand you, my good Sir Philip; but to the matter," said the King. "To which of those happy propositions is your Duke so much wedded that contradiction will make him unreasonable and untractable?" "To any or to all of them, if it please your Majesty, on which you may happen to contradict him. This is precisely what your Majesty must avoid; and to take up my former parable, you must needs remain on the watch, ready to give the Duke line enough whenever he shoots away under the impulse of his rage. His fury, already considerably abated, will waste itself if he be unopposed, and you will presently find him become more friendly and more tractable." "Still," said the' King, musing, "there must be some particular demands which lie deeper at my cousin's heart than the other proposals. Were I but aware of these, Sir Philip" "Your Majesty may make the lightest of his demands the most important simply by opposing it," said De Comines, "nevertheless, my lord, thus far I can say, that every shadow of treaty will be broken off, if your Majesty renounce not William de la Marck and the Liegeois." "I have already said that I will disown them," said the King, "and well they deserve it at my hand; the villains have commenced their uproar at a moment that might have cost me my life." "He that fires a train of powder," replied the historian, "must expect a speedy explosion of the mine. -- But more than mere disavowal of their cause will be expected of your Majesty by Duke Charles, for know that he will demand your Majesty assistance to put the insurrection down, and your royal presence to witness the punishment which he destines for the rebels." "That may scarce consist with our honour, De Comines," said the King. "To refuse it will scarcely consist with your Majesty's safety," replied De Comines. "Charles is determined to show the people of Flanders that no hope, nay, no promise, of assistance from France will save them in their mutinies from the wrath and vengeance of Burgundy." "But, Sir Philip, I will speak plainly," answered the King. "Could we but procrastinate the matter, might not these rogues of Liege make their own part good against Duke Charles? The knaves are numerous and steady. -- Can they not hold out their town against him?" "With the help of the thousand archers of France whom your Majesty promised them, they might have done something, but --" "Whom I promised them?" said the King. "Alas! good Sir Philip! you much wrong me in saying so." "But without whom," continued De Comines, not heeding the interruption, "as your Majesty will not now likely find it convenient to supply them, what chance will the burghers have of making good their town, in whose walls the large breaches made by Charles after the battle of St. Tron are still unrepaired; so that the lances of Hainault, Brabant, and Burgundy may advance to the attack twenty men in front?" "The improvident idiots!" said the King. "If they have thus neglected their own safety, they deserve not my protection. Pass on -- I will make no quarrel for their sake." "The next point, I fear, will sit closer to your Majesty's heart," said De Comines. "Ah!" replied the King, "you mean that infernal marriage! I will not consent to the breach of the contract betwixt my daughter Joan and my cousin of Orleans -- it would be wresting the sceptre of France from me and my posterity; for that feeble boy, the Dauphin, is a blighted blossom, which will wither without fruit. This match between Joan and Orleans has been my thought by day, my dream by night. -- I tell thee, Sir Philip, I cannot give it up! -- Besides, it is inhuman to require me, with my own hand, to destroy at once my own scheme of policy, and the happiness of a pair brought up for each other." "Are they, then, so much attached?" said De Comines. "One of them at least," said the King, "and the one for whom I am bound to be most anxious. But you smile, Sir Philip -- you are no believer in the force of love." "Nay," said De Comines, "if it please you, Sire, I am so little an infidel in that particular that I was about to ask whether it would reconcile you in any degree to your acquiescing in the proposed marriage betwixt the Duke of Orleans and Isabelle de Croye, were I to satisfy you that the Countess's inclinations are so much fixed on another, that it is likely it will never be a match?" King Louis sighed. "Alas," he said, "my good and dear friend, from what sepulchre have you drawn such dead comfort? Her inclinations, indeed! -- Why, to speak truth, supposing that Orleans detested my daughter Joan, yet, but for this ill ravelled web of mischance, he must needs have married her; so you may conjecture how little chance there is of this damsel's being able to refuse him under a similar compulsion, and he a Child of France besides. -- Ah, no, Philip! little fear of her standing obstinate against the suit of such a lover. -- Varium et mutabile ((semper femina): woman is always inconstant and capricious), Philip." "Your Majesty may, in the present instance, undervalue the obstinate courage of this young lady. She comes of a race determinately wilful; and I have picked out of Crevecoeur that she has formed a romantic attachment to a young squire, who, to say truth, rendered her many services on the road." "Ha!" said the King -- "an Archer of my Guards, by name Quentin Durward?" "The same, as I think," said De Comines; "he was made prisoner along with the Countess, travelling almost alone together." "Now, our Lord and our Lady, and Monseigneur Saint Martin, and Monseigneur Saint Julian, be praised every one of them!" said the King, "and all laud and honour to the learned Galeotti; who read in the stars that this youth's destiny was connected with mine! If the maiden be so attached to him as to make her refractory to the will of Burgundy, this Quentin hath indeed been rarely useful to me." "I believe, my lord," answered the Burgundian, "according to Crevecoeur's report, that there is some chance of her being sufficiently obstinate; besides, doubtless, the noble Duke himself, notwithstanding what your Majesty was pleased to hint in way of supposition, will not willingly renounce his fair cousin, to whom he has been long engaged." "Umph!" answered the King -- "but you have never seen my daughter Joan. -- A howlet, man! -- an absolute owl, whom I am ashamed of! But let him be only a wise man, and marry her, I will give him leave to be mad par amours for the fairest lady in France. -- And now, Philip, have you given me the full map of your master's mind?" "I have possessed you, Sire, of those particulars on which he is at present most disposed to insist. But your Majesty well knows that the Duke's disposition is like a sweeping torrent, which only passes smoothly forward when its waves encounter no opposition; and what may be presented to chafe him info fury, it is impossible even to guess. Were more distinct evidence of your Majesty's practices (pardon the phrase, when there is so little time for selection) with the Liegeois and William de la Marck to occur unexpectedly, the issue might be terrible. -- There are strange news from that country -- they say La Marck hath married Hameline, the elder Countess of Croye." "That old fool was so mad on marriage that she would have accepted the hand of Satan," said the King; "but that La Marck, beast as he is, should have married her, rather more surprises me." "There is a report also," continued De Comines, "that an envoy, or herald, on La Marck's part, is approaching Peronne; this is like to drive the Duke frantic with rage -- I trust that he has no letters or the like to show on your Majesty's part?" "Letters to a Wild Boar!" answered the King. -- "No, no, Sir Philip, I was no such fool as to cast pearls before swine. -- What little intercourse I had with the brute animal was by message, in which I always employed such low bred slaves and vagabonds that their evidence would not be received in a trial for robbing a hen roost." "I can then only further recommend," said De Comines, taking his leave, "that your Majesty should remain on your guard, be guided by events, and, above all, avoid using any language or argument with the Duke which may better become your dignity than your present condition." "If my dignity," said the King, "grow troublesome to me -- which it seldom doth while there are deeper interests to think of -- I have a special remedy for that swelling of the heart. -- It is but looking into a certain ruinous closet, Sir Philip, and thinking of the death of Charles the Simple; and it cures me as effectually as the cold bath would cool a fever. -- And now, my friend and monitor, must thou be gone? Well, Sir Philip, the time must come when thou wilt tire reading lessons of state policy to the Bull of Burgundy, who is incapable of comprehending your most simple argument. -- If Louis of Valois then lives, thou hast a friend in the Court of France. I tell thee, my Philip, it would be a blessing to my kingdom should I ever acquire thee; who, with a profound view of subjects of state, hast also a conscience, capable of feeling and discerning between right and wrong. So help me our Lord and Lady, and Monseigneur Saint Martin, Oliver and Balue have hearts as hardened as the nether millstone; and my life is embittered by remorse and penances for the crimes they make me commit. Thou, Sir Philip, possessed of the wisdom of present and past times, canst teach how to become great without ceasing to be virtuous." "A hard task, and which few have attained," said the historian; "but which is yet within the reach of princes who will strive for it. Meantime, Sire, be prepared, for the Duke will presently confer with you." Louis looked long after Philip when he left the apartment, and at length burst into a bitter laugh. "He spoke of fishing -- I have sent him home, a trout properly tickled! -- And he thinks himself virtuous because he took no bribe, but contented himself with flattery and promises, and the pleasure of avenging an affront to his vanity! -- Why, he is but so much the poorer for the refusal of the money -- not a jot the more honest. He must be mine, though, for he hath the shrewdest head among them. Well, now for nobler game! I am to face this leviathan Charles, who will presently swim hitherward, cleaving the deep before him. I must, like a trembling sailor, throw a tub overboard to amuse him. But I may one day find the chance of driving a harpoon into his entrails!" (If a ship is threatened by a school of whales, a tub is thrown into the sea to divert their attention. Hence to mislead an enemy, or to create a diversion in order to avoid a danger.) (Scott says that during this interesting scene Comines first realized the great powers of Louis, and entertained from this time a partiality to France which allured him to Louis's court in 1472. After the death of Louis he fell under the suspicion of that sovereign's daughter and was imprisoned in one of the cages he has so feelingly described. He was subjected to trial and exiled from court, but was afterwards employed by Charles VIII in one or two important missions. He died at his Castle of Argenton in 1509, and was regretted as one of the most profound statesmen, and the best historian of his age.) 我们的主意游移不定,就像一只飘荡的小船, 在水流逐角的漩涡中不停地旋转。 《古老的戏剧》 如果说路易度过的这一夜充满了焦虑和不安,那么,勃艮第公爵度过的这一夜则更是辗转反侧,难以入眠。 按照当时的惯例,他那两位最得宠的主要谋臣——丹伯古和德贡明也在他的卧室里就寝,睡榻就设在公爵的床铺旁边。他们这晚的陪伴比以往任何时候都更为必要,因为悲伤、愤怒、复仇的欲望以及荣誉感在他心中相互交织(这迫使他目前不能对路易下手)。公爵内心十分矛盾,就像一座爆发的火山,正在喷射出混有各种成分的燃烧的熔浆。他不愿解衣就寝,而是在感情激烈爆发中度过了整整一夜。在他爆发的时候,他对两个随从不断地胡说一阵,讲得既快又含糊不清,以致他们真担心他会神经错乱。他讲的内容不外乎是遇害的列日主教的美德,特别是他的善良。他回忆起他们之间充满互信互爱的种种往事,越想越伤心,最后竟悲痛得泣不成声,倒在床上。然后他又从床上跳了起来,发泄另一种更暴烈的感情。他在房里匆匆地踱来踱去,说出一串串语无伦次的恐吓话,以及更语无伦次的复仇誓言。他一边顿着脚,一边按他习惯的做法,祈求圣乔治•安德鲁,以及一切被视为神圣的亡灵作证:他将对德拉马克和列日市民,以及作为总后台的这个人以牙还牙——这后一个誓言对象要比前两个说得更含糊一些,显然针对的是国王本人。有一次公爵表示,他决心派人去把路易王的兄弟——和他关系最恶劣的诺曼底公爵请到这里来,迫使这被国的国王交出王位或放弃最宝贵的一部分王权以及某些附属的特权。 第二天,他也是整天整夜在暴风雨般激动不宁的思虑中,或者说在感情迅速地交替变化中度过的。他寝不安席,食不甘味,总之,表现得就像一个愤怒得快要发狂的人。最后他还是逐步平静下来,有时还和他的两位大臣商量。然而总是拟议的多,什么也决定不下来。贡明告诉我们说,有一次信使已骑上马,准备出发去邀请诺曼底公爵。要是果成事实,那么被囚禁的法国国王就会像在类似情况下常见的那样,提前走进自己的坟墓。 另一些时候,查尔斯像是把满腔的愤怒都发泄光了,便面孔严峻而呆板地坐着,似乎在考虑采取他还不能下定决心的某种果断行动。毫无疑问,只要陪伴公爵的谋臣有哪个稍作点阴险的暗示,都有可能促使他铤而走险。然而,考虑到作为国王和至高无上的君主所具有的神圣权威,考虑到集体的信誉以及公爵本人的信誉(既然路易把自己的人身安危听任公爵支配,公爵就受到信誉的约束),勃艮第的贵族们几乎一致主张采取温和的办法。丹伯古和德贡明利用晚上的时间不时委婉而大胆地提出一些看法,而在第二天早晨,人们头脑比较冷静的时候,克雷维格和别的一些大臣也都跑来推销一些同样的见解。他们之所以为路易王如此热心地说情,也许不完全是出于无私的动机。正如我们提到过的,许多人都已经得到了国王的好处,而另一些人则在法国具有田产和权益,使他们多少受到他的影响。而国王来佩隆时用四匹骡子驮的珠宝,经过这些外交活动之后,也肯定轻了不少。 第三天康波•巴索伯爵带着他那用意大利人处理问题的头脑,走来向查尔斯献策。公爵最初大发雷霆的那个时刻他没有在场,这对路易王说来是很幸运的一点。他一到,公爵便宣布枢密会议正式开始,以考虑在当前这个特殊的紧要关头应采取何种对策。 在这个会上康波•巴索借用旅人、毒蛇和狐狸的寓言来阐述自己的看法。他提醒公爵注意:既然一个死敌碰巧把它的命运置于自己的支配之下,就应当把它一脚踩死。公爵暴烈的性格也曾一再促使他产生过类似的想法。听他这么一说,自然高兴得眼睛炯炯发光。见此情况,德贡明急忙陈辞说,路易可能实际上并没有直接参与索恩瓦尔德的流血惨剧,也许他能提出证据澄清对自己的指控。说不定他还能为他在公爵及其盟友的领土上阴谋搞鬼造成的混乱作出别的一些补偿。而如果对国王人身采取暴力行动,则肯定会给法国和勃艮第带来一系列极其不幸的后果,其中很值得担心的是英国人会利用必然产生的混乱和纷争重新占领诺曼底和吉耶尼,并使得惟一可以依靠的法国和勃艮第为对付共同仇敌而建立的联盟费了许多周折才得以结束的可怕战争继续下去。最后他坦白地表示,他并不是想使路易获得无条件释放。不过,他认为公爵应利用他目前的处境在两国之间签订一个公正的条约,要求他作出保证,以使他今后难以背信弃义,破坏勃艮第的国内和平。丹伯古、克雷维格以及其他一些大臣也都表示不赞成康波•巴索提出的暴力解决办法。他们都认为,签订条约的方式要比有损勃艮第信誉和破坏待客原则的暴力行动更能带来持久的利益,对勃艮第说来也更为光荣。 公爵倾听这些争论时浓眉紧锁,前额皱成一块,眼睛呆滞地望着地面。然而,当克雷维格也接着说,他不相信路易事先知道索恩瓦尔德发生的暴行或参与共谋时,查尔斯突然抬起头向这位谋臣狠狠盯了一眼,大声说道:“克雷维格,难道你也听到了法国金币在你耳朵里丁当响吗?我想它大概就像圣•丹尼斯教堂的钟声那样使我的谋臣们听来悦耳——谁敢说弗兰德这些仇杀不是路易煽动起来的?” “我贤明的君主,”克雷维格说道,“我这人的手一贯习惯于和钢刀打交道,而不习惯于和金币打交道。至于说路易,我不仅认为他应对煽动弗兰德的骚乱承担罪责,而且不久前我还在他的满朝文武面前指控他背信弃义,并以您的名义向他提出挑战。不过,尽管他的阴谋诡计无疑是造成这些骚动的根本原因,我却并不认为是他下令杀害的主教。我甚至有理由相信,他派出的一名特使还对此公开表示抗议。要是殿下愿意见他的话,我可以把这人叫来。” “我很愿意见他,”公爵说道,“圣乔治在上,难道你不相信,做事公正是我一贯的愿望?即使是在盛怒之下,人们也知道我是一个正直、公道的裁判。我愿亲自去见法国国王——我愿亲自去控诉他给我们造成的损失,并向他提出我们要求得到的赔偿。如果真查明他与这个谋杀无关,要弥补别的罪过就好办得多。如果证实他的确有罪,那么叫他在某个偏僻的寺院过过忏悔的生活,谁能说这不是给他一个咎由自取的、极其宽大的发落?谁,”他火冒三丈地补充说道,“谁又敢指责我,即使我给他一个更直接、更迅速的报复?好吧,你就陪我一道去见他。我将在午前十一点去城堡,并将详细地订出一些条款,要他同意签署,否则当心他的脑袋!别的一些条款得看查出的证据如何。现在我宣布散会。我得换换衣服,因为穿这身衣服地去觐见那位最最贤明的君主未免很不合适。” 公爵带着极为怨忿和辛辣的表情重重地说出“最最贤明的君主”这几个字,一边站了起来,大步走出了议事厅。 “路易的安全,甚至勃艮第的荣誉就在此一举。”丹伯古对克雷维格和德贡明说道,“德贡明,你赶快到城堡去一趟——你比克雷维格和我都能说会道一些。你告诉路易,风暴即将来临——他将知道如何应付局面。但愿那个卫士说的话总不致加剧目前的形势。鬼知道给他的是什么样的秘密使命” “那年轻人看来很勇敢,”克雷维格说道,“而且他的精明和谨慎也远远超过他的年龄,从他对我的谈话看来,他极不愿意触及国王的品德——就像不愿触及国王所侍奉的撒旦的品德。我想他在公爵面前也会如此。我得去找他和克罗伊埃伯爵小姐。” “伯爵小姐!你不是告诉我们,你把她留在圣布里杰特的女修道院里了吗?” “不错。不过么,”伯爵说道,“按照公爵的命令,我已经赶紧派人护送她来佩隆。她没法步行也没法骑马,只好坐轿子。由于她姑母哈梅琳女士下落不明,同时自己的命运也笼罩着阴影,目前她感到十分痛苦。说实在的,她犯的是抗命之罪,因为她想擅自摆脱君王的保护,而查尔斯公爵又是世界上最认真看待自己君权的一位君主。” 年轻的伯爵小姐已落在查尔斯手中这一消息给路易的思想增加了新的刺激。他意识到,要是她讲清促使她和哈梅琳女士来到佩隆的一系列幕后勾当,她就有可能供出他通过处死扎迈特•毛格拉宾原已销毁的一些证据。他也清楚地知道,要是证实他的确干扰了勃艮第公爵的权益,查尔斯便会有了动机和借口来充分利用他目前的困境。 路易十分焦急地和德贡明谈到这些问题,因为这人机敏的政治才能要比克雷维格粗犷的军人气质和丹伯古封建贵族的高傲派头更适合他的口味。 “贡明好友,”他对这位未来的史臣说道,“那些带兵的大老粗进不了我的密室,而只能手持矛戟站在前室守卫。他们的一双手的确可以供我使用。不过,要是哪位国王不把这些大老粗的脑袋瓜子拿来抵挡敌人的刀剑和大槌,而是用来商量大事,那他就和一个不给老婆戴项圈而戴套狗索的傻瓜相去无几。只有和你菲利普这种人在一起,君王们才可以放心商量枢密大事,并道出他们心灵深处的秘密,因为你们生来具有透过事物表面看问题的敏锐头脑。” 德贡明既然头脑机敏,听到欧洲这位最聪明的君主对自己的赞扬自然心领神会,无法掩饰内心的高兴。路易也意识到自己已经在对方身上产生了一些良好印象。 “但愿我能有你这样一个臣仆,”他继续说道,“更恰当地说,但愿我配得上有你这样一个臣仆!果真如此,我的处境就不会如此倒霉。不过,要是我能设法得到你这样一个有经验的政治家的帮助,我也未必对这种处境感到遗憾。” 德贡明说,他的才能尽管有限,但他愿倾其所能为这位最讲基督之道的国王陛下服务。当然,他对自己的君主勃艮第•查尔斯的忠诚亦毋庸置疑。 “我怎么会诱使你背叛你的君王呢?”路易颇动感情地说道,“哎呀!我自己不正是因为过分信赖自己臣属的忠心才遭致危险的么?对我来说,维护臣属对君王的忠心是最神圣不过的事,因为我现在的安全就全靠忠君意识来维系。菲利普•德贡明,你要继续为勃艮第的查尔斯尽忠。你能为他尽忠的最好办法就是促成勃艮第和法国路易王之间圆满的妥协。你这样做就会对我们两个君王都尽忠,而其中至少有一个会对你感激不尽。我听说你在宫廷的职务还比不上一个猎鹰大臣。这样一来,欧洲最聪明的谋士就被降低到一个饲养和医治老鹰的下等人水平,甚至连他们还不如!法国领土宽广,国王有的是黄金。我的朋友,这种不公平的现象真是太不像样。请容许我设法纠正纠正吧。纣正的手段就近在眼前——请允许我把它送给你。” 国王拿出沉甸甸的一袋钱币。然而,德贡明这人的情感要比当时大多数朝臣的更为细腻,他谢绝了这个赏赐。他说他对自己君主的慷慨十分满意,并向路易保证说,他为他效劳的意愿并不会因为是否接受他给的赏赐而有所不同。 “你真是个独特的人!”国王大声说道,让我拥抱你这当代惟一的既能干又不受贿的朝臣吧!智慧比黄金更值得羡慕。请相信我,菲利普,在这紧要关头,我信赖你的善良胜过我信赖许多接受过我的礼物的人给我的贿赂来的援助。我想,你不会劝告你的主人滥用这个机会——坦白地说,是我自己的愚蠢给他提供的这个机会吧。” “我的主人决不会滥用它,”那历史学家回答说,“但肯定会利用它。” “怎么利用,利用到什么程度?”路易问道,“我还不至于愚蠢到指望不付给一笔赎金就能脱身——但我希望这是一笔合理的赎金——无论在巴黎、在普莱西,还是在佩隆,我都愿意接受合乎理智的要求。” “不过,陛下请恕我直言,”德贡明对答道,“在巴黎或普莱西,理智是用轻柔的声音说话,因此并不是总能得到陛下的倾听——在佩隆,她可是用强迫的话筒说话,她的声音是威严的。” “你太爱用比喻了,”路易用无法抑制的愠怒表情说道,“贡明先生,我是个愚钝的人。我求你别用比喻,开门见山地说吧!你的公爵到底提出了什么要求?” “陛下,我并没有被授权给你带来任何条件,”德贡明说道,“公爵很快就会讲明他的意图。不过,有某些东西在我看来会作为条件提出来,陛下应该做好心理准备。比如说,最终割让索姆河上这几个城市。” “这我已经料到了。”路易说道。 “还有,您必须和列日市民以及威廉•德拉马克断绝关系。” “非常愿意,就像我愿与地狱和撒旦断绝关系。” “还需要通过抵押人质,让出军事要地等安排作出充分的保证,即法国今后将不再在弗兰德人当中挑起叛乱。” “这可有点新鲜,”国王回答道,“一个藩属竟然要求自己的君主作出保证。不过,这也不计较算了。” “您得给公爵的盟友,亦即您自己那位卓越的兄弟,一个适当独立的领地——诺曼底或香槟省。陛下,您知道公爵很爱您的家族。” “好得很,”路易回答说,“我的老天爷!他打算把他们都封为国王哩。你想暗示的都完了吗?” “还没完哩,”那谋臣回答道,“肯定还会求您今后不再像您近来所做的那样,烦扰布立塔尼公爵,而且不再反对他以及别的王公蒙上帝之恩享有的开发财源和称王称爵的权利。” “一句话,想把我的藩臣一个个都变成国王。菲利普先生,你想把我变成一个弑弟的罪人吗?你该记得我兄弟查尔斯吧——他刚当上吉耶尼的公爵便夭折了——再说,把这些最富饶的省份都割让掉以后,除了在兰斯涂上圣油,在高高的华盖下面进餐以外,我这查里曼的后裔和代表还剩得了什么呢?” “请您放心,我们会给孤处高位的陛下提供一个伴侣,”菲利普•德贡明说道,“勃艮第公爵尽管目前还不要求独立称王,但他今后很想摆脱向法国国王表示恭顺和服从的要求——他的意图是想把他公爵的冠冕加上个皇帝的弧圈,上面再放上一个地球,以表示他拥有独立的领土。” “勃艮第的公爵既是法国一名宣过誓的藩臣,”路易说着站了起来,表明他感情无比激动,“他怎敢,怎敢向自己的君主提出这种条件?要知道,按照任何一种欧洲法律,这都能使他丧失自己的封地!” “要对他执行剥夺封地的判决是困难的,”德贡明冷静地对答道,“陛下知道,甚至在帝国范围内,对封建法律的严格执行业已过时。君主和藩臣都在尽他们的力量和可能的机会以改变其相互的地位。陛下影响和煽动公爵在弗兰德的臣民,这就给公爵的行为找到了开脱的理由——假定他坚持要求扩大他的独立自主,以使法国将来找不到继续进行干预的借口。” “贡明,贡明!”路易说着又站了起来,沉思般地在室内踱来踱去,似乎陷入了沉思之中,“这真是战败者可悲这一名言的一个可怕教训!你总不至于说,公爵将坚持所有这些苛刻条件吧?” “至少我希望陛下能讨论所有这些条件。” “不过,要有节制,德贡明,我认为胜利者要想取得终极的利益,就有必要表现克制。这你比别人知道得更清楚。” “请陛下宽恕我的冒昧,在我看来,输的一方总是最喜欢赞美克制的美德,而赢的一方却更看重能使他乘机捞它一把的审慎。” “好吧,让我考虑考虑,”国王回答说,“不过,至少你已经把公爵苛刻的要求讲到头了吧?不可能再有了吧?要是真像你皱着眉头所暗示的,还有什么的话,那么,除开我的王冠以外,还能是什么呢?再说,假如前面提出的要求都答应了的话,我的王冠也就失去了一切光彩!” “陛下,”德贡明说道,“还需提到的是一件在某种程度上——甚至在很大程度上——可由公爵自行决定的事。不过他想请陛下也参与其事,因为说实话,它与陛下关系密切。” “老天爷!”国王不耐烦地喊道,“是什么事?你快说吧,菲利普先生——是要我把女儿送给他作妃子,还是叫我蒙受别的侮辱?” “陛下,不是什么侮辱,而是陛下的侄儿,鼎鼎大名的奥尔良公爵——” “哼!”国王大声说道。但德贡明不理会他的打断继续说道: “——已向克罗伊埃家族的伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐求婚,公爵希望陛下也能像他那样,同意他们的婚事,并和他一道赠与这对高贵的夫妻一块封地。和伯爵小姐自己的封地加在一起,法国王室的嗣子便能拥有一块体面的采邑。” “办不到!办不到!”国王愤激地说道,最近几天一直竭力压抑着的感情终于爆发了出来。他狂乱而急速地踱来踱去,这与他一贯表现出的镇定形成了强烈的对比。“办不到!办不到!让他们把剪刀拿来,把我的头发剪得像教区供养的白痴一样好了!反正我和傻于已经相差无几了。让他们叫寺院或坟墓向我张开大口好了!让他们用炽热的烙铁烧灼我的眼睛——用斧于劈我,用乌头毒我好了——但我绝不能让奥尔良毁弃他和我女儿的婚约。只要我女儿还活着,就绝不能让他改娶别的女人!” “陛下,”德贡明继续说道,“您先别一个心眼地反对提出的这个条件。您最好先想想,您自己是无力阻挡这事的。任何聪明人看到岩石要垮,都不会徒劳地去阻止它的倒塌。” “不过勇者至少愿在它底下找到自己的坟墓。德贡明,你想想这样一个婚姻会给我的王国带来多么重大的损失——带来彻底的毁灭。你想想我只有一个赢弱的男孩,而这个奥尔良就是我的第二继承人——你想想,教堂已经同意他俩的结合,因为它能十分圆满地把我们家族两个系脉的利益连系在一起。想想这一切,也想想这婚姻曾是我一生最得意的计划——我曾为它筹谋,为它斗争,为它担心,为它祈祷——并为它犯了罪过。菲利普•德贡明,我决不会善罢甘休的!考虑考虑吧,伙计!请你在我陷于绝境时同情同情我。你敏捷的头脑可以为我迅速地想出一个替代这一牺牲的办法。你知道, Chapter 31 The Interview Hold fast thy truth, young soldier. -- Gentle maiden, Keep you your promise plight -- leave age its subtleties, And gray hair'd policy its maze of falsehood, But be you candid as the morning sky, Ere the high sun sucks vapours up to stain it. THE TRIAL On the perilous and important morning which preceded the meeting of the two Princes in the Castle of Peronne, Oliver le Dain did his master the service of an active and skilful agent, making interest for Louis in every quarter, both with presents and promises; so that when the Duke's anger should blaze forth, all around should be interested to smother, and not to increase, the conflagration. He glided like night, from tent to tent, from house to house, making himself friends, but not in the Apostle's sense, with the Mammon of unrighteousness. As was said of another active political agent, "his finger was in every man's palm, his mouth was in every man's ear;" and for various reasons, some of which we have formerly hinted at, he secured the favour of many Burgundian nobles, who either had something to hope or fear from France, or who thought that, were the power of Louis too much reduced, their own Duke would be likely to pursue the road to despotic authority, to which his heart naturally inclined him, with a daring and unopposed pace. Where Oliver suspected his own presence or arguments might be less acceptable, he employed that of other servants of the King; and it was in this manner that he obtained, by the favour of the Count de Crevecoeur, an interview betwixt Lord Crawford, accompanied by Le Balafre, and Quentin Durward, who, since he had arrived at Peronne, had been detained in a sort of honourable confinement. Private affairs were assigned as the cause of requesting this meeting; but it is probable that Crevecoeur, who was afraid that his master might be stirred up in passion to do something dishonourably violent towards Louis, was not sorry to afford an opportunity to Crawford to give some hints to the young Archer, which might prove useful to his master. The meeting between the countrymen was cordial and even affecting. "Thou art a singular youth," said Crawford, stroking the head of young Durward, as a grandsire might do that of his descendant. "Certes, you have had as meikle good fortune as if you had been born with a lucky hood on your head." "All comes of his gaining an Archer's place at such early years," said Le Balafre; "I never was so much talked of, fair nephew, because I was five and twenty years old before I was hors de page (passed out of the rank of the page)." "And an ill looking mountainous monster of a page thou wert, Ludovic," said the old commander, "with a beard like a baker's shool, and a back like old Wallace Wight (so called because of his vigour and activity)." "I fear," said Quentin, with downcast eyes, "I shall enjoy that title to distinction but a short time -- since it is my purpose to resign the service of the Archer Guard." Le Balafre was struck almost mute with astonishment, and Crawford's ancient features gleamed with displeasure. The former at length mustered words enough to say, "Resign! -- leave your place in the Scottish Archers! -- such a thing was never dreamed of. I would not give up my situation to be made Constable of France." "Hush! Ludovic," said Crawford; "this youngster knows better how to shape his course with the wind than we of the old world do. His journey hath given him some pretty tales to tell about King Louis; and he is turning Burgundian, that he may make his own little profit by telling them to Duke Charles." "If I thought so," said Le Balafre, "I would cut his throat with my own hand, were he fifty times my sister's son." "But you would first inquire whether I deserved to be so treated, fair kinsman?" answered Quentin; "and you, my lord, know that I am no tale bearer; nor shall either question or torture draw out of me a word to King Louis's prejudice, which may have come to my knowledge while I was in his service. -- So far my oath of duty keeps me silent. But I will not remain in that services in which, besides the perils of fair battle with mine enemies, I am to be exposed to the dangers of ambuscade on the part of my friends." "Nay, if he objects to lying in ambuscade," said the slow witted Le Balafre, looking sorrowfully at the Lord Crawford, "I am afraid, my lord, that all is over with him! I myself have had thirty bushments break upon me, and truly I think I have laid in ambuscade twice as often myself, it being a favourite practice in our King's mode of making war." "It is so indeed, Ludovic," answered Lord Crawford; "nevertheless, hold your peace, for I believe I understand this gear better than you do." "I wish to Our Lady you may, my lord," answered Ludovic; "but it wounds me to the very midriff, to think my sister's son should fear an ambushment." "Young man," said Crawford, "I partly guess your meaning. You have met foul play on the road where you travelled by the King's command, and you think you have reason to charge him with being the author of it." "I have been threatened with foul play in the execution of the King's commission," answered Quentin; "but I have had the good fortune to elude it -- whether his Majesty be innocent or guilty in the matter, I leave to God and his own conscience. He fed me when I was a-hungered -- received me when I was a wandering stranger. I will never load him in his adversity with accusations which may indeed be unjust, since I heard them only from the vilest mouths." "My dear boy -- my own lad!" said Crawford, taking him in his arms. -- "Ye think like a Scot, every joint of you! Like one that will forget a cause of quarrel with a friend whose back is already at the wall, and remember nothing of him but his kindness." "Since my Lord Crawford has embraced my nephew," said Ludovic Lesly, "I will embrace him also -- though I would have you to know that to understand the service of an ambushment is as necessary to a soldier as it is to a priest to be able to read his breviary." "Be hushed, Ludovic," said Crawford; "ye are an ass, my friend, and ken not the blessing Heaven has sent you in this braw callant. -- And now tell me, Quentin, my man, hath the King any advice of this brave, Christian, and manly resolution of yours, for, poor man, he had need, in his strait, to ken what he has to reckon upon. Had he but brought the whole brigade of Guards with him! -- But God's will be done. -- Kens he of your purpose, think you?" "I really can hardly tell," answered Quentin; "but I assured his learned Astrologer, Martius Galeotti, of my resolution to be silent on all that could injure the King with the Duke of Burgundy. The particulars which I suspect, I will not (under your favour) communicate even to your lordship; and to the philosopher I was, of course, far less willing to unfold myself." "Ha! -- ay!" answered Lord Crawford. -- "Oliver did indeed tell me that Galeotti prophesied most stoutly concerning the line of conduct you were to hold; and I am truly glad to find he did so on better authority than the stars." "He prophesy!" said Le Balafre, laughing; "the stars never told him that honest Ludovic Lesly used to help yonder wench of his to spend the fair ducats he flings into her lap." "Hush! Ludovic," said his captain, "hush! thou beast, man! -- If thou dost not respect my gray hairs, because I have been e'en too much of a routier myself, respect the boy's youth and innocence, and let us have no more of such unbecoming daffing." "Your honour may say your pleasure," answered' Ludovic Lesly; "but, by my faith, second sighted Saunders Souplesaw, the town souter of Glen Houlakin, was worth Galeotti, or Gallipotty, or whatever ye call him, twice told, for a prophet. He foretold that all my sister's children, would die some day; and he foretold it in the very hour that the youngest was born, and that is this lad Quentin -- who, no doubt, will one day die, to make up the prophecy -- the more's the pity -- the whole curney of them is gone but himself. And Saunders foretold to myself one day, that I should be made by marriage, which doubtless will also happen in due time, though it hath not yet come to pass -- though how or when, I can hardly guess, as I care not myself for the wedded state, and Quentin is but a lad. Also, Saunders predicted --" "Nay," said Lord Crawford, "unless the prediction be singularly to the purpose, I must cut you short, my good Ludovic; for both you and I must now leave your nephew, with prayers to Our Lady to strengthen him in the good mind he is in; for this is a case in which a light word might do more mischief than all the Parliament of Paris could mend. My blessing with you, my lad; and be in no hurry to think of leaving our body; for there will be good blows going presently in the eye of day, and no ambuscade." "And my blessing, too, nephew," said Ludovic Lesly; "for, since you have satisfied our most noble captain, I also am satisfied, as in duty bound." "Stay, my lord," said Quentin, and led Lord Crawford a little apart from his uncle. "I must not forget to mention that there is a person besides in the world, who, having learned from me these circumstances, which it is essential to King Louis's safety should at present remain concealed, may not think that the same obligation of secrecy, which attaches to me as the King's soldier, and as having been relieved by his bounty, is at all binding on her." "On her!" replied Crawford; "nay, if there be a woman in the secret, the Lord have mercy, for we are all on the rocks again!" "Do not suppose so, my lord," replied Durward, "but use your interest with the Count of Crevecoeur to permit me an interview with the Countess Isabelle of Croye, who is the party possessed of my secret, and I doubt not that I can persuade her to be as silent as I shall unquestionably myself remain, concerning whatever may incense the Duke against King Louis." The old soldier mused for a long time -- looked up to the ceiling, then down again upon the floor -- then shook his head -- and at length said, "There is something in all this, which, by my honour, I do not understand. The Countess Isabelle of Croye! -- an interview with a lady of her birth, blood, and possessions! -- and thou a raw Scottish lad, so certain of carrying thy point with her? Thou art either strangely confident, my young friend, or else you have used your time well upon the journey. But, by the cross of Saint Andrew, I will move Crevecoeur in thy behalf; and, as he truly fears that Duke Charles may be provoked against the King to the extremity of falling foul, I think it likely he may grant thy request, though, by my honour, it is a comical one!" So saying, and shrugging up his shoulders, the old Lord left the apartment, followed by Ludovic Lesly, who, forming his looks on those of his principal, endeavoured, though knowing nothing of the cause of his wonder, to look as mysterious and important as Crawford himself. In a few minutes Crawford returned, but without his attendant, Le Balafre. The old man seemed in singular humour, laughing and chuckling to himself in a manner which strangely distorted his stern and rigid features, and at the same time shaking his head, as at something which he could not help condemning, while he found it irresistibly ludicrous. "My certes, countryman," said he, "but you are not blate -- you will never lose fair lady for faint heart! Crevecoeur swallowed your proposal as he would have done a cup of vinegar, and swore to me roundly, by all the saints in Burgundy, that were less than the honour of princes and the peace of kingdoms at stake, you should never see even so much as the print of the Countess Isabelle's foot on the clay. Were it not that he had a dame, and a fair one, I would have thought that he meant to break a lance for the prize himself. Perhaps he thinks of his nephew, the County Stephen. A Countess! -- would no less serve you to be minting at? -- But come along -- your interview with her must be brief. -- But I fancy you know how to make the most of little time -- ho! ho! ho! -- By my faith, I can hardly chide thee for the presumption, I have such a good will to laugh at it!" With a brow like scarlet, at once offended and disconcerted by the blunt inferences of the old soldier, and vexed at beholding in what an absurd light his passion was viewed by every person of experience, Durward followed Lord Crawford in silence to the Ursuline convent, in which the Countess was lodged, and in the parlour of which he found the Count de Crevecoeur. "So, young gallant," said the latter sternly, "you must see the fair companion of your romantic expedition once more, it seems." "Yes, my Lord Count," answered Quentin firmly, "and what is more, I must see her alone." "That shall never be," said the Count de Crevecoeur. -- "Lord Crawford, I make you judge. This young lady, the daughter of my old friend and companion in arms, the richest heiress in Burgundy, has confessed a sort of a -- what was I going to say? -- in short, she is a fool, and your man at arms here a presumptuous coxcomb. -- In a word, they shall not meet alone." "Then will I not speak a single word to the Countess in your presence," said Quentin, much delighted. "You have told me much that I did not dare, presumptuous as I may be, even to hope." "Ay, truly said, my friend," said Crawford. "You have been imprudent in your communications; and, since you refer to me, and there is a good stout grating across the parlour, I would advise you to trust to it, and let them do the worst with their tongues. What, man! the life of a King, and many thousands besides, is not to be weighed with the chance of two young things whilly whawing in ilk other's ears for a minute." So saying, he dragged off Crevecoeur, who followed very reluctantly, and cast many angry glances at the young Archer as he left the room. In a moment after, the Countess Isabelle entered on the other side of the grate, and no sooner saw Quentin alone in the parlour, than she stopped short, and cast her eyes on the ground for the space of half a minute. "Yet why should I be ungrateful," she said, "because others are unjustly suspicious? -- My friend -- my preserver, I may almost say, so much have I been beset by treachery, my only faithful and constant friend!" As she spoke thus, she extended her hand to him through the grate, nay, suffered him to retain it until he had covered it with kisses, not unmingled with tears. She only said, "Durward, were we ever to meet again, I would not permit this folly." If it be considered that Quentin had guided her through so many perils -- that he had been, in truth, her only faithful and zealous protector, perhaps my fair readers, even if countesses and heiresses should be of the number, will pardon the derogation. But the Countess extricated her hand at length, and stepping a pace back from the grate, asked Durward, in a very embarrassed tone, what boon he had to ask of her? -- "For that you have a request to make, I have learned from the old Scottish Lord, who came here but now with my cousin of Crevecoeur. Let it be but reasonable," she said, "but such as poor Isabelle can grant with duty and honour uninfringed, and you cannot tax my slender powers too highly. But, oh! do not speak hastily -- do not say," she added, looking around with timidity, "aught that might, if overheard, do prejudice to us both!" "Fear not, noble lady," said Quentin sorrowfully; "it is not here that I can forget the distance which fate has placed between us, or expose you to the censures of your proud kindred, as the object of the most devoted love to one, poorer and less powerful -- not perhaps less noble -- than themselves. Let that pass like a dream of the night to all but one bosom, where, dream as it is, it will fill up the room of all existing realities." "Hush! hush!" said Isabelle "for your own sake -- for mine -- be silent on such a theme. Tell me rather what it is you have to ask of me." "Forgiveness to one," replied Quentin, "who, for his own selfish views, hath conducted himself as your enemy." "I trust I forgive all my enemies," answered Isabelle; "but oh, Durward! through what scenes have your courage and presence of mind protected me! -- Yonder bloody hall -- the good Bishop -- I knew not till yesterday half the horrors I had unconsciously witnessed!" "Do not think on them," said Quentin, who saw the transient colour which had come to her cheek during their conference fast fading into the most deadly paleness. -- "Do not look back, but look steadily forward, as they needs must who walk in a perilous road. Hearken to me. King Louis deserves nothing better at your hand, of all others; than to be proclaimed the wily and insidious politician which he really is. But to tax him as the encourager of your flight -- still more as the author of a plan to throw you into the hands of De la Marck -- will at this moment produce perhaps the King's death or dethronement; and, at all events, the most bloody war between France and Burgundy which the two countries have ever been engaged in." "These evils shall not arrive for my sake, if they can be prevented," said the Countess Isabelle; "and indeed your slightest request were enough to make me forego my revenge, were that at any time a passion which I deeply cherish. Is it possible I would rather remember King Louis's injuries than your invaluable services? -- Yet how is this to be? -- When I am called before my Sovereign, the Duke of Burgundy, I must either stand silent or speak the truth. The former would be contumacy; and to a false tale you will not desire me to train my tongue." "Surely not," said Durward; "but let your evidence concerning Louis be confined to what you yourself positively know to be truth; and when you mention what others have reported, no matter how credibly, let it be as reports only, and beware of pledging your own personal evidence to that, which, though you may fully believe, you cannot personally know to be true. The assembled Council of Burgundy cannot refuse to a monarch the justice which in my country is rendered to the meanest person under accusation. They must esteem him innocent, until direct and sufficient proof shall demonstrate his guilt. Now, what does not consist with your own certain knowledge, should be proved by other evidence than your report from hearsay." "I think I understand you," said the Countess Isabelle. "I will make my meaning plainer," said Quentin; and was illustrating it accordingly by more than one instance when the convent bell tolled. "That," said the Countess, "is a signal that we must part -- part for ever! -- But do not forget me, Durward; I will never forget you -- your faithful services --" She could not speak more, but again extended her hand, which was again pressed to his lips; and I know not how it was, that, in endeavouring to withdraw her hand, the Countess came so close to the grating that Quentin was encouraged to press the adieu on her lips. The young lady did not chide him -- perhaps there was no time; for Crevecoeur and Crawford, who had been from some loophole eye witnesses if not ear witnesses, also, of what was passing, rushed into the apartment, the first in a towering passion, the latter laughing, and holding the Count back. "To your chamber, young mistress -- to your chamber!" exclaimed the Count to Isabelle, who, flinging down her veil, retired in all haste -- "which should be exchanged for a cell, and bread and water. -- And you, gentle sir, who are so malapert, the time will come when the interests of kings and kingdoms may not be connected with such as you are; and you shall then learn the penalty of your audacity in raising your beggarly eyes --" "Hush! hush! -- enough said -- rein up -- rein up," said the old Lord "and you, Quentin, I command you to be silent, and begone to your quarters. -- There is no such room for so much scorn, neither, Sir Count of Crevecoeur, that I must say now he is out of hearing. -- Quentin Durward is as much a gentleman as the King, only, as the Spaniard says, not so rich. He is as noble as myself, and I am chief of my name. Tush, tush! man, you must not speak to us of penalties." "My lord, my lord," said Crevecoeur impatiently, "the insolence of these foreign mercenaries is proverbial, and should receive rather rebuke than encouragement from you, who are their leader." "My Lord Count," answered Crawford, "I have ordered my command for these fifty years without advice either from Frenchman or Burgundian; and I intend to do so, under your favour, so long as I shall continue to hold it." "Well, well, my lord," said Crevecoeur, "I meant you no disrespect; your nobleness, as well as your age, entitle you to be privileged in your impatience; and for these young people. I am satisfied to overlook the past, since I will take care that they never meet again." "Do not take that upon your salvation, Crevecoeur," said the old Lord, laughing; "mountains, it is said, may meet, and why not mortal creatures that have legs, and life and love to put those legs in motion? Yon kiss, Crevecoeur, came tenderly off -- methinks it was ominous." "You are striving again to disturb my patience," said Crevecoeur, "but I will not give you that advantage over me. -- -- Hark! they toll the summons to the Castle -- an awful meeting, of which God only can foretell the issue." "This issue I can foretell," said the old Scottish lord, "that if violence is to be offered to the person of the King, few as his friends are, and surrounded by his shall neither fall alone nor unavenged; and grieved I am that his own positive orders have prevented my taking measures to prepare for such an issue." "My Lord of Crawford," said the Burgundian, "to anticipate such evil is the sure way to give occasion to it. Obey the orders of your royal master, and give no pretext for violence by taking hasty offence, and you will find that the day will pass over more smoothly than you now conjecture." 年轻的卫士,牢固地保持你的诚实, 温柔的少女, 坚守你爱情的信誓——让老年人玩弄他们的权术, 让白发的谋略家编造复杂的谎言, 但你们要像早晨的天空—— 朝阳吸收的雾气还未玷污的天空, 保持你们的纯朴。 《考验》 两位君王在佩隆城堡会晤的前一天,奥利弗•丹利用当天这个凶多吉少、至关紧要的早晨,充当一个活跃而能干的代理人,为主人积极效劳。他通过送礼和许诺,为路易笼络人心四处奔走,以便公爵脾气发作时,周围的人将关心的是平息他的火气,而不是火上加油。他像夜游神似的从一个营帐溜到另一个营帐,从一个住宅溜到另一个住宅,和人拉关系,交朋友,但并不是按“使徒”的说法和“不义的财神爷”交上了朋友。正如人们对另一个活跃的政治代理人所说的那样,“他的手指伸进了每个人的掌心,他的嘴巴柞到了每个人的耳旁”。由于种种原因——其中某些我们曾暗示过——他竟然获得了许多勃艮第贵族的好感。这些人要么希望从法国得到某些东西,要么害怕从法国失去什么东西;要么是考虑到,一旦路易权力过分削弱,他们这位公爵就会毫无阻拦地继续走向与其天性十分合拍的暴虐专制。 要是奥利弗担心对方不愿见他或听他游说,他便利用国王的其他臣仆来做工作。正是按照这种安排,他依靠克雷维格伯爵的帮助,设法使克劳福德大公在巴拉弗雷陪同下见到了自来佩隆以后一直遭到某种软禁的昆丁•达威特。会见是以谈私事为理由。可能是克雷维格担心自己的主人盛怒之下会对路易采取不体面的暴力行动,所以他也情愿给克劳福德提供一个机会,好向这年轻卫士作些有利于路易王的暗示。 两个苏格兰同胞之间的会见自然十分亲热感人。 “你这个年轻人真是顶呱呱,”克劳福德说道,一边像老祖父对待孙子似的抚摸着达威特的头表示亲热,“你也的确走运,仿佛你一生下来就头上戴有一顶吉祥的兜帽。” “这都是因为他这么小的年纪就获得了一个苏格兰射手的地位。”勒巴拉弗雷说道,“我的好外甥,我过去从来没像你这样出风头,因为我直到二十五岁才出师,不再当侍童。” “卢德维克,你当侍童时,样子怪难看,活像一座小山,”老年的卫队长说道,“胡子就像面包师的铲子,背就像那名叫华莱士的驼背老人。” “我担心,”昆丁眼望着地面说道,“这个显贵的称号我不会享受多久了,因为我打算辞去卫士职务。” 巴拉弗雷几乎惊讶得呆若木鸡,克劳福德那苍老的面孔也显出不悦的神色。巴拉弗雷最后才找出一句话来说。“辞职!抛弃你在苏格兰卫队取得的地位!这真是做梦也没想到。即使要我当法兰西总督,我也舍不得放弃我现在的职位!” “别说了,卢德维克,”克劳福德说道,“这年轻人要比我们这种老古板更懂得看风使舵。他这一趟旅行准是给他提供了一些对路易王不利的宝贵材料。他打算倒向勃艮第,拿这些材料向查尔斯公爵告密,好捞把油水。” “要是果真如此,”巴拉弗雷说道,“那么哪怕他再是我的亲外甥,我也要亲手把他宰掉!” “好舅父,您总得先问问我是否值得给以这种惩罚吧?”昆丁对答道,“至于您,克劳福德大公,我想对您说的是,我并不是一个搬弄是非、喜欢告密的人。而且无论是审讯还是刑讯都不能使我供出我在为路易工服役期间我偶尔知道的不利于他的东西——因为我效忠的誓言要求我保守秘密。不过我不想再为他服役,因为,除开与敌人作战所冒的危险以外,我还必须遭受我的朋友对我伏击的危险。” “我的大人,要是他讨厌伏击,我看,他就完了。”那鲁钝的巴拉弗雷忧伤地对克劳福德大公说道,“我自己就遭到过三十次伏击,而我相信我打别人伏击的次数比这还多一倍,因为国王打仗就喜欢使用伏击战术。” “卢德维克,这倒是事实,”克劳福德大公对答道,“不过,你住嘴,我想我比你更清楚这个玩意。” “大人,圣母保佑,愿您如此,”卢德维克对答道,“不过,想到自己的外甥竟然害怕伏击,也真叫我伤心。” “年轻人,”克劳福德说道,“我稍稍可以猜出你的意思。你在国王指定的路线上遇到了圈套,你就认为有理由说这是国王策划的,是吗?” “我在执行国王的任务时遇到了陷进圈套的危险,但我幸运地避开了这个圈套。至于陛下在这个事情上是否无辜,我只想让上帝和他自己的良心去回答这个问题。我饥饿时他给我饭吃,我在异乡流落时他把我收留下来。我决不会在他处于逆境时对他进行很可能是不公正的指控,因为那件事我毕竟是从最坏的人口里听来的。” “我亲爱的孩子,你就像我自己亲生的一样!”克劳福德拥抱他说,“你看问题的方式真说明你是个地地道道的苏格兰人!你也是看到朋友遭难,不念旧恶,只想到他的好处。” “既然克劳福德大人拥抱了我外甥,”卢德维克•莱斯利说道,“我也要拥抱他——不过我希望你知道,对于一个兵士说来,懂得伏击的意义就像牧师会念祷告一样重要。” “住嘴,卢德维克,”克劳福德说道,“你简直是匹笨驴,不懂得上帝通过这个好小子给你带来的福音。好吧,我的好昆丁,你告诉我,国王知不知道你这个合乎基督之道的勇敢而忠厚的决心呢?因为,真可怜,在他当前这个困境中他很需要知道,他能指望些什么作为他的依靠。要是他把整个卫队带来就好了!不过,我们也只得服从上帝的意旨——你想,他知道你的意图吗?” “我的确无从知道,”昆丁回答道,“不过我对那位有学问的占星术家马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提说过,我决心隐瞒会使勃艮第公爵加害于路易王的任何情况。至于我怀疑的具体事实,那我连您也不愿告诉(请您原谅),就更不用说这位哲学家了。” “哈!太好了!”克劳福德说道,“难怪奥利弗告诉我说,伽利奥提对你将要采取的态度作出了极有把握的预言。我很高兴,原来他根据的不是什么星象,而是更可靠的事实。” “他会作出预言!”巴拉弗雷笑哈哈地说道,“星象可从没有告诉过他,老实的卢德维克•莱斯利经常帮他那个情妇花掉他送给她的金币呐!” “住嘴,卢德维克,”队长说道,“你真是个大老粗!如果你不尊重我这白发老人——因为我自己也很放荡——那你也得尊重这个纯真清白的小伙子。我们不要再谈这些乌七八糟的东西了。” “大人爱怎么说,就怎么说好了,”卢德维克•莱斯利对答道,“不过,老实说,我们格兰一呼拉金的鞋匠——具有预见力的桑德斯•苏卜勒乔,作为一个先知可抵得上两个加洛提或伽利奥提(或他别的一些乱七八糟的叫法)。这人曾预言我妹妹所有的儿女有一天都会死光。而他作出这个预言的时间正好是在她的小儿子诞生那天。这指的就是昆丁这个娃娃。他肯定也有一天会死去,以实现这个预言的——真造孽,特别是因为他们全家都死光了。桑德斯有一天还对我预言说,我将通过婚姻发迹。当然,到时候,总是要结婚的;尽管现在还没有成为事实——尽管什么时候,怎么个情况,我也还猜不到,因为我自己不想结婚,昆丁也还小。此外,桑德斯还预言过——” “别说了,好卢德维克,”克劳福德大公说道,“我必须打断你。看来你这个预言无关紧要。你和我必须马上离开。祷告圣母,愿你外甥能坚定他所下的决心,因为目前是一句话不小心,闯的祸就连整个巴黎国会也难以补救。我的好孩子,我祝福你。别忙着考虑脱离我们的卫队。要知道,很快就有许多仗要打,而且是明打,不是暗打。” “好外甥,我也祝福你,”卢德维克•莱斯利说道,“既然你已使得我们最高贵的卫队长感到满意,我自然也应当感到满意。” “大人,请等一等,”昆丁说道,一边把克劳福德大公拉朝一边,和他舅父隔得稍远一点,“我必须向您说的是,在这个世界上还有一个人已经从我这儿了解到目前严格保密对路易王的安全至关紧要的一些情况。我作为国王的卫士,受到他的恩惠和救济,有义务为他保密,但她可能并不认为像我一样具有这种义务和约束。” “一个女人!”克劳福德对答道,“要是一个女人知道了这个秘密,那么,上帝保佑,我们可又撞进了死胡同!” “大人,请别这么想,”达威特对答道,“清运用您与克雷维格伯爵的关系求他允许我见克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔小姐一面——正是她掌握了我知道的这个秘密。我相信在可能刺激公爵对路易王发火的问题上我能说服她像我一样地严守秘密。” 老年的卫队长沉思良久。他抬头看看天花板,又低头看看地面,然后又摇摇头,最后才说道:“说实话,这里面有点什么真叫我莫名其妙。要和克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐——要和具有她这样一种出身、血统和她这样财产的贵妇人见见面!而你一个苏格兰野娃娃竟如此有把握说服她?年轻的朋友,要么是你过于自信,要么是你在旅途中很善于利用你的时间。不过,凭圣安德鲁的十字说,我将为你向克雷维格游说。他的确担心查尔斯公爵对国王的恼怒会发展到蛮干的地步,我想他可能会答应你的请求。不过,凭良心说,这可真是个滑稽的请求!” 说罢那年老的大公便耸耸肩膀走了出去。跟随他的卢德维克•莱斯利也仿效长官的表情;尽管不知道克劳福德惊奇的原因何在,也竭力像他一样装出一副神秘和庄严的样子。 几分钟以后克劳福德走了回来,但没带他的随从巴拉弗雷。老人显得非常开心。他呵呵笑个没完,笑容扭歪了他那严峻的面孔;他一边还摇着头,似乎忍不住要对某个他认为十分荒谬的事表示异议。“我的老乡,”他说道,“你真不赖——你永远不会因为胆怯失去一个美人!克雷维格就像喝了一杯醋似的勉强同意了你的请求。他以勃艮第所有圣徒的名义狠狠向我发誓说,要不是事关君王们的荣誉和王国之间的和平,就连伊莎贝尔地上的脚印你也休想再看到。要不是他有自己的夫人,而且长得很漂亮,我还以为他打算通过比武来争夺这位小姐哩。也许他考虑的是他侄儿斯蒂芬伯爵吧。找上一个伯爵小姐!难道你就不能把目标定得低一点吗?你来吧。你和她相会只能很短——不过,我想你懂得如何尽量利用这短暂的功夫——说实在的,我也无法责怪你的狂妄,我只是善意地感到事情好笑!” 对这年老的卫队长所作的率直的推测昆丁感到既生气又难堪,看到所有过来人全都认为他的爱情荒唐可笑也感到十分恼火。他额头涨得通红,默默地跟随克劳福德大公来到伯爵小姐所在的乌尔苏林女修道院。在会客室里碰见了克雷维格伯爵。 “风流的小伙子,”克雷维格严厉地说道,“看来,不再见见你那罗曼蒂克的旅行中的美丽女伴,你是不甘心的啰?” “是的,伯爵大人,”昆丁坚定地回答说,“而且,我必须和她单独见面。” “那可不行,”克雷维格伯爵说道,“克劳福德大公,我请您评评理。这位年轻小姐是我老朋友、老战友的女儿,是勃艮第最富有的财产继承人。她竟然向我坦白了某种——叫我怎么说好呢?总之,她是个大傻瓜,而你这位武士则是个不知天高地厚的纨绔子。一句话,不能让他们单独见面。” “当您的面我一句话也不对小姐讲,”昆丁十分高兴地说道,“尽管我不知天高地厚,但您刚才告诉我的却是我想都不敢想的。” “朋友,这是讲的实话,”克劳福德说道,“你刚才讲的那句话太不小心了。既然你叫我来评断,那么我的意见是可以利用客厅里横着的这个牢固的铁栏栅。你可以放心,大不了就是让他们隔着栅栏饶饶舌头!伙计,难道一个国王的命运,再加上成千上万个普通人的性命还值不得让两个人有机会在彼此耳朵里嘀咕一分钟吗?” 说着他便硬拖着克雷维格往外走。伯爵极其勉强地跟在他后面,离开会客室时还一再回过头来向这年轻的卫士投以愤怒的目光。 不久伊莎贝尔小姐便走到栅栏的另一侧。她看见昆丁一个人在会客室里,便立刻停了下来,低头望着地面约莫半分钟之久。“何必因为别人的瞎乱猜疑,我就得忘恩负义呢?”她说道,“我的朋友,我的保护人——我几乎可以这样称呼你,因为我周围充满着那么多的危险——我惟一忠实可靠的朋友!” 她边说边将手伸过铁栅,让他一把握住。他狂吻着她的手,眼泪籁籁地落在它上面。她只是说:“昆丁,要是我们以后再见面,我可不允许你干这种傻事了。” 回想起昆丁曾保护她避免那么多的危险——事实上他的确是她惟一的忠实而热情的保护者——我想我亲爱的读者们,其中甚至包括一些伯爵小姐和继承产业的仕女们,也会原谅使她有失身份的这个举动吧。 伯爵小姐终于把手缩了回去,然后从铁栅后退一步,怪难为情地问达威特,他究竟要她帮什么忙。“刚才和我叔父克雷维格一道来见我的那位年老的苏格兰贵族对我说,你有为难之处想要我帮个忙,只要这个要求合理,”她说道,“只要是可怜的伊莎贝尔在无损义务和荣誉的条件下能够答应的,都不成问题。你当然不能对我这能力十分有限的人要求过高。啊!别说得太莽撞——别说,”她胆怯地望望周围又补充说道,“别说什么让人听见会给我们带来不利的话!” “别担心,高贵的小姐,”昆丁忧伤地说道,“在这样一个地方,我不可能忘记命运摆在我们之间的距离,使你受到那高傲的亲戚的谴责。虽然你是我最真诚地爱慕的人,但我也知道,我不像他们那样富有,那样有权势——倒不见得没有他们那样高贵。让事情就像夜里的幻梦那样成为过去吧!但尽管是幻梦,它仍将代替真实,永远留在我的心中。” “别说了!别说了!”伊莎贝尔耳语道,“为了你的缘故——也为了我的缘故,别再谈这种事了。你最好告诉我:你想求我做什么?” “宽恕一个人,”昆丁回答道,“一个曾为了自私的目的与你为敌的人。” “我想我已经宽恕了我所有的仇人,”伊莎贝尔对答道,“啊,达威特!依靠你的勇敢和镇定,在你的保护下我经历了多么可怕的情景啊!那大厅里的血腥屠杀——那善良的主教——直到昨天我才多少知道了我虽然在场但没有亲眼看到的一些恐怖情节r “别再想这些了,”昆丁说道;他看到他们谈话时她脸上刚刚泛起的红晕迅速地转变成死灰般的苍白色,“你应当像走在险道上的人们那样,始终向前看,别往后看。听我说吧,要是你将路易王那阴险狡猾的政客面目公诸于众,诚然这对你说来本是再公正不过;但如果你现在要指责他鼓励你逃跑,甚至策划使你落进德拉马克的手里,那就会造成国王丧命或被废黜的后果,至少会使法国和勃艮第之间一直在进行着的战争变得十分残酷。” “只要是能够避免的,就绝不会因为我而招致这些灾祸。”伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐说道,“何况,即使复仇曾经是我内心深处的强烈欲望,但只消你一提出要求,我也会放弃这个念头。难道我宁可记住路易王对我的冤仇,而忘掉你对我的无比宝贵的帮助吗?不过,我该怎么办呢?要是我被叫到我的君主勃艮第公爵面前,我就得要么保持缄默,要么就讲实话。前者意味着藐视公爵;至于说谎,我想你是不希望我这样做的。” “那当然,”达威特说道,“不过你可以把有关路易王的证词局限在你肯定知道是事实的范围以内。提到别人谣传的东西时,不管多么可信,你也只能把它说成是谣传;对于你尽管完全相信,但并不能亲自证明属实的东西,千万别把你自己作为人证。勃艮第的满朝文武自然不会拒绝给一位国王哪怕苏格兰一个最卑微的受审者也会得到的公正裁决。除非有充分和直接的证据证明他有罪,否则,他们就得判他无罪。要知道,任何并非你自己确切知道的东西,都必须通过别的旁证,而非你听来的谣传,才能落实下来。” “我懂得你的意思了。”伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐说道。 “我想把我的意思说得更明白一些。”昆丁说道,接着他又举出好几个例于来解释。但这时修道院的大钟忽然响了起来。 “这是我们永远分手的信号!”伯爵小姐说道,“达威特,别忘了我哟,我永远不会忘记你——和你忠诚的帮助——” 她再也说不下去了,只是又把手伸了出来。他又把它一遍遍地吻着。我也不知道是怎么回事:当她竭力把手缩回去时,身子却往前迈了一步,紧紧贴着铁栏栅。昆丁感觉受到鼓舞,竞吻了她的嘴唇作为告别。年轻的小姐并没有责怪他——也许是时间不容许了。克雷维格和克劳福德尽管听不到他们说的话,却一直躲着窥望他们的动作。这时两人都冲了进来。前者怒不可遏,后者则一边拖着他,一边放声大笑。 “回你房里去!回你房里去!”伯爵对伊莎贝尔喊道。听这一喊,小姐便把面纱放了下来,赶忙退了回去。“我看,得把你关进国室,只给你面包和水过日子。而你这不识体统的先生,我看,待哪天君王和社稷的利益不再和你这种人搅在一起时,你总会尝到因你胆大妄为而受的惩罚,假如你竟敢把你那叫花子般的眼睛——” “别说了!别说了!够了,该收一收了!”年老的大公说道,“昆丁,我命令你别还嘴,马上回你住的地方去——克雷维格伯爵先生,他并没有理由遭到您这般轻视。现在他人不在了,我必须说明,他昆丁•达威特也和国王一般高贵,只是像西班牙人说的那样,没有国王那么富有。他和我本人一样出身高贵,而我是我们家族的旅长。得了,伙计!别对我们谈什么惩罚了。” “我的大人,我的大人,”克雷维格不耐烦地说道,“这些外籍雇佣兵的傲慢无礼是出了名的。您既然是他们的首领,您就应当谴责他们,而不要鼓励。” “伯爵大人,”克劳福德回答道,“我指挥我的卫队也有五十年之久了,还从来不需要哪个法国人或勃艮第人来指教我。只要我还掌有我的指挥权,承您关照,我打算继续如此。” “行,行,我的大人,”克雷维格说道,’‘我原来也并非有冒犯您的尊严的意思。您的高贵和高龄使您有权发点脾气。至于这两个年轻人,我也愿不咎既往。不过我得注意不让他们再见面。” “这种事和您克雷维格的灵魂得救无关,最好别去管它,”年老的大公笑着说道,“俗话说,两山相会也难阻挡,何况有生命、有爱情、有两条腿的活人可以命令两条腿走路呢?克雷维格,那个亲吻多富于感情啊!我想它可是个强有力的预兆。” “您又在拼命刺激我发脾气,”克雷维格说道,“不过我不想让您占我这个便宜。听!钟声响了,是召我们进城堡去——这将是个可怕的集会,其后果只有上帝能预先知道。” “我可以预言这样一个结局,”年老的苏格兰大公说道,“假如对国王动武的话,那么即使在敌人包围下,他的朋友寡不敌众,倒下的也不会是他一个人,事情也不会得不到报复。我感到遗憾的是,由于他的断然命令我无法事先采取措施来对付这样一种结局。” “克劳福德大公,”那勃艮第大臣说道,“预先提防这种灾祸就肯定会引起这种灾祸。服从国王陛下的命令,别冒失地发火以给人动武的口实,您就会发现,今天会比您此刻所猜想的顺利一些。” Chapter 32 The Investigation Me rather had my heart might feel your love, Than my displeased eye see your courtesy. Up, cousin, up -- your heart is up, I know, Thus high at least -- although your knee -- KING RICHARD II At the first toll of the bell which was to summon the great nobles of Burgundy together in council, with the very few French peers who could be present on the occasion, Duke Charles, followed by a part of his train, armed with partisans and battle axes, entered the Hall of Herbert's Tower, in the Castle of Peronne. King Louis, who had expected the visit, arose and made two steps towards the Duke, and then remained standing with an air of dignity, which, in spite of the meanness of his dress, and the familiarity of his ordinary manners, he knew very well how to assume when he judged it necessary. Upon the present important crisis, the composure of his demeanour had an evident effect upon his rival, who changed the abrupt and hasty step with which he entered the apartment into one more becoming a great vassal entering the presence of his Lord Paramount. Apparently the Duke had formed the internal resolution to treat Louis, in the outset at least, with the formalities due to his high station; but at the same time it was evident, that, in doing so, he put no small constraint upon the fiery impatience of his own disposition, and was scarce able to control the feelings of resentment and the thirst of revenge which boiled in his bosom. Hence, though he compelled himself to use the outward acts, and in some degree the language, of courtesy and reverence, his colour came and went rapidly -- his voice was abrupt, hoarse, and broken -- his limbs shook, as if impatient of the curb imposed on his motions -- he frowned and bit his lip until the blood came -- and every look and movement showed that the most passionate prince who ever lived was under the dominion of one of his most violent paroxysms of fury. The King marked this war of passion with a calm and untroubled eye, for, though he gathered from the Duke's looks a foretaste of the bitterness of death, which he dreaded alike as a mortal and a sinful man, yet he was resolved, like a wary and skilful pilot, neither to suffer himself to be disconcerted by his own fears, nor to abandon the helm, while there was a chance of saving the vessel by adroit pilotage. Therefore, when the Duke, in a hoarse and broken tone, said something of the scarcity of his accommodations, he answered with a smile that he could not complain, since he had as yet found Herbert's Tower a better residence than it had proved to one of his ancestors. "They told you the tradition then?" said Charles. "Yes -- here he was slain -- but it was because he refused to take the cowl, and finish his days in a monastery." "The more fool he," said Louis, affecting unconcern, "since he gained the torment of being a martyr, without the merit of being a saint." "I come," said the Duke, "to pray your Majesty to attend a high council at which tidings of weight are to be deliberated upon concerning the welfare of France and Burgundy. You will presently meet them -- that is, if such be your pleasure." "Nay, my fair cousin," said the King. "never strain courtesy so far as to entreat what you may so boldly command. -- To council, since such is your Grace's pleasure. We are somewhat shorn of our train," he added, looking upon the small suite that arranged themselves to attend him, "but you, cousin, must shine out for us both." Marshalled by Toison d'Or, chief of the heralds of Burgundy, the Princes left the Earl Herbert's Tower, and entered the castle yard, which Louis observed was filled with the Duke's bodyguard and men at arms, splendidly accoutred, and drawn up in martial array. Crossing the court, they entered the Council Hall, which was in a much more modern part of the building than that of which Louis had been the tenant, and, though in disrepair, had been hastily arranged for the solemnity of a public council. Two chairs of state were erected under the same canopy, that for the King being raised two steps higher than the one which the Duke was to occupy; about twenty of the chief nobility sat, arranged in due order, on either hand of the chair of state; and thus, when both the Princes were seated, the person for whose trial, as it might be called, the council was summoned, held the highest place, and appeared to preside in it. It was perhaps to get rid of this inconsistency, and the scruples which might have been inspired by it, that Duke Charles, having bowed slightly to the royal chair, bluntly opened the sitting with the following words -- "My good vassals and councillors, it is not unknown to you what disturbances have arisen in our territories, both in our father's time and in our own, from the rebellion of vassals against superiors, and subjects against their princes. And lately we have had the most dreadful proof of the height to which these evils have arrived in our case, by the scandalous flight of the Countess Isabelle of Croye, and her aunt the Lady Hameline, to take refuge with a foreign power, thereby renouncing their fealty to us, and inferring the forfeiture of their fiefs; and in another more dreadful and deplorable instance, by the sacrilegious and bloody murder of our beloved brother and ally, the Bishop of Liege, and the rebellion of that treacherous city, which was but too mildly punished for the last insurrection. We have been informed that these sad events may be traced, not merely to the inconstancy and folly of women, and the presumption of pampered citizens, but to the agency of foreign power, and the interference of a mighty neighbour, from whom, if good deeds could merit any return in kind, Burgundy could have expected nothing but the most sincere and devoted friendship. If this should prove truth," said the Duke, setting his teeth and pressing his heel against the ground, "what consideration shall withhold us -- the means being in our power -- from taking such measures as shall effectually, and at the very source, close up the main spring from which these evils have yearly flowed on us?" The Duke had begun his speech with some calmness, but he elevated his voice at the conclusion; and the last sentence was spoken in a tone which made all the councillors tremble, and brought a transient fit of paleness across the King's cheek. He instantly recalled his courage, however, and addressed the council in his turn in a tone evincing so much ease and composure that the Duke, though he seemed desirous to interrupt or stop him, found no decent opportunity to do so. "Nobles of France and of Burgundy," he said, "Knights of the Holy Spirit and of the Golden Fleece! Since a King must plead his cause as an accused person he cannot desire more distinguished judges than the flower of nobleness and muster and pride of chivalry. Our fair cousin of Burgundy hath but darkened the dispute between us, in so far as his courtesy has declined to state it in precise terms. I, who have no cause for observing such delicacy, nay, whose condition permits me not to do so, crave leave to speak more precisely. It is to Us, my lords -- to Us, his liege lord, his kinsman, his ally, that unhappy circumstances, perverting our cousins's clear judgment and better nature, have induced him to apply the hateful charges of seducing his vassals from their allegiance, stirring up the people of Liege to revolt, and stimulating the outlawed William de la Marck to commit a most cruel and sacrilegious murder. Nobles of France and Burgundy, I might truly appeal to the circumstances in which I now stand, as being in themselves a complete contradiction of such an accusation, for is it to be supposed that, having the sense of a rational being left me, I should have thrown myself unreservedly into the power of the Duke of Burgundy while I was practising treachery against him such as could not fail to be discovered, and which being discovered, must place me, as I now stand, in the power of a justly exasperated prince? The folly of one who should seat himself quietly down to repose on a mine, after he had lighted the match which was to cause instant explosion, would have been wisdom compared to mine. I have no doubt that, amongst the perpetrators of those horrible treasons at Schonwaldt, villains have been busy with my name -- but am I to be answerable, who have given them no right to use it? -- If two silly women, disgusted on account of some romantic cause of displeasure, sought refuge at my Court, does it follow that they did so by my direction? -- It will be found, when inquired into, that, since honour and chivalry forbade my sending them back prisoners to the Court of Burgundy -- which, I think, gentlemen, no one who wears the collar of these Orders would suggest -- that I came as nearly as possible to the same point by placing them in the hands of the venerable father in God, who is now a saint in Heaven." Here Louis seemed much affected and pressed his kerchief to his eyes. "In the hands, I say, of a member of my own family, and still more closely united with that of Burgundy, whose situation, exalted condition in the church, and, alas! whose numerous virtues qualified him to be the protector of these unhappy wanderers for a little while, and the mediator betwixt them and their liege lord. I say, therefore, the only circumstances which seem, in my brother of Burgundy's hasty view of this subject, to argue unworthy suspicions against me, are such as can be explained on the fairest and most honourable motives; and I say, moreover, that no one particle of credible evidence can be brought to support the injurious charges which have induced my brother to alter his friendly looks towards one who came to him in full confidence of friendship -- have caused him to turn his festive hall into a court of justice, and his hospitable apartments into a prison." "My lord, my lord," said Charles, breaking in as soon as the King paused, "for your being here at a time so unluckily coinciding with the execution of your projects, I can only account by supposing that those who make it their trade to impose on others do sometimes egregiously delude themselves. The engineer is sometimes killed by the springing of his own petard. -- For what is to follow, let it depend on the event of this solemn inquiry. -- Bring hither the Countess Isabelle of Croye." As the young lady was introduced, supported on the one side by the Countess of Crevecoeur, who had her husband's commands to that effect, and on the other by the Abbess of the Ursuline convent, Charles exclaimed, with his usual harshness of voice and manner, "So! sweet Princess -- you, who could scarce find breath to answer us when we last laid our just and reasonable commands on you, yet have had wind enough to run as long a course as ever did hunted doe -- what think you of the fair work you have made between two great Princes, and two mighty countries, that have been like to go to war for your baby face?" The publicity of the scene and the violence of Charles's manner totally overcame the resolution which Isabelle had formed of throwing herself at the Duke's feet and imploring him to take possession of her estates, and permit her to retire into a cloister. She stood motionless, like a terrified female in a storm, who hears the thunder roll on every side of her, and apprehends in every fresh peal the bolt which is to strike her dead. The. Countess of Crevecoeur, a woman of spirit equal to her birth and to the beauty which she preserved even in her matronly years, judged it necessary to interfere. "My Lord Duke," she said, "my fair cousin is under my protection. I know better than your Grace how women should be treated, and we will leave this presence instantly, unless you use a tone and language more suitable to our rank and sex." The Duke burst out into a laugh. "Crevecoeur," he said, "thy tameness hath made a lordly dame of thy Countess; but that is no affair of mine. Give a seat to yonder simple girl, to whom, so far from feeling enmity, I design the highest grace and honour. -- Sit down, mistress, and tell us at your leisure what fiend possessed you to fly from your native country, and embrace the trade of a damsel adventurous." With much pain, and not without several interruptions, Isabelle confessed that, being absolutely determined against a match proposed to her by the Duke of Burgundy, she had indulged the hope of obtaining protection of the Court of France. "And under protection of the French Monarch," said Charles. "Of that, doubtless, you were well assured?" "I did indeed so think myself assured," said the Countess Isabelle, "otherwise I had not taken a step so decided." Here Charles looked upon Louis with a smile of inexpressible bitterness, which the King supported with the utmost firmness, except that his lip grew something whiter than it was wont to be. "But my information concerning King Louis's intentions towards us," continued the Countess, after a short pause, "was almost entirely derived from my unhappy aunt, the Lady Hameline, and her opinions were formed upon the assertions and insinuations of persons whom I have since discovered to be the vilest traitors and most faithless wretches in the world." She then stated, in brief terms, what she had since come to learn of the treachery of Marthon, and of Hayraddin Maugrabin, and added that she "entertained no doubt that the elder Maugrabin, called Zamet, the original adviser of their flight, was capable of every species of treachery, as well as of assuming the character of an agent of Louis without authority." There was a pause while the Countess had continued her story, which she prosecuted, though very briefly, from the time she left the territories of Burgundy, in company with her aunt, until the storming of Schonwaldt, and her final surrender to the Count of Crevecoeur. All remained mute after she had finished her brief and broken narrative, and the Duke of Burgundy bent his fierce dark eyes on the ground, like one who seeks for a pretext to indulge his passion, but finds none sufficiently plausible to justify himself in his own eyes. "The mole," he said at length, looking upwards, "winds not his dark subterranean path beneath our feet the less certainly that we, though conscious of his motions, cannot absolutely trace them. Yet I would know of King Louis wherefore he maintained these ladies at his Court, had they not gone thither by his own invitation." "I did not so entertain them, fair cousin," answered the King. "Out of compassion, indeed, I received them in privacy, but took an early opportunity of placing them under the protection of the late excellent Bishop, your own ally, and who was (may God assoil him!) a better judge than I, or any secular prince, how to reconcile the protection due to fugitives with the duty which a king owes to his ally, from whose dominions they have fled. I boldly ask this young lady whether my reception of them was cordial, or whether it was not, on the contrary, such as made them express regret that they had made my Court their place of refuge?" "So much was it otherwise than cordial," answered the Countess, "that it induced me, at least, to doubt how far it was possible that your Majesty should have actually given the invitation of which we had been assured, by those who called themselves your agents, since, supposing them to have proceeded only as they were duly authorized, it would have been hard to reconcile your Majesty's conduct with that to be expected from a king, a knight, and a gentleman." The Countess turned her eyes to the King as she spoke, with a look which was probably intended as a reproach, but the breast of Louis was armed against all such artillery. On the contrary, waving slowly his expanded hands, and looking around the circle, he seemed to make a triumphant appeal to all present, upon the testimony borne to his innocence in the Countess's reply. Burgundy, meanwhile, cast on him a look which seemed to say, that if in some degree silenced, he was as far as ever from being satisfied, and then said abruptly to the Countess, "Methinks, fair mistress, in this account of your wanderings, you have forgot all mention of certain love passages. -- So, ho, blushing already? -- Certain knights of the forest, by whom your quiet was for a time interrupted. Well -- that incident hath come to our ear, and something we may presently form out of it. -- Tell me, King Louis, were it not well, before this vagrant Helen of Troy (the wife of Menelaus. She was carried to Troy by Paris, and thus was the cause of the Trojan War), or of Croye, set more Kings by the ears, were it not well to carve out a fitting match for her?" King Louis, though conscious what ungrateful proposal was likely to be made next, gave a calm and silent assent to what Charles said; but the Countess herself was restored to courage by the very extremity of her situation. She quitted the arm of the Countess of Crevecoeur, on which she had hitherto leaned, came forward timidly, yet with an air of dignity, and kneeling before the Duke's throne, thus addressed him "Noble Duke of Burgundy, and my liege lord, I acknowledge my fault in having withdrawn myself from your dominions without your gracious permission, and will most humbly acquiesce in any penalty you are pleased to impose. I place my lands and castles at your rightful disposal, and pray you only of your own bounty, and for the sake of my memory, to allow the last of the line of Croye, out of her large estate, such a moderate maintenance as may find her admission into a convent for the remainder of her life." "What think you, Sire, of the young person's petition to us," said the Duke, addressing Louis. "As of a holy and humble motion," said the King, "which doubtless comes from that grace which ought not to be resisted or withstood." "The humble and lowly shall be exalted," said Charles. "Arise, Countess Isabelle -- we mean better for you than you have devised for yourself. We mean neither to sequestrate your estates, nor to abase your honours, but, on the contrary, will add largely to both." "Alas! my lord," said the Countess, continuing on her knees, "it is even that well meant goodness which I fear still more than your Grace's displeasure, since it compels me --" "Saint George of Burgundy!" said Duke Charles, "is our will to be thwarted, and our commands disputed, at every turn? Up, I say, minion, and withdraw for the present -- when we have time to think of thee, we will so order matters that, Teste Saint Gris! you shall either obey us, or do worse." Notwithstanding this stern answer, the Countess Isabelle remained at his feet, and would probably, by her pertinacity, have driven him to say upon the spot something yet more severe, had not the Countess of Crevecoeur, who better knew that Prince's humour, interfered to raise her young friend, and to conduct her from the hall. Quentin Durward was now summoned to appear, and presented himself before the King and Duke with that freedom, distant alike from bashful reserve and intrusive boldness, which becomes a youth at once well born and well nurtured, who gives honour where it is due but without permitting himself to be dazzled or confused by the presence of those to whom it is to be rendered. His uncle had furnished him with the means of again equipping himself in the arms and dress of an Archer of the Scottish Guard, and his complexion, mien, and air suited in an uncommon degree his splendid appearance. His extreme youth, too, prepossessed the councillors in his favour, the rather that no one could easily believe that the sagacious Louis would have chosen so very young a person to become the confidant of political intrigues; and thus the King enjoyed, in this, as in other cases, considerable advantage from his singular choice of agents, both as to age and rank, where such election seemed least likely to be made. At the command of the Duke, sanctioned by that of Louis, Quentin commenced an account of his journey with the Ladies of Croye to the neighbourhood of Liege, premising a statement of King Louis's instructions, which were that he should escort them safely to the castle of the Bishop. "And you obeyed my orders accordingly," said the King. "I did, Sire," replied the Scot. "You omit a circumstance," said the Duke. "You were set upon in the forest by two wandering knights." "It does not become me to remember or to proclaim such an incident," said the youth, blushing ingenuously. "But it doth not become me to forget it," said the Duke of Orleans. "This youth discharged his commission manfully, and maintained his trust in a manner that I shall long remember. -- Come to my apartment, Archer, when this matter is over, and thou shalt find I have not forgot thy brave bearing, while I am glad to see it is equalled by thy modesty." "And come to mine," said Dunois. "I have a helmet for thee, since I think I owe thee one." Quentin bowed low to both, and the examination was resumed. At the command of Duke Charles he produced the written instructions which he had received for the direction of his journey. "Did you follow these instructions literally, soldier?" said the Duke. "No; if it please your Grace," replied Quentin. "They directed me, as you may be pleased to observe, to cross the Maes near Namur; whereas I kept the left bank, as being both the nigher and the safer road to Liege." "And wherefore that alteration?" said the Duke. "Because I began to suspect the fidelity of my guide," answered Quentin. "Now mark the questions I have next to ask thee," said the Duke. "Reply truly to them, and fear nothing from the resentment of any one. But if you palter or double in your answers I will have thee hung alive in an iron chain from the steeple of the market house, where thou shalt wish for death for many an hour ere he come to relieve you!" There was a deep silence ensued. At length, having given the youth time, as he thought, to consider the circumstances in which he was placed, the Duke demanded to know of Durward who his guide was, by whom supplied, and wherefore he had been led to entertain suspicion of him. To the first of these questions Quentin Durward answered by naming Hayraddin Maugrabin, the Bohemian; to the second, that the guide had been recommended by Tristan l'Hermite; and in reply to the third point he mentioned what had happened in the Franciscan convent near Namur, how the Bohemian had been expelled from the holy house, and how, jealous of his behaviour, he had dogged him to a rendezvous with one of William de la Marck's lanzknechts, where he overheard them arrange a plan for surprising the ladies who were under his protection. "Now, hark," said the Duke, "and once more remember thy life depends on thy veracity, did these villains mention their having this King's -- I mean this very King Louis of France's authority for their scheme of surprising the escort and carrying away the ladies?" "If such infamous fellows had said," replied Quentin, "I know not how I should have believed them, having the word of the King himself to place in opposition to theirs." Louis, who had listened hitherto with most earnest attention, could not help drawing his breath deeply when he heard Durward's answer, in the manner of one from whose bosom a heavy weight has been at once removed. The Duke again looked disconcerted and moody, and, returning to the charge, questioned Quentin still more closely, whether he did not understand, from these men's private conversation, that the plots which they meditated had King Louis's sanction? "I repeat that I heard nothing which could authorize me to say so," answered the young man, who, though internally convinced of the King's accession to the treachery of Hayraddin, yet held it contrary to his allegiance to bring forward his own suspicions on the subject; "and if I had heard such men make such an assertion, I again say that I would not have given their testimony weight against the instructions of the King himself." "Thou art a faithful messenger," said the Duke, with a sneer, "and I venture to say that, in obeying the King's instructions, thou hast disappointed his expectations in a manner that thou mightst have smarted for, but that subsequent events have made thy bull headed fidelity seem like good service." "I understand you not, my lord," said Quentin Durward, "all I know is that my master King Louis sent me to protect these ladies, and that I did so accordingly, to the extent of my ability, both in the journey to Schonwaldt, and through the subsequent scenes which took place. I understood the instructions of the King to be honourable, and I executed them honourably; had they been of a different tenor, they would not have suited one of my name or nation." "Fier comme an Ecossois," said Charles, who, however disappointed at the tenor of Durward's reply, was not unjust enough to blame him for his boldness. "But hark thee, Archer, what instructions were those which made thee, as some sad fugitives from Schonwaldt have informed us, parade the streets of Liege, at the head of those mutineers, who afterwards cruelly murdered their temporal Prince and spiritual Father? And what harangue was it which thou didst make after that murder was committed, in which you took upon you, as agent for Louis, to assume authority among the villains who had just perpetrated so great a crime?" "My lord," said Quentin, "there are many who could testify that I assumed not the character of an envoy of France in the town of Liege, but had it fixed upon me by the obstinate clamours of the people themselves, who refused to give credit to any disclamation which I could make. This I told to those in the service of the Bishop when I had made my escape from the city, and recommended their attention to the security of the Castle, which might have prevented the calamity and horror of the succeeding night. It is, no doubt, true that I did, in the extremity of danger, avail myself of the influence which my imputed character gave me, to save the Countess Isabelle, to protect my own life, and, so far as I could, to rein in the humour for slaughter, which had already broke out in so dreadful an instance. I repeat, and will maintain it with my body, that I had no commission of any kind from the King of France respecting the people of Liege, far less instructions to instigate them to mutiny; and that, finally, when I did avail myself of that imputed character, it was as if I had snatched up a shield to protect myself in a moment of emergency, and used it, as I should surely have done, for the defence of myself and others, without inquiring whether I had a right to the heraldic emblazonments which it displayed." "And therein my young companion and prisoner," said Crevecoeur, unable any longer to remain silent, "acted with equal spirit and good sense; and his doing so cannot justly be imputed as blame to King Louis." There was a murmur of assent among the surrounding nobility, which sounded joyfully in the ears of King Louis, whilst it gave no little offence to Charles. He rolled his eyes angrily around; and the sentiments so generally expressed by so many of his highest vassals and wisest councillors, would not perhaps have prevented his giving way to his violent and despotic temper, had not De Comines, who foresaw the danger, prevented it, by suddenly announcing a herald from the city of Liege. "A herald from weavers and nailers!" exclaimed the Duke. "But admit him instantly. By Our Lady, I will learn from this same herald something farther of his employers' hopes and projects than this young French Scottish man at arms seems desirous to tell me!" 我宁愿用心来感受你的温情, 也不愿用眼睛看见你的敬礼。 起来,兄弟,起来;虽然你 低屈着你的膝头,我知道, 你有一颗奋起的雄心,至少 奋起到——我这王冠的高度。 理查二世 一听到召集勃艮第的大贵族以及极少数可以列席的法国贵族前来开会的钟声,查尔斯公爵便在一部分手持短戟和斧钺的卫兵跟随下走进了佩隆城堡赫伯特塔楼的大厅。路易王早已料到公爵会来见他。这时他便站起身向前走了两步去迎接他,然后带着尊严的表情站着不动。尽管他衣着寒伦,态度随便,但在必要时他也知道如何摆出威严的气度。在当前这个紧要关头,他那镇定的神色在他对手身上明显产生了影响。事实上公爵刚跨进来便一改原先那种唐突而急促的步伐,使其与一位大的藩臣晋谒宗主的情况更相适应。显然公爵已经暗自决定至少在一开始时要以对待国王的应有礼节来对待路易,但在这样做的同时,却明显地表现出,他虽对自己暴躁的性格进行了颇大的压抑,但仍很难控制胸中沸腾着的愤怒和复仇的欲望。因此,尽管他迫使自己的举止和言语表面上显得恭恭敬敬、彬彬有礼,但他的脸色红一阵白一阵,他的声音唐突、嘶哑、很不流畅,他的手足都在颤抖,这些好像说明他不能忍耐对自己行动施加的压制。他双眉紧锁,嘴唇咬得几乎出血。公爵的每个动作和表情都表明这位世界上性情最暴烈的君王正处在他最强烈的愤怒感情的支配下。 国王目光安详而宁静地注意着公爵这一场激烈的感情冲突。尽管他从公爵的面容里预感到一个有罪之人最为害怕的威胁——死亡,但他还是决心要像一个警觉而熟练的舵手那样,只要还有希望依靠灵活的驾驶使帆船得救,便绝不惊慌失措,也绝不放弃掌舵。因此,当公爵用嘶哑而激动的声音谈到他的住房条件较差时,他微笑着回答说,他没有理由抱怨,因为到目前为止,住在赫伯特塔楼的他本人总要比曾在这里住过的一位祖先命运更好一点。 “这么说,他们已经把那个传说讲给您听了?”查尔斯说道,“不错,他是在这里遇害的——不过,这是因为他不愿做修道士,在寺院了结他的余生。” “真是个傻瓜,”路易假装漫不经心地说道,“他受的是殉道者的刑罚,却享受不到圣徒的名声。” “我来是想请陛下参加一个高级会议,”公爵说道,“会上将讨论有关法国和勃艮第利益的重大问题。您得立刻出席——我是说,假如您高兴的话,请——” “别这么说了,我的好堂弟,”国王说道,“别过分客气地把你可以大胆命令的事说成是请求。既然这是殿下的意旨,我就赴会吧。不过,我的随从似乎少了一点,”他望望准备跟随他的寥寥数人,这么补充说道,“不过,堂弟,你那壮观的随从已足够为我们两人增光的了。” 在勃艮第首席纹章官特瓦松•多尔的护卫下两位君王离开赫伯特塔楼,来到城堡的庭院。路易看见这里布满了由公爵装备精良的卫士和武士组成的军容威武的队列。穿过庭院他们来到议事厅。这议事厅所在的这一部分建筑物要比路易曾住过的那个塔楼更新式一些。虽然也是年久失修,但经过一番匆促的布置,可以满足隆重集会的需要。在同一个华盖下摆有两张坐椅,国王坐的那张要比公爵坐着的那张高两个石级。在这两张坐椅的两旁按一定的顺序坐着约二十名主要的贵族成员。当君王先后人席之后,可称之为受审对象的这个人反而坐得最高,仿佛是会议的主持者。 也许是为了消除这种矛盾的印象以及在人们心中可能产生的疑虑,查尔斯公爵向御席上的国王微微鞠躬之后,便向在座的人发表了如下的讲话,作为会议的开始: “我善良的藩属和谋臣们,你们都知道,无论我父亲在世时还是现在,我的领土上都经常发生藩属抗上、臣民反叛的骚乱事件。最近发生的事件正令人担忧地说明了这种邪恶已发展到何种地步。一件是克罗伊埃伯爵小姐及其姑母哈梅琳女士可耻地逃奔外国,抛弃了对我效忠的宣誓,从而丧失了她们的采邑。另一个更可怕、更可悲的事件是我亲爱的兄弟和盟友列日主教遭到亵渎神明的血腥屠杀,同时奸恶的列日城也因上次惩罚不力再次爆发叛乱。我已掌握情报,说明这些不幸事件不仅归因于女性的愚蠢和不忠,以及国姑息而造成的小市民的胆大妄为,而且归因于外来奸细的煽动以及一个强大邻国的干预。善行本应以善行回报,勃艮第本指望的是这个邻国对它报以最真诚、最忠实的友谊。但不幸的是这一切都证明是事实。”公爵一边使劲地在地上蹭着脚后跟,一边咬牙切齿地说道,“既然如此,有什么能阻止我们——何况我们掌有一切手段——采取有效措施,从根源上遏制每年向我们倾泻祸水的这个主要源泉呢?” 公爵开始讲话时还比较平静,结尾时却声音又高昂起来。他说出这最后一句话时的腔调已使得在座的大臣们个个不寒而栗,同时也使得路易王的面颊苍白了一小会。但路易王立刻恢复了他的勇气,用十分镇定自如的声调向与会的人发表自己的讲话。虽然公爵似乎很想打断他,但找不到体面的理由。以下就是他讲话的内容: “法兰西和勃艮第的贵族们!圣灵团和金羊毛团的骑士们!既然我身为国王必须以一个被告的身份来为自己进行辩护,我想我不可能找到比作为贵族的精华、骑士的骄傲的在座诸位更为显赫的法官了。由于我亲爱的堂弟出于礼貌不愿直陈其事,结果反使我们之间的争执模糊不清。我没有为顾全面子而说话要隐晦的理由,我的处境也不容许我这样做,所以我想请诸位让我把事情说得更明确一些。诸位,发生的不幸事件蒙蔽了我堂弟的明晰的判断,妨害了他善良的天性,驱使他指控我——指控他的君主,他的亲戚和他的盟友,丧心病狂地蛊惑他的藩属背弃对他效忠的誓言,煽动列日市民起来反叛,唆使那无法无天、亵渎神明的威廉•德拉马克犯下了残害主教的大罪。在座的法兰西和勃艮第的贵族们,我完全可以指出,我当前的处境本身就彻底否定了对我的指控。因为,只要我还有一点理性,怎能想象我一方面对勃艮第公爵捣鬼,一方面又毫无保留地把自己的人身安全置于他的摆布之下呢?要知道,类似的阴谋诡计不可能不被发现,而一旦被发现,就必然会使我,正如我目前的处境所表明的那样,受到一位理当感到愤怒的亲王的任意处置。这么说,我的智能岂不是还抵不上一个点燃了地雷的引信还安然坐在地雷上休息的傻瓜!我毫不怀疑,在索恩瓦尔德犯下这些滔天大罪的罪犯和恶棍一直在滥用我的名义——但我并没有给他们权利滥用我的名义。我怎能为此负责呢?假如说有两个傻女人由于某种感情上的不满,一气之下跑到我的宫廷来要求我保护,难道就可以说是我指使她们这么做的吗?经过调查就可以发现,由于我考虑到自己的荣誉和骑士之道都不容许我把她们作为囚徒遣返勃艮第——绅士们,我想凡是戴有骑士团领章的人也都不会建议我这样做——我设法尽可能接近于做到这一点,就把她们送往列日,托付给我们尊敬的主教——愿他归天的圣灵得到安息,”说到这里路易显得很难过,并用手绢擦擦眼睛——“我必须说,我所托付的主教是我自己家族的一个成员,而与勃艮第家族的关系就更为亲密;主教的境况以及他在教会里的崇高地位,再加上他那众多的美德都使他适于暂时充当她们的保护人,并在她们和她们的君主之间起一个调解者的作用。因此,我必须说,我的勃艮第兄弟按照自己对事情的草率看法,向我提出不应有的怀疑,所依据的惟一情况是完全可以用最公正最体面的动机加以解释的。此外,我还必须说明,我是怀着满腔友好和信任的感情来见我这位兄弟的。人们不可能提出丝毫可靠的证据来支持对我的那些无理指控,正是它们促使他改变对我的友好态度,促使他把宴会厅变成法庭,把客房变成监狱。” “大人,大人,”国王一说完,公爵便立刻插嘴说道,“关于您的到来何以会和计划的执行在时间上出现这一不幸的巧合,我只能作这样一种解释:专门对他人行骗的人有时也会使自己上大当。工兵有时也会被他自己埋的地雷炸死。往下如何,且看这庄严的审讯作出回答吧——传克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐!” 这时,年轻的伯爵小姐在那受丈夫之命特来照顾她的克雷维格伯爵夫人和乌尔苏林女修道院院长两人的搀扶下走了进来。一见到她,查尔斯便按自己的习惯声色俱厉地大声说道:“嘿,美丽的公主!上次我向你交代我合理合法的命令,你回答我时的样子就像要死去一样。但你却有劲像只被追逐的母鹿似的远走高飞——你干的好事差点使两位伟大的君王,两个毗邻的强国为你这娃娃大动干戈,看你有何感想?” 伊莎贝尔原已决心一见公爵便跑去跪倒在他面前,求他没收她的产业,让她进修道院隐居,但面对着这众目睽睽的场面和公爵粗暴的态度,原先的决心竟顿时烟消云散。她像一个被暴风雨吓坏了的女人呆若木鸡地站着,听到四处都是雷声,担心每个新的闪电都会给她带来致命的雷击。克雷维格伯爵夫人出身高贵,姿色不减当年。这个勇敢的中年妇女这时认为她有必要对此进行干预。“公爵大人,”她说道,“我侄女是在我的保护下,我比大人更懂得如何对待妇女。除非您使用更适合我们身份和性别的语言,否则我们就要马上退场。” 公爵哈哈大笑。“克雷维格,”他说道,“你惧内的结果使你的夫人变得很有点目空一切的派头——不过这不关我的事。拿张椅子来让那位头脑单纯的姑娘坐下吧。对于她我不但毫无敌意,而且我打算给予她最高的恩宠和荣誉。请坐吧,小姐。你可以从容不迫地给我们讲讲究竟是什么魔鬼迷住了你的心窍,使你逃离故土,当上了一个冒险女郎。” 伊莎贝尔断断续续地十分痛苦地坦白她出走的原因。她说,由于她坚决不同意勃艮第公爵为她定的婚事,她便萌生了去法国宫廷寻求保护的念头。 “而且是取得法国国王本人的保护,”查尔斯说道,“关于这一点你肯定是满有把握的吧?” “我的确认为自己满有把握,”伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐说道,“否则我就不会采取这样一个决定性的步骤了。”这时查尔斯公爵带着一种不可名状的苦笑望望路易,而国王的表情则不为所动,只是嘴唇显得比平常略微苍白。“至于路易王究竟打算如何接待我们,”伯爵小姐停顿片刻之后继续说道,“那么这些几乎完全是我那倒霉的姑妈哈梅琳女士讲给我听的,而她的看法又是以一个坏人的保证和暗示为依据的。后来我发现,他们都是世界上最邪恶的奸人,最无信义的歹徒。”接着她又简短地介绍了玛尔松和海拉丁•毛格拉宾的一些奸诈表现,并补充说,她“毫不怀疑,毛格拉宾的哥哥,即最先指使她们逃跑的,一个名叫扎迈特的人,有胆量干出任何奸恶的勾当,甚至有可能未经允许冒充路易工的代理人”。 伯爵小姐接着简短地谈到她和她姑母从离开勃艮第的领土开始,到索恩瓦尔德被攻陷,直到最后向克雷维格伯爵投诚的整个经过。当她断断续续地作完了这个简短的叙述之后,全场鸦雀无声。勃艮第公爵低着两道狠狠的浓眉望着地面,仿佛在寻找一个可以借以泄愤的把柄,却找不到任何能使自己满意的、言之成理的借口。“比如说鼹鼠吧,”最后他抬起头来说道,“我们明明意识到它在走动,我们却根本无法对它进行跟踪。但绝不能因此说,它没有在我们脚底下的黑暗地道里窜来窜去。我倒想请路易王说说:要是这两位仕女不是接受他邀请去法国宫廷的,他干吗要把她们安顿在他的宫廷里住下?” “好堂弟,我并没有怎么招待她们,”国王回答道,“出于怜悯,我的确私下接待过她们,但一旦有机会我便把她们送往列日,置于已故主教的保护下,因为他是你的盟友,也比我和其他世俗的君主更懂得(愿上帝保佑他在天之灵!)如何既能给逃亡者应有的保护,又能照顾到作为一个君王对两位在逃的仕女所属的盟邦承担的义务。我想大胆地问这位小姐:我对她们的接待是否热情,是否反而使她们后悔不该来我的宫廷避难?” “非但不热情,”伯爵小姐回答道,“反而使我怀疑,陛下究竟是否真正发出过自称您的代表的那个人向我们保证过的邀请。因为,设若他们果真是按您的吩咐行事,那么陛下对待我们的态度与作为一个国王、骑士和贵族应有的态度就很不相容。” 伯爵小姐说着把眼睛转过去盯着国王,样子像是想表达某种责备之意,但路易的心胸早已准备好接受这一类的攻击。他不但不感到冒犯,反而慢慢挥动着伸开的双手,环顾四周,像是得意地吁请在座的达官贵人们注意,伯爵小姐的回答为他的无辜提供了证据。 勃艮第向他瞟了一眼,似乎想表明,固然在某种程度上他已无话可说,但他仍然远远未被说服。这时他突然转过身来对伯爵小姐说道:“亲爱的小姐,我看你在这篇流浪记里完全忘了谈你的某些奇遇——嘿,就脸红了吗?——比如,某某骑士从森林里钻出来,暂时打破了你的宁静等等。嗯,我已听说过那个事了。我有可能很快对此作出某种决定——路易王,请您说说看,给这位流浪的特洛伊的海伦,或克罗伊埃的海伦,找一个合适的对象,好让她别再挑起君王之间的不和,岂不是件好事吗?” 虽然路易王意识到公爵下一步就会提出何种不快的建议,但他还是对他的话沉着地作出了默默同意的表示。然而,被逼得走投无路的伯爵小姐却顿时恢复了勇气。她松开了她一直倚靠着的克雷维格伯爵夫人的手臂,带着胆怯而尊严的神态走上前来跪在公爵的宝座前,对他说道:“高贵的勃艮第公爵,我的君主。我承认我不该不得您的恩准擅自摆脱您的管辖,并将十分恭顺地接受您愿意给我的任何惩罚。我将我的田产和城堡理所当然地交给您支配,只求您出于您自己的善心,也看在我已故父亲的分上,容许我这克罗伊埃家族的最后子嗣从其巨大的产业中适当留下一点生活费,好让我能在一所修道院里度过我的余生。” “陛下,这年轻人对我的请求您有何看法?” “我看是出于一种圣洁而谦卑的动机,”国王说道,“无疑是基于一种无法抗拒或反对的善意。” “自卑的必升为高,”查尔斯说道,“起来吧,伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐——我替你作出的安排,要比你给你自己作的安排好得多。我既不想没收你的产业,也不想减损你的荣誉。相反,我想使二者都大大得到增添。” “哎呀,我的大人,”伯爵小姐继续跪着说道,“比起失宠于殿下,我更害怕的正是您这种好心的关怀,因为它迫使我——” “勃艮第的圣乔治哟!”查尔斯公爵说道,“难道我的意志可以任意违反,我的命令可以任意反对吗?听我说吧,我的臣仆,你先起来,暂时退出去,等我有时间考虑你的问题我就会作出最后的决定。那时,该死的奴才呀,要么你得服从,要么你得倒霉。” 尽管听到这个严峻的回答,伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐仍旧跪在他的脚旁。她的这一固执很可能会促使他当场说出更严酷无情的话来,幸好克雷维格伯爵夫人深谙公爵的脾气,赶紧把她扶起来,领着她走了出去。 这时昆丁•达威特被召了进来。他十分洒脱地走到国王和公爵面前。这种不卑不亢的洒脱既与腼腆拘谨迎然不同,也与鲁莽无礼毫不相干。这在一个出身高贵、有教养的年轻人身上显得十分得体。具体说来,就是这年轻人既能在要求表现尊敬之处表现尊敬,且又不为对方显赫的地位而弄得晕头转向、手足失措。他舅父事先已把苏格兰卫士的服装拿来让他重新穿上。他的脸色、面貌和风度都与他这华丽的外表异常相称,而且他年纪轻轻也赢得了在场的大臣们的好感。更有利的一点是没有任何人会轻易相信,聪明的路易王竞挑选这么一个年轻人充当他搞阴谋诡计的心腹。如同其他场合一样,路易王这一回也由于自己在代理人的年龄和地位方面作出了别人绝没料到的独特选择,而占了很大的便宜。在听到公爵的命令和国王赞同的表示之后,昆丁开始汇报他伴随两位克罗伊埃仕女前往列日近郊所作的长途旅行,并预先介绍了路易工要他把她们两人平安地护送到主教住地所作的指示。 “那么,你按照我的指示去做了?” “是的,陛下。”那苏格兰人回答道。 “你遗漏了一个情节,”公爵说道,“你们在森林里遭到两个流浪骑士的袭击。” “要叫我回忆或提到这样一件小事,似乎很不得体。”年轻人天真地红着脸说道。 “要叫我忘掉这件事也很不应该,”奥尔良公爵说道,“这年轻人在执行任务时很勇敢,他这种维护自己信誉的表现将使我永远难忘。好射手,等这事了结后倒我房里来吧。你将看到我并没有忘记你的英勇行为,看到你既勇敢,又很谦逊,我感到很高兴。” “欢迎你也到我房里来,”杜洛瓦说道,“我该偿还你一个钢盔。我已经搞到了一个,准备送给你。”昆丁向二位贵人低低鞠了一躬,又继续接受审问。应公爵之命,他取出他接到过的有关旅途注意事项的书面指示。 “卫士,你不折不扣地照这些指示去做了吗?”公爵问道。 “请大人鉴谅,我并没有如此,”昆丁回答道,“大人高兴的话,您可以发现这个指示是命令我在纳穆尔附近渡过马埃斯河,而我却继续沿河左岸行进,因为这是通向列日最近的也是最安全的路线。” “你干吗要这么更改路线?”公爵问道。 “因为我开始对向导的忠诚感到怀疑。”昆丁回答道。 “你注意回答我下面要问你的问题,”公爵说道,“你得如实回答,不用害怕冒犯谁。假如你回答时胆敢敷衍了事或避重就轻,我就要把你拴在一根铁链上从市场的高塔上吊下来,让你折磨好几个小时才得一死!” 整个大厅顿时鸦雀无声。公爵给这年轻人一段他认为必要的时间,以让他考虑一下当前的处境。最后他要达威特回答:他的向导是谁?是谁给他提供的向导,为什么他会对这向导产生怀疑?昆丁•达威特对第一个问题作的回答是讲出了那个波希米亚人海拉丁•毛格拉宾的名字。针对第二个问题,他回答说,向导是特里斯顿•勒尔米特推荐的。回答第三个问题时他提到在纳穆尔附近的圣方济寺院发生的情况,谈到那波希米亚人如何被赶出寺院,而由于他怀疑此人表现,又如何跟踪,发现了他和威廉•德拉马克的德国长矛手约会,并偷听到他们计划拦路劫持受他保护的两位仕女。 “听着,”公爵说道,“我再次提醒你,你的生命完全取决于你是否诚实。我问你:这两个坏蛋有没有提到他们突袭护送人员、劫走两位仕女的计划是根据这位国王——我指的是在座的这位法国路易王——的授意?” “要是这两个可耻的坏蛋真这么讲了,”昆丁回答道,“那我就真不知该如何看待他们的话,因为国王亲自交待给我的命令与他们所讲的恰好相反。” 路易一直在全神贯注地认真倾听昆丁讲的话。当他听完他作出的回答后,就像顿时去掉了压在胸口的一个沉重的石块,不禁深深地舒了一口气。公爵又显出一副愠怒而窘急的样子。他回到原先指控的问题上来,更严密地讯问昆丁:根据这些人的秘密谈话,他是否认为他们所策划的阴谋得到国王的赞同? “我想再说一遍,我没有听到任何东西使我有根据说这种话,”年轻人答道。尽管他内心里确信路易王参与了海拉丁的阴谋,但他认为在这个问题上提出自己的怀疑是违反忠诚宣誓的。“我想再说一遍,假如我真听到这些人作出这种供认,那么和国王亲自给我的指示相权衡,我也不会给他们的证词任何分量。” “你是一个忠实的信使,”公爵带着嘲讽的口气说道,“不过我可以大胆地说,要不是以后的事态发展证明你那公牛般愚顽的耿耿忠心给国王帮了个大忙,你遵从他那个指示本会使他大失所望,而叫你大吃苦头。” “大人,我不懂您的意思,”昆丁•达威特说道,“我只知道我的主人路易王派我去护送两位仕女,而无论在去索恩瓦尔德的路上,还是在以后发生的事件当中,我都按照指示去做。我理解国王的指示是正大光明的,因此我也正大光明地执行他的指示。要是这些指示属于不同的性质,那它们就和我达威特的名字或苏格兰的国籍完全不相称了。” “骄傲得像个苏格兰人。”查尔斯说道。尽管他对达威特回答的语气感到失望,但还不至于不公正地责怪他胆大无礼。“射手,你听我问你下一个问题:根据索恩瓦尔德逃来的难民报告,叛民曾前呼后拥地带着你在列日街头游行,而正是他们后来残杀了他们的世俗君主和宗教领袖。你说你是根据什么指示这样做的?叛民杀害主教之后,我发表了什么演说,申明你在这群刚犯下滔天大罪的歹徒当中,要以路易王特使的身份自告奋勇行使领导权?” “我的大人,”昆丁说道,“有许多人可以作证,我并没有在列日城冒充法国特使。这个身份是那些喧闹的市民们硬要强加给我的。我所能作的任何否认他们都拒绝相信。我设法从城里逃走之后,就把事情的经过告诉了主教的官吏,建议他们注意城堡的安全,这样做本可以防范第二天晚上发生的灾祸和惨剧。在危急的关头我的确利用了误加于我的那个身份给予我的威望来拯救伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐,保护我自己的生命,并在可能范围内遏制那通过可怕的残杀已变得疯狂的杀人欲望。我要重申,并以生命担保坚持这一重申:法国国王并没有给过我任何有关列日市民的使命,更不用说给过我煽动他们进行反叛的指示。最后我要说,即使我的确利用了误加给我的特使身份,那么其性质完全类似在紧急关头抓起一块盾牌来保护自己,来捍卫自己和别人的生命,而不问盾牌上刻印的纹章是否使我有权这样做。” “就这一点而论,”克雷维格无法继续保持沉默,大声说道,“做过我的旅伴和囚徒的这位年轻人的确表现得既有勇气又有头脑。他这样做自然不能作为路易王的罪证。” 在周围坐着的贵族们中间响起了一阵表示赞同的低语声。这声音在路易王听起来固然悦耳,但在查尔斯听来却相当刺耳。他愤怒地用眼睛向四周一扫。这么多高级藩臣和聪明的谋臣普遍表示出的这种情绪未必能阻止他屈从于自己暴烈和专横的性格。所幸的是德贡明预见到这一危险,突然宣布列日城派来的纹章官求见公爵,才防止了危机的爆发。 “织布匠和铁匠派来的纹章官?”公爵大声说道,“好吧,立即传他进来。圣母在上,我将通过这个纹章官进一步了解派他来的老板们有何计划和意图,以填补这位年轻的苏格兰籍法国武士所不愿告诉我的情况!” Chapter 33 The Herald Ariel. -- Hark! they roar. Prospero. Let them be hunted soundly. THE TEMPEST There was room made in the assembly, and no small curiosity evinced by those present to see the herald whom the insurgent Liegeois had ventured to send to so haughty a Prince as the Duke of Burgundy, while in such high indignation against them. For it must be remembered that at this period heralds were only dispatched from sovereign princes to each other upon solemn occasions; and that the inferior nobility employed pursuivants, a lower rank of officers at arms. It may be also noticed, in passing, that Louis XI, an habitual derider of whatever did not promise real power or substantial advantage, was in especial a professed contemner of heralds and heraldry, "red, blue, and green, with all their trumpery," to which the pride of his rival Charles, which was of a very different kind, attached no small degree of ceremonious importance. The herald, who was now introduced into the presence of the monarchs, was dressed in a tabard, or coat, embroidered with the arms of his master, in which the Boar's Head made a distinguished appearance, in blazonry, which in the opinion of the skilful was more showy than accurate. The rest of his dress -- a dress always sufficiently tawdry -- was overcharged with lace, embroidery, and ornament of every kind, and the plume of feathers which he wore was so high, as if intended to sweep the roof of the hall. In short, the usual gaudy splendour of the heraldic attire was caricatured and overdone. The Boar's Head was not only repeated on every part of his dress, but even his bonnet was formed into that shape, and it was represented with gory tongue and bloody tusks, or in proper language, langed and dentated gules, and there was something in the man's appearance which seemed to imply a mixture of boldness and apprehension, like one who has undertaken a dangerous commission, and is sensible that audacity alone can carry him through it with safety. Something of the same mixture of fear and effrontery was visible in the manner in which he paid his respects, and he showed also a grotesque awkwardness, not usual amongst those who were accustomed to be received in the presence of princes. "Who art thou, in the devil's name?" was the greeting with which Charles the Bold received this singular envoy. "I am Rouge Sanglier," answered the herald, "the officer at arms of William de la Marck, by the grace of God, and the election of the Chapter, Prince Bishop of Liege." "Ha!" exclaimed Charles, but, as if subduing his own passion, he made a sign to him to proceed. "And, in right of his wife, the Honourable Countess Hameline of Croye, Count of Croye, and Lord of Bracquemont." The utter astonishment of Duke Charles at the extremity of boldness with which these titles were announced in his presence seemed to strike him dumb; and the herald conceiving, doubtless, that he had made a suitable impression by the annunciation of his character, proceeded to state his errand. "Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum (I announce to you a great joy)," he said; "I let you, Charles of Burgundy and Earl of Flanders, to know, in my master's name, that under favour of a dispensation of our Holy Father of Rome, presently expected, and appointing a fitting substitute ad sacra (to the sacred office), he proposes to exercise at once the office of Prince Bishop, and maintain the rights of Count of Croye." The Duke of Burgundy, at this and other pauses in the herald's speech, only ejaculated, "Ha!" or some similar interjection, without making any answer; and the tone of exclamation was that of one who, though surprised and moved, is willing to hear all that is to be said ere he commits himself by making an answer. To the further astonishment of all who were present, he forbore from his usual abrupt and violent gesticulations, remaining with the nail of his thumb pressed against his teeth, which was his favourite attitude when giving attention, and keeping his eyes bent on the ground, as if unwilling to betray the passion which might gleam in them. The envoy, therefore, proceeded boldly and unabashed in the delivery of his message. "In the name, therefore, of the Prince Bishop of Liege, and Count of Croye, I am to require of you, Duke Charles, to desist from those pretensions and encroachments which you have made on the free and imperial city of Liege, by connivance with the late Louis of Bourbon, unworthy Bishop thereof." "Ha," again exclaimed the Duke. "Also to restore the banners of the community, which you took violently from the town, to the number of six and thirty -- to rebuild the breaches in their walls, and restore the fortifications which you tyrannically dismantled -- and to acknowledge my master, William de la Marck, as Prince Bishop, lawfully elected in a free Chapter of Canons, of which behold the proces verbal." "Have you finished?" said the Duke. "Not yet," replied the envoy. "I am farther to require your Grace, on the part of the said right noble and venerable Prince, Bishop, and Count, that you do presently withdraw the garrison from the Castle of Bracquemont, and other places of strength, belonging to the Earldom of Croye, which have been placed there, whether in your own most gracious name, or in that of Isabelle, calling herself Countess of Croye, or any other, until it shall be decided by the Imperial Diet whether the fiefs in question shall not pertain to the sister of the late Count, my most gracious Lady Hameline, rather than to his daughter, in respect of the jus emphyteusis (a permanent tenure of land upon condition of cultivating it properly, and paying a stipulated rent; a sort of fee farm or copyhold)." "Your master is most learned," replied the Duke. "Yet," continued the herald, "the noble and venerable Prince and Count will be disposed, all other disputes betwixt Burgundy and Liege being settled, to fix upon the Lady Isabelle such an appanage as may become her quality." "He is generous and considerate," said the Duke, in the same tone. "Now, by a poor fool's conscience," said Le Glorieux apart to the Count of Crevecoeur, "I would rather be in the worst cow's hide that ever died of the murrain than in that fellow's painted coat! The poor man goes on like drunkards, who only look to the ether pot, and not to the score which mine host chalks up behind the lattice." "Have you yet done?" said the Duke to the herald. "One word more," answered Rouge Sanglier, "from my noble and venerable lord aforesaid, respecting his worthy and trusty ally, the most Christian King." "Ha!" exclaimed the Duke, starting, and in a fiercer tone than he had yet used; but checking himself, he instantly composed himself again to attention. "Which most Christian King's royal person it is rumoured that you, Charles of Burgundy, have placed under restraint contrary to your duty as a vassal of the Crown of France, and to the faith observed among Christian Sovereigns. For which reason, my said noble and venerable master, by my mouth, charges you to put his royal and most Christian ally forthwith at freedom, or to receive the defiance which I am authorized to pronounce to you." "Have you yet done?" said the Duke. "I have," answered the herald, "and await your Grace's answer, trusting it may be such as will save the effusion of Christian blood." "Now, by Saint George of Burgundy!" said the Duke, but ere he could proceed farther, Louis arose, and struck in with a tone of so much dignity and authority that Charles could not interrupt him. "Under your favour, fair cousin of Burgundy," said the King, "we ourselves crave priority of voice in replying to this insolent fellow. -- Sirrah herald, or whatever thou art, carry back notice to the perjured outlaw and murderer, William de la Marck, that the King of France will be presently before Liege, for the purpose of punishing the sacrilegious murderer of his late beloved kinsman, Louis of Bourbon; and that he proposes to gibbet De la Marck alive, for the insolence of terming himself his ally, and putting his royal name into the mouth of one of his own base messengers." "Add whatever else on my part," said Charles, "which it may not misbecome a prince to send to a common thief and murderer. -- And begone! -- Yet stay. -- Never herald went from the Court of Burgundy without having cause to cry, Largesse! -- Let him be scourged till the bones are laid bare." "Nay, but if it please your Grace," said Crevecoeur and D'Hymbercourt together, "he is a herald, and so far privileged." "It is you, Messires," replied the Duke, "who are such owls as to think that the tabard makes the herald. I see by that fellow's blazoning he is a mere impostor. Let Toison d'Or step forward, and question him in your presence." In spite of his natural effrontery, the envoy of the Wild Boar of Ardennes now became pale; and that notwithstanding some touches of paint with which he had adorned his countenance. Toison d'Or, the chief herald, as we have elsewhere said, of the Duke, and King at arms within his dominions, stepped forward with the solemnity of one who knew what was due to his office, and asked his supposed brother in what college he had studied the science which he professed. "I was bred a pursuivant at the Heraldic College of Ratisbon," answered Rouge Sanglier, "and received the diploma of Ehrenhold (a herald) from that same learned fraternity." "You could not derive it from a source more worthy," answered Toison d'Or, bowing still lower than he had done before; "and if I presume to confer with you on the mysteries of our sublime science, in obedience to the orders of the most gracious Duke, it is not in hopes of giving, but of receiving knowledge." "Go to," said the Duke impatiently. "Leave off ceremony, and ask him some question that may try his skill." "It were injustice to ask a disciple of the worthy College of Arms at Ratisbon if he comprehendeth the common terms of blazonry," said Toison d'Or, "but I may, without offence, crave of Rouge Sanglier to say if he is instructed in the more mysterious and secret terms of the science, by which the more learned do emblematically, and as it were parabolically, express to each other what is conveyed to others in the ordinary language, taught in the very accidence as it were of Heraldry." "I understand one sort of blazonry as well as another," answered Rouge Sanglier boldly, "but it may be we have not the same terms in Germany which you have here in Flanders." "Alas, that you will say so!" replied Toison d'Or. "our noble science, which is indeed the very banner of nobleness and glory of generosity, being the same in all Christian countries, nay, known and acknowledged even by the Saracens and Moors. I would, therefore, pray of you to describe what coat you will after the celestial fashion, that is, by the planets." "Blazon it yourself as you will," said Rouge Sanglier; "I will do no such apish tricks upon commandment, as an ape is made to come aloft." "Show him a coat and let him blazon it his own way," said the Duke; "and if he fails, I promise him that his back shall be gules, azure, and sable." "Here," said the herald of Burgundy, taking from his pouch a piece of parchment, "is a scroll in which certain considerations led me to prick down, after my own poor fashion, an ancient coat. I will pray my brother, if indeed he belong to the honourable College of Arms at Ratisbon, to decipher it in fitting language." Le Glorieux, who seemed to take great pleasure in this discussion, had by this time bustled himself close up to the two heralds. "I will help thee, good fellow," said he to Rouge Sanglier, as he looked hopelessly upon the scroll. "This, my lords and masters, represents the cat looking out at the dairy window." This sally occasioned a laugh, which was something to the advantage of Rouge Sanglier, as it led Toison d'Or, indignant at the misconstruction of his drawing, to explain it as the coat of arms assumed by Childebert, King of France, after he had taken prisoner Gandemar, King of Burgundy; representing an ounce, or tiger cat, the emblem of the captive prince, behind a grating, or, as Toison d'Or technically defined it, "Sable, a musion (a tiger cat; a term of heraldry) passant Or, oppressed with a trellis gules, cloue of the second." "By my bauble," said Le Glorieux, "if the cat resemble Burgundy, she has the right side of the grating nowadays." "True, good fellow," said Louis, laughing, while the rest of the presence, and even Charles himself, seemed disconcerted at so broad a jest. "I owe thee a piece of gold for turning some thing that looked like sad earnest into the merry game, which I trust it will end in." "Silence, Le Glorieux," said the Duke; "and you, Toison d'Or, who are too learned to be intelligible, stand back -- and bring that rascal forward, some of you. -- Hark ye, villain," he said in his harshest tone, "do you know the difference between argent and or, except in the shape of coined money?" "For pity's sake, your Grace, be good unto me! -- Noble King Louis, speak for me!" "Speak for thyself," said the Duke. "In a word, art thou herald or not?" "Only for this occasion!" acknowledged the detected official. "Now, by Saint George!" said the Duke, eyeing Louis askance, "we know no king -- no gentleman -- save one, who would have so prostituted the noble science on which royalty and gentry rest, save that King who sent to Edward of England a serving man disguised as a herald." (The heralds of the middle ages were regarded almost as sacred characters. It was treasonable to strike a herald, or to counterfeit the character of one. Yet Louis "did not hesitate to practise such an imposition when he wished to enter into communication with Edward IV of England. . . . He selected, as an agentfit for his purpose, a simple valet. This man . . . he disguised as a herald, with all the insignia of his office, and sent him in that capacity to open a communication with the English army. The stratagem, though of so fraudulent a nature, does not seem to have been necessarily called for, since all that King Louis could gain by it would be that he did not commit himself by sending a more responsible messenger. . . . Ferne . . . imputes this intrusion on their rights in some degree to necessity. 'I have heard some,' he says, '. . . allow of the action of Louis XI who had so unknightly a regard both of his own honour, and also of armes, that he seldom had about his court any officer at armes. And therefore, at such time as Edward IV, King of England, . . . lay before the town of Saint Quentin, the same French King, for want of a herald to carry his mind to the English King, was constrained to suborn a vadelict, or common serving man, with a trumpet banner, having a hole made through the middest for this preposterous herauld to put his head through, and to cast it over his shoulders instead of a better coat armour of France. And thus came this hastily arrayed courier as a counterfeit officer at armes, with instructions from his sovereign's mouth to offer peace to our King.' Ferne's Blazen of Gentry, 1586, p. 161. -- S.) "Such a stratagem," said Louis, laughing, or affecting to laugh, "could only be justified at a Court where no herald were at the time, and when the emergency was urgent. But, though it might have passed on the blunt and thick witted islander, no one with brains a whit better than those of a wild boar would have thought of passing such a trick upon the accomplished Court of Burgundy." "Send him who will," said the Duke fiercely, "he shall return on their hands in poor case. -- Here! -- drag him to the market place! -- slash him with bridle reins and dog whips until the tabard hang about him in tatters! -- Upon the Rouge Sanglier! -- ca, ca! -- Haloo, haloo!" Four or five large hounds, such as are painted in the hunting pieces upon which Rubens and Schneiders laboured in conjunction, caught the well known notes with which the Duke concluded, and began to yell and bay as if the boar were just roused from his lair. (Rubens (1577-1640): a great Flemish artist whose works were sought by kings and princes. He painted the history of Marie de Medicis in the series of colossal pictures now in the Louvre. He was knighted by Philip IV of Spain and Charles I of England.) (Schneiders, or Snyders: a Flemish painter of the seventeenth century.) "By the rood!" said King Louis, observant to catch the vein of his dangerous cousin, "since the ass has put on the boar's hide, I would set the dogs on him to bait him out of it!" "Right! right!" exclaimed Duke Charles, the fancy exactly chiming in with his humour at the moment -- "it shall be done! -- Uncouple the hounds! -- Hyke a Talbot! (a hunter's cry to his dog. See Dame Berner's Boke of Hawking and Hunting.) hyke a Beaumont! -- We will course him from the door of the Castle to the east gate!" "I trust your Grace will treat me as a beast of chase," said the fellow, putting the best face he could upon the matter, "and allow me fair law?" "Thou art but vermin," said the Duke, "and entitled to no law, by the letter of the book of hunting; nevertheless, thou shalt have sixty yards in advance, were it but for the sake of thy unparalleled impudence. -- Away, away, sirs! -- we will see this sport." And the council breaking up tumultuously, all hurried, none faster than the two Princes, to enjoy the humane pastime which King Louis had suggested. The Rouge Sanglier showed excellent sport; for, winged with terror, and having half a score of fierce boar hounds hard at his haunches, encouraged by the blowing of horns and the woodland cheer of the hunters, he flew like the very wind, and had he not been encumbered with his herald's coat (the worst possible habit for a runner), he might fairly have escaped dog free; he also doubled once or twice, in a manner much approved of by the spectators. None of these, nay, not even Charles himself, was so delighted with the sport as King Louis, who, partly from political considerations, and partly as being naturally pleased with the sight of human suffering when ludicrously exhibited, laughed till the tears ran from his eyes, and in his ecstasies of rapture caught hold of the Duke's ermine cloak, as if to support himself; whilst the Duke, no less delighted, flung his arm around the King's shoulder, making thus an exhibition of confidential sympathy and familiarity, very much at variance with the terms on which they had so lately stood together. At length the speed of the pseudo herald could save him no longer from the fangs of his pursuers; they seized him, pulled him down, and would probably soon have throttled him, had not the Duke called out, "Stave and tail! -- stave and tail! (to strike the bear with a staff, and pull off the dogs by the tail, to separate them.) -- Take them off him! -- He hath shown so good a course, that, though he has made no sport at bay, we will not have him dispatched." Several officers accordingly busied themselves in taking off the dogs; and they were soon seen coupling some up, and pursuing others which ran through the streets, shaking in sport and triumph the tattered fragments of painted cloth and embroidery rent from the tabard, which the unfortunate wearer had put on in an unlucky hour. At this moment, and while the Duke was too much engaged with what passed before him to mind what was said behind him, Oliver le Dain, gliding behind King Louis, whispered into his ear, "It is the Bohemian, Hayraddin Maugrabin. -- It were not well he should come to speech of the Duke." "He must die," answered Louis in the same tone, "dead men tell no tales." One instant afterwards, Tristan l'Hermite, to whom Oliver had given the hint, stepped forward before the King and the Duke, and said, in his blunt manner, "So please your Majesty and your Grace, this piece of game is mine, and I claim him -- he is marked with my stamp -- the fleur de lis is branded on his shoulder, as all men may see. -- He is a known villain, and hath slain the King's subjects, robbed churches, deflowered virgins, slain deer in the royal parks --" "Enough, enough," said Duke Charles, "he is my royal cousin's property by many a good title. What will your Majesty do with him?" "If he is left to my disposal," said the King, "I will at least give him one lesson in the science of heraldry, in which he is so ignorant -- only explain to him practically the meaning of a cross potence, with a noose dangling proper." "Not as to be by him borne, but as to bear him. -- Let him take the degrees under your gossip Tristan -- he is a deep professor in such mysteries." Thus answered the Duke, with a burst of discordant laughter at his own wit, which was so cordially chorused by Louis that his rival could not help looking kindly at him, while he said, "Ah, Louis, Louis! would to God thou wert as faithful a monarch as thou art a merry companion! -- I cannot but think often on the jovial time we used to spend together." "You may bring it back when you will," said Louis; "I will grant you as fair terms as for very shame's sake you ought to ask in my present condition, without making yourself the fable of Christendom; and I will swear to observe them upon the holy relique which I have ever the grace to bear about my person, being a fragment of the true cross." Here he took a small golden reliquary, which was suspended from his neck next to his shirt by a chain of the same metal, and having kissed it devoutly, continued -- "Never was false oath sworn on this most sacred relique, but it was avenged within the year." "Yet," said the Duke, "it was the same on which you swore amity to me when you left Burgundy, and shortly after sent the Bastard of Rubempre to murder or kidnap me." "Nay, gracious cousin, now you are ripping up ancient grievances," said the King. "I promise you, that you were deceived in that matter. -- Moreover, it was not upon this relique which I then swore, but upon another fragment of the true cross which I got from the Grand Seignior, weakened in virtue, doubtless, by sojourning with infidels. Besides, did not the war of the Public Good break out within the year; and was not a Burgundian army encamped at Saint Denis, backed by all the great feudatories of France; and was I not obliged to yield up Normandy to my brother? -- O God, shield us from perjury on such a warrant as this!" "Well, cousin," answered the Duke, "I do believe thou hadst a lesson to keep faith another time. -- And now for once, without finesse and doubling, will you make good your promise, and go with me to punish this murdering La Marck and the Liegeois?" "I will march against them," said Louis, "with the Ban and Arriere Ban of France (the military force called out by the sovereign in early feudal times, together with their vassals, equipment, and three months' provision), and the Oriflamme displayed." "Nay, nay," said the Duke, "that is more than is needful, or may be advisable. The presence of your Scottish Guard, and two hundred choice lances, will serve to show that you are a free agent. A large army might --" "Make me so in effect, you would say, my fair cousin?" said the King. "Well, you shall dictate the number of my attendants." "And to put this fair cause of mischief out of the way, you will agree to the Countess Isabelle of Croye's wedding with the Duke of Orleans?" "Fair cousin," said the King, "you drive my courtesy to extremity. The Duke is the betrothed bridegroom of my daughter Joan. Be generous -- yield up this matter, and let us speak rather of the towns on the Somme." "My council will talk to your Majesty of these," said Charles, "I myself have less at heart the acquisition of territory than the redress of injuries. You have tampered with my vassals, and your royal pleasure must needs dispose of the hand of a ward of Burgundy. Your Majesty must bestow it within the pale of your own royal family, since you have meddled with it -- otherwise our conference breaks off." "Were I to say I did this willingly," said the King, "no one would believe me, therefore do you, my fair cousin, judge of the extent of my wish to oblige you, when I say most reluctantly, that the parties consenting, and a dispensation from the Pope being obtained, my own objections shall be no bar to this match which you purpose." "All besides can be easily settled by our ministers," said the Duke, "and we are once more cousins and friends." "May Heaven be praised!" said Louis, "who, holding in his hand the hearts of princes, doth mercifully incline them to peace and clemency, and prevent the effusion of human blood. "Oliver," he added apart to that favourite, who ever waited around him like the familiar beside a sorcerer, "hark thee -- tell Tristan to be speedy in dealing with yonder runagate Bohemian." 阿里尔:听,他们在吼叫。 普罗斯贝罗:让我们狠狠地追逐他们。 《暴风雨》 听到叛乱的列日市民竟敢在勃艮第公爵对他们怒不可遏的这样一个时刻派一个纹章官作使节,来见这位高傲的君王,在座的人们都让出一条路,十分惊奇地目睹他的到来。值得一提的是,在当时只有拥有主权的君主才在庄严的场合互派纹章官,而较低等的贵族则仅派遣一种名为“传令”的低等典礼官。也值得附带一提的是,路易十一这人一贯瞧不起任何并不表明实际权力和实际利益的虚浮之物,特别是公开嘲讽纹章官和纹章这一类玩意,说这些都是“红红绿绿,华而不实”。然而,他的对手查尔斯公爵却具有与他全然不同的荣誉感,因而对这类事物礼仪上十分重视。 被引进来觐见君王们的这位纹章官穿着一件绣有主人纹章的外袍。纹章是以野猪头作为显赫的标志;但在行家看来描绘过于鲜艳,欠准确。其余的服饰——一般都十分俗丽——则满是些花边、刺绣和各式各样的装饰品,不胜繁杂。他戴的羽毛更是高得像要触到大厅的屋顶。总之,纹章官服装常见的那种华丽和俗气在此人身上更得到了成倍的丑化和夸张。不仅衣服到处都绣着野猪头,而且帽子也做成了带有血红的舌头和獠牙的野猪头形状,用专门术语说就是“红舌红牙”。这人的外表也具有某种既大胆又心虚的表情,说明他意识到自己在铤而走险,惟有孤注一掷才有可能安然无恙。他在向君王们敬礼时同样显示出这种恐惧兼大胆的混杂表情。他那奇怪而尴尬的动作在经常受到君王接见的人们当中也很不常见。 “以魔鬼的名义说说看,你究竟是谁?”这就是大胆的查尔斯见到这奇异的特使时讲的第一句话。 “我叫红野猪,”那纹章官回答道,“是威廉•德拉马克的纹章官。蒙上帝的宏恩,经教堂全体牧师选举,他已经当上了列日的王权主教。” “嗬!”查尔斯吃惊地说道,一边压抑着自己的愤怒,打了个手势叫他继续讲下去。 “同时也承袭其爱妻——尊敬的克罗伊埃•哈梅琳女士之封号,理所当然地成了克罗伊埃伯爵和布拉克蒙大公。” 查尔斯公爵听到这人在他面前竟敢如此放肆地念出这么一串头衔,真是惊奇得目瞪口呆。纹章官肯定是意识到他宣告身份的结果已产生了相当深刻的印象,便继续陈述他的使命。 “Annuncio vobis gauddium magnum,”他说道,“我谨以我个人的名义,知照勃艮第•查尔斯及弗兰德伯爵:承蒙即将获得的神圣罗马教皇的恩准,在指派适当圣职代理人的条件下,我的主人准备行使王权主教的职务,同时保留克罗伊埃伯爵的权利。” 在纹章宫每次说话的停顿当中勃艮第公爵都不作回答,只是发出“嗬!”或其他类似的惊兀声。这些惊兀声所使用的声调说明他固然感到惊奇,但很想听对方把话讲完再作出回答。使在座的人感到更为惊奇的是,他不像往常那样用力做些突兀的手势,而是做出他注意听人讲话时最喜欢采用的一种姿势——用大拇指的指甲抵着牙齿,低头望着地面,仿佛不愿让人看见他眼睛里可能闪烁着的愤怒光芒。 这位特使便继续大胆而无耻地陈述他所担负的使命。“我以列日王权主教及克罗伊埃伯爵的名义要求您,查尔斯公爵,停止您在可耻的已故列日主教波旁•路易的纵容下,对帝国直辖的列日自由市进行的侵犯,并收回一切无理要求。” “嗬!”公爵又惊奇地大声说道。 “此外还要求您归还您从该城用武力夺走的三十六面社团旗帜,并修复该城的城墙缺口和被您专横地拆掉的堡垒——要求您承认威廉•德拉马克为大教堂牧师团自由选举,并经正式备案的合法王权主教。” “你说完了吗?”公爵问道。 “还没有,”特使回答道,“我还必须以高贵而尊敬的亲王、主教和伯爵的名义,要求您从布拉克蒙城堡以及属于克罗伊埃伯爵领地的其他要地立即撤走以您自己的名义或以佯称为克罗伊埃伯爵小姐的伊莎贝尔的名义派往上述地区的驻军,以静候帝国议会的裁决,根据土地永久佃让法,上述采邑究竟应归属已故的克罗伊埃伯爵的胞妹,最贤良的哈梅琳女士,抑或归属他的女儿。” “你的主人很有学问。”公爵对答道。 “不过,”那纹章官继续说道,“一俟勃艮第与列日之间的争端获得解决,我高贵而尊敬的亲王将欣然赐予伊莎贝尔女士一块适合其身份的封地。” “他为人慷慨又体贴。”公爵以同样的声调说道。 “我这可怜的傻瓜凭良心说,”勒格洛里尔对克雷维格悄悄说道,“我宁肯做一条害瘟病死的牛,也不愿做那穿得花花绿绿的傻瓜!那家伙就像个醉鬼,只顾喝酒,而不顾我的主人躲在格子富后面给他记下的账。” “你说完了吗?”公爵对那纹章官说道。 “还有一点,”红野猪回答道,“我高贵而尊敬的主人还谈到他尊贵而可靠的朋友,最重基督之道的国王——” “嗬!”公爵突然一怔,用比先前更凶狠的声调大声说道。但他马上控制住自己,继续镇定地注意听他讲。 “据说你勃艮第•查尔斯违背你作为藩臣对法国国王应尽的义务,也违背信奉基督的君主应遵守的信义,对这位最重基督之道的国王加以软禁,限制了他的人身自由。为此,我高贵而尊敬的主人谨通过我口头敦促你将他那最重基督之道的国王盟友立即释放,否则就必须接受我受权向你宣布的挑战。” “你讲完了吗?”公爵问道。 “我讲完了,”那纹章官回答道,“现在等待殿下的回答。相信这回答将有助于避免基督徒之间的流血战争。” “好吧,凭着勃艮第的圣乔治说……”公爵讲道,但他还来不及继续讲下去,路易已站了起来,用充满了尊严和权威的声调开口说话。查尔斯不能打断他,只好让他讲下去。 “请你同意,我的勃艮第好堂弟,”国王说道,“我想赶在你前面给这个狂妄无礼的家伙一个回答——听着,你这纹章官(或别的什么头衔),你带信回去,告诉那无法无天的强盗和凶手威廉•德拉马克,说法国国王马上会率兵前往列日,讨伐那亵渎神明地杀害了他所爱戴的已故亲属波旁•路易的元凶,并准备把德拉马克活活绞死,以惩罚他狂妄地自称为法国盟友,并纵使他卑贱的使者滥用其国王英名的罪过。” “再加上我作为君主应向一个盗贼和杀人犯交待的几句话,”查尔斯说道,“滚你的吧!慢点。从来还没有哪个敌营的使者离开勃艮第宫廷时不喊饶命!来人!赏他一顿鞭打,直叫他皮开肉绽!” “请殿下原谅,”克雷维格和丹伯古同声说道,“他是个纹章官,享有豁免权。” “你们两位先生真是痴呆得像猫头鹰,”公爵对答道,“竟以为穿上纹章官的花袍就算得上纹章官。我看这家伙的纹章正好说明他是个骗子。叫特瓦松•多尔站出来,当你们的面好好考他一下。” 尽管这位“阿登内斯野猪”的特使天生胆大,性格狂妄,但一听见这句话,就吓得变了脸色,连脸上涂抹的一点红粉也掩饰不住他的苍白。正像我们在别的地方提到过的,特瓦松•多尔乃是公爵的首席纹章官。在公爵管辖的领域内也说得上是“国王的左右手”。这时他带着义不容辞的庄严神气走上前来,讯问这位自封的同行,他究竟是在哪个纹章学院研究他所从事的这门科学的。 “我是在雷根斯堡纹章学院被培养成为传令的,”“红野猪”回答道,“我还从该学院获得了荣誉毕业证书。” “这是一个有资格颁发此种证书的最光荣的学术机构。”特瓦松•多尔比先前更低地鞠了一躬,对他说道,“如果我服从最贤明的公爵的命令,冒昧地和您探讨我们这门高尚的科学的种种奥秘,那只是为了向您求教。” “得了,”公爵不耐烦地说道,“别搞这些客套了。你就问他几个问题,考考他是否内行。” “既然他是光荣的雷根斯堡纹章学院的毕业生,要问他是否懂得纹章学的普通符号,那未免太说不过去,”特瓦松•多尔说道,“不过我想不揣冒昧地要求‘红野猪’先生说说,他是否研究过纹章学方面更玄妙更隐秘的一些符号——通过这些符号,学问更深的人们可以用象征的方法,或比喻的方法彼此表达纹章学的词法中用普通符号表达的概念。” “各种纹章符号我都懂得,”“红野猪”大胆地说道,“不过,我们在德国所学的与你们弗兰德的可能不同。” “哎呀!亏得你说的!”特瓦松•多尔回答道,“你要知道,我们这门高贵的科学之所以成其为光荣和高贵的标志和象征,就因为它在所有基督教国家都完全一致,甚至得到撒拉森人和摩尔人的了解和承认。所以,我想请您按天象,也就是按星象,对您选择的任何纹章进行一番解释。” “你愿意解释你去解释好了,”“红野猪”说道,“我不想对老天爷开猿猴妄想登天这一类愚蠢的玩笑。” “给他一个纹章,让他按他自己的方式去解释,”公爵说道,“假如他解释不出来,我担保他会被打得满身发青发紫。” “你瞧,”勃艮第的纹章官从钱包里掏出一块羊皮纸说道,“这儿是一个羊皮纸卷,基于某种考虑我曾按我自己的方式在上面刺了一个古代的纹章。假如这位老兄真是鼎鼎有名的雷根斯堡纹章学院毕业的,那我就请他用适当的语言解释解释这个纹章。” 勒格洛里尔对这个讨论似乎很感兴趣,这时已挤到了两位纹章官的跟前。“好伙计,让我帮帮你吧,”他看到“红野猪”茫然地望着羊皮纸卷发愁便对他说道,“我的大人,这表示一个猫在一个牛奶店的窗口朝外望。” 这句俏皮话引起了一场大笑。这对“红野猪”倒很有利,因为特瓦松•多尔听到那弄臣对自己的图案作了如此荒谬的解说,一气之下赶忙解释说,这是法国国王契尔德伯特在将勃艮第国王冈德马尔囚禁以后所采用的纹章。描绘的是一只虎猫——被囚国王的标志——被关在铁栅栏后面,或者,像特瓦松•多尔用行话所解说的那样:“Sable,a musion passant Or,oppressed with a trellis gules,cloue of the second.” “凭我挂的铃铛说,”勒格洛里尔说道,“如果这猫是象征勃艮第,那么它现在可是站在铁栅栏的外面,而不是关在里面。” “好伙计,你说得很对,”路易大声笑道,尽管在场的其他人,甚至包括公爵本人在内,都对如此露骨的俏皮话感到不安,“我得奖给你一枚金币,赞扬你把一件严肃的事说成了令人开心的趣事。我相信事情也会以这种愉快的气氛得到了结。” “别再讲了,勒格洛里尔,”公爵说道,“而你,特瓦松•多尔的学问也实在叫人莫测高深,你也靠边站吧——你们谁把这流氓给我拉上来!你这无赖,好好听着,”他用最严厉的声调说道,“除开铸成钱币,你就连金和银都分不清吗?” “殿下,看在怜悯的分上,饶了我吧!高贵的路易王,代我说说情吧!” “你代你自己说说得了,”公爵讲道,“一句话,你是不是纹章官?” “只是这一次临时当当!”这原形毕露的纹章官承认道。 “圣乔治在上!”公爵用眼角望着路易说道,“我只知道有一位国王——一位绅士——曾经滥用过王室和贵族所依靠的这门高贵的纹章学;惟独这位国王曾经把一名仆役冒充纹章官派往英国爱德华的宫廷。” “这样一个计策,”路易大笑(或假装大笑)地说道,“在情况迫不得已时用来对付当时还没有纹章官的英国宫廷,也还说得过去。不过,尽管这事骗过了鲁钝愚蠢的岛民,但任何稍比‘野猪’聪明的人也不会想到把这样一个鬼把戏用来欺骗高级的勃艮第宫廷。” “把他带走,”公爵狠狠地说道,“得让他狼狈不堪地滚回去——来人!把他拽到市场去!用缰绳和狗鞭抽打他,直到他衣不蔽体,体无完肤!嗨!嗨!快咬这个‘红野猪’!这儿!这儿!” 一听到公爵最后发出的熟悉声音,便有四五只像鲁本斯和施莱德斯合画的狩猎图里所描绘的那种大狼狗,像听到野猪被赶出窝似的大声吠叫起来。 “凭着耶稣受难的十字架说!”为了迎合他凶残的堂弟这一时的兴致,路易王赶紧说道,“既然这笨驴披上野猪皮,那就让狗追赶他,给他剥掉这层皮!” “对,对!”公爵大声说道,显然这一想法正迎合他此刻的情绪,“就这么办!解开狼狗——把塔尔波特吆过来!把波蒙特也吆过来!我得让狗把他从城堡大门一直追到东城门。” “我想,殿下会像对待一头猎物那样对待我,”那家伙强作镇定地说道,“容许我享受狩猎法的公平待遇吧?” “你是一头害兽,”公爵说道,“无权享受狩猎法规定的法律保护。不过,看在你史无前例的厚颜无耻的分上,让你先跑六十码。走吧,走吧,先生们!让我们去观看这场比赛。”会议在一片哄闹声中收场以后,人们都急忙跟在比谁都跑得更快的两位君王后面,欣赏路易王提出的以人为对象的这场娱乐。 那“红野猪”表现得十分擅长跑步。看到在号角声和猎人的吆喝声鼓舞下,有十来头凶狠的狼狗正猛追过来,恐惧就像给他添上了翅膀,更使他快步如飞。要不是那纹章官的外袍(这是对跑步者最不利的一种服装)使他行动不便,他很可能摆脱掉狗的追赶。他也曾迂回闪躲过一两次,技巧之高博得了观众的喝彩。然而,在包括查尔斯本人在内的观众中,没有谁比路易王对这场比赛更显得乐不可支。这一方面是出于政治上的考虑,一方面是由于他天性残忍,乐于看到别人以滑稽的方式表现出来的痛苦。他笑得眼泪都淌了出来,而在他如痴如狂的大笑当中,他一把抓住了公爵的貂皮外套,像是想有个支持,免得自己摔倒。笑得同样开心的公爵也一把搂住国王的肩膀,从而表现出与他们最近的关系大相径庭的亲热友好和感情共鸣。 最后,这伪装的纹章官跑的速度已无法使他摆脱犬牙的袭击。狼狗咬住他,把他拉倒在地,正准备扑向他的喉咙,把他一口咬死,这时公爵忽然大声喊道:“别咬!别咬!把狗拖开!他跑得很不错,尽管在狗逼到面前时没作什么精彩表演,我也不想就这么把他打发掉。” 几位官员应命跑过去,赶紧把狗拉开。人们看见有几条狗被他们套住了,而另外几条则被追得满街乱跑,一边得意洋洋地在口里抖动着从那倒霉的纹章官在一个倒霉的时刻穿上的那件外袍上撕下来的花花绿绿的碎布。 公爵正全神贯注地观看眼前的趣事,没注意到后边有人在说什么。这时奥利弗•丹溜到国王背后对他耳语道:“这正是那个波希米亚人海拉丁•毛格拉宾。要是他找到机会和公爵讲话,那就糟了。” “得把他干掉,”国王用同样的声调回答道,“死人就无法告密了。” 奥利弗给特里斯顿•勒尔米特一个暗示,这人立即走到国王和公爵面前,以粗率的态度说道:“陛下和殿下请原谅,这家伙是属于我的猎物。我要求领走他。大家都看得见,这人肩上烙有百合花印记。他是个有名的歹徒,杀害过国王的臣民,抢劫过教堂,奸污过少女,偷猎过御花园里的糜鹿。” “够了,够了,”查尔斯公爵说道,“根据这么多的名目,那他肯定是属于我堂兄的财产。陛下想怎么处置他呢?” “如果把他交给我处置,”国王说道,“那我至少还得给他上一堂他所一窍不通的纹章课——要他老老实实领会,带有摆动的套索的大十字架究竟意味着什么。” “不是要他承负的十字架,而是承负他的十字架。让他在你的老伙计特里斯顿的指导下,攻读他的博士学位吧——他是深谙此种玄秘知识的大教授。” 公爵接着对自己这个俏皮话发出自鸣得意的刺耳的笑声,路易对他这笑声也报以如此热诚的响应,连他的对手也禁不住一边温和地望着他,一边说道: “唉,路易,路易!祷告上帝,但愿你既是一个快活的伙伴,又是个讲信义的君主!我不能不经常回想起我们过去常在一起度过的快乐时光。” “只要你愿意,这种时光还可以再回来,”路易说道,“我愿允诺在我当前的处境下你能体面地提出的任何公平合理的条件,亦即不致使你自己成为基督世界非议对象的任何条件。我愿凭着我身上经常佩戴的耶稣受难十字架的残片这一圣物发誓,我将遵守这些条件。” 这时,他解下用一条金项链贴着衬衣套在脖子上的小金匣,虔诚地吻了它之后继续说道: “谁要是对这最神圣的圣物发伪誓,不出一年就会有报应。” “不过,”公爵说道,“这也是你离开勃艮第之前向我发誓要保持友谊时使用过的同一圣物。但不久你就派遣鲁邦布雷那杂种来对我进行暗杀和绑架。” “我的好堂弟,你又在翻老账了,”国王说道,“我敢说,那事你是误解了。不过,我当时也不是凭着这个圣物发的誓,而是凭着我从宰相那儿拿来的另一块耶稣受难十字架的残片发的誓。那块残片曾在异教徒当中停留太久,效力肯定减弱了。再说,不正是不出一年就爆发了‘公益战争’吗?当时,一支勃艮第军队在所有法国大封建主的支持下进驻圣丹尼斯城,结果我被迫把诺曼底移交给我兄弟。上帝保佑我们,可别对这样一种神圣的信物发伪誓!” “好吧,堂哥,”公爵对答道,“我的确相信你得到了一个教训,下次该守信用了。不过这回我想开门见山,直截了当地问问你:你愿履行你的诺言,和我一道去惩罚凶手德拉马克和列日市民吗?” “我愿意带兵去打他们,”路易说道,“我要叫我的人马把法国军旗和殿后军旗以及法国王室旗都打出来。” “不必,不必,”公爵说道,“这样做既不需要,也未必可取。只消有你的苏格兰卫队和两百名精选的长矛手在场,就足以表明你是作为自由的一方参加战争了。一只大的队伍可能——” “好堂弟,你想说,这将使我事实上成为自由的一方,对吗?”国王说道,“好吧,我让你决定我的随从人数好了。” “为了消除引起我们这次不和的因素,你同意让克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐与奥尔良公爵成婚,行吗?” “我的好堂弟,”国王说道,“我一再礼让,终归还是被你逼上了绝路。你要知道,公爵是我女儿让娜的未婚夫。我求你大方一些,放弃这个要求。让我们还是谈谈索姆河上几座城镇的归属问题吧。” “我的大臣们会和陛下谈判这些问题的,”查尔斯说道,“就我个人来说,我更关心的是弥补所受的委屈,而不是攫取领土。陛下干预我的藩属,硬要插手勃艮第的一个被保护者的婚事。既然陛下已经插手,您就得把她许配给您的一位王室成员。否则我们就得宣告谈判破裂。” “要是我说我情愿这样做,那谁也不会相信,”国王说道,“好堂弟,我只能十分勉强地表示这样一点意思:假如双方同意,而又获得教皇的恩准,那么我个人的反对将不会妨碍这桩婚姻的实现。因此,你可以判断,我希望能使你满意的愿望达到了什么样的程度。” “其他问题都不难通过我们的大臣来求得解决,”公爵说道,“现在我们又成了堂兄弟和朋友了。” “谢天谢地!”路易说道,“仁慈的上帝掌握着君王们的心灵,要他们以和平为重,宽厚为怀,这样天下的黎民百姓就可免遭兵燹。奥利弗,”他对那老像徒弟伴随巫师似的和他形影不离的宠臣悄悄说道,“你听我说——你去告诉特里斯顿,叫他把那个波希米亚流浪汉立即干掉。” Chapter 34 The Execution I'll take thee to the good green wood, And make thine own hand choose the tree. OLD BALLAD "Now God be praised, that gave us the power of laughing, and making others laugh, and shame to the dull cur who scorns the office of a jester! Here is a joke, and that none of the brightest (though it might pass, since it has amused two Princes), which hath gone farther than a thousand reasons of state to prevent a war between France and Burgundy." Such was the inference of Le Glorieux, when, in consequence of the reconciliation of which we gave the particulars in the last chapter, the Burgundian guards were withdrawn from the Castle of Peronne, the abode of the King removed from the ominous Tower of Count Herbert, and, to the great joy both of French and Burgundians, an outward show at least of confidence and friendship seemed so established between Duke Charles and his liege lord. Yet still the latter, though treated with ceremonial observance, was sufficiently aware that he continued to be the object of suspicion, though he prudently affected to overlook it, and appeared to consider himself as entirely at his ease. Meanwhile, as frequently happens in such cases, whilst the principal parties concerned had so far made up their differences, one of the subaltern agents concerned in their intrigues was bitterly experiencing the truth of the political maxim that if the great have frequent need of base tools, they make amends to society by abandoning them to their fate, so soon as they find them no longer useful. Thus was Hayraddin Maugrabin, who, surrendered by the Duke's officers to the King's Provost Marshal, was by him placed in the hands of his two trusty aides de camp, Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre, to be dispatched without loss of time. One on either side of him, and followed by a few guards and a multitude of rabble -- this playing the Allegro, that the Penseroso, (the mirthful and the serious. Cf. Milton's poems by these names.) -- he was marched off (to use a modern comparison, like Garrick between Tragedy and Comedy) to the neighbouring forest; where, to save all farther trouble and ceremonial of a gibbet, and so forth, the disposers of his fate proposed to knit him up to the first sufficient tree. They were not long in finding an oak, as Petit Andre facetiously expressed it, fit to bear such an acorn; and placing the wretched criminal on a bank, under a sufficient guard, they began their extemporaneous preparations for the final catastrophe. At that moment, Hayraddin, gazing on the crowd, encountered the eyes of Quentin Durward, who, thinking he recognized the countenance of his faithless guide in that of the detected impostor, had followed with the crowd to witness the execution, and assure himself of the identity. When the executioners informed him that all was ready, Hayraddin, with much calmness, asked a single boon at their hands. "Anything, my son, consistent with our office," said Trois Eschelles. "That is," said Hayraddin, "anything but my life." "Even so," said Trois Eschelles, "and something more, for you seem resolved to do credit to our mystery, and die like a man, without making wry mouths -- why, though our orders are to be prompt, I care not if I indulge you ten minutes longer." "You are even too generous," said Hayraddin. "Truly we may be blamed for it," said Petit Andre, "but what of that? -- I could consent almost to give my life for such a jerry come tumble, such a smart, tight, firm lad, who proposes to come from aloft with a grace, as an honest fellow should." "So that if you want a confessor --" said Trois Eschelles. "Or a lire of wine --" said his facetious companion. "Or a psalm --" said Tragedy. "Or a song --" said Comedy. "Neither, my good, kind, and most expeditious friends," said the Bohemian. "I only pray to speak a few minutes with yonder Archer of the Scottish Guard." The executioners hesitated a moment; but Trois Eschelles, recollecting that Quentin Durward was believed, from various circumstances, to stand high in the favour of their master, King Louis, they resolved to permit the interview. When Quentin, at their summons, approached the condemned criminal, he could not but be shocked at his appearance, however justly his doom might have been deserved. The remnants of his heraldic finery, rent to tatters by the fangs of the dogs, and the clutches of the bipeds who had rescued him from their fury to lead him to the gallows, gave him at once a ludicrous and a wretched appearance. His face was discoloured with paint and with some remnants of a fictitious beard, assumed for the purpose of disguise, and there was the paleness of death upon his cheek and upon his lip; yet, strong in passive courage, like most of his tribe, his eye, while it glistened and wandered, as well as the contorted smile of his mouth, seemed to bid defiance to the death he was about to die. Quentin was struck, partly with horror, partly with compassion, as he approached the miserable man; and these feelings probably betrayed themselves in his manner, for Petit Andre called out, "Trip it more smartly, jolly Archer. -- This gentleman's leisure cannot wait for you, if you walk as if the pebbles were eggs, and you afraid of breaking them." "I must speak with him in privacy," said the criminal, despair seeming to croak in his accent as he uttered the words. "That may hardly consist with our office, my merry Leap the ladder," said Petit Andre, "we know you for a slippery eel of old." "I am tied with your horse girths, hand and foot," said the criminal. "You may keep guard around me, though out of earshot -- the Archer is your own King's servant. And if I give you ten guilders --" "Laid out in masses, the sum may profit his poor soul," said Trois Eschelles. "Laid out in wine or brantwein, it will comfort my poor body," responded Petit Andre. "So let them be forthcoming, my little crack rope." "Pay the bloodhounds their fee," said Hayraddin to Durward, "I was plundered of every stiver when they took me -- it shall avail thee much." Quentin paid the executioners their guerdon, and, like men of promise, they retreated out of hearing -- keeping, however, a careful eye on the criminal's motions. After waiting an instant till the unhappy man should speak, as he still remained silent, Quentin at length addressed him, "And to this conclusion thou hast at length arrived?" "Ay," answered Hayraddin, "it required neither astrologer, or physiognomist, nor chiromantist to foretell that I should follow the destiny of my family." "Brought to this early end by thy long course of crime and treachery?" said the Scot. "No, by the bright Aldebaran and all his brother twinklers!" answered the Bohemian. "I am brought hither by my folly in believing that the bloodthirsty cruelty of a Frank could be restrained even by what they themselves profess to hold most sacred. A priest's vestment would have been no safer garb for me than a herald's tabard, however sanctimonious are your professions of devotion and chivalry." "A detected impostor has no right to claim the immunities of the disguise he had usurped," said Durward. "Detected!" said the Bohemian. "My jargon was as good as yonder old fool of a herald's, but let it pass. As well now as hereafter." "You abuse time," said Quentin. "If you have aught to tell me, say it quickly, and then take some care of your soul." "Of my soul?" said the Bohemian, with a hideous laugh. "Think ye a leprosy of twenty years can be cured in an instant? -- If I have a soul, it hath been in such a course since I was ten years old and more, that it would take me one month to recall all my crimes, and another to tell them to the priest! -- and were such space granted me, it is five to one I would employ it otherwise." "Hardened wretch, blaspheme not! Tell me what thou hast to say, and I leave thee to thy fate," said Durward, with mingled pity and horror. "I have a boon to ask," said Hayraddin; "but first I will buy it of you; for your tribe, with all their professions of charity, give naught for naught." "I could well nigh say, thy gifts perish with thee," answered Quentin, "but that thou art on the very verge of eternity. -- Ask thy boon -- reserve thy bounty -- it can do me no good -- I remember enough of your good offices of old." "Why, I loved you," said Hayraddin, "for the matter that chanced on the banks of the Cher; and I would have helped you to a wealthy dame. You wore her scarf, which partly misled me, and indeed I thought that Hameline, with her portable wealth, was more for your market penny than the other hen sparrow, with her old roost at Bracquemont, which Charles has clutched, and is likely to keep his claws upon." "Talk not so idly, unhappy man," said Quentin; "yonder officers become impatient." "Give them ten guilders for ten minutes more," said the culprit, who, like most in his situation, mixed with his hardihood a desire of procrastinating his fate, "I tell thee it shall avail thee much." "Use then well the minutes so purchased," said Durward, and easily made a new bargain with the Marshals men. This done, Hayraddin continued. -- "Yes, I assure you I meant you well; and Hameline would have proved an easy and convenient spouse. Why, she has reconciled herself even with the Boar of Ardennes, though his mode of wooing was somewhat of the roughest, and lords it yonder in his sty, as if she had fed on mast husks and acorns all her life." "Cease this brutal and untimely jesting," said Quentin, "or, once more I tell you, I will leave you to your fate." "You are right," said Hayraddin, after a moment's pause; "what cannot be postponed must be faced! -- Well, know then, I came hither in this accursed disguise, moved by a great reward from De la Marck, and hoping a yet mightier one from King Louis, not merely to bear the message of defiance which yon may have heard of, but to tell the King an important secret." "It was a fearful risk," said Durward. "It was paid for as such, and such it hath proved," answered the Bohemian. "De la Marck attempted before to communicate with Louis by means of Marthon; but she could not, it seems, approach nearer to him than the Astrologer, to whom she told all the passages of the journey, and of Schonwaldt; but it is a chance if her tidings ever reach Louis, except in the shape of a prophecy. But hear my secret, which is more important than aught she could tell. William de la Marck has assembled a numerous and strong force within the city of Liege, and augments it daily by means of the old priest's treasures. But he proposes not to hazard a battle with the chivalry of Burgundy, and still less to stand a siege in the dismantled town. This he will do -- he will suffer the hot brained Charles to sit down before the place without opposition, and in the night, make an outfall or sally upon the leaguer with his whole force. Many he will have in French armour, who will cry, France, Saint Louis, and Denis Montjoye, as if there were a strong body of French auxiliaries in the city. This cannot choose but strike utter confusion among the Burgundians; and if King Louis, with his guards, attendants, and such soldiers as he may have with him, shall second his efforts, the Boar of Ardennes nothing doubts the discomfiture of the whole Burgundian army. -- There is my secret, and I bequeath it to you. Forward or prevent the enterprise -- sell the intelligence to King Louis, or to Duke Charles, I care not -- save or destroy whom thou wilt; for my part, I only grieve that I cannot spring it like a mine, to the destruction of them all." "It is indeed an important secret," said Quentin, instantly comprehending how easily the national jealousy might be awakened in a camp consisting partly of French, partly of Burgundians. "Ay, so it is," answered Hayraddin; "and now you have it, you would fain begone, and leave me without granting the boon for which I have paid beforehand." "Tell me thy request," said Quentin. "I will grant it if it be in my power." "Nay, it is no mighty demand -- it is only in behalf of poor Klepper, my palfrey, the only living thing that may miss me. -- A due mile south, you will find him feeding by a deserted collier's hut; whistle to him thus" (he whistled a peculiar note), "and call him by his name, Klepper, he will come to you; here is his bridle under my gaberdine -- it is lucky the hounds got it not, for he obeys no other. Take him, and make much of him -- I do not say for his master's sake, -- but because I have placed at your disposal the event of a mighty war. He will never fail you at need -- night and day, rough and smooth, fair and foul, warm stables and the winter sky, are the same to Klepper; had I cleared the gates of Peronne, and got so far as where I left him, I had not been in this case. -- Will you be kind to Klepper?" "I swear to you that I will," answered Quentin, affected by what seemed a trait of tenderness in a character so hardened. "Then fare thee well!" said the criminal. "Yet stay -- stay -- I would not willingly die in discourtesy, forgetting a lady's commission. -- This billet is from the very gracious and extremely silly Lady of the Wild Boar of Ardennes, to her black eyed niece -- I see by your look I have chosen a willing messenger. -- And one word more -- I forgot to say, that in the stuffing of my saddle you will find a rich purse of gold pieces, for the sake of which I put my life on the venture which has cost me so dear. Take them, and replace a hundred fold the guilders you have bestowed on these bloody slaves -- I make you mine heir." "I will bestow them in good works and masses for the benefit of thy soul," said Quentin. "Name not that word again," said Hayraddin, his countenance assuming a dreadful expression; "there is -- there can be, there shall be -- no such thing! -- it is a dream of priestcraft." "Unhappy, most unhappy being! Think better! let me speed for a priest -- these men will delay yet a little longer. I will bribe them to it," said Quentin. "What canst thou expect, dying in such opinions, and impenitent?" "To be resolved into the elements," said the hardened atheist, pressing his fettered arms against his bosom; "my hope, trust, and expectation is that the mysterious frame of humanity shall melt into the general mass of nature, to be recompounded in the other forms with which she daily supplies those which daily disappear, and return under different forms -- the watery particles to streams and showers, the earthy parts to enrich their mother earth, the airy portions to wanton in the breeze, and those of fire to supply the blaze of Aldebaran and his brethren. -- In this faith have I lived, and I will die in it! -- Hence! begone! -- disturb me no farther! -- I have spoken the last word that mortal ears shall listen to." Deeply impressed with the horrors of his condition, Quentin Durward yet saw that it was vain to hope to awaken him to a sense of his fearful state. He bade him, therefore, farewell, to which the criminal only replied by a short and sullen nod, as one who, plunged in reverie, bids adieu to company which distracts his thoughts. He bent his course towards the forest, and easily found where Klepper was feeding. The creature came at his call, but was for some time unwilling to be caught, snuffing and starting when the stranger approached him. At length, however, Quentin's general acquaintance with the habits of the animal, and perhaps some particular knowledge of those of Klepper, which he had often admired while Hayraddin and he travelled together, enabled him to take possession of the Bohemian's dying bequest. Long ere he returned to Peronne, the Bohemian had gone where the vanity of his dreadful creed was to be put to the final issue -- a fearful experience for one who had neither expressed remorse for the past, nor apprehension for the future! 我将领你去那个绿色的树林, 让你亲手挑选那棵树。 《古老的民谣》 “赞美上帝,因为他使我们具有哈哈大笑,也使别人开怀大笑的本领。一些蠢猪轻视弄臣们的作用,那是十分可耻的。我们看到人们开了一个玩笑,何况还不是最漂亮的玩笑(既然它能使两位君王都很开心,自然也还过得去),结果在防止法兰西和勃艮第发生一场大战上起到了一千种政治考虑都无法起到的作用。” 这就是勒格洛里尔看到眼前发生的现象所作出的一个推论。正如我们在前一章详细描述过的,两位君王之间实现了和解。接着,勃艮第的警卫便撤出了佩隆城堡,国王也迁出了那不祥的“赫伯特伯爵塔楼”,法国和勃艮第的大臣们都高兴地看到查尔斯公爵及其宗主之间至少是表面上又沉浸在信任和友好的气氛中。然而,路易王虽受到了礼貌的对待,他还是充分意识到自己仍是被怀疑对象。但他却审慎地装出视而不见的样子,并给人一种自以为完全自由自在的印象。 然而,正如在类似情况下经常发生的那样,虽然主要当事人已暂时消除分歧,实现和解,但参与阴谋的一个卑贱奴才却正在痛苦地体验到有句政治格言的确言之不假,即大人物固然经常用得着一些社会渣滓来充当工具,但一旦发现他们不再必需,便令其得到可悲的下场,从而弥补对社会造成的损失。 这人便是海拉丁•毛格拉宾。公爵的官员把他交给了路易王的军法总监。此人又把他交给了他的两名忠实助手,特洛瓦—艾歇尔和小安德烈,要他们立即将他处决。在几个卫兵和一大群看热闹的游民的跟随下,他们两人一个扮演欢快的角色,一个扮演忧郁的角色,走在这流浪汉的两边(用现代人的比喻来说,就像悲剧演员和喜剧演员中间夹着加立克),押着他前往附近的一个森林。为了减少麻烦,免去绞刑架所牵涉到的那套行刑仪式,负责处决他的这两个人打算利用碰到的第一株高得足以吊得起他的大树,把他打发了事。 他们没过多久就找到了一株像滑稽人物小安德烈所说的能结这样一颗“橡子”的橡树。他们把这倒霉的囚徒放在河岸上,让一支人数不少的卫队看守他,便着手行刑前的临时准备。海拉丁呆望着人群,正好碰到了昆丁•达威特的目光。由于昆丁觉得他已认出这被戮穿了伪装的骗子正是那个不忠不义的向导,所以他跟在人群后面来到现场,想看看处决的情况,并亲自证实一下,是否确系此人。 当行刑者告诉他一切准备就绪时,海拉丁以十分镇静的表情请他们行行善,答应他一件事。 “我的儿子,只要不违反我们的职责,什么都可以。”特洛瓦—艾歇尔说道。 “那就是说,”海拉丁讲道,“除开我这条命,什么都可以。” “正是这样,”特洛瓦—艾歇尔说道,“不过,我还可以更慷慨一点。你似乎决心给我们这个神秘的行道增加点光彩,准备死得像个男子汉大丈夫,不装出一副难看的鬼脸——好吧,尽管给我们的命令是迅速处决,但我倒不在乎让你多活十分钟。” “您真是太慷慨了。”海拉丁说道。 “为此我们真会受到指责,”小安德烈说道,“不过,这怕什么?像你这样一个灵活精干、身体结实的伙子满有希望像个老实人那样从树上乖乖落下来。对于你这种好样的货色,我把命送给你都行。” “要是你想请一位忏悔师……”特洛瓦—艾歇尔说道—— “或者想喝一公升的酒。”那滑稽鬼说道。 “或者要听一首赞美诗。”那悲剧角色说道。 “或者,要听一支歌。”那喜剧角色说道。 “都不需要。仁慈、善良、办事利落的朋友们,”那波希米亚人说道,“我只要求和那位苏格兰卫队的射手谈几分钟话。” 两位行刑吏踌躇了一会。特洛瓦—艾歇尔想起,根据许多情况来判断,昆丁•达威特的确深受他们的主子路易王的赏识,所以决定同意让他们谈谈话。 当昆丁应他们的召唤来到死回跟前时,这死回狼狈的外貌——诚然其下场确实罪有应得——也不禁使他大吃一惊。猎犬把他那纹章官的华丽外袍撕成了碎片;而把他从猎犬的狂咬下救出来,并把他带上绞架的那两个两足动物又把这身衣服连抓带扯,搞得更加残破不堪。这就使得这个死回的外表显得既可笑,又可怜。满脸的油彩和残存的伪装用的假胡须使他的面孔显得光怪陆离,但脸颊和嘴唇却透露出临终者的苍白。然而,他也和他们部族的大多数人一样,表现出顽强的忍受痛苦的勇气。他那滴溜溜转的闪烁着的眼睛以及他嘴边挂着的一丝苦笑似乎都在向逼近的死亡表示轻蔑。 昆丁走近这可怜的死回时,既感到恐怖,也动了恻隐之心。也许他的态度不免流露出这两种心情,因为他听见小安德烈喊道:“快活的射手,你就快点走吧——假如你走路慢腾腾的,就像把脚下的卵石当成鸡蛋,害怕踩破它们,那么这位贵人就没功夫等你了。” “我得和他私下谈谈。”那死因说道,说话的声调似乎充满了绝望。 “我这上绞架的可爱的伙计,我们的职责可无法容许你这么干啦。我们知道你像条老奸巨滑的鳝鱼。” “我已经被你们用马肚带全身绑住,”那罪人说道,“再说,你们可以在我们周围警戒,只消所不到我们讲话就行——那射手是你们国王的仆人——要是我给你们十个钱币——” “这笔钱用来买弥撒,对他可怜的灵魂会有好处。”特洛瓦—艾歇尔说道。 “用来买葡萄酒或白兰地酒,可以慰劳慰劳我可怜的身体,”小安德烈一唱一和地说道,“那么,我的小乖乖,你就把钱拿出来吧。” “弄点钱赏赏这两个嗜血的猎犬吧,”海拉丁对达威特说道,“他们一抓住我就把我的钱抢光了——给这点钱会对你大有好处的。” 两个绞刑吏得到昆丁的贿赂之后,便遵守诺言,退到听不见他们讲话的地方,但对这死回的行动进行严密的监视。昆丁等了片刻,想让这不幸的人开口讲话。见他仍不做声,便主动对他说道:“你终于获得到了这种下场?” “不错。”海拉丁对答道,“既用不着占星术家,也用不着给我相面或看手相,谁都可以预言,我一家人的下场也就是我自己的下场。” “是你长期欺诈作恶才使得你不得善终!”那苏格兰人说道。 “不,这是那明亮的阿多波兰及其姊妹星安排给我的归宿!”那波希米亚人回答道,“我之所以来到这里,是因为我愚蠢地相信,法国人自己奉为神圣的东西可以对他们的嗜血和残忍有所约束。但不管他们把忠诚和骑士精神说得多么神圣,即使我穿上牧师的外袍也未必会比纹章官的外袍使我的安全更有保障。” “被戳穿的骗子无权希求伪装给他带来豁免。”达威特说道。 “被戳穿的骗子!”波希米亚人说道,“我掌握的行话和那个当纹章官的老混蛋一样地道。不过,别提它了。今后都别再提它了。” “你在滥用时间,”昆丁说道,“如果你有什么要说的,就赶快说,然后照管照管你自己的灵魂吧!” “照管我的灵魂?”那波希米亚人可惜地大声笑道。“你以为一个二十年的麻疯病患者可以顷刻治好吗?要是我真有灵魂,那么,打从我十岁起我的灵魂就已经走上了今天这条轨道。也许我得花一个月的时间才能回忆完我所有的罪过,再花一个月时间来向牧师坦白。如果能让我多活这么长的时间,十之八九我会把它另作别用。” “你这铁了心的家伙,别说亵渎神明的话了!你有什么要说的就快说。听你说完我好走开,让你去迎接你的灭亡。”达威特带着既怜悯又恐怖的心情说道。 “我想求你给我做件好事,”海拉丁说道,“不过,我想先花点什么来买你这件好事,因为,你们这些人虽然口说要待人慈善,却决不会白给人东西。” “要不是你已经站在死亡的边缘,我真想说:愿你这些玩意都见鬼去,”昆丁说道,“你快说要我帮什么忙得了。把你想要给我的留给你自己吧——它对我没有用。我记得你过去对我的好处已经够多的了。” “你知道,我念念不忘的是在谢尔河岸上发生的那件事。我一直很喜欢你,”海拉丁说道,“我本可以帮你娶到一个有钱的贵妇人。我见你系着她的纱巾,结果使我误以为你对她有意。我的确认为携带有大量钱财的哈梅琳要比那另一只雌麻雀更能给你带来实惠,因为这只雌麻雀的老窝是在布拉克蒙。查尔斯已把它据为己有,而且很可能长期霸占。” “你这不幸的浪子,快别瞎扯了,”昆丁说道,“那两个行刑官等得不耐烦了。” “再给他们十个钱币,要求再延长十分钟吧!”那死因说道,因为他也像大多数临刑的犯人那样,一方面蔑视死亡,一方面又想推迟死亡的到来。 “那么你就好好利用花钱买来的这几分钟吧!”达威特说道,然后又去和军法总监的两名部下作了一笔新的交易。 这事办妥以后,海拉丁又继续说道:“你可以相信我,我的确是对你一片好心。你本来可以轻而易举地娶她为妻,因为她就连‘阿登内斯野猪’都不嫌弃,尽管他求婚的方式十分粗鲁,而且在他的猪厩里对她作威作福,仿佛她也是一辈子都吃榛子壳和橡子长大的。” “别说这种粗野的、不合时宜的笑话了,”昆丁说道,“我得再次告诉你,再这样我就要走开,让你去迎接你的灭亡。” “你说得对,”海拉丁考虑片刻后说道,“在劫难逃,无法回避!好吧,我告诉你,我之所以倒霉地伪装纹章官来到这里,是因为德拉马克的一大笔赏金打动了我的心,同时我还指望从路易王手上捞到更大的一笔。我不仅是为了传递你也许听人提到过的那个挑战书,而且是想告诉国王一个重要的机密。” “这可是一个可怕的冒险。”达威特说道。 “事情果然如此,我也为此付出了代价,”那波希米亚人对答道,“德拉马克原打算通过玛尔松与路易王取得联系。但看来她无法接近他,而只能找到那位占星术家。她把我们旅途的经过以及在索恩瓦尔德发生的事情全都告诉了他。但她所带的这些信息除开那老人以预言的形式暗示给路易王以外,就很少有可能传到他耳里。好吧,我就把我的秘密告诉你吧。这要比她所掌握的那个重要得多。威廉•德拉马克已在列日城聚集了一支兵多将广的强大军队,并且每天都在动用那老主教留下的钱财继续招兵买马。但他不打算和勃艮第的骑兵贸然交锋,更不打算困守被毁过的列日城。他打算这么办——先按兵不动,让那性情急躁的查尔斯在城外扎营,然后趁黑夜倾巢出动,对围城者来个突然袭击。他准备叫许多兵士都穿上法军铠甲,并叫喊“法兰西”,“圣路易”和“圣丹尼斯的圣旗万岁!”这样一些口号,以造成仿佛城里真有一支强大的法国增援部队的假象。这样就不可避免地会在勃艮第人当中制造极大的混乱。假如路易工率领卫队、随从以及可能跟随他的士兵给以外应,那么‘阿登内斯野猪’就肯定能叫勃艮第全军覆没。这就是我的秘密,我把它遗赠给你。你可以用它来防止事情的发生,也可以用它来推波助澜——你可以随意把情报卖给路易工或卖给查尔斯公爵——救你想救的人,消灭你想消灭的人。就我来说,我只惋惜我不能把它当成引信,点燃一个地雷,让他们全都毁灭!” “这的确是一个重要机密。”昆丁说道,因为他马上意识到在一半法国人、一半勃艮第人组成的阵营中,要制造国家之间的猜忌是多么轻而易举。 “那还用说,”海拉丁对答道,“既然情报到手,我想你就不会在答应我为之付出了这一代价的请求之前一走了事吧?” “你把你的要求告诉我好了,”昆丁说道,“只要办得到,我就答应。” “这倒不是什么了不起的要求——只是为了我那匹可怜的小马克勒帕。它是这世界上惟一会想念我的动物。你往南走一英里,就会看到它在一个挖煤工人留下的茅草棚旁边吃草。你只消这么给它打个口哨,”(说罢他吹了一个特殊的哨音)“叫叫它的名宇克勒帕,它就会走到你的跟前。这是我藏在宽袍底下的缰绳——幸好那些猎狗没把它夺走,因为别的缰绳休想套住它。你把它牵走,要心疼它——我并不因为是它的主人才说这个话,而是因为我把一场大仗的命运交给了你掌握。它决不会在紧要关头拆你的台——无论白天夜晚,气候好坏,也不管是歇在温暖的马厩里,还是露宿在寒冬的旷野上,这对克勒帕都无所谓。要是我逃出了佩隆城门,跑到我留下它的那个地方,我也就不会像现在这个样子了。你愿好好对待克勒帕吗?” “我向你发誓,我会好好待它。”看到这么一个狠心的人也似乎保留了一丝慈爱之心,昆丁大受感动。 “永别了!”那死因说道,“再等等——再等等——我差点忘记了一位仕女的委托。而有负人情和礼貌是虽死也难以瞑目的。这封短简是‘阿登内斯野猪’贤惠而又异常愚蠢的夫人写给她黑眼睛的侄女的。从你的表情看来,我算是找到了一个十分乐意的信使。还补充一句:我忘了告诉你,你可以在我鞍座的填塞物里找到满满一袋金币。正是为了它我才干了这件要了我的命的冒险差事。你把它拿去,以百倍地补偿你给那两个嗜血奴才的几个金币——我把你作为我的财产继承人。” “我会用这钱来做些好事,并为你的灵魂买些弥撒。”昆丁说道。 “别提灵魂了,”海拉丁脸色可怕地说道,“过去、现在、将来都不可能有灵魂这个东西!这是牧师们臆想出来的!” “你是个不幸的,最最不幸的人!你考虑考虑吧!让我跑去给你请位牧师——他们还会答应再延迟一会的——我可以花钱贿赂他们。”昆丁说道,“临死你还是这么个看法,毫不改悔,你到底指望什么呢?” “我希望我能风归风,土归土,”这横了心的无神论者将他那被束缚的两臂用力抵着胸口说道,“我所信仰、我所希望和我所期待的就是人这奥秘的形体能消融在大自然的整体当中,与别的物质混在一起,以便填补那随时消失,又随时以别的形式再现出来的种种物质。我化成的水滴将用来补充溪水和雨水,我化成的泥土将用来丰富它们的大地母亲,我化成的空气将在微风中嬉戏,我化成的火将用来增添阿多波兰及其姊妹星体上的熊熊烈焰。我生是这个信仰,死也还是这个信仰!走开吧!滚吧!别再打搅我了!我想对人讲的全都讲完了!” 昆丁•达威特深深感到此人处境可怕,但也看到,要想唤醒他意识到自己正处于地狱的边缘,也属徒劳。因此他只好向他道别。这死回也像已陷入沉思但不得不向扰乱其思路的亲朋道别的人们一样,只是愠怒地略略点头作为回答。昆丁向那森林走去,很快就找到了正在吃草的克勒帕。这小马一听到他的哨音便走了过来,但并不是马上就愿意向他的新主人俯首就范,而是见这陌生人走近时,便发出鼻息声,并作出惊跳的反应。然而,由于昆丁对马的习性具有一般的知识,而且他和海拉丁在旅途中同行时已对他所赞赏的这匹马具有某些具体的了解,所以他还是很快占有了波希米亚人的这一临终赠礼。他还没来得及赶回佩隆城,那波希米亚人早已去到他那虚妄而可怕的信念将最终受到考验的地方——对于一个既不悔恨过去,也不惧怕来世的人,这将是一种可怕的经历。 Chapter 35 A Prize For Honour 'T is brave for Beauty when the best blade wins her. THE COUNT PALATINE When Quentin Durward reached Peronne, a council was sitting, in the issue of which he was interested more deeply than he could have apprehended, and which, though held by persons of a rank with whom one of his could scarce be supposed to have community of interest, had nevertheless the most extraordinary influence on his fortunes. King Louis, who, after the interlude of De la Marck's envoy, had omitted no opportunity to cultivate the returning interest which that circumstance had given him in the Duke's opinion, had been engaged in consulting him, or, it might be almost said, receiving his opinion, upon the number and quality of the troops, by whom, as auxiliary to the Duke of Burgundy, he was to be attended in their joint expedition against Liege. He plainly saw the wish of Charles was to call into his camp such Frenchmen as, from their small number and high quality, might be considered rather as hostages than as auxiliaries; but, observant of Crevecoeur's advice, he assented as readily to whatever the Duke proposed, as if it had arisen from the free impulse of his own mind. The King failed not, however, to indemnify himself for his complaisance by the indulgence of his vindictive temper against Balue, whose counsels had led him to repose such exuberant trust in the Duke of Burgundy. Tristan, who bore the summons for moving up his auxiliary forces, had the farther commission to carry the Cardinal to the Castle of Loches, and there shut him up in one of those iron cages which he himself is said to have invented. "Let him make proof of his own devices," said the King; "he is a man of holy church -- we may not shed his blood; but, Pasques dieu! his bishopric, for ten years to come, shall have an impregnable frontier to make up for its small extent! -- And see the troops are brought up instantly." Perhaps, by this prompt acquiescence, Louis hoped to evade the more unpleasing condition with which the Duke had clogged their reconciliation. But if he so hoped, he greatly mistook the temper of his cousin, for never man lived more tenacious of his purpose than Charles of Burgundy, and least of all was he willing to relax any stipulation which he made in resentment, or revenge, of a supposed injury. No sooner were the necessary expresses dispatched to summon up the forces who were selected to act as auxiliaries, than Louis was called upon by his host to give public consent to the espousals of the Duke of Orleans and Isabelle of Croye. The King complied with a heavy sigh, and presently after urged a slight expostulation, founded upon the necessity of observing the wishes of the Duke himself. "These have not been neglected," said the Duke of Burgundy, "Crevecoeur hath communicated with Monsieur d'Orleans, and finds him (strange to say) so dead to the honour of wedding a royal bride, that he acceded to the proposal of marrying the Countess of Croye as the kindest proposal which father could have made to him." "He is the more ungracious and thankless," said Louis, "but the whole shall be as you, my cousin, will, if you can bring it about with consent of the parties themselves." "Fear not that," said the Duke, and accordingly, not many minutes after, the affair had been proposed, the Duke of Orleans and the Countess of Croye, the latter attended, as on the preceding occasion, by the Countess of Crevecoeur and the Abbess of the Ursulines, were summoned to the presence of the Princes, and heard from the mouth of Charles of Burgundy, unobjected to by that of Louis, who sat in silent and moody consciousness of diminished consequence, that the union of their hands was designed by the wisdom of both Princes, to confirm the perpetual alliance which in future should take place betwixt France and Burgundy. The Duke of Orleans had much difficulty in suppressing the joy which he felt upon the proposal, and which delicacy rendered improper in the presence of Louis; and it required his habitual awe of that monarch to enable him to rein in his delight, so much as merely to reply that his duty compelled him to place his choice at the disposal of his Sovereign. "Fair cousin of Orleans," said Louis with sullen gravity, "since I must speak on so unpleasant an occasion, it is needless for me to remind you that my sense of your merits had led me to propose for you a match into my own family. But since my cousin of Burgundy thinks that the disposing of your hand otherwise is the surest pledge of amity between his dominions and mine, I love both too well not to sacrifice to them my own hopes and wishes." The Duke of Orleans threw himself on his knees, and kissed -- and, for once, with sincerity of attachment -- the hand which the King, with averted countenance, extended to him. In fact he, as well as most present, saw, in the unwilling acquiescence of this accomplished dissembler, who, even with that very purpose, had suffered his reluctance to be visible, a King relinquishing his favourite project, and subjugating his paternal feelings to the necessities of state, and interest of his country. Even Burgundy was moved, and Orleans's heart smote him for the joy which he involuntarily felt on being freed from his engagement with the Princess Joan. If he had known how deeply the King was cursing him in his soul, and what thoughts of future revenge he was agitating, it is probable his own delicacy on the occasion would not have been so much hurt. Charles next turned to the young Countess, and bluntly announced the proposed match to her, as a matter which neither admitted delay nor hesitation, adding, at the same time, that it was but a too favourable consequence of her intractability on a former occasion. "My Lord Duke and Sovereign," said Isabelle, summoning up all her courage, "I observe your Grace's commands, and submit to them." "Enough, enough," said the Duke, interrupting her, "we will arrange the rest. -- Your Majesty," he continued, addressing King Louis, "hath had a boar's hunt in the morning; what say you to rousing a wolf in the afternoon?" The young Countess saw the necessity of decision. "Your Grace mistakes my meaning," she said, speaking, though timidly, yet loudly and decidedly enough to compel the Duke's attention, which, from some consciousness, he would otherwise have willingly denied to her. "My submission," she said, "only respected those lands and estates which your Grace's ancestors gave to mine, and which I resign to the House of Burgundy, if my Sovereign thinks my disobedience in this matter renders me unworthy to hold them." "Ha! Saint George!" said the Duke, stamping furiously on the ground, "does the fool know in what presence she is? -- And to whom she speaks?" "My lord," she replied, still undismayed, "I am before my Suzerain, and, I trust, a just one. If you deprive me of my lands, you take away all that your ancestors' generosity gave, and you break the only bonds which attach us together. You gave not this poor and persecuted form, still less the spirit which animates me. -- And these it is my purpose to dedicate to Heaven in the convent of the Ursulines, under the guidance of this Holy Mother Abbess." The rage and astonishment of the Duke can hardly be conceived, unless we could estimate the surprise of a falcon against whom a dove should ruffle its pinions in defiance. "Will the Holy Mother receive you without an appanage?" he said in a voice of scorn. "If she doth her convent, in the first instance, so much wrong," said the Lady Isabelle, "I trust there is charity enough among the noble friends of my house to make up some support for the orphan of Croye." "It is false!" said the Duke, "it is a base pretext to cover some secret and unworthy passion. -- My Lord of Orleans, she shall be yours, if I drag her to the altar with my own hands!" The Countess of Crevecoeur, a high spirited woman and confident in her husband's merits and his favour with the Duke, could keep silent no longer. "My lord," she said, "your passions transport you into language utterly unworthy. -- The hand of no gentlewoman can be disposed of by force." "And it is no part of the duty of a Christian Prince," added the Abbess, "to thwart the wishes of a pious soul, who, broken with the cares and persecutions of the world, is desirous to become the bride of Heaven." "Neither can my cousin of Orleans," said Dunois, "with honour accept a proposal to which the lady has thus publicly stated her objections." "If I were permitted," said Orleans, on whose facile mind Isabelle's beauty had made a deep impression, "some time to endeavour to place my pretensions before the Countess in a more favourable light --" "My lord," said Isabelle, whose firmness was now fully supported by the encouragement which she received from all around, "it were to no purpose -- my mind is made up to decline this alliance, though far above my deserts." "Nor have I time," said the Duke, "to wait till these whimsies are changed with the next change of the moon. -- Monseigneur d'Orleans, she shall learn within this hour that obedience becomes matter of necessity." "Not in my behalf, Sire," answered the Prince, who felt that he could not, with any show of honour, avail himself of the Duke's obstinate disposition; "to have been once openly and positively refused is enough for a son of France. He cannot prosecute his addresses farther." The Duke darted one furious glance at Orleans, another at Louis, and reading in the countenance of the latter, in spite of his utmost efforts to suppress his feelings, a look of secret triumph, he became outrageous. "Write," he said, to the secretary, "our doom of forfeiture and imprisonment against this disobedient and insolent minion. She shall to the Zuchthaus, to the penitentiary, to herd with those whose lives have rendered them her rivals in effrontery." There was a general murmur. "My Lord Duke," said the Count of Crevecoeur, taking the word for the rest, "this must be better thought on. We, your faithful vassals, cannot suffer such a dishonour to the nobility and chivalry of Burgundy. If the Countess hath done amiss, let her be punished -- but in the manner that becomes her rank, and ours, who stand connected with her house by blood and alliance." The Duke paused a moment, and looked full at his councillor with the stare of a bull, which, when compelled by the neat herd from the road which he wishes to go, deliberates with himself whether to obey, or to rush on his driver, and toss him into the air. Prudence, however, prevailed over fury -- he saw the sentiment was general in his council -- was afraid of the advantages which Louis might derive from seeing dissension among his vassals; and probably -- for he was rather of a coarse and violent, than of a malignant temper -- felt ashamed of his own dishonourable proposal. "You are right," he said, "Crevecoeur, and I spoke hastily. Her fate shall be determined according to the rules of chivalry. Her flight to Liege hath given the signal for the Bishop's murder. He that best avenges that deed, and brings us the head of the Wild Boar of Ardennes, shall claim her hand of us; and if she denies his right, we can at least grant him her fiefs, leaving it to his generosity to allow her what means he will to retire into a convent." "Nay!" said the Countess, "think I am the daughter of Count Reinold -- of your father's old, valiant, and faithful servant. Would you hold me out as a prize to the best sword player?" "Your ancestress," said the Duke, "was won at a tourney -- you shall be fought for in real melee. Only thus far, for Count Reinold's sake, the successful prizer shall be a gentleman, of unimpeached birth, and unstained bearings; but, be he such, and the poorest who ever drew the strap of a sword belt through the tongue of a buckle, he shall have at least the proffer of your hand. I swear it, by St. George, by my ducal crown, and by the Order that I wear! -- Ha! Messires," he added, turning to the nobles present, "this at least is, I think, in conformity with the rules of chivalry?" Isabelle's remonstrances were drowned in a general and jubilant assent, above which was heard the voice of old Lord Crawford, regretting the weight of years that prevented his striking for so fair a prize. The Duke was gratified by the general applause, and his temper began to flow more smoothly, like that of a swollen river when it hath subsided within its natural boundaries. "Are we to whom fate has given dames already," said Crevecoeur, "to be bystanders at this fair game? It does not consist with my honour to be so, for I have myself a vow to be paid at the expense of that tusked and bristled brute, De la Marck." "Strike boldly in, Crevecoeur," said the Duke, "to win her, and since thou canst not wear her thyself, bestow her where thou wilt -- on Count Stephen, your nephew, if you list." "Gramercy, my lord!" said Crevecoeur, "I will do my best in the battle; and, should I be fortunate enough to be foremost, Stephen shall try his eloquence against that of the Lady Abbess." "I trust," said Dunois, "that the chivalry of France are not excluded from this fair contest?" "Heaven forbid! brave Dunois," answered the Duke, "were it but for the sake of seeing you do your uttermost. But," he added, "though there be no fault in the Lady Isabelle wedding a Frenchman, it will be necessary that the Count of Croye must become a subject of Burgundy." "Enough," said Dunois, "my bar sinister may never be surmounted by the coronet of Croye -- I will live and die French. But, yet, though I should lose the lands, I will strike a blow for the lady." Le Balafre dared not speak aloud in such a presence, but he muttered to himself, "Now, Saunders Souplejaw, hold thine own! -- thou always saidst the fortune of our house was to be won by marriage, and never had you such a chance to keep your word with us." "No one thinks of me," said Le Glorieux, "who am sure to carry off the prize from all of you." "Right, my sapient friend," said Louis, laughing, "when a woman is in the case, the greatest fool is ever the first in favour." While the princes and their nobles thus jested over her fate, the Abbess and the Countess of Crevecoeur endeavoured in vain to console Isabelle, who had withdrawn with them from the council-presence. The former assured her that the Holy Virgin would frown on every attempt to withdraw a true votaress from the shrine of Saint Ursula; while the Countess of Crevecoeur whispered more temporal consolation, that no true knight, who might succeed in the enterprise proposed, would avail himself, against her inclinations, of the Duke's award; and that perhaps the successful competitor might prove one who should find such favour in her eyes as to reconcile her to obedience. Love, like despair, catches at straws; and, faint and vague as was the hope which this insinuation conveyed, the tears of the Countess Isabelle flowed more placidly while she dwelt upon it. (Saint Ursula: the patron saint of young girls. Tradition says she was martyred by the Huns, together with her eleven thousand companions. Her history has been painted by Carpacelo and by Hans Memling.) 英雄赢得美女诚一佳事。 《巴拉丁的伯爵》 当昆丁•达威特回到佩隆时,公爵正在召集一个会议。会议的结果与昆丁个人关系之密切超出了他可能的想象。尽管出席会议者都是一些地位显赫的贵族,像他这种地位卑微的人很难设想会与他们有什么利益相同之处,然而实际上会议却对他的命运具有极不寻常的影响。 在德拉马克的特使演出了那一出插曲之后,伴随这个情况公爵重新对路易王产生了好感,路易王则不失时机地对之加以培养和鼓励。他一直在就他们共同讨伐列日时,他该率领的辅助部队的数量和质量和公爵进行协商,或者说,在征求他的意见。但他明显地看出,查尔斯只是希望把少数地位高的法国人吸引进他的营垒,与其说把他们看作支援者,不如说把他们当成人质。但路易接受克雷维格的意见,对公爵的任何建议都表示欣然同意,就仿佛它们都是他自己灵机一动想出来的。 然而,就在他不得不讨好公爵的同时,他还是没有忘记对那以其出的坏点子促使他对勃艮第公爵过分信任的巴卢主教发泄他的仇恨。领旨前去调动支援部队的特里斯顿还负有一个附带的使命:将红衣主教押往罗歇城堡,关进一个据说是由他自己设计和发明的铁笼。 “让他试验一下他自己的杰作吧!”国王说道,“他是神圣教会的人。我们不能杀他。但老天爷在上!我得叫他的主教辖区在未来的十年当中将有一个牢不可破的边界来弥补其狭小的面积!你得保证马上把军队调上来。” 也许路易王想通过立即表示顺从以回避公爵同意和他和解时提出的较难接受的条件。然而,如果他怀抱这种希望,那他就大大误解了他堂弟的性格,因为世界上没有谁比勃艮第•查尔斯更执着于自己的既定目标。他决不愿放松在他自认为受到的损害进行泄愤或报复时给对方提出来的任何条件。 一当路易派出了必要的信使去调动选作支援力量的部队之后,公爵便要求他对奥尔良公爵和克罗伊埃•伊莎贝尔的婚约公开表示同意。国王深深地叹了口气,无可奈何,只得照办;但过后马上提出了一个小小的保留,理由是必须考虑奥尔良公爵本人的意愿。 “我们并没有忽视他的意愿,”勃艮第公爵说道,“克雷维格已经和奥尔良先生谈过,发现他(说也奇怪)对当驸马的荣誉十分不感兴趣,却欣然接受了与克罗伊埃伯爵小姐成婚的建议,认为这是一个当父亲的可能向他提出的最慈爱的建议。” “他是个忘恩负义的人,”路易说道,“不过,好堂弟,只要你能使双方都同意,促成这门婚事,那就全听你的吧。” “不必担心。”公爵说道。就在这事刚提出没几分钟,奥尔良公爵和克罗伊埃伯爵小姐——也像前次那样,由克雷维格伯爵夫人和乌尔苏林女修道院长搀扶着——便被召到两位君王面前。她们看到路易王默默地坐着,意识到自己被贬低了地位而郁郁不乐。查尔斯则在路易王不置可否的情况下亲口向他们宣布,两位贤明的君主已为他们订下了终身大事,以确保法国与勃艮第未来的永久同盟。 奥尔良公爵听到这一宣布时好不容易才抑制住内心的喜悦。他知道,在路易工面前表现这种喜悦于礼不合。只是由于对国王一贯的敬畏,他才收敛住快乐的面容,仅仅回答说,他的职责使他只能接受他的君主为他作出的选择。 “我的奥尔良贤侄,”路易带着愠怒的严肃表情说道,“既然我必须在如此不愉快的一个场合表明我的态度,我想我无须提醒你,我对你的优点作过很高的评价,我曾想在我的家庭范围内为你安排婚事。不过,既然我的勃艮第堂弟认为,为你另作安排最能保证他的领土和我的领土之间的和睦,而我对法兰西和勃艮第也都怀有深厚感情,自然不能不为它们牺牲我自己的希望和意愿。” 奥尔良公爵顿时跪倒在国王膝下。国王转过脸去把手伸给他。他总算有这么一次是带着真诚的感情吻了这只手。实际上,他也和大多数在场的人一样,通过这位老练的伪君子的勉强同意——即使他有意伪装,也无法掩饰其勉强——看出国王是在忍痛放弃他的得意计划,在为了政治的需要和国家的利益牺牲他对儿女的感情。甚至勃艮第也颇受感动。奥尔良则由于看到自己摆脱了与让娜公主的婚约情不自禁地感到欢喜。假如他知道国王在灵魂深处如何在诅咒他,他激起的是何等刻毒的伺机报复的念头,那么他在这个场合也许会考虑得更周到一些。 接着查尔斯转向年轻的伯爵小姐,向她粗率地宣布为她安排的这件婚事,并申明既不容她迟疑,也不容她推延。他还补充说,这是对她前次抗上罪作出的一个十分留情的处置。 “我的公爵和君主,”伊莎贝尔鼓起勇气说道,“我服从并接受您的命令。” “行了,行了,”公爵打断她说道,“其余的事由我们来安排。陛下,”他转向路易王继续说道,“您今早猎了野猪,下午猎猎狼如何?” 年轻的伯爵小姐看到已有必要来个破釜沉舟。“殿下误解了我的意思,”她胆怯而坚定地大声说道,以迫使公爵注意听她讲话,因为她意识到,要不这样公爵就会对她不屑一顾,“我的服从,”她说道,“只是针对殿下的祖辈授予我的祖辈的产业而言的。如果我的君主认为我在这一问题上抗命不从使我不配再享有这些产业的话,我现在把它们归还给勃艮第家族。” “唉!圣乔治在上!”公爵狠狠地顿足说道,“你这傻瓜,你知道你是在谁的面前这么放肆吗?你是在对谁说话吗?” “大人,”她仍然镇定自若地说道,“我是在对我的宗主说话,而我相信他为人公正。如果您剥夺了我的田产,您就剥夺了您的祖辈慷慨给予我们家的东西,而您也就打断了把我们联系在一起的惟一纽带。我这饱受迫害的可怜人的躯体并非您的赐予,就更不用说那鼓舞着我的精神和灵魂。至于我的肉体和灵魂,我准备献给上帝。我打算在这位女修道院长的指引下,在乌苏尔林修道院里度过我的余生。” 公爵听了这个话真是惊奇、恼怒得难以想象。我们只能以老鹰见到一只小鸽子公然敢在自己面前抖抖翅膀所感到的惊异加以比拟。“你没有产业,修道院长会接受你吗?”他用鄙夷的声调说道。 “如果院长竟然因此而辜负修道院的宗旨,”伊莎贝尔小姐说道,“那么我相信我们家族的贵族亲友也会表现出足够的仁慈,为克罗伊埃的孤儿提供某种帮助。” “这是装腔作势!”公爵说道,“这是一种企图掩盖某种见不得人的情欲的卑鄙借口。奥尔良公爵,她是属于你的——哪怕我得亲手把她拽到圣坛跟前和你同拜上帝!” 克雷维格伯爵夫人是个勇敢的女性,并对自己丈夫的功劳以及公爵对他的倚重都很自信。这时她感到再也沉默不下去。“大人,”她说道,“您的愤怒已使您出言不逊了。贵族家庭的仕女是不能强迫成婚的。” “一个奉行基督之道的君主,”那女修道院院长也附合着说道,“也不应阻挠一个饱尝烦优和迫害的虔诚姑娘使自己成为上帝之女的愿望。” “再说,”杜诺瓦讲道,“我的奥尔良堂弟也不可能接受这位小姐如此公开反对的一门亲事,他要保持自己的体面。” “要是能给我一点时间,”奥尔良说道,伊莎贝尔的美丽显然已在他那容易动情的心上留下了深刻印象,“我将能更好地向伯爵小姐说明值得她接受我的理由——” “大人,”伊莎贝尔说道,由于受到各方面的支持和鼓励她已坚定了自己的决心,“这没有什么必要——我已决心谢绝这门婚事,尽管它对我来说是攀龙附凤。” “我没有时间等你到下次月亮转圆时再来改变你的怪念头——奥尔良先生,不出一个小时之内,她就会懂得,服从君命是她惟一的出路。” “殿下,这可不应该是为了我的缘故,”奥尔良亲王回答道,他感到他不可能体面地继续利用公爵这种顽固性格来为自己获得好处,“作为一个法国的王位继承人,遭到公开的毫不含糊的拒绝,一次就够受的了。我不能再继续向她求婚。” 公爵向奥尔良和路易投去愤怒的目光。他看见路易虽然尽量在克制自己,但脸上还是流露出暗自得意的表情,顿时感到怒不可遏。 “你写,”他对秘书说道,“对这个敢于抗命的无礼的奴才,我要剥夺她的封地,判她终身监禁!我得把她送往教养院、感化院,把她和那些像她一样傲慢无礼的家伙关在一起!” 这时,在座的人们中间出现了一阵喃喃低语声。 “公爵大人,”克雷维格伯爵代表众人的心意说道,“这事可得再好好想想。作为您忠实的臣仆,我们无法接受对勃艮第的贵族和骑士阶级所给的这种耻辱待遇。如果伯爵小姐有过错,可以让她受到惩罚一但惩罚的方式应当适合她本人的地位,也适合我们这些与她家有血统和姻亲关系的人们所享有的地位。” 公爵思考了片刻,眼睛直直地盯着这位谋臣,样子就像是一头公牛被放牛娃硬要从它走的路上赶走,正在考虑究竟是顺从,还是向赶它的人冲过去,把他撞个倒栽葱。 然而,审慎终归战胜了恼怒——他看到在座的人当中普遍带有这种情绪,同时也担心路易发现他的臣属存在不满,会因此得到好处。最后,也可能是他对自己这一不光彩的做法感到羞愧——因为他毕竟不是天性歹毒,而只是性格粗暴。 “克雷维格,你讲得对,”他说道,“我话说得欠考虑。应该按骑士团的法规来决定她的命运。她逃亡到列日是造成主教遇害的导火线。谁能为主教复仇立下头等功,并能斩获‘阿登内斯野猪’的首级,谁就有权要求我将她许配给他。如果她不承认他这个权利,我至少可以把她的封地赏给他,而由他决定是否慷慨地给她留下一点钱财,让她进修道院。” “不行!”伯爵小姐说道,“请您想想,我是您父亲勇敢而忠实的老仆人雷诺尔德伯爵的女儿。难道您愿意把我当作一个奖品,赏给最优秀的武士吗?” “你的祖母是你祖父通过比武赢得的,”公爵说道,“而要赢得你必须通过真刀真枪的战斗。不过,看在雷诺尔德伯爵的分上,我规定获奖者必须是一个出身和教养都无可非议的绅士。但只要够这个条件,哪怕是贫穷的武士也有资格做你的丈夫。凭圣乔治,凭我戴的公爵冠冕和骑士勋章,我发誓,这个诺言一定兑现!嘿!先生们,”他转过身来对在场的贵族补充说道,“我想这总符合骑士团的法规吧?” 伊莎贝尔反对的呼声淹没于众人一片赞同欢腾声中。人们听到盖过这声音的是年老的克劳福德大公发出的惋惜声,抱憾自己年龄太大,不能力争得这样一个美女进行奋战。公爵对这普遍的赞同声感到很满意。就像涨水的河流又降回到原来的水位,流在天然的河岸之间那样,他的脾气也开始变得平和起来。 “难道我们这些命该娶有妻妾的人就该在这场竞赛中袖手旁观吗?”克雷维格说,“就我来说,这样做与我的荣誉感很不相符,因为我个人许了一个愿,我得用德拉马克这个有獠牙和刺毛的野猪来还这个愿。” “勇敢地干吧,克雷维格,”公爵说道,“把她赢过来。虽然你不能娶她,但你可以高兴把她赏给谁就赏给谁。假如你愿意,你可以把她赠给你的侄儿斯蒂芬伯爵。” “好呀,我的大人!”克雷维格说道,“我会在战斗中尽力而为。要是我有幸成为优胜者,斯蒂芬还得和女修道院长去比比口才哩。” “我想,”杜诺瓦说道,“法国的骑士没被除在这个公平的竞赛之外吧?” “你放心,勇敢的杜诺瓦,”公爵回答道,“哪怕是为了保证你发挥最大的力量,也不能容许这样做!不过,”他又补充说道,“伊莎贝尔小姐嫁给法国人固然没有什么不好,但这位克罗伊埃伯爵可得成为勃艮第的臣属。” “得了,得了,”杜诺瓦说道,“我纹章左侧的上方永不会覆上一个克罗伊埃的冠冕——我将生为法国人,死为法国鬼。不过,尽管我会失去这块封地,我还是要为这位小姐奋战一番。” 巴拉弗雷在这些贵人面前不敢大声表态,但他喃喃自语道:“桑德斯•苏卜勒乔呀,你说话可该兑现了!你过去经常说,我们家族将通过婚姻发迹。现在正是你兑现你对我们的预言的大好时机。” “没人想到我,”勒格洛里尔说道,“而我最有把握从你们手上夺去这个奖赏。” “聪明的朋友,你说得很对,”路易说道,“就女人而言,的确总是最大的傻瓜最先赢得她的青睐。” 两位君王及其贵族拿着伊莎贝尔的命运如此开玩笑,那女修道院长和克雷维格伯爵夫人从会议厅退出来之后也只好设法对她多加劝慰而已。女修道院长向她保证说,圣母将谴责想把忠诚的信徒和圣乌尔苏拉的圣殿隔绝起来的任何企图。而克雷维格伯爵夫人则轻轻向她耳里灌输些更为世俗的安慰。她说,任何真正的骑士,都不会由于竞赛得胜,在违反她本人意愿的情况下,利用公爵的奖赏来获得好处。再说,优胜者也可能会得到她的好感,从而使得服从不是什么苦事。爱情,就像行将没顶的人那样,即使存有一线希望,也会抓住不放的。这句暗示的话带给她的希望虽然朦胧而微弱,但当伊莎贝尔小姐往这上面更多地想想时,眼泪不觉已有所收敛,而不像先前那样籁然而下了。 Chapter 36 The Sally The wretch condemn'd with life to part, Still, still on hope relies, And every pang that rends the heart, Bids expectation rise. Hope, like the glimmering taper's light, Adorns and cheers the way; And still, the darker grows the night, Emits a brighter ray. GOLDSMITH Few days had passed ere Louis had received, with a smile of gratified vengeance, the intelligence that his favourite and his councillor, the Cardinal Balue, was groaning within a cage of iron, so disposed as scarce to permit him to enjoy repose in any posture except when recumbent, and of which, be it said in passing, he remained the unpitied tenant for nearly twelve years. The auxiliary forces which the Duke had required Louis to bring up had also appeared, and he comforted himself that their numbers were sufficient to protect his person against violence, although too limited to cope, had such been his purpose, with the large army of Burgundy. He saw himself also at liberty, when time should suit, to resume his project of marriage between his daughter and the Duke of Orleans; and, although he was sensible to the indignity of serving with his noblest peers under the banners of his own vassal, and against the people whose cause he had abetted, he did not allow these circumstances to embarrass him in the meantime, trusting that a future day would bring him amends. "For chance," said he to his trusty Oliver, "may indeed gain one hit, but it is patience and wisdom which win the game at last." With such sentiments, upon a beautiful day in the latter end of harvest, the King mounted his horse; and, indifferent that he was looked upon rather as a part of the pageant of a victor, than in the light of an independent Sovereign surrounded by his guards and his chivalry, King Louis sallied from under the Gothic gateway of Peronne, to join the Burgundian army, which commenced at the same time its march against Liege. Most of the ladies of distinction who were in the place attended, dressed in their best array, upon the battlements and defences of the gate, to see the gallant show of the warriors setting forth on the expedition. Thither had the Countess Crevecoeur brought the Countess Isabelle. The latter attended very reluctantly, but the peremptory order of Charles had been, that she who was to bestow the palm in the tourney should be visible to the knights who were about to enter the lists. As they thronged out from under the arch, many a pennon and shield was to be seen, graced with fresh devices, expressive of the bearer's devoted resolution to become a competitor for a prize so fair. Here a charger was painted starting for the goal -- there an arrow aimed at a mark -- one knight bore a bleeding heart, indicative of his passion -- another a skull and a coronet of laurels, showing his determination to win or die. Many others there were; and some so cunningly intricate and obscure, that they might have defied the most ingenious interpreter. Each knight, too, it may be presumed, put his courser to his mettle, and assumed his most gallant seat in the saddle, as he passed for a moment under the view of the fair bevy of dames and damsels, who encouraged their valour by their smiles, and the waving of kerchiefs and of veils. The Archer Guard, selected almost at will from the flower of the Scottish nation, drew general applause, from the gallantry and splendour of their appearance. And there was one among these strangers who ventured on a demonstration of acquaintance with the Lady Isabelle, which had not been attempted even by the most noble of the French nobility. It was Quentin Durward, who, as he passed the ladies in his rank, presented to the Countess of Croye, on the point of his lance, the letter of her aunt. "Now, by my honour," said the Count of Crevecoeur, "that is over insolent in an unworthy adventurer!" "Do not call him so, Crevecoeur," said Dunois; "I have good reason to bear testimony to his gallantry -- and in behalf of that lady, too." "You make words of nothing," said Isabelle, blushing with shame, and partly with resentment; "it is a letter from my unfortunate aunt. -- She writes cheerfully, though her situation must be dreadful." "Let us hear, let us hear what says the Boar's bride," said Crevecoeur. The Countess Isabelle read the letter, in which her aunt seemed determined to make the best of a bad bargain, and to console herself for the haste and indecorum of her nuptials, by the happiness of being wedded to one of the bravest men of the age, who had just acquired a princedom by his valour. She implored her niece not to judge of her William (as she called him) by the report of others, but to wait till she knew him personally. He had his faults, perhaps, but they were such as belonged to characters whom she had ever venerated. William was rather addicted to wine, but so was the gallant Sir Godfrey, her grandsire -- he was something hasty and sanguinary in his temper, such had been her brother Reinold of blessed memory; he was blunt in speech, few Germans were otherwise; and a little wilful and peremptory, but she believed all men loved to rule. More there was to the same purpose; and the whole concluded with the hope and request that Isabelle would, by means of the bearer, endeavour her escape from the tyrant of Burgundy, and come to her loving kinswoman's Court of Liege, where any little differences concerning their mutual rights of succession to the Earldom might be adjusted by Isabelle's marrying Earl Eberson -- a bridegroom younger indeed than his bride, but that, as she (the Lady Hameline) might perhaps say from experience, was an inequality more easy to be endured than Isabelle could be aware of. (The marriage of William de la Marck with the Lady Hameline is as apocryphal as the lady herself. -- S.) Here the Countess Isabelle stopped, the Abbess observing, with a prim aspect, that she had read quite enough concerning such worldly vanities, and the Count of Crevecoeur, breaking out, "Aroint thee, deceitful witch! -- Why, this device smells rank as the toasted cheese in a rat trap. -- Now fie, and double fie, upon the old decoy duck!" The Countess of Crevecoeur gravely rebuked her husband for his violence. "The Lady," she said, "must have been deceived by De la Marck with a show of courtesy." "He show courtesy!" said the Count. "I acquit him of all such dissimulation. You may as well expect courtesy from a literal wild boar, you may as well try to lay leaf gold on old rusty gibbet irons. No -- idiot as she is, she is not quite goose enough to fall in love with the fox who has snapped her, and that in his very den. But you women are all alike -- fair words carry it -- and, I dare say, here is my pretty cousin impatient to join her aunt in this fool's paradise, and marry the Bear Pig." "So far from being capable of such folly," said Isabelle, "I am doubly desirous of vengeance on the murderers of the excellent Bishop, because it will, at the same time, free my aunt from the villain's power." "Ah! there indeed spoke the voice of Croye!" exclaimed the Count, and no more was said concerning the letter. But while Isabelle read her aunt's epistle to her friends, it must be observed that she did not think it necessary to recite a certain postscript, in which the Countess Hameline, lady-like, gave an account of her occupations, and informed her niece that she had laid aside for the present a surcoat which she was working for her husband, bearing the arms of Croye and La Marck in conjugal fashion, parted per pale, because her William had determined, for purposes of policy, in the first action to have others dressed in his coat armour and himself to assume the arms of Orleans, with a bar sinister -- in other words, those of Dunois. There was also a slip of paper in another hand, the contents of which the Countess did not think it necessary to mention, being simply these words: "If you hear not of me soon, and that by the trumpet of Fame, conclude me dead, but not unworthy." A thought, hitherto repelled as wildly incredible, now glanced with double keenness through Isabelle's soul. As female wit seldom fails in the contrivance of means, she so ordered it that ere the troops were fully on march, Quentin Durward received from an unknown hand the billet of Lady Hameline, marked with three crosses opposite to the postscript, and having these words subjoined: "He who feared not the arms of Orleans when on the breast of their gallant owner, cannot dread them when displayed on that of a tyrant and murderer." A thousand thousand times was this intimation kissed and pressed to the bosom of the young Scot! for it marshalled him on the path where both Honour and Love held out the reward, and possessed him with a secret unknown to others, by which to distinguish him whose death could alone give life to his hopes, and which he prudently resolved to lock up in his own bosom. But Durward saw the necessity of acting otherwise respecting the information communicated by Hayraddin, since the proposed sally of De la Marck, unless heedfully guarded against, might prove the destruction of the besieging army, so difficult was it, in the tumultuous warfare of those days, to recover from a nocturnal surprise. After pondering on the matter, he formed the additional resolution, that he would not communicate the intelligence save personally, and to both the Princes while together, perhaps because he felt that to mention so well contrived and hopeful a scheme to Louis whilst in private, might be too strong a temptation to the wavering probity of that Monarch, and lead him to assist, rather than repel, the intended sally. He determined, therefore, to watch for an opportunity of revealing the secret whilst Louis and Charles were met, which, as they were not particularly fond of the constraint imposed by each other's society, was not likely soon to occur. Meanwhile the march continued, and the confederates soon entered the territories of Liege. Here the Burgundian soldiers, at least a part of them, composed of those bands who had acquired the title of Ecorcheurs, or flayers, showed, by the usage which they gave the inhabitants, under pretext of avenging the Bishop's death, that they well deserved that honourable title; while their conduct greatly prejudiced the cause of Charles, the aggrieved inhabitants, who might otherwise have been passive in the quarrel, assuming arms in self defence, harassing his march by cutting off small parties, and falling back before the main body upon the city itself, thus augmenting the numbers and desperation of those who had resolved to defend it. The French, few in number, and those the choice soldiers of the country, kept, according to the King's orders, close by their respective standards, and observed the strictest discipline, a contrast which increased the suspicions of Charles, who could not help remarking that the troops of Louis demeaned themselves as if they were rather friends to the Liegeois than allies of Burgundy. At length, without experiencing any serious opposition, the army arrived in the rich valley of the Maes, and before the large and populous city of Liege. The Castle of Schonwaldt they found had been totally destroyed, and learned that William de la Marck, whose only talents were of a military cast, had withdrawn his whole forces into the city, and was determined to avoid the encounter of the chivalry of France and Burgundy in the open field. But the invaders were not long of experiencing the danger which must always exist in attacking a large town, however open, if the inhabitants are disposed to defend it desperately. A part of the Burgundian vanguard, conceiving that, from the dismantled and breached state of the walls, they had nothing to do but to march into Liege at their ease, entered one of the suburbs with the shouts of "Burgundy, Burgundy, Kill, kill -- all is ours! -- Remember Louis of Bourbon!" But as they marched in disorder through the narrow streets, and were partly dispersed for the purpose of pillage, a large body of the inhabitants issued suddenly from the town, fell furiously upon them, and made considerable slaughter. De la Marck even availed himself of the breaches in the walls, which permitted the defenders to issue out at different points, and, by taking separate routes into the contested suburb, to attack, in the front, flank, and rear at once the assailants, who, stunned by the furious, unexpected, and multiplied nature of the resistance offered, could hardly stand to their arms. The evening, which began to close, added to their confusion. When this news was brought to Duke Charles, he was furious with rage, which was not much appeased by the offer of King Louis to send the French men at arms into the suburbs, to rescue and bring off the Burgundian vanguard. Rejecting this offer briefly, he would have put himself at the head of his own Guards, to extricate those engaged in the incautious advance; but D'Hymbercourt and Crevecoeur entreated him to leave the service to them, and, marching into the scene of action at two points with more order and proper arrangement for mutual support, these two celebrated captains succeeded in repulsing the Liegeois, and in extricating the vanguard, who lost, besides prisoners, no fewer than eight hundred men, of whom about a hundred were men at arms. The prisoners, however, were not numerous, most of them having been rescued by D'Hymbercourt, who now proceeded to occupy the contested suburb, and to place guards opposite to the town, from which it was divided by an open space, or esplanade, of five or six hundred yards, left free of buildings for the purposes of defence. There was no moat betwixt the suburb and town, the ground being rocky in that place. A gate fronted the suburb, from which sallies might be easily made, and the wall was pierced by two or three of those breaches which Duke Charles had caused to be made after the battle of Saint Tron, and which had been hastily repaired with mere barricades of timber. D'Hymbercourt turned two culverins on the gate, and placed two others opposite to the principal breach, to repel any sally from the city, and then returned to the Burgundian army, which he found in great disorder. In fact, the main body and rear of the numerous army of the Duke had continued to advance, while the broken and repulsed vanguard was in the act of retreating; and they had come into collision with each other, to the great confusion of both. The necessary absence of D'Hymbercourt, who discharged all the duties of Marechal du Camp, or, as we should now say, of Quartermaster General, augmented the disorder; and to complete the whole, the night sank down dark as a wolf's mouth; there fell a thick and heavy rain, and the ground on which the beleaguering army must needs take up their position, was muddy and intersected with many canals. It is scarce possible to form an idea of the confusion which prevailed in the Burgundian army, where leaders were separated from their soldiers, and soldiers from their standards and officers. Every one, from the highest to the lowest, was seeking shelter and accommodation where he could individually find it; while the wearied and wounded, who had been engaged in the battle, were calling in vain for shelter and refreshment; and while those who knew nothing of the disaster were pressing on to have their share in the sack of the place, which they had no doubt was proceeding merrily. When D'Hymbercourt returned, he had a task to perform of incredible difficulty, and imbittered by the reproaches of his master, who made no allowance for the still more necessary duty in which he had been engaged, until the temper of the gallant soldier began to give way under the Duke's unreasonable reproaches. "I went hence to restore some order in the van," he said, "and left the main body under your Grace's own guidance, and now, on my return, I can neither find that we have front, flank, nor rear, so utter is the confusion." "We are the more like a barrel of herrings," answered Le Glorieux, "which is the most natural resemblance for a Flemish army." The jester's speech made the Duke laugh, and perhaps prevented a farther prosecution of the altercation betwixt him and his general. By dint of great exertion, a small lusthaus, or country villa of some wealthy citizen of Liege, was secured and cleared of other occupants, for the accommodation of the Duke and his immediate attendants; and the authority of D'Hymbercourt and Crevecoeur at length established a guard in the vicinity, of about forty men at arms, who lighted a very large fire, made with the timber of the outhouses, which they pulled down for the purpose. A little to the left of this villa, and betwixt it and the suburb, which, as we have said, was opposite to the city gate, and occupied by the Burgundian Vanguard, lay another pleasure house, surrounded by a garden and courtyard, and having two or three small enclosures or fields in the rear of it. In this the King of France established his own headquarters. He did not himself pretend to be a soldier further than a natural indifference to danger and much sagacity qualified him to be called such; but he was always careful to employ the most skilful in that profession, and reposed in them the confidence they merited. Louis and his immediate attendants occupied this second villa, a part of his Scottish Guard were placed in the court, where there were outhouses and sheds to shelter them from the weather; the rest were stationed in the garden. The remainder of the French men at arms were quartered closely together and in good order, with alarm posts stationed, in case of their having to sustain an attack. Dunois and Crawford, assisted by several old officers and soldiers, amongst whom Le Balafre was conspicuous for his diligence, contrived, by breaking down walls, making openings through hedges, filling up ditches, and the like, to facilitate the communication of the troops with each other, and the orderly combination of the whole in case of necessity. Meanwhile, the King judged it proper to go without farther ceremony to the quarters of the Duke of Burgundy, to ascertain what was to be the order of proceeding, and what cooperation was expected from him. His presence occasioned a sort of council of war to be held, of which Charles might not otherwise have dreamed. It was then that Quentin Durward prayed earnestly to be admitted, as having something of importance to deliver to the two Princes. This was obtained without much difficulty, and great was the astonishment of Louis, when he heard him calmly and distinctly relate the purpose of William de la Marck to make a sally upon the camp of the besiegers, under the dress and banners of the French. Louis would probably have been much better pleased to have had such important news communicated in private, but as the whole story had been publicly told in presence of the Duke of Burgundy, he only observed, that, whether true or false, such a report concerned them most materially. "Not a whit! -- not a whit!" said the Duke carelessly. "Had there been such a purpose as this young man announces, it had not been communicated to me by an Archer of the Scottish Guard." "However that may be," answered Louis, "I pray you, fair cousin, you and your captains, to attend, that to prevent the unpleasing consequences of such an attack, should it be made unexpectedly, I will cause my soldiers to wear white scarfs over their armour. -- Dunois, see it given out on the instant -- that is," he added, "if our brother and general approves of it." "I see no objection," replied the Duke, "if the chivalry of France are willing to run the risk of having the name of the Knights of the Smock Sleeve bestowed on them in future." "It would be a right well adapted title, friend Charles," said Le Glorieux, "considering that a woman is the reward of the most valiant." "Well spoken, Sagacity," said Louis. "Cousin, good night, I will go arm me. -- By the way, what if I win the Countess with mine own hand? "Your Majesty," said the Duke, in an altered tone of voice, "must then become a true Fleming." "I cannot," answered Louis, in a tone of the most sincere confidence, "be more so than I am already, could I but bring you, my dear cousin, to believe it." The Duke only replied by wishing the King good night in a tone resembling the snort of a shy horse, starting from the caress of the rider when he is about to mount, and is soothing him to stand still. "I could pardon all his duplicity," said the Duke to Crevecoeur, "but cannot forgive his supposing me capable of the gross folly of being duped by his professions." Louis, too, had his confidences with Oliver le Dain, when he returned to his own quarters. "This," he said, "is such a mixture of shrewdness and simplicity, that I know not what to make of him. Pasques dieu! think of his unpardonable folly in bringing out honest De la Marck's plan of a sally before the face of Burgundy, Crevecoeur, and all of them, instead of rounding it in my ear, and giving me at least the choice of abetting or defeating it!" "It is better as it is, Sire," said Oliver; "there are many in your present train who would scruple to assail Burgundy undefied, or to ally themselves with De la Marck." "Thou art right, Oliver. Such fools there are in the world, and we have no time to reconcile their scruples by a little dose of self interest. We must be true men, Oliver, and good allies of Burgundy, for this night at least -- time may give us a chance of a better game. Go, tell no man to unarm himself; and let them shoot, in case of necessity, as sharply on those who cry France and St. Denis! as if they cried Hell and Satan! I will myself sleep in my armour. Let Crawford place Quentin Durward on the extreme point of our line of sentinels, next to the city. Let him e'en have the first benefit of the sally which he has announced to us -- if his luck bear him out, it is the better for him. But take an especial care of Martius Galeotti, and see he remain in the rear, in a place of the most absolute safety -- he is even but too venturous, and, like a fool, would be both swordsman and philosopher. See to these things, Oliver, and good night. -- Our Lady of Clery, and Monseigneur St. Martin of Tours, be gracious to my slumbers!" (The Duke of Burgundy, full of resentment for the usage which the Bishop had received from the people of Liege (whose death, as already noticed, did not take place for some years after), and knowing that the walls of the town had not been repaired since they were breached by himself after the battle of Saint Tron, advanced recklessly to their chastisement. His commanders shared his presumptuous confidence: for the advanced guard of his army, under the Marechal of Burgundy, and Seigneur D'Hymbercourt, rushed upon one of the suburbs, without waiting for the rest of their army, which, commanded by the Duke in person, remained about seven or eight leagues in the rear. The night was closing, and, as the Burgundian troops observed no discipline, they were exposed to a sudden attack from a party of the citizens commanded by Jean de Vilde, who, assaulting them in the front and rear, threw them into great disorder, and killed more than eight hundred men, of whom one hundred were men at arms. When Charles and the King of France came up, they took up their quarters in two villas situated near to the wall of the city. In the two or three days which followed, Louis was distinguished for the quiet and regulated composure with which he pressed the siege, and provided for defence in case of sallies; while the Duke of Burgundy, no way deficient in courage, and who showed the rashness and want of order which was his principal characteristic, seemed also extremely suspicious that the King would desert him and join with the Liegeois. They lay before the town for five or six days, and at length fixed the 30th of October, 1468, for a general storm. The citizens, who had probably information of their intent, resolved to prevent their purpose and determined on anticipating it by a desperate sally through the breaches in their walls. They placed at their head six hundred of the men of the little territory of Fraudemont, belonging to the Bishopric of Liege, and reckoned the most valiant of their troops. They burst out of the town on a sudden, surprised the Duke of Burgundy's quarters, ere his guards could put on their armour, which they had laid off to enjoy some repose before the assault. The King of France's lodgings were also attacked and endangered. A great confusion ensued, augmented incalculably by the mutual jealousy and suspicions of the French and Burgundians. The people of Liege were, however, unable to maintain their hardy enterprise, when the men at arms of the king and Duke began to recover from their confusion, and were finally forced to retire within their walls, after narrowly missing the chance of surprising both King Louis and the Duke of Burgundy, the most powerful princes of their time. At daybreak the storm took place, as had been originally intended, and the citizens, disheartened and fatigued by the nocturnal sally, did not make so much resistance as was expected. Liege was taken and miserably pillaged, without regard to sex or age, things sacred or things profane. These particulars are fully related by Comines in his Memoires, liv. ii, chap. 11, 12, 13, and do not differ much from the account of the same events given in the text. S.) 危在旦夕的可怜人 也仍然抱着生存的希望, 每一次钻心的疼痛, 都会激起求生的欲望。 希望就像一支摇曳的烛光, 照耀着他的归路, 夜愈深愈暗, 烛光也愈为明亮。 哥尔德斯密斯 没过几天路易就带着复仇欲望如愿以偿的满意微笑获悉他原来的宠臣和谋士巴卢红衣主教已在铁笼中发出痛苦的呻吟。按照铁笼的设计,除非仰卧,任何其他姿势都无法使他获得休息。附带说说,在以后将近十二年当中,他都一直被关在这个铁笼里,无人怜惜。公爵要求路易派遣的支援部队已经到达。路易感到安慰的是,部队人数虽十分有限,远不足以和勃艮第庞大的军队抗衡——假如他果有此意的话——但已足够保护他个人的安全。他也看到,只要时机成熟,他仍然可以将他女儿和奥尔良公爵成亲的计划付诸实现。虽然现在他不得不和他最显赫的贵族们在他一个藩属的旗号下出征,前去讨伐受他煽动而走向叛乱的列日市民,感到颇不体面,但他并没有让这情况使他有所不安,因为他相信将来总有一天他会找到报复的机会。“运气的确有可能使人一时得势,”他对他忠实的奥利弗说道,“但最后赢棋还是得靠耐心和智慧。” 路易王在秋收将过的一个晴朗的日子骑上战马出发时正是怀着这样一种心情。虽然人们只把他看作是胜利者示威行列的一个组成部分,而并不把他看作是在卫队和骑兵簇拥下的独立君王,他也并不在乎。他骑着马率部走出佩隆城堡的哥特式大门,去与按同一时间进军列日的勃艮第军队会合。 城堡内的高贵仕女们大都穿着节日的盛装,站在城门上面的城堞和棱堡跟前,观看出征武士的雄壮阵容。克雷维格伯爵夫人也带着伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐加入这些仕女们的行列。伊莎贝尔感到十分勉强。但查尔斯公爵断然命令,作为优胜者奖赏的这位小姐必须露面,好让骑士们在奔赴战场之前欣赏她的芳容。 当武士们步出拱门时,人们看见众多的旗幡和铠甲上新画了图案。以表达这些武士想赢得这美好奖赏的雄心壮志。有的画上一匹战马,正跳起来夺标;有的画上一支对准靶心的箭;另一个则画着一个骑士的心脏正在滴血,说明他对那小姐具有何等的热情;还有一个则画着骷髅和桂冠,说明他决心要么获胜,要么战死。另外还有许多图案,其中一些奥妙而隐晦,哪怕最聪明的人也难以解释其含意。骑士们都一个个威风凛凛地骑着昂扬的战马在美丽的夫人小姐们赞赏的目光下走了过去。她们向他们微笑,向他们挥动头巾和面纱来鼓舞他们的勇气。从苏格兰人的精华中任意挑选出来的射手卫队则以其威武华美的外表受到普遍的赞扬。 在这些异乡人中,有个人竟然大胆地显示他与伊莎贝尔小姐彼此相识,而这是连最高贵的法国贵族也未敢贸然尝试的。这人正是昆丁•达威特。在他随队伍从这些仕女眼下经过时,他把她姑母的信戳在长矛尖上,递给了这位伯爵小姐。 “嘿,说真的,”克雷维格伯爵讲道,“这个卑贱的冒险家可太无礼了。” “可别这么叫他,克雷维格,”杜诺瓦说道,“我有充分理由为他的勇敢和殷勤作证——也代表那位小姐作证。” “您这是小题大作,”伊莎贝尔既羞赧又生气地红着脸说道,“这是我不幸的姑母写给我的一封信。她写得倒挺乐观的,但她的处境一定不妙。” “你念给我们听吧,看这位野猪的新娘说些什么。”克雷维格说道。 伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐便给他们读信。她姑母似乎下定决心要粉饰太平;硬说她嫁给了一个全凭自己的勇敢最近获得了公侯地位的当代勇士,这是她莫大的幸福,从而为她那匆促而不体面的婚事进行自我安慰。她求她侄女在她没有亲自对她的威廉(这是她对他的称呼)很好了解以前,可别根据谣传来判断他的为人。他也可能有他的短处,但这是她所尊敬的人都难免会有的毛病。威廉喜欢酗酒,但她祖父——风流的戈德弗雷勋爵也未尝不如此。威廉血气方刚,脾气暴躁,但她兄弟,已故的雷诺尔德也和他一模一样。威廉说话粗鲁,但说话不粗鲁的德国人的确少见。威廉有点任性武断,但她认为,天下的男人都爱统治别人。信中还说了别的诸如此类的话。信结尾时她向伊莎贝尔提出一个希望和要求,盼她通过带信者的帮助,尽量设法逃出勃艮第暴君的魔掌,前往列日投奔姑母的宫廷。来到列日以后,只要伊莎贝尔能嫁给一个名叫厄伯森的伯爵,那么她们两人有关克罗伊埃伯爵领地继承权的任何微小分歧也能得到解决。厄伯森伯爵固然要比她年轻,但根据她(哈梅琳女士)的经验,她认为这种年龄的差异并不像伊莎贝尔所想象的那样难以忍受。 伊莎贝尔伯爵小姐没有再念下去。女修道院长带着一本正经的面孔说,这些轻浮世俗的东西小姐已读得够多了。克雷维格伯爵也脱口而出:“去你的吧,骗人的巫婆——嘿,这玩意发出的气味就像捕鼠机上一块烘过的劣质奶酪。让这拐骗姑娘的女人快见鬼去吧!” 克雷维格伯爵夫人严肃地责怪丈夫说话太粗鲁。“哈梅琳女士,”她说道,“一定是受了德拉马克彬彬有礼的蒙骗。” “他会彬彬有礼?!”伯爵说道,“我倒认为那种伪君子的举止与他完全无缘。与其指望他彬彬有礼,还不如指望一头真正的野猪彬彬有礼——还不如指望用金箔来美化生锈的绞架铁链。不!尽管那女人愚蠢,但还不至于蠢得像只母鹅,竟爱上了抓住她的狐狸,何况是在狐狸窝里。不过,你们女人都是一样的货色——花言巧语准能使你们动心——我敢说,我这个漂亮的侄女已在急不可待地想去她姑妈那儿,住进她那傻瓜的乐园,嫁给那头小野猪。” “我不但不会做出这种傻事,”伊莎贝尔说道,“而且我十分希望杀害善良主教的这个凶手能得到应有的惩罚,因为这也会使我姑母摆脱那恶棍的魔爪。” “唉!这才真像克罗伊埃家的人讲的话!”伯爵赞叹道。关于这封信也就没再谈下去。 伊莎贝尔向她的朋友读她姑妈来信的过程中,有一点值得指出的是,有个信的附言她感到没有必要念出来。在这附言中哈梅琳女士向她侄女介绍她正在干一些什么活计。她说她已暂时搁下了给她丈夫缝的一件外袍,在这件外袍上应按联姻关系把克罗伊埃和德拉马克的纹章绣在一起。但为了策略关系,她的威廉已决定在首次战斗中让别人穿上他的纹章铠甲,而自己佩戴左侧带有庶出标记的奥尔良纹章——换言之,也就是杜诺瓦的纹章。伯爵小姐另一只手里藏着一小片纸,其内容她也感到不必公开,因为它只是写着这样一行字:“假如你不能很快听到我的喜讯,而且是通过号角手传报的喜讯,你可以断定我已光荣地死去。” 在此以前,一直被视为异想天开而不敢细想的一个念头此刻却十分鲜明地闪现在伊莎贝尔的内心深处。女人总是能够凭她们的聪明想出一些好办法的。所以趁军队正式出发之前,她已设法通过一位无名氏的手把哈梅琳的那封信送回到昆丁•达威特手里。但在那个附语的旁边画有三个十字,并附上她自己写的一行字:“那看见奥尔良的纹章被佩戴在它真正的主人胸前时都毫不畏缩的勇士,在看见它被佩戴在一个残暴的匪首和凶手的胸前时,岂能畏缩?”年轻的苏格兰人把这个递送情报的短简吻了千百次,因为它护佑着他走上既能使他获得荣誉,又能使他获得爱情的道路,使他掌有一个旁人不知道的秘密,借以帮助他辨认出惟有把他杀死才能实现自己的希望的那个匪首。所以他把这个秘密十分小心地锁藏在心里。 然而,达威特感到有必要以不同的态度来对待海拉丁提供的那个情报。德拉马克所计划的突袭,除非认真加以防范,否则很可能给攻城的一方带来毁灭性的打击,因为按当时那种混乱的作战方式,人们很难抵挡得住夜袭而稳住阵脚。经过一番深思熟虑,他决定等两位君王都在场时才亲自向他们公开这个情报。也许是因为他担心,如果把这很有成功希望的精心策划私下告诉路易,这对那和解的诚意尚游移不定的国王来说,将是一种太大的诱惑,会促使他对这计划中的突袭采取支援而不是反击的态度。因此他决心等待路易和查尔斯会面的机会来公开这个秘密。但由于两位君王都不大喜欢因会面而彼此感到的拘束,所以这个机会不大可能很快到来。 军队继续前进,不久联军便进入了列日的领土。勃艮第的士兵至少有一部分是由原来获得“剥皮专家”绰号的散兵游勇所组成。在为主教复仇的薪口下,他们对待居民的做法也表明他们对这个称号真是当之无愧。他们的表现大大损害了查尔斯公爵这一讨伐的义举。结果使得那些在这场战争中本可以采取消极态度的居民也都怨忿地拿起武器进行自卫。有的切断小股部队,骚扰大军阻止其前进,有的则赶在大军到来之前退回到列日城,从而增加了决心守城者的人数,也加强了他们决一死战的意志。法军人数不多,但却是全国最精良的士兵。他们都按照国王的命令,坚守各自的阵容,严格遵守纪律。形成的这一对比增加了查尔斯的猜疑。他不禁注意到,路易王部队的这种表现使人感觉他们更像列日市民的朋友,而不像是勃艮第的盟军。这支联军一路上都没遇到强烈抵抗,最后来到了马埃斯河富饶的河谷,在那人口众多的列日城前扎下营来。他们发现索恩瓦尔德城堡已完全被毁,并得知那惟一的才能表现为军事指挥的威廉•德拉马克已将整个部队撤进城内,决心避免与勃艮第和法国的骑兵在开阔地带交锋。但入侵者很快就体会到,不管一个大城市如何缺乏防御,只要居民决心死守,就会给他们造成很大的威胁。 有一部分勃艮第的先头部队看到有的城墙被毁,有的被打开了缺口,以为不费一枪一弹就能轻松地开进列日城。于是他们喊着口号:“勃艮第,勃艮第!杀,杀——一切归于我们——为波旁•路易复仇!”然后开进了列日的一个郊区。但正当他们无秩序地穿过狭窄的街道,并散开进行抢劫时,一大股列日市民突然从城区冲了出来,对他们猛烈袭击,造成了很大的伤亡。德拉马克甚至利用不同的城墙缺口,让守城者分成几路冲进双方争夺的郊区,从前后方及侧翼袭击进犯者。这突如其来的猛烈抵抗搞得这些入侵者惊惶失措,难以招架。黑夜的来临更使得他们乱作一团。 查尔斯公爵听到这个消息时几乎气得要发狂。路易王表示愿意派遣法国武士前往郊区援救勃艮第先头部队,但这并没有能够平息公爵的愤怒。他简慢地拒绝了国王这个建议。他本想率领自己的卫队去解救这些贸然进攻的士兵。只是因为丹伯古和克雷维格恳求他把这事交给他们,他才作罢。这两位著名的将领从两个不同的地点开进战地,在适当的相互支援和较好的配合下终于打退了列日市民,救出了先头部队。除开被俘者以外,这支部队伤亡不下八百,其中约有一百名是武士。被俘者为数并不多,其中多数已被丹伯古救了出来。他们接着占领了争夺地区,并在面对城区的地方布了防,与城区只隔着一块五六百码宽,没有建筑物的无人地带。在城区和郊区之间有许多岩石,也没凿护城河。一出城门便是郊区。因此人们很容易从城门走出去,何况在圣特仑战争爆发以后,查尔斯公爵曾命令把城墙打开两三个缺口,现在也只是用木材把缺口匆忙堵修了一下。丹伯古将两门重炮对准城门,另将两门对准主要的城墙缺口,以击退城里的任何突袭,然后回到勃艮第军营。但他发现部队极度混乱。 实际上,即使在先头部队已被击溃往后撤的时候,公爵这支大军的主力和后卫也还在继续向前挺进,结果引起双方冲突,造成巨大的混乱。丹伯古为了执行其总司令,也可说总后勤的种种职务,有时不得不离开军营,这就更增加了部队的混乱。而更糟糕的是,像要吞噬一切的深沉的夜幕已降临下来,又加上一场滂沦大雨骤然而至,使得攻城部队必须用来作阵地的地方变成了一片泥泞,中间还穿插着许多沟渠和运河。在这支勃艮第军队中军官找不到士兵、士兵找不到军旗和军官的现象比比皆是,其混乱真是难以想象。每个人,无论高低贵贱,都在自寻隐蔽的休歇场所。从战斗中撤回来的疲惫不堪的士兵和伤兵的食宿根本无人过问。面对已发生的不妙情况还毫无所知的士兵仍在继续前进,指望在他们误以为仍在进行着的快活的抢劫当中也能捞它一把。 当丹伯古返回时,他面临的任务真是困难得难以置信。但公爵没考虑到他刚处理完的事情比起来更为迫切,就对他横加指责。面对公爵这种无理指责,勇敢的将军终于伤心得再也无法忍受。“我离开这里是去整顿一下先头部队的秩序,”他说道,“我把主力部队留给殿下亲自指挥。而等我一回来,我却找不到哪儿是前沿。侧翼,哪儿是后卫;简直是乱成一团。” “那我们就更像一坛子鲱鱼,”勒格洛里尔说道,“弗兰德军队生来就是如此。” 弄臣的这一句话惹得公爵哈哈大笑。也许正因为如此,才避免了他和他的主帅继续争吵下去。 人们费了很大的劲才为公爵及其最亲近的随从搞到一个列日市民的别墅作为他们的大本营。最后是靠丹伯古和克雷维格下的命令才在其附近布置了一个约有四十名武士组成的卫队。他们拆除了别墅里的一间木屋,用其木料生了一堆熊熊的黄火供他们取暖。 我们在前面曾提到过,勃艮第军队已占领了对着城门的那个郊区。就在这个郊区和别墅之间,在别墅左边不远处还另有一个富翁的宅第。其周围被一个花园和庭院所围,后面还有两三个小围场或田庄。法王路易则在这里设下他自己的大本营。他除了天生不畏危险并具有明智的判断力,有资格称得上一个将才以外,也并不自以为具有很大的军事指挥才能。不过他总是十分谨慎地选用一些最擅长于军事的人来担任指挥职务,并对他们寄予应有的信任。路易及其最亲近的随从占用这第二个别墅。一部分苏格兰卫士被安置在庭院里;这里有些木屋和木棚可供他们过夜。其余的则驻扎在花园里。剩下的那些法国武士的宿营地都靠得很紧,而且秩序井然,还设有警戒岗哨,以防突然袭击。 杜诺瓦和克劳福德为了防备万一,还在几个老练的军官的帮助下——其中巴拉弗雷以其手勤显得最为突出——拆除了一些墙壁,戳通了一些篱笆,填平了一些壕沟等等,以使部队之间的交通以及整个驻地有秩序的联系更为便利。 与此同时,路易王认为有必要直截了当地去勃艮第公爵的大本营走一趟,以便了解他的作战计划和步骤,以及期望他给予什么合作。路易的到来促使查尔斯召开了一个原先他根本没想到要开的作战会议。 昆丁正是看准这个时机恳切求见,说是有要事面禀两位君王。他没费多少周折就得到了晋见的许可。听到他镇静而明晰地陈述威廉•德拉马克打算伪装法国人,打着法国旗号对攻城一方进行突袭的计划,路易十分吃惊。要是他能私下获得这样一个重要情报,他可能要高兴得多。但既然整个情况已当着勃艮第公爵的面说了出来,他只好说,不管真假如何,这样一个情报的确对他们关系重大。 “丝毫不!丝毫不!”公爵无所谓地说道,“要是真有这年轻人所说的这样一个计划,那也不会让一个苏格兰卫队的射手来告诉我。” “不管如何,”路易对答道,“我都请求你和你的将军们注意,为了防备这个突然袭击可能造成的不愉快后果,我将命令我的士兵铠甲上披白的肩巾——杜诺瓦,你负责马上发出这道命令——当然,”他又补充说道,“这要看我的兄弟和统帅是否同意。” “只要法国骑兵愿意冒被人封以‘女衫骑士’外号的危险,”公爵对答道,“我自然没有什么反对意见。” “查尔斯好友,这将是一个恰如其分的封号,”勒格洛里尔说道,“因为最勇敢的武士将获得女人作为奖赏。” “聪明人,你说得真好,”路易说道,“堂弟,晚安,我得去穿上我的戎装。附带问一句,假如我亲手赢得了伯爵小姐,那该怎么办呢?” “陛下,”公爵以不同的腔调说道,“那您就必须成为一个地地道道的弗兰德人。” “我但愿我能使我亲爱的堂弟相信,”路易以极其诚挚的、像说知心话的口吻对答道,“我已经说得上是个彻头彻尾的弗兰德人了。” 公爵只是以向国王道晚安作为回答,所用的声音类似一个骑者在上马时为了诓使马乖乖站定,用手抚摸它,马一惊之下发出的鼻息声。 “我能原谅他的种种虚伪,”公爵对克雷维格说道,“但不能原谅的是他竟以为我会愚蠢得被他这些表白蒙骗住。” 路易回到他的大本营时,和奥利弗•丹说出了他的知心话。“那个苏格兰人可真是个既精明又单纯的怪物,”他说道,“我对他真感到莫名其妙。老天爷!他竟然会不可饶恕地愚蠢得把那老实的德拉马克的突袭计划当着勃艮第、克雷维格和他们那帮人的面公开讲出来,而不把它悄悄告诉我,好让我至少有个机会选择,究竟是鼓励这个计划,还是挫败这个计划!” “陛下,就像现在这个样子也好,”奥利弗说道,“要是您不宣而战地进攻勃艮第,并与德拉马克联合,在您目前的随从当中许多人都会产生顾虑。” “奥利弗,你说得很对。世界上就是有这样一些傻瓜。但我们也没有时间用点小恩小惠来消除他们的顾虑。奥利弗,至少今晚我们得守信用,当当勃艮第的忠实盟友。时间将会给我们更好的赌博的机会的。你去叫大伙都做好战斗准备。必要时要把那些呼喊‘法兰西’和‘圣丹尼斯’的人当作呼喊‘地狱’和‘魔鬼’的人那样给以猛烈的射击!我自己也要穿着铠甲睡觉。你要告诉克劳福德,让昆丁•达威特守在警戒线最靠城墙的一端。让他首当其冲,最先获得他所泄露的突袭的好处。假如他运气好能挺过去,那就算他有福气。不过你得特别注意马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提,要叫他留在后方一个绝对安全的地方。这家伙太爱冒险,是一种既爱耍大刀又爱谈哲学的傻瓜。奥利弗,你办办这几件事。祝你晚安——愿克列里的圣母和图尔的圣马丁保佑我的睡眠!” Chapter 37 The Sally He look'd, and saw what numbers numberless The city gates outpour'd. PARADISE REGAINED A dead silence soon reigned over that great host which lay in leaguer before Liege. For a long time the cries of the soldiers repeating their signals, and seeking to join their several banners, sounded like the howling of bewildered dogs seeking their masters. But at length, overcome with weariness by the fatigues of the day, the dispersed soldiers crowded under such shelter as they could meet with, and those who could find none sunk down through very fatigue under walls, hedges, and such temporary protection, there to await for morning -- a morning which some of them were never to behold. A dead sleep fell on almost all, excepting those who kept a faint and wary watch by the lodgings of the King and the Duke. The dangers and hopes of the morrow -- even the schemes of glory which many of the young nobility had founded upon the splendid prize held out to him who should avenge the murdered Bishop of Liege -- glided from their recollection as they lay stupefied with fatigue and sleep. But not so with Quentin Durward. The knowledge that he alone was possessed of the means of distinguishing La Marck in the contest -- the recollection by whom that information had been communicated, and the fair augury which might be drawn from her conveying it to him -- the thought that his fortune had brought him to a most perilous and doubtful crisis indeed, but one where there was still, at least, a chance of his coming off triumphant -- banished every desire to sleep and strung his nerves with vigour which defied fatigue. Posted, by the King's express order, on the extreme point between the French quarters and the town, a good way to the right of the suburb which we have mentioned, he sharpened his eye to penetrate the mass which lay before him, and excited his ears to catch the slightest sound which might announce any commotion in the beleaguered city. But its huge clocks had successively knelled three hours after midnight, and all continued still and silent as the grave. At length, and just when Quentin began to think the attack would be deferred till daybreak, and joyfully recollected that there would be then light enough to descry the Bar Sinister across the Fleur de lis of Orleans, he thought he heard in the city a humming murmur, like that of disturbed bees mustering for the defence of their hives. He listened -- the noise continued, but it was of a character so undistinguished by any peculiar or precise sound, that it might be the murmur of a wind arising among the boughs of a distant grove, or perhaps some stream, swollen by the late rain, which was discharging itself into the sluggish Maes with more than usual clamour. Quentin was prevented by these considerations from instantly giving the alarm, which, if done carelessly, would have been a heavy offence. But, when the noise rose louder, and seemed pouring at the same time towards his own post, and towards the suburb, he deemed it his duty to fall back as silently as possible and call his uncle, who commanded the small body of Archers destined to his support. All were on their feet in a moment, and with as little noise as possible. In less than a second Lord Crawford was at their head, and, dispatching an Archer to alarm the King and his household, drew back his little party to some distance behind their watchfire, that they might not be seen by its light. The rushing sound, which had approached them more nearly, seemed suddenly to have ceased, but they still heard distinctly the more distant heavy tread of a large body of men approaching the suburb. "The lazy Burgundians are asleep on their post," whispered Crawford; "make for the suburb, Cunningham, and awaken the stupid oxen." "Keep well to the rear as you go," said Durward; "if ever I heard the tread of mortal men, there is a strong body interposed between us and the suburb." "Well said, Quentin, my dainty callant," said Crawford; "thou art a soldier beyond thy years. They only made halt till the others come forward. -- I would I had some knowledge where they are!" "I will creep forward, my Lord," said Quentin, "and endeavour to bring you information." "Do so, my bonny chield; thou hast sharp ears and eyes, and good will -- but take heed -- I would not lose thee for two and a plack (an homely Scottish expression for something you value)." Quentin, with his harquebuss ready prepared, stole forward, through ground which he had reconnoitred carefully in the twilight of the preceding evening, until he was not only certain that he was in the neighbourhood of a very large body of men, who were standing fast betwixt the King's quarters and the suburbs, but also that there was a detached party of smaller number in advance, and very close to him. They seemed to whisper together, as if uncertain what to do next. At last the steps of two or three Enfans perdus (literally, lost children), detached from that smaller party, approached him so near as twice a pike's length. Seeing it impossible to retreat undiscovered, Quentin called out aloud, "Qui vive? (who goes there?)" and was answered, by "Vive Li -- Li -- ege -- c'est a dire (that is to say)" (added he who spoke, correcting himself), "Vive -- la France!" Quentin instantly fired his harquebuss -- a man groaned and fell, and he himself, under the instant but vague discharge of a number of pieces, the fire of which ran in a disorderly manner along the column, and showed it to be very numerous, hastened back to the main guard. "Admirably done, my brave boy!" said Crawford. "Now, callants, draw in within the courtyard -- they are too many to mell with in the open field." They drew within the courtyard and garden accordingly, where they found all in great order and the King prepared to mount his horse. "Whither away, Sire!" said Crawford; "you are safest here with your own people." "Not so," said Louis, "I must instantly to the Duke. He must be convinced of our good faith at this critical moment, or we shall have both Liegeois and Burgundians upon us at once." And, springing on his horse, he bade Dunois command the French troops without the house, and Crawford the Archer Guard and other household troops to defend the lusthaus and its enclosures. He commanded them to bring up two sakers and as many falconets (pieces of cannon for the field), which had been left about half a mile in the rear; and, in the meantime, to make good their posts, but by no means to advance, whatever success they might obtain; and having given these orders, he rode off, with a small escort, to the Duke's quarters. The delay which permitted these arrangements to be carried fully into effect was owing to Quentin's having fortunately shot the proprietor of the house, who acted as guide to the column which was designed to attack it, and whose attack, had it been made instantly, might have had a chance of being successful. Durward, who, by the King's order, attended him to the Duke's, found the latter in a state of choleric distemperature, which almost prevented his discharging the duties of a general, which were never more necessary; for, besides the noise of a close and furious combat which had now taken place in the suburb upon the left of their whole army -- besides the attack upon the King's quarters, which was fiercely maintained in the centre -- a third column of Liegeois, of even superior numbers, had filed out from a more distant breach, and, marching by lanes, vineyards, and passes known to themselves, had fallen upon the right flank of the Burgundian army, who, alarmed at their war cries of Vive la France! and Denis Montjoie! which mingled with those of Liege! and Rouge Sanglier! and at the idea thus inspired, of treachery on the part of the French confederates, made a very desultory and imperfect resistance; while the Duke, foaming and swearing and cursing his liege Lord and all that belonged to him, called out to shoot with bow and gun on all that was French whether black or white, -- alluding to the sleeves with which Louis's soldiers had designated themselves. The arrival of the King, attended only by Le Balafre and Quentin and half a score of Archers, restored confidence between France and Burgundy. D'Hymbercourt, Crevecoeur, and others of the Burgundian leaders, whose names were then the praise and dread of war, rushed devotedly into the conflict; and, while some commanders hastened to bring up more distant troops, to whom the panic had not extended, others threw themselves into the tumult, reanimated the instinct of discipline, and while the Duke toiled in the front, shouting, hacking, and hewing, like an ordinary man at arms, brought their men by degrees into array, and dismayed the assailants by the use of their artillery. The conduct of Louis, on the other hand, was that of a calm, collected, sagacious leader, who neither sought nor avoided danger, but showed so much self possession and sagacity, that the Burgundian leaders readily obeyed the orders which he issued. The scene was now become in the utmost degree animated and horrible. On the left the suburb, after a fierce contest, had been set on fire, and a wide and dreadful conflagration did not prevent the burning ruins from being still disputed. On the centre, the French troops, though pressed by immense odds, kept up so close and constant a fire, that the little pleasure house shone bright with the glancing flashes, as if surrounded with a martyr's crown of flames. On the left, the battle swayed backwards and forwards, with varied success, as fresh reinforcements poured out of the town, or were brought forward from the rear of the Burgundian host; and the strife continued with unremitting fury for three mortal hours, which at length brought the dawn, so much desired by the besiegers. The enemy, at this period, seemed to be slackening their efforts upon the right and in the centre, and several discharges of cannon were heard from the lusthaus. "Go," said the King to Le Balafre and Quentin, the instant his ear had caught the sound; "they have got up the sakers and falconets -- the pleasure house is safe, blessed be the Holy Virgin! -- Tell Dunois to move this way, but rather nearer the walls of Liege, with all our men at arms, excepting what he may leave for the defence of the house, and cut in between those thick headed Liegeois on the right and the city from which they are supplied with recruits." The uncle and nephew galloped off to Dunois and Crawford, who, tired of their defensive war, joyfully obeyed the summons, and, filing out at the head of a gallant body of about two hundred French gentlemen, besides squires, and the greater part of the Archers and their followers, marched across the field, trampling down the wounded till they gained the flank of the large body of Liegeois, by whom the right of the Burgundians had been so fiercely assailed. The increasing daylight discovered that the enemy were continuing to pour out from the city, either for the purpose of continuing the battle on that point, or of bringing safely off the forces who were already engaged. "By Heaven!" said old Crawford to Dunois, "were I not certain it is thou that art riding by my side, I would say I saw thee among yonder banditti and burghers, marshalling and arraying them with thy mace -- only, if yon be thou, thou art bigger than thou art wont to be. Art thou sure yonder armed leader is not thy wraith, thy double man, as these Flemings call it?" "My wraith!" said Dunois; "I know not what you mean. But yonder is a caitiff with my bearings displayed on crest and shield, whom I will presently punish for his insolence." "In the name of all that is noble, my lord, leave the vengeance to me!" said Quentin. "To thee, indeed, young man," said Dunois; "that is a modest request. "No -- these things brook no substitution." Then turning on his saddle, he called out to those around him, "Gentlemen of France, form your line, level your lances! Let the rising sunbeams shine through the battalions of yonder swine of Liege and hogs of Ardennes, that masquerade in our ancient coats." The men at arms answered with a loud shout of "A Dunois! a Dunois! Long live the bold Bastard! -- Orleans to the rescue!" And, with their leader in the centre, they charged at full gallop. They encountered no timid enemy. The large body which they charged consisted (excepting some mounted officers) entirely of infantry, who, setting the butt of their lances against their feet, the front rank kneeling, the second stooping, and those behind presenting their spears over their heads, offered such resistance to the rapid charge of the men at arms as the hedgehog presents to his enemy. Few were able to make way through that iron Wall; but of those few was Dunois, who, giving spur to his horse, and making the noble animal leap wore than twelve feet at a bound, fairly broke his way into the middle of the phalanx, and made toward the object of his animosity. What was his surprise to find Quentin still by his side, and fighting in the same front with himself -- youth, desperate courage, and the determination to do or die having still kept the youth abreast with the best knight in Europe; for such was Dunois reported, and truly reported at the period. Their spears were soon broken, but the lanzknechts Were unable to withstand the blows of their long, heavy swords; while the horses and riders, armed in complete steel, sustained little injury from their lances. Still Dunois and Durward were contending with rival efforts to burst forward to the spot where he who had usurped the armorial bearings of Dunois was doing the duty of a good and valiant leader, when Dunois, observing the boar's head and tusks -- the usual bearing of William de la Marck -- in another part of the conflict, called out to Quentin, "Thou art worthy to avenge the arms of Orleans! I leave thee the task. -- Balafre, support your nephew; but let none dare to interfere with Dunois's boar hunt!" That Quentin Durward joyfully acquiesced in this division of labour cannot be doubted, and each pressed forward upon his separate object, followed, and defended from behind, by such men at arms as were able to keep up with them. But at this moment the column which De la Marck had proposed to support, when his own course was arrested by the charge of Dunois, had lost all the advantages they had gained during the night; while the Burgundians, with returning day, had begun to show the qualities which belong to superior discipline. The great mass of Liegeois were compelled to retreat, and at length to fly; and, falling back on those who were engaged with the French men at arms, the whole became a confused tide of fighters, fliers, and pursuers, which rolled itself towards the city walls, and at last was poured into the ample and undefended breach through which the Liegeois had sallied. Quentin made more than human exertions to overtake the special object of his pursuit, who was still in his sight, striving, by voice and example, to renew the battle, and bravely supported by a chosen party of lanzknechts. Le Balafre and several of his comrades attached themselves to Quentin, much marvelling at the extraordinary gallantry displayed by so young a soldier. On the very brink of the breach, De la Marck -- for it was himself -- succeeded in effecting a momentary stand, and repelling some of the most forward of the pursuers. He had a mace of iron in his hand, before which everything seemed to go down, and was so much covered with blood that it was almost impossible to discern those bearings on his shield which had so much incensed Dunois. Quentin now found little difficulty in singling him out, for the commanding situation of which he had possessed himself, and the use he made of his terrible mace, caused many of the assailants to seek safer points of attack than that where so desperate a defender presented himself. But Quentin, to whom the importance attached to victory over this formidable antagonist was better known, sprung from his horse at the bottom of the breach, and, letting the noble animal, the gift of the Duke of Orleans, run loose through the tumult, ascended the ruins to measure swords with the Boar of Ardennes. The latter, as if he had seen his intention, turned towards Durward with mace uplifted; and they were on the point of encounter, when a dreadful shout of triumph, of tumult, and of despair, announced that the besiegers were entering the city at another point, and in the rear of those who defended the breach. Assembling around him, by voice and bugle, the desperate partners of his desperate fortune, De la Marck, at those appalling sounds, abandoned the breach, and endeavoured to effect his retreat towards a part of the city from which he might escape to the other side of the Maes. His immediate followers formed a deep body of well disciplined men, who, never having given quarter, were resolved now not to ask it, and who, in that hour of despair, threw themselves into such firm order that their front occupied the whole breadth of the street, through which they slowly retired, making head from time to time, and checking the pursuers, many of whom began to seek a safer occupation, by breaking into the houses for plunder. It is therefore probable that De la Marck might have effected his escape, his disguise concealing him from those who promised themselves to win honour and grandeur upon his head, but for the stanch pursuit of Quentin, his uncle Le Balafre, and some of his comrades. At every pause which was made by the lanzknechts, a furious combat took place betwixt them and the Archers, and in every melee Quentin sought De la Marck; but the latter, whose present object was to retreat, seemed to evade the young Scot's purpose of bringing him to single combat. The confusion was general in every direction. The shrieks and cries of women, the yelling of the terrified inhabitants, now subjected to the extremity of military license, sounded horribly shrill amid the shouts of battle -- like the voice of misery and despair contending with that of fury and violence, which should be heard farthest and loudest. It was just when De la Marck, retiring through this infernal scene, had passed the door of a small chapel of peculiar sanctity, that the shouts of "France! France! -- Burgundy! Burgundy!" apprised him that a part of the besiegers were entering the farther end of the street, which was a narrow one, and that his retreat was cut off. "Comrade," he said, "take all the men with you. -- Charge yonder fellows roundly, and break through if you can -- with me it is over. I am man enough, now that I am brought to bay, to send some of these vagabond Scots to hell before me." His lieutenant obeyed, and, with most of the few lanzknechts who remained alive, hurried to the farther end of the street, for the purpose of charging those Burgundians who were advancing, and so forcing their way, so as to escape. About six of De la Marck's best men remained to perish with their master, and fronted the Archers, who were not many more in number. "Sanglier! Sanglier! Hola! gentlemen of Scotland," said the ruffian but undaunted chief, waving his mace, "who longs to gain a coronet -- who strikes at the Boar of Ardennes? -- You, young man, have, methinks, a hankering; but you must win ere you wear it." Quentin heard but imperfectly the words, which were partly lost in the hollow helmet; but the action could not be mistaken, and he had but time to bid his uncle and comrades, as they were gentlemen, to stand back, when De la Marck sprang upon him with a bound like a tiger, aiming, at the same time a blow with his mace, so as to make his hand and foot keep time together, and giving his stroke full advantage of the descent of his leap, but, light of foot and quick of eye, Quentin leaped aside, and disappointed an aim which would have been fatal had it taken effect. They then closed, like the wolf and the wolf dog, their comrades on either side remaining inactive spectators, for Le Balafre roared out for fair play, adding that he would venture his nephew on him were he as wight as Wallace. Neither was the experienced soldier's confidence unjustified; for, although the blows of the despairing robber fell like those of the hammer on the anvil, yet the quick motions and dexterous swordsmanship of the young Archer enabled him to escape, and to requite them with the point of his less noisy, though more fatal weapon; and that so often, and so effectually, that the huge strength of his antagonist began to give way to fatigue, while the ground on which he stood became a puddle of blood. Yet, still unabated in courage and ire, the wild Boar of Ardennes fought on with as much mental energy as at first, and Quentin's victory seemed dubious and distant, when a female voice behind him called him by his name, ejaculating, "Help! help! for the sake of the blessed Virgin!" He turned his head, and with a single glance beheld Gertrude Pavillon, her mantle stripped from her shoulders, dragged forcibly along by a French soldier, one of several who, breaking into the chapel close by, had seized, as their prey, on the terrified females who had taken refuge there." "Wait for me but one moment," exclaimed Quentin to De la Marck, and sprang to extricate his benefactress from a situation of which he conjectured all the dangers. "I wait no man's pleasure," said De la Marck, flourishing his mace, and beginning to retreat -- glad, no doubt, at being free of so formidable an assailant. "You shall wait mine, though, by your leave," said Balafre; "I will not have my nephew baulked." So saying, he instantly assaulted De la Marck with his two handed sword. Quentin found, in the meanwhile, that the rescue of Gertrude was a task more difficult than could be finished in one moment. Her captor, supported by his comrades, refused to relinquish his prize: and whilst Durward, aided by one or two of his countrymen, endeavoured to compel him to do so, the former beheld the chance which Fortune had so kindly afforded him for fortune and happiness glide out of his reach; so that when he stood at length in the street with the liberated Gertrude, there was no one near them. Totally forgetting the defenceless situation of his companion, he was about to spring away in pursuit of the Boar of Ardennes, as the greyhound tracks the deer, when, clinging to him in her despair, she exclaimed, "For the sake of your mother's honour, leave me not here! -- As you are a gentleman, protect me to my father's house, which once sheltered you and the Lady Isabelle! -- For her sake leave me not!" Her call was agonizing, but it was irresistible; and bidding a mental adieu, with unutterable bitterness of feeling, to all the gay hopes which had stimulated his exertion, carried him through that bloody day, and which at one moment seemed to approach consummation, Quentin, like an unwilling spirit who obeys a talisman which he cannot resist, protected Gertrude to Pavillon's house, and arrived in time to defend that and the Syndic himself against the fury of the licentious soldiery. Meantime the King and the Duke of Burgundy entered the city on horseback and through one of the breaches. They were both in complete armour, but the latter, covered with blood from the plume to the spur, drove his steed furiously up the breach, which Louis surmounted with the stately pace of one who leads a procession. They dispatched orders to stop the sack of the city, which had already commenced, and to assemble their scattered troops. The Princes themselves proceeded towards the great church, both for the protection of many of the distinguished inhabitants who had taken refuge there, and in order to hold a sort of military council after they had heard high mass. Busied, like other officers of his rank, in collecting those under his command, Lord Crawford, at the turning of one of the streets which leads to the Maes, met Le Balafre sauntering composedly towards the river, holding in his hand, by the gory locks, a human head with as much indifference as a fowler carries a game pouch. "How now, Ludovic!" said his commander; "what are ye doing with that carrion?" "It is all that is left of a bit of work which my nephew shaped out and nearly finished and I put the last hand to," said Le Balafre, "a good fellow that I dispatched yonder and who prayed me to throw his head into the Maes. -- Men have queer fancies when old Small Back (a cant expression in Scotland for Death, usually delineated as a skeleton. S.) is gripping them, but Small Back must lead down the dance with us all in our time." "And you are going to throw that head into the Maes?" said Crawford, looking more attentively on the ghastly memorial of mortality. "Ay, truly am I," said Ludovic testily. "If you refuse a dying man his boon, you are likely to be haunted by his ghost, and I love to sleep sound at nights." "You must take your chance of the ghaist, man," said Crawford; "for, by my soul, there is more lies on that dead pow than you think for. Come along with me -- not a word more -- Come along with me." "Nay, for that matter," said Le Balafre, "I made him no promise; for, in truth, I had off his head before the tongue had well done wagging; and as I feared him not living, by St. Martin of Tours, I fear him as little when he is dead. Besides, my little gossip, the merry Friar of St. Martin's, will lend me a pot of holy water." When high mass had been said in the Cathedral Church of Liege and the terrified town was restored to some moderate degree of order, Louis and Charles, with their peers around, proceeded to hear the claims of those who had any to make for services performed during the battle. Those which respected the County of Croye and its fair mistress were first received, and to the disappointment of sundry claimants, who had thought themselves sure of the rich prize, there seemed doubt and mystery to involve their several pretensions. Crevecoeur showed a boar's hide, such as De la Marck usually wore; Dunois produced a cloven shield with his armorial bearings; and there were others who claimed the merit of having dispatched the murderer of the Bishop, producing similar tokens -- the rich reward fixed on De la Marck's head having brought death to all who were armed in his resemblance. There was much noise and contest among the competitors, and Charles, internally regretting the rash promise which had placed the hand and wealth of his fair vassal on such a hazard, was in hopes he might find means of evading all these conflicting claims, when Crawford pressed forward into the circle, dragging Le Balafre after him, who, awkward and bashful, followed like an unwilling mastiff towed on in a leash, as his leader exclaimed, "Away with your hoofs and hides and painted iron! -- No one, save he who slew the Boar, can show the tusks!" So saying, he flung on the floor the bloody head, easily known as that of De la Marck by the singular conformation of the jaws, which in reality had a certain resemblance to those of the animal whose name he bore, and which was instantly recognized by all who had seen him. (We have already noticed the anachronism respecting the crimes of this atrocious baron; and it is scarce necessary to repeat, that if he in reality murdered the Bishop of Liege in 1482, the Count of La Marck could not be slain in the defence of Liege four years earlier. In fact, the Wild Boar of Ardennes, as he was usually termed, was of high birth, being the third son of John I, Count of La Marck and Aremberg, and ancestor of the branch called Barons of Lumain. He did not escape the punishment due to his atrocity, though it did not take place at the time, or in the manner, narrated in the text. Maximilian, Emperor of Austria, caused him to be arrested at Utrecht, where he was beheaded in the year 1485, three years after the Bishop of Liege's death. S.) "Crawford," said Louis, while Charles sat silent in gloomy and displeased surprise, "I trust it is one of my faithful Scots who has won this prize?" "It is Ludovic Lesly, Sire, whom we call Le Balafre," replied the old soldier. "But is he noble?" said the Duke; "is he of gentle blood? -- Otherwise our promise is void." "He is a cross, ungainly piece of wood enough," said Crawford, looking at the tall, awkward, embarrassed figure of the Archer; "but I will warrant him a branch of the tree of Rothes for all that -- and they have been as noble as any house in France or Burgundy ever since it is told of their founder that -- "'Between the less-lee and the mair, He slew the Knight, and left him there.'" (An old rhyme by which the Leslies vindicate their descent from an ancient knight, who is said to have slain a gigantic Hungarian champion, and to have formed a proper name for himself by a play of words upon the place where he fought his adversary. S.) "There is then no help for it," said the Duke, "and the fairest and richest heiress in Burgundy must be the wife of a rude mercenary soldier like this, or die secluded in a convent -- and she the only child of our faithful Reginald de Croye! -- I have been too rash." And a cloud settled on his brow, to the surprise of his peers, who seldom saw him evince the slightest token of regret for the necessary consequences of an adopted resolution. "Hold but an instant," said the Lord Crawford, "it may be better than your Grace conjectures. Hear but what this cavalier has to say. -- Speak out, man, and a murrain to thee," he added, apart to Le Balafre. But that blunt soldier, though he could make a shift to express himself intelligibly enough to King Louis, to whose familiarity he was habituated, yet found himself incapable of enunciating his resolution before so splendid an assembly as that before which he then stood; and after having turned his shoulder to the princes, and preluded with a hoarse chuckling laugh, and two or three tremendous contortions of countenance, he was only able to pronounce the words, "Saunders Souplejaw" -- and then stuck fast. "May it please your Majesty and your Grace," said Crawford, "I must speak for my countryman and old comrade. You shall understand that he has had it prophesied to him by a seer in his own land, that the fortune of his house is to be made by marriage; but as he is, like myself, something the worse for the wear -- loves the wine house better than a lady's summer parlour, and, in short, having some barrack tastes and likings, which would make greatness in his own person rather an encumbrance to him, he hath acted by my advice, and resigns the pretentions acquired' by the fate of slaying William de la Marck, to him by whom the Wild Boar was actually brought to bay, who is his maternal nephew." "I will vouch for that youth's services and prudence," said King Louis, overjoyed to see that fate had thrown so gallant a prize to one over whom he had some influence. "Without his prudence and vigilance, we had been ruined. It was he who made us aware of the night sally." "I, then," said Charles, "owe him some reparation for doubting his veracity." "And I can attest his gallantry as a man at arms," said Dunois. "But," interrupted Crevecoeur, "though the uncle be a Scottish gentillatre, that makes not the nephew necessarily so." "He is of the House of Durward," said Crawford, "descended from that Allan Durward who was High Steward of Scotland." "Nay, if it be young Durward," said Crevecoeur, "I say no more. -- Fortune has declared herself on his side too plainly for me to struggle farther with her humoursome ladyship -- but it is strange, from lord to horseboy, how wonderfully these Scots stick by each other." "Highlander shoulder to shoulder," answered Lord Crawford, laughing at the mortification of the proud Burgundian. "We have yet to inquire," said Charles thoughtfully, "what the fair lady's sentiments may be towards this fortunate adventurer." "By the mass" said Crevecoeur, "I have but too much reason to believe your Grace will find her more amenable to authority than on former occasions. -- But why should I grudge this youth his preferment? Since, after all, it is sense, firmness, and gallantry which have put him in possession of WEALTH, RANK, and BEAUTY!" * * * * * I had already sent these sheets to the press, concluding, as I thought, with a moral of excellent tendency for the encouragement of all fair haired, blue eyed, long legged, stout hearted emigrants from my native country, who might be willing in stirring times to take up the gallant profession of Cavalieros of Fortune. But a friendly monitor, one of those who, like the lump of sugar which is found at the bottom of a tea cup, as well as the flavour of the souchong itself, has entered a bitter remonstrance, and insists that I should give a precise and particular account of the espousals of the young heir of Glen Houlakin and the lovely Flemish Countess, and tell what tournaments were held, and how many lances were broken, upon so interesting an occasion; nor withhold from the curious reader the number of sturdy boys who inherited the valour of Quentin Durward, and of bright damsels, in whom were renewed the charms of Isabelle de Croye. I replied, in course of post, that times were changed, and public weddings were entirely out of fashion. In days traces of which I myself can remember, not only were the "fifteen friends" of the happy pair invited to witness their Union, but the bridal minstrelsy still continued, as in the "Ancient Mariner," to "nod their heads" till morning shone on them. The sack posset was eaten in the nuptial chamber -- the stocking was thrown -- and the bride's garter was struggled for in presence of the happy couple whom Hymen had made one flesh. The authors of the period were laudably accurate in following its fashions. They spared you not a blush of the bride, not a rapturous glance of the bridegroom, not a diamond in her hair, not a button on his embroidered waistcoat; until at length, with Astraea, "they fairly put their characters to bed." (the reference is to the plays of Mrs. Aphra Behn. "The stage how loosely doth Astraea tread, who fairly puts each character to bed.") But how little does this agree with the modest privacy which induces our modern brides -- sweet bashful darlings! -- to steal from pomp and plate, and admiration and flattery, and, like honest Shenstone ((1714-1763): an English poet best known by The Schoolmistress), "Seek for freedom at an inn!" To these, unquestionably, an exposure of the circumstances of publicity with which a bridal in the fifteenth century was always celebrated, must appear in the highest degree disgusting. Isabelle de Croye would be ranked in their estimation far below the maid who milks, and does the meanest chores; for even she, were it in the church porch, would reject the hand of her journeyman shoemaker, should he propose faire des noces (to celebrate a wedding festivity), as it is called on Parisian signs, instead of going down on the top of the long coach to spend the honeymoon incognito at Deptford or Greenwich. I will not, therefore, tell more of this matter, but will steal away from the wedding, as Ariosto from that of Angelica, leaving it to whom it may please to add farther particulars, after the fashion of their own imagination. "Some better bard shall sing, in feudal state How Bracquemont's Castle op'd its Gothic gate, When on the wand'ring Scot, its lovely heir Bestow'd her beauty and an earldom fair." (Ariosto (1474-1533): an Italian poet, the author of the poem Orlando Furioso, whose popularity was due largely to the subject -- combats and paladins, lovers' devotion and mad adventures. Angelica is the heroine. Scott is sometimes called the Ariosto of the North.) 他一望,只见那可数的变成了多不胜数, 人们潮水般地涌出了城门。 《复乐园》 驻扎在列日城前的勃艮第大军很快陷入死一般的沉寂。士兵们回答口令的声音以及他们摸索着返回各自营地时发出的声音延续了很长的时间,听起来就像是迷路的狗在寻找它们的主人。最后,由于被当天的疲劳弄得困乏不堪,士兵们都散乱地挤在他们所能找到的房舍里睡觉,而那些找不到房舍的,则由于实在太疲乏,干脆倒在墙壁、篱笆底下或别的临时栖身处靠着,等待天明——其中有些则再也没能见到天明。除开在国王和公爵的住处士兵们困倦而马虎地站着岗以外,几乎所有的人都已沉人酣睡。明天将带来的危险和希望——甚至是年轻的贵族们着眼于为遇害的主教复仇所悬的那一高贵奖赏而建立起来的种种辉煌计划——全都在疲劳的酣睡中,从他们脑海里消失得无影无踪。但昆丁•达威特却不是这样,因为,只有他掌握着在战场上如何辨认德拉马克的那个情报。当他想到是她送给他的这个情报,而她把它送给他也象征着一种吉兆——总之,当他想到,命运之神诚然使他正面临人生中一个危险而又捉摸不定的关键时刻,但毕竟也给他留有得胜的机会——所有这些思绪自然使他毫无睡意,只觉神经兴奋,一点不觉疲劳。 按照国王的密令,他被派到法军距城最近的一个阵地去站岗,已深入到我们提到过的那个郊区的右后方。他敏锐地张着眼睛,像是想要他的目光穿透他面前这堵厚厚的城墙;他也兴奋地张着耳朵,像是想抓住城里有任何动静的微小声音。然而,城里的大钟相继报了凌晨三点,一切却仍然是坟墓般的寂静。 最后,昆丁寻思袭击也许会推迟到天明。他高兴地想到,那时光线明亮,他完全可以辨认出奥尔良百合花纹章左边的庶出标志。但正在这时,他觉得他听到城里有一片嗡嗡的人声,仿佛是一群受惊扰的蜜蜂正在聚集起来保卫它们的蜂巢。他倾听着——声音还在继续,但说不出它属于任何明确而特定的声音,以致既可以当作是远处林中飒飒的风声,也可以当作是雨后暴涨的溪水注入徐缓的马埃斯河时比往常更喧哗的水声。由于这些考虑,昆丁没有立即告警,因为告警失误将是一种严重的罪过。 这时喧声越来越大,似乎同时在向他自己涌来,也向这郊区涌来。他认为他有责任尽可能静悄悄地退回去,把负责支援他的苏格兰射手小分队的指挥官,也就是他的舅父,立刻叫醒。这些射手顿时尽量小声地站起来,作好准备。顷刻之间克劳福德大公已出现在他们前头,率领他们。他连忙派遣一名射手去报告国王及其大本营,同时把他这一小股人马撤到他们烧的那堆簧火后面一个地方隐蔽起来,以免火光使他们暴露。那潮涌般的声音在离他们更近时,似乎突然停了下来。但他们仍能清晰地听到在较远的地方一大队人马向郊区开来的沉重脚步声。 “那些勃艮第懒鬼都在站岗时睡觉,”克劳福德轻声说道,“坎宁安,你赶快跑去把那些蠢牛叫醒。” “你最好抄在这些人的后面走,”达威特说道,“根据我所听到的脚步声来看,在我们和郊区之间有一支很大的人马。” “昆丁,我的好小伙子,你说得很对,”克劳福德讲道,“你是一个聪明超过年龄的好武士。这些人停下来,是要让另一些人赶向前去。我真想知道,他们究竟在什么地方。” “大人,我想潜到前面去,”昆丁说道,“设法给您搞一点情报。” “行,我的好小伙子。你眼睛和耳朵都很机灵,而且心地好。不过你得小心——我不想让你轻易送命。” 昆丁带着装好火药的火统枪穿过昨天黄昏时他曾仔细侦察过的这块地方,悄悄走上前去。摸到的情况是,他不仅可以肯定附近有大批人马就聚集在国王的大本营和那郊区之间,而且在紧靠着他的地方还有一支人数较少的先头部队。他们像在互相耳语,不知道下一步如何办好。最后,有两三个离队的散兵竟走到离他只有两根长矛远的地方。看到他已无法悄悄往回走而不被发现,昆丁便大声喊道:“Qui vive?”回答是“vive Li—Li—ege—cest-a dire”那说话的人马上又改口说是,“ Vive la France!”——昆丁立即开火。只听见一个人呻吟了一声,倒了下去。顷刻便有许多支枪从对方的队列里盲目开火,说明他们人数十分众多。在这一片枪声下昆丁急忙撤回自己的部队。 “好小伙子,你干得真好!”克劳福德说道,“伙计们,让我们进院子去吧——他们人数太多,和他们在旷野里打仗对我们不利。” 于是他们进到那个别墅的庭园,发现里面秩序井然,国王正准备上马。 “陛下要到哪儿去?”克劳福德问道,“您和自己人在一起岂不最安全?” “不行,”路易说道,“我得马上到公爵那儿去。在这个关键时刻,必须让他确信我的诚意,否则我们就会遭到列日人和勃艮第人的夹击。”他跳上马,在马上吩咐克劳福德指挥苏格兰卫队和其他御林军保卫别墅及其围场。他还命令他们把留在后面约半英里远的两门火炮及两门野战炮拖上来,并命令他们坚守岗位,不管取得多大战果,都不得开向前去。在下达了这些命令之后,他便带领一小队卫士骑着马向公爵的大本营走去。 要把上述这些安排付诸实行显然得费些时间,而之所以能争取到这段时间则应完全归功于昆丁,因为他碰巧打死的正好是这个别墅的主人。当时他正充当向导带领那支人马来攻打别墅。要是没受到阻碍而马上发起进攻,他们本有成功的希望。 达威特接到国王的命令,护送他来到了公爵的大本营。他发现公爵正气得暴跳如雷,几乎妨碍他发挥目前最为迫切的指挥职能。原因是列日人除在郊区对整个勃艮第军队的左翼展开了激烈的肉搏战,并在中线对路易王的大本营发起了持续的进攻以外,同时还有人数更多的另一支列日市民队伍也从较远的一个城墙缺口开了出来,沿着只有他们自己熟悉的小街、小巷、葡萄园和狭路向勃艮第军队的右翼发起了进攻。勃艮第士兵吃惊地听到“法国万岁!”和“丹尼斯的圣旗万岁!”的呐喊声与“列日”和“红野猪”的呐喊声混杂在一起,误以为是法国盟军已经倒戈,便只是马虎随便地应战了事。公爵闻讯后口冒唾沫,大声咒骂路易王及其部下,并号召人们用弓和炮对准法国人射击,不管它是黑是白——这里指的是路易的士兵用作标志的白袖套。 路易王的到来,而且只带着巴拉弗雷和昆丁以及十来个卫士,很快重新恢复了法国和勃艮第之间的信任。丹伯台、克雷维格和勃艮第的其他一些将领都是当时战场上英名赫赫的风云人物,这时都热忱地投入战斗。有些跑去把未受到虚惊影响的、较远的部队调了过来,另一些则奋不顾身地和敌人鏖战,重振士兵们本能具有的士气和纪律性。公爵则像个普通一兵似的呐喊着,冲杀在前,这样就使得他们的人马逐渐恢复了战斗阵容。接着他们又用大炮来吓退进攻的敌人。至于说到路易,那么这位国王的表现的确说明他是个指挥若定的聪明统帅。他既不轻易冒险,也不惧怕和逃避危险,而是显示出异常的沉着和明智,以致勃艮第的将领都很愿意服从他的命令。 战场上此刻呈现出一派极其恐怖和惊心动魄的景象。那郊区的左边,经过一番激烈的战斗,已成一片火海,但那可怕的熊熊烈火并不妨碍双方继续争夺那些燃烧着的已成废墟的房屋。中线的法军虽然受到超过自己的优势兵力的威胁,但向对方一直保持着密集不断的火力,以至那小小的别墅被枪炮的闪光照得通红,就像殉道者头上罩着一顶发光的冠冕。至于左边的战场,则由于城里不断派出增援力量,而勃艮第大军也不断从后方调出援军,双方一直在进行拉锯战。战斗持续而剧烈地进行了决定生死存亡的三个小时,终于迎来了攻城者迫切希望的黎明。这时敌人似乎已放松了对右翼和中线的压力,同时从别墅传来了几发大炮声。 “走吧,”国王一听到炮声便对巴拉弗雷和昆丁说道,“他们把大炮和野战炮调来了。感谢圣母,我们的别墅脱险了!快去告诉杜诺瓦,除开留下来保卫别墅的人以外,让全部人马靠近列日的城墙,调到打炮这个方向,插在盘踞右翼的列日蠢汉和城墙之间,以便切断从城里出来的增援部队。” 舅父带着外甥快马加鞭,跑去见杜诺瓦和克劳福德。他们正对打防御战感到厌倦,自然高兴按命令行事。他们率领一支大约由两百名法国贵族组成的雄壮队伍,外加扈从和大部分苏格兰射手,踩着伤亡者的躯体,越过战场,包抄到正对勃艮第军队的右翼猛烈进攻的那一大股列日人的侧翼。这时天越来越亮,人们发现敌人继续不断地从城里涌了出来,以便坚持那里的战斗,或使已投入战斗的部队安全转移。 “上帝呀,”年老的克劳福德对杜诺瓦说道,“要不是我肯定你是在骑着马走在我旁边,我准要说我看见你在那些土匪和市民中间,用你的权杖指挥他们哩——不过,要是那个人真是你的话,你的个子可要比你平常大一点。你敢肯定,那边那个穿着铠甲的首领不是你的阴魂,或像这些弗兰德人所说的那样,是你的替身吗?” “我的阴魂!”杜诺瓦说道,一我真不明白你在说些什么。不过那儿的确有个坏蛋在盔甲上饰有我的纹章,我得马上惩罚那厚颜无耻的家伙。” “大人,我以维护一切高贵事物的名义,要求您把这事交给我!”昆丁说道。 “年轻人,交给你吗?”杜诺瓦说道,“这要求倒不过分。不过——这些事不能容许别人代替。”说罢他在鞍上掉转身于,对周围的人大声说道:“法国的贵族们,整好队形,拿起长矛。让我们借用初升太阳的光芒向那冒用我们家族古老的纹章作威作福的‘列日野猪’和‘阿登内斯野猪仔’的队伍发起冲锋!” 武士们都大声响应道:“紧跟杜诺瓦!紧跟杜诺瓦!勇敢的杜诺瓦万岁!愿奥尔良的先人们给我们援助!”接着他们便簇拥着他们的首领奋勇地向前冲去。和他们相遇的敌人丝毫不胆怯。他们袭击的那一大队人马(除开一些骑马的军官之外)全由步兵组成。前面的人把长矛的木柄用脚顶住,第一列跪着,第二列蹲着,而后面的人则越过他们的头顶对迅猛冲过来的敌人进行类似刺猬对付敌人的那种抵抗。很少有人能冲过这道铜墙铁壁。但杜诺瓦就是这少数人当中的一个。他给马猛的一刺,使它一跃跳了十二英尺,正好冲到了方阵的中央。他立即向他痛恨的那个家伙冲过去。他十分惊奇地看到昆丁在他身边,和他并肩作战——不顾一切的勇气、拼一死战的决心,以及青春的活力使得这年轻人在和当代被誉为(而且十分正确地被誉为)欧洲最优秀的骑士的杜诺瓦并驾齐驱。 他们的长矛很快就被折断。但那些德国长矛手无法抵挡他们那长柄大刀的砍杀,而全副钢甲的战马及其骑者在对方的长矛下却安然无恙。杜诺瓦和达威特正想争先抢到那指挥若定的、盗用杜诺瓦纹章的人跟前,但这位骑士却忽然看到另一个地方出现了野猪头及獠牙这一威廉•德拉马克常用的纹章,于是他对昆丁喊道:“你有资格为被盗用的奥尔良纹章复仇!我把这事交给你。巴拉弗雷,你配合你外甥行动,但我不许任何人干扰我杜诺瓦猎野猪的游戏!” 对于这一分工,昆丁•达威特自然欣然同意,两人便立即追逐各自的目标。一些能够跟得上他们的武士就跟在后面帮他们打后卫。 德拉马克原打算前去支援的那支部队由于他本人遭到杜诺瓦袭击,中途受阻,无法支援,这时已丧失了夜间取得的优势。相反,勃艮第军队却由于白昼来临已开始显示出训练精良而具有的素质。大队大队的列日人已被迫撤退,最后甚至被迫逃跑,与正在和法国武士交锋的另一些列日人碰到一起,使得整个战场乱成一片。战斗着的、逃跑的、追赶的汇成一股潮水向城墙涌去,通过他们冲出城时穿过的未设防的巨大缺口退回城去。 昆丁作出了超人的努力来追赶他的特殊目标。他看见他在一队精选的德国长矛手的英勇支持下,身先士卒,仍想重振士气,挽回败局。巴拉弗雷和他几个战友紧跟着昆丁,对如此年轻的一名武士表现出来的非凡勇敢赞叹不绝。冲到城墙缺口的边缘时,德拉马克——这人果真就是他——才暂时站住脚跟,打退了冲在最前面的几个追击者。他手里挥舞着一根铁杖,令人无法逼近。他全身沾满了鲜血,几乎无法辨认那激怒了杜诺瓦的铠甲纹章。 昆丁想和他单独交锋已没有多大困难,因为他所占有的居高临下的位置,加上他挥舞着的铁杖,使得许多攻城者都想避开这亡命徒死守的地方,而找一个更安全的突破口。然而对于昆丁说来,战胜这可怕的敌手的重要性是再清楚不过的。他在缺口的底部跳下马来,让奥尔良公爵送给他的这匹良马在混乱中脱缰而去,自己登上一堵残壁想与“阿登内斯野猪”单独较量。那“野猪”似乎看清了他的意图,便举起铁杖迎战。他们正要交锋时,忽然听见一个可怕的喊声,它既表达一方胜利的喜悦,也显示出另一方的骚乱和绝望,因为它说明攻城者已从另一点突破,并已包抄到死守缺口者的后方。德拉马克听到这令人胆战心惊的声音,立刻用他威严的喊声和号角声将那些与他同生死共命运的亡命之徒聚集在自己周围,准备在放弃这个缺口之后,争取先退到一个城区,然后再从那里退到马埃斯河对岸。德拉马克的亲信组成了一个阵容严整的队列。这些人过去从没饶过别人一命,此刻也决心不求别人饶命。在此绝望的时刻,他们坚决保持他们的阵容。队伍的前列横在整个街面上,缓慢地退却。在退却时他们不断地对追逐者进行阻击,时时都有人头落地。其中一些,作为万全之计,干脆闯进市民家里大肆抢劫。因此,要不是昆丁和他舅父及其战友们的顽强追逐,只要德拉马克能凭借其伪装蒙骗住誓要拿到他的首级以赢得荣誉和富贵的其他武士,他本有希望脱险。不妙的是,德国长矛手每停一下,他们都得和苏格兰射手们激烈地战斗一场,而每次交锋昆丁都盯住德拉马克不放。德拉马克当前的目的在于逃跑,似乎一直在回避这年轻的苏格兰人想和他单独较量的企图。这时到处呈现一片混乱。正遭受军人肆虐之害的妇女和惊恐的市民发出的尖叫声和哭喊声在战斗的呐喊中显得凄惨可怕,就像是悲痛与绝望在和疯狂与残暴竞赛,看谁的声音最响,传得最远。 德拉马克在奋力逃出这地狱般的战场时,正好经过一个十分圣洁的小教堂的门口。这时他忽然听到“法兰西!法兰西!勃艮第!勃艮第!”的呼喊声,知道一部分攻城者已从这条狭窄街道的另一端走了过来,切断了他的退路。“孔拉德,”他说道,“你带着所有的弟兄,向那些家伙狠狠冲过去,看是否能突围——反正我是完蛋了。既然被逼得走投无路,我想我有足够的勇气趁我没进地狱之前,把几个苏格兰流浪汉先送进地狱。” 那副官立即遵命,率领活下来的少数几名长矛手,向街道那一头冲过去,迎击奔过来的勃艮第人,试图杀出一条血路,以求死里逃生。约有六名最忠诚于德拉马克的部下仍留下来,决心和主子共存亡,以对付人数并不比他们多多少的苏格兰射手。“野猪,野猪,乌啦!”那凶恶无畏的首领挥动着铁杖喊道,“苏格兰绅士们,你们谁想赢得桂冠,谁敢和我‘阿登内斯野猪’较量?我看你这年轻人很想试试,但你得先打赢才能戴上桂冠。” 昆丁没怎么听清他讲的这几句话,部分原因是那头盔挡住了说话的声音。然而他要采取的行动却明白无误。他只来得及叫他舅父和他的绅士朋友们躲开,德拉马克已像猛虎一跃,举着铁杖朝他打将过来。他手足同时运用,目的在于充分利用向下跳跃的势头,使这一击更为有力。然而,眼明手快的昆丁却往旁边一闪,使这万一打中必然致命的一击落了个空。 两人就像狼和猎狼犬那样打得难解难分;各自的伙伴只是站在一边观战,因为巴拉弗雷大声要求双方要公平地进行这场决斗。他补充说道:“即使他是像华莱士那样的一条硬汉,我也敢让我外甥和他拼个输赢。” 这位有经验的武士对他外甥的信心并非毫无根据。因为尽管那绝望的匪首挥着的铁杖就像铁锤打在铁砧上那么有力,但那年轻射手迅速的动作和娴熟的剑术却使他既能避开他的打击,又能以其悄然无声但更为致命的利剑向对手进行频繁有效的还击;对手虽然力大如牛,但也开始感到疲乏,难于应付。这时他所站的地方已成了一滩血泊。尽管如此,“阿登内斯野猪”的勇气和怒气仍然未曾稍减,继续以一开始时的那种气势顽强战斗。昆丁的胜利颇堪虞虑,看来还不是近在眼前。而这时他身后有个妇女忽然叫着他的名字呼喊道:“看在圣母分上,救命!救命!” 他转过头来一望,一眼看出是格特鲁德•巴维翁。她的衣衫已被撕得袒胸露臂,一个法国兵硬拖着她往前走。原来这是闯进附近教堂的散兵抢劫在教堂避难的惊恐的妇女,充当他们的战利品。 “稍停一下。”昆丁对德拉马克喊道,接着便跳到她面前,想帮他过去的女思人摆脱十分危险的处境。 “恕不奉陪。”德拉马克说道,一边挥舞着他的铁杖,准备打退堂鼓——显然他很乐意摆脱这样一个可畏的敌人。 “请原谅,你得奉陪我一下,”巴拉弗雷说道,“我可不愿让我外甥落个空。”说罢他便抡起大刀向德拉马克砍去。 跑去援救格特鲁德的昆丁很快发现这个任务不是一下子完成得了的。劫持她的那个大兵在其同伙支持下,拒绝放弃他的战利品。达威特在一两个同胞的帮助下尽力迫使他就范。与此同时他却只得眼睁睁地看着命运之神为他的幸福提供的机会从他手上溜走。当格特鲁德终于获得自由时,只有他们两人站在街上,附近已空无一人。他全然忘记了他这位同伴孤独无助的处境,正想像猎犬跟踪野鹿那样跑去追逐“阿登内斯野猪”,那姑娘却拉住他喊道:“看在你娘的分上,别把我一个人扔在这儿!你是个绅士,请护送我回到我父亲那儿。他也曾掩护过你和伊莎贝尔小姐!看在她的分上千万别把我扔下不管!” 她的呼吁催人泪下,且难以回绝。昆丁只好带着难以言说的诀别似的痛苦,放弃那曾经激励他奋战一整日、一度已接近成功的美好希望,像精灵勉强服从无法抗拒的符咒似的,护送格特鲁德来到巴维翁家。他来得正是时候,这行会主席和他的家庭正遭受乱兵蹂躏,因而得到了昆丁的及时保护。 这时路易王和勃艮第公爵已骑着马通过一个城墙缺口进入城内。他们两人都全副盔甲。公爵从头上的羽饰到脚上的马刺全都沾满了鲜血。他狠狠地鞭策着战马跃上城墙缺口,而路易王则以率领游行队伍的庄严气派登上城墙缺口。两位君王一进城便下令停止已蔓延开来的抢劫,并把分散的队伍聚集拢来。然后他们亲往大教堂,保护在那儿避难的显要人物,并在接受隆重的弥撒之后举行某种类似作战会议的集会。 克劳福德大公也像和他地位相同的其他军官一样,正在忙于聚集分散的人马。他在一条通往马埃斯河的街道转角处碰到巴拉弗雷正在悠然自得地往河边走去,就像猎人提着一只打死的禽鸟那样,若无其事地提着一个血淋淋的人头。 “这是怎么回事,卢德维克?”他的队长问道,“你提着那个死人头干什么?” “这是我外甥干出了轮廓,接近完成的一个活计。我把剩下来的一点小事最后料理一下,”巴拉弗雷说道,“被我打发掉的那个家伙是个好样的。他求我把他的头扔进马埃斯河——被阎王爷抓住的时候,人都会产生一些怪念头;不过阎王爷早晚会叫我们大伙都跳得欢的。” “你打算把那个人头扔进马埃斯河吗?”克劳福德仔细端详了那可怕的死人头之后说道。 “是的,我正打算这么做,”卢德维克•莱斯利说道,“如果你拒绝一个临死的人提出的要求,他的鬼魂就会缠住你不放,而我希望晚上能安安稳稳地睡觉。” “伙计,你应该在这个死鬼上碰碰你的运气,”克劳福德说道,“凭良心说,这个人头比你原先想的更有名堂。跟我来——别多啰嗦——快跟我来。” “既然如此,”巴拉弗雷说道,“我得说我并没有对他许过愿。说实在的,早在他嘀咕完毕以前,我就把他的头砍了下来。既然他活着我都不怕他,图尔的圣马丁在上,他死了我自然更不怕他。再说,我的小伙计——圣马丁教堂一位可爱的神父也会给我一罐圣水,来洗清我可能有的罪过。” 当列日的天主教大教堂做完了隆重的弥撒,这经历了战乱的城市也一定程度上恢复了秩序,路易和查尔斯出席了贵族们论功行赏的会议,开始聆听他们各自的汇报。他们最先听取的是针对克罗伊埃伯爵封地及其美丽的女主人提出的要求。然而,使得许多要求者大为失望的是,虽然他们原以为自己满有把握获得这一高贵的奖赏,但他们各自提出的证据似乎都有令人怀疑和迷惑的地方。克雷维格显示出来的是德拉马克通常披的一块野猪皮,杜诺瓦拿出来的是刻有其纹章的、打破了的盾牌。另一些人也都拿出类似的证据,认为自己为除掉杀害主教的凶手立了大功——这是由于为夺得德拉马克的首级所悬的巨赏使得许多跟这匪首相像的人全都成了牺牲品。 看到竞争者争吵不休,查尔斯不禁暗自后悔,不该作出那个轻率的许诺,致使作为其藩属的一位美丽小姐的婚姻和财产成了赌博的对象。但他还是指望能想出办法来回避和应付报功者互相冲突的请赏要求。这时克劳福德正好拽着巴拉弗雷匆匆忙忙地走到了在座的人们中间。那羞怯发窘的老兵像一只被套住的猎犬似的勉强跟在他后面。老队长大声说道:“你们这些野猪蹄、野猪皮和花花绿绿的铁片都靠边站吧!只有宰了野猪的人才拿得出野猪的獠牙!” 说罢他把那血淋淋的人头往地上一扔。人们很容易就认出这是德拉马克的首级,因为凡是见过他的人都能马上辨别出他那的确颇像野猪的、与众不同的嘴部形状。 “克劳福德,”路易看到查尔斯惊奇而又郁闷地默默坐着,便开口说道,“我想,这是我一个忠实的苏格兰卫士赢得了奖赏?” “陛下,是我们称呼为巴拉弗雷的卢德维克•莱斯利。”那年老的将军说道。 “他是贵族吗?”公爵问道,“他出身高贵吗?要不,我的诺言就不生效。” “他看起来固然是个粗糙难看的货色,”克劳福德望着高大笨拙面带窘色的苏格兰射手说道,“但我可以保证,尽管如此,按其宗谱他却属于罗德斯家族——这个家族之高贵可与法国和勃艮第的任何家族相比。因为在谈到其始祖时传说唱道: “在莱斯利和摩尔之间, 他杀了那巨人骑士,把他扔在路边。” “那就只好如此了,”公爵说道,“勃艮第最美丽最富有的封地女继承人得嫁给这样一个粗鲁的雇佣兵,要不就得老死于女修道院——何况她还是我忠实的雷诺尔德•德•克罗伊埃惟一的遗孤——真是怪我做事太轻率。” 看到他额上笼罩着一片愁云,在座的贵族们都感到惊异,因为一旦他作出决定,他们很少见到他对这决定将必然产生的后果有过任何遗憾的表示。 “请稍等一下,”克劳福德大公说道,“事情也许并不像殿下所想的那么糟。这位骑士有话要说,请听听他想说什么吧——伙计,你就大胆地讲好了。”他对巴拉弗雷又悄悄说了一句。 这位粗犷的武士虽在路易工面前已习惯于那种随便的态度,能在他面前清楚地表达自己的思想,但此刻在这样一些豪华的显贵们面前却感到无法表明自己的决心。他转过身来对着两位君王,开口之前先粗里粗气地憨笑了一声,面孔难看地扭曲了两下,结果也只能说出“桑德斯•苏卜勒乔”这几个字——接着就张口结舌,不知如何说下去。 “请陛下和殿下赏恩,”克劳福德说道,“让我代替我这个同胞和老战友说几句。我想告诉两位君王的是,他故乡有位算命的人曾向他预言,他的家族将通过婚姻发迹。但他也像我一样