Far in a wild, unknown to public view, From youth to age a reverend hermit1 grew; The moss2 his bed, the cave his humble3 cell, His food the fruits, his drink the crystal well Remote from man, with God he pass'd his days, Prayer all his business---all his pleasure praise. Parnell
The reader cannot have forgotten that the event of the tournament was decided4 by the exertions5 of an unknown knight6, whom, on account of the passive and indifferent conduct which he had manifested on the former part of the day, the spectators had entitled, "Le Noir Faineant". This knight had left the field abruptly7 when the victory was achieved; and when he was called upon to receive the reward of his valour, he was nowhere to be found. In the meantime, while summoned by heralds8 and by trumpets9, the knight was holding his course northward10, avoiding all frequented paths, and taking the shortest road through the woodlands. He paused for the night at a small hostelry lying out of the ordinary route, where, however, he obtained from a wandering minstrel news of the event of the tourney.
On the next morning the knight departed early, with the intention of making a long journey; the condition of his horse, which he had carefully spared during the preceding morning, being such as enabled him to travel far without the necessity of much repose11. Yet his purpose was baffled by the devious12 paths through which he rode, so that when evening closed upon him, he only found himself on the frontiers of the West Riding of Yorkshire. By this time both horse and man required refreshment13, and it became necessary, moreover, to look out for some place in which they might spend the night, which was now fast approaching.
The place where the traveller found himself seemed unpropitious for obtaining either shelter or refreshment, and he was likely to be reduced to the usual expedient14 of knights-errant, who, on such occasions, turned their horses to graze, and laid themselves down to meditate15 on their lady-mistress, with an oak-tree for a canopy16. But the Black Knight either had no mistress to meditate upon, or, being as indifferent in love as he seemed to be in war, was not sufficiently17 occupied by passionate18 reflections upon her beauty and cruelty, to be able to parry the effects of fatigue19 and hunger, and suffer love to act as a substitute for the solid comforts of a bed and supper. He felt dissatisfied, therefore, when, looking around, he found himself deeply involved in woods, through which indeed there were many open glades20, and some paths, but such as seemed only formed by the numerous herds22 of cattle which grazed in the forest, or by the animals of chase, and the hunters who made prey23 of them.
The sun, by which the knight had chiefly directed his course, had now sunk behind the Derbyshire hills on his left, and every effort which he might make to pursue his journey was as likely to lead him out of his road as to advance him on his route. After having in vain endeavoured to select the most beaten path, in hopes it might lead to the cottage of some herdsman, or the silvan lodge24 of a forester, and having repeatedly found himself totally unable to determine on a choice, the knight resolved to trust to the sagacity of his horse; experience having, on former occasions, made him acquainted with the wonderful talent possessed25 by these animals for extricating26 themselves and their riders on such emergencies.
The good steed, grievously fatigued27 with so long a day's journey under a rider cased in mail, had no sooner found, by the slackened reins28, that he was abandoned to his own guidance, than he seemed to assume new strength and spirit; and whereas, formerly29 he had scarce replied to the spur, otherwise than by a groan30, he now, as if proud of the confidence reposed31 in him, pricked32 up his ears, and assumed, of his own accord, a more lively motion. The path which the animal adopted rather turned off from the course pursued by the knight during the day; but as the horse seemed confident in his choice, the rider abandoned himself to his discretion33.
He was justified34 by the event; for the footpath35 soon after appeared a little wider and more worn, and the tinkle36 of a small bell gave the knight to understand that he was in the vicinity of some chapel37 or hermitage.
Accordingly, he soon reached an open plat of turf, on the opposite side of which, a rock, rising abruptly from a gently sloping plain, offered its grey and weatherbeaten front to the traveller. Ivy38 mantled40 its sides in some places, and in others oaks and holly41 bushes, whose roots found nourishment42 in the cliffs of the crag, waved over the precipices43 below, like the plumage of the warrior44 over his steel helmet, giving grace to that whose chief expression was terror. At the bottom of the rock, and leaning, as it were, against it, was constructed a rude hut, built chiefly of the trunks of trees felled in the neighbouring forest, and secured against the weather by having its crevices45 stuffed with moss mingled46 with clay. The stem of a young fir-tree lopped of its branches, with a piece of wood tied across near the top, was planted upright by the door, as a rude emblem47 of the holy cross. At a little distance on the right hand, a fountain of the purest water trickled48 out of the rock, and was received in a hollow stone, which labour had formed into a rustic49 basin. Escaping from thence, the stream murmured down the descent by a channel which its course had long worn, and so wandered through the little plain to lose itself in the neighbouring wood.
Beside this fountain were the ruins of a very small chapel, of which the roof had partly fallen in. The building, when entire, had never been above sixteen feet long by twelve feet in breadth, and the roof, low in proportion, rested upon four concentric arches which sprung from the four corners of the building, each supported upon a short and heavy pillar. The ribs50 of two of these arches remained, though the roof had fallen down betwixt them; over the others it remained entire. The entrance to this ancient place of devotion was under a very low round arch, ornamented51 by several courses of that zig-zag moulding, resembling shark's teeth, which appears so often in the more ancient Saxon architecture. A belfry rose above the porch on four small pillars, within which hung the green and weatherbeaten bell, the feeble sounds of which had been some time before heard by the Black Knight.
The whole peaceful and quiet scene lay glimmering52 in twilight53 before the eyes of the traveller, giving him good assurance of lodging54 for the night; since it was a special duty of those hermits55 who dwelt in the woods, to exercise hospitality towards benighted56 or bewildered passengers.
Accordingly, the knight took no time to consider minutely the particulars which we have detailed57, but thanking Saint Julian (the patron of travellers) who had sent him good harbourage, he leaped from his horse and assailed58 the door of the hermitage with the butt59 of his lance, in order to arouse attention and gain admittance.
It was some time before he obtained any answer, and the reply, when made, was unpropitious.
"Pass on, whosoever thou art," was the answer given by a deep hoarse60 voice from within the hut, "and disturb not the servant of God and St Dunstan in his evening devotions."
"Worthy61 father," answered the knight, "here is a poor wanderer bewildered in these woods, who gives thee the opportunity of exercising thy charity and hospitality."
"Good brother," replied the inhabitant of the hermitage, "it has pleased Our Lady and St Dunstan to destine me for the object of those virtues62, instead of the exercise thereof. I have no provisions here which even a dog would share with me, and a horse of any tenderness of nurture63 would despise my couch---pass therefore on thy way, and God speed thee."
"But how," replied the knight, "is it possible for me to find my way through such a wood as this, when darkness is coming on? I pray you, reverend father as you are a Christian64, to undo65 your door, and at least point out to me my road."
"And I pray you, good Christian brother," replied the anchorite, "to disturb me no more. You have already interrupted one 'pater', two 'aves', and a 'credo', which I, miserable66 sinner that I am, should, according to my vow67, have said before moonrise."
"The road---the road!" vociferated the knight, "give me directions for the road, if I am to expect no more from thee."
"The road," replied the hermit, "is easy to hit. The path from the wood leads to a morass68, and from thence to a ford69, which, as the rains have abated70, may now be passable. When thou hast crossed the ford, thou wilt71 take care of thy footing up the left bank, as it is somewhat precipitous; and the path, which hangs over the river, has lately, as I learn, (for I seldom leave the duties of my chapel,) given way in sundry72 places. Thou wilt then keep straight forward-----"
"A broken path---a precipice---a ford, and a morass!" said the knight interrupting him,---"Sir Hermit, if you were the holiest that ever wore beard or told bead73, you shall scarce prevail on me to hold this road to-night. I tell thee, that thou, who livest by the charity of the country---ill deserved, as I doubt it is ---hast no right to refuse shelter to the wayfarer74 when in distress75. Either open the door quickly, or, by the rood, I will beat it down and make entry for myself."
"Friend wayfarer," replied the hermit, "be not importunate76; if thou puttest me to use the carnal weapon in mine own defence, it will be e'en the worse for you."
At this moment a distant noise of barking and growling77, which the traveller had for some time heard, became extremely loud and furious, and made the knight suppose that the hermit, alarmed by his threat of making forcible entry, had called the dogs who made this clamour to aid him in his defence, out of some inner recess78 in which they had been kennelled. Incensed79 at this preparation on the hermit's part for making good his inhospitable purpose, the knight struck the door so furiously with his foot, that posts as well as staples80 shook with violence.
The anchorite, not caring again to expose his door to a similar shock, now called out aloud, "Patience, patience---spare thy strength, good traveller, and I will presently undo the door, though, it may be, my doing so will be little to thy pleasure."
The door accordingly was opened; and the hermit, a large, strong-built man, in his sackcloth gown and hood81, girt with a rope of rushes, stood before the knight. He had in one hand a lighted torch, or link, and in the other a baton82 of crab-tree, so thick and heavy, that it might well be termed a club. Two large shaggy dogs, half greyhound half mastiff, stood ready to rush upon the traveller as soon as the door should be opened. But when the torch glanced upon the lofty crest83 and golden spurs of the knight, who stood without, the hermit, altering probably his original intentions, repressed the rage of his auxiliaries84, and, changing his tone to a sort of churlish courtesy, invited the knight to enter his hut, making excuse for his unwillingness85 to open his lodge after sunset, by alleging86 the multitude of robbers and outlaws87 who were abroad, and who gave no honour to Our Lady or St Dunstan, nor to those holy men who spent life in their service.
"The poverty of your cell, good father," said the knight, looking around him, and seeing nothing but a bed of leaves, a crucifix rudely carved in oak, a missal, with a rough-hewn table and two stools, and one or two clumsy articles of furniture---"the poverty of your cell should seem a sufficient defence against any risk of thieves, not to mention the aid of two trusty dogs, large and strong enough, I think, to pull down a stag, and of course, to match with most men."
"The good keeper of the forest," said the hermit, "hath allowed me the use of these animals, to protect my solitude88 until the times shall mend."
Having said this, he fixed89 his torch in a twisted branch of iron which served for a candlestick; and, placing the oaken trivet before the embers of the fire, which he refreshed with some dry wood, he placed a stool upon one side of the table, and beckoned90 to the knight to do the same upon the other.
They sat down, and gazed with great gravity at each other, each thinking in his heart that he had seldom seen a stronger or more athletic91 figure than was placed opposite to him.
"Reverend hermit," said the knight, after looking long and fixedly92 at his host, "were it not to interrupt your devout93 meditations94, I would pray to know three things of your holiness; first, where I am to put my horse?---secondly, what I can have for supper?---thirdly, where I am to take up my couch for the night?"
"I will reply to you," said the hermit, "with my finger, it being against my rule to speak by words where signs can answer the purpose." So saying, he pointed95 successively to two corners of the hut. "Your stable," said he, "is there---your bed there; and," reaching down a platter with two handfuls of parched96 pease upon it from the neighbouring shelf, and placing it upon the table, he added, "your supper is here."
The knight shrugged97 his shoulders, and leaving the hut, brought in his horse, (which in the interim98 he had fastened to a tree,) unsaddled him with much attention, and spread upon the steed's weary back his own mantle39.
The hermit was apparently99 somewhat moved to compassion100 by the anxiety as well as address which the stranger displayed in tending his horse; for, muttering something about provender102 left for the keeper's palfrey, he dragged out of a recess a bundle of forage103, which he spread before the knight's charger, and immediately afterwards shook down a quantity of dried fern in the corner which he had assigned for the rider's couch. The knight returned him thanks for his courtesy; and, this duty done, both resumed their seats by the table, whereon stood the trencher of pease placed between them. The hermit, after a long grace, which had once been Latin, but of which original language few traces remained, excepting here and there the long rolling termination of some word or phrase, set example to his guest, by modestly putting into a very large mouth, furnished with teeth which might have ranked with those of a boar both in sharpness and whiteness, some three or four dried pease, a miserable grist as it seemed for so large and able a mill.
The knight, in order to follow so laudable an example, laid aside his helmet, his corslet, and the greater part of his armour105, and showed to the hermit a head thick-curled with yellow hair, high features, blue eyes, remarkably106 bright and sparkling, a mouth well formed, having an upper lip clothed with mustachoes darker than his hair, and bearing altogether the look of a bold, daring, and enterprising man, with which his strong form well corresponded.
The hermit, as if wishing to answer to the confidence of his guest, threw back his cowl, and showed a round bullet head belonging to a man in the prime of life. His close-shaven crown, surrounded by a circle of stiff curled black hair, had something the appearance of a parish pinfold begirt by its high hedge. The features expressed nothing of monastic austerity, or of ascetic107 privations; on the contrary, it was a bold bluff108 countenance109, with broad black eyebrows110, a well-turned forehead, and cheeks as round and vermilion as those of a trumpeter, from which descended111 a long and curly black beard. Such a visage, joined to the brawny112 form of the holy man, spoke113 rather of sirloins and haunches, than of pease and pulse. This incongruity114 did not escape the guest. After he had with great difficulty accomplished115 the mastication116 of a mouthful of the dried pease, he found it absolutely necessary to request his pious117 entertainer to furnish him with some liquor; who replied to his request by placing before him a large can of the purest water from the fountain.
"It is from the well of St Dunstan," said he, "in which, betwixt sun and sun, he baptized five hundred heathen Danes and Britons ---blessed be his name!" And applying his black beard to the pitcher118, he took a draught119 much more moderate in quantity than his encomium120 seemed to warrant.
"It seems to me, reverend father," said the knight, "that the small morsels121 which you eat, together with this holy, but somewhat thin beverage122, have thriven with you marvellously. You appear a man more fit to win the ram124 at a wrestling match, or the ring at a bout101 at quarter-staff, or the bucklers at a sword-play, than to linger out your time in this desolate126 wilderness127, saying masses, and living upon parched pease and cold water."
"Sir Knight," answered the hermit, "your thoughts, like those of the ignorant laity128, are according to the flesh. It has pleased Our Lady and my patron saint to bless the pittance129 to which I restrain myself, even as the pulse and water was blessed to the children Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, who drank the same rather than defile130 themselves with the wine and meats which were appointed them by the King of the Saracens."
"Holy father," said the knight, "upon whose countenance it hath pleased Heaven to work such a miracle, permit a sinful layman131 to crave132 thy name?"
"Thou mayst call me," answered the hermit, "the Clerk of Copmanhurst, for so I am termed in these parts---They add, it is true, the epithet133 holy, but I stand not upon that, as being unworthy of such addition.---And now, valiant134 knight, may I pray ye for the name of my honourable135 guest?"
"Truly," said the knight, "Holy Clerk of Copmanhurst, men call me in these parts the Black Knight,---many, sir, add to it the epithet of Sluggard136, whereby I am no way ambitious to be distinguished137."
The hermit could scarcely forbear from smiling at his guest's reply.
"I see," said he, "Sir Sluggish138 Knight, that thou art a man of prudence139 and of counsel; and moreover, I see that my poor monastic fare likes thee not, accustomed, perhaps, as thou hast been, to the license140 of courts and of camps, and the luxuries of cities; and now I bethink me, Sir Sluggard, that when the charitable keeper of this forest-walk left those dogs for my protection, and also those bundles of forage, he left me also some food, which, being unfit for my use, the very recollection of it had escaped me amid my more weighty meditations."
"I dare be sworn he did so," said the knight; "I was convinced that there was better food in the cell, Holy Clerk, since you first doffed141 your cowl.---Your keeper is ever a jovial142 fellow; and none who beheld143 thy grinders contending with these pease, and thy throat flooded with this ungenial element, could see thee doomed144 to such horse-provender and horse-beverage," (pointing to the provisions upon the table,) "and refrain from mending thy cheer. Let us see the keeper's bounty145, therefore, without delay."
The hermit cast a wistful look upon the knight, in which there was a sort of comic expression of hesitation146, as if uncertain how far he should act prudently147 in trusting his guest. There was, however, as much of bold frankness in the knight's countenance as was possible to be expressed by features. His smile, too, had something in it irresistibly148 comic, and gave an assurance of faith and loyalty149, with which his host could not refrain from sympathizing.
After exchanging a mute glance or two, the hermit went to the further side of the hut, and opened a hutch, which was concealed150 with great care and some ingenuity151. Out of the recesses152 of a dark closet, into which this aperture153 gave admittance, he brought a large pasty, baked in a pewter platter of unusual dimensions. This mighty154 dish he placed before his guest, who, using his poniard to cut it open, lost no time in making himself acquainted with its contents.
"How long is it since the good keeper has been here?" said the knight to his host, after having swallowed several hasty morsels of this reinforcement to the hermit's good cheer.
"About two months," answered the father hastily.
"By the true Lord," answered the knight, "every thing in your hermitage is miraculous155, Holy Clerk! for I would have been sworn that the fat buck125 which furnished this venison had been running on foot within the week."
The hermit was somewhat discountenanced by this observation; and, moreover, he made but a poor figure while gazing on the diminution156 of the pasty, on which his guest was making desperate inroads; a warfare157 in which his previous profession of abstinence left him no pretext158 for joining.
"I have been in Palestine, Sir Clerk," said the knight, stopping short of a sudden, "and I bethink me it is a custom there that every host who entertains a guest shall assure him of the wholesomeness159 of his food, by partaking of it along with him. Far be it from me to suspect so holy a man of aught inhospitable; nevertheless I will be highly bound to you would you comply with this Eastern custom."
"To ease your unnecessary scruples160, Sir Knight, I will for once depart from my rule," replied the hermit. And as there were no forks in those days, his clutches were instantly in the bowels162 of the pasty.
The ice of ceremony being once broken, it seemed matter of rivalry163 between the guest and the entertainer which should display the best appetite; and although the former had probably fasted longest, yet the hermit fairly surpassed him.
"Holy Clerk," said the knight, when his hunger was appeased164, "I would gage165 my good horse yonder against a zecchin, that that same honest keeper to whom we are obliged for the venison has left thee a stoup of wine, or a runlet of canary, or some such trifle, by way of ally to this noble pasty. This would be a circumstance, doubtless, totally unworthy to dwell in the memory of so rigid166 an anchorite; yet, I think, were you to search yonder crypt once more, you would find that I am right in my conjecture167."
The hermit only replied by a grin; and returning to the hutch, he produced a leathern bottle, which might contain about four quarts. He also brought forth168 two large drinking cups, made out of the horn of the urus, and hooped169 with silver. Having made this goodly provision for washing down the supper, he seemed to think no farther ceremonious scruple161 necessary on his part; but filling both cups, and saying, in the Saxon fashion, "'Waes hael', Sir Sluggish Knight!" he emptied his own at a draught.
"'Drink hael', Holy Clerk of Copmanhurst!" answered the warrior, and did his host reason in a similar brimmer.
"Holy Clerk," said the stranger, after the first cup was thus swallowed, "I cannot but marvel123 that a man possessed of such thews and sinews as thine, and who therewithal shows the talent of so goodly a trencher-man, should think of abiding170 by himself in this wilderness. In my judgment171, you are fitter to keep a castle or a fort, eating of the fat and drinking of the strong, than to live here upon pulse and water, or even upon the charity of the keeper. At least, were I as thou, I should find myself both disport172 and plenty out of the king's deer. There is many a goodly herd21 in these forests, and a buck will never be missed that goes to the use of Saint Dunstan's chaplain."
"Sir Sluggish Knight," replied the Clerk, "these are dangerous words, and I pray you to forbear them. I am true hermit to the king and law, and were I to spoil my liege's game, I should be sure of the prison, and, an my gown saved me not, were in some peril173 of hanging."
"Nevertheless, were I as thou," said the knight, "I would take my walk by moonlight, when foresters and keepers were warm in bed, and ever and anon,---as I pattered my prayers,---I would let fly a shaft174 among the herds of dun deer that feed in the glades --Resolve me, Holy Clerk, hast thou never practised such a pastime?"
"Friend Sluggard," answered the hermit, "thou hast seen all that can concern thee of my housekeeping, and something more than he deserves who takes up his quarters by violence. Credit me, it is better to enjoy the good which God sends thee, than to be impertinently curious how it comes. Fill thy cup, and welcome; and do not, I pray thee, by further impertinent enquiries, put me to show that thou couldst hardly have made good thy lodging had I been earnest to oppose thee."
"By my faith," said the knight, "thou makest me more curious than ever! Thou art the most mysterious hermit I ever met; and I will know more of thee ere we part. As for thy threats, know, holy man, thou speakest to one whose trade it is to find out danger wherever it is to be met with."
"Sir Sluggish Knight, I drink to thee," said the hermit; "respecting thy valour much, but deeming wondrous175 slightly of thy discretion. If thou wilt take equal arms with me, I will give thee, in all friendship and brotherly love, such sufficing penance176 and complete absolution, that thou shalt not for the next twelve months sin the sin of excess of curiosity."
The knight pledged him, and desired him to name his weapons.
"There is none," replied the hermit, "from the scissors of Delilah, and the tenpenny nail of Jael, to the scimitar of Goliath, at which I am not a match for thee---But, if I am to make the election, what sayst thou, good friend, to these trinkets?"
Thus speaking, he opened another hutch, and took out from it a couple of broadswords and bucklers, such as were used by the yeomanry of the period. The knight, who watched his motions, observed that this second place of concealment177 was furnished with two or three good long-bows, a cross-bow, a bundle of bolts for the latter, and half-a-dozen sheaves of arrows for the former. A harp104, and other matters of a very uncanonical appearance, were also visible when this dark recess was opened.
"I promise thee, brother Clerk," said he, "I will ask thee no more offensive questions. The contents of that cupboard are an answer to all my enquiries; and I see a weapon there" (here he stooped and took out the harp) "on which I would more gladly prove my skill with thee, than at the sword and buckler."
"I hope, Sir Knight," said the hermit, "thou hast given no good reason for thy surname of the Sluggard. I do promise thee I suspect thee grievously. Nevertheless, thou art my guest, and I will not put thy manhood to the proof without thine own free will. Sit thee down, then, and fill thy cup; let us drink, sing, and be merry. If thou knowest ever a good lay, thou shalt be welcome to a nook of pasty at Copmanhurst so long as I serve the chapel of St Dunstan, which, please God, shall be till I change my grey covering for one of green turf. But come, fill a flagon, for it will crave some time to tune178 the harp; and nought179 pitches the voice and sharpens the ear like a cup of wine. For my part, I love to feel the grape at my very finger-ends before they make the harp-strings tinkle."*
* The Jolly Hermit.---All readers, however slightly * acquainted with black letter, must recognise in the Clerk * of Copmanhurst, Friar Tuck, the buxom180 Confessor of Robin181 * Hood's gang, the Curtal Friar of Fountain's Abbey.
在遥远的荒原上与世隔绝的地方，
一位隐士从年轻生活到了年老；
苔藓是他的床铺，洞穴是他的居室，
鲜果是他的食物，清泉是他的饮料，
他远离人间，却与上帝终日作伴，
他的生活是祈祷，他的欢乐便是赞美。
帕内尔
读者想必还没忘记，那天的比武是靠一个无人知晓的骑士的出马，决定胜负的；由于那天的前一段时间，这个骑士的举止一直显得没精打采，随随便便，观众便送了他一个外号：黑甲懒汉。(注)但是他取得胜利后，便突然从场子里消失了，当大家要为他的英勇向他授奖时，他已不知去向。其实就在典礼官千呼万唤找他，号角一遍遍吹响时，他早已循着人迹罕至的小径，穿过森林中最近的道路，向北疾驰而去。当天他是在远离大路的一家小客栈中过的夜，也是在那里，他从一个流浪的行吟诗人口中知道了比武的结果。
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(注)这里写的黑甲骑士便是狮心正理查（1157—1199）。他于工189年继亨利二世之后登基，但不久即率领十字军东征，1194年回国后又立即奔赴诺曼底，与法王腓力二世进行了五年战争，最后在利摩日附近中箭身亡。因此在政治上他毫无政绩可言，然而由于他骁勇善战，表现了高尚的骑士风度，因而深得人心，成了英国民间传说中的英雄人物。司各特在这里所写的，便是这样一个带有传奇色彩的人物。
第二天一早，骑士便动身了，打算这一天多赶些路。从清早起他就留心，不让他的马累着，希望它经得起长途跋涉，不必多作休息。然而他经过的都是崎岖曲折的小径，结果事与愿违，在夜幕降临时，他还刚到达约克郡的西区边睡。这时人和马都已饥肠辘辘，而且夜色逐渐加深，眼看必须找个住宿的地方了。
可是旅人发现这一带满目荒凉，既不能找到宿处，也不能找到饮食，似乎唯一的办法，便是照漫游的骑士通常采取的权宜之计行事，那就是让马在地上吃草，自己则把一棵株树当作床帐，蜷缩在它下面，用想念自己心目中的情人来打发时间。但是黑甲骑士也许没有情人供他想念，或者他对爱情也像对比武一样不以为意，热烈的感情不能占有他，对她的美貌和残忍的回忆，也不足以抵挡疲劳和饥饿的压力，使爱情成为床铺和晚餐之类物质享受的代替品。因此他闷闷不乐，举目四望，只见周围尽是参天古木，虽然有许多林间空地和几条羊肠小道，看来只是成群的牛羊经常来这里吃草，或者猎人不时在这一带追逐猎物留下的痕迹。
这位骑士主要得靠太阳辨别方向，可是现在它已落到他左边的德比郡山脉后面，他继续赶路的任何努力，既可能使他找到路径，同样也可能使他迷失方向。他竭力想选择一条人迹最多的道路，希望它能通往一间牧人的小屋。或者一个护林人的住所。可是怎么也不能决定选哪一条，最后他只得放弃这种努力，让他的马凭它的灵性行动；根据他从前的经验，他知道这些牲口具有特异功能，会在这类紧急关头，为它们自己和骑它们的人找到出路。
这匹马载着这位全身披挂的骑士，已奔波了一整天，觉得筋疲力尽了，但这是匹好马，一旦发现缰绳放松，主人要它自己充当向导时，立刻振作精神，有了力气。以前它对踢马刺大多没有反应，只是哼几声，现在主人的信任似乎令它感到自豪，它竖起耳朵，主动恢复了活跃的姿态。它选择了一条小径，这与骑士白天走的路线并不一致，但这牲口似乎对自己的选择充满信心，于是骑马的人不再约束它，听任它自由行动。
事实证明它是对的，因为那条小径不久便宽了一些，足印也多了，还可以听到小钟楼传来的一阵阵叮当声，这一切让骑士明白，他已来到一个小教堂或隐修所的附近。
这样，不多一会他便看到了一片空旷的草坪，它对面有一大块岩石矗立在缓缓倾斜的平地上，把它饱经风霜的灰色岩壁呈现在旅人面前。它的边上有的地方缠络着常春藤，有的地方生长着一些栎木和冬青树丛，它们的根是从山崖峭壁的间隙中吸取营养的；这些树木在崖顶随风飘拂，像武士钢盔上的羽饰，可以给他的一脸杀气增添一些柔和的色彩。岩石底部有一所简陋的小屋，它仿佛紧靠在岩壁上，主要是由附近森林中砍伐的一些粗大树干建成；为了阻挡风雨，它的隙缝中塞满了青苔和泥土。一棵小小的冷杉砍光了枝权，靠近顶端横缚着一根木棒，直立在门口，这便算是十字架的神圣象征。右首不远处，有一泓清澈透明的泉水，从山岩间瀑瀑流出，滴进一个石潭中，时间久了，石潭变成了一只粗糙的水盂。从那里溢出的水，又沿着一条磨光的小沟泊泪流下，在小小的平地上徘徊一会之后，消失在附近的树林中。
这泉水旁边便是一所极小的教堂，它破败不堪，屋顶已塌陷了一部分。在完好的时候，整个建筑也不过十六英尺长，十二英尺宽，屋顶也相应较矮，由房屋四角升起的四个同心拱架支撑，拱架下是又矮又粗的柱子。两个拱架的助拱还保留着，然而它们之间的屋顶下沉了，得靠另两个完整的拱架支持。这个古老的祈祷场所的门上，有一个非常矮的半圆拱顶，上面雕着几道之字形花纹，有些像鲨鱼的牙齿，这在撒克逊人的古代建筑中是屡见不鲜的。门前的走廊上有一个架在四根小柱子上的钟塔，里边挂着一只经过风雨剥蚀已经发绿的钟，刚才黑甲骑士听到的隐隐钟声，便来自那里。
这一幅和平宁静的画面，从苍茫暮色中出现在旅人眼前，使他终于有恃无恐，觉得已找到了过夜的地方，因为接待过往行人或迷路的客商，是这些居住在森林中的隐士义不容辞的责任。
现在这位骑士无心浪费时间，仔细观赏我们描写的这些景物，只是一边感谢旅人的保护神圣朱利安及时指点了他一个宿处，一边便跳下马背，用他的枪柄叩击隐修所的大门，让屋内的人赶快放他进去。
但是过了老大一会才有人答应，听那口气，似乎对他还不太欢迎。
“走吧，不论你是谁，”屋里一个深沉嘶哑的声音这么回答，“别打搅上帝和圣邓斯坦的仆人，他正在做晚祷呢。”
“尊敬的神父，”骑士答道，“有一个可怜的出门人在树林中迷了路，需要投宿，这正是你发挥恻隐之心，行善积德的机会啊。”
“好兄弟，”隐修所的主人答道，“圣母和圣邓斯坦注定我只是一个接受这些善行的人，不是实施它们的人。我没有多余的食物，连一只狗也养不活；我住的地方，一匹养尊处优的马也不屑一顾。你还是走你的路吧，上帝会保佑你的。”
“可是天越来越黑了，在这样的森林里，我怎么找得到路呢？”骑士答道。“尊敬的神父，你既然是一个基督徒，我求你打开门，至少向我指点一条路也好呀。”
“可是我也得求你，好兄弟，别再打搅我，”隐士回答道。“我还得念一段主祷文，两段万福马利亚和一篇使徒信经呢，这是我这个可怜的罪人发过誓，每天在月亮升起以前必须念完的。”
“快给我指路，给我指路！”骑士拉开嗓门大喊道，“要我不再打搅你，至少你得让我知道该怎么走。”
“路很容易找，”隐士答道，“森林里的这条小路直通一片水草地，从那里过去便是一个浅滩，现在雨停了，正可以渡河。等过了渡口，你登上左岸的时候，得当心一些，那是一片峭壁；紧靠河边的一条路，最近我听说——因为我整天在教堂里祈祷，很少外出——有些地方坍了。然后你径直朝前走……”
“什么，坍陷的路，峭壁，渡口，还有一片沼泽！”骑士说，打断了他的话，“我的隐士，如果你是一个真正的长者，真正的圣徒，你就不该要我在黑夜走这么一条路。老实说，你是靠众人的施舍过活的——不过我看，你实在不配——一个过路人有了困难，你没有权利不让他住宿。你赶快开门，要不然，我起誓，我就把你的门砸破，自己进来。”
“过路的朋友，”隐士答道，“不要无理取闹；如果你把我逼急了，我只得拿起戒刀自卫，叫你吃不了兜着走了。”
刚才骑士已听到断断续续几声狗叫从远处发出，现在这些叫声突然变得又凶又响，于是这位不速之客不由得心想，隐士一定听得他要破门而入的威胁吓坏了，因此从屋后的狗窝里把它们放了出来，让它们制造声势，助他一臂之力。想到隐士为了达到拒绝接待他的目的，竟然动用这些牲畜威吓他，骑士不禁大怒，提起腿使劲踢门，差点把门框和锁环都踢坏了。
隐士不想让自己的大门遭到这样的浩劫，只得大声喊道：“等一下，等一下，节省一点力气，我的好先生，我这就给你开门，不过开了门你不见得便能称心如意。”
这样，门终于开了，站在骑士面前的是一个身材魁梧的大汉，穿一件麻袋布长袍，头上戴着帽兜，腰里束一根草绳。他一只手擎着火把，另一只手握着一根沙果木棒子，它又粗又沉，抵得上一根木棍。两只长毛大狗，那种又像灵提，又像狼犬的东酉，已站在那里，准备等门一开便扑向旅人。但也许是火把照见了站在门外的骑士那顶高高的头盔，那对金踢马刺，隐士改变了原来的打算，压下他那些帮手的气焰，用一种粗鲁丽恭敬的口气请骑士进屋，同时声明他不愿在日落以后开门，是因为那一带到处是强人和盗贼，他们不敬圣母或圣邓斯坦，也不敬把一生献给上帝的人。’
“神父，你穷得一无所有，”骑士说，向周围打量了一眼，发现屋里空空荡荡的，只有一张铺树叶的床，一个雕刻粗劣的十字架，一本祈祷书，一张没刨光的桌子和两只凳子，一两件笨重的家具，“这就足以保证你不受盗贼的侵犯了，何况还有两只可靠的狗作你的护卫，它们都又大又强壮，我想，足以制服一头雄鹿，至于一般的人，那更不在它们话下。”
“那是森林看守人心地好，才允许我在时局平靖以前养两只狗，保护己，”隐士说。
他一边说，一边将火把插在当烛台用的铁架子上，然后把一只栎木三脚架放在炉子前面，又往炉子里加了些干木柴，搬了只凳子到桌边，还招招手，让骑士在另一边的凳上坐下。
两人落座后，都聚精会神瞧着对方，都在心里捉摸，他一生还很少见到像对面的家伙那么健壮、那么魁伟的家伙。
骑士把他的主人端详了好久之后，开口道：“尊敬的隐士，如果不致影响你虔诚的思考，我想请教神父三件事：第一，我的马该拴在哪里？第二，我的晚饭怎么办？第三，我夜里睡在哪里？”
“我不妨用手指回答你，因为凡是可以用手势回答的问题，我一概不使用语言，”隐士说，随即陆续指指两个屋角道：“你的马厩在这儿，你的床铺在那儿，还有，”他从旁边的架子上取下一只盘子，抓两把干豌豆放在盘内，把盘子放在桌上，说道：“这就是你的晚饭。”
骑士耸耸肩膀，走出了小屋，把刚才拴在树上的马解下，牵进屋子，小心翼翼地取下马鞍，把自己的斗篷技在疲乏的战马背上。
隐士看到陌生人这么关心和爱护他的马，显然有些感动，一边喃喃地说，他这里还有一些留给守林人喂马的干草，一边从墙洞里拖出了一捆饲料，撒在骑士的战马面前，接着立刻又在他指定给客人睡觉的墙角，丢下了许多干凤尾草。骑士对他的优待表示了感谢；这一切完成后，两人又在桌边对着一盘豌豆坐下了。隐士开始念感恩祷告，那本来是一段拉丁文，但现在除了在一句话或一个单词的尾部，有时出现一个长长的卷舌音之外，原来的字音已荡然无存。念完祷告，他便向客人以身作则，开始用膳了，那就是张开大嘴巴，露出一口又尖又白，锐利得可以跟野猪相比的牙齿，然后像往一只大磨自中撒谷子似的，把三四粒干豆子不慌不忙地丢进嘴巴。
骑士为了效法这个值得称道的榜样，脱下了头盔、胸甲和大部分销甲，于是隐士看到了一头浓密的浅黄色鬈发，一副英俊的容貌，一对闪闪发光的非常明亮的蓝眼睛，一张端正的嘴巴，嘴唇上覆盖着一层比头发颜色略深的胡髭，整个外表说明这是一个意气风发、精力充沛的勇士，与他强壮的体格完全一致。
隐士仿佛为了报答客人对他的信任，也把风帽推到后面，露出了一个年富力强的人所有的圆圆鼓鼓的脑瓜。他的头顶剃得光光的，周围留了一圈鬈曲坚硬的黑发，整个形状有点像乡下人家的畜栏四周围了一道高高的树篱。他的相貌一点也没有修道士清心寡欲、刻苦修炼的味道，相反，这是一张豪放粗犷的脸，眉毛又浓又黑，脑门方方正正，面颊丰满红润，有些像吹鼓手，又长又黑的虬髯从脸上蜿蜒而下。这么一副容貌，加上结实强壮的身子，倒像是吃惯牛肉猪蹄，而不是靠青豆蔬菜养活的。这种不协调没有逃过客人的眼睛。在好不容易完成了一口干豆子的咀嚼任务之后，他觉得要求那位虔诚的款待者给他一点饮料，已绝对必要，可是后者给他的回答，只是把一罐清澈的泉水端到了他面前。
“这是圣邓斯坦的清泉，”他说，“他曾在日出到日落之间，用这泉水给丹麦和英国的五百个异教徒行过洗礼呢(注)——愿他永垂不朽！”于是他把黑胡髭凑在水罐上，尝了小小一口，这与他对泉水的赞美实在很不相称。
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(注)圣邓斯坦（约925—988）生前是坎特伯雷大主教，死后封为圣徒，被认为是铁匠的保护神。
“尊敬的神父，”骑士说，“但是据我看，你吃的这几颗豆子，加上这虽然神圣、但清淡无味的饮料，居然能让你活得这么健壮，实在不可思议。从外表看，你可以在摔跤比赛中赢得一头公羊，或者在棍棒角力中赢得冠军，或者在剑术表演中取得金牌，却不像在这片荒凉的原野上苦度光阴，只知道念经祈祷，靠豆子和清水过活的人呢。”
“骑士先生，”隐士答道，“你的想法跟那些凡夫俗子一样，只知道从外表看人。圣母和我的保护神既然赐予我这样的饮食，我应该知道满足。从前沙得拉、米煞和亚伯尼歌这几个孩子，为了不让萨拉森人的国王赐给他们的酒肉玷污自己，宁可只吃豆子和清水，可是照样长得面容丰美呢(注)。”
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(注)这故事见们日约·但以理书》第1章。据说，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒抓到了沙得拉等几个以色列孩子，要把他们养得丰满俊美后作他的侍从，但他们只吃蔬菜和水，结果仍长得很丰润。
“圣洁的神父啊，”骑士说道，“想不到上帝会把奇迹显示在你的脸上，那么我这个世俗的罪人，可以请问一下你的名讳吗？”
“你叫我料普曼赫斯特教堂执事(注)就成了，”隐士答道，“这一带的人都这么称呼我。确实，他们还会加上一个神圣的头衔，不过我不在乎这点，因为我不配得到这样的荣誉。现在，英勇的骑士，我可以请教一下足下的尊姓大名吗？”
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(注)这是罗宾汉的一个部下，担任他的随军教士和总管。他的公开身分是修士或教士，在绿林中一般称他塔克修士，本书中也是这样。据说这位塔克修士本属方济各修会，即所谓灰衣修士，因此在本书中他常穿灰色修士服。
“可以，神圣的科普曼赫斯特教堂执事，”骑士答道，“这一带的人都称呼我黑甲骑士；许多人还给我加上一个懒汉的头衔，先生，不过我决不希望靠这个浑号出名。”
隐士听了客人的回答，几乎忍不住发笑。
“我明白了，”他说，“懒汉骑士先生，你是一个作事谨慎、头脑清醒的人；我还看到，你对我们修道士的简陋食物不以为然，也许你习惯了朝廷和军营中的放荡生活，还有城市中的奢靡享乐。现在我想起来了，懒汉先生，这一带树林中那个好心的看守人，非但给了我这些狗保护我，留下了一些饲料喂马，还送了我一些食物，由于它们对我不合适，我又忙于念经祈祷，就把它们给忘记了。”
“我敢打赌他会送给你食物，”骑士说。“圣洁的神父，从你脱下帽兜的一刻起，我就相信，这屋里还藏着更好吃的东西。你的守林人一定是一个知趣的家伙；任何人看到你用那副磨盘牙齿咀嚼干豆子，用那些淡而无味的清水灌溉喉咙，都会觉得你不应该靠这种喂马和饮马的玩意儿（他一边指指桌上的饮食）过活，因此总是要让你改善一下生活的。好吧，别磨蹭了，让我们看看守林人送给你的礼物吧。”
隐士向骑士投出了若有所思的一瞥，流露了一点犹豫不决的滑稽表情，仿佛正在盘算对这位客人的信任可以放宽到什么程度。然而骑士那副开诚布公的脸色，已达到了人的五官所能表现的限度。他的微笑也显得不可抗拒，给了隐士一种可以放心、不会上当的保证，使这位主人的恻隐之心再也按捺不住。
在交换了一两次默默审视的目光之后，隐士站起身子，走到了屋子较远的一头，那里有一个隐蔽得非常巧妙的地窖。他打开门，里边是一只大小相仿的柜子，他伸进手去，从黑洞洞的深处拉出了一只非常大的白镴盘子，盘里有一块烤熟的大馅饼。这盘了不起的美点立即给端到了客人面前，后者也当仁不让，马上拿出匕首把它切开，毫不迟疑地开始品尝它的味道了。
“那位好心的护林人离开这儿多久了？”骑士问他的主人，他已把留给隐士改善生活的营养食品狼吞虎咽地吃了几口。
“大约两个月，”神父随口答道。
“我凭上帝起誓，圣洁的神父，”骑士说道，“你的隐修室里一切都是奇迹，不可思议咽为我敢打赌，提供这些鹿肉的那只肥鹿，两三天以前还在这片树林里奔跑呢。”
隐士听了这句话，脸色有些尴尬，而且他眼睁睁地看着馅饼逐渐缩小，他的客人还在对它大举进攻，心里不免发急，可是他又有言在先，必须守斋，不便参与这个扫荡行动。
“我到过巴勒斯坦，执事先生，”骑士突然停了一下，说道，“我想起那里有一个规矩，每逢主人招待客人时，为了让客人相信他的食物绝对新鲜，总是与他共同食用。当然，我不是怀疑一个这么神圣的人会拿出不洁的食物款待客人，不过，如果你肯遵守东方的这个习俗，我还是非常感激的。”
“为了消除你不必要的顾虑，骑士先生，我愿意破例一次，”隐士答道。由于那个时代还没有叉子，他的手指立刻伸进了馅饼的心脏。
礼节的隔膜一经打破，宾主之间好像立刻展开了一场食欲比赛；虽然客人已一天没有吃东西，隐士还是大大超过了他。
“圣洁的神父，”饥饿缓和之后，骑士又道，“我可以拿我的骏马与你赌一枚金币，那位让我们吃到鹿肉的好心的守林人，一定还给你留下了一坛葡萄酒或加那利酒，或别的这类酒，让你跟这块出色的馅饼一起享用。毫无疑问，这件小事无足轻重，一位严格的修士也不会把它记在心中；然而我想，要是你肯在那个地窖中再搜寻一下，你会发现，我的猜想是完全正确的。”
隐士的回答只是脸上露出了一丝苦笑，他回到地窖门口，从那里掏出了一个皮酒囊，里边可以装四夸脱酒。他还拿出了两只大酒杯，那是野牛角做的，镶着一道银箍。为晚餐作了这种尽善尽美的安排之后，他似乎觉得不必再讲究客套，可以开怀畅饮了，于是把两只酒杯斟得满满的，按照撒克逊人的方式说道：“祝你健康，懒汉骑士先生！”接着一口喝干了酒。
“祝你健康，神圣的科普曼赫斯特教堂执事！”武士回答，按照主人的样子也满饮了一杯。
喝过第一杯酒以后，客人对隐士道：“神父，我看你身强力壮，又这么能吃能喝，不免觉得奇怪，为什么你会甘心待在这片荒野里。按照我的看法，守卫城堡或要塞对你倒更加合适，吃肥肉喝烈酒，也比在这儿吃豆子喝清水，靠守林人的施舍过日子好得多。至少，我要是你的话，我会觉得不妨打几只国王的鹿玩玩，吃个痛快。在这些森林中，它们有的是，谁也不会发现一只鹿已跑进圣邓斯坦的神父的肚子里。”。
“懒汉骑士先生，”神父答道，“这可是危险的话，我奉劝足下还是别讲的好。我是尊敬国王，奉公守法的真正隐士，要是我糟蹋王家的猎物，我非得蹲监狱不可，万一犯了死罪，我这身教士衣服也救不了我。”
“不过如果我是你，”骑士说，“我可以乘月夜出外溜达，那时守林人和护林官全都上床睡大觉了，我一边哺哺祷告，一边看准机会，对着正在吃草的鹿嗖的一箭，于是一切便解决了。圣洁的神父，难道你就从没玩过这类把戏吗？”
“我的懒汉老弟，”隐士答道，“我这屋里凡是你关心的一切，你都见到了，也许比一个硬要借宿的人应该知道的还多了一些。相信我，最好还是尽量享受上帝赐予你的一切，不要多管闲事，千方百计追查它们的来源。满上你的杯子，我欢迎；但是不要寻根究底，惹恼了我，我就不客气了；只要我真的不让你住，你就休想待在这里。”
“说真的，”骑士答道，“你弄得我更加纳闷了！你是我遇到过的最神秘的隐士，在我们分手以前，我希望对你多了解一些。至于你的威胁，那么神父先生，你得知道，跟你谈话的这个人，他的职业就是寻找危险，不论能在哪里找到它都成。”
“懒汉骑士先生，”隐士说道，“我敬你一杯，表示我对你的勇气非常钦佩，但是你的不自量力却叫我有些惊讶。如果你肯与我拿起同样的武器来，我出于充分的友爱精神和兄弟情谊，会使你彻底悔悟和全面改正，在今后十二个月以内再也不致重蹈覆辙，打听你不该打听的事。”
骑士喝干了酒，请他指定武器。
“不论用什么武器，从大利拉(注1)的剪刀和雅亿(注2)的三英寸大钉到歌利亚(注3)的短弯刀，我都不会输给你，”隐士答道。“不过既然要我选择，那么好朋友，这些玩意儿你觉得怎么样？”
--------
(注1)大利拉，《圣经》中的非利士女子，她得知以色列大力士参孙的力量来源于他的头发，便乘他不备，用剪刀剪掉了他的头发，参孙因而被非利士人捉住，见《旧约·士师记》第16章。
(注2)雅亿，一个同情以色列人的女子，曾用一只大钉子把以色列的敌人杀死，见《士师记》第4章。
(注3)非利士大力士，勇猛异常，曾使以色列人多次受挫，见《旧约·撒母耳记上》第17章。
他一边这么说，一边打开另一个地窖门，从那里搬出了两把大刀和两个盾牌，那种当时的庄稼汉时常使用的东西。骑士注意着他的动作，发现这第二个地洞里还藏着两三把大弓，一把弩弓，一捆弩箭和六七束普通的箭。在黑啾啾的地洞打开时，还可以看到里边有一把竖琴，几件与教士身分不相称的东西。
“我答应你，神父老兄，”他说，“不再向你打听什么，惹你生气了。那个储藏室里的东西，已回答了我的全部疑问；我看见那里有一件武器（他弯下腰，拿起了竖琴），我愿意用它来与你较量，这比用刀和盾牌更有意思。”
“骑士老弟，”隐士说道，“我一直希望，你的懒汉雅号是毫无根据的。现在我只得承认，我对你感到怀疑和失望。然而你是我的客人，我不能不得到你本人的同意，便来考验你的勇气。那么请坐下吧，把杯子斟满，让我们一边喝酒，一边唱歌，乐上一乐。如果你能唱什么有趣的曲子，在科普曼赫斯特你会随时受到欢迎，随时吃到大馅饼，只要上帝保佑，我还在这儿照管圣邓斯坦的教堂，没有脱下这身灰布衣服，让草皮把我掩埋起来。现在来吧，把酒斟满，因为把琴弦调准还得花一会儿工夫呢。要唱得悦耳，听得舒服，必须先喝一杯。从我来说，我是得连手指也感到了葡萄酒的香味，才能把琴弦弹得铮铮入耳的。”
收听单词发音 |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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heralds
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| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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extricating
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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tinkle
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| vi.叮当作响；n.叮当声 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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mantled
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| 披着斗篷的，覆盖着的 | |
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holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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hermits
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| （尤指早期基督教的）隐居修道士，隐士，遁世者( hermit的名词复数 ) | |
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benighted
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| adj.蒙昧的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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nurture
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| n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持 | |
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64
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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65
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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66
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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67
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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68
morass
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| n.沼泽，困境 | |
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69
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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70
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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71
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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72
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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73
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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74
wayfarer
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| n.旅人 | |
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75
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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76
importunate
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| adj.强求的；纠缠不休的 | |
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77
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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78
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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79
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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80
staples
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| n.（某国的）主要产品( staple的名词复数 )；钉书钉；U 形钉；主要部份v.用钉书钉钉住( staple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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81
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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82
baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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83
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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84
auxiliaries
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| n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员 | |
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85
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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86
alleging
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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87
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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88
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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89
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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90
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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92
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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93
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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94
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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95
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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96
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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97
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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98
interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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99
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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100
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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101
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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102
provender
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| n.刍草；秣料 | |
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103
forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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104
harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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105
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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106
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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107
ascetic
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| adj.禁欲的；严肃的 | |
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108
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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109
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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110
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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111
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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112
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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113
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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114
incongruity
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| n.不协调，不一致 | |
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115
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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116
mastication
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| n.咀嚼 | |
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117
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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118
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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119
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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120
encomium
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| n.赞颂；颂词 | |
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121
morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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122
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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123
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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124
ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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125
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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126
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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127
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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128
laity
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| n.俗人；门外汉 | |
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129
pittance
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| n.微薄的薪水，少量 | |
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130
defile
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| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
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131
layman
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| n.俗人，门外汉，凡人 | |
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132
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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133
epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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134
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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135
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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136
sluggard
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| n.懒人；adj.懒惰的 | |
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137
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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138
sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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139
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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140
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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141
doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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142
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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143
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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144
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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145
bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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146
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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147
prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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148
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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149
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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150
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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151
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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152
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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153
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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154
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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155
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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156
diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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157
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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158
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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159
wholesomeness
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| 卫生性 | |
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160
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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161
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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162
bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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163
rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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164
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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165
gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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166
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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167
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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168
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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169
hooped
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| adj.以环作装饰的；带横纹的；带有环的 | |
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170
abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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171
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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172
disport
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| v.嬉戏，玩 | |
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173
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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174
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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175
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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176
penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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177
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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178
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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179
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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180
buxom
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| adj.（妇女）丰满的，有健康美的 | |
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181
robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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