maid marian-第2章

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〃Learning！〃　exclaimed　the　little　friar；　〃what　has　a　woman　to　do　with　learning？　　And　valour！　who　ever　heard　a　woman　commended　for　valour？　Meekness　and　mildness；　and　softness；　and　gentleness；　and　tenderness；　and　humility；　and　obedience　to　her　husband；　and　faith　in　her　confessor；　and　domesticity；　or；　as　learned　doctors　call　it；　the　faculty　of　stayathomeitiveness；　and　embroidery；　and　music；　and　pickling；　and　preserving；　and　the　whole　complex　and　multiplex　detail　of　the　noble　science　of　dinner；　as　well　in　preparation　for　the　table；　as　in　arrangement　over　it；　and　in　distribution　around　it　to　knights；　and　squires；　and　ghostly　friars；these　are　female　virtues：　but　valourwhy　who　ever　heard？〃

〃She　is　the　all　in　all；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃gentle　as　a　ring…dove；　yet　high…soaring　as　a　falcon：　　humble　below　her　deserving；　yet　deserving　beyond　the　estimate　of　panegyric：　　an　exact　economist　in　all　superfluity；　yet　a　most　bountiful　dispenser　in　all　liberality：　the　chief　regulator　of　her　household；　the　fairest　pillar　of　her　hall；　and　the　sweetest　blossom　of　her　bower：　　having；　in　all　opposite　proposings；　sense　to　understand；　judgment　to　weigh；　discretion　to　choose；　firmness　to　undertake；　diligence　to　conduct；　perseverance　to　accomplish；　and　resolution　to　maintain。　For　obedience　to　her　husband；　that　is　not　to　be　tried　till　she　has　one：　for　faith　in　her　confessor；　she　has　as　much　as　the　law　prescribes：　for　embroidery　an　Arachne：　　for　music　a　Siren：　　and　for　pickling　and　preserving；　did　not　one　of　her　jars　of　sugared　apricots　give　you　your　last　surfeit　at　Arlingford　Castle？〃

〃Call　you　that　preserving？〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃I　call　it　destroying。　Call　you　it　pickling？　　Truly　it　pickled　me。　　My　life　was　saved　by　miracle。〃

〃By　canary；〃　said　brother　Michael。　　〃Canary　is　the　only　life　preserver；　the　true　aurum　potabile；　the　universal　panacea　for　all　diseases；　thirst；　and　short　life。　　Your　life　was　saved　by　canary。〃

〃Indeed；　reverend　father；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃if　the　young　lady　be　half　what　you　describe；　she　must　be　a　paragon：　but　your　commending　her　for　valour　does　somewhat　amaze　me。〃

〃She　can　fence；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃and　draw　the　long　bow；　and　play　at　singlestick　and　quarter…staff。〃

〃Yet　mark　you；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃not　like　a　virago　or　a　hoyden；　or　one　that　would　crack　a　serving…man's　head　for　spilling　gravy　on　her　ruff；　but　with　such　womanly　grace　and　temperate　self…command　as　if　those　manly　exercises　belonged　to　her　only；　and　were　become　for　her　sake　feminine。〃

〃You　incite　me；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃to　view　her　more　nearly。　That　madcap　earl　found　me　other　employment　than　to　remark　her　in　the　chapel。〃

〃The　earl　is　a　worthy　peer；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃he　is　worth　any　fourteen　earls　on　this　side　Trent；　and　any　seven　on　the　other。〃　（The　reader　will　please　to　remember　that　Rubygill　Abbey　was　north　of　Trent。）

〃His　mettle　will　be　tried；〃　said　Sir　Ralph。　　〃There　is　many　a　courtier　will　swear　to　King　Henry　to　bring　him　in　dead　or　alive。〃

〃They　must　look　to　the　brambles　then；〃　said　brother　Michael。

　〃The　bramble；　the　bramble；　the　bonny　forest　bramble；　　　　　　Doth　make　a　jest　　　　　　Of　silken　vest；　　That　will　through　greenwood　scramble：　　The　bramble；　the　bramble；　the　bonny　forest　bramble。〃


〃Plague　on　your　lungs；　son　Michael；〃　said　the　abbot；　〃this　is　your　old　coil：　always　roaring　in　your　cups。〃

〃I　know　what　I　say；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃there　is　often　more　sense　in　an　old　song　than　in　a　new　homily。

　The　courtly　pad　doth　amble；　　When　his　gay　lord　would　ramble：　　　　　　But　both　may　catch　　　　　　An　awkward　scratch；　　If　they　ride　among　the　bramble：　　The　bramble；　the　bramble；　the　bonny　forest　bramble。〃


〃Tall　friar；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃either　you　shoot　the　shafts　of　your　merriment　at　random；　or　you　know　more　of　the　earl's　designs　than　beseems　your　frock。〃

〃Let　my　frock；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃answer　for　its　own　sins。　It　is　worn　past　covering　mine。　　It　is　too　weak　for　a　shield；　too　transparent　for　a　screen；　too　thin　for　a　shelter；　too　light　for　gravity；　and　too　threadbare　for　a　jest。　The　wearer　would　be　naught　indeed　who　should　misbeseem　such　a　wedding　garment。

　But　wherefore　does　the　sheep　wear　wool？　　　　　　That　he　in　season　sheared　may　be；　　And　the　shepherd　be　warm　though　his　flock　be　cool：　　　　　　So　I'll　have　a　new　cloak　about　me。〃





CHAPTER　II


Vray　moyne　si　oncques　en　feut　depuis　que　le　monde　moynant　moyna　de　moynerie。RABELAIS。


The　Earl　of　Huntingdon；　living　in　the　vicinity　of　a　royal　forest；　and　passionately　attached　to　the　chase　from　his　infancy；　had　long　made　as　free　with　the　king's　deer　as　Lord　Percy　proposed　to　do　with　those　of　Lord　Douglas　in　the　memorable　hunting　of　Cheviot。　　It　is　sufficiently　well　known　how　severe　were　the　forest…laws　in　those　days；　and　with　what　jealousy　the　kings　of　England　maintained　this　branch　of　their　prerogative；　but　menaces　and　remonstrances　were　thrown　away　on　the　earl；　who　declared　that　he　would　not　thank　Saint　Peter　for　admission　into　Paradise；　if　he　were　obliged　to　leave　his　bow　and　hounds　at　the　gate。　　King　Henry　（the　Second）　swore　by　Saint　Botolph　to　make　him　rue　his　sport；　and；　having　caused　him　to　be　duly　and　formally　accused；　summoned　him　to　London　to　answer　the　charge。　The　earl；　deeming　himself　safer　among　his　own　vassals　than　among　king　Henry's　courtiers；　took　no　notice　of　the　mandate。　King　Henry　sent　a　force　to　bring　him；　vi　et　armis；　to　court。　The　earl　made　a　resolute　resistance；　and　put　the　king's　force　to　flight　under　a　shower　of　arrows：　　an　act　which　the　courtiers　declared　to　be　treason。　　At　the　same　time；　the　abbot　of　Doncaster　sued　up　the　payment　of　certain　moneys；　which　the　earl；　whose　revenue　ran　a　losing　race　with　his　hospitality；　had　borrowed　at　sundry　times　of　the　said　abbot：　　for　the　abbots　and　the　bishops　were　the　chief　usurers　of　those　days；　and；　as　the　end　sanctifies　the　means；　were　not　in　the　least　scrupulous　of　employing　what　would　have　been　extortion　in　the　profane；　to　accomplish　the　pious　purpose　of　bringing　a　blessing　on　the　land　by　rescuing　it　from　the　frail　hold　of　carnal　and　temporal　into　the　firmer　grasp　of　ghostly　and　spiritual　possessors。　But　the　earl；　confident　in　the　number　and　attachment　of　his　retainers；　stoutly　refused　either　to　repay　the　money；　which　he　could　not；　or　to　yield　the　forfeiture；　which　he　would　not：　a　refusal　which　in　those　days　was　an　act　of　outlawry　in　a　gentleman；　as　it　is　now　of　bankruptcy　in　a　base　mechanic；　the　gentleman　having　in　our　wiser　times　a　more　liberal　privilege　of　gentility；　which　enables　him　to　keep　his　land　and　laugh　at　his　creditor。　Thus　the　mutual　resentments　and　interests　of　the　king　and　the　abbot　concurred　to　subject　the　earl　to　the　penalties　of　outlawry；　by　which　the　abbot　would　gain　his　due　upon　the　lands　of　Locksley；　and　the　rest　would　be　confiscate　to　the　king。　Still　the　king　did　not　think　it　advisable　to　assail　the　earl　in　his　own　strong…hold；　but　caused　a　diligent　watch　to　be　kept　over　his　motions；　till　at　length　his　rumoured　marriage　with　the　heiress　of　Arlingford　seemed　to　point　out　an　easy　method　of　laying　violent　hands　on　the　offender。　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon；　a　young　man　of　good　lineage　and　of　an　aspiring　temper；　who　readily　seized　the　first　opportunity　that　offered　of　recommending　himself　to　King　Henry's　favour　by　manifesting　his　zeal　in　his　service；　undertook　the　charge：　and　how　he　succeeded　we　have　seen。

Sir　Ralph's　curiosity　was　strongly　excited　by　the　friar's　description　of　the　young　lady　of　Arlingford；　and　he　prepared　in　the　morning　to　visit　the　castle；　under　the　very　plausible　pretext　of　giving　the　baron　an　explanation　of　his　intervention　at　the　nuptials。　Brother　Michael　and　the　little　fat　friar　proposed　to　be　his　guides。　The　proposal　was　courteously　accepted；　and　they　set　out　together；　leaving　Sir　Ralph's　followers　at　the　abbey。　　The　knight　was　mounted　on　a　spirited　charger；　brother　Michael　on　a　large　heavy…trotting　horse；　and　the　little　fat　friar　on　a　plump　soft…paced　galloway；　so　correspondent　with　himself　in　size；　rotundity；　and　sleekness；　that　if　they　had　been　amalgamated　into　a　centaur；　there　would　have　been　nothing　to　alter　in　their　proportions。

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　the　little　friar；　as　they　wound　along　the　banks　of　the　stream；　〃the　reason　why　lake…trout　is　better　than　river…trout；　and　shyer　withal？〃

〃I　was　not　aware　of　the　fact；〃　said　Sir　Ralph。

〃A　most　heterodox　remark；〃　said　brother　Michael：　　〃know　you　not；　that　in　all　nice　matters　you　should　take　the　implication　for　absolute；　and；　without　looking　into　the　FACT　WHETHER；　seek　only　the　reason　why？　But　the　fact　is　so；　on　the　word　of　a　friar；　which　what　layman　will　venture　to　gainsay　who　prefers　a　down　bed　to　a　gridiron？〃

〃The　fact　being　so；〃　said　the　knight；　〃I　am　still　at　a　loss　for　the　reason；　nor　would　I　undertake　to　opine　in　a　matter　of　that　magnitude：　　since；　in　all　that　appertains　to　the　good　things　either　of　this　world　or　the　next；　my　reverend　spiritual　guides　are　kind　enough　to　take　the　trouble　of　thinking　off　my　hands。〃

〃Spoken；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃with　a　sound　Catholic　conscience。　My　little　brother　here　is　most　profound　in　the　matter　of　trout。　He　has　marked；　learned；　and　inwardly　digested　the　subject；　twice　a　week　at　least　for　five…and…thirty　years。　　I　yield　to　him　in　this。　My　strong　points　are　venison　and　canary。〃

〃The　good　qualities　of　a　trout；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃are　firmness　and　redness：　　the　redness；　indeed；　being　the　visible　sign　of　all　other　virtues。〃

〃Whence；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃we　choose　our　abbot　by　his　nose：

　The　rose　on　the　nose　doth　all　virtues　disclose：　　For　the　outward　grace　shows　　That　the　inward　overflows；　　When　it　glows　in　the　rose　of　a　red；　red　nose。〃


〃Now；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃as　is　the　firmness　so　is　the　redness；　and　as　is　the　redness　so　is　the　shyness。〃

〃Marry　why？〃　said　brother　Michael。　　〃The　solution　is　not　physical…natural；　but　physical…historical；　or　natural…superinductive。　And　thereby　hangs　a　tale；　which　may　be　either　said　or　sung：

　The　damsel　stood　to　watch　the　fight　　　　　　By　the　banks　of　Kingslea　Mere；　　And　they　brought　to　her　feet　her　own　true　knight　　　　　　Sore…wounded　on　a　bier。

　She　knelt　by　him　his　wounds　to　bind；　　　　　　She　washed　them　with　many　a　tear：　　And　shouts　rose　fast　upon　the　wind；　　　　　　Which　told　that　the　foe　was　near。

　〃Oh！　let　not；〃　he　said；　〃while　yet　I　live；　　　　　　The　cruel　foe　me　take：　　But　with　thy　sweet　lips　a　last　kiss　give；　　　　　　And　cast　me　in　the　lake。〃

　Around　his　neck　she　wound　her　arms；　　　　　　And　she　kissed　his　lips　so　pale：　　And　evermore　the　war's　alarms　　　　　　Came　louder　up　the　vale。

　She　drew　him　to　the　lake's　steep　side；　　　　　　Where　the　red　heath　fringed　the　shore；　　She　plunged　with　him　beneath　the　tide；　　　　　　And　they　were　seen　no　more。

　Their　true　blood　mingled　in　Kingslea　Mere；　　　　　　That　to　mingle　on　earth　was　fain：　　And　the　trout　that　swims　in　that　crystal　clear　　　　　　Is　tinged　with　the　crimson　stain。


〃Thus　you　see　how　good　comes　of　evil；　and　how　a　holy　friar　may　fare　better　on　fast…day　for　the　violent　death　of　two　lovers　two　hundred　years　ago。　　The　inference　is　most　consecutive；　that　wherever　you　catch　a　red…fleshed　trout；　love　lies　bleeding　under　the　water：　an　occult　quality；　which　can　only　act　in　the　stationary　waters　of　a　lake；　being　neutralised　by　the　rapid　transition　of　those　of　a　strea