maid marian-第3章

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ose　of　a　stream。〃

〃And　why　is　the　trout　shyer　for　that？〃　asked　Sir　Ralph。

〃Do　you　not　see？〃　said　brother　Michael。　　〃The　virtues　of　both　lovers　diffuse　themselves　through　the　lake。　　The　infusion　of　masculine　valour　makes　the　fish　active　and　sanguineous：　the　infusion　of　maiden　modesty　makes　him　coy　and　hard　to　win：　and　you　shall　find　through　life；　the　fish　which　is　most　easily　hooked　is　not　the　best　worth　dishing。　　But　yonder　are　the　towers　of　Arlingford。〃

The　little　friar　stopped。　　He　seemed　suddenly　struck　with　an　awful　thought；　which　caused　a　momentary　pallescence　in　his　rosy　complexion；　and　after　a　brief　hesitation；　he　turned　his　galloway；　and　told　his　companions　he　should　give　them　good　day。

〃Why；　what　is　in　the　wind　now；　brother　Peter？〃　said　Friar　Michael。

〃The　lady　Matilda；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃can　draw　the　long…bow。　She　must　bear　no　goodwill　to　Sir　Ralph；　and　if　she　should　espy　him　from　her　tower；　she　may　testify　her　recognition　with　a　cloth…yard　shaft。　She　is　not　so　infallible　a　markswoman；　but　that　she　might　shoot　at　a　crow　and　kill　a　pigeon。　　She　might　peradventure　miss　the　knight；　and　hit　me；　who　never　did　her　any　harm。〃

〃Tut；　tut；　man；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃there　is　no　such　fear。〃

〃Mass；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃but　there　is　such　a　fear；　and　very　strong　too。　　You　who　have　it　not　may　keep　your　way；　and　I　who　have　it　shall　take　mine。　　I　am　not　just　now　in　the　vein　for　being　picked　off　at　a　long　shot。〃　　And　saying　these　words；　he　spurred　up　his　four…footed　better　half；　and　galloped　off　as　nimbly　as　if　he　had　had　an　arrow　singing　behind　him。

〃Is　this　lady　Matilda；　then；　so　very　terrible　a　damsel？〃　said　Sir　Ralph　to　brother　Michael。

〃By　no　means；〃　said　the　friar。　　〃She　has　certainly　a　high　spirit；　but　it　is　the　wing　of　the　eagle；　without　his　beak　or　his　claw。　She　is　as　gentle　as　magnanimous；　but　it　is　the　gentleness　of　the　summer　wind；　which；　however　lightly　it　wave　the　tuft　of　the　pine；　carries　with　it　the　intimation　of　a　power；　that；　if　roused　to　its　extremity；　could　make　it　bend　to　the　dust。〃

〃From　the　warmth　of　your　panegyric；　ghostly　father；〃　said　the　knight；　〃I　should　almost　suspect　you　were　in　love　with　the　damsel。〃

〃So　I　am；〃　said　the　friar；　〃and　I　care　not　who　knows　it；　but　all　in　the　way　of　honesty；　master　soldier。　　I　am；　as　it　were；　her　spiritual　lover；　and　were　she　a　damsel　errant；　I　would　be　her　ghostly　esquire；　her　friar　militant。　I　would　buckle　me　in　armour　of　proof；　and　the　devil　might　thresh　me　black　with　an　iron　flail；　before　I　would　knock　under　in　her　cause。　Though　they　be　not　yet　one　canonically；　thanks　to　your　soldiership；　the　earl　is　her　liege　lord；　and　she　is　his　liege　lady。　I　am　her　father　confessor　and　ghostly　director：　I　have　taken　on　me　to　show　her　the　way　to　the　next　world；　and　how　can　I　do　that　if　I　lose　sight　of　her　in　this？　seeing　that　this　is　but　the　road　to　the　other；　and　has　so　many　circumvolutions　and　ramifications　of　byeways　and　beaten　paths　（all　more　thickly　set　than　the　true　one　with　finger…posts　and　milestones；　not　one　of　which　tells　truth）；　that　a　traveller　has　need　of　some　one　who　knows　the　way；　or　the　odds　go　hard　against　him　that　he　will　ever　see　the　face　of　Saint　Peter。〃

〃But　there　must　surely　be　some　reason；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃for　father　Peter's　apprehension。〃

〃None；〃　said　brother　Michael；　〃but　the　apprehension　itself；　fear　being　its　own　father；　and　most　prolific　in　self…propagation。　The　lady　did；　it　is　true；　once　signalize　her　displeasure　against　our　little　brother；　for　reprimanding　her　in　that　she　would　go　hunting　a…mornings　instead　of　attending　matins。　　She　cut　short　the　thread　of　his　eloquence　by　sportively　drawing　her　bow…string　and　loosing　an　arrow　over　his　head；　he　waddled　off　with　singular　speed；　and　was　in　much　awe　of　her　for　many　months。　　I　thought　he　had　forgotten　it：　　but　let　that　pass。　In　truth；　she　would　have　had　little　of　her　lover's　company；　if　she　had　liked　the　chaunt　of　the　choristers　better　than　the　cry　of　the　hounds：　yet　I　know　not；　for　they　were　companions　from　the　cradle；　and　reciprocally　fashioned　each　other　to　the　love　of　the　fern　and　the　foxglove。　Had　either　been　less　sylvan；　the　other　might　have　been　more　saintly；　but　they　will　now　never　hear　matins　but　those　of　the　lark；　nor　reverence　vaulted　aisle　but　that　of　the　greenwood　canopy。　They　are　twin　plants　of　the　forest；　and　are　identified　with　its　growth。

　For　the　slender　beech　and　the　sapling　oak；　　　　　　That　grow　by　the　shadowy　rill；　　You　may　cut　down　both　at　a　single　stroke；　　　　　　You　may　cut　down　which　you　will。

　But　this　you　must　know；　that　as　long　as　they　grow　　　　　　Whatever　change　may　be；　　You　never　can　teach　either　oak　or　beech　　　　　　To　be　aught　but　a　greenwood　tree。〃





CHAPTER　III

Inflamed　wrath　in　glowing　breast。BUTLER。


The　knight　and　the　friar　arriving　at　Arlingford　Castle；　and　leaving　their　horses　in　the　care　of　lady　Matilda's　groom；　with　whom　the　friar　was　in　great　favour；　were　ushered　into　a　stately　apartment；　where　they　found　the　baron　alone；　flourishing　an　enormous　carving…knife　over　a　brother　baronof　beef　with　as　much　vehemence　of　action　as　if　he　were　cutting　down　an　enemy。　The　baron　was　a　gentleman　of　a　fierce　and　choleric　temperament：　he　was　lineally　descended　from　the　redoubtable　Fierabras　of　Normandy；　who　came　over　to　England　with　the　Conqueror；　and　who；　in　the　battle　of　Hastings；　killed　with　his　own　hand　four…and…twenty　Saxon　cavaliers　all　on　a　row。　The　very　excess　of　the　baron's　internal　rage　on　the　preceding　day　had　smothered　its　external　manifestation：　　he　was　so　equally　angry　with　both　parties；　that　he　knew　not　on　which　to　vent　his　wrath。　He　was　enraged　with　the　earl　for　having　brought　himself　into　such　a　dilemma　without　his　privily；　and　he　was　no　less　enraged　with　the　king's　men　for　their　very　unseasonable　intrusion。　He　could　willingly　have　fallen　upon　both　parties；　but；　he　must　necessarily　have　begun　with　one；　and　he　felt　that　on　whichever　side　he　should　strike　the　first　blow；　his　retainers　would　immediately　join　battle。　　He　had　therefore　contented　himself　with　forcing　away　his　daughter　from　the　scene　of　action。　In　the　course　of　the　evening　he　had　received　intelligence　that　the　earl's　castle　was　in　possession　of　a　party　of　the　king's　men；　who　had　been　detached　by　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon　to　seize　on　it　during　the　earl's　absence。　　The　baron　inferred　from　this　that　the　earl's　case　was　desperate；　and　those　who　have　had　the　opportunity　of　seeing　a　rich　friend　fall　suddenly　into　poverty；　may　easily　judge　by　their　own　feelings　how　quickly　and　completely　the　whole　moral　being　of　the　earl　was　changed　in　the　baron's　estimation。　The　baron　immediately　proceeded　to　require　in　his　daughter's　mind　the　same　summary　revolution　that　had　taken　place　in　his　own；　and　considered　himself　exceedingly　ill…used　by　her　non…compliance。　The　lady　had　retired　to　her　chamber；　and　the　baron　had　passed　a　supperless　and　sleepless　night；　stalking　about　his　apartments　till　an　advanced　hour　of　the　morning；　when　hunger　compelled　him　to　summon　into　his　presence　the　spoils　of　the　buttery；　which；　being　the　intended　array　of　an　uneaten　wedding　feast；　were　more　than　usually　abundant；　and　on　which；　when　the　knight　and　the　friar　entered；　he　was　falling　with　desperate　valour。　He　looked　up　at　them　fiercely；　with　his　mouth　full　of　beef　and　his　eyes　full　of　flame；　and　rising；　as　ceremony　required；　made　an　awful　bow　to　the　knight；　inclining　himself　forward　over　the　table　and　presenting　his　carving…knife　en　militaire；　in　a　manner　that　seemed　to　leave　it　doubtful　whether　he　meant　to　show　respect　to　his　visitor；　or　to　defend　his　provision：　but　the　doubt　was　soon　cleared　up　by　his　politely　motioning　the　knight　to　be　seated；　on　which　the　friar　advanced　to　the　table；　saying；　〃For　what　we　are　going　to　receive；〃　and　commenced　operations　without　further　prelude　by　filling　and　drinking　a　goblet　of　wine。　The　baron　at　the　same　time　offered　one　to　Sir　Ralph；　with　the　look　of　a　man　in　whom　habitual　hospitality　and　courtesy　were　struggling　with　the　ebullitions　of　natural　anger。　They　pledged　each　other　in　silence；　and　the　baron；　having　completed　a　copious　draught；　continued　working　his　lips　and　his　throat；　as　if　trying　to　swallow　his　wrath　as　he　had　done　his　wine。　Sir　Ralph；　not　knowing　well　what　to　make　of　these　ambiguous　signs；　looked　for　instructions　to　the　friar；　who　by　significant　looks　and　gestures　seemed　to　advise　him　to　follow　his　example　and　partake　of　the　good　cheer　before　him；　without　speaking　till　the　baron　should　be　more　intelligible　in　his　demeanour。　The　knight　and　the　friar；　accordingly；　proceeded　to　refect　themselves　after　their　ride；　the　baron　looking　first　at　the　one　and　then　at　the　other；　scrutinising　alternately　the　serious　looks　of　the　knight　and　the　merry　face　of　the　friar；　till　at　length；　having　calmed　himself　sufficiently　to　speak；　he　said；　〃Courteous　knight　and　ghostly　father；　I　presume　you　have　some　other　business　with　me　than　to　eat　my　beef　and　drink　my　canary；　and　if　so；　I　patiently　await　your　leisure　to　enter　on　the　topic。〃

〃Lord　Fitzwater；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃in　obedience　to　my　royal　master；　King　Henry；　I　have　been　the　unwilling　instrument　of　frustrating　the　intended　nuptials　of　your　fair　daughter；　yet　will　you；　I　trust；　owe　me　no　displeasure　for　my　agency　herein；　seeing　that　the　noble　maiden　might　otherwise　by　this　time　have　been　the　bride　of　an　outlaw。〃

〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you；　sir；〃　said　the　baron；　〃very　exceedingly　obliged。　　Your　solicitude　for　my　daughter　is　truly　paternal；　and　for　a　young　man　and　a　stranger　very　singular　and　exemplary：　　and　it　is　very　kind　withal　to　come　to　the　relief　of　my　insufficiency　and　inexperience；　and　concern　yourself　so　much　in　that　which　concerns　you　not。〃

〃You　misconceive　the　knight；　noble　baron；〃　said　the　friar。　〃He　urges　not　his　reason　in　the　shape　of　a　preconceived　intent；　but　in　that　of　a　subsequent　extenuation。　　True；　he　has　done　the　lady　Matilda　great　wrong〃

〃How；　great　wrong？〃　said　the　baron。　　〃What　do　you　mean　by　great　wrong？　Would　you　have　had　her　married　to　a　wild　fly…by…night；　that　accident　made　an　earl　and　nature　a　deer…stealer？　that　has　not　wit　enough　to　eat　venison　without　picking　a　quarrel　with　monarchy？　that　flings　away　his　own　lands　into　the　clutches　of　rascally　friars；　for　the　sake　of　hunting　in　other　men's　grounds；　and　feasting　vagabonds　that　wear　Lincoln　green；　and　would　have　flung　away　mine　into　the　bargain　if　he　had　had　my　daughter？　What　do　you　mean　by　great　wrong？〃

〃True；〃　said　the　friar；　〃great　right；　I　meant。〃

〃Right！〃　exclaimed　the　baron：　　〃what　right　has　any　man　to　do　my　daughter　right　but　myself？　　What　right　has　any　man　to　drive　my　daughter's　bridegroom　out　of　the　chapel　in　the　middle　of　the　marriage　ceremony；　and　turn　all　our　merry　faces　into　green　wounds　and　bloody　coxcombs；　and　then　come　and　tell　me　he　has　done　us　great　right？〃

〃True；〃　said　the　friar：　　〃he　has　done　neither　right　nor　wrong。〃

〃But　he　has；〃　said　the　baron；　〃he　has　done　both；　and　I　will　maintain　it　with　my　glove。〃

〃It　shall　not　need；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃I　will　concede　any　thing　in　honour。〃

〃And　I；〃　said　the　baron；　〃will　concede　nothing　in　honour：　I　will　concede　nothing　in　honour　to　any　man。〃

〃Neither　will　I；　Lord　Fitzwater；〃　said　Sir　Ralph；　〃in　that　sense：　but　hear　me。　　I　was　commissioned　by　the　king　to　apprehen