men of iron(铁人)-第25章
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stuffed with down covered benches and chairs。 The floor of the hall was
spread with mats of rushes stained in various colors； woven into curious
patterns； and in the smaller rooms precious carpets of arras were laid on
the cold stones。
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All of the cadets of the House had been assembled； all of the
gentlemen in waiting； retainers and clients。 The castle seemed full to
overflowing； even the dormitory of the squires was used as a lodging place
for many of the lesser gentry。 So at last； in the midst of all this bustle of
preparation； came the day of days when the King was to arrive。 The day
before a courier had come bringing the news that he was lodging at
Donaster Abbey overnight； and would make progress the next day to
Devlen。
That morning； as Myles was marshalling the pages and squires； and；
with the list of names in his hand； was striving to evolve some order out of
the confusion； assigning the various individuals their special dutiesthese
to attend in the household； those to ride in the escortone of the gentlemen
of Lord George's household came with an order for him to come
immediately to the young nobleman's apartments。 Myles hastily turned
over his duties to Gascoyne and Wilkes； and then hurried after the
messenger。 He found Lord George in the antechamber； three gentlemen
squires arming him in a magnificent suit of ribbed Milan。
He greeted Myles with a nod and a smile as the lad entered。 〃Sirrah；〃
said he； 〃I have had a talk with Mackworth this morn concerning thee； and
have a mind to do thee an honor in my poor way。 How wouldst thou like
to ride to…day as my special squire of escort？〃
Myles flushed to the roots of his hair。 〃Oh； sir！〃 he cried； eagerly； 〃an I
be not too ungainly for thy purpose； no honor in all the world could be
such joy to me as that！〃
Lord George laughed。 〃A little matter pleases thee hugely；〃 said he；
〃but as to being ungainly； who so sayeth that of thee belieth thee； Myles；
thou art not ungainly； sirrah。 But that is not to the point。 I have chosen thee
for my equerry to… day； so make thou haste and don thine armor； and then
come hither again； and Hollingwood will fit thee with a wreathed bascinet
I have within； and a juppon embroidered with my arms and colors。〃
When Myles had made his bow and left his patron； he flew across the
quadrangle； and burst into the armory upon Gascoyne； whom he found
still lingering there； chatting with one or two of the older bachelors。
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〃What thinkest thou； Francis？〃 he cried； wild with excitement。 〃An
honor hath been done me this day I could never have hoped to enjoy。 Out
of all this household； Lord George hath chose me his equerry for the day
to ride to meet the King。 Come； hasten to help me to arm！ Art thou not
glad of this thing for my sake； Francis？〃
〃Aye； glad am I indeed！〃 cried Gascoyne； that generous friend； 〃rather
almost would I have this befall thee than myself！〃 And indeed he was
hardly less jubilant than Myles over the honor。
Five minutes later he was busy arming him in the little room at the end
of the dormitory which had been lately set apart for the use of the head
bachelor。 〃And to think；〃 he said； looking up as he kneeled； strapping the
thigh…plates to his friend's legs； 〃that he should have chosen thee before all
others of the fine knights and lords and gentlemen of quality that are
here！〃
〃Yea；〃 said Myles； 〃it passeth wonder。 I know not why he should so
single me out for such an honor。 It is strangely marvellous。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃there is no marvel in it； and I know right well
why he chooseth thee。 It is because he sees； as we all see； that thou art the
stoutest and the best…skilled in arms； and most easy of carriage of any man
in all this place。〃
Myles laughed。 〃An thou make sport of me；〃 said he； 〃I'll rap thy head
with this dagger hilt。 Thou art a silly fellow； Francis； to talk so。 But tell me；
hast thou heard who rides with my Lord？〃
〃Yea； I heard Wilkes say anon that it was Sir James Lee。〃
〃I am right glad of that；〃 said Myles； 〃for then he will show me what
to do and how to bear myself。 It frights me to think what would hap should
I make some mistake in my awkwardness。 Methinks Lord George would
never have me with him more should I do amiss this day。〃
〃Never fear；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃thou wilt not do amiss。〃
And now； at last； the Earl； Lord George； and all their escort were ready；
then the orders were given to horse； the bugle sounded； and away they all
rode； with clashing of iron hoofs and ringing and jingling of armor； out
into the dewy freshness of the early morning； the slant yellow sun of
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autumn blazing and flaming upon polished helmets and shields； and
twinkling like sparks of fire upon spear points。 Myles's heart thrilled
within him for pure joy； and he swelled out his sturdy young breast with
great draughts of the sweet fresh air that came singing across the sunny
hill… tops。 Sir James Lee； who acted as the Earl's equerry for the day； rode
at a little distance； and there was an almost pathetic contrast between the
grim； steadfast impassiveness of the tough old warrior and Myles's
passionate exuberance of youth。
At the head of the party rode the Earl and his brother side by side； each
clad cap…a…pie in a suit of Milan armor； the cuirass of each covered with a
velvet juppon embroidered in silver with the arms and quarterings of the
Beaumonts。 The Earl wore around his neck an 〃S S〃 collar； with a
jewelled St。 George hanging from it； and upon his head a vizored bascinet；
ornamented with a wreath covered with black and yellow velvet and
glistening with jewels。
Lord George； as was said before； was clad in a beautiful suit of ribbed
Milan armor。 It was rimmed with a thin thread of gold； and； like his
brother； he wore a bascinet wreathed with black and yellow velvet。
Behind the two brothers and their equerries rode the rest in their
proper orderknights； gentlemen； esquires； men…at…armsto the number；
perhaps； of two hundred and fifty； spears and lances aslant； and banners；
permons； and pencels of black and yellow fluttering in the warm
September air。
From the castle to the town they rode； and then across the bridge； and
thence clattering up through the stony streets； where the folk looked down
upon them from the windows above； or crowded the fronts of the shops of
the tradesmen。 Lusty cheers were shouted for the Earl； but the great Lord
rode staring ever straight before him； as unmoved as a stone。 Then out of
the town they clattered； and away in a sweeping cloud of dust across the
country…side。
It was not until they had reached the windy top of Willoughby Croft；
ten miles away； that they met the King and his company。 As the two
parties approached to within forty or fifty yards of one another they
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stopped。
As they came to a halt； Myles observed that a gentleman dressed in a
plain blue…gray riding… habit； and sitting upon a beautiful white gelding；
stood a little in advance of the rest of the party； and he knew that that must
be the King。 Then Sir James nodded to Myles； and leaping from his horse；
flung the reins to one of the attendants。 Myles did the like； and then； still
following Sir James's lead as he served Lord Mackworth； went forward
and held Lord George's stirrup while he dismounted。 The two noblemen
quickly removed each his bascinet； and Myles； holding the bridle… rein of
Lord George's horse with his left hand； took the helmet in his right； resting
it upon his hip。
Then the two brothers walked forward bare… headed； the Earl； a little in
advance。 Reaching the King he stopped； and then bent his kneestiffly in
the armored platesuntil it touched the ground。 Thereupon the King
reached him his hand； and he； rising again； took it； and set it to his lips。
Then Lord George； advancing； kneeled as his brother had kneeled； and
to him also the King gave his hand。
Myles could hear nothing； but he could see that a few words of
greeting passed between the three； and then the King； turning； beckoned to
a knight who stood just behind him and a little in advance of the others of
the troop。 In answer； the knight rode forward； the King spoke a few words
of introduction； and the stranger； ceremoniously drawing off his right
gauntlet； clasped the hand； first of the Earl； and then of Lord George。
Myles knew that he must be the great Comte de Vermoise； of whom he
had heard so much of late。
A few moments of conversation followed； and then the King bowed
slightly。 The French nobleman instantly reined back his horse； an order
was given； and then the whole company moved forward； the two brothers
walking upon either side of the King； the Earl lightly touching the bridle…
rein with his bare hand。
Whilst all this was passing； the Earl of Mackworth's company had
been drawn up in a double line along the road…side； leaving the way open
to the other party。 As the King reached the head of the troop； another halt
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followed while he spoke a few courteous words of greeting to some of the
lesser nobles attendant upon the Earl whom he knew。
In that little time he was within a few paces of Myles； who stood
motionless as a statue； holding the bascinet and the bridle…rein of L
