men of iron(铁人)-第31章
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and now hath that time come。 Lady； to…morrow I go to meet a right good
knight； and one skilled in arms and in jousting； as thou dost know。 Yea； he
is famous in arms； and I be nobody。 Ne'theless； I fight for the honor of
England and Mackworthandand for thy sake。 I Thou art not angered
at what I say？〃
Again the Lady Alice shook her head。
〃I would that thouI would that thou would give me some favor for to
wearthy veil or thy necklace。〃
He waited anxiously for a little while； but Lady Alice did not answer
immediately。
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〃I fear me；〃 said Myles； presently； 〃that I have in sooth offended thee
in asking this thing。 I know that it is a parlous bold matter for one so raw
in chivalry and in courtliness as I am； and one so poor in rank； to ask thee
for thy favor。 An I ha' offended； I prithee let it be as though I had not asked
it。〃
Perhaps it was the young man's timidity that brought a sudden courage
to Lady Alice； perhaps it was the graciousness of her gentle breeding that
urged her to relieve Myles's somewhat awkward humility； perhaps it was
something more than either that lent her bravery to speak； even knowing
that the Lady Anne heard all。 She turned quickly to him： 〃Nay； Sir Myles；〃
she said； 〃I am foolish； and do wrong thee by my foolishness and silence；
for； truly； I am proud to have thee wear my favor。〃 She unclasped； as she
spoke； the thin gold chain from about her neck。 〃I give thee this chain；〃
said she； 〃and it will bring me joy to have it honored by thy true
knightliness； and； giving it； I do wish thee all success。〃 Then she bowed
her head； and； turning； left him holding the necklace in his hand。
Her cousin left the window to meet her； bowing her head with a smile
to Myles as she took her cousin's arm again and led her away。 He stood
looking after them as they left the room； and when they were gone； he
raised the necklace to his lips with a heart beating tumultuously with a
triumphant joy it had never felt before。
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CHAPTER 26
And now； at last； had come the day of days for Myles Falworth； the
day when he was to put to the test all that he had acquired in the three
years of his training； the day that was to disclose what promise of future
greatness there was in his strong young body。 And it was a noble day； one
of those of late September； when the air seems sweeter and fresher than at
other times； the sun bright and as yellow as gold； the wind lusty and strong；
before which the great white clouds go sailing majestically across the
bright blueness of the sky above； while their dusky shadows skim across
the brown face of the rusty earth beneath。
As was said before； the lists had been set up in the great quadrangle of
the castle； than which； level and smooth as a floor； no more fitting place
could be chosen。 The course was of the usual size sixty paces longand
separated along its whole length by a barrier about five feet high。 Upon the
west side of the course and about twenty paces distant from it； a
scaffolding had been built facing towards the east so as to avoid the glare
of the afternoon sun。 In the centre was a raised dais； hung round with cloth
of blue embroidered with lions rampant。 Upon the dais stood a cushioned
throne for the King； and upon the steps below； ranged in the order of their
dignity； were seats for the Earl； his guests； the family； the ladies； knights；
and gentlemen of the castle。 In front； the scaffolding was covered with the
gayest tapestries and brightest…colored hangings that the castle could
afford。 And above； parti…colored pennants and streamers； surmounted by
the royal ensign of England； waved and fluttered in the brisk wind。
At either end of the lists stood the pavilions of the knights。 That of
Myles was at the southern extremity and was hung； by the Earl's desire；
with cloth of the Beaumont colors （black and yellow）； while a wooden
shield bearing three goshawks spread （the crest of the house） was nailed to
the roof； and a long streamer of black and yellow trailed out in the wind
from the staff above。 Myles； partly armed； stood at the door…way of the
pavilion； watching the folk gathering at the scaffolding。 The ladies of the
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house were already seated； and the ushers were bustling hither and thither；
assigning the others their places。 A considerable crowd of common folk
and burghers from the town had already gathered at the barriers opposite；
and as he looked at the restless and growing multitude he felt his heart
beat quickly and his flesh grow cold with a nervous trepidation just such
as the lad of to…day feels when he sees the auditorium filling with friends
and strangers who are to listen by…and…by to the reading of his prize poem。
Suddenly there came a loud blast of trumpets。 A great gate at the
farther extremity of the lists was thrown open； and the King appeared；
riding upon a white horse； preceded by the King…at…arms and the heralds；
attended by the Earl and the Comte de Vermoise； and followed by a crowd
of attendants。 Just then Gascoyne； who； with Wilkes； was busied lacing
some of the armor plates with new thongs； called Myles； and he turned
and entered the pavilion。
As the two squires were adjusting these last pieces； strapping them in
place and tying the thongs； Lord George and Sir James Lee entered the
pavilion。 Lord George took the young man by the hand； and with a
pleasant smile wished him success in the coming encounter。
Sir James seemed anxious and disturbed。 He said nothing； and after
Gascoyne had placed the open bascinet that supports the tilting helm in its
place； he came forward and examined the armor piece by piece； carefully
and critically； testing the various straps and leather points and thongs to
make sure of their strength。
〃Sir；〃 said Gascoyne； who stood by watching him anxiously； 〃I do trust
that I have done all meetly and well。〃
〃I see nothing amiss； sirrah；〃 said the old knight； half grudgingly。 〃So
far as I may know； he is ready to mount。〃
Just then a messenger entered； saying that the King was seated； and
Lord George bade Myles make haste to meet the challenger。
〃Francis；〃 said Myles； 〃prithee give me my pouch yonder。〃
Gascoyne handed him the velvet bag； and he opened it； and took out
the necklace that the Lady Alice had given him the day before。
〃Tie me this around my arm；〃 said he。 He looked down； keeping his
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eyes studiously fixed on Gascoyne's fingers； as they twined the thin
golden chain around the iron plates of his right arm； knowing that Lord
George's eyes were upon him； and blushing fiery red at the knowledge。
Sir James was at that moment examining the great tilting helm； and
Lord George watched him； smiling amusedly。 〃And hast thou then already
chosen thee a lady？〃 he said； presently。
〃Aye； my Lord；〃 answered Myles； simply。
〃Marry； I trust we be so honored that she is one of our castle folk；〃
said the Earl's brother。
For a moment Myles did not reply； then he looked up。 〃My Lord；〃 said
he； 〃the favor was given to me by the Lady Alice。〃
Lord George looked grave for the moment； then he laughed。 〃Marry；
thou art a bold archer to shoot for such high game。〃
Myles did not answer； and at that moment two grooms led his horse up
to the door of the pavilion。 Gascoyne and Wilkes helped him to his saddle；
and then； Gascoyne holding his horse by the bridle…rein； he rode slowly
across the lists to the little open space in front of the scaffolding and the
King's seat just as the Sieur de la Montaigne approached from the opposite
direction。
As soon as the two knights champion had reached each his appointed
station in front of the scaffolding； the Marshal bade the speaker read the
challenge； which； unrolling the parchment； he began to do in a loud； clear
voice； so that all might hear。 It was a quaint document； wrapped up in the
tangled heraldic verbiage of the time。
The pith of the matter was that the Sieur Brian Philip Francis de la
Montaigne proclaimed before all men the greater chivalry and skill at arms
of the knights of France and of Dauphiny； and likewise the greater fairness
of the ladies of France and Dauphiny； and would there defend those
sayings with his body without fear or attaint as to the truth of the same。 As
soon as the speaker had ended； the Marshal bade him call the defendant of
the other side。
Then Myles spoke his part； with a voice trembling somewhat with the
excitement of the moment； but loudly and clearly enough： 〃I； Myles
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Edward Falworth； knight； so created by the hand and by the grace of his
Majesty King Henry IV of England； do take upon me the gage of this
battle； and will defend with my body the chivalry of the knights of
England and the fairness of the ladies thereof！〃
Then； after the speaker ended his proclamation and had retired to his
place； the ceremony of claiming and redeeming the helmet； to which all
young knights were subjected upon first entering the lists； was performed。
One of the heralds cried in a loud voice； 〃I； Gilles Hamerton； herald to
the most noble Clarencieux King…at…arms； do claim the helm of Sir Myles
Edward Falworth by this reason； that he hath never yet entered joust or
tourney。〃
To which Myles answered； 〃I do acknowledge the right of that claim；
and herewith proffer thee in ransom for the same this purse of one hun
