men of iron(铁人)-第5章
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and the head of that body was expected to make weekly reports of affairs
in their quarters to the chief captain of the body。
From this overlordship of the bachelors there had gradually risen a
system of fagging； such as is or was practised in the great English public
schoolsenforced services exacted from the younger ladswhich at the
time Myles came to Devlen had； in the five or six years it had been in
practice； grown to be an absolute though unwritten law of the bodya law
supported by all the prestige of long…continued usage。 At that time the
bachelors numbered but thirteen； yet they exercised over the rest of the
sixty…four squires and pages a rule of iron； and were taskmasters； hard；
exacting； and oftentimes cruel。
The whole company of squires and pages was under the supreme
command of a certain one…eyed knight； by name Sir James Lee； a soldier
seasoned by the fire of a dozen battles； bearing a score of wounds won in
fight and tourney； and withered by hardship and labor to a leather…like
toughness。 He had fought upon the King's side in all the late wars； and had
at Shrewsbury received a wound that unfitted him for active service； so
that now he was fallen to the post of Captain of Esquires at Devlen Castle…
…a man disappointed in life； and with a temper imbittered by that failure as
well as by cankering pain。
Yet Perhaps no one could have been better fitted for the place he held
than Sir James Lee。 The lads under his charge were a rude； rough； unruly
set； quick； like their elders； to quarrel； and to quarrel fiercely； even to the
drawing of sword or dagger。 But there was a cold； iron sternness about the
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grim old man that quelled them； as the trainer with a lash of steel might
quell a den of young wolves。 The apartments in which he was lodged； with
his clerk； were next in the dormitory of the lads； and even in the midst of
the most excited brawlings the distant sound of his harsh voice； 〃Silence；
messieurs！〃 would bring an instant hush to the loudest uproar。
It was into his grim presence that Myles was introduced by Gascoyne。
Sir James was in his office； a room bare of ornament or adornment or
superfluous comfort of any sortwithout even so much as a mat of rushes
upon the cold stone pavement to make it less cheerless。 The old one… eyed
knight sat gnawing his bristling mustaches。 To anyone who knew him it
would have been apparent that； as the castle phrase went； 〃the devil sat
astride of his neck；〃 which meant that some one of his blind wounds was
aching more sorely than usual。
His clerk sat beside him； with account…books and parchment spread
upon the table； and the head squire； Walter Blunt； a lad some three or four
years older than Myles； and half a head taller； black…browed； powerfully
built； and with cheek and chin darkened by the soft budding of his
adolescent beard； stood making his report。
Sir James listened in grim silence while Gascoyne told his errand。
〃So； then； pardee； I am bid to take another one of ye； am I？〃 he snarled。
〃As though ye caused me not trouble enow； and this one a cub； looking a
very boor in carriage and breeding。 Mayhap the Earl thinketh I am to train
boys to his dilly…dally household service as well as to use of arms。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Gascoyne； timidly； 〃my Lord sayeth he would have this one
entered direct as a squire of the body； so that he need not serve in the
household。〃
〃Sayest so？〃 cried Sir James； harshly。 〃Then take thou my message
back again to thy Lord。 Not for Mackworthno； nor a better man than he
will I make any changes in my government。 An I be set to rule a pack of
boys； I will rule them as I list； and not according to any man's bidding。 Tell
him； sirrah； that I will enter no lad as squire of the body without first
testing an he be fit at arms to hold that place。〃 He sat for a while
glowering at Myles and gnawing his mustaches； and for the time no one
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dared to break the grim silence。 〃What is thy name？〃 said he； suddenly。
And then； almost before Myles could answer； he asked the head squire
whether he could find a place to lodge him。
〃There is Gillis Whitlock's cot empty；〃 said Blunt。 〃He is in the
infirmary； and belike goeth home again when he cometh thence。 The fever
hath gotten into his bones； and〃
〃That will do；〃 said the knight； interrupting him impatiently。 〃Let him
take that place； or any other that thou hast。 And thou； Jerome；〃 said he to
his clerk； 〃thou mayst enter him upon the roll； though whether it be as
page or squire or bachelor shall be as I please； and not as Mackworth
biddeth me。 Now get ye gone。〃
〃Old Bruin's wound smarteth him sore；〃 Gascoyne observed； as the
two lads walked across the armory court。 He had good…naturedly offered
to show the new…comer the many sights of interest around the castle； and
in the hour or so of ramble that followed； the two grew from acquaintances
to friends with a quickness that boyhood alone can bring about。 They
visited the armory； the chapel； the stables； the great hall； the Painted
Chamber； the guard…house； the mess…room； and even the scullery and the
kitchen； with its great range of boilers and furnaces and ovens。 Last of all
Myles's new friend introduced him to the armor…smithy。
〃My Lord hath sent a piece of Milan armor thither to be repaired；〃 said
he。 〃Belike thou would like to see it。〃
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； eagerly； 〃that would I。〃
The smith was a gruff； good…natured fellow； and showed the piece of
armor to Myles readily and willingly enough。 It was a beautiful bascinet of
inlaid workmanship； and was edged with a rim of gold。 Myles scarcely
dared touch it； he gazed at it with an unconcealed delight that warmed the
smith's honest heart。
〃I have another piece of Milan here；〃 said he。 〃Did I ever show thee
my dagger； Master Gascoyne？〃
〃Nay；〃 said the squire。
The smith unlocked a great oaken chest in the corner of the shop； lifted
the lid； and brought thence a beautiful dagger with the handle of ebony
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and silver…gilt； and a sheath of Spanish leather； embossed and gilt。 The
keen； well… tempered blade was beautifully engraved and inlaid with
niello…work； representing a group of figures in a then popular subjectthe
dance of Death。 It was a weapon at once unique and beautiful； and even
Gascoyne showed an admiration scarcely less keen than Myles's openly…
expressed delight。
〃To whom doth it belong？〃 said he； trying the point upon his thumb
nail。
〃There；〃 said the smith； 〃is the jest of the whole； for it belongeth to me。
Sir William Beauclerk bade me order the weapon through Master
Gildersworthy； of London town； and by the time it came hither； lo！ he had
died； and so it fell to my hands。 No one here payeth the price for the
trinket； and so I must e'en keep it myself； though I be but a poor man。〃
〃How much dost thou hold it for？〃 said Gascoyne。
〃Seventeen shillings buyeth it；〃 said the armorer； carelessly。
〃Aye； aye；〃 said Gascoyne； with a sigh； 〃so it is to be poor； and not be
able to have such things as one loveth and would fain possess。 Seventeen
shillings is nigh as much by half again as all my yearly wage。〃
Then a sudden thought came to Myles； and as it came his cheeks
glowed as hot as fire 〃Master Gascoyne；〃 said he； with gruff awkwardness；
〃thou hast been a very good； true friend to me since I have come to this
place； and hast befriended me in all ways thou mightest do； and I； as well I
know； but a poor rustic clod。 Now I have forty shillings by me which I
may spend as I list； and so I do beseech thee that thou wilt take yon dagger
of me as a love…gift； and have and hold it for thy very own。
Gascoyne stared open…mouthed at Myles。 〃Dost mean it？〃 said he； at
last。
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； 〃I do mean it。 Master Smith； give him the blade。〃
At first the smith grinned； thinking it all a jest； but he soon saw that
Myles was serious enough； and when the seventeen shillings were
produced and counted down upon the anvil； he took off his cap and made
Myles a low bow as he swept them into his pouch。 〃Now； by my faith and
troth；〃 quoth he； 〃that I do call a true lordly gift。 Is it not so； Master
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Gascoyne？〃
〃Aye；〃 said Gascoyne； with a gulp； 〃it is； in soothly earnest。〃 And
thereupon； to Myles's great wonderment； he suddenly flung his arms about
his neck； and； giving him a great hug； kissed him upon the cheek。 〃Dear
Myles；〃 said he； 〃I tell thee truly and of a verity I did feel warm towards
thee from the very first time I saw thee sitting like a poor oaf upon the
bench up yonder in the anteroom； and now of a sooth I give thee assurance
that I do love thee as my own brother。 Yea； I will take the dagger； and will
stand by thee as a true friend from this time forth。 Mayhap thou mayst
need a true friend in this place ere thou livest long with us； for some of us
esquires be soothly rough； and knocks are more plenty here than broad
pennies； so that one new come is like to have a hard time gaining a
footing。〃
〃I thank thee；〃 said Myles； 〃for thy offer of love and friendship； and do
tell thee； upon my part； that I also of all the world would like best to have
thee for my friend。〃
Such was the manner In which Myles formed the first great friendship
of his life； a friendship that was destined to last him through many years to
come。 As
