prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第17章

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〃he　would　indeed；　from　all　i　hear；〃　said　peter　with　a　laugh。　〃if　only　he　　wasnt　so　small。

they　wouldnt　even　see　him　till　he　was　close！鈥�

〃send　glenstorm；　sire；〃　said　trufflehunter。　〃no　one　ever　laughed　at　a　　centaur。鈥�

an　hour　later　two　great　lords　in　the　army　of　miraz；　the　lord　glozelle　and　　the　lord　sopespian；　strolling　along　their　lines　and　picking　their　teeth　after　　breakfast；　looked　up　and　saw　ing　down　to　them　from　the　wood　the　centaur　and　giant　　wimbleweather；　whom　they　had　seen　before　in　battle；　and　between　them　a　figure　they　could　　not　recognize。

nor　indeed　would　the　other　boys　at　edmunds　school　have　recognized　him　if　　they　could　have　seen　him　at　that　moment。　for　aslan　had　breathed　on　him　at　their　　meeting　and　a　kind　of　greatness　hung　about　him。

〃whats　to　do？〃　said　the　lord　glozelle。　〃an　attack？鈥�

〃a　parley；　rather；〃　said　sopespian。　〃see；　they　carry　green　branches。　they　　are　ing　to　surrender　most　likely。鈥�

〃he　that　is　walking　between　the　centaur　and　the　giant　has　no　look　of　　surrender　in　his　face；〃　said　glozelle。　〃who　can　he　be？　it　is　not　the　boy　caspian。鈥�

〃no　indeed；〃　said　sopespian。　〃this　is　a　fell　warrior；　i　warrant　you；　　wherever　the　rebels　have　got　him　from。　he　is　（in　your　lordships　private　ear）　a　kinglier　man　　than　ever　miraz　was。　and　what　mail　he　wears！　none　of　our　smiths　can　make　the　like。鈥�

〃ill　wager　my　dappled　pomely　he　brings　a　challenge；　not　a　surrender；〃　said　　glozelle。

〃how　then？〃　said　sopespian。　〃we　hold　the　enemy　in　our　fist　here。　miraz　　would　never　be　so　hair…brained　as　to　throw　away　his　advantage　on　a　bat。鈥�

〃he　might　be　brought　to　it；〃　said　glozelle　in　a　much　lower　voice。

〃softly；〃　said　sopespian。　〃step　a　little　aside　here　out　of　earshot　of　those　　sentries。　now。

have　i　taken　your　lordships　meaning　aright？鈥�

〃if　the　king　undertook　wager　of　battle；〃　whispered　glozelle；　〃why；　either　　he　would　kill　or　be　killed。鈥�

〃so；〃　said　sopespian；　nodding　his　head。

〃and　if　he　killed　we　should　have　won　this　war。鈥�

〃certainly。　and　if　not？鈥�

〃why；　if　not；　we　should　be　as　able　to　win　it　without　the　kings　grace　as　　with　him。　for　i　need　not　tell　your　lordship　that　miraz　is　no　very　great　captain。　and　after　　that；　we　should　be　both　victorious　and　kingless。鈥�

〃and　it　is　your　meaning；　my　lord；　that　you　and　i　could　hold　this　land　quite　　as　conveniently　without　a　king　as　with　one？鈥�

glozelles　face　grew　ugly。　〃not　forgetting；〃　said　he；　〃that　it　was　we　who　　first　put　him　on　the　throne。　and　in　all　the　years　that　he　has　enjoyed　it；　what　fruits　have　　e　our　way？

what　gratitude　has　he　shown　us？鈥�

〃say　no　more；〃　answered　sopespian。　〃but　look　…　herd　es　one　to　fetch　us　　to　the　kings　tent。〃　　‘　　when　they　reached　mirazs　tent　they　saw　edmund　and　his　two　panions　　seated　outside　it　and　being　entertained　with　cakes　and　wine；　having　already　delivered　the　　challenge；　and　withdrawn　while　the　king　was　considering　it。　when　they　saw　them　thus　at　　close　quarters　the　two　telmarine　lords　thought　all　three　of　them　very　alarming。

inside；　they　found　miraz；　unarmed　and　finishing　his　breakfast。　his　face　was　　flushed　and　there　was　a　scowl　on　his　brow。

〃there！〃　he　growled；　flinging　the　parchment　across　the　table　to　them。　〃see　　what　a　pack　of　nursery　tales　our　jackanapes　of　a　nephew　has　sent　us。鈥�

〃by　your　leave；　sire；〃　said　glozelle。　〃if　the　young　warrior　whom　we　have　　just　seen　outside　is　the　king　edmund　mentioned　in　the　writing；　then　i　would　not　call　　him　a　nursery　tale　but　a　very　dangerous　knight。鈥�

〃king　edmund；　pah！〃　said　miraz。　〃does　your　lordship　believe　those　old　　wives　fables　about　peter　and　edmund　and　the　rest？鈥�

〃i　believe　my　eyes；　your　majesty；〃　said　glozelle。

〃well；　this　is　to　no　purpose；〃　said　miraz；　〃but　as　touching　the　challenge；　　i　suppose　there　is　only　one　opinion　between　us？鈥�

〃i　suppose　so；　indeed；　sire；〃　said　glozelle。

〃and　what　is　that？〃　asked　the　king。

〃most　infallibly　to　refuse　it；〃　said　glozelle。　〃for　though　i　have　never　　been　called　a　coward；　i　must　plainly　say　that　to　meet　that　young　man　in　battle　is　more　　than　my　heart　would　serve　me　for。　and　if　（as　is　likely）　his　brother；　the　high　king；　is　　more　dangerous　than　he　why；　on　your　life；　my　lord　king；　have　nothing　to　do　with　him。鈥�

〃plague　on　you！〃　cried　miraz。　〃it　was　not　that　sort　of　council　i　wanted。　do　　you　think　i　am　asking　you　if　i　should　be　afraid　to　meet　this　peter　（if　there　is　such　a　　man）？　do　you　think　i　fear　him？　i　wanted　your　counsel　on　the　policy　of　the　matter；　whether　we；　　having　the　advantage；　should　hazard　it　on　a　wager　of　battle。鈥�

〃to　which　i　can　only　answer；　your　majesty；〃　said　glozelle；　〃that　for　all　　reasons　the　challenge　should　be　refused。　there　is　death　in　the　strange　knights　face。鈥�

〃there　you　are　again！〃　said　miraz；　now　thoroughly　angry。　〃are　you　trying；　　to　make　it　appear　that　i　am　as　great　a　coward　as　your　lordship？鈥�

〃your　majesty　may　say　your　pleasure；〃　said　glozelle　sulkily。

〃you　talk　like　an　old　woman；　glozelle；〃　said　the　king。　〃what　say　you；　my　　lord　sopespian？鈥�

〃do　not　touch　it；　sire；〃　was　the　reply。　〃and　what　your　majesty　says　of　the　　policy　of　the　thing　es　in　very　happily。　it　gives　your　majesty　excellent　grounds　for　a　　refusal　without　any　cause　for　questioning　your　majestys　honour　or　courage。鈥�

〃great　heaven！〃　exclaimed　miraz；　jumping　to　his　feet。　〃are　you　also　　bewitched　today？

do　you　think　i　am　looking　for　grounds　to　refuse　it？　you　might　as　well　call　　me　coward　to　my　face。鈥�

the　conversation　was　going　exactly　as　the　two　lords　wished；　so　they　said　　nothing。

〃i　see　what　it　is；〃　said　miraz；　after　staring　at　them　as　if　his　eyes　would　　start　out　of　his　head；　〃you　are　as　lilylivered　as　hares　yourselves　and　have　the　effrontery　　to　imagine　my　heart　after　the　likeness　of　yours！　grounds　for　a　refusal；　indeed！　excuses　　for　not　fighting！

are　you　soldiers？　are　you　telmarines？　are　you　men？　and　if　i　dog　refuse　it　　（as　ail　good　reasons　of　captaincy　and　martial　policy　urge　me　to　do）　you　will　think；　and　　teach　others　tan　think；　i　was　afraid。　is　it　not　so？鈥�

〃no　man　of　your　majestys　age；〃　said　glozelle；　〃would　be　called　coward　by　　any　wise　soldier　for　refusing　the　bat　with　a　great　warrior　in　the　flower　of　his　　youth。鈥�

〃so　im　to　be　a　dotard　with　one　foot　in　the　grave；　as　well　as　a　dastard；〃　　roared　miraz。　〃ill　tell　you　what　it　is；　my　lords。　with　your　womanish　counsels　（ever　shying　　from　the　true　point；　which　is　one　of　policy）　you　have　done　the　very　opposite　of　your　　intent。　i　had　meant　to　refuse　it。　but　ill　accept　it。　do　you　hear；　accept　it！　ill　not　be　　shamed　because　some　witchcraft　or　treason　has　frozen　both　your　bloods。鈥�

〃we　beseech　your　majesty　…〃　said　glozelle；　but　miraz　had　flung　out　of　the　　tent　and　they　could　hear　him　bawling　out　his　acceptance　to　edmund。

the　two　lords　looked　at　one　another　and　chuckled　quietly。

〃i　knew　hed　do　it　if　he　were　properly　chafed；〃　said　glozelle。　〃but　ill　　not　forget　he　called　me　coward。　it　shall　be　paid　for。鈥�

there　was　a　great　stirring　at　aslans　how　when　the　news　came　back　and　was　municated　to　the　various　creatures。　edmund；　with　one　of　mirazs　　captains；　had　already　marked　out　the　place　for　the　bat；　and　ropes　and　stakes　had　been　　put　round　it。

two　telmarines　were　to　stand　at　two　of　the　corners；　and　one　in　the　middle　　of　one　side；　as　marshals　of　the　lists。　three　marshals　for　the　other　two　corners　and　the　　other　side　were　to　be　furnished　by　the　high　king。　peter　was　just　explaining　to　caspian　that　he　　could　not　be　one；　because　his　right　to　the　throne　was　what　they　were　fighting　about；　　when　suddenly　a　thick；　sleepy　voice　said；　〃your　majesty；　please。〃　peter　turned　and　there　　stood　the　eldest　of　the　bulgy　bears。

〃if　you　please；　your　majesty；〃　he　said；　〃im　a　bear；　i　am。鈥�

〃to　be　sure；　so　you　are；　and　a　good　bear　too；　i　dont　doubt；〃　said　peter。

〃yes；〃　said　the　bear。　〃but　it　was　always　a　right　of　the；　bears　to　supply　　one　marshal　of　the　lists。鈥�

〃dont　let　him；〃　whispered　trumpkin　to　peter。　〃hes　a　good　creature；　but　　hell　shame　us　all。　hell　go　to　sleep　and　he　will　suck　his　paws。　in　front　of　the　enemy　　too。鈥�

〃i　cant　help　that；〃　said　peter。　〃because　hes　quite　right。　the　bears　had　　that　privilege。　i　cant　imagine　how　it　has　been　remembered　all　these　years；　when　so　many　　other　things　have　been　forgotten。鈥�

〃please；　your　majesty；〃　said　the　bear。

〃it　is　your　right；〃　said　peter。　〃and　you　shall　be　one　of　the　marshals。　but　　you　must　remember　not　to　suck　your　paws。鈥�

〃of　course　not；〃　said　the　bear　in　a　very　shocked　voice。

〃why；　youre　doing　it　this　minute！〃　bellowed　trumpkin。

the　bear　whipped　his　paw　out　of　his　mouth　and　pretended　he　hadnt　heard。

〃sire！〃　came　a　shrill　voice　from　near　the　ground。

〃ah　…　reepicheep！〃　said　peter　after　looking　up　and　down　and　round　as　people　　usually　did　when　addressed　by　the　mouse。

〃sire；〃　said　reepicheep。　〃my　life　is　ever　at　your　mand；　but　my　honour　is　　my　own。

sire；　i　have　among　my　people　the　only　trumpeter　in　your　majestys　army。　i　　had　thought；　　

perhaps；　we　might　have　been　sent　with　the　challenge。　sire；　my　people　are　　grieved。

perhaps　if　it　were　your　pleasure　that　i　should　be　a　marshal　of　the　lists；　　it　would　content　them。鈥�

a　noise　not　unlike　thunder　broke　out　from　somewhere　overhead　at　this　point；　　as　giant　wimbleweather　burst　into　one　of　those　not　very　intelligent　laughs　to　which　　the　nicer　sorts　of　giant　are　so　liable。　he　checked　himself　at　once　and　looked　as　grave　as　a　　turnip　by　the　time　reepicheep　discovered　where　the　noise　came　from。

〃i　am　afraid　it　would　not　do；〃　said　peter　very　gravely。　〃some　humans　are　　afraid　of　mice　…鈥�

〃i　had　observed　it；　sire；〃　said　reepicheep。

〃and　it　would　not　be　quite　fair　to　miraz；〃　peter　continued；　〃to　have　in　　sight　anything　that　might　abate　the　edge　of　his　courage。鈥�

〃your　majesty　is　the　mirror　of　honour；〃　said　the　mouse　with　one　of　his　　admirable　bows。

〃and　on　this　matter　we　have　but　a　single　mind。。。　i　thought　i　heard　someone　　laughing　just　now。　if　anyone　present　wishes　to　make　me　the　subject　of　his　wit；　i　am　very　　much　at　his　service　…　with　my　sword　…　whenever　he　has　leisure。鈥�

an　awful　silence　followed　this　remark；　which　was　broken　by　peter　saying；　　〃giant　wimbleweather　and　the　bear　and　the　centaur　glenstorm　shall　be　our　marshals。　　the　bat　will　be　at　two　hours　after　noon。　dinner　at　noon　precisely。鈥�

〃i　say；〃　said　edmund　as　they　walked　away；　〃i　suppose　it　is　all　right。　i　　mean；　i　suppose　you　can　beat　him？鈥�

〃thats　what　im　fighting　him　to　find　out；〃　said　peter。

。；



CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

锛屽皬璇达伎t锛縳t澶╁爞
how　all　were　very　busy　　a　little　before　two　oclock　trumpkin　and　the　badger　sat　with　the　rest　of　　the　creatures　at　the　woods　edge　looking　across　at　the　gleaming　line　of　mirazs　army　　which　was　about　two　arrow…shots　away。　in　between；　a　square　space　of　level　grass　had　been　　staked　for　the　bat。　at　the　two　far　corners　stood　glozelle　and　sopespian　with　drawn　　swords。　at　the　near　corners　were　giant　wimbleweather　and　the　bulgy　bear；　who　in　spite　of　　all　their　warnings　was　sucking　his　paws　and　looking；　to　tell　the　truth；　unmonly　　silly。　to　make　up　for　this；　glenstorm　on　the　right　of　the　lists；　stock…still　except　when　　he　stamped　a　hind　hoof　occasionally　on　the　turf；　looked　much　more　imposing　than　the　telmarine　　baron　who　　

faced