maid marian(女孩马丽安)-第7章
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Resolution and Independence。
For his discobolic exploit proved the climax of his rage； and was
succeeded by an immediate sense that he had passed the bounds of
legitimate passion； and he sunk immediately from the very pinnacle of
opposition to the level of implicit acquiescence。 The friar's spirits were not
to be marred by such a little incident。 He was half…inclined； at first； to
return the baron's compliment； but his love of Matilda checked him； and
when the baron held out his hand； the friar seized it cordially； and they
drowned all recollection of the affair by pledging each other in a cup of
canary。
The friar； having stayed long enough to see every thing replaced on a
friendly footing； rose； and moved to take his leave。 Matilda told him he
must come again on the morrow； for she had a very long confession to
make to him。 This the friar promised to do； and departed with the knight。
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Sir Ralph； on reaching the abbey； drew his followers together； and led
them to Locksley Castle； which he found in the possession of his
lieutenant； whom he again left there with a sufficient force to hold it in
safe keeping in the king's name； and proceeded to London to report the
results of his enterprise。
Now Henry our royal king was very wroth at the earl's evasion； and
swore by Saint Thomas…a…Becket （whom he had himself translated into a
saint by having him knocked on the head）； that he would give the castle
and lands of Locksley to the man who should bring in the earl。 Hereupon
ensued a process of thought in the mind of the knight。 The eyes of the
fair huntress of Arlingford had left a wound in his heart which only she
who gave could heal。 He had seen that the baron was no longer very
partial to the outlawed earl； but that he still retained his old affection for
the lands and castle of Locksley。 Now the lands and castle were very fair
things in themselves； and would be pretty appurtenances to an adventurous
knight； but they would be doubly valuable as certain passports to the
father's favour； which was one step towards that of the daughter； or at least
towards obtaining possession of her either quietly or perforce； for the
knight was not so nice in his love as to consider the lady's free grace a sine
qua non： and to think of being； by any means whatever； the lord of
Locksley and Arlingford； and the husband of the bewitching Matilda； was
to cut in the shades of futurity a vista very tempting to a soldier of fortune。
He set out in high spirits with a chosen band of followers； and beat up all
the country far and wide around both the Ouse and the Trent； but fortune
did not seem disposed to second his diligence； for no vestige whatever
could he trace of the earl。 His followers； who were only paid with the
wages of hope； began to murmur and fall off； for； as those unenlightened
days were ignorant of the happy invention of paper machinery； by which
one promise to pay is satisfactorily paid with another promise to pay； and
that again with another in infinite series； they would not； as their wiser
posterity has done； take those tenders for true pay which were not sterling；
so that； one fine morning； the knight found himself sitting on a pleasant
bank of the Trent； with only a solitary squire； who still clung to the
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shadow of preferment； because he did not see at the moment any better
chance of the substance。
The knight did not despair because of the desertion of his followers： he
was well aware that he could easily raise recruits if he could once find
trace of his game； he； therefore； rode about indefatigably over hill and dale；
to the great sharpening of his own appetite and that of his squire； living
gallantly from inn to inn when his purse was full； and quartering himself
in the king's name on the nearest ghostly brotherhood when it happened to
be empty。 An autumn and a winter had passed away； when the course of
his perlustations brought him one evening into a beautiful sylvan valley；
where he found a number of young women weaving garlands of flowers；
and singing over their pleasant occupation。 He approached them； and
courteously inquired the way to the nearest town。
〃There is no town within several miles；〃 was the answer。
〃A village； then； if it be but large enough to furnish an inn？〃 〃There
is Gamwell just by； but there is no inn nearer than the nearest town。〃
〃An abbey； then？〃
〃There is no abbey nearer than the nearest inn。〃
〃A house then； or a cottage； where I may obtain hospitality for the
night？〃
〃Hospitality！〃 said one of the young women； 〃you have not far to seek
for that。 Do you not know that you are in the neighbourhood of
Gamwell…Hall？〃
〃So far from it；〃 said the knight； 〃that I never heard the name of
Gamwell…Hall before。〃
〃Never heard of Gamwell…Hall？〃 exclaimed all the young women
together； who could as soon have dreamed of his never having heard of the
sky。
〃Indeed； no；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃but I shall be very happy to get rid of
my ignorance。〃
〃And so shall I；〃 said his squire； 〃for it seems that in this case
knowledge will for once be a cure for hunger； wherewith I am grievously
afflicted。〃
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〃And why are you so busy； my pretty damsels； weaving these
garlands？〃 said the knight。
〃Why； do you not know； sir；〃 said one of the young women； 〃that to…
morrow is Gamwell feast？〃
The knight was again obliged； with all humility； to confess his
ignorance。
〃Oh！ sir；〃 said his informant； 〃then you will have something to see；
that I can tell you； for we shall choose a Queen of the May； and we shall
crown her with flowers； and place her in a chariot of flowers； and draw it
with lines of flowers； and we shall hang all the trees with flowers； and we
shall strew all the ground with flowers； and we shall dance with flowers；
and in flowers； and on flowers； and we shall be all flowers。〃
〃That you will；〃 said the knight； 〃and the sweetest and brightest of all
the flowers of the May； my pretty damsels。〃 On which all the pretty
damsels smiled at him and each other。
〃And there will be all sorts of May…games； and there will be prizes for
archery； and there will be the knight's ale； and the foresters' venison； and
there will be Kit Scrapesqueak with his fiddle； and little Tom Whistlerap
with his fife and tabor； and Sam Trumtwang with his harp； and Peter
Muggledrone with his bagpipe； and how I shall dance with Will
Whitethorn！〃 added the girl； clapping her hands as she spoke； and
bounding from the ground with the pleasure of the anticipation。
A tall athletic young man approached； to whom the rustic maidens
courtesied with great respect； and one of them informed Sir Ralph that it
was young Master William Gamwell。 The young gentleman invited and
conducted the knight to the hall； where he introduced him to the old knight
his father； and to the old lady his mother； and to the young lady his sister；
and to a number of bold yeomen； who were laying siege to beef； brawn；
and plum pie around a ponderous table； and taking copious draughts of old
October。 A motto was inscribed over the interior door；
EAT； DRINK； AND BE MERRY：
an injunction which Sir Ralph and his squire showed remarkable
alacrity in obeying。 Old Sir Guy of Gamwell gave Sir Ralph a very
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cordial welcome； and entertained him during supper with several of his
best stories； enforced with an occasional slap on the back； and pointed
with a peg in the ribs； a species of vivacious eloquence in which the； old
gentleman excelled； and which is supposed by many of that pleasant
variety of the human spectes； known by the name of choice fellows and
comical dogs； to be the genuine tangible shape of the cream of a good
joke。
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CHAPTER VI
What！ shall we have incision？ shall we embrew？ Henry IV。
Old Sir Guy of Gamwell； and young William Gamwell； and fair Alice
Gamwell； and Sir Ralph Montfaucon and his squire； rode together the next
morning to the scene of the feast。 They arrived on a village green；
surrounded with cottages peeping from among the trees by which the
green was completely encircled。 The whole circle was hung round with
one continuous garland of flowers； depending in irregular festoons from
the branches。 In the centre of the green was a May…pole hidden in boughs
and garlands； and a multitude of round…faced bumpkins and cherry…
checked lasses were dancing around it； to the quadruple melody of
Scrapesqueak； Whistlerap； Trumtwang； and Muggledrone： harmony we
must not call it； for； though they had agreed to a partnership in point of
tune； each； like a true painstaking man； seemed determined to have his
time to himself： Muggledrone played allegretto； Trumtwang allegro；
Whistlerap presto； and Scrapesqueak prestissimo。 There was a kind of
mathematical proportion in their discrepancy： while Muggledrone played
t
