maid marian(女孩马丽安)-第3节
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〃I know what I say；〃 said brother Michael； 〃there is often more sense
in an old song than in a new homily。
The courtly pad doth amble； When his gay lord would ramble：
But both may catch An awkward scratch； If they ride among the
bramble： The bramble； the bramble； the bonny forest bramble。〃
〃Tall friar；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃either you shoot the shafts of your
merriment at random； or you know more of the earl's designs than
beseems your frock。〃
〃Let my frock；〃 said brother Michael； 〃answer for its own sins。 It is
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worn past covering mine。 It is too weak for a shield； too transparent for a
screen； too thin for a shelter； too light for gravity； and too threadbare for a
jest。 The wearer would be naught indeed who should misbeseem such a
wedding garment。
But wherefore does the sheep wear wool？ That he in season
sheared may be； And the shepherd be warm though his flock be cool：
So I'll have a new cloak about me。〃
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CHAPTER II
Vray moyne si oncques en feut depuis que le monde moynant moyna
de moynerie。RABELAIS。
The Earl of Huntingdon； living in the vicinity of a royal forest； and
passionately attached to the chase from his infancy； had long made as free
with the king's deer as Lord Percy proposed to do with those of Lord
Douglas in the memorable hunting of Cheviot。 It is sufficiently well
known how severe were the forest…laws in those days； and with what
jealousy the kings of England maintained this branch of their prerogative；
but menaces and remonstrances were thrown away on the earl； who
declared that he would not thank Saint Peter for admission into Paradise； if
he were obliged to leave his bow and hounds at the gate。 King Henry
（the Second） swore by Saint Botolph to make him rue his sport； and；
having caused him to be duly and formally accused； summoned him to
London to answer the charge。 The earl； deeming himself safer among his
own vassals than among king Henry's courtiers； took no notice of the
mandate。 King Henry sent a force to bring him； vi et armis； to court。 The
earl made a resolute resistance； and put the king's force to flight under a
shower of arrows： an act which the courtiers declared to be treason。 At
the same time； the abbot of Doncaster sued up the payment of certain
moneys； which the earl； whose revenue ran a losing race with his
hospitality； had borrowed at sundry times of the said abbot： for the
abbots and the bishops were the chief usurers of those days； and； as the
end sanctifies the means； were not in the least scrupulous of employing
what would have been extortion in the profane； to accomplish the pious
purpose of bringing a blessing on the land by rescuing it from the frail
hold of carnal and temporal into the firmer grasp of ghostly and spiritual
possessors。 But the earl； confident in the number and attachment of his
retainers； stoutly refused either to repay the money； which he could not； or
to yield the forfeiture； which he would not： a refusal which in those days
was an act of outlawry in a gentleman； as it is now of bankruptcy in a base
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mechanic； the gentleman having in our wiser times a more liberal
privilege of gentility； which enables him to keep his land and laugh at his
creditor。 Thus the mutual resentments and interests of the king and the
abbot concurred to subject the earl to the penalties of outlawry； by which
the abbot would gain his due upon the lands of Locksley； and the rest
would be confiscate to the king。 Still the king did not think it advisable to
assail the earl in his own strong…hold； but caused a diligent watch to be
kept over his motions； till at length his rumoured marriage with the heiress
of Arlingford seemed to point out an easy method of laying violent hands
on the offender。 Sir Ralph Montfaucon； a young man of good lineage and
of an aspiring temper； who readily seized the first opportunity that offered
of recommending himself to King Henry's favour by manifesting his zeal
in his service； undertook the charge： and how he succeeded we have seen。
Sir Ralph's curiosity was strongly excited by the friar's description of
the young lady of Arlingford； and he prepared in the morning to visit the
castle； under the very plausible pretext of giving the baron an explanation
of his intervention at the nuptials。 Brother Michael and the little fat friar
proposed to be his guides。 The proposal was courteously accepted； and
they set out together； leaving Sir Ralph's followers at the abbey。 The
knight was mounted on a spirited charger； brother Michael on a large
heavy…trotting horse； and the little fat friar on a plump soft…paced galloway；
so correspondent with himself in size； rotundity； and sleekness； that if they
had been amalgamated into a centaur； there would have been nothing to
alter in their proportions。
〃Do you know；〃 said the little friar； as they wound along the banks of
the stream； 〃the reason why lake…trout is better than river…trout； and shyer
withal？〃
〃I was not aware of the fact；〃 said Sir Ralph。
〃A most heterodox remark；〃 said brother Michael： 〃know you not；
that in all nice matters you should take the implication for absolute； and；
without looking into the FACT WHETHER； seek only the reason why？
But the fact is so； on the word of a friar； which what layman will venture
to gainsay who prefers a down bed to a gridiron？〃
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〃The fact being so；〃 said the knight； 〃I am still at a loss for the reason；
nor would I undertake to opine in a matter of that magnitude： since； in
all that appertains to the good things either of this world or the next； my
reverend spiritual guides are kind enough to take the trouble of thinking
off my hands。〃
〃Spoken；〃 said brother Michael； 〃with a sound Catholic conscience。
My little brother here is most profound in the matter of trout。 He has
marked； learned； and inwardly digested the subject； twice a week at least
for five…and…thirty years。 I yield to him in this。 My strong points are
venison and canary。〃
〃The good qualities of a trout；〃 said the little friar； 〃are firmness and
redness： the redness； indeed； being the visible sign of all other virtues。〃
〃Whence；〃 said brother Michael； 〃we choose our abbot by his nose：
The rose on the nose doth all virtues disclose： For the outward
grace shows That the inward overflows； When it glows in the rose of a
red； red nose。〃
〃Now；〃 said the little friar； 〃as is the firmness so is the redness； and as
is the redness so is the shyness。〃
〃Marry why？〃 said brother Michael。 〃The solution is not physical…
natural； but physical…historical； or natural…superinductive。 And thereby
hangs a tale； which may be either said or sung：
The damsel stood to watch the fight By the banks of Kingslea
Mere； And they brought to her feet her own true knight Sore…
wounded on a bier。
She knelt by him his wounds to bind； She washed them with
many a tear： And shouts rose fast upon the wind； Which told that
the foe was near。
〃Oh！ let not；〃 he said； 〃while yet I live； The cruel foe me take：
But with thy sweet lips a last kiss give； And cast me in the lake。〃
Around his neck she wound her arms； And she kissed his lips
so pale： And evermore the war's alarms
