prologue-第4节

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behind；　the　command　of　the　reinforcement　was　given　to　Master

Shelton。　　Indeed；　there　was　no　choice；　the　men　were　loutish

fellows；　dull　and　unskilled　in　war；　while　Dick　was　not　only

popular；　but　resolute　and　grave　beyond　his　age。　　Although　his　youth

had　been　spent　in　these　rough；　country　places；　the　lad　had　been

well　taught　in　letters　by　Sir　Oliver；　and　Hatch　himself　had　shown

him　the　management　of　arms　and　the　first　principles　of　command。

Bennet　had　always　been　kind　and　helpful；　he　was　one　of　those　who

are　cruel　as　the　grave　to　those　they　call　their　enemies；　but

ruggedly　faithful　and　well　willing　to　their　friends；　and　now；　while

Sir　Oliver　entered　the　next　house　to　write；　in　his　swift；　exquisite

penmanship；　a　memorandum　of　the　last　occurrences　to　his　master；　Sir

Daniel　Brackley；　Bennet　came　up　to　his　pupil　to　wish　him　God…speed

upon　his　enterprise。



〃Ye　must　go　the　long　way　about；　Master　Shelton；〃　he　said；　〃round　by

the　bridge；　for　your　life！　　Keep　a　sure　man　fifty　paces　afore　you；

to　draw　shots；　and　go　softly　till　y'　are　past　the　wood。　　If　the

rogues　fall　upon　you；　ride　for　't；　ye　will　do　naught　by　standing。

And　keep　ever　forward；　Master　Shelton；　turn　me　not　back　again；　an

ye　love　your　life；　there　is　no　help　in　Tunstall；　mind　ye　that。　　And

now；　since　ye　go　to　the　great　wars　about　the　king；　and　I　continue

to　dwell　here　in　extreme　jeopardy　of　my　life；　and　the　saints　alone

can　certify　if　we　shall　meet　again　below；　I　give　you　my　last

counsels　now　at　your　riding。　　Keep　an　eye　on　Sir　Daniel；　he　is

unsure。　　Put　not　your　trust　in　the　jack…priest；　he　intendeth　not

amiss；　but　doth　the　will　of　others；　it　is　a　hand…gun　for　Sir

Daniel！　　Get　your　good　lordship　where　ye　go；　make　you　strong

friends；　look　to　it。　　And　think　ever　a　pater…noster…while　on　Bennet

Hatch。　　There　are　worse　rogues　afoot　than　Bennet。　　So；　God…speed！〃



〃And　Heaven　be　with　you；　Bennet！〃　returned　Dick。　　〃Ye　were　a　good

friend　to　me…ward；　and　so　I　shall　say　ever。〃



〃And；　look　ye；　master；〃　added　Hatch；　with　a　certain　embarrassment；

〃if　this　Amend…All　should　get　a　shaft　into　me；　ye　might；　mayhap；

lay　out　a　gold　mark　or　mayhap　a　pound　for　my　poor　soul；　for　it　is

like　to　go　stiff　with　me　in　purgatory。〃



〃Ye　shall　have　your　will　of　it；　Bennet；〃　answered　Dick。　　〃But；　what

cheer；　man！　we　shall　meet　again；　where　ye　shall　have　more　need　of

ale　than　masses。〃



〃The　saints　so　grant　it；　Master　Dick！〃　returned　the　other。　　〃But

here　comes　Sir　Oliver。　　An　he　were　as　quick　with　the　long…bow　as

with　the　pen；　he　would　be　a　brave　man…at…arms。〃



Sir　Oliver　gave　Dick　a　sealed　packet；　with　this　superscription：

〃To　my　ryght　worchypful　master；　Sir　Daniel　Brackley；　knyght；　be

thys　delyvered　in　haste。〃



And　Dick；　putting　it　in　the　bosom　of　his　jacket；　gave　the　word　and

set　forth　westward　up　the　village。