child christopher-第26节

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Said　Christopher：　　〃Bring　him　in　hither；　good　fellow。〃　　And　the　man　went　back；　and　came　in　again　leading　a　tall　man；　armed；　but　with　a　hood　done　over　his　steel　hat；　so　that　his　face　was　hidden；　and　he　had　a　bag　in　his　hand　with　something　therein。

Then　spake　the　King　and　said：　　〃Thou　man；　since　thy　face　is　hidden；　this　trusty　man…at…arms　shall　stand　by　thee　while　we　talk　together。〃

〃Lord；〃　said　the　man；　〃let　there　be　a　dozen　to　hear　our　talk　I　care　not；　for　I　tell　thee　that　I　come　to　give　thee　a　gift；　and　gift…bearers　are　oftenest　welcome。〃

Quoth　the　King：　　〃Maybe；　yet　before　thou　bring　it　forth　I　would　see　thy　face；　for　meseems　I　have　an　inkling　of　thy　voice。〃

So　the　man　cast　back　his　hood；　and　lo；　it　was　Simon　the　squire。　　〃Hah！〃　said　Christopher；　〃is　it　thou　then！　hast　thou　another　knife　to　give　me？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Simon；　〃only　the　work　of　the　knife。〃　　And　therewith　he　set　his　hand　to　the　bag　and　drew　out　by　the　hair　a　man's　head；　newly　hacked　off　and　bleeding；　and　said：　〃Hast　thou　seen　him　before；　Lord？　He　was　a　great　man　yesterday；　though　not　so　great　as　thou　shalt　be　to…morrow。〃

〃Once　only　I　have　seen　him；　〃said　Christopher；〃　and　then　he　gave　me　this　gift〃　（and　he　showed　his　father's　ring　on　his　finger）：　　〃thou　hast　slain　the　Earl　Marshal；　who　called　himself　the　King　of　Oakenrealm：　　my　traitor　and　dastard　he　was　but　thy　friend。　Wherefore　have　I　two　evil　deeds　to　reward　thee；　Simon；　the　wounding　of　me　and　the　slaying　of　him。　　Dost　thou　not　deem　thee　gallows…ripe？〃

〃King；〃　said　Simon；　〃what　wouldst　thou　have　done　with　him　hadst　thou　caught　him？〃

Said　Christopher：　　〃I　had　slain　him　had　I　met　him　with　a　weapon　in　his　fist；　and　if　we　had　taken　him　I　had　let　the　folk　judge　him。〃

Said　Simon：　　〃That　is　to　say；　that　either　thou　hadst　slain　him　thyself；　or　bidden　others　to　slay　him。　　Now　then　I　ask　thee；　King；　for　which　deed　wilt　thou　slay　me；　for　not　slaying　thee；　or　for　doing　thy　work　and　slaying　thy　foe？〃

Said　Christopher　to　the　guard：　　〃Good　fellow；　fetch　here　a　good　horse　ready　saddled　and　bridled；　and　be　speedy。〃

So　the　man　went：　　and　Christopher　said　to　Simon：　　〃For　the　knife　in　my　side；　I　forgive　it　thee；　and　as　to　the　slaying　of　thy　friend；　it　is　not　for　me　to　take　up　the　feud。　　But　this　is　no　place　for　thee：　　if　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　or　any　of　his　sons；　or　one　of　the　captains　findeth　thee；　soon　art　thou　sped；　wherefore　I　rede　thee；　when　yonder　lad　hath　brought　thee　the　horse；　show　me　the　breadth　of　thy　back；　and　mount　the　beast；　and　put　the　most　miles　thou　canst　betwixt　me　and　my　folk；　for　they　love　me。〃

Said　Simon：　　〃Sorry　payment　for　making　thee　a　king！〃

Said　Christopher：　　〃Well；　thou　art　in　the　right；　I　may　well　give　gold　for　getting　rid　of　such　as　thou。〃　　And　he　put　his　hand　into　a　pouch　that　hung　on　his　chair；　and　drew　out　thence　a　purse；　and　gave　it　unto　Simon；　who　took　it　and　opened　it　and　looked　therein；　and　then　flung　it　down　on　the　ground。

Christopher　looked　on　him　wrathfully　with　reddened　face；　and　cried　out：　　〃Thou　dog！　wouldst　thou　be　an　earl　and　rule　the　folk？　What　more　dost　thou　want？〃

〃This！〃　cried　out　Simon；　and　leapt　upon　him；　knife　aloft。　Christopher　was　unarmed　utterly；　but　he　caught　hold　of　the　felon's　right　arm　with　his　right　hand；　and　gripped　the　wrist　till　he　shrieked；　then　he　raised　up　his　mighty　left　hand；　and　drave　it　down　on　Simon's　head　by　the　ear；　and　all　gave　way　before　it；　and　the　murderer　fell　crushed　and　dead　to　earth。

Therewith　came　in　the　man…at…arms　to　tell　him　that　the　horse　was　come；　but　stared　wild　when　he　saw　the　dead　man　on　the　ground。　　But　Christopher　said：　　〃My　lad；　here　hath　been　one　who　would　have　thrust　a　knife　into　an　unarmed　man；　wherefore　I　must　needs　give　him　his　wages。　　But　now　thou　hast　this　to　do：　　take　thou　this　dead　man　and　bind　him　so　fast　on　the　horse　thou　hast　brought　that　he　will　not　come　off　till　the　bindings　be　undone；　and　bind　withal　the　head　of　this　other；　who　was　once　a　great　man　and　an　evil；　before　the　slayer　of　him；　so　that　it　also　may　be　fast；　then　get　thee　to　horse　and　lead　this　beast　and　its　burden　till　ye　are　well　on　the　highway　to　Oakenham；　and　then　let　him　go　and　find　his　way　to　the　gate　of　the　city　if　God　will。　　And　hearken；　my　lad；　seest　thou　this　gold　which　lieth　scattering　on　the　floor　here？　this　was　mine；　but　is　no　longer；　since　I　have　given　it　away　to　the　dead　man　just　before　he　lifted　his　hand　against　me。　　Wherefore　now　I　will　keep　it　for　thee　against　thou　comest　back　safe　to　me　in　the　morning　betimes；　as　I　deem　thou　wilt；　if　thou　wilt　behight　to　St。　Julian　the　helping　of　some　poor　body　on　the　road。　　Go　therefore；　but　send　hither　the　guard；　for　I　am　weary　now；　and　would　go　to　sleep　without　slaying　any　man　else。〃

So　departed　the　man　full　of　joy；　and　Christopher　gathered　his　money　together　again；　and　so　fared　to　his　bed　peacefully。



CHAPTER　XXXVI。

KING　CHRISTOPHER　COMES　TO　OAKENHAM。


But　on　the　morrow　the　first　man　who　came　to　the　King　was　the　man…at…arms　aforesaid；　and　he　told　that　he　had　done　the　King's　errand；　and　ridden　a　five　miles　on　the　road　to　Oakenham　before　he　had　left　the　horse　with　his　felon　load；　and　that　he　had　found　nought　stirring　all　that　way　when　he　had　passed　through　their　own　out…guards；　where　folk　knew　him　and　let　him　go　freely。　　〃And；〃　quoth　he；　〃it　is　like　enough　that　this　gift　to　Oakenham；　Lord　King；　has　by　now　come　to　the　gate　thereof。〃　　Then　the　King　gave　that　man　the　gold　which　he　had　promised；　and　he　kissed　the　King's　hand　and　went　his　ways　a　happy　man。

Thereafter　sent　Christopher　for　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　and　told　him　in　few　words　what　had　betid；　and　that　Rolf　the　traitor　was　dead。　　Then　spake　Jack：　　〃King　and　fosterling；　never　hath　so　mighty　a　warrior　as　thou　waged　so　easy　a　war　for　so　goodly　a　kingdom　as　thou　hast　done；　for　surely　thy　war　was　ended　last　night；　wherefore　will　we　straight　to　Oakenham；　if　so　thou　wilt。　　But　if　it　be　thy　pleasure　I　will　send　a　chosen　band　of　riders　to　wend　on　the　spur　thereto；　and　bid　them　get　ready　thy　kingly　house；　and　give　word　to　the　Barons　and　the　Prelates；　and　the　chiefs　of　the　Knighthood；　and　the　Mayor　and　the　Aldermen；　and　the　Masters　of　the　Crafts；　to　show　themselves　of　what　mind　they　be　towards　thee。　　But　I　doubt　it　not　that　they　will　deem　of　thee　as　thy　father　come　back　again　and　grown　young　once　more。〃

Now　was　Christopher　eager　well　nigh　unto　weeping　to　behold　his　people　that　he　should　live　amongst；　and　gladly　he　yea…said　the　word　of　Jack　of　the　Tofts。　　So　were　those　riders　sent　forward；　and　the　host　was　ordered；　and　Christopher　rode　amidst　it　with　Goldilind　by　his　side；　and　the　sun　was　not　yet　gone　down　when　they　came　within　sight　of　the　gate　of　Oakenham；　and　there　before　the　gate　and　in　the　fields　on　either　side　of　it　was　gathered　a　very　great　and　goodly　throng；　and　there　went　forth　from　it　to　meet　the　King　the　Bishop　of　Oakenham；　and　the　Abbot　of　St。　　Mary's　and　the　Priors　of　the　other　houses　of　religion；　all　fairly　clad　in　broidered　copes；　with　the　clerks　and　the　monks　dight　full　solemnly；　and　they　came　singing　to　meet　him；　and　the　Bishop　blessed　him　and　gave　him　the　hallowed　bread；　and　the　King　greeted　him　and　craved　his　prayers。　　Then　came　the　Burgreve　of　Oakenham；　and　with　him　the　Barons　and　the　Knights；　and　they　knelt　before　him；　and　named　him　to　king；　and　the　Burgreve　gave　him　the　keys　of　the　city。　　Thereafter　came　the　Mayor　and　the　Aldermen；　and　the　Masters　of　the　Crafts；　and　they　craved　his　favour；　and　warding　of　his　mighty　sword；　and　all　these　he　greeted　kindly　and　meekly；　rather　as　a　friend　than　as　a　great　lord。

Thereafter　were　the　gates　opened；　and　King　Christopher　entered；　and　there　was　no　gainsaying；　and　none　spake　a　word　of　the　Traitor　Rolf。

But　the　bells　of　the　minster　and　of　all　the　churches　rang　merrily；　and　songs　were　sung　sweetly　by　fair　women　gloriously　clad；　and　whereas　King　Christopher　and　Queen　Goldilind　had　lighted　down　from　their　horses　and　went　afoot　through　the　street；　roses　and　all　kinds　of　sweet　flowers　were　cast　down　before　the　feet　of　them　all　the　way　from　the　city　gate　to　the　King's　High　House　of　Oakenham。

There　then　in　the　great　hall　of　his　father's　house　stood　Christopher　the　King　on　the　dais；　and　Goldilind　beside　him。　And　Jack　of　the　Tofts　and　the　chiefest　of　the　Captains；　and　the　Bishop；　and　the　greatest　lords　of　the　Barons；　and　the　doughtiest　of　the　Knights；　and　the　Mayor　and　the　Aldermen；　and　the　Masters　of　the　Crafts；　sat　at　the　banquet　with　the　King　and　his　mate；　they　brake　bread　together　and　drank　cups　of　renown；　till　the　voidee　cup　was　borne　in。　　Then　at　last　were　the　King　&　the　Queen　brought　to　their　chamber　with　string…play　and　songs　and　all　kinds　of　triumph；　and　that　first　night　since　he　lay　in　his　mother's　womb　did　Child　Christopher　fall　asleep　in　the　house　which　the　fathers　had　builded　for　him。



CHAPTER　XXXVII。

OF　CHILD　CHRISTOPHER'S　DEALINGS　WITH　HIS　FRIENDS　&　HIS　FOLK。


It　was　in　the　morning　when　King　Christopher　arose；　and　Goldilind　stood　before　him　in　the　kingly　chamber；　that　he　clipped　her　and　kissed　her；　and　said：　　〃This　is　the　very　chamber　whence　my　father　departed　when　he　went　to　his　last　battle；　and　left　my　mother　sickening　with　the　coming　birth　of　me。　　And　never　came　he　back　hither；　nor　did　mine　eyes　behold　him　ever。　　Here　also　lay　my　mother　a