the caged lion-第58节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Timidlyyes；　for　the　awful　chances　heavily　oppressed　him；　and　the　horrible　scurrility　and　savagery　that　greeted　him　on　all　sides　made　his　heart　faint　at　the　thought　of　his　Lily　in　this　cage　of　foul　animals。　　He　did　not　fear　for　himself；　and　never　paused　until　a　shouting　circle　of　idle　ruffians　set　themselves　full　in　his　way；　to　badger　and　bait　the　poor　scholar　with　taunts　and　insultshemming　him　in；　bawling　out　ribald　mirth；　as　a　pack　of　hounds　fall　on　some　stray　dog；　or；　as　Malcolm　thought；　in　a　moment　half　of　sick　horror；　half　of　resolute　resignation；　like　wild　cattlefat　bulls　of　Bashan　closing　in　on　every　side。　　So　horrible　a　moment　of　distress　he　had　never　known；　but　suddenly；　as　he　stood　summoning　all　his　strength；　panting　with　dismay；　inwardly　praying；　and　trying　to　close　his　ears　and　commend　himself　to　One　who　knew　what　mockery　is；　there　was　an　opening　of　the　crowd；　a　youth　darted　down　among　them；　with　a　loud　cry　of　'Shame！　　Out　on　you！　　A　poor　scholar！'　and　taking　Malcolm's　hand；　led　him　forward；　while　a　laugh　of　mockery　rose　in　the　distance'Like　to　like。'

'Ay；　my　friend　and　brother；　I　am　Baccalaureus；　even　as　you　are；'　eagerly　said　the　young　gentleman；　in　whom　Malcolm；　somewhat　to　his　alarm；　recognized　his　cousin；　James　Kennedy；　the　King's　nephew；　a　real　Parisian　'bejanus；'　or　bec　jaune；　｛2｝　when　they　last　had　met　in　the　Hotel　de　St。　Pol；　and　thus　not　only　qualified　to　confute　and　expose　him；　should　he　show　any　ignorance　of　details；　but　also　much　more　likely　to　know　him　than　those　who　had　not　seen　him　for　many　months　before　he　had　left　Scotland。

But　James　Kennedy　asked　no　questions；　only　said　kindly；　in　the　Latin　that　was　always　spoken　in　the　University；　'Pray　pardon　us！　　Mores　Hyperboreis　desunt。　｛3｝　　The　Regent　would　be　grieved；　if　he　knew　how　these　scelerati　｛4｝　have　sorted　you。　　Come；　rest　and　washit　will　soon　be　supper…time。'

He　took　Malcolm　to　an　inner　court；　filled　for　him　a　cup　of　ale；　for　his　immediate　refreshment；　and　led　him　to　a　spout　of　clear　water；　in　the　side　of　the　rock　on　which　the　Castle　stood；　where　a　stone　basin　afforded　the　only　facilities　for　washing　that　the　greater　part　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　Castle　expected；　and；　in　effect；　more　than　they　commonly　used。　　Malcolm；　however；　was　heartily　glad　of　the　refreshment　of　removing　the　dust　from　his　weary　face　and　feetand　heartily　thanked　his　protector；　in　the　same　dog…Latin。　　Kennedy　waited　for　him；　and　as　a　great　bell　began　to　ring；　said　'Pro　caena；'　｛5｝　and　conducted　him　towards　the　great　hall　while　Malcolm　felt　much　impelled　to　make　himself　known；　but　was　conscious　that　he　had　not　so　comported　himself　towards　his　cousin　at　Paris　as　to　deserve　much　favour　from　him。

A　high　table　was　spread　in　the　hall；　with　the　usual　appliances　befitting　princes　and　nobles。　　The　other　tables；　below　the　dais；　were　of　the　rudest　description；　and　stained　with　accumulations　of　grease　and　ale；　and　no　wonder；　since　trenchers　were　not；　and　each　man　hacked　a　gobbet　for　himself　from　the　huge　pieces　of　beef　carried　round　on　spitsnor　would　the　guests　have　had　any　objection；　during　a　campaign；　to　cook　the　meat　in　the　fashion　described　by　Froissart；　between　themselves　and　the　saddle。　　These　were　the　squirearchy；　Malcolm's　late　persecutors　did　not　aspire　to　the　benches　around　these　boards；　or　only　at　second　hand；　and　for　the　most　part　had　no　seat　but　the　unclean　straw　and　rushes　that　strewed　the　floor。

As　James　Kennedy　entered　the　hall　with　Malcolm；　there　came　from　another　door；　marshalled　by　the　seneschal　in　full　feudal　state；　the　Regent　Duke　of　Albany　himself；　his　wife；　a　daughter　or　two；　two　sons…　…and　Malcolm　saw；　with　beating　heart；　Lilias　herself；　pale　worn；　sorrowful…looking；　grievously　altered；　but　still　his　own　Lily。　Others　followed；　chiefly　knights　and　attendants；　but　Malcolm　saw　no　one　but　Lily。　　She　took　her　place　dejectedly；　and　never　raised　her　eyes　towards　him；　even　when；　on　the　Regent's　question；　'What　have　ye　there；　Jamie？'　　Kennedy　stood　forth　and　answered　that　it　was　a　scholar；　a　student；　for　whom　he　asked　the　hospitality　of　his　kinsman。

'He　is　welcome；'　said　the　Regent；　a　man　of　easy　good…nature；　whose　chief　misfortune　was；　that　being　of　weak　nature；　he　came　between　a　wicked　father　and　wickeder　sons。　　He　was　a　handsome　man；　with　much　of　the　stately　appearance　of　King　James　himself；　and　the　same　complexion；　but　it　was　that　sort　of　likeness　which　was　almost　provoking；　by　seeming　to　detract　from　the　majesty　of　the　lineaments　themselves；　as　seen　in　him　who　alone　knew　how　to　make　them　a　mask　for　a　great　soul。　　His　two　sons；　Robert　and　Alexander；　laughed　as　they　saw　Kennedy's　companion；　and　called　out；　'So　that's　the　brotherhood　of　learning；　is　it；　Jamie？forgathering　with　any　beggar　in　the　street！'

'Yea；'　said　Kennedy；　nothing　daunted；　'and　finding　him　much　better　mannered　than　you！'

'Ay！'　sighed　Murdoch；　feebly；　'when　I　grew　up；　it　was　at　the　Castles　of　Perth　and　Doune　that　we　looked　for　the　best　manners。　　Now'

'We　leave　them　to　the　lick…platters　that　have　to　live　by　them；'　said　Alexander；　rudely。

Kennedy；　meanwhile；　gave　the　young　scholar　in　charge　to　a　gray…headed　retainer；　who　seemed　one　of　the　few　who　had　any　remains　of　good…　breeding；　and　then　offered　to　say　Gracehe　being　the　nearest　approach　to　an　ecclesiastic　presentas　the　chaplain　was　gone　to　an　Easter　festivity　at　his　Abbey。　　Malcolm　thus　obtained　a　seat　at　the　second　table；　and　a　tolerable　share　of　supper；　but　he　could　hardly　eat；　from　intense　anxiety；　and　scarcely　knew　whether　to　be　glad　or　sorry　that　he　was　out　of　sight　of　Lily。

By　and　by；　a　moment's　lull　of　the　universal　din　enabled　Malcolm　to　hear　the　Regent　saying；　'Verily；　there　is　a　look　of　gentle　nurture　about　the　lad。　　Look　you；　James；　when　the　tables　are　drawn；　you　shall　hold　a　disputation　with　him。　　It　will　be　sport　to　hear　how　you　chop　logic　at　your　Universities　yonder。'

Malcolm's　spirit　sank。　　Such　disputations　were　perfectly　ordinary　work　at　both　Oxford　and　Paris；　and；　usually；　he　was　quite　capable　of　sustaining　his　part　in　them；　but　his　heart　was　so　full；　his　mind　so　anxious；　his　condition　so　dangerous；　that　he　felt　as　if　he　could　by　no　means　rally　that　alertness　of　argument；　and　readiness　of　quotation；　that　were　requisite　even　in　the　merest　tyro。　　However；　he　made　a　great　effort。　　He　secretly　invoked　the　Light　of　Wisdom；　tried　to　think　himself　back　into　the　aisles　of　St。　Mary's　Church；　and　to　call　up　the　key…notes　of　some　of　the　stock　arguments；　hoping　that；　if　the　selection　of　the　subject　were　left　to　Kennedy；　he　would　hit　on　one　of　those　most　familiar　at　Oxford。

The　supper　was　ended；　the　tables　were　removed；　and　the　challenge　took　place。　　Duke　Murdoch；　leaning　back　in　his　high　chair　by　the　peat…　fire；　while　the　ladies　sat　round　at　their　spinning；　called　for　the　two　young　clerks　to　begin　their　tourney　of　words。　　They　stood　opposite　one　another；　on　the　step　of　the　dais；　and　Kennedy；　as　host　and　challenger；　assigned　to　his　opponent　the　choice　of　a　subject；　when　Malcolm；　brightening；　proposed　one　that　he　had　so　often　heard　and　practised　on；　as　to　have　the　arguments　at　his　fingers'　ends；　namely；　that　the　real　consists　only　in　that　which　is　substantial　to　the　senses；　and　which　we　see；　hear；　taste；　smell；　or　touch。

Kennedy's　shrewd　gray　eye　glanced　at　him　in　a　manner　that　startled　him；　as　he　made　reply；　'Fellow…alumnus；　you　speak　as　Oxford　scholars　speak；　but　I　rede　ye　well　that　the　real　is　not　that　which　is　grossly　tangible　to　the　corporeal　sense；　but　the　idea　that　is　conceived　within　the　immortal　intelligence。'

The　argument　was　carried　on　in　the　vernacular；　but　there　was　an　unlimited　license　of　quotation　from　authors　of　all　kinds；　classics；　Fathers；　and　schoolmen。　　It　was　like　a　game　at　chess；　in　which　the　first　moves　were　always　so　much　alike；　that　they　might　have　been　made　by　automatons；　and　Malcolm　was　repeating　reply　and　counter…reply；　almost　by　rote；　when　a　citation　brought　in　by　Kennedy　again　startled　him。

'Outward　things；'　said　James；　'are　the　mere　mark；　for　have　we　not　heard　how


〃Telephus　et　Peleus；　quum　pauper　et　exsul　uterque；　Projicit　ampullas　et　sesquipedalia　verba〃？'　｛6｝


Was　this　to　prove　that　he　recognized　a　wandering　prince　in　his　opponent？　thought　Malcolm；　but；　much　on　his　guard；　he　made　answer；　as　usual；　in　his　native　tongue。　　'That　which　is　not　touched　and　held　is　but　a　vain　and　fleeting　shadow〃solvitur　in　nube。〃　｛7｝

'Negatur；　it　is　denied！'　said　Kennedy；　fixing　his　eyes　full　upon　him。　'The　Speculum　of　the　Soul；　which　is　immortal；　retains　the　image　even　while　the　bodily　presence　is　far　away。　　Wherefore　else　was　it　that　Ulysses　sat　as　a　beggar　by　his　paternal　hearth；　or　that　Cadmus　wandered　to　seek　his　sister？'

This　was　anything　but　the　regular　illustrationthe　argument　was　far　too　directly　ad　hominemand　Malcolm　hesitated　for　a　moment；　ere　framing　his　reply。　　'If　the　image　had　satisfied　the　craving　of　their　hearts；　they　had　never　wandered；　nor　endangered　themselves。'

'Nor；'　said　Kennedy；　'endeared　themselves　to　all　who　love　the　leal　and　the　brave；　and　count　these　indeed　as　verities　for　which　to　live。'

From　the　manner　in　which　these　words　were　spoken；　Malcolm　had　no　further　doubt　either　that　Kennedy　knew　him；　or　that　he　meant　to　assist　him；　and　the　discussion　thenceforth