the caged lion-第64节
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d to sit in judgment upon him。 No one could avow it face to face with the King； but every one felt it an outrage to find that no rank was exempt from law。
Duke Murdoch； his son Alexander； and his father…in…law Lennox； were tried the next day； and many a deed of dark treason was laid to their charge。 The Earl of Lennox had been the scourge of Scotland for more than half the eighty years of his life； but his extreme age might have excited some pity； Murdoch had erred rather negatively than positively； and Alexander； ruffian as he was； had been bred to nothing better。 Each had deserved the utmost penalty of the law again and again； and yet there did seem more scope for mercy in their case than in that of Walter。
But the King was inexorable。 He set Malcolm aside as he had set others。
'I know what you would say； lad。 Lennox is old； and Alexander is young； and Albany is a fool； and Walter has injured you； so you are bound to speak for him。 Take it all as said。 But these are the men who have been foremost in making our country a desert！ Did I pardon them； with what face could I ever make any man suffer for crime？ And； in the state of this land； ruth to the guilty high would be treason to the sackless low。'
So Stirling saw the unprecedented sight of three generations suffering for their crimes upon the same scaffoldthe white…haired Lennox； the Duke of Albany in the prime of life； Walter in the flush and strength of early manhood； Alexander in the bloom of youth。 They all met their fate undauntedly； for if Murdoch's heart in any measure failed him； he was afraid to give way in presence of the proud bold Walter； who maintained an iron rigidity of demeanour with the wild fortitude of a Red Indian at the stake； and in like manner could by no means comprehend that King James acted from any motive save malice； for having been so long kept out of his kingdom。 'It was his turn now；' said poor Murdoch； even when most desirous of bringing himself to die in a state of Christian forgiveness； nor could any power on earth show any of the criminals that the King acted in the eternal interests of right and justice。
Thus it was with the whole country； and when the four majestic… looking men stood bare…headed on the scaffold； in view even of their own fair towers of Doune； and one by one bowed their heads on the block； perverse Scottish nature broke out into pity for their fate； and wrath against the King； who could thus turn against his own blood； and disgrace the royal lineage。
On that same day Malcolm received Esclairmonde's token； there being at present full peace with England； and set forth on her summons。 He met her at Pontefract； where she was residing with the Dowager Queen Joan of Navarre； Alice of Salisbury having been summoned to return to her husband in France。
There then it was that Malcolm and Esclairmonde； in presence of the chaplain； gave each other back the rings； and therewith their troth to wed none other； and were once more declared free。
Esclairmonde held out her hand to Malcolm； saying； 'The thanks I owe you； Sir； are beyond what tongue can tell。 May He to Whom my first vows were due requite it to you。'
And Malcolm； with his knee to the ground； pressing for the last time that fair hand； said； 'The thanks； lady； are mine。 Had you been one whit lower in aims or in constancy； what had I been？ You were my light of the world； but to light me to seek that higher Light that shone forth in you； and which may I show truly to the darkened spirits of my countrymen！ Lady； you will permit me to take to myself the ring you have worn so long。 It will be my token of my betrothal to that true Light。'
Such was their parting； when the one went forth to her tasks of charity among the poor in London； the other to divest himself of land and lordship on behalf of his sister and her husband； and then to begin his task in the priesthood； of trying to hold up the true Light to hearts darkened by many an age of crime and ignorance。
Lived very happy ever after！ Yes； we would fain always leave the creatures with whom our thoughts have been busy in such felicity； but when we have linked them with real events； the sense of the veritable course of history reminds us that we cannot even suppose beings possible in real life without endowing them with the common lot of humanity； and the personages of our tale lived in a time of more than ordinary reverse and trouble。
Yet Sir Patrick Drummond and Lilias his wife； the Lord and Lady of Glenuskie； nearly did fulfil these conditions。 They had not feelings beyond their age； but they were good specimens of that age； and they did their duty in it； he as a trustworthy noble； ready to aid in council or war； and she as the beneficent dame； bringing piety and charity to heal the sufferings of her vassals and serfs。 His hand was strong enough to repel the attacks of his foes； her intelligence； backed by Malcolm's counsel； introduced improvements； and the little ravine of Glenuskie was a happy valley of peace and prosperity for many years among the convulsions of Scotland。
Nor was Esclairmonde de Luxemburg's life in the Hospital of St。 Katharine otherwise than the holy and beneficent career that she had always longed forworshipping in the fair church； and going forth from thence 'into the streets and lanes of the city；' to fulfil Queen Philippa's pious behest； to seek out the suffering and the ignorant； and to tend and instruct them。 The tall form and beautiful countenance of Sister Clare were loved and reverenced as those of an angel messenger among the high houses and courts that closed in on the banks of the Thames； and while Luxemburgs in France and Flanders intrigued and fought； plotted and fell； their kinswoman's days passed by in busy alms…deeds and ever loftier devotion； till those who watched her steps felt that she was verily a light of the world； manifesting forth the true Light in many a dark place。
And her light of sympathy shone upon many an old friend both in joy and in grief。 When the dissensions of Gloucester and Beaufort had summoned Bedford to England to endeavour to appease their strife； his Burgundian Duchess sought out her early friend； and Esclairmonde saw her gentle companion； the Lady Anne； fulfilling her daily task of mediation； and living a life； not indeed very sunshiny； but full of all that esteem and respect could give her； and of calm gratitude and affection； although Anne； like all others； believed that John of Bedford's heart had been buried in his brother's grave； and that of youthful love he had none to give。 His whole soul was absorbed in his care for the welfare of the pale； gentle； dreamy； inanimate boy； who； from his very meekness and docility； gave so little promise of representing the father whose name he bore。
The loving Alice of Montagu； though the mother of many a bold boy and girl； and busy with all the cares of the great Nevil household； regarded as the chief delight in a journey to court the sight of her dear Sister Clare。 It was to Sister Clare that Alice turned for comfort when her brave old father died at the siege of Orleans； and it was while daily soothing and ministering to her sorrow that Esclairmonde heard the strange wild tales of the terrible witch maiden who had appeared on behalf of the French； and turned whole English armies to flight； by power that the French declared to come from the saints； but which the English never doubted to be infernal。 Maimed and wounded soldiers； whom Esclairmonde relieved and tended as they returned from lost battles； gave her fearful accounts of the panic that La Pucelle inspired。 Even the hardy veteran； Sir John Fastolfe； had not been able to withstand her spells； but had fled from the field of Jergeau； where gallant Sir Ralf Percy had died； in a vain attempt to gather the men to resist the irresistible maiden。 His groom； who had succumbed for a time to wounds and weakness on his way home to Alnwick； was touched by the warmth and emotion with which the kind bedeswoman listened to his lamentation over the good and loyal knight； whom she pictured to herself resisting the enchantress's dread power as dauntlessly as he had defied the phantoms of the Dance of Death。
No whisper ever reached Esclairmonde that the terrible Pucelle was a maiden as pure and high…souled as herself。 All that she heard more was that this terror of the English and Burgundians was taken； imprisoned for a time by her own Luxemburg kindred； and then carried to Rouen； where the kind Duchess Anne of Bedford did her best to persuade her to overcome the superstition that kept her in male garments； thus greatly tending to increase the belief in her connection with the powers of evil。 French and Burgundian bishops； and even the University of Paris； were the judges of the maiden； and the dastard prince she had crowned never stirred a finger nor uttered a protest in her behalf。 Bedford； always disposed to belief in witchcraft； acquiesced in the decision of Churchmen； which was therefore called the judgment of the Church； but when he removed himself and his duchess from Rouen； and left the conduct of the matter to the sterner and harder Beauchamp； Earl of Warwick； it was with little thought that after…generations would l
