men of iron(铁人)-第40节
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to be so overjoyed in mine old age as I am this day。 Thou dost bring honor
to me； for I tell thee truly thou dost ride like a knight seasoned in twenty
tourneys。〃
〃It doth give me tenfold courage to hear thee so say； dear master；〃
answered Myles。 〃And truly；〃 he added； 〃I shall need all my courage this
bout； for the Sieur de la Montaigne telleth me that he will ride to unhorse
me this time。〃
〃Did he indeed so say？〃 said Sir James。 〃Then belike he meaneth to
strike at thy helm。 Thy best chance is to strike also at his。 Doth thy hand
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tremble？〃
〃Not now；〃 answered Myles。
〃Then keep thy head cool and thine eye true。 Set thy trust in God； and
haply thou wilt come out of this bout honorably in spite of the rawness of
thy youth。〃
Just then Edmund Wilkes presented the cup of wine to Myles； who
drank it off at a draught； and thereupon Gascoyne replaced the helm and
tied the thongs。
The charge that Sir James Lee had given to Myles to strike at his
adversary's helm was a piece of advice he probably would not have given
to so young a knight； excepting as a last resort。 A blow perfectly delivered
upon the helm was of all others the most difficult for the recipient to
recover from； but then a blow upon the helm was not one time in fifty
perfectly given。 The huge cylindrical tilting helm was so constructed in
front as to slope at an angle in all directions to one point。 That point was
the centre of a cross formed by two iron bands welded to the steel…face
plates of the helm where it was weakened by the opening slit of the
occularium； or peephole。 In the very centre of this cross was a little
flattened surface where the bands were riveted together； and it was upon
that minute point that the blow must be given to be perfect； and that stroke
Myles determined to attempt。
As he took his station Edmund Wilkes came running across from the
pavilion with a lance that Sir James had chosen； and Myles； returning the
one that Gascoyne had just given him； took it in his hand。 It was of
seasoned oak； somewhat thicker than the other； a tough weapon； not easily
to be broken even in such an encounter as he was like to have。 He
balanced the weapon； and found that it fitted perfectly to his grasp。 As he
raised the point to rest； his opponent took his station at the farther
extremity of the lists； and again there was a little space of breathless pause。
Myles was surprised at his own coolness； every nervous tremor was gone。
Before； he had been conscious of the critical multitude looking down upon
him； now it was a conflict of man to man； and such a conflict had no
terrors for his young heart of iron。 The spectators had somehow come to
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the knowledge that this was to be a more serious encounter than the two
which had preceded it； and a breathless silence fell for the moment or two
that the knights stood in place。
Once more he breathed a short prayer； 〃Holy Mary； guard me！〃
Then again； for the third time； the Marshal raised his baton； and the
horn sounded； and for the third time Myles drove his spurs into his horse's
flanks。 Again he saw the iron figure of his opponent rushing nearer； nearer；
nearer。 He centred； with a straining intensity； every faculty of soul； mind；
and body upon one pointthe cross of the occularium； the mark he was to
strike。 He braced himself for the tremendous shock which he knew must
meet him； and then in a flash dropped lance point straight and true。 The
next instant there was a deafening stunning crasha crash like the stroke
of a thunder…bolt。 There was a dazzling blaze of blinding light； and a
myriad sparks danced and flickered and sparkled before his eyes。 He felt
his horse stagger under him with the recoil； and hardly knowing what he
did； he drove his spurs deep into its sides with a shout。 At the same
moment there resounded in his ears a crashing rattle and clatter； he knew
not of what； and then； as his horse recovered and sprang forward； and as
the stunning bewilderment passed； he found that his helmet had been
struck off。 He heard a great shout arise from all； and thought； with a
sickening； bitter disappointment； that it was because he had lost。 At the
farther end of the course he turned his horse； and then his heart gave a leap
and a bound as though it would burst； the blood leaped to his cheeks
tingling； and his bosom thrilled with an almost agonizing pang of triumph；
of wonder； of amazement。
There； in a tangle of his horse's harness and of embroidered trappings；
the Sieur de la Montaigne lay stretched upon the ground； with his saddle
near by； and his riderless horse was trotting aimlessly about at the farther
end of the lists。
Myles saw the two squires of the fallen knight run across to where
their master lay； he saw the ladies waving their kerchiefs and veils； and the
castle people swinging their hats and shouting in an ecstasy of delight。
Then he rode slowly back to where the squires were now aiding the fallen
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knight to arise。 The senior squire drew his dagger； cut the leather points；
and drew off the helm； disclosing the knight's facea face white as death；
and convulsed with rage； mortification； and bitter humiliation。
〃I was not rightly unhorsed！〃 he cried； hoarsely and with livid lips； to
the Marshal and his attendants； who had ridden up。 〃I unhelmed him fairly
enough； but my over…girth and breast…strap burst； and my saddle slipped。 I
was not unhorsed； I say； and I lay claim that I unhelmed him。〃
〃Sir；〃 said the Marshal calmly； and speaking in French； 〃surely thou
knowest that the loss of helmet does not decide an encounter。 I need not
remind thee； my Lord； that it was so awarded by John of Gaunt； Duke of
Lancaster； when in the jousting match between Reynand de Roye and John
de Holland； the Sieur Reynand left every point of his helm loosened； so
that the helm was beaten off at each stroke。 If he then was justified in
doing so of his own choice； and wilfully suffering to be unhelmed； how
then can this knight be accused of evil who suffered it by chance？〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 said the Sieur de la Montaigne； in the same hoarse；
breathless voice； 〃I do affirm； and will make my affirmation good with my
body； that I fell only by the breaking of my girth。 Who says otherwise
lies！〃
〃It is the truth he speaketh；〃 said Myles。 〃I myself saw the stitches
were some little what burst； and warned him thereof before we ran this
course。
〃Sir；〃 said the Marshal to the Sieur de la Montaigne； 〃how can you
now complain of that thing which your own enemy advised you of and
warned you against？ Was it not right knightly for him so to do？〃
The Sieur de la Montaigne stood quite still for a little while； leaning on
the shoulder of his chief squire； looking moodily upon the ground； then；
without making answer； he turned； and walked slowly away to his pavilion；
still leaning on his squire's shoulder； whilst the other attendant followed
behind； bearing his shield and helmet。
Gascoyne had picked up Myles's fallen helmet as the Sieur de la
Montaigne moved away； and Lord George and Sir James Lee came
walking across the lists to where Myles still sat。 Then； the one taking his
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horse by the bridle…rein； and the other walking beside the saddle； they led
him before the raised dais where the King sat。
Even the Comte de Vermoise； mortified and amazed as he must have
been at the overthrow of his best knight； joined in the praise and
congratulation that poured upon the young conqueror。 M
