men of iron(铁人)-第47节
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thee this morning； while yet in bed； and so； as I could not sleep any more；
I was moved to come hither to see thee。〃
Quite a number of the Prince's faction were at the breakfast at Scotland
Yard that morning； among others； the Earl of Mackworth。 All were more
or less oppressed with anxiety； for nearly all of them had staked much
upon the coming battle。 If Alban conquered； he would be more powerful to
harm them and to revenge himself upon them than ever； and Myles was a
very young champion upon whom to depend。 Myles himself； perhaps；
showed as little anxiety as any； he certainly ate more heartily of his
breakfast that morning than many of the others。
After the meal was ended； the Prince rose。 〃The boat is ready at the
stairs；〃 said he； 〃if thou wouldst go to the Tower to visit thy father； Myles；
before hearing mass； I and Cholmondeley and Vere and Poins will go with
thee； if ye； Lords and gentlemen； will grant me your pardon for leaving
you。 Are there any others that thou wouldst have accompany thee？〃
〃I would have Sir James Lee and my squire； Master Gascoyne； if thou
art so pleased to give them leave to go；〃 answered Myles。
〃So be it；〃 said the Prince。 〃We will stop at Mackworth stairs for the
knight。〃
The barge landed at the west stairs of the Tower wharf； and the whole
party were received with more than usual civilities by the Governor； who
conducted them at once to the Tower where Lord Falworth was lodged。
Lady Falworth met them at the head of the stairs； her eyes were very red
and her face pale； and as Myles raised her hand and set a long kiss upon it；
her lips trembled； and she turned her face quickly away； pressing her
handkerchief for one moment to her eyes。 Poor lady！ What agony of
anxiety and dread did she not suffer for her boy's sake that day！ Myles had
not hidden both from her and his father that he must either win or die。
As Myles turned from his mother； Prior Edward came out from the
inner chamber； and was greeted warmly by him。 The old priest had arrived
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in London only the day before； having come down from Crosbey Priory to
be with his friend's family during this their time of terrible anxiety。
After a little while of general talk； the Prince and his attendants retired；
leaving the family together； only Sir James Lee and Gascoyne remaining
behind。
Many matters that had been discussed before were now finally settled；
the chief of which was the disposition of Lady Falworth in case the battle
should go against them。 Then Myles took his leave； kissing his mother；
who began crying； and comforting her with brave assurances。 Prior
Edward accompanied him as far as the head of the Tower stairs； where
Myles kneeled upon the stone steps； while the good priest blessed him and
signed the cross upon his forehead。 The Prince was waiting in the walled
garden adjoining； and as they rowed back again up the river to Scotland
Yard； all were thoughtful and serious； even Poins' and Vere's merry
tongues being stilled from their usual quips and jesting。
It was。 about the quarter of the hour before eleven o'clock when Myles；
with Gascoyne； set forth for the lists。 The Prince of Wales； together with
most of his court； had already gone on to Smithfield； leaving behind him
six young knights of his household to act as escort to the young champion。
Then at last the order to horse was given； the great gate swung open； and
out they rode； clattering and jingling； the sunlight gleaming and flaming
and flashing upon their polished armor。 They drew rein to the right； and so
rode in a little cloud of dust along the Strand Street towards London town；
with the breeze blowing merrily； and the sunlight shining as sweetly and
blithesomely as though they were riding to a wedding rather than to a grim
and dreadful ordeal that meant either victory or death。
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CHAPTER 32
In the days of King Edward III a code of laws relating to trial by battle
had been compiled for one of his sons； Thomas of Woodstock。 In this
work each and every detail； to the most minute； had been arranged and
fixed； and from that time judicial combats had been regulated in
accordance with its mandates。
It was in obedience to this code that Myles Falworth appeared at the
east gate of the lists （the east gate being assigned by law to the challenger）；
clad in full armor of proof； attended by Gascoyne； and accompanied by
two of the young knights who had acted as his escort from Scotland Yard。
At the barriers he was met by the attorney Willingwood； the chief
lawyer who had conducted the Falworth case before the High Court of
Chivalry； and who was to attend him during the administration of the oaths
before the King。
As Myles presented himself at the gate he was met by the Constable；
the Marshal； and their immediate attendants。 The Constable； laying his
hand upon the bridle…rein； said； in a loud voice： 〃Stand； Sir Knight； and
tell me why thou art come thus armed to the gates of the lists。 What is thy
name？ Wherefore art thou come？〃
Myles answered； 〃I am Myles Falworth； a Knight of the Bath by grace
of his Majesty King Henry IV and by his creation； and do come hither to
defend my challenge upon the body of William Bushy Brookhurst； Earl of
Alban； proclaiming him an unknightly knight and a false and perjured liar；
in that he hath accused Gilbert Reginald； Lord Falworth； of treason against
our beloved Lord； his Majesty the King； and may God defend the right！〃
As he ended speaking； the Constable advanced close to his side； and
formally raising the umbril of the helmet； looked him in the face。
Thereupon； having approved his identity； he ordered the gates to be
opened； and bade Myles enter the lists with his squire and his friends。
At the south side of the lists a raised scaffolding had been built for the
King and those who looked on。 It was not unlike that which had been
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erected at Devlen Castle when Myles had first jousted as belted knight
here were the same raised seat for the King； the tapestries； the hangings；
the fluttering pennons； and the royal standard floating above； only here
were no fair…faced ladies looking down upon him； but instead； stern…
browed Lords and knights in armor and squires； and here were no merry
laughing and buzz of talk and flutter of fans and kerchiefs； but all was
very quiet and serious。
Myles riding upon his horse； with Gascoyne holding the bridle…rein；
and his attorney walking beside him with his hand upon the stirrups；
followed the Constable across the lists to an open space in front of the seat
where the King sat。 Then； having reached his appointed station； he stopped；
and the Constable； advancing to the foot of the stair…way that led to the
dais above； announced in a loud voice that the challenger had entered the
lists。
〃Then called the defendant straightway；〃 said the King； 〃for noon
draweth nigh。〃
The day was very warm； and the sun； bright and unclouded； shone
fiercely down upon the open lists。 Perhaps few men nowadays could bear
the scorching heat of iron plates such as Myles wore； from which the body
was only protected by a leathern jacket and hose。 But men's bodies in
those days were tougher and more seasoned to hardships of weather than
they are in these our times。 Myles thought no more of the burning iron
plates that incased him than a modern soldier thinks of his dress uniform
in warm weather。 Nevertheless； he raised the umbril of his helmet to cool
his face as he waited the coming of his opponent。 He turned his eyes
upward to the row of seats on the scaffolding above； and even in the
restless； bewildering multitude of strange
