men of iron(铁人)-第5节
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rise in the world must ever suffer by being plagued at all times and
seasons。 Here is one I chanced to know a dozen years ago； who thinks he
hath a claim upon me； and saddles me with his son。 I must e'en take the
lad； too； for the sake of peace and quietness。〃 He glanced around； and
seeing Gascoyne； who had drawn near； beckoned to him。 〃Take me this
fellow；〃 said he； 〃to the buttery； and see him fed； and then to Sir James
Lee； and have his name entered in the castle books。 And stay； sirrah；〃 he
added； 〃bid me Sir James； if it may be so done； to enter him as a squire…at…
arms。 Methinks he will be better serving so than in the household； for he
appeareth a soothly rough cub for a page。〃
Myles did look rustic enough； standing clad in frieze in the midst of
that gay company； and a murmur of laughter sounded around； though he
was too bewildered to fully understand that he was the cause of the
merriment。 Then some hand drew him backit was Gascoyne'sthere was
a bustle of people passing； and the next minute they were gone； and Myles
and old Diccon Bowman and the young squire were left alone in the
anteroom。
Gascoyne looked very sour and put out。 〃Murrain upon it！〃 said he；
〃here is good sport spoiled for me to see thee fed。 I wish no ill to thee；
friend； but I would thou hadst come this afternoon or to…morrow。〃
〃Methinks I bring trouble and dole to every one；〃 said Myles；
somewhat bitterly。 〃It would have been better had I never come to this
place； methinks。〃
His words and tone softened Gascoyne a little。 〃Ne'er mind；〃 said the
squire； 〃it was not thy fault； and is past mending now。 So come and fill thy
stomach； in Heaven's name。〃
Perhaps not the least hard part of the whole trying day for Myles was
his parting with Diccon。 Gascoyne and he had accompanied the old
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retainer to the outer gate； in the archway of which they now stood； for
without a permit they could go no farther。 The old bowman led by the
bridle… rein the horse upon which Myles had ridden that morning。 His own
nag； a vicious brute； was restive to be gone； but Diccon held him in with
tight rein。 He reached down； and took Myles's sturdy brown hand in his
crooked； knotted grasp。
〃Farewell； young master；〃 he croaked； tremulously； with a watery
glimmer in his pale eyes。 〃Thou wilt not forget me when I am gone？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃I will not forget thee。〃
〃Aye； aye；〃 said the old man； looking down at him； and shaking his
head slowly from side to side； 〃thou art a great tall sturdy fellow now； yet
have I held thee on my knee many and many's the time； and dandled thee
when thou wert only a little weeny babe。 Be still； thou devil's limb！〃 he
suddenly broke off； reining back his restive raw… boned steed； which
began again to caper and prance。 Myles was not sorry for the interruption；
he felt awkward and abashed at the parting； and at the old man's
reminiscences； knowing that Gascoyne's eyes were resting amusedly upon
the scene； and that the men…at…arms were looking on。 Certainly old Diccon
did look droll as he struggled vainly with his vicious high…necked nag。
〃Nay； a murrain on thee！ an' thou wilt go； go！〃 cried he at last； with a
savage dig of his heels into the animal's ribs； and away they clattered； the
led…horse kicking up its heels as a final parting； setting Gascoyne fairly
alaughing。 At the bend of the road the old man turned and nodded his head；
the next moment he had disappeared around the angle of the wall； and it
seemed to Myles； as he stood looking after him； as though the last thread
that bound him to his old life had snapped and broken。 As he turned he
saw that Gascoyne was looking at him。
〃Dost feel downhearted？〃 said the young squire； curiously。
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； brusquely。 Nevertheless his throat was tight and
dry； and the word came huskily in spite of himself。
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CHAPTER 5
THE EARL of Mackworth； as was customary among the great lords in
those days； maintained a small army of knights； gentlemen； men…at…arms；
and retainers； who were expected to serve him upon all occasions of need；
and from whom were supplied his quota of recruits to fill such levies as
might be made upon him by the King in time of war。
The knights and gentlemen of this little army of horse and foot soldiers
were largely recruited from the company of squires and bachelors； as the
young novitiate soldiers of the castle were called。
This company of esquires consisted of from eighty to ninety lads；
ranging in age from eight to twenty years。 Those under fourteen years
were termed pages； and served chiefly the Countess and her waiting
gentlewomen； in whose company they acquired the graces and polish of
the times； such as they were。 After reaching the age of fourteen the lads
were entitled to the name of esquire or squire。
In most of the great houses of the time the esquires were the especial
attendants upon the Lord and Lady of the house； holding such positions as
body…squires； cup…bearers； carvers； and sometimes the office of
chamberlain。 But Devlen； like some other of the princely castles of the
greatest nobles； was more like a military post or a fortress than an ordinary
household。 Only comparatively few of the esquires could be used in
personal attendance upon the Earl； the others were trained more strictly in
arms； and served rather in the capacity of a sort of body…guard than as
ordinary squires。 For； as the Earl rose in power and influence； and as it so
became well worth while for the lower nobility and gentry to enter their
sons in his family； the body of squires became almost cumbersomely large。
Accordingly； that part which comprised the squires proper； as separate
from the younger pages； was divided into three classes first； squires of
the body； who were those just past pagehood； and who waited upon the
Earl in personal service； second； squires of the household； who； having
regular hours assigned for exercise in the manual of arms； were relieved
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from personal service excepting upon especial occasions； and thirdly and
lastly； at the head of the whole body of lads； a class called bachelors
young men ranging from eighteen to twenty years of age。 This class was
supposed to exercise a sort of government over the other and younger
squiresto keep them in order as much as possible； to marshal them upon
occasions of importance； to see that their arms and equipments were kept
in good order； to call the roll for chapel in the morning； and to see that
those not upon duty in the house were present at the daily exercise at arms。
Orders to the squires were generally transmitted through the bachelors；
and the head of that body was expected to make weekly reports of affairs
in their quarters to the chief captain of the body。
From this overlordship of the bachelors there had gradually risen a
system of fagging； such as is or was practised in the great English public
schoolsenforced services exacted from the younger ladswhich at the
time Myles came to Devlen had； in the five or six years it had been in
practice； grown to be an absolute though unwritten law of the bodya law
supported by all the prestige of long…continued usage。 At that time the
bachelors numbered but thirteen； yet they exercised over the rest of the
sixty…four squires and pages a rule of iron； and were taskmasters； hard；
exacting； and oftentimes cruel。
The whole company of squires and pages was under the supreme
command of a certain one…eyed knight； by name Sir James Lee； a soldier
seasoned by the fire
