the path of the king-第10节
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〃Then came Willebald one March morning。 I saw him walk up the jetty in a new red cloak； a personable man with a broad beard and a jolly laugh。 I knew him by repute as the luckiest of the Flemish venturers。 In him I saw my fortune。 That night he supped at my uncle's house and a week later he sought me in marriage。 My uncle would have bargained； but I had become a grown woman and silenced him。 With Willebald I did not chaffer； for I read his heart and knew that in a little he would be wax to me。 So we were wed； and I took to him no dowry but a ring which came to me from my forebears； and a brain that gold does not buy。〃
The monkey by her side broke into a chattering。
〃Peace； Peterkin；〃 she said。 〃You mind me of the babbling of the merchant…folk； when I spurred Willebald into new roads。 He had done as his father before him； and bought wool and salted fish from the English； paying with the stuffs of our Flemish looms。 A good trade of small and sure profits； but I sought bigger quarries。 For； mark you； there was much in England that had a value in this country of ours which no Englishman guessed。〃
〃Of what nature？〃 the monk asked with curiosity in his voice。
〃Roman things。 Once in that land of bogs and forests there were bustling Roman towns and rich Roman houses； which disappeared as every tide brought in new robbers from the sea。 Yes； but not all。 Much of the preciousness was hidden and the place of its hiding forgotten。 Bit by bit the churls found the treasure…trove； but they did not tell their lords。 They melted down jewels and sold them piecemeal to Jews for Jews' prices； and what they did not recognise as precious they wantonly destroyed。 I have seen the marble heads of heathen gods broken with the hammer to make mortar of； and great cups of onyx and alabaster used as water troughs for a thrall's mongrels。 。 。 。 Knowing the land； I sent pedlars north and west to collect such stuff； and what I bought for pence I sold for much gold in the Germanies and throughout the French cities。 Thus Willebald amassed wealth； till it was no longer worth his while to travel the seas。 We lived snug in Flanders； and our servants throughout the broad earth were busy getting us gear。〃
The Cluniac was all interest。 The making of money lay very near the heart of his Order。 〃I have heard wondrous tales of your enterprise；〃 he told her。 〃I would fain know the truth。〃
〃Packman's tricks；〃 she laughed。 〃Nevertheless it is a good story。 For I turned my eyes to the East； whence come those things that make the pride of life。 The merchants of Venice were princes； and it was in my head to make those of Bruges no worse。 What did it profit that the wind turned daily the sails of our three hundred mills if we limited ourselves to common burgher wares and the narrow northern markets？ We sent emissaries up the Rhine and beyond the Alps to the Venice princes； and brought hither the spices and confections of Egypt and the fruits and wines of Greece； and the woven stuffs of Asia till the marts of Flanders had the savour of Araby。 Presently in our booths could be seen silks of Italy； and choice metals from Innsbruck； and furs from Muscovy； and strange birds and beasts from Prester John's country； and at our fairs such a concourse of outlandish traders as put Venice to shame。 'Twas a long fight and a bitter for Willebald and me； since； mark you； we had to make a new road over icy mountains； with a horde of freebooters hanging on the skirts of our merchant trains and every little burg on the way jealous to hamper us。 Yet if the heart be resolute； barriers will fall。 Many times we were on the edge of beggary； and grievous were our losses； but in the end we triumphed。 There came a day when we had so many bands of the Free Companions in our pay that the progress of our merchandise was like that of a great army； and from rivals we made the roadside burgs our allies； sharing modestly in our ventures。 Also there were other ways。 A pilgrim travels unsuspect； for who dare rob a holy man？ and he is free from burgal dues； but if the goods be small and very precious； pilgrims may carry them。〃
The monk； as in duty bound； shook a disapproving head。
〃Sin； doubtless；〃 said the woman； 〃but I have made ample atonement。 Did I not buy with a bushel of gold a leg of the blessed St。 George for the New Kirk； and give to St。 Martin's a diamond as big as a thumb nail and so bright that on a dark day it is a candle to the shrine？ Did not I give to our Lady at Aix a crown of ostrich feathers the marrow of which is not in Christendom？〃
〃A mother in Israel； in truth；〃 murmured the cleric。
〃Yea； in Israel；〃 said the old wife with a chuckle。 〃Israel was the kernel of our perplexities。 The good Flemings saw no farther than their noses； and laughed at Willebald when he began his ventures。 When success came； it was easy to win them over； and by admitting them to a share in our profits get them to fling their caps in the air and huzza for their benefactors。 But the Jews were a tougher stock。 Mark you； father； when God blinded their eyes to the coming of the Lord Christ； He opened them very wide to all lower matters。 Their imagination is quick to kindle； and they are as bold in merchantcraft as Charlemagne in war。 They saw what I was after before I had been a month at it； and were quick to profit by my foresight。 There are but two ways to deal with Israelitesroot them from the face of the earth or make them partners with you。 Willebald would have fought them； I； more wise； bought them at a price。 For two score years they have wrought faithfully for me。 You say well； a mother in Israel！〃
〃I could wish that a Christian lady had no dealings with the accursed race；〃 said the Cluniac。
〃You could wish folly；〃 was the tart answer。 〃I am not as your burgher folk； and on my own affairs I take no man's guiding； be he monk or merchant。 Willebald is long dead； may he sleep in peace； He was no mate for me； but for what he gave me I repaid him in the coin he loved best。 He was a proud man when he walked through the Friday Market with every cap doffed。 He was ever the burgher； like the child I bore him。〃
〃I had thought the marriage more fruitful。 They spoke of two children； a daughter and a son。〃
The woman turned round in her bed so that she faced him。 The monkey whimpered and she cuffed its ears。 Her face was sharp and exultant； and for a sick person her eyes were oddly bright。
〃The girl was Willebald's。 A poor slip of vulgar stock with the spirit of a house cat。 I would have married her well； for she was handsome after a fashion； but she thwarted me and chose to wed a lout of a huckster in the Bredestreet。 She shall have her portion from Willebald's gold； but none from me。 But Philip is true child of mine； and sprung on both sides of high race。 Nay； I name no names； and before men he is of my husband's getting。 But to you at the end of my days I speak the truth。 That son of wrath has rare blood in him。 Philip 。 。 。〃
The old face had grown kind。 She was looking through the monk to some happy country of vision。 Her thoughts were retracing the roads of time； and after the way of age she spoke them aloud。 imperiously she had forgotten her company。
〃So long ago；〃 came the tender voice。 〃It is years since they told me he was dead among the heathen； fighting by the Lord Baldwin's side。 But I can see him as if it were yesterday； when he rode into these streets in spring with April blooms at his saddle…bow。 They called him Phadbus in jest； for his face was like the sun。。。。 Willebald； good dull man； was never jealous； and was glad that his wife should be seen in brave company。 Ah； the afternoons at the baths when we sported like sea…nymphs and sang merry ballads！ And the proud days of Carnival where men and women consorted freely and without guile like the blessed in Paradise！ Such a tide for lovers！ 。 。 。 Did I not lead the dance with him at the Burgrave's festival； the twain of us braver than morning？ Sat I not with him in the garden of St。 Vaast； his head in my lap； while he sang me virelays of the south？ What was Willebald to me or his lean grey wife to him？ He made me his queen； me the burgher wife； at the jousting at Courtrai； when the horses squealed like pigs in the mellay and I wept in fear for him。 Ah； the lost sweet days！ Philip； my darling； you make a brave gentleman； but you will not equal him who loved your mother。〃
The Cluniac was a man of the world whom no confidences could scandalise。 But he had business of his own to speak of that night； and he thought it wise to break into this mood of reminiscence。
〃The young lord； Philip； your son； madam？ You have great plans for him？ What does he at the moment？〃
The softness went out of the voice and the woman's gaze came back to the chamber。 〃That I know not。 Travelling the ways of the world and plucking roadside fruits； for he is no home…bred and womanish stripling。 Wearing his lusty youth on the maids； I fear。 Nay； I forget。 He is about to wed the girl of Avesnes and is already choosing his bridal train。 It seems he loves her。 He writes me she has a skin of snow and eyes of vair。 I have not seen her。 A green girl； doubtless with a white face and cat's eyes。 But she is of Avesnes； and that blood comes pure from Clovis；
