men of iron-第28节

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In　the　mean　time　the　novitiate's　armor；　sword；　lance；　and　helmet　had　been　laid　in　readiness　before　the　altar。　These　he　watched　and　guarded　while　the　others　slept；　keeping　vigil　until　sunrise；　during　which　time　〃he　shall；〃　says　the　ancient　authority；　〃pass　the　night　in　orisons；　prayers；　and　meditation。〃　At　daylight　he　confessed　to　the　priest；　heard　matins；　and　communicated　in　mass；　and　then　presented　a　lighted　candle　at　the　altar；　with　a　piece　of　money　stuck　in　it　as　close　to　the　flame　as　could　be　done；　the　candle　being　offered　to　the　honor　of　God；　and　the　money　to　the　honor　of　that　person　who　was　to　make　him　a　knight。

So　concluded　the　sacred　ceremony；　which　being　ended　his　squires　conducted　the　candidate　to　his　chamber；　and　there　made　him　comfortable；　and　left　him　to　repose　for　a　while　before　the　second　and　final　part　of　the　ordinance。

Such　is　a　shortened　account　of　the　preparatory　stages　of　the　ceremonies　through　which　Myles　Falworth　passed。

Matters　had　come　upon　him　so　suddenly　one　after　the　other；　and　had　come　with　such　bewildering　rapidity　that　all　that　week　was　to　him　like　some　strange；　wonderful；　mysterious　vision。　He　went　through　it　all　like　one　in　a　dream。　Lord　George　Beaumont　was　one　of　his　squires　of　honor；　the　other；　by　way　of　a　fitting　complement　to　the　courage　of　the　chivalrous　lad；　was　the　Sieur　de　la　Montaigne；　his　opponent　soon　to　be。　They　were　well　versed　in　everything　relating　to　knightcraft；　and　Myles　followed　all　their　directions　with　passive　obedience。　Then　Sir　James　Lee　and　the　Comte　de　Vermoise　administered　the　ceremony　of　the　Bath；　the　old　knight　examining　him　in　the　laws　of　chivalry。

It　occurs　perhaps　once　or　twice　in　one's　lifetime　that　one　passes　through　great　happeningssometimes　of　joy；　sometimes　of　dreadful　bitternessin　just　such　a　dazed　state　as　Myles　passed　through　this。　It　is　only　afterwards　that　all　comes　back　to　one　so　sharply　and　keenly　that　the　heart　thrills　almost　in　agony　in　living　it　over　again。　But　perhaps　of　all　the　memory　of　that　time；　when　it　afterwards　came　back　piece　by　piece；　none　was　so　clear　to　Myles's　back…turned　vision　as　the　long　night　spent　in　the　chapel；　watching　his　armor；　thinking　such　wonderful　thoughts；　and　dreaming　such　wonderful　wide…eyed　dreams。　At　such　times　Myles　saw　again　the　dark　mystery　of　the　castle　chapel；　he　saw　again　the　half…moon　gleaming　white　and　silvery　through　the　tall；　narrow　window；　and　throwing　a　broad　form　of　still　whiteness　across　stone　floor；　empty　seats；　and　still；　motionless　figures　of　stone　effigies。　At　such　times　he　stood　again　in　front　of　the　twinkling　tapers　that　lit　the　altar　where　his　armor　lay　piled　in　a　heap；　heard　again　the　deep　breathing　of　his　companions　of　the　watch　sleeping　in　some　empty　stall；　wrapped　each　in　his　cloak；　and　saw　the　old　chandler　bestir　himself；　and　rise　and　come　forward　to　snuff　the　candles。　At　such　times　he　saw　again　the　day　growing　clearer　and　clearer　through　the　tall；　glazed　windows；　saw　it　change　to　a　rosy　pink；　and　then　to　a　broad；　ruddy　glow　that　threw　a　halo　of　light　around　Father　Thomas's　bald　head　bowed　in　sleep；　and　lit　up　the　banners　and　trophies　hanging　motionless　against　the　stony　face　of　the　west　wall；　heard　again　the　stirring　of　life　without　and　the　sound　of　his　companions　arousing　themselves；　saw　them　come　forward；　and　heard　them　wish　him　joy　that　his　long　watch　was　ended。


It　was　nearly　noon　when　Myles　was　awakened　from　a　fitful　sleep　by　Gascoyne　bringing　in　his　dinner；　but；　as　might　be　supposed；　he　had　but　little　hunger；　and　ate　sparingly。　He　had　hardly　ended　his　frugal　meal　before　his　two　squires　of　honor　came　in；　followed　by　a　servant　carrying　the　garments　for　the　coming　ceremony。　He　saluted　them　gravely；　and　then　arising；　washed　his　face　and　hands　in　a　basin　which　Gascoyne　held；　then　kneeled　in　prayer；　the　others　standing　silent　at　a　little　distance。　As　he　arose；　Lord　George　came　forward。

〃The　King　and　the　company　come　presently　to　the　Great　Hall；　Myles；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　needful　for　thee　to　make　all　the　haste　that　thou　art　able。〃

Perhaps　never　had　Devlen　Castle　seen　a　more　brilliant　and　goodly　company　gathered　in　the　great　hall　than　that　which　came　to　witness　King　Henry　create　Myles　Falworth　a　knight　bachelor。

At　the　upper　end　of　the　hall　was　a　raised　dais；　upon　which　stood　a　throne　covered　with　crimson　satin　and　embroidered　with　lions　and　flower…　deluces；　it　was　the　King's　seat。　He　and　his　personal　attendants　had　not　yet　come；　but　the　rest　of　the　company　were　gathered。　The　day　being　warm　and　sultry；　the　balcony　was　all　aflutter　with　the　feather　fans　of　the　ladies　of　the　family　and　their　attendants；　who　from　this　high　place　looked　down　upon　the　hall　below。　Up　the　centre　of　the　hall　was　laid　a　carpet　of　arras；　and　the　passage　was　protected　by　wooden　railings。　Upon　the　one　side　were　tiers　of　seats　for　the　castle　gentlefolks　and　the　guests。　Upon　the　other　stood　the　burghers　from　the　town；　clad　in　sober　dun　and　russet；　and　yeomanry　in　green　and　brown。　The　whole　of　the　great　vaulted　hall　was　full　of　the　dull　hum　of　many　people　waiting；　and　a　ceaseless　restlessness　stirred　the　crowded　throng。　But　at　last　a　whisper　went　around　that　the　King　was　coming。　A　momentary　hush　fell；　and　through　it　was　heard　the　noisy　clatter　of　horses'　feet　coming　nearer　and　nearer；　and　then　stopping　before　the　door。　The　sudden　blare　of　trumpets　broke　through　the　hush；　another　pause；　and　then　in　through　the　great　door…way　of　the　hall　came　the　royal　procession。

First　of　all　marched；　in　the　order　of　their　rank；　and　to　the　number　of　a　score　or　more；　certain　gentlemen；　esquires　and　knights；　chosen　mostly　from　the　King's　attendants。　Behind　these　came　two　pursuivants…at…arms　in　tabards；　and　following　them　a　party　of　a　dozen　more　bannerets　and　barons。　Behind　these　again；　a　little　space　intervening；　came　two　heralds；　also　in　tabards；　a　group　of　the　greater　nobles　attendant　upon　the　King　following　in　the　order　of　their　rank。　Next　came　the　King…at…arms　and；　at　a　little　distance　and　walking　with　sober　slowness；　the　King　himself；　with　the　Earl　and　the　Count　directly　attendant　upon　him　the　one　marching　upon　the　right　hand　and　the　other　upon　the　left。　A　breathless　silence　filled　the　whole　space　as　the　royal　procession　advanced　slowly　up　the　hall。　Through　the　stillness　could　be　heard　the　muffled　sound　of　the　footsteps　on　the　carpet；　the　dry　rustling　of　silk　and　satin　garments；　and　the　clear　clink　and　jingle　of　chains　and　jewelled　ornaments；　but　not　the　sound　of　a　single　voice。

After　the　moment　or　two　of　bustle　and　confusion　of　the　King　taking　his　place　had　passed；　another　little　space　of　expectant　silence　fell。　At　last　there　suddenly　came　the　noise　of　acclamation　of　those　who　stood　without　the　doorcheering　and　the　clapping　of　handssounds　heralding　the　immediate　advent　of　Myles　and　his　attendants。　The　next　moment　the　little　party　entered　the　hall。

First　of　all；　Gascoyne；　bearing　Myles's　sword　in　both　hands；　the　hilt　resting　against　his　breast；　the　point　elevated　at　an　angle　of　forty…five　degrees。　It　was　sheathed　in　a　crimson　scabbard；　and　the　belt　of　Spanish　leather　studded　with　silver　bosses　was　wound　crosswise　around　it。　From　the　hilt　of　the　sword　dangled　the　gilt　spurs　of　his　coming　knighthood。　At　a　little　distance　behind　his　squire　followed　Myles；　the　centre　of　all　observation。　He　was　clad　in　a　novitiate　dress；　arranged　under　Lord　George's　personal　supervision。　It　had　been　made　somewhat　differently　from　the　fashion　usual　at　such　times；　and　was　intended　to　indicate　in　a　manner　the　candidate's　extreme　youthfulness　and　virginity　in　arms。　The　outer　garment　was　a　tabard　robe　of　white　wool；　embroidered　at　the　hem　with　fine　lines　of　silver；　and　gathered　loosely　at　the　waist　with　a　belt　of　lavender　leather　stitched　with　thread　of　silver。　Beneath　he　was　clad　in　armor　（a　present　from　the　Earl）；　new　and　polished　till　it　shone　with　dazzling　brightness；　the　breastplate　covered　with　a　juppon　of　white　satin；　embroidered　with　silver。　Behind　Myles；　and　upon　either　hand；　came　his　squires　of　honor；　sponsors；　and　friends　a　little　company　of　some　half…dozen　in　all。　As　they　advanced　slowly　up　the　great；　dim；　high…vaulted　room；　the　whole　multitude　broke　forth　into　a　humming　buzz　of　applause。　Then　a　sudden　clapping　of　hands　began　near　the　door…way；　ran　down　through　the　length　of　the　room；　and　was　taken　up　by　all　with　noisy　clatter。

〃Saw　I　never　youth　so　comely；〃　whispered　one　of　the　Lady　Anne's　attendant　gentlewomen。　〃Sure　he　looketh　as　Sir　Galahad　looked　when　he　came　first　to　King　Arthur's　court。〃

Myles　knew　that　he　was　very　pale；　he　felt　rather　than　saw　the　restless　crowd　of　faces　upon　either　side；　for　his　eyes　were　fixed　directly　before　him；　upon　the　dais　whereon　sat　the　King；　with　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　standing　at　his　right　hand；　the　Comte　de　Vermoise　upon　the　left；　and　the　others　ranged　around　and　behind　the　throne。　It　was　with　the　same　tense　feeling　of　dreamy　unreality　that　Myles　walked　slowly　up　the　length　of　the　hall；　measuring　his　steps　by　those　of　Gascoyne。　Suddenly　he　felt　Lord　George　Beaumont　touch　him　lightly　upon　the　arm；　and　almost　instinctively　he　stopped　shorthe　was　standing　just　before　the　covered　steps　of　the　throne。

He　saw　Gascoyne　mount　to　the　third　step；　stop　short；　kneel；　and　offer　the　sword　and　the　spurs　he