sir nigel-第44节

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bombardman　beside　me；　and　I　have　thought　that　perhaps　I　was　the
last　of　the　old　and　he　the　first　of　the　new；　that　there　would　come
a　time　when　he　and　his　engines　would　sweep　you　and　me　and　the　rest
of　us　from　the　field。〃

〃But　not　yet；　I　trust；　honored　sir？〃

〃No；　not　yet；　Nigel。　　You　are　still　in　time　to　win　your　spurs　even
as　your　fathers　did。　　How　is　your　strength？〃

〃I　am　ready　for　any　task；　my　good　and　honored　lord。〃

〃It　is　well；　for　work　awaits　us　…　good　work；　pressing　work；　work
of　peril　and　of　honor。　　Your　eyes　shine　and　your　face　flushes；
Nigel。　　I　live　my　own　youth　over　again　as　I　look　at　you。　　Know
then　that　though　there　is　truce　with　the　French　here；　there　is　not
truce　in　Brittany　where　the　houses　of　Blois　and　of　Montfort　still
struggle　for　the　dukedom。　　Half　Brittany　fights　for　one；　and　half
for　the　other。　　The　French　have　taken　up　the　cause　of　Blois；　and
we　of　Montfort；　and　it　is　such　a　war　that　many　a　great　leader；
such　as　Sir　Walter　Manny；　has　first　earned　his　name　there。　　Of
late　the　war　has　gone　against　us；　and　the　bloody　hands　of　the
Rohans；　of　Gaptooth　Beaumanoir；　of　Oliver　the　Flesher　and　others
have　been　heavy　upon　our　people。　　The　last　tidings　have　been　of
disaster；　and　the　King's　soul　is　dark　with　wrath　for　that　his
friend　and　comrade　Gilles　de　St。　Pol　has　been　done　to　death　in　the
Castle　of　La　Brohiniere。　　He　will　send　succors　to　the　country；　and
we　go　at　their　head。　　How　like　you　that；　Nigel？〃

〃My　honored　lord；　what　could　I　ask　for　better？〃

〃Then　have　your　harness　ready；　for　we　start　within　the　week。　　Our
path　by　land　is　blocked　by　the　French；　and　we　go　by　sea。　　This
night　the　King　gives　a　banquet　ere　he　returns　to　England；　and　your
place　is　behind　my　chair。　　Be　in　my　chamber　that　you　may　help　me
to　dress；　and　so　we　will　to　the　hall　together。〃

With　satin　and　with　samite；　with　velvet　and　with　fur；　the　noble
Chandos　was　dressed　for　the　King's　feast；　and　Nigel　too　had　donned
his　best　silk　jupon；　faced　with　the　five　scarlet　roses；　that　he
might　wait　upon　him。　　In　the　great　hall　of　Calais　Castle　the
tables　were　set；　a　high　table　for　the　lords；　a　second　one　for　the
less　distinguished　knights；　and　a　third　at　which　the　squires　might
feast　when　their　masters　were　seated。

Never　had　Nigel　in　his　simple　life　at　Tilford　pictured　a　scene　of
such　pomp　and　wondrous　luxury。　　The　grim　gray　walls　were　covered
from　ceiling　to　floor　with　priceless　tapestry　of　Arras；　where
hart；　hounds　and　huntsmen　circled　the　great　hall　with　one　long
living　image　of　the　chase。　　Over　the　principal　table　drooped　a
line　of　banners；　and　beneath　them　rows　of　emblazoned　shields　upon
the　wall　carried　the　arms　of　the　high　noblemen　who　sat　beneath。
The　red　light　of　cressets　and　of　torches　burned　upon　the　badges　of
the　great　captains　of　England。　　The　lions　and　lilies　shone　over
the　high　dorseret　chair　in　the　center；　and　the　same　august　device
marked　with　the　cadency　label　indicated　the　seat　of　the　Prince；
while　glowing　to　right　and　to　left　were　the　long　lines　of　noble
insignia；　honored　in　peace　and　terrible　in　war。　　There　shone　the
gold　and　sable　of　Manny；　the　engrailed　cross　of　Suffolk；　the　red
chevron　of　Stafford；　the　scarlet　and　gold　of　Audley；　the　blue　lion
rampant　of　the　Percies；　the　silver　swallows　of　Arundel；　the　red
roebuck　of　the　Montacutes；　the　star　of　the　de　Veres；　the　silver
scallops　of　Russell；　the　purple　lion　of　de　Lacy；　and　the　black
crosses　of　Clinton。

A　friendly　Squire　at　Nigel's　elbow　whispered　the　names　of　the
famous　warriors　beneath。　　〃You　are　young　Loring　of　Tilford；　the
Squire　of　Chandos；　are　you　not？〃　said　he。　　〃My　name　is　Delves；　and
I　come　from　Doddington　in　Cheshire。　　I　am　the　Squire　of　Sir　James
Audley；　yonder　round…backed　man　with　the　dark　face　and　close…
cropped　beard；　who　hath　the　Saracen　head　as　a　crest　above　him。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　him　as　a　man　of　great　valor；〃　said　Nigel；　gazing
at　him　with　interest。

〃Indeed；　you　may　well　say　so；　Master　Loring。　　He　is　the　bravest
knight　in　England；　and　in　Christendom　also；　as　I　believe。　　No　man
hath　done　such　deeds　of　valor。〃

Nigel　looked　at　his　new　acquaintance　with　hope　in　his　eyes。　　〃You
speak　as　it　becomes　you　to　speak　when　you　uphold　your　own　master；〃
said　he。　　〃For　the　same　reason；　Master　Delves；　and　in　no　spirit　of
ill…will　to　you；　it　behooves　me　to　tell　you　that　he　is　not　to　be
compared　in　name　or　fame　with　the　noble　knight　on　whom　I　wait。
Should　you　hold　otherwise；　then　surely　we　can　debate　the　matter　in
whatever　way　or　time　may　please　you　best。〃

Delves　smiled　good…humoredly。　　〃Nay；　be　not　so　hot；〃　said　he。
〃Had　you　upheld　any　other　knight；　save　perhaps　Sir　Walter　Manny；　I
had　taken　you　at　your　word；　and　your　master　or　mine　would　have　had
place　for　a　new　Squire。　　But　indeed　it　is　only　truth　that　no
knight　is　second　to　Chandos；　nor　would　I　draw　my　sword　to　lower
his　pride　of　place。　　Ha；　Sir　James'　cup　is　low！　　I　must　see　to
it！〃　　He　darted　off；　a　flagon　of　Gascony　in　his　hand。　　〃The　King
hath　had　good　news　to…night；〃　he　continued　when　he　returned。　　〃I
have　not　seen　him　in　so　merry　a　mind　since　the　night　when　we　took
the　Frenchmen　and　he　laid　his　pearl　chaplet　upon　the　head　of　de
Ribeaumont。　　See　how　he　laughs；　and　the　Prince　also。　　That　laugh
bodes　some　one　little　good；　or　I　am　the　more　mistaken。　　Have　a
care！　　Sir　John's　plate　is　empty。〃

It　was　Nigel's　turn　to　dart　away；　but　ever　in　the　intervals　he
returned　to　the　corner　whence　he　could　look　down　the　hall　and
listen　to　the　words　of　the　older　Squire。　　Delves　was　a　short；
thick…set　man　past　middle　age；　weather…beaten　and　scarred；　with　a
rough　manner　and　bearing　which　showed　that　he　was　more　at　his　ease
in　a　tent　than　a　hall。　　But　ten　years　of　service　had　taught　him
much；　and　Nigel　listened　eagerly　to　his　talk。

〃Indeed　the　King　hath　some　good　tidings；〃　he　continued。　　〃See　now；
he　has　whispered　it　to　Chandos　and　to　Manny。　　Manny　spreads　it　on
to　Sir　Reginald　Cobham；　and　he　to　Robert　Knolles；　each　smiling
like　the　Devil　over　a　friar。〃

〃Which　is　Sir　Robert　Knolles？〃　asked　Nigel　with　interest。　　〃I　have
heard　much　of　him　and　his　deeds。〃

〃He　is　the　tall　hard…faced　man　in　yellow　silk；　he　with　the
hairless　cheeks　and　the　split　lip。　　He　is　little　older　than
yourself；　and　his　father　was　a　cobbler　in　Chester；　yet　he　has
already　won　the　golden　spurs。　　See　how　he　dabs　his　great　hand　in
the　dish　and　hands　forth　the　gobbets。　　He　is　more　used　to　a
camp…kettle　than　a　silver　plate。　　The　big　man　with　the　black　beard
is　Sir　Bartholomew　Berghersh；　whose　brother　is　the　Abbot　of
Beaulieu。　　Haste；　haste！　for　the　boar's　head　is　come　and　the
plate's　to　be　cleaned。〃

The　table　manners　of　our　ancestors　at　this　period　would　have
furnished　to　the　modern　eye　the　strangest　mixture　of　luxury　and　of
barbarism。　　Forks　were　still　unknown；　and　the　courtesy　fingers；
the　index　and　the　middle　of　the　left　hand；　took　their　place。　　To
use　any　others　was　accounted　the　worst　of　manners。　　A　crowd　of
dogs　lay　among　the　rushes　growling　at　each　other　and　quarreling
over　the　gnawed　bones　which　were　thrown　to　them　by　the　feasters。
A　slice　of　coarse　bread　served　usually　as　a　plate；　but　the　King's
own　high　table　was　provided　with　silver　platters；　which　were　wiped
by　the　Squire　or　page　after　each　course。　　On　the　other　hand　the
table…linen　was　costly；　and　the　courses；　served　with　a　pomp　and
dignity　now　unknown；　comprised　such　a　variety　of　dishes　and　such
complex　marvels　of　cookery　as　no　modern　banquet　could　show。
Besides　all　our　domestic　animals　and　every　kind　of　game；　such
strange　delicacies　as　hedgehogs；　bustards；　porpoises；　squirrels；
bitterns　and　cranes　lent　variety　to　the　feast。

Each　new　course；　heralded　by　a　flourish　of　silver　trumpets；　was
borne　in　by　liveried　servants　walking　two　and　two；　with　rubicund
marshals　strutting　in　front　and　behind；　bearing　white　wands　in
their　hands；　not　only　as　badges　of　their　office；　but　also　as
weapons　with　which　to　repel　any　impertinent　inroad　upon　the　dishes
in　the　journey　from　the　kitchen　to　the　hall。　　Boar's　heads；
enarmed　and　endored　with　gilt　tusks　and　flaming　mouths；　were
followed　by　wondrous　pasties　molded　to　the　shape　of　ships；　castles
and　other　devices　with　sugar　seamen　or　soldiers　who　lost　their　own
bodies　in　their　fruitless　defense　against　the　hungry　attack。
Finally　came　the　great　nef；　a　silver　vessel　upon　wheels　laden　with
fruit　and　sweetmeats　which　rolled　with　its　luscious　cargo　down　the
line　of　guests。　　Flagons　of　Gascony；　of　Rhine　wine；　of　Canary　and
of　Rochelle　were　held　in　readiness　by　the　attendants；　but　the　age；
though　luxurious；　was　not　drunken；　and　the　sober　habits　of　the
Norman　had　happily　prevailed　over　the　license　of　those　Saxon
banquets　where　no　guest　might　walk　from　the　table　without　a　slur
upon　his　host。　　Honor　and　hardihood　go　ill　with　a　shaking　hand　or
a　blurred　eye。

Whilst　wine；　fruit　and　spices　were　handed　round　the　high　tables
the　squires　had　been　served　in　turn　at　the　farther　end　of　the
hall。　　Meanwhile　round　the　King　there　had　gathered　a　group　of
statesmen　and　soldiers；　talking　eagerly　among　themselves。　　The
Earl　of　Stafford；　the　Earl　of　Warwick；　the　Earl　of　Arundel；　Lord
Beauchamp　and　Lord　Neville　were　assembled　at　the　back　of　his
chair；