sir nigel-第5节

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in　features　and　most　eager　and　alert　in　expression。　　A　thick
fringe　of　crisp　yellow　curls　broke　from　under　the　dark　flat　cap
which　he　was　wearing；　and　a　short　golden　beard　hid　the　outline　of
his　strong　square　chin。　　One　white　osprey　feather　thrust　through　a
gold　brooch　in　the　front　of　his　cap　gave　a　touch　of　grace　to　his
somber　garb。　　This　and　other　points　of　his　attire；　the　short
hanging　mantle；　the　leather…sheathed　hunting…knife；　the　cross　belt
which　sustained　a　brazen　horn；　the　soft　doe…skin　boots　and　the
prick　spurs；　would　all　disclose　themselves　to　an　observer；　but　at
the　first　glance　the　brown　face　set　in　gold　and　the　dancing　light
of　the　quick；　reckless；　laughing　eyes；　were　the　one　strong　memory
left　behind。

Such　was　the　youth　who；　cracking　his　whip　joyously；　and　followed
by　half　a　score　of　dogs；　cantered　on　his　rude　pony　down　the
Tilford　Lane；　and　thence　it　was　that　with　a　smile　of　amused
contempt　upon　his　face　he　observed　the　comedy　in　the　field　and　the
impotent　efforts　of　the　servants　of　Waverley。

Suddenly；　however；　as　the　comedy　turned　swiftly　to　black　tragedy；
this　passive　spectator　leaped　into　quick　strenuous　life。　　With　a
spring　he　was　off　his　pony；　and　with　another　he　was　over　the　stone
wall　and　flying　swiftly　across　the　field。　　Looking　up　from　his
victim；　the　great　yellow　horse　saw　this　other　enemy　approach；　and
spurning　the　prostrate；　but　still　writhing　body　with　its　heels；
dashed　at　the　newcomer。

But　this　time　there　was　no　hasty　flight；　no　rapturous　pursuit　to
the　wall。　　The　little　man　braced　himself　straight；　flung　up　his
metal…headed　whip；　and　met　the　horse　with　a　crashing　blow　upon　the
head；　repeated　again　and　again　with　every　attack。　　In　vain　the
horse　reared　and　tried　to　overthrow　its　enemy　with　swooping
shoulders　and　pawing　hoofs。　　Cool；　swift　and　alert；　the　man　sprang
swiftly　aside　from　under　the　very　shadow　of　death；　and　then　again
came　the　swish　and　thud　of　the　unerring　blow　from　the　heavy
handle。

The　horse　drew　off；　glared　with　wonder　and　fury　at　this　masterful
man；　and　then　trotted　round　in　a　circle；　with　mane　bristling；　tail
streaming　and　ears　on　end；　snorting　in　its　rage　and　pain。　　The
man；　hardly　deigning　to　glance　at　his　fell　neighbor；　passed　on　to
the　wounded　forester；　raised　him　in　his　arms　with　a　strength　which
could　not　have　been　expected　in　so　slight　a　body；　and　carried　him；
groaning；　to　the　wall；　where　a　dozen　hands　were　outstretched　to
help　him　over。　　Then；　at　his　leisure；　the　young　man　also　climbed
the　wall；　smiling　back　with　cool　contempt　at　the　yellow　horse；
which　had　come　raging　after　him　once　more。

As　he　sprang　down；　a　dozen　monks　surrounded　him　to　thank　him　or　to
praise　him；　but　he　would　have　turned　sullenly　away　without　a　word
had　he　not　been　stopped　by　Abbot　John　in　person。

〃Nay；　Squire　Loring；〃　said　he；　〃if　you　be　a　bad　friend　to　our
Abbey；　yet　we　must　needs　own　that　you　have　played　the　part　of　a
good　Christian　this　day；　for　if　there　is　breath　left　in　our
servant's　body　it　is　to　you　next　to　our　blessed　patron　Saint
Bernard　that　we　owe　it。〃

〃By　Saint　Paul！　　I　owe　you　no　good…will；　Abbot　John；〃　said　the
young　man。　　〃The　shadow　of　your　Abbey　has　ever　fallen　across　the
house　of　Loring。　　As　to　any　small　deed　that　I　may　have　done　this
day；　I　ask　no　thanks　for　it。　　It　is　not　for　you　nor　for　your　house
that　I　have　done　it；　but　only　because　it　was　my　pleasure　so　to
do。〃

The　Abbot　flushed　at　the　bold　words；　and　bit　his　lip　with
vexation。

It　was　the　sacrist；　however；　who　answered：　〃It　would　be　more
fitting　and　more　gracious；〃　said　he；　〃if　you　were　to　speak　to　the
holy　Father　Abbot　in　a　manner　suited　to　his　high　rank　and　to　the
respect　which　is　due　to　a　Prince　of　the　Church。〃

The　youth　turned　his　bold　blue　eyes　upon　the　monk；　and　his
sunburned　face　darkened　with　anger。　　〃Were　it　not　for　the　gown
upon　your　back；　and　for　your　silvering　hair；　I　would　answer　you　in
another　fashion；〃　said　he。　　〃You　are　the　lean　wolf　which　growls
ever　at　our　door；　greedy　for　the　little　which　hath　been　left　to
us。　　Say　and　do　what　you　will　with　me；　but　by　Saint　Paul！　if　I
find　that　Dame　Ermyntrude　is　baited　by　your　ravenous　pack　I　will
beat　them　off　with　this　whip　from　the　little　patch　which　still
remains　of　all　the　acres　of　my　fathers。〃

〃Have　a　care；　Nigel　Loring；　have　a　care！〃　cried　the　Abbot；　with
finger　upraised。　　〃Have　you　no　fears　of　the　law　of　England？　　〃

〃A　just　law　I　fear　and　obey。〃

〃Have　you　no　respect　for　Holy　Church？〃

〃I　respect　all　that　is　holy　in　her。　　I　do　not　respect　those　who
grind　the　poor　or　steal　their　neighbor's　land。〃

〃Rash　man；　many　a　one　has　been　blighted　by　her　ban　for　less　than
you　have　now　said！　　And　yet　it　is　not　for　us　to　judge　you　harshly
this　day。　　You　are　young　and　hot　words　come　easily　to　your　lips。
How　fares　the　forester？〃

〃His　hurt　is　grievous；　Father　Abbot；　but　he　will　live；〃　said　a
brother；　looking　up　from　the　prostrate　form。　　〃　With　a
blood…letting　and　an　electuary；　I　will　warrant　him　sound　within　a
month。〃

〃Then　bear　him　to　the　hospital。　　And　now；　brother；　about　this
terrible　beast　who　still　gazes　and　snorts　at　us　over　the　top　of
the　wall　as　though　his　thoughts　of　Holy　Church　were　as　uncouth　as
those　of　Squire　Nigel　himself；　what　are　we　to　do　with　him？〃

〃Here　is　Franklin　Aylward；〃　said　one　of　the　brethren。　　〃The　horse
was　his；　and　doubtless　he　will　take　it　back　to　his　farm。〃

But　the　stout　red…faced　farmer　shook　his　head　at　the　proposal。
〃Not　I；　in　faith！〃　said　he。　　〃The　beast　hath　chased　me　twice　round
the　paddock；　it　has　nigh　slain　my　boy　Samkin。　　He　would　never　be
happy　till　he　had　ridden　it；　nor　has　he　ever　been　happy　since。
There　is　not　a　hind　in　my　employ　who　will　enter　his　stall。　　Ill
fare　the　day　that　ever　I　took　the　beast　from　the　Castle　stud　at
Guildford；　where　they　could　do　nothing　with　it　and　no　rider　could
be　found　bold　enough　to　mount　it！　　When　the　sacrist　here　took　it
for　a　fifty…shilling　debt　he　made　his　own　bargain　and　must　abide
by　it。　　He　comes　no　more　to　the　Crooksbury　farm。〃

〃And　he　stays　no　more　here；〃　said　the　Abbot。　　〃Brother　sacrist；
you　have　raised　the　Devil；　and　it　is　for　you　to　lay　it　again。〃

〃That　I　will　most　readily；〃　cried　the　sacrist。　　〃The　pittance…
master　can　stop　the　fifty　shillings　from　my　very　own　weekly　dole；
and　so　the　Abbey　be　none　the　poorer。　　In　the　meantime　here　is　Wat
with　his　arbalist　and　a　bolt　in　his　girdle。　　Let　him　drive　it　to
the　head　through　this　cursed　creature；　for　his　hide　and　his　hoofs
are　of　more　value　than　his　wicked　self。〃

A　hard　brown　old　woodman　who　had　been　shooting　vermin　in　the　Abbey
groves　stepped　forward　with　a　grin　of　pleasure。　　After　a　lifetime
of　stoats　and　foxes；　this　was　indeed　a　noble　quarry　which　was　to
fall　before　him。　　Fitting　a　bolt　on　the　nut　of　his　taut　crossbow；
he　had　raised　it　to　his　shoulder　and　leveled　it　at　the　fierce；
proud；　disheveled　head　which　tossed　in　savage　freedom　at　the　other
side　of　the　wall。　　His　finger　was　crooked　on　the　spring；　when　a
blow　from　a　whip　struck　the　bow　upward　and　the　bolt　flew　harmless
over　the　Abbey　orchard；　while　the　woodman　shrank　abashed　from
Nigel　Loring's　angry　eyes。

〃Keep　your　bolts　for　your　weasels！〃　said　he。　　〃Would　you　take　life
from　a　creature　whose　only　fault　is　that　its　spirit　is　so　high
that　it　has　met　none　yet　who　dare　control　it？　　You　would　slay　such
a　horse　as　a　king　might　be　proud　to　mount；　and　all　because　a
country　franklin；　or　a　monk；　or　a　monk's　varlet；　has　not　the　wit
nor　the　hands　to　master　him？〃

The　sacrist　turned　swiftly　on　the　Squire。　　〃The　Abbey　owes　you　an
offering　for　this　day's　work；　however　rude　your　words　may　be；〃
said　he。　　〃If　you　think　so　much　of　the　horse；　you　may　desire　to
own　it。　　If　I　am　to　pay　for　it；　then　with　the　holy　Abbot's
permission　it　is　in　my　gift　and　I　bestow　it　freely　upon　you。〃

The　Abbot　plucked　at　his　subordinate's　sleeve。　　〃Bethink　you；
brother　sacrist；〃　he　whispered；　〃shall　we　not　have　this　man's
blood　upon　our　heads？〃

〃His　pride　is　as　stubborn　as　the　horse's；　holy　father；〃　the
sacrist　answered；　his　gaunt　fact　breaking　into　a　malicious　smile。
〃Man　or　beast；　one　will　break　the　other　and　the　world　will　be　the
better　for　it。　　If　you　forbid　me　…　〃

〃Nay；　brother；　you　have　bought　the　horse；　and　you　may　have　the
bestowal　of　it。〃

〃Then　I　give　it　…　hide　and　hoofs；　tail　and　temper　…　to　Nigel
Loring；　and　may　it　be　as　sweet　and　as　gentle　to　him　as　he　hath
been　to　the　Abbot　of　Waverley！〃

The　sacrist　spoke　aloud　amid　the　tittering　of　the　monks；　for　the
man　concerned　was　out　of　earshot。　　At　the　first　words　which　had
shown　him　the　turn　which　affairs　had　taken　he　had　run　swiftly　to
the　spot　where　he　had　left　his　pony。　　From　its　mouth　he　removed
the　bit　and　the　stout　bridle　which　held　it。　　Then　leaving　the
creature　to　nibble　the　grass　by　the　wayside　he　sped　back　whence　he
came。

〃I　take　your　gift；　monk；〃　said　he；　〃though　I　know　well　why　it　is
that　you　give　it。　　Yet　I　thank　you；　for　there　are　two　things　upon
earth　for　which　I　have　ever　yearned；　and　which　my　thin　purse　could
never　buy。　　The　one　is　a　noble　horse；　such　a　horse　as　my　father's
son　should　have　betwixt　his　thighs；　and　here　is　the　one　of　all
others　which　I　would　have　chosen；　sin