sir nigel-第71节

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out　from　amidst　these　hedges。　　Have　you　seen　the　French？〃

〃Nay；　fair　sir；　I　have　but　this　moment　arrived。〃

〃I　was　about　to　ride　forth　myself　to　coast　their　army　and　observe
their　countenance；　so　come　with　me　ere　the　night　fall；　and　we
shall　see　what　we　can　of　their　order　and　dispositions。〃

There　was　a　truce　betwixt　the　two　forces　for　the　day；　on　account
of　the　ill…advised　and　useless　interposition　of　the　Cardinal　of
Perigord；　Hence　when　Chandos　and　Nigel　had　pushed　their　horses
through　the　long　hedge　which　fronted　the　position　they　found　that
many　small　parties　of　the　knights　of　either　army　were　riding　up
and　down　on　the　plain　outside。　　The　greater　number　of　these　groups
were　French；　since　it　was　very　necessary　for　them　to　know　as　much
as　possible　of　the　English　defenses；　and　many　of　their　scouts　had
ridden　up　to　within　a　hundred　yards　of　the　hedge；　where　they　were
sternly　ordered　back　by　the　pickets　of　archers　on　guard。

Through　these　scattered　knots　of　horsemen　Chandos　rode；　and　as
many　of　them　were　old　antagonists　it　was　〃Ha；　John！〃　on　the　one
side；　and　〃Ha；　Raoul！〃　〃Ha；　Nicholas！〃　〃Ha；　Guichard！〃　upon　the
other；　as　they　brushed　past　them。　　Only　one　cavalier　greeted　them
amiss；　a　large；　red…faced　man；　the　Lord　Clermont；　who　by　some
strange　chance　bore　upon　his　surcoat　a　blue　virgin　standing　amid
golden　sunbeams；　which　was　the　very　device　which　Chandos　had
donned　for　the　day。　　The　fiery　Frenchman　dashed　across　their　path
and　drew　his　steed　back　on　to　its　haunches。

〃How　long　is　it；　my　Lord　Chandos；〃　said　he　hotly；　〃since　you　have
taken　it　upon　yourself　to　wear　my　arms？〃

Chandos　smiled。　　〃It　is　surely　you　who　have　mine；〃　said　he；　〃since
this　surcoat　was　worked　for　the　by　the　good　nuns　of　Windsor　a　long
year　ago。〃

〃If　it　were　not　for　the　truce；〃　said　Clermont；　〃I　would　soon　show
you　that　you　have　no　right　to　wear　it。〃

〃Look　for　it　then　in　the　battle　to…morrow；　and　I　also　will　look
for　yours；〃　Chandos　answered。　　〃There　we　can　very　honorably　settle
the　matter。〃

But　the　Frenchman　was　choleric　and　hard　to　appease。　　〃You　English
can　invent　nothing；〃　said　he；　〃and　you　take　for　your　own　whatever
you　see　handsome　belonging　to　others。〃　　So；　grumbling　and　fuming；
he　rode　upon　his　way；　while　Chandos；　laughing　gayly；　spurred
onward　across　the　plain。

The　immediate　front　of　the　English　line　was　shrouded　with
scattered　trees　and　bushes　which　hid　the　enemy；　but　when　they　had
cleared　these　a　fair　view　of　the　great　French　army　lay　before
them。　　In　the　center　of　the　huge　camp　was　a　long　and　high　pavilion
of　red　silk；　with　the　silver　lilies　of　the　King　at　one　end　of　it；
and　the　golden　oriflamme；　the　battle…flag　of　old　France；　at　the
other。　　Like　the　reeds　of　a　pool　from　side　to　side　of　the　broad
array；　and　dwindling　away　as　far　as　their　eyes　could　see；　were　the
banners　and　pennons　of　high　barons　and　famous　knights；　but　above
them　all　flew　the　ducal　standards　which　showed　that　the　feudal
muster　of　all　the　warlike　provinces　of　France　was　in　the　field
before　them。

With　a　kindling　eye　Chandos　looked　across　at　the　proud　ensigns　of
Normandy；　or　Burgundy；　of　Auvergne；　of　Champagne；　of　Vermandois；
and　of　Berry；　flaunting　and　gleaming　in　the　rays　of　the　sinking
sun。　　Riding　slowly　down　the　line　he　marked　with　attentive　gaze
the　camp　of　the　crossbowmen；　the　muster　of　the　German　mercenaries；
the　numbers　of　the　foot…soldiers；　the　arms　of　every　proud　vassal
or　vavasor　which　might　give　some　guide　as　to　the　power　of　each
division。　　From　wing　to　wing　and　round　the　flanks　he　went；　keeping
ever　within　crossbow…shot　of　the　army；　and　then　at　last　having
noted　all　things　in　his　mind　he　turned　his　horse's　head　and　rode
slowly　back；　heavy　with　thought；　to　the　English　lines。




XXV。　　HOW　THE　KING　OF　FRANCE　HELD　COUNSEL　AT　MAUPERTUIS


The　morning　of　Sunday；　the　nineteenth　of　September；　in　the　year　of
our　Lord　1356；　was　cold　and　fine。　　A　haze　which　rose　from　the
marshy　valley　of　Muisson　covered　both　camps　and　set　the　starving
Englishmen　shivering；　but　it　cleared　slowly　away　as　the　sun　rose。
In　the　red　silken　pavilion　of　the　French　King　…　the　same　which　had
been　viewed　by　Nigel　and　Chandos　the　evening　before　…　a　solemn
mass　was　held　by　the　Bishop　of　Chalons；　who　prayed　for　those　who
were　about　to　die；　with　little　thought　in　his　mind　that　his　own
last　hour　was　so　near　at　hand。　　Then；　when　communion　had　been
taken　by　the　King　and　his　four　young　sons　the　altar　was　cleared
away；　and　a　great　red…covered　table　placed　lengthwise　down　the
tent；　round　which　John　might　assemble　his　council　and　determine
how　best　he　should　proceed。　　With　the　silken　roof；　rich　tapestries
of　Arras　round　the　walls　and　Eastern　rugs　beneath　the　feet；　his
palace　could　furnish　no　fairer　chamber。

King　John；　who　sat　upon　the　canopied　dais　at　the　upper　end；　was
now　in　the　sixth　year　of　his　reign　and　the　thirty…sixth　of　his
life。　　He　was　a　short　burly　man；　ruddy…faced　and　deep…chested；
with　dark　kindly　eyes　and　a　most　noble　bearing。　　It　did　not　need
the　blue　cloak　sewed　with　silver　lilies　to　mark　him　as　the　King。
Though　his　reign　had　been　short；　his　fame　was　already　widespread
over　all　Europe　as　a　kindly　gentleman　and　a　fearless　soldier　…　a
fit　leader　for　a　chivalrous　nation。　　His　elder　son；　the　Duke　of
Normandy；　still　hardly　more　than　a　boy；　stood　beside　him；　his　hand
upon　the　King's　shoulder；　and　John　half　turned　from　time　to　time
to　fondle　him。　　On　the　right；　at　the　same　high　dais；　was　the
King's　younger　brother；　the　Duke　of　Orleans；　a　pale　heavy…featured
man；　with　a　languid　manner　and　intolerant　eyes。　　On　the　left　was
the　Duke　of　Bourbon；　sad…faced　and　absorbed；　with　that　gentle
melancholy　in　his　eyes　and　bearing　which　comes　often　with　the
premonition　of　death。　　All　these　were　in　their　armor；　save　only
for　their　helmets；　which　lay　upon　the　board　before　them。

Below；　grouped　around　the　long　red　table；　was　an　assembly　of　the
most　famous　warriors　in　Europe。　　At　the　end　nearest　the　King　was
the　veteran　soldier　the　Duke　of　Athens；　son　of　a　banished　father；
and　now　High　Constable　of　France。　　On　one　side　of　him　sat　the
red…faced　and　choleric　Lord　Clermont；　with　the　same　blue　Virgin　in
golden　rays　upon　his　surcoat　which　had　caused　his　quarrel　with
Chandos　the　night　before。　　On　the　other　was　a　noble…featured
grizzly…haired　soldier；　Arnold　d'Andreghen；　who　shared　with
Clermont　the　honor　of　being　Marshal　of　France。　　Next　to　them　sat
Lord　James　of　Bourbon；　a　brave　warrior　who　was　afterwards　slain　by
the　White　Company　at　Brignais；　and　beside　him　a　little　group　of
German　noblemen；　including　the　Earl　of　Salzburg　and　the　Earl　of
Nassau；　who　had　ridden　over　the　frontier　with　their　formidable
mercenaries　at　the　bidding　of　the　French　King。　　The　ridged　armor
and　the　hanging　nasals　of　their　bassinets　were　enough　in
themselves　to　tell　every　soldier　that　they　were　from　beyond　the
Rhine。　　At　the　other　side　of　the　table　were　a　line　of　proud　and
warlike　Lords；　Fiennes；　Chatillon；　Nesle；　de　Landas；　de　Beaujeu；
with　the　fierce　knight　errant　de　Chargny；　he　who　had　planned　the
surprise　of　Calais；　and　Eustace　de　Ribeaumont；　who　had　upon　the
same　occasion　won　the　prize　of　valor　from　the　hands　of　Edward　of
England。　　Such　were　the　chiefs　to　whom　the　King　now　turned　for
assistance　and　advice。

〃You　have　already　heard；　my　friends；〃　said　he；　〃that　the　Prince　of
Wales　has　made　no　answer　to　the　proposal　which　we　sent　by　the　Lord
Cardinal　of　Perigord。　　Certes　this　is　as　it　should　be；　and　though
I　have　obeyed　the　call　of　Holy　Church　I　had　no　fears　that　so
excellent　a　Prince　as　Edward　of　England　would　refuse　to　meet　us　in
battle。　　I　am　now　of　opinion　that　we　should　fall　upon　them　at
once；　lest　perchance　the　Cardinal's　cross　should　again　come
betwixt　our　swords　and　our　enemies。〃

A　buzz　of　joyful　assent　arose　from　the　meeting；　and　even　from　the
attendant　men…at…arms　who　guarded　the　door。　　When　it　had　died　away
the　Duke　of　Orleans　rose　in　his　place　beside　the　King。

〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃you　speak　as　we　would　have　you　do；　and　I　for　one
am　of　opinion　that　the　Cardinal　of　Perigord　has　been　an　ill　friend
of　France；　for　why　should　we　bargain　for　a　part　when　we　have　but
to　hold　out　our　hand　in　order　to　grasp　the　whole？　　What　need　is
there　for　words？　　Let　us　spring　to　horse　forthwith　and　ride　over
this　handful　of　marauders　who　have　dared　to　lay　waste　your　fair
dominions。　　If　one　of　them　go　hence　save　as　our　prisoner　we　are
the　more　to　blame。〃

〃By　Saint　Denis；　brother！〃　said　the　King；　smiling；　〃if　words　could
slay　you　would　have　had　them　all　upon　their　backs　ere　ever　we　left
Chartres。　　You　are　new　to　war；　but　when　you　have　had　experience　of
a　stricken　field　or　two　you　would　know　that　things　must　be　done
with　forethought　and　in　order　or　they　may　go　awry。　　In　our
father's　time　we　sprang　to　horse　and　spurred　upon　these　English　at
Crecy　and　elsewhere　as　you　advise；　but　we　had　little　profit　from
it；　and　now　we　are　grown　wiser。　　How　say　you；　Sieur　de　Ribeaumont？
You　have　coasted　their　lines　and　observed　their　countenance。
Would　you　ride　down　upon　them；　as　my　brother　has　advised；　or　how
would　you　order　the　matter？〃

De　Ribeaumont；　a　tall　dark…eyed　handsome　man；　paused　ere　he
answered。　　〃Sire；〃　he