sir nigel-第76节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


horsemen　galloped　at　the　top　of　their　speed　straight　and　hard　for
each　other。　　An　instant　later　they　met　with　a　thunder…crash　which
was　heard　by　the　burghers　on　the　wall　of　Poitiers；　seven　good
miles　away。

Under　that　frightful　impact　horses　fell　dead　with　broken　necks；
and　many　a　rider；　held　in　his　saddle　by　the　high　pommel；　fractured
his　thighs　with　the　shock。　　Here　and　there　a　pair　met　breast　to
breast；　the　horses　rearing　straight　upward　and　falling　back　upon
their　masters。　　But　for　the　most　part　the　line　had　opened　in　the
gallop；　and　the　cavaliers；　flying　through　the　gaps；　buried
themselves　in　the　enemy's　ranks。　　Then　the　flanks　shredded　out；
and　the　thick　press　in　the　center　loosened　until　there　was　space
to　swing　a　sword　and　to　guide　a　steed。　　For　ten　acres　there　was
one　wild　tumultuous　swirl　of　tossing　heads；　of　gleaming　weapons
which　rose　and　fell；　of　upthrown　hands；　of　tossing　plumes　and　of
lifted　shields；　whilst　the　din　of　a　thousand　war…cries　and　the
clash…clash　of　metal　upon　metal　rose　and　swelled　like　the　roar　and
beat　of　an　ocean　surge　upon　a　rock…bound　coast。　　Backward　and
forward　swayed　the　mighty　throng；　now　down　the　valley　and　now　up；
as　each　side　in　turn　put　forth　its　strength　for　a　fresh　rally。
Locked　in　one　long　deadly　grapple；　great　England　and　gallant
France　with　iron　hearts　and　souls　of　fire　strove　and　strove　for
mastery。

Sir　Walter　Woodland；　riding　hard　upon　his　high　black　horse；　had
plunged　into　the　swelter　and　headed　for　the　blue　and　silver　banner
of　King　John。　　Close　at　his　heels　in　a　solid　wedge　rode　the
Prince；　Chandos；　Nigel；　Lord　Reginald　Cobham；　Audley　with　his　four
famous　squires；　and　a　score　of　the　flower　of　the　English　and
Gascon　knighthood。　　Holding　together　and　bearing　down　opposition
by　a　shower　of　blows　and　by　the　weight　of　their　powerful　horses；
their　progress　was　still　very　slow；　for　ever　fresh　waves　of　French
cavaliers　surged　up　against　them　and　broke　in　front　only　to　close
in　again　upon　their　rear。　　Sometimes　they　were　swept　backward　by
the　rush；　sometimes　they　gained　a　few　paces；　sometimes　they　could
but　keep　their　foothold；　and　yet　from　minute　to　minute　that　blue
and　silver　flag　which　waved　above　the　press　grew　ever　a　little
closer。　　A　dozen　furious　hard…breathing　French　knights　had　broken
into　their　ranks；　and　clutched　at　Sir　Walter　Woodland's　banner；
but　Chandos　and　Nigel　guarded　it　on　one　side；　Audley　with　his
squires　on　the　other；　so　that　no　man　laid　his　hand　upon　it　and
lived。

But　now　there　was　a　distant　crash　and　a　roar　of　〃Saint　George　for
Guienne！〃　from　behind。　　The　Captal　de　Buch　had　charged　home。
〃Saint　George　for　England！〃　yelled　the　main　attack；　and　ever　the
counter…cry　came　back　to　them　from　afar。　　The　ranks　opened　in
front　of　them。　　The　French　were　giving　way。　　A　small　knight　with
golden　scroll…work　upon　his　armor　threw　himself　upon　the　Prince
and　was　struck　dead　by　his　mace。　　It　was　the　Duke　of　Athens；
Constable　of　France；　but　none　had　time　to　note　it；　and　the　fight
rolled　on　over　his　body。　　Looser　still　were　the　French　ranks。
Many　were　turning　their　horses；　for　that　ominous　roar　from　the
rear　had　shaken　their　resolution。　　The　little　English　wedge　poured
onward；　the　Prince；　Chandos；　Audley　and　Nigel　ever　in　the　van。

A　huge　warrior　in　black；　bearing　a　golden　banner；　appeared
suddenly　in　a　gap　of　the　shredding　ranks。　　He　tossed　his　precious
burden　to　a　squire；　who　bore　it　away。　　Like　a　pack　of　hounds　on
the　very　haunch　of　a　deer　the　English　rushed　yelling　for　the
oriflamme。　　But　the　black　warrior　flung　himself　across　their　path。
〃Chargny！　　Chargny　a　la　recousse！〃　he　roared　with　a　voice　of
thunder。　　Sir　Reginald　Cobham　dropped　before　his　battle…ax；　so　did
the　Gascon　de　Clisson。　　Nigel　was　beaten　down　on　to　the　crupper　of
his　horse　by　a　sweeping　blow；　but　at　the　same　instant　Chandos'
quick　blade　passed　through　the　Frenchman's　camail　and　pierced　his
throat。　　So　died　Geoffrey　de　Chargny；　but　the　oriflamme　was　saved。

Dazed　with　the　shock；　Nigel　still　kept　his　saddle；　and　Pommers；
his　yellow　hide　mottled　with　blood；　bore　him　onward　with　the
others。　　The　French　horsemen　were　now　in　full　flight；　but　one
stern　group　of　knights　stood　firm；　like　a　rock　in　a　rushing
torrent；　beating　off　all；　whether　friend　or　foe；　who　tried　to
break　their　ranks。　　The　oriflamme　had　gone；　and　so　had　the　blue
and　silver　banner；　but　here　were　desperate　men　ready　to　fight　to
the　death。　　In　their　ranks　honor　was　to　be　reaped。　　The　Prince　and
his　following　hurled　themselves　upon　them；　while　the　rest　of　the
English　horsemen　swept　onward　to　secure　the　fugitives　and　to　win
their　ransoms。　　But　the　nobler　spirits　…　Audley；　Chandos　and　the
others　…　would　have　thought　it　shame　to　gain　money　whilst　there
was　work　to　be　done　or　honor　to　be　won。　　Furious　was　the　wild
attack；　desperate　the　prolonged　defense。　　Men　fell　from　their
saddles　for　very　exhaustion。

Nigel；　still　at　his　place　near　Chandos'　elbow；　was　hotly　attacked
by　a　short　broad…shouldered　warrior　upon　a　stout　white　cob；　but
Pommers　reared　with　pawing　fore　feet　and　dashed　the　smaller　horse
to　the　ground。　　The　falling　rider　clutched　Nigel's　arm　and　tore
him　from　the　saddle；　so　that　the　two　rolled　upon　the　grass　under
the　stamping　hoofs；　the　English　squire　on　the　top；　and　his
shortened　sword　glimmered　before　the　visor　of　the　gasping；
breathless　Frenchman。

〃Je　me　rends！　　je　axe　rends！〃　he　panted。

For　a　moment　a　vision　of　rich　ransoms　passed　through　Nigel's
brain。　　That　noble　palfrey；　that　gold…flecked　armor；　meant　fortune
to　the　captor。　　Let　others　have　it！　　There　was　work　still　to　be
done。　　How　could　he　desert　the　Prince　and　his　noble　master　for　the
sake　of　a　private　gain？　　Could　he　lead　a　prisoner　to　the　rear　when
honor　beckoned　him　to　the　van？　　He　staggered　to　his　feet；　seized
Pommers　by　the　mane；　and　swung　himself　into　the　saddle。

An　instant　later　he　was　by　Chandos'　side　once　more　and　they　were
bursting　together　through　the　last　ranks　of　the　gallant　group　who
had　fought　so　bravely　to　the　end。　　Behind　them　was　one　long　swath
of　the　dead　and　the　wounded。　　In　front　the　whole　wide　plain　was
covered　with　the　flying　French　and　their　pursuers。

The　Prince　reined　up　his　steed　and　opened　his　visor；　whilst　his
followers　crowded　round　him　with　waving　　weapons　and　frenzied
shouts　of　victory。　　〃What　now；　John！〃　cried　the　smiling　Prince；
wiping　his　streaming　face　with　his　ungauntleted　hand。　　〃How　fares
it　then？〃

〃I　am　little　hurt；　fair　lord；　save　for　a　crushed　hand　and　a
spear…prick　in　the　shoulder。　　But　you；　sir？　　I　trust　you　have　no
scathe？〃

〃In　truth；　John；　with　you　at　one　elbow　and　Lord　Audley　at　the
other；　I　know　not　how　I　could　come　to　harm。　　But　alas！　　I　fear
that　Sir　James　is　sorely　stricken。〃

The　gallant　Lord　Audley　had　dropped　upon　the　ground　and　the　blood
oozed　from　every　crevice　of　his　battered　armor。　　His　four　brave
Squires　…　Dutton　of　Dutton；　Delves　of　Doddington；　Fowlhurst　of
Crewe　and　Hawkstone　of　Wainhill　…　wounded　and　weary　themselves；
but　with　no　thought　save　for　their　master；　unlaced　his　helmet　and
bathed　his　pallid　blood…stained　face。

He　looked　up　at　the　Prince　with　burning　eyes。　　〃I　thank　you；　sir；
for　deigning　to　consider　so　poor　a　knight　as　myself；〃　said　he　in　a
feeble　voice。

The　Prince　dismounted　and　bent　over　him。　　〃I　am　bound　to　honor　you
very　much；　James；〃　said　he；　〃for　by　your　valor　this　day　you　have
won　glory　and　renown　above　us　all；　and　your　prowess　has　proved　you
to　be　the　bravest　knight。〃

〃My　Lord；〃　murmured　the　wounded　man；　〃you　have　a　right　to　say　what
you　please；　but　I　wish　it　were　as　you　say。〃

〃James；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃from　this　time　onward　I　make　you　a
knight　of　my　own　household；　and　I　settle　upon　you　five　hundred
marks　of　yearly　income　from　my　own　estates　in　England。〃

〃Sir；〃　the　knight　answered；　〃God　make　me　worthy　of　the　good
fortune　you　bestow　upon　me。　　Your　knight　I　will　ever　be；　and　the
money　I　will　divide　with　your　leave　amongst　these　four　squires　who
have　brought　me　whatever　glory　I　have　won　this　day。〃　　So　saying
his　head　fell　back；　and　he　lay　white　and　silent　upon　the　grass。

〃Bring　water！〃　said　the　Prince。　　〃Let　the　royal　leech　see　to　him；
for　I　had　rather　lose　many　men　than　the　good　Sir　James。　　Ha；
Chandos；　what　have　we　here？〃

A　knight　lay　across　the　path　with　his　helmet　beaten　down　upon　his
shoulders。　　On　his　surcoat　and　shield　were　the　arms　of　a　red
griffin。

〃It　is　Robert　de　Duras　the　spy；〃　said　Chandos。

〃Well　for　him　that　he　has　met　his　end；〃　said　the　angry　Prince。
〃Put　him　on　his　shield；　Hubert；　and　let　four　archers　bear　him　to
the　monastery。　　Lay　him　at　the　feet　of　the　Cardinal　and　say　that
by　this　sign　I　greet　him。　　Place　my　flag　on　yonder　high　bush；
Walter；　and　let　my　tent　be　raised　there；　that　my　friends　may　know
where　to　seek　me。〃

The　flight　and　pursuit　had　thundered　far　away；　and　the　field　was
deserted　save　for　the　numerous　groups　of　weary　horsemen　who　were
making　their　way　back；　driving　their　prisoners　before　them。　　The
archers　were　scattered　over　the　whole　plain；　rifling　the
saddle…bags　and　gathering　the　armor　of　those　who　had　fallen；　or
searching　for　their　own　scattered　arrows。

Suddenly；　however；　as　the　Prince　was　turning　to