sir nigel-第8节

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preserved　meat　which　played　so　great　a　part　in　the　housekeeping　of
the　Middle　Ages。

Dame　Ermyntrude　Loring；　daughter；　wife；　and　mother　of　warriors；
was　herself　a　formidable　figure。　　Tall　and　gaunt；　with　hard　craggy
features　and　intolerant　dark　eyes；　even　her　snow…white　hair　and
stooping　back　could　not　entirely　remove　the　sense　of　fear　which
she　inspired　in　those　around　her。　　Her　thoughts　and　memories　went
back　to　harsher　times；　and　she　looked　upon　the　England　around　her
as　a　degenerate　and　effeminate　land　which　had　fallen　away　from　the
old　standard　of　knightly　courtesy　and　valor。

The　rising　power　of　the　people；　the　growing　wealth　of　the　Church；
the　increasing　luxury　in　life　and　manners；　and　the　gentler　tone　of
the　age　were　all　equally　abhorrent　to　her；　so　that　the　dread　of
her　fierce　face；　and　even　of　the　heavy　oak　staff　with　which　she
supported　her　failing　limbs；　was　widespread　through　all　the
country　round。

Yet　if　she　was　feared　she　was　also　respected；　for　in　days　when
books　were　few　and　readers　scarce；　a　long　memory　and　a　ready
tongue　were　of　the　more　value；　and　where；　save　from　Dame
Ermyntrude；　could　the　young　unlettered　Squires　of　Surrey　and
Hampshire　hear　of　their　grandfathers　and　their　battles；　or　learn
that　lore　of　heraldry　and　chivalry　which　she　handed　down　from　a
ruder　but　a　more　martial　age？　　Poor　as　she　was；　there　was　no　one
in　Surrey　whose　guidance　would　be　more　readily　sought　upon　a
question　of　precedence　or　of　conduct　than　the　Dame　Ermyntrude
Loring。

She　sat　now　with　bowed　back　by　the　empty　fireplace；　and　looked
across　at　Nigel　with　all　the　harsh　lines　of　her　old　ruddled　face
softening　into　love　and　pride。　　The　young　Squire　was　busy　cutting
bird…bolts　for　his　crossbow；　and　whistling　softly　as　he　worked。
Suddenly　he　looked　up　and　caught　the　dark　eyes　which　were　fixed
upon　him。　　He　leaned　forward　and　patted　the　bony　hand。

〃What　hath　pleased　you；　dear　dame？　　I　read　pleasure　in　your　eyes。〃

〃I　have　heard　to…day；　Nigel；　how　you　came　to　win　that　great
war…horse　which　stamps　in　our　stable。〃

〃Nay；　dame；　I　had　told　you　that　the　monks　had　given　it　to　me。〃

〃You　said　so；　fair　son；　but　never　a　word　more。　　Yet　the　horse
which　you　brought　home　was　a　very　different　horse　I　wot；　to　that
which　was　given　you。　　Why　did　you　not　tell　me？〃

〃I　should　think　it　shame　to　talk　of　such　a　thing。〃

〃So　would　your　father　before　you；　and　his　father　no　less。　　They
would　sit　silent　among　the　knights　when　the　wine　went　round　and
listen　to　every　man's　deeds；　but　if　perchance　there　was　anyone　who
spoke　louder　than　the　rest　and　seemed　to　be　eager　for　honor；　then
afterwards　your　father　would　pluck　him　softly　by　the　sleeve　and
whisper　in　his　ear　to　learn　if　there　was　any　small　vow　of　which　he
could　relieve　him；　or　if　he　would　deign　to　perform　some　noble　deed
of　arms　upon　his　person。　　And　if　the　man　were　a　braggart　and　would
go　no　further；　your　father　would　be　silent　and　none　would　know　it。
But　if　he　bore　himself　well；　your　father　would　spread　his　fame　far
and　wide；　but　never　make　mention　of　himself。〃

Nigel　looked　at　the　old　woman　with　shining　eyes。　　〃I　love　to　hear
you　speak　of　him；〃　said　he。　　〃I　pray　you　to　tell　me　once　more　of
the　manner　of　his　death。〃

〃He　died　as　he　had　lived；　a　very　courtly　gentleman。　　It　was　at　the
great　sea…battle　upon　the　Norman　coast；　and　your　father　was　in
command　of　the　after…guard　in　the　King's　own　ship。　　Now　the　French
had　taken　a　great　English　ship　the　year　before　when　they　came　over
and　held　the　narrow　seas　and　burned　the　town　of　Southampton。

This　ship　was　the　Christopher；　and　they　placed　it　in　the　front　of
their　battle；　but　the　English　closed　upon　it　and　stormed　over　its
side；　and　slew　all　who　were　upon　it。

〃But　your　father　and　Sir　Lorredan　of　Genoa；　who　commanded　the
Christopher；　fought　upon　the　high　poop；　so　that　all　the　fleet
stopped　to　watch　it；　and　the　King　himself　cried　aloud　at　the
sight；　for　Sir　Lorredan　was　a　famous　man…at…arms　and　bore　himself
very　stoutly　that　day；　and　many　a　knight　envied　your　father　that
he　should　have　chanced　upon　so　excellent　a　person。　　But　your
father　bore　him　back　and　struck　him　such　a　blow　with　a　mace　that
he　turned　the　helmet　half　round　on　his　head；　so　that　he　could　no
longer　see　through　the　eye　holes；　and　Sir　Lorredan　threw　down　his
sword　and　gave　himself　to　ransom。　　But　your　father　took　him　by　the
helmet　and　twisted　it　until　he　had　it　straight　upon　his　head。
Then；　when　he　could　see　once　again；　he　handed　him　his　sword；　and
prayed　him　that　he　would　rest　himself　and　then　continue；　for　it
was　great　profit　and　joy　to　see　any　gentleman　carry　himself　so
well。　　So　they　sat　together　and　rested　by　the　rail　of　the　poop；
but　even　as　they　raised　their　hands　again　your　father　was　struck
by　a　stone　from　a　mangonel　and　so　died。〃

〃And　this　Sir　Lorredan；〃　cried　Nigel；　〃he　died　also；　as　I
understand？〃

〃I　fear　that　he　was　slain　by　the　archers；　for　they　loved　your
father；　and　they　do　not　see　these　things　with　our　eyes。〃

〃It　was　a　pity；〃　said　Nigel；　〃for　it　is　clear　that　he　was　a　good
knight　and　bore　himself　very　bravely。〃

〃Time　was；　when　I　was　young；　when　commoners　dared　not　have　laid
their　grimy　hands　upon　such　a　man。　　Men　of　gentle　blood　and
coat…armor　made　war　upon　each　other；　and　the　others；　spearmen　or
archers；　could　scramble　amongst　themselves。　　But　now　all　are　of　a
level；　and　only　here　and　there　one　like　yourself；　fair　son；　who
reminds　me　of　the　men　who　are　gone。〃

Nigel　leaned　forward　and　took　her　hands　in　his。　　〃What　I　am　you
have　made　me；〃　said　he。

〃It　is　true；　Nigel。　　I　have　indeed　watched　over　you　as　the
gardener　watches　his　most　precious　blossom；　for　in　you　alone　are
all　the　hopes　of　our　ancient　house；　and　soon　…　very　soon　…　you
will　be　alone。〃

〃Nay；　dear　lady；　say　not　that。〃

〃I　am　very　old；　Nigel；　and　I　feel　the　shadow　closing　in　upon　me。
My　heart　yearns　to　go；　for　all　whom　I　have　known　and　loved　have
gone　before　me。　　And　you　…　it　will　be　a　blessed　day　for　you；　since
I　have　held　you　back　from　that　world　into　which　your　brave　spirit
longs　to　plunge。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　I　have　been　happy　here　with　you　at　Tilford。〃

〃We　are　very　poor；　Nigel。　　I　do　not　know　where　we　may　find　the
money　to　fit　you　for　the　wars。　　Yet　we　have　good　friends。　　There
is　Sir　John　Chandos；　who　has　won　such　credit　in　the　French　wars
and　who　rides　ever　by　the　King's　bridle…arm。　　He　was　your　father's
friend　and　they　were　Squires　together。　　If　I　sent　you　to　court
with　a　message　to　him　he　would　do　what　he　could。〃

Nigel's　fair　face　flushed。　　〃Nay；　Dame　Ermyntrude；　I　must　find　my
own　gear；　even　as　I　have　found　my　own　horse；　for　I　had　rather　ride
into　battle　in　this　tunic　than　owe　my　suit　to　another。〃

〃I　feared　that　you　would　say　so；　Nigel；　but　indeed　I　know　not　how
else　we　may　get　the　money；〃　said　the　old　woman　sadly。　　〃It　was
different　in　the　days　of　my　father。　　I　can　remember　that　a　suit　of
mail　was　but　a　small　matter　in　those　days；　for　in　every　English
town　such　things　could　be　made。　　But　year　by　year　since　men　have
come　to　take　more　care　of　their　bodies；　there　have　been　added　a
plate　of　proof　here　and　a　cunning　joint　there；　and　all　must　be
from　Toledo　or　Milan；　so　that　a　knight　must　have　much　metal　in　his
purse　ere　he　puts　any　on　his　limbs。〃

Nigel　looked　up　wistfully　at　the　old　armor　which　was　slung　on　the
beams　above　him。　　〃The　ash　spear　is　good；〃　said　he；　〃and　so　is　the
oaken　shield　with　facings　of　steel。　　Sir　Roger　FitzAlan　handled
them　and　said　that　he　had　never　seen　better。　　But　the　armor　…　〃

Lady　Ermyntrude　shook　her　old　head　and　laughed。　　〃You　have　your
father's　great　soul；　Nigel；　but　you　have　not　his　mighty　breadth　of
shoulder　and　length　of　limb。　　There　was　not　in　all　the　King's
great　host　a　taller　or　a　stronger　man。　　His　harness　would　be
little　use　to　you。　　No；　fair　son；　I　rede　you　that　when　the　time
comes　you　sell　this　crumbling　house　and　the　few　acres　which　are
still　left；　and　so　go　forth　to　the　wars　in　the　hope　that　with　your
own　right　hand　you　will　plant　the　fortunes　of　a　new　house　of
Loring。〃

A　shadow　of　anger　passed　over　Nigel's　fresh　young　face。　　〃I　know
not　if　we　may　hold　off　these　monks　and　their　lawyers　much　longer。
This　very　day　there　came　a　man　from　Guildford　with　claims　from　the
Abbey　extending　back　before　my　father's　death。〃

〃Where　are　they；　fair　son？〃

〃They　are　flapping　on　the　furze…bushes　of　Hankley；　for　I　sent　his
papers　and　parchments　down　wind　as　fast　as　ever　falcon　flew。〃　‘

〃Nay！　　you　were　mad　to　do　that；　Nigel。　　And　the　man；　where　is　he？〃

〃Red　Swire　and　old　George　the　archer　threw　him　into　the　Thursley
bog。〃

〃Alas！　　I　fear　me　such　things　cannot　be　done　in　these　days；　though
my　father　or　my　husband　would　have　sent　the　rascal　back　to
Guildford　without　his　ears。　　But　the　Church　and　the　Law　are　too
strong　now　for　us　who　are　of　gentler　blood。　　Trouble　will　come　of
it；　Nigel；　for　the　Abbot　of　Waverley　is　not　one　who　will　hold　back
the　shield　of　the　Church　from　those　who　are　her　servants。〃

〃The　Abbot　would　not　hurt　us。　　It　is　that　gray　lean　wolf　of　a
sacrist　who　hungers　for　our　land。　　Let　him　do　his　worst。　　I　fear
him　not。〃

〃He　has　such　an　engine　at　his　back；　Nigel；　that　even　the　bravest
must　fear　him。