the little duke-第2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！



There　was　Count　Bernard；　of　Harcourt；　called　the　〃Dane；〃　｛2｝　with　his　shaggy　red　hair　and　beard；　to　which　a　touch　of　grey　had　given　a　strange　unnatural　tint；　his　eyes　looking　fierce　and　wild　under　his　thick　eyebrows；　one　of　them　mis…shapen　in　consequence　of　a　sword　cut；　which　had　left　a　broad　red　and　purple　scar　across　both　cheek　and　forehead。　　There；　too；　came　tall　Baron　Rainulf；　of　Ferrieres；　cased　in　a　linked　steel　hauberk；　that　rang　as　he　walked；　and　the　men…at…　arms；　with　helmets　and　shields；　looking　as　if　Sir　Eric's　armour　that　hung　in　the　hail　had　come　to　life　and　was　walking　about。

They　sat　down　to　Fru　Astrida's　banquet；　the　old　Lady　at　the　Duke's　right　hand；　and　the　Count　of　Harcourt　on　his　left；　Osmond　carved　for　the　Duke；　and　Richard　handed　his　cup　and　trencher。　　All　through　the　meal；　the　Duke　and　his　Lords　talked　earnestly　of　the　expedition　on　which　they　were　bound　to　meet　Count　Arnulf　of　Flanders；　on　a　little　islet　in　the　river　Somme；　there　to　come　to　some　agreement；　by　which　Arnulf　might　make　restitution　to　Count　Herluin　of　Montreuil；　for　certain　wrongs　which　he　had　done　him。

Some　said　that　this　would　be　the　fittest　time　for　requiring　Arnulf　to　yield　up　some　towns　on　his　borders；　to　which　Normandy　had　long　laid　claim；　but　the　Duke　shook　his　head；　saying　that　he　must　seek　no　selfish　advantage；　when　called　to　judge　between　others。

Richard　was　rather　tired　of　their　grave　talk；　and　thought　the　supper　very　long；　but　at　last　it　was　over；　the　Grace　was　said；　the　boards　which　had　served　for　tables　were　removed；　and　as　it　was　still　light；　some　of　the　guests　went　to　see　how　their　steeds　had　been　bestowed；　others　to　look　at　Sir　Eric's　horses　and　hounds；　and　others　collected　together　in　groups。

The　Duke　had　time　to　attend　to　his　little　boy；　and　Richard　sat　upon　his　knee　and　talked；　told　about　all　his　pleasures；　how　his　arrow　had　hit　the　deer　to…day；　how　Sir　Eric　let　him　ride　out　to　the　chase　on　his　little　pony；　how　Osmond　would　take　him　to　bathe　in　the　cool　bright　river；　and　how　he　had　watched　the　raven's　nest　in　the　top　of　the　old　tower。

Duke　William　listened；　and　smiled；　and　seemed　as　well　pleased　to　hear　as　the　boy　was　to　tell。　　〃And；　Richard；〃　said　he　at　last；　〃have　you　nought　to　tell　me　of　Father　Lucas；　and　his　great　book？　　What；　not　a　word？　　Look　up；　Richard；　and　tell　me　how　it　goes　with　the　learning。〃　｛3｝

〃Oh；　father！〃　said　Richard；　in　a　low　voice；　playing　with　the　clasp　of　his　father's　belt；　and　looking　down；　〃I　don't　like　those　crabbed　letters　on　the　old　yellow　parchment。〃

〃But　you　try　to　learn　them；　I　hope！〃　said　the　Duke。

〃Yes；　father；　I　do；　but　they　are　very　hard；　and　the　words　are　so　long；　and　Father　Lucas　will　always　come　when　the　sun　is　so　bright；　and　the　wood　so　green；　that　I　know　not　how　to　bear　to　be　kept　poring　over　those　black　hooks　and　strokes。〃

〃Poor　little　fellow；〃　said　Duke　William；　smiling　and　Richard；　rather　encouraged；　went　on　more　boldly。　　〃You　do　not　know　this　reading；　noble　father？〃

〃To　my　sorrow；　no；〃　said　the　Duke。

〃And　Sir　Eric　cannot　read；　nor　Osmond；　nor　any　one；　and　why　must　I　read；　and　cramp　my　fingers　with　writing；　just　as　if　I　was　a　clerk；　instead　of　a　young　Duke？〃　　Richard　looked　up　in　his　father's　face；　and　then　hung　his　head；　as　if　half…ashamed　of　questioning　his　will；　but　the　Duke　answered　him　without　displeasure。

〃It　is　hard；　no　doubt；　my　boy；　to　you　now；　but　it　will　be　the　better　for　you　in　the　end。　　I　would　give　much　to　be　able　myself　to　read　those　holy　books　which　I　must　now　only　hear　read　to　me　by　a　clerk；　but　since　I　have　had　the　wish；　I　have　had　no　time　to　learn　as　you　have　now。〃

〃But　Knights　and　Nobles　never　learn；〃　said　Richard。

〃And　do　you　think　it　a　reason　they　never　should？　　But　you　are　wrong；　my　boy；　for　the　Kings　of　France　and　England；　the　Counts　of　Anjou；　of　Provence；　and　Paris；　yes；　even　King　Hako　of　Norway；　｛4｝　can　all　read。〃

〃I　tell　you；　Richard；　when　the　treaty　was　drawn　up　for　restoring　this　King　Louis　to　his　throne；　I　was　ashamed　to　find　myself　one　of　the　few　crown　vassals　who　could　not　write　his　name　thereto。〃

〃But　none　is　so　wise　or　so　good　as　you；　father；〃　said　Richard；　proudly。　　〃Sir　Eric　often　says　so。〃

〃Sir　Eric　loves　his　Duke　too　well　to　see　his　faults；〃　said　Duke　William；　〃but　far　better　and　wiser　might　I　have　been；　had　I　been　taught　by　such　masters　as　you　may　be。　　And　hark；　Richard；　not　only　can　all　Princes　here　read；　but　in　England；　King　Ethelstane　would　have　every　Noble　taught；　they　study　in　his　own　palace；　with　his　brothers；　and　read　the　good　words　that　King　Alfred　the　truth…teller　put　into　their　own　tongue　for　them。〃

〃I　hate　the　English；〃　said　Richard；　raising　his　head　and　looking　very　fierce。

〃Hate　them？　and　wherefore？〃

〃Because　they　traitorously　killed　the　brave　Sea　King　Ragnar！　　Fru　Astrida　sings　his　death…song；　which　he　chanted　when　the　vipers　were　gnawing　him　to　death；　and　he　gloried　to　think　how　his　sons　would　bring　the　ravens　to　feast　upon　the　Saxon。　　Oh！　had　I　been　his　son；　how　I　would　have　carried　on　the　feud！　　How　I　would　have　laughed　when　I　cut　down　the　false　traitors；　and　burnt　their　palaces！〃　　Richard's　eye　kindled；　and　his　words；　as　he　spoke　the　old　Norse　language；　flowed　into　the　sort　of　wild　verse　in　which　the　Sagas　or　legendary　songs　were　composed；　and　which；　perhaps；　he　was　unconsciously　repeating。

Duke　William　looked　grave。

〃Fru　Astrida　must　sing　you　no　more　such　Sagas；〃　said　he；　〃if　they　fill　your　mind　with　these　revengeful　thoughts；　fit　only　for　the　worshippers　of　Odin　and　Thor。　　Neither　Ragnar　nor　his　sons　knew　better　than　to　rejoice　in　this　deadly　vengeance；　but　we；　who　are　Christians；　know　that　it　is　for　us　to　forgive。〃

〃The　English　had　slain　their　father！〃　said　Richard；　looking　up　with　wondering　dissatisfied　eyes。

〃Yes；　Richard；　and　I　speak　not　against　them；　for　they　were　even　as　we　should　have　been；　had　not　King　Harold　the　fair…haired　driven　your　grandfather　from　Denmark。　　They　had　not　been　taught　the　truth；　but　to　us　it　has　been　said；　'Forgive；　and　ye　shall　be　forgiven。'　　Listen　to　me；　my　son；　Christian　as　is　this　nation　of　ours；　this　duty　of　forgiveness　is　too　often　neglected；　but　let　it　not　be　so　with　you。　Bear　in　mind；　whenever　you　see　the　Cross　｛5｝　marked　on　our　banner；　or　carved　in　stone　on　the　Churches；　that　it　speaks　of　forgiveness　to　us；　but　of　that　pardon　we　shall　never　taste　if　we　forgive　not　our　enemies。　　Do　you　mark　me；　boy？〃

Richard　hesitated　a　little；　and　then　said；　〃Yes；　father；　but　I　could　never　have　pardoned；　had　I　been　one　of　Ragnar's　sons。〃

〃It　may　be　that　you　will　be　in　their　case；　Richard；〃　said　the　Duke；　〃and　should　I　fall；　as　it　may　well　be　I　shall；　in　some　of　the　contests　that　tear　to　pieces　this　unhappy　Kingdom　of　France；　then；　remember　what　I　say　now。　　I　charge　you；　on　your　duty　to　God　and　to　your　father；　that　you　keep　up　no　feud；　no　hatred；　but　rather　that　you　should　deem　me　best　revenged；　when　you　have　with　heart　and　hand；　given　the　fullest　proof　of　forgiveness　to　your　enemy。　　Give　me　your　word　that　you　will。〃

〃Yes；　father；〃　said　Richard；　with　rather　a　subdued　tone；　and　resting　his　head　on　his　father's　shoulder。　　There　was　a　silence　for　a　little　space；　during　which　he　began　to　revive　into　playfulness；　to　stroke　the　Duke's　short　curled　beard；　and　play　with　his　embroidered　collar。

In　so　doing；　his　fingers　caught　hold　of　a　silver　chain；　and　pulling　it　out　with　a　jerk；　he　saw　a　silver　key　attached　to　it。　　〃Oh；　what　is　that？〃　he　asked　eagerly。　　〃What　does　that　key　unlock？〃

〃My　greatest　treasure；〃　replied　Duke　William；　as　he　replaced　the　chain　and　key　within　his　robe。

〃Your　greatest　treasure；　father！　　Is　that　your　coronet？〃

〃You　will　know　one　day；〃　said　his　father；　putting　the　little　hand　down　from　its　too　busy　investigations；　and　some　of　the　Barons　at　that　moment　returning　into　the　hall；　he　had　no　more　leisure　to　bestow　on　his　little　son。

The　next　day；　after　morning　service　in　the　Chapel；　and　breakfast　in　the　hall；　the　Duke　again　set　forward　on　his　journey；　giving　Richard　hopes　he　might　return　in　a　fortnight's　time；　and　obtaining　from　him　a　promise　that　he　would　be　very　attentive　to　Father　Lucas；　and　very　obedient　to　Sir　Eric　de　Centeville。



CHAPTER　II



One　evening　Fru　Astrida　sat　in　her　tall　chair　in　the　chimney　corner；　her　distaff；　with　its　load　of　flax　in　her　hand；　while　she　twisted　and　drew　out　the　thread；　and　her　spindle　danced　on　the　floor。　　Opposite　to　her　sat；　sleeping　in　his　chair；　Sir　Eric　de　Centeville；　Osmond　was　on　a　low　bench　within　the　chimney　corner；　trimming　and　shaping　with　his　knife　some　feathers　of　the　wild　goose；　which　were　to　fly　in　a　different　fashion　from　their　former　one；　and　serve；　not　to　wing　the　flight　of　a　harmless　goose；　but　of　a　sharp　arrow。

The　men　of　the　household　sat　ranged　on　benches　on　one　side　of　the　hall；　the　women　on　the　other；　a　great　red　fire；　together　with　an　immense　flickering　lamp　which　hung　from　the　ceiling；　supplied　the　light；　the　windows　were　closed　with　wooden　shutters；　and　the　whole　apartment　had　a　cheerful　appearance。　　Two　or　three　large　hounds　were　reposing　in　front　of　the　hearth；　and　among　them　sat　little　Richard　of　Normandy；　now　smoothing　down　their　broad　silken　ears；　now　tickling　the　large　cushions　of　their　feet　with　the　end　of　one　of　Osmond's　feat