惊婚记 英文版 Quentin Durward
瓦尔特.司各特 Sir Walter Scott
CHAPTER XIV: THE JOURNEY Page 2
"Do you, gracious ladies," said Durward, without attending toPetit Andre, "ride forward -- not so fast as to raise an opinionof your being in flight, and yet fast enough to avail yourself ofthe impediment which I shall presently place between you and thesemen who follow us."
The Countess Isabelle looked to their guide, and then whispered toher aunt, who spoke to Quentin thus: "We have confidence in yourcare, fair Archer, and will rather abide the risk of whatever maychance in your company, than we will go onward with that man, whosemien is, we think, of no good augury."
"Be it as you will, ladies," said the youth. "There are but twowho come after us, and though they be knights, as their arms seemto show, they shall, if they have any evil purpose, learn how aScottish gentleman can do his devour in the presence and for thedefence of such as you.
"Which of you," he continued, addressing the guards whom hecommanded, "is willing to be my comrade, and to break a lance withthese gallants?"
Two of the men obviously faltered in resolution, but the third,Bertrand Guyot, swore that cap de diou, were they Knights of KingArthur's Round Table, he would try their mettle, for the honour ofGascony.
While he spoke, the two knights -- for they seemed of no less rank-- came up with the rear of the party, in which Quentin, with hissturdy adherent, had by this time stationed himself. They werefully accoutred in excellent armour of polished steel, without anydevice by which they could be distinguished.
One of them, as they approached, called out to Quentin, "Sir Squire,give place -- we come to relieve you of a charge which is aboveyour rank and condition. You will do well to leave these ladies inour care, who are fitter to wait upon them, especially as we knowthat in yours they are little better than captives."
"In return to your demand, sirs," replied Durward, "know, in thefirst place, that I am discharging the duty imposed upon me by mypresent sovereign, and next, that however unworthy I may be, theladies desire to abide under my protection."
"Out, sirrah!" exclaimed one of the champions, "will you, a wanderingbeggar, put yourself on terms of resistance against belted knights?"
"They are indeed terms of resistance," said Quentin, "since they opposeyour insolent and unlawful aggression, and if there be differenceof rank between us, which as yet I know not, your discourtesy hasdone it away. Draw your sword, or if you will use the lance, takeground for your career."
While the knights turned their horses, and rode back to the distanceof about a hundred and fifty yards, Quentin, looking to the ladies,bent low on his saddlebow, as if desiring their favourable regard,and as they streamed towards him their kerchiefs, in token ofencouragement, the two assailants had gained the distance necessaryfor their charge.
Calling to the Gascon to bear himself like a man, Durward put hissteed into motion, and the four horsemen met in full career in themidst of the ground which at first separated them. The shock wasfatal to the poor Gascon, for his adversary, aiming at his face,which was undefended by a visor, ran him through the eye into thebrain, so that he fell dead from his horse.
On the other hand, Quentin, though labouring under the samedisadvantage, swayed himself in the saddle so dexterously, thatthe hostile lance, slightly scratching his cheek, passed over hisright shoulder, while his own spear, striking his antagonist fairupon the breast, hurled him to the ground. Quentin jumped off, tounhelm his fallen opponent, but the other knight (who had neveryet spoken), seeing the fortune of his companion, dismounted stillmore speedily than Durward, and bestriding his friend, who laysenseless, exclaimed, "In the name of God and Saint Martin, mount,good fellow, and get thee gone with thy woman's ware -- VentreSaint Gris, they have caused mischief enough this morning."
"By your leave, Sir Knight," said Quentin, who could not brook themenacing tone in which this advice was given, "I will first see whomI have had to do with, and learn who is to answer for the death ofmy comrade."
"That shalt thou never live to know or to tell," answered theknight. "Get thee back in peace, good fellow. If we were fools forinterrupting your passage, we have had the worst, for thou hast donemore evil than the lives of thee and thy whole hand could repay.-- Nay, if thou wilt have it" (for Quentin now drew his sword, andadvanced on him), "take it with a vengeance!"
So saying, he dealt the Scot such a blow on the helmet, as, tillthat moment (though bred where good blows were plenty), he had onlyread of in romance. It descended like a thunderbolt, beating downthe guard which the young soldier had raised to protect his head,and, reaching his helmet of proof, cut it through so far as totouch his hair, but without farther injury while Durward, dizzy,stunned, and beaten down on one knee, was for an instant at themercy of the knight, had it pleased him to second his blow. Butcompassion for Quentin's youth, or admiration of his courage, ora generous love of fair play, made him withhold from taking suchadvantage: while Durward, collecting himself, sprang up and attackedhis antagonist with the energy of one determined to conquer ordie, and at the same time with the presence of mind necessary forfighting the quarrel out to the best advantage. Resolved not againto expose himself to such dreadful blows as he had just obtained,he employed the advantage of superior agility, increased by thecomparative lightness of his armour, to harass his antagonist bytraversing on all sides, with a suddenness of motion and rapidityof attack against which the knight -- in his heavy panoply -- foundit difficult to defend himself without much fatigue.
It was in vain that this generous antagonist called aloud to Quentinthat there now remained no cause of fight betwixt them, and thathe was loath to be constrained to do him injury. Listening onlyto the suggestions of a passionate wish to redeem the shame of histemporary defeat, Durward continued to assail him with the rapidityof lightning -- now menacing him with the edge, now with the pointof his sword, and ever keeping such an eye on the motions of hisopponent, of whose superior strength he had had terrible proof, thathe was ready to spring backward, or aside, from under the blows ofhis tremendous weapon.
"Now the devil be with thee for an obstinate and presumptuous fool,"muttered the knight, "that cannot be quiet till thou art knockedon the head!"
So saying, he changed his mode of fighting, collected himself, asif to stand on the defensive, and seemed contented with parrying,instead of returning, the blows which Quentin unceasingly aimedat him, with the internal resolution that the instant when eitherloss of breath or any false or careless pass of the young soldiershould give an opening, he would put an end to the fight by a singleblow. It is likely he might have succeeded in this artful policy,but Fate had ordered it otherwise.
The duel was still at the hottest, when a large party of horse rodeup, crying, "Hold, in the King's name!"
Both champions stepped back -- and Quentin saw, with surprise,that his Captain, Lord Crawford, was at the head of the party whohad thus interrupted their combat. There was also Tristan l'Hermite,with two or three of his followers, making, in all, perhaps twentyhorse.