惊婚记 英文版 Quentin Durward
瓦尔特.司各特 Sir Walter Scott
CHAPTER XVII: THE ESPIED SPY
What, the rude ranger? and spied spy? -- hands off --You are for no such rustics.
BEN JONSON'S TALE OF ROBIN HOOD
When Quentin sallied from the convent, he could mark the precipitateretreat of the Bohemian, whose dark figure was seen in the farmoonlight flying with the speed of a flogged hound quite throughthe street of the little village, and across the level meadow thatlay beyond.
"My friend runs fast," said Quentin to himself, "but he mustrun faster yet, to escape the fleetest foot that ever pressed theheather of Glen Houlakin!"
Being fortunately without his cloak and armour, the Scottishmountaineer was at liberty to put forth a speed which was unrivalledin his own glens, and which, notwithstanding the rate at which theBohemian ran, was likely soon to bring his pursuer up with him.This was not, however, Quentin's object, for he considered it moreessential to watch Hayraddin's motions, than to interrupt them. Hewas the rather led to this by the steadiness with which the Bohemiandirected his course, and which, continuing even after the impulseof the violent expulsion had subsided, seemed to indicate that hiscareer had some more certain goal for its object than could havesuggested itself to a person unexpectedly turned out of good quarterswhen midnight was approaching, to seek a new place of repose. Henever even looked behind him, and consequently Durward was enabledto follow him unobserved. At length, the Bohemian having traversedthe meadow and attained the side of a little stream, the banks ofwhich were clothed with alders and willows, Quentin observed thathe stood still, and blew a low note on his horn, which was answeredby a whistle at some little distance.
"This is a rendezvous," thought Quentin, "but how shall I comenear enough to overhear the import of what passes? The sound of mysteps, and the rustling of the boughs through which I must forcemy passage, will betray me, unless I am cautious -- I will stalkthem, by Saint Andrew, as if they were Glen Isla deer -- they shalllearn that I have not conned woodcraft for naught. Yonder theymeet, the two shadows -- and two of them there are -- odds againstme if I am discovered, and if their purpose be unfriendly, as ismuch to be doubted. And then the Countess Isabelle loses her poorfriend -- Well, and he were not worthy to be called such, if hewere not ready to meet a dozen in her behalf. Have I not crossedswords with Dunois, the best knight in France, and shall I fear atribe of yonder vagabonds? Pshaw! -- God and Saint Andrew to friend,they will find me both stout and wary."
Thus resolving, and with a degree of caution taught him by hissilvan habits, our friend descended into the channel of the littlestream, which varied in depth, sometimes scarce covering his shoes,sometimes coming up to his knees, and so crept along, his formconcealed by the boughs overhanging the bank, and his steps unheardamid the ripple of the water. (We have ourselves, in the daysof yore, thus approached the nest of the wakeful raven.) In thismanner the Scot drew near unperceived, until he distinctly heardthe voices of those who were the subject of his observation, thoughhe could not distinguish the words. Being at this time under thedrooping branches of a magnificent weeping willow, which almost sweptthe surface of the water, he caught hold of one of its boughs, bythe assistance of which, exerting at once much agility, dexterity,and strength, he raised himself up into the body of the tree, andsat, secure from discovery, among the central branches.
From this situation he could discover that the person with whomHayraddin was now conversing was one of his own tribe, and atthe same time he perceived, to his great disappointment, that noapproximation could enable him to comprehend their language, whichwas totally unknown to him. They laughed much, and as Hayraddinmade a sign of skipping about, and ended by rubbing his shoulderwith his hand, Durward had no doubt that he was relating the storyof the bastinading which he had sustained previous to his escapefrom the convent.
On a sudden, a whistle was again heard in the distance, whichwas once more answered by a low tone or two of Hayraddin's horn.Presently afterwards, a tall, stout, soldierly looking man, a strongcontrast in point of thews and sinews to the small and slenderlimbed Bohemians, made his appearance. He had a broad baldric overhis shoulder, which sustained a sword that hung almost across hisperson, his hose were much slashed, through which slashes was drawnsilk, or tiffany, of various colours, they were tied by at leastfive hundred points or strings, made of ribbon, to the tight buffjacket which he wore, the right sleeve of which displayed a silverboar's head, the crest of his Captain. A very small hat sat jauntilyon one side of his head, from which descended a quantity of curledhair, which fell on each side of a broad face, and mingled withas broad a beard, about four inches long. He held a long lance inhis hand, and his whole equipment was that of one of the Germanadventurers, who were known by the name of lanzknechts, in English,spearmen, who constituted a formidable part of the infantry of theperiod. These mercenaries were, of course, a fierce and rapacioussoldiery, and having an idle tale current among themselves, thata lanzknecht was refused admittance into heaven on account of hisvices, and into hell on the score of his tumultuous, mutinous, andinsubordinate disposition, they manfully acted as if they neithersought the one nor eschewed the other.
"Donner and blitz! (thunder and lightning!)" was his first salutation,in a sort of German French, which we can only imperfectly imitate,"Why have you kept me dancing in attendance dis dree nights?"
"I could not see you sooner, Meinherr," said Hayraddin, verysubmissively, "there is a young Scot, with as quick an eye as thewildcat, who watches my least motions. He suspects me already,and, should he find his suspicion confirmed, I were a dead man onthe spot, and he would carry back the women into France again."
"Was henker! (what the deuce!)" said the lanzknecht, "we are three-- we will attack them tomorrow, and carry the women off withoutgoing farther. You said the two valets were cowards -- you and yourcomrade may manage them, and the Teufel (the devil) shall hold me,but I match your Scots wildcat."
"You will find that foolhardy," said Hayraddin, "for besides thatwe ourselves count not much in fighting, this spark hath matchedhimself with the best knight in France, and come off with honour-- I have seen those who saw him press Dunois hard enough."
"Hagel and sturmwetter! (hail and stormy weather!) It is but yourcowardice that speaks," said the German soldier.
"I am no more a coward than yourself," said Hayraddin "but my tradeis not fighting. -- If you keep the appointment where it was laid,it is well -- if not, I guide them safely to the Bishop's Palace,and William de la Marck may easily possess himself of them there,provided he is half as strong as he pretended a week since."
salutation,in a sort of German French, which we can only imperfectly imitate,"Why have you kept me .
"Poz tausend! (Zounds!)" said the soldier, "we are as strong andstronger, but we hear of a hundreds of the lances of Burgund, --das ist, see you, -- five men to a lance do make five hundreds, andthen hold me the devil, they will be fainer to seek for us, thanwe to seek for them, for der Bischoff hath a goot force on footing-- ay, indeed!"
"You must then hold to the ambuscade at the Cross of the ThreeKings, or give up the adventure," said the Bohemian.
"Geb up -- geb up the adventure of the rich bride for our noblehauptman (leader or captain) -- Teufel! I will charge through hellfirst. -- Mein soul, we will be all princes and hertzogs, whomthey call dukes, and we will hab a snab at the wein kellar (winecellar), and at the mouldy French crowns, and it may be at thepretty garces too (meaning the countesses), when He with de beardis weary on them."
"The ambuscade at the Cross of the Three Kings then still holds?" said the Bohemian.
"Mein Gob ay, -- you will swear to bring them there, and whenthey are on their knees before the cross, and down from off theirhorses, which all men do, except such black heathens as thou, wewill make in on them and they are ours."
"Ay, but I promised this piece of necessary villainy only on onecondition," said Hayraddin. -- "I will not have a hair of the youngman's head touched. If you swear this to me, by your Three Dead Menof Cologne, I will swear to you, by the Seven Night Walkers, thatI will serve you truly as to the rest. And if you break your oath,the Night Walkers shall wake you seven nights from your sleep,between night and morning, and, on the eighth, they shall strangleand devour you."
"But donner and bagel, what need you be so curious about the lifeof this boy, who is neither your bloot nor kin?" said the German.
"No matter for that, honest Heinrick, some men have pleasure incutting throats, some in keeping them whole. -- So swear to me, thatyou will spare him life and limb, or by the bright star Aldebaran,this matter shall go no farther. -- Swear, and by the Three Kings,as you call them, of Cologne -- I know you care for no other oath."
"Du bist ein comische man (thou art a droll fellow)," said thelanzknecht, "I swear."
"Not yet," said the Bohemian. "Face about, brave lanzknecht, andlook to the east, else the Kings may not hear you."
The soldier took the oath in the manner prescribed, and thendeclared that he would be in readiness, observing the place wasquite convenient, being scarce five miles from their present leaguer.
"But were it not making sure work to have a fahnlein (a regimentor company) of riders on the other road, by the left side of theinn, which might trap them if they go that way?"
The Bohemian considered a moment, and then answered. "No -- theappearance of their troops in that direction might alarm the garrisonof Namur, and then they would have a doubtful fight, instead ofassured success. Besides, they shall travel on the right bank ofthe Maes, for I can guide them which way I will, for sharp as thissame Scottish mountaineer is, he hath never asked any one's advice,save mine, upon the direction of their route. Undoubtedly, I wasassigned to him by an assured friend, whose word no man mistruststill they come to know him a little."
"Hark ye, friend Hayraddin," said the soldier, "I would ask yousomewhat. You and your bruder were, as you say yourself, grosssternen deuter, that is, star lookers and geister seers (seers ofghosts). Now, what henker was it made you not foresee him, yourbruder Zamet, to be hanged?"
"I will tell you, Heinrick," said Hayraddin, "if I could have knownmy brother was such a fool as to tell the counsel of King Louis toDuke Charles of Burgundy, I could have foretold his death as sureas I can foretell fair weather in July. Louis hath both ears andhands at the Court of Burgundy, and Charles's counsellors love thechink of French gold as well as thou dost the clatter of a winepot. -- But fare thee well, and keep appointment -- I must awaitmy early Scot a bow shot without the gate of the den of the lazyswine yonder, else will he think me about some excursion whichbodes no good to the success of his journey."
"Take a draught of comfort first," said the lanzknecht, tenderinghim a flask -- "but I forget, thou art beast enough to drink nothingbut water, like a vile vassal of Mahound and Termagund (the nameof the god of the Saracens in medieaval romances where he is linkedwith Mahound)."
"Thou art thyself a vassal of the wine measure and the flagon,"said the Bohemian. "I marvel not that thou art only trusted withthe bloodthirsty and violent part of executing what better headshave devised. -- He must drink no wine who would know the thoughtsof others, or hide his own. But why preach to thee, who hast athirst as eternal as a sand bank in Arabia?
"Fare thee well. Take my comrade Tuisco with thee -- his appearanceabout the monastery may breed suspicion."
The two worthies parted, after each had again pledged himself tokeep the rendezvous at the Cross of the Three Kings. Quentin Durwardwatched until they were out of sight, and then descended from hisplace of concealment, his heart throbbing at the narrow escapewhich he and his fair charge had made -- if, indeed, it could yetbe achieved -- from a deep laid plan of villainy. Afraid, on hisreturn to the monastery, of stumbling upon Hayraddin, he made along detour, at the expense of traversing some very rough ground,and was thus enabled to return to his asylum on a different pointfrom that by which he left it.
On the route, he communed earnestly with himself concerningthe safest plan to be pursued. He had formed the resolution, whenhe first heard Hayraddin avow his treachery, to put him to deathso soon as the conference broke up, and his companions were at asufficient distance, but when he heard the Bohemian express so muchinterest in saving his own life, he felt it would be ungratefulto execute upon him, in its rigour, the punishment his treacheryhad deserved. He therefore resolved to spare his life, and even,if possible, still to use his services as a guide, under suchprecautions as should ensure the security of the precious charge,to the preservation of which his own life was internally devoted.
But whither were they to turn? -- The Countesses of Croye couldneither obtain shelter in Burgundy, from which they had fled,nor in France, from which they had been in a manner expelled. Theviolence of Duke Charles, in the one country, was scarcely more tobe feared than the cold and tyrannical policy of King Louis in theother. After deep thought, Durward could form no better or saferplan for their security, than that, evading the ambuscade, theyshould take the road to Liege by the left hand of the Maes, and throwthemselves, as the ladies originally designed, upon the protectionof the excellent Bishop. That Prelate's will to protect them couldnot be doubted, and, if reinforced by this Burgundian party of menat arms, he might be considered as having the power. At any rate,if the dangers to which he was exposed from the hostility of Williamde la Marck, and from the troubles in the city of Liege, appearedimminent, he would still be able to protect the unfortunate ladiesuntil they could be dispatched to Germany with a suitable escort.
To sum up this reasoning -- for when is a mental argument conductedwithout some reference to selfish consideration? -- Quentinimagined that the death or captivity to which King Louis had, incold blood, consigned him, set him at liberty from his engagementsto the crown of France: which, therefore, it was his determinedpurpose to renounce, The Bishop of Liege was likely, he concluded,to need soldiers, and he thought that, by the interposition of hisfair friends, who now, especially the elder Countess, treated himwith much familiarity, he might get some command, and perhaps mighthave the charge of conducting the Ladies of Croye to some placemore safe than the neighbourhood of Liege. And, to conclude, theladies had talked, although almost in a sort of jest, of raising theCountess's own vassals, and, as others did in those stormy times,fortifying her strong castle against all assailants whatever, theyhad jestingly asked Quentin whether he would accept the perilousoffice of their Seneschal, and, on his embracing the office withready glee and devotion, they had, in the same spirit, permittedhim to kiss both their hands on that confidential and honourableappointment. Nay, he thought that the hand of the Countess Isabelle,one of the best formed and most beautiful to which true vassalever did such homage, trembled when his lips rested on it a momentlonger than ceremony required, and that some confusion appeared onher cheek and in her eye as she withdrew it. Something might comeof all this, and what brave man, at Quentin Durward's age, butwould gladly have taken the thoughts which it awakened, into theconsiderations which were to determine his conduct?
This point settled, he had next to consider in what degree hewas to use the farther guidance of the faithless Bohemian. He hadrenounced his first thought of killing him in the wood, and, if hetook another guide, and dismissed him alive, it would be sendingthe traitor to the camp of William de la Marck, with intelligenceof their motions. He thought of taking the Prior into his counsels,and requesting him to detain the Bohemian by force, until theyshould have time to reach the Bishop's castle, but, on reflection,he dared not hazard such a proposition to one who was timid bothas an old man and a friar, who held the safety of his convent themost important object of his duty, and who trembled at the mentionof the Wild Boar of Ardennes.
At length Durward settled a plan of operation on which he couldthe better reckon, as the execution rested entirely upon himself,and, in the cause in which he was engaged, he felt himself capableof everything. With a firm and bold heart, though conscious of thedangers of his situation, Quentin might be compared to one walkingunder a load, of the weight of which he is conscious, but whichyet is not beyond his strength and power of endurance. Just as hisplan was determined, he reached the convent.
Upon knocking gently at the gate, a brother, considerately stationedfor that purpose by the Prior, opened it, and acquainted him thatthe brethren were to be engaged in the choir till daybreak, prayingHeaven to forgive to the community the various scandals which hadthat evening taken place among them.
The worthy friar offered Quentin permission to attend their devotions,but his clothes were in such a wet condition that the young Scotwas obliged to decline the opportunity, and request permission,instead, to sit by the kitchen fire, in order to his attire beingdried before morning, as he was particularly desirous that theBohemian, when they should next meet, should observe no traces ofhis having been abroad during the night. The friar not only grantedhis request, but afforded him his own company, which fell in veryhappily with the desire which Durward had to obtain informationconcerning the two routes which he had heard mentioned by the Bohemianin his conversation with the lanzknecht. The friar, entrusted uponmany occasions with the business of the convent abroad, was the personin the fraternity best qualified to afford him the information herequested, but observed that, as true pilgrims, it became the dutyof the ladies whom Quentin escorted, to take the road on the rightside of the Maes, by the Cross of the Kings, where the blessedrelics of Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar (as the Catholic Churchhas named the eastern Magi who came to Bethlehem with their offerings)had rested as they were transported to Cologne, and on which spotthey had wrought many miracles.
Quentin replied that the ladies were determined to observe allthe holy stations with the utmost punctuality, and would certainlyvisit that of the Cross, either in going to or from Cologne, butthey had heard reports that the road by the right side of the riverwas at present rendered unsafe by the soldiers of the ferociousWilliam de la Marck.
"Now may Heaven forbid," said Father Francis, "that the Wild Boarof Ardennes should again make his lair so near us! -- Nevertheless,the broad Maes will be a good barrier betwixt us, even should itso chance."
"But it will be no barrier between my ladies and the marauder,should we cross the river, and travel on the right," answered theScot.
"Heaven will protect its own, young man," said the friar, "for itwere hard to think that the Kings of yonder blessed city of Cologne,who will not endure that a Jew or infidel should even enter withinthe walls of their town, could be oblivious enough to permit theirworshippers, coming to their shrine as true pilgrims, to be plunderedand misused by such a miscreant dog as this Boar of Ardennes, whois worse than a whole desert of Saracen heathens, and all the tentribes of Israel to boot."
Whatever reliance Quentin, as a sincere Catholic, was bound to restupon the special protection of Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar,he could not but recollect that the pilgrim habits of the ladiesbeing assumed out of mere earthly policy, he and his chargecould scarcely expect their countenance on the present occasion,and therefore resolved, as far as possible, to avoid placing theladies in any predicament where miraculous interposition might benecessary, whilst, in the simplicity of his good faith, he himselfvowed a pilgrimage to the Three Kings of Cologne in his own properperson, provided the simulate design of those over whose safetyhe was now watching, should be permitted by those reasonable androyal, as well as sainted personages, to attain the desired effect.
That he might enter into this obligation with all solemnity, herequested the friar to show him into one of the various chapelswhich opened from the main body of the church of the convent,where, upon his knees, and with sincere devotion, he ratified thevow which he had made internally. The distant sound of the choir,the solemnity of the deep and dead hour which he had chosen forthis act of devotion, the effect of the glimmering lamp with whichthe little Gothic building was illuminated -- all contributed tothrow Quentin's mind into the state when it most readily acknowledgesits human frailty, and seeks that supernatural aid and protectionwhich, in every worship, must be connected with repentance forpast sins and resolutions of future amendment. That the object ofhis devotion was misplaced, was not the fault of Quentin, and, itspurpose being sincere, we can scarce suppose it unacceptable tothe only true Deity, who regards the motives, and not the formsof prayer, and in whose eyes the sincere devotion of a heathen ismore estimable than the specious hypocrisy of a Pharisee.
Having commended himself and his helpless companions to the Saints,and to the keeping of Providence, Quentin at length retired torest, leaving the friar much edified by the depth and sincerity ofhis devotion.