惊婚记 英文版 Quentin Durward
瓦尔特.司各特 Sir Walter Scott
CHAPTER XXIII: THE FLIGHT Page 1
Now bid me run,And I will strive with things impossible;Yea, get the better of them.
Set on your foot;And, with a heart new fired, I follow you,To do I know not what.
JULIUS CAESAR
In spite of a mixture of joy and fear, doubt, anxiety, and otheragitating passions, the exhausting fatigues of the preceding daywere powerful enough to throw the young Scot into a deep and profoundrepose, which lasted until late on the day following, when hisworthy host entered the apartment with looks of care on his brow.
He seated himself by his guest's bedside, and began a long andcomplicated discourse upon the domestic duties of a married life,and especially upon the awful power and right supremacy which itbecame married men to sustain in all differences of opinion withtheir wives. Quentin listened with some anxiety. He knew thathusbands, like other belligerent powers, were sometimes disposed tosing Te Deum (Te Deum laudamus: We praise Thee, O God; the firstwords of an ancient hymn, sung in the morning service of theAnglican and Roman Catholic Churches), rather to conceal a defeatthan to celebrate a victory, and he hastened to probe the mattermore closely, by hoping their arrival had been attended with noinconvenience to the good lady of the household.
"Inconvenience! -- no," answered the Burgomaster. -- "No woman canbe less taken unawares than Mother Mabel -- always happy to seeher friends -- always a clean lodging and a handsome meal ready forthem, with God's blessing on bed and board. -- No woman on earthso hospitable -- only 'tis pity her temper is something particular."
"Our residence here is disagreeable to her, in short?" said theScot, starting out of bed, and beginning to dress himself hastily."Were I but sure the Lady Isabelle were fit for travel after thehorrors of the last night, we would not increase the offence byremaining here an instant longer."
"Nay," said Pavillon, "that is just what the young lady herself saidto Mother Mabel, and truly I wish you saw the colour that came toher face as she said it -- a milkmaid that has skated five milesto market against the frost wind is a lily compared to it -- I donot wonder Mother Mabel may be a little jealous, poor dear soul."
"Has the Lady Isabelle then left her apartment?" said the youth,continuing his toilette operations with more dispatch than before.
"Yes," replied Pavillon, "and she expects your approach with muchimpatience, to determine which way you shall go since you are bothdetermined on going. But I trust you will tarry breakfast?"
"Why did you not tell me this sooner?" said Durward, impatiently.
"Softly -- softly," said the Syndic, "I have told it you too soon,I think, if it puts you into such a hasty fluster. Now I have somemore matter for your ear, if I saw you had some patience to listento me."
"Speak it, worthy sir, as soon and as fast as you can -- I listendevoutly."
"Well," resumed the Burgomaster, "I have but one word to say, andthat is that Trudchen, who is as sorry to part with yonder prettylady as if she had been some sister of hers, wants you to take someother disguise, for there is word in the town that the Ladies ofCroye travel the country in pilgrim's dresses, attended by a Frenchlife guardsman of the Scottish Archers, and it is said one of themwas brought into Schonwaldt last night by a Bohemian after we hadleft it, and it was said still farther, that this same Bohemian hadassured William de la Marck that you were charged with no messageeither to him or to the good people of Liege, and that you had stolenaway the young Countess, and travelled with her as her paramour.And all this news hath come from Schonwaldt this morning, and ithas been told to us and the other councillors, who know not wellwhat to advise, for though our own opinion is that William de laMarck has been a thought too rough both with the Bishop and withourselves, yet there is a great belief that he is a good naturedsoul at bottom -- that is, when he is sober -- and that he is theonly leader in the world to command us against the Duke of Burgundy,and, in truth, as matters stand, it is partly my own mind that wemust keep fair with him, for we have gone too far to draw back."
"Your daughter advises well," said Quentin Durward, abstaining fromreproaches or exhortations, which he saw would be alike unavailingto sway a resolution which had been adopted by the worthy magistratein compliance at once with the prejudices of his party and theinclination of his wife.
"Your daughter counsels well. -- We must part in disguise, andthat instantly. We may, I trust, rely upon you for the necessarysecrecy, and for the means of escape?"
"With all my heart -- with all my heart," said the honest citizen,who, not much satisfied with the dignity of his own conduct, waseager to find some mode of atonement. "I cannot but remember thatI owed you my life last night, both for unclasping that accursedsteel doublet, and helping me through the other scrape, which wasworse, for yonder Boar and his brood look more like devils thanmen. So I will be true to you as blade to haft, as our cutlers say,who are the best in the whole world. Nay, now you are ready, comethis way -- you shall see how far I can trust you."
The Syndic led him from the chamber in which he had slept to hisown counting room, in which he transacted his affairs of business,and after bolting the door, and casting a piercing and careful eyearound him, he opened a concealed and vaulted closet behind thetapestry, in which stood more than one iron chest. He proceededto open one which was full of guilders, and placed it at Quentin'sdiscretion to take whatever sum he might think necessary for hiscompanion's expenses and his own.
As the money with which Quentin was furnished on leaving Plessiswas now nearly expended, he hesitated not to accept the sum of twohundred guilders, and by doing so took a great weight from the mindof Pavillon, who considered the desperate transaction in which hethus voluntarily became the creditor as an atonement for the breachof hospitality which various considerations in a great measurecompelled him to commit.
up within the name of thrall."object of your journey," saidQuentin.
Having carefully locked his treasure chamber, the wealthy Flemingnext conveyed his guest to the parlour, where, in full possessionof her activity of mind and body, though pale from the scenes ofthe preceding night, he found the Countess attired in the fashionof a Flemish maiden of the middling class. No other was presentexcepting Trudchen, who was sedulously employed in completing theCountess's dress, and instructing her how to bear herself. Sheextended her hand to him, which, when he had reverently kissed,she said to him, "Seignior Quentin, we must leave our friends hereunless I would bring on them a part of the misery which has pursuedme ever since my father's death. You must change your dress andgo with me, unless you also are tired of befriending a being sounfortunate."
"I! -- I tired of being your attendant! -- To the end of the earthwill I guard you! But you -- you yourself -- are you equal to thetask you undertake! -- Can you, after the terrors of last night"
"Do not recall them to my memory," answered the Countess, "I rememberbut the confusion of a horrid dream. -- Has the excellent Bishopescaped?"
"I trust he is in freedom," said Quentin, making a sign to Pavillon,who seemed about to enter on the dreadful narrative, to be silent.
"Is it possible for us to rejoin him? -- Hath he gathered anypower?" said the lady.
"His only hopes are in Heaven," said the Scot, "but wherever youwish to go, I stand by your side, a determined guide and guard."
"We will consider," said Isabelle, and after a moment's pause,she added, "A convent would be my choice, but that I fear it wouldprove a weak defence against those who pursue me."
"Hem! hem!" said the Syndic, "I could not well recommend a conventwithin the district of Liege, because the Boar of Ardennes, thoughin the main a brave leader, a trusty confederate, and a well wisherto our city, has, nevertheless, rough humours, and payeth, on thewhole, little regard to cloisters, convents, nunneries, and thelike. Men say that there are a score of nuns -- that is, such aswere nuns -- who march always with his company."
"Get yourself in readiness hastily, Seignior Durward," said Isabelle,interrupting this detail, "since to your faith I must needs commitmyself."
No sooner had the Syndic and Quentin left the room than Isabellebegan to ask of Gertrude various questions concerning the roads,and so forth, with such clearness of spirit and pertinence, thatthe latter could not help exclaiming, "Lady, I wonder at you! --I have heard of masculine firmness, but yours appears to me morethan belongs to humanity."
"Necessity," answered the Countess, -- "necessity, my friend, isthe mother of courage, as of invention. No long time since, I mighthave fainted when I saw a drop of blood shed from a trifling cut --I have since seen life blood flow around me, I may say, in waves,yet I have retained my senses and my self possession. -- Do notthink it was an easy task," she added, laying on Gertrude's arm atrembling hand, although she still spoke with a firm voice, "thelittle world within me is like a garrison besieged by a thousandfoes, whom nothing but the most determined resolution can keep fromstorming it on every hand, and at every moment. Were my situationone whit less perilous than it is -- were I not sensible that myonly chance to escape a fate more horrible than death is to retainmy recollection and self possession -- Gertrude, I would at thismoment throw myself into your arms, and relieve my bursting bosomby such a transport of tears and agony of terror as never rushedfrom a breaking heart."
"Do not do so, lady!" said the sympathizing Fleming, "take courage,tell your beads, throw yourself on the care of Heaven, and surely,if ever Heaven sent a deliverer to one ready to perish, that boldand adventurous young gentleman must be designed for yours. Thereis one, too," she added, blushing deeply, "in whom I have someinterest. Say nothing to my father, but I have ordered my bachelor,Hans Glover, to wait for you at the eastern gate, and never to seemy face more, unless he brings word that he has guided you safefrom the territory."
To kiss her tenderly was the only way in which the young Countesscould express her thanks to the frank and kind hearted city maiden,who returned the embrace affectionately, and added, with a smile,"Nay, if two maidens and their devoted bachelors cannot succeed ina disguise and an escape, the world is changed from what I am toldit wont to be."
A part of this speech again called the colour into the Countess'spale cheeks, which was not lessened by Quentin's sudden appearance. Heentered completely attired as a Flemish boor of the better class,in the holyday suit of Peter, who expressed his interest in theyoung Scot by the readiness with which he parted with it for hisuse, and swore, at the same time, that, were he to be curried andtugged worse than ever was bullock's hide, they should make nothingout of him, to the betraying of the young folks. Two stout horseshad been provided by the activity of Mother Mabel, who reallydesired the Countess and her attendant no harm, so that she couldmake her own house and family clear of the dangers which mightattend upon harbouring them. She beheld them mount and go off withgreat satisfaction, after telling them that they would find theirway to the east gate by keeping their eye on Peter, who was to walkin that direction as their guide, but without holding any visiblecommunication with them. The instant her guests had departed,Mother Mabel took the opportunity to read a long practical lectureto Trudchen upon the folly of reading romances, whereby the flauntingladies of the Court were grown so bold and venturous, that, insteadof applying to learn some honest housewifery, they must ride,forsooth, a-damsel erranting through the country, with no betterattendant than some idle squire, debauched page, or rake bellyarcher from foreign parts, to the great danger of their health, theimpoverishing of their substance, and the irreparable prejudice oftheir reputation. All this Gertrude heard in silence, and withoutreply, but, considering her character, it might be doubted whether shederived from it the practical inference which it was her mother'spurpose to enforce. Meantime, the travellers had gained the easterngate of the city, traversing crowds of people, who were fortunatelytoo much busied in the political events and rumours of the hour togive any attention to a couple who had so little to render theirappearance remarkable. They passed the guards in virtue of apermission obtained for them by Pavillon, but in the name of hiscolleague Rouslaer, and they took leave of Peter Geislaer with afriendly though brief exchange of good wishes on either side.
Immediately afterwards, they were joined by a stout young man,riding a good gray horse, who presently made himself known as HansGlover, the bachelor of Trudchen Pavillon. He was a young fellow witha good Flemish countenance -- not, indeed, of the most intellectualcast, but arguing more hilarity and good humour than wit, and, asthe Countess could not help thinking, scarce worthy to be bachelorto the generous Trudchen. He seemed, however, fully desirous tosecond the views which she had formed in their favour, for, salutingthem respectfully, he asked of the Countess, in Flemish, on whichroad she desired to be conducted.
"Guide me," said she, "towards the nearest town on the frontiersof Brabant."
"You have then settled the end and object of your journey," saidQuentin, approaching his horse to that of Isabelle, and speakingFrench, which their guide did not understand.
"Surely," replied the young lady, "for, situated as I now am, itmust be of no small detriment to me if I were to prolong a journeyin my present circumstances, even though the termination should bea rigorous prison."
"A prison," said Quentin.
leaving Plessiswas now nearly expended, he hesitated!
"Yes, my friend, a prison, but I will take care that you shall notshare it."
"Do not talk -- do not think of me," said Quentin. "Saw I you butsafe, my own concerns are little worth minding."
"Do not speak so loud," said the Lady Isabelle, "you will surpriseour guide -- you see he has already rode on before us," -- for,in truth, the good natured Fleming, doing as he desired to be doneby, had removed from them the constraint of a third person, uponQuentin's first motion towards the lady.
"Yes," she continued, when she noticed they were free fromobservation, "to you, my friend, my protector -- why should I beashamed to call you what Heaven has made you to me? -- to you it ismy duty to say that my resolution is taken to return to my nativecountry, and to throw myself on the mercy of the Duke of Burgundy.It was mistaken, though well meant advice, which induced me everto withdraw from his protection, and place myself under that ofthe crafty and false Louis of France."
"And you resolve to become the bride, then, of the Count ofCampobasso, the unworthy favourite of Charles?"
Thus spoke Quentin, with a voice in which internal agony struggledwith his desire to assume an indifferent tone, like that of thepoor condemned criminal, when, affecting a firmness which he isfar from feeling, he asks if the death warrant be arrived.
"No, Durward, no," said the Lady Isabelle, sitting up erect in hersaddle, "to that hated condition all Burgundy's power shall notsink a daughter of the House of Croye. Burgundy may seize on mylands and fiefs, he may imprison my person in a convent, but thatis the worst I have to expect, and worse than that I will endureere I give my hand to Campobasso."
"The worst?" said Quentin, "and what worse can there be thanplunder and imprisonment? -- Oh, think, while you have God's freeair around you, and one by your side who will hazard life to conductyou to England, to Germany, even to Scotland, in all of which youshall find generous protectors. -- - Oh, while this is the case,do not resolve so rashly to abandon the means of liberty, the bestgift that Heaven gives! -- Oh, well sang a poet of my own land --
"Ah, freedom is a noble thing --Freedom makes men to have liking --Freedom the zest to pleasure gives --He lives at ease who freely lives.Grief, sickness, poortith (poverty), want, are allSumm'd up within the name of thrall."
(from Barbour's Bruce)
She listened with a melancholy smile to her guide's tirade in praiseof liberty, and then answered, after a moment's pause. "Freedomis for man alone -- woman must ever seek a protector, since naturemade her incapable to defend herself. And where am I to findone? -- In that voluptuary Edward of England -- in the inebriatedWenceslaus of Germany -- in Scotland? -- Ah, Durward, were I yoursister, and could you promise me shelter in some of those mountainglens which you love to describe where, for charity, or for thefew jewels I have preserved, I might lead an unharrassed life, andforget the lot I was born to -- could you promise me the protectionof some honoured matron of the land -- of some baron whose heartwas as true as his sword -- that were indeed a prospect, for whichit were worth the risk of farther censure to wander farther andwider."
There was a faltering tenderness of voice with which the CountessIsabelle made this admission that at once filled Quentin witha sensation of joy, and cut him to the very heart. He hesitateda moment ere he made an answer, hastily reviewing in his mind thepossibility there might be that he could procure her shelter inScotland, but the melancholy truth rushed on him that it would bealike base and cruel to point out to her a course which he had notthe most distant power or means to render safe.
"Lady," he said at last, "I should act foully against my honourand oath of chivalry, did I suffer you to ground any plan uponthe thoughts that I have the power in Scotland to afford you otherprotection than that of the poor arm which is now by your side. Iscarce know that my blood flows in the veins of an individual whonow lives in my native land. The Knight of Innerquharity stormedour Castle at midnight, and cut off all that belonged to my name.Were I again in Scotland, our feudal enemies are numerous andpowerful, I single and weak, and even had the King a desire to dome justice, he dared not, for the sake of redressing the wrongsof a poor individual, provoke a chief who rides with five hundredhorse."
"Alas!" said the Countess, "there is then no corner of the worldsafe from oppression, since it rages as unrestrained amongst thosewild hills which afford so few objects to covet as in our rich andabundant lowlands!"
"It is a sad truth, and I dare not deny it," said the Scot, "thatfor little more than the pleasure of revenge, and the lust ofbloodshed, our hostile clans do the work of executioners on eachother, and Ogilvies and the like act the same scenes in Scotlandas De la Marck and his robbers do in this country."
"No more of Scotland, then," said Isabelle, with a tone ofindifference, either real or affected -- "no more of Scotland, --which indeed I mentioned but in jest, to see if you really daredto recommend to me, as a place of rest, the most distracted kingdomin Europe. It was but a trial of your sincerity, which I rejoice tosee may be relied on, even when your partialities are most stronglyexcited. So, once more, I will think of no other protection than canbe afforded by the first honourable baron holding of Duke Charles,to whom I am determined to render myself."