惊婚记 英文版 Quentin Durward
瓦尔特.司各特 Sir Walter Scott
CHAPTER XXIII: THE FLIGHT Page 2
"And why not rather betake yourself to your own estates, and to yourown strong castle, as you designed when at Tours?" said Quentin."Why not call around you the vassals of your father, and make treatywith Burgundy, rather than surrender yourself to him? Surely theremust be many a bold heart that would fight in your cause, and Iknow at least of one who would willingly lay down his life to giveexample."
"Alas," said the Countess, "that scheme, the suggestion of thecrafty Louis, and, like all which he ever suggested, designed morefor his advantage than for mine, has become practicable, since itwas betrayed to Burgundy by the double traitor Zamet Hayraddin. Mykinsman was then imprisoned, and my houses garrisoned. Any attemptof mine would but expose my dependents to the vengeance of DukeCharles, and why should I occasion more bloodshed than has alreadytaken place on so worthless an account? No. I will submit myselfto my Sovereign as a dutiful vassal, in all which shall leave mypersonal freedom of choice uninfringed, the rather that I trust mykinswoman, the Countess Hameline, who first counselled, and indeedurged my flight, has already taken this wise and honourable step."
"Your kinswoman!" repeated Quentin, awakened to recollections to whichthe young Countess was a stranger, and which the rapid successionof perilous and stirring events had, as matters of nearer concern,in fact banished from his memory.
"Ay -- my aunt -- the Countess Hameline of Croye -- know you aughtof her?" said the Countess Isabelle. "I trust she is now underthe protection of the Burgundian banner. You are silent. Know youaught of her?"
The last question, urged in a tone of the most anxious inquiry,obliged Quentin to give some account of what he knew of theCountess's fate. He mentioned that he had been summoned to attendher in a flight from Liege, which he had no doubt the Lady Isabellewould be partaker in -- he mentioned the discovery that had beenmade after they had gained the forest -- and finally, he told hisown return to the castle, and the circumstances in which he foundit. But he said nothing of the views with which it was plain theLady Hameline had left the Castle of Schonwaldt, and as littleabout the floating report of her having fallen into the hands ofWilliam de la Marck. Delicacy prevented his even hinting at theone, and regard for the feelings of his companion at a moment whenstrength and exertion were most demanded of her, prevented him fromalluding to the latter, which had, besides, only reached him as amere rumour.
This tale, though abridged of those important particulars, made astrong impression on the Countess Isabelle, who, after riding sometime in silence, said at last, with a tone of cold displeasure, "Andso you abandoned my unfortunate relative in a wild forest, at themercy of a vile Bohemian and a traitorous waiting woman? -- Poorkinswoman, thou wert wont to praise this youth's good faith!"
"Had I not done so, madam." said Quentin, not unreasonably offendedat the turn thus given to his gallantry, "what had been the fateof one to whose service I was far more devotedly bound? Had I notleft the Countess Hameline of Croye to the charge of those whomshe had herself selected as counsellors and advisers, the CountessIsabelle had been ere now the bride of William de la Marck, theWild Boar of Ardennes."
"You are right," said the Countess Isabelle, in her usual manner,"and I, who have the advantage of your unhesitating devotion, havedone you foul and ungrateful wrong. But oh, my unhappy kinswoman!and the wretch Marthon, who enjoyed so much of her confidence, anddeserved it so little -- it was she that introduced to my kinswomanthe wretched Zamet and Hayraddin Maugrabin, who, by their pretendedknowledge of soothsaying and astrology, obtained a great ascendancyover her mind, it was she who, strengthening their predictions,encouraged her in -- I know not what to call them -- delusionsconcerning matches and lovers, which my kinswoman's age renderedungraceful and improbable. I doubt not that, from the beginning, wehad been surrounded by these snares by Louis of France, in orderto determine us to take refuge at his Court, or rather to putourselves into his power, after which rash act on our part, howunkingly, unknightly, ignobly, ungentlemanlike, he hath conductedhimself towards us, you, Quentin Durward, can bear witness. But,alas! my kinswoman -- what think you will be her fate?"
Endeavouring to inspire hopes which he scarce felt, Durward answeredthat the avarice of these people was stronger than any other passion,that Marthon, even when he left them, seemed to act rather as theLady Hameline's protectress, and in fine, that it was difficultto conceive any object these wretches could accomplish by the illusage or murder of the Countess, whereas they might be gainers bytreating her well, and putting her to ransom.
To lead the Countess Isabelle's thoughts from this melancholysubject, Quentin frankly told her the treachery of the Maugrabin,which he had discovered in the night quarter near Namur, and whichappeared the result of an agreement betwixt the King and Williamde la Marck. Isabelle shuddered with horror, and then recoveringherself said, "I am ashamed, and I have sinned in permitting myselfso far to doubt of the saints' protection, as for an instant to havedeemed possible the accomplishment of a scheme so utterly cruel,base, and dishonourable, while there are pitying eyes in Heavento look down on human miseries. It is not a thing to be thoughtof with fear or abhorrence, but to be rejected as such a piece ofincredible treachery and villainy, as it were atheism to believecould ever be successful. But I now see plainly why that hypocriticalMarthon often seemed to foster every seed of petty jealousy ordiscontent betwixt my poor kinswoman and myself, whilst she alwaysmixed with flattery, addressed to the individual who was present,whatever could prejudice her against her absent kinswoman. Yet neverdid I dream she could have proceeded so far as to have caused myonce affectionate kinswoman to have left me behind in the perilsof Schonwaldt, while she made her own escape."
"Did the Lady Hameline not mention to you, then," said Quentin,"her intended flight?"
"No," replied the Countess, "but she alluded to some communicationwhich Marthon was to make to me. To say truth, my poor kinswoman'shead was so turned by the mysterious jargon of the miserableHayraddin, whom that day she had admitted to a long and secretconference, and she threw out so many strange hints that -- that-- in short, I cared not to press on her, when in that humour, forany explanation. Yet it was cruel to leave me behind her."
"I will excuse the Lady Hameline from intending such unkindness,"said Quentin, "for such was the agitation of the moment, and thedarkness of the hour, that I believe the Lady Hameline as certainlyconceived herself accompanied by her niece, as I at the same time,deceived by Marthon's dress and demeanour, supposed I was in thecompany of both the Ladies of Croye: and of her especially," headded, with a low but determined voice, "without whom the wealthof worlds would not have tempted me to leave."
Isabelle stooped her head forward, and seemed scarce to hear theemphasis with which Quentin had spoken. But she turned her face tohim again when he began to speak of the policy of Louis, and, itwas not difficult for them, by mutual communication, to ascertainthat the Bohemian brothers, with their accomplice Marthon, hadbeen the agents of that crafty monarch, although Zamet, the elderof them, with a perfidy peculiar to his race, had attempted toplay a double game, and had been punished accordingly. In the samehumour of mutual confidence, and forgetting the singularity of theirown situation, as well as the perils of the road, the travellerspursued their journey for several hours, only stopping to refreshtheir horses at a retired dorff, or hamlet, to which they wereconducted by Hans Glover, who, in all other respects, as well as inleaving them much to their own freedom in conversation, conductedhimself like a person of reflection and discretion.
Meantime, the artificial distinction which divided the two lovers(for such we may now term them) seemed dissolved, or removed, bythe circumstances in which they were placed, for if the Countessboasted the higher rank, and was by birth entitled to a fortuneincalculably larger than that of the youth, whose revenue lay inhis sword, it was to be considered that, for the present, she wasas poor as he, and for her safety, honour, and life, exclusivelyindebted to his presence of mind, valour, and devotion. They spokenot indeed of love, for though the young lady, her heart full ofgratitude and confidence, might have pardoned such a declaration,yet Quentin, on whose tongue there was laid a check, both by naturaltimidity and by the sentiments of chivalry, would have held it anunworthy abuse of her situation had he said anything which couldhave the appearance of taking undue advantage of the opportunitieswhich it afforded them. They spoke not then of love, but thethoughts of it were on both sides unavoidable, and thus they wereplaced in that relation to each other, in which sentiments of mutualregard are rather understood than announced, and which, with thefreedoms which it permits, and the uncertainties that attend it,often forms the most delightful hours of human existence, and asfrequently leads to those which are darkened by disappointment,fickleness, and all the pains of blighted hope and unrequitedattachment.
It was two hours after noon, when the travellers were alarmed by thereport of the guide, who, with paleness and horror in his countenance,said that they were pursued by a party of De la Marck's Schwarzreiters.These soldiers, or rather banditti, were bands levied in theLower Circles of Germany, and resembled the lanzknechts in everyparticular, except that the former acted as light cavalry. To maintainthe name of Black Troopers, and to strike additional terror intotheir enemies, they usually rode on black chargers, and smearedwith black ointment their arms and accoutrements, in which operationtheir hands and faces often had their share. In morals and inferocity these Schwarzreiters emulated their pedestrian brethrenthe Lanzknechts.
("To make their horses and boots shine, they make themselvesas black as colliers. These horsemen wear black clothes, and poorthough they be, spend no small time in brushing them. The most ofthem have black horses, . . . and delight to have their boots andshoes shine with blacking stuff, their hands and faces become black,and thereof they have their foresaid name." . . . Fynes Morrison'sItinerary. -- S.)
On looking back, and discovering along the long level road whichthey had traversed a cloud of dust advancing, with one or twoof the headmost troopers riding furiously in front of it, Quentinaddressed his companion: "Dearest Isabelle, I have no weapon leftsave my sword, but since I cannot fight for you, I will fly withyou. Could we gain yonder wood that is before us ere they come up,we may easily find means to escape."
"So be it, my only friend," said Isabelle, pressing her horse tothe gallop, "and thou, good fellow," she added, addressing HansGlover, "get thee off to another road, and do not stay to partakeour misfortune and danger."
Countess Hameline of Croye to the charge of those whomshe had herself selected as counsellors and advisers, the CountessIsabelle had been.
The honest Fleming shook his head, and answered her generousexhortation, with Nein, nein! das geht nicht (no, no! that mustnot be), and continued to attend them, all three riding toward theshelter of the wood as fast as their jaded horses could go, pursued,at the same time, by the Schwarzreiters, who increased their pacewhen they saw them fly. But notwithstanding the fatigue of thehorses, still the fugitives being unarmed, and riding lighter inconsequence, had considerably the advantage of the pursuers, andwere within about a quarter of a mile of the wood, when a body ofmen at arms, under a knight's pennon, was discovered advancing fromthe cover, so as to intercept their flight.
"They have bright armour," said Isabelle, "they must be Burgundians.Be they who they will, we must yield to them, rather than to thelawless miscreants who pursue us."
A moment after, she exclaimed, looking on the pennon, "I know thecloven heart which it displays! It is the banner of the Count ofCrevecoeur, a noble Burgundian -- to him I will surrender myself."
Quentin Durward sighed, but what other alternative remained, andhow happy would he have been but an instant before, to have beencertain of the escape of Isabelle, even under worse terms? They soonjoined the band of Crevecoeur, and the Countess demanded to speakto the leader, who had halted his party till he should reconnoitrethe Black Troopers, and as he gazed on her with doubt and uncertainty,she said, "Noble Count -- Isabelle of Croye, the daughter of yourold companion in arms, Count Reinold of Croye, renders herself,and asks protection from your valour for her and hers."
"Thou shalt have it, fair kinswoman, were it against a host --always excepting my liege lord, of Burgundy. But there is littletime to talk of it. These filthy looking fiends have made a halt,as if they intended to dispute the matter. -- By Saint George ofBurgundy, they have the insolence to advance against the banner ofCrevecoeur! What! will not the knaves be ruled? Damian, my lance!-- Advance banner! -- Lay your spears in the rest! -- Crevecoeurto the Rescue!"
Crying his war cry, and followed by his men at arms, he gallopedrapidly forward to charge the Schwarzreiters.