惊婚记 英文版 Quentin Durward
瓦尔特.司各特 Sir Walter Scott
CHAPTER XXIX: RECRIMINATION
Thy time is not yet out -- the devil thou servestHas not as yet deserted thee. He aidsThe friends who drudge for him, as the blind manWas aided by the guide, who lent his shoulderO'er rough and smooth, until he reached the brinkOf the fell precipice -- then hurl'd him downward.
OLD PLAY
When obeying the command, or rather the request of Louis -- forhe was in circumstances in which, though a monarch, he could onlyrequest Le Glorieux to go in search of Martius Galeotti -- thejester had no trouble in executing his commission, betaking himselfat once to the best tavern in Peronne, of which he himself wasrather more than an occasional frequenter, being a great admirerof that species of liquor which reduced all other men's brains toa level with his own.
He found, or rather observed, the Astrologer in the corner of thepublic drinking room -- stove, as it is called in German and Flemish,from its principal furniture -- sitting in close colloquy with afemale in a singular and something like a Moorish or Asiatic garb,who, as Le Glorieux approached Martius, rose as in the act todepart.
"These," said the stranger, "are news upon which you may rely withabsolute certainty," and with that disappeared among the crowd ofguests who sat grouped at different tables in the apartment.
seemed to render the King's safety very precarious.sucha messenger?" said Galeotti.afemale in.
"Cousin Philosopher," said the jester, presenting himself, "Heavenno sooner relieves one sentinel than it sends another to supplythe place. One fool being gone, here I come another, to guide youto the apartments of Louis of France."
"And art thou the messenger?" said Martius, gazing on him withprompt apprehension, and discovering at once the jester's quality,though less intimated, as we have before noticed, than was usual,by his external appearance.
"Ay, sir, and like your learning," answered Le Glorieux. "WhenPower sends Folly to entreat the approach of Wisdom, 't is a suresign what foot the patient halts upon."
"How if I refuse to come, when summoned at so late an hour by sucha messenger?" said Galeotti.
"In that case, we will consult your ease, and carry you," said LeGlorieux. "Here are half a score of stout Burgundian yeomen at thedoor, with whom He of Crevecoeur has furnished me to that effect.For know that my friend Charles of Burgundy and I have not takenaway our kinsman Louis's crown, which he was ass enough to put intoour power, but have only filed and clipt it a little, and, thoughreduced to the size of a spangle, it is still pure gold. In plainterms, he is still paramount over his own people, yourself included,and Most Christian King of the old dining hall in the Castle ofPeronne, to which you, as his liege subject, are presently obligedto repair."
"I attend you, sir," said Martius Galeotti, and accompanied Le Glorieuxaccordingly -- seeing, perhaps, that no evasion was possible.
"Ay, sir," said the Fool, as they went towards the Castle, "you dowell; for we treat our kinsman as men use an old famished lion inhis cage, and thrust him now and then a calf to mumble, to keephis old jaws in exercise."
"Do you mean," said Martius, "that the King intends me bodilyinjury?"
"Nay, that you can guess better than I," said the jester; "forthough the night be cloudy, I warrant you can see the stars throughthe mist. I know nothing of the matter, not I -- only my motheralways told me to go warily near an old rat in a trap, for he wasnever so much disposed to bite."
The Astrologer asked no more questions, and Le Glorieux, accordingto the custom of those of his class, continued to run on in a wildand disordered strain of sarcasm and folly mingled together, untilhe delivered the philosopher to the guard at the Castle gate ofPeronne, where he was passed from warder to warder, and at lengthadmitted within Herbert's Tower.
The hints of the jester had not been lost on Martius Galeotti,and he saw something which seemed to confirm them in the look andmanner of Tristan, whose mode of addressing him, as he marshalledhim to the King's bedchamber, was lowering, sullen, and ominous. Aclose observer of what passed on earth, as well as among the heavenlybodies, the pulley and the rope also caught the Astrologer's eye;and as the latter was in a state of vibration he concluded thatsome one who had been busy adjusting it had been interrupted in thework by his sudden arrival. All this he saw, and summoned togetherhis subtilty to evade the impending danger, resolved, should he findthat impossible, to defend himself to the last against whomsoevershould assail him.
Thus resolved, and with a step and look corresponding tothe determination he had taken, Martius presented himself beforeLouis, alike unabashed at the miscarriage of his predictions, andundismayed at the Monarch's anger, and its probable consequences.
"Every good planet be gracious to your Majesty!" said Galeotti, withan inclination almost Oriental in manner. "Every evil constellationwithhold its influence from my royal master!"
"Methinks," replied the King, "that when you look around thisapartment, when you think where it is situated, and how guarded,your wisdom might consider that my propitious stars had provedfaithless and that each evil conjunction had already done itsworst. Art thou not ashamed, Martius Galeotti, to see me here and aprisoner, when you recollect by what assurances I was lured hither?"
"And art thou not ashamed, my royal Sire?" replied the philosopher,"thou, whose step in science was so forward, thy apprehension soquick, thy perseverance so unceasing -- art thou not ashamed toturn from the first frown of fortune, like a craven from the firstclash of arms? Didst thou propose to become participant of thosemysteries which raise men above the passions, the mischances,the pains, the sorrows of life, a state only to be attained byrivalling the firmness of the ancient Stoic, and dost thou shrinkfrom the first pressure of adversity, and forfeit the glorious prizefor which thou didst start as a competitor, frightened out of thecourse, like a scared racer, by shadowy and unreal evils?"
"Shadowy and unreal! frontless as thou art!" exclaimed the King."Is this dungeon unreal? -- the weapons of the guards of my detestedenemy Burgundy, which you may hear clash at the gate, are thoseshadows? What, traitor, are real evils, if imprisonment, dethronement,and danger of life are not so?"
"Ignorance -- ignorance, my brother, and prejudice," answered thesage, with great firmness, "are the only real evils. Believe methat Kings in the plenitude of power, if immersed in ignorance andprejudice, are less free than sages in a dungeon, and loaded withmaterial chains. Towards this true happiness it is mine to guideyou -- be it yours to attend to my instructions."
"And it is to such philosophical freedom that your lessons wouldhave guided me?" said the King very bitterly. "I would you hadtold me at Plessis that the dominion promised me so liberally wasan empire over my own passions; that the success of which I wasassured, related to my progress in philosophy, and that I mightbecome as wise and as learned as a strolling mountebank of Italy!I might surely have attained this mental ascendency at a more moderateprice than that of forfeiting the fairest crown in Christendom, andbecoming tenant of a dungeon in Peronne! Go, sir, and think not toescape condign punishment. -- There is a Heaven above us!"
"I leave you not to your fate," replied Martius, "until I havevindicated, even in your eyes, darkened as they are, that reputation,a brighter gem than the brightest in thy crown, and at which theworld shall wonder, ages after all the race of Capet (the surnameof the kings of France, beginning with Hugh Capet, 987) are moulderedinto oblivion in the charnels of Saint Denis."
"Speak on," said Louis. "Thine impudence cannot make me change mypurposes or my opinion. -- Yet as I may never again pass judgmentas a King, I will not censure thee unheard. Speak, then -- thoughthe best thou canst say will be to speak the truth. Confess that Iam a dupe, thou an impostor, thy pretended science a dream, and theplanets which shine above us as little influential of our destinyas their shadows, when reflected in the river, are capable ofaltering its course."
"And how know'st thou," answered the Astrologer boldly, "thesecret influence of yonder blessed lights? Speak'st thou of theirinability to influence waters, when yet thou know'st that everthe weakest, the moon herself -- weakest because nearest to thiswretched earth of ours -- holds under her domination not such poorstreams as the Somme, but the tides of the mighty ocean itself,which ebb and increase as her disc waxes and wanes, and watch herinfluence as a slave waits the nod of a Sultana? And now, Louis ofValois, answer my parable in turn. -- Confess, art thou not likethe foolish passenger, who becomes wroth with his pilot because hecannot bring the vessel into harbour without experiencing occasionallythe adverse force of winds and currents? I could indeed point tothee the probable issue of thine enterprise as prosperous, but itwas in the power of Heaven alone to conduct thee thither; and ifthe path be rough and dangerous, was it in my power to smooth orrender it more safe? Where is thy wisdom of yesterday, which taughtthee so truly to discern that the ways of destiny are often ruledto our advantage, though in opposition to our wishes?"
theProvost Marshal might mistake his purpose,
"You remind me -- you remind me," said the King hastily, "of onespecific falsehood. You foretold yonder Scot should accomplishhis enterprise fortunately for my interest and honour; and thouknowest it has so terminated that no more mortal injury could I havereceived than from the impression which the issue of that affairis like to make on the excited brain of the Mad Bull of Burgundy.This is a direct falsehood. -- Thou canst plead no evasion here --canst refer to no remote favourable turn of the tide, for which,like an idiot sitting on the bank until the river shall pass away,thou wouldst have me wait contentedly. -- Here thy craft deceivedthee. -- Thou wert weak enough to make a specific prediction, whichhas proved directly false."
"Which will prove most firm and true," answered the Astrologerboldly. "I would desire no greater triumph of art over ignorance,than that prediction and its accomplishment will afford. - I toldthee he would be faithful in any honourable commission. -- Hath henot been so? -- I told thee he would be scrupulous in aiding anyevil enterprise. -- Hath he not proved so? -- If you doubt it, goask the Bohemian, Hayraddin Maugrabin."
The King here coloured deeply with shame and anger.
"I told thee," continued the Astrologer, "that the conjunction ofplanets under which he set forth augured danger to the person --and hath not his path been beset by danger? -- I told thee that itaugured an advantage to the sender -- and of that thou wilt soonhave the benefit."
"Soon have the benefit!" exclaimed the King. "Have I not the resultalready, in disgrace and imprisonment?"
"No," answered the Astrologer, "the End is not as yet -- thine owntongue shall ere long confess the benefit which thou hast received,from the manner in which the messenger bore himself in dischargingthy commission."
"This is too -- too insolent," said the King, "at once to deceiveand to insult. -- But hence! -- think not my wrongs shall beunavenged. -- There is a Heaven above us!"
Galeotti turned to depart.
"Yet stop," said Louis; "thou bearest thine imposture bravely out.-- Let me hear your answer to one question and think ere you speak.-- Can thy pretended skill ascertain the hour of thine own death?"
"Only by referring to the fate of another," said Galeotti.
"I understand not thine answer," said Louis.
"Know then, O King," said Martius, "that this only I can tellwith certainty concerning mine own death, that it shall take placeexactly twenty-four hours before that of your Majesty."
(This story appropriated by Scott was told of Tiberius, whosesoothsayer made the prediction that his own death would take placethree days before that of the Emperor. Louis received a similarreply from a soothsayer, who had foretold the death of oneof his favourites. Greatly incensed, he arranged for the death ofthe soothsayer when he should leave the royal presence after aninterview. When Louis questioned him as to the day of his death,the astrologer answere that "it would be exactly three days beforethat of his Majesty. There was, of course, care taken that he shouldescape his destined fate, and he was ever after much protected bythe King, as a man of real science, and intimately connected with theroyal destinies." S. . . . Louis was the slave of his physiciansalso. Cottier, one of these, was paid a retaining fee of ten thousandcrowns, besides great sums in lands and money. "He maintained overLouis unbounded influence, by using to him the most disrespectfulharshness and insolence. 'I know,' he said to the suffering King,'that one morning you will turn me adrift like so many others. But,by Heaven, you had better beware, for you will not live eight daysafter you have done so!' S.)
"Ha! sayest thou?" said Louis, his countenance again altering."Hold -- hold -- go not -- wait one moment. -- Saidst thou, mydeath should follow thine so closely?"
"Within the space of twenty-four hours," repeated Galeotti firmly,"if there be one sparkle of true divination in those bright andmysterious intelligences, which speak, each on their courses, thoughwithout a tongue. I wish your Majesty good rest."
"Hold -- hold -- go not," said the King, taking him by the arm,and leading him from the door. "Martius Galeotti, I have been akind master to thee -- enriched thee -- made thee my friend -- mycompanion -- the instructor of my studies. -- Be open with me, Ientreat you. -- Is there aught in this art of yours in very deed?-- Shall this Scot's mission be, in fact, propitious to me? -- And isthe measure of our lives so very -- very nearly matched? Confess,my good Martius, you speak after the trick of your trade. -- Confess,I pray you, and you shall have no displeasure at my hand. I am inyears -- a prisoner -- likely to be deprived of a kingdom -- toone in my condition truth is worth kingdoms, and it is from thee,dearest Martius, that I must look for this inestimable jewel."
"And I have laid it before your Majesty," said Galeotti, "at therisk that, in brutal passion, you might turn upon me and rend me."
"Who, I, Galeotti?" replied Louis mildly. "Alas! thou mistakestme! -- Am I not captive -- and should not I be patient, especiallysince my anger can only show my impotence? -- Tell me then insincerity. -- Have you fooled me? -- Or is your science true, anddo you truly report it?"
"Your Majesty will forgive me if I reply to you," said MartiusGaleotti, "that time only -- time and the event, will convinceincredulity. It suits ill the place of confidence which I have heldat the council table of the renowned conqueror, Matthias Corvinusof Hungary -- nay, in the cabinet of the Emperor himself --to reiterate assurances of that which I have advanced as true. Ifyou will not believe me, I can but refer to the course of events.A day or two days' patience will prove or disprove what I haveaverred concerning the young Scot, and I will be contented to dieon the wheel, and have my limbs broken joint by joint, if yourMajesty have not advantage, and that in a most important degree,from the dauntless conduct of that Quentin Durward. But if I wereto die under such tortures, it would be well your Majesty shouldseek a ghostly father, for, from the moment my last groan isdrawn, only twenty-four hours will remain to you for confessionand penitence."
Louis continued to keep hold of Galeotti's robe as he led himtowards the door, and pronounced, as he opened it, in a loud voice,"Tomorrow we 'll talk more of this. Go in peace, my learned father.-- Go in peace. -- Go in peace!"
He repeated these words three times; and, still afraid that theProvost Marshal might mistake his purpose, he led the Astrologerinto the hall, holding fast his robe, as if afraid that he shouldbe torn from him, and put to death before his eyes. He did notunloose his grasp until he had not only repeated again and againthe gracious phrase, "Go in peace," but even made a private signalto the Provost Marshal to enjoin a suspension of all proceedingsagainst the person of the Astrologer.
Thus did the possession of some secret information, joined toaudacious courage and readiness of wit, save Galeotti from the mostimminent danger; and thus was Louis, the most sagacious, as wellas the most vindictive, amongst the monarchs of the period, cheatedof his revenge by the influence of superstition upon a selfishtemper and a mind to which, from the consciousness of many crimes,the fear of death was peculiarly terrible.
its principal furniture -- sitting in close colloquy with afemale in a singular and something.
He felt, however, considerable mortification at being obliged torelinquish his purposed vengeance, and the disappointment seemed tobe shared by his satellites, to whom the execution was to have beencommitted. Le Balafre alone, perfectly indifferent on the subject,so soon as the countermanding signal was given, left the door atwhich he had posted himself, and in a few minutes was fast asleep.The Provost Marshal, as the group reclined themselves to reposein the hall after the King retired to his bedchamber, continued toeye the goodly form of the Astrologer with the look of a mastiffwatching a joint of meat which the cook had retrieved from his jaws,while his attendants communicated to each other in brief sentences,their characteristic sentiments.
"The poor blinded necromancer," whispered Trois Eschelles, with anair of spiritual unction and commiseration, to his comrade, PetitAndre, "hath lost the fairest chance of expiating some of his vilesorceries, by dying through means of the cord of the blessed SaintFrancis, and I had purpose, indeed, to leave the comfortable noosearound his neck, to scare the foul fiend from his unhappy carcass."
"And I," said Petit Andre, "have missed the rarest opportunity ofknowing how far a weight of seventeen stone will stretch a threeplied cord! -- It would have been a glorious experiment in our line-- and the jolly old boy would have died so easily!"
While this whispered dialogue was going forward, Martius, who hadtaken the opposite side of the huge stone fireplace, round whichthe whole group was assembled, regarded them askance, and with alook of suspicion. He first put his hand into his vest, and satisfiedhimself that the handle of a very sharp double edged poniard,which he always carried about him, was disposed conveniently forhis grasp; for, as we have already noticed, he was, though nowsomewhat unwieldy, a powerful, athletic man, and prompt and activeat the use of his weapon. Satisfied that this trusty instrument wasin readiness, he next took from his bosom a scroll of parchment,inscribed with Greek characters, and marked with cabalistic signs,drew together the wood in the fireplace, and made a blaze by whichhe could distinguish the features and attitude of all who sat orlay around -- the heavy and deep slumbers of the Scottish soldier,who lay motionless, with rough countenance as immovable as if itwere cast in bronze -- the pale and anxious face of Oliver, who atone time assumed the appearance of slumber, and again opened hiseyes and raised his head hastily, as if stung by some internalthroe, or awakened by some distant sound -- the discontented,savage, bulldog aspect of the Provost, who looked --
"frustrate of his will,not half sufficed, and greedy yet to kill"
-- while the background was filled up by the ghastly, hypocriticalcountenance of Trois Eschelles -- whose eyes were cast up towardsHeaven, as if he was internally saying his devotions -- and thegrim drollery of Petit Andre, who amused himself with mimicking thegestures and wry faces of his comrade before he betook himself tosleep.
Amidst these vulgar and ignoble countenances nothing could showto greater advantage than the stately form, handsome mien, andcommanding features of the Astrologer, who might have passed forone of the ancient magi, imprisoned in a den of robbers, and aboutto invoke a spirit to accomplish his liberation. And, indeed, hadhe been distinguished by nothing else than the beauty of the gracefuland flowing beard which descended over the mysterious roll whichhe held in his hand, one might have been pardoned for regrettingthat so noble an appendage had been bestowed on one who put bothtalents, learning, and the advantages of eloquence, and a majesticperson, to the mean purposes of a cheat and an imposter.
Thus passed the night in Count Herbert's Tower, in the Castle ofPeronne. When the first light of dawn penetrated the ancient Gothicchamber, the King summoned Oliver to his presence, who found theMonarch sitting in his nightgown, and was astonished at the alterationwhich one night of mortal anxiety had made in his looks. He wouldhave expressed some anxiety on the subject, but the King silencedhim by entering into a statement of the various modes by which hehad previously endeavoured to form friends at the Court of Burgundy,and which Oliver was charged to prosecute so soon as he should bepermitted to stir abroad.
And never was that wily minister more struck with the clearness ofthe King's intellect, and his intimate knowledge of all the springswhich influence human actions, than he was during that memorableconsultation.
About two hours afterwards, Oliver accordingly obtained permissionfrom the Count of Crevecoeur to go out and execute the commissionswhich his master had intrusted him with, and Louis, sending forthe Astrologer, in whom he seemed to have renewed his faith, heldwith him, in like manner, a long consultation, the issue of whichappeared to give him more spirits and confidence than he hadat first exhibited; so that he dressed himself, and received themorning compliments of Crevecoeur with a calmness at which theBurgundian Lord could not help Wondering, the rather that he hadalready heard that the Duke had passed several hours in a state ofmind which seemed to render the King's safety very precarious.