惊婚记 英文版 Quentin Durward
瓦尔特.司各特 Sir Walter Scott
CHAPTER XXX: UNCERTAINTY Page 1
Our counsels waver like the unsteady bark,That reels amid the strife of meeting currents.
OLD PLAY
If the night passed by Louis was carefully anxious and agitated,that spent by the Duke of Burgundy, who had at no time the samemastery over his passions, and, indeed, who permitted them almosta free and uncontrolled dominion over his actions, was still moredisturbed.
Saint Bridget's"used to speak in so low and soft!
According to the custom of the period, two of his principal andmost favoured counsellors, D'Hymbercourt and De Comines, sharedhis bedchamber, couches being prepared for them near the bed of theprince. Their attendance was never more necessary than upon thisnight, when, distracted by sorrow, by passion, by the desire ofrevenge, and by the sense of honour, which forbade him to exerciseit upon Louis in his present condition, the Duke's mind resembleda volcano in eruption, which throws forth all the different contentsof the mountain, mingled and molten into one burning mass.
He refused to throw off his clothes, or to make any preparationfor sleep; but spent the night in a succession of the most violentbursts of passion. In some paroxysms he talked incessantly to hisattendants so thick and so rapidly, that they were really afraidhis senses would give way, choosing for his theme the merits andthe kindness of heart of the murdered Bishop of Liege, and recallingall the instances of mutual kindness, affection, and confidencewhich had passed between them, until he had worked himself intosuch a transport of grief, that he threw himself upon his face inthe bed, and seemed ready to choke with the sobs and tears which heendeavoured to stifle. Then starting from the couch, he gave ventat once to another and more furious mood, and traversed the roomhastily, uttering incoherent threats, and still more incoherentoaths of vengeance, while stamping with his foot, according tohis customary action, he invoked Saint George, Saint Andrew, andwhomsoever else he held most holy, to bear witness that he wouldtake bloody vengeance on De la Marck, on the people of Liege,and on him who was the author of the whole. -- These last threats,uttered more obscurely than the others, obviously concerned the personof the King, and at one time the Duke expressed his determinationto send for the Duke of Normandy, the brother of the King, and withwhom Louis was on the worst terms, in order to compel the captivemonarch to surrender either the Crown itself, or some of its mostvaluable rights and appanages.
Another day and night passed in the same stormy and fitful deliberations,or rather rapid transitions of passion, for the Duke scarcely ateor drank, never changed his dress, and, altogether, demeaned himselflike one in whom rage might terminate in utter insanity. By degreeshe became more composed, and began to hold, from time to time,consultations with his ministers, in which much was proposed, butnothing resolved on. Comines assures us that at one time a courierwas mounted in readiness to depart for the purpose of summoningthe Duke of Normandy, and in that event, the prison of the FrenchMonarch would probably have been found, as in similar cases, abrief road to his grave.
At other times, when Charles had exhausted his fury, he sat with hisfeatures fixed in stern and rigid immobility, like one who broodsover some desperate deed, to which he is as yet unable to work uphis resolution. And unquestionably it would have needed little morethan an insidious hint from any of the counsellors who attendedhis person to have pushed the Duke to some very desperate action.But the nobles of Burgundy, from the sacred character attached tothe person of a King, and a Lord Paramount, and from a regard tothe public faith, as well as that of their Duke, which had beenpledged when Louis threw himself into their power, were almostunanimously inclined to recommend moderate measures; and the argumentswhich D'Hymbercourt and De Comines had now and then ventured toinsinuate during the night, were, in the cooler hours of the nextmorning, advanced and urged by Crevecoeur and others. Possiblytheir zeal in behalf of the King might not be entirely disinterested.
Many, as we have mentioned, had already experienced the bounty ofthe King; others had either estates or pretensions in France, whichplaced them a little under his influence; and it is certain thatthe treasure which had loaded four mules when the King enteredPeronne, became much lighter in the course of these negotiations.
moderation is, I haveobserved, most apt to be extolled by the losing party. The winnerholds in .
In the course of the third day, the Count of Campobasso broughthis Italian wit to assist the counsels of Charles; and well was itfor Louis that he had not arrived when the Duke was in his firstfury. Immediately on his arrival, a regular meeting of the Duke'scounsellors was convened for considering the measures to be adoptedin this singular crisis.
On this occasion, Campobasso gave his opinion, couched in theapologue of the Traveller, the Adder, and the Fox; and reminded theDuke of the advice which Reynard gave to the man, that he shouldcrush his mortal enemy, now that chance had placed his fate at hisdisposal. (The fox advised the man who had found a snake by theroadside to kill it. He, however, placed it in his bosom, and wasafterwards bitten.) De Comines, who saw the Duke's eyes sparkle ata proposal which his own violence of temper had already repeatedlysuggested, hastened to state the possibility that Louis might notbe, in fact, so directly accessory to the sanguinary action whichhad been committed at Schonwaldt; that he might be able to clearhimself of the imputation laid to his charge, and perhaps tomake other atonement for the distractions which his intrigues hadoccasioned in the Duke's dominions, and those of his allies; andthat an act of violence perpetrated on the King was sure to bringboth on France and Burgundy a train of the most unhappy consequences,among which not the least to be feared was that the English mightavail themselves of the commotions and civil discord which mustneeds ensue, to repossess themselves of Normandy and Guyenne, andrenew those dreadful wars which had only, and with difficulty,been terminated by the union of both France and Burgundy againstthe common enemy. Finally, he confessed that he did not mean to urgethe absolute and free dismissal of Louis; but only that the Dukeshould avail himself no farther of his present condition than merelyto establish a fair and equitable treaty between the countries,with such security on the King's part as should make it difficultfor him to break his faith, or disturb the internal peace of Burgundyin the future. D'Hymbercourt, Crevecoeur, and others signified theirreprobation of the violent measures proposed by Campobasso, andtheir opinion, that in the way of treaty more permanent advantagescould be obtained, and in a manner more honourable for Burgundy,than by an action which would stain her with a breach of faith andhospitality.
The Duke listened to these arguments with his looks fixed on theground, and his brow so knitted together as to bring his bushyeyebrows into one mass. But when Crevecoeur proceeded to say thathe did not believe Louis either knew of, or was accessory to, theatrocious act of violence committed at Schonwaldt, Charles raisedhis head, and darting a fierce look at his counsellor, exclaimed,"Have you too, Crevecoeur, heard the gold of France clink? --Methinks it rings in my council as merrily as ever the bells ofSaint Denis. -- Dare any one say that Louis is not the fomenter ofthese feuds in Flanders?"
"My gracious lord," said Crevecoeur, "my hand has ever been moreconversant with steel than with gold, and so far am I from holdingthat Louis is free from the charge of having caused the disturbancesin Flanders, that it is not long since, in the face of his wholeCourt, I charged him with that breach of faith, and offered himdefiance in your name. But although his intrigues have been doubtlessthe original cause of these commotions, I am so far from believingthat he authorized the death of the Archbishop, that I believeone of his emissaries publicly protested against it; and I couldproduce the man, were it your Grace's pleasure to see him."
"It is our pleasure," said the Duke. "Saint George, can you doubtthat we desire to act justly? Even in the highest flight of ourpassion, we are known for an upright and a just judge. We will seeFrance ourself -- we will ourself charge him with our wrongs, andourself state to him the reparation which we expect and demand.If he shall be found guiltless of this murder, the atonement forother crimes may be more easy. -- If he hath been guilty, who shallsay that a life of penitence in some retired monastery were not amost deserved and a most merciful doom? -- Who," he added, kindlingas be spoke, "who shall dare to blame a revenge yet more direct andmore speedy? -- Let your witness attend. -- We will to the Castleat the hour before noon. Some articles we will minute down withwhich he shall comply, or woe on his head! Others shall depend uponthe proof. Break up the council, and dismiss yourselves. I willbut change my dress, as this is scarce a fitting trim in which towait on my most gracious Sovereign."
With a deep and bitter emphasis on the last expression, the Dukearose and strode out of the room.
"Louis's safety, and, what is worse, the honour of Burgundy, dependon a cast of the dice," said D'Hymbercourt to Crevecoeur and to DeComines. "Haste thee to the Castle, De Comines, thou hast a betterfiled tongue than either Crevecoeur or I. Explain to Louis whatstorm is approaching -- he will best know how to pilot himself.I trust this Life Guardsman will say nothing which can aggravate;for who knows what may have been the secret commission with whichhe was charged?"
"The young man," said Crevecoeur, "seems bold, yet prudent and waryfar beyond his years. In all which he said to me he was tender ofthe King's character, as of that of the Prince whom he serves. Itrust he will be equally so in the Duke's presence. I must go seekhim, and also the young Countess of Croye."
"The Countess -- you told us you had left her at Saint Bridget's"
"Ay, but I was obliged," said the Count, "to send for her express,by the Duke's orders; and she has been brought hither on a litter,as being unable to travel otherwise. She was in a state of thedeepest distress, both on account of the uncertainty of the fateof her kinswoman, the Lady Hameline, and the gloom which overhangsher own, guilty as she has been of a feudal delinquency, inwithdrawing herself from the protection of her liege lord, DukeCharles, who is not the person in the world most likely to viewwith indifference what trenches on his seignorial rights."
The information that the young Countess was in the hands of Charles,added fresh and more pointed thorns to Louis's reflections. Hewas conscious that, by explaining the intrigues by which he hadinduced the Lady Hameline and her to resort to Peronne, she mightsupply that evidence which he had removed by the execution ofZamet Maugrabin, and he knew well how much such proof of his havinginterfered with the rights of the Duke of Burgundy would furnishboth motive and pretext for Charles's availing himself to theuttermost of his present predicament.
Louis discoursed on these matters with great anxiety to the Sieurde Comines, whose acute and political talents better suited theKing's temper than the blunt martial character of Crevecoeur, orthe feudal haughtiness of D'Hymbercourt.
"These iron handed soldiers, my good friend Comines," he said tohis future historian, "should never enter a King's cabinet, butbe left with the halberds and partisans in the antechamber. Theirhands are indeed made for our use, but the monarch who puts theirheads to any better occupation than that of anvils for his enemies'swords and maces, ranks with the fool who presented his mistresswith a dog leash for a carcanet. It is with such as thou, Philip,whose eyes are gifted with the quick and keen sense that seesbeyond the exterior surface of affairs, that Princes should sharetheir council table, their cabinet -- what do I say? -- the mostsecret recesses of their soul."
De Comines, himself so keen a spirit, was naturally gratified withthe approbation of the most sagacious Prince in Europe, and he couldnot so far disguise his internal satisfaction, but that Louis wasaware he had made some impression on him.
remember well my brotherCharles -- he was no sooner Duke of Guyenne?
De Comines said that all his faculties, such as they were, wereat the service of his Most Christian Majesty, saving always hisallegiance to his rightful lord, Duke Charles of Burgundy.
"And am I one who would seduce you from that allegiance?" saidLouis pathetically. "Alas! am I not now endangered by having reposedtoo much confidence in my vassal? and can the cause of feudal goodfaith be more sacred with any than with me, whose safety dependson an appeal to it? -- No, Philip de Comines -- continue to serveCharles of Burgundy, and you will best serve him, by bringing rounda fair accommodation with Louis of France. In doing thus you willserve us both, and one, at least, will be grateful. I am told yourappointments in this Court hardly match those of the Grand Falconerand thus the services of the wisest counsellor in Europe are puton a level, or rather ranked below, those of a fellow who feeds andphysics kites! France has wide lands -- her King has much gold.Allow me, my friend, to rectify this scandalous inequality. Themeans are not distant. -- Permit me to use them."
The King produced a weighty bag of money; but De Comines, more delicatein his sentiments than most courtiers of that time, declined theproffer, declaring himself perfectly satisfied with the liberalityof his native Prince, and assuring Louis that his desire to servehim could not be increased by the acceptance of any such gratuityas he had proposed.
"Singular man!" exclaimed the King; "let me embrace the onlycourtier of his time, at once capable and incorruptible. Wisdom isto be desired more than fine gold; and believe me, I trust in thykindness, Philip, at this pinch, more than I do in the purchasedassistance of many who have received my gifts. I know you will notcounsel your master to abuse such an opportunity as fortune, and,to speak plain, De Comines, as my own folly, has afforded him."
"To abuse it, by no means," answered the historian, "but mostcertainly to use it."
"How, and in what degree?" said Louis. "I am not ass enough toexpect that I shall escape without some ransom -- but let it be areasonable one -- reason I am ever Willing to listen to at Parisor at Plessis, equally as at Peronne."
"Ah, but if it like your Majesty," replied De Comines, "Reason atParis or Plessis was used to speak in so low and soft a tone ofvoice, that she could not always gain an audience of your Majesty-- at Peronne she borrows the speaking trumpet of Necessity, andher voice becomes lordly and imperative."
"You are figurative," said Louis, unable to restrain an emotion ofpeevishness; "I am a dull, blunt man, Sir of Comines. I pray youleave your tropes, and come to plain ground. What does your Dukeexpect of me?"
"I am the bearer of no propositions, my lord," said De Comines; "theDuke will soon explain his own pleasure; but some things occur tome as proposals, for which your Majesty- ought to hold yourselfprepared. As, for example, the final cession of these towns hereupon the Somme."
"I expected so much," said Louis.
"That you should disown the Liegeois, and William de la Marck."
"As willingly as I disclaim Hell and Satan," said Louis.
"Ample security will be required, by hostages, or occupation offortresses, or otherwise, that France shall in future abstain fromstirring up rebellion among the Flemings."
"It is something new," answered the King, "that a vassal shoulddemand pledges from his Sovereign; but let that pass too."
"A suitable and independent appanage for your illustrious brother,the ally and friend of my master -- Normandy or Champagne. The Dukeloves your father's house, my Liege."
"So well," answered Louis, "that, mort Dieu! he's about to makethem all kings. -- Is your budget of hints yet emptied?"
"Not entirely," answered the counsellor: "it will certainly berequired that your Majesty will forbear molesting, as you have doneof late, the Duke de Bretagne, and that you will no longer contestthe right which he and other grand feudatories have, to strike money,to term themselves dukes and princes by the grace of God --"
"In a word, to make so many kings of my vassals. Sir Philip,would you make a fratricide of me? -- You remember well my brotherCharles -- he was no sooner Duke of Guyenne, than he died. -- Andwhat will be left to the descendant and representative of Charlemagne,after giving away these rich provinces, save to be smeared withoil (a king, priest, or prophet was consecrated by means of oil)at Rheims, and to eat their dinner under a high canopy?"
"We will diminish your Majesty's concern on that score, by givingyou a companion in that solitary exaltation," said Philip de Comines."The Duke of Burgundy, though he claims not at present the titleof an independent king, desires nevertheless to be freed in futurefrom the abject marks of subjection required of him to the crownof France -- it is his purpose to close his ducal coronet with animperial arch, and surmount it with a globe, in emblem that hisdominions are independent."
"And how dares the Duke of Burgundy, the sworn vassal of France,"exclaimed Louis, starting up, and showing an unwonted degree ofemotion, "how dares he propose such terms to his Sovereign, as, byevery law of Europe, should infer a forfeiture of his fief?"
"The doom of forfeiture it would in this case be difficult toenforce," answered De Comines calmly. "Your Majesty is aware thatthe strict interpretation of the feudal law is becoming obsoleteeven in the Empire, and that superior and vassal endeavour to mendtheir situation in regard to each other, as they have power and.opportunity.
"Your Majesty's interferences with the Duke's vassals in Flanderswill prove an exculpation of my master's conduct, supposing him toinsist that, by enlarging his independence, France should in futurebe debarred from any pretext of doing so."
"Comines, Comines!" said Louis, arising again, and pacing the roomin a pensive manner, "this is a dreadful lesson on the text Vaevictis! (woe to the vanquished!) -- You cannot mean that the Dukewill insist on all these hard conditions?"
"At least I would have your Majesty be in a condition to discussthem all."
"Yet moderation, De Comines, moderation in success, is -- no oneknows better than you -- necessary to its ultimate advantage."
"So please your Majesty, the merit of moderation is, I haveobserved, most apt to be extolled by the losing party. The winnerholds in more esteem the prudence which calls on him not to leavean opportunity unimproved."