惊婚记 英文版 Quentin Durward
瓦尔特.司各特 Sir Walter Scott
CHAPTER XXXIV: THE EXECUTION
I'll take thee to the good green wood,And make thine own hand choose the tree.
OLD BALLAD
"Now God be praised, that gave us the power of laughing, and makingothers laugh, and shame to the dull cur who scorns the office ofa jester! Here is a joke, and that none of the brightest (thoughit might pass, since it has amused two Princes), which hath gonefarther than a thousand reasons of state to prevent a war betweenFrance and Burgundy."
Such was the inference of Le Glorieux, when, in consequence of thereconciliation of which we gave the particulars in the last chapter,the Burgundian guards were withdrawn from the Castle of Peronne, theabode of the King removed from the ominous Tower of Count Herbert,and, to the great joy both of French and Burgundians, an outwardshow at least of confidence and friendship seemed so establishedbetween Duke Charles and his liege lord. Yet still the latter,though treated with ceremonial observance, was sufficiently awarethat he continued to be the object of suspicion, though he prudentlyaffected to overlook it, and appeared to consider himself as entirelyat his ease.
Meanwhile, as frequently happens in such cases, whilst the principalparties concerned had so far made up their differences, oneof the subaltern agents concerned in their intrigues was bitterlyexperiencing the truth of the political maxim that if the greathave frequent need of base tools, they make amends to society byabandoning them to their fate, so soon as they find them no longeruseful.
Thus was Hayraddin Maugrabin, who, surrendered by the Duke's officersto the King's Provost Marshal, was by him placed in the hands ofhis two trusty aides de camp, Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre, tobe dispatched without loss of time. One on either side of him, andfollowed by a few guards and a multitude of rabble -- this playingthe Allegro, that the Penseroso, (the mirthful and the serious.Cf. Milton's poems by these names.) -- he was marched off (to usea modern comparison, like Garrick between Tragedy and Comedy) tothe neighbouring forest; where, to save all farther trouble andceremonial of a gibbet, and so forth, the disposers of his fateproposed to knit him up to the first sufficient tree.
They were not long in finding an oak, as Petit Andre facetiouslyexpressed it, fit to bear such an acorn; and placing the wretchedcriminal on a bank, under a sufficient guard, they began theirextemporaneous preparations for the final catastrophe. At thatmoment, Hayraddin, gazing on the crowd, encountered the eyes ofQuentin Durward, who, thinking he recognized the countenance ofhis faithless guide in that of the detected impostor, had followedwith the crowd to witness the execution, and assure himself of theidentity.
When the executioners informed him that all was ready, Hayraddin,with much calmness, asked a single boon at their hands.
"Anything, my son, consistent with our office," said Trois Eschelles.
"That is," said Hayraddin, "anything but my life."
"Even so," said Trois Eschelles, "and something more, for you seemresolved to do credit to our mystery, and die like a man, withoutmaking wry mouths -- why, though our orders are to be prompt, Icare not if I indulge you ten minutes longer."
"You are even too generous," said Hayraddin.
"Truly we may be blamed for it," said Petit Andre, "but what ofthat? -- I could consent almost to give my life for such a jerrycome tumble, such a smart, tight, firm lad, who proposes to comefrom aloft with a grace, as an honest fellow should."
"So that if you want a confessor --" said Trois Eschelles.
"Or a lire of wine --" said his facetious companion.
"Or a psalm --" said Tragedy.
"Or a song --" said Comedy.
"Neither, my good, kind, and most expeditious friends," said theBohemian. "I only pray to speak a few minutes with yonder Archerof the Scottish Guard."
The executioners hesitated a moment; but Trois Eschelles, recollectingthat Quentin Durward was believed, from various circumstances, tostand high in the favour of their master, King Louis, they resolvedto permit the interview.
When Quentin, at their summons, approached the condemned criminal,he could not but be shocked at his appearance, however justly hisdoom might have been deserved. The remnants of his heraldic finery,rent to tatters by the fangs of the dogs, and the clutches ofthe bipeds who had rescued him from their fury to lead him to thegallows, gave him at once a ludicrous and a wretched appearance.His face was discoloured with paint and with some remnants of afictitious beard, assumed for the purpose of disguise, and therewas the paleness of death upon his cheek and upon his lip; yet,strong in passive courage, like most of his tribe, his eye, whileit glistened and wandered, as well as the contorted smile of hismouth, seemed to bid defiance to the death he was about to die.
Quentin was struck, partly with horror, partly with compassion,as he approached the miserable man; and these feelings probablybetrayed themselves in his manner, for Petit Andre called out, "Tripit more smartly, jolly Archer. -- This gentleman's leisure cannotwait for you, if you walk as if the pebbles were eggs, and youafraid of breaking them."
"I must speak with him in privacy," said the criminal, despairseeming to croak in his accent as he uttered the words.
"That may hardly consist with our office, my merry Leap the ladder,"said Petit Andre, "we know you for a slippery eel of old."
"I am tied with your horse girths, hand and foot," said the criminal."You may keep guard around me, though out of earshot -- the Archeris your own King's servant. And if I give you ten guilders --"
"Laid out in masses, the sum may profit his poor soul," said TroisEschelles.
"Laid out in wine or brantwein, it will comfort my poor body,"responded Petit Andre. "So let them be forthcoming, my little crackrope."
"Pay the bloodhounds their fee," said Hayraddin to Durward, "I wasplundered of every stiver when they took me -- it shall avail theemuch."
Quentin paid the executioners their guerdon, and, like men of promise,they retreated out of hearing -- keeping, however, a careful eye onthe criminal's motions. After waiting an instant till the unhappyman should speak, as he still remained silent, Quentin at lengthaddressed him, "And to this conclusion thou hast at length arrived?"
"Ay," answered Hayraddin, "it required neither astrologer, orphysiognomist, nor chiromantist to foretell that I should followthe destiny of my family."
"Brought to this early end by thy long course of crime and treachery?"said the Scot.
"No, by the bright Aldebaran and all his brother twinklers!" answeredthe Bohemian. "I am brought hither by my folly in believing thatthe bloodthirsty cruelty of a Frank could be restrained even by whatthey themselves profess to hold most sacred. A priest's vestmentwould have been no safer garb for me than a herald's tabard, howeversanctimonious are your professions of devotion and chivalry."
"A detected impostor has no right to claim the immunities of thedisguise he had usurped," said Durward.
"Detected!" said the Bohemian. "My jargon was as good as yonderold fool of a herald's, but let it pass. As well now as hereafter."
"You abuse time," said Quentin. "If you have aught to tell me, sayit quickly, and then take some care of your soul."
"Of my soul?" said the Bohemian, with a hideous laugh. "Think yea leprosy of twenty years can be cured in an instant? -- If I havea soul, it hath been in such a course since I was ten years oldand more, that it would take me one month to recall all my crimes,and another to tell them to the priest! -- and were such spacegranted me, it is five to one I would employ it otherwise."
"Hardened wretch, blaspheme not! Tell me what thou hast to say,and I leave thee to thy fate," said Durward, with mingled pity andhorror.
"I have a boon to ask," said Hayraddin; "but first I will buy itof you; for your tribe, with all their professions of charity, givenaught for naught."
"I could well nigh say, thy gifts perish with thee," answeredQuentin, "but that thou art on the very verge of eternity. -- Askthy boon -- reserve thy bounty -- it can do me no good -- I rememberenough of your good offices of old."
"Why, I loved you," said Hayraddin, "for the matter that chancedon the banks of the Cher; and I would have helped you to a wealthydame. You wore her scarf, which partly misled me, and indeed Ithought that Hameline, with her portable wealth, was more for yourmarket penny than the other hen sparrow, with her old roost atBracquemont, which Charles has clutched, and is likely to keep hisclaws upon."
"Talk not so idly, unhappy man," said Quentin; "yonder officersbecome impatient."
"Give them ten guilders for ten minutes more," said the culprit,who, like most in his situation, mixed with his hardihood a desireof procrastinating his fate, "I tell thee it shall avail thee much."
"Use then well the minutes so purchased," said Durward, and easilymade a new bargain with the Marshals men.
This done, Hayraddin continued. -- "Yes, I assure you I meant youwell; and Hameline would have proved an easy and convenient spouse.Why, she has reconciled herself even with the Boar of Ardennes,though his mode of wooing was somewhat of the roughest, and lordsit yonder in his sty, as if she had fed on mast husks and acornsall her life."
"Cease this brutal and untimely jesting," said Quentin, "or, oncemore I tell you, I will leave you to your fate."
"You are right," said Hayraddin, after a moment's pause; "what cannotbe postponed must be faced! -- Well, know then, I came hither inthis accursed disguise, moved by a great reward from De la Marck,and hoping a yet mightier one from King Louis, not merely to bearthe message of defiance which yon may have heard of, but to tellthe King an important secret."
"It was a fearful risk," said Durward.
"It was paid for as such, and such it hath proved," answered theBohemian. "De la Marck attempted before to communicate with Louisby means of Marthon; but she could not, it seems, approach nearerto him than the Astrologer, to whom she told all the passages ofthe journey, and of Schonwaldt; but it is a chance if her tidingsever reach Louis, except in the shape of a prophecy. But hear mysecret, which is more important than aught she could tell. Williamde la Marck has assembled a numerous and strong force within thecity of Liege, and augments it daily by means of the old priest'streasures. But he proposes not to hazard a battle with the chivalryof Burgundy, and still less to stand a siege in the dismantled town.This he will do -- he will suffer the hot brained Charles to sitdown before the place without opposition, and in the night, makean outfall or sally upon the leaguer with his whole force. Manyhe will have in French armour, who will cry, France, Saint Louis,and Denis Montjoye, as if there were a strong body of French auxiliariesin the city. This cannot choose but strike utter confusion amongthe Burgundians; and if King Louis, with his guards, attendants,and such soldiers as he may have with him, shall second his efforts,the Boar of Ardennes nothing doubts the discomfiture of the wholeBurgundian army. -- There is my secret, and I bequeath it to you.Forward or prevent the enterprise -- sell the intelligence to KingLouis, or to Duke Charles, I care not -- save or destroy whom thouwilt; for my part, I only grieve that I cannot spring it like amine, to the destruction of them all."
"It is indeed an important secret," said Quentin, instantlycomprehending how easily the national jealousy might be awakenedin a camp consisting partly of French, partly of Burgundians.
"Ay, so it is," answered Hayraddin; "and now you have it, you wouldfain begone, and leave me without granting the boon for which Ihave paid beforehand."
vestmentwould have been no safer.
"Tell me thy request," said Quentin. "I will grant it if it be inmy power."
"Nay, it is no mighty demand -- it is only in behalf of poor Klepper,my palfrey, the only living thing that may miss me. -- A due milesouth, you will find him feeding by a deserted collier's hut;whistle to him thus" (he whistled a peculiar note), "and call himby his name, Klepper, he will come to you; here is his bridle undermy gaberdine -- it is lucky the hounds got it not, for he obeysno other. Take him, and make much of him -- I do not say for hismaster's sake, -- but because I have placed at your disposal theevent of a mighty war. He will never fail you at need -- night andday, rough and smooth, fair and foul, warm stables and the wintersky, are the same to Klepper; had I cleared the gates of Peronne,and got so far as where I left him, I had not been in this case.-- Will you be kind to Klepper?"
"I swear to you that I will," answered Quentin, affected by whatseemed a trait of tenderness in a character so hardened.
"Then fare thee well!" said the criminal. "Yet stay -- stay -- I wouldnot willingly die in discourtesy, forgetting a lady's commission.-- This billet is from the very gracious and extremely silly Ladyof the Wild Boar of Ardennes, to her black eyed niece -- I see byyour look I have chosen a willing messenger. -- And one word more-- I forgot to say, that in the stuffing of my saddle you will finda rich purse of gold pieces, for the sake of which I put my lifeon the venture which has cost me so dear. Take them, and replace ahundred fold the guilders you have bestowed on these bloody slaves-- I make you mine heir."
"I will bestow them in good works and masses for the benefit ofthy soul," said Quentin.
"Name not that word again," said Hayraddin, his countenance assuminga dreadful expression; "there is -- there can be, there shall be-- no such thing! -- it is a dream of priestcraft."
"Unhappy, most unhappy being! Think better! let me speed for apriest -- these men will delay yet a little longer. I will bribethem to it," said Quentin. "What canst thou expect, dying in suchopinions, and impenitent?"
"To be resolved into the elements," said the hardened atheist,pressing his fettered arms against his bosom; "my hope, trust, andexpectation is that the mysterious frame of humanity shall meltinto the general mass of nature, to be recompounded in the otherforms with which she daily supplies those which daily disappear,and return under different forms -- the watery particles to streamsand showers, the earthy parts to enrich their mother earth, theairy portions to wanton in the breeze, and those of fire to supplythe blaze of Aldebaran and his brethren. -- In this faith haveI lived, and I will die in it! -- Hence! begone! -- disturb meno farther! -- I have spoken the last word that mortal ears shalllisten to."
Deeply impressed with the horrors of his condition, QuentinDurward yet saw that it was vain to hope to awaken him to a senseof his fearful state. He bade him, therefore, farewell, to whichthe criminal only replied by a short and sullen nod, as one who,plunged in reverie, bids adieu to company which distracts histhoughts. He bent his course towards the forest, and easily foundwhere Klepper was feeding. The creature came at his call, but wasfor some time unwilling to be caught, snuffing and starting whenthe stranger approached him. At length, however, Quentin's generalacquaintance with the habits of the animal, and perhaps some particularknowledge of those of Klepper, which he had often admired whileHayraddin and he travelled together, enabled him to take possessionof the Bohemian's dying bequest. Long ere he returned to Peronne,the Bohemian had gone where the vanity of his dreadful creed wasto be put to the final issue -- a fearful experience for one whohad neither expressed remorse for the past, nor apprehension forthe future!