惊婚记 英文版 Quentin Durward
瓦尔特.司各特 Sir Walter Scott
CHAPTER XXXV: A PRIZE FOR HONOUR
'T is brave for Beauty when the best blade wins her.
THE COUNT PALATINE
When Quentin Durward reached Peronne, a council was sitting, inthe issue of which he was interested more deeply than he could haveapprehended, and which, though held by persons of a rank with whomone of his could scarce be supposed to have community of interest,had nevertheless the most extraordinary influence on his fortunes.
King Louis, who, after the interlude of De la Marck's envoy, hadomitted no opportunity to cultivate the returning interest whichthat circumstance had given him in the Duke's opinion, had beenengaged in consulting him, or, it might be almost said, receivinghis opinion, upon the number and quality of the troops, by whom, asauxiliary to the Duke of Burgundy, he was to be attended in theirjoint expedition against Liege. He plainly saw the wish of Charleswas to call into his camp such Frenchmen as, from their small numberand high quality, might be considered rather as hostages than asauxiliaries; but, observant of Crevecoeur's advice, he assentedas readily to whatever the Duke proposed, as if it had arisen fromthe free impulse of his own mind.
The King failed not, however, to indemnify himself for his complaisanceby the indulgence of his vindictive temper against Balue, whosecounsels had led him to repose such exuberant trust in the Duke ofBurgundy. Tristan, who bore the summons for moving up his auxiliaryforces, had the farther commission to carry the Cardinal to theCastle of Loches, and there shut him up in one of those iron cageswhich he himself is said to have invented.
"Let him make proof of his own devices," said the King; "he is aman of holy church -- we may not shed his blood; but, Pasques dieu!his bishopric, for ten years to come, shall have an impregnablefrontier to make up for its small extent! -- And see the troopsare brought up instantly."
Perhaps, by this prompt acquiescence, Louis hoped to evade themore unpleasing condition with which the Duke had clogged theirreconciliation. But if he so hoped, he greatly mistook the temperof his cousin, for never man lived more tenacious of his purpose thanCharles of Burgundy, and least of all was he willing to relax anystipulation which he made in resentment, or revenge, of a supposedinjury.
No sooner were the necessary expresses dispatched to summon upthe forces who were selected to act as auxiliaries, than Louis wascalled upon by his host to give public consent to the espousals ofthe Duke of Orleans and Isabelle of Croye. The King complied witha heavy sigh, and presently after urged a slight expostulation,founded upon the necessity of observing the wishes of the Dukehimself.
"These have not been neglected," said the Duke of Burgundy, "Crevecoeurhath communicated with Monsieur d'Orleans, and finds him (strangeto say) so dead to the honour of wedding a royal bride, that heacceded to the proposal of marrying the Countess of Croye as thekindest proposal which father could have made to him."
"He is the more ungracious and thankless," said Louis, "but thewhole shall be as you, my cousin, will, if you can bring it aboutwith consent of the parties themselves."
"Fear not that," said the Duke, and accordingly, not many minutesafter, the affair had been proposed, the Duke of Orleans and theCountess of Croye, the latter attended, as on the preceding occasion,by the Countess of Crevecoeur and the Abbess of the Ursulines, weresummoned to the presence of the Princes, and heard from the mouthof Charles of Burgundy, unobjected to by that of Louis, who satin silent and moody consciousness of diminished consequence, thatthe union of their hands was designed by the wisdom of both Princes,to confirm the perpetual alliance which in future should take placebetwixt France and Burgundy.
The Duke of Orleans had much difficulty in suppressing the joy whichhe felt upon the proposal, and which delicacy rendered improperin the presence of Louis; and it required his habitual awe of thatmonarch to enable him to rein in his delight, so much as merelyto reply that his duty compelled him to place his choice at thedisposal of his Sovereign.
"Fair cousin of Orleans," said Louis with sullen gravity, "since Imust speak on so unpleasant an occasion, it is needless for me toremind you that my sense of your merits had led me to propose foryou a match into my own family. But since my cousin of Burgundy thinksthat the disposing of your hand otherwise is the surest pledge ofamity between his dominions and mine, I love both too well not tosacrifice to them my own hopes and wishes."
The Duke of Orleans threw himself on his knees, and kissed -- and,for once, with sincerity of attachment -- the hand which the King,with averted countenance, extended to him. In fact he, as well asmost present, saw, in the unwilling acquiescence of this accomplisheddissembler, who, even with that very purpose, had sufferedhis reluctance to be visible, a King relinquishing his favouriteproject, and subjugating his paternal feelings to the necessitiesof state, and interest of his country. Even Burgundy was moved,and Orleans's heart smote him for the joy which he involuntarilyfelt on being freed from his engagement with the Princess Joan. Ifhe had known how deeply the King was cursing him in his soul, andwhat thoughts of future revenge he was agitating, it is probablehis own delicacy on the occasion would not have been so much hurt.
Charles next turned to the young Countess, and bluntly announcedthe proposed match to her, as a matter which neither admitted delaynor hesitation, adding, at the same time, that it was but a toofavourable consequence of her intractability on a former occasion.
"My Lord Duke and Sovereign," said Isabelle, summoning up all hercourage, "I observe your Grace's commands, and submit to them."
"Enough, enough," said the Duke, interrupting her, "we will arrangethe rest. -- Your Majesty," he continued, addressing King Louis,"hath had a boar's hunt in the morning; what say you to rousing awolf in the afternoon?"
The young Countess saw the necessity of decision.
"Your Grace mistakes my meaning," she said, speaking, though timidly,yet loudly and decidedly enough to compel the Duke's attention,which, from some consciousness, he would otherwise have willinglydenied to her.
"My submission," she said, "only respected those lands and estateswhich your Grace's ancestors gave to mine, and which I resign tothe House of Burgundy, if my Sovereign thinks my disobedience inthis matter renders me unworthy to hold them."
"Ha! Saint George!" said the Duke, stamping furiously on the ground,"does the fool know in what presence she is? -- And to whom shespeaks?"
"My lord," she replied, still undismayed, "I am before my Suzerain,and, I trust, a just one. If you deprive me of my lands, you takeaway all that your ancestors' generosity gave, and you break theonly bonds which attach us together. You gave not this poor andpersecuted form, still less the spirit which animates me. -- Andthese it is my purpose to dedicate to Heaven in the convent of theUrsulines, under the guidance of this Holy Mother Abbess."
THE COUNT PALATINE her husband's merits and his favour with the Duke, could keepsilent!
The rage and astonishment of the Duke can hardly be conceived,unless we could estimate the surprise of a falcon against whom adove should ruffle its pinions in defiance.
"Will the Holy Mother receive you without an appanage?" he said ina voice of scorn.
"If she doth her convent, in the first instance, so much wrong,"said the Lady Isabelle, "I trust there is charity enough among thenoble friends of my house to make up some support for the orphanof Croye."
"It is false!" said the Duke, "it is a base pretext to cover somesecret and unworthy passion. -- My Lord of Orleans, she shall beyours, if I drag her to the altar with my own hands!"
The Countess of Crevecoeur, a high spirited woman and confidentin her husband's merits and his favour with the Duke, could keepsilent no longer.
"My lord," she said, "your passions transport you into languageutterly unworthy. -- The hand of no gentlewoman can be disposed ofby force."
prevented his striking for sofair a prize. The Duke was gratified by the.
"And it is no part of the duty of a Christian Prince," added theAbbess, "to thwart the wishes of a pious soul, who, broken withthe cares and persecutions of the world, is desirous to become thebride of Heaven."
"Neither can my cousin of Orleans," said Dunois, "with honour accepta proposal to which the lady has thus publicly stated her objections."
"If I were permitted," said Orleans, on whose facile mind Isabelle'sbeauty had made a deep impression, "some time to endeavour to placemy pretensions before the Countess in a more favourable light --"
"My lord," said Isabelle, whose firmness was now fully supportedby the encouragement which she received from all around, "it wereto no purpose -- my mind is made up to decline this alliance, thoughfar above my deserts."
"Nor have I time," said the Duke, "to wait till these whimsies arechanged with the next change of the moon. -- Monseigneur d'Orleans,she shall learn within this hour that obedience becomes matter ofnecessity."
"Not in my behalf, Sire," answered the Prince, who felt that hecould not, with any show of honour, avail himself of the Duke'sobstinate disposition; "to have been once openly and positivelyrefused is enough for a son of France. He cannot prosecute hisaddresses farther."
The Duke darted one furious glance at Orleans, another at Louis, andreading in the countenance of the latter, in spite of his utmostefforts to suppress his feelings, a look of secret triumph, hebecame outrageous.
for me toremind you that my sense of your merits had led me to propose .
"Write," he said, to the secretary, "our doom of forfeiture andimprisonment against this disobedient and insolent minion. Sheshall to the Zuchthaus, to the penitentiary, to herd with thosewhose lives have rendered them her rivals in effrontery."
There was a general murmur.
"My Lord Duke," said the Count of Crevecoeur, taking the word for therest, "this must be better thought on. We, your faithful vassals,cannot suffer such a dishonour to the nobility and chivalryof Burgundy. If the Countess hath done amiss, let her be punished-- but in the manner that becomes her rank, and ours, who standconnected with her house by blood and alliance."
The Duke paused a moment, and looked full at his councillor withthe stare of a bull, which, when compelled by the neat herd fromthe road which he wishes to go, deliberates with himself whetherto obey, or to rush on his driver, and toss him into the air.
Prudence, however, prevailed over fury -- he saw the sentiment wasgeneral in his council -- was afraid of the advantages which Louismight derive from seeing dissension among his vassals; and probably-- for he was rather of a coarse and violent, than of a malignanttemper -- felt ashamed of his own dishonourable proposal.
"You are right," he said, "Crevecoeur, and I spoke hastily. Herfate shall be determined according to the rules of chivalry. Herflight to Liege hath given the signal for the Bishop's murder. Hethat best avenges that deed, and brings us the head of the WildBoar of Ardennes, shall claim her hand of us; and if she denieshis right, we can at least grant him her fiefs, leaving it to hisgenerosity to allow her what means he will to retire into a convent."
"Nay!" said the Countess, "think I am the daughter of Count Reinold-- of your father's old, valiant, and faithful servant. Would youhold me out as a prize to the best sword player?"
"Your ancestress," said the Duke, "was won at a tourney -- you shallbe fought for in real melee. Only thus far, for Count Reinold'ssake, the successful prizer shall be a gentleman, of unimpeachedbirth, and unstained bearings; but, be he such, and the poorestwho ever drew the strap of a sword belt through the tongue of abuckle, he shall have at least the proffer of your hand. I swearit, by St. George, by my ducal crown, and by the Order that I wear!-- Ha! Messires," he added, turning to the nobles present, "thisat least is, I think, in conformity with the rules of chivalry?"
Isabelle's remonstrances were drowned in a general and jubilantassent, above which was heard the voice of old Lord Crawford,regretting the weight of years that prevented his striking for sofair a prize. The Duke was gratified by the general applause, andhis temper began to flow more smoothly, like that of a swollenriver when it hath subsided within its natural boundaries.
"Are we to whom fate has given dames already," said Crevecoeur,"to be bystanders at this fair game? It does not consist with myhonour to be so, for I have myself a vow to be paid at the expenseof that tusked and bristled brute, De la Marck."
"Strike boldly in, Crevecoeur," said the Duke, "to win her, andsince thou canst not wear her thyself, bestow her where thou wilt-- on Count Stephen, your nephew, if you list."
"Gramercy, my lord!" said Crevecoeur, "I will do my best in thebattle; and, should I be fortunate enough to be foremost, Stephenshall try his eloquence against that of the Lady Abbess."
"I trust," said Dunois, "that the chivalry of France are not excludedfrom this fair contest?"
"Heaven forbid! brave Dunois," answered the Duke, "were it but forthe sake of seeing you do your uttermost. But," he added, "thoughthere be no fault in the Lady Isabelle wedding a Frenchman, itwill be necessary that the Count of Croye must become a subject ofBurgundy."
"Enough," said Dunois, "my bar sinister may never be surmountedby the coronet of Croye -- I will live and die French. But, yet,though I should lose the lands, I will strike a blow for the lady."
Le Balafre dared not speak aloud in such a presence, but he mutteredto himself,
"Now, Saunders Souplejaw, hold thine own! -- thou always saidstthe fortune of our house was to be won by marriage, and never hadyou such a chance to keep your word with us."
"No one thinks of me," said Le Glorieux, "who am sure to carry offthe prize from all of you."
"Right, my sapient friend," said Louis, laughing, "when a woman isin the case, the greatest fool is ever the first in favour."
While the princes and their nobles thus jested over her fate, theAbbess and the Countess of Crevecoeur endeavoured in vain to consoleIsabelle, who had withdrawn with them from the council-presence.The former assured her that the Holy Virgin would frown on everyattempt to withdraw a true votaress from the shrine of SaintUrsula; while the Countess of Crevecoeur whispered more temporalconsolation, that no true knight, who might succeed in the enterpriseproposed, would avail himself, against her inclinations, of theDuke's award; and that perhaps the successful competitor mightprove one who should find such favour in her eyes as to reconcileher to obedience. Love, like despair, catches at straws; and,faint and vague as was the hope which this insinuation conveyed,the tears of the Countess Isabelle flowed more placidly while shedwelt upon it.
(Saint Ursula: the patron saint of young girls. Tradition saysshe was martyred by the Huns, together with her eleven thousandcompanions. Her history has been painted by Carpacelo and by HansMemling.)