men of iron(铁人)-第2章
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their trouble； that they were about to leave their home forever。
Then Diccon Bowman carried him out into the strangeness of the
winter midnight。
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Outside； beyond the frozen moat； where the osiers； stood stark and stiff
in their winter nakedness； was a group of dark figures waiting for them
with horses。 In the pallid moonlight Myles recognized the well…known
face of Father Edward； the Prior of St。 Mary's。
After that came a long ride through that silent night upon the saddle…
bow in front of Diccon Bowman； then a deep； heavy sleep； that fell upon
him in spite of the galloping of the horses。
When next he woke the sun was shining； and his home and his whole
life were changed。
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CHAPTER 2
From the time the family escaped from Falworth Castle that midwinter
night to the time Myles was sixteen years old he knew nothing of the great
world beyond Crosbey…Dale。 A fair was held twice in a twelvemonth at the
market…town of Wisebey； and three times in the seven years old Diccon
Bowman took the lad to see the sights at that place。 Beyond these three
glimpses of the outer world he lived almost as secluded a life as one of the
neighboring monks of St。 Mary's Priory。
Crosbey…Holt； their new home； was different enough from Falworth or
Easterbridge Castle； the former baronial seats of Lord Falworth。 It was a
long； low； straw…thatched farm…house； once； when the church lands were
divided into two holdings； one of the bailiff's houses。 All around were the
fruitful farms of the priory； tilled by well…to…do tenant holders； and rich
with fields of waving grain； and meadow…lands where sheep and cattle
grazed in flocks and herds； for in those days the church lands were under
church rule； and were governed by church laws； and there； when war and
famine and waste and sloth blighted the outside world； harvests flourished
and were gathered； and sheep were sheared and cows were milked in
peace and quietness。
The Prior of St。 Mary's owed much if not all of the church's prosperity
to the blind Lord Falworth； and now he was paying it back with a haven of
refuge from the ruin that his former patron had brought upon himself by
giving shelter to Sir John Dale。
I fancy that most boys do not love the grinding of school lifethe
lessons to be conned； the close application during study hours。 It is not
often pleasant to brisk； lively lads to be so cooped up。 I wonder what the
boys of to…day would have thought of Myles's training。 With him that
training was not only of the mind； but of the body as well； and for seven
years it was almost unremitting。 〃Thou hast thine own way to make in the
world； sirrah；〃 his father said more than once when the boy complained of
the grinding hardness of his life； and to make one's way in those days
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meant a thousand times more than it does now； it meant not only a heart to
feel and a brain to think； but a hand quick and strong to strike in battle；
and a body tough to endure the wounds and blows in return。 And so it was
that Myles's body as well as his mind had to be trained to meet the needs
of the dark age in which he lived。
Every morning； winter or summer； rain or shine he tramped away six
long miles to the priory school； and in the evenings his mother taught him
French。
Myles； being prejudiced in the school of thought of his day； rebelled
not a little at that last branch of his studies。 〃Why must I learn that vile
tongue？〃 said he。
〃Call it not vile；〃 said the blind old Lord； grimly； 〃belike； when thou
art grown a man； thou'lt have to seek thy fortune in France land； for
England is haply no place for such as be of Falworth blood。〃 And in after…
years； true to his father's prediction； the 〃vile tongue〃 served him well。
As for his physical training； that pretty well filled up the hours
between his morning studies at the monastery and his evening studies at
home。 Then it was that old Diccon Bowman took him in hand； than whom
none could be better fitted to shape his young body to strength and his
hands to skill in arms。 The old bowman had served with Lord Falworth's
father under the Black Prince both in France and Spain； and in long years
of war had gained a practical knowledge of arms that few could surpass。
Besides the use of the broadsword； the short sword； the quarter…staff； and
the cudgel； he taught Myles to shoot so skilfully with the long… bow and
the cross…bow that not a lad in the country…side was his match at the
village butts。 Attack and defence with the lance； and throwing the knife
and dagger were also part of his training。
Then； in addition to this more regular part of his physical training；
Myles was taught in another branch not so often included in the military
education of the daythe art of wrestling。 It happened that a fellow lived
in Crosbey village； by name Ralph…the…Smith； who was the greatest
wrestler in the country…side； and had worn the champion belt for three
years。 Every Sunday afternoon； in fair weather； he came to teach Myles
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the art； and being wonderfully adept in bodily feats； he soon grew so quick
and active and firm… footed that he could cast any lad under twenty years
of age living within a range of five miles。
〃It is main ungentle armscraft that he learneth；〃 said Lord Falworth
one day to Prior Edward。 〃Saving only the broadsword； the dagger； and
the lance； there is but little that a gentleman of his strain may use。
Neth'less； he gaineth quickness and suppleness； and if he hath true blood
in his veins he will acquire knightly arts shrewdly quick when the time
cometh to learn them。〃
But hard and grinding as Myles's life was； it was not entirely without
pleasures。 There were many boys living in Crosbey…Dale and the village；
yeomen's and farmers' sons； to be sure； but； nevertheless； lads of his own
age； and that； after all； is the main requirement for friendship in boyhood's
world。 Then there was the river to bathe in； there were the hills and valleys
to roam over； and the wold and woodland； with their wealth of nuts and
birds'…nests and what not of boyhood's treasures。
Once he gained a triumph that for many a day was very sweet under
the tongue of his memory。 As was said before； he had been three times to
the market…town at fair…time； and upon the last of these occasions he had
fought a bout of quarterstaff with a young fellow of twenty； and had been
the conqueror。 He was then only a little over fourteen years old。
Old Diccon； who had gone with him to the fair； had met some cronies
of his own； with whom he had sat gossiping in the ale…booth； leaving
Myles for the nonce to shift for himself。 By…and…by the old man had
noticed a crowd gathered at one part of the fair…ground； and； snuffing a
fight； had gone running； ale…pot in hand。 Then； peering over the shoulders
of the crowd； he had seen his young master； stripped to the waist； fighting
like a gladiator with a fellow a head taller than himself。 Diccon was about
to force his way through the crowd and drag them asunder； but a second
look had showed his practised eye that Myles was not only holding his
own； but was in the way of winning the victory。 So he had stood with the
others looking on； withholding himself from any interference and
whatever upbraiding might be necessary until the fight had been brought
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to a triumphant close。 Lord Falworth never heard directly of the
redoubtable affair； but old Diccon was not so silent with the common folk
of Crosbey…Dale； and so no doubt the father had some inkling of what had
happened。 It was shortly after this notable event that Myles was formally
initiated into squirehood。 His father and mother； as was the custom； stood
sponsors for him。 By them； each bearing a lighted taper； he was escorted
to the altar。 It was at St。 Mary's Priory； and Prior Edward blessed the
sword and girded it to the lad's side。 No one was present but the four； and
when the good Prior had given the benediction and had signed the cross
upon his forehead； Myles's mother stooped and kissed his brow just where
the priest's finger had drawn the holy sign。 Her eyes brimmed bright with
tears as she did so。 Poor lady！ perhaps she only then and for the first time
realized how big her fledgling was growing for his nest。 Henceforth Myles
had the right to wear a sword。
Myles had ended his fifteenth year。 He was a bonny lad； with brown
face； curling hair； a square； strong chin； and a pair of merry laughing blue
eyes； his shoulders were broad； his chest was thick of girth； his muscles
and thews were as tough as oak。
The day upon which he was sixteen years old； as he came whistling
home from the monastery school he was met by Diccon Bowman。
〃Master Myles；〃 said the old man； with a snuffle in his voice〃Master
Myles； thy father would see thee in his chamber； and bade me send thee to
him as soon as thou didst come home。 Oh； Master Myles； I fear me that
belike thou art going to leave home to…morrow day。〃
Myles stopped short。 〃To leave home！〃 he cried。
〃Aye；〃 said old Diccon； 〃belike thou goest to some grand castle to live
there； and be a page there and what not； and then； haply； a gentleman… at…
arms in some great lord's pay。〃
〃What coil is this about castles and lords and gentlemen…at…arms？〃 said
Myles。 〃What talkest thou of； Diccon？ Art thou jesting？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Diccon； 〃I am not jesting。 But go to thy father； and then
thou wilt presently know all。 O
