burlesques-第58章

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Upon　which；　laying　down　her　muffin；　（which；　since　the　royal　Alfred

baked　those　cakes；　had　been　the　chosen　breakfast　cate　of　noble

Anglo…Saxons；　and　which　a　kneeling　page　tendered　to　her　on　a

salver；　chased　by　the　Florentine；　Benvenuto　Cellini；）〃When　do　you

think　of　going；　Wilfrid　my　dear？〃　the　lady　said；　and　the　moment　the

tea…things　were　removed；　and　the　tables　and　their　trestles　put

away；　she　set　about　mending　his　linen；　and　getting　ready　his

carpet…bag。



So　Sir　Wilfrid　was　as　disgusted　at　her　readiness　to　part　with　him

as　he　had　been　weary　of　staying　at　home；　which　caused　Wamba　the

Fool　to　say；　〃Marry；　gossip；　thou　art　like　the　man　on　ship…board；

who；　when　the　boatswain　flogged　him；　did　cry　out　'Oh！'　wherever　the

rope's…end　fell　on　him：　which　caused　Master　Boatswain　to　say；

'Plague　on　thee；　fellow；　and　a　pize　on　thee；　knave；　wherever　I　hit

thee　there　is　no　pleasing　thee。'〃



〃And　truly　there　are　some　backs　which　Fortune　is　always　belaboring；〃

thought　Sir　Wilfrid　with　a　groan；　〃and　mine　is　one　that　is　ever

sore。〃



So；　with　a　moderate　retinue；　whereof　the　knave　Wamba　made　one；　and

a　large　woollen　comforter　round　his　neck；　which　his　wife's　own

white　fingers　had　woven；　Sir　Wilfrid　of　Ivanhoe　left　home　to　join

the　King　his　master。　　Rowena；　standing　on　the　steps；　poured　out　a

series　of　prayers　and　blessings；　most　edifying　to　hear；　as　her　lord

mounted　his　charger；　which　his　squires　led　to　the　door。　　〃It　was

the　duty　of　the　British　female　of　rank；〃　she　said；　〃to　suffer　all

ALL　in　the　cause　of　her　sovereign。　　SHE　would　not　fear　loneliness

during　the　campaign：　she　would　bear　up　against　widowhood；

desertion；　and　an　unprotected　situation。〃



〃My　cousin　Athelstane　will　protect　thee；〃　said　Ivanhoe；　with

profound　emotion；　as　the　tears　trickled　down　his　basenet；　and

bestowing　a　chaste　salute　upon　the　steel…clad　warrior；　Rowena

modestly　said　〃she　hoped　his　Highness　would　be　so　kind。〃



Then　Ivanhoe's　trumpet　blew：　then　Rowena　waved　her　pocket…

handkerchief：　then　the　household　gave　a　shout：　then　the　pursuivant

of　the　good　Knight；　Sir　Wilfrid　the　Crusader；　flung　out　his　banner

（which　was　argent；　a　gules　cramoisy　with　three　Moors　impaled

sable）：　then　Wamba　gave　a　lash　on　his　mule's　haunch；　and　Ivanhoe；

heaving　a　great　sigh；　turned　the　tail　of　his　war…horse　upon　the

castle　of　his　fathers。



As　they　rode　along　the　forest；　they　met　Athelstane　the　Thane

powdering　along　the　road　in　the　direction　of　Rotherwood　on　his

great　dray…horse　of　a　charger。　　〃Good…by；　good　luck　to　you；　old

brick；〃　cried　the　Prince；　using　the　vernacular　Saxon。　　〃Pitch　into

those　Frenchmen；　give　it　'em　over　the　face　and　eyes；　and　I'll　stop

at　home　and　take　care　of　Mrs。　I。〃



〃Thank　you；　kinsman；〃　said　Ivanhoelooking；　however；　not

particularly　well　pleased；　and　the　chiefs　shaking　hands；　the　train

of　each　took　its　different　wayAthelstane's　to　Rotherwood；

Ivanhoe's　towards　his　place　of　embarkation。



The　poor　knight　had　his　wish；　and　yet　his　face　was　a　yard　long　and

as　yellow　as　a　lawyer's　parchment；　and　having　longed　to　quit　home

any　time　these　three　years　past；　he　found　himself　envying

Athelstane；　because；　forsooth；　he　was　going　to　Rotherwood：　which

symptoms　of　discontent　being　observed　by　the　witless　Wamba；　caused

that　absurd　madman　to　bring　his　rebeck　over　his　shoulder　from　his

back；　and　to　sing





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃ATRA　CURA。



　　　　　〃Before　I　lost　my　five　poor　wits；

　　　　　　I　mind　me　of　a　Romish　clerk；

　　　　　　Who　sang　how　Care；　the　phantom　dark；

　　　　　　Beside　the　belted　horseman　sits。

　　　　　　Methought　I　saw　the　griesly　sprite

　　　　　　Jump　up　but　now　behind　my　Knight。〃





〃Perhaps　thou　didst；　knave；〃　said　Ivanhoe；　looking　over　his

shoulder；　and　the　knave　went　on　with　his　jingle：





　　　　　〃And　though　he　gallop　as　he　may；

　　　　　　I　mark　that　cursed　monster　black

　　　　　　Still　sits　behind　his　honor's　back；

　　　　　　Tight　squeezing　of　his　heart　alway。

　　　　　　Like　two　black　Templars　sit　they　there；

　　　　　　Beside　one　crupper；　Knight　and　Care。



　　　　　〃No　knight　am　I　with　pennoned　spear；

　　　　　　To　prance　upon　a　bold　destrere：

　　　　　　I　will　not　have　black　Care　prevail

　　　　　　Upon　my　long…eared　charger's　tail；

　　　　　　For　lo；　I　am　a　witless　fool；

　　　　　　And　laugh　at　Grief　and　ride　a　mule。〃





And　his　bells　rattled　as　he　kicked　his　mule's　sides。



〃Silence；　fool！〃　said　Sir　Wilfrid　of　Ivanhoe；　in　a　voice　both

majestic　and　wrathful。　　〃If　thou　knowest　not　care　and　grief；　it　is

because　thou　knowest　not　love；　whereof　they　are　the　companions。

Who　can　love　without　an　anxious　heart？　　How　shall　there　be　joy　at

meeting；　without　tears　at　parting？〃　　（〃I　did　not　see　that　his　honor

or　my　lady　shed　many　anon；〃　thought　Wamba　the　Fool；　but　he　was　only

a　zany；　and　his　mind　was　not　right。）　　〃I　would　not　exchange　my　very

sorrows　for　thine　indifference；〃　the　knight　continued。　　〃Where

there　is　a　sun；　there　must　be　a　shadow。　　If　the　shadow　offend　me；

shall　I　put　out　my　eyes　and　live　in　the　dark？　　No！　　I　am　content

with　my　fate；　even　such　as　it　is。　　The　Care　of　which　thou　speakest；

hard　though　it　may　vex　him；　never　yet　rode　down　an　honest　man。　　I

can　bear　him　on　my　shoulders；　and　make　my　way　through　the　world's

press　in　spite　of　him；　for　my　arm　is　strong；　and　my　sword　is　keen；

and　my　shield　has　no　stain　on　it；　and　my　heart；　though　it　is　sad；

knows　no　guile。〃　　And　here；　taking　a　locket　out　of　his　waistcoat

（which　was　made　of　chain…mail）；　the　knight　kissed　the　token；　put　it

back　under　the　waistcoat　again；　heaved　a　profound　sigh；　and　stuck

spurs　into　his　horse。



As　for　Wamba；　he　was　munching　a　black　pudding　whilst　Sir　Wilfrid

was　making　the　above　speech；　（which　implied　some　secret　grief　on

the　knight's　part；　that　must　have　been　perfectly　unintelligible　to

the　fool；）　and　so　did　not　listen　to　a　single　word　of　Ivanhoe's

pompous　remarks。　　They　travelled　on　by　slow　stages　through　the

whole　kingdom；　until　they　came　to　Dover；　whence　they　took　shipping

for　Calais。　　And　in　this　little　voyage；　being　exceedingly　sea…sick；

and　besides　elated　at　the　thought　of　meeting　his　sovereign；　the

good　knight　cast　away　that　profound　melancholy　which　had

accompanied　him　during　the　whole　of　his　land　journey。





CHAPTER　II。



THE　LAST　DAYS　OF　THE　LION。





From　Calais　Sir　Wilfrid　of　Ivanhoe　took　the　diligence　across

country　to　Limoges；　sending　on　Gurth；　his　squire；　with　the　horses

and　the　rest　of　his　attendants：　with　the　exception　of　Wamba；　who

travelled　not　only　as　the　knight's　fool；　but　as　his　valet；　and　who；

perched　on　the　roof　of　the　carriage；　amused　himself　by　blowing

tunes　upon　the　conducteur's　French　horn。　　The　good　King　Richard

was；　as　Ivanhoe　learned；　in　the　Limousin；　encamped　before　a　little

place　called　Chalus；　the　lord　whereof；　though　a　vassal　of　the

King's；　was　holding　the　castle　against　his　sovereign　with　a

resolution　and　valor　which　caused　a　great　fury　and　annoyance　on　the

part　of　the　Monarch　with　the　Lion　Heart。　　For　brave　and　magnanimous

as　he　was；　the　Lion…hearted　one　did　not　love　to　be　balked　any　more

than　another；　and；　like　the　royal　animal　whom　he　was　said　to

resemble；　he　commonly　tore　his　adversary　to　pieces；　and　then；

perchance；　had　leisure　to　think　how　brave　the　latter　had　been。　　The

Count　of　Chalus　had　found；　it　was　said；　a　pot　of　money；　the　royal

Richard　wanted　it。　　As　the　count　denied　that　he　had　it；　why　did　he

not　open　the　gates　of　his　castle　at　once？　　It　was　a　clear　proof

that　he　was　guilty；　and　the　King　was　determined　to　punish　this

rebel；　and　have　his　money　and　his　life　too。



He　had　naturally　brought　no　breaching　guns　with　him；　because　those

instruments　were　not　yet　invented：　and　though　he　had　assaulted　the

place　a　score　of　times　with　the　utmost　fury；　his　Majesty　had　been

beaten　back　on　every　occasion；　until　he　was　so　savage　that　it　was

dangerous　to　approach　the　British　Lion。　　The　Lion's　wife；　the

lovely　Berengaria；　scarcely　ventured　to　come　near　him。　　He　flung

the　joint…stools　in　his　tent　at　the　heads　of　the　officers　of　state；

and　kicked　his　aides…de…camp　round　his　pavilion；　and；　in　fact；　a

maid　of　honor；　who　brought　a　sack…posset　in　to　his　Majesty　from　the

Queen　after　he　came　in　from　the　assault；　came　spinning　like　a

football　out　of　the　royal　tent　just　as　Ivanhoe　entered　it。



〃Send　me　my　drum…major　to　flog　that　woman！〃　roared　out　the

infuriate　King。　　〃By　the　bones　of　St。　Barnabas　she　has　burned　the

sack！　　By　St。　Wittikind；　I　will　have　her　flayed　alive。　　Ha；　St。

George！　ha；　St。　Richard！　whom　have　we　here？〃　　And　he　lifted　up　his

demi…culverin；　or　curtal…axea　weapon　weighing　about　thirteen

hundredweightand　was　about　to　fling　it　at　the　intruder's　head；

when　the　latter；　kneeling　gracefully　on　one　knee；　said　calmly；　〃It

is　I；　my　good　liege；　Wilfrid　of　Ivanhoe。〃



〃What；　Wilfrid　of　Templestowe；　Wilfrid　the　married　man；　Wilfrid　the

henpecked！〃　cried　the　King　with　a　sudden　burst　of　good…humor；

flinging　away　the　culverin　from　him；　as　though　it　had　been　a　reed

（it　lighted　three　hundred　yards　off；　on　the　foot　of　Hugo　de　Bunyon；

who　was　smoking　a　cigar　at　the　door　of　his　tent；　and　caused　that

redoubted　warrior　to　limp　for　some　days　after）。　　〃What；　Wilfrid　my

gossip？　　Art　come　to　see　the　lion's　den？　　There　are　bones　in　it；

man；　bones　and　carcasses；　and　the　lion　is　angry；〃　said　the　King；

with　a　terrific　glare　of　his　eyes。　　〃But　tush！　we　will　talk　of　that

anon。　　Ho！　bring　two　gallons　of　hypocras　for　the　King　and　the　good

Knight；　Wilfrid　of　Ivanhoe。　　Thou　art　come　in　time；　Wilfrid；

for；　by　St。　Richard　and　St。　George；　we　will　give　a　grand　assault

to…morrow。　　There　will　be　bones　broken；　ha！〃



〃I　care　not；　my　liege；〃　said　Ivanhoe；　pledging　the　sovereign

respectfully；　and　tossing　off　the　whole　contents　of　the　bowl　of

hypocras　to　his　Highness's　good　health。　　And　he　at　once　appeared　to

be　taken　into　high　favor；　not　a　little　to　the　envy　of　many　of　the

persons　surrounding　the　King。



As　his　Majesty　said；　there　was　fighting　and　feasting　in　plenty

before　Chalus。　　Day　after　day；　the　besiegers　made　assaults　upon　the

castle；　but　it　was　held　so　stoutly　by　the　Count　of　Chalus　and　his

gallant　garrison；　that　each　afternoon　beheld　the　attacking…parties

returning　disconsolately　to　their　tents；　leaving　behind　them　many

of　their　own　slain；　and　bringing　back　with　them　store　of　broken

heads　and　maimed　limbs；　received　in　the　unsuccessful　onset。　　The

valor　displayed　by　Ivanhoe　in　all　these　contests　was　prodigious；

and　the　way　in　which　he　escaped　death　from　the　discharges　of

mangonels；　catapults；　battering…rams；　twenty…four　pounders；　boiling

oil；　and　other　artillery；　with　which　the　besieged　received　their

enemies；　was　remarkable。　　After　a　day's　fighting；　Gurth　and　Wamba

used　to　pick　the　arrows　out　of　their　intrepid　master's　coat…of…

mail；　as　if　they　had　been　so　many　almonds　in　a　pudding。　　'Twas　well

for　the　good　knight；　that　under　his　first　coat…of　armor　he　wore　a

choice　suit　of　Toledan　ste