登陆注册
4700500000013

第13章

Now as to Squire Simon, whether the devil helped him, or his luck, or were it his own cunning and his, horse's stoutness, we wot not; but in any case he fell not in with Ralph Longshanks and Anthony Green, but rode as far and as fast as his horse would go, and then lay down in the wild-wood; and on the morrow arose and went his ways, and came in the even to the Castle of the Uttermost March, and went on thence the morrow after on a fresh horse to Oakenham. There he made no delay but went straight to the High House, and had privy speech of the Earl Marshal; and him he told how he had smitten Christopher, and, as he deemed, slain him. The Earl Marshal looked on him grimly and said: "Where is the ring then?"

"I have it not," said Simon. "How might I light down to take it, when the seven sons were hard on us?" And therewith he told him all the tale, and how he had risen to slay Christopher the even before; and how he had found out after that the youngling had become guest and fosterling of the folk of the Tofts; and how warily Christopher had ridden, so that he, Simon, had had to do his best at the last moment.

"And now, Lord," quoth he, "I see that it will be my luck to have grudging of thee, or even worse it may be; yea, or thou wilt be presently telling me that I am a liar and never struck the stroke: but I warrant me that by this time Jack of the Tofts knoweth better, for I left my knife in the youngling's breast, and belike he wotteth of my weapons.

Well, then, if thou wilt be quit of me, thou hast but to forbear upholding me against the Toft folk, and then am I gone without any to-do of thee."

Earl Rolf spake quietly in answer, though his face was somewhat troubled: "Nay, Simon, I doubt thee not, not one word; for why shouldest thou lie to me? nor do I deem thou wouldest, for thou art trusty and worthy. Yet sore I doubt if the child be dead. Well, even so let it be, for I am alive; and full surely I am mightier than Jack of the Tofts, both to uphold thee against him (wherein I shall not fail), and otherwise. But may God make me even as that young man if I be not mightier yet in a few days. But now do thou go and eat and drink and take thy disport; for thou hast served me well; and in a little while I shall make thee knight and lord, and do all I can to pleasure thee."

So then Simon knelt to the Earl and made obeisance to him, and arose and went his ways, light-hearted and merry.

But within the month it so befel that some of the lords and dukes came to the Earl Marshal, and prayed him to call together a great Folk-mote of all Oakenrealm; and he answered them graciously, and behight them to do as they would; and even so did he.

And that Mote was very great, and whenas it was hallowed, there arose a great lord, grey and ancient, and bewailed him before the folk, that they had no king over Oakenrealm to uphold the laws & ward the land; and "Will ye live bare and kingless for ever?" said he at last. "Will ye not choose you a king, and crown him, before I die, and we others of the realm who are old and worn?" Then he sat down, and another arose, and in plain terms he bade them take the Earl Marshal to king. And then arose one after other, and each sang the same song, till the hearts of the people grew warm with the big words, and at first many, and then more cried out: "A King, a King! The Earl Marshal for King! Earl Rolf for King!" So that at last the voices rose into a great roar, and sword clashed on shield, and they who were about the Earl turned to him and upraised him on a great war-shield, and he stood thereon above the folk with a naked sword in his hand, and all the folk shouted about him.

Thereafter the chiefs and all the mightiest came and did homage to him for King of Oakenrealm as he sat on the Hill of the Folk-mote: and that night there was once more a King of Oakenrealm, and Earl Rolf was no more, but King Rolf ruled the people.

But now the tale leaves telling of him, and turns again to Christopher the woodman, who lay sick of his hurt in the House of the Tofts.

同类推荐
  • 钟吕传道集

    钟吕传道集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 济一子道书十七种

    济一子道书十七种

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • King Edward the Third

    King Edward the Third

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄帝龙首经

    黄帝龙首经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 杂言

    杂言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 吝啬爷太腹黑:捡个逗比屌妃

    吝啬爷太腹黑:捡个逗比屌妃

    。简介:【当逗比女屌遇上吝啬男神,她在古代叼霸天,他则宠她宠上天。】一岁时,把他手指当奶瓶咬,三岁时,把他宝贝瓶子摔碎,还能瞪着萌大大无辜的眼睛看着他,五岁,把他宝贝银票当白纸撕,八岁,杀了他未婚妻,霸道对所有人宣言,他是她的!十岁,不仅烧山,还烧他金库,十五岁,带着男朋友来见他,某男终于发飙了,所有见过她的只要是雄性,都神秘失踪,某女继续刷新他极限,半路拜师,云游四海,某男霸气将她扑之,“宠儿,知恩图报知不知道!”(新书发布,绝对萌萌哒宠文,日更四章,时间允许日更一万!)
  • 大自在修仙传

    大自在修仙传

    一个少年在修仙路上的成长故事,人生即是一场修行。卓然独立,道在我心,无关身外萧瑟,心中一曲长歌。
  • 中国人的心理问题全集

    中国人的心理问题全集

    本书提供了大量的心理测试,一方面使读者通过测试题来检查自己的心理是否存在一些问题及隐患,另一方面对心理异常、人格障碍、病态心理、不良情绪和不良心态等一系列心理问题以及大众心理常出现的问题进行了阐释和破译,并对这些心理疾病的治疗与调整作了详尽的剖析与说明。可以说,本书是现代大众进行自我测试和保持心理健康的一本常备的工具书。
  • 解码大前研:箴言录

    解码大前研:箴言录

    本书不仅仅从经营管理、工作经验、思维方式谈大前研一那种从高处俯瞰社会的种种经验,还从社会理念、政治态度、民众情绪来谈论他的对当今社会上各种现象的观点,甚至还谈到他对待家庭与教育、休闲与享受的各方面的体验。
  • 商侣

    商侣

    以武侠书写现代江湖豪情,歌颂改革开放之初,社会巨变的过程中,那些创业者所经历的起起伏伏,悲悲喜喜皆与时代相结合。本书以历史架空的方式,将九十年代初开始的互联网革命与本世纪未,所发生的重大金融历史事件为故事起点。其中涉及哲学.玄学.武学.科学及相关内容,皆为讲好故事而展开。其中亦真亦假多有领悟.而书中的男女情缘才能真的感动到你。
  • 领导艺术36计

    领导艺术36计

    毫无疑问,没有人希望自己在失败和平庸中度过自己的一生。也没有人不渴望自己能在一方舞台上纵横驰骋,成就一番或大或小的事业。但是现实生活却是这样的:有的人成功了,有的人失败了,而有的人却一生平庸!那么究竟是什么决定了我们人生的不同呢?人生成败的关键因素又是什么呢?是家庭背景吗?有的人因出身显贵而平步青云,有的人虽出身低贱也步步高升,可见家庭背景不是成功的关键因素。是经济实力吗?有的人从大富起步而成为巨富,有的人白手起家而成为巨富,可见经济实力不是成功的关键因素。是才华学问吗?有的人学富五车而功成名就,有的人识字不多而功成名就,可见才华学问也不是成功的关键因素。是勤奋努力吗?
  • 你在心上,爱情那么长

    你在心上,爱情那么长

    我记得答应秦江灏的求婚那天,屋外下着倾盆大雨,他一身湿的像水鬼一样的跑来我家,直接干脆的说要和我结婚。我觉得他是脑子进水了,但我却脑抽的答应了他。我俩性格其实一直都不和,但偏偏被一纸婚书扣在一起,他有喜欢的人,而我喜欢他,我们明明有名无实,可他却和我做了不该做的事。我怀了我们的孩子,可他还是不爱我,没有感情的婚姻和家庭意味着没有存在的意义。我打掉了我和他的孩子,将离婚协议书摆在他的面前。他却面色狰狞的掐着我的脖子,让我还他的孩子……
  • 情商高,就是说话让人舒服

    情商高,就是说话让人舒服

    《情商高,就是说话让人舒服》为什么同样的产品,同事提成百万,你却总是卖不出去?——搞不定客户为什么同事聚餐时唯独不叫你?——职场遭排挤为什么你斥责下属时,对方总是选择离职?——带不好团队为什么你的约会邀请女神不接受?——撩妹失败为什么你一开口朋友就“开躲”,不愿意跟你说话的人越来越多?——出口就伤人……归根结底是因为你不懂得好好说话!要怎么说话呢?说到底就是,照顾别人的感受,不让人难堪。
  • 北户录

    北户录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 亘古相思终相遇

    亘古相思终相遇

    一朝重生,人人爱的召唤女王重生为废柴纨绔?啧,虐渣打脸她最爱,美男排队来告白,迷倒众人怪她风华太绝代。可……为什么,某位夜殿应抢她风头,还非要把她打包带走?喂,不要影响她独出风头好不好!【女扮男装、打脸、甜宠、爽文】