登陆注册
5165100000019

第19章 THE WIFE OF FLANDERS(5)

"Nay I have not forgotten Cluny.Its Abbot shall have the gold flagons from Jerusalem and some wherewithal in money.But what is this talk? Philip will not die, and like his mother he loves Holy Church and will befriend her in all her works....Listen, father, it is long past the hour when men cease from labour, and yet my provident folk are busy.Hark to the bustle below.

That will be the convoy from the Vermandois.Jesu, what a night!".....................

Flurries of snow beat on windows, and draughts stirred the hot ashes in the braziers and sent the smoke from them in odd spirals about the chamber.It had become perishing cold, and the monkey among the bedclothes whimpered and snuggled closer into his nest.There seemed to be a great stir about the house-door.Loud voices were heard in gusts, and a sound like a woman's cry.The head on the pillow was raised to listen.

"A murrain on those folk.There has been bungling among the pack-riders.

That new man Derek is an oaf of oafs."

She rang her silver bell sharply and waited on the ready footsteps.But none came.There was silence now below, an ominous silence.

"God's curse upon this household," the woman cried.The monkey whimpered again, and she took it by the scruff and tossed it to the floor."Peace, ape, or I will have you strangled.Bestir yourself, father, and call Anton.

There is a blight of deafness in this place."The room had suddenly lost its comfort and become cold and desolate.The lamps were burning low and the coloured hangings were in deep shadow.The storm was knocking fiercely at the lattice.

The monk rose with a shiver to do her bidding, but he was forestalled.

Steps sounded on the stairs and the steward entered.The woman in the bed had opened her mouth to upbraid, when something in his dim figure struck her silent.

The old man stumbled forward and fell on his knees beside her.

"Madam, dear madam," he stammered, "ill news has come to this house....

There is a post in from Avesnes....The young master...""Philip," and the woman's voice rose to a scream."What of my son?""The lord has taken away what He gave.He is dead, slain in a scuffle with highway robbers....Oh, the noble young lord! The fair young knight! Woe upon this stricken house!"The woman lay very still, white the old man on his knees drifted into broken prayers.Then he observed her silence, scrambled to his feet in a panic, and lit two candles from the nearest brazier.She lay back on the pillows in a deathly faintness, her face drained of blood.Only her tortured eyes showed that life was still in her.

Her voice came at last, no louder than a whisper.It was soft now, but more terrible than the old harshness.

"I follow Philip," it said."Sic transit gloria....Call me Arnulf the goldsmith and Robert the scrivener....Quick, man, quick.I have much to do ere I die."As the steward hurried out, the Cluniac, remembering his office, sought to offer comfort, but in his bland worldling's voice the consolations sounded hollow.She lay motionless, while he quoted the Scriptures.Encouraged by her docility, he spoke of the certain reward promised by Heaven to the rich who remembered the Church at their death.He touched upon the high duties of his Order and the handicap of its poverty.He bade her remember her debt to the Abbot of Cluny.

She seemed about to speak and he bent eagerly to catch her words.

"Peace, you babbler," she said."I am done with your God.When I meet Him Iwill outface Him.He has broken His compact and betrayed me.My riches go to the Burgrave for the comfort of this city where they were won.Let your broken rush of a Church wither and rot!"Scared out of all composure by this blasphemy, the Cluniac fell to crossing himself and mumbling invocations.The diplomat had vanished and only the frightened monk remained.He would fain have left the room had he dared, but the spell of her masterful spirit held him.After that she spoke nothing....

.....................

Again there was a noise on the stairs and she moved a little, as if mustering her failing strength for the ultimate business.But it was not Arnulf the gold smith.It was Anton, and he shook like a man on his way to the gallows.

"Madam, dear madam," he stammered, again on his knees."There is another message.One has come from the Bredestreet with word of your lady daughter.

An hour ago she has borne a child...A lusty son, madam."The reply from the bed was laughter.

It began low and hoarse like a fit of coughing, and rose to the high cackling mirth of extreme age.At the sound both Anton and the monk took to praying.Presently it stopped, and her voice came full and strong as it had been of old.

"Mea culpa," it said, "mea maxima culpa.I judged the Sire God over hastily.He is merry and has wrought a jest on me.He has kept His celestial promise in His own fashion.He takes my brave Philip and gives me instead a suckling....So be it.The infant has my blood, and the race of Forester John will not die.Arnulf will have an easy task.

He need but set the name of this new-born in Philip's place.What manner of child is he, Anton? Lusty, you say, and well-formed? I would my arms could have held him....But I must be about my business of dying.I will take the news to Philip."Hope had risen again in the Cluniac's breast.It seemed that here was a penitent.He approached the bed with a raised crucifix, and stumbled over the whimpering monkey.The woman's eyes saw him and a last flicker woke in them.

"Begone, man," she cried."I have done with the world.Anton, rid me of both these apes.And fetch the priest of St.Martin's, for I would confess and be shriven.Yon curate is no doubt a fool, but he serves my jesting God."

同类推荐
  • 言毒篇

    言毒篇

    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。
  • 般若波罗蜜多心经还源述

    般若波罗蜜多心经还源述

    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。
  • 大乘百福庄严相经

    大乘百福庄严相经

    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。
  • 太上洞玄灵宝天尊说济苦经

    太上洞玄灵宝天尊说济苦经

    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。
  • 祝鹊

    祝鹊

    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
  • 藏地密码1

    藏地密码1

    一支由特种兵、考古学家、生物学家、密修高手等各色人物组成的神秘科考队,悄悄从西藏出发,开始了一场穿越全球生死禁地的探险之旅,他们要追寻藏传佛教千年隐秘历史的真相……西藏,到底向我们隐瞒了什么?!
  • 工作重在做到位

    工作重在做到位

    本书从工作到位的理念定位入手,分析了工作中的一些不到位的现象,比如“差不多哲学”、打折扣、马马虎虎等,从反面阐述了把工作做到位的重要性,然后从责任、心态、执行、细节、效率、节约、方法等几个角度,正面告诉大家怎样才算是把工作做到位,怎样才能把工作做到位。
  • 霸宠无度:娘子,快跟我回家

    霸宠无度:娘子,快跟我回家

    徐穆清就像一只蜗牛,即便是前世的仇敌,不见面也不会刻意去想起。她心心念念的,只有自己的家人朋友,是不是平安幸福。但是某天,她的重生不止救了父母,还害了许多人......宋俞念好似着了魔一样,喜欢上了认识没多久的她。她虽然不坚强,不霸道,但是有好多秘密。频频受伤,频频被欺,哼,是不知道她是他的人吗?那就休怪他不客气了!
  • 都市最强帝君

    都市最强帝君

    大乘帝君韩晨因心中的执念,终无法走出渡劫飞升的最后一步。为破除执念建逆转阴阳阵。却被敌所趁,最后无奈炸毁阵法,却因此重生回到了千年前的地球,执念产生的那一刻。一切将是一个重新逆转的开始,看曾经的宅男吊丝如何再一步步倔起。仙逆都市!PS:在此特意说明一下,到大乘期的俢真者,可建一方势力自称为帝。这里的帝只是一个称号,不是境界。PS:另有书友群龙门,群号:555736106欢迎广大书友加群讨论,聊天交友!
  • 越陷越深

    越陷越深

    他自嘲为恶俗流氓,却在干着一件崇高的事情。她风情万种混迹于网络,却行踪诡秘。他们在激情视频中赤裸相见,必将是你死我活的一场恶战。然而,人性复杂多变。恶俗的表象下有大雅,伪善的表象下有罪恶,罪恶的表象下有真情。他们上演了一曲令他们自己都目瞪口呆的神话。这不是激情视频后的意淫日记,更不是艳俗红粉的情色“盛典”。而是一部真实的、由网络“激情视频调查报?”所引出的惊世骇俗之作。《越陷越深》作者心香一瓣用富含哲理的冷幽默,借助Blog自述,揭示了一个毕业于名牌大学的当代“剩男”,在物欲洪流的现实社会下的爱与挣扎……
  • 修真之魔尊哪里走

    修真之魔尊哪里走

    严非渊曾是史上第一个修炼到渡劫的魔修。一个可以吊打所有人的大佬。超级棒= ̄ω ̄=然而如今。吐血,吐血,吐血!严非渊:如果我死了,只有一个原因。是吧,作者。(面瘫脸)作者:上帝在给你关上一扇门的时候,总会给你开启另一扇窗。所以,即使丢了六魄,舍夺重生,你依旧会是一个开挂的男人,放心。
  • 重生之巨星复仇系统

    重生之巨星复仇系统

    她带着系统归来,收拾旧仇人,做任务,获得超能力,成超级巨星,收获一份爱情,终于做了人生赢家!
  • 圣金刚手菩萨一百八名梵赞

    圣金刚手菩萨一百八名梵赞

    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。
  • 吃瓜记

    吃瓜记

    穿越是不可能穿越的,这辈子都不可能的。会的不多又异想天开,只能靠着强抱大腿吃瓜围观才能勉强维持生活的样子。还是现代好,吃得好住得好,个个说话跟唱歌似的,我超喜欢这儿的。
  • 樱花飘下北雁南飞

    樱花飘下北雁南飞

    她,因为掉进下水道然后莫名穿越了!?既来之则安之,那她就谋求生路,努力生活。樱花飘到他的窗前,人人嘴里的“冷面王爷”勾唇一笑,把她抱在怀里温柔地笑着:“本王的王妃本王养。”