登陆注册
5253600000012

第12章

Ralph looked on him, but answered nought, for he could not gather his thoughts for an answer; and the brother said:

"Think of it, I bid thee, fair young lord; and be sure that nowhere shalt thou have a better livelihood, not even wert thou a king's son; for the children of my lord Abbot are such that none dareth to do them any displeasure; neither is any overlord as good as is Holy Church."

"Yea," said Ralph, "doubtless thou sayest sooth; yet I wot not that I am come forth to seek a master."

Said the brother: "Nay, do but see the lord Abbot, as thou mayst do to-morrow, if thou wilt."

"I would have his blessing," said Ralph.

"No less shalt thou have," said the brother; "but look you down yonder; for I can see tokens that my lord is even now coming forth."

Ralph looked down and beheld the folk parting to right and left, and a lane made amidst the throng, guarded by men-at-arms mingled with the cross-bearers and brethren; and the sound of trumpets blared forth over the noises of the throng.

"If the lord Abbot cometh," said Ralph, "I were fain of his blessing to-night before I sleep: so go we down straightway that I may kneel before him with the rest."

"What!" said the monk, "Wilt thou, my lord, kneel amongst all these burgesses and vavassors when thou mightest see the Abbot in his own chamber face to face alone with him?"

"Father," said Ralph, "I am no great man, and I must needs depart betimes to-morrow; for I perceive that here are things too mighty and over-mastering for such as I be."

"Well," said the monk, "yet mayst thou come back again; so at present I will make no more words about it."

So they went down, and came out amidst the throng, above which the bale still flared high, making the summer night as light as day.

The brother made way for Ralph, so that they stood in the front row of folk: they had not been there one minute ere they heard the sound of the brethren singing, and the Abbot came forth out of the lane that went down to the gate.

Then all folk went down upon their knees, and thus abode him.

Right so Ralph deemed that he felt some one pull his sleeve, but in such a throng that was nought of a wonder; howbeit, he turned and looked to his left, whence came the tug, and saw kneeling beside him a tall man-at-arms, who bore a sallet on his head in such wise that it covered all his face save the point of his chin.

Then Ralph bethought him of the man of the leafless tree, and he looked to see what armoury the man bore on his coat; but he had nothing save a loose frock of white linen over his hauberk. Nevertheless, he heard a voice in his ear, which said, "The second time!" whereon he deemed that it was verily that same man: yet had he nought to do to lay hold on him, and he might not speak with him, for even therewith came the Abbot in garments all of gold, going a-foot under a canopy of baudekyn, with the precious mitre on his head, and the crozier borne before him, as if he had been a patriarch: for he was an exceeding mighty lord.

Ralph looked hard on him as he passed by, blessing the folk with upraised hand; and he saw that he was a tall spare man, clean-shaven, and thin-faced; but no old man, belike scarce of fifty winters.

同类推荐
  • 端溪砚谱

    端溪砚谱

    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。
  • 混元八景真经

    混元八景真经

    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。
  • The Road to Oz

    The Road to Oz

    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。
  • 丹阳真人直录

    丹阳真人直录

    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。
  • 明伦汇编交谊典世谊部

    明伦汇编交谊典世谊部

    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
  • 品格决定成功

    品格决定成功

    本书以犀利而又睿智的笔调向我们揭示了人生的目标、生活的目的、生命的服从、生活的激情、生命的力量、良心的自由、信仰的伟大等人生的真谛,把上苍赋予我们的脆弱的自然生命塑造并升华成为具有高贵品格和坚强意志的精神生命。
  • 梦中的石头

    梦中的石头

    成智惊醒的时候,惊奇地发现母亲手上、头上、腋下所有的输液设备都已抽掉,凌乱不堪,母亲的左手居然放在他熟睡的头上。母亲停止了呼吸,走了。医生闻讯赶来,质问为什么患者的输液设备被人全部拔掉,是谁干的。成智恍若梦中,说我做了好长好长的梦,好像是我拔的,可是——也许是吧。医生严厉地盯着成智反复强调说,这种责任我们负不起,一定要查清楚!一家子半夜都赶来了,静静地立在母亲床头。过了许久,成礼说,是老妈子用尽生命的最后一丝力气,送走了自己,老人家体谅我们不孝子孙,功德圆满了。
  • 必須活着

    必須活着

    一抹红纱在他眼前闪了一下擦肩拂飘而过,不对!不是红纱,分明是些红丝线倏地从康正眼前被什么迅速抽拽走了。康正五十多岁的样子,看去比他实际年龄要老一点,他是个鳏夫。那一年他和老婆去赶集,老婆坐船帮上,鬼知道怎么搞的,一歪身落到水里被急流冲走了,死了。人们说他克女人,他没有动再娶的念头,动了也没用,没有人会嫁给他。那是十八年前的事,十八年过去了,他没觉得有什么,他觉得一个人过挺好的,他怕又把个女人克死了。康正放下手里的锄头,抹了几下眼睛看了看,什么也没有?情形恍然如梦。鬼哟。他想。
  • 凌武战神

    凌武战神

    一万年前,无上星帝,将灵魂九分,并从体内分出九颗肉身种子,与九道灵魂,分封九处。一万年后,九道灵魂和种子,依次苏醒,再身归混沌,灵魂游离世间参悟大道,到当前的慕辰星,正好是第九道,也是最后一道……
  • 我国投资者保护机制研究:会计准则替代视角

    我国投资者保护机制研究:会计准则替代视角

    《我国投资者保护机制研究:会计准则替代视角》以规范研究为主,辅之以实证研究(含史证研究和案例研究)。全书主要创新点在于构建了一个关于会计准则投资者保护机制的完整框架,并以该框架为标准,对我国会计准则过去20年中在投资者保护方面的表现进行了分析与评价。
  • 不死兵皇

    不死兵皇

    茫茫星域,亿万繁星,看春哥气吞天地,脚踏万星,踩上众星之巅。释放出我们的热血,洒向诸天,让整个宇宙都为我们颤抖吧!战战战战战!战天,战地,战一切不公!战三山,战五岳,战万里河山!战八荒,战寰宇,战天地苍穹!战他个天荒地老,战他个海枯石烂!
  • 大地·生灵(四)

    大地·生灵(四)

    喜鹊与老鹰、猞猁的恩恩怨怨大千世界中,野生动物是一个自成体系的王国。在它们的国度里,王者们高高在上,君临天下,威风八面,自不待言。但这个王国中的小民百姓们,也有它们的喜怒哀乐,悲欢离合。每一个生命都绚丽多彩,富有智慧和勇气,神秘玄奇,生生不息,万年如斯。喜鹊是中国人的吉祥神鸟。“喜鹊叫,喜事到”。这种说法,有数千年的渊源。青海柳湾出土绘有喜鹊纹饰的陶罐一件,这是件祭祀用的礼器。说明四千年前,先民们已把喜鹊作为神物或图腾;“鹊桥相会”,在这个无比壮美的爱情神话中,喜鹊崇高的形象令人敬佩。
  • 呼啸山庄(语文新课标课外必读第十辑)

    呼啸山庄(语文新课标课外必读第十辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • 同桌的你

    同桌的你

    年少懵懂的他和她曾无限暧昧,她小心翼翼,如履薄冰,将那份喜欢紧紧地锁在心里,推开他,只是害怕再次受伤。她年少时被母亲抛弃,和父亲相依为命,直到后来险些被父亲扔回母亲身边,她中考状元的智商却看不清事情发生的整个过程,猜不透年轻时的父母到底给了彼此怎样的伤害。倘若她聪明一些,是不是就会像梦里对父亲说过的那样,不离不弃。他天生乐观专一,自那日在课堂上见到有些仓皇的她坐在他身边,夏日的阳光照到她的身上,恍惚间他就忘记了讲话。人家说喜欢一个人就从哥们做起,他做够了她的哥们,也从未掩饰过对她的喜欢,可这些,她统统装作看不见。他和她,有相同的磁场,相同的个性,甚至就连微笑的弧度都一模一样。
  • 校园故事

    校园故事

    无数事实、经验和理性已经证明:好故事可以影响人的一生。而以我们之见,所谓好故事,在内容上讲述的应是做人与处世的道理,在形式上也应听得进、记得住、讲得出、传得开,而且不会因时代的变迁而失去她的本质特征和艺术光彩。为了让更多的读者走进好故事,阅读好故事,欣赏好故事,珍藏好故事,传播好故事,我们特编选了一套“故事会5元精品系列”以飨之。其选择标准主要有以下三点:一、在《故事会》杂志上发表的作品。二、有过目不忘的艺术感染力。三、有恒久的趣味,对今天的读者仍有启迪作用。愿好故事伴随你的一生!