按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
30
… Page 31…
Maid Marian
shadow of preferment； because he did not see at the moment any better
chance of the substance。
The knight did not despair because of the desertion of his followers： he
was well aware that he could easily raise recruits if he could once find
trace of his game； he； therefore； rode about indefatigably over hill and dale；
to the great sharpening of his own appetite and that of his squire； living
gallantly from inn to inn when his purse was full； and quartering himself
in the king's name on the nearest ghostly brotherhood when it happened to
be empty。 An autumn and a winter had passed away； when the course of
his perlustations brought him one evening into a beautiful sylvan valley；
where he found a number of young women weaving garlands of flowers；
and singing over their pleasant occupation。 He approached them； and
courteously inquired the way to the nearest town。
〃There is no town within several miles；〃 was the answer。
〃A village； then； if it be but large enough to furnish an inn？〃 〃There
is Gamwell just by； but there is no inn nearer than the nearest town。〃
〃An abbey； then？〃
〃There is no abbey nearer than the nearest inn。〃
〃A house then； or a cottage； where I may obtain hospitality for the
night？〃
〃Hospitality！〃 said one of the young women； 〃you have not far to seek
for that。 Do you not know that you are in the neighbourhood of
Gamwell…Hall？〃
〃So far from it；〃 said the knight； 〃that I never heard the name of
Gamwell…Hall before。〃
〃Never heard of Gamwell…Hall？〃 exclaimed all the young women
together； who could as soon have dreamed of his never having heard of the
sky。
〃Indeed； no；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃but I shall be very happy to get rid of
my ignorance。〃
〃And so shall I；〃 said his squire； 〃for it seems that in this case
knowledge will for once be a cure for hunger； wherewith I am grievously
afflicted。〃
31
… Page 32…
Maid Marian
〃And why are you so busy； my pretty damsels； weaving these
garlands？〃 said the knight。
〃Why； do you not know； sir；〃 said one of the young women； 〃that to…
morrow is Gamwell feast？〃
The knight was again obliged； with all humility； to confess his
ignorance。
〃Oh！ sir；〃 said his informant； 〃then you will have something to see；
that I can tell you； for we shall choose a Queen of the May； and we shall
crown her with flowers； and place her in a chariot of flowers； and draw it
with lines of flowers； and we shall hang all the trees with flowers； and we
shall strew all the ground with flowers； and we shall dance with flowers；
and in flowers； and on flowers； and we shall be all flowers。〃
〃That you will；〃 said the knight； 〃and the sweetest and brightest of all
the flowers of the May； my pretty damsels。〃 On which all the pretty
damsels smiled at him and each other。
〃And there will be all sorts of May…games； and there will be prizes for
archery； and there will be the knight's ale； and the foresters' venison； and
there will be Kit Scrapesqueak with his fiddle； and little Tom Whistlerap
with his fife and tabor； and Sam Trumtwang with his harp； and Peter
Muggledrone with his bagpipe； and how I shall dance with Will
Whitethorn！〃 added the girl； clapping her hands as she spoke； and
bounding from the ground with the pleasure of the anticipation。
A tall athletic young man approached； to whom the rustic maidens
courtesied with great respect； and one of them informed Sir Ralph that it
was young Master William Gamwell。 The young gentleman invited and
conducted the knight to the hall； where he introduced him to the old knight
his father； and to the old lady his mother； and to the young lady his sister；
and to a number of bold yeomen； who were laying siege to beef； brawn；
and plum pie around a ponderous table； and taking copious draughts of old
October。 A motto was inscribed over the interior door；
EAT； DRINK； AND BE MERRY：
an injunction which Sir Ralph and his squire showed remarkable
alacrity in obeying。 Old Sir Guy of Gamwell gave Sir Ralph a very
32
… Page 33…
Maid Marian
cordial welcome； and entertained him during supper with several of his
best stories； enforced with an occasional slap on the back； and pointed
with a peg in the ribs； a species of vivacious eloquence in which the； old
gentleman excelled； and which is supposed by many of that pleasant
variety of the human spectes； known by the name of choice fellows and
comical dogs； to be the genuine tangible shape of the cream of a good
joke。
33
… Page 34…
Maid Marian
CHAPTER VI
What！ shall we have incision？ shall we embrew？ Henry IV。
Old Sir Guy of Gamwell； and young William Gamwell； and fair Alice
Gamwell； and Sir Ralph Montfaucon and his squire； rode together the next
morning to the scene of the feast。 They arrived on a village green；
surrounded with cottages peeping from among the trees by which the
green was completely encircled。 The whole circle was hung round with
one continuous garland of flowers； depending in irregular festoons from
the branches。 In the centre of the green was a May…pole hidden in boughs
and garlands； and a multitude of round…faced bumpkins and cherry…
checked lasses were dancing around it； to the quadruple melody of
Scrapesqueak； Whistlerap； Trumtwang； and Muggledrone： harmony we
must not call it； for； though they had agreed to a partnership in point of
tune； each； like a true painstaking man； seemed determined to have his
time to himself： Muggledrone played allegretto； Trumtwang allegro；
Whistlerap presto； and Scrapesqueak prestissimo。 There was a kind of
mathematical proportion in their discrepancy： while Muggledrone