the virgin of the sun-第7章
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and cannot climb; or be borne up yonder hill to any cave。 Here I stop
where I have dwelt these five…and…forty years; to live or die as God
pleases。 Get you to your duty; man。 Stay。 Call those wenches and bid
them fly inland to their folk; out Burwash way。 They are young and
fleet of foot; and no Frenchman will catch them。〃
I summoned the girls who were staring; white…faced; from the attic
window…place。 In three minutes they were gone; though it is true that
one of them; the braver; wished to bide with her mistress。
I watched them start up the street with other fugitives who were
pouring out of Hastings; and came back to my mother。 As I did so a
great shout told me that the French fleet had been sighted。
〃Hubert;〃 she said; 〃take this key and go to the oak chest in my
sleeping room; lift out the linen at the top and bring me that which
lies wrapped in cloth beneath。〃
I did so; returning with a bundle that was long and thin。 With a knife
she cut the string that tied it。 Within were a bag of money and a
sword in an ancient scabbard covered with a rough skin which I took to
be that of a shark; which scabbard in parts was inlaid with gold。
〃Draw it;〃 said my mother。
I did so; and there came to light a two…edged blade of blue steel;
such as I had never seen before; for on the blade were engraved
strange characters whereof I could make nothing; although as it
chanced I could read and write; having been taught by the monks in my
childhood。 The hilt; also; that was in the form of a cross; had gold
inlaid upon it; at the top of it; a large knob or apple of amber; much
worn by handling。 For the rest it was a beauteous weapon and well
balanced。
〃What of this sword?〃 I asked。
〃This; Son。 With the black bow that you have;〃 and she pointed to the
case that leaned against the table; 〃it has come down in my family for
many generations。 My father told me that it was the sword of one
Thorgrimmer; his ancestor; a Norseman; a Viking he called him; who
came with those who took England before the Norman time; which I can
well believe since my father's name; like mine; till I married; was
Grimmer。 This sword; also; has a name and it is Wave…Flame。 With it;
the tale tells; Thorgrimmer did great deeds; slaying many after their
heathen fashion in his battles by land and sea。 For he was a wanderer;
and it is said of him that once he sailed to a new land far across the
ocean; and won home again after many strange adventures; to die at
last here in England in some fray。 That is all I know; save that a
learned man from the north once told my father's father that the
writing on the sword means:
〃He who lifts Wave…Flame on high
In love shall live and in battle die;
Storm…tossed o'er wide seas shall roam
And in strange lands shall make his home。
Conquering; conquered shall he be;
And far away shall sleep with me。
〃Those were the words which I remember because of the jingle of them;
also because such seems to have been the fate of Thorgrimmer and the
sword that his grandson took from his tomb。〃
Here I would have asked about this grandson and the tomb; but having
no time; held my peace。
〃All my life have I kept that sword;〃 went on my mother; 〃not giving
it to your father or brothers; lest the fate written on it should
befall them; for those old wizards of the north; who fashioned such
weapons with toil and skill; could foresee the futureas at times I
can; for it is in my blood。 Yet now I am moved to bid you take it;
Hubert; and go where its flame leads you and dree your gloom; whatever
it may be; for I know you will use it like Thorgrimmer's self。〃
She paused for a moment; then went on:
〃Hubert; perhaps we part for the last time; for I think that my hour
is at hand。 But let not that trouble you; since I am glad to go to
join those who went before; and others with them; perchance
Thorgrimmer's self。 Hearken; Hubert。 If aught befalls me; or this
place; stay not here。 Go to London town and seek out John Grimmer; my
brother; the rich merchant and goldsmith who dwells in the place
called Cheap。 He knew you as a child and loved you; and lacking
offspring of his own will welcome you for both our sakes。 My father
would not give John the sword lest its fate should be on him; but I
say that John will be glad to welcome one of our race who holds it in
his hand。 Take it then; and with it that bag of gold; which may prove
of service ere all be done。
〃Aye; and there is one more thingthis ring which; so says the tale;
came down with the sword and the bow; and once had writing on it like
the sword; though that is long since rubbed away。 Take it and wear it
till perchance; in some day to come; you give it to another as I did。〃
Wondering at all this tale which; after her secret fashion; my mother
had kept from me till that hour; I set the ring upon my finger。
〃I gave yonder ring to your father on the day that we were betrothed;〃
went on my mother; 〃and I took it back again from his corpse after he
had been found floating in the sea。 Now I pass it on to you who soon
will be all that is left of both of us。〃
〃Hark!〃 she continued; 〃the crier summons all men with their arms to
the market…place to fight England's foes。 Therefore one word more
while I buckle the sword Wave…Flame on to you; as doubtless his women
folk did on to Thorgrimmer; your ancestor。 My blessing on you; Hubert。
Be you such a one as Thorgrimmer was; for we of the Norse blood desire
that our loves and sons should prove not backward when swords are
aloft and arrows fly。 But be you more than he; be you a Christian
also; remembering that however long you live; and the Battle…maidens
have not marked you yet; at last you must die and give account。
〃Hubert; you are such a one as women will love; one; too; who; I fear
me; will be a lover of women; for that weakness goes with strength and
manhood by Nature's laws。 Be careful of women; Hubert; and if you may;
choose those who are not false and cling to her who is most true。 Oh;
you will wander far; I read it in your eyes that you will wander far;
yet shall your heart stay English。 Kiss me and begone! Lad; are you
forgetting your spare arrows and the bull…hide jerkin that was your
father's? You will want them both to…day。 Farewell; farewell! God and
His Christ be with youand shoot you straight and smite you hard。
Nay; no tears; lest my eyes should be dimmed; for I'll climb to the
attic and watch you fight。〃
CHAPTER II
THE LADY BLANCHE
So I went; with a sore heart; for I remembered that when my father and
brothers were drowned; although I was then but a little one; my mother
had foreseen it; and I feared much lest it might be thus in her own
case also。 I loved my mother。 She was a stern woman; it was true; with
little softness about her; which I think came with her blood; but she
had a high heart; and oh! her last words were noble。 Yet through it
all I was pleased; as any young man would have been; with the gift of
the wonderful sword which once had been that of Thorgrimmer; the sea…
rover; whose blood ran in my body against which it lay; and I hoped
that this day I might have chance to use it worthily as Thorgrimmer
did in forgotten battles。 Having imagination; I wondered also whether
the sword knew that after its long sleep it had come forth again to
drink the blood of foes。
Also I was pleased with another thing; namely; that my mother had told
me that I should live my life and not die that day by the hand of
Frenchmen; and that in my life I should find love; of which to tell
truth already I knew a little of a humble sort; for I was a comely
youth; and women did not run away from me; or if they did; soon they
stopped。 I wanted to live my life; I wanted to see great adventures
and to win great love。 The only part of the business which was not to
my taste was that command of my mother's; that I should go to London
to sit in a goldsmith's shop。 Still; I had heard that there was much
to be seen in London; and at least it would be different from
Hastings。
The street outside our doors was crowded with folk; some of the men
making their way to