maid marian(女孩马丽安)-第16章
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Christian king； Richard the First of England； the arch…crusader and anti…
jacobin by excellence； the very type； flower； cream； pink； symbol； and
mirror of all the Holy Alliances that have ever existed on earth； excepting
that he seasoned his superstition and love of conquest with a certain
condiment of romantic generosity and chivalrous self…devotion； with
which his imitators in all other points have found it convenient to dispense。
To give freely to one man what he had taken forcibly from another； was
generosity of which he was very capable； but to restore what he had taken
to the man from whom he had taken it； was something that wore too much
of the cool physiognomy of justice to be easily reconcileable to his kingly
feelings。 He had； besides； not only sent all King Henry's saints about their
business； or rather about their no…business their faineantisebut he had
laid them under rigorous contribution for the purposes of his holy war； and
having made them refund to the piety of the successor what they had
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extracted from the piety of the precursor； he compelled them； in addition；
to give him their blessing for nothing。 Matilda； therefore； from all these
circumstances； felt little hope that her lover would be any thing but an
outlaw for life。
The departure of King Richard from England was succeeded by the
episcopal regency of the bishops of Ely and Durham。 Longchamp；
bishop of Ely； proceeded to show his sense of Christian fellowship by
arresting his brother bishop； and despoiling him of his share in the
government； and to set forth his humility and loving…kindness in a retinue
of nobles and knights who consumed in one night's entertainment some
five years' revenue of their entertainer； and in a guard of fifteen hundred
foreign soldiers； whom he considered indispensable to the exercise of a
vigour beyond the law in maintaining wholesome discipline over the
refractory English。 The ignorant impatience of the swinish multitude
with these fruits of good living； brought forth by one of the meek who had
inherited the earth； displayed itself in a general ferment； of which Prince
John took advantage to make the experiment of getting possession of his
brother's crown in his absence。 He began by calling at Reading a council
of barons； whose aspect induced the holy bishop to disguise himself （some
say as an old woman； which； in the twelfth century； perhaps might have
been a disguise for a bishop）； and make his escape beyond sea。 Prince
John followed up his advantage by obtaining possession of several strong
posts； and among others of the castle of Nottingham。
While John was conducting his operations at Nottingham； he rode at
times past the castle of Arlingford。 He stopped on one occasion to claim
Lord Fitzwater's hospitality； and made most princely havoc among his
venison and brawn。 Now it is a matter of record among divers great
historians and learned clerks； that he was then and there grievously smitten
by the charms of the lovely Matilda； and that a few days after he
despatched his travelling minstrel； or laureate； Harpiton；＇3＇ （whom he
retained at moderate wages； to keep a journal of his proceedings； and
prove them all just and legitimate）； to the castle of Arlingford； to make
proposals to the lady。 This Harpiton was a very useful person。 He was
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always ready； not only to maintain the cause of his master with his pen；
and to sing his eulogies to his harp； but to undertake at a moment's notice
any kind of courtly employment； called dirty work by the profane； which
the blessings of civil government； namely； his master's pleasure； and the
interests of social order； namely； his own emolument； might require。 In
short；
Il eut l'emploi qui certes n'est pas mince； Et qu'a la cour； ou tout se
peint en beau； On appelloit etre l'ami du prince； Mais qu'a la ville； et
surtout en province； Les gens grossiers ont nomme maquereau。
＇3＇ Harp…it…on： or； a corruption of
