sir nigel-第85章
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！
the Prince； with the royal banner resting in a socket by his
saddle。 From all sides the knights and squires crowded in upon
it； until they formed a great squadron containing the survivors of
the battalions of Warwick and Salisbury as well as those of the
Prince。 Four hundred men…at…arms who had been held in reserve
were brought up and thickened the array； but even so Chandos' face
was grave as he scanned it and then turned his eyes upon the
masses of the Frenchmen。
〃I like it not； fair sir。 The weight is overgreat；〃 he whispered
to the Prince。
〃How would you order it； John？ Speak what is in you mind。〃
〃We should attempt something upon their flank whilst we hold them
in front。 How say you； jean？〃 He turner to the Captal de Buch；
whose dark； resolute face reflected the same misgivings。
〃Indeed； John； I think as you do；〃 said he。 〃The French King is a
very valiant man； and so are those who are about him； and I know
not how we may drive them back unless we can do as you advise。 If
you will give me only a hundred men I will attempt it。〃
〃Surely the task is mine； fair sir； since the thought has come
from me；〃 said Chandos。
〃Nay； John； I would keep you at my side。 But you speak well；
Jean； and you shall do even as you have said。 Go ask the Earl of
Oxford for a hundred men…at…arms and as many hobblers； that you
may ride round the mound yonder； and so fall upon them unseen。
Let all that are left of the archers gather on each side； shoot
away their arrows； and then fight as best they may。 Wait till
they are past yonder thorn…bush and then； Walter； bear my banner
straight against that of the King of France。 Fair sirs； may God
and the thought of your ladies hold high your hearts！〃
The French monarch； seeing that his footmen had made no impression
upon the English； and also that the hedge had been well…nigh
leveled to the ground in the course of the combat； so that it no
longer presented an obstacle； had ordered his followers to remount
their horses； and it was as a solid mass of cavalry that the
chivalry of France advanced to their last supreme effort。 The
King was in the center of the front line； Geoffrey de Chargny with
the golden oriflamme upon his right； and Eustace de Ribeaumont
with the royal lilies upon the left。 At his elbow was the Duke of
Athens； High Constable of France； and round him were the nobles of
the court； fiery and furious； yelling their warcries as they waved
their weapons over their heads。 Six thousand gallant men of the
bravest race in Europe； men whose very names are like blasts of a
battle…trumpet … Beaujeus and Chatillons； Tancarvilles and
Ventadours … pressed hard behind the silver lilies。
Slowly they moved at first； walking their horses that they might
be the fresher for the shock。 Then they broke into a trot which
was quickening into a gallop when the remains of the hedge in
front of them was beaten in an instant to the ground and the broad
line of the steel…clad chivalry of England swept grandly forth to
the final shock。 With loose rein and busy spur the two lines of
horsemen galloped at the top of their speed straight and hard for
each other。 An instant later they met with a thunder…crash which
was heard by the burghers on the wall of Poitiers； seven good
miles away。
Under that frightful impact horses fell dead with broken necks；
and many a rider； held in his saddle by the high pommel； fractured
his thighs with the shock。 Here and there a pair met breast to
breast； the horses rearing straight upward and falling back upon
their masters。 But for the most part the line had opened in the
gallop； and the cavaliers； flying through the gaps； buried
themselves in the enemy's ranks。 Then the flanks shredded out；
and the thick press in the center loosened until there was space
to swing a sword and to guide a steed。 For ten acres there was
one wild tumultuous swirl of tossing heads； of gleaming weapons
which rose and fell； of upthrown hands； of tossing plumes and of
lifted shields； whilst the din of a thousand war…cries and the
clash…clash of metal upon metal rose and swelled like the roar and
beat of an ocean surge upon a rock…bound coast。 Backward and
forward swayed the mighty throng； now down the valley and now up；
as each side in turn put forth its strength for a fresh rally。
Locked in one long deadly grapple； great England and gallant
France with iron hearts and souls of fire strove and strove for
mastery。
Sir Walter Woodland； riding hard upon his high black horse； had
plunged into the swelter and headed for the blue and silver banner
of King John。 Close at his heels in a solid wedge rode the
Prince； Chandos； Nigel； Lord Reginald Cobham； Audley with his four
famous squires； and a score of the flower of the English and
Gascon knighthood。 Holding together and bearing down opposition
by a shower of blows and by the weight of their powerful horses；
their progress was still very slow； for ever fresh waves of French
cavaliers surged up against them and broke in front only to close
in again upon their rear。 Sometimes they were swept backward by
the rush； sometimes they gained a few paces； sometimes they could
but keep their foothold； and yet from minute to minute that blue
and silver flag which waved above the press grew ever a little
closer。 A dozen furious hard…breathing French knights had broken
into their ranks； and clutched at Sir Walter Woodland's banner；
but Chandos and Nigel guarded it on one side； Audley with his
squires on the other； so that no man laid his hand upon it and
lived。
But now there was a distant crash and a roar of 〃Saint George for
Guienne！〃 from behind。 The Captal de Buch had charged home。
〃Saint George for England！〃 yelled the main attack； and ever the
counter…cry came back to them from afar。 The ranks opened in
front of them。 The French were giving way。 A small knight with
golden scroll…work upon his armor threw himself upon the Prince
and was struck dead by his mace。 It was the Duke of Athens；
Constable of France； but none had time to note it； and the fight
rolled on over his body。 Looser still were the French ranks。
Many were turning their horses； for that ominous roar from the
rear had shaken their resolution。 The little English wedge poured
onward； the Prince； Chandos； Audley and Nigel ever in the van。
A huge warrior in black； bearing a golden banner； appeared
suddenly in a gap of the shredding ranks。 He tossed his precious
burden to a squire； who bore it away。 Like a pack of hounds on
the very haunch of a deer the English rushed yelling for the
oriflamme。 But the black warrior flung himself across their path。
〃Chargny！ Chargny a la recousse！〃 he roared with a voice of
thunder。 Sir Reginald Cobham dropped before his battle…ax； so did
the Gascon de Clisson。 Nigel was beaten down on to the crupper of
his horse by a sweeping blow； but at the same instant Chandos'
quick blade passed through the Frenchman's camail and pierced his
throat。 So died Geoffrey de Chargny； but the oriflamme was saved。
Dazed with the shock； Nigel still kept his saddle； and Pommers；
his yellow hide mottled with blood； bore him onward with the
others。 The French horsemen were now in full flight； but one
stern group of knights stood firm； like a rock in a rushing
torrent； beating off all； whether friend or foe； who tried to
break their ranks。 The oriflamme had gone； and so had the blue
and silver banner； but here were desperate men ready to fight to
the death。 In their ranks honor was to be reaped。 The Prince and
his following hurled themselves upon them； while the rest of the
English horsemen swept onward to secure the fugitives and to win
their ransoms。 But the nobler spirits … Audley； Chandos and the
others … would have thought it shame to gain money whilst there
was work to be done or honor to be won。 Furious was the wild
attack； desperate the prolonged defense。 Men fell from their
saddles for very exhaustion。
Nigel； still at his place near Chandos' elbow； was hotly attacked
by a short broad…shouldered warrior upon a stout white cob； but
Pommers reared with pawing fore feet and dashed the smaller horse
to the ground。 The
