joan of naples-第22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！
al at Fermo I took my troops away again。 I hope for the love of Christ I may obtain your mercy and pardon； by reason of my former services and constant loyalty。 But as I see you are now angry with me； I say no more waiting for your fury to pass over： Once again； my lord； have pity upon us； since we are in the hands of your Majesty。〃
The king turned away his head； and retired slowly； confiding the prisoners to the care of Stephen Vayvoda and the Count of Zornic； who guarded them during the night in a room adjoining the king's chamber。 The next day Louis held another meeting of his council； and ordered that Charles should have his throat cut on the very spot where poor Andre had been hanged。 He then sent the other princes of the blood； loaded with chains； to Hungary； where they were long kept prisoners。 Charles； quite thunderstruck by such an unexpected blow； overwhelmed by the thought of his past crimes； trembled like a coward face to face with death； and seemed completely crushed。 Bowed； upon his knees； his face half hidden in his hands； from time to time convulsive sobs escaped him； as he tried to fix the thoughts that chased each other through his mind like the shapes of a monstrous dream。 Night was in his soul； but every now and then light flashed across the darkness； and over the gloomy background of his despair passed gilded figures fleeing from him with smiles of mockery。 In his ears buzzed voices from the other world； he saw a long procession of ghosts； like the conspirators whom Nicholas of Melazzo had pointed out in the vaults of Castel Nuovo。 But these phantoms each held his head in his hand； and shaking it by the hair； bespattered him with drops of blood。 Some brandished whips； some knives： each threatened Charles with his instrument of torture。 Pursued by the nocturnal train； the hapless man opened his mouth for one mighty cry； but his breath was gone； and it died upon his lips。 Then he beheld his mother stretching out her arms from afar； and he fancied that if he could but reach her he would be safe But at each step the path grew more and more narrow； pieces of his flesh were torn off by the approaching walls； at last； breathless； naked and bleeding； he reached his goal； but his mother glided farther away； and it was all to begin over again。 The； phantoms pursued him； grinning and screaming in his ears：
〃Cursed be he who slayeth his mother！〃
Charles was roused from these horrors by the cries of his brothers； who had come to embrace him for the last time before embarking。 The duke in a low voice asked their pardon； and then fell back into his state of despair。 The children were dragged away； begging to be allowed to share their brother's fate； and crying for death as an alleviation of their woes。 At length they were separated； but the sound of their lamentation sounded long in the heart of the condemned man。 After a few moments； two soldiers and two equerries came to tell the duke that his hour had come。
Charles followed them； unresisting； to the fatal balcony where Andre had been hanged。 He was there asked if he desired to confess； and when he said yes； they brought a monk from the sane convent where the terrible scene had been enacted： he listened to the confession of all his sins； and granted him absolution。 The duke at once rose and walked to the place where Andre had been thrown down for the cord to be put round his neck； and there； kneeling again； he asked his executioners
〃Friends； in pity tell me； is there any hope for my life？〃
And when they answered no； Charles exclaimed：
〃Then carry out your instructions。〃
At these words； one of the equerries plunged his sword into his breast； and the other cut his head off with a knife； and his corpse was thrown over the balcony into the garden where Andre's body had lain for three days unburied。
CHAPTER VII
The King of Hungary； his black flag ever borne before him； started for Naples； reusing all offered honours； and rejecting the canopy beneath which he was to make his entry； not even stopping to give audience to the chief citizens or to receive the acclamations of the crowd。 Armed at all points； he made for Castel Nuovo； leaving behind him dismay and fear。 His first act on entering the city was to order Dona Cancha to be burnt； her punishment having been deferred by reason of her pregnancy。 Like the others； she was drawn on a cart to the square of St。 Eligius； and there consigned to the flames。 The young creature； whose suffering had not impaired her beauty； was dressed as for a festival； and laughing like a mad thing up to the last moment； mocked at her executioners and threw kisses to the crowd。
A few days later； Godfrey of Marsana； Count of Squillace and grand admiral of the kingdom； was arrested by the king's orders。 His life was promised him on condition of his delivering up Conrad of Catanzaro； one of his relatives； accused of conspiring against Andre。 The grand admiral committed； this act of shameless treachery； and did not shrink from sending his own son to persuade Conrad to come to the town。 The poor wretch was given over to the king； and tortured alive on a wheel made with sharp knives。 The sight of these barbarities； far from calming the king's rage； seemed to inflame it the more。 Every day there were new accusations and new sentences。 The prisons were crowded： Louis's punishments were redoubled in severity。 A fear arose that the town； and indeed the whole kingdom； were to be treated as having taken part in Andre's death。 Murmurs arose against this barbarous rule； and all men's thoughts turned towards their fugitive queen。 The Neapolitan barons had taken the oath of fidelity with no willing hearts； and when it came to the turn of the Counts of San Severino； they feared a trick of some kind； and refused to appear all together before the Hungarian； but took refuge in the town of Salerno； and sent Archbishop Roger； their brother； to make sure of the king's intentions beforehand。 Louis received him magnificently； and appointed him privy councillor and grand proto notary。 Then； and not till then； did Robert of San Severino and Roger； Count of Chiaramonte； venture into the king's presence； after doing homage； they retired to their homes。 The other barons followed their example of caution； and hiding their discontent under a show of respect； awaited a favourable moment for shaking off the foreign yoke。 But the queen had encountered no obstacle in her flight； and arrived at Nice five days later。 Her passage through Provence was like a triumph。 Her beauty； youth； and misfortunes； even certain mysterious reports as to her adventures； all contributed to arouse the interest of the Provencal people。 Games and fetes were improvised to soften the hardship of exile for the proscribed princess； but amid the outbursts of joy from every town； castle； and city； Joan； always sad； lived ever in her silent grief and glowing memories。
At the gates of Aix she found the clergy； the nobility； and the chief magistrates； who received her respectfully but with no signs of enthusiasm。 As the queen advanced； her astonishment increased as she saw the coldness of the people and the solemn； constrained air of the great men who escorted her。 Many anxious thoughts alarmed her； and she even went so far as to fear some intrigue of the King of Hungary。 Scarcely had her cortege arrived at Castle Arnaud； when the nobles； dividing into two ranks； let the queen pass with her counsellor Spinelli and two women； then closing up； they cut her off from the rest of her suite。 After this； each in turn took up his station as guardian of the fortress。
There was no room for doubt： the queen was a prisoner； but the cause of the manoeuvre it was impossible to guess。 She asked the high dignitaries； and they； protesting respectful devotion； refused to explain till they had news from Avignon。 Meanwhile all honours that a queen could receive were lavished on Joan； but she was kept in sight and forbidden to go out。 This new trouble increased her depression： she did not know what had happened to Louis of Tarentum； and her imagination； always apt at creating disasters； instantly suggested that she would soon be weeping for his loss。
But
