登陆注册
14813500000001

第1章

Of old there was a land which was so much a woodland, that a minstrel thereof said it that a squirrel might go from end to end, and all about, from tree to tree, and never touch the earth: therefore was that land called Oakenrealm.

The lord and king thereof was a stark man, and so great a warrior that in his youth he took no delight in aught else save battle and tourneys. But when he was hard on forty years old, he came across a daughter of a certain lord, whom he had vanquished, and his eyes bewrayed him into longing, so that he gave back to the said lord the havings he had conquered of him that he might lay the maiden in his kingly bed. So he brought her home with him to Oakenrealm and wedded her.

Tells the tale that he rued not his bargain, but loved her so dearly that for a year round he wore no armour, save when she bade him play in the tilt-yard for her desport and pride.

So wore the days till she went with child and was near her time, and then it betid that three kings who marched on Oakenrealm banded them together against him, and his lords and thanes cried out on him to lead them to battle, and it behoved him to do as they would.

So he sent out the tokens and bade an hosting at his chief city, and when all was ready he said farewell to his wife and her babe unborn, and went his ways to battle once more: but fierce was his heart against the foemen, that they had dragged him away from his love and his joy.

Even amidst of his land he joined battle with the host of the ravagers, and the tale of them is short to tell, for they were as the wheat before the hook. But as he followed up the chase, a mere thrall of the fleers turned on him and cast his spear, and it reached him whereas his hawberk was broken, and stood deep in, so that he fell to earth unmighty: and when his lords and chieftains drew about him, and cunning men strove to heal him, it was of no avail, and he knew that his soul was departing. Then he sent for a priest, and for the Marshal of the host, who was a great lord, and the son of his father's brother, and in few words bade him look to the babe whom his wife bore about, and if it were a man, to cherish him and do him to learn all that a king ought to know; and if it were a maiden, that he should look to her wedding well and worthily: and he let swear him on his sword, on the edges and the hilts, that he would do even so, and be true unto his child if child there were: and he bade him have rule, if so be the lords would, and all the people, till the child were of age to be king: and the Marshal swore, and all the lords who stood around bare witness to his swearing. Thereafter the priest houselled the King, and he received his Creator, and a little while after his soul departed.

But the Marshal followed up the fleeing foe, and two battles more he fought before he beat them flat to earth; and then they craved for peace, and he went back to the city in mickle honour.

But in the King's city of Oakenham he found but little joy; for both the King was bemoaned, whereas he had been no hard man to his folk; and also, when the tidings and the King's corpse came back to Oakenrealm, his Lady and Queen took sick for sorrow and fear, and fell into labour of her child, and in childing of a man-bairn she died, but the lad lived, and was like to do well.

So there was one funeral for the slain King and for her whom his slaying had slain: and when that was done, the little king was borne to the font, and at his christening he gat to name Christopher.

Thereafter the Marshal summoned all them that were due thereto to come and give homage to the new king, and even so did they, though he were but a babe, yea, and who had but just now been a king lying in his mother's womb. But when the homage was done, then the Marshal called together the wise men, and told them how the King that was had given him in charge his son as then unborn, and the ruling of the realm till the said son were come to man's estate: but he bade them seek one worthier if they had heart to gainsay the word of their dying lord. Then all they said that he was worthy and mighty and the choice of their dear lord, and that they would have none but he.

So then was the great folk-mote called, and the same matter was laid before all the people, and none said aught against it, whereas no man was ready to name another to that charge and rule, even had it been his own self.

Now then by law was the Marshal, who hight Rolf, lord and earl of the land of Oakenrealm. He ruled well and strongly, and was a fell warrior: he was well befriended by many of the great; and the rest of them feared him and his friends: as for the commonalty, they saw that he held the realm in peace; and for the rest, they knew little and saw less of him, and they paid to his bailiffs and sheriffs as little as they could, and more than they would. But whereas that left them somewhat to grind their teeth on, and they were not harried, they were not so ill content. So the Marshal throve, and lacked nothing of a king's place save the bare name.

同类推荐
  • 广志

    广志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 洪恩灵济真君集福早朝仪

    洪恩灵济真君集福早朝仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 升庵诗话

    升庵诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 屏岩小稿

    屏岩小稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 唐钟馗全传

    唐钟馗全传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 超级护花狂医

    超级护花狂医

    神秘山村里的恶霸少年竟然是神医,被美女总裁请到都市,施展妙手救人性命,行侠仗义锄强扶弱,追得美人成群结队。喂!大老婆,带好队伍,咱们回村啦!(群号533123618)
  • 如何放下(禅·心灵·灵性)

    如何放下(禅·心灵·灵性)

    本书用佛学观念关注了命运的问题,探究万事万物之间的因果因缘,探究人的欲望与牵挂。人如何可以心无挂碍地坦然面对。满遭损,谦受益,是生活中的智慧,也是人生的大道理。本性禅师在这一册中,举了很多现实中的案例,说明一些禅学大道理。
  • 宝藏论

    宝藏论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 万历流民

    万历流民

    因为捡肥皂,而穿越到万历当了流民。为了生存,他不得不开始了自己的冒险之旅。
  • 大文人

    大文人

    小小文人,大大儒生,生活需要低调,但是她不给我低调的机会。叶苏好头疼。
  • 终极教官

    终极教官

    铁拳所向,试问谁可争锋?义胆柔情,各色美人争宠!他,就是终极教官,当世大魔王!为美人无限张狂;为兄弟两肋插刀;为亲人誓死守护!尸山血海中杀伐,累累白骨中踏步,蓦然回首,已傲立巅峰,成就传奇霸业!
  • 一块晦色的路碑

    一块晦色的路碑

    回忆总爱剥离人的现实与虚幻。不一定美好,却一定想要记住。在拥有过感动,欺骗,背叛的脆弱年华里,我们同样不依不饶地和岁月插科打诨着。回忆使人惆怅。交织着破灭与重生。渴望与侥幸。心疼。怜悯。若有其他,那便是庆幸了。回头看来,血迹斑斑。谢谢所有包容与宠溺我们过去的人们。谢谢平实的坦荡与爱护赐予我漠视残缺过去的勇敢。谢谢。谢谢所有被遗落与自甘悔恨的过去。谢谢借予我们忏悔的灵感摆脱掉困顿的淡然与镇定。
  • 抗战之平凡英雄

    抗战之平凡英雄

    就是千千万万参加过战争年代的士兵的真实写照,他们只有自己的后人能记住,而他们却是为了共和国付出最多的,他们有好多都付出了自己最宝贵的东西,即使活到解放,也是浑身是伤,不一定享过福。谨以此书,向二战时期牺牲的中国先烈致敬,向参加过抗战的老兵致敬。
  • 弃女重生:惊世毒妃

    弃女重生:惊世毒妃

    二十一世纪的她,有着一手奇异的医术和一身独特的武功,却死于病魔之下。一朝穿越,成为第五大家族的废材三小姐。身份尊贵的他,却为情而痴。
  • 花开似夏

    花开似夏

    这个世上,命运总是那么得多骜,谁和谁会相守一生,谁又和谁只是有缘无份,或许早是已被命运安排,后来我才知道认识你纯属意外,茫茫人海里一次擦肩而过,我却义无反顾的爱上了你,当你不辞而别的那一天,我渐渐地恍惚过来,我们都只是在最美的年华里,挥霍了青春!!!