the caged lion-第30章

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ce；　and　launched　into　a　plaintive　narrative　ballad；　to　which　Henry　listened；　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　often　dozing；　but　without　relaxation　of　the　anxiety　that　sat　on　his　pale　face；　and　ever　and　anon　wakening　within　a　heavy　sigh；　as　though　his　buoyant　spirits　were　giving　way　under　the　weight　of　care　he　had　brought　on　himself。

James　was　just　singing　of　one　of　the　many　knightly　orphans　of　romance；　exposed　in　woods　to　the　nurture　of　bears；　his　father　slain；　his　mother　dead　of　griefa　ditty　he　had　perhaps　chosen　for　its　soporific　powerswhen　a　gay　bugle　blast　rang　through　the　court　of　the　convent。

'The　French　would　scarce　send　to　parley　thus　late；'　exclaimed　James；　but　the　next　moment　a　joyful　clamour　arose　without；　and　Henry；　springing　to　his　feet；　spoke　not；　but　stood　awaiting　the　tidings　with　the　colour　burning　on　cheek　and　brow　in　suppressed　excitement。

An　esquire；　splashed　to　the　ears；　hurried　into　the　room；　and　falling　on　his　knees；　cried　aloud；　'God　save　King　Harry！　　News；　news；　my　lord！　　The　Queen　has　safely　borne　you　a　fair　son　at　Windsor　Castle；　five　days　since。'

Henry　did　not　speak；　but　took　the　messenger's　hand；　wrung　it；　and　left　a　costly　ring　there。　　Then；　taking　off　his　cap；　he　put　his　hands　over　his　face；　uttering　a　few　words　of　fervent　thanksgiving　almost　within　himself；　and　then　turning　to　the　esquire；　made　further　inquiries　after　his　wife's　welfare；　took　from　him　the　letter　that　Archbishop　Chicheley　had　sent；　poured　out　a　cup　of　wine　for　him；　bade　the　lords　around　make　him　good　cheer；　but　craved　license　for　himself　to　retire。

It　was　so　unlike　his　usual　hilarious　manner　that　all　looked　at　one　another　in　anxiety；　and　spoke　of　his　unusual　susceptibility　to　fatigue　and　care；　while　the　squire；　looking　at　the　rich　jewel　in　his　hand；　declared　within　disappointment　in　his　tone；　that　he　would　rather　have　had　a　mere　flint　stone　so　he　had　heard　King　Harry's　own　cheery　voice。

James　was　not　the　least　anxious　of　them；　but　long　ere　light　the　next　morning　Henry　stood　at　his　bedside；　saying；　'I　must　go　round　the　posts　before　mass；　Jamie。　　Will　you　face　the　matin　frost？'

'I　am　fitter　to　face　it　than　thou；'　said　James；　rising。　　'Is　there　need　for　this？'

'Great　need；'　said　Henry。　　'Here　are　these　fresh　forces　all　aglow　within　their　first　zeal；　and　unless　they　are　worse　captains　than　I　suppose　them；　they　will　attempt　some　mischief　ere　longnor　is　any　time　so　slack　as　cock…crow。'

James　was　speedily　ready；　and；　within　some　suppressed　sighs；　so　was　Malcolm；　who　knew　himself　in　duty　bound　to　attend　his　master；　and　was　kept　on　the　alert　by　seeing　Ralf　Percy　also　on　foot。　　But　it　was　a　great　relief　to　him　that　the　young　gentleman　murmured　in　no　measured　terms　against　the　intolerable　activity　of　their　kings。　　No　other　attendants　went　within　them；　since　Henry　was　wont　to　patrol　his　camp　with　as　little　demonstration　as　possible。

'I　would　scarcely　ask　a　dog　to　come　out　with　me　this　wintry　morn；'　said　he；　as　he　waved　back　his　sleepy　chamberlain；　Fitzhugh；　and　took　his　brother　king's　arm；　'but　I　could　not　but　crave　a　turn　with　thee；　Jamie；　ere　the　hue　and　cry　of　rejoicing　begins。'

'That　is　poor　welcome　for　your　heir；'　said　James。

'Poor　child！'　said　Henry；　then；　after　they　had　walked　some　space　in　silence；　he　added；　'You'll　mock　me；　but　I　would　that　this　had　not　befallen　at　Windsor。　　I　had　laid　my　plans　that　it　should　be　otherwise；　but　ladies　are　ill　to　guide。'

'And　wherefore　should　it　not　have　been　at　fair　Windsor？　　If　I　can　love　it　as　a　prison；　sure　your　son　may　well　love　it　as　a　cradle。'

'No　dishonour　to　Windsor；'　said　Henry；　'but；　sleeping　or　waking；　this　whole　night　hath　this　adage　rung　in　my　ears　…


〃Harry；　born　at　Monmouth；　shall　short　time　live　and　all　get；　Harry；　born　at　Windsor；　shall　long　time　live　and　lose　all。〃'


'A　most　choice　piece　of　royal　poesy　and　prophecy；'　laughed　James。

'Nay；　do　not　charge　me　with　it；　thou　dainty　minstrel。　　It　was　sung　to　me　by　mime　old　Herefordshire　nurse；　when　Windsor　seemed　as　little　within　my　reach　as　Meaux；　and　I　never　thought　of　it　again　till　I　looked　to　have　a　son。'

'Then　balk　the　prophecy；'　said　James；　'Edward　born　at　Windsor　got　enough；　and　lived　long　enough　to　boot！'

'Too　late！'　was　the　answer。　　'The　Archbishop　christened　the　poor　child　Harry　in　the　very　hour　of　his　birth。'

'Poor　child！'　echoed　James；　rather　sarcastically。

'Nay；　'tis　not　solely　the　rhyme；'　said　Henry；　'but　this　has　been　a　wakeful　night；　and　not　without　misgivings　whether　I　am　one　who　ought　to　look　for　joy　in　his　children。'

'What　is　past　was　not　such　that　you　alone　should　cry　mea　culpa；'　said　James。

'I　never　thought　so　till　now；'　said　Henry。　　'Yet　who　knows？　　My　father　was　a　winsome　young　man　ere　his　exile；　full　of　tenderness　to　us　all；　at　the　rare　times　he　was　with　us。　　Who　knows　what　cares　may　make　of　me　ere　my　boy　learns　to　knew　me？'

'You　will　not　hold　him　aloof；　and　give　him　no　chance　of　loving　you？'

'I　trow　not！　　I'll　have　him　with　me　in　the　camp；　and　he　and　my　brave　men　shall　be　one　another's　pride。　　Which　Roman　emperor　is　it　that　hears　the　nickname　his　father's　soldiers　gave　him　as　a　child？　　Nay　Caligula　was　it？　　Omens　are　against　me　this　morning。'

'Then　laughs　them　to　scorn；　and　be　yourself；'　said　James。　　'Bless　God　for　the　goodly　child；　who　is　born　to　two　kingdoms；　won　by　his　father's　and　his　grandsire's　swords。'

'Ah！'　said　Henry；　depressed　by　failing　health；　a　sleepless　night；　and　hungry　morning；　'maybe　it　were　better　for　him；　soul　and　body　both；　did　I　stand　here　Duke　of　Lancaster；　and　good　Edmund　of　March　yonder　were　head　of　realm　and　army。'

'Never　would　he　be　head　of　this　army；'　said　James。　　'He　would　be　snoring　at　Shene；　that　is；　if　he　could　sleep　for　the　trouble　the　Duke　of　Lancaster　would　be　giving　him。'

Henry　laughed　at　last。　　'Good　King　Edmund；　he　would　assuredly　never　try　to　set　the　world　right　on　its　hinges。　　Honest　fellow；　soon　he　will　be　as　hearty　in　his　congratulations　as　though　he　did　not　lie　under　a　great　wrong。　　Heigh…ho！　such　as　he　may　be　in　the　right　on't。　I've　marvelled　of　late；　whether　any　priest　or　hermit　could　bring　back　my　old　assurance；　that　all　this　is　my　work　on　earth；　or　tell　me　if　it　be　all　one　grand　error。　　Men　there　have　been　like　Caesar；　Alexander；　or　Charlemagne；　who　thought　my　thoughts　and　worked　them　out；　and　surely　Church　and　nations　cry　aloud　for　purifying。　　Jerusalem；　and　a　general　councilI　saw　them　once　clear　and　bright　before　me；　but　now　a　mist　seems　to　rise　up　from　Richard's　blood；　and　hide　them　from　me；　and　there　comes　from　it　my　father's　voice　when　he　asked　on　his　deathbed　what　right　I　had　to　the　crown。　　What　would　it　be　if　I　had　to　leave　this　work　half　done？'

He　was　interrupted　by　the　sight　of　a　young　knight　stealing　into　the　camp；　after　a　furtive　expedition　to　Paris。　　It　was　enough　to　rouse　him　from　his　despondent　state；　and　the　severity　of　his　wrath　was　in　full　proportion　to　the　offence。　　Nor　did　he　again　utter　his　misgivings；　but　was　full　of　his　usual　alacrity　and　life；　as　though　daylight　had　restored　his　buoyancy。

James；　on　the　way　back　to　the　thanksgiving　mass；　interceded　for　last　night's　offenders；　as　an　act　of　grace　suitable　to　the　occasion；　but　Henry　was　inexorable。

'Had　they　stood　to　die　like　Englishmen；　they　had　not　lied　like　dogs！　'he　said；　'and　as　dogs　they　shall　hang！'

In　fact；　in　the　critical　state　of　his　army；　he　knew　that　the　only　safety　lay　in　the　promptest　and　sternest　justice；　and　therefore　the　three　foremost　in　accusing　King　James　of　treachery　were　hung　long　before　noon。

However；　he　called　for　the　two　Yorkshiremen；　and　thus　addressed　them：　'Well　done；　my　masters！　　Thanks　for　showing　Scots　and　Frenchmen　what　stuff　Englishmen　are　made　of！　　I　keep　my　word；　good　fellows。　　Kneel　down；　and　I'll　dub　each　a　knight。　　How　now！　what　are　you　blundering　and　whispering　for？'

'So　please　you；　Sir；'　said　Kitson；　'this　is　no　matter　to　win　one's　spurs　formere　standing　still　without　a　blow。'

'I　would　all　had　that　same　gift　of　standing　still；'　returned　Henry。　'What　is　it　sticks　in　your　gizzard；　friend？　　If　'tis　the　fees；　I　take　them　on　myself。'

'No；　Sir；'　hoarsely　cried　both。

And　Kitson　explained：　　'Sir；　you　said　you'd　knight　the　one　of　us　that　was　foremost。　　Now；　the　two　being