Chapter 33 Chapter Thirty-Three

The glory of warriors, Our Titus.How is Lacius? Marcius: He's busy as a judge, Now put to death one, now banish that, Some demand fines, others pardons or warnings. Coriolanus [Note: Shakespeare's play. 】 After the elder was captured, he only felt that his dignity was insulted, his clothes were destroyed, and his body was threatened. Several emotions were entangled, which made his expression and behavior uncharacteristically. Gentlemen, what's the matter?He said, those three emotions were revealed in the voice, what kind of rule is this?Are you Turks or Christians treating a priest this way?This is violence against the servants of God, do you understand?You took my bag, and tore my embroidered cloak, which would not be disgraceful even for a cardinal.If it had been any other man, he would have excommunicated you; but I am merciful, if you will return my horses, release my monks, return my bag, and pay me a hundred ducats at once, and let me be here At the altar of the Abbey of Jurvaux, a Mass of Atonement is celebrated for you, and if you make a wish not to eat venison until the next Pentecost, I will forgive you this crazy prank.

Holy Elder, said the Chief, I regret that some of my subordinates should have treated you so as to cause you to condemn them. treat!The old man replied that he had been emboldened by the gentle tone of the chief, not even with a thoroughbred hound, much less with a Christian, let alone with a priest; especially with the presbytery of Jurvaux. It shouldn't be.Here's a godless, drinking troubadour named Alan Adair, a bum who even threatens if I get nothing but the precious gold chains and double rings he's got , refused to pay another ransom of four hundred gold coins, he will punish me no, to execute me; not only that, but I have some precious things, such as my incense box and silver curlers, in their rough hands It was broken and damaged.

No way, Alan Adair would not treat a noble priest like you like this.said the chief. This is true, as is the Gospel of Nicodemus [Note: A gospel not included in the canon of the Bible, said to have been written by Saint Nicodemus, a disciple of Jesus. ] So reliable, said the Elder, and he spoke a great deal of northern swearing, and swore he would find the tallest tree in the woods and hang me. Did he really say that?Well, then, respected elder, I think, since Alan Adair has said so, you should do as he asks, because Alan Adair is a man who can do what he says. Are you kidding me? The elder was taken aback. He barely smiled when he said that. I also like to tell jokes, really.But, ha ha ha, the joke has been going on all night, and it should be down to business in the morning.

I am as serious as a confessor, replied the leader, elder, you will have to pay a large ransom, or else your monastery will have to choose a new abbot, because your position may have to be someone else . Are you Christians, how can you talk like that to a priest?said the elder. Of course they are Christians!If you don't believe me, just look, there are priests among us, the leader replied, come, our big fat priest, explain the scriptures on this subject to this elder. The chaplain, still half-drunk and half-awake, put on a monk's robe over his grass-green shirt, trying to recall some of the words he had memorized before, may God bless you all the best, elder, he said, we welcome you to the forest Come.

What are you talking about?The elder said, friend, if you are really a member of the church, why don’t you tell me how I can escape from these people’s grasp, don’t pretend to be fools, and play tricks on me. In truth, elder, replied the monk, I know you have but one way of getting out.Today is our St. Andrew's Day [Note: One of the twelve disciples of Jesus. ], is to collect tithes [Note: Tithes are the share that each person should dedicate to Jehovah as stated in the Old Testament. 】when. But, brother, I don't think it's charged to the church, is it?said the elder. Take it from the layman and from the Church, said the monk, therefore, elder, you still have to rely on ill-gotten wealth to help you, only it can save you, and nothing else.

I like you green men from the bottom of my heart, said the elder, softening his tone, come on, you don't have to be so hard on me.I also know things in the forest, and the horn blows loud and clear, and makes every oak tree echo.Forget it, why do you bother me so hard. Give him a horn, said the chief, and we must put him to the test to see if he is bragging. Elder Emer blew the horn again.The leader shook his head. Elder, said he, your music is beautiful, but it cannot redeem you: we cannot set you free because you are beautiful, as it is written on a knight's shield.Also, I found that you were blowing soft French notes, which disturbed the vigorous sound of English horns.Elder, I'll sentence you to an increase of fifty ducats in ransom for that last phonation of yours, for it distorts the majestic trumpet beyond recognition.

Come, friend, said the elder, getting impatient, you are a difficult hunter.I hope you'd better make do with the ransom issue.In a word, I am unlucky this time, and have to pay tribute to the devil. Tell me, how much ransom I have to pay, so that I don’t have to be escorted by fifty people, and I can be on Watling Avenue [Note: An ancient British traffic artery; Refers to all major roads. 】On the free walk? A small leader leaned into the leader's ear and said: I think, should the elders give the Jews, and the Jews give the elders, and set each other's ransom amount? You are a fool, said the chief, but you have a good idea!Listen, Jew, step forward.Look at that elder Aimer, who is the abbot of the rich Jurvaux, how much ransom should we demand from him?I assure you, you understand the monastery's income.

Oh, of course I do, said Isaac, I traded with the priests there, and dealt with their wheat and barley, and the fruit of the trees, and a good deal of wool.Oh, it was a rich monastery, the priests of Jurvaux lived well, and there were good wines in the cellars.For a homeless man like myself, with such a place to live, and such income every year and every month, I would be willing to pay any amount of gold and silver for my ransom. You Jewish dog!cried the elder, no one knows better than you how much our monastery owes to furnish the altar It's also for filling your cellars with wine last season, the Jew interrupted, but that's nothing.

Don't listen to this unbelieving wild dog nonsense!He spouted blood, said the elder, as if our monastery were in debt for the wine; we have a right to drink, to keep out the cold when necessary.This circumcised rascal accused the Holy Church, and the Christians listened without condemnation! All this can't explain anything, the leader said, Isaac, tell me, how much will he pay without affecting their daily expenses? Six hundred gold coins, said Isaac, was nothing to the elder to reward the brave men, and would not interfere with his comfortable life. Six hundred gold pieces, said the chief, in a serious voice, very well, that is enough; Isaac, you are right, six hundred gold pieces.This is my verdict, Your Excellency.

Yes, this is a sentence, a sentence!They shouted that Solomon would not have judged so reasonably. You heard the sentence pronounced, Elder.said the leader. You are crazy, friends, said the elder, where can I get such a sum of money?Even if I sell all the sacristy and candlesticks on the altar of our monastery, I can't get half the amount; besides, I have to go back to Jurvaux in person to do this, and you can keep my two priests. hostage. It's not safe, said the chief, we must detain you, elder, and send your priests for ransom.You don't have to worry about no wine and no meat to eat here; if you like to play in the forest, the scenery here is charming, much better than your north.

Or, if the Elder is willing, said Isaac, to please those farmers, I can send someone to York, and take out six hundred gold coins from the money they have deposited in the abbey, as long as the Elder will write me a receipt. . You ask him to write, and he will, Isaac, said the leader, but you must pay Elder Emer's ransom with your own. Mine!Ah, gentlemen, say the Jew, I am bankrupt and pauper; if I pay fifty ducats, I shall live my life on a begging stick. This might as well let the elders judge, the leader said, Elder Aimer, what do you say?Could the Jews afford a ransom? Can afford the ransom?The elder answered, Is he not Isaac of York?Who doesn't know that he is a big boss, even if he is asked to pay the ransom[Note] to the ten tribes of Israel who were taken captive to Assyria, he can afford it.I myself had little acquaintance with him, but our priests of the cellars and storerooms did, and according to them his house at York was so full of gold and silver that it would put any Christian country to shame.All living Christians cannot help but wonder how we allow these vipers to inhabit our lands, sucking our blood, and even putting their hands into the Holy Church, by mean usury and usurpation. 【Note】Refers to 722 BC, when the king of Assyria destroyed the Kingdom of Israel.The Israelites originally had twelve tribes, and the kingdom of Israel consisted of ten of them.After the Kingdom of Israel fell, more than 27,000 Israeli kings and subjects were taken captive to the Mesopotamia. Say no more, elder, replied the Jew, please calm down and think about it.You know, I never force anyone to borrow money from me.But priests and laymen, princes and elders, knights and priests, were never so insolent when they knocked at the door of Isaac's house to borrow money from him.At that time it was: Brother Isaac, please help me in this matter, as God testifies, I will definitely return it when it is due.Also: Kind Isaac, you always help others, this time you really solved my difficulties like a friend!But when the deadline came, when I went to collect the debt, what I heard was: Damn the Jew and hope the disaster of Egypt [Note: The Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptian Pharaoh in the early days. ] come down on your tribe forever; in short, wish to incite all the rude and rude people to persecute us poor strangers! Said the elder, the chief, although he was a Jew, he spoke well.So there is no need to quarrel, just as he specified your ransom, you also specified his. Except latro famosus [Note: Latin, notorious robber.This was addressed to Locksley, so the elder deliberately put it in Latin so that they would not understand it. ] What it means I can tell you in due course No one treats a Christian prelate the same as an unbaptized Jew, said the elder, but since you want me to set a price for the bitch, I can Let me tell you frankly, you have to ask him for at least a thousand gold coins, nothing less, otherwise you will be taking advantage of him. Well, here is our verdict, our verdict!The leader announced loudly. Yes, this is our sentence, our sentence!His jurors unanimously shouted that the Christian is well-bred, and that he is far more generous to us than the Jew. God of our ancestors bless me!The Jews said, do you have the heart to force a poor man to death?Today I have lost my child, are you going to deprive me of the means to live? Jew, you've lost your child and your burden is lightened.Emer said. Ouch!My goodness, said Isaac, your laws prevent you from understanding how our flesh and our hearts are united in every way.Ah, Rebecca!My dear daughter of Rachel!Even if every leaf on that tree is a gold coin, and every gold coin is mine, I would rather take all this wealth, as long as someone can tell me, are you still alive and have not been attacked by that Nassar? The murderous hand that strangles people! Your daughter has black hair, right?asked a robber, wearing a silk veil embroidered with silver thread? Yes, that's right, that's right!said the old man, his voice trembling a little, but it was from excitement, not from fear as before, may Jacob bless you!Can you tell me, is she safe now? This is her, then, said the farmer, who was carried off by the proud Templars, who rushed from our ranks yesterday evening.I once drew my bow and wanted to shoot him an arrow, but because of that girl, I didn't dare to shoot. I was afraid that my arrow would hit her. ah!The Jew replied, I wish you could come, even if it hit her in the heart!It was better for her to lie in the graves of her ancestors than to be humiliated by the shameless and savage Templars.Ichabod!Ichabo [Note: It means loss of honor, see "Old Testament.Chapter Four of 1 Samuel. 】!Glory has left my home【Note】! Friends, said the leader, looking around, the old man is only a Jew, but his misfortune makes me sympathize.Isaac, tell us the truth, after you paid the ransom of a thousand gold coins, is it true that there is nothing left? Isaac thought of his own property after this question; he was only because of deep-rooted habits, and his love of money could even rival his father-daughter love; now he was pale and hesitant, but it cannot be denied that he paid After paying the ransom there is still some left over. Well, forget it, as much as you have left, said the chief, we don't want to be too hard on you.You have no money, want to learn from Brian.Rescuing the child from the hands of Bois-Guilbert was wishful thinking, like shooting a deer with an arrow without a point.We can promise you that your ransom will be the same as that of Elder Aimer, even with a reduction of one hundred gold coins. This one hundred gold coins will be regarded as my personal loss and will not be included in our public account.This will save us from being accused of exalting the Jews and treating him like a Christian prelate.Now, Isaac, you may leave five hundred gold pieces as a ransom for your daughter.The Templars not only liked shiny black eyes, but also shiny gold and silver.You must take your gold coin to Bois-Guilbert's ear, and jingle it to him before anything worse happens.According to word from my scouts, you can find him in the nearby temple synagogue.Am I right, boys? The villagers have always obeyed the leader, and now they have done so.Isaac, half apprehensive when he learned that his daughter was alive and redeemable, threw himself at the feet of the generous leader, brushing his beard to his boots, and wanted to kiss the hem of his green coat. .The leader retracted his body and broke free from the hand of the Jew, at the same time showing a bit of disdain. Come on, you man, stand up!I'm British, and I don't like kowtowing by oriental people.You should bow down to God, not to a sinner like me. Yes, the Jew, said Elder Aimer, bow down to God, to the priests who serve God, he knows, if you repent sincerely, to Saint Robert. ]'s shrine, and you may seek God's blessing for yourself and your daughter Rebecca.I pitied the girl, knowing that she was a pretty and quiet girl, and I saw her once in the Ashby jousting ring.And Brian.Bois-Guilbert, my words still have some effect on him. You should consider whether you want me to intercede for you. Ouch!Incredible!The hand of plunder reaches out to me from all sides, says the Jew, and I am the plunder of Assyria, and the plunder of Egypt. Can you, a cursed nation, expect any other destiny?The elder replied, "The Bible" says so: When they forsake the word of God, they lose their wisdom.And said: I will give their wives to strangers, in this present case, to the Templars; Isaac sighed, wrung his hands, and fell into a state of desolation and despair again.But the chief took him aside. I've got to advise you, Isaac, said Locksley, whatever you're going to do, I mean you've got to make friends with this priest.He's vain, Isaac, and greedy; at least he needs money to spend.You are perfectly capable of satisfying his desires, for you must not think that I believe your poor tales.Isaac, I know your details. You have a big bag of silver hidden in your big iron box.how!Don't I know that big rock under the apple tree that leads down to the basement of your York garden, don't I?The face of the Jew turned deathly pale, but don't worry, I won't hurt you, the farmer continued, because we are old friends.Do you remember that sick redneck?Your pretty daughter Rebecca rescued him from the chains at Yorktown, and put him in your house to recuperate, and sent him away when he was well, and donated him a silver piece, didn't she?You lend usury, but this time it’s a huge profit. This silver coin saved you five hundred gold coins today. So you're the one we call Bow Dickon?Isaac said, no wonder I think your accent is familiar. I am Bow, said the Chief, and I am also Locksley, and I have other names. But, my good brother, you misunderstood about the basement.God knows, there's nothing really there, but a store of goods, some of which I'd be glad to give you, like a hundred yards of grass-green stuff to make you doublets, a hundred Spanish yews for bows, and a hundred strings for bows , are tough and firm and smooth; I send them all to you as a token of gratitude, good Dickon; but that basement, please keep it a secret, my good Dickon. I will keep the secret for you, said the chief, but don't expect anything from me, I only sympathize with your daughter.I can't do anything about it.The Templars are too powerful. On the open ground, my archers can't do anything to them, and they will beat them to pieces.If I had known then that it was Rebecca who was being taken, I might have figured something out, but now you have to be strategic with him.Well, shall I speak to the elders for you? For God's sake, Dickon, do something and help me get my own baby back! But don't interrupt me, don't be stingy, this is not appropriate at the moment, the leader said, I will have a good talk with him for you. So he turned and went away, but the Jew held him like a shadow. Elder Emer, said the leader, come with me down to this tree.I hear you drink and flirt with women, which is out of character for you, elder; but I don't want to interfere.I also heard that you like raising hounds and riding horses, which is not bad, but it costs money to play these things. From this point of view, you will not despise a bag of gold coins.But I've never heard that you enjoy oppression or cruelty.Now this Isaac, who will do you some favors for your amusement and entertainment, will give you a bag of one hundred silver pieces, if you will intervene and get your friend the Templar to release his daughter. Keep her safe and chaste, as she was when she left me, Isaac interrupted, or the deal won't go through. Be quiet, Isaac, said the leader, or I will leave you alone.Elder Emer, what do you think of my idea? This matter is a little complicated, the elder replied, because on the one hand it is a good thing, but on the other hand, it is a Jew who has taken advantage of it, which greatly violates my conscience.However, if the Israeli would donate a sum of money to the church and let me build a few rooms, then I could help him with his daughter with a clear conscience. Tell him to take out twenty marks gold coins to repair the house. The leader said, Hey, Isaac, don't interrupt!Or donate a pair of silver candlesticks to the altar, that would do the trick. No, but, my bow dikon.Isaac wanted to interrupt again. Dude, you're a beast, you're a worm!The leader said, losing patience, if you still value your dirty money as much as your daughter's life and honor, then I swear, I will make you bankrupt within three days! Isaac withdrew his words, too frightened to speak again. How to guarantee all this?asked the elder. When your mediation is successful and Isaac returns safely, the leader said, I swear by St. Hubert that I will urge him to pay you all the gold and silver, which is not a small amount, otherwise I will settle the score with him and make him think it is better to take out twenty dollars. Times the money is better. So do it, Jew, said Aymer, and if I want to interfere in this matter, I must use your pen and paper. Wait a minute, I'd rather fast twenty-four hours than use your pen. Where can I find a pen? If the elders feel that Jewish paper is acceptable, then I can find ready-made pens.said the chief.At this time a flock of wild geese was passing over their heads, about to fly to the distant Holderness swamp, so he drew up his bow and shot an arrow, and the leading goose wobbled away with the arrow. to the ground. Elder, said the leader, unless you want to write chronicles, these feathers are enough for all the monks of Jurvaux Abbey for a hundred years. The elder sat down and gave Brienne unhurriedly.Bois-Guilbert wrote the letter, sealed it carefully, and handed it to the Jew, saying: This will be your passport to the synagogue of the Temple; by this letter, I think, your daughter will most likely be released; but You'll have to prepare a good gift, and that's up to you, and I tell you, this Chevalier de Bois-Guibert is one of those people who never trade at a loss. Well, the elder, the leader said, I don’t want to keep you anymore, as long as you write another receipt and give it to the Jews, you can go. I accept him as my agent; if I hear in the future, you will argue with him and refuse to admit For the money he paid from your account, then don’t blame me for being rude, I will burn your monastery to the ground, even if I have to be hanged ten years earlier for this, I am not afraid! Now the elder, less at ease than he had written to Boisguibert just now, wrote a receipt in a dejected manner, stating that he had advanced to Isaac of York six hundred ducats in payment of the ransom, which had been received in full, and would Deductions are given from the monastery's accounts and never broken. I have granted your demands, said Elder Emer, paid the ransom like a true captive, and now return my mules and horses, release my entourage, and return the double rings, jewels that were seized from me And precious clothes and so on. As to your entourage, sir, said Locksley, they will soon be free, and it would not be right to detain them; and as to your horses and mules, they shall be returned in full, and you shall be given the necessary pocket-money, It would be too cruel to allow you to return to York City without paying the travel expenses.As for those rings, jewels, necklaces, etc., then you must understand that we are charitable, and considering that you are a disillusioned and respected priest, we cannot bear to have you wear these rings, necklaces, and other frivolous ornaments , were strongly tempted by them, and thus violated the rules and regulations of the Church. Friends, replied the Elder, think about what you are doing before you stretch out your hands to church property.These things are holy things belonging to the Church, and if they fall into lay hands, I don't know what retribution it will cause. We'll take care of that, venerable elder, interposed the hermit of Copmanhurst, because I can wear these myself. Maybe you are a member of the church, my friend, replied the elder, expressing dissatisfaction with this solution, but I don't know if the church has actually commissioned you, and if so, please pay attention.You are responsible to the church for the kind of activities you are participating in today. Elder friend, replied the hermit, I may as well let you know that I belong to a small diocese, where I am bishop myself, and that I am not under the authority of the bishop of York, nor the abbot of Jurvaux, nor the whole monastery. Worry about me. You are not a true priest at all, said the elder, you are one of those unruly people who prosecute themselves without formality, profane the sacraments of the Church, and endanger the souls of those who confess to them, as "Wugan Great Bible" [Note: It is the "Popular Latin Bible", it has many errors and is not sufficient. ] said: They did not give people food, but stones. No, replied the monk, your Latin can't help me, I have plenty in my head.I can say that to a self-righteous priest like you, it is lawful to confiscate your jewels and ornaments, only to deprive you of your ill-gotten gains. You are a poor priest, said the elder, in a rage, and I excommunicate you. You are more like a rascal and a heathen yourself, said the monk equally angrily. Although you and I are members of the church, you have no regard for decency and insult me ​​like this in front of my followers. I will never forgive you lightly.As it says in the "Wugan Great Bible", I have to break your bones. all right!The leader shouted, is it reasonable for people from the same church to quarrel like this?Monk, please remain calm.Elder, if you don't want to make it up for God's sake, stop bickering with the monks.Hermit, let the elder bid us farewell as a ransom-payer. But the two aggrieved priests continued to slander each other in incoherent Latin, only the elder spoke more fluently, and the hermit spoke more violently.At last the fellow villagers separated them, and then the elder calmed down, remembering that it was undignified to abuse each other with this idiot, the chaplain of the robbers, so he rode away with his entourage, although it was no longer like coming. He was so luxurious and rich when he was born, but from a worldly point of view, he was more in line with the status of an apostle than he had behaved before this adventure. Now the Jew also had to give written proof of his own ransom, and the ransom of the elders on his behalf.So he wrote and stamped a note to a friend in Yorktown, another Jew, asking him to pay the visitor eleven hundred gold pieces, and also specifying several commodities to be supplied. My friend Sheva has the key to my warehouse.he said, with a deep sigh. And the key to the basement.Locksley whispered. No, no, God bless!Isaac said, let people know that secret, and disaster will strike me! Don't worry, I won't reveal it, the leader said, as long as you pay the amount specified in the letter, everything will be fine.Hey Isaac, what's the matter with you?Are you dead?What are you still doing there?Lost a thousand gold coins, and you are so anxious that you have lost your mind, have you forgotten the danger of your daughter? Isaac jumped up and left, no, Dickon, I'll do it right away.You, I can't say you are a good person, and I dare not, and I don't want to say you are a bad person; goodbye! However, before Isaac left, the leader still gave him a few parting words: For your daughter's safety, be generous and don't be reluctant to spend money.Believe me, if you are stingy in this matter, the money you save will turn into molten gold and silver, and it will stick in your throat and make you miserable all your life. Isaac acquiesced to this with a sigh, and set off; and the chief sent two tall men to escort him out of the forest, both to protect him and to serve as his guides. The black-armored knight had been watching with interest as all these scenes were going on, and now he had to say goodbye to the leader, but before he left, he could not but express his surprise, because it never occurred to him that in these Among those who are outside the law and not protected by the law, there is actually a set of guidelines and policies for handling public affairs. A diseased tree can sometimes bear healthy fruit. The leader said that the era of evil may not always produce only evil.Among those who have been compelled to follow this lawless path, there are many who no doubt do not wish to go too far, and others who may do it out of sheer necessity. Maybe that's the case with the person I'm talking to now?asked the knight. Brother knight, replied the leader, each of us has our own secrets.You can make your own judgment about me, and I can make mine about you, and though our arrows may both miss the mark, that's all right.But just as I don't want you to reveal your secret, so I want you to allow me to keep mine. Forgive me, brave chief, said the knight, and your reproach is just.But maybe when we meet again in the future, both parties will be more frank.Let's break up as friends now, shall we? "Very well, I offer you my hand," said Locksley, "though at present it is the hand of a robber, it is the hand of a true Englishman." I hold out my hand to you too, said the knight, and I consider it its glory that this hand can join yours.For a man with unlimited power to do evil should be praised not only for the good he has done, but also for the evil he has not done.Farewell, brave warrior! In this way, they parted in friendship, and the black armored knight jumped on his strong horse and galloped away into the forest.