Chapter 42 Chapter Forty-Two

I saw people walking around Marcelo's body, Then in mournful, weeping mourning, There was a low, solemn wail That's what old women who keep watch always do Spend the long night with bursts of crying. ancient drama The architectural style at the entrance of the main building of Fort Coning is very special, with the simple and ancient style of its construction period.As soon as you enter the fort, you can see several steps. Each step is tall and narrow, almost like a steep slope. It leads to a low door on the south side of the main building. Adventurous archaeologists can still do it today at least a few years ago. From this small door, ascend the small staircase built in the thick walls of the main building, and enter the third floor of the castle. A small square hole in the house, where a ladder is set up to communicate with the room above.The upper part of the main building has four floors, and the stairs going up and down are all built in the middle of the buttress outside the wall.

King Richard took the faithful Ivanhoe through this difficult and complicated path, and led him up to the three-story building, where the entire floor was just a rotunda.Taking advantage of the difficult process of going upstairs, Wilfrid raised his cloak to hide his face, so that he might not show his true face to his father until the king gave him the signal. There were a dozen or so persons in the hall, seated around a large oak table, representatives of the most respectable Saxon families in the neighboring counties, all of them old, or at least getting older; for the younger generation, too, like Ivanhoe , disregarding the many estrangements that had stood between the Norman victors and the Saxon vanquished for half a century, went to each other, and this aroused the resentment of the old men.These senior elders were dejected and sad. Their depressed and sad expressions formed a sharp contrast with those in the yard who were carefree and drinking.Their strands of white hair and long beards, as well as their ancient-style robes and loose black coats, appeared in this antique hall, looking very harmonious, as if they were a group of believers who worshiped Odin in ancient times. Returning to the world, they are mourning the decline of their national glory.

Cedric also sat here, equal to these men, and seemed to be recognized as their leader.He knew Richard only as the gallant knight in chains, and when he entered the room, he rose gravely, greeted him with the usual decorum, and raised a glass of wine over his head, saying, "Toast, please."The King, no stranger to English manners, responded with the appropriate words: Your hospitality is appreciated.Then he drank the glass of wine handed by the butler.The same etiquette was also repeated by Ivanhoe, except that he did not make a sound when toasting with his father, and only nodded instead of answering, so as not to be recognized by his father.

When the ceremony of this interview was over, Cedric rose again, held out a hand to Richard, and led him into a very crude chapel; Yes, without any windows, but a narrow opening in the wall, so that the room was almost dark, and had to be lighted by two torches, so that the vaulted roof and the bare walls could be seen in the red light of cigarette smoke. , a rough stone altar and a crucifix made of the same material. There was a coffin in front of the altar, and three priests knelt on each side of the coffin. They held rosary beads in their hands and muttered prayers, showing a pious and respectful appearance.It turned out that the mother of the deceased had paid St. Edmund's Abbey a large sum of money for the requiem mass, and for the sake of the money all the monks, except the crippled sexton, came to Coningsberg; There were often six people at Althelstan's coffin to observe the sacrament, and the rest took the opportunity to eat, drink and play with other people in the castle.When performing this kind of vigil, pious monks pay special attention; do not let their chanting pause for a moment, otherwise the ancient Saxon Apollyon Revelation". ], the dead Athelstan will be taken away.They also took care that no unclean layman should touch the veil, which was used at St. Edmund's funeral, and would lose its sanctity if it were soiled by laymen's hands.Indeed, if these things were of any use to the dead, he had a right to ask the Friar of St. Edmund to do so, for Athelstan's mother, in addition to paying a hundred ducats for the soul's atonement, promised to give Most of the deceased's fields were donated to the Abbey, which allowed perennial prayers for his soul and that of her late husband.

Richard and Wilfred followed Cedric the Saxon into the mourning hall, and after their guide, with a solemn air, pointed out to them the spirit tablet of the prematurely deceased Athelstan, he did the same. Signed the sign of the cross reverently and said a short prayer for the rest of the departed soul. Having completed these ceremonies of condolence, Cedric motioned for them to follow him again, walked softly across the flagstones, climbed a few steps, and cautiously opened the door of a small chapel adjoining the chapel.It was about eight feet square, and, like a chapel, was cut out of the thick wall; a small, narrow window opened in the west wall, its sides sloping inwards, forming a flare through which the rays of the setting sun came. There shot into the dark room, and there was a dignified woman. She was old, but her face still kept the graceful and luxurious look of her early years.She wore a long black mourning dress, and a black gauze kerchief over her shoulders, which set off her fair skin, and her lustrous locks of flaxen hair, which time had not thinned, nor Silver streaks appear.She had a sad face, as if she had put everything aside.On a stone table in front of her stood an ivory crucifix, and beside it was a missal book with gilded margins to shine, a cover with gold clasps, and gilt reliefs.

Cedric stood silently for a while, as if to give Richard and Wilfred time to look at the housewife, and then said: "My esteemed Edith, these two distinguished guests from other places have come to express their condolences to you.Especially the brave knight who fought so desperately to save those we mourn today. I should be grateful for his valor, replied the lady, though it was the will of heaven that it should not be successful.I also thank him and his friends for coming to offer their condolences and to visit Adelin's widow and Athelstan's mother at a time of deep grief.Kind relatives, I ask you to entertain them, to give them the best hospitality we can.

After bowing deeply to the mournful mistress, the guests withdrew with their courteous guides. Another spiral staircase led them into a large room of the same size as, indeed above, the hall they had first entered.Long before the door was opened, the soft, melancholy sound of chanting sutras could be heard inside the room.After entering the house, they found that there were about twenty ladies and ladies here, all of them came from the famous Saxon families.A chorus of four ladies, headed by Rowena, is singing a requiem for the dead, of which we shall here translate two or three stanzas; dust to dust,

This is the inevitable way. the soul leaves the body, Let it be abandoned under the spring, Ants gnaw and gnaw, Rot is a natural law. The soul wanders, through unknown paths, Temporary purgatory atonement, tormented by the flames, Wash away the dirt of the past, The sins of the world are thus freed. In this country of sorrow, With the protection of Our Lady, Pray for God's grace, Early forgiveness of sins, The soul is freed, Bid farewell to the sea of ​​suffering and enter the kingdom of heaven. While the four maidens sang this dirge in low, mournful tones, the rest were divided into two groups, one group devoted itself to embroidery, adding patterns to Athelstan's large silk pall; Flowers, woven garlands, which are also for funerals.The ladies, though not very distressed, maintained a dignified appearance; now and then they would make some murmur or laugh, and were immediately reprimanded by the more severe older women; A young girl studied the size and shape of her mourning dress so carefully that she left aside the preparations for the funeral.We have to admit that these tendencies were not completely avoided in front of the two strange knights, some secretly raised their heads to look at them, and some were whispering.Only Rowena, because of her natural pride, disdained to do so, but greeted her savior with a graceful curtsey.Her demeanor was serious, but not sad; perhaps, the memory of Ivanhoe and concern for his uncertain fate weighed more heavily on her mind than the loss of her relative.

We have seen, however, that Cedric was not so clear-headed in such matters, and that his adopted daughter's grief seemed to him so much greater than that of the other maidens, that he thought it right for him to be gentle with his guests. Some explanations: she is the betrothed wife of the noble Athelstan.But whether this shows that Wilfred can improve his sympathy for the families of the deceased in Fort Coning is not known. In this way, according to the etiquette, the guests were taken to various rooms. After watching the memorial activities for Athelstan in different ways, Cedric led them into a small room. According to him, it was specially for the distinguished guests. Prepare a common room for those who, because they were not related to the deceased, may not want to be with those directly involved in the funeral.He explained that they would receive perfect hospitality here, and then wanted to leave, but the black armored knight held his hand.

Noble squire, he said, when we last parted, you promised me that you would grant me anything I asked for, because of the help I gave you. Yes, I will, noble knight, replied Cedric, only in this hour of mourning I thought of that, too, said the king, but my time is limited, and I think it would be right, when we bury noble Athelstan, to bury some of our prejudices and rash considerations. Your Excellency the Knight of Shackles, Cedric blushed, interrupted the king, and said, I hope your request involves no one but yourself, because if the matter involves the honor of my family, then an outsider's intervention will not fit.

I did not wish to intervene, said the king calmly, but I beg your pardon, and I have something to do with it.You have known me only as the knight in chains, and now I must tell you that I am Richard of Plantagenet. Richard of Anjou!Cedric screamed, taking a step back at the unexpected discovery. No, my lord Cedric, it is Richard of England!My greatest concern, and my greatest wish, is to see the sons of Great Britain in solidarity and solidarity.Now, noble squire, will you not kneel before your king? My knees have never been bent to a Norman king.Cedric replied. Keep your bow then, said the King, and I will prove that I treat Normans as well as Englishmen, and are therefore entitled to your bows. My lord, replied Cedric, I have always admired your bravery and nobility.I do not know that you are entitled to the throne, because you are descended from Matilda, and Matilda is Edgar.Niece of Asselin, daughter of King Malcolm of Scotland【Note】.But despite her Saxon blood, she was not yet a royal heir. [Note] Matilda is the daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland, and Malcolm's queen is Edward, Prince of Anglo|Saxon.Asselin's daughter Margaret.Edgar mentioned here.Asselin was Margaret's brother, he was also the Prince of Saxon, he had resisted William the Conqueror, and was once supported as the King of England, so he and Margaret belonged to the Saxon royal family.Matilda later married King Henry I of the Norman dynasty of England as the queen. Their daughter, also named Matilda, was married to the Earl of Anjou. After the Norman dynasty died out, Henry, the son of the Earl of Anjou, succeeded , called Henry II, England's Plantagenet Dynasty began.Richard the Lionheart is the son of Henry II, so judging from his mother, he also has Saxon royal blood. I don't want to debate my succession with you, noble squire, said Richard quietly, but I beg you to look around you, for I am afraid you will not find a man worthy of standing against me. So, my lord, is that what you come here to tell me?Says Cedric, do you mean to point out to me the decline of my people, when the last of the Saxon line goes to the grave?When he spoke, his face became gloomy. This is too presumptuous and reckless! By the Holy Cross, it's not!The king replied, It is only because of my trust in you, I believe that a brave man can talk to another brave man without any scruples. You speak very well, my lord, because I admit that you are and will be king, and my objections are feeble and of no avail.Although you have sent me the only way to change this situation, it has strongly tempted me, but I dare not do it! Now come to my request, said the King, for although you refuse to recognize me as a rightful sovereign, I trust you will keep your word.I hope you will keep your word, and that you will not be thought of as a back-and-forth, perjurer, and liar; my request is simple: forgive this excellent knight, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, and restore you The relationship between father and son.You should admit that I have an interest in this reconciliation, which will bring happiness to my friends and resolve differences among my people who are loyal to me. He is Wilfred?Cedric asked, pointing to his son. my father!my father!cried Ivanhoe, crouching at Cedric's feet, forgive me! I forgive you, my son, said Cedric, lifting him up, for a Hereward's son knows how to keep a promise, even if it is to a Norman.But I want you to dress before me in English dress, as your English ancestors did; short gowns, gaudy bonnets, and bright plumes ought not to be seen in my family.As Cedric's son, he had to show that he was of English descent.You want to talk, he said sternly, I guess what you are going to talk about.Miss Rowena must have completed two years of mourning for her fiancé; she was due to marry him, and his birth and family deserved, and if we had allowed her to marry another while his bones were fresh, all our None of the Saxon ancestors would recognize us as their descendants.The spirit of Athelstan will also spring from the blood-stained shroud, and stand before us, forbidding us to bring him such disgrace in his wake. These words of Cedric seemed to summon ghosts, for before he had finished speaking the door opened suddenly, and Athelstan appeared before them in his burial clothes; climb up. 【Note】 【Note】The resurrection of Athelstan has been criticized by many, because it is too unreasonable, even for such a purely fictional novel, it is too absurd.This is just a tactic used by the author out of helplessness, because his friends and publishers are not reconciled to the Saxon being sent to the grave, and repeatedly ask the author to do so.original note The appearance of the ghost shocked everyone present.Cedric was so frightened that he retreated to the wall, and leaned there, as if he could not stand still; he looked at the figure of his friend without blinking, and opened his mouth, as if he could not close it again.Ivanhoe crossed himself and repeated the prayers he could think of, in Saxon, Latin, or Norman French.Richard shouted for a while: God bless!After a while, he shouted: "Scared to death!" At this time, there was a lot of noise downstairs, and some people were shouting: "Catch these heartless monks!"Some people are shouting: Put them in a dungeon!Others were shouting: Throw them off the walls! For God's sake, Cedric said to the ghost who seemed to be his dead friend, if you are human, please explain!If it is a dead soul, then tell us what you came to us for, or what I can do for you, so that your soul may rest in peace.Noble Athelstan, whether you live or die, speak to Cedric! Don't worry, the ghost said calmly, let me rest and take a breath first.You ask me if I am still alive?I am alive, but for three days this man lived on bread and water, three long days, like three centuries.Yes, bread and water, Uncle Cedric!God and all the saints can testify that in three long days no better food has entered my gullet, and it is God's providence that I am here to tell you all. Strange, noble Athelstan, said the knight in black armor, at the end of Torquilstone's storm, I saw you cut off the horse's back by the fierce Templar; I thought Wang Ba said so of you The skull was split right down to the teeth. You are mistaken, Your Excellency the Knight, Wang Ba is also nonsense, Athelstan replied, my teeth are still in good condition, and I will have to eat dinner with them later.But it was the Knights Templar who helped me. His sword was about to strike down, and my mace blocked it, and the blade was crooked, so that what hit me was not the edge of the knife, but the back of the sword; if I wore Wearing a steel helmet, I don't care about this blow at all, I will take the opportunity to retaliate to him so that he can't escape again.But it didn't work out, I was knocked out and fell to the ground, but I was not hurt.At this time, the two sides were still fighting, and the person who had been killed was pressing on my body, so that I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I found that I was lying in a coffin. Fortunately, the lid of the coffin was still open!It was in front of the altar in St Edmund's Church.I sneezed a few times, woke up with a grunt, climbed out of the coffin, and the deacon and elders, terrified by the commotion, ran up, surprised of course, but not at all happy to find that they could have inherited My family property, now this person is alive again.I asked for wine, and they gave me some, but it must have had a lot of Ecstasy in it, because I slept more deeply than ever, and it took me hours to wake up.I found that my arms were bound, and my feet were bound so tightly that my ankle bones still ache when I think about it.It was pitch black all around me, and I thought this must be the damned monastery cellar, it was airtight, damp and dreary, and had a musty smell, so it was also used as a catacomb.I was wondering in my heart, I don't know what happened, the cellar door creaked open, and two bastard monks walked in.They tried their best to convince me that I was in purgatory, but I could hear the voice of the fat, panting elder.O my St. Jeremy!How different it was from his begging me for an extra ham!The bastard has been eating and drinking at my place for twelve days since Christmas! Don't be angry, noble Althelstan, said the king, take a breath and tell your story slowly; it is a story of the ages, like a novel. By the Holy Cross, this is no fiction, it is hard truth!They gave me nothing but a loaf of barley bread and a pitcher of water, said Athelstan, these unconscionable cheapskates, who made their fortunes on my father and me; Their prayers deceived them into a few pieces of meat and a few catties of wheat.The abbey has become the safe haven of this filthy, ungrateful viper, and nothing but barley bread and dirty water from such a great benefactor!Even if I am expelled from the teaching, I must drive them out of this comfort zone! But, venerable Althelstan, said Cedric, taking his friend by the hand, tell us, in the name of the Holy Mother, how you got out of this critical situation?Don't they feel bad conscience? Conscience!Athelstan replied, do stones melt in the sun?If the convent hadn't run away, I'd still be in there Come here for a drink.Wouldn't it be absurd for them to shut my body there and starve it, but here they murmur hymns and say they want to save my soul.After they left, I waited for a long time, but no food was brought to me. It turned out that the gouty deacon was busy eating and drinking by himself, so he couldn't get me.At last he came to the cellar, his feet crooked, his mouth full of wine and spices.He was so full and happy that he left me with a pie and a bottle of wine, not the same food as before.I ate the pie, and drank the wine, and my body was strong; and luckily, the deacon was too drunk to perform his duties as a jailer, and locked the door without putting the lock in the iron ring. so that the door was only ajar.Light, food, and wine have quickened my mind.My chain was in an iron ring, and it was rusting to the point of breaking; neither me nor the bastard elder expected it.In fact, in such a damp dungeon, even ironware cannot withstand the corrosion of many days. Take a break, noble Athelstan, said Richard, and eat something before you go on with such dreadful tales. eat!Athelstan said, I have eaten five meals today.But it's all right to have another piece of delicious ham, gentlemen, please join me for a drink. The two guests, though still a little shaken, toasted the revived master and let him continue the story.At this time, it was not only the original people who heard him talking, because after Edith made some necessary arrangements for the affairs in the castle, she also followed the resurrected dead to the VIP reception room, followed by many guests, including men and women. There were also women, who crowded the small room to the brim, and the rest had to gather on the stairs, hear a few indistinct words, and then pass them on to the people below, and from the bottom to the inferior people outside, The result was unrecognizable, a far cry from the original story.However, according to Athelstan’s self-report, the process of his escape is as follows: I finally broke free from the iron ring, like a man dragging his feet, exhausted all the strength of my body that had been starved for days, climbed up the stairs, groped for a long time, and finally walked towards the place where the joyful singing came from I went, came to a room, and saw that respectable deacon, sorry, excuse me, was drinking and having fun with a gray monk with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a hulking back.That monk looked like a bandit.I rushed into the house, still in my shroud and chains, and looked so much like an intruder from hell, that I startled them both, and with my fist I knocked the deacon unconscious to the ground, but His wine and meat friend raised a thick iron-headed wooden stick and waved it at me. I bet it's our Brother Tucker.Richard said, taking a look at Ivanhoe. He's a devil, let him go, said Athelstan, luckily he missed me, and I was going to fight him when he ran away.I also hastened to untie the keys from the deacon's girdle, and unlocked the chain, so that I might get away quickly; With wine, I couldn't bear it in my heart, just kicked the rascal twice, let him lie there, and left him alone.I packed some roasts into my bag, and a skin of wine which the gentlemen had left, and went into the barn to find my splendid pony tied to a rail by itself, which, no doubt, was reserved exclusively for elders.So I rode on my horse and flew back here. Everyone on the way thought I was a ghost when they saw me, especially since I covered my face with the hood of my shroud to prevent people from recognizing me.I almost couldn't get into my castle, but luckily I was taken as the magician's assistant, and he was amusing everyone in the yard; and these people thought that this was a funeral for their master.Seeing my attire, the housekeeper let me in as if I was going to play a role in a pantomime.I disclosed myself only to my mother, ate something and came to you, my dear friend. You have come at a good time, said Cedric, and I am ready to continue our heroic plans and fight for our honor and our liberty.I tell you, to save the noble Saxon nation, tomorrow is a day of great auspicious rebellion. Don't tell me whether to save or not, said Athelstan, I saved myself, and that's enough.Now I just want to punish that bastard elder.He should be displayed in his full vestment hanging from the top of the Königsberg tower.If the stairs are too narrow and his body is too fat to lift, I can hoist it up from the outside. But, my boy, said Edith, he has priesthood. They starved me for three days, replied Athelstan, and I will have their blood to pay for it.General Beef Noodles was burned alive, and his guilt was not so great, because he provided a good meal for his captives, but the last soup contained too much garlic.But these hypocritical and ungrateful servants, who usually eat free food at my banquet and flatter me with flattering words, now don't even give me garlic soup.By the Heroic Spirit of Hengist, these guys must die! But, noble friend, said Pope Cedric. I am not afraid, noble friend, replied Athelstan, they must die, and will never forgive.Even if they are the best monks in the world, everyone can still live without them. You are not ashamed, noble Athelstan, said Cedric. Forget these little men, for the glorious path lies before you.Tell this Norman prince, Richard of Anjou, that though he is as mighty as a lion, he cannot deny whether the throne of Alfred the Great should Belongs to him, not necessarily. What!Is this the noble King Richard, said Athelstan? Yes, he is Richard of Plantagenet, said Cedric, but he came of his own free will, and I need not remind you that we shall not do him harm, nor detain him; you know very well, Your duty as master here to him. Of course!And I should also do my duty as a courtier, said Athelstan, because here, too, I should serve him wholeheartedly. My child, said Edith, don't forget your claim to the throne! Don't forget the liberty of England, self-defeating prince!Cedric said. My mother and friend, replied Athelstan, put away your reproaches!Bread and water, and dungeons, are the sure cures against ambition, and I've come out of the grave with a clearer mind than I went in.Half of those confused vanity concepts were instilled in me by the treacherous and cunning Elder Wolfram, and now you can see whether he is a reliable counselor.These plans made people uneasy, I was running around all day, the result was indigestion, I was beaten and injured, I was jailed, I was starved;I tell you, I only want to be king in my own land, and nowhere else; and the first order of my reign is to hang that elder. Then my adopted daughter Rowena, said Cedric, I don't think you will abandon her? Uncle Cedric, replied Athelstan, clear your head.Miss Rowena does not love me; the little finger of my relative Wilfred is more important to her than my whole being.She was there and could prove it.Nay, don't blush, my kinsman; there's nothing shameful in loving a handsome knight than a country lord; nor laugh at me, Rowena, God knows, with my shroud and sallow face, Not a fun thing to do.Well, if you must laugh, I can find you something funnier.Give me your hand, no, lend it to me for a while, because I'm only borrowing it for friendship.My brother Wilfred of Ivanhoe, will you allow me to drop and cancel Hi!How, my St. Dunstan, our kinsman Wilfred is gone!Unless I've been hungry for a few days and my eyes are blurred, I clearly saw that he was still here just now. Everyone looked around, looking for Ivanhoe, but he was gone.It was finally discovered that he had been called away by a Jew; the two had a brief conversation, and he called Ge Si, put on his armor, and left the castle. Beautiful cousin, Athelstan said to Rowena, something urgent must have happened to Ivanhoe's sudden departure, otherwise I would really regret it But when he found out that Ivanhoe was missing, he let go of Rowenna's hand; Rowenna felt that her situation was very embarrassing, so she slipped away and disappeared from the house whenever she got the chance. Undoubtedly, Athelstan added, women are the most untrustworthy of all animals except monks and elders.I had hoped to get her thanks, maybe she would kiss me, but now I have to forget it.This shroud of mine must be enchanted, so that every man who sees me runs away.I still pledge my allegiance to you, noble King Richard, as your subject But King Richard was gone too, and no one knew where he had gone.At last it was learned that he hurried to the yard, summoned the Jew who had talked with Ivanhoe, talked to him a few words, and immediately shouted to prepare the horse, jumped on his horse himself, and forced the Jew to ride another A horse flew away, and according to Wang Ba, they rode so fast that it was hard for the old Jewish man not to break his neck. My goodness!Zernbork must have taken control of my castle while I was gone, said Athelstan.I came back in a shroud, which meant I had come back from the grave, so I spoke to anyone, and he ran away at my voice!Forget it, let's not talk about these.Now, my friends, since you remain here, come with me to the banquet hall, lest any one else should flee.I believe there will be a good feast there, worthy of the funeral of a long-established Saxon nobleman; if we delay any longer, the devil may take our supper with us.