登陆注册
15313700000040

第40章 Herne the Hunter(9)

Meanwhile, a cup of mead having been offered to Brandon, he observed to his companion, "We must now be setting forth on our journey.Night is advancing, and we have five long miles to traverse across the great park.""I would stay where I am," rejoined Harry, "and make a bench near the fire serve me in lieu of a couch, but that business requires our presence at the castle to-night.There is payment for our meal, friend," he added, giving a mark to Tristram, "and as we shall probably return to-morrow night, we will call and have another supper with you.Provide us a capon, and some fish from the lake.""You pay as you swear, good sir, royally," replied Tristram."You shall have a better supper to-morrow night."You have a dangerous journey before you, sir," said Mabel."They say there are plunderers and evil spirits in the great park.""I have no fear of any such, sweetheart," replied Harry."I have a strong arm to defend myself, and so has my friend Charles Brandon.And as to evil spirits, a kiss from you will shield me from all ill."And as he spoke, he drew her towards him, and clasping her in his arms, imprinted a score of rapid kisses on her lips.

"Hold! hold, master!" cried Tristram, rising angrily; "this may not be.'Tis an arrant abuse of hospitality.""Nay, be not offended, good friend," replied Harry, laughing."I am on the look-out for a wife, and I know not but I may take your granddaughter with me to Guildford.""She is not to be so lightly won," cried Tristram; "for though I am but a poor forester, I rate her as highly as the haughtiest noble can rate his child.""And with reason," said Harry."Good-night, sweet-heart! By my crown, Suffolk!" he exclaimed to his companion, as he quitted the cottage, "she is an angel, and shall be mine.""Not if my arm serves me truly," muttered Fenwolf, who, with his mysterious companion, had stationed himself at the window of the hut.

"Do him no injury," returned the other; "he is only to be made captive-mark that.And now to apprise Sir Thomas Wyat.We must intercept them before they reach their horses."IV.How Herne the Hunter showed the Earl of Surrey the Fair Geraldine in a Vision.

On the third day after Surrey's imprisonment in the keep, he was removed to the Norman Tower.The chamber allotted him was square, tolerably lofty, and had two narrow-pointed windows on either side, looking on the one hand into the upper quadrangle, and on the other into the middle ward.At the same time permission was accorded him to take exercise on the battlements of the Round Tower, or within the dry and grassy moat at its foot.

The Fair Geraldine, he was informed, had been sent to the royal palace at Greenwich; but her absence occasioned him little disquietude, because he knew, if she had remained at Windsor, he would not have been allowed to see her.

On the same day that Surrey was removed to the Norman Tower, the Duke of Richmond quitted the castle without assigning any motive for his departure, or even taking leave of his friend.At first some jealous mistrust that he might be gone to renew his suit to the Fair Geraldine troubled the earl; but he strongly combated the feeling, as calculated,if indulged, to destroy his tranquillity; and by fixing his thoughts sedulously on other subjects, he speedily succeeded in overcoming it.

On that night, while occupied in a translation of the Aeneid which he had commenced, he remained at his task till a late hour.The midnight bell had tolled, when, looking up, he was startled by perceiving a tall figure standing silent and motionless beside him.

Independently of the difficulty of accounting for its presence, the appearance of the figure was in itself sufficiently appalling.It was above the ordinary stature, and was enveloped in a long black cloak, while a tall, conical black cap, which added to its height, and increased the hideousness of its features, covered its head.

For a few minutes Surrey remained gazing at the figure in mute astonishment, during which it maintained the same motionless posture.

At length he was able to murmur forth the interrogation, "Who art thou?"" A friend," replied the figure, in a sepulchral tone.

"Are you a man or spirit?" demanded Surrey.

"It matters not--I am a friend," rejoined the figure.

"On what errand come you here?" asked Surrey.

"To serve you," replied the figure; "to liberate you.You shall go hence with me, if you choose.""On what condition? "rejoined Surrey.

"We will speak of that when we are out of the castle, and on the green sod of the forest," returned the figure.

"You tempt in vain," cried Surrey."I will not go with you.I recognise in you the demon hunter Herne." The figure laughed hollowly--so hollowly that Surrey's flesh crept upon his bones.

" You are right, lord of Surrey," he said; "I am Herne the Hunter.You must join me.Sir Thomas Wyat is already one of my band.""You lie, false fiend!" rejoined Surrey."Sir Thomas Wyat is in France."It is you who lie, lord of Surrey," replied Herne; "Sir Thomas Wyat is now in the great park.You shall see him in a few minutes, if you will come with me.""I disbelieve you, tempter!" cried Surrey indignantly."Wyat is too good a Christian, and too worthy a knight, to league with a demon."Again Herne laughed bitterly.

Sir Thomas Wyat told you he would seek me out," said the demon."He did so, and gave himself to me for Anne Boleyn.""But you have no power over her, demon?" cried Surrey, shuddering.

"You will learn whether I have or not, in due time," replied Herne."Do you refuse to go with me?"I refuse to deliver myself to perdition," rejoined the earl.

同类推荐
  • FRANKENSTEIN

    FRANKENSTEIN

    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。
  • 金刚经新异录

    金刚经新异录

    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。
  • 秦中富人

    秦中富人

    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。
  • Sixes and Sevens

    Sixes and Sevens

    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。
  • Flip-A California Romance

    Flip-A California Romance

    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
  • 呆萌侦探团智斗冷血小妖

    呆萌侦探团智斗冷血小妖

    乔冬阮,栾洛。俩人青梅竹马,从小就形影不离。一年前以|SR|侦探组合闻名亚洲,共剿灭了七家黑暗组织,十三家非法经营公司。他们的父亲与亚洲刑警届Joker井煜是世交,经常来往。似知己似又恋人,心有灵犀的他们会擦出怎样的火花?他们的出现,注定让这个地方不凡。精彩片段:【现在播报本台最新消息,A市风黯集团董事长千金风陨卉神秘失踪,警方正在全力寻找......】刚打开电视的乔冬阮被这条新闻所吸引“洛,你知道吗,风陨卉失踪了。”“嗯知道了,各大媒体头条都在报道。喏,你再看看这个”洛洛把手机递给小阮。【今日报道:A市中心商业街D座,一夜间场内清空无一人。】“清场?一夜间!”
  • 独眼之王

    独眼之王

    以地球世界炼心,以殒神之界炼神,以黑暗圣界炼体,以无尽星河聚能,以王之传承凝合,以成就新王之位,率诸神,战异族!这是一条残忍无情的造神封王之路,为了天下苍生,一切都可以舍弃!就由我,来为你铺下这条,创世之路!——lr高槻无尽的循环无尽的心死无尽的伤与痛,这才是最为可爱的悲剧。lr高槻书友会Q群:530997634
  • 庶女有毒之绝世无双

    庶女有毒之绝世无双

    该文讲述大晋王朝沐国公府庶出三小姐沐无双重生前的惨遭大姐和丈夫的背叛,无辜让自己的儿子也遭到重创,在到重生后自己的步步为营,打倒大姐,吓疯大娘,最终还找到了能与自己相知相守的人......
  • 散落的晴天

    散落的晴天

    很多时候,我都在追忆,追忆我们散落的记忆。这些年我走过许多地方,听过许多歌,认识了许多人,可却再也找不到那年的感觉。现在的你是否还记得那个穿着白衬衫的少年?他有一双澄澈明亮的眼睛,他笑起来的时候有一对小虎牙,他害羞的时候会挠挠后脑勺……他是你的整个青春,是你穷尽一生去追随的人。
  • 帝国枭宠,契约萌妻宠上瘾

    帝国枭宠,契约萌妻宠上瘾

    一场精心策划的阴谋,她和他在酒店套房相遇…日撩夜撩,腹黑大BOSS漫天布地撒渔网,最终将某个小女人成功收之麾下。看着眼前慢条斯理整理衣服的男人,莫安雅惊恐表示,这个男人是属狼的吗?情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 都市之王者传奇

    都市之王者传奇

    跨越界面,历经生死,等待千年终于归来。莫凡说:“上一世欠我的,我要拿回来!”“上一世欺我、辱我的,我要还回去!”“这一世我只想吐尽心中不平气!”
  • 慕boss的千金娇妻

    慕boss的千金娇妻

    洛漓夏为了调查妈妈的死亡真相,被姐姐和未婚夫陷害嗑药高层坠落当场死亡,与此同时滨海大学大二学生叶小白被卓然自行车撞倒头部磕到石头上,于是洛漓夏重生为叶小白。某一天叶小白在酒吧打工卖酒时邂逅男主,男主看出她的小伎俩,同时认出女主,女主被迫喝酒一醉不起,吐了男主一身,醒来后被男主上下其手的非礼。女主喊出未婚夫陆凌风的名字免了男主更进一步的动作,女主逃跑慌忙中把校园卡、借阅证等证件落在了男主房间。慕氏集团在滨海大学有投资,所以男主被校长盛情邀请同时又被老爸逼迫到滨海大学开了一门选修课,叶小白正好报了这门课程......
  • 万世真谛

    万世真谛

    当我看不见时,你是我心中的希翼;当我能看见时,你是我掌控这世间的目的。你可知,我愿舍一世癫狂,换你回眸一笑。你可懂,我愿弃不朽之命,换你长伴身旁。
  • 救世真爱

    救世真爱

    一个精灵族贵族的少女,童年时一次算命中被指认为是救世主。一个魔法族的平民,得到一本有关空间魔法的古籍,随后发现了封印千年的神器,却遭到恶人围攻。一个天才混血儿,他的家庭在一夜之间突然消失,而他的国家也在一夜之间陷入战乱。这些到底都是谁的安排?它们与那些创世神的传说之间又有怎样的关联?在幕后,是谁酿出了这一场场悲剧?算命先生所说的"真爱落尽之时,命运将被改变"究竟是什么意思?一个个谜底,在一个个真爱的陨落之中,悄然揭开。
  • 嫡女有毒,王爷乖乖就寝

    嫡女有毒,王爷乖乖就寝

    传言,他是宁国残暴嗜血的王,曾让四任王妃曝尸荒野,而对于第五位妃,却是万里红妆相娶,势要宠着她,宠着她!传言,她是顽劣不堪的城中恶女,人人嗤之以鼻。那么,重活一世,她就当个名副其实的恶女,毒贱人,斗姨母,踹渣男,一步步将欺她、辱她、负她之人送下黄泉!即使是重生撞上穿越,也要你后悔穿越!至于那个不请自来的前世冤家,她呢,嫁给他,嫁给他,将山河踩在脚底!他说,子裕一生只得一人始终。她想,兮和一生愿候一人始终。