登陆注册
15324000000017

第17章 THE WIFE OF FLANDERS(3)

"Peace, Peterkin," she said."You mind me of the babbling of the merchant-folk, when I spurred Willebald into new roads.He had done as his father before him, and bought wool and salted fish from the English, paying with the stuffs of our Flemish looms.A good trade of small and sure profits, but I sought bigger quarries.For, mark you, there was much in England that had a value in this country of ours which no Englishman guessed.""Of what nature?" the monk asked with curiosity in his voice.

"Roman things.Once in that land of bogs and forests there were bustling Roman towns and rich Roman houses, which disappeared as every tide brought in new robbers from the sea.Yes, but not all.Much of the preciousness was hidden and the place of its hiding forgotten.Bit by bit the churls found the treasure-trove, but they did not tell their lords.They melted down jewels and sold them piecemeal to Jews for Jews' prices, and what they did not recognise as precious they wantonly destroyed.I have seen the marble heads of heathen gods broken with the hammer to make mortar of, and great cups of onyx and alabaster used as water troughs for a thrall's mongrels..

..Knowing the land, I sent pedlars north and west to collect such stuff, and what I bought for pence I sold for much gold in the Germanies and throughout the French cities.Thus Willebald amassed wealth, till it was no longer worth his while to travel the seas.We lived snug in Flanders, and our servants throughout the broad earth were busy getting us gear."The Cluniac was all interest.The making of money lay very near the heart of his Order."I have heard wondrous tales of your enterprise," he told her."I would fain know the truth.""Packman's tricks," she laughed."Nevertheless it is a good story.For Iturned my eyes to the East, whence come those things that make the pride of life.The merchants of Venice were princes, and it was in my head to make those of Bruges no worse.What did it profit that the wind turned daily the sails of our three hundred mills if we limited ourselves to common burgher wares and the narrow northern markets? We sent emissaries up the Rhine and beyond the Alps to the Venice princes, and brought hither the spices and confections of Egypt and the fruits and wines of Greece, and the woven stuffs of Asia till the marts of Flanders had the savour of Araby.

Presently in our booths could be seen silks of Italy, and choice metals from Innsbruck, and furs from Muscovy, and strange birds and beasts from Prester John's country, and at our fairs such a concourse of outlandish traders as put Venice to shame.'Twas a long fight and a bitter for Willebald and me, since, mark you, we had to make a new road over icy mountains, with a horde of freebooters hanging on the skirts of our merchant trains and every little burg on the way jealous to hamper us.Yet if the heart be resolute, barriers will fall.Many times we were on the edge of beggary, and grievous were our losses, but in the end we triumphed.

There came a day when we had so many bands of the Free Companions in our pay that the progress of our merchandise was like that of a great army, and from rivals we made the roadside burgs our allies, sharing modestly in our ventures.Also there were other ways.A pilgrim travels unsuspect, for who dare rob a holy man? and he is free from burgal dues; but if the goods be small and very precious, pilgrims may carry them."The monk, as in duty bound, shook a disapproving head.

"Sin, doubtless," said the woman, "but I have made ample atonement.Did Inot buy with a bushel of gold a leg of the blessed St.George for the New Kirk, and give to St.Martin's a diamond as big as a thumb nail and so bright that on a dark day it is a candle to the shrine? Did not I give to our Lady at Aix a crown of ostrich feathers the marrow of which is not in Christendom?""A mother in Israel, in truth," murmured the cleric.

"Yea, in Israel," said the old wife with a chuckle."Israel was the kernel of our perplexities.The good Flemings saw no farther than their noses, and laughed at Willebald when he began his ventures.When success came, it was easy to win them over, and by admitting them to a share in our profits get them to fling their caps in the air and huzza for their benefactors.But the Jews were a tougher stock.Mark you, father, when God blinded their eyes to the coming of the Lord Christ, He opened them very wide to all lower matters.Their imagination is quick to kindle, and they are as bold in merchantcraft as Charlemagne in war.They saw what I was after before Ihad been a month at it, and were quick to profit by my foresight.There are but two ways to deal with Israelites--root them from the face of the earth or make them partners with you.Willebald would have fought them; I, more wise, bought them at a price.For two score years they have wrought faithfully for me.You say well, a mother in Israel!""I could wish that a Christian lady had no dealings with the accursed race," said the Cluniac.

"You could wish folly," was the tart answer."I am not as your burgher folk, and on my own affairs I take no man's guiding, be he monk or merchant.Willebald is long dead; may he sleep in peace, He was no mate for me, but for what he gave me I repaid him in the coin he loved best.He was a proud man when he walked through the Friday Market with every cap doffed.

He was ever the burgher, like the child I bore him.""I had thought the marriage more fruitful.They spoke of two children, a daughter and a son."The woman turned round in her bed so that she faced him.The monkey whimpered and she cuffed its ears.Her face was sharp and exultant, and for a sick person her eyes were oddly bright.

同类推荐
  • 上方天尊说真元通仙道经

    上方天尊说真元通仙道经

    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。
  • 驯悍记

    驯悍记

    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。
  • 览冥训

    览冥训

    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。
  • 甄正论

    甄正论

    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。
  • Lesser Hippias

    Lesser Hippias

    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
  • 佛说宝如来三昧经

    佛说宝如来三昧经

    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。
  • 绝世逆天之狐霸九天

    绝世逆天之狐霸九天

    舞她莲台一舞倾城,舞尽繁华,广袖拂去阴霾。战她身处三军阵前,从容不迫,挥剑震落星辰。灭她孤身闯九重天,无神敢挡,水木绞杀世仇。她身负逆天之力,心却只想一生一世一双人。斩他为魔君之子,本可傲视群雄,独领一界。却为她舍弃一切,苦等万年。他本能逍遥永生,却为她灰飞烟灭。她,九尾灵狐,为救心爱之人断九尾!逆天之力又如何,我只要你一人!“以吾之九尾,及人间百岁,可盼君归?”【注】梦浅初作,慎入。
  • 鹿晗之鹿晗我男票

    鹿晗之鹿晗我男票

    西吧!这里没啥好说滴!主要看小说的内容!丫丫我还是第一次写小说,一些就是三本,正在一本一本的审核,虽然审核成功,有可能要到寒假才能更!!!!!!对不起!!!
  • 水加冰

    水加冰

    在岚川,南方这个温暖的小城里,主人公木子和南方埋葬了很多记忆。青春的舞台上,南方幸运的遇到了舞伴舒焕,这场完美的邂逅却因被南方视为姐妹的莫宇的插入,而变的面目全非。还好这时,木子的出现又给了南方新的奇迹,让她相信友情是最坚强的后盾,而不久的以后,友情的再一次背叛,让她不得不相信,原来这世界上她始终只是一个人。木子是个阔家小姐,却有着叛逆的青春。她在厌倦中遇到了家族败落的南方,成为了最好的朋友。桑霖的出现,又为她滋润了爱情的天地。可是最后友谊的背叛,还是让她孑然一身。原以为就此散落天涯,不想命运又将其汇聚到一起。木子抛开束缚,选择了边走边爱的人生旅途。南方抛弃了原来的梦想,实现了另一个人生目标。在爱与恨的边缘,生活像是水和冰,痛彻心扉,但是她们却始终互相伤害又相互依赖。
  • 亡神巅峰

    亡神巅峰

    路途的遥远,强者的世界,大陆的强者,,强势的碾压,坚强的意志,不死不灭!天下之大,岂能容我!天要灭我,我定灭天!一代妖孽又如何?不过在我面前是条小丑罢了!一代强国又如何?不过在我面前是个花园罢了!一代强者又如何?不过在我面前是过时的罢了!…………
  • 亡眼

    亡眼

    一生救人无数,大义凌然。到头来为何要将我置之死地。何为生,何为亡。你让我亡,他让我亡,我只好让你们都亡。一人独战,无可匹敌。
  • 神级高手

    神级高手

    佣兵王者,接到保镖任务,成为职业保镖。为了兄弟,他可以以身犯险站立沙场。为了女人,他可以柔情万种,怒发冲冠博得红颜一笑。在守护兄弟和女人之间,光阴似箭,却已名震内外!
  • 源血

    源血

    黄民军以一现代人身份,从接触了古武后。因巧遇,觉得传说中的修真术。揭开了修真界神秘的面纱。用现代科技技术加修真功法,以寻找源星界所在为由,开创出从龙星踏出赤阳星系,进军银河系,探索宇宙秘密的脚步。银河系是什么样子的?什么是宇宙?都将伴随着黄民军的崛起而展现在大家的面前。源界星,是人类修真的起源之地吗?人类的修炼,有没有尽头?这些,都等你来探索。——————————————————————在此,本人衷心的感谢各位书友!!!喜欢本书的书友你就收藏吧、投票票吧。
  • 戮神环

    戮神环

    天环大陆,戒者独尊,术器兽体,侦御速幻。每个人都有自己的一枚专属之戒,却不是都能成为戒者柳勋,天生与人不同,天才还是异类?杀戮,在未来将会引起怎样的血雨腥风?且看柳勋如何成长,如何揭露惊天之秘!!!
  • 鬼眼小娇妻:无常大人要抱抱

    鬼眼小娇妻:无常大人要抱抱

    一场车祸苏浅离醒来竟然左眼可以见到鬼,自己还被地府的无常大人给缠上了,大人说是缠上她的原因是为了她体内的一滴生死墨。可是为什么地府无常大人还会是A市的房产大亨?“喂,我说,堂堂一个地府的无常大人,能不能把我的身体还给我,你不是说我还阳寿未尽吗?”“喂,我说大人,你强行让我当你的助理没问题,但是谁说助理就也要负责当你的老婆的?”“喂,我说大人,到底是你有病还是我有病?到底是你喜欢玩角色扮演还是我喜欢玩cosplay?”