Complete Short Works of George Meredith - George Meredith 9 стр.


Still through the nose! said he reproachfully.

I give thee Five Minutes! cried the Monk.

I had hoped for a longer colloquy, sighed the Demon, jogging his left leg and trifling with his tail.

One Minute! exclaimed the Monk.

Truly so! said the Demon. I know old Time and his habits better than you really can. We meet every Saturday night, and communicate our best jokes. I keep a book of them Down There!

And as if he had reason to remember the pavement of his Halls, he stood tiptoe and whipped up his legs.

Two Minutes!

The Demon waved perfect acquiescence, and continued:

We understand each other, he and I. All Old Ones do. As long as he lasts, I shall. The thing that surprises me is, that you and I cannot agree, similar as we are in temperament, and playing for the long odds, both of us. My failure is, perhaps, too great a passion for sport, aha! Well, tis a pity you wont try and live on the benevolent principle. I am indeed kind to them who commiserate my condition. I give them all they want, aha! Hem! Try and not believe in me now, aha! Ho! Cant you? What are eyes? Persuade yourself youre dreaming. You can do anything with a mind like yours, Father Gregory! And consider the luxury of getting me out of the way so easily, as many do. It is my finest suggestion, aha! Generally I myself nudge their ribs with the capital ideaYoure above bribes? I was going to observe

Three!

Observe, that if you care for worldly honours, I can smother you with that kind of thing. Several of your first-rate people made a bargain with me when they were in the fog, and owe me a trifle. Patronage they call it. I hook the high and the low. Too-little and too-much serve me better than Beelzebub. A weak stomach is certainly more carnally virtuous than a full one. Consequently my kingdom is becoming too respectable. Theyve all got titles, and object to being asked to poke the fire withoutHonourable-and-with-Exceeding-Brightness-Beaming Baroness This! Admirably-Benignant-Down-looking Highness That! Interrupts business, especially when you have to ask them to fry themselves, according to the rules Would you like Mainz and the Rheingau? You dont care for BeautyPuella, Puellae? I have plenty of them, too, below. The Historical Beauties warmed up at a moments notice. Modern ones made famous between morning and nightFame is the sauce of Beauty. Or, noeh?

Four!

Not quite so fast, if you please. You want me gone. Now, wheres your charity? Do you ask me to be always raking up those poor devils underneath? While Im here, theyve a respite. They cannot think you kind, Father Gregory! As for the harm, you see, Im not the more agreeable by being face to face with youthough some fair dames do take to my person monstrously. The secret is, the quantity of small talk I can command: that makes them forget my smell, which is, I confess, abominable, displeasing to myself, and my worst curse. Your sort, Father Gregory, are somewhat unpleasant in that particularif I may judge by their Legate here. Well, try small talk. They would fall desperately in love with polecats and skunks if endowed with small talk. Why, they have become enamoured of monks before now! If skunks, why not monks? And again

Five!

Having solemnly bellowed this tremendous number, the holy man lifted his arms to begin the combat.

Farina felt his nerves prick with admiration of the ghostly warrior daring the Second Power of Creation on that lonely mountain-top. He expected, and shuddered at thought of the most awful fight ever yet chronicled of those that have taken place between heroes and the hounds of evil: but his astonishment was great to hear the Demon, while Bell was in air and Book aloft, retreat, shouting, Hold!

I surrender, said he sullenly. What terms?

Instantaneous riddance of thee from face of earth.

Good!Now, said the Demon, did you suppose I was to be trapped into a fight? No doubt you wish to become a saint, and have everybody talking of my last defeat.... Pictures, poems, processions, with the Devil downmost! No. Youre more than a match for me.

Silence, Darkness! thundered the Monk, and think not to vanquish thy victor by flatteries. Begone!

And again he towered in his wrath.

The Demon drew his tail between his legs, and threw the forked, fleshy, quivering end over his shoulder. He then nodded cheerfully, pointed his feet, and finicked a few steps away, saying: I hope we shall meet again.

Upon that he shot out his wings, that were like the fins of the wyver-fish, sharpened in venomous points.

Commands for your people below? he inquired, leering with chin awry. Desperate ruffians some of those cowls. You are right not to acknowledge them.

Farina beheld the holy man in no mood to let the Enemy tamper with him longer.

The Demon was influenced by a like reflection; for, saying, Cologne is the city your Holiness inhabits, I think? he shot up rocket-like over Rhineland, striking the entire length of the stream, and its rough-bearded castle-crests, slate-ledges, bramble-clefts, vine-slopes, and haunted valleys, with one brimstone flash. Frankfort and the far Main saw him and reddened. Ancient Trier and Mosel; Heidelberg and Neckar; Limberg and Lahn, ran guilty of him. And the swift artery of these shining veins, Rhine, from his snow cradle to his salt decease, glimmered Stygian horrors as the Infernal Comet, sprung over Bonn, sparkled a fiery minute along the face of the stream, and vanished, leaving a seam of ragged flame trailed on the midnight heavens.

Farina breathed hard through his teeth.

The last of him was awful, said he, coming forward to where the Monk knelt and grasped his breviary, but he was vanquished easily.

Easily? exclaimed the holy man, gasping satisfaction: thou weakling! is it for thee to measure difficulties, or estimate powers? Easily? thou worldling! and so are great deeds judged when the dangers past! And what am I but the humble instrument that brought about this wondrous conquest! the poor tool of this astounding triumph! Shall the sword say, This is the battle I won! Yonder the enemy I overthrow! Bow to me, ye lords of earth, and worshippers of mighty acts? Not so! Nay, but the sword is honoured in the heros grasp, and if it break not, it is accounted trusty. This, then, this little I may claim, that I was trusty! Trusty in a heroic encounter! Trusty in a battle with earths terror! Oh! but this must not be said. This is to think too much! This is to be more than aught yet achieved by man!

The holy warrior crossed his arms, and gently bowed his head.

Take me to the Sisters, he said. The spirit has gone out of me! I am faint, and as a child!

Farina asked, and had, his blessing.

And with it my thanks! said the Monk. Thou hast witnessed how he can be overcome! Thou hast looked upon a scene that will be the glory of Christendom! Thou hast beheld the discomfiture of Darkness before the voice of Light! Yet think not much of me: account me little in this matter! I am but an instrument! but an instrument!and again, but an instrument!

Farina drew the arms of the holy combatant across his shoulders and descended Drachenfels.

The tempest was as a forgotten anguish. Bright with maiden splendour shone the moon; and the old rocks, cherished in her beams, put up their horns to blue heaven once more. All the leafage of the land shook as to shake off a wicked dream, and shuddered from time to time, whispering of old fears quieted, and present peace. The heart of the river fondled with the image of the moon in its depths.

This is much to have won for earth, murmured the Monk. And what is life, or who would not risk all, to snatch such loveliness from the talons of the Fiend, the Arch-foe? Yet, not I! not I! say not, twas I did this!

Soft praises of melody ascended to them on the moist fragrance of air. It was the hymn of the Sisters.

How sweet! murmured the Monk. Put it from me! away with it!

Rising on Farinas back, and stirruping his feet on the thighs of the youth, he cried aloud: I charge ye, whoso ye be, sing not this deed before the emperor! By the breath of your nostrils; pause! ere ye whisper aught of the combat of Saint Gregory with Satan, and his victory, and the marvel of it, while he liveth; for he would die the humble monk he is.

He resumed his seat, and Farina brought him into the circle of the Sisters. Those pure women took him, and smoothed him, lamenting, and filling the night with triumphing tones.

Farina stood apart.

The breeze tells of dawn, said the Monk; we must be in Cologne before broad day.

They mounted horse, and the Sisters grouped and reverenced under the blessings of the Monk.

No word of it! said the Monk warningly. We are silent, Father! they answered. Cologne-ward! was then his cry, and away he and Farina, flew.

THE GOSHAWK LEADS

Morning was among the grey eastern clouds as they rode upon the camp hastily formed to meet the Kaiser. All there was in a wallow of confusion. Fierce struggles for precedence still went on in the neighbourhood of the imperial tent ground, where, under the standard of Germany, lounged some veterans of the Kaisers guard, calmly watching the scramble. Up to the edge of the cultivated land nothing was to be seen but brawling clumps of warriors asserting the superior claims of their respective lords. Variously and hotly disputed were these claims, as many red coxcombs testified. Across that point where the green field flourished, not a foot was set, for the Kaisers care of the farmer, and affection for good harvests, made itself respected even in the heat of those jealous rivalries. It was said of him, that he would have camped in a bog, or taken quarters in a cathedral, rather than trample down a green blade of wheat, or turn over one vine-pole in the empire. Hence the presence of Kaiser Heinrich was never hailed as Egypts plague by the peasantry, but welcome as the May month wherever he went.

Father Gregory and Farina found themselves in the centre of a group ere they drew rein, and a cry rose, The good father shall decide, and alls fair, followed by, Agreed! Hail and tempest! hes dropped down o purpose.

Father, said one, here it is! I say I saw the Devil himself fly off Drachenfels, and flop into Cologne. Fritz here, and Frankenbauch, saw him too. Theyll swear to him: so ll I. Hells thunder! will we. Yonder fellows will have it twas a flash o lightning, as if I didnt see him, horns, tail, and claws, and a mighty sight twas, as Im a sinner.

A clash of voices, for the Devil and against him, burst on this accurate description of the Evil spirit. The Monk sank his neck into his chest.

Gladly would I hold silence on this, my sons, said he, in a supplicating voice.

Speak, Father, cried the first spokesman, gathering courage from the looks of the Monk.

Father Gregory appeared to commune with himself deeply. At last, lifting his head, and murmuring, It must be, he said aloud:

Twas verily Satan, O my sons! Him this night in mortal combat I encountered and overcame on the summit of Drachenfels, before the eyes of this youth; and from Satan I this night deliver ye! an instrument herein as in all other.

Shouts, and a far-spreading buzz resounded in the camp. Hundreds had now seen Satan flying off the Drachenstein. Father Gregory could no longer hope to escape from the importunate crowds that beset him for particulars. The much-contested point now was, as to the exact position of Satans tail during his airy circuit, before descending into Cologne. It lashed like a lions. Twas cocked, for certain! He sneaked it between his legs like a lurcher! He made it stumpy as a brown bears! He carried it upright as a pike!

O my sons! have I sown dissension? Have I not given ye peace? exclaimed the Monk.

But they continued to discuss it with increasing frenzy.

Farina cast a glance over the tumult, and beheld his friend Guy beckoning earnestly. He had no difficulty in getting away to him, as the fetters of all eyes were on the Monk alone.

The Goshawk was stamping with excitement.

Not a moment to be lost, my lad, said Guy, catching his arm. Here, Ive had half-a-dozen fights already for this bit of ground. Do you know that fellow squatting there?

Farina beheld the Thier at the entrance of a tumbledown tent. He was ruefully rubbing a broken head.

Now, continued Guy, to mount him is the thing; and then after the wolves of Werner as fast as horse-flesh can carry us. No questions! Bound, are you? And what am I? But this is life and death, lad! Hark!

The Goshawk whispered something that sucked the blood out of Farinas cheek.

Look youwhats your lockjaw name? Keep good faith with me, and you shall have your revenge, and the shiners I promise, besides my lords interest for a better master: but, sharp! we wont mount till were out of sight o the hell-scum you horde with.

The Thier stood up and staggered after them through the camp. There was no difficulty in mounting him horses were loose, and scampering about the country, not yet delivered from their terrors of the last nights tempest.

Here be we, three good men! exclaimed Guy, when they were started, and Farina had hurriedly given him the heads of his adventure with the Monk. Three good men! One has helped to kick the devil: one has served an apprenticeship to his limb: and one is ready to meet him foot to foot any day, which last should be myself. Not a man more do we want, though it were to fish up that treasure you talk of being under the Rhine there, and guarded by I dont know how many tricksy little villains. Horses can be ferried across at Linz, you say?

Ay, thereabout, grunted the Thier.

We re on the right road, then! said Guy. Thanks to you both, Ive had no sleep for two nightsnot a wink, and must snatch it goingnot the first time.

The Goshawk bent his body, and spoke no more. Farina could not get a word further from him. By the mastery he still had over his rein, the Goshawk alone proved that he was of the world of the living. Schwartz Thier, rendered either sullen or stunned by the latest cracked crown he had received, held his jaws close as if they had been nailed.

At Linz the horses were well breathed. The Goshawk, who had been snoring an instant before, examined them keenly, and shook his calculating head.

Punch that beast of yours in the ribs, said he to Farina. Ah! not a yard of wind in him. And theres the coming back, when we shall have more to carry. Well: this is my lords money; but i faith, its going in a good cause, and Master Groschen will make it all right, no doubt; not a doubt of it.

The Goshawk had seen some excellent beasts in the stables of the Kaisers Krone; but the landlord would make no exchange without an advance of silver. This done, the arrangement was prompt.

Schwartz Thier!Ive got your name now, said Guy, as they were ferrying across, youre stiff certain they left Cologne with the maiden yesternoon, now?

Ah, did they! and shes at the Eck safe enow by this time.

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