But the courage of Quentin Durward, prompt and alert in resolution beyond his years, and stimulated at the moment by all that could add energy to his natural shrewdness and resolution, gave a new turn to the scene. Imitating the action of the followers of De la Marck, he sprang on Carl Eberson, the son of their leader, and mastering him with ease, held his dirk at the boy's throat, while he exclaimed, "Is that your game? then here I play my part."
"Hold! hold!" exclaimed De la Marck, "it is a jest -- a jest. -- Think you I would injure my good friends and allies of the city of Liege! -- Soldiers, unloose your holds, sit down, take away the carrion" (giving the Bishop's corpse a thrust with his foot) "which hath caused this strife among friends, and let us drown unkindness in a fresh carouse."
All unloosened their holds, and the citizens and the soldiers stood gazing on each other, as if they scarce knew whether they were friends or foes. Quentin Durward took advantage of the moment.
"Hear me," he said, "William de la Marck, and you, burghers and citizens of Liege -- and do you, young sir, stand still" (for the boy Carl was attempting to escape from his grip) - "no harm shall befall you unless another of these sharp jests shall pass around."
"Who art thou, in the fiend's name," said the astonished De la Marck, "who art come to hold terms and take hostages from us in our own lair -- from us, who exact pledges from others, but yield them to no one?"
"I am a servant of King Louis of France," said Quentin, boldly, "an Archer of his Scottish Guard, as my language and dress may partly tell you. I am here to behold and to report your proceedings, and I see with wonder that they are those of heathens, rather than Christians -- of madmen, rather than men possessed of reason. The hosts of Charles of Burgundy will be instantly in motion against you all, and if you wish assistance from France, you must conduct yourself in a different manner.
"For you, men of Liege, I advise your instant return to your own city, and if there is any obstruction offered to your departure, I denounce those by whom it is so offered, foes to my master, his Most Gracious Majesty of France."
"France and Liege! France and Liege!" cried the followers of Pavillon, and several other citizens whose courage began to rise at the bold language held by Quentin.
"France and Liege, and long live the gallant Archer! We will live and die with him!"
William de la Marck's eyes sparkled, and he grasped his dagger as if about to launch it at the heart of the audacious speaker, but glancing his eye around, he read something in the looks of his soldiers which even he was obliged to respect. Many of them were Frenchmen, and all of them knew the private support which William had received, both in men and in money, from that kingdom, nay, some of them were rather startled at the violent and sacrilegious action which had been just committed. The name of Charles of Burgundy, a person likely to resent to the utmost the deeds of that night, had an alarming sound, and the extreme impolicy of at once quarrelling with the Liegeois and provoking the Monarch of France, made an appalling impression on their minds, confused as their intellects were. De la Marck, in short, saw he would not be supported, even by his own band, in any farther act of immediate violence, and relaxing the terrors of his brow and eye, declared that he had not the least design against his good friends of Liege, all of whom were at liberty to depart from Schonwaldt at their pleasure, although he had hoped they would revel one night with him, at least, in honour of their victory. He added, with more calmness than he commonly used, that he would be ready to enter into negotiation concerning the partition of spoil, and the arrangement of measures for their mutual defence, either the next day, or as soon after as they would. Meantime he trusted that the Scottish gentleman would honour his feast by remaining all night at Schonwaldt.
The young Scot returned his thanks, but said his motions must be determined by those of Pavillon, to whom he was directed particularly to attach himself, but that, unquestionably, he would attend him on his next return to the quarters of the valiant William de la Marck.
"If you depend on my motions," said Pavillon, hastily and aloud, "you are likely to quit Schonwaldt without an instant's delay -- and, if you do not come back to Schonwaldt, save in my company, you are not likely to see it again in a hurry."
This last part of the sentence the honest citizen muttered to himself, afraid of the consequences of giving audible vent 'to feelings which, nevertheless, he was unable altogether to suppress.
"Keep close about me, my brisk Kurschner (a worker in fur) lads." he said to his bodyguard, "and we will get as fast as we can out of this den of thieves."
Most of the better classes of the Liegeois seemed to entertain similar opinions with the Syndic, and there had been scarce so much joy amongst them at the obtaining possession of Schonwaldt as now seemed to arise from the prospect of getting safe out of it. They were suffered to leave the castle without opposition of any kind, and glad was Quentin when he turned his back on those formidable walls.
For the first time since they had entered that dreadful hall, Quentin ventured to ask the young Countess how she did.
"Well, well," she answered, in feverish haste, "excellently well -- do not stop to ask a question, let us not lose an instant in words. -- Let us fly -- let us fly!"
She endeavoured to mend her pace as she spoke, but with so little success that she must have fallen from exhaustion had not Durward supported her. With the tenderness of a mother, when she conveys her infant out of danger, the young Scot raised his precious charge in his arms, and while she encircled his neck with one arm, lost to every other thought save the desire of escaping, he would not have wished one of the risks of the night unencountered, since such had been the conclusion.
The honest Burgomaster was, in his turn, supported and dragged forward by his faithful counsellor Peter, and another of his clerks, and thus, in breathless haste, they reached the banks of the river, encountering many strolling bands of citizens, who were eager to know the event of the siege, and the truth of certain rumours already afloat that the conquerors had quarrelled among themselves.
Evading their curiosity as they best could, the exertions of Peter and some of his companions at length procured a boat for the use of the company, and with it an opportunity of enjoying some repose, equally welcome to Isabelle, who continued to lie almost motionless in the arms of her deliverer, and to the worthy Burgomaster, who, after delivering a broken string of thanks to Durward, whose mind was at the time too much occupied to answer him, began a long harangue, which he addressed to Peter, upon his own courage and benevolence, and the dangers to which these virtues had exposed him, on this and other occasions.
"Peter, Peter," he said, resuming the complaint of the preceding evening, "if I had not had a bold heart, I would never have stood out against paying the burghers twentieths, when every other living soul was willing to pay the same. -- Ay, and then a less stout heart had not seduced me into that other battle of Saint Tron, where a Hainault man at arms thrust me into a muddy ditch with his lance, which neither heart nor hand that I had could help me out of till the battle was over. -- Ay, and then, Peter, this very night my courage seduced me, moreover, into too strait a corselet, which would have been the death of me, but for the aid of this gallant young gentleman, whose trade is fighting, whereof I wish him heartily joy. And then for my tenderness of heart, Peter, it has made a poor man of me, that is, it would have made a poor man of me, if I had not been tolerably well to pass in this wicked world -- and Heaven knows what trouble it is likely to bring on me yet, with ladies, countesses, and keeping of secrets, which, for aught I know, may cost me half my fortune, and my neck into the bargain!"
Quentin could remain no longer silent, but assured him that whatever danger or damage he should incur on the part of the young lady now under his protection should be thankfully acknowledged, and, as far as was possible, repaid.
"I thank you, young Master Squire Archer, I thank you," answered the citizen of Liege "but who was it told you that I desired any repayment at your hand for doing the duty of an honest man? I only regretted that it might cost me so and so, and I hope I may have leave to say so much to my lieutenant, without either grudging my loss or my peril."
Quentin accordingly concluded that his present friend was one of the numerous class of benefactors to others, who take out their reward in grumbling, without meaning more than, by showing their grievances, to exalt a little the idea of the valuable service by which they have incurred them, and therefore prudently remained silent, and suffered the Syndic to maunder on to his lieutenant concerning the risk and the loss he had encountered by his zeal for the public good, and his disinterested services to individuals, until they reached his own habitation.
The truth was, that the honest citizen felt that he had lost a little consequence, by suffering the young stranger to take the lead at the crisis which had occurred at the castle hall of Schonwaldt, and, however delighted with the effect of Durward's interference at the moment, it seemed to him, on reflection, that he had sustained a diminution of importance, for which he endeavoured to obtain compensation by exaggerating the claims which he had upon the gratitude of his country in general, his friends in particular, and more especially still, on the Countess of Croye, and her youthful protector.
But when the boat stopped at the bottom of his garden, and he had got himself assisted on shore by Peter, it seemed as if the touch of his own threshold had at once dissipated those feelings of wounded self opinion and jealousy, and converted the discontented and obscured demagogue into the honest, kind, hospitable, and friendly host. He called loudly for Trudchen, who presently appeared, for fear and anxiety would permit few within the walls of Liege to sleep during that eventful night. She was charged to pay the utmost attention to the care of the beautiful and half fainting stranger, and, admiring her personal charms, while she pitied her distress, Gertrude discharged the hospitable duty with the zeal and affection of a sister.
Late as it now was, and fatigued as the Syndic appeared, Quentin, on his side, had difficulty to escape a flask of choice and costly wine, as old as the battle of Azincour, and must have submitted to take his share, however unwilling, but for the appearance of the mother of the family, whom Pavillon's loud summons for the keys of the cellar brought forth from her bedroom. She was a jolly little roundabout, woman, who had been pretty in her time, but whose principal characteristics for several years had been a red and sharp nose, a shrill voice, and a determination that the Syndic, in consideration of the authority which he exercised when abroad, should remain under the rule of due discipline at home.
So soon as she understood the nature of the debate between her husband and his guest, she declared roundly that the former, instead of having occasion for more wine, had got too much already, and, far from using, in furtherance of his request, any of the huge bunch of keys which hung by a silver chain at her waist, she turned her back on him without ceremony, and ushered Quentin to the neat and pleasant apartment in which he was to spend the night, amid such appliances to rest and comfort as probably he had till that moment been entirely a stranger to, so much did the wealthy Flemings excel, not merely the poor and rude Scots, but the French themselves in all the conveniences of domestic life.
凯德：阿希福德的屠夫狄克在哪儿？
狄克：主帅，我在这儿。
凯德：他们就像牛羊似的在你面前倒了下去，你干得就像在你
自己的屠宰场里一样出色。
《亨利六世》第二部分
自从昆丁在索恩瓦尔德堡的大厅里吃过那顿午餐以后，这里所发生的变化也许是最为离奇和恐怖的。这种变化的确以最可怕的色彩描绘出了战争的灾难——特别是因为这次战斗是由野蛮时代的雇佣军这样一些最残酷无情的家伙来进行的。他们的职业和习性已使他们对战争中一切残暴、血腥的东西习以为常，而他们既没有爱国爱民之心，也没有骑士的罗曼蒂克精神。
在这同一个大厅里，几小时以前文职和圣职官员还曾坐在一起规矩而体面地，甚至有点拘泥地吃着饭，只容许轻声谈笑；即使酒肴异常丰富，也存在着一种近乎虚伪的客气和礼貌。但眼下却是一种狂野、嚣张的放荡迹象。即便撒旦亲自来主持这个欢宴，也未必能更胜一筹。
在餐桌的上席坐着那可畏的“阿登内斯野猪”。他坐的是人们为他匆忙从会议厅抬来的主教专用宝座。“野猪”这个名字他真受之无愧，而且他也深表欣赏，并尽他所能想到的一切来使自己名实相符。他解掉了头盔，但仍然穿着他那很少脱掉的沉重而明亮的铠甲；肩上披着一张大野猪皮做的结实的披风；野猪蹄和獠牙都是纯银做的。野猪的头皮在“爵爷”全副武装时被拉在他的头盔上，而在他经常脱掉头盔或像它现在这样系在脑后时，则像个兜帽罩在他的光头上，给人的印象真像个狰狞可怕的怪兽。但这野猪皮罩着的面孔也毋须此种恐怖的装饰来增加其天生就具有的恐怖表情。
大自然创造出来的德拉马克的上半部面孔几乎使人看不出他的真实性格。他的头发在没戴帽子时固然很像罩在上面的野猪皮那粗糙的鬃毛，但他那颇有大丈夫气概的高而开阔的前额、宽大而红润的面颊、大而明亮的淡色眼睛和鹰钩鼻子却给人一种勇敢而豪侠的感觉。不过这些有利的特征早已被他横蛮残暴的习性所抵消。这些习性加上放荡和纵欲，已使得他的面貌打上了与它本有可能表现出的勃勃英气毫不相容的性格烙印。由于经常沉溺于酒色之中，面部肌肉，特别是眼睛周围的肌肉已显浮肿，罪恶的习性也使得眼睛黯淡无光，白的部分过早地变红，令人感觉他面目可惜，很像可怕的“爵爷’嘻欢模拟的那个猛兽。然而，矛盾得有点出奇的是，尽管德拉马克在其他方面都装出野猪的模样，甚至对野猪这个绰号似乎还感到满意，但另一方面他却利用他那一大把长胡子来掩盖那原来为他赢得了这一绰号的面部特征。这指的是他那异常肥厚和突出的嘴唇和上颚，以及他那突出的大獠牙。这一切配在一起使他很像一头野猪；加上德拉马克常出没于“野猪林”，并以此为家，这就为他博得了“阿登内斯野猪”的鼎鼎大名。他那不常梳理的吓人的大胡子既不能掩盖他面孔上天然的阴森恐怖表情，也不能使这一野蛮的表情增加点威严的色彩。
强盗官兵和一些地位卑下的列日市民围着桌子并肩坐在一起。屠夫尼克尔•布洛克坐在德拉马克旁边。他把袖子卷得高高的，露出两只齐肘部全沾满了鲜血的胳膊，可以和他面前摆着的血污的屠刀媲美。当兵的大多数都模仿他们的头头蓄着长得吓人的胡子，并将他们编成辫子的头发朝上竖着，以增强其面貌给人的凶恶印象。也许是由于陶醉于胜利的骄傲和长时间灌酒的缘故吧，许多人都已显得酩酊大醉了。所有这一切都叫人看起来既丑恶又可憎。他们使用的语言和唱的歌（连他们自己都无心装出听别人唱的客气样子）全都极其淫荡和狠押。昆丁不禁要感谢上帝，幸亏声音十分嘈杂，使他的女伴听不清他们的说说唱唱。
至于在这个可怕的欢宴上和威廉•德拉马克的士兵同席而坐的出身较好的市民们，我们只需指出，他们大多数人的脸上呈现出的失魂落魄的神情说明，他们要么是不喜欢这种款待，要么是害怕他们的伙伴。然而那些教养较差、天性更为野蛮的市民则把丘八们的放肆看作是一种他们很愿意模仿的洒脱表现，竭力想领略其特有的情趣，并喝下大口大口的黑啤酒——一种低地人民当中十分普遍的恶习——给自己增加所需的刺激。
宴会的筹备也是杂乱无章的，和赴宴者的性格如出一辙。“阿登内斯野猪”不顾亵渎圣器的罪名，竟叫人把主教家的餐具，甚至教堂用于圣餐的用具全都拿来使用，与黑酒罐、皮制大酒杯以及最常见的一些角制酒壶优劣不分地混在一起。
我们还想补充一个恐怖的情节并进行一番解说，而把其余的部分留给读者自己去想象。在德拉马克士兵们疯狂地饮酒作乐之际，一个被逐出酒席的长矛手（在今晚的攻城当中表现得很勇敢）公然拿起一个大银酒杯就跑，说这是为了补偿他未能参加宴会的损失。看到与宴会的性质和气氛如此协调的这一玩笑，那首领不禁捧腹大笑起来。但当另一个在作战勇敢方面默默无闻的家伙也妄图采取这一行动时，德拉马克马上沉下脸来进行干涉，因为这种开心事要是不及时刹车，桌上的宝贵餐具很快就会被一扫而光。“嗬！雷神爷在上！”他大声吼道，“那些在敌人面前不敢当英雄的人休想在自己人中间当小偷！怎么！你这胆小鬼，当康拉德过河翻墙，冲锋陷阵时，你在等着开城门，放吊桥，你也胆敢乱来吗？把他吊在窗子上！让他两只脚打拍子，我们将在一边为他干杯，祝他一帆风顺进地狱。”
死刑刚一宣判，便马上兑现了。转瞬之间那可怜的家伙便被吊在铁棒上断了气。当昆丁一行进入大厅时，他的尸体还吊在那儿，由于挡住了苍白的月光，在地板上投下一团模糊的阴影，使人疑惑而恐惧地猜想到产生这阴影的是个什么性质的东西。
当行会主席巴维翁的大名在这狂嚣的聚会上被通报上去时，他竭力装出一副权威和影响都使他有权和他们平起平坐的要人气派。但一看到窗子上吊着的那吓人的东西，以及他周围那放荡不羁的情景，他就感到很难把这个角色坚持下去——虽然彼得在他耳边不安地连连告诫他：“老爷，鼓起勇气，要不我们就完蛋了。”
这位行会主席在他庆祝德拉马克的士兵和列日市民取得巨大胜利的简短贺词中还是尽其所能地维护了他应有的尊严。
“不错，”德拉马克挖苦地说道，“我女人的母狼犬对狼犬说：我们终归还是把那猎物杀死了。嗬，市长先生，您真像战神驾到，还有美女陪伴！这美人是谁？取下面纱，取下面纱——今晚任何女人也不得把自己的美丽作为私有。”
“高贵的首领，这可是我的女儿，”巴维翁说道，“我求您原谅她戴面纱，因为她曾对得福的三王许过愿。”
“我可以替她马上解除许下的愿，”德拉马克说道，“因为我只消屠刀一劈，就可以把自己奉为列日主教。我想一个活着的主教总配得上死去的三王吧。”
一听这话，在座的来宾不禁微微颤栗，窃窃私语起来，因为列日的市民，甚至包括粗鲁的士兵，尽管别的概不尊敬，却十分尊崇所谓的“科隆三王”。
“别误会。我并不是想背叛已故的三位国王陛下，”德拉马克说，“不过，我已决心当这个主教。能有一个既有俗权又有神权并有聚散人马能力的王子，再配上你们这样一帮浪荡子，应当是最适合不过，因为别人谁也不会给你们赦罪的好处——高贵的市长，请你过来，坐在我旁边。为了我的荣升，你会看到我亲手创造一个缺额。带那坐过这个神圣席位的前任主教进来。”
