登陆注册
34930700000068

第68章

John the Fearless had been murdered in his turn on the bridge of Montereau so far back as 1419. His son, Philip the Good - partly to extinguish the feud, partly that he might do a popular action, and partly, in view of his ambitious schemes, to detach another great vassal from the throne of France - had taken up the cause of Charles of Orleans, and negotiated diligently for his release. In 1433 a Burgundian embassy was admitted to an interview with the captive duke, in the presence of Suffolk. Charles shook hands most affectionately with the ambassadors. They asked after his health. "I am well enough in body," he replied, "but far from well in mind.

I am dying of grief at having to pass the best days of my life in prison, with none to sympathise." The talk falling on the chances of peace, Charles referred to Suffolk if he were not sincere and constant in his endeavours to bring it about. "If peace depended on me," he said, "I should procure it gladly, were it to cost me my life seven days after." We may take this as showing what a large price he set, not so much on peace, as on seven days of *******. Seven days! - he would make them seven years in the employment. Finally, he assured the ambassadors of his good will to Philip of Burgundy; squeezed one of them by the hand and nipped him twice in the arm to signify things unspeakable before Suffolk; and two days after sent them Suffolk's barber, one Jean Carnet, a native of Lille, to testify more freely of his sentiments. "As I speak French," said this emissary, "the Duke of Orleans is more familiar with me than with any other of the household; and I can bear witness he never said anything against Duke Philip." (1) It will be remembered that this person, with whom he was so anxious to stand well, was no other than his hereditary enemy, the son of his father's murderer. But the honest fellow bore no malice, indeed not he. He began exchanging ballades with Philip, whom he apostrophises as his companion, his cousin, and his brother. He assures him that, soul and body, he is altogether Burgundian; and protests that he has given his heart in pledge to him. Regarded as the history of a vendetta, it must be owned that Charles's life has points of some originality. And yet there is an engaging frankness about these ballades which disarms criticism. (2) You see Charles throwing himself headforemost into the trap; you hear Burgundy, in his answers begin to inspire him with his own prejudices, and draw melancholy pictures of the misgovernment of France. But Charles's own spirits are so high and so amiable, and he is so thoroughly convinced his cousin is a fine fellow, that one's scruples are carried away in the torrent of his happiness and gratitude. And his would be a sordid spirit who would not clap hands at the consummation (Nov. 1440); when Charles, after having sworn on the Sacrament that he would never again bear arms against England, and pledged himself body and soul to the unpatriotic faction in his own country, set out from London with a light heart and a damaged integrity.

(1) Dom Plancher, iv. 178-9.

(2) Works, i. 157-63.

In the magnificent copy of Charles's poems, given by our Henry VII. to Elizabeth of York on the occasion of their marriage, a large illumination figures at the head of one of the pages, which, in chronological perspective, is almost a history of his imprisonment. It gives a view of London with all its spires, the river passing through the old bridge and busy with boats. One side of the White Tower has been taken out, and we can see, as under a sort of shrine, the paved room where the duke sits writing. He occupies a high-backed bench in front of a great chimney; red and black ink are before him; and the upper end of the apartment is guarded by many halberdiers, with the red cross of England on their breast. On the next side of the tower he appears again, leaning out of window and gazing on the river; doubtless there blows just then "a pleasant wind from out the land of France," and some ship comes up the river: "the ship of good news." At the door we find him yet again; this time embracing a messenger, while a groom stands by holding two saddled horses. And yet further to the left, a cavalcade defiles out of the tower; the duke is on his way at last towards "the sunshine of France."

III.

同类推荐
  • 玄天上帝百字圣号

    玄天上帝百字圣号

    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。
  • 知圣篇

    知圣篇

    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。
  • 福建通志台湾府

    福建通志台湾府

    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。
  • HARD TIMES

    HARD TIMES

    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。
  • 佛说旧城喻经

    佛说旧城喻经

    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。
热门推荐
  • The Fox in the Henhouse

    The Fox in the Henhouse

    Privatization has been on the right-wing agenda for nuoha.com make a powerful case that the market is not the measure of all things, and that a vital public sector is an indispensable component of a healthy democracy.
  • 诱宠狂妃:邪王宠妻无度

    诱宠狂妃:邪王宠妻无度

    美女少校魂穿跃龙国,权位之争、情感纠纷、身世之谜,凡是穿越女该有的狗血剧情都轮番上阵,身为女主角的云汐表示……好累。“美人,你要为我负责!”腹黑的三皇子如是说。云汐黑线:“这话不该女主说的咩!?你抢我台词!?”某三皇子惊喜交加:“那本殿不介意对你负责啊!”云汐囧,碰上一个本性腹黑、背景强大,长相妖孽的男人,她表示鸭梨山大啊!!逃不了,跑不掉,逐渐迷失在他的宠溺之中……“我可以把心给你,但我要一生一世一双人,你能做到么?”她想知道,心向皇位的他,是否会为她,抛弃江山……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 我收到了魔法学校的录取通知书

    我收到了魔法学校的录取通知书

    一天,我收到了魔法学校的录取通知书,不曾想暗恋三年的男神和我一个车厢,但没想到后来我遇到了神秘人,才知道我前世居然是这样的身份,神秘人大帅哥居然是我命定的丈夫,我是拯救苍生的女英雄?
  • 田园小爱妻

    田园小爱妻

    ————二十八的聂子川重生回了二十岁的时候:他病重频死,爹娘给买了个小媳妇,十三岁的邻村小姑娘,死的。上一世没有的桥段,这一世竟然发生了。正当他准备拖着病体拒绝的时候,那已经死透的尸体又活了。******************云朵从没想过她这样无才无德头脑简单只会吃的人也会穿越,还成了被爹娘逼死又贱卖给病秧子的诈尸的小村姑。从此,聂子川多了个小媳妇儿。锅碗瓢盆的小日子,因为多了个小媳妇儿顿时变得鸡飞狗跳。公婆软弱被欺负,八戒牌的铁筢子,上!爹娘极品上门来,如来神的大巴掌,拍!穷困潦倒没法过,萌萌哒的小吃货,挣!********************若有极品来挡道,统统送他见阎王。斗,是一定要有滴,态度一定是温和滴,手段是一定是狠辣滴,极品是一定要被消灭滴~某女:“相公!来么么哒!”某相公:媳妇儿!你不是不要我了吗/(ㄒoㄒ)/~~身娇体软小白兔VS腹黑奸诈老狐狸【美食,美容,美体,美人儿,一手在握】
  • 凌辰落初雪

    凌辰落初雪

    浮夸而暴躁的城市,如同抽象派艺术家笔下,扭曲的时间轨迹和破败不堪的空间线条。豪不唯美,却能摄魂夺魄。高楼林立,马路纵横,人行漠然。似乎这是一场关于繁荣的盛宴,需要摇滚的造势,需要演讲家的熏陶,更需要舞蹈家助兴吆喝。场面劲爆,人性疯狂,热舞与爱吾同时进行。当镜头拉近,一切劲爆与狂欢,啜泣与压抑,傲慢与无知肆掠而来……
  • 上古世纪之月神

    上古世纪之月神

    上古世纪,人类存在这真正的神明,每个国家都有自己的神,每个人都是自己的神。这不是扯呢么,连名都没报上,我还在这儿巴巴写呢!!
  • 神笔系统

    神笔系统

    神笔在手,天下我有!神笔沟通宇宙大千世界,称霸地球,改进地球我的梦想!和皇帝一样,银河系以外还有生命。神笔沟通其他的800个有智能生命的星系。新书新人!
  • 草家族的绿袖子:原野童话

    草家族的绿袖子:原野童话

    本书收录了作者创作的《闻香》、《柳美人》、《种子》、《鸽子在天空流浪》、《发现》、《月光手帕》、《小女趣事》等八十余篇随笔。
  • 蜜汁炖鱿鱼贰

    蜜汁炖鱿鱼贰

    讲述的是韩商言与佟年的婚后生活是如何的甜蜜
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!