The Last of the Barons — Complete
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CHAPTER IX. MASTER MARMADUKE NEVILE LEAVES THE WIZARD'S HOUSE FOR THEGREAT WORLD.
"Right glad am I," said Nicholas, "to see you so stout and hearty, forI am the bearer of good news. Though I have been away, I have notforgotten you; and it so chanced that I went yesterday to attend myLord of Warwick with some nowches [buckles and other ornaments] andknackeries, that he takes out as gifts and exemplars of English work.They were indifferently well wrought, specially a chevesail, of whichthe--"
"Spare me the fashion of thy mechanicals, and come to the point,"interrupted Marmaduke, impatiently.
"Pardon me, Master Nevile. I interrupt thee not when thou talkest ofbassinets and hauberks,--every cobbler to his last. But, as thou sayest,to the point: the stout earl, while scanning my workmanship, for in muchthe chevesail was mine, was pleased to speak graciously of my skill withthe bow, of which he had heard; and he then turned to thyself, of whommy Lord Montagu had already made disparaging mention. When I told theearl somewhat more about thy qualities and disposings, and when I spokeof thy desire to serve him, and the letter of which thou art the bearer,his black brows smoothed mighty graciously, and he bade me tell thee tocome to him this afternoon, and he would judge of thee with his own eyesand ears. Wherefore I have ordered the craftsman to have all thy gaudsand gear ready at thine hostelrie, and I have engaged thee henchmen andhorses for thy fitting appearance. Be quick: time and the great wait forno man. So take whatever thou needest for present want from thy mails,and I will send a porter for the rest ere sunset."
"But the gittern for the damozel?"
"I have provided that for thee, as is meet." And Nicholas, steppingback, eased the groom of a case which contained a gittern, whoseworkmanship and ornaments delighted the Nevile.
"It is of my lord the young Duke of Gloucester's own musical-vendor; andthe duke, though a lad yet, is a notable judge of all appertaining tothe gentle craft. [For Richard III.'s love of music, and patronage ofmusicians and minstrels, see the discriminating character of that princein Sharon Turner's "History of England," vol. IV. p. 66.] So despatch,and away!"
Marmaduke retired to his chamber, and Nicholas, after a moment spent insilent thought, searched the room for the hand-bell, which then made themode of communication between the master and domestics. Not finding thisnecessary luxury, he contrived at last to make Madge hear his voicefrom her subterranean retreat; and on her arrival, sent her in quest ofSibyll.
The answer he received was, that Mistress Sibyll was ill, and unable tosee him. Alwyn looked disconcerted at this intelligence, but, drawingfrom his girdle a small gipsire, richly broidered, he prayed Madge todeliver it to her young mistress, and inform her that it was the fruitof the commission with which she had honoured him.
"It is passing strange," said he, pacing the hall alone,--"passingstrange, that the poor child should have taken such hold on me. Afterall, she would be a bad wife for a plain man like me. Tush! that is thetrader's thought all over. Have I brought no fresher feeling out of myfair village-green? Would it not be sweet to work for her, and rise inlife, with her by my side? And these girls of the city, so prim and sobrainless!--as well marry a painted puppet. Sibyll! Am I dement? Starkwode? What have I to do with girls and marriage? Humph! I marvel whatMarmaduke still thinks of her,--and she of him."
While Alwyn thus soliloquized, the Nevile having hastily arranged hisdress, and laden himself with the moneys his mails contained, summonedold Madge to receive his largess, and to conduct him to Warner'schamber, in order to proffer his farewell.
With somewhat of a timid step he followed the old woman (who keptmuttering thanks and benedicites as she eyed the coin in her palm) upthe ragged stairs, and for the first time knocked at the door of thestudent's sanctuary. No answer came. "Eh, sir! you must enter," saidMadge; "an' you fired a bombard under his ear he would not heed you."So, suiting the action to the word, she threw open the door, and closedit behind him, as Marmaduke entered.
The room was filled with smoke, through which mirky atmosphere the clearred light of the burning charcoal peered out steadily like a Cyclop'seye. A small, but heaving, regular, labouring, continuous sound, as ofa fairy hammer, smote the young man's ear. But as his gaze, accustomingitself to the atmosphere, searched around, he could not perceive whatwas its cause. Adam Warner was standing in the middle of the room, hisarms folded, and contemplating something at a little distance, whichMarmaduke could not accurately distinguish. The youth took courage, andapproached. "Honoured mine host," said he, "I thank thee forhospitality and kindness, I crave pardon for disturbing thee in thyincanta--ehem!--thy--thy studies, and I come to bid thee farewell."
Adam turned round with a puzzled, absent air, as if scarcely recognizinghis guest; at length, as his recollection slowly came back to him, hesmiled graciously, and said: "Good youth, thou art richly welcome towhat little it was in my power to do for thee. Peradventure a time maycome when they who seek the roof of Adam Warner may find less homelycheer, a less rugged habitation,--for look you!" he exclaimed suddenly,with a burst of irrepressible enthusiasm--and laying his hand onNevile's arm, as, through all the smoke and grime that obscured hisface, flashed the ardent soul of the triumphant Inventor,--"look you!since you have been in this house, one of my great objects is well-nighmatured,--achieved. Come hither," and he dragged the wondering Marmaduketo his model, or Eureka, as Adam had fondly named his contrivance. TheNevile then perceived that it was from the interior of this machine thatthe sound which had startled him arose; to his eye the THING was uncouthand hideous; from the jaws of an iron serpent, that, wreathing round it,rose on high with erect crest, gushed a rapid volume of black smoke,and a damp spray fell around. A column of iron in the centre kept inperpetual and regular motion, rising and sinking successively, as thewhole mechanism within seemed alive with noise and action.
"The Syracusan asked an inch of earth, beyond the earth, to move theearth," said Adam; "I stand in the world, and lo! with this engine theworld shall one day be moved."
"Holy Mother!" faltered Marmaduke; "I pray thee, dread sir, to ponderwell ere thou attemptest any such sports with the habitation in whichevery woman's son is so concerned. Bethink thee, that if in moving theworld thou shouldst make any mistake, it would--"
"Now stand there and attend," interrupted Adam, who had not heard oneword of this judicious exhortation.
"Pardon me, terrible sir!" exclaimed Marmaduke, in great trepidation,and retreating rapidly to the door; "but I have heard that the fiendsare mighty malignant to all lookers-on not initiated."
While he spoke, fast gushed the smoke, heavily heaved the fairy hammers,up and down, down and up, sank or rose the column, with its sullensound. The young man's heart sank to the soles of his feet.
"Indeed and in truth," he stammered out, "I am but a dolt in thesematters; I wish thee all success compatible with the weal of aChristian, and bid thee, in sad humility, good day:" and he added, in awhisper--"the Lord's forgiveness! Amen!"
Marmaduke then fairly rushed through the open door, and hurried out ofthe chamber as fast as possible.
He breathed more freely as he descended the stairs. "Before I wouldcall that gray carle my father, or his child my wife, may I feel allthe hammers of the elves and sprites he keeps tortured within thatugly little prison-house playing a death's march on my body! Holy SaintDunstan, the timbrel-girls came in time! They say these wizards alwayshave fair daughters, and their love can be no blessing!"
As he thus muttered, the door of Sibyll's chamber opened, and she stoodbefore him at the threshold. Her countenance was very pale, and boreevidence of weeping. There was a silence on both sides, which the girlwas the first to break.
"So, Madge tells me thou art about to leave us?"
"Yes, gentle maiden! I--I--that is, my Lord of Warwick has summoned me.I wish and pray for all blessings on thee! and--and--if ever it be mineto serve or aid thee, it will be--that is--verily, my tongue falters,but my heart--that is--fare thee well, maiden! Would thou hadst a lesswise father; and so may t
he saints (Saint Anthony especially, whom theEvil One was parlous afraid of) guard and keep thee!"
With this strange and incoherent address, Marmaduke left the maidenstanding by the threshold of her miserable chamber. Hurrying into thehall, he summoned Alwyn from his meditations, and, giving the gitternto Madge, with an injunction to render it to her mistress, with hisgreeting and service, he vaulted lightly on his steed; the steady andmore sober Alwyn mounted his palfrey with slow care and due caution.As the air of spring waved the fair locks of the young cavalier, as thegood horse caracoled under his lithesome weight, his natural temper ofmind, hardy, healthful, joyous, and world-awake, returned to him. Theimage of Sibyll and her strange father fled from his thoughts likesickly dreams.
BOOK II. THE KING'S COURT.