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Maid Marian
Maid Marian
by Thomas Love Peacock
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Maid Marian
CHAPTER I
Now come ye for peace here； or come ye for war？ SCOTT。
〃The abbot； in his alb arrayed；〃 stood at the altar in the abbey…chapel
of Rubygill； with all his plump； sleek； rosy friars； in goodly lines disposed；
to solemnise the nuptials of the beautiful Matilda Fitzwater； daughter of
the Baron of Arlingford； with the noble Robert Fitz…Ooth； Earl of Locksley
and Huntingdon。 The abbey of Rubygill stood in a picturesque valley； at
a little distance from the western boundary of Sherwood Forest； in a spot
which seemed adapted by nature to be the retreat of monastic mortification；
being on the banks of a fine trout…stream； and in the midst of woodland
coverts； abounding with excellent game。 The bride； with her father and
attendant maidens； entered the chapel； but the earl had not arrived。 The
baron was amazed； and the bridemaidens were disconcerted。 Matilda
feared that some evil had befallen her lover； but felt no diminution of her
confidence in his honour and love。 Through the open gates of the chapel
she looked down the narrow road that wound along the side of the hill； and
her ear was the first that heard the distant trampling of horses； and her eye
was the first that caught the glitter of snowy plumes； and the light of
polished spears。 〃It is strange；〃 thought the baron； 〃that the earl should
come in this martial array to his wedding；〃 but he had not long to meditate
on the phenomenon； for the foaming steeds swept up to the gate like a
whirlwind； and the earl； breathless with speed； and followed by a few of
his yeomen； advanced to his smiling bride。 It was then no time to ask
questions； for the organ was in full peal； and the choristers were in full
voice。
The abbot began to intone the ceremony in a style of modulation
impressively exalted； his voice issuing most canonically from the roof of
his mouth； through the medium of a very musical nose newly tuned for the
occasion。 But he had not proceeded far enough to exhibit all the variety
and compass of this melodious instrument； when a noise was heard at the
gate； and a party of armed men entered the chapel。 The song of the
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Maid Marian
choristers died away in a shake of demisemiquavers； contrary to all the
rules of psalmody。 The organ…blower； who was working his musical air…
pump with one hand； and with two fingers and a thumb of the other
insinuating a peeping…place through the curtain of the organ…gallery； was
struck motionless by the double operation of curiosity and fear； while the
organist； intent only on his performance； and spreading all his fingers to
strike a swell of magnificent chords； felt his harmonic spirit ready to
desert his body on being answered by the ghastly rattle of empty keys； and
in the consequent agitato furioso of the internal movements of his feelings；
was preparing to restore harmony by the segue subito of an appoggiatura
con foco with the corner of a book of anthems on the head of his
neglectful assistant； when his hand and his attention together were arrested
by the scene below。 The voice of the abbot subsided into silence through a
descending scale of long…drawn melody； like the sound of the ebbing sea
to the explorers of a cave。 In a few moments all was silence； interrupted
only by the iron tread of the armed intruders； as it rang on the marble floor
and echoed from the vaulted aisles。
The leader strode up to the altar； and placing himself opposite to the
abbot； and between the earl and Matilda； in such a manner that the four
together seemed to stand on the four points of a diamond； exclaimed； 〃In
the name of King Henry； I forbid the ceremony； and attach Robert Earl of
Huntingdon as a traitor！〃 and at the same time he held his drawn sword
between the lovers； as if to emblem that royal authority which laid its
temporal ban upon their contract。 The earl drew his own sword instantly；
and struck down the interposing weapon； then clasped his left arm round
Matilda； who sprang into his embrace； and held his sword before her with
his right hand。 His yeomen ranged themselves at his side； and stood with
their swords drawn； still and prepared； like men determined to die in his
defence。 The soldiers； confident in superiority of numbers； paused。 The
abbot took advantage of the pause to introduce a word of exhortation。
〃My children；〃 said he； 〃if you are going to cut each other's throats； I
entreat you； in the name of peace and charity； to do it out of the chapel。〃
〃Sweet Matilda；〃 said the earl； 〃did you give your love to the Earl of
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Huntingdon； whose lands touch the Ouse and the Trent； or to Robert Fitz…
Ooth； the son of his mother？〃
〃Neither to the earl nor his earldom；〃 answered Matilda firmly； 〃but to
Robert Fitz…Ooth and his love。〃
〃That I well knew；〃 said the earl； 〃and though the ceremony be
incomplete； we are not the less married in the eye of my only saint； our
Lady； who will yet bring us together。 Lord Fitzwater； to your care； for the
present； I commit your daughter。Nay； sweet Matilda； part we must for a
while； but we will soon meet under brighter skies； and be this the seal of
our faith。〃
He kissed Matilda's lips； and consigned her to the baron； who
glowered about him with an expression of countenance that showed he
was mortally wroth with somebody； but whatever he thought or felt he
kept to himself。 The earl； with a sign to his followers； made a sudden
charge on the soldiers； with the intention of cutting his way through。 The
soldiers were prepared for such an occurrence； and a desperate skirmish
succeeded。 Some of the women screamed； but none of them fainted； for
fainting was not so much the fashion in those days； when the ladies
breakfasted on brawn and ale at sunrise； as in our more refined age of
green tea and muffins at noon。 Matilda seemed disposed to fly again to
her lover； but the baron forced her from the chapel。 The earl's bowmen at
the door sent in among the assailants a volley of arrows； one of which
whizzed past the ear of the abbot； who； in mortal fear of being suddenly
translated from a ghostly friar into a friarly ghost； began to roll out of the
chapel as fast as his bulk and his holy robes would permit； roaring
〃Sacrilege！〃 with all his monks at his heels； who were； like himself； more
intent to go at once than to stand upon the order of their going。 The
abbot； thus pressed from behind； and stumbling over his own drapery
before； fell suddenly prostrate in the door…way that connected the chapel
with the abbey； and was instantaneously buried under a pyramid of ghostly
carcasses； that fell over him and each other； and lay a rolling chaos of
animated rotundities； sprawling and bawling in unseemly disarray； and
sending forth the names of all the saints in and out of heaven； amidst the
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clashing of swords； the ringing of bucklers； the clattering of helmets； the
twanging of bow…strings； the whizzing of arrows； the screams of women；
the shouts of the warriors； and the vociferations of the peasantry； who had
been assembled to the intended nuptials； and who； seeing a fair set…to；
contrived to pick a quarrel among themselves on the occasion； and
proceeded； with staff and cudgel； to crack each other's skulls for the good
of the king and the earl。 One tall friar alone was untouched by the panic of
his brethren； and stood steadfastly watching the combat with his arms a…