A Monk of Fife

by Various

  CHAPTER IX--OF THE WINNING OF ELLIOT

  The days of fever and of dreams went by and passed, leaving me very weak,but not ignorant of where I was, and of what had come and gone. Mymaster had often been by my bedside, and Elliot now and again; the oldhousewife also watched me by night, and gave me drink when I thirsted.Most of the while I deemed I was at home, in the house of Pitcullo; yet Ifelt there was something strange, and that there was pain somewhere inthe room. But at length, as was said, I came to knowledge of things, andcould see Elliot and remember her, when she knelt praying by my bed, asoft she did, whiles I lay between life and death. I have heard speak ofmen who, being inflamed with love, as I had been, fell into a fever ofthe body, and when that passed, lo! their passion had passed with it, andtheir longing. And so it seemed to be with me. For some days I was notpermitted to utter a word, and later, I was as glad in Elliot's companyas you may have seen a little lad and lass, not near come to full age,who go playing together with flowers and such toys. So we were merrytogether, the jackanapes keeping us company, and making much game andsport.

  Perchance these were my most blessed days, as of one who had returned tothe sinless years, when we are happier than we know, and not yetacquainted with desire. Now and again Rutherford and Lindsay would cometo visit me, seeming strangely still and gentle, speaking little, butlooking at me with kind eyes, and vowing that my tailor should yet bepaid for his labour. Capdorat also came, for he had but suffered a fleshwound with much loss of blood, and we showed each other the bestcountenance. So time went by, while I grew stronger daily; and now itwas ordained by the leech, a skilful man, that I might leave my bed, andbe clothed, and go about through the house, and eat stronger food,whereof I had the greatest desire, and would ever be eating like ahowlet. {19} Now, when I was to rise, I looked that they should bring memy old prentice's gabardine and hose, but on the morning of that dayElliot came, bearing in her arms a parcel of raiment very gay and costly.

  "Here is your fine clothing new come from the tailor's booth," she criedmerrily. "See, you shall be as bright as spring, in green, and white,and red!"

  There was the bonnet, with its three coloured plumes, and the doublet,with Charles wrought in silver on the arm and breast, and all otherthings seemly--a joy to mine eyes.

  She held them up before me, her face shining like the return of life,with a happy welcome; and my heart beat to see and hear her as of old itwas wont to do.

  "And wherefore should not I go to the wars," she cried, "and fight besidethe Maid? I am as tall as she, if scantly so strong, and brave--oh, I amvery brave Glacidas, I bid you beware!" she said, putting the archer'sbonnet gallantly cocked on her beautiful head, and drawing forth thesword from his scabbard, as one in act to fight, but in innocentunwarlike wise.

  There she stood before me in the sunlight, like the Angel of Victory, allglad and fair, and two blue rays from her eyes shot into my heart, andlo! I was no more a child, but a man again and a lover.

  "O Elliot," I said, ere ever I wist what I was saying, and I caught herleft hand into mine--"O Elliot, I love you! Give me but your love, and Ishall come back from the wars a knight, and claim my love to be my lady."

  She snatched her hand suddenly, as if angered, out of mine, andtherewith, being very weak, I gave a cry, my wound fiercely paining me.Then her face changed from rose-red to lily-white, she dropped on herknees by my bed, and her arms were about my neck, and all over my faceher soft, sweet-scented hair and her tears.

  "Oh, I have slain you, I have slain you, my love!" she sobbed, making alow, sweet moan, as a cushat in the wild wood, for I lay deadly still,being overcome with pain and joy. And there I was, my love comforting meas a mother comforts her child.

  I moved my hand, to take hers in mine--her little hand; and so, for aspace, there was silence between us, save for her kind moaning, and in myheart was such gladness as comes but once to men, and may not be spokenin words of this world.

  There was silence between us; then she rose very gently and tossed backher hair, showing her face wet with tears, but rosy-red with happinessand sweet shame. Had it not been for that chance hurt, how long might Ihave wooed ere I won her? But her heart was molten by my anguish.

  "Hath the pain passed?" she whispered.

  "Sweet was the pain, my love, and sweetly hast thou healed it with thymagic."

  Then she kissed me, and so fled from the room, as one abashed, and camenot back that day, when, indeed, I did not rise, nor for two days more,being weaker than we had deemed. But happiness is the greatest leech onearth, and does the rarest miracles of healing; so in three days' space Iwon strength to leave my bed and my room, and could sit by the door, atnoon, in the sun of spring, that is warmer in France than in our owncountry.

  Now it could not be but that Elliot and I must meet, when her father wasin town about his affairs, or busy in the painting-room, and much work hehad then on his hands. But Elliot was right coy, hiding herself from me,who watched warily, till one day, when my master was abroad, I had thefortune to find her alone in the chamber, putting spring flowers in avery fair vessel of glass. I made no more ado, but coming in stealthily,I caught her boldly about the body, saying--

  "Yield you, rescue or no rescue, and strive not against me, lest you slaya wounded man-at-arms."

  For very fear, as I believe, lest she might stir my wound again, she wasstill as a bird that lies in your hands when once you have caught it. Andall that passes of kiss and kind word between happy lovers passed betweenus, till I prayed of her grace, that I might tell her father how thingsstood, for well I had seen by his words and deeds that he cherished me asa son. So she granted this, and we fell to devising as to what was to bein days to come. Lackland was I, and penniless, save for my pay, if Igot it; but we looked to the common fortune of young men-at-arms, namely,spoil of war and the ransom of prisoners of England or Burgundy. For Ihad set up my resolve either to die gloriously, or to win great wealthand honour, which, to a young man and a lover, seem things easily comeby. Nor could my master look for a great fortune in marriage, seeingthat, despite his gentle birth, he lived but as a burgess, and by thework of his hands.

  As we thus devised, she told me how matters now were in the country, ofwhich, indeed, I still knew but little, for, to a man sick and nigh upondeath, nothing imports greatly that betides beyond the walls of hischamber. What I heard was this: namely, that, about Orleans, the Englishever pressed the good town more closely, building new bastilles and othergreat works, so as to close the way from Blois against any that camethence of our party with victual and men-at-arms. And daily there wasfighting without the walls, wherein now one side had the better, now theother; but food was scant in Orleans, and many were slain bycannon-shots. Yet much was spoken of a new cannonier, lately come to aidthe men of Orleans, and how he and John of Lorraine slew many of thehardiest of the English with their couleuvrines.

  At this telling I bethought me of Brother Thomas, but spoke no wordconcerning him, for my mistress began very gladly to devise of her dearMaid, concerning whom, indeed, she could never long be silent. "Faithlessheart and fickle," I said in a jest, "I believe you love that Maid morethan you love me, and as she wears sword at side, like a man, I must evenchallenge her to fight in the island."

  Here she stayed my speech in the best manner and the most gracious,laughing low, so that, verily, I was clean besotted with love, andmarvelled that any could be so fair as she, and how I could have won sucha lady.

  "Beware how you challenge my Maid," said she at last, "for she fights buton horseback, with lance and sperthe, {20} and the Duc d'Alencon has seenher tilt at the ring, and has given her the best steed in his stables,whereon she shall soon lead her army to Orleans."

  "Then I must lay by my quarrel, for who am I to challenge my captain?But, tell me, hath she heard any word of thee and me?"

  Elliot waxed rosy, and whispered--

  "We had spoken together about thee, ere she went to Poictiers to beexamined and questioned by
the doctors of law and learning, after thouwert wounded." Concerning this journey to Poictiers I knew nothing, butI was more concerned to hear what the Maid had said about Elliot and me.For seeing that the Maid herself was vowed (as men deemed) to virginity,it passed into my mind that she might think holy matrimony but a lowestate, and might try to set my mistress's heart on following her ownexample. And then, I thought, but foolishly, Elliot's love for me mightbe weaker than her love for the Maid.

  "Yes," my lady went on, "I could not but open my heart about thee and me,to one who is of my own age, and so wise, unlike other girls. Moreover,I scarce knew well whether your heart was like disposed with my heart.Therefore I devised with her more than once or twice."

  Hiding her face on my breast, she spoke very low; and as my fancy hadonce seen the children, the dark head and the golden, bowed together inprayer for France and the Dauphin, so now I saw them again, held closetogether in converse, and that strange Maid and Prophetess listening,like any girl, to a girl's tale of the secrets of her heart.

  "And what counsel gave the Maid?" I said; "or had she any prophecy of ourfortune?"

  "Nay, on such matters she knows no more than you or I, or knows butseldom, nor seeks to learn from her counsel. Only she is bidden that shemust rescue Orleans, and lead the Dauphin to his sacring at Rheims. Butshe wished me well, and comforted me that your heart was even as my own,as she saw on that day when you wore woman's gear and slew him thatblasphemed her. And of you she spoke the best words, for that you, whoknew her not, took her part against her enemy. And for your wound shesorrowed much, not knowing, more than I who am simple, whether it wouldturn to life or death. And if to life, then, if she could but persuadethe doctor and clergy and the King's counsellors to let her go, she saidthat you should follow with her to the wars, and she, if so the saintspleased, would be the making of your fortune, you and I being her firstfriends."

  "The saints fight for her!" I said, "for we have done our part thus far,and I would that I may be well ere she raises her standard."

  But here Elliot turned right pale, at the thought of my going to thewars, she holding my face off and gazing steadily upon me with wistfuleyes.

  "O God, send that the Maid go speedily!" she cried, "for as now you arenot fit to bear arms."

  "Thou wouldst not have me lag behind, when the Maid's banner is on thewind?"

  "Nay," she said, but slowly, "thee and all that I have would I give forher and for her cause, and for the saints. But now thou must notgo,"--and her eyes yearned upon me--"now that I could overthrow thee ifwe came to war."

  So here she laughed again, being like the weather without--a changefulthing of shower and shine.

  Thus we continued devising, and she told me that, some days after mywounding, the Maid had held converse apart with the King, and then gavehim to wit of certain marvellous matters, that none might know save byheavenly inspiration. But what these matters might be none could tell,save the King and the Maiden only.

  That this was sooth I can affirm, having myself been present in lateryears, when one that affected to be the very Pucelle, never slain, or re-arisen by miracle, came before the King, and truly she had beguiled many.Then the King said, "Welcome Pucelle, ma mie, thou art welcome if thouhast memory of that secret thing which is between thee and me." Whereonthis false woman, as one confounded, fell on her knees and confessed hertreason.

  This that Elliot told me, therefore, while the sun shone into the chamberthrough the bare vine-tendrils, was sooth, and by this miracle, it seems,the Maid had at last won the ear of the King. So he bade carry her toPoictiers, where the doctors and the learned were but now examining intoher holy life, and her knowledge of religion, being amazed by the wisdomof her answers. The noble ladies about her, too, and these mendicantfriars that were sent to hold inquisition concerning her at Domremy, hadfound in her nothing but simplicity and holy maidenhood, pity and piety.But, as for a sign of her sending, and a marvel to convince all men'shearts, that, she said, she would only work at Orleans. So now she wasbeing accepted, and was to raise her standard, as we had cause tobelieve.

  "But," said Elliot, "the weeks go by, and much is said, and men andvictual are to be gathered, and still they tarry, doing no great deed.Oh, would that to-day her standard were on the wind! for to-day, and forthese many days, I must have you here, and tend you till you be fit tobear arms."

  Therewith she made me much good cheer; then, very tenderly taking herarms from about me, lest I should be hurt again, she cried--

  "But we speak idly, and thou hast not seen the standard, and the banner,and the pennon of the Maid that my father is painting."

  Then I must lean on her shoulder, as, indeed, I still had cause to do,and so, right heedfully, she brought me into the painting-chamber. There,upon great easels, were stretched three sheets of "bougran," {21} verywhite and glistering--a mighty long sheet for the standard, a smallerone, square, for the banner, and the pennon smaller yet, in form of atriangle, as is customary.

  The great standard, in the Maiden's wars, was to be used for the rallyingof all her host; the pennon was a signal to those who fought around her,as guards of her body; and about the banner afterwards gathered, forprayer and praise, those men, confessed and clean of conscience, whom shehad called and chosen.

  These cloths were now but half painted, the figures being drawn, by mymaster's hands, and the ground-colours laid; but some portions were quitefinished, very bright and beautiful. On the standard was figured God theFather, having the globe in His hand; two angels knelt by Him, oneholding for His blessing the lily of France. The field was to be sownwith fleurs-de-lys, and to bear the holy names: Jhesu--Maria. On thebanner was our Lord crucified between the Holy Virgin and St. John. Andon the pennon was wrought the Annunciation, the angel with a lilykneeling to the Blessed Virgin. On the standard, my master, later,fashioned the chosen blazon of the Maid--a dove argent, on a field azure.But the blazon of the sword supporting the crown, between two lilies,that was later given to her and her house, she did not use, as herenemies said she did, out of pride and vainglory, mixing her arms withholy things, even at Rheims at the sacring. For when she was at Rheims,no armorial bearings had yet been given to her. Herein, then, as always,they lied in their cruel throats; for, as the Psalmist says, "Quarefremuerunt gentes?"

  All these evil tongues, and all thought of evil days, were far from us aswe stood looking at the work, and praising it, as well we might, fornever had my master wrought so well. Now, as I studied on the paintings,I well saw that my master had drawn the angel of the pennon in thelikeness of his own daughter Elliot. Wonderful it was to see her fairface and blue eyes, holy and humble, with the gold halo round her head.

  "Ah, love," I said, "that banner I could follow far, pursuing fame andthe face of my lady!"

  With that we fell into such dalliance and kind speech as lovers use,wholly rapt from the world in our happiness.

  Even then, before we so much as heard his step at the door, my masterentered, and there stood we, my arm about her neck and hers about mybody, embracing me.

  He stood with eyes wide open, and gave one long whistle.

  "Faith!" he cried, "our surgery hath wrought miracles! You are wholebeyond what I looked for; but surely you are deaf, for my step is heavyenough, yet, me thinks, you heard me not."

  Elliot spoke no word, but drawing me very heedfully to a settle that wasby the side of the room, she fled without looking behind her.

  "Sir," I said, as soon as she was gone, "I need make no long story--"

  "Faith, no!" he answered, standing back from the banner and holding hishands at each side of his eyes, regarding his work as limners do. "Youtwain, I doubt not, were smitten senseless by these great masterpieces,and the thought of the holy use to which they were made."

  "That might well have been, sir, but what we had covenanted to tell youthis day we have told unwittingly, methinks, already. I could not be inyour daughter's company, and have the grace of her gentle ministering
s--"

  "But you must stand senseless before her father's paintings? Faith, youare a very grateful lad! But so it is, and I am not one of those blindfolk who see not what is under their eyes. And now, what now? Well, Ican tell you. You are to be healed, and follow these flags to war, andwin your spurs, and much wealth by ransoms, and so make my lass yourlady. Is it not so?"

  I was abashed by his "bourdes," and could say nought, for, being stillvery weak, the tears came into my eyes. Then he drew near me, limping,and put his hand on my shoulder, but very gently, saying--

  "Even so be it, my son, as better may not be. 'Tis no great match, but Ilooked, in this country, for nothing nobler or more wealthy. That mylass should be happy, and have one to fend for her, there is my affair,and I am not one of those fathers who think to make their daughters gladby taking from them their heart's desire. So cheer up! What, a man-at-arms weeping! Strange times, when maids lead men-at-arms and men-at-armsweep at home!"

  With these words he comforted me, and made me welcome, for indeed he wasa kind man and a wise; so many there are that cause shrewd sorrow whenthere should be joy in their houses! This was never his way, and wise doI call him, for all that has come and gone.

  In a little time, when I had thanked him, and shown him, I trow, how hestood in my love, he bade me go to my chamber and be at rest, saying thathe must take thought as to how matters stood.

  "For you are not yet fit to bear arms, nor will be for these many days.Nor is it seemly, nor our country's custom, that my maid should dwellhere in the house with you, as things are between you, and I mustconsider of how I may bestow her till you march with your troop, ifmarching there is to be."

  This I dared not gainsay, and so I went to my chamber with a heart fullof grief and joy, for these hours that are all of gladness come rarely tolovers, and to me were scantly measured. Perchance it was for my soul'swelfare, to win me from the ways of the world.

  But to Elliot and me that night bore no joy, but sorrow, albeit passing.At supper we met, indeed, but she stayed with us not long after supper,when my master, with a serious countenance, told me how he had takencounsel with a very holy woman, of his own kin, widow of an archer, andhow she was going on pilgrimage to our Lady of Puy en Velay, by reason ofthe jubilee, for this year Good Friday and the Annunciation fell on thesame day.

  "To-morrow she sets forth, and whatsoever prayer can do for France andthe King shall be done. Always, after this day of jubilee, they say thatstrange and great matters come to pass. That there will be strangematters I make no doubt, for when before, save under holy Deborah inScripture, did men follow a woman to war? May good come of it! Howeverit fall out, Elliot is willing to go on pilgrimage, for she is verydevout. Moreover, she tells me that it had been in her mind before, forthe mother of that Maid is to be at Puy, praying for her daughter, as,certes, she hath great need, if ever woman had. And Elliot is fain tomeet her and devise with her about the Maid. And for you, you still needour nursing, and the sooner you win strength, the nearer you are to thatwhich you would win. Still, I am sorry, lad, for I remember my courtingdays and the lass's mother, blessings on her!"

  To all this I could make no answer but that his will was mine; and so theday ended in a mingling of gladness and sorrow.