(原版)澳大利亞語(yǔ)文第三冊(cè) LESSON 16

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LESSON 16 THE SIX BRAVE MEN OF CALAIS

THE SIX BRAVE MEN OF CALAIS

1. King Edward III wished to rule over France as well as over England, and sent a large army into that country.

2. Under the king and his brave son, the Black Prince, the English soldiers won a great victory at Crecy.

3. The army then marched to the north of France to take the town of Calais, which looks over the blue waters of the English Channel. Around the town was a high wall with a great gate in one part of it.

4. When the English soldiers drew near, the townsfolk shut this gate, and refused to open it to King Edward.

5. The walls were too strong to be beaten down, and too high to be climbed over.

6. King Edward made up his mind to wait till the people had eaten up all the food in the town. He knew that they must then give in, or starve to death.

7. He placed ships upon the sea to beat back any ships that the French king might send, and he posted soldiers all round the town.

8. The French king tried many times to break through the English lines in order to carry food into Calais, but each time he was driven back.

9. Food soon grew scarce within the town, but still the people would not give in. For nearly a year they kept King Edward out of the town.

10. At length they sent to King Edward, and said that they could hold out [1] no longer, and that they would give up the town if he would let them go free.

11. But the king was very angry, for he had lost many men in the long siege [2] , and at first he said that he would put all the men in the town to death.

12. One of his captains, Sir Walter Manny, begged him to have mercy on them: "Because, Sire [3] ," said he, "if they had been your soldiers, you would have been proud of their bravery."

13. The king then said that he would spare the rest of the townsfolk if they would send six of their chief men with ropes round their necks, to suffer death for the others.

14. The townsfolk were very sorry when they heard these terms, and held a great meeting in the market place. One brave merchant stood up and said that he would be one of the six. He was joined by five others; and, amid the tears of the people, they made their way to the king's tent, and handed him the keys of the town.

15. Edward ordered his soldiers to take the men away and put them to death at once. By this he hoped to teach the men of other towns not to oppose him [4] .

16. Even the English soldiers were sorry for the brave townsfolk of Calais, who had offered their lives to save their friends, and they begged the king to forgive them.

17. Edward said that he would not do so. Then the queen, who stood near King Edward, came forward and knelt at his feet. She begged the king to spare these brave men.

THE QUEEN KNELT AT HIS FEET.

18. Her tears and prayers moved the king to pity, so that at last he said: "I cannot refuse your request, although I am sorry that you have made it. I give these men to you. Do with them as best pleases you."

19. The queen was very glad to hear this. She told the men to follow her to her tent. Here she praised them for their courage [5] , and after having fed and clothed them, sent them back to the city.

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[1] hold out: Resist; manage to live without help.

[2] siege: Attempt to capture the town.

[3] Sire: A way of addressing the king.

[4] oppose him: Go against his wishes.

[5] courage: Bravery.