the wood beyond the world-第21章

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CHAPTER　XXX：　　NOW　THEY　MEET　AGAIN



Complaining　thus…wise；　he　fell　asleep　from　sheer　weariness；　and　when
he　awoke　it　was　broad　day；　calm　and　bright　and　cloudless；　with　the
scent　of　the　earth　refreshed　going　up　into　the　heavens；　and　the
birds　singing　sweetly　in　the　bushes　about　him：　　for　the　dale
whereunto　he　was　now　come　was　a　fair　and　lovely　place　amidst　the
shelving　slopes　of　the　mountains；　a　paradise　of　the　wilderness；　and
nought　but　pleasant　and　sweet　things　were　to　be　seen　there；　now　that
the　morn　was　so　clear　and　sunny。

He　arose　and　looked　about　him；　and　saw　where；　a　hundred　yards　aloof；
was　a　thicket　of　small　wood；　as　thorn　and　elder　and　whitebeam；　all
wreathed　about　with　the　bines　of　wayfaring　tree；　it　hid　a　bight　of
the　stream；　which　turned　round　about　it；　and　betwixt　it　and　Walter
was　the　grass　short　and　thick；　and　sweet；　and　all　beset　with
flowers；　and　he　said　to　himself　that　it　was　even　such　a　place　as
wherein　the　angels　were　leading　the　Blessed　in　the　great　painted
paradise　in　the　choir　of　the　big　church　at　Langton　on　Holm。　　But　lo！
as　he　looked　he　cried　aloud　for　joy；　for　forth　from　the　thicket　on
to　the　flowery　grass　came　one　like　to　an　angel　from　out　of　the　said
picture；　white…clad　and　bare…foot；　sweet　of　flesh；　with　bright　eyes
and　ruddy　cheeks；　for　it　was　the　Maid　herself。　　So　he　ran　to　her；
and　she　abode　him；　holding　forth　kind　hands　to　him；　and　smiling；
while　she　wept　for　joy　of　the　meeting。　　He　threw　himself　upon　her；
and　spared　not　to　kiss　her；　her　cheeks　and　her　mouth；　and　her　arms
and　her　shoulders；　and　wheresoever　she　would　suffer　it。　　Till　at
last　she　drew　aback　a　little；　laughing　on　him　for　love；　and　said：
〃Forbear　now；　friend；　for　it　is　enough　for　this　time；　and　tell　me
how　thou　hast　sped。〃

〃Ill；　ill；〃　said　he。

〃What　ails　thee？〃　she　said。

〃Hunger；〃　he　said；　〃and　longing　for　thee。〃

〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃me　thou　hast；　there　is　one　ill　quenched；　take　my
hand；　and　we　will　see　to　the　other　one。〃

So　he　took　her　hand；　and　to　hold　it　seemed　to　him　sweet　beyond
measure。　　But　he　looked　up；　and　saw　a　little　blue　smoke　going　up
into　the　air　from　beyond　the　thicket；　and　he　laughed；　for　he　was
weak　with　hunger；　and　he　said：　　〃Who　is　at　the　cooking　yonder？〃

〃Thou　shalt　see；〃　she　said；　and　led　him　therewith　into　the　said
thicket　and　through　it；　and　lo！　a　fair　little　grassy　place；　full　of
flowers；　betwixt　the　bushes　and　the　bight　of　the　stream；　and　on　the
little　sandy　ere；　just　off　the　greensward；　was　a　fire　of　sticks；　and
beside　it　two　trouts　lying；　fat　and　red…flecked。

〃Here　is　the　breakfast；〃　said　she；　〃when　it　was　time　to　wash　the
night　off　me　e'en　now；　I　went　down　the　strand　here　into　the　rippling
shallow；　and　saw　the　bank　below　it；　where　the　water　draws　together
yonder；　and　deepens；　that　it　seemed　like　to　hold　fish；　and　whereas　I
looked　to　meet　thee　presently；　I　groped　the　bank　for　them；　going
softly；　and　lo　thou！　　Help　me　now；　that　we　cook　them。〃

So　they　roasted　them　on　the　red　embers；　and　fell　to　and　ate　well；
both　of　them；　and　drank　of　the　water　of　the　stream　out　of　each
other's　hollow　hands；　and　that　feast　seemed　glorious　to　them；　such
gladness　went　with　it。

But　when　they　were　done　with　their　meat；　Walter　said　to　the　Maid：
〃And　how　didst　thou　know　that　thou　shouldst　see　me　presently？〃

She　said；　looking　on　him　wistfully：　　〃This　needed　no　wizardry。　　I
lay　not　so　far　from　thee　last　night；　but　that　I　heard　thy　voice　and
knew　it。〃

Said　he；　〃Why　didst　thou　not　come　to　me　then；　since　thou　heardest　me
bemoaning　thee？〃

She　cast　her　eyes　down；　and　plucked　at　the　flowers　and　grass；　and
said：　　〃It　was　dear　to　hear　thee　praising　me；　I　knew　not　before　that
I　was　so　sore　desired；　or　that　thou　hadst　taken　such　note　of　my
body；　and　found　it　so　dear。〃

Then　she　reddened　sorely；　and　said：　　〃I　knew　not　that　aught　of　me
had　such　beauty　as　thou　didst　bewail。〃

And　she　wept　for　joy。　　Then　she　looked　on　him　and　smiled；　and　said：
〃Wilt　thou　have　the　very　truth　of　it？　　I　went　close　up　to　thee；　and
stood　there　hidden　by　the　bushes　and　the　night。　　And　amidst　thy
bewailing；　I　knew　that　thou　wouldst　soon　fall　asleep；　and　in　sooth　I
out…waked　thee。〃

Then　was　she　silent　again；　and　he　spake　not；　but　looked　on　her
shyly；　and　she　said；　reddening　yet　more：　　〃Furthermore；　I　must　needs
tell　thee　that　I　feared　to　go　to　thee　in　the　dark　night；　and　my
heart　so　yearning　towards　thee。〃

And　she　hung　her　head　adown；　but　he　said：　　〃Is　it　so　indeed；　that
thou　fearest　me？　　Then　doth　that　make　me　afraidafraid　of　thy　nay…
say。　　For　I　was　going　to　entreat　thee；　and　say　to　thee：　　Beloved；　we
have　now　gone　through　many　troubles；　let　us　now　take　a　good　reward
at　once；　and　wed　together；　here　amidst　this　sweet　and　pleasant　house
of　the　mountains；　ere　we　go　further　on　our　way；　if　indeed　we　go
further　at　all。　　For　where　shall　we　find　any　place　sweeter　or
happier　than　this？〃

But　she　sprang　up　to　her　feet；　and　stood　there　trembling　before　him；
because　of　her　love；　and　she　said：　　〃Beloved；　I　have　deemed　that　it
were　good　for　us　to　go　seek　mankind　as　they　live　in　the　world；　and
to　live　amongst　them。　　And　as　for　me；　I　will　tell　thee　the　sooth；　to
wit；　that　I　long　for　this　sorely。　　For　I　feel　afraid　in　the
wilderness；　and　as　if　I　needed　help　and　protection　against　my
Mistress；　though　she　be　dead；　and　I　need　the　comfort　of　many　people；
and　the　throngs　of　the　cities。　　I　cannot　forget　her：　　it　was　but
last　night　that　I　dreamed　（I　suppose　as　the　dawn　grew　a…cold）　that　I
was　yet　under　her　hand；　and　she　was　stripping　me　for　the　torment；　so
that　I　woke　up　panting　and　crying　out。　　I　pray　thee　be　not　angry
with　me　for　telling　thee　of　my　desires；　for　if　thou　wouldst　not　have
it　so；　then　here　will　I　abide　with　thee　as　thy　mate；　and　strive　to
gather　courage。〃

He　rose　up　and　kissed　her　face；　and　said：　　〃Nay；　I　had　in　sooth　no
mind　to　abide　here　for　ever；　I　meant　but　that　we　should　feast　a
while　here；　and　then　depart：　　sooth　it　is；　that　if　thou　dreadest　the
wilderness；　somewhat　I　dread　the　city。〃

She　turned　pale；　and　said：　　〃Thou　shalt　have　thy　will；　my　friend；　if
it　must　be　so。　　But　bethink　thee　we　be　not　yet　at　our　journey's　end；
and　may　have　many　things　and　much　strife　to　endure；　before　we　be　at
peace　and　in　welfare。　　Now　shall　I　tell　theedid　I　not　before？
that　while　I　am　a　maid　untouched；　my　wisdom；　and　somedeal　of　might；
abideth　with　me；　and　only　so　long。　　Therefore　I　entreat　thee；　let　us
go　now；　side　by　side；　out　of　this　fair　valley；　even　as　we　are；　so
that　my　wisdom　and　might　may　help　thee　at　need。　　For；　my　friend；　I
would　not　that　our　lives　be　short；　so　much　of　joy　as　hath　now　come
into　them。〃

〃Yea；　beloved；〃　he　said；　〃let　us　on　straightway　then；　and　shorten
the　while　that　sundereth　us。〃

〃Love；〃　she　said；　〃thou　shalt　pardon　me　one　time　for　all。　　But　this
is　to　be　said；　that　I　know　somewhat　of　the　haps　that　lie　a　little
way　ahead　of　us；　partly　by　my　lore；　and　partly　by　what　I　learned　of
this　land　of　the　wild　folk　whiles　thou　wert　lying　asleep　that
morning。〃

So　they　left　that　pleasant　place　by　the　water；　and　came　into　the
open　valley；　and　went　their　ways　through　the　pass；　and　it　soon
became　stony　again；　as　they　mounted　the　bent　which　went　up　from　out
the　dale。　　And　when　they　came　to　the　brow　of　the　said　bent；　they　had
a　sight　of　the　open　country　lying　fair　and　joyous　in　the　sunshine；
and　amidst　of　it；　against　the　blue　hills；　the　walls　and　towers　of　a
great　city。

Then　said　the　Maid：　　〃O；　dear　friend；　lo　you！　is　not　that　our　abode
that　lieth　yonder；　and　is　so　beauteous？　　Dwell　not　our　friends
there；　and　our　protection　against　uncouth　wights；　and　mere　evil
things　in　guileful　shapes？　　O　city；　I　bid　thee　hail！〃

But　Walter　looked　on　her；　and　smiled　somewhat；　and　said：　　〃I　rejoice
in　thy　joy。　　But　there　be　evil　things　in　yonder　city　also；　though
they　be　not　fays　nor　devils；　or　it　is　like　to　no　city　that　I　wot　of。
And　in　every　city　shall　foes　grow　up　to　us　without　rhyme　or　reason；
and　life　therein　shall　be　tangled　unto　us。〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃but　in　the　wilderness　amongst　the　devils；　what　was
to　be　done　by　manly　might　or　valiancy？　　There　hadst　thou　to　fall
back　upon　the　guile　and　wizardry　which　I　had　filched　from　my　very
foes。　　But　when　we　come　down　yonder；　then　shall　thy　valiancy　prevail
to　cleave　the　tangle　for　us。　　Or　at　the　least；　it　shall　leave　a　tale
of　thee　behind；　and　I　shall　worship　thee。〃

He　laughed；　and　his　face　grew　brighter：　　〃Mastery　mows　the　meadow；〃
quoth　he；　〃and　one　man　is　of　little　might　against　many。　　But　I
promise　thee　I　shall　not　be　slothful　before　thee。〃



CHAPTER　XXXI：　　THEY　COME　UPON　NEW　FOLK



With　that　they　went　down　from　the　bent　again；　and　came　to　where　the
pass　narrowed　so　much；　that　they　went　betwixt　a　steep　wall　of　rock
on　either　side；　but　after　an　hour's　going；　the　said　wall　gave　back
suddenly；　and；　or　they　were　ware　almost；　they　came　on　another　dale
like　to　that　which　they　had　left；　but　not　so　fair；　though　it　was
grassy　and　well　watered；　and　not　so　big　either。　　But　here　indeed
befell　a　change　to　them；　for　lo！　tents　and　pavilions　pitched　in　the
said　valley；　and　amidst　of　it　a　throng　of　men；　mostly　weaponed；　and
with　horses　ready　saddled　at　hand。　　So　they　stayed　their　feet；　and
Walter's　heart　failed　him；　for　he　said　to　himself：　　Who　wotteth　what
these　men　may　be；　save　that　they　be　aliens？　　It　is　most　like　that　we
shall　be　taken　as　thralls；　and　then；　at　the　best；　we　shall　be
sundered；　and　that　is　all　one　with　the　worst。

But　the　Maid；　when　she　saw　the　horses；　and　the　gay　tents；　and　the
pennons　fluttering；　and　the　glitter　of　spears；　and　gleaming　of　white
armour；　smote　her　palms　together　for　joy；　and　cried　out：　　〃Here　now
are　come　the　folk　of　the　city　for　our　welcoming；　and　fair　and　lovely
are　they；　and　of　many　things　shall　they　be　thinking；　and　a　many
things　shall　they　do；　and　we　shall　be　partakers　thereof。　　Come　then；
and　let　us　meet　them；　fair　friend！〃

But　Walter　said：　　〃Alas！　thou　knowest　not：　　would　that　we　might
flee！　　But　now　is　it　over　late；　so　put　we　a　good　face　on　it；　and　go
to　them　quietly；　as　erewhile　we　did　in　the　Bear…country。〃

So　did　they；　and　there　sundered　six　from　the　men…at…arms　and　came　to
those　twain；　and　made　humble　obeisance　to　Walter；　but　spake　no　word。
Then　they　made　as　they　would　lead　them　to　the　others；　and　the　twain
went　with　them　wondering；　and　came　into　the　ring　of　men…at…arms；　and
stood　before　an　old　hoar　knight；　armed　all；　save　his　head；　with　most
goodly　armour；　and　he　also　bowed　before　Walter；　but　spake　no　word。
Then　they　took　them　to　the　master　pavilion；　and　made　signs　to　them
to　sit；　and　they　brought　them　dainty　meat　and　good　wine。　　And　the
while　of　their　eating　arose　up　a　stir　about　them；　and　when　they　were
done　with　their　meat；　the　ancient　knight　came　to　them；　still　bowing
in　courteous　wise；　and　did　them　to　wit　by　signs　that　they　should
depart：　　and　when　they　were　without；　they　saw　all　the　other　tents
struck；　and　men　beginning　to　busy　them　with　striking　the　pavilion；
and　the　others　mounted　and　ranked　in　good　order　for　the　road；　and
there　were　two　horse…litters　before　them；　wherein　they　were　bidden
to　mount；　Walter　in　one；　and　the　Maid　in　the　other；　and　no　otherwise
might　they　do。　　Then　presently