the wood beyond the world-第7章

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longing　for　thee。　　As　for　myself；　my　peril　is；　in　a　measure；　less
than　thine；　I　mean　the　peril　of　death。　　But　lo；　thou；　this　iron　on
my　foot　is　token　that　I　am　a　thrall；　and　thou　knowest　in　what　wise
thralls　must　pay　for　transgressions。　　Furthermore；　of　what　I　am；　and
how　I　came　hither；　time　would　fail　me　to　tell；　but　somewhile；　maybe；
I　shall　tell　thee。　　I　serve　an　evil　mistress；　of　whom　I　may　say　that
scarce　I　wot　if　she　be　a　woman　or　not；　but　by　some　creatures　is　she
accounted　for　a　god；　and　as　a　god　is　heried；　and　surely　never　god
was　crueller　nor　colder　than　she。　　Me　she　hateth　sorely；　yet　if　she
hated　me　little　or　nought；　small　were　the　gain　to　me　if　it　were　her
pleasure　to　deal　hardly　by　me。　　But　as　things　now　are；　and　are　like
to　be；　it　would　not　be　for　her　pleasure；　but　for　her　pain　and　loss；
to　make　an　end　of　me；　therefore；　as　I　said　e'en　now；　my　mere　life　is
not　in　peril　with　her；　unless；　perchance；　some　sudden　passion　get
the　better　of　her；　and　she　slay　me；　and　repent　of　it　thereafter。
For　so　it　is；　that　if　it　be　the　least　evil　of　her　conditions　that
she　is　wanton；　at　least　wanton　she　is　to　the　letter。　　Many　a　time
hath　she　cast　the　net　for　the　catching　of　some　goodly　young　man；　and
her　latest　prey　（save　it　be　thou）　is　the　young　man　whom　I　named；
when　first　I　saw　thee；　by　the　name　of　the　King's　Son。　　He　is　with　us
yet；　and　I　fear　him；　for　of　late　hath　he　wearied　of　her；　though　it
is　but　plain　truth　to　say　of　her；　that　she　is　the　wonder　of　all
Beauties　of　the　World。　　He　hath　wearied　of　her；　I　say；　and　hath　cast
his　eyes　upon　me；　and　if　I　were　heedless；　he　would　betray　me　to　the
uttermost　of　the　wrath　of　my　mistress。　　For　needs　must　I　say　of　him；
though　he　be　a　goodly　man；　and　now　fallen　into　thralldom；　that　he
hath　no　bowels　of　compassion；　but　is　a　dastard；　who　for　an　hour's
pleasure　would　undo　me；　and　thereafter　would　stand　by　smiling　and
taking　my　mistress's　pardon　with　good　cheer；　while　for　me　would　be
no　pardon。　　Seest　thou；　therefore；　how　it　is　with　me　between　these
two　cruel　fools？　　And　moreover　there　are　others　of　whom　I　will　not
even　speak　to　thee。〃

And　therewith　she　put　her　hands　before　her　face；　and　wept；　and
murmured：　　〃Who　shall　deliver　me　from　this　death　in　life？〃

But　Walter　cried　out：　　〃For　what　else　am　I　come　hither；　I；　I？〃

And　it　was　a　near　thing　that　he　did　not　take　her　in　his　arms；　but　he
remembered　his　pledged　word；　and　drew　aback　from　her　in　terror；
whereas　he　had　an　inkling　of　why　she　would　not　suffer　it；　and　he
wept　with　her。

But　suddenly　the　Maid　left　weeping；　and　said　in　a　changed　voice：
〃Friend；　whereas　thou　speakest　of　delivering　me；　it　is　more　like
that　I　shall　deliver　thee。　　And　now　I　pray　thy　pardon　for　thus
grieving　thee　with　my　grief；　and　that　more　especially　because　thou
mayst　not　solace　thy　grief　with　kisses　and　caresses；　but　so　it　was；
that　for　once　I　was　smitten　by　the　thought　of　the　anguish　of　this
land；　and　the　joy　of　all　the　world　besides。〃

Therewith　she　caught　her　breath　in　a　half…sob；　but　refrained　her　and
went　on：　　〃Now　dear　friend　and　darling；　take　good　heed　to　all　that　I
shall　say　to　thee；　whereas　thou　must　do　after　the　teaching　of　my
words。　　And　first；　I　deem　by　the　monster　having　met　thee　at　the
gates　of　the　land；　and　refreshed　thee；　that　the　Mistress　hath　looked
for　thy　coming；　nay；　by　thy　coming　hither　at　all；　that　she　hath　cast
her　net　and　caught　thee。　　Hast　thou　noted　aught　that　might　seem　to
make　this　more　like？〃

Said　Walter：　　〃Three　times　in　full　daylight　have　I　seen　go　past　me
the　images　of　the　monster　and　thee　and　a　glorious　lady；　even　as　if
ye　were　alive。〃

And　therewith　he　told　her　in　few　words　how　it　had　gone　with　him
since　that　day　on　the　quay　at　Langton。

She　said：　　〃Then　it　is　no　longer　perhaps；　but　certain；　that　thou　art
her　latest　catch；　and　even　so　I　deemed　from　the　first：　　and；　dear
friend；　this　is　why　I　have　not　suffered　thee　to　kiss　or　caress　me；
so　sore　as　I　longed　for　thee。　　For　the　Mistress　will　have　thee　for
her　only；　and　hath　lured　thee　hither　for　nought　else；　and　she　is
wise　in　wizardry　（even　as　some　deal　am　I）；　and　wert　thou　to　touch　me
with　hand　or　mouth　on　my　naked　flesh；　yea；　or　were　it　even　my
raiment；　then　would　she　scent　the　savour　of　thy　love　upon　me；　and
then；　though　it　may　be　she　would　spare　thee；　she　would　not　spare
me。〃

Then　was　she　silent　a　little；　and　seemed　very　downcast；　and　Walter
held　his　peace　from　grief　and　confusion　and　helplessness；　for　of
wizardry　he　knew　nought。

At　last　the　Maid　spake　again；　and　said：　　〃Nevertheless　we　will　not
die　redeless。　　Now　thou　must　look　to　this；　that　from　henceforward　it
is　thee；　and　not　the　King's　Son；　whom　she　desireth；　and　that　so　much
the　more　that　she　hath　not　set　eyes　on　thee。　　Remember　this；
whatsoever　her　seeming　may　be　to　thee。　　Now；　therefore；　shall　the
King's　Son　be　free；　though　he　know　it　not；　to　cast　his　love　on
whomso　he　will；　and；　in　a　way；　I　also　shall　be　free　to　yeasay　him。
Though；　forsooth；　so　fulfilled　is　she　with　malice　and　spite；　that
even　then　she　may　turn　round　on　me　to　punish　me　for　doing　that　which
she　would　have　me　do。　　Now　let　me　think　of　it。〃

Then　was　she　silent　a　good　while；　and　spoke　at　last：　　〃Yea；　all
things　are　perilous；　and　a　perilous　rede　I　have　thought　of；　whereof
I　will　not　tell　thee　as　yet；　so　waste　not　the　short　while　by　asking
me。　　At　least　the　worst　will　be　no　worse　than　what　shall　come　if　we
strive　not　against　it。　　And　now；　my　friend；　amongst　perils　it　is
growing　more　and　more　perilous　that　we　twain　should　be　longer
together。　　But　I　would　say　one　thing　yet；　and　maybe　another
thereafter。　　Thou　hast　cast　thy　love　upon　one　who　will　be　true　to
thee；　whatsoever　may　befall；　yet　is　she　a　guileful　creature；　and
might　not　help　it　her　life　long；　and　now　for　thy　very　sake　must
needs　be　more　guileful　now　than　ever　before。　　And　as　for　me；　the
guileful；　my　love　have　I　cast　upon　a　lovely　man；　and　one　true　and
simple；　and　a　stout…heart；　but　at　such　a　pinch　is　he；　that　if　he
withstand　all　temptation；　his　withstanding　may　belike　undo　both　him
and　me。　　Therefore　swear　we　both　of　us；　that　by　both　of　us　shall　all
guile　and　all　falling　away　be　forgiven　on　the　day　when　we　shall　be
free　to　love　each　the　other　as　our　hearts　will。〃

Walter　cried　out：　　〃O　love；　I　swear　it　indeed！　thou　art　my　Hallow；
and　I　will　swear　it　as　on　the　relics　of　a　Hallow；　on　thy　hands　and
thy　feet　I　swear　it。〃

The　words　seemed　to　her　a　dear　caress；　and　she　laughed；　and　blushed；
and　looked　full　kindly　on　him；　and　then　her　face　grew　solemn；　and
she　said：　　〃On　thy　life　I　swear　it！〃

Then　she　said：　　〃Now　is　there　nought　for　thee　to　do　but　to　go　hence
straight　to　the　Golden　House；　which　is　my　Mistress's　house；　and　the
only　house　in　this　land　（save　one　which　I　may　not　see）；　and　lieth
southward　no　long　way。　　How　she　will　deal　with　thee；　I　wot　not；　but
all　I　have　said　of　her　and　thee　and　the　King's　Son　is　true。
Therefore　I　say　to　thee；　be　wary　and　cold　at　heart；　whatsoever
outward　semblance　thou　mayst　make。　　If　thou　have　to　yield　thee　to
her；　then　yield　rather　late　than　early；　so　as　to　gain　time。　　Yet　not
so　late　as　to　seem　shamed　in　yielding　for　fear's　sake。　　Hold　fast　to
thy　life；　my　friend；　for　in　warding　that；　thou　wardest　me　from　grief
without　remedy。　　Thou　wilt　see　me　ere　long；　it　may　be　to…morrow；　it
may　be　some　days　hence。　　But　forget　not；　that　what　I　may　do；　that　I
am　doing。　　Take　heed　also　that　thou　pay　no　more　heed　to　me；　or
rather　less；　than　if　thou　wert　meeting　a　maiden　of　no　account　in　the
streets　of　thine　own　town。　　O　my　love！　barren　is　this　first
farewell；　as　was　our　first　meeting；　but　surely　shall　there　be
another　meeting　better　than　the　first；　and　the　last　farewell　may　be
long　and　long　yet。〃

Therewith　she　stood　up；　and　he　knelt　before　her　a　little　while
without　any　word；　and　then　arose　and　went　his　ways；　but　when　he　had
gone　a　space　he　turned　about；　and　saw　her　still　standing　in　the　same
place；　she　stayed　a　moment　when　she　saw　him　turn；　and　then　herself
turned　about。

So　he　departed　through　the　fair　land；　and　his　heart　was　full　with
hope　and　fear　as　he　went。



CHAPTER　XI：　　WALTER　HAPPENETH　ON　THE　MISTRESS



It　was　but　a　little　after　noon　when　Walter　left　the　Maid　behind：　　he
steered　south　by　the　sun；　as　the　Maid　had　bidden　him；　and　went
swiftly；　for；　as　a　good　knight　wending　to　battle；　the　time　seemed
long　to　him　till　he　should　meet　the　foe。

So　an　hour　before　sunset　he　saw　something　white　and　gay　gleaming
through　the　boles　of　the　oak…trees；　and　presently　there　was　clear
before　him　a　most　goodly　house　builded　of　white　marble；　carved　all
about　with　knots　and　imagery；　and　the　carven　folk　were　all　painted
of　their　lively　colours；　whether　it　were　their　raiment　or　their
flesh；　and　the　housings　wherein　they　stood　all　done　with　gold　and
fair　hues。　　Gay　were　the　windows　of　the　house；　and　there　was　a
pillared　porch　before　the　great　door；　with　images　betwixt　the
pillars　both　of　men　and　beasts：　　and　when　Walter　looked　up　to　the
roof　of　the　house；　he　saw　that　it　gleamed　and　shone；　for　all　the
tiles　were　of　yellow　metal；　which　he　deemed　to　be　of　very　gold。

All　this　he　saw　as　he　went；　and　tarried　not　to　gaze　upon　it；　for　he
said；　Belike　there　will　be　time　for　me　to　look　on　all　this　before　I
die。　　But　he　said　also；　that；　though　the　house　was　not　of　the
greatest；　it　was　beyond　compare　of　all　houses　of　the　world。

Now　he　entered　it　by　the　porch；　and　came　into　a　hall　many…pillared；
and　vaulted　over；　the　walls　painted　with　gold　and　ultramarine；　the
floor　dark；　and　spangled　with　many　colours；　and　the　windows　glazed
with　knots　and　pictures。　　Midmost　thereof　was　a　fountain　of　gold；
whence　the　water　ran　two　ways　in　gold…lined　runnels；　spanned　twice
with　little　bridges　of　silver。　　Long　was　that　hall；　and　now　not　very
light；　so　that　Walter　was　come　past　the　fountain　before　he　saw　any
folk　therein：　　then　he　looked　up　toward　the　high…seat；　and　himseemed
that　a　great　light　shone　thence；　and　dazzled　his　eyes；　and　he　went
on　a　little　way；　and　then　fell　on　his　knees；　for　there　before　him　on
the　high…seat　sat　that　wondrous　Lady；　whose　lively　image　had　been
shown　to　him　thrice　before；　and　she　was　clad　in　gold　and　jewels；　as
he　had　erst　seen　her。　　But　now　she　was　not　alone；　for　by　her　side
sat　a　young　man；　goodly　enough；　so　far　as　Walter　might　see　him；　and
most　richly　clad；　with　a　jewelled　sword　by　his　side；　and　a　chaplet
of　gems　on　his　head。　　They　held　each　other　by　the　hand；　and　seemed
to　be　in　dear　converse　together；　but　they　spake　softly；　so　that
Walter　might　not　hear　what　they　said；　till　at　last　the　man　spake
aloud　to　the　Lady：　　〃Seest　thou　not　that　there　is　a　man　in　the
hall？〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃I　see　him　yonder；　kneeling　on　his　knees；　let　him
come　nigher　and　give　some　account　of　himself。〃

So　Walter　stood　up　and　drew　nigh；　and　stood　there；　all　shamefaced
and　confused；　looking　on　those　twain；　and　wondering　at　the　beauty　of
the　Lady。　　As　for　the　man；　who　was　slim；　and　black…haired；　and
straight…featured；　for　all　his　goodliness　Walter　accounted　him
little；　and　nowise　deemed　him　to　look　chieftain…like。

Now　the　Lady　spake　not　to　Walter　any　more　than　erst；　but　at　last　the
man　said：　　〃Why　doest　thou　not　kneel　as　thou　didst　erewhile？〃