the wood beyond the world-第8章

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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？〃

Walter　was　on　the　point　of　giving　him　back　a　fierce　answer；　but　the
Lady　spake　and　said：　　〃Nay；　friend；　it　matters　not　whether　he　kneel
or　stand；　but　he　may　say；　if　he　will；　what　he　would　have　of　me；　and
wherefore　he　is　come　hither。〃

Then　spake　Walter；　for　as　wroth　and　ashamed　as　he　was：　　〃Lady；　I
have　strayed　into　this　land；　and　have　come　to　thine　house　as　I
suppose；　and　if　I　be　not　welcome；　I　may　well　depart　straightway；　and
seek　a　way　out　of　thy　land；　if　thou　wouldst　drive　me　thence；　as　well
as　out　of　thine　house。〃

Thereat　the　Lady　turned　and　looked　on　him；　and　when　her　eyes　met
his；　he　felt　a　pang　of　fear　and　desire　mingled　shoot　through　his
heart。　　This　time　she　spoke　to　him；　but　coldly；　without　either　wrath
or　any　thought　of　him：　　〃Newcomer；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　not　bidden
thee　hither；　but　here　mayst　thou　abide　a　while　if　thou　wilt；
nevertheless；　take　heed　that　here　is　no　King's　Court。　　There　is；
forsooth；　a　folk　that　serveth　me　（or；　it　may　be；　more　than　one）；　of
whom　thou　wert　best　to　know　nought。　　Of　others　I　have　but　two
servants；　whom　thou　wilt　see；　and　the　one　is　a　strange　creature；　who
should　scare　thee　or　scathe　thee　with　a　good　will；　but　of　a　good
will　shall　serve　nought　save　me；　the　other　is　a　woman；　a　thrall；　of
little　avail；　save　that；　being　compelled；　she　will　work　woman's
service　for　me；　but　whom　none　else　shall　compel　。　。　。　Yea；　but　what
is　all　this　to　thee；　or　to　me　that　I　should　tell　it　to　thee？　　I　will
not　drive　thee　away；　but　if　thine　entertainment　please　thee　not；
make　no　plaint　thereof　to　me；　but　depart　at　thy　will。　　Now　is　this
talk　betwixt　us　overlong；　since；　as　thou　seest；　I　and　this　King's
Son　are　in　converse　together。　　Art　thou　a　King's　Son？〃

〃Nay；　Lady；〃　said　Walter；　〃I　am　but　of　the　sons　of　the　merchants。〃

〃It　matters　not；〃　she　said；　〃go　thy　ways　into　one　of　the　chambers。〃

And　straightway　she　fell　a…talking　to　the　man　who　sat　beside　her
concerning　the　singing　of　the　birds　beneath　her　window　in　the
morning；　and　of　how　she　had　bathed　her　that　day　in　a　pool　of　the
woodlands；　when　she　had　been　heated　with　hunting；　and　so　forth；　and
all　as　if　there　had　been　none　there　save　her　and　the　King's　Son。

But　Walter　departed　all　ashamed；　as　though　he　had　been　a　poor　man
thrust　away　from　a　rich　kinsman's　door；　and　he　said　to　himself　that
this　woman　was　hateful；　and　nought　love…worthy；　and　that　she　was
little　like　to　tempt　him；　despite　all　the　fairness　of　her　body。

No　one　else　he　saw　in　the　house　that　even；　he　found　meat　and　drink
duly　served　on　a　fair　table；　and　thereafter　he　came　on　a　goodly　bed；
and　all　things　needful；　but　no　child　of　Adam　to　do　him　service；　or
bid　him　welcome　or　warning。　　Nevertheless　he　ate；　and　drank；　and
slept；　and　put　off　thought　of　all　these　things　till　the　morrow；　all
the　more　as　he　hoped　to　see　the　kind　maiden　some　time　betwixt
sunrise　and　sunset　on　that　new　day。



CHAPTER　XII：　　THE　WEARING　OF　FOUR　DAYS　IN　THE　WOOD　BEYOND　THE　WORLD



He　arose　betimes；　but　found　no　one　to　greet　him；　neither　was　there
any　sound　of　folk　moving　within　the　fair　house；　so　he　but　broke　his
fast；　and　then　went　forth　and　wandered　amongst　the　trees；　till　he
found　him　a　stream　to　bathe　in；　and　after　he　had　washed　the　night
off　him　he　lay　down　under　a　tree　thereby　for　a　while；　but　soon
turned　back　toward　the　house；　lest　perchance　the　Maid　should　come
thither　and　he　should　miss　her。

It　should　be　said　that　half　a　bow…shot　from　the　house　on　that　side
（i。e。　due　north　thereof）　was　a　little　hazel…brake；　and　round　about
it　the　trees　were　smaller　of　kind　than　the　oaks　and　chestnuts　he　had
passed　through　before；　being　mostly　of　birch　and　quicken…beam　and
young　ash；　with　small　wood　betwixt　them；　so　now　he　passed　through
the　thicket；　and；　coming　to　the　edge　thereof；　beheld　the　Lady　and
the　King's　Son　walking　together　hand　in　hand；　full　lovingly　by
seeming。

He　deemed　it　unmeet　to　draw　back　and　hide　him；　so　he　went　forth　past
them　toward　the　house。　　The　King's　Son　scowled　on　him　as　he　passed；
but　the　Lady；　over　whose　beauteous　face　flickered　the　joyous　morning
smiles；　took　no　more　heed　of　him　than　if　he　had　been　one　of　the
trees　of　the　wood。　　But　she　had　been　so　high　and　disdainful　with　him
the　evening　before；　that　he　thought　little　of　that。　　The　twain　went
on；　skirting　the　hazel…copse；　and　he　could　not　choose　but　turn　his
eyes　on　them；　so　sorely　did　the　Lady's　beauty　draw　them。　　Then
befell　another　thing；　for　behind　them　the　boughs　of　the　hazels
parted；　and　there　stood　that　little　evil　thing；　he　or　another　of　his
kind；　for　he　was　quite　unclad；　save　by　his　fell　of　yellowy…brown
hair；　and　that　he　was　girt　with　a　leathern　girdle；　wherein　was　stuck
an　ugly　two…edged　knife：　　he　stood　upright　a　moment；　and　cast　his
eyes　at　Walter　and　grinned；　but　not　as　if　he　knew　him；　and　scarce
could　Walter　say　whether　it　were　the　one　he　had　seen；　or　another：
then　he　cast　himself　down　on　his　belly；　and　fell　to　creeping　through
the　long　grass　like　a　serpent；　following　the　footsteps　of　the　Lady
and　her　lover；　and　now；　as　he　crept；　Walter　deemed；　in　his　loathing；
that　the　creature　was　liker　to　a　ferret　than　aught　else。　　He　crept
on　marvellous　swiftly；　and　was　soon　clean　out　of　sight。　　But　Walter
stood　staring　after　him　for　a　while；　and　then　lay　down　by　the　copse…
side；　that　he　might　watch　the　house　and　the　entry　thereof；　for　he
thought；　now　perchance　presently　will　the　kind　maiden　come　hither　to
comfort　me　with　a　word　or　two。　　But　hour　passed　by　hour；　and　still
she　came　not；　and　still　he　lay　there；　and　thought　of　the　Maid；　and
longed　for　her　kindness　and　wisdom；　till　he　could　not　refrain　his
tears；　and　wept　for　the　lack　of　her。　　Then　he　arose；　and　went　and
sat　in　the　porch；　and　was　very　downcast　of　mood。

But　as　he　sat　there；　back　comes　the　Lady　again；　the　King's　Son
leading　her　by　the　hand；　they　entered　the　porch；　and　she　passed　by
him　so　close　that　the　odour　of　her　raiment　filled　all　the　air　about
him；　and　the　sleekness　of　her　side　nigh　touched　him；　so　that　he
could　not　fail　to　note　that　her　garments　were　somewhat　disarrayed；
and　that　she　kept　her　right　hand　（for　her　left　the　King's　Son　held）
to　her　bosom　to　hold　the　cloth　together　there；　whereas　the　rich
raiment　had　been　torn　off　from　her　right　shoulder。　　As　they　passed
by　him；　the　King's　Son　once　more　scowled　on　him；　wordless；　but　even
more　fiercely　than　before；　and　again　the　Lady　heeded　him　nought。

After　they　had　gone　on　a　while；　he　entered　the　hall；　and　found　it
empty　from　end　to　end；　and　no　sound　in　it　save　the　tinkling　of　the
fountain；　but　there　was　victual　set　on　the　board。　　He　ate　and　drank
thereof　to　keep　life　lusty　within　him；　and　then　went　out　again　to
the　wood…side　to　watch　and　to　long；　and　the　time　hung　heavy　on　his
hands　because　of　the　lack　of　the　fair　Maiden。

He　was　of　mind　not　to　go　into　the　house　to　his　rest　that　night；　but
to　sleep　under　the　boughs　of　the　forest。　　But　a　little　after　sunset
he　saw　a　bright…clad　image　moving　amidst　the　carven　images　of　the
porch；　and　the　King's　Son　came　forth　and　went　straight　to　him；　and
said：　　〃Thou　art　to　enter　the　house；　and　go　into　thy　chamber
forthwith；　and　by　no　means　to　go　forth　of　it　betwixt　sunset　and
sunrise。　　My　Lady　will　not　away　with　thy　prowling　round　the　house　in
the　night…tide。〃

Therewith　he　turned　away；　and　went　into　the　house　again；　and　Walter
followed　him　soberly；　remembering　how　the　Maid　had　bidden　him
forbear。　　So　he　went　to　his　chamber；　and　slept。

But　amidst　of　the　night　he　awoke　and　deemed　that　he　heard　a　voice
not　far　off；　so　he　crept　out　of　his　bed　and　peered　around；　lest；
perchance；　the　Maid　had　come　to　speak　with　him；　but　his　chamber　was
dusk　and　empty：　　then　he　went　to　the　window　and　looked　out；　and　saw
the　moon　shining　bright　and　white　upon　the　greensward。　　And　lo！　the
Lady　walking　with　the　King's　Son；　and　he　clad　in　thin　and　wanton
raiment；　but　she　in　nought　else　save　what　God　had　given　her　of　long；
crispy　yellow　hair。　　Then　was　Walter　ashamed　to　look　on　her；　seeing
that　there　was　a　man　with　her；　and　gat　him　back　to　his　bed；　but　yet
a　long　while　ere　he　slept　again　he　had　the　image　before　his　eyes　of
the　fair　woman　on　the　dewy　moonlit　grass。

The　next　day　matters　went　much　the　same　way；　and　the　next　also；　save
that　his　sorrow　was　increased；　and　he　sickened　sorely　of　hope
deferred。　　On　the　fourth　day　also　the　forenoon　wore　as　erst；　but　in
the　heat　of　the　afternoon　Walter　sought　to　the　hazel…copse；　and　laid
him　down　there　hard　by　a　little　clearing　thereof；　and　slept　from
very　weariness　of　grief。　　There；　after　a　while；　he　woke　with　words
still　hanging　in　his　ears；　and　he　knew　at　once　that　it　was　they
twain　talking　together。

The　King's　Son　had　just　done　his　say；　and　now　it　was　the　Lady
beginning　in　her　honey…sweet　voice；　low　but　strong；　wherein　even　was
a　little　of　huskiness；　she　said：　　〃Otto；　belike　it　were　well　to　have
a　little　patience；　till　we　find　out　what　the　man　is；　and　whence　he
cometh；　it　will　always　be　easy　to　rid　us　of　him；　it　is　but　a　word　to
our　Dwarf…king；　and　it　will　be　done　in　a　few　minutes。〃

〃Patience！〃　said　the　King's　Son；　angrily；　〃I　wot　not　how　to　have
patience　with　him；　for　I　can　see　of　him　that　he　is　rude　and　violent
and　headstrong；　and　a　low…born　wily　one。　　Forsooth；　he　had　patience
enough　with　me　the　other　even；　when　I　rated　him　in；　like　the　dog
that　he　is；　and　he　had　no　manhood　to　say　one　word　to　me。　　Soothly；
as　he　followed　after　me；　I　had　a　mind　to　turn　about　and　deal　him　a
buffet　on　the　face；　to　see　if　I　could　but　draw　one　angry　word　from
him。〃

The　Lady　laughed；　and　said：　　〃Well；　Otto；　I　know　not；　that　which
thou　deemest　dastardy　in　him　may　be　but　prudence　and　wisdom；　and　he
an　alien；　far　from　his　friends　and　nigh　to　his　foes。　　Perchance　we
shall　yet　try　him　what　he　is。　　Meanwhile；　I　rede　thee　try　him　not
with　buffets；　save　he　be　weaponless　and　with　bounden　hands；　or　else
I　deem　that　but　a　little　while　shalt　thou　be　fain　of　thy　blow。〃

Now　when　Walter　heard　her　words　and　the　voice　wherein　they　were
said；　he　might　not　forbear　being　stirred　by　them；　and　to　him；　all
lonely　there；　they　seemed　friendly。

But　he　lay　still；　and　the　King's　Son　answered　the　Lady　and　said：　　〃I
know　not　what　is　in　thine　heart　concerning　this　runagate；　that　thou
shouldst　bemock　me　with　his　valiancy；　whereof　thou　knowest　nought。
If　thou　deem　me　unworthy　of　thee；　send　me　back　safe　to　my　father's
country；　I　may　look　to　have　worship　there；　yea；　and　the　love　of　fair
women　belike。〃

Therewith　it　seemed　as　if　he　had　put　forth　his　hand　to　the　Lady　to
caress　her；　for　she　said：　　〃Nay；　lay　not　thine　hand　on　my　shoulder；
for　to…day　and　now　it　is　not　the　hand　of　love；　but　of　pride　and
folly；　and　would…be　mastery。　　Nay；　neither　shalt　thou　rise　up　and
leave　me　until　thy　mood　is　softer　and　kinder　to　me。〃

Then　was　there　silence　betwixt　them　a　while；　and　thereafter　the
King's　Son　spake　in　a　wheedling　voice：　　〃My　goddess；　I　pray　thee
pardon　me！　　But　canst　thou　wonder　that　I　fear　thy　wearying　of　me；
and　am　therefore　peevish　and　jealous？　thou　so　far　above　the　Queens
of　the　World；　and　I　a　poor　youth　that　without　t