child christopher-第13节

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ey　and　his　lords　all　arrayed　most　gloriously。　　Then　came　the　Earl　up　the　chamber　to　Goldilind；　and　bent　the　knee　before　her；　and　said：　　〃Lady　and　Queen；　is　it　thy　pleasure　that　thy　servant　should　kiss　thine　hand？〃

She　made　him　little　cheer；　but　reached　out　to　him　her　lily　hand　in　its　gold　sleeve；　and　said：　　〃Thou　must　do　thy　will。〃

So　he　kissed　the　hand　reverently；　and　said：　　〃And　these　my　lords；　may　they　enter　and　do　obeisance　and　kiss　hands；　my　Lady？〃

Said　Goldilind：　　〃I　will　not　strive　to　gainsay　their　will；　or　thine；　my　Lord。〃

So　they　entered　and　knelt　before　her；　and　kissed　her　hand；　and；　to　say　sooth；　most　of　them　had　been　fain　to　kiss　both　hands　of　her；　yea；　and　her　cheeks　and　her　lips；　though　but　little　cheer　she　made　them；　but　looked　sternly　on　them。

Then　the　Earl　spake　to　her；　and　told　her　of　her　realm；　and　how　folk　thrived；　and　of　the　deep　peace　that　was　upon　the　land；　and　of　the　merry　days　of　Meadham；　and　the　praise　of　the　people。　　And　she　answered　him　nothing；　but　as　he　spake　her　bosom　began　to　heave；　and　the　tears　came　into　her　eyes　and　rolled　down　her　cheeks。　　Then　man　looked　on　man；　and　the　Earl　said：　　〃My　masters；　I　deem　that　my　Lady　hath　will　to　speak　to　me　privily；　as　to　one　who　is　her　chiefest　friend　and　well…willer。　　Is　it　so；　my　Lady？〃

She　might　not　speak　for　the　tears　that　welled　out　from　her　heart；　but　she　bowed　her　head　and　strove　to　smile　on　him。

But　the　Earl　waved　his　hand；　and　those　lords；　and　the　women　also；　voided　the　chamber；　and　left　those　two　alone；　the　Earl　standing　before　her。　　But　ere　he　could　speak；　she　arose　from　her　throne　and　fell　on　her　knees　before　him；　and　joined　hands　palm　to　palm；　and　cried　in　a　broken　voice：　　〃Mercy！　Mercy！　Have　pity　on　my　young　life；　great　Lord！〃

But　he　lifted　her　up；　and　set　her　on　her　throne　again；　and　said：　　〃Nay；　my　Lady；　this　is　unmeet；　but　if　thou　wouldst　talk　and　tell　with　me　I　am　ready　to　hearken。〃

She　strove　with　her　passion　a　while；　and　then　she　said：　〃Great　Lord；　I　pray　thee　to　hearken；　and　to　have　patience　with　a　woman's　weak　heart。　　Prithee；　sit　down　here　beside　me。

〃It　were　unfitting；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　take　a　lowlier　seat。〃　Then　he　drew　a　stool　to　him；　and　sat　down　before　her；　and　said：　　〃What　aileth　thee？　What　wouldest　thou？〃

Then　she　said：　　〃Lord　Earl；　I　am　in　prison；　I　would　be　free。〃

Quoth　he：　　〃Yea；　and　is　this　a　prison；　then？〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃since　I　may　not　so　much　as　go　out　from　it　and　come　back　again　unthreatened；　yet　have　I　been；　and　that　unseldom；　in　a　worser　prison　than　this：　　do　thou　go　look　on　the　Least　Guard…chamber；　and　see　if　it　be　a　meet　dwelling　for　thy　master's　daughter。〃

He　spake　nought　awhile；　then　he　said：　　〃And；　yet　if　it　grieveth　thee；　it　marreth　thee　nought；　for　when　I　look　on　thee　mine　eyes　behold　the　beauty　of　the　world；　and　the　body　wherein　is　no　lack。〃

She　reddened　and　said：　　〃If　it　be　so；　it　is　God's　work；　and　I　praise　him　therefor。　　But　how　long　will　it　last？　For　grief　slayeth　beauty。〃

He　looked　on　her　long；　and　said：　　〃To　thy　friends　I　betook　thee；　and　I　looked　that　they　should　cherish　thee；　where　then　is　the　wrong　that　I　have　done　thee？〃

She　said：　　〃Maybe　no　wrong　wittingly；　since　now；　belike；　thou　art　come　to　tell　me　that　all　this　weary　sojourn　is　at　an　end；　and　that　thou　wilt　take　me　to　Meadhamstead；　and　set　me　on　the　throne　there；　and　show　my　father's　daughter　to　all　the　people。〃

He　held　his　peace；　and　his　face　grew　dark　before　her　while　she　watched　it。　　At　last　he　spake　in　a　harsh　voice：　　〃Lady；〃　he　said；　〃it　may　not　be；　here　in　Greenharbour　must　thou　abide；　or　in　some　other　castle　apart　from　the　folk。〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃now　I　see　it　is　true；　that　which　I　foreboded　when　first　I　came　hither：　thou　wouldst　slay　me；　that　thou　mayest　sit　safely　in　the　seat　of　thy　master's　daughter；　thou　durst　not　send　me　a　man　with　a　sword　to　thrust　me　through；　therefore　thou　hast　cast　me　into　prison　amongst　cruel　jailers；　who　have　been　bidden　by　thee　to　take　my　life　slowly　and　with　torments。　　Hitherto　I　have　withstood　their　malice　and　thine；　but　now　am　I　overcome；　and　since　I　know　that　I　must　die；　I　have　now　no　fear；　and　this　is　why　I　am　bold　to　tell　thee　this　that　I　have　spoken；　though　I　wot　now　I　shall　be　presently　slain。　And　now　I　tell　thee　I　repent　it；　that　I　have　asked　grace　of　a　graceless　face。〃

Although　she　spake　strong　words；　it　was　with　a　mild　and　steady　voice。　　But　the　Earl　was　sore　troubled；　and　he　rose　up　and　walked　to　and　fro　of　the　chamber；　half　drawing　his　sword　and　thrusting　it　back　into　the　scabbard　from　time　to　time。　　At　last　he　came　back　to　her；　and　sat　down　before　her　and　spake：

〃Maiden；　thou　art　somewhat　in　error。　　True　it　is　that　I　would　sit　firm　in　my　seat　and　rule　the　land　of　Meadham；　as　belike　none　other　could。　　True　it　is　also　that　I　would　have　thee；　the　rightful　heir；　dwell　apart　from　the　turmoil　for　a　while　at　least；　for　I　would　not　have　thy　white　hands　thrust　me　untimely　from　my　place；　or　thy　fair　face　held　up　as　a　banner　by　my　foemen。　　Yet　nowise　have　I　willed　thy　death　or　thine　anguish；　and　if　all　be　true　as　thou　sayest　it；　and　thou　art　so　lovely　that　I　know　not　how　to　doubt　it；　tell　me　then　what　these　have　done　with　thee。〃

She　said：　　〃Sir；　those　friends　to　whom　thou　hast　delivered　me　are　my　foes；　whether　they　were　thy　friends　or　not。　　Wilt　thou　compel　me　to　tell　thee　all　my　shame？　They　have　treated　me　as　a　thrall　who　had　whiles　to　play　a　queen's　part　in　a　show。　　To　wit；　thy　chaplain　whom　thou　hast　given　me　has　looked　on　me　with　lustful　eyes；　and　has　bidden　me　buy　of　him　ease　and　surcease　of　pain　with　my　very　body；　and　hath　threatened　me　more　evil　else；　and　kept　his　behest。〃

Then　leapt　up　the　Earl　and　cried　out：　　〃Hah！　did　he　so？　Then　I　tell　thee　his　monk's　hood　shall　not　be　stout　enough　to　save　his　neck。　　Now；　my　child；　thou　speakest；　tell　me　more；　since　my　hair　is　whitening。〃

She　said：　　〃The　sleek；　smooth…spoken　woman　to　whom　thou　gavest　me；　didst　thou　bid　her　to　torment　me　with　stripes；　and　the　dungeon；　and　the　dark；　and　solitude；　and　hunger？〃

〃Nay；　by　Allhallows！〃　he　said；　〃nor　thought　of　it；　trust　me　she　shall　pay　therefor　if　so　she　hath　done。〃

She　said：　　〃I　crave　no　vengeance；　but　mercy　I　crave；　and　thou　mayst　give　it　me。〃

Then　were　they　both　silent；　till　he　said：　　〃Now　I；　for　my　part；　will　pray　thee　bear　what　thou　must　bear；　which　shall　be　nought　save　this；　that　thy　queenship　lie　quiet　for　a　while；　nought　else　of　evil　shall　betide　thee　henceforth；　but　as　much　of　pleasure　and　joy　as　may　go　with　it。　　But　tell　me；　there　is　a　story　of　thy　snatching　a　holiday　these　two　days；　and　of　a　young　man　whom　thou　didst　happen　on。　　Tell　me　now；　not　as　a　maiden　to　her　father　or　warder；　but　as　a　great　lady　might　tell　a　great　lord；　what　betid　betwixt　you　two：　　for　thou　art　not　one　on　whom　a　young　and　doughty　man　may　look　unmoved。　　By　Allhallows！　but　thou　art　a　firebrand；　my　Lady！〃　And　he　laughed　therewith。

Goldilind　flushed　red　exceeding；　but　she　answered　steadily：　〃Lord　Earl；　this　is　the　very　sooth；　that　I　might　not　fail　to　see　it；　how　he　thought　me　worth　looking　on；　but　he　treated　me　with　all　honour；　as　a　brother　might　a　sister。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃what　like　was　this　man？〃

Said　she：　　〃He　was　young；　but　strong　beyond　measure；　and　full　doughty：　　true　it　is　that　I　saw　him　with　mine　eyes　take　and　heave　up　one　of　our　men　in　his　hands　and　cast　him　away　as　a　man　would　a　clod　of　earth。〃

The　Earl　knit　his　brow：　　〃Yea；〃　said　he；　〃and　that　story　I　have　heard　from　the　men…at…arms　also。　　But　what　was　the　man　like　of　aspect？〃

She　reddened：　　〃He　was　of　a　most　goodly　body；〃　she　said；　〃fair…eyed；　and　of　a　face　well　carven；　his　speech　kind　and　gentle。〃　　And　yet　more　she　reddened。

Said　the　Earl：　　〃Didst　thou　hear　what　he　was；　this　man？〃

She　said：　　〃I　deem　from　his　own　words　that　he　was　but　a　simple　forester。〃

〃Yea；〃　quoth　the　Earl；　〃a　simple　forester？　Nay；　but　a　woodman；　an　outlaw；　a　waylayer；　so　say　our　men；　that　he　fell　on　them　with　the　cry：　　A…Tofts！　A…Tofts！　Hast　thou　never　heard　of　Jack　of　the　Tofts？〃

〃Nay；　never；〃　said　she。

Said　the　Earl：　　〃He　is　the　king　of　these　good　fellows；　and　a　perilous　host　they　be。　　Now　I　fear　me；　if　he　be　proven　to　be　one　of　these；　there　will　be　a　gallows　reared　for　him　to…　morrow；　for　as　fair　and　as　doughty　as　he　may　be。〃

She　turned　all　pale；　and　her　lips　quivered：　　then　she　rose　up；　and　fell　on　her　knees　before　the　Earl；　and　cried　out：　〃O　sir；　a　grace；　a　grace；　I　pray　thee！　Pardon　this　poor　man　who　was　so　kind　to　me！〃

The　Earl　raised　her　up　and　smiled；　and　said：　　〃Nay；　my　Lady　Queen；　wouldst　thou　kneel　to　me？　It　is　unmeet。　　And　as　for　this　woodman；　it　is　for　thee　to　pardon　him；　and　not　for　me；　and　since；　by　good　luck；　he　is　not　hanged　yet；　thy　word　hath　saved　his　neck。〃　　She　sat　down　in　her　chair　again；　but　still　looked　white　and　scared。　　But　the　Earl　spake　again；　and　kindly：

〃Now　to　all　these　matters　I　shall　give　heed；　my　Lady；　wherefore　I　will　ask　leave　of　thee；　and　be　gone；　and　to…morrow　I　will　see　thee　again；　and　lay　some　rede　before　thee。　Meantime；　be　of　good　cheer；　for　thou　shalt　be　made　as　much　of　as　may　be；　and　live　in　mickle　joy　if　thou　wilt。　　And　if　any　so　much　as　give　thee　a　hard　word；　it　shall　be　the　worse　for　them。〃

Therewith　he　arose；　and　made　obeisance　to　her；　and