child christopher-第15节

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ay。　　Now　thy　first　asking　grieved　me；　for　that　thou　hast　been　tyrannously　done　by；　and　thy　second　I　wondered　at；　but　since　I　have　seen　the　young　man；　I　wonder　the　less；　for　he　is　both　so　goodly；　and　so　mighty　of　body；　and　of　speech　bold　and　free；　yet　gentle　and　of　all　courtesy；　that　he　is　meet　to　be　knight　or　earl；　yea；　or　very　king。　　Now；　therefore；　in　both　these　matters　I　will　well　to　do　thy　pleasure；　and　in　one　way　it　may　be；　and　thou　mayst　then　go　forth　from　Greenharbour　as　free　as　a　bird；　and　thy　varlet's　life　may　be　given　unto　him；　and　mickle　honour　therewith。　　Art　thou；　then；　willing　to　do　after　my　rede　and　my　commandment；　so　that　both　these　good　things　may　betide　thee？〃

〃Right　willing　am　I；〃　she　said；　〃to　be　free　and　happy　and　to　save　the　life　of　a　fair　youth　and　kind。〃

〃Then；〃　said　he；　〃there　is　one　thing　for　thee　to　do：　　that　this　day　thou　wed　this　fair　and　kind　youth；　and　let　him　lead　thee　forth　from　Greenharbour；　and；　belike；　he　will　bring　thee　to　no　ill　stead；　for　his　friends　are　mightier　than　mayhappen　thou　deemest。〃

She　turned　as　red　as　blood　at　his　word；　she　knit　her　brows；　and　her　eyes　flashed　as　she　answered：　　〃Is　it　seemly　for　a　King's　daughter　to　wed　a　nameless　churl？　And　now　I　know　thee；　Lord　Earl；　what　thou　wouldst　do；　thou　wouldst　be　King　of　Meadham　and　put　thy　master's　daughter　to　the　road。〃　　And　she　was　exceeding　wroth。

But　he　said；　smiling　somewhat：　　〃Was　it　then　seemly　for　the　King's　daughter　to　kneel　for　this　man's　life；　and　go　near　to　swooning　for　joy　when　it　was　granted　to　her？〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃for　I　love　him　with　all　my　body　and　soul；　and　I　would　have　had　him　love　me　par　amours；　and　then　should　I　have　been　his　mistress　and　he　my　servant；　but　now　shall　he　be　my　master　and　I　his　servant。〃　　And　still　was　she　very　wroth。

Quoth　the　Earl：　　〃As　to　the　matter　of　my　being　King　of　Meadham；　that　will　I　be；　whatever　befall；　or　die　in　the　place　else。　　So　if　thou　wilt　not　do　my　rede；　then　must　the　varlet　whom　thou　lovest　die；　and　at　Greenharbour　must　thou　abide　with　Dame　Elinor。　There　is　no　help　for　it。〃

She　shrieked　out　at　that　word　of　his；　and　well　nigh　swooned；　lying　back　in　her　chair：　but　presently　fell　a…weeping　sorely。　　But　the　Earl　said：　　〃Hearken；　my　Lady；　I　am　not　without　warrant　to　do　this。　　Tell　me；　hast　thou　ever　seen　any　fairer　or　doughtier　than　this　youngling？〃

〃Never；〃　said　she。

〃So　say　we　all；〃　he　said。　　〃Now　I　shall　tell　thee　（and　I　can　bring　witness　to　it）　that　in　his　last　hour　the　King；　thy　father；　when　he　gave　thee　into　my　keeping；　spake　also　this：　that　I　should　wed　thee　to　none　save　the　fairest　and　doughtiest　man　that　might　be　found：　　even　so　would　I　do　now。　What　then　sayest　thou？〃

She　answered　not；　but　still　wept　somewhat；　then　said　the　Earl：　　〃Lady；　give　me　leave；　and　I　shall　send　thy　women　to　thee；　and　sit　in　the　great　hall　for　an　hour；　and　if　within　that　while　thou　send　a　woman　of　thine　to　say　one　word；　Yes；　unto　me；　then　is　all　well。　But　if　not；　then　do　I　depart　from　Greenharbour　straightway；　and　take　the　youngling　with　me　to　hang　him　up　on　the　first　tree。　　Be　wise；　I　pray　thee。〃

And　therewith　he　went　his　ways。　　But　Goldilind；　being　left　alone　a　little；　rose　up　and　paced　the　chamber　to　and　fro；　and　her　tears　and　sobbing　ceased；　and　a　great　and　strange　joy　grew　up　in　her　heart；　mingled　with　the　pain　of　longing；　so　that　she　might　rest　in　nowise。　　Even　therewith　the　door　opened；　and　her　women　entered；　Aloyse　first；　and　she　called　to　her　at　once；　and　bade　her　to　find　Earl　Geoffrey　in　the　great　hall；　and　say　to　him：　　Yes。　　So　Aloyse　went　her　ways；　and　Goldilind　bade　her　other　women　to　array　her　in　the　best　and　goodliest　wise　that　they　might。　　And　the　day　was　yet　somewhat　young。　Now　it　must　besaid　of　Earl　Geoffrey　that；　in　spite　of　his　hard　word；　he　had　it　not　in　his　heart　either　to　slay　Christopher　or　to　leave　Goldilind　at　Greenharbour　to　the　mercy　of　Dame　Elinor。



CHAPTER　XXI。

OF　THE　WEDDING　OF　THOSE　TWAIN。


Now　were　folk　gathered　in　the　hall；　and　the　Earl　Geoffrey　was　standing　on　the　dais　by　the　high…seat；　and　beside　him　a　worthy　clerk；　the　Abbot　of　Meadhamstead；　a　monk　of　St。　Benedict；　and　next　to　him　the　Burgreve　of　Greenharbour；　and　then　a　score　of　knights　all　in　brave　raiment；　and　squires　withal；　and　sergeants；　but　down　in　the　hall　were　the　men…　at…arms　and　serving…men；　and　a　half　hundred　of　folk　of　the　countryside；　queans　as　well　as　carles；　who　had　been　gathered　for　the　show　and　bidden　in。　　No　other　women　were　there　in　the　hall　till　Goldilind　and　her　serving…women　entered。　　She　went　straight　up　the　hall；　and　took　her　place　in　the　high…seat；　and　for　all　that　her　eyes　seemed　steady；　she　had　noted　Christopher　standing　by　the　shot…window　just　below　the　dais。

Now　when　she　was　set　down；　and　there　was　silence　in　the　hall；　Earl　Geoffrey　came　forth　and　said：　　〃Lords　and　knights；　and　ye　good　people；　the　Lady　Goldilind；　daughter　of　the　Lord　King　Roland　that　last　was；　is　now　of　age　to　wed；　and　be　it　known　unto　you；　that　the　King；　her　father；　bade　me；　in　the　last　words　by　him　spoken；　to　wed　her　to　none　but　the　loveliest　and　strongest　that　might　be；　as　witness　I　can　bring　hereto。　　Now　such　a　man　have　I　sought　hereto　in　Meadhamstead　and　the　much…peopled　land　of　Meadham；　and　none　have　I　come　on；　however　worthy　he　were　of　deeds；　or　well…born　of　lineage；　but　that　I　doubted　me　if　he　were　so　fair　or　so　doughty　as　might　be　found；　but　here　in　this　half…　desert　corner　of　the　land　have　I　gotten　a　man　than　whom　none　is　doughtier；　as　some　of　you　have　found　to　your　cost。　　And　tell　me　all　you；　where　have　ye　seen　any　as　fair　as　this　man？〃　And　therewith　he　made　a　sign　with　his　hand；　and　forth　strode　Christopher　up　on　to　the　dais；　and　he　was　so　clad；　that　his　kirtle　was　of　white　samite；　girt　with　a　girdle　of　goldsmith's　work；　whereby　hung　a　good　sword　of　like　fashion；　and　over　his　shoulders　was　a　mantle　of　red　cloth…of…gold；　furred　with　ermine；　and　lined　with　green　sendall；　and　on　his　golden　curled　locks　sat　a　chaplet　of　pearls。

Then　to　the　lords　and　all　the　people　he　seemed　so　fair　and　fearless　and　kind　that　they　gave　a　great　shout　of　welcome；　and　Goldilind　came　forth　from　her　chair；　as　fair　as　a　June　lily；　and　came　to　Christopher　and　reached　out　her　hand　to　him；　but　he　refrained　him　a　moment；　so　that　all　they　could　see　how　sweet　and　lovely　a　hand　it　was；　and　then　he　took　it；　and　drew　her　to　him；　and　kissed　her　mouth　before　them　all；　and　still　he　held　her　hand；　till　the　Abbot　of　Meadhamstead　aforetold　came　and　stood　by　them　and　blessed　them。

Then　spake　the　Earl　again：　　〃Lo　ye；　here　hath　been　due　betrothal　of　these　twain；　and　ye　may　see　how　meet　they　be　for　each　other　in　goodliness　and　kindness。　　Now　there　lacketh　nought　but　they　should　be　wedded　straightway；　and　all　is　arrayed　in　the　chapel；　wherefore　if　this　holy　man　will　come　with　us　and　do　on　his　mass…hackle；　our　joy　shall　be　fulfilled；　save　that　thereafter　shall　feast　and　merriment　await　all　you　in　this　hall；　and　we　shall　be　there　to　welcome　all　comers　in　this　house　of　Greenharbour；　whereas　this　our　gracious　Lady　has　long　abided　so　happily。〃

Man　looked　on　man　here　and　there；　and　smiled　a　little　as　he　spake；　but　none　said　aught；　for　there　were　none　save　the　Earl's　servants　there；　and　a　sort　of　poor　wretches。

So　therewithal　they　went　their　ways　to　the　chapel　where　was　the　wedding　done　as　grandly　as　might　be；　considering　they　were　in　no　grander　place　than　Greenharbour。　And　when　all　was　done；　and　folk　began　to　flow　away　from　the　chapel；　and　Goldilind　sat　shamefaced　but　strangely　happy　in　a　great　stall　of　the　choir；　the　Earl　called　Christopher　unto　him；　and　said：　　〃My　lad；　I　deem　that　some　great　fortune　shall　betide　thee　since　already　thou　hast　begun　so　luckily。　　But　I　beseech　thee　mar　not　thy　fortune　by　coming　back　with　thy　fair　wife　to　the　land　of　Meadham；　or　else　it　may　be　thou　shalt　cast　thy　life　away；　and　that　will　bring　her　sorrow；　as　I　can　see　well。〃

He　spake　this　grimly；　though　he　smiled　as　he　spake。　　But　he　went　on　more　gently：　　〃I　will　not　send　you　twain　away　empty…handed；　when　ye　go　out　a…gates　into　the　wide　world；　ye　shall　find　two　fair　horses　for　your　riding；　well　bedight；　and　one　with　a　woman's　saddle；　and；　moreover；　a　sumpter　beast；　not　very　lightly　burdened；　for　on　one　side　of　him　he　beareth　achest　wherein　is；　first　of　all；　the　raiment　of　my　Lady；　and　beneath　it　some　deal　of　silver　and　gold　and　gems；　but　on　the　other　side　is　victual　and　drink　for　the　way　for　you；　and　raiment　for　thee；　youngling。　　How　sayest　thou；　is　it　well？〃

〃It　is　well；　Lord；〃　said　Christopher；　〃yet　would　I　have　with　me　the　raiment　wherewith　I　came　hither；　and　my　bow　and　my　sax。〃

〃Yea　and　wherefore；　carle？〃　said　Earl　Geoffrey。

Said　the　youngling：　　〃We　be　going　to　ride　the　wild…wood；　and　it　might　be　better　for　safety's　sake　that　I　be　so　clad　as　certain　folk　look　to　see　men　ride　there。〃

But　he　reddened　as　he　spake；　and　the　Earl　said：　　〃By　Allhallows！　but　it　is　not　ill　thought　of；　and；　belike；　the　same…like　kind　of　attire　might　be　better　to　hide　the　queenship　of　the　Lady　from　the　wood…folk　than　that　which　now　she　weareth？〃

〃True　is　that；　Lord；〃　quoth　Christopher。

〃Yet；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃l　will　have　you　go　forth　from　the　Castle　clad　in　your　lordly　weed；　lest　folk　of　mine　say　that　I　have　stripped　my　Lady　and　cast