child christopher-第27节

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f　me。　　And　never　came　he　back　hither；　nor　did　mine　eyes　behold　him　ever。　　Here　also　lay　my　mother　and　gave　birth　to　me；　and　died　of　sorrow；　and　her　also　I　never　saw；　save　with　eyes　that　noted　nought　that　I　might　remember。　　And　my　third　kinsman　was　the　traitor；　that　cast　me　forth　of　mine　heritage；　and　looked　to　it　that　I　should　wax　up　as　a　churl；　and　lose　all　hope　of　high　deeds；　and　at　the　last　he　strove　to　slay　me。

〃Therefore；　sweet；　have　I　no　kindred；　and　none　that　are　bound　to　cherish　me；　and　it　is　for　thee　to　take　the　place　of　them；　and　be　unto　me　both　father　and　mother；　and　brother　and　sister；　and　all　kindred。〃

She　said：　　〃My　mother　I　never　saw；　and　I　was　but　little　when　my　father　died；　and　if　I　had　any　kindred　thereafter　they　loved　me　not　well　enough　to　strike　one　stroke　for　me；　nay；　or　to　speak　a　word　even；　when　I　was　thrust　out　of　my　place　and　delivered　over　to　the　hands　of　pitiless　people；　and　my　captivity　worsened　on　me　as　the　years　grew。　　Wherefore　to　me　also　art　thou　in　the　stead　of　all　kindred　and　affinity。〃

Now　Christopher　took　counsel　with　Jack　of　the　Tofts　and　the　great　men　of　the　kingdom；　and　that　same　day；　the　first　day　of　his　kingship　in　Oakenham；　was　summoned　a　great　mote　of　the　whole　folk；　and　in　half　a　month　was　it　holden；　and　thereat　was　Christopher　taken　to　king　with　none　gainsaying。

Began　now　fair　life　for　the　people　of　Oakenrealm；　for　Jack　of　the　Tofts　abode　about　the　King　in　Oakenham；　and　wise　was　his　counsel；　and　there　was　no　greed　in　him；　and　yet　he　wotted　of　greed　and　guile　in　others；　and　warned　the　King　thereof　when　he　saw　it；　and　the　tyrants　were　brought　low；　and　no　poor　and　simple　man　had　need　to　thieve。　　As　for　Christopher；　he　loved　better　to　give　than　to　take；　and　the　grief　and　sorrow　of　folk　irked　him　sorely；　it　was　to　him　as　if　he　had　gotten　a　wound　when　he　saw　so　much　as　one　unhappy　face　in　a　day；　and　all　folk　loved　him；　and　the　fame　of　him　went　abroad　through　the　lands　and　the　roads　of　travel；　so　that　many　were　the　wise　and　valiant　folk　that　left　their　own　land　and　came　into　Oakenrealm　to　dwell　there；　because　of　the　good　peace　and　the　kindliness　that　there　did　abound；　so　that　Oakenrealm　became　both　many…peopled　and　joyous。

Though　Jack　of　the　Tofts　abode　with　the　King　at　Oakenham；　his　sons　went　back　to　the　Tofts；　and　Gilbert　was　deemed　the　head　man　of　them；　folk　gathered　to　them　there；　and　the　wilderness　about　them　became　builded　in　many　places；　and　the　Tofts　grew　into　a　goodly　cheaping　town；　for　those　brethren　looked　to　it　that　all　roads　in　the　woodland　should　be　safe　and　at　peace；　so　that　no　chapman　need　to　arm　him　or　his　folk；　nay；　a　maiden　might　go　to　and　fro　on　the　woodland　ways；　with　a　golden　girdle　about　her；　without　so　much　as　the　crumpling　of　a　lap　of　her　gown　unless　by　her　own　will。

As　to　David；　at　first　Christopher　bade　him　strongly　to　abide　with　him　ever；　for　he　loved　him　much。　　But　David　nay…said　it；　and　would　go　home　to　the　Tofts；　and　when　the　King　pressed　him　sore；　at　last　he　said：　　〃Friend　and　fellow；　I　must　now　tell　thee　the　very　sooth；　and　then　shalt　thou　suffer　me　to　depart；　though　the　sundering　be　but　sorrow　to　me。　　For　this　it　is；　that　I　love　thy　Lady　and　wife　more　than　meet　is；　and　here　I　find　it　hard　to　thole　my　desire　and　my　grief；　but　down　in　the　thicket　yonder　amongst　my　brethren　of　the　woods；　and　man　and　maid；　and　wife　and　babe；　nay；　the　very　deer　of　the　forest；　I　shall　become　a　man　again；　and　be　no　more　a　peevish　and　grudging　fool；　and　as　the　years　wear；　shall　sorrow　wear；　and　then；　who　knows　but　we　may　come　together　again。〃

Then　Christopher　smiled　kindly　on　him　and　embraced　him；　but　they　spake　no　more　of　that　matter；　but　sat　talking　a　while；　and　then　bade　each　other　farewell；　and　David　went　his　ways　to　the　Tofts。　　But　a　few　months　thereafter；　when　a　son　had　been　born　to　Christopher；　David　came　to　Oakenrealm；　but　stayed　there　no　longer　than　to　greet　the　King；　and　do　him　to　wit　that　he　was　boun　for　over…sea　to　seek　adventure。　　Many　gifts　the　King　gave　him；　and　they　sundered　in　all　loving…kindness；　and　the　King　said：　　〃Farewell；　friend；　I　shall　remember　thee　and　thy　kindness　for　ever。〃　　But　David　said：　　〃By　the　roof　in　Littledale　and　by　the　hearth　thereof；　thou　shalt　be　ever　in　my　mind。〃

Thus　they　parted　for　that　time；　but　five　and　twenty　years　afterwards；　when　Child　Christopher　was　in　his　most　might　and　majesty；　and　Goldilind　was　yet　alive　and　lovely；　and　sons　and　daughters　sat　about　their　board；　it　was　the　Yule　feast　in　the　King's　Hall　at　Oakenham；　and　there　came　a　man　into　the　hall　that　none　knew；　big　of　stature；　grey…eyed　and　hollow…cheeked；　with　red　hair　grizzled；　and　worn　with　the　helm；　a　weaponed　man；　chieftain…like　and　warrior…like。　　And　when　the　serving…men　asked　him　of　his　name；　and　whence　and　whither；　he　said：　　〃I　have　come　from　over…seas　to　look　upon　the　King；　and　when　he　seeth　me　he　will　know　my　name。〃　　Then　he　put　them　all　aside　and　would　not　be　gainsaid；　but　strode　up　the　hall　to　the　high…seat；　and　stood　before　the　King　and　said：　〃Hail；　little　King　Christopher！　Hail；　stout　babe　of　the　woodland！〃

Then　the　King　looked　on　him　and　knew　him　at　once；　and　stood　up　at　once　with　a　glad　cry；　and　came　round　unto　him；　and　took　his　arms　about　him　and　kissed　him；　and　led　him　into　the　high…seat；　and　set　him　betwixt　him　and　Goldilind；　and　she　also　greeted　him　and　took　him　by　the　hand　and　kissed　him；　and　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　now　a　very　old　man；　but　yet　hale　and　stark；　who　sat　on　the　left　hand　of　the　King；　leaned　toward　him　and　kissed　him　and　blessed　him；　for　lo！　it　was　David　of　the　Tofts。

Spake　he　now　and　said：　　〃Christopher；　this　is　now　a　happy　day！〃

Said　the　King：　　〃David；　whither　away　hence；　and　what　is　thine　heart　set　upon？〃

〃On　the　renewal　of　our　youth；〃　said　David；　〃and　the　abiding　with　thee。　　By　my　will　no　further　will　I　go　than　this　thine　house。　　How　sayest　thou？〃

〃As　thou　dost；〃　said　Christopher；　〃that　this　is　indeed　a　happy　day；　drink　out　of　my　cup　now；　to　our　abiding　together；　and　the　end　of　sundering　till　the　last　cometh。〃

So　they　drank　together；　they　two；　and　were　happy　amidst　the　folk　of　the　hall；　and　at　last　the　King　stood　up　and　spake　aloud；　and　did　all　to　wit　that　this　was　his　friend　and　fellow　of　the　old　days；　and　he　told　of　his　doughty　deeds；　whereof　he　had　heard　many　a　tale；　and　treasured　them　in　his　heart　while　they　were　apart；　and　he　bade　men　honour　him；　all　such　as　would　be　his　friends。　　And　all　men　rejoiced　at　the　coming　of　this　doughty　man　and　the　friend　of　the　King。

So　there　abode　David；　holden　in　all　honour；　and　in　great　love　of　Child　Christopher　and　Goldilind；　and　when　his　father　died；　his　earldom　did　the　King　give　to　David　his　friend；　who　never　sundered　from　him　again；　but　was　with　him　in　peace　and　in　war；　in　joy　and　in　sorrow。



CHAPTER　　XXXVIII。

OF　MATTERS　OF　MEADHAM。


GOES　the　tale　back　now　to　the　time　when　the　kingship　of　Child　Christopher　was　scarce　more　than　one　month　old；　and　tells　that　as　the　King　sat　with　his　Queen　in　the　cool　of　his　garden　on　a　morning　of　August；　there　came　to　him　a　swain　of　service；　who　did　him　to　wit　that　an　outland　lord　was　come；　and　would　see　him　and　give　him　a　message。

So　the　King　bade　bring　him　in　to　the　garden　to　him　straight…way；　so　the　man　went；　and　came　back　again　leading　in　a　knight　somewhat　stricken　in　years；　on　whose　green　surcoat　was　beaten　a　golden　lion。

He　came　to　those　twain　and　did　obeisance　to　them；　but　spake；　as　it　seemed；　to　Goldilind　alone：　　〃Lady；　and　Queen　of　Meadham；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　unto　thee；　first　of　all；　that　mine　errand　is。〃

Then　she　spoke　and　said：　　〃Welcome　to　thee；　Sir　Castellan　of　Greenharbour；　we　shall　hear　thy　words　gladly。〃

Said　the　new…comer：　　〃Lady；　I　am　no　longer　the　Burgreve　of　Greenharbour；　but　Sir　Guisebert；　lord　of　the　Green　March；　and　thy　true　servant　and　a　suitor　for　thy　grace　and　pardon。〃

〃I　pardon　thee　not；　but　thank　thee　for　what　thou　didst　of　good　to　me；〃　said　Goldilind；　〃and　I　think　that　now　thine　errand　shall　be　friendly。〃

Then　turned　the　Green　Knight　to　the　King；　and　he　said：　〃Have　I　thy　leave　to　speak；　Lord　King？〃　and　he　smiled　covertly。

But　Christopher　looked　on　the　face　and　coat…armour　of　him；　and　called　him　to　mind　as　the　man　who　had　stood　betwixt　him　and　present　death　that　morning　in　the　porch　of　the　Littledale　house；　so　he　looked　on　him　friendly；　and　said：　〃My　leave　thou　hast；　Sir　Knight；　to　speak　fully　and　freely；　and　that　the　more　as　meseemeth　I　saw　thee　first　when　thou　hadst　weaponed　men　at　thy　back；　and　wert　turning　their　staves　away　from　my　breast。〃

〃Even　so　it　is；　Lord　King；〃　said　the　Knight；　〃and　to　say　sooth；　I　fear　thee　less　for　thy　kingship；　than　because　I　wot　well　that　thou　mayst　lightly　take　me　up　by　the　small　of　my　back　and　cast　me　over　thy　shoulder　if　thou　have　a　mind　therefor。〃

Christopher　laughed　at　his　word；　and　bade　him　sit　down　upon　the　green　grass　and　tell　his　errand　straightway；　and　the　Knight　tarried　not；　but　spake　out：　　〃Queen　of　Meadham；　I　am　a　friend　and　fellow；　and　in　some　sort　a　servant；　to　Earl　Geoffrey；　Regent　of　Meadham；　whom　thou　knowest；　and　he　hath　put　a　word　in　my　mouth　which　is　both　short　and　easy　for　me　to　tell。　　All　goes　awry　in　Meadham　now；　and　men　are　arming　against　each　other；　and　will　presently　be　warring；　but　if　thou　look　to　it；　because　all　thi