the story of the glittering plain-µÚ7½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
a¡¡sword¡¡by¡¡his¡¡side¡¡and¡¡a¡¡crown¡¡on¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡ever¡¡was¡¡he¡¡smiling
and¡¡joyous£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡Hallblithe£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡on¡¡him£»¡¡felt¡¡of¡¡better
heart¡¡and¡¡smiled¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡carven¡¡image¡£
So¡¡while¡¡Hallblithe¡¡looked¡¡on¡¡these¡¡things£»¡¡and¡¡pondered¡¡his¡¡case
carefully£»¡¡all¡¡alone¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡that¡¡alien¡¡hall£»¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡noise
without¡¡of¡¡talking¡¡and¡¡laughter£»¡¡and¡¡presently¡¡the¡¡pattering¡¡of¡¡feet
therewith£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡women¡¡came¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡a¡¡score¡¡or¡¡more£»¡¡some
young£»¡¡some¡¡old£»¡¡some¡¡fair¡¡enough£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡hard¡featured¡¡and
uncomely£»¡¡but¡¡all¡¡above¡¡the¡¡stature¡¡of¡¡the¡¡women¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡in
his¡¡own¡¡land¡£
So¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡amidst¡¡the¡¡hall¡floor¡¡and¡¡abided¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡him
and¡¡his¡¡shining¡¡war¡gear£»¡¡and¡¡ceased¡¡their¡¡talking¡¡and¡¡laughter£»¡¡and
drew¡¡round¡¡about¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡gazed¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡none¡¡said¡¡aught¡¡till¡¡an
old¡¡crone¡¡came¡¡forth¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ring£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡¡¨Who¡¡art¡¡thou£»¡¡standing
under¡¡weapons¡¡in¡¡our¡¡hall£¿¡¨
He¡¡knew¡¡not¡¡what¡¡to¡¡answer£»¡¡and¡¡held¡¡his¡¡peace£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡spake¡¡again£º
¡¨Whither¡¡wouldest¡¡thou£»¡¡what¡¡seekest¡¡thou£¿¡¨
Then¡¡answered¡¡Hallblithe£º¡¡¡¡¡¨THE¡¡HOUSE¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡UNDYING¡£¡¨
None¡¡answered£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡women¡¡all¡¡fell¡¡away¡¡from¡¡him¡¡at¡¡once£»
and¡¡went¡¡about¡¡their¡¡business¡¡hither¡¡and¡¡thither¡¡through¡¡the¡¡hall¡£
But¡¡the¡¡old¡¡crone¡¡took¡¡him¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡led¡¡him¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dais£»
and¡¡set¡¡him¡¡next¡¡to¡¡the¡¡midmost¡¡high¡seat¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡made¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she
would¡¡do¡¡off¡¡his¡¡war¡gear£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡gainsay¡¡her£»¡¡though¡¡he
deemed¡¡that¡¡foes¡¡might¡¡be¡¡anear£»¡¡for¡¡in¡¡sooth¡¡he¡¡trusted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡old
carle¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡bewray¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡moreover¡¡he¡¡deemed¡¡it¡¡would
be¡¡unmanly¡¡not¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡risks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guesting£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the
custom¡¡of¡¡that¡¡country¡£
So¡¡she¡¡took¡¡his¡¡armour¡¡and¡¡his¡¡weapons¡¡and¡¡bore¡¡them¡¡off¡¡to¡¡a¡¡shut¡
bed¡¡next¡¡to¡¡that¡¡wherein¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡laid¡¡the¡¡gear
within¡¡it£»¡¡all¡¡save¡¡the¡¡spear£»¡¡which¡¡she¡¡laid¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wall¡pins¡¡above£»
and¡¡she¡¡made¡¡signs¡¡to¡¡him¡¡that¡¡therein¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡lie£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡spake
no¡¡word¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡the¡¡hand¡washing¡¡water¡¡in¡¡a
basin¡¡of¡¡latten£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡goodly¡¡towel¡¡therewith£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡washed
she¡¡went¡¡away¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡far¡£
This¡¡while¡¡the¡¡other¡¡women¡¡were¡¡busy¡¡about¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡some¡¡swept¡¡the
floor¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡it¡¡was¡¡swept¡¡strawed¡¡thereon¡¡rushes¡¡and¡¡handfuls
of¡¡wild¡¡thyme£º¡¡¡¡some¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡buttery¡¡and¡¡bore¡¡forth¡¡the¡¡boards
and¡¡the¡¡trestles£º¡¡¡¡some¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡chests¡¡and¡¡brought¡¡out¡¡the¡¡rich
hangings£»¡¡the¡¡goodly¡¡bankers¡¡and¡¡dorsars£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡them¡¡on¡¡the¡¡walls£º
some¡¡bore¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stoups¡¡and¡¡horns¡¡and¡¡beakers£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡went¡¡their
ways¡¡and¡¡came¡¡not¡¡back¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡were¡¡busied¡¡about¡¡the
cooking¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡whatever¡¡they¡¡did£»¡¡none¡¡hailed¡¡him£»¡¡or¡¡heeded¡¡him¡¡more
than¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡an¡¡image£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡there¡¡looking¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡None¡¡save
the¡¡old¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡the¡¡fore¡supper£»¡¡to¡¡wit¡¡a¡¡great¡¡horn¡¡of
mead£»¡¡and¡¡cakes¡¡and¡¡dried¡¡fish¡£
So¡¡was¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡arrayed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡feast¡¡very¡¡fairly£»¡¡and¡¡Hallblithe¡¡sat
there¡¡while¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡westered¡¡and¡¡the¡¡house¡¡grew¡¡dim£»¡¡and¡¡dark¡¡at
last£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡lighted¡¡the¡¡candles¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hall¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡a
little¡¡after¡¡these¡¡were¡¡lit£»¡¡a¡¡great¡¡horn¡¡was¡¡winded¡¡close¡¡without£»
and¡¡thereafter¡¡came¡¡the¡¡clatter¡¡of¡¡arms¡¡about¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡exceeding
tall¡¡weaponed¡¡men¡¡came¡¡in£»¡¡one¡¡score¡¡and¡¡five£»¡¡and¡¡strode¡¡two¡¡by¡¡two
up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dais£»¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡there¡¡in¡¡a¡¡row¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡Hallblithe
deemed¡¡their¡¡war¡gear¡¡exceeding¡¡good£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡all¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡ring¡
locked¡¡byrnies£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡steel¡¡helms¡¡on¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡with¡¡garlands¡¡of
gold¡¡wrought¡¡about¡¡them¡¡and¡¡they¡¡bore¡¡spears¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hands£»¡¡and
white¡¡shields¡¡hung¡¡at¡¡their¡¡backs¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡came¡¡the¡¡women¡¡to¡¡them¡¡and
unarmed¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡under¡¡their¡¡armour¡¡their¡¡raiment¡¡was¡¡black£»¡¡but
they¡¡had¡¡gold¡¡rings¡¡on¡¡their¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡golden¡¡collars¡¡about¡¡their
necks¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡they¡¡strode¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dais¡¡and¡¡took¡¡their¡¡places¡¡on¡¡the
high¡seat£»¡¡not¡¡heeding¡¡Hallblithe¡¡any¡¡more¡¡than¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡an¡¡image
of¡¡wood¡£¡¡¡¡Nevertheless¡¡that¡¡man¡¡sat¡¡next¡¡to¡¡him¡¡who¡¡was¡¡the¡¡chieftain
of¡¡all¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midmost¡¡high¡seat£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡bore¡¡his¡¡sheathed
sword¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡it¡¡on¡¡the¡¡board¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the
only¡¡man¡¡of¡¡those¡¡chieftains¡¡who¡¡had¡¡a¡¡weapon¡£
But¡¡when¡¡these¡¡were¡¡set¡¡down¡¡there¡¡was¡¡again¡¡a¡¡noise¡¡without£»¡¡and
there¡¡came¡¡in¡¡a¡¡throng¡¡of¡¡men¡¡armed¡¡and¡¡unarmed¡¡who¡¡took¡¡their¡¡places
on¡¡the¡¡end¡long¡¡benches¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡with¡¡these¡¡came¡¡women
also£»¡¡who¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡sat¡¡amongst¡¡the¡¡men£»¡¡but¡¡some¡¡busied¡¡them¡¡with
the¡¡serving£º¡¡¡¡all¡¡these¡¡men¡¡were¡¡great¡¡of¡¡stature£»¡¡but¡¡none¡¡so¡¡big¡¡as
the¡¡chieftains¡¡on¡¡the¡¡high¡seat¡£
Now¡¡came¡¡the¡¡women¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡bearing¡¡the¡¡meat£»¡¡whereof¡¡no
little¡¡was¡¡flesh¡meat£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡was¡¡of¡¡the¡¡best¡£¡¡¡¡Hallblithe¡¡was¡¡duly
served¡¡like¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡none¡¡spake¡¡to¡¡him¡¡or¡¡even¡¡looked¡¡on
him£»¡¡though¡¡amongst¡¡themselves¡¡they¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡big£»¡¡rough¡¡voices¡¡so
that¡¡the¡¡rafters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡rang¡¡again¡£
When¡¡they¡¡had¡¡eaten¡¡their¡¡fill¡¡the¡¡women¡¡filled¡¡round¡¡the¡¡cups¡¡and
the¡¡horns¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡vessels¡¡were¡¡both¡¡great¡¡and¡¡goodly¡£¡¡¡¡But
ere¡¡they¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡drinking¡¡uprose¡¡the¡¡chieftain¡¡who¡¡sat¡¡furthest¡¡from
the¡¡midmost¡¡high¡seat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡right¡¡and¡¡cried¡¡a¡¡health£º¡¡¡¡¡¨THE¡¡TREASURE
OF¡¡THE¡¡SEA£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡Then¡¡they¡¡all¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡and¡¡shouted£»¡¡women¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as
men£»¡¡and¡¡emptied¡¡their¡¡horns¡¡and¡¡cups¡¡to¡¡that¡¡health¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡stood¡¡up
the¡¡man¡¡furthest¡¡on¡¡the¡¡left¡¡and¡¡cried¡¡out£»¡¡¡¨Drink¡¡a¡¡health¡¡to¡¡the
Undying¡¡King£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡And¡¡again¡¡all¡¡men¡¡rose¡¡up¡¡and¡¡shouted¡¡ere¡¡they¡¡drank¡£
Other¡¡healths¡¡they¡¡drank£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡¡¨Cold¡¡Keel£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡¡¨Windworn¡¡Sail£»¡¨
the¡¡¡¨Quivering¡¡Ash¡¨¡¡and¡¡the¡¡¡¨Furrowed¡¡Beach¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡wine¡¡and¡¡mead
flowed¡¡like¡¡rivers¡¡in¡¡that¡¡hall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Wild¡¡Men¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡Hallblithe£»
he¡¡drank¡¡what¡¡he¡¡would¡¡but¡¡stood¡¡not¡¡up£»¡¡nor¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡cup¡¡to¡¡his
lips¡¡when¡¡a¡¡health¡¡was¡¡drunk£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡not¡¡whether¡¡these¡¡men¡¡were
his¡¡friends¡¡or¡¡his¡¡foes£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡deemed¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡little¡minded¡¡to
drink¡¡to¡¡their¡¡healths£»¡¡lest¡¡he¡¡might¡¡be¡¡drinking¡¡death¡¡and¡¡confusion
to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡kindred¡£
But¡¡when¡¡men¡¡had¡¡drunk¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡again¡¡a¡¡horn¡¡blew¡¡at¡¡the¡¡nether¡¡end
of¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡and¡¡straightway¡¡folk¡¡arose¡¡from¡¡the¡¡endlong¡¡tables£»¡¡and
took¡¡away¡¡the¡¡boards¡¡and¡¡trestles£»¡¡and¡¡cleared¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡and¡¡stood
against¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡big¡¡chieftain¡¡beside¡¡Hallblithe¡¡arose¡¡and
cried¡¡out£º¡¡¡¡¡¨Now¡¡let¡¡man¡¡dance¡¡with¡¡maid£»¡¡and¡¡be¡¡we¡¡merry£¡¡¡¡¡Music£»
strike¡¡up£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡Then¡¡flew¡¡the¡¡fiddle¡bows¡¡and¡¡twanged¡¡the¡¡harps£»¡¡and¡¡the
carles¡¡and¡¡queens¡¡stood¡¡forth¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡women¡¡were
clad¡¡in¡¡black¡¡raiment£»¡¡albeit¡¡embroidered¡¡with¡¡knots¡¡and¡¡wreaths¡¡of
flowers¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡while¡¡they¡¡danced¡¡and¡¡then¡¡suddenly¡¡the¡¡music¡¡fell£»¡¡and
they¡¡all¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡their¡¡places¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡chieftain¡¡in¡¡the¡¡high¡
seat¡¡arose¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡horn¡¡from¡¡his¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡blew¡¡a¡¡great¡¡blast¡¡on
it¡¡that¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡cried¡¡in¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡voice£º¡¡¡¡¡¨Be¡¡we
merry£¡¡¡¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡champions¡¡come¡¡forth£¡¡¨
Men¡¡shouted¡¡gleefully¡¡thereat£»¡¡and¡¡straightway¡¡ran¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡from
out¡¡the¡¡screens¡¡three¡¡tall¡¡men¡¡clad¡¡all¡¡in¡¡black¡¡armour¡¡with¡¡naked
swords¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡amidst¡¡the¡¡hall¡floor£»¡¡somewhat¡¡on
one¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡clashed¡¡their¡¡swords¡¡on¡¡their¡¡shields¡¡and¡¡cried¡¡out£º
¡¨Come¡¡forth¡¡ye¡¡Champions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Raven£¡¡¨
Then¡¡leapt¡¡Hallblithe¡¡from¡¡his¡¡seat¡¡and¡¡set¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡his¡¡left
side£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡sword¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡again£»¡¡remembering¡¡the
warning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Elder£»¡¡and¡¡none¡¡heeded¡¡him¡£
Then¡¡there¡¡came¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡slowly¡¡and¡¡mournfully¡¡three¡¡men¡at¡
arms£»¡¡clad¡¡and¡¡weaponed¡¡like¡¡the¡¡warriors¡¡of¡¡his¡¡folk£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡image
of¡¡the¡¡Raven¡¡on¡¡their¡¡helms¡¡and¡¡shields¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡Hallblithe¡¡refrained
him£»¡¡for¡¡besides¡¡that¡¡this¡¡seemed¡¡like¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡battle¡¡of¡¡three
against¡¡three£»¡¡he¡¡doubted¡¡some¡¡snare£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡look¡¡on
and¡¡abide¡£
So¡¡the¡¡champions¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡laying¡¡on¡¡strokes¡¡that¡¡were¡¡no¡¡child's¡¡play£»
though¡¡Hallblithe¡¡doubted¡¡if¡¡the¡¡edges¡¡bit£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡little
while¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Champions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Raven¡¡fell¡¡one¡¡after¡¡another¡¡before
the¡¡Wild¡¡Men£»¡¡and¡¡folk¡¡drew¡¡them¡¡by¡¡the¡¡heels¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡buttery¡£
Then¡¡arose¡¡great¡¡laughter¡¡and¡¡jeering£»¡¡and¡¡exceeding¡¡wroth¡¡was
Hallblithe£»¡¡howbeit¡¡he¡¡refrained¡¡him¡¡because¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡all¡¡he¡¡had
to¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡three¡¡Champions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sea¡¡strode¡¡round¡¡the¡¡hall£»
tossing¡¡up¡¡their¡¡swords¡¡and¡¡catching¡¡them¡¡as¡¡they¡¡fell£»¡¡while¡¡the
horns¡¡blew¡¡up¡¡behind¡¡them¡£
After¡¡a¡¡while¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡grew¡¡hushed£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡chieftain¡¡arose¡¡and
cried£º¡¡¡¡¡¨Bring¡¡in¡¡now¡¡some¡¡sheaves¡¡of¡¡the¡¡harvest¡¡we¡¡win£»¡¡we¡¡lads¡¡of
the¡¡oar¡¡and¡¡the¡¡arrow£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡Then¡¡was¡¡there¡¡a¡¡stir¡¡at¡¡the¡¡screen¡¡doors£»
and¡¡folk¡¡pressed¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡see£»¡¡and£»¡¡lo£»¡¡there¡¡came¡¡forward¡¡a¡¡string
of¡¡women£»¡¡led¡¡in¡¡by¡¡two¡¡weaponed¡¡carles£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡women¡¡were¡¡a¡¡score
in¡¡number£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡barefoot¡¡and¡¡their¡¡hair¡¡hung¡¡loose¡¡and¡¡their
gowns¡¡were¡¡ungirt£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡chained¡¡together¡¡wrist¡¡to¡¡wrist£»¡¡yet
had¡¡they¡¡gold¡¡at¡¡arm¡¡and¡¡neck£º¡¡¡¡there¡¡was¡¡silence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡when
they¡¡stood¡¡amidst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡floor¡£
Then¡¡indeed¡¡Hallblithe¡¡could¡¡not¡¡refrain¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡leapt¡¡from
his¡¡seat¡¡and¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡board£»¡¡and¡¡over¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡and
came¡¡to¡¡those¡¡women¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one£»¡¡w