the wood beyond the world-第14节

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unkindly；　and　now　thou　threatenest　me　again；　and　no　less　unkindly。
But　whatever　were　thy　need　herein　before；　now　is　there　no　more　need；
for　my　Mistress；　of　whom　thou　wert　weary；　is　now　grown　weary　of
thee；　and　belike　will　not　now　reward　me　for　drawing　thy　love　to　me；
as　once　she　would　have　done；　to　wit；　before　the　coming　of　this
stranger。　　Therefore　I　say；　since　I　am　but　a　thrall；　poor　and
helpless；　betwixt　you　two　mighty　ones；　I　have　no　choice　but　to　do
thy　will。〃

As　she　spoke　she　looked　all　round　about　her；　as　one　distraught　by
the　anguish　of　fear。　　Walter；　amidst　of　his　wrath　and　grief；　had
wellnigh　drawn　his　sword　and　rushed　out　of　his　lair　upon　the　King's
Son。　　But　he　deemed　it　sure　that；　so　doing；　he　should　undo　the　Maid
altogether；　and　himself　also　belike；　so　he　refrained　him；　though　it
were　a　hard　matter。

The　Maid　had　stayed　her　feet　now　close　to　where　Walter　lay；　some
five　yards　from　him　only；　and　he　doubted　whether　she　saw　him　not
from　where　she　stood。　　As　to　the　King's　Son；　he　was　so　intent　upon
the　Maid；　and　so　greedy　of　her　beauty；　that　it　was　not　like　that　he
saw　anything。

Now　moreover　Walter　looked；　and　deemed　that　he　beheld　something
through　the　grass　and　bracken　on　the　other　side　of　those　two；　an
ugly　brown　and　yellow　body；　which；　if　it　were　not　some　beast　of　the
foumart　kind；　must　needs　be　the　monstrous　dwarf；　or　one　of　his　kin；
and　the　flesh　crept　upon　Walter's　bones　with　the　horror　of　him。　　But
the　King's　Son　spoke　unto　the　Maid：　　〃Sweetling；　I　shall　take　the
gift　thou　givest　me；　neither　shall　I　threaten　thee　any　more；　howbeit
thou　givest　it　not　very　gladly　or　graciously。〃

She　smiled　on　him　with　her　lips　alone；　for　her　eyes　were　wandering
and　haggard。　　〃My　lord；〃　she　said；　〃is　not　this　the　manner　of
women？〃

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　say　that　I　will　take　thy　love　even　so　given。
Yet　let　me　hear　again　that　thou　lovest　not　that　vile　newcomer；　and
that　thou　hast　not　seen　him；　save　this　morning　along　with　my　Lady。
Nay　now；　thou　shalt　swear　it。〃

〃What　shall　I　swear　by？〃　she　said。

Quoth　he；　〃Thou　shalt　swear　by　my　body；〃　and　therewith　he　thrust
himself　close　up　against　her；　but　she　drew　her　hand　from　his；　and
laid　it　on　his　breast；　and　said：　　〃I　swear　it　by　thy　body。〃

He　smiled　on　her　licorously；　and　took　her　by　the　shoulders；　and
kissed　her　face　many　times；　and　then　stood　aloof　from　her；　and　said：
〃Now　have　I　had　hansel：　　but　tell　me；　when　shall　I　come　to　thee？〃

She　spoke　out　clearly：　　〃Within　three　days　at　furthest；　I　will　do
thee　to　wit　of　the　day　and　the　hour　to…morrow；　or　the　day　after。〃

He　kissed　her　once　more；　and　said：　　〃Forget　it　not；　or　the　threat
holds　good。〃

And　therewith　he　turned　about　and　went　his　ways　toward　the　house；
and　Walter　saw　the　yellow…brown　thing　creeping　after　him　in　the
gathering　dusk。

As　for　the　Maid；　she　stood　for　a　while　without　moving；　and　looking
after　the　King's　Son　and　the　creature　that　followed　him。　　Then　she
turned　about　to　where　Walter　lay　and　lightly　put　aside　the　boughs；
and　Walter　leapt　up；　and　they　stood　face　to　face。　　She　said　softly
but　eagerly：　　〃Friend；　touch　me　not　yet！〃

He　spake　not；　but　looked　on　her　sternly。　　She　said：　　〃Thou　art　angry
with　me？〃

Still　he　spake　not；　but　she　said：　　〃Friend；　this　at　least　I　will
pray　thee；　not　to　play　with　life　and　death；　with　happiness　and
misery。　　Dost　thou　not　remember　the　oath　which　we　swore　each　to　each
but　a　little　while　ago？　　And　dost　thou　deem　that　I　have　changed　in
these　few　days？　　Is　thy　mind　concerning　thee　and　me　the　same　as　it
was？　　If　it　be　not　so；　now　tell　me。　　For　now　have　I　the　mind　to　do
as　if　neither　thou　nor　I　are　changed　to　each　other；　whoever　may　have
kissed　mine　unwilling　lips；　or　whomsoever　thy　lips　may　have　kissed。
But　if　thou　hast　changed；　and　wilt　no　longer　give　me　thy　love；　nor
crave　mine；　then　shall　this　steel〃　（and　she　drew　a　sharp　knife　from
her　girdle）　〃be　for　the　fool　and　the　dastard　who　hath　made　thee
wroth　with　me；　my　friend；　and　my　friend　that　I　deemed　I　had　won。
And　then　let　come　what　will　come！　　But　if　thou　be　nought　changed；
and　the　oath　yet　holds；　then；　when　a　little　while　hath　passed；　may
we　thrust　all　evil　and　guile　and　grief　behind　us；　and　long　joy　shall
lie　before　us；　and　long　life；　and　all　honour　in　death：　　if　only　thou
wilt　do　as　I　bid　thee；　O　my　dear；　and　my　friend；　and　my　first
friend！〃

He　looked　on　her；　and　his　breast　heaved　up　as　all　the　sweetness　of
her　kind　love　took　hold　on　him；　and　his　face　changed；　and　the　tears
filled　his　eyes　and　ran　over；　and　rained　down　before　her；　and　he
stretched　out　his　hand　toward　her。

Then　she　said　exceeding　sweetly：　　〃Now　indeed　I　see　that　it　is　well
with　me；　yea；　and　with　thee　also。　　A　sore　pain　it　is　to　me；　that　not
even　now　may　I　take　thine　hand；　and　cast　mine　arms　about　thee；　and
kiss　the　lips　that　love　me。　　But　so　it　has　to　be。　　My　dear；　even　so
I　were　fain　to　stand　here　long　before　thee；　even　if　we　spake　no　more
word　to　each　other；　but　abiding　here　is　perilous；　for　there　is　ever
an　evil　spy　upon　my　doings；　who　has　now　as　I　deem　followed　the
King's　Son　to　the　house；　but　who　will　return　when　he　has　tracked　him
home　thither：　　so　we　must　sunder。　　But　belike　there　is　yet　time　for
a　word　or　two：　　first；　the　rede　which　I　had　thought　on　for　our
deliverance　is　now　afoot；　though　I　durst　not　tell　thee　thereof；　nor
have　time　thereto。　　But　this　much　shall　I　tell　thee；　that　whereas
great　is　the　craft　of　my　Mistress　in　wizardry；　yet　I　also　have　some
little　craft　therein；　and　this；　which　she　hath　not；　to　change　the
aspect　of　folk　so　utterly　that　they　seem　other　than　they　verily　are；
yea；　so　that　one　may　have　the　aspect　of　another。　　Now　the　next　thing
is　this：　　whatsoever　my　Mistress　may　bid　thee；　do　her　will　therein
with　no　more　nay…saying　than　thou　deemest　may　please　her。　　And　the
next　thing：　　wheresoever　thou　mayst　meet　me；　speak　not　to　me；　make
no　sign　to　me；　even　when　I　seem　to　be　all　alone；　till　I　stoop　down
and　touch　the　ring　on　my　ankle　with　my　right　hand；　but　if　I　do　so；
then　stay　thee；　without　fail；　till　I　speak。　　The　last　thing　I　will
say　to　thee；　dear　friend；　ere　we　both　go　our　ways；　this　it　is。　　When
we　are　free；　and　thou　knowest　all　that　I　have　done；　I　pray　thee　deem
me　not　evil　and　wicked；　and　be　not　wroth　with　me　for　my　deed；
whereas　thou　wottest　well　that　I　am　not　in　like　plight　with　other
women。　　I　have　heard　tell　that　when　the　knight　goeth　to　the　war；　and
hath　overcome　his　foes　by　the　shearing　of　swords　and　guileful
tricks；　and　hath　come　back　home　to　his　own　folk；　they　praise　him　and
bless　him；　and　crown　him　with　flowers；　and　boast　of　him　before　God
in　the　minster　for　his　deliverance　of　friend　and　folk　and　city。　　Why
shouldst　thou　be　worse　to　me　than　this？　　Now　is　all　said；　my　dear
and　my　friend；　farewell；　farewell！〃

Therewith　she　turned　and　went　her　ways　toward　the　house　in　all
speed；　but　making　somewhat　of　a　compass。　　And　when　she　was　gone；
Walter　knelt　down　and　kissed　the　place　where　her　feet　had　been；　and
arose　thereafter；　and　made　his　way　toward　the　house；　he　also；　but
slowly；　and　staying　oft　on　his　way。



CHAPTER　XVII：　　OF　THE　HOUSE　AND　THE　PLEASANCE　IN　THE　WOOD



On　the　morrow　morning　Walter　loitered　a　while　about　the　house　till
the　morn　was　grown　old；　and　then　about　noon　he　took　his　bow　and
arrows　and　went　into　the　woods　to　the　northward；　to　get　him　some
venison。　　He　went　somewhat　far　ere　he　shot　him　a　fawn；　and　then　he
sat　him　down　to　rest　under　the　shade　of　a　great　chestnut…tree；　for
it　was　not　far　past　the　hottest　of　the　day。　　He　looked　around　thence
and　saw　below　him　a　little　dale　with　a　pleasant　stream　running
through　it；　and　he　bethought　him　of　bathing　therein；　so　he　went　down
and　had　his　pleasure　of　the　water　and　the　willowy　banks；　for　he　lay
naked　a　while　on　the　grass　by　the　lip　of　the　water；　for　joy　of　the
flickering　shade；　and　the　little　breeze　that　ran　over　the　down…long
ripples　of　the　stream。

Then　he　did　on　his　raiment；　and　began　to　come　his　ways　up　the　bent；
but　had　scarce　gone　three　steps　ere　he　saw　a　woman　coming　towards
him　from　downstream。　　His　heart　came　into　his　mouth　when　he　saw　her；
for　she　stooped　and　reached　down　her　arm；　as　if　she　would　lay　her
hand　on　her　ankle；　so　that　at　first　he　deemed　it　had　been　the　Maid；
but　at　the　second　eye…shot　he　saw　that　it　was　the　Mistress。　　She
stood　still　and　looked　on　him；　so　that　he　deemed　she　would　have　him
come　to　her。　　So　he　went　to　meet　her；　and　grew　somewhat　shamefaced
as　he　drew　nigher；　and　wondered　at　her；　for　now　was　she　clad　but　in
one　garment　of　some　dark　grey　silky　stuff；　embroidered　with；　as　it
were；　a　garland　of　flowers　about　the　middle；　but　which　was　so　thin
that；　as　the　wind　drifted　it　from　side　and　limb；　it　hid　her　no　more；
but　for　the　said　garland；　than　if　water　were　running　over　her：　　her
face　was　full　of　smiling　joy　and　content　as　she　spake　to　him　in　a
kind；　caressing　voice；　and　said：　　〃I　give　thee　good　day；　good
Squire；　and　well　art　thou　met。〃　　And　she　held　out　her　hand　to　him。
He　knelt　down　before　her　and　kissed　it；　and　abode　still　upon　his
knees；　and　hanging　down　his　head。

But　she　laughed　outright；　and　stooped　down　to　him；　and　put　her　hand
to　his　arms；　and　raised　him　up；　and　said　to　him：