the wood beyond the world-第16节

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So　he　smiled；　if　it　were　somewhat　grimly；　and　sheathed　his　sword　and
went　on　toward　the　house。



CHAPTER　XIX：　　WALTER　GOES　TO　FETCH　HOME　THE　LION'S　HIDE



He　entered　the　cool　dusk　through　the　porch；　and；　looking　down　the
pillared　hall；　saw　beyond　the　fountain　a　gleam　of　gold；　and　when　he
came　past　the　said　fountain　he　looked　up　to　the　high…seat；　and　lo！
the　Lady　sitting　there　clad　in　her　queenly　raiment。　　She　called　to
him；　and　he　came；　and　she　hailed　him；　and　spake　graciously　and
calmly；　yet　as　if　she　knew　nought　of　him　save　as　the　leal　servant　of
her；　a　high　Lady。　　〃Squire；〃　she　said；　〃we　have　deemed　it　meet　to
have　the　hide　of　the　servant　of　the　Enemy；　the　lion　to　wit；　whom
thou　slewest　yesterday；　for　a　carpet　to　our　feet；　wherefore　go　now；
take　thy　wood…knife；　and　flay　the　beast；　and　bring　me　home　his　skin。
This　shall　be　all　thy　service　for　this　day；　so　mayst　thou　do　it　at
thine　own　leisure；　and　not　weary　thyself。　　May　good　go　with　thee。〃

He　bent　the　knee　before　her；　and　she　smiled　on　him　graciously；　but
reached　out　no　hand　for　him　to　kiss；　and　heeded　him　but　little。
Wherefore；　in　spite　of　himself；　and　though　he　knew　somewhat　of　her
guile；　he　could　not　help　marvelling　that　this　should　be　she　who　had
lain　in　his　arms　night…long　but　of　late。

Howso　that　might　be；　he　took　his　way　toward　the　thicket　where　he　had
slain　the　lion；　and　came　thither　by　then　it　was　afternoon；　at　the
hottest　of　the　day。　　So　he　entered　therein；　and　came　to　the　very
place　whereas　the　Lady　had　lain；　when　she　fell　down　before　the
terror　of　the　lion；　and　there　was　the　mark　of　her　body　on　the　grass
where　she　had　lain　that　while；　like　as　it　were　the　form　of　a　hare。
But　when　Walter　went　on　to　where　he　had　slain　that　great　beast；　lo！
he　was　gone；　and　there　was　no　sign　of　him；　but　there　were　Walter's
own　footprints；　and　the　two　shafts　which　he　had　shot；　one　feathered
red；　and　one　blue。　　He　said　at　first：　　Belike　someone　hath　been
here；　and　hath　had　the　carcase　away。　　Then　he　laughed　in　very
despite；　and　said：　　How　may　that　be；　since　there　are　no　signs　of
dragging　away　of　so　huge　a　body；　and　no　blood　or　fur　on　the　grass　if
they　had　cut　him　up；　and　moreover　no　trampling　of　feet；　as　if　there
had　been　many　men　at　the　deed。　　Then　was　he　all　abashed；　and　again
laughed　in　scorn　of　himself；　and　said：　　Forsooth　I　deemed　I　had　done
manly；　but　now　forsooth　I　shot　nought；　and　nought　there　was　before
the　sword　of　my　father's　son。　　And　what　may　I　deem　now；　but　that
this　is　a　land　of　mere　lies；　and　that　there　is　nought　real　and　alive
therein　save　me。　　Yea；　belike　even　these　trees　and　the　green　grass
will　presently　depart　from　me；　and　leave　me　falling　down　through　the
clouds。

Therewith　he　turned　away；　and　gat　him　to　the　road　that　led　to　the
Golden　House；　wondering　what　next　should　befall　him；　and　going
slowly　as　he　pondered　his　case。　　So　came　he　to　that　first　thicket
where　they　had　lost　their　quarry　by　water；　so　he　entered　the　same；
musing；　and　bathed　him　in　the　pool　that　was　therein；　after　he　had
wandered　about　it　awhile；　and　found　nothing　new。

So　again　he　set　him　to　the　homeward　road；　when　the　day　was　now
waning；　and　it　was　near　sunset　that　he　was　come　nigh　unto　the　house；
though　it　was　hidden　from　him　as　then　by　a　low　bent　that　rose　before
him；　and　there　he　abode　and　looked　about　him。

Now　as　he　looked；　over　the　said　bent　came　the　figure　of　a　woman；　who
stayed　on　the　brow　thereof　and　looked　all　about　her；　and　then　ran
swiftly　down　to　meet　Walter；　who　saw　at　once　that　it　was　the　Maid。

She　made　no　stay　then　till　she　was　but　three　paces　from　him；　and
then　she　stooped　down　and　made　the　sign　to　him；　and　then　spake　to
him　breathlessly；　and　said：　　〃Hearken！　but　speak　not　till　I　have
done：　　I　bade　thee　to…night's　meeting　because　I　saw　that　there　was
one　anigh　whom　I　must　needs　beguile。　　But　by　thine　oath；　and　thy
love；　and　all　that　thou　art；　I　adjure　thee　come　not　unto　me　this
night　as　I　bade　thee！　but　be　hidden　in　the　hazel…copse　outside　the
house；　as　it　draws　toward　midnight；　and　abide　me　there。　　Dost　thou
hearken；　and　wilt　thou？　　Say　yes　or　no　in　haste；　for　I　may　not　tarry
a　moment　of　time。　　Who　knoweth　what　is　behind　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Walter　hastily；　〃but　friend　and　love〃

〃No　more；〃　she　said；　〃hope　the　best；〃　and　turning　from　him　she　ran
away　swiftly；　not　by　the　way　she　had　come；　but　sideways；　as　though
to　reach　the　house　by　fetching　a　compass。

But　Walter　went　slowly　on　his　way；　thinking　within　himself　that　now
at　that　present　moment　there　was　nought　for　it　but　to　refrain　him
from　doing；　and　to　let　others　do；　yet　deemed　he　that　it　was　little
manly　to　be　as　the　pawn　upon　the　board；　pushed　about　by　the　will　of
others。

Then；　as　he　went；　he　bethought　him　of　the　Maiden's　face　and　aspect；
as　she　came　running　to　him；　and　stood　before　him　for　that　minute；
and　all　eagerness　he　saw　in　her；　and　sore　love　of　him；　and　distress
of　soul；　all　blent　together。

So　came　he　to　the　brow　of　the　bent　whence　he　could　see　lying　before
him；　scarce　more　than　a　bow…shot　away；　the　Golden　House　now　gilded
again　and　reddened　by　the　setting　sun。　　And　even　therewith　came　a
gay　image　toward　him；　flashing　back　the　level　rays　from　gold　and
steel　and　silver；　and　lo！　there　was　come　the　King's　Son。　　They　met
presently；　and　the　King's　Son　turned　to　go　beside　him；　and　said
merrily：　　〃I　give　thee　good　even；　my　Lady's　Squire！　　I　owe　thee
something　of　courtesy；　whereas　it　is　by　thy　means　that　I　shall　be
made　happy；　both　to…night；　and　to…morrow；　and　many　to…morrows；　and
sooth　it　is；　that　but　little　courtesy　have　I　done　thee　hitherto。〃

His　face　was　full　of　joy；　and　the　eyes　of　him　shone　with　gladness。
He　was　a　goodly　man；　but　to　Walter　he　seemed　an　ill　one；　and　he
hated　him　so　much；　that　he　found　it　no　easy　matter　to　answer　him；
but　he　refrained　himself；　and　said：　　〃I　can　thee　thank；　King's　Son；
and　good　it　is　that　someone　is　happy　in　this　strange　land。〃

〃Art　thou　not　happy　then；　Squire　of　my　Lady？〃　said　the　other。

Walter　had　no　mind　to　show　this　man　his　heart；　nay；　nor　even　a
corner　thereof；　for　he　deemed　him　an　enemy。　　So　he　smiled　sweetly
and　somewhat　foolishly；　as　a　man　luckily　in　love；　and　said：　　〃O　yea；
yea；　why　should　I　not　be　so？　　How　might　I　be　otherwise？〃

〃Yea　then；〃　said　the　King's　Son；　〃why　didst　thou　say　that　thou　wert
glad　someone　is　happy？　　Who　is　unhappy；　deemest　thou？〃　and　he　looked
on　him　keenly。

Walter　answered　slowly：　　〃Said　I　so？　　I　suppose　then　that　I　was
thinking　of　thee；　for　when　first　I　saw　thee；　yea；　and　afterwards；
thou　didst　seem　heavy…hearted　and　ill…content。〃

The　face　of　the　King's　Son　cleared　at　this　word；　and　he　said：　　〃Yea；
so　it　was；　for　look　you；　both　ways　it　was：　　I　was　unfree；　and　I　had
sown　the　true　desire　of　my　heart　whereas　it　waxed　not。　　But　now　I　am
on　the　brink　and　verge　of　freedom；　and　presently　shall　my　desire　be
blossomed。　　Nay　now；　Squire；　I　deem　thee　a　good　fellow；　though　it
may　be　somewhat　of　a　fool；　so　I　will　no　more　speak　riddles　to　thee。
Thus　it　is：　　the　Maid　hath　promised　me　all　mine　asking；　and　is　mine；
and　in　two　or　three　days；　by　her　helping　also；　I　shall　see　the　world
again。〃

Quoth　Walter；　smiling　askance　on　him：　　〃And　the　Lady？　what　shall　she
say　to　this　matter？〃

The　King's　Son　reddened；　but　smiled　falsely　enough；　and　said：　　〃Sir
Squire；　thou　knowest　enough　not　to　need　to　ask　this。　　Why　should　I
tell　thee　that　she　accounteth　more　of　thy　little　finger　than　of　my
whole　body？　　Now　I　tell　thee　hereof　freely；　first；　because　this　my
fruition　of　love；　and　my　freeing　from　thralldom；　is；　in　a　way；　of
thy　doing。　　For　thou　art　become　my　supplanter；　and　hast　taken　thy
place　with　yonder　lovely　tyrant。　　Fear　not　for　me！　she　will　let　me
go。　　As　for　thyself；　see　thou　to　it！　　But　again　I　tell　thee　hereof
because　my　heart　is　light　and　full　of　joy；　and　telling　thee　will
pleasure　me；　and　cannot　do　me　any　harm。　　For　if　thou　say：　　How　if　I
carry　the　tale　to　my　Lady？　　I　answer；　thou　wilt　not。　　For　I　know
that　thine　heart　hath　been　somewhat　set　on　the　jewel　that　my　hand
holdeth；　and　thou　knowest　well　on　whose　head　the　Lady's　wrath　would
fall；　and　that　would　be　neither　thine　nor　mine。〃

〃Thou　sayest　sooth；〃　said　Walter；　〃neither　is　treason　my　wont。〃

So　they　walked　on　silently　a　while；　and　then　Walter　said：　　〃But　how
if　the　Maiden　had　nay…said　thee；　what　hadst　thou　done　then？〃

〃By　the　heavens！〃　said　the　King's　Son　fiercely；　〃she　should　have
paid　for　her　nay…say；　then　would　I〃　　But　he　broke　off；　and　said
quietly；　yet　somewhat　doggedly：　　〃Why　talk　of　what　might　have　been？
She　gave　me　her　yea…say　pleasantly　and　sweetly。〃

Now　Walter　knew　that　the　man　lied；　so　he　held　his　peace　thereon；　but
presently　he　said：　　〃When　thou　art　free　wilt　thou　go　to　thine　own
land　again？〃

〃Yea；〃　said　the　King's　Son；　〃she　will　lead　me　thither。〃

〃And　wilt　thou　make　her　thy　lady　and　queen　when　thou　comest　to　thy
father's　land？〃　said　Walter。

The　King's　Son　knit　his　brow；　and　said：　　〃When　I　am　in　mine　own　land
I　may　do　with　her　what　I　will；　but　I　look　for　it　that　I　shall　do　no
otherwise　with　her　than　that　she　shall　be　well…content。〃

Then　the　talk　between　them　dropped；　and　the　King's　Son　turned　off
toward　the　wood；　singing　and　joyou