the wood beyond the world-第19节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


durst　not　look　on　the　dead　monster；　but　Walter　noted　that　he　was
girt　with　a　big　ungainly　sax；　so　he　drew　it　from　the　sheath；　and
there　smote　off　the　hideous　head　of　the　fiend　with　his　own　weapon。
Then　they　twain　together　laboured　the　earth；　she　with　Walter's
sword；　he　with　the　ugly　sax；　till　they　had　made　a　grave　deep　and
wide　enough；　and　therein　they　thrust　the　creature；　and　covered　him
up；　weapons　and　all　together。



CHAPTER　XXIII：　　OF　THE　PEACEFUL　ENDING　OF　THAT　WILD　DAY



Thereafter　Walter　led　the　Maid　down　again；　and　said　to　her：　　〃Now；
sweetling；　shall　the　story　be　told。〃

〃Nay；　friend；〃　she　said；　〃not　here。　　This　place　hath　been　polluted
by　my　craven　fear；　and　the　horror　of　the　vile　wretch；　of　whom　no
words　may　tell　his　vileness。　　Let　us　hence　and　onward。　　Thou　seest　I
have　once　more　come　to　life　again。〃

〃But；〃　said　he；　〃thou　hast　been　hurt　by　the　Dwarf's　arrow。〃

She　laughed；　and　said：　　〃Had　I　never　had　greater　hurt　from　them　than
that；　little　had　been　the　tale　thereof：　　yet　whereas　thou　lookest
dolorous　about　it；　we　will　speedily　heal　it。〃

Therewith　she　sought　about；　and　found　nigh　the　stream…side　certain
herbs；　and　she　spake　words　over　them；　and　bade　Walter　lay　them　on
the　wound；　which；　forsooth；　was　of　the　least；　and　he　did　so；　and
bound　a　strip　of　his　shirt　about　her　arm；　and　then　would　she　set
forth。　　But　he　said：　　〃Thou　art　all　unshod；　and　but　if　that　be　seen
to；　our　journey　shall　be　stayed　by　thy　foot…soreness：　　I　may　make　a
shift　to　fashion　thee　brogues。〃

She　said：　　〃I　may　well　go　barefoot。　　And　in　any　case；　I　entreat　thee
that　we　tarry　here　no　longer；　but　go　away　hence；　if　it　be　but　for　a
mile。〃

And　she　looked　piteously　on　him；　so　that　he　might　not　gainsay　her。

So　then　they　crossed　the　stream；　and　set　forward；　when　amidst　all
these　haps　the　day　was　worn　to　midmorning。　　But　after　they　had　gone
a　mile；　they　sat　them　down　on　a　knoll　under　the　shadow　of　a　big
thorn…tree；　within　sight　of　the　mountains。　　Then　said　Walter：　　〃Now
will　I　cut　thee　the　brogues　from　the　skirt　of　my　buff…coat；　which
shall　be　well　meet　for　such　work；　and　meanwhile　shalt　thou　tell　me
thy　tale。〃

〃Thou　art　kind；〃　she　said；　〃but　be　kinder　yet；　and　abide　my　tale
till　we　have　done　our　day's　work。　　For　we　were　best　to　make　no　long
delay　here；　because；　though　thou　hast　slain　the　King…dwarf；　yet
there　be　others　of　his　kindred；　who　swarm　in　some　parts　of　the　wood
as　the　rabbits　in　a　warren。　　Now　true　it　is　that　they　have　but
little　understanding；　less；　it　may　be；　than　the　very　brute　beasts；
and　that；　as　I　said　afore；　unless　they　be　set　on　our　slot　like　to
hounds；　they　shall　have　no　inkling　of　where　to　seek　us；　yet　might
they　happen　upon　us　by　mere　misadventure。　　And　moreover；　friend；〃
quoth　she；　blushing；　〃I　would　beg　of　thee　some　little　respite；　for
though　I　scarce　fear　thy　wrath　any　more；　since　thou　hast　been　so
kind　to　me；　yet　is　there　shame　in　that　which　I　have　to　tell　thee。
Wherefore；　since　the　fairest　of　the　day　is　before　us；　let　us　use　it
all　we　may；　and；　when　thou　hast　done　me　my　new　foot…gear；　get　us
gone　forward　again。〃

He　kissed　her　kindly　and　yea…said　her　asking：　　he　had　already　fallen
to　work　on　the　leather；　and　in　a　while　had　fashioned　her　the
brogues；　so　she　tied　them　to　her　feet；　and　arose　with　a　smile　and
said：　　〃Now　am　I　hale　and　strong　again；　what　with　the　rest；　and　what
with　thy　loving…kindness；　and　thou　shalt　see　how　nimble　I　shall　be
to　leave　this　land；　for　as　fair　as　it　is。　　Since　forsooth　a　land　of
lies　it　is；　and　of　grief　to　the　children　of　Adam。〃

So　they　went　their　ways　thence；　and　fared　nimbly　indeed；　and　made　no
stay　till　some　three　hours　after　noon；　when　they　rested　by　a
thicket…side；　where　the　strawberries　grew　plenty；　they　ate　thereof
what　they　would：　　and　from　a　great　oak　hard　by　Walter　shot　him　first
one　culver；　and　then　another；　and　hung　them　to　his　girdle　to　be　for
their　evening's　meal；　sithence　they　went　forward　again；　and　nought
befell　them　to　tell　of；　till　they　were　come；　whenas　it　lacked　scarce
an　hour　of　sunset；　to　the　banks　of　another　river；　not　right　great；
but　bigger　than　the　last　one。　　There　the　Maid　cast　herself　down　and
said：　　〃Friend；　no　further　will　thy　friend　go　this　even；　nay；　to　say
sooth；　she　cannot。　　So　now　we　will　eat　of　thy　venison；　and　then
shall　my　tale　be；　since　I　may　no　longer　delay　it；　and　thereafter
shall　our　slumber　be　sweet　and　safe　as　I　deem。〃

She　spake　merrily　now；　and　as　one　who　feared　nothing；　and　Walter　was
much　heartened　by　her　words　and　her　voice；　and　he　fell　to　and　made　a
fire；　and　a　woodland　oven　in　the　earth；　and　sithence　dighted　his
fowl；　and　baked　them　after　the　manner　of　wood…men。　　And　they　ate；
both　of　them；　in　all　love；　and　in　good…liking　of　life；　and　were　much
strengthened　by　their　supper。　　And　when　they　were　done；　Walter　eked
his　fire；　both　against　the　chill　of　the　midnight　and　dawning；　and
for　a　guard　against　wild　beasts；　and　by　that　time　night　was　come；
and　the　moon　arisen。　　Then　the　Maiden　drew　up　to　the　fire；　and
turned　to　Walter　and　spake。



CHAPTER　XXIV：　　THE　MAID　TELLS　OF　WHAT　HAD　BEFALLEN　HER



〃Now；　friend；　by　the　clear　of　the　moon　and　this　firelight　will　I
tell　what　I　may　and　can　of　my　tale。　　Thus　it　is：　　If　I　be　wholly　of
the　race　of　Adam　I　wot　not　nor　can　I　tell　thee　how　many　years　old　I
may　be。　　For　there　are；　as　it　were；　shards　or　gaps　in　my　life；
wherein　are　but　a　few　things　dimly　remembered；　and　doubtless　many
things　forgotten。　　I　remember　well　when　I　was　a　little　child；　and
right　happy；　and　there　were　people　about　me　whom　I　loved；　and　who
loved　me。　　It　was　not　in　this　land；　but　all　things　were　lovely
there；　the　year's　beginning；　the　happy　mid…year；　the　year's　waning；
the　year's　ending；　and　then　again　its　beginning。　　That　passed　away；
and　then　for　a　while　is　more　than　dimness；　for　nought　I　remember
save　that　I　was。　　Thereafter　I　remember　again；　and　am　a　young
maiden；　and　I　know　some　things；　and　long　to　know　more。　　I　am　nowise
happy；　I　am　amongst　people　who　bid　me　go；　and　I　go；　and　do　this；　and
I　do　it：　　none　loveth　me；　none　tormenteth　me；　but　I　wear　my　heart　in
longing　for　I　scarce　know　what。　　Neither　then　am　I　in　this　land；　but
in　a　land　that　I　love　not；　and　a　house　that　is　big　and　stately；　but
nought　lovely。　　Then　is　a　dim　time　again；　and　sithence　a　time　not
right　clear；　an　evil　time；　wherein　I　am　older；　wellnigh　grown　to
womanhood。　　There　are　a　many　folk　about　me；　and　they　foul；　and
greedy；　and　hard；　and　my　spirit　is　fierce；　and　my　body　feeble；　and　I
am　set　to　tasks　that　I　would　not　do；　by　them　that　are　unwiser　than
I；　and　smitten　I　am　by　them　that　are　less　valiant　than　I；　and　I　know
lack；　and　stripes；　and　divers　misery。　　But　all　that　is　now　become
but　a　dim　picture　to　me；　save　that　amongst　all　these　unfriends　is　a
friend　to　me；　an　old　woman；　who　telleth　me　sweet　tales　of　other
life；　wherein　all　is　high　and　goodly；　or　at　the　least　valiant　and
doughty；　and　she　setteth　hope　in　my　heart　and　learneth　me；　and
maketh　me　to　know　much　。　。　。　O　much　。　。　。　so　that　at　last　I　am　grown
wise；　and　wise　to　be　mighty　if　I　durst。　　Yet　am　I　nought　in　this
land　all　this　while；　but；　as　meseemeth；　in　a　great　and　a　foul　city。〃

〃And　then；　as　it　were；　I　fall　asleep；　and　in　my　sleep　is　nought；
save　here　and　there　a　wild　dream；　somedeal　lovely；　somedeal　hideous：
but　of　this　dream　is　my　Mistress　a　part；　and　the　monster；　withal；
whose　head　thou　didst　cleave　to…day。　　But　when　I　am　awaken　from　it；
then　am　I　verily　in　this　land；　and　myself；　as　thou　seest　me　to…day。
And　the　first　part　of　my　life　here　is　this；　that　I　am　in　the
pillared　ball　yonder；　half…clad　and　with　bound　hands；　and　the　Dwarf
leadeth　me　to　the　Lady；　and　I　hear　his　horrible　croak　as　he　sayeth：
'Lady；　will　this　one　do？'　and　then　the　sweet　voice　of　the　Lady
saying：　　'This　one　will　do；　thou　shalt　have　thy　reward：　　now；　set
thou　the　token　upon　her。'　　Then　I　remember　the　Dwarf　dragging　me
away；　and　my　heart　sinking　for　fear　of　him：　　but　for　that　time　he
did　me　no　more　harm　than　the　rivetting　upon　my　leg　this　iron　ring
which　here　thou　seest。〃

〃So　from　that　time　forward　I　have　lived　in　this　land；　and　been　the
thrall　of　the　Lady；　and　I　remember　my　life　here　day　by　day；　and　no
part　of　it　has　fallen　into　the　dimness　of　dreams。　　Thereof　will　I
tell　thee　but　little：　　but　this　I　will　tell　thee；　that　in　spite　of
my　past　dreams；　or　it　may　be　because　of　them；　I　had　not　lost　the
wisdom　which　the　old　woman　had　erst　learned　me；　and　for　more　wisdom
I　longed。　　Maybe　this　longing　shall　now　make　both　thee　and　me　happy；
but　for　the　passing　time　it　brought　me　grief。　　For　at　first　my
Mistress　was　indeed　wayward　with　me；　but　as　any　great　lady　might　be
with　her　bought　thrall；　whiles　caressing　me；　and　whiles　chastising
me；　as　her　mood　went；　but　she　seemed　not　to　be　cruel　of　malice；　or
with　any　set　purpose。　　But　so　it　was　（rather　little　by　little　than
by　any　great　sudden　uncovering　of　my　intent）；　that　she　came　to　know
that　I　also　had　some　of　the　wisdom　whereby　she　lived　her　queenly
life。　　That　was　about　two　years　after　I　was　first　her　thrall；　and
three　weary　years　have　gone　by　since　she　began　to　see　in　me　the
enemy　of　her　days。　　Now　why　or　wherefore　I　know　not；　but　it　seemeth
that