the wood beyond the world-第9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！


and　me。　　Therefore　swear　we　both　of　us；　that　by　both　of　us　shall　all
guile　and　all　falling　away　be　forgiven　on　the　day　when　we　shall　be
free　to　love　each　the　other　as　our　hearts　will。〃

Walter　cried　out：　　〃O　love；　I　swear　it　indeed！　thou　art　my　Hallow；
and　I　will　swear　it　as　on　the　relics　of　a　Hallow；　on　thy　hands　and
thy　feet　I　swear　it。〃

The　words　seemed　to　her　a　dear　caress；　and　she　laughed；　and　blushed；
and　looked　full　kindly　on　him；　and　then　her　face　grew　solemn；　and
she　said：　　〃On　thy　life　I　swear　it！〃

Then　she　said：　　〃Now　is　there　nought　for　thee　to　do　but　to　go　hence
straight　to　the　Golden　House；　which　is　my　Mistress's　house；　and　the
only　house　in　this　land　（save　one　which　I　may　not　see）；　and　lieth
southward　no　long　way。　　How　she　will　deal　with　thee；　I　wot　not；　but
all　I　have　said　of　her　and　thee　and　the　King's　Son　is　true。
Therefore　I　say　to　thee；　be　wary　and　cold　at　heart；　whatsoever
outward　semblance　thou　mayst　make。　　If　thou　have　to　yield　thee　to
her；　then　yield　rather　late　than　early；　so　as　to　gain　time。　　Yet　not
so　late　as　to　seem　shamed　in　yielding　for　fear's　sake。　　Hold　fast　to
thy　life；　my　friend；　for　in　warding　that；　thou　wardest　me　from　grief
without　remedy。　　Thou　wilt　see　me　ere　long；　it　may　be　to…morrow；　it
may　be　some　days　hence。　　But　forget　not；　that　what　I　may　do；　that　I
am　doing。　　Take　heed　also　that　thou　pay　no　more　heed　to　me；　or
rather　less；　than　if　thou　wert　meeting　a　maiden　of　no　account　in　the
streets　of　thine　own　town。　　O　my　love！　barren　is　this　first
farewell；　as　was　our　first　meeting；　but　surely　shall　there　be
another　meeting　better　than　the　first；　and　the　last　farewell　may　be
long　and　long　yet。〃

Therewith　she　stood　up；　and　he　knelt　before　her　a　little　while
without　any　word；　and　then　arose　and　went　his　ways；　but　when　he　had
gone　a　space　he　turned　about；　and　saw　her　still　standing　in　the　same
place；　she　stayed　a　moment　when　she　saw　him　turn；　and　then　herself
turned　about。

So　he　departed　through　the　fair　land；　and　his　heart　was　full　with
hope　and　fear　as　he　went。



CHAPTER　XI：　　WALTER　HAPPENETH　ON　THE　MISTRESS



It　was　but　a　little　after　noon　when　Walter　left　the　Maid　behind：　　he
steered　south　by　the　sun；　as　the　Maid　had　bidden　him；　and　went
swiftly；　for；　as　a　good　knight　wending　to　battle；　the　time　seemed
long　to　him　till　he　should　meet　the　foe。

So　an　hour　before　sunset　he　saw　something　white　and　gay　gleaming
through　the　boles　of　the　oak…trees；　and　presently　there　was　clear
before　him　a　most　goodly　house　builded　of　white　marble；　carved　all
about　with　knots　and　imagery；　and　the　carven　folk　were　all　painted
of　their　lively　colours；　whether　it　were　their　raiment　or　their
flesh；　and　the　housings　wherein　they　stood　all　done　with　gold　and
fair　hues。　　Gay　were　the　windows　of　the　house；　and　there　was　a
pillared　porch　before　the　great　door；　with　images　betwixt　the
pillars　both　of　men　and　beasts：　　and　when　Walter　looked　up　to　the
roof　of　the　house；　he　saw　that　it　gleamed　and　shone；　for　all　the
tiles　were　of　yellow　metal；　which　he　deemed　to　be　of　very　gold。

All　this　he　saw　as　he　went；　and　tarried　not　to　gaze　upon　it；　for　he
said；　Belike　there　will　be　time　for　me　to　look　on　all　this　before　I
die。　　But　he　said　also；　that；　though　the　house　was　not　of　the
greatest；　it　was　beyond　compare　of　all　houses　of　the　world。

Now　he　entered　it　by　the　porch；　and　came　into　a　hall　many…pillared；
and　vaulted　over；　the　walls　painted　with　gold　and　ultramarine；　the
floor　dark；　and　spangled　with　many　colours；　and　the　windows　glazed
with　knots　and　pictures。　　Midmost　thereof　was　a　fountain　of　gold；
whence　the　water　ran　two　ways　in　gold…lined　runnels；　spanned　twice
with　little　bridges　of　silver。　　Long　was　that　hall；　and　now　not　very
light；　so　that　Walter　was　come　past　the　fountain　before　he　saw　any
folk　therein：　　then　he　looked　up　toward　the　high…seat；　and　himseemed
that　a　great　light　shone　thence；　and　dazzled　his　eyes；　and　he　went
on　a　little　way；　and　then　fell　on　his　knees；　for　there　before　him　on
the　high…seat　sat　that　wondrous　Lady；　whose　lively　image　had　been
shown　to　him　thrice　before；　and　she　was　clad　in　gold　and　jewels；　as
he　had　erst　seen　her。　　But　now　she　was　not　alone；　for　by　her　side
sat　a　young　man；　goodly　enough；　so　far　as　Walter　might　see　him；　and
most　richly　clad；　with　a　jewelled　sword　by　his　side；　and　a　chaplet
of　gems　on　his　head。　　They　held　each　other　by　the　hand；　and　seemed
to　be　in　dear　converse　together；　but　they　spake　softly；　so　that
Walter　might　not　hear　what　they　said；　till　at　last　the　man　spake
aloud　to　the　Lady：　　〃Seest　thou　not　that　there　is　a　man　in　the
hall？〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃I　see　him　yonder；　kneeling　on　his　knees；　let　him
come　nigher　and　give　some　account　of　himself。〃

So　Walter　stood　up　and　drew　nigh；　and　stood　there；　all　shamefaced
and　confused；　looking　on　those　twain；　and　wondering　at　the　beauty　of
the　Lady。　　As　for　the　man；　who　was　slim；　and　black…haired；　and
straight…featured；　for　all　his　goodliness　Walter　accounted　him
little；　and　nowise　deemed　him　to　look　chieftain…like。

Now　the　Lady　spake　not　to　Walter　any　more　than　erst；　but　at　last　the
man　said：　　〃Why　doest　thou　not　kneel　as　thou　didst　erewhile？〃

Walter　was　on　the　point　of　giving　him　back　a　fierce　answer；　but　the
Lady　spake　and　said：　　〃Nay；　friend；　it　matters　not　whether　he　kneel
or　stand；　but　he　may　say；　if　he　will；　what　he　would　have　of　me；　and
wherefore　he　is　come　hither。〃

Then　spake　Walter；　for　as　wroth　and　ashamed　as　he　was：　　〃Lady；　I
have　strayed　into　this　land；　and　have　come　to　thine　house　as　I
suppose；　and　if　I　be　not　welcome；　I　may　well　depart　straightway；　and
seek　a　way　out　of　thy　land；　if　thou　wouldst　drive　me　thence；　as　well
as　out　of　thine　house。〃

Thereat　the　Lady　turned　and　looked　on　him；　and　when　her　eyes　met
his；　he　felt　a　pang　of　fear　and　desire　mingled　shoot　through　his
heart。　　This　time　she　spoke　to　him；　but　coldly；　without　either　wrath
or　any　thought　of　him：　　〃Newcomer；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　not　bidden
thee　hither；　but　here　mayst　thou　abide　a　while　if　thou　wilt；
nevertheless；　take　heed　that　here　is　no　King's　Court。　　There　is；
forsooth；　a　folk　that　serveth　me　（or；　it　may　be；　more　than　one）；　of
whom　thou　wert　best　to　know　nought。　　Of　others　I　have　but　two
servants；　whom　thou　wilt　see；　and　the　one　is　a　strange　creature；　who
should　scare　thee　or　scathe　thee　with　a　good　will；　but　of　a　good
will　shall　serve　nought　save　me；　the　other　is　a　woman；　a　thrall；　of
little　avail；　save　that；　being　compelled；　she　will　work　woman's
service　for　me；　but　whom　none　else　shall　compel　。　。　。　Yea；　but　what
is　all　this　to　thee；　or　to　me　that　I　should　tell　it　to　thee？　　I　will
not　drive　thee　away；　but　if　thine　entertainment　please　thee　not；
make　no　plaint　thereof　to　me；　but　depart　at　thy　will。　　Now　is　this
talk　betwixt　us　overlong；　since；　as　thou　seest；　I　and　this　King's
Son　are　in　converse　together。　　Art　thou　a　King's　Son？〃

〃Nay；　Lady；〃　said　Walter；　〃I　am　but　of　the　sons　of　the　merchants。〃

〃It　matters　not；〃　she　said；　〃go　thy　ways　into　one　of　the　chambers。〃

And　straightway　she　fell　a…talking　to　the　man　who　sat　beside　her
concerning　the　singing　of　the　birds　beneath　her　window　in　the
morning；　and　of　how　she　had　bathed　her　that　day　in　a　pool　of　the
woodlands；　when　she　had　been　heated　with　hunting；　and　so　forth；　and
all　as　if　there　had　been　none　there　save　her　and　the　King's　Son。

But　Walter　departed　all　ashamed；　as　though　he　had　been　a　poor　man
thrust　away　from　a　rich　kinsman's　door；　and　he　said　to　himself　that
this　woman　was　hateful；　and　nought　love…worthy；　and　that　she　was
little　like　to　tempt　him；　despite　all　the　fairness　of　her　body。

No　one　else　he　saw　in　the　house　that　even；　he　found　meat　and　drink
duly　served　on　a　fair　table；　and　thereafter　he　came　on　a　goodly　bed；
and　all　things　needful；　but　no　child　of　Adam　to　do　him　service；　or
bid　him　welcome　or　warning。　　Nevertheless　he　ate；　and　drank；　and
slept；　and　put　off　thought　of　all　these　things　till　the　morrow；　all
the　more　as　he　hoped　to　see　the　kind　maiden　some　time　betwixt
sunrise　and　sunset　on　that　new　day。



CHAPTER　XII：　　THE　WEARING　OF　FOUR　DAYS　IN　THE　WOOD　BEYOND　THE　WORLD



He　arose　betimes；　but　found　no　one　to　greet　him；　neither　was　there
any　sound　of　folk　moving　within　the　fair　house；　so　he　but　broke　his
fast；　and　then　went　forth　and　wandered　amongst　the　trees；　till　he
found　him　a　stream　to　bathe　in；　and　after　he　had　washed　the　night
off　him　he　lay　down　under　a　tree　thereby　for　a　while；　but　soon
turned　back　toward　the　house；　lest　perchance　the　Maid　should　come
thither　and　he　should　miss　her。

It　should　be　said　that　half　a　bow…shot　from　the　house　on　that　side
（i。e。　due　north　thereof）　was　a　little　hazel…brake；　and　round　about
it　the　trees　were　smaller　of　kind　than　the　oaks　and　chestnuts　he　had
passed　through　before；　being　mostly　of　birch　and　quicken…beam　and
young　ash；　with　small　wood　betwixt　them；　so　now　he　passed　through
the　thicket；　and；　coming　to　the　edge　thereof；　beheld　the　Lady　and
the　King's　Son　walking　together　hand　in　hand；　full　lovingly　by
seeming。

He　deemed　it　unmeet　to　draw　back　and　hide　him；　so　he　went　forth　past
them　toward　the　house。　　The　King's　Son　scowled　on　him　as　he　passed；
but　the　Lady；　ov