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第11章

the wood beyond the world-第11章

小说: the wood beyond the world 字数: 每页4000字

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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; over whose beauteous face flickered the joyous morning
smiles; took no more heed of him than if he had been one of the
trees of the wood。  But she had been so high and disdainful with him
the evening before; that he thought little of that。  The twain went
on; skirting the hazel…copse; and he could not choose but turn his
eyes on them; so sorely did the Lady's beauty draw them。  Then
befell another thing; for behind them the boughs of the hazels
parted; and there stood that little evil thing; he or another of his
kind; for he was quite unclad; save by his fell of yellowy…brown
hair; and that he was girt with a leathern girdle; wherein was stuck
an ugly two…edged knife:  he stood upright a moment; and cast his
eyes at Walter and grinned; but not as if he knew him; and scarce
could Walter say whether it were the one he had seen; or another:
then he cast himself down on his belly; and fell to creeping through
the long grass like a serpent; following the footsteps of the Lady
and her lover; and now; as he crept; Walter deemed; in his loathing;
that the creature was liker to a ferret than aught else。  He crept
on marvellous swiftly; and was soon clean out of sight。  But Walter
stood staring after him for a while; and then lay down by the copse…
side; that he might watch the house and the entry thereof; for he
thought; now perchance presently will the kind maiden come hither to
comfort me with a word or two。  But hour passed by hour; and still
she came not; and still he lay there; and thought of the Maid; and
longed for her kindness and wisdom; till he could not refrain his
tears; and wept for the lack of her。  Then he arose; and went and
sat in the porch; and was very downcast of mood。

But as he sat there; back comes the Lady again; the King's Son
leading her by the hand; they entered the porch; and she passed by
him so close that the odour of her raiment filled all the air about
him; and the sleekness of her side nigh touched him; so that he
could not fail to note that her garments were somewhat disarrayed;
and that she kept her right hand (for her left the King's Son held)
to her bosom to hold the cloth together there; whereas the rich
raiment had been torn off from her right shoulder。  As they passed
by him; the King's Son once more scowled on him; wordless; but even
more fiercely than before; and again the Lady heeded him nought。

After they had gone on a while; he entered the hall; and found it
empty from end to end; and no sound in it save the tinkling of the
fountain; but there was victual set on the board。  He ate and drank
thereof to keep life lusty within him; and then went out again to
the wood…side to watch and to long; and the time hung heavy on his
hands because of the lack of the fair Maiden。

He was of mind not to go into the house to his rest that night; but
to sleep under the boughs of the forest。  But a little after sunset
he saw a bright…clad image moving amidst the carven images of the
porch; and the King's Son came forth and went straight to him; and
said:  〃Thou art to enter the house; and go into thy chamber
forthwith; and by no means to go forth of it betwixt sunset and
sunrise。  My Lady will not away with thy prowling round the house in
the night…tide。〃

Therewith he turned away; and went into the house again; and Walter
followed him soberly; remembering how the Maid had bidden him
forbear。  So he went to his chamber; and slept。

But amidst of the night he awoke and deemed that he heard a voice
not far off; so he crept out of his bed and peered around; lest;
perchance; the Maid had come to speak with him; but his chamber was
dusk and empty:  then he went to the window and looked out; and saw
the moon shining bright and white upon the greensward。  And lo! the
Lady walking with the King's Son; and he clad in thin and wanton
raiment; but she in nought else save what God had given her of long;
crispy yellow hair。  Then was Walter ashamed to look on her; seeing
that there was a man with her; and gat him back to his bed; but yet
a long while ere he slept again he had the image before his eyes of
the fair woman on the dewy moonlit grass。

The next day matters went much the same way; and the next also; save
that his sorrow was increased; and he sickened sorely of hope
deferred。  On the fourth day also the forenoon wore as erst; but in
the heat of the afternoon Walter sought to the hazel…copse; and laid
him down there hard by a little clearing thereof; and slept from
very weariness of grief。  There; after a while; he woke with words
still hanging in his ears; and he knew at once that it was they
twain talking together。

The King's Son had just done his say; and now it was the Lady
beginning in her honey…sweet voice; low but strong; wherein even was
a little of huskiness; she said:  〃Otto; belike it were well to have
a little patience; till we find out what the man is; and whence he
cometh; it will always be easy to rid us of him; it is but a word to
our Dwarf…king; and it will be done in a few minutes。〃

〃Patience!〃 said the King's Son; angrily; 〃I wot not how to have
patience with him; for I can see of him that he is rude and violent
and headstrong; and a low…born wily one。  Forsooth; he had patience
enough with me the other even; when I rated him in; like the dog
that he is; and he had no manhood to say one word to me。  Soothly;
as he followed after me; I had a mind to turn about and deal him a
buffet on the face; to see if I could but draw one angry word from
him。〃

The Lady laughed; and said:  〃Well; Otto; I know not; that which
thou deemest dastardy in him may be but prudence and wisdom; and he
an alien; far from his friends and nigh to his foes。  Perchance we
shall yet try him what he is。  Meanwhile; I rede thee try him not
with buffets; save he be weaponless and with bounden hands; or else
I deem that but a little while shalt thou be fain of thy blow。〃

Now when Walter heard her words and the voice wherein they were
said; he might not forbear being stirred by them; and to him; all
lonely there; they seemed friendly。

But he lay still; and the King's Son answered the Lady and said:  〃I
know not what is in thine heart concerning this runagate; that thou
shouldst bemock me with his valiancy; whereof thou knowest nought。
If thou deem me unworthy of thee; send me back safe to my father's
country; I may look to have worship there; yea; and the love of fair
women belike。〃

Therewith it seemed as if he had put forth his hand to the Lady to
caress her; for she said:  〃Nay; lay not thine hand on my shoulder;
for to…day and now it is not the hand of love; but of pride and
folly; and would…be mastery。  Nay; neither shalt thou rise up and
leave me until thy mood is softer and kinder to me。〃

Then was there silence betwixt them a while; and thereafter the
King's Son spake in a wheedling voice:  〃My goddess; I pray thee
pardon me!  But canst thou wonder that I fear thy wearying of me;
and am therefore peevish and jealous? thou so far above the Queens
of the World; and I a poor youth that without thee were nothing!〃

She answered nought; and he went o

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