the wood beyond the world-第14章

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not　keep　thee　tarrying　long　alone。〃

He　bowed　his　head　to　her；　and　turned　and　went　his　ways。　　And　now；
when　he　was　a　little　space　away　from　her；　he　deemed　her　indeed　a
marvel　of　women；　and　wellnigh　forgat　all　his　doubts　and　fears
concerning　her；　whether　she　were　a　fair　image　fashioned　out　of　lies
and　guile；　or　it　might　be　but　an　evil　thing　in　the　shape　of　a　goodly
woman。　　Forsooth；　when　he　saw　her　caressing　the　dear　and　friendly
Maid；　his　heart　all　turned　against　her；　despite　what　his　eyes　and
his　ears　told　his　mind；　and　she　seemed　like　as　it　were　a　serpent
enfolding　the　simplicity　of　the　body　which　he　loved。

But　now　it　was　all　changed；　and　he　lay　on　the　grass　and　longed　for
her　coming；　which　was　delayed　for　somewhat　more　than　an　hour。　　Then
she　came　back　to　him；　smiling　and　fresh　and　cheerful；　her　green　gown
let　down　to　her　heels。

He　sprang　up　to　meet　her；　and　she　came　close　to　him；　and　spake　from
a　laughing　face：　　〃Squire；　hast　thou　no　meat　in　thy　wallet？　　For；
meseemeth；　I　fed　thee　when　thou　wert　hungry　the　other　day；　do　thou
now　the　same　by　me。〃

He　smiled；　and　louted　to　her；　and　took　his　wallet　and　brought　out
thence　bread　and　flesh　and　wine；　and　spread　them　all　out　before　her
on　the　green　grass；　and　then　stood　by　humbly　before　her。　　But　she
said：　　〃Nay；　my　Squire；　sit　down　by　me　and　eat　with　me；　for　to…day
are　we　both　hunters　together。〃

So　he　sat　down　by　her　trembling；　but　neither　for　awe　of　her
greatness；　nor　for　fear　and　horror　of　her　guile　and　sorcery。

A　while　they　sat　there　together　after　they　had　done　their　meat；　and
the　Lady　fell　a…talking　with　Walter　concerning　the　parts　of　the
earth；　and　the　manners　of　men；　and　of　his　journeyings　to　and　fro。

At　last　she　said：　　〃Thou　hast　told　me　much　and　answered　all　my
questions　wisely；　and　as　my　good　Squire　should；　and　that　pleaseth
me。　　But　now　tell　me　of　the　city　wherein　thou　wert　born　and　bred；　a
city　whereof　thou　hast　hitherto　told　me　nought。〃

〃Lady；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　a　fair　and　a　great　city；　and　to　many　it
seemeth　lovely。　　But　I　have　left　it；　and　now　it　is　nothing　to　me。〃

〃Hast　thou　not　kindred　there？〃　said　she。

〃Yea；〃　said　he；　〃and　foemen　withal；　and　a　false　woman　waylayeth　my
life　there。〃

〃And　what　was　she？〃　said　the　Lady。

Said　Walter：　　〃She　was　but　my　wife。〃

〃Was　she　fair？〃　said　the　Lady。

Walter　looked　on　her　a　while；　and　then　said：　　〃I　was　going　to　say
that　she　was　wellnigh　as　fair　as　thou；　but　that　may　scarce　be。　　Yet
was　she　very　fair。　　But　now；　kind　and　gracious　Lady；　I　will　say　this
word　to　thee：　　I　marvel　that　thou　askest　so　many　things　concerning
the　city　of　Langton　on　Holm；　where　I　was　born；　and　where　are　my
kindred　yet；　for　meseemeth　that　thou　knowest　it　thyself。〃

〃I　know　it；　I？〃　said　the　Lady。

〃What；　then！　thou　knowest　it　not？〃　said　Walter。

Spake　the　Lady；　and　some　of　her　old　disdain　was　in　her　words：　　〃Dost
thou　deem　that　I　wander　about　the　world　and　its　cheaping…steads　like
one　of　the　chap…men？　　Nay；　I　dwell　in　the　Wood　beyond　the　World；　and
nowhere　else。　　What　hath　put　this　word　into　thy　mouth？〃

He　said：　　〃Pardon　me；　Lady；　if　I　have　misdone；　but　thus　it　was：
Mine　own　eyes　beheld　thee　going　down　the　quays　of　our　city；　and
thence　a　ship…board；　and　the　ship　sailed　out　of　the　haven。　　And
first　of　all　went　a　strange　dwarf；　whom　I　have　seen　here；　and　then
thy　Maid；　and　then　went　thy　gracious　and　lovely　body。〃

The　Lady's　face　changed　as　he　spoke；　and　she　turned　red　and　then
pale；　and　set　her　teeth；　but　she　refrained　her；　and　said：　　〃Squire；
I　see　of　thee　that　thou　art　no　liar；　nor　light　of　wit；　therefore　I
suppose　that　thou　hast　verily　seen　some　appearance　of　me；　but　never
have　I　been　in　Langton；　nor　thought　thereof；　nor　known　that　such　a
stead　there　was　until　thou　namedst　it　e'en　now。　　Wherefore；　I　deem
that　an　enemy　hath　cast　the　shadow　of　me　on　the　air　of　that　land。〃

〃Yea；　my　Lady；〃　said　Walter；　〃and　what　enemy　mightest　thou　have　to
have　done　this？〃

She　was　slow　of　answer；　but　spake　at　last　from　a　quivering　mouth　of
anger：　　〃Knowest　thou　not　the　saw；　that　a　man's　foes　are　they　of　his
own　house？　　If　I　find　out　for　a　truth　who　hath　done　this；　the　said
enemy　shall　have　an　evil　hour　with　me。〃

Again　she　was　silent；　and　she　clenched　her　hands　and　strained　her
limbs　in　the　heat　of　her　anger；　so　that　Walter　was　afraid　of　her；
and　all　his　misgivings　came　back　to　his　heart　again；　and　he　repented
that　he　had　told　her　so　much。　　But　in　a　little　while　all　that
trouble　and　wrath　seemed　to　flow　off　her；　and　again　was　she　of　good
cheer；　and　kind　and　sweet　to　him　and　she　said：　　〃But　in　sooth；
however　it　may　be；　I　thank　thee；　my　Squire　and　friend；　for　telling
me　hereof。　　And　surely　no　wyte　do　I　lay　on　thee。　　And；　moreover；　is
it　not　this　vision　which　hath　brought　thee　hither？〃

〃So　it　is；　Lady；〃　said　he。

〃Then　have　we　to　thank　it；〃　said　the　Lady；　〃and　thou　art　welcome　to
our　land。〃

And　therewith　she　held　out　her　hand　to　him；　and　he　took　it　on　his
knees　and　kissed　it：　　and　then　it　was　as　if　a　red…hot　iron　had　run
through　his　heart；　and　he　felt　faint；　and　bowed　down　his　head。　　But
he　held　her　hand　yet；　and　kissed　it　many　times；　and　the　wrist　and
the　arm；　and　knew　not　where　he　was。

But　she　drew　a　little　away　from　him；　and　arose　and　said：　　〃Now　is
the　day　wearing；　and　if　we　are　to　bear　back　any　venison　we　must
buckle　to　the　work。　　So　arise；　Squire；　and　take　the　hounds　and　come
with　me；　for　not　far　off　is　a　little　thicket　which　mostly　harbours
foison　of　deer；　great　and　small。　　Let　us　come　our　ways。〃



CHAPTER　XV：　　THE　SLAYING　OF　THE　QUARRY



So　they　walked　on　quietly　thence　some　half　a　mile；　and　ever　the　Lady
would　have　Walter　to　walk　by　her　side；　and　not　follow　a　little
behind　her；　as　was　meet　for　a　servant　to　do；　and　she　touched　his
hand　at　whiles　as　she　showed　him　beast　and　fowl　and　tree；　and　the
sweetness　of　her　body　overcame　him；　so　that　for　a　while　he　thought
of　nothing　save　her。

Now　when　they　were　come　to　the　thicket…side；　she　turned　to　him　and
said：　　〃Squire；　I　am　no　ill　woodman；　so　that　thou　mayst　trust　me
that　we　shall　not　be　brought　to　shame　the　second　time；　and　I　shall
do　sagely；　so　nock　an　arrow　to　thy　bow；　and　abide　me　here；　and　stir
not　hence；　for　I　shall　enter　this　thicket　without　the　hounds；　and
arouse　the　quarry　for　thee；　and　see　that　thou　be　brisk　and　clean…
shooting；　and　then　shalt　thou　have　a　reward　of　me。〃

Therewith　she　drew　up　her　skirts　through　her　girdle　again；　took　her
bent　bow　in　her　hand；　and　drew　an　arrow　out　of　the　quiver；　and
stepped　lightly　into　the　thicket；　leaving　him　longing　for　the　sight
of　her；　as　he　hearkened　to　the　tread　of　her　feet　on　the　dry　leaves；
and　the　rustling　of　the　brake　as　she　thrust　through　it。

Thus　he　stood　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　he　heard　a　kind　of
gibbering　cry　without　words；　yet　as　of　a　woman；　coming　from　the
thicket；　and　while　his　heart　was　yet　gathering　the　thought　that
something　had　gone　amiss；　he　glided　swiftly；　but　with　little　stir；
into　the　brake。

He　had　gone　but　a　little　way　ere　he　saw　the　Lady　standing　there　in　a
narrow　clearing；　her　face　pale　as　death；　her　knees　cleaving
together；　her　body　swaying　and　tottering；　her　hands　hanging　down；
and　the　bow　and　arrow　fallen　to　the　ground；　and　ten　yards　before　her
a　great…headed　yellow　creature　crouching　flat　to　the　earth　and
slowly　drawing　nigher。

He　stopped　short；　one　arrow　was　already　notched　to　the　string；　and
another　hung　loose　to　the　lesser　fingers　of　his　string…hand。　　He
raised　his　right　hand；　and　drew　and　loosed　in　a　twinkling；　the　shaft
flew　close　to　the　Lady's　side；　and　straightway　all　the　wood　rung
with　a　huge　roar；　as　the　yellow　lion　turned　about　to　bite　at　the
shaft　which　had　sunk　deep　into　him　behind　the　shoulder；　as　if　a　bolt
out　of　the　heavens　had　smitten　him。　　But　straightway　had　Walter
loosed　again；　and　then；　throwing　down　his　bow；　he　ran　forward　with
his　drawn　sword　gleaming　in　his　hand；　while　the　lion　weltered　and
rolled；　but　had　no　might　to　move　forward。　　Then　Walter　went　up　to
him　warily　and　thrust　him　through　to　the　heart；　and　leapt　aback；
lest　the　beast　might　yet　have　life　in　him　to　smite；　but　he　left　his
struggling；　his　huge　voice　died　out；　and　he　lay　there　moveless