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第25章

the wood beyond the world-第25章

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it verily so as thou sayest?  Look again!〃

So he looked; and wondered; for lo! beneath his eyes the spires of
the meadow…sweet grew crisp and clear again; the eyebright blossoms
shone once more over the whiteness of her legs; the eglantine roses
opened; and all was as fresh and bright as if it were still growing
on its own roots。

He wondered; and was even somedeal aghast; but she said:  〃Dear
friend; be not troubled! did I not tell thee that I am wise in
hidden lore?  But in my wisdom shall be no longer any scathe to any
man。  And again; this my wisdom; as I told thee erst; shall end on
the day whereon I am made all happy。  And it is thou that shall
wield it all; my Master。  Yet must my wisdom needs endure for a
little season yet。  Let us on then; boldly and happily。〃



CHAPTER XXVI:  THEY COME TO THE FOLK OF THE BEARS



On they went; and before long they were come up on to the down…
country; where was scarce a tree; save gnarled and knotty thorn…
bushes here and there; but nought else higher than the whin。  And
here on these upper lands they saw that the pastures were much
burned with the drought; albeit summer was not worn old。  Now they
went making due south toward the mountains; whose heads they saw
from time to time rising deep blue over the bleak greyness of the
down…land ridges。  And so they went; till at last; hard on sunset;
after they had climbed long over a high bent; they came to the brow
thereof; and; looking down; beheld new tidings。

There was a wide valley below them; greener than the downs which
they had come over; and greener yet amidmost; from the watering of a
stream which; all beset with willows; wound about the bottom。  Sheep
and neat were pasturing about the dale; and moreover a long line of
smoke was going up straight into the windless heavens from the midst
of a ring of little round houses built of turfs; and thatched with
reed。  And beyond that; toward an eastward…lying bight of the dale;
they could see what looked like to a doom…ring of big stones; though
there were no rocky places in that land。  About the cooking…fire
amidst of the houses; and here and there otherwhere; they saw;
standing or going to and fro; huge figures of men and women; with
children playing about betwixt them。

They stood and gazed down at it for a minute or two; and though all
were at peace there; yet to Walter; at least; it seemed strange and
awful。  He spake softly; as though he would not have his voice reach
those men; though they were; forsooth; out of earshot of anything
save a shout:  〃Are these then the children of the Bear?  What shall
we do now?〃

She said:  〃Yea; of the Bear they be; though there be other folks of
them far and far away to the northward and eastward; near to the
borders of the sea。  And as to what we shall do; let us go down at
once; and peacefully。  Indeed; by now there will be no escape from
them; for lo you! they have seen us。〃

Forsooth; some three or four of the big men had turned them toward
the bent whereon stood the twain; and were hailing them in huge;
rough voices; wherein; howsoever; seemed to be no anger or threat。
So the Maid took Walter by the hand; and thus they went down
quietly; and the Bear…folk; seeing them; stood all together; facing
them; to abide their coming。  Walter saw of them; that though they
were very tall and bigly made; they were not so far above the
stature of men as to be marvels。  The carles were long…haired; and
shaggy of beard; and their hair all red or tawny; their skins; where
their naked flesh showed; were burned brown with sun and weather;
but to a fair and pleasant brown; nought like to blackamoors。  The
queans were comely and well…eyed; nor was there anything of fierce
or evil…looking about either the carles or the queans; but somewhat
grave and solemn of aspect were they。  Clad were they all; saving
the young men…children; but somewhat scantily; and in nought save
sheep…skins or deer…skins。

For weapons they saw amongst them clubs; and spears headed with bone
or flint; and ugly axes of big flints set in wooden handles; nor was
there; as far as they could see; either now or afterward; any bow
amongst them。  But some of the young men seemed to have slings done
about their shoulders。

Now when they were come but three fathom from them; the Maid lifted
up her voice; and spake clearly and sweetly:  〃Hail; ye folk of the
Bears! we have come amongst you; and that for your good and not for
your hurt:  wherefore we would know if we be welcome。〃

There was an old man who stood foremost in the midst; clad in a
mantle of deer…skins worked very goodly; and with a gold ring on his
arm; and a chaplet of blue stones on his head; and he spake:
〃Little are ye; but so goodly; that if ye were but bigger; we should
deem that ye were come from the Gods' House。  Yet have I heard; that
how mighty soever may the Gods be; and chiefly our God; they be at
whiles nought so bigly made as we of the Bears。  How this may be; I
wot not。  But if ye be not of the Gods or their kindred; then are ye
mere aliens; and we know not what to do with aliens; save we meet
them in battle; or give them to the God; or save we make them
children of the Bear。  But yet again; ye may be messengers of some
folk who would bind friendship and alliance with us:  in which case
ye shall at the least depart in peace; and whiles ye are with us
shall be our guests in all good cheer。  Now; therefore; we bid you
declare the matter unto us。〃

Then spake the Maid:  〃Father; it were easy for us to declare what
we be unto you here present。  But; meseemeth; ye who be gathered
round the fire here this evening are less than the whole tale of the
children of the Bear。〃

〃So it is; Maiden;〃 said the elder; 〃that many more children hath
the Bear。〃

〃This then we bid you;〃 said the Maid; 〃that ye send the tokens
round and gather your people to you; and when they be assembled in
the Doom…ring; then shall we put our errand before you; and
according to that; shall ye deal with us。〃

〃Thou hast spoken well;〃 said the elder; 〃and even so had we bidden
you ourselves。  To…morrow; before noon; shall ye stand in the Doom…
ring in this Dale; and speak with the children of the Bear。〃

Therewith he turned to his own folk and called out something;
whereof those twain knew not the meaning; and there came to him; one
after another; six young men; unto each of whom he gave a thing from
out his pouch; but what it was Walter might not see; save that it
was little and of small account:  to each; also; he spake a word or
two; and straight they set off running; one after the other; turning
toward the bent which was over against that whereby the twain had
come into the Dale; and were soon out of sight in the gathering
dusk。

Then the elder turned him again to Walter and the Maid; and spake:
〃Man and woman; whatsoever ye may be; or whatsoever may abide you
to…morrow; to…night; ye are welcome guests to us; so we bid you come
eat and drink at our fire。〃

So they sat all together upon the grass round about the embers of
the fire; and ate curds and cheese; and drank milk in abundance; and
as the night grew on them they quickened the fire; that they might
have light。  This wild folk talked merrily amongst themselves; with
laughter enough and friendly jests; but to the new…comers they were
few…spoken; though; as the twain deemed; for no enmity that they
bore them。  But this found Walter; that the younger ones; both men
and women; seemed to find it a hard matter to keep their eyes off
them; and seemed; withal; to gaze on them with somewhat of doubt;
or; it might be; of fear。

So when the night was wearing a little; the elder arose and bade the
twain to come with him; and led them to a small house or booth;
which was amidmost of all; and somewhat bigger than the others; and
he did them to wit that they should rest there that night; and bade
them sleep in peace and without fear till the morrow。  So they
entered; and found beds thereon of heather and ling; and they laid
them down sweetly; like brother and sister; when they had kissed
each other。  But they noted that four brisk men lay without the
booth; and across the d

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