the wood beyond the world-第30章
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spent; and dawn was at hand; they stayed at a great and mighty gate
in a huge wall。 There they blew loudly on the horn thrice; and
thereafter the gates were opened; and they all passed through into a
street; which seemed to Walter in the glimmer to be both great and
goodly amongst the abodes of men。 Then it was but a little ere they
came into a square; wide…spreading; one side whereof Walter took to
be the front of a most goodly house。 There the doors of the court
opened to them or ever the horn might blow; though; forsooth; blow
it did loudly three times; all they entered therein; and men came to
Walter and signed to him to alight。 So did he; and would have
tarried to look about for the Maid; but they suffered it not; but
led him up a huge stair into a chamber; very great; and but dimly
lighted because of its greatness。 Then they brought him to a bed
dight as fair as might be; and made signs to him to strip and lie
therein。 Perforce he did so; and then they bore away his raiment;
and left him lying there。 So he lay there quietly; deeming it no
avail for him; a mother…naked man; to seek escape thence; but it was
long ere he might sleep; because of his trouble of mind。 At last;
pure weariness got the better of his hopes and fears; and he fell
into slumber just as the dawn was passing into day。
CHAPTER XXXII: OF THE NEW KING OF THE CITY AND LAND OF STARK…WALL
When he awoke again the sun was shining brightly into that chamber;
and he looked; and beheld that it was peerless of beauty and riches;
amongst all that he had ever seen: the ceiling done with gold and
over…sea blue; the walls hung with arras of the fairest; though he
might not tell what was the history done therein。 The chairs and
stools were of carven work well be…painted; and amidmost was a great
ivory chair under a cloth of estate; of bawdekin of gold and green;
much be…pearled; and all the floor was of fine work alexandrine。
He looked on all this; wondering what had befallen him; when lo!
there came folk into the chamber; to wit; two serving…men well…
bedight; and three old men clad in rich gowns of silk。 These came
to him and (still by signs; without speech) bade him arise and come
with them; and when he bade them look to it that he was naked; and
laughed doubtfully; they neither laughed in answer; nor offered him
any raiment; but still would have him arise; and he did so perforce。
They brought him with them out of the chamber; and through certain
passages pillared and goodly; till they came to a bath as fair as
any might be; and there the serving…men washed him carefully and
tenderly; the old men looking on the while。 When it was done; still
they offered not to clothe him; but led him out; and through the
passages again; back to the chamber。 Only this time he must pass
between a double hedge of men; some weaponed; some in peaceful
array; but all clad gloriously; and full chieftain…like of aspect;
either for valiancy or wisdom。
In the chamber itself was now a concourse of men; of great estate by
deeming of their array; but all these were standing orderly in a
ring about the ivory chair aforesaid。 Now said Walter to himself:
Surely all this looks toward the knife and the altar for me; but he
kept a stout countenance despite of all。
So they led him up to the ivory chair; and he beheld on either side
thereof a bench; and on each was laid a set of raiment from the
shirt upwards; but there was much diversity betwixt these arrays。
For one was all of robes of peace; glorious and be…gemmed; unmeet
for any save a great king; while the other was war…weed; seemly;
well…fashioned; but little adorned; nay rather; worn and bestained
with weather; and the pelting of the spear…storm。
Now those old men signed to Walter to take which of those raiments
he would; and do it on。 He looked to the right and the left; and
when he had looked on the war…gear; the heart arose in him; and he
called to mind the array of the Goldings in the forefront of battle;
and he made one step toward the weapons; and laid his hand thereon。
Then ran a glad murmur through that concourse; and the old men drew
up to him smiling and joyous; and helped him to do them on; and as
he took up the helm; he noted that over its broad brown iron sat a
golden crown。
So when he was clad and weaponed; girt with a sword; and a steel axe
in his hand; the elders showed him to the ivory throne; and he laid
the axe on the arm of the chair; and drew forth the sword from the
scabbard; and sat him down; and laid the ancient blade across his
knees; then he looked about on those great men; and spake: 〃How
long shall we speak no word to each other; or is it so that God hath
stricken you dumb?〃
Then all they cried out with one voice: 〃All hail to the King; the
King of Battle!〃
Spake Walter: 〃If I be king; will ye do my will as I bid you?〃
Answered the elder: 〃Nought have we will to do; lord; save as thou
biddest。〃
Said Walter: 〃Thou then; wilt thou answer a question in all truth?〃
〃Yea; lord;〃 said the elder; 〃if I may live afterward。〃
Then said Walter: 〃The woman that came with me into your Camp of
the Mountain; what hath befallen her?〃
The elder answered: 〃Nought hath befallen her; either of good or
evil; save that she hath slept and eaten and bathed her。 What;
then; is the King's pleasure concerning her?〃
〃That ye bring her hither to me straightway;〃 said Walter。
〃Yea;〃 said the elder; 〃and in what guise shall we bring her hither?
shall she be arrayed as a servant; or a great lady?〃
Then Walter pondered a while; and spake at last: 〃Ask her what is
her will herein; and as she will have it; so let it be。 But set ye
another chair beside mine; and lead her thereto。 Thou wise old man;
send one or two to bring her in hither; but abide thou; for I have a
question or two to ask of thee yet。 And ye; lords; abide here the
coming of my she…fellow; if it weary you not。〃
So the elder spake to three of the most honourable of the lords; and
they went their ways to bring in the Maid。
CHAPTER XXXIII: CONCERNING THE FASHION OF KING…MAKING IN STARK…WALL
Meanwhile the King spake to the elder; and said: 〃Now tell me
whereof I am become king; and what is the fashion and cause of the
king…making; for wondrous it is to me; whereas I am but an alien
amidst of mighty men。〃
〃Lord;〃 said the old man; 〃thou art become king of a mighty city;
which hath under it many other cities and wide lands; and havens by
the sea…side; and which lacketh no wealth which men desire。 Many
wise men dwell therein; and of fools not more than in other lands。
A valiant host shall follow thee to battle when needs must thou wend
afield; an host not to be withstood; save by the ancient God…folk;
if any of them were left upon the earth; as belike none are。 And as
to the name of our said city; it hight the City of the Stark…wall;
or more shortly; Stark…wall。 Now as to the fashion of our king…
making: If our king dieth and leaveth an heir male; begotten of his
body; then is he king after him; but if he die and leave no heir;
then send we out a great lord; with knights and sergeants; to that
pass of the mountain whereto ye came yesterday; and the first man
that cometh unto them; they take and lead to the city; as they did
with thee; lord。 For we believe and trow that of old time our
forefathers came down from the mountains by that same pass; poor and
rude; but full of valiancy; before they conquered these lands; and
builded the Stark…wall。 But now furthermore; when we have gotten
the said wanderer; and brought him home to our city; we behold him
mother…naked; all the great men of us; both sages and warriors; then
if we find him ill…fashioned and counterfeit of his body; we roll
him in a great carpet till he dies; or whiles; if he be but a simple
man; and without guile; we deliver him for thrall to some artificer
amongst us; as a shoemaker; a wright; or what not; and so forget
him。 But in either case we make as if no such man had come to us;
and we send again the lord and his knights to watch the pass; for we
say that such an one the Fathers of old time have not sent us。 But
again;