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第32章

the wood beyond the world-第32章

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choir; and came up to the King; and gave him and the Queen the kiss
of peace。  This was mass sung gloriously; and thereafter was the
King anointed and crowned; and great joy was made throughout the
church。  Afterwards they went back afoot to the palace; they two
alone together; with none but the esquire going before to show them
the way。  And as they went; they passed close beside those two
neighbours; whose talk has been told of afore; and the first one; he
who had praised the King's war…array; spake and said:  〃Truly;
neighbour; thou art in the right of it; and now the Queen has been
dight duly; and hath a crown on her head; and is clad in white
samite done all over with pearls; I see her to be of exceeding
goodliness; as goodly; maybe; as the Lord King。〃

Quoth the other:  〃Unto me she seemeth as she did e'en now; she is
clad in white; as then she was; and it is by reason of the pure and
sweet flesh of her that the pearls shine out and glow; and by the
holiness of her body is her rich attire hallowed; but; forsooth; it
seemed to me as she went past as though paradise had come anigh to
our city; and that all the air breathed of it。  So I say; praise be
to God and His Hallows who hath suffered her to dwell amongst us!〃

Said the first man:  〃Forsooth; it is well; but knowest thou at all
whence she cometh; and of what lineage she may be?〃

〃Nay;〃 said the other; 〃I wot not whence she is; but this I wot full
surely; that when she goeth away; they whom she leadeth with her
shall be well bestead。  Again; of her lineage nought know I; but
this I know; that they that come of her; to the twentieth
generation; shall bless and praise the memory of her; and hallow her
name little less than they hallow the name of the Mother of God。〃

So spake those two; but the King and Queen came back to the palace;
and sat among the lords and at the banquet which was held
thereafter; and long was the time of their glory; till the night was
far spent and all men must seek to their beds。



CHAPTER XXXVI:  OF WALTER AND THE MAID IN THE DAYS OF THE KINGSHIP



Long it was; indeed; till the women; by the King's command; had
brought the Maid to the King's chamber; and he met her; and took her
by the shoulders and kissed her; and said:  〃Art thou not weary;
sweetheart?  Doth not the city; and the thronging folk; and the
watching eyes of the great ones 。 。 。 doth it not all lie heavy on
thee; as it doth upon me?〃

She said:  〃And where is the city now? is not this the wilderness
again; and thou and I alone together therein?〃

He gazed at her eagerly; and she reddened; so that her eyes shone
light amidst the darkness of the flush of her cheeks。

He spake trembling and softly; and said:  〃Is it not in one matter
better than the wilderness? is not the fear gone; yea; every whit
thereof?〃

The dark flush had left her face; and she looked on him exceeding
sweetly; and spoke steadily and clearly:  〃Even so it is; beloved。〃
Therewith she set her hand to the girdle that girt her loins; and
did it off; and held it out toward him; and said:  〃Here is the
token; this is a maid's girdle; and the woman is ungirt。〃

So he took the girdle and her hand withal; and cast his arms about
her:  and amidst the sweetness of their love and their safety; and
assured hope of many days of joy; they spake together of the hours
when they fared the razor…edge betwixt guile and misery and death;
and the sweeter yet it grew to them because of it; and many things
she told him ere the dawn; of the evil days bygone; and the dealings
of the Mistress with her; till the grey day stole into the chamber
to make manifest her loveliness; which; forsooth; was better even
than the deeming of that man amidst the throng whose heart had been
so drawn towards her。  So they rejoiced together in the new day。

But when the full day was; and Walter arose; he called his thanes
and wise men to the council; and first he bade open the prison…
doors; and feed the needy and clothe them; and make good cheer to
all men; high and low; rich and unrich; and thereafter he took
counsel with them on many matters; and they marvelled at his wisdom
and the keenness of his wit; and so it was; that some were but half
pleased thereat; whereas they saw that their will was like to give
way before his in all matters。  But the wiser of them rejoiced in
him; and looked for good days while his life lasted。

Now of the deeds that he did; and his joys and his griefs; the tale
shall tell no more; nor of how he saw Langton again; and his
dealings there。

In Stark…wall he dwelt; and reigned a King; well beloved of his
folk; sorely feared of their foemen。  Strife he had to deal with; at
home and abroad; but therein he was not quelled; till he fell asleep
fair and softly; when this world had no more of deeds for him to do。
Nor may it be said that the needy lamented him; for no needy had he
left in his own land。  And few foes he left behind to hate him。

As to the Maid; she so waxed in loveliness and kindness; that it was
a year's joy for any to have cast eyes upon her in street or on
field。  All wizardry left her since the day of her wedding; yet of
wit and wisdom she had enough left; and to spare; for she needed no
going about; and no guile; any more than hard commands; to have her
will done。  So loved she was by all folk; forsooth; that it was a
mere joy for any to go about her errands。  To be short; she was the
land's increase; and the city's safeguard; and the bliss of the
folk。

Somewhat; as the days passed; it misgave her that she had beguiled
the Bear…folk to deem her their God; and she considered and thought
how she might atone it。

So the second year after they had come to Stark…wall; she went with
certain folk to the head of the pass that led down to the Bears; and
there she stayed the men…at…arms; and went on further with a two
score of husbandmen whom she had redeemed from thralldom in Stark…
wall; and when they were hard on the dales of the Bears; she left
them there in a certain little dale; with their wains and horses;
and seed…corn; and iron tools; and went down all bird…alone to the
dwelling of those huge men; unguarded now by sorcery; and trusting
in nought but her loveliness and kindness。  Clad she was now; as
when she fled from the Wood beyond the World; in a short white coat
alone; with bare feet and naked arms; but the said coat was now
embroidered with the imagery of blossoms in silk and gold; and gems;
whereas now her wizardry had departed from her。

So she came to the Bears; and they knew her at once; and worshipped
and blessed her; and feared her。  But she told them that she had a
gift for them; and was come to give it; and therewith she told them
of the art of tillage; and bade them learn it; and when they asked
her how they should do so; she told them of the men who were abiding
them in the mountain dale; and bade the Bears take them for their
brothers and sons of the ancient Fathers; and then they should be
taught of them。  This they behight her to do; and so she led them to
where her freedmen lay; whom the Bears received with all joy and
loving…kindness; and took them into their folk。

So they went back to their dales together; but the Maid went her
ways back to her men…at…arms and the city of Stark…wall。

Thereafter she sent more gifts and messages to the Bears; but never
again went herself to see them; for as good a face as she put on it
that last time; yet her heart waxed cold with fear; and it almost
seemed to her that her Mistress was alive again; and that she was
escaping from her and plotting against her once more。

As for the Bears; they throve and multiplied; till at last strife
arose great and grim betwixt them and other peoples; for they had
become mighty in battle:  yea; once and again they met the host of
Stark…wall in fight; and overthrew and were overthrown。  But that
was a long while after the Maid had passed away。

Now of Walter and the Maid is no more to be told; saving that they
begat between them goodly sons and fair daughters; whereof came a
great lineage in Stark…wall; which lineage was so strong; and
endured so long a while; that by then it had 

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