the blue flower-第7章
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hill。
III
How Martimor Came to the Mill a
Stayed in a Delay
So by wildsome ways in strange countries and through many
waters and valleys rode Martimor forty days； but adventure met
him none； blow the wind never so fierce or fickle。 Neither
dragons； nor giants； nor false knights； nor distressed ladies；
nor fays； nor kings imprisoned could he find。
〃These are ill times for adventure；〃 said he； 〃the world
is full of meat and sleepy。 Now must I ride farther afield
and undertake some ancient； famous quest wherein other knights
have failed and fallen。 Either I shall follow the Questing
Beast with Sir Palamides； or I shall find Merlin at the great
stone whereunder the Lady of the Lake enchanted him and
deliver him from that enchantment； or I shall assay the
cleansing of the Forest Perilous； or I shall win the favour of
La Belle Dame Sans Merci； or mayhap I shall adventure the
quest of the Sangreal。 One or other of these will I achieve；
or bleed the best blood of my body。〃 Thus pondering and
dreaming he came by the road down a gentle hill with close
woods on either hand； and so into a valley with a swift river
flowing through it； and on the river a Mill。
So white it stood among the trees； and so merrily whirred
the wheel as the water turned it； and so bright blossomed the
flowers in the garden； that Martimor had joy of the sight； for
it minded him of his own country。 〃But here is no adventure；〃
thought he； and made to ride by。
Even then came a young maid suddenly through the garden
crying and wringing her hands。 And when she saw him she cried
him help。 At this Martimor alighted quickly and ran into the
garden； where the young maid soon led him to the millpond；
which was great and deep； and made him understand that her
little hound was swept away by the water and was near to
perishing。
There saw he a red and white brachet； caught by the swift
stream that ran into the race； fast swimming as ever he could
swim； yet by no means able to escape。 Then Martimor stripped
off his harness and leaped into the water and did marvellously
to rescue the little hound。 But the fierce river dragged his
legs； and buffeted him； and hurtled at him； and drew him down；
as it were an enemy wrestling with him； so that he had much
ado to come where the brachet was； and more to win back again；
with the brachet in his arm； to the dry land。
Which when he had done he was clean for…spent and fell
upon the ground as a dead man。 At this the young maid wept
yet more bitterly than she had wept for her hound； and cried
aloud； 〃Alas； if so goodly a man should spend his life for my
little brachet！〃 So she took his head upon her knee and
cherished him and beat the palms of his hands； and the hound
licked his face。 And when Martimor opened his eyes he saw the
face of the maid that it was fair as any flower。
Then was she shamed； and put him gently from her knee； and
began to thank him and to ask with what she might reward him
for the saving of the brachet。
〃A night's lodging and a day's cheer；〃 quoth Martimor。
〃As long as thee liketh；〃 said she； 〃for my father； the
miller； will return ere sundown； and right gladly will he have
a guest so brave。〃
〃Longer might I like；〃 said he； 〃but longer may I not
stay； for I ride in a quest and seek great adventures to
become a knight。〃
So they bestowed the horse in the stable； and went into
the Mill； and when the miller was come home they had such good
cheer with eating of venison and pan…cakes； and drinking of
hydromel； and singing of pleasant ballads； that Martimor clean
forgot he was in a delay。 And going to his bed in a fair
garret he dreamed of the Maid of the Mill； whose name was
Lirette。
IV
How the Mill was in Danger and the Delay Endured
In the morning Martimor lay late and thought large thoughts of
his quest； and whither it might lead him； and to what honour
it should bring him。 As he dreamed thus； suddenly he heard in
the hall below a trampling of feet and a shouting； with the
voice of Lirette crying and shrieking。 With that he sprang
out of his bed； and caught up his sword and dagger； leaping
lightly and fiercely down the stair。
There he saw three foul churls； whereof two strove with
the miller； beating him with great clubs； while the third
would master the Maid and drag her away to do her shame； but
she fought shrewdly。 Then Martimor rushed upon the churls；
shouting for joy； and there was a great medley of breaking
chairs and tables and cursing and smiting； and with his sword he
gave horrible strokes。
One of the knaves that fought with the miller； he smote
upon the shoulder and clave him to the navel。 And at the
other he foined fiercely so that the point of the sword went
through his back and stuck fast in the wall。 But the third
knave； that was the biggest and the blackest； and strove to
bear away the Maid； left bold of her； and leaped upon Martimor
and caught him by the middle and crushed him so that his ribs
cracked。
Thus they weltered and wrung together； and now one of them
was above and now the other； and ever as they wallowed
Martimor smote him with his dagger； but there came forth no
blood； only water。
Then the black churl broke away from him and ran out at
the door of the mill； and Martimor after。 So they ran through
the garden to the river； and there the churl sprang into the
water； and swept away raging and foaming。 And as he went he
shouted； 〃Yet will I put thee to the worse； and mar the Mill；
and have the Maid！〃'
Then Martimor cried； 〃Never while I live shalt
thou mar the Mill or have the Maid； thou foul； black；
misbegotten churl！〃 So he returned to the Mill； and there the
damsel Lirette made him to understand that these three churls
were long time enemies of the Mill； and sought ever to destroy
it and to do despite to her and her father。 One of them was
Ignis； and another was Ventus； and these were the twain that
he had smitten。 But the third； that fled down the river （and
he was ever the fiercest and the most outrageous）； his name
was Flumen； for he dwelt in the caves of the stream； and was
the master of it before the Mill was built。
〃And now；〃 wept the Maid； 〃he must have had his will with
me and with the Mill； but for God's mercy； thanked be our Lord
Jesus！〃
〃Thank me too；〃 said Mlartimor。
〃So I do；〃 said Lirette； and she kissed him。 〃Yet am I
heavy at heart and fearful； for my father is sorely mishandled
and his arm is broken； so that he cannot tend the Mill nor
guard it。 And Flumen is escaped； surely he will harm us
again。 Now I know not； where I shall look for help。〃
〃Why not here？〃 said Martimor。
Then Lirette looked him in the face； smiling a little
sorrily。 〃But thou ridest in a quest；〃 quoth she； 〃thou mayst
not stay from thy adventures〃
〃A month；〃 said he。
〃Till my father be well？〃 said she。
〃A month；〃 said he。
〃Till thou hast put Flumen to the worse？〃 said she。
〃Right willingly would I have to do with that base；
slippery knave again〃 said he； 〃but more than a month I may
not stay； for my quest calls me and I must win worship of men
or ever I become a knight。〃
So they bound up the miller's wounds and set the Mill in
order。 But Martimor had much to do to learn the working of
the Mill； and they were busied with the grinding of wheat and
rye and barley and divers kinds of grain； and the millers
hurts were mended every day； and at night there was merry rest
and good cheer； and Martimor talked with the Maid of the great
adventure that he must find； and thus the delay endured in
pleasant wise。
THE MILL
V
Yet More of the Mill； and of the Same Delay； also of the Maid
Now at the end of the third month； which was November；
Martimor made Lirette to understand that it was high time he
should ride farther to follow his quest。 For the miller was
now recovered； and it was long that they had heard and seen
naught of Flumen； and doubtless that black knave was well
routed and dismayed that he would not come again。 Lirette
prayed him and desired him that he would tarry yet one week。
But Martimor said； No！ for his adventures were before him； and
that he could not be
