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the wood beyond the world-第13部分

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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
before the hunter。

Walter abode a little; facing him; and then turned about to the
Lady; and she had fallen down in a heap whereas she stood; and lay
there all huddled up and voiceless。  So he knelt down by her; and
lifted up her head; and bade her arise; for the foe was slain。  And
after a little she stretched out her limbs; and turned about on the
grass; and seemed to sleep; and the colour came into her face again;
and it grew soft and a little smiling。  Thus she lay awhile; and
Walter sat by her watching her; till at last she opened her eyes and
sat up; and knew him; and smiling on him said:  〃What hath befallen;
Squire; that I have slept and dreamed?〃

He answered nothing; till her memory came back to her; and then she
arose; trembling and pale; and said:  〃Let us leave this wood; for
the Enemy is therein。〃

And she hastened away before him till they came out at the thicket…
side whereas the hounds had been left; and they were standing there
uneasy and whining; so Walter coupled them; while the Lady stayed
not; but went away swiftly homeward; and Walter followed。

At last she stayed her swift feet; and turned round on Walter; and
said:  〃Squire; come hither。〃

So did he; and she said:  〃I am weary again; let us sit under this
quicken…tree; and rest us。〃

So they sat down; and she sat looking between her knees a while; and
at last she said:  〃Why didst thou not bring the lion's hide?〃

He said:  〃Lady; I will go back and flay the beast; and bring on the
hide。〃

And he arose therewith; but she caught him by the skirts and drew
him down; and said:  〃Nay; thou shalt not go; abide with me。  Sit
down again。〃

He did so; and she said:  〃Thou shalt not go from me; for I am
afraid:  I am not used to looking on the face of death。〃

She grew pale as she spoke; and set a hand to her breast; and sat so
a while without speaking。  At last she turned to him smiling; and
said:  〃How was it with the aspect of me when I stood before the
peril of the Enemy?〃  And she laid a hand upon his。

〃O gracious one;〃 quoth he; 〃thou wert; as ever; full lovely; but I
feared for thee。〃

She moved not her hand from his; and she said:  〃Good and true
Squire; I said ere I entered the thicket e'en now that I would
reward thee if thou slewest the quarry。  He is dead; though thou
hast left the skin behind upon the carcase。  Ask now thy reward; but
take time to think what it shall be。〃

He felt her hand warm upon his; and drew in the sweet odour of her
mingled with the woodland scents under the hot sun of the afternoon;
and his heart was clouded with manlike desire of her。  And it was a
near thing but he had spoken; and craved of her the reward of the
freedom of her Maid; and that he might depart with her into other
lands; but as his mind wavered betwixt this and that; the Lady; who
had been eyeing him keenly; drew her hand away from him; and
therewith doubt and fear flowed into his mind; and he refrained him
of speech。

Then she laughed merrily and said:  〃The good Squire is shamefaced;
he feareth a lady more than a lion。  Will it be a reward to thee if
I bid thee to kiss my cheek?〃

Therewith she leaned her face toward him; and he kissed her well…
favouredly; and then sat gazing on her; wondering what should betide
to him on the morrow。

Then she arose and said:  〃Come; Squire; and let us home; be not
abashed; there shall be other rewards hereafter。〃

So they went their ways quietly; and it was nigh sunset against they
entered the house again。  Walter looked round for the Maid; but
beheld her not; and the Lady said to him:  〃I go to my chamber; and
now is thy service over for this day。〃

Then she nodded to him friendly and went her ways。



CHAPTER XVI:  OF THE KING'S SON AND THE MAID



But as for Walter; he went out of the house again; and fared slowly
over the woodlawns till he came to another close thicket or brake;
he entered from mere wantonness; or that he might be the more apart
and hidden; so as to think over his case。  There he lay down under
the thick boughs; but could not so herd his thoughts that they would
dwell steady in looking into what might come to him within the next
days; rather visions of those two women and the monster did but
float before him; and fear and desire and the hope of life ran to
and fro in his mind。

As he lay thus he heard footsteps drawing near; and he looked
between the boughs; and though the sun had just set; he could see
close by him a man and a woman going slowly; and they hand in hand;
at first he deemed it would be the King's Son and the Lady; but
presently he saw that it was the King's Son indeed; but that it was
the Maid whom he was holding by the hand。  And now he saw of him
that his eyes were bright with desire; and of her that she was very
pale。  Yet when he heard her begin to speak; it was in a steady
voice that she said:  〃King's Son; thou hast threatened me oft and
unkindly; and now thou threatenest me again; and no less unkindly。
But whatever were thy need here
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