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the wood beyond the world-第16部分

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So he smiled; if it were somewhat grimly; and sheathed his sword and
went on toward the house。



CHAPTER XIX:  WALTER GOES TO FETCH HOME THE LION'S HIDE



He entered the cool dusk through the porch; and; looking down the
pillared hall; saw beyond the fountain a gleam of gold; and when he
came past the said fountain he looked up to the high…seat; and lo!
the Lady sitting there clad in her queenly raiment。  She called to
him; and he came; and she hailed him; and spake graciously and
calmly; yet as if she knew nought of him save as the leal servant of
her; a high Lady。  〃Squire;〃 she said; 〃we have deemed it meet to
have the hide of the servant of the Enemy; the lion to wit; whom
thou slewest yesterday; for a carpet to our feet; wherefore go now;
take thy wood…knife; and flay the beast; and bring me home his skin。
This shall be all thy service for this day; so mayst thou do it at
thine own leisure; and not weary thyself。  May good go with thee。〃

He bent the knee before her; and she smiled on him graciously; but
reached out no hand for him to kiss; and heeded him but little。
Wherefore; in spite of himself; and though he knew somewhat of her
guile; he could not help marvelling that this should be she who had
lain in his arms night…long but of late。

Howso that might be; he took his way toward the thicket where he had
slain the lion; and came thither by then it was afternoon; at the
hottest of the day。  So he entered therein; and came to the very
place whereas the Lady had lain; when she fell down before the
terror of the lion; and there was the mark of her body on the grass
where she had lain that while; like as it were the form of a hare。
But when Walter went on to where he had slain that great beast; lo!
he was gone; and there was no sign of him; but there were Walter's
own footprints; and the two shafts which he had shot; one feathered
red; and one blue。  He said at first:  Belike someone hath been
here; and hath had the carcase away。  Then he laughed in very
despite; and said:  How may that be; since there are no signs of
dragging away of so huge a body; and no blood or fur on the grass if
they had cut him up; and moreover no trampling of feet; as if there
had been many men at the deed。  Then was he all abashed; and again
laughed in scorn of himself; and said:  Forsooth I deemed I had done
manly; but now forsooth I shot nought; and nought there was before
the sword of my father's son。  And what may I deem now; but that
this is a land of mere lies; and that there is nought real and alive
therein save me。  Yea; belike even these trees and the green grass
will presently depart from me; and leave me falling down through the
clouds。

Therewith he turned away; and gat him to the road that led to the
Golden House; wondering what next should befall him; and going
slowly as he pondered his case。  So came he to that first thicket
where they had lost their quarry by water; so he entered the same;
musing; and bathed him in the pool that was therein; after he had
wandered about it awhile; and found nothing new。

So again he set him to the homeward road; when the day was now
waning; and it was near sunset that he was come nigh unto the house;
though it was hidden from him as then by a low bent that rose before
him; and there he abode and looked about him。

Now as he looked; over the said bent came the figure of a woman; who
stayed on the brow thereof and looked all about her; and then ran
swiftly down to meet Walter; who saw at once that it was the Maid。

She made no stay then till she was but three paces from him; and
then she stooped down and made the sign to him; and then spake to
him breathlessly; and said:  〃Hearken! but speak not till I have
done:  I bade thee to…night's meeting because I saw that there was
one anigh whom I must needs beguile。  But by thine oath; and thy
love; and all that thou art; I adjure thee come not unto me this
night as I bade thee! but be hidden in the hazel…copse outside the
house; as it draws toward midnight; and abide me there。  Dost thou
hearken; and wilt thou?  Say yes or no in haste; for I may not tarry
a moment of time。  Who knoweth what is behind me?〃

〃Yes;〃 said Walter hastily; 〃but friend and love〃

〃No more;〃 she said; 〃hope the best;〃 and turning from him she ran
away swiftly; not by the way she had come; but sideways; as though
to reach the house by fetching a compass。

But Walter went slowly on his way; thinking within himself that now
at that present moment there was nought for it but to refrain him
from doing; and to let others do; yet deemed he that it was little
manly to be as the pawn upon the board; pushed about by the will of
others。

Then; as he went; he bethought him of the Maiden's face and aspect;
as she came running to him; and stood before him for that minute;
and all eagerness he saw in her; and sore love of him; and distress
of soul; all blent together。

So came he to the brow of the bent whence he could see lying before
him; scarce more than a bow…shot away; the Golden House now gilded
again and reddened by the setting sun。  And even therewith came a
gay image toward him; flashing back the level rays from gold and
steel and silver; and lo! there was come the King's Son。  They met
presently; and the King's Son turned to go beside him; and said
merrily:  〃I give thee good even; my Lady's Squire!  I owe thee
something of courtesy; whereas it is by thy means that I shall be
made happy; both to…night; and to…morrow; and many to…morrows; and
sooth it is; that but little courtesy have I done thee hitherto。〃

His face was full of joy; and the eyes of him shone with gladness。
He was a goodly man; but to Walter he seemed an ill one; and he
hated him so much; that he found it no easy matter to answer him;
but he refrained himself; and said:  〃I can thee thank; King's Son;
and good it is that someone is happy in this strange land。〃

〃Art thou not happy then; Squire of my Lady?〃 said the other。

Walter had no mind to show this man his heart; nay; nor even a
corner thereof; for he deemed him an enemy。  So he smiled sweetly
and somewhat foolishly; as a man luckily in love; and said:  〃O yea;
yea; why should I not be so?  How might I be otherwise?〃

〃Yea then;〃 said the King's Son; 〃why didst thou say that thou wert
glad someone is happy?  Who is unhappy; deemest thou?〃 and he looked
on him keenly。

Walter answered slowly:  〃Said I so?  I suppose then that I was
thinking of thee; for when first I saw thee; yea; and afterwards;
thou didst seem heavy…hearted and ill…content。〃

The face of the King's Son cleared at this word; and he said:  〃Yea;
so it was; for look you; both ways it was:  I was unfree; and I had
sown the true desire of my heart whereas it waxed not。  But now I am
on the brink and verge of freedom; and presently shall my desire be
blossomed。  Nay now; Squire; I deem thee a good fellow; though it
may be somewhat of a fool; so I will no more speak riddles to thee。
Thus it is:  the Maid hath promised me all mine asking; and is mine;
and in two or three days; by her helping also; I shall see the world
again。〃

Quoth Walter; smiling askance on him:  〃And the Lady? what shall she
say to this matter?〃

The King's Son reddened; but smiled falsely enough; and said:  〃Sir
Squire; thou knowest enough not to need to ask this。  Why should I
tell thee that she accounteth more of thy little finger than of my
whole body?  Now I tell thee hereof freely; first; because this my
fruition of love; and my freeing from thralldom; is; in a way; of
thy doing。  For thou art become my supplanter; and hast taken thy
place with yonder lovely tyrant。  Fear not for me! she will let me
go。  As for thyself; see thou to it!  But again I tell thee hereof
because my heart is light and full of joy; and telling thee will
pleasure me; and cannot do me any harm。  For if thou say:  How if I
carry the tale to my Lady?  I answer; thou wilt not。  For I know
that thine heart hath been somewhat set on the jewel that my hand
holdeth; and thou knowest well on whose head the Lady's wrath would
fall; and that would be neither thine nor mine。〃

〃Thou sayest sooth;〃 said Walter; 〃neither is treason my wont。〃

So they walked on silently a while; and then Walter said:  〃But how
if the Maiden had nay…said thee; what hadst thou done then?〃

〃By the heavens!〃 said the King's Son fiercely; 〃she should have
paid for her nay…say; then would I〃  But he broke off; and said
quietly; yet somewhat doggedly:  〃Why talk of what might have been?
She gave me her yea…say pleasantly and sweetly。〃

Now Walter knew that the man lied; so he held his peace thereon; but
presently he said:  〃When thou art free wilt thou go to thine own
land again?〃

〃Yea;〃 said the King's Son; 〃she will lead me thither。〃

〃And wilt thou make her thy lady and queen when thou comest to thy
father's land?〃 said Walter。

The King's Son knit his brow; and said:  〃When I am in mine own land
I may do with her what I will; but I look for it that I shall do no
otherwise with her than that she shall be well…content。〃

Then the talk between them dropped; and the King's Son turned off
toward the wood; singing and joyou
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