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the wood beyond the world-第22部分

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they deem me their God; they do not look for it; nor desire it; that
their God should dwell with them daily。  Have no fear。〃  Then she
laughed again; and said:  〃What! thou lookest on me and deemest me
to be but a sorry image of a goddess; and me with my scanty coat and
bare arms and naked feet!  But wait!  I know well how to array me
when the time cometh。  Thou shalt see it!  And now; my Master; were
it not meet that we took to the road?〃

So they arose; and found a ford of the river that took the Maid but
to the knee; and so set forth up the greensward of the slopes
whereas there were but few trees; so went they faring toward the
hill…country。

At the last they were come to the feet of the very hills; and in the
hollows betwixt the buttresses of them grew nut and berry trees; and
the greensward round about them was both thick and much flowery。
There they stayed them and dined; whereas Walter had shot a hare by
the way; and they had found a bubbling spring under a grey stone in
a bight of the coppice; wherein now the birds were singing their
best。

When they had eaten and had rested somewhat; the Maid arose and
said:  〃Now shall the Queen array herself; and seem like a very
goddess。〃

Then she fell to work; while Walter looked on; and she made a
garland for her head of eglantine where the roses were the fairest;
and with mingled flowers of the summer she wreathed her middle
about; and let the garland of them hang down to below her knees; and
knots of the flowers she made fast to the skirts of her coat; and
did them for arm…rings about her arms; and for anklets and sandals
for her feet。  Then she set a garland about Walter's head; and then
stood a little off from him and set her feet together; and lifted up
her arms; and said:  〃Lo now! am I not as like to the Mother of
Summer as if I were clad in silk and gold? and even so shall I be
deemed by the folk of the Bear。  Come now; thou shalt see how all
shall be well。〃

She laughed joyously; but he might scarce laugh for pity of his
love。  Then they set forth again; and began to climb the hills; and
the hours wore as they went in sweet converse; till at last Walter
looked on the Maid; and smiled on her; and said:  〃One thing I would
say to thee; lovely friend; to wit:  wert thou clad in silk and
gold; thy stately raiment might well suffer a few stains; or here
and there a rent maybe; but stately would it be still when the folk
of the Bear should come up against thee。  But as to this flowery
array of thine; in a few hours it shall be all faded and nought。
Nay; even now; as I look on thee; the meadow…sweet that hangeth from
thy girdle…stead has waxen dull; and welted; and the blossoming
eyebright that is for a hem to the little white coat of thee is
already forgetting how to be bright and blue。  What sayest thou
then?〃

She laughed at his word; and stood still; and looked back over her
shoulder; while with her fingers she dealt with the flowers about
her side like to a bird preening his feathers。  Then she said:  〃Is
it verily so as thou sayest?  Look again!〃

So he looked; and wondered; for lo! beneath his eyes the spires of
the meadow…sweet grew crisp and clear again; the eyebright blossoms
shone once more over the whiteness of her legs; the eglantine roses
opened; and all was as fresh and bright as if it were still growing
on its own roots。

He wondered; and was even somedeal aghast; but she said:  〃Dear
friend; be not troubled! did I not tell thee that I am wise in
hidden lore?  But in my wisdom shall be no longer any scathe to any
man。  And again; this my wisdom; as I told thee erst; shall end on
the day whereon I am made all happy。  And it is thou that shall
wield it all; my Master。  Yet must my wisdom needs endure for a
little season yet。  Let us on then; boldly and happily。〃



CHAPTER XXVI:  THEY COME TO THE FOLK OF THE BEARS



On they went; and before long they were come up on to the down…
country; where was scarce a tree; save gnarled and knotty thorn…
bushes here and there; but nought else higher than the whin。  And
here on these upper lands they saw that the pastures were much
burned with the drought; albeit summer was not worn old。  Now they
went making due south toward the mountains; whose heads they saw
from time to time rising deep blue over the bleak greyness of the
down…land ridges。  And so they went; till at last; hard on sunset;
after they had climbed long over a high bent; they came to the brow
thereof; and; looking down; beheld new tidings。

There was a wide valley below them; greener than the downs which
they had come over; and greener yet amidmost; from the watering of a
stream which; all beset with willows; wound about the bottom。  Sheep
and neat were pasturing about the dale; and moreover a long line of
smoke was going up straight into the windless heavens from the midst
of a ring of little round houses built of turfs; and thatched with
reed。  And beyond that; toward an eastward…lying bight of the dale;
they could see what looked like to a doom…ring of big stones; though
there were no rocky places in that land。  About the cooking…fire
amidst of the houses; and here and there otherwhere; they saw;
standing or going to and fro; huge figures of men and women; with
children playing about betwixt them。

They stood and gazed down at it for a minute or two; and though all
were at peace there; yet to Walter; at least; it seemed strange and
awful。  He spake softly; as though he would not have his voice reach
those men; though they were; forsooth; out of earshot of anything
save a shout:  〃Are these then the children of the Bear?  What shall
we do now?〃

She said:  〃Yea; of the Bear they be; though there be other folks of
them far and far away to the northward and eastward; near to the
borders of the sea。  And as to what we shall do; let us go down at
once; and peacefully。  Indeed; by now there will be no escape from
them; for lo you! they have seen us。〃

Forsooth; some three or four of the big men had turned them toward
the bent whereon stood the twain; and were hailing them in huge;
rough voices; wherein; howsoever; seemed to be no anger or threat。
So the Maid took Walter by the hand; and thus they went down
quietly; and the Bear…folk; seeing them; stood all together; facing
them; to abide their coming。  Walter saw of them; that though they
were very tall and bigly made; they were not so far above the
stature of men as to be marvels。  The carles were long…haired; and
shaggy of beard; and their hair all red or tawny; their skins; where
their naked flesh showed; were burned brown with sun and weather;
but to a fair and pleasant brown; nought like to blackamoors。  The
queans were comely and well…eyed; nor was there anything of fierce
or evil…looking about either the carles or the queans; but somewhat
grave and solemn of aspect were they。  Clad were they all; saving
the young men…children; but somewhat scantily; and in nought save
sheep…skins or deer…skins。

For weapons they saw amongst them clubs; and spears headed with bone
or flint; and ugly axes of big flints set in wooden handles; nor was
there; as far as they could see; either now or afterward; any bow
amongst them。  But some of the young men seemed to have slings done
about their shoulders。

Now when they were come but three fathom from them; the Maid lifted
up her voice; and spake clearly and sweetly:  〃Hail; ye folk of the
Bears! we have come amongst you; and that for your good and not for
your hurt:  wherefore we would know if we be welcome。〃

There was an old man who stood foremost in the midst; clad in a
mantle of deer…skins worked very goodly; and with a gold ring on his
arm; and a chaplet of blue stones on his head; and he spake:
〃Little are ye; but so goodly; that if ye were but bigger; we should
deem that ye were come from the Gods' House。  Yet have I heard; that
how mighty soever may the Gods be; and chiefly our God; they be at
whiles nought so bigly made as we of the Bears。  How this may be; I
wot not。  But if ye be not of the Gods or their kindred; then are ye
mere aliens; and we know not what to do with aliens; save we meet
them in battle; or give them to the God; or save we make them
children of the Bear。  But yet again; ye may be messengers of some
folk who would bind friendship and alliance with us:  in which case
ye shall at the least depart in peace; and whiles ye are with us
shall be our guests in all good cheer。  Now; therefore; we bid you
declare the matter unto us。〃

Then spake the Maid:  〃Father; it were easy for us to declare what
we be unto you here present。  But; meseemeth; ye who be gathered
round the fire here this evening are less than the whole tale of the
children of the Bear。〃

〃So it is; Maiden;〃 said the elder; 〃that many more children hath
the Bear。〃

〃This then we bid you;〃 said the Maid; 〃that ye send the tokens
round and gather your people to you; and when they be assembled in
the Doom…ring; then shall we put our errand before you; and
according to that; shall ye deal with us。〃

〃Thou hast spoken well;〃 said the elder; 〃and even so had we bidden
you ourselves。  To…morrow; before noon; shall ye stand in the Doom…
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