the wood beyond the world-第1章

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The　Wood　Beyond　the　World

by　William　Morris







CHAPTER　I：　　OF　GOLDEN　WALTER　AND　HIS　FATHER


Awhile　ago　there　was　a　young　man　dwelling　in　a　great　and　goodly　city
by　the　sea　which　had　to　name　Langton　on　Holm。　　　He　was　but　of　five
and　twenty　winters；　a　fair…faced　man；　yellow…haired；　tall　and
strong；　rather　wiser　than　foolisher　than　young　men　are　mostly　wont；
a　valiant　youth；　and　a　kind；　not　of　many　words　but　courteous　of
speech；　no　roisterer；　nought　masterful；　but　peaceable　and　knowing
how　to　forbear：　　in　a　fray　a　perilous　foe；　and　a　trusty　war…fellow。
His　father；　with　whom　he　was　dwelling　when　this　tale　begins；　was　a
great　merchant；　richer　than　a　baron　of　the　land；　a　head…man　of　the
greatest　of　the　Lineages　of　Langton；　and　a　captain　of　the　Porte；　he
was　of　the　Lineage　of　the　Goldings；　therefore　was　he　called
Bartholomew　Golden；　and　his　son　Golden　Walter。

Now　ye　may　well　deem　that　such　a　youngling　as　this　was　looked　upon
by　all　as　a　lucky　man　without　a　lack；　but　there　was　this　flaw　in　his
lot；　whereas　he　had　fallen　into　the　toils　of　love　of　a　woman
exceeding　fair；　and　had　taken　her　to　wife；　she　nought　unwilling　as
it　seemed。　　　But　when　they　had　been　wedded　some　six　months　he　found
by　manifest　tokens；　that　his　fairness　was　not　so　much　to　her　but
that　she　must　seek　to　the　foulness　of　one　worser　than　he　in　all
ways；　wherefore　his　rest　departed　from　him；　whereas　he　hated　her　for
her　untruth　and　her　hatred　of　him；　yet　would　the　sound　of　her　voice；
as　she　came　and　went　in　the　house；　make　his　heart　beat；　and　the
sight　of　her　stirred　desire　within　him；　so　that　he　longed　for　her　to
be　sweet　and　kind　with　him；　and　deemed　that；　might　it　be　so；　he
should　forget　all　the　evil　gone　by。　　　But　it　was　not　so；　for　ever
when　she　saw　him；　her　face　changed；　and　her　hatred　of　him　became
manifest；　and　howsoever　she　were　sweet　with　others；　with　him　she　was
hard　and　sour。

So　this　went　on　a　while　till　the　chambers　of　his　father's　house；　yea
the　very　streets　of　the　city；　became　loathsome　to　him；　and　yet　he
called　to　mind　that　the　world　was　wide　and　he　but　a　young　man。　　　So
on　a　day　as　he　sat　with　his　father　alone；　he　spake　to　him　and　said：
〃Father；　I　was　on　the　quays　even　now；　and　I　looked　on　the　ships　that
were　nigh　boun；　and　thy　sign　I　saw　on　a　tall　ship　that　seemed　to　me
nighest　boun。　　　Will　it　be　long　ere　she　sail？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　his　father；　〃that　ship；　which　hight　the　Katherine；　will
they　warp　out　of　the　haven　in　two　days'　time。　　　But　why　askest　thou
of　her？〃

〃The　shortest　word　is　best；　father；〃　said　Walter；　〃and　this　it　is；
that　I　would　depart　in　the　said　ship　and　see　other　lands。〃

〃Yea　and　whither；　son？〃　said　the　merchant。

〃Whither　she　goeth；〃　said　Walter；　〃for　I　am　ill　at　ease　at　home；　as
thou　wottest；　father。〃

The　merchant　held　his　peace　awhile；　and　looked　hard　on　his　son；　for
there　was　strong　love　between　them；　but　at　last　he　said：　　〃Well；
son；　maybe　it　were　best　for　thee；　but　maybe　also　we　shall　not　meet
again。〃

〃Yet　if　we　do　meet；　father；　then　shalt　thou　see　a　new　man　in　me。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Bartholomew；　〃at　least　I　know　on　whom　to　lay　the　loss
of　thee；　and　when　thou　art　gone；　for　thou　shalt　have　thine　own　way
herein；　she　shall　no　longer　abide　in　my　house。　　　Nay；　but　it　were
for　the　strife　that　should　arise　thenceforth　betwixt　her　kindred　and
ours；　it　should　go　somewhat　worse　with　her　than　that。〃

Said　Walter：　　〃I　pray　thee　shame　her　not　more　than　needs　must　be；
lest；　so　doing；　thou　shame　both　me　and　thyself　also。〃

Bartholomew　held　his　peace　again　for　a　while；　then　he　said：　　〃Goeth
she　with　child；　my　son？〃

Walter　reddened；　and　said：　　〃I　wot　not；　nor　of　whom　the　child　may
be。〃　　Then　they　both　sat　silent；　till　Bartholomew　spake；　saying：
〃The　end　of　it　is；　son；　that　this　is　Monday；　and　that　thou　shalt　go
aboard　in　the　small　hours　of　Wednesday；　and　meanwhile　I　shall　look
to　it　that　thou　go　not　away　empty…handed；　the　skipper　of　the
Katherine　is　a　good　man　and　true；　and　knows　the　seas　well；　and　my
servant　Robert　the　Low；　who　is　clerk　of　the　lading；　is　trustworthy
and　wise；　and　as　myself　in　all　matters　that　look　towards　chaffer。
The　Katherine　is　new　and　stout…builded；　and　should　be　lucky；　whereas
she　is　under　the　ward　of　her　who　is　the　saint　called　upon　in　the
church　where　thou　wert　christened；　and　myself　before　thee；　and　thy
mother；　and　my　father　and　mother　all　lie　under　the　chancel　thereof；
as　thou　wottest。〃

Therewith　the　elder　rose　up　and　went　his　ways　about　his　business；
and　there　was　no　more　said　betwixt　him　and　his　son　on　this　matter。



CHAPTER　II：　　GOLDEN　WALTER　TAKES　SHIP　TO　SAIL　THE　SEAS



When　Walter　went　down　to　the　Katherine　next　morning；　there　was　the
skipper　Geoffrey；　who　did　him　reverence；　and　made　him　all　cheer；　and
showed　him　his　room　aboard　ship；　and　the　plenteous　goods　which　his
father　had　sent　down　to　the　quays　already；　such　haste　as　he　had
made。　　Walter　thanked　his　father's　love　in　his　heart；　but　otherwise
took　little　heed　to　his　affairs；　but　wore　away　the　time　about　the
haven；　gazing　listlessly　on　the　ships　that　were　making　them　ready
outward；　or　unlading；　and　the　mariners　and　aliens　coming　and　going：
and　all　these　were　to　him　as　the　curious　images　woven　on　a　tapestry。

At　last　when　he　had　wellnigh　come　back　again　to　the　Katherine；　he
saw　there　a　tall　ship；　which　he　had　scarce　noted　before；　a　ship　all…
boun；　which　had　her　boats　out；　and　men　sitting　to　the　oars　thereof
ready　to　tow　her　outwards　when　the　hawser　should　be　cast　off；　and　by
seeming　her　mariners　were　but　abiding　for　some　one　or　other　to　come
aboard。

So　Walter　stood　idly　watching　the　said　ship；　and　as　he　looked；　lo！
folk　passing　him　toward　the　gangway。　　These　were　three；　first　came　a
dwarf；　dark…brown　of　hue　and　hideous；　with　long　arms　and　ears
exceeding　great　and　dog…teeth　that　stuck　out　like　the　fangs　of　a
wild　beast。　　He　was　clad　in　a　rich　coat　of　yellow　silk；　and　bare　in
his　hand　a　crooked　bow；　and　was　girt　with　a　broad　sax。

After　him　came　a　maiden；　young　by　seeming；　of　scarce　twenty　summers；
fair　of　face　as　a　flower；　grey…eyed；　brown…haired；　with　lips　full
and　red；　slim　and　gentle　of　body。　　Simple　was　her　array；　of　a　short
and　strait　green　gown；　so　that　on　her　right　ankle　was　clear　to　see
an　iron　ring。

Last　of　the　three　was　a　lady；　tall　and　stately；　so　radiant　of　visage
and　glorious　of　raiment；　that　it　were　hard　to　say　what　like　she　was；
for　scarce　might　the　eye　gaze　steady　upon　her　exceeding　beauty；　yet
must　every　son　of　Adam　who　found　himself　anigh　her；　lift　up　his　eyes
again　after　he　had　dropped　them；　and　look　again　on　her；　and　yet
again　and　yet　again。　　Even　so　did　Walter；　and　as　the　three　passed　by
him；　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　all　the　other　folk　there　about　had
vanished　and　were　nought；　nor　had　he　any　vision　before　his　eyes　of
any　looking　on　them；　save　himself　alone。　　They　went　over　the　gangway
into　the　ship；　and　he　saw　them　go　along　the　deck　till　they　came　to
the　house　on　the　poop；　and　entered　it　and　were　gone　from　his　sight。

There　he　stood　staring；　till　little　by　little　the　thronging　people
of　the　quays　came　into　his　eye…shot　again；　then　he　saw　how　the
hawser　was　cast　off　and　the　boats　fell　to　tugging　the　big　ship
toward　the　harbour…mouth　with　hale　and　how　of　men。　　Then　the　sail
fell　down　from　the　yard　and　was　sheeted　home　and　filled　with　the
fair　wind　as　the　ship's　bows　ran　up　on　the　first　green　wave　outside
the　haven。　　Even　therewith　the　shipmen　cast　abroad　a　banner；　whereon
was　done　in　a　green　field　a　grim　wolf　ramping　up　against　a　maiden；
and　so　went　the　ship　upon　her　way。

Walter　stood　awhile　staring　at　her　empty　place　where　the　waves　ran
into　the　haven…mouth；　and　then　turned　aside　and　toward　the
Katherine；　and　at　first　he　was　minded　to　go　ask　shipmaster　Geoffrey
of　what　he　knew　concerning　the　said　ship　and　her　alien　wayfarers；
but　then　it　came　into　his　mind；　that　all　this　was　but　an　imagination
or　dream　of　the　day；　and　that　he　were　best　to　leave　it　untold　to
any。　　So　therewith　he　went　his　way　from　the　water…side；　and　through
the　streets　unto　his　father's　house；　but　when　he　was　but　a　little
way　thence；　and　the　door　was　before　him；　him…seemed　for　a　moment　of
time　that　he　beheld　those　three　coming　out　down　the　steps　of　stone
and　into　the　street；　to　wit　the　dwarf；　the　maiden；　and　the　stately
lady：　　but　when　he　stood　still　to　abide　their　coming；　and　looked
toward　them；　lo！　there　was　nothing　before　him　save　the　goodly　house
of　Bartholomew　Golden；　and　three　children　and　a　cur　dog　playing
about　the　steps　thereof；　and　about　him　were　four　or　five　passers…by
going　about　their　business。　　Then　was　he　all　confused　in　his　mind；
and　knew　not　what　to　make　of　it；　whether　those　whom　he　had　seemed　to
see　pass　aboard　ship　were　but　images　of　a　dream；　or　children　of　Adam
in　very　flesh。

Howsoever；　he　entered　the　house；　and　found　his　father　in　the
chamber；　and　fell　to　speech　with　him　about　their　matters；　but　for
all　that　he　loved　his　father；　and　worshipped　him　as　a　wise　and
valiant　man；　yet　at　that　hour　he　might　not　hearken　the　words　of　his
mouth；　so　much　was　his　mind　entangled　in　the　thought　of　those　three；
and　they　were　ever　before　his　eyes；　as　if　they　had　been　painted　on　a
table　by　the　best　of　limners。　　And　of　the　two　women　he　thought
exceeding　much；　and　cast　no　wyte　upon　himself　for　running　after　the
desire　of　strange　women。　　For　he　said　to　himself　that　he　desired　not
either　of　the　twain；　nay；　he　might　not　tell　which　of　the　twain；　the
maiden　or　the　stately　queen；　were　clearest　to　his　eyes；　but　sore　he
desired　to　see　both　of　them　again；　and　to　know　what　they　were。

So　wore　the　hours　till　the　Wednesday　morning；　and　it　was　time　that
he　should　bid　farewell　to　his　father　and　get　aboard　ship；　but　his
father　led　him　down　to　the　quays　and　on　to　the　Katherine；　and　there
Walter　embraced　him；　not　without　tears　and　forebodings；　for　his
heart　was　full。　　Then　presently　the　old　man　went　aland；　the　gangway
was　unshipped；　the　hawsers　cast　off；　the　oars　of　the　towing…boats
splashed　in　the　dark　water；　the　sail　fell　down　from　the　yard；　and
was　sheeted　home；　and　out　plunged　the　Katherine　into　the　misty　sea
and　rolled　up　the　grey　slopes；　casting　abroad　her　ancient　withal；
whereon　was　beaten　the　token　of　Bartholomew　Golden；　to　wit　a　B　and　a
G　to　the　right　and　the　left；　and　thereabove　a　cross　and　a　triangle
rising　from　the　midst。

Walter　stood　on　the　stern　and　beheld；　yet　more　with　the　mind　of　him
than　with　his　eyes；　for　it　all　seemed　but　the　double　of　what　the
other　ship　had　done；　and　the　thought　of　it　as　if　the　twain　were　as
beads　strung　on　one　string　and　led　away　by　it　into　the　same　place；
and　thence　to　go　in　the　like　order；　and　so　on　again　and　again；　and
never　to　draw　nigher　to　each　other。



CHAPTER　III：　　WALTER　HEARETH　TIDINGS　OF　THE　DEATH　OF　HIS　FATHER



Fast　sailed　the　Katherine　over　the　seas；　and　nought　befell　to　tell
of；　either　to　herself　or　her　crew。　　She　came　to　one　cheaping…town
and　then　to　another；　and　so　on　to　a　third　and　a　fourth；　and　at　each
was　buying　and　selling　after　the　manner　of　chapmen；　and　Walter　not
only　looked　on　the　doings　of　his　father's　folk；　but　lent　a　hand；
what　he　might；　to　help　them　in　all　matters；　whether　it　were　in
seaman's　craft；　or　in　c