the wood beyond the world-第15章

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fear　of　thee；　so　that　I　can　go　no　further　until　I　have　told　thee。〃

Then　he　said：　　〃I　wot　not　of　this　Queen　and　her　mightiness　and　her
servants。　　I　will　ask　thereof　later。　　But　besides　the　others；　is
there　not　the　King's　Son；　he　who　loves　thee　so　unworthily？〃

She　paled　somewhat；　and　said：　　〃As　for　him；　there　had　been　nought
for　thee　to　fear　in　him；　save　his　treason：　　but　now　shall　he　neither
love　nor　hate　any　more；　he　died　last　midnight。〃

〃Yea；　and　how？〃　said　Walter。

〃Nay；〃　she　said；　〃let　me　tell　my　tale　all　together　once　for　all；
lest　thou　blame　me　overmuch。　　But　first　we　will　wash　us　and　comfort
us　as　best　we　may；　and　then　amidst　our　resting　shall　the　word　be
said。〃

By　then　were　they　come　down　to　the　stream…side；　which　ran　fair　in
pools　and　stickles　amidst　rocks　and　sandy　banks。　　She　said：　　〃There
behind　the　great　grey　rock　is　my　bath；　friend；　and　here　is　thine；
and　lo！　the　uprising　of　the　sun！〃

So　she　went　her　ways　to　the　said　rock；　and　he　bathed　him；　and　washed
the　night　off　him；　and　by　then　he　was　clad　again　she　came　back　fresh
and　sweet　from　the　water；　and　with　her　lap　full　of　cherries　from　a
wilding　which　overhung　her　bath。　　So　they　sat　down　together　on　the
green　grass　above　the　sand；　and　ate　the　breakfast　of　the　wilderness：
and　Walter　was　full　of　content　as　he　watched　her；　and　beheld　her
sweetness　and　her　loveliness；　yet　were　they；　either　of　them；
somewhat　shy　and　shamefaced　each　with　the　other；　so　that　he　did　but
kiss　her　hands　once　and　again；　and　though　she　shrank　not　from　him；
yet　had　she　no　boldness　to　cast　herself　into　his　arms。



CHAPTER　XXII：　　OF　THE　DWARF　AND　THE　PARDON



Now　she　began　to　say：　　〃My　friend；　now　shall　I　tell　thee　what　I　have
done　for　thee　and　me；　and　if　thou　have　a　mind　to　blame　me；　and
punish　me；　yet　remember　first；　that　what　I　have　done　has　been　for
thee　and　our　hope　of　happy　life。　　Well；　I　shall　tell　thee〃

But　therewithal　her　speech　failed　her；　and；　springing　up；　she　faced
the　bent　and　pointed　with　her　finger；　and　she　all　deadly　pale；　and
shaking　so　that　she　might　scarce　stand；　and　might　speak　no　word；
though　a　feeble　gibbering　came　from　her　mouth。

Walter　leapt　up　and　put　his　arm　about　her；　and　looked　whitherward
she　pointed；　and　at　first　saw　nought；　and　then　nought　but　a　brown
and　yellow　rock　rolling　down　the　bent：　　and　then　at　last　he　saw　that
it　was　the　Evil　Thing　which　had　met　him　when　first　he　came　into　that
land；　and　now　it　stood　upright；　and　he　could　see　that　it　was　clad　in
a　coat　of　yellow　samite。

Then　Walter　stooped　down　and　gat　his　bow　into　his　hand；　and　stood
before　the　Maid；　while　he　nocked　an　arrow。　　But　the　monster　made
ready　his　tackle　while　Walter　was　stooping　down；　and　or　ever　he
could　loose；　his　bow…string　twanged；　and　an　arrow　flew　forth　and
grazed　the　Maid's　arm　above　the　elbow；　so　that　the　blood　ran；　and
the　Dwarf　gave　forth　a　harsh　and　horrible　cry。　　Then　flew　Walter's
shaft；　and　true　was　it　aimed；　so　that　it　smote　the　monster　full　on
the　breast；　but　fell　down　from　him　as　if　he　were　made　of　stone。
Then　the　creature　set　up　his　horrible　cry　again；　and　loosed　withal；
and　Walter　deemed　that　he　had　smitten　the　Maid；　for　she　fell　down　in
a　heap　behind　him。　　Then　waxed　Walter　wood…wroth；　and　cast　down　his
bow　and　drew　his　sword；　and　strode　forward　towards　the　bent　against
the　Dwarf。　　But　he　roared　out　again；　and　there　were　words　in　his
roar；　and　he　said　〃Fool！　thou　shalt　go　free　if　thou　wilt　give　up　the
Enemy。〃

〃And　who；〃　said　Walter；　〃is　the　Enemy？〃

Yelled　the　Dwarf：　　〃She；　the　pink　and　white　thing　lying　there；　she
is　not　dead　yet；　she　is　but　dying　for　fear　of　me。　　Yea；　she　hath
reason！　　I　could　have　set　the　shaft　in　her　heart　as　easily　as
scratching　her　arm；　but　I　need　her　body　alive；　that　I　may　wreak　me
on　her。〃

〃What　wilt　thou　do　with　her？〃　said　Walter；　for　now　he　had　heard　that
the　Maid　was　not　slain　he　had　waxed　wary　again；　and　stood　watching
his　chance。

The　Dwarf　yelled　so　at　his　last　word；　that　no　word　came　from　the
noise　a　while；　and　then　he　said：　　〃What　will　I　with　her？　　Let　me　at
her；　and　stand　by　and　look　on；　and　then　shalt　thou　have　a　strange
tale　to　carry　off　with　thee。　　For　I　will　let　thee　go　this　while。〃

Said　Walter：　　〃But　what　need　to　wreak　thee？　　What　hath　she　done　to
thee？〃

〃What　need！　what　need！〃　roared　the　Dwarf；　〃have　I　not　told　thee　that
she　is　the　Enemy？　　And　thou　askest　of　what　she　hath　done！　of　what！
Fool；　she　is　the　murderer！　she　hath　slain　the　Lady　that　was　our
Lady；　and　that　made　us；　she　whom　all　we　worshipped　and　adored。　　O
impudent　fool！〃

Therewith　he　nocked　and　loosed　another　arrow；　which　would　have
smitten　Walter　in　the　face；　but　that　he　lowered　his　head　in　the　very
nick　of　time；　then　with　a　great　shout　he　rushed　up　the　bent；　and　was
on　the　Dwarf　before　he　could　get　his　sword　out；　and　leaping　aloft
dealt　the　creature　a　stroke　amidmost　of　the　crown；　and　so　mightily
be　smote；　that　he　drave　the　heavy　sword　right　through　to　the　teeth；
so　that　he　fell　dead　straightway。

Walter　stood　over　him　a　minute；　and　when　be　saw　that　he　moved　not；
he　went　slowly　down　to　the　stream；　whereby　the　Maid　yet　lay　cowering
down　and　quivering　all　over；　and　covering　her　face　with　her　hands。
Then　he　took　her　by　the　wrist　and　said：　　〃Up；　Maiden；　up！　and　tell
me　this　tale　of　the　slaying。〃

But　she　shrunk　away　from　him；　and　looked　at　him　with　wild　eyes；　and
said：　　〃What　hast　thou　done　with　him？　　Is　he　gone？〃

〃He　is　dead；〃　said　Walter；　〃I　have　slain　him；　there　lies　he　with
cloven　skull　on　the　bent…side：　　unless；　forsooth；　he　vanish　away
like　the　lion　I　slew！　or　else；　perchance；　he　will　come　to　life
again！　　And　art　thou　a　lie　like　to　the　rest　of　them？　let　me　hear　of
this　slaying。〃

She　rose　up；　and　stood　before　him　trembling；　and　said：　　〃O；　thou　art
angry　with　me；　and　thine　anger　I　cannot　bear。　　Ah；　what　have　I　done？
Thou　hast　slain　one；　and　I；　maybe；　the　other；　and　never　had　we
escaped　till　both　these　twain　were　dead。　　Ah！　thou　dost　not　know！
thou　dost　not　know！　　O　me！　what　shall　I　do　to　appease　thy　wrath！〃

He　looked　on　her；　and　his　heart　rose　to　his　mouth　at　the　thought　of
sundering　from　her。　　Still　he　looked　on　her；　and　her　piteous
friendly　face　melted　all　his　heart；　he　threw　down　his　sword；　and
took　her　by　the　shoulders；　and　kissed　her　face　over　and　over；　and
strained　her　to　him；　so　that　he　felt　the　sweetness　of　her　bosom。
Then　he　lifted　her　up　like　a　child；　and　set　her　down　on　the　green
grass；　and　went　down　to　the　water；　and　filled　his　hat　therefrom；　and
came　back　to　her；　then　he　gave　her　to　drink；　and　bathed　her　face　and
her　hands；　so　that　the　colour　came　aback　to　the　cheeks　and　lips　of
her：　　and　she　smiled　on　him　and　kissed　his　hands；　and　said：　　〃O　now
thou　art　kind　to　me。〃

〃Yea；〃　said　he；　〃and　true　it　is　that　if　thou　hast　slain；　I　have　done
no　less；　and　if　thou　hast　lied；　even　so　have　I；　and　if　thou　hast
played　the　wanton；　as　I　deem　not　that　thou　hast；　I　full　surely　have
so　done。　　So　now　thou　shalt　pardon　me；　and　when　thy　spirit　has　come
back　to　thee；　thou　shalt　tell　me　thy　tale　in　all　friendship；　and　in
all　loving…kindness　will　I　hearken　the　same。〃

Therewith　he　knelt　before　her　and　kissed　her　feet。　　But　she　said：
〃Yea；　yea；　what　thou　willest；　that　will　I　do。　　But　first　tell　me　one
thing。　　Hast　thou　buried　this　horror　and　hidden　him　in　the　earth？〃

He　deemed　that　fear　had　bewildered　her；　and　that　she　scarcely　yet
knew　how　things　had　gone。　　But　he　said：　　〃Fair　sweet　friend；　I　have
not　done　it　as　yet；　but　now　will　I　go　and　do　it；　if　it　seem　good　to
thee。〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃but　first　must　thou　smite　off　his　head；　and　lie　it
by　his　buttocks　when　he　is　in　the　earth；　or　evil　things　will　happen
else。　　This　of　the　burying　is　no　idle　matter；　I　bid　thee　believe。〃

〃I　doubt　it　not；〃　said　he；　〃surely　such　malice　as　was　in　this　one
will　be　hard　to　slay。〃　　And　he　picked　up　his　sword；　and　turned　to　go
to　the　field　of　deed。

She　said：　　〃I　must　needs　go　with　thee；　terror　hath　so　filled　my
soul；　that　I　durst　not　abide　here　without　thee。〃

So　they　went　both　together　to　where　the　creature　lay。　　The　Maid
durst　not　look　on　the　dead　monster；　but　Walter　noted　that　he　was
girt　with　a　big　ungainly　sax；　so　he　drew　it　from　the　sheath；　and
there　smote　off　the　hideous　head　of　the　fiend　with　his　own　weapon。
Then　they　twain　together　laboured　the　earth；　she　with　Walter's
sword；　he　with　the　ugly　sax；　till　they　had　made　a　grave　deep　and
wide　enough；　and　therein　they　thrust　the　creature；　and　covered　him
up；　weapons　and　all　together。



CHAPTER　XXIII：　　OF　THE　PEACEFUL　ENDING　OF　THAT　WILD　DAY



Thereafter　Walter　led　the　Maid　down　again；　and　said　to　her：　　〃Now；
sweetling；　shall　the　story　be　told。〃

〃Nay；　friend；〃　she　said；　〃not　here。　　This　place　hath　been　polluted
by　my　craven　fear；　and　the　horror　of　the　vile　wretch；　of　whom　no
words　may　tell　his　vileness。　　Let　us　hence　and　onward。　　Thou　seest　I
have　once　more　come　to　life　again。〃

〃But；〃　said　he；　〃thou　hast　been　hurt　by　the　Dwarf's　arrow。〃

She　laughed；　and　said：　　〃Had　I　never　had　greater　hurt　from　them　than
that；　little　had　been　the　tale　thereof：　　yet　whereas　thou　lookest
dolorous　about　it；　we　will　speedily　heal　it。〃

Therewith　she　sought　about；　and　found　nigh　the　stream…side　certain
herbs；　and　she　spake　words　over　them；　and　bade　Walter　lay　them　on
the　wound；　which；　forsooth；　was　of　the　least；　and　he　did　so；　and
bound　a　strip　of　his　shirt　about　her　arm；　and　then　would　she　set
forth。　　But　he　said：　　〃Thou　art　all　unshod；　and　but　if　that　be　seen
to；　our　journey　shall　be　stayed　by　thy　foot…soreness：　　I　may　make　a
shift　to　fashion　thee　brogues。〃

She　said：　　〃I　may　well　go　barefoot。　　And　in　any　case；　I　entreat　thee
that　we　tarry　here　no　longer；　but　go　away　hence；　if　it　be　but　for　a
mile。〃

And　she　looked　piteously　on　him；　so　that　he　might　not　gainsay　her。

So　then　they　crossed　the　stream；　and　set　forward；　when　amidst　all
these　haps　the　day　was　worn　to　midmorning。　　But　after　they　had　gone
a　mile；　they　sat　them　down　on　a　knoll　under　the　shadow　of　a　big
thorn…tree；　within　sight　of　the　mountains。　　Then　said　Walter：　　〃Now
will　I　cut　thee　the　brogues　from　the　skirt　of　my　buff…coat；　which
shall　be　well　meet　for　such　work；　and　meanwhile　shalt　thou　tell　me
thy　tale。〃

〃Thou　art　kind；〃　she　said；　〃but　be　kinder　yet；　and　abide　my　tale
till　we　have　done　our　day's　work。　　For　we　were　best　to　make　no　long
delay　here；　because；　though　thou　hast　slain　the　King…dwarf；　yet
there　be　others　of　his　kindred；　who　swarm　in　some　parts　of　the　wood
as　the　rabbits　in　a　warren。　　Now　true　it　is　that　they　have　but
little　understanding；　less；　it　may　be；　than　the　very　brute　beasts；
and　that；　as　I　said　afore；　unless　they　be　set　on　our　slot　like　to
hounds；　they　shall　have　no　inkling　of　where　to　seek　us；　yet　might
they　happen　upon　us　by　mere　misadventure。　　And　moreover；　friend；〃
quoth　she；　blushing；　〃I　would　beg　of　thee　some　little　respite；　for
though　I　scarce　fear　thy　wrath　any　more；　since　thou　hast　been　so
kind　to　me；　yet　is　there　shame　in　that　which　I　have　to　tell　thee。
Wherefore；　since　the　fairest　of　the　day　is　before　us；　let　us　use　it
all　we　may；　and；　when　thou　hast　done　me　my　new　foot…gear；　get　us
gone　forward　again。〃

He　kissed　her　kindly　and　yea…said　her　asking：