the wood beyond the world-第18章

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〃One　of　two　things；〃　said　she；　〃the　first　that　they　shall　take　us
into　their　tribe。〃

〃And　will　they　sunder　us　in　that　case？〃　said　Walter。

〃Nay；〃　said　she。

Walter　laughed　and　said：　　〃Therein　is　little　harm　then。　　But　what　is
the　other　chance？〃

Said　she：　　〃That　we　leave　them　with　their　goodwill；　and　come　back　to
one　of　the　lands　of　Christendom。〃

Said　Walter：　　〃I　am　not　all　so　sure　that　this　is　the　better　of　the
two　choices；　though；　forsooth；　thou　seemest　to　think　so。　　But　tell
me　now；　what　like　is　their　God；　that　they　should　offer　up　new…comers
to　him？〃

〃Their　God　is　a　woman；〃　she　said；　〃and　the　Mother　of　their　nation
and　tribes　（or　so　they　deem）　before　the　days　when　they　had
chieftains　and　Lords　of　Battle。〃

〃That　will　be　long　ago；〃　said　he；　〃how　then　may　she　be　living　now？〃

Said　the　Maid：　　〃Doubtless　that　woman　of　yore　agone　is　dead　this
many　and　many　a　year；　but　they　take　to　them　still　a　new　woman；　one
after　other；　as　they　may　happen　on　them；　to　be　in　the　stead　of　the
Ancient　Mother。　　And　to　tell　thee　the　very　truth　right　out；　she　that
lieth　dead　in　the　Pillared　Hall　was　even　the　last　of　these；　and　now；
if　they　knew　it；　they　lack　a　God。　　This　shall　we　tell　them。〃

〃Yea；　yea！〃　said　Walter；　〃a　goodly　welcome　shall　we　have　of　them
then；　if　we　come　amongst　them　with　our　hands　red　with　the　blood　of
their　God！〃

She　smiled　on　him　and　said：　　〃If　I　come　amongst　them　with　the
tidings　that　I　have　slain　her；　and　they　trow　therein；　without　doubt
they　shall　make　me　Lady　and　Goddess　in　her　stead。〃

〃This　is　a　strange　word；〃　said　Walter　〃but　if　so　they　do；　how　shall
that　further　us　in　reaching　the　kindreds　of　the　world；　and　the　folk
of　Holy　Church？〃

She　laughed　outright；　so　joyous　was　she　grown；　now　that　she　knew
that　his　life　was　yet　to　be　a　part　of　hers。　　〃Sweetheart；〃　she　said；
〃now　I　see　that　thou　desirest　wholly　what　I　desire；　yet　in　any　case；
abiding　with　them　would　be　living　and　not　dying；　even　as　thou　hadst
it　e'en　now。　　But；　forsooth；　they　will　not　hinder　our　departure　if
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