the wood beyond the world-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


what　he　might；　to　help　them　in　all　matters；　whether　it　were　in
seaman's　craft；　or　in　chaffer。　　And　the　further　he　went　and　the
longer　the　time　wore；　the　more　he　was　eased　of　his　old　trouble
wherein　his　wife　and　her　treason　had　to　do。

But　as　for　the　other　trouble；　to　wit　his　desire　and　longing　to　come
up　with　those　three；　it　yet　flickered　before　him；　and　though　he　had
not　seen　them　again　as　one　sees　people　in　the　streets；　and　as　if　he
might　touch　them　if　he　would；　yet　were　their　images　often　before　his
mind's　eye；　and　yet；　as　time　wore；　not　so　often；　nor　so　troublously；
and　forsooth　both　to　those　about　him　and　to　himself；　he　seemed　as　a
man　well　healed　of　his　melancholy　mood。

Now　they　left　that　fourth　stead；　and　sailed　over　the　seas　and　came
to　a　fifth；　a　very　great　and　fair　city；　which　they　had　made　more
than　seven　months　from　Langton　on　Holm；　and　by　this　time　was　Walter
taking　heed　and　joyance　in　such　things　as　were　toward　in　that　fair
city；　so　far　from　his　kindred；　and　especially　he　looked　on　the　fair
women　there；　and　desired　them；　and　loved　them；　but　lightly；　as
befalleth　young　men。

Now　this　was　the　last　country　whereto　the　Katherine　was　boun；　so
there　they　abode　some　ten　months　in　daily　chaffer；　and　in　pleasuring
them　in　beholding　all　that　there　was　of　rare　and　goodly；　and　making
merry　with　the　merchants　and　the　towns…folk；　and　the　country…folk
beyond　the　gates；　and　Walter　was　grown　as　busy　and　gay　as　a　strong
young　man　is　like　to　be；　and　was　as　one　who　would　fain　be　of　some
account　amongst　his　own　folk。

But　at　the　end　of　this　while；　it　befell　on　a　day；　as　he　was　leaving
his　hostel　for　his　booth　in　the　market；　and　had　the　door　in　his
hand；　there　stood　before　him　three　mariners　in　the　guise　of　his　own
country；　and　with　them　was　one　of　clerkly　aspect；　whom　he　knew　at
once　for　his　father's　scrivener；　Arnold　Penstrong　by　name；　and　when
Walter　saw　him　his　heart　failed　him　and　he　cried　out：　　〃Arnold；　what
tidings？　　Is　all　well　with　the　folk　at　Langton？〃

Said　Arnold：　　〃Evil　tidings　are　come　with　me；　matters　are　ill　with
thy　folk；　for　I　may　not　hide　that　thy　father；　Bartholomew　Golden；　is
dead；　God　rest　his　soul。〃

At　that　word　it　was　to　Walter　as　if　all　that　trouble　which　but　now
had　sat　so　light　upon　him；　was　once　again　fresh　and　heavy；　and　that
his　past　life　of　the　last　few　months　had　never　been；　and　it　was　to
him　as　if　he　saw　his　father　lying　dead　on　his　bed；　and　heard　the
folk　lamenting　about　the　house。　　He　held　his　peace　awhile；　and　then
he　said　in　a　voice　as　of　an　angry　man：

〃What；　Arnold！　and　did　he　die　in　his　bed；　or　how？　for　he　was　neither
old　nor　ailing　when　we　parted。〃

Said　Arnold：　　〃Yea；　in　his　bed　he　died：　　but　first　he　was　somewhat
sword…bitten。〃

〃Yea；　and　how？〃　quoth　Walter。

Said　Arnold：　　〃When　thou　wert　gone；　in　a　few　days'　wearing；　thy
father　sent　thy　wife　out　of　his　house　back　to　her　kindred　of　the
Reddings　with　no　honour；　and　yet　with　no　such　shame　as　might　have
been；　without　blame　to　us　of　those　who　knew　the　tale　of　thee　and
her；　which；　God…a…mercy；　will　be　pretty　much　the　whole　of　the　city。〃

〃Nevertheless；　the　Reddings　took　it　amiss；　and　would　have　a　mote
with　us　Goldings　to　talk　of　booting。　　By　ill…luck　we　yea…said　that
for　the　saving　of　the　city's　peace。　　But　what　betid？　　We　met　in　our
Gild…hall；　and　there　befell　the　talk　between　us；　and　in　that　talk
certain　words　could　not　be　hidden；　though　they　were　none　too　seemly
nor　too　meek。　　And　the　said　words　once　spoken　drew　forth　the　whetted
steel；　and　there　then　was　the　hewing　and　thrusting！　　Two　of　ours
were　slain　outright　on　the　floor；　and　four　of　theirs；　and　many　were
hurt　on　either　side。　　Of　these　was　thy　father；　for　as　thou　mayst
well　deem；　he　was　nought　backward　in　the　fray；　but　despite　his
hurts；　two　in　the　side　and　one　on　the　arm；　he　went　home　on　his　own
feet；　and　we　deemed　that　we　had　come　to　our　above。　　But　well…a…way！
it　was　an　evil　victory；　whereas　in　ten　days　he　died　of　his　hurts。
God　have　his　soul！　　But　now；　my　master；　thou　mayst　well　wot　that　I
am　not　come　to　tell　thee　this　only；　but　moreover　to　bear　the　word　of
the　kindred；　to　wit　that　thou　come　back　with　me　straightway　in　the
swift　cutter　which　hath　borne　me　and　the　tidings；　and　thou　mayst
look　to　it；　that　though　she　be　swift　and　light；　she　is　a　keel　full
weatherly。〃

Then　said　Walter：　　〃This　is　a　bidding　of　war。　　Come　back　will　I；　and
the　Reddings　shall　wot　of　my　coming。　　Are　ye　all…boun？〃

〃Yea；〃　said　Arnold；　〃we　may　up　anchor　this　very　day；　or　to…morrow
morn　at　latest。　　But　what　aileth　thee；　master；　that　thou　starest　so
wild　over　my　shoulder？　　I　pray　thee　take　it　not　so　much　to　heart！
Ever　it　is　the　wont　of　fathers　to　depart　this　world　before　their
sons。〃

But　Walter's　visage　from　wrathful　red　had　become　pale；　and　he
pointed　up　street；　and　cried　out：　　〃Look！　dost　thou　see？〃

〃See　what；　master？〃　quoth　Arnold：　　〃what！　here　cometh　an　ape　in　gay
raiment；　belike　the　beast　of　some　jongleur。　　Nay；　by　God's　wounds！
'tis　a　man；　though　he　be　exceeding　mis…shapen　like　a　very　devil。
Yea　and　now　there　cometh　a　pretty　maid　going　as　if　she　were　of　his
meney；　and　lo！　here；　a　most　goodly　and　noble　lady！　　Yea；　I　see；　and
doubtless　she　owneth　both　the　two；　and　is　of　the　greatest　of　the
folk　of　this　fair　city；　for　on　the　maiden's　ankle　I　saw　an　iron
ring；　which　betokeneth　thralldom　amongst　these　aliens。　　But　this　is
strange！　for　notest　thou　not　how　the　folk　in　the　street　heed　not
this　quaint　show；　nay　not　even　the　stately　lady；　though　she　be　as
lovely　as　a　goddess　of　the　gentiles；　and　beareth　on　her　gems　that
would　buy　Langton　twice　over；　surely　they　must　be　over…wont　to
strange　and　gallant　sights。　　But　now；　master；　but　now！〃

〃Yea；　what　is　it？〃　said　Walter。

〃Why；　master；　they　should　not　yet　be　gone　out　of　eye…shot；　yet　gone
they　are。　　What　is　become　of　them；　are　they　sunk　into　the　earth？〃

〃Tush；　man！〃　said　Walter；　looking　not　on　Arnold；　but　still　staring
down　the　street；　〃they　have　gone　into　some　house　while　thine　eyes
were　turned　from　them　a　moment。〃

〃Nay；　master；　nay；〃　said　Arnold；　〃mine　eyes　were　not　off　them　one
instant　of　time。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Walter；　somewhat　snappishly；　〃they　are　gone　now；　and
what　have　we　to　do　to　heed　such　toys；　we　with　all　this　grief　and
strife　on　our　hands？　　Now　would　I　be　alone　to　turn　the　matter　of
thine　errand　over　in　my　mind。　　Meantime　do　thou　tell　the　shipmaster
Geoffrey　and　our　other　folk　of　these　tidings；　and　thereafter　get
thee　all　ready；　and　come　hither　to　me　before　sunrise　to…morrow；　and
I　shall　be　ready　for　my　part；　and　so　sail　we　back　to　Langton。〃

Therewith　he　turned　him　back　into　the　house；　and　the　others　went
their　ways；　but　Walter　sat　alone　in　his　chamber　a　long　while；　and
pondered　these　things　in　his　mind。　　And　whiles　he　made　up　his　mind
that　he　would　think　no　more　of　the　vision　of　those　three；　but　would
fare　back　to　Langton；　and　enter　into　the　strife　with　the　Reddings
and　quell　them；　or　die　else。　　But　lo；　when　he　was　quite　steady　in
this　doom；　and　his　heart　was　lightened　thereby；　he　found　that　he
thought　no　more　of　the　Reddings　and　their　strife；　but　as　matters
that　were　passed　and　done　with；　and　that　now　he　was　thinking　and
devising　if　by　any　means　he　might　find　out　in　what　land　dwelt　those
three。　　And　then　again　he　strove　to　put　that　from　him；　saying　that
what　he　had　seen　was　but　meet　for　one　brainsick；　and　a　dreamer　of
dreams。　　But　furthermore　he　thought；　Yea；　and　was　Arnold；　who　this
last　time　had　seen　the　images　of　those　three；　a　dreamer　of　waking
dreams？　for　he　was　nought　wonted　in　such　wise；　then　thought　he：　　At
least　I　am　well　content　that　he　spake　to　me　of　their　likeness；　not　I
to　him；　for　so　I　may　tell　that　there　was　at　least　something　before
my　eyes　which　grew　not　out　of　mine　own　brain。　　And　yet　again；　why
should　I　follow　them；　and　what　should　I　get　by　it；　and　indeed　how
shall　I　set　about　it？

Thus　he　turned　the　matter　over　and　over；　and　at　last；　seeing　that　if
he　grew　no　foolisher　over　it；　he　grew　no　wiser；　he　became　weary
thereof；　and　bestirred　him；　and　saw　to　the　trussing　up　of　his　goods；
and　made　all　ready　for　his　departure；　and　so　wore　the　day　and　slept
at　nightfall；　and　at　daybreak　comes　Arnold　to　lead　him　to　their
keel；　which　hight　the　Bartholomew。　　He　tarried　nought；　and　with　few
farewells　went　aboard　ship；　and　an　hour　after　they　were　in　the　open
sea　with　the　ship's　head　turned　toward　Langton　on　Holm。



CHAPTER　IV：　　STORM　BEFALLS　THE　BARTHOLOMEW；　AND　SHE　IS　DRIVEN　OFF
HER　COURSE



Now　swift　sailed　the　Bartholomew　for　four　weeks　toward　the　north…
west　with　a　fair　wind；　and　all　was　well　with　ship　and　crew。　　Then
the　wind　died　out　on　even　of　a　day；　so　that　the　ship　scarce　made　way
at　all；　though　she　rolled　in　a　great　swell　of　the　sea；　so　great；
that　it　seemed　to　ridge　all　the　main　athwart。　　Moreover　down　in　the
west　was　a　great　bank　of　cloud　huddled　up　in　haze；　whereas　for
twenty　days　past　the　sky　had　been　clear；　save　for　a　few　bright　white
clouds　flying　before　the　wind。　　Now　the　shipmaster；　a　man　right
cunning　in　his　craft；　looked　long　on　sea　and　sky；　and　then　turned
and　bade　the　mariners　take　in　sail　and　be　right　heedful。　　And　when
Walter　asked　him　what　he　looked　for；　and　wherefore　he　spake　not　to
him　thereof；　he　said　surlily：　　〃Why　should　I　tell　thee　what　any　fool
can　see　without　telling；　to　wit　that　there　is　weather　to　hand？〃

So　they　abode　what　should　befall；　and　Walter　went　to　his　room　to
sleep　away　the　uneasy　while；　for　the　night　was　now　fallen；　and　he
knew　no　more　till　he　was　waked　up　by　great　hubbub　and　clamour　of　the
shipmen；　and　the　whipping　of　ropes；　and　thunder　of　flapping　sails；
and　the　tossing　and　weltering　of　the　ship　withal。　　But；　being　a　very
stout…hearted　young　man；　he　lay　still　in　his　room；　partly　because　he
was　a　landsman；　and　had　no　mind　to　tumble　about　amongst　the　shipmen
and　hinder　them；　and　withal　he　said　to　himself：　　What　matter　whether
I　go　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　or　come　back　to　Langton；　since
either　way　my　life　or　my　death　will　take　away　from　me　the　fulfilment
of　desire？　　Yet　soothly　if　there　hath　been　a　shift　of　wind；　that　is
not　so　ill；　for　then　shall　we　be　driven　to　other　lands；　and　so　at
the　least　our　home…coming　shall　be　delayed；　and　other　tidings　may
hap　amidst　of　our　tarrying。　　So　let　all　be　as　it　will。

So　in　a　little　while；　in　spite　of　the　ship's　wallowing　and　the
tumult　of　the　wind　and　waves；　he　fell　asleep　again；　and　woke　no　more
till　it　was　full　daylight；　and　there　was　the　shipmaster　standing　in
the　door　of　his　room；　the　sea…water　all　streaming　from　his　wet…
weather　raiment。　　He　said　to　Walter：　　〃Young　master；　the　sele　of　the
day　to　thee！　　For　by　good　hap　we　have　gotten　into　another　day。　　Now
I　shall　tell　thee　that　we　have　striven　to　beat；　so　as　not　to　be
driven　off　our　course；　but　all　would　not　avail；　wherefore　for　these
three　hours　we　have　been　running　before　the　wind；　but；　fair　sir；　so
big　hath　been　the　sea　that　but　for　our　ship　being　of　the　stoutest；
and　our　men　all　yare；　we　had　all　grown　exceeding　wise　concerning　the
ground　of　the　mid…main。　　Praise　be　to　St。　Nicholas　and　all　Hallows！
for　though　ye　shall　presently　look　upon　a　new　sea；　and　maybe　a　new
land　to　boot；　yet　is　that　better　than　looking　on　the　u