the wood beyond the world-第20章

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the　Children　of　the　Bear；　I　would　ask　you　a　question；　and　let　the
chieftain　who　sitteth　before　me　answer　it。〃

The　old　man　nodded　his　head；　and　she　went　on：　　〃Tell　me；　Children　of
the　Bear；　how　long　a　time　is　worn　since　ye　saw　the　God　of　your
worship　made　manifest　in　the　body　of　a　woman！〃

Said　the　elder：　　〃Many　winters　have　worn　since　my　father's　father
was　a　child；　and　saw　the　very　God　in　the　bodily　form　of　a　woman。〃

Then　she　said　again：　　〃Did　ye　rejoice　at　her　coming；　and　would　ye
rejoice　if　once　more　she　came　amongst　you？〃

〃Yea；〃　said　the　old　chieftain；　〃for　she　gave　us　gifts；　and　learned
us　lore；　and　came　to　us　in　no　terrible　shape；　but　as　a　young　woman
as　goodly　as　thou。〃

Then　said　the　Maid：　　〃Now；　then；　is　the　day　of　your　gladness　come；
for　the　old　body　is　dead；　and　I　am　the　new　body　of　your　God；　come
amongst　you　for　your　welfare。〃

Then　fell　a　great　silence　on　the　Mote；　till　the　old　man　spake　and
said：　　〃What　shall　I　say　and　live？　　For　if　thou　be　verily　the　God；
and　I　threaten　thee；　wilt　thou　not　destroy　me？　　But　thou　hast　spoken
a　great　word　with　a　sweet　mouth；　and　hast　taken　the　burden　of　blood
on　thy　lily　hands；　and　if　the　Children　of　the　Bear　be　befooled　of
light　liars；　how　shall　they　put　the　shame　off　them？　　Therefore　I
say；　show　to　us　a　token；　and　if　thou　be　the　God；　this　shall　be　easy
to　thee；　and　if　thou　show　it　not；　then　is　thy　falsehood　manifest；
and　thou　shalt　dree　the　weird。　　For　we　shall　deliver　thee　into　the
hands　of　these　women　here；　who　shall　thrust　thee　down　into　the　flow
which　is　hereby；　after　they　have　wearied　themselves　with　whipping
thee。　　But　thy　man　that　kneeleth　at　thy　feet　shall　we　give　to　the
true　God；　and　he　shall　go　to　her　by　the　road　of　the　flint　and　the
fire。　　Hast　thou　heard？　　Then　give　to　us　the　sign　and　the　token。〃

She　changed　countenance　no　whit　at　his　word；　but　her　eyes　were　the
brighter；　and　her　cheek　the　fresher　and　her　feet　moved　a　little；　as
if　they　were　growing　glad　before　the　dance；　and　she　looked　out　over
the　Mote；　and　spake　in　her　clear　voice：　　〃Old　man；　thou　needest　not
to　fear　for　thy　words。　　Forsooth　it　is　not　me　whom　thou　threatenest
with　stripes　and　a　foul　death；　but　some　light　fool　and　liar；　who　is
not　here。　　Now　hearken！　　I　wot　well　that　ye　would　have　somewhat　of
me；　to　wit；　that　I　should　send　you　rain　to　end　this　drought；　which
otherwise　seemeth　like　to　lie　long　upon　you：　　but　this　rain；　I　must
go　into　the　mountains　of　the　south　to　fetch　it　you；　therefore　shall
certain　of　your　warriors　bring　me　on　my　way；　with　this　my　man；　up　to
the　great　pass　of　the　said　mountains；　and　we　shall　set　out
thitherward　this　very　day。〃

She　was　silent　a　while；　and　all　looked　on　her；　but　none　spake　or
moved；　so　that　they　seemed　as　images　of　stone　amongst　the　stones。

Then　she　spake　again　and　said：　　〃Some　would　say；　men　of　the　Bear；
that　this　were　a　sign　and　a　token　great　enough；　but　I　know　you；　and
how　stubborn　and　perverse　of　heart　ye　be；　and　how　that　the　gift　not
yet　within　your　hand　is　no　gift　to　you；　and　the　wonder　ye　see　not；
your　hearts　trow　not。　　Therefore　look　ye　upon　me　as　here　I　stand；　I
who　have　come　from　the　fairer　country　and　the　greenwood　of　the
lands；　and　see　if　I　bear　not　the　summer　with　me；　and　the　heart　that
maketh　increase　and　the　hand　that　giveth。〃

Lo　then！　as　she　spake；　the　faded　flowers　that　hung　about　her
gathered　life　and　grew　fresh　again；　the　woodbine　round　her　neck　and
her　sleek　shoulders　knit　itself　together　and　embraced　her　freshly；
and　cast　its　scent　about　her　face。　　The　lilies　that　girded　her　loins
lifted　up　their　heads；　and　the　gold　of　their　tassels　fell　upon　her；
the　eyebright　grew　clean　blue　again　upon　her　smock；　the　eglantine
found　its　blooms　again；　and　then　began　to　shed　the　leaves　thereof
upon　her　feet；　the　meadow…sweet　wreathed　amongst　it　made　clear　the
sweetness　of　her　legs；　and　the　mouse…ear　studded　her　raiment　as　with
gems。　　There　she　stood　amidst　of　the　blossoms；　like　a　great　orient
pearl　against　the　fretwork　of　the　goldsmiths；　and　the　breeze　that
came　up　the　valley　from　behind　bore　the　sweetness　of　her　fragrance
all　over　the　Man…mote。

Then；　indeed；　the　Bears　stood　up；　and　shouted　and　cried；　and　smote
on　their　shields；　and　tossed　their　spears　aloft。　　Then　the　elder
rose　from　his　seat；　and　came　up　humbly　to　where　she　stood；　and
prayed　her　to　say　what　she　would　have　done；　while　the　others　drew
about　in　knots；　but　durst　not　come　very　nigh　to　her。　　She　answered
the　ancient　chief；　and　said；　that　she　would　depart　presently　toward
the　mountains；　whereby　she　might　send　them　the　rain　which　they
lacked；　and　that　thence　she　would　away　to　the　southward　for　a　while；
but　that　they　should　hear　of　her；　or；　it　might　be；　see　her；　before
they　who　were　now　of　middle　age　should　be　gone　to　their　fathers。

Then　the　old　man　besought　her　that　they　might　make　her　a　litter　of
fragrant　green　boughs；　and　so　bear　her　away　toward　the　mountain　pass
amidst　a　triumph　of　the　whole　folk。　　But　she　leapt　lightly　down　from
the　stone；　and　walked　to　and　fro　on　the　greensward；　while　it　seemed
of　her　that　her　feet　scarce　touched　the　grass；　and　she　spake　to　the
ancient　chief　where　he　still　kneeled　in　worship　of　her；　and　said
〃Nay；　deemest　thou　of　me　that　I　need　bearing　by　men's　hands；　or　that
I　shall　tire　at　all　when　I　am　doing　my　will；　and　I；　the　very　heart
of　the　year's　increase？　　So　it　is；　that　the　going　of　my　feet　over
your　pastures　shall　make　them　to　thrive；　both　this　year　and　the
coming　years：　　surely　will　I　go　afoot。〃

So　they　worshipped　her　the　more；　and　blessed　her；　and　then　first　of
all　they　brought　meat；　the　daintiest　they　might；　both　for　her　and
for　Walter。　　But　they　would　not　look　on　the　Maid　whiles　she　ate；　or
suffer　Walter　to　behold　her　the　while。　　Afterwards；　when　they　had
eaten；　some　twenty　men；　weaponed　after　their　fashion；　made　them
ready　to　wend　with　the　Maiden　up　into　the　mountains；　and　anon　they
set　out　thitherward　all　together。　　Howbeit；　the　huge　men　held　them
ever　somewhat　aloof　from　the　Maid；　and　when　they　came　to　the
resting…place　for　that　night；　where　was　no　house；　for　it　was　up
amongst　the　foot…hills　before　the　mountains；　then　it　was　a　wonder　to
see　how　carefully　they　built　up　a　sleeping…place　for　her；　and　tilted
it　over　with　their　skin…cloaks；　and　how　they　watched　nightlong　about
her。　　But　Walter　they　let　sleep　peacefully　on　the　grass；　a　little
way　aloof　from　the　watchers　round　the　Maid。



CHAPTER　XXIX：　　WALTER　STRAYS　IN　THE　PASS　AND　IS　SUNDERED　FROM　THE
MAID



Morning　came；　and　they　arose　and　went　on　their　ways；　and　went　all
day　till　the　sun　was　nigh　set；　and　they　were　come　up　into　the　very
pass；　and　in　the　jaws　thereof　was　an　earthen　howe。　　There　the　Maid
bade　them　stay；　and　she　went　up　on　to　the　howe；　and　stood　there　and
spake　to　them；　and　said：　　〃O　men　of　the　Bear；　I　give　you　thanks　for
your　following；　and　I　bless　you；　and　promise　you　the　increase　of　the
earth。　　But　now　ye　shall　turn　aback；　and　leave　me　to　go　my　ways；　and
my　man　with　the　iron　sword　shall　follow　me。　　Now；　maybe；　I　shall
come　amongst　the　Bear…folk　again　before　long；　and　yet　again；　and
learn　them　wisdom；　but　for　this　time　it　is　enough。　　And　I　shall　tell
you　that　ye　were　best　to　hasten　home　straightway　to　your　houses　in
the　downland　dales；　for　the　weather　which　I　have　bidden　for　you　is
even　now　coming　forth　from　the　forge　of　storms　in　the　heart　of　the
mountains。　　Now　this　last　word　I　give　you；　that　times　are　changed
since　I　wore　the　last　shape　of　God　that　ye　have　seen；　wherefore　a
change　I　command　you。　　If　so　be　aliens　come　amongst　you；　I　will　not
that　ye　send　them　to　me　by　the　flint　and　the　fire；　rather；　unless
they　be　baleful　unto　you；　and　worthy　of　an　evil　death；　ye　shall
suffer　them　to　abide　with　you；　ye　shall　make　them　become　children　of
the　Bears；　if　they　be　goodly　enough　and　worthy；　and　they　shall　be　my
children　as　ye　be；　otherwise；　if　they　be　ill…favoured　and　weakling；
let　them　live　and　be　thralls　to　you；　but　not　join　with　you；　man　to
woman。　　Now　depart　ye　with　my　blessing。〃

Therewith　she　came　down　from　the　mound；　and　went　her　ways　up　the
pass　so　lightly；　that　it　was　to　Walter；　standing　amongst　the　Bears；
as　if　she　had　vanished　away。　　But　the　men　of　that　folk　abode
standing　and　worshipping　their　God　for　a　little　while；　and　that
while　he　durst　not　sunder　him　from　their　company。　　But　when　they　had
blessed　him　and　gone　on　their　way　backward；　he　betook　him　in　haste
to　following　the　Maid；　thinking　to　find　her　abiding　him　in　some　nook
of　the　pass。

Howsoever；　it　was　now　twilight　or　more；　and；　for　all　his　haste；　dark
night　overtook　him；　so　that　perforce　he　was　stayed　amidst　the　tangle
of　the　mountain　ways。　　And；　moreover；　ere　the　night　was　grown　old；
the　weather　came　upon　him　on　the　back　of　a　great　south　wind；　so　that
the　mountain　nooks　rattled　and　roared；　and　there　was　the　rain　and
the　hail；　with　thunder　and　lightning；　monstrous　and　terrible；　and
all　the　huge　array　of　a　summer　storm。　　So　he　was　driven　at　last　to
crouch　under　a　big　rock　and　abide　the　day。

But　not　so　were　his　troubles　at　an　end。　　For　under　the　said　rock　he
fell　asleep；　and　when　he　awoke　it　was　day　indeed；　but　as　to　the
pass；　the　way　thereby　was　blind　with　the　driving　rain　and　the
lowering　lift；　so　that；　though　he　struggled　as　well　as　he　might
against　the　storm　and　the　tangle；　he　made　but　little　way。

And　now　once　more　the　thought　came　on　him；　that　the　Maid　was　of　the
fays；　or　of　some　race　even　mightier；　and　it　came　on　him　now　not　as
erst；　with　half　fear　and　whole　desire；　but　with　a　bitter　oppression
of　dread；　of　loss　and　misery；　so　that　he　began　to　fear　that　she　had
but　won　his　love　to　leave　him　and　forget　him　for　a　new…comer；　after
the　wont　of　fay…women；　as　old　tales　tell。

Two　days　he　battled　thus　with　storm　and　blindness；　and　wanhope　of
his　life；　for　he　was　growing　weak　and　fordone。　　But　the　third
morning　the　storm　abated；　though　the　rain　yet　fell　heavily；　and　he
could　see　his　way　somewhat　as　well　as　feel　it：　　withal　he　found　that
now　his　path　was　leading　him　downwards。　　As　it　grew　dusk；　he　came
down　into　a　grassy　valley　with　a　stream　running　through　it　to　the
southward；　and　the　rain　was　now　but　little；　coming　down　but　in
dashes　from　time　to　time。　　So　he　crept　down　to　the　stream…side；　and
lay　amongst　the　bushes　there；　and　said　to　himself；　that　on　the
morrow　he　would　get　him　victual；　so　that　he　might　live　to　seek　his
Maiden　through　the　wide　world。　　He　was　of　somewhat　better　heart：
but　now　that　he　was　laid　quiet；　and　had　no　more　for　that　present　to
trouble　him　about　the　way；　the　anguish　of　his　loss　fell　upon　him　the
keener；　and　he　might　not　refrain　him　from　lamenting　his　dear　Maiden
aloud；　as　one　who　deemed　himself　in　the　empty　wilderness：　　and　thus
he　lamented　for　her　sweetness　and　her　loveliness；　and　the　kindness
of　her　voice　and　her　speech；　and　her　mirth。　　Then　he　fell　to　crying
out　concerning　the　beauty　of　her　shaping；　praising　the　parts　of　her
body；　as　her　face；　and　her　hands；　and　her　shoulders；　and　her　feet；
and　cursing　the　evil　fate　which　had　sundered　him　from　the
friendliness　of　her；　and　the　peerless　fashion　of　her。



CHAPTER　XXX：　　NOW　THEY　MEET　AGAIN



Complaining　thus…wise；　he　fell　asleep　from　sheer　weariness；　and　when
he　awoke