the wood beyond the world-第23章

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thou　hast　been　to　me；　and　so　fair　and　clear；　and　so　kind　withal　do
thine　eyes　shine　on　me　from　under　the　grey　war…helm；　that　I　will
beseech　thee　not　to　cast　me　out　utterly；　but　suffer　me　to　be　thy
servant　and　handmaid　for　a　while。　　Wilt　thou　not？〃

But　the　King　stooped　down　to　her　and　raised　her　up；　and　stood　on　his
feet；　and　took　her　hands　and　kissed　them；　and　set　her　down　beside
him；　and　said　to　her：　　〃Sweetheart；　this　is　now　thy　place　till　the
night　cometh；　even　by　my　side。〃

So　she　sat　down　there　meek　and　valiant；　her　hands　laid　in　her　lap；
and　her　feet　one　over　the　other；　while　the　King　said：　　〃Lords；　this
is　my　beloved；　and　my　spouse。　　Now；　therefore；　if　ye　will　have　me
for　King；　ye　must　worship　this　one　for　Queen　and　Lady；　or　else
suffer　us　both　to　go　our　ways　in　peace。〃

Then　all　they　that　were　in　the　chamber　cried　out　aloud：　　〃The　Queen；
the　Lady！　　The　beloved　of　our　lord！〃

And　this　cry　came　from　their　hearts；　and　not　their　lips　only；　for　as
they　looked　on　her；　and　the　brightness　of　her　beauty；　they　saw　also
the　meekness　of　her　demeanour；　and　the　high　heart　of　her；　and　they
all　fell　to　loving　her。　　But　the　young　men　of　them；　their　cheeks
flushed　as　they　beheld　her；　and　their　hearts　went　out　to　her；　and
they　drew　their　swords　and　brandished　them　aloft；　and　cried　out　for
her　as　men　made　suddenly　drunk　with　love：　　〃The　Queen；　the　Lady；　the
lovely　one！〃



CHAPTER　XXXV：　　OF　THE　KING　OF　STARK…WALL　AND　HIS　QUEEN



But　while　this　betid；　that　murmur　without；　which　is　aforesaid；　grew
louder；　and　it　smote　on　the　King's　ear；　and　he　said　again　to　the
elder：　　〃Tell　us　now　of　that　noise　withoutward；　what　is　it？〃

Said　the　elder：　　〃If　thou；　King；　and　the　Queen；　wilt　but　arise　and
stand　in　the　window；　and　go　forth　into　the　hanging　gallery　thereof；
then　shall　ye　know　at　once　what　is　this　rumour；　and　therewithal
shall　ye　see　a　sight　meet　to　rejoice　the　heart　of　a　king　new　come
into　kingship。〃

So　the　King　arose　and　took　the　Maid　by　the　hand；　and　went　to　the
window　and　looked　forth；　and　lo！　the　great　square　of　the　place　all
thronged　with　folk　as　thick　as　they　could　stand；　and　the　more　part
of　the　carles　with　a　weapon　in　hand；　and　many　armed　right　gallantly。
Then　he　went　out　into　the　gallery　with　his　Queen；　still　holding　her
hand；　and　his　lords　and　wise　men　stood　behind　him。　　Straightway　then
arose　a　cry；　and　a　shout　of　joy　and　welcome　that　rent　the　very
heavens；　and　the　great　place　was　all　glittering　and　strange　with　the
tossing　up　of　spears　and　the　brandishing　of　swords；　and　the
stretching　forth　of　hands。

But　the　Maid　spake　softly　to　King　Walter　and　said：　　〃Here　then　is
the　wilderness　left　behind　a　long　way；　and　here　is　warding　and
protection　against　the　foes　of　our　life　and　soul。　　O　blessed　be　thou
and　thy　valiant　heart！〃

But　Walter　spake　nothing；　but　stood　as　one　in　a　dream；　and　yet；　if
that　might　be；　his　longing　toward　her　increased　manifold。

But　down　below；　amidst　of　the　throng；　stood　two　neighbours　somewhat
anigh　to　the　window；　and　quoth　one　to　the　other：　　〃See　thou！　the　new
man　in　the　ancient　armour　of　the　Battle　of　the　Waters；　bearing　the
sword　that　slew　the　foeman　king　on　the　Day　of　the　Doubtful　Onset！
Surely　this　is　a　sign　of　good…luck　to　us　all。〃

〃Yea；〃　said　the　second；　〃he　beareth　his　armour　well；　and　the　eyes
are　bright　in　the　head　of　him：　　but　hast　thou　beheld　well　his　she…
fellow；　and　what　the　like　of　her　is？〃

〃I　see　her；〃　said　the　other；　〃that　she　is　a　fair　woman；　yet　somewhat
worse　clad　than　simply。　　She　is　in　her　smock；　man；　and　were　it　not
for　the　balusters　I　deem　ye　should　see　her　barefoot。　　What　is　amiss
with　her？〃

〃Dost　thou　not　see　her；〃　said　the　second　neighbour；　〃that　she　is　not
only　a　fair　woman；　but　yet　more；　one　of　those　lovely　ones　that　draw
the　heart　out　of　a　man's　body；　one　may　scarce　say　for　why？　　Surely
Stark…wall　hath　cast　a　lucky　net　this　time。　　And　as　to　her　raiment；
I　see　of　her　that　she　is　clad　in　white　and　wreathed　with　roses；　but
that　the　flesh　of　her　is　so　wholly　pure　and　sweet　that　it　maketh　all
her　attire　but　a　part　of　her　body；　and　halloweth　it；　so　that　it　hath
the　semblance　of　gems。　　Alas；　my　friend！　let　us　hope　that　this　Queen
will　fare　abroad　unseldom　amongst　the　people。〃

Thus；　then；　they　spake；　but　after　a　while　the　King　and　his　mate　went
back　into　the　chamber；　and　he　gave　command　that　the　women　of　the
Queen　should　come　and　fetch　her　away；　to　attire　her　in　royal　array。
And　thither　came　the　fairest　of　the　honourable　damsels；　and　were
fain　of　being　her　waiting…women。　　Therewithal　the　King　was　unarmed；
and　dight　most　gloriously；　but　still　he　bore　the　Sword　of　the　King's
Slaying：　　and　sithence　were　the　King　and　the　Queen　brought　into　the
great　hall　of　the　palace；　and　they　met　on　the　dais；　and　kissed
before　the　lords　and　other　folk　that　thronged　the　hall。　　There　they
ate　a　morsel　and　drank　a　cup　together　while　all　beheld　them；　and
then　they　were　brought　forth；　and　a　white　horse　of　the　goodliest；
well　bedight；　brought　for　each　of　them；　and　thereon　they　mounted　and
went　their　ways　together；　by　the　lane　which　the　huge　throng　made　for
them；　to　the　great　church；　for　the　hallowing　and　the　crowning；　and
they　were　led　by　one　squire　alone；　and　he　unarmed；　for　such　was　the
custom　of　Stark…wall　when　a　new　king　should　be　hallowed：　　so　came
they　to　the　great　church　（for　that　folk　was　not　miscreant；　so　to
say）；　and　they　entered　it；　they　two　alone；　and　went　into　the　choir：
and　when　they　had　stood　there　a　little　while　wondering　at　their　lot；
they　heard　how　the　bells　fell　a…ringing　tunefully　over　their　heads；
and　then　drew　near　the　sound　of　many　trumpets　blowing　together；　and
thereafter　the　voices　of　many　folk　singing；　and　then　were　the　great
doors　thrown　open；　and　the　bishop　and　his　priests　came　into　the
church　with　singing　and　minstrelsy；　and　thereafter　came　the　whole
throng　of　the　folk；　and　presently　the　nave　of　the　church　was　filled
by　it；　as　when　the　water　follows　the　cutting　of　the　dam；　and　fills
up　the　dyke。　　Thereafter　came　the　bishop　and　his　mates　into　the
choir；　and　came　up　to　the　King；　and　gave　him　and　the　Queen　the　kiss
of　peace。　　This　was　mass　sung　gloriously；　and　thereafter　was　the
King　anointed　and　crowned；　and　great　joy　was　made　throughout　the
church。　　Afterwards　they　went　back　afoot　to　the　palace；　they　two
alone　together；　with　none　but　the　esquire　going　before　to　show　them
the　way。　　And　as　they　went；　they　passed　close　beside　those　two
neighbours；　whose　talk　has　been　told　of　afore；　and　the　first　one；　he
who　had　praised　the　King's　war…array；　spake　and　said：　　〃Truly；
neighbour；　thou　art　in　the　right　of　it；　and　now　the　Queen　has　been
dight　duly；　and　hath　a　crown　on　her　head；　and　is　clad　in　white
samite　done　all　over　with　pearls；　I　see　her　to　be　of　exceeding
goodliness；　as　goodly；　maybe；　as　the　Lord　King。〃

Quoth　the　other：　　〃Unto　me　she　seemeth　as　she　did　e'en　now；　she　is
clad　in　white；　as　then　she　was；　and　it　is　by　reason　of　the　pure　and
sweet　flesh　of　her　that　the　pearls　shine　out　and　glow；　and　by　the
holiness　of　her　body　is　her　rich　attire　hallowed；　but；　forsooth；　it
seemed　to　me　as　she　went　past　as　though　paradise　had　come　anigh　to
our　city；　and　that　all　the　air　breathed　of　it。　　So　I　say；　praise　be
to　God　and　His　Hallows　who　hath　suffered　her　to　dwell　amongst　us！〃

Said　the　first　man：　　〃Forsooth；　it　is　well；　but　knowest　thou　at　all
whence　she　cometh；　and　of　what　lineage　she　may　be？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　other；　〃I　wot　not　whence　she　is；　but　this　I　wot　full
surely；　that　when　she　goeth　away；　they　whom　she　leadeth　with　her
shall　be　well　bestead。　　Again；　of　her　lineage　nought　know　I；　but
this　I　know；　that　they　that　come　of　her；　to　the　twentieth
generation；　shall　bless　and　praise　the　memory　of　her；　and　hallow　her
name　little　less　than　they　hallow　the　name　of　the　Mother　of　God。〃

So　spake　those　two；　but　the　King　and　Queen　came　back　to　the　palace；
and　sat　among　the　lords　and　at　the　banquet　which　was　held
thereafter；　and　long　was　the　time　of　their　glory；　till　the　night　was
far　spent　and　all　men　must　seek　to　their　beds。



CHAPTER　XXXVI：　　OF　WALTER　AND　THE　MAID　IN　THE　DAYS　OF　THE　KINGSHIP



Long　it　was；　indeed；　till　the　women；　by　the　King's　command；　had
brought　the　Maid　to　the　King's　chamber；　and　he　met　her；　and　took　her
by　the　shoulders　and　kissed　her；　and　said：　　〃Art　thou　not　weary；
sweetheart？　　Doth　not　the　city；　and　the　thronging　folk；　and　the
watching　eyes　of　the　great　ones　。　。　。　doth　it　not　all　lie　heavy　on
thee；　as　it　doth　upon　me？〃

She　said：　　〃And　where　is　the　city　now？　is　not　this　the　wilderness
again；　and　thou　and　I　alone　together　therein？〃

He　gazed　at　her　eagerly；　and　she　reddened；　so　that　her　eyes　shone
light　amidst　the　darkness　of　the　flush　of　her　cheeks。

He　spake　trembling　and　softly；　and　said：　　〃Is　it　not　in　one　matter
better　than　the　wilderness？　is　not　the　fear　gone；　yea；　every　whit
thereof？〃

The　dark　flush　had　left　her　face；　and　she　looked　on　him　exceeding
sweetly；　and　spoke　steadily　and　clearly：　　〃Even　so　it　is；　beloved。〃
Therewith　she　set　her　hand　to　the　girdle　that　girt　her　loins；　and
did　it　off；　and　held　it　out　toward　him；　and　said：　　〃Here　is　the
token；　this　is　a　maid's　girdle；　and　the　woman　is　ungirt。〃

So　he　took　the　girdle　and　her　hand　withal；　and　cast　his　arms　about
her：　　and　amidst　the　sweetness　of　their　love　and　their　safety；　and
assured　hope　of　many　days　of　joy；　they　spake　together　of　the　hours
when　they　fared　the　razor…edge　betwixt　guile　and　misery　and　death；
and　the　sweeter　yet　it　grew　to　them　because　of　it；　and　many　things
she　told　him　ere　the　dawn；　of　the　evil　days　bygone；　and　the　dealings
of　the　Mistress　with　her；　till　the　grey　day　stole　into　the　chamber
to　make　manifest　her　loveliness；　which；　forsooth；　was　better　even
than　the　deeming　of　that　man　amidst　the　throng　whose　heart　had　been
so　drawn　towards　her。　　So　they　rejoiced　together　in　the　new　day。

But　when　the　full　day　was；　and　Walter　arose；　he　called　his　thanes
and　wise　men　to　the　council；　and　first　he　bade　open　the　prison…
doors；　and　feed　the　needy　and　clothe　them；　and　make　good　cheer　to
all　men；　high　and　low；　rich　and　unrich；　and　thereafter　he　took
counsel　with　them　on　many　matters；　and　they　marvelled　at　his　wisdom
and　the　keenness　of　his　wit；　and　so　it　was；　that　some　were　but　half
pleased　thereat；　whereas　they　saw　that　their　will　was　like　to　give
way　before　his　in　all　matters。　　But　the　wiser　of　them　rejoiced　in
him；　and　looked　for　good　days　while　his　life　lasted。

Now　of　the　deeds　that　he　did；　and　his　joys　and　his　griefs；　the　tale
shall　tell　no　more；　nor　of　how　he　saw　Langton　again；　and　his
dealings　there。

In　Stark…wall　he　dwelt；　and　reigned　a　King；　well　beloved　of　his
folk；　sorely　feared　of　their　foemen。　　Strife　he　had　to　deal　with；　at
home　and　abroad；　but　therein　he　was　not　quelled；　till　he　fell　asleep
fair　and　softly；　when　this　world　had　no　more　of　deeds　for　him　to　do。
Nor　may　it　be　said　that　the　needy　lamented　him；　for　no　needy　had　he
left　in　his　own　land。　　And　few　foes　he　left　behind　to　hate　him。

As　to　the　Maid；　she　so　waxed　in　loveliness　and　kindness；　that　it　was
a　year's　joy　for　any　to　have　cast　eyes　upon　her　in　street　or　on
field。　　All　wizardry　left　her　since　the　day　of　her　wedding；　yet　of
wit　and　wisdom