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！
women in the land？〃
〃Yea； many；〃 said that damsel。
〃And many that are as fair as ye be？〃 said he。 Then they laughed and
were glad； and drew near to him again and took his hands and kissed
them； and the black…haired damsel said： 〃Yea； yea； there be many as
fair as we be； and some fairer；〃 and she laughed。
〃And that King of yours；〃 said he； 〃how do ye name him？〃
〃He is the King；〃 said the damsel。
〃Hath he no other name？〃 said Hallblithe。
〃We may not utter it；〃 she said； 〃but thou shalt see him soon； that
there is nought but good in him and mightiness。〃
CHAPTER XI： THE SEA…EAGLE RENEWETH HIS LIFE
But while they spake together thus； came a man from out of the wood
very tall of stature； red…bearded and black…haired； ruddy…cheeked；
full…limbed； most joyous of aspect； a man by seeming of five and
thirty winters。 He strode straight up to Hallblithe； and cast his
arms about him； and kissed his cheek； as if he had been an old and
dear friend newly come from over seas。
Hallblithe wondered and laughed； and said： 〃Who art thou that
deemest me so dear？〃
Said the man： 〃Short is thy memory； Son of the Raven； that thou in
so little space hast forgotten thy shipmate and thy faring…fellow；
who gave thee meat and drink and good rede in the Hall of the
Ravagers。〃 Therewith he laughed joyously and turned about to the
three maidens and took them by the hands and kissed their lips； while
they fawned upon him lovingly。
Then said Hallblithe： 〃Hast thou verily gotten thy youth again；
which thou badest me wish thee？〃
〃Yea； in good sooth；〃 said the red…bearded man； 〃I am the Sea…eagle
of old days； and I have gotten my youth； and love therewithal； and
somewhat to love moreover。〃
Therewith he turned to the fairest of the damsels； and she was white…
skinned and fragrant as the lily； rose…cheeked and slender； and the
wind played with the long locks of her golden hair； which hung down
below her knees； so he cast his arms about her and strained her to
his bosom； and kissed her face many times； and she nothing loth； but
caressing him with lips and hand。 But the other two damsels stood by
smiling and joyous： and they clapped their hands together and kissed
each other for joy of the new lover； and at last fell to dancing and
skipping about them like young lambs in the meadows of Spring…tide。
But amongst them all； stood up Hallblithe leaning on his spear with
smiling lips and knitted brow； for he was pondering in his mind in
what wise he might further his quest。
But after they had danced a while the Sea…eagle left his love that he
had chosen and took a hand of either of the two damsels； and led them
tripping up to Hallblithe； and cried out： 〃Choose thou； Raven's
baby； which of these twain thou wilt have to thy mate； for scarcely
shalt thou see better or fairer。〃
But Hallblithe looked on them proudly and sternly； and the black…
haired damsel hung down her head before him and said softly： 〃Nay；
nay； sea…warrior； this one is too lovely to be our mate。 Sweeter
love abides him； and lips more longed for。〃
Then stirred Hallblithe's heart within him and he said： 〃O Eagle of
the Sea； thou hast thy youth again： what then wilt thou do with it？
Wilt thou not weary for the moonlit main； and the washing of waves
and the dashing of spray； and thy fellows all glistening with the
brine？ Where now shall be the alien shores before thee； and the
landing for fame； and departure for the gain of goods？ Wilt thou
forget the ship's black side； and the dripping of the windward oars；
as the squall falleth on when the sun hath arisen； and the sail
tuggeth hard on the sheet； and the ship lieth over and the lads shout
against the whistle of the wind？ Has the spear fallen from thine
hand； and hast thou buried the sword of thy fathers in the grave from
which thy body hath escaped？ What art thou； O Warrior； in the land
of the alien and the King？ Who shall heed thee or tell the tale of
thy glory； which thou hast covered over with the hand of a light
woman； whom thy kindred knoweth not； and who was not born in a house
wherefrom it hath been appointed thee from of old to take the
pleasure of woman？ Whose thrall art thou now； thou lifter of the
spoil； thou scarer of the freeborn？ The bidding of what lord or King
wilt thou do； O Chieftain； that thou mayst eat thy meat in the
morning and lie soft in thy bed in the evening？〃
〃O Warrior of the Ravagers； here stand I； Hallblithe of the Raven；
and I am come into an alien land beset with marvels to seek mine own；
and find that which is dearest to mine heart； to wit； my troth…plight
maiden the Hostage of the Rose； the fair woman who shall lie in my
bed； and bear me children； and stand by me in field and fold； by
thwart and gunwale； before the bow and the spear； by the flickering
of the cooking…fire； and amidst the blaze of the burning hall； and
beside the bale…fire of the warrior of the Raven。 O Sea…eagle； my
guester amongst the foemen； my fellow…farer and shipmate； say now
once for all whether thou wilt help me in my quest； or fall off from
me as a dastard？〃
Again the maidens shrank before his clear and high…raised voice； and
they trembled and grew pale。
But the Sea…eagle laughed from a countenance kind with joy； and said：
〃Child of the Raven； thy words are good and manly： but it availeth
nought in this land； and I wot not how thou wilt fare； or why thou
hast been sent amongst us。 What wilt thou do？ Hadst thou spoken
these words to the Long…hoary； the Grandfather； yesterday； his ears
would have been deaf to them； and now that thou speakest them to the
Sea…eagle； this joyous man on the Glittering Plain； he cannot do
according to them； for there is no other land than this which can
hold him。 Here he is strong and stark； and full of joy and love； but
otherwhere he would be but a gibbering ghost drifting down the wind
of night。 Therefore in whatsoever thou mayst do within this land I
will stand by thee and help thee； but not one inch beyond it may my
foot go； whether it be down into the brine of the sea； or up into the
clefts of the mountains which are the wall of this goodly land。
〃Thou hast been my shipmate and I love thee； I am thy friend； but
here in this land must needs be the love and the friendship。 For no
ghost can love thee； no ghost may help thee。 And as to what thou
sayest concerning the days gone past and our joys upon the tumbling
sea； true it is that those days were good and lovely； but they are
dead and gone like the lads who sat on the thwart beside us； and the
maidens who took our hands in the hall to lead us to the chamber。
Other days have come in their stead； and other friends shall cherish
us。 What then？ Shall we wound the living to pleasure the dead； who
cannot heed it？ Shall we curse the Yuletide； and cast foul water on
the Holy Hearth of the winter feast； because the summer once was fair
and the days flit and the times change？ Now let us be glad！ For
life liveth。〃
Therewith he turned about to his damsel and kissed her on the mouth。
But Hallblithe's face was grown sad and stern； and he spake slowly
and heavily： 〃So is it； shipmate； that whereas thou sayest that the
days flit； for thee they shall flit no more； and the day may come for
thee when thou shalt be weary； and know it； and long for the lost
which thou hast forgotten。 But hereof it availeth nought for me to
speak any longer； for thine ears are deaf to these words； and thou
wilt not hear them。 Therefore I say no more save that I thank thee
for thy help whatsoever it may be； and I will take it； for the day's
work lieth before me； and I begin to think that it may be heavy
enough。〃
The women yet looked downcast； and as if they would be gone out of
earshot； but the Sea…eagle laughed as one who is well content； and
said： 〃Thou thyself wilt make it hard for thyself after the wont of
th