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！
But what is it which thou wouldst？ What more canst thou have than
the Gifts of the land？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃I came hither seeking no gifts； but to have mine
own again； and that is the bodily love of my troth…plight maiden。
They stole her from me； and me from her； for she loved me。 I went
down to the sea…side and found her not； nor the ship which had borne
her away。 I sailed from thence to the Isle of Ransom； for they told
me that there I should buy her for a price； neither was her body
there。 But her image came to me in a dream of the night； and bade me
seek to her hither。 Therefore； O King； if she be here in the land；
show me how I shall find her； and if she be not here； show me how I
may depart to seek her otherwhere。 This is all my asking。〃
Said the King： 〃Thy desire shall be satisfied； thou shalt have the
woman who would have thee； and whom thou shouldst have。〃
Hallblithe was gladdened beyond measure by that word； and now did the
King seem to him a comfort and a solace to every heart； even as he
had deemed of his carven image in the Hall of the Ravagers； and he
thanked him； and blessed him。
But the King bade him abide by him that night； and feast with him。
〃And on the morrow；〃 said he； 〃thou shalt go thy ways to look on her
whom thou oughtest to love。〃
Therewith was come the eventide and beginning of night； warm and
fragrant and bright with the twinkling of stars； and they went into
the King's pavilion； and there was the feast as fair and dainty as
might be； and Hallblithe had meat from the King's own dish； and drink
from his cup； but the meat had no savour to him and the drink no
delight； because of the longing that possessed him。
And when the feast was done； the damsels led Hallblithe to his bed in
a fair tent strewn with gold about his head like the starry night；
and he lay down and slept for sheer weariness of body。
CHAPTER XIII： HALLBLITHE BEHOLDETH THE WOMAN WHO LOVETH HIM
But on the morrow the men arose； and the Sea…eagle and his damsel
came to Hallblithe； for the other two damsels were departed； and the
Sea…eagle said to him：
〃Here am I well honoured and measurelessly happy； and I have a
message for thee from the King。〃
〃What is it？〃 said Hallblithe； but he deemed that he knew what it
would be； and he reddened for the joy of his assured hope。
Said the Sea…eagle： 〃Joy to thee； O shipmate！ I am to take thee to
the place where thy beloved abideth； and there shalt thou see her；
but not so as she can see thee； and thereafter shalt thou go to the
King； that thou mayst tell him if she shall accomplish thy desire。〃
Then was Hallblithe glad beyond measure； and his heart danced within
him； and he deemed it but meet that the others should be so joyous
and blithe with him； for they led him along without any delay； and
were glad at his rejoicing； and words failed him to tell of his
gladness。
But as he went； the thoughts of his coming converse with his beloved
curled sweetly round his heart； so that scarce anything had seemed so
sweet to him before； and he fell a…pondering what they twain； he and
the Hostage； should do when they came together again； whether they
should abide on the Glittering Plain； or go back again to Cleveland
by the Sea and dwell in the House of the Kindred； and for his part he
yearned to behold the roof of his fathers and to tread the meadow
which his scythe had swept； and the acres where his hook had smitten
the wheat。 But he said to himself； 〃I will wait till I hear her
desire hereon。〃
Now they went into the wood at the back of the King's pavilion and
through it； and so over the hill； and beyond it came into a land of
hills and dales exceeding fair and lovely； and a river wound about
the dales； lapping in turn the feet of one hill…side or the other；
and in each dale （for they passed through two） was a goodly house of
men； and tillage about it； and vineyards and orchards。 They went all
day till the sun was near setting； and were not weary； for they
turned into the houses by the way when they would； and had good
welcome and meat and drink and what they would of the folk that dwelt
there。 Thus anigh sunset they came into a dale fairer than either of
the others； and nigh to the end where they had entered it was an
exceeding goodly house。 Then said the damsel：
〃We are nigh…hand to our journey's end； let us sit down on the grass
by this river…side whilst I tell thee the tale which the King would
have thee know。〃
So they sat down on the grass beside the brimming river； scant two
bowshots from that fair house； and the damsel said； reading from a
scroll which she drew from her bosom：
〃O Spearman； in yonder house dwelleth the woman foredoomed to love
thee： if thou wouldst see her； go thitherward； following the path
which turneth from the river…side by yonder oak…tree； and thou shalt
presently come to a thicket of bay…trees at the edge of an apple…
orchard； whose trees are blossoming； abide thou hidden by the bay…
leaves； and thou shalt see maidens come into the orchard； and at last
one fairer than all the others。 This shall be thy love fore…doomed；
and none other； and thou shalt know her by this token； that when she
hath set her down on the grass beside the bay…tree； she shall say to
her maidens 'Bring me now the book wherein is the image of my
beloved； that I may solace myself with beholding it before the sun
goes down and the night cometh。'〃
Now Hallblithe was troubled when she read out these words； and he
said： 〃What is this tale about a book？ I know not of any book that
lieth betwixt me and my beloved。〃
〃O Spearman；〃 said the damsel； 〃I may tell thee no more； because I
know no more。 But keep up thine heart！ For dost thou know any more
than I do what hath befallen thy beloved since thou wert sundered
from her？ and why should not this matter of the book be one of the
things that hath befallen her？ Go now with joy； and come again
blessing us。〃
〃Yea； go； faring…fellow；〃 said the Sea…eagle； 〃and come back joyful；
that we may all be merry together。 And we will abide thee here。〃
Hallblithe foreboded evil； but he held his peace and went his ways
down the path by the oak…tree； and they abode there by the water…
side； and were very merry talking of this and that （but no whit of
Hallblithe）； and kissing and caressing each other； so that it seemed
but a little while to them ere they saw Hallblithe coming back by the
oak…tree。 He went slowly； hanging his head like a man sore…burdened
with grief： thus he came up to them； and stood there above them as
they lay on the fragrant grass； and he saying no word and looking so
sad and sorry； and withal so fell； that they feared his grief and his
anger； and would fain have been away from him； so that they durst not
ask him a question for a long while； and the sun sank below the hill
while they abided thus。
Then all trembling the damsel spake to the Sea…eagle： 〃Speak to him；
dear friend； else must I flee away； for I fear his silence。〃
Quoth the Sea…eagle： 〃Shipmate and friend； what hath betided？ How
art thou？ May we hearken； and mayhappen amend it？〃
Then Hallblithe cast himself adown on the grass and said： 〃I am
accursed and beguiled； and I wander round and round in a tangle that
I may not escape from。 I am not far from deeming that this is a land
of dreams made for my beguiling。 Or has the earth become so full of
lies； that there is no room amidst them for a true man to stand upon
his feet and go his ways？〃
Said the Sea…eagle： 〃Thou shalt tell us of what hath betid； and so
ease the sorrow of thy soul if thou wilt。 Or if thou wilt； thou
shalt nurse thy sorrow in thine heart and tell no man。 Do what thou
wilt； am I not become thy friend？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃I will tell you twain the tidings； and thereafter
ask me no more concerning them。 Hearken。 I went whereas ye bade me