the story of the glittering plain-第22部分

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so　that　thou　mayst　be　at　hand　to　do　what　hath　to　be　done　to…night；　so

that　we　may　get　us　gone　to…morrow。　　Also　thou　must　do　off　thy　Raven

gear　lest　we　meet　any　in　the　twilight　as　we　go　up　to　the　house；　and

here　have　I　to　hand　home…spun　raiment　such　as　our　war…taken　thralls

wear；　which　shall　serve　thy　turn　well　enough；　but　this　thou　needst

not　do　on　till　the　time　is　at　hand　for　our　departure；　and　then　I　will

bring　thee　away；　and　bestow　thee　in　a　bower　hard　by　the　hall；　and

when　thou　art　within；　I　may　so　look　to　it　that　none　shall　go　in

there；　or　if　they　do；　they　shall　see　nought　in　thee　save　a　carle

known　to　them　by　name。　　My　kinsman　hath　learned　me　to　do　harder

things　than　this。　　But　now　it　is　time　to　eat　and　drink。〃



Therewith　he　drew　victual　from　out　a　locker　and　they　fell　to。　　But

when　they　had　eaten；　Fox　taught　Hallblithe　what　he　should　do　in　the

hall　that　night；　as　shall　be　told　hereafter。　　And　then；　with　much

talk　about　many　things；　they　wore　away　the　day　in　that　ancient　cup　of

the　seething　rock；　and　a　little　before　dusk　set　out　for　the　hall；

bearing　with　them　Hallblithe's　gear　bundled　up　together；　as　though　it

had　been　wares　from　over　sea。　　So　they　came　to　the　house　before　the

tables　were　set；　and　the　Puny　Fox　bestowed　Hallblithe　in　a　bower

which　gave　into　the　buttery；　so　that　it　was　easy　to　go　straight　into

the　mid…most　of　the　hall。　　There　was　Hallblithe　clad　and　armed　in　his

Raven　gear；　but　Fox　gave　him　a　vizard　to　go　over　his　face；　so　that

none　might　know　him　when　he　entered　therein。







CHAPTER　XXI：　　OF　THE　FIGHT　OF　THE　CHAMPIONS　IN　THE　HALL　OF　THE

RAVAGERS







Now　it　is　to　be　told　that　the　chieftains　came　into　the　hall　that

night　and　sat　down　at　the　board　on　the　dais；　even　as　Hallblithe　had

seen　them　do　aforetime。　　And　the　chieftain　of　all；　who　was　called　the

Erne　of　the　Sea…eagles；　rose　up　according　to　custom　and　said：

〃Hearken；　folk！　this　is　a　night　of　the　champions；　whereon　we　may　not

eat　till　the　pale　blades　have　clashed　together；　and　one　hath

vanquished　and　another　been　overcome。　　Now　let　them　stand　forth　and

give　out　the　prize　of　victory　which　the　vanquished　shall　pay　to　the

vanquisher。　　And　let　it　be　known；　that；　whosoever　may　be　the　champion

that　winneth　the　battle；　whether　he　be　a　kinsman；　or　an　alien；　or　a

foeman　declared；　yea；　though　he　have　left　the　head　of　my　brother　at

the　hall…door；　he　shall　pass　this　night　with　us　safe　from　sword；　safe

from　axe；　safe　from　hand：　　he　shall　eat　as　we　eat；　drink　as　we　drink；

sleep　as　we　sleep；　and　depart　safe　from　any　hand　or　weapon；　and　shall

sail　the　sea　at　his　pleasure　in　his　own　keel　or　in　ours；　as　to　him

and　us　may　be　meet。　　Blow　up　horns　for　the　champions！〃



So　the　horns　blew　a　cheerful　strain；　and　when　they　were　done；　there

came　into　the　hall　a　tall　man　clad　in　black；　and　with　black　armour

and　weapons　saving　the　white　blade　of　his　sword。　　He　had　a　vizard

over　his　face；　but　his　hair　came　down　from　under　his　helm　like　the

tail　of　a　red　horse。



So　he　stood　amidst　the　floor　and　cried　out：　　〃I　am　the　champion　of

the　Ravagers。　　But　I　swear　by　the　Treasure　of　the　Sea　that　I　will

cross　no　blade　to…night　save　with　an　alien；　a　foeman　of　the　kindred。

Hearest　thou；　O　chieftain；　O　Erne　of　the　Sea…eagles？〃



〃Hear　it　I　do；〃　said　the　chieftain；　〃and　I　deem　that　thy　meaning　is

that　we　should　go　supperless　to　bed；　and　this　cometh　of　thy

perversity：　　for　we　know　thee　despite　thy　vizard。　　Belike　thou

deemest　that　thou　shalt　not　be　met　this　even；　and　that　there　is　no

free　alien　in　the　island　to　draw　sword　against　thee。　　But　beware！

For　when　we　came　aland　this　morning　we　found　a　skiff　of　the　aliens

tied　to　a　great　spear　stuck　in　the　bank　of　the　haven；　so　that　there

will　be　one　foeman　at　least　abroad　in　the　island。　　But　we　said　if　we

should　come　on　the　man；　we　would　set　his　head　on　the　gable　of　the

hall　with　the　mouth　open　toward　the　North　for　a　token　of　reproach　to

the　dwellers　in　the　land　over　sea。　　But　now　give　out　the　prize　of

victory；　and　I　swear　by　the　Treasure　of　the　Sea　that　we　will　abide　by

thy　word。〃



Said　the　champion：　　〃These　are　the　terms　and　conditions　of　the

battle；　that　whichso　of　us　is　vanquished；　he　shall　either　die；　or

serve　the　vanquisher　for　twelve　moons；　to　fare　with　him　at　his　will；

to　go　his　errands；　and　do　according　to　his　commandment　in　all　wise。

Hearest　thou；　chieftain？〃



〃Yea；〃　said　he；　〃and　by　the　Undying　King；　both　thou　and　we　shall

abide　by　this　bargain。　　So　look　to　it　that　thou　smite　great　strokes；

lest　our　hall　lack　a　gable…knop。　　Horns；　blow　up　for　the　alien

champion！〃



So　again　the　horns　were　winded；　and　ere　their　voice　had　died；　in　from

the　buttery　screens　came　a　glittering　image　of　war；　and　there　stood

the　alien　champion　over　against　the　warrior　of　the　sea；　and　he　too

had　a　vizard　over　his　face。



Now　when　the　folk　saw　him；　and　how　slim　and　light　and　small　he　looked

beside　their　champion；　and　they　beheld　the　Raven　painted　on　his　white

shield；　they　hooted　and　laughed　for　scorn　of　him　and　his　littleness。

But　he　tossed　his　sword　up　lightly　and　caught　it　by　the　hilts　as　it

fell；　and　drew　nigher　to　the　champion　of　the　sea　and　stood　facing　him

within　reach　of　his　sword。　　Then　the　chieftain　on　the　high…seat　put

his　two　hands　to　his　mouth　and　roared　out：　　〃Fall　on；　ye　champions；

fall　on！〃



But　the　folk　in　the　hall　were　so　eager　that　they　stood　on　the　benches

and　the　boards；　and　craned　over　each　other's　shoulders；　so　that　they

might　lose　no　whit　of　the　hand…play。　　Now　flashed　the　blades　in　the

candle…lit　hall；　and　the　red…haired　champion　hove　up　his　sword　and

smote　two　great　strokes　to　right　and　to　left；　but　the　alien　gave　way

before　him；　and　the　folk　cried　out　at　him　in　scorn　and　in　joy　of

their　champion；　who　fell　to　raining　down　great　strokes　like　the　hail

amidst　the　lightning。　　But　so　deft　was　the　alien；　that　he　stood

amidst　it　unhurt；　and　laid　many　strokes　on　his　foeman；　and　did　all　so

lightly　and　easily；　that　it　seemed　as　if　he　were　dancing　rather　than

fighting；　and　the　folk　held　their　peace　and　began　to　doubt　if　their

huge　champion　would　prevail。　　Now　the　red…haired　fetched　a　mighty

stroke　at　the　alien；　who　leapt　aside　lightly　and　gat　his　sword　in　his

left　hand　and　dealt　a　great　stroke　on　the　other's　head；　and　the　red…

haired　staggered；　for　he　had　over…reached　himself；　and　again　the

alien　smote　him　a　left…handed　stroke　so　that　he　fell　full　length　on

the　floor　with　a　mighty　clatter；　and　the　sword　flew　out　of　his　hand：

and　the　folk　were　dumb…founded。



Then　the　alien　threw　himself　on　the　sea…champion；　and　knelt　upon　him；

and　shortened　his　sword　as　if　to　slay　him　with　a　thrust。　　But　thereon

the　man　overthrown　cried　out：　　〃Hold　thine　hand；　for　I　am　vanquished！

Now　give　me　peace　according　to　the　bargain　struck　between　us；　that　I

shall　serve　thee　year…long；　and　follow　thee　wheresoever　thou　goest。〃



Therewith　the　alien　champion　arose　and　stood　off　from　him；　and　the

man　of　the　sea　gat　to　his　feet；　and　did　off　his　helm；　so　that　all　men

could　see　that　he　was　the　Puny　Fox。



Then　the　victorious　champion　unhelmed　himself；　and　lo；　it　was

Hallblithe！　　And　a　shout　arose　in　the　hall；　part　of　wonder；　part　of

wrath。



Then　cried　out　the　Puny　Fox：　　〃I　call　on　all　men　here　to　bear　witness

that　by　reason　of　this　battle；　Hallblithe　of　the　Ravens　is　free　to

come　and　go　as　he　will　in　the　Isle　of　Ransom；　and　to　take　help　of　any

man　that　will　help　him；　and　to　depart　from　the　isle　when　he　will　and

how　he　will；　taking　me　with　him　if　so　he　will。〃



Said　the　chieftain：　　〃Yea；　this　is　right　and　due；　and　so　shall　it　be。

But　now；　since　no　freeman；　who　is　not　a　foe　of　the　passing　hour；　may

abide　in　our　hall　without　eating　of　our　meat；　come　up　here；

Hallblithe；　and　sit　by　me；　and　eat　and　drink　of　the　best　we　have；

since　the　Norns　would　not　give　us　thine　head　for　a　gable…knop。　　But

what　wilt　thou　do　with　thy　thrall　the　Puny　Fox；　and　whereto　in　the

hall　wilt　thou　have　him　shown？　　Or　wilt　thou　that　he　sit　fasting　in

the　darkness　to…night；　laid　in　gyves　and　fetters？　　Or　shall　he　have

the　cheer　of　whipping　and　stripes；　as　befitteth　a　thrall　to　whom　the

master　oweth　a　grudge？　　What　is　thy　will　with　him？〃



Said　Hallblithe：　　〃My　will　is　that　thou　give　him　a　seat　next　to　me；

whether　that　be　high　or　low；　or　the　bench　of　thy　prison…house。　　That

he　eat　of　my　dish；　and　drink　of　my　cup；　whatsoever　the　meat　and　drink

may　be。　　For　to…morrow　I　mean　that　we　twain　shall　go　under　the　earth…

collar　together；　and　that　our　blood　shall　run　together　and　that　we

shall　be　brothers　in　arms　henceforward。〃　　Then　Hallblithe　did　on　his

helm　again　and　drew　his　sword；　and　looked　aside　to　the　Puny　Fox　to

bid　him　do　the　like；　and　he　did　so；　and　Hallblithe　said：　　〃Chieftain；

thou　hast　bidden　me　to　table；　and　I　thank　thee；　but　I　will　not　set　my

teeth　in　meat；　out　of　our　own　house　and　land；　which　hath　not　been

truly　given　to　me　by　one　who　wotteth　of　me；　unless　I　have　conquered

it　as　a　prey　of　battle；　neither　will　I　cast　a　lie　into　the　loving…cup

which　shall　pass　from　thy　lips　to　mine：　　therefore　I　will　tell　thee；

that　though　I　laid　a　stroke　or　two　on　the　Puny　Fox；　and　those　no

light　ones；　yet　was　this　battle　nought　true　and　real；　but　a　mere

beguiling；　even　as　that　which　I　saw　foughten　in　this　hall　aforetime；

when　meseemeth　the　slain　men　rose　up　in　time　to　drink　the　good…night

cup。　　Therefore；　O　men　of　the　Ravagers；　and　thou；　O　Puny　Fox；　there

is　nought　to　bind　your　hands　and　refrain　your　hearts；　and　ye　may　slay

me　if　ye　will　without　murder　or　dishonour；　and　may　make　the　head　of

Hallblithe　a　knop　for　your　feast…hall。　　Yet　shall　one　or　two　fall　to

earth　before　I　fall。〃



Therewith　he　shook　his　sword　aloft；　and　a　great　roar　arose；　and

weapons　came　down　from　the　wall；　and　the　candles　shone　on　naked

steel。　　But　the　Puny　Fox　came　and　stood　by　Hallblithe；　and　spake　in

his　ear　amidst　the　uproar：　　〃Well　now；　brother…in…arms；　I　have　been