the story of the glittering plain-第26部分

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Therewith　he　turned　about　to　go；　but　lo！　there　already　in　the　door

stood　Hallblithe　holding　the　Hostage　by　the　hand；　and　many　in　the

hall　saw　them；　for　the　door　was　wide。　　Then　they　came　in　and　stood　by

the　side　of　the　Puny　Fox；　and　all　men　in　the　hall　arose　and　shouted

for　joy。　　But　when　the　tumult　was　a　little　abated；　the　Puny　Fox　cried

out：　　〃O　chieftain；　and　all　ye　folk！　if　a　boat…load　of　gold　were　not

too　much　reward　for　the　bringing　back　the　dead　bodies　of　your

friends；　what　reward　shall　he　have　who　hath　brought　back　their　bodies

and　the　souls　therein？〃



Said　the　chieftain：　　〃The　man　shall　choose　his　own　reward。〃　　And　the

men　in　the　hall　shouted　their　yeasay。



Then　said　the　Puny　Fox：　　〃Well；　then；　this　I　choose；　that　ye　make　me

one　of　your　kindred　before　the　fathers　of　old　time。〃



They　all　cried　out　that　he　had　chosen　wisely　and　manfully；　but

Hallblithe　said：　　〃I　bid　you　do　for　him　no　less　than　this；　and　ye

shall　wot　that　he　is　already　my　sworn　brother…in…arms。〃



Now　the　chieftain　cried　out：　　〃O　Wanderers　from　over　the　sea；　come　up

hither　and　sit　with　us　and　be　merry　at　last！〃



So　they　went　up　to　the　dais；　Hallblithe　and　the　Hostage；　and　the　Puny

Fox　and　the　six　maidens　withal。　　And　since　the　night　was　yet　young；

the　supper　of　the　men　of　the　Ravens　was　turned　into　the　wedding…feast

of　Hallblithe　and　the　Hostage；　and　that　very　night　she　became　a　wife

of　the　Ravens；　that　she　might　bear　to　the　House　the　best　of　men　and

the　fairest　of　women。



But　on　the　morrow　they　brought　the　Puny　Fox　to　the　mote…stead　of　the

kindreds　that　he　might　stand　before　the　fathers　and　be　made　a　son　of

the　kindred；　and　this　they　did　because　of　the　word　of　Hallblithe；　and

because　they　believed　in　the　tale　which　he　told　them　of　the

Glittering　Plain　and　the　Acre　of　the　Undying。　　The　four　maidens　also

were　made　sisters　of　the　House；　and　the　other　twain　were　sent　home　to

their　own　kindred　in　all　honour。



Of　the　Puny　Fox　it　is　said　that　he　soon　lost　and　forgot　all　the　lore

which　he　had　learned　of　the　ancient　men；　living　and　dead；　and　became

as　other　men　and　was　no　wizard。　　Yet　he　was　exceeding　valiant　and

doughty；　and　he　ceased　not　to　go　with　Hallblithe　wheresoever　he　went；

and　many　deeds　they　did　together；　whereof　the　memory　of　men　hath

failed：　　but　neither　they　nor　any　man　of　the　Ravens　came　any　more　to

the　Glittering　Plain；　or　heard　any　tidings　of　the　folk　that　dwell

there。



HEREWITH　ENDETH　THE　TALE。









End