the story of the glittering plain-第7部分

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of　the　hall；　and　straightway　folk　arose　from　the　endlong　tables；　and

took　away　the　boards　and　trestles；　and　cleared　the　floor　and　stood

against　the　wall；　then　the　big　chieftain　beside　Hallblithe　arose　and

cried　out：　　〃Now　let　man　dance　with　maid；　and　be　we　merry！　　Music；

strike　up！〃　　Then　flew　the　fiddle…bows　and　twanged　the　harps；　and　the

carles　and　queens　stood　forth　on　the　floor；　and　all　the　women　were

clad　in　black　raiment；　albeit　embroidered　with　knots　and　wreaths　of

flowers。　　A　while　they　danced　and　then　suddenly　the　music　fell；　and

they　all　went　back　to　their　places。　　Then　the　chieftain　in　the　high…

seat　arose　and　took　a　horn　from　his　side；　and　blew　a　great　blast　on

it　that　filled　the　hall；　then　he　cried　in　a　loud　voice：　　〃Be　we

merry！　　Let　the　champions　come　forth！〃



Men　shouted　gleefully　thereat；　and　straightway　ran　into　the　hall　from

out　the　screens　three　tall　men　clad　all　in　black　armour　with　naked

swords　in　their　hands；　and　stood　amidst　the　hall…floor；　somewhat　on

one　side；　and　clashed　their　swords　on　their　shields　and　cried　out：

〃Come　forth　ye　Champions　of　the　Raven！〃



Then　leapt　Hallblithe　from　his　seat　and　set　his　hand　to　his　left

side；　but　no　sword　was　there；　so　he　sat　down　again；　remembering　the

warning　of　the　Elder；　and　none　heeded　him。



Then　there　came　into　the　hall　slowly　and　mournfully　three　men…at…

arms；　clad　and　weaponed　like　the　warriors　of　his　folk；　with　the　image

of　the　Raven　on　their　helms　and　shields。　　So　Hallblithe　refrained

him；　for　besides　that　this　seemed　like　to　be　a　fair　battle　of　three

against　three；　he　doubted　some　snare；　and　he　determined　to　look　on

and　abide。



So　the　champions　fell　to　laying　on　strokes　that　were　no　child's　play；

though　Hallblithe　doubted　if　the　edges　bit；　and　it　was　but　a　little

while　before　the　Champions　of　the　Raven　fell　one　after　another　before

the　Wild　Men；　and　folk　drew　them　by　the　heels　out　into　the　buttery。

Then　arose　great　laughter　and　jeering；　and　exceeding　wroth　was

Hallblithe；　howbeit　he　refrained　him　because　he　remembered　all　he　had

to　do。　　But　the　three　Champions　of　the　Sea　strode　round　the　hall；

tossing　up　their　swords　and　catching　them　as　they　fell；　while　the

horns　blew　up　behind　them。



After　a　while　the　hall　grew　hushed；　and　the　chieftain　arose　and

cried：　　〃Bring　in　now　some　sheaves　of　the　harvest　we　win；　we　lads　of

the　oar　and　the　arrow！〃　　Then　was　there　a　stir　at　the　screen　doors；

and　folk　pressed　forward　to　see；　and；　lo；　there　came　forward　a　string

of　women；　led　in　by　two　weaponed　carles；　and　the　women　were　a　score

in　number；　and　they　were　barefoot　and　their　hair　hung　loose　and　their

gowns　were　ungirt；　and　they　were　chained　together　wrist　to　wrist；　yet

had　they　gold　at　arm　and　neck：　　there　was　silence　in　the　hall　when

they　stood　amidst　of　the　floor。



Then　indeed　Hallblithe　could　not　refrain　himself；　and　he　leapt　from

his　seat　and　on　to　the　board；　and　over　it；　and　ran　down　the　hall；　and

came　to　those　women　and　looked　them　in　the　face　one　by　one；　while　no

man　spake　in　the　hall。　　But　the　Hostage　was　not　amongst　them；　nay

forsooth；　they　none　of　them　favoured　of　the　daughters　of　his　people；

though　they　were　comely　and　fair；　so　that　again　Hallblithe　doubted　if

this　were　aught　but　a　feast…hall　play　done　to　anger　him；　whereas

there　was　but　little　grief　in　the　faces　of　those　damsels；　and　more

than　one　of　them　smiled　wantonly　in　his　face　as　he　looked　on　them。



So　he　turned　about　and　went　back　to　his　seat；　having　said　no　word；

and　behind　him　arose　much　mocking　and　jeering；　but　it　angered　him

little　now；　for　he　remembered　the　rede　of　the　elder　and　how　that　he

had　done　according　to　his　bidding；　so　that　he　deemed　the　gain　was

his。　　So　sprang　up　talk　in　the　hall　betwixt　man　and　man；　and　folk

drank　about　and　were　merry；　till　the　chieftain　arose　again　and　smote

the　board　with　the　flat　of　his　sword；　and　cried　out　in　a　loud　and

angry　voice；　so　that　all　could　hear：　　〃Now　let　there　be　music　and

minstrelsy　ere　we　wend　bedward！〃



Therewith　fell　the　hubbub　of　voices；　and　there　came　forth　three　men

with　great　harps；　and　a　fourth　man　with　them；　who　was　the　minstrel；

and　the　harpers　smote　their　harps　so　that　the　roof　rang　therewith；

and　the　noise；　though　it　was　great；　was　tuneable；　and　when　they　had

played　thus　a　little　while；　they　abated　their　loudness　somewhat；　and

the　minstrel　lifted　his　voice　and　sang：





The　land　lies　black

With　winter's　lack；

The　wind　blows　cold

Round　field　and　fold；

All　folk　are　within；

And　but　weaving　they　win。

Where　from　finger　to　finger　the　shuttle　flies　fast；

And　the　eyes　of　the　singer　look　fain　on　the　cast；

As　he　singeth　the　story　of　summer　undone

And　the　barley　sheaves　hoary　ripe　under　the　sun。



Then　the　maidens　stay

The　light…hung　sley；

And　the　shuttles　bide

By　the　blue　web's　side；

While　hand　in　hand

With　the　carles　they　stand。

But　ere　to　the　measure　the　fiddles　strike　up；

And　the　elders　yet　treasure　the　last　of　the　cup；

There　stand　they　a…hearkening　the　blast　from　the　lift；

And　e'en　night　is　a…darkening　more　under　the　drift。



There　safe　in　the　hall

They　bless　the　wall；

And　the　roof　o'er　head；

Of　the　valiant　stead；

And　the　hands　they　praise

Of　the　olden　days。

Then　through　the　storm's　roaring　the　fiddles　break　out；

And　they　think　not　of　warring；　but　cast　away　doubt；

And；　man　before　maiden；　their　feet　tread　the　floor；

And　their　hearts　are　unladen　of　all　that　they　bore。



But　what　winds　are　o'er…cold

For　the　heart　of　the　bold？

What　seas　are　o'er…high

For　the　undoomed　to　die？

Dark　night　and　dread　wind；

But　the　haven　we　find。

Then　ashore　mid　the　flurry　of　stone…washing　surf！

Cloud…hounds　the　moon　worry；　but　light　lies　the　turf；

Lo　the　long　dale　before　us！　the　lights　at　the　end；

Though　the　night　darkens　o'er　us；　bid　whither　to　wend。



Who　beateth　the　door

By　the　foot…smitten　floor？

What　guests　are　these

From　over　the　seas？

Take　shield　and　sword

For　their　greeting…word。

Lo；　lo；　the　dance　ended！　　Lo；　midst　of　the　hall

The　fallow　blades　blended！　　Lo；　blood　on　the　wall！

Who　liveth；　who　dieth？　　O　men　of　the　sea；

For　peace　the　folk　crieth；　our　masters　are　ye。



Now　the　dale　lies　grey

At　the　dawn　of　day；

And　fair　feet　pass

O'er　the　wind…worn　grass；

And　they　turn　back　to　gaze

On　the　roof　of　old　days。

Come　tread　ye　the　oaken…floored　hall　of　the　sea！

Be　your　hearts　yet　unbroken；　so　fair　as　ye　be；

That　kings　are　abiding　unwedded　to　gain

The　news　of　our　riding　the　steeds　of　the　main。





Much　shouting　and　laughter　arose　at　the　song's　end；　and　men　sprang　up

and　waved　their　swords　above　the　cups；　while　Hallblithe　sat　scowling

down　on　their　merriment。　　Lastly　arose　the　chieftain　and　called　out

loudly　for　the　good…night　cup；　and　it　went　round　and　all　men　drank。

Then　the　horn　blew　for　bed；　and　the　chieftains　went　to　their

chambers；　and　the　others　went　to　the　out…bowers　or　laid　them　down　on

the　hall…floor；　and　in　a　little　while　none　stood　upright　thereon。　　So

Hallblithe　arose；　and　went　to　the　shut…bed　appointed　for　him；　and

laid　him　down　and　slept　dreamlessly　till　the　morning。







CHAPTER　VIII：　　HALLBLITHE　TAKETH　SHIP　AGAIN　AWAY　FROM　THE　ISLE　OF

RANSOM







When　he　awoke；　the　sun　shone　into　the　hall　by　the　windows　above　the

buttery；　and　there　were　but　few　folk　left　therein。　　But　so　soon　as

Hallblithe　was　clad；　the　old　woman　came　to　him；　and　took　him　by　the

hand；　and　led　him　to　the　board；　and　signed　to　him　to　eat　of　what　was

thereon；　and　he　did　so；　and　by　then　he　was　done；　came　folk　who　went

into　the　shut…bed　where　lay　the　Long…hoary；　and　they　brought　him

forth　bed　and　all　and　bare　him　out　a…doors。　　Then　the　crone　brought

Hallblithe　his　arms　and　he　did　on　byrny　and　helm；　girt　his　sword　to

his　side；　took　his　spear　in　his　hand　and　went　out　a…doors；　and　there

close　by　the　porch　lay　the　Long…hoary　upon　a　horse…litter。　　So

Hallblithe　came　up　to　him　and　gave　him　the　sele　of　the　day：　　and　the

elder　said：　　〃Good　morrow；　son；　I　am　glad　to　see　thee。　　Did　they　try

thee　hard　last　night？〃



And　Hallblithe　saw　two　of　the　carles　that　had　borne　out　the　elder；

that　they　were　talking　together；　and　they　looked　on　him　and　laughed

mockingly；　so　he　said　to　the　elder：　　〃Even　fools　may　try　a　wise　man；

and　so　it　befell　last　night。　　Yet；　as　thou　seest；　mumming　hath　not

slain　me。〃



Said　the　old　man：　　〃What　thou　sawest　was　not　all　mumming；　it　was　done

according　to　our　customs；　and　well　nigh　all　of　it　had　been　done；　even

hadst　thou　not　been　there。　　Nay；　I　will　tell　thee；　at　some　of　our

feasts　it　is　not　lawful　to　eat　either　for　the　chieftains　or　the

carles；　till　a　champion　hath　given　forth　a　challenge；　and　been

answered　and　met；　and　the　battle　fought　to　an　end。　　But　ye　men；　what

hindereth　you　to　go　to　the　horses'　heads　and　speed　on　the　road　the

chieftain　who　is　no　longer　way…worthy？〃



So　they　ran　to　the　horses　and　set　down　the　dale　by　the　riverside；　and

just　as　Hallblithe　was　going　to　follow　afoot；　there　came　a　swain　from

behind　the　house　leading　a　red　horse　which　he　brought　to　Hallblithe

as　one　who　bids　mount。　　So　Hallblithe　leapt　into　the　saddle　and　at

once　caught　up　with　the　litter　of　the　Long…hoary　down　along　the

river。　　They　passed　by　no　other　house；　save　here　and　there　a　cot

beside　some　fold　or　byre；　they　went　easily；　for　the　way　was　smooth　by

the　river…side；　so　in　less　than　two　hours　they　came　where　the　said

river　ran　into　the　sea。　　There　was　no　beach　there；　for　the　water　was

ten　fathom　deep　close　up　to　the　lip　of　the　land；　but　there　was　a

great　haven　land…locked　all　but　a　narrow　outgate　betwixt　the　sheer

black　cliffs。　　Many　a　great　ship　might　have　lain　in　that　haven；　but

as　now　there　was　but　one　lying　there；　a　round…ship　not　very　great；

but　exceeding　trim　and　meet　for　the　sea。



There　without　more　ado　the　carles　took　the　elder　from　the　litter　and

bore　him　aboard；　and　Hallblithe　followed　him　as　if　he　had　been　so