child christopher-第14部分

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k；　the　Abbot　of　Meadhamstead；　a　monk　of　St。　Benedict；　and　next　to　him　the　Burgreve　of　Greenharbour；　and　then　a　score　of　knights　all　in　brave　raiment；　and　squires　withal；　and　sergeants；　but　down　in　the　hall　were　the　men…　at…arms　and　serving…men；　and　a　half　hundred　of　folk　of　the　countryside；　queans　as　well　as　carles；　who　had　been　gathered　for　the　show　and　bidden　in。　　No　other　women　were　there　in　the　hall　till　Goldilind　and　her　serving…women　entered。　　She　went　straight　up　the　hall；　and　took　her　place　in　the　high…seat；　and　for　all　that　her　eyes　seemed　steady；　she　had　noted　Christopher　standing　by　the　shot…window　just　below　the　dais。

Now　when　she　was　set　down；　and　there　was　silence　in　the　hall；　Earl　Geoffrey　came　forth　and　said：　　〃Lords　and　knights；　and　ye　good　people；　the　Lady　Goldilind；　daughter　of　the　Lord　King　Roland　that　last　was；　is　now　of　age　to　wed；　and　be　it　known　unto　you；　that　the　King；　her　father；　bade　me；　in　the　last　words　by　him　spoken；　to　wed　her　to　none　but　the　loveliest　and　strongest　that　might　be；　as　witness　I　can　bring　hereto。　　Now　such　a　man　have　I　sought　hereto　in　Meadhamstead　and　the　much…peopled　land　of　Meadham；　and　none　have　I　come　on；　however　worthy　he　were　of　deeds；　or　well…born　of　lineage；　but　that　I　doubted　me　if　he　were　so　fair　or　so　doughty　as　might　be　found；　but　here　in　this　half…　desert　corner　of　the　land　have　I　gotten　a　man　than　whom　none　is　doughtier；　as　some　of　you　have　found　to　your　cost。　　And　tell　me　all　you；　where　have　ye　seen　any　as　fair　as　this　man？〃　And　therewith　he　made　a　sign　with　his　hand；　and　forth　strode　Christopher　up　on　to　the　dais；　and　he　was　so　clad；　that　his　kirtle　was　of　white　samite；　girt　with　a　girdle　of　goldsmith's　work；　whereby　hung　a　good　sword　of　like　fashion；　and　over　his　shoulders　was　a　mantle　of　red　cloth…of…gold；　furred　with　ermine；　and　lined　with　green　sendall；　and　on　his　golden　curled　locks　sat　a　chaplet　of　pearls。

Then　to　the　lords　and　all　the　people　he　seemed　so　fair　and　fearless　and　kind　that　they　gave　a　great　shout　of　welcome；　and　Goldilind　came　forth　from　her　chair；　as　fair　as　a　June　lily；　and　came　to　Christopher　and　reached　out　her　hand　to　him；　but　he　refrained　him　a　moment；　so　that　all　they　could　see　how　sweet　and　lovely　a　hand　it　was；　and　then　he　took　it；　and　drew　her　to　him；　and　kissed　her　mouth　before　them　all；　and　still　he　held　her　hand；　till　the　Abbot　of　Meadhamstead　aforetold　came　and　stood　by　them　and　blessed　them。

Then　spake　the　Earl　again：　　〃Lo　ye；　here　hath　been　due　betrothal　of　these　twain；　and　ye　may　see　how　meet　they　be　for　each　other　in　goodliness　and　kindness。　　Now　there　lacketh　nought　but　they　should　be　wedded　straightway；　and　all　is　arrayed　in　the　chapel；　wherefore　if　this　holy　man　will　come　with　us　and　do　on　his　mass…hackle；　our　joy　shall　be　fulfilled；　save　that　thereafter　shall　feast　and　merriment　await　all　you　in　this　hall；　and　we　shall　be　there　to　welcome　all　comers　in　this　house　of　Greenharbour；　whereas　this　our　gracious　Lady　has　long　abided　so　happily。〃

Man　looked　on　man　here　and　there；　and　smiled　a　little　as　he　spake；　but　none　said　aught；　for　there　were　none　save　the　Earl's　servants　there；　and　a　sort　of　poor　wretches。

So　therewithal　they　went　their　ways　to　the　chapel　where　was　the　wedding　done　as　grandly　as　might　be；　considering　they　were　in　no　grander　place　than　Greenharbour。　And　when　all　was　done；　and　folk　began　to　flow　away　from　the　chapel；　and　Goldilind　sat　shamefaced　but　strangely　happy　in　a　great　stall　of　the　choir；　the　Earl　called　Christopher　unto　him；　and　said：　　〃My　lad；　I　deem　that　some　great　fortune　shall　betide　thee　since　already　thou　hast　begun　so　luckily。　　But　I　beseech　thee　mar　not　thy　fortune　by　coming　back　with　thy　fair　wife　to　the　land　of　Meadham；　or　else　it　may　be　thou　shalt　cast　thy　life　away；　and　that　will　bring　her　sorrow；　as　I　can　see　well。〃

He　spake　this　grimly；　though　he　smiled　as　he　spake。　　But　he　went　on　more　gently：　　〃I　will　not　send　you　twain　away　empty…handed；　when　ye　go　out　a…gates　into　the　wide　world；　ye　shall　find　two　fair　horses　for　your　riding；　well　bedight；　and　one　with　a　woman's　saddle；　and；　moreover；　a　sumpter　beast；　not　very　lightly　burdened；　for　on　one　side　of　him　he　beareth　achest　wherein　is；　first　of　all；　the　raiment　of　my　Lady；　and　beneath　it　some　deal　of　silver　and　gold　and　gems；　but　on　the　other　side　is　victual　and　drink　for　the　way　for　you；　and　raiment　for　thee；　youngling。　　How　sayest　thou；　is　it　well？〃

〃It　is　well；　Lord；〃　said　Christopher；　〃yet　would　I　have　with　me　the　raiment　wherewith　I　came　hither；　and　my　bow　and　my　sax。〃

〃Yea　and　wherefore；　carle？〃　said　Earl　Geoffrey。

Said　the　youngling：　　〃We　be　going　to　ride　the　wild…wood；　and　it　might　be　better　for　safety's　sake　that　I　be　so　clad　as　certain　folk　look　to　see　men　ride　there。〃

But　he　reddened　as　he　spake；　and　the　Earl　said：　　〃By　Allhallows！　but　it　is　not　ill　thought　of；　and；　belike；　the　same…like　kind　of　attire　might　be　better　to　hide　the　queenship　of　the　Lady　from　the　wood…folk　than　that　which　now　she　weareth？〃

〃True　is　that；　Lord；〃　quoth　Christopher。

〃Yet；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃l　will　have　you　go　forth　from　the　Castle　clad　in　your　lordly　weed；　lest　folk　of　mine　say　that　I　have　stripped　my　Lady　and　cast　her　forth：　　don　ye　your　poor　raiment　when　in　the　wood　ye　be。〃

Therewith　he　called　to　a　squire；　and　bade　him　seek　out　that　poor　raiment　of　the　new…wedded　youngling；　and　bow　withal　and　shafts　good　store；　and　do　all　on　the　sumpter；　and；　furthermore；　he　bade　him　tell　one　of　my　Lady's　women　to　set　on　the　sumpter　some　of　Goldilind's　old　and　used　raiment。　　So　the　squire　did　the　Earl's　will；　and　both　got　Christopher's　gear　and　also　found　Aloyse　and　gave　her　the　Earl's　word。

She　smiled　thereat；　and　went　straightway　and　fetched　the　very　same　raiment；　green　gown　and　all；　which　she　had　brought　to　Goldilind　in　prison　that　other　day；　and　in　which　Goldilind　had　fled　from　Greenharbour。　　And　when　she　had　done　them　in　the　chest　above　all　the　other　gear；　she　stood　yet　beside　the　horses　amidst　of　the　varlets　and　squires　who　were　gathered　there　to　see　the　new…wedded　folk　depart。

Presently　then　came　forth　through　the　gate　those　two；　hand　in　hand；　and　Earl　Geoffrey　with　them。　　And　he　set　Goldilind　on　her　horse　himself；　and　knelt　before　her　to　say　farewell；　and　therewith　was　Christopher　on　his　horse；　and　him　the　Earl　saluted　debonairly。

But　just　as　they　were　about　shaking　their　reins　to　depart；　Aloyse　fell　down　on　her　knees　before　the　Earl；　who　said：　〃What　is　toward；　woman？〃

〃A　grace；　my　Lord；　a　grace；〃　said　she。

〃Stand　up　on　thy　feet；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃and　ye；　my　masters；　draw　out　of　earshot。〃

Even　so　did　they；　and　the　Earl　bade　her　speak；　and　she　said：　〃Lord；　my　Lady　is　going　away　from　Greenharbour；　and　anon　thou　wilt　be　going；　and　I　shall　be　left　with　the　sleek　she…devil　yonder　that　thou　hast　set　over　us；　and　here　there　will　be　hell　for　me　without　escape；　now　that　my　Lady　is　gone。　　Wherefore　I　pray　thee　take　me　with　thee　to　Meadhamstead；　even　if　it　be　to　prison；　for　here　I　shall　die　the　worst　of　deaths。〃

Earl　Geoffrey　smiled　on　her　sourly；　and　said：　　〃If　it　be　as　I　understand；　that　thou　hast　lifted　thine　hand　against　my　Lady；　wert　thou　wending　with　me；　thou　shouldst　go　just　so　far　as　the　first　tree。　　Thou　mayst　deem　thyself　lucky　if　I　leave　thee　behind　here。　　Nor　needest　thou　trouble　thee　concerning　Dame　Elinor；　little　more　shalt　thou　hear　of　her　henceforward。〃

But　Goldilind　spake　and　said：　　〃My　Lord　Earl；　I　would　ask　grace　for　this　one；　for　what　she　did　to　me　she　did　compelled；　and　not　of　her　free　will；　and　I　forgive　it　her。　And　moreover；　this　last　time　she　suffered　in　her　body　for　the　helping　of　me；　so　if　thou　mightest　do　her　asking　I　were　the　better　pleased。〃

〃It　shall　be　as　thou　wilt；　my　Lady；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃and　I　will　have　her　with　me　and　keep　her　quiet　in　Meadhamstead；　but；　by　Allhallows！　had　it　not　been　for　thy　word　we　would　have　had　her　whipped　into　the　wild…wood；　and　hanged　up　on　to　a　tree　thereafter。〃

Then　Aloyse　knelt　before　Goldilind　and　kissed　her　feet；　and　wept；　and　drew　back　pale　and　trembling。　　But　Goldilind　shook　her　rein　once　for　all　now；　and　her　apple…grey　horse　went　forth　with　her；　Christopher　came　after；　leading　the　sumpter　beast；　and　forth　they　went；　and　passed　over　the　open　green　about　the　Castle；　and　came　on　to　the　woodland　way　whereby　Goldilind　had　fled　that　other　time。



CHAPTER　XXII。

OF　THE　WOODLAND　BRIDE…CHAMBER。


They　rode　in　silence　a　good　way；　and　it　was　some　three　hours　after　noon；　and　the　day　as　fair　and　bright　as　might　be。　Christopher　held　his　peace　for　sweet　shame　that　he　was　alone　with　a　most　fair　maid；　and　she　his　own；　and　without　defence　against　him。　　But　she　amidst　of　her　silence　turned；　now　red；　and　now　somewhat　pale；　and　now　and　again　she　looked　somewhat　askance　on　him；　and　he　deemed　her　looks　were　no　kinder　than　they　should　be。

At　last　she　spake；　yet　not　looking　on　him；　and　said：　　〃So；　Forester；　now　is　done　what　I　must　needs　do：　　thy　life　is　saved；　and　I　am　quit　of　Greenharbour；　and　its　prison；　and　its　torments：　　whither　away　then？〃

Quoth　he；　all　dismayed；　for　her　voice　was　the　voice　of　anger：　　〃I　wot　not　whither；　save　to　the　house　thou　hast　blessed　already　with　thy　dear　body。〃

At　that　word　she　turned　quite　pale；　and　trembled；　and　spake　not　for　a　while；　and　smote　her　horse　and　hastened　on　the　way；　and　he　after　her；　but　when　he　was　come　up　with　her　again；　then　she　said；　still　not　looking　at　him：　　〃A　house　of　woodmen　and　wolf…heads。　　Is　that　a　meet　dwelling…place　for　me？　Didst　thou　hear　men　at　Greenharbour　say　that　I　am　a　Queen？〃

〃Hear　them　I　did；〃　quoth　he；　〃but　meseemeth　nought　like　a　Queen　had　they　done　with　thee。〃

She　said：　　〃And　dost　thou　mock　me　with　that？　thou？〃　And　she　burst　out　weeping。　　He　answered　not；　for　sore　grief　smote　him；　remembering　her　hand　in　his　but　a　little　while　ago。　And　again　she　hurried　on；　and　he　followed　her。

When　he　came　up　with　her　she　said：　　〃And　thou；　didst　thou　woo　me　as　a　Queen？〃

〃Lady；〃　he　said；　〃I　wooed　thee　not　at　all；　I　was　given　to　thee；　would　I；　would　I　not：　　great　joy　was　that　to　me。〃

Then　said　she：　　〃Thou　sayest　sooth；　thou　hast　not　wooed　me；　but　taken　me。〃　　She　laughed　therewith；　as　one　in　bitterness。　But　presently　she　turned　to　him；　and　he　wondered；　for　in　her　face　was　longing　and　kindness　nough