child christopher-第23部分

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　should　be　paid　thereafter。　And　they　said　that　they　had　seen　to　all　this　before　they　came　forth　of　the　town；　and　that　if　the　Lord　King　would　ride　forth；　he　would　find　fair　lodging　in　the　good　town。　　So　King　Christopher　was　pleased；　and　bade　the　burgesses　ride　beside　him；　and　he　talked　merrily　with　them　on　the　way；　so　that　their　hearts　rejoiced　over　the　kindness　of　their　lord。

So　they　came　to　the　gate；　and　there　the　King　made　stay　till　Goldilind　was　fetched　to　him；　so　that　they　might　ride　into　the　good　town　side　by　side。　　And　in　the　street　was　much　people　thronging；　and　the　sun　was　scarce　set；　so　that　the　folk　could　see　their　King　and　Queen　what　they　were；　and　they　who　were　nighest　unto　them；　they　let　their　shouts　die　out；　so　were　their　hearts　touched　with　the　sight　of　them　and　the　love　of　their　beauty。

Thus　rode　they　in　triumph　through　the　street　till　they　were　come　to　their　lodging；　which　was　great　and　goodly　as　for　a　cheaping　town；　and　so　the　day　was　gone　and　the　night　was　come；　and　the　council　and　the　banquet　were　over；　then　were　the　King　and　Goldilind　together　again；　like　any　up…country　lad　and　lass。　　But　she　stood　before　him　and　said：　　〃O　thou　King　and　mighty　warrior；　surely　I　ought　to　fear　thee　now；　but　it　is　not　so；　so　sore　as　I　desire　thee；　but　yet　it　maketh　both　laughter　and　tears　come　to　me　when　I　think　of　the　day　we　rode　away　from　Greenharbour　with　thee；　and　I　seemed　to　myself　a　great　lady；　though　I　were　unhappy；　and　though　I　loved　thy　body；　I　feared　lest　the　churl's　blood　in　thee　might　shame　me　perchance；　and　I　was　proud　and　unkind　to　thee；　and　I　hurt　thee　sorely；　and　now　I　will　say　it；　and　confess；　that　somewhat　I　joyed　to　see　thine　anguish；　for　I　knew　that　it　meant　thy　love　for　me　and　thy　desire　to　me。　　Lo　now；　wilt　thou　forgive　me　this；　or　wilt　thou　punish　me；　O　Lord　King？〃

He　laughed。　　〃Sweetling；〃　he　said；　〃meseemeth　now　all　day　long　I　have　been　fighting　against　raiment　rather　than　men；　no　man　withstood　me　in　the　battle；　for　that　they　feared　the　crown　on　my　helm　and　the　banner　over　my　head；　and　when　those　good　men　of　the　town　brought　me　the　keys；　how　should　I　have　known　them　from　borrel　folk　but　for　their　scarlet　gowns　and　fur　hoods？　And　meseemed　that　when　they　knelt　to　me；　it　was　the　scarlet　gowns　kneeling　to　the　kingly　armour。　　Therefore；　sweetheart；　if　thou　fearest　that　the　King　should　punish　thee　for　so　wounding　the　poor　Christopher　of　those　few　days　ago；　as　belike　thou　deservest　it；　bid　the　King　do　off　his　raiment；　and　do　thou　in　likewise；　and　then　there　shall　be　no　King　to　punish；　and　no　King's　scather　to　thole　the　punishment；　but　only　Christopher　and　Goldilind；　even　as　they　met　erewhile　on　the　dewy　grass　of　Littledale。〃

She　blushed　blood…red；　but　ere　his　words　were　done；　her　hands　were　busy　with　girdle　and　clasp；　and　her　raiment　fell　from　her　to　the　earth；　and　his　kingly　raiment　was　cast　from　him；　and　he　took　her　by　the　hand　and　led　her　to　the　bed　of　honour；　that　their　love　might　have　increase　that　night　also。



CHAPTER　XXXV。

AN　OLD　ACQUAINTANCE　AND　AN　EVIL　DEED。


When　morning　was；　and　it　was　yet　early；　the　town　was　all　astir　and　the　gates　were　thrown　open；　and　weaponed　men　thronged　into　it　crying　out　for　Christopher　the　King。　Then　the　King　came　forth；　and　Jack　o'　the　Tofts　and　his　sons；　and　Oliver　Marson；　and　the　captains　of　Brimside；　and　the　host　was　blown　together　to　the　market…place；　and　there　was　a　new　tale　of　them　taken；　and　they　were　now　hard　on　seventy　hundreds　of　men。　　So　then　were　new　captains　appointed；　and　thereafter　they　tarried　not　save　to　eat　a　morsel；　but　went　out　a…gates　faring　after　the　banners　to　Oakenrealm；　all　folk　blessing　them　as　they　went。

Nought　befell　them　of　evil　that　day；　but　ever　fresh　companies　joined　them　on　the　road；　and　they　gat　harbour　in　another　walled　town；　hight　Sevenham；　and　rested　there　in　peace　that　night；　and　were　now　grown　to　eighty　hundreds。

Again　on　the　morrow　they　were　on　the　road　betimes；　and　again　much　folk　joined　them；　and　they　heard　no　tidings　of　any　foeman　faring　against　them；　whereat　Jack　o'　the　Tofts　marvelled；　for　he　and　others　had　deemed　that　now　at　last　would　Rolf　the　traitor　come　out　against　them。　　Forsooth；　when　they　had　gone　all　day　and　night　was　at　hand；　it　seemed　most　like　to　the　captains　that　he　would　fall　upon　them　that　night；　whereas　they　were　now　in　a　somewhat　perilous　pass；　for　they　must　needs　rest　at　a　little　thorpe　amidst　of　great　and　thick　woods；　which　lay　all　round　about　the　frank　of　Oakenham　as　a　garland　about　a　head。　　So　there　they　kept　watch　and　ward　more　heedfully　than　their　wont　was；　and　King　Christopher　lodged　with　Goldilind　at　the　house　of　a　good　man　of　the　thorpe。

Now　when　it　lacked　but　half　an　hour　of　midnight；　and　Jack　o'　the　Tofts　and　Oliver　Marson　and　the　Captain　of　Woodwall　had　just　left　him；　after　they　had　settled　the　order　of　the　next　day's　journey；　and　Goldilind　lay　abed　in　the　inner　chamber；　there　entered　one　of　the　men　of　the　watch　and　said：　　〃Lord　King；　here　is　a　man　hereby　who　would　see　thee；　he　is　weaponed；　and　he　saith　that　he　hath　a　gift　for　thee：　　what　shall　we　do　with　him？〃

Said　Christopher：　　〃Bring　him　in　hither；　good　fellow。〃　　And　the　man　went　back；　and　came　in　again　leading　a　tall　man；　armed；　but　with　a　hood　done　over　his　steel　hat；　so　that　his　face　was　hidden；　and　he　had　a　bag　in　his　hand　with　something　therein。

Then　spake　the　King　and　said：　　〃Thou　man；　since　thy　face　is　hidden；　this　trusty　man…at…arms　shall　stand　by　thee　while　we　talk　together。〃

〃Lord；〃　said　the　man；　〃let　there　be　a　dozen　to　hear　our　talk　I　care　not；　for　I　tell　thee　that　I　come　to　give　thee　a　gift；　and　gift…bearers　are　oftenest　welcome。〃

Quoth　the　King：　　〃Maybe；　yet　before　thou　bring　it　forth　I　would　see　thy　face；　for　meseems　I　have　an　inkling　of　thy　voice。〃

So　the　man　cast　back　his　hood；　and　lo；　it　was　Simon　the　squire。　　〃Hah！〃　said　Christopher；　〃is　it　thou　then！　hast　thou　another　knife　to　give　me？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Simon；　〃only　the　work　of　the　knife。〃　　And　therewith　he　set　his　hand　to　the　bag　and　drew　out　by　the　hair　a　man's　head；　newly　hacked　off　and　bleeding；　and　said：　〃Hast　thou　seen　him　before；　Lord？　He　was　a　great　man　yesterday；　though　not　so　great　as　thou　shalt　be　to…morrow。〃

〃Once　only　I　have　seen　him；　〃said　Christopher；〃　and　then　he　gave　me　this　gift〃　（and　he　showed　his　father's　ring　on　his　finger）：　　〃thou　hast　slain　the　Earl　Marshal；　who　called　himself　the　King　of　Oakenrealm：　　my　traitor　and　dastard　he　was　but　thy　friend。　Wherefore　have　I　two　evil　deeds　to　reward　thee；　Simon；　the　wounding　of　me　and　the　slaying　of　him。　　Dost　thou　not　deem　thee　gallows…ripe？〃

〃King；〃　said　Simon；　〃what　wouldst　thou　have　done　with　him　hadst　thou　caught　him？〃

Said　Christopher：　　〃I　had　slain　him　had　I　met　him　with　a　weapon　in　his　fist；　and　if　we　had　taken　him　I　had　let　the　folk　judge　him。〃

Said　Simon：　　〃That　is　to　say；　that　either　thou　hadst　slain　him　thyself；　or　bidden　others　to　slay　him。　　Now　then　I　ask　thee；　King；　for　which　deed　wilt　thou　slay　me；　for　not　slaying　thee；　or　for　doing　thy　work　and　slaying　thy　foe？〃

Said　Christopher　to　the　guard：　　〃Good　fellow；　fetch　here　a　good　horse　ready　saddled　and　bridled；　and　be　speedy。〃

So　the　man　went：　　and　Christopher　said　to　Simon：　　〃For　the　knife　in　my　side；　I　forgive　it　thee；　and　as　to　the　slaying　of　thy　friend；　it　is　not　for　me　to　take　up　the　feud。　　But　this　is　no　place　for　thee：　　if　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　or　any　of　his　sons；　or　one　of　the　captains　findeth　thee；　soon　art　thou　sped；　wherefore　I　rede　thee；　when　yonder　lad　hath　brought　thee　the　horse；　show　me　the　breadth　of　thy　back；　and　mount　the　beast；　and　put　the　most　miles　thou　canst　betwixt　me　and　my　folk；　for　they　love　me。〃

Said　Simon：　　〃Sorry　payment　for　making　thee　a　king！〃

Said　Christopher：　　〃Well；　thou　art　in　the　right；　I　may　well　give　gold　for　getting　rid　of　such　as　thou。〃　　And　he　put　his　hand　into　a　pouch　that　hung　on　his　chair；　and　drew　out　thence　a　purse；　and　gave　it　unto　Simon；　who　took　it　and　opened　it　and　looked　therein；　and　then　flung　it　down　on　the　ground。

Christopher　looked　on　him　wrathfully　with　reddened　face；　and　cried　out：　　〃Thou　dog！　wouldst　thou　be　an　earl　and　rule　the　folk？　What　more　dost　thou　want？〃

〃This！〃　cried　out　Simon；　and　leapt　upon　him；　knife　aloft。　Christopher　was　unarmed　utterly；　but　he　caught　hold　of　the　felon's　right　arm　with　his　right　hand；　and　gripped　the　wrist　till　he　shrieked；　then　he　raised　up　his　mighty　left　hand；　and　drave　it　down　on　Simon's　head　by　the　ear；　and　all　gave　way　before　it；　and　the　murderer　fell　crushed　and　dead　to　earth。

Therewith　came　in　the　man…at…arms　to　tell　him　that　the　horse　was　come；　but　stared　wild　when　he　saw　the　dead　man　on　the　ground。　　But　Christopher　said：　　〃My　lad；　here　hath　been　one　who　would　have　thrust　a　knife　into　an　unarmed　man；　wherefore　I　must　needs　give　him　his　wages。　　But　now　thou　hast　this　to　do：　　take　thou　this　dead　man　and　bind　him　so　fast　on　the　horse　thou　hast　brought　that　he　will　not　come　off　till　the　bindings　be　undone；　and　bind　withal　the　head　of　this　other；　who　was　once　a　great　man　and　an　evil；　before　the　slayer　of　him；　so　that　it　also　may　be　fast；　then　get　thee　to　horse　and　lead　this　beast　and　its　burden　till　ye　are　well　on　the　highway　to　Oakenham；　and　then　let　him　go　and　find　his　way　to　the　gate　of　the　city　if　God　will。　　And　hearken；　my　lad；　seest　thou　this　gold　which　lieth　scattering　on　the　floor　here？　this　was　mine；　but　is　no　longer；　since　I　have　given　it　away　to　the　dead　man　just　before　he　lifted　his　hand　against　me。　　Wherefore　now　I　will　keep　it　for　thee　against　thou　comest　back　safe　to　me　in　the　morning　betimes；　as　I　deem　thou　wilt；　if　thou　wilt　behight　to　St。　Julian　the　helping　of　some　poor　body　on　the　road。　　Go　therefore；　but　send　hither　the　guard；　for　I　am　weary　now；　and　would　go　to　sleep　without　slaying　any　man　else。〃

So　departed　the　man　full　of　joy；　and　Christopher　gathered　his　money　together　again；　and　so　fared　to　his　bed　peacefully。



CHAPTER　XXXVI。

KING　CHRISTOPHER　COMES　TO　OAKENHAM。


But　on　the　morrow　the　first　man　who　came　to　the　King　was　the　man…at…arms　aforesaid；　and　he　told　that　he　had　done　the　King's　errand；　and　ridden　a　five　miles　on　the　road　to　Oakenham　before　he　had　left　the　horse　with　his　felon　load；　and　that　he　had　found　nought　stirring　all　that　way　when　he　had　passed　throu