child christopher-第3部分

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axed　worse　as　time　wore　and　as　the　blossom　of　the　King's　daughter's　womanhood　began　to　unfold；　till　at　last　the　she…jailer　had　scarce　feasted　any　day　when　she　had　not　in　some　wise　grieved　and　tormented　her　prisoner；　and　whatever　she　did；　none　had　might　to　say　her　nay。

But　Goldilind　took　all　with　a　high　heart；　and　her　courage　grew　with　her　years；　nor　would　she　bow　the　head　before　any　grief；　but　took　to　her　whatsoever　solace　might　come　to　her；　as　the　pleasure　of　the　sun　and　the　wind；　and　the　beholding　of　the　greenery　of　the　wood；　and　the　fowl　and　the　beasts　playing；　which　oft　she　saw　afar；　and　whiles　anear；　though　whiles；　forsooth；　she　saw　nought　of　it　all；　whereas　she　was　shut　up　betwixt　four　walls；　and　that　not　of　her　chamber；　but　of　some　bare　and　foul　prison　of　the　Castle；　which；　with　other　griefs；　must　she　needs　thole　under　the　name　and　guise　of　penance。

However；　she　waxed　so　exceeding　fair　and　sweet　and　lovely；　that　the　loveliness　of　her　pierced　to　the　hearts　of　many　of　her　jailers；　so　that　some　of　them；　and　specially　of　the　squires　and　men…at…arms；　would　do　her　some　easement　which　they　might　do　unrebuked；　or　not　sorely　rebuked；　as　bringing　her　flowers　in　the　spring；　or　whiles　a　singing…bird　or　a　squirrel；　and　an　old　man　there　was　of　the　men…at…arms；　who　would　ask　leave；　and　get　it　at　whiles；　to　come　to　her　in　her　chamber；　or　the　garden？　and　tell　her　minstrel　tales　and　the　like　for　her　joyance。　　Sooth　to　say；　even　the　pinched　heart　of　the　old　Burgreve　was　somewhat　touched　by　her；　and　he　alone　had　any　might　to　stand　between　her　and　Dame　Elinor；　so　that　but　for　him　it　had　gone　much　harder　with　her　than　it　did。

For　the　rest；　none　entered　the　Castle　from　the　world　without；　nay　not　so　much　as　a　travelling　monk；　or　a　friar　on　his　wanderings；　save　and　except　some　messenger　of　Earl　Geoffrey　who　had　errand　with　Dame　Elinor　or　the　Burgreve。

So　wore　the　days　and　the　seasons；　till　it　was　now　more　than　four　years　since　she　had　left　Leashowe；　and　her　eighteenth　summer　was　beginning。

But　now　the　tale　leaves　telling　of　Goldilind；　and　goes　back　to　the　matters　of　Oakenrealm；　and　therein　to　what　has　to　do　with　King　Christopher　and　Rolf　the　Marshal。



CHAPTER　VI。

HOW　ROLF　THE　MARSHAL　DREAMS　A　DREAM　AND　COMES　TO　THE　CASTLE　OF　THE　UTTERMOST　MARCH。


Now　this　same　summer；　when　King　Christopher　was　of　twenty　years　and　two；　Rolf　the　Marshal；　sleeping　one　noontide　in　the　King's　garden　at　Oakenham；　dreamed　a　dream。　For　himseemed　that　there　came　through　the　garth…gate　a　woman　fair　and　tall；　and　clad　in　nought　but　oaken…leaves；　who　led　by　the　hand　an　exceeding　goodly　young　man　of　twenty　summers；　and　his　visage　like　to　the　last　battle…dead　King　of　Oakenrealm　when　he　was　a　young　man。　　And　the　said　woman　led　the　swain　up　to　the　Marshal；　who　asked　in　his　mind　what　these　two　were：　　and　the　woman　answered　his　thought　and　said：　　〃I　am　the　Woman　of　the　Woods；　and　the　Landwight　of　Oakenrealm；　and　this　lovely　lad　whose　hand　I　hold　is　my　King　and　thy　King　and　the　King　of　Oakenrealm。　　Wake；　foolwake！　and　look　to　it　what　thou　wilt　do！〃

And　therewith　he　woke　up　crying　out；　and　drew　forth　his　sword。　　But　when　he　was　fully　awakened；　he　was　ashamed；　and　went　into　the　hall；　and　sat　in　his　high…seat；　and　strove　to　think　out　of　his　troubled　mind；　but　for　all　he　might　do；　he　fell　asleep　again；　and　again　in　the　hall　he　dreamed　as　he　had　dreamed　in　the　garden：　　and　when　he　awoke　from　his　dream　he　had　no　thought　in　his　head　but　how　he　might　the　speediest　come　to　the　house　of　Lord　Richard　the　Lean；　and　look　to　the　matter　of　his　lord's　son　and　see　him　with　his　eyes；　and；　if　it　might　be；　take　some　measure　with　the　threat　which　lay　in　the　lad's　life。　Nought　he　tarried；　but　set　off　in　an　hour's　time　with　no　more　company　than　four　men…at…arms　and　an　old　squire　of　his；　who　was　wont　to　do　his　bidding　without　question；　whether　it　were　good　or　evil。

So　they　went　by　frith　and　fell；　by　wood　and　fair　ways；　till　in　two　days'　time　they　were　come　by　undern　within　sight　of　the　Castle　of　the　Outer　March；　and　entered　into　the　street　of　the　thorpe　aforesaid；　and　they　saw　that　there　were　no　folk　therein　and　at　the　house…doors　save　old　carles　and　carlines　scarce　wayworthy；　and　little　children　who　might　not　go　afoot。　　But　from　the　field　anigh　the　thorpe　came　the　sound　of　shouting　and　glad　voices；　and　through　the　lanes　of　the　houses　they　saw　on　the　field　many　people　in　gay　raiment　going　to　and　fro；　as　though　there　were　games　and　sports　toward。

Thereof　Lord　Rolf　heeded　nought；　but　went　his　ways　straight　to　the　Castle；　and　was　brought　with　all　honour　into　the　hall；　and　thither　came　Lord　Richard　the　Lean；　hastening　and　half　afeard；　and　did　obeisance　to　him；　and　there　were　but　a　few　in　the　hall；　and　they　stood　out　of　earshot　of　the　two　lords。

The　Marshal　spoke　graciously　to　Lord　Richard；　and　made　him　sit　beside　him；　and　said　in　a　soft　voice：　　〃We　have　come　to　see　thee；　Lord；　and　how　the　folk　do　in　the　Uttermost　Marches。　　Also　we　would　wot　how　it　goes　with　a　lad　whom　we　sent　to　thee　when　he　was　yet　a　babe；　whereas　he　was　some　byblow　of　the　late　King；　our　lord　and　master；　and　we　deemed　thee　both　rich　enough　and　kind　enough　to　breed　him　into　thriving　without　increasing　pride　upon　him：　　and；　firstly；　is　the　lad　yet　alive？〃

He　knitted　his　brow　as　he　spake；　for　carefulness　of　soul；　but　Lord　Richard　smiled　upon　him；　though　as　one　somewhat　troubled；　and　answered：　　〃Lord　Marshal；　I　thank　thee　for　visiting　this　poor　house；　and　I　shall　tell　thee　first　that　the　lad　lives；　and　hath　thriven　marvellously；　though　he　be　somewhat　unruly；　and　will　abide　no　correction　now　these　last　six　years。　　Sooth　to　say；　there　is　now　no　story　of　his　being　anywise　akin　to　our　late　Lord　King；　though　true　it　is　that　the　folk　in　this　faraway　corner　of　the　land　call　him　King　Christopher；　but　only　in　a　manner　of　jesting。　　But　it　is　no　jest　wherein　they　say　that　they　will　gainsay　him　nought；　and　that　especially　the　young　women。　　Yet　I　will　say　of　him　that　he　is　wise；　and　asketh　not　overmuch；　the　more　is　the　sorrow　of　many　of　the　maidens。　　A　fell　woodsman　he　is；　and　exceeding　stark；　and　as　yet　heedeth　more　of　valiance　than　of　the　love　of　woman。〃

The　Marshal　looked　no　less　troubled　than　before　at　these　words；　he　said：　　〃I　would　see　this　young　man　speedily。〃

〃So　shall　it　be；　Lord；〃　said　Lord　Richard。　　Therewith　he　called　to　him　a　squire；　and　said：　〃Go　thou　down　into　the　thorpe；　and　bring　hither　Christopher；　for　that　a　great　lord　is　here　who　would　set　him　to　do　a　deed　of　woodcraft；　such　as　is　more　than　the　wont　of　men。〃

So　the　squire　went　his　ways；　and　was　gone　a　little　while；　and　meantime　drew　nigh　to　the　hall　a　sound　of　triumphing　songs　and　shouts；　and　right　up　to　the　hall　doors；　then　entered　the　squire；　and　by　his　side　came　a　tall　young　man；　clad　but　in　a　white　linen　shirt　and　deerskin　brogues；　his　head　crowned　with　a　garland　of　flowers：　　him　the　squire　brought　up　to　the　lords　on　the　dais；　and　louted　to　them；　and　said：　　〃My　lords；　I　bring　you　Christopher；　and　he　not　overwilling；　for　now　hath　he　been　but　just　crowned　king　of　the　games　down　yonder；　but　when　the　carles　and　queans　there　said　that　they　would　come　with　him　and　bear　him　company　to　the　hall　doors；　then；　forsooth；　he　yea…said　the　coming。　　It　were　not　unmeet　that　some　shame　were　done　him。〃

〃Peace；　man！〃　said　Lord　Richard；　〃what　hath　this　to　do　with　thee？　Seest　thou　not　the　Lord　Marshal　here？〃　The　Lord　Rolf　sat　and　gazed　on　the　lad；　and　scowled　on　him；　but　Christopher　saw　therein　nought　but　the　face　of　a　great　lord　burdened　with　many　cares；　so　when　he　had　made　his　obeisance　he　stood　up　fearlessly　and　merrily　before　them。

Sooth　to　say；　he　was　full　fair　to　look　on：　　for　all　his　strength；　which；　as　ye　shall　hear；　was　mighty；　all　the　fashion　of　his　limbs　and　his　body　was　light　and　clean　done；　and　beauteous；　and　though　his　skin；　where　it　showed　naked；　was　all　tanned　with　the　summer；　it　was　fine　and　sleek　and　kindly；　every　deal　thereof：　　bright…eyed　and　round…cheeked　he　was；　with　full　lips　and　carven　chin；　and　his　hair　golden　brown　of　hue；　and　curling　crisp　about　the　blossoms　of　his　garland。

So　must　we　say　that　he　was　such　an　youngling　as　most　might　have　been　in　the　world；　had　not　man's　malice　been；　and　the　mischief　of　grudging　and　the　marring　of　grasping。

But　now　spake　Lord　Rolf：　　〃Sir　varlet；　they　tell　me　that　thou　art　a　mighty　hunter；　and　of　mickle　guile　in　woodcraft；　wilt　thou　then　hunt　somewhat　for　me；　and　bring　me　home　a　catch　seldom　seen？〃

〃Yea；　Lord　King；〃　said　Christopher；　〃I　will　at　least　do　my　best；　if　thou　but　tell　me　where　to　seek　the　quarry　and　when。〃

〃It　is　well；〃　said　the　Marshal；　〃and　to…morrow　my　squire；　whom　thou　seest　yonder；　and　who　hight　Simon；　shall　tell　thee　where　the　hunt　is　up；　and　thou　shalt　go　with　him。　　But　hearken！　thou　shalt　not　call　me　king；　for　to…day　there　is　no　king　in　Oakenrealm；　and　I　am　but　Marshal；　and　Earl　of　the　king　that　shall　be。〃

The　lad　fell　a…musing　for　a　minute；　and　then　he　said：　　〃Yea；　Lord　Marshal；　I　shall　do　thy　will：　　but　meseemeth　I　have　heard　some　tale　of　one　who　was　but　of　late　king　in　Oakenrealm：　　is　it　not　so；　Lord？〃

〃Stint　thy　talk；　young　man；〃　cried　the　Marshal　in　a　harsh　voice；　〃and　abide　to…morrow；　who　knoweth　who　shall　be　king；　and　whether　thou　or　I　shall　live　to　see　him。〃

But　as　he　spake　the　words　they　seemed　to　his　heart　like　a　foretelling　of　evil；　and　he　turned　pale　and　trembled；　and　said　to　Christopher：　　〃Come　hither；　lad；　I　will　give　thee　a　gift；　and　then　shalt　thou　depart　till　to…morrow。〃　　So　Christopher　drew　near　to　him；　and　the　Marshal　pulled　off　a　ring　from　his　finger　and　set　it　on　the　lad's；　and　said　to　him：　〃Now　depart　in　peace；〃　and　Christopher　bent　the　knee　to　him　and　thanked　him　for　the　gracious　gift　of　the　ruler　of　Oakenrealm；　and　then　went　his　ways　out　of　the　hall；　and　the　folk　without　gave　a　glad　cry　as　he　came　amongst　them。

But　by　then　he　was　come　to　the　door；　Lord　Rolf　looked　on　his　hand；　and　saw　that；　instead　of　giving　the　youngling　a　finger…ring　which　he　had　bought　of　a　merchant　for　a　price　of　five　bezants；　as　he　had　meant　to　do；　he　had　given　him　a　ring　which　the　old　King　had　had；　whereon　was　the　first　letter　of　his　name　（Christopher　to　wit）；　and　a　device　of　a　crowned　rose；　for　this　ring　was　a　signet　of　his。　　Wherefore　was　the　Marshal　once　more　sore