"William Morris - The Wood Beyond the World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morris William)

So wore three days, and on the eve of the third, the man from the topmast cried out that he saw
land ahead; and so did they all before the sun was quite set, though it were but a cloud no bigger
than a man’s hand.


When night fell they struck not sail, but went forth toward the land fair and softly; for it was
early summer, so that the nights were neither long nor dark.


But when it was broad daylight, they opened a land, a long shore of rocks and mountains, and
nought else that they could see at first. Nevertheless as day wore and they drew nigher, first they
saw how the mountains fell away from the sea, and were behind a long wall of sheer cliff; and
coming nigher yet, they beheld a green plain going up after a little in green bents and slopes to
the feet of the said cliff-wall.


No city nor haven did they see there, not even when they were far nigher to the land;
nevertheless, whereas they hankered for the peace of the green earth after all the tossing and
unrest of the sea, and whereas also they doubted not to find at the least good and fresh water, and



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belike other bait in the plain under the mountains, they still sailed on not unmerrily; so that by
nightfall they cast anchor in five-fathom water hard by the shore.


Next morning they found that they were lying a little way off the mouth of a river not right great;
so they put out their boats and towed the ship up into the said river, and when they had gone up it
for a mile or thereabouts they found the sea water failed, for little was the ebb and flow of the
tide on that coast. Then was the river deep and clear, running between smooth grassy land like to
meadows. Also on their left board they saw presently three head of neat cattle going, as if in a
meadow of a homestead in their own land, and a few sheep; and thereafter, about a bow-draught
from the river, they saw a little house of wood and straw-thatch under a wooded mound, and
with orchard trees about it. They wondered little thereat, for they knew no cause why that land
should not be builded, though it were in the far outlands. However, they drew their ship up to the
bank, thinking that they would at least abide awhile and ask tidings and have some refreshing of
the green plain, which was so lovely and pleasant.


But while they were busied herein they saw a man come out of the house, and down to the river
to meet them; and they soon saw that he was tall and old, long-hoary of hair and beard, and clad
mostly in the skins of beasts.


He drew nigh without any fear or mistrust, and coming close to them gave them the sele of the
day in a kindly and pleasant voice. The shipmaster greeted him in his turn, and said withal: “Old
man, art thou the king of this country?”