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

Then was she silent a while; and then she said: “How if the man should prove to be our master?”


“Nay, our Lady,” said the King’s Son, “thou art jesting with me; thou and thy might and thy
wisdom, and all that thy wisdom may command, to be over-mastered by a gangrel churl!”

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“But how if I will not have it command, King’s Son?” said the Lady. “I tell thee I know thine
heart, but thou knowest not mine. But be at peace! For since thou hast prayed for this woman—
nay, not with thy words, I wot, but with thy trembling hands, and thine anxious eyes, and knitted
brow—I say, since thou hast prayed for her so earnestly, she shall escape this time. But whether
it will be to her gain in the long run, I misdoubt me. See thou to that, Otto! thou who hast held
me in thine arms so oft. And now thou mayest depart if thou wilt.”


It seemed to Walter as if the King’s Son were dumbfoundered at her words: he answered nought,
and presently he rose from the ground, and went his ways slowly toward the house. The Lady lay
there a little while, and then went her ways also; but turned away from the house toward the
wood at the other end thereof, whereby Walter had first come thither.


As for Walter, he was confused in mind and shaken in spirit; and withal he seemed to see guile
and cruel deeds under the talk of those two, and waxed wrathful thereat. Yet he said to himself,
that nought might he do, but was as one bound hand and foot, till he had seen the Maid again.




CHAPTER XIII

NOW IS THE HUNT UP

Next morning was he up betimes, but he was cast down and heavy of heart, not looking for aught
else to betide than had betid those last four days. But otherwise it fell out; for when he came
down into the hall, there was the lady sitting on the high-seat all alone, clad but in a coat of white
linen; and she turned her head when she heard his footsteps, and looked on him, and greeted him,
and said: “Come hither, guest.”




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So he went and stood before her, and she said: “Though as yet thou hast had no welcome here,
and no honour, it hath not entered into thine heart to flee from us; and to say sooth, that is well
for thee, for flee away from our hand thou mightest not, nor mightest thou depart without our
furtherance. But for this we can thee thank, that thou hast abided here our bidding and eaten
thine heart through the heavy wearing of four days, and made no plaint. Yet I cannot deem thee a
dastard; thou so well knit and shapely of body, so clear-eyed and bold of visage. Wherefore now
I ask thee, art thou willing to do me service, thereby to earn thy guesting?”