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

green field a grim wolf ramping up against a maiden, and so went the ship upon her way.


Walter stood awhile staring at her empty place where the waves ran into the haven-mouth, and
then turned aside and toward the Katherine; and at first he was minded to go ask shipmaster
Geoffrey of what he knew concerning the said ship and her alien wayfarers; but then it came into
his mind, that all this was but an imagination or dream of the day, and that he were best to leave
it untold to any. So therewith he went his way from the water-side, and through the streets unto
his father’s house; but when he was but a little way thence, and the door was before him, him-
seemed for a moment of time that he beheld those three coming out down the steps of stone and
into the street; to wit the dwarf, the maiden, and the stately lady: but when he stood still to abide
their coming, and looked toward them, lo! there was nothing before him save the goodly house
of Bartholomew Golden, and three children and a cur dog playing about the steps thereof, and
about him were four or five passers-by going about their business. Then was he all confused in
his mind, and knew not what to make of it, whether those whom he had seemed to see pass
aboard ship were but images of a dream, or children of Adam in very flesh.


Howsoever, he entered the house, and found his father in the chamber, and fell to speech with
him about their matters; but for all that he loved his father, and worshipped him as a wise and
valiant man, yet at that hour he might not hearken the words of his mouth, so much was his mind
entangled in the thought of those three, and they were ever before his eyes, as if they had been
painted on a table by the best of limners. And of the two women he thought exceeding much, and

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cast no wyte upon himself for running after the desire of strange women. For he said to himself
that he desired not either of the twain; nay, he might not tell which of the twain, the maiden or
the stately queen, were clearest to his eyes; but sore he desired to see both of them again, and to
know what they were.


So wore the hours till the Wednesday morning, and it was time that he should bid farewell to his
father and get aboard ship; but his father led him down to the quays and on to the Katherine, and
there Walter embraced him, not without tears and forebodings; for his heart was full. Then
presently the old man went aland; the gangway was unshipped, the hawsers cast off; the oars of
the towing-boats splashed in the dark water, the sail fell down from the yard, and was sheeted
home, and out plunged the Katherine into the misty sea and rolled up the grey slopes, casting
abroad her ancient withal, whereon was beaten the token of Bartholomew Golden, to wit a B and
a G to the right and the left, and thereabove a cross and a triangle rising from the midst.


Walter stood on the stern and beheld, yet more with the mind of him than with his eyes; for it all
seemed but the double of what the other ship had done; and the thought of it as if the twain were
as beads strung on one string and led away by it into the same place, and thence to go in the like
order, and so on again and again, and never to draw nigher to each other.




CHAPTER III