登陆注册
5253600000190

第190章

As for Ralph, he smote a tall man full on the breast and pierced him through and through, and then pulled out the Upmeads blade and smote on the right hand and the left, so that none came anigh him willingly.

Shortly to say it, in five minutes' time the Black Riders were fleeing all over the field with them of Utterbol at their heels, and the bowmen ran back again into the wood.

But one of the foemen as he fled cast a javelin at a venture, and who should be before it save Ursula, so that she reeled in her saddle, and would have fallen downright but for one of the Utterbol fellows who stayed her, and got her gently off her horse.

This Ralph saw not, for he followed far in the chase, and was coming back somewhat slowly along with Redhead, who was hurt, but not sorely. So when he came up, and saw Ursula sitting on the grass with four or five men about her, he sickened for fear; but she rose up and came slowly and pale-faced to meet him, and said: "Fear not, beloved, for steel kept out steel:

I have no scratch or point or edge on me." So therewith he kissed her, and embraced her, and was glad.

The Utterbol Riders had slain sixteen of their foemen; for they took none to mercy, and four of their band were slain outright, and six hurt, but not grievously.

So they tarried awhile on the field of deed to rest them and tend their wounded men, and so rode on again heedfully.

But Redhead spake: "It is good to see thee tilting, King's Son.

I doubt me I shall never learn thy downright thrust.

Dost thou remember how sorry a job I made of it, when we met in the lists at Vale Turris that other day?"

"Yea, yea," said Ralph. "Thou were best let that flea stick on the wall.

For to-day, at least, I have seen thee play at sharps deftly enough."

Quoth Redhead: "Lord, it is naught, a five minutes' scramble.

That which trieth a man, is to fight and overcome, and straight have to fight with fresh foemen, and yet again, till ye long for dark night to cover you--yea, or even death."

"Warrior-like and wisely thou speakest," said Ralph;"and whoever thou servest thou shalt serve well.

And now once more I would it were me."

Redhead shook his head at that word, and said: "I would it might be so; but it will not be so as now."

Forth on they rode, and slept in a wood that night, keeping good watch; but saw no more of the Black Riders for that time.

On a day thereafter when it was nigh evening, Ralph looked about, and saw a certain wood on the edge of a plain, and he stayed Ursula, and said:

"Look round about, beloved; for this is the very field whereas I was betrayed into the hands of the men of Utterbol." She smiled on him and said:

"Let me light down then, that I may kiss the earth of that kind field, where thou wert not stayed over long, but even long enough that we might meet in the dark wood thereafter."

"Sweetling," said Ralph, "this mayst thou do and grieve no man, not even for a little. For lo you! the captain is staying the sumpter-beasts, and it is his mind, belike, that we shall sleep in yonder wood to-night." Therewith he lighted down and she in likewise: then he took her by the hand and led her on a few yards, and said:

"Lo, beloved, this quicken-tree; hereby it was that the tent was pitched wherein I lay the night when I was taken."

She looked on him shyly and said: "Wilt thou not sleep here once more to-night?"

"Yea, well-beloved," said he, "I will bid them pitch thy tent on this same place, that I may smell the wild thyme again, as I did that other while."

So there on the field of his ancient grief they rested that night in all love and content.

同类推荐
  • 蛮入西川后

    蛮入西川后

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 毗尼日用切要香乳记

    毗尼日用切要香乳记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 柳河县乡土志

    柳河县乡土志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 沩山警策句释记

    沩山警策句释记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 珠玉词

    珠玉词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 反派女配的自我拯救

    反派女配的自我拯救

    《景苑情深深几许》是墨初九早期创作的言情小说,主要讲的是男主陆景苑与女主许婉清之间虐恋情深的爱情故事。厉谦是书中的反派男二,男女主多次分分合合,都与厉谦有着千丝万缕的关系。随着男女主误会解除,男二计谋败露,惨败收场。大结局出来的时候,很多读者抗议不该给男二公司破产,身死他乡的下场,强烈要求作者改结局。墨初九为了小说的剧情效果,坚持己见,没有改动,还引发了一大波热议被顶上热搜。写文一时爽,穿书火葬场。一朝醒来,墨初九莫名的变成自己小说里男二的青梅竹马炮灰级未婚妻。天雷滚滚,痛定思痛,墨初九反省了自己的错误:1、不该贪图便利,懒得想名字,就用自己的名字写小说,尤其是反派人物的名字。2、读者的意见做不做不重要,但一定要听!既来之,则安之。那么问题来了,是坚持初衷,还是自我拯救呢?这是个严肃的问题。
  • 己亥杂诗

    己亥杂诗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天隐和尚语录

    天隐和尚语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无限刀剑

    无限刀剑

    在都市之外是一个截然相反的世界,妖兽横行,存在无数的未知之地。有充斥着无穷黑暗生物的黑暗大陆,有着存在于天空之上的天空之城,那埋葬着神灵的无边海域,以及那些真正的异次元的世界!然而在都市之内,存在着这个世界真正的罪恶......
  • 情牵三世之紫凌郡主

    情牵三世之紫凌郡主

    她,冷若芸,是一名中职生,上天安排她穿越到自小在战乱中失去双亲,被神秘人所救的亡国公主身上,还她所欠下的情债,又因她容貌生得像曦靇国公主又救了国王的命,深得国王喜爱策封为郡主,后又赐婚给轩王,从此卷入一场阴谋争斗之中,踏上了她的复国之路。演绎了一场生死虐恋。某男语气霸道,目光清冷,眼眸深邃如潭盯着某女说道:睡了本王还想跑,你被本王吃干抹净,有了本王的印记,所以生是本王的人,死是本王的魂,现在连孩子都有了,你还不原谅我,我心里至始至终都只有你一个人。某女心烦意乱道:为什么?你弃我伤我甚至抢走我的孩子,就这样轻而易举的想让我原谅你没门……
  • 根本说一切有部毗奈耶破僧事

    根本说一切有部毗奈耶破僧事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说放牛经

    佛说放牛经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六瓣梅之京城风云

    六瓣梅之京城风云

    一个刺客组织介入夺嫡之战,这之后有何阴谋?
  • 写像秘诀

    写像秘诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 总裁老公我要离婚

    总裁老公我要离婚

    百化钢成绕指柔,想知道一个变态的男人如何变成妻奴吗?那就搬个小板凳‘耐心’看过来……陈家二少宠妻无度,这在兴安市不是什么稀奇事。若要问宋小染这辈子最骄傲的事:“那就是陈子墨有一天将她捧在了全世界最高处,伸手可触的幸福就在她指尖。”他将她折磨的遍体鳞伤,然后深情款款甩出个结婚。他娶她,一开始当然是目的不纯。她嫁他,也未必就是心甘情愿。只是一场婚姻造一个坟墓,埋葬在其中的是夫妻双方。日久生情这种事,处着处着就出来了。虐版(囊括前十万)片段一:“陈子墨站在她身边,面前放着份结婚协议书,目光带着几分凉薄的阴狠,残忍的说道:“要想他平安无事,就签了这份协议,用你的自由来换。”“小染,别签……”她的初恋情人林木,满身狼狈,被几个黑衣大汉踩在地上,一脸焦急的对她说着。话音刚落,男人一脚踢过去,带着十分的力道,硬生生的截住他剩下的话:“你签是不签。”她终是屈服于他的手段,在那尾处,颤抖的签上了自己的名字。宠版(囊括至全文)