登陆注册
5390600000021

第21章 CHAPTER XIII: (2)

So the Maid went her way, taking care, as Walter deemed, to give no side glance to him. But he stood there shamefaced, so confused with all this openhearted kindness of the great Lady and with the fresh sight of the darling beauty of the Maid, that he went nigh to thinking that all he had heard since he had come to the porch of the house that first time was but a dream of evil.

But while he stood pondering these matters, and staring before him as one mazed, the Lady laughed out in his face, and touched him on the arm and said: "Ah, our Squire, is it so that now thou hast seen my Maid thou wouldst with a good will abide behind to talk with her?

But call to mind thy word pledged to me e'en now! And moreover I tell thee this for thy behoof now she is out of ear-shot, that I will above all things take thee away to-day: for there be other eyes, and they nought uncomely, that look at whiles on my fair- ankled thrall; and who knows but the swords might be out if I take not the better heed, and give thee not every whit of thy will."

As she spoke and moved forward, he turned a little, so that now the edge of that hazel-coppice was within his eye-shot, and he deemed that once more he saw the yellow-brown evil thing crawling forth from the thicket; then, turning suddenly on the Lady, he met her eyes, and seemed in one moment of time to find a far other look in them than that of frankness and kindness; though in a flash they changed back again, and she said merrily and sweetly: "So, so, Sir Squire, now art thou awake again, and mayest for a little while look on me."

Now it came into his head, with that look of hers, all that might befall him and the Maid if he mastered not his passion, nor did what he might to dissemble; so he bent the knee to her, and spoke boldly to her in her own vein, and said: "Nay, most gracious of ladies, never would I abide behind to-day since thou farest afield. But if my speech be hampered, or mine eyes stray, is it not because my mind is confused by thy beauty, and the honey of kind words which floweth from thy mouth?"

She laughed outright at his word, but not disdainfully, and said:

"This is well spoken, Squire, and even what a squire should say to his liege lady, when the sun is up on a fair morning, and she and he and all the world are glad."

She stood quite near him as she spoke, her hand was on his shoulder, and her eyes shone and sparkled. Sooth to say, that excusing of his confusion was like enough in seeming to the truth; for sure never creature was fashioned fairer than she: clad she was for the greenwood as the hunting-goddess of the Gentiles, with her green gown gathered unto her girdle, and sandals on her feet; a bow in her hand and a quiver at her back: she was taller and bigger of fashion than the dear Maiden, whiter of flesh, and more glorious, and brighter of hair; as a flower of flowers for fairness and fragrance.

She said: "Thou art verily a fair squire before the hunt is up, and if thou be as good in the hunting, all will be better than well, and the guest will be welcome. But lo! here cometh our Maid with the good grey ones. Go meet her, and we will tarry no longer than for thy taking the leash in hand."

So Walter looked, and saw the Maid coming with two couple of great hounds in the leash straining against her as she came along. He ran lightly to meet her, wondering if he should have a look, or a half- whisper from her; but she let him take the white thongs from her hand, with the same half-smile of shamefacedness still set on her face, and, going past him, came softly up to the Lady, swaying like a willow-branch in the wind, and stood before her, with her arms hanging down by her sides. Then the Lady turned to her, and said:

"Look to thyself, our Maid, while we are away. This fair young man thou needest not to fear indeed, for he is good and leal; but what thou shalt do with the King's Son I wot not. He is a hot lover forsooth, but a hard man; and whiles evil is his mood, and perilous both to thee and me. And if thou do his will, it shall be ill for thee; and if thou do it not, take heed of him, and let me, and me only, come between his wrath and thee. I may do somewhat for thee.

Even yesterday he was instant with me to have thee chastised after the manner of thralls; but I bade him keep silence of such words, and jeered him and mocked him, till he went away from me peevish and in anger. So look to it that thou fall not into any trap of his contrivance."

Then the Maid cast herself at the Mistress's feet, and kissed and embraced them; and as she rose up, the Lady laid her hand lightly on her head, and then, turning to Walter, cried out: "Now, Squire, let us leave all these troubles and wiles and desires behind us, and flit through the merry greenwood like the Gentiles of old days."

And therewith she drew up the laps of her gown till the whiteness of her knees was seen, and set off swiftly toward the wood that lay south of the house, and Walter followed, marvelling at her goodliness; nor durst he cast a look backward to the Maiden, for he knew that she desired him, and it was her only that he looked to for his deliverance from this house of guile and lies.

同类推荐
  • 妇人经脉门

    妇人经脉门

    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。
  • Honore de Balzac

    Honore de Balzac

    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。
  • 东观奏记

    东观奏记

    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。
  • THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY

    THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY

    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。
  • The Friendly Road

    The Friendly Road

    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
  • 四年草四年宝

    四年草四年宝

    小说《四年草,四年宝》讲述的是主人公李泽源摆脱高考桎梏,在四年大学生活中经历,包括友情,爱情,矛盾,感动等种种情感。小说里搞笑的故事情节,浪漫的恋爱场景,感人心酸的离别,构成了一段段美好的回忆。也许你已经错过了大学,也许你还未曾经过大学,或者你正感受着大学,更古希望大家都能好好珍藏属于自己的那段青春。这部小说更古试着用一种诙谐微黄的手法重新去诠释现实的大学生活。希望这部小说能给大家带来一种全新的心灵感受…
  • 汉乡

    汉乡

    我们接受了祖先的遗产,这让中华辉煌了数千年,我们是如此的心安理得,从未想过要回归那个在刀耕火种中苦苦寻找出路的时代。反哺我们苦难的祖先,并从中找到故乡的真正意义,将是本书要讲的故事。张佳宁、王天辰主演的《唐砖》网剧2018年10月29日起爱奇艺全网独播,更多消息请关注公众号孑与不2......
  • 丑女当家之带着包子做地主

    丑女当家之带着包子做地主

    命运不知会将你推入怎样的洪流,你是选择就此沉沦,还是激流勇进?踏破命运的残酷!迎接你曾想要的未来!
  • 全球华语小说大系·乡土与底层卷

    全球华语小说大系·乡土与底层卷

    这是对近年来底层写作和乡土叙述的一个总的巡览,也是对它们的一个全面的回顾。其中所选各位,既有一直从事底层写作并以此闻名的“专家”,也有成名已久偶涉底层的名家;既有后起新秀,也有文坛宿将;既有位居显要而念念不忘底层艰辛并能保持一个永远的赤子之心的,也有自底层脱颖而出并始终对自己的故土念兹在兹的;既有以自己的立场角度驰骋对底层的想象的,也有取自底层的视角同其中人物呼吸与共的。正因为这种色彩斑斓,故而就有了底层多样面貌的呈现,既有挣扎于苦难和血泪中的底层惨象,也有不为苦难所迫而能保持乐观和坚韧的底层群像,既有源自人性邪恶狡黠之底层,也有沉溺苦水中而能表现人性之光的底层。
  • 护界仙王

    护界仙王

    亲情、友情、爱情,凡人有,修真者也有。仇杀、残暴、嗜血、无情,不止妖魔鬼怪会,修真者更会。守护伴随着主角的一生,为了自己珍爱的人,为了这一界的万物苍生,主角是如何在自我与无我中抉择的呢?且看主角如何在争斗与斗争中成长,如何守护心中的修炼之道,又是如何演绎自己精彩一生的呢?交流群:321906354
  • 红线女侠传

    红线女侠传

    唐朝年间,剑南道清云寨兵马使李慕唐被奸臣陷害而死,在奸臣的追杀下,其妻女离散。女儿红线被友人救走后得几位武林大师传授武功,练成超一流的武功。在寻找奸臣报仇的一路上,红线也卷入了江湖武林的恩怨情仇中.....
  • 三生缘之缘倾何时

    三生缘之缘倾何时

    看完三生三世十里桃花电视剧,本人对墨渊甚是喜欢,无奈他的结局着实让我不满意,本人在这特意为他良心定制属于他的爱情。本文女主可不得了,她的前世是少绾,在少绾灰飞烟灭之后,残存的一丝执念在这天地间散不去,投胎转世化身为青丘狐帝长子的独女——白落卿。她比夜华早出生三万年,因为某些原因,她的父亲对外界封锁了她的所有信息,因此,四海八荒就只知道青丘继白浅之后唯一的帝姬就只有白凤九,对她这个倾城绝貌的白落卿一无所知。在夜华醒来与白浅大婚时,乘机逃了出来,这个与生俱来灵力颇深却被遗落了的帝姬,在婚宴上遇到了四海八荒的墨渊战神。他们又会擦出怎样爱的火花,看这一世的她又如何与墨渊陷入爱河……
  • 宠妃狂魔:土匪世子妃

    宠妃狂魔:土匪世子妃

    话说谢世子才华横溢,风姿绰约,守身如玉....众少女心中的男神,不想马失前蹄,被一个女土匪给强了,从此他的人生...只能屈服在女匪淫威之下!!!
  • 批判中国人的教子方法

    批判中国人的教子方法

    教子,是中国人永恒的话题,教子不当引发的种种问题,也是家长与社会必须面对的危机。从批判中见真知,才能让我们摆脱教子误区,守护孩子顺利成长。
  • 革命时期的爱情

    革命时期的爱情

    很简单,这是一个关于毕业的故事。可毕竟不简单,因为每一个故事都不会简单――如果它又恰好发生在和平年代的毕业时分的话,它则属于我们这代人的革命时期。整个故事关于了很多的关于,比如说生活的绝望,现实的无奈,梦想的迷失,当然也有一群80后人的执着和乐观……它们如交错的水流一样汇集成了三条主线,分别是爱情、毕业和工作――对此,你只要是活在中国,念过大学,基本都会赶上.故事的文字是诙谐的,或许力度不够,但起码是真实的,拒绝虚伪,也不迷信矫情,所以从某种层面来说,它的力度已经足够。其实作为作者,我只是很傻很天真地希望可以把我们的生活,用自己的方式宣扬出来。笔触可以是楷体或是仿宋体,但感动却不会变。只因它曾真实地发生在我们的身边,它需要告诉这个世界,有这么一群人,他们在生活面前,在左与右的抉择面前,在无奈的狭缝面前,依旧隐忍、灿烂并且骄傲地活着……