登陆注册
5390600000032

第32章 CHAPTER XIX: (2)

Then, as he went, he bethought him of the Maiden's face and aspect, as she came running to him, and stood before him for that minute; and all eagerness he saw in her, and sore love of him, and distress of soul, all blent together.

So came he to the brow of the bent whence he could see lying before him, scarce more than a bow-shot away, the Golden House now gilded again and reddened by the setting sun. And even therewith came a gay image toward him, flashing back the level rays from gold and steel and silver; and lo! there was come the King's Son. They met presently, and the King's Son turned to go beside him, and said merrily: "I give thee good even, my Lady's Squire! I owe thee something of courtesy, whereas it is by thy means that I shall be made happy, both to-night, and to-morrow, and many to-morrows; and sooth it is, that but little courtesy have I done thee hitherto."

His face was full of joy, and the eyes of him shone with gladness.

He was a goodly man, but to Walter he seemed an ill one; and he hated him so much, that he found it no easy matter to answer him; but he refrained himself, and said: "I can thee thank, King's Son; and good it is that someone is happy in this strange land."

"Art thou not happy then, Squire of my Lady?" said the other.

Walter had no mind to show this man his heart, nay, nor even a corner thereof; for he deemed him an enemy. So he smiled sweetly and somewhat foolishly, as a man luckily in love, and said: "O yea, yea, why should I not be so? How might I be otherwise?"

"Yea then," said the King's Son, "why didst thou say that thou wert glad someone is happy? Who is unhappy, deemest thou?" and he looked on him keenly.

Walter answered slowly: "Said I so? I suppose then that I was thinking of thee; for when first I saw thee, yea, and afterwards, thou didst seem heavy-hearted and ill-content."

The face of the King's Son cleared at this word, and he said: "Yea, so it was; for look you, both ways it was: I was unfree, and I had sown the true desire of my heart whereas it waxed not. But now I am on the brink and verge of freedom, and presently shall my desire be blossomed. Nay now, Squire, I deem thee a good fellow, though it may be somewhat of a fool; so I will no more speak riddles to thee.

Thus it is: the Maid hath promised me all mine asking, and is mine; and in two or three days, by her helping also, I shall see the world again."

Quoth Walter, smiling askance on him: "And the Lady? what shall she say to this matter?"

The King's Son reddened, but smiled falsely enough, and said: "Sir Squire, thou knowest enough not to need to ask this. Why should I tell thee that she accounteth more of thy little finger than of my whole body? Now I tell thee hereof freely; first, because this my fruition of love, and my freeing from thralldom, is, in a way, of thy doing. For thou art become my supplanter, and hast taken thy place with yonder lovely tyrant. Fear not for me! she will let me go. As for thyself, see thou to it! But again I tell thee hereof because my heart is light and full of joy, and telling thee will pleasure me, and cannot do me any harm. For if thou say: How if I carry the tale to my Lady? I answer, thou wilt not. For I know that thine heart hath been somewhat set on the jewel that my hand holdeth; and thou knowest well on whose head the Lady's wrath would fall, and that would be neither thine nor mine."

"Thou sayest sooth," said Walter; "neither is treason my wont."

So they walked on silently a while, and then Walter said: "But how if the Maiden had nay-said thee; what hadst thou done then?"

"By the heavens!" said the King's Son fiercely, "she should have paid for her nay-say; then would I--" But he broke off, and said quietly, yet somewhat doggedly: "Why talk of what might have been?

She gave me her yea-say pleasantly and sweetly."

Now Walter knew that the man lied, so he held his peace thereon; but presently he said: "When thou art free wilt thou go to thine own land again?"

"Yea," said the King's Son; "she will lead me thither."

"And wilt thou make her thy lady and queen when thou comest to thy father's land?" said Walter.

The King's Son knit his brow, and said: "When I am in mine own land I may do with her what I will; but I look for it that I shall do no otherwise with her than that she shall be well-content."

Then the talk between them dropped, and the King's Son turned off toward the wood, singing and joyous; but Walter went soberly toward the house. Forsooth he was not greatly cast down, for besides that he knew that the King's Son was false, he deemed that under this double tryst lay something which was a-doing in his own behalf. Yet was he eager and troubled, if not down-hearted, and his soul was cast about betwixt hope and fear.

同类推荐
  • 海公大小红袍全传

    海公大小红袍全传

    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。
  • 农战

    农战

    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。
  • LYSIS

    LYSIS

    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。
  • 物犹如此

    物犹如此

    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。
  • 道要灵祇神鬼品经

    道要灵祇神鬼品经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 撩个鬼王当老公

    撩个鬼王当老公

    十二岁那年,我不小心打破家里的观音像,把封印在里面的厉鬼放出来了。我以为我会被死,可是厉鬼却对我说……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 无赖皇后:皇上,臣妾做不到

    无赖皇后:皇上,臣妾做不到

    某腐女口头禅:“宁毁十座庙,不拆一对基”。听说当朝皇上是断袖?她贼眼一亮:“爹,赶紧把我嫁给皇上!”帝后大婚之夜,月上柳梢头,隐蔽的草丛后,腐女皇后盯着凉亭里两个俊美而立的男人,激动得泪流满面:“皇上,赶紧上啊。”
  • 穿越之鸿运当头

    穿越之鸿运当头

    穿越了,本想悠哉地度过此生,可是不行啊,要不被消灭,要不被奴役,我都穿越了难道还要打工么。不行,这辈子我要当老板,虽然不能改变人生的道路,但是至少这条路上我活的自由自在。来吧,兄弟们,跟我愉快地冲向终点吧。
  • 如来在金棺嘱累清净庄严敬福经

    如来在金棺嘱累清净庄严敬福经

    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。
  • 春日游苑喜雨应诏

    春日游苑喜雨应诏

    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。
  • 爱河之源(张石山散文随笔选辑)

    爱河之源(张石山散文随笔选辑)

    最早可能成为一名北大的学生,该在1966年。那年我高中毕业。我读中学的太原三中是省内重点中学,我是学校的高材生。我在全省统考曾获总分第二名;我认为自己考取中国任何一所名牌学府都易如反掌;我的首选目标是北大。我在毕业前夕已填好了报考志愿表;我的第一志愿以及第二志愿都是北大;我选了天体物理系以及飞行器系。考北京大学,要讲北京话怎么办?从高一起,我就学了一口太原“京腔”;袜子破了又怎么办?从高二起我开始学习做针线、打补丁。连补袜子这样的细节都考虑过了,有备无患,万无一失。
  • 培根随笔集

    培根随笔集

    本书是英国哲学家和文学家弗兰西斯·培根根据自己的人生经历和哲学思考所撰写的《随笔集》。共收文58篇,内容涉及政治、经济、宗教、爱情、婚姻、友谊、艺术、教育和伦理等人类生活的方方面面,所谈及的问题均有发人深省的独到之见;而且语言简洁、文笔优美、说理透彻、警句迭出,几百年来深受各国读者欢迎,无数青少年性格的形成都受到这本书的熏陶。
  • 王爷,有种单挑!

    王爷,有种单挑!

    新文《纨绔王妃,王爷求放过》http://m.wkkk.net/a/1092183/,白宠甜,亲们快快跳坑吧!身为天下第一美人的辰王妃,生性懦弱,诞下哑巴郡主之后,更是受尽嘲讽,被侍妾欺辱。暴雨之夜,辰王妃一根白绫,悬梁自尽,再次醒来,眸中的森芒摄人心魄。她,再也不是她……斗侍妾,她手腕尽展。救女儿,她运筹帷幄。战邻国,她横扫千军。休夫君,她声名鹊起。她发誓要做这云水国最强的女人。*“王爷,不好了,王妃正在勾栏轩,说要给你戴三顶绿帽子!”某男脸色一变,行色匆匆的赶到勾栏轩,只见他的王妃,正在逐个的挑选男宠。这,这还了得?某男凤眸迸出寒芒,咬牙怒吼,“白婉璃,你找死吗?”某女勾唇一笑,“王爷,有种单挑——”
  • 贪官王忠

    贪官王忠

    中国西部,A省,天阳市。2003年5月一个天气异常闷热的日子。下午3时10分,180名官员鱼贯进入天阳市市委会议大厅。空气中散布着焦虑和不安,官员们心事重重,纵然平时熟悉的同僚或上、下级,也视而不见,连招呼也不打一个。这官员是天阳市的市委书记、市长和各部门的负责人,以及下辖各县、市的头头们。他们是由中纪委、A省纪委相关负责人召集,前来观看一部资料片的。
  • 蔚蓝旖旎的海洋(新编科技大博览·B卷)

    蔚蓝旖旎的海洋(新编科技大博览·B卷)

    现代社会的飞速发展很大程度上得益于科技的进步,“科技是第一生产力”已日益成为人们的共识。但是,由于现代科学的分工越来越细,众多的学科令人目不暇接。对于处于学习阶段的广大青少年而言,难免有“乱花渐欲迷人眼”的困扰。有鉴于此,我们组织了数十名在高等院校、教育科研机构工作、有着丰富的青少年教育的专家学者,编选了这套《新编科技大博览》。