登陆注册
5390600000053

第53章 CHAPTER XXXI:

THEY COME UPON NEW FOLK

With that they went down from the bent again, and came to where the pass narrowed so much, that they went betwixt a steep wall of rock on either side; but after an hour's going, the said wall gave back suddenly, and, or they were ware almost, they came on another dale like to that which they had left, but not so fair, though it was grassy and well watered, and not so big either. But here indeed befell a change to them; for lo! tents and pavilions pitched in the said valley, and amidst of it a throng of men, mostly weaponed, and with horses ready saddled at hand. So they stayed their feet, and Walter's heart failed him, for he said to himself: Who wotteth what these men may be, save that they be aliens? It is most like that we shall be taken as thralls; and then, at the best, we shall be sundered; and that is all one with the worst.

But the Maid, when she saw the horses, and the gay tents, and the pennons fluttering, and the glitter of spears, and gleaming of white armour, smote her palms together for joy, and cried out: "Here now are come the folk of the city for our welcoming, and fair and lovely are they, and of many things shall they be thinking, and a many things shall they do, and we shall be partakers thereof. Come then, and let us meet them, fair friend!"

But Walter said: "Alas! thou knowest not: would that we might flee! But now is it over late; so put we a good face on it, and go to them quietly, as erewhile we did in the Bear-country."

So did they; and there sundered six from the men-at-arms and came to those twain, and made humble obeisance to Walter, but spake no word.

Then they made as they would lead them to the others, and the twain went with them wondering, and came into the ring of men-at-arms, and stood before an old hoar knight, armed all, save his head, with most goodly armour, and he also bowed before Walter, but spake no word.

Then they took them to the master pavilion, and made signs to them to sit, and they brought them dainty meat and good wine. And the while of their eating arose up a stir about them; and when they were done with their meat, the ancient knight came to them, still bowing in courteous wise, and did them to wit by signs that they should depart: and when they were without, they saw all the other tents struck, and men beginning to busy them with striking the pavilion, and the others mounted and ranked in good order for the road; and there were two horse-litters before them, wherein they were bidden to mount, Walter in one, and the Maid in the other, and no otherwise might they do. Then presently was a horn blown, and all took to the road together; and Walter saw betwixt the curtains of the litter that men-at-arms rode on either side of him, albeit they had left him his sword by his side.

So they went down the mountain-passes, and before sunset were gotten into the plain; but they made no stay for nightfall, save to eat a morsel and drink a draught, going through the night as men who knew their way well. As they went, Walter wondered what would betide, and if peradventure they also would be for offering them up to their Gods; whereas they were aliens for certain, and belike also Saracens. Moreover there was a cold fear at his heart that he should be sundered from the Maid, whereas their masters now were mighty men of war, holding in their hands that which all men desire, to wit, the manifest beauty of a woman. Yet he strove to think the best of it that he might. And so at last, when the night was far spent, and dawn was at hand, they stayed at a great and mighty gate in a huge wall. There they blew loudly on the horn thrice, and thereafter the gates were opened, and they all passed through into a street, which seemed to Walter in the glimmer to be both great and goodly amongst the abodes of men. Then it was but a little ere they came into a square, wide-spreading, one side whereof Walter took to be the front of a most goodly house. There the doors of the court opened to them or ever the horn might blow, though, forsooth, blow it did loudly three times; all they entered therein, and men came to Walter and signed to him to alight. So did he, and would have tarried to look about for the Maid, but they suffered it not, but led him up a huge stair into a chamber, very great, and but dimly lighted because of its greatness. Then they brought him to a bed dight as fair as might be, and made signs to him to strip and lie therein. Perforce he did so, and then they bore away his raiment, and left him lying there. So he lay there quietly, deeming it no avail for him, a mother-naked man, to seek escape thence; but it was long ere he might sleep, because of his trouble of mind. At last, pure weariness got the better of his hopes and fears, and he fell into slumber just as the dawn was passing into day.

同类推荐
  • 元始无量度人上品妙经通义

    元始无量度人上品妙经通义

    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。
  • 佛说随勇尊者经

    佛说随勇尊者经

    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。
  • 方山先生文录

    方山先生文录

    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。
  • 同治嫖院

    同治嫖院

    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。
  • 谈苑

    谈苑

    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
  • 重生:嫡女绝色

    重生:嫡女绝色

    北晋,郑国公位列三公,位高权重。郑国公嫡子之女,因为郑寻和郑阮母亲婚事被迫流落汴京。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 我问修仙

    我问修仙

    我为什么要修仙?这个问题我困扰了我好多年,就算是走遍了五湖四海,经历了生死轮转,也没有找到答案。我认识的同道,基本都有自己的答案了,唯独我没有。我为什么要修仙呢?我修仙是为了什么?仙又是什么呢?不知道啊,这答案仍旧要找,在这衰败的修仙界。本文修仙体系详细,我在原有体系上将其设定地详细了一些。我问修仙的主题:我问自己为什么修仙,看别人为什么修仙,我在找我为什么修仙,看别人为什么修仙。
  • 爱你如良辰遇好景

    爱你如良辰遇好景

    【完本】人前,他们是令人羡慕的模范夫妻,时下最萌的“老夫少妻”组合背后,她对他冷淡似水,小心翼翼,还常常被小三骚扰。“纪景年!麻烦让你的莺莺燕燕少来骚扰我!”“老婆,你可以给她们发律师函啊……”,他在她脸颊上偷了个香,戏谑道。顾凉辰很想抓烂他那张皮笑肉不笑的脸,第二天,真的发了律师函!顺便发了一封给他!纪景年生平第一次收到律师函,新婚小妻子要跟他离婚!“小老婆,为什么离婚?”“你放开我——!”“他们说,一定是我没能满足你,是么?”“纪景年!《中国人民共和国刑法》第二百三十六条——”“以暴力、胁迫或者其他手段的,处三年以上十年以下有期徒刑……可是,你是我老婆!”
  • 皇后万万岁

    皇后万万岁

    当身穿成黑户的魏云清还在为护送侥幸从战场上活下来的草包皇帝回宫,她绝想不到将会在后世的史书上留下浓墨重彩的一笔。魏云清:我千辛万苦九死一生把你送回皇宫,不就指望着混个小康吗!你怎么对我的?恩将仇报的禽兽!草包皇帝:朕是真龙天子,一言九鼎,下的旨意怎能收回……
  • 听从自己内心的声音:乔布斯的人生忠告

    听从自己内心的声音:乔布斯的人生忠告

    乔布斯,这位亲手打造苹果帝国的男人,创造了IT历史上最辉煌的商业奇迹。今天的苹果公司在全世界已放射出夺目的光彩。也许乔布斯是不可复制的,我们也无需去复制别人。因为在《听从自己内心的声音:乔布斯的人生忠告》中,乔布斯已经告诉大家收获成功的秘籍——听从自己内心的声音。《听从自己内心的声音:乔布斯的人生忠告》将乔布斯跌宕起伏的人生经历精彩地呈现给读者,用最生动的案例和最简单的道理给予读者诸多人生启示。通过阅读《听从自己内心的声音:乔布斯的人生忠告》,你会认识到,你和乔布斯之间唯一的差距在于专注和付出。所有专注于自己喜欢的事业并努力付出的人都可以收获了不起的成功。
  • 火影之最强全能系统

    火影之最强全能系统

    一条短信,使叶枫神奇的穿越到了火影世界,并且获得了一个神官养成的系统...轮回眼,降龙十八掌,大荒囚天指,只要你有全能点,随便兑换!轩辕剑,霜之哀伤,青龙偃月刀,只要你有全能点,随便兑换!火影世界,三国世界,玄幻世界,只要你有全能点,随便你去!这是一个有全能点你就是大爷的系统。这里...是危险与机遇并存的世界!————再厉害,能撑的住我一剑吗?
  • 重生之国民男神

    重生之国民男神

    【本文女扮男装,重生虐渣,酸爽无比宠文+爽文无虐,双强双洁一对一,欢迎跳坑!】前生司凰被至亲控制陷害,贵为连冠影帝,却死无葬身之地。意外重生,再回起点,获得古怪传承。司凰摸着下巴想:这真是极好的,此生必要有债还债,有仇报仇。重临娱乐王座,明里她是女性眼里的第一男神;一语定股市,她是商人眼里的神秘小财神;一拳敌众手,她是大院新一代的霸道小王。嗯……更是某人眼里的宝贝疙瘩。然而有一天,当世人知道这货是个女人时……全民沸腾!面对群涌而至的狂蜂浪蝶,某男冷笑一声:爷护了这么久的媳妇儿,谁敢抢?“报告BOSS,李家公子要求司少陪吃饭。”“查封他家酒店。”“报告BOSS,司少和王家的小太子打起来了。”“跟医生说一声,让他‘特别关照’病人。”“啊?可是司少没事啊。”“就是‘关照’王家的。”“……”许多年后,小包子指着电视里被国民评选出来的最想抱的男人和女人的结果,一脸纠结的看着身边的男人。某男慈父脸:“小宝贝,怎么了?”包子对手指,纠结半天才问:“你到底是爸爸,还是妈妈?”某男瞬间黑脸:“当然是爸爸!”小包子认真:“可是他们都说爸爸才是男神,是男神娶了你!”某男:“……”敬请期待,二水倾力所作现代宠文,剧情为主(肯定有感情戏),保证质量!请多支持!本文架空,未免麻烦,请勿过度考据!谢谢大家!
  • 美的哲学

    美的哲学

    本书并不局囿于美学学科内部的研究范式探讨“美”的本质与现象,而是从哲学的高度进行高屋建瓴地阐发。通过剖析人与世界的关系和人的生存状态,作者将艺术视为一种基本的生活经验和基本的文化形式,一种历史的“见证”,表达了作者在“思”、“史”、“诗”相统一的哲学视角下独特的美学观与艺术观,并且呼吁让生活充满美和诗意。《美的哲学(重订本)》角度新颖,视野宏阔,具有较高的学术价值。
  • 嵩山野竹禅师录

    嵩山野竹禅师录

    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。
  • 新月余晖:失落的古巴比伦

    新月余晖:失落的古巴比伦

    在这片神奇的土地上,不仅仅生活着巴比伦人,还生活着苏美尔人、亚述人、迦勒底人、波斯人以及其他民族,他们在巴比伦历史上扮演了重要的角色,共同奏响了巴比伦文明的辉煌乐章。巴比伦文明虽然早已远去,但其跌宕起伏的历史、神秘莫测的文字、辉煌雄伟的建筑、层出不穷的发明创造,至今依然让世人惊叹和折服。