THE WATER OF THE
WONDROUS ISLES
BY WILLIAM MORRIS
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
LONDON, NEW YORK, AND BOMBAY
MDCCCXCVII
Copyright, 1897, by Longmans, Green, and Co.
CONTENTS
The First Part: Of the House of Captivity
Chapter I. Catch at Utterhay
Chapter II. Now shall be told of the House by the Waterside
Chapter III. Of Skin-changing
Chapter IV. Of the Waxing of the Stolen Child
Chapter V. Of Birdalone, and how she is grown into Maidenhood
Chapter VI. Herein is told of Birdalone’s Raiment
Chapter VII. Birdalone hath an Adventure in the Wood
Chapter VIII. Of Birdalone and the Witch-wife
Chapter IX. Of Birdalone’s Swimming
Chapter X. Birdalone comes on New Tidings
Chapter XI. Of Birdalone’s Guilt and the Chastisement thereof
Chapter XII. The Words of the Witch-wife to Birdalone
Chapter XIII. Birdalone meeteth the Wood-woman again
Chapter XIV. Of Birdalone’s Fishing
Chapter XV. Birdalone weareth her Serpent-ring
Chapter XVI. Birdalone meeteth Habundia again; and learneth her First Wisdom of her
Chapter XVII. The Passing of the Year into Winter
Chapter XVIII. Of Springtide and the Mind of Birdalone
Chapter XIX. They bid Farewell, Birdalone and the Wood-mother
Chapter XX. Of Birdalone and the Sending Boat
The Second Part: Of the Wondrous Isles
Chapter I. The First Isle
Chapter II. Birdalone falleth in with New Friends
Chapter III. Birdalone is brought before the Witch-wife’s Sister
Chapter IV. Of the Witch’s Prison in the Wailing-tower
Chapter V. They feast in the Witch’s Prison
Chapter VI. Atra tells of how they three came unto the Isle of Increase Unsought
Chapter VII. The three Damsels take Birdalone out of the Witch’s Prison
Chapter VIII. In what Wise Birdalone was clad, and how she went her Ways from the Isle of Increase Unsought
Chapter IX. How Birdalone came to the Isle of the Young and the Old
Chapter X. Birdalone comes to the Isle of the Queens
Chapter XI. And now she comes to the Isle of the Kings
Chapter XII. Of Birdalone, how she came unto the Isle of Nothing
The Third Part: Of the Castle of the Quest
Chapter I. Birdalone comes to the Castle of the Quest
Chapter II. Of Birdalone, and how she rested the Night through in a Bower without the Castle of the Quest
Chapter III. How Birdalone dight her for meeting the Champions of the Quest
Chapter IV. And now she meets the Champions
Chapter V. Birdalone has True Tokens from the Champions of the Quest
Chapter VI. How the Champions would do Birdalone to be clad anew in the Castle of the Quest
Chapter VII. Of Birdalone, how she told the Champions all her Tale
Chapter VIII. In the Meanwhile of the Departing of the Champions, they would pleasure Birdalone with Feats of Arms and Games of Prowess
Chapter IX. Birdalone cometh before the Champions in her New Array
Chapter X. The Champions go their Ways in the Sending Boat
The Fourth Part: Of the Days of Abiding
Chapter I. Of Birdalone’s Grief; and of Leonard the Chaplain
Chapter II. Birdalone learneth Lore of the Priest. Ten Days of Waiting wear
Chapter III. Now would Birdalone ride abroad
Chapter IV. Of Birdalone’s Faring abroad
Chapter V. Sir Aymeris showeth Birdalone the Mountains afar off
Chapter VI. Birdalone heareth tell Tales of the Black Valley of the Greywethers
Chapter VII. Birdalone beguileth the Priest to help her to Outgoing
Chapter VIII. Birdalone fares on her Adventure
Chapter IX. Birdalone comes to the Black Valley
Chapter X. How Birdalone fell in with a Man in the Black Valley of the Greywethers
Chapter XI. Birdalone is led up the Black Valley
Chapter XII. How those Twain get them from out of the Black Valley of the Greywethers
Chapter XIII. Now they rest for the Night in the Strait Pass
Chapter XIV. The Black Knight tells the Truth of Himself
Chapter XV. The Black Knight brings Birdalone to the Bower in the Dale
Chapter XVI. Yet a Day and a Night they tarry in the Dale
The Fifth Part: The Tale of the Quest’s Ending
Chapter I. Of Sir Leonard’s trouble and the Coming of the Quest
Chapter II. Now ask they of Birdalone, and Sir Leonard speaks
Chapter III. How they follow the Slot of Birdalone and the Black Knight
Chapter IV. Of the Slaying of Friend and Foe
Chapter V. They come home to the Castle of the Quest
Chapter VI. Of the Talk betwixt Birdalone and Viridis
Chapter VII. Birdalone telleth the Tale of her Wandering up the Valley of the Greywethers
Chapter VIII. Atra and Birdalone talk together while the Lords sit at the Murder-council
Chapter IX. Hugh tells the Story of the Quest’s Ending
Chapter X. How it fared with the Three Ladies after the Escape of Birdalone
Chapter XI. Birdalone and the Black Squire talk together in the Hall of the Castle
Chapter XII. The Knights and their Fellows betake them to the Assaulting of the Red Hold
Chapter XIII. Birdalone bethinks her to fulfil the Promise made unto Atra
Chapter XIV. Birdalone leaves the Castle of the Quest
The Sixth Part: The Days of Absence
Chapter I. Birdalone rides to Greenford and there takes Leave of Arnold and his Men
Chapter II. Of Birdalone and her Fellowship, their Faring over the Downland
Chapter III. They come to the City of the Five Crafts, and Birdalone meets with the Poor-wife
Chapter IV. Of the Love of Gerard’s Sons and of Jacobus for Birdalone
Chapter V. Of the death of Audrey, Mother to Birdalone. She is warned in a Dream to seek the Black Squire, and is minded to depart the City of the Five Crafts, and seek again the Castle of the Quest
Chapter VI. Of the Sundering of Birdalone from Gerard and his Sons
Chapter VII. Birdalone cometh to Greenford, and hears of the Wasting of the Castle of the Quest
Chapter VIII. Birdalone cometh to the Castle of the Quest, heareth the Tale thereof from Leonard, and departeth thence by the Sending Boat
Chapter IX. Birdalone findeth the Isle of Nothing greatly bettered, and is kindly entreated there
Chapter X. Of Birdalone’s Flitting from the Isle of Nothing
Chapter XI. Coming to the Isle of Kings Birdalone findeth there a Score and Two of Fair Damsels who would fain have her Company
Chapter XII. Birdalone cometh again to the Isle of Queens, and findeth a Perilous Adventure therein
Chapter XIII. Coming to the Isle of the Young and the Old, Birdalone findeth it peopled with Children
Chapter XIV. The Sending Boat disappeareth from the Isle of Increase Unsought, and Birdalone seeketh to escape thence by Swimming
Chapter XV. Birdalone lacketh little of Drowning, but cometh latterly to the Green Eyot
Chapter XVI. Birdalone findeth her Witch-mistress dead
Chapter XVII. Birdalone layeth to Earth the Body of the Witch, and findeth the Sending Boat broken up
Chapter XVIII. The Wood-mother cometh to Birdalone and heareth her Story
Chapter XIX. Habundia hideth Birdalone’s Nakedness with Faery Raiment
Chapter XX. Birdalone telleth Habundia of her Love for Arthur, and getteth from her Promise of Help therein
Chapter XXI. How the Wood-wife entered the Cot, and a Wonder that befell thereon
Chapter XXII. Birdalone wendeth the Wildwood in Fellowship with Habundia
Chapter XXIII. The Wood-wife bringeth Birdalone to the Sight of Arthur in the Wildwood
Chapter XXIV. The Wood-mother changeth her Form to that of a Woman stricken in Years
Chapter XXV. The Wood-wife healeth and tendeth the Black Squire
Chapter XXVI. The Black Squire telleth the Wood-wife of his Doings since Birdalone went from the Castle of the Quest
Chapter XXVII. Sir Arthur cometh to the House under the Wood
Chapter XXVIII. Fair Days in the House of Love
Chapter XXIX. Those Twain will seek the Wisdom of the Wood-wife
Chapter XXX. They have Speech with Habundia concerning the Green Knight and his Fellows
Chapter XXXI. Habundia cometh with Tidings of those Dear Friends
Chapter XXXII. Of the Fight in the Forest and the Rescue of those Friends from the Men of the Red Company
Chapter XXXIII. Viridis telleth the Tale of their Seeking
The Seventh Part: The Days of Returning
Chapter I. Sir Hugh asketh Birdalone where she would have the Abode of their Fellowship to be
Chapter II. Birdalone taketh Counsel with her Wood-mother concerning the Matter of Sir Hugh
Chapter III. Of the Journeying through the Forest of Evilshaw unto the Town of Utterhay
Chapter IV. Of the Abiding in Utterhay in Love and Contentment
THE FIRST PART:
OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY.
CHAPTER I.
CATCH AT UTTERHAY.
Whilom, as tells the tale, was a walled cheaping-town hight Utterhay,
which was builded in a bight of the land a little off the great highway
which went from over the mountains to the sea.
The said town was hard on the borders of a wood, which men held to be
mighty great, or maybe measureless; though few indeed had entered it,
and they that had, brought back tales wild and confused thereof.
Therein was neither highway nor byway, nor wood-reeve nor way-warden;
never came chapman thence into Utterhay; no man of Utterhay was so poor
or so bold that he durst raise the hunt therein; no outlaw durst flee
thereto; no man of God had such trust in the saints that he durst build
him a cell in that wood.
For all men deemed it more than perilous; and some said that there
walked the worst of the dead; othersome that the Goddesses of the
Gentiles haunted there; others again that it was the faery rather, but
they full of malice and guile. But most commonly it was deemed that the
devils swarmed amidst of its thickets, and that wheresoever a man
sought to, who was once environed by it, ever it was the Gate of Hell
whereto he came. And the said wood was called Evilshaw.
Nevertheless the cheaping-town throve not ill; for whatso evil things
haunted Evilshaw, never came they into Utterhay in such guise that men
knew them, neither wotted they of any hurt that they had of the Devils
of Evilshaw.
Now in the said cheaping-town, on a day, it was market and high noon,
and in the market-place was much people thronging; and amidst of them
went a woman, tall, and strong of aspect, of some thirty winters by
seeming, black-haired, hook-nosed and hawk-eyed, not so fair to look on
as masterful and proud. She led a great grey ass betwixt two panniers,
wherein she laded her marketings. But now she had done her chaffer, and
was looking about her as if to note the folk for her disport; but when
she came across a child, whether it were borne in arms or led by its
kinswomen, or were going alone, as were some, she seemed more heedful
of it, and eyed it more closely than aught else.
So she strolled about till she was come to the outskirts of the throng,
and there she happened on a babe of some two winters, which was
crawling about on its hands and knees, with scarce a rag upon its
little body. She watched it, and looked whereto it was going, and saw a
woman sitting on a stone, with none anigh her, her face bowed over her
knees as if she were weary or sorry. Unto her crept the little one,
murmuring and merry, and put its arms about the woman’s legs, and
buried its face in the folds of her gown: she looked up therewith, and
showed a face which had once been full fair, but was now grown bony and
haggard, though she were scarce past five and twenty years. She took
the child and strained it to her bosom, and kissed it, face and hands,
and made it great cheer, but ever woefully. The tall stranger stood
looking down on her, and noted how evilly she was clad, and how she
seemed to have nought to do with that throng of thriving cheapeners,
and she smiled somewhat sourly.
At last she spake, and her voice was not so harsh as might have been
looked for from her face: Dame, she said, thou seemest to be less busy
than most folk here; might I crave of thee to tell an alien who has but
some hour to dwell in this good town where she may find her a chamber
wherein to rest and eat a morsel, and be untroubled of ribalds and ill
company? Said the poor-wife: Short shall be my tale; I am over poor to
know of hostelries and ale-houses that I may tell thee aught thereof.
Said the other: Maybe some neighbour of thine would take me in for thy
sake? Said the mother: What neighbours have I since my man died; and I
dying of hunger, and in this town of thrift and abundance?
The leader of the ass was silent a while, then she said: Poor woman! I
begin to have pity on thee; and I tell thee that luck hath come to thee
to-day.
Now the poor-wife had stood up with the babe in her arms and was
turning to go her ways; but the alien put forth a hand to her, and
said: Stand a while and hearken good tidings. And she put her hand to
her girdle-pouch, and drew thereout a good golden piece, a noble, and
said: When I am sitting down in thine house thou wilt have earned this,
and when I take my soles out thereof there will be three more of like
countenance, if I be content with thee meanwhile.
The woman looked on the gold, and tears came into her eyes; but she
laughed and said: Houseroom may I give thee for an hour truly, and
therewithal water of the well, and a mouse’s meal of bread. If thou
deem that worth three nobles, how may I say thee nay, when they may
save the life of my little one. But what else wouldst thou of me?
Little enough, said the alien; so lead me straight to thine house.
So went they forth of the market-place, and the woman led them, the
alien and the ass, out of the street through the west gate of Utterhay,
that, to wit, which looked on Evilshaw, and so into a scattering street
without the wall, the end of which neared a corner of the wood
aforesaid: the houses there were nought so evil of fashion, but whereas
they were so nigh unto the Devil’s Park, rich men might no longer away
with them, and they were become wares for poor folk.
Now the townswoman laid her hand on the latch of the door that was
hers, and threw the door open; then she put forth her palm to the
other, and said: Wilt thou give me the first gold now, since rest is
made sure for thee, as long as thou wilt? The ass-leader put it into
her hand, and she took it and laid it on her baby’s cheek, and then
kissed both gold and child together; then she turned to the alien and
said: As for thy way-beast, I have nought for him, neither hay nor
corn: thou wert best to leave him in the street. The stranger nodded a
yeasay, and the three went in together, the mother, the child, and the
alien.
Not right small was the chamber; but there was little therein; one
stool to wit, a yew-chair, a little table, and a coffer: there was no
fire on the hearth, nought save white ashes of small wood; but it was
June, so that was of no account.
The guest sat down in the yew-chair, and the poor-wife laid her child
down gently on the floor and came and stood before the stranger, as if
abiding her bidding.
Spake the alien: Nought so uncomely or strait is thy chamber; and thy
child, which I see is a woman, and therefore belike shall long abide
with thee, is lovely of shape, and fair of flesh. Now also thou shalt
have better days, as I deem, and I pray them on thine head.
She spake in a kind wheedling voice, and the poor-wife’s face grew
softer, and presently tears fell down on to the table from her, but she
spake no word. The guest now drew forth, not three nobles, but four,
and laid them on the table, and said: Lo, my friend, the three nobles
which I behight thee! now are they thine; but this other thou shalt
take and spend for me. Go up into the town, and buy for me white bread
of the best; and right good flesh, or poulaine if it may be, already
cooked and dight; and, withal, the best wine that thou mayst get, and
sweetmeats for thy baby; and when thou comest back, we will sit
together and dine here. And thereafter, when we be full of meat and
drink, we shall devise something more for thy good speed.
The woman knelt before her weeping, but might speak no word because of
the fullness of her heart. She kissed the guest’s hands, and took the
money, and then arose and caught up her child, and kissed her bare
flesh eagerly many times, and then hastened out of the house and up the
street and through the gate; and the guest sat hearkening to the sound
of her footsteps till it died out, and there was nought to be heard
save the far-off murmur of the market, and the chirrup of the little
one on the floor.
Then arose the guest and took up the child from the floor, who kicked
and screamed, and craved her mother as her broken speech might; but the
alien spake softly to her, and said: Hush, dear one, and be good, and
we will go and find her; and she gave her therewith a sugar-plum from
out of her scrip. Then she came out of doors, and spake sweetly to the
little one: See now this pretty way-beast. We will ride merrily on him
to find thy mother.
Then she laid the child in the pannier with a soft cushion under, and a
silk cloth over her, so that she lay there happily. Then she took her
ass’s rein and went her ways over the waste toward Evilshaw; for, as ye
may deem, where the houses and the street ended, the beaten way ended
also.
Quietly and speedily she went, and met but three men on the way; and
when these saw her, and that she was making for Evilshaw, they turned
their heads away, each one, and blessed themselves, and went past
swiftly. Not one sought to stay her, or held any converse with her, and
no foot she heard following after her. So in scarce more than the
saying of a low mass she was in amongst the trees, with her ass and her
wares and her prey.
No stay she made there, but held forward at her best before the night
should fall upon her. And whatsoever might be told concerning the
creatures that other folk had met in Evilshaw, of her it must needs be
said that therein she happened on nought worser than herself.
CHAPTER II.
NOW SHALL BE TOLD OF THE HOUSE BY THE WATER-SIDE.
Four days they wended the wood, and nought befell to tell of. The
witch-wife (for even such was she) fed the stolen child well and duly,
and whiles caressed her and spake sweetly unto her; whiles also she
would take her out of the pannier, and set her on the ass’s back and
hold her thereon heedfully; or, otherwhiles, when they came upon grassy
and flowery places, she would set her down on the ground and let her
roam about, and pluck the flowers and the strawberries. And whoso might
be sorry, the child was glad, so many things new and fair as she came
upon.
At last, when the fifth day was waning, and they had been a long while
wending a wood set thick with trees, it began to grow grey betwixt the
distant boles, and then from grey to white, and it was as if a new
world of light lay before them. Thitherward went they, and in a little,
and before the sun was set, came they to the shore of a great water,
and thence was no more land to be seen before them than if it had been
the main sea itself, though this was a sweet water. Albeit, less than a
half mile from the shore lay two eyots, as it might have been on the
salt sea; but one of these sat low down on the water, and was green and
well bushed, but the other, which lay east of it, and was nigher to the
shore, was high, rocky, and barren.
Now the ending of the wood left a fair green plain betwixt it and the
water, whiles more than a furlong across, whiles much less; and whiles
the trees came down close to the water-side. But the place whereas they
came from out the wood was of the widest, and there it was a broad
bight of greensward of the fashion of the moon seven nights old, and a
close hedge of thicket there was at the back of it; and the lake lay
south, and the wood north. Some deal of this greensward was broken by
closes of acre-land, and the tall green wheat stood blossoming therein;
but the most was sweet meadow, and there as now was a gallant flock of
goats feeding down it; five kine withal, and a tethered bull. Through
the widest of this meadow ran a clear stream winding down to the lake,
and on a little knoll beside a lap of the said stream, two bow-shots
from the water, was a knoll, whereon stood, amidst of a potherb garden,
a little house strongly framed of timber. Before it the steep bank of
the lake broke down into a slowly-shelving beach, whose honey-coloured
sand thrust up a tongue in amongst the grass of the mead.
Went the witch-wife straight to the door of the said house as if she
were at home, as was sooth indeed. She threw the door open, and unladed
the ass of all his wares, and first of the youngling, whom she shook
awake, and bore into the house, and laid safely on the floor of the
chamber; nor did she wait on her wailing, but set about what was to be
done to kindle fire, and milk a she-goat, and get meat upon the board.
That did she, and fed both herself and the child plenteously: neither
did she stint her of meat ever, from that time forward, however else
she dealt with her.
CHAPTER III.
OF SKIN-CHANGING.
One thing must here be told: Whenas the said dame stood forth clad
amidst of the chamber the next morning, the child ran up to her to
greet her or what not, but straightway when she saw her close, drew
aback, and stood gasping with affright; for verily she deemed this was
nowise she who had brought her last night into the fair chamber, and
given bread and milk to her and put her to bed, but someone else. For
this one had not dark hair, and hooked nose, and eyen hawk-bright;
stark and tall was she indeed, as that other one, and by seeming of the
same-like age; but there came to an end all her likeness to last
night’s housewife. This one had golden-red hair flowing down from her
head; eyes of hazel colour, long and not well-opened, but narrow and
sly. High of cheekbones she was, long-chinned and thin-lipped; her skin
was fine and white, but without ruddiness; flat-breasted she was, and
narrow-hipped.
Now she laughed at the babe’s terror, and said, but in her old voice at
least: Thou foolish little beast! I know what scares thee, to wit, that
thou deemest me changed: now I tell thee that I am the one who brought
thee here last night, and fed thee; neither is my changing a matter of
thine, since at least I am the one who shall keep thee from hunger and
weather henceforward; that is enough for thee to know as now. Now thou
hast to eat and sleep and play and cry out, that thou mayest the sooner
wax, and grow into the doing of my will.
Therewith she led her out into the sunshine, and tethered her to an ash
sapling which grew anigh the door, that the child might be safe the
while she went about her work in acre and mead.
But as for that matter of changing of aspect, the maiden came to know
thereafter that the witch durst not go into the wood in the same skin
as that which she wore at home, wherefore she had changed it for the
journey to Utterhay, and changed back again in the night-tide before
she arose.
CHAPTER IV.
OF THE WAXING OF THE STOLEN CHILD.
This little one, who is henceforth called Birdalone, though the witch
called her but seldom so, nor indeed by any name, dwelt there betwixt
the water and the wood, and saw none save the said witch-wife, who, as
aforesaid, fed her well, but scarce meddled with her else for a long
while; so she wandered well-nigh as she had will, and much in the wood;
for she had no fear thereof, nor indeed of aught else save of the dame.
She learned of the ways and the wont of all the creatures round about
her, and the very grass and flowers were friends to her, and she made
tales of them in her mind; and the wild things feared her in no wise,
and the fowl would come to her hand, and play with her and love her. A
lovely child she was, rosy and strong, and as merry as the birds on the
bough; and had she trouble, for whiles she came across some ugly mood
of the witch-wife, she bore it all as lightly as they.
Wore the years thus, till now she was grown tall and thin, and had seen
twelve winters, and was far stronger and handier than at first sight
she looked to be. That found her mistress, and would not forego the
using of her deftness. For indeed the maiden knew all matters of wood
and field full well, and somewhat of the water also (though no boat had
she ever seen there), for she learned herself swimming, as the ducks do
belike.
But now her mistress would learn her swinking, and hard was the lesson,
for with twiggen rods and switches was she learned, and was somewhat
stubborn with this woman, who she deemed loved her not; and, however it
were, there began to grow in her an inkling that all was not well with
the dame, and howsoever she might fear her, she trusted her not, nor
worshipped her; otherwise she had learned her lesson speedily; for she
was not slack nor a sluggard, and hated not the toil, even when it
pained and wearied her, but against the anger and malice she hardened
her heart.
It is to be said, that though there she dwelt alone with the
witch-wife, she had somehow got to know that they two were not alone in
the world, and she knew of male and female, and young and old. Thereof
doubtless the witch herself had learned her, would she, would she not;
for though she were mostly few-spoken, yet whiles the tongue of her
would loosen, and she would tell Birdalone tales of men and women, and
kings and warriors and thralls, and the folk of the world beyond them,
if it were but to scare the child. Yea, and when she rated Birdalone,
or girded at her, words would come forth which the maiden stored up,
and by laying two and two together gat wisdom howso it were. Moreover,
she was of the race of Adam, and her heart conceived of diverse matters
from her mother’s milk and her father’s blood, and her heart and her
mind grew up along with her body. Herein also was she wise, to wit, how
to give wrath the go-by, so that she oft found the wood a better home
than the house: for now she knew that the witch-wife would enter it
never; wherefore she loved it much, and haunted it daily if she might.
Amidst all this she lived not unmerrily; for the earth was her friend,
and solaced her when she had suffered aught: withal she was soon grown
hardy as well as strong; and evil she could thole, nor let it burden
her with misery.
CHAPTER V.
OF BIRDALONE, AND HOW SHE IS GROWN INTO MAIDENHOOD.
Wear the years and the years amidst such days as these, and now is
Birdalone grown a dear maiden of seventeen summers; and yet was her
life not unhappy; though the mirth of her childhood was somewhat
chastened in her, and she walked the earth soberly and measurely, as
though deep thoughts were ever in her head: though, forsooth, it is not
all so sure that her serious face and solemn eyes were but a part of
the beauty which was growing with the coming forth of childhood into
youth and maidenhood. But this at least is sure, that about this time
those forebodings which had shown her that she had no call to love and
honour her mistress took clearer shape, and became a burden on her,
which she might never wholly shake off. For this she saw, that she was
not her own, but a chattel and a tool of one who not only used her as a
thrall in the passing day, but had it in her mind to make of her a
thing accursed like to herself, and to bait the trap with her for the
taking of the sons of Adam. Forsooth she saw, though dimly, that her
mistress was indeed wicked, and that in the bonds of that wickedness
was she bound.
One thing, moreover, had she noted now this long while, that once and
again, it might be once every two moons, the witch-wife would arise in
the dead of night and go forth from the house, and be away for a day,
or two or three, or whiles more, and come back again weary and fordone;
but never said she any word to Birdalone hereof. Yet oft when she arose
to go this errand, before she left the chamber would she come to
Birdalone’s truckle-bed, and stand over her to note if she were asleep
or not; and ever at such times did Birdalone feign slumber amidst of
sickening dread. Forsooth in these latter days it whiles entered the
maiden’s head that when the dame was gone she would rise and follow her
and see whither she went, and what she did; but terror constrained her
that she went not.
Now from amidst all these imaginings arose a hope in her that she might
one day escape from her thralldom: and whiles, when she was lonely and
safe in the wood, to this hope she yielded herself; but thereof came
such tumult of her soul for joy of the hope, that she might not master
her passion; the earth would seem to rise beneath her, and the woods to
whirl about before her eyes, so that she might not keep her feet, but
would sink adown to earth, and lie there weeping. Then most oft would
come the cold fit after the hot, and the terror would take her that
some day the witch would surprise the joy of that hope in her eyes, and
would know what it meant, or that some light word might bewray her; and
therewith came imaginings of what would then befall her, nor were that
hard to picture, and it would come before her over and over again till
she became weary and worn out therewith.
But though they abode ever with her, these troubling thoughts pricked
not so oft at the keenest, but were as the dull ache of little import
that comes after pain overcome: for in sooth busy and toilsome days did
she wear, which irked her in nowise, since it eased her of the torment
of those hopes and fears aforesaid, and brought her sound sleep and
sweet awaking. The kine and the goats must she milk, and plough and sow
and reap the acre-land according to the seasons, and lead the beasts to
the woodland pastures when their own were flooded or burned; she must
gather the fruits of the orchard, and the hazel nuts up the woodlands,
and beat the walnut-trees in September. She must make the butter and
the cheese, grind the wheat in the quern, make and bake the bread, and
in all ways earn her livelihood hard enough. Moreover, the bowman’s
craft had she learned, and at the dame’s bidding must fare alone into
the wood now and again to slay big deer and little, and win venison:
but neither did that irk her at all, for rest and peace were in the
woods for her.
True it is, that as she wended thicket or glade or wood-lawn, she would
at whiles grow timorous, and tread light and heedfully, lest rustling
leaves or crackling stick should arouse some strange creature in human
shape, devil, or god now damned, or woman of the faery. But if such
were there, either they were wise and would not be seen, or kind and
had no will to scare the simple maiden; or else maybe there were none
such in those days. Anyhow, nought evil came to her out of Evilshaw.
CHAPTER VI.
HEREIN IS TOLD OF BIRDALONE’S RAIMENT.
Lank and long is Birdalone the sweet, with legs that come forth bare
and browned from under her scant grey coat and scantier smock beneath,
which was all her raiment save when the time was bitter, and then,
forsooth, it was a cloak of goat-skin that eked her attire: for the
dame heeded little the clothing of her; nor did Birdalone give so much
heed thereto that she cared to risk the anger of her mistress by asking
her for aught.
But on a day of this same spring, when the witch-wife was of sweeter
temper than her wont was, and the day was very warm and kindly, though
it was but one of the last of February days, Birdalone, blushing and
shamefaced, craved timidly some more womanly attire. But the dame
turned gruffly on her and said: Tush, child! what needeth it? here be
no men to behold thee. I shall see to it, that when due time comes thou
shalt be whitened and sleeked to the very utmost. But look thou! thou
art a handy wench; take the deer-skin that hangs up yonder and make
thee brogues for thy feet, if so thou wilt.
Even so did Birdalone, and shaped the skin to her feet; but as she was
sewing them a fancy came into her head; for she had just come across
some threads of silk of divers colours; so she took them and her shoon
and her needle up into the wood, and there sat down happily under a
great spreading oak which much she haunted, and fell to broidering the
kindly deer-skin. And she got to be long about it, and came back to it
the next day and the next, and many days, whenso her servitude would
suffer it, and yet the shoon were scarce done.
So on a morning the dame looked on her feet as she moved about the
chamber, and cried out at her: What! art thou barefoot as an hen yet?
Hast thou spoilt the good deer-skin and art yet but shoeless? Nay, our
lady, said Birdalone, but the shoon are not altogether done. Show them
to me, said the dame.
Birdalone went to her little coffer to fetch them, and brought them
somewhat timorously, for she knew not how her mistress would take her
working on them so long, if perchance she would blame her, or it might
be chastise her, for even in those days the witch-wife’s hand was
whiles raised against her. But now when the dame took the shoes and
looked on them, and saw how there were oak-leaves done into them, and
flowers, and coneys, and squirrels, she but smiled somewhat grimly on
Birdalone, and said: Well, belike thou art a fool to waste thy time and
mine in such toys; and to give thee thy due would be to give thee
stripes. But thou doest herein after the nature of earthly women, to
adorn thy body, whatsoever else is toward. And well is that, since I
would have thee a woman so soon as may be; and I will help thy mind for
finery, since thou art so deft with thy needle.
Therewith she went to the big coffer and drew forth thence a piece of
fine green cloth, and another of fine linen, and said to Birdalone:
This mayest thou take, and make thee a gown thereof and a new smock,
and make them if thou wilt as gay as thy new shoon are gotten to be;
and here is wherewithal. And therewith she gave her two handfuls of
silken threads and gold, and said: Now I suppose that I must do the
more part of thy work, while thou art making thee these gaudy garments.
But maybe someone may be coming this way ere long, who will deem the
bird the finer for her fine feathers. Now depart from me; for I would
both work for thee and me, and ponder weighty matters.
Who was glad now but Birdalone; she grew red with new pleasure, and
knelt down and kissed the witch’s hand, and then went her ways to the
wood with her precious lading, and wrought there under her oak-tree day
after day, and all days, either there, or in the house when the weather
was foul. That was in the middle of March, when all birds were singing,
and the young leaves showing on the hawthorns, so that there were pale
green clouds, as it were, betwixt the great grey boles of oak and
sweet-chestnut; and by the lake the meadow-saffron new-thrust-up was
opening its blossom; and March wore and April, and still she was at
work happily when now it was later May, and the hare-bells were in full
bloom down the bent before her.
All this while the witch had meddled little with Birdalone, and had
bidden her to no work afield or in the stead which was anywise
grievous, but had done all herself; yet was she few-spoken with her,
and would oft behold her gloomily. And one evening when Birdalone came
in from the wood, the witch came close up to her and stared her in the
face, and said suddenly: Is it in thine heart to flee away from me and
leave me?
A sharp pang of fear shot through Birdalone’s heart at that word, and
she turned very red, and then pale to the lips, but stammered out: No,
lady, it is not in mine heart. The dame looked grimly on her and said:
If thou try it and fail, thou shalt rue it once only, to wit, lifelong;
and thou canst but fail. She was silent a while, and then spake in a
milder voice: Be content here a while with me, and thereafter thou
shalt be more content, and that before long.
She said no more at that time; but her word clave to Birdalone’s heart,
and for some time thereafter she was sorely oppressed with a burden of
fear, and knew not how to hold herself before the witch-wife. But the
days wore, and nought betid, and the maiden’s heart grew lighter, and
still she wrought on at her gown and her smock, and it was well-nigh
done. She had broidered the said gown with roses and lilies, and a tall
tree springing up from amidmost the hem of the skirt, and a hart on
either side thereof, face to face of each other. And the smock she had
sewn daintily at the hems and the bosom with fair knots and buds. It
was now past the middle of June, hot and bright weather.
CHAPTER VII.
BIRDALONE HATH AN ADVENTURE IN THE WOOD.
On a day she went to the wood, and sat down under her oak-tree, and it
was far and far out of sight of anyone standing in the meadow by the
lake; and in the wood Birdalone looked to see nought at all save the
rabbits and squirrels, who were, forsooth, familiar enough with her,
and fearless, so that they would come to her hand and sport with her
when she hailed them. Wherefore, as the day was exceeding hot, she put
off from her her simple raiment, that she might feel all the pleasure
of the cool shadow and what air was stirring, and the kindness of the
greensward upon her very body. So she sat sewing, covered but by a lap
of the green gown which her needle was painting.
But as she sat there intent on her work, and her head bent over it, and
it was now at the point of high noon, she heard as if some creature
were going anigh to her; she heeded it not, deeming that it would be
but some wandering hind. But even therewith she heard one say her name
in a soft voice, and she leapt up trembling, deeming at first that it
would be the witch come to fetch her: but yet more scared she was, when
she saw standing before her the shape of a young woman as naked as
herself, save that she had an oak wreath round about her loins.
The new-comer, who was now close to her, smiled on her, and said in a
kind and sweet voice: Fear nought, Birdalone, for I deem thou wilt find
me a friend, and it is not unlike that thou wilt need one ere long. And
furthermore, I will say it, said she smiling, that since I am not
afraid of thee, thou needest not be afraid of me. Said Birdalone, she
also smiling: True it is that thou art nought fearsome to look on. The
new-comer laughed outright, and said: Are we not well met then in the
wildwood? and we both as two children whom the earth loveth. So play we
at a game. At what game? said Birdalone. Spake she of the oak-wreath:
This; thou shalt tell me what I am like in thine eyes first, because
thou wert afraid of me; and then when thou art done, I will tell thee
what thou seemest to me.
Quoth Birdalone: For me that will be hard; for I have nought to liken
thee to, whereas save this sight of thee I have seen nought save her
that dwelleth in the House by the Water, and whom I serve. Nay, said
the other, then will I begin, and tell thee first whatlike thou art, so
that thou wilt know the better how to frame thy word concerning me. But
tell me, hast thou ever seen thyself in a mirror? What thing is that?
said Birdalone. It is a polished round of steel or some other white
metal, said the wood-maiden, which giveth back in all truth the image
of whatso cometh before it. Said Birdalone and reddened therewith: We
have at home a broad latten dish, which it is my work, amongst other
things, to brighten and keep bright; yet may I not make it so bright
that I may see much of mine image therein; and yet. What wouldst thou?
said the wood-woman. Said Birdalone: I shall tell thee presently when
thy part of the play is done.
Laughed the new-comer, and said: It is well; now am I to be thy mirror.
Thus it is with thee: thou standest before me a tall and slim maiden,
somewhat thin, as befitteth thy seventeen summers; where thy flesh is
bare of wont, as thy throat and thine arms and thy legs from the middle
down, it is tanned a beauteous colour, but otherwhere it is even as
fair a white, wholesome and clean, and as if the golden sunlight, which
fulfilleth the promise of the earth, were playing therein. Fairer and
rounder shall be thine arms and thy shoulders when thou hast seen five
more summers, yet scarce more lovesome, so strong and fine as now they
are. Low are thy breasts, as is meet for so young a maiden, yet is
there no lack in them; nor ever shall they be fairer than now they are.
In goodly fashion sits thine head upon thy shoulders, upheld by a long
and most well-wrought neck, that the sun hath tanned as aforesaid. The
hair of thee is simple brown, yet somewhat more golden than dark; and
ah! now thou lettest it loose it waveth softly past thy fair smooth
forehead and on to thy shoulders, and is not stayed by thy girdlestead,
but hideth nought of thy knees, and thy legs shapely thin, and thy
strong and clean-wrought ankles and feet, which are with thee as full
of thine heart and thy soul and as wise and deft as be thy wrists and
thine hands, and their very fellows. Now as to thy face: under that
smooth forehead is thy nose, which is of measure, neither small nor
great, straight, and lovely carven at the nostrils: thine eyen are as
grey as a hawk’s, but kind and serious, and nothing fierce nor
shifting. Nay, now thou lettest thine eyelids fall, it is as fair with
thy face as if they were open, so smooth and simple are they and with
their long full lashes. But well are thine eyen set in thine head, wide
apart, well opened, and so as none shall say thou mayst not look in the
face of them. Thy cheeks shall one day be a snare for the unwary, yet
are they not fully rounded, as some would have them; but not I, for
most pitiful kind are they forsooth. Delicate and clear-made is the
little trench that goeth from thy nose to thy lips, and sweet it is,
and there is more might in it than in sweet words spoken. Thy lips,
they are of the finest fashion, yet rather thin than full; and some
would not have it so; but I would, whereas I see therein a sign of thy
valiancy and friendliness. Surely he who did thy carven chin had a mind
to a master-work and did no less. Great was the deftness of thine
imaginer, and he would have all folk that see thee wonder at thy deep
thinking and thy carefulness and thy kindness. Ah maiden! is it so that
thy thoughts are ever deep and solemn? Yet at least I know it of thee
that they be hale and true and sweet.
My friend, when thou hast a mirror, some of all this shalt thou see,
but not all; and when thou hast a lover some deal wilt thou hear, but
not all. But now thy she-friend may tell it thee all, if she have eyes
to see it, as have I; whereas no man could say so much of thee before
the mere love should overtake him, and turn his speech into the folly
of love and the madness of desire. So now I have played the play, and
told thee of thee; tell me now of me, and play thy play.
For a while stood Birdalone silent, blushing and confused, but whiles
casting shy glances at her own body, what she might see of it. At last
she spake: Fair friend, I would do thy will, but I am not deft of
speech; for I speak but little, save with the fowl and wild things, and
they may not learn me the speech of man. Yet I will say that I wonder
to hear thee call me fair and beauteous; for my dame tells me that
never, nor sayeth aught of my aspect save in her anger, and then it is:
Rag! and bag-of-bones! and when wilt thou be a woman, thou lank elf
thou? The new-comer laughed well-favouredly hereat, and put forth a
hand, and stroked her friend’s cheek. Birdalone looked piteous kind on
her and said: But now I must needs believe thy words, thou who art so
kind to me, and withal thyself so beauteous. And I will tell thee that
it fills my heart with joy to know that I am fair like to thee. For
this moreover I will tell thee, that I have seen nought in field or
woodland that is as lovely to me as thou art; nay, not the fritillary
nodding at our brook’s mouth, nor the willow-boughs waving on Green
Eyot; nor the wild-cat sporting on the little woodlawn, when she saw me
not; nor the white doe rising up from the grass to look to her fawn;
nor aught that moves and grows. Yet there is another thing which I must
tell thee, to wit, that what thou hast said about the fashion of any
part of me, that same, setting aside thy lovely words, which make the
tears come into the eyes of me, would I say of thee. Look thou! I take
thine hair and lay the tress amongst mine, and thou mayst not tell
which is which; and amidst the soft waves of it thy forehead is
nestling smooth as thou saidst of mine: hawk-grey and wide apart are
thine eyen, and deep thought and all tenderness is in them, as of me
thou sayest: fine is thy nose and of due measure; and thy cheeks a
little hollow, and somewhat thin thy lovely lips; and thy round chin so
goodly carven, as it might not be better done. And of thy body else I
will say as thou sayst of mine, though I deem these hands have done
more work than thine. But see thou! thy leg and mine as they stand
together; and thine arm, as if it were of my body. Slim and slender
thou art, or it may be lank; and I deem our dame would call thee also
bag-of-bones. Now is this strange. Who art thou? Art thou my very own
sister? I would thou wert.
Spake then to Birdalone that image of her, and said, smiling kindly on
her: As to our likeness, thou hast it now; so alike are we, as if we
were cast in one mould. But thy sister of blood I am not; nay, I will
tell thee at once that I am not of the children of Adam. As to what I
am, that is a long story, and I may not tell it as now; but thou mayst
call me Habundia, as I call thee Birdalone. Now it is true that to
everyone I show not myself in this fair shape of thee; but be not
aghast thereat, or deem me like unto thy mistress herein, for as now I
am, so ever shall I be unto thee.
Quoth Birdalone, looking on her anxiously: Yea, and I shall see thee
again, shall I not? else should I grieve, and wish that I had never
seen thee at all. Yea, forsooth, said Habundia, for I myself were most
fain to see thee oft. But now must thou presently get thee back home,
for evil as now is the mood of thy mistress, and she is rueing the gift
of the green gown, and hath in her mind to seek occasion to chastise
thee.
Now was Birdalone half weeping, as she did on her raiment while her
friend looked on her kindly. She said presently: Habundia, thou seest I
am hard bestead; give me some good rede thereto.
That will I, said the wood-wife. When thou goest home to the house, be
glad of countenance, and joyous that thy gown is nigh done; and
therewith be exceeding wary. For I deem it most like that she will ask
thee what thou hast seen in the wood, and then if thou falter, or thy
face change, then she will have an inkling of what hath befallen, to
wit, that thou hast seen someone; and then will she be minded to
question thy skin. But if thou keep countenance valiantly, then
presently will her doubt run off her, and she will cease grudging, and
will grow mild with thee and meddle not. This is the first rede, and is
for to-day; and now for the second, which is for days yet unborn. Thou
hast in thy mind to flee away from her; and even so shalt thou do one
day, though it may be by way of Weeping Cross; for she is sly and wise
and grim, though sooth it is that she hateth thee not utterly. Now thou
must note that nowise she hindereth thee from faring in this wood, and
that is because she wotteth, as I do, that by this way there is no
outgoing for thee. Wherefore look thou to it that it is by the way of
the water that thou shalt fare to the land of men-folk. Belike this may
seem marvellous to thee; but so it is; and belike I may tell thee more
hereof when time serveth. Now cometh the last word of my rede. Maybe if
thou come often to the wood, we shall whiles happen on each other; but
if thou have occasion for me, and wouldst see me at once, come hither,
and make fire, and burn a hair of my head therein, and I will be with
thee: here is for thee a tress of mine hair; now thou art clad, thou
mayst take a knife from thy pouch and shear it from off me.
Even so did Birdalone, and set the tress in her pouch; and therewith
they kissed and embraced each other, and Birdalone went her ways home
to the house, but Habundia went back into the wood as she had come.
CHAPTER VIII.
OF BIRDALONE AND THE WITCH-WIFE.
It went with Birdalone as Habundia had foretold, for she came home to
the house glad of semblance, flushed and light-foot, so that she was
lovely and graceful beyond her wont. The dame looked on her doubtfully
and grimly a while, and then she said: What ails thee, my servant, that
thou lookest so masterful? Nought ails me, lady, said Birdalone, save
that I am gay because of the summer season, and chiefly because of thy
kindness and thy gift, and that I have well-nigh done my work thereon,
and that soon now I shall feel these dainty things beating about my
ankles. And she held up and spread abroad the skirt with her two hands,
and it was indeed goodly to look on.
The witch-wife snorted scornfully and scowled on her, and said: Thine
ankles forsooth! Bag-o’-bones! thou wisp! forsooth, thou art in love
with thy looks, though thou knowest not what like a fair woman is.
Forsooth, I begin to think that thou wilt never grow into a woman at
all, but will abide a skinny elf thy life long. Belike I did myself
wrong to suffer thee to waste these three or four months of thy
thrall’s work, since for nought but thrall’s work shalt thou ever be
meet.
Birdalone hung her head adown, and blushed, but smiled a little, and
swayed her body gently, as a willow-bough is swayed when a light air
arises in the morning. But the witch stood so scowling on her, and with
so sour a look, that Birdalone, glancing at her, found her heart sink
so within her, that she scarce kept countenance; yet she lost it not.
Then said the witch sharply: Wert thou in the wood to-day? Yea, lady,
said the maiden. Then said the dame fiercely: And what sawest thou?
Quoth Birdalone, looking up with an innocent face somewhat scared:
Lady, I saw a bear, one of the big ones, crossing a glade. And thou
without bow and arrow or wood-knife, I warrant me, said the witch. Thou
shalt be whipped, to keep thee in mind that thy life is mine and not
thine. Nay, nay, I pray thee be not wroth! said the maid; he was a long
way down the glade, and would not have followed me if he had seen me:
there was no peril therein. Said the witch-wife: Didst thou see aught
else? Yea, said Birdalone, and was weeping somewhat now; which forsooth
was not hard for her to do, over-wrought as she was betwixt hope and
fear: yea, I saw my white doe and her fawn, and they passed close by
me; and two herons flew over my head toward the water; and . . . But
the witch turned sharply and said: Thrall! hast thou seen a woman
to-day in the wood? A woman? said Birdalone, and what woman, my lady,
said Birdalone. Hath any woman come to the house, and passed forth into
the wood?
The dame looked on her carefully, and remembered how she had faltered
and changed countenance that other day, when she had charged her with
being minded to flee; and now she saw her with wondering face, and in
no wise confused or afraid of guilt, as it seemed; so she believed her
tale, and being the more at ease thereby, her wrath ran off her, and
she spake altogether pleasantly to Birdalone, and said: Now I have had
my gird at thee, my servant, I must tell thee that in sooth it is not
all for nothing that thou hast had these months of rest; for verily
thou hast grown more of a woman thereby, and hast sleekened and rounded
much. Albeit, the haysel will wait no longer for us, and the day after
to-morrow we must fall to on it. But when that is done, thou shalt be
free to do thy green gown, or what thou wilt, till wheat harvest is
toward; and thereafter we shall see to it. Or what sayest thou?
Birdalone wondered somewhat at this so gracious word, but not much; for
in her heart now was some guile born to meet the witch’s guile; so she
knelt down and took the dame’s hands and kissed them, and said: I say
nought, lady, save that I thank thee over and over again that thou art
become so good to me; and that I will full merrily work for thee in the
hay-field, or at whatsoever else thou wilt.
And indeed she was so light-hearted that she had so escaped from the
hand of the witch for that time, and above all, that she had gotten a
friend so kind and dear as the wood-woman, that her heart went out even
toward her mistress, so that she went nigh to loving her.
CHAPTER IX.
OF BIRDALONE’S SWIMMING.
Full fair was the morrow morn, and Birdalone arose betimes before the
sun was up, and she thought she would make of this a holiday before the
swink afield began again, since the witch was grown good toward her. So
she did on her fair shoes, and her new raiment, though the green gown
was not fully done, and said to herself that she would consider what
she would do with her holiday when she was amidst of her bathing.
So she went down to the water-side, and when she was standing knee-deep
in the little sandy bight aforesaid, she looked over to Green Eyot, and
was minded to swim over thither, as oft she did. And it was a windless
dawn after a hot night, and a light mist lay upon the face of the
water, and above it rose the greenery of the eyot.
She pushed off into the deep and swam strongly through the still water,
and the sun rose while she was on the way, and by then she had laid a
hand on the willow-twigs of the eyot, was sending a long beam across
the waters; and her wet shoulders rose up into the path of it and were
turned into ruddy gold. She hoisted herself up, and climbing the low
bank, was standing amongst the meadow-sweet, and dripping on to its
fragrance. Then she turned about to the green plain and the house and
the hedge of woodland beyond, and sighed, and said softly: A pity of
it, to leave it! If it were no better otherwhere, and not so fair?
Then she turned inward to the eyot, which had done her nought but good,
and which she loved; and she unbound her hair, and let it fall till the
ends of the tresses mingled with the heads of the meadow-sweet, and
thereafter walked quietly up into the grassy middle of the isle.
She was wont to go to a knoll there where the grass was fine, and
flowery at this time with white clover and dog violet, and lie down
under the shade of a big thorn with a much-twisted bole: but to-day
some thought came across her, and she turned before she came to the
thorn, and went straight over the eyot (which was but a furlong over at
that place) and down to the southward-looking shore thereof. There she
let herself softly down into the water and thrust off without more ado,
and swam on and on till she had gone a long way. Then she communed with
herself, and found that she was thinking: If I might only swim all the
water and be free.
And still she swam on: and now a light wind had been drawn up from the
west, and was driving a little ripple athwart the lake, and she swam
the swiftlier for it awhile, but then turned over on her back and
floated southward still. Till on a sudden, as she lay looking up toward
the far-away blue sky, and she so little and low on the face of the
waters, and the lake so deep beneath her, and the wind coming ever
fresher from the west, and the ripple rising higher against her, a
terror fell upon her, and she longed for the green earth and its
well-wrought little blossoms and leaves and grass; then she turned over
again and swam straight for the eyot, which now was but a little green
heap far away before her.
Long she was ere she made land there, and the sun was high in the
heavens when she came, all spent and weary, to the shadow of the
hawthorn-tree; and she cast herself down there and fell asleep
straightway. Forsooth her swim was about as much as she had might for.
When she awoke it lacked but an hour of noon-tide, and she felt the
life in her and was happy, but had no will to rise up for a while; for
it was ajoy to her to turn her head this way and that to the dear and
dainty flowers, that made the wide, grey, empty lake seem so far away,
and no more to be dealt with than the very sky itself.
At last she arose, and when she had plucked and eaten some handfuls of
the strawberries which grew plenteously on the sweet ground of the
eyot, she went down to the landward-looking shore, and took the water,
and swam slowly across the warm ripple till she came once more to the
strand and her raiment. She clad herself, and set her hand to her pouch
and drew forth bread, and sat eating it on the bank above the smooth
sand. Then she looked around, and stood up with her face toward the
house, to see if the dame would call to her. But she saw the witch come
out of the porch and stand there looking under the sharp of her hand
toward her, and thereafter she went back again into the house without
giving any sign. Wherefore Birdalone deemed that she had leave that
day, and that she might take yet more holiday; so she stepped lightly
down from her place of vantage, turned her face toward the east, and
went quietly along the very lip of the water.
CHAPTER X.
BIRDALONE COMES ON NEW TIDINGS.
Soon she had covered up the house from her, for on that eastern end,
both a tongue of the woodland shoved out west into the meadow, and,
withal, the whole body of the wood there drew down to the water, and
presently cut off all the greensward save a narrow strip along by the
lake, off the narrowest whereof lay the rocky eyot aforesaid, nigher
unto the shore than lay Green Eyot.
Now never had Birdalone gone so far east as to be over against Rock
Eyot. In her childish days the witch had let her know that she might go
where she would, but therewith had told her a tale of a huge serpent
which dwelt in the dark wood over against Rock Eyot, whose wont it was
to lap his folds round and round living things that went there, and
devour them; and many an evil dream had that evil serpent brought to
Birdalone. In after days belike she scarce trowed in the tale, yet the
terror of it abode with her. Moreover the wildwood toward that side, as
it drew toward the water, was dark and dreary and forbidding, running
into black thickets standing amidst quagmires, all unlike to the sweet,
clean upland ridges, oak begrown and greenswarded, of the parts which
lay toward the north, and which she mostly haunted.
But this summer day, which was so bright and hot, Birdalone deemed she
might harden her heart to try the adventure; and she had a mind to
enter the wood thereby, and win her way up into the oakland whereas she
had met Habundia, and perchance she might happen on her; for she would
not dare to summon her so soon after their first meeting. And if she
met her, there would be the holiday worthily brought to an end!
On went Birdalone, and was soon at the narrowest of the greensward, and
had the wood black on her left hand, for the trees of it were mostly
alder. But when she was come just over against Rock Eyot, she found a
straight creek or inlet of the water across her way; and the said creek
ran right up into the alder thicket; and, indeed, was much overhung by
huge ancient alders, gnarled, riven, mossy, and falling low over the
water. But close on the mouth of the creek, on Birdalone’s side
thereof, lay a thing floating on the dull water, which she knew not how
to call a boat, for such had she never seen, nor heard of, but which
was indeed a boat, oarless and sailless.
She looked on it all about, and wondered; yet she saw at once that it
was for wending the water, and she thought, might she but have a long
pole, she might push it about the shallow parts of the lake, and belike
take much fish. She tried to shove it somewhat toward the lake, but
with her little might could make nothing of the work; for the craft was
heavy, like a barge, if there were nothing else that withstood her.
About this new thing she hung a long while, wondering that she had
never heard thereof, or been set to toil therewith. She noted that it
was mostly pale grey of hue, as if it had been bleached by sun and
water, but at the stem and stern were smears of darker colour, as
though someone had been trying the tints of staining there.
Now so much did this new matter take up all her mind, that she thought
no more of going up into the wood; but though she had fain abided there
long to see whatever might be seen, she deemed it would go ill with her
did the witch happen on her there; wherefore she turned about, and went
back the way she had come, going very slowly and pondering the tidings.
And ever she called to mind what Habundia had said to her, that it was
by water she must flee, and wondered if she had sent her this thing
that she might escape therein; so different as her going would be
thereby to swimming the lake with her wet body. Then again she thought,
that before she might let herself hope this, it were best, if she
might, to find out from the witch what was the thing, and if she knew
thereof. Yet at last she called to mind how little patient of questions
was her mistress, and that if she were unheedful she might come to
raise an evil storm about her. Wherefore she took this rede at the
last, that she would keep all hidden in her own breast till she should
see Habundia again; and meanwhile she might steal down thither from
time to time to see if the thing still abode there; which she might the
easier do by swimming if she chose her time heedfully, and go thither
from Rock Eyot, which now and again she visited.
CHAPTER XI.
OF BIRDALONE’S GUILT AND THE CHASTISEMENT THEREOF.
By this she was come back to the sandy bight, and the sun was
westering; and she looked up toward the house and saw that it was the
time of their evening meal, for the blue smoke of the cooking fire was
going up into the air. So she went thither speedily, and entered gay of
seeming. The witch looked on her doubtfully, but presently fell to
speaking with her graciously as yesterday, and Birdalone was glad and
easy of mind, and went about the serving of her; for always she ate
after the dame; and the mistress asked her of many matters concerning
the house, and the gathering of stuff.
So came the talk on the fishing of the brook that ran before their
door, and how the trouts therein were but little, and not seldom none
at all; and even therewith came these words into Birdalone’s mouth, she
scarce knew how: My lady, why do we not fish the lake, whereas there be
shoal places betwixt us and the eyots where lie many and great fish, as
I have seen when I have been swimming thereover? And now in that same
creek whereas the serpent used to lurk when I was little, we have a
thing come, which is made to swim on the water; and I, could I have a
long pole to shove withal.
But no time she had to make an end, ere the witch-wife sprang up and
turned on her with a snarl as of an evil dog, and her face changed
horribly: her teeth showed grinning, her eyes goggled in her head, her
brow was all to-furrowed, and her hands clenched like iron springs.
Birdalone shuddered back from her and cringed in mere terror, but had
no might to cry out. The witch hauled her up by the hair, and dragged
her head back so that her throat lay bare before her all along. Then
drew the witch a sharp knife from her girdle, and raised her hand over
her, growling and snarling like a wolf. But suddenly she dropped the
knife, her hand fell to her side, and she fell in a heap on the floor
and lay there hushed.
Birdalone stood gazing on her, and trembling in every limb; too
confused was she to think or do aught, though some image off light
through the open door passed before her: but her feet seemed of lead,
and, as in an evil dream, she had no might to move her limbs, and the
minutes went by as she stood there half dead with fear.
At last, (and belike it was no long while) the witch-wife came to
herself again, and sat up on the floor, and looked all about the
chamber, and when her eyes fell upon Birdalone, she said in a weak
voice, yet joyfully; Hah! thou art there still, my good servant! Then
she said: A sickness fell upon me suddenly, as whiles it is wont; but
now am I myself again; and presently I have a word for thee.
Therewith she rose up slowly, Birdalone helping her, and sat in her big
chair silent awhile, and then she spake: My servant, thou hast for the
more part served me well: but this time thou hast done ill, whereas
thou hast been spying on my ways; whereof may come heavy trouble but if
we look to it. Well is it for thee that thou hast none unto whom thou
mightest babble; for then must I needs have slain thee here and now.
But for this first time I pardon thee, and thou hast escaped the wrath.
Her voice was soft and wheedling; but for Birdalone the terror had
entered into her soul, and yet abode with her.
The witch-wife sat a while, and then arose and went about the chamber,
and came to a certain aumbry and opened it, and drew forth a little
flasket of lead and a golden cup scored over with strange signs, and
laid them on the board beside her chair, wherein she now sat down
again, and spake once more, still in the same soft and wheedling voice:
Yet, my servant, thy guilt would be required of me, if I let this pass
as if to-day were the same as yesterday; yea, and of thee also would it
be required; therefore it is a part of the pardon that thou be
corrected: and the correction must be terrible to thee, that thou mayst
remember never again to thrust thyself into the jaws of death. And what
may I do to correct thee? It shall be in a strange way, such as thou
hast never dreamed of. Yet the anguish thereof shall go to thine
heart’s root; but this must thou needs bear, for my good and thine, so
that both we may live and be merry hereafter. Go now, fill this cup
with water from the spring and come back with it. Birdalone took the
cup with a sinking heart, and filled it, and brought it back, and stood
before the witch more dead than alive.
Then the witch-wife took up the flasket and pulled out the stopple and
betook it to Birdalone, and said: Drink of this now, a little sip, no
more. And the maiden did so, and the liquor was no sooner down her
gullet than the witch-wife and the chamber, and all things about her,
became somewhat dim to her; but yet not so much so as that she could
not see them. But when she stretched out her arm she could see it not
at all, nor her limbs nor any other part of her which her eyes might
fall upon. Then would she have uttered a lamentable wail, but the voice
was sealed up in her and no sound came from her voice. Then she heard
the witch-wife how she said (and yet she heard it as if her voice came
from afar), Nay, thou canst not speak, and thou canst not see thyself,
nor may any other, save me, and I but dimly. But this is but part of
what I must lay upon thee; for next I must give thee a new shape, and
that both thyself and all other may see. But, before I do that, I must
speak a word to thee, which thy new shape would not suffer the sense
thereof to reach to thine heart. Hearken!
CHAPTER XII.
THE WORDS OF THE WITCH-WIFE TO BIRDALONE.
Said the witch-wife: When thou comest to thyself (for it is not my will
that thou shouldest never have thine own shape again), doubtless the
first thing which thou shalt do with thy new-gained voice and thy
new-gained wit shall be to curse me, and curse me again. Do as thou
wilt herein; but I charge thee, disobey me not, for that shall bring
thee to thy bane. For if thou do not my bidding, and if thou pry into
my matters, and lay bare that which I will have hidden, then will it be
imputed unto thee for guilt, and will I, will I not, I must be avenged
on thee even to slaying: and then is undone all the toil and pain I
have had in rearing thee into a deft and lovely maiden. Deem thou,
then, this present anguish kind to thee, to keep thee that thou come
not to nought.
Now since I have begun speaking, I will go on; for little heretofore
have I spoken to thee what was in mine heart. Well I wot that thou
thinkest of me but as of an evil dream, whereof none can aught but long
to awake from it. Yet I would have thee look to this at least; that I
took thee from poverty and pinching, and have reared thee as faithfully
as ever mother did to child; clemming thee never, smiting thee not so
oft, and but seldom cruelly. Moreover, I have suffered thee to go
whereso thou wouldest, and have compelled thee to toil for nought but
what was needful for our two livelihoods. And I have not stayed thy
swimmings in the lake, nor thy wanderings in the wood, and thou hast
learned bowshot there, till thou art now a past-master in the craft:
and, moreover, thou art swift-foot as the best of the deer, and mayest
over-run any one of them whom thou wilt.
Soothly a merry life hast thou had as a child, and merry now would be
thy life, save for thine hatred of me. Into a lovely lily-lass hast
thou grown. That I tell thee now, though my wont has been to gird at
thee for the fashion of thy body; that was but the word of the mistress
to the thrall. And now what awaiteth thee? For thou mayst say: I am
lonely here, and there is no man to look on me. Of what avail,
therefore, is my goodliness and shapeliness? Child, I answer thee that
the time is coming when thou shalt see here a many of the fairest of
men, and then shalt thou be rather rose than lily, and fully come to
womanhood; and all those shall love and worship thee, and thou mayst
gladden whom thou wilt, and whom thou wilt mayst sadden; and no lack
soever shalt thou have of the sweetness of love, or the glory of
dominion.
Think of it then! All this is for thee if thou dwell here quietly with
me, doing my will till thy womanhood hath blossomed. Wherefore I
beseech and pray thee put out of thy mind the thought of fleeing from
me. For if thou try it, one of two things shall be: either I shall
bring thee back and slay thee, or make thee live in misery of torment;
or else thou wilt escape, and then what will it be? Dost thou know how
it shall go with thee, coming poor and nameless, an outcast, into the
world of men? Lust shalt thou draw unto thee, but scarce love. I say an
outcast shalt thou be, without worship or dominion; thy body shall be a
prey to ribalds, and when the fine flower thereof hath faded, thou
shalt find that the words of thy lovers were but mockery. That no man
shall love thee, and no woman aid thee. Then shall Eld come to thee and
find thee at home with Hell; and Death shall come and mock thee for thy
life cast away for nought, for nought. This is my word to thee: and now
I have nought to do to thee save to change thee thy skin, and therein
must thou do as thou canst, but it shall be no ugly or evil shape at
least. But another time maybe I shall not be so kind as to give thee a
new shape, but shall let thee wander about seen by none but me. Then
she took the cup and took water in the hollow of her hand and cast it
into Birdalone’s face, and muttered words withal; and presently she saw
herself indeed, that she was become a milk-white hind; and she heard
and saw again, but not as she, the maiden, was wont to hear and see;
for both her hearing and seeing and her thought was of a beast and not
of a maiden.
Said the witch-wife: It is done now, till I give thee grace again; and
now be off into the field; but if thou stray more than half a bowshot
from the brook, it shall be the worse for thee. And now the day was
done and night was come.
CHAPTER XIII.
BIRDALONE MEETETH THE WOOD-WOMAN AGAIN.
It was fifteen days thereafter that Birdalone awoke lying in her bed on
a bright morning, as if all this had been but a dream. But the
witch-wife was standing over her and crying out: Thou art late,
slug-a-bed, this fair-weather day, and the grass all spoiling for lack
of the scythe. Off! and down to the meadow with thee.
Birdalone waited not for more words, but sprang out of bed, and had her
work-a-day raiment on in a twinkling, and stayed but to wash her in a
pool of the brook, and then was amidst the tall grass with the swathe
falling before her. As she worked she thought, and could scarce tell
whether joy at her present deliverance, or terror of the witch-wife,
were the greatest. Sore was her longing to go see her friend in the
wood, but the haysel lasted more than a week, and when that was done,
whether it were of set purpose or no, the dame forgat her other
promise, to give Birdalone more holiday, and kept her close to her work
about meadow and acre. Otherwise her mistress nowise mishandled or
threatened her, though she had gone back to the surliness and railing
which was her wont. At last, on a morning when the dame had bidden her
to nought of work, Birdalone took her bow in her hand and cast her
quiver on her back, and went her ways into the wood, and forgat not the
tress of Habundia’s hair; but she had no need to use it, for when she
was come to the Oak of Tryst, straightway came Habundia forth from the
thicket, and now so like to Birdalone that it was a wonder, for as her
friend she bare bow and quiver, and green gown trussed up till her
knees were naked.
So they kissed and embraced, and Birdalone wept upon her friend’s
bosom, but was ashamed of the words which would have told her of her
case. Then Habundia set her down upon the greensward, and sat down
beside her, and caressed her and soothed her; then she smiled on
Birdalone, and said: Thy tale is partly told without words, and I would
weep for thee if I might shed tears. But thou mayest tell me wherefore
thou didst suffer this; though forsooth I have an inkling thereof. Hast
thou happened on the witch’s ferry?
Even so it was, sister, quoth Birdalone. And therewith she plucked up
heart, and told her all the tale of the vanishing of her body and the
skin-changing. And Habundia answered: Well then, there is this to be
said, that sooner or later this must have happened, for thereby lieth
thy road of escape; wherefore it is better sooner than later. But tell
me again: was she fierce and rough in words with thee? for what she
said to thee thou hast not yet told me. Said Birdalone: In her first
fury, when she was like to have slain me, she had no words, nought but
wolfish cries. But thereafter she spake unto me strangely, yet neither
fiercely nor roughly; nay, it seemed to me as if almost she loved me.
And more than almost she besought me rather than commanded me not to
flee from her. And wert thou beguiled by her soft speech? said
Habundia. Nowise to cast aside my hope of escape, nay, not even in that
hour, said Birdalone; but amidst all the confusion and terror somewhat
was I moved to compassion on her.
Spake Habundia, looking anxiously on her: Dost thou deem that thou art
somewhat cowed by what she hath done to thee? Said Birdalone, and
flushed very red: Oh no, no! Nought save death or bonds shall come
betwixt me and my utmost striving for escape. That is better than well,
said Habundia; but again, canst thou have patience a little, and be
wary and wise the while? So meseemeth, said the maiden. Said Habundia:
Again it is well. Now is the summer beginning to wane, and by my rede
thou shalt not try the flight until May is come again and well-nigh
worn into June; for thou wilt be bigger then, little sister, and
tidings are waxing that shall get matters ready for thy departure:
moreover, thou must yet learn what thou hast to do meanwhile, and
thereof shall I tell thee somewhat as now. For that boat, the thing
which thou didst find, and for which thou didst suffer, is called the
Sending Boat, and therein thy mistress fareth time and again, I deem to
seek to some other of her kind, but I know not unto whom, or whereto.
Hast thou noted of her that whiles she goeth away privily by night and
cloud? Yea, verily, said Birdalone, and this is one of the things which
heretofore hath made me most afraid. Said Habundia: Well now, that she
wendeth somewhither in this ferry I wot; but as I wot not whither, so
also I know not what she doth with the Sending Boat to make it obey
her; whereas, though I know all things of the wood, I know but little
of the lake. Wherefore, though there be peril to thee therein, follow
her twice or thrice when she riseth up for this faring, and note
closely what is her manner of dealing with the said Sending Boat, so
that thou mayst do in like wise. Wilt thou risk the smart and the
skin-changing, or even if it were the stroke of the knife, to gather
this wisdom? And thereafter thou shalt come hither and tell me how thou
hast sped. With a good heart will I, dear sister, said Birdalone.
Then Habundia kissed her and said: It is a joy to me to see thee so
valiant, but herein may I help thee somewhat; here is a gold
finger-ring, see thou! fashioned as a serpent holding his tail in his
mouth; whenso thou goest on this quest, set thou this same ring on the
middle finger of thy left hand, and say thou above thy breath at least:
To left and right,
Before, behind,
Of me be sight
As of the wind!
And nought then shall be seen of thee even by one who standeth close
beside. But wear not the ring openly save at such times, or let the
witch have sight thereof ever, or she will know that thou hast met me.
Dost thou understand, and canst thou remember?
Laughed Birdalone, and took the ring and set it on her finger, and
spake aloud even as Habundia had given her the words. Then quoth
Habundia, laughing: Now have I lost my friend and sister, for thou art
gone, Birdalone. Take off the ring, sweetling, and get thee to thine
hunting, for if thou come home empty-handed there will be flyting
awaiting thee, or worse.
So Birdalone took off the ring and came back to sight again laughing;
then the wood-woman kissed her and turned her heels to her, and was
gone; but Birdalone strung her bow, and got to her woodcraft, and
presently had a brace of hares, wherewith she went back home to the
dame; who indeed girded at her for her sloth, and her little catch in
so long a while; but there it ended.
CHAPTER XIV.
OF BIRDALONE’S FISHING.
Now were the days wearing toward wheat-harvest, and nought befel to
tell of, save that on a morn the witch-wife called Birdalone to her,
and said: Now is little to be done till the wheat is ready for the
hook, and thy days are idle; or what is that word that fell from thee
that other day, that there be good swims for fish about the eyots?
Canst thou swim across bearing thine angle, and back again therewith,
and thy catch withal? Yea, certes, said Birdalone gaily; with one hand
I may swim gallantly, or with my legs alone, if I stir mine arms ever
so little. I will go straightway if thou wilt, lady; but give me a
length of twine so that I may tie my catch about my middle when I swim
back again.
Therewith she went forth lightly to fetch her angle, which was in a
shed without; but just as she took it in her hand, a sudden thought
came to her, so wary as she was grown. She undid the bosom of her gown,
and took forth her serpent-ring; for she bore it next to her skin, made
fast to the bosom of her smock; but now she hid it carefully in the
thickest of her brow-hair, which was very thick and soft. Withal the
tress of Habundia’s hair she bore ever mingled with her own.
No sooner had she done it, but she was glad; for she heard the dame
calling her, who, when she came to the house-door, spake and said: Now
shall I fare with thee down to the water, and look to thy garments lest
they be fouled by some straying beast. And therewith she looked
curiously on Birdalone, and knit her brows when she saw that the maiden
changed countenance in nowise.
Down to the water went they, and the witch sat down close to where
Birdalone should take the water, and watched her do off her raiment,
and eyed her keenly when she was bare, but said nought. Birdalone
turned her head as she stood knee-deep, and said: How long shall I
abide, lady, if I have luck? As long as thou wilt, said the dame: most
like I shall be gone by then thou comest back, even if thou be away no
long while.
Fell Birdalone to swimming then, and when she was more than half over,
the witch, stirring no more than need was, got hold of her raiment,
which was but the old grey coat over a smock, and ransacked it, but
found nought, as well ye may wot. And when she had done, she sat down
again in heavy mood as it seemed, and watched Birdalone swimming, and
when she beheld her body come forth out of the water, and pass out of
sight amongst the flowers of the eyot, she arose and went her ways
home.
Birdalone looked through the willow-boughs, and saw her turn away; then
she fared to her fishing with a smile, and soon had plenteous catch
from under the willow-boughs. Then, whereas the day was very calm and
fair, and the dame had given her holiday, she wandered about the eyot,
and most in a little wood of berry-trees, as quicken and whitebeam and
dog-wood, and sported with the birds, who feared her not, but came and
sat on her shoulders, and crept about her feet. She went also and stood
a while on the southern shore, and looked on the wide water dim in the
offing under the hot-weather haze, and longed to be gone beyond it.
Then she turned away, and to the other shore, and gat her fish and
strung them on the string, and made them fast to her middle, and so
took the water back again to the yellow strand, where now was no one
awaiting her. But before she did on her garments, she looked on them,
and saw that they lay not as she had left them, whereby she knew well
that the witch-wife had handled them.
Amidst all this the day was wearing to an end, and again she saw the
smoke of the cooking-fire going up into the air from the chimney of the
house; and she smiled ruefully, thinking that the witch might yet find
an occasion for ransacking her raiment. But she plucked up heart, and
came home with her catch, and the dame met her with a glum face, and
neither praised her nor blamed her, but took the fish silently. Such
ending had that day.
CHAPTER XV.
BIRDALONE WEARETH HER SERPENT-RING.
After this she went once and again fishing on to Green Eyot by the
bidding of the dame, who went not again to the shore with her. These
times she had half a mind to go see the Sending Boat, but durst not,
lest the thing itself might have life enough to tell of her.
And now was come the time of wheat-harvest, and Birdalone must wear her
days swinking in the acre-land, clad but in smock and shoes; and the
toil was hard, and browned her skin and hardened her hands, but it
irked her not, for the witch let her work all alone, and it was holiday
unto the maiden if her mistress were not anigh, despite those words
which had somewhat touched her heart that other day.
But when wheat-getting was done, there was again rest for her body, and
swimming withal and fishing from the eyot by the witch’s leave. And
again by her own leave she went to seek Habundia in the wood, and spent
a happy hour with her, and came back with a fawn which she had shot,
and so but barely saved her skin from the twig-shower. Then yet again
she went into the wood on the witch’s errand as well as her own, and
was paid by her friend’s sweet converse, and by nought else save the
grudging girding of her mistress.
But on a night when September was well in, and the sky was moonless and
overcast, somewhat before midnight the dame came and hung over
Birdalone as she lay abed, and watched to see if she waked; forsooth
the witch’s coming had waked her; but even so she was wary, and lay
still, nor changed her breathing. So the witch turned away, but even
therewith Birdalone made a shift to get a glimpse of her, and this she
saw thereby, that the semblance of her was changed, and that she bore
the self-same skin wherewith she had come to Utterhay, and which she
had worn twice or thrice afterwards when she had an errand thither.
The witch now glided swiftly to the door, and out into the night.
Birdalone lay still a little, lest she should fall into a trap, and
then arose very quietly and did on her smock, which lay ever under her
pillow with the ring sewn thereto again, and so went out adoors also,
and deemed she saw the witch some way on ahead; but it was nothing for
her light feet to overtake her. So she stayed to take the ring from her
smock, and set it on her finger; then in a low voice she said:
To left and right,
Before, behind,
Of me be sight
As of the wind!
Then boldly she sped on, and was soon close on the heels of the witch,
who made her way to the edge of the lake, and then turned east, and
went even as Birdalone had gone when she came across the Sending Boat.
So fared the witch-wife straight to the creek-side, and Birdalone must
needs stick close to her, or she had known nought, so black was the
night amongst the alder-boughs. But the witch-wife fumbled about a
while when she was stayed by the creek, and presently drew somewhat
from under her cloak, and the maiden saw that she was about striking
flint upon steel, and quaked somewhat, lest her charm had played her
false. Presently the tinder quickened, and the dame had lighted a
lantern, which she held up, peering all about; and full she looked on
the place whereas was Birdalone, and made no show of seeing her, though
well-nigh the maiden looked for it to see her drop the lantern and
spring on her.
Now the witch, holding the lantern aloft, steps over the gunwale of the
boat, and sits down on the thwart; and it was a near thing but that
Birdalone followed her into the boat, but she feared the getting forth
again, so she but hung over it as close as she might. Then she saw the
witch draw out of her girdle that sharp little knife which Birdalone
had seen raised against her own throat; and then the witch bared her
arm, and pricked it till the blood sprang from that barren white skin;
thereat she stood up, and went to the bows of the craft and hung over
them, and drew her arm to and fro over the stem to bloody it; and went
thereafter to the stern, and took blood into her right hand and passed
it over the place of the steerage (for there was no rudder) and came
back and sat down on the thwart again; and, so far as Birdalone might
see, busied herself in staunching the little wound on her arm. Then
deemed Birdalone that she knew what manner of paint was that which had
made the rusty smears which she had seen on the boat by daylight.
But now as the witch sat there, a harsh voice began to stir in her
throat, and then words came out of her, and she sang in a crow’s croak:
The red raven-wine now
Hast thou drunk, stern and bow;
Then wake and awake
And the wonted way take!
The way of the Wender forth over the flood,
For the will of the Sender is blent with the blood.
Therewithal began the boat to stir, and anon it glided forth out of the
creek into the waters of the lake, and the light of the lantern died,
and it was but a minute ere Birdalone lost all sight of it. She abode a
little longer, lest perchance boat and witch might come back on her
hands, and then turned and went swiftly back again. She would have
drawn off her ring straightway, but the thought came on her, that she
had seen the witch depart in her second semblance; how if she were
abiding her at home in her wonted skin? So she came to the house even
as she was, and opened the door, and looked in, quaking; but there was
no image of a child of Adam therein, and no living thing, save the cat
drowsing before the fire; wherefore Birdalone took the ring from her
finger and went to the hearth, and stirred up the cat with her foot
till he arose and fell to rubbing himself against her legs, and she was
fain of him.
Thereafter she made her ring fast to her smock again, and set the smock
under her pillow as her wont was, and betook herself to bed, and fell
asleep sweetly, leaving all troublous thoughts for the morrow; and that
the more as she was free of the witch-wife for that night at least.
CHAPTER XVI.
BIRDALONE MEETETH HABUNDIA AGAIN; AND LEARNETH HER FIRST WISDOM OF HER.
When morning was, Birdalone arose, and longed sore to go into the wood
to seek Habundia again, but durst not, lest the witch-wife should come
to hand again earlier than might be looked for. So she abode quiet and
did what was toward near about the house. All that day the witch came
not back, nor the next; but the morrow thereafter, when Birdalone
arose, she found the wonted aspect of her mistress in the wonted place,
who, when she saw the maiden, greeted her, and was somewhat blithe with
her; and Birdalone would have asked her leave to go to the wood, but
she trusted little in her unwonted soft mood; which yet lasted so long
that on the third day she herself bade Birdalone go take her pleasure
in the wood, and bear back with her what of venison she might.
Forthwith went Birdalone as glad as might be, and met her friend at the
Oak of Tryst, and told her closely how all had betid; and Habundia
said: Here, then, thou hast learned how to sail the lake. But hast thou
learned enough to try the adventure and not to fail? Even so I deem,
said Birdalone; but this I would say, that meseemeth it better that I
follow the witch down to the boat one more time at least; for this
first time it was dark; and moreover shall I not be surer of the spell
if I hear it said oftener, lest it be not ever the same words? What
sayest thou? She said: Thou art right herein, and, since the adventure
may not be tried till next June is at hand, there is time enough and to
spare. And now for this hour that is we need talk no more of it. Only,
my sweet, I beseech thee be wary; and above all suffer not the
witch-wife to set eye or hand on the ring. Truly mine heart oft aches
sorely for thy peril; for therein the image of thee abideth rather as
of my daughter than my friend. Yea, now thou laughest, but kindly, so
that the sound of thy laughter is as sweet music. But know that though
thou art but a young maiden, and I in all wise like unto thee of
aspect, yet have I dwelt many and many a year upon the earth, and much
wisdom have learned. Trowest thou me?
Yea, yea, said Birdalone, with all my heart. Then she hung her head a
while and kept silence, and thereafter looked up and spake: I would ask
thee a thing and crave somewhat of thee, as if thou wert verily my
mother; wilt thou grant it me? Yea, surely, child, said Habundia. Said
Birdalone: This it is then, that thou wilt learn me of thy wisdom.
Habundia smiled full kindly on her, and said: This of all things I
would have had thee ask; and this day and now shall we begin to open
the book of the earth before thee. For therein is mine heritage and my
dominion. Sit by me, child, and hearken!
So the maiden sat down by her likeness under the oak, and began to
learn her lesson. Forsooth forgotten is the wisdom, though the tale of
its learning abideth, wherefore nought may we tell thereof.
When it was done, Birdalone kissed her wood-mother and said: This is
now the best day of my life, this and the day when first I saw thee. I
will come hither now many times before the day of my departure. Yea,
but, sweet child, said Habundia, beware of the witch and her cruelty; I
fear me she shall yet be grim toward thee. So will I be wary, said
Birdalone, but I will venture some little peril of pain but if thou
forbid me, mother. And I pray thee by thy love to forbid me not. And
this I pray thee the more, because after one of these grim times then
mostly doth she meddle the less with me for a while, wherefore I shall
be the freer to come hither. Habundia kissed her and embraced her, and
said: Valiant art thou for a young maiden, my child, and I would not
refrain thee more than a father would refrain his young son from the
strokes of the tilt-yard. But I pray thee to forget not my love, and my
sorrow for thy grief.
Therewith they sundered, and it was drawing toward evening. Birdalone
sought catch, and brought home venison to the dame, who was yet blithe
with her, and spake that evening as she eyed her: I cannot tell how it
is, but thou seemest changed unto me, and lookest more towards thy
womanhood than even yesterday. I mean the face of thee, for wert thou
stripped, lean enough I should see thee, doubtless. But now look to it,
I beseech thee, to be both deft and obedient, so that I may be as kind
to thee as I would be, and kinder than I have been heretofore.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE PASSING OF THE YEAR INTO WINTER.
Wore the days now, till on a night of October, toward the end thereof,
the witch went a-night-tide to the Sending Boat, and Birdalone followed
her as erst. This time the night was wild and windy, but the moon was
high aloft and big, and all cloud save a few flecks was blown from off
the heavens; so that the night was as light as could be; and even at
the tree-hung creek it was easy to see all that was done. And so it was
that the witch did and spake in all wise as she did before.
Another time, when November was well-nigh out, the dame arose for her
lake-faring; but this night the snow lay deep betwixt house and water,
and Birdalone thought that it would scarce do to follow. Forsooth she
knew not whether her feet would the less leave their print in the snow
because they were not to be seen. When she asked Habundia thereof, she
laughed and said: Once more thou hast been wise, my child, for though
it had been no harder to put this might into thy ring, that whoso wore
it should not touch the ground, yet it hath not been done.
It must be told, that in this while Birdalone went oft to the Trysting
Tree, and called on her mother (as now she called her) to come to her,
and ever more and more of wisdom she won thereby. Though the witch was
oft surly with her, and spared not her girding, yet, the needful work
done, she meddled little with her. But on a day she straightly banned
her the wood, and Birdalone went notwithstanding, and when she was
there with the wood-mother nought she told her thereof, but was blithe
and merry beyond her wont. She came back home thereafter empty handed,
and stepped into the chamber proudly and with bright eyes and flushed
cheeks, though she looked for nought save chastisement; yea, it might
be even the skin-changing. Forsooth the witch was sitting crouched in
her chair with her hands on the elbows and her head thrust forward,
like a wild beast at point to spring; but when her eye fell on
Birdalone, she faltered and drew back into herself again, and muttered
somewhat unheard; but to Birdalone spake nought of good or bad.
Now was winter-tide upon them, when there was nought to do in field and
acre, and but a little in the byre. In years bygone, and even in the
last one, the witch had not spared Birdalone toil any the more, but had
made errands for her amidst the snow and biting winds, or over the lake
when it was laid with ice. But now she bade her to nought save what she
had a will to; whereby she lost but little, whereas Birdalone was well
willing to strive against wind and weather and the roughness of the
winter earth, and overcome if she might, so that all were well done
that had to be done about the stead.
Still did the witch give her hard words and rail at her for the most
part, but from the teeth outward only, and because she was wont
thereto. Inwardly indeed she began to fear Birdalone, and deemed that
she would one day have the mastery; and this led her into fierce and
restless moods; so that she would sit staring at the maiden’s beauty
handling her knife withal, and scarce able to forbear her. And in such
a mood she once made occasion to chastise her as her wont had been
erst, and looked to see Birdalone rebel against her; but it fell out
otherwise, for Birdalone submitted herself to her meekly and with a
cheerful countenance. And this also was a terror to the witch, who
deemed, as indeed it was, that the purpose was growing in her thrall.
So from that time she meddled with her no more. All this while, as may
be thought, Birdalone went yet oftener to the Oak of Tryst, despite
frost and snow and wind, and gat much lore of her wood-mother, and
learned wisdom abundantly. And her days were happy.
CHAPTER XVIII.
OF SPRING-TIDE AND THE MIND OF BIRDALONE.
Now was the winter gone and the spring-tide come again, and with the
blossoming of the earth blossomed Birdalone also. Nought sweeter of
flesh might she be than erst, but there was now a new majesty grown
into her beauty; her limbs were rounded, her body fulfilled, her skin
sleeked and whitened; and if any mother’s son had beheld her feet as
they trod the meadow besprinkled with saffron and daffodil, ill had it
gone with him were he gainsaid the kisses of them, though for the
kissing had he fared the worse belike.
That spring-tide, amidst of April, she followed the witch-wife down to
the Sending Boat for the third time; and there went everything as erst,
and she deemed now that the lesson was well learned, and that she was
well-nigh as wise as the witch herself therein.
But the day after she went about somewhat pensive, as though a
troublous thought were on her; and when, three days thereafter, she met
the wood-mother, she spake to her even as they parted, and said:
Mother, much wisdom hast thou learned me, and now this at the last
withal, that hitherto there has been shame in my life; and now fain
were I to be done with it. Fair child, said Habundia, little is the
shame though this woman hath had the upper hand of thee and hath used
thee cruelly: how mightest thou, a child, strive with her? But now I
see and know that there is an end of that; that she feareth thee now,
and will never again raise a hand against thee save thou fall wholly
into her power; as thou shalt not, my child. Be comforted then for what
is gone by! Nay, mother, said Birdalone, it is not that which troubleth
me; for, as thou sayest, what else might I do? But thy wisdom which
thou hast set in my heart hath learned me that for these last months I
have been meeting guile with guile and lies with lies. And now will I
do so no more, lest I become a guileful woman, with nought good in me
save the fairness of my body. Wherefore hearken, sweet mother! What is
done, is done; but when it cometh to the day, which is speedily drawing
nigh, that I must part from thee, it may be for a long while, then will
I not fare to the Sending Boat by night and cloud and with hidden head,
but will walk thither in broad day, and let that befall which must
befall.
Changed then Habundia’s face and became haggard and woeful, and she
cried out: O if I could but weep, as ye children of Adam! O my grief
and sorrow! Child, child! then will betide that falling into her hands
which I spake of e’en now; and then shall this wretch, this servant of
evil, assuredly slay thee there and then, or will keep thee to torment
thee till thy life be but a slow death. Nay, nay, do as I should do,
and fare with hidden head, and my ring on thy finger. Or else, O child,
how wilt thou hurt me!
Birdalone wept; but presently she fell to caressing the mother’s hand,
and said: This is thy doing, wherein thou hast made me wise. Yet fear
not: for I deem that the witch-wife will not slay me, whereas she
looketh to have some gain of me; moreover, in the evil of her heart is
mingled some love toward me, whereof, as erst I told thee, I have a
morsel of compassion. Mother, she will not slay me; and I say that she
shall not torment me, for I will compel her to slay me else. It is my
mind that she will let me go. Said the mother: Yea, mayhappen, yet but
as a bird with a string to its leg. If it be so, said Birdalone, then
let my luck prevail over her guile; as well it may be, since I have
known thee, O wise mother!
The wood-wife hung her head and spake nought for a while; then she
said: I see that thou wilt have it so, and that there is something in
thine heart which we, who are not children of Adam, may not understand;
yet once wert thou more like unto us. Now all I may say is, that thou
must rule in this matter, and that I am sad.
Then she looked down again and presently raised a brighter face, and
said: Belike all shall be better than I thought. Then she kissed
Birdalone and they parted for that time.
CHAPTER XIX.
THEY BID FAREWELL, BIRDALONE AND THE WOOD-MOTHER.
Now April was gone, and May was come with the thorn a-blossoming, and
there was Birdalone waxing still in loveliness. And now the witch had
left all girding at her even, and spake to her but little, save when
she needs must. But to Birdalone it seemed that she watched her
exceeding closely.
Birdalone went oft to the wood, and learned yet more of lore: but of
the matter of the Departure, how it was to be gone about they spake no
more, and great was the love betwixt them.
At last when May was worn nigh to June came Birdalone to the Oak of
Tryst, and found the wood-mother there; and when they had talked a
while, but ever from the teeth out, spake Habundia: Though thou be now
the wiser of us two maybe, yet have I wisdom to wot that this is the
hour of our sundering, and that to-morrow thou wilt try the adventure
of the Sending Boat: is it not so? Yea, mother, said Birdalone; I bid
thee farewell now: woe is me therefor! Said Habundia: And thou wilt
deliver thyself into the hands of the witch, wilt thou, as thou saidst
that other day? Quoth Birdalone: Is it not wisdom, dear mother, if I
trust in my goodhap? Alas, said the mother, it may be so when all is
said. But O my sad heart! and how I fear for thee!
My mother, my mother! said Birdalone, that I should make the days
grievous unto thee! and thou who hast made my days so joyous! But now
canst thou not say of thy wisdom that we shall meet again?
The wood-woman sat down, and let her head fall over her knees, and was
silent a long while; then she rose up and stood before Birdalone, and
said: Yea, we shall meet again, howsoever it may be. Let us depart with
that sweet word in the air between us. Yet first thou shalt give me a
tress of thine hair, as I did to thee when first we met; for by means
of it may I know to-morrow how thou hast sped.
Even so did Birdalone, and this was the end of their talk, save broken
words of lamentation as they said farewell. And therewith for that
while they sundered.
CHAPTER XX.
OF BIRDALONE AND THE SENDING BOAT.
Birdalone woke up in the morning, and arose and clad herself, and she
saw not the witch-wife in the chamber, though her bed looked as if it
had been slept in. Birdalone accounted little thereof, whereas the dame
would oft go on one errand or another much betimes in the morning. Yet
was she somewhat glad, for she was nowise wishful for a wrangle with
her. Withal, despite her valiancy, as may well be thought, she was all
a-flutter with hopes and fears, and must needs refrain her body from
overmuch quaking and restlessness if she might.
Now she mingled the tress of the wood-mother’s hair with her own hair,
but deemed it nought perilous to leave the ring yet sewn to her smock:
she set some deal of bread and flesh in her scrip, lest her voyage
should be long, and then all simply stepped over the threshold of the
House of her Captivity.
She went straight to the strand aforesaid, seeing nought of the
witch-wife by the way; and when she came there, was about to turn
straightway to her left hand down to the creek, when it came into her
mind that she would first swim over to Green Eyot for this last of
times. For the eyot indeed she loved, and deemed it her own, since
never had her evil dream, the witch, set foot thereon. Moreover, she
said to herself that the cool lake would allay the fever of her blood,
and make her flesh firmer and less timorous for the adventure. And
again, that if the witch should see her from afar, as she could scarce
fail to do, she would deem the maiden was about her wonted morning
swimming, and would be the less like to spy on her.
So now, when she had let her garments slip from off her on to the sand
close to the water’s edge, she stood a while, with her feet scarce
covered by the little ripple of the bight, to be a token of safety to
her mistress. To say sooth, now it was come so nigh to the deed, she
shrank aback a little, and was fain to dally with the time, and, if it
might be, thrust something of no import betwixt her and the terror of
the last moment.
Now she took the water, and rowed strongly with her lovely limbs till
she came to the eyot, and there she went aland, and visited every place
which had been kind to her; and kissed the trees and flowers that had
solaced her, and once more drew the birds and rabbits to sport with
her; till suddenly it came into her head that the time was wearing
overfast. Then she ran down to the water and plunged in, and swam over
to the strand as fast as she might, and came aland there, thinking of
nothing less than what had befallen.
For lo! when she looked around for her raiment and her scrip, it was
nowhere to be seen; straightway then it came into her mind, as in one
flash, that this was the witch’s work; that she had divined this deed
of the flight, and had watched her, and taken the occasion of her
nakedness and absence that she might draw her back to the House of
Captivity. And this the more as the precious ring was sewn to
Birdalone’s smock, and the witch would have found it there when she
handled the raiment.
Birdalone wasted no time in seeking for the lost; she looked down on to
the smooth sand, and saw there footprints which were not her own, and
all those went straight back home to the house. Then she turned, and
for one moment of time looked up toward the house, and saw plainly the
witch come out adoors, and the sun flashed from something bright in her
hand.
Then indeed she made no stay, but set off running at her swiftest along
the water-side toward the creek and the Sending Boat. As is aforesaid
she was as fleet-foot as a deer, so but in a little space of time she
had come to the creek, and leapt into the boat, panting and breathless.
She turned and looked hastily along the path her feet had just worn,
and deemed she saw a fluttering and flashing coming along it, but some
way off; yet was not sure, for her eyes were dizzy with the swiftness
of her flight and the hot sun and the hurry of her heart. Then she
looked about a moment confusedly, for she called to mind that in her
nakedness she had neither knife, nor scissors, nor bodkin to let her
blood withal. But even therewith close to hand she saw hanging down a
stem of half-dead briar-rose with big thorns upon it; she hastily tore
off a length thereof and scratched her left arm till the blood flowed,
and stepped lightly first to stem and then to stern, and besmeared them
therewith. Then she sat down on the thwart and cried aloud:
The red raven-wine now
Hast thou drunk, stern and bow;
Then wake and awake
And the wonted way take!
The way of the Wender forth over the flood,
For the will of the Sender is blent with the blood.
Scarce had she time to wonder if the boat would obey her spell ere it
began to stir beneath her, and then glided out into the lake and took
its way over the summer ripple, going betwixt Green Eyot and the
mainland, as if to weather the western ness of the eyot: and it went
not a stonecast from the shore of the said mainland.
Hither to meet it now cometh the witch, running along the bank, her
skirts flying wild about her, and a heavy short-sword gleaming in her
hand. Her furious running she stayed over against the boat, and cried
out in a voice broken for lack of breath:
Back over the flood
To the house by the wood!
Back unto thy rest
In the alder nest!
For the blood of the Sender lies warm on thy bow,
And the heart of the Wender is weary as now.
But she saw that the Sending Boat heeded her words nothing, whereas it
was not her blood that had awakened it, but Birdalone’s. Then cried out
the witch: O child, child! say the spell and come back to me! to me,
who have reared thee and loved thee and hoped in thee! O come back!
But how should Birdalone heed her prayer? She saw the sax; and withal
had her heart forgotten, her flesh might well remember. She sat still,
nor so much as turned her head toward the witch-wife.
Then came wild yelling words from the witch’s mouth, and she cried: Go
then, naked and outcast! Go then, naked fool! and come back hither
after thou hast been under the hands of the pitiless! Ah, it had been
better for thee had I slain thee! And therewith she whirled the sax
over her head and cast it at Birdalone. But now had the boat turned its
head toward the ness of Green Eyot and was swiftly departing, so that
Birdalone but half heard the last words of the witch-wife, and the sax
fell flashing into the water far astern.
There the witch stood tossing her arms and screaming, wordless; but no
more of her saw Birdalone, for the boat came round about the ness of
Green Eyot, and there lay the Great Water under the summer heavens all
wide and landless before her. And it was now noon of day.
Here ends the First Part of the Water of the Wondrous Isles, which is
called Of the House of Captivity. And now begins the Second Part, which
is called Of the Wondrous Isles.
THE SECOND PART:
OF THE WONDROUS ISLES
CHAPTER I.
THE FIRST ISLE.
So glided Birdalone over the lake and was come forth from the House of
Captivity; it might well be that she was but swimming unto death; naked
as she was, fireless, foodless, and helpless, at the mercy of mere
sorcery. Yet she called to mind the word of the wood-mother that they
should meet again, and took heart thereby; and she was glad in that she
had had her will, and shaken off the guile and thraldom of the witch.
Much she thought of the wood-mother, and loved her, and wondered had
she yet sought into and seen her welfare by the burning of a hair of
that tress of hers; and therewith she looked on that tress of
Habundia’s hair and kissed it.
All day the Sending Boat sped on, and she saw no land and nought to
tell of. It was but wave and sky and the familiar fowl of the lake, as
coot, and mallard, and heron, and now and then a swift wood-dove going
her ways from shore to shore; two gerfalcons she saw also, an osprey,
and a great ern on his errand high up aloft.
Birdalone waked in her loneliness till the day was spent, and somewhat
worn of the night; then she fell asleep for weariness; but so it was,
that before dusk she had deemed that a blue cloud lay before her in the
offing which moved not.
She slept the short night through, and was awakened by the boat smiting
against something, and when her eyes opened she saw that she was come
aland and that the sun was just risen. She stood up, and for the first
minute wondered where she was, and she beheld her nakedness and knew
not what it meant; then she loosened her hair, and shook its abundance
all about her, and thereafter she turned her eyes on this new land and
saw that it was fair and goodly. The flowery grass came down to the
very water, and first was a fair meadow-land besprinkled with big
ancient trees; thence arose slopes of vineyard, and orchard and garden;
and, looking down on all, was a great White House, carven and glorious.
A little air of wind had awakened with the sunrise, and bore the garden
sweetness down to her; and warm it was after the chill of the wide
water. No other land could she see when she looked lakeward thence.
She stepped ashore, and stood ankle-deep in the sweet grass, and looked
about her for a while, and saw no shape of man astir. She was yet
weary, and stiff with abiding so long amongst the hard ribs of the
boat, so she laid herself down on the grass, and its softness solaced
her; and presently she fell asleep again.
CHAPTER II.
BIRDALONE FALLETH IN WITH NEW FRIENDS.
When she next awoke, the sun was not yet high, and the morning young,
yet she stood upon her feet much refreshed by that short slumber. She
turned toward the hill and the gay house, and saw one coming over the
meadow to her, a woman to wit, in a shining golden gown, and as she
drew nigh Birdalone could see that she was young and fair, tall,
white-skinned and hazel-eyed, with long red hair dancing all about her
as she tripped lightly and merrily over the greensward.
Now she comes up to Birdalone with wonder in her eyes, and greets her
kindly, and asked her of her name, and Birdalone told it all simply;
and the new-comer said: What errand hast thou hither, that thou art
come thus naked and alone in this ill-omened ferry? Birdalone trembled
at her words, though she spake kindly to her, and she said: It is a
long story, but fate drave me thereto, and misery, and I knew not
whither I was bound. But is there no welcome for me in this lovely
land? I lack not deftness wholly; and I will be a servant of servants,
and ask no better if it must be so. Said the new-comer: Unto that mayst
thou come, but sore will be thy servitude. I fear me thy welcome here
may be but evil. Said Birdalone: Wilt thou not tell me how so? Quoth
that lady: We know thy ferry here, that it is the craft wherein cometh
hither now and again the sister of our lady the Queen, into whose realm
thou art now come, and who liveth up in the white palace yonder, and
whom we serve. And meseems thou wilt not have come hither by her leave,
or thou wouldst be in other guise than this; so that belike thou wilt
be the runaway of thy mistress. Wherefore I fear that thou wilt be sent
back to thy said mistress after a while, and that that while will be
grievous to thee, body and soul.
Birdalone’s heart sank, and she was pale and trembling; but she said: O
dear lady, might I then depart as I have come hither, without the
wotting of this Queen! after thou hast given me a morsel of bread, for
I am hungry. Said the gold-clad one, looking on her pitifully: Nay,
maiden, I cannot choose but bring thee before our mistress, whereas
most like she hath already seen thee from above there. For she is
far-sighted beyond the wont of folk who be more manlike. But as for the
bread, see thou! I have brought a manchet in my pouch, and cheese
withal, as I came hurrying; for I thought, she will be hungry. And she
reached the victual out to her. And Birdalone took it and kissed the
golden lady’s hands, and she might not refrain her tears, but wept as
she ate.
Meanwhile the golden lady spake unto her and said: Nevertheless, thou
poor maiden, somewhat may be done for thine helping, and I will
presently speak to my sisters thereon, who are, both of them, wiser
than I. Sisters by blood are we not, but by love and fellowship. And I
doubt not but that as we go up into the house we shall happen upon them
in the garden. But now I look upon thee, how fair a woman art thou!
Thou art kind and friendly, said Birdalone, smiling amidst of her
tears, might I know by what name to call so dear a woman? Thou shalt
call me Aurea, said the other; and my next sister is Viridis, and the
third, Atra; for that is according to the hues of our raiment, and
other names we have not now. And lo! here cometh Viridis over the
meadow.
Birdalone looked, and saw a woman coming toward them clad all in green,
with a rose-wreath on her head. And she drew nigh, and greeted
Birdalone kindly, and she also was a very beauteous woman; not great of
body, whereas Aurea was tall and big-made, though excellently shapen.
Light brown and goodly waved of hair was Viridis, her eyes brown, and
rather long than great; her lips full and ruddy, her cheeks soft and
sweet and smooth, and as rosy-tinted pearl; her hands small and
delicate of fashion; her whole body soft-shapen as an egg; a kind,
wheedling look her face bore.
When she had looked a while on Birdalone, she kissed her, and said: I
would thou wert happier, for thou art beauteous, and all but the evil
must love thee. Therewith she drew a cate from her pouch, and said: Eat
somewhat, for thou wilt be hungry; and let us go meet our other sister,
who is wiser than we.
So they went, all three of them, and came from off the meadow on to the
garden-slopes, and at the entry thereof was come Atra to meet them; she
was clad all in black, a tall, slim woman, with the grace of the
willow-bough in the wind, with dark plenteous hair and grey hawk-eyes;
her skin privet-white, with but little red in her cheeks. She also
greeted Birdalone kindly, but sadly withal. She gave her strawberries
to eat laid on a big kale-blade; and she said: Sisters, here are we
hidden by the trees, and cannot be seen from the house; therefore we
may sit here for a minute or two, while we talk together as to what may
perchance be done for the helping of this unhappy maiden, who is so
fair and lovely, and hath strayed into so ugly a trap. Then she said to
Birdalone: Thou must know, poor wanderer, that this Queen, our
mistress, who is sister to the Witch Under the Wood, is big and strong,
well-made, and white-skinned, so that she deems herself a Queen of all
beauty: keen-eyed is she to see a fly where others would see nought
smaller than a coney; fine-eared withal; wise in wizardry; not
altogether dull-witted, though she be proud, and crueller than the
cruellest. But herein she faileth, that her memory is of the shortest
for matters of the passing hour, albeit she remembers her spells and
witch-songs over well. But other matters will scarce abide in her head
for four and twenty hours. Wherefore, sisters, if we may keep this
maiden out of her sight (after she hath seen her and given doom upon
her) till the dead of to-morrow night, we may perchance do some good
for her; and it is in my mind that then she may do good for us also.
Now they rejoiced in this word of Atra the wise; and Atra prayed
Birdalone to tell them somewhat more of her story; and she told them
much; but, whyso it were, she said nought concerning the wood-wife,
whose outward semblance was the same as hers. Then they pitied her, and
caressed her; but Atra said: We must tarry here no more, but go
straight up to the lady, or maybe we shall lose all.
So they went their ways and came into the pleasance, and trod the sweet
greensward betwixt the garland flowers and the beauteous trees; which
now indeed, though Birdalone saw them all clear and over-clear, were
become nought to her. Those three also spake gently to her, and now and
then asked her somewhat, as if to show her that she was one of
themselves; but she spake not, or answered at random, and to say sooth
scarce heard their words: forsooth she was now become heart-sick, and
was half dead for fear; and her nakedness, which would have troubled
her little across the water, was now grown a shame and a terror unto
her, and every deal of her body quivered with the anguish thereof.
CHAPTER III.
BIRDALONE IS BROUGHT BEFORE THE WITCH-WIFE’S SISTER.
So came they at last to the very house, and whereas it stood high on
the bent, a great stair or perron of stone went up to it, and was of
much majesty. They went through the porch, which was pillared and
lovely, and into a great hall most nobly builded, and at the other end
thereof, on a golden throne raised upon a dais, sat a big woman clad in
red scarlet. The three damsels led Birdalone to some four paces of the
great lady, and then stood away from her, and left her standing there
alone, the scarlet-clad woman before her; on the right and the left the
tall pillars going up gleaming toward the roof, and about her feet the
dark polished pavement, with the wallowing of strange beasts and great
serpents and dragons all done on the coal-blue ground.
When she was so left alone, at first she tottered, and went nigh to
falling; but then came back some little heart to her, as she said to
herself that now she should verily die once for all, and that no long
while would be the passing from life into death. She looked up and
beheld the lady-witch, that she was somewhat like to her sister,
white-skinned and of plenteous golden-hair as was she, but younger of
aspect, and nowise so ill-looked as that other had now become; for
somewhat well-shapen of body she was; but her face forbidding; her
lower lip thrust out, her cheeks flaggy and drooping, her eyes little
more than half open; to be short, a face both proud, foolish, and
cruel; terrible indeed, sitting in judgment in that place on a
shrinking naked creature.
Now she spake; and if there were no majesty or solemnity in the voice,
there was ugly glee and malice therein; but she said to those damsels:
Is this the woman that my keen eyes beheld come aland from my sister’s
Sending Boat e’en now? Aurea knelt on one knee, and said: Yea, so
please you, my lady.
Then said the witch: Ho thou! Wilt thou plead some errand hither from
my sister? Dost thou deem me so witless as not to know that if she had
sent thee hither thou wouldst not have come in this plight? Nay, I
know; thou hast stolen thyself from her: thou art a thief, and as a
thief shalt thou be dealt with.
Spake Birdalone in a clear voice: No errand do I feign from thy sister,
lady: when I could bear my life there no longer, I took occasion to
flee from her: this is all the tale. Yet once and again it hath been in
my mind that it was thy sister who stole me from them that loved me.
Hah, thrall! said the lady, thou art bold; thou art over-bold, thou
naked wretch, to bandy words with me. What heed I thy tale now thou art
under my hand? Her voice was cold rather than fierce, yet was there the
poison of malice therein. But Birdalone spake: If I be bold, lady, it
is because I see that I have come into the House of Death. The dying
may well be bold.
The House of Death! cried the stupid lady; and wilt thou call my noble
house the House of Death? Now art thou no longer bold, stripped thrall,
but impudent.
Scorn rose into Birdalone’s heart at this word, but she refrained her,
and spake: I meant that I have stirred the wrath in thee, and that thou
wilt slay me therefor; and that it availeth not to crave mercy of thee.
Laughed the lady: Thou art a fool, thrall, said she; if a sparrow fled
hither from my sister, I should not wring its neck, but keep it for
her. So shall I do with thee. I shall not slay thee, and so destroy my
sister’s chattel; nor shall I spoil thee, and spoil her possession. I
shall send thee back unto her, the stolen thrall in the stolen boat,
when I have learned thee a lesson here. Forsooth it was for that cause
meseemeth that she let thee slip through her fingers, for she is wise
enough to have stayed thee from this holiday had she willed it. But she
is tender-hearted, and kind, and soft, and might well deem that if thy
chastisement were done to her hand here, it were better done than by
her mercy. Now, thrall, I have spoken enough to thee, or more than
enough: get thee back out of earshot!
CHAPTER IV.
OF THE WITCH’S PRISON IN THE WAILING-TOWER.
Birdalone did as she was bidden, and the witch called unto her Atra,
who came and stood humbly on the footpace beside her, and held converse
with her mistress a while. Then she went backward from her a little,
and then came to Birdalone, and in a somewhat harsh voice bade her come
with her. Birdalone followed her, quaking, and they came out of the
hall and into a long passage, which led to a wide stair winding round a
newel; and all was builded exceeding fair, had Birdalone’s heart
suffered her eyes to see it; but her flesh was weak, and quaked before
the torment to come, so that her knees well-nigh failed her.
But now Atra lays a hand kindly on her shoulder and stays her, and
says: Now meseems the walls of the Wailing-Tower, for so it hight, have
no ears to hear, and we may talk together. Wottest thou why I have
brought thee hither? Said Birdalone in a faint voice: Hast thou been
bidden to whip me? And if I had been so bidden, dear maiden, said Atra
laughing, nowise would I do it. Hold up thine heart! For all hath gone
well so far, and now meseems betwixt us three we shall save thee.
Birdalone’s spirit came back to her at that word, and she put her hands
to her face and fell a-weeping. But Atra was kind to her and made much
of her; and she kissed her and wiped her tears, and Birdalone smiled
again amidst her sobs, and she thanked Atra; who said to her: First of
all I must tell thee that I am taking thee to prison by the witch’s
bidding. Yea, said Birdalone, and what is prison? Said Atra: A prison
is a grim place where poor folk who have done that which pleaseth not
rich folk are shut up, that they may be grieved and tormented by not
being able to fare abroad, or go where they would; and by suffering
whatsoever their masters may lay upon them, as darkness, and cold, and
hunger, and stripes. Somewhat so, or worse, our lady would have it for
thee; but so would not we. Therefore for thee shall this prison be a
place where thou shalt be safe till we may bring thee forth when the
night hath worn towards its ending. For she will have forgotten thee by
to-morrow; and this she knoweth; wherefore just now, when thou stoodest
out of earshot, she was bidding me, amongst other matters, to bring
thee before her to-morrow morning, and tell her the tale of thee, that
she might call it to mind then what she had will to this morning.
Yea, said Birdalone, but will she not remember that she hath given thee
a charge concerning me? But little thereof, said Atra, and with a few
words I may easily confuse her memory so that speech thereon will fail
her. Keep up thine heart, sweetling; but let us up this stair now
forthwith, for I were fain to have thee hid away in this prison, and
then will I down to her and tell her that thou art lying therein in all
misery and terror, lest it come into her head to send for thee ere her
memory is grown dim.
Again did Birdalone take heart, and they hastened a long way up the
stair, till Atra stayed at last at a door all done with iron, endlong
and over-thwart. Then she took a leash of keys from her girdle, one big
and two little, and set the big one in the lock and turned it, and
shoved the heavy door and entered thereby a chamber four-square and
vaulted; and the vault was upheld by a pillar of red marble, wherein,
somewhat higher than a man’s head, were set stanchions of latten, that
could be clasped and unclasped. This chamber was in a way goodly, but
yet grim to look on; for the walls were all of black ashlar stone
close-jointed, and the floor black also, but of marble polished so
wholly that it was as dark water, and gave back the image of
Birdalone’s dear feet and legs as she went thereon. The windows were
not small, and the chamber was light in every corner because of them,
but they were so high up under the vaulting that none might see
thereout aught save the heavens. There was nought in the chamber save a
narrow bench of oak and three stools of the same, a great and stately
carven chair dight with cushions of purple and gold, and in one corner
a big oaken coffer.
Now spake Atra: This is our lady’s prison, and I fear me we cannot make
it soft for thee, dear stranger. Yea, I must tell thee (and she
reddened therewith) that it is part of my charge to set thee in irons.
Birdalone smiled on her, and was over weary to ask what that meant,
though she knew not. But Atra went to the big coffer and opened it and
thrust in her hands, and there was a jangling therewith, and when she
turned about to Birdalone again she had iron chains in her hands, and
she said: This shameth me, dear friend; yet if thou wouldst wear them
it might be well, for she may have a mind to go visit her prison, and
if she find thee there unshackled she shall be wroth, and oftenest her
wrath hath a whip in its hand. And these are the lightest that I might
find.
Birdalone smiled again, and spake not, for she was very weary, and Atra
did the irons on her wrists and her ankles; and said thereafter: Yet
bear in mind that it is a friend that hath the key of these things. And
now I will go away for a little, but I shall be on thine errands; for
first I shall tell the mistress that thou art lying here shackled and
in all wanhope; and next, by the will and command of her, I am to see
that thou be well fed and nourished to-day that thou mayst be the
stronger for to-morrow. Now if I may give thee rede, it is that thou
forbear to open the coffer yonder; for ugly things shalt thou find
there, and that may dishearten thee again.
Therewith she kissed her kindly on the cheek and went her ways, and the
great key turned in the lock behind her.
There then was Birdalone left to herself; and she was over weary even
to weep; true it is that she made a step or two towards the coffer, but
reframed her, and took two of the pillows from the great chair and
turned aside into the other corner, her chains jingling as she went.
There she laid herself down, and nestled into the very wall-nook, and
presently fell asleep, and slumbered dreamlessly and sweetly a long
while.
CHAPTER V.
THEY FEAST IN THE WITCH’S PRISON.
Birdalone was awakened by the sound of the key in the lock, and the
door opened, and there was Atra bearing dishes and platters, and behind
her Viridis with the like gear, and beakers and a flagon to boot, and
both they were smiling and merry.
Birdalone’s heart leapt up to meet them, and in especial was she
gladdened by the coming of Viridis, who had seemed to be the kindest of
them all.
Viridis spake: Now is come the meat for the dear sister, and it is
time, for surely thou art famished, and it is now long past high noon.
Do off her irons, Atra. Said Atra: Maybe it were well to let the
fetters abide on her ankles, lest the mistress should come; but for the
wrists, reach out thine hands, wayfarer. So did Birdalone, and Atra
laid her things on the ground, and unlocked the hand-shackles, and did
them off: and meanwhile Viridis spread forth the banquet, partly on the
floor, and partly on that ill-omened coffer. Then she went up to
Birdalone and kissed her, and said: Now shalt thou sit in our lady’s
throne, and we shall serve thee, and thou shalt deem thee a great one.
Nought else would they have, and Birdalone laid her nakedness on the
purple cushions, and then they fell all three to the feast. The victual
was both plenteous and dainty, of venison and fowl, and cream and
fruits and sweetmeats, and good wine they had withal: never had
Birdalone feasted in like manner, and the heart came back unto her, and
her cheeks grew rosy and her eyes glittered. But she said: How if your
lady were to come upon us here, and we so merry? Said Atra: Out of the
chair must thou when thou hearest the key in the lock, and then is all
well, and she would have nought against us; for she herself bade us,
and me in special, to keep thee company here, and talk with thee; and
Aurea also would have been here, but that she is serving the lady as
now. Hath she then some pity on me, said Birdalone, that she hath
bidden thee do by me what is most to my pleasure?
Laughed Viridis thereat, and Atra said: She hath no pity, nor ever
shall have; but so hard of heart is she, that she may not deem that we
could love thee, a stranger, and unhappy, who can serve us in nowise;
so she feareth not the abatement of thy grief from any compassion of
us. Rather she hath sent us, and me in especial, not to comfort thee,
but to grieve thee by words; for she biddeth me tell thee fair tales,
forsooth, of what to-morrow shall be to thee, and the day after; and of
how she shall begin on thee, and what shall follow the beginning, and
what thou mayst look for after that. For by all this she deemeth to
lower thy pride and abate thy valour, and to make every moment of
to-day a terror to thy flesh and thy soul, so that thereby thou mayest
thole the bitterness twice over. Such is her pity for thee! And yet
belike this cruelty hath saved thee, for but for that she had not
refrained her from thee to-day, and to-morrow thou shalt be far away
from her.
Meanwhile, said Viridis, in her soft sweet voice, none of all these
things will we talk over with thee, but things comfortable and kind;
and we will tell each to each of our story. Will we not, Atra? Yea,
verily, said she.
Birdalone looked upon them and said: Wondrous is your compassion and
loving-kindness unto me, and scarce do I know how to bear the burden
thereof. But tell me one thing truly; will ye not suffer in my place
when this witch cometh to know that ye have stolen me away from her?
Nay, said Atra, I have told thee that by to-morrow she will have
altogether, or at least almost, forgotten thee and thy coming hither.
Moreover, she is foreseeing, and hath come to know that if she raise a
hand against any of us three, it will lead her to her bane, save it be
for heavy guilt clearly proven against us. Forsooth, in the earlier
days of our captivity such a guilt we fell into, and did not wholly
escape, as Viridis can bear me witness. But we are now grown wiser, and
know our mistress better, and will give her no such joy.
Viridis cast her eyes down at those words and Atra’s smile, and turned
red and then pale, and Birdalone looked on her wondering what ailed
her; then she said: Do ye sisters work in the field and the garden? I
mean at milking the kine and the goats, and digging the earth, and
sowing and reaping, and the like. Nay, said Atra; either our mistress
or someone else who is of marvellous might, hath so ordained, that here
everything waxeth of itself without tillage, or sowing or reaping, or
any kind of tending; and whatso we need of other matters the mistress
taketh it for us from out of her Wonder-coffer, or suffereth us to take
it for ourselves. For thou must know that this land is one of the Isles
of the Lake, and is called the Isle of Increase Unsought.
Meseemeth then, said Birdalone, were the mistress of you to gainsay you
the gifts of the Wonder-coffer, ye were undone. Yea, verily, said Atra;
then would be but the fruits of the earth and the wild creatures for
our avail, and these, we have not learned how to turn them into dinner
and supper. And they all laughed thereat; but Birdalone said: See ye
then how I was right to offer myself unto you as a servant, for in all
matters of the house and the byre and the field have I skill. But since
ye would not or could not have me, I wonder not that ye be ill at ease
here, and long to be gone, for as plenteous and lovely as the isle is,
and though ye live here without present mishandling or pining. For,
sooth to say, ye have over you a tyrant and a fool.
Viridis answered: Yet is there something else, dear friend, that whets
our longing to depart. Tell her thereof, Atra.
Atra smiled and said: Simple it is: there are they who long for us and
for whom we long, and we would be together. Said Birdalone: Be these
kinsfolk of yours, as fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, or the like?
Reddened Viridis again; but Atra spake, and she also blushed somewhat,
though she smiled: Those whom we love, and who love us, be not queans,
but carles; neither be they of our blood, but aliens, till love
overcometh them and causeth them to long to be of one flesh with us;
and their longing is beyond measure, and they desire our bodies, which
they deem far fairer than belike they be. And they would bed us, and
beget children on us. And all this we let them do with a good will,
because we love them for their might, and their truth, and the hotness
of their love toward us.
Looked up Viridis thereat, and her eyes gleamed amidst the flushing of
her cheeks, and she said: Sister, sister! even in such wise, and no
other, as they desire us do we desire them; it is no mere good will
toward them from us, but longing and hot love.
Now must Atra blush no less than Viridis; yet she but said: I have told
thee hereof, Birdalone, because I deem that thou hast lived simply and
without the sight of men; but it is what all know in the world of the
sons of Adam. Said Birdalone: Thou sayest sooth concerning me. Yet
about this love have I learned somewhat even ere to-day, and now, as ye
speak and I, meseems the lore of it comes pouring in on me and fills my
heart with its sweetness. And O, to have such love from any, and with
such love to be loved withal!
Dear sister, said little Viridis, fear not; such as thou shall not fail
of the love of some man whom thou must needs love. Is it not so, sister
Atra? Said Atra: Yea; such love shall come unto her as surely as death.
They were silent now a little, and it was as if some sweet incense had
been burned within the chamber. For Birdalone the colour came and went
in her cheeks, her flesh quaked, her heart beat quick, and she was
oppressed by the sweetness of longing. More daintily she moved her
limbs, and laid foot to foot and felt the sleekness of her sides; and
tender she was of her body as of that which should one day be so sorely
loved.
Now she spake timidly to the others, and said: Each one of you then has
a man who loves her, and longs for her and for none else? So it is,
said Viridis. How sweet that shall be! said Birdalone; and now all the
more I wonder that ye could trouble yourselves over me, or think of me
once; and the kinder I think it of you.
Said Atra smiling on her: Nay, now must the cat be out of the bag, and
I must tell thee that thou art to think of us as chapmen who with our
kindness would buy something of thee, to wit, that thou wouldst do an
errand for us to those three lovers of ours. Surely, said Birdalone, it
were a little payment to set against your saving of my life and my
soul; and had I to go barefoot over red gleeds I would do it. And yet,
if I may go hence to your lovers, why not all three of you along with
me?
Said Atra: For this reason; thy ferry, the Sending Boat, wherein ye
came hither, is even somewhat akin to thy mistress and ours; and the
mistress here hath banned it against bearing us; and now, were we so
much as to touch it, such sore turmoil would arise, and such hideous
noise as if earth and heaven were falling together; and the lady would
be on us straightway, and we should be undone; and, as thou shalt hear
presently, this hath been proved. But thou, thou art free of the said
ferry. Forsooth I wot not why thy mistress banned it not against thee;
maybe because she deemed not that thou wouldst dare to use it or even
go anigh it.
Birdalone considered, and thought that even so it was; that the witch
deemed that she would not dare use the Sending Boat, nor know how to,
even if she came upon it, and that if she did so find it, she would
sicken her of the road thereto. So now she told her friends the whole
tale thereof more closely than she had afore, save again what pertained
to Habundia; withal she told every word of what her mistress had said
to her at that time when she changed her into a hind. And Viridis heard
and wondered, and pitied her. But Atra sat somewhat downcast a while.
Then she said: However this may be, we will send thee forth to-morrow
in the dawn, and take the risk of what may befall thereafter; and thou
shalt bear a token for each of those three that love us. For we deem
that they have not forgotten aught, but are still seeking us.
Birdalone said: Whatsoever ye bid me; that will I do, and deem me your
debtor still. But now I pray you, pleasure a poor captive somewhat
more. Wherein? said they both; we be all ready thereto. Said the
maiden: Would ye do so much as to tell me the tale of how ye came
hither, and then how it hath been with you from your first coming until
now? With a good will, said Atra; hearken!
CHAPTER VI.
ATRA TELLS OF HOW THEY THREE CAME UNTO THE ISLE OF INCREASE UNSOUGHT.
We were born and bred in the land that lies south-west along this Great
Water, and we waxed happily, and became fellows when we were yet but
children, and thus grew up dear friends into maidenhood and womanhood.
We were wooed by many men, but our hearts turned to none of them save
unto three, who were goodly, kind, and valiant; and thou mayst call
them the Golden Knight, who is Aurea’s man; the Green Knight, who is
man of Viridis; and my man, the Black Squire. But in this was unhap,
that because of certain feuds which had endured from old time, this
love was perilous unto them and us; so that we lived in doubt and
unrest.
Came a day, now three years ago, when the king of the whole land
brought his folk into our lakeside country, and there held a court and
a mote in a fair great meadow anigh to the water. But even as the mote
was hallowed, and the Peace of God proclaimed at the blast of the
war-horn, came we three woeful ladies clad in black and knelt before
the lord king, and prayed him hearken us. And he deemed that we were
fair, so he had compassion on us, and raised us up, and bade us speak.
So we told our tale, how that strife and wounds and death stood betwixt
us and love; and we wept, and bewailed it, that our love must be slain
because men were wroth with each other and not with us.
The king looked on us kindly, and said: Who be the swains for whom
these lovely damsels make such a piece of work? So we named them, and
said that they were there in the mote; and the king knew them for
valiant men who had done him good service; and he cried out their
names, and bade them stand forth out of the throng. So forth they
stood, the Golden Knight, the Green Knight, and the Black Squire (and
he also was now a knight); but now were they all three clad in black,
and they were unarmed, save for their swords girt to their sides,
without which no man amongst us may come to the mote, be he baron or
earl or duke, or the very lord king himself.
So the king looked upon us and them, and laughed and said: Fair ladies,
ye have got me by the nose, so needs must my body follow. Do ye three
knights, whom I know for valiant men and true, take each his love by
the hand, and let the weddings be to-morrow. Who then were joyful but
us? But even at the word the king spake arose great turmoil in the
mote, for they smote the feud and contention awake, and men thronged
forward against each other, and swords were drawn and brandished. But
the king arose in his place and spake long and deftly, and waxed
exceeding wroth, while none heeded him nor hearkened. And there stood
our three men, who laid no hand to hilt, but abode heart-whole by
seeming amid the tumult. And lovely they were to look on. At last the
wise men and old barons went between, and by fair words appeased the
trouble, and the mote grew hushed. Then spake the king: What is this,
my thanes? I had deemed that my foemen were far away, and that ye that
here are were all friends unto me and unto each other. But now must we
try another rede. Therewith he turned unto our men and said: Ye
champions, are ye so much in love with Love that ye will fight for him?
They all yeasaid that, and then the king said: Then do I declare that
these three will hold the field against all comers from matins till
high noon, and that he who vanquisheth any one of them shall have his
lady and wed her if he will, and, if he will, shall ransom her. And
this field shall be foughten after two months’ frist in these fair
meadows, when I return from the outermost marches of the south, whereto
I am now wending. But when the battle is done, then let all men bow to
the judgment of God, whether he be well content or not, and this on
peril of life and limb. And now let there be deep peace between all men
meanwhile; and if any break the peace, be he high or low, rich or
unrich, churl or earl, I swear it by the souls of my fathers that he
shall lose nought save his life therefor.
At these words was there a rumour of yeasay, and all men were content,
save we three poor maidens, into whose hearts had now entered fear of
loss and death.
But our kindreds on both sides were glad and proud, and they were not
so bitter against us as they had been; they put hand to pouch, and let
rear for us a fair pavilion of painted timber, all hung with silk and
pictured cloths and Saracen tapestry, by the very lake-side; and gay
boats gaily bedight lay off the said pavilion for our pleasure; and
when all was done, it yet lacked a half month of the day of battle, and
thither were we brought in triumph by the kindreds on a fair day of
May, and there was not a sword or a spear amongst the whole company,
and peaceful and merry was all by seeming. But we were not suffered to
meet our lovers all this while, from the time when the mote was.
Now on a day came a messenger on the spur, and did us to wit that the
king would be with us on the morrow, and that the day after, the
fateful field should be foughten. Then, though the coming of this day
had been so longed for by us, yet now it was at hand it cast us into
all unrest and trouble, so that we scarce knew whether to go, or stand,
or sit, or what to do with our bodies. Our folk, and all other men
withal, were so busy making ready for the morrow of to-morrow, that
they left us alone to wear through the day as we might.
Now it was afternoon, and the day hot and hazy, and we stood on the
very lip of the land wearied with hope and fear, and striving to keep
good countenance to each other; and there came a boat unto the shore
gaily painted and gilded, and bedight with silken cloths and cushions;
and the steerer thereof was a woman, not young, by seeming of fifty
winters; red-haired she was, thin-lipped and narrow-eyed, flat-breasted
and strait-hipped; an ungoodly woman, though her skin was white and
smooth as for her age. Hast thou ever seen such an one, guest? Said
Birdalone, smiling: Forsooth that have I; for such an one is my
mistress to behold.
Well, said Atra, this dame stretched out her hands to us, and said:
Will not the pretty ladies, the dear ladies, who have nought on hand
this afternoon, come into my boat and look on the face of the water, so
calm and fair as it is, and let their lovely hands go over the gunwale
and play with the ripple, and so beguile this heavy time for a two
hours; and then give a little gift of a piece or two of silver to a
poor carline, who loveth all fair ladies and bright warriors, and who
needeth a little livelihood?
Now the woman seemed nought lovely unto us, and to me forsooth she
seemed hateful; but we looked on each other, and we found that we were
utterly weary of going up and down on the meadow, and lying about in
the pavilion, and it seemed as if this would give us a little rest;
withal we saw not that the woman could do us any hurt, whereas we were
three, and strong enough as women go; nor were we mariners so evil but
that we might sail or steer a boat at a pinch. So we stepped into the
boat straightway, and the woman sat aft and paddled deftly with the
steering oar, and we glided away from the land.
Soon we were come so far that we could but just see our pavilion
through the haze, which had somewhat thickened, and we said to the
woman that she should go about and make for the shore, and that then we
would go to and fro a while along by our stead. She nodded yeasay, and
began by seeming to dight the craft for return. But therewith the haze
was grown suddenly into a low cloud, which came down upon us from the
south-west in the arms of a cold breeze, that grew stronger every
minute, so no wonder it was though the steerer might not keep head to
wind; and then who was afraid and ashamed save ourselves?
But the woman said, and there seemed to be a mock in her voice: Ill
luck, pretty ladies! Now is there nought for it but to drive, if we
would not drown. But belike this duskiness will clear presently, and
then at least we shall know whither we be going; and we may either turn
back, or seek some other shelter, for I know the lake well; I know, I
know.
We were too terror-stricken to speak, for we felt that still the wind
grew stronger, and the lake began to rise into waves, and the craft to
wallow; but well-nigh therewith was the dusk and the mist gone; the sky
was bright blue overhead, and the westering sun shone cloudless; but on
no land it shone, or on aught save the blue waters and the white
wave-crests.
Then wept Aurea, and this Viridis here, but as to me, I grew wroth and
cried out to the steerer: Accursed carline! thou hast betrayed us;
never now may we get back to our pavilion till the fight is foughten,
and our lovers will deem that we have forsaken them, and we are shamed
for ever. Well, well, said the carline, what remedy save patience for
the winds and waves? And she laughed mockingly. Quoth I: There is this
remedy, that we three arise and lay hands on thee, and cast thee
outboard, save thou straightway turn the boat’s head and back to the
main. Forsooth I doubt not but that as thou hast raised this foul wind
against us, thou canst raise a fair wind for us.
Hearken to the lovely lady! quoth the carline, how she deemeth me to be
none other than the great God himself, to hold the winds in the hollow
of my hand, and still the waves with a word! What! am I wrought
somewhat after his image, kind ladies? And she grinned horribly
therewith. Then she said again: As to thy remedy, sweetling, meseemeth
it nought. For how shall ye sail this stormy water when your captain is
gone, and ye but holiday sailors belike?
As she spake, a great wave came up from the windward, and brake over
us, and half filled the craft, and lifted her bows up towering, and
then down we went into the trough; and I sat cowed and quaking, and
spake never another word.
Now began the sun to sink, and the wind abated, and the sea went down,
but the boat sped on as swift as ever over the landless waters.
Now the sun was down, and dusk was at hand, and the carline spake, and
drew a bright-gleaming sax from under her raiment: Damsels, I warn you
that now it were best that ye obey me in all things; for though ye be
three and I one, yet whereas I have here an edge-friend, I may take the
life of any one of you, or of all three, as simply as I could cut a
lamb’s throat. Moreover it will serve you better in the house whereto
ye are wending, that I make a good tale of you rather than a bad. For
the mistress of that house is of all might; and I must say it of her,
though she is my very sister, yet she is not so sweet-tempered and kind
of heart as I am, but somewhat rough and unyielding of mood, so that it
is best to please her. Wherefore, maidens, I rede you be sage.
Our unhappy hearts were now so sunken in wan-hope, that we had no word
wherewith to answer her, and she spake: Now obey ye my bidding and eat
and drink, that ye may come hale and sound to your journey’s end, for I
would not give starvelings to my dear sister. Therewith she brought
forth victual for us, and that nought evil, of flesh and bread, and
cheese and cakes, and good wine withal; and we were hunger-weary as
well as sorrow-weary; and hunger did at that moment overcome sorrow, so
we ate and drank, and, would we, would we not, something of heart came
back to us thereby. Then again spake the carline: Now my will is that
ye sleep; and ye have cushions and cloths enough to dight you a fair
bed; and this bidding is easy for you to obey. Forsooth, so weary were
we with sorrow, and our hunger was now quenched, that we laid us down
and slept at once, and forgat our troubles.
When we awoke it was after the first dawn, and we were come aland even
where thou didst this morning, guest. And thou mayst deem it wondrous,
but so it was, that close to where our boat took land lay the ferry
which brought thee hither.
Now the carline bade us get ashore, and we did so, and found the land
wondrous fair, little as that solaced us then. But she said unto us:
Hearken! now are ye come home; and long shall ye dwell here, for never
shall ye depart hence save by the will of my sister and me, wherefore,
once more, I rede you be good, for it will be better for you. Go forth
now unto yonder house, and on the way ye shall meet the Queen of this
land, and ye have nought to do but to say to her that ye are the Gift;
and then shall she see to your matter.
Therewith she gat into her own craft, the Sending Boat, and therein did
the deed and spake the words ye wot of, and was gone north-away; and
when we turned to seek for our boat wherein we had come hither, it was
gone.
We stood miserably for a while on the lip of the land, and then I said
that we might as well go meet our fate as die there of grief and
hunger. So we went, and came into those fair gardens, and as we went
slowly up toward the house came on us a woman clad in red scarlet and
grandly dight. A big woman she was, and like to her that beguiled us,
but far younger and fairer of favour, foolish and proud of visage. She
stared on us, and seemed half afeard of us at first, but asked us what
we were, and I answered that we were the Gift. The Gift? said she, what
meaneth that? Will ye obey me in all things? If ye gainsay it, ye will
perish, unless ye can eat grass; for on this isle everything cometh
from my hand.
What might we do? We all knelt down before her, and swore to do her
will. Then she said, after she had stared on us a while: Now I know: ye
are they of whom my sister spake, that she would fetch me a gift of a
leash of damsels for my service. Now I take the Gift and thank her good
heart. But if ye would do my will, then . . . But she broke off here
and stared at us a long while, and then she said: Now I know; she bade
me treat you well, and hold my hand from you, or evil would come of it,
belike at last my bane. So go ye home to the house, and I will give you
meat and drink, and show you my stores and the Wonder-coffer, and ye
shall serve me in honour.
Even so did we; and we ate and drank and rested, and nought we lacked,
save leave to depart home to our lovers, and some mistress better than
this stupid and proud lump of flesh. But the next morning when we came
before the lady, she knew nought of what we were; and again we had to
tell her that we were the Gift, and again she glared at us balefully,
and again she called to mind her sister and her rede concerning us. And
this went on for many days, till at last she got to know what we were;
and she followed her sister’s rede in that she never mishandled us,
though we could see that it irked her to forbear, nor did she speak to
us more roughly than her fool’s wont was; and we had in our hands all
that was needed for our sustenance, and lived easily enough.
Now our coming hither betid three years ago, and a month thereafter
comes thy witch hither in her ferry, and she greeted us when we met,
and asked us, grinning, had she not been kind to win us such good days?
Yea, and over kind, said she, ye would deem me, knew ye what would have
betid you save for my good word. Forsooth we deemed it no kind deed to
steal us from our lovers; but we kept good tongues in our heads, for
thralls must needs kiss the rod.
She went away in two days, but came again many times thereafter, till
we won the secret of the Sending Boat, and her spell therewith; but we
knew not that was banned against us. Wherefore on a day in the grey of
the morning, when we had been on this isle somewhat less than a year,
we went down to it and stepped in, and reddened stem and stern and said
the spell-words. But straightway arose an hideous braying and clatter,
and thunder came therewith, and trembling of the earth, and the waters
of the lake arose in huge waves; nor might we move from our seats in
the boat till the two witches came running down to us, and haled us out
ashore, and had us up into the house, and into this very
prison-chamber, wherein we are now sitting so merry. And here we bore
what was laid upon us, whereof, dear guest, we shall tell thee nought.
But this came of it, that never thereafter durst we try the adventure
of the Sending Boat, but have lived on in lazy sorrow and shameful
ease, till thou, dear guest and sister, wert sent hither by heaven for
our helping.
Now what became of the king’s court, and the hazelled field of our
champions, we wot not, or whether they be yet alive we cannot tell
thee; but if they be alive, it is to them that we would have thee do
our errand, and thereof will we tell thee closely to-morrow. And so,
sweetling, an end of my tale.
CHAPTER VII.
THE THREE DAMSELS TAKE BIRDALONE OUT OF THE WITCH’S PRISON.
Birdalone thanked Atra much for her tale, and strange it was to her to
hear of such new things and the deeds of folk; but the dealing of the
witches with those three was familiar to her and was of her world.
Now they talked merrily, till there came a footstep to the door and one
without knocked. Viridis paled thereat, and a pang of fear smote
Birdalone, and she swiftly got from out the chair and sat down on a
stool; but when Atra opened, it was but Aurea come from her service to
bid Atra take her place. So she went, and again was there pleasant
converse betwixt Aurea and the other twain; and certain matters did
Aurea tell Birdalone which had been left untold by Atra. And chiefly,
when Birdalone asked if any other folk had come into the isle while
they dwelt there, she said yea; once had come a knight with a lady, his
love, fleeing from war and mishap, and these had the witch overcome by
wizardry, and destroyed them miserably: and that again another had
strayed thither, and him also the witch undid, because he would not do
her will and lie in her bed. Withal had come drifting there a young
damsel, a castaway of the winds and waves; her the witch kept as a
thrall, and after a while took to mishandling her so sorely, that at
last, what for shame and what for weariness of life, she cast herself
into the water and was drowned. None of these folk might the damsels
help so as to do them any good, though they tried it, and went nigh to
suffer therefor themselves.
Now the day wore, and in a while Atra came back, and Viridis must
serve. At last the dusk and the dark was come. Then said Atra: Now must
we twain begone to wait upon our lady, as the wont is: and that is now
for our good hap, for if we be with her all three, and especially, to
say sooth, if I be with her, we may well keep her from visiting thee
here; since belike she shall yet dimly remember that thou art in her
prison. Therefore thou must forgive it if I shackle thy wrists again.
And now if thou wilt follow my rede, thou shalt try to sleep some deal,
and it were well if thou might’st sleep till we come for thee in the
grey dawn.
Therewith they left her there, and she nestled in the corner once more,
and there did verily fall asleep, and slept till the key in the lock
and the opening door awakened her, and Atra came stealing soft-footed
into the prison. Eager she was and panting, and she kneeled before
Birdalone and unlocked her leg-shackles, and then stood up and did the
like by the irons on her wrists. Then she said: Look up, dear friend,
to thy prison windows, and behold the dawn beginning to break on the
day of thy deliverance, and ours maybe. But come now at once: and
again, wilt thou pardon me, that we clothe thee not here for thy
journey? For from our own bodies must we clothe thee, and if by any hap
our lady were to see any one of us more or less unclad, it might draw
her on to see what was toward, and we might yet be found out, for our
undoing.
Therewith she took her hand, and led her forth of the prison, and
locked the door behind her; and then downstairs they went, and
out-a-doors by a little wicket at the stair-end. The dawn drew on apace
now, and Birdalone saw at once the other twain lurking in the wall-nook
hard by. No word was spoken between them, and with noiseless feet they
went forth into the orchard, where the blackbirds and thrushes were
beginning their first morning song, and ere they came out on to the
meadow the full choir of them was a-singing.
CHAPTER VIII.
IN WHAT WISE BIRDALONE WAS CLAD, AND HOW SHE WENT HER WAYS FROM THE
ISLE OF INCREASE UNSOUGHT.
When they were all clear of the orchard trees the three damsels kept
Birdalone between them closely, so that her white body should not be
seen if the lady were awake and looking forth. Thus they brought her to
where a few thorn-bushes made a cover for them close to the water’s
edge, some twenty yards from the Sending Boat. There they stood
together, and Atra said:
Now, dear guest, and dearest messenger, it is our matter to clothe thee
from our very bodies; and do thou, Viridis, begin.
Viridis came forward blushing, as her wont was, and took off her green
gown and laid it on the grass; then she set her hand to her smock, and
did it off, and stood naked, knee set to knee, and swaying like the
willow branch; and then was seen all the dainty fashion of her body,
and how lovely of hue and sweet of flesh she was.
But she said: Dear sister Birdalone, here is my smock, which I lend
thee, but as to my love, I give it thee therewith; therefore grudge it
not, though thou give me back the linen, for happy will be the day to
me when I have it again; for now none may do it on me save the Green
Knight, my own love. Therewith she gave her the smock, and kissed her,
and Birdalone did it on, and felt the valianter and mightier when she
had a garment upon her.
Then Aurea did off her golden gown, and stood in smock alone, so that
her naked arms shone more precious than the golden sleeves that had
covered them. And she spake: Birdalone, dear messenger, take now my
golden gown, and send it back to me when thou hast found the man unto
whom it is due; and think meanwhile that, when thou wearest it, thou
wearest my love, and that when thou pullest it off, thou art clad with
my love instead of it.
So Birdalone did on the gown, and became to look on as the daintiest of
the queens of the earth; and she turned her head about to look on her
gold-clad flanks, and wondered.
Thereafter Atra knit up her skirts into her girdle, and then did off
her shoon, so that her slim feet shone like pearls on the green grass;
and she said:
Birdalone, sweet friend! wilt thou be my messenger to bear these shoon
to my Black Squire, and meanwhile put my love for thee under thy feet,
to speed thee and to bear thee up? Wherefore be good to me.
Birdalone then shod herself, and though pity it were to hide her feet
from the eyes of Earth, yet felt she the stouter-hearted thereby, and
her cheeks flushed and her eyes brightened.
Thereafter Aurea gave her withal a golden collar for the neck, and
Viridis a girdle of silver well-wrought, and Atra a gold finger-ring
set with a sapphire stone; and all these she did on her; but yet she
knew that they were tokens to be delivered to the three lovers
according as was due.
Then spake Atra: Lo, sister, we pray thee to bear these lendings on thy
body in such wise that when thou comest to the mainland they may be
seen by knights seeking adventures, and that thou mayst answer to any
who may challenge thee thereof and say that thou bearest this raiment
and these jewels from Aurea and Viridis and Atra to Baudoin the Golden
Knight, and to Hugh the Green Knight, and to Arthur the Black Squire.
And if thou deem that thou hast found these, then shall they tell thee
a token, such as we shall tell thee, that they be truly these and none
other; and thereafter, when thou art made sure, they shall take of thee
the raiment, the gems, and the Sending Boat, and come hither if they
may. And God look to the rest! But as for the token to be told
aforesaid, we have determined that each of us shall tell thee privily
what question thou shalt ask for her, and what answer thou must look
for.
When she had done speaking, each came up to Birdalone and spake
something into her ear amidst blushes enough forsooth. And what they
said will be seen hereafter. Then again said Atra: Now by this errand
shall we be well paid for the care we have had of thee. It may be,
forsooth, that thou shalt not find our speech-friends; for they may be
dead, or they may deem us untrue, and may have forsaken us and their
land; and in any such case thou art free of our errand; but whatsoever
may betide us, God speed thee!
Then Viridis drew forth a basket from under a bush, and said: We know
not how long thy voyage may be, but some little provision for the way
we may at least give thee: now wilt thou bear this aboard thyself; for
we dare not touch thy craft, nay, nor come nigh it, no one of us. And
she set down the basket and cast her arms about her, and kissed her and
wept over her; and the other twain, they also kissed her lovingly.
Birdalone wept even as Viridis, and said: May ye do well, who have been
so kind to me; but now am I both so glad and so sorry, that the voice
of me will not make due words for me. O farewell!
Therewith she took up her basket, and turned and went speedily to the
Sending Boat; and they beheld her how she stepped aboard and bared her
arm, and drew blood from it with the pin of her girdle-buckle, and
therewith reddened stem and stern; and a pang of fear smote into their
hearts lest their lady had banned it for Birdalone as for them. But
Birdalone sat down on the thwart, and turned her face south, and spake:
The red raven-wine now
Hast thou drunk, stern and bow;
Awake then, awake!
And the southward way take:
The way of the Wender forth over the flood,
For the will of the Sender is blent with the blood.
No cloud barred the gateway of the sun as she spoke; no wave rose upon
the bosom of the lake; no clatter nor tumult was there; but the Sending
Boat stirred, and then shot out swiftly into the wide water; and the
sun arose as they looked, and his path of light flashed on Birdalone’s
golden gown for a moment, and then it grew grey again, and presently
she was gone from before their eyes.
So they turned up into the orchard: and now was Viridis of good cheer,
and Aurea no less; but Atra lagged behind, and as she went, some
passion took her, she knew not wherefore; her bosom swelled, her
shoulders heaved therewith, and she wept.
CHAPTER IX.
HOW BIRDALONE CAME TO THE ISLE OF THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.
All went well with Birdalone when she had left the Isle of Increase
Unsought, much as it had on her first voyage, save that now she was
both clad and victualled, and her heart, if yet it harboured fear, was
also full of new and strange hope; and oft, even as she sat there
amidst the waste of waters, she wondered what new longing this was
which wrought so sweet a pain in her, that it made her cheeks burn, and
her eyes dim, and her hands and her limbs restless. And then would she
set her mind to her friends and their errand, and would hope and pray
for them; but again would she fall to picture to herself what manner of
men they were who were so sore longed for by those three beauteous
women; and she deemed that since they were thus desired, they must be
fairer even than her friends of the isle; and again the nameless
longing overtook her, and held her till it wearied her into sleep.
When she awoke again the boat had stayed, and she was come aland; but
the dawn was not yet come, and the night was moonless, yet was there
light enough to see, from the water and the stars, that the bows of the
boat were lying safe on a little sandy beach. So she stepped out and
looked around, and deemed she could see great trees before her, and
imagined also dark masses of she knew not what. So she walked warily up
the said strand till she came on to soft grass, and smelled the scent
of the clover as her foot-soles crushed it. There she sat down, and
presently lay along and went to sleep.
After a while she awoke, and felt happy and well at ease, and had no
will to move: the sun was shining brightly, but had not been up long:
the song of birds was all about her, but amidst it she deemed she heard
some speech of man, though it were not like to what she had heard in
her life before. So she raised herself on her elbow, and looked up and
saw a new thing, and sat up now, and beheld and wondered.
For there stood before her, gazing wide-eyed on her, two little
children, some three winters of age, a man and a woman as it seemed.
The man-child with light and fine white-golden hair, falling straight
down and square over his brow, and blue-grey eyes which were both kind
and merry, and shyly seeking as it were. Plump and rosy he was, sturdy
and stout-limbed. No less fair was the woman; her hair golden-brown, as
oft it is with children who grow up dark-haired, and curling in fair
little rings all over her head; her eyes were big and dark grey; she
was thinner than the lad, and somewhat taller.
These two babes had between them a milk-white she-goat, and had been
playing with her, and now she turned her head to this and that one of
them, bleating, as if to crave more of the game; but they had no eyes
for her, but stood staring with might and main on the new-comer and her
shining golden gown.
Birdalone laughed with joy when she saw the little ones, and a dim
memory of the days of Utterhay passed before her: she stretched out a
hand to them, and spake softly and caressingly, and the little lad came
forward smiling, and took her hand, and made as if he would help her up
for courtesy’s sake. She laughed on him, and arose; and when she stood
up, tall and golden, he seemed somewhat afeard of so big a creature,
but stood his ground valiantly. Then she stooped down to him and kissed
him, and he naysaid her not, but seemed rather glad when it was over;
but when Birdalone went to the little maid, and kissed her, the child
clung to her as if she were her mother, and babbled to her.
Then comes the lad to her, and takes her hand, and would draw her away,
and speaks to her in his prattle, and she understood him to mean that
she should come with him to see the father. So she went, wondering what
should next betide; and the little maiden went on the other side of
her, holding by a fold of her skirt. Forsooth the goat followed
bleating, not well pleased to be forgotten.
Now had Birdalone time to look about her, though the two babes fell to
prattling with her in their way, and she thought it sweet to look down
on the two little faces that looked up to her so pleased and merry.
She was in a grassy plain, somewhat over rough and broken to be called
a meadow, and not enough be-timbered to be called a wood; it rose up a
little and slowly as they left the water, but scarce so much as one
might call it a hill. Straight before her on the way that they were
going went up into the air great masses of grey stone builded by man’s
hand, but looking, even from this way off, ragged and ruinous. It may
well be thought that Birdalone wondered what things might lie betwixt
the trees and the towers.
Now as they went they came on other goats, who seemed tame, and these
joined them to their fellow, and suffered the younglings to play with
them. Moreover there were rabbits great plenty scuttling in and out of
the brakes and the rough ground upon the way, and the younglings beheld
them, and the little lad said, after his fashion: Why do the rabbits
run away from us, and the goats follow us? Now, sooth to say, Birdalone
scarce knew why, and had no word ready for the child; but she said at
last: Mayhappen they will come to me; so it was once when I dwelt away
from here. Shall I go fetch thee one? The little ones yeasaid that,
though somewhat shyly and doubtfully. Then said Birdalone: Do ye,
sweetlings, abide me here, and go not away. They nodded their heads
thereat, and Birdalone kilted her skirts and went her ways to some
broken bushed ground, where was a many rabbits playing about; but she
went not out of eye-shot of the babes. Before she was well-nigh to the
little beasts, she fell to talking to them in a low sweet voice, as had
been her wont when she was little; and when they heard it, those who
had not scuttled away at first glance of her, fell to creeping little
short creeps one to the other, as their manner is when they be alone
together and merry; and they suffered her to come quite amongst them,
and crept about her feet while she stood, still talking unto them. Then
she stooped down and took up one in her arms and caressed it, and then
laid him down and took up another, and so with three or four of them;
and she fell to pushing them, and rolling them over with her foot; then
she turned a little away from them toward the children, and then a
little more, and the rabbits fell to following her, and she turned and
took up one in her arms, and went straight on toward the children, but
turning and talking to the rabbits now and again.
As to the babes, she saw the goats, of whom were now a dozen, or
thereabouts, standing together in a kind of ring, and the little ones
going from one to the other playing with them happily. But presently
the lad turned and saw her coming with her tail of little beasts, and
he cried out a great Oh and ran toward her straightway, and the maiden
after him; and he held out his arms to have the rabbit she bore, and
she gave it to him smiling, and said: Lo now! here be pretty playmates;
but look to it that ye be soft and kind with them, for they are but
feeble people. So the younglings fell to sporting with their new
friends, and for a little forgat both goats and golden lady; but the
goats drew nigh, and stood about them bleating, nor durst they run at
the rabbits to butt them, because of Birdalone and the little ones.
There then stood the slim maiden, tall and gleaming above her little
flock; and her heart was full of mirth and rest, and the fear was all
forgotten. But as she looked up toward the grey walls, lo, new tidings
to hand! For she saw an old man with a long white beard slowly coming
toward them: she started not, but abode his coming quietly, and as he
drew nigh she could see of him that he was big and stark, and, old as
he was, not yet bowed with his many years. He stood looking on this
Queen and her court silently a while, and then he spake: Such a sight I
looked not to see on this Isle of the Young and the Old. She said: But
meseemeth it is full meet that these younglings should sport with the
creatures. He smiled and said: Such a voice I looked not to hear on the
Isle of the Young and the Old.
Birdalone became somewhat troubled, and said: Am I welcome here? for if
I be not, I will pray thy leave to depart. He said: Thou art as welcome
as the very spring, my child; and if thou have a mind to abide here,
who shall naysay thee? For surely thou art young; nay, in regard to me
thou art scarce older than babes. All blessings be with thee. But
though thou art true and kind, as is clear to be seen by thy playing
with these children and the landward beasts in peace and love, yet it
may be so that thou hast brought hither somewhat less than peace. And
he smiled upon her strangely.
She looked somewhat scared at his last words, and said: But how so? If
I might I would bear nought but peace and happiness to any place. The
old carle laughed outright now, and said: How so, dear child? because
ladies so sweet and lovesome as thou be sent by love, and love rendeth
apart that which was joined together.
She wondered at his word, and was bewildered by it, but she held her
peace; and he said: Now we may talk hereof later on; but the matter to
hand now is the quenching of thine hunger; for I will not ask thee
whereby thou camest, since by water thou needs must have come.
Wherefore now I bid thee to our house, and these little ones shall go
with us, and the three of these horned folk whom we are wont to tether
amidst the wrack and ruin of what once was fair; the rest have our
leave to depart, and these nibblers also; for we have a potherb garden
by our house, and are fain to keep the increase of the same for
ourselves. Birdalone laughed, and shook her skirts at the coneys, and
they all scuttled away after the manner of their kind. Thereat the
little lad looked downcast and well-nigh tearful, but the maid stamped
her foot, and roared well-favouredly.
Birdalone did her best to solace her, and plucked a bough from a
hawthorn bush far above the little ones’ reach whereon was yet some
belated blossom, and gave it to her and stilled her. But the old man
picked out his milch-goats from the flock (whereof was the white), and
drave them before him, while the two babes went on still beside
Birdalone, the little carle holding her hand and playing with the
fingers thereof; the maiden sometimes hanging on to her gown, sometimes
going loose and sporting about beside her.
So came they to where the ground became smoother, and there was a fair
piece of greensward in a nook made by those great walls and towers,
which sheltered it from the north. The said walls seemed to be the
remnant of what had once been a great house and castle; and up aloft,
where was now no stair to come at them, were chimneys and hearths here
and there, and windows with fair seats in them, and arched doors and
carven pillars, and many things beautiful, but now was all ruined and
broken, and the house was roofless and floorless: withal it was
overgrown with ash-trees and quicken-beam, and other berry-trees and
key-trees, which had many years ago seeded in the rent walls, and now
grew there great and flourishing. But in the innermost nook of this
mighty remnant, and using for its lowly walls two sides of the ancient
ashlar ones, stood a cot builded not over trimly of small wood, and now
much overgrown with roses and woodbine. In front of it was a piece of
garden ground, wherein waxed potherbs, and a little deal of wheat; and
therein was a goodly row of bee-skeps; and all without it was the
pleasant greensward aforesaid, wherein stood three great ancient oaks,
and divers thorns, which also were ancient after their kind.
The elder led his guest into the cot, which had but simple plenishing
of stools and benches, and a table unartful, and then went to tether
his goats in the ruined hall of the house, and the children must needs
with him, though Birdalone had been glad of one of them at least; but
there was no nay, but that they must go see their dear white goat in
her stall. Howsoever all three came back again presently, the old carle
with a courteous word in his mouth, and he took Birdalone’s hand, and
kissed it and bade her welcome to his house, as though he had been a
great lord at home in his own castle. Therewith must the little ones
also kiss her hand and be courteous; and Birdalone suffered it,
laughing, and then caught them up in her arms, and clipped and kissed
them well-favouredly; wherewith belike they were not over-well pleased,
though the boy endured it kindly. Thereafter the elder set forth his
banquet, which was simple enough: upland cheer of cream and honey, and
rough bread; but sweet it was to Birdalone to eat it with good welcome,
and the courtesy of the old man.
When they were done, they went out-a-doors, and Birdalone and the old
man laid them down under an oak-tree, and the children sported about
anigh them. Then spake Birdalone: Old man, thou hast been kind unto me;
but now wouldest thou tell me about thee, what thou art, and what are
these walls about us here? Said he: I doubt if I may do so, this day at
least. But belike thou shalt abide with us, and then some day the word
may come into my mouth. She held her peace, and into her mind it came
that it would be sweet to dwell there, and watch those fair children
waxing, and the lad growing up and loving her; yea, even she fell to
telling up the years which would make him a man, and tried to see
herself, how she would look, when the years were worn thereto. Then she
reddened at the untold thought, and looked down and was silent. But the
elder looked on her anxiously, and said: It will be no such hard life
for thee, for I have still some work in me, and thou mayst do something
in spite of thy slender and delicate fashion. She laughed merrily, and
said: Forsooth, good sire, I might do somewhat more than something; for
I am deft in all such work as here ye need; so fear not but I should
earn my livelihood, and that with joy. Merry days shall we have then,
said he.
But therewith her eye caught the gleam of her golden sleeve, and she
thought of Aurea, and her heart smote her for her errand; then she laid
her hand on her girdle and called to mind little Viridis, and the
glitter of the ring on her finger brought the image of Atra before her;
then she rose up and said: Thou art kind, father, but I may not; I have
an errand; this day must I depart from thee. He said: Thou hast broken
my heart; if I were not so old, I would weep. And he hung adown his
head.
She stood before him abashed, as if she had done him a wrong. At last
he looked up and said: Must it be to-day? Wilt thou not abide with us
night-long, and go thy ways in the early morning?
Now she scarce knew how to gainsay him, so wretched as the old carle
looked; so it came to this, that she yeasaid the abiding till
to-morrow. Then suddenly he became gay and merry, and he kissed her
hand, and fell to much speaking, telling tales of little import
concerning his earlier days. But when she asked him again of how he
came there, and what meant the great ruined house, then he became
foolish and wandering, and might scarce answer her; whereas otherwise
he was a well-spoken old carle of many words, and those of the
grandest.
Then changed his mood again, and he fell to bewailing her departure,
and how that henceforth he should have none to speak to him with
understanding. Then she smiled on him and said: But yonder babes will
grow up; month by month they will be better fellows unto thee. Fair
child, he said, thou dost not know. My days to come are but few, so
that I should see but little of their waxing in any case. But
furthermore, wax they will not; such as they be now, such shall they be
till I at least see the last of them and the earth.
Birdalone wondered at this word, and the place seemed changed to her,
yea, was grown somewhat dreary; but she said to the carle: And thou,
dost thou change in any wise, since these change not? He laughed
somewhat grimly, and said: The old that be here change from old to
dead; how could I change to better? Yea, the first thing I had to do
here was to bury an old man. Quoth she: And were there any children
here then? Yea, said he; these same, or I can see no difference in
them. Said Birdalone: And how long ago is that? And how camest thou
hither? His face became foolish, and he gibbered rather than spake: No,
I wot not; no, no, no, not a whit, a whit. But presently after was he
himself again, and telling her a tale of a great lady of the earl-folk,
a baron’s dame, and how dear he was unto her. He lay yet on the grass,
and she stood before him, and presently he put forth a hand to her
gown-hem and drew her to him thereby, and fell to caressing her feet;
and Birdalone was ashamed thereat, and a little angry. He was nought
abashed, but sat up and said: Well, since thou must needs depart
to-morrow, be we merry to-day. And I pray thee talk much with me, fair
child, for sweet and sweet is thy voice to hearken. Then he arose and
said: Now will I fetch thee somewhat to eke the joy of us both. And he
turned therewith and went into the house.
Birdalone stood there, and was now perplexed and downhearted; for now
the look of the elder scarce liked her, and the children began to seem
to her as images, or at the best not more to her than the rabbits or
the goats; and she rued her word that she would abide there the night
through. For she said to herself: I fear some trap or guile; is the
witch behind this also? for the old man is yet stark, and though he be
foolish at whiles, yet may wizardry have learned him some guile.
With that cometh out the carle again, bearing a little keg and a mazer
roughly wrought; and he came to Birdalone, and sat down, and bade her
sit by him, and said to her: Maybe I shall hear more of thy sweet voice
when thy sweet lips have been in the cup. Therewith he poured forth
into the mazer, and handed it to Birdalone, and lo! it was clear and
good mead. She sipped thereof daintily, and, to say sooth, was
well-pleased therewith, and it stirred the heart in her. But then she
gave back the cup to the elder, and would no more of it. As for him, he
drank what was left in the cup, looking over the rim thereof meanwhile;
and then filled himself another, and another, and yet more. But whereas
it might have been looked for that his tongue should be loosened by the
good mead into foolishness and gibbering, he became rather few-spoken,
and more courteous and stately even than he had been at the first. But
in the end, forsooth, he was forgetting Birdalone, what she was, and he
fell a-talking, always with much pomp and state, as if to barons and
earls, and great ladies; till suddenly his head fell back, he turned
over on his face, and all wit was gone from him.
At first, then, Birdalone was afraid that he was dead, or nigh unto
death, and she knelt down and raised his head, and fetched water and
cast it over his face. But when she saw that he was breathing not so
ill, and that the colour was little changed in his lips and cheeks, she
knew that it was but the might of the mead that had overcome him.
Wherefore she laid him so that he was easy, and then stood up and
looked about her, and saw the children playing together a little way
off; and nought else anigh her, save the birds in the brake, or flying
on their errands eagerly from place to place. Then, as it were, without
her will being told them, her limbs and her feet turned her about to
the shore where lay the Sending Boat, and she went speedily but quietly
thitherward, her heart beating quick, for fear lest something should
yet stay her, and her eyes glancing from brake to bush, as if she
looked to see some enemy, old or new, come out thence.
So now her will was clear enough to her feet, and they brought her down
to the water-side and the long strand, past which the wide water lay
windless and gleaming in the hot afternoon. Then lightly she stepped
aboard, and awoke the Sending Boat with blood-offering, and it obeyed
her, and sped swiftly on the way to the southward.
CHAPTER X.
BIRDALONE COMES TO THE ISLE OF THE QUEENS.
Birdalone awoke the next morning while the boat was yet speeding over
the water, and the sun was up: but she was hard on the land, which sat
low and green, like a meadow exceeding fair, on the bosom of the water,
and many goodly trees were sprinkled about the greenland. But from
amidst the trees, no great way from the water’s edge, rose a great
house, white and fair, as if it were new-builded, and all glorious with
pinnacles, and tabernacles set with imagery.
Presently the boat’s bows ran into the reed and rush at the brim of the
water, and Birdalone stepped ashore without more ado, and the scent of
the meadow-sweet amongst which she landed brought back unto her the
image of Green Eyot that while agone.
But now when she was ashore the dread took hold of her again, and her
knees trembled under her, so that she might scarce stand, so fearful
was she of walking into some trap; especially when she beheld that
goodly house, lest therein awaited her some proud and cruel lady, and
no kind damsels to deliver her.
She looked about her, and saw in all the fair meadow neither man nor
woman, nor draught-beast nor milch-beast, nought but the little
creatures of the brake and the bent-grass, which were but as the
blossoms thereof; and the birds running in the herbage or singing
amidst the tree-boughs.
Then she thought that she must needs go forward, or belike her errand
would not speed; that the Sending Boat might not obey her, unless she
saw through the adventure to the end; so she went on toward the house
quaking.
Soon was she at the porch of the white palace, and had seen no man nor
heard any voice of men; much she marvelled, despite her dread, at the
beauty of the said house, and the newness thereof; for it was as one
flower arisen out of the earth, and every part of it made the beauty of
the other parts more excellent; and so new it was, that it would have
seemed as if the masons thereof had but struck their scaffold
yesterday, save that under the very feet of the walls the sweet garden
flowers grew all uncrushed.
Now comes Birdalone through the porch unto the screens of the great
hall; and she stopped a little to recover her breath, that she might be
the quieter and calmer amongst the great folk and mighty whom she
looked to find therein. So she gathered heart; but one thing daunted
her, to wit, that she heard no sound come from that great and goodly
hall, so that she doubted if it were perchance left desert by them who
had been its lords.
She raised her hand to the door of the screen, and it opened easily
before her, and she entered, and there indeed she saw new tidings. For
the boards end-long and over-thwart were set, and thereat were sitting
a many folk, and their hands were reached out to knife and to dish, and
to platter and cup; but such a hush there was within, that the song of
the garden birds without sounded to her as loud as they were the voices
of the children of Adam.
Next she saw that all that company, from the great folk on the dais
down to those who stood about the hall to do the service, were women,
one and all; not one carle might she see from where she stood: lovely
were they many of them, and none less than comely; their cheeks were
bright, and their eyes gleamed, and their hair flowed down fair of
fashion. And she stood, and durst not move a long while, but expected
when someone would speak a word, and all should turn their heads toward
the new-comer. But none moved nor spake. And the fear increased in her
amidst that hush, and weighed so heavy on her heart, that at last she
might endure it no longer, but fell swooning to the floor.
When she came to herself; and the swoon-dreams had left her, she saw by
the changing of the sun through the hall-windows, that she had lain
there long, more nearly two hours than one; and at first she covered
her face with her hands as she crouched there, that she might not see
the sight of the silent hall, for yet was it as hushed as before. Then
slowly she arose, and the sound of her raiment and her stirring feet
was loud in her ears. But when she was upright on her feet, she
hardened her heart, and went forth into the hall, and no less was her
wonder than erst. For when she came close to those ladies as they sat
at table, and her raiment brushed the raiment of the serving-women as
she passed by, then saw she how no breath came from any of these, and
that they neither spake nor moved, because they were dead.
At first, then, she thought to flee away at once, but again she had
mind of her errand, and so went up the hall, and so forth on to the
dais; and there again, close by the high table, she saw new tidings.
For there was set a bier, covered with gold and pall, and on it was
laid a tall man, a king, belted and crowned; and beside the said bier,
by the head of the king, knelt a queen of exceeding goodly body, clad
all in raiment of pearl and bawdekin; and her hands were clasped
together, and her mouth was drawn, and her brow knit with the anguish
of her grief. But athwart the king’s breast lay a naked sword all
bloody; and this Birdalone noted, that whereas the lady was of skin and
hue as if she were alive, the king was yellow as wax, and his cheeks
were shrunken, and his eyes had been closed by the wakers of the dead.
Long Birdalone looked and wondered; and now if her fear were less, her
sorrow was more for all that folk sitting there dead in their ancient
state and pomp. And was not the thought clean out of her head, that yet
they might awake and challenge her, and that she might be made one of
that silent company. Withal she felt her head beginning to fail her,
and she feared that she might swoon again and never waken more, but lie
for ever beside that image of the dead king.
So then she refrained her both of fear and sorrow, and walked speedily
down the hall, looking neither to the right nor left: and she came
forth into the pleasance, but stayed there nought, so nigh it seemed to
that hushed company. Thence came she forth into the open meadow, and
sweet and dear seemed its hot sunshine and noisy birds and rustling
leaves. Nevertheless, so great was the tumult of her spirits, that once
more she grew faint, and felt that she might scarce go further. So she
dragged herself into the shade of a thorn-tree, and let her body sink
unto the ground, and lay there long unwitting.
CHAPTER XI.
AND NOW SHE COMES TO THE ISLE OF THE KINGS.
When Birdalone came to herself it was drawing toward the glooming, and
she rose up hastily, and went down to the Sending Boat, for she would
not for aught abide the night in that fearful isle, lest the flock of
the hall should come alive and walk in the dusk and the dark. She
stepped aboard lightly, and yielded her blood to the pride of that
ferry, and it awoke and bore her forth, and she went through the night
till she fell asleep.
When she awoke it was broad day and the sun just arising, and lo!
before her, some half mile off, an isle rugged and rocky, and going up
steep from the shore; and then, held as it were by the fangs of the
rocks and pikes of the higher land, was a castle, white, high, and
hugely builded, though, because of the rock-land belike, it spread not
much abroad. Like to the lovely house of yesterday, it seemed
new-builded; and, little as Birdalone knew of such matters, her heart
told her that this new house was fashioned for battle.
She was downcast when she saw the isle so rugged and forbidding, but
when the boat came aland in a stony bight, whence the ground went up
somewhat steeply toward the heights, she went ashore straightway, and
toiled up toward the white battlement. Presently she found herself in a
strait and rugged path betwixt two walls of rock, so that she lost
sight of the castle a while, till she came out on to a level place
which looked down from aloft on to the blue water, but all over against
her close at hand were the great towers and walls. She was worn by the
rough road, and over helpless she felt her, and all too little to deal
with that huge morsel of the world; and her valiancy gave way, and her
trust in her errand. She sat down on a stone and wept abundantly.
After a while she was amended, and she looked up and saw the huge hold,
and said: Yea, but if it were less by the half than it is, it would
still be big enough to cow me. Yet she stood not up. Then she put forth
a foot of her, and said aloud: Sorely hath this rough road tried Atra’s
shoon and their goodly window-work; if they are to be known I must be
speedy on my journey or go barefoot.
As she spoke she stood up, and the sound of her own voice frighted her,
though nought noiseless was the place; for the wind was there, and beat
to and fro the castle and the rock, and ran baffled into every corner
of that market-place of nothing. For in that garth was neither knight
nor squire nor sergeant; no spear-head glittered from the wall, no
gleam of helm showed from the war-swales; no porter was at the gate;
the drawbridge over the deep ghyll was down, the portcullis was up, and
the great door cast wide open.
Birdalone steeled her heart and went forward swiftly, and over the
bridge, and entered the basecourt, and came without more ado to the
door of the great hall, and opened it easily, as with the door of
yesterday, looking to find another show like unto that one; and even so
it fell out.
Forsooth the hall was nought light and lovely, and gay with gold and
bright colours, as that other, but beset with huge round pillars that
bore aloft a wide vault of stone, and of stone were the tables; and the
hallings that hung on the wall were terrible pictures of battle and
death, and the fall of cities, and towers a-tumbling and houses
a-flaming.
None the less there also were the shapes of folk that moved not nor
spake, though not so thronged was that hall as the other one; and it
seemed as if men were sitting there at a council rather than a feast.
Close by Birdalone’s right hand as she entered were standing in a row
along the screen big men-at-arms all weaponed, and their faces hidden
by their sallets; and down below the dais on either side of the high
table was again a throng of all-armed men; and at the high-table
itself; and looking down the hall, sat three crowned kings, each with
his drawn sword lying across his knees, and three long-hoary wise men
stood before them at the nether side of the board.
Birdalone looked on it all, striving with her fear: but yet more there
was, for she deemed that needs must she go through the hall up to the
dais, lest the Sending Boat deny its obedience. Up toward the dais she
went then, passing by weaponed men who sat as if abiding the council’s
end at the end-long tables. And now, though no shape of man there spake
or breathed, yet sound lacked not; for within the hall went the wind as
without, and beat about from wall to wall, and drave clang and clash
from the weapons hung up, and waved the arras, and fared moaning in the
nooks, and hummed in the vault above.
Came she up to the dais then, and stood beside one of the wise men, and
looked on the kings, and saw the mightiness which had been in them, and
quaked before them. Then she turned from them and looked down to the
floor, and lo! there, just below the dais, lay a woman on a golden
bier; exceeding fair had she been, with long yellow hair streaming down
from her head; but now waxen white she was, with ashen lips and sunken
cheeks. Clad was she in raiment of purple and pall, but the bosom of
her was bared on one side, and therein was the road whereby the steel
had fared which had been her bane.
Now when Birdalone had gazed thereon a while, she deemed that if she
tarried there long amidst those fierce men by the dead woman, she
should lose her wit full soon, so sore the fear, held back, beset her
now. Wherefore she turned and went hastily down the hall, and
out-a-doors, and over the bridge, and ran fleet-foot down the rocky way
whereby she had come, till she could run no further, and lay down under
a great stone breathless and fordone; yet her heart upheld her and
suffered her not to swoon, belike because she had given her limbs such
hard work to do.
There she lay awake and troubled for an hour or more, and then she fell
asleep, and slept till the day was worn toward sunset, and nought
meddled with her. She arose and went to her ship somewhat downhearted,
wondering how many such terrors should befall her; nay, whether the
Sending Boat would so lead her that henceforth she should happen on no
children of Adam but such as were dead images of the living. Had all
the world died since she left the Isle of the Young and the Old?
Howsoever, she had nought to do save to board her ferry, and content
its greedy soul with her blood, and drive it with the spell-words. And
thereafter, when it was speeding on, and the twilight dusking apace,
she looked aback, and seemed to see the far-off woodland in the
northern ort, and the oak-clad ridge, where she had met her
wood-mother; and then it was as if Habundia were saying to her: Meet
again we shall. And therewith straightway became life sweeter unto her.
Deepened then the dusk, and became night, and she floated on through
it, and was asleep alone on the bosom of the water.
CHAPTER XII.
OF BIRDALONE, HOW SHE CAME UNTO THE ISLE OF NOTHING.
Long before sunrise, in the very morn-dusk, she awoke and found that
her ferry had taken land again. Little might she see what the said land
was like; so she sat patiently and abode the day in the boat; but when
day was come, little more was to see than erst. For flat was the isle,
and scarce raised above the wash of the leeward ripple on a fair day;
nor was it either timbered or bushed or grassed, and, so far as
Birdalone might see, no one foot of it differed in aught from another.
Natheless she deemed that she was bound to go ashore and seek out the
adventure, or spoil her errand else.
Out of the boat she stepped then, and found the earth all paved of a
middling gravel, and nought at all growing there, not even the smallest
of herbs; and she stooped down and searched the gravel, and found
neither worm nor beetle therein, nay nor any one of the sharp and slimy
creatures which are wont in such ground.
A little further she went, and yet a little further, and no change
there was in the land; and yet she went on and found nothing; and she
wended her ways southward by the sun, and the day was windless.
At last she had gone a long way and had no sight of water south of the
isle, nor had she seen any hill, nay, not so much as an ant-heap,
whence she might look further around; and it seemed to her that she
might go on for ever, and reach the heart of Nowhither at last.
Wherefore she thought she would turn back and depart this ugly isle,
and that no other adventure abided her therein. And by now it was high
noon; and she turned about and took a few steps on the backward road.
But even therewith it seemed as if the sun, which heretofore had been
shining brightly in the heavens, went out as a burnt-down candle, and
all was become dull grey over head, as all under foot was a dull dun.
But Birdalone deemed she could follow a straight course back again, and
so walked on sturdily. Hour after hour she went and stayed not, but saw
before her no glimpse of the northern shore, and no change in the
aspect of the ground about her.
It had so happened that a little before she had turned to go back, she
had eaten her dinner of a piece of bread and a morsel of cheese, and
now as she stooped and peered on the ground, looking for some sign of
the way, as her foot-prints going south, and had her eyes low anigh the
earth, she saw something white at her feet in the gathering dusk (for
the day was wearing), and she put her hand to it and lifted it, and
found it a crumb of bread, and knew that it must have come from her
dinner of’ seven hours ago, whereas till that time her bread had lain
unbroken in her scrip. Fear and anguish smote her therewith, for she
saw that in that dull land, every piece whereof was like every other
piece, she must have gone about in a ring, and come back again to where
she first turned to make for the northern shore.
Yet would she not cast aside all hope, but clad herself in her
valiancy. Forsooth she knew it availed nought to try to move on in the
twilight; so she laid herself down on that waste, and made up her mind
to sleep if she might, and abide the new day there, and then to strive
with the way once more, for belike, she thought, it may be fair
to-morrow, and the sun shining. And as she was very weary with tramping
the waste all day, she fell asleep at once, and slept the short night
through.
But when she awoke, and saw what the new day was, her heart fell
indeed, for now was she encompassed and shut in with a thick dark mist
(though it seemed to be broad day), so that had there been aught to see
she would not have seen it her own length away from her. So there she
stood, hanging her head, and striving to think; but the master-thought
of death drawing nigh scattered all other thoughts, or made them dim
and feeble.
Long she stood there; but suddenly something came into her mind. She
set her hand to the fair-broidered pouch which hung from Viridis’
loin-girdle, and drew out thence flint and steel and tinder, which
matters, forsooth, had served her before in the boat to make fire
withal. Then she set her hand to her head, and drew forth the tress of
hair which Habundia had given her, and which was coiled up in the crown
of her own abundant locks which decked her so gloriously; she drew two
hairs from the said tress, and held them between her lips while she did
up the tress in its place again, and then, pale and trembling, fell to
striking a light, and when she had the tinder burning, she cried out:
O wood-mother, wood-mother! How then may we meet again as thou didst
promise me, if I die here in this empty waste? O wood-mother, if thou
mightest but come hither for my deliverance!
Then she burned the hairs one after another, and stood waiting, but
nought befell a great while, and her heart sickened, and there she
stood like a stone.
But in awhile, lo! there came as it were a shadow amidst the mist, or
rather lying thereon, faint and colourless, and it was of the shape of
the wood-mother, with girt-up gown and bow in hand. Birdalone cried
aloud with joy, and hastened toward the semblance, but came to it no
nigher, and still she went, and the semblance still escaped her, and
she followed on and on; and this lasted long, and faster and faster
must she follow lest it vanish, and she gathered her skirts into her
girdle, and fell to running fleet-foot after the fleeing shadow, which
she loved dearly even amidst the jaws of death; and all her fleetness
of foot had Birdalone to put forth in following up the chase; but even
to die in the pain would she not miss that dear shadow.
But suddenly, as she ran, the mist was all gone from before her, the
sun shone hot and cloudless; there was no shadow or shape of Habundia
there, nought but the blue lake and the ugly lip of that hideous
desert, with the Sending Boat lying a half score yards from her feet;
and behind her stood up, as it were a wall, the mist from out of which
she had come.
Forsooth Birdalone was too breathless to cry out her joy, but her heart
went nigh to breaking therewith, and lovely indeed to her was the
rippled water and the blue sky; and she knew that her wood-mother had
sped a sending to her help, and she fell a-weeping where she stood, for
love of her wise mother, and for longing to behold her: she stretched
out her arms to the north quarter, and said blessings on her in a voice
faint for weariness. Then she laid her down on the desert, and rested
her with sleep, despite the hot sun, and when she awoke, some three
hours thereafter, all was as before, save that the sky had now some
light-flying clouds, and still was the wall of mist behind her.
Wherefore she deemed she had yet time, and the blue rippling water
wooed her much-besweated limbs; so she did off her raiment and took the
water, and became happy and unweary therein. Then she landed and stood
in the sun to dry her, and so, strengthened with that refreshing, clad
her, and went aboard and did the due rites, and sped over the waters,
and had soon lost sight of that ugly blotch on the fair face of the
Great Water.
Here ends the Second Part of the Water of the Wondrous Isles, which is
called Of the Wondrous Isles, and begins the Third Part of the said
tale, which is called Of the Castle of the Quest.
THE THIRD PART:
OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
CHAPTER I.
BIRDALONE COMES TO THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
Empty was the day to Birdalone save for her thoughts, and she slept not
a good while of the night. When she awoke in the morning there was no
land before her, and she began to fear somewhat that so it might be
many days, and that she might have to fare the water landless, and
perchance till she starved for hunger; for now was there but little
victual left of that which the kind Viridis had given her. So she wore
the day somewhat uneasily, and by then night fell had eaten but little;
yet was that little the last crumb and gobbet of her store. Wherefore
it is no wonder though she were dismayed when she awoke early on the
morrow, and beheld nought before her save the landless water.
But about noon she deemed she saw a little cloud in the offing that
moved not as the other clouds, and she watched it closely at first, and
it changed not any the more, and she grew weary of watching it and
strove to sleep, turning her head to the after part of her ferry; and
thus betwixt sleeping and waking she wore away three hours: then she
stood up and looked ahead, and lo, the white cloud had taken shape, and
was a white castle far away (for the day was exceeding clear), sitting,
as it seemed, on the very face of the water. The boat sped on swiftly
thitherward, so that it was not right long ere Birdalone beheld the
green shore on either side of the said castle, and at last, three hours
before sunset, she was drawing nigh thereto, and beheld it all clearly,
what it was.
It was brand-new, and was fair enough, builded part of stone and lime,
part of framed work, but was but middling big. As she drew nigher yet,
she saw that there were folk on the walls of it, and they seemed to see
her, for a horn was winded from the battlement, and folk were running
together to somewhither. And now was Birdalone come so near, that she
saw the water-gate of the castle, and folk coming out thereby on to the
landing-place; and she saw presently, that a very tall man with
grizzled hair stood foremost of them, and he waved his hand to her, and
spake something, but the wind bore the words away from her; yet she
seemed to know that this folk would do her to wit that they would have
none of her; and her heart died within her, so faint and hungry as she
was.
Howsoever the ferry sped on its way swiftly, and in a minute or two had
stayed itself at the landing-stair, whereabout were gathered a score of
men, some armed some unarmed, and they seemed for the more part to be
grey-headed and past middle-age.
Birdalone stood up in her craft, and the aforesaid tall grey man, who
was unarmed, but clad in knightly raiment, stood on the stair and spake
unto her, and said: Lady, this is an house where women enter never
since first the roof was done thereon, which forsooth was but a year
ago. We will pray thee therefore to turn thy boat’s head away, and seek
some other lodging by the water, either eastward or westward.
Little knew Birdalone of worldly courtesy, or she had made him a sharp
answer belike; but she only looked on him ruefully, and said: Good
warrior, I am come a long way, and may not turn back from mine errand;
and I am now lacking victual and hungry, and if ye help me not, it is
like that I shall die. Much lieth on mine errand, if ye knew it. She
was weeping-ripe, but refrained her tears, though her lip quivered. She
stretched out her hands to the greybeard, and he looked on her and
found her exceeding fair; and he deemed her to be guileless, both
because of her simple speech and sweet voice, and the goodliness of her
face and eyes. But he said: Lady, thine errand hath nought to do with
it, it is thy womanhood that bars our door. For all we are bound by
oath not to suffer a woman to abide in this castle till our lords take
the bann off, and bid us open to women. She smiled faintly, and said:
If I might but see thy lords then, since thou art not master here. He
said: They are away, and will not be back till to-morrow morning; and I
wot not the hour of their return. And yet, said he, I would we might
help thee somewhat. O I pray thee, I pray thee! she said, or mine
errand will come to nought after all.
Therewith came another man down the stair, and stood by the old knight
and plucked his sleeve, and fell to talk with him softly. This man was
by his habit a religious, and was a younger man than the others, it
might be of five and thirty winters, and he was fair of favour. While
they spake together Birdalone sat her down again, and was well-nigh
spent.
At last the old man spake: Damsel, he said, we deem we may suffer thee
to enter the castle since thy need is so great, and have a meal’s meat
at our hands, and yet save our oath, if thou depart thence by the
landward gate before sunset. Will this serve thee? Fair sir, said
Birdalone, it will save my life and mine errand; I may say no more
words for my faintness, else would I thank thee.
She stood up on her feet, and the old man-at-arms reached out his hand
to her, and she took it and came her ways up the stair, but found
herself but feeble. But the priest (forsooth he was chaplain of the
castle) helped her on the other side. But when she stood on the level
stones by the water-gate, she turned to the old man and said: One thing
I will ask of thee, Is this place one of the Wondrous Isles? The elder
shook his head. We know not the Wondrous Isles, said he; this castle is
builded on the mainland. Her face flushed for joy at the word, and she
said: One thing I will crave of thee, to wit, that thou wilt leave my
barge lying here untouched till thy masters come back, and wilt give
command that none meddle therewith.
He would have answered, but the priest brake in, and said: This will he
do, lady, and he is the castellan, and moreover he will swear to obey
thee herein. And therewith he drew forth a cross with God nailed
thereon, and the castellan swore on it with a good will.
Then the priest drew Birdalone on, and between them they brought her
into the great hall, and set her down in a chair and propped her with
cushions. And when she was thus at rest, she began to weep somewhat,
and the castellan and the priest stood by and comforted her; for
themseemed, despite her grief, that she had brought the sun into their
house.
Next were victual brought unto her of broth and venison, and good wine
and cates and strawberries; and she was not so famished but she might
eat and drink with a good will. But when she was done, and had rested a
little, the castellan stood up and said: Lady, the sun is gone off the
western windows now, and I must save mine oath; but ere thou depart, I
were fain to hear thy voice giving me pardon for my evil cheer and the
thrusting of thee forth. And therewith he put one knee to the ground,
and took her hand and kissed it. But Birdalone was grown merry again,
and she laughed and said: What pardon thou canst have of me, kind
knight, thou hast; but now methinks thou makest overmuch of me, because
I am the only woman who hath come into thy castle. I am but a simple
maiden, though mine errand be not little.
Forsooth she wondered that the stark and gruff old man was so changed
to her in little space; for nought she knew as yet how the sight of her
cast a hot gleed of love into the hearts of them who beheld her.
Now Birdalone arose; but the castellan knelt at her feet, and kissed
her hand again, and again, and yet again. Then he said: Thou art
gracious indeed. But methinks the father here will lead thee
out-a-gates; for he may show thee a lair, wherein thou shalt be safe
enough to-night; and to-morrow may bring new tidings.
So the priest made obeisance to her and led her down the hall, and the
castellan’s eyes were following them till the screen hid them. The
priest left her in the hall-porch a while, and went into the buttery,
and came back with a basket of meat and drink, and they went forth at
the great gate together, and there was the last of the sun before them.
CHAPTER II.
OF BIRDALONE, AND HOW SHE RESTED THE NIGHT THROUGH IN A BOWER WITHOUT
THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
On a fair smooth road went they amidst of a goodly meadow-land, wherein
were little copses here and there. When they were fairly out of the
gate, the priest reached for Birdalone’s hand, and she let him take it
and lead her along thereby, thinking no evil; but he might scarce speak
for a while, so great was the stir in his heart at the touch of her
bare flesh. But Birdalone spake and said: Thou art kind, father, to
lead me on my way thus.
He answered in a husky voice with his eyes cast down, and forsooth set
on the feet of her: It is not far that I am leading thee; there is a
broken cot by the copse at the turn of the road yonder, where thou
mayst abide to-night; it is better lodging than none, evil as it is for
such an one as thou. Birdalone laughed: Worse have I had, said she,
than would be the copse without the cot. And she thought withal of the
prison in the Isle of Increase Unsought.
Her voice seemed so cheery and friendly to the priest, that he shook
off somewhat the moodiness of his desire, and looked up and said: I
shall tell thee, lady, that I suppose thou hast more errand with my
lords than to crave lodging of them despite the custom of the castle.
Nay, I have an inkling of what thine errand may be, whereof more anon;
but now shall I tell thee what is best for thee to do so as to have
speech of them the soonest. They have gone forth with some of our lads
to gather venison, or it may be beeves and muttons for our victualling,
and somewhat of battle may they have had on the way, for ill neighbours
have we. But if they come back unfoughten they will be wending this
road, and must needs pass by thy copse-side; and if thou be sleeping
the noise of them will full surely awaken thee. Then all thou hast to
do is to come forth and stand in the way before them, that they may see
thee; and when once they have seen thee, how may they pass thee by
unspoken with?
I thank thee heartily for thy rede, said Birdalone; but I would ask
thee two things: first, what is the name of the castle behind us? and
second, why have ye the custom of shutting the door upon women? Said
the priest: The castle is called in this country-side, the White Ward
by the Water; but within there we call it the Castle of the Quest; and
thus is it called because my lords are seeking their loves whom they
have lost; and they have sworn an oath that no woman shall enter
therein till their own loves have trodden its floors.
Rose the heart of Birdalone at that word, and she deemed indeed that
she was come thither whereas her she-friends would have had her. The
priest beheld her and saw how her beauty was eked by that gladness, and
he scarce knew how to contain himself; and might speak no word awhile;
then he said: Hearken further concerning thy matter; if my lords be
tarried, and come not by matin-song, then I doubt not but the castellan
will send folk to see to thee. He looked down therewith and said: I
will come to thee myself; and will bring thee men-at-arms, if need be.
But sometime to-morrow morning my lords will come, save mischief hath
betid, which God forbid. And he crossed himself; then he looked up and
full in her face, and said: But keep thine heart up; for whatsoever may
betide, thou shalt not be left uncared for.
Said Birdalone: I see of thee that thou art become my good friend, and
it rejoiceth my heart; I shall be well at ease to-night in thy cot, and
to-morrow morn I shall be valiant to do thy bidding.
The sweetness of her speech so overcame him, that he but looked
confusedly on her, as if he scarce heard her; and they went on together
without more words, till he said: Here are we at the cot, and I will
show thee thy chamber. So he led her to a little thatched bower, built
with walls of wattle-work daubed with clay, which stood without the
remnant of the cot: it was clean and dry, for the roof was
weather-tight; but there was nought in it at all save a heap of bracken
in a corner.
There stood the priest, still holding Birdalone’s hand, and spake not,
but looked about, yet always covertly on Birdalone; but in a while he
let go her hand, and seemed to wake up, and said: This it is; a sorry
place enough, were it even for a gangrel body. Even so am I, quoth she
laughing; and thou mayest look to it, that herein I shall rest full
happily. Then he gave her a horn, drawing it from out of the basket of
victual, which he now set down on the ground; and he said: If thou
shouldst deem thee hard bestead, then wind this horn, and we shall know
its voice up there and come to help thee. Now I give thee good-night.
She thanked him sweetly, and he went slowly out of the bower, but was
scarce gone ere he came back again, and said: One thing I may perchance
tell thee without drawing thine anger on my head; to wit, that I it was
who said to the castellan that he should take thee in. Wilt thou say
aught to this? She said: I will thank thee again and again; for it was
the saving of my life and mine errand. And clearer is it now than ever
that thou art a good friend unto me.
As she looked on him and caressed him with kind eyes, she saw that his
brow was knit, and his face troubled, and she said to him: What ails
thee? art thou wroth with me in any wise? O no, said he; how should I
be wroth with thee! But there is a thing I would ask of thee. Yea, and
what? said she. He said: Nay, I may not, I may not. It shall be for
to-morrow, or another day. He spake it looking down, and in a broken
voice; and she wondered somewhat at him, but not much, deeming that he
was troubled by something which had nought to do with her, and which he
might refrain from thinking of, even before a stranger.
But presently he caught her hand and kissed it, and bade her good-night
again, and then went hastily out of the bower; and when he was well
without, he muttered, but not so as she might hear him: Durst I have
asked her, she would have suffered me to kiss her cheek. Alas! fool
that I was! Birdalone turned then to her bracken bed, and found it
sweet and clean; and she was at rest and peace in her mind, albeit her
body was exceeding weary. She felt happy in the little lonely cot, and
her heart had gone out to the sweet meadow-land, and she loved it after
all the trouble of the water; and herseemed that even now, in the dusk
a-growing into dark, it loved and caressed her. So she laid her down,
nor unclad herself at all, lest she should have to arise on a sudden,
and show those tokens of the three damsels on her body.
A little while she lay there happily, hearkening the voices of the
nightingales in the brake, and then she fell into a dreamless sleep,
unbroken till the short night passed into day.
CHAPTER III.
HOW BIRDALONE DIGHT HER FOR MEETING THE CHAMPIONS OF THE QUEST.
It was the birds beginning their first song once more that awakened
Birdalone before the sun was up; but she had no will to stir a while,
whereas she felt so happy and restful; and that all the more when she
remembered where she was, and told herself that her errand was now like
to be accomplished; and she thought of her friends whom she had left on
the Isle of Increase Unsought, and blessed them for their kindness, and
the love of them was sweet to her heart, and amidst such thoughts she
fell asleep again.
When she awoke thereafter there was a flood of sunshine lying on the
meadows, and she sprang up in haste lest she had overslept herself, but
when she was come out of the bower, she soon saw that the sunbeams lay
low on the land, and that it was yet the first hour of the sun; so she
turned about, and went through the copse to the other side, and lo! a
little clear stream running before her. So she spake to herself softly
and said: Fie on it! I was weary with the boat and my hunger last
night, and I went to bed unwashen; and this morn I am weary for the
foulness of my unwashen body. Unseemly it were to me to show myself
sluttish before these lords; let me find time for a bath at least.
Therewith she went swiftly down to the water, undoing her girdle and
laces by the way. She came to the stream and found it running between
blue-flowering mouse-ear and rushes, into a pool which deepened from a
sandy shallow: so anon her borrowed raiment was lying on the grassy lip
of the water, and she was swimming and disporting her in the pool, with
her hair loose and wavering over her white back like some tress of the
water-weed. Therein she durst not tarry long, but came hurrying out on
to the grass, and clad herself in haste. But she covered not her
shoulders with the golden gown, nor laced it over her bosom, so that
Viridis’ smock might be the plainer to see: which smock was noteworthy,
for the breast thereof was broidered with green boughs, whence brake
forth little flames of fire, and all so dainty-wrought as if the faery
had done it.
Withal she gathered up the gown into her girdle, and let the skirt-hem
clear her ankles, so that Atra’s shoon might be seen at once; and they
were daintily dight with window-work and broidery of gold and green
stones, and blue. And forsooth it was little likely that any man should
stand before her a minute ere his eyes would seek to her feet and
ankles, so clean and kindly as they were fashioned.
Therewith she set her hands to her head, and trussed up her hair, and
bound it closely to her head, so that it might hide no whit of her
borrowed attire.
There she stood, with Aurea’s collar lying on her dear neck, and
Viridis’ girdle about her shapen loins, and Atra’s ring on her lovesome
finger. And she hearkened a while and heard no sound of coming men; and
there came into her heart a gentle fear, which grieved her not. Over
the water before her hung an eglantine bush, with its many roses either
budding or but just out. Birdalone stole thither softly, and said,
smiling: Nay, if I have nothing that is mine on my body, I will take
this of the maiden’s bath and make it mine. And therewith she plucked a
spray of the bush and turned it into a garland for her head; and then
when she had stood shyly a while in that same place, she turned and
went swiftly to her place beside her night-harbour, and stood there
hearkening with that sweet fear growing upon her, her colour coming and
going, and her heart beating fast.
Now the thought of that kind priest who had led her to the bower last
night came into her mind, and she wondered why he had been so troubled.
And she thought, would those others be so kind to her, or would they
deem her an impudent wench or a foolish, or pass her by?
Forsooth if any had passed her by it had been not that he should miss
seeing her beauty, but that he should fear it, and deem her some
goddess of the Gentiles of old time come before him for his ensnaring.
CHAPTER IV.
AND NOW SHE MEETS THE CHAMPIONS.
Now, as she stood hearkening, she deemed she heard something that was
not so loud as the song of the blackbird in the brake, but further off
and longer voiced: and again she hearkened heedfully, and the sound
came again, and she deemed now that it was the voice of an horn. But
the third time of her hearing it she knew that it was nought less; and
at last it grew nigher, and there was mingled with it the sound of men
shouting and the lowing of neat.
Then she stepped down to the very edge of the way, and now she saw the
riding-reek go up into the clear air, and she said: Now are they coming
without fail, and I must pluck up a heart; for surely these dear
friends of my friends shall neither harm a poor maiden nor scorn her.
Soon came the leading beasts from out of the dust-cloud, and behind
them was the glitter of spear-heads; and then presently was a herd of
neat shambling and jostling along the road, and after them a score or
so of spearmen in jack and sallet, who, forsooth, turned to look on
Birdalone as they passed by, and spake here and there a word or two,
laughing and pointing to her, but stayed not; and all went on straight
to the castle.
Thereafter was a void, and then came riding leisurely another score of
weaponed men, whereof some in white armour; and amongst them were five
sumpter horses laden with carcasses of venison. And all these also went
by and stayed not, though the most of them gazed on Birdalone hard
enough.
Last of all came three knights riding, one with a gold surcoat over his
armour, and thereon a cleft heart of red; the second with a green
surcoat, and on the same a chief of silver with green boughs thereon,
their ends a-flaming; but the third bore a black surcoat besprinkled
with silver tears. And all these three rode bare-headed, save that the
Black Knight bore an oak-wreath on the head.
Now did Birdalone take to her valiancy, and she stepped out into the
road till she was but a ten paces from those men, who reined up when
they beheld her; and she said in a clear voice: Abide, warriors! for if
ye be what I deem you, I have an errand unto you.
Scarce were the words out of her mouth, ere all three had leapt off
their horses, and the Golden Knight came up to her, and laid his hand
upon her side, and spake eagerly and said: Where is she, whence thou
gattest this gown of good web? And thou, said she, art thou Baudoin the
Golden Knight? But he set his hand to the collar on her neck, and
touched her skin withal, and said: This, was she alive when thou camest
by it? She said: If thou be Baudoin the Golden Knight, I have an errand
to thee. I am he, said the knight; O tell me, tell me, is she dead?
Said Birdalone: Aurea was alive when last I saw her, and mine errand is
from her to thee, if thou be verily her lover. Now with this word I
pray thee to be content a while, said she, smiling kindly upon him, for
needs must I do mine errand in such wise as I was bidden. And thou
seest also that thy friends would have a word of me.
Forsooth, they were thrusting in on her, and the Green Knight gat a
hold of her left wrist in his left hand, and his right was on her
shoulder, and his bright face close to her bosom whereon lay Viridis’
smock; and thereat she shrank aback somewhat, but said: Sir, it is
sooth that the smock is for thee when thou hast answered me a question
or two. Meanwhile I pray thee forbear a little; for, as I trow, all is
well, and thou shalt see my dear friend Viridis again.
He withdrew him a little, flushed and shamefaced. He was a young man
exceeding beauteous, clear-skinned and grey-eyed, with curly golden
hair, and he bore his armour as though it were silken cloth. Birdalone
looked upon him kindly though shyly, and was glad to the heart’s root
that Viridis had so lovely a man to her darling. As for the Golden
Knight, as Birdalone might see now, he stood a little aloof; he was a
very goodly man of some five and thirty winters; tall he was,
broad-shouldered and thin-flanked, black-haired, with somewhat heavy
eyebrows, and fierce hawk-eyes; a man terrible of aspect, when one
first beheld him.
Now when the Black Squire had hearkened Birdalone’s word concerning
Viridis, he threw himself down on the ground before her, and fell to
kissing her feet; or, if you will, Atra’s shoon which covered them.
When she drew back a little, he rose on one knee and looked up at her
with an eager face, and she said: To thee also I have an errand from
Atra, thy speech-friend, if thou be Arthur the Black Squire. He spake
not, but still gazed on her till she reddened. She knew not whether to
deem him less goodly than the other twain. He also was a young man of
not over five and twenty years, slim and lithe, with much brown hair;
his face tanned so dark that his eyes gleamed light from amidst it; his
chin was round and cloven, his mouth and nose excellently fashioned;
little hair he had upon his face, his cheeks were somewhat more hollow
than round. Birdalone noted of his bare hands, which were as brown as
his face, that they were very trim and shapely.
Now he rose to his feet, and the three stood together and gazed on her;
as how might they do otherwise? Birdalone hung her head, and knew not
what next to do or say. But she thought within herself, would these
three men have been as kind to her as her three friends of the Isle,
had she happened on them in like case as she was that time? And she
settled with herself that they would have been no less kind.
Now spake the Golden Knight, and said: Will the kind maiden do her
errand to us here and now? for we be eager and worn with trouble.
Birdalone looked adown and was somewhat confused. Fair sirs, said she,
I will do your will herein.
But the Black Squire looked on her and saw that she was troubled, and
he said: Your pardon, fair fellows, but is it not so that we have an
house somewhat anigh, not ill purveyed of many things? By your leave I
would entreat this kind and dear lady to honour us so much as to enter
the Castle of the Quest with us, and abide there so long as she will;
and therein may she tell us all her errand at her leisure; and already
we may see and know, that it may not be aught save a joyous one.
Then spake the Golden Knight, and said: I will ask the lady to pardon
me, and will now join my prayer to thine, brother, that she come home
with us. Lady, he said, wilt thou not pardon me, that in the eager
desire to hear tidings of my speech-friend I forgat all else.
And therewithal he knelt before her, and took her hand and kissed it;
and for all his fierce eyes and his warrior’s mien, she deemed him kind
and friendly. Then needs must the Green Knight kneel and kiss also,
though he had no pardon to crave; but a fair sweet lad she thought him,
and again her heart swelled with joy to think that her friend Viridis
had so dear a speech-friend to long for her.
Then came the turn of the Black Squire, and by then were the two others
turned away a little toward their horses; and he knelt down on both
knees before Birdalone and took her right arm above the wrist, and
looked at the hand and kissed it as if it were a relic, but stood not
up; and she stood bending over him, and a new sweetness entered into
her, the like of which she had never felt. But as for the Black Squire,
it seemed that one hand would not suffice him, and he took her left
hand and fell to kissing it, and then both the hands together all over
the backs of them, and then the palms thereof, and he buried his face
in the two palms, and held them to his cheeks; and the dear hands
suffered it all, and consented to the embracing of his cheeks. But
Birdalone deemed that this was the kindest and sweetest of the three
kind warriors, and sorry she was when he let go her hands and stood up.
His face was flushed, but his speech calm, as he spake so that the
other knights might hear him: Now will we straight to the castle, lady,
and we will ask thee which of us three thou wilt honour by riding his
horse there; shall it be Baudoin’s bright bay, or Hugh’s dapple-grey,
or my red roan? And therewith he took her by the hand and led her
toward the horses. But she laughed, and turning a little, pointed to
the castle, and said: Nay, sweet lords, but I will fare afoot, such a
little way as it is, and I all unwont to the saddle.
Spake the Green Knight: If that be so, lady, then shall we three walk
afoot with thee. Nay, nay, she said; I have nought to carry but myself;
but ye have your byrnies and your other armour, which were heavy for
you to drag on afoot, even a little way. Moreover, I were fain to see
you mount your horses, and ride and run about the meadow with tossing
manes and flashing swords, while I trudge quietly toward the gate; for
such things, and so beauteous, are all new unto me, as ye shall learn
presently when I tell you my story. Do so much to pleasure me, kind
knights.
The tall Baudoin nodded to her, smiling kindly, as much as to say that
he thought well of her desire. But the Green Knight ran to his horse
with a glad shout, and anon was in the saddle with his bright sword in
his fist; then he spurred, and went a-gallop hither and thither over
the mead, making his horse turn short and bound, and playing many
tricks of the tilt-yard, and crying, A Hugh, A Hugh, for the Green
Gown! The Golden Knight was slower and more staid, but in manywise he
showed his war-deftness, riding after Hugh as if he would fall on him,
and staying his way just as it became perilous; and he cried, Baudoin,
Baudoin, for Gold-sleeves! And all this seemed to Birdalone both
terrible and lovely.
But for the Black Squire, he was slow to let loose Birdalone’s hand;
but thereafter he was speedy to vault into his saddle, and he made
courses over the meadow, but ever came back to Birdalone as she went
her ways, riding round and round her, and tossing his sword into the
air the while and catching it as it fell. And no less lovely did this
seem to Birdalone, and she smiled on him and waved her hand to him.
Going slowly in this wise, she came at last to the castle gate; and now
had all those three out-gone her and stood afoot in the wicket to
welcome her, and the Golden Knight, who was the oldest of the three,
was the speaker of the welcome.
Over the threshold of the Castle of the Quest went Birdalone’s feet
then, and she was grown so happy as she had never deemed she should be
all her life long.
CHAPTER V.
BIRDALONE HAS TRUE TOKENS FROM THE CHAMPIONS OF THE QUEST.
Now they brought Birdalone into a very fair chamber, where was
presently everything she might need, save a tiring woman, which,
forsooth, was no lack unto her, since never had she had any to help her
array her body. So she did what she might to make herself the trimmer;
and in a while came two fair swains of service, who brought her in all
honour into the great hall, where were the three lords abiding her.
There were they served well and plenteously, and fair was the converse
between them; and in especial was the talk of Arthur the Black Squire
goodly and wise and cheery, and well-measured; and the Green Knight’s
speech merry and kind, as of an happy child; and the Golden Knight
spake ever free and kindly, though not of many words was he. And who
was happy if Birdalone were not?
But when they had eaten and washed their hands, then spake the Golden
Knight: Dear maiden, now are we ready to hear the innermost of thine
errand, all we together, if thou wilt.
Birdalone smiled and reddened withal, as she said: Fair lords, I doubt
not but ye are even they unto whom I was sent, but they who sent me,
and who saved me from death and worse, bade me do mine errand in such a
way, that I should speak with each one of you privily, and that for a
token each should tell me a thing known but to him and his love, and to
me unto whom she hath told it. Now am I all ready to do mine errand
thus, and no other wise.
Laughed they now, and were merry, and the Green Knight blushed like a
maiden; forsooth like to his very speech-friend Viridis. But the Black
Squire said: Fair fellows, get we all into the pleasance this fair
morn, and sit there on the grass, and our sweet lady shall take us one
after other into the plashed alley, and have the tokens of us.
Even so they did, and went into the pleasance, which was a goodly
little garth south of the castle, grassed, and set thick with roses and
lilies and gillyflowers, and other fragrant flowers. There then they
sat on the daisied greensward, the three lords together, and Birdalone
over against them, and they three watched her beauty and loveliness and
wondered thereat.
But she said: Now it comes to the very point of mine errand; wherefore
I bid thee, Baudoin the Golden Knight, to come apart with me and answer
to my questions, so that I may know surely that I am doing mine errand
aright.
Therewith she arose to her feet, and he also, and he led her into the
plashed alley, out of earshot of the other twain, who lay upon the
grass biding their turn with but little patience.
But when those two were in the deep shade of the alley, Birdalone said:
Thou must know, Sir Golden Knight, that the three lovers of you three
were good to me in my need, and clad my nakedness from their very
bodies, but this raiment they lent me, and gave it not; for they bade
me give it up piece by piece each unto the one who had given it to his
love, whom I should know by the token that he should tell truly the
tale of its giving. Now, fair sir, I know well, for I have been told,
what was the tale of thy giving this golden gown to Aurea, and that
same tale shalt thou now tell me, and if thou tell it aright, then is
the gown thine. Begin, then, without more tarrying.
Lady, said the knight, thus it was: Aurea, my sweetling, abode with an
ancient dame, a kinswoman of hers, who was but scantly kind to her; and
on a day when we had met privily, and were talking together, my love
lamented the niggard ways of her said kinswoman, and told how she had
no goodly gown to make her fair when feasts were toward; but I laughed
at her, and told her that so clad as she was (and her attire was verily
but simple) she was fairer than any other; and then, as ye may wot,
there was kissing and clipping between us; but at last, as from the
first I meant it, I promised her I would purvey her such a gown as no
lady should go with a better in all the country-side; but I said that
in return I must have the gown she went in then, which had so long
embraced her body and been strained so close to her body and her sides,
and was as it were a part of her. That she promised me with kisses, and
I went away as merry as a bird. Straightway thereafter I did do make
this very gown, which thou bearest, dear maiden, and on the appointed
day she came out to me unto the same place clad as she was before; but
the new gown I had with me. Hard by our trysting-place was a
hazel-copse thick enow, for it was midsummer, and she said she would go
thereinto and shift gowns, and bear me out thence the gift of the old
clout (so she called it, laughing merrily). But I said: Nay, I would go
into the copse with her to guard her from evil things, beasts or men;
and withal to see her do off the old gown, that I might know before I
wedded her whatlike stuffing and padding went to make the grace of her
flanks and her hips. And again was she merry, and she said: Come, then,
thou Thomas unbelieving, and see the side of me. So we went into that
cover together, and she did off her gown before mine eyes, and stood
there in her white coat with her arms bare, and her shoulders and bosom
little covered, and she was as lovely as a woman of the faery. Then I
made no prayer unto her for leave, but took my arms about her, and
kissed her arms and shoulders and bosom all she would suffer me, for I
was mad with love of her naked flesh. Then she did on this golden gown,
and departed when she had given me the old clout aforesaid, and I went
away with it, scarce feeling the ground beneath my feet; and I set the
dear gown in a fair little coffer, and here in this castle I have it
now, and many times I take it forth and kiss it and lay my head upon
it. Now this is a simple tale, lady, and I am ashamed that I have made
it so long for thee. And yet I know not; for thou seemest to me so kind
and loving and true, that I am fain that thou shouldest know how sorely
I love thy friend and mine.
Birdalone deemed Baudoin a good man indeed, and the tears came into her
eyes as she answered and said: True is thy tale, dear friend, and I
have deemed it rather short than long. I see well that thou art Aurea’s
very lover; and it joys me to think that thou, O terrible champion, art
yet so tender and true. Now is the golden gown thine, but I will pray
thee to lend it me a little longer. But this jewel shalt thou have from
my neck here and now; and thou knowest whence it came, thine Aurea’s
neck forsooth.
Therewith she betook it him, and he held it in his hand doubtfully a
while, and then he said: Dear maiden, I thank thee, but I will take
this collar, and lay it in my casket, and be glad thereof; and that the
more, as, now I look on thee, I see nought missing from the loveliness
of thine own neck.
Go to thy fellows now, said Birdalone, and send me the Green Knight,
the goodly lad. So went he, and presently came Hugh thither merry and
smiling, and said: Thou hast been long about the first token, sweet
mistress; I fear me I shall make no such goodly story as hath Baudoin.
And yet, said she, Viridis’ tale was the longest of all. I doubt thou
mayst fail in the token. And she laughed; and he no less, and took her
by the shoulders, and kissed her cheek frankly, and in such wise that
she feared him nought, and said: Now that is to pay thee for thy gibe;
what wouldst thou have of me? Said Birdalone: I would have thee tell me
how it was that Viridis came by the smock with the green boughs aflame,
which now I bear upon me.
Hearken, darling lady, said he: On a day Viridis and I were alone in
the meadow, and so happy, that we might find nought to do save to fall
into strife together; and I said it to her, that she loved me not as
well as I loved her; which, by the way, was no less than a lie, for of
all things living she is the most loving, and when we be together she
knoweth not how to make enough of me. Well, we fell to wrangling after
the manner of lovers, till I, having nothing else to say, bade her
remember that since we had first come to love each other, I had given
her many things, and she had given me nothing. Lo, then! my dear, what
an ill-conditioned lad was I. But, little as I meant it, she took it
all amiss, and leapt up, and fell to running back home over the meadow;
thou mayst think how easily I caught up with her, and how little loth
she was to be dragged back by the shoulders. So when we were sitting
again under the thorn-bush, we had well-nigh done our wrangle; but she
unlaced her gown and drew down a corner thereof, to show me her
shoulder, how I had hurt it e’en now; and forsooth some little mark
there was on the rose-leaf skin; and that made good time for kissing
again, as ye may well wot. Then she said unto me: And how may I, a poor
damsel, give thee gifts, and my kindred all greedy about me? Yet would
I give thee a gift, such as I may, if I but knew what thou wouldst
take. Now my heart was afire with that kissing of her shoulder, and I
said that I would have that very same smock from her body, which then
she bore, and that thereof I should deem that I had a rich gift indeed.
What! said she, and wouldst thou have it here and now? And indeed I
think she would have done it off her that minute had I pressed her, but
I lacked the boldness thereto; and I said: Nay, but would she bring it
unto me the next time we met; and forsooth she brought it folded in a
piece of green silk, and dearly have I loved it and kissed it sithence.
But as for thy smock, I had it fairly wrought and embroidered with the
flaming green branches, as thou seest it, and I gave it to her; but not
on the day when she gave me the gift; for the new one was long about
doing. Now this is all the tale, and how Viridis might eke it into a
long one, I wot not. But let it be, and tell me, have I won thy smock,
or lost it?
Birdalone laughed on him and said: Well, at least thou shalt have it as
a gift; and thou mayst call it given either by Viridis or me, which
thou wilt. But with it goes another gift; which thou mayst have at once
since thou must lend me the smock a little longer. And therewith she
betook him her girdle, and he kissed it, but said: Nay, fair lady, this
befitteth well the loveliness of thy body that thou shouldst wear it;
and well it befitteth the truth and love of thy soul toward it for me;
I pray thee to keep it. Nevertheless, she said, I will not have it, for
it goeth with mine errand that thou take it of me. Now I bid thee
depart, and send hither thy fellow, the Black Squire.
Went he then, and anon comes the Black Squire, and now that he was
alone with Birdalone this first time, he seemed moody and downcast, all
unlike the two others. He stood a little aloof from Birdalone, and
said: What wouldst thou ask of me? Her heart was somewhat chilled by
his moodiness, for erst had she deemed him the kindest of the three;
but she said: It is of mine errand to ask of thee concerning this
foot-gear which Atra lent me until I give it unto thee, if thou be
verily her lover. Said he: I was verily her lover. Birdalone said: Then
canst thou tell me the manner of thy giving these fair shoon unto Atra?
He said: Even so; we were walking together in this country-side and
came to a ford of the river, and it was somewhat deep and took me to
over the knee, so I bore her over in my arms; then we went on a little
further till we must cross the river back again in another place, and
there the ford was shallower, and, the day being hot, Atra must needs
wade it on her own feet. So she did off hosen and shoon, and I led her
by the hand, and it took her but up to mid-leg. But when we came up out
of the water and were on the grass again, I craved the gift of her
foot-gear for the love of her, and she gave it straightway, and fared
home barefoot, for it was over the meads we were wending in early
summer, and the grass was thick and soft. But thereafter I did do make
the fair shoon which thou hast on thy feet, and gave them to her. And,
for a further token that my tale is true, I shall tell thee that the
name of the first ford we waded that day is the Grey-nag’s Wade, and
the second is called Goat Ford. This is all my tale, lady; is the token
true?
True it is, squire, said Birdalone, and was silent awhile, and he also.
Then she looked on him friendly, and said: Thou art out of heart as
now, my friend. Fear not, for thou shalt without doubt see thy
speech-friend again. Moreover here is a ring which she set upon my
finger, bidding me give it thee. And she held it out unto him.
He took the ring, and said: Yea, it is best that I have it of thee,
lest unluck come thereof. She saw trouble in his face, but knew not
what to say to cheer him, and they stood silently facing one another
for awhile. Then he said: Let us back to our fellows, and talk it over,
what is now to be done.
So they went their ways to where lay the other two upon the green
grass, and the Black Squire lay down beside them; but Birdalone stood
before them and spake unto the three.
CHAPTER VI.
HOW THE CHAMPIONS WOULD DO BIRDALONE TO BE CLAD ANEW IN THE CASTLE OF
THE QUEST.
Lords, she said, now is it clear by the tokens that mine errand is to
you and none other; now therefore am I to tell you what to do to come
unto your speech-friends and deliver them and bring them back hither.
For this is their case, that they are in captivity in a wonder-isle of
this great water, and it is called the Isle of Increase Unsought.
Spake the Golden Knight: Fair lady, we have heard before that our
friends fared hence, or rather were taken hence over the water. And
that is the cause why we builded this castle on the water’s edge, on
the very stead where was raised the pavilion, the house made for the
ladies to abide therein the battle of the Champions. Since that time,
moreover, many a barge and keel have we thrust out into the water, that
we might accomplish the Quest whereunto we were vowed; but ever one way
went our seafaring, that when we were come so far out into the water as
to lose sight of land, came upon us mist, rose against us dusk and
darkness; and then a fierce driving wind that drave us back to this
shore. It is but six days ago since we tried this adventure for the
last time, and belike the same shall befall us the next time we try it.
Wherefore I must ask thee, lady, dost thou know any way whereby we may
come to the said isle? For if thou dost, full surely we will try it,
whatsoever may be the risk thereby to our bodies or our souls.
Full surely I do, said Birdalone; else how had I come from thence
hither mine own self? And therewith she told them of the Sending Boat,
what it was, and how she had come all the way by means thereof from the
Isle of Increase Unsought; and they all hearkened her heedfully, and
wondered both at the sorcery, and the valiant heart of her who had
driven it as she would in despite of the evil. But in the end she spake
and said: Lords, ye have now heard some deal of my story, even that
which concerns you thereof; and which must needs be told at once:
wherefore doubtless ye shall fare unto your speech-friends by this
ferry in the very wise that I shall show you; unless perchance ye deem
that I have been lying and making light tales to you, as, sooth to say,
I deem ye think it not.
Spake the Golden Knight: Damsel, in all wise we trow in thee and thy
tale. And God forbid that we should tarry! Go we hence this very day.
Yea, but hearken, said the Black Squire: Is it not a part of this
damsel’s errand that she should deliver to us the raiment of our
friends, which now she beareth on her own body, that we may bear it
back unto them?
Sooth is that, said Birdalone, and ye may well wot that this may be
nought but needful, whereas the said ladies be all beset by sorceries.
See ye then, fellows, said the Black Squire, it may not be to-day nor
yet to-morrow that we may take the road. For ye wot that there is no
woman’s gear in all the castle, and we must needs send otherwhere to
seek it.
Look thou, maiden, said the Golden Knight, laughing, how duly this
young knight thinketh of thee; whereas I, who am his elder, and should
be wiser than he, am but heedless of thee. I pray thy pardon.
Moreover, said the Black Squire, there may well be wisdom in abiding;
for it is to be thought that our dear loves considered this, and knew
what the time of tarrying should be, and have so dight their matter as
to fit in therewith; and I may not deem it of them that they would have
us array this our dear sister and theirs in unseemly wise. Nay, for
that would be an ill beginning of this deal of the Quest.
Now all yeasaid this gladly; and the Green Knight said: It were not so
ill done that we should see more of our sister here ere we depart, and
hear more of her tale; for meseemeth she began it erewhile but
half-way. And he turned to Birdalone, and took her hand and caressed
it.
Birdalone smiled on them somewhat shyly, and thanked them; but bade
them spend as little time as might be on her arrayal. For, said she,
though those ladies may well have reckoned on the time of the arrayal
of my body, yet surely also they shall have reckoned with the eager
fire of love in the hearts of you, and the haste it shall breed
therein.
Well pleased were they with that word of hers, but none the less sent
two sergeants and a squire with led horses unto the cheaping-town, a
goodly and great town hight Greenford, which was some twenty miles
thence, with the errand to bring back with them a good shaper and
embroideress, and sewing-women, and cloth and silk and linen, and all
things needful.
As for jewels, each one of them was fain to give her something which he
prized, and fair and rich were the gifts, though they had not been made
for women. As a fair SS collar of gold, which the Golden Knight gave
her, and a girdle of broad golden plates, wrought beauteously, which
was the gift of the Black Squire. Albeit he did not offer to clasp it
round her loins, as she deemed he would; for when the Green Knight
brought his gift, a great gold ring, very ancient of fashion, he would
have her turn back the sleeve from her fore-arm, that he might set his
dwarf-wrought gold upon the bare flesh; neither did he refrain him from
kissing it withal.
But the messengers came back with their work-women and stuffs early on
the morrow; and now was changed all the manner of the womanless castle,
and men were full merry therein.
CHAPTER VII.
OF BIRDALONE, HOW SHE TOLD THE CHAMPIONS ALL HER TALE.
It was a matter of eight days, the making of all Birdalone’s raiment,
and meanwhile she was ever with the three Champions, either all three
together, or one or other of them. And as to their manners with her,
ever was the Golden Knight of somewhat sober demeanour, as if he were
an older man than he verily was. The Green Knight was for ever praising
Birdalone’s beauty to her face, and seemed to find it no easy matter to
keep his eyes off her, and somewhat he wearied her with kisses and
caresses; but a gay and sportive lad he was; and when she rebuked him
for his overmuch fondness, as now and again she did, he would laugh at
himself along with her; and in sooth she deemed him heart-whole, and of
all truth to Viridis, and oft he would talk of her to Birdalone, and
praise her darling beauty to her, and tell of his longing for his love
aloof. Only, quoth he, here art thou, my sister, dwelling amongst us,
and shedding thy fragrance on us, and showing to us, wilt thou, wilt
thou not, as do the flowers, all the grace and loveliness of thee; and
thou so tender of heart withal, that thou must not blame me overmuch if
whiles I forget that thou art my sister, and that my love is, woe’s me!
far away. So thou wilt pardon me, wilt thou not? Yea, verily, said she,
with a whole heart. Yet thou needest not reach out for my hand; thou
hast had enough of it this morning. And she hid it, laughing, in the
folds of her gown; and he laughed also, and said: Of a truth thou art
good in all wise, and a young fool am I; but Viridis shall make me
wiser, when we come together again. Sawest thou ever so fair a damsel?
Never, she said, and surely there is none fairer in all the world. So
hold thee aloof now for a while, and think of her.
As for the Black Squire, hight Arthur, Birdalone was troubled for him,
and he made her somewhat sad. True it is that he came not before her
again so moody and downcast as when he was giving her the token; yet
she deemed that he enforced himself to seem of good cheer. Furthermore,
though he sought her company ever, and that lonely with him, and would
talk with her almost as one man with another, though with a certain
tenderness in his voice, and looking earnestly on her the while, yet
never would he take her hand, or touch her in any wise. And true it is
that she longed for the touch of his hand.
On the third day of her sojourn in the Castle of the Quest, Birdalone
took heart at the much egging of her friends, as they sat all together
in the meadow without the castle, to tell them all the story of her;
she hid none, save concerning the wood-mother, for she deemed that her
sweet friend would love her the better if she babbled not of her.
So the Champions hearkened her telling the tale in her clear lovely
voice, and great was their love and pity for the poor lonely maiden.
And in especial clear it was to see that they were sore moved when she
told how she first came on the Sending Boat, and how the witch-wife
tormented her innocent body for that guilt. Then Baudoin laid his hand
upon her head, and spake: Poor child, much indeed hast thou suffered!
and now I will say it, that it was for us and our loves that thou hast
borne all this anguish of captivity and toil and stripes.
But Hugh leaned over to her, as she sat with her head hanging down, and
kissed her cheek, and said: Yea! and I was not there to smite the head
off that accursed one; and I knew nought of thee and thine anguish, as
I took my light pleasure about these free meadows. And he turned very
red, and went nigh to weep.
Arthur sat still with his eyes bent down on the ground, and he said
nothing; and Birdalone glanced on him wistfully ere she went on with
her tale. And she went on and told closely all that had happened unto
her in the crossing of the water and on the Isle of Increase Unsought,
and the other Wonder Isles; and she deemed it not too much that she
should tell it twice over, nor they that twice over they should hearken
it.
That same evening as Birdalone walked by herself in the castle
pleasance, she saw Arthur peering about as if he were seeking someone;
so she stood forth, and asked him was he seeking aught; and he said:
Thee was I seeking. But she durst not ask him what he would, but stood
silent and trembling before him, till he took her hand, and spake not
loud but eagerly.
After what thou hast told us to-day, I seem to know thee what thou art;
and I tell thee that it is a pain and grief to me to leave thee, yea to
leave thee were it but for a minute. O I pray thee pity me for the
sundering. And therewith he turned about and hastened into the castle.
But Birdalone stood there with her heart beating fast and her flesh
quivering, and a strange sweetness of joy took hold of her. But she
said to herself that it was no wonder though she felt so happy, seeing
that she had found out that, despite her fears, this one of her friends
loved her no less well than the others. And then she spake it in a soft
voice that she would indeed pity him for the sundering, yea, and
herself also.
Nevertheless, when they met thereafter, his demeanour to her was none
otherwise than it had been; but she no longer heeded this since now she
trowed in him.
CHAPTER VIII.
IN THE MEANWHILE OF THE DEPARTING OF THE CHAMPIONS, THEY WOULD PLEASURE
BIRDALONE WITH FEATS OF ARMS AND GAMES OF PROWESS.
Passed the days now speedily, and the three Champions did what they
might for the solace of Birdalone. For they and their household showed
her of arms, and they tilted together courteously; and the sergeants
stood forth, and shot in the bow before her, till she herself by their
bidding took the bow in hand, and shot straighter and well-nigh as hard
as the best man there, whereat they marvelled, and praised her much.
Then the young men ran afoot before her for the prize of a belt and
knife, and forsooth she wotted well that were she to run against them
with trussed-up skirts she would bear off the prize; but she had no
heart thereto, for amidst them all, and her new friendships, she had
grown shamefast, and might play the wood-maiden no longer. Yet twice
the Champions fared further afield with her to show her some woodcraft;
yet were not very free to go far, because of the ill neighbours whereof
the chaplain had told her that first night of her coming.
And in all these pastimes, whatso they were, Birdalone bore herself
well and merrily, and put from her the sorrow of the sundering, and the
peril of her dear friends which grew now so near at hand.
The chaplain aforesaid, who hight Leonard, she fell in with not seldom;
and he was ever meek and humble before her; and ever withal was sorrow
easy to be seen in his countenance, and trouble withal; and she knew
not how to help him, save by being courteous and kind with him whenso
they met; but none the more might he pluck up cheerful countenance in
answer to her kindness.
With Sir Aymeris, the grizzle-haired castellan, she foregathered also
oft enough, and could not forbear some merry gibes with him concerning
their first meeting, and how that she had been a burden and a terror to
him; and these mocks she made him because she saw it liked him not ill
to be mocked in friendly fashion; though forsooth betwixt the laughter
he looked on her somewhat ruefully. And ever, ere he parted from her,
he made occasion to kiss her hands; and she suffered it smiling, and
was debonair to him; whereas she saw that he was of good will to her.
In such wise then wore the hours and the days.
CHAPTER IX.
BIRDALONE COMETH BEFORE THE CHAMPIONS IN HER NEW ARRAY.
Now the time was come when Birdalone had all her gear ready, and the
women were to abide in the castle as her serving-damsels while the
Champions were away.
So now in the summer eve, an hour before sunset, Birdalone did on the
richest of her new raiment, and came into the hall where sat the Three
together, and Sir Aymeris with them. She was so clad, that she had on a
green gown with broidered sleeves, and thereover a white cote-hardie
welted with gold, and gold-embroidered; on her feet were gold shoon of
window-work, pearled and gemmed; and on her head a rose garland; on her
neck she bore the Golden Knight’s collar; her loins were girt with the
Black Squire’s girdle; and on her wrist was the Green Knight’s ancient
gold ring; and she carried in her arms Aurea’s gown and Viridis’ shift
and Atra’s shoon.
Rather sunrise than sunset it seemed, as verily Birdalone she came into
the hall with bright eager eyes, and flushed cheeks, and countenance
smiling with love. The men stood up all, and would come down from the
dais to meet her; but she bade them go back, and sit each in his place
till she stood before them.
Up the hall then she walked, and every step of hers seemed lovelier
than the last, till she came to them and gave unto each his keepsake,
and said: Champions, now is mine errand all done, save that to-morrow I
must show you the manner of the Sending Boat. Now there is nought save
the darkness of the coming night to hinder you from this last deal of
your Quest; and it is I that have brought you to this, and have done
this good unto you, if no more good I do in the world. Wherefore I pray
you to love me ever, and bear me ever in your minds.
They gazed on her, and were overcome by her loveliness and grace, and
by the kindness and valiancy of her heart. Next arose the Golden
Knight, Baudoin to wit, and took a cross from his breast, and held it
up, and spake: Maiden, thou sayest well, and never shall we forget
thee, or cease to love thee; and here I swear by God upon the Tree,
that it shall be a light thing for me to die for thee, if in any need I
find thee. Brethren, will ye not swear the same? And this is but thy
due, maiden, for I declare unto thee, that when thou didst enter the
hall e’en now, it was as if the very sun of heaven was coming in unto
us.
Thereon the other two took the Rood and swore upon it: and Hugh was
hushed and meek and sad-faced after he had sworn; but Arthur the Black
Squire bowed down his head and wept, and his fellows marvelled nought
thereat, neither did Birdalone; and all her body yearned toward him to
solace him.
Now turned Sir Baudoin to the castellan and said: Sir Aymeris, I will
now swear thee to guard this lady as the apple of thine eye whiles we
three be away, and therein to spare neither thyself nor others. For
thou seest well what grief it would be to us if she came to any harm.
And to me also, said the castellan. And therewith he swore upon the
Rood, and then came round the table, and knelt before Birdalone, and
kissed her hands.
Thereafter were they all silent a space; and then came Birdalone to the
inner side of the table and sat betwixt Baudoin and Hugh. But the Black
Squire took up the word and spake: Birdalone, sweet child, one thing is
to be said, to wit, that it were well that thou keep within walls while
we be away; or at least that thou go but a little beyond the castle,
and never but within a half bowshot, save thou be well accompanied. For
there be men of violence dwelling no great way off, reivers and rovers,
who would be well pleased to take from us anything which we deem dear;
besides others who would think the lifting of such a jewel good hap
indeed. Sir Aymeris, have a care of the Red Knight; and if thou
mightest come by a few more stout lads, to wage them, it were well.
Birdalone heeded not what the castellan answered, such a shaft of joy
went to her heart when she heard that friend speak her own name in such
wise as he had never done erst, and that before them all. She but
murmured some yeasay to that which Arthur had spoken unto her, and then
she held her peace for the sweetness of that moment.
So there they sat and talked a while in dear and pleasant converse; and
Hugh fell to asking her of her life in the House under the Wood, and
she answered all frankly and simply, and the more she told the dearer
she seemed to them.
Thus drew night in, till folk came flockmeal into the hall; for needs
must be feast and banquet for triumph of the furtherance of the Quest;
and the most of men were merry; but somewhat sober were all the three
Champions, so that whoso ran might read it in their faces. As for
Birdalone, she showed cheerful to all that folk which loved her and
praised her; but inwardly sorrow had come home to her heart.
CHAPTER X.
THE CHAMPIONS GO THEIR WAYS IN THE SENDING BOAT.
When the sun was arisen on the morrow the three Champions went down to
the landing-place, and there was none with them; for they had given
command that no man should pry into their doings. Thither to them
cometh Birdalone, clad no more in her gay attire, but in a strait black
coat and with unshod feet; and she looked no sorrier than she was.
By Birdalone’s rede the Champions bore down in their own hands the
victual and weapons and armour that they needed for the voyage; for she
knew not but that the Sending Boat might take it amiss that any should
touch her save the senders. And when they had done lading her, then all
four stood together by the water’s edge, and Birdalone spake to her
friends, and again bade them beware of the wiles of the Isle of
Nothing; and again she told them of the woful images of the Isle of
Kings and the Isle of Queens, and the strange folk of the Isle of the
Young and the Old. Then she said: Now when ye come to the Isle of
Increase Unsought, what think ye to do? Said the Green Knight: If I
might rule, we should go straight up to the witch sitting in her hall,
as thou toldest us, my dear, and then and there smite the head from off
her. His eyes flashed and his brow knitted, and so fierce he looked
that Birdalone shrank back from him; but the Black Squire smiled and
said: It may come to the smiting off of heads in the end; yet must we
so fashion our carving, that it avail us for the freeing of our
friends; else may the witch die, and the secret of the prison-house die
with her. How sayest thou, dear Birdalone?
She reddened at the caress of his voice, and answered: By my rede ye
shall seek and find your speech-friends ere ye make open war upon the
witch; else may her malice destroy them ere ye undo her. Her face
flushed yet more as she spake again: But concerning all things, I deem
that Atra may give you the best rede, when ye have met the loves; for
that she knoweth more of the isle and its guiles than the others.
Quoth Baudoin: Herein is wisdom, sweet maiden, for as guileless as thou
mayst be; and so far as we may we shall follow thy rede; but all lieth
in the fathom of the coming time. And now this moment is the moment of
sundering and farewell.
Came he then to Birdalone and took his two hands about her head, and
lifted her face unto him, and kissed it kindly, as a father might kiss
a daughter, and said: Farewell, dear child, and take heed to the word
that Arthur spake yesterday, and go not from the castle even a little
way save with good and sure company.
Then came Hugh to her, and took her hand somewhat timidly; but she put
up her face to him in simple wise, and he kissed either cheek of her,
and said no more than: Farewell, Birdalone!
Lastly came Arthur, and stood before her a little; and then he knelt
down on the stones before her and kissed her feet many times, and she
shuddered and caught her breath as they felt his kisses; but neither he
nor she spake a word, and he stood up and turned away at once toward
the Sending Boat, and boarded her first of the three; and the others
followed straightway.
Thereafter the Champions bared each an arm, and let blood flow thence
into a bowl, and reddened stem and stern of their barge, and then all
three spake the spell together thus, as Birdalone had taught them:
The red raven-wine now
Hast thou drunk, stern and bow:
Wake then, and awake,
And the northern way take!
The way of the Wenders forth over the flood,
For the will of the Senders is blent with the blood.
Went all as before thereafter, that the Sending Boat stirred under
them, and then turned about and pointed her bows to the northward, and
sped swiftly over the waters. It was a fair sunny day, with no cloud,
nought save the summer haze lying on the lake far away. Birdalone stood
watching the speeding of the boat, till she could see it no longer, not
even as a fleck on the face of the waters. Then she turned away and
went toward her chamber, saying to herself that the sundering was
easier to bear than she had deemed it would be, and that she had a many
things to do that day. But when she came into her chamber, and shut the
door, she looked about her on the things which had grown so familiar to
her in these few latter days, and she stood watching the bright
sunshine that streamed across the floor and lay warm upon her feet;
then she took three steps toward the window, and saw the lake lying all
a-glitter under the sun, and her heart failed her withal, and she had
no might so much as to think about her sorrow and caress it, but fell
down where she was swooning on to the floor, and lay there, while all
the house began to stir about her.
Here ends the Third Part of the Water of the Wondrous Isles, which is
called Of the Castle of the Quest, and begins the fourth Part of the
said tale, which is called Of the Days of Abiding.
THE FOURTH PART:
OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING.
CHAPTER I.
OF BIRDALONE’S GRIEF; AND OF LEONARD THE CHAPLAIN.
Now came Birdalone to herself, and that was but little joy unto her,
and she yet lay still on the floor for a while, for she loathed the
hour that was to come. Then the life stirred in her, and whereas she
would not that her women should find her there, she stood up, and clad
herself somewhat more seemly; yet she did on her black raiment; and
determined in her mind that nought would she wear save black unadorned
while her friends were away.
She betook her now to the chamber where her women were gathered
together, and watched them working a while, but spake nought. Then she
went her ways into the pleasance, and paced the plashed alley up and
down, letting the tears run down from her as they would. Then she
turned back into the castle, and went out-a-gates and walked over the
meadow a little, and might well have gone further than wisdom would.
But the castellan espied her from a window, and came hurrying out after
her, and with many prayers for pardon, brought her back again, babbling
to her by the way; but not a word might he get from her; and when he
came into the hall with her, and, after his wont, knelt down to kiss
her hands, she caught them away from him peevishly, and was sorry for
it thereafter.
Long she sat in the hall, scarce moving, till she heard one entering
from the screen, and lo it was Leonard the chaplain. He came her way,
and showed her rueful countenance; and pity of him smote her, and she
remembered therewith how they first went out of gates together; and at
the thought thereof her tears brake forth again, but she made him a
sign with her hand to sit down beside her, and he did so; and when she
might for her weeping, she looked kindly on him, and he fell to talk,
making as if he noted not her tears and sorrow; but she answered him
little, for she had shame to begin the talk concerning the Champions
and their Quest, and their departure; yet might she not bring her
tongue to make any speech else. But presently he took up the word, and
asked her how long a while she deemed they would be away, and she
answered, smiling on him for thanks, and having reckoned the days on
her fingers: If all go better than well, they may be back in ten days’
time. Said the chaplain: There be longer whiles of waiting in most
men’s lives. Yea, she said, but this is the delay at the best; it may
be far longer; for how may we tell what haps may be?
Yea, said Leonard, shall we then call it twenty days, or thirty?
Forsooth, that may be long for thee; though there be some who must
needs endure hope deferred a deal longer. But it may run out longer
than even thirty days, thy waiting-tide.
She answered not, and he said: Whenso the time hangs heavy on hand with
thee, if thou hast will to fare abroad out of the castle, I shall be
ever at hand to guide thee. Indeed, I wot that the castellan will be
loth to let thee go; but he is old and straitlaced: and yet withal he
wotteth, as do we all, that there is now little peril or none were we
to fare a five miles or more, whereas we are as good as at peace for
the last five days with all save the Red Knight, and of him we wot that
he is gone into another land with as many of his folk as be not needed
for the warding of his hold.
I thank thee, said Birdalone, but it is like to be my will not to fare
out-a-gates till the Champions come back home. I was glad e’en now when
the castellan fetched me in again: to say sooth, fear of peril had just
entered my heart when he came up with me.
The priest seemed somewhat chapfallen at her answer. He spake little
more, and presently he stood up, made his obeisance, and departed.
CHAPTER II.
BIRDALONE LEARNETH LORE OF THE PRIEST. TEN DAYS OF WAITING WEAR.
Wore that day and the next, and Birdalone fell to talking with her
women, whereof were five now left; and four of them were young, the
eldest scarce of thirty summers, and the fifth was a woman of sixty,
both wise and kind. All these told her somewhat of their own lives when
she asked them; and some withal told of folk whom they had known or
heard tell of. And well pleased was Birdalone to hear thereof, and
learn more of the ways of the world, and quick-witted she was at the
lesson, so that she needed not to ask many questions.
Furthermore, she took to her broidering again, and fell to doing a
goodly pair of shoon for Atra, since she had worn those borrowed ones
somewhat hardly. And the women wondered at her needlework, so
marvellous fine as it was, and how that in little space of time were
come flowers and trees, and birds and beasts, all lovely; and they said
that the faery must have learned her that craft. But she laughed and
reddened, and thought of the wood-mother; and, sitting there within the
four walls, she longed for the oak-glades, and the wood-lawns, and for
the sight of the beasts that dwelt therein.
Again she fell in with Leonard the priest, and he asked her could she
read in a book, and when she said nay, he offered to teach her that
lore, and she yeasaid that joyously; and thenceforth would she have him
with her every day a good while; and an apt scholar she was, and he no
ill master, and she learned her A B C speedily.
Now it was the ninth day since the Champions were gone, and all that
time she had not been out-a-gates; and after the first two days, had
enforced herself to fill up her time with her work as aforesaid: but
this last day she might do but little, for she could not but take it
for sure that the morrow would be the day of return; nay, even she
deemed that they might come in the night-tide; so that when she went to
bed, though she was weary, she would wake if she might, so that it was
nigh dawn ere she fell asleep.
Some three hours after she woke up, and heard a sound of folk stirring
in the house, and the clashing of weapons; and the heart leapt in her,
and she said: They are come, they are come! Nevertheless she durst not
get out of bed, lest her hope had beguiled her; and she lay awake
another hour, and no tidings came to her; and then she wept herself to
sleep; and when she awoke once more, she found that she must have wept
sleeping, for the pillow beside her face was all wet with the tears.
The sun was high now, and his beams were cast back from the ripple of
the lake, and shone wavering on the wall of the chamber, the window
whereof gave on to the water. Then came a hand on the latch of the
door, and she started, and her heart grieved her; but it was one of the
women who opened, and came in, and Birdalone rose up sitting in her
bed, and said faintly, for she could scarce speak: Is any tiding
toward, Catherine? The maid said: Yes, my lady; for early after sunrise
came weaponed men to the gate, and would sell us beeves; and my lord,
Sir Aymeris, must needs go forth and chaffer with them, though belike
they had been lifting what was neither ours, nor theirs, nor the
neighbours’. Maybe Sir Aymeris looked to buy tidings from them as well
as beef. Anyhow they departed when they had gotten their money and
drunk a cup. And now it is said that the Red Knight hath been hurt in
some fray, and keepeth his bed; wherefore the land shall have peace of
him awhile. Said Birdalone: I thank thee, good Catherine; I shall lie a
little longer; depart now.
The woman went her ways; and when she was gone, Birdalone wept and
sobbed, and writhed upon her bed, and found no solace to her grief. But
she arose and paced the chamber, and sithence looked out of the window
over the empty water, and wept again. Then she said: Yet they may come
ere noon, or it may be ere evening, or perchance to-morrow morning. And
she stayed her weeping, and was calmer. But still she walked the floor,
and whiles looked out of window, and whiles she looked on her limbs,
and felt the sleekness of her sides, and she said: O my body! how thou
longest!
But at last she clad herself in haste, and went stealthily from the
chamber, as if she feared to meet anyone; and she stole up to the
tower-top that was nighest, and looked through the door on to the
leads, and saw no one there; so she went out, and stood by the
battlement, and gazed long over the water, but saw neither boat nor
burning mountain coming towards her.
CHAPTER III.
NOW WOULD BIRDALONE RIDE ABROAD.
After a while she came down again, and went to the women, and sat
working with them a while, and so wore away two hours. Then she sent
for the priest and had her lesson of him; and when she had been at it
another two hours, she bade him begin and learn her writing; and nought
loth he was thereto; forsooth he had been longing to pray her to suffer
him learn her, but durst not. For in such teaching needs must he sit
full nigh to her, and watch her hands, and her fingers striving to
shape the letters; nay, whiles must he touch her hand with his, and
hold it. Wherefore now he promised himself a taste of Paradise. Withal
he was full meet to learn her, whereas he was one of the best of
scribes, and a fair-writer full handy.
So they fell to the lesson, and she became eager thereover, and learned
fast, and clave to the work, while his soul was tormented with longing
for her. And thus wore a three hours, and then suddenly she looked up
wearily from her work, and her trouble was awake, and the longing for
her speech-friend, and she gave the priest leave for that day, but
suffered him to kiss her hand for wages.
Then she hurried up to the tower-top, when the afternoon was wearing
into evening; and abode there a long while looking over the waters,
till it began to dusk, and then came down miserably and went to her
women.
The next day was like unto this; nought betid, and she wore the hours
whiles going up to the tower-top and looking over the lake, whiles
broidering amidst her maids, whiles learning her clerk’s work with Sir
Leonard, but ever eating her heart out with her longing.
On the third of these days she called the castellan to her for a talk,
and asked him what he thought of it, this delay of his lords’ return.
Quoth the greyhead: My lady, we may not wonder if they be tarried for a
few days; for this is an adventure on which they have gone, and many
haps betide in such tales. Now I beseech thee torment not thyself; for
the time is not yet come for thee even to doubt that they have
miscarried.
His words solaced her much for that time, whereas she saw that he spake
but the sooth; so she thanked him, and smiled upon him kindly; and he
was ravished thereat, and was for kneeling before her at once and
kissing her hands after his wont; but she smiled again and refrained
him, and said: Nay, not yet, fair friend; that is for the departure,
and I have yet a word to say unto thee: to wit, that I long to go
out-a-gates, and it will solace me and give me patience to abide the
coming of my friends. For thou must know, Sir Aymeris, that I was
reared amidst the woods and the meadows, with the burning of the sun,
and the buffets of the wind; and now for lack of some deal of that am I
waxing white and faint. And thou wouldst not have me falling sick on
thine hands now, wouldst thou?
Nay, surely, lady, said Sir Aymeris; this very day I will ride out with
thee; and two score or more of weaponed men shall ride with us for fear
of mishaps. Said Birdalone, knitting her brows: Nay, knight, I need not
thy men-at-arms; I would fain go free and alone. For hast thou not
heard how that the Red Knight is hurt and keepeth his bed? So what
peril is there? Said Sir Aymeris: Yea, lady; but the Red Knight is not
the only foe, though he be the worst: but it may well be that the story
is but feigned, for the said enemy hath many wiles. And look you, kind
lady, it is most like that by now he hath heard how in my poor castle
is kept a jewel, a pearl of great price, that hath not its like in the
world, and will encompass the stealing of it if he may.
Laughed Birdalone, and said: But how if the said jewel hath a will, and
legs and feet thereto, and is ready to take the peril on her, and will
wend out-a-gates if she will? What wilt thou do then, lord? Then, said
the castellan, I shall fetch thee back, and, though it be a grief to
me, shall have thee borne back perforce if nought else may do. For so
the oath sworn to my lords compelleth me.
Again laughed Birdalone, and said: Hearken, whereto cometh all this
kneeling and hand-kissing! But bear in mind, fair lord, how once on a
time thou wouldst have me out-a-gates, would I, would I not, and now,
will I, will I not, thou wouldst keep me within; so have times changed,
and mayhappen they may change yet again. But tell me, am I mistress
over my women to bid them what I will? Certes, said he, and over all of
us. Said she: If then I bade them, some two or three, come with me into
the meadows and woods a half day’s journey for our disport, how then?
For that once, said Sir Aymeris, I should bid them disobey their lady.
Said Birdalone: And how if they disobeyed thee, and obeyed me? Quoth
Sir Aymeris: If they bring thee back safe, they may chance to sing to
the twiggen fiddle-bow, that they may be warned from such folly; but if
they come back without thee, by All-hallows the wind of wrath shall
sweep their heads off them!
Birdalone flushed red at his word, and was silent a while; then she
said, making cheerful countenance again: Thou art a hard master, lord
castellan; but I must needs obey thee. Therefore I will take thy
bidding, and ride abroad in such wise that I shall scare the land with
an army, since no otherwise may I look on the summer land. But to-day I
will not go, nor to-morrow belike; but some day soon. And in good sooth
I thank thee for thy heedful care of me, and wish I were better worth
it. Nay, nay, thou shalt not kneel to me, but I to thee: for thou art
verily the master.
Therewith she rose from beside him, and knelt down before him and took
his hand and kissed it, and went her ways, leaving him ravished with
love of her. But now she had no scorn of him, but deemed, as was true,
that he was both valiant and trusty and kind, and she thanked him in
her heart as well as in words.
CHAPTER IV.
OF BIRDALONE’S FARING ABROAD.
Indeed Birdalone longed on any terms to be out-a-gates and to have some
joy of the summer; for now she began to see that she might have to
abide some while ere her friends should come to her in the Castle of
the Quest; and she was angry with herself that her longing was thus
wasting her, and she rebuked herself and said: Where is now that
Birdalone who let but few days go by without some joyance of the earth
and its creatures? she who bore lightly the toil of a thrall, and gibes
and mocking and stripes? Surely this is grievous folly, that I should
be worsened since I have come to be the friend of gentle ladies, and
noble champions, and mighty warriors. Had it not been better to have
abided under the witch-wife’s hand? For not every day nor most days did
she torment me. But now for many days there has been pain and grief and
heart-sickness hour by hour; and every hour have I dreaded the coming
of the next hour, till I know not how to bear it.
So she strove with herself, and became of better heart, and set herself
strongly to the learning of the clerkly lore; she gathered her wits
together, and no longer looked for every day and every hour to bring
about the return of the Champions, nor blamed the day and the hour
because they failed therein, and in all wise she strove to get through
the day unworn by vain longing.
Wherefore, on a day when three whole weeks were gone since the day of
departure, she was glad when the castellan came to her and said: Lady,
these two days I have had men out to spy the land, and their word goes
that nought is stirring which a score of us well-armed might have cause
to fear; wherefore to-morrow, if it be thy will, we shall bring thee
out-a-gates, and so please thee, shall be in no haste to come back, but
may lie out in the wildwood one night, and come back at our leisure on
the morrow of to-morrow. How sayest thou of thy pleasure herein?
She thanked him, and yeasaid it eagerly, and next morning they set
forth; and Birdalone had with her three of the women, and they had
sumpter-beasts with them, and tents for Birdalone and her maids.
So they rode by pleasant ways and fair meadows, and the weather was
good, for it was now the first days of July, and all was as lovely as
might be; and for that while Birdalone cast off all her cares, and was
merry, and of many words and sweet; and all the folk rejoiced thereat,
for all loved her in the Castle of the Quest, besides those one or two
that loved her overmuch.
Rode they thus a twelve miles or more, and then they came, as their
purpose was, to the beginning of a woodland plenteous of venison, and
they hunted here, and Birdalone took her part therein, and all praised
her woodcraft; albeit because of her went a head or two free that had
fallen else, whereas of the carle hunters were some who deemed the body
of her better worth looking on than the quarry.
Howsoever, they slew of hind and roe and other wood-cattle what they
would, some deal for their supper in the wilderness, some to bear home
to the castle. But when night was nigh at hand they made stay in a fair
wood-lawn about which ran a clear stream, whereby they pitched the
ladies’ tent; and Birdalone and hers went down into the water and
washed the weariness off them; and her ladies wondered at the deftness
of Birdalone’s swimming; for they bathed in a pool somewhat great into
which the stream widened, so that there was space enough for her
therein.
By then they were washen and clad goodly in raiment which they had
brought on the sumpters, the men had lighted fires and were cooking the
venison, and anon there was supper and banquet in the wildwood, with
drinking of wine and pleasant talk and the telling of tales and singing
of minstrelsy; and so at last, when night was well worn, and out in the
open meadows the eastern sky was waxing grey, then Birdalone and her
ladies went to bed in their fair tents, and the men-at-arms lay down on
the greensward under the bare heaven.
CHAPTER V.
SIR AYMERIS SHOWETH BIRDALONE THE MOUNTAINS AFAR OFF.
When it was morning and they arose, the day was as fair as yesterday,
and folk were even as joyous as they had been then, all but Birdalone,
and she was silent and downcast, even when she came forth from the
fresh water into the sweetness of the midsummer wood. She had dreamed
in the night that she was all alone in the Castle of the Quest, and
that her old mistress came to her from out of the Sending Boat to fetch
her away, and brought her aboard, and stripped her of her rich garments
and sat facing her, drawing ugsome grimaces at her; and she thought she
knew that her friends were all dead and gone, and she had none to pity
or defend her. Then somehow were they two, the witch and she, amidmost
of the Isle of Nothing, and the witch drew close anigh her, and was
just going to whisper into her ear something of measureless horror,
when she awoke; and the sun was bright outside the shaded whiteness of
her tent; the shadows of the leaves were dancing on the ground of it;
the morning wind was rustling the tree-boughs, and the ripple of the
stream was tinkling hard by. At first was Birdalone joyous that what
she had awakened from was but a dream; but presently she felt the
burden of her longing, and she said to herself that when they came back
to the castle they should find tidings, and that she should know either
that her friends were indeed dead, or that they were come back again
alive and well. And then she thought within herself, suppose the three
Champions and their loves were dead and gone, how would she do with
those that were left her, as Sir Aymeris, and Leonard the priest, and
her women? and her soul turned with loathing from a life so empty as
that would be; and yet she blamed herself that she was so little
friendly to these lesser friends, whom forsooth she loved because of
her love for the greater ones. So, as abovesaid, she was troubled and
silent amongst the joy of the others.
That saw Sir Aymeris the castellan; and when they had broken fast and
were getting to horse, he came to her and said: Lady, the day is yet
young, and if we fetch a compass by a way that I wot of we shall see
places new to thee, and mayhappen somewhat wonderful, and yet come home
timely to the castle. Wilt thou?
Birdalone was still somewhat distraught, but she knew not how to naysay
him, though at heart she would liefer have gone back to the castle by
the shortest way. So folk brought her her palfrey, and they rode their
ways, the castellan ever by her side. And by fair ways indeed they
went, and so joyous was all about them, that little by little
Birdalone’s gladness came back to her, and she made the most of it to
be as merry of seeming as she might be.
Now they rode fair and softly by thicket and copse and glade of the
woodland, following up the stream aforesaid for the more part, till at
last the trees failed them suddenly, and they came forth on to a wide
green plain, all unbuilded, so far as their eyes could see, and beyond
it the ridges of the hills and blue mountains rising high beyond them.
When Birdalone’s eyes beheld this new thing, of a sudden all care left
her, and she dropped her rein, and smote her palms together, and cried
out: Oh! but thou art beautiful, O earth, thou art beautiful! Then she
sat gazing on it, while the greyhead turned and smiled on her, well
pleased of her pleasure.
After a while she said: And might we go nigher? Yea, certes, said he,
yet I doubt if thou wilt like it the better, the nigher thou art. Ah!
she said, but if I were only amidst it, and a part of it, as once I was
of the woodland!
So thitherward they rode over the unharvested mead, and saw hart and
hind thereon, and wild kine, and of smaller deer great plenty, but of
tame beasts none; and the hills were before them like a wall. But as
they drew nigher, they saw where the said wall of the hills was cloven
by a valley narrow and steep-sided, that went right athwart the lie of
the hills; the said valley was but little grassed, and the bare rocks
were crow-black. When they had gone a little further, they could see
that the ground near the foot of the hills rose in little knolls and
ridges, but these were lower and fewer about the entry into that
valley. Also presently they came upon a stream which ran out of the
said valley, and Sir Aymeris said that this was the water whereby they
had lain last night; albeit here it was little indeed.
Now when they had ridden some five miles over the plain, they came
amongst those knolls at the mouth of the valley, and Sir Aymeris led
Birdalone up to the top of one of the highest of them, and thence they
could look into that dale and see how it winded away up toward the
mountains, like to a dismal street; for not only was it but little
grassed, but withal there was neither tree nor bush therein. Moreover,
scattered all about the bottom of the dale were great stones, which
looked as if they had once been set in some kind of order; and that the
more whereas they were not black like the rocks of the dale-side, but
pale grey of hue, so that they looked even as huge sheep of the giants
feeding down the dale.
Then spake Birdalone: Verily, sir knight, thou saidst but sooth that I
should see things new and strange. But shall we go a little way into
this valley to-day? Nay, lady, said Sir Aymeris, nor to-morrow, nor any
day uncompelled; neither shall we go nigher unto it than now we be.
Wherefore not? said Birdalone, for meseemeth it is as the gate of the
mountains; and fain were I in the mountains.
Lady, said the castellan, overmuch perilous it were to ride the valley,
which, as thou sayest, is the very gate of the mountains. For the said
dale, which hight the Black Valley of the Greywethers, hath a bad name
for the haunting of unmanlike wights, against which even our
men-at-arms might make no defence. And if any might escape them, and
win through the gates and up into the mountains, I wot not if suchlike
devils and things unkent be there in the mountain-land, but of a sooth
there be fierce and wild men, like enough to devils, who know no peace,
and slay whatsoever cometh unto them, but if they themselves be slain
of them.
Well, said Birdalone, then to-day, at least, we go not into the dale;
but knowest thou any tales of these wild places? Many have I heard,
said he, but I am an ill minstrel and should spoil them in the telling.
Ask them of Sir Leonard our priest, he knoweth of them better than
others, and hath a tongue duly shapen for telling them.
Birdalone answered nought thereto; she but turned her horse’s head and
rode down the knoll; and so they came unto their company, and all went
their ways toward the Castle of the Quest.
Nought befell them on their way home; but the nigher they came to the
castle the more pensive waxed Birdalone, and, though she hid it, when
they were come to the gate she scarce had her wit; for it was as if she
thought to have one rushing out and crying: Tidings, tidings! they are
come.
Nowise it so befell; they were no more come than was the Day of Doom.
And a little after they were within gates; it was night, and Birdalone
crept wearily up to her chamber, and gat to bed, and so tired was she
that she fell asleep at once and dreamed not.
CHAPTER VI.
BIRDALONE HEARETH TELL TALES OF THE BLACK VALLEY OF THE GREYWETHERS.
On the morrow was Birdalone heavier of heart than ever yet, and wearier
for tidings; and she wondered how she could have been so joyous that
day in the wildwood. Yet she thought much of the Valley of the
Greywethers, and that solaced her somewhat after a while, so sore she
longed to go thither; and, as ’tis said, one nail knocks out the other.
So that morning, when she had had her lesson of priest Leonard, she
spake thereof to him, and told him what Sir Aymeris had said concerning
his knowledge thereof; and she asked him what he knew.
I have been there, said he. She started at that word and said: Did
aught of evil befall thee?
Nay, said he, but a great fear and dread hung about me; and ’tis said
that they try their luck overmuch who go thither twice.
Birdalone said: Tell me now of the tales that be told of that valley.
Quoth Leonard: They be many; but the main of them is this: that those
Greywethers be giants of yore agone, or landwights, carles, and queans,
who have been turned into stone by I wot not what deed; but that whiles
they come alive again, and can walk and talk as erst they did; and that
if any man may be so bold as to abide the time of their awakening, and
in the first moment of their change may frame words that crave the
fulfilment of his desire, and if therewith he be both wise and
constant, then shall he have his desire fulfilled of these wights, and
bear his life back again from out the dale. And thus must he speak and
no otherwise: O Earth, thou and thy first children, I crave of you such
and such a thing, whatsoever it may be. And if he speak more than this,
then is he undone. He shall answer no question of them; and if they
threaten him he shall not pray them mercy, nor quail before their
uplifted weapons; nor, to be short, shall he heed them more than if
they still were stones unchanged. Moreover, when he hath said his say,
then shall these wights throng about him and offer him gold and gems,
and all the wealth of the earth; and if that be not enough, they shall
bring him the goodliest of women, with nought lacking in her shape, but
lacking all raiment, so that he shall see her as she is verily shapen.
But whoso shall take any one of all these gifts is lost for ever, and
shall become one of that Stony People; and whoso naysayeth them all
until the cock crow, and abideth steady by his one craving, shall win
fulfilment thereof, and, as some say, all those gifts aforesaid; for
that the Stony People may not abide the day to take them back again.
He was silent therewith, and nought spake Birdalone, but looked down on
the ground, and longing encompassed her soul. Then the priest spake
again: This were a fair adventure, lady, for a hapless one, but for the
happy it were a fool’s errand. She answered not, and they parted for
that time.
But the next week, there being yet no tidings come to hand, Birdalone
prayed the castellan to take her out-a-gates again, that she might once
more behold the mountains, and the gates thereof; and he yeasaid her
asking, and went with her, well accompanied, as before; but this time,
by Birdalone’s will, they rode straight to the plain aforesaid, and
again she looked into that dale of the Greywethers from the knoll.
Somewhat belated they were, so that they might not get back to the
castle before dusk, wherefore again they lay out in the wildwood, but
there lacked somewhat of the triumph and joyance which they had had
that other day. They came back to the castle on the morrow somewhat
after noon, and found no news there; nor, to say sooth, did Birdalone
look for any; and her heart was heavy.
CHAPTER VII.
BIRDALONE BEGUILETH THE PRIEST TO HELP HER TO OUTGOING.
Now had the time so worn that the season was in the first days of
August, and weariness and heartsickness increased on Birdalone again,
and she began to look pined and pale. Yet when she spake of the
tarrying of the Champions both to the castellan and Sir Leonard the
priest (who was the wiser man of the two), each said the same thing, to
wit, that it was no marvel if they were not yet come, seeing whatlike
the adventure was; and neither of those two seemed in anywise to have
lost hope.
Thrice in these last days did Birdalone go out-a-gates with Sir Aymeris
and his company; and the last of the three times the journey was to the
knoll that looked into the Black Valley; but now was Birdalone’s
pleasure of the sight of it afar off marred by her longing to be amidst
thereof; yet she did not show that she was irked by the refraining of
her desire to enter therein, and they turned, and came home safely to
the castle.
On the morrow she sat with Sir Leonard the priest over the writing
lesson, and she let it be long, and oft he touched her hand, so that
the sweetness of unfulfilled desire went deep to his heart.
At last Birdalone looked up and said: Friend, I would ask thee if thou
seest any peril in my entering the Black Valley of the Greywethers by
daylight if I leave it by daylight? Alone? quoth he. Yea, she said,
alone. He pondered a little, and then said: Sooth to say I deem the
peril little in the valley itself, if thou be not overcome by terror
there. Yea, for my part I am not all so sure that thou shalt see the
wonder of the Stony Folk coming alive; for ’tis not said that they
quicken save on certain nights, and chiefly on Midsummer Night; unless
it be that the trier of the adventure is some one fated above others
thereto; as forsooth thou mayst be. And as for peril of evil men, there
are few who be like to be as venturesome as thou or I. They durst not
enter that black street, save sore need compel them. But forsooth,
going thither, and coming back again, some peril there may be therein.
And yet for weeks past there has been no word of any unpeace; and the
Red Knight it is said for certain is not riding.
Birdalone was silent a while; then she said: Fair and kind friend, I am
eating my heart out in longing for the coming back of my friends, and
it is like, that unless I take to some remedy, I shall fall sick
thereby, and then when they come back there shall be in me but sorry
cheer for them. Now the remedy I know, and it is that I betake me alone
to this adventure of the Black Valley; for meseemeth that I shall gain
health and strength by my going thither. Wherefore, to be short, if
thou wilt help me, I will go to-morrow. What sayest thou, wilt thou
help me?
He turned very red and spake: Lady, why shouldest thou go, as thy name
is, birdalone? Thou hast called me just now thy kind friend, so kind as
it was of thee; now therefore why should not thy friend go with thee?
Kindly indeed she smiled on him, but shook her head: I call thee trusty
and dear friend again, said she; but what I would do I must do myself.
Moreover to what end shouldst thou go? If I fall in with ghosts, a
score of men would help me nought; and if I happen on weaponed men who
would do me scathe, of what avail were one man against them? And look
thou, Sir Leonard, there is this avail in thine abiding behind; if I
come not back in two days’ space, or three at the most, thou wilt wot
that I have fared amiss, and then mayst thou let it be known whither I
went, and men will seek me and deliver me maybe.
Therewith she stayed her words suddenly, and turned very pale, and laid
her hand on her bosom, and said faintly: But O my heart, my heart! If
they should come while I am away! And she seemed like to swoon.
Leonard was afraid thereat, and knew not what to do; but presently the
colour came into her face again, and in a little while she smiled, and
said: Seest thou not, friend, how weak I am gotten to be, and that I
must now beyond doubt have the remedy? Wilt thou not help me do it?
Yea verily, said he; but in what wise wilt thou have it? He spake as a
man distraught and redeless; but she smiled on him pleasantly, and
said: Now by this time shouldst thou have devised what was to do, and
spared me the pain thereof. Two things I need of thee: the first and
most, to be put out of the castle privily betimes in the morning when
nought is stirring; the second, to have my palfrey awaiting me somewhat
anigh the gate, so that I may not have to go afoot: for I am become
soft and feeble with all this house-life.
Leonard seemed to wake up with that word, and said: I have the key of
the priest’s door of the chapel, and the postern beyond it; that shall
be thine out-gate, lady. I will come and scratch at thy chamber-door
much betimes, and I will see to it that thy palfrey is bestowed in the
bower wherein thou didst rest the first night thou camest amongst us.
She said: I trust thee, friend. And she thanked him sweetly, and then
rose up and fell to pacing the hall up and down. Leonard hung about
watching her a while, she nought forbidding him, for her thoughts were
elsewhere, and she had forgotten him; and at last he went his ways to
set about doing what she would.
CHAPTER VIII.
BIRDALONE FARES ON HER ADVENTURE.
Dawn was but just beginning when Birdalone awoke, and though she had
not heard Leonard at the door, she sprang out of bed and clad herself,
doing on her black gown; and she had a scrip with some bread therein,
and a sharp knife at her girdle. Then even as she had done she heard
the priest’s nail on the door, and she turned thereto; but as she went,
her eye caught her bow and quiver of arrows where they hung on the
wall, so she took the bow in her hand and slung the quiver over her
shoulder ere she opened the door and found Leonard standing there.
Neither of them spake aught, but they stole downstairs, and so to the
chapel and out by the priest’s door and the postern in the wall-nook,
and were presently out in the fresh morning air; and Birdalone was
joyous and lightfoot, and scarce felt the earth beneath her soles for
pleasure of her hope, whereas she deemed she had a thing to crave of
the Stony Folk, if they should come alive before her. Fain were she, if
she might withal, to give a joy to some other; so that when they were
gone but a little way from the castle she reached out her hand to
Leonard and took his, and said: Hand in hand we walked when first I
went this way, and I deemed thee kind and friendly then, and even so
hast thou been sithence.
He was dumbfoundered at first for joy of the touch of her hand and the
sweetness of her words; but presently he spake to her confused and
stammering, and praised her that she had thought to take her bow and
arrows; for, said he, that they might stand her in stead for defence or
for getting of food, or for an excuse for wending the woods. She nodded
yeasay unto him, and bade him again to bide three days for her, and if
she came not again in that time, to make a clean breast of it to Sir
Aymeris.
Yea, said the priest, and then . . . Why, what then? He can but shove
me out by the shoulders, and then I can seek to the little house of
canons that is at Gate Cross on the road to Greenford.
Ah, my friend! said Birdalone, how we women think of nothing at all but
ourselves! And wilt thou be thrust out of thine home for helping me
herein? Why did I not look to my palfrey myself? And the keys I might
have stolen from thee, always with thy good will. But now I see that I
have done thee a hurt.
Said Sir Leonard: Lady, a priest hath a home wheresoever is an house of
religion. There is no harm done, save Sir Aymeris bethink him of
hanging me over the battlements; as I doubt he will not with a priest.
Moreover, I pray thee believe, that wert thou gone from the castle,
house and home were none for me there. And he looked upon her
piteously, as if he were beseeching.
But she knew not what to say, and hung her head adown; and presently
they were come to the bower in the copse, which this time was a stable
for Birdalone’s palfrey instead of a chamber for herself. So Leonard
went in and fetched out the comely beast; and Birdalone stood with him
just in the cover of the copse waiting to put her foot in the stirrup;
but she might not but abide to look upon the priest, who stood there as
if he were striving with his words.
So she said: Now is need of haste to be gone. Yet one word, my friend:
Is there aught betwixt us wherein I have done thee wrong? If so it be,
I pray thee to say out what it is; for it may be (though I think it
not) thou shalt not see me again from henceforth.
He caught his breath, as if he had much ado to refrain the sobbing; but
he mastered it, and said: Lady and dear friend, if I see thee not
again, I heed not what shall befall me. Thou hast done me no wrong.
There is this only betwixt us, that I love thee, and thou lovest not
me.
She looked on him sweetly and pitifully, and said: I may not choose but
understand thy word, to wit, that thy love for me is the desire of a
man toward a woman; and that is unhappy; for I love thee indeed, but
not as a woman loveth a man. It is best to say thus much to thee
downright. But I feel in my heart that when I have said it, it is as
much as to say that I cannot help thee, and therefore am I sorry
indeed.
He stood before her abashed, but he said at last: Now art thou so
sweet, and so kind, and so true, that I must perforce love thee yet
more; and this maketh me bold to say that thou mayst help me a little,
or so meseemeth. How so? said Birdalone. Quoth he: If thou wouldst
suffer me to kiss thy face this once. She shook her head, and spake:
How may it avail thee, when it is for once, and once only, as forsooth
it must be? Yet it is thy choice, not mine, and I will not naysay thee.
And therewith she put up her face to him, and he kissed her cheek
without touching her otherwise, and then he kissed her mouth; and she
knew that he was both timorous and sad, and she was ashamed to look on
him, or to speak to him any more, lest she should behold him ashamed;
so she but said: Farewell, friend, till to-morrow at least.
And therewith her foot was in the stirrup, and anon she sat in the
saddle, and her palfrey was ambling briskly on the way she would.
CHAPTER IX.
BIRDALONE COMES TO THE BLACK VALLEY.
Little is to tell of Birdalone’s journey unto the knoll above the Black
Valley of the Greywethers. It was about noon when she came there, and
had met but few folk on the way, and those few were husbandmen, or
carlines, or maidens wending afield betimes not far from the Castle of
the Quest.
Now she sat on her horse and looked down into the dale and its stony
people once more, and saw nought stirring save three ravens who, not
far off, were flapping about from stone to stone of the Greywethers,
and croaking loud to each other as if some tidings were toward. She
watched their play for a little, and then gat off her horse, and sat
down on the grass of the knoll, and drew forth her victual, and ate and
drank; for she deemed it happier to eat and drink there than in the
very jaws of the Black Valley.
Soon was her dinner done, and then she got to her saddle again, and
rode slowly down to the little stream, and along it toward the valley
and the gates of the mountains, which she had been fain to pass
through; but now, as had happed with her that morning when she was boun
for the Sending Boat, somewhat she hung back from the adventure, and
when she lacked but some five score yards from the very dale itself,
she lighted down again, and let her way-beast bite the grass, while she
sat down and watched the rippling water.
In a while she drew off shoon and hosen, and stood in the shallow
ripple, and bathed her hands and face withal, and stooped up-stream and
drank from the hollow of her hands, and so stepped ashore and was waxen
hardier; then she strung her bow and looked to the shafts in her
quiver, and did on her foot-gear, and mounted once more, and so rode a
brisk amble right on into the dale, and was soon come amongst the
Greywethers; and she saw that they were a many, and that all the bottom
of the dale was besprinkled with them on either side of the stream, and
some stood in the very stream itself, the ground whereof was black even
as the rest of the valley, although the water ran over it as clear as
glass.
As for the dale, now she was fairly within it, she could see but a
little way up it, for it winded much, and at first away from her left
hand, and the sides of it went up in somewhat steep screes on either
side, which were topped with mere upright staves and burgs of black
rock; and these were specially big and outthrusting on the right hand
of her; and but a furlong ahead of where she was, one of these burgs
thrust out past the scree and came down sheer into the dale, and
straitened it so much that there was but little way save by the stream
itself, which ran swift indeed, but not deep, even there where it was
straitened by the sheer rocks.
But up the dale would she go, whatever was before her; and now she told
herself her very purpose, as forsooth she scarce had heretofore; to
wit, that she would abide in the dale the night over and see what
should betide, and if those wights should chance to come alive, then
she looked to have valiance enough to face them and crave the
fulfilment of her desire.
So she took the water and rode the stream till she was past the said
sheer rock, and then the valley widened again, and presently was wider
than it was in the beginning; and here again were the Greywethers grown
many more and closer together, and, as she deemed, were set in rings
round about one very big one, which, forsooth, was somewhat in the
shape of a man sitting down with his hands laid on his knees.
Birdalone reined up for a minute, and looked about her, and then went
up on to the grass, and rode straight to the said big stone, and there
lighted down from off her horse again, and stood by the stone and
pondered. Presently she deemed that she saw something dark moving just
beyond the stone, but if it were so, it was gone in a twinkling;
nevertheless she stood affrighted, and stared before her long, and saw
no more, but yet for a while durst not move hand nor foot.
At last her courage came again, and she thought: Yet how if this great
chieftain be inwardly stirring and will come awake? Shall I say the
word now, lest hereafter it be of no avail? Therewith she stretched out
her right hand and laid it on the stone, and spake aloud: O Earth, thou
and thy first children, I crave of you that he may come back now at
once and loving me. And her voice sounded strange and unkent to her in
that solitude, and she rued it that she had spoken.
CHAPTER X.
HOW BIRDALONE FELL IN WITH A MAN IN THE BLACK VALLEY OF THE
GREYWETHERS.
Came new tidings therewithal; for the moment after she had spoken, a
tall man drew out from behind the big stone, and stood before her; and
at first it was in her mind that this was the very chieftain come alive
for her, and for terror she was like to swoon this time; but he spake
nought a while, but looked on her eagerly and curiously.
She came to herself presently, so much that she could see him clearly,
and was now growing more shamefast than afraid, when she saw beyond
doubt that the man was of the sons of Adam; but what with her shame
that was now, and her fear that had been, she yet had no might to move,
but stood there pale and trembling like a leaf, and might scarce keep
her feet.
Now the new-comer bowed before her smiling, and said: I ask thy pardon,
fair damsel (or indeed I should say fairest damsel), that I have scared
thee. But sooth to say I beheld thee coming riding, and even from a
little aloof I could see that nought which might befall could ever make
it up to me for not seeing thee close at hand and hearing thee speak.
Wherefore I hid myself behind the king’s stone here; and no harm is
done thereby I trow; for now I see that the colour is coming into thy
cheeks again, and thy fear is gone. And as for me, thou hast not fled
away from me, as thou wouldst have done had I not hidden and come on
thee suddenly; and then thou being horsed and I unhorsed, thou wouldst
have escaped me, whereas now thou art within reach of my hand. Then he
smiled, and said: Furthermore, thou hast told so little of thy secret
to this stony king here, that I am little the wiser for thy word, and
thou the little more betrayed. Only this I will say, that if He loveth
thee not, He is more of a fool than I be.
He reached out his hand to hers, but she drew it aback, and grew yet
more ashamed, and could find no word for him. His voice was soft and
full, and he spake deftly, but she was not content with it for its
kindness, as she had been with all the other men whom she had met since
she left the House under the Wood, and she durst not trust her hand to
him.
As for his aspect, she saw that he was tall and well-knit, and goodly
of fashion; dark-haired, with long hazel eyes, smooth-cheeked and
bright-skinned; his nose long, and a little bent over at the end, and
coming down close to his lips, which were full and red; his face was
hairless save for a little lip-beard. He was so clad, that he had no
helm on his head, but a little hat with a broad gold piece in the front
thereof; he was girt to a long sword, and had an anlace also in his
belt, and Birdalone saw the rings of a fine hauberk at his collar and
knees; otherwise he was not armed. Over his hauberk he wore a black
surcoat, without device of any kind, and his foot and leg gear were of
the same hue; wherefore may we call him the Black Knight. Sooth to say,
for all his soft speech, she feared him and rued the meeting of him.
Now he spake to her again: I see that thou art wroth with me, lady; but
mayhappen it is not so ill that I have happened on thee; for this dale
hath a bad name for more than one thing, and is scarce meet for damsels
to wander in. But now since thou hast a weaponed man with thee, and
thou, by All-hallows! not utterly unarmed, thou mayst well go up the
valley and see something more thereof. So come now, mount thine horse
again, and I will lead him for thee.
Now Birdalone found speech and said: Knight, for such thou seemest to
me, I deem now that I have no need to fare further in this dale, but I
will get me into the saddle and turn my horse’s head outward again,
giving thee good day first and thanking thee for thy courtesy. And
therewith she turned to get to her palfrey, but sore trembling the
while; but he followed her and said, with brow somewhat knitted: Nay,
lady, I have left my horse somewhat further up, and I must go back to
fetch him, that we may wend out of the dale together. For I will not
suffer thee to flee from me and fall into the hands of evil wights, be
they ghosts or living men, and that the less since I have heard the
speech in thy mouth, as of honey and cream and roses. Therefore if thou
go out of the dale, I shall go with thee afoot, leading thine horse.
And look to it if it be courteous to unhorse a knight, who is ready to
be thy servant. Moreover, since thou hast come to this dale of wonder,
and mayst leave it safely, pity it were that thou shouldst see nought
thereof, for strange is it forsooth, and belike thou shalt never seek
thither again. Wherefore I crave of thee, once more, to mount thine
horse and let me lead thee up the dale.
He spake these last words rather as one giving a command than making a
prayer, and Birdalone feared him now sorely. Forsooth she had her
bended bow in hand; but let alone that the knight was over-near to her
that she might get a shaft out of her quiver and nock it, ere he should
run in on her, and let alone also that he was byrnied, she scarce
deemed that it behoved her to slay or wound the man because she would
be quit of him. Wherefore angrily, and with a flushed face, she
answered him: So shall it be then, Sir Knight; or rather so must it be,
since thou compellest me.
He laughed and said: Nay, now thou art angry. I compel thee not, I but
say that it will not do for thee to compel me to leave thee. Go which
way thou wilt, up the dale, or down it and out of it; it is all one
unto me, so long as I am with thee. Forsooth, damsel, I have said
harder words to ladies who have done my pleasure and not deemed
themselves compelled.
She paled but answered nought; then she mounted her palfrey, and the
knight went to her bridle-rein without more words, and so led her on up
the valley by the easiest way amongst the Greywethers.
CHAPTER XI.
BIRDALONE IS LED UP THE BLACK VALLEY.
As they went, the knight fell a-talking to Birdalone, and that without
any of the covert jeering which he had used erewhile; and he showed her
places in the dale, as caverns under the burgs, and little eyots in the
stream, and certain stones amongst the Greywethers whereof stories ran;
and how this and the other one had fared in dealings with the
land-wights, and how one had perished, and another had been made happy,
and so forth. Withal he told of the mountain-folk, and in especial how
they of the plains, when he was scarce more than a boy, had met them in
battle in that same dale, and how fierce the fight was; whereas the
mountain-men were fighting for a life of desires accomplished, which
hitherto had been but a dream unto them; and the men of the plain
fought for dear life itself, and for all that made it aught save death
in life. Wherefore up and down the dale they fought, at first in
ordered ranks and then in knots, and lastly sword to sword and man to
man, till there was no foot of grass or black sand there which had not
its shower of blood; and the stream was choked with the dead, and ran
red out of the dale; till at last well-nigh all the host of the
mountain-men was fallen, and scarce less of the folk of the plains, but
these men held the field and had the victory.
All this he told her deftly and well, and though he said not so right
out, yet let her wot that, youth as he was, he was of the battle; and
his voice was clear and good, and Birdalone’s wrath ran off her, and
she hearkened his tale, and even asked him a question here and there;
and so courteous was this Black Knight now become, that Birdalone began
to think that she had fallen short of courtesy to him, because of her
fear and the weariness of the waiting which so oppressed her; and that
shamed and irked her, for she would fain be of all courtesy. Wherefore
now she deemed that perchance she had erred in deeming him an evil man;
and she looked on him from time to time, and deemed him goodly of
fashion; she thought his eyes were deep, and his face sober and fair of
aspect, but that his nose turned down at the end, and was over thin at
the bridge, and moreover his lips looked over-sweet and licorous.
Now when the knight was silent of his tales, Birdalone fell to asking
him questions sweetly concerning this Stony People which was all about
them; and he told her all he knew, soberly enough at first, yet indeed
ended by mocking them somewhat, but mocked not at her any more. At last
he said: Fair lady, that thou hast not come here all for nought I
partly know by those words which I heard come from thy mouth at the
King’s Stone; wherefore I marvelled indeed when I heard thee say that
thou wouldst go straight out of the dale; for I had deemed thee
desirous of trying the adventure of waking this Stony People
a-night-tide. Forsooth was this thy mind when thou soughtest hither to
the dale?
She reddened at his word, and yeasaid him shortly. Then said he: Is it
not thy mind still? Sir, said she, as now I have got to fear it. Yea?
and that is strange, said he, for thou wouldst have waked the dale
alone; and now thou art no longer alone, but hast me to watch and ward
thy waking, thou art more afeard.
She looked on his face steadily, to wot if there were no half-hidden
smile therein; but herseemed that he spake in all soberness; and she
had nought to say to him save this: Sir, I am now become afraid of the
waking. And he said no more thereof.
Now they went thus, and Birdalone not without pleasure, since her fear
of the knight was minished, some three hours up the dale, and still
were the Greywethers everywhere about them, so that there were
well-nigh as many hours as miles in their wending.
At last they seemed to be drawing nigh to the head of the dale, and the
burgs and the rocks were before them all round it as a wall, though yet
about a mile aloof at the further end; and this end it was wider than
elsewhere.
Came they then to a level space of greensward clear of the grey stones,
which were drawn all around it in ordered rings, so that it was as some
doom-ring of an ancient people; and within the said space Birdalone
beheld a great black horse tethered and cropping the grass. The knight
led her into the ring, and said: Now are we come home for the present,
my lady, and if it please thee to light down we shall presently eat and
drink, and sithence talk a little. And he drew nigh to help her off her
horse, but she suffered him not, and lighted down of herself; but if
she suffered not his hand, his eyes she must needs suffer, as he gazed
greedily on the trimness of her feet and legs in her sliding from her
horse.
Howsoever, he took her hand, and led her to a little mound on the other
side of the ring, and bade her sit down there, and so did she, and from
under the nighest of the stones he drew forth a pair of saddle-bags,
and took victual and wine thence, and they ate and drank together like
old companions. And now Birdalone told herself that the knight was
frank and friendly; yet forsooth she wotted that her heart scarce
trowed what it feigned, and that she yet feared him.
CHAPTER XII.
HOW THOSE TWAIN GET THEM FROM OUT OF THE BLACK VALLEY OF THE
GREYWETHERS.
When they had dined, and had sat a while talking, the knight said: I
will ask thee once more wherefore thou must needs depart from this dale
leaving the Greywethers unwaked? Yet this must I tell thee first, that
this ring at the dale’s end is the only one due place where the
Greywethers can be rightly waked, and that there be few who wot this.
Wilt thou not tell me then what is in thy mind?
Birdalone gazed down on the ground a while; then she lifted up her head
and looked on the Black Knight, and said: Sir Knight, we have been
brought so close together to-day, and as meseemeth I am so wholly in
thy power, that I will tell thee the very truth as it is. My mind it
was to wake the dale here to-night, and take what might befall me. And
well indeed might I fear the adventure, which few, meseemeth, would not
fear. But so strong is my longing for that which I would crave of these
wights, that it overmastered my fear, and my purpose held when I
entered the dale. Then I met thee; and here again is the truth, take it
how thou wilt, that presently I feared thee, and yet I fear thee; for I
have noted thee closely all this while, and have seen of thee, that
thou art over heedful of my poor body, and wouldst have it for thine
own if thou mightest. And there is this in thee also, as I deem, though
thou thyself mayst not know it, that thou wouldst have thy pleasure of
me whether it pleasure me or grieve me; and this thy pleasure must I
needs gainsay; for though thou mayest hereafter become my friend, yet
are there other friends of mine, who be such, that my grief would mar
any pleasure they might have. Hast thou heard and understood?
She looked on his face steadily as she spake, and saw that it flushed,
and darkened, and scowled, and that his hands were clenched, and his
teeth set hard together. And again she spake: Sir, thou shalt know that
beside these shot-weapons, I have a thing here in my girdle that may
serve either against thee or against me, if need drive me thereto;
wherefore I will pray thee to forbear. Forsooth, thou shalt presently
happen on other women, who shall be better unto thee than I can be.
By then Birdalone had spoken the word, the knight’s face had cleared,
and he laughed aloud and said: As to thy last words, therein at least
thou liest, my lady. But for the rest, I see that it must all be as
thou willest. Yea, if such be thy will, we shall presently to horse and
ride down the dale again, and at the end thereof I shall leave thee to
go home alone at thy will. She said: For that I can thee thanks with
all my heart. But why hast thou not asked me of whence I am, and
whither I would go home?
Again he laughed and said: Because I know already. I have had more than
two or three tales from them who have seen thee, or spoken unto others
who have seen thee, how the gay Champions of the Castle of the Quest
had fished up a wondrous pearl of price from out of the Great Water;
and when I set eyes on thy beauty, I knew that the said pearl could be
nowhere else than under mine eyes.
Let that pass, she said, and blushed not; but now tell me the truth as
I have told thee, why thou art so instant with me to wake the
Greywethers to-night? He kept silence a while, and, as she looked on
him, she thought she saw confusion in his face; but at last he said:
Thou wert wrong in saying that I heeded not thy pleasure, and solace,
and welfare. Meseemed, and yet doth, that it might be to thine avail to
wake the Greywethers to-night; and never again mayst thou have a chance
of the waking, as erst I said. I say I wish thee to have fulfilment of
thy craving. Nor hast thou aught to fear of them, seeing that it is but
dastards and fools that they undo.
He broke off his speech, and Birdalone yet looked on him, and after a
little he said: Thou drawest the truth out of me; for moreover I would
have thee with me longer than thou wouldst be if we but rode together
down the water and out of the dale, and thou to fare away alone.
Birdalone spake in a while, and that while he gazed upon her eagerly;
she said: I shall now tell thee that I shall abide the adventure of the
waking to-night, whatever befall. And I, said he, will so do that thou
mayst fear me the less; for I will unarm me when the night cometh, and
thou thyself shalt keep mine hauberk and sword and anlace.
She said: It is well; I will take that, lest desire overmaster thee.
They spake no more of it at that time, and it was now five hours after
noon. Birdalone arose, for she found it hard to sit still and abide
nightfall: she went without the two first rings of the Greywethers,
which were set in more open order beyond that, and she looked all about
her, to the black rocks on either side, and to the great black wall at
the dale’s ending, and the blue mountains aloof beyond it; then down
toward the plain of the dale came her eyes, and she looked through the
tangle of the grey stones. Now she seemed to be looking more intently
upon some one thing; with that she called to her the Black Knight, who
was hanging about watching her, and she said to him: Fair sir, art thou
clear-seeing and far-seeing? I am not thought to be purblind, quoth he.
Then Birdalone reached out her hand and pointed and said: Canst thou
see aught which thou didst not look to see, there, up the dale as I
point? Said he: All too clear I see the hand and the wrist of thee, and
that blinds me to aught else. I pray thee fool not, she said, but look
heedfully, and thou mayst see what I see, and then tell me what it
means. Though forsooth I am exceeding in far sight.
He looked under the sharp of his hand heedfully, then he turned unto
her and said: By All-hallows! there is in thee every excellency! Thou
art right; I see a bay horse up there feeding on the bites of grass
amongst the Greywethers. Look again! she said; what else canst thou
see? Is there aught anigh to the bay horse which is like to the gleam
and glitter of metal. Christ! said he, once more thou art right. There
be weaponed men in the dale. Tarry not, I beseech thee, but get to
horse forthright, and I will do no less.
There goeth the waking of the dale for this time, said Birdalone,
laughing. But art thou not in haste, fair sir? may not these be
friends?
The knight laid his hand upon her shoulder, and thrust her on toward
her palfrey, and spake fiercely, but not loud: Thee I pray not to fool
now! There is not a minute to spare. If thou deemest me evil, as I
think thou dost, there are worser than I, I tell thee, there are
worser. But we will talk of it when we be in the saddle, and clear of
this accursed dale.
Birdalone knew not what to do save obey him, so she lightly gat into
her saddle, and followed him, for he was mounted in a twinkling, and
riding on. He led out of the ring, and fell to threading the maze of
the Greywethers, keeping ever toward the steep side of the dale, which
was on that hand that looked toward the Castle of the Quest, that is to
say, the eastern bent. Birdalone wondered at this leading, and when she
was come up with the knight she spake to him breathlessly, and said:
But, fair sir, why wend we not down the dale? He answered: First, lady,
because we must hide us from them straightway; and next because they be
more than we, many more, and their horses be fresh, while thine at
least is somewhat spent; and if they were to spur down the dale in
chase, they would soon be upon us; for think not that I would escape
and leave thee behind.
Said Birdalone: But thou knowest them, then, what they be? since thou
wottest of their numbers and their riding. Hearken now! Upon thy soul
and thy salvation, be they more friends unto thee than unto me?
He said, as be rode on a little slower than erst: Upon my soul and my
salvation I swear it, that the men yonder be of the worst unfriends to
thee that may be in the world. And now, lady, I promise thee that I
will unravel thee the riddle, and tell thee the whole truth of these
haps, whatsoever may come of my words, when we be in a safer place than
this; and meantime I beseech thee to trust in me thus far, as to
believe that I am leading thee out of the very worst peril that might
befall thee. Nay, thou must needs trust me; for I tell thee, that
though I now love thee better than all the world and all that is in it,
I would slay thee here in this dale rather than suffer thee to fall
into the hands of these men.
Birdalone heard him with a sick heart; but such passion went with his
words that she believed what he said; and she spake softly: Sir, I will
trust thee thus far; but I beseech thee to have pity upon a poor maiden
who hath had but little pity shown unto her until these latter days;
and then: O woe’s me, to have fallen out of the kindness and love once
more!
The Black Knight spake to her in a little while, and said: What pity I
can to thee, that I will. Once more I tell thee, that if thou but knew
it thou wouldst thank me indeed for what I have done for thee in this
hour; and henceforth I will do and forbear with thee to the uttermost
that love will suffer me. But lo thou! here are we safe for this
present; but we must nowise tarry.
Birdalone looked and saw that they were come to the wall of the dale,
and that there it went down sheer to the plain thereof, and that before
them was a cleft that narrowed speedily, and over which the rocks
well-nigh met, so that it was indeed almost a cave. They rode into it
straightway, and when that they had gone but a little, and because it
had winded somewhat, they could but see the main valley as a star of
light behind them, then it narrowed no more, but was as a dismal street
of the straitest, whiles lighter and whiles darker, according as the
rocks roofed it in overhead or drew away from it. Long they rode, and
whiles came trickles of water from out the rocks on one hand or the
other; and now and again they met a stream which covered all the ground
of the pass from side to side for the depth of a foot or more. Great
rocks also were strewn over their path every here and there, so that
whiles must they needs dismount and toil afoot over the rugged stones;
and in most places the way was toilsome and difficult. The knight spake
little to Birdalone, save to tell her of the way, and warn her where it
was perilous; and she, for her part, was silent, partly for fear of the
strange man, or, it might be, even for hatred of him, who had thus
brought her into such sore trouble, and partly for grief. For, with all
torment of sorrow, she kept turning over and over in her mind whether
her friends had yet come home to the Castle of the Quest, and whether
they would go seek her to deliver her. And such shame took hold of her
when she thought of their grief and confusion of soul when they should
come home and find her gone, that she set her mind to asking if it had
not been better had she never met them. Yet in good sooth her mind
would not shape the thought, howsoever she bade it.
CHAPTER XIII.
NOW THEY REST FOR THE NIGHT IN THE STRAIT PASS.
At last, when they had been going a long while, it might be some six
hours, and it had long been night in the world without, but moon-lit,
and they had rested but seldom, and then but for short whiles, the
knight drew rein and spake to Birdalone, and asked her was she not
weary. O yea, she said; I was at point to pray thee suffer me to get
off and lie down on the bare rock. To say sooth, I am now too weary to
think of any peril, or what thou art, or whither we be going. He said:
By my deeming we be now half through this mountain highway, and belike
there is little peril in our resting; for I think not that any one of
them knoweth of this pass, or would dare it if he did; and they
doubtless came into the dale by the upper pass, which is strait enough,
but light and open.
As he spoke, Birdalone bowed forward on her horse’s neck, and would
have fallen but that he stayed her. Then he lifted her off her horse,
and laid her down in the seemliest place he might find; and the pass
there was much widened, and such light as there was in the outer world
came down freely into it, though it were but of the moon and the stars;
and the ground was rather sandy than rocky. So he dight Birdalone’s bed
as well as he might, and did off his surcoat and laid it over her; and
then stood aloof, and gazed on her; and he muttered: It is an evil
chance; yet the pleasure of it, the pleasure of it! Yea, said he again,
she might well be wearied; I myself am ready to drop, and I am not the
least tough of the band. And therewith he laid him down on the further
side of the pass, and fell asleep straightway.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BLACK KNIGHT TELLS THE TRUTH OF HIMSELF.
When the morning was come down into the straitness of their secret
road, Birdalone opened her eyes and saw the Black Knight busy over
dighting their horses: so she arose and thrust her grief back into her
heart, and gave her fellow-farer the sele of the day, and he brought
her victual, and they ate a morsel, and gat to horse thereafter and
departed; and the way became smoother, and it was lighter overhead
everywhere now, and the rocks never again met overhead athwart the way;
and it seemed to Birdalone that now they were wending somewhat
downward.
The knight was courteous unto Birdalone, and no longer for the present
thrust his love upon her, so that now she had some solace of his
fellowship, though he was but few-spoken to her.
It was betimes when they arose, and they rode all the morning till it
was noon, which they might well wot of, because the way was much wider,
and the cliff-walls of the pass much lower, so that the sun shone in
upon them and cheered them.
Now the Black Knight drew rein and said: Shall we rest, lady, and eat?
And thereafter, if thou wilt, I shall tell thee my tale. Or rather, if
thou wilt suffer me, I shall speak first and eat afterwards, or else
the morsel might stick in my throat. Knight, said Birdalone, smiling, I
hope thou hast no lie to swallow down before the meat. Nay, lady, said
he; no lie that is of moment at least.
So they lighted down, and Birdalone sat on the wayside under a
birch-bush that came thrusting out from the rock, and the knight stood
before her, hanging his head, as though he were one accused who would
plead his cause; and he began:
Lady, I must tell thee first of all, that to-day I have done as an
unfaithful servant and a traitor to my lord. Said Birdalone simply:
Shall I tell thee the truth, and say that from the first I seemed to
see in thee that thou wert scarce trusty? He said: Well, that mind I
saw in thee, and it went to my heart that thou shouldest think it, and
that it should be no less than true. But now I must tell thee, that it
is for thy sake that I have been untrusty to my lord. How so? said she.
Quoth he: Heardest thou ever of the Red Knight? Yea, said Birdalone, I
have heard of him ever as a tyrant and oppressor. Then she grew pale,
and said: Art thou he? Nay, said the knight, I am but a kinsman of his,
and his best-trusted man; nor have I failed him ever till yesterday.
He kept silence a while, and then said: This is the true tale: that we
have had tidings of thee and of thy ridings abroad with that old fool,
Sir Aymeris, and how thou hadst been twice to look into the Black
Valley. This I say hath the Red One heard, and the heart of him was
touched by the mere hearsay of thee; and moreover ’tis blessed bread to
him the doing of any grief to the knights of Quest Castle; wherefore he
hath sent me to hang about the dale, to lay hands on thee if I might
for; he knew being wise, that thou wouldst hanker after it; and
moreover he let one of his wise women sit out in spells on thee. So I
espied, and happened on thee all alone; and mine errand it was, since I
came upon thee thus, to draw thee till I had thee safe at home in the
Red Hold. Forsooth I began mine errand duly, and fell to beguiling
thee, so that thou mayst well have seen the traitor in me. But then,
and then my heart failed me, because I fell, not to desiring thee as
coveting my master’s chattel, but to loving thee and longing for thee
as my fellow and speech-friend. And I said to myself: Into the Red Hold
she shall not go if I may hinder it.
Birdalone was very pale, but she refrained her from grief and fear, and
said: But those horsed and weaponed men up the dale, who were they? He
said: I will not lie now, not even a little; they came into the dale by
that upper pass whereof I told thee; they were of our men; I brought
them. I was never all alone in the dale; I was to have fetched thee to
them, so that thou mightest not see a rout of folk and flee away; and
then would we all have gone home together by the upper pass. But we two
must have gone on unto them in the dale’s head, whereas for all that I
could say I might not bring them down into that doom-ring where we ate
and talked yesterday. We two have been valianter than thou mayst have
deemed, to have done the deed of dining there; for all men fear it. But
as for me, I have been there more than twice or thrice, and thence have
I wandered, and found this pass wherein now we be; concerning which I
have held my tongue, deeming that it might one day serve my turn; as it
hath done now abundantly, since it hath been a refuge unto thee.
Yea, but whither are we going now? said Birdalone; is it perchance to
the Red Hold? Nay, never, said the knight, so help me God and
All-hallows!
Whither then? said Birdalone; tell me, that I may at least trust thee,
even though I owe thee for all the pain and grief which thou hast
wrought me. He reddened and said: Wait a while; I bring thee to no ill
place; there shall no harm befall thee. And he fretted and fumed, and
was confused of speech and look, and then he said: When we come there I
shall belike crave a boon of thee.
O, but I crave a boon of thee here and now, said Birdalone. Wipe away
thine offence to me and take me back to my friends and the Castle of
the Quest! So mayst thou yet be dear unto me, though maybe not wholly
as thou wouldst have it. And she reached out her two hands toward him.
His breast heaved, and he seemed nigh to weeping; but he said: Nay,
lady, ask me not here and now, but there and to-morrow. But again I
swear to thee by thine hands that to the Red Hold I will not bring
thee, nor suffer thee to be brought, if I may hinder it; nay, not
though I give my life therefor.
Birdalone was silent awhile; then she said: And what shall befall me if
I come to the Red Hold? What is the Red Knight, and what would he do
with me? Said he: The Red Knight is terrible and fierce and wise; and I
fear him, I. He held his peace, and said: I must needs say it, that to
thee he would have been as Death and the Devil. He would have bedded
thee first. She broke in: Nay, never! and flushed very red. But the
knight went on: And after, I wot not; that were according to his mood.
And as to thy never, lady, thou wottest not the like of him or of the
folk he hath about him. Such as thou? she said angrily. Nay, he said,
far worse than me; men who fare little afield, and are not sweetened by
adventures and war-perils; and women worser yet; and far worser were
they dealing with a woman. She was silent again awhile, and paled once
more; then her colour came back to her, and she held out her hand to
him and said kindly: Thou being what thou art, I thank thee for thy
dealings with me; and now until to-morrow, when I shall ask thee of
that again, I am friends with thee; so come now, and let us eat and
drink together.
He took her hand and kissed it, and then came and sat down meekly
beside her, and they ate and drank in that wild place as though they
had been friends of long acquaintance.
CHAPTER XV.
THE BLACK KNIGHT BRINGS BIRDALONE TO THE BOWER IN THE DALE.
When they had made an end of their meal, they gat to horse again and
rode on their ways; and every mile now was their road the easier, the
pass wider, and its walls lower and now also more broken; till at last
they began to go down hill swiftly, and after a little their road
seemed to be swallowed in a great thicket of hornbeam and holly; but
the knight rode on and entered the said thicket, and ever found some
way amidst the branches, though they were presently in the very thick
of the trees, and saw no daylight between the trunks for well-nigh an
hour, whereas the wood was thick and tangled, and they had to thread
their way betwixt its mazes.
At last the wood began to grow thinner before them, and the white light
to show between the trunks; and Birdalone deemed that she heard the
sound of falling water, and presently was sure thereof; and the knight
spake to her: Patience, my lady; now are we near home for to-day. She
nodded kindly to him, and therewith they rode on to open ground, and
were on the side of a steep bent, broken on their right hands into a
sheer cliff as Birdalone saw when the knight led her to the edge and
bade her look over. Then she saw down into a fair dale lying far below
them, through the which ran a little river, clear and swift, but not
riotous, after it had fallen over a force at the upper end of the dale,
and made the sound of water which she had heard. The said dale was so,
that whatsoever was on the other side thereof was hidden by tall and
great trees, that stood close together some twenty yards aloof from the
stream, and betwixt them and it was fair greensward with a few bushes
and thorn-trees thereon.
Quoth the knight: Down there shall we rest till to-morrow, if it please
thee, lady; and since the sun will set in an hour, we were best on our
way at once. It pleases me well, said Birdalone, and I long to tread
the turf by the river-side, for I am weary as weary may be of the
saddle and the pass.
So down the bent they rode, and it was but a little ere they had ridden
it to an end, and had met the river as it swept round the cliff-wall of
the valley; and they rode through it, and came on to the pleasant
greensward aforesaid under the trees; and in a bight of the wood was a
bower builded of turf and thatched with reed; and there, by the bidding
of the knight, they alighted; and the knight said: This is thine house
for to-night, my lady; and thou mayest lie there in all safety after
thou hast supped, and mayst have my weapons by thy side if thou wilt,
while I lie under the trees yonder. And if thou wilt bathe thee in the
cool water, to comfort thee after the long ride and the weariness, I
swear by thy hand that I will take myself out of eye-shot and abide
aloof till thou call me.
Said Birdalone, smiling somewhat: Fair sir, I will not have my watch
and ward unarmed; keep thou thy weapons; and thou wilt not forget,
perchance, that I am not wholly unarmed, whereas I have my bow and
arrows and my knife here. And as to my bathing, I will take thee at thy
word, and bid thee go aloof a while now at once; for I will go down to
the water; and if thou spy upon me, then will it be thy shame and not
mine.
The knight went his ways therewith, and Birdalone went down to the
water and unclad her; but ere she stepped into the river, she laid her
bow and three shafts on the lip thereof. Then she took the water, and
disported her merrily therein; and now, forsooth, she was nowise
downcast, for she said to herself, this man is not all evil and he
lovest me well, and I look for it that to-morrow he will bring me on my
way toward the Castle of the Quest, for mere love of me; and then shall
he be a dear friend to me, and I will comfort him what I can for as
long as we both live.
So she came out of the water and clad her, and then called aloud for
the knight, and he came speedily unto her, as if he had been not
exceeding far away, though he swore with a great oath that he had
nowise espied her. She answered him nought, and they went side by side
to the bower; and there the knight dight the victual, and they sat
together and ate their meat like old friends; and Birdalone asked the
knight concerning this valley and the bower, if he had known it for
long, and he answered: Yea, lady, I was but a stripling when I first
happened on the dale; and I deem that few know thereof save me; at
least none of our flock knoweth thereof, and I am fain thereof, and
keep them unknowing, for if my lord were to hear of my having a haunt
privy unto me he would like it but ill.
Birdalone turned pale when she heard him speak of his lord; for fear of
the Red Knight had entered into her soul, so that now the flesh crept
upon her bones. But she enforced her to smile, and said: Yea, and what
would he do to thee were he ill-content with thy ways? Forsooth, lady,
said he, if he could spare me he would make an end of me in some
miserable way; nay, if he were exceeding ill-content, he would do as
much for me whether he could spare me or not; otherwise he would watch
his occasion, and so grieve me that what he did would go to my very
heart. Woe’s me! said Birdalone, thou servest an evil master. The
knight answered not, and Birdalone went on speaking earnestly: It is a
shame to thee to follow this fiend; why dost thou not sunder thee from
him, and become wholly an honest man? Said he gruffly: It is of no use
talking of this, I may not; to boot, I fear him. Then did Birdalone
hold her peace, and the knight said: Thou dost not know; when I part
from thee I must needs go straight to him, and then must that befall
which will befall. Speak we no more of these matters.
Birdalone flushed with hope and joy as he spake thus, for she took him
to mean that he would lead her, on the morrow, on her way to the Castle
of the Quest. But the knight spake in a voice grown cheerful again: As
to this bower, lady, the tale thereof is soon told; for with mine own
hands I builded it some fifteen years ago; and I have come to this
place time and again when my heart was overmuch oppressed with black
burdens of evil and turmoil, and have whiles prevailed against the
evil, and whiles not. Mayst thou prevail this time, then! said she. He
answered her not, but presently fell to talking with her of other
matters, and the two were frank and friendly together, till the August
night grew dark about them; and then spake Birdalone: Now would I rest,
for I can no longer keep mine eyes open. Abide aloof from me to-morrow
morning till I call to thee, as thou didst this evening; and then,
before we eat together again, thou shalt tell me what thou wilt do with
me. He stood up to depart, and she reached out her hand to him in the
glimmer, and he saw it, but said: Nay, if I take thine hand, I shall
take thine whole body. And therewith he departed, and she laid her down
in her smock alone, and slept anon, and was dreamless and forgetting
everything till the sun was up in the morning.
CHAPTER XVI.
YET A DAY AND A NIGHT THEY TARRY IN THE DALE.
Birdalone awoke when the sun came into the bower to her, and stood up
at once, and went down to the river and washed the night off her; and
then, when she was clad, called on the knight to come to her; and he
came, looking downcast and troubled; so that Birdalone thought within
herself: It is well, he will do my will.
She stood before him, and gave him the sele of the day, and he looked
on her sorrowfully. Then she said: Now is come the time when I am to
ask thee to take me back to the Castle of the Quest and my own people.
He was not hasty to answer her, and she spake again: This must thou do,
or else take me to the Red Hold and deliver me to the tyrant there; and
I have heard it from thine own mouth that will be nought else than
casting me into shame and torment and death. And I deem thou canst not
do it. Nay, she said, staying the words that were coming from his
mouth, I wot that thou canst do it if thine heart can suffer it; for
thou art stronger than I, and thou mayst break my bow, and wrest this
knife out of mine hand; and thou canst bind me and make me fast to the
saddle, and so lead my helpless body into thraldom and death. But thou
hast said that thou lovest me, and I believe thee herein. Therefore I
know that thou canst not will to do this.
He answered in his surly voice: Thou art right, lady, I cannot. Nay,
hearken thou this time. I have been turning over night-long what thou
didst say about leaving my lord, that is, betraying him, for it comes
to that; and now I have made up my mind to do it, and I will betray him
for thy sake. Wherefore there is a third way to take which thou hast
not seen; we will ride out of this dale in an hour’s time, and I will
bring thee to them who are only less the mortal foes of the Red Knight
than are thy fellows of the Quest, to wit, to the captain and burgesses
of the good town of Greenford by the Water; and I will do them to wit
that I have rescued thee from the hands of the Red Knight, and am
become his foe; and will show them all his incomings and outgoings, and
every whit of rede, and entrap him, so that he fall into their hands.
Now, though were I to be taken in battle by them, I should be speedily
brought to the halter, or may be to the bale-fire (for we be wizards
all in the Red Hold); yet with this word in my mouth, if they trow in
it, I shall be made their captain, and presently their master. Trow in
my tale they will, if thou bear me out therein, and they will honour
thee, and suffer thee to give thyself to me in marriage; and then I
know thee, and myself also, and that ere long we shall be both mighty
and wealthy and beloved, and fair will be the days before us.
His voice had grown softer as he spake, and toward the end of his words
he faltered, and at last brake out a-weeping, and cast himself wordless
on the grass before her.
She was pale, and her brow was knitted, and her face quivered; but she
spake coldly to him and said: This way I cannot take; and I wonder at
thee that thou hast shown it unto me, for thyself thou knowest that I
cannot go with thee. I will go nowhere hence save to the Castle of the
Quest. If thou wilt not lead me thereto, or put me on the road, I ask
thee straight, Wilt thou stay me if I go seek the way thither myself?
He rose up from the ground with a pale face full of anger as well as
grief, and caught her by the wrists and said, scowling the while: Tell
me now which of them it is; is it the stupid oaf Baudoin, or the light
fool Hugh, or the dull pedant Arthur? But it matters not; for I know,
and all the country-side knows, that they be vowed, each man of them,
to his own woman; and if they find not the women themselves, such dolts
they are, that they will ever be worshipping the mere shadows of them,
and turn away from flesh and blood, were it the fairest in the world,
as thou art, as thou art.
She shrank away from him what she might, but he still held her wrists;
then she spake in a quivering voice, her very lips pale with fear and
wrath: It is well seen that thou art a man of the Red Knight; and
belike thou wouldst do with me as he would. But one thing I crave of
thee, if there is any grain of mercy in thee, that thou wilt draw thy
sword and thrust me through; thou mayst leave thine hold of me to get
at the blade, I will not stir from where I stand. O! to think that I
deemed thee well-nigh a true man.
He dropped her hands now and stood aloof from her, staring at her, and
presently cast himself on the ground, rolling about and tearing at the
grass. She looked on him a moment or two, and then stepped forward and
stooped to him, and touched his shoulder and said: Rise up, I bid thee,
and be a man and not a wild beast.
So in a while he arose, and stood before her hang-dog-like; then she
looked on him pitifully, and said: Fair sir and valiant knight, thou
hast gone out of thy mind for a while, and thus hast thou shamed both
me and thyself; and now thou wert best forget it, and therewithal my
last words to thee.
Therewith she held out her hand to him, and he went on his knees and
took it, sobbing, and kissed it. But she said, and smiled on him: Now I
see that thou wilt do what I prayed of thee, and lead me hence and put
me on the road to the Castle of the Quest. He said: I will lead thee to
the Castle of the Quest.
Said Birdalone: Then shall it be as I promised, that I will be thy dear
friend while both we live. And now, if thou canst, be a little merrier,
and come and sit with me, and let us eat our meat, for I hunger.
He smiled, but woefully, and presently they sat down to their meat; and
he strove to be somewhat merry of mood, and to eat as one at a feast;
but whiles his heart failed him, and he set his teeth and tore at the
grass, and his face was fierce and terrible to look on; but Birdalone
made as if she heeded it nought, and was blithe and debonair with him.
And when they had done their meat he sat looking at her a while, and at
last he said: Lady, dost thou deem that, when all is said, I have done
somewhat for thee since first we met the day before yesterday at the
lower end of the Black Valley? Yea, she said, as erst I spake, all
things considered I deem that thou hast done much. And now, said he, I
am to do more yet; for I am to lead thee to where henceforth I shall
have no more part or lot in thee than if thou wert in heaven and I in
hell. I pray thee say not so, said Birdalone; have I not said that I
will be thy friend? Lady, said the knight, I wot well that according to
the sweetness of thine heart wilt thou do what thou canst do. And
therewith he was silent a while and she also.
Then he said: I would ask thee a grace if I durst. Ask it, said she,
and I will grant it if I may; I have gainsaid thee enough meseemeth.
Lady, he said, I will ask this as a reward of the way-leader, to wit,
that thou abide with me here in this dale, in all honour holden, till
to-morrow morning; and let this place, which has helped me aforetime,
be hallowed by thy dwelling here; and I, I shall have had one happy day
at least, if never another. Canst thou grant me this? If thou canst
not, we will depart in an hour.
Her countenance fell at his word, and she was silent a while; for sore
she longed to be speedily whereas her friends should find her if they
came back to the castle. But she thought within herself how wild and
fierce the man was, and doubted if he might not go stark mad on her
hands and destroy her if she thwarted overmuch; and, moreover, frankly
she pitied him, and would do what she might to ease his pain and solace
his grief of heart. Wherefore she cleared her face of its trouble and
let it be vexed no longer, but smiled upon the knight and said: Fair
sir, this meseemeth but a little thing for me to do, and I grant it
thee with a good will, and this shall now be the first day of the
friendship if so thou wilt take it; and may it solace thee.
Who then was gleeful but the knight, and strange it was to see all his
sorrow run off him; and he became glad and gamesome as a youth, and yet
withal exceeding courteous and kind with her, as though he were serving
a mighty queen.
So then they wore the day together in all good fellowship; and first
they went up the dale together and right to the foot of that great
force, where the stream came thundering down from the sheer rocks; and
long Birdalone stood to look thereon, and much she marvelled at it, for
no such thing had she seen before.
Thereafter they went afoot into the wood behind the green bower, and
when they had gone some way therein for their pleasure, they fell to
seeking venison for their dinner; and the knight took Birdalone’s bow
and shafts to strike the quarry withal, but he would have her gird his
sword to her, that she might not be weaponless. So they gat them a roe
and came back therewith to the bower, and the knight dight it and
cooked it, and again they ate in fellowship and kindness; and Birdalone
had been to the river and fetched thence store of blue-flowered
mouse-ear, and of meadow-sweet, whereof was still some left from the
early days of summer, and had made her garlands for her head and her
loins; and the knight sat and worshipped her, yet he would not so much
as touch her hand, sorely as he hungered for the beauty of her body.
Next, when dinner was done, and they lay in the shadow of the trees,
and hearkened the moor-hen crying from the water, and the moaning of
the wood-doves in the high trees, she turned to him and bade him tell
her somewhat of the tale of his life and deeds; but he said: Nay, lady,
I pray thee pardon me, for little have I to tell thee that is good, and
I would not have thee know of me aught worse than thou knowest of me
already. Rather be thou kind to me, and tell me of thy days that have
been, wherein I know full surely shall be nought but good.
She smiled and blushed, but without more ado fell to telling him of her
life in the House under the Wood, and spared not even to tell him
somewhat of the wood-mother. And he said no word to her thereover, save
thanks and praises for the kindness of her story.
At last the day wore to its ending, and then the knight’s grief strode
over him again, and he was moody and few-spoken; and Birdalone was
blithe with him still, and would have solaced his grief; but he said:
Let it be; as for thee, thou shalt be happy to-morrow, but this happy
day of mine is well-nigh worn, and it is as the wearing of my life. And
the dark night came, and he bade her good-night sorrowfully, and
departed to his lair in the wood. Birdalone lay in the bower, and might
not sleep a long while for her joy of the morrow, which should bring
her back to the Castle of the Quest.
But when morning was, and the sun was but just risen, Birdalone awoke,
and stood up and did on her raiment, and called her servant the knight,
and he came at once leading the two horses, and said: Now go we to the
Castle of the Quest. And he was sober and sorrowful, but nought fierce
or wild.
So Birdalone thanked him kindly and praised him, and he changed
countenance no whit therefor.
Then they mounted and set forth, and the knight led straight into the
wood, and by roads that he wotted of, so that they went nowise slowly
for wenders through the thick woodland. Thus went they on their way
together, he sorry and she glad.
But now leaves the tale to tell of Birdalone and the knight on whom she
happened in the Black Valley of the Greywethers, and turns to the
Castle of the Quest and the folk thereof, and what they did in this
while and thereafter.
Here ends the Fourth Part of the Water of the Wondrous Isles, which is
called Of the Days of Abiding, and the Fifth Part now begins, which is
called The Tale of the Quest’s Ending.
THE FIFTH PART:
THE TALE OF THE QUEST’S ENDING.
CHAPTER I.
OF SIR LEONARD’S TROUBLE AND THE COMING OF THE QUEST.
Tells the tale that when the chaplain had departed from Birdalone at
the bower in the copse, he went home to the castle sadly enough,
because of his love and longing for her, which well he wotted might
never be satisfied. Moreover when he was come into the castle again,
there fell fear upon him for what might betide her, and he rued it that
he had done her will in getting her forth of the castle; and in vain
now he set before himself all the reasons for deeming that her peril
herein was little or nothing, even as he had laid them before her, and
which he then believed in utterly, whereas now himseemed there was an
answer to every one of them. So he sighed heavily and went into the
chapel, wherein was an altar of St. Leonard; and he knelt thereat, and
prayed the saint, as he had erst delivered folk from captivity, now to
deliver both him and Birdalone from peril and bonds; but though he was
long a-praying and made many words, it lightened his heart little or
nothing; so that when he rose up again, that if anything evil happened
to this pearl of women, he wished heartily that some one might take his
life and he be done with it.
Now was the house astir, and the chaplain came from out the chapel, and
thinking all things over, he thought he would go straight to Sir
Aymeris and make a clean breast of it, so that weaponed men might be
sent at once to seek Birdalone. And he said to himself: What matter if
he slay me or cast me into prison, if Birdalone be lost?
So he went his ways to the highest tower, which looked landward and
hight the Open Eye, deeming to find Sir Aymeris; but when he got to the
topmost, he found neither captain nor carle there: wherefore he stayed
a little and looked forth betwixt the battlements, if perchance there
were some wild chance of seeing Birdalone’s coming home again; but his
keen eyes beheld nothing more than he looked to see, as sheep and neat,
and the field-folk of thereabouts. So he turned away and went by the
swale toward the next tallest tower, which looked lakewards, and was
called Hearts’ Hope; and as he went he fell to framing in his mind the
words which he should say to the castellan.
Thus came he, haggard and hapless, on the leads of the tower, which
were nought small; and there gathered together in a knot, and all
gazing eagerly out over the lake, he found a dozen of men-at-arms and
the castellan amongst them. They took no heed of him as he came up,
though he stumbled as he crossed the threshold and came clattering over
the lead floor, and he saw at once that there was something unwonted
toward; but he had but one thought in his mind, to wit, the rescuing of
Birdalone.
He went up now behind where the castellan was leaning over the
battlement, and pulled his skirt, and when Sir Aymeris turned round, he
said: Lord, I have a word for thine ear. But the old knight did but
half turn round, and then spake peevishly: Tush, man! another time!
seest thou not I have got no eyes for aught save what we see on the
lake? Yea, but what then? said the priest. There cometh a boat, said
Sir Aymeris, not looking back at him, and our thought is that therein
be our lords.
When the priest heard that word, it was to him as if hell had opened
underneath his feet; and he had no might to speak for a minute; then he
cried out: Sir Aymeris, hearken, I pray thee. But the old knight but
thrust him back with his hand, and even therewith one of the
men-at-arms cried out: I hear the voice of their horn! Then shouted Sir
Aymeris: Where art thou, Noise? Blow, man, blow, if ever thou blewest
in all thy life! And therewithal came the blare of the brass, and Sir
Aymeris nodded to the trumpeter, who blew blast after blast with all
his might, so that the priest might as well have been dumb for any
hearing he might get; and all the while to Leonard the minutes seemed
hours, and he was well-nigh distraught.
And then when the knight held up his hand for the Noise to stay his
blowing, and Leonard strove to speak, the castellan turned on him and
said: Peace, Sir Leonard; dost thou not know that now we would listen
with our ears to heed if they answer us? Not a word any one man of you,
learned or lewd, or ye shall rue it!
Even therewith came clearly the sound of the horn from the water, and
again and yet again; and no man spake but the chaplain, who cried out:
Hearken, knight, it is of Birdalone. But Sir Aymeris laid his hand on
his shoulder and said in an angry whisper: Thou shalt be put
downstairs, priest, if thou hold not thy peace.
Leonard drew aback scowling, and went out of the door, and so slowly
down the stair, and withdrew him into the cover of the door of the
first chamber down from the tower-top, with the mind to waylay Sir
Aymeris as he came down; and meanwhile he cursed him for a fool and a
dull-wit, and himself yet more, as was but right, for a fool and a
licorous traitor.
But he had not tarried there more than a score of minutes, ere he heard
a great shout from those up above: They are come! they are come! And
next thereafter came all the men clattering down the stair past him,
scarce refraining them from shoving each his neighbour on to the next
one; Leonard followed on them, and presently arose great shouting and
tumult through all the house, and all folk, men and women, hurried
flock-meal toward the water-gate, and with them went Leonard perforce;
and sick of heart he was, calling to mind the first coming thither of
Birdalone.
But now when they came to the water-gate, there verily was the Sending
Boat just coming to hand; and in the stern stood the three knights
together, all clad in their armour, and before them sat three lovely
ladies, clad one in gold, one in green, and one in black: and lo, there
was the Quest come home.
CHAPTER II.
NOW ASK THEY OF BIRDALONE, AND SIR LEONARD SPEAKS.
Now the prow touched the stones of the stair, and folk were busy to lay
hold of it that the wayfarers might land, but Sir Baudoin cried out in
a great voice: Let none be so hardy as to touch this ferry, either now
or hereafter; for there is peril therein. And therewith he took Aurea
by the hand, and led her out of the boat and up the stair, and she all
joyous and wondering; and thereafter came Hugh and his darling, and
last of all Arthur and Atra, and she alone of the three women looked
downcast, and her eyes wandered about the throng that was before them
there, as though she sought something, yet feared to see it.
But when they were all standing together on the landing-plain, and the
folk were all about them in a ring, Sir Baudoin spake to the castellan
and said: Sir Aymeris, thee and other folk I see here, the sight of
whom doth me great joy; but where, I pray thee, is the lady, our friend
Birdalone, by whom it is that all we are come happily hither? And he
looked around with an anxious face; but Arthur was as pale as ashes,
yet he spake nought, and Atra let her hand fall away from his.
Then spake the castellan, and said: No harm hath befallen the Lady
Birdalone; but whiles she hath been somewhat ailing of late, and it is
like that she wotteth not what is toward, and keepeth her chamber now,
for it is yet betimes in the morning.
As he spake, came thrusting a man through the throng, eager and
pale-faced; who but the chaplain; and he said: He would not let me
speak, this fool; I cannot choose my time. Lords, I bear evil tidings
and an ugly welcome home. The Lady Birdalone is in peril, and she is
not in the castle; I wot not where she is. Ye must send armed men to
seek her out.
Thereat fell the silence of woe upon the throng; but Arthur ran forward
on the priest with drawn sword, and cried out: I misdoubt me that thou
art a traitor; speak! or I will slay thee here and now. If I be a
traitor, quoth Leonard, I shall tell thee in little while what ye must
do to undo my treason, if there be yet time thereto; so slay me not
till ye have heard, and then do what ye will with me.
But Baudoin put Arthur aside, and said: Refrain thee a little, fair
brother, else shall words tumble over each other and we shall know
nothing clear. Sir Aymeris, bring our dear ladies to the fairest
chambers, and do all honour and courtesy to them. And ye, sweetlings,
ye will not begrudge us that we go to seek your friend. Thou priest,
come with us a little apart, and tell thy tale as shortly as thou
mayst, and fear nought; we be not God’s dastards, as the Red Knight and
his men.
Viridis wept and kissed her love before all folk, and bade him go and
do his best to find her friend, or never come back to her else. Much
moved, even to tears, was Aurea withal, and reached her hand to
Baudoin, and said: If any man on earth can help us it is thou. Go thou.
But Atra wept not, and but said to Arthur: Go thou, it is meet.
Therewith were the ladies brought to fair chambers; but the three
knights went with the priest and Sir Aymeris into the solar, and set a
guard at the door that their talk should be privy.
CHAPTER III.
HOW THEY FOLLOW THE SLOT OF BIRDALONE AND THE BLACK KNIGHT.
It was but five minutes ere the priest had told them all that need was;
so they let him abide alone there, though sooth to say there was none
of them but had good will to break his neck; and the same rede had all
three, that there was nought for it but to go their ways with all speed
to the Black Valley of the Greywethers, and follow up the slot of
Birdalone if it might yet be found; wherefore they bade saddle their
horses straightway; and while that was a-doing they ate a morsel, and
bade farewell to their lovelings. And they dight them to go, they three
together, with but one squire and a sergeant, who were both of them
keen trackers and fell woodsmen. But ere they went, by the rede of
Arthur they bade Sir Aymeris to arm a two score of men and ride toward
the Red Hold, and beset the ways ’twixt that and the Castle of the
Quest; for one and all they deemed that if any harm befell Birdalone,
the Red Knight would be at the bottom of it.
So rode those fellows, and came unto the dale but some four hours after
Birdalone had happened on the stranger knight; and they took up the
slot of her, but not easily, whereas the ground was hard and stony;
howbeit, they found tokens of the knight also, finding here and there
what they deemed the footprints of a tall man. And this was grievous to
those fellows, since now they could not but deem that somewhat untoward
had befallen Birdalone. But they went on making out the slot, and they
followed it with much toil until they came to the doom-ring in the head
of the dale, whereas Birdalone and the stranger had sat down to meat;
but by that time, so toilsome had been their going, it was somewhat
more than dusk, and there was nought for it but to abide there
night-long. So a while they sat talking, all of them, and the squire
and the sergeant aforesaid were not a little timorous of the adventure
of making that stead unkenned their sleeping chamber; and to while away
the time, their lords made them tell tales such as they knew concerning
that place; and both they said that they had never erst come into the
dale but a very little way, and said that they had done so then but
trusting in their lords’ bidding and the luck of the Quest. Thereafter
turned the talk as to what had befallen Birdalone, and the chances of
coming on her; and, as folk will in such a plight, they talked the
matter over and over again till they were weary and could say no more.
Then they went to sleep, and nought befell them till they awoke in the
broad daylight; but they had little inkling of what hour it was, for
all the dale was full of thick white mist that came rolling down from
the mountains, so that they could scarce see their hands before them,
and there they had to tarry still, would they, would they not; and the
sergeant fell to telling tales of folk who had been lost in that stony
maze; and all of them deemed, more or less, that this was the work
either of evil wights, or it might be of the wizardry of the Red
Knight; and, to be short, they all deemed that he it was who had
wielded it, save the sergeant, who said that the mountain wights were
the masters and not the servants of him of the Red Hold.
Thus, then, it betided; but when the said mist had been hanging upon
them for some six hours, it rolled up like a curtain, and lo the blue
sky and the sun, and the mountains as clear blue as in a picture; and
they saw by the sun that it was but a little after high noon.
But as they rejoiced herein, and betook them once more to tracking out
the slot of Birdalone and the other, the sky became suddenly overcast,
and down from the jaws of the mountain came a storm of wind and rain,
and thunder and lightning, so great that they might scarce see each
other’s faces, and when it cleared off, in about an hour and a half,
and went down the wind to the south-east, the stream was waxen great,
and ran brown and furious down the dale, so that it was fordable only
here and there; and as for tracking the slot of those twain, there was
no need to talk thereof, for the fury of the driving rain had washed
all away.
Thus fared they the whole day betwixt fog and clear weather, and they
laid them down to rest at night sore disheartened. When the day broke
they talked together as to what was best to do; and the sergeant
aforesaid spake: Lords, said he, meseemeth I am more at home in the
Black Valley than ye be; heed ye not wherefore. Now so it is that if we
tarry here till night come we wot not what of evil may betide us, or at
the least we do nought. Or if we turn back and go southward out of the
dale we shall be safe indeed; but safe should we have been at your
house, lords, and should have done no less. But now I shall tell you
that, if ye will, lords, I shall guide you to a pass that goeth out of
the head of the dale to our right hands, and so turneth the flank of
the mountains, and cometh out into the country which lieth about the
Red Hold; and meseemeth it is thitherward that we must seek if we would
hear any tidings of the lady; for there may we lay in ambush and beset
the ways that lead up to the Hold, by which she must have been brought
if she hath not been carried through the air. How say ye, lords?
Soothly there is peril therein; yet meseemeth peril no more than in our
abiding another night in the Black Valley.
Said Arthur: We heed not the peril if there be aught to be done;
wherefore let us be stirring straightway. And so said they all.
Wherefore they gat to horse, and rode up to the very head of the
valley, and the weather was now calm and bright.
But the sergeant brought them to the pass whereof the stranger knight
had spoken to Birdalone, which led into the Red Knight’s country, and
without more ado they entered it when it was now about three hours
after noon. But the way was both steep and rough, so that they had much
toil, and went not very far ere night fell upon them, and the moon was
not yet up. So when they had stumbled on another two hours, and their
horses were much spent and they themselves not a little weary, they
laid them down to sleep, after they had eaten such meat as they had
with them, in a place where was a little grass for the horses to bite;
for all the road hitherto had been mere grim stones and big rocks,
walled on either side by stony screes, above which rose steep and
beetling crags.
In the dawn they arose again, and made no ado till they were in the
saddle, and rode till they came to the crest of the pass, and came out
thence after a while on to the swelling flank of a huge mountain (as it
might be the side of the mountain of Plinlimmon in Wales), which was
grassed and nought craggy, but utterly treeless.
Now the sergeant led them somewhat athwart the said mountain till they
began to go down, and saw below them a country of little hills much
covered with wood, and in a while, and ere it was noon, they were among
the said woods, which were grown mostly with big trees, as oak here and
beech there, and the going was good for them.
CHAPTER IV.
OF THE SLAYING OF FRIEND AND FOE.
So came they, three hours after noon, to where was a clearing in the
woodland, and a long narrow plain some furlong over lay before them,
with a river running along it, and the wood rose on the other side high
and thick, so that the said plain looked even as a wide green highway
leading from somewhence to somewhither.
At the edge hereof their way-leader, the sergeant, bade draw rein, and
said: Lords, we are now in the lands of the Red Hold, and therein is
mickle peril and dread to any save stout hearts as ye be; but meseems
we are so steaded, that whatever may come out of the Black Valley of
the Greywethers to the Red Hold, ye now may scarce miss. Yonder along
this plain to the north lies the way to the said Hold, and any man
coming from the head of the valley is sure to come by the way we have
come, and will pass us not many yards at the worst from where we now
be. On the other hand, if any come to the Hold from the mouth of the
Black Valley, then along this green road must they needs pass under
your very eyes. Lastly, if we do what we are come to do, to wit, to
deliver the lady from the Red Knight, then, the deed done, we have to
take the green road southward, and ride it for a league and then turn
east, and we shall have our heads turned toward the Castle of the
Quest, and shall speedily fall in with Sir Aymeris and our men who be
guarding the out-gates of the Red Knight’s country toward our house. So
now, by my rede, ye shall lay in covert here and abide a while what may
befall; if nought come hereby ere two hours be lacking of sunset, then
may we seek further.
They all yeasaid this, and gat off their horses, and lay quiet on the
grass, not even speaking save softly. And when they had abided thus
scarce an hour’s space, the squire, who was a man of very fine ear,
held up his hand as though to bid utter silence, and all hearkened
eagerly. Presently he said: Hear ye not? Said Arthur: Meseemeth I hear
a faint tinkle as of a sheep-bell. Said the squire: ’Tis the clashing
of swords down the plain to the south, and meseemeth ’tis but of two:
ride we thither?
Quoth Baudoin: Nay, not by my rede; for if we can hear them they can
hear us; let us quietly edge along afoot somewhat nigher their way,
ever keeping the cover of the wood betwixt us and the open plain. Now
then to it; and let each man keep his weapons ready.
Even so did they, and spread out in a line as they went, in such wise
that there was some six paces betwixt each man of them, and they went
softly forward; Baudoin went first, Hugh second, then Arthur; then the
squire and the sergeant last of all.
Now when they had gone but a quarter of an hour, the squire caught up
with Arthur, and spake to him softly, and said: The voice of the swords
has been silent now a while, and I heard a voice crying out e’en now, a
woman’s voice. And now again I could well-nigh deem that I hear
horse-hoofs.
Arthur nodded to him, and they went but a little further ere he said:
Lo, lo! ’tis the time of the eyes now! Here come folk. And therewithal
they stayed them. For the wood turned somewhat here, so as to hide all
but a little of the plain, and round the wood neb the new-comers hove
in sight, and were close on them at once, so that they might see them
clearly, to wit, a knight weaponed, clad all in red, a very big man,
riding on a great bay horse, and behind him a woman going afoot in very
piteous plight; for she was tethered to the horse’s crupper by a thong
that bound her wrists together, so that she had but just room left
’twixt her and the horse that she might walk, and round about her neck
was hung a man’s head newly hewn off.
This sight they all saw at once, and were out of the wood in a trice
with weapons aloft, for they knew both the man and the woman, that they
were the Red Knight and Birdalone.
So swift and sudden had they been, that he had no time either to spur
or even to draw his sword; but he had a heavy steel axe in his hand as
the first man came up to him, which was the tall Baudoin; and therewith
he smote down on Baudoin so fierce and huge a stroke, that came on him
betwixt neck and shoulder, that all gave way before it, and the Golden
Knight fell to earth all carven and stark dead: but even therewith fell
Hugh, the squire, and the sergeant on the Red Knight; for Arthur had
run to Birdalone and sheared her loose from her tether. The sergeant
smote him on the right arm with a maul, so that the axe fell to the
ground; the squire’s sword came on the side of his head, and, as it was
cast back beneath the stroke, Hugh thrust his sword through the throat
of him, and down he fell unto the earth and was dead in less than a
minute.
Then gathered the others round about Baudoin, and saw at once that he
was dead; and Birdalone came thrusting through the press of them, and
knelt down beside him, and when she saw her friend so piteously dight,
she wept and wailed over him as one who might not be comforted; and
Hugh stood over her and let his tears fall down upon the dead man; and
withal the squire and the sergeant did not refrain their lamentations,
for sore beloved was Sir Baudoin the Golden Knight.
But Arthur spake dry-eyed, though there was grief in his countenance,
and he said: Fellows, and thou, lady, let us lament afterwards, but now
is time for us to get us gone hence as speedily as may be. Yet I will
ask, doth any know whose is this head that the slain tyrant here had
hung about the lady’s neck? May the fiends curse him therefor!
Said the sergeant: Yea, lords, that wot I; this is the head of the Red
Knight’s captain and head man, Sir Thomas of Estcliffe; one of the
hardiest of knights he was while he was alive, as ye surely wot, lords;
neither, as I have heard say, was he as cruel a tyrant as his lord that
lieth there ready for the ravens.
Now had Birdalone arisen and was standing facing Arthur; her face was
pale and full of anguish, and she was dabbled with blood from the dead
man’s neck; but there was nought of shame in her face as she stood
there and spoke: O my living friends, who have but now saved me, ye and
my dead friends, from what shame and death I know not, the tale of this
woeful hap is over long to tell if there be peril at hand, and I scarce
alive from dread and sorrow; but shortly thus it is: This man, whose
head here lieth, entrapped me as I foolishly wandered in the Black
Valley, and afterwards delivered me, and was leading me to your castle,
my friends, when this other one, his master, the tyrant of the Red
Hold, came upon him, and fell upon him and slew him as a traitor, and
dighted me as ye saw. And woe’s me! I am the fool whose folly has slain
your friend and mine. Wherefore I am not worthy of your fellowship, and
ye shall cast me forth of it; or to slay me were better.
So she spake, gazing earnestly on Arthur; and so troubled and grieved,
that she might well have died but for her woodland breeding, and the
toil of the days she had won through in the House under the Wood.
But Hugh spake gently to her and said: Keep up thine heart yet, maiden;
for the hand of Fate it is that led thee, and none doeth grievously
amiss but if he mean wrong-doing in his heart; and we know thee for
true; and thou hast been our helper, and brought our lovelings unto us
to make us happy.
But she brake out weeping afresh, and said: O no, no! it is but woe and
weariness I have brought unto my friends; and to myself woe and
weariness yet more.
And she looked piteously into Arthur’s face, and hard and stern it
seemed unto her; and she writhed and wrung her hands for anguish. But
he spake and said: This will we look into when we be safe behind our
walls, and see what she hath done amiss and what not amiss. But now is
there but one thing to do, and that is to get us speedily on our way to
the Castle of the Quest, and bind our fellow’s body on his horse that
he also may ride with us, and the lady shall ride the horse of the
accursed thief. Then they turned to go toward their horses; but
therewith Birdalone smote her foot against the slain knight’s head, and
shrank aback from it, and pointed down toward it and spake no word; and
Hugh said: Friends, the lady is right, this at least we will cover with
earth. Do ye go fetch hither our horses, since we be on the road, and I
will do here what need is meanwhile.
So they went on that errand, and then Hugh and Birdalone between them
dug a hole with the swords and laid the head of the captain of the Red
Knight therein. And forsooth, somewhat would Birdalone have wept for
him had she had a tear to spare.
Then they fell to and bound the dead Baudoin on the Red Knight’s mighty
bay steed, so that no time might be wasted; and when that was done, and
the others had not come back with their horses, Hugh took Birdalone’s
hand and led her down to the stream and washed the gore off her bosom,
and she washed her face and her hands and let him lead her back again
in such wise that now she could hearken to the words of comfort he
spake to her, and piteous kind he seemed unto her; so that at last she
plucked up heart, and asked him how Viridis did. Quoth he: They be all
safe at home in the castle, and Viridis is well and loveth thee well.
And Aurea was well, woe worth the while for her now! As for Atra, she
has not been so glad as the other twain, I wot not wherefore.
Even as he spake were the others come up with the horses, and Arthur
nodded yeasay when he saw what had been done with Baudoin dead; and so
they gat to horse, and Birdalone it was that rode Baudoin’s steed. Then
they went their ways, crossing the river into the wood; and the
sergeant was ever way-leader, but the squire led the horse which bore
the sorrowful burden of the dead Knight of the Quest.
CHAPTER V.
THEY COME HOME TO THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
Now they had gone but some three hours, riding dreary and nigh
speechless all of them, ere they began to know the land they were in,
and that they were coming to the place where they might look presently
to fall in with Sir Aymeris and his company; and even so the meeting
betid, that they saw men standing and going about their horses beside a
little wood, and knew them presently for their folk, who mounted at
once and spurred forward to meet them, spears aloft. Speedily then was
the joy of those abiders turned into sorrow, nor may the grief of Sir
Aymeris be told, so great it was; and Birdalone looked on and saw the
mourning and lamentation of the warriors, and eked was her anguish of
mind; and she beheld Arthur the Black Squire, how he sat still upon his
horse with a hard and dreary countenance, and looked on those mourners
almost as if he contemned them. But Sir Aymeris came up to Birdalone,
and knelt before her and kissed her hand, and said: If my heart might
rejoice in aught, as some day it will, it would rejoice in seeing thee
safe and sound, lady; here at least is gain to set beside the loss.
She thanked him, but looked askance toward Arthur, who said: If that be
gain, yet is there more, for the Red Knight lieth in the green plain
for a supper to the wolf and the crow. Vengeance there hath been, and
belike more yet may come. But now, if ye have lamented as much as ye
deem befitteth warriors, let us tarry here no longer; for even yet
meseemeth shall we be safer behind walls, now that our chief and
captain is slain, I scarce know in what quarrel.
None naysaid it, so they all rode forth together, and the sergeant and
the squire and Sir Hugh told of their tale what they might to Sir
Aymeris and the others; but Arthur held his peace, and rode aloof from
Birdalone, whereas Sir Aymeris and Hugh rode on either side of her, and
did not spare to comfort her what they might.
They rode straight on, and made no stay for nightfall, and thus came
home to the Castle of the Quest before the day was full; and woeful was
their entry as they went in the dawn underneath the gate of the said
castle, and soon was the whole house astir and lamenting.
As for Birdalone, when she got down from her horse in the gateway, and
was stiff and weary of body, and all dazed and confused of mind, there
was but little life in her; nor could she so much as think of the new
day and Aurea’s awakening, but crept up unto her own chamber, so long
as it seemed since she had left it, though it was but a little while;
and she cast herself upon the bed and fell asleep whether she would or
not, and so forgat her much sorrow and her little hope.
CHAPTER VI.
OF THE TALK BETWIXT BIRDALONE AND VIRIDIS.
When she woke again, she had slept the night away, and it was broad
day, and for a moment she lay wondering what was the burden upon her;
but presently she called it all to mind, and deemed it were well might
she forget it all again. Anon she became aware of someone moving about
the chamber, and she looked about unhappily; and lo! a woman, fair and
dainty, clad all in green, and it was Viridis that had come there. But
when she saw Birdalone stirring, she came up to her and kissed her
sweetly and kindly, and wept over her, so that Birdalone might nowise
refrain her tears. But when she might cease weeping, she said to
Viridis: Tell me, art thou weeping for thy friend who is lost, and who
shall be thy friend no more; or thy friend whom thou hast found? Said
Viridis: Forsooth I have wept for Baudoin plenteously, and he is worthy
of it, for he was valiant and true and kind. Said Birdalone: True is
that; but I meant not my question so; but rather I would ask thee if
thou weepest because thine heart must needs cast me away, or because
thou hast found me again? Quoth Viridis: Whoso may be dead, or whoso
alive, but if it were Hugh, my loveling, I were rejoiced beyond measure
to find thee, my friend. And again she kissed her as one who was glad
and kind. But for new rest of soul and for joy, Birdalone fell
a-weeping afresh.
Again she spake: And what mind have the others about me? For thou art
but one, though the dearest, save . . . And would they punish me for my
fault and folly that has slain the best man in the world? If the
punishment be short of putting me forth of their fellowship, I were
fain thereof.
Viridis laughed: Forsooth, she said, they have much to punish thee for!
whereas it was by thy doing and thy valiance that we all came together
again and the Quest was accomplished. Nay, but tell me, said Birdalone,
what do they say of me, each one of them?
Viridis reddened; she said: Hugh, my mate, saith all good of thee;
though no one of carl-folk may be sorrier of the loss of his fellow.
Aurea layeth not the death of her man upon thee; and she saith: When
the fountain of tears is dried up in me, I will see her and comfort
her, as she me. Atra saith: she saith but little, yet she saith: So is
it fated. I had done belike no better, but worse than she.
Now turned Birdalone red and then pale again, and she said, but in a
quavering voice: And the Black Squire, Arthur, what sayeth he? Said
Viridis: He sayeth nought of thee, but that he would hear all the tale
of what befell thee in the Black Valley. Sweet friend, said Birdalone,
I pray thee of thy kindness and sweetness that thou go unto him
presently and bring him in hither, and then I will tell him all; and he
and thou and I together.
Viridis said: There is this to be said, that when a man loveth a woman
he coveteth her, to have her all wholly to himself, and hard and evil
he groweth for the time that he misdoubteth her whom he loveth. And I
will tell thee that this man is jealous lest thou wert never so little
kind to the slain stranger knight whose head the tyrant hung about
thee. Furthermore, I fear there is no help for it that thou wilt undo
the happiness of one of us, that is Atra; yet were it better that that
befell later than sooner. And if Sir Arthur come in here to thee, and
hath thy tale with none beside save me, meseems the poor Atra will feel
a bitter smart because of it. Were it not better that we all meet
presently in the solar, and that there thou tell thy tale to us all?
and thereafter shall we tell the tale of our deliverance and our coming
hither. And thus doing, it will seem less like to the breaking up of
our fellowship.
Said Birdalone: It will be hard for me to tell my tale before Atra and
before him. Might it not be that thou hearken to it here and now, and
tell it to the others hereafter? Nay, nay, said Viridis, I am not a
proper minstrel to take the word out of thy mouth. Never shall I be
able to tell it so that they shall trow it as if they had seen it all.
Besides, when all is told, then shall we be more bound together again.
I pray thee, and I pray thee, sweet, do so much for me as to tell thy
tale to the fellowship of us. And if it be hard to thee, look upon it
as my share of the punishment which is due to thee for falling into
that mishap.
Smiled Birdalone ruefully, and said: So be it; and may the share of the
others be as light as thine, sister. Yet soothly were I liefer that my
body and my skin should pay the forfeit. But now, since I must needs do
this, the sooner is the better meseemeth.
In a little half hour, said Viridis, will I bring what is left of our
fellowship into the solar to hearken thee. So come thou there unto us
when thou art clad. And hear thou! be not too meek and humble, and bow
thyself to us in fear of our sorrow. For whereas thou didst speak of
our punishing thee, there will be one there whom thou mayst easily
punish to thy pleasure; forsooth, friend, I rue that so it is; but
since it will not better be, what may I do but wish thee happy and him
also.
Therewith she turned and went out of the chamber, and Birdalone, left
to herself, felt a secret joy in her soul that she might not master,
despite the sorrow of her friends, whatever it might be.
CHAPTER VII.
BIRDALONE TELLETH THE TALE OF HER WANDERING UP THE VALLEY OF THE
GREYWETHERS.
Now Viridis did as she said, and brought them all in to the solar;
there was none lacking save Baudoin, and they sat silently in a half
ring, till the door opened and Birdalone came in to them, clad all
simply in but a black coat; and she made obeisance to them, and stood
there with her head bent down as if they were her judges, for so in
sooth she deemed them. Then Hugh bade her sit down amongst them; but
she said: Nay, I will not sit amongst you till ye have heard my story,
and ye have told me that I am yet of your fellowship. None said aught;
Atra looked straight before her, and her eyes met not Birdalone’s eyes;
Arthur looked down on the ground; but Hugh and Viridis looked kindly on
Birdalone, and to Viridis’ eyes the tears were come.
Then spake Birdalone and said: I am here as one that hath done amiss;
but I will tell you, so that ye may not think worse of me than ye
should, that when ye were gone, ye Champions, and the time wore long
that ye came not again, it lay heavy on my heart, and hope waned and
fear waxed, and my soul so grieved my body that I thought to fall sick
thereof, and I knew that it would be ill for you to come home hither
and find me sick; so that I longed sore to do somewhat which should
make me whole again. Then weird would that I should hear all the tale
of the Black Valley of the Greywethers, and of how therein is whiles
granted fulfilment of desire; and methought how well it were if I might
seek the adventure there and accomplish it. Thereof, doubtless, hath
the chaplain, Sir Leonard, told you; but this furthermore would I say,
that his doing herein was nought; all was done by my doing and by my
bidding, and he might not choose but do it. Wherefore I do pray you all
earnestly that ye keep no grudge against him, but pardon him all. Tell
me, then, will ye do thus much?
Said Hugh: Let him be pardoned, if he can take pardon. But Arthur spake
not, and Birdalone looked on him anxiously, and her face was moved, and
it was with her throat as if she had swallowed something down. Then she
spake again, and fell to tell them all that had betid to her when she
went to the Black Valley, even as is hereafore writ, hiding nought that
had been done and said; and freely she told it, without fear or shame,
and with such clearness and sweetness of words that no one of them
doubted her aught; and Arthur lifted up his head, and once and again
his eyes met hers, and there was nought of hardness in them, though
they turned away at once.
So at last fell Birdalone to telling what betid after they two, the
stranger knight and she, left the valley of the force and fell to
riding the wildwood with their heads turned toward the Castle of the
Quest; and she said:
When we turned into the wood away from the said valley it lacked some
four hours of noon; and we rode till noon was, and rested by a
stream-side and ate, for we knew no cause wherefore we should hasten
overmuch; but my fellow the strange knight was downcast and heavy, and
some might have called him sullen. But I strove to make him of better
cheer, and spake to him kindly, as to one who of an enemy had become a
friend; but he answered me: Lady, it availeth not; I grieve that I am
no better company than thou seest me, and I have striven to be merrier;
but apart from all that I wot and that thou wottest which should make
me of evil cheer, there is now a weight upon my heart which I cannot
lift, such as never have I felt erst. So by thy leave we will to horse
at once, that we may the speedier come to the Castle of the Quest and
Sir Aymeris’ prison.
So I arose, but smiled on him and said: Hold up thine heart, friend!
for thee shall be no prison at the Castle of the Quest, but the fair
welcome of friends. He said nought, and mended not his cheer; and in
this plight we gat to horse and rode on for some three hours more, till
we came out of the thick forest into a long clearing, which went like a
wide highway of greensward between the thicket, and it seemed as if the
hand of man had cleared that said green road. Thereto we had come,
following a little river which came out on to the clearing with us, and
then, turning, ran well-nigh amidst it toward the north.
Now when we were come thither, and were betwixt the thicket and the
water’s edge, we drew rein, and it seemed to me as fair a stead as
might be in the woodland, and I looked thereon well pleased and with a
happy heart. But the knight said: Lady, art thou not exceeding weary?
Nay, said I, not in any wise. Said he: It is strange then, for so weary
am I, that I must in any case get off my horse and lay me down on the
grass here, or I shall drop from the saddle. And therewith he lighted
down and stood by me a little, as to help me off my horse; but I said
to him: Knight, I pray thee, even if ye be weary, to struggle forward a
little, lest we be in peril here. In peril? quoth he; yea, that might
be if the Red Knight knew of our whereabouts; but how should that be?
He spoke this heavily, as one scarce awake; and then he said: I pray
thee pardon me, lady, but for nought may I hold my head up; suffer me
to sleep but a little, and then will I arise and lead thee straight to
thy journey’s end. Therewithal he laid him down on the grass and was
presently asleep, and I sat down by him all dismayed. At first, indeed,
I doubted some treachery in him, for how might I trust him wholly after
all that had come and gone? but when I saw that there was no feigning
in his sleep, I set that doubt aside, and knew not what to make of it.
Thus passed an hour, and from time to time I shook him and strove to
waken him, but it was all in vain; so I knew none other rede than to
abide his awakening; for I knew not the way to take toward this castle;
and, moreover, though he were a knight, and armed, yet might it be
perilous for him if he were left there alone and unguarded; so I abode.
But now came new tidings. Methought I heard the sound of the tinkling
of weapons and armour; the green highway so turned that a wood neb
about an hundred yards to the north hid it from my sight, so that a man
might have drawn somewhat near to us without being seen, came he on the
hither side of the river. So I stood up hastily, and strung my bow, and
took a shaft in my fingers, and no sooner was it done than there came a
rider round about the aforesaid wood neb. He was all-armed and had a
red surcoat, and rode a great shining bay horse. I kept my eye upon him
while I stirred the sleeping knight with my foot, and cried to him to
wake, but he scarce moved, and but uttered words without sense.
Now the new-comer drew rein for a moment when he saw us, and then moved
on a little toward me, but I nocked a shaft and pointed it at him, and
cried out to him to stay. Then I heard a great rattling laugh come from
him, and he shouted: Nay, do thou stay, fair wood-wife, and I will risk
thy shafts to come at thee. But why doth not the sluggard at thy feet
rise up and stand before me, if he be thy loveling? Or is he dead? His
voice was harsh and big, and I feared him sore; and it was as much
because of fear as of hardihood, that I drew and loosed straightway;
and doubtless it was because of fear that I saw my shaft fly an inch or
so over his right shoulder. I heard his rattling laugh again, and saw
him bend forward as he spurred; I knew that time lacked for drawing
another shaft, so I caught up my skirts and ran all I might; but
swift-foot as I be, it availed me nought, for I was cumbered with my
gown, and moreover I was confused with not knowing whither to run,
since I wotted that in the water the horse would do better than I.
So he was up with me in a twinkling, and reached out his hand and
caught hold of me by the hair, and tugged me to him as he reined back
his horse. Then he laughed again and said: Forsooth she will look
better when she is no longer reddened and roughened with fleeing; and,
by Red Peter! what limbs she hath. Then he let me loose and got off his
horse, and shoved me on before him till we came to where the Black One
lay still sleeping heavily. Then the Red Knight stood against me, and
looked hard into my face; and I saw how huge a man he was, and how a
lock of bright red hair came out from under his sallet. His eyes were
green and fierce underneath shaggy red eyebrows; terrible he was to
look on.
Now he spake fiercely and roughly, and as though he had something
against me: Tell me, thou, who thou art and who this is? I answered
nought, for fear had frozen my speech. He stamped his foot on the
ground and cried: Hah! art thou gone dumb? Speak! thou wert best! I
said, all quaking: My name is Birdalone; I belong to no one; I have no
kindred: as for this man, I know not his name. He said: Comest thou
from the Castle of the Quest? Art thou the whore of those lily-and-rose
champions there? My heart was hot with anger in spite of my dread, but
I spake: I came from the Castle of the Quest. He said: And this man
(therewith he turned about and spurned him in the side), where didst
thou happen upon him? Again I was silent, and he roared out at me: So
thou wilt not answer! Beware, or I may see how to compel the speech of
thee. Now answer me this: Was it in the Black Valley of the Greywethers
that ye two came together? Again I knew not how to answer, lest I might
do a wrong to him who had repented him of the wrong he had done me. But
the Red Knight burst out a-laughing and said: It shall be remembered
against thee, first, that thou didst let fly a shaft at me; second,
that thou didst run from me; and thirdly, that thou hast been slack in
answering my questions. But all this scathes me nought; first, because
thy shaft missed me; second, because thy legs failed thee (though they
were fair to look on, running); and third, because all thou canst tell
me I know without thine answering. Now thee will I tell that this is
Friday, and that ye two first met in the Black Valley on Tuesday; now I
will ask this last question, and thou mayst answer it or not as thou
wilt; for presently I shall wake this brisk and stirring knight, and I
deem that he will tell me the truth of this if of nought else. Tell me,
thou whore of the Questing Champions, where and how many times thou
hast lain in this good knight’s arms since last Tuesday? Nowhere and
never, quoth I. Thou liest, I doubt thee, said the Red Knight;
howsoever, let us see what this doughty one will say. Hah! thou deemest
he shall be hard to wake up, dost thou not! Well, I shall see to that.
He who giveth sleep may take it away again.
Therewith he went up to the Black One and stooped adown over his head,
and spake some words over him, but so softly that I heard not their
import; and straightway the sleeper rose up so suddenly that he
wellnigh smote against the Red Knight. He stood awhile staggering, and
blinking at the other one, but somehow got his sword drawn forth, and
the Red Knight hindered him nought therein, but spake anon when the
other was come to himself somewhat: The sele of the day to thee, Sir
Thomas, True Thomas! Fair is thy bed, and most fair thy bedfellow.
The Black Knight drew aback from him and was now come awake, wherefore
he stood on his guard, but said nought. Then said the Red Knight: Sir
Thomas, I have been asking this fair lady a question, but her memory
faileth her and she may not answer it; perchance thou mayst do better.
Tell me where and how many times hast thou bedded her betwixt last
Tuesday and this? Nowhere and never, cried Sir Thomas, knitting his
brows and handling his sword. Hah, said the Red Knight, an echo of her
speech is this. Lo, the tale ye have made up betwixt you. But at least,
having done mine errand, though meseemeth somewhat leisurely, and
having gotten the woman for me, thou art now bringing her on to the Red
Hold, whatever thou hast done with her on the road? I am not, said my
fellow, I am leading her away from the Red Hold. Pity of thee, quoth
the other, that thou hast fallen in with me, and thou but half-armed.
And he raised aloft his sword; but presently sank it again, and let the
point rest on the earth.
Then he spoke again, not mockingly as erst: A word before we end it,
Thomas: thou hast hitherto done well by me, as I by thee. I say thou
hast gotten this woman, and I doubt not that at first thou hadst the
mind to bring her to me unminished; but then thou wert overcome by her
beauty, as forsooth I know thee woman-mad, and thou hadst meant to keep
her for thyself, as forsooth I marvel not. But in thy love-making thou
hast not bethought thee that keep her to thyself thou mayst not while I
am above ground, save thou bewray me, and join thee to my foemen and
thine. Because I am such a man, that what I desire that will I have.
For this reason, when I misdoubted me of thee for thy much-tarrying, I
cast the sleep over thee, and have caught thee. For what wilt thou do?
Doubt it not, that if our swords meet, I shall pay thee for trying to
take my bedthrall from me by taking from thee no more than thy life.
But now will I forgive thee all if thou wilt ride home quietly with me
and this damsel-errant to the Red Hold, and let her be mine and not
thine so long as I will; and then afterwards, if thou wilt, she shall
be thine as long as thou wilt. Now behold, both this chance and thy
life is a mere gift of me to thee, for otherwise thou shalt have
neither damsel nor life.
Yea, yea, said my friend, I know what thou wouldest: I have been no
unhandy devil to thee this long while, and thou wouldst fain keep me
still; but now I will be devil no longer, on this earth at least, but
will die and take my luck of it. And do thou, God, see to the saving of
this damsel, since thou hast taken the matter out of my hands.
Farewell, dear maiden!
Scarce was the word out of his mouth ere his sword was in the air, and
he smote so fierce and straight that he beat down the huge man’s blade,
and, ere he could master it again, smote the Red Knight so heavily on
the crest that he fell to his knees; and the heart rose in me, for I
deemed that he might yet prevail; and in as ’twere a flash I bethought
me of the knife at my girdlestead, and drew it and ran to the Red
Knight, and tore aside his mail hood with one hand and thrust the knife
into his shoulder with the other; but so mighty was he that he heeded
nought the hurt, but swept his sword back-handed at the Black Knight’s
unarmed leg, and smote him so sore a wound that down he fell
clattering. Then arose the Red Knight, and thrust me from him with the
left hand, and strode over my fellow-farer and thrust his sword through
his throat. Then he turned to me, and spake in a braying voice as if a
harsh horn were blown:
Abide thou; if thou takest one step I will slay thee at once. So he
went and sat down on a bank a little way from the dead man, and wiped
his sword on the grass and laid it beside him, and so sat pondering a
while. Thereafter he called me to him, and bade me stand in face of him
with my hands clasped before me. Then he spake to me: Thou art my
thrall and my having, since I had thus doomed it no few days ago; and
thou art now in my hands for me to do with as I will. Now instead of
being meek and obedient to me thou hast rebelled against me, shot an
arrow at me, run from me, denied answer to my questions, and thrust a
knife into me. To be short, thou hast made thyself my foe. Furthermore,
it is by thy doing that I have lost a right good servant and a trusty
fellow, and one that I loved; it is thou that hast slain him. Now have
I been pondering what I shall do with thee. I said: If I have deserved
the death, then make an end and slay me presently; but bring me not to
thine house, I pray thee. I pray by the mother that bore thee!
Quoth he: Hold thy peace, it is not what thou deservest that I am
looking to, but what shall pleasure me. Now hearken; I say that thou
hast made thee my foe, and I have overcome thee; thou art my runaway
thrall, and I have caught thee. As my foe I might slay thee in any evil
way it might like me; as my thrall I might well chastise thee as
sharply and as bitterly as I would. But it is not my pleasure to slay
thee, rather I will bring thee to the Red Hold, and there see what we
may make of thee; whereas I cannot but deem that in thee is the making
of somewhat more than a thrall; and if not, then a thrall must thou
needs be. Again as to the chastising of thee, that also I forgive thee
since I have gotten the hope aforesaid. Yet forsooth some shame must I
do thee to pay thee back for the love that was betwixt thee and the
slain man. I will ponder what it shall be; but take heed that
whatsoever it shall be, it will not avail thee to pray me to forego it,
though thy speech be as fair and sweet as thy body.
Therewith he was silent a while, and I stood there not daring to move,
and my heart was so downcast that all the sweetness of life seemed
departed. Yet I withheld lamentations or prayers, thinking within
myself, who knows what occasion may be between this and the Red Hold
for my escaping; let me keep myself alive for that if it may be.
Presently he arose and took his sword, and went up to the slain man’s
body and smote the head from off it. Then he went to the two horses of
Sir Thomas and of me, and took from them such gear of girths and thongs
as he would, and therewith he dight me as ye saw, doing a girth about
my middle and making me fast to a line wherewith to hold me in tow. And
then he did that other thing which sickens my very soul to tell of, to
wit, that he took the slain man’s head and tied a lace thereto, and
hung it about my neck; and as he did so, he said: This jewel shalt thou
thyself bear to mine house; and there belike shall we lay it in earth,
since the man was my trusty fellow. Lo now, this is all the ill I shall
do thee till it be tried of what avail thou art. This is a shaming to
thee and not a torment, for I will ride a foot’s-pace, and the green
way is both soft and smooth; wherefore fear not that I shall throw thee
down or drag thee along. And to-morrow thy shame shall be gone and we
shall see what is to betide.
Lo, friends, this is the last word he spake ere he was slain, and the
ending of my tale; for we had gone thus but a little way ere ye brake
out of the wood upon us; and then befell the death of one friend, and
the doubt, maybe, of the others, and all the grief and sorrow that I
shall never be quit of unless ye forgive me where I have done amiss,
and help me in the days to come. And she spread out her hands before
them, and bowed her head, and the tears fell from her eyes on to the
floor.
Viridis wept at Birdalone’s weeping, and Aurea for her own sorrow,
which this other sorrow stirred. Atra wept not, but her face was sadder
than weeping.
But Arthur spake and said: Herein hath been the hand of Weird, and hath
been heavy on us; but no blame have we to lay on our sister Birdalone,
nor hath she done light-mindedly by us; though maybe she erred in not
trusting to the good-hap of the Quest to bring us back in due time: and
all that she saith do we trow as if it were written in the Holy Gospel.
They all yeasaid this, and called on her to come amongst them; but she
thought of little at first save the joy of hearing the sweetness of
those words as Arthur spake them; wherefore she hung back a little, and
thought shame of it that she might not give more heed to the others of
them. Then came Viridis and took her by the hand and led her to Sir
Hugh, and Birdalone knelt down before him and took his hand to kiss it,
but he put both hands about her face and kissed her kindly and merrily
on the lips. Then she knelt before Aurea, and was hapless before her;
but Aurea kissed her, and bade her be of better cheer, albeit the words
came coldly from her mouth. Next she came to Arthur, and knelt before
him and took his hand and kissed it, and thanked him kindly for his
kind words, looking into his face meanwhile; and she saw that it was
pale and troubled now, and she longed to be alone with him that she
might ask him wherefore.
As for Atra, she arose as Birdalone came before her, and cast her arms
about her neck, and wept and sobbed upon her bosom, and then went
hurrying from out the solar and into the hall, and walked to and fro
there a while until the passion that tore her was lulled somewhat, and
she might show her face to them calm and friendly once more. And as she
entered Arthur was speaking, and he said:
To you, ladies, I tell what we of the castle wot better than well, that
our dear friend hath escaped so heavy a fate in escaping the Red Hold,
that it were unmeet for us to murmur at our loss in our fellow; for a
warrior’s life, which is ever in peril of death, is nought over heavy a
ransom for such a friend, and so dear and lovely, from such a long and
evil death. Whereas ye must wot that the said Hold hath this long while
been a very treasure-house of woes and a coffer of lamentations; for
merciless was the tyrant thereof, and merciless all his folk. Now
another time, when ye are stronger in heart than now ye be, I may tell
you tales thereof closer and more nicely of those who did his will; as
of his innermost band of men-at-arms, called the Millers; and of his
fellow-worker in wizardry and venoms, called the Apothecary; and the
three hags, called the Furies; and the three young women, called the
Graces; and his hounds that love man’s flesh; and the like tales, as
evil as nightmares turned into deeds of the day. But now and here will
I say this, that when we have done the obsequies of our dear fellow, it
were good that we follow up the battle so valiantly begun by him. I
mean that the Quest of our ladies being now accomplished, we should
turn what is left of the fellowship into a war against the Red Hold and
its evil things; and that so soon as the relics of Baudoin are laid in
earth, we gather force and go thither in arms to live or die in the
quarrel, and so sweeten the earth, as did the men of ancient days when
they slew the dragons and the giants, and the children of hell, and the
sons of Cain.
His cheek flushed as he spoke, and he looked around till his eyes fell
on Birdalone, and he saw that her face also glowed and her eyes
gleamed; but Viridis, her heart sank so that she paled, and her lips
trembled.
But Aurea spake and said: I thank thee for thy word, Black Squire, and
I know that my man shall rejoice in Paradise when he knoweth of it, and
thereof shall I tell him to-morrow when the mass is said for him.
And Atra said: Good is the word, and we look to it that the deed shall
be better yet. Thus hath the evil arisen that shall destroy the evil,
as oft hath been when the valiant have been grieved, and the joy of the
true-hearted hath been stolen from them; then the hand doth the doughty
deed and the heart hath ease, and solaced is sorrow.
They looked on her and wondered, for she spake with her head upraised
and her eyes glittering, as she had been one of the wise women of yore
agone. And Birdalone feared her, though she loved her.
Lastly spake Hugh, and said: Brother, this is well thought of indeed,
and I marvel that I did not prevent thee; and I am thine to live and
die with thee. And the adventure is nought unlikely; for if we have
lost a captain they have lost their head devil, and their head little
devil; moreover, the good men of Greenford shall join them to us, and
that shall make us strong, whereas they have men enough, and those
stout men-at-arms; and artificers they have to make us engines, and do
other wisdom; and therewithal money to buy or to wage what they will.
Wherefore, to my mind, we were best to make no tarrying, but send out
the messengers for the hosting straightway.
Straightway, said the Black Squire; and let us go now and find Sir
Aymeris. So they arose both and went their ways, and left the women
there alone, and were gone a good while.
CHAPTER VIII.
ATRA AND BIRDALONE TALK TOGETHER WHILE THE LORDS SIT AT THE
MURDER-COUNCIL.
Meanwhile of their absence, Viridis sat sad and silent and downcast,
though she wept not, for her gladness, which erst had been so great,
seemed now reft from her; and no merrier was Aurea, as might have been
looked for. But Atra came quietly unto Birdalone, and said softly: I
have a word for thee if thou wilt come forth with me into the hall.
Birdalone’s heart failed her somewhat, but she suffered Atra to take
her hand, and they went into the hall together, and Atra brought her
into a shot-window, and they sat down together side by side and were
silent awhile. Spake Atra then, trembling and reddening: Birdalone,
knowest thou what thought, what hope, was in my heart when I spake so
proudly and rashly e’en now? Birdalone kept silence, and trembled as
the other did. This it was, said Atra: he will go to this battle
valiantly, he may fall there, and that were better; for then is life to
begin anew: and what is there to do with these dregs of life? Said
Birdalone, with flushed face: If he die he shall die goodly, and if he
live he shall live goodly. Yea, yea, said Atra; forsooth thou art a
happy woman! Dost thou hate me? said Birdalone. Said Atra: Proud is thy
word, but I hate thee not. Nay, e’en now, when I spake thus boastfully,
I thought: When he hath died as a doughty knight should, then, when
life begins again, Birdalone and I shall be friends and sisters, and we
two will talk together oft and call him to mind, and the kindness of
him, and how he loved us. Woe’s me! that was when he was there sitting
beside me and I could see him and his kindness; and then it was as if I
could give him away; but now he is gone and I may not see him, it is
clear to me that I have no part or lot in him, and I call back my
thought and my word, and now it is: O that he may live! O thou happy
woman, that shall be glad whether he liveth or dieth!
Said Birdalone: And now thou hatest me, dost thou not, and we are foes?
Atra answered not, nor spake for a while; then she said: Hard and
bitter is it, and I know not what to turn to. I have seen once and
again, on the wall of the Minorites’ church at Greenford, a fair
picture of the Blessed, and they walking in the meads of Paradise, clad
in like raiment, men and women; their heads flower-crowned, their feet
naked in the harmless blossomed grass; hand in hand they walk, with all
wrath passed for ever, all desire changed into loving-kindness, all the
anguish of forgiveness forgotten. And underneath the picture is it
writ:
Bitter winter, burning summer, never more shall waste and wear;
Blossom of the rose undying brings undying springtide there.
O for the hope of it, that I might hope it! O for the days to be and
the assuaging of sorrow: I speak the word, and the hope springeth; the
word is spoken, and there abideth desire barren of hope! And she bowed
down her head and wept bitterly; and Birdalone called to mind her
kindness of the past and wept for her, she also.
After a while Atra lifted up her head, and thus she spake: I hate thee
not, Birdalone; nor doth one say such things to a foe. Yea,
furthermore, I will crave somewhat of thee. If ever there come a time
when thou mayst do something for me, thou wilt know it belike without
my telling thee. In that day and in that hour I bid thee remember how
we stood together erst at the stair-foot of the Wailing Tower in the
Isle of Increase Unsought, and thou naked and fearful and quaking, and
what I did to thee that tide to comfort thee and help and save thee.
And then when thou hast called it to mind, do thou for me what thou
canst do. Wilt thou promise this? Yea, yea, said Birdalone; and with
all the better will, that oft and over again have I called it to mind.
Wherefore I behight thee to let me serve thee if I may whenso the
occasion cometh, even if it be to my own pain and grief; for this I
know thou meanest.
See thou to this then, said Atra coldly; and thou shalt be the better
for it in the long run belike: for thou art a happy woman.
She arose as she spake, and said: Hist! here come the lords from the
murder-council; and lo, now that he cometh, my heart groweth evil
toward thee again, and well-nigh biddeth me wish that thou wert naked
and helpless before me again. Lo my unhap! that he should mark my face
that it shows as if I were fain to do thee a mischief. And nought of
that would I do; for how should it avail me, and thou my fellow and the
faithful messenger of the Quest?
Now little of her last words did Birdalone meet, as into the hall came
Hugh and Arthur; and though she strove to sober her mind and think of
her she-friend and her unhappiness, yet she could not choose but to be
full of joy in her inmost heart now she knew without doubt that she was
so well-beloved of her beloved: and she deemed that Atra was in the
right indeed to call her a happy woman.
So now they all went into the solar together, and sat them down with
the two others; and Hugh did them to wit, how they had ordered all the
matter of the messengers who were to summon the knights and chiefs of
thereabouts, and the aldermen of Greenford, to meet at the Castle of
the Quest, that they might set afoot the hosting to go against the Red
Hold.
CHAPTER IX.
HUGH TELLS THE STORY OF THE QUEST’S ENDING.
When this was said, and there had been silence a while, Birdalone took
up the word, and spake meekly and sweetly, saying: Dear friends, how it
fared with you on the isle from the time of my leaving you, and how
with you, true knights, from the time of your departure, I both were
fain to know for the tale’s sake, and also I would take the telling
thereof as a sign of your forgiveness of my transgression; so I would
crave the same of you but if it weary you overmuch.
All they yeasaid her kindly, and Hugh spake and said: By your leave,
fellows, I will tell in few words what betid us on our way to the Isle
of Increase Unsought, and then shall Viridis take up the tale from the
time that Birdalone left the said isle in the witch’s ferry. None said
aught against it, and Hugh went on: Short is my tale of the journey: We
came to the Isle of Nothing on the morrow’s morn of our departure, and
being warned of thee, Birdalone, we abode there but a little while to
rest us from the boat, and went nowhither from the strand, and so went
on our way in a three hours’ space.
Thence again we took the water, and came to the Isle of Kings, and that
was in the middle of the night: we beheld the dead long and heedfully
when the morning came, and departed again before noon, and came to the
Isle of Queens a little after nightfall. The next morning we deemed we
needs must go see the images of those ladies, lest aught might have
befell since thou wert there which might be of import to the Quest, but
all was unchanged, and we came away while the day was yet young.
We made the Isle of the Young and the Old about sunset that day, and
the boy and the girl came down to the strand to behold us and wonder at
us, and we sported with them merrily a while; and then they brought us
to the house of the old man, who received us courteously and gave us to
eat and drink. Forsooth, when the night was somewhat spent, he brought
out strong drink to us, and took it somewhat amiss that we drank not
overmuch thereof, as forsooth he did, and so fell asleep. Before he was
drunk we asked him many questions about the isle and its customs, but
he knew nought to tell us of them. Of thee also we asked, sister, but
he had no memory of thee.
On the morrow he fared down with us to our ferry, and made many prayers
to us to take him along with us; for here, said he, is neither lordship
nor fair lady; and if here I abide, soon shall I come to mine ending
day, and sore I yearn for joyance and a long term to my years. Now we
durst not take him aboard lest we should fare amiss with the wight of
the Sending Boat; so we naysaid him courteously, thanked him for his
guesting, and gave him gifts, to wit, a finger gold ring and an ouch of
gold, so he turned away from us somewhat downcast as we deemed; but ere
we had given the word to the Sending Boat we heard him singing merrily
in a high cracked voice as he went on his way.
Now on this last day betid somewhat of new tidings; for scarce was this
isle out of sight behind, ere we saw a boat come sailing toward us from
the north-east, and it came on swiftly with a blue ripple of the lake
behind it. Thereat we marvelled, and yet more when we saw that its sail
was striped of gold and green and black; next then were we betwixt fear
and joy when, as it drew nigher, we saw three women in the said boat,
clad in gold, green, and black; and it came so nigh unto us at last,
that we could see their faces that they were verily those of our
lovelings; and each reached out her arms to us and called on us for
help, each by our name: and there we were, oarless, sailless, at the
mercy of our unkenned ferry. Then would Baudoin and I have leapt
overboard to swim to our loves at all adventure; but Sir Arthur here
stayed us, and bade us think of it, that we were now nearing the
Witch-land, and if we might not look to be beset with guiles and gins
to keep us from winning to our journey’s end; wherefore we forbore,
though in all wretchedness, and the gay boat ran down the wind away
from us, and the breeze and the ripple passed away with it, and the
lake lay under the hot sun as smooth as glass; and on we went,
weary-hearted.
Came again another sail out of the north-east, when the sun was getting
low, and speedily it drew nigh, but this time it was no small boat or
barge, but a tall ship with great sails, and goodly-towered she was and
shield-hung, and the basnets gleamed and the spears glittered from her
castle-tops and bulwarks, and the sound of her horns came down the wind
as she neared us. We two handled our weapons and did on our basnets,
but Arthur there, he sat still, and said: Not over-wise is the witch,
that she lets loose on us two sendings in one day so like unto each
other. Hah, said Baudoin, be we wary though; they are going to shoot.
And sure enough we saw a line of bowmen in all the castles and even
along, and a horn blew, and then forth flew the shafts, but whither we
knew not, for none came anywhere anigh us; and Arthur laughed and said:
A fair shot into the clouds; but, by our Lady! if none shot better in
our country, I would bear no armour for their shafts. But we two were
confused and knew not what to think.
The great ship flew past us on the wind as the barge had done, but when
she was about half a mile aloof we saw her canvass fall to shivering
and her yards swaying round, and Arthur cried out: St. Nicholas! the
play beginneth again! she is coming about!
Even so it was, and presently she was bearing on us, and was ere long
so close aboard that we could see her every spar and rope, and her folk
all gathered to the windward, knights, sergeants, archers, and
mariners, to gaze at us and mock us; and huge and devilish laughter
arose from amongst them as she ploughed the water so close beside us,
that one might well-nigh have cast a morsel of bread aboard her; for
clear it was presently that she had no mind to run us down.
Spake Arthur then: There will be a fresh play presently, my mates, but
ye sit fast, for meseemeth this show is no more perilous than the
other, though it be bigger.
Scarce were the words out of his mouth, ere there was a stir amongst
the men gathered in the waist, and lo, amidst a knot of big and fierce
mariners, three women standing, pale, with flying hair, and their hands
bound behind them, and one was clad in gold and another in green and
the third in black; and their faces were as the faces of Aurea and
Viridis and Atra.
Then there came forth from that ship a huge cruel roar blent with
mocking laughter that shamed our very hearts, and those evil things in
the form of mariners took hold of each one of the ladies and cast them
overboard into the gulf of the waters, first Aurea, next Viridis, and
then Atra; and we two stood up with our useless swords brandished and
would have leapt over into the deep, but that Arthur arose also and
took hold of an arm of each of us and stayed us, and said: Nay, then,
if ye go, take me with you, and let all the Quest sink down into the
deep, and let our lovelings pine in captivity, and Birdalone lose all
her friends in one swoop, and we be known hereafter as the fools of
lovers, the unstable.
So we sat us down, but huge shrieking laughter rose up unblended from
the keel of the evil thing, and then they let her go down the wind, and
she went her way with flashing of arms, and streaming of banners and
pennons, and blowing of horns, and the sun was setting over the wide
water.
But Arthur spake: Cheer up, brethren! see ye not how this proud witch
is also but an eyeless fool to send us such a show, and the second time
in one day to show us the images of our dearlings, who hours ago
flitted past us in the stripe-sailed boat? Where, then, did they of the
ship meet with them? Nay, lords, let not the anguish of love steal all
your wits.
We saw we had been fools to be so overcast by guile, and yet were we
exceeding ill at ease, and over-long the time seemed unto us until we
should be come to the Isle of Increase Unsought, and find our lovelings
there.
Now was the night come, and we fell asleep, but belike were not often
all asleep at once; and at last it was, when we felt the dawn drawing
near, though, the moon being down, it was the darkest of the summer
night, that we were all three awake, when all of a sudden we heard just
astern the rushing of the water, as though some keel were cleaving it,
and dimly in the dark we saw a sail as of a boat overhauling us. Close
at hand there rang out a lamentable cry: O, are ye there, fellows of
the Quest? O, help me, friends! save me and deliver me, who am snatched
away to be cast into the hands of my mistress that was. Help me,
Baudoin, Hugh, Arthur! Help! help!
Then all we knew the voice of Birdalone, and Arthur leapt up, and would
have been overboard in a trice had not we two held him, and he fought
and cursed us well-favouredly, there is no nay thereto; and meanwhile
the wailing voice of thee, my sister, died out in the distance, and the
east grew grey, and dawn was come.
Then spake Baudoin: Arthur, my brother, dost thou not mark that this
also was of the same sort of show as those two others, and thou who
wert so wise before? It is but beguilings to bring the Quest to nought;
wherefore call to mind thy manhood and thy much wisdom!
And we admonished him and rebuked him till he became quiet and wise
again, but was sad and downcast and silent. But the Sending Boat sped
on through the dawning, and when it was light we saw that we had the
Isle of Increase close aboard, and we ran ashore there just as the sun
was rising. Fain were we then to get out of the boat and feel earth
under our feet. We took all our hards out of the boat, and hid away
under the roots of an old thorn a little mail wherein was your raiment,
my ladies, which ye had lent to Birdalone; then we did on our armour,
and advised us of whereabout on the isle we were, and we saw the
orchards and gardens before us, and the great fair house above all,
even as ye told us of them, Birdalone.
Next, then, without more ado, we went our ways up through the orchard
and the gardens, and when we were well-nigh at the end of them, and in
face of those many steps ye spake of, we saw at the foot of them a tall
woman clad in red scarlet, standing as if she abode our coming. When we
drew nigh we saw that she was strong-looking, well-knit, white-skinned,
yellow-haired, and blue-eyed, and might have been called a fair woman,
as to her shaping, save that her face was heavy, yet hard-looking, with
thin lips and somewhat flagging cheeks, a face stupid, but proud and
cruel.
She hailed us as we came up, and said: Men-at-arms, ye be welcome to
our house, and I bid you to eat and drink and abide here.
Then we louted before her, and bade her Hail; and Baudoin said: Lady,
thy bidding will we take; yet have we an errand to declare ere we break
bread with thee, lest when it is told we be not so welcome as ye tell
us now. What is it? said she. Said Baudoin: This man here is called the
Green Knight, and this the Black Squire, and I am the Golden Knight;
and now will we ask thee if this isle be called the Isle of Increase
Unsought? Even so have I called it, quoth she, wherefore I deem none
other will dare call it otherwise. It is well, quoth Baudoin; but we
have heard say that hereto had strayed three dear friends of ours,
three maidens, who hight Viridis, the friend of the Green Knight, and
Atra, who is the Black Squire’s, and Aurea, who is mine own friend, so
we have come to take them home with us, since they have been so long
away from their land and their loves. Now if they be thy friends thou
wilt perchance let them go for love’s sake and the eking of friendship;
but if they be thy captives, then are we well willing to pay thee
ransom, not according to their worth, for no treasure heaped up might
come nigh it, but according to thy desire, lady.
Laughed the proud lady scornfully and said: Big are thy words, Sir
Knight: if I had these maidens in my keeping I would give them unto you
for nothing, and deem that I had the best of the bargain. But here are
they not. True it is that I had here three thralls who were hight as
thou hast said; but a while ago, not many days, they transgressed
against me till I chastised them; and then was I weary of them and
would be quit of them; for I need no servants here, whereas I myself am
enough for myself. Wherefore I sent them away across the water to my
sister, who dwells in a fair place hight the House under the Wood; for
she needeth servants, because the earth there yieldeth nought save to
the tiller and the herdsman and the hunter, while here all cometh
unsought. With her may ye deal, for what I know, and buy the maidens
whom ye prize so high; though belike ye may have to give her other
servants in their place. For, indeed, a while ago her thrall fled from
her and left her half undone, and it is said that she came hither in
her shamelessness: but I know not; if she did, she slipped through my
fingers, or else I would have made her rue her impudence. Now
meseemeth, Sir Knights, here is enough of so small and foolish a
matter; and again I pray you to enter my poor house, and take meat and
drink along with me, for ye be none the less welcome because of your
errand, though it be a foolish one.
Now would Sir Baudoin have answered wrathfully, but Arthur plucked at
his skirt, and he yeasaid the lady’s bidding, though somewhat
ungraciously; but that she heeded nought; she took Sir Baudoin by the
hand and led him up the stately perron, and thence came we into a
pillared hall, as fair as might be. And there on the dais was a table
dight with dainty meats and drinks, and the lady bade us thereto, and
we sat to it.
Thereat was the lady buxom and merry: Baudoin scowled across the board;
I was wary and silent; but Arthur was as blithe with the lady as she
with him; nor did I altogether marvel thereat, since I knew him wise of
wit.
But when we were done with the meal, the lady stood up and said: Now,
Sir Knights, I will give you leave; but this house is as your own to
roam through all its chambers and pleasure you with its wonders and
goodliness; and when ye are weary of the house, then is the orchard and
the garden free to you, and all the isle wheresoever ye will go. And
here in this hall is meat and drink for you whenso ye will; but if ye
would see me again to-day, then shall ye meet me where ye first
happened on me e’en now, at the foot of the great perron.
Then she laid her hand on Arthur’s shoulder, and said: Thy big friend
may search out every nook in this house, and every bush in the whole
island, and if he find there the maidens he spake of, one or all of
them, then are they a gift from me unto him.
Therewith she turned, and went out of the hall by a door in the side
thereof; and now already meseemed that though the woman was hateful and
thick-hearted and cruel, yet she was become fairer, or seemed so, than
when we first came on her; and for my part I pondered on what it might
grow to, and fear of her came into my soul.
Now spake Baudoin: Fellows, let us get out into the garden at least;
for this place is evil, and meseems it smells and tastes of tears and
blood, and that evil wights that hate the life of men are lurking in
the nooks thereof. And lo, our very she-friend that was so kind and
simple and dainty with us, there is, as it were, the image of the dear
maiden standing trembling and naked before the stupid malice of this
lump of flesh. So spake he, Birdalone.
But I said to Arthur in a soft voice: And when shall we slay her? Said
he: Not until we have gotten from her all that may be gotten; and that
is the living bodies of our friends. But come we forth.
So did we, and came down to the orchard and did off our helms, and lay
down under a big apple-tree which was clear of cover all round about,
and so fell to our redes; and I asked Arthur what he deemed of the
story of our loves having been carried to the House under the Wood, and
if it might not be tried seeking thither; but he laughed and said:
Never would she have told us thereof had it been sooth: doubtless our
friends are here on this isle, but, as I deem, not in the house, else
had not the witch left all the house free for us to search into. Yea,
said I, but how if they be in her prison? Said he: It is not hard to
find out which is the prison of so dainty a house as is yonder; and
when we had found it, soon should we have hit upon a way to break it,
since we be three, and stout fellows enough. Nay, I deem that the
lovelings be stowed away in some corner of the isle without the house,
and that mayhappen we shall find them there; and yet I trow not before
we have made guile meet guile, and overcome the sorceress. But come
now, let us be doing, and begin to quarter this little land as the
kestrel doth the water-meadow; and leave we our armour, lest we weary
us, for we shall have no need for hard strokes.
We hung up there on the tree helm and shield and hauberk, and all our
defences, and went our ways quartering the isle; and the work was
toilsome, but we rested not till the time was come to keep tryst with
the lady; and all that while we found no sign of the darling ones: and
the isle was everywhere a meadow as fair as a garden, with little
copses of sweet-growing trees here and there, and goodly brooks of
water, but no tillage anywhere: wild things, as hart and buck and roe,
we came upon, and smaller deer withal, but all unhurtful to man; but of
herding was no token.
Came we then back to that lordly perron, and there, at the foot
thereof, stood the witch-wife, and received us joyously; clad was she
all gloriously in red scarlet broidered and begemmed; her arms bare and
her feet sandalled, and her yellow hair hanging down from under its
garland; and certainly it was so that she had grown fairer, and was
sleek and white and well-shapen, and well-haired; yet by all that, the
visage of her was little bettered, and unto me she was loathsome.
Now the feast went much as the earlier meal had done; and Baudoin was
surly and Arthur blithe and buxom; and nought befell to tell of, save
that dishes and meats, and flasks and cups, and all things came upon
the board as if they were borne thereon by folk unseen; and thereat we
wondered not much, considering in what wonder-house we were. But the
lady-witch looked on us and smiled, and said: Knights, ye marvel at the
manner of our service, but call to mind that we told you this morning
that we were enough for Ourselves, and we have so dight our days here
that whoso is our friend on this Isle of Increase shall lack nothing.
Fear not, therefore, to see aught ugly in our servants as now unseen,
if their shapes were made manifest unto you.
All things were we heedful to note at this banquet; but when it was
over, then came music into the hall from folk unseen, but not as if the
musicians were a many, only belike some three or four. And thereat the
lady spake, saying: Knights, ye may deem our minstrels but few, but
such is our mind that we love not our music overloud, and for the most
part only three sing or play unto us at one time.
Thereafter the lady brought us to fair chambers, and we slept there in
all ease, and we arose on the morrow and found the lady still blithe
with us; yet I noted this, that she seemed to deal with Arthur as if
she saw him now for the first time, and much he seemed to be to her
liking.
Again we fared forth, and were no less diligent in searching the isle
than erst, and found nought; and all went that day as before.
On the morrow (that is, the third day) the witch seemed to have
somewhat more memory of Arthur than erst, and even yet more liking of
him, so that she reached out her hand for him to kiss, which needs must
he do, despite his loathing of her.
When we had lain under the apple-tree a little while, Baudoin spake and
said: Yesterday and the day before we searched the open land and found
nought; now to-day let us search the house, and if we find nought, then
at least it shall lie behind us. We yeasaid it, and presently went
back, and from chamber to chamber, and all was fair and goodly as might
be, and we marvelled what would betide to it when the witch was undone
and her sorcery come to an end.
To the Wailing Tower we came, and up the stairs, and found the door
open of the prison-chamber, and all there as thou hast told us,
Birdalone; only we opened the great coffer, whence thou didst refrain
thee, and found it full of hideous gear truly, as fetters and chains,
and whips and rods, and evil tools of the tormentors, and cursed it all
and came away; and Arthur said: Lo you, this stupid one! How eager is
she to bid us what to do, and to tell us that our ladies are not in
this evil house, since she leaveth all open to us. Yet we went about
the house without, and counted the windows heedfully to see that we had
missed no chamber, and found nought amiss; and then we went in again
and sought as low down as we might, to see if perchance some dungeon
there were underground, but found nought save a very goodly undercroft
below the great hall, which was little less fair than that which was
above it. So came the evening and the banquet, and the end of that day;
but the witch-wife led Arthur by the hand to the board, and afterwards
to the chamber ere we slept.
On the fourth day and the fifth it was no otherwise than erst; and when
I fared to bed I felt confused in my head and sick of heart.
The night of the next day (the sixth), as we went to our chambers, and
the witch-wife and Arthur hand-in-hand, she stayed him a while, and
spake eagerly to him in a soft voice; and as he came up to me
afterwards he said: To-night I have escaped it, but there will not be
escape for long. From what? said I. He said: From bedding her; for now
it has come to this, that presently we must slay her at once and have
no knowledge of our sweetlings, or I must do her will.
In such wise passed four more days, and it was the twelfth morning of
our sojourn there, and we went forth on our search of every mead and
every covert of the isle, and all day we found nought to our purpose;
but as it grew toward sunset, and there grew great clouds in the
eastern ort, piled up and copper-coloured, we came over a bent on to a
little green dale watered by a clear brook, and as we looked down into
it we saw something shine amongst its trees; so we hastened toward that
gleam, and lo, amidst the dale, with the brook running through it, a
strange garth we saw. For there was a pavilion done of timber and
board, and gaily painted and gilded, and out from that house was, as it
were, a great cage of thin gilded bars, both walls and roof, just so
wide apart as no one full-grown, carl or quean, could thrust through.
Thitherward then ran we, shouting, for we saw at once that in the said
cage were three women whose aspect was that of our sweetlings, and
presently we were standing by the said herse, reaching our hands out to
them to come to us and tell us their tale, and that we would deliver
them. But they stood together in the midst of the said cage, and though
they gazed piteously on us thence, and reached out their hands to us,
they neither spake nor came to the herse to us; so we deemed that they
were bewitched, and our joy was dashed.
Then we went all about the cage and the pavilion to find ingate, and
found it not; and then the three of us together strove with the bars of
the herse, and shook and swayed them, but it was all to no purpose.
Moreover, while we were at this work the sun seemed to go out, and
there came a heavy black mist rolling into the dale, and wrapped us
about so that we saw not each other’s faces, and the bars of the herse
were gone from our hands as we stood there. Then came rain and thunder
and lightning on to the black night, and by the glare of the lightning
we could see the leaves and grass of the dale, but neither herse nor
house nor woman. So we abode there in the dark night, and the storm all
bewildered us, till the rain and clouds drew off and it was calm fair
starlight again, but clean gone was the golden cage and they that stood
therein; and we turned sadly, and went our ways toward the witch-house.
On the way said Arthur: Brethren, this meseemeth is but a-going on with
the shows which were played us on the water as we came hither; but
whether she doth this but for to mock and torment us, or that she would
beguile us into deeming that our friends are verily here, I wot not;
but to-morrow, meseemeth, I shall can to tell you.
Now came we to the perron of the house, and there stood the witch-wife
under the stars to meet us. And when she saw us, she took hold of
Arthur by the hand and the arm to caress him, and found that he and we
were drenched with the rain and the storm, as might well be deemed;
then she bade us up to our chambers to do on raiment which she had
dight for us, and we went thither, and found our garments rich and
dainty indeed; but when we came down into the hall where the witch
abode us, we saw that Arthur’s raiment was far the richest and
daintiest. But the witch ran to him and cast her arms about him, and
clipped and kissed him before the others, and he suffered it. So sped
the feast again.
But when they went to bed, the said witch took Arthur’s hand and spake
a word unto him, and led him away, and he went with her as one nought
loth; but we twain were afraid lest she should destroy him when she had
had her will of him. Wherefore we waked through the more part of the
night with our swords ready to hand.
But when we were clad in the morn he came unto us, he also clad, and
was downcast and shamefaced indeed, but safe and sound; and he said:
Speak no word about our matter till we be out in the open air, for I
fear all things about us.
So when we had gone forth and were under the apple-tree once more,
spake Arthur: Now, lords, am I shamed for ever, for I have become the
leman of this evil creature; but I pray ye not to mock me; and that the
more as the same lot may happen on you both, or either; for I can see
for sure that the wretch will weary of me and desire one of you two.
Let it pass. Somewhat have I found out from her, but not much; first,
that she has forgotten her first lie, to wit, how she sent our ladies
to the sister-witch; for I told her of the golden cage, and how we had
missed it in the storm; and she said: Though I deem it a folly that ye
should seek these thralls, yet would I help you if I might, since ye
are now become my dear friends. Though, forsooth, when ye meet them I
deem that ye will find them sore changed to you. For, as I told you,
they fled away from me, after I had chastised them for a treason, into
the hidden places of the isle, whereas they had no keel to sail away
hence. And I cared not to follow them, as I myself am queen and lady of
all things here, and am enough for myself, save when love constraineth
me, dear lord. Now, my rede is that ye seek the golden cage again and
yet again, because I deem that these thralls have somehow learned some
wisdom, and they have enchanted the said cage for a defence against me,
from whom they might not hide as they did from you; for of me have they
stolen their wizardry, and I am their mistress therein.
This, therefore, is the new lie of her, and my rede is that we heed it
nought. For my mind is that she it is that hath made the appearance of
the cage and the women therein, and that she hath our poor friends
somewhere underneath her hand.
Now this we deemed most like; yet whereas we had nought to do with the
time, which, now that we had searched the isle throughly, hung heavy on
hand, we deemed it good to go to the dale of the golden cage again,
though we looked not to find the cage there any more. But this betid,
that we found the little dale easily enough, and there stood the cage
as we had seen it yesterday, but nought was there within its bright
bars save the grass and the flowers, and the water of the brook
a-running.
We loitered about that place a while, and went back to the house in due
time; and to shorten the tale, I shall tell that for many days it betid
that we went every day to seek the golden cage, but after the first
three days we saw it no more.
Now began sadness and weariness to overcome us as the days and weeks
wore, and belike the witch-wife noted it that we were worse company
than heretofore.
And now on a day Arthur bade us note that the said witch was growing
weary of him, and he bade me look to it; for, said he, she is turning
her face toward thee, brother. My heart burned with rage at that word;
I said nought, but made up my mind that I would try to bring the matter
to an end.
That same night befell what Arthur had threatened; for the feast being
done in the evening, the witch drew me aside while the music was
a-playing, and caressed my hand and my shoulder, and said: I am yet
wondering at you Champions, that ye must needs follow after those three
wretched thralls, whom never will ye find, for they. need ye not, but
will flee from you if ye have sight of them, as they did that other
day; and therein they are scarce in the wrong, whereas they may well
think that if ye find them they should fall into my hands; for easily
may I take them any day that I will, and then I have a case against
them, and may lawfully chastise them according to the law that has been
given unto me; and then shall they be in grievous plight. Wherefore the
rede We give unto you three now is the rede of friendliness that ye
make yourselves happy in Our Island, and then will We do everything We
may for your pleasure and delight; and if ye will that We make
Ourselves even fairer than now We be, that may be done, and shall be a
reward unto you for your yielding and obedience. And if ye will women
thralls for your pleasure, that also may be gotten for you; for We be
not wholly without power in these waters, though We have no keel or
ferry upon them. And now, thou fair lad, We give thee this last word:
Ye Champions have been dwelling in Our house a long while, and that
while have ever striven to thwart Us. We now counsel you to make an end
of it, and it shall be better for you.
She seemed to my eyes prouder and stupider than ever erst, despite her
golden hair and white skin and lovely limbs; and I said to myself that
now must we destroy the evil of that house even if we died for it, or
else we were all undone; withal I saw somewhat of truth thrusting up
through her much lying, and I deemed, even as Arthur did, that she had
our friends under her band somewhere.
Nought else betid that night; but on the morrow we went forth and
strayed on till we were come into the southernmost quarter of the isle,
and not very far from the water we came upon a wood or big thicket
which was new to us. So we entered it, and as we went and noted the
wild things of the wood going hither and thither, we espied afar off
the shape of a man going amidst the thicket; wherefore we went warily
towards him, lest he should see us and flee from us; and when we drew a
little nigher we saw it was a woman, though she was clad as a hunter,
with legs naked to above the knee. She had a quiver at her back and a
bow in her hand, and her coat was black of hue. Belike now she heard
our going amongst the dry leaves, for she turned her face to us, and
lo! it was the face of Atra.
When she saw us, she gave a shrill cry, and fell to running at her
swiftest away from us, and we followed all we might, but we could not
over-run her, though we kept her in sight ever, till we had run all
through the wood, and before us was the sheer side of a rocky hill and
the mouth of a cave therein, and by the said mouth who should there be
but Aurea and Viridis, as we thought, clad in gold and in green, but
the fashion of their raiment not otherwise than Atra’s. Their bows were
bended and they had shafts in their hands, and as we came out of the
thicket into the open lawn before the cave, Viridis nocked a shaft and
aimed at us and drew, and the shaft flew over my head; therewith
mocking laughter came from them, and they ran into the cave. Speedily
we ran up to it, but when we came home thither, there was the sheer
hillside, but never a cave nor an opening.
Dismayed were we thereat; but more dismayed had we been but that we
deemed that all this was but a cheat and a painted show put upon us by
the witch to back up her lying. Nevertheless we fared the next day to
seek the wood and the cave in the sheer rock, but nowise might we find
either wood or cave.
Now it was the night of the day hereafter, as we went to our chambers,
that the witch-wife took me by the hand and led me apart, and said me
many soft things of her accursed lust, whereof I will not say one
again. But the upshot of it all was that she would bring me to her
chamber and her bed. And whereas I was determined what to do, and had
my war-sword by my side, I naysaid her not, but made her good
countenance. And when we came to her chamber, which was full gloriously
dight, and fragrant as with the scent of the roses and lilies of
mid-June, she bade me to lie in her bed of gold and ivory and she would
be with me anon. So I unclad myself and laid me down, but I drew forth
my sword, and laid the ancient naked blade betwixt my side and her
place.
Anon she cometh back again unclad, and would step into the bed; but she
saw the sword and said: What is this, Champion? Said I: These edges are
the token of sundering between us, for there is a spell on me, that
with no woman may I deal, save with mine only love, but I shall do her
mortal scathe; so beware by the token of the grey edges of battle. She
drew aback, and was as a spiteful and angry cat, and there was no
loveliness in her; and she said: Thou liest, and thou hatest me; see
thou to it, both for thyself and thy loveling. And she turned about and
strode out of the chamber; but I arose and clad myself in haste, and
took my naked sword in my hand. But before I went, I looked around, and
espied an ambry fashioned in the wall of the bed-lane, and the door was
half open; and the said ambry was wrought of the daintiest, all of gold
and pearl and gems; and I said to myself: Herein is some treasure, and
this is a tide of war. So I opened the ambry, and within it was even
more gloriously wrought than without; and there was nought therein,
save a little flask of crystal done about with bands of gold set with
great and goodly gems. So I took the said flask and went my ways
hastily to my own chamber, and there I looked at the said flask and
took out the stopple; and there was a liquor therein, white like to
water, but of a spicy smell, sweet, fresh, and enheartening. So I yet
thought this was some great treasure, and that much hung upon it, could
I find out unto what use it might be put. And I said: To-morrow we will
put it to the proof. Then I put the said flask under my pillow, and
laid my sword by my side and slept, and was not ill-content so far.
But on the morrow, when I met my fellows, they asked me how I had sped,
and I told them, Well, and that we would talk the matter over under our
tree of counsel. So we went down into the hall, where we met the
witch-lady; and I looked for it that she would be angry and fierce with
me; but it went far otherwise; for she was blithe and buxom, and
abounding in endearments more than I could away with. But this I noted,
that her eyes wandered, and her speech faltered at whiles, and ever she
seemed to be seeking somewhat; and withal that her caressing hands were
seeking if they could aught stowed away in the bosom of my coat. But
all was nought, for as we came to the door of the hall I gave Baudoin
the flask to guard until we should come to our apple-tree of rede.
Wherefore the she-wolf went red and white by turns, and fumed, and
fretted her bedizenments with unrestful hands, and when she should let
us go our ways, she lingered and looked back oft, and was loth to
depart ere she had gotten what she lacked, and that, forsooth, was the
said flasket.
But when we were without the house, I bade our fellows go with me to
another place than the wonted apple-tree of rede, and they understood
my word, and I led them to a little grassy plain without the orchard,
where was no covert for a wide space about it, nought but the one
linden-tree under which now we sat. There I told them all the tale of
the last night and of the flasket, and put before them all that was in
my mind to do that evening at the banquet, and they both of them
yeasaid it. But what it was, that shall ye hear anon when we carried
the matter through; but I bade Baudoin still carry the flasket till the
evening.
Thereafter we spake of other matters; but soon we had good cause to
rejoice that we had not talked our talk under the apple-tree (whereas I
doubted not that the witch would spy upon us there), for not long had
we been at our talk ere, looking that way, we saw the evil creature by
the hedge of the orchard and gazing over at us.
We arose then, and came to her as if nought had happened; and she bade
us walk the garden with her, and we yeasaid it, and went with her, and
paced about amidst the flowers and lay on the blossomed grass.
Forsooth, both to her and to us the time hung heavy on hand. And
meseemed that the sleekness and fairness of her body was worsened since
yesterday, and she was pale and haggard, and her eyes were wandering
and afraid.
Now she bade us come a little further into the garden and eat a morsel
at noon; and we arose, and she brought us to where were vines trellised
all about and overhead, so that it was like a fair green cloister; and
there was a board laid and spread with many dainties of meat and drink.
And she bade us sit. Verily we had but little stomach to that dinner;
and I said to myself, Poison! poison! and even so my fellows deemed, as
afterwards they told me. And I saw Baudoin loosen his sword in the
sheath, and I knew that his mind was to smite at once if he saw aught
amiss. And I, who sat next to the witch, laid my hand on a little
dagger which I wore at my girdle. She also saw this, and turned as pale
as death, and sat trembling before us; and whatso we ate or drank at
that board under the rustling vine-leaves, she gave unto us with her
own hand; and then we wotted full surely that she had meant our deaths
there and then, but was cowed by the fierce eyes of Baudoin and the
threat of my hand.
Withal it seemed that she might not bear it to sit there long amongst
us. She rose up and smiled on us as ghastly as a corpse, and gave us
leave, and went hurrying into the house. And right glad we were to be
at rest from her. Yet as we ourselves durst not go far away from the
house, lest some new thing might happen, neither could she leave us
quite alone, but thrice again that afternoon at some turn of the
garden, or orchard, or meadow, we came upon her wan face and eyes full
of all hate and staring pride, and she enforced her to smile upon us,
and turned away with some idle word.
At last the sun began to sink, and we went to the perron of the house,
and found her standing to meet us in her wonted way. But when we came
up she gave no hand to any one of us but went up the stairs before us,
and we followed with no word spoken.
There was the hall with the lordly service on the board, and the
wax-candles lighted all about, and the great vault of stone fair and
stately over it. We went to the dais and the board and sat down, the
witch-wife in her gold and ivory chair at the board’s end, and I at her
right hand and looking down the hall, my two fellows facing me, with
their backs to the clear of the hall.
There we sat, and the meats and drinks were before us as dainty as ever
erst; but we put forth no hand to them, but sat staring at each other
for some two minutes it might be, and the witch looked from one to the
other of us, and quaked that her hands shook like palsy.
Then I rose up and put my hand to my bosom (for Baudoin had given me
the flasket ere we came to the perron): I spake in a loud voice, and it
sounded wild and hard in the goodly hall: My lady, I said, thou art
looking but pale now, and sick and downcast. Drink now to me out of
this precious flasket, and thou shalt be whole and well.
And therewith I held the flasket aloft; but her face changed horribly;
she sprang up in her chair and reached out her arm to clutch at the
flasket, screaming like an eagle therewith. But I thrust her back into
the chair with my left hand; and therewith arose Baudoin and Arthur,
and caught her by the shoulders, and bound her fast to the chair with
cords that they had gotten thereto. But when she got her breath she
yelled out: Ah, now shall all tumble together, my proudful house and I
under it! Loose me, traitors! loose me, fools! and give me one draught
of the water of might, and then shall I tell you all, and ye shall go
free with your thralls if ye will. Ah! ye will not loose me? ye will
not? Well then, at least ye, the fools, shall be under it, and they
also, the she-traitors, the scourged and tormented fools that might not
save themselves from me. O loose me! loose me! thou in whose arms I
have lain so many a night, and give me to drink of the proud water of
might!
So she yelled; and now had all the fairness gone from her body: flaggy
and yellow were her limbs, and she looked all over as her face, a lump
of stupid and cruel pride, and her words lost meaning and changed into
mere bestial howling. But for me, since she so desired that water, I
knew that it was good for us to drink, and I took out the stopple and
drank, and it was as if fire ran through all my veins, and I felt my
strength three-folded straightway, and most wondrous clear was my sight
grown therewith; and I raised my eyes now and looked down the hall, and
lo, there was Aurea, chained by the ankle to the third pillar from the
dais; and over against her, Viridis; and next, to the fourth pillar,
Atra. Then I cried in a loud voice that rang through the witch’s hall:
Lo what I see! And I ran round the head of the board, and thrust and
dragged Baudoin and Arthur along with me, crying out: Come, come! they
are found! they are here! And I came to my sweetling, and found her
clad but in her white smock, which was flecked with blood all about,
and her face was wan and pined, and the tears began to run when she saw
me, but no word came from her lips though the kissing of them was
sweet.
Then I turned about to my two fellows, and they stood bewildered, not
knowing what was toward; and I came to them and made them drink of the
flasket, and their eyes were opened and the strength of giants came to
them, and they ran each to his sweetling; but Baudoin, before ever he
kissed Aurea, caught hold of the chain that bound her to the pillar,
and by main force dragged it out. Wise was that, meseemed, for words
were again come into the witch’s howls, and I heard her: Ah, long may
ye be playing with the chains, long! for now the house rumbleth toward
its fall. Ah, the bitches are loose! Woe’s me! to die alone! And once
more she howled wordless, as both I and Arthur had our loves in our
arms, and fell to following Baudoin out on to the perron and down into
the fresh fragrant garden wherein now was the moon beginning to cast
shadows.
Stood we then aloof from the house, and the rumbling whereof the evil
hag had howled waxed into a thunder, and under our very eyes the great
white walls and gold-adorned roofs fell together, and a great cloud of
dust rose under the clear moonlit sky.
We looked and wondered, and our loves also, but no word they spake; but
ere the other two had time to grieve thereat, I gave Viridis to drink
of the water of might, and she fell to sweet speech straightway, of
such sort and such wise as I will not tell you. Then I did the same by
Aurea and Atra, and forthwith the speech flowed from them to their
friends.
Full happy were we then in the early night-season, for the water of
might gave them strength also, as to us, and healed all the stripes and
wounds their bodies had suffered of the foul witch, and made their eyes
bright, and their cheeks full and firm, and their lips most sweet, and
their hands strong and delicious.
Now when we had stood gazing toward the melting of the beauteous palace
for a little, we took our darlings in our arms again, whereas the
chains would have hindered their walking, and went down to the lip of
the water whereas lay the Sending Boat, so that we might be anigh our
ferry in case of need; for we knew not what might betide the isle now
its mistress had perished. Then we fell to and sawed off the chains
from the dear ankles with our swords, and took Birdalone’s lendings
from the mail. And Aurea had her gown again, and Viridis her smock, and
my green surcoat over it, and Atra wore the battle-coat of the Black
Squire. As for their bare feet (for Atra would not have hers dight
prouder than her sisters’), we so clad them with kisses that they were
not ill-covered belike.
So gat we aboard our ferry, and did blood-offering to the wight
thereof, and so sped merrily and lovingly over the wide lake back on
our homeward road. And we said: This hath the dear Birdalone done for
us.
And now, my Viridis, I will that thou fill up the tale by telling to
Birdalone, as ye told us, how it fared with you three and the evil one
from the time that ye sped Birdalone on her way till the moment when
mine eyes first beheld you made fast to the pillars of the palace which
has crumbled into dust.
CHAPTER X.
HOW IT FARED WITH THE THREE LADIES AFTER THE ESCAPE OF BIRDALONE.
Viridis took up the word without more ado, and said: I will do my best
herein, and ye, sisters, must set me right if I err. When we had seen
the last of you, dear Birdalone, that early morning, we turned back
again to the house as speedily and as covertly as we might, lest the
witch might espy our disarray and question us thereover. Then we went
to the wonder-coffer, and gat thereout raiment for that which we had
given away, which was easy for us to do, whereas the witch-mistress was
so slothful that she had given to us the words of might wherewith to
compel the coffer to yield, so that we might do all the service
thereof, and she not to move hand or foot in the matter. So when we
were clad, and the time was come, we went into the hall, by no means
well assured of our mistress.
When we came before her, she looked on us in surly wise, as her wont
was, and said nought for a while; she stared on us and knit her brows,
as if she strove to call to mind something that ran to and fro in her
memory; and I noted that, and for my part I trembled before her. But
she spake at last: Meseemeth as if there is a woman in the isle besides
you three; some misdoer that I was minded to punish. Tell me, you! was
there not a naked one who came into this hall a while ago, one whom I
threatened with pining? Atra, who was the boldest of us, bowed the knee
before her, and said: Nay, our lady, since when do stranger women come
naked into thine hall, and dare thee there?
Said the witch: Yet have I an image of a naked woman standing down
there before me; and if I have it in mine eye, so should ye. Tell me
therefore, and beware, for We are not bidden to hold Our hand from you
if We take you in misdeeds.
If I quaked before, now much more I quaked, till my legs well-nigh
failed me for fear; but Atra said: Great lady, this image will belike
be of that one whom a while ago ye had stripped and tied to a pillar
here, and tormented while ye feasted.
The lady looked on her hard, and again seemed striving to gather up the
thrums of some memory, and then her face became smooth again, and she
spake lightly: All that may well be; so do ye go about your due
service, and trouble Our rest here no longer; for We love not to look
on folk who be not wholly Our own to pine or to spare, to slay or let
live, as We will; and We would that the winds and the waves would send
Us some such now; for it is like to living all alone to have but such
as you with Us, and none to cower before Us and entreat Us of mercy. So
begone, I bid you.
Thus for that time were we saved from the witch’s cruelty; but our time
came before long. The days wore heavily, nor kept we count of them lest
we should lose heart for the weariness of waiting. But on a day as we
stood on the steps of the perron and served my lady with dainties, of a
hot afternoon, came two great white doves a-flying, who pitched down
right before our mistress’s feet; and each had a gold ring about his
neck, and a scroll tied thereto, and the witch bade us take the doves
and take off the scrolls and give them unto her; and she looked on the
gold rings which the doves bore, and for a moment on the scrolls, and
then she said: Take ye the doves and cherish them, lest We have need of
them; take also the two scrolls and keep them till to-morrow morning,
and then give them into Our hands. And look ye to this, that if ye give
them not unto Us it will be treason against Us, and We shall have a
case against you, and your bodies will be Ours.
Then she rose up slowly, and bade me to her that she might lean upon my
shoulder and be helped upstairs, so slothful a beast as she was; and as
we went up I heard her say softly to herself: Weary on it, now must I
drink a sup of the Water of Might, that I may remember and do and
desire. But dear is my sister, and without doubt she hath matters of
import to tell me by these doves.
So when we were together alone I told the others hereof, and we talked
it over; and they deemed the tidings ill, even as I did; for we might
not doubt but that the doves were a sending from the witch-sister who
dwelt at the House under the Wood; and sore we misdoubted that they
were sped to our mistress to tell her of thee, Birdalone, and mayhappen
of the Quest, so wise as we knew she was. As to the two scrolls,
forsooth, they were open, and not sealed; but when we looked on them we
could make nought of it; for though they were writ fairly in Latin
script, so that we read them, yet of the words no whit might we
understand, so we feared the worst. But what might we do? we had but
two choices, either to cast ourselves into the water, or abide what
should befall; and this last one we chose because of the hope of
deliverance.
Next morning, therefore, we came before our mistress in the hall, and
we found her pacing up and down before the dais; though her wont was at
that hour to be sitting in her throne of gold and ivory, lying back on
the cushions half asleep.
So Atra went up to her, and knelt before her and gave her the scrolls,
and she looked on her grimly, and smiled evilly, and said: Kneel there
yet; and ye others kneel also, till I see what befitteth you. So did
we, and indeed I was fain to kneel, for I might scarce stand up for
terror; and all of us, our hearts died within us.
But the witch read those scrolls to herself, sitting in her throne, and
spake not a long while; then she said: Come hither, and grovel before
Us, and hearken! Even so we did; and she said again: Our sister, who
hath been so kind unto you, and saved you from so many pains, here
telleth Us, by the message of the two doves, that ye have betrayed Us
and her, and have stolen her thrall and her Sending Boat, and sent her
an errand for Our destruction; and therewith she delivereth you into
Our hands, and ye are Ours henceforward; nor is it to be thought that
ye may escape Us. Now, for your treason, some would slay you outright
here and now, but We will be merciful, and let you live, and do no more
than chastise you sharply now; and thereafter shall ye be Our very
thralls to do as We will with: thereafter, that is to say, when they
whom ye have sent Our sister’s thrall to fetch have come hither (as
belike I may scarce stay them), and I have foiled them and used them,
and sent them away empty. Now I tell you, that meanwhile of their
coming shall ye suffer such things as We will; and when they be here We
will not forbid you to be anigh them; but We shall see that there will
be little joy to you in that nighness. Yea, ye shall know now to what
market ye have brought your wares, and what the price of treason is
therein.
Verily then we suffered at her hand what she would, whereof it would
shame me to tell more as at this present; and thereafter did she chain
us to those three pillars of the hall whereas ye found us chained; and
we were fed as dogs be, and served as dogs, but we endured all for the
sake of hope; and when we durst, and deemed the witch would not hear
us, we spake together and enheartened each other.
But on the fourth day of our torment came the witch to us, and gave us
to drink a certain red water from out of a leaden flasket; and when I
drank I deemed it was poison, and was glad, if gladness might be in me
at such a tide; and when I had drunk I felt an icy chill go through all
my body, and all things swam before my eyes, and deadly sickness came
over me. But that passed away from me presently, and I felt helpless
and yet not feeble; all sounds heard I clearer than ever yet in my
life; also I saw the hall, every arch and pillar and fret, and the
gleam on the pavement from the bright sun that might not enter; and the
witch I saw walking up and down the hall by the dais; but my sisters I
saw not when I looked across to their pillars. Moreover, I might not
see myself when I reached out my hand or my foot, though I saw the
chain which made my ankle fast to the pillar; and withal, when I set my
hand on my face, or any other part of my body, or what else I might
touch, I felt there what I looked to feel, were it flesh or linen, or
the cold iron of my fetter, or the polished face of the marble pillar.
Now I knew scarce if I were alive or dead, or if I were but beginning
to be dead; but there came upon me the desire of life, and I strove to
cry out to the sisters, but though I formed the words in my mouth, and
did with my throat as when one cries out aloud, yet no sound of a voice
came from me, and more helpless did I feel than erst.
But even therewith I saw the witch come toward me, and therewith all my
body felt such fear of her that I knew I was not dead. Then she came
before me and said: O shadow of a thrall, whom none can see but them
unto whom wisdom hath given eyes to see wonders withal, now have I
tidings for thee and thy sisters, to wit, that your lovers and seekers
are at hand; and presently I shall bring them into this hall, and they
shall be so nigh unto you that ye might touch them if I did not forbid
it; but they shall not see you, but shall wonder where I have hidden
you, and shall go seeking you to-day and many days, and shall find you
not at all. So make ye the most of the sight of them, for in them
henceforward ye have no other part or lot.
Therewith she spat out at me, and went over to my sisters, and said
words of like import to those which she had said unto me. And presently
she went out of the hall; and not long afterwards I heard voices
speaking on the perron, and knew one for the voice of the witch, and
the other for the voice of my lord Baudoin; and then again wore a
little while, and I saw the witch come through the great door of the
hall leading Sir Arthur by the hand, as if she were his dear friend,
and Baudoin and Hugh, my man, following them. And the said witch was
clad full fair, and had laid by her sloth and stupid pride, as
meseemed; and her limbs were grown rounder and sleeker, and her skin
fairer, so that to them that knew her not she might well seem to be a
goodly woman.
Now they sat to meat as my man hath told you, and then departed from
the hall, and the witch also. But after a while she came back again and
loosed us, and grimly bade us go with her, and needs must we, though we
could not so much as see our own feet upon the floor. And she set us to
tasks about the house, and stood by while we toiled for her, and mocked
us not without stripes, and in all ways was as rough and cruel and hard
with us as she had been smooth and debonair to our lords; but after
noon she brought us back and chained us to our pillars again. And when
the evening came and the banquet was, it was we who were the unseen
players of the string-play; and we might play no other melody than what
the witch bade us; else belike, could we have held converse, we might
have played such tunes as would have smitten the hearts of our loves,
and told them that we were anigh. To make a short story of it, thus did
she day by day, and no comfort or converse might we sisters have of
each other, or of aught else save the sight of our beloved ones, and a
glimmer of hope therewith. And, forsooth, for as grievously as my heart
was wrung by the yearning of me for my love, yet was it a joy unto me
to think that he went there desiring me, and that whom he desired was
not the poor wretched creature chained there in her nakedness, with her
body spoiled by torment and misery, but the glad maiden whom he had so
often called fair and lovesome.
So passed the days, and at last hope had grown so pale and wan, that
she was no more to be seen by us than we were by our lords; and now it
seemed to me that death was coming, so feeble and wretched as I grew.
But the witch would not let us die, but sustained us from time to time
with some little draughts of a witch-drink that revived us.
So wore the time till that evening, when came hope together with the
fulfilment of hope, so that one minute we durst hope for deliverance,
and the next we were delivered.
Nor is there more to tell, Birdalone, my dear, save that we came safely
to the Isle of the Young and the Old in the full morning-tide; and as
our ferry drew nigh the green shore, there were the two younglings
whereof thou didst tell us awaiting our landing, and when we stepped
ashore they came to us bearing cakes and fruit in a fair basket, and
they made much of us and we of them. And so we came to the old man, who
was exceeding fain of us, and grand and courteous, till he became a
little drunk, and then he was somewhat over-kind to us women.
Nevertheless, there in that pleasant isle we rested us for three days,
that we might somewhat calm and refresh our spirits with what was small
and of little account. And when we departed, the old man followed us
down to the strand, and lamented our departure, as he had done with our
lords erewhile; only this time yet greater was his lamentation, and
needs must we kiss him, each one of us, or never had he been done. So
he turned up landward, bewailing the miss of us, but presently, before
we had seen the last of him, was cheerful again and singing.
So we went on our way; and we also, we maidens, in our turn, saw those
woeful images of the Isle of Queens and the Isle of Kings; and we came
to the Isle of Nothing, and abode warily by our ferry, and so came away
safe, and thus, as thou wottest, home to the castle to hear evil
tidings of thee. Now is this all my tale.
Birdalone sat shyly and hushed when all was done; and then all they did
somewhat to comfort her, each after their own fashion; and now sorrow
for the slain man was made softer and sweeter for them, whereas they
had to lose not two fellows, but one only. Yet, despite of all, trouble
and care was on Birdalone’s soul betwixt the joy of loving and being
beloved, and the pain and fear of robbing a friend of her love. For
Atra’s face, which she might not hate, and scarce might love, was a
threat to her day by day.
CHAPTER XI.
BIRDALONE AND THE BLACK SQUIRE TALK TOGETHER IN THE HALL OF THE CASTLE.
Now within a few days was the body of Baudoin laid in earth in the
chapel of the castle; and in the solemnest of fashions was the burial
done. When it was over, the two knights and Sir Aymeris turned them
heartily to dighting the war against the Red Hold, and less than a
month thereafter was the hosting at the Castle of the Quest, and if the
host were not very many (for it went not above sixteen hundreds of men
all told), yet the men were of the choicest, both of knights and
sergeants and archers. There then they held a mote without the castle,
whereas Arthur the Black Squire was chosen for captain, and in three
days they were to depart for the Red Hold.
Now this while Birdalone had seen but little of Arthur, who was ever
busy about many matters, and never had she had any privy talk with him,
though sore she longed for it; yet indeed it was more by her will than
his that so it was. But when it was come to the very last day before
the departure, she said that she must needs see him before he went, and
he perchance never to come back again. So when men were quiet after
dinner she went into the hall and found him there, pacing up and down
the floor. For indeed she had sent a word to him by Leonard the priest
that he should be there.
So she went up to him, and all simply she took him by the hand and led
him into a shot-window and set him down by her; and he, all trembling
for love and fear of her, might not forbear, but kissed her face and
her mouth many times; and she grew as hot as fire, and somewhat she
wept.
Then she spake after a while: Dear friend, I had it in my mind to say
to thee many things that meseems were sage, but now neither will the
thought of them come into my mind, nor the words into my mouth. And
this is a short hour. And therewith she fell to kissing him, till he
was well-nigh beside himself betwixt desire and joy and the grief of
departure, and the hardness of the case.
But at last she forbore and said: Will it not be when thou art gone
to-morrow as it was when ye were away upon the Quest, and I knew not
how to bear myself, so heavy lay all the world and its doings and its
fashion upon me? It will be hard to me, he said; evil and grim will be
the days. She said: And yet, even now in these last days, when I see
thee oft, every day my soul is worn with grief, and I know not what to
do with myself. I shall come back, he said, and bear my love with me,
and then belike we shall seek some remedy. She was silent a while, and
then she said: Meanwhile of thy coming, and I see thee not at all for
many days, how will it be with my grief then? Quoth he: More than
enough of grief no soul may bear; for either death comes, or else some
dullness of the pain, and then by little and little the pain weareth.
Then she said: And how would it be if thou come not back and I see thee
never again, or if when thou come back thou find me not, for that I be
either dead or gone away out of thy reach? He said: I know not how it
would be. When thou sayest thou shalt die, dost thou wholly believe it
in thy sense or thy body otherwise than Holy Church would? I will tell
thee, she said, that now I am sitting by thee and seeing thy face and
hearing thy voice, it is that only which I believe in; for I may think
of nought else of either grief or joy. Yea, when I wept e’en now, it
was not for sorrow that I wept, but for I cannot rightly tell what. And
she took his hand and looked fondly upon him.
But presently she looked on his hand, and said: And now meseemeth that
we twain are grown to be such close friends that I may ask thee what I
will, and thou be neither angry, nor wonder thereat. I see on thy
finger here the ring that I brought with me from the Isle of Increase,
and which thereafter thou hadst of me when I gave thee back also the
shoon which were lent unto me. Tell me how thou hadst it back from
Atra, as I suppose thou gavest it unto her. But how now art thou angry?
for I see the blood come up in thy face. Nay, beloved, said he, I am
not angry, but whenso I hear of Atra, or think of her closely, shame
comes on me and confusion, and maybe fear. But now will I answer thee.
For even in those hours which we wore on the Isle of the Young and the
Old, when all we should have been so happy together, she divined
somewhat of my case, or indeed, why do I not say it out, all thereof.
And she spake to me such words (for she is both tender and wise and
strong of heart) that I cowered before her and her grief and pain; and
she gave me back the said ring, which forsooth I gave to her in the
Sending Boat in the first hour that the Isle of Increase lay astern of
us. And I wear it now as a token of my grief for her grief. See now,
love, since I have answered thee this question without anger or amaze,
thou needest not fear to ask me any other; for this of all things lies
closest to my heart.
Birdalone drooped her head, and she spake in a low voice: Lo now! the
shadow of parting and the shadow of death could not come between our
present joy; but this shadow of the third one cometh between us and is
present between us. Woe’s me! how little did I think of this when thou
wert away and I was sick of longing for the sight of thee, and deemed
that that would heal it all.
He spake not, but took her hand and held it; and presently she looked
up again and said: Thou art good, and wilt not be angry if I ask thee
something else; this it is: Why wert thou so grim with me that other
day when ye found me in that evil plight in tow of the Red Tyrant, so
that I deemed that thou of all others hadst cast me off? That was worse
to me than the witch’s stripes, and I kept thinking to myself: How
simple was my trouble once, and now how tangled and weary!
Then he might not refrain him, but threw himself upon her, and clipped
her and kissed her all he might, and she felt all the sweetness of
love, and lacked nought of kindness and love to him. And thereafter
they sat still awhile, and he said, as if her question had but that
moment left her lips: This, forsooth, was the cause that I looked grim
on thee: first, that from the time I first saw thee and heard thy tale,
and of thy deeds, I had deemed thee wise above the wisdom of women. But
this going forth of thee to the Black Valley, whereof came the slaying
of Baudoin, seemed unto me a mere folly, till again I had heard thy
tale of that also; and then the tale and thy speech overcame me. But
again, though I was grieved and disappointed hereat, belike that had
passed from me speedily, but then there was this also which would not
let my soul rest, to wit, that I feared concerning that slain knight
whose head the Red One had hung about thy neck; for how else,
methought, might he have been so wroth with him and thee; and meseemed,
moreover, that thou wert kind in thine heart to the dead man, even when
we were come to thee; and then, seest thou, my desire for thee and the
trouble of Baudoin’s slaying, and the black trouble aforesaid. Lo now,
I have told thee this. When wilt thou cease to be angry with me?
She said: I ceased to be grieved with thine anger when thine anger
died; yet strange, meseemeth, that thou shouldst trust me so little
when thou lovest me so much!
And she leaned against him and caressed him gently, and again was he at
point to take her in his arms, when lo! the sound of men coming unto
the screen of the hall; so then those two stood up and went to meet
them, and there was the speech of their sundering done. Yet belike for
a little while both those twain were happy.
CHAPTER XII.
THE KNIGHTS AND THEIR FELLOWS BETAKE THEM TO THE ASSAULTING OF THE RED
HOLD.
On the morrow, when the day was yet young, the knights were ready for
departure, and in the very gate they bade farewell to the ladies, who
kissed them kindly one and all, and Viridis wept sore; and Atra
constrained herself to do even as the others did; but pale she was and
quaking when she kissed Arthur and watched him get a-horseback.
But the knights bade their ladies be of good cheer, for that they would
send them tidings of how they sped every seven days at least, whereas
it was no long way thence to the Red Hold, save there were battle on
the road, and they deemed their host which should beset the Hold would
be enough to clear all the ways behind it. For that same cause withal
they had Sir Aymeris with them, nor left a many men behind them, and
they under the rule of three squires, whereof two were but young, and
the third, who was made the captain of the castle, was an old and wise
man of war, who had to name Geoffrey of Lea. There, withal, was the
priest Sir Leonard, who went about now much hushed and abashed, and
seemed to fear to give a word to Birdalone; albeit she deemed of him
that his thoughts of her were the same as erst they had been.
So now when the knights were departed, and all the host was gone out of
sight, it was heavy time indeed in the Castle of the Quest till they
should hear tidings of them again. Both Aurea and Atra kept much to
themselves, and did I know not what to wear away the time; for now it
was not to be looked for that they should venture out-a-gates. But as
for Viridis, she waxed of better cheer after a while, but whatever
betid she would not sunder herself from Birdalone; nay, not for an
hour; and Birdalone took all her kindness kindly, though forsooth it
was somewhat of a pain unto her; it shall be told wherefore ere long.
Withal, as if to wear the time, Birdalone betook her diligently to her
needlework, and fell to the cunningest of broidery; so that Viridis and
the others wondered at her, for when they were done it seemed indeed
that the flowers and creatures and knots had grown of themselves upon
the cloth, such wondrous work it was.
Moreover, to his great joy, the very first day of the departure of the
host she called Sir Leonard unto her, and prayed to go on again with
the learning her fair scribe-craft; and therein also was she diligent
hours of every day; and Viridis would sit beside her wondering at the
deftness of her fingers, and crying out for joy as the page grew fair
and well-learned under them.
Thus wore a week, and at the end thereof came a messenger from the host
and told how they had come before the Red Hold and had summoned them
thereof to yield, which they had utterly denied to do, but defied the
host; wherefore the host had now beset the Hold, and more folk were
daily flocking unto them; but that the said Hold would be hard to win
by plain assault, whereas it was both strong and well-manned; but few
of the host had been slain or hurt as yet, and of the chieftains not
one.
Right glad were they of the castle because of these tidings; though,
forsooth, the men-at-arms knew well enough that the time would soon
come when some fierce assault would be made, and then, forsooth, would
be sore peril of life and limb unto the chieftains.
CHAPTER XIII.
BIRDALONE BETHINKS HER TO FULFIL THE PROMISE MADE UNTO ATRA.
Again wore a week, and once more came the messenger, and did them of
the castle to wit that there had been nought more done at the Red Hold,
save skirmishing at the barriers, wherein few were hurt on either side;
and also that the engines for battering the walls were now well-nigh
all dight, and they would begin to play upon the Hold, and in especial
one which hight Wall-wolf, which had been set up by the crafts of
Greenford.
This tidings also was deemed good by all, save it might be by Atra,
who, as Birdalone deemed, pined and fretted herself at the delay, and
would fain that, one way or other, all were over. Atra spake but little
to Birdalone, but watched her closely now; oft would she gaze on her
wistfully, as if she would that Birdalone would speak unto her; and
Birdalone noted that, but she might not pluck up heart thereto.
Wore a third week, and again came the messenger, and told how three
days ago, whenas Wall-wolf had sorely battered one of the great towers
which hight the Poison-jar, and overthrown a pan of the wall there
beside, they had tried an assault on the breach, and hard had been the
battle there, and in the end, after fierce give and take, they of the
Hold had done so valiantly that they had thrust back the assailants,
and that in the hottest brunt the Black Squire had been hurt in the
shoulder by a spear-thrust, but not very grievously; but withal that he
sent, in so many words, forbidding the ladies to make any account of so
small a matter. And, quoth the sergeant, most like my lord will wear
his armour in four days’ time; also now we have reared another great
slinger, which we call Stone-fretter, and soon, without doubt, we shall
be standing victorious within that den of thieves.
Now though these tidings were not so altogether ill, yet were those
ladies sore troubled thereby, and especially Atra, who swooned outright
when she had heard the last word thereof.
As for Birdalone, she made as little semblance of her trouble as she
might, but when all was quiet again she went to find Viridis, and
brought her to her chamber and spake to her, saying: Viridis, my
sister, thou hast been piteous kind unto me from the first minute that
thou sawest me naked and helpless, and fleeing from evil unto worse
evil; nowise mightest thou have done better by me hadst thou been
verily my sister of blood; and I know it that thou wouldst be loth to
part from me.
Viridis wept and said: Why dost thou speak of parting from me, when
thou knowest it would break my heart?
Said Birdalone: To say it as short as may be, because the parting must
now come to pass. Viridis waxed pale and then red, and she stamped her
foot and said: It is unkind of thee to grieve me thus, and thou doest
wrong herein.
Hearken, dear sister, said Birdalone: thou knowest, for thou thyself
wast the first to tell me thereof, that I am the supplanter in our
fellowship, and that I have undone Atra’s hope. This I did not of mine
own will, but it came unto me; yet of mine own will I can do the best I
may to amend it; and this is the best, that I depart hence before the
Red Hold is taken and my lords come back; for if they come back and I
see my lord Arthur, so fair and beauteous as he is, before me, never
shall I be able to go away from him. And lo thou, I have promised Atra
by all the kindness she did me when we were come to the Wailing Tower,
and I naked and quaking and half-dead with terror, that if occasion
served I would do my utmost to help her, even if it were to my own
grief. Now behold this that now is, is the occasion, and there will not
be another; for when my love comes home hither and beholdeth me, think
thou how all the desire which has been gathering in his heart this
while will blossom and break forth toward me; and mayhappen he will
make but little semblance of it before other folk, for proud and high
of heart is he; but he will seek occasion to find me alone, and then
shall I be with him as the lark in the talons of the sparrow-hawk, and
he will do his pleasure of me, and that with all the good-will of my
heart. And then shall I be forsworn to Atra, and she will hate me, as
now she doth not, and then is all the fellowship riven, and that by my
deed.
Yet was Viridis wrath, and she said: Meseemeth this is fool’s talk.
Will not the fellowship be all the more riven if thou depart and we see
thee no more?
O nay, said Birdalone; for when I am gone thy love shall be no less for
me, though as now thou art angry; and Atra will love me for that I
shall have held to my promise to mine own scathe; and thy man and Aurea
will lay it to me that I have done valiantly and knightly. And Arthur,
how can he choose but love me; and maybe we shall yet meet again.
And therewithal she did at last bow down her head and fall to weeping,
and Viridis was moved by her tears and fell to kissing and caressing
her.
After a little Birdalone lifted up her head and spake again: Moreover,
how can I dare to abide him? didst thou not see how grim he was to me
when they delivered me and brought me back? and he with his own lips
told me so much, that it was because he doubted that I had done amiss;
and now if I do amiss again, even if it be at his bidding, will it not
be so that he will speedily weary of me, and curse me and cast me off?
What sayest thou, Viridis mine?
What is to say, said Viridis, save that thou hast broken my heart? But
thou mayst heal it if thou wilt take thy words back, and tell me that
thou wilt not sunder thee from us.
But Birdalone brake out weeping and lamenting aloud, and she cried out:
Nay, nay, it may not be; I must depart, and Atra hath smitten me amidst
of my friends. And Viridis knew not what to say or to do.
At last came Birdalone to herself again, and she looked sweetly on
Viridis and smiled on her from out her tears, and said: Thou seest,
sister, how little a loss thou wilt have of me, a mere wild woman. And
now nought availeth either me or thee but I must begone, and that
speedily. Let it be to-morrow then. And when the messenger comes at the
end of this week, send word by him of what I have done; and look thou
to it but both our lords will praise me for the deed.
Said Viridis: But whither wilt thou, or what wilt thou do? To Greenford
first, said Birdalone, and after whither the Good Lord shall lead me;
and as for what I will do, I am now deft in two crafts, script and
broidery to wit; and, wheresoever I be, folk shall pay me to work
herein for them, whereby I shall earn my bread. Hearken also, my
sister, canst thou give me any deal of money? for though I wot little
of such matters, yet I wot that I shall need the same. And I ask this
whereas, as e’en now I said, I deem our lords shall praise my deed, and
that, therefore, they would not that I should depart hence as an
outcast, wherefore they shall not begrudge it to me. Moreover, for the
same cause I would thee speak to the old squire Geoffrey of Lea, and
tell him that I have an errand to Greenford, and crave of him that he
lend me one of the two younglings, Arnold or Anselm, and two or three
men-at-arms to bring me safely thither; since now, forsooth, I need no
more adventures on the road.
She smiled as she spake; and now all the passion of anguish seemed to
have left her for that while; but Viridis cast her arms about her neck
and wept upon her bosom, and said: Woe’s me! for I see that thou wilt
go whatsoever I may say or do; I strove to be angry with thee, but I
might not, and now I see that thou constrainest me as thou dost all
else. I will go now straightway and do thine errand.
Thus then they parted for that time; but it was not till the day after
the morrow that Birdalone was alboun. Viridis told of her departure
both to Aurea and Atra; and Aurea lamented it, but would not do aught
to stay her; for she was waxen weary and listless since the death of
her man. As for Atra, she spake but little concerning it, but to
Viridis praised Birdalone’s valiance and kindness. Yet unto herself she
said: Verily she understood my word that I spake to her about the
occasion of her helping. Yet woe’s me! for she shall carry his love
with her whithersoever she wendeth; and a happy woman is she.
But when Geoffrey the squire knew that the ladies, all three, were at
one with Birdalone as to her departure, he doubted nothing, but bade
Arnold, his mate, take four good men with him, and bring the Lady
Birdalone unto Greenford and do her bidding there. Albeit, he deemed no
less but they would bring her back again.
CHAPTER XIV.
BIRDALONE LEAVES THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
On the morrow morn, then, Birdalone spake farewell both to Aurea and
Atra; but as for Viridis, she sent her word that she had no heart
thereto, and yet she sent her a word of comfort, to wit, that she
deemed that they would one day meet again. Aurea, in her parting words,
part praised her, part chid her; saying that she did well and kindly
and valiantly, as her wont was. Yet, said she, when all is said, thou
mightest have abided this tangle and trouble, which at the worst had
not been so evil as death between us. Yea, sister, said Birdalone, but
might not death have come of my abiding?
As she spake, in came Atra, with her head somewhat drooped, meek and
humble, her cheeks red, her hands trembling; and she said: Wilt thou
take now my word of farewell and blessing, and the kiss of peace
betwixt us, and bear away the memory of our kindness together?
Birdalone stood up proud and straight, and was somewhat pale as she
suffered Atra to kiss her cheeks and mouth, and said: Now hast thou
forgiven me that weird dragged me in betwixt thy love and thy goodhap;
and I have forgiven thee that I am led away by weird into the waste and
the wilderness of love. Farewell. Therewith she went her way to the
gate, and the others followed her not.
Without abode her Arnold and the four men-at-arms, and her palfrey and
a sumpter-horse bearing two goodly coffers, wherein Viridis had let
load raiment and other havings for her; and Arnold came up to her
smiling, and said: My lady Viridis hath given me a pouch wherein is
money to bear for thee to Greenford and hand over to thee there when we
be safe; and she hath bidden me to be in all wise obedient unto thee,
lady, which needed not, whereas now and from hence forth am I by mine
own will thy very servant to do thy pleasure always and everywhere.
She thanked him and smiled on him kindly, so that his heart beat fast
for joy and love of her; and therewith she gat into the saddle and they
rode their ways together, and Birdalone looked back never till the
Castle of the Quest was shut from their eyes by the nesses of the
little hills.
Here ends the Fifth Part of the Water of the Wondrous Isles, which is
called The Tale of the Quest’s Ending, and begins the Sixth Part of the
said tale, which is called The Days of Absence.
THE SIXTH PART:
THE DAYS OF ABSENCE.
CHAPTER I.
BIRDALONE RIDES TO GREENFORD AND THERE TAKES LEAVE OF ARNOLD AND HIS
MEN.
On the road to Greenford nought befell to tell of; they came thither
when the sun was at point to set, for they had ridden diligently all
day.
As they rode the streets of the good town, they noted of them, that
though it was evening wherein folk do much disport them abroad, there
were women and children enough in the streets or standing at their
doors, but of carles very few, and they for the more part grey-heads.
Now did Arnold bring Birdalone to the town hall, wherein yet sat the
deputy of the burgrave, who himself was in the leaguer at the Red Hold;
this man, who was old and wise and nothing feeble of body, made much of
Birdalone and her folk, and was glad of them when he knew that they had
the seal and let-pass of Geoffrey of Lea; wherefore he gave them to eat
and drink, and lodged them in his own house, and made them the best of
cheer.
But betimes on the morrow did Birdalone send back Arnold and the four
men-at-arms, with no tale but that such was her will; and bidding
farewell to the said Arnold, she suffered him to kiss her hands, and
gave him a ring from off her finger, so that he went on his way
rejoicing.
So soon as she saw him and his men well on the road, she went to the
old man, the vice-ruler of the town, who was of the aldermen thereof,
and did him to wit that she would wage two or three carles who could
deal with horses and beasts, and withal handle weapons if need were, to
be both as servants and guards for her, as she had errands in that
country-side, and belike might well have to go from town to town
thereabout. He took her asking kindly, but said it was none so easy to
find men who for any wage would fare forth of Greenford at that stour,
whereas well-nigh all their fighting-men were lying before the Red Hold
as now. Howsoever, ere noontide he brought before her a man of over
three score, but yet wayworthy, and two stout young men, his sons, and
told her that these men were trusty and would go with her to the
world’s end if need were.
She took these men readily, and agreed with them for a good wage; and
whereas each one had bow and arrows and short sword, she had but to buy
for them jacks, sallets, and bucklers, and they were well armed as for
their condition. Withal she bought them three good horses and another
sumpter-horse; which last was loaded with sundry wares that she deemed
that she needed, and with victual. Then she took leave of the alderman,
thanking him much for his good-will, and so departed from Greenford at
all adventure, when the day was yet young.
The alderman had asked her whither away, and she had told him that she
was boun for Mostwyke first, and thereafter for Shifford-on-the-Strand;
whereas she had heard talk of these two towns as being on one and the
same highway, and Mostwyke about a score of miles from Greenford; but
when she was well out-a-gates she came to a little road on the right
hand which turned clean away from Mostwyke, and she took the said road;
and when she had followed it some three miles, she asked the old carle
whither it led. He looked on her and smiled somewhat, and she on him in
turn; and she said: Wonder not, my friend, that I am not clear about my
ways, for I shall tell the sooth that I am a damsel adventurous, and am
but seeking some place where I may dwell and earn my livelihood till
better days come; and this is the whole truth, and thou shalt know it
at once, to wit, that I am indeed fleeing, and were fain to hide the
footsteps of me, and I bid you three to help me therein. But ye must
know that I am fleeing, not from my foes, but from my friends; and, if
ye will, as we go by the way, I will tell you all the story of me, and
we will be friends while we are together, yea, and thereafter if it may
be.
Now she said this because she had looked carefully on these men, and
herseemed that they were good men and true, and not dull of wit.
Forsooth the old man, who hight Gerard of the Clee, was no weakling,
and was nought loathly to look on, and his two sons were goodly and
great of fashion, clear-eyed, and well-carven of visage; they hight
Robert and Giles.
Now spake old Gerard: Lady, I thank thee heartily of thy much grace
unto me; now would I get off my nag and kneel to thee in the highway
therefor, but that I see that thou wert fain to make as much way as may
be to-day; wherefore, by thy leave, I will tarry my homaging till we
rest our horses by the wayside. She laughed, and praised his wisdom;
and the young men looked on her and worshipped her in their hearts.
Forsooth, the fellowship of these good and true folk was soft and sweet
to her, and soothed the trouble of her spirit. And she enforced herself
to talk cheerfully with them, and asked them many things, and learned
much of them.
But now went on Gerard to say: Lady, if thou wilt hide thy ways from
whomsoever it may be, thou hast happened on no ill way; for though this
road be good to ride, it is but a byway through the sheep-walks that
folk may drive their wains hereby in the wet season of winter and
spring; and for a great way we shall come to but little save the cots
of the sheep-carles; scarce a hamlet or two for the space of two days’
riding; and on the third day a little town, hight Upham, where are but
few folk save at the midsummer wool-fair, which is now gone by.
Now there is a highway cometh into this road from out of the tilled
country and Appleham, a good town, and goeth through it toward the
tillage, and the City of the Bridges and the liberties thereof; and all
the land is much builded and plentiful; but, if thou wilt, we will not
take either highway, but wend over the downland which lieth north-east
of Upham, and though it be roadless, yet is it not ill-going, and I
know it well and its watering-places, little dales and waters therein
all running north-east, wherein be certain little thorps here and
there, which shall refresh us mightily. Over that downland we may wend
a four days, and then the land will swell up high, and from the end of
that high land we shall behold below us a fair land of tillage, well
watered and wooded, and much builded; and in the midst thereof a great
city with walls and towers, and a great white castle and a minster, and
lovely houses a many. In that city mayst thou dwell and earn thy
livelihood if thou canst do aught of crafts. And if thou mayst not,
then may we find somewhat to swink at for a wage, and so maintain thee
and us. But the said city is called the City of the Five Crafts, and
the land round about it is the frank thereof; and oftenest, frank and
city and all, it is called the Five Crafts all simply. Now what sayest
thou hereof, my lady?
She said: I say that we will go thither, and that I thank thee and thy
sons of thy good-will, and so may God do to me as I reward you well
therefor. But tell me, good Gerard, how it is that thou art so willing
to leave kith and kin to follow a gangrel wife along the ways? Said
Gerard: Dame, I think that the face and body of thee might lead any man
that yet had manhood in him to follow thee, even if he left house and
all to go with thee. But as for us, we have no longer a house or gear,
whereas they of the Red Hold lifted all my bestial, and burned my house
and all that was therein a month ago. Yea, said Birdalone, and how
befalleth it, then, that ye are not before the Red Hold to avenge thee?
Dame, said he, when the muster was I was deemed somewhat over old,
wherefore the sheriff took me not, but suffered my sons also to abide
behind to earn a living for me; may God be good to him therefor, and
St. Leonard! But as to my kindred, I must tell thee that I am not
kinned hereabout, but in a good town hight Utterhay, and that when our
alderman sent for me to bring me to thee, I was more than half-minded
to get me back thither. Now sooth it is that the best way thither,
though it may be indeed the safest rather than the shortest, lies
through the Five Crafts; for the road goes thence to Utterhay a three
score miles or so, making the longer of it, as it skirteth ever some
way off a perilous forest, a place of sore dread and devilish, which
hight Evilshaw, on the edge whereof lieth Utterhay, a merry
cheaping-stead and a plenteous, and the home of my kindred. Wherefore
now is the City of the Five Crafts handy to us; because when thou hast
done with us, as I hope it may be long first, then are we others nigh
home, and may all simply wend our way thither.
Birdalone thanked him again full heartily; but therewithal as they rode
along there seemed to stir in her some memory of the earliest of her
days in the witch’s house, and she began to have a longing to betake
her to Utterhay and the skirts of Evilshaw.