child christopher-第3节

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ers；　yet　not　so　much　greater　than　was　Leashowe；　deemed　Goldilind；　as　for　a　dwelling…house。

Howbeit；　they　entered　the　said　castle；　and　within；　as　without；　it　was　somewhat　grim；　though　nought　was　lacking　of　plenishing　due　for　folk　knightly。　　Long　it　were　to　tell　of　its　walls　and　baileys　and　chambers；　but　let　this　suffice；　that　on　the　north　side；　toward　the　thick　forest；　was　a　garden　of　green…sward　and　flowers　and　potherbs；　and　a　garth…wall　of　grey　stone；　not　very　high；　was　the　only　defence　thereof　toward　the　wood；　but　it　was　overlooked　by　a　tall　tower　of　the　great　wall；　which　hight　the　Foresters'　Tower。　　In　the　said　outer　garth…wall　also　was　a　postern；　whereby　there　was　not　seldom　coming　in　and　going　out。

Now　when　Goldilind　had　been　in　her　chamber　for　a　few　days；　she　found　out　for　certain；　what　she　had　before　misdoubted；　that　she　had　been　brought　from　Leashowe　and　the　peopled　parts　near　to　Meadhamstead　unto　the　uttermost　parts　of　the　realm　to　be　kept　in　prison　there。

Howbeit；　it　was　in　a　way　prison　courteous；　she　was　still　served　with　observance；　and　bowed　before；　and　called　my　lady　and　queen；　and　so　forth：　　also　she　might　go　from　chamber　to　hall　and　chapel；　to　and　fro；　yet　scarce　alone；　and　into　the　garden　she　might　go；　yet　not　for　the　more　part　unaccompanied；　and　even　at　whiles　she　went　out　a…gates；　but　then　ever　with　folk　on　the　right　hand　and　the　left。　Forsooth；　whiles　and　again；　within　the　next　two　years　of　her　abode　at　Greenharbour；　out　of　gates　she　went　and　alone；　but　that　was　as　the　prisoner　who　strives　to　be　free　（although　she　had；　forsooth；　no　thought　or　hope　of　escape）；　and　as　the　prisoner　brought　back　was　she　chastised　when　she　came　within　gates　again。

Everywhere；　to　be　short；　within　and　about　the　Castle　of　Greenharbour；　did　Goldilind　meet　the　will　and　the　tyranny　of　the　little　sleek　widow；　Dame　Elinor；　to　whom　both　carle　and　quean　in　that　corner　of　the　world　were　but　as　servants　and　slaves　to　do　her　will；　and　the　said　Elinor；　who　at　first　was　but　spiteful　in　word　and　look　toward　her　lady；　waxed　worse　as　time　wore　and　as　the　blossom　of　the　King's　daughter's　womanhood　began　to　unfold；　till　at　last　the　she…jailer　had　scarce　feasted　any　day　when　she　had　not　in　some　wise　grieved　and　tormented　her　prisoner；　and　whatever　she　did；　none　had　might　to　say　her　nay。

But　Goldilind　took　all　with　a　high　heart；　and　her　courage　grew　with　her　years；　nor　would　she　bow　the　head　before　any　grief；　but　took　to　her　whatsoever　solace　might　come　to　her；　as　the　pleasure　of　the　sun　and　the　wind；　and　the　beholding　of　the　greenery　of　the　wood；　and　the　fowl　and　the　beasts　playing；　which　oft　she　saw　afar；　and　whiles　anear；　though　whiles；　forsooth；　she　saw　nought　of　it　all；　whereas　she　was　shut　up　betwixt　four　walls；　and　that　not　of　her　chamber；　but　of　some　bare　and　foul　prison　of　the　Castle；　which；　with　other　griefs；　must　she　needs　thole　under　the　name　and　guise　of　penance。

However；　she　waxed　so　exceeding　fair　and　sweet　and　lovely；　that　the　loveliness　of　her　pierced　to　the　hearts　of　many　of　her　jailers；　so　that　some　of　them；　and　specially　of　the　squires　and　men…at…arms；　would　do　her　some　easement　which　they　might　do　unrebuked；　or　not　sorely　rebuked；　as　bringing　her　flowers　in　the　spring；　or　whiles　a　singing…bird　or　a　squirrel；　and　an　old　man　there　was　of　the　men…at…arms；　who　would　ask　leave；　and　get　it　at　whiles；　to　come　to　her　in　her　chamber；　or　the　garden？　and　tell　her　minstrel　tales　and　the　like　for　her　joyance。　　Sooth　to　say；　even　the　pinched　heart　of　the　old　Burgreve　was　somewhat　touched　by　her；　and　he　alone　had　any　might　to　stand　between　her　and　Dame　Elinor；　so　that　but　for　him　it　had　gone　much　harder　with　her　than　it　did。

For　the　rest；　none　entered　the　Castle　from　the　world　without；　nay　not　so　much　as　a　travelling　monk；　or　a　friar　on　his　wanderings；　save　and　except　some　messenger　of　Earl　Geoffrey　who　had　errand　with　Dame　Elinor　or　the　Burgreve。

So　wore　the　days　and　the　seasons；　till　it　was　now　more　than　four　years　since　she　had　left　Leashowe；　and　her　eighteenth　summer　was　beginning。

But　now　the　tale　leaves　telling　of　Goldilind；　and　goes　back　to　the　matters　of　Oakenrealm；　and　therein　to　what　has　to　do　with　King　Christopher　and　Rolf　the　Marshal。



CHAPTER　VI。

HOW　ROLF　THE　MARSHAL　DREAMS　A　DREAM　AND　COMES　TO　THE　CASTLE　OF　THE　UTTERMOST　MARCH。


Now　this　same　summer；　when　King　Christopher　was　of　twenty　years　and　two；　Rolf　the　Marshal；　sleeping　one　noontide　in　the　King's　garden　at　Oakenham；　dreamed　a　dream。　For　himseemed　that　there　came　through　the　garth…gate　a　woman　fair　and　tall；　and　clad　in　nought　but　oaken…leaves；　who　led　by　the　hand　an　exceeding　goodly　young　man　of　twenty　summers；　and　his　visage　like　to　the　last　battle…dead　King　of　Oakenrealm　when　he　was　a　young　man。　　And　the　said　woman　led　the　swain　up　to　the　Marshal；　who　asked　in　his　mind　what　these　two　were：　　and　the　woman　answered　his　thought　and　said：　　〃I　am　the　Woman　of　the　Woods；　and　the　Landwight　of　Oakenrealm；　and　this　lovely　lad　whose　hand　I　hold　is　my　King　and　thy　King　and　the　King　of　Oakenrealm。　　Wake；　foolwake！　and　look　to　it　what　thou　wilt　do！〃

And　therewith　he　woke　up　crying　out；　and　drew　forth　his　sword。　　But　when　he　was　fully　awakened；　he　was　ashamed；　and　went　into　the　hall；　and　sat　in　his　high…seat；　and　strove　to　think　out　of　his　troubled　mind；　but　for　all　he　might　do；　he　fell　asleep　again；　and　again　in　the　hall　he　dreamed　as　he　had　dreamed　in　the　garden：　　and　when　he　awoke　from　his　dream　he　had　no　thought　in　his　head　but　how　he　might　the　speediest　come　to　the　house　of　Lord　Richard　the　Lean；　and　look　to　the　matter　of　his　lord's　son　and　see　him　with　his　eyes；　and；　if　it　might　be；　take　some　measure　with　the　threat　which　lay　in　the　lad's　life。　Nought　he　tarried；　but　set　off　in　an　hour's　time　with　no　more　company　than　four　men…at…arms　and　an　old　squire　of　his；　who　was　wont　to　do　his　bidding　without　question；　whether　it　were　good　or　evil。

So　they　went　by　frith　and　fell；　by　wood　and　fair　ways；　till　in　two　days'　time　they　were　come　by　undern　within　sight　of　the　Castle　of　the　Outer　March；　and　entered　into　the　street　of　the　thorpe　aforesaid；　and　they　saw　that　there　were　no　folk　therein　and　at　the　house…doors　save　old　carles　and　carlines　scarce　wayworthy；　and　little　children　who　might　not　go　afoot。　　But　from　the　field　anigh　the　thorpe　came　the　sound　of　shouting　and　glad　voices；　and　through　the　lanes　of　the　houses　they　saw　on　the　field　many　people　in　gay　raiment　going　to　and　fro；　as　though　there　were　games　and　sports　toward。

Thereof　Lord　Rolf　heeded　nought；　but　went　his　ways　straight　to　the　Castle；　and　was　brought　with　all　honour　into　the　hall；　and　thither　came　Lord　Richard　the　Lean；　hastening　and　half　afeard；　and　did　obeisance　to　him；　and　there　were　but　a　few　in　the　hall；　and　they　stood　out　of　earshot　of　the　two　lords。

The　Marshal　spoke　graciously　to　Lord　Richard；　and　made　him　sit　beside　him；　and　said　in　a　soft　voice：　　〃We　have　come　to　see　thee；　Lord；　and　how　the　folk　do　in　the　Uttermost　Marches。　　Also　we　would　wot　how　it　goes　with　a　lad　whom　we　sent　to　thee　when　he　was　yet　a　babe；　whereas　he　was　some　byblow　of　the　late　King；　our　lord　and　master；　and　we　deemed　thee　both　rich　enough　and　kind　enough　to　breed　him　into　thriving　without　increasing　pride　upon　him：　　and；　firstly；　is　the　lad　yet　alive？〃

He　knitted　his　brow　as　he　spake；　for　carefulness　of　soul；　but　Lord　Richard　smiled　upon　him；　though　as　one　somewhat　troubled；　and　answered：　　〃Lord　Marshal；　I　thank　thee　for　visiting　this　poor　house；　and　I　shall　tell　thee　first　that　the　lad　lives；　and　hath　thriven　marvellously；　though　he　be　somewhat　unruly；　and　will　abide　no　correction　now　these　last　six　years。　　Sooth　to　say；　there　is　now　no　story　of　his　being　anywise　akin　to　our　late　Lord　King；　though　true　it　is　that　the　folk　in　this　faraway　corner　of　the　land　call　him　King　Christopher；　but　only　in　a　manner　of　jesting。　　But　it　is　no　jest　wherein　they　say　that　they　will　gainsay　him　nought；　and　that　especially　the　young　women。　　Yet　I　will　say　of　him　that　he　is　wise；　and　asketh　not　overmuch；　the　more　is　the　sorrow　of　many　of　the　maidens。　　A　fell　woodsman　he　is；　and　exceeding　stark；　and　as　yet　heedeth　more　of　valiance　than　of　the　love　of　woman。〃

The　Marshal　looked　no　less　troubled　than　before　at　these　words；　he　said：　　〃I　would　see　this　young　man　speedily。〃

〃So　shall　it　be；　Lord；〃　said　Lord　Richard。　　Therewith　he　called　to　him　a　squire；　and　said：　〃Go　thou　down　into　the　thorpe；　and　bring　hither　Christopher；　for　that　a　great　lord　is　here　who　would　set　him　to　do　a　deed　of　woodcraft；　such　as　is　more　than　the　wont　of　men。〃

So　the　squire　went　his　ways；　and　was　gone　a　little　while；　and　meantime　drew　nigh　to　the　hall　a　sound　of　triumphing　songs　and　shouts；　and　right　up　to　the　hall　doors；　then　entered　the　squire；　and　by　his　side　came　a　tall　young　man；　clad　but　in　a　white　linen　shirt　and　deerskin　brogues；　his　head　crowned　with　a　garland　of　flowers：　　him　the　squire　brought　up　to　the　lords　on　the　dais；　and　louted　to　them；　and　said：　　〃My　lords；　I　bring　you　Christopher；　and　he　not　overwilling；　for　now　hath　he　been　but　just　crowned　king　of　the　games　down　yonder；　but　when　the　carles　and　queans　there　said　that　they　would　come　with　him　and　bear　him　company　to　the　hall　doors；　then；　forsooth；　he　yea…said　the　coming。　　I