ON the evening of the third day, whenas they drew near to within sight of the Witchland coast, they brailed up their sails and waited for the night, that so they might make the landfall after dark; for little to their mind it was that the King should have news of their farings. This was their plan, to beach their ships on the lonely shore some two leagues north of Tenemos, whence it was but two hours’ march across the fen2 to Carc?. So when the sun set and all the ways were darkened they muffled3 their oars4 and rowed silently to the low shore that showed strangely near in the darkness, yet ever seemed to flee and keep its distance as they rowed toward it. Coming at length ashore6, they drew their ships up on the beach. Some fifty men of the Goblins they left to guard the ships, while the rest took their weapons. And when they were marshalled they marched inland over the sand-dunes and so on to the open fen; and seeing that the most of them by far were of Goblinland, it was agreed between those three, Juss, Brandoch Daha, and Gaslark, that Gaslark should have command of this emprise. So fared they silently across the marshes8, that were firm enough for marching so it were done circumspectly9, rounding the worst moss-hags and the small lochs that were scattered10 here and there. For the weather had been fine for a season, and little new water stood on the marsh7. But as they drew near to Carc? the weather worsened and fine rain began to fall. And albeit11 there was little comfort marching through the drizzling12 murk of night towards that fortress13 of evil name, yet was Lord Juss glad at the rain, since it favoured surprise, and on surprise hung all their hopes.
About the middle night they halted within four hundred paces of the outer walls of Carc?, that loomed14 ghostly through the watery15 curtain, silent as it had been a tomb where Witchland lay in death, rather than the mailed shell wherein so great a power sat waiting. The sight of that vast bulk couched shadowy in the rain lighted the fire of battle in the breast of Gaslark, nor would aught please him save that they should go forthwith up to the walls with all their force, and so march round them seeking where they might break suddenly in and seize the place. Nor would he listen to the counsel of Lord Juss, who would send forth16 detachments to select a spot for assault and bring back word before the whole force advanced. “Be sure,” said Gaslark, “that they within are all foxed and cupshotten the third night with swilling17 of wine, in honour of such triumph as he hath gotten by his sending, and but a sorry watch is kept on such night. For who, say they, shall come up against Carc? now that the power of Demonland is stricken in pieces? The scorned Goblins, ha? A motion for laughter and derision. But thine advance guard might give them warning or ever our. main force could seize the occasion. Nay18, but as the Ghouls in an evil day coming suddenly upon me in Zaj? Zaculo gat my palace taken ere we were well ware19 of their coming, so must we take this hold of Carc?. And if thou fearest a sally, right hotly do I desire it. For if they open the gate we are enough to force an entry in despite of any numbers they are like to have within.”
Now Juss thought ill of this counsel, yet, for a strange languor20 that still hung about his wits, he would not gainsay21 Gaslark. So crept they in stealth near to the great walls of Carc?. Softly ever fell the rain, and breathless stood the cypresses22 within the outer ward5, and blank and dumb and untenanted frowned the black marble walls of that sleeping castle. And dour23 midnight waited over all.
Now Gaslark issued command, bidding them march warily24 round the walls northward25, for no way was betwixt the lofty walls and the river on the south and east, but to the north-east was he hopeful to find a likely place to win into the hold. In such order went they that Gaslark with an hundred of his ablest men led the van, and after him came the Demons26. The main strength of the Goblins followed after, with Teshmar for their captain. Warily they marched, and now were they on the rising ground that ran back north and west from the bluff27 of Carc? to the fen. Full eager were they of Goblinland and flown with the intoxication28 of impending29 battle, and they of the vanguard fared apace, outstripping30 the Demons, so that Juss was fain to hasten after them lest they should lose touch and fall to confusion. But Teshmar’s men feared greatly to be left behind, nor might he hold them back, but they must run betwixt the Demons and the walls, meaning to join with Gaslark. Juss swore under his breath, saying, “See the unruly rabble31 of Goblinland. And they will yet be our undoing32.”
In such case stood they, nor were Teshmar’s folk more than twenty paces from the walls, when, sudden as night-lightning, flares33 were kindled34 along the walls, dazzling the Goblins and the Demons and brightly lighting35 them for those that manned the walls, who fell a-shooting at them with spears and arrows and a-slinging of stones. In the same moment opened a postern gate, whence sallied forth the Lord Corinius with an hundred and fifty stout36 lads of Witchland, shouting, “He that would sup of the crab37 of Witchland must deal with the nippers ere he essay the shell”; and charging Gaslark’s army in the flank he cut them clean in two. As one wood fared forth Corinius, smiting38 on either hand with a two-edged axe39 with heft lapped with bronze; and greatly though the folk of Gaslark outnumbered him, yet were they so taken at unawares and confounded by the sudden onslaught of Corinius that they might not abide40 him but everywhere gave ground before his onslaught. And many were wounded and some were slain41; and with these Teshmar of Goblinland, the master of Gaslark’s ship. For smiting at Corinius and missing of his aim he louted forward with the blow, and Corinius hewed42 at him with his axe and the blow came on Teshmar’s neck and so hewed off his head. Now Gaslark with the best of his fighting men was Come some way past the postern, but whenas they fell to fighting he turned back straightway to meet Corinius, calling loudly on his men to rally against the Witches and drive them back within the walls. So when Gaslark was gotten through the press to within reach of Corinius, he thrust at Corinius with a spear, wounding him in the arm. But Corinius smote43 the spear-shaft asunder44 with his axe, and leapt upon Gaslark, giving him a great wound on the shoulder. And Gaslark took to his sword, and many blows they bandied that made either stagger, till Corinius struck Gaslark on the helm a great down-stroke of his axe, as one driveth a pile with a wooden mallet45. And because of the good helm he wore, given by Lord Juss in days gone by as a gift of love and friendship, was Gaslark saved and his head not cloven asunder; for on that helm Corinius’s axe might not bite. Yet with that great stroke were Gaslark’s senses driven forth of him for a season, so that he fell senseless to the earth. And with his fall came dismay upon them of Goblinland.
All this befell in the first brunt of the battle, nor were the lords of Demonland yet fully46 joined in the mellay, for the great press of Gaslark’s men were between them and the Witches; but now Juss and Brandoch Daha went forth mightily47 with their following, and took up Gaslark that lay like one dead, and Juss bade a company of the Goblins bear him to the ships, and there was he bestowed48 safe and sound. But the Witches shouted loudly that King Gaslark was slain; and at this chosen time Corund, that was come privily49 forth of a hidden door on the western side of Carc? with fifty men, took the Goblins mightily in the rear. So they, still falling back before Corinius and Corund, and their hearts sick at the supposed slaying51 of Gaslark, waxed full of doubt and dejection; for in the watery darkness they might nowise perceive by how much they outwent in numbers the men of Witchland. And panic took them, so that they broke and fled before the Witches, that came after them resolute52, as a stoat holdeth by a rabbit, and slew53 them by scores and by fifties as they fled from Carc?. Scarce three score men of that brave company of Goblinland that went up with Gaslark against Carc? won away into the marshes and came to their ships, escaping pitiless destruction.
But Corund and Corinius and their main force turned without more ado against the Demons, and bitter was the battle that befell betwixt them, and great the clatter54 of their blows. And now were the odds55 clean changed about with the putting of the Goblins out of the battle, since but few of Witchland were fallen, and they were as four to one against the Demons, hemming56 them in and having at them from every side. And some shot at them from the wall, until a chance shot came that was like to have stove in Corund’s helm, who straightway sent word that when the rout57 was ended he would make lark-pies of the cow-headed doddipole whosoever he might be that had set them thus a-shooting, spoiling sport for their comrades and endangering their lives. Therewith ceased the shooting from the wall.
And now grim and woundsome grew the battle, for the Demons mightily withstood the onset58 of the Witches, and the Lord Brandoch Daha rushed with an onslaught ever and anon upon Corund or upon Corinius, nor might either of these great captains bear up long against him, but every time gave back before Lord Brandoch Daha; and bitterly cursed they one another as each in turn was fain to save himself amid the press of their fighting men. Nor could one hope in one night’s space to behold59 such deeds of derring-do as were done that night by Lord Brandoch Daha, that played his sword lightly as one handleth a willow60 wand; yet death sat on the point thereof. In such wise that eleven stout sworders of Witchland were slain by him, and fifteen besides were sorely wounded. And at the last, Corinius, stung by Corund’s taunts61 as by a gadfly, and well nigh bursting for grief and shame at his ill speeding, leapt upon Lord Brandoch Daha as one reft of his wits, aiming at him a great two-handed blow that was apt enough to cleave62 him to the brisket. But Brandoch Daha slipped from the blow lightly as a kingfisher flying above an alder-shadowed stream avoideth a branch in his flight, and ran Corinius through the right wrist with his sword. And straight was Corinius put out of the fight. Nor had they greater satisfaction that went against Lord Juss, who mowed63 at them with great swashing blows, beheading some and hewing64 some asunder in the midst, till they were fain to keep clear of his reaping. So fought the Demons in the glare and watery mist, greatly against great odds, until all were smitten65 to earth save those two lords alone, Juss and Brandoch Daha.
Now stood King Gorice on the outer battlements of Carc?, all armed in his black armour66 inlaid with gold; and he beheld67 those twain how they fought back to back, and how the Witches beset68 them on every side Yet nowise might prevail against them. And the King said unto Gro that was by him on the wall, “Mine eyes dazzle in the mist and torchlight. What be these that maintain so bloody69 an advantage upon my kemperie-men?”
Gro answered him, “Surely, O King, these be none other than Lord Juss and Lord Brandoch Daha of Krothering.”
The King said, “So by degrees cometh my sending home to me. For by my art I have intelligence, albeit not certainly, that Goldry was taken by my sending; so have I my desire on him I hold most in hate. And these, saved by their enchantments70 from like ruin, have been driven mad to rush into the open mouth of my vengeance71.” And when he had gazed awhile, the King sneered72 and said unto Gro, “A sweet sight, to behold an hundred of my ablest men flinch73 and duck before these twain. Till now methought there was a sword in Witchland, and methought Corinius and Corund not simple braggarts without power or heart, as here appeareth, since like boys well birched they do cringe from the shining swords of Juss and the vile74 upstart from Krothering.”
But Corinius, who stood no longer in the battle but by the King, full of spleen and his wrist all bloody, cried out, “You do us wrong, O King. Juster it were to praise my great deed in ambushing75 this mighty76 company of our enemies and putting them all to the slaughter77. And if I prevailed not against this Brandoch Daha your majesty78 needs not to marvel79, since a greater than I, Gorice X. of memory ever glorious, was lightly conquered by him. Wherin methinks I am the luckier, to have but a gored80 wrist and not my death. As for these twain, they be stick-frees, on whom no point or edge may bite. And nought81 were more to be looked for, since we deal with such a sorcerer as this Juss.”
“Rather,” said the King, “are ye all grown milksops. But I have no further stomach for this interlude, but straight will end it.”
Therewith the King called to him the old Duke Corsus, bidding him take nets and catch the Demons therein. And Corsus, faring forth with nets, by sheer weight of numbers and with the death of near a score of the Witches at length gat this performed, and Lord Juss and Lord Brandoch Daha well tangled82 in the nets, and lapped about as silkworms in their cocoons83, and so drawn84 into Carc?. Soundly were they bumped along the ground, and glad enow were the Witches to have gotten those great fighters scotched85 at last. For utterly86 spent were Corund and his men, and fain to drop for very weariness.
So when they were gotten into Carc?, the King let search with torches and bring in them of Witchland that lay hurt before the walls; and any Demons or Goblins that were happed87 upon in like case he let slay50 with the sword. And the Lord Juss and the Lord Brandoch Daha, still lapped tightly in their nets, he let fling into a corner of the inner court of the palace like two bales of damaged goods, and set a guard upon them until morning.
As the lords of Witchland were upon going to bed they beheld westward88 by the sea a red glow, and tongues of fire burning in the night. Corinius said unto Lord Gro, “Lo where thy Goblins burn their ships, lest we pursue them as they flee shamefully89 homeward in the ship they keep from the burning. One ship sufficeth, for most of them be dead.”
And Corinius betook him sleepily to bed, pausing on the way to kick at the Lord Brandoch Daha, that lay safely swathed in his net powerless as then to do him harm.
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1
prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fen
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| n.沼泽，沼池 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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9
circumspectly
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| adv.慎重地，留心地 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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drizzling
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| 下蒙蒙细雨，下毛毛雨( drizzle的现在分词 ) | |
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13
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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15
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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swilling
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| v.冲洗( swill的现在分词 )；猛喝；大口喝；（使）液体流动 | |
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18
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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cypresses
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| n.柏属植物，柏树( cypress的名词复数 ) | |
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dour
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| adj.冷酷的，严厉的；（岩石）嶙峋的；顽强不屈 | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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27
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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outstripping
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| v.做得比…更好，（在赛跑等中）超过( outstrip的现在分词 ) | |
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rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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flares
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| n.喇叭裤v.（使）闪耀( flare的第三人称单数 )；（使）（船舷）外倾；（使）鼻孔张大；（使）（衣裙、酒杯等）呈喇叭形展开 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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38
smiting
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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hewed
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的过去式和过去分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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43
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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mallet
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| n.槌棒 | |
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46
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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48
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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privily
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| adv.暗中，秘密地 | |
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50
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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51
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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52
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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53
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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54
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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55
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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56
hemming
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| 卷边 | |
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57
rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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58
onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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59
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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60
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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61
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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62
cleave
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| v．(clave；cleaved)粘着，粘住；坚持；依恋 | |
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63
mowed
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| v.刈，割( mow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
hewing
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的现在分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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65
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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66
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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67
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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68
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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69
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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70
enchantments
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| n.魅力( enchantment的名词复数 )；迷人之处；施魔法；着魔 | |
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71
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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ambushing
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| v.埋伏( ambush的现在分词 )；埋伏着 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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80
gored
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| v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破( gore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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83
cocoons
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| n.茧，蚕茧( cocoon的名词复数 )v.茧，蚕茧( cocoon的第三人称单数 ) | |
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84
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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85
scotched
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| v.阻止( scotch的过去式和过去分词 )；制止（车轮）转动；弄伤；镇压 | |
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86
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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87
happed
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| v.偶然发生( hap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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shamefully
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| 可耻地； 丢脸地； 不体面地； 羞耻地 | |
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