Bull pondered a little and then said: "King's son, I was thinking at first that our errands lay together, and it is so; but belike thou sayest true that there will be less peril to each of us if we sunder6 at this time. But now I will say this to thee, that henceforth thou shalt be as a brother to me, if thou wilt have it so, and if ever thou comest amongst our people, thou wilt be in no danger of them: nay9, they shall do all the good they may to thee."
Then he took him by the hand and kissed him, and he set his hand to his gear and drew forth7 a little purse of some small beast's skin that was broidered in front with a pair of bull's horns: then he stooped down and plucked a long and tough bent10 from the grass at his feet (for they were talking in the garden of the hostel) and twisted it swiftly into a strange knot of many plies11, and opening the purse laid it therein and said: "King's son, this is the token whereby it shall be known amongst our folk that I have made thee my brother: were the flames roaring about thee, or the swords clashing over thine head, if thou cry out, I am the brother of Bull Shockhead, all those of my kindred who are near will be thy friends and thy helpers. And now I say to thee farewell: but it is not altogether unlike that thou mayst hear of me again in the furthest East." So Ralph departed from him, and Clement13 went with Ralph to the Gate of Goldburg, and bade him farewell there; and or they parted he said: "Meseems I have with me now some deal of the foreseeing of Katherine my wife, and in my mind it is that we shall yet see thee at Wulstead and Upmeads, and thou no less famous than now thou art. This is my last word to thee." Therewith they parted, and Ralph rode his ways.
He came on his way-leader about a bowshot from the gate and they greeted each other: the said guide was clad no otherwise than yesterday: he had saddle-bags on his horse, which was a strong black roadster: but he was nowise armed, and bore but a satchel14 with a case of knives done on to it, and on the other side a fiddle15 in its case. So Ralph smiled on him and said: "Thou hast no weapon, then?" "What need for weapon?" said he; "since we are not of might for battle. This is my weapon," said he, touching16 his fiddle, "and withal it is my field and mine acre that raiseth flesh-meat and bread for me: yea, and whiles a little drink."
So they rode on together and the man was blithe17 and merry: and Ralph said to him: "Since we are fellows for a good while, as I suppose, what shall I call thee?" Said he, "Morfinn the Minstrel I hight, to serve thee, fair lord. Or some call me Morfinn the Unmanned. Wilt thou not now ask me concerning that privy18 word that I had for thy ears?" "Yea," said Ralph reddening, "hath it to do with a woman?" "Naught19 less," said Morfinn. "For I heard of thee asking many questions thereof in Goldburg, and I said to myself, now may I, who am bound for Utterness, do a good turn to this fair young lord, whose face bewrayeth his heart, and telleth all men that he is kind and bounteous20; so that there is no doubt but he will reward me well at once for any help I may give him; and also it may be that he will do me a good turn hereafter in memory of this that I have done him."
"Speak, wilt thou not," said Ralph, "and tell me at once if thou hast seen this woman? Be sure that I shall reward thee." "Nay, nay, fair sir," said Morfinn; "a woman I have seen brought captive to the House of Utterbol. See thou to it if it be she whom thou seekest."
He smiled therewith, but now Ralph deemed him not so debonnaire as he had at first, for there was mocking in the smile; therefore he was wroth, but he refrained him and said: "Sir Minstrel, I wot not why thou hast come with a tale in thy mouth and it will not out of it: lo you, will this open the doors of speech to thee" (and he reached his hand out to him with two pieces of gold lying therein) "or shall this?" and therewith he half drew his sword from his sheath.
Said Morfinn, grinning again: "Nay, I fear not the bare steel in thine hands, Knight21; for thou hast not fool written plain in thy face; therefore thou wilt not slay22 thy way-leader, or even anger him over much. And as to thy gold, the wages shall be paid at the journey's end. I was but seeking about in my mind how best to tell thee my tale so that thou mightest believe my word, which is true. Thus it goes: As I left Utterbol a month ago, I saw a damsel brought in captive there, and she seemed to me so exceeding fair that I looked hard on her, and asked one of the men-at-arms who is my friend concerning the market whereat she was cheapened; and he told me that she had not been bought, but taken out of the hands of the wild men from the further mountains. Is that aught like to your story, lord?" "Yea," said Ralph, knitting his brows in eagerness. "Well," said Morfinn, "but there are more fair women than one in the world, and belike this is not thy friend: so now, as well as I may, I will tell thee what-like she was, and if thou knowest her not, thou mayst give me those two gold pieces and go back again. She was tall rather than short, and slim rather than bigly made. But many women are fashioned so: and doubtless she was worn by travel, since she has at least come from over the mountains: but that is little to tell her by: her hands, and her feet also (for she was a horseback and barefoot) wrought24 well beyond most women: yet so might it have been with some: yet few, methinks, of women who have worked afield, as I deem her to have done, would have hands and feet so shapely: her face tanned with the sun, but with fair colour shining through it; her hair brown, yet with a fair bright colour shining therein, and very abundant: her cheeks smooth, round and well wrought as any imager could do them: her chin round and cloven: her lips full and red, but firm-set as if she might be both valiant26 and wroth. Her eyes set wide apart, grey and deep: her whole face sweet of aspect, as though she might be exceeding kind to one that pleased her; yet high and proud of demeanour also, meseemed, as though she were come of great kindred. Is this aught like to thy friend?"
He spake all this slowly and smoothly27 and that mocking smile came into his face now and again. Ralph grew pale as he spoke28 and knitted his brows as one in great wrath29 and grief; and he was slow to answer; but at last he said "Yea," shortly and sharply.
Then said Morfinn: "And yet after all it might not be she: for there might be another or two even in these parts of whom all this might be said. But now I will tell thee of her raiment, though there may be but little help to thee therein, as she may have shifted it many times since thou hast seen her. Thus it was: she was clad outwardly in a green gown, short of skirt as of one wont30 to go afoot; somewhat straight in the sleeves as of one who hath household work to do, and there was broidery many coloured on the seams thereof, and a border of flower-work round the hem8: and this I noted31, that a cantle of the skirt had been rent away by some hap25 of the journey. Now what sayest thou, fair lord? Have I done well to bring thee this tale?"
"O yea, yea," said Ralph, and he might not contain himself; but set spurs to his horse and galloped32 on ahead for some furlong or so: and then drew rein12 and gat off his horse, and made as if he would see to his saddle-girths, for he might not refrain from weeping the sweet and bitter tears of desire and fear, so stirred the soul within him.
Morfinn rode on quietly, and by then he came up, Ralph was mounting again, and when he was in the saddle he turned away his head from his fellow and said in a husky voice: "Morfinn, I command thee, or if thou wilt I beseech33 thee, that thou speak not to me again of this woman whom I am seeking; for it moveth me over much." "That is well, lord," said Morfinn, "I will do after thy command; and there be many other matters to speak of besides one fair woman."
Then they rode on soberly a while, and Ralph kept silence, as he rode pondering much; but the minstrel hummed snatches of rhyme as he rode the way.
But at last Ralph turned to him suddenly and said: "Tell me, way-leader, in what wise did they seem to be using that woman?" The minstrel chuckled34: "Fair lord," said he, "if I had a mind for mocking I might say of thee that thou blowest both hot and cold, since it was but half an hour ago that thou badest me speak naught of her: but I deem that I know thy mind herein: so I will tell thee that they seemed to be using her courteously35; as is no marvel37; for who would wish to mar23 so fair an image? O, it will be well with her: I noted that the Lord seemed to think it good to ride beside her, and eye her all over. Yea, she shall have a merry life of it if she but do somewhat after the Lord's will."
Ralph looked askance at him fiercely, but the other heeded38 it naught: then said Ralph, "And how if she do not his will?" Said Morfinn, grinning: "Then hath my Lord a many servants to do his will." Ralph held his peace for a long while; at last he turned a cleared brow to Morfinn and said; "Dost thou tell of the Lord of Utterbol that he is a good lord and merciful to his folk and servants?"
"Fair sir," said the minstrel; "thou hast bidden me not speak of one woman, now will I pray thee not to speak of one man, and that is my Lord of Utterbol."
Ralph's heart fell at this word, and he asked no question as to wherefore.
So now they rode on both, rather more than soberly for a while: but the day was fair; the sun shone, the wind blew, and the sweet scents39 floated about them, and Ralph's heart cast off its burden somewhat and he fell to speech again; and the minstrel answered him gaily40 by seeming, noting many things as they rode along, as one that took delight in the fashion of the earth.
It was a fresh and bright morning of early autumn, the sheaves were on the acres, and the grapes were blackening to the vintage, and the beasts and birds at least were merry. But little merry were the husbandmen whom they met, either carles or queans, and they were scantily41 and foully42 clad, and sullen-faced, if not hunger-pinched.
If they came across any somewhat joyous43, it was here and there certain gangrel folk resting on the wayside grass, or coming out of woods and other passes by twos and threes, whiles with a child or two with them. These were of aspect like to the gipsies of our time and nation, and were armed all of them, and mostly well clad after their fashion. Sometimes when there were as many as four or five carles of them together, they would draw up amidst of the highway, but presently would turn aside at the sight either of Ralph's war-gear or of the minstrel's raiment. Forsooth, some of them seemed to know him, and nodded friendly to him as they passed by, but he gave them back no good day.
They had now ridden out of the lands of Goldburg, which were narrow on that side, and the day was wearing fast. This way the land was fair and rich, with no hills of any size. They crossed a big river twice by bridges, and small streams often, mostly by fords.
Some two hours before sunset they came upon a place where a byway joined the high road, and on the ingle stood a chapel44 of stone (whether of the heathen or Christian45 men Ralph wotted not, for it was uncouth46 of fashion), and by the door of the said chapel, on a tussock of grass, sat a knight all-armed save the head, and beside him a squire47 held his war-horse, and five other men-at-arms stood anigh bearing halberds and axes of strange fashion. The knight rose to his feet when he saw the wayfarers48 coming up the rising ground, and Ralph had his hand on his sword-hilt; but ere they met, the minstrel said,—
"Nay, nay, draw thy let-pass, not thy sword. This knight shalt bid thee to a courteous36 joust49; but do thou nay-say it, for he is a mere50 felon51, and shalt set his men-at-arms on thee, and then will rob thee and slay thee after, or cast thee into his prison."
So Ralph drew out his parchment which Morfinn had given into his keeping, and held it open in his hand, and when the knight called out on him in a rough voice as they drew anigh, he said: "Nay, sir, I may not stay me now, need driveth me on." Quoth the knight, smoothing out a knitted brow: "Fair sir, since thou art a friend of our lord, wilt thou not come home to my house, which is hard by, and rest awhile, and eat a morsel52, and drink a cup, and sleep in a fair chamber53 thereafter?"
"Nay, sir," said Ralph, "for time presses;" and he passed on withal, and the knight made no step to stay him, but laughed a short laugh, like a swine snorting, and sat him down on the grass again. Ralph heeded him naught, but was glad that his let-pass was shown to be good for something; but he could see that the minstrel was nigh sick for fear and was shaking like an aspen leaf, and it was long ere he found his tongue again.
Forth then they rode till dusk, when the minstrel stayed Ralph at a place where a sort of hovels lay together about a house somewhat better builded, which Ralph took for a hostelry, though it had no sign nor bush. They entered the said house, wherein was an old woman to whom the minstrel spake a word or two in a tongue that Ralph knew not, and straightway she got them victual and drink nowise ill, and showed them to beds thereafter.
In spite of both victuals54 and drink the minstrel fell silent and moody55; it might be from weariness, Ralph deemed; and he himself had no great lust56 for talk, so he went bedward, and made the bed pay for all.
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1
thrall
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| n.奴隶；奴隶制 | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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3
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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sunder
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| v.分开；隔离；n.分离，分开 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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plies
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的第三人称单数 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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12
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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clement
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| adj.仁慈的；温和的 | |
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satchel
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| n.(皮或帆布的)书包 | |
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15
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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16
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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bounteous
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| adj.丰富的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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23
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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hap
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| n.运气；v.偶然发生 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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32
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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33
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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34
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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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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38
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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40
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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41
scantily
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| adv.缺乏地；不充足地；吝啬地；狭窄地 | |
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42
foully
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| ad.卑鄙地 | |
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43
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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44
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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45
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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46
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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47
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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48
wayfarers
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| n.旅人，（尤指）徒步旅行者( wayfarer的名词复数 ) | |
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49
joust
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| v.马上长枪比武，竞争 | |
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50
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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51
felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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52
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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53
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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54
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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55
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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56
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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