So rode Ralph till the sun was at point to rise, and he was about the midst of one of those clearings or wood-lawns, on the further side whereof there was more thicket3, as he deemed, then he had yet come to; so he drew rein4 and looked about him for a minute. Even therewith he deemed he heard a sound less harsh than the cry of the jay in the beech-trees, and shriller than the moaning of the morning breeze in the wood. So he falls to listening with both ears, and this time deems that he hears the voice of a woman: and therewith came into his mind that old and dear adventure of the Wood Perilous5; for he was dreamy with the past eagerness of his deeds, and the long and lonely night. But yet he doubted somewhat of the voice when it had passed his ears, so he shook his rein, for he thought it not good to tarry.
Scarce then had his horse stepped out, ere there came a woman running out of the thicket before him and made toward him over the lawn. So he gat off his horse at once and went to meet her, leading his horse; and as he drew nigh he could see that she was in a sorry plight7; she had gathered up her skirts to run the better, and her legs and feet were naked: the coif was gone from her head and her black hair streamed out behind her: her gown was rent about the shoulders and bosom8, so that one sleeve hung tattered9, as if by the handling of some one.
So she ran up to him crying out: "Help, knight10, help us!" and sank down therewith at his feet panting and sobbing11. He stooped down to her, and raised her up, and said in a kind voice: "What is amiss, fair damsel, that thou art in such a plight; and what may I for thine avail? Doth any pursue thee, that thou fleest thus?"
She stood sobbing awhile, and then took hold of his two hands and said: "O fair lord, come now and help my lady! for as for me, since I am with thee, I am safe."
"Yea," said he, "Shall I get to horse at once?" And therewith he made as if he would move away from her; but she still held his hands, and seemed to think it good so to do, and she spake not for a while but gazed earnestly into his face. She was a fair woman, dark and sleek12 and lithe13...for in good sooth she was none other than Agatha, who is afore told of.
Now Ralph is somewhat abashed14 by her eagerness, and lets his eyes fall before hers; and he cannot but note that despite the brambles and briars of the wood that she had run through, there were no scratches on her bare legs, and that her arm was unbruised where the sleeve had been rent off.
At last she spake, but somewhat slowly, as if she were thinking of what she had to say: "O knight, by thy knightly15 oath I charge thee come to my lady and help and rescue her: she and I have been taken by evil men, and I fear that they will put her to shame, and torment16 her, ere they carry her off; for they were about tying her to a tree when I escaped: for they heeded17 not me who am but the maid, when they had the mistress in their hands." "Yea," said he, "and who is thy mistress?" Said the damsel: "She is the Lady of the Burnt Rock; and I fear me that these men are of the Riders of Utterbol; and then will it go hard with her; for there is naught19 but hatred20 betwixt my lord her husband and the tyrant21 of Utterbol." Said Ralph: "And how many were they?" "O but three, fair sir, but three," she said; "and thou so fair and strong, like the war-god himself."
Ralph laughed: "Three to one is long odds," quoth he, "but I will come with thee when thou hast let go my hands so that I may mount my horse. But wilt22 thou not ride behind me, fair damsel; so wearied and spent as thou wilt be by thy night."
She looked on him curiously23, and laid a hand on his breast, and the hauberk rings tinkled24 beneath the broidered surcoat; then she said: "Nay25, I had best go afoot before thee, so disarrayed26 as I am."
Then she let him go, but followed him still with her eyes as he gat him into the saddle. She walked on beside his horse's head; and Ralph marvelled27 of her that for all her haste she had been in, she went somewhat leisurely28, picking her way daintily so as to tread the smooth, and keep her feet from the rough.
Thus they went on, into the thicket and through it, and the damsel put the thorns and briars aside daintily as she stepped, and went slower still till they came to a pleasant place of oak-trees with greensward beneath them; and then she stopped, and turning, faced Ralph, and spoke29 with another voice than heretofore, whereas there was naught rueful or whining30 therein, but somewhat both of glee and of mocking as it seemed. "Sir knight," she said, "I have a word or two for thy ears; and this is a pleasant place, and good for us to talk together, whereas it is neither too near to her, nor too far from her, so that I can easily find my way back to her. Now, lord, I pray thee light down and listen to me." And therewith she sat down on the grass by the bole of a great oak.
"But thy lady," said Ralph, "thy lady?" "O sir," she said; "My lady shall do well enough: she is not tied so fast, but she might loose herself if the need were pressing. Light down, dear lord, light down!"
But Ralph sat still on his horse, and knit his brows, and said: "What is this, damsel? hast thou been playing a play with me? Where is thy lady whom thou wouldst have me deliver? If this be but game and play, let me go my ways; for time presses, and I have a weighty errand on hand."
She rose up and came close to him, and laid a hand on his knee and looked wistfully into his face as she said: "Nay then, I can tell thee all the tale as thou sittest in thy saddle; for meseems short will be thy farewell when I have told it." And she sighed withal.
Then Ralph was ashamed to gainsay31 her, and she now become gentle and sweet and enticing32, and sad withal; so he got off his horse and tied him to a tree, and went and stood by the damsel as she lay upon the grass, and said: "I prithee tell thy tale and let me depart if there be naught for me to do."
Then she said: "This is the first word, that as to the Red Rock, I lied; and my lady is the Queen of Utterbol, and I am her thrall33, and it is I who have drawn34 thee hither from the camp."
The blood mounted to Ralph's brow for anger; when he called to mind how he had been led hither and thither35 on other folk's errands ever since he left Upmeads. But he said naught, and Agatha looked on him timidly and said: "I say I am her thrall, and I did it to serve her and because she bade me." Said Ralph roughly: "And Redhead, him whom I saved from torments36 and death; dost thou know him? didst thou know him?"
"Yea," she said, "I had from him what he had learned concerning thee from the sergeants37 and others, and then I put words into his mouth." "Yea then," quoth Ralph, "then he also is a traitor38!" "Nay, nay," she said, "he is a true man and loveth thee, and whatever he hath said to thee he troweth himself. Moreover, I tell thee here and now that all that he told thee of the affairs of Utterbol, and thine outlook there, is true and overtrue."
She sprang to her feet therewith, and stood before him and clasped her hands before him and said: "I know that thou seekest the Well at the World's End and the deliverance of the damsel whom the Lord ravished from the wild man: now I swear it by thy mouth, that if thou go to Utterbol thou art undone39 and shalt come to the foulest40 pass there, and moreover that so going thou shalt bring the uttermost shame and torments on the damsel."
Said Ralph: "Yea, but what is her case as now? tell me."
Quoth Agatha: "She is in no such evil case; for my lady hateth her not as yet, or but little; and, which is far more, my lord loveth her after his fashion, and withal as I deem feareth her; for though she hath utterly41 gainsaid42 his desire, he hath scarce so much as threatened her. A thing unheard of. Had it been another woman she had by this time known all the bitterness that leadeth unto death at Utterbol." Ralph paled and he scowled43 on her, then he said: "And how knowest thou all the privity of the Lord of Utterbol? who telleth thee of all this?" She smiled and spake daintily: "Many folk tell me that which I would know; and that is because whiles I conquer the tidings with my wits, and whiles buy it with my body. Anyhow what I tell thee is the very sooth concerning this damsel, and this it is: that whereas she is but in peril6, she shall be in deadly peril, yea and that instant, if thou go to Utterbol, thou, who art her lover..." "Nay," said Ralph angrily, "I am not her lover, I am but her well-willer." "Well," quoth Agatha looking down and knitting her brows, "when thy good will towards her has become known, then shall she be thrown at once into the pit of my lord's cruelty. Yea, to speak sooth, even as it is, for thy sake (for her I heed18 naught) I would that the lord might find her gone when he cometh back to Utterbol."
"Yea," said Ralph, reddening, "and is there any hope for her getting clear off?" "So I deem," said Agatha. She was silent awhile and then spake in a low voice: "It is said that each man that seeth her loveth her; yea, and will befriend her, even though she consent not to his desire. Maybe she hath fled from Utterbol."
Ralph stood silent awhile with a troubled face; and then he said: "Yet thou hast not told me the why and wherefore of this play of thine, and the beguiling44 me into fleeing from the camp. Tell it me that I may pardon thee and pass on."
She said: "By thine eyes I swear that this is sooth, and that there is naught else in it than this: My lady set her love, when first she set her eyes upon thee—as forsooth all women must: as for me, I had not seen thee (though I told my lady that I had) till within this hour that we met in the wood."
She sighed therewith, and with her right hand played with the rent raiment about her bosom. Then she said: "She deemed that if thou camest a mere45 thrall to Utterbol, though she might command thy body, yet she would not gain thy love; but that if perchance thou mightest see her in hard need, and evilly mishandled, and mightest deliver her, there might at least grow up pity in thee for her, and that love might come thereof, as oft hath happed47 aforetime; for my lady is a fair woman. Therefore I, who am my lady's servant and thrall, and who, I bid thee remember, had not seen thee, took upon me to make this adventure, like to a minstrel's tale done in the flesh. Also I spake to my lord and told him thereof; and though he jeered48 at my lady to me, he was content, because he would have her set her heart on thee utterly; since he feared her jealousy49, and would fain be delivered of it, lest she should play some turn to his newly beloved damsel and do her a mischief50. Therefore did he set thee free (in words) meaning, when he had thee safe at Utterbol again (as he nowise doubted to have thee) to do as he would with thee, according as occasion might serve. For at heart he hateth thee, as I could see well. So a little before thou didst leave the camp, we, the Queen and I, went privily51 into a place of the woods but a little way hence. There I disarrayed both my lady and myself so far as was needful for the playing out the play which was to have seemed to thee a real adventure. Then came I to thee as if by chance hap46, that I might bring thee to her; and if thou hadst come, we had a story for thee, whereby thou mightest not for very knighthood forbear to succour her and bring her whither she would, which in the long run had been Utterbol, but for the present time was to have been a certain strong-house appertaining to Utterbol, and nigh unto it. This is all the tale, and now if thou wilt, thou mayst pardon me; or if thou wilt, thou mayst draw out thy sword and smite52 off my head. And forsooth I deem that were the better deed."
She knelt down before him and put her palms together, and looked up at him beseechingly53. His face darkened as he beheld54 her thus, but it cleared at last, and he said: "Damsel, thou wouldst turn out but a sorry maker55, and thy play is naught. For seest thou not that I should have found out all the guile56 at Utterbol, and owed thy lady hatred rather than love thereafter."
"Yea," she said, "but my lady might have had enough of thy love by then, and would belike have let thee alone to fall into the hands of the Lord. Lo now! I have delivered thee from this, so that thou art quit both of the Lord and the lady and me: and again I say that thou couldst scarce have missed, both thou and thy damsel, of a miserable57 ending at Utterbol."
"Yea," said Ralph, softly, and as if speaking to himself, "yet am I lonely and unholpen." Then he turned to Agatha and said: "The end of all this is that I pardon thee, and must depart forthwith; for when ye two come back to the camp, then presently will the hunt be up."
She rose from her knees, and stood before him humbly58 and said: "Nay, I shall requite59 thee thy pardon thus far, that I will fashion some tale for my lady which will keep us in the woods two days or three; for we have provided victual for our adventure."
Said Ralph: "I may at least thank thee for that, and will trust in thee to do so much." Quoth she: "Then might I ask a reward of thee: since forsooth other reward awaiteth me at Utterbol."
"Thou shalt have it," said Ralph. She said: "The reward is that thou kiss me ere we part."
"It must needs be according to my word," said Ralph, "yet I must tell thee that my kiss will bear but little love with it."
She answered naught but laid her hands on his breast and put up her face to him, and he kissed her lips. Then she said: "Knight, thou hast kissed a thrall and a guileful60 woman, yet one that shall smart for thee; therefore grudge61 not the kiss nor repent62 thee of thy kindness."
"How shalt thou suffer?" said he. She looked on him steadfastly63 a moment, and said: "Farewell! may all good go with thee." Therewith she turned away and walked off slowly through the wood, and somewhat he pitied her, and sighed as he got into his saddle; but he said to himself: "How might I help her? Yet true it is that she may well be in an evil case: I may not help everyone." Then he shook his rein and rode his ways.
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1
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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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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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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17
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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18
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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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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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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24
tinkled
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| （使）发出丁当声，（使）发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 )； 叮当响着发出，铃铃响着报出 | |
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25
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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disarrayed
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| vt.使混乱（disarray的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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29
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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30
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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enticing
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| adj.迷人的；诱人的 | |
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thrall
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| n.奴隶；奴隶制 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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sergeants
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| 警官( sergeant的名词复数 )； （美国警察）警佐； （英国警察）巡佐； 陆军（或空军）中士 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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39
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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40
foulest
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| adj.恶劣的( foul的最高级 )；邪恶的；难闻的；下流的 | |
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41
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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42
gainsaid
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| v.否认，反驳( gainsay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
beguiling
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| adj.欺骗的，诱人的v.欺骗( beguile的现在分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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45
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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46
hap
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| n.运气；v.偶然发生 | |
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47
happed
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| v.偶然发生( hap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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50
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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51
privily
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| adv.暗中，秘密地 | |
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52
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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53
beseechingly
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| adv. 恳求地 | |
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54
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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55
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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56
guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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57
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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59
requite
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| v.报酬，报答 | |
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guileful
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| adj.狡诈的，诡计多端的 | |
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61
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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62
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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