When they had broken their fast Ralph went to saddle the horses, and coming back found Ursula binding5 up her long hair, and she smiled on him and said: "Now we are for the road I must be an armed knight6 again: forsooth I unbound my hair e'en now and let my surcoat hang loose about me in token that thou wottest my secret. Soothly, my friend, it irks me that now we have met after a long while, I must needs be clad thus graceless. But need drave me to it, and withal the occasion that was given to me to steal this gay armour7 from a lad at Utterbol, the nephew of the lord; who like his eme was half my lover, half my tyrant8. Of all which I will tell thee hereafter, and what wise I must needs steer9 betwixt stripes and kisses these last days. But now let us arm and to horse. Yet first lo you, here are some tools that in thine hands shall keep us from sheer famine: as for me I am no archer10; and forsooth no man-at-arms save in seeming."
Therewith she showed him a short Turk bow and a quiver of arrows, which he took well pleased. So then they armed each the other, and as she handled Ralph's wargear she said: "How well-wrought and trusty is this hauberk of thine, my friend; my coat is but a toy to it, with its gold and silver rings and its gemmed12 collar: and thy plates be thick and wide and well-wrought, whereas mine are little more than adornments to my arms and legs."
He looked on her lovingly and loved her shapely hands amidst the dark grey mail, and said: "That is well, dear friend, for since my breast is a shield for thee it behoves it to be well covered." She looked at him, and her lips trembled, and she put out her hand as if to touch his cheek, but drew it back again and said: "Come now, let us to horse, dear fellow in arms."
So they mounted and went their ways through a close pine-wood, where the ground was covered with the pine-tree needles, and all was still and windless. So as they rode said Ursula: "I seek tokens of the way to the Sage13 of Swevenham. Hast thou seen a water yesterday?" "Yea," said Ralph, "I rode far along it, but left it because I deemed that it turned north overmuch." "Thou wert right," she said, "besides that thy turning from it hath brought us together; for it would have brought thee to Utterbol at last. But now have we to hit upon another that runneth straight down from the hills: not the Great Mountains, but the high ground whereon is the Sage's dwelling14. I know not whether the ride be long or short; but the stream is to lead us."
On they rode through the wood, wherein was little change for hours; and as they rested Ursula gave forth15 a deep breath, as one who has cast off a load of care. And Ralph said: "Why sighest thou, fellow-farer?" "O," she said, "it is for pleasure, and a thought that I had: for a while ago I was a thrall16, living amongst fears that sickened the heart; and then a little while I was a lonely wanderer, and now...Therefore I was thinking that if ever I come back to mine own land and my home, the scent17 of a pine-wood shall make me happy."
Ralph looked on her eagerly, but said naught18 for a while; but at last he spoke19: "Tell me, friend," said he, "if we be met by strong-thieves on the way, what shall we do then?"
"It is not like to befall," she said, "for men fear the wood, therefore is there little prey20 for thieves therein: but if we chance on them, the token of Utterbol on mine armour shall make them meek21 enough." Then she fell silent a while, and spoke again: "True it is that we may be followed by the Utterbol riders; for though they also fear the wood, they fear it not so much as they fear their Lord. Howbeit, we be well ahead, and it is little like that we shall be overtaken before we have met the Sage; and then belike he shall provide."
"Yea," said Ralph, "but what if the chase come up with us: shall we suffer us to be taken alive?" She looked on him solemnly, laid her hand on the beads22 about her neck, and answered: "By this token we must live as long as we may, whatsoever23 may befall; for at the worst may some road of escape be opened to us. Yet O, how far easier it were to die than to be led back to Utterbol!"
A while they rode in silence, both of them: but at last spake Ralph, but slowly and in a dull and stern voice: "Maybe it were good that thou told me somewhat of the horrors and evil days of Utterbol?" "Maybe," she said, "but I will not tell thee of them. Forsooth there are some things which a man may not easily tell to a man, be he never so much his friend as thou art to me. But bethink thee" (and she smiled somewhat) "that this gear belieth me, and that I am but a woman; and some things there be which a woman may not tell to a man, nay24, not even when he hath held her long in his arms." And therewith she flushed exceedingly. But he said in a kind voice: "I am sorry that I asked thee, and will ask thee no more thereof." She smiled on him friendly, and they spake of other matters as they rode on.
But after a while Ralph said: "If it were no misease to thee to tell me how thou didst fall into the hands of the men of Utterbol, I were fain to hear the tale."
She laughed outright25, and said: "Why wilt thou be forever harping26 on the time of my captivity27, friend? And thou who knowest the story somewhat already? Howbeit, I may tell thee thereof without heart-burning, though it be a felon28 tale."
He said, somewhat shame-facedly: "Take it not ill that I am fain to hear of thee and thy life-days, since we are become fellow-farers."
"Well," she said, "this befell outside Utterbol, so I will tell thee.
"After I had stood in the thrall-market at Cheaping Knowe, and not been sold, the wild man led me away toward the mountains that are above Goldburg; and as we drew near to them on a day, he said to me that he was glad to the heart-root that none had cheapened me at the said market; and when I asked him wherefore, he fell a weeping as he rode beside me, and said: 'Yet would God that I had never taken thee.' I asked what ailed29 him, though indeed I deemed that I knew. He said: 'This aileth me, that though thou art not of the blood wherein I am bound to wed11, I love thee sorely, and would have thee to wife; and now I deem that thou wilt not love me again.' I said that he guessed aright, but that if he would do friendly with me, I would be no less than a friend to him. 'That availeth little,' quoth he; 'I would have thee be mine of thine own will.' I said that might not be, that I could love but one man alone. 'Is he alive?' said he. 'Goodsooth, I hope so,' said I, 'but if he be dead, then is desire of men dead within me.'
"So we spake, and he was downcast and heavy of mood; but thenceforward was he no worse to me than a brother. And he proffered30 it to lead me back, if I would, and put me safely on the way to Whitwall; but, as thou wottest, I had need to go forward, and no need to go back.
"Thus we entered into the mountains of Goldburg; but one morning, when he arose, he was heavier of mood than his wont31, and was restless withal, and could be steadfast32 neither in staying nor going, nor aught else. So I asked what ailed him, and he said: 'My end draweth nigh; I have seen my fetch, and am fey. My grave abideth me in these mountains.' 'Thou hast been dreaming ugly dreams,' said I, 'such things are of no import.' And I spoke lightly, and strove to comfort him. He changed not his mood for all that; but said: 'This is ill for thee also; for thou wilt be worser without me than with me in these lands.' Even so I deemed, and withal I was sorry for him, for though he were uncouth33 and ungainly, he was no ill man. So against my will I tumbled into the samelike mood as his, and we both fared along drearily34. But about sunset, as we came round a corner of the cliffs of those mountains, or ever we were ware35 we happed36 upon a half-score of weaponed men, who were dighting a camp under a big rock thereby37: but four there were with them who were still a-horseback; so that when Bull Nosy38 (for that was his name) strove to flee away with me, it was of no avail; for the said horsemen took us, and brought us before an evil-looking man, who, to speak shortly, was he whom thou hast seen, to wit, the Lord of Utterbol: he took no heed39 of Bull Nosy, but looked on me closely, and handled me as a man doth with a horse at a cheaping, so that I went nigh to smiting40 him, whereas I had a knife in my bosom41, but the chaplet refrained me. To make a short tale of it, he bade Bull sell me to him, which Bull utterly42 naysaid, standing43 stiff and stark44 before the Lord, and scowling45 on him. But the Lord laughed in his face and said: 'So be it, for I will take her without a price, and thank thee for sparing my gold.' Then said Bull: 'If thou take her as a thrall, thou wert best take me also; else shall I follow thee as a free man and slay46 thee when I may. Many are the days of the year, and on some one of them will betide the occasion for the knife.'
"Thereat the Lord waxed very pale, and spake not, but looked at that man of his who stood by Bull with a great sword in his fist, and lifted up his hand twice, and let it fall twice, whereat that man stepped back one pace, and swung his sword, and smote47 Bull, and clave his skull48.
"Then the colour came into the Lord's face again, and he said: 'Now, vassals49, let us dine and be merry, for at least we have found something in the mountains.' So they fell to and ate and drank, and victual was given to me also, but I had no will to eat, for my soul was sick and my heart was heavy, foreboding the uttermost evil. Withal I was sorry for Bull Nosy, for he was no ill man and had become my friend.
"So they abode50 there that night, leaving Bull lying like a dog unburied in the wilderness51; and on the morrow they took the road to Utterbol, and went swiftly, having no baggage, and staying but for victual, and for rest every night. The Lord had me brought to him on that first evening of our journey, and he saw me privily52 and spake to me, bidding me do shameful53 things, and I would not; wherefore he threatened me grievously; and, I being alone with him, bade him beware lest I should slay him or myself. Thereat he turned pale, as he had done before Bull Nosy, yet sent for none to slay me, but only bade me back to my keepers. And so I came to Utterbol unscathed."
"And at Utterbol," said Ralph, "what befell thee there?" Ursula smiled on him, and held up her finger; yet she answered: "Utterbol is a very great house in a fair land, and there are sundry54 roofs and many fair chambers55. There was I brought to a goodly chamber56 amidst a garden; and women servants were given me who led me to the bath and clad me in dainty raiment, and gave me to eat and to drink, and all that I needed. That is all my tale for this time."
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1
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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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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fodder
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| n.草料；炮灰 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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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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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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11
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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gemmed
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| 点缀（gem的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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15
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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thrall
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| n.奴隶；奴隶制 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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18
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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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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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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harping
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| n.反复述说 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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28
felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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29
ailed
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| v.生病( ail的过去式和过去分词 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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drearily
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| 沉寂地，厌倦地，可怕地 | |
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35
ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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happed
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| v.偶然发生( hap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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nosy
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| adj.鼻子大的，好管闲事的，爱追问的；n.大鼻者 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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40
smiting
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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41
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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42
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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43
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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44
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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45
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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46
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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47
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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48
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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49
vassals
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| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
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50
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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51
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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52
privily
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| adv.暗中，秘密地 | |
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53
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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54
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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55
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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56
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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