Sure enough as he came under the trees he heard a shrill10 cry, and knew that it could be naught save Ursula; so he ran thitherward whence came the cry, shouting as he ran, and was scarce come out of the trees ere he saw Ursula indeed, mother-naked, held in chase by a huge bear as big as a bullock: he shouted again and ran the faster; but even therewith, whether she heard and saw him, and hoped for timely help, or whether she felt her legs failing her, she turned on the bear, and Ralph saw that she had a little axe11 in her hand wherewith she smote12 hardily13 at the beast; but he, after the fashion of his kind, having risen to his hind14 legs, fenced with his great paws like a boxer15, and smote the axe out of her hand, and she cried out bitterly and swerved16 from him and fell a running again; but the bear tarried not, and would have caught her in a few turns; but even therewith was Ralph come up, who thrust the beast into the side with his long-headed spear, and not waiting to pull it out again, drew sword in a twinkling, and smote a fore-paw off him and then drave the sword in over the shoulder so happily that it reached his heart, and he fell over dead with a mighty17 thump18.
Then Ralph looked around for Ursula; but she had already run back to the river-side and was casting her raiment on her; so he awaited her beside the slain19 bear, but with drawn20 sword, lest the other bear should come upon them; for this was the he-bear. Howbeit he saw naught save presently Ursula all clad and coming towards him speedily; so he turned toward her, and when they met he cast himself upon her without a word, and kissed her greedily; and she forbore not at all, but kissed and caressed21 him as if she could never be satisfied.
So at last they drew apart a little, and walked quietly toward the rock-house hand in hand. And on the way she told him that even as she came up on to the bank from the water she saw the bear coming down on her as fast as he could drive, and so she but caught up her axe, and ran for it: "Yet I had little hope, dear friend," she said, "but that thou shouldst be left alone in the wilderness22." And therewith she turned on him and cast her arms about him again, all weeping for joy of their two lives.
Thus slowly they came before the door of their rock-house and Ralph said: "Let us sit down here on the grass, and if thou art not over wearied with the flight and the battle, I will ask thee a question." She laid herself down on the grass with a sigh, yet it was as of one who sighs for pleasure and rest, and said, as he sat down beside her: "I am fain to rest my limbs and my body, but my heart is at rest; so ask on, dear friend."
The song of birds was all around them, and the scent23 of many blossoms went past on the wings of the west wind, and Ralph was silent a little as he looked at the loveliness of his friend; then he said: "This is the question; of what kind are thy kisses this morning, are they the kisses of a friend or a lover? Wilt24 thou not called me beloved and not friend? Shall not we two lie on the bridal bed this same night?"
She looked on him steadily25, smiling, but for love and sweetness, not for shame and folly26; then she said: "O, dear friend and dearest lover, three questions are these and not one; but I will answer all three as my heart biddeth me. And first, I will tell thee that my kisses are as thine; and if thine are aught but the kisses of love, then am I befooled. And next, I say that if thou wilt be my friend indeed, I will not spare to call thee beloved, or to be all thy friend. But as to thy third question; tell me, is there not time enough for that?"
She faltered27 as she spake, but he said: "Look, beloved, and see how fair the earth is to-day! What place and what season can be goodlier than this? And were it not well that we who love each other should have our full joy out of this sweet season, which as now is somewhat marred28 by our desire?"
"Ah, beloved!" she said, looking shyly at him, "is it so marred by that which marreth not us?"
"Hearken!" he said; "how much longer shall this fairness and peace, and our leisure and safety endure? Here and now the earth rejoiceth about us, and there is none to say us nay29; but to-morrow it may all be otherwise. Bethink thee, dear, if but an hour ago the monster had slain thee, and rent thee ere we had lain in each other's arms!"
"Alas30!" she said, "and had I lain in thine arms an hundred times, or an hundred times an hundred, should not the world be barren to me, wert thou gone from it, and that could never more be? But thou friend, thou well-beloved, fain were I to do thy will that thou mightest be the happier...and I withal. And if thou command it, be it so! Yet now should I tell thee all my thought, and it is on my mind, that for a many hundreds of years, yea, while our people were yet heathen, when a man should wed31 a maid all the folk knew of it, and were witnesses of the day and the hour thereof: now thou knowest that the time draws nigh when we may look for those messengers of the Innocent Folk, who come every spring to this cave to see if there be any whom they may speed on the way to the Well at the World's End. Therefore if thou wilt (and not otherwise) I would abide32 their coming if it be not over long delayed; so that there may be others to witness our wedding besides God, and those his creatures who dwell in the wilderness. Yet shall all be as thou wilt."
"How shall I not do after thy bidding?" said Ralph. "I will abide their coming: yet would that they were here to-day! And one thing I will pray of thee, that because of them thou wilt not forbear, or cause me to forbear, such kissing and caressing33 as is meet betwixt troth-plight lovers."
She laughed and said: "Nay, why should I torment34 thee...or me? We will not tarry for this." And therewith she took her arm about his neck and kissed him oft.
Then they said naught awhile, but sat listening happily to the song of the pairing birds. At last Ralph said: "What was it, beloved, that thou wert perchance to tell me concerning the thing that caused thine heart to see that thy betrothed35, for whom thou wepst or seemedst to weep at the ale-house at Bourton Abbas, was of no avail to thee?"
She said: "It was the sight of thee; and I thought also how I might never be thine. For that I have sorrowed many a time since."
Said Ralph: "I am young and unmighty, yet lo! I heal thy sorrow as if I were an exceeding mighty man. And now I tell thee that I am minded to go back with thee to Upmeads straightway; for love will prevail."
"Nay," she said, "that word is but from the teeth outwards36; for thou knowest, as I do, that the perils37 of the homeward road shall overcome us, despite of love, if we have not drunk of the Well at the World's End."
Again they were silent awhile, but anon she arose to her feet and said: "Now must I needs dight victual for us twain; but first" (and she smiled on him withal), "how is it that thou hast not asked me if the beast did me any hurt? Art thou grown careless of me, now the wedding is so nigh?"
He said: "Nay, but could I not see thee that thou wert not hurt? There was no mark of blood upon thee, nor any stain at all." Then she reddened, and said: "Ah, I forgot how keen-eyes thou art." And she stood silent a little while, as he looked on her and loved her sweetness. Then he said: "I am exceeding full of joy, but my body is uneasy; so I will now go and skin that troll who went so nigh to slay38 thee, and break up the carcase, if thou wilt promise to abide about the door of the house, and have thy sword and the spear ready to hand, and to don thine helm and hauberk to boot."
She laughed and said: "That were but strange attire39 for a cook-maid, Ralph, my friend; yet shall I do thy will, my lord and my love."
Then went Ralph into the cave, and brought forth40 the armour41 and did it on her, and kissed her, and so went his ways to the carcase of the bear, which lay some two furlongs from their dwelling42; and when he came to the quarry43 he fell to work, and was some time about it, so huge as the beast was. Then he hung the skin and the carcase on a tree of the grove, and went down to the river and washed him, and then went lightly homewards.
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1
disport
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| v.嬉戏，玩 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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ashen
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| adj.灰的 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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cubs
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| n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 ) | |
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bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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hardily
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| 耐劳地，大胆地，蛮勇地 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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boxer
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| n.制箱者，拳击手 | |
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swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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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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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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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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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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32
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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33
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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34
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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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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outwards
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| adj.外面的，公开的，向外的；adv.向外；n.外形 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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38
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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41
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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42
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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43
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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