Now dwelt Birdalone in rest and peace when she had been taken into the guild1 along with her mother, and they had taken the due apprentices2 to them; and they began to gather much of goods to them, for of fine broidery there was little done in the Five Crafts, and none at all that could be put beside their work, either for beauty of the draught3 of it, or for skill of handiwork. She declared unto all folk how that the poor-wife (who had to name Audrey) was her very mother, from whom she had been stolen in her youngest days; but she told none any tale of how she was stolen. And the twain dwelt together in the greatest loving-kindness; and it was with Audrey as she had forecast, that now her days were happy, and she living in all ease and content, that the goodliness of her youth came back to her, and she became a fair woman as for her years; and therewith it grew to be clear that the two were so much alike one to the other, that all might see that they were mother and daughter.
Gerard and his two sons she maintained yet as her men; and not only were they of much use to her in fetching and carrying, but also true it is that her beauty was so manifest, that she whiles needed a stout4 lad weaponed at her back when she was in the streets or amidst the throng5 of the market; and many were they, and whiles of the highest, who craved7 love of her, some with honour, and some with lack of it.
Of these, forsooth, were but two that anywise troubled her; and the most trouble was this, that she might not fail to see that the love of her had entered into the hearts of the two Gerardsons, Robert and Giles; so that times were when she deemed she must even send them away, but when it came to the point she had not the heart thereto; though none other remedy there seemed, so sorely as their souls were wounded by longing8 for her. It is not to be said that they ever spake to her thereof, or wittingly wearied her with signs of love; but they could not so easily cover it up but that it was ever before her eyes. But she suffered it all for friendship’s sake and for their true service, and in all friendliness9 did what she might to solace10 their grief. Forsooth so good and true she found that father-kind, and the young men so goodly and kind, that she said to herself, had she not another man lying in her heart, she might well have chosen one of those twain for her very speech-friend and true lover.
The second wooer that troubled her was the master, Jacobus, who, when but three months were worn of her dwelling11 in her house, did all openly crave6 her love and offer her marriage, he being a man unwedded. Sore was her heart that she must needs gainsay13 him, so kind and courteous14 as he had been to her at their first coming together; though this indeed is sooth, that straightway, so soon as he saw her, he fell into the captivity15 of her love. Howsoever, gainsay him she needs must, and he took the naysay so hardly that he was scarce like a man before her, and wept and prayed and lamented17 many times over, till she wearied of it, and well-nigh fell to loathing18 him. So that it came to this at last, that one day she spake to him and said that she might no longer bear it, but must seek another house and leave his. There then was the to-do, for he fell on his knees before her, and kissed her feet, would she, would she not, and cried out in his grief, till at last for pure weariness of his folly19 she gave way unto him, and said that she would still abide20 there; whereon he rose up from her and went away with all the grief run off him for that time, and as glad a man to look on as you might see on a summer’s day.
But the next morning he came unto her again, and she thinking all was begun afresh, made him no glad countenance21; but he stood up before her and spake friendly, and said how that she was in the right of it, and that if they both dwelt in one house together they were like to have but a weary time of it, both she and he. But, said he, I will not that thou shouldst depart out of this house, for a goodly one it is, and full meet for thee; it is for me to depart, and not for thee. I tell thee, forsooth, that I had from the first meant this house as a gift from me to thee. And therewith he drew from his pouch22 a scroll23, which was a deed of gift of the said house, duly sealed and attested24, and he gave it into her hands; but she was sore moved thereat, and at the demeanour of him that morning, and she let the scroll fall to the floor and wept for pity of him, and reached out both her hands, and he kissed them, and then her lips also, and sithence he sat down beside her. But she said: Alas25! that thou wilt26 give me what I may not take, and wouldst have of me what I may not give.
But now he waxed hotter, and said: This once I command thee to do my will, and take my gift. It will be nought27 to my gain if thou take it not; for I may not live in this house when thou art gone from it; and I swear by All-hallows that I will not let any have it to hire, nor will I sell it, since thou hast made it holy by dwelling therein.
Yet was she sore moved by his generous fashion, and she said: I will take thy gift then, and live here in honour of thee and thy friendship; for well I wot thou hadst no mind to buy me with thy gift.
So she spake, and he stood up stark28 and stern, and so departed, and kissed her not again; though meseems she would have suffered him had he offered it. Nay16, belike had he at that moment pressed his wooing somewhat masterfully, it is not so sure but she might have yeasaid it, and suffered him to wed12 her and lead her to bed; though it would have gone ill both with him and with her thereafter.
Thenceforth dwelt Birdalone with her mother and her maidens29 and her men in that house, and it became famous in the Five Crafts because of her beauty and her wisdom, which minished not, but waxed day by day; but therewithal as the time wore, waxed her longing and sadness. But all this she hid in her own heart, and was debonair30 to all about her, and so good to poor folk that none had a word save of blessing31 on her beauty and her wisdom.
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1
guild
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| n.行会，同业公会，协会 | |
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2
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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3
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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5
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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6
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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7
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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8
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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9
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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10
solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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11
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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12
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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13
gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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14
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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15
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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16
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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17
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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19
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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21
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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23
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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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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nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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29
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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30
debonair
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| adj.殷勤的，快乐的 | |
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31
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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