As they went Habundia said to Arthur: Now shalt thou talk and tell for the shortening of the way, and let us know somewhat of thy story. But first I must tell thee, for thou mayest not know it, so witless as then thou wast, that yesterday we found thee down in the dale yonder, playing the string-play sweetly indeed, but otherwise dight like a half beast more than a man, so that we wondered at thee and pitied thee.
Arthur knit his brows as if he strove with some memory and might not master it; then he said: Thou sayest We, who then was the other? Said Habundia: I had a dear friend with me. Quoth he: And did she pity me also? Yea, said the wood-wife, else scarce had she been a friend to me. O let us on swiftly, said Arthur, so long as the time may be! And they quickened their pace and ate up the way speedily.
Presently spake the wood-wife again: Now for the tale of thee, fair sir; yet will I shorten it somewhat by telling thee that I know thy name, that thou art Arthur the Black Squire of the Castle of the Quest. He stared at that word, and said: How knewest thou this? how couldst thou guess it, who hast never seen me erst? A friend told me, said she; too long it were as now to tell thee thereof. Rather do thou tell me how thou didst fare when ye found thy friend gone from the castle that time ye came home from the winning of the Red Hold.
Arthur stared astonished, and said: What is it? Dost thou verily know my love? or art thou a sorceress and knowest somewhat of me by spell-work? I am somewhat more than a sorceress, may-happen, said the wood-wife; but heed2 it not, since I am thy friend today, but tell me what I ask, that I may have all the tale of thee; it will serve for the shortening of the way. Said Arthur: And who but I needeth it as short as may be? so stand we not loitering here, and I will talk as we wend on speedily.
On they sped therefore, and said Arthur: How did I fare? as one stunned3, mother, and knew not what had happened; and when I heard their babble4 of how she had done wrong here and right there, I was driven half mad by it, so that I hastened back to the Red Hold, and became the captain of Greenford, to hunt down their scattered5 foemen; for I said to myself that needs must I rage and slay6, and that were worser amongst my friends than mine unfriends. What then? that business came to an end; though all the ill men were not slain7, but all were driven away from the parts of Greenford; and sooth to say they durst not come anywhere nigh where they heard of me. Then became each day like every other, and the thought of my hope and my despair ate mine heart out, and I was of no avail unto any. Now it so happened, amidst my many battles and chases, I had hunted the bands of the Red Hold into the northwest marches of the woodland; and I noted8 that even they, howsoever hard bestead, and the worst of men to boot, would scarce at the first be driven into the thickets9 thereof, though at last, whether or no they have made covenant11 with the devils, there I know not, they have betaken them to the depths of the wood and have borne off women from the dwellings13 and got children on them, and are like to breed an evil folk. That then I noted that this Evilshaw was a dwelling12 loathed14 and desert, and little like it was that any would meddle15 with me there. Three years had worn since I was cast away at the Castle of the Quest by her that loved me, who must needs sacrifice both her and me to the busy devil of folly16; and I also deemed that if I sought for her I should not find her; and yet more forsooth, that if I found her she would be as hard unto me as when she fled from me. And as for me, I was gotten hard and crabbed17, and no man, if his heart would let him, would have aught to say to me. So I gat me away from the Red Hold, as I had from the Castle of the Quest, and I gave out that I would enter into religion, and forbade any man to follow me. Neither did any desire it. First of all I set me down at the very outskirts18 of the woodland, and raised me a bower19 there, rude and ill-shapen. Few folk came anigh me, and yet some few, charcoal-burners, and hunters of the edges of the wood, and suchlike. These deemed me a holy man, whereas I was but surly. Somewhat also they feared me, whereas in some of their huntings or goings and comings after prey20 I had put forth21 all my strength, eked22 out by the lore23 of knighthood, which was strange to them. One man there was of them who was fashioned of the minstrel craft by nature, and who forgathered with me specially24, till we became friends, and he was a solace25 to me, with his tales and his songs of a rougher people than I had been wont26 to deal with. But when I had been in that place for two years he died of a sickness, and I was left lonely, and my soreness of heart fell upon me till I scarce knew what next I should do. So I fared away yet deeper into the wildwood, taking with me the harp27 which my friend had given me before he died. It was summer, and I wandered about ever deeper into the wood, until belike I had scarce been able to win out of it if I had tried. At last, when the autumn came, I built myself again some sort of a bower in a clearing of the wood wherein was water, and the resort of plenteous venison.
What befell next? My mind is not over-clear concerning it all, for I was now becoming more of a beast than a man. But this I know, that some men of the bands whom I had chased happened on me. They knew me not for their old foeman, but of their kind it was to torment28 and slay any man whom they might lightly overcome. Yet was not the battle so over-light but that I slew29 and hurt divers30 of them ere they got me under and stripped me and bound my hands and tormented31 me, after the manner that the devils shall do with them when they shall go to their reward. Yet somehow I lived, though they deemed me dead, and I crawled away thence when they were gone; and somehow I was healed of my body, but I was confused of my wit thereafter, and now can call to mind but little of what befell me as I strayed from place to place, save that I remember I was hapless and heart-sore ever: and also meseemeth that I saw visions at whiles, and those who had been in my life before these things, their images would come before me to mock me as I sat singing whiles and whiles playing the string-play (for my harp I bore ever with me); and whiles I bewailed me, and called for help on them that would not or might not help me. And now I may not even tell the years of my abiding32 in the desert, how many they be. But I pray thee let us on more swiftly yet.
Said the wood-wife: Thou hast told me but little of thy life, Black Squire, but it is enough maybe; and I see that thou mayst not tell me more because thou hast thy mind set on what may betide thee when this day is over. But thou must know that thou hast come into the wood of Evilshaw, wherein, besides those savage33 men who quelled34 thee and their like, there be uncouth35 things no few, and wights that be not of the race of Adam; wherefore no great marvel36 is it that thou sawest visions, and images of them that were not by thee. Yea, said he, but one vision had I that confused and overcame me more than all others, and meseemeth that came to me not long ago. For first I saw the shape of her that my soul desireth ever, and it wept and lamented37 for me; and then for a little I seemed as if I were coming forth from my confusion of wit; when lo! there issued from the thicket10 another image of my beloved and blamed me and threatened me. God wot good cause there was of the blame. But tell me, mother, since thou callest thyself wise, what may this portend38?
The wood-wife laughed: Since I am wise, said she, I will foretell39 thee good days. And now we will talk no more of thee or thy love or thy sorrow, but since thou wilt40 so fiercely devour41 the way, I will tell thee a tale or two of this wood and its wights to save us from over-much weariness.
So did she, talking and telling as they went; and she went on a pace before him, and howsoever long or hardly he might stride he might not overgo her. And so fast they went, that they were within a little way of the Oak of Tryst42 a good while before the sun had set, though they had set out from the cave three hours after the hour when Birdalone and the wood-wife had left the House under the Wood on the yesterday. They had come to a steep rock that rose up from a water’s side, and the wood-wife bade stay, whether Arthur would or no, and she made him eat and drink, bringing the victual and wine from out of a cleft43 in the said rock. And she held him there till the night was come and there was a glimmer44 of the rising moon in the east, and he was ill at ease and restless; but still she held him there till the moon rose high and shone upon them, and the shadows of the oak-boughs lay black all around.
Then she bade him arise, and let him on to the Oak of Tryst, yea and somewhat beyond it toward the great water. Then she spake to him: Black Squire, I am now come home, and will lead thee no further; I was deeming that we should have slept in the wood a good way from this, and then would I have brought thee on thy way tomorrow morning; but the eagerness of thine heart hath made thy feet so speedy, that we be here somewhat rathe, and yet I am not ill-pleased therewith. Then she turned him about and said: Look down the bent45 and tell me what thou seest. He said: I see the boles of goodly trees, and betwixt them the gleaming of a great water. She said: Go thitherward then while the moon is yet at her brightest, and thou shalt presently come to wide meads lying along the water, and a stream running through them. Enter then into the meads and look about thee, and thou shalt see a little house (there is none other nigh) standing47 just across the said stream; go up thither46 boldly and crave48 guesting from whomsoever thou shalt find there, and maybe things shall go after thy mind. More than this I may not do for thee. Farewell then, and if thou wilt thou mayst meet me again; that is to say, that which is verily me: but it is like that this shape which hath been striding on with thee daylong thou shalt not see any more.
He looked on her wondering, for she seemed to grow goodly and stately before his eyes. But even as he stretched forth his hand to take hers, she turned about suddenly and fared into the wood out of his sight, wending full as swiftly as might have been looked for. Then he drew his sword and turned his face from the wood, and went down toward the water.
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收听单词发音
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1
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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4
babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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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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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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loathed
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| v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的过去式和过去分词 )；极不喜欢 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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crabbed
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| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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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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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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eked
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| v.（靠节省用量）使…的供应持久( eke的过去式和过去分词 )；节约使用；竭力维持生计；勉强度日 | |
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lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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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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slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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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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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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portend
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| v.预兆，预示；给…以警告 | |
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foretell
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| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
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40
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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41
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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42
tryst
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| n.约会；v.与…幽会 | |
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43
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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44
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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45
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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46
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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47
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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48
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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