第19章

Orhastthouperchanceheardanyeviltalesconcerningher？”

NowRalphwasconfusedathisword，andknewnotwhattosay；forthoughinhismindhehadbeenpiecingtogetherallthathehadheardoftheladybothforgoodandforevil，hehadnocleartaletotelleventohimself：

soheanswerednothing。

Butthepriestwenton：“Son，IshalltelltheethatsuchtalesIhaveheard，butfromwhosemouthforsooth？Iwilltellthee；

fromasortofidlejades，youngwomenwhowouldbethoughtfairerthantheybe，whoareafraidofeverythingsaveanakedman，andwhocanlieeasierthantheycansaytheirpaternoster：

fromsuchasthesecomethestories；orfromoldcroneswholiveinsourangerwiththemselvesandallelse，becausetheyhavelivednogoodlylifeintheiryouth，andhavenotlearnedthelovelinessofholychurch。Now，son，shallthetalesofsuchwomen，oldandyoung，weighinthymindbesidethewordItelltheeofwhatI

haveseenandknowconcerningthismostexcellentofladies？

Itrownot。AndformypartItellthee，thatthoughsheisverilyasfairasVenus(Godsaveus)yetissheaschasteasAgnes，aswiseasKatherine，andashumbleandmeekasDorothy。

Shebestowethhergoodsplentifullytothechurch，andismercifultopoormentherewith；andsofarasoccasionmayservehersheisconstantattheHolyOffice；neitherdothshesparetoconfesshersins，andtodoallpenancewhichisbiddenher，yeaandmore。

ForthoughIcannotsaytomyknowledgethatshewearethahair；

yetonceandagainhaveIseenherwendingthiswoodlandtowardthechapelofherfriendSt。Anthonybynightandcloud，sothatfewmightseeher，obedienttotheScripturewhichsayeth，’Letnotthyrighthandknowwhatthylefthanddoeth，’andshebarefootinhersmockamidsttheruggedwood，andsoarrayedfairerthananyqueeninagoldengown。Yea，asfairasthewoodwivesoftheancientheathen。”

Therewiththeprieststayedhiswords，andseemedasifhewerefallenintoadream；andhesighedheavily。

ButRalphwalkedonbyhisbridle-reindreamynoless；

forthewordsthathehadheardheheedednot，saveastheymadepicturesforhimofthewaysofthatwomanoftheforest。

Sotheywentonsoberlytillthepriestlifteduphisheadandlookedaboutlikeonecomeoutofslumber，andsaidinafirmvoice：

“Itellthee，myson，thatthoumayestsetthyloveuponherwithoutsin。”Andtherewithsuddenlyhefella-weeping；

andRalphwasillateaseofhisweeping，andwentalongbyhimsayingnought；tillthepriestpluckedupheartagain，andsaid，turningtoRalph，butnotmeetinghiseye：

“Myson，Iweepbecausemenandwomenaresoevil，andmis-sayeachothersosorely，evenastheydobythisholywoman。”

Ashespakehistearsbrakeoutagain，andRalphstrodeonfast，soastooutgohim，thinkingitunmannerlytoseemasifhenotednothissorrow；yetwithalunabletosayaughttohimthereof。

Moreoveritirkedhimtohearagrownmanweepingforgrief，eventhoughitwerebutapriest。

Withinawhilethepriestcaughtupwithhim，histearsallstaunched，andfelltotalkwithhimcheerfullyconcerningthewood，andtheLittleLandandthedwellersthereinandtheconditionsofthem，andhepraisedthemmuch，savethewomen。

Ralphansweredhimwithgoodcheerinlikewise；andthustheycametothecotoftheoldwoman，andbothsheandthemaidenwerewithoutthehouse，theoldcarlinehitheringandthitheringonsomeerrand，themaidenleaningagainstatreeasifponderingsomematter。

Astheypassedby，thepriestblessedtheminwords，buthiseyesscowledonthem，whereatthecarlinegrinned，butthedamselheededhimnot，butlookedwistfullyonRalph。

Thepriestmutteredsomewhatashepassed，whichRalphcaughtnotthemeaningof，andfellmoodyagain；

andwhenhewasalittlepastthefordhedrewreinandsaid：

“Now，son，Imusttomycellhardbythechurchyonder：

butyetIwillsayonewordtotheeerewesunder；towit，thattomymindtheHolyLadywilllovenoonebutthesaintsofheaven，saveitbesomemanwithwhomallwomenareinlove。”

Therewithheturnedawaysuddenly，androdesmartlytowardshischurch；andRalphdeemedthathewasweepingoncemore。

AsforRalph，hewentquietlyhometowardthecastle，forthesunwassettingnow，andashewentheponderedallthesethingsinhisheart。

RalphWearethAwayThreeDaysUneasilyHereadagaininthebookthatnight，tillhehadgottenthewholetaleintohishead，andhespeciallynotedthisofit，thatittoldnotwhencethatLadycame，norwhatshewas，noraughtelsesavethatthereshewasinthewoodbyherself，andwasfoundthereinbytheking’sson：

neithertoldthetaleinwhatyearoftheworldshewasfoundthere，thoughittoldconcerningallthewarandmiserieswhichshehadbred，andwhichlongendured。Again，hecouldnotgatherfromthatbookwhyshehadgonebacktotheloneplaceinthewoods，whereasshemighthaveweddedoneofthosewarringbaronswhosorelydesiredher：

norwhyshehadyieldedherselftothewitchofthatplaceandenduredwithpatienceherthralldom，withstripesandtormentsofherbody，liketheworstofthethrallsoftheancientheathenmen。

Lastly，hemightnotlearnfromthebookwhereintheworldwasthatloneplace，oraughtoftheroadtotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。

Butamidstallhisthinkinghisheartcamebacktothis：

“WhenImeether，shewilltellmeofitall；Ineedbenowiserthantolearnhowtomeetherandtomakeherloveme；thenshallsheshowmethewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andIshalldrinkthereofandnevergrowold，evenassheendurethinyouth，andsheshalllovemeforever，andIherforever。”

Sohethought；butyetamidstthesehappythoughtscameinthisevilone，thatwhereasallthemen-folkspokewellofherandworshippedher，thewomen-folkfearedherorhatedher；eventothelecherousoldwomanwhohadpraisedthebeautyofherbodyforhistorment。

Sohethoughttillhisheadgrewheavy，andhewentandlaydowninhisbedandslept，anddreamedofthedaysofUpmead；

andthingsforgotteninhiswakingtimecamebetweenhimandanymemoriesofhispresentlongingandthedaysthereof。

Heawokeandarosebetimesinthemorning，andwhenhehadbreakfastedhebadethecarlinebringhimhisweapons。“Wiltthouagaintothewood？”saidshe。

“Didstthounotbidmefarethitheryesterday？”saidhe。“Yea。”shesaid；

“butto-dayIfearlestthoudepartandcomenotback。”Helaughedandsaid：

“Seestthounot，mother，thatIgoafoot，andIinhauberkandhelm？

Icannotrunfarorfastfromthee。Also“(andherehebrokeoffhisspeechalittle)“whereshouldIbebuthere？”

“Ah。”shesaid，“butwhoknowswhatmayhappen？”Neverthelessshewentandfetchedhiswar-gearandlookedathimfondlyashediditon，andwenthiswaysfromthehall。

Nowheenteredthewoodmoretothesouththanhehaddoneyesterday，andwentsoftlyasbefore，andstillwasheturningoverinhismindthethoughtsoflastnight，andevertheycameback。“MightIbutseeher！

Wouldshebutloveme！OforadraughtoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，thatthelovemightlastlongandlong！”

Sohewentonawhilebetwixtthetreesandthethickets，tillitwasalittlepastnoon。Butallonasuddenapanicfeartookhim，lestsheshouldindeedcometothecastlewhilehewasaway，andnotfindinghim，departagain，whoknowswhither；andwhenthisthoughtcameuponhim，hecriedaloud，andhastenedathisswiftestbackagaintothecastle，andcametherebreathlessandwearied，andrantotheoldwoman，andcriedouttoher；“Isshecome？isshecome？”

Thecarlinelaughedandsaid，“Nay，sheisnot，butthouartcome：

praisebetothesaints！Butwhataileththee？Nay，fearnot，sheshallcomeatlast。”

ThengrewRalphshamefacedandturnedawayfromher，andmiscalledhimselfforafoolandadastardthatcouldnotabidethepleasureofhisladyattheveryplacewheretoshehadletleadhim。

Soheworethroughtheremnantofthedayhowsohemight，withoutgoingout-adoorsagain；andthecarlinecameandspakewithhim；butwhateverheaskedheraboutthelady，shewouldnottellaughtofanyimport，soherefrainedhimfromthattalk，andmadeashowofhearkeningwhenshespakeofothermatters；

astalesconcerningthefolkoftheland，andtheFathersoftheThorn，andsoforth。

Onthenextmorninghearoseandsaidtohimself，thatwhateverbetid，hewouldbideinthecastleandthePlainofAbundancetilltheladycame；

andhewentamongstthehaymakingfolkinthemorningandatehisdinnerwiththem，andstrovetobeofgoodcheer，andbelikethecarlesandqueensthoughthimmerrycompany；buthewasnowwearyinghisheartwithlonging，andmightnotabideanygreatwhileinoneplace；sowhen，dinnerover，theyturnedtotheirworkagain，hewentbacktotheCastle，andreadinthatbook，andlookedatthepicturesthereof，andkeptturninghiswonderandhopeandfearoverandoveragaininhismind，andmakingtohimselfstoriesofhowheshouldmeettheLadyandwhatshewouldsaytohim，andhowheshouldanswerher，tillatlastthenightcame，andhewenttohisbed，andsleptfortheverywearinessofhislonging。

Whenthenewdaycamehearoseandwentintothehall，andfoundthecarlinethere，whosaidtohim，“Fairsir，willthoutothewoodagainto-day？”“Nay。”saidRalph，“Imustnot，Idarenot。”

“Well。”shesaid，“thoumayestifthouwilt；whyshouldstthounotgo？”

SaidRalph，reddeningandstammering：“BecauseIfearto；

thricehaveIbeenawaylongfromthecastleandallhasgonewell；

butthefourthtimeshewillcomeandfindmegone。”

Thecarlinelaughed：“Well。”shesaid，“Ishallbehereifthougoest；

forIpromisetheenottostiroutofthehousewhilesthouartaway。”

SaidRalph：“Nay，Iwillabidehere。”“Yea。”shesaid，“Isee：

thoutrustestmenot。Well，nomatter；andto-dayitwillbehandyifthouabidest。ForIhaveanerrandtomybrotherintheflesh，whoisoneofthebrethrenoftheThornoveryonder。Ifthouwiltgivemeleave，itwillbetomypleasureandgain。”

Ralphwasgladwhenheheardthis，deemingthatifshelefthimalonethere，hewouldbethelesstemptedtostrayintothewoodagain。

Besides，hedeemedthattheLadymightcomethatdaywhenhewasaloneintheCastle，andthathimseemedwouldmakethemeetingsweeteryet。

Soheyea-saidthecarline’saskingjoyously，andinanhour’stimeshewentherwaysandlefthimalonethere。

Ralphsaidtohimself，whenhesawherdepart，thathewouldhavethemorejoyinthecastleofhisLadyifhewerealone，andwouldwearawaythedayinbetterpatiencetherefor。

Butinsooththehoursofthatdaywereworsetowearthananydaytherehadyetbeen。Hewentnotwithoutthehouseatallthatday，forhedeemedthatthefolkabroadwouldnoteofhimthathewassochangedandrestless。

Whileshereadinthatbook，orturnedtheleavesover，notreadingit；whileshewentintotheChamberofEstate，andporedoverthewovenpicturestherewhereintheLadywasfigured。

Whileshewanderedfromchambertochamber，notknowingwhattodo。

Atlast，alittleafterdark，backcomesthecarlineagain，andhemetheratthedoorofthehall，forhewaswearyofhisowncompany，andtheceaselessturningoverandoverofthesamethoughts。

Asforher，shewassojoyousofhimthatshefairlythrewherarmsabouthimandkissedandclippedhim，asthoughshehadbeenhisverymother。

Whereofhehadsomeshame，butnotmuch，forhedeemedthathergoodwilltohimwasabundant，whichindeeditwas。

Nowshelooksonhimandsays：“Trulyitdoesmyheartgoodtoseethee：

butthoupoorboy，thouartwearingthyselfwiththylonging，andthydoubting，andifthouwiltdoaftermyrede，thouwiltcertainlygointothewoodto-morrowandseewhatmaybefall；

andindeedandinsooththouwiltleavebehindtheeatrustyfriend。”

Helookedonherkindly，andsmiled，andsaid，“Insooth，mother，Ideemthouartbutright；thoughitbehardformetoleavethishouse，towhichinawaymyLadyhathbiddenme。

YetIwilldothybiddingherein。”Shethankedhim，andhewenttohisbedandslept；fornowthathehadmadeuphismindtogo，hewassomewhatmoreatrest。