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the story of the glittering plain-第24章

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ship…warders behind。



〃Seest thou; friend of the Ravens;〃 said the Fox; 〃hadst thou been

there; they might have done with thee what they would。  Did I not

well to bring thee into my unroofed house?〃



〃Yea; verily;〃 said Hallblithe; 〃but will not some of the ship…wards;

or some of the others returning; come up hither and find us?  I shall

yet lay my bones in this evil island。〃



The Puny Fox laughed; and said:  〃It is not so bad as thy sour looks

would have it; anyhow it is good enough for a grave; and at this

present I may call it a casket of precious things。〃



〃What meanest thou?〃 said Hallblithe eagerly。



〃Nay; nay;〃 said the other; 〃nought but what thou knowest。  Art thou

not therein; and I myself? without reckoning the old carle in the

hole yonder。  But I promise thee thou shalt not die here this time;

unless thou wilt。  And as to folk coming up hither; I tell thee again

they durst not; because they fear my great…grandsire over much。  Not

that they are far wrong therein; for now he is dead; the worst of him

seemeth to come out of him; and he is not easily dealt with; save by

one who hath some share of his wisdom。  Thou thyself couldst see by

my kinsman; the Sea…eagle; how much of ill blood and churlish malice

there may be in our kindred when they wax old; and loneliness and

dreariness taketh hold of them。  For I must tell thee that I have oft

heard my father say that his father the Sea…eagle was in his youth

and his prime blithe and buxom; a great lover of women; and a very

friendly fellow。  But ever; as I say; as the men of our kind wax in

years; they worsen; and thereby mayst thou deem how bad the old man

in yonder must be; since he hath lain so long in the grave。  But now

we will go to that house of mine on the other side of the mead; over

against my kinsman's。〃



Therewith he led Hallblithe down from the rock while Hallblithe said

to him:  〃What! art thou also dead that thou hast a grave here?〃



〃Nay; nay;〃 said Fox; smiling; 〃am I so evil…conditioned then?  I am

no older than thou art。〃



〃But tell me;〃 said Hallblithe; 〃wilt thou also wax evil as thou

growest old?〃



〃Maybe not;〃 said Fox; looking hard at him; 〃for in my mind it is

that I may be taken into another house; and another kindred; and

amongst them I shall be healed of much that might turn to ill。〃



Therewith were they come across the little meadow to a place where

was a cave in the rock closed with a door; and a wicket window

therein。  Fox led Hallblithe into it; and within it was no ill

dwelling; for it was dry and clean; and there were stools therein and

a table; and shelves and lockers in the wall。  When they had sat them

down Fox said:  〃Here mightest thou dwell safely as long as thou

wouldst; if thou wouldst risk dealings with the old carle。  But; as I

wot well that thou art in haste to be gone and get home to thy

kindred; I must bring thee at dusk to…day close up to our feast…hall;

so that thou mayst be at hand to do what hath to be done to…night; so

that we may get us gone to…morrow。  Also thou must do off thy Raven

gear lest we meet any in the twilight as we go up to the house; and

here have I to hand home…spun raiment such as our war…taken thralls

wear; which shall serve thy turn well enough; but this thou needst

not do on till the time is at hand for our departure; and then I will

bring thee away; and bestow thee in a bower hard by the hall; and

when thou art within; I may so look to it that none shall go in

there; or if they do; they shall see nought in thee save a carle

known to them by name。  My kinsman hath learned me to do harder

things than this。  But now it is time to eat and drink。〃



Therewith he drew victual from out a locker and they fell to。  But

when they had eaten; Fox taught Hallblithe what he should do in the

hall that night; as shall be told hereafter。  And then; with much

talk about many things; they wore away the day in that ancient cup of

the seething rock; and a little before dusk set out for the hall;

bearing with them Hallblithe's gear bundled up together; as though it

had been wares from over sea。  So they came to the house before the

tables were set; and the Puny Fox bestowed Hallblithe in a bower

which gave into the buttery; so that it was easy to go straight into

the mid…most of the hall。  There was Hallblithe clad and armed in his

Raven gear; but Fox gave him a vizard to go over his face; so that

none might know him when he entered therein。







CHAPTER XXI:  OF THE FIGHT OF THE CHAMPIONS IN THE HALL OF THE

RAVAGERS







Now it is to be told that the chieftains came into the hall that

night and sat down at the board on the dais; even as Hallblithe had

seen them do aforetime。  And the chieftain of all; who was called the

Erne of the Sea…eagles; rose up according to custom and said:

〃Hearken; folk! this is a night of the champions; whereon we may not

eat till the pale blades have clashed together; and one hath

vanquished and another been overcome。  Now let them stand forth and

give out the prize of victory which the vanquished shall pay to the

vanquisher。  And let it be known; that; whosoever may be the champion

that winneth the battle; whether he be a kinsman; or an alien; or a

foeman declared; yea; though he have left the head of my brother at

the hall…door; he shall pass this night with us safe from sword; safe

from axe; safe from hand:  he shall eat as we eat; drink as we drink;

sleep as we sleep; and depart safe from any hand or weapon; and shall

sail the sea at his pleasure in his own keel or in ours; as to him

and us may be meet。  Blow up horns for the champions!〃



So the horns blew a cheerful strain; and when they were done; there

came into the hall a tall man clad in black; and with black armour

and weapons saving the white blade of his sword。  He had a vizard

over his face; but his hair came down from under his helm like the

tail of a red horse。



So he stood amidst the floor and cried out:  〃I am the champion of

the Ravagers。  But I swear by the Treasure of the Sea that I will

cross no blade to…night save with an alien; a foeman of the kindred。

Hearest thou; O chieftain; O Erne of the Sea…eagles?〃



〃Hear it I do;〃 said the chieftain; 〃and I deem that thy meaning is

that we should go supperless to bed; and this cometh of thy

perversity:  for we know thee despite thy vizard。  Belike thou

deemest that thou shalt not be met this even; and that there is no

free alien in the island to draw sword against thee。  But beware!

For when we came aland this morning we found a skiff of the aliens

tied to a great spear stuck in the bank of the haven; so that there

will be one foeman at least abroad in the island。  But we said if we

should come on the man; we would set his head on the gable of the

hall with the mouth open toward the North for a token of reproach to

the dwellers in the land over sea。  But now give out the prize of

victory; and I swear by the Treasure of the Sea that we will abide by

thy word。〃



Said the champion:  〃These are the terms and conditions of the

battle; that whichso of us is vanquished; he shall either die; or

serve the vanquisher for twelve moons; to fare with him at his will;

to go his errands; and do according to his commandment in all wise。

Hearest thou; chieftain?〃



〃Yea;〃 said he; 〃and by the Undying King; both thou and we shall

abide by this bargain。  So look to it that thou smite great strokes;

lest our hall lack a gable…knop。  Horns; blow up for the alien

champion!〃



So again the horns were winded; and ere their voice had died; in from

the buttery screens came a glittering image of war; and there stood

the alien champion over against the warrior of the sea; and he too

had a vizard over his face。



Now when the folk saw him; and how slim and light and small he looked

beside their champion; and they beheld the Raven painted on his white

shield; they hooted and laughed for scorn of him and his littleness。

But he tossed his sword up lightly and caught it by the hilts as it

fell; and drew nigher to the champion of the sea and stood facing him

within reach of his sword。  Then the chieftain on the high…seat put

his two hands to his mouth and roared out:  〃Fall on; ye champions;

fall on!〃



But the folk in the hall were so eager that they stood on the benches

and the boards; and craned over each other's shoulders; so that they

might lose no whit of the hand…play。  Now flashed the blades in the

candle…lit hall; and the red…haired champion hove up his sword and

smote two great strokes to right and to left; but the alien gave way

before him; and the folk cried out at him in scorn and in joy of

their champion; who fell to raining down great strokes like the hail

amidst the lightning。  But so deft was the alien; that he stood

amidst it unhurt; and laid many strokes on his foeman; and did all so

lightly and easily; that it seemed as if he we
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