wise in wizardry （even as some deal am I）； and wert thou to touch me
with hand or mouth on my naked flesh； yea； or were it even my
raiment； then would she scent the savour of thy love upon me； and
then； though it may be she would spare thee； she would not spare
me。〃
Then was she silent a little； and seemed very downcast； and Walter
held his peace from grief and confusion and helplessness； for of
wizardry he knew nought。
At last the Maid spake again； and said： 〃Nevertheless we will not
die redeless。 Now thou must look to this； that from henceforward it
is thee； and not the King's Son； whom she desireth； and that so much
the more that she hath not set eyes on thee。 Remember this；
whatsoever her seeming may be to thee。 Now； therefore； shall the
King's Son be free； though he know it not； to cast his love on
whomso he will； and； in a way； I also shall be free to yeasay him。
Though； forsooth； so fulfilled is she with malice and spite； that
even then she may turn round on me to punish me for doing that which
she would have me do。 Now let me think of it。〃
Then was she silent a good while； and spoke at last： 〃Yea； all
things are perilous； and a perilous rede I have thought of； whereof
I will not tell thee as yet； so waste not the short while by asking
me。 At least the worst will be no worse than what shall come if we
strive not against it。 And now； my friend； amongst perils it is
growing more and more perilous that we twain should be longer
together。 But I would say one thing yet； and maybe another
thereafter。 Thou hast cast thy love upon one who will be true to
thee； whatsoever may befall； yet is she a guileful creature； and
might not help it her life long； and now for thy very sake must
needs be more guileful now than ever before。 And as for me； the
guileful； my love have I cast upon a lovely man； and one true and
simple； and a stout…heart； but at such a pinch is he； that if he
withstand all temptation； his withstanding may belike undo both him
and me。 Therefore swear we both of us； that by both of us shall all
guile and all falling away be forgiven on the day when we shall be
free to love each the other as our hearts will。〃
Walter cried out： 〃O love； I swear it indeed！ thou art my Hallow；
and I will swear it as on the relics of a Hallow； on thy hands and
thy feet I swear it。〃
The words seemed to her a dear caress； and she laughed； and blushed；
and looked full kindly on him； and then her face grew solemn； and
she said： 〃On thy life I swear it！〃
Then she said： 〃Now is there nought for thee to do but to go hence
straight to the Golden House； which is my Mistress's house； and the
only house in this land （save one which I may not see）； and lieth
southward no long way。 How she will deal with thee； I wot not； but
all I have said of her and thee and the King's Son is true。
Therefore I say to thee； be wary and cold at heart； whatsoever
outward semblance thou mayst make。 If thou have to yield thee to
her； then yield rather late than early； so as to gain time。 Yet not
so late as to seem shamed in yielding for fear's sake。 Hold fast to
thy life； my friend； for in warding that； thou wardest me from grief
without remedy。 Thou wilt see me ere long； it may be to…morrow； it
may be some days hence。 But forget not； that what I may do； that I
am doing。 Take heed also that thou pay no more heed to me； or
rather less； than if thou wert meeting a maiden of no account in the
streets of thine own town。 O my love！ barren is this first
farewell； as was our first meeting； but surely shall there be
another meeting better than the first； and the last farewell may be
long and long yet。〃
Therewith she stood up； and he knelt before her a little while
without any word； and then arose and went his ways； but when he had
gone a space he turned about； and saw her still standing in the same
place； she stayed a moment when she saw him turn； and then herself
turned about。
So he departed through the fair land； and his heart was full with
hope and fear as he went。
CHAPTER XI： WALTER HAPPENETH ON THE MISTRESS
It was but a little after noon when Walter left the Maid behind： he
steered south by the sun； as the Maid had bidden him； and went
swiftly； for； as a good knight wending to battle； the time seemed
long to him till he should meet the foe。
So an hour before sunset he saw something white and gay gleaming
through the boles of the oak…trees； and presently there was clear
before him a most goodly house builded of white marble； carved all
about with knots and imagery； and the carven folk were all painted
of their lively colours； whether it were their raiment or their
flesh； and the housings wherein they stood all done with gold and
fair hues。 Gay were the windows of the house； and there was a
pillared porch before the great door； with images betwixt the
pillars both of men and beasts： and when Walter looked up to the
roof of the house； he saw that it gleamed and shone； for all the
tiles were of yellow metal； which he deemed to be of very gold。
All this he saw as he went； and tarried not to gaze upon it； for he
said； Belike there will be time for me to look on all this before I
die。 But he said also； that； though the house was not of the
greatest； it was beyond compare of all houses of the world。
Now he entered it by the porch； and came into a hall many…pillared；
and vaulted over； the walls painted with gold and ultramarine； the
floor dark； and spangled with many colours； and the windows glazed
with knots and pictures。 Midmost thereof was a fountain of gold；
whence the water ran two ways in gold…lined runnels； spanned twice
with little bridges of silver。 Long was that hall； and now not very
light； so that Walter was come past the fountain before he saw any
folk therein： then he looked up toward the high…seat； and himseemed
that a great light shone thence； and dazzled his eyes； and he went
on a little way； and then fell on his knees； for there before him on
the high…seat sat that wondrous Lady； whose lively image had been
shown to him thrice before； and she was clad in gold and jewels； as
he had erst seen her。 But now she was not alone； for by her side
sat a young man； goodly enough； so far as Walter might see him； and
most richly clad； with a jewelled sword by his side； and a chaplet
of gems on his head。 They held each other by the hand； and seemed
to be in dear converse together； but they spake softly； so that
Walter might not hear what they said； till at last the man spake
aloud to the Lady： 〃Seest thou not that there is a man in the
hall？〃
〃Yea；〃 she said； 〃I see him yonder； kneeling on his knees； let him
come nigher and give some account of himself。〃
So Walter stood up and drew nigh； and stood there； all shamefaced
and confused； looking on those twain； and wondering at the beauty of
the Lady。 As for the man； who was slim； and black…haired； and
straight…featured； for all his goodliness Walter accounted him
little； and nowise deemed him to look chieftain…like。
Now the Lady spake not to Walter any more than erst； but at last the
man said： 〃Why doest thou not kneel as thou didst erewhile？〃
Walter was on the point of giving him back a fierce answer； but the
Lady spake and said： 〃Nay； friend； it matters not whether he kneel
or stand； but he may say； if he will； what he would have of me； and
wherefore he is come hither。〃
Then spake Walter； for as wroth and ashamed as he was： 〃Lady； I
have strayed into this land； and have come to thine house as I
suppose； and if I be not welcome； I may well depart straightway； and
seek a way out of thy land； if thou wouldst drive me thence； as well
as out of thine house。〃
Thereat the Lady turned and looked on him； and when her eyes met
his； he felt a pang of fear and desire mingled shoot through his
heart。 This time she spoke to him； but coldly； without either wrath
or any thought of him： 〃Newcomer；〃 she said； 〃I have not bidden
thee hither； but here mayst thou abide a while if thou wilt；
nevertheless； take heed that here is no King's Court。 There is；
forsooth； a folk that serveth me （or； it may be； more than one）； of
whom thou wert best to know nought。 Of others I have but two
servants； whom thou wilt see； and the one is a strange creature； who
should scare thee or scathe thee with a good will； but of a good
will shall serve nought save me； the other is a woman； a thrall； of
little avail； save that； being compelled； she will work woman's
service for me； but whom none else shall compel 。 。 。 Yea； but what
is all this to thee； or to me that I should tell it to thee？ I will
not drive thee away； but if thine entertainment please thee not；
make no plaint thereof to me； but depart at thy will。 Now is this
talk betwixt us overlong； since； as thou seest； I and this King's
Son are in converse together。 Art thou a King's Son？〃
〃Nay； Lady；〃 said Walter； 〃I am but of the sons of the merchants。〃
〃It matters not；〃 she said； 〃go thy ways into one of the chambers。〃
And straightway she fell a…talking to the man who sat beside her
concerning the singing of the birds beneath her window in the
morning； and of how she had bathed her that day in a pool of the
woodlands； when she had been heated with hunting； and so forth； and
all as if there had been none there save her and the King's Son。
But Walter departed all ashamed； as though he had been a poor man
thrust away from a rich kinsman's door； and he said to himself that
this woman was hateful； and nought love…worthy； and that she was
little like to tempt him； despite all the fairness of her body。
No one else he saw in the house that even； he found meat and drink
duly served on a fair table； and thereafter he came on a goodly bed；
and all things needful； but no child of Adam to do him service； or
bid him welcome or warning。 Nevertheless he ate； and drank； and
slept； and put off thought of all these things till the morrow； all
the more as he hoped to see the kind maiden some time betwixt
sunrise and sunset on that new day。
CHAPTER XII： THE WEARING OF FOUR DAYS IN THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD
He arose betimes； but found no one to greet him； neither was there
any sound