the story of the glittering plain- 第16部分

bringing　his　guests　one　field　beyond　his　garth；　when　their　goal　is

the　ends　of　the　earth；　and　if　there　were　a　lion　in　the　path；　why

should　he　perish　for　courtesy's　sake？〃



Therewith　he　stooped　down　to　the　damsel；　and　lifted　her　up　and　kissed

her　face；　and　he　cast　his　arms　about　the　Sea…eagle　and　said　to　him：

〃Farewell；　shipmate！〃



Then　the　damsel　gave　him　the　wallet　of　victual；　and　bade　him

farewell；　weeping　sorely；　and　he　looked　kindly　on　them　for　a　moment

of　time；　and　then　turned　away　from　them　and　fared　on　toward　the

mountains；　striding　with　great　strides；　holding　his　head　aloft。　　But

they　looked　no　more　on　him；　having　no　will　to　eke　their　sorrow；　but

went　their　ways　back　again　without　delay。







CHAPTER　XVII：　　HALLBLITHE　AMONGST　THE　MOUNTAINS







So　strode　on　Hallblithe；　but　when　he　had　gone　but　a　little　way　his

head　turned；　and　the　earth　and　heavens　wavered　before　him；　so　that　he

must　needs　sit　down　on　a　stone　by　the　wayside；　wondering　what　ailed

him。　　Then　he　looked　up　at　the　mountains；　which　now　seemed　quite　near

to　him　at　the　plain's　ending；　and　his　weakness　increased　on　him；　and

lo！　as　he　looked；　it　was　to　him　as　if　the　crags　rose　up　in　the　sky　to

meet　him　and　overhang　him；　and　as　if　the　earth　heaved　up　beneath　him；

and　therewith　he　fell　aback　and　lost　all　sense；　so　that　he　knew　not

what　was　become　of　the　earth　and　the　heavens　and　the　passing　of　the

minutes　of　his　life。



When　he　came　to　himself　he　knew　not　whether　he　had　lain　so　a　great

while　or　a　little；　he　felt　feeble；　and　for　a　while　he　lay　scarce

moving；　and　beholding　nought；　not　even　the　sky　above　him。　　Presently

he　turned　about　and　saw　hard　stone　on　either　side；　so　he　rose　wearily

and　stood　upon　his　feet；　and　knew　that　he　was　faint　with　hunger　and

thirst。　　Then　he　looked　around　him；　and　saw　that　he　was　in　a　narrow

valley　or　cleft　of　the　mountains　amidst　wan　rocks；　bare　and

waterless；　where　grew　no　blade　of　green；　but　he　could　see　no　further

than　the　sides　of　that　cleft；　and　he　longed　to　be　out　of　it　that　he

might　see　whitherward　to　turn。　　Then　he　bethought　him　of　his　wallet；

and　set　his　hand　to　it　and　opened　it；　thinking　to　get　victual　thence；

but　lo！　it　was　all　spoilt　and　wasted。　　None　the　less；　for　all　his

feebleness；　he　turned　and　went　toiling　slowly　along　what　seemed　to　be

a　path　little　trodden　leading　upward　out　of　the　cleft；　and　at　last　he

reached　the　crest　thereof；　and　sat　him　down　on　a　rock　on　the　other

side；　yet　durst　not　raise　his　eyes　awhile　and　look　on　the　land；　lest

he　should　see　death　manifest　therein。　　At　last　he　looked；　and　saw

that　he　was　high　up　amongst　the　mountain…peaks：　　before　him　and　on

either　hand　was　but　a　world　of　fallow　stone　rising　ridge　upon　ridge

like　the　waves　of　the　wildest　of　the　winter　sea。　　The　sun　not　far

from　its　midmost　shone　down　bright　and　hot　on　that　wilderness；　yet

was　there　no　sign　that　any　man　had　ever　been　there　since　the

beginning　of　the　world；　save　that　the　path　aforesaid　seemed　to　lead

onward　down　the　stony　slope。



This　way　and　that　way　and　all　about　he　gazed；　straining　his　eyes　if

perchance　he　might　see　any　diversity　in　the　stony　waste；　and　at　last

betwixt　two　peaks　of　the　rock…wall　on　his　left　hand　he　descried　a

streak　of　green　mingling　with　the　cold　blue　of　the　distance；　and　he

thought　in　his　heart　that　this　was　the　last　he　should　see　of　the

Glittering　Plain。　　Then　he　spake　aloud　in　that　desert；　and　said；

though　there　was　none　to　hear：　　〃Now　is　my　last　hour　come；　and　here

is　Hallblithe　of　the　Raven　perishing；　with　his　deeds　undone　and　his

longing　unfulfilled；　and　his　bridal…bed　acold　for　ever。　　Long　may　the

House　of　the　Raven　abide　and　flourish；　with　many　a　man　and　maiden；

valiant　and　fair　and　fruitful！　　O　kindred；　cast　thy　blessing　on　this

man　about　to　die　here；　doing　none　otherwise　than　ye　would　have　him！〃



He　sat　there　a　little　while　longer；　and　then　he　said　to　himself：

〃Death　tarries；　were　it　not　well　that　I　go　to　meet　him；　even　as　the

cot…carle　preventeth　the　mighty　chieftain？〃



Then　he　arose；　and　went　painfully　down　the　slope；　steadying　himself

with　the　shaft　of　his　gleaming　spear；　but　all　at　once　he　stopped；　for

it　seemed　to　him　that　he　heard　voices　borne　on　the　wind　that　blew　up

the　mountain…side。　　But　he　shook　his　head　and　said：　　〃Now　forsooth

beginneth　the　dream　which　shall　last　for　ever；　nowise　am　I　beguiled

by　it。〃　　None　the　less　he　strove　the　more　eagerly　with　the　wind　and

the　way　and　his　feebleness；　yet　did　the　weakness　wax　on　him；　so　that

it　was　but　a　little　while　ere　he　faltered　and　reeled　and　fell　down

once　more　in　a　swoon。



When　he　came　to　himself　again　he　was　no　longer　alone：　　a　man　was

kneeling　down　by　him　and　holding　up　his　head；　while　another　before

him；　as　he　opened　his　eyes；　put　a　cup　of　wine　to　his　lips。　　So

Hallblithe　drank　and　was　refreshed；　and　presently　they　gave　him

bread；　and　he　ate；　and　his　heart　was　strengthened；　and　the　happiness

of　life　returned　to　it；　and　he　lay　back；　and　slept　sweetly　for　a

season。



When　he　awoke　from　that　slumber　he　found　that　he　had　gotten　back　much

of　his　strength　again；　and　he　sat　up　and　looked　around　him；　and　saw

three　men　sitting　anigh；　armed　and　girt　with　swords；　yet　in　evil

array；　and　sore　travel…worn。　　One　of　these　was　very　old；　with　long

white　hair　hanging　down；　and　another；　though　he　was　not　so　much

stricken　in　years；　still　looked　an　old　man　of　over　sixty　winters。

The　third　was　a　man　some　forty　years　old；　but　sad　and　sorry　and

drooping　of　aspect。



So　when　they　saw　him　stirring；　they　all　fixed　their　eyes　upon　him；

and　the　oldest　man　said：　　〃Welcome　to　him　who　erst　had　no　tidings　for

us！〃　　And　the　second　said：　　〃Tell　us　now　thy　tidings。〃　　But　the

third；　the　sorry　man；　cried　out　aloud；　saying：　　〃Where　is　the　Land？

Where　is　the　Land？〃



Said　Hallblithe：　　〃Meseemeth　the　land　which　ye　seek　is　the　land　which

I　seek　to　flee　from。　　And　now　I　will　not　hide　that　meseemeth　I　have

seen　you　before；　and　that　was　at　Cleveland　by　the　Sea　when　the　days

were　happier。〃



Then　they　all　three　bowed　their　heads　in　yea…say；　and　spake：　　〃'Where

is　the　Land？　　Where　is　the　Land？〃



Then　Hallblithe　arose　to　his　feet；　and　said：　　〃Ye　have　healed　me　of

the　sickness　of　death；　and　I　will　do　what　I　may　to　heal　you　of　your

sickness　of　sorrow。　　Come　up　the　pass　with　me；　and　I　will　show　you

the　land　afar　off。〃



Then　they　arose　like　young　and　brisk　men；　and　he　led　them　over　the

brow　of　the　ridge　into　the　little　valley　wherein　he　had　first　come　to

himself：　　there　he　showed　them　that　glimpse　of　a　green　land　betwixt

the　two　peaks；　which　he　had　beheld　e'en　now；　and　they　stood　a　while

looking　at　it　and　weeping　for　joy。



Then　spake　the　oldest　of　the　seekers：　　〃Show　us　the　way　to　the　land。〃



〃Nay；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃I　may　not；　for　when　I　would　depart　thence；　I

might　not　go　by　mine　own　will；　but　was　borne　out　hither；　I　wot　not

how。　　For　when　I　came　to　the　edge　of　the　land　against　the　will　of　the

King；　he　smote　me；　and　then　cast　me　out。　　Therefore　since　I　may　not

help　you；　find　ye　the　land　for　yourselves；　and　let　me　go　blessing

you；　and　come　out　of　this　desert　by　the　way　whereby　ye　entered　it。

For　I　have　an　errand　in　the　world。〃



Spake　the　youngest　of　the　seekers：　　〃Now　art　thou　become　the　yoke…

fellow　of　Sorrow；　and　thou　must　wend；　not　whither　thou　wouldst；　but

whither　she　will：　　and　she　would　have　thee　go　forward　toward　life；

not　backward　toward　death。〃



Said　the　midmost　seeker：　　〃If　we　let　thee　go　further　into　the

wilderness　thou　shalt　surely　die：　　for　hence　to　the　peopled　parts；

and　the　City　of　Merchants；　whence　we　come；　is　a　month's　journey：　　and

there　is　neither　meat　nor　drink；　nor　beast　nor　bird；　nor　any　green

thing　all　that　way；　and　since　we　have　found　thee　famishing；　we　may

well　deem　that　thou　hast　no　victual。　　As　to　us　we　have　but　little；　so

that　if　it　be　much　more　than　three　days'　journey　to　the　Glittering

Plain；　we　may　well　starve　and　die　within　sight　of　the　Acre　of　the

Undying。　　Nevertheless　that　little　will　we　share　with　thee　if　thou

wilt　help　us　to　find　that　good　land；　so　that　thou　mayst　yet　put　away

Sorrow；　and　take　Joy　again　to　thy　board　and　bed。〃



Hallblithe　hung　his　head　and　answered　nought；　for　he　was　confused　by

the　meshes　of　ill…hap；　and　his　soul　grew　sick　with　the　bitterness　of

death。　　But　the　sad　man　spake　again　and　said：　　〃Thou　hast　an　errand

sayest　thou？　is　it　such　as　a　dead　man　may　do？〃



Hallblithe　pondered；　and　amidst　the　anguish　of　his　despair　was　borne

in　on　him　a　vision　of　the　sea…waves　lapping　the　side　of　a　black　ship；

and　a　man　therein：　　who　but　himself；　set　free　to　do　his　errand；　and

his　heart　was　quickened　within　him；　and　he　said：　　〃I　thank　you；　and　I

will　wend　back　with　you；　since　there　is　no　road　for　me　save　back

again　into　the　trap。〃



The　three　seekers　seemed　glad　thereat；　and　the　second　one　said：

〃Though　death　is　pursuing；　and　life　lieth　ahead；　yet　will　we　not

hasten　thee　unduly。　　Time　was　when　I　was　Captain　of　the　Host；　and

learned　how　battles　were　lost　by　lack　of　rest。　　Therefore　have　thy

sleep　now；　that　thou　mayst　wax　in　strength　for　our　helping。〃



Said　Hallblithe：　　〃I　need　not　rest；　I　may　not　rest；　I　will　not　rest。〃



Said　the　sad　man：　　〃It　is　lawful　for　thee　to　rest。　　So　say　I；　who　was

once　a　master　of　law。〃



Said　the　long…hoary　elder：　　〃And　I　command　thee　to　rest；　I　who　was

once　the　king　of　a　mighty　folk。〃



In　sooth　Hallblithe　was　now　exceeding　weary；　so　he　laid　him　down　and

slept　sweetly　in　the　stony　wilderness　amidst　those　three　seekers；　the

old；　the　sad；　and　the　very　old。



When　he　awoke　he　felt　well　and　strong　again；　and　he　leapt　to　his　feet

and　looked　about　him；　and　saw　the　three　seekers　stirring；　and　he

deemed　by　the　sun　that　it　was　early　morning。　　The　sad　man　brought

forth　bread　and　water　and　wine；　and　they　broke　their　fast；　and　when

they　had　done　he　spake　and　said：　　〃Abideth　now　in　wallet　and　bottle

but　one　mo