世界尽头的那口井-CHAPTER 14 Now Come the Messengers of the Innocent Folk
But when he had come forth from the chestnut-grove, and could see the
face of their house-rock clearly, he beheld new tidings; for there were
folk before the door of the dwelling, and Ursula was standing amidst of
them, for he could see the gleam of her armour; and with the men he
could see also certain beasts of burden, and anon that these were oxen.
So he hastened on to find what this might mean, and drew his sword as
he went. But when he came up to the rock, he found there two young men
and an elder, and they had with them five oxen, three for riding, and
two sumpter beasts, laden: and Ursula and these men were talking
together friendly; so that Ralph deemed that the new-comers must be the
messengers of the Innocent Folk. They were goodly men all three,
somewhat brown of skin, but well fashioned, and of smiling cheerful
countenance, well knit, and tall. The elder had a long white beard,
but his eye was bright, and his hand firm and smooth. They were all
clad in white woollen raiment, and bore no armour, but each had an axe
with a green stone blade, curiously tied to the heft, and each of the
young men carried a strong bow and a quiver of arrows.
Ralph greeted the men, and bade them sit down on the toft and eat a
morsel; they took his greeting kindly, and sat down, while Ursula went
into the cave to fetch them matters for their victual, and there was
already venison roasting at the fire on the toft, in the place where
they were wont to cook their meat. So then came Ursula forth from the
cave, and served the new-comers and Ralph of such things as she had,
and they ate and drank together; and none said aught of their errand
till they had done their meat, but they talked together pleasantly
about the spring, and the blossoms of the plain and the mountain, and
the wild things that dwelt thereabout.
But when the meal was over, the new-comers rose to their feet, and
bowed before Ralph and Ursula, and the elder took up the word and said:
"Ye fair people, have ye any errand in the wilderness, or are ye
chance-comers who have strayed thus far, and know not how to return?"
"Father," said Ralph, "we have come a long way on an errand of life or
death; for we seek the WELL at the WORLD'S END. And see ye the token
thereof, the pair of beads which we bear, either of us, and the fashion
whereof ye know."
Then the elder bowed to them again, and said: "It is well; then is
this our errand with you, to be your way-leaders as far as the House of
the Sorceress, where ye shall have other help. Will ye set out on the
journey to-day? In one hour shall we be ready."
"Nay," said Ralph, "we will not depart till tomorrow morn, if it may be
so. Therewith I bid you sit down and rest you, while ye hearken a word
which I have to say to you."
So they sat down again, and Ralph arose and took Ursula by the hand,
and stood with her before the elder, and said: "This maiden, who is my
fellow-farer in the Quest, I desire to wed this same night, and she
also desireth me: therefore I would have you as witnesses hereto. But
first ye shall tell us if our wedding and the knowing each other
carnally shall be to our hurt in the Quest; for if that be so, then
shall we bridle our desires and perform our Quest in their despite."
The old man smiled upon them kindly, and said: "Nay, son, we hear not
that it shall be the worse for you in any wise that ye shall become one
flesh; and right joyful it is to us, not only that we have found folk
who seek to the Well at the World's End, but also that there is such
love as I perceive there is betwixt such goodly and holy folk as ye be.
For hither we come year by year according to the behest that we made to
the fairest woman of the world, when she came back to us from the Well
at the World's End, and it is many and many a year ago since we found
any seekers after the Well dwelling here. Therefore have we the more
joy in you. And we have brought hither matters good for you, as
raiment, and meal, and wine, on our sumpter-beasts; therefore as ye
have feasted us this morning, so shall we feast you this even. And if
ye will, we shall build for you in the grove yonder such a bower as we
build for our own folk on the night of the wedding."
Ralph yeasaid this, and thanked them. So then the elder cried: "Up, my
sons, and show your deftness to these dear friends!" Then the young men
arose, naught loth, and when they had hoppled their oxen and taken the
burdens from off them, they all went down the meadow together into the
chestnut grove, and they fell to and cut willow boughs, and such-like
wood, and drave stakes and wove the twigs together; and Ralph and
Ursula worked with them as they bade, and they were all very merry
together: because for those two wanderers it was a great delight to see
the faces of the children of men once more after so many months, and to
hold converse with them; while for their part the young men marvelled
at Ursula's beauty, and the pith and goodliness of Ralph.
By then it was nigh evening they had made a very goodly wattled bower,
and roofed it with the skins that were in the cave, and hung it about
with garlands, and strewn flowers on the floor thereof. And when all
was done they went back to the toft before the rock-chamber, where the
elder had opened the loads, and had taken meal thence, and was making
cakes at the fire. And there was wine there in well-hooped kegs, and
wooden cups fairly carven, and raiment of fine white wool for those
twain, broidered in strange but beauteous fashion with the feathers of
bright-hued birds.
So then were those twain arrayed for the bridal; and the meat was dight
and the cups filled, and they sat down on the grassy toft a little
before sunset, and feasted till the night was come, and was grown all
light with the moon; and then Ralph rose up, and took Ursula's hand,
and they stood before the elder, and bade him and the young men bear
witness that they were wedded: then those twain kissed the newcomers
and departed to their bridal bower hand in hand through the freshness
of the night.