the virgin of the sun-第6部分

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well　believe　since　my　father's　name；　like　mine；　till　I　married；　was
Grimmer。　This　sword；　also；　has　a　name　and　it　is　Wave…Flame。　With　it；
the　tale　tells；　Thorgrimmer　did　great　deeds；　slaying　many　after　their
heathen　fashion　in　his　battles　by　land　and　sea。　For　he　was　a　wanderer；
and　it　is　said　of　him　that　once　he　sailed　to　a　new　land　far　across　the
ocean；　and　won　home　again　after　many　strange　adventures；　to　die　at
last　here　in　England　in　some　fray。　That　is　all　I　know；　save　that　a
learned　man　from　the　north　once　told　my　father's　father　that　the
writing　on　the　sword　means：

　〃He　who　lifts　Wave…Flame　on　high
　　In　love　shall　live　and　in　battle　die；
　　Storm…tossed　o'er　wide　seas　shall　roam
　　And　in　strange　lands　shall　make　his　home。
　　Conquering；　conquered　shall　he　be；
　　And　far　away　shall　sleep　with　me。

〃Those　were　the　words　which　I　remember　because　of　the　jingle　of　them；
also　because　such　seems　to　have　been　the　fate　of　Thorgrimmer　and　the
sword　that　his　grandson　took　from　his　tomb。〃

Here　I　would　have　asked　about　this　grandson　and　the　tomb；　but　having
no　time；　held　my　peace。

〃All　my　life　have　I　kept　that　sword；〃　went　on　my　mother；　〃not　giving
it　to　your　father　or　brothers；　lest　the　fate　written　on　it　should
befall　them；　for　those　old　wizards　of　the　north；　who　fashioned　such
weapons　with　toil　and　skill；　could　foresee　the　futureas　at　times　I
can；　for　it　is　in　my　blood。　Yet　now　I　am　moved　to　bid　you　take　it；
Hubert；　and　go　where　its　flame　leads　you　and　dree　your　gloom；　whatever
it　may　be；　for　I　know　you　will　use　it　like　Thorgrimmer's　self。〃

She　paused　for　a　moment；　then　went　on：

〃Hubert；　perhaps　we　part　for　the　last　time；　for　I　think　that　my　hour
is　at　hand。　But　let　not　that　trouble　you；　since　I　am　glad　to　go　to
join　those　who　went　before；　and　others　with　them；　perchance
Thorgrimmer's　self。　Hearken；　Hubert。　If　aught　befalls　me；　or　this
place；　stay　not　here。　Go　to　London　town　and　seek　out　John　Grimmer；　my
brother；　the　rich　merchant　and　goldsmith　who　dwells　in　the　place
called　Cheap。　He　knew　you　as　a　child　and　loved　you；　and　lacking
offspring　of　his　own　will　welcome　you　for　both　our　sakes。　My　father
would　not　give　John　the　sword　lest　its　fate　should　be　on　him；　but　I
say　that　John　will　be　glad　to　welcome　one　of　our　race　who　holds　it　in
his　hand。　Take　it　then；　and　with　it　that　bag　of　gold；　which　may　prove
of　service　ere　all　be　done。

〃Aye；　and　there　is　one　more　thingthis　ring　which；　so　says　the　tale；
came　down　with　the　sword　and　the　bow；　and　once　had　writing　on　it　like
the　sword；　though　that　is　long　since　rubbed　away。　Take　it　and　wear　it
till　perchance；　in　some　day　to　come；　you　give　it　to　another　as　I　did。〃

Wondering　at　all　this　tale　which；　after　her　secret　fashion；　my　mother
had　kept　from　me　till　that　hour；　I　set　the　ring　upon　my　finger。

〃I　gave　yonder　ring　to　your　father　on　the　day　that　we　were　betrothed；〃
went　on　my　mother；　〃and　I　took　it　back　again　from　his　corpse　after　he
had　been　found　floating　in　the　sea。　Now　I　pass　it　on　to　you　who　soon
will　be　all　that　is　left　of　both　of　us。〃

〃Hark！〃　she　continued；　〃the　crier　summons　all　men　with　their　arms　to
the　market…place　to　fight　England's　foes。　Therefore　one　word　more
while　I　buckle　the　sword　Wave…Flame　on　to　you；　as　doubtless　his　women
folk　did　on　to　Thorgrimmer；　your　ancestor。　My　blessing　on　you；　Hubert。
Be　you　such　a　one　as　Thorgrimmer　was；　for　we　of　the　Norse　blood　desire
that　our　loves　and　sons　should　prove　not　backward　when　swords　are
aloft　and　arrows　fly。　But　be　you　more　than　he；　be　you　a　Christian
also；　remembering　that　however　long　you　live；　and　the　Battle…maidens
have　not　marked　you　yet；　at　last　you　must　die　and　give　account。

〃Hubert；　you　are　such　a　one　as　women　will　love；　one；　too；　who；　I　fear
me；　will　be　a　lover　of　women；　for　that　weakness　goes　with　strength　and
manhood　by　Nature's　laws。　Be　careful　of　women；　Hubert；　and　if　you　may；
choose　those　who　are　not　false　and　cling　to　her　who　is　most　true。　Oh；
you　will　wander　far；　I　read　it　in　your　eyes　that　you　will　wander　far；
yet　shall　your　heart　stay　English。　Kiss　me　and　begone！　Lad；　are　you
forgetting　your　spare　arrows　and　the　bull…hide　jerkin　that　was　your
father's？　You　will　want　them　both　to…day。　Farewell；　farewell！　God　and
His　Christ　be　with　youand　shoot　you　straight　and　smite　you　hard。
Nay；　no　tears；　lest　my　eyes　should　be　dimmed；　for　I'll　climb　to　the
attic　and　watch　you　fight。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　II

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　LADY　BLANCHE

So　I　went；　with　a　sore　heart；　for　I　remembered　that　when　my　father　and
brothers　were　drowned；　although　I　was　then　but　a　little　one；　my　mother
had　foreseen　it；　and　I　feared　much　lest　it　might　be　thus　in　her　own
case　also。　I　loved　my　mother。　She　was　a　stern　woman；　it　was　true；　with
little　softness　about　her；　which　I　think　came　with　her　blood；　but　she
had　a　high　heart；　and　oh！　her　last　words　were　noble。　Yet　through　it
all　I　was　pleased；　as　any　young　man　would　have　been；　with　the　gift　of
the　wonderful　sword　which　once　had　been　that　of　Thorgrimmer；　the　sea…
rover；　whose　blood　ran　in　my　body　against　which　it　lay；　and　I　hoped
that　this　day　I　might　have　chance　to　use　it　worthily　as　Thorgrimmer
did　in　forgotten　battles。　Having　imagination；　I　wondered　also　whether
the　sword　knew　that　after　its　long　sleep　it　had　come　forth　again　to
drink　the　blood　of　foes。

Also　I　was　pleased　with　another　thing；　namely；　that　my　mother　had　told
me　that　I　should　live　my　life　and　not　die　that　day　by　the　hand　of
Frenchmen；　and　that　in　my　life　I　should　find　love；　of　which　to　tell
truth　already　I　knew　a　little　of　a　humble　sort；　for　I　was　a　comely
youth；　and　women　did　not　run　away　from　me；　or　if　they　did；　soon　they
stopped。　I　wanted　to　live　my　life；　I　wanted　to　see　great　adventures
and　to　win　great　love。　The　only　part　of　the　business　which　was　not　to
my　taste　was　that　command　of　my　mother's；　that　I　should　go　to　London
to　sit　in　a　goldsmith's　shop。　Still；　I　had　heard　that　there　was　much
to　be　seen　in　London；　and　at　least　it　would　be　different　from
Hastings。

The　street　outside　our　doors　was　crowded　with　folk；　some　of　the　men
making　their　way　to　the　market…place；　about　whom　hung　women　and
children　weeping；　others；　old　people；　wives　and　girls　and　little　ones
fleeing　from　the　town。　I　found　the　two　sailormen　who　had　been　with　me
on　the　boat；　waiting　for　me。　They　were　brawny　fellows　named　Jack
Grieves　and　William　Bull；　who　had　been　in　our　service　since　my
childhood；　good　fishermen　and　fighters　both；　indeed　one　of　them；
William　Bull；　had　served　in　the　French　wars。

〃We　knew　that　you　were　coming；　Master；　so　we　bided　here　for　you；〃　said
William；　who　having　once　been　an　archer　was　armed　with　a　bow　and　a
short　sword；　whereas　Jack　had　only　an　axe；　also　a　knife　such　as　we
used　on　the　smacks　for　cleaning　fish。

I　nodded；　and　we　went　on　to　the　market…place　and　joined　the　throng　of
men；　a　vast　number　of　them；　who　were　gathered　there　to　defend　Hastings
and　their　homes。　Nor　were　we　too　soon；　for　the　French　ships　were
already　beaching　within　a　few　yards　of　the　shore　or　on　it；　their
draught　being　but　small；　while　the　sailors　and　men…at…arms　were
pushing　off　in　small　boats　or　wading　to　the　strand。

There　was　great　confusion　in　the　market…place；　for　as　is　common　in
England；　no　preparation　had　been　made　against　attack　though　such　was
always　to　be　feared。

The　bailiff　ran　about　shouting　orders；　as　did　others；　but　proper
officers　were　lacking；　so　that　in　the　end　men　acted　as　the　fancy　took
them。　Some　went　down　towards　the　beach　and　shot　with　arrows　at　the
Frenchmen。　Others　took　refuge　in　houses；　others　stood　irresolute；
waiting；　knowing　not　which　way　to　turn。　I　and　my　two　men　were　with
those　who　went　on　to　the　beach　where　I　loosed　some　arrows　from　my　big
black　bow；　and　saw　a　man　fall　before　one　of　them。

But　we　could　do　little　or　nothing；　for　these　Frenchmen　were　trained
soldiers　under　proper　command。　They　formed　themselves　into　companies
and　advanced；　and　we　were　driven　back。　I　stopped　as　long　as　I　dared；
and　drawing　the　sword；　Wave…Flame；　fought　with　a　Frenchman　who　was　in
advance　of　the　others。　What　is　more；　making　a　great　blow　at　his　head
which　I　missed；　I　struck　him　on　the　arm　and　cut　it　off；　for　I　saw　it
fall　to　the　ground。　Then　others　rushed　up　at　me　and　I　fled　to　save　my
life。

Somehow　I　found　myself　being　pressed　up　the　steep　Castle　Hill　with　a
number　of　Hastings　folk；　followed　by　the　French。　We　reached　the　Castle
and　got　into　it；　but　the　old　portcullis　would　not　close；　and　in　sundry
places　the　walls　were　broken　down。　Here　we　found　a　number　of　women　who
had　climbed　for　refuge；　thinking　that　the　place　would　be　safe。　Among
these　was　a　beautiful　and　high…born　maiden　whom　I　knew　by　sight。　Her
father　was　Sir　Robert　Aleys　who；　I　believe；　was　then　the　Warden　of　the
Castle　of　Pevensey；　and　she　was　named　the　lady　Blanche。　Once；　indeed；
I　had　spoken　with　her　on　an　occasion　too　long　to　tell。　Then　her　large
blue　eyes；　which　she　knew　well　how　to　use；　had　left　me　with　a　swimming
head；　for　she　was　very　fair　and　very　sweet　and　gracious；　with　a　most
soft　voice；　and　quite　unlike　any　other　woman　I　had　ever　seen；　nor　did
she　seem　at　all　proud。　Soon　her　father；　an　old　knight；　who　had　no　name
for　gentleness　in　the　countryside；　but　was　said　to　be　a　great　lover　of
gold；　had　come　up　and　swept　her　away；　asking　her　what　she　did；　talking
with　a　common　fishing　churl。　This　had　happened　some　months　before。

Well；　there　I　found　her　in　the　Castle；　alone　it　seemed；　and　knowing　me
again；　which　I　thought　strange；　she　ran　to　me；　praying　me　to　protect
her。　More；　she　began　to　tell　me　some　long　tale；　to　which　I　had　not
time　to　listen；　of　how　she　had　come　to　Hastings　with　her　father；　Sir
Robert；　and　a　young　lord　named　Deleroy；　who；　I　understood；　was　some
kinsman　of　hers；　and　slept　there。　How；　too；　she　had　been　separated
from　them　in　the　throng　when　they　were　attempting　to　return　to
Pevensey　which　her　father　must　go　to　guard；　because　her　horse　was
frightened　and　ran　away；　and　of　how　finally　men　took　her　by　the　arm
and　brought　her　to　this　castle；　saying　that　it　was　the　safest　place。

〃Then　here　you　must　bide；　Lady　Blanche；〃　I　answered；　cutting　her
short。　〃Cling　to　me　and　I　will　save