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I did love her very great, and was stirred inwardly with her dearness and that
she did look just thatwise that I knew not whether I to need to kiss her, or
to shake her; and truly, how should I know; for my heart did ache that I have
her to mine arms; but
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my brain to say that she did go overfar in the joke; and truly you to see that
I did not be unreasonable, neither to be lacking of grace; for indeed I do
think that I was swayed allways, because that I saw all the dear way that her
pretty nature did work; and to conceive of her mood and to understand and be
stirred; but yet to shape a little in my manhood unto hardening, and in my
judgement unto sternness.
Yet, truly, I scolded Mine Own with no more than a little jesting, and did be
nice and gentle with her, because she did be so dear, and I to know justwise
her mood and the cause and working of it.
And I told her that I did love her, and that she hasten now and let us again
to the journey. But, indeed, she only to make a face at me, so that I did be
near like to shake her unto sedateness. And she then to be both merry, and a
rogue, as we do say, and to stop her ears and again to sing very gleeful; and
all so that she might not hear aught that I said. And surely she lookt a very
dainty Rebellious One.
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And I went then straightway to her, and took her hands from her ears; and I
kist her pretty ears very gentle that I not to deafen her. And I kist her lips
as she did sing; and afterward shook her, that she be not such a sweet
Torment. But this to have no success that way; for she only to put out her
toes to be kist; for her footgear was off from her feet. And, indeed, I
laughed, even as I made to frown; and truly I kist her pretty toes, and tried
then to coax her to go forward something speedy with her hair, and to be ready
to the journey.
But she only to sing, and to refuse to be sedate.
And, in verity, in the end, I caught her up in mine arms, and had her bundle
in my hand, and so went off with her very sudden, with her hair all loose upon
me in a lovely and soft shining, and her feet bare as they did be.
And this action I made, because that I was grown truly a little stern with
Mine Own; for, indeed, she did half to need that she be whipt unto properness,
as you shall think, that have seen how she did be thiswise only because that
her nature did be stirred strangely, and her Womanhood and her Maidenhood to
be all unto war, and in part to make a rebellion against me that she did know
glad to be her true Master; but yet she to be thus, even though she did be so
glad.
And this to act so that she did be in the same moment both sweet and wise and
yet to show a dainty foolishness and a true naughtiness that did make me to
feel somewhat of a real anger; but yet did have me to know that all my being
did be stirred by her; so that I did think with one thought that she did be
very foolish, and with another that she did be lovely wayward.
Now, when that I took the Maid up so quick, and made off with her, she to give
a little gasp and to submit to me with a quick humbleness; but immediately,
she to regain her courage, and to be outraged of me. But, indeed, I took no
heed, only that I was like to shake her; and did know also that her hair did
be wondrous pretty upon mine armour. And she soon to lie very quiet and easy
in mine arms, and to be demure.
And I to have a half knowledge of somewhat amiss; but yet to have no sureness,
neither to think much upon this vague feeling.
And when that I had gone a good mile, she to put up her lips to be kist; and I
to kiss her very loving, for she was so dear. And she then to say, very
ordinary like, that I should do wisely now if that I went back for her
footgear, which truly I had lacked thought to notice, when that I did pick up
the Maid.
And I saw that she had known this thing all that while, and had made that mile
of carrying all a waste and a foolishness, because of the naughty rebellion
which did be in her. And lo! I set her instant to the ground; and she gave out
a little cry as she saw that I did be gone somewise hard and stern with her.
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And indeed I pulled a small branch from a tree that did be near, to be for a
switch as you shall whip a boy with; and I held her with my left hand, and in
verity I laid the switch thrice very sharp across her pretty shoulders, that
she know all that she did need to know. And she seeming to be ceased in a
moment from her perverseness, and did nestle very quick unto me, that had
whipt her; and did need that she be wondrous nigh unto me. And, truly, how
shall even a young man flog such an one.
And the Maid to be very husht against mine armour, and to resist that I look
into her face that did be prest so anigh me. But presently, I used a little
and gentle force, and so to look into her face something sudden. And truly,
that One did be smiling very naughty and dainty to herself; so that I
perceived that I had not truly whipt her enough; but yet I could harden my
heart no more at that time; for, in verity, there doth be a strange halfpain
in the bosom, if that you have to flog a maid that doth be utter thine, and
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this to the despite that there hath been as then no properness of anger to
have for an after selfreproach.
And surely, I to have done this thing only of a stern intent and
steadfastness, that I steady Mine Own Maid unto wisdom; but yet to have been
helpt by a little anger, because of the thing that she had done. Yet, alway,
my love did be so strong, that mine anger never to have aught of bitterness,
as you shall have seen, and to understand.
And we went back then for the footgear of the Maid; and she to be very husht
in mine arms; but yet, as I
perceived, not to be quiet, of an humble little heart, but only of the chance [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]