the blue flower-第6部分

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off　his　harness　and　leaped　into　the　water　and　did　marvellously
to　rescue　the　little　hound。　　But　the　fierce　river　dragged　his
legs；　and　buffeted　him；　and　hurtled　at　him；　and　drew　him　down；
as　it　were　an　enemy　wrestling　with　him；　so　that　he　had　much
ado　to　come　where　the　brachet　was；　and　more　to　win　back　again；
with　the　brachet　in　his　arm；　to　the　dry　land。

Which　when　he　had　done　he　was　clean　for…spent　and　fell
upon　the　ground　as　a　dead　man。　　At　this　the　young　maid　wept
yet　more　bitterly　than　she　had　wept　for　her　hound；　and　cried
aloud；　〃Alas；　if　so　goodly　a　man　should　spend　his　life　for　my
little　brachet！〃　　So　she　took　his　head　upon　her　knee　and
cherished　him　and　beat　the　palms　of　his　hands；　and　the　hound
licked　his　face。　　And　when　Martimor　opened　his　eyes　he　saw　the
face　of　the　maid　that　it　was　fair　as　any　flower。

Then　was　she　shamed；　and　put　him　gently　from　her　knee；　and
began　to　thank　him　and　to　ask　with　what　she　might　reward　him
for　the　saving　of　the　brachet。

〃A　night's　lodging　and　a　day's　cheer；〃　quoth　Martimor。

〃As　long　as　thee　liketh；〃　said　she；　〃for　my　father；　the
miller；　will　return　ere　sundown；　and　right　gladly　will　he　have
a　guest　so　brave。〃

〃Longer　might　I　like；〃　said　he；　〃but　longer　may　I　not
stay；　for　I　ride　in　a　quest　and　seek　great　adventures　to
become　a　knight。〃

So　they　bestowed　the　horse　in　the　stable；　and　went　into
the　Mill；　and　when　the　miller　was　come　home　they　had　such　good
cheer　with　eating　of　venison　and　pan…cakes；　and　drinking　of
hydromel；　and　singing　of　pleasant　ballads；　that　Martimor　clean
forgot　he　was　in　a　delay。　　And　going　to　his　bed　in　a　fair
garret　he　dreamed　of　the　Maid　of　the　Mill；　whose　name　was
Lirette。



IV

How　the　Mill　was　in　Danger　and　the　Delay　Endured


In　the　morning　Martimor　lay　late　and　thought　large　thoughts　of
his　quest；　and　whither　it　might　lead　him；　and　to　what　honour
it　should　bring　him。　　As　he　dreamed　thus；　suddenly　he　heard　in
the　hall　below　a　trampling　of　feet　and　a　shouting；　with　the
voice　of　Lirette　crying　and　shrieking。　　With　that　he　sprang
out　of　his　bed；　and　caught　up　his　sword　and　dagger；　leaping
lightly　and　fiercely　down　the　stair。

There　he　saw　three　foul　churls；　whereof　two　strove　with
the　miller；　beating　him　with　great　clubs；　while　the　third
would　master　the　Maid　and　drag　her　away　to　do　her　shame；　but
she　fought　shrewdly。　　Then　Martimor　rushed　upon　the　churls；
shouting　for　joy；　and　there　was　a　great　medley　of　　breaking
chairs　and　tables　and　cursing　and　smiting；　and　with　his　sword　he
gave　horrible　strokes。

One　of　the　knaves　that　fought　with　the　miller；　he　smote
upon　the　shoulder　and　clave　him　to　the　navel。　　And　at　the
other　he　foined　fiercely　so　that　the　point　of　the　sword　went
through　his　back　and　stuck　fast　in　the　wall。　　But　the　third
knave；　that　was　the　biggest　and　the　blackest；　and　strove　to
bear　away　the　Maid；　left　bold　of　her；　and　leaped　upon　Martimor
and　caught　him　by　the　middle　and　crushed　him　so　that　his　ribs
cracked。

Thus　they　weltered　and　wrung　together；　and　now　one　of　them
was　above　and　now　the　other；　and　ever　as　they　wallowed
Martimor　smote　him　with　his　dagger；　but　there　came　forth　no
blood；　only　water。

Then　the　black　churl　broke　away　from　him　and　ran　out　at
the　door　of　the　mill；　and　Martimor　after。　　So　they　ran　through
the　garden　to　the　river；　and　there　the　churl　sprang　into　the
water；　and　swept　away　raging　and　foaming。　　And　as　he　went　he
shouted；　〃Yet　will　I　put　thee　to　the　worse；　and　mar　the　Mill；
and　have　the　Maid！〃'

Then　Martimor　cried；　〃Never　while　I　live　shalt
thou　mar　the　Mill　or　have　the　Maid；　thou　foul；　black；
misbegotten　churl！〃　So　he　returned　to　the　Mill；　and　there　the
damsel　Lirette　made　him　to　understand　that　these　three　churls
were　long　time　enemies　of　the　Mill；　and　sought　ever　to　destroy
it　and　to　do　despite　to　her　and　her　father。　　One　of　them　was
Ignis；　and　another　was　Ventus；　and　these　were　the　twain　that
he　had　smitten。　　But　the　third；　that　fled　down　the　river　（and
he　was　ever　the　fiercest　and　the　most　outrageous）；　his　name
was　Flumen；　for　he　dwelt　in　the　caves　of　the　stream；　and　was
the　master　of　it　before　the　Mill　was　built。

〃And　now；〃　wept　the　Maid；　〃he　must　have　had　his　will　with
me　and　with　the　Mill；　but　for　God's　mercy；　thanked　be　our　Lord
Jesus！〃

〃Thank　me　too；〃　said　Mlartimor。

〃So　I　do；〃　said　Lirette；　and　she　kissed　him。　　〃Yet　am　I
heavy　at　heart　and　fearful；　for　my　father　is　sorely　mishandled
and　his　arm　is　broken；　so　that　he　cannot　tend　the　Mill　nor
guard　it。　　And　Flumen　is　escaped；　surely　he　will　harm　us
again。　　Now　I　know　not；　where　I　shall　look　for　help。〃

〃Why　not　here？〃　said　Martimor。

Then　Lirette　looked　him　in　the　face；　smiling　a　little
sorrily。　　〃But　thou　ridest　in　a　quest；〃　quoth　she；　〃thou　mayst
not　stay　from　thy　adventures〃

〃A　month；〃　said　he。

〃Till　my　father　be　well？〃　said　she。

〃A　month；〃　said　he。

〃Till　thou　hast　put　Flumen　to　the　worse？〃　said　she。

〃Right　willingly　would　I　have　to　do　with　that　base；
slippery　knave　again〃　said　he；　〃but　more　than　a　month　I　may
not　stay；　for　my　quest　calls　me　and　I　must　win　worship　of　men
or　ever　I　become　a　knight。〃

So　they　bound　up　the　miller's　wounds　and　set　the　Mill　in
order。　　But　Martimor　had　much　to　do　to　learn　the　working　of
the　Mill；　and　they　were　busied　with　the　grinding　of　wheat　and
rye　and　barley　and　divers　kinds　of　grain；　and　the　millers
hurts　were　mended　every　day；　and　at　night　there　was　merry　rest
and　good　cheer；　and　Martimor　talked　with　the　Maid　of　the　great
adventure　that　he　must　find；　and　thus　the　delay　endured　in
pleasant　wise。



THE　　MILL

V

Yet　More　of　the　Mill；　and　of　the　Same　Delay；　also　of　the　Maid

Now　at　the　end　of　the　third　month；　which　was　November；
Martimor　made　Lirette　to　understand　that　it　was　high　time　he
should　ride　farther　to　follow　his　quest。　　For　the　miller　was
now　recovered；　and　it　was　long　that　they　had　heard　and　seen
naught　of　Flumen；　and　doubtless　that　black　knave　was　well
routed　and　dismayed　that　he　would　not　come　again。　　Lirette
prayed　him　and　desired　him　that　he　would　tarry　yet　one　week。
But　Martimor　said；　No！　for　his　adventures　were　before　him；　and
that　he　could　not　be　happy　save　in　the　doing　of　great　deeds
and　the　winning　of　knightly　fame。　　Then　he　showed　her　the　Blue
Flower　in　his　shield　that　was　nameless；　and　told　her　how　Sir
Lancelot　had　said　that　he　must　find　it；　then　should　he　name　it
and　have　both　crest　and　motto。

〃Does　it　grow　in　my　garden？〃　said　Lirette。

〃I　have　not　seen　it；〃　said　he；　〃and　now　the　flowers　are
all　faded。〃

〃Perhaps　in　the　month　of　May？〃　said　she。

〃In　that　month　I　will　come　again；〃　said　he；　〃for　by　that
time　it　may　fortune　that　I　shall　achieve　my　quest；　but　now
forth　must　I　fare。〃

So　there　was　sad　cheer　in　the　Mill　that　day；　and　at　night
there　came　a　fierce　storm　with　howling　wind　and　plumping　rain；
and　Martimor　slept　ill。　　About　the　break　of　day　he　was　wakened
by　a　great　roaring　and　pounding；　then　he　looked　out　of　window；
and　saw　the　river　in　flood；　with　black　waves　spuming　and
raving；　like　wood　beasts；　and　driving　before　them　great　logs
and　broken　trees。　　Thus　the　river　hurled　and　hammered　at　the
mill…dam　so　that　it　trembled；　and　the　logs　leaped　as　they
would　spring　over　it；　and　the　voice　of　Flumen　shouted　hoarsely
and　hungrily；　〃Yet　will　I　mar　the　Mill　and　have　the　Maid！〃

Then　Martimor　ran　with　the　miller　out　upon　the　dam；　and
they　laboured　at　the　gates　that　held　the　river　back；　and
thrust　away　the　logs　that　were　heaped　over　them；　and　cut　with
axes；　and　fought　with　the　river。　　So　at　last　two　of　the　gates
were　lifted　and　one　was　broken；　and　the　flood　ran　down
ramping　and　roaring　in　great　raundon；　and　as　it　ran　the　black
face　of　Flumen　sprang　above　it；　crying；　〃Yet　will　I　mar　both
Mill　and　Maid。〃

〃That　shalt　thou　never　do；〃　cried　Martimor；　〃by　foul　or
fair；　while　the　life　beats　in　my　body。〃

So　he　came　back　with　the　miller　into　the　Mill；　and　there
was　meat　ready　for　them　and　they　ate　strongly　and　with　good
heart。　　〃Now；〃　said　the　miller；　〃must　I　mend　the　gate。　　But
how　it　may　be　done；　I　know　not；　for　surely　this　will　be　great
travail　for　a　man　alone。〃

〃Why　alone？〃　said　Martimor。

〃Thou　wilt　stay；　then？〃　said　Lirette。

〃Yea；〃　said　he。

〃For　another　month？〃　said　she。

〃Till　the　gate　be　mended；〃　said　he。

But　when　the　gate　was　mended　there　came　another　flood　and
brake　the　second　gate。　　And　when　that　was　mended　there　came
another　flood　and　brake　the　third　gate。　　So　when　all　three
were　mended　firm　and　fast；　being　bound　with　iron；　still　the
grimly　river　hurled　over　the　dam；　and　the　voice　of　Flumen
muttered　in　the　dark　of　winter　nights；　〃Yet　will　I
marmarmaryet　will　I　mar　Mill　and　Maid。〃

〃Oho！〃　said　Martimor；　〃this　is　a　durable　and　dogged　knave。
Art　thou　feared　of　him　Lirette？〃

〃Not　so；〃　said　she；　〃for　thou　art　stronger。　　But　fear　have
I　of　the　day　when　thou　ridest　forth　in　thy　quest。〃

〃Well；　as　to　that；〃　said　he；　〃when　I　have　overcome　this
false　devil　Flumen；　then　will　we　consider　and　appoint　that
day。〃

So　the　delay　continued；　and　Martimor　was　both　busy　and
happy　at　the　Mill；　for　he　liked　and　loved　this　damsel　well；
and　was　fain　of　her　company。　　Moreover　the　strife　with　Flumen
was　great　joy　to　him。



VI

How　the　Month　of　May　came　to　the　Mill；　and　the　Delay　was　Made　Longer

Now　when　the　month　of　May　came　to　the　Mill　it　brought　a　plenty
of　sweet　flowers；　and　Lirette　wrought　in　the　garden。　　With
her；　when　the　day　was　spent　and　the　sun　rested　upon　the　edge
of　the　hill；　went　Martimor；　and　she　showed　him　all　her　flowers
that　were　blue。　　But　none　of　them　was　like　the　flower　on　his
shield。

〃Is　it　this？〃　she　cried；　giving　him　a　violet。　　〃Too　dark；〃
said　he。

〃Then　here　it　is；〃　she　said；　plucking　a　posy　of
forget…me…not。

〃Too　light；〃　said　he。

〃Surely　this　is　it；〃　and　she　brought　him　a　spray　of
blue…bells。

〃Too　slender；〃　said　he；　〃and　well　I　ween　that　I　may　not
find　that　flower；　till　I　ride　farther　in　my　quest　and　achieve
great　adventure。〃

Then　was　the　Maid　cast　down；　and　Martimor　was　fain　to
comfort　her。

So　while　they　walked　thus　in　the　garden；　the　days　were
fair　and　still；　and　the　river　ran　lowly　and　slowly；　as　it　were
full　of　gentleness；　and　Flumen　had