THE SILVER CHAIR-第20章

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nt　king　caused　the　letters　to　be　cut；　and　he　knew　　already　all　things　that　would　e　of　them；　including　this。”

〃this　guide　of　yours　must　be　a　long　liver；　friend；〃　said　the　knight　with　　another　of　his　laughs。

jill　began　to　find　them　a　little　irritating。

〃and　it　seems　to　me；　sir；〃　answered　puddleglum；　〃that　this　lady　of　yours　　must　be　a　long　liver　too；　if　she　remembers　the　verse　as　it　was　when　they　first　cut　it。”

〃very　shrewd；　frog…face；〃　said　the　knight；　clapping　puddleglum　on　the　　shoulder　and　laughing　again。　〃and　you　have　hit　the　truth。　she　is　of　divine　race；　and　　knows　neither　age　nor　death。　i　am　the　more　thankful　to　her　for　all　her　infinite　bounty　to　　such　a　poor　mortal　wretch　as　i。　for　you　must　know；　sirs；　i　am　a　man　under　most　strange　　afflictions；　and　none　but　the　queens　grace　would　have　had　patience　with　me。　patience；　said　　i？　but　it　goes　far　beyond　that。　she　has　promised　me　a　great　kingdom　in　overland；　and；　　when　i　am　king；　her　own　most　gracious　hand　in　marriage。　but　the　tale　is　too　long　for　　you　to　hear　fasting　and　standing。　hi　there；　some　of　you！　bring　wine　and　updwellers　　food　for　my　guests。　please　you；　be　seated；　gentlemen。　little　maiden；　sit　in　this　chair。　　you　shall　hear　it　all。”

　。。



CHAPTER　ELEVEN

×××小×说×网
in　the　dark　castle　　when　the　meal　（which　was　pigeon　pie；　cold　ham；　salad；　and　cakes）　had　been　　brought；　and　all　had　drawn　their　chairs　up　to　the　table　and　begun；　the　knight　　continued：　　〃you　must　understand；　friends；　that　i　know　nothing　of　who　i　was　and　whence　　i　came　into　this　dark　world。　i　remember　no　time　when　i　was　not　dwelling；　as　now；　at　the　　court　of　this　all　but　heavenly　queen；　but　my　thought　is　that　she　saved　me　from　some　　evil　enchantment　and　brought　me　hither　of　her　exceeding　bounty。　（honest　　frogfoot；　your　cup　is　empty。　suffer　me　to　refill　it。）　and　this　seems　to　me　the　likelier　　because　even　now　i　am　　

bound　by　a　spell；　from　which　my　lady　alone　can　free　me。　every　night　there　　es　an　hour　when　my　mind　is　most　horribly　changed；　and；　after　my　mind；　my　body。　　for　first　i　bee　furious　and　wild　and　would　rush　upon　my　dearest　friends　to　kill　　them；　if　i　were　not　bound。　and　soon　after　that；　i　turn　into　the　likeness　of　a　great　　serpent；　hungry；　fierce；　and　deadly。　（sir；　be　pleased　to　take　another　breast　of　pigeon；　i　entreat　　you。）　so　they　tell　me；　and　they　certainly　speak　truth；　for　my　lady　says　the　same。　i　myself　　know　nothing　of　it；　for　when　my　hour　is　past　i　awake　forgetful　of　all　that　vile　fit　and　in　　my　proper　shape　and　sound　mind　…　saving　that　i　am　somewhat　wearied。　（little　lady；　eat　one　　of　these　honey　cakes；　which　are　brought　for　me　from　some　barbarous　land　in　the　far　south　　of　the　world。）

now　the　queens　majesty　knows　by　her　art　that　i　shall　be　freed　from　this　　enchantment　when　once　she　has　made　me　king　of　a　land　in　the　overworld　and　set　its　crown　　upon　my　head。　the　land　is　already　chosen　and　the　very　place　of　our　breaking　out。　　her　earthmen　have　worked　day　and　night　digging　a　way　beneath　it；　and　have　now　gone　so　　far　and　so　high　that　they　tunnel　not　a　score　of　feet　beneath　the　very　grass　on　which　　the　updwellers　of　that　country　walk。　it　will　be　very　soon　now　that　those　uplanders　fate　　will　e　upon　them。　she　herself　is　at　the　diggings　tonight；　and　i　expect　a　message　to　go　　to　her。　then　the　thin　roof　of　earth　which　still　keeps　me　from　my　kingdom　will　be　broken　　through；　and　with　her　to　guide　me　and　a　thousand　earthmen　at　my　back；　i　shall　ride　forth　　in　arms；　fall　suddenly　on　our　enemies；　slay　their　chief　men；　cast　down　their　strong　　places；　and　doubtless　be　their　crowned　king　within　four　and　twenty　hours。”

〃its　a　bit　rough　luck　on　them；　isnt　it？〃　said　scrubb。

〃thou　art　a　lad　of　a　wondrous；　quick…working　wit！〃　exclaimed　the　knight。　　〃for；　on　my　honour；　i　had　never　thought　of　it　so　before。　i　see　your　meaning。〃　he　looked　　slightly；　very　slightly　troubled　for　a　moment　or　two；　but　his　face　soon　cleared　and　he　　broke　out；　with　another　of　his　loud　laughs；　〃but　fie　on　gravity！　is　it　not　the　most　ical　　and　ridiculous　thing　in　the　world　to　think　of　them　all　going　about　their　business　and　　never　dreaming　that　under　their　peaceful　fields　and　floors；　only　a　fathom　down；　there　is　a　　great　army　ready　to　break　out　upon　them　like　a　fountain！　and　they　never　to　have　suspected！　why；　　they　themselves；　when　once　the　first　smart　of　their　defeat　is　over；　can　hardly　　choose　but　laugh　at　the　thought！”

〃i　dont　think　its　funny　at　all；〃　said　jill。　〃i　think　youll　be　a　wicked　　tyrant。”

〃what？〃　said　the　knight；　still　laughing　and　patting　her　head　in　a　quite　　infuriating　fashion。

〃is　our　little　maid　a　deep　politician？　but　never　fear；　sweetheart。　in　　ruling　that　land；　i　shall　do　all　by　the　counsel　of　my　lady；　who　will　then　be　my　queen　too。　her　word　　shall　be　my　law；　even　as　my　word　will　be　law　to　the　people　we　have　conquered。”

〃where　i　e　from；〃　said　jill；　who　was　disliking　him　more　every　minute；　　〃they　dont　think　much　of　men　who　are　bossed　about　by　their　wives。”

〃shalt　think　otherwise　when　thou　hast　a　man　of　thine　own；　i　warrant　you；〃　　said　the　knight；　apparently　thinking　this　very　funny。　〃but　with　my　lady；　it　is　　another　matter。　i　am　well　content　to　live　by　her　word；　who　has　already　saved　me　from　a　thousand　　dangers。　no　　

mother　has　taken　pains　more　tenderly　for　her　child；　than　the　queens　grace　　has　for　me。

why；　look　you；　amid　all　her　cares　and　business；　she　rideth　out　with　me　in　　the　overworld　many　a　time　and　oft　to　accustom　my　eyes　to　the　sunlight。　and　then　i　must　go　　fully　armed　and　with　visor　down；　so　that　no　man　may　see　my　face；　and　i　must　speak　to　no　　one。　for　she　has　found　out　by　art　magical　that　this　would　hinder　my　deliverance　from　　the　grievous　enchantment　i　lie　under。　is　not　that　a　lady　worthy　of　a　mans　whole　　worship？”

〃sounds　a　very　nice　lady　indeed；〃　said　puddleglum　in　a　voice　which　meant　　exactly　the　opposite。

they　were　thoroughly　tired　of　the　knights　talk　before　they　had　finished　　supper。

puddleglum　was　thinking；　〃i　wonder　what　game　that　witch　is　really　playing　　with　this　young　fool。〃　scrubb　was　thinking；　〃hes　a　great　baby；　really：　tied　to　that　　womans　apron　strings；　hes　a　sap。〃　and　jill　was　thinking；　〃hes　the　silliest；　most　　conceited；　selfish　pig　ive　met　for　a　long　time。〃　but　when　the　meal　was　over；　the　knights　mood　　had　changed。

there　was　no　more　laughter　about　him。

〃friends；〃　he　said；　〃my　hour　is　now　very　near。　i　am　ashamed　that　you　should　　see　me　yet　i　dread　being　left　alone。　they　will　e　in　presently　and　bind　me　hand　and　　foot　to　yonder　chair。　alas；　so　it　must　be：　for　in　my　fury；　they　tell　me；　i　would　destroy　　all　that　i　could　reach。”

〃i　say；〃　said　scrubb；　〃im　awfully　sorry　about　your　enchantment　of　course；　　but　what　will　those　fellows　do　to　us　when　they　e　to　bind　you？　they　talked　of　putting　　us　in　prison。

and　we　dont　like　all　those　dark　places　very　much。　wed　much　rather　stay　　here　till　youre　。　。　。　better　。　。　。　if　we　may。”

〃it　is　well　thought　of；〃　said　the　knight。　〃by　custom　none　but　the　queen　　herself　remains　with　me　in　my　evil　hour。　such　is　her　tender　care　for　my　honour　that　she　　would　not　willingly　suffer　any　ears　but　her　own　to　hear　the　words　i　utter　in　that　　frenzy。　but　i　could　not　easily　persuade　my　attendant　gnomes　that　you　should　be　left　with　me。　　and　i　think　i　hear　their　soft　feet　even　now　upon　the　stairs。　go　through　yonder　door：　it　　leads　into　my　other　apartments。　and　there；　either　await　my　ing　when　they　have　unbound　　me；　or；　if　you　will；　return　and　sit　with　me　in　my　ravings。”

they　followed　his　directions　and　passed　out　of　the　room　by　a　door　which　　they　had　not　yet　seen　opened。　it　brought　them；　they　were　pleased　to　see；　not　into　darkness　　but　into　a　lighted　corridor。　they　tried　various　doors　and　found　（what　they　very　badly　　needed）　water　for　washing　and　even　a　looking　glass。　〃he　never　offered　us　a　wash　before　　supper；〃　said　jill；　drying　her　face。　〃selfish；　selfcentred　pig。”

〃are　we　going　back　to　watch　the　enchantment；　or　shall　we　stay　here？〃　said　　scrubb。

〃stay　here；　i　vote；〃　said　jill。　〃id　much　rather　not　see　it。〃　but　she　felt　　a　little　inquisitive　all　the　same。

〃no；　go　back；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃we　may　pick　up　some　information；　and　we　　need　all　we　can　get。　i　am　sure　that　queen　is　a　witch　and　an　enemy。　and　those　earthmen　　would　knock　us　on　the　head　as　soon　as　look　at　us。　theres　a　stronger　smell　of　danger　　and　lies　and　magic　and　treason　about　this　land　than　ive　ever　smelled　before。　we　need　to　　keep　our　eyes　and　ears　open。”

they　went　back　down　the　corridor　and　gently　pushed　the　door　open。　〃its　all　　right；〃　said　scrubb；　meaning　that　there　were　no　earthmen　about。　then　they　all　came　back　　into　the　room　where　they　had　supped。

the　main　door　was　now　shut；　concealing　the　curtain　between　which　they　had　　first　entered。　the　knight　was　seated　in　a　curious　silver　chair；　to　which　he　was　　bound　by　his　ankles；　his　knees；　his　elbows；　his　wrists；　and　his　waist。　there　was　sweat　　on　his　forehead　and　his　face　was　filled　with　anguish。

〃e　in；　friends；〃　he　said；　glancing　quickly　up。　〃the　fit　is　not　yet　upon　　me。　make　no　noise；　for　i　told　that　prying　chamberlain　that　you　were　in　bed。　now　。　。　。　i　　can　feel　it　ing。　quick！　listen　while　i　am　master　of　myself。　when　the　fit　is　upon　me；　　it　well　may　be　that　i　shall　beg　and　implo