But when we were without the house, I bade our fellows go with me to
another place than the wonted apple-tree of rede, and they understood
my word, and I led them to a little grassy plain without the orchard,
where was no covert for a wide space about it, nought but the one
linden-tree under which now we sat. There I told them all the tale of
the last night and of the flasket, and put before them all that was in
my mind to do that evening at the banquet, and they both of them
yeasaid it. But what it was, that shall ye hear anon when we carried
the matter through; but I bade Baudoin still carry the flasket till the
evening.
Thereafter we spake of other matters; but soon we had good cause to
rejoice that we had not talked our talk under the apple-tree (whereas I
doubted not that the witch would spy upon us there), for not long had
we been at our talk ere, looking that way, we saw the evil creature by
the hedge of the orchard and gazing over at us.
We arose then, and came to her as if nought had happened; and she bade
us walk the garden with her, and we yeasaid it, and went with her, and
paced about amidst the flowers and lay on the blossomed grass.
Forsooth, both to her and to us the time hung heavy on hand. And
meseemed that the sleekness and fairness of her body was worsened since
yesterday, and she was pale and haggard, and her eyes were wandering
and afraid.
Now she bade us come a little further into the garden and eat a morsel
at noon; and we arose, and she brought us to where were vines trellised
all about and overhead, so that it was like a fair green cloister; and
there was a board laid and spread with many dainties of meat and drink.
And she bade us sit. Verily we had but little stomach to that dinner;
and I said to myself, Poison! poison! and even so my fellows deemed, as
afterwards they told me. And I saw Baudoin loosen his sword in the
sheath, and I knew that his mind was to smite at once if he saw aught
amiss. And I, who sat next to the witch, laid my hand on a little
dagger which I wore at my girdle. She also saw this, and turned as pale
as death, and sat trembling before us; and whatso we ate or drank at
that board under the rustling vine-leaves, she gave unto us with her
own hand; and then we wotted full surely that she had meant our deaths
there and then, but was cowed by the fierce eyes of Baudoin and the
threat of my hand.
Withal it seemed that she might not bear it to sit there long amongst
us. She rose up and smiled on us as ghastly as a corpse, and gave us
leave, and went hurrying into the house. And right glad we were to be
at rest from her. Yet as we ourselves durst not go far away from the
house, lest some new thing might happen, neither could she leave us
quite alone, but thrice again that afternoon at some turn of the
garden, or orchard, or meadow, we came upon her wan face and eyes full
of all hate and staring pride, and she enforced her to smile upon us,
and turned away with some idle word.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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