CHAPTER XXXV
FOREST LOVE
With the sun rose Isoult, transfigured and glorified, Love's rosypriest. She slipped from her man's arms, hung over him wonderfully,lightly kissed his forehead without disturbing his deep sleep. Then shewent to bathe herself in the pool, and to bind up her hair. Thewoodland was jewelled with dew, it went in misty green and yellow, allvocal of the joy she had. She was loved! she was loved!
Fresh and full of light she came dancing back, without a trace of thehaggard beauty upon her which had stolen about the ways of Holy Thorn.Her mouth had the divine childishness, the rippling curves of the nakedgod's bow; her eyes were glossy-soft and rayed a light from within.Warm arms stole round Prosper, a warm cheek was by his, warm lipskissed him awake. The duet, as of two low-answering doves, began--
"Is this Isoult la Desirous who cometh?"
"You called me Desiree."
"How long sought, how long prayed for!"
"Found now, and close at last."
"Closer yet, closer yet."
"Oh heart, oh desire! Prosper!"
"Yes."
"Tell me one thing."
"Ask."
"When began you to think of me?"
"Will you put me to shame, Isoult?"
"Never, never! There is no shame in you. Look what I am."
"The purest, the loveliest, the bride of all delight!"
"You are a great lord; and I----"
"The great lord's lady--out of his reach."
"Prosper! No, no. If I am out of reach, reach not for me. Tell meinstead what I ask you."
"But you know when I began, and what you said."
"Ah, it was then?"
"No, it was not then. It was after that. It was when I knew that youloved me."
"Did you not know from the first? Oh, what men must be! And Icalled--as I was called."
"La Desirous? Ah, yes. Tell me now why that was?"
"Yes, I will tell you now." She hid her face on his breast andwhispered her story. "I was twelve years old--a sheepgirl on MarberyDown. There are many, many herds there, and five of us that kept themthat day, huddling together to be warm. For I was cold enough--in ragsas you have seen me, but worse; my shoulder and side went bare then.Then there came riding over the brow a company of lords having falconson their wrists; and I stood up to watch them fly their birds. Therewas an old man, tall and very noble, with white hair and beard, and abrown keen face; and there were others, young men, and one was a lad,his son. The lad it was who flew his bird at a heron. The falcon shotup into the air; she towered over my head where I stood, and afterstooped and fell upon me, and clung to my raiment, pecking at my heart.And I cried out at the sharpness of the pain, and wrestled with thefalcon to get her off me, but could not for the battling of her sails.Then the lad, the owner of the hawk, rode up to me and took away thebird and killed her. He was a ruddy lad, with the bright blue eyes ofhis father; but his hair was long and yellow as gold. To me he gavemoney, and what was dearer than money and rarer, gentle words. For hesaid--'Maiden, my haggard hath done thee a wrong, and I through her.But when I am a man I will amend it.' Now the wound over my heart keptfresh and could never be healed; and I was thought shameful for that,because men said I went bleeding for love. And God knows it was a truesaying."
"Oh, Isoult, was it true, was it true? For that old man was my father,and the lad was I."
Said Isoult--
"Ah, when thou didst ride into the quarry and foundest me with Galorsthere, I knew thee again; and when thou didst wed me the wound stayedbleeding, but remained fresh. But now--now it is healed."
They turned their lips to each other and murmured comfort with kisses.
"By the Lord," cried he, "I could eat a meal."
"O greedy one, I will put you to shame. All my desire is to take God'sbody. For I know that we have had no marriage-mass."
"That is a true saying. But the Host is harder to come by. There is aplace in Morgraunt, nevertheless, where you may hear Mass and breakgood bread after. I have been there, but not from here."
"But I have been there too, Prosper, and from here, or near here. Iremember. I know the road."
"Come then, lead me, my bride."
She armed her lord, being now entered into her old self, radiant,softly fair, guarded, and demure. He also was the man of her choosing,invincibly lord. They found their beasts near by and were soon on theway, with their pale trophy hidden in a cloth.
Mass was said by the time they reached the yew-tree close, and saw theshrine and image of Saint Lucy of the Eyes. Alice of the Hermitage cameout into the open, shading her face against the sun. Prosper sheremembered not, but when she saw Isoult she gave a little cry. The twogirls were in each other's arms in no time.
"Oh, you!"
"Yes, yes, I have come back. And you know me like this?"
"I would know you anywhere, by what you can never cut off."
"Now you must know my lord," said Isoult with a great heart.
Prosper came up.
"Ah, damsel," says he, "you sped me into your forest, and so sped me tomy happiness in spite of myself. Have you forgotten the white bird?Look again and tell me if I have redeemed the quest."
"Ah, ah," said glowing Alice, "now I remember my dream of the bird. Isthis possible?"
She looked at Isoult. Isoult blushed; but she was all for blushing justnow.
"If it is true," Alice continued, "you make me very happy. Now let meserve you."
"You shall," said Prosper. "Pray give us something to eat."
"Alice," said Isoult, "it was my lord who taught me how to pray--toMother Mary and Saint Isidore. We have had no marriage-mass."
"Ah, that is serious. You are not yet wedded then?"
Isoult blushed again.
"Will the father wed us?" she contented herself to ask.
But Prosper would not have it.
"Nay, by God and His Christ, but we are one soul by now!" he cried."The year of agony for her, the year of schooling for me, is past. Godhas upheld my arm, and her heart is mine. But I beg of you, Alice,prevail upon the priest to give us his God and ours. For though we havebeen wedded by a Churchman, we have not been wedded by the Church."
"The father shall do it," said Alice. "Fear nothing."
There were two scruples in the good man's way. If he said Mass twice inthe morning he broke the law of the Church; if he put off hisbreakfast, he broke that of nature, which bids a man fill when he isempty. And the priest was a law-abiding man. In the end, however, thebride and bridegroom had their marriage-mass. Kneeling on the mossystone they received the Sop. Alice of the Hermitage brought two crownsof briony leaves and scarlet berries; so Morgraunt anointed whatMorgraunt had set apart; the postulants were adept. Afterwards, whenthe priest had gone and all things were accomplished, Alice of theHermitage kissed a sister and a brother; and then very happily theybroke their bread sitting in the sun.
"Whither now, my lord?" asked Isoult when they had done.
"Ah, to High March, pardieu!" Prosper said; "there is a little workleft for me there. You shall go in as a queen this time. Clothe her asa queen, Alice, and let us be off."
Alice took her away to be dressed in the red silk robe; she drew on thesilk stockings, the red slippers. Then she went to tire her hair.
"Stay," said Isoult, "and tell me something first."
"What is it, dearest?"
"My hair, how far does it reach by now?"
"Oh! it is a mantle to you, a dusky veil, falling to your knees."
"Now bind it up for me, Alice; it has run to its tether."
The glossy tower was roped with sequins, the bride was ready. Aliceadored her.
"Come and meet the bridegroom," said she.
Prosper watched them coming over the sunny plat. He was not lettered,yet he should have heard the whisper of the Amorist--_"Behold, thou artfair, my love; behold, thou art fair, thou hast dove's eyes."_
At least he bowed his knee before her. She could have answered h
imthen--_"I am as a wall, and my breasts like towers; then was I in hiseyes as one that found favour."_
"Good-bye, my sister Desiree," said Alice of the Hermitage. Tears andkisses met and answered each other.
"Surely now, surely here is love enough!" she cried as they rode away.For my part, I am disposed to agree with her. But Prosper found herglorious.
"Can our lord have enough of incense, or his mother weary of songs? CanLa Desirous sicken of desire?"
For two more nights green Morgraunt made their bed.
CHAPTER XXXVI
THE LADY PIETOSA DE BREAUTE
Evidently they were expected at High March; for no sooner the whiteplumes had cleared the forest purlieus and came nodding over the heathin view of the solemn towers, than a white flag was run up the keep. Itfloated out bravely--a snow patch in a pure sky.
"Peace, hey?" quoth Prosper, asking. "Well then, there shall be peaceif they will take it. It is for them to settle."
Isoult said nothing. She had no reason to welcome High March, or toattend a welcome. She might have doubted the wisdom of their adventurehad she been less newly a wife. As it was, she would have followed herman into the jaws of hell.
When they drew closer still, they could see that the great gates wereset open and the drawbridge let down. Soon the guard turned out andpresented arms. Then issued in good order a white-robed procession,girls and boys bare-headed, holding branches of palm. A rider in greenmarshalled them with a long white wand which he had in his right hand.It was all very curious.
"I should know that copper-headed knave," said Prosper.
"It is the seneschal, dear lord," said Isoult, who would know himbetter, "with his white rod of office."
Prosper gave a mighty shout. "Master Porges, by the Holy Rood! Oh,Master Porges, Master Porges, have you not yet enough of rods white orblack? Look how the rascal wags the thing. Why, hark, child, he has setthem singing."
The shrill voices, in effect, rose and fell along the devious ways of alitany to Master Porges' household gods. Mention has already been madeof his curiosity in these commodities. The present times he had judgedto be times of crisis, big with fate. Who so apt as his newest saint topropitiate the hardy outlaw Galors de Born, and the young Demoiselle deBreaute?
For the shocked soul of Porges had fled into religion as your only curefor esteem and a back cruelly scored. In such stresses as the presentit still took wing to the same courts. "_Sancta Isolda, Sancta Isolda,Genetricis Ancilla,_" went the choir, "_Ora, ora pro nobis._"
And then--
"_Quoe de coelis volitans, Sacras manus agitans, Foves in suppliciis Me, ne extra gregulo Tuo unus ferulo Pereat in vitiis._"...
and so on. The youngsters sang with a good will, while Master Porges,as poet and man of piety, glowed in his skin. The verse limped, theLatin had suffered, perhaps, more violence than Latin should be askedto suffer even of a Christian: but what of that? It was the pietist'sown; and as his pupils sang it, they bore before his eyes the holyimage of the saint trampling under her feet the hulking thief Prosper.And gaily they bore it, and gaily sang their unwitting way towards theunwitting couple of lovers, who never let go hands until they were nearenough to feel all eyes burn into them to read their secret.
This was vastly well; but Master Porges' present bent was towardspolicy. Her ladyship had advised with him in her new occasions. "SirGalors de Born," she had said, "is a late enemy of mine no longer to befeared, since I have won back all my fiefs by the readiness and prudentdiscretion of the High Bailiff of Wanmeeting."
This good man had indeed made the most of his achievements, and,reflecting that Prosper had gone alone to tackle Galors,--whereof hewas indubitably dead,--and that it was a pity no one should be any thebetter for such a mishap, had told the whole story to his mistress,carefully leaving the hero's name out of account. "For why," said theBailiff, "cause a woman to shed unavailing tears?"
"Remember, however," the Countess went on, "that this Galors may be theescort of the Lady Pietosa de Breaute, my daughter and your mistress,to her home. Pay him then the respect due to such an esquire, but nomore. Receive from him my Lady Pietosa, and put yourself between herand him--yourself at her right hand and in the middle. She is not his;at the worst of all he is hers."
Master Porges bowed, observing. Here was need of a high stroke ofpolicy. Now policy to him meant mastery, and mastery when it did notmean a drubbing, as it had done with Prosper (the greatest politicianhe had ever known), meant a snubbing. With a cue from Prosper'shandling of the science, Master Porges thought he could show Galors,politically, his place.
The white-robed throng of singers stopped, with wondering simple faces,before the great black knight and his rose-clad lady. Prosper doubtlesslooked grim--he hardly filled the headpiece of Galors: the whitewicket-gates, with many a dint across them, gleamed harshly from thecoal-black shield. _Entra per me_ had an uncompromising ring about it.His visor was down; he did not wish them to see a too good-humouredface until he had exacted a tribute.
But Master Porges cantered up with many a sweep of hand and cap to thelady.
"My lady, welcome to your halls and smiling goodly lands. We have donewhat honour we might. Your ladyship will read it for an earnest of ourduties and good-will."
Thus Porges. Isoult sat wondering, very much confused. She was comingin as a queen indeed. Master Porges went on to handle the esquire.
"Master Galors, good-day to you," he said. "My lady the Countess ofHauterive hath heard of you. She may possibly send for you anon. In themeantime, in the pendency of her motions to that grace, I am to receivefrom you the Lady Pietosa, who has suffered your attentions so far, andwho thanks you, through me, her inherited minister. At your ladyship'spleasure now. Follow us, good Master Galors."
Unfortunately Prosper saw no need for playing Galors just then. But theseneschal always pleased him.
"Master Porges," he said in his suavest tones, "the gentleman you nameis indisposed to wait very long--he must not indeed be delayed--and iswholly incapable of travel unattended. He must therefore ride where Iride. As for the lady upon whom you bestow so decorous a name, I cannotanswer. The lady whom I escort will please herself. Step behind us,Master Porges, I entreat of you. You would not ask so much of SirGalors de Born if you knew him as well as I do."
"Now, who is this? What am I then, Messire?" the seneschal gasped.
"You are the most worshipful Master Porges, if I am right, by the graceof God Seneschal of High March, and so forth."
"Ah! Good! And you, sir?"
"I am not Galors de Born," replied Prosper modestly, "though he is notfar removed from me."
"You bear his coat, Messire."
"Ah, Saint Mary! I bear more than that of his."
"Messire, I have it in command----"
"And I have it to command. Behind, sir," said Prosper shortly andfinally. Then he rode forward with Isoult and met the minstrels.
"My little singers," cried he, "sing your blithest now, and take ushappily to the Castle. Come--
"'Love is Lord of the land, Master of maid and man; Goeth in green with a ruddy face, Heartening whom he can,'" etc., etc.
The thing was a country catch which he had himself caught up from theHigh March maids. It went to a free breathless measure, ran easily intoa gallop, must be jigged to. The fluttering cavalcade came skippinghome, all save the boy who carried Sancta Isolda, and he at last tuckedher under his arm and tripped with the rest. So it befel that the manof policy came in the rear; so also it befel that, when at the gatesProsper demanded his audience, Master Porges went in chastened with themessage, and came back still more chapfallen to report--that herladyship, his mistress, would receive the messenger of Sir Galors deBorn at once, with the lady in his escort. Thus finally Prosper, withIsoult behind him, stood in the great hall, and saw the Countess Isabeltrembling on the dais.
She came down the way left her by the assembled household, pale andmisty with tears to meet them. Prosper was softened at once, but bef
orehe could speak she was holding out her hands to him as a suppliant,striving to steady her voice.
"Oh, Galors," she began, "thou hast been my enemy declared for no faultof mine, and dreadful wrong hast thou done to many harmless folk whohad never wronged thee. Yet, if I had never won back what was mine, andstill owed thee a living grudge instead of a grudge for the unhappydead, for the sake of her thou bringest me I must receive thee here.Now give me that which thou didst promise. Let me see her."
Prosper stood melted by the pent passion of the woman, but by her wordsstricken dumb. He understood that she should think him Galors, andcared little if she did, for discovery must make his case the stronger.But what she wanted with Isoult, what Galors had promised on her score,passed all comprehension. He thought he knew enough of the Countess tobe sure she would not lightly forgive; yet here was the Countess askingto see the girl who had made a fool of her! Withal her need waspainfully plain. He therefore took Isoult by the hand and led herforward.
The Countess, shaking so that she could hardly stand, caught the girlfrom him. But she could not look at her, only steadied herself byclutching at her arms.
"Let me see the token," says she in an eager whisper.
So then Isoult unfastened her gown and took it out by its golden chain.
The Countess received it in both hands as a relic. Yet hand and headshook too much that she might see it. The poor lady held her wrist withthe other hand, lifted it up near her face; then she blinked her eyesclose to it. So for some time she remained, looking upon the jewel, butseeing nothing, seeming to love the feel of it in her hands, and cryingall the while freely and noiselessly with streams of tears down hercheeks. Next she dropped the crystal and took Isoult by the shoulders,to peer in the same blind fashion into the girl's wondering eyes. Andthen at last, with a little smothered cry, she caught her to her bosom,straining her there with desperate hunger of affection, while her tearsand passionate weeping shook and shuddered through her. In brokenwords, with sobs, half-moaning prayers, and half-crazy thanksgivings,she spoiled herself of the tenderness and frantic love a mother has,but no other under heaven.
Commanding herself in time, she raised her marred face high above herdaughter, who lay close in her arms, and turning to Prosper, saidsteadily enough--
"Galors, now declare thyself. Thou hast spoken so far the truth. Thisis my true daughter, Pietosa de Breaute, the daughter of my murderedlord, Fulk de Breaute, born in wedlock, and by me suffered to be stolenaway by him who first stole my body (but never my soul) from my lord.Now ask of me, and I will give thee all, even to this treasure at mybreast. Declare thyself."
Prosper forgot everything but to blurt out his wonder.
"Galors, madam, Galors! But I am not Galors, good Lord! Ah!" (and hepulled up his visor). "Look upon me, madam, and judge if I am Galors."
The Countess gasped, then blushed: all the household grew dumb. MasterPorges went out suddenly into the air. The first to recover breath wasthe lady paramount.
"Ah, my Lord Prosper le Gai," she said, "in your revenge I see yourfather's son. Should I not have known? I am at your mercy, my lord. Youhave struck me hard at last, harder than before, but may be not harderthan I deserve."
"Madam," said Prosper, "it seems I have struck you harder and nearerthan I knew. For your present joy has given me the most wondrous newsthat ever I had in the world."
"But the letter of Galors, was it not from you?" she cried out.
"I know nothing of letters from Galors, Countess. When I write it is inmy own name."
"There is mystery here. He wrote me of my daughter, that he would bringher--ah, and take her again. She has come as he said. But where isGalors?"
Prosper lifted on high the head of his enemy. "Here he is," said he.
A timely diversion was caused here by a certain red-cheeked girl, byname Melot. She had already proved the sharpness of her sloe-blackeyes; she proved it now again by seeing, alone of all that company, thehounded page-boy in the Lady Pietosa de Breaute. After her first gapeof re-discovery, being a girl of parts, conscious that generosity wasafoot, she edged her way to the front, stooped suddenly and caught atthe hem of the red silk robe to kiss it.
"What is this, wench?" said the Countess, glad of the relief.
Then said Melot on her knees, "My lady, I do this because I was thefirst who sinfully found out your ladyship's lady daughter when she washere before like a boy; and I pray her pardon, and yours, my lady, andyours again, Messire, for the deadly sin I did."
Red-cheeked Melot ran on glibly up to this point on a beaten track. Allmaidens of her class wallow in contrition. But when her words failedher, she sought a distressed lady's proper shelter, and began to cry.Isoult stooped and caught her up before she could be stayed. She wastoo newly a Countess, you see.
"This is Roy's answer to thee, Melot," she laughed, and kissed therogue.
But for Isabel, long a Countess--otherwise. This unhappy lady feltherself whipped. Her abasement was now so deep, so desolately did shestand among her dependents, a naked woman spoiled of all her robes,that Prosper's honest heart smote him.
"Countess," he said, smiling, "will you give me what Galors might havewon?"
But Isoult did better still. She came back to her mother's breast, putup her hand timidly and touched the cold cheek. "Mother," was all shesaid. It was all the woman needed to cover her shame in a cloak of warmtears. The two wept together, and then Prosper knelt to hismother-in-law's hand.
But the Countess was stronger than he had thought. In truth, she neverspared herself any of her dignities. Her humility now became heradmirably; never was she more certainly the great lady of romance thanwhen she led Prosper and Isoult to the dais, set them each on a throne,and then, turning to her people, opened her hands to them, her heart,and her conscience.
"Lo! you now," she cried out, "heed what I shall speak. This is theLady Pietosa, called Isoult le Gai, my daughter indeed, Countess afterme of Hauterive, Lady of Morgraunt and the purlieus, whom I, unknowingand to my shame, despised and misused--unworthy mother, that in tryingto befoul the spotless but stained herself the deeper. And you, people,sheep of a hireling shepherd, followed in my ways and became as I am,most miserable in shame. If now I lead you aright, follow me also thatroad. You shall kneel therefore with me to the young Countess and tothe Earl (in her right), my Lord Prosper."
Before either could stop her she was on her knees at her daughter'sfoot. Isoult dropped with a little cry, but the elder had her way. Shekissed the foot, and then stood by the throne to watch the homage paid.
One by one they came sidling up. Melot was pushed into the front rank;her shrewdness paid so much penalty. She knelt and laid her forehead onthe ground. Isoult lightly set her foot on the bowed head; but he whowatched the ceremony with dimmed eyes saw that the treader was thehumblest there.
Master Porges, flap-cheeked and stertorous, grovelled like a fatspaniel. Prosper came to the rescue as he swam up to the height of aman again, gasping for the air. "Ah, seneschal," he said, "we each lovehonour and ensue it after our fashion. We should be better acquainted."
The seneschal kissed his hand, and never doubted for one moment morebut that Prosper was the pattern of knighthood. The image-maker atMarch was thereafter busy with the figure of one in the similitude ofan Archangel, under whom ran the legend-"_Properate vias ejus_." It isreported that he had a further commission for a great bronze SaintIsidore, destined to the chapel at High March.
Days of festival followed, with jousting and minstrelsy. Isoult sat ina green silk bower, clothed all in white, her black hair twisted withpearls, a crown of red roses upon all. The hooded falcon showed againon baldrick and girdle, the _fesse dancettee_ flickered on a newshield, the red plumes danced; "Bide the Time" was the cry. After thiscame all the mesne lords to do homage for their lands, and among themwas Malise le Gai, Lord of Starning and Parrox. Prosper, when the twomet, laughed at him, made him angry, got forgiven, and shook hands. Hethus put the man at his ease, and won a tolerable fr
iendship with hisbrother against the time when the elder would be, in respect of certainfiefs, the vassal of the younger. But from Goltres came none to dofealty, nor from Hauterive, nor from Malbank Saint Thorn. Goltres, infact, was escheat, and granted out to Prosper's brother Osric and hisnew wife from Pre. A new abbot was set over Holy Thorn; but the charterof pit and gallows was revoked by the Countess, withal she said--"Itwas the granting of that charter which won me my child again."
It does not appear that there is anything more to record.
"What am I to call you, lady wife?" said Prosper, when he had her inhis arms again.
"Ah, lord, thou shouldst know by now!"
"Pietosa?"
"Prosper!"
"Isoult la Desiree?
"If you must."
"Isoult la Desirous?"
"It would be true.
"What will you have then, child?"
"Ah, ah, I will have that!"
It was, after all, but a rosy child that Prosper kissed.
EXPLICIT
The Forest Lovers Page 35