第41章

“Mylord，notoneofusthereis，Igrant，Thatdarescutdownonebranchinyonderspring，Ithinktheredwellsaspriteineveryplant，TherekeepshiscourtgreatDisinfernalking，HehathaheartofhardenedadamantThatwithouttremblingdaresattemptthething，AndsensehewantethwhosohardyisToheartheforestthunder，roarandhiss。“

XXIV

Thissaid，Alcastotohiswordsgaveheed，AlcastoleaderoftheSwitzersgrim，Amanbothvoidofwitandvoidofdreed，Whofearednotlossoflifenorlossoflimb。

NosavagebeastsindesertswildthatfeedNoruglymonstercoulddisheartenhim，Norwhirlwind，thunder，earthquake，storm，oraughtThatinthisworldisstrangeorfearfulthought。

XXV

Heshookhishead，andsmilingthusgansay，“ThehardinesshaveIthatwoodtofell，AndthoseproudtreeslowinthedusttolayWhereinsuchgrislyfiendsandmonstersdwell；

Noroaringghostmycouragecandismay，Noshriekofbirds，beast’sroar，ordragon’syell；

ButthroughandthroughthatforestwillIwend，Althoughtodeepesthellthepathsdescend。“

XXVI

Thusboastedhe，andleavetogodesired，Andforwardwentwithjoyfulcheerandwill，Heviewedthewoodandthosethickshadesadmired，Heheardthewondrousnoiseandrumblingshrill；

Yetnotonefoottheaudaciousmanretired，Hescornedtheperil，pressingforwardstill，Tillontheforest’soutmostmargehestepped，Aflamingfirefromentrancetherehimkept。

XXVII

Thefireincreased，andbuiltastatelywallOfburningcoals，quicksparks，andembershot，Andwithbrightflamesthewoodenvironedall，ThattherenotreenortwistAlcastogot；

Thehigherstretchedtheflamesseemedbulwarkstall，Castlesandturretsfulloffieryshot，Withslingsandenginesstrongofeverysort；——

Whatmortalwightdurstscalesostrangeafort？

XXVIII

OhwhatstrangemonstersonthebattlementInloathsomeformsstoodtodefendtheplace？

Theirfrowninglooksupontheknighttheybent，Andthreateneddeathwithshot，withswordandmace：

Atlasthefled，andthoughbutslowhewent，Aslionsdowhomjollyhunterschase；

Yetfledthemanandwithsadfearwithdrew，Thoughfeartillthenheneverfeltnorknew。

XXIX

Thathehadfledlongtimeheneverwist，Butwhenfarrunhehaddiscoverdit，Himselfforwonderwithhishandheblist，Abittersorrowbythehearthimbit，Amazed，ashamed，disgraced，sad，silent，trist，Alonehewouldalldayindarknesssit，Nordursthelookonmanofworthorfame，Hispridelategreat，nowgreatermadehisshame。

XXX

Godfredocalledhim，buthefounddelaysAndcauseswhyheshouldhiscabinkeep，Atlengthperforcehecomes，butnaughthesays，Ortalkslikethosethatbabbleintheirsleep。

HisshamefacednesstoGodfreyplainbewraysHisflight，sodoeshissighsandsadnessdeep：

Whereatamazed，“Whatchanceisthis？“quothhe。

“Thesewitchcraftsstrangeornature’swondersbe。

XXXI

“ButifhiscourageanychampionmoveTotrythehazardofthisdreadfulspring，Igivehimleavetheadventuregreattoprove，Somenewshemayreportusofthething：“

Thissaid，hislordsattemptthecharmedgrove，Yetnothingbackbutfearandflighttheybring，Fortheminforcedwithtremblingtoretire，Thesight，thesound，themonstersandthefire。

后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节