Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair | Page 9

they saw on the
field many people in gay raiment going to and fro, as though there were
games and sports toward.
Thereof Lord Rolf heeded nought, but went his ways straight to the
Castle, and was brought with all honour into the hall, and thither came
Lord Richard the Lean, hastening and half afeard, and did obeisance to
him; and there were but a few in the hall, and they stood out of earshot
of the two lords.
The Marshal spoke graciously to Lord Richard, and made him sit
beside him, and said in a soft voice: "We have come to see thee, Lord,
and how the folk do in the Uttermost Marches. Also we would wot how
it goes with a lad whom we sent to thee when he was yet a babe,
whereas he was some byblow of the late King, our lord and master, and
we deemed thee both rich enough and kind enough to breed him into
thriving without increasing pride upon him: and, firstly, is the lad yet
alive?"
He knitted his brow as he spake, for carefulness of soul; but Lord

Richard smiled upon him, though as one somewhat troubled, and
answered: "Lord Marshal, I thank thee for visiting this poor house; and
I shall tell thee first that the lad lives, and hath thriven marvellously,
though he be somewhat unruly, and will abide no correction now these
last six years. Sooth to say, there is now no story of his being anywise
akin to our late Lord King; though true it is that the folk in this faraway
corner of the land call him King Christopher, but only in a manner of
jesting. But it is no jest wherein they say that they will gainsay him
nought, and that especially the young women. Yet I will say of him that
he is wise, and asketh not overmuch; the more is the sorrow of many of
the maidens. A fell woodsman he is, and exceeding stark, and as yet
heedeth more of valiance than of the love of woman."
The Marshal looked no less troubled than before at these words; he said:
"I would see this young man speedily."
"So shall it be, Lord," said Lord Richard. Therewith he called to him a
squire, and said: "Go thou down into the thorpe, and bring hither
Christopher, for that a great lord is here who would set him to do a
deed of woodcraft, such as is more than the wont of men."
So the squire went his ways, and was gone a little while, and meantime
drew nigh to the hall a sound of triumphing songs and shouts, and right
up to the hall doors; then entered the squire, and by his side came a tall
young man, clad but in a white linen shirt and deerskin brogues, his
head crowned with a garland of flowers: him the squire brought up to
the lords on the dais, and louted to them, and said: "My lords, I bring
you Christopher, and he not overwilling, for now hath he been but just
crowned king of the games down yonder; but when the carles and
queans there said that they would come with him and bear him
company to the hall doors, then, forsooth, he yea-said the coming. It
were not unmeet that some shame were done him."
"Peace, man!" said Lord Richard, "what hath this to do with thee? Seest
thou not the Lord Marshal here?" The Lord Rolf sat and gazed on the
lad, and scowled on him; but Christopher saw therein nought but the
face of a great lord burdened with many cares; so when he had made
his obeisance he stood up fearlessly and merrily before them.

Sooth to say, he was full fair to look on: for all his strength, which, as
ye shall hear, was mighty, all the fashion of his limbs and his body was
light and clean done, and beauteous; and though his skin, where it
showed naked, was all tanned with the summer, it was fine and sleek
and kindly, every deal thereof: bright-eyed and round-cheeked he was,
with full lips and carven chin, and his hair golden brown of hue, and
curling crisp about the blossoms of his garland.
So must we say that he was such an youngling as most might have been
in the world, had not man's malice been, and the mischief of grudging
and the marring of grasping.
But now spake Lord Rolf: "Sir varlet, they tell me that thou art a
mighty hunter, and of mickle guile in woodcraft; wilt thou then hunt
somewhat for me, and bring me home a catch seldom seen?"
"Yea, Lord King," said Christopher, "I will at least do my best, if thou
but tell me where to