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石榴之屋-第26章

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but the merchants mocked at him; and said; of what use is a mans

soul to us?  it is not worth a clipped piece of silver。  sell us

thy body for a slave; and we will clothe thee in sea…purple; and

put a ring upon thy finger; and make thee the minion of the great

queen。  but talk not of the soul; for to us it is nought; nor has

it any value for our service。

and the young fisherman said to himself:  how strange a thing this

is!  the priest telleth me that the soul is worth all the gold in

the world; and the merchants say that it is not worth a clipped

piece of silver。  and he passed out of the market…place; and went

down to the shore of the sea; and began to ponder on what he should

do。

and at noon he remembered how one of his panions; who was a

gatherer of samphire; had told him of a certain young witch who

dwelt in a cave at the head of the bay and was very cunning in her

witcheries。  and he set to and ran; so eager was he to get rid of

his soul; and a cloud of dust followed him as he sped round the

sand of the shore。  by the itching of her palm the young witch knew

his ing; and she laughed and let down her red hair。  with her

red hair falling around her; she stood at the opening of the cave;

and in her hand she had a spray of wild hemlock that was

blossoming。

what dye lack?  what dye lack? she cried; as he came panting up

the steep; and bent down before her。  fish for thy net; when the

wind is foul?  i have a little reed…pipe; and when i blow on it the

mullet e sailing into the bay。  but it has a price; pretty boy;

it has a price。  what dye lack?  what dye lack?  a storm to wreck

the ships; and wash the chests of rich treasure ashore?  i have

more storms than the wind has; for i serve one who is stronger than

the wind; and with a sieve and a pail of water i can send the great

galleys to the bottom of the sea。  but i have a price; pretty boy;

i have a price。  what dye lack?  what dye lack?  i know a flower

that grows in the valley; none knows it but i。  it has purple

leaves; and a star in its heart; and its juice is as white as milk。

shouldst thou touch with this flower the hard lips of the queen;

she would follow thee all over the world。  out of the bed of the

king she would rise; and over the whole world she would follow

thee。  and it has a price; pretty boy; it has a price。  what dye

lack?  what dye lack?  i can pound a toad in a mortar; and make

broth of it; and stir the broth with a dead mans hand。  sprinkle

it on thine enemy while he sleeps; and he will turn into a black

viper; and his own mother will slay him。  with a wheel i can draw

the moon from heaven; and in a crystal i can show thee death。  what

dye lack?  what dye lack?  tell me thy desire; and i will give it

thee; and thou shalt pay me a price; pretty boy; thou shalt pay me

a price。

my desire is but for a little thing; said the young fisherman;

yet hath the priest been wroth with me; and driven me forth。  it

is but for a little thing; and the merchants have mocked at me; and

denied me。  therefore am i e to thee; though men call thee evil;

and whatever be thy price i shall pay it。

what wouldst thou? asked the witch; ing near to him。

i would send my soul away from me; answered the young fisherman。

the witch grew pale; and shuddered; and hid her face in her blue

mantle。  pretty boy; pretty boy; she muttered; that is a

terrible thing to do。

he tossed his brown curls and laughed。  my soul is nought to me;

he answered。  i cannot see it。  i may not touch it。  i do not know

it。

what wilt thou give me if i tell thee? asked the witch; looking

down at him with her beautiful eyes。

five pieces of gold; he said; and my nets; and the wattled house

where i live; and the painted boat in which i sail。  only tell me

how to get rid of my soul; and i will give thee all that i

possess。

she laughed mockingly at him; and struck him with the spray of

hemlock。  i can turn the autumn leaves into gold; she answered;

and i can weave the pale moonbeams into silver if i will it。  he

whom i serve is richer than all the kings of this world; and has

their dominions。

what then shall i give thee; he cried; if thy price be neither

gold nor silver?

the witch stroked his hair with her thin white hand。  thou must

dance with me; pretty boy; she murmured; and she smiled at him as

she spoke。

nought but that? cried the young fisherman in wonder and he rose

to his feet。

nought but that; she answered; and she smiled at him again。

then at sunset in some secret place we shall dance together; he

said; and after that we have danced thou shalt tell me the thing

which i desire to know。

she shook her head。  when the moon is full; when the moon is

full; she muttered。  then she peered all round; and listened。  a

blue bird rose screaming from its nest and circled over the dunes;

and three spotted birds rustled through the coarse grey grass and

whistled to each other。  there was no other sound save the sound of

a wave fretting the smooth pebbles below。  so she reached out her

hand; and drew him near to her and put her dry lips close to his

ear。

to…night thou must e to the top of the mountain; she

whispered。  it is a sabbath; and he will be there。

the young fisherman started and looked at her; and she showed her

white teeth and laughed。  who is he of whom thou speakest? he

asked。

it matters not; she answered。  go thou to…night; and stand under

the branches of the hornbeam; and wait for my ing。  if a black

dog run towards thee; strike it with a rod of willow; and it will

go away。  if an owl speak to thee; make it no answer。  when the

moon is full i shall be with thee; and we will dance together on

the grass。

but wilt thou swear to me to tell me how i may send my soul from

me? he made question。

she moved out into the sunlight; and through her red hair rippled

the wind。  by the hoofs of the goat i swear it; she made answer。

thou art the best of the witches; cried the young fisherman; and

i will surely dance with 
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