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The Wood Beyond the World
by William Morris
CHAPTER I： OF GOLDEN WALTER AND HIS FATHER
Awhile ago there was a young man dwelling in a great and goodly city
by the sea which had to name Langton on Holm。 He was but of five
and twenty winters； a fair…faced man； yellow…haired； tall and
strong； rather wiser than foolisher than young men are mostly wont；
a valiant youth； and a kind； not of many words but courteous of
speech； no roisterer； nought masterful； but peaceable and knowing
how to forbear： in a fray a perilous foe； and a trusty war…fellow。
His father； with whom he was dwelling when this tale begins； was a
great merchant； richer than a baron of the land； a head…man of the
greatest of the Lineages of Langton； and a captain of the Porte； he
was of the Lineage of the Goldings； therefore was he called
Bartholomew Golden； and his son Golden Walter。
Now ye may well deem that such a youngling as this was looked upon
by all as a lucky man without a lack； but there was this flaw in his
lot； whereas he had fallen into the toils of love of a woman
exceeding fair； and had taken her to wife； she nought unwilling as
it seemed。 But when they had been wedded some six months he found
by manifest tokens； that his fairness was not so much to her but
that she must seek to the foulness of one worser than he in all
ways； wherefore his rest departed from him； whereas he hated her for
her untruth and her hatred of him； yet would the sound of her voice；
as she came and went in the house； make his heart beat； and the
sight of her stirred desire within him； so that he longed for her to
be sweet and kind with him； and deemed that； might it be so； he
should forget all the evil gone by。 But it was not so； for ever
when she saw him； her face changed； and her hatred of him became
manifest； and howsoever she were sweet with others； with him she was
hard and sour。
So this went on a while till the chambers of his father's house； yea
the very streets of the city； became loathsome to him； and yet he
called to mind that the world was wide and he but a young man。 So
on a day as he sat with his father alone； he spake to him and said：
〃Father； I was on the quays even now； and I looked on the ships that
were nigh boun； and thy sign I saw on a tall ship that seemed to me
nighest boun。 Will it be long ere she sail？〃
〃Nay；〃 said his father； 〃that ship； which hight the Katherine； will
they warp out of the haven in two days' time。 But why askest thou
of her？〃
〃The shortest word is best； father；〃 said Walter； 〃and this it is；
that I would depart in the said ship and see other lands。〃
〃Yea and whither； son？〃 said the merchant。
〃Whither she goeth；〃 said Walter； 〃for I am ill at ease at home； as
thou wottest； father。〃
The merchant held his peace awhile； and looked hard on his son； for
there was strong love between them； but at last he said： 〃Well；
son； maybe it were best for thee； but maybe also we shall not meet
again。〃
〃Yet if we do meet； father； then shalt thou see a new man in me。〃
〃Well；〃 said Bartholomew； 〃at least I know on whom to lay the loss
of thee； and when thou art gone； for thou shalt have thine own way
herein； she shall no longer abide in my house。 Nay； but it were
for the strife that should arise thenceforth betwixt her kindred and
ours； it should go somewhat worse with her than that。〃
Said Walter： 〃I pray thee shame her not more than needs must be；
lest； so doing； thou shame both me and thyself also。〃
Bartholomew held his peace again for a while； then he said： 〃Goeth
she with child； my son？〃
Walter reddened； and said： 〃I wot not； nor of whom the child may
be。〃 Then they both sat silent； till Bartholomew spake； saying：
〃The end of it is； son； that this is Monday； and that thou shalt go
aboard in the small hours of Wednesday； and meanwhile I shall look
to it that thou go not away empty…handed； the skipper of the
Katherine is a good man and true； and knows the seas well； and my
servant Robert the Low； who is clerk of the lading； is trustworthy
and wise； and as myself in all matters that look towards chaffer。
The Katherine is new and stout…builded； and should be lucky； whereas
she is under the ward of her who is the saint called upon in the
church where thou wert christened； and myself before thee； and thy
mother； and my father and mother all lie under the chancel thereof；
as thou wottest。〃
Therewith the elder rose up and went his ways about his business；
and there was no more said betwixt him and his son on this matter。
CHAPTER II： GOLDEN WALTER TAKES SHIP TO SAIL THE SEAS
When Walter went down to the Katherine next morning； there was the
skipper Geoffrey； who did him reverence； and made him all cheer； and
showed him his room aboard ship； and the plenteous goods which his
father had sent down to the quays already； such haste as he had
made。 Walter thanked his father's love in his heart； but otherwise
took little heed to his affairs； but wore away the time about the
haven； gazing listlessly on the ships that were making them ready
outward； or unlading； and the mariners and aliens coming and going：
and all these were to him as the curious images woven on a tapestry。
At last when he had wellnigh come back again to the Katherine； he
saw there a tall ship； which he had scarce noted before； a ship all…
boun； which had her boats out； and men sitting to the oars thereof
ready to tow her outwards when the hawser should be cast off； and by
seeming her mariners were but abiding for some one or other to come
aboard。
So Walter stood idly watching the said ship； and as he looked； lo！
folk passing him toward the gangway。 These were three； first came a
dwarf； dark…brown of hue and hideous； with long arms and ears
exceeding great and dog…teeth that stuck out like the fangs of a
wild beast。 He was clad in a rich coat of yellow silk； and bare in
his hand a crooked bow； and was girt with a broad sax。
After him came a maiden； young by seeming； of scarce twenty summers；
fair of face as a flower； grey…eyed； brown…haired； with lips full
and red； slim and gentle of body。 Simple was her array； of a short
and strait green gown； so that on her right ankle was clear to see
an iron ring。
Last of the three was a lady； tall and stately； so radiant of visage
and glorious of raiment； that it were hard to say what like she was；
for scarce might the eye gaze steady upon her exceeding beauty； yet
must every son of Adam who found himself anigh her； lift up his eyes
again after he had dropped them； and look again on her； and yet
again and yet again。 Even so did Walter； and as the three passed by
him； it seemed to him as if all the other folk there about had
vanished and were nought； nor had he any vision before his eyes of
any looking on them； save himself alone。 They went over the gangway
into the ship； and he saw them go along the deck till they came to
the house on the poop； and entered it and were gone from his sight。
There he stood staring； till little by little the thronging people
of the quays came into his eye…shot again； then he saw how the
hawser was cast off and the boats fell t