第31章

Accordingly，hesoonreachedanopenplatofturf，ontheoppositesideofwhich，arock，risingabruptlyfromagentlyslopingplain，offereditsgreyandweatherbeatenfronttothetraveller。Ivymantleditssidesinsomeplaces，andinothersoaksandhollybushes，whoserootsfoundnourishmentinthecliffsofthecrag，wavedovertheprecipicesbelow，liketheplumageofthewarrioroverhissteelhelmet，givinggracetothatwhosechiefexpressionwasterror。Atthebottomoftherock，andleaning，asitwere，againstit，wasconstructedarudehut，builtchieflyofthetrunksoftreesfelledintheneighbouringforest，andsecuredagainsttheweatherbyhavingitscrevicesstuffedwithmossmingledwithclay。Thestemofayoungfir-treeloppedofitsbranches，withapieceofwoodtiedacrossnearthetop，wasplanteduprightbythedoor，asarudeemblemoftheholycross。Atalittledistanceontherighthand，afountainofthepurestwatertrickledoutoftherock，andwasreceivedinahollowstone，whichlabourhadformedintoarusticbasin。Escapingfromthence，thestreammurmureddownthedescentbyachannelwhichitscoursehadlongworn，andsowanderedthroughthelittleplaintoloseitselfintheneighbouringwood。

Besidethisfountainweretheruinsofaverysmallchapel，ofwhichtheroofhadpartlyfallenin。

Thebuilding，whenentire，hadneverbeenabovesixteenfeetlongbytwelvefeetinbreadth，andtheroof，lowinproportion，resteduponfourconcentricarcheswhichsprungfromthefourcornersofthebuilding，eachsupporteduponashortandheavypillar。Theribsoftwoofthesearchesremained，thoughtheroofhadfallendownbetwixtthem；

overtheothersitremainedentire。Theentrancetothisancientplaceofdevotionwasunderaverylowroundarch，ornamentedbyseveralcoursesofthatzig-zagmoulding，resemblingshark’steeth，whichappearssoofteninthemoreancientSaxonarchitecture。Abelfryroseabovetheporchonfoursmallpillars，withinwhichhungthegreenandweatherbeatenbell，thefeeblesoundsofwhichhadbeensometimebeforeheardbytheBlackKnight。

Thewholepeacefulandquietscenelayglimmeringintwilightbeforetheeyesofthetraveller，givinghimgoodassuranceoflodgingforthenight；

sinceitwasaspecialdutyofthosehermitswhodweltinthewoods，toexercisehospitalitytowardsbenightedorbewilderedpassengers。

Accordingly，theknighttooknotimetoconsiderminutelytheparticularswhichwehavedetailed，butthankingSaintJulian(thepatronoftravellers)

whohadsenthimgoodharbourage，heleapedfromhishorseandassailedthedoorofthehermitagewiththebuttofhislance，inordertoarouseattentionandgainadmittance。

Itwassometimebeforeheobtainedanyanswer，andthereply，whenmade，wasunpropitious。

``Passon，whosoeverthouart，’’wastheanswergivenbyadeephoarsevoicefromwithinthehut，``anddisturbnottheservantofGodandStDunstaninhiseveningdevotions。’’

``Worthyfather，’’answeredtheknight，``hereisapoorwandererbewilderedinthesewoods，whogivestheetheopportunityofexercisingthycharityandhospitality。’’

``Goodbrother，’’repliedtheinhabitantofthehermitage，``ithaspleasedOurLadyandStDunstantodestinemefortheobjectofthosevirtues，insteadoftheexercisethereof。Ihavenoprovisionsherewhichevenadogwouldsharewithme，andahorseofanytendernessofnurturewoulddespisemycouch——passthereforeonthyway，andGodspeedthee。’’

``Buthow，’’repliedtheknight，``isitpossibleformetofindmywaythroughsuchawoodasthis，whendarknessiscomingon?Iprayyou，reverendfatherasyouareaChristian，toundoyourdoor，andatleastpointouttomemyroad。’’

``AndIprayyou，goodChristianbrother，’’repliedtheanchorite，``todisturbmenomore。Youhavealreadyinterruptedone_pater_，two_aves_，anda_credo_，whichI，miserablesinnerthatIam，should，accordingtomyvow，havesaidbeforemoonrise。’’

``Theroad——theroad！’’vociferatedtheknight，``givemedirectionsfortheroad，ifIamtoexpectnomorefromthee。’’

``Theroad，’’repliedthehermit，``iseasytohit。

Thepathfromthewoodleadstoamora