Лучшие сказки загадочной Шотландии. Уровень 1 / The Best Tales of Enchanted Scotland. Сборник

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h the gladness of it all. He lay down under a tree, to watch the nature around him.

      Suddenly he saw a very beautiful lady. She came to him on a grey horse. She wore a silk dress, the colour of the fresh spring grass. From her shoulders hung a velvet mantle. She had golden hair. On her head sparkled a diadem of precious stones. It flashed like fire in the sunlight.

      Her horse's reins were of gold. They had little silver bells. As she rode along, she made a sound like fairy music.

      She carried a hunting-horn[2] and arrows. She led seven hunting dogs. Many dogs ran at her horse's side.

      She was singing an old Scotch song. She was like a queen. Her dress was really magnificent. Thomas wanted to stand on his knees by the side of the path and worship her. He thought it was the Blessed Virgin herself[3]!

      The rider came to him, and understood his thoughts. So she shook her head sadly.

      “I am not that Blessed Lady, as you think,” she said. “Men call me Queen. But I am the Queen of Fairy-land, and not the Queen of Heaven.”

      It seemed she said the truth. Thomas forgot prudence, and caution, and common-sense[4]. It was dangerous for people to have business with Fairies. He knew that. But he was very entranced with the Lady's beauty. And he begged her to give him a kiss. This was just what she wanted. If she kisses him she has him in her power!

      Their lips met. To the young man's horror, an awful change came over her. Her beautiful clothes disappeared. She stood in a long grey dress. It was just the colour of ashes. Her beauty faded away also. She grew old and ugly. Half of her golden hair went grey. She saw the poor man's surprise and terror and laughed.

      “I am not so fair now,” she said. “You sold yourself, Thomas! Now you are my servant for seven long years. Who kisses the Fairy Queen must go with her to Fairy-land. He will serve her there.”

      Poor Thomas fell on his knees and asked for mercy. But the Queen only laughed in his face. Then she brought her horse to him.

      “You asked for the kiss,” she said, “and now you must pay the price. Now get on the horse behind me.”

      So Thomas, with a sigh, got on the horse behind her. The grey horse galloped off.

      On and on they went. They were faster than the wind. At last, they left the land of the men. They came to the edge of a great desert. It stretched before them. It was dry, and bare, and desolate.

      How to cross this desert? How to reach the other side of it? The Fairy Queen suddenly stopped the horse.

      “Now you must get down on earth, Thomas,” said the Lady. “Lie down. Lay your head on my knee. I will show you hidden things. You cannot see them by mortal eyes.”

      Thomas dismounted. He lay down, and rested his head on the Fairy Queen's knee. He looked once more over the desert. Everything changed. He saw three roads across it. He did not notice them before. Each of these three roads was different.

      One of them was broad, level and even. It ran straight on across the sand. No one who travels by it will lose his way.

      The second road was narrow, winding and long. There were bushes on both sides of it. Those bushes grew very high. Their branches were very wild and tangled.

      The third road was through a hillside among brackens and heather. It looked pleasant.

      “Now,” said the Fairy Queen, “I shall tell you where these three roads lead to. The first road, as you see, is broad, even and easy. Many people choose it. But it leads to a bad end. So the folk that choose it repent their choice for ever.

      The narrow road is hampered and hindered by the thorns and the briars. Where does it lead? That is the Road of Righteousness. Although it is hard and irksome, it ends in a glorious City. That City is called the City of the Great King.

      The third road runs up the brae among the ferns. I can say, Thomas, where it leads. It leads unto fair Elf-land. We will take that road.

      Remember, Thomas, if you hope to see your home again, take care of your tongue when we reach our journey's end. Speak no single word to anyone save me[5]. The mortal who opens his lips rashly in Fairy-land must bide there for ever.”

      Then she told him to get on her horse again. They rode on. The road was not very lovely, however. It led them into a narrow ravine[6]. The ravine went right down under the earth. There was no ray of light to guide them. The air was dank and heavy under the earth. There was a sound of water everywhere. It was cold and chill.

      Thomas was scared. Where is their journey's end? At last the darkness began to lighten. The light grew stronger. Soon they were back in broad sunshine.

      Then Thomas looked up. They rode through a beautiful orchard. He saw apples and pears, dates and figs and wine-berries. His tongue was parched and dry. He wanted to eat some of the fruit.

      He stretched out his hand to take some of it. But his companion turned in her saddle and forbade him.

      “There is nothing safe for you to eat here,” she said. “I will give you an apple. If you touch anything else you will remain in Fairy-land for ever.”

      So poor Thomas did not take anything.

      They rode slowly on, until they came to a tiny tree. The tree was covered with red apples. The Fairy Queen took one, and gave it to her companion.

      “I can give you this,” she said, “and I do it gladly. These apples are the Apples of Truth. Your lips will never be able to tell a lie after eating the apple.”

      Thomas took the apple, and ate it. For evermore the Grace of Truth rested on his lips. That is why men called him “True Thomas.”

      Soon they came to a magnificent Castle on a hillside.

      “This is my home,” said the Queen proudly. “There stays my Lord and all the Nobles of his court. My Lord does not like any strangers near me. I ask you to utter no word to anyone who speaks to you. If anyone asks me who and what you are, I will tell them that you are dumb. So nobody will notice you in the crowd.”

      With these words the Lady raised her hunting-horn and blew it. A marvelous change came over her again. Her ugly ash-covered[7] gown dropped off her. The grey colour in her hair vanished. She appeared once more in her green riding-skirt and mantle. Her face grew young and fair.

      A wonderful change passed over Thomas also. His rough country clothes were transformed into a suit of fine brown cloth. On his feet he wore satin shoes.

      Immediately the sound of the horn rang out. The doors of the Castle opened. The King hurried out to meet the Queen. He was with his Knights and Ladies, Minstrels and Page-boys[8]. Thomas slid from his horse. Then he passed into the Castle.

      Everyone was very glad to see the Queen. The people crowded in the Great Hall. She spoke to them graciously. She allowed them to kiss her hand. Then she passed, with her husband, to the two thrones. The Royal pair sat down to watch the revels.

      Poor Thomas, meanwhile,

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