Запретный лес
I. The Coming of the Minister
Neverbeforehadherealizedtheextentoftheforestground.HerememberedtravellingtoRoodfootthroughtrees,andallupthewaterofRoodtherehadbeenadriftofscrub.Butitwasthemeadowsandtheopenspacesthathadbeenhiskingdom,andhisrecollectionwasofabaresunnylandwherewhaupandpeewitcriedandtheburnsfellheadlongfromwindymoors.Butnow,ashegazed,herealizedthatthecountrysidewasmainlyforest.
Everywhere,mufflingthelowerglenoftheWoodileeburnandtheimmediatevaleoftheAller,andclimbingfarupthehillside,wasthegloomoftrees.IntheRoodglentherewasdarknessonlyatthefoot,forhigherupthewoodsthinnedintoscrubofoakandhazel,withthekneesoftheuplandsshowingthroughit.Thesightpowerfullyimpressedhisfancy.Woodileewasamereclearinginaforest.ThiswastheSilvaCaledonisofwhicholdwritersspoke,thewoodwhichoncecoveredallthelandandinwhosegladesKingArthurhaddwelt.HeremembereddoggerelLatinofMerlintheBardandstrangesayingsofTrueThomas--oldwives’taleswhichconcernedthissanctuary.Hehadgrownupbesideitandhadnotknownofit,andnowhehadcomebacktoarevelation.SilvaCaledonis!UptheRoodwaterlaythehouseofCalidon.Werethenamesperhapsthesame?
Theyoungman’sfancywasquicktokindle,andhelookedwithneweyesatthegreatcupofgreen,brokenonlyatonespotbyAllersidewiththeflashofwater.
