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

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Without another word he put spurs to his horse and galloped off. He left Earl St. Clair alone upon the moorland. Earl St. Clair's fingers touched the sacred Sign. His lips muttered prayers for protection. He knew that his friend was bewitched. But Earl St. Clair was a brave gentleman and decided to follow his friend and save him.

Meanwhile Earl Gregory rode on and on, over moor, and burn, and moss. At last, he came to the desolate region. The wind blew cold. The hoar-frost lay thick and white on the withered grass at his feet.

And there, in front of him, he saw a terrible thing. He saw an enormous Ring on the ground. The grass inside was lush, and rank, and green. Hundreds of shadowy Elfin figures danced there. They were clad in loose transparent robes of dull blue. Their robes curled and twisted round their wearers like snaky wreaths of smoke.

These weird Goblins shouted and sang songs, and waved their arms above their heads. They threw themselves about on the ground. Suddenly they saw Earl Gregory outside the Ring.

They beckoned to him with their skinny fingers.

“Come hither, come hither,” they shouted; “we will drink to you out of our Monarch's cup!”

The spell over the young Earl was powerful. In spite of his fear, he felt that he must obey the eldritch summons. He threw his bridle on his horse's neck. He prepared to join them. An old Goblin stepped out from among his companions. The Goblin approached him. Apparently he dared not leave the charmed Circle.

He stopped at the edge of it. Then he whispered in a hoarse whisper:

“I don't know who you are. I don't know from whence you come, Sir Knight. But if you love your life, don't come within this Ring. Don't join us.”

But Earl Gregory only laughed.

“I will follow the Green Knight. That's my promise,” he replied.

With these words he stepped over the edge of the Circle. He came to the ghostly dancers.

They shouted louder than ever. They danced more madly. They sang more lustily.

Then a silence fell upon them. They parted into two companies, and left a way through their midst. They signed to the Earl to pass it.

He walked through their ranks. He came to the middle of the Circle. There the Knight sat at a table of red marble. He was clad in his grass-green robes. Before him, on the table, stood a wondrous emerald goblet. It was decorated with blood-red rubies.

This cup was filled with heather ale. That ale foamed up over the brim.