haveI
;
for
such
an
one
is
my
mistress
to
behold
.
Well
,
said
Atra
,
this
dame
stretched
out
her
hands
to
us
,
and
said
:
Will
not
the
pretty
ladies
,
the
dear
ladies
,
who
have
nought
on
hand
this
afternoon
,
come
into
my
boat
and
look
on
the
face
of
the
water
,
so
calm
and
fair
as
it
is
,
and
let
their
lovely
hands
go
over
the
gunwale
and
play
with
the
ripple
,
and
so
beguile
this
heavy
time
for
a
two
hours
;
and
then
give
a
little
gift
of
a
piece
or
two
of
silver
to
a
poor
carline
,
who
loveth
all
fair
ladies
and
bright
warriors
,
and
who
needeth
a
little
livelihood
?
Now
the
woman
seemed
nought
lovely
unto
us
,
and
to
me
forsooth
she
seemed
hateful
;
but
we
looked
on
each
other
,
and
we
found
that
we
were
utterly
weary
of
going
up
and
down
on
the
meadow
,
and
lying
about
in
the
pavilion
,
and
it
seemed
as
if
this
would
give
us
a
little
rest
;
withal
we
saw
not
that
the
woman
could
do
us
any
hurt
,
whereas
we
were
three
,
and
strong
enough
as
women
go
;
nor
were
we
mariners
so
evil
but
that
we
might
sail
or
steer
a
boat
at
a
pinch
.
So
we
stepped
into
the
boat
straightway
,
and
the
woman
sat
aft
and
paddled
deftly
with
the
steering
oar
,
and
we
glided
away
from
the
land
.
Soon
we
were
come
so
far
that
we
could
but
just
see
our
pavilion
through
the
haze
,
which
had
somewhat
thickened
,
and
we
said
to
the
woman
that
she
should
go
about
and
make
for
the
shore
,
and
that
then
we
would
go
to
and
fro
a
while
along
by
our
stead
.
She
nodded
yeasay
,
and
began
by
seeming
to
dight
the
craft
for
return
.
But
therewith
the
haze
was
grown
suddenly
into
a
low
cloud
,
which
came
down
upon
us
from
the
south-west
in
the
arms
of
a
cold
breeze
,
that
grew
stronger
every
minute
,
so
no
wonder
it
was
though
the
steerer
might
not
keep
head
to
wind
;
and
then
who
was
afraid
and
ashamed
save
ourselves
?
But
the
woman
said
,
and
there
seemed
to
be
a
mock
in
her
voice
:
Ill
luck
,
pretty
ladies
!
Now
is
there
nought
for
it
but
to
drive
,
if
we
would
not
drown
.
But
belike
this
duskiness
will
clear
presently
,
and
then
at
least
we
shall
know
whither
we
be
going
;
and
we
may
either
turn
back
,
or
seek
some
other
shelter
,
for
I
know
the
lake
well
;
I
know
,
I
know
.
We
were
too
terror-stricken
to
speak
,
for
we
felt
that
still
the
wind
grew
stronger
,
and
the
lake
began
to
rise
into
waves
,
and
the
craft
to
wallow
;
but
well-nigh
therewith
was
the
dusk
and
the
mist
gone
;
the
sky
was
bright
blue
overhead
,
and
the
westering
sun
shone
cloudless
;
but
on
no
land
it
shone
,
or
on
aught
save
the
blue
waters
and
the
white
wave-crests
.
Then
wept
Aurea
,
and
this
Viridis
here
,
but
as
to
me
,
I
grew
wroth
and
cried
out
to
the
steerer
:
Accursed
carline
!
thou
hast
betrayed
us
;
never
now
may
we
get
back
to
our
pavilion
till
the
fight
is
foughten
,
and
our
lovers
will
deem
that
we
have
forsaken
them
,
and
we
are
shamed
for
ever
.
Well
,
well
,
said
the
carline
,
what
remedy
save
patience
for
the
winds
and
waves
?
And
she
laughed
mockingly
.
Quoth
I
:
There
is
this
remedy
,
that
we
three
arise
and
lay
hands
on
thee
,
and
cast
thee
outboard
,
save
thou
straightway
turn
the
boat’s
head
and
back
to
the
main
.
Forsooth
I
doubt
not
but
that
as
thou
hast
raised
this
foul
wind
against
us
,
thou
canst
raise
a
fair
wind
for
us
.
Hearken
to
the
lovely
lady
!
quoth
the
carline
,
how
she
deemeth
me
to
be
none
other
than
the
great
God
himself
,
to
hold
the
winds
in
the
hollow
of
my
hand
,
and
still
the
waves
with
a
word
!
What
!
am
I
wrought
somewhat
after
his
image
,
kind
ladies
?
And
she
grinned
horribly
therewith
.
Then
she
said
again
:
As
to
thy
remedy
,
sweetling
,
meseemeth
it
nought
.
For
how
shall
ye
sail
this
stormy
water
when
your
captain
is
gone
,
and
ye
but
holiday
sailors
belike
?
As
she
spake
,
a
great
wave
came
up
from
the
windward
,
and
brake
over
us
,
and
half
filled
the
craft
,
and
lifted
her
bows
up
towering
,
and
then
down
we
went
into
the
trough
;
and
I
sat
cowed
and
quaking
,
and
spake
never
another
word
.
Now
began
the
sun
to
sink
,
and
the
wind
abated
,
and
the
sea
went
down
,
but
the
boat
sped
on
as
swift
as
ever
over
the
landless
waters
.
Now
the
sun
was
down
,
and
dusk
was
at
hand
,
and
the
carline
spake
,
and
drew
a
bright-gleaming
sax
from
under
her
raiment
:
Damsels
,
I
warn
you
that
now
it
were
best
that
ye
obey
me
in
all
things
;
for
though
ye
be
three
and
I
one
,
yet
whereas
I
have
here
an
edge-friend
,
I
may
take
the
life
of
any
one
of
you
,
or
of
all
three
,
as
simply
as
I
could
cut
a
lamb’s
throat
.
Moreover
it
will
serve
you
better
in
the
house
whereto
ye
are
wending
,
that
I
make
a
good
tale
of
you
rather
than
a
bad
.
For
the
mistress
of
that
house
is
of
all
might
;
and
I
must
say
it
of
her
,
though
she
is
my
very
sister
,
yet
she
is
not
so
sweet-tempered
and
kind
of
heart
as
I
am
,
but
somewhat
rough
and
unyielding
of
mood
,
so
that
it
is
best
to
please
her
.
Wherefore
,
maidens
,
I
rede
you
be
sage
.
Our
unhappy
hearts
were
now
so
sunken
in
wan-hope
,
that
we
had
no
word
wherewith
to
answer
her
,
and
she
spake
:
Now
obey
ye
my
bidding
and
eat
and
drink
,
that
ye
may
come
hale
and
sound
to
your
journey’s
end
,
for
I
would
not
give
starvelings
to
my
dear
sister
.
Therewith
she
brought
forth
victual
for
us
,
and
that
nought
evil
,
of
flesh
and
bread
,
and
cheese
and
cakes
,
and
good
wine
withal
;
and
we
were
hunger-weary
as
well
as
sorrow-weary
;
and
hunger
did
at
that
moment
overcome
sorrow
,
so
we
ate
and
drank
,
and
,
would
we
,
would
we
not
,
something
of
heart
came
back
to
us
thereby
.
Then
again
spake
the
carline
:
Now
my
will
is
that
ye
sleep
;
and
ye
have
cushions
and
cloths
enough
to
dight
you
a
fair
bed
;
and
this
bidding
is
easy
for
you
to
obey
.
Forsooth
,
so
weary
were
we
with
sorrow
,
and
our
hunger
was
now
quenched
,
that
we
laid
us
down
and
slept
at
once
,
and
forgat
our
troubles
.
When
we
awoke
it
was
after
the
first
dawn
,
and
we
were
come
aland
even
where
thou
didst
this
morning
,
guest
.
And
thou
mayst
deem
it
wondrous
,
but
so
it
was
,
that
close
to
where
our
boat
took
land
lay
the
ferry
which
brought
thee
hither
.
Now
the
carline
bade
us
get
ashore
,
and
we
did
so
,
and
found
the
land
wondrous
fair
,
little
as
that
solaced
us
then
.
But
she
said
unto
us
:
Hearken
!
now
are
ye
come
home
;
and
long
shall
ye
dwell
here
,
for
never
shall
ye
depart
hence
save
by
the
will
of
my
sister
and
me
,
wherefore
,
once
more
,
I
rede
you
be
good
,
for
it
will
be
better
for
you
.
Go
forth
now
unto
yonder
house
,
and
on
the
way
ye
shall
meet
the
Queen
of
this
land
,
and
ye
have
nought
to
do
but
to
say
to
her
that
ye
are
the
Gift
;
and
then
shall
she
see
to
your
matter
.
Therewith
she
gat
into
her
own
craft
,
the
Sending
Boat
,
and
therein
did
the
deed
and
spake
the
words
ye
wot
of
,
and
was
gone
north-away
;
and
when
we
turned
to
seek
for
our
boat
wherein
we
had
come
hither
,
it
was
gone
.
We
stood
miserably
for
a
while
on
the
lip
of
the
land
,
and
then
I
said
that
we
might
as
well
go
meet
our
fate
as
die
there
of
grief
and
hunger
.
So
we
went
,
and
came
into
those
fair
gardens
,
and
as
we
went
slowly
up
toward
the
house
came
on
us
a
woman
clad
in
red
scarlet
and
grandly
dight
.
A
big
woman
she
was
,
and
like
to
her
that
beguiled
us
,
but
far
younger
and
fairer
of
favour
,
foolish
and
proud
of
visage
.
She
stared
on
us
,
and
seemed
half
afeard
of
us
at
first
,
but
asked
us
what
we
were
,
and
I
answered
that
we
were
the
Gift
.
The
Gift
?
said
she
,
what
meaneth
that
?
Will
ye
obey
me
in
all
things
?
If
ye
gainsay
it
,
ye
will
perish
,
unless
ye
can
eat
grass
;
for
on
this
isle
everything
cometh
from
my
hand
.
What
might
we
do
?
We
all
knelt
down
before
her
,
and
swore
to
do
her
will
.
Then
she
said
,
after
she
had
stared
on
us
a
while
:
Now
I
know
:
ye
are
they
of
whom
my
sister
spake
,
that
she
would
fetch
me
a
gift
of
a
leash
of
damsels
for
my
service
.
Now
I
take
the
Gift
and
thank
her
good
heart
.
But
if
ye
would
do
my
will
,
then
.
.
.
But
she
broke
off
here
and
stared
at
us
a
long
while
,
and
then
she
said
:
Now
I
know
;
she
bade
me
treat
you
well
,
and
hold
my
hand
from
you
,
or
evil
would
come
of
it
,
belike
at
last
my
bane
.
So
go
ye
home
to
the
house
,
and
I
will
give
you
meat
and
drink
,
and
show
you
my
stores
and
the
Wonder-coffer
,
and
ye
shall
serve
me
in
honour
.
Even
so
did
we
;
and
we
ate
and
drank
and
rested
,
and
nought
we
lacked
,
save
leave
to
depart
home
to
our
lovers
,
and
some
mistress
better
than
this
stupid
and
proud
lump
of
flesh
.
But
the
next
morning
when
we
came
before
the
lady
,
she
knew
nought
of
what
we
were
;
and
again
we
had
to
tell
her
that
we
were
the
Gift
,
and
again
she
glared
at
us
balefully
,
and
again
she
called
to
mind
her
sister
and
her
rede
concerning
us
.
And
this
went
on
for
many
days
,
till
at
last
she
got
to
know
what
we
were
;
and
she
followed
her
sister’s
rede
in
that
she
never
mishandled
us
,
though
we
could
see
that
it
irked
her
to
forbear
,
nor
did
she
speak
to
us
more
roughly
than
her
fool’s
wont
was
;
and
we
had
in
our
hands
all
that
was
needed
for
our
sustenance
,
and
lived
easily
enough
.
Now
our
coming
hither
betid
three
years
ago
,
and
a
month
thereafter
comes
thy
witch
hither
in
her
ferry
,
and
she
greeted
us
when
we
met
,
and
asked
us
,
grinning
,
had
she
not
been
kind
to
win
us
such
good
days
?
Yea
,
and
over
kind
,
said
she
,
ye
would
deem
me
,
knew
ye
what
would
have
betid
you
save
for
my
good
word
.
Forsooth
we
deemed
it
no
kind
deed
to
steal
us
from
our
lovers
;
but
we
kept
good
tongues
in
our
heads
,
for
thralls
must
needs
kiss
the
rod
.
She
went
away
in
two
days
,
but
came
again
many
times
thereafter
,
till
we
won
the
secret
of
the
Sending
Boat
,
and
her
spell
therewith
;
but
we
knew
not
that
was
banned
against
us
.
Wherefore
on
a
day
in
the
grey
of
the
morning
,
when
we
had
been
on
this
isle
somewhat
less
than
a
year
,
we
went
down
to
it
and
stepped
in
,
and
reddened
stem
and
stern
and
said
the
spell-words
.
But
straightway
arose
an
hideous
braying
and
clatter
,
and
thunder
came
therewith
,
and
trembling
of
the
earth
,
and
the
waters
of
the
lake
arose
in
huge
waves
;
nor
might
we
move
from
our
seats
in
the
boat
till
the
two
witches
came
running
down
to
us
,
and
haled
us
out
ashore
,
and
had
us
up
into
the
house
,
and
into
this
very
prison-chamber
,
wherein
we
are
now
sitting
so
merry
.
And
here
we
bore
what
was
laid
upon
us
,
whereof
,
dear
guest
,
we
shall
tell
thee
nought
.
But
this
came
of
it
,
that
never
thereafter
durst
we
try
the
adventure
of
the
Sending
Boat
,
but
have
lived
on
in
lazy
sorrow
and
shameful
ease
,
till
thou
,
dear
guest
and
sister
,
wert
sent
hither
by
heaven
for
our
helping
.
Now
what
became
of
the
king’s
court
,
and
the
hazelled
field
of
our
champions
,
we
wot
not
,
or
whether
they
be
yet
alive
we
cannot
tell
thee
;
but
if
they
be
alive
,
it
is
to
them
that
we
would
have
thee
do
our
errand
,
and
thereof
will
we
tell
thee
closely
tomorrow
.
And
so
,
sweetling
,
an
end
of
my
tale
.
Chapter
VII
~
The
Three
Damsels
Take
Birdalone
Out
of
the
Witch’s
Prison
Birdalone
thanked
Atra
much
for
her
tale
,
and
strange
it
was
to
her
to
hear
of
such
new
things
and
the
deeds
of
folk
;
but
the
dealing
of
the
witches
with
those
three
was
familiar
to
her
and
was
of
her
world
.
Now
they
talked
merrily
,
till
there
came
a
footstep
to
the
door
and
one
without
knocked
.
Viridis
paled
thereat
,
and
a
pang
of
fear
smote
Birdalone
,
and
she
swiftly
got
from
out
the
chair
and
sat
down
on
a
stool
;
but
when
Atra
opened
,
it
was
but
Aurea
come
from
her
service
to
bid
Atra
take
her
place
.
So
she
went
,
and
again
was
there
pleasant
converse
betwixt
Aurea
and
the
other
twain
;
and
certain
matters
did
Aurea
tell
Birdalone
which
had
been
left
untold
by
Atra
.
And
chiefly
,
when
Birdalone
asked
if
any
other
folk
had
come
into
the
isle
while
they
dwelt
there
,
she
said
yea
;
once
had
come
a
knight
with
a
lady
,
his
love
,
fleeing
from
war
and
mishap
,
and
these
had
the
witch
overcome
by
wizardry
,
and
destroyed
them
miserably
:
and
that
again
another
had
strayed
thither
,
and
him
also
the
witch
undid
,
because
he
would
not
do
her
will
and
lie
in
her
bed
.
Withal
had
come
drifting
there
a
young
damsel
,
a
castaway
of
the
winds
and
waves
;
her
the
witch
kept
as
a
thrall
,
and
after
a
while
took
to
mishandling
her
so
sorely
,
that
at
last
,
what
for
shame
and
what
for
weariness
of
life
,
she
cast
herself
into
the
water
and
was
drowned
.
None
of
these
folk
might
the
damsels
help
so
as
to
do
them
any
good
,
though
they
tried
it
,
and
went
nigh
to
suffer
therefor
themselves
.
Now
the
day
wore
,
and
in
a
while
Atra
came
back
,
and
Viridis
must
serve
.
At
last
the
dusk
and
the
dark
was
come
.
Then
said
Atra
:
Now
must
we
twain
begone
to
wait
upon
our
lady
,
as
the
wont
is
:
and
that
is
now
for
our
good
hap
,
for
if
we
be
with
her
all
three
,
and
especially
,
to
say
sooth
,
if
I
be
with
her
,
we
may
well
keep
her
from
visiting
thee
here
;
since
belike
she
shall
yet
dimly
remember
that
thou
art
in
her
prison
.
Therefore
thou
must
forgive
it
if
I
shackle
thy
wrists
again
.
And
now
if
thou
wilt
follow
my
rede
,
thou
shalt
try
to
sleep
some
deal
,
and
it
were
well
if
thou
might’st
sleep
till
we
come
for
thee
in
the
grey
dawn
.
Therewith
they
left
her
there
,
and
she
nestled
in
the
corner
once
more
,
and
there
did
verily
fall
asleep
,
and
slept
till
the
key
in
the
lock
and
the
opening
door
awakened
her
,
and
Atra
came
stealing
soft-footed
into
the
prison
.
Eager
she
was
and
panting
,
and
she
kneeled
before
Birdalone
and
unlocked
her
leg-shackles
,
and
then
stood
up
and
did
the
like
by
the
irons
on
her
wrists
.
Then
she
said
:
Look
up
,
dear
friend
,
to
thy
prison
windows
,
and
behold
the
dawn
beginning
to
break
on
the
day
of
thy
deliverance
,
and
ours
maybe
.
But
come
now
at
once
:
and
again
,
wilt
thou
pardon
me
,
that
we
clothe
thee
not
here
for
thy
journey
?
For
from
our
own
bodies
must
we
clothe
thee
,
and
if
by
any
hap
our
lady
were
to
see
any
one
of
us
more
or
less
unclad
,
it
might
draw
her
on
to
see
what
was
toward
,
and
we
might
yet
be
found
out
,
for
our
undoing
.
Therewith
she
took
her
hand
,
and
led
her
forth
of
the
prison
,
and
locked
the
door
behind
her
;
and
then
downstairs
they
went
,
and
out-a-doors
by
a
little
wicket
at
the
stair-end
.
The
dawn
drew
on
apace
now
,
and
Birdalone
saw
at
once
the
other
twain
lurking
in
the
wall-nook
hard
by
.
No
word
was
spoken
between
them
,
and
with
noiseless
feet
they
went
forth
into
the
orchard
,
where
the
blackbirds
and
thrushes
were
beginning
their
first
morning
song
,
and
ere
they
came
out
on
to
the
meadow
the
full
choir
of
them
was
a-singing
.
Chapter
VIII
~
In
What
Wise
Birdalone
Was
Clad
,
and
How
She
Went
Her
Ways
from
the
Isle
of
Increase
Unsought
When
they
were
all
clear
of
the
orchard
trees
the
three
damsels
kept
Birdalone
between
them
closely
,
so
that
her
white
body
should
not
be
seen
if
the
lady
were
awake
and
looking
forth
.
Thus
they
brought
her
to
where
a
few
thorn-bushes
made
a
cover
for
them
close
to
the
water’s
edge
,
some
twenty
yards
from
the
Sending
Boat
.
There
they
stood
together
,
and
Atra
said
:
Now
,
dear
guest
,
and
dearest
messenger
,
it
is
our
matter
to
clothe
thee
from
our
very
bodies
;
and
do
thou
,
Viridis
,
begin
.
Viridis
came
forward
blushing
,
as
her
wont
was
,
and
took
off
her
green
gown
and
laid
it
on
the
grass
;
then
she
set
her
hand
to
her
smock
,
and
did
it
off
,
and
stood
naked
,
knee
set
to
knee
,
and
swaying
like
the
willow
branch
;
and
then
was
seen
all
the
dainty
fashion
of
her
body
,
and
how
lovely
of
hue
and
sweet
of
flesh
she
was
.
But
she
said
:
Dear
sister
Birdalone
,
here
is
my
smock
,
which
I
lend
thee
,
but
as
to
my
love
,
I
give
it
thee
therewith
;
therefore
grudge
it
not
,
though
thou
give
me
back
the
linen
,
for
happy
will
be
the
day
to
me
when
I
have
it
again
;
for
now
none
may
do
it
on
me
save
the
Green
Knight
,
my
own
love
.
Therewith
she
gave
her
the
smock
,
and
kissed
her
,
and
Birdalone
did
it
on
,
and
felt
the
valianter
and
mightier
when
she
had
a
garment
upon
her
.
Then
Aurea
did
off
her
golden
gown
,
and
stood
in
smock
alone
,
so
that
her
naked
arms
shone
more
precious
than
the
golden
sleeves
that
had
covered
them
.
And
she
spake
:
Birdalone
,
dear
messenger
,
take
now
my
golden
gown
,
and
send
it
back
to
me
when
thou
hast
found
the
man
unto
whom
it
is
due
;
and
think
meanwhile
that
,
when
thou
wearest
it
,
thou
wearest
my
love
,
and
that
when
thou
pullest
it
off
,
thou
art
clad
with
my
love
instead
of
it
.
So
Birdalone
did
on
the
gown
,
and
became
to
look
on
as
the
daintiest
of
the
queens
of
the
earth
;
and
she
turned
her
head
about
to
look
on
her
gold-clad
flanks
,
and
wondered
.
Thereafter
Atra
knit
up
her
skirts
into
her
girdle
,
and
then
did
off
her
shoon
,
so
that
her
slim
feet
shone
like
pearls
on
the
green
grass
;
and
she
said
:
Birdalone
,
sweet
friend
!
wilt
thou
be
my
messenger
to
bear
these
shoon
to
my
Black
Squire
,
and
meanwhile
put
my
love
for
thee
under
thy
feet
,
to
speed
thee
and
to
bear
thee
up
?
Wherefore
be
good
to
me
.
Birdalone
then
shod
herself
,
and
though
pity
it
were
to
hide
her
feet
from
the
eyes
of
Earth
,
yet
felt
she
the
stouter-hearted
thereby
,
and
her
cheeks
flushed
and
her
eyes
brightened
.
Thereafter
Aurea
gave
her
withal
a
golden
collar
for
the
neck
,
and
Viridis
a
girdle
of
silver
well-wrought
,
and
Atra
a
gold
finger-ring
set
with
a
sapphire
stone
;
and
all
these
she
did
on
her
;
but
yet
she
knew
that
they
were
tokens
to
be
delivered
to
the
three
lovers
according
as
was
due
.
Then
spake
Atra
:
Lo
,
sister
,
we
pray
thee
to
bear
these
lendings
on
thy
body
in
such
wise
that
when
thou
comest
to
the
mainland
they
may
be
seen
by
knights
seeking
adventures
,
and
that
thou
mayst
answer
to
any
who
may
challenge
thee
thereof
and
say
that
thou
bearest
this
raiment
and
these
jewels
from
Aurea
and
Viridis
and
Atra
to
Baudoin
the
Golden
Knight
,
and
to
Hugh
the
Green
Knight
,
and
to
Arthur
the
Black
Squire
.
And
if
thou
deem
that
thou
hast
found
these
,
then
shall
they
tell
thee
a
token
,
such
as
we
shall
tell
thee
,
that
they
be
truly
these
and
none
other
;
and
thereafter
,
when
thou
art
made
sure
,
they
shall
take
of
thee
the
raiment
,
the
gems
,
and
the
Sending
Boat
,
and
come
hither
if
they
may
.
And
God
look
to
the
rest
!
But
as
for
the
token
to
be
told
aforesaid
,
we
have
determined
that
each
of
us
shall
tell
thee
privily
what
question
thou
shalt
ask
for
her
,
and
what
answer
thou
must
look
for
.
When
she
had
done
speaking
,
each
came
up
to
Birdalone
and
spake
something
into
her
ear
amidst
blushes
enough
forsooth
.
And
what
they
said
will
be
seen
hereafter
.
Then
again
said
Atra
:
Now
by
this
errand
shall
we
be
well
paid
for
the
care
we
have
had
of
thee
.
It
may
be
,
forsooth
,
that
thou
shalt
not
find
our
speech-friends
;
for
they
may
be
dead
,
or
they
may
deem
us
untrue
,
and
may
have
forsaken
us
and
their
land
;
and
in
any
such
case
thou
art
free
of
our
errand
;
but
whatsoever
may
betide
us
,
God
speed
thee
!
Then
Viridis
drew
forth
a
basket
from
under
a
bush
,
and
said
:
We
know
not
how
long
thy
voyage
may
be
,
but
some
little
provision
for
the
way
we
may
at
least
give
thee
:
now
wilt
thou
bear
this
aboard
thyself
;
for
we
dare
not
touch
thy
craft
,
nay
,
nor
come
nigh
it
,
no
one
of
us
.
And
she
set
down
the
basket
and
cast
her
arms
about
her
,
and
kissed
her
and
wept
over
her
;
and
the
other
twain
,
they
also
kissed
her
lovingly
.
Birdalone
wept
even
as
Viridis
,
and
said
:
May
ye
do
well
,
who
have
been
so
kind
to
me
;
but
now
am
I
both
so
glad
and
so
sorry
,
that
the
voice
of
me
will
not
make
due
words
for
me
.
O
farewell
!
Therewith
she
took
up
her
basket
,
and
turned
and
went
speedily
to
the
Sending
Boat
;
and
they
beheld
her
how
she
stepped
aboard
and
bared
her
arm
,
and
drew
blood
from
it
with
the
pin
of
her
girdle-buckle
,
and
therewith
reddened
stem
and
stern
;
and
a
pang
of
fear
smote
into
their
hearts
lest
their
lady
had
banned
it
for
Birdalone
as
for
them
.
But
Birdalone
sat
down
on
the
thwart
,
and
turned
her
face
south
,
and
spake
:
The
red
raven-wine
now
Hast
thou
drunk
,
stern
and
bow
;
Awake
then
,
awake
!
And
the
southward
way
take
:
The
way
of
the
Wender
forth
over
the
flood
,
For
the
will
of
the
Sender
is
blent
with
the
blood
.
No
cloud
barred
the
gateway
of
the
sun
as
she
spoke
;
no
wave
rose
upon
the
bosom
of
the
lake
;
no
clatter
nor
tumult
was
there
;
but
the
Sending
Boat
stirred
,
and
then
shot
out
swiftly
into
the
wide
water
;
and
the
sun
arose
as
they
looked
,
and
his
path
of
light
flashed
on
Birdalone’s
golden
gown
for
a
moment
,
and
then
it
grew
grey
again
,
and
presently
she
was
gone
from
before
their
eyes
.
So
they
turned
up
into
the
orchard
:
and
now
was
Viridis
of
good
cheer
,
and
Aurea
no
less
;
but
Atra
lagged
behind
,
and
as
she
went
,
some
passion
took
her
,
she
knew
not
wherefore
;
her
bosom
swelled
,
her
shoulders
heaved
therewith
,
and
she
wept
.
Chapter
IX
~
How
Birdalone
Came
to
the
Isle
of
the
Young
and
the
Old
All
went
well
with
Birdalone
when
she
had
left
the
Isle
of
Increase
Unsought
,
much
as
it
had
on
her
first
voyage
,
save
that
now
she
was
both
clad
and
victualled
,
and
her
heart
,
if
yet
it
harboured
fear
,
was
also
full
of
new
and
strange
hope
;
and
oft
,
even
as
she
sat
there
amidst
the
waste
of
waters
,
she
wondered
what
new
longing
this
was
which
wrought
so
sweet
a
pain
in
her
,
that
it
made
her
cheeks
burn
,
and
her
eyes
dim
,
and
her
hands
and
her
limbs
restless
.
And
then
would
she
set
her
mind
to
her
friends
and
their
errand
,
and
would
hope
and
pray
for
them
;
but
again
would
she
fall
to
picture
to
herself
what
manner
of
men
they
were
who
were
so
sore
longed
for
by
those
three
beauteous
women
;
and
she
deemed
that
since
they
were
thus
desired
,
they
must
be
fairer
even
than
her
friends
of
the
isle
;
and
again
the
nameless
longing
overtook
her
,
and
held
her
till
it
wearied
her
into
sleep
.
When
she
awoke
again
the
boat
had
stayed
,
and
she
was
come
aland
;
but
the
dawn
was
not
yet
come
,
and
the
night
was
moonless
,
yet
was
there
light
enough
to
see
,
from
the
water
and
the
stars
,
that
the
bows
of
the
boat
were
lying
safe
on
a
little
sandy
beach
.
So
she
stepped
out
and
looked
around
,
and
deemed
she
could
see
great
trees
before
her
,
and
imagined
also
dark
masses
of
she
knew
not
what
.
So
she
walked
warily
up
the
said
strand
till
she
came
on
to
soft
grass
,
and
smelled
the
scent
of
the
clover
as
her
foot-soles
crushed
it
.
There
she
sat
down
,
and
presently
lay
along
and
went
to
sleep
.
After
a
while
she
awoke
,
and
felt
happy
and
well
at
ease
,
and
had
no
will
to
move
:
the
sun
was
shining
brightly
,
but
had
not
been
up
long
:
the
song
of
birds
was
all
about
her
,
but
amidst
it
she
deemed
she
heard
some
speech
of
man
,
though
it
were
not
like
to
what
she
had
heard
in
her
life
before
.
So
she
raised
herself
on
her
elbow
,
and
looked
up
and
saw
a
new
thing
,
and
sat
up
now
,
and
beheld
and
wondered
.
For
there
stood
before
her
,
gazing
wide-eyed
on
her
,
two
little
children
,
some
three
winters
of
age
,
a
man
and
a
woman
as
it
seemed
.
The
man-child
with
light
and
fine
white-golden
hair
,
falling
straight
down
and
square
over
his
brow
,
and
blue-grey
eyes
which
were
both
kind
and
merry
,
and
shyly
seeking
as
it
were
.
Plump
and
rosy
he
was
,
sturdy
and
stout-limbed
.
No
less
fair
was
the
woman
;
her
hair
golden-brown
,
as
oft
it
is
with
children
who
grow
up
dark-haired
,
and
curling
in
fair
little
rings
all
over
her
head
;
her
eyes
were
big
and
dark
grey
;
she
was
thinner
than
the
lad
,
and
somewhat
taller
.
These
two
babes
had
between
them
a
milk-white
she-goat
,
and
had
been
playing
with
her
,
and
now
she
turned
her
head
to
this
and
that
one
of
them
,
bleating
,
as
if
to
crave
more
of
the
game
;
but
they
had
no
eyes
for
her
,
but
stood
staring
with
might
and
main
on
the
new-comer
and
her
shining
golden
gown
.
Birdalone
laughed
with
joy
when
she
saw
the
little
ones
,
and
a
dim
memory
of
the
days
of
Utterhay
passed
before
her
:
she
stretched
out
a
hand
to
them
,
and
spake
softly
and
caressingly
,
and
the
little
lad
came
forward
smiling
,
and
took
her
hand
,
and
made
as
if
he
would
help
her
up
for
courtesy’s
sake
.
She
laughed
on
him
,
and
arose
;
and
when
she
stood
up
,
tall
and
golden
,
he
seemed
somewhat
afeard
of
so
big
a
creature
,
but
stood
his
ground
valiantly
.
Then
she
stooped
down
to
him
and
kissed
him
,
and
he
naysaid
her
not
,
but
seemed
rather
glad
when
it
was
over
;
but
when
Birdalone
went
to
the
little
maid
,
and
kissed
her
,
the
child
clung
to
her
as
if
she
were
her
mother
,
and
babbled
to
her
.
Then
comes
the
lad
to
her
,
and
takes
her
hand
,
and
would
draw
her
away
,
and
speaks
to
her
in
his
prattle
,
and
she
understood
him
to
mean
that
she
should
come
with
him
to
see
the
father
.
So
she
went
,
wondering
what
should
next
betide
;
and
the
little
maiden
went
on
the
other
side
of
her
,
holding
by
a
fold
of
her
skirt
.
Forsooth
the
goat
followed
bleating
,
not
well
pleased
to
be
forgotten
.
Now
had
Birdalone
time
to
look
about
her
,
though
the
two
babes
fell
to
prattling
with
her
in
their
way
,
and
she
thought
it
sweet
to
look
down
on
the
two
little
faces
that
looked
up
to
her
so
pleased
and
merry
.
She
was
in
a
grassy
plain
,
somewhat
over
rough
and
broken
to
be
called
a
meadow
,
and
not
enough
be-timbered
to
be
called
a
wood
;
it
rose
up
a
little
and
slowly
as
they
left
the
water
,
but
scarce
so
much
as
one
might
call
it
a
hill
.
Straight
before
her
on
the
way
that
they
were
going
went
up
into
the
air
great
masses
of
grey
stone
builded
by
man’s
hand
,
but
looking
,
even
from
this
way
off
,
ragged
and
ruinous
.
It
may
well
be
thought
that
Birdalone
wondered
what
things
might
lie
betwixt
the
trees
and
the
towers
.
Now
as
they
went
they
came
on
other
goats
,
who
seemed
tame
,
and
these
joined
them
to
their
fellow
,
and
suffered
the
younglings
to
play
with
them
.
Moreover
there
were
rabbits
great
plenty
scuttling
in
and
out
of
the
brakes
and
the
rough
ground
upon
the
way
,
and
the
younglings
beheld
them
,
and
the
little
lad
said
,
after
his
fashion
:
Why
do
the
rabbits
run
away
from
us
,
and
the
goats
follow
us
?
Now
,
sooth
to
say
,
Birdalone
scarce
knew
why
,
and
had
no
word
ready
for
the
child
;
but
she
said
at
last
:
Mayhappen
they
will
come
to
me
;
so
it
was
once
when
I
dwelt
away
from
here
.
Shall
I
go
fetch
thee
one
?
The
little
ones
yeasaid
that
,
though
somewhat
shyly
and
doubtfully
.
Then
said
Birdalone
:
Do
ye
,
sweetlings
,
abide
me
here
,
and
go
not
away
.
They
nodded
their
heads
thereat
,
and
Birdalone
kilted
her
skirts
and
went
her
ways
to
some
broken
bushed
ground
,
where
was
a
many
rabbits
playing
about
;
but
she
went
not
out
of
eye-shot
of
the
babes
.
Before
she
was
well-nigh
to
the
little
beasts
,
she
fell
to
talking
to
them
in
a
low
sweet
voice
,
as
had
been
her
wont
when
she
was
little
;
and
when
they
heard
it
,
those
who
had
not
scuttled
away
at
first
glance
of
her
,
fell
to
creeping
little
short
creeps
one
to
the
other
,
as
their
manner
is
when
they
be
alone
together
and
merry
;
and
they
suffered
her
to
come
quite
amongst
them
,
and
crept
about
her
feet
while
she
stood
,
still
talking
unto
them
.
Then
she
stooped
down
and
took
up
one
in
her
arms
and
caressed
it
,
and
then
laid
him
down
and
took
up
another
,
and
so
with
three
or
four
of
them
;
and
she
fell
to
pushing
them
,
and
rolling
them
over
with
her
foot
;
then
she
turned
a
little
away
from
them
toward
the
children
,
and
then
a
little
more
,
and
the
rabbits
fell
to
following
her
,
and
she
turned
and
took
up
one
in
her
arms
,
and
went
straight
on
toward
the
children
,
but
turning
and
talking
to
the
rabbits
now
and
again
.
As
to
the
babes
,
she
saw
the
goats
,
of
whom
were
now
a
dozen
,
or
thereabouts
,
standing
together
in
a
kind
of
ring
,
and
the
little
ones
going
from
one
to
the
other
playing
with
them
happily
.
But
presently
the
lad
turned
and
saw
her
coming
with
her
tail
of
little
beasts
,
and
he
cried
out
a
great
Oh
and
ran
toward
her
straightway
,
and
the
maiden
after
him
;
and
he
held
out
his
arms
to
have
the
rabbit
she
bore
,
and
she
gave
it
to
him
smiling
,
and
said
:
Lo
now
!
here
be
pretty
playmates
;
but
look
to
it
that
ye
be
soft
and
kind
with
them
,
for
they
are
but
feeble
people
.
So
the
younglings
fell
to
sporting
with
their
new
friends
,
and
for
a
little
forgat
both
goats
and
golden
lady
;
but
the
goats
drew
nigh
,
and
stood
about
them
bleating
,
nor
durst
they
run
at
the
rabbits
to
butt
them
,
because
of
Birdalone
and
the
little
ones
.
There
then
stood
the
slim
maiden
,
tall
and
gleaming
above
her
little
flock
;
and
her
heart
was
full
of
mirth
and
rest
,
and
the
fear
was
all
forgotten
.
But
as
she
looked
up
toward
the
grey
walls
,
lo
,
new
tidings
to
hand
!
For
she
saw
an
old
man
with
a
long
white
beard
slowly
coming
toward
them
:
she
started
not
,
but
abode
his
coming
quietly
,
and
as
he
drew
nigh
she
could
see
of
him
that
he
was
big
and
stark
,
and
,
old
as
he
was
,
not
yet
bowed
with
his
many
years
.
He
stood
looking
on
this
Queen
and
her
court
silently
a
while
,
and
then
he
spake
:
Such
a
sight
I
looked
not
to
see
on
this
Isle
of
the
Young
and
the
Old
.
She
said
:
But
meseemeth
it
is
full
meet
that
these
younglings
should
sport
with
the
creatures
.
He
smiled
and
said
:
Such
a
voice
I
looked
not
to
hear
on
the
Isle
of
the
Young
and
the
Old
.
Birdalone
became
somewhat
troubled
,
and
said
:
Am
I
welcome
here
?
for
if
I
be
not
,
I
will
pray
thy
leave
to
depart
.
He
said
:
Thou
art
as
welcome
as
the
very
spring
,
my
child
;
and
if
thou
have
a
mind
to
abide
here
,
who
shall
naysay
thee
?
For
surely
thou
art
young
;
nay
,
in
regard
to
me
thou
art
scarce
older
than
babes
.
All
blessings
be
with
thee
.
But
though
thou
art
true
and
kind
,
as
is
clear
to
be
seen
by
thy
playing
with
these
children
and
the
landward
beasts
in
peace
and
love
,
yet
it
may
be
so
that
thou
hast
brought
hither
somewhat
less
than
peace
.
And
he
smiled
upon
her
strangely
.
She
looked
somewhat
scared
at
his
last
words
,
and
said
:
But
how
so
?
If
I
might
I
would
bear
nought
but
peace
and
happiness
to
any
place
.
The
old
carle
laughed
outright
now
,
and
said
:
How
so
,
dear
child
?
because
ladies
so
sweet
and
lovesome
as
thou
be
sent
by
love
,
and
love
rendeth
apart
that
which
was
joined
together
.
She
wondered
at
his
word
,
and
was
bewildered
by
it
,
but
she
held
her
peace
;
and
he
said
:
Now
we
may
talk
hereof
later
on
;
but
the
matter
to
hand
now
is
the
quenching
of
thine
hunger
;
for
I
will
not
ask
thee
whereby
thou
camest
,
since
by
water
thou
needs
must
have
come
.
Wherefore
now
I
bid
thee
to
our
house
,
and
these
little
ones
shall
go
with
us
,
and
the
three
of
these
horned
folk
whom
we
are
wont
to
tether
amidst
the
wrack
and
ruin
of
what
once
was
fair
;
the
rest
have
our
leave
to
depart
,
and
these
nibblers
also
;
for
we
have
a
potherb
garden
by
our
house
,
and
are
fain
to
keep
the
increase
of
the
same
for
ourselves
.
Birdalone
laughed
,
and
shook
her
skirts
at
the
coneys
,
and
they
all
scuttled
away
after
the
manner
of
their
kind
.
Thereat
the
little
lad
looked
downcast
and
well-nigh
tearful
,
but
the
maid
stamped
her
foot
,
and
roared
well-favouredly
.
Birdalone
did
her
best
to
solace
her
,
and
plucked
a
bough
from
a
hawthorn
bush
far
above
the
little
ones’
reach
whereon
was
yet
some
belated
blossom
,
and
gave
it
to
her
and
stilled
her
.
But
the
old
man
picked
out
his
milch-goats
from
the
flock
(
whereof
was
the
white
)
,
and
drave
them
before
him
,
while
the
two
babes
went
on
still
beside
Birdalone
,
the
little
carle
holding
her
hand
and
playing
with
the
fingers
thereof
;
the
maiden
sometimes
hanging
on
to
her
gown
,
sometimes
going
loose
and
sporting
about
beside
her
.
So
came
they
to
where
the
ground
became
smoother
,
and
there
was
a
fair
piece
of
greensward
in
a
nook
made
by
those
great
walls
and
towers
,
which
sheltered
it
from
the
north
.
The
said
walls
seemed
to
be
the
remnant
of
what
had
once
been
a
great
house
and
castle
;
and
up
aloft
,
where
was
now
no
stair
to
come
at
them
,
were
chimneys
and
hearths
here
and
there
,
and
windows
with
fair
seats
in
them
,
and
arched
doors
and
carven
pillars
,
and
many
things
beautiful
,
but
now
was
all
ruined
and
broken
,
and
the
house
was
roofless
and
floorless
:
withal
it
was
overgrown
with
ash-trees
and
quicken-beam
,
and
other
berry-trees
and
key-trees
,
which
had
many
years
ago
seeded
in
the
rent
walls
,
and
now
grew
there
great
and
flourishing
.
But
in
the
innermost
nook
of
this
mighty
remnant
,
and
using
for
its
lowly
walls
two
sides
of
the
ancient
ashlar
ones
,
stood
a
cot
builded
not
over
trimly
of
small
wood
,
and
now
much
overgrown
with
roses
and
woodbine
.
In
front
of
it
was
a
piece
of
garden
ground
,
wherein
waxed
potherbs
,
and
a
little
deal
of
wheat
;
and
therein
was
a
goodly
row
of
bee-skeps
;
and
all
without
it
was
the
pleasant
greensward
aforesaid
,
wherein
stood
three
great
ancient
oaks
,
and
divers
thorns
,
which
also
were
ancient
after
their
kind
.
The
elder
led
his
guest
into
the
cot
,
which
had
but
simple
plenishing
of
stools
and
benches
,
and
a
table
unartful
,
and
then
went
to
tether
his
goats
in
the
ruined
hall
of
the
house
,
and
the
children
must
needs
with
him
,
though
Birdalone
had
been
glad
of
one
of
them
at
least
;
but
there
was
no
nay
,
but
that
they
must
go
see
their
dear
white
goat
in
her
stall
.
Howsoever
all
three
came
back
again
presently
,
the
old
carle
with
a
courteous
word
in
his
mouth
,
and
he
took
Birdalone’s
hand
,
and
kissed
it
and
bade
her
welcome
to
his
house
,
as
though
he
had
been
a
great
lord
at
home
in
his
own
castle
.
Therewith
must
the
little
ones
also
kiss
her
hand
and
be
courteous
;
and
Birdalone
suffered
it
,
laughing
,
and
then
caught
them
up
in
her
arms
,
and
clipped
and
kissed
them
well-favouredly
;
wherewith
belike
they
were
not
over-well
pleased
,
though
the
boy
endured
it
kindly
.
Thereafter
the
elder
set
forth
his
banquet
,
which
was
simple
enough
:
upland
cheer
of
cream
and
honey
,
and
rough
bread
;
but
sweet
it
was
to
Birdalone
to
eat
it
with
good
welcome
,
and
the
courtesy
of
the
old
man
.
When
they
were
done
,
they
went
out-a-doors
,
and
Birdalone
and
the
old
man
laid
them
down
under
an
oak-tree
,
and
the
children
sported
about
anigh
them
.
Then
spake
Birdalone
:
Old
man
,
thou
hast
been
kind
unto
me
;
but
now
wouldest
thou
tell
me
about
thee
,
what
thou
art
,
and
what
are
these
walls
about
us
here
?
Said
he
:
I
doubt
if
I
may
do
so
,
this
day
at
least
.
But
belike
thou
shalt
abide
with
us
,
and
then
some
day
the
word
may
come
into
my
mouth
.
She
held
her
peace
,
and
into
her
mind
it
came
that
it
would
be
sweet
to
dwell
there
,
and
watch
those
fair
children
waxing
,
and
the
lad
growing
up
and
loving
her
;
yea
,
even
she
fell
to
telling
up
the
years
which
would
make
him
a
man
,
and
tried
to
see
herself
,
how
she
would
look
,
when
the
years
were
worn
thereto
.
Then
she
reddened
at
the
untold
thought
,
and
looked
down
and
was
silent
.
But
the
elder
looked
on
her
anxiously
,
and
said
:
It
will
be
no
such
hard
life
for
thee
,
for
I
have
still
some
work
in
me
,
and
thou
mayst
do
something
in
spite
of
thy
slender
and
delicate
fashion
.
She
laughed
merrily
,
and
said
:
Forsooth
,
good
sire
,
I
might
do
somewhat
more
than
something
;
for
I
am
deft
in
all
such
work
as
here
ye
need
;
so
fear
not
but
I
should
earn
my
livelihood
,
and
that
with
joy
.
Merry
days
shall
we
have
then
,
said
he
.
But
therewith
her
eye
caught
the
gleam
of
her
golden
sleeve
,
and
she
thought
of
Aurea
,
and
her
heart
smote
her
for
her
errand
;
then
she
laid
her
hand
on
her
girdle
and
called
to
mind
little
Viridis
,
and
the
glitter
of
the
ring
on
her
finger
brought
the
image
of
Atra
before
her
;
then
she
rose
up
and
said
:
Thou
art
kind
,
father
,
but
I
may
not
;
I
have
an
errand
;
this
day
must
I
depart
from
thee
.
He
said
:
Thou
hast
broken
my
heart
;
if
I
were
not
so
old
,
I
would
weep
.
And
he
hung
adown
his
head
.
She
stood
before
him
abashed
,
as
if
she
had
done
him
a
wrong
.
At
last
he
looked
up
and
said
:
Must
it
be
today
?
Wilt
thou
not
abide
with
us
night-long
,
and
go
thy
ways
in
the
early
morning
?
Now
she
scarce
knew
how
to
gainsay
him
,
so
wretched
as
the
old
carle
looked
;
so
it
came
to
this
,
that
she
yeasaid
the
abiding
till
tomorrow
.
Then
suddenly
he
became
gay
and
merry
,
and
he
kissed
her
hand
,
and
fell
to
much
speaking
,
telling
tales
of
little
import
concerning
his
earlier
days
.
But
when
she
asked
him
again
of
how
he
came
there
,
and
what
meant
the
great
ruined
house
,
then
he
became
foolish
and
wandering
,
and
might
scarce
answer
her
;
whereas
otherwise
he
was
a
well-spoken
old
carle
of
many
words
,
and
those
of
the
grandest
.
Then
changed
his
mood
again
,
and
he
fell
to
bewailing
her
departure
,
and
how
that
henceforth
he
should
have
none
to
speak
to
him
with
understanding
.
Then
she
smiled
on
him
and
said
:
But
yonder
babes
will
grow
up
;
month
by
month
they
will
be
better
fellows
unto
thee
.
Fair
child
,
he
said
,
thou
dost
not
know
.
My
days
to
come
are
but
few
,
so
that
I
should
see
but
little
of
their
waxing
in
any
case
.
But
furthermore
,
wax
they
will
not
;
such
as
they
be
now
,
such
shall
they
be
till
I
at
least
see
the
last
of
them
and
the
earth
.
Birdalone
wondered
at
this
word
,
and
the
place
seemed
changed
to
her
,
yea
,
was
grown
somewhat
dreary
;
but
she
said
to
the
carle
:
And
thou
,
dost
thou
change
in
any
wise
,
since
these
change
not
?
He
laughed
somewhat
grimly
,
and
said
:
The
old
that
be
here
change
from
old
to
dead
;
how
could
I
change
to
better
?
Yea
,
the
first
thing
I
had
to
do
here
was
to
bury
an
old
man
.
Quoth
she
:
And
were
there
any
children
here
then
?
Yea
,
said
he
;
these
same
,
or
I
can
see
no
difference
in
them
.
Said
Birdalone
:
And
how
long
ago
is
that
?
And
how
camest
thou
hither
?
His
face
became
foolish
,
and
he
gibbered
rather
than
spake
:
No
,
I
wot
not
;
no
,
no
,
no
,
not
a
whit
,
a
whit
.
But
presently
after
was
he
himself
again
,
and
telling
her
a
tale
of
a
great
lady
of
the
earl-folk
,
a
baron’s
dame
,
and
how
dear
he
was
unto
her
.
He
lay
yet
on
the
grass
,
and
she
stood
before
him
,
and
presently
he
put
forth
a
hand
to
her
gown-hem
and
drew
her
to
him
thereby
,
and
fell
to
caressing
her
feet
;
and
Birdalone
was
ashamed
thereat
,
and
a
little
angry
.
He
was
nought
abashed
,
but
sat
up
and
said
:
Well
,
since
thou
must
needs
depart
tomorrow
,
be
we
merry
today
.
And
I
pray
thee
talk
much
with
me
,
fair
child
,
for
sweet
and
sweet
is
thy
voice
to
hearken
.
Then
he
arose
and
said
:
Now
will
I
fetch
thee
somewhat
to
eke
the
joy
of
us
both
.
And
he
turned
therewith
and
went
into
the
house
.
Birdalone
stood
there
,
and
was
now
perplexed
and
downhearted
;
for
now
the
look
of
the
elder
scarce
liked
her
,
and
the
children
began
to
seem
to
her
as
images
,
or
at
the
best
not
more
to
her
than
the
rabbits
or
the
goats
;
and
she
rued
her
word
that
she
would
abide
there
the
night
through
.
For
she
said
to
herself
:
I
fear
some
trap
or
guile
;
is
the
witch
behind
this
also
?
for
the
old
man
is
yet
stark
,
and
though
he
be
foolish
at
whiles
,
yet
may
wizardry
have
learned
him
some
guile
.
With
that
cometh
out
the
carle
again
,
bearing
a
little
keg
and
a
mazer
roughly
wrought
;
and
he
came
to
Birdalone
,
and
sat
down
,
and
bade
her
sit
by
him
,
and
said
to
her
:
Maybe
I
shall
hear
more
of
thy
sweet
voice
when
thy
sweet
lips
have
been
in
the
cup
.
Therewith
he
poured
forth
into
the
mazer
,
and
handed
it
to
Birdalone
,
and
lo
!
it
was
clear
and
good
mead
.
She
sipped
thereof
daintily
,
and
,
to
say
sooth
,
was
well-pleased
therewith
,
and
it
stirred
the
heart
in
her
.
But
then
she
gave
back
the
cup
to
the
elder
,
and
would
no
more
of
it
.
As
for
him
,
he
drank
what
was
left
in
the
cup
,
looking
over
the
rim
thereof
meanwhile
;
and
then
filled
himself
another
,
and
another
,
and
yet
more
.
But
whereas
it
might
have
been
looked
for
that
his
tongue
should
be
loosened
by
the
good
mead
into
foolishness
and
gibbering
,
he
became
rather
few-spoken
,
and
more
courteous
and
stately
even
than
he
had
been
at
the
first
.
But
in
the
end
,
forsooth
,
he
was
forgetting
Birdalone
,
what
she
was
,
and
he
fell
a-talking
,
always
with
much
pomp
and
state
,
as
if
to
barons
and
earls
,
and
great
ladies
;
till
suddenly
his
head
fell
back
,
he
turned
over
on
his
face
,
and
all
wit
was
gone
from
him
.
At
first
,
then
,
Birdalone
was
afraid
that
he
was
dead
,
or
nigh
unto
death
,
and
she
knelt
down
and
raised
his
head
,
and
fetched
water
and
cast
it
over
his
face
.
But
when
she
saw
that
he
was
breathing
not
so
ill
,
and
that
the
colour
was
little
changed
in
his
lips
and
cheeks
,
she
knew
that
it
was
but
the
might
of
the
mead
that
had
overcome
him
.
Wherefore
she
laid
him
so
that
he
was
easy
,
and
then
stood
up
and
looked
about
her
,
and
saw
the
children
playing
together
a
little
way
off
;
and
nought
else
anigh
her
,
save
the
birds
in
the
brake
,
or
flying
on
their
errands
eagerly
from
place
to
place
.
Then
,
as
it
were
,
without
her
will
being
told
them
,
her
limbs
and
her
feet
turned
her
about
to
the
shore
where
lay
the
Sending
Boat
,
and
she
went
speedily
but
quietly
thitherward
,
her
heart
beating
quick
,
for
fear
lest
something
should
yet
stay
her
,
and
her
eyes
glancing
from
brake
to
bush
,
as
if
she
looked
to
see
some
enemy
,
old
or
new
,
come
out
thence
.
So
now
her
will
was
clear
enough
to
her
feet
,
and
they
brought
her
down
to
the
water-side
and
the
long
strand
,
past
which
the
wide
water
lay
windless
and
gleaming
in
the
hot
afternoon
.
Then
lightly
she
stepped
aboard
,
and
awoke
the
Sending
Boat
with
blood-offering
,
and
it
obeyed
her
,
and
sped
swiftly
on
the
way
to
the
southward
.
Chapter
X
~
Birdalone
Comes
to
the
Isle
of
the
Queens
Birdalone
awoke
the
next
morning
while
the
boat
was
yet
speeding
over
the
water
,
and
the
sun
was
up
:
but
she
was
hard
on
the
land
,
which
sat
low
and
green
,
like
a
meadow
exceeding
fair
,
on
the
bosom
of
the
water
,
and
many
goodly
trees
were
sprinkled
about
the
greenland
.
But
from
amidst
the
trees
,
no
great
way
from
the
water’s
edge
,
rose
a
great
house
,
white
and
fair
,
as
if
it
were
new-builded
,
and
all
glorious
with
pinnacles
,
and
tabernacles
set
with
imagery
.
Presently
the
boat’s
bows
ran
into
the
reed
and
rush
at
the
brim
of
the
water
,
and
Birdalone
stepped
ashore
without
more
ado
,
and
the
scent
of
the
meadow-sweet
amongst
which
she
landed
brought
back
unto
her
the
image
of
Green
Eyot
that
while
agone
.
But
now
when
she
was
ashore
the
dread
took
hold
of
her
again
,
and
her
knees
trembled
under
her
,
so
that
she
might
scarce
stand
,
so
fearful
was
she
of
walking
into
some
trap
;
especially
when
she
beheld
that
goodly
house
,
lest
therein
awaited
her
some
proud
and
cruel
lady
,
and
no
kind
damsels
to
deliver
her
.
She
looked
about
her
,
and
saw
in
all
the
fair
meadow
neither
man
nor
woman
,
nor
draught-beast
nor
milch-beast
,
nought
but
the
little
creatures
of
the
brake
and
the
bent-grass
,
which
were
but
as
the
blossoms
thereof
;
and
the
birds
running
in
the
herbage
or
singing
amidst
the
tree-boughs
.
Then
she
thought
that
she
must
needs
go
forward
,
or
belike
her
errand
would
not
speed
;
that
the
Sending
Boat
might
not
obey
her
,
unless
she
saw
through
the
adventure
to
the
end
;
so
she
went
on
toward
the
house
quaking
.
Soon
was
she
at
the
porch
of
the
white
palace
,
and
had
seen
no
man
nor
heard
any
voice
of
men
;
much
she
marvelled
,
despite
her
dread
,
at
the
beauty
of
the
said
house
,
and
the
newness
thereof
;
for
it
was
as
one
flower
arisen
out
of
the
earth
,
and
every
part
of
it
made
the
beauty
of
the
other
parts
more
excellent
;
and
so
new
it
was
,
that
it
would
have
seemed
as
if
the
masons
thereof
had
but
struck
their
scaffold
yesterday
,
save
that
under
the
very
feet
of
the
walls
the
sweet
garden
flowers
grew
all
uncrushed
.
Now
comes
Birdalone
through
the
porch
unto
the
screens
of
the
great
hall
;
and
she
stopped
a
little
to
recover
her
breath
,
that
she
might
be
the
quieter
and
calmer
amongst
the
great
folk
and
mighty
whom
she
looked
to
find
therein
.
So
she
gathered
heart
;
but
one
thing
daunted
her
,
to
wit
,
that
she
heard
no
sound
come
from
that
great
and
goodly
hall
,
so
that
she
doubted
if
it
were
perchance
left
desert
by
them
who
had
been
its
lords
.
She
raised
her
hand
to
the
door
of
the
screen
,
and
it
opened
easily
before
her
,
and
she
entered
,
and
there
indeed
she
saw
new
tidings
.
For
the
boards
end-long
and
over-thwart
were
set
,
and
thereat
were
sitting
a
many
folk
,
and
their
hands
were
reached
out
to
knife
and
to
dish
,
and
to
platter
and
cup
;
but
such
a
hush
there
was
within
,
that
the
song
of
the
garden
birds
without
sounded
to
her
as
loud
as
they
were
the
voices
of
the
children
of
Adam
.
Next
she
saw
that
all
that
company
,
from
the
great
folk
on
the
dais
down
to
those
who
stood
about
the
hall
to
do
the
service
,
were
women
,
one
and
all
;
not
one
carle
might
she
see
from
where
she
stood
:
lovely
were
they
many
of
them
,
and
none
less
than
comely
;
their
cheeks
were
bright
,
and
their
eyes
gleamed
,
and
their
hair
flowed
down
fair
of
fashion
.
And
she
stood
,
and
durst
not
move
a
long
while
,
but
expected
when
someone
would
speak
a
word
,
and
all
should
turn
their
heads
toward
the
new-comer
.
But
none
moved
nor
spake
.
And
the
fear
increased
in
her
amidst
that
hush
,
and
weighed
so
heavy
on
her
heart
,
that
at
last
she
might
endure
it
no
longer
,
but
fell
swooning
to
the
floor
.
When
she
came
to
herself
;
and
the
swoon-dreams
had
left
her
,
she
saw
by
the
changing
of
the
sun
through
the
hall-windows
,
that
she
had
lain
there
long
,
more
nearly
two
hours
than
one
;
and
at
first
she
covered
her
face
with
her
hands
as
she
crouched
there
,
that
she
might
not
see
the
sight
of
the
silent
hall
,
for
yet
was
it
as
hushed
as
before
.
Then
slowly
she
arose
,
and
the
sound
of
her
raiment
and
her
stirring
feet
was
loud
in
her
ears
.
But
when
she
was
upright
on
her
feet
,
she
hardened
her
heart
,
and
went
forth
into
the
hall
,
and
no
less
was
her
wonder
than
erst
.
For
when
she
came
close
to
those
ladies
as
they
sat
at
table
,
and
her
raiment
brushed
the
raiment
of
the
serving-women
as
she
passed
by
,
then
saw
she
how
no
breath
came
from
any
of
these
,
and
that
they
neither
spake
nor
moved
,
because
they
were
dead
.
At
first
,
then
,
she
thought
to
flee
away
at
once
,
but
again
she
had
mind
of
her
errand
,
and
so
went
up
the
hall
,
and
so
forth
on
to
the
dais
;
and
there
again
,
close
by
the
high
table
,
she
saw
new
tidings
.
For
there
was
set
a
bier
,
covered
with
gold
and
pall
,
and
on
it
was
laid
a
tall
man
,
a
king
,
belted
and
crowned
;
and
beside
the
said
bier
,
by
the
head
of
the
king
,
knelt
a
queen
of
exceeding
goodly
body
,
clad
all
in
raiment
of
pearl
and
bawdekin
;
and
her
hands
were
clasped
together
,
and
her
mouth
was
drawn
,
and
her
brow
knit
with
the
anguish
of
