haveit
so
,
and
that
there
is
something
in
thine
heart
which
we
,
who
are
not
children
of
Adam
,
may
not
understand
;
yet
once
wert
thou
more
like
unto
us
.
Now
all
I
may
say
is
,
that
thou
must
rule
in
this
matter
,
and
that
I
am
sad
.
Then
she
looked
down
again
and
presently
raised
a
brighter
face
,
and
said
:
Belike
all
shall
be
better
than
I
thought
.
Then
she
kissed
Birdalone
and
they
parted
for
that
time
.
Chapter
XIX
~
They
Bid
Farewell
,
Birdalone
and
the
Wood-Mother
Now
April
was
gone
,
and
May
was
come
with
the
thorn
a-blossoming
,
and
there
was
Birdalone
waxing
still
in
loveliness
.
And
now
the
witch
had
left
all
girding
at
her
even
,
and
spake
to
her
but
little
,
save
when
she
needs
must
.
But
to
Birdalone
it
seemed
that
she
watched
her
exceeding
closely
.
Birdalone
went
oft
to
the
wood
,
and
learned
yet
more
of
lore
:
but
of
the
matter
of
the
Departure
,
how
it
was
to
be
gone
about
they
spake
no
more
,
and
great
was
the
love
betwixt
them
.
At
last
when
May
was
worn
nigh
to
June
came
Birdalone
to
the
Oak
of
Tryst
,
and
found
the
wood-mother
there
;
and
when
they
had
talked
a
while
,
but
ever
from
the
teeth
out
,
spake
Habundia
:
Though
thou
be
now
the
wiser
of
us
two
maybe
,
yet
have
I
wisdom
to
wot
that
this
is
the
hour
of
our
sundering
,
and
that
tomorrow
thou
wilt
try
the
adventure
of
the
Sending
Boat
:
is
it
not
so
?
Yea
,
mother
,
said
Birdalone
;
I
bid
thee
farewell
now
:
woe
is
me
therefor
!
Said
Habundia
:
And
thou
wilt
deliver
thyself
into
the
hands
of
the
witch
,
wilt
thou
,
as
thou
saidst
that
other
day
?
Quoth
Birdalone
:
Is
it
not
wisdom
,
dear
mother
,
if
I
trust
in
my
goodhap
?
Alas
,
said
the
mother
,
it
may
be
so
when
all
is
said
.
But
O
my
sad
heart
!
and
how
I
fear
for
thee
!
My
mother
,
my
mother
!
said
Birdalone
,
that
I
should
make
the
days
grievous
unto
thee
!
and
thou
who
hast
made
my
days
so
joyous
!
But
now
canst
thou
not
say
of
thy
wisdom
that
we
shall
meet
again
?
The
wood-woman
sat
down
,
and
let
her
head
fall
over
her
knees
,
and
was
silent
a
long
while
;
then
she
rose
up
and
stood
before
Birdalone
,
and
said
:
Yea
,
we
shall
meet
again
,
howsoever
it
may
be
.
Let
us
depart
with
that
sweet
word
in
the
air
between
us
.
Yet
first
thou
shalt
give
me
a
tress
of
thine
hair
,
as
I
did
to
thee
when
first
we
met
;
for
by
means
of
it
may
I
know
tomorrow
how
thou
hast
sped
.
Even
so
did
Birdalone
,
and
this
was
the
end
of
their
talk
,
save
broken
words
of
lamentation
as
they
said
farewell
.
And
therewith
for
that
while
they
sundered
.
Chapter
XX
~
Of
Birdalone
and
the
Sending
Boat
Birdalone
woke
up
in
the
morning
,
and
arose
and
clad
herself
,
and
she
saw
not
the
witch-wife
in
the
chamber
,
though
her
bed
looked
as
if
it
had
been
slept
in
.
Birdalone
accounted
little
thereof
,
whereas
the
dame
would
oft
go
on
one
errand
or
another
much
betimes
in
the
morning
.
Yet
was
she
somewhat
glad
,
for
she
was
nowise
wishful
for
a
wrangle
with
her
.
Withal
,
despite
her
valiancy
,
as
may
well
be
thought
,
she
was
all
a-flutter
with
hopes
and
fears
,
and
must
needs
refrain
her
body
from
overmuch
quaking
and
restlessness
if
she
might
.
Now
she
mingled
the
tress
of
the
wood-mother’s
hair
with
her
own
hair
,
but
deemed
it
nought
perilous
to
leave
the
ring
yet
sewn
to
her
smock
:
she
set
some
deal
of
bread
and
flesh
in
her
scrip
,
lest
her
voyage
should
be
long
,
and
then
all
simply
stepped
over
the
threshold
of
the
House
of
her
Captivity
.
She
went
straight
to
the
strand
aforesaid
,
seeing
nought
of
the
witch-wife
by
the
way
;
and
when
she
came
there
,
was
about
to
turn
straightway
to
her
left
hand
down
to
the
creek
,
when
it
came
into
her
mind
that
she
would
first
swim
over
to
Green
Eyot
for
this
last
of
times
.
For
the
eyot
indeed
she
loved
,
and
deemed
it
her
own
,
since
never
had
her
evil
dream
,
the
witch
,
set
foot
thereon
.
Moreover
,
she
said
to
herself
that
the
cool
lake
would
allay
the
fever
of
her
blood
,
and
make
her
flesh
firmer
and
less
timorous
for
the
adventure
.
And
again
,
that
if
the
witch
should
see
her
from
afar
,
as
she
could
scarce
fail
to
do
,
she
would
deem
the
maiden
was
about
her
wonted
morning
swimming
,
and
would
be
the
less
like
to
spy
on
her
.
So
now
,
when
she
had
let
her
garments
slip
from
off
her
on
to
the
sand
close
to
the
water’s
edge
,
she
stood
a
while
,
with
her
feet
scarce
covered
by
the
little
ripple
of
the
bight
,
to
be
a
token
of
safety
to
her
mistress
.
To
say
sooth
,
now
it
was
come
so
nigh
to
the
deed
,
she
shrank
aback
a
little
,
and
was
fain
to
dally
with
the
time
,
and
,
if
it
might
be
,
thrust
something
of
no
import
betwixt
her
and
the
terror
of
the
last
moment
.
Now
she
took
the
water
,
and
rowed
strongly
with
her
lovely
limbs
till
she
came
to
the
eyot
,
and
there
she
went
aland
,
and
visited
every
place
which
had
been
kind
to
her
;
and
kissed
the
trees
and
flowers
that
had
solaced
her
,
and
once
more
drew
the
birds
and
rabbits
to
sport
with
her
;
till
suddenly
it
came
into
her
head
that
the
time
was
wearing
overfast
.
Then
she
ran
down
to
the
water
and
plunged
in
,
and
swam
over
to
the
strand
as
fast
as
she
might
,
and
came
aland
there
,
thinking
of
nothing
less
than
what
had
befallen
.
For
lo
!
when
she
looked
around
for
her
raiment
and
her
scrip
,
it
was
nowhere
to
be
seen
;
straightway
then
it
came
into
her
mind
,
as
in
one
flash
,
that
this
was
the
witch’s
work
;
that
she
had
divined
this
deed
of
the
flight
,
and
had
watched
her
,
and
taken
the
occasion
of
her
nakedness
and
absence
that
she
might
draw
her
back
to
the
House
of
Captivity
.
And
this
the
more
as
the
precious
ring
was
sewn
to
Birdalone’s
smock
,
and
the
witch
would
have
found
it
there
when
she
handled
the
raiment
.
Birdalone
wasted
no
time
in
seeking
for
the
lost
;
she
looked
down
on
to
the
smooth
sand
,
and
saw
there
footprints
which
were
not
her
own
,
and
all
those
went
straight
back
home
to
the
house
.
Then
she
turned
,
and
for
one
moment
of
time
looked
up
toward
the
house
,
and
saw
plainly
the
witch
come
out
adoors
,
and
the
sun
flashed
from
something
bright
in
her
hand
.
Then
indeed
she
made
no
stay
,
but
set
off
running
at
her
swiftest
along
the
water-side
toward
the
creek
and
the
Sending
Boat
.
As
is
aforesaid
she
was
as
fleet-foot
as
a
deer
,
so
but
in
a
little
space
of
time
she
had
come
to
the
creek
,
and
leapt
into
the
boat
,
panting
and
breathless
.
She
turned
and
looked
hastily
along
the
path
her
feet
had
just
worn
,
and
deemed
she
saw
a
fluttering
and
flashing
coming
along
it
,
but
some
way
off
;
yet
was
not
sure
,
for
her
eyes
were
dizzy
with
the
swiftness
of
her
flight
and
the
hot
sun
and
the
hurry
of
her
heart
.
Then
she
looked
about
a
moment
confusedly
,
for
she
called
to
mind
that
in
her
nakedness
she
had
neither
knife
,
nor
scissors
,
nor
bodkin
to
let
her
blood
withal
.
But
even
therewith
close
to
hand
she
saw
hanging
down
a
stem
of
half-dead
briar-rose
with
big
thorns
upon
it
;
she
hastily
tore
off
a
length
thereof
and
scratched
her
left
arm
till
the
blood
flowed
,
and
stepped
lightly
first
to
stem
and
then
to
stern
,
and
besmeared
them
therewith
.
Then
she
sat
down
on
the
thwart
and
cried
aloud
:
The
red
raven-wine
now
Hast
thou
drunk
,
stern
and
bow
;
Then
wake
and
awake
And
the
wonted
way
take
!
The
way
of
the
Wender
forth
over
the
flood
,
For
the
will
of
the
Sender
is
blent
with
the
blood
.
Scarce
had
she
time
to
wonder
if
the
boat
would
obey
her
spell
ere
it
began
to
stir
beneath
her
,
and
then
glided
out
into
the
lake
and
took
its
way
over
the
summer
ripple
,
going
betwixt
Green
Eyot
and
the
mainland
,
as
if
to
weather
the
western
ness
of
the
eyot
:
and
it
went
not
a
stonecast
from
the
shore
of
the
said
mainland
.
Hither
to
meet
it
now
cometh
the
witch
,
running
along
the
bank
,
her
skirts
flying
wild
about
her
,
and
a
heavy
short-sword
gleaming
in
her
hand
.
Her
furious
running
she
stayed
over
against
the
boat
,
and
cried
out
in
a
voice
broken
for
lack
of
breath
:
Back
over
the
flood
To
the
house
by
the
wood
!
Back
unto
thy
rest
In
the
alder
nest
!
For
the
blood
of
the
Sender
lies
warm
on
thy
bow
,
And
the
heart
of
the
Wender
is
weary
as
now
.
But
she
saw
that
the
Sending
Boat
heeded
her
words
nothing
,
whereas
it
was
not
her
blood
that
had
awakened
it
,
but
Birdalone’s
.
Then
cried
out
the
witch
:
O
child
,
child
!
say
the
spell
and
come
back
to
me
!
to
me
,
who
have
reared
thee
and
loved
thee
and
hoped
in
thee
!
O
come
back
!
But
how
should
Birdalone
heed
her
prayer
?
She
saw
the
sax
;
and
withal
had
her
heart
forgotten
,
her
flesh
might
well
remember
.
She
sat
still
,
nor
so
much
as
turned
her
head
toward
the
witch-wife
.
Then
came
wild
yelling
words
from
the
witch’s
mouth
,
and
she
cried
:
Go
then
,
naked
and
outcast
!
Go
then
,
naked
fool
!
and
come
back
hither
after
thou
hast
been
under
the
hands
of
the
pitiless
!
Ah
,
it
had
been
better
for
thee
had
I
slain
thee
!
And
therewith
she
whirled
the
sax
over
her
head
and
cast
it
at
Birdalone
.
But
now
had
the
boat
turned
its
head
toward
the
ness
of
Green
Eyot
and
was
swiftly
departing
,
so
that
Birdalone
but
half
heard
the
last
words
of
the
witch-wife
,
and
the
sax
fell
flashing
into
the
water
far
astern
.
There
the
witch
stood
tossing
her
arms
and
screaming
,
wordless
;
but
no
more
of
her
saw
Birdalone
,
for
the
boat
came
round
about
the
ness
of
Green
Eyot
,
and
there
lay
the
Great
Water
under
the
summer
heavens
all
wide
and
landless
before
her
.
And
it
was
now
noon
of
day
.
Here
ends
the
First
Part
of
the
Water
of
the
Wondrous
Isles
,
which
is
called
Of
the
House
of
Captivity
.
And
now
begins
the
Second
Part
,
which
is
called
Of
the
Wondrous
Isles
.
The
Water
of
the
Wondrous
Isles
The
Second
Part
:
Of
the
Wondrous
Isles
Chapter
I
~
The
First
Isle
So
glided
Birdalone
over
the
lake
and
was
come
forth
from
the
House
of
Captivity
;
it
might
well
be
that
she
was
but
swimming
unto
death
;
naked
as
she
was
,
fireless
,
foodless
,
and
helpless
,
at
the
mercy
of
mere
sorcery
.
Yet
she
called
to
mind
the
word
of
the
wood-mother
that
they
should
meet
again
,
and
took
heart
thereby
;
and
she
was
glad
in
that
she
had
had
her
will
,
and
shaken
off
the
guile
and
thraldom
of
the
witch
.
Much
she
thought
of
the
wood-mother
,
and
loved
her
,
and
wondered
had
she
yet
sought
into
and
seen
her
welfare
by
the
burning
of
a
hair
of
that
tress
of
hers
;
and
therewith
she
looked
on
that
tress
of
Habundia’s
hair
and
kissed
it
.
All
day
the
Sending
Boat
sped
on
,
and
she
saw
no
land
and
nought
to
tell
of
.
It
was
but
wave
and
sky
and
the
familiar
fowl
of
the
lake
,
as
coot
,
and
mallard
,
and
heron
,
and
now
and
then
a
swift
wood-dove
going
her
ways
from
shore
to
shore
;
two
gerfalcons
she
saw
also
,
an
osprey
,
and
a
great
ern
on
his
errand
high
up
aloft
.
Birdalone
waked
in
her
loneliness
till
the
day
was
spent
,
and
somewhat
worn
of
the
night
;
then
she
fell
asleep
for
weariness
;
but
so
it
was
,
that
before
dusk
she
had
deemed
that
a
blue
cloud
lay
before
her
in
the
offing
which
moved
not
.
She
slept
the
short
night
through
,
and
was
awakened
by
the
boat
smiting
against
something
,
and
when
her
eyes
opened
she
saw
that
she
was
come
aland
and
that
the
sun
was
just
risen
.
She
stood
up
,
and
for
the
first
minute
wondered
where
she
was
,
and
she
beheld
her
nakedness
and
knew
not
what
it
meant
;
then
she
loosened
her
hair
,
and
shook
its
abundance
all
about
her
,
and
thereafter
she
turned
her
eyes
on
this
new
land
and
saw
that
it
was
fair
and
goodly
.
The
flowery
grass
came
down
to
the
very
water
,
and
first
was
a
fair
meadow-land
besprinkled
with
big
ancient
trees
;
thence
arose
slopes
of
vineyard
,
and
orchard
and
garden
;
and
,
looking
down
on
all
,
was
a
great
White
House
,
carven
and
glorious
.
A
little
air
of
wind
had
awakened
with
the
sunrise
,
and
bore
the
garden
sweetness
down
to
her
;
and
warm
it
was
after
the
chill
of
the
wide
water
.
No
other
land
could
she
see
when
she
looked
lakeward
thence
.
She
stepped
ashore
,
and
stood
ankle-deep
in
the
sweet
grass
,
and
looked
about
her
for
a
while
,
and
saw
no
shape
of
man
astir
.
She
was
yet
weary
,
and
stiff
with
abiding
so
long
amongst
the
hard
ribs
of
the
boat
,
so
she
laid
herself
down
on
the
grass
,
and
its
softness
solaced
her
;
and
presently
she
fell
asleep
again
.
Chapter
II
~
Birdalone
Falleth
in
with
New
Friends
When
she
next
awoke
,
the
sun
was
not
yet
high
,
and
the
morning
young
,
yet
she
stood
upon
her
feet
much
refreshed
by
that
short
slumber
.
She
turned
toward
the
hill
and
the
gay
house
,
and
saw
one
coming
over
the
meadow
to
her
,
a
woman
to
wit
,
in
a
shining
golden
gown
,
and
as
she
drew
nigh
Birdalone
could
see
that
she
was
young
and
fair
,
tall
,
white-skinned
and
hazel-eyed
,
with
long
red
hair
dancing
all
about
her
as
she
tripped
lightly
and
merrily
over
the
greensward
.
Now
she
comes
up
to
Birdalone
with
wonder
in
her
eyes
,
and
greets
her
kindly
,
and
asked
her
of
her
name
,
and
Birdalone
told
it
all
simply
;
and
the
new-comer
said
:
What
errand
hast
thou
hither
,
that
thou
art
come
thus
naked
and
alone
in
this
ill-omened
ferry
?
Birdalone
trembled
at
her
words
,
though
she
spake
kindly
to
her
,
and
she
said
:
It
is
a
long
story
,
but
fate
drave
me
thereto
,
and
misery
,
and
I
knew
not
whither
I
was
bound
.
But
is
there
no
welcome
for
me
in
this
lovely
land
?
I
lack
not
deftness
wholly
;
and
I
will
be
a
servant
of
servants
,
and
ask
no
better
if
it
must
be
so
.
Said
the
new-comer
:
Unto
that
mayst
thou
come
,
but
sore
will
be
thy
servitude
.
I
fear
me
thy
welcome
here
may
be
but
evil
.
Said
Birdalone
:
Wilt
thou
not
tell
me
how
so
?
Quoth
that
lady
:
We
know
thy
ferry
here
,
that
it
is
the
craft
wherein
cometh
hither
now
and
again
the
sister
of
our
lady
the
Queen
,
into
whose
realm
thou
art
now
come
,
and
who
liveth
up
in
the
white
palace
yonder
,
and
whom
we
serve
.
And
meseems
thou
wilt
not
have
come
hither
by
her
leave
,
or
thou
wouldst
be
in
other
guise
than
this
;
so
that
belike
thou
wilt
be
the
runaway
of
thy
mistress
.
Wherefore
I
fear
that
thou
wilt
be
sent
back
to
thy
said
mistress
after
a
while
,
and
that
that
while
will
be
grievous
to
thee
,
body
and
soul
.
Birdalone’s
heart
sank
,
and
she
was
pale
and
trembling
;
but
she
said
:
O
dear
lady
,
might
I
then
depart
as
I
have
come
hither
,
without
the
wotting
of
this
Queen
!
after
thou
hast
given
me
a
morsel
of
bread
,
for
I
am
hungry
.
Said
the
gold-clad
one
,
looking
on
her
pitifully
:
Nay
,
maiden
,
I
cannot
choose
but
bring
thee
before
our
mistress
,
whereas
most
like
she
hath
already
seen
thee
from
above
there
.
For
she
is
far-sighted
beyond
the
wont
of
folk
who
be
more
manlike
.
But
as
for
the
bread
,
see
thou
!
I
have
brought
a
manchet
in
my
pouch
,
and
cheese
withal
,
as
I
came
hurrying
;
for
I
thought
,
she
will
be
hungry
.
And
she
reached
the
victual
out
to
her
.
And
Birdalone
took
it
and
kissed
the
golden
lady’s
hands
,
and
she
might
not
refrain
her
tears
,
but
wept
as
she
ate
.
Meanwhile
the
golden
lady
spake
unto
her
and
said
:
Nevertheless
,
thou
poor
maiden
,
somewhat
may
be
done
for
thine
helping
,
and
I
will
presently
speak
to
my
sisters
thereon
,
who
are
,
both
of
them
,
wiser
than
I
.
Sisters
by
blood
are
we
not
,
but
by
love
and
fellowship
.
And
I
doubt
not
but
that
as
we
go
up
into
the
house
we
shall
happen
upon
them
in
the
garden
.
But
now
I
look
upon
thee
,
how
fair
a
woman
art
thou
!
Thou
art
kind
and
friendly
,
said
Birdalone
,
smiling
amidst
of
her
tears
,
might
I
know
by
what
name
to
call
so
dear
a
woman
?
Thou
shalt
call
me
Aurea
,
said
the
other
;
and
my
next
sister
is
Viridis
,
and
the
third
,
Atra
;
for
that
is
according
to
the
hues
of
our
raiment
,
and
other
names
we
have
not
now
.
And
lo
!
here
cometh
Viridis
over
the
meadow
.
Birdalone
looked
,
and
saw
a
woman
coming
toward
them
clad
all
in
green
,
with
a
rose-wreath
on
her
head
.
And
she
drew
nigh
,
and
greeted
Birdalone
kindly
,
and
she
also
was
a
very
beauteous
woman
;
not
great
of
body
,
whereas
Aurea
was
tall
and
big-made
,
though
excellently
shapen
.
Light
brown
and
goodly
waved
of
hair
was
Viridis
,
her
eyes
brown
,
and
rather
long
than
great
;
her
lips
full
and
ruddy
,
her
cheeks
soft
and
sweet
and
smooth
,
and
as
rosy-tinted
pearl
;
her
hands
small
and
delicate
of
fashion
;
her
whole
body
soft-shapen
as
an
egg
;
a
kind
,
wheedling
look
her
face
bore
.
When
she
had
looked
a
while
on
Birdalone
,
she
kissed
her
,
and
said
:
I
would
thou
wert
happier
,
for
thou
art
beauteous
,
and
all
but
the
evil
must
love
thee
.
Therewith
she
drew
a
cate
from
her
pouch
,
and
said
:
Eat
somewhat
,
for
thou
wilt
be
hungry
;
and
let
us
go
meet
our
other
sister
,
who
is
wiser
than
we
.
So
they
went
,
all
three
of
them
,
and
came
from
off
the
meadow
on
to
the
garden-slopes
,
and
at
the
entry
thereof
was
come
Atra
to
meet
them
;
she
was
clad
all
in
black
,
a
tall
,
slim
woman
,
with
the
grace
of
the
willow-bough
in
the
wind
,
with
dark
plenteous
hair
and
grey
hawk-eyes
;
her
skin
privet-white
,
with
but
little
red
in
her
cheeks
.
She
also
greeted
Birdalone
kindly
,
but
sadly
withal
.
She
gave
her
strawberries
to
eat
laid
on
a
big
kale-blade
;
and
she
said
:
Sisters
,
here
are
we
hidden
by
the
trees
,
and
cannot
be
seen
from
the
house
;
therefore
we
may
sit
here
for
a
minute
or
two
,
while
we
talk
together
as
to
what
may
perchance
be
done
for
the
helping
of
this
unhappy
maiden
,
who
is
so
fair
and
lovely
,
and
hath
strayed
into
so
ugly
a
trap
.
Then
she
said
to
Birdalone
:
Thou
must
know
,
poor
wanderer
,
that
this
Queen
,
our
mistress
,
who
is
sister
to
the
Witch
Under
the
Wood
,
is
big
and
strong
,
well-made
,
and
white-skinned
,
so
that
she
deems
herself
a
Queen
of
all
beauty
:
keen-eyed
is
she
to
see
a
fly
where
others
would
see
nought
smaller
than
a
coney
;
fine-eared
withal
;
wise
in
wizardry
;
not
altogether
dull-witted
,
though
she
be
proud
,
and
crueller
than
the
cruellest
.
But
herein
she
faileth
,
that
her
memory
is
of
the
shortest
for
matters
of
the
passing
hour
,
albeit
she
remembers
her
spells
and
witch-songs
over
well
.
But
other
matters
will
scarce
abide
in
her
head
for
four
and
twenty
hours
.
Wherefore
,
sisters
,
if
we
may
keep
this
maiden
out
of
her
sight
(
after
she
hath
seen
her
and
given
doom
upon
her
)
till
the
dead
of
tomorrow
night
,
we
may
perchance
do
some
good
for
her
;
and
it
is
in
my
mind
that
then
she
may
do
good
for
us
also
.
Now
they
rejoiced
in
this
word
of
Atra
the
wise
;
and
Atra
prayed
Birdalone
to
tell
them
somewhat
more
of
her
story
;
and
she
told
them
much
;
but
,
whyso
it
were
,
she
said
nought
concerning
the
wood-wife
,
whose
outward
semblance
was
the
same
as
hers
.
Then
they
pitied
her
,
and
caressed
her
;
but
Atra
said
:
We
must
tarry
here
no
more
,
but
go
straight
up
to
the
lady
,
or
maybe
we
shall
lose
all
.
So
they
went
their
ways
and
came
into
the
pleasance
,
and
trod
the
sweet
greensward
betwixt
the
garland
flowers
and
the
beauteous
trees
;
which
now
indeed
,
though
Birdalone
saw
them
all
clear
and
over-clear
,
were
become
nought
to
her
.
Those
three
also
spake
gently
to
her
,
and
now
and
then
asked
her
somewhat
,
as
if
to
show
her
that
she
was
one
of
themselves
;
but
she
spake
not
,
or
answered
at
random
,
and
to
say
sooth
scarce
heard
their
words
:
forsooth
she
was
now
become
heart-sick
,
and
was
half
dead
for
fear
;
and
her
nakedness
,
which
would
have
troubled
her
little
across
the
water
,
was
now
grown
a
shame
and
a
terror
unto
her
,
and
every
deal
of
her
body
quivered
with
the
anguish
thereof
.
Chapter
III
~
Birdalone
is
Brought
Before
the
Witch-Wife’s
Sister
So
came
they
at
last
to
the
very
house
,
and
whereas
it
stood
high
on
the
bent
,
a
great
stair
or
perron
of
stone
went
up
to
it
,
and
was
of
much
majesty
.
They
went
through
the
porch
,
which
was
pillared
and
lovely
,
and
into
a
great
hall
most
nobly
builded
,
and
at
the
other
end
thereof
,
on
a
golden
throne
raised
upon
a
dais
,
sat
a
big
woman
clad
in
red
scarlet
.
The
three
damsels
led
Birdalone
to
some
four
paces
of
the
great
lady
,
and
then
stood
away
from
her
,
and
left
her
standing
there
alone
,
the
scarlet-clad
woman
before
her
;
on
the
right
and
the
left
the
tall
pillars
going
up
gleaming
toward
the
roof
,
and
about
her
feet
the
dark
polished
pavement
,
with
the
wallowing
of
strange
beasts
and
great
serpents
and
dragons
all
done
on
the
coal-blue
ground
.
When
she
was
so
left
alone
,
at
first
she
tottered
,
and
went
nigh
to
falling
;
but
then
came
back
some
little
heart
to
her
,
as
she
said
to
herself
that
now
she
should
verily
die
once
for
all
,
and
that
no
long
while
would
be
the
passing
from
life
into
death
.
She
looked
up
and
beheld
the
lady-witch
,
that
she
was
somewhat
like
to
her
sister
,
white-skinned
and
of
plenteous
golden-hair
as
was
she
,
but
younger
of
aspect
,
and
nowise
so
ill-looked
as
that
other
had
now
become
;
for
somewhat
well-shapen
of
body
she
was
;
but
her
face
forbidding
;
her
lower
lip
thrust
out
,
her
cheeks
flaggy
and
drooping
,
her
eyes
little
more
than
half
open
;
to
be
short
,
a
face
both
proud
,
foolish
,
and
cruel
;
terrible
indeed
,
sitting
in
judgment
in
that
place
on
a
shrinking
naked
creature
.
Now
she
spake
;
and
if
there
were
no
majesty
or
solemnity
in
the
voice
,
there
was
ugly
glee
and
malice
therein
;
but
she
said
to
those
damsels
:
Is
this
the
woman
that
my
keen
eyes
beheld
come
aland
from
my
sister’s
Sending
Boat
e’en
now
?
Aurea
knelt
on
one
knee
,
and
said
:
Yea
,
so
please
you
,
my
lady
.
Then
said
the
witch
:
Ho
thou
!
Wilt
thou
plead
some
errand
hither
from
my
sister
?
Dost
thou
deem
me
so
witless
as
not
to
know
that
if
she
had
sent
thee
hither
thou
wouldst
not
have
come
in
this
plight
?
Nay
,
I
know
;
thou
hast
stolen
thyself
from
her
:
thou
art
a
thief
,
and
as
a
thief
shalt
thou
be
dealt
with
.
Spake
Birdalone
in
a
clear
voice
:
No
errand
do
I
feign
from
thy
sister
,
lady
:
when
I
could
bear
my
life
there
no
longer
,
I
took
occasion
to
flee
from
her
:
this
is
all
the
tale
.
Yet
once
and
again
it
hath
been
in
my
mind
that
it
was
thy
sister
who
stole
me
from
them
that
loved
me
.
Hah
,
thrall
!
said
the
lady
,
thou
art
bold
;
thou
art
over-bold
,
thou
naked
wretch
,
to
bandy
words
with
me
.
What
heed
I
thy
tale
now
thou
art
under
my
hand
?
Her
voice
was
cold
rather
than
fierce
,
yet
was
there
the
poison
of
malice
therein
.
But
Birdalone
spake
:
If
I
be
bold
,
lady
,
it
is
because
I
see
that
I
have
come
into
the
House
of
Death
.
The
dying
may
well
be
bold
.
The
House
of
Death
!
cried
the
stupid
lady
;
and
wilt
thou
call
my
noble
house
the
House
of
Death
?
Now
art
thou
no
longer
bold
,
stripped
thrall
,
but
impudent
.
Scorn
rose
into
Birdalone’s
heart
at
this
word
,
but
she
refrained
her
,
and
spake
:
I
meant
that
I
have
stirred
the
wrath
in
thee
,
and
that
thou
wilt
slay
me
therefor
;
and
that
it
availeth
not
to
crave
mercy
of
thee
.
Laughed
the
lady
:
Thou
art
a
fool
,
thrall
,
said
she
;
if
a
sparrow
fled
hither
from
my
sister
,
I
should
not
wring
its
neck
,
but
keep
it
for
her
.
So
shall
I
do
with
thee
.
I
shall
not
slay
thee
,
and
so
destroy
my
sister’s
chattel
;
nor
shall
I
spoil
thee
,
and
spoil
her
possession
.
I
shall
send
thee
back
unto
her
,
the
stolen
thrall
in
the
stolen
boat
,
when
I
have
learned
thee
a
lesson
here
.
Forsooth
it
was
for
that
cause
meseemeth
that
she
let
thee
slip
through
her
fingers
,
for
she
is
wise
enough
to
have
stayed
thee
from
this
holiday
had
she
willed
it
.
But
she
is
tender-hearted
,
and
kind
,
and
soft
,
and
might
well
deem
that
if
thy
chastisement
were
done
to
her
hand
here
,
it
were
better
done
than
by
her
mercy
.
Now
,
thrall
,
I
have
spoken
enough
to
thee
,
or
more
than
enough
:
get
thee
back
out
of
earshot
!
Chapter
IV
~
Of
the
Witch’s
Prison
in
the
Wailing-Tower
Birdalone
did
as
she
was
bidden
,
and
the
witch
called
unto
her
Atra
,
who
came
and
stood
humbly
on
the
footpace
beside
her
,
and
held
converse
with
her
mistress
a
while
.
Then
she
went
backward
from
her
a
little
,
and
then
came
to
Birdalone
,
and
in
a
somewhat
harsh
voice
bade
her
come
with
her
.
Birdalone
followed
her
,
quaking
,
and
they
came
out
of
the
hall
and
into
a
long
passage
,
which
led
to
a
wide
stair
winding
round
a
newel
;
and
all
was
builded
exceeding
fair
,
had
Birdalone’s
heart
suffered
her
eyes
to
see
it
;
but
her
flesh
was
weak
,
and
quaked
before
the
torment
to
come
,
so
that
her
knees
well-nigh
failed
her
.
But
now
Atra
lays
a
hand
kindly
on
her
shoulder
and
stays
her
,
and
says
:
Now
meseems
the
walls
of
the
Wailing
–
Tower
,
for
so
it
hight
,
have
no
ears
to
hear
,
and
we
may
talk
together
.
Wottest
thou
why
I
have
brought
thee
hither
?
Said
Birdalone
in
a
faint
voice
:
Hast
thou
been
bidden
to
whip
me
?
And
if
I
had
been
so
bidden
,
dear
maiden
,
said
Atra
laughing
,
nowise
would
I
do
it
.
Hold
up
thine
heart
!
For
all
hath
gone
well
so
far
,
and
now
meseems
betwixt
us
three
we
shall
save
thee
.
Birdalone’s
spirit
came
back
to
her
at
that
word
,
and
she
put
her
hands
to
her
face
and
fell
a-weeping
.
But
Atra
was
kind
to
her
and
made
much
of
her
;
and
she
kissed
her
and
wiped
her
tears
,
and
Birdalone
smiled
again
amidst
her
sobs
,
and
she
thanked
Atra
;
who
said
to
her
:
First
of
all
I
must
tell
thee
that
I
am
taking
thee
to
prison
by
the
witch’s
bidding
.
Yea
,
said
Birdalone
,
and
what
is
prison
?
Said
Atra
:
A
prison
is
a
grim
place
where
poor
folk
who
have
done
that
which
pleaseth
not
rich
folk
are
shut
up
,
that
they
may
be
grieved
and
tormented
by
not
being
able
to
fare
abroad
,
or
go
where
they
would
;
and
by
suffering
whatsoever
their
masters
may
lay
upon
them
,
as
darkness
,
and
cold
,
and
hunger
,
and
stripes
.
Somewhat
so
,
or
worse
,
our
lady
would
have
it
for
thee
;
but
so
would
not
we
.
Therefore
for
thee
shall
this
prison
be
a
place
where
thou
shalt
be
safe
till
we
may
bring
thee
forth
when
the
night
hath
worn
towards
its
ending
.
For
she
will
have
forgotten
thee
by
tomorrow
;
and
this
she
knoweth
;
wherefore
just
now
,
when
thou
stoodest
out
of
earshot
,
she
was
bidding
me
,
amongst
other
matters
,
to
bring
thee
before
her
tomorrow
morning
,
and
tell
her
the
tale
of
thee
,
that
she
might
call
it
to
mind
then
what
she
had
will
to
this
morning
.
Yea
,
said
Birdalone
,
but
will
she
not
remember
that
she
hath
given
thee
a
charge
concerning
me
?
But
little
thereof
,
said
Atra
,
and
with
a
few
words
I
may
easily
confuse
her
memory
so
that
speech
thereon
will
fail
her
.
Keep
up
thine
heart
,
sweetling
;
but
let
us
up
this
stair
now
forthwith
,
for
I
were
fain
to
have
thee
hid
away
in
this
prison
,
and
then
will
I
down
to
her
and
tell
her
that
thou
art
lying
therein
in
all
misery
and
terror
,
lest
it
come
into
her
head
to
send
for
thee
ere
her
memory
is
grown
dim
.
Again
did
Birdalone
take
heart
,
and
they
hastened
a
long
way
up
the
stair
,
till
Atra
stayed
at
last
at
a
door
all
done
with
iron
,
endlong
and
over-thwart
.
Then
she
took
a
leash
of
keys
from
her
girdle
,
one
big
and
two
little
,
and
set
the
big
one
in
the
lock
and
turned
it
,
and
shoved
the
heavy
door
and
entered
thereby
a
chamber
four-square
and
vaulted
;
and
the
vault
was
upheld
by
a
pillar
of
red
marble
,
wherein
,
somewhat
higher
than
a
man’s
head
,
were
set
stanchions
of
latten
,
that
could
be
clasped
and
unclasped
.
This
chamber
was
in
a
way
goodly
,
but
yet
grim
to
look
on
;
for
the
walls
were
all
of
black
ashlar
stone
close-jointed
,
and
the
floor
black
also
,
but
of
marble
polished
so
wholly
that
it
was
as
dark
water
,
and
gave
back
the
image
of
Birdalone’s
dear
feet
and
legs
as
she
went
thereon
.
The
windows
were
not
small
,
and
the
chamber
was
light
in
every
corner
because
of
them
,
but
they
were
so
high
up
under
the
vaulting
that
none
might
see
thereout
aught
save
the
heavens
.
There
was
nought
in
the
chamber
save
a
narrow
bench
of
oak
and
three
stools
of
the
same
,
a
great
and
stately
carven
chair
dight
with
cushions
of
purple
and
gold
,
and
in
one
corner
a
big
oaken
coffer
.
Now
spake
Atra
:
This
is
our
lady’s
prison
,
and
I
fear
me
we
cannot
make
it
soft
for
thee
,
dear
stranger
.
Yea
,
I
must
tell
thee
(
and
she
reddened
therewith
)
that
it
is
part
of
my
charge
to
set
thee
in
irons
.
Birdalone
smiled
on
her
,
and
was
over
weary
to
ask
what
that
meant
,
though
she
knew
not
.
But
Atra
went
to
the
big
coffer
and
opened
it
and
thrust
in
her
hands
,
and
there
was
a
jangling
therewith
,
and
when
she
turned
about
to
Birdalone
again
she
had
iron
chains
in
her
hands
,
and
she
said
:
This
shameth
me
,
dear
friend
;
yet
if
thou
wouldst
wear
them
it
might
be
well
,
for
she
may
have
a
mind
to
go
visit
her
prison
,
and
if
she
find
thee
there
unshackled
she
shall
be
wroth
,
and
oftenest
her
wrath
hath
a
whip
in
its
hand
.
And
these
are
the
lightest
that
I
might
find
.
Birdalone
smiled
again
,
and
spake
not
,
for
she
was
very
weary
,
and
Atra
did
the
irons
on
her
wrists
and
her
ankles
;
and
said
thereafter
:
Yet
bear
in
mind
that
it
is
a
friend
that
hath
the
key
of
these
things
.
And
now
I
will
go
away
for
a
little
,
but
I
shall
be
on
thine
errands
;
for
first
I
shall
tell
the
mistress
that
thou
art
lying
here
shackled
and
in
all
wanhope
;
and
next
,
by
the
will
and
command
of
her
,
I
am
to
see
that
thou
be
well
fed
and
nourished
today
that
thou
mayst
be
the
stronger
for
tomorrow
.
Now
if
I
may
give
thee
rede
,
it
is
that
thou
forbear
to
open
the
coffer
yonder
;
for
ugly
things
shalt
thou
find
there
,
and
that
may
dishearten
thee
again
.
Therewith
she
kissed
her
kindly
on
the
cheek
and
went
her
ways
,
and
the
great
key
turned
in
the
lock
behind
her
.
There
then
was
Birdalone
left
to
herself
;
and
she
was
over
weary
even
to
weep
;
true
it
is
that
she
made
a
step
or
two
towards
the
coffer
,
but
reframed
her
,
and
took
two
of
the
pillows
from
the
great
chair
and
turned
aside
into
the
other
corner
,
her
chains
jingling
as
she
went
.
There
she
laid
herself
down
,
and
nestled
into
the
very
wall-nook
,
and
presently
fell
asleep
,
and
slumbered
dreamlessly
and
sweetly
a
long
while
.
Chapter
V
~
They
Feast
in
the
Witch’s
Prison
Birdalone
was
awakened
by
the
sound
of
the
key
in
the
lock
,
and
the
door
opened
,
and
there
was
Atra
bearing
dishes
and
platters
,
and
behind
her
Viridis
with
the
like
gear
,
and
beakers
and
a
flagon
to
boot
,
and
both
they
were
smiling
and
merry
.
Birdalone’s
heart
leapt
up
to
meet
them
,
and
in
especial
was
she
gladdened
by
the
coming
of
Viridis
,
who
had
seemed
to
be
the
kindest
of
them
all
.
Viridis
spake
:
Now
is
come
the
meat
for
the
dear
sister
,
and
it
is
time
,
for
surely
thou
art
famished
,
and
it
is
now
long
past
high
noon
.
Do
off
her
irons
,
Atra
.
Said
Atra
:
Maybe
it
were
well
to
let
the
fetters
abide
on
her
ankles
,
lest
the
mistress
should
come
;
but
for
the
wrists
,
reach
out
thine
hands
,
wayfarer
.
So
did
Birdalone
,
and
Atra
laid
her
things
on
the
ground
,
and
unlocked
the
hand-shackles
,
and
did
them
off
:
and
meanwhile
Viridis
spread
forth
the
banquet
,
partly
on
the
floor
,
and
partly
on
that
ill-omened
coffer
.
Then
she
went
up
to
Birdalone
and
kissed
her
,
and
said
:
Now
shalt
thou
sit
in
our
lady’s
throne
,
and
we
shall
serve
thee
,
and
thou
shalt
deem
thee
a
great
one
.
Nought
else
would
they
have
,
and
Birdalone
laid
her
nakedness
on
the
purple
cushions
,
and
then
they
fell
all
three
to
the
feast
.
The
victual
was
both
plenteous
and
dainty
,
of
venison
and
fowl
,
and
cream
and
fruits
and
sweetmeats
,
and
good
wine
they
had
withal
:
never
had
Birdalone
feasted
in
like
manner
,
and
the
heart
came
back
unto
her
,
and
her
cheeks
grew
rosy
and
her
eyes
glittered
.
But
she
said
:
How
if
your
lady
were
to
come
upon
us
here
,
and
we
so
merry
?
Said
Atra
:
Out
of
the
chair
must
thou
when
thou
hearest
the
key
in
the
lock
,
and
then
is
all
well
,
and
she
would
have
nought
against
us
;
for
she
herself
bade
us
,
and
me
in
special
,
to
keep
thee
company
here
,
and
talk
with
thee
;
and
Aurea
also
would
have
been
here
,
but
that
she
is
serving
the
lady
as
now
.
Hath
she
then
some
pity
on
me
,
said
Birdalone
,
that
she
hath
bidden
thee
do
by
me
what
is
most
to
my
pleasure
?
Laughed
Viridis
thereat
,
and
Atra
said
:
She
hath
no
pity
,
nor
ever
shall
have
;
but
so
hard
of
heart
is
she
,
that
she
may
not
deem
that
we
could
love
thee
,
a
stranger
,
and
unhappy
,
who
can
serve
us
in
nowise
;
so
she
feareth
not
the
abatement
of
thy
grief
from
any
compassion
of
us
.
Rather
she
hath
sent
us
,
and
me
in
especial
,
not
to
comfort
thee
,
but
to
grieve
thee
by
words
;
for
she
biddeth
me
tell
thee
fair
tales
,
forsooth
,
of
what
tomorrow
shall
be
to
thee
,
and
the
day
after
;
and
of
how
she
shall
begin
on
thee
,
and
what
shall
follow
the
beginning
,
and
what
thou
mayst
look
for
after
that
.
For
by
all
this
she
deemeth
to
lower
thy
pride
and
abate
thy
valour
,
and
to
make
every
moment
of
today
a
terror
to
thy
flesh
and
thy
soul
,
so
that
thereby
thou
mayest
thole
the
bitterness
twice
over
.
Such
is
her
pity
for
thee
!
And
yet
belike
this
cruelty
hath
saved
thee
,
for
but
for
that
she
had
not
refrained
her
from
thee
today
,
and
tomorrow
thou
shalt
be
far
away
from
her
.
Meanwhile
,
said
Viridis
,
in
her
soft
sweet
voice
,
none
of
all
these
things
will
we
talk
over
with
thee
,
but
things
comfortable
and
kind
;
and
we
will
tell
each
to
each
of
our
story
.
Will
we
not
,
Atra
?
Yea
,
verily
,
said
she
.
Birdalone
looked
upon
them
and
said
:
Wondrous
is
your
compassion
and
loving-kindness
unto
me
,
and
scarce
do
I
know
how
to
bear
the
burden
thereof
.
But
tell
me
one
thing
truly
;
will
ye
not
suffer
in
my
place
when
this
witch
cometh
to
know
that
ye
have
stolen
me
away
from
her
?
Nay
,
said
Atra
,
I
have
told
thee
that
by
tomorrow
she
will
have
altogether
,
or
at
least
almost
,
forgotten
thee
and
thy
coming
hither
.
Moreover
,
she
is
foreseeing
,
and
hath
come
to
know
that
if
she
raise
a
hand
against
any
of
us
three
,
it
will
lead
her
to
her
bane
,
save
it
be
for
heavy
guilt
clearly
proven
against
us
.
Forsooth
,
in
the
earlier
days
of
our
captivity
such
a
guilt
we
fell
into
,
and
did
not
wholly
escape
,
as
Viridis
can
bear
me
witness
.
But
we
are
now
grown
wiser
,
and
know
our
mistress
better
,
and
will
give
her
no
such
joy
.
Viridis
cast
her
eyes
down
at
those
words
and
Atra’s
smile
,
and
turned
red
and
then
pale
,
and
Birdalone
looked
on
her
wondering
what
ailed
her
;
then
she
said
:
Do
ye
sisters
work
in
the
field
and
the
garden
?
I
mean
at
milking
the
kine
and
the
goats
,
and
digging
the
earth
,
and
sowing
and
reaping
,
and
the
like
.
Nay
,
said
Atra
;
either
our
mistress
or
someone
else
who
is
of
marvellous
might
,
hath
so
ordained
,
that
here
everything
waxeth
of
itself
without
tillage
,
or
sowing
or
reaping
,
or
any
kind
of
tending
;
and
whatso
we
need
of
other
matters
the
mistress
taketh
it
for
us
from
out
of
her
Wonder-coffer
,
or
suffereth
us
to
take
it
for
ourselves
.
For
thou
must
know
that
this
land
is
one
of
the
Isles
of
the
Lake
,
and
is
called
the
Isle
of
Increase
Unsought
.
Meseemeth
then
,
said
Birdalone
,
were
the
mistress
of
you
to
gainsay
you
the
gifts
of
the
Wonder-coffer
,
ye
were
undone
.
Yea
,
verily
,
said
Atra
;
then
would
be
but
the
fruits
of
the
earth
and
the
wild
creatures
for
our
avail
,
and
these
,
we
have
not
learned
how
to
turn
them
into
dinner
and
supper
.
And
they
all
laughed
thereat
;
but
Birdalone
said
:
See
ye
then
how
I
was
right
to
offer
myself
unto
you
as
a
servant
,
for
in
all
matters
of
the
house
and
the
byre
and
the
field
have
I
skill
.
But
since
ye
would
not
or
could
not
have
me
,
I
wonder
not
that
ye
be
ill
at
ease
here
,
and
long
to
be
gone
,
for
as
plenteous
and
lovely
as
the
isle
is
,
and
though
ye
live
here
without
present
mishandling
or
pining
.
For
,
sooth
to
say
,
ye
have
over
you
a
tyrant
and
a
fool
.
Viridis
answered
:
Yet
is
there
something
else
,
dear
friend
,
that
whets
our
longing
to
depart
.
Tell
her
thereof
,
Atra
.
Atra
smiled
and
said
:
Simple
it
is
:
there
are
they
who
long
for
us
and
for
whom
we
long
,
and
we
would
be
together
.
Said
Birdalone
:
Be
these
kinsfolk
of
yours
,
as
fathers
,
mothers
,
sisters
,
brothers
,
or
the
like
?
Reddened
Viridis
again
;
but
Atra
spake
,
and
she
also
blushed
somewhat
,
though
she
smiled
:
Those
whom
we
love
,
and
who
love
us
,
be
not
queans
,
but
carles
;
neither
be
they
of
our
blood
,
but
aliens
,
till
love
overcometh
them
and
causeth
them
to
long
to
be
of
one
flesh
with
us
;
and
their
longing
is
beyond
measure
,
and
they
desire
our
bodies
,
which
they
deem
far
fairer
than
belike
they
be
.
And
they
would
bed
us
,
and
beget
children
on
us
.
And
all
this
we
let
them
do
with
a
good
will
,
because
we
love
them
for
their
might
,
and
their
truth
,
and
the
hotness
of
their
love
toward
us
.
Looked
up
Viridis
thereat
,
and
her
eyes
gleamed
amidst
the
flushing
of
her
cheeks
,
and
she
said
:
Sister
,
sister
!
even
in
such
wise
,
and
no
other
,
as
they
desire
us
do
we
desire
them
;
it
is
no
mere
good
will
toward
them
from
us
,
but
longing
and
hot
love
.
Now
must
Atra
blush
no
less
than
Viridis
;
yet
she
but
said
:
I
have
told
thee
hereof
,
Birdalone
,
because
I
deem
that
thou
hast
lived
simply
and
without
the
sight
of
men
;
but
it
is
what
all
know
in
the
world
of
the
sons
of
Adam
.
Said
Birdalone
:
Thou
sayest
sooth
concerning
me
.
Yet
about
this
love
have
I
learned
somewhat
even
ere
today
,
and
now
,
as
ye
speak
and
I
,
meseems
the
lore
of
it
comes
pouring
in
on
me
and
fills
my
heart
with
its
sweetness
.
And
O
,
to
have
such
love
from
any
,
and
with
such
love
to
be
loved
withal
!
Dear
sister
,
said
little
Viridis
,
fear
not
;
such
as
thou
shall
not
fail
of
the
love
of
some
man
whom
thou
must
needs
love
.
Is
it
not
so
,
sister
Atra
?
Said
Atra
:
Yea
;
such
love
shall
come
unto
her
as
surely
as
death
.
They
were
silent
now
a
little
,
and
it
was
as
if
some
sweet
incense
had
been
burned
within
the
chamber
.
For
Birdalone
the
colour
came
and
went
in
her
cheeks
,
her
flesh
quaked
,
her
heart
beat
quick
,
and
she
was
oppressed
by
the
sweetness
of
longing
.
More
daintily
she
moved
her
limbs
,
and
laid
foot
to
foot
and
felt
the
sleekness
of
her
sides
;
and
tender
she
was
of
her
body
as
of
that
which
should
one
day
be
so
sorely
loved
.
Now
she
spake
timidly
to
the
others
,
and
said
:
Each
one
of
you
then
has
a
man
who
loves
her
,
and
longs
for
her
and
for
none
else
?
So
it
is
,
said
Viridis
.
How
sweet
that
shall
be
!
said
Birdalone
;
and
now
all
the
more
I
wonder
that
ye
could
trouble
yourselves
over
me
,
or
think
of
me
once
;
and
the
kinder
I
think
it
of
you
.
Said
Atra
smiling
on
her
:
Nay
,
now
must
the
cat
be
out
of
the
bag
,
and
I
must
tell
thee
that
thou
art
to
think
of
us
as
chapmen
who
with
our
kindness
would
buy
something
of
thee
,
to
wit
,
that
thou
wouldst
do
an
errand
for
us
to
those
three
lovers
of
ours
.
Surely
,
said
Birdalone
,
it
were
a
little
payment
to
set
against
your
saving
of
my
life
and
my
soul
;
and
had
I
to
go
barefoot
over
red
gleeds
I
would
do
it
.
And
yet
,
if
I
may
go
hence
to
your
lovers
,
why
not
all
three
of
you
along
with
me
?
Said
Atra
:
For
this
reason
;
thy
ferry
,
the
Sending
Boat
,
wherein
ye
came
hither
,
is
even
somewhat
akin
to
thy
mistress
and
ours
;
and
the
mistress
here
hath
banned
it
against
bearing
us
;
and
now
,
were
we
so
much
as
to
touch
it
,
such
sore
turmoil
would
arise
,
and
such
hideous
noise
as
if
earth
and
heaven
were
falling
together
;
and
the
lady
would
be
on
us
straightway
,
and
we
should
be
undone
;
and
,
as
thou
shalt
hear
presently
,
this
hath
been
proved
.
But
thou
,
thou
art
free
of
the
said
ferry
.
Forsooth
I
wot
not
why
thy
mistress
banned
it
not
against
thee
;
maybe
because
she
deemed
not
that
thou
wouldst
dare
to
use
it
or
even
go
anigh
it
.
Birdalone
considered
,
and
thought
that
even
so
it
was
;
that
the
witch
deemed
that
she
would
not
dare
use
the
Sending
Boat
,
nor
know
how
to
,
even
if
she
came
upon
it
,
and
that
if
she
did
so
find
it
,
she
would
sicken
her
of
the
road
thereto
.
So
now
she
told
her
friends
the
whole
tale
thereof
more
closely
than
she
had
afore
,
save
again
what
pertained
to
Habundia
;
withal
she
told
every
word
of
what
her
mistress
had
said
to
her
at
that
time
when
she
changed
her
into
a
hind
.
And
Viridis
heard
and
wondered
,
and
pitied
her
.
But
Atra
sat
somewhat
downcast
a
while
.
Then
she
said
:
However
this
may
be
,
we
will
send
thee
forth
tomorrow
in
the
dawn
,
and
take
the
risk
of
what
may
befall
thereafter
;
and
thou
shalt
bear
a
token
for
each
of
those
three
that
love
us
.
For
we
deem
that
they
have
not
forgotten
aught
,
but
are
still
seeking
us
.
Birdalone
said
:
Whatsoever
ye
bid
me
;
that
will
I
do
,
and
deem
me
your
debtor
still
.
But
now
I
pray
you
,
pleasure
a
poor
captive
somewhat
more
.
Wherein
?
said
they
both
;
we
be
all
ready
thereto
.
Said
the
maiden
:
Would
ye
do
so
much
as
to
tell
me
the
tale
of
how
ye
came
hither
,
and
then
how
it
hath
been
with
you
from
your
first
coming
until
now
?
With
a
good
will
,
said
Atra
;
hearken
!
Chapter
VI
~
Atra
Tells
of
How
They
Three
Came
Unto
the
Isle
of
Increase
Unsought
We
were
born
and
bred
in
the
land
that
lies
south-west
along
this
Great
Water
,
and
we
waxed
happily
,
and
became
fellows
when
we
were
yet
but
children
,
and
thus
grew
up
dear
friends
into
maidenhood
and
womanhood
.
We
were
wooed
by
many
men
,
but
our
hearts
turned
to
none
of
them
save
unto
three
,
who
were
goodly
,
kind
,
and
valiant
;
and
thou
mayst
call
them
the
Golden
Knight
,
who
is
Aurea’s
man
;
the
Green
Knight
,
who
is
man
of
Viridis
;
and
my
man
,
the
Black
Squire
.
But
in
this
was
unhap
,
that
because
of
certain
feuds
which
had
endured
from
old
time
,
this
love
was
perilous
unto
them
and
us
;
so
that
we
lived
in
doubt
and
unrest
.
Came
a
day
,
now
three
years
ago
,
when
the
king
of
the
whole
land
brought
his
folk
into
our
lakeside
country
,
and
there
held
a
court
and
a
mote
in
a
fair
great
meadow
anigh
to
the
water
.
But
even
as
the
mote
was
hallowed
,
and
the
Peace
of
God
proclaimed
at
the
blast
of
the
war-horn
,
came
we
three
woeful
ladies
clad
in
black
and
knelt
before
the
lord
king
,
and
prayed
him
hearken
us
.
And
he
deemed
that
we
were
fair
,
so
he
had
compassion
on
us
,
and
raised
us
up
,
and
bade
us
speak
.
So
we
told
our
tale
,
how
that
strife
and
wounds
and
death
stood
betwixt
us
and
love
;
and
we
wept
,
and
bewailed
it
,
that
our
love
must
be
slain
because
men
were
wroth
with
each
other
and
not
with
us
.
The
king
looked
on
us
kindly
,
and
said
:
Who
be
the
swains
for
whom
these
lovely
damsels
make
such
a
piece
of
work
?
So
we
named
them
,
and
said
that
they
were
there
in
the
mote
;
and
the
king
knew
them
for
valiant
men
who
had
done
him
good
service
;
and
he
cried
out
their
names
,
and
bade
them
stand
forth
out
of
the
throng
.
So
forth
they
stood
,
the
Golden
Knight
,
the
Green
Knight
,
and
the
Black
Squire
(
and
he
also
was
now
a
knight
)
;
but
now
were
they
all
three
clad
in
black
,
and
they
were
unarmed
,
save
for
their
swords
girt
to
their
sides
,
without
which
no
man
amongst
us
may
come
to
the
mote
,
be
he
baron
or
earl
or
duke
,
or
the
very
lord
king
himself
.
So
the
king
looked
upon
us
and
them
,
and
laughed
and
said
:
Fair
ladies
,
ye
have
got
me
by
the
nose
,
so
needs
must
my
body
follow
.
Do
ye
three
knights
,
whom
I
know
for
valiant
men
and
true
,
take
each
his
love
by
the
hand
,
and
let
the
weddings
be
tomorrow
.
Who
then
were
joyful
but
us
?
But
even
at
the
word
the
king
spake
arose
great
turmoil
in
the
mote
,
for
they
smote
the
feud
and
contention
awake
,
and
men
thronged
forward
against
each
other
,
and
swords
were
drawn
and
brandished
.
But
the
king
arose
in
his
place
and
spake
long
and
deftly
,
and
waxed
exceeding
wroth
,
while
none
heeded
him
nor
hearkened
.
And
there
stood
our
three
men
,
who
laid
no
hand
to
hilt
,
but
abode
heart-whole
by
seeming
amid
the
tumult
.
And
lovely
they
were
to
look
on
.
At
last
the
wise
men
and
old
barons
went
between
,
and
by
fair
words
appeased
the
trouble
,
and
the
mote
grew
hushed
.
Then
spake
the
king
:
What
is
this
,
my
thanes
?
I
had
deemed
that
my
foemen
were
far
away
,
and
that
ye
that
here
are
were
all
friends
unto
me
and
unto
each
other
.
But
now
must
we
try
another
rede
.
Therewith
he
turned
unto
our
men
and
said
:
Ye
champions
,
are
ye
so
much
in
love
with
Love
that
ye
will
fight
for
him
?
They
all
yeasaid
that
,
and
then
the
king
said
:
Then
do
I
declare
that
these
three
will
hold
the
field
against
all
comers
from
matins
till
high
noon
,
and
that
he
who
vanquisheth
any
one
of
them
shall
have
his
lady
and
wed
her
if
he
will
,
and
,
if
he
will
,
shall
ransom
her
.
And
this
field
shall
be
foughten
after
two
months’
frist
in
these
fair
meadows
,
when
I
return
from
the
outermost
marches
of
the
south
,
whereto
I
am
now
wending
.
But
when
the
battle
is
done
,
then
let
all
men
bow
to
the
judgment
of
God
,
whether
he
be
well
content
or
not
,
and
this
on
peril
of
life
and
limb
.
And
now
let
there
be
deep
peace
between
all
men
meanwhile
;
and
if
any
break
the
peace
,
be
he
high
or
low
,
rich
or
unrich
,
churl
or
earl
,
I
swear
it
by
the
souls
of
my
fathers
that
he
shall
lose
nought
save
his
life
therefor
.
At
these
words
was
there
a
rumour
of
yeasay
,
and
all
men
were
content
,
save
we
three
poor
maidens
,
into
whose
hearts
had
now
entered
fear
of
loss
and
death
.
But
our
kindreds
on
both
sides
were
glad
and
proud
,
and
they
were
not
so
bitter
against
us
as
they
had
been
;
they
put
hand
to
pouch
,
and
let
rear
for
us
a
fair
pavilion
of
painted
timber
,
all
hung
with
silk
and
pictured
cloths
and
Saracen
tapestry
,
by
the
very
lake-side
;
and
gay
boats
gaily
bedight
lay
off
the
said
pavilion
for
our
pleasure
;
and
when
all
was
done
,
it
yet
lacked
a
half
month
of
the
day
of
battle
,
and
thither
were
we
brought
in
triumph
by
the
kindreds
on
a
fair
day
of
May
,
and
there
was
not
a
sword
or
a
spear
amongst
the
whole
company
,
and
peaceful
and
merry
was
all
by
seeming
.
But
we
were
not
suffered
to
meet
our
lovers
all
this
while
,
from
the
time
when
the
mote
was
.
Now
on
a
day
came
a
messenger
on
the
spur
,
and
did
us
to
wit
that
the
king
would
be
with
us
on
the
morrow
,
and
that
the
day
after
,
the
fateful
field
should
be
foughten
.
Then
,
though
the
coming
of
this
day
had
been
so
longed
for
by
us
,
yet
now
it
was
at
hand
it
cast
us
into
all
unrest
and
trouble
,
so
that
we
scarce
knew
whether
to
go
,
or
stand
,
or
sit
,
or
what
to
do
with
our
bodies
.
Our
folk
,
and
all
other
men
withal
,
were
so
busy
making
ready
for
the
morrow
of
tomorrow
,
that
they
left
us
alone
to
wear
through
the
day
as
we
might
.
Now
it
was
afternoon
,
and
the
day
hot
and
hazy
,
and
we
stood
on
the
very
lip
of
the
land
wearied
with
hope
and
fear
,
and
striving
to
keep
good
countenance
to
each
other
;
and
there
came
a
boat
unto
the
shore
gaily
painted
and
gilded
,
and
bedight
with
silken
cloths
and
cushions
;
and
the
steerer
thereof
was
a
woman
,
not
young
,
by
seeming
of
fifty
winters
;
red-haired
she
was
,
thin-lipped
and
narrow-eyed
,
flat-breasted
and
strait-hipped
;
an
ungoodly
woman
,
though
her
skin
was
white
and
smooth
as
for
her
age
.
Hast
thou
ever
seen
such
an
one
,
guest
?
Said
Birdalone
,
smiling
:
Forsooth
that
