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CHAPTER X： THEY HOLD CONVERSE WITH FOLK OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN
Now the rowers lifted the ash…blades； and fell to rowing towards
shore： and almost with the first of their strokes； the Sea…eagle
moaned out：
〃Would we were there； oh； would we were there！ Cold groweth eld
about my heart。 Raven's Son； thou art standing up； tell me if thou
canst see what these folk of the land are doing； and if any others
have come thither？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃There are none others come； but kine and horses
are feeding down the meadows。 As to what those four are doing； the
women are putting off their shoon； and girding up their raiment； as
if they would wade the water toward us； and the carle； who was
barefoot before； wendeth straight towards the sea； and there he
standeth； for very little are the waves become。〃
The old man answered nothing； and did but groan for lack of patience；
but presently when the water was yet waist deep the rowers stayed the
skiff； and two of them slipped over the gunwale into the sea； and
between them all they took up the chieftain on his bed and got him
forth from the boat and went toward the strand with him； and the
landsfolk met them where the water was shallower； and took him from
their hands and bore him forth on to the yellow sand； and laid him
down out of reach of the creeping ripple of the tide。 Hallblithe
withal slipped lightly out of the boat and waded the water after
them。 But the shipmen rowed back again to their ship； and presently
Hallblithe heard the hale and how； as they got up their anchor。
But when Hallblithe was come ashore； and was drawn near the folk of
the land； the women looked at him askance； and they laughed and said：
〃Welcome to thee also； O young man！〃 And he beheld them； and saw
that they were of the stature of the maidens of his own land； they
were exceeding fair of skin and shapely of fashion； so that the
nakedness of their limbs under their girded gowns； and all glistening
with the sea； was most lovely and dainty to behold。 But Hallblithe
knelt by the Sea…eagle to note how he fared； and said： 〃How is it
with thee； O chieftain？〃
The old man answered not a word； and he seemed to be asleep； and
Hallblithe deemed that his cheeks were ruddier and his skin less
wasted and wrinkled than aforetime。 Then spake one of those women：
〃Fear not； young man； he is well and will soon be better。〃 Her voice
was as sweet as a spring bird in the morning； she was white…skinned
and dark…haired； and full sweetly fashioned； and she laughed on
Hallblithe； but not mockingly； and her fellows also laughed； as
though it was strange for him to be there。 Then they did on their
shoon again； and with the carle laid their hands to the bed whereon
the old man lay； and lifted him up； and bore him forth on to the
grass； turning their faces toward the flowery wood aforesaid； and
they went a little way and then laid him down again and rested； and
so on little by little； till they had brought him to the edge of the
wood； and still he seemed to be asleep。 Then the damsel who had
spoken before； she with the dark hair； said to Hallblithe； 〃Although
we have gazed on thee as if with wonder； this is not because we did
not look to meet thee； but because thou art so fair and goodly a man：
so abide thou here till we come back to thee from out of the wood。〃
Therewith she stroked his hand； and with her fellows lifted the old
man once more； and they bore him out of sight into the thicket。
But Hallblithe went to and fro a dozen paces from the wood； and
looked across the flowery meads and deemed he had never seen any so
fair。 And afar off toward the hills he saw a great roof arising； and
thought he could see men also； and nigher to him were kine pasturing；
and horses also； whereof some drew anear him and stretched out their
necks and gazed at him； and they were goodly after their kind； and a
fair stream of water came round the corner out of the wood and down
the meadows to the sea； and Hallblithe went thereto and could see
that there was but little ebb and flow of the tide on that shore； for
the water of the stream was clear as glass； and the grass and flowers
grew right down to its water； so he put off his helm and drank of the
stream and washed his face and his hands therein； and then did on his
helm again and turned back again toward the wood； feeling very strong
and merry； and he looked out seaward and saw the Ship of the Isle of
Ransom lessening fast； for a little land wind had arisen and they had
spread their sails to it； and he laid down on the grass till the four
folk of the country came out of the wood again； after they had been
gone somewhat less than an hour； but the Sea…eagle was not with them：
and Hallblithe rose up and turned to them； and the carle saluted him
and departed； going straight toward that far…away roof he had seen；
and the women were left with Hallblithe； and they looked at him and
he at them as he stood leaning on his spear。
Then said the black…haired damsel： 〃True it is； O Spearman； that if
we did not know of thee； our wonder would be great that a man so
young and lucky…looking should have sought hither。〃
〃I wot not why thou shouldest wonder；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃I will tell
thee presently wherefore I come hither。 But tell me； is this the
Land of the Glittering Plain？〃
〃Even so；〃 said the damsel； 〃dost thou not see how the sun shineth on
it？ Just so it shineth in the season that other folks call winter。〃
〃Some such marvel I thought to hear of；〃 said he； 〃for I have been
told that the land is marvellous； and fair though these meadows be；
they are not marvellous to look on now： they are like other lands；
though it maybe； fairer。〃
〃That may be；〃 she said； 〃we have nought but hearsay of other lands。
If we ever knew them we have forgotten them。〃
Said Hallblithe； 〃Is this land called also the Acre of the Undying？〃
As he spake the words the smile faded from the damsel's face； she and
her fellows grew pale； and she said： 〃Hold thy peace of such words！
They are not lawful for any man to utter here。 Yet mayst thou call
it the Land of the Living。〃
He said： 〃I crave pardon for the rash word。〃
Then they smiled again； and drew near to him； and caressed him with
their hands； and looked on him lovingly； but he drew a little aback
from them and said： 〃I have come hither seeking something which I
have lost； the lack whereof grieveth me。〃
Quoth the damsel； drawing nearer to him again； 〃Mayst thou find it；
thou lovely man； and whatsoever else thou desirest。〃
Then he said： 〃Hath a woman named the Hostage been brought hither of
late days？ A fair woman； bright…haired and grey…eyed； kind of
countenance； soft of speech； yet outspoken and nought timorous； tall
according to our stature； but very goodly of fashion； a woman of the
House of the Rose； and my troth…plight maiden。〃
They looked on each other and shook their heads； and the black…haired
damsel spake： 〃We know of no such a woman； nor of the kindred which
thou namest。〃
Then his countenance fell； and became piteous with desire and grief；
and he bent his brows upon them； for they seemed to him light…minded
and careless； though they were lovely。
But they shrank from him trembling； and drew aback； for they had all
been standing close to him； beholding him with love； and she who had
spoken most had been holding his left hand fondly。 But now she said：
〃Nay； look not on us so bitterly！ If the woman be not in the land；
this cometh not of our malice。 Yet maybe she is here。 For such as
come hither keep not their old names； and soon forget them what they
were。 Thou shalt go with us to the King； and he shall do for thee
what thou wilt； for he is exceeding mighty。〃
Then was Hallblithe appeased somewhat； and he said： 〃Are there many
women in the land？〃
〃Yea； many；〃 said that damsel。
〃And many that are as