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Said Hallblithe： 〃I will tell you twain the tidings； and thereafter
ask me no more concerning them。 Hearken。 I went whereas ye bade me；
and hid myself in the bay…tree thicket； and there came maidens into
the blossoming orchard and made a resting…place with silken cushions
close to where I was lurking； and stood about as though they were
looking for some one to come。 In a little time came two more
maidens； and betwixt them one so much fairer than any there； that my
heart sank within me： whereas I deemed because of her fairness that
this would be the fore…doomed love whereof ye spake； and lo； she was
in nought like to my troth…plight maiden； save that she was exceeding
beauteous： nevertheless； heart…sick as I was； I determined to abide
the token that ye told me of。 So she lay down amidst those cushions；
and I beheld her that she was sad of countenance； and she was so near
to me that I could see the tears welling into her eyes； and running
down her cheeks； so that I should have grieved sorely for her had I
not been grieving so sorely for myself。 For presently she sat up and
said 'O maiden； bring me hither the book wherein is the image of my
beloved； that I may behold it in this season of sunset wherein I
first beheld it； that I may fill my heart with the sight thereof
before the sun is gone and the dark night come。'
〃Then indeed my heart died within me when I wotted that this was the
love whereof the King spake； that he would give to me； and she not
mine own beloved； yet I could not choose but abide and look on a
while； and she being one that any man might love beyond measure。 Now
a maiden went away into the house and came back again with a book
covered with gold set with gems； and the fair woman took it and
opened it； and I was so near to her that I saw every leaf clearly as
she turned the leaves。 And in that book were pictures of many
things； as flaming mountains； and castles of war； and ships upon the
sea； but chiefly of fair women； and queens； and warriors and kings；
and it was done in gold and azure and cinnabar and minium。 So she
turned the leaves； till she came to one whereon was pictured none
other than myself； and over against me was the image of mine own
beloved； the Hostage of the Rose； as if she were alive； so that the
heart within me swelled with the sobbing which I must needs refrain；
which grieved me like a sword…stroke。 Shame also took hold of me as
the fair woman spoke to my painted image； and I lying well…nigh
within touch of her hand； but she said： 'O my beloved； why dost thou
delay to come to me？ For I deemed that this eve at least thou
wouldst come； so many and strong as are the meshes of love which we
have cast about thy feet。 Oh come to…morrow at the least and latest；
or what shall I do； and wherewith shall I quench the grief of my
heart？ Or else why am I the daughter of the Undying King； the Lord
of the Treasure of the Sea？ Why have they wrought new marvels for
me； and compelled the Ravagers of the Coasts to serve me； and sent
false dreams flitting on the wings of the night？ Yea； why is the
earth fair and fruitful； and the heavens kind above it； if thou
comest not to…night； nor to…morrow； nor the day after？ And I the
daughter of the Undying； on whom the days shall grow and grow as the
grains of sand which the wind heaps up above the sea…beach。 And life
shall grow huger and more hideous round about the lonely one； like
the ling…worm laid upon the gold； that waxeth thereby； till it lies
all around about the house of the queen entrapped； the moveless
unending ring of the years that change not。'
〃So she spake till the weeping ended her words； and I was all abashed
with shame and pale with anguish。 I stole quietly from my lair
unheeded of any； save that one damsel said that a rabbit ran in the
hedge； and another that a blackbird stirred in the thicket。 Behold
me； then； that my quest beginneth again amidst the tangle of lies
whereinto I have been entrapped。〃
CHAPTER XIV： HALLBLITHE HAS SPEECH WITH THE KING AGAIN
He stood up when he had made an end； as a man ready for the road； but
they lay there downcast and abashed； and had no words to answer him。
For the Sea…eagle was sorry that his faring…fellow was hapless； and
was sorry that he was sorry； and as for the damsel； she had not known
but that she was leading the goodly Spearman to the fulfilment of his
heart's desire。 Albeit after a while she spake again and said：
〃Dear friends； day is gone and night is at hand； now to…night it were
ill lodging at yonder house； and the next house on our backward road
is over far for wayworn folk。 But hard by through the thicket is a
fair little wood…lawn； by the lip of a pool in the stream wherein we
may bathe us to…morrow morning； and it is grassy and flowery and
sheltered from all winds that blow； and I have victual enough in my
wallet。 Let us sup and rest there under the bare heaven； as oft is
the wont of us in this land； and on the morrow early we will arise
and get us back again to Wood…end； where yet the King abideth； and
there shalt thou talk to him again； O Spearman。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Take me whither ye will； but now nought availeth。
I am a captive in a land of lies； and here most like shall I live
betrayed and die hapless。〃
〃Hold thy peace； dear friend； of such words as those last；〃 said she；
〃or I must needs flee from thee； for they hurt me sorely。 Come now
to this pleasant place。〃
She took him by the hand and looked kindly on him； and the Sea…eagle
followed him； murmuring an old song of the harvest…field； and they
went together by a path through a thicket of white…thorn till they
came unto a grassy place。 There then they sat them down； and ate and
drank what they would； sitting by the lip of the pool till a waning
moon was bright over their heads。 And Hallblithe made no semblance
of content； but the Sea…eagle and his damsel were grown merry again；
and talked and sang together like autumn stares； with the kissing and
caressing of lovers。
So at last those twain lay down amongst the flowers； and slept in
each other's arms； but Hallblithe betook him to the brake a little
aloof； and lay down； but slept not till morning was at hand； when
slumber and confused dreams overtook him。
He was awaked from his sleep by the damsel； who came pushing through
the thicket all fresh and rosy from the river； and roused him； and
said：
〃Awake now； Spearman； that we may take our pleasure in the sun； for
he is high in the heavens now； and all the land laughs beneath him。〃
Her eyes glittered as she spoke； and her limbs moved under her
raiment as though she would presently fall to dancing for very joy。
But Hallblithe arose wearily； and gave her back no smile in answer；
but thrust through the thicket to the water； and washed the night
from off him； and so came back to the twain as they sat dallying
together over their breakfast。 He would not sit down by them； but
ate a morsel of bread as he stood； and said： 〃Tell me how I can
soonest find the King： I bid you not lead me thither； but let me go
my ways alone。 For with me time presses； and with you meseemeth time
is nought。 Neither am I a meet fellow for the happy。〃
But the Sea…eagle sprang up； and swore with a great oath that he
would nowise leave his shipmate in the lurch。 And the damsel said：
〃Fair man； I had best go with thee； I shall not hinder thee； but
further thee rather； so that thou shalt make one day's journey of
two。〃
And she put forth her hand to him； and caressed him smiling； and
fawned upon him； and he heeded it little； but hung not aback from
them since they were ready for the road： so they set forth all three
together。
They made such diligence on the backward road that the sun was not
set by then they came to Wood…end； and there was the King sitting in
the door of his pavilion。 Thither went Hallblithe straight； a