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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 fair as ye be？〃 said he。 Then they laughed and
were glad； and drew near to him again and took his hands and kissed
them； and the black…haired damsel said： 〃Yea； yea； there be many as
fair as we be； and some fairer；〃 and she laughed。
〃And that King of yours；〃 said he； 〃how do ye name him？〃
〃He is the King；〃 said the damsel。
〃Hath he no other name？〃 said Hallblithe。
〃We may not utter it；〃 she said； 〃but thou shalt see him soon； that
there is nought but good in him and mightiness。〃
CHAPTER XI： THE SEA…EAGLE RENEWETH HIS LIFE
But while they spake together thus； came a man from out of the wood
very tall of stature； red…bearded and black…haired； ruddy…cheeked；
full…limbed； most joyous of aspect； a man by seeming of five and
thirty winters。 He strode straight up to Hallblithe； and cast his
arms about him； and kissed his cheek； as if he had been an old and
dear friend newly come from over seas。
Hallblithe wondered and laughed； and said： 〃Who art thou that
deemest me so dear？〃
Said the man： 〃Short is thy memory； Son of the Raven； that thou in
so little space hast forgotten thy shipmate and thy faring…fellow；
who gave thee meat and drink and good rede in the Hall of the
Ravagers。〃 Therewith he laughed joyously and turned about to the
three maidens and took them by the hands and kissed their lips； while
they fawned upon him lovingly。
Then said Hallblithe： 〃Hast thou verily gotten thy youth again；
which thou badest me wish thee？〃
〃Yea； in good sooth；〃 said the red…bearded man； 〃I am the Sea…eagle
of old days； and I have gotten my youth； and love therewithal； and
somewhat to love moreover。〃
Therewith he turned to the fairest of the damsels； and she was white…
skinned and fragrant as the lily； rose…cheeked and slender； and the
wind played with the long locks of her golden hair； which hung down
below her knees； so he cast his arms about her and strained her to
his bosom； and kissed her face many times； and she nothing loth； but
caressing him with lips and hand。 But the other two damsels stood by
smiling and joyous： and they clapped their hands together and kissed
each other for joy of the new lover； and at last fell to dancing and
skipping about them like young lambs in the meadows of Spring…tide。
But amongst them all； stood up Hallblithe leaning on his spear with
smiling lips and knitted brow； for he was pondering in his mind in
what wise he might further his quest。
But after they had danced a while the Sea…eagle left his love that he
had chosen and took a hand of either of the two damsels； and led them
tripping up to Hallblithe； and cried out： 〃Choose thou； Raven's
baby； which of these twain thou wilt have to thy mate； for scarcely
shalt thou see better or fairer。〃
But Hallblithe looked on them proudly and sternly； and the black…
haired damsel hung down her head before him and said softly： 〃Nay；
nay； sea…warrior； this one is too lovely