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were folk new come to the bliss of the Glittering Plain。 So they
passed amidst these fair folk little hindered by them； and into
Hallblithe's thoughts it came how joyous the fellowship of such
should be and how his heart should be raised by the sight of them； if
only his troth…plight maiden were by his side。
Thus then they came to the King's pavilion； where it stood in a bight
of the meadow…land at the foot of the hill； with the wood about it on
three sides。 So fair a house Hallblithe deemed he had never seen；
for it was wrought all over with histories and flowers； and with hems
sewn with gold； and with orphreys of gold and pearl and gems。
There in the door of it sat the King of the Land in an ivory chair；
he was clad in golden gown； girt with a girdle of gems； and had his
crown on his head and his sword by his side。 For this was the hour
wherein he heard what any of his folk would say to him； and for that
very end he sat there in the door of his tent； and folk were standing
before him； and sitting and lying on the grass round about； and now
one； now another； came up to him and spoke before him。
His face shone like a star； it was exceeding beauteous； and as kind
as the even of May in the gardens of the happy； when the scent of the
eglantine fills all the air。 When he spoke his voice was so sweet
that all hearts were ravished； and none might gainsay him。
But when Hallblithe set eyes on him； he knew at once that this was he
whose carven image he had seen in the Hall of the Ravagers； and his
heart beat fast； and he said to himself： 〃Hold up thine head now； O
Son of the Raven； strengthen thine heart； and let no man or god cow
thee。 For how can thine heart change； which bade thee go to the
house wherefrom it was due to thee to take the pleasure of woman； and
there to pledge thy faith and troth to her that loveth thee most； and
hankereth for thee day by day and hour by hour； so that great is the
love that we twain have builded up。〃
Now they drew nigh； for folk fell back before them to the right and
left； as before men who are new come and have much to do； so that
there was nought between them and the face of the King。 But he
smiled upon them so that he cheered their hearts with the hope of
fulfilment of their desires； and he said： 〃Welcome； children！ Who
be these whom ye have brought hither for the increase of our joy？
Who is this tall； ruddy…faced； joyous man so meet for the bliss of
the Glittering Plain？ And who is this goodly and lovely young man；
who beareth weapons amidst our peace； and whose face is sad and stern
beneath the gleaming of his helm？
Said the dark…haired damsel： 〃O King！ O Gift…giver and assurer of
joy！ this tall one is he who was once oppressed by eld； and who hath
come hither to thee from the Isle of Ransom； according to the custom
of the land。〃
Said the King： 〃Tall man； it is well that thou art come。 Now are
thy days changed and thou yet alive。 For thee battle is ended； and
therewith the reward of battle； which the warrior remembereth not
amidst the hard hand…play： peace hath begun； and thou needest not be
careful for the endurance thereof： for in this land no man hath a
lack which he may not satisfy without taking aught from any other。 I
deem not that thine heart may conceive a desire which I shall not
fulfil for thee； or crave a gift which I shall not give thee。〃
Then the Sea…eagle laughed for joy； and turned his head this way and
that； so that he might the better take to him the smiles of all those
that stood around。
Then the King said to Hallblithe： 〃Thou also art welcome； I know
thee who thou art： meseemeth great joy awaiteth thee； and I will
fulfil thy desire to the uttermost。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃O great King of a happy land； I ask of thee nought
save that which none shall withhold from me uncursed。〃
〃I will give it to thee；〃 said the King； 〃and thou shalt bless me。
But what is it which thou wouldst？ What more canst thou have than
the Gifts of the land？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃I came hither seeking no gifts； but to have mine
own again； and that is the bodily love of my troth…plight maiden。
They stole her from me； and me from her； for she loved me。 I went
down to the sea…side and found her not； nor the ship which had borne
her away。 I sailed from thence to the Isle of Ransom； for they told
me that there I should buy her for a price； neither was her body
there。 But her image came to me in a dream of the night； and bade me
seek to her hither。 Therefore； O King； if she be here in the land；
show me how I shall find her； and if she be not here； show me how I
may depart to seek her otherwhere。 This is all my asking。〃
Said the King： 〃Thy desire shall be satisfied； thou shalt have the
woman who would have thee； and whom thou shouldst have。〃
Hallblithe was gladdened beyond measure by that word； and now did the
King seem to him a comfort and a solace to every heart； even as he
had deemed of his carven image in the Hall of the Ravagers； and he
thanked him； and blessed him。
But the King bade him abide by him that night； and feast with him。
〃And on the morrow；〃 said he； 〃thou shalt go thy ways to look on her
whom thou oughtest to love。〃
Therewith was come the eventide and beginning of night； warm and
fragrant and bright with the twinkling of stars； and they went into
the King's pavilion； and there was the feast as fair and dainty as
might be； and Hallblithe had meat from the King's own dish； and drink
from his cup； but the meat had no savour to him and the drink no
delight； because of the longing that possessed him。
And when the feast was done； the damsels led Hallblithe to his bed in
a fair tent strewn with gold about his head like the starry night；
and he lay down and slept for sheer weariness of body。
CHAPTER XIII： HALLBLITHE BEHOLDETH THE WOMAN WHO LOVETH HIM
But on the morrow the men arose； and the Sea…eagle and his damsel
came to Hallblithe； for the other two damsels were departed； and the
Sea…eagle said to him：
〃Here am I well honoured and measurelessly happy； and I have a
message for thee from the King。〃
〃What is it？〃 said Hallblithe； but he deemed that he knew what it
would be； and he reddened for the joy of his assured hope。
Said the Sea…eagle： 〃Joy to thee； O shipmate！ I am to take thee to
the place where thy beloved abideth； and there shalt thou see her；
but not so as she can see thee； and thereafter shalt thou go to the
King； that thou mayst tell him if she shall accomplish thy desire。〃
Then was Hallblithe glad beyond measure； and his heart danced within
him； and he deemed it but meet that the others should be so joyous
and blithe with him； for they led him along without any delay； and
were glad at his rejoicing； and words failed him to tell of his
gladness。
But as he went； the thoughts of his coming converse with his beloved
curled sweetly round his heart； so that scarce anything had seemed so
sweet to him before； and he fell a…pondering what they twain； he and
the Hostage； should do when they came together again； whether they
should abide on the Glittering Plain； or go back again to Cleveland
by the Sea and dwell in the House of the Kindred； and for his part he
yearned to behold the roof of his fathers and to tread the meadow
which his scythe had swept； and the acres where his hook had smitten
the wheat。 But he said to himself； 〃I will wait till I hear her
desire hereon。〃
Now they went into the wood at the back of the King's pavilion and
through it； and so over the hill； and beyond it came into a land of
hills and dales exceeding fair and lovely； and a river wound about
the dales； lapping in turn the feet of one hill…side or the other；
and in each dale （for they passed through two） was a goodly house of
men； and tillage about it； and vineyards and orchards。 They went all
day till the sun was near setting； and were not weary； for they
turned into the houses by the way when they would； and had good
welcome and meat and drink and what they would of the folk that dwelt
there。 Thus anigh sunset they came into a dale fairer than either of
the others； and nigh to the end where they had entered it was an
exceeding goodly house。 Then said the damsel：
〃We are nigh…hand to our journey's end； let us sit down on the grass
by this river…side whilst I tell thee the tale which the King would
have thee know。〃
So they sat down on the grass beside the brimming river； scant two
bowshots from that fair house； and the damsel said； reading from a
scroll which she drew from her bosom：
〃O Spearman； in yonder house dwelleth the woman foredoomed to love
thee： if thou wouldst see her； go thitherward； following the path
which turneth from the river…side by yonder oak…tree； and thou shalt
presently come to a thicket of bay…trees at the edge of an apple…
orchard； whose trees a