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so that Hallblithe saw them not after he had gone to bed； but as for
him he slept and forgot that aught was。
In the morning when he awoke he felt very strong and well…liking； and
he beheld his limbs that they were clear of skin and sleek and fair；
and he heard one hard by in the hall carolling and singing joyously。
So he sprang from his bed with the wonder of sleep yet in him； and
drew the curtains of the shut…bed and looked forth into the hall； and
lo on the high…seat a man of thirty winters by seeming； tall； fair of
fashion； with golden hair and eyes as grey as glass； proud and noble
of aspect； and anigh him sat another man of like age to look on； a
man strong and burly； with short curling brown hair and a red beard；
and ruddy countenance； and the mien of a warrior。 Also； up and down
the hall； paced a man younger of aspect than these two； tall and
slender； black…haired and dark…eyed； amorous of countenance； he it
was who was singing a snatch of song as he went lightly on the hall
pavement： a snatch like to this
Fair is the world； now autumn's wearing；
And the sluggard sun lies long abed；
Sweet are the days； now winter's nearing；
And all winds feign that the wind is dead。
Dumb is the hedge where the crabs hang yellow；
Bright as the blossoms of the spring；
Dumb is the close where the pears grow mellow；
And none but the dauntless redbreasts sing。
Fair was the spring； but amidst his greening
Grey were the days of the hidden sun；
Fair was the summer； but overweening；
So soon his o'er…sweet days were done。
Come then； love； for peace is upon us；
Far off is failing； and far is fear；
Here where the rest in the end hath won us；
In the garnering tide of the happy year。
Come from the grey old house by the water；
Where； far from the lips of the hungry sea；
Green groweth the grass o'er the field of the slaughter；
And all is a tale for thee and me。
So Hallblithe did on his raiment and went into the hall； and when
those three saw him they smiled upon him kindly and greeted him； and
the noble man at the board said： 〃Thanks have thou； O Warrior of the
Raven； for thy help in our need： thy reward from us shall not be
lacking。〃
Then the brown…haired man came up to him； and clapped him on the back
and said to him： 〃Brisk man of the Raven； good is thy help at need；
even so shall be mine to thee henceforward。〃
But the young man stepped up to him lightly； and cast his arms about
him； and kissed him； and said： 〃O friend and fellow； who knoweth but
I may one day help thee as thou hast holpen me？ though thou art one
who by seeming mayst well help thyself。 And now mayst thou be as
merry as I am to…day！〃
Then they all three cried out joyously： 〃It is the Land！ It is the
Land！〃
So Hallblithe knew that these men were the two elders and the sad man
of yesterday； and that they had renewed their youth。
Joyously now did those men break their fast： nor did Hallblithe make
any grim countenance； for he thought： 〃That which these dotards and
drivellers have been mighty enough to find； shall I not be mighty
enough to flee from？〃 Breakfast done； the seekers made little delay；
so eager as they were to behold the King； and to have handsel of
their new sweet life。 So they got them ready to depart； and the
once…captain said： 〃Art thou able to lead us to the King； O Raven…
son； or must we seek another man to do so much for us？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃I am able to lead you so nigh unto Wood…end
（where； as I deem； the King abideth） that ye shall not miss him。〃
Therewith they went to the door； and the Warden unlocked to them； and
spake no word to them when they departed； though they thanked him
kindly for the guesting。
When they were without the garth； the young man fell to running about
the meadow plucking great handfuls of the rich flowers that grew
about； singing and carolling the while。 But he who had been king
looked up and down and round about； and said at last： 〃Where be the
horses and the men？〃
But his fellow with the red beard said： 〃Raven…son； in this land
when they journey； what do they as to riding or going afoot？〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Fair fellows； ye shall wot that in this land folk
go afoot for the most part； both men and women； whereas they weary
but little； and are in no haste。〃
Then the once…captain clapped the once…king on the shoulder； and
said： 〃Hearken； lord； and delay no longer； but gird up thy gown；
since here is no mare's son to help thee： for fair is to…day that
lies before us； with many a new fair day beyond it。〃
So Hallblithe led the way inward； thinking of many things； yet but
little of his fellows。 Albeit they； and the younger man especially；
were of many words； for this black…haired man had many questions to
ask； chiefly concerning the women； what they were like to look on；
and of what mood they were。 Hallblithe answered thereto as long as
he might； but at last he laughed and said： 〃Friend； forbear thy
questions now； for meseemeth in a few hours thou shalt be as wise
hereon as is the God of Love himself。〃
So they made diligence along the road； and all was tidingless till on
the second day at even they came to the first house off the waste。
There had they good welcome； and slept。 But on the morrow when they
arose； Hallblithe spake to the Seekers； and said： 〃Now are things
much changed betwixt us since the time when we first met： for then I
had all my desire； as I thought； and ye had but one desire； and well
nigh lacked hope of its fulfilment。 Whereas now the lack hath left
you and come to me。 Wherefore even as time agone ye might not abide
even one night at the House of the Raven； so hard as your desire lay
on you； even so it fareth with me to…day； that I am consumed with my
desire； and I may not abide with you； lest that befall which
befalleth betwixt the full man and the fasting。 Wherefore now I
bless you and depart。〃
They abounded in words of good…will to him； and the once…king said：
〃Abide with us； and we shall see to it that thou have all the
dignities that a man may think of。〃
And the once…captain said： 〃Lo； here is mine hand that hath been
mighty； never shalt thou lack it for the accomplishment of thine
uttermost desire。 Abide with us。〃
Lastly said the young man： 〃Abide with us； Son of the Raven！ Set
thine heart on a fair woman； yea even were it the fairest； and I will
get her for thee； even were my desire set on her。〃
But he smiled on them； and shook his head； and said： 〃All hail to
you！ but mine errand is yet undone。〃 And therewith he departed。
He skirted Wood…end and came not to it； but got him down to the side
of the sea； not far from where he first came aland； but somewhat
south of it。 A fair oak…wood came down close to the beach of the
sea； it was some four miles end…long and over…thwart。 Thither
Hallblithe betook him； and in a day or two got him wood…wright's
tools from a house of men a little outside the wood； three miles from
the sea…shore。 Then he set to work and built him a little frame…
house on a lawn of the wood beside a clear stream； for he was a very
deft wood…wright。 Withal he made him a bow and arrows； and shot what
he would of the fowl and the deer for his livelihood； and folk from
that house and otherwhence came to see him； and brought him bread and
wine and spicery and other matters which he needed。 And the days
wore； and men got used to him； and loved him as if he had been a rare
image which had been brought to that land for its adornment； and now
they no longer called him the Spearman； but the Wood…lover。 And as
for him； he took all in patience； abiding what the lapse of days
should bring forth。
CHAPTER XIX： HALLBLITHE BUILDS HIM A SKIFF
After Hallblithe had been housed a little while； and the time was
again drawing nigh to the twelfth moon since he had come to the
Glittering Plain； he went in the wood one day； and； pondering many
things without fixing on any one； he stood before a very great oak…
tree and looked at the tall straight bole thereof； and there came
into his head the words of an old song which was written round a
scroll of the carving over the shut…bed； wherein he was wont to lie
when he was at home in the House of the Raven： and thus it said：
I am the oak…tree； and forsooth
Men deal by me with little ruth；
My boughs they shred； my life they slay；
And speed me o'er the watery way。
He looked up into that leafy world for a little and then turned back
toward his house； but all day long； whether he were at work or at
rest； that posy ran in his head； and he kept on saying it over； aloud
or not aloud； till the day was done and he went to sleep。
Then in his sleep he dreamed that an exceeding fair woman stood by
his bedside； and at first she seemed to him to be an image of the
Hostage。 But presently