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his bedside； and at first she seemed to him to be an image of the
Hostage。 But presently her face changed； and her body and her
raiment； and； lo！ it was the lovely woman； the King's daughter whom
he had seen wasting her heart for the love of him。 Then even in his
dream shame thereof overtook him； and because of that shame he awoke；
and lay awake a little； hearkening the wind going through the
woodland boughs； and the singing of the owl who had her dwelling in
the hollow oak nigh to his house。 Slumber overcame him in a little
while； and again the image of the King's daughter came to him in his
dream； and again when he looked upon her； shame and pity rose so
hotly in his heart that he awoke weeping； and lay a while hearkening
to the noises of the night。 The third time he slept and dreamed； and
once more that image came to him。 And now he looked； and saw that
she had in her hand a book covered outside with gold and gems； even
as he saw it in the orchard…close aforetime： and he beheld her face
that it was no longer the face of one sick with sorrow； but glad and
clear； and most beauteous。
Now she opened the book and held it before Hallblithe and turned the
leaves so that he might see them clearly； and therein were woods and
castles painted； and burning mountains； and the wall of the world；
and kings upon their thrones； and fair women and warriors； all most
lovely to behold； even as he had seen it aforetime in the orchard
when he lay lurking amidst the leaves of the bay…tree。
So at last she came to the place in the book wherein was painted
Hallblithe's own image over against the image of the Hostage； and he
looked thereon and longed。 But she turned the leaf； and； lo！ on one
side the Hostage again； standing in a fair garden of the spring with
the lilies all about her feet； and behind her the walls of a house；
grey； ancient； and lovely： and on the other leaf over against her
was painted a sea rippled by a little wind and a boat thereon sailing
swiftly； and one man alone in the boat sitting and steering with a
cheerful countenance； and he； who but Hallblithe himself。 Hallblithe
looked thereon for a while and then the King's daughter shut the
book； and the dream flowed into other imaginings of no import。
In the grey dawn Hallblithe awoke； and called to mind his dream； and
he leapt from his bed and washed the night from off him in the
stream； and clad himself and went the shortest way through the wood
to that House of folk aforesaid： and as he went his face was bright
and he sang the second part of the carven posy； to wit：
Along the grass I lie forlorn
That when a while of time is worn；
I may be filled with war and peace
And bridge the sundering of the seas。
He came out of the wood and hastened over the flowery meads of the
Glittering Plain； and came to that same house when it was yet very
early。 At the door he came across a damsel bearing water from the
well； and she spake to him and said： 〃Welcome； Wood…lover！ Seldom
art thou seen in our garth； and that is a pity of thee。 And now I
look on thy face I see that gladness hath come into thine heart； and
that thou art most fair and lovely。 Here then is a token for thee of
the increase of gladness。〃 Therewith she set her buckets on the
earth； and stood before him； and took him by the ears； and drew down
his face to hers and kissed him sweetly。 He smiled on her and said：
〃I thank thee； sister； for the kiss and the greeting； but I come here
having a lack。〃
〃Tell us；〃 she said； 〃that we may do thee a pleasure。〃
He said： 〃I would ask the folk to give me timber； both beams and
battens and boards； for if I hew in the wood it will take long to
season。〃
〃All this is free for thee to take from our wood…store when thou hast
broken thy fast with us；〃 said the damsel。 〃Come thou in and rest
thee。〃
She took him by the hand and they went in together； and she gave him
to eat and drink； and went up and down the house； saying to every
one： 〃Here is come the Wood…lover； and he is glad again； come and
see him。〃
So the folk gathered about him； and made much of him。 And when they
had made an end of breakfast； the head man of the House said to him：
〃The beasts are in the wain； and the timber abideth thy choosing；
come and see。〃
So he brought Hallblithe to the timber…bower； where he chose for
himself all that he needed of oak…timber of the best； and they loaded
the wain therewith； and gave him what he would moreover of nails and
treenails and other matters； and he thanked them； and they said to
him： 〃Whither now shall we lead thy timber？〃
〃Down to the sea…side；〃 quoth he； 〃nighest to my dwelling。〃
So did they； and more than a score； men and women； went with him；
some in the wain； and some afoot。 Thus they came down to the sea…
shore； and laid the timber on the strand just above high…water mark；
and straightway Hallblithe fell to work shaping him a boat； for well
he knew the whole craft thereof； and the folk looked on wondering；
till the tide had ebbed the little it was wont to ebb； and left the
moist sand firm and smooth； then the women left watching Hallblithe's
work； and fell to paddling barefoot in the clear water； for there was
scarce a ripple on the sea； and the carles came and played with them
so that Hallblithe was left alone a while； for this kind of play was
new to that folk； since they seldom came down to the sea…side。
Thereafter they needs must dance together； and would have had
Hallblithe dance with them； and when he naysaid them because he was
fain of his work； in all playfulness they fell to taking the adze out
of his hand； whereat he became somewhat wroth； and they were afraid
and went and had their dance out without him。
By this time the sun was grown very hot； and they came to him again；
and lay down about him and watched his work； for they were weary。
And one of the women； still panting with the dance； spake as she
looked on the loveliness of her limbs； which one of the swains was
caressing： 〃Brother；〃 said she； 〃great strokes thou smitest； when
wilt thou have smitten the last of them； and come to our house
again？〃
〃Not for many days； fair sister；〃 said he； without looking up。
〃Alas that thou shouldst talk so；〃 said a carle； rising up from the
warm sand； 〃what shall all thy toil win thee？〃
Spake Hallblithe： 〃Maybe a merry heart； or maybe death。〃
At that word they all rose up together； and stood huddled together
like sheep that have been driven to the croft…gate； and the shepherd
hath left them for a little and they know not whither to go。 Little
by little they got them to the wain and harnessed their beasts
thereto； and departed silently by the way that they had come； but in
a little time Hallblithe heard their laughter and merry speech across
the flowery meadows。 He heeded their departure little； but went on
working； and worked the sun down； and on till the stars began to
twinkle。 Then he went home to his house in the wood； and slept and
dreamed not； and began again on the morrow with a good heart。
To be short； no day passed that he wrought not his full tale of work；
and the days wore； and his ship…wright's work throve。 Often the folk
of that house； and from otherwhere round about； came down to the
strand to watch him working。 Nowise did they wilfully hinder him；
but whiles when they could get no talk from him； they would speak of
him to each other； wondering that he should so toil to sail upon the
sea； for they loved the sea but little； and it soon became clear to
them that he was looking to nought else： though it may not be said
that they deemed he would leave the land for ever。 On the other
hand； if they hindered him not； neither did they help； saving when he
prayed them for somewhat which he needed； which they would then give
him blithely。
Of the Sea…eagle and his damsel； Hallblithe saw nought； whereat he
was well content； for he deemed it of no avail to make a second
sundering of it。
So he worked and kept his heart up； and at last all was ready； he had
made him a mast and a sail； and oars； and whatso…other gear there was
need of。 So then he thrust his skiff into the sea on an evening
whenas there were but two carles standing by； for there would often
be a score or two of folk。 These two smiled on him and bespake him
kindly； but would not help him when he bade them set shoulder to her
bows and shove。 Albeit he got the skiff into the water without much
ado； and got into her； and brought her to where a stream running from
out of his wood made a little haven for her up from the sea。 There
he tied her to a tree…hole； and busied himself that even with getting
the gear into her； and victual and water withal； as much as he deemed
he should need： and so； being weary； he went to his house to sleep；
thinking that he should awake in the grey of the morning and thrust
out