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to die for beguiling us； let it be the Puny Fox。 Secondly； we may
well wot that heavy need hath driven the man to this beguilement； and
I say that it was no unmanly deed for him to enter our hall and
beguile us with his sleight； and that he hath played out the play
right well and cunningly with the wisdom of a warrior。 Thirdly； the
manliness of him is well proven； in that having overcome us in
sleight； he hath spoken out the sooth concerning our beguilement and
hath made himself our foeman and captive； when he might have sat down
by us as our guest； freely and in all honour。 And this he did； not
as contemning the Puny Fox and his lies and crafty wiles （for he hath
told us that he loveth him）； but so that he might show himself a man
in that which trieth manhood。 Moreover； ye shall not forget that he
is the rebel of the Undying King； who is our lord and master；
therefore in cherishing him we show ourselves great…hearted； in that
we fear not the wrath of our master。 Therefore I naysay the word of
the War…brand that we should make this man a wolf's…head； for in so
doing we shall show ourselves lesser…hearted than he is； and of no
account beside of him； and his head on our hall…gable should be to us
a nithing…stake； and a tree of reproach。 So I bid thee； O Erne； to
make much of this man； and thou shalt do well to give him worthy
gifts； such as warriors may take； so that he may show them at home in
the House of the Raven； that it may be the beginning of peace betwixt
us and his noble kindred。 This is my say； and later on I shall wax
no wiser。〃
Therewith he sat down； and there arose a murmur and stir in the hall；
but the more part said that the Grey…goose had spoken well； and that
it was good to be at peace with such manly fellows as the new guest
was。
But the Erne said： 〃One word will I lay hereto； to wit； that he who
desireth mine enmity let him do scathe to Hallblithe of the Ravens
and hinder him。〃
Then he bade fill round the cups； and called a health to Hallblithe；
and all men drank to him； and there was much joyance and merriment。
But when the night was well worn； the Erne turned to Hallblithe and
said： 〃That was a good word of the Grey…goose which he spake
concerning the giving of gifts： Raven…son； wilt thou take a gift of
me and be my friend？〃
〃Thy friend will I be；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃but no gift will I take of
thee or any other till I have the gift of gifts； and that is my
troth…plight maiden。 I will not be glad till I can be glad with
her。〃
Then laughed the Erne； and the Puny Fox grinned all across his wide
face； and Hallblithe looked from one to the other of them and
wondered at their mirth； and when they saw his wondering eyes； they
did but laugh the more； and the Erne said： 〃Nevertheless； thou shalt
see the gift which I would give thee； and then mayst thou take it or
leave it as thou wilt。 Ho ye！ bring in the throne of the Eastland
with them that minister to it！〃
Certain men left the hall as he spake； and came back bearing with
them a throne fashioned most goodly of ivory； parcel…gilt and
begemmed； and adorned with marvellous craftsmanship： and they set it
down amidst of the hall…floor and went aback to their places； while
the Erne sat and smiled kindly on the folk and on Hallblithe。 Then
arose the sound of fiddles and the lesser harp； and the doors of the
screen were opened； and there flowed into the hall a company of fair
damsels not less than a score； each one with a rose on her bosom； and
they came and stood in order behind the throne of the Eastlands； and
they strewed roses on the ground before them： and when they were
duly ranged they fell to singing：
Now waneth spring；
While all birds sing；
And the south wind blows
The earliest rose
To and fro
By the doors we know；
And the scented gale
Fills every dale。
Slow now are brooks running because of the weed；
And the thrush hath no cunning to hide her at need；
So swift as she flieth from hedge…row to tree
As one that toil trieth； and deedful must be。
And O！ that at last；
All sorrows past；
This night I lay
'Neath the oak…beams grey！
O； to wake from sleep；
To see dawn creep
Through the fruitful grove
Of the house that I love！
O！ my feet to be treading the threshold once more；
O'er which once went the leading of swords to the war！
O！ my feet in the garden's edge under the sun；
Where the seeding grass hardens for haysel begun！
Lo； lo！ the wind blows
To the heart of the Rose；
And the ship lies tied
To the haven side！
But O for the keel
The sails to feel！
And the alien ness
Growing less and less；
As down the wind driveth and thrusts through the sea
The sail…burg that striveth to turn and go free；
But the lads at the tiller they hold her in hand；
And the wind our well…willer drives fierce to the land。
We shall wend it yet；
The highway wet；
For what is this
That our bosoms kiss？
What lieth sweet
Before our feet？
What token hath come
To lead us home？
'Tis the Rose of the garden walled round from the croft
Where the grey roof its warden steep riseth aloft；
'Tis the Rose 'neath the oaken…beamed hall； where they bide；
The pledges unbroken； the hand of the bride。
Hallblithe heard the song； and half thought it promised him somewhat；
but then he had been so misled and mocked at； that he scarce knew how
to rejoice at it。
Now the Erne spake： 〃Wilt thou not take the chair and these dainty
song…birds that stand about it？ Much wealth might come into thine
hall if thou wert to carry them over sea to rich men who have no
kindred； nor affinity wherein to wed； but who love women as well as
other men。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃I have wealth enow were I once home again。 As to
these maidens； I know by the fashion of them that they are no women
of the Rose； as by their song they should be。 Yet will I take any of
these maidens that have will to go with me and be made sisters of my
sisters； and wed with the warriors of the Rose； or if they are of a
kindred； and long to sit each in the house of her folk； then will we
send them home over the sea with warriors to guard them from all
trouble。 For this gift I thank thee。 As to thy throne； I bid thee
keep it till a keel cometh thy way from our land； bringing fair gifts
for thee and thine。 For we are not so unwealthy。〃
Those that sat nearby heard his words and praised them； but the Erne
said： 〃All this is free to thee； and thou mayst do what thou wilt
with the gifts given to thee。 Yet shalt thou have the throne； and I
have thought of a way to make thee take it。 Or what sayst thou； Puny
Fox？〃
Said the Puny Fox： 〃Yea if thou wilt； thou mayst； but I thought it
not of thee that thou wouldst。 Now is all well。〃
Again Hallblithe looked from one to the other and wondered what they
meant。 But the Erne cried out： 〃Bring in now the sitter； who shall
fill the empty throne！〃
Then again the screen…doors opened； and there came in two weaponed
men； leading between them a woman clad in gold and garlanded with
roses。 So fair was the fashion of her face and all her body； that
her coming seemed to make a change in the hall； as though the sun had
shone into it suddenly。 She trod the hall…floor with firm feet； and
sat down on the ivory chair。 But even before she was seated therein
Hallblithe knew that the Hostage was under that roof and coming
toward him。 And the heart rose in his breast and fluttered therein；
so sore he yearned toward the Daughter of the Rose； and his very
speech…friend。 Then he heard the Erne saying； 〃How now； Raven…son；
wilt thou have the throne and the sitter therein； or wilt thou
gainsay me once more？〃
Thereafter he himself spake； and the sound of his voice was strange
to him and as if he knew it not： 〃Chieftain； I will not gainsay
thee； but will take thy gift； and thy friendship therewith；
whatsoever hath betided。 Yet would I say a word or two unto the
woman that sitteth yonder。 For I have been straying amongst wiles
and images； and mayhappen I shall yet find this to be but a dream of
the night； or a beguilement of the day。〃 Therewith he arose from the
table； and walked slowly down the hall； but it was a near thing that
he did not fall a…weeping before all those aliens； so full his heart
was。
He came and stood before the Hostage； and their eyes were upon each
other； and for a little while they had no words。 Then Hallblithe
began； wondering at his voice as he spake： 〃Art thou a woman and my
speech…friend？ For many images have mocked me； and I have been
encompassed with lies； and led astray by behests that have not been
fulfilled。 And the world hath become strange to me； and empty of
friends。〃
Then she said： 〃Art thou verily Hallblithe？ For I also have been
encompassed by lies； and beset by images of things unhelpful。〃
〃Yea；〃 said he； 〃I am Hallblit