There she stood, with Aurea’s collar lying on
her dear neck, and Viridis’ girdle about her
shapen loins, and Atra’s ring on her lovesome
finger. And she hearkened a while and heard no
sound of coming men; and there came into her heart
a gentle fear, which grieved her not. Over the
water before her hung an eglantine bush, with its
many roses either budding or but just out. Birdalone
stole thither softly, and said, smiling: Nay,
if I have nothing that is mine on my body, I will
take this of the maiden’s bath and make it mine.
And therewith she plucked a spray of the bush and
turned it into a garland for her head; and then when
she had stood shyly a while in that same place, she
turned and went swiftly to her place beside her night-harbour,
and stood there hearkening with that sweet fear growing
upon her, her colour coming and going, and her heart
beating fast.
Now the thought of that kind priest who had led her
to the bower last night came into her mind, and she
wondered why he had been so troubled. And she
thought, would those others be so kind to her, or
would they deem her an impudent wench or a foolish,
or pass her by?
Forsooth if any had passed her by it had been not
that he should miss seeing her beauty, but that he
should fear it, and deem her some goddess of the Gentiles
of old time come before him for his ensnaring.
CHAPTER IV. AND NOW SHE MEETS THE CHAMPIONS
Now, as she stood hearkening, she deemed she heard
something that was not so loud as the song of the
blackbird in the brake, but further off and longer
voiced: and again she hearkened heedfully, and
the sound came again, and she deemed now that it was
the voice of an horn. But the third time of
her hearing it she knew that it was nought less; and
at last it grew nigher, and there was mingled with
it the sound of men shouting and the lowing of neat.
Then she stepped down to the very edge of the way,
and now she saw the riding-reek go up into the clear
air, and she said: Now are they coming without
fail, and I must pluck up a heart; for surely these
dear friends of my friends shall neither harm a poor
maiden nor scorn her.
Soon came the leading beasts from out of the dust-cloud,
and behind them was the glitter of spear-heads; and
then presently was a herd of neat shambling and jostling
along the road, and after them a score or so of spearmen
in jack and sallet, who, forsooth, turned to look on
Birdalone as they passed by, and spake here and there
a word or two, laughing and pointing to her, but stayed
not; and all went on straight to the castle.
Thereafter was a void, and then came riding leisurely
another score of weaponed men, whereof some in white
armour; and amongst them were five sumpter horses
laden with carcasses of venison. And all these
also went by and stayed not, though the most of them
gazed on Birdalone hard enough.
