The aged bird, with plumes decayed and thin, Paused on the brink awhile, then, plunging in, He bath'd and smooth'd his feathers o'er and o'er, Shook his great wings and rested on the shore. Now while the other two his plumes arrange, Through all his frame appears a wondrous change: His eyes grow bright, his head erect and bold, His glossy plumage shines like burnished gold; Free from old age, his glorious form expands; In radiant youth and beauty proud he stands! Such was the gift that lake of wonder gave; Such was the virtue of its mystic wave. CHAPTER XXXI. THE ISLE OF LAUGHING. They next came to an island with a great plain extending over its whole surface. They saw a vast multitude of people on it, engaged in sundry youthful games, and all continually laughing. The voyagers cast lots who should go to examine the island; and the lot fell upon Maildun's third foster brother. The moment he landed he went among the others and joined in their pastimes and in their laughter, as if he had been among them all his life. His companions waited for him a very long time, but were afraid to venture to land after him; and at last, as there seemed no chance of his returning, they left him and sailed away. CHAPTER XXXII. THE ISLE OF THE BLEST. They came now to a small island with a high rampart of fire all round it; and that rampart revolved continually round the island. There was one large open door in the rampart; and whenever the door, in its involution, came in front of them, they could see almost the whole island through it, and all that was therein. And this is what they saw: A great number of people, beautiful and glorious-looking, wearing rich garments adorned and radiant all over, feasting joyously, and drinking from embossed vessels of red gold which they held in their hands. The voyagers heard also their cheerful, festive songs; and they marvelled greatly, and their hearts were full of gladness at all the happiness they saw and heard. But they did not venture to land. CHAPTER XXXIII. THE HERMIT OF THE SEA-ROCK. A little time after leaving this, they saw something a long way off towards the south, which at first they took to be a large white bird floating on the sea, and rising and falling with the waves; but on turning their curragh towards it for a nearer view, they found that it was a man. He was very old, so old that he was covered all over with long, white hair, which grew from his body; and he was standing on a broad, bare rock, and kept continually throwing himself on his knees, and never ceased praying. When they saw that he was a holy man, they asked and received his blessing; after which they began to converse with him; and they inquired who he was, and how he had come to that rock. Then the old man gave them the following account:--