But Shem made answer, "Can a house be well, If he that should command it bides afar? Yet well is thee, because a fair free maid Is found to wed thee; and they bring her in This day at sundown. Therefore is much haste To cover thick with costly webs the floor, And pluck and cover thick the same with leaves Of all sweet herbs,--I warrant, ye shall hear No footfall where she treadeth; and the seats Are ready, spread with robes; the tables set With golden baskets, red pomegranates shred To fill them; and the rubied censers smoke, Heaped up with ambergris and cinnamon, And frankincense and cedar." Japhet said, "I will betroth her to me straight"; and went (Yet labored he with sore disquietude) To gather grapes, and reap and bind the sheaf For his betrothal. And his brother spake, "Where is our father? doth he preach to-day?" And Japhet answered, "Yea. He said to me, 'Go forward; I will follow when the folk By yonder mountain-hold I shall have warned.'" And Shem replied, "How thinkest thou?--thine ears Have heard him oft." He answered, "I do think These be the last days of this old fair world." Then he did tell him of the giant folk: How they, than he, were taller by the head; How one must stride that will ascend the steps That lead to their wide halls; and how they drave, With manful shouts, the mammoth to the north; And how the talking dragon lied and fawned, They seated proudly on their ivory thrones, And scorning him: and of their peakéd hoods, And garments wrought upon, each with the tale Of him that wore it,--all his manful deeds (Yea, and about their skirts were effigies Of kings that they had slain; and some, whose swords Many had pierced, wore vestures all of red, To signify much blood): and of their pride He told, but of the vision in the tent He told him not. And when they reached the house, Niloiya met them, and to Japhet cried, "All hail, right fortunate! Lo, I have found A maid. And now thou hast done well to reap The late ripe corn." So he went in with her, And she did talk with him right motherly: "It hath been fully told me how ye loathed To wed thy father's slave; yea, she herself, Did she not all declare to me?" He said, "Yet is thy damsel fair, and wise of heart." "Yea," quoth his mother; "she made clear to me How ye did weep, my son, and ye did vow, 'I will not take her!' Now it was not I That wrought to have it so." And he replied, "I know it." Quoth the mother, "It is well; For that same cause is laughter in my heart." "But she is sweet of language," Japhet said. "Ay," quoth Niloiya, "and thy wife no less Whom thou shalt wed anon,--forsooth, anon,-- It is a lucky hour. Thou wilt?" He said, "I will." And Japhet laid the slender sheaf From off his shoulder, and he said, "Behold, My father!" Then Niloiya turned herself, And lo! the shipwright stood. "All hail!" quoth she. And bowed herself, and kissed him on the mouth;