The Roots of the Mountains: Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale, Their Friends, Their Neighbours, Their Foemen, and Their Fellows in ArmsMorris, William
Science
The Roots of the Mountains: Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale, Their Friends, Their Neighbours, Their Foemen, and Their Fellows in Arms
Morris, William
Fantasy fiction
‘Therein thou sayest sooth,’ said Folk-might; ‘but hard it was to see you
two standing together; and thou canst not give the Bride to me as I give
my sister to thee. For I have seen her, and I have seen her looking at
thee; and I know that she will not have it so.’
Then they went on together toward the Hall, and Face-of-god was silent
and somewhat troubled; and as they drew near to the Hall, Folk-might
spake again:
‘Yet time may amend it; and if not, there is the battle, and maybe the
end. Now be we merry!’
So they went into the Hall together, and there was the Sun-beam
gloriously arrayed, as erst in the woodland bower, and Face-of-god sat on
the daïs beside her, and the uttermost sweetness of desire entered into
his soul as he noted her eyes and her mouth, that were grown so kind to
him, and her hand that strayed toward his.
The Hall was full of folk, and all those warriors were there with
Wood-father and his sons, and Wood-mother, and Bow-may and many other
women; and Gold-mane looked down the Hall and deemed that he had never
seen such stalwarth bodies of men, or so bold and meet for battle: as for
the women he had seen fairer in Burgdale, but these were fair of their
own fashion, shapely and well-knit, and strong-armed and large-limbed,
yet sweet-voiced and gentle withal. Nay, the very lads of fifteen
winters or so, whereof a few were there, seemed bold and bright-eyed and
keen of wit, and it seemed like that if the warriors fared afield these
would be with them.
So wore the feast; and Folk-might as aforetime amongst the healths called
on men to drink to the Jaws of the Wolf, and the Red Hand, and the Silver
Arm, and the Golden Bushel, and the Ragged Sword. But now had
Face-of-god no need to ask what these meant, since he knew that they were
the names of the kindreds of the Wolf. They drank also to the
troth-plight and to those twain, and shouted aloud over the health and
clashed their weapons: and Gold-mane wondered what echo of that shout
would reach to Burgstead.
Then sang men songs of old time, and amongst them Wood-wont stood with
his fiddle amidst the Hall and Bow-may beside him, and they sang in turn
to it sweetly and clearly; and this is some of what they sang:
_She singeth_.
Wild is the waste and long leagues over;
Whither then wend ye spear and sword,
Where nought shall see your helms but the plover,
Far and far from the dear Dale’s sward?
_He singeth_.
Many a league shall we wend together
With helm and spear and bended bow.
Hark! how the wind blows up for weather:
Dark shall the night be whither we go.
Dark shall the night be round the byre,
And dark as we drive the brindled kine;
Dark and dark round the beacon-fire,
Dark down in the pass round our wavering line.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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