As for the Sun-beam, she was somewhat out of herself at first, being eager and restless beyond her wont3, and yet at whiles weeping-ripe when she called to mind that she was now leaving all those things, the gain whereof had been a dream to her both waking and sleeping for these years past. But at last, as she stood in the door of the Mote-house, and beheld4 all the throng5 of folk happy and friendly, it came over her that she herself had done her full share to bring all this about, and that all those pleasant places of Silver-dale now full of the goodly life of man would be there even as she had striven for them, and that they would be a part of her left behind, though she were dwelling6 otherwhere.
Therewithal she said to herself that it was now her part to wield7 the life of men in Burgdale, and begin once more her days of a chieftain and a swayer of the Folk, and the life of a stirring woman, which the edge of the sword and the need of the hard hand-play had taken out of her hands for a while, making her as a child in the hands of the strong wielders of the blades.
So now she became calm once more, and her face was clad again with the full measure of that majesty8 of beauty which had once overawed Face-of-god amidst his love of her; and folk beheld her and marvelled9 at her fairness, and said: ‘She hath an inward sorrow at leaving the fair Dale wherein her Fathers dwelt, and where her mother’s ashes lie in earth.’ Albeit10 now was her sorrow but little, and much was her hope, and her foresight11 of days to be; though all the Dale, yea, every leaf and twig12 of it whereby her feet had ever passed, and each stone of the fair houses, was to her as a picture that she could look on from henceforth for ever.
Of the Bride it is to be said that she was now much mended, and she caused men bear her on a litter out into the Marketplace, that she might look on the departure of her folk. She had seen Face-of-god once and again since the Day of Battle, and each time had been kind and blithe14 with him; and for Iron-face, she loved him so well that she was ever loth to let him depart from her, save when Folk-might was with her.
And now was the Alderman standing15 beside her, and she said to him: ‘Friend and kinsman16, this is the day of departure, and though I must needs abide17 behind, and am content to abide, yet doth mine heart ache with the sundering18; for to-morrow when I wake in the morning there will be no more sending of a messenger to fetch thee to me. Indeed, great hath been the love between me and my people, and nought19 hath come between us to mar1 it. Now, kinsman, I would see Gold-mane, my cousin, that I may bid him farewell; for who knoweth if I shall see him again hereafter?’
Then went Iron-face and found Face-of-god where he was speaking with Folk-might and the chieftains, and said to him:
‘Come quickly, for thy cousin the Bride would speak with thee.’
Face-of-god reddened, and paled afterwards, but he went along with his father silently; and his heart beat as he came and stood before the litter whereas the Bride lay, clad all in white and propped21 up on fair cushions of red silk. She was frail22 to look on, and worn and pale yet; but he deemed that she was very happy.
She smiled on him, and reached out her hand and said:
‘Welcome once more, cousin!’ And he held her hand and kissed it, and was nigh weeping, so sore was he beset23 by a throng of memories concerning her and him in the days when they were little; and he bethought him of her loving-kindness of past days, beyond that of most children, beyond that of most maidens25; and how there was nothing in his life but she had a share in it, till the day when he found the Hall on the Mountain.
So he said to her: ‘Kinswoman, is it well with thee?’
‘Yea,’ she said, ‘I am now nigh whole of my hurts.’
He was silent a while; then he said:
‘And otherwise art thou merry at heart?’
‘Yea, indeed,’ said she; ‘yet thou wilt26 not find it hard to deem that I am sorry of the sundering betwixt me and Burgdale.’
Again was he silent, and said in a while: ‘Dost thou deem that I wrought27 that sundering?’
She smiled kindly28 on him and said: ‘Gold-mane, my playmate, thou art become a mighty29 warrior30 and a great chief; but thou art not so mighty as that. Many things lay behind the sundering which were neither thou nor I.’
‘Yet,’ said he, ‘it was but such a little time agone that all things seemed so sure; and we — to both of us was the outlook happy.’
‘Let it be happy still,’ she said, ‘now begrudging31 is gone. Belike the sundering came because we were so sure, and had no defence against the wearing of the days; even as it fareth with a folk that hath no foes32.’
He smiled and said: ‘Even as it hath befallen THY folk, O Bride, a while ago.’
She reddened, and reached her hand to him, and he took it and held it, and said: ‘Shall I see thee again as the days wear?’
Said she: ‘O chieftain of the Folk, thou shalt have much to do in Burgdale, and the way is long. Yet would I have thee see my children. Forget not the token on my hand which thou holdest. But now get thee to thy folk with no more words; for after all, playmate, the sundering is grievous to me, and I would not spin out the time thereof. Farewell!’
He said no more, but stooped down and kissed her lips, and then turned from her, and took his ways to the head of the Host, and fell to asking and answering, and bidding and arraying; and in a little time was his heart dancing with joy to think of the days that lay before him, wherein now all seemed happy.
So was all arrayed for departure when it lacked three hours of noon. As Folk-might had promised, there were certain light wains drawn33 by bullocks abiding34 the departure of the Host, and of sumpter bullocks and horses no few; and all these were laden35 with fair gifts of the Dale, as silver, and raiment, and weapons. There were many things fair-wrought in the time of the Sorrow, that henceforth should see but little sorrow. Moreover, there was plenty of provision for the way, both meal and wine, and sheep and neat; and all things as fair as might be, and well-arrayed.
It was the Shepherds who were to lead the way; and after them were arrayed the men of the Vine and the Sickle36; then they of the Steer37, the Bridge, and the Bull; and lastly the House of the Face, with old Stone-face leading them. The Sun-beam was to journey along with the House of the Steer, which had taken her in as a maiden24 of their blood; and though she had so much liefer have fared with the House of the Face, yet she went meekly38 as she was bidden, as one who has gotten a great thing, and will make no stir about a small one.
Along with her were Wood-father and Wood-mother, and Wood-wise, now whole of his hurt, and Wood-wont, and Bow-may. Save Bow-may, they were not very joyous39; for they were fain of Silver-dale, and it irked them to leave it; moreover, they also had liefer have gone along with the House of the War-leader.
Last of all went those people of the once thralls of the Dusky Men who had cast in their lot with the Burgdalers, and they were exceeding merry; and especially the women of them, they were chattering40 like the stares in the autumn evening, when they gather from the fields in the tall elm-trees before they go to roost.
Now all the men of the Dale, both of the kindreds and of the thrall-folk, made way for the Host and its havings, that they might go their ways down the Dale; albeit the Woodlanders clung close to the line of their ancient friends, and with them, as men who were sorry for the sundering, were Wolf-stone and God-swain and Spear-fist. But the chiefs, they drew around Folk-might a little beside the way.
Now Red-coat of Waterless, who had been hurt, and was now whole again, cast his arms about Folk-might and kissed him, and said:
‘All the way hence to Burgdale will I sow with good wishes for thee and thine, and especially for my dear friend God-swain of the Silver Arm; and I would wish and long that they might turn into spells to draw thy feet to usward; for we love thee well.’
In like wise spake other of the Burgdalers; and Folk-might was kind and blithe with them, and he said:
‘Friends, forget ye not that the way is no longer from you to us than it is from us to you. One half of this matter it is for you to deal with.’
‘True is that,’ said Red-beard of the Knolls41, ‘but look you, Folk-might, we be but simple husbandmen, and may not often stir from our meadows and acres; even now I bethink me that May is amidst us, and I am beginning to be drawn by the thought of the haysel. Whereas thou--’ (and therewith he reddened) ‘I doubt that thou hast little to do save the work of chieftains, and we know that such work is but little missed if it be undone42.’
Thereat Folk-might laughed; and when the others saw that he laughed, they laughed also, else had they foreborne for courtesy’s sake.
But Folk-might answered: ‘Nay43, chief of the Sickle, I am not altogether a chieftain, now we have gotten us peace; and somewhat of a husbandman shall I be. Moreover, doubt ye not that I shall do my utmost to behold44 the fair Dale again; for it is but mountains that meet not.’
Now spake Face-of-god to Folk-might, smiling and somewhat softly, and said: ‘Is all forgiven now, since the day when we first felt each other’s arms?’
‘Yea, all,’ said Folk-might; ‘now hath befallen what I foretold45 thee in Shadowy Vale, that thou mightest pay for all that had come and gone, if thou wouldest but look to it. Indeed thou wert angry with me for that saying on that eve of Shadowy Vale; but see thou, in those days I was an older man than thou, and might admonish46 thee somewhat; but now, though but few days have gone over thine head, yet many deeds have abided in thine hand, and thou art much aged48. Anger hath left thee, and wisdom hath waxed in thee. As for me, I may now say this word: May the Folk of Burgdale love the Folk of Silver-dale as well as I love thee; then shall all be well.’
Then Face-of-god cast his arms about him and kissed him, and turned away toward Stone-face and Hall-face his brother, where they stood at the head of the array of the Face; and even therewith came up the Alderman somewhat sad and sober of countenance49, and he pushed by the War-leader roughly and would not speak with him.
And now blew up the horns of the Shepherds, and they began to move on amidst the shouting of the men of Silver-dale; yet were there amongst the Woodlanders those who wept when they saw their friends verily departing from them.
But when they of the foremost of the Host were gotten so far forward that the men of the Face could begin to move, lo! there was Redesman with his fiddle50 amongst the leaders; and he had done a man’s work in the day of battle, and all looked kindly on him. About him on this morn were some who had learned the craft of singing well together, and knew his minstrelsy, and he turned to these and nodded as their array moved on, and he drew his bow across the strings51, and straightway they fell a-singing, even as it might be thus:
Back again to the dear Dale where born was the kindred,
Here wend we all living, and liveth our mirth.
Here afoot fares our joyance, whatever men hindred,
Through all wrath52 of the heavens, all storms of the earth.
O true, we have left here a part of our treasure,
The ashes of stout53 ones, the stems of the shield;
But the bold lives they spended have sown us new pleasure,
Fair tales for the telling in fold and on field.
For as oft as we sing of their edges’ upheaving,
When the yellowing windows shine forth13 o’er the night,
Their names unforgotten with song interweaving
Shall draw forth dear drops from the depths of delight.
Or when down by our feet the grey sickles54 are lying,
And behind us is curling the supper-tide smoke,
No whit20 shall they grudge55 us the joyance undying,
Remembrance of men that put from us the yoke56.
When the huddle57 of ewes from the fells we have driven,
And we see down the Dale the grey reach of the roof,
We shall tell of the gift in the battle-joy given,
All the fierceness of friends that drave sorrow aloof58.
Once then we lamented59, and mourned them departed;
Once only, no oftener. Henceforth shall we fling
Their names up aloft, when the merriest hearted
To the Fathers unseen of our life-days we sing.
Then was there silence in the ranks of men; and many murmured the names of the fallen as they fared on their way from out the Market-place of Silver-stead. Then once more Redesman and his mates took up the song:
Come tell me, O friends, for whom bideth the maiden
Wet-foot from the river-ford down in the Dale?
For whom hath the goodwife the ox-waggon laden
With the babble60 of children, brown-handed and hale?
Come tell me for what are the women abiding,
Till each on the other aweary they lean?
Is it loitering of evil that thus they are chiding61,
The slow-footed bearers of sorrow unseen?
Nay, yet were they toiling62 if sorrow had worn them,
Or hushed had they bided47 with lips parched63 and wan64.
The birds of the air other tidings have borne them —
How glad through the wood goeth man beside man.
Then fare forth, O valiant65, and loiter no longer
Than the cry of the cuckoo when May is at hand;
Late waxeth the spring-tide, and daylight grows longer,
And nightly the star-street hangs high o’er the land.
Many lives, many days for the Dale do ye carry;
When the Host breaketh out from the thicket66 unshorn,
It shall be as the sun that refuseth to tarry
On the crown of all mornings, the Midsummer morn.
Again the song fell down till they were well on the western way down Silver-dale; and then Redesman handled his fiddle once more, and again the song rose up, and such-like were the words which were borne back into the Market-place of Silver-stead:
And yet what is this, and why fare ye so slowly,
While our echoing halls of our voices are dumb,
And abideth unlitten the hearth-brand the holy,
And the feet of the kind fare afield till we come?
For not yet through the wood and its tangle67 ye wander;
Now skirt we no thicket, no path by the mere68;
Far aloof for our feet leads the Dale-road out yonder;
Full fair is the morning, its doings all clear.
There is nought now our feet on the highway delaying
Save the friend’s loving-kindness, the sundering of speech;
The well-willer’s word that ends words with the saying,
The loth to depart while each looketh on each.
Fare on then, for nought are ye laden with sorrow;
The love of this land do ye bear with you still.
In two Dales of the earth for to-day and to-morrow
Is waxing the oak-tree of peace and good-will.
Thus then they departed from Silver-dale, even as men who were a portion thereof, and had not utterly69 left it behind. And that night they lay in the wild-wood not very far from the Dale’s end; for they went softly, faring amongst so many friends.
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1
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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thralls
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| n.奴隶( thrall的名词复数 )；奴役；奴隶制；奴隶般受支配的人 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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5
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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7
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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8
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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9
marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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12
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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13
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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15
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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16
kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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18
sundering
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| v.隔开，分开( sunder的现在分词 ) | |
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19
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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20
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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21
propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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23
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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25
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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26
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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27
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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28
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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29
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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30
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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31
begrudging
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| 嫉妒( begrudge的现在分词 )； 勉强做； 不乐意地付出； 吝惜 | |
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32
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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33
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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34
abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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35
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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36
sickle
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| n.镰刀 | |
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37
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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38
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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39
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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40
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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41
knolls
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| n.小圆丘，小土墩( knoll的名词复数 ) | |
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42
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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43
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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44
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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45
foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
admonish
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| v.训戒；警告；劝告 | |
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47
bided
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| v.等待，停留( bide的过去式 )；居住；等待；面临 | |
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48
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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49
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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50
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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51
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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52
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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54
sickles
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| n.镰刀( sickle的名词复数 ) | |
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55
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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56
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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57
huddle
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| vi.挤作一团；蜷缩；vt.聚集；n.挤在一起的人 | |
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58
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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59
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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61
chiding
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的现在分词 ) | |
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62
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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63
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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64
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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65
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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66
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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67
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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68
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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