In all matters the Sun-beam helped him, both in doing and in forbearing; and now so wonderful and rare was her beauty, that folk looked on her with somewhat of fear, as though she came from the very folk of the Gods.
Indeed she seemed somewhat changed from what she had been of late; she was sober of demeanour during these last days of her maidenhood7, and sat amongst the kindred as one communing with herself: of few words she was and little laughter; but her face clear, not overcast8 by any gloom or shaken by passion: soft and kind was she in converse9 with others, and sweet were the smiles that came into her face if others’ faces seemed to crave10 for them. For it must be said that as some folk eat out their hearts with fear of the coming evils, even so was she feeding her soul with the joy of the days to be, whatever trouble might fall upon them, whereof belike she foreboded some.
So wore the days toward Midsummer, when the wheat was getting past the blossoming, and the grass in the mown fields was growing deep green again after the shearing12 of the scythe13; when the leaves were most and biggest; when the roses were beginning to fall; when the apples were reddening, and the skins of the grape-berries gathering14 bloom. High aloft floated the light clouds over the Dale; deep blue showed the distant fells below the ice-mountains; the waters dwindled15; all things sought the shadow by daytime, and the twilight16 of even and the twilight of dawn were but sundered17 by three hours of half-dark night.
So in the bright forenoon were seventeen brides assembled in the Gate of Burgstead (but of the rest of the Dale were twenty and three looked for), and with these was the Sun-beam, her face as calm as the mountain lake under a summer sunset, while of the others many were restless, and babbling18 like April throstles; and not a few talked to her eagerly, and in their restless love of her dragged her about hither and thither19.
No men were to be seen that morning; for such was the custom, that the carles either departed to the fields and the acres, or abode20 within doors on the morn of the day of the Maiden Ward; but there was a throng21 of women about the Gate and down the street of Burgstead, and it may well be deemed that they kept not silence that hour.
So fared the Brides of Burgstead to the place of the Maiden Ward on the causeway, whereto were come already the other brides from steads up and down the Dale, or were even then close at hand on the way; and among them were Long-coat and her two fellows, with whom Face-of-god had held converse on that morning whereon he had followed his fate to the Mountain.
There then were they gathered under the cliff-wall of the Portway; and by the road-side had their grooms22 built them up bowers23 of green boughs24 to shelter them from the sun’s burning, which were thatched with bulrushes, and decked with garlands of the fairest flowers of the meadows and the gardens.
Forsooth they were a lovely sight to look on, for no fairer women might be seen in the world; and the eldest25 of them was scant26 of five and twenty winters. Every maiden was clad in as goodly raiment as she might compass; their sleeves and gown-hems and girdles, yea, their very shoes and sandals were embroidered27 so fairly and closely, that as they shifted in the sun they changed colour like the king-fisher shooting from shadow to sunshine. According to due custom every maiden bore some weapon. A few had bows in their hands and quivers at their backs; some had nought28 but a sword girt to their sides; some bore slender-shafted spears, so as not to overburden their shapely hands; but to some it seemed a merry game to carry long and heavy thrust-spears, or to bear great war-axes over their shoulders. Most had their flowing hair coifed with bright helms; some had burdened their arms with shields; some bore steel hauberks over their linen30 smocks: almost all had some piece of war-gear on their bodies; and one, to wit, Steed-linden of the Sickle31, a tall and fair damsel, was so arrayed that no garment could be seen on her but bright steel war-gear.
As for the Sun-beam, she was clad in a white kirtle embroidered from throat to hem11 with work of green boughs and flowers of the goodliest fashion, and a garland of roses on her head. Dale-warden himself was girt to her side by a girdle fair-wrought of golden wire, and she bore no other weapon or war-gear; and she let him lie quiet in his scabbard, nor touched the hilts once; whereas some of the other damsels would be ever drawing their swords out and thrusting them back. But all noted32 that goodly weapon, the yoke-fellow of so many great deeds.
There then on the Portway, between the water and the rock-wall, rose up plenteous and gleeful talk of clear voices shrill33 and soft; and whiles the maidens sang, and whiles they told tales of old days, and whiles they joined hands and danced together on the sweet summer dust of the highway. Then they mostly grew aweary, and sat down on the banks of the road or under their leafy bowers.
Noon came, and therewithal goodwives of the neighbouring Dale, who brought them meat and drink, and fruit and fresh flowers from the teeming34 gardens; and thereafter for a while they nursed their joy in their bosoms35, and spake but little and softly while the day was at its hottest in the early afternoon.
Then came out of Burgstead men making semblance36 of chapmen with a wain bearing wares37, and they made as though they were wending down the Portway westward38 to go out of the Dale. Then arose the weaponed maidens and barred the way to them, and turned them back amidst fresh-springing merriment.
Again in a while, when the sun was westering and the shadows growing long, came herdsmen from down the Dale driving neat, and making as though they would pass by into Burgstead, but to them also did the maidens gainsay39 the road, so that needs must they turn back amidst laughter and mockery, they themselves also laughing and mocking.
And so at last, when the maidens had been all alone a while, and it was now hard on sunset, they drew together and stood in a ring, and fell to singing; and one Gold-may of the House of the Bridge, a most sweet singer, stood amidst their ring and led them. And this is somewhat of the meaning of their words:
The sun will not tarry; now changeth the light,
Fail the colours that marry the Day to the Night.
Amid the sun’s burning bright weapons we bore,
For this eve of our earning comes once and no more.
For to-day hath no brother in yesterday’s tide,
And to-morrow no other alike it doth hide.
This day is the token of oath and behest
That ne’er shall be broken through ill days and best.
Here the troth hath been given, the oath hath been done,
To the Folk that hath thriven well under the sun.
And the gifts of its giving our troth-day shall win
Are the Dale for our living and dear days therein.
O Sun, now thou wanest! yet come back and see
Amidst all that thou gainest how gainful are we.
O witness of sorrow wide over the earth,
Rise up on the morrow to look on our mirth!
Thy blooms art thou bringing back ever for men,
And thy birds are a-singing each summer again.
But to men little-hearted what winter is worse
Than thy summers departed that bore them the curse?
And e’en such art thou knowing where thriveth the year,
And good is all growing save thralldom and fear.
Nought such be our lovers’ hearts drawing anigh,
While yet thy light hovers40 aloft in the sky.
Lo the seeker, the finder of Death in the Blade!
What lips shall be kinder on lips of mine laid?
Lo he that hath driven back tribes of the South!
Sweet-breathed is thine even, but sweeter his mouth.
Come back from the sea then, O sun! come aback,
Look adown, look on me then, and ask what I lack!
Come many a morrow to gaze on the Dale,
And if e’er thou seest sorrow remember its tale!
For ‘twill be of a story to tell how men died
In the garnering41 of glory that no man may hide.
O sun sinking under! O fragrance42 of earth!
O heart! O the wonder whence longing has birth!
So they sang, and the sun sank indeed; and amidst their singing the eve was still about them, though there came a happy murmur43 from the face of the meadows and the houses of the Thorp aloof44. But as their song fell they heard the sound of footsteps a many on the road; so they turned and stood with beating hearts in such order as when a band of the valiant45 draw together to meet many foes46 coming on them from all sides, and they stand back to back to face all comers. And even therewith, their raiment gleaming amidst the gathering dusk, came on them the young men of the Dale newly delivered from the grief of war.
Then in very deed the fierce mouths of the raisers of the war-shout were kind on the faces of tender maidens. Then went spear and axe29 and helm and shield clattering47 to the earth, as the arms of the new-comers went round about the bodies of the Brides, weary with the long day of sunshine, and glee and loving speech, and the maidens suffered the young men to lead them whither they would, and twilight began to draw round about them as the Maiden Band was sundered.
Some, they were led away westward down the Portway to the homesteads thereabout; and for divers48 of these the way was long to their halls, and they would have to wend over long stretches of dewy meadows, and hear the night-wind whisper in many a tree, and see the east begin to lighten with the dawn before they came to the lighted feast that awaited them. But some turned up the Portway straight towards Burgstead; and short was their road to the halls where even now the lights were being kindled49 for their greeting.
As for the Sun-beam, she had been very quiet the day long, speaking as little as she might do, laughing not at all, and smiling for kindness’ sake rather than for merriment; and when the grooms came seeking their maidens, she withdrew herself from the band, and stood alone amidst the road nigher to Burgstead than they; and her heart beat hard, and her breath came short and quick, as though fear had caught her in its grip; and indeed for one moment of time she feared that he was not coming to her. For he had gone with the other grooms to that gathered band, and had passed from one to the other, not finding her, till he had got him through the whole company, and beheld50 her awaiting him. Then indeed he bounded toward her, and caught her by the hands, and then by the shoulders, and drew her to him, and she nothing loth; and in that while he said to her:
‘Come then, my friend; lo thou! they go each their own way toward the halls of their houses; and for thee have I chosen a way — a way over the foot-bridge yonder, and over the dewy meadows on this best even of the year.’
‘Nay51, nay,’ she said, ‘it may not be. Surely the Burgstead grooms look to thee to lead them to the gate; and surely in the House of the Face they look to see thee before any other. Nay, Gold-mane, my dear, we must needs go by the Portway.’
He said: ‘We shall be home but a very little while after the first, for the way I tell of is as short as the Portway. But hearken, my sweet! When we are in the meadows we shall sit down for a minute on a bank under the chestnut52 trees, and thence watch the moon coming up over the southern cliffs. And I shall behold53 thee in the summer night, and deem that I see all thy beauty; which yet shall make me dumb with wonder when I see it indeed in the house amongst the candles.’
‘O nay,’ she said, ‘by the Portway shall we go; the torch-bearers shall be abiding54 thee at the gate.’
Spake Face-of-god: ‘Then shall we rise up and wend first through a wide treeless meadow, wherein amidst the night we shall behold the kine moving about like odorous shadows; and through the greyness of the moonlight thou shalt deem that thou seest the pink colour of the eglantine blossoms, so fragrant55 they are.’
‘O nay,’ she said, ‘but it is meet that we go by the Portway.’
But he said: ‘Then from the wide meadow come we into a close of corn, and then into an orchard56-close beyond it. There in the ancient walnut-tree the owl57 sitteth breathing hard in the night-time; but thou shalt not hear him for the joy of the nightingales singing from the apple-trees of the close. Then from out of the shadowed orchard shall we come into the open town-meadow, and over its daisies shall the moonlight be lying in a grey flood of brightness.
‘Short is the way across it to the brim of the Weltering Water, and across the water lieth the fair garden of the Face; and I have dight for thee there a little boat to waft58 us across the night-dark waters, that shall be like wavering flames of white fire where the moon smites59 them, and like the void of all things where the shadows hang over them. There then shall we be in the garden, beholding60 how the hall-windows are yellow, and hearkening the sound of the hall-glee borne across the flowers and blending with the voice of the nightingales in the trees. There then shall we go along the grass paths whereby the pinks and the cloves61 and the lavender are sending forth62 their fragrance, to cheer us, who faint at the scent63 of the over-worn roses, and the honey-sweetness of the lilies.
‘All this is for thee, and for nought but for thee this even; and many a blossom whereof thou knowest nought shall grieve if thy foot tread not thereby64 to-night; if the path of thy wedding which I have made, be void of thee, on the even of the Chamber65 of Love.
‘But lo! at last at the garden’s end is the yew-walk arched over for thee, and thou canst not see whereby to enter it; but I, I know it, and I lead thee into and along the dark tunnel through the moonlight, and thine hand is not weary of mine as we go. But at the end shall we come to a wicket, which shall bring us out by the gable-end of the Hall of the Face. Turn we about its corner then, and there are we blinking on the torches of the torch-bearers, and the candles through the open door, and the hall ablaze66 with light and full of joyous67 clamour, like the bale-fire in the dark night kindled on a ness above the sea by fisher-folk remembering the Gods.’
‘O nay,’ she said, ‘but by the Portway must we go; the straightest way to the Gate of Burgstead.’
In vain she spake, and knew not what she said; for even as he was speaking he led her away, and her feet went as her will went, rather than her words; and even as she said that last word she set her foot on the first board of the foot-bridge; and she turned aback one moment, and saw the long line of the rock-wall yet glowing with the last of the sunset of midsummer, while as she turned again, lo! before her the moon just beginning to lift himself above the edge of the southern cliffs, and betwixt her and him all Burgdale, and Face-of-god moreover.
Thus then they crossed the bridge into the green meadows, and through the closes and into the garden of the Face and unto the Hall-door; and other brides and grooms were there before them (for six grooms had brought home brides to the House of the Face); but none deemed it amiss in the War-leader of the folk and the love that had led him. And old Stone-face said: ‘Too many are the rows of bee-skeps in the gardens of the Dale that we should begrudge68 wayward lovers an hour’s waste of candle-light.’
So at last those twain went up the sun-bright Hall hand in hand in all their loveliness, and up on to the dais, and stood together by the middle seat; and the tumult69 of the joy of the kindred was hushed for a while as they saw that there was speech in the mouth of the War-leader.
Then he spread his hands abroad before them all and cried out: ‘How then have I kept mine oath, whereas I swore on the Holy Boar to wed1 the fairest woman of the world?’
A mighty70 shout went rattling71 about the timbers of the roof in answer to his word; and they that looked up to the gable of the Hall said that they saw the ray-ringed image of the God smile with joy over the gathered folk.
But spake Iron-face unheard amidst the clamour of the Hall: ‘How fares it now with my darling and my daughter, who dwelleth amongst strangers in the land beyond the wild-wood?’
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1
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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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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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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4
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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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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6
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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7
maidenhood
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| n. 处女性, 处女时代 | |
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8
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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9
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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10
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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11
hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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12
shearing
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| n.剪羊毛，剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 )；切断；剪切 | |
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13
scythe
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| n. 长柄的大镰刀，战车镰； v. 以大镰刀割 | |
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14
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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15
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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17
sundered
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| v.隔开，分开( sunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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19
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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20
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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21
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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22
grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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23
bowers
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| n.（女子的）卧室( bower的名词复数 )；船首锚；阴凉处；鞠躬的人 | |
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24
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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25
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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26
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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28
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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30
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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sickle
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| n.镰刀 | |
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32
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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33
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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34
teeming
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| adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注 | |
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35
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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38
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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40
hovers
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| 鸟( hover的第三人称单数 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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41
garnering
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| v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的现在分词 ) | |
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42
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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43
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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44
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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45
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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46
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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47
clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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48
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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49
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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50
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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51
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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52
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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53
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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54
abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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55
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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56
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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57
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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waft
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| v.飘浮，飘荡；n.一股；一阵微风；飘荡 | |
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smites
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的第三人称单数 ) | |
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beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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61
cloves
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| n.丁香（热带树木的干花，形似小钉子，用作调味品，尤用作甜食的香料）( clove的名词复数 )；蒜瓣(a garlic ~|a ~of garlic) | |
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62
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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63
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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64
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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65
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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66
ablaze
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| adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的 | |
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67
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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68
begrudge
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| vt.吝啬，羡慕 | |
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69
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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70
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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71
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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