liii 
 
 &\' 
 
 i 
 
 PI 
 
 n 
 
Copight>i"_J -9 a 6 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
THE STARS IN THE POOL 
 
'TRe 
 STARS IN 
 
 The pool 
 
 A Prose Poem for Lovers 
 
 By 
 
 Edna Kingsley Wallace 
 
 Auther o/"Fetlinss and Things,^'' 
 " fVonderings and Other Things'^ 
 
 New York 
 
 E. P. DUTTON Gf COMPANY 
 
 681 Fifth Avenue 
 
'^^'^'^^ 
 
 Copyright 1920 
 
 By E. P. BUTTON & CO. 
 
 All Rights Reser<ved 
 
 ©CU604101 
 
 Printed in the United States 
 of America 
 
 ;\TJ 1 b iw^O 
 
or 
 
 THE STARS IN THE POOL 
 
The Stars in the Pool 
 I. 
 
 llDMOST of a forest of The 
 weaving lights and ^^^^^^ 
 shadows, of dreaming 
 winds, and fragrance wander- 
 ing, there stood a great white 
 castle, fair, and gleaming in 
 the sun. Massive it was, yet 
 high as well, so that it caught 
 all colours of the dawn and 
 sunset, like unto some peak of 
 snow, remote from men. 
 
 Within the castle dwelt the 
 good King Telwyn, lord of all 
 that forest realm, wherein at 
 
 [1] 
 
whiles were clearings, with 
 Good orchards and vineyards, and 
 King fields of all manner of grain 
 good for man and beast. And 
 with the King was Ellaline, the 
 Queen, beloved and beautiful, 
 and mother of Roseheart, whom 
 Telwyn her father, old and 
 wise, knew for the tenderest 
 thought of God in woman form. 
 
 Fair as the dawn was Rose- 
 heart, and about her a fresh- 
 ness like that of babes. There 
 was in her hair the ruddiness 
 of tried gold, spun into a web 
 to catch the sun. Like the sky 
 in the East at twilight were her 
 eyes, and the dark brows thereof 
 as a flight of bird's wings. The 
 mouth of her was crimson, and 
 
 [2] 
 
fresh, and young, and curved 
 so tenderly withal, that none The 
 looking upon her might fail to ^^^^^y 
 love her with the love that leaps Hoseheart 
 into the heart for all young 
 things of fair seeming and 
 promise. 
 
 Now upon a day came overseas 
 to Telwyn's realm one like a 
 young god invincible, Flame, 
 son of Lokus, lord of a far 
 island,wherein were fiery moun- 
 tains having their roots in the sea. 
 Itwas a landof wondrous beauty, 
 but they that dwelt therein, 
 rich though they were, for that 
 the land was exceeding fer- 
 tile, yielding in fullest measure 
 the fruits of the earth, yet 
 dwelt ever in danger betwixt 
 
 [3] . . 
 
the mountains and the sea. 
 
 The For there had been times when 
 
 Isle of living fire had rolled down the 
 Lokus 
 
 mountains, and the earth had 
 
 been shaken mightily, and the 
 
 sea, in a huge wall of emerald, 
 
 had fallen upon the land and 
 
 overwhelmed it. And Lokus, 
 
 giving thought to these things, 
 
 had deep desire that the son of 
 
 his heart should escape these 
 
 dangers, and live out his years 
 
 in peace and happiness. And 
 
 for that the youth was ever of 
 
 the mind to fashion of the clay 
 
 of the earth whatsoever things 
 
 he saw, and might in nowise 
 
 be withheld from the cunning 
 
 of his hands, it came into the 
 
 mind of Lokus that it were 
 
 poor kindness to the child of 
 
 [4] 
 
his love to constrain him to 
 courts and statecraft. For Lokus 
 
 Lokus remembered his own Remember- 
 
 1 11 11 c etn his 
 
 youth, and the struggle thereof, y^^/^ 
 
 when that his father had de- 
 nied him the Hfe of his own 
 gift, which, darkHng long, now 
 sought in the son of his body 
 and spirit its life to the glory 
 of God. 
 
 Wherefore Lokus had called 
 his son to him, and had bidden 
 him to go straitly to the 
 friend of his own youth, the 
 wise King Telwyn, who would 
 teach him somewhat of life 
 and living in the great world. 
 But more than for the ways 
 and wit of men did Flame have 
 thought for all things beautiful 
 
 [5] 
 
in form. Right well he loved 
 The to liven clay to semblance of 
 G/7/^ yQ^j^g niaids and children, 
 Flame mothers, and old men wise with 
 living. Ever into their faces 
 he put somewhat no other man 
 might see in them. At whiles, 
 shapes of beauty like to nought 
 that he had seen swam before 
 his vision, but swiftly they 
 faded, and he rubbed his eyes, 
 and looked as he were silly. 
 Wherefore men called him 
 Dreamer. Yet with all this had 
 he little thought for what the 
 Lord God had meant in the 
 making of the world, being 
 well content in this .^:s you'"h 
 that by the instinct of his fing- 
 ers, and no thought withal, he 
 could please the good folk with 
 
 [6] 
 
happy likeness of themselves. 
 
 Tall and straight was Flame, Flame 
 
 with hair like fire seen through ^^f ^^^ 
 I y . I 1 • 1*1 • k^alt o€ci 
 
 smoke, and with skm like ripe 
 
 olives in the light of the going 
 sun. Firm his mouth, and his 
 brow both high and wide. In 
 his eyes were all the changing 
 lights and colours of the sea. 
 And it was as if the salt sea 
 were in his blood, so that when 
 he flamed in the wont of youth 
 and joy, it seemed like drift- 
 wood burning, leaping, flower- 
 ing, in all the colours known 
 of men. 
 
 And Flame, son of Lokus, 
 looking upon the Princess 
 Roseheart, drew one great 
 breath, and loved her with the 
 
 [7] 
 
love of a man's heart. And 
 
 The Roseheart, when she looked 
 
 Birth jj^|-Q ^^ gygg q{ Flame, and 
 
 j^Q^^ his heart therein, knew him 
 for her lord, and loved him 
 wholly. 
 
 Wherewith, Telwyn the King, 
 her father, seeing these things, 
 pondered the youth, and when 
 he had questioned him straitly, 
 was in nowise loath that the 
 thing should be. For Telwyn 
 was a wise man and discern- 
 ing, and found Flame a goodly 
 youth, and nought against him 
 for an husband to the Princess, 
 his daughter. Then was their 
 troth plighted, yet were they 
 over young to wed, and Telwyn 
 the King spake plain words to 
 
 [8] 
 
Flame, that it were well he 
 should prove himself in some Their 
 wise ere he should claim for p/?^^. i 
 bride the Princess Roseheart. 
 
 [9] 
 
II. 
 
 low some way from the 
 castle, deep in the forest, 
 |was set a Pool, so deep 
 and still that in its depths was 
 imaged all that bent above its 
 brim— the fluttering leaves, and 
 long-stemmed flowers, the flash- 
 ing flight of birds, and white- 
 winged argosies of cloud. And 
 so shadowed it was, and so 
 deep beyond depth, that he who 
 looked as far as he might could 
 see the stars of heaven mir- 
 rored therein. 
 
 [10] 
 
Daylong did Flame feed the 
 hunger of his eyes on the beauty The 
 of his beloved, as clad in kirtle ^^^^^ 
 of forest-green, girt with gold, j^^^^ 
 she knelt at the edge of the 
 Pool, or laughing, chased the 
 butterflies, to woo them to her 
 lips and hair. At whiles deep 
 quiet came upon them as they 
 bent above the Pool, seeing 
 nought of all it held save only 
 the two faces of love that 
 looked therein. 
 
 Upon a day at the hour of 
 golden noon, when all the land 
 swam in a haze of beauty, a 
 flickering brightness came and 
 passed, when Earthlove, sprite 
 invlisible, touched with his 
 lips these twain, and with a lilt 
 
 [11] 
 
of laughter rode away athwart 
 
 Earthlove a sunbeam. Thereafter did 
 
 Sprite Flame kiss Roseheart long, up- 
 Invtstble i i j it 
 
 on the mouth, and trembling, 
 
 gazed into her eyes that were 
 
 like still pools, wherein was 
 
 nought save his own image, 
 
 more beautiful than life. And 
 
 Flame's heart swelled within 
 
 him, lordly-wise, for that he 
 
 dwelt so in the eyes and the 
 
 heart of his beloved. And in 
 
 the eyes of Flame was nought 
 
 save Roseheart imaged, but 
 
 swaying as it were on a surging 
 
 wave wherethrough ran all the 
 
 changing lights and colours of 
 
 the sea. 
 
 But when it was some while 
 since these things had befallen, 
 
 [12] 
 
the dusk was come, all sud- 
 denly, and there passed The Old 
 strangely over the Pool a shiver- ^^^^ 
 ing, and from it rose a mist that 
 hid it. The heart of Flame was 
 troubled, and Hfting his eyes to 
 see what was toward, he saw 
 before him momently a figure 
 of sorrow, Wur, the Old Gray 
 Woman of Shadows, whose eyes 
 were as misty pools at twilight, 
 her hair as cobwebs matted, 
 and her garments as the wings 
 of the dusk. Yet upon her, nath- 
 less, was a wistful beauty as of 
 moonlight, wherein were all 
 things wondrous. 
 
 ''Behold!'' said Flame in won- 
 der to the maid Roseheart, but 
 she was in fear of somewhat 
 
 [13] 
 
that was as a thing known and 
 Of not known, and would not look, 
 Sorrow ^^^ turned her face to his 
 breast. And Flame spoke unto 
 the Old Gray Woman of Shad- 
 ows, saying, ''Gray One, I pray 
 thee, what wouldst thou?" 
 
 She answered, and her voice 
 was as the winds of autumn, 
 through bare branches: "I am 
 Sorrow, and the Way of Des- 
 tiny, and the Shadow of Things 
 to be. The flower fadeth, and 
 the flesh falleth away as a gar- 
 ment, but the seed and the soul 
 shall not perish, except the seed 
 fall on barren ground, and the 
 soul feed upon the body alone. 
 Ponder ye these things in your 
 hearts." And in a breath she 
 
 [14] 
 
was gone, leaving upon them a 
 
 chill as of the winter death. The Way 
 
 of 
 
 Wherefore was Flame of griev- ^ ^ 
 ous mind for that he did not 
 understand these things. And 
 Roseheart clung to him weep- 
 ing, the while he gave her such 
 sweet comfort as he might. 
 Long he looked upon her in 
 wonder, at the spun gold of 
 her hair, the white shining 
 about her brows, her deep, 
 still eyes wherein was nought 
 but his image, her mouth fash- 
 ioned to joy and love, and her 
 slender body, curving to the 
 grace of womanhood. And 
 once again Earthlove, sprite 
 invisible, touched him, and 
 stung him, and his heart surged 
 
 [15] 
 
with love of the maid, and 
 Earthlove his man's desire grew great 
 Once vvithin him. 
 
 More 
 
 She stirred, and looked into his 
 eyes, and shrank away, for 
 therein was that which affright- 
 ed the peace of her soul. Look- 
 ing, she saw not only her fair 
 face, but her whole white body, 
 drifting in the sea-surge of his 
 eyes, wherein were all the 
 changing lights and colours of 
 the sea. 
 
 And the soul of Roseheart was 
 faint with the far music of the 
 s e -surge that was the soul of 
 Flame. Yet being but a young 
 maid, she was in fear also, say- 
 ing, 'Tlamel Thou dishonour- 
 
 [16] 
 
est me!" and freed herself, and 
 
 sped away fleetly. Sea-Surge 
 
 and 
 And upon the youth was shame, Fire- 
 
 but a new strength therewith, ^^<^^^^ 
 so that he refrained him from 
 following her, and cast himself 
 upon the ground and wept, for 
 that he had affrighted the inno- 
 cence of Roseheart whom his 
 soul loved. And a great cry 
 for succor grew in him, and he 
 prayed full heartily to the Lord 
 God that He would show him 
 His will. 
 
 Thereafter, feeling a presence, 
 he looked up, and his eyes were 
 blinded with a great light, and 
 he covered his eyes, and bowed 
 his head. Before him, in gar- 
 ments more shining than the 
 
 [17] 
 
noonday sun, stood Senta, the 
 
 Senta Radiant One. She spake, and 
 
 the j^gj. voice had the beauty of the 
 
 Radiant . i i j 
 
 Qy^g sea in storm, when sudden sun- 
 light, flaming from the West, 
 gives rainbow colours to the 
 flying foam: ^'Hearken, Flame, 
 to the voice of Vision, which 
 the Lord God put into thy soul 
 when thou wast born. From 
 this day forth shalt thou rest 
 not, but follow thy dream 
 through all the earth and across 
 the seas. At the last shalt thou 
 find that thou seekest, for so is 
 it written, but thou shalt not 
 know the manner of thy find- 
 ing, nor may I tell thee. Sleep." 
 
 And upon Flame came sleep as 
 the sleep of the sea at sunrise, 
 
 [18] 
 
midmost of the summer, when- 
 as the glory of the sky is a The 
 great magic in the sea, swing- ^^^^^^ 
 ing as a censer to and fro, that 
 the Lord God may be honoured 
 of the wonders He hath made. 
 Now the dream of Flame was 
 a dream of womanhood — of 
 women beautiful as dawn or 
 flowers, of women whose fair 
 seeming covered evil, women 
 good and women false, maids 
 and mothers and harlots, drift- 
 ing, thronging, clamouring, 
 praying, fawning, passing — 
 until at last came one clad in 
 shining garments, fashioned 
 full seemly, of white silk that 
 flowed and clung, revealing 
 gracious lines of her form who 
 walked stately-wise, with little 
 
 ]19] 
 
children about her knees. And 
 
 The Flame saw that her form was 
 
 Woman radiance, and her eyes were 
 
 Radiance Stars, but he might not discern 
 
 the fashion of her face for the 
 
 light thereof. And he was sore 
 
 troubled that the seeming of her 
 
 face was withholden from him, 
 
 for he knew in his soul that he 
 
 had somewhat to do with her. 
 
 Came once more the voice of 
 Senta the Radiant One: **Flame, 
 Maker of Images, attend my 
 words. This woman shalt thou 
 seek throughout the world, for- 
 asmuch as she is the dream of 
 dreams in thy soul. In the full- 
 ness of thy manhood shalt thou 
 fashion her in pure marble, and 
 she shall be called Mother of 
 
 [20] 
 
Men. As for thee, thou shalt 
 
 be called the Giver of Dreams. Mother 
 
 Awake.'' . ^^ 
 
 Men 
 
 And Senta the Radiant One, 
 passing, gathered to her breast 
 with one swift motion the sprite 
 Earthlove, that had revealed to 
 her Flame and Roseheart in 
 their need to be taught the wis- 
 dom of life which they knew 
 not. 
 
 [21] 
 
III. 
 
 Senta 
 
 Taketh 
 
 Ear Move 
 
 ND when that Senta 
 had taken Earthlove 
 unto herself, and had 
 passed, the evening was come, 
 and there were stars a-many in 
 the depths of Pool. Therewith, 
 looking upon them, a great 
 peace came upon Flame, and 
 being weary, he laid himself 
 down that he might sleep and 
 be refreshed. And as he sl^pt, 
 he dreamed of that woman 
 whose form was radiance, and 
 whose eyes were stars. And 
 
 [22] 
 
his fingers stirred, and sought 
 
 to fashion out of the earth her Dreams 
 
 form of beauty; but all crum- ^^^ , 
 111 11- 1 11 Awakening 
 
 bled under his touch, and he 
 
 might not. 
 
 When the morning was come, 
 and upon all things lay new 
 freshness as of the world's 
 beginning, the youth Flame 
 arose and stripped him, and 
 plunged his body in the Pool 
 that sleep might be shaken from 
 him. Whereafter he got him 
 to the castle, and when that he 
 had stayed his hunger with 
 bread and new milk, asked that 
 he might have speech with his 
 troth-plight, the Princess Rose- 
 heart. Then a serving-man led 
 him through many halls to a 
 
 [23] 
 
great room wherein with their 
 The women sat Roseheart and the 
 
 §jieen Queen her mother. 
 and her 
 Women 
 
 And there, in seemly raiment 
 
 of soft colours, crimson, and 
 the brown of old wood, and 
 fresh green, the women sat 
 before their looms, and their 
 frames wherein rich broidery 
 grew under their white fingers. 
 And over all was sunlight, a 
 flickering whereof was made by 
 blown vines without the case- 
 ments, which were open to the 
 morn. There was the whisper 
 of silk, and much babble of 
 talk, after the fashion of women 
 working. Shuttles flew in the 
 looms, and white arms won- 
 drous fair in motion drew forth 
 
 [24] 
 
long silken threads, being 
 
 wrought into fine stuffs, to the Beauty 
 
 end that beauty might be added ^^^^^ 
 
 . unto 
 
 unto beauty. Beauty 
 
 Queen Ellaline sat very still in 
 the midst of these her women. 
 Of delicate fashion she was, 
 and gentle. Her eyes were 
 widely set, and blue, and 
 mother-sweet, and her hair was 
 silvering with the caress of the 
 years. And she was sad in the 
 midst of sunshine, forasmuch 
 as she was troubled at the mien 
 of the maid, her daughter, who 
 sat with drooping head and 
 still hands. And in good sooth, 
 the heart of the Princess was 
 heavy within her, and no little 
 in fear. Nightlong had she 
 
 [25] 
 
seen the vision of Flame, in 
 
 Roseheart whose eyes Hke the sea lay her 
 
 ^ ,/*^- white body floating. Never 
 Iroubled , <. . i i i i i i 
 
 beiore since he had loved her 
 
 had she seen aught but her 
 
 soul's self therein, and she was 
 
 troubled. 
 
 And now Flame, son of Lokus, 
 lord of that far isle of sea-surge 
 and fire-bloom, entered in 
 courtly wise this room of work 
 and idleness, of gayety and gos- 
 sip, and of love perplexed. In 
 reverent greeting did he kiss 
 the hand of Queen EllaHne; 
 then turning him to the Prin- 
 cess Roseheart, he took both 
 of her white hands in his, seek- 
 ing to look into her eyes. And 
 soon, for her love of him she 
 
 [26] 
 
might not refrain, and bravely 
 
 gave them to his seeing. And Roseheart 
 
 for that 'she v^as shamefast, in ^i, ,, . 
 1 c -11111 iToubled 
 
 the way or a maid, she looked 
 
 as one that saw not. But in 
 the eyes of Roseheart, he who 
 loved her saw as he was wont 
 only the image and seeming of 
 himself. And he was sorrow- 
 ful therewith, forasmuch as he 
 had thought mayhap to find 
 in the eyes of his love the twin 
 stars of the woman of his dream. 
 But the thing was not. And 
 remembering the Radiant One, 
 and the things that she had 
 said, he knew that, will-he, 
 nill-he, he must fare forth in 
 quest of that woman whose 
 form was radiance, and whose 
 eyes were stars — her from 
 
 [27] 
 
Men 
 
 whom he should fashion his 
 
 Mother Mother of Men. 
 
 of 
 
 Then spake Ellaline, the Queen, 
 with quiet voice, saying, ** What 
 wouldst thou. Flame, son of 
 Lokus? My daughter Rose- 
 heart hath seeming of some 
 ill-hap with which thou hast 
 to do." 
 
 Therewith did Flame drop the 
 hands of Roseheart his love, and 
 standing before the Queen her 
 mother, he spake on this wise: 
 '*I know not what this thing 
 may be, but somewhat hath 
 been laid upon my will, so that 
 choice it hath none. Where- 
 fore, though thy daughter 
 Roseheart is as the blood of 
 
 [28] 
 
my heart to me, and fain would 
 I take her to wife straightway, Flame 
 yet first must I go across the ^P^^^^^h 
 sea, and through all the earth, 
 until I find a certain woman 
 whose form is radiance and 
 whose eyes are stars, that I may 
 fashion of her in pure marble 
 a Mother of Men that shall ful- 
 fill the dream of my soul. Not 
 of my willing is this thing laid 
 upon me. But the Lord God 
 when I was born put into my 
 soul the vision, and into my 
 hands the cunning to fashion 
 the shape of my vision. There- 
 fore must I go, and abide the 
 will of the Lord God lest He 
 He destroy me. Whether I shall 
 return I know not, for many 
 will be the perils of the way, 
 
 [29] 
 
but in my heart meseems I 
 
 The know that I shall return and 
 
 P^^^ take to wife the maid Rose- 
 
 Roseheart heart, whom in all honour I 
 
 love and cherish." 
 
 Hearing these words at the 
 last, Roseheart found some- 
 what of courage beyond that 
 she had had, and looked into 
 the eyes of Flame. Therein was 
 no longer her own white body, 
 as she had feared to see, but 
 the noble form of a woman 
 whose white silken draperies 
 flowed and clung, whose form 
 was radiance, and whose eyes 
 were stars. With her were little 
 children. And Roseheart, gaz- 
 ing, beheld the form of radi- 
 ance, and the faces of the 
 
 [30] 
 
children, as somewhat known, 
 and not known, and in her A White 
 heart was a white stillness, and ^^^^^^^^^ 
 no anger that Flame would 
 leave her to seek this woman, 
 but only the pain of long- 
 ing, and a meekness like 
 that of Mary, the Blessed 
 Mother. 
 
 Flame, pitiful of the still sorrow 
 of Roseheart, clasped her to 
 his breast, and kissed her thrice 
 upon the forehead. But the 
 Lure of the Way of Life was 
 upon him, and turning strongly 
 from the maid and the Queen, 
 her mother, he said: **Good 
 greeting must I give you, from 
 the heart, and long farewell, 
 for that I must be about the 
 
 [31] 
 
business the Lord God hath 
 Flamcy set me. But ere I go, I would 
 ///> see Telwyn, and speak with 
 him of that I have to do." 
 
 [32] 
 
IV. 
 
 LL silently they three Flames 
 together sought Tel- fj^.^.n 
 
 wyn, the King, but 
 
 now returned from the hunt, 
 and sitting at meat with his 
 men in the great banquet hall 
 of the castle. 
 
 A mighty man of sorts was 
 Telwyn. Fierce in war, yet 
 had he also a great love of 
 peace, of beauty, of mirth and 
 joy, and of his food and wine. 
 Also had he great discernment 
 for the true things in the hearts 
 
 [33] 
 
of men. Wherefore, seeing 
 King sorrow and heaviness in the 
 Telwyn f^^es of the three whom he 
 loved, who would have speech 
 with him, he bade his men-at- 
 arms and serving-men depart. 
 
 When that he had listened all 
 quietly to the words of Flame, 
 there first came anger into his 
 heart, and a mist upon his sight, 
 for that Roseheart, his daugh- 
 ter, who was as the remem- 
 bered joy of his youth, should 
 be in woe for the going from 
 her of Flame, Son of Lokus, 
 to follow the gleam of stars 
 in the eyes of the woman of 
 his dream. Yet was Telwyn 
 proud, and would constrain 
 no man to take unreadily his 
 
 [34] 
 
daughter Roseheart; and just, 
 
 for that he remembered what The 
 
 he had said to the youth, that ^^^<^, 
 
 111 1 11 Fondereth 
 
 It were well he should prove 
 
 himself somewhat ere he 
 should take the maid in mar- 
 riage. Therefore with a mighty 
 intake of the breath, and clos- 
 ing the Hds of his eyes, where- 
 in were lightnings. King Tel- 
 wyn spake on this wise, his voice 
 as the voice of far thunders: 
 *Tlame, son of Lokus, thou 
 grievest the heart of Telwyn, 
 father of Roseheart, for that 
 thou puttest the maid in sorrow 
 for thy going. Yet am I a man, 
 and know the heart of a man 
 in youth. Fain would I give 
 thee of the wisdom I have 
 learned, but that may not be. 
 
 [35] 
 
Telwyn 
 Admonish- 
 eth 
 Flame 
 
 In pain and struggle shalt thou 
 come to thine own wisdom, 
 which is for thee alone, so that 
 no man may give it thee, but 
 thou must win it. Yet since 
 thou hast won a maid to her 
 promise, it were meet that thou 
 shouldst go thy ways carefully, 
 bravely, and in good faith, that 
 thou mayest return in honour. 
 
 I charge thee, see thou to these 
 things lest the vengeance of 
 Telwyn find thee out, though 
 thou wert in the uttermost parts 
 of the earth. Lend not thy 
 soul to wine to make a mock of, 
 nor to false women that they 
 may break it. Bear thou thy- 
 self with modesty; give of thy 
 strength and wit to whomso- 
 
 [36] 
 
ever hath need of them. Cheat 
 
 no man of his due in any wise, Telwyn 
 
 remembering that so thou ^^^omsh- 
 
 wouldst cheat thyself of thy piame 
 
 birthright, which is to be one 
 
 with truth and right in so far as 
 
 thou canst attain thereunto. 
 
 Thou art the son of Lokus, 
 
 and art bound to carry his name 
 
 and blood in honour. I have 
 
 spoken. Farewell." 
 
 [37] 
 
V. 
 
 low was Ellaline, the 
 Ellahne Jf^jQW Queen, fair distraught, 
 ^ ^ li^>3^ for that she understood 
 not her own mind in the mat- 
 ter. And her heart was as water 
 with pity of the maid, and as a 
 sting her tongue, whenas she 
 thought of the going of Flame, 
 for that to her seeing he had 
 put an affront upon their house. 
 Yet might she not speak in 
 wrath, when Telwyn her hus- 
 band had spoken in quietness. 
 And there came upon her a 
 
 [38] 
 
trembling lest she speak, and 
 Telwyn's displeasure come Ellaline 
 
 upon her. Beholdeth 
 
 fVur 
 
 Wherefore, turning to flee 
 away, lest speaking she do 
 wrong, Ellaline the Queen saw 
 some way off in the hall a figure 
 of sorrow, Wur, the Old Gray 
 Woman of Shadows. And 
 being in eld, well she wot that 
 in the coming of Wur was sign 
 that the Lord God was minded 
 to send upon their house sor- 
 row and the winds of destiny, 
 and that not for her love and 
 grief might these things be 
 stayed in anywise. Wherewith 
 she kissed the maid her daugh- 
 ter tenderly, as in farewell, and 
 fled away straitly, weeping. 
 [39] 
 
And Roseheart was white and 
 
 The still. 
 Strength 
 of Flame When Flame turned him to the 
 
 Princess Roseheart, fain would 
 she have had him kiss her upon 
 the mouth, but he would not, 
 seeking her brow instead, in all 
 tenderness. And piteous was 
 the face of the maid, that Flame 
 whom she loved denied her. 
 But the eyes of Telwyn mark- 
 ing the thing, it seemed good 
 to him that Flame turned him 
 from the lips of his love. Well 
 did the King know the hearts 
 of men, and right heartily did 
 he hold in scorn those who had 
 not the wit to fear such things 
 as betray men unto weakness. 
 
 Thereafter did Flame get him 
 [40] 
 
thence right speedily, to take 
 
 ship^for far countries. The Going 
 
 of 
 
 The maid Roseheart covered 
 her eyes that she might not see 
 the going of her beloved. And 
 she wept full sore, and when 
 Telwyn the King would have 
 comforted her, Wur, the Old 
 Gray Woman of Shadows, came 
 unto her pitifully, and took her 
 from the arms of her father, and 
 folded her mantle about her, 
 and led her away all gently. 
 And yielding his little maid 
 unto Wur, whom well he wot 
 of old, the King was shaken in 
 grief, that the thing must be 
 and nought might stay it. 
 
 [41] 
 
 Flame 
 
VI. 
 
 Roseheart ^^S^AYLONG and night- 
 and E||f^l|l long the maid clung 
 B^^^gyi to Wur and to none 
 other, and the Old Gray Woman 
 of Shadows, whose voice was 
 like unto the winds of Autumn, 
 made sad music of the days and 
 ways of men. Ever she spake, 
 telling tales of sorrow, where- 
 unto Roseheart listened, saying 
 in her heart, **There is no sor- 
 row like to mine, who am a 
 widow before I am wed." 
 
 Yet there was, withal, in the 
 
 [42] 
 
tales of Wur, a gray beauty that 
 melted the heart of the maid, Roseheart 
 even in despite of her own ^?'^^{ 
 griei, to a vague and terrible 
 longing to learn what lay at 
 the heart of life. Nightlong 
 did Wur watch over her, and 
 the maid dreamed in sorrow, 
 to wake weeping. 
 
 So for a space was grief bitter 
 in the maid, and grievous 
 was the hurt of all things, for 
 that Flame whom she loved 
 had gone his ways from her. 
 Then on a day, for pity of the 
 grief wherewith she suffered, a 
 longing grew in her to look 
 upon the face of her sadness in 
 the Pool in the forest. Thither 
 she went, therefore, with Wur, 
 
 [43] 
 
the Old Gray Woman of 
 The Face Shadows, and leaned over the 
 ^ ?f. Pool in the wont of her old 
 fashion. And as with sore pity 
 of herself she looked into the 
 Pool, upon the face of grief 
 that was hers, she saw that in 
 her eyes, which aforetime had 
 held nought save the face of 
 Flame, was an image that blot- 
 ted out all else. Semblance it 
 had of an image of Wur, the 
 Old Gray Woman of Shadows, 
 whose hair was as cobwebs 
 matted, whose eyes were as 
 misty pools at twilight, and 
 whose garments were as the 
 wings of the dusk. Yet as the 
 maid looked more nearly, she 
 saw that the form had only the 
 seeming of Wur, and was in 
 
 [44] 
 
good sooth that of Roseheart 
 herself, stricken in grief to the The Face 
 Hkeness of Wur. ^ 
 
 Grief 
 
 Arising in wonder she turned 
 her to look upon Wur, and in 
 the face of the Old Gray Woman 
 of Shadows she saw strangely 
 the semblance of herself, Rose- 
 heart. And at the horror and 
 mystery of this thing which she 
 might not understand, the maid 
 shrieked w|ith terror. And 
 when the Old Gray Woman 
 would have folded her in her 
 arms to quiet her, the maid 
 would not, and shrank away, 
 and prayed for help to the Lord 
 God that she might have 
 comfort. 
 
 [45] 
 
And there came a radiance, 
 There growing ever brighter, until 
 
 £du!me ^"^' ^^^ ^'^ ^^^^ Woman of 
 Shadows, might not stay, but 
 
 fled away before that which was 
 more shining than the noon- 
 day sun. And Roseheart was 
 ware of a presence she might 
 not see for the brightness. 
 
 Then spake Senta, the Radiant 
 One, the Voice of Vision, unto 
 the maid Roseheart, full gently, 
 yet in the manner of one who 
 may not be gainsaid: ** Rose- 
 heart, beloved of Flame, who 
 shall be called Giver of Dreams, 
 Hft up thy heart. Well hast 
 thou learned the lore of sorrow 
 that Wur hath taught thee, and 
 these things it is needful that 
 
 [46] 
 
thou shouldst know. But too 
 
 much hast thou made thyself The Coming 
 
 one with sorrow, to the end ^/ 
 
 that It hath grown dear to thee. 
 
 This thing may not be. Pity 
 
 that seeketh not itself makes 
 
 pure the heart of man, but pity 
 
 of thyself for thine own woe is 
 
 another matter, whereto thou 
 
 must look else will thy sorrow 
 
 destroy thee. Thou shalt arise, 
 
 therefore, and go unto thy 
 
 father Telwyn the King, and 
 
 thy mother, the Queen EUaline- 
 
 Sore have been their hearts that 
 
 thou wert in grief. It should 
 
 be thy task rather, to bring 
 
 them joy who are stricken in 
 
 years. 
 
 n 
 
 But since joy is not made of 
 
 [47] 
 
nought, and since there is now 
 Vision in thee sorrow alone, I say unto 
 ^w^ thee, go thy ways among the 
 people of thy father the King, 
 and of thy grief make garments 
 of joy to cover the nakedness 
 of the poor withal. Take to 
 them that are sick the flowers 
 of thy kindness, that shall be 
 as the snowdrops blossoming 
 under the mantle of the winter 
 of thy grief. Look into the 
 eyes of the old and find patience, 
 and into the hearts of the chil- 
 dren and find hope. Tend 
 thou the bed of pain, and ease 
 the woe of the sons of men in 
 such measure as thou mayest. 
 Therewith shall all things befall 
 thee as the Lord God desireth. 
 Unto me, Senta, it is vouch- 
 
 [48] 
 
safed to give thee vision, and a 
 dream, even as I gave these Vision 
 things unto Flame, thy be- ^^ 
 loved. Sleep." ^"'^"^ 
 
 And Roseheart laid her down 
 in the deep sleep as of a rose- 
 bud in the sun at mid-day, 
 when life in a great tide flows 
 and greatens, to the end that 
 the rose may be full-blown. 
 And the dream of Roseheart 
 was on this wise: There was a 
 woman in shining garments, 
 fashioned full seemly of white 
 silk that flowed and clung, re- 
 vealing gracious lines of her 
 form who walked stately-wise, 
 with little children about her 
 knees. Her form was radiance, 
 and her eyes were stars. And 
 
 [49] 
 
in the fashion of her seeming, 
 The and in the faces of the chil- 
 Starry-eyed (Jren, was somewhat as it were 
 a thing known and not known. 
 Then beheld Roseheart the 
 seeming of Flame, her beloved, 
 looking in joy and reverence 
 upon this woman whose form 
 was radiance, and whose eyes 
 were stars. 
 
 And Senta the Radiant One 
 said unto Roseheart: "Behold 
 and see if this be not she whom 
 thou didst look upon at the 
 last in the eyes of Flame whom 
 thou lovest." And it was so, 
 and Roseheart marveled. 
 
 Whereafter Senta bade her 
 awake, and she awoke and pon- 
 
 [50] 
 
dered these things what they 
 might mean. And in the heart The Heart 
 of the maid there grew and ^iJ^^, 
 strengthened the desire and the 
 will to be as that woman of her 
 dream, whose beauty was as 
 music under the moon, and in 
 all reverence beloved of her 
 troth-plight. Flame. Thus are 
 women ever, in their deep need 
 to be in all ways that they may, 
 the desired of their lord. 
 
 [51] 
 
VII. 
 
 Roseheart 
 
 Gives 
 
 Greeting 
 
 HEN all things had 
 bfecome c lear to 
 Roseheart she arose 
 swiftly, and went unto Telwyn 
 the King, and the Queen her 
 mother. And upon her face was 
 a shining which was the shining 
 of her soul. And she said unto 
 them, **I give you greeting, my 
 father and my mother." 
 
 And looking upon her they 
 were glad exceedingly, and ex- 
 changed looks the one with 
 the other, for that the face of 
 
 [52] 
 
Roseheart was no longer gray 
 
 with grief. The Going 
 
 of 
 
 First answered Ellaline, saying, ^^^ 
 
 ''Greeting to thee, my daughter. 
 
 Where now is Wur, that thou 
 
 hast the look of happiness?'' 
 
 Sudden wonder made wide the 
 eyes of Roseheart. "In good 
 sooth I know not,'' she an- 
 swered. *'I have not seen her 
 at all any more since the com- 
 ing of the Shining One." 
 
 Telwyn the King leaned him 
 forward in eagerness, asking, 
 "The Shining One? What 
 meanest thou?" 
 
 Into the face of Roseheart came 
 the far, wondering look of chil- 
 
 [53] 
 
dren, but in her heart was a 
 Rosehearty song. "I know not," she made 
 ^^^, answer, ** unless it was an angel 
 of the Lord God, to shew me the 
 things that I must do, and that 
 which I must become." Here- 
 with the voice of the maid grew 
 wondrous sweet. "Of my gar- 
 ment of sorrow must I make 
 raiment of joy to cover the 
 nakedness of the poor. To the 
 sick must I take the flowers of 
 kindness that are now as snow- 
 drops blossoming under the 
 mantle of the winter of grief. 
 I am to look into the eyes of 
 the old and find patience, s^'^d 
 into the hearts of children and 
 find hope. And I am to tend 
 the bed of pain, and ease the 
 suffering of the sons of men in 
 
 [54] 
 
such measure as I may, that all 
 things may befall me as the Telwyn 
 Lord God desireth.'' Peneiveth 
 
 Into the face of Telwyn there 
 came a tenderness like that of 
 women, and in his voice were 
 the tears a man may not suffer 
 in his eyes. ''Great is the joy 
 in my heart,'' he said, ''for that 
 thou art indeed become a 
 woman. And well I wot that 
 the Lord God is with thee, that 
 thou knowest these things of 
 wisdom.'' 
 
 And Ellaline, looking into the 
 face of her daughter, drew her 
 to her heart, and spake on this 
 wise: "Deep grief has it been to 
 me that in thy pain I might not 
 [55] . ^ 
 
help thee, but must leave thee to 
 
 The the care of Wur, that woman of 
 
 ^ueen sorrow. Nathless have I prayed 
 Cipeaketn r ^ ^ • i . 
 
 tor thee without ceasing. 
 
 Blessed be the name of the 
 
 Lord God that] He hath found 
 
 the Way for thee." 
 
 Now on the morrow when Tel- 
 wyn the King went among his 
 people, to see that all was well, 
 and nought amiss that might 
 be set right, he put Roseheart 
 his daughter upon a white pal- 
 frey; and himself upon a mighty 
 red horse, led her whithersoever 
 he went, that she might see all 
 things in the wisdom and tend- 
 erness newly come to her. And 
 from his deep eyes like the cav- 
 erns of the sky, he watched her, 
 [56] 
 
as pity grew in her, and knowl- 
 edge, and quick device of sue- Telwyn 
 
 cor. Daylong they rode, at the ^"^ , 
 
 . 1 I . , . J Roseheart 
 
 noontide having bite and sup 
 
 with a woodcutter and his wife, 
 
 newly blessed with a fine man 
 
 child. And Roseheart, taking 
 
 the child in her arms, laughed 
 
 and wept that he was so small 
 
 and sweet, and for that he clung 
 
 to her, and turned to her breast. 
 
 And when the shadows grew 
 
 long, and they set their faces 
 
 toward the castle, the maid was 
 
 sore weary, but she knew it 
 
 not, for the pity in her, and the 
 
 thought of all awry in the world 
 
 that must be set right. 
 
 And it befell that she dreamed 
 that night of a babe that lay 
 
 [57] 
 
upon her breast, and so sweet 
 
 Roseheart it was, that she woke weeping 
 Steadfast f^j. ^^j-y j^y^ 
 
 Thereafter daily the maid went 
 forth with the King her father, 
 or at whiles with the Queen 
 her mother, whenas she was 
 wont to say unto Telwyn with 
 sweet gravity, **This is a matter 
 for women, of which thou 
 knowest nought." 
 
 And the King smiled in his 
 beard at the woman-ways of her. 
 But hours there were when that 
 Roseheart was a-weary, and an- 
 hungered for Flame, her troth- 
 plight lord. Yet always, re- 
 membering her dream, she 
 arose from grief, and with the 
 
 [58] 
 
trouble of others, and what she 
 
 might do for them, filled the Her Need 
 
 emptiness of her heart. And ^J^^ . 
 
 , 111 Destre 
 
 so great was her need and de- 
 sire to become as the woman 
 of the great dream, that slowly 
 as a slender moon fills with sil- 
 ver, or a rosebud greatens to 
 fullness, did Roseheart the 
 maid grow in fashion and seem- 
 ing and good sooth toward the 
 very truth of her desire, to be 
 as that woman whose form was 
 radiance and whose eyes were 
 stars. 
 
 [59] 
 
VIII. 
 
 Thrice flS^^TlHRICE the snowdrops 
 Bloomed ^^M came and went, thrice 
 Rose Lv^^fejj^ bloomed the rose; 
 thrice the harvest ripened to 
 the scythe, and winter flushed 
 to spring, and Flame, son of 
 Lokus, was not yet come from 
 overseas to claim his promise 
 of his troth-plight maiden. 
 
 Long had he wandered from 
 land to land, seeking ever the 
 shape of his dream. Ever he 
 made forms of beauty with his 
 hands, whatsoever he saw, and 
 
 [60] 
 
men marveled thereat, so cun- 
 ning-true they were, and skill- Flame 
 ful. And everywhere was he Joumeyeth 
 tempted with all manner of 
 lures to flesh and spirit that he 
 forsake his dream and take his 
 ease and pleasure like other 
 men, but he would not. And it 
 befell that on a day when he 
 was riding through the forest, 
 he came upon a carle that beat 
 a woman, his wife. And Flame 
 was wroth with the carle, and 
 fell upon him in fury, that so 
 he should misuse the strength 
 that God had given him. And 
 the anger of Flame was as the 
 strength of ten men, but when 
 he had the throat of the man in 
 his fingers, and would have 
 slain him, all suddenly his 
 
 [61] 
 
anger was not. And in good 
 
 He pity of the fellow that he was 
 
 Groweth y^^ jj^ youth, he loosed him, 
 
 Strength ^^^ admonished him, and went 
 his ways. And the strength of 
 the man that he had spared to 
 God's good life was added to 
 his own strength. 
 
 And with his good strength of 
 the body was come strength of 
 his soul also. Wherefore, when 
 in his wanderings he came 
 upon a fair land wherein was 
 much kindness, and after a 
 while that land, which had an 
 aged king, was threatened by 
 savage men from wild forest 
 land beyond, he girded on his 
 sword and led the people in 
 war that they might put to con- 
 
 [62] 
 
fusion the savage men who 
 sought to slay them, and take He 
 their fat lands, and the homes ^j^^^^J^ 
 where they were born. And 
 when their enemies were driven 
 out, the old King embraced 
 with tears him who had risked 
 his life for them, and besought 
 him, saying, ** Flame, son of 
 Lokus, what wouldst thou? 
 Whatsoever thou ask, that will 
 I give thee/' And Flame, with 
 a look of far horizons in his 
 eyes that were like the sea, an- 
 swered him on this wise: **God 
 be gracious to thee for thy 
 kindness, but it is I who am in 
 thy debt, for that I have learned 
 the sweetness of giving myself 
 wholly, even unto death, if need 
 be, that innocent folk should 
 
not suffer, nor evil prevail. I 
 He am a selfish man, thinking 
 Fareth Yixx\^ enough of other folk, as I 
 go my way dreaming, and that 
 now I have seen somewhat 
 other than that is a mercy of 
 the Lord God." 
 
 And though the people clam- 
 oured that he should stay with 
 them, he went his way, and 
 came into a new land, and 
 dwelt there for a time. And 
 being comely, with grace and 
 courtliness in his mien, and the 
 beauty of the sea in his eyes, 
 when he looked eagerly into 
 the faces of women, seeking 
 his dream, many were sick with 
 love of him. And they made 
 devices that he should tarry 
 
 [64] 
 
with them, some in innocence 
 and good faith, as a maid may. Of 
 and some fawning, and whis- ^^^ 
 pering black words to the youth 
 and heat of his blood. 
 
 Of these last there came be- 
 times a witch-woman, who dis- 
 cerning with cunning the eyes 
 of Flame that they were like 
 the sea, made herself as a moon- 
 woman, that he should follow 
 her. And Flame, looking upon 
 her, whose face was as silver, 
 felt somewhat surge within him 
 answering her desire. And the 
 woman glided before him un- 
 til they were come into the 
 desert. 
 
 And when the moon-woman 
 moved not so swiftly, but lin- 
 
 [65] 
 
gered, and Flame would have 
 The touched her, she laughed, and 
 ^oon- vvould and would not, and 
 reaching for her, he stumbled, 
 and fell upon the ground, yet 
 held her fast. And the night 
 was black upon them. 
 
 When the early morning was 
 come. Flame turned him from 
 the moon-woman exulting that 
 now at last he had drunk of the 
 cup, desire whereof had tor- 
 mented him. But as he turned, 
 some way off in brightness 
 stood Senta the Radiant One. 
 And she drew near, and spake 
 not, but shed her light, without 
 pity, upon the moon-woman. 
 And Flame saw that she was 
 not beautiful, but a hag, and 
 
 [66] 
 
her face of silver the face of 
 leprosy, white and horrible, and The 
 as old as the world. And he ^^^^ ^f 
 looked about him, and saw in ^^^^^y 
 the desert the bones of men. 
 Then did he cry out in fear, *'I 
 am in the place of the dead!" 
 
 And he rose up swiftly and fled 
 away till he was come to the 
 edge of the desert, and thence 
 into a gentle land, of murmur- 
 ing streams, and trees on the 
 which was fruit of divers kinds, 
 and good to the taste. And 
 after that Flame had drunk of 
 the waters, and eaten of the 
 fruit, the Lord God was pitiful 
 of his shame and weariness, 
 and he slept. 
 
 Sleeping, once more he dreamed 
 
 [67] 
 
of that woman of radiance, 
 Cometh starry-eyed. But whereas afore- 
 ^ ^^^ time he might not see the fash- 
 ion of her face, it was now 
 revealed to him in the seeming 
 of his troth-plight maiden, glor- 
 ified. Now was the rose full 
 blown, the child become a 
 woman, in strength, and ten- 
 derness, and wisdom, and her 
 beauty was as music under the 
 moon. Then unto him in his 
 dream spake the Voice of Vi- 
 sion on this wise: *'Now that 
 thou hast proved thyself in 
 turning thee from the place of 
 the dead, shalt thou have full- 
 ness of life, withal. Thou hast 
 looked upon death in battle, 
 and feared not, for that thou 
 sawest therein that life which 
 
 [68] 
 
IS greater than thine own life; 
 
 and thou hast looked upon that The Voice 
 
 life which is sin, and hast seen ^. . 
 
 therein the death of the spirit. 
 
 Wherefore arise, and go 
 
 straightway to claim the 
 
 maiden Roseheart for thy wife, 
 
 that the true life of body and 
 
 spirit may be fulfilled unto 
 
 thee. And whatsoever thou 
 
 fashionest with thy hands, that 
 
 shalt thou fashion also with thy 
 
 heart and soul, in the light of 
 
 the vision the Lord God hath 
 
 given thee. Arise." 
 
 With a great cry of joy he 
 awoke, and strength was ful- 
 filled to him as it had been a 
 fountain, ever leaping and ever 
 renewed. Wherewith straight- 
 
 [69] 
 
way he arose, and girt up his 
 Strength mantle for the journey, that 
 Fulfilled s^ift might be the way of his 
 
 [70] 
 
IX. 
 
 NTO the days of three Flame 
 moons he journeyed, Retutneth 
 over land and sea, and 
 at last he was come into the 
 country of Telwyn, wherein 
 were peace, and good harvest, 
 and labour for all that would. 
 And while he was yet some 
 way off, upon a hill, he saw 
 that the people were gathered 
 together in a great meadow, 
 and there rose to him on the 
 wind a great song of joy that 
 they were singing. 
 
 [71] 
 
And drawing near he saw 
 The People that some of the people were 
 ^^ playing at games in the meadow, 
 quoits and bowls, and other 
 games of skill of divers kinds, 
 with trials of strength and 
 daring for the eager blood of 
 youth. And there were horses 
 a-many , and on them men laugh- 
 ing and jesting, and there were 
 women and children, some hun- 
 dreds, clad in fluttering gar- 
 ments of all the colours of joy. 
 
 In the midst of the throng 
 there sat upon a dais a woman 
 in shining raiment of cloth 
 of silver, broidered with roses 
 that had caught their colour 
 from the rose tint of her face. 
 And her hair of spun gold was 
 
 [72] 
 
bound with a silver fillet, fash- 
 ioned in all delicacy, and col- The Bay 
 ored to the semblance of the ^ 
 roses that were in the pattern 
 thereof, with leaves cunningly 
 wrought of green gold. Stand- 
 ing beside her was a young 
 page clad in crimson who car- 
 ried a tray whereon were rib- 
 bands of bright colours, the 
 which the Princess Roseheart, 
 for she it was in the shining rai- 
 ment, did upon those who were 
 victors in the games and con- 
 tests. 
 
 Great was the pride of the 
 people that the Princess had 
 come amongst them in their 
 merrymaking. Long had she 
 been with them in sorrow and 
 
 [73] 
 
service, but not before this day 
 The in the joy of the morning of 
 Morning^ life, and they deemed it of good 
 Life augury for her happiness. 
 
 Now when Flame, yet some 
 way off, saw that the woman in 
 shining raiment was the be- 
 loved of his soul, Roseheart, 
 his heart leapt within him, and 
 there was upon his limbs the 
 speed of light. But betimes it 
 came to him that travel was 
 upon his garments, and that it 
 were not fit he should dis- 
 honour his troth-plight maiden 
 by coming before her eyes in 
 aught unworthy. Wherefore he 
 turned him aside from the 
 meadow, and made such haste 
 
 [74] 
 
as he might toward the castle 
 midmost of the forest. Cometh 
 
 Flame 
 
 When he was come thither, he 
 found therein only a few old 
 serving men and women, for 
 that all others were making 
 holiday in the meadow, the 
 King, Telwyn, and the Queen 
 Ellaline, as well as the humblest 
 folk in the castle. 
 
 And Flame got him right 
 speedily to the great room that 
 had been for his sleeping afore- 
 time. There, as of old, was a 
 great chest wherein were the 
 garments he had brought with 
 him from his home, the isle of 
 sea-surge and fire-bloom. 
 Therefrom he chose raiment of 
 
 [75] 
 
rich silk wherein leapt and 
 
 Sea-Surge flickered all colours as of drift- 
 
 and wood burning — copper, and 
 
 Fire-Bloom i i j j i 
 
 blue, and green, and rose, and 
 
 violet— with a broidered cloak 
 
 of velvet Hke clear flame. And 
 
 he did on a sword the hilt 
 
 whereof was wrought in divers 
 
 hues of pure gold. 
 
 And when all was done, and 
 in the wont of youth he looked 
 upon his likeness in a mirror 
 of silver that was there, he 
 laughed in his heart for that he 
 was young and comely, and for 
 that he was now returned to 
 the home of his heart. 
 
 Then with all speed he betook 
 him thence to the great mead- 
 
 [76] 
 
ow. And when he was come 
 thither, he saw that a little way The 
 off at the edge of the forest was ^j}^^^ 
 a silken tent that was like a 
 purple iris, so beautiful it was, 
 and that thereunder were King 
 Telwyn and Queen Ellaline, 
 looking upon the pleasure of 
 their people. 
 
 And Flame saw that whereas 
 the Princess Roseheart had 
 been in the midst of the crowd 
 when first he had seen her, she 
 was now with her father and 
 mother, the King and Queen, 
 under the canopy, that had 
 been set in a mossy glade 
 flecked with sunlight and 
 shadow, and glad with delicate 
 flowers. The maid stood at the 
 
 [77] 
 
side of the Queen her mother 
 
 Of talking shiningly of all that had 
 
 ^ueen befallen that morning. And 
 hllaline i ^^ -r^n i- r • 
 
 the Queen rLllalme, most tair 
 
 indeed to look upon, in thin 
 
 silk of silver-grey, wherethrough 
 
 showed under-silks of blue and 
 
 violet, smiled happily at the 
 
 life and eagerness of the maid 
 
 her daughter. 
 
 And when the people saw that 
 Flame, the son of Lokus, was 
 come once more, from over- 
 seas, to claim his troth-plight, 
 the Princess Roseheart, they 
 pressed upon him clamouring, 
 glad with great joy that the 
 youth was grown a man, in 
 full stature of strength and 
 bravery. And Flame returned 
 
 [78] 
 
their greetings in all courtesy 
 and kindness, but ever his eyes Of 
 turned whither his heart drave, ^^^^^^^g^ 
 toward the tent like an iris, 
 whereunder, like one dreaming, 
 stood the woman of his heart 
 and his dream, now motionless, 
 with her soul in her eyes. 
 
 And when King Telwyn made 
 sure that the figure of flicker- 
 ing beauty that burned its way 
 through the crowd of the people 
 was Flame, son of Lokus, and 
 none other, his heart was as a 
 harp, swept with chords of joy 
 and questioning, of fear, and a 
 nameless pain that now may- 
 hap he must give his little maid, 
 that was as the remembered 
 joy of his youth, to the clasp 
 
 [79] 
 
of a man, in whom should be 
 
 A Silver her life thenceforward. But 
 
 Trumpet ^\^^ j^^art of Queen Ellaline was 
 
 tngtng ^^ ^ silver trumpet singing, that 
 
 the maid her daughter was now 
 
 to Hve the life of a woman, 
 
 giving her life to a man, that 
 
 it should be greatened unto her, 
 
 and to the world. 
 
 [80] 
 
X. 
 
 OW when Flame was j^^ 
 come before the King Humility 
 and Queen and the of Pride 
 Princess Roseheart, he was 
 filled with the humility of those 
 who have great pride, insomuch 
 that he fell upon his knees be- 
 fore them to beg that which 
 aforetime he had asked as in the 
 ignorance of a child. But ere 
 he could speak, King Telwyn 
 put forth his hand and raised 
 him, saying, *' Flame, son of 
 Lokus, thou art a thousand 
 times welcome. Hearty greet- 
 
 [81] 
 
ing we give thee, in good faith 
 The that thou hast returned in 
 
 Return honour." 
 In Honour 
 
 Then spake Flame on this wise: 
 ** Greeting from the heart I give 
 thee. Meseems my heart will 
 burst with the fullness of my 
 joy that I am come once more 
 to the home of my love, to look 
 upon her beauty, and to give 
 into her keeping all that I have, 
 and all that I am, for she is the 
 soul of my soul.'' 
 
 Then, bethinking himself that 
 he must remember in courtesy 
 to put before his own desires 
 that which was due to others, 
 he made obeisance to the 
 Queen, Ellaline, who greeted 
 
 [82] 
 
him with kindness, asking him 
 whether he had had food and The 
 
 drink since his journey. Eagerness 
 
 of blame 
 
 ''Nay/' he said, '*how should 
 that have been, when I was so 
 much more an-hungered to see 
 quickly the face of my be- 
 loved?" And he turned him to 
 his love, Roseheart, standing 
 very still, with her soul in her 
 eyes. 
 
 With quick woman-wit then 
 did Queen Ellaline motion the 
 serving men that they should 
 draw the curtains of the tent, 
 themselves standing without. 
 And the King and Queen with- 
 drew also, that the lovers might 
 be alone. Whereupon Rose- 
 [83] 
 
heart, her silver cloak falling 
 The from her, stood forth to Flame 
 Woman ^g ^^iX, woman whose form was 
 ^f^y.^ radiance, and whose eyes were 
 stars, she that was clad in shin- 
 ing raiment, fashioned full 
 seemly of white silk that flowed 
 and clung, revealing gracious 
 lines of her form, who walked 
 stately-wise, with little children 
 about her knees. 
 
 And upon the sight of Flame 
 was a mist, and when it had 
 passed and he looked again, 
 the little children were not as 
 they were living, but like 
 wraiths of divers colours, mak- 
 ing as it were a rainbow in the 
 midst whereof stood one still a 
 maid. And Flame fell upon 
 
 [84] 
 
his knees, and called upon her 
 
 name. And she set her two Flame 
 
 hands upon his head, and lift- ^^^^^^^^^. 
 11,11 . upon His 
 
 ing It gently, looked down into Xnees 
 
 his soul. And when they had 
 
 come to understanding on this 
 
 wise, she gave her hands into 
 
 his, and lifted him up. And 
 
 he drew her to his heart, and 
 
 kissed her on the mouth, 
 
 whereat she was all a woman, 
 
 and clung to him, saying with 
 
 little broken cries, **It hath 
 
 been so lonely without thee — I 
 
 love thee sol" 
 
 Remembering the pain and 
 struggle of his quest. Flame 
 cried out, "Wherefore did I go 
 from thee?" Yet even as he 
 spake, right well he knew how 
 [85] 
 
it had been needful that all 
 
 The things should have befallen 
 Finding ^i^gj^ ^g ^}^gy i^^j ^^^^^ 
 
 Then did the face of Rose- 
 heart grow wistful-sweet, and 
 she asked, **The woman of thy 
 dream — didst thou find her?'' 
 And Flame answered, "Aye, I 
 have found her. Dost thou not 
 know? Thou thyself art that 
 radiant woman, starry-eyed. I 
 know not what hath befallen 
 thee, save that the starry 
 heavens, that look upon all 
 things, have made thine eyes 
 their dwelling-place.'' 
 
 Whereupon Roseheart, his be- 
 loved, chided him on this wise, 
 with a laughter that was of the 
 
 [86] 
 
soul, and naught unkind in it: 
 '*My happiness is so deep, I Beyond 
 needs must laugh at thee. Me- ^^^^ 
 seems the truth is that afore- 
 time thou sawest only thyself 
 in mine eyes, and that now thou 
 hast leamed to look beyond 
 thyself. And thus it hath been 
 with me also. Once I saw not 
 anything but myself in thine 
 eyes, but now therein I see ships 
 and far countries, and the forms 
 of beauty that thou hast 
 dreamed, and those which thou 
 shalt create in the years to come. 
 When first I saw in thine eyes 
 that woman of thy dream, of 
 whom thou hadst spoken, sor- 
 row and humility were heavy 
 upon me, for that I understood 
 not why there should be aught 
 
 [87] 
 
in thine eyes but thy love, Rose- 
 
 The heart. But there came a time—'' 
 
 Remem- gj^^ ^^g silent for a moment 
 
 Vision ^^^^ she might hear the music 
 of the remembered vision. 
 **Have I grown like her — in 
 good sooth?" she whispered. 
 
 **Thou art she," answered 
 Flame, ** the soul of my soul." 
 
 "And what of thee?" whispered 
 Roseheart. "What hast thou 
 learned of life in thy far 
 countries?" 
 
 Whereupon he answered, as 
 the Voice of Vision had told 
 him, "I have looked updn 
 death for right's sake, and seen 
 therein the life greater than 
 mine own life; and I have 
 
 [88] 
 
looked upon the life which is 
 sin and have seen therein the The 
 death of the spirit. I have . -^^ 
 much to tell thee, for that there spread 
 must be nought but truth 
 between us." 
 
 Then did King Telwyn him- 
 self draw the curtains of the 
 tent and look within, smiling. 
 *Tlame, son of Lokus, the 
 feast is spread for thee, though 
 well I wot thou knowest not if 
 thou art hungry. But time and 
 enough will there be for talk 
 with thy speech-friend and 
 troth-plight maiden, when thou 
 hast eaten thy meat, and re- 
 freshed thee from thy journey. 
 Wherefore come now, the both 
 of you, and shew yourselves 
 
 [89] 
 
unto the people, that all may 
 
 Feasting rejoice." 
 and 
 
 Laughter rr>i j-j t^i / 
 
 1 hereupon did rlame, son oi 
 
 Lokus, lead forth his troth- 
 plight maiden Roseheart, to a 
 great table that had been spread 
 under the trees, with a silken 
 cloth, and great dishes of silver 
 and gold, whereon were roast 
 flesh, and new bread, and green 
 things steaming and savoury, 
 and fruits of divers sorts, good 
 to the taste and beautiful. And 
 there were flagons of wine, 
 crimson, and of the colour of 
 corn, and of brown like the 
 leaves of autumn. 
 
 Then was there feasting and 
 laughter, and Flame, son of 
 
 ^ [90] 
 
Lokus, told many tales of far 
 
 countries— of strange customs, Flame 
 
 and cunning: of husbandry and ^Jl^^!^^^^ 
 , 1. f / J 1 Modestly 
 
 handicrait; oi wars and the 
 
 courts of Kings; of mightily 
 
 mountains, of great seas and 
 
 the storms thereof, wherein he 
 
 himself had laboured mightily 
 
 with the men of the ship that 
 
 they should not perish all. 
 
 And for that all he spake on 
 these matters was shrewd and 
 well taken, and modest withal. 
 King Telwyn, listening, marked 
 with gladness the manhood 
 that had come to this youth of 
 the isle of sea-surge and fire- 
 bloom. And he was right well 
 pleased, also, that the troth- 
 plight of his daughter was re- 
 
 [91] 
 
turned with cilear eyes and 
 The noble bearing, and courtesy and 
 
 ^ueen readiness for all that made 
 laketn i • i i • 
 
 Note speech with him. 
 
 And Queen Ellaline, in the wont 
 of elder women, had eyes to the 
 way of Flame with his wine, 
 the which he took gladly, as 
 becomes a man, but not over- 
 much; and she was content. 
 Roseheart, sitting beside her 
 mother, the Queen, had thought 
 for none but her troth-plight 
 lord whom she loved; yet marked 
 with pride his thought and 
 courtesy for all that sat at meat 
 with them. There was that in 
 her which remembered with joy 
 and tenderness how that he had 
 thought aforetime only of them- 
 
 [92] 
 
selves and their love; but now 
 
 was she proud that her lord was Roseheart 
 
 become a man among men, for ^ fj 
 
 well she knew that with all 
 
 he said and did in any wise, 
 
 there ran always the music of 
 
 his joy in her, and the love of 
 
 his soul for hers. 
 
 [93] 
 
XI. 
 
 OW when they had 
 HlhKJiM ^^^^^ ^^^ drunk their 
 ShadovfsWlS^ fill, and had had much 
 Grow talk withal, the shadows had 
 ^o^S grown long, and bird-song rip- 
 pled the air in the wont of 
 sundown. Wherefore King 
 Telwyn bethought him how it 
 would be pleasant that the four 
 of them, the Queen, the Princess 
 Roseheart, and her troth-plight 
 lord. Flame, should walk in the 
 forest for a space, ere yet they 
 returned to the castle. 
 
 [94] 
 
But Queen Ellaline said to him, 
 "Nay, my lord, shall not thou ^ueen 
 and I return to the castle alone? ^^^^^y^. 
 Well I wot these twain have 
 much to say, each to the other. 
 Were it not well that they should 
 walk apart in the forest in the 
 cool of the evening, if that be 
 their wish? " 
 
 And King Telwyn smiled there- 
 at, saying, "Well, welll Certain 
 it is that I am but a stupid man, 
 and thy woman's wit in the 
 right of it/' And therewith 
 he bade the young pair go 
 apart as they wished for the 
 space of an hour or two. 
 
 But ere they went their ways. 
 Flame raised to his lips the 
 
 [95] 
 
hand of the Queen, and kissed 
 Flame it, forasmuch as he was grate- 
 
 Showeth {yj\ ^Q }^gj. exceedingly that she 
 Kjratitude i j i j i i i 
 
 nad had thought and remem- 
 brance of the need of young 
 lovers to be alone together. 
 
 Whereafter, the King and the 
 Queen having turned their 
 steps to the castle. Flame and 
 the Princess Roseheart wander- 
 ed in sweet content in the path 
 that led to the Pool, where afore- 
 time they had found their love 
 and their destiny. 
 
 And when they were come 
 thither, they found there, flut- 
 tering like butterflies in a shaft 
 of sunlight that came under the 
 trees and among the stems 
 
 [96] 
 
thereof, children that sported 
 about the Pool. And these, Roseheart 
 forsaking their play, clamoured ^^^iant 
 about the Princess Roseheart, 
 in sweet rivalry of her love and 
 her touch. And forasmuch as 
 his beloved stood now in the 
 shaft of sunlight, radiant, starry- 
 eyed, with little children about 
 her knees. Flame, the Giver of 
 Dreams, worshiped her in his 
 soul, and stooped him to the 
 earth that he might seize the 
 clay thereof, and mixing it with 
 water from the Pool, fashion 
 the likeness of her. But though 
 mightily he strove, the cunning 
 of his hands was withholden 
 from him, and he might not. 
 
 Then the children, seeing it was 
 
 [97] 
 
late, flitted away to their homes, 
 The and the sunlight grew faint and 
 Dwj^ fainter, until the dusk was come, 
 all suddenly. And as the twain 
 stood a little apart, each from 
 the other, there passed between 
 them, as she had been a night- 
 moth, Wur, the Old Gray 
 Woman of Shadows, whose 
 eyes were as misty pools at twi- 
 light, her hair like cobwebs 
 matted, and her garments as 
 the wings of the dusk. And 
 momently there was upon them 
 a chill as of the winter-death. 
 
 Then did Flame know in his 
 heart that he must tell his white- 
 souled love, Roseheart, of the 
 moon-woman in the desert. 
 And his heart shook at thought 
 
 [98] 
 
of her grief and trouble there- 
 at. But being a true man, and Hand 
 strong for the more part, he ^^^^ 
 knew that it were an ill thing 
 to set forward the time of say- 
 ing that which must be said. 
 Therefore he took his love by 
 the hand, and led her to a 
 mossy bank, whereupon they 
 sat them down, hand in hand. 
 After a little he said: ''There 
 is a thing that I must tell thee, 
 but because thou art a maid 
 and innocent, I know not if 
 thou wilt understand." 
 
 And seeing his trouble she an- 
 swered him gently: ''Meseems 
 thou couldst not do anything 
 I would not understand." 
 
 [99] ' 
 
Drawing her close within the 
 Flame shelter of his arms he said, 
 Confesseth 'Thou believest that I love thee 
 as my heart's blood?" 
 
 **Verily," she made answer, 
 "that must I needs believe, else 
 could I not wed thee." Then 
 because he was silent a space, 
 as one thinking, she said, 
 **What is it that thou wouldst 
 say to me?" 
 
 With quick words then he spake 
 on this wise: ''Know then that 
 there was a woman— a witch 
 that made herself as a woman 
 of moonlight, beautiful exceed- 
 ingly, that I should follow hen 
 And forasmuch as mine eyes 
 and my blood are as the sea, I 
 
 [100] 
 
might not refrain, for my weak- 
 ness, but followed her as the Speech 
 sea the moon. And we came ^-^^ 
 into the desert, and there re- 
 mained for a space." Then did 
 the speech of Flame fail him, 
 for that he knew not how to say 
 that which must be said. 
 
 And Roseheart looked upon 
 him shrinkingly,and put away 
 his arms, and rose, and stood 
 away from him. And in her 
 eyes that had held stars, there 
 came a mist, as when the 
 heavens grow dull with that 
 which is not storm, but more 
 like to sickness. **And thou— " 
 she whispered, **didst thou give 
 thyself to this woman?" 
 
 [101] 
 
**Yca, but in the way of the 
 
 Life flesh only," he answered, shame- 
 
 Dis- fast. **I know not if a maid 
 honoured j ^ j j, 
 
 can understand. 
 
 Then was Roseheart silent a 
 space, whereafter she said slow- 
 ly, **Meseems that therein lay 
 the sin of what thou didst. 
 Hadst thou given thyself body 
 and soul, thy sin against me 
 had been greater, but methinks 
 then would it have been less 
 against the Lord God, whose 
 gi ft of life thou hast 
 dishonoured." 
 
 Then spake Flame eagerly, 
 "But I told thee she was a witch- 
 woman. Thou rememberest the 
 Radiant One?" 
 
 [102] 
 
'*Ayc." The Princess Rose- 
 heart was grave and sorrowful. The 
 **When that I turned me away ^^^^'^«^ 
 from the moon -woman I saw 
 the Radiant One, and she came 
 and said naught, but shed her 
 light upon the woman, and I 
 saw that she was not beautiful, 
 like the moon, but a hag, and 
 leprous. Wherefore, looking 
 about me I saw the bones of 
 the dead. And I rose and fled 
 away from that place.'' 
 
 •Thou didst well." 
 
 Then was Flame filled with ter- 
 ror that though she spake in all 
 gentleness, his love Roseheart 
 was become as a stranger to 
 him. Straightway he went to 
 
 [103] 
 
her, saying, "Canst thou not 
 
 Flame forgive?" 
 Shamefast 
 
 *'I know not," she made answer, 
 with the weariness of one in 
 mortal pain. 
 
 Then he sought to put his 
 arms about her, and draw her 
 to him, but she looked at him 
 as one in surprise, and there- 
 with he feared to touch her. 
 And he fell upon his knees, 
 and buried his face, shamefast, 
 in the hem of her garment, and 
 wept that he had so wounded 
 her whom his soul loved. With 
 all gentleness she put him away 
 from her, and went apart. And 
 her eyes were dry, but her 
 heart bled, so that she was as 
 one sick unto death. 
 
 [104] 
 
Her thoughts pricked her with 
 
 torment, that her lord whom Thoughts 
 
 she had worshipped kneeling, ^ 
 
 I f lorTnent 
 
 as IS the wont or women, was 
 
 proven but a weak creature on 
 whom she might not lean for 
 strength, for that he had it not 
 And it was bitter to her that he 
 whom she had thought to be a 
 man such as the Lord God had 
 meant in the making of the 
 world, had been but as a child, 
 or blind, that he had been de- 
 ceived by the moon-woman. 
 Wherefore her heart, that had 
 shrined a god, was now empty. 
 
 [105] 
 
The 
 
 Need of 
 
 Flame 
 
 XII . 
 
 lOR some 
 Flame lie 
 ground as 
 but presently his 
 arose and stood 
 
 while did 
 upon the 
 one dead, 
 manhood 
 
 before the 
 
 Princess Roseheart, saying, 
 "Then wilt thou send me from 
 thee?" 
 
 And looking upon his man- 
 hood, that would face what 
 must come to it, she saw there- 
 with somewhat that wrung her 
 heart, the look of a little child, 
 with wistful eyes, and mouth 
 
 [106] 
 
that quivered. And she saw that 
 his need of her was greater than A iSew 
 it had been aforetime, as of a ^^^^^^^^-^ 
 child for his mother. Where- 
 with into her heart that had 
 been empty of all things when- 
 as the god might dwell there 
 no longer, there came a new 
 sweetness it could scarce hold, 
 so great was the flood thereof. 
 And through her body and her 
 soul the sweetness surged, so 
 that there remained no bitter- 
 ness at all, but a great gladness, 
 as of the singing of many waters 
 in spring. In her face was the 
 look as of a young mother look- 
 ing upon her first man-child 
 that she hath borne in pain 
 with thanksgiving. 
 
 [107] 
 
Flame, looking upon the glory 
 Roseheart that was her face, fell at her 
 Forgiuth feet, crying, 'Thou wilt for- 
 give?" 
 
 And she lifted him up, and 
 drew his head to her breast, 
 saying the while little words of 
 love and comforting. Where- 
 after, he stood straight before 
 her, and they looked each into 
 the other's eyes as they had 
 been spirits out of the flesh. 
 
 And there came a shining 
 round about them, that was 
 brighter than the noonday sun, 
 for that Senta, the Radiant One, 
 was come and stood near them. 
 And Flame saw that in the face 
 of his love was somewhat that 
 
 [108] 
 
had not been there before, for 
 
 the beauty whereof his soul Somewhat 
 
 sang. As one in a dream he ^/^^^ 
 11. 1 1 Beauty 
 
 Stooped nim to the earth once 
 
 more to take of the clay there- 
 of and fashion her his Mother 
 of Men. 
 
 But ere he might do the thing 
 he would, Senta the Radiant 
 One drew near, and spake unto 
 them, and her voice was as the 
 music of a mighty pine-wood 
 raising to heaven a paean of 
 triumph in a great wind of 
 spring, with the voices of chil- 
 dren therethrough, like little 
 singing streams. And the 
 words of Senta were these: "Joy 
 to you that ye have learned 
 somewhat whereof life and love 
 
 [109] 
 
are madel Roseheart, beloved 
 Thi of Flame, son of Lokus, now 
 Meaning ^j.^ thou become in very truth 
 a Mother of Men in thy 
 woman's [soul, for that thou 
 hast learned the meaning of 
 love, which is to minister, to 
 suffer, to understand, and to 
 forgive. And thou too. Flame, 
 hast learned of it, insomuch 
 that love constrained thee in the 
 pride of thy manhood to be- 
 come as a little child that thou 
 mightest be forgiven. But stay 
 thy hand, even yet, until thou 
 hast taken the maid to wife, and 
 made her in good sooth a 
 mother of men according to 
 the flesh. Then only shalt thou 
 be given fullness of vision, 
 and shalt fashion her in pure 
 
 [110] 
 
marble to be as a dream forever 
 
 in the hearts of men." The Sign 
 
 and 
 
 With the passing of Senta, the 
 Radiant One, was full evening 
 come. And Flame, Fashioner 
 and Giver of Dreams, led the 
 Princess Roseheart, his love 
 and troth-plight maiden, to the 
 brink of the Pool, in wonder 
 beyond speech, and a silence 
 as of music. For the Pool held 
 deep within deep; and far be- 
 yond their two faces of love, 
 they beheld as in the night blue 
 of heaven, the stars that the 
 Lord God had set therein to 
 be a sign and symbol unto men 
 of the things beyond the flesh. 
 
 [Ill] 
 
^nb fjere enbs tW s^torp of 
 "tEije ^tars in tije ^ool" 
 Written bp €bna EinsSlep 
 Wallace- ^et in tKppe bp 
 tfje (J^bets printing; Com= 
 panp, in tlje §ear of (!^ur 
 Horb (2^ne tljouSanb nine 
 fjunbreb anb ttoentp,anb^ub= 
 IijSfieb bp C ^- 30utton anb 
 Companp in tfje Citp of 
 i^eto Borfe- 
 
018 378 365 8 '" ® 
 
 /■/