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and I threaten thee； wilt thou not destroy me？ But thou hast spoken
a great word with a sweet mouth； and hast taken the burden of blood
on thy lily hands； and if the Children of the Bear be befooled of
light liars； how shall they put the shame off them？ Therefore I
say； show to us a token； and if thou be the God； this shall be easy
to thee； and if thou show it not； then is thy falsehood manifest；
and thou shalt dree the weird。 For we shall deliver thee into the
hands of these women here； who shall thrust thee down into the flow
which is hereby； after they have wearied themselves with whipping
thee。 But thy man that kneeleth at thy feet shall we give to the
true God； and he shall go to her by the road of the flint and the
fire。 Hast thou heard？ Then give to us the sign and the token。〃
She changed countenance no whit at his word； but her eyes were the
brighter； and her cheek the fresher and her feet moved a little； as
if they were growing glad before the dance； and she looked out over
the Mote； and spake in her clear voice： 〃Old man； thou needest not
to fear for thy words。 Forsooth it is not me whom thou threatenest
with stripes and a foul death； but some light fool and liar； who is
not here。 Now hearken！ I wot well that ye would have somewhat of
me； to wit； that I should send you rain to end this drought； which
otherwise seemeth like to lie long upon you： but this rain； I must
go into the mountains of the south to fetch it you； therefore shall
certain of your warriors bring me on my way； with this my man； up to
the great pass of the said mountains； and we shall set out
thitherward this very day。〃
She was silent a while； and all looked on her； but none spake or
moved； so that they seemed as images of stone amongst the stones。
Then she spake again and said： 〃Some would say； men of the Bear；
that this were a sign and a token great enough； but I know you； and
how stubborn and perverse of heart ye be； and how that the gift not
yet within your hand is no gift to you； and the wonder ye see not；
your hearts trow not。 Therefore look ye upon me as here I stand； I
who have come from the fairer country and the greenwood of the
lands； and see if I bear not the summer with me； and the heart that
maketh increase and the hand that giveth。〃
Lo then！ as she spake； the faded flowers that hung about her
gathered life and grew fresh again； the woodbine round her neck and
her sleek shoulders knit itself together and embraced her freshly；
and cast its scent about her face。 The lilies that girded her loins
lifted up their heads； and the gold of their tassels fell upon her；
the eyebright grew clean blue again upon her smock； the eglantine
found its blooms again； and then began to shed the leaves thereof
upon her feet； the meadow…sweet wreathed amongst it made clear the
sweetness of her legs； and the mouse…ear studded her raiment as with
gems。 There she stood amidst of the blossoms； like a great orient
pearl against the fretwork of the goldsmiths； and the breeze that
came up the valley from behind bore the sweetness of her fragrance
all over the Man…mote。
Then； indeed； the Bears stood up； and shouted and cried； and smote
on their shields； and tossed their spears aloft。 Then the elder
rose from his seat； and came up humbly to where she stood； and
prayed her to say what she would have done； while the others drew
about in knots； but durst not come very nigh to her。 She answered
the ancient chief； and said； that she would depart presently toward
the mountains； whereby she might send them the rain which they
lacked； and that thence she would away to the southward for a while；
but that they should hear of her； or； it might be； see her； before
they who were now of middle age should be gone to their fathers。
Then the old man besought her that they might make her a litter of
fragrant green boughs； and so bear her away toward the mountain pass
amidst a triumph of the whole folk。 But she leapt lightly down from
the stone； and walked to and fro on the greensward； while it seemed
of her that her feet scarce touched the grass； and she spake to the
ancient chief where he still kneeled in worship of her； and said
〃Nay； deemest thou of me that I need bearing by men's hands； or that
I shall tire at all when I am doing my will； and I； the very heart
of the year's increase？ So it is； that the going of my feet over
your pastures shall make them to thrive； both this year and the
coming years： surely will I go afoot。〃
So they worshipped her the more； and blessed her； and then first of
all they brought meat； the daintiest they might； both for her and
for Walter。 But they would not look on the Maid whiles she ate； or
suffer Walter to behold her the while。 Afterwards； when they had
eaten； some twenty men； weaponed after their fashion； made them
ready to wend with the Maiden up into the mountains； and anon they
set out thitherward all together。 Howbeit； the huge men held them
ever somewhat aloof from the Maid； and when they came to the
resting…place for that night； where was no house； for it was up
amongst the foot…hills before the mountains； then it was a wonder to
see how carefully they built up a sleeping…place for her； and tilted
it over with their skin…cloaks； and how they watched nightlong about
her。 But Walter they let sleep peacefully on the grass； a little
way aloof from the watchers round the Maid。
CHAPTER XXIX： WALTER STRAYS IN THE PASS AND IS SUNDERED FROM THE
MAID
Morning came； and they arose and went on their ways； and went all
day till the sun was nigh set； and they were come up into the very
pass； and in the jaws thereof was an earthen howe。 There the Maid
bade them stay； and she went up on to the howe； and stood there and
spake to them； and said： 〃O men of the Bear； I give you thanks for
your following； and I bless you； and promise you the increase of the
earth。 But now ye shall turn aback； and leave me to go my ways； and
my man with the iron sword shall follow me。 Now； maybe； I shall
come amongst the Bear…folk again before long； and yet again； and
learn them wisdom； but for this time it is enough。 And I shall tell
you that ye were best to hasten home straightway to your houses in
the downland dales； for the weather which I have bidden for you is
even now coming forth from the forge of storms in the heart of the
mountains。 Now this last word I give you； that times are changed
since I wore the last shape of God that ye have seen； wherefore a
change I command you。 If so be aliens come amongst you； I will not
that ye send them to me by the flint and the fire； rather； unless
they be baleful unto you； and worthy of an evil death； ye shall
suffer them to abide with you； ye shall make them become children of
the Bears； if they be goodly enough and worthy； and they shall be my
children as ye be； otherwise； if they be ill…favoured and weakling；
let them live and be thralls to you； but not join with you； man to
woman。 Now depart ye with my blessing。〃
Therewith she came down from the mound； and went her ways up the
pass so lightly； that it was to Walter； standing amongst the Bears；
as if she had vanished away。