"Here is the maid that I shall marry," said the elder. "For I
think she smiled upon me."
But the younger plucked his father by the sleeve. "Father," said
he, "a word in your ear. If I find favour in your sight, might not
I wed this maid, for I think she smiles upon me?"
"A word in yours," said the King his father. "Waiting is good
hunting, and when the teeth are shut the tongue is at home."
Now they were come into the dun, and feasted; and this was a great
house, so that the lads were astonished; and the King that was a
priest sat at the end of the board and was silent, so that the lads
were filled with reverence; and the maid served them smiling with
downcast eyes, so that their hearts were enlarged.
Before it was day, the elder son arose, and he found the maid at
her weaving, for she was a diligent girl. "Maid," quoth he, "I
would fain marry you."
"You must speak with my father," said she, and she looked upon the
ground smiling, and became like the rose.
"Her heart is with me," said the elder son, and he went down to the
lake and sang.
A little after came the younger son. "Maid," quoth he, "if our
fathers were agreed, I would like well to marry you."
"You can speak to my father," said she; and looked upon the ground,
and smiled and grew like the rose.
"She is a dutiful daughter," said the younger son, "she will make
an obedient wife.
Pages:
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54