had I words to express it to you!--I was enwrapped, encircled,
dazzled, by Aslauga's golden tresses, which were waving all
around me. Even my noble steed must have beheld the
apparition, for I felt him start and rear under me. I saw you
no more--the world no more--I saw only the angel-face of
Aslauga close before me, smiling, blooming like a flower in a
sea of sunshine which floated round her. My senses failed me.
Not till you raised me from beneath my horse did my
consciousness return, and then I knew, with exceeding joy,
that her own gracious pleasure had struck me down. But I felt
a strange weariness, far greater than my fall alone could have
caused, and I felt assured at the same time that my lady was
about to send me on a far-distant mission. I hastened to
repose myself in my chamber, and a deep sleep immediately fell
upon me. Then came Aslauga in a dream to me, more royally
adorned than ever; she placed herself at the head of my couch,
and said, 'Haste to array thyself in all the splendour of thy
silver armour, for thou art not the wedding-guest alone, thou
art also the--'

"And before she could speak the word my dream had melted away,
and I felt a longing desire to fulfil her gracious command,
and rejoiced in my heart. But in the midst of the festival
I seemed to myself more lonely than in all my life before, and
I cannot cease to ponder what that unspoken word of my lady
could be intended to announce."

"You are of a far loftier spirit than I am, Froda," said
Edwald, after a silence, "and I cannot soar with you into the
sphere of your joys. But tell me, has it never awakened a