yesterday a thing which they would fain forget: life shamed them
not, nor did death make them afraid.

As for the Dale wherein they dwelt, it was indeed most fair and
lovely, and they deemed it the Blessing of the Earth, and they trod
its flowery grass beside its rippled streams amidst its green tree-
boughs proudly and joyfully with goodly bodies and merry hearts.



CHAPTER II. OF FACE-OF-GOD AND HIS KINDRED



Tells the tale, that on an evening of late autumn when the weather
was fair, calm, and sunny, there came a man out of the wood hard by
the Mote-stead aforesaid, who sat him down at the roots of the
Speech-mound, casting down before him a roe-buck which he had just
slain in the wood. He was a young man of three and twenty summers;
he was so clad that he had on him a sheep-brown kirtle and leggings
of like stuff bound about with white leather thongs; he bore a short-
sword in his girdle and a little axe withal; the sword with fair
wrought gilded hilts and a dew-shoe of like fashion to its sheath.
He had his quiver at his back and bare in his hand his bow unstrung.
He was tall and strong, very fair of fashion both of limbs and face,
white-skinned, but for the sun's tanning, and ruddy-cheeked: his
beard was little and fine, his hair yellow and curling, cut somewhat
close, but for its length so plenteous, and so thick, that none could
fail to note it. He had no hat nor hood upon his head, nought but a
fillet of golden beads.