to　die　for　beguiling　us；　let　it　be　the　Puny　Fox。　　Secondly；　we　may
  well　wot　that　heavy　need　hath　driven　the　man　to　this　beguilement；　and
  I　say　that　it　was　no　unmanly　deed　for　him　to　enter　our　hall　and
  beguile　us　with　his　sleight；　and　that　he　hath　played　out　the　play
  right　well　and　cunningly　with　the　wisdom　of　a　warrior。　　Thirdly；　the
  manliness　of　him　is　well　proven；　in　that　having　overcome　us　in
  sleight；　he　hath　spoken　out　the　sooth　concerning　our　beguilement　and
  hath　made　himself　our　foeman　and　captive；　when　he　might　have　sat　down
  by　us　as　our　guest；　freely　and　in　all　honour。　　And　this　he　did；　not
  as　contemning　the　Puny　Fox　and　his　lies　and　crafty　wiles　（for　he　hath
  told　us　that　he　loveth　him）；　but　so　that　he　might　show　himself　a　man
  in　that　which　trieth　manhood。　　Moreover；　ye　shall　not　forget　that　he
  is　the　rebel　of　the　Undying　King；　who　is　our　lord　and　master；
  therefore　in　cherishing　him　we　show　ourselves　great…hearted；　in　that
  we　fear　not　the　wrath　of　our　master。　　Therefore　I　naysay　the　word　of
  the　War…brand　that　we　should　make　this　man　a　wolf's…head；　for　in　so
  doing　we　shall　show　ourselves　lesser…hearted　than　he　is；　and　of　no
  account　beside　of　him；　and　his　head　on　our　hall…gable　should　be　to　us
  a　nithing…stake；　and　a　tree　of　reproach。　　So　I　bid　thee；　O　Erne；　to
  make　much　of　this　man；　and　thou　shalt　do　well　to　give　him　worthy
  gifts；　such　as　warriors　may　take；　so　that　he　may　show　them　at　home　in
  the　House　of　the　Raven；　that　it　may　be　the　beginning　of　peace　betwixt
  us　and　his　noble　kindred。　　This　is　my　say；　and　later　on　I　shall　wax
  no　wiser。〃
  Therewith　he　sat　down；　and　there　arose　a　murmur　and　stir　in　the　hall；
  but　the　more　part　said　that　the　Grey…goose　had　spoken　well；　and　that
  it　was　good　to　be　at　peace　with　such　manly　fellows　as　the　new　guest
  was。
  But　the　Erne　said：　　〃One　word　will　I　lay　hereto；　to　wit；　that　he　who
  desireth　mine　enmity　let　him　do　scathe　to　Hallblithe　of　the　Ravens
  and　hinder　him。〃
  Then　he　bade　fill　round　the　cups；　and　called　a　health　to　Hallblithe；
  and　all　men　drank　to　him；　and　there　was　much　joyance　and　merriment。
  But　when　the　night　was　well　worn；　the　Erne　turned　to　Hallblithe　and
  said：　　〃That　was　a　good　word　of　the　Grey…goose　which　he　spake
  concerning　the　giving　of　gifts：　　Raven…son；　wilt　thou　take　a　gift　of
  me　and　be　my　friend？〃
  〃Thy　friend　will　I　be；〃　said　Hallblithe；　〃but　no　gift　will　I　take　of
  thee　or　any　other　till　I　have　the　gift　of　gifts；　and　that　is　my
  troth…plight　maiden。　　I　will　not　be　glad　till　I　can　be　glad　with
  her。〃
  Then　laughed　the　Erne；　and　the　Puny　Fox　grinned　all　across　his　wide
  face；　and　Hallblithe　looked　from　one　to　the　other　of　them　and
  wondered　at　their　mirth；　and　when　they　saw　his　wondering　eyes；　they
  did　but　laugh　the　more；　and　the　Erne　said：　　〃Nevertheless；　thou　shalt
  see　the　gift　which　I　would　give　thee；　and　then　mayst　thou　take　it　or
  leave　it　as　thou　wilt。　　Ho　ye！　bring　in　the　throne　of　the　Eastland
  with　them　that　minister　to　it！〃
  Certain　men　left　the　hall　as　he　spake；　and　came　back　bearing　with
  them　a　throne　fashioned　most　goodly　of　ivory；　parcel…gilt　and
  begemmed；　and　adorned　with　marvellous　craftsmanship：　　and　they　set　it
  down　amidst　of　the　hall…floor　and　went　aback　to　their　places；　while
  the　Erne　sat　and　smiled　kindly　on　the　folk　and　on　Hallblithe。　　Then
  arose　the　sound　of　fiddles　and　the　lesser　harp；　and　the　doors　of　the
  screen　were　opened；　and　there　flowed　into　the　hall　a　company　of　fair
  damsels　not　less　than　a　score；　each　one　with　a　rose　on　her　bosom；　and
  they　came　and　stood　in　order　behind　the　throne　of　the　Eastlands；　and
  they　strewed　roses　on　the　ground　before　them：　　and　when　they　were
  duly　ranged　they　fell　to　singing：
  Now　waneth　spring；
  While　all　birds　sing；
  And　the　south　wind　blows
  The　earliest　rose
  To　and　fro
  By　the　doors　we　know；
  And　the　scented　gale
  Fills　every　dale。
  Slow　now　are　brooks　running　because　of　the　weed；
  And　the　thrush　hath　no　cunning　to　hide　her　at　need；
  So　swift　as　she　flieth　from　hedge…row　to　tree
  As　one　that　toil　trieth；　and　deedful　must　be。
  And　O！　that　at　last；
  All　sorrows　past；
  This　night　I　lay
  'Neath　the　oak…beams　grey！
  O；　to　wake　from　sleep；
  To　see　dawn　creep
  Through　the　fruitful　grove
  Of　the　house　that　I　love！
  O！　my　feet　to　be　treading　the　threshold　once　more；
  O'er　which　once　went　the　leading　of　swords　to　the　war！
  O！　my　feet　in　the　garden's　edge　under　the　sun；
  Where　the　seeding　grass　hardens　for　haysel　begun！
  Lo；　lo！　the　wind　blows
  To　the　heart　of　the　Rose；
  And　the　ship　lies　tied
  To　the　haven　side！
  But　O　for　the　keel
  The　sails　to　feel！
  And　the　alien　ness
  Growing　less　and　less；
  As　down　the　wind　driveth　and　thrusts　through　the　sea
  The　sail…burg　that　striveth　to　turn　and　go　free；
  But　the　lads　at　the　tiller　they　hold　her　in　hand；
  And　the　wind　our　well…willer　drives　fierce　to　the　land。
  We　shall　wend　it　yet；
  The　highway　wet；
  For　what　is　this
  That　our　bosoms　kiss？
  What　lieth　sweet
  Before　our　feet？
  What　token　hath　come
  To　lead　us　home？
  'Tis　the　Rose　of　the　garden　walled　round　from　the　croft
  Where　the　grey　roof　its　warden　steep　riseth　aloft；
  'Tis　the　Rose　'neath　the　oaken…beamed　hall；　where　they　bide；
  The　pledges　unbroken；　the　hand　of　the　bride。
  Hallblithe　heard　the　song；　and　half　thought　it　promised　him　somewhat；
  but　then　he　had　been　so　misled　and　mocked　at；　that　he　scarce　knew　how
  to　rejoice　at　it。
  Now　the　Erne　spake：　　〃Wilt　thou　not　take　the　chair　and　these　dainty
  song…birds　that　stand　about　it？　　Much　wealth　might　come　into　thine
  hall　if　thou　wert　to　carry　them　over　sea　to　rich　men　who　have　no
  kindred；　nor　affinity　wherein　to　wed；　but　who　love　women　as　well　as
  other　men。〃
  Said　Hallblithe：　　〃I　have　wealth　enow　were　I　once　home　again。　　As　to
  these　maidens；　I　know　by　the　fashion　of　them　that　they　are　no　women
  of　the　Rose；　as　by　their　song　they　should　be。　　Yet　will　I　take　any　of
  these　maidens　that　have　will　to　go　with　me　and　be　made　sisters　of　my
  sisters；　and　wed　with　the　warriors　of　the　Rose；　or　if　they　are　of　a
  kindred；　and　long　to　sit　each　in　the　house　of　her　folk；　then　will　we
  send　them　home　over　the　sea　with　warriors　to　guard　them　from　all
  trouble。　　For　this　gift　I　thank　thee。　　As　to　thy　throne；　I　bid　thee
  keep　it　till　a　keel　cometh　thy　way　from　our　land；　bringing　fair　gifts
  for　thee　and　thine。　　For　we　are　not　so　unwealthy。〃
  Those　that　sat　nearby　heard　his　words　and　praised　them；　but　the　Erne
  said：　　〃All　this　is　free　to　thee；　and　thou　mayst　do　what　thou　wilt
  with　the　gifts　given　to　thee。　　Yet　shalt　thou　have　the　throne；　and　I
  have　thought　of　a　way　to　make　thee　take　it。　　Or　what　sayst　thou；　Puny
  Fox？〃
  Said　the　Puny　Fox：　　〃Yea　if　thou　wilt；　thou　mayst；　but　I　thought　it
  not　of　thee　that　thou　wouldst。　　Now　is　all　well。〃
  Again　Hallblithe　looked　from　one　to　the　other　and　wondered　what　they
  meant。　　But　the　Erne　cried　out：　　〃Bring　in　now　the　sitter；　who　shall
  fill　the　empty　throne！〃
  Then　again　the　screen…doors　opened；　and　there　came　in　two　weaponed
  men；　leading　between　them　a　woman　clad　in　gold　and　garlanded　with
  roses。　　So　fair　was　the　fashion　of　her　face　and　all　her　body；　that
  her　coming　seemed　to　make　a　change　in　the　hall；　as　though　the　sun　had
  shone　into　it　suddenly。　　She　trod　the　hall…floor　with　firm　feet；　and
  sat　down　on　the　ivory　chair。　　But　even　before　she　was　seated　therein
  Hallblithe　knew　that　the　Hostage　was　under　that　roof　and　coming
  toward　him。　　And　the　heart　rose　in　his　breast　and　fluttered　therein；
  so　sore　he　yearned　toward　the　Daughter　of　the　Rose；　and　his　very
  speech…friend。　　Then　he　heard　the　Erne　saying；　〃How　now；　Raven…son；
  wilt　thou　have　the　throne　and　the　sitter　therein；　or　wilt　thou
  gainsay　me　once　more？〃
  Thereafter　he　himself　spake；　and　the　sound　of　his　voice　was　strange
  to　him　and　as　if　he　knew　it　not：　　〃Chieftain；　I　will　not　gainsay
  thee；　but　will　take　thy　gift；　and　thy　friendship　therewith；
  whatsoever　hath　betided。　　Yet　would　I　say　a　word　or　two　unto　the
  woman　that　sitteth　yonder。　　For　I　have　been　straying　amongst　wiles
  and　images；　and　mayhappen　I　shall　yet　find　this　to　be　but　a　dream　of
  the　night；　or　a　beguilement　of　the　day。〃　　Therewith　he　arose　from　the
  table；　and　walked　slowly　down　the　hall；　but　it　was　a　near　thing　that
  he　did　not　fall　a…weeping　before　all　those　aliens；　so　full　his　heart
  was。
  He　came　and　stood　before　the　Hostage；　and　their　eyes　were　upon　each
  other；　and　for　a　little　while　they　had　no　words。　　Then　Hallblithe
  began；　wondering　at　his　voice　as　he　spake：　　〃Art　thou　a　woman　and　my
  speech…friend？　　For　many　images　have　mocked　me；　and　I　have　been
  encompassed　with　lies；　and　led　astray　by　behests　that　have　not　been
  fulfilled。　　And　the　world　hath　become　strange　to　me；　and　empty　of
  friends。〃
  Then　she　said：　　〃Art　thou　verily　Hallblithe？　　For　I　also　have　been
  encompassed　by　lies；　and　beset　by　images　of　things　unhelpful。〃
  〃Yea；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　Hallblit