The Night Land

Yet, scarce had she told me so much; ere she cried out something and

pointed; and lo! I saw that the third hound came towards us, at a run,

yet very strange-seeming in his going. And in a moment, Mirdath cried

out that the hound was mad; and truly, I saw then that the brute

slavered as he came running.

And in a moment he was upon us, and made never a sound; but leaped at me

in one instant of time; all before I had any thought of such intent. But

surely, My Beautiful One had a dreadful love for me, for she cast

herself at the dog, to save me, calling to the other hounds. And she was

bitten in a moment by the brute, as she strove to hold him off from me.

But I to have him instant by the neck and the body, and brake him, so

that he died at once; and I cast him to the earth, and gave help to

Mirdath, that I draw the poison from the wounds.

And this I did so well as I might, despite that she would have me stop.

And afterwards, I took her into mine arms, and ran very fierce all the

long and weary way to the Hall, and with hot skewers I burned the

wounds; so that when the doctor came, he to say I have saved her by my

care, if indeed she to be saved. But, truly, she had saved me in any

wise, as you shall think; so that I could never be done of honour to

her. And she very pale; but yet to laugh at my fears, and to say that she

soon to have her health, and the wounds healed very speedy; but, indeed,

it was a long and bitter time before they were proper healed, and she so

well as ever. Yet, in time, so it was; and an utter weight off my heart.

And when Mirdath was grown full strong again, we set our wedding day.

And well do I mind how she stood there in her bridal dress, on that day,

so slender and lovely as may Love have stood in the Dawn of Life; and

the beauty of her eyes that had such sober sweetness in them, despite

the dear mischief of her nature; and the way of her little feet, and the

loveliness of her hair; and the dainty rogue-grace of her movements; and

her mouth an enticement, as that a child and a woman smiled out of the

one face. And this to be no more than but an hint of the loveliness of

My Beautiful One