winter than May-tide, and I entered a pool of the
clear water, and bathed me and sported therein, smelling the sweet
scent of the whitethorns and hearkening to the song of the many birds;
and when I came forth from the water, the air was so soft and sweet to
me, and the flowery grass so kind to my feet, and the May-blooms fell
upon my shoulders, that I was loth to do on my rough raiment hastily,
and withal I looked to see no child of man in that wilderness: so I
sported myself there a long while, and milked a goat and drank of the
milk, and crowned myself with white-thorn and hare-bells; and held the
blossoms in my hand, and felt that I also had some might in me, and
that I should not be a thrall of that sorceress for ever. And that
day, my friend, belike was the spring-tide of the life and the love
that thou holdest in thy kind arms.

"But as I abode thus in that fair place, and had just taken my rock and
spindle in hand that I might go on with my task and give as little
occasion as I might for my mistress to chastise me, I looked up and saw
a child of man coming down the side of the little dale towards me, so I
sprang up, and ran to my raiment and cast them on me hastily, for I was
ashamed; and when I saw that it was a woman, I thought at first that it
was my mistress coming to seek me; and I thought within myself that if
she smote me I would bear it no more, but let it be seen which of the
twain was the mightier. But I looked again and saw that it was not she
but a woman smaller and older. So I stood where I was and abode her
coming, smiling and unafraid, and half-clad.

"She drew near and I saw that it was an old woman grey haired, uncomely
of raiment, but with shining bright eyes in her wrinkled face. And she
made an obeisance to me and said: 'I was passing through this lonely
wilderness and I looked down into the little valley and saw these goats
there and the lovely lady lying naked amongst them, and I said I am too
old to be afraid of aught; for if she be a goddess come back again from
yore agone, she can but make an end of a poor old carline, a gangrel
body, who hath no joy of her life now. And if she be of the daughters
of men, she will belike methink her of her mother, and be kind to me
for her sake, and give me a piece of bread and a draught of her goats'
milk.'

"I spake hastily, for I was ashamed of her words, though I only half
understood them: 'I hear thee and deem that thou mockest me: I have