on the grass, for they had wandered in the marshes for many
years; and the light of the grey dawn widened above the heads of the
gods.

And Love said to the old man, 'I will leave you now.'

And the old man made no answer, but wept softly.

Then Love was grieved in his little careless heart, and he said:
'You must not be sorry that I go, nor yet regret me, nor care for me
at all.

'I am a very foolish child, and was never kind to you, nor friendly.
I never cared for your great thoughts, or for what was good in you,
but perplexed you by leading you up and down the perilous marshes.
And I was so heartless that, had you perished where I led you, it
would have been nought to me, and I only stayed with you because you
were good to play with.

'And I am cruel and altogether worthless and not such a one as any
should be sorry for when I go, or one to be regretted, or even cared
for at all.'

And still the old man spoke not, but wept softly; and Love grieved
bitterly in his kindly heart.

And Love said: 'Because I am so small my strength has been concealed
from you, and the evil that I have done. But my strength is great,
and I have used it unjustly. Often I pushed you from the causeway
through the marshes, and cared not if you drowned. Often I mocked
you, and caused others to mock you. And often I led you among those
that hated me, and laughed when they revenged themselves upon you.

'So weep not, for there is no kindness in my heart, but only murder
and foolishness, and I am no companion for one so wise as you, but
am so frivolous and silly that I laughed at your noble dreams and
hindered all your deeds. See now, you have found me out, and now you
will send me away, and here you will live at ease, and, undisturbed,
have noble dreams of the immortal gods.

'See now, here is dawn and safety, and _there_ is darkness and peril.'

Still the old man wept softly.

Then Love said: 'Is it thus with you?' and his voice was grave now
and quiet. 'Are you so troubled? Old friend of so many years, there
is grief in my heart for you. Old friend of perilous ventures, I
must leave you now. But I will send my brother soon to you--my
little brother Death. And he will come up out of the marshes to you,
and will not forsake you, but will be true to you as I have not been
true.'

And dawn grew brighter over the immortal gods, and the old man
smiled through his tears, which glistened wondrously in the
increasing light. B