BOOK VIII.

Then one ran, crying, while Niloiya wrought,

“The Master cometh!” and she went within

To adorn herself for meeting him. And Shem

Went forth and talked with Japhet in the field,

And said, “Is it well, my brother?” He replied,

“Well! and, I pray you, is it well at home?”

But Shem made answer, “Can a house be well,

If he that should command it bides afar?

Yet well is thee, because a fair free maid

Is found to wed thee; and they bring her in

This day at sundown. Therefore is much haste

To cover thick with costly webs the floor,

And pluck and cover thick the same with leaves

Of all sweet herbs,— I warrant, ye shall hear

No footfall where she treadeth; and the seats

Are ready, spread with robes; the tables set

With golden baskets, red pomegranates shred

To fill them; and the rubied censers smoke,

Heaped up with ambergris and cinnamon,

And frankincense and cedar.”

Japhet said,

“I will betroth her to me straight”; and went

( Yet labored he with sore disquietude )

To gather grapes, and reap and bind the sheaf

For his betrothal. And his brother spake,

“Where is our father? doth he preach to-day?”

And Japhet answered, “Yea. He said to me,

‘ Go forward; I will follow when the folk

By yonder mountain-hold I shall have warned.’”

And Shem replied, “How thinkest thou?— thine ears

Have heard him oft.” He answered, “I do think

These be the last days of this old fair world.”

Then he did tell him of the giant folk:

How they, than he, were taller by the head;

How one must stride that will ascend the steps

That lead to their wide halls; and how they drave,

With manful shouts, the mammoth to the north;

And how the talking dragon lied and fawned,

They seated proudly on their ivory thrones,

And scorning him: and of their peakéd hoods,

And garments wrought upon, each with the tale

Of him that wore it,— all his manful deeds

( Yea, and about their skirts were effigies

Of kings that they had slain; and some, whose swords

Many had pierced, wore vestures all of red,

To signify much blood ): and of their pride

He told, but of the vision in the tent

He told him not.

And when they reached the house,

Niloiya met them, and to Japhet cried,

“All hail, right fortunate! Lo, I have found

A maid. And now thou hast done well to reap

The late ripe corn.” So he went in with her,

And she did talk with him right motherly:

“It hath been fully told me how ye loathed

To wed thy father's slave; yea, she herself,

Did she not all declare to me?”

He said,

“Yet is thy damsel fair, and wise of heart.”

“Yea,” quoth his mother; “she made clear to me

How ye did weep, my son, and ye did vow,

‘ I will not take her!’ Now it was not I

That wrought to have it so.” And he replied,

“I know it.” Quoth the mother, “It is well;

For that same cause is laughter in my heart.”

“But she is sweet of language,” Japhet said.

“Ay,” quoth Niloiya, “and thy wife no less

Whom thou shalt wed anon,— forsooth, anon,—

It is a lucky hour. Thou wilt?” He said,

“I will.” And Japhet laid the slender sheaf

From off his shoulder, and he said, “Behold,

My father!” Then Niloiya turned herself,

And lo! the shipwright stood. “All hail!” quoth she.

And bowed herself, and kissed him on the mouth;

But while she spake with him, sorely he sighed;

And she did hang about his neck the robe

Of feasting, and she poured upon his hands

Clear water, and anointed him, and set

Before him bread.

And Japhet said to him,

“My father, my belovéd, wilt thou yet

Be sad because of scorning? Eat this day;

For as an angel in their eyes thou art

Who stand before thee.” But he answered, “Peace!

Thy words are wide.”

And when Niloiya heard,

She said, “Is this a time for mirth of heart

And wine? Behold, I thought to wed my son,

Even this Japhet; but is this a time,

When sad is he to whom is my desire,

And lying under sorrow as from God?”

He answered, “Yea, it is a time of times;

Bring in the maid.” Niloiya said, “The maid

That first I spoke on, shall not Japhet wed;

It likes not her, nor yet it likes not me.

But I have found another; yea, good sooth,

The damsel will not tarry, she will come

With all her slaves by sundown.”

And she said,

“Comfort thy heart, and eat: moreover, know

How that thy great work even to-day is done.

Sir, thy great ship is finished, and the folk

( For I, according to thy will, have paid

All that was left us to them for their wage,)

Have brought, as to a storehouse, flour of wheat,

Honey and oil,— much victual; yea, and fruits,

Curtains and household gear. And, sir, they say

It is thy will to take it for thy hold

Our fastness and abode.” He answered, “Yea,

Else wherefore was it built?” She said, “Good sir,

I pray you make us not the whole earth's scorn.

And now, to-morrow in thy father's house

Is a great feast, and weddings are toward;

Let be the ship, till after, for thy words

Have ever been,‘ If God shall send a flood,

There will I dwell’; I pray you therefore wait

At least till He DOTH send it.”

And he turned,

And answered nothing. Now the sun was low

While yet she spake; and Japhet came to them

In goodly raiment, and upon his arm

The garment of betrothal. And with that

A noise, and then brake in a woman slave

And Amarant. This, with folding of her hands,

Did say full meekly, “If I do offend,

Yet have not I been willing to offend;

For now this woman will not be denied

Herself to tell her errand.”

And they sat.

Then spoke the woman, “If I do offend,

Pray you forgive the bondslave, for her tongue

Is for her mistress.‘ Lo!’ my mistress saith,

‘ Put off thy bravery, bridegroom; fold away,

Mother, thy webs of pride, thy costly robes

Woven of many colors. We have heard

Thy master. Lo, to-day right evil things

He prophesied to us, that were his friends;

Therefore, my answer:— God do so to me;

Yea, God do so to me, more also, more

Than He did threaten, if my damsel's foot

Ever draw nigh thy door.’”

And when she heard,

Niloiya sat amazed, in grief of soul.

But Japhet came unto the slave, where low

She bowed herself for fear. He said, “Depart;

Say to thy mistress,‘ It is well.’” With that

She turned herself, and she made haste to flee,

Lest any, for those evil words she brought,

Would smite her. But the bondmaid of the house

Lift up her hand and said, “If I offend,

It was not of my heart: thy damsel knew

Naught of this matter.” And he held to her

His hand and touched her, and said, “Amarant!”

And when she looked upon him, she did take

And spread before her face her radiant locks,

Trembling. And Japhet said, “Lift up thy face,

O fairest of the daughters, thy fair face;

For, lo! the bridegroom standeth with the robe

Of thy betrothal! “— and he took her locks

In his two hands to part them from her brow,

And laid them on her shoulders; and he said,

“Sweet are the blushes of thy face,” and put

The robe upon her, having said, “Behold,

I have repented me; and oft by night,

In the waste wilderness, while all things slept,

I thought upon thy words, for they were sweet.

“For this I make thee free. And now thyself

Art loveliest in mine eyes; I look, and lo!

Thou art of beauty more than any thought

I had concerning thee. Let, then, this robe,

Wrought on with imagery of fruitful bough,

And graceful leaf, and birds with tender eyes,

Cover the ripples of thy tawny hair.”

So when she held her peace, he brought her nigh

To hear the speech of wedlock; ay, he took

The golden cup of wine to drink with her,

And laid the sheaf upon her arms. He said,

“Like as my fathers in the older days

Led home the daughters whom they chose, do I;

Like as they said,‘ Mine honor have I set

Upon thy head!’ do I. Eat of my bread,

Rule in my house, be mistress of my slaves,

And mother of my children.”

And he brought

The damsel to his father, saying, “Behold

My wife! I have betrothed her to myself;

I pray you, kiss her.” And the Master did:

He said, “Be mother of a multitude,

And let them to their father even so

Be found, as he is found to me.”

With that

She answered, “Let this woman, sir, find grace

And favor in your sight.”

And Japhet said,

“Sweet mother, I have wed the maid ye chose

And brought me first. I leave her in thy hand;

Have care on her, till I shall come again

And ask her of thee.” So they went apart,

He and his father to the marriage feast.