Edna Kingsley Wallace

“ Came once more the voice of Senta the Radiant One: "Flame, Maker of Images, attend my words. This woman shalt thou seek throughout the world, forasmuch as she is the dream of dreams in thy soul. In the fullness of thy manhood shalt thou fashion her in pure marble, and she shall be called Mother of [21] Mother of MenMen. As for thee, thou shalt be called the Giver of Dreams. Awake."
And Senta the Radiant One, passing, gathered to her breast with one swift motion the sprite Earthlove, that had revealed to her Flame and Roseheart in their need to be taught the wisdom of life which they knew not. ”

“ Now when Flame, yet some way off, saw that the woman in shining raiment was the beloved of his soul, Roseheart, his heart leapt within him, and there was upon his limbs the speed of light. But betimes it came to him that travel was upon his garments, and that it were not fit he should dishonour his troth-plight maiden by coming before her eyes in aught unworthy. ”

“ And in the heart of the maid there grew and strengthened the desire and the will to be as that woman of her dream, whose beauty was as music under the moon, and in all reverence beloved of her troth-plight, Flame. Thus are women ever, in their deep need to be in all ways that they may, the desired of their lord. ”

“ But the heart of Queen Ellaline was as a silver trumpet singing, that the maid her daughter was now to live the life of a woman, giving her life to a man, that it should be greatened unto her, and to the world. ”

“ And so great was her need and desire to become as the woman of the great dream, that slowly as a slender moon fills with silver, or a rosebud greatens to fullness, did Roseheart the maid grow in fashion and seeming and good sooth toward the very truth of her desire, to be as that woman whose form was radiance and whose eyes were stars. ”

“ The Feast is Spreadlooked upon the life which is sin and have seen therein the death of the spirit. I have much to tell thee, for that there must be nought but truth between us."
Then did King Telwyn himself draw the curtains of the tent and look within, smiling. "Flame, son of Lokus, the feast is spread for thee, though well I wot thou knowest not if thou art hungry. But time and enough will there be for talk with thy speech-friend and troth-plight maiden, when thou hast eaten thy meat, and refreshed thee from thy journey. ”

“ Daylong The Faces of Love did Flame feed the hunger of his eyes on the beauty of his beloved, as clad in kirtle of forest-green, girt with gold, she knelt at the edge of the Pool, or laughing, chased the butterflies, to woo them to her lips and hair. ”

“ Then did the face of Roseheart grow wistful-sweet, and she asked, "The woman of thy dream—didst thou find her?" And Flame answered, "Aye, I have found her. Dost thou not know? Thou thyself art that radiant woman, starry-eyed. I know not what hath befallen thee, save that the starry heavens, that look upon all things, have made thine eyes their dwelling-place." ”

“ And after that Flame had drunk of the waters, and eaten of the fruit, the Lord God was pitiful of his shame and weariness, and he slept.
Sleeping, once more he dreamed [68] Cometh the Dreamof that woman of radiance, starry-eyed. But whereas aforetime he might not see the fashion of her face, it was now revealed to him in the seeming of his troth-plight maiden, glorified. Now was the rose full blown, the child become a woman, in strength, and tenderness, and wisdom, and her beauty was as music under the moon. ”

“ Of Black Wordswith them, some in innocence and good faith, as a maid may, and some fawning, and whispering black words to the youth and heat of his blood.
Of these last there came betimes a witch-woman, who discerning with cunning the eyes of Flame that they were like the sea, made herself as a moon-woman, that he should follow her. And Flame, looking upon her, whose face was as silver, felt somewhat surge within him answering her desire. And the woman glided before him until they were come into the desert. ”

“ Wherefore Lokus had called his son to him, and had bidden him to go straitly to the friend of his own youth, the wise King Telwyn, who would teach him somewhat of life and living in the great world. But more than for the ways and wit of men did Flame have thought for all things beautiful [6] The Gifts of Flamein form. Right well he loved to liven clay to semblance of young maids and children, mothers, and old men wise with living. Ever into their faces he put somewhat no other man might see in them. ”

“ Into the face of Telwyn there came a tenderness like that of women, and in his voice were the tears a man may not suffer in his eyes. "Great is the joy in my heart," he said, "for that thou art indeed become a woman. And well I wot that the Lord God is with thee, that thou knowest these things of wisdom."
And Ellaline, looking into the face of her daughter, drew her to her heart, and spake on this wise: "Deep grief has it been to me that in thy pain I might not [56] The Queen Speakethhelp thee, but must leave thee to the care of Wur, that woman of sorrow. ”

“ And it was bitter to her that he whom she had thought to be a man such as the Lord God had meant in the making of the world, had been but as a child, or blind, that he had been deceived by the moon-woman. ”

“ And when the people saw that Flame, the son of Lokus, was come once more, from overseas, to claim his troth-plight, the Princess Roseheart, they pressed upon him clamouring, glad with great joy that the youth was grown a man, in full stature of strength and bravery. ”

“ And when King Telwyn made sure that the figure of flickering beauty that burned its way through the crowd of the people was Flame, son of Lokus, and none other, his heart was as a harp, swept with chords of joy and questioning, of fear, and a nameless pain that now mayhap he must give his little maid, that was as the remembered joy of his youth, to the clasp [80] A Silver Trumpet Singingof a man, in whom should be her life thenceforward. ”

“ And he rose up swiftly and fled away till he was come to the edge of the desert, and thence into a gentle land, of murmuring streams, and trees on the which was fruit of divers kinds, and good to the taste. ”

“ After a little he said: "There is a thing that I must tell thee, but because thou art a maid and innocent, I know not if thou wilt understand."
And seeing his trouble she answered him gently: "Meseems thou couldst not do anything I would not understand." [100] Flame ConfessethDrawing her close within the shelter of his arms he said, "Thou believest that I love thee as my heart's blood?" ”

“ XI. The Shadows Grow LongNOW when they had eaten and drunk their fill, and had had much talk withal, the shadows had grown long, and bird-song rippled the air in the wont of sundown. Wherefore King Telwyn bethought him how it would be pleasant that the four of them, the Queen, the Princess Roseheart, and her troth-plight lord, Flame, should walk in the forest for a space, ere yet they returned to the castle. [95] Queen Ellaline SpeakethBut Queen Ellaline said to him, "Nay, my lord, shall not thou and I return to the castle alone? ”