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 Mother of Men Men. 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.
III
Senta Taketh Earthlove AND when that Senta had taken Earthlove unto herself, and had passed, the evening was come, and there were stars a-many in the depths of Pool. Therewith, looking upon them, a great peace came upon Flame, and being weary, he laid himself down that he might sleep and be refreshed. And as he slept, he dreamed of that woman whose form was radiance, and whose eyes were stars. And Dreams and Awakening his fingers stirred, and sought to fashion out of the earth her form of beauty; but all crumbled under his touch, and he might not.
When the morning was come, and upon all things lay new freshness as of the world's beginning, the youth Flame arose and stripped him, and plunged his body in the Pool that sleep might be shaken from him. Whereafter he got him to the castle, and when that he had stayed his hunger with bread and new milk, asked that he might have speech with his troth-plight, the Princess Roseheart. Then a serving-man led him through many halls to a The Queen and her Women great room wherein with their women sat Roseheart and the Queen her mother.
And there, in seemly raiment of soft colours, crimson, and the brown of old wood, and fresh green, the women sat before their looms, and their frames wherein rich broidery grew under their white fingers. And over all was sunlight, a flickering whereof was made by blown vines without the casements, which were open to the morn. There was the whisper of silk, and much babble of talk, after the fashion of women working. Shuttles flew in the looms, and white arms wondrous fair in motion drew forth Beauty Added unto Beauty long silken threads, being wrought into fine stuffs, to the end that beauty might be added unto beauty.
Queen Ellaline sat very still in the midst of these her women. Of delicate fashion she was, and gentle. Her eyes were widely set, and blue, and mother-sweet, and her hair was silvering with the caress of the years. And she was sad in the midst of sunshine, forasmuch as she was troubled at the mien of the maid, her daughter, who sat with drooping head and still hands. And in good sooth, the heart of the Princess was heavy within her, and no little in fear. Nightlong had she Roseheart is Troubled seen the vision of Flame, in whose eyes like the sea lay her white body floating. Never before since he had loved her had she seen aught but her soul's self therein, and she was troubled.
And now Flame, son of Lokus, lord of that far isle of sea-surge and fire-bloom, entered in courtly wise this room of work and idleness, of gayety and gossip, and of love perplexed. In reverent greeting did he kiss the hand of Queen Ellaline; then turning him to the Princess Roseheart, he took both of her white hands in his, seeking to look into her eyes. And soon, for her love of him she Roseheart is Troubled might not refrain, and bravely gave them to his seeing. And for that she was shamefast, in the way of a maid, she looked as one that saw not. But in the eyes of Roseheart, he who loved her saw as he was wont only the image and seeming of himself. And he was sorrowful therewith, forasmuch as he had thought mayhap to find in the eyes of his love the twin stars of the woman of his dream. But the thing was not. And remembering the Radiant One, and the things that she had said, he knew that, will-he, nill-he, he must fare forth in quest of that woman whose form was radiance, and whose eyes were stars—her from Mother of Men whom he should fashion his Mother of Men.
Then spake Ellaline, the Queen, with quiet voice, saying, "What wouldst thou, Flame, son of Lokus? My daughter Roseheart hath seeming of some ill-hap with which thou hast to do."
Therewith did Flame drop the hands of Roseheart his love, and standing before the Queen her mother, he spake on this wise: "I know not what this thing may be, but somewhat hath been laid upon my will, so that choice it hath none. Wherefore, though thy daughter Roseheart is as the blood of Flame Speaketh Plainly my heart to me, and fain would I take her to wife straightway, yet first must I go across the sea, and through all the earth, until I find a certain woman whose form is radiance and whose eyes are stars, that I may fashion of her in pure marble a Mother of Men that shall fulfill the dream of my soul. Not of my willing is this thing laid upon me. But the Lord God when I was born put into my soul the vision, and into my hands the cunning to fashion the shape of my vision. Therefore must I go, and abide the will of the Lord God lest He destroy me. Whether I shall return I know not, for many will be the perils of the way, The Pain of Roseheart but in my heart meseems I know that I shall return and take to wife the maid Roseheart, whom in all honour I love and cherish."
Hearing these words at the last, Roseheart found somewhat of courage beyond that she had had, and looked into the eyes of Flame. Therein was no longer her own white body, as she had feared to see, but the noble form of a woman whose white silken draperies flowed and clung, whose form was radiance, and whose eyes were stars. With her were little children. And Roseheart, gazing, beheld the form of radiance, and the faces of the A White Stillness children, as somewhat known, and not known, and in her heart was a white stillness, and no anger that Flame would leave her to seek this woman, but only the pain of longing, and a meekness like that of Mary, the Blessed Mother.
Flame, pitiful of the still sorrow of Roseheart, clasped her to his breast, and kissed her thrice upon the forehead. But the Lure of the Way of Life was upon him, and turning strongly from the maid and the Queen, her mother, he said: "Good greeting must I give you, from the heart, and long farewell, for that I must be about the Flame, His Farewell business the Lord God hath set me. But ere I go, I would see Telwyn, and speak with him of that I have to do."
IV
Flame, His Farewell ALL silently they three together sought Telwyn, the King, but now returned from the hunt, and sitting at meat with his men in the great banquet hall of the castle.
A mighty man of sorts was Telwyn. Fierce in war, yet had he also a great love of peace, of beauty, of mirth and joy, and of his food and wine. Also had he great discernment for the true things in the hearts King Telwyn of men. Wherefore, seeing sorrow and heaviness in the faces of the three whom he loved, who would have speech with him, he bade his men-at-arms and serving-men depart.
When that he had listened all quietly to the words of Flame, there first came anger into his heart, and a mist upon his sight, for that Roseheart, his daughter, who was as the remembered joy of his youth, should be in woe for the going from her of Flame, Son of Lokus, to follow the gleam of stars in the eyes of the woman of his dream. Yet was Telwyn proud, and would constrain no man to take unreadily his The King Pondereth daughter Roseheart; and just, for that he remembered what he had said to the youth, that it were well he should prove himself somewhat ere he should take the maid in marriage. Therefore with a mighty intake of the breath, and closing the lids of his eyes, wherein were lightnings, King Telwyn spake on this wise, his voice as the voice of far thunders: "Flame, son of Lokus, thou grievest the heart of Telwyn, father of Roseheart, for that thou puttest the maid in sorrow for thy going. Yet am I a man, and know the heart of a man in youth. Fain would I give thee of the wisdom I have learned, but that may not be. Telwyn Admonisheth Flame In pain and struggle shalt thou come to thine own wisdom, which is for thee alone, so that no man may give it thee, but thou must win it. Yet since thou hast won a maid to her promise, it were meet that thou shouldst go thy ways carefully, bravely, and in good faith, that thou mayest return in honour.
I charge thee, see thou to these things lest the vengeance of Telwyn find thee out, though thou wert in the uttermost parts of the earth. Lend not thy soul to wine to make a mock of, nor to false women that they may break it. Bear thou thyself with modesty; give of thy strength and wit to whomsoever Telwyn Admonisheth Flame hath need of them. Cheat no man of his due in any wise, remembering that so thou wouldst cheat thyself of thy birthright, which is to be one with truth and right in so far as thou canst attain thereunto. Thou art the son of Lokus, and art bound to carry his name and blood in honour. I have spoken. Farewell."