XII
The Need of Flame FOR some while did Flame lie upon the ground as one dead, but presently his manhood arose and stood before the Princess Roseheart, saying, "Then wilt thou send me from thee?"
And looking upon his manhood, that would face what must come to it, she saw therewith somewhat that wrung her heart, the look of a little child, with wistful eyes, and mouth A New Sweetness that quivered. And she saw that his need of her was greater than it had been aforetime, as of a child for his mother. Wherewith into her heart that had been empty of all things whenas the god might dwell there no longer, there came a new sweetness it could scarce hold, so great was the flood thereof. And through her body and her soul the sweetness surged, so that there remained no bitterness at all, but a great gladness, as of the singing of many waters in spring. In her face was the look as of a young mother looking upon her first man-child that she hath borne in pain with thanksgiving.
Roseheart Forgiveth Flame, looking upon the glory that was her face, fell at her feet, crying, "Thou wilt forgive?"
And she lifted him up, and drew his head to her breast, saying the while little words of love and comforting. Whereafter, he stood straight before her, and they looked each into the other's eyes as they had been spirits out of the flesh.
And there came a shining round about them, that was brighter than the noonday sun, for that Senta, the Radiant One, was come and stood near them. And Flame saw that in the face of his love was somewhat that Somewhat of New Beauty had not been there before, for the beauty whereof his soul sang. As one in a dream he stooped him to the earth once more to take of the clay thereof and fashion her his Mother of Men.
But ere he might do the thing he would, Senta the Radiant One drew near, and spake unto them, and her voice was as the music of a mighty pine-wood raising to heaven a paean of triumph in a great wind of spring, with the voices of children therethrough, like little singing streams. And the words of Senta were these: "Joy to you that ye have learned somewhat whereof life and love The Meaning of Love are made! Roseheart, beloved of Flame, son of Lokus, now art thou become in very truth a Mother of Men in thy woman's soul, for that thou hast learned the meaning of love, which is to minister, to suffer, to understand, and to forgive. And thou too, Flame, hast learned of it, insomuch that love constrained thee in the pride of thy manhood to become as a little child that thou mightest be forgiven. But stay thy hand, even yet, until thou hast taken the maid to wife, and made her in good sooth a mother of men according to the flesh. Then only shalt thou be given fullness of vision, and shalt fashion her in pure marble to be as a dream forever in the hearts of men."
The Sign and Symbol With the passing of Senta, the Radiant One, was full evening come. And Flame, Fashioner and Giver of Dreams, led the Princess Roseheart, his love and troth-plight maiden, to the brink of the Pool, in wonder beyond speech, and a silence as of music. For the Pool held deep within deep; and far beyond their two faces of love, they beheld as in the night blue of heaven, the stars that the Lord God had set therein to be a sign and symbol unto men of the things beyond the flesh.