Thus then lived this folk in much plenty and ease of life, though not
delicately nor desiring things out of measure. They wrought with
their hands and wearied themselves; and they rested from their toil
and feasted and were merry: to-morrow was not a burden to them, nor
yesterday a thing which they would fain forget: life shamed them
not, nor did death make them afraid.
As for the Dale wherein they dwelt, it was indeed most fair and
lovely, and they deemed it the Blessing of the Earth, and they trod
its flowery grass beside its rippled streams amidst its green tree-
boughs proudly and joyfully with goodly bodies and merry hearts.
CHAPTER II. OF FACE-OF-GOD AND HIS KINDRED
Tells the tale, that on an evening of late autumn when the weather
was fair, calm, and sunny, there came a man out of the wood hard by
the Mote-stead aforesaid, who sat him down at the roots of the
Speech-mound, casting down before him a roe-buck which he had just
slain in the wood. He was a young man of three and twenty summers;
he was so clad that he had on him a sheep-brown kirtle and leggings
of like stuff bound about with white leather thongs; he bore a short-
sword in his girdle and a little axe withal; the sword with fair
wrought gilded hilts and a dew-shoe of like fashion to its sheath.
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