He was ashamed,
moreover, that this so unquenchable grief should come but of him, and
the pleasure of his life, which he himself had found out for himself,
and which was but such a little portion of the Earth and the deeds
thereof. But presently his thought wandered from all this, and as he
turned away from the sundial and went his ways through the garden, he
called to mind his longing for the day of the spring market, when he
should see the Sun-beam again and be cherished by the sweetness of
her love.
CHAPTER XXV. OF THE GATE-THING AT BURGSTEAD
But now must he hasten, for the Gate-thing was to be holden two hours
before noon; so he betook him speedily to the Hall, and took his
shield and did on a goodly helm and girt his sword to his side, for
men must needs go to all folk-motes with their weapons and clad in
war-gear. Thus he went forth to the Gate with many others, and there
already were many folk assembled in the space aforesaid betwixt the
Gate of the Burg and the sheer rocks on the face of which were the
steps that led up to the ancient Tower on the height. The Alderman
was sitting on the great stone by the Gate-side which was his
appointed place, and beside him on the stone bench were the six
Wardens of the Burg; but of the six Wardens of the Dale there were
but three, for the others had not yet heard tell of the battle or had
got the summons to the Thing, since they had been about their
business down the Dale.
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