Now if ye ask me whether I have fled because of the
shame that I, a free woman come of free folk, should be a mere thrall
in the bed of the foes of my kin, and with no price paid for me, I
must needs say it is not so; since over long have we of the Dale been
thralls to be ashamed of such a matter. And again, if ye deem that I
have fled because I have been burdened with grievous toil and been
driven thereto by the whip, ye may look on my hands and my body and
ye will see that I have toiled little therewith: nor again did I
flee because I could not endure a few stripes now and again; for such
usage do thralls look for, even when they are delicately kept for the
sake of the fairness of their bodies, and this they may well endure;
yea also, and the mere fear of death by torment now and again. But
before me lay death both assured and horrible; so I took mine own
counsel, and told none for fear of bewrayal, save him who guarded me;
and that was this man; who fled not from fear, but from love of me,
and to him I have given all that I might give. So we got out of the
house and down the Dale by night and cloud, and hid for one whole day
in the Dale itself, where I trembled and feared, so that I deemed I
should die of fear; but this man was well pleased with my company,
and with the lack of toil and beating even for the day.
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