She thought also with what joy she drew the breath
of life, yea, even amidst of grief, and of how sweet and pure and
well-nurtured she was, and how well beloved of many friends and the
whole folk, and she set all this beside those woeful bodies and
lowering faces, and felt shame of her sorrow of heart, and the pain
it had brought to her; and ever amidst shame and pity of all that
misery rose up before her the images of those tall fierce men, and it
seemed to her as if she had seen something like to them in some dream
or imagination of her mind.
So came the Burgdalers and their guests into the street of Burgstead
amidst music and singing; and the throng was great there. Then Face-
of-god bade make a ring about the strangers, and they did so, and he
and the Runaways alone were in the midst of it; and he spake in a
loud voice and said:
'Men of the Dale and the Burg, these folk whom here ye see in such a
sorry plight are they whom our deadly foes have rejoiced to torment;
let us therefore rejoice to cherish them. Now let those men come
forth who deem that they have enough and more, so that they may each
take into their houses some two or three of these friends such as
would be fain to be together.
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