For there had been battles
down there, and the fall of kings, and destruction of people, as oft
befalleth in the guileful Cities. He told them also, in answer to
their story of the Dusky Men, of how men even such-like, but riding
on horses, or drawn in wains, an host not to be numbered, had
erewhile overthrown the hosts of the Cities of the Plain, and had
wrought evils scarce to be told of; and how they had piled up the
skulls of slaughtered folk into great hills beside the city-gates, so
that the sun might no longer shine into the streets; and how because
of the death and the rapine, grass had grown in the kings' chambers,
and the wolves had chased deer in the Temples of the Gods.
'But,' quoth he, 'I know you, bold tillers of the soil, valiant
scourers of the Wild-wood, that the worst that can befall you will be
to die under shield, and that ye shall suffer no torment of the
thrall. May the undying Gods bless the threshold of this Gate, and
oft may I come hither to taste of your kindness! May your race, the
uncorrupt, increase and multiply, till your valiant men and clean
maidens make the bitter sweet and purify the earth!'
He spake smooth-tongued and smiling, handling the while the folds of
his fine scarlet gown, and belike he meant a full half of what he
said; for he was a man very eloquent of speech, and had spoken with
kings, uncowed and pleased with his speaking; and for that cause and
his riches had he been made chief of the chapmen.
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