Come back from the sea then, O sun! come aback,
Look adown, look on me then, and ask what I lack!
Come many a morrow to gaze on the Dale,
And if e'er thou seest sorrow remember its tale!
For 'twill be of a story to tell how men died
In the garnering of glory that no man may hide.
O sun sinking under! O fragrance of earth!
O heart! O the wonder whence longing has birth!
So they sang, and the sun sank indeed; and amidst their singing the
eve was still about them, though there came a happy murmur from the
face of the meadows and the houses of the Thorp aloof. But as their
song fell they heard the sound of footsteps a many on the road; so
they turned and stood with beating hearts in such order as when a
band of the valiant draw together to meet many foes coming on them
from all sides, and they stand back to back to face all comers. And
even therewith, their raiment gleaming amidst the gathering dusk,
came on them the young men of the Dale newly delivered from the grief
of war.
Then in very deed the fierce mouths of the raisers of the war-shout
were kind on the faces of tender maidens. Then went spear and axe
and helm and shield clattering to the earth, as the arms of the new-
comers went round about the bodies of the Brides, weary with the long
day of sunshine, and glee and loving speech, and the maidens suffered
the young men to lead them whither they would, and twilight began to
draw round about them as the Maiden Band was sundered.
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