XV

 

Rialmar Vindemiatrix

 

curbing of the hippogriff  a queen fancy-free  ride in the forest: sudden light vandermast's wayside garden  the house of peace  naiad and dryad and oread  'sparkling-throned heavenly aphrodite'  spring-scents of ambremerine  whirlpool and a new stillness  '. . . with an immortal goddess: not clearly knowing'  'swift-flying doves to draw you'  meditation among nymphs by firelight  the rose and the adamant  summer night: antiope  autumn dusk: the storing and the brooding.

 

Queen Antiope proclaimed for Michaelmas day a day's delight and pleasure, to ride a-hawking. That was a brisk sweet autumn morning. Lessingham, booted and ready at his window, sniffed the air. Amaury came in: bade him good morrow. 'Well,' said Lessingham to that reproving eye: 'what now?' Amaury took a looking-glass from the wall and held it for him.

'Is there a smudge on my nose? Is my beard awry?' He leaned to survey himself with a mock solicitudeness.

Amaury set down the glass. 'O think not I care a flea, though old Bodenay and a dozen more of 'em shall be killed right out, with your denying them all respite and very sleep. But, for your own self—'