Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/128

 plain. They knew that this was the land of Maxen's dream, and they saw the fleet anchored in the river-mouth under the many-coloured high towers of the castle. As the Emperor had done, they went on board the fairest of the ships and sailed over sea and ocean till they came to an island. This island was Britain. They traversed it until they came to Snowdon. 'This,' they said, 'is the land of high mountains, deep valleys and terrible precipices that the Emperor saw.' From one of the crests they saw the island of Anglesey, and they knew that that was the other island of Maxen's dream. They saw also Aber Sain and a castle at the river's mouth. The gate was open and they went in. They knew the hall. The two youths with auburn hair were playing chess; the mighty old man was carving chess-men in the chair with the eagles of gold; the maiden was sitting opposite. The messengers fell down upon their knees before her, saying, 'Empress of Rome, all hail!'

'You seem honourable men, wearing the badge of envoys,' said the maiden, 'why then do ye mock me in this manner?'

'We mock thee not, lady. The Emperor of Rome has seen thee in his sleep, and since then he has no life or spirit left in him because of thee. Wilt thou come with us to Rome to be made empress, or wouldest thou rather that the Emperor should come hither to wed thee?'

'Lords,' she answered, 'I cannot deny what ye have said, neither can I believe it. If the Emperor love me let him come hither.'

The messengers hastened day and night back to Rome, and saluted the Emperor, saying: 'We have seen her; Helen is her name; and willingly shall we guide thee to her castle.'