Page:The Celtic Review volume 3.djvu/171

156 And the huntsmen deemed it best to listen to the words of their chief, for afar off they beheld the sun departing out of sight into that unknown region where the sea and the sky meet, and the Iberians worked not after the sun had set. The sun was to the Iberian the heavenly mansion where dwelt his one great God, whose presence was revealed in the golden glory that gave light and life to the sons of men. It was from this dwelling of his great God that the rays of light descended between the leaves of the sacred oak-trees, thus blessing him, and favouring his worship of Him as his God. Therefore when the great God took His presence away, and closed the shutters of his dwelling-place, the Iberian understood that the hour of rest had come, when he also should cease from labour, until the light of the presence should again appear in the east, blessing the works of men.

Then the chieftain and his huntsmen lit a great fire and prepared their game, forthwith setting to eat with a right good will, and when they had thus broken their fast, and drank again of the cool waters of the spring, they laid themselves down on the heather, and so weary were they, that they soon fell asleep thereon, and their sleep was like unto that of a child; even he that was bidden to the first watch also slept, overcome by his fatigue and the warmth of their great fire. As the faint blush of dawn appeared in the sky, the chieftain awoke, and lo! he beheld standing very near to him the most beauteous maiden he had ever yet seen. She was clothed with the leaves of the ivy-tree, which had for embroidery the golden flowers of the welcome to the spring, intermixed with the dainty blossoms of the eye of day. Her hair was dark like unto the coat of the raven, and fell as a covering over a bosom white as the snow; her face was so fair that wheresoever she looked in the grey of the morning the shadows departed thence, and her eyes lighted up the desolate rocks. So small was she that the chieftain wondered if she might be one of the fair tribe (tylwyth teg), and he leaped to his feet, and bathed his face in the stream, for he would not that he should stand before the maiden while yet the night colour was upon him.