Page:The Celtic Review volume 3.djvu/173

158 Wilt thou yield thyself to him and be his captive like unto thy people? Art thou willing to depart with him and leave thy kindred?’

The bloom on the petals of the blush-rose was not more fair than that on the cheek of the maiden, as she put forth her hand to her one love, and said she, ‘This son of the conqueror is the desire of mine heart, give me to him, for the bonds of his love are round and about me.’

Then did the chieftain embrace the maiden, and said he, ‘&thinsp;’Tis thou that hast for thy captive the son of the conqueror, thou art my bride, thou that camest to me in the morning; come, I will lead thee hence to mine inheritance, and thou shalt stand with me in the shadow of the oak-tree, and wilt be to me a wife.’

But the father of the maiden spake, and said he, ‘Thou wilt not take our daughter with thee, son of the conqueror, except thou swear before thy God unto us what we desire of thee. If thy wife beareth thee a son, thou must return hither with him and he shall be a light in the home thou hast made dark this day. But if thy wife beareth unto thee a daughter thou shalt keep her with thee, but thou must not give her a name, for all the days of her youth she must live beside thee a nameless maiden, until the man cometh she loveth, as her mother loveth thee, and who loveth her as thou lovest her mother, then shall he call her by the name his heart deemeth fit for her to bear.’

And the chieftain was ill-content with such words, and his face fell, but so great was his love for the maiden that he deemed her precious enough to pay for her a great price, and therefore did he say, ‘I swear, that it shall be as thou hast said.’

Then spake the father: ‘Go then, and look to thyself, for it will go hard with thee, if thy word faileth me.’

And the twain departed hand in hand, followed by the huntsmen, and they became one, because Love had pleased to unite them. In due time a child was born, nor was the chieftain and his fair wife ill-pleased because their child was