Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/137

 Thereafter they came to a large island wherein was a great plain surmounted by a vast tableland, heatherless, but grassy and smooth. Near the sea rose a high, strong fortress, and therein a goodly furnished house, where dwelt seventeen maidens. Maelduin and his men landed and sat on a hillock before the fort. And as they sat, behold a rider on a race horse came to the fortress. She was arrayed in a blue hood, a purple-bordered mantle, and she wore gold embroidered gloves. Sandals were on her feet, and the horse cloth of her seat was finely adorned. As she alighted one of the maidens led her horse away, and she entered the fortress. Shortly after this, one of the maidens came out to welcome them and invite them to the fort in the queen's name. So they entered and made merry with the queen and her maidens. Good food and wine were served them, a platter and drinking vessel for every three men, and one apart for Maelduin. The next morning, when they were about to depart the queen said, "Stay here and old age shall not fall on you, but you shall keep the age you now have; lasting life shall be yours alway, and every joy and delight. Why then go wandering longer from island to island over the wide and barren ocean?"

"Tell us," then said Maelduin, "how you came here?" And she said: "There dwelt a good man on this isle, and king he was of it. I was his wife and these seventeen maidens are our children. Now, when the king died and left no heir, I took the kingship and go daily to the great plain to judge the folk and decide their disputes."