I need not thy words
to bring to my mind how I have slain one sworn friend for thy sake."
"Nay," she said, "not for my sake, for thine own folly's sake."
He heeded her not, but went on: "And as for this one, I say again
of him, if he be not thy devil, then thou meanest him for thy lover.
And now I deem that I will verily slay him, ere he wake again;
belike it were his better luck."
She said: "I wot not why thou hagglest over the price of that thou
wouldest have. If thou have him along with thee, shall he not
be in thy power--as I shall be? and thou mayst slay him--or me--
when thou wilt."
"Yea," he said, grimly, "when thou art weary of him.
O art thou not shameless amongst women! Yet must I needs pay
thy price, though my honour and the welfare of my life go with it.
Yet how if he have no will to fare with us?" She laughed and said:
"Then shalt thou have him with thee as thy captive and thrall.
Hast thou not conquered him in battle?" He stood silent a moment
and then he said: "Thou sayest it; he shall come with me, will he,
nill he, unarmed, and as a prisoner, and the spoil of my valiancy."
And he laughed, not altogether in bitterness, but as if some joy
were rising in his heart. "Now, my Queen," said he, "the bargain
is struck betwixt us, and thou mayest light down off Silverfax;
as for me, I will go fetch water from the lake, that we may wake
up this valiant and mighty youth, this newfound jewel, and bring
him to his wits again.
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