But I looked again and saw that it was not she but a woman
smaller and older. So I stood where I was and abode her coming,
smiling and unafraid, and half-clad.
"She drew near and I saw that it was an old woman grey haired,
uncomely of raiment, but with shining bright eyes in her wrinkled face.
And she made an obeisance to me and said: 'I was passing through this
lonely wilderness and I looked down into the little valley and saw
these goats there and the lovely lady lying naked amongst them,
and I said I am too old to be afraid of aught; for if she be a goddess
come back again from yore agone, she can but make an end of a poor
old carline, a gangrel body, who hath no joy of her life now.
And if she be of the daughters of men, she will belike methink her
of her mother, and be kind to me for her sake, and give me a piece
of bread and a draught of her goats' milk.'
"I spake hastily, for I was ashamed of her words, though I only half
understood them: 'I hear thee and deem that thou mockest me:
I have never known a mother; I am but a poor thrall,
a goatherd dwelling with a mistress in a nook of this wildwood:
I have never a piece of bread; but as to the goats' milk, that thou
shalt have at once.' So I called one of my goats to me,
for I knew them all, and milked her into a wooden bowl that I
carried slung about me, and gave the old woman to drink:
and she kissed my hand and drank and spake again, but no longer
in a whining voice, like a beggar bidding alms in the street,
but frank and free.
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