"
So they went up from out of the water, and did on the hallowed raiment
fragrant with strange herbs, and passed joyfully up the sand towards
the cliff and its stair; and speedily withal, for so soon as they were
clad again, the little ripple of the sea was nigh touching their feet.
As they went, they noted that the waters of the Well flowed seaward
from the black-walled pound by three arched openings in its outer face,
and they beheld the mason's work, how goodly it was; for it was as if it
had been cut out of the foot of a mountain, so well jointed were its stones,
and its walls solid against any storm that might drive against it.
They climbed the stair, and sat them down on the green grass awhile
watching the ocean coming in over the sand and the rocks, and Ralph said:
"I will tell thee, sweetling, that I am grown eager for the road;
though true it is that whiles I was down yonder amidst the ripple
of the sea I longed for naught but thee, though thou wert beside me,
and thy joyous words were as fire to the heart of my love.
But now that I am on the green grass of the earth I called to mind a dream
that came to me when we slept after the precious draught of the Well:
for methought that I was standing before the porch of the Feast-hall
of Upmeads and holding thine hand, and the ancient House spake to me
with the voice of a man, greeting both thee and me, and praising thy
goodliness and valiancy.
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