that thou
fearest me? Then doth that make me afraid--afraid of thy nay-say. For I
was going to entreat thee, and say to thee: Beloved, we have now gone
through many troubles; let us now take a good reward at once, and wed
together, here amidst this sweet and pleasant house of the mountains, ere
we go further on our way; if indeed we go further at all. For where
shall we find any place sweeter or happier than this?"

But she sprang up to her feet, and stood there trembling before him,
because of her love; and she said: "Beloved, I have deemed that it were
good for us to go seek mankind as they live in the world, and to live
amongst them. And as for me, I will tell thee the sooth, to wit, that I
long for this sorely. For I feel afraid in the wilderness, and as if I
needed help and protection against my Mistress, though she be dead; and I
need the comfort of many people, and the throngs of the cities. I cannot
forget her: it was but last night that I dreamed (I suppose as the dawn
grew a-cold) that I was yet under her hand, and she was stripping me for
the torment; so that I woke up panting and crying out. I pray thee be
not angry with me for telling thee of my desires; for if thou wouldst not
have it so, then here will I abide with thee as thy mate, and strive to
gather courage."

He rose up and kissed her face, and said: "Nay, I had in sooth no mind to
abide here for ever; I meant but that we should feast a while here, and
then depart: sooth it is, that if thou dreadest the wilderness, somewhat
I dread the city."

She turned pale, and said: "Thou shalt have thy will, my friend, if it
must be so. But bethink thee we be not yet at our journey's end, and may
have many things and much strife to endure, before we be at peace and in
welfare. Now shall I tell thee--did I not before?--that while I am a
maid untouched, my wisdom, and somedeal of might, abideth with me, and
only so long. Therefore I entreat thee, let us go now, side by side, out
of this fair valley, even as we are, so that my wisdom and might may help
thee at need. For, my friend, I would not that our lives be short, so
much of joy as hath now come into them."

"Yea, beloved," he said, "let us on straightway then, and shorten the
while that sundereth us."

"Love," she said, "thou shalt pardon me one time for all. But this is to
be said, that I know somewhat of the haps that lie a little way ahead of
us; partly by my lore, and partly by what I lear