"And  I  complained,  dost  thou  remem
ber,  Master,  that  there  was  no  great
thing  for  me  to  do!  Ah,  would  I  were
no  Princess,  but  merely  the  Forest
maid  that  Nordeus  thought  me,  when
he  did  beseech  that  I  should  let  him
journey  to  his  father  asking  that  he
demand  of  thee  my  hand  in  marriage.
Bitterly  hard  it  was  to  tell  him  that  my
life  was  vowed  apart  from  wedded  hap
piness;  bitterly  hard  to  frame  an  expla
nation  which  should  tell  no  lie,  and  yet
must  end  all  dreams  of  love.
"Once  I  even  dared  to  hope  that  'La'ia'
might  descend  the  Temple  steps  and
give  her  heart  and  soul  as  well  as  out-
held  hands  to — Nordeus.  Why!  why,

127


Woven  in  the  Tapestry

must  I  forswear  what  other  maids  may
have  as  their  crowning  happiness;  they
are  no  more  flesh  and  blood  than  I !"

"Has  all  that  thou  hast  learned  come
to  this,  my  child,  that  thou  wouldst  set
thy  puny  wishes  against  thine  ordained
Fate?  What  is  best  for  thee,  will  be."

But  the  Princess  in  her  grief  cried,
"Do  not  mock  me,  Master!  Thou  art
but  a  Hermit — and  cannot  understand.
What  though  thou  hast  probed  each  hid
den  mystery!  Love  is  the  greatest  of
them  all !  Thou  art  but  a  Hermit,  thou
canst  not  feel  as  I,  who  in  the  flower  of
my  youth  must  yet  forswear  its  joy."
Then  overwhelmed  with  woe  she  buried
her  face  in  her  arms.
