''^The  Fates.  In  mythology,  the  three  women  who  fixed  the
destinies,  or  fates,  of  every  human  being.  The  term  is  frequently
used  to  mean  simply  external  circumstances — in  this  case,  the
fact  that  Gabriel  was  going  upstream  and  consequently  could
not  make  great  speed.
"OZt/mpMs.  The  mountain  in  Thessaly  where  the  Greek  gods
were  supposed  to  have  their  abode.
EVANGELINE  489


Far  renowned  was  he  for  his  silver  locks  and  his
fiddle.  965

"Long  live  Michael,"  they  cried,  "our  brave  Aca-
dian minstrel!"

As  they  bore  him  aloft  in  triumphal  procession;
and  straightway

Father  Felician  advanced  with  Evangeline,  greet-
ing the  old  man

Kindly  and  oft,  and  recalling  the  past,  while  Basil,
enraptured,"

Hailed  with  hilarious  joy  his  old  companions  and
gossips,  970

Laughing  loud  and  long,  and  embracing  mothers
and  daughters.
Much  they  marveled  to  see  the  wealth  of  the  ci-
devant^®  blacksmith.
All  his  domains  and  his  herds,   and  his  patri-
archal" demeanor;

Much  they  marveled  to  hear  his  tales  of  the  soil
and  the  climate.
And  of  the  prairies,  whose  numberless  herds  were
his  who  would  take  them;  975

Each  one  thought  in  his  heart,  that  he,  too,  would
go  and  do  likewise.
Thus  they  ascended  the  steps,  and  crossing  the
breezy  veranda.
Entered  the  hall  of  the  house,  where  alreadv  the.
supper  of  Basil


^'Enraptured.    Filled  with  deep  joy.
^^Ci-devant.     Pronounced  se'-de-vaw'.     French  for  "former."

"Patriarchal.     Venerable;    fatherly.
490  STUDIES  IN  READING

Waited  his  late  return;  and  they  rested  and
feasted  together.
Over  the  joyous  feast  the  sudden  darkness  de-
scended. 980

All  was  silent  without,  and,  illuming  the  land-
scape with  silver,

Fair  rose  the  dewy  moon  and  the  myriad  stars;
but  within  doors.
Brighter  than  these,  shone  the  faces  of  friends  in
the  glimmering  lamplight.
