So the high-hearted lovers followed the way of which Guivric had told
them. This way is not to be talked about; but blood was shed in the
Delta, and the worm that dies not was imprisoned: and after other
appalling happenings, Holden the Brave climbed out rheumatically from
the canvas, and gave his hand to Queen Radegonde; and she also stepped
from the triangular frame, and entered into life as the mortal woman
that Radegonde had been in the old time.
§ 77
Straightway she recollected her husband and her children and many of
her lovers, and the gilded domes of Elphànor's seven proud cities,
where now not even a hut was, and all the perfumed wasteful living
which Radegonde had known in the old time; and straightway, too, she
saw that Holden was a tedious decrepit fellow, well past the love of
women. And Holden saw that his Radegonde was a flighty and a rather
silly barbarian wench, sufficiently good-looking to be sure, but in no
way remarkable. And the two gazed at each other rather forlornly.
The queen began to shiver and to whimper. "I never," she said, "I never
for one moment was so lonely in my Delta as I am now."
Avuncularly he patted her white shoulder. "Do not give way, my dear.
We have acted unwisely, and nobody denies it: but do you come out of
this draught, and I will get you some clothes and have you baptised;
and then I will present you to our young Count Emmerick, and you can
entertain yourself, within Christian limits, by making a fool of him."
"A vigorous and handsome count would be better than nothing," the fair
girl conceded.
So this presentation was arranged. And tall Emmerick was infatuated
the moment he saw the queen's beguiling innocent young face. Forthwith
the high Count of Poictesme proclaimed a banquet: and when all were
dancing, Holden returned to the void frame; and he considered that lost
tropic garden, bereft now forever of the radiant and gray-eyed slip of
womanhood whom he had loved, and who would content his life no more.
Guivric came with him: and these two old men kept silence.
§ 78
"We may deduce that the painter loved her thirteen centuries ago," says
Guivric,--"erecting loveliness where there was little to build upon.
Thus it is that the brain of man creates women more desirable than
may be created by other means: and such women endure. But the women
children that have two parents, may endure only a very little longer
than may the scant delights a man can get in gardens that bear bitter
fruit or else insipid fruit: for these women have no such Delta as had
your lost Radegonde, no more than has that dispossessed lean ogling
flirt of whom young Emmerick will presently be tiring."
Moreover Guivric said:
"The women who are born of man's brain have no flaw in them and no
seed of death. There was a Radegonde conceived in Camwy, that walked
the glittering pavements of Lacre Kai, and wedded Elphànor, King of
Kings, and trysted with many lovers, and later trysted with small
worms: but in the artist's brain was conceived another Radegonde, a
maid who walks the sun-paths of eternity, and who is new-born with
every April. Thus it was of old: and this tale is not ended."
And Guivric said also:
"The women who are born of man's brain bear to their lovers no issue
save dissatisfaction. Their ways are lovely, but contentment does not
abide in these ways: and he that follows after the women who are born
of man's brain is wounded subtilely with wounds which may not ever
be quite healed. So let no woman with two parents cosset him: for
she toils vainly and in large peril; because it is upon her that he
will requite his subtile wounding, just as you, poor Holden, were the
destruction of that golden-haired young wife who loved you, and whom
you could not love."
§ 79
Thus said Guivric the Sage; and Holden, a spent man, much hurt but very
proud, who now foreknew his fate, replied with resolute smiling:
"Blessed above all men that live am I, in that in the days of my folly
I have been lord of the Delta of Radegonde. I know this, Guivric, as
you may not ever know it,--not you, who are as old as I, and who have
only wisdom to look back upon."
Guivric the Sage answered very soberly:
"That is true. For, to have been wise throughout one's youth becomes by
and by a taunt; and to remember it is a disease."
And Holden the Brave said now, with another sort of smiling:
"There is in attendance upon everybody a physician that heals all
disease. Pending his coming, old friend, I mean to beat you at one more
game of chess."
Whereon these aged men fell to such staid diversion as was suited to
their remainder of life. But slim gray-eyed Radegonde danced merrily
with her new lover.