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hearth, and seated him in an ancient chair, and set wine before him, and sat at his feet
" I am sad," he said, " when I think of the youth whom I met twice in the forests of Fairy Land; and who, you say, twice, with his songs, roused you from the death-sleep of an evil enchantment There was something noble in him, but it was a nobleness of thought, and not of deed. He may yet perish of vile fear."
" Ah! " returned the lady, " you saved him once; and for that I thank you; for may I not say that I somewhat loved him ? But tell me how you fared, when you struck your battle-axe into the ash-tree, and he came and found you; for so much of thfe story you had told me, when the beggar-child came and took you away."
" As soon as I saw him," rejoined the knight, " I knew that earthly arms availed not against such as he; and that my soul must meet him in its naked strength. So I unclasped my helm, and flung it on the ground; and, holding my good axe yet in my hand, gazed at him with steady eyes. On he came, a horror indeed, but I did not flinch. Endurance must conquer, where force could not reach. He came nearer and nearer, till the ghastly face was |
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