Thrice Bloomed the RoseTTHRICE the snowdrops came and went, thrice bloomed the rose; thrice the harvest ripened to the scythe, and winter flushed to spring, and Flame, son of Lokus, was not yet come from overseas to claim his promise of his troth-plight maiden.

Long had he wandered from land to land, seeking ever the shape of his dream. Ever he made forms of beauty with his hands, whatsoever he saw, and Flame Journeyethmen marveled thereat, so cunning-true they were, and skillful. And everywhere was he tempted with all manner of lures to flesh and spirit that he forsake his dream and take his ease and pleasure like other men, but he would not. And it befell that on a day when he was riding through the forest, he came upon a carle that beat a woman, his wife. And Flame was wroth with the carle, and fell upon him in fury, that so he should misuse the strength that God had given him. And the anger of Flame was as the strength of ten men, but when he had the throat of the man in his fingers, and would have slain him, all suddenly his He Groweth in Strengthanger was not. And in good pity of the fellow that he was yet in youth, he loosed him, and admonished him, and went his ways. And the strength of the man that he had spared to God's good life was added to his own strength.

And with his good strength of the body was come strength of his soul also. Wherefore, when in his wanderings he came upon a fair land wherein was much kindness, and after a while that land, which had an aged king, was threatened by savage men from wild forest land beyond, he girded on his sword and led the people in war that they might put to confusion He Serveth Needthe savage men who sought to slay them, and take their fat lands, and the homes where they were born. And when their enemies were driven out, the old King embraced with tears him who had risked his life for them, and besought him, saying, "Flame, son of Lokus, what wouldst thou? Whatsoever thou ask, that will I give thee." And Flame, with a look of far horizons in his eyes that were like the sea, answered him on this wise: "God be gracious to thee for thy kindness, but it is I who am in thy debt, for that I have learned the sweetness of giving myself wholly, even unto death, if need be, that innocent folk should He Fareth Onnot suffer, nor evil prevail. I am a selfish man, thinking little enough of other folk, as I go my way dreaming, and that now I have seen somewhat other than that is a mercy of the Lord God."

And though the people clamoured that he should stay with them, he went his way, and came into a new land, and dwelt there for a time. And being comely, with grace and courtliness in his mien, and the beauty of the sea in his eyes, when he looked eagerly into the faces of women, seeking his dream, many were sick with love of him. And they made devices that he should tarry Of Black Wordswith them, some in innocence and good faith, as a maid may, and some fawning, and whispering black words to the youth and heat of his blood.

Of these last there came betimes a witch-woman, who discerning with cunning the eyes of Flame that they were like the sea, made herself as a moon-woman, that he should follow her. And Flame, looking upon her, whose face was as silver, felt somewhat surge within him answering her desire. And the woman glided before him until they were come into the desert.

And when the moon-woman moved not so swiftly, but lingered, The Moon-Womanand Flame would have touched her, she laughed, and would and would not, and reaching for her, he stumbled, and fell upon the ground, yet held her fast. And the night was black upon them.

When the early morning was come, Flame turned him from the moon-woman exulting that now at last he had drunk of the cup, desire whereof had tormented him. But as he turned, some way off in brightness stood Senta the Radiant One. And she drew near, and spake not, but shed her light, without pity, upon the moon-woman. And Flame saw that she was not beautiful, but a hag, and The Face of Leprosyher face of silver the face of leprosy, white and horrible, and as old as the world. And he looked about him, and saw in the desert the bones of men. Then did he cry out in fear, "I am in the place of the dead!"

And he rose up swiftly and fled away till he was come to the edge of the desert, and thence into a gentle land, of murmuring streams, and trees on the which was fruit of divers kinds, and good to the taste. And after that Flame had drunk of the waters, and eaten of the fruit, the Lord God was pitiful of his shame and weariness, and he slept.

Sleeping, once more he dreamed Cometh the Dreamof that woman of radiance, starry-eyed. But whereas aforetime he might not see the fashion of her face, it was now revealed to him in the seeming of his troth-plight maiden, glorified. Now was the rose full blown, the child become a woman, in strength, and tenderness, and wisdom, and her beauty was as music under the moon. Then unto him in his dream spake the Voice of Vision on this wise: "Now that thou hast proved thyself in turning thee from the place of the dead, shalt thou have fullness of life, withal. Thou hast looked upon death in battle, and feared not, for that thou sawest therein that life which The Voice of Visionis greater than thine own life; and thou hast looked upon that life which is sin, and hast seen therein the death of the spirit. Wherefore arise, and go straightway to claim the maiden Roseheart for thy wife, that the true life of body and spirit may be fulfilled unto thee. And whatsoever thou fashionest with thy hands, that shalt thou fashion also with thy heart and soul, in the light of the vision the Lord God hath given thee. Arise."

With a great cry of joy he awoke, and strength was fulfilled to him as it had been a fountain, ever leaping and ever renewed. Wherewith straightway Strength Fulfilledhe arose, and girt up his mantle for the journey, that swift might be the way of his going.