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Page 77 text:
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THE HOlVLER,1934 songs, and play for them upon her harp. She showed a real interest in their pastimes and soon became almost as skilful as they with the distaff and loom. She taught them new methods of embroidery, and amused herself by making designs for them to copy. She set herself to learn their language, so harsh and difficult to her tongue. Before a year had passed, she had mastered it so completely that they could not find a single Haw in her speech. Her mirror revealed to her that she was growing more and more beautiful and she did not neglect herself for a day. She spent long hours brushing her rich, dark hair until it shone. She enquired of her companions as to their beauty secrets, and arose at daybreak to bathe her soft, rosy cheeks in the morning dew. Meanwhile Arviragus was away most of the time fighting. There were fierce men from the north to subdue and rebellious subjects to punish. Then, too, he had to settle disputes among the nobles, and help them with their plans for new towns. Qne day, during a period of peace, he was wandering in his garden, when he came upon a woman feeding the swans. He paused, and watched her for some time, wondering at the grace of her movements and the whiteness of her arms. Then he approached the river bank. Never before, he said, has such beauty gladdened my eyes. From whence dost thou come? The lady stooped to stroke the soft neck of a swan. I am one of the women from the castle, my lord, she answered softly, and craving your pardon, I must return forthwith, for there are matters which need my attention. For the next three days, the king, himself, fed the swans. He arrived early, and gave them their food with prolonged and assidu- ous attention. Meanwhile, the lady, no doubt seeing that the birds were so well taken care of, thought it quite unnecessary to appear. On the fourth morning, however, she was in her accustomed place when Arviragus came out with his basket 3 and together, they threw the bread and watched the swans dip their graceful creamy necks into the water for it. When the Vuyft' l7o1'ly-Tlzwt' last piece was gone the lady arose to return, but the king took her by the hand. Stay, he cried, and walk along the river bank with me. Thou are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and my heart is foolish with love for thee. The lady blushed, and looked down. But thou hast already a wife, my lordf' she reproved him. The king scowled. A Roman! he cried. Ill-favoured no doubt. I have never even seen her face, nor heard her voice. I shall put her away and take thee in her stead. But since I know thee not save through 1ny love, tell me, I pray thee, who thou art, and thy fathe-r's name and station. The lady lifted her face and smiled, while her eyes twinkled demurely. I fear greatly, she answered, that my name will please thee not. It is Genuissa. daughter of Claudius, and queen, although never wife to Arviragus. A year later, Arviragus was going north into battle. He was taking a tender farewell of his wife. VVhen shalt thou return F she asked. I cannot tell, he replied. It may be many days. In that case, she said smiling, thy son may be here to welcome thee. Arviragus kissed her again. May the Gods be kind to you both, he breathed with trembling lips. On going out, he called for his leech and commanded him. See that the queen suffer not when the child is born. Procure for her Morian wine from the Roman city of Verulaneum, to make her sleep. And I charge thee to beware lest my son leave his mother even one wrinkle from pain. When Arviragus returned, Genuissa was lying in her truckle-bed while near the fire the women attended a screaming, lusty infant that squirmed and kicked at their ministra- tions. Thou art more beautiful than ever, my sweet, said the king to his wife. Would that I were rich, for then I should like to build me a city that would forever tell the world of fContinued on page 451
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Page 76 text:
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Page Fm'fy-Tivo THE HOIVLER1934 H Genuissais Truclde By ARDATI-I fl EN U 1 ssA wasw marry the handsome King Arviragus of Britain, and her dowry was to be four chests of silver. Genuissa frowned, not because the pros- pect of marriage with a good-looking young king was ob- jectionable, but, be- ing proud, and a Roman, not to say anything of being the daughter of Claudius, she considered her beauty a sufficient inducement, without the added attraction of a dowry. She called for one of her father's workmen. 'lMake me a bed, she cried, such as the Briton's use, but not of common wood. I will have the linest materials and workman- ship. To her women she said, Fashion me chests full of garments in the style of the Britons. If I am to be Queen of this island I will go clothed even as one of their own women. King Arviragus shall receive my beauty, my chests full of clothes, my truckle-bed, and- . . . nothing else, unless it so happens that he also win my love. All winter long the men worked on Gen- uissa's truckle-bed, fashioning the parts of beautifully grained wood whose surface was as smooth and velvety to the touch as jade. They carved the head and foot with fine sharp chisels until beneath their skillful fingers, eagles and wreaths of leaves, the emblems of their princess' royal lineage, stood out like living things. Then they polished and dressed the beautiful piece of furniture to the bright- ness of a mirror. The women cut and sewed dresses and un- der garments, in a design quite unlike their own. They purpled them with bands of royal crimson, colored with Tyrean dyes, and embroidered them with golden threads. 5 llli' I3 d I-IUDDLESTON An original story, 6 based on historical facts. And when all were completed and laid care- fully in the great chests of olive wood Gen- uissa smiled to herself, and sighed with satisfaction. When, in the Spring, Genuissa's galley came up the Thames to Londinium, Arviragus and his men were waiting on the shore to receive her. Take my possessions to the king, Genuissa said, I shall follow later. The chests were taken ashore and opened. Garments! exclaimed Arviragus, Where are the chests of silver?', He was answered, Nothing remains my Lord, except the lady and her bed. The king stamped with rage. By all the Gods! he cried. I will not endure this insult from the Roman, for, after all, I am ruler of this land, and there are women in Britain who are as beautiful as any imperial dame. Marry this woman I shall, because my word was given, but never shall I look upon her face, nor, will she ever bear me a son, half-Roman, to carry on my name. For three long years Genuissa lived with her women in the least attractive part of the king's house. The rooms were low-ceilinged and cold. The furniture was crude, ugly, and uncomfortable, and the smoke from the smouldering logs upon the floor in the middle of the room did not always rise directly to the hole in the ceiling, but often, with a sud- den draught, spread about and made Gen- uissa's eyes smart. The days seemed interminably long and dreary. The people despised her as a neglected wife, and their ways were strange and un- congenial to Genuissa. The food, too, was coarse and unattractive to her palate after the delicate viands of the Roman table, and the British manner of eating seemed barbarous to her refined tastes. Nevertheless, she made the best of her lot. She tried to like these strange people who were now her countrymen. She gradually overcame the aloofness of her women by her willingness to tell them tales of foreign lands, and her ability to sing
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