Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rewards and Fairies
does not show till you bring it down on his snout. Then— was made a man, and a maiden—she was a Priestess—waited
Pouf!—the false flint falls all to flinders, and you are left with for me at the Dew-ponds, The Beast flitted from off the
the hammer-handle in your fist, and his teeth in your flank! I Chalk. Perhaps it was a sickness; perhaps he had gone to his
have felt them. At evening, too, in the dew, or when it has Gods to learn how to do us new harm. But he went, and we
misted and rained, your spear-head lashings slack off, though breathed more freely. The women sang again; the children
you have kept them beneath your cloak all day. You are alone— were not so much guarded; our flocks grazed far out. I took
but so close to the home ponds that you stop to tighten the mine yonder’—he pointed inland to the hazy line of the
sinews with hands, teeth, and a piece of driftwood. You bend Weald—’where the new grass was best. They grazed north. I
over and pull—so! That is the minute for which he has fol- followed till we were close to the Trees’ —he lowered his
lowed you since the stars went out. “Aarh!” he “Wurr-aarh!” he voice— ‘close there where the Children of the Night live.’ He
says.’ (Norton Pit gave back the growl like a pack of real wolves.) pointed north again.
‘Then he is on your right shoulder feeling for the vein in your ‘Ah, now I remember a thing,’ said Puck. ‘Tell me, why did
neck, and—perhaps your sheep run on without you. To fight your people fear the Trees so extremely?’
The Beast is nothing, but to be despised by The Beast when he ‘Because the Gods hate the Trees and strike them with light-
fights you—that is like his teeth in the heart! Old One, why is ning. We can see them burning for days all along the Chalk’s
it that men desire so greatly, and can do so little?’
edge. Besides, all the Chalk knows that the Children of the
‘I do not know. Did you desire so much?’ said Puck. Night, though they worship our Gods, are magicians. When
‘I desired to master The Beast. It is not right that The Beast a man goes into their country, they change his spirit; they put
should master man. But my people were afraid. Even, my words into his mouth; they make him like talking water. But
Mother, the Priestess, was afraid when I told her what I de- a voice in my heart told me to go toward the north. While I
sired. We were accustomed to be afraid of The Beast. When I watched my sheep there I saw three Beasts chasing a man,
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