Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/130

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108
The Book of Wonder Voyages

and sent two of his men to bring him away, but they could not recognize him, and they also began to lament and bemoan themselves.

Said Maelduin:

"Let four of you go with weapons and force them to come. Cover your faces with your garments, look not at the land, breathe not the air thereof, and keep your eyes fixed upon your own men."

So they went and brought back the other two by force, but the foster-brother had become one of the wallers, and him they could not save. When they inquired of the rescued ones what they had seen in the land, they replied:

"Verily, we know not. What we saw others doing, we did."

Then they swiftly left the island.


Thereafter they came to another lofty island, divided into four parts by fences. Golden was the first fence, silver the next, brass the third, crystal the fourth. Kings dwelt in one division, queens in another, warriors in the third, and in the fourth maidens alone. As they neared the land a maiden came to meet them, and brought them on shore, when she entertained them and gave them food. It was like cheese in taste, but the flavor thereof was such that each man thought he was eating what he best liked. She gave them sweet, heady ale from a small vessel, the strength of which caused them to sleep three days and three nights. Where