Thereafter Atra knit up her skirts into her girdle, and then did off
her shoon, so that her slim feet shone like pearls on the green
grass; and she said:
Birdalone, sweet friend! wilt thou be my messenger to bear these
shoon to my Black Squire, and meanwhile put my love for thee under
thy feet, to speed thee and to bear thee up? Wherefore be good to
me.
Birdalone then shod herself, and though pity it were to hide her feet
from the eyes of Earth, yet felt she the stouter-hearted thereby, and
her cheeks flushed and her eyes brightened.
Thereafter Aurea gave her withal a golden collar for the neck, and
Viridis a girdle of silver well-wrought, and Atra a gold finger-ring
set with a sapphire stone; and all these she did on her; but yet she
knew that they were tokens to be delivered to the three lovers
according as was due.
Then spake Atra: Lo, sister, we pray thee to bear these lendings on
thy body in such wise that when thou comest to the mainland they may
be seen by knights seeking adventures, and that thou mayst answer to
any who may challenge thee thereof and say that thou bearest this
raiment and these jewels from Aurea and Viridis and Atra to Baudoin
the Golden Knight, and to Hugh the Green Knight, and to Arthur the
Black Squire.
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