The Nuptial Flight 



While she lives in their midst the lovers 

 about her know not what she is. They 

 seek her in space, in the remote depths of 

 the horizon, never suspecting that they have 

 but this moment quitted her, have shared 

 the same comb with her, have brushed 

 against her, perhaps, in the eagerness of 

 their departure. One might almost be- 

 lieve that those wonderful eves of theirs, 

 that cover their head as though with a 

 glittering helmet, do not recognise or de- 

 sire her save when she soars in the blue. 

 Each day, from noon till three, when the 

 sun shines resplendent, this plumed horde 

 sallies forth in search of the bride, who is 

 indeed more royal, more difficult of con- 

 quest, than the most inaccessible princess 

 of fairy legend ; for twenty or thirty tribes 

 will hasten from all the neighbouring cities, 

 her court thus consisting of more than 

 ten thousand suitors ; and from these ten 

 thousand one alone will be chosen for the 



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