in the spring the rivers—now broad, free and mighty—overflowed their banks. heavy waves broke up the face of the waters, which sent forth a deep, hoarse, subdued murmur, as restless and disquieting as the season itself. the snow thawed. the pine-trees showed resinous lights, and exhaled a strong, pungent odour.
in the day-time the sky was a broad expanse of blue; at dusk it had a soft murky hue and a melancholy attraction. in the heart of the woods, now that winter was over, the first deed of the beasts was being accomplished—birth. eider-ducks, swans, and geese were crying noisily on the river.
at dusk the sky became greenish and murky, merging into a vast tent of deepest blue studded with a myriad of shining golden stars. then the eider-ducks and swans grew silent and went to roost for the night, and the soft warm air was thrilled by the whines of bear-cubs and the cries of land-rails. it was then that the maidens assembled on the slope to sing of lada and to dance their ancient dances, while strapping youths came forth from their winter dwellings in the woods and listened.
the slope down to the river was steep; below was the rustling sound of water among the reeds. everything was wrapt in stillness, yet everywhere the throb and flow of life could be heard. the maidens sat huddled together on the top of the slope, where the granite and slate were covered with scanty moss and yellow grass.
they were dressed in gaily-coloured dresses: all of them strong and robust; they sang their love-songs—old and sad and free—and gazed into the gathering opalescent mists. their songs seemed to overflow from their hearts, and were sung to the youths who stood around them like sombre, restive shadows, ogling and lustful, like the beasts in their forest-haunts.
this festive coupling-time had its law.
the youths came here to choose their wives; they quarrelled and fought, while the maidens remained listless, yielding to them in all. the young men ogled and fought and he who triumphed first chose his wife. then he and she together retired from the festival.
iii
