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mad lips the cold lips of the Mermaid； and the heart that was
within him brake。 And as through the fulness of his love his heart
did break； the Soul found an entrance and entered in； and was one
with him even as before。 And the sea covered the young Fisherman
with its waves。
And in the morning the Priest went forth to bless the sea； for it
had been troubled。 And with him went the monks and the musicians；
and the candle…bearers； and the swingers of censers； and a great
company。
And when the Priest reached the shore he saw the young Fisherman
lying drowned in the surf； and clasped in his arms was the body of
the little Mermaid。 And he drew back frowning； and having made the
sign of the cross； he cried aloud and said； 'I will not bless the
sea nor anything that is in it。 Accursed be the Sea…folk； and
accursed be all they who traffic with them。 And as for him who for
love's sake forsook God； and so lieth here with his leman slain by
God's judgment； take up his body and the body of his leman； and
bury them in the corner of the Field of the Fullers； and set no
mark above them； nor sign of any kind； that none may know the place
of their resting。 For accursed were they in their lives； and
accursed shall they be in their deaths also。'
And the people did as he commanded them； and in the corner of the
Field of the Fullers； where no sweet herbs grew； they dug a deep
pit； and laid the dead things within it。
And when the third year was over； and on a day that was a holy day；
the Priest went up to the chapel； that he might show to the people
the wounds of the Lord； and speak to them about the wrath of God。
And when he had robed himself with his robes； and entered in and
bowed himself before the altar； he saw that the altar was covered
with strange flowers that never had been seen before。 Strange were
they to look at； and of curious beauty； and their beauty troubled
him； and their odour was sweet in his nostrils。 And he felt glad；
and understood not why he was glad。
And after that he had opened the tabernacle； and incensed the
monstrance that was in it； and shown the fair wafer to the people；
and hid it again behind the veil of veils； he began to speak to the
people； desiring to speak to them of the wrath of God。 But the
beauty of the white flowers troubled him； and their odour was sweet
in his nostrils； and there came another word into his lips； and he
spake not of the wrath of God； but of the God whose name is Love。
And why he so spake； he knew not。
And when he had finished his word the people wept； and the Priest
went back to the sacristy； and his eyes were full of tears。 And
the deacons came in and began to unrobe him； and took from him the
alb and the girdle； the maniple and the stole。 And he stood as one
in a dream。
And after that they had unrobed him； he looked at them and said；
'What are the flowers that stand on the altar； and whence do they
come？'
And they answered him； 'What flowers they are we cannot tell； but
they come from the corner of the Fullers' Field。' And the Priest
trembled； and returned to his own house and prayed。
And in the morning； while it was still dawn； he went forth with the
monks and the musicians； and the candle…bearers and the swingers of
censers； and a great company； and came to the shore of the sea； and
blessed the sea； and all the wild things that are in it。 The Fauns
also he blessed； and the little things that dance in the woodland；
and the bright…eyed things that peer through the leaves。 All the
things in God's world he blessed； and the people were filled with
joy and wonder。 Yet never again in the corner of the Fullers'
Field grew flowers of any kind； but the field remained barren even
as before。 Nor came the Sea…folk into the bay as they had been
wont to do； for they went to another part of the sea。