United States or French Southern Territories ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
As an additional protection, my mother Margarid, watchful in everything, had some sacks filled with grain placed in front of the hut. Other young girls were placing, along the interior walls of the car, knives, swords and axes, to be used in case of need, and weighing no more on their strong white arms than did the distaff.
Mamm' Margarid looked around and said: "Let us retire, my children; it is late; to-morrow at break of day we must begin our war preparations;" and turning to the traveler: "May the gods grant you a good rest and pleasant dreams!"
"The one and the other," Margarid proceeded, "showed themselves true to the maxim that there are three kinds of chastity among the women of Gaul: The first, when a father says in the presence of his daughter that he grants her hand to him whom she loves; the second, when for the first time she enters her husband's bed; and the third, when she appears the next morning before other men.
The two, with a look of pride and determination on their faces, ran towards the cover which sheltered the children. Margarid also spoke to the young childless women, and they, as well as the young girls, took and piously kissed her hands. At that moment, the last scythes fell. Margarid seized a sword in one hand and a white cloth in the other.
Mamm' Margarid, skillful in the art of tending wounds, an art that she learned from a druid priestess her relative, placed her hand on Armel's heart. A few seconds later she said to those near her and who, together with Joel and his guest, stood around: "Teutates calls Armel away to take him to those who have preceded us. He will soon depart.
"Why do you interrupt yourself?" asked Joel wondering at the suddenness with which his guest broke off in the middle of the sentence. "What is going on while we are here telling stories? What better can we do at the corner of our hearth during an autumn evening?" Instead of answering Joel, the stranger respectfully said to Mamm' Margarid: "I shall listen to the story of Joel's wife."
Remember our family legends Margarid, Joel's wife; Meroë, the wife of Albinik the mariner; Ellen, the wife of Schanvoch did they ever exhibit such weakness when their husbands took the field to fight for the freedom of Gaul?" "Alas, no! And Margarid as well as Meroë met death on the battlefield, together with their husbands."
Thus mutilated and dismembered, how will she defend herself against her enemies?" "The worthy spouse of my host speaks wisely," said the traveler respectfully to Mamm' Margarid; "like all Gallic matrons she holds her place at the public council as well as at her hearth." "You speak truly," rejoined Joel, "Margarid has a brave heart and a wise head.
"And our beautiful white heifers with yellow heads!" said Mamm' Margarid shrugging her shoulders and never quitting her distaff, "our sheep whose fleece is so nice and thick.... Come, a good caning for these Romans!" "And the powerful horses of the stock of your magnificent stallion Tom-Bras," put in the traveler.
At the hearth was Mamm' Margarid, Joel's wife, with a distaff. She was tall of stature, and wore a short, sleeveless tunic of brown wool over a long robe of grey with narrow sleeves, both tunic and robe being fastened around her waist with her apron string. A white cap, cut square, left exposed her grey hair, that parted over her forehead.
Word Of The Day